bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MEG correlates of speech planning in simple vs. interactive picture naming in children and adults
Authors: Goldman Ebony , Bou-Dargham Sherine , Lai Marco , Guda Anvita , Fallon Jacqui , Hauptman Miriam , Reinoso Alejandra , Phillips Sarah , Abrams Ellie , Parrish Alicia , Pylkkänen Liina
Published: October 2023

The picture naming task is common both as a clinical task and as a method to study the neural bases of speech production in the healthy brain. However, this task is not reflective of most naturally occurring productions, which tend to happen within a context, typically in dialogue in response to someone else’s production. How the brain basis of the classic “confrontation picture naming” task compares to the planning of utterances in dialogue is not known. Here we used magnetoencephalography (MEG) to measure neural activity associated with language production using the classic picture naming task as well as a minimal variant of the task, intended as more interactive or dialogue-like. We assessed how neural activity is affected by the interactive context in children, teenagers, and adults. The general pattern was that in adults, the interactive task elicited a robust sustained increase of activity in frontal and temporal cortices bilaterally, as compared to simple picture naming. This increase was present only in the left hemisphere in teenagers and was absent in children, who, in fact, showed the reverse effect. Thus our findings suggest a robustly bilateral neural basis for the coordination of interaction and a very slow developmental timeline for this network.
Cannabis use disorder, suicide attempts, and self-harm among adolescents: A national inpatient study across the United States
Authors: Oladunjoye Adeolu Funso , Li Elijah , Aneni Kammarauche , Onigu-Otite Edore
Published: October 2023

Background

Suicide is among the top three causes of adolescent mortality. There is a scarcity of research examining cannabis use and suicidal behavior in adolescents.

Objectives

To determine the association between cannabis use disorder (CUD) and suicide attempt/self-harm in a hospitalized sample of adolescents.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional observation study using data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample collected over four years from January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2019. We included adolescents aged 10–19 hospitalized during the above period (N = 807,105). The primary outcome was suicide attempt/self-harm and the main predictor was CUD. The International Classification of Diseases Tenth Revision (ICD 10) diagnostic codes was used to identify a diagnosis of CUD, suicide attempt/self-harm, and other diagnoses included in the analyses. Adolescents diagnosed with CUD (n = 53,751) were compared to adolescents without CUD (n = 753,354). Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to determine the association between CUD and suicide attempts/self-harm.

Results

807,105 adolescent hospitalizations were analyzed, of which 6.9% had CUD. Adolescents with CUD were more likely to be older (17 years vs. 15 years), female (52% vs. 48%), have depression (44% vs. 17%), anxiety (32% vs. 13%), an eating disorder (1.9% vs. 1.2%), ADHD (16.3% vs. 9.1%), Conduct Disorder (4.1% vs. 1.3%), Alcohol Use Disorder (11.9% vs. 0.8%), Nicotine Use Disorder (31.1% vs. 4.1%), Cocaine Use Disorder (5.4% vs. 0.2%), Stimulant Use Disorder (0.8% vs. 0.4%) and report suicide attempts/self-harm (2.8% vs. 0.9%) [all ps<0.001]. After adjusting for potential confounders, CUD was associated with a higher risk of suicide attempts/self-harm (OR = 1.4, 95% CI 1.3–1.6, p <0.001).

Post-hoc analyses showed the presence of depression moderated the association between CUD and suicide attempts/self-harm in that adolescents with CUD and depression had 2.4 times the odds of suicide attempt/self-harm compared to those with CUD but no depression after controlling for potential confounders (p<0.001).

Conclusions

Our study provides evidence for the association between CUD and suicide risk among hospitalized adolescents and underscores the importance of recognizing and addressing co-occurring mental and substance use disorders along with CUD to mitigate suicide risk. Identifying high-risk adolescents in inpatient settings provides an opportunity for intervention.
La realidad del borde
Authors: Casas Matiz Elvia Isabel , García Bernal Doris , Villar Lozano Mayerly Rosa
Published: October 2023

Las grandes extensiones de tierra que contiene la Sabana de Bogotá están enmarcadas por el oriente con la cordillera Oriental con la Serranía de los Dientes, llamada Monserrate; estas zonas fueron habitadas por tribus indígenas de la familia Chibcha, quienes ubicaron en el territorio algunos lugares que servían como sitios de peregrinación. Dentro de estos lugares se ubica la actual localidad de Usme, caracterizada por contener grandes y diversas extensiones de agua que eran consideradas como espacios sagrados por los primeros habitantes, Sutagaos1. Una comunidad de la familia Chibcha que estaba fuera de la confederación Muisca2. La localidad de Usme, considerada como la segunda localidad más extensa de Bogotá, está dividida por siete Unidades de Planeamiento Zonal (UPZ) que contienen más de 120 barrios y siete veredas. En esta localidad se mezclan restos culturales de indígenas, actividades campesinas, actividades informales y culturas emergentes de ciudad, que se enfrentan al crecimiento de la ciudad capital (Ojeda & Franco, 2019).
On the bond polytope
Authors: Chimani Markus , Juhnke-Kubitzke Martina , Nover Alexander
Published: October 2023

While the maximum cut problem and its corresponding polytope has received a lot of attention inliterature, comparably little is known about the natural closely related variant maximum bond. Here, given a graph G = (V, E), we ask for a maximum cut δ(S) ⊆ E with S ⊆ V under the restriction that both G[S] as well as G[V \ S] are connected. Observe that both the maximum cut and the maximum bond can be seen as inverse problems to the traditional minimum cut, as there, the connectivity arises naturally in optimal solutions.

The bond polytope is the convex hull of all incidence vectors of bonds. Similar to the connection of the corresponding optimization problems, the bond polytope is closely related to the cut polytope. While the latter has been intensively studied, there are no results on bond polytopes. We start a structural study of the latter, which additionally allows us to deduce algorithmic consequences.

We investigate the relation between cut- and bond polytopes and the additional intricacies that arise when requiring connectivity in the solutions. We study the effect of graph modifications on bond polytopes and their facets, akin to what has been spearheaded for cut polytopes by Barahona, Grötschel and Mahjoub [4; 3] and Deza and Laurant [17; 15; 16]. Moreover, we study facet-defining inequalities arising from edges and cycles for bond polytopes. In particular, these yield a complete linear description of bond polytopes of cycles and 3-connected planar (K
5 − e)-minor free graphs. Finally, we present a reduction of the maximum bond problem on arbitrary graphs to the maximum bond problem on 3-connected graphs. This yields a linear time algorithm for maximum bond on (K
5 − e)-minor free graphs.
A fully automated touch-response behavior inspection pipeline on zebrafish larvae
Authors: Wang Yanke , Pylatiuk Christian , Mikut Ralf , Peravali Ravindra , Reischl Markus
Published: October 2023

A touch-evoked response of zebrafish larvae provides information on the mechanism of the gene functional expressions. Recently, an automated system has been developed for precise and repeated touch-response experimentation with minor human intervention. To quantify the collected data, we propose a fully automated multi-larvae touch-response behavior inspection pipeline based on larva tracking and segmentation. Experimental data with different treatments is analyzed by using the proposed inspection platform for demonstration, and the result proves that this platform can generate comparable touch-response behavior inspection readouts efficiently and automatically. The initial results were published in 31. Workshop Computational Intelligence, and this paper summarizes and extends the main work of the respective article.
Training citizens as users of languages and digital technology. Real-world tasks to tame the digital wilds
Authors: Jeanneau Catherine , Ollivier Christian
Published: October 2023

Developing digital literacy and, more recently, digital citizenship is one of the objectives promoted by the major international organisations involved in the education sector. However, in order to integrate digital citizenship into education a thorough understanding of the intended outcomes is required. This is why a meta-analysis of recent texts was carried out. The paper presents the result of this literature review consisting in a structured compilation of all the defining elements that constitute our profile of citizens as users of languages and digital technology. We suggest a way in which to integrate digital citizenship education into language education and describe the socio-interactional pedagogical approach adopted in the context of two projects, elang citizen and Lingu@num. This approach is based on the execution of authentic tasks, referred to as real-world tasks. We also present the results of a questionnaire carried out by teachers who explored these tasks and reported that by engaging in them, language learners can experience authentic communication and action as citizens in the “digital wilds” beyond the classroom walls and develop both their language skills and their digital citizenship.
Attitudes to Spanish language variation. A study on Portuguese students of Spanish as a Foreign Language
Authors: Santos Rovira José María
Published: October 2023

Drawing on data collected via a web-based survey, this study investigates the attitudes of SFL (Spanish as a Foreign Language) learners in Portugal towards four Spanish varieties. A verbal guise experiment was designed to collect students’ perceptions of language variation. The sample comprised 196 undergraduate students from the School of Arts and Humanities of the University of Lisbon (Portugal). The results show that Portuguese students of SFL have a clear preference for the Castilian variety, as it obtained the highest rates in all domains (power, personal qualities, and status). Unexpectedly, factors such as participants’ age or sex did not influence the answers given.
A critical literacy class: beyond English learning and teaching in Higher Education
Authors: Derince Zeynep Mine
Published: October 2023

This article aims at analyzing the introduction of Critical Literacy as a transformative teaching approach in an English language teaching setting at tertiary level in Turkey. Applying a Freirian understanding of education, the method sought to tap the sociopolitical consciousness brought into the classroom by students and teachers and co-construct knowledge collectively while contributing to identity formation and social transformation. Both learners and teachers were encouraged to relate the curriculum to their own diverse experiences and to analyze broader social issues that are relevant to their lives and to wider contexts. Consequently, such issues as curriculum, language teaching and learning environment, materials and language policies were scrutinized from a critical perspective as part of the language learning and teaching process taking place in the classroom. The findings of this research provide significant insights for language learning and teaching praxis and show how Critical Literacy as a teaching method can contribute to the creation of more meaningful and supportive learning environments in classrooms and suggest empowering interactions among the actors involved.
From face-to-face tuition to online classes: ‘Re-styling’ a course of English for academic purposes
Authors: Scott-Monkhouse Anila R.
Published: October 2023

With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing total lockdown in 2020, the EAP course for STEM doctoral students at Parma University (Italy) was suddenly forced to online delivery, like many courses in academic institutions worldwide. Confined at home and with no previous experience in remote teaching, the teacher had to redesign the course and rethink strategies and techniques in a matter of days and with little material at hand. The aim was to maintain the interactivity of the face-to-face course and consolidate the group dynamics of a course that had yet to start. As online teaching took centre stage, the teacher and students alike were confronted with didactic issues stemming from the restyling of a traditionally highly interactive course based on face-to-face tuition, and technical problems, which added to the emotional and psychological factors related to an unknown, unexpected situation. In addition to soft skills, students from different academic backgrounds needed to develop productive rather than receptive language skills, so activities focused mainly on collaborative tasks to develop writing and speaking modes but did not concentrate on academic language only. This paper shares insights into the experience of being ‘thrown in at the deep end’, and attempts to highlight the elements which contributed to its overall positive outcome, the strong social connotation it came to bear, the development of class dynamics, and the learning points that emerged. It also hopes to provide some practical suggestions which can add to the creative solutions found by (language) teachers globally.
Testing English for Medical Purposes: the effects of traditional and distance education on learning outcomes
Authors: Barnau Anna
Published: October 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about new cultural and social phenomena that changed social interaction and communication. In this new situation, teachers teaching English for Medical Purposes (EMP) at the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine of Comenius University in Martin (JFM) had to adapt the courses to the educational needs of the students. This study explores the effects of traditional and distance education on learning outcomes in advanced English learners during three academic years. The sample consisted of 346 students. Three groups (G1, G2, G3) of first-year students attended online as well as face-to-face English courses and took EMP exams at the end of each summer semester. The test results were compared and evaluated. The methods of EMP teaching and testing were different in each group. G1 attended asynchronous online classes, G2 participated in synchronous online classes conducted in real-time, and finally, G3 participated in traditional classes. G1, G2 took online tests, and G3 took a pen-and-paper test. The questionnaire revealed that students appreciated the self-organization of study during online classes, but most criticized the lack of face-to-face communication, the classroom atmosphere, and technical difficulties during online teaching. Students participating in traditional classes missed their own time management and appreciated discussion in the classroom as well as teachers’ feedback on EMP performance.
Using corpora in teaching vocabulary to advanced EFL learners in a higher education context
Authors: Can Hümeyra
Published: October 2023

This study focuses on the development of lexical competence of tertiary level EFL learners who have reached C1 level according to CEFR during their course of study, but who still have difficulty in recognizing and producing academic words in terms of their correct and appropriate use in various contexts. Following a data-driven learning (DDL) approach within an action research paradigm, this study aims to discover whether corpus investigation makes a difference in students’ vocabulary knowledge and how they react to corpus data in learning vocabulary. To this end, the study was carried out in a listening/speaking course of two C1 level classes in an EFL classroom at an English preparatory school in Higher Education. In one of the classes, conventional lesson materials, and in the other, corpus-based lesson materials were used to teach the selected vocabulary items. The effect of corpus-based lesson materials on vocabulary learning was examined in relation to conventional materials. The data obtained from pre and post-tests showed that although there was a significant increase in students’ scores from pre-test to post-test, corpus use made statistically no significant difference in their scores as compared to the conventional method that had been adopted during the regular course of study based on the contextual guesswork involved in the coursebook. Students’ reactions throughout the implementation of corpus-based materials and the feedback sessions held with the students, shed light on the results and suggested some pedagogical guidelines for using corpora in teaching L2 vocabulary.
Model United Nations: a thematic analysis of Japanese EFL students’ reflections on intercultural communicative competence
Authors: Nfor Samuel
Published: October 2023

This study investigated Model United Nations (Model UN), a simulation of the United Nations that is adapted for academic purposes and includes elements of discussion, negotiation, presentation, and engagement with global issues and international affairs. When students participate in Model UN, they are referred to as country delegates and represent different countries on different committees. As delegates, they join in discussions on global issues related to such topics as world conflict, international security, human rights, and education. In Model UN, student participants from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds, collaborate and interact in a common language (English) spoken differently among participants to deepen their understanding of current world issues. By so doing, they reflect on their intercultural communicative competence summarized as the ability to interact with people from another country and culture in a foreign language. Following a Model UN semester course at a Japanese university and a Model UN conference held in Japan, interview sessions with Model UN student participants were moderated and recorded to understand their learning attitudes and experiences of studying in the Model UN context. The interview data were used to generate themes for thematic analysis. The study concluded that Japanese Model UN student participants’ interactions with other learners of English from different cultural backgrounds allowed them to reflect on their intercultural communicative competence and, thus, be able to develop tolerance towards language-related misunderstandings.
University English-medium instruction in Türkiye – what instructors say
Authors: Kurt Yavuz , Bayyurt Yasemin
Published: October 2023

The rise of English-medium instruction (EMI) and the increasing number of international students in Turkish universities call for a change in the language support programs that prepare students for EMI. English as a lingua franca (ELF) is a promising perspective to achieve a more linguistically and culturally inclusive pedagogy. This paper reports the views of 10 English language instructors who took a teacher training course on ELF and experimented with ELF-aware teaching with several lessons in the classroom. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the instructors to explore how they conceptualized the relationship between ELF and their teaching context, and how they evaluated their teaching experiences. Results reveal that when preparing students for EMI, instructors saw ELF as a useful frame of reference that promoted students’ confidence, motivation, and critical thinking. Instructors’ teaching preferences were shaped by the curriculum they were supposed to follow, the materials at their disposal, and the characteristics of their learners. Findings highlight the need to equip students for the variability in the English language, and become more confident with their linguistic skills as multilingual speakers, as well as engage in critical thinking about English and its use in their context.
Wer die worheit gerne mynn / Und sich güter dinge versynn, / Der müsz der besten einre sin
Authors: Meyer Tim
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Lutwin’s late 13th century account of the lives and deaths of the protoplasts and their first descendants, ‘Eva und Adam’, employs traits and literary techniques usually associated with vernacular courtly literature to convey its religious message to an audience of German speaking nobility. Such techniques include the amplification of the source material by adding newly invented sequences to the narrative’s plot as well as a highly self-conscious narrator, reflecting on his role as a mediator of divine revelations while, at the same time, openly exhibiting his ability to orchestrate the events and characters within his narrative. For decades, the scientific community has been split over the question whether these features may present evidence that contemporaries might have viewed the majority of courtly epics and romance as purely fictional. However, considering the religious nature of Lutwin’s themes and statements, it seems unlikely to assume that a medieval audience had to actively suspend their disbelief in order to accept courtly adaptations of biblical stories. Applying the modern dichotomy between factuality and fictionality therefore leads us to regard Lutwin’s ‘Eva und Adam’ as a paradoxical text riddled with inconsistencies. The concept of ‘fideales Erzählen’, recently introduced by Elke Koch, provides an alternative and potentially more adequate means of describing the historical modes of conceiving and perceiving premodern religious literature. Accordingly, instead of empirical verifiability being the main criteria in determining the status of factual or fictional texts respectively, faith, divine inspiration and adherence to common orthodoxy could, in the notion of a medieval audience, enable authors to present truthful insights into otherwise unattainable religious truths. Based on Koch’s deliberations, this paper re-evaluates several aspects of Lutwin’s ‘Eva und Adam’ – most notably the conception of its narrator – which in the past would have been considered as traits of fictional literature. It can be shown that, although Lutwin acts as a conscious arranger of his narration, his account’s proclaimed verisimilitude remains unchallenged.
Spectroscopy electrochemical impedance characterization of membranes electrode assemblies for PEM electrolyzers
Authors: Rojas Tattá Ramon , Teliz Erika , Díaz Veronica
Published: October 2023

Hydrogen is projected as a key energy vector to achieve aspiring global decarbonization goals mainly for those sectors where greenhouse gas emissions are highly challenging to reduce. Therefore, green hydrogen production using water PEM electrolysis has become the aim of numerous recent studies. One of the crucial challenges for improving hydrogen production is reaching a deep knowledge of the role of anodes electrocatalysts. In this investigation we studied and modeled the effect of different anode electrocatalysts and solid electrolyte’s configurations in a single-cell PEM electrolyzer performance, using EIS. We assembled and tested PEM electrolysis MEAs with two different configurations. MEA-1 comprises in catalyst-coated membrane (MEA)-type with a geometric area of 25 cm2 containing Nafion™ 115, 3.0 mg cm−2 IrRuOx as the anode, and 3.0 mg cm−2 PtB for the cathode. MEA-2 involves catalyst-coated membrane (MEA)-type with a geometric area of 25 cm2 containing Nafion™ 117, and 3.0 mg cm−2 PtB both for the anode and cathode. Sintered Ti plates were used as gas diffusion layers. After hydration and activation steps at room temperature, the polarization curve was performed. Hysteresis curves were achieved to provide information on thermal equilibrium during the measurements. The oxygen and hydrogen production rate were measured and compared to theoretical values. Experiments were carried out at 20  and 40 °C. EIS measurements were performed at different points of the polarization curve, sweeping a frequency range between 10 kHz and 10 mHz, with an amplitude of 5 mV and taking 10 points per decade. To avoid electrocatalysts area effects in charge transfer reaction, time constants were calculated. It can be clearly observed the trend of resistances and overpotentials according to different process control. Low onset potential for oxygen evolution reaction depicts for MEA-1 means that there will be less power consumption to achieve the same efficiency or same amount of gas generation rate compared to high onset potential case depicted for MEA-2. Although different membrane thicknesses would result in different electrochemical performances due to the change in the ionic resistance, for the thickness studied we did not observe a change in the ionic resistance. The experimental results show an increase in efficiency with temperature, reflected in higher currents for a given potential and lower time constants resulting in the EIS runs.
The Qurʾān and the Putative pre-Islamic Practice of Female Infanticide
Authors: Lindstedt Ilkka
Published: October 2023

In this article, I take issue with one alleged characteristic of pre-Islamic Arabia: namely, the notion that the Arabians frequently, and disturbingly, practiced female infanticide by burying their daughters alive. This is what the Islamic-era religious scholars inferred on the basis of two qurʾānic passages (Q Naḥl 16:57–59 and al-Takwīr 81:8–9). However, I will argue that the classical Muslim scholars’ interpretation of these verses is highly tendentious. By analyzing the specific qurʾānic passages and comparing the crucial wordal-mawʾūdah(Q 81:8), usually translated as “the daughter buried alive,” with early Arabic poetry, I conclude that the conventional understanding of it is unlikely.
Hepatic arterial buffer response: activation in donor fetuses and the effect of laser ablation of intertwin anastomosis
Authors: de Jesus Cruz Jader , Bernardeco Joana , Rijo Claudia , Cohen Alvaro , Serrano Fatima
Published: October 2023

Objectives

Hepatic arterial buffer response (HABR) is an important defence mechanism for maintaining liver blood flow. It is suspected that HABR is active in monochorionic diamniotic twins (MCDA) with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) where donor compensates a setting of volume depletion and the recipient an overload. The present study investigates whether in TTTS, HABR is active in donor and/or recipient individually and try to determine if the activation of HABR is a direct response to TTTS.

Methods

Hepatic artery (HA) peak systolic velocity (PSV) was measured in normal MCDA fetuses and TTTS. Correlation with relevant fetal Dopplers and characteristics were determined. Z-scores for HA-PSV (HAV-Z) were calculated and its association with TTTS in donors and recipients were determined as well as changes in HAV-Z after laser treatment.

Results

In this study 118 MCDA were included, 61.9 % normal and 38.1 % TTTS. Of the TTTS 22 required laser treatment. A total of 382 scans were performed in normal group and 155 in TTTS. Our data demonstrates that in donors HAV-Z was 2.4 Z-scores higher compared to normal fetuses (β=2.429 95 % CI 1.887, 2.971; p<0.001) and after laser treatment HAV-Z reduced (β=−1.829 95 % CI −2.593, −1.064; p<0.001). There was no significant difference between recipients and normal (β=−0.092 95 % CI −0.633, 0.449; p=0.738).

Conclusions

HABR is active in TTTS, promoting an increased hepatic blood flow in donors. The activation is direct response to TTTS as shown by the reduction in HAV-Z after laser. This finding provides important insights into the pathophysiology of TTTS.
Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection discovered at the time of delivery: a tertiary center experience in North Italy
Authors: Libretti Alessandro , Troìa Libera , Cappello Anna Maria , Casarotti Carolina , D’Amato Alessia Tony , Dallarda Gloria , Ghio Matilda , Nicosia Anthony , Ricci Daria , Savasta Federica , Sonzini Michela , Villa Diletta , De Pedrini Alberto , Surico Daniela , Remorgida Valentino
Published: October 2023

Objectives

Although the knowledge on SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy has greatly improved, there is still a lack of information on its role in the later stages of gestation. The aim of this study is to investigate whether SARS-CoV-2 discovered at delivery is associated with any obstetric or neonatal complications.

Methods

A retrospective case-control study was conducted at Department of Obstetrics, University Hospital Maggiore della Carità, Novara, Italy, from March 2020 to March 2023. Pregnant women admitted were tested for SARS-CoV-2. 168 women resulted positive at the time of delivery; the women were asymptomatic or paucisymptomatic. 170 negative women were selected as controls, selecting, for each SARS-CoV-2 positive patient, the patient who gave birth right before, if negative. Demographic and anamnestic characteristics, pregnancy, labor, and neonatal outcomes were evaluated.

Results

SARS-CoV-2 positive patients were more likely to have gestational diabetes (13.7 vs. 5.3 %) and required less frequently intrapartum analgesia (11.3 vs. 27 %) and labor augmentation (7.3 vs. 16.5 %). Post-partum hemorrhage rate was lower (13.7 vs. 22.9 %) and a shorter length of first and second stage of labor occurred. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups regarding the mode of delivery and neonatal outcomes.

Conclusions

SARS-CoV-2 positive patients have shorter labor length and a lower incidence of postpartum hemorrhage. Fewer obstetric interventions, as well as less use of intrapartum analgesia and oxytocin, could explain these findings. Moreover, gestational diabetes could increase susceptibility to infection. SARS-CoV-2 infection discovered at the time of delivery in asymptomatic or paucisymptomatic patients does not appear to increase the rate of cesarean delivery or other obstetric complications, and neonatal outcomes have not worsened.
Anti-S100A4 antibody administration alleviates bronchial epithelial–mesenchymal transition in asthmatic mice
Authors: Liu Shuang , Liu Min , Zhong Jinnan , Chen Shi , Wang Ziming , Gao Xiaoyan , Li Fajiu
Published: October 2023

We elucidated the effect of S100A4 on airway remodeling by regulating airway inflammation and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in mouse models of asthma. Asthmatic mouse models were established by sensitization and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA). Anti-S100A4 antibody or control IgG antibody was administered daily before the OVA challenge. After the last challenge, airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness were measured; lung tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were harvested. Lung tissue sections were stained and evaluated for pathological changes. Levels of inflammatory cytokines were measured using ELISA. Levels of S100A4 and EMT markers were determined via western blotting analysis. Human bronchial epithelial cells were stimulated with 100 mg/mL house dust mites (HDMs) to evaluate the effect of S100A4 downregulation on EMT in vitro. S100A4 was increased in lung tissues and BALF from asthmatic mice. The asthmatic mice presented airway hyperresponsiveness, airway inflammation, and airway remodeling. After anti-S100A4 antibody administration, pathophysiological signs, including airway hyperresponsiveness and increased infiltration of inflammatory cells, were attenuated. Additionally, anti-S100A4 administration downregulated vimentin and α-SMA expression and upregulated E-cadherin expression in OVA-challenged mice. S100A4 downregulation also inhibited EMT process in HDM-stimulated 16HBE cells. Anti-S100A4 antibody administration alters airway remodeling by preventing EMT in mouse models of asthma.
Synthesis of biopolymer-polypeptide conjugates and their potential therapeutic interests
Authors: Singh Amandeep , Kumari Kamlesh , Kundu Patit Paban
Published: October 2023

Biopolymer-based conjugates are widely used for numbers of biomedical applications. Materials scientists have become progressively interested in compounding biological-relevant entities with biopolymers into polymeric biohybrid framework. Biopolymer are conjugated with various fragments such as enzymes, proteins, nucleic acids as well as their analogues, peptidomimetics, peptides, fluorescent composites, avidin or streptavidin, biotin, polyethylene glycol, and various other bioactive compounds in order to serve a particular functionality in biomedical applications. In current chapter, a summary of various methods to synthesize biopolymer-peptide biohybrid conjugates and their prospective applications in biomedical field is presented.
Spinal-Specific Super Enhancer in Neuropathic Pain
Authors: Tao Yang , Wang Qi-Hui , Li Xiao-Tong , Liu Ya , Sun Run-Hang , Xu Heng-Jun , Zhang Ming , Li Si-Yuan , Yang Li , Wang Hong-Jun , Hao Ling-Yun , Cao Jun-Li , Pan Zhiqiang
Published: October 2023

Dysfunctional gene expression in nociceptive pathways plays a critical role in the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain. Super enhancers (SEs), composed of a large cluster of transcriptional enhancers, are emerging as new players in the regulation of gene expression. However, whether SEs participate in nociceptive responses remains unknown. Here, we report a spinal-specific SE (SS-SE) that regulates chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced neuropathic pain by drivingNtmt1andPrrx2transcription in dorsal horn neurons. Peripheral nerve injury significantly enhanced the activity of SS-SE and increased the expression of NTMT1 and PRRX2 in the dorsal horn of male mice in a bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4)-dependent manner. Both intrathecal administration of a pharmacological BRD4 inhibitor JQ1 and CRISPR-Cas9-mediated SE deletion abolished the increased NTMT1 and PRRX2 in CCI mice and attenuated their nociceptive hypersensitivities. Furthermore, knocking downNtmt1orPrrx2with siRNA suppressed the injury-induced elevation of phosphorylated extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression in the dorsal horn and alleviated neuropathic pain behaviors. Mimicking the increase in spinalNtmt1orPrrx2in naive mice increased p-ERK and GFAP expression and led to the genesis of neuropathic pain-like behavior. These results redefine our understanding of the regulation of pain-related genes and demonstrate that BRD4-driven increases in SS-SE activity is responsible for the genesis of neuropathic pain through the governance of NTMT1 and PRRX2 expression in dorsal horn neurons. Our findings highlight the therapeutic potential of BRD4 inhibitors for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTSEs drive gene expression by recruiting master transcription factors, cofactors, and RNA polymerase, but their role in the development of neuropathic pain remains unknown. Here, we report that the activity of an SS-SE, located upstream of the genesNtmt1andPrrx2, was elevated in the dorsal horn of mice with neuropathic pain. SS-SE contributes to the genesis of neuropathic pain by driving expression ofNtmt1andPrrx2. Both inhibition of SS-SE with a pharmacological BRD4 inhibitor and genetic deletion of SS-SE attenuated pain hypersensitivities. This study suggests an effective and novel therapeutic strategy for neuropathic pain.
A Pathogenic Missense Mutation in Kainate Receptors Elevates Dendritic Excitability and Synaptic Integration through Dysregulation of SK Channels
Authors: Nomura Toshihiro , Taniguchi Sakiko , Wang Yi-Zhi , Yeh Nai-Hsing , Wilen Anika P. , Castillon Charlotte C.M. , Foote Kendall M. , Xu Jian , Armstrong John N. , Savas Jeffrey N. , Swanson Geoffrey T. , Contractor Anis
Published: October 2023

Numerous rare variants that cause neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) occur within genes encoding synaptic proteins, including ionotropic glutamate receptors. However, in many cases, it remains unclear how damaging missense variants affect brain function. We determined the physiological consequences of an NDD causing missense mutation in theGRIK2kainate receptor (KAR) gene, that results in a single amino acid change p.Ala657Thr in the GluK2 receptor subunit. We engineered this mutation in the mouseGrik2gene, yielding a GluK2(A657T) mouse, and studied mice of both sexes to determine how hippocampal neuronal function is disrupted. Synaptic KAR currents in hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons from heterozygous A657T mice exhibited slow decay kinetics, consistent with incorporation of the mutant subunit into functional receptors. Unexpectedly, CA3 neurons demonstrated elevated action potential spiking because of downregulation of the small-conductance Ca2+activated K+channel (SK), which mediates the post-spike afterhyperpolarization. The reduction in SK activity resulted in increased CA3 dendritic excitability, increased EPSP-spike coupling, and lowered the threshold for the induction of LTP of the associational-commissural synapses in CA3 neurons. Pharmacological inhibition of SK channels in WT mice increased dendritic excitability and EPSP-spike coupling, mimicking the phenotype in A657T mice and suggesting a causative role for attenuated SK activity in aberrant excitability observed in the mutant mice. These findings demonstrate that a disease-associated missense mutation inGRIK2leads to altered signaling through neuronal KARs, pleiotropic effects on neuronal and dendritic excitability, and implicate these processes in neuropathology in patients with genetic NDDs.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTDamaging mutations in genes encoding synaptic proteins have been identified in various neurodevelopmental disorders, but the functional consequences at the cellular and circuit level remain elusive. By generating a novel knock-in mutant mouse, this study examined the role of a pathogenic mutation in the GluK2 kainate receptor (KAR) subunit, a subclass of ionotropic glutamate receptors. Analyses of hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons determined elevated action potential firing because of an increase in dendritic excitability. Increased dendritic excitability was attributable to reduced activity of a Ca2+activated K+channel. These results indicate that a pathogenic KAR mutation results in dysregulation of dendritic K+channels, which leads to an increase in synaptic integration and backpropagation of action potentials into distal dendrites.
CCR4‐NOT differentially controls host versus virus poly(a)‐tail length and regulates HCMV infection
Authors: Burgess Hannah M , Grande Rebecca , Riccio Sofia , Dinesh Ikshitaa , Winkler Gerlof Sebastiaan , Depledge Daniel P , Mohr Ian
Published: October 2023

Unlike most RNA and DNA viruses that broadly stimulate mRNA decay and interfere with host gene expression, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) extensively remodels the host translatome without producing an mRNA decay enzyme. By performing a targeted loss‐of‐function screen in primary human fibroblasts, we here identify the host CCR4‐NOT deadenylase complex members CNOT1 and CNOT3 as unexpected pro‐viral host factors that selectively regulate HCMV reproduction. We find that the scaffold subunit CNOT1 is specifically required for late viral gene expression and genome‐wide host responses in CCR4‐NOT‐disrupted cells. By profiling poly(A)‐tail lengths of individual HCMV and host mRNAs using nanopore direct RNA sequencing, we reveal poly(A)‐tails of viral messages to be markedly longer than those of cellular mRNAs and significantly less sensitive to CCR4‐NOT disruption. Our data establish that mRNA deadenylation by host CCR4‐NOT is critical for productive HCMV replication and define a new mechanism whereby herpesvirus infection subverts cellular mRNA metabolism to remodel the gene expression landscape of the infected cell. Moreover, we expose an unanticipated host factor with potential to become a therapeutic anti‐HCMV target.
IFNT stimulates lysosomal function via type I IFN signaling pathway in pregnant bovine leukocytes
Authors: Talukder Md Abdus Shabur , Balboula Ahmed Zaky , Bai Hanako , Kawahara Manabu , Kimura Koji , Takahashi Masashi
Published: October 2023

In brief

Interferon tau (IFNT) stimulates lysosomal activation via the Janus-activated kinase in peripheral blood leukocytes during pregnancy recognition. IFNT-mediated lysosomal activation could serve as a novel marker for early pregnancy in cattle.

IFNT is important in establishing pregnancy in ruminants. Secreted IFNT in the uterus induces the expression of an interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) in uterine tissues and peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs). In our previous study, increased lysosome and lysosomal cathepsin (CTS) activity and mRNA expression were observed in PBLs of pregnant cows on day 18 of pregnancy. However, the mechanism of IFNT stimulation in PBLs is unclear. Here, we explored the IFNT-mediated lysosomal activation mechanisms in PBLs during early pregnancy in dairy cows. PBLs collected from the peripheral blood of Holstein cows on day 18 post artificial insemination, after confirmation of their pregnancy status, were used to detect the expression of lysosomal-associated membrane protein (LAMP) 1, 2, CTSB and CTSK. Expression of all genes was significantly higher in PBLs of pregnant cows than in nonpregnant cows. In vitro IFN-mediated stimulation of PBLs collected from cows that did not undergo AI significantly increased lysosomal acidification and expression of LAMP1 and 2, as well as the activities of CTSB and CTSK. Immunodetection analysis showed an increase in LAMP1 and CTSK levels in the PBLs of day 18 pregnant cows. JAK inhibitor significantly decreased lysosomal acidification, CTSK activity, LAMP1, 2, and CTSK expression in the presence of IFNT. These results suggest that IFNT regulates lysosomal function via a type 1IFN-mediated pathway in PBLs during pregnancy recognition.
Método simple para minimizar la discrepancia en la longitud de las extremidades y restaurar el offset en la artroplastia total de cadera
Authors: López Pablo Daniel , Almada Adrián Gabriel , Iglesias Santiago Luis , Pioli Ignacio José , Gómez José Miguel , Allende Bartolomé Luis
Published: October 2023

Introducción: Existen más de 20 técnicas diferentes para corregir la discrepancia de miembros inferiores. El método que aquí se evalúa se basa en una clavija fija posicionada en el ala ilíaca asociada a un “calibre” móvil, con otra clavija con la que se marca la referencia en el trocánter mayor.

Objetivo: Evaluar la confiabilidad de este dispositivo de medición usado durante la artroplastia total de cadera para restaurar la longitud del miembro inferior y el offset femoral.

Materiales y Métodos: Se formaron dos grupos: grupo A con pacientes en quienes no se había usado el dispositivo y grupo B con pacientes en quienes sí se había usado el dispositivo. Se realizaron las mediciones en la radiografía panorámica de pelvis obtenida con el paciente de pie, antes de la cirugía y 3 meses después.

Resultados: Se obtuvo una muestra de 80 pacientes (40 por grupo). Se logró corregir la discrepancia de lalongitud de los miembros, pero no se hallaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en la corrección promedio, entre ambos grupos (p = 0,07). Sin embargo, al analizar la varianza en la corrección de la discrepancia de la longitud de cada grupo se obtuvo una diferencia estadísticamente significativa (p <0,001).

Conclusiones: Este dispositivo que permite una medición cuantificable más objetiva no asegura una corrección de la discrepancia de la longitud exacta a 0 mm, pero sí permite trabajar dentro de unrango más confiable y seguro.
Comparison of local ecological knowledge versus camera trapping to establish terrestrial wildlife baselines in community hunting territories within the Yangambi landscape in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors: Van Vliet Nathalie , Rovero Francesco , Muhindo Jonas , Nyumu Jonas , Mbangale Emmanuela , Nziavake Sagesse , Cerutti Paolo , Nasi Robert , Quintero Simon
Published: October 2023

Baseline population data are fundamental to the development of wildlife management plans and are usually generated based on field surveys using sampling tools such as camera traps (CT). However, this method can be costly and ineffective with rare species or in wildlife-depleted areas. An alternative is to complement baseline wildlife population data with Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK)-based methods. We compared LEK and CT surveys in terms of their capacity to assess the status of terrestrial mammal species (richness, abundance, distribution) in the Yangambi landscape of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This region is heavily hunted and wildlife population densities are low. Species not captured by CT included naturally rare and endangered species that were instead recorded by interviewed hunters. LEK and CT abundance metrics were positively related for all species. For all medium- and large-sized species, the number of positive sites from LEK outnumbered the number of positive sites from the CT survey, indicating that hunters detected species over larger areas. Overall, our comparison suggests that LEK and CT methods can be used interchangeably to provide reliable information on relative abundance. Nevertheless, LEK appears as a more cost- effective alternative to camera trapping, particularly for hunted and depleted tropical forests.
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) soil covering with organic matter: Results and knowledge gap
Authors: Südiné Fehér Anikó , Turóczi György , Tóth Ferenc
Published: October 2023

Potato mulching practices and their effects often differ, and the results are sometimes contradictory in the literature, as they vary depending on climatic conditions and growing practices. In this study, we analysed 68 peer-reviewed publications to reveal which problems of potato cultivation were intended to be solved by mulching with organic materials. We have found that the main goals of mulching are the preservation of soil moisture, the reduction of soil temperature, and the suppression of weeds, in which mulching provides effective help. In different parts of the world, different organic mulches increased the yield of potatoes in 78% of the studies. Although the occurrence and damage of pests, pathogens and weeds are extremely understudied (16, 18, 29% of the studies), we can conclude that organic mulches effectively reduced their damage.
Morris method supporting building optimization
Authors: Vincze Nándor , Horváth Kristóf Roland , Kistelegdi István , Storcz Tamás , Ercsey Zsolt
Published: October 2023

As part of the energy design synthesis method, complex dynamic building simulation database was created with IDA ICE code for all family house building configurations for a considered problem. In this paper, the annual heat energy demand output parameter is considered to serve as basis of a building energy design investigation. The sensitivity analysis performed by Morris' elementary effect method was used. As the result of the sensitivity analysis of the output parameter, the most important input parameters can be identified, that influence the buildings' energy efficiency, that can support further building designs.
One-at-a-Time sensitivity study of a tree burning simulation
Authors: Hajdu Flóra , Környei László , Kuti Rajmund
Published: October 2023

The aim of the research was to carry out the One-at-a-Time sensitivity analysis of a tree burning experiment simulation with a novel fuzzy logic-based method. It was observed that the precent of the remaining tree is sensitive to the moisture content, the crown-base diameter and the tree height. The other variables, which are maximum mass loss rate, maximum heat release rate, and maximum temperature at the top of the tree are moderately sensitive or not sensitive to the selected parameters. The presented results can be used in sensitivity studies and wildfire simulations.