bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CÁRIE E FLUOROSE DENTÁRIA: EXISTE RELAÇÃO?
Authors: Da Paz Costa Lara Beatriz , De Matos Vilas Boas Aline , Carvalho Lima Porto Edla
Published: March 2022

Introdução: A prevenção de doenças bucais em crianças é a prioridade na odontologia moderna e a saúde bucal de um indivíduo começa a se desenvolver na primeira infância. Uma influência das doenças cárie e fluorose dentária na qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde bucal se destaca, além de ser observada uma relação direta entre a alta concentração de fluoretos na água de consumo e a redução da cárie dentária, entretanto, uma provável relação com o aumento da prevalência e gravidade da doença fluorose pode estar agregada, principalmente pela existência da ingestão de flúor a partir de outras fontes. Objetivo: Verificar se existe relação entre a cárie e a fluorose dentária, através de uma revisão da literatura. Revisão de Literatura: É inquestionável a ação protetora do flúor contra a cárie, mas foi associada na literatura um aumento na ocorrência e gravidade da fluorose já que o teor de flúor pode estar sendo além do recomendado em relação à água, associado a ingestão de alimentos, bebidas e dentifrícios também fluoretados. Percebeu-se o baixo nível de conhecimento das crianças e cuidadores a respeito da etiologia da fluorose e a importância dos programas de promoção da saúde bucal.  Considerações Finais: É notória a relação existente entre cárie e fluorose dentária mesmo que, de forma indireta, exista o efeito duplo que o flúor pode ocasionar, tanto benéfico quanto “maléfico”, necessitando assim de uma atuação mais eficiente e rigorosa dos gestores.
O‐GlcNAcylation regulates lysophosphatidic acid‐induced cell migration by regulating ERM family proteins
Authors: Song Minseok , Suh Pann‐Ghill
Published: March 2022

O‐GlcNAcylation of intracellular proteins (O‐GlcNAc) is a post‐translational modification that often competes with phosphorylation in diverse cellular signaling pathways. Recent studies on human malignant tumors have demonstrated that O‐GlcNAc is implicated in cellular features relevant to metastasis. Here, we report that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA)‐induced ovarian cancer cell (OVCAR‐3) migration is regulated by O‐GlcNAc. We found that O‐GlcNAc modification of ERM family proteins, a membrane‐cytoskeletal crosslinker, was inversely correlated with its phosphorylation status. Moreover, the LPA‐induced formation of membrane protrusion structures, as well as the migration of OVCAR‐3 cells, was reduced by the accumulation of O‐GlcNAc. Collectively, these findings suggest that O‐GlcNAc is an essential signaling element controlling ERM family proteins involved in OVCAR‐3 cell migration.
Flexible and Dual‐Tunable Radar Absorber Enabled by Graphene
Authors: Geng Mingyang , Liu Zhenguo , Chen Hao , Bao Xinzhi , Yang Xiaolu , Lu Weibing
Published: March 2022

Flexible and tunable radar absorbers (RAs) are in great demand both in stealth technologies and electromagnetic delusion for concealment of complex targets such as aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicle from radar detection. As a general approach, conventional lumped components such as varactor diodes and resistors are employed to achieve frequency and/or amplitude tunability of RAs. However, despite the intricate feeding networks and complex fabrication processes, this approach shows great difficulty in integrating the conventional rigid components with flexible substrate. Hence, it is an enormous challenge to realize both dual‐tunable and flexible RAs. Here the authors for the first time design and experimentally characterize a flexible and dual‐tunable RA with independent control of the frequency and amplitude. Most important is that the achieving both amplitude and frequency control is fully based on the tunability of graphene, without any lumped devices and intricate feeding network, and even without any metal involved. Hence, this dual‐tunable RA shows the priority of being flexible, light weight, and environmentally friendly. Although the prototype in this work is operating in microwave spectrum, the tunable functionalities at millimeter or terahertz spectral bands can also be obtained due to the intrinsic tunability of graphene.
Monocyte NLRP3‐IL‐1β Hyperactivation Mediates Neuronal and Synaptic Dysfunction in Perioperative Neurocognitive Disorder
Authors: Chen Kai , Hu Qiuping , Xie Zhongcong , Yang Guang
Published: March 2022

Perioperative neurocognitive disorder may develop in vulnerable patients following major operation. While neuroinflammation is linked to the cognitive effects of surgery, how surgery and immune signaling modulate neuronal circuits, leading to learning and memory impairment remains unknown. Using in vivo two‐photon microscopy, Ca2+ activity and postsynaptic dendritic spines of layer 5 pyramidal neurons in the primary motor cortex of a mouse model of thoracic surgery are imaged. It is found that surgery causes neuronal hypoactivity, impairments in learning‐dependent dendritic spine formation, and deficits in multiple learning tasks. These neuronal and synaptic alterations in the cortex are mediated by peripheral monocytes through the NLRP3 inflammasome‐dependent IL‐1β production. Depleting peripheral monocytes or inactivating NLRP3 inflammasomes before surgery reduces levels of IL‐1β and ameliorates neuronal and behavioral deficits in mice. Furthermore, adoptive transfer of IL‐1β‐producing myeloid cells from mice undertaking thoracic surgery is sufficient to induce neuronal and behavioral deficits in naïve mice. Together, these findings suggest that surgery leads to excessive NLRP3 activation in monocytes and elevated IL‐1β signaling, which in turn causes neuronal hypoactivity and perioperative neurocognitive disorder.
High toughness and thermal conductivity of thermosets from liquid crystalline epoxy with low melting point
Authors: Harada Miyuki , Kawasaki Yusuke
Published: March 2022

A diphenylcyclohexene‐type liquid crystalline (LC) epoxy was successfully synthesized and characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H‐NMR) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Even though the synthesized epoxy monomer showed a low melting temperature (99°C), the LC (smectic and nematic) phase was maintained over a wide temperature range of 99–184°C during the heating process. Moreover, the synthesized LC epoxy was cured with 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane under four different temperature conditions. The LC phase structure, domain size, and LC fraction of the resulting epoxy thermosets were analyzed by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and polarized optical microscopy (POM). The fracture toughness and thermal conductivity increased with an increase in the size and volume fraction of the LC domains. It was also found that the enhancement of the fracture toughness was more sensitive than that of the thermal conductivity.
Evaluation of in‐situ and ex‐situ hybridization in the optimized transesterification of waste and pure vegetable oils
Authors: Etim Anietie O. , Musonge Paul , Eloka‐Eboka Andrew C.
Published: March 2022

Feedstock hybridization is an effective approach to address the challenges of the non‐availability of raw materials for biodiesel production. This study explores the hybridization of used sunflower oil and linseed oil in an optimized parametric transesterification method catalyzed by a potassium‐rich ash obtained from waste banana peels. Fractions of the oils were analyzed and hybridized in the ratio 50:50, 30:70, 70:30 to obtain bi‐hybrid oils and then trans‐esterified to obtain hybridized biodiesel fuel – in‐situ hybridization. The same pattern of co‐mingling was adopted for the produced single oil biodiesel to obtain bi‐hybridized biodiesel fuels – ex‐situ hybridization. The biodiesel obtained from the two‐pathway hybridization processes was analyzed for its fuel properties and compared with the biodiesel quality standards. The optimal conditions used for both the single and in‐situ hybrid oil transesterification were a methanol‐to‐oil ratio 10:1, catalyst amount 3.5 wt%, reaction time 60 min and a constant temperature of 65 °C, with the maximum biodiesel yield ranging from 94 to 97%. The fuel properties – density, viscosity, acid value, iodine value, cetane number and calorific value – obtained from the process compared well with the biodiesel quality standards. In some cases, the properties obtained via the ex‐situ hybridization approach were slightly improved compared with those of in‐situ hybridization. The study shows that the application of the two hybridization approaches are appropriate for biodiesel development and applications. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Seasonal associations with light pollution trends for nocturnally migrating bird populations
Authors: La Sorte Frank A. , Horton Kyle G. , Johnston Alison , Fink Daniel , Auer Tom
Published: March 2022

Artificial light at night (ALAN) is adversely affecting natural systems worldwide, including the disorienting influence of ALAN on nocturnally migrating birds. Understanding how ALAN trends are developing across species' seasonal distributions will inform mitigation efforts, such as Lights Out programs. Here, we intersect ALAN annual trend estimates (1992–2013) with weekly estimates of relative abundance for 42 nocturnally migrating passerine bird species that breed in North America using observations from the eBird community science database for the combined period 2005–2020. We use a cluster analysis to identify species with similar weekly associations with ALAN trends. Our results identified three prominent clusters. Two contained species that occurred in northeastern and western North America during the breeding season. These species were associated with moderate ALAN levels and weak negative ALAN trends during the breeding season, and low ALAN levels and strong positive ALAN trends during the nonbreeding season. The difference between the breeding and nonbreeding seasons was lower for species that occurred in northern South America and greater for species that occurred in Central America during the nonbreeding season. For species that occurred in South America during the nonbreeding season, positive ALAN trends increased in strength as species migrated through Central America, especially in the spring. The third cluster contained species whose associations with positive ALAN trends remained high across the annual cycle, peaking during migration, especially in the spring. These species occurred in southeastern North America during the breeding season where they were associated with high ALAN levels, and in northern South America during the nonbreeding season where they were associated with low ALAN levels. Our findings suggest reversing ALAN trends in Central America during migration, especially in the spring, would benefit the most individuals of the greatest number of species. Reversing ALAN trends in southeastern North America during the breeding season and Central America during the nonbreeding season would generate the greatest benefits outside of migration.
Garlic oil alleviates high triglyceride levels in alcohol‐exposed rats by inhibiting liver oxidative stress and regulating the intestinal barrier and intestinal flora
Authors: Wang Yanhui , Zhang Huaqi , Teng Xiangyun , Guo Peiyu , Zuo Yuwei , Zhao Hui , Wang Peng , Liang Hui
Published: March 2022

Garlic oil (GO) is a kind of natural extract extracted from garlic, which has strong antioxidant activity. This study elucidates the protective mechanism of GO against alcohol‐induced high triglyceride levels. Sixty male Sprague Dawley rats were assigned to five groups, including a control group (CON), a model group (MOD) treated with alcohol 56% v/v at 8 ml kg−1 day−1 for 2 weeks then 10 ml kg−1 day−1 for 8 weeks, a low‐dose GO group (GO‐L) given GO at 20 mg kg−1 day−1, a high‐dose GO group (GO‐H) given GO at 40 mg kg−1 day−1, and a positive group (POS) given diammonium glycyrrhizinate at 200 mg kg−1 day−1. The results showed that GO could significantly reduce the serum and liver triglyceride levels caused by alcohol exposure (p < .05). The GO‐H group significantly reduced MDA level, increased SOD and GSH‐Px levels in serum, liver, and colon (p < .05), significantly increased the levels of Sirt1 and PGC‐1α proteins and reduced FoxO1 protein level in liver (p < .05), and significantly increased the levels of ZO‐1 and Claudin1 proteins in the colon compared to the MOD group (p < .05). The 16S rRNA sequencing showed that the intestinal flora of the GO‐H group was significantly changed compared with the MOD group. In summary, GO has the potential to improve high triglyceride levels in serum and liver induced by alcohol exposure, which may be related to the inhibition of oxidative stress regulation of Sirt1 and its downstream proteins, and to the restoration of the intestinal barrier and intestinal flora.
Coumestrol pre‐treatment improves spatial learning and memory deficits following transient cerebral ischemia recruiting hippocampal GluR2 AMPA receptors
Authors: Castro Cibele Canal , de Souza Pagnussat Aline , Munhoz Carolina Demarchi , Netto Carlos Alexandre
Published: March 2022

Transient global ischemia is a leading cause of learning and memory dysfunction and induces a pattern of delayed neuronal death in the CA1 subfield of the hippocampus by down‐regulating GluR2 mRNA AMPA receptors in this cerebral area. This study sought to investigate the neuroprotective effect of coumestrol against spatial memory impairment induced by global ischemia that leads to neural death by reducing the GluR2 receptors content in the hippocampal CA1 area. Our studies demonstrated that coumestrol administration prevented spatial memory deficits in mice. These findings suggest a cognitive enhancement role of coumestrol against cognitive impairment in ischemic events.
Morganella morganii: An unusual analysis of 11 cases of pediatric urinary tract infections
Authors: Shi Huixuan , Chen Xianrui , Yao Yonghua , Xu Jinping
Published: March 2022

Background

The increase in rare opportunistic microbial infections caused by Morganella morganii is alarming across the globe. It has been reported that in cases of urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by M. morganii, however, few studies investigated children. Our study aimed to analyze the risk factors, antimicrobial susceptibility, and clinical characteristics, so as to improve the clinical diagnosis and therapy of M. morganii infection.

Methods

Between April 1, 2017 and April 1, 2021, 11 cases of pediatric UTIs caused by M. morganii were included in this retrospective study. Medical records were reviewed and analyzed.

Results

The study population included 10 males and one female between 11 months and 13 years old (mean age: 4 years 9 months). The most common comorbidity was nephrotic syndrome (72.7%, 8/11). Six patients (54.5%) were in the immunosuppressed state due to chemotherapy or immunosuppressant therapy. Ten cases defined as lower UTIs with no specific clinical manifestations had normal or slightly elevated leukocyte counts and procalcitonin (PCT) levels, and normal C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels. One child diagnosed upper UTIs accompanied with fever, high level of leukocyte counts, CRP, and PCT. The M. morganii presented 100% susceptibility to aztreonam, ertapenem, meropenem, piperacillin/tazobactam, cefepime, ceftazidime, cefotetan, ticarcillin/clavulanic acid, and cefoperazone/sulbactam. Almost all patients had good responses to third‐generation cephalosporins antibiotic therapy.

Conclusion

Clinical vigilance for the possibility of M. morganii in pediatric UTIs in combination with underlying disease or immunosuppression is warranted. Treatment strategies should be proposed according to the clinical condition and the antibiotic susceptibility results.
Things come in threes: A new complex allele and a novel deletion within the CFTR gene complicate an accurate diagnosis of cystic fibrosis
Authors: Persico Ilaria , Feresin Agnese , Faleschini Michela , Fontana Giorgia , Sirchia Fabio , Faletra Flavio , La Bianca Martina , Suergiu Sarah , Morgutti Marcello , Maschio Massimo , D'Adamo Adamo Pio , Raraigh Karen S. , Savoia Anna , Bottega Roberta
Published: March 2022

Background

Despite consolidated guidelines, the clinical diagnosis and prognosis of cystic fibrosis (CF) is still challenging mainly because of the extensive phenotypic heterogeneity and the high number of CFTR variants, including their combinations as complex alleles.

Results

We report a family with a complicated syndromic phenotype, which led to the suspicion not only of CF, but of a dominantly inherited skeletal dysplasia (SD). Whereas the molecular basis of the SD was not clarified, segregation analysis was central to make a correct molecular diagnosis of CF, as it allowed to identify three CFTR variants encompassing two known maternal mutations and a novel paternal microdeletion.

Conclusion

This case well illustrates possible pitfalls in the clinical and molecular diagnosis of CF; presence of complex phenotypes deflecting clinicians from appropriate CF recognition, and/or identification of two mutations assumed to be in trans but with an unconfirmed status, which underline the importance of an in‐depth molecular CFTR analysis.
Boundary behavior for the heat equation on the half‐line
Authors: Chatziafratis Andreas , Mantzavinos Dionyssios
Published: March 2022

The initial‐boundary value problem for the heat equation on
with nonzero Dirichlet boundary data is studied rigorously, with emphasis on the behavior of the solution along the boundary of the spatiotemporal domain, that is, in the limits
or
, including the case
. Our results specify how the regularity of the solution at the boundary is dictated by the level of smoothness of the relevant initial and boundary data. To the best of our knowledge, for unbounded domains like the half‐line
, such results are not available in the literature. The corresponding analysis for the derivatives of the solution is also performed and yields additional compatibility conditions on the initial and boundary data which guarantee the extension of the solution to a
function up to the boundary, that is, on
. The analysis relies on the explicit solution formula provided by the unified transform, also known as the Fokas method, whose rigorous derivation is presented. The main advantage of this formula, namely, its uniform convergence at the boundary, largely reduces the proof of our results to fundamental tools from real and complex analysis such as Lebesgue's dominated convergence theorem and Cauchy's theorem. Moreover, thanks to uniform convergence, the unified transform solution formula can actually be directly evaluated at the boundary to yield the prescribed initial and boundary data.
A compatible mixed finite element method for large deformation analysis of two‐dimensional compressible solids in spatial configuration
Authors: Jahanshahi Mohsen
Published: March 2022

In this article, a new mixed finite element formulation is presented for the analysis of two‐dimensional compressible solids in finite strain regime. A three‐field Hu–Washizu functional, with displacement, displacement gradient and stress tensor considered as independent fields, is utilized to develop the formulation in spatial configuration. Certain constraints are imposed on displacement gradient and stress tensor so that they satisfy the required continuity conditions across the boundary of elements. From theoretical standpoint, simplex elements are best suited for the application of continuity constraints. The techniques that are proposed to implement the constraints facilitate their automatic imposition and, hence, they can be regarded as an important feature of the work. Since the exterior calculus provides the basis for the developments presented herein, the relevant topics are discussed within the context of the work. Various technical aspects of the formulation are described in detail. These aspects help to illuminate the mathematical formulation that might seem vague in the first place and, more importantly, they help to provide an efficient implementation for ensuing developments. The performance of the mixed finite element method is studied through benchmark numerical examples and it is compared with other similar elements. It is shown that the element has excellent convergence properties and it is numerically stable, especially for problems where classical first order elements demonstrate stiff or unstable behavior.
A New Parameterized Monogamy Relation between Entanglement and Equality
Authors: Jin Zhi‐Xiang , Fei Shao‐Ming , Li‐Jost Xianqing , Qiao Cong‐Feng
Published: March 2022

A generalized definition of the monogamy relation for entanglement measures is provided. A monogamy equality rather than the usual inequality is presented based on the monogamy weight, from which monogamy relations are given satisfied by the αth power of the entanglement measures. Taking concurrence as an example, the significance and advantages of these relations are further demonstrated. In addition, it is shown that monogamy relations can be recovered by considering multiple copies of states for every non‐additive entanglement measure that violates the inequalities. It is also demonstrated that such relations for tripartite states can be generalized to multipartite systems.
Autism, the Criminal Justice System, and Transition to Adulthood
Authors: Richman Kenneth A. , Krause-Jensen Katrine , Rodogno Raffaele
Published: March 2022

The criminal justice system is set up for the purpose of regulating people’s behavior. If an individual violates a criminal norm, sanctions should reflect that person’s mental capacity in understanding what they did was legally wrong. When an autistic individual commits a crime, questions may be raised as to the responsibility of key social/state actors for failing to provide structures that would facilitate accepted behavior in this special category of citizens. Many of the infractions that autistic individuals are likely to commit come as a result of failed interactions with the wider neurotypical society as well as with law-enforcement officials. If the general public were more sensitive and educated about some of the issues raised here, and if (parts of) the public realm were less stressful and more autism friendly, there may well be fewer problematic incidents involving autistic people.
Sparse testing using genomic prediction improves selection for breeding targets in elite spring wheat
Authors: Atanda Sikiru Adeniyi , Govindan Velu , Singh Ravi , Robbins Kelly R. , Crossa Jose , Bentley Alison R.
Published: March 2022

Key message

Sparse testing using genomic prediction can be efficiently used to increase the number of testing environments while maintaining selection intensity in the early yield testing stage without increasing the breeding budget.

Sparse testing using genomic prediction enables expanded use of selection environments in early-stage yield testing without increasing phenotyping cost. We evaluated different sparse testing strategies in the yield testing stage of a CIMMYT spring wheat breeding pipeline characterized by multiple populations each with small family sizes of 1–9 individuals. Our results indicated that a substantial overlap between lines across environments should be used to achieve optimal prediction accuracy. As sparse testing leverages information generated within and across environments, the genetic correlations between environments and genomic relationships of lines across environments were the main drivers of prediction accuracy in multi-environment yield trials. Including information from previous evaluation years did not consistently improve the prediction performance. Genomic best linear unbiased prediction was found to be the best predictor of true breeding value, and therefore, we propose that it should be used as a selection decision metric in the early yield testing stages. We also propose it as a proxy for assessing prediction performance to mirror breeder’s advancement decisions in a breeding program so that it can be readily applied for advancement decisions by breeding programs.
A Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) classification to identify the presence of pores in powder bed fusion images
Authors: Ansari Muhammad Ayub , Crampton Andrew , Garrard Rebecca , Cai Biao , Attallah Moataz
Published: March 2022

This study aims to detect seeded porosity during metal additive manufacturing by employing convolutional neural networks (CNN). The study demonstrates the application of machine learning (ML) in in-process monitoring. Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is a selective laser melting technique used to build complex 3D parts. The current monitoring system in LPBF is inadequate to produce safety-critical parts due to the lack of automated processing of collected data. To assess the efficacy of applying ML to defect detection in LPBF by in-process images, a range of synthetic defects have been designed into cylindrical artefacts to mimic porosity occurring in different locations, shapes, and sizes. Empirical analysis has revealed the importance of accurate labelling strategies required for data-driven solutions. We formulated two labelling strategies based on the computer-aided design (CAD) file and X-ray computed tomography (XCT) scan data. A novel CNN was trained from scratch and optimised by selecting the best values of an extensive range of hyper-parameters by employing a Hyperband tuner. The model’s accuracy was 90% when trained using CAD-assisted labelling and 97% when using XCT-assisted labelling. The model successfully spotted pores as small as 0.2mm. Experiments revealed that balancing the data set improved the model’s precision from 89% to 97% and recall from 85% to 97% compared to training on an imbalanced data set. We firmly believe that the proposed model would significantly reduce post-processing costs and provide a better base model network for transfer learning of future ML models aimed at LPBF micro-defects detection.
Umweltrechtliche Aspekte des Genehmigungsverfahrens der Gaspipeline Nord Stream 2 in Deutschland und Russland
Authors: Rohmann Ina
Published: March 2022

Der Beitrag befasst sich mit umweltrechtlichen Aspekten des Genehmigungsverfahrens der umstrittenen
Gaspipeline Nord Stream 2. Er knüpft an den bereits zur ersten Nord Stream-Pipeline erschienenen Aufsatz
von Kathrin Kim (NuR 2009, 170–178) an, nimmt neben dem deutschen Abschnitt der Pipeline aber auch
deren russischen Teil in den Fokus. Zwischenabschnitte im finnischen, schwedischen und dänischen Teil
bleiben außerhalb der Betrachtung, ebenso wie Fragen der Zertifizierung der Pipeline, die für
ihre, derzeit nicht vorgesehene, Inbetriebnahme ausschlaggebend sind.

Nach Auffassung der Autorin erfolgte die Genehmigung der Pipelineabschnitte auf beiden Seiten im Einklang
mit den geltenden Vorschriften – auch wenn die Kritik an den Vorschriften als solchen teilweise nicht
unberechtigt ist.
The effects of berberine on inflammatory markers in Chinese patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders: a meta‑analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Lu Yuqiong , Zhang Xiwen , He Jiafang , Dai Zhanjing , Shi Penghua , Lu Yun , Chang Feng
Published: March 2022

Background

A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to systematically evaluate the effects of berberine on the inflammatory markers of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and related disorders.

Method

Databases that were searched from inception to October 2020 included PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP, WanFang Data, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Two reviewers independently selected articles and extracted data. The pooled evaluations were entered and analyzed in Review Manager 5.3.

Results

Of the 7387 publications screened, 52 studies were included, and the related trials involved 4616 patients. Pooled estimates showed that the use of berberine could significantly reduce the concentration level of C-reactive protein (CRP) [standardized mean difference (SMD) = − 1.54, 95% confidence intervals (CI) − 1.86, − 1.22, p < 0.05], tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) [SMD = − 1.02, 95% CI − 1.27, − 0.77, p < 0.05], and interleukin 6 (IL-6) [SMD = − 1.17, 95% CI − 1.53, − 0.81, p < 0.05] among patients with MetS and related disorders. However, it did not affect the level of interleukin 1β (IL-1β) [SMD = − 0.81, 95% CI − 1.80, 0.17, p = 0.11].

Conclusion

Overall, the use of berberine in patients with MetS and related disorders appeared to significantly decrease several inflammatory markers. Further multi-center and rigorous investigations with larger patient populations are encouraged to confirm the effect of berberine on MetS and related disorders.
Inside school turnaround: What drives success?
Authors: Hill Kirsten Lee , Desimone Laura , Wolford Tonya , Reitano Adrienne , Porter Andrew
Published: March 2022

This study proposes an empirically grounded theory of how school reform implementation relates to effectiveness, useful for developing and studying many approaches to school reform both in the U.S. and abroad, and also for assessing how policymakers and implementers might leverage various aspects of implementation to create effective school improvement models at scale. Guided by a new framework that links Bryk and colleagues’ (2010) five essential supports and as reported by Desimone’s (2002) adaptation of Porter and colleagues’ (1986) policy attributes theory, we use a mixed-methods approach to study the implementation and effectiveness of school turnaround efforts in the School District of Philadelphia. We explore the relationships among key turnaround model components, approaches to model implementation, and academic achievement using a matched comparison design and estimating a series of regressions. Qualitative methods are used to contextualize findings and offer explanatory hypotheses.
The impact of a telehealth platform on ABA-based parent training targeting social communication in children with autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Ferguson Jenny , Dounavi Katerina , Craig Emma A.
Published: March 2022

Interventions based upon applied behaviour analysis (ABA) have been shown to be best practice for children with autism spectrum disorder. However, in many parts of the world there is a shortage of appropriately trained behaviour analysts. Telehealth is a potential solution to increasing access to ABA. Our study assessed the use of telehealth to provide parent training in naturalistic teaching strategies designed to increase child communication skills. Five parent child dyads took part in the training, utilising didactic training and synchronous coaching. Parents could be trained to a high level of fidelity and viewed the training favourably. Children showed variable gains in communication and improved positive affect. The project was cost effective in comparison with traditional training models.
Atomic Ordering at the Interfaces Between Liquid Aluminum and Polar AlN{0 0 0 1} Substrates
Authors: Fang C. M. , Fan Z.
Published: March 2022

AlN particles are formed in liquid Al metals/alloys during liquid-dealing and casting. They may act as potential nucleation sites during solidification. Along its [0 0 0 1] axis, AlN consists of Al3+N3- dipolar double-atom layers in the ionic model. Thus, the AlN{0 0 0 1} substrates are terminated by either an Al3+ or a N3- layer, being polar. Here we investigate the atomic ordering at the interfaces between liquid-aluminum and AlN{0 0 0 1} using an ab initio molecular dynamics technique. We have observed a rich variety of interfacial chemistry and identified an ordered Al layer terminating the substrates. The newly formed terminating Al atoms are positively charged. The liquid Al adjacent to the interfaces exhibit strong layering but weak in-plane ordering. The obtained information helps get insight into the role of aluminum nitride as potential nucleation sites in solidification of Al-metals, and further enriches our knowledge about nucleation
Serum Levels of Growth-Associated Protein-43 and Neurotrophin-3 in Childhood Epilepsy and Their Relation to Zinc Levels
Authors: Bakri Ali Helmi , Hassan Mohammed H. , Ahmed Ahmed El-Abd , Alotaibi Ghallab , Halim Pola Rafat , Abdallah Ahmed Alamir Mahmoud , Rashwan Nagwan I.
Published: March 2022

Background

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders, and it places a significant economic strain on the healthcare system around the world. Although the exact mechanism of epilepsy has yet to be illustrated, various pathogenic cascades involving neurotransmitters and trace elements have been reported. We aimed to investigate the serum levels of growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) among cohort of Egyptian children with epilepsy and correlate these biomarkers with their zinc levels.

Methods

This case–control study included 50 pediatric patients with epilepsy who were comparable with 50 controls. Neurological assessment and electroencephalogram (EEG) were done to all included children. Biochemical measurements of serum GAP-43 and NT-3 using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and zinc using colorimetric assays, were performed to all participants.

Results

There was significantly frequent positive parental consanguinity among cases with significantly frequent generalized onset seizures (94%) than simple partial seizure (6%). There were significantly lower serum GAP-43 and zinc levels with significantly higher TAC among cases vs. the controls,p˂0.05 for all. There was no significant difference in the serum levels of NT-3 among epileptic children vs. the controls,p = 0.269. Serum Zn was positively correlated with GAP-43 level among epileptic children (r = 0.381,p = 0.006). Serum GAP-43 in diagnosing childhood epilepsy at cut-off point ≤ 0.6 ng/mL showed 78% sensitivity, 62% specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) = 50.6%, negative predictive value (NPP) = 84.9% withAUC = 0.574.

Conclusion

GAP-43 can be considered a sensitive good negative biomarker in childhood epilepsy which correlated positively with the zinc status.
How Machine Learning is Powering Neuroimaging to Improve Brain Health
Authors: Singh Nalini M. , Harrod Jordan B. , Subramanian Sandya , Robinson Mitchell , Chang Ken , Cetin-Karayumak Suheyla , Dalca Adrian Vasile , Eickhoff Simon , Fox Michael , Franke Loraine , Golland Polina , Haehn Daniel , Iglesias Juan Eugenio , O’Donnell Lauren J. , Ou Yangming , Rathi Yogesh , Siddiqi Shan H. , Sun Haoqi , Westover M. Brandon , Whitfield-Gabrieli Susan , Gollub Randy L.
Published: March 2022

This report presents an overview of how machine learning is rapidly advancing clinical translational imaging in ways that will aid in the early detection, prediction, and treatment of diseases that threaten brain health. Towards this goal, we aresharing the information presented at a symposium, “Neuroimaging Indicators of Brain Structure and Function - Closing the Gap Between Research and Clinical Application”, co-hosted by the McCance Center for Brain Health at Mass General Hospital and the MIT HST Neuroimaging Training Program on February 12, 2021. The symposium focused on the potential for machine learning approaches, applied to increasingly large-scale neuroimaging datasets, to transform healthcare delivery and change the trajectory of brain health by addressing brain care earlier in the lifespan. While not exhaustive, this overview uniquely addresses many of the technical challenges from image formation, to analysis and visualization, to synthesis and incorporation into the clinical workflow. Some of the ethical challenges inherent to this work are also explored, as are some of the regulatory requirements for implementation. We seek to educate, motivate, and inspire graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and early career investigators to contribute to a future where neuroimaging meaningfully contributes to the maintenance of brain health.
Molecular Insights into Therapeutic Potentials of Hybrid Compounds Targeting Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Jana Ankit , Bhattacharjee Arkadyuti , Das Sabya Sachi , Srivastava Avani , Choudhury Akshpita , Bhattacharjee Rahul , De Swagata , Perveen Asma , Iqbal Danish , Gupta Piyush Kumar , Jha Saurabh Kumar , Ojha Shreesh , Singh Sandeep Kumar , Ruokolainen Janne , Jha Niraj Kumar , Kesari Kavindra Kumar , Ashraf Ghulam Md
Published: March 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most complex progressive neurological disorders involving degeneration of neuronal connections in brain cells leading to cell death. AD is predominantly detected among elder people (> 65 years), mostly diagnosed with the symptoms of memory loss and cognitive dysfunctions. The multifarious pathogenesis of AD comprises the accumulation of pathogenic proteins, decreased neurotransmission, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. The conventional therapeutic approaches are limited to symptomatic benefits and are ineffective against disease progression. In recent years, researchers have shown immense interest in the designing and fabrication of various novel therapeutics comprised of naturally isolated hybrid molecules. Hybrid therapeutic compounds are developed from the combination of pharmacophores isolated from bioactive moieties which specifically target and block various AD-associated pathogenic pathways. The method of designing hybrid molecules has numerous advantages over conventional multitarget drug development methods. In comparison to in silico high throughput screening, hybrid molecules generate quicker results and are also less expensive than fragment-based drug development. Designing hybrid-multitargeted therapeutic compounds is thus a prospective approach in developing an effective treatment for AD. Nevertheless, several issues must be addressed, and additional researches should be conducted to develop hybrid therapeutic compounds for clinical usage while keeping other off-target adverse effects in mind. In this review, we have summarized the recent progress on synthesis of hybrid compounds, their molecular mechanism, and therapeutic potential in AD. Using synoptic tables, figures, and schemes, the review presents therapeutic promise and potential for the development of many disease-modifying hybrids into next-generation medicines for AD.
Typ-VII-Sekretionssysteme: Ziele gegen Tuberkulose
Authors: Geibel Sebastian
Published: March 2022

To facilitate host infection, tuberculosis-causing mycobacteria employ five type VII secretion systems (T7SS) to orchestrate the timely secretion of effector proteins, which play central roles in their immune evasion strategy and ensure the uptake of essential nutrients. This article reviews our current structural and functional understanding of mycobacterial T7SS and discusses their potential as targets for novel antimicrobial strategies.
Zellspezifische Produktion von multiplen Therapeutika im Körper
Authors: Brücher Dominik , Freitag Patrick Christian , Plückthun Andreas
Published: March 2022

Many conventional cancer therapies suffer from side effects and low efficacy, due to poor tumor localization of systemically injected therapeutics. Utilizing the adenoviral SHREAD platform, therapeutic genes were delivered specifically to cancer cells in vivo that express a defined, freely selectable cell receptor. Antibodies secreted by infected cells were visualized using a cell-clearing technology, revealing a high local concentration of the antibody within the tumor, with minimal concentration in peripheral healthy tissues.
Pilze zur wertsteigernden Holzfunktionalisierung
Authors: Schwarze Francis W. M. R. , Burgert Ingo
Published: March 2022

Wood decay fungi play an important role as recyclers of organic matter in the nutrient cycle. The risks of wood degradation by fungi are widely discussed, but little attention is given to the opportunity to apply wood decay fungi for wood functionalization, modification and/or wood protection. For this purpose, the mycelium (fungal network), spores, enzymes and polymers from various types of wood decay fungi are used.
Antimikrobielle Peptide – Inspiration aus der Natur
Authors: Rodríguez-Rojas Alexandro , Rolff Jens
Published: March 2022

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are ancient immune effectors and are considered as new anti-infective drugs. AMPs differ from conventional antibiotics in their pharmacodynamics, speed of killing and they do not increase mutagenesis. This results in a much lower probability of bacterial resistance evolution against AMPs. AMPs are usually expressed as synergistic cocktails. If AMPs are to be used in the clinic to tackle the antibiotic crisis, understanding their natural biology will be pivotal to prevent resistance.
Nanoschalen aus DNA fangen und neutralisieren Viren
Authors: Sigl Christian , Dietz Hendrik
Published: March 2022

The current pandemic has highlighted the need for new antiviral therapies, to respond to existing and emerging diseases transmitted by viral vectors. We developed a novel antiviral approach that is based on neutralizing viruses by trapping and encapsulation in artificial nano-shells. The surrounding shells prevent the interaction of viruses with host cells and thus interrupt an essential step in the lifecycle of most viruses.
Ein biologisches Lungenmodell mit Forschungspotenzial
Authors: Guenat Olivier , Zamprogno Pauline
Published: March 2022

Standard in vitro models fail to reproduce the complex cellular microenvironment of the human lung, whereas lung animal models poorly predict drug response in humans. A powerful alternative to model various aspects of the air-blood barrier is lung-on-chips using a thin and porous polymeric membrane. Researchers from the University of Bern have developed a new generation lung-on-chip that mimics an array of alveoli based on a biological membrane, on which patient cells are cultured, opening new potentials for lung research, drug screening and personalized medicine.
Mitochondrien als universelle Sensoren der akuten Hypoxie?
Authors: Nolte Anika , Pak Oleg , Sommer Natascha
Published: March 2022

Adaptation to acute hypoxia through cardiorespiratory responses is mediated by specialized cells in the carotid body and pulmonary vasculature to optimize systemic arterial oxygenation. Acute oxygen sensing thus is a fundamental pre-requisite for aerobic life. Recent studies unravelled basic oxygen sensing mechanisms involving the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 4 isoform 2 that regulates the release of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and subsequent acute hypoxic responses.
Limited-memory common-directions method for large-scale optimization: convergence, parallelization, and distributed optimization
Authors: Lee Ching-pei , Wang Po-Wei , Lin Chih-Jen
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we present a limited-memory common-directions method for smooth optimization that interpolates between first- and second-order methods. At each iteration, a subspace of a limited dimension size is constructed using first-order information from previous iterations, and an efficient Newton method is deployed to find an approximate minimizer within this subspace. With properly selected subspace of dimension as small as two, the proposed algorithm achieves the optimal convergence rates for first-order methods while remaining a descent method, and it also possesses fast convergence speed on nonconvex problems. Since the major operations of our method are dense matrix-matrix operations, the proposed method can be efficiently parallelized in multicore environments even for sparse problems. By wisely utilizing historical information, our method is also communication-efficient in distributed optimization that uses multiple machines as the Newton steps can be calculated with little communication. Numerical study shows that our method has superior empirical performance on real-world large-scale machine learning problems.
If sex discrimination in pay is still a societal problem, job evaluation is the answer
Authors: Barrett Gerald V.
Published: March 2022

Strah et al. (2021) claimed “pay inequality between men and women remains a salient societal issue” (p. 1). We agree that it is a societal issue, but we believe this issue has already been solved by existing job evaluation procedures. Job evaluation procedures have shown to be reliable and valid methods for assessing whether an organization can meet equal pay standards. The authors presented no scientific evidence that this was inaccurate. In fact, nearly 50 years ago there was considerable evidence that equal pay standards, both scientific and legal, were met by job evaluation.
Statistical analysis between 2006 and 2019 and forecast of rabies in cattle from 2020 to 2022 in Tocantins State (Brazil), by using the R Studio software
Authors: Santos Alessandro José Ferreira dos , Ferreira Jardel Martins , Baptista Francisco , Alexandrino Bruna , Silva Marco A. Giannoccaro da , Gomes José Emerson C. , Veloso Júnior José Pereira , Tavares Raydleno Mateus , Almeida Katyane de Sousa
Published: March 2022

Rabies in cattle is a viral disease with mandatory notification in Brazil, transmitted by Desmodus rotundus, which causes an invariably fatal acute encephalitis. To understand the dynamics of this disease in Tocantins state, Brazil, an analysis of the time series of rabies cases in cattle between 2006 and 2019 was carried out to describe the pattern of its occurrence, aiming to subsidise the Official Veterinary Service (OVS) with relevant information to enable the improvement of control actions provided for in the guidelines of the National Program for the Control of Rabies in Herbivores (NPCRH). The statistical analyses of the time series under study were performed using the R Studio software, version 1.1.463, in which the existence of trend, cyclicality and seasonality of rabies cases in cattle was assessed. These analyses showed that this disease is endemic in Tocantins state, with epidemic outbreaks that can occur every 3 or 4 years, without a seasonality pattern. The autoregressive integrated by moving average (ARIMA(4,1,4)) model predicted the approximate occurrence of 38 rabies cases in cattle in 2022 and all monthly records of this disease remained within the predicted confidence interval (95% CI) in 2020 and 2021, demonstrating it has a good predictive capacity and allowing OVS to intervene in the present processes to achieve better control of this disease.
Rogers semilattices of punctual numberings
Authors: Bazhenov Nikolay , Mustafa Manat , Ospichev Sergei
Published: March 2022

The paper works within the framework of punctual computability, which is focused on eliminating unbounded search from constructions in algebra and infinite combinatorics. We study punctual numberings, that is, uniform computations for families S of primitive recursive functions. The punctual reducibility between numberings is induced by primitive recursive functions. This approach gives rise to upper semilattices of degrees, which are called Rogers pr-semilattices. We show that any infinite, uniformly primitive recursive family S induces an infinite Rogers pr-semilattice R. We prove that the semilattice R does not have minimal elements, and every nontrivial interval inside R contains an infinite antichain. In addition, every non-greatest element from R is a part of an infinite antichain. We show that the
$\Sigma_1$
-fragment of the theory Th(R) is decidable.