bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Point mutations in Candida glabrata 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (CgHMGR) decrease enzymatic activity and substrate/inhibitor affinity
Authors: Andrade-Pavón Dulce , Fernández-Muñoz Vanessa , González-Ibarra Wendy , Hernández-Rodríguez César , Ibarra J. Antonio , Villa-Tanaca Lourdes
Published: October 2021

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) is a crucial enzyme in the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway. The aim of this study was to obtain, purify, characterize, and overexpress five point mutations in highly conserved regions of the catalytic domain of Candida glabrata HMGR (CgHMGR) to explore the function of key amino acid residues in enzymatic activity. Glutamic acid (Glu) was substituted by glutamine in the E680Q mutant (at the dimerization site), Glu by glutamine in E711Q (at the substrate binding site), aspartic acid by alanine in D805A, and methionine by arginine in M807R (the latter two at the cofactor binding site). A double mutation, E680Q-M807R, was included. Regarding recombinant and wild-type CgHMGR, in vitro enzymatic activity was significantly lower for the former, as was the in silico binding energy of simvastatin, alpha-asarone and the HMG-CoA substrate. E711Q displayed the lowest enzymatic activity and binding energy, suggesting the importance of Glu711 (in the substrate binding site). The double mutant CgHMGR E680Q-M807R exhibited the second lowest enzymatic activity. Based on the values of the kinetic parameters KM and Vmax, the mutated amino acids appear to participate in binding. The current findings provide insights into the role of residues in the catalytic site of CgHMGR.
Geographic delay characterization of railway systems
Authors: Dekker Mark M.
Published: October 2021

Railway systems provide pivotal support to modern societies, making their efficiency and robustness important to ensure. However, these systems are susceptible to disruptions and delays, leading to accumulating economic damage. The large spatial scale of delay spreading typically make it difficult to distinguish which regions will ultimately affected from an initial disruption, creating uncertainty for risk assessment. In this paper, we identify geographical structures that reflect how delay spreads through railway networks. We do so by proposing a graph-based, hybrid schedule and empirical-based model for delay propagation and apply spectral clustering. We apply the model to four European railway systems: the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and Italy. We characterize these geographical delay structures in the railway systems of these countries and interpret these regions in terms of delay severity and how dynamically disconnected they are from the rest. The method also allows us to point out important differences between these countries’ railway systems. For practitioners, such geographical characterization of railways provides natural boundaries for local decision-making structures and risk assessment.
Multidimensional natal isotopic niches reflect migratory patterns in birds
Authors: Franzoi A. , Larsen S. , Franceschi P. , Hobson K. A. , Pedrini P. , Camin F. , Bontempo L.
Published: October 2021

Naturally occurring stable isotope ratios in animal tissues allow estimation of species trophic position and ecological niche. Measuring multiple isotopes of migratory species along flyway bottlenecks offers the opportunity to sample multiple populations and species whose tissues carry information at continental scales. We measured δ2H, δ18O, δ13C, δ15N in juvenile feathers of 21 bird species captured at a migratory bottleneck in the Italian Alps. We examined if trends in individual isotopes reflected known migratory strategies and whether dietary (δ13C–δ15N) and spatially-explicit breeding origin (δ2H–δ18O) niche breadth (NB) differed among long-distance trans-Saharan (TS), short-distance (IP) and irruptive (IR) intra-Palearctic migrants, and whether they correlated with reported populations long-term trends. In both TS and IP groups, species δ2H declined with capture date, indicating that northern populations reached the stopover site later in the season, following a Type-I migration strategy. Values of δ2H indicated that breeding range of TS migrants extended farther north than IP and IR migrants. The breeding season was longer for IP migrants whose δ13C and δ15N values declined and increased, respectively, with time of capture. Average species dietary NB did not differ among migratory groups, but TS migrants displayed wider breeding origin niches, suggesting that long-distant migration is linked to broader ecological niches. Isotope origin NB well reflected species geographic range extent, while dietary NB did not correlate with literature accounts of species’ diet. We found no relationship between species breeding NB and population trends in Europe, suggesting that conditions in the breeding grounds, as inferred by stable isotopes, are not the only determinant of species’ long-term persistence. We demonstrate that ringing activities and isotopic measurements of passerines migrating through a bottleneck represents a unique opportunity to investigate large-scale life-history phenomena relevant to conservation.
Diffusion tensor imaging for the study of early renal dysfunction in patients affected by bardet-biedl syndrome
Authors: Borrelli Pasquale , Zacchia Miriam , Cavaliere Carlo , Basso Luca , Salvatore Marco , Capasso Giovambattista , Aiello Marco
Published: October 2021

Kidney structural abnormalities are common features of Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) patients that lead to a progressive decline in renal function. Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) provides useful information on renal microstructures but it has not been applied to these patients. This study investigated using DTI to detect renal abnormalities in BBS patients with no overt renal dysfunction. Ten BBS subjects with estimated glomerular filtration rates over 60 ml/min/1.73m2 and 14 individuals matched for age, gender, body mass index and renal function were subjected to high-field DTI. Fractional anisotropy (FA), and mean, radial and axial diffusivity were evaluated from renal cortex and medulla. Moreover, the corticomedullary differentiation of each DTI parameter was compared between groups. Only cortical FA statistically differed between BBS patients and controls (p = 0.033), but all the medullary DTI parameters discriminated between the two groups with lower FA (p < 0.001) and axial diffusivity (p = 0.021) and higher mean diffusivity (p = 0.043) and radial diffusivity (p < 0.001) in BBS patients compared with controls. Corticomedullary differentiation values were significantly reduced in BBS patients. Thus, DTI is a valuable tool for investigating microstructural alterations in renal disorders when kidney functionality is preserved.
Gun violence incidence during the COVID-19 pandemic is higher than before the pandemic in the United States
Authors: Ssentongo Paddy , Fronterre Claudio , Ssentongo Anna E. , Advani Shailesh , Heilbrunn Emily S. , Hazelton Joshua P. , Oh John S. , McCall-Hosenfeld Jennifer S. , Chinchilli Vernon M.
Published: October 2021

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, gun violence (GV) in the United States (U.S.) was postulated to increase strain on already taxed healthcare resources, such as blood products, intensive care beds, personal protective equipment, and even hospital staff. This report aims to estimate the relative risk of GV in the U.S. during the pandemic compared to before the pandemic. Daily police reports corresponding to gun-related injuries and deaths in the 50 states and the District of Columbia from February 1st, 2019, to March 31st, 2021 were obtained from the GV Archive. Generalized linear mixed-effects models in the form of Poisson regression analysis were utilized to estimate the state-specific rates of GV. Nationally, GV rates were 30% higher between March 01, 2020, and March 31, 2021 (during the pandemic), compared to the same period in 2019 (before the pandemic) [intensity ratio (IR) = 1.30; 95% CI 1.29, 1.32; p < 0.0001]. The risk of GV was significantly higher in 28 states and significantly lower in only one state. National and state-specific rates of GV were higher during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the same timeframe 1 year prior. State-specific steps to mitigate violence, or at a minimum adequately prepare for its toll during the COVID-19 pandemic, should be taken.
Repositioning of a novel GABA-B receptor agonist, AZD3355 (Lesogaberan), for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
Authors: Bhattacharya Dipankar , Becker Christine , Readhead Benjamin , Goossens Nicolas , Novik Jacqueline , Fiel Maria Isabel , Cousens Leslie P. , Magnusson Björn , Backmark Anna , Hicks Ryan , Dudley Joel T. , Friedman Scott L.
Published: October 2021

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a rising health challenge, with no approved drugs. We used a computational drug repositioning strategy to uncover a novel therapy for NASH, identifying a GABA-B receptor agonist, AZD3355 (Lesogaberan) previously evaluated as a therapy for esophageal reflux. AZD3355’s potential efficacy in NASH was tested in human stellate cells, human precision cut liver slices (hPCLS), and in vivo in a well-validated murine model of NASH. In human stellate cells AZD3355 significantly downregulated profibrotic gene and protein expression. Transcriptomic analysis of these responses identified key regulatory nodes impacted by AZD3355, including Myc, as well as MAP and ERK kinases. In PCLS, AZD3355 down-regulated collagen1α1, αSMA and TNF-α mRNAs as well as secreted collagen1α1. In vivo, the drug significantly improved histology, profibrogenic gene expression, and tumor development, which was comparable to activity of obeticholic acid in a robust mouse model of NASH, but awaits further testing to determine its relative efficacy in patients. These data identify a well-tolerated clinical stage asset as a novel candidate therapy for human NASH through its hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic mechanisms of action. The approach validates computational methods to identify novel therapies in NASH in uncovering new pathways of disease development that can be rapidly translated into clinical trials.
Human hair follicles operate an internal Cori cycle and modulate their growth via glycogen phosphorylase
Authors: Figlak Katarzyna , Williams Greg , Bertolini Marta , Paus Ralf , Philpott Michael P.
Published: October 2021

Hair follicles (HFs) are unique, multi-compartment, mini-organs that cycle through phases of active hair growth and pigmentation (anagen), apoptosis-driven regression (catagen) and relative quiescence (telogen). Anagen HFs have high demands for energy and biosynthesis precursors mainly fulfilled by aerobic glycolysis. Histochemistry reports the outer root sheath (ORS) contains high levels of glycogen. To investigate a functional role for glycogen in the HF we quantified glycogen by Periodic-Acid Schiff (PAS) histomorphometry and colorimetric quantitative assay showing ORS of anagen VI HFs contained high levels of glycogen that decreased in catagen. qPCR and immunofluorescence microscopy showed the ORS expressed all enzymes for glycogen synthesis and metabolism. Using human ORS keratinocytes (ORS-KC) and ex vivo human HF organ culture we showed active glycogen metabolism by nutrient starvation and use of a specific glycogen phosphorylase (PYGL) inhibitor. Glycogen in ORS-KC was significantly increased by incubation with lactate demonstrating a functional Cori cycle. Inhibition of PYGL significantly stimulated the ex vivo growth of HFs and delayed onset of catagen. This study defines translationally relevant and therapeutically targetable new features of HF metabolism showing that human scalp HFs operate an internal Cori cycle, synthesize glycogen in the presence of lactate and modulate their growth via PYGL activity.
Water cavitation from ambient to high temperatures
Authors: Magaletti Francesco , Gallo Mirko , Casciola Carlo Massimo
Published: October 2021

Predicting cavitation has proved a formidable task, particularly for water. Despite the experimental difficulty of controlling the sample purity, there is nowadays substantial consensus on the remarkable tensile strength of water, on the order of −120 MPa at ambient conditions. Recent progress significantly advanced our predictive capability which, however, still considerably depends on elaborate fitting procedures based on the input of external data. Here a self-contained model is discussed which is shown able to accurately reproduce cavitation data for water over the most extended range of temperatures for which accurate experiments are available. The computations are based on a diffuse interface model which, as only inputs, requires a reliable equation of state for the bulk free energy and the interfacial tension. A rare event technique, namely the string method, is used to evaluate the free-energy barrier as the base for determining the nucleation rate and the cavitation pressure. The data allow discussing the role of the Tolman length in determining the nucleation barrier, confirming that, when the size of the cavitation nuclei exceed the thickness of the interfacial layer, the Tolman correction effectively improves the predictions of the plain Classical Nucleation Theory.
Vitamin D-related polymorphisms and vitamin D levels as risk biomarkers of COVID-19 disease severity
Authors: Freitas Ana Teresa , Calhau Conceição , Antunes Gonçalo , Araújo Beatriz , Bandeira Matilde , Barreira Sofia , Bazenga Filipa , Braz Sandra , Caldeira Daniel , Santos Susana Constantino Rosa , Faria Ana , Faria Daniel , Fraga Marta , Nogueira-Garcia Beatriz , Gonçalves Lúcia , Kovalchuk Pavlo , Lacerda Luísa , Lopes Hugo , Luís Daniel , Medeiros Fábio , Melo Ana M. P. , Melo-Cristino José , Miranda Ana , Pereira Clara , Pinto Ana Teresa , Pinto João , Proença Helena , Ramos Angélica , Rato João P. R. , Rocha Filipe , Rocha Júlio César , Moreira-Rosário André , Vazão Helena , Volovetska Yuliya , Guimarães João-Tiago , Pinto Fausto J.
Published: October 2021

Vitamin D is a fundamental regulator of host defences by activating genes related to innate and adaptive immunity. Previous research shows a correlation between the levels of vitamin D in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and the degree of disease severity. This work investigates the impact of the genetic background related to vitamin D pathways on COVID-19 severity. For the first time, the Portuguese population was characterized regarding the prevalence of high impact variants in genes associated with the vitamin D pathways. This study enrolled 517 patients admitted to two tertiary Portuguese hospitals. The serum concentration of 25 (OH)D, was measured in the hospital at the time of patient admission. Genetic variants, 18 variants, in the genes AMDHD1, CYP2R1, CYP24A1, DHCR7, GC, SEC23A, and VDR were analysed. The results show that polymorphisms in the vitamin D binding protein encoded by the GC gene are related to the infection severity (p = 0.005). There is an association between vitamin D polygenic risk score and the serum concentration of 25 (OH)D (p = 0.04). There is an association between 25 (OH)D levels and the survival and fatal outcomes (p = 1.5e−4). The Portuguese population has a higher prevalence of the DHCR7 RS12785878 variant when compared with its prevalence in the European population (19% versus 10%). This study shows a genetic susceptibility for vitamin D deficiency that might explain higher severity degrees in COVID-19 patients. These results reinforce the relevance of personalized strategies in the context of viral diseases.

Trial registration: NCT04370808.
Superconducting imprint of magnetic textures in ferromagnets with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy
Authors: Sander A. , Orfila G. , Sanchez-Manzano D. , Reyren N. , Mawass M. A. , Gallego F. , Collin S. , Bouzehouane K. , Höflich K. , Kronast F. , Grilli F. , Rivera-Calzada A. , Santamaria J. , Villegas J. E. , Valencia S.
Published: October 2021

Research on proximity effects in superconductor/ferromagnetic hybrids has most often focused on how superconducting properties are affected—and can be controlled—by the effects of the ferromagnet’s exchange or magnetic fringe fields. The opposite, namely the possibility to craft, tailor and stabilize the magnetic texture in a ferromagnet by exploiting superconducting effects, has been more seldom explored. Here we show that the magnetic flux trapped in high-temperature superconducting YBa2Cu3O7-δ microstructures can be used to modify the magnetic reversal of a hard ferromagnet—a cobalt/platinum multilayer with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy—and to imprint unusual magnetic domain distributions in a controlled manner via the magnetic field history. The domain distributions imprinted in the superconducting state remain stable, in absence of an external magnetic field, even after increasing the temperature well above the superconducting critical temperature, at variance to what has been observed for soft ferromagnets with in-plane magnetic anisotropy. This opens the possibility of having non-trivial magnetic configuration textures at room temperature after being tailored below the superconducting transition temperature. The observed effects are well explained by micromagnetic simulations that demonstrate the role played by the magnetic field from the superconductor on the nucleation, propagation, and stabilization of magnetic domains.
Thin fluorinated polymer film microcavity arrays for 3D cell culture and label-free automated feature extraction
Authors: Samal Pinak , Gubbins Eva , van Blitterswijk Clemens , Truckenmüller Roman , Giselbrecht Stefan
Published: October 2021

A microengineered fluorinated ethylene-propylene based cell culture system was developed for automated, label-free feature extraction from 3D stem cell cultures.
Pincer-supported metal/main-group bonds as platforms for cooperative transformations
Authors: Whited Matthew T.
Published: October 2021

Constraining metal/main-group bonds within a pincer framework has allowed the elucidation of new and powerful modes of cooperative reactivity. This Perspective highlights recent findings and areas for further development.
Pyridylpyrrolido ligand in Ge(ii) and Sn(ii) chemistry: synthesis, reactivity and catalytic application
Authors: Pahar Sanjukta , Sharma Vishal , Tothadi Srinu , Sen Sakya S.
Published: October 2021

The work describes the synthesis of a series of germylenes and stannylenes (1–6) supported by pyridylpyrrolido (PyPyr) ligand. The catalytic utility of stannylene 5 towards hydroboration of a range of organic compounds is further explored.
Temperature-induced diurnal redox potential in soil
Authors: Dorau Kristof , Bohn Bianca , Weihermüller Lutz , Mansfeldt Tim
Published: October 2021

Temperature variability controls the extent of the diel EH measured under quasi-stationary conditions in soils and sediments.
Impact of soy lecithin, zinc oxide, and methylsulfonylmethane, as excipient ingredients, on the bioaccessibility and intestinal transport of branched-chain amino acids from animal and plant protein mixtures
Authors: Lee Da-Yeon , Lee Chan-Yang , Shin Jin-Na , Oh Jeong-Ho , Shim Soon-Mi
Published: October 2021

To maximize the biological activity of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), it is necessary to find a new excipient agent to increase the bioavailability of BCAAs in protein mixtures.
Low catalyst loading enabled organocatalytic synthesis of chiral bis-heterocyclic frameworks containing pyrazole and isoxazole
Authors: Kaur Banni Preet , Sharma Vivek , Sahoo Subash Chandra , Chimni Swapandeep Singh
Published: October 2021

Quinine squaramide catalysed Michael addition of acetylacetone to pyrazolyl nitroalkene provides chiral pyrazole derivatives in 60–87% yields and up to 97% ee which are further transformed to chiralbis-heterocyclic derivatives in up to 99% ee.
Fluorinated quorum sensing inhibitors: enhancement of potency through conformational control
Authors: Lizarme-Salas Yuvixza , Yu Tsz Tin , de Bruin-Dickason Caspar , Kumar Naresh , Hunter Luke
Published: October 2021

Stereoselective fluorination effectively pre-organises QS inhibitor molecules into the target-binding geometry, leading to higher potency.
Predictable site-selective functionalization: Promoter group assisted para-halogenation of N-substituted (hetero)aromatics under metal-free condition
Authors: Gupta Shiv Shankar , Manisha  , Kumar Rakesh , Dhiman Ankit Kumar , Sharma Upendra
Published: October 2021

An acid or metal-free protocol has been developed, which opens a new horizon of research in the field of selective p-C–H functionalization.
Nanoengineering with RAFT polymers: from nanocomposite design to applications
Authors: Peng Wentao , Cai Yingying , Fanslau Luise , Vana Philipp
Published: October 2021

Reversible addition–fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization is a powerful tool for the precise formation of macromolecular building blocks that can be used for the construction of well-defined nanocomposites.
Rapid, controlled ring-opening polymerization of salicylic acid o-carboxyanhydride for poly(salicylate) synthesis
Authors: Han Song , Yao Shiman , Meng Wei , Yang Jing
Published: October 2021

A fast synthesis pathway of poly(salicylate) in mild conditions was explored, in which the combination of Lewis base and alcohol enables salicylic acid o-carboxyanhydride polymerize in seconds to afford well-defined hompolymers with high Tg.
Zeolites featuring 14 × 12-ring channels with unique adsorption properties
Authors: Li Shiqing , Han Lu , Zhao Zhonglin , Xu Hao , Jiang Jingang , Wu Peng
Published: October 2021

The lamellar precursor PREFER was applied to develop interlayer expanded zeolite IEZ-FER(D4h) by molecular alkoxysilylation with the assistance of the thermal acid treatment 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl cyclotetrasiloxane (D4h) as the silylating agent to connect neighboring layers.
Alkoxycarbonyl radicals from alkyloxalyl chlorides: photoinduced synthesis of isoquinolinediones under visible light irradiation
Authors: Ji Mingjuan , Xu Liang , Luo Xiangxiang , Jiang Minghui , Wang Siyu , Chen Jian-Qiang , Wu Jie
Published: October 2021

Alkyloxalyl chlorides, generated from alcohols and oxalyl chlorides, are used as alkoxycarbonyl radicals in the reaction of N-acryloyl benzamides under photocatalysis at room temperature.
Production of nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots with controllable emission wavelength, excellent sensing of Fe3+ in aqueous solution, and potential application for stealth quick response coding in the visible regime
Authors: Su Yu-Hsun , Huang Hsuan-Hao , Tseng Chao-Chi , Tsai Hsin-Jung , Hsu Wen-Kuang
Published: October 2021

Carbon quantum dots have received attention due to their environmental friendliness, low biological toxicity and production cost. Polymer–CQD composite fibers, detection of Fe3+, and stealthy fluorescent labels made by thermal transfer printing are potential applications.
Low temperature NO2 gas sensing with ZnO nanostructured by laser interference lithography
Authors: Sanchez-Martın Sergio , Olaizola S. M. , Castaño E. , Mandayo G. G. , Ayerdi I.
Published: October 2021

ZnO gas sensing improvement due to laser interference nanostructuration.
Learning the structure–activity relationship (SAR) of the Wittig reaction from genetically-encoded substrates
Authors: Yan Kejia , Triana Vivian , Kalmady Sunil Vasu , Aku-Dominguez Kwami , Memon Sharyar , Brown Alex , Greiner Russell , Derda Ratmir
Published: October 2021

160 000 peptides displayed on phage were subjected to the Wittig reaction with a biotinylated ylide. Deep-sequencing estimated the conversion rate for each sequence and unveiled the relationship between sequences and the rate of the Wittig reaction.
An in situ self-assembled 3D zincophilic heterogeneous metal layer on a zinc metal surface for dendrite-free aqueous zinc-ion batteries
Authors: Zhang Zhuchan , Wang Ruxing , Hu Jianwei , Li Mengjun , Wang Kangli , Jiang Kai
Published: October 2021

A 3D zincophilic heterogeneous metal layer was formed in situ on a zinc metal surface by a simple chemical reaction, which guides the plating/stripping of Zn2+ ions, reduces the volume change, and inhibits the growth of zinc dendrites.
Correction: Twisted-graphene-like perylene diimide with dangling functional chromophores as tunable small-molecule acceptors in binary-blend active layers of organic photovoltaics
Authors: Lin Yu-Che , Chen Chung-Hao , She Nian-Zu , Juan Chien-Yao , Chang Bin , Li Meng-Hua , Wang Hao-Cheng , Cheng Hao-Wen , Yabushita Atsushi , Yang Yang , Wei Kung-Hwa
Published: October 2021

Correction for ‘Twisted-graphene-like perylene diimide with dangling functional chromophores as tunable small-molecule acceptors in binary-blend active layers of organic photovoltaics’ by Yu-Che Lin et al., J. Mater. Chem. A, 2021, 9, 20510–20517, DOI: 10.1039/d1ta05697b.
An energy‐efficient MAC protocol based on receiver initiation and multi‐priority backoff for wireless sensor networks
Authors: Huamei Qi , Linlin Fan , Zhengyi Yuan , Weiwei Ye , Jia Wu
Published: October 2021

Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) has been widely used with its main characteristics of resilience, scalability, and mobility. However, the node battery capacity in WSN is limited. In addition, in scenes with emergencies such as forest ecological monitoring, data packets of wildfire emergencies have higher real‐time requirements than periodic normal data. Therefore, this paper proposes an energy‐efficient MAC protocol based on Receiver initiation and Multi‐Priority Backoff (RMP‐MAC). RMP‐MAC adopts the wake‐up matching mechanism initiated by the receiver. The sender adjusts its schedule according to the wake‐up information of the receiver to match the receiver, which reduces the energy consumption of idle listening. In addition, RMP‐MAC proposes a multi‐priority factor adaptive backoff mechanism based on event priority, node remaining energy level, and the number of data packets waiting in the transmission queue, ensuring the transmission of emergency data in the actual situation of forest ecological monitoring. Simulation experiments show that compared with PB‐MAC, AP‐MAC, and MPQ‐MAC, RMP‐MAC can reduce energy consumption by 20.22%, 12.47%, and 6.62% respectively. In addition, it has improved in the average collisions, network throughput, and average delay of packets.
CP‐GAN: Meet the high requirements of diagnose report to medical image by content preservation
Authors: Zeng Xianhua , Huang Zhengyi , Xu Liming , Xie Yicai
Published: October 2021

Medical image generation from diagnostic report has important research significance for medical‐aided diagnosis. This research can improve the diagnosis speed and accuracy of doctors and effectively save the storage resources of hospitals. The research has made significant progress in the field of natural images, but rarely used in medical images. Medical images have higher requirements for image quality. In this paper, a method based on attention mechanism and content preservation loss to improve image quality is proposed. The model consists of three stages, and each stage generates feature map of different scale combined with attention features as the input of the next stage to optimise semantic consistency between image and text. The last stage will generate an image, whose size is 256 × 256. And the content preservation loss can optimise the similarity between the generated image and the real image by low‐level and high‐level features to meet the high requirements of medical image for texture details. The content preservation loss consists of MSE loss, VGG loss and TV loss. The experiments on two datasets prove that the method can achieve excellent results.
Development of a wideband symmetric pillbox antenna with low side lobes in gap waveguide technology
Authors: Mohammadpour Mohammad , Mohajeri Farzad , Razavi Parizi Seyed Ali
Published: October 2021

In this work, a symmetric pillbox antenna with low side lobes is designed, simulated and fabricated by using gap waveguide technology. The proposed antenna operates on the basis of the reflector antenna principle and provides a fan‐beam radiation pattern. In the proposed structure, the antenna aperture is loaded by a stepped discontinuity and a corrective pin to improve the side‐lobe level (SLL) and gain. The designed antenna impedance bandwidth (S11 < −10 dB) is 42% at the Ku band. Also, −15 dB < SLL < −10 dB and a gain of 16.6–18.7 dBi are achieved over the operating bandwidth. There is a good agreement between the simulated and measured results.
A two‐dimensional beam scanning continuous transverse stub antenna based on a single‐layer compact linear source generator
Authors: Zhao Ming‐Yang , Lei Xue , Gao Jun , Zhu Yi‐Jun , Li Tian‐Peng , Peng Qiang
Published: October 2021

To minimise the profile of Satcom‐on‐the‐Move ground terminals, in this study, a two‐dimensional beam‐scanning continuous transverse stub antenna that is based on a compact linear source generator (LSG) is presented. A periodic anti‐symmetric two‐step (ASTS) structure cascaded with a broadband network is used to construct a single‐layer compact LSG. The concept of a parallel‐plate waveguide polarisation twister is used to design the ASTS unit that acts as a TE10‐to‐transverse electromagnetic wave converter, to which chamfers and T‐type grooves are added to improve the output plane wave performance over the entire frequency band. A prototype array operating in the band 10.95–12.75 GHz is designed, fabricated, and measured, and the experimental results agree well with the simulated ones. A beam‐scanning range of ±61° in elevation is achieved at the central frequency. Although only 29 of 36 slots (ϕ = 0°) contribute to the radiation, the antenna aperture efficiency is still over 60% due to the superior performance of the single‐layer minimised LSG.
Low complexity deep learning algorithms for compensating atmospheric turbulence in the free space optical communication system
Authors: Amirabadi Mohammad Ali , Kahaei Mohammad Hossein , Nezamalhosseni S. Alireza
Published: October 2021

One of the main barriers of free space optical (FSO) communication systems is atmospheric turbulence. Various processing techniques at the transmitter, receiver, and transceiver sides are available for addressing this issue; however, they have either high complexity or low performance. Considering this problem, in this study, deep learning (DL) is deployed at the transmitter, receiver, and transceiver sides of an FSO system for constellation shaping, detection, and joint constellation‐shaping detection, respectively. Furthermore, the proposed DL‐based structures are deployed in an FSO‐multi‐input multi‐output (MIMO) system. As the first investigation over DL for the FSO‐MIMO system, different combining schemes including the maximum ratio combiner, equal gain combiner, and the selection combiner are considered. Considering a wide range of atmospheric turbulence, from the weak to the strong regime, the performance of the proposed structures are compared with that of the maximum likelihood (ML) detection. To the best of the authors' knowledge, the main contributions and novelties of this work include considering transmitter learning in the FSO system, designing low complexity DL structures for FSO system applications, and providing complexity analysis for the proposed DL algorithms. The results indicate that the proposed DL‐based FSO systems achieve the optimum performance with lower complexity compared with the state‐of‐the‐art conventional FSO systems. For instance, the proposed DL‐based detector is almost 2, 3, and 7.5 times faster than the ML detector for modulation orders of 16, 64, and 256, respectively.
Scaling relations and baryonic cycling in local star-forming galaxies
Authors: Tortora C. , Hunt L. K. , Ginolfi M.
Published: October 2021

Gas accretion and stellar feedback processes link metal content, star formation, and gas and stellar mass (and the potential depth) in star-forming galaxies. Constraining this hypersurface has been challenging because of the need for measurements of H I and H2 gas masses spanning a broad parameter space. A recent step forward has been achieved through the Metallicity And Gas for Mass Assembly sample of local star-forming galaxies, which consists of homogeneously determined parameters and a significant quantity of dwarf galaxies, with stellar masses as low as ∼105 − 106 M⊙. Here, in the third paper of a series, we adopt a standard galactic chemical evolution model, with which we can quantify stellar-driven outflows. In particular, we constrain the difference between the mass-loading in accretion and outflows and the wind metal-loading factor. The resulting model reproduces very well the local mass–metallicity relation, and the observed trends of metallicity with gas fraction. Although the difference in mass loading between accreted and expelled gas is extremely difficult to constrain, we find indications that, on average, the amount of gas acquired through accretion is roughly the same as the gas lost through bulk stellar outflows, a condition roughly corresponding to a “gas equilibrium” scenario. In agreement with previous work, the wind metal-loading factor shows a steep increase toward lower mass and circular velocity, indicating that low-mass galaxies are more efficient at expelling metals, thus shaping the mass–metallicity relation. Effective yields are found to increase with mass up to an inflection mass threshold, with a mild decline at larger masses and circular velocities. A comparison of our results for metal loading in outflows with the expectations for their mass loading favors momentum-driven winds at low masses, rather than energy-driven ones.
A derivation of nano-diamond optical constants
Authors: Jones A. P. , Ysard N.
Published: October 2021

Context. Nano-diamonds are an enticing and enigmatic dust component yet their origin is still unclear. They have been unequivocally detected in only a few astronomical objects, yet they are the most abundant of the pre-solar grains, both in terms of mass and number.

Aims. Our goal is to derive a viable set of nano-diamond optical constants and optical properties to enable their modelling in any type of astrophysical object where, primarily, the local (inter)stellar radiation field is well-determined.

Methods. The complex indices of refraction, m(n, k), of nano-diamonds, constrained by available laboratory measurements, were calculated as a function of size, surface hydrogenation, and internal (dis)order, using the THEMIS a-C(:H) methodology optEC(s)(a).

Results. To demonstrate the utility of the optical properties (the efficiency factors Qext, Qsca, and Qabs), calculated using the derived m(n, k) data, we show that nano-diamonds could be abundant in the interstellar medium (ISM) and yet remain undetectable there.

Conclusions. The derived optical constants provide a means to explore the existence and viability of nano-diamonds in a wide range of astronomical sources. Here we show that up to a few percent of the available carbon budget could be hidden in the form of nano-diamonds in the diffuse ISM, in abundances comparable to the pre-solar nano-diamond abundances in primitive meteorites.
Geodynamic evolution of a wide plate boundary in the Western Mediterranean, near-fieldversusfar-field interactions
Authors: Jolivet Laurent , Baudin Thierry , Calassou Sylvain , Chevrot Sébastien , Ford Mary , Issautier Benoit , Lasseur Eric , Masini Emmanuel , Manatschal Gianreto , Mouthereau Frédéric , Thinon Isabelle , Vidal Olivier
Published: October 2021

The present-day tectonic setting of the Western Mediterranean region, from the Pyrénées to the Betics and from the Alps to the Atlas, results from a complex 3-D geodynamic evolution involving the interactions between the Africa, Eurasia and Iberia plates and asthenospheric mantle dynamics underneath. In this paper, we review the main tectonic events recorded in this region since the Early Cretaceous and discuss the respective effects of far-field and near-field contributions, in order to unravel the origin of forces controlling crustal deformation. The respective contributions of mantle-scale, plate-scale and local processes in the succession of tectonic stages are discussed. Three periods can be distinguished: (1) the first period (Tethyan Tectonics), from 110 to 35 Ma, spans the main evolution of the Pyrenean orogen and the early evolution of the Betics, from rifting to maximum shortening. The rifting between Iberia and Europe and the subsequent progressive formation of new compressional plate boundaries in the Pyrénées and the Betics, as well as the compression recorded all the way to the North Sea, are placed in the large-scale framework of the African and Eurasian plates carried by large-scale mantle convection; (2) the second period (Mediterranean Tectonics), from 32 to 8 Ma, corresponds to a first-order change in subduction dynamics. It is most typically Mediterranean with a dominant contribution of slab retreat and associated mantle flow in crustal deformation. Mountain building and back-arc basin opening are controlled by retreating and tearing slabs and associated mantle flow at depth. The 3-D interactions between the different pieces of retreating slabs are complex and the crust accommodates the mantle flow underneath in various ways, including the formation of metamorphic core complexes and transfer fault zones; (3) the third period (Late-Mediterranean Tectonics) runs from 8 Ma to the Present. It corresponds to a new drastic change in the tectonic regime characterized by the resumption of N-S compression along the southern plate boundary and a propagation of compression toward the north. The respective effects of stress transmission through the lithospheric stress-guide and lithosphere-asthenosphere interactions are discussed throughout this period.
Effects of ethylene-bis-dithiocarbamate (Mancozeb) on zebrafish (Danio rerio) oocytes
Authors: Yön Ertuğ Nazan Deniz , Uzun Elif , Dinç Tarık , Akbulut Cansu
Published: October 2021

Pesticides used to protect plants and animals against the competition of unwanted insects, diseases, and weeds, and pests play a delicate role in living systems. It has adverse effects on the environment and health. The most adverse effects of pesticide derivatives are the reduction in biodiversity, water pollution, and health risks. Mancozeb is an ethylene bis dithiocarbamate (EBDC) pesticide containing manganese and zinc. These pesticides are included in the fungicide group because they are used for treating fungal diseases. In this study, the structure of oocytes developing in female zebrafish exposed to different doses of mancozeb (5 mg L−1, 7.5 mg L−1) was examined. Compared with the control group, it was determined that the number of developing oocytes reduced in the experimental groups. There was a significant increase in atretic oocytes, an increase in the level of degenerate oocytes in a dose-dependent manner, and deformation in oocytes became prominent.
Acute Exposure to the Neonicotinoid Insecticide Imidacloprid of Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Gonads: A Histopathological Approach
Authors: Akbulut Cansu
Published: October 2021

Neonicotinoids are the new class of insecticides that are high target specificity to insects. Imidacloprid is a neonicotinoid that is the most widely used insecticide in the world. As a result of its widespread use in agriculture, imidacloprid interferes with the aquatic system and threatens the aquatic environment. In this study, an investigation of the histopathological effects of imidacloprid on zebrafish gonads was aimed. Zebrafish were exposed to 9.5 mg/L, 19 mg/L, and 38 mg/L of imidacloprid for 5 days, considering the 96 h LC50 value. After dissecting the gonadal tissues, routine histological techniques were applied, and the tissues were stained with Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS), Toluidine Blue (TB), and Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E). Sections were examined under a light microscope. While normal gonad histology was observed in the control group, histopathological alternations such as degeneration and union in the seminiferous tubules, hypertrophy in spermatogenic and Leydig cells, and interstitial fibrosis were detected in testicular tissue of the experimental groups. In the ovarian tissues of the experimental groups, structural deterioration in oocytes, autolysis, increase in the number of atretic oocytes, vacuolization in cortical alveoli, thickening and curling in the zona radiata, and opening in the perifollicular layers were detected.
Ist Cannabidiol ein Lebensmittel oder ein Arzneimittel?
Authors: Kraft Karin , Schmidt Mathias
Published: October 2021

CBD-haltige Produkte wie sogenannte CBD-Öle werden in Form von Nahrungsmitteln und Nahrungsergänzungsmitteln vertrieben und vielfach mit medizinischen Indikationen bei schweren Erkrankungen beworben. Derzeit werden auf europäischer Ebene Anträge auf Novel-Food-Status bearbeitet. Bei genauerer Betrachtung erweisen sich jedoch bereits die Grundlagen für die Einstufung von CBD als Lebensmittel als fragwürdig. CBD ist eindeutig ein verschreibungspflichtiger Arzneistoff mit bekannten pharmakologischen Effekten, der im Falle von Cannabisextrakten zudem Betäubungsmittelstatus hat. Für die Verwendung in Nahrungsmitteln fehlen die lebensmitteltypischen Eigenschaften. Auch wenn CBD selbst in hohen Dosen toxikologisch unbedenklich ist: Durch eine nachgewiesene Anwendungssicherheit wird ein Arzneistoff nicht zum Lebensmittel.
Nahrungsergänzungsmittel auf Basis von Heidelbeeren – wie sieht die Qualitätssituation aus?
Authors: Gaspar Dan Plecenik , Lechtenberg Matthias , Hensel Andreas
Published: October 2021

Heidelbeeren (Vaccinium myrtillus) werden zur symptomatischen Behandlung leichter Durchfälle, zur Linderung von Beschwerden und Schweregefühl in den Beinen bei leichten venösen Durchblutungsstörungen und bei Varikosis verwendet. Die schwarzblauen Früchte sind ein begehrtes Wildobst und ein teures Handelsprodukt. Qualitätsprobleme sind deshalb nicht unwahrscheinlich. Aus diesem Grund verfolgte eine kürzlich durchgeführte Studie das Ziel, die Qualität frischer und getrockneter Heidelbeeren sowie von Nahrungsergänzungsmitteln (NEM) auf Basis von Heidelbeeren zu untersuchen. Eine an das Europäische Arzneibuch angelehnte HPLC-Methode wurde zur Prüfung der Identität und zur Bestimmung des Gesamtanthocyan-Gehalts verwendet; zusätzlich wurde der Gerbstoffgehalt photometrisch bestimmt. Ein Großteil (91 %) der untersuchten getrockneten Heidelbeeren aus unterschiedlichen Quellen zeigte eine gute Qualität. Gravierende Qualitätsdefizite konnten aber im Segment der NEM beobachtet werden: Knapp die Hälfte (45 %) der untersuchten Muster waren von unbefriedigender Qualität. Neben Produkten, die keine nachweisbaren Mengen an Heidelbeeren bzw. nur sehr geringe Anthocyan- und Gerbstoff-Gehalte enthielten, konnten auch solche Proben identifiziert werden, die mit Anthocyanen aus anderen botanischen Quellen verfälscht worden waren. Drei repräsentative Proben von Heidelbeersäften wiesen eine gute Qualität in allen getesteten Parametern auf. Die Untersuchung zeigt, dass zur Verbesserung der Produktqualität von NEM verstärkte analytische Anstrengungen zur Sicherstellung der Produktqualität und im Sinne des Verbraucherschutzes notwendig sind.
Betriebliche Gesundheitsförderung im Handlungsfeld Ernährung im Setting Pflegeheim im Rahmen des Modellvorhabens POLKA
Authors: Kraaibeek Hanna-Kathrin
Published: October 2021

Der demografische Wandel in Deutschland ist durch niedrige Geburtenraten und eine ständig steigende Lebenserwartung gekennzeichnet. Prognostiziert wird der Anstieg des Anteils der hochaltrigen Menschen und somit einer Zunahme der Zahl Pflegebedürftiger. Das zieht einen Bedarf an professionellen Pflegekräften nach sich. Der Beruf der Pflegekraft in der Altenpflege ist ein anspruchsvolles Tätigkeitsfeld mit zahlreichen Herausforderungen. Für die Pflegekraft führt die gesundheitliche Belastung durch Schichtarbeit und die physisch und psychisch herausfordernde Arbeit zu einem überdurchschnittlich hohen Krankenstand. Die Arbeit im Wechselschichtdienst erhöht zusätzlich das Risiko, am Metabolischen Syndrom und damit an abdomineller Fettleibigkeit, Bluthochdruck, erhöhten Blutzucker- und Blutfettwerten zu erkranken. Die Pflegebranche steht im Vergleich zu anderen Berufszweigen bundesweit an der Spitze der krankheitsbedingten Fehlzeiten. Gesunde Pflegekräfte sind für die Gesellschaft unverzichtbar. Der betrieblichen Gesundheitsförderung kommt daher große Bedeutung in der Gesunderhaltung der Pflegekräfte zu.
Stationsäquivalente Behandlung (StäB) im Vergleich mit vollstationärer Behandlung: 12-Monats-Follow-up einer gematchten Kohortenstudie
Authors: Weinmann Stefan , Spiegel Jennifer , Baumgardt Johanna , Bühling-Schindowski Felix , Pfeiffer Jan , Kleinschmidt Martin , Bechdolf Andreas
Published: October 2021

Ziel der Studie Überprüfung der Wirksamkeit einer stationsäquivalenten psychiatrischen Behandlung (StäB) im Vergleich mit einer vollstationären psychiatrischen Routinebehandlung.

Methodik Im Rahmen einer retrospektiven Verlaufsstudie wurden 43 Patient*innen aus der StäB (Interventionsgruppe/IG, n = 43) mit einer gematchten vollstationären Kontrollgruppe (KG, n = 43) hinsichtlich vollstationärer Wiederaufnahmerate und Behandlungstage im 12-Monats-Follow-up verglichen.

Ergebnisse Bei den Patient*innen der IG zeigte sich eine um etwa 9 % geringere Wiederaufnahmerate in die vollstationäre Behandlung. Im 12-Monats-Follow-up zeigte sich in dieser Gruppe eine um etwa 30 % längere vollstationäre Behandlungsdauer. Beide Gruppenunterschiede waren statistisch nicht signifikant.

Schlussfolgerung Die vorliegende Studie deutet darauf hin, dass StäB hinsichtlich des Wiederaufnahmerisikos einer stationären Behandlung nicht unterlegen ist.
Cavernous Hemangioma in the Orbital Cavity: Case Report
Authors: Almeida José Afonso de , Gellen Paula Vitória Bido , Hiramatsu Daniel Martins , Santos Mariana Araújo dos , Bitencourt Larissa , Marceliano Eduardo Fagury Videira , Galhardi Michelle Paiva Weydt , Marceliano-Alves Marília F. , Marques Eduardo Fernandes
Published: October 2021

Cavernous hemangiomas are benign malformations of vascular origin, usually well circumscribed and slow to grow. These lesions can be asymptomatic, being discovered unintentionally in imaging exams or symptomatic, indicated mainly by the presence of proptosis, diplopia, and visual disturbances by optic nerve compression. The complementary exams involve computed tomography associated with contrast, color Doppler, magnetic resonance, and angiography. Treatment can be conservative or surgical depending on the case, and the open therapy usually involves lateral, supraorbital, transconjunctival, transantral, pterional, transnasal, and extradural endoscopic orbitotomy. The present study aimed to report a recurrent case of hemangioma in the orbital cavity signaled by ocular proptosis, hyperemia, and ocular pain.The lesion was achieved through the Weber-Ferguson access with zygomatic osteotomy and preservation of the infraorbital nerve. The excision of the lesion was performed, and the previously displaced fragments were fixed with 1.5 mm mini plates. The patient has a chance of progressing with visual impairment due to considerable manipulation of the optic nerve and is being followed up.The reported case showed a successful diagnosis and therapeutic conduct, remaining now in the evolution and follow-up scenario.