bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inherited Skin Tumour Syndromes
Authors: Rajan Neil , Mellerio Jemima E. , Irvine Alan D.
Published: March 2024

This chapter covers three exemplar inherited skin tumour syndromes: neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), the tuberous sclerosis complex and familial adenomatous polyposis, as well as providing an overview of inherited tumour syndromes with cutaneous manifestations. NF1, tuberous sclerosis complex and familial adenomatous polyposis have diverse clinical and genetic features and require disease‐specific knowledge for diagnosis, along with targeted interventions and cancer surveillance plans. All three share in common the clinical presentation of multiple benign skin tumours, which are often pathognomonic for these genetic conditions, and a significant risk of cutaneous and non‐cutaneous neoplasia. The chapter reviews the clinical features of these conditions, their genetic bases and diagnostic tests and provide guidance for management of these conditions.
Ulceration Resulting from Disorders of the Veins and Arteries
Authors: Hafner Jürg , Rabe Eberhard
Published: March 2024

This chapter describes the diagnosis and treatment of the four major variants of chronic leg ulcers with a macrovascular origin: venous leg ulcers; mixed venous and arterial leg ulcers; arterial leg ulcers; and Martorell hypertensive ischaemic leg ulcers. The majority of patients with chronic ulcers can be treated effectively and healed. This, however, requires standardised work‐up and treatment planning. The text highlights the hallmarks of vascular leg ulcers and suggests algorithms to successful management.
Disorders of the Lymphatic System
Authors: Mortimer Peter S. , Gordon Kristiana
Published: March 2024

The lymphatic system is the body’s cleansing and recycling service. It removes toxins, waste and recycles fat and fluid. It also forms part of our immune system. The lymphatic system provides all the checks and balances for other body systems. It is the main controller of body fluid balance and it provides immunosurveillance and is responsible for creating immunity. It mobilises fat: impaired lymph drainage results in fat deposition and lymphoedema swelling is as much fat as fluid. It is also important for preventing atherosclerosis. It patrols for cancer cells; if this surveillance fails, cancer progresses. It regulates self‐tolerance, with failure resulting in autoimmune disease.
Dermatoses of the Scalp
Authors: Farrant Paul , Mowbray Megan , Takwale Anita
Published: March 2024

The scalp is a common site for several common inflammatory skin conditions, including seborrhoeic dermatitis and psoriasis. In severe cases these may be associated with hair loss. Inflammation in the dermis may cause secondary hair loss and alterations to the scalp, with thickening, folding and mucinosis. The scalp is a common site for primary skin tumours and secondary metastases. Lastly, the scalp can be associated with localised itch and pain or dysaesthesia. All of these are discussed in this chapter on the dermatoses of the scalp.
Cutaneous Complications of Stomas and Fistulae
Authors: Lyon Calum
Published: March 2024

An abdominal stoma (ostomy) is a surgically created opening from the gastrointestinal or urinary tract onto the skin in order to drain the effluent from that system. This typically involves a collection device worn on the skin, usually held in place by an adhesive material. In theory most dermatoses could affect peristomal skin. In practice the majority fall into one or more of a few predictable groups: irritant reactions including dermatoses exacerbated by trauma, allergic reactions, infections, common generalised inflammatory dermatoses (e.g. psoriasis) and disorders associated with the reason for surgery especially Crohn disease. Treatment strategies involve the avoidance of irritants or allergens where relevant. Topical therapies need to be chosen carefully to minimise greasiness that would interfere with appliance adhesion. For the same reason progression to systemic therapy may be considered earlier for more severe inflammatory dermatoses such as psoriasis or pemphigoid.
Benign Cutaneous Adverse Reactions to Drugs
Authors: Ardern‐Jones M.
Published: March 2024

Adverse reactions to drugs can induce many different pattens of cutaneous inflammation. This chapter focuses on the non‐severe phenotypes including the exanthems, drug‐induced pruritus, eczema and systemic allergic contact dermatitis (including symmetrical drug‐related intertriginous and flexural exanthema, SDRIFE) as well as lichen planus and lichenoid reactions. Additionally, drug‐induced urticaria, angioedema and anaphylaxis are reviewed. Importantly, while evidence‐based lists of common drug causes for each presentation are considered, imputability alone is an unreliable means for clinicians to assess causality. Instead, an approach utilising drug ingestion timeline and careful clinical assessment of differential diagnosis is presented.
Dermatoses Induced by Illicit Drugs
Authors: Bewley Anthony , Assalman Iyas
Published: March 2024

Illicit or recreational drugs may lead to specific dermatological diseases, or may lead to exacerbation of chronic dermatological disease. Dermatology health care professionals are not yet routinely asking patients about the use of recreational drugs, although questioning about the use of alcohol and smoking history is routinely taught to medical students and other undergraduates. Recreational drugs may be prohibited in some cultures and societies, but this does not mean that they are not available or used. For many countries, it is important for dermatology health care professionals to be familiar with the use/type/consequences of illicit drug usage, and to be unafraid of asking patients directly and routinely about their use. Where there are socio‐legal implications of admitting to the use of recreational drugs (particularly if there is a risk of severe punishment for the use of illicit drugs), a careful but sympathetic approach may be necessary.
Pressure Injury and Pressure Ulcers
Authors: Haesler Emily , Kottner Jan
Published: March 2024

Pressure ulcers are defects of the skin and/or underlying tissues that occur because of pressure or pressure in combination with shear. Pressure ulcers occur due to prolonged exposure to mechanical load that increases internal stresses and strains. Some individuals are at increased risk of developing a pressure ulcer, particularly those who are immobile. Identifying those at risk and implementing preventive strategies that address these risks are an imperative. When a pressure ulcer occurs, accurate assessment of the extent of skin and underlying tissue damage and the clinical condition of the ulcer assists in selection of appropriate wound treatments. This chapter provides an overview of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of pressure ulcers, their classification and assessment, and strategies that are used in their prevention and treatment.
Occupational Dermatology
Authors: White Jonathan M. L.
Published: March 2024

The evaluation of occupational skin disease requires a thorough history, examination, specific tests and sometimes a site visit. Irritant contact dermatitis is by far the commonest diagnosis, although allergy, infections, cancers and other conditions are not infrequent. Allergy tests should only be performed by someone with adequate experience of occupational dermatology. Some occupations are at high risk (e.g. hairdressers and health care workers), but any occupation may cause skin disease.
Stings and Bites
Authors: Siller Alfredo , Miller Austinn C. , Tyring Stephen K.
Published: March 2024

Stings and bites serve as a natural form of defense for aquatic and terrestial life. These defenses have garnered recognition and respect from the medical community as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Envenomation or infection are often the result of close encounters with wildlife and at times can be life‐threatening. Therefore, medical providers should be aware of their variable clinical presentations and the available treatment options or lack thereof. In this chapter we discuss the clinical manifestations and management options for stings and bites from a diverse group of marine and terrestial species.
Benign Melanocytic Proliferations and Melanocytic Naevi
Authors: Stefanaki Irene , Sgouros Dimitris , Stratigos Alexander
Published: March 2024

Benign cutaneous melanocytic proliferations are by far the most common neoplasms in humans. Although benign, they often concern the patient due to aesthetic reasons or their association with other medical conditions. For dermatologists, melanocytic naevi are generally considered risk factors and occasionally simulants of melanoma, posing significant diagnostic and management issues in clinical practice. This chapter describes in a comprehensive way the spectrum of benign melanocytic lesions, their divergent clinical presentation and dermoscopic features, the underlying pathogenetic pathways, their histological features, their association with other diseases – particularly melanoma – and their current management.
Cutaneous Cysts
Authors: Madan Vishal , Seaton Edward
Published: March 2024

Cutaneous cysts are common skin lesions that are variably termed sebaceous, epidermoid and trichilemmal. The differences in morphology of each cyst type may help in clinical differentiation but the histological picture is characteristic and definitive.
Soft‐Tissue Tumours and Tumour‐Like Conditions
Authors: Calonje Eduardo , Marušić Zlatko
Published: March 2024

Cutaneous soft tissue tumours and tumour‐like conditions are clinically non‐specific for the most part. However, the broad range of pathological entities, their diverse malignant potential and occasional association with other systemic conditions or inherited tumour syndromes necessitate a proper understanding of soft tissue tumour classification for the clinical dermatologist. This chapter aims to provide the most important clinical, histological and genetic features for selected, most important soft tissue tumours and tumour‐like conditions.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma and its Precursors
Authors: Gupta Girish , Dirschka Thomas
Published: March 2024

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second commonest skin cancer and arises from epidermal keratinocytes or its appendages. The incidence of SCC has increased over the last five decades and is predicted to rise significantly over the next decade. SCC is predominantly a disease of white populations and is especially prevalent in this group in areas of high ambient sun exposure. Predisposing factors include male sex, immune suppression (particularly in those who are organ transplant recipients), sun exposure and advanced age. Precursor lesions such as actinic keratosis and Bowen disease may often be present and patients are more susceptible to developing other UV radiation‐induced skin cancers. SCC has a low rate of metastasis but this increases with SCCs displaying high‐risk features. All SCCs should undergo full clinicopathological correlation and high‐risk SCCs should be managed within a multidisciplinary setting with adequate tumour clearance as the main outcome.
Melanoma Clinicopathology
Authors: Grob Jean Jacques , Gaudy‐Marqueste Caroline
Published: March 2024

Molecular studies and epidemiological observation suggest that there are different melanoma subtypes with different biological aggressiveness, kinetics and prognosis. The incidence of melanoma is still rising, despite sun prevention campaigns. Although sun exposure is considered as the main risk factor, interference with genetics may play the leading role, not only in familial forms, but also in apparently sporadic cases which probably result from a chance combination of many low susceptibility genes. Mortality at best plateaus, despite earlier detection in the high‐risk population under dermatological surveillance. Indeed, most aggressive melanomas may develop out of this population, suggesting that education in self‐detection should target the whole community. Melanoma detection remains a clinical challenge based on cognitive, comparative and dynamic recognition. Artificial intelligence may contribute to improving efficiency of the whole screening process by providing tools for self‐detection, augmenting the performance of primary care clinicians, or even the automation of mass screening.
The Skin and Disorders of the Digestive System
Authors: Molin Sonja , Ruzicka Thomas
Published: March 2024

This chapter concentrates on bowel, hepatic and pancreatic diseases in which cutaneous signs or symptoms are prominent, but also discusses situations either where the skin and the digestive system are affected by the same disease process or where a skin disease itself has an effect on the latter one. Special attention is paid to cutaneous involvement in inflammatory bowel disease and skin signs of liver disease.
The Skin and Disorders of the Musculoskeletal System
Authors: Lovell Christopher R.
Published: March 2024

Combined dermatology/rheumatology clinics are valuable for patients with complex disease. Direct questioning about musculoskeletal symptoms should complement a dermatological and occupational history. Musculoskeletal examination includes posture and gait, localisation of pain, the presence and pattern of joint swelling, deformity or restricted movement, and muscle wasting or weakness. Specific patterns of skin and joint involvement are seen in infective arthropathies, including the acute spondylarthritis that may follow a genitourinary or gastrointestinal infection. Rheumatoid arthritis affects the skin in several ways including subcutaneous nodules, vasculitis, neutrophilic dermatosis and leg ulceration. Metabolic disorders, including alkaptonuria and tophaceous gout, affect both skin and joints. Autoinflammatory disorders may be hereditary or acquired (including acne and hidradenitis suppurativa). Relapsing polychondritis presents as recurrent chondritis of the pinnae, nasal cartilage or respiratory tract, eye inflammation and a seronegative inflammatory arthritis. Skin reactions to antirheumatic drugs are common and may be severe, e.g. DRESS, Stevens–Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis.
Skin Ageing
Authors: Pedersen Elisabeth A. , Fisher Gary J. , Voorhees John J. , Sachs Dana L.
Published: March 2024

Skin ageing is an inevitable phenomenon with several characteristic manifestations. The genetic, molecular, and cellular factors that contribute to aged skin are becoming increasingly understood. As our knowledge of how skin ages advances, the potential therapeutic opportunities for skin rejuvenation are similarly increased and improved. In this chapter, the process of skin ageing based on both intrinsic factors and extrinsic influences across the spectrum of skin types is discussed. The biological mechanisms that contribute to these phenomena are further discussed, as well as the progress and opportunities for therapeutic interventions.
Lasers and Energy‐based Devices
Authors: Saedi Nazanin , Zachary Christopher B.
Published: March 2024

Patients are best treated by laser and device specialists who understand skin and skin ageing, who are well trained and experienced, and whose motivation is totally focused on what is good for the patient. Everything else is secondary. Specific training is required to build upon the practitioner’s basic knowledge about device–tissue interaction. Fractionated ablative and non‐ablative lasers have revolutionised the way in which we can improve the appearance of ageing and scarred skin. They can also dramatically improve drug delivery for local or systemic benefit. Fat can be selectively reduced by non‐invasive techniques of bulk cooling or bulk heating. Focused ultrasound can now to be used to tighten skin, although without a surgical degree of benefit. Melasma, long the bête noire of aesthetic surgeons, can be controlled by medications, both oral and topical, and with the aid of devices. These are good times for laser surgeons: the development of new devices every year hold much promise for our patients.
Revisiting Race, Ethnicity, and Disparities in Rheumatology Educational Materials: An Update Since 2020
Authors: Zickuhr Lisa , Roberts Eric , Daugherty Tyler , Rana Amaad , Joshi Hirva , Pollard Bruin , Yu Jonathan , Jones Heather A. , Goglin Sarah
Published: March 2024

Objective

In 2020, one study by Strait and colleagues raised awareness that the clinical images in rheumatology educational materials underrepresent people with skin of color (P‐SOC). Since then, publishers of rheumatology educational materials have focused on addressing this shortcoming. This study investigates the change in representation of P‐SOC following the review of Strait et al.

Methods

We used the methods of the aforementioned study to collect images from commonly referenced rheumatology educational materials and categorized the skin tones within them as “light” or “dark.” We calculated the proportional change in images depicting dark skin tones between 2020 and 2022 from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Image Library, the 10th edition of Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology, and New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) as well as between 2020 and 2024 from rheumatology articles within UpToDate. We compared results using one‐sided Z‐tests.

Results

Overall, the proportion of images depicting dark skin tones increased 40.6% (P < 0.0001). The 10th edition of Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology most significantly increased inclusion of P‐SOC (90.1%; P = 0.0039), with ACR Image Library, UpToDate, and NEJM also enhancing representation (41.9%, P < 0.0001; 31.0%, P = 0.0083; 28.2%, P = 0.3046, respectively).

Conclusion

This study assesses the progress of rheumatology educational materials toward equitable representation of P‐SOC. It demonstrates that awareness coupled with focused efforts from educational publishers can enhance the proportion of images depicting dark skin tones, thereby enriching the quality of foundational knowledge relayed to rheumatology providers with the goal of improving health experiences and outcomes for P‐SOC with rheumatic diseases.

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Design and Characterization of a Novel NiAl–(Cr,Mo) Eutectic Alloy
Authors: Titz Katharina , Vollhüter Jan , Randelzhofer Peter , Neumeier Steffen , Göken Mathias , Wahlmann Benjamin , Körner Carolin
Published: March 2024

To enhance the mechanical properties of NiAl–(Cr,Mo) in situ composites for high‐temperature structural use, achieving a regular eutectic microstructure is crucial. A novel alloy with a composition of Ni30.6Al36Cr31.4Mo2 is developed that exhibits a significantly reduced solidification interval compared to well‐studied alloys such as Ni33Al33Cr28Mo6. This advancement results from using the in‐house developed alloy design tool PyMultOpt and Calculation of Phase Diagrams analysis to minimize the solidification interval. The refined alloy demonstrates a theoretical solidification interval of 0 K. These results are verified with differential scanning calorimetry measurements at different heating rates for the new alloy and compared with the established alloy Ni33Al33Cr28Mo6. The small solidification interval leads to a uniform eutectic microstructure consisting of a (Cr,Mo) phase embedded in the NiAl matrix without primary NiAl dendrites present. This indicates that deviating from the stoichiometric NiAl composition results in a significantly lower solidification interval and thus in an actual eutectic composition of the NiAl–(Cr,Mo) system.
Effect of Mn Content on the Microstructure, Mechanical, and Corrosion Properties of Porous Mg–1Zn–1Ca Scaffolds
Authors: Li Zhe , Qiu Shi , Yu Leiting , Liu Shaodong , Liu Hao , Lyu Shaoyuan , Zhao Yun , Chen Minfang
Published: March 2024

Porous Mg alloys scaffolds are considered as an attractive strategy for bone repair due to their good biodegradability, biocompatibility, and suitable mechanical properties. In this study, porous Mg–1Zn–1Ca–xMn (x = 0, 0.2, 0.5, 0.8) scaffolds with cubic pore structure are prepared, and the size of main pore and interconnected pores of the scaffolds are predicted to be 355–450 and 30–50 μm, respectively. Among the four scaffolds, Mg–1Zn–1Ca–0.8Mn scaffold possesses good mechanical properties, with a maximum yield strength of 27.1 and an elastic modulus of 0.66 GPa. However, Mg–1Zn–1Ca–0.5Mn scaffold exhibits the optimal corrosion resistance with a corrosion rate 1.02 mm year−1 after 5 days immersion in Hank's solution. This is mainly attributed to α‐Mn phase, which is uniformly distributed on the substrate and uniformly degraded.
Dynamic Proteinaceous Hydrogel Enables In‐Situ Recruitment of Endogenous TGF‐β1 and Stem Cells for Cartilage Regeneration
Authors: Guo Qianping , Yin Weiling , Wang Huan , Gao Jia , Gu Ye , Wang Weishan , Liu Chengyuan , Pan Guoqing , Li Bin
Published: March 2024

Articular cartilage is a tissue with relatively poor self‐regeneration capacity due to insufficient blood vessels and chondrocytes in the region. Biomaterial‐assisted tissue engineering has shown great potential in cartilage regeneration. However, there are still many worries over the uses of exogenous growth factors, stem cells and scaffolds. To address these concerns, here a dynamic proteinaceous hydrogel with a self‐recruiting ability of cartilage‐inducing factor for in situ cartilage regeneration is reported. The dynamic hydrogel (Pep‐GelSH) is prepared by using thiol‐modified gelatin and thiol‐capped TGF‐β1‐affinity peptide through the Au‐S coordination. The injectability and self‐recovery of Pep‐GelSH hydrogel enabled not only minimally invasive implantation but also the adaptability of the scaffold to irregular defect shapes. Meanwhile, the dynamic hydrogel showed improved adherence to the host tissue and allowed quick infiltration of host cells. More importantly, the hydrogel significantly enhanced local enrichment of endogenous TGF‐β1 and led to the recruitment of stem cells in vivo. After implantation, the hydrogel scaffold triggered the innate repair capacity of cartilage defects by successively promoting stem cells recruitment, infiltration and differentiation, resulting in significantly enhanced chondrogenesis and improved cartilage repair. Therefore, the study in this work may provide a feasible and promising approach for in situ cartilage regeneration.
A Novel CaCu‐Metal–Organic‐Framework Based Multimodal Treatment Platform for Enhanced Synergistic Therapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Chen Weijun , Yang Meiyang , Wang Huili , Song Junling , Mei Congjin , Qiu Lipeng , Chen Jinghua
Published: March 2024

Metal ions have attracted a lot of interest in antitumor therapy due to their unique mechanism of action. However, multiple death mechanisms associate with metal ions to synergistic antitumors have few studies mainly due to the serious challenges in designing and building metal‐associated multimodal treatment platforms. Hence, a series of glutathione‐activatable CaCu‐based metal–organic‐frameworks loaded with doxorubicin and ovalbumin are successfully designed and synthesized with an “all in one” strategy, which is modified by galactosamine‐linked hyaluronic acid to prepare multimodal treatment platform (SCC/DOX@OVA‐HG) for targeted delivery and synergistic antitumor therapy. SCC/DOX@OVA‐HG can be rapidly degraded by the overexpressed glutathione and then releases the “cargoes” in the tumor microenvironment. The released Cu+ efficiently catalyzes H2O2 to produce highly toxic ROS for CDT, and the up‐regulation of calcium ion concentration in tumor cells induced by the released Ca2+ enables calcium overload therapy, which synergically enhances the metal‐related death pattern. Meanwhile, OVA combined with Ca2+/Cu2+ further activates macrophages into an M1‐like phenotype to accelerate tumor cell death through immunotherapy. Besides, the released DOX can also insert into the DNA double helix for chemotherapy. Consequently, the developed SCC/DOX@OVA‐HG reveals significantly improved antitumor efficacy through a multimodal synergistic therapy of chemotherapy, chemodynamic therapy, calcium overload, and immunotherapy.
Realizing Stable Perovskite Solar Cells with Efficiency Exceeding 25.6% Through Crystallization Kinetics and Spatial Orientation Regulation
Authors: Jiao Boxin , Ye Yiran , Tan Liguo , liu Yue , Ren Ningyu , Li Minghao , Zhou Junjie , Li Hang , Chen Yu , Li Xiaoyi , Yi Chenyi
Published: March 2024

Organic‐inorganic hybrid perovskites have emerged as highly promising candidates for photovoltaic applications, owing to the exceptional optoelectronic properties and low cost. Nonetheless, the performance and stability of solar cells suffer from the defect states of perovskite films aroused by non‐optically active phases and non‐centralized crystal orientation. Herein, a versatile organic molecule, Hydantoin, to modulate the crystallization of perovskite, is developed. Benefiting from the diverse functional groups, more spatially oriented perovskite films with high crystallinity are formed. This enhancement is accompanied by a conspicuous reduction in defect density, yielding efficiency of 25.66% (certified 25.15%), with superb environmental stability. Notably, under the standard measurement conditions (ISOS‐L‐1I), the maximum power point (MPP) output maintains 96.8% of the initial efficiency for 1600 h and exhibits excellent ion migration suppression. The synergistic regulation of crystallization and spatial orientation offers novel avenues for propelling perovskite solar cell (PSC) development.
Tunable Mid‐Infrared Multi‐Resonant Graphene‐Metal Hybrid Metasurfaces
Authors: Han Fei , Pham The Linh , Pilarczyk Kacper , Tung Nguyen Thanh , Le Dinh Hai , Vandenbosch Guy A. E. , Van de Vondel Joris , Verellen Niels , Zheng Xuezhi , Janssens Ewald
Published: March 2024

Electrically tunable graphene‐metal metasurfaces with controllable optical properties have attracted interest for straightforward manipulation of free space light. Their resonance tuning range depends on graphene's electrical transport characteristics, which are affected by its quality, operating conditions, and the device design. An important example of the latter is the direct contact of metallic antennas with the graphene layer that limits the extent to which a bias voltage can tune the metasurface's permittivity. In this work, this issue is resolved in a straightforward and fabrication‐efficient way for graphene‐metal hybrid metasurfaces with multiple plasmonic resonances. It is demonstrated that the incorporation of a 10 nm Al2O3 barrier layer enhances the tuning range of mid‐infrared resonances compared to metasurfaces without barrier layer, i.e., from 300 to 700 nm for a 7.3 µm resonance and from 110 to 140 nm for a 4.7 µm resonance. The improved tunability of the metal/dielectric/graphene metasurface can be attributed to the reduced electrical coupling between metal and graphene, as confirmed by an equivalent circuit model. These results bring closer the use of active metasurfaces based on two‐dimensional materials under ambient conditions, with possible applications as optical filters, modulators, and information processing devices that require dynamic control of light.
AMPK Suppression Due to Obesity Drives Oocyte mtDNA Heteroplasmy via ATF5‐POLG Axis
Authors: Chen Yanting , Ma Guiling , Gai Yang , Yang Qiyuan , Liu Xiangdong , de Avila Jeanene M. , Mao Shengyong , Zhu Mei‐Jun , Du Min
Published: March 2024

Due to the exclusive maternal transmission, oocyte mitochondrial dysfunction reduces fertility rates, affects embryonic development, and programs offspring to metabolic diseases. However, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are vulnerable to mutations during oocyte maturation, leading to mitochondrial nucleotide variations (mtSNVs) within a single oocyte, referring to mtDNA heteroplasmy. Obesity (OB) accounts for more than 40% of women at the reproductive age in the USA, but little is known about impacts of OB on mtSNVs in mature oocytes. It is found that OB reduces mtDNA content and increases mtSNVs in mature oocytes, which impairs mitochondrial energetic functions and oocyte quality. In mature oocytes, OB suppresses AMPK activity, aligned with an increased binding affinity of the ATF5‐POLG protein complex to mutated mtDNA D‐loop and protein‐coding regions. Similarly, AMPK knockout increases the binding affinity of ATF5‐POLG proteins to mutated mtDNA, leading to the replication of heteroplasmic mtDNA and impairing oocyte quality. Consistently, AMPK activation blocks the detrimental impacts of OB by preventing ATF5‐POLG protein recruitment, improving oocyte maturation and mitochondrial energetics. Overall, the data uncover key features of AMPK activation in suppressing mtSNVs, and improving mitochondrial biogenesis and oocyte maturation in obese females.
Glymphatic system dysfunction predicts amyloid deposition, neurodegeneration, and clinical progression in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Huang Shu‐Yi , Zhang Ya‐Ru , Guo Yu , Du Jing , Ren Peng , Wu Bang‐Sheng , Feng Jian‐Feng ,   Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, Cheng Wei , Yu Jin‐Tai
Published: March 2024

INTRODUCTION

Although glymphatic function is involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD), its potential for predicting the pathological and clinical progression of AD and its sequential association with core AD biomarkers is poorly understood.

METHODS

Whole‐brain glymphatic activity was measured by diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI‐ALPS) in participants with AD dementia (n = 47), mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n = 137), and normal controls (n = 235) from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative.

RESULTS

ALPS index was significantly lower in AD dementia than in MCI or controls. Lower ALPS index was significantly associated with faster changes in amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) burden and AD signature region of interest volume, higher risk of amyloid‐positive transition and clinical progression, and faster rates of amyloid‐ and neurodegeneration‐related cognitive decline. Furthermore, the associations of the ALPS index with cognitive decline were fully mediated by amyloid PET and brain atrophy.

DISCUSSION

Glymphatic failure may precede amyloid pathology, and predicts amyloid deposition, neurodegeneration, and clinical progression in AD.

Highlights

The analysis along the perivascular space (ALPS) index is reduced in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia, prodromal AD, and preclinical AD.

Lower ALPS index predicted accelerated amyloid beta (Aβ) positron emission tomography (PET) burden and Aβ‐positive transition.

The decrease in the ALPS index occurs before cerebrospinal fluid Aβ42 reaches the positive threshold.

ALPS index predicted brain atrophy, clinical progression, and cognitive decline.

Aβ PET and brain atrophy mediated the link of ALPS index with cognitive decline.
Development of symmetric monounsaturated triacylglycerols by Rhodosporidium toruloides cell factory for cocoa butter equivalent
Authors: Yang Hang , Lu Shuling , Sun Chaofan , Liu Xiaoxue , Zhang Linshang , Cheong Lingzhi , Bi Yanlan
Published: March 2024

In the present study, various factors including carbon source, nitrogen source, Mg2+, and pH value were investigated to determine the optimal conditions for producing cocoa butter equivalent using R. toruloides. The maximum of biomass, lipid content, and lipid production were achieved at levels of 7.8 g/L, 61.0%, and 4.4 g/L, respectively. The oil from R. toruloides mainly consisted of 16:0, 18:0, and 18:1 with 18:1 dominating at the sn‐2 position, which was further confirmed by 13C NMR analysis. UPLC‐MS analysis showed that the sum of sn‐POP, sn‐POS, and sn‐SOS accounted for up to 27.11% in the triacylglycerol species of the oil produced, which allows those triacylglycerols to be further separated and isolated from other triacylglycerols and used for cocoa butter equivalent. Notably, the production of cocoa butter equivalent reached 1.13 g/L, demonstrating the scientific feasibility of producing CBE through fermentation. These findings indicate a promising future for the fermentation‐based production of cocoa butter equivalent.
Contribution of the serotonergic system to developmental brain abnormalities in autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Wegiel Jarek , Chadman Kathryn , London Eric , Wisniewski Thomas , Wegiel Jerzy
Published: March 2024

This review highlights a key role of the serotonergic system in brain development and in distortions of normal brain development in early stages of fetal life resulting in cascades of abnormalities, including defects of neurogenesis, neuronal migration, neuronal growth, differentiation, and arborization, as well as defective neuronal circuit formation in the cortex, subcortical structures, brainstem, and cerebellum of autistic subjects. In autism, defects in regulation of neuronal growth are the most frequent and ubiquitous developmental changes associated with impaired neuron differentiation, smaller size, distorted shape, loss of spatial orientation, and distortion of cortex organization. Common developmental defects of the brain in autism include multiregional focal dysplastic changes contributing to local neuronal circuit distortion, epileptogenic activity, and epilepsy. There is a discrepancy between more than 500 reports demonstrating the contribution of the serotonergic system to autism's behavioral anomalies, highlighted by lack of studies of autistic subjects' brainstem raphe nuclei, the center of brain serotonergic innervation, and of the contribution of the serotonergic system to the diagnostic features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Discovery of severe fetal brainstem auditory system neuronal deficits and other anomalies leading to a spectrum of hearing deficits contributing to a cascade of behavioral alterations, including deficits of social and verbal communication in individuals with autism, is another argument to intensify postmortem studies of the type and topography of, and the severity of developmental defects in raphe nuclei and their contribution to abnormal brain development and to the broad spectrum of functional deficits and comorbid conditions in ASD.
Two green and sensitive spectrofluorimetric approaches for determination of Ambroxol and guaifenesin in their single and combined pharmaceutical formulations
Authors: Elawadi Ghidaa G. , Elsebaei Fawzi , Fathy Mona E. , Metwally Mohammed E.‐S.
Published: March 2024

Ambroxol hydrochloride (AMX) and guaifenesin (GFN) are approved drugs utilized to treat coughs through their potent mucolytic and expectorant properties. Due to their massive, combined administration in many illnesses, there is a persistent need for their concurrent estimation in different pharmaceutical formulations. Two sensitive, environmentally friendly spectrofluorimetric methods were developed. AMX was determined using the first method (I) without interference from GFN. This method depends on the quenching of Erythrosine B (EB) native fluorescence at 552 nm after excitation at 527 nm due to the formation of a non‐fluorescent AMX‐EB ion‐pair complex in Britton–Robinson buffer (BRB) solution pH (3.5). The concentration plot is linear over the 0.25–5.0 μg/mL range, with a mean percent found value of 99.74%. Method (II) depends on measuring the native fluorescence of aqueous GFN solution at two analytical wavelengths, either 300 or 600 nm, after excitation at 274 nm. Relative fluorescence intensity (RFI)–concentration plots are linear over the ranges of 0.02–0.5 and 0.1–2.0 μg/ml, with mean percent found at 99.96% and 99.91% at dual wavelengths, respectively. The proposed methods were successfully applied to assay both drugs in raw materials and different single and combined pharmaceutical formulations. These methods have been thoroughly validated following International Committee on Harmonisation (ICH) guidelines. National Environmental Methods Index, Analytical Eco‐Scale, and Green Analytical Procedure Index were used to prove greenness, thereby enhancing their applicability. The proposed techniques provide straightforward, precise, and cost‐effective solutions for routine formulation analysis in quality control laboratories.
Chemical characterization, multivariate analysis and comparison of biological activities of different parts of Fraxinus mandshurica
Authors: Guo Jianjin , Liu Shaojing , Guo Yan , Bai Lu , Ho Chi‐Tang , Bai Naisheng
Published: March 2024

Fraxinus mandshurica (Oleaceae) is used as a traditional medicinal plant for the treatment of red eyes, menstrual disorders, excessive leucorrhea, chronic bronchitis and psoriasis. To perform chemical characterization of the secondary metabolites of F. mandshurica roots, bark, stems and leaves, 32 samples were collected from eight provinces in this study. A total of 64 chemical components were detected from four different parts of F. mandshurica by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. Meanwhile, a total of nine secoiridoids were obtained by natural product chemical extraction, isolation and identification methods. Quantitative analysis by high‐performance liquid chromatography–diode array detection–mass spectrometry showed the highest total content of secoiridoids in the bark, which is also consistent with the traditional medicinal parts. The results of methodological validation showed that the correlation coefficient (R2) values were all >0.9993, indicating a good linear range of the standard curve, while the relative standard deviations of precision, reproducibility and stability were <3%, and the spiked recoveries ranged from 98.22 to 102.27%, indicating that the experimental method was reliable and stable. In addition, fingerprinting and a heatmap were established to demonstrate the content trends of F. mandshurica more visually from different origins. Multivariate analysis, including principal component analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis, was performed to determine the chemical characteristics of different parts of F. mandshurica, and six characteristic secoiridoids that could be used to distinguish different origins were screened. Finally, the inhibition of tyrosinase, α‐glucosidase, acetylcholinesterase and pancreatic lipase activities by the nine characteristic compounds and extracts from different parts were investigated, and the results showed that they all exhibited different degrees of enzyme activity inhibition and thus have potential applications in whitening and blemish removal, hypoglycemia, anti‐Alzheimer's disease and anti‐obesity as a new source of natural enzyme activity inhibitors. This study establishes an identification and evaluation method applicable to phytochemistry of different origins, which is a guideline for quality control, origin evaluation and clinical application of traditional medicinal plants. This is also an unprecedented study on the identification of the chemical composition of different parts of F. mandshurica, characteristic compounds and the inhibition of enzyme activity of extracts from different parts.
Insights and dynamics of circular business model in developing countries' context: The empirical analysis of the returnable glass bottles process
Authors: Ezeudu Obiora , Kennedy Christopher
Published: March 2024

Despite the growing understanding that circular business models (CBMs) play a pivotal role in facilitating the transition from a linear to a circular economy, there is a lack of relevant literature on how CBMs can be implemented in businesses in developing countries. This study addresses this significant gap in the literature by revealing the insights and dynamics of the implementation of a CBM in a typical developing economy—Nigeria. A notable business model adopted by breweries and beverage companies in Nigeria—a returnable glass bottle process—was investigated through an in‐depth exploration of six companies in a qualitative case study that involves collecting data through interviews, exploratory field observation, and documented evidence (literature). The study generated empirical‐based evidence on how CBM can be implemented in a business value chain where formal and informal actors co‐exist and interact. It also discloses several barriers and enablers associated with CBM implementation in the context of developing economies. Collaboration, social inclusiveness, waste management, durable product design, and cost reductions are some of the enablers identified in the study. The key barriers are largely external and conspicuously linked to the socio‐economic disadvantages peculiar to developing economies such as the absence of effective legislature, lack of infrastructure, lack of technological innovation, unavailability of finance, and the emergence of large retail stores that operate on a disruptive business model. Finally, the current research provides practical suggestions and recommendations for the appropriate designing and transitioning of CBMs in developing countries' context.
Do firms' sustainability practices pay off during global crises? Evidence from Asia and the Pacific
Authors: Rahman Md Lutfur , Uddin Gazi Salah , Park Donghyun
Published: March 2024

This paper examines the relationship between firms' sustainability practices and their value during a crisis when overall trust and support are lacking in the economy. While a handful of studies explore this research agenda concentrating on the US context and a standalone crisis, we provide novel evidence on the Asia Pacific region considering three global crises. Applying difference‐in‐differences regressions, we find that high‐sustainability companies posted superior value during the global financial crisis and the European debt crisis. This result, however, does not hold for the COVID‐19 crisis. This key finding passes several endogeneity tests (firm‐fixed effect, propensity score matching, and post‐crisis interaction). As we explore potential mechanisms of firm resistance during crises and apply a triple difference approach, we find evidence that firm value was intensified during the crises due to sustainability activities coupled with high customer loyalty, high institutional ownership, and a low degree of information asymmetry. Finally, although high sustainability performance generally positively impacted firm value during crises, this relationship was negative (weaker) for the highly impacted industries (the emerging countries) included in the sample. Our key finding continues to hold for a set of robustness checks. The outcome of this study provides significant policy directions to regulators, corporate managers, and investment professionals.
Social judgement and approval of Burkinabè immigrants by their peers in the country of origin: The role of separation acculturation strategy
Authors: Ouoba Nestor Motemba , Nugier Armelle , Alnajjar Yara , Badea Constantina
Published: March 2024

The aim of this research was to examine how Burkinabè who emigrated to France are evaluated and approved by their peers in their country of origin (N = 266), depending on the congruency between their acculturation strategies and those preferred by participants. Participants read one of two fictional portraits about a Burkinabè who emigrated to France and who was presented either as having adopted the French culture (assimilation) or as having maintained his original culture (separation). In line with our hypothesis, the target was rated as more moral in the separation condition. In addition, participants who preferred the separation strategy approved more the target who chose the same strategy. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement.
Chemical Composition of Artemisia Scoparia and Their Bioactivities
Authors: Kuerban Guziliayi , Turak Ablajan , Begmatov Nurmirza Boymirzayevich , Zhao Jiangyu , Aisa Haji Akber
Published: March 2024

Three undescribed sesquiterpenes (1–3), two enantiomeric pairs of monoterpenes (4a/4b–5a/5b), one alkyne (6), two known alkynes (7–8) and eight known coumarins (9–16) were isolated from the aerial parts extracts of Artemisia scoparia. The structures of these compounds were fully elucidated by their 1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS spectral data analyses, and comparison with literature. The absolute configurations of compounds were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography (1), a comparison of experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data (2–6). 15 showed moderate inhibitory activity with the NO release in LPS‐induced RAW264.7 cells. 9–16 showed varying degrees of promoting melanogenesis and tyrosinase activity in B16 cells.
MOF‐derived 1D/3D N‐doped porous carbon for spatially confined electrochemical CO2 reduction to adjustable syngas
Authors: Zhang Wei , Li Hui , Feng Daming , Wu Chenglin , Sun Chenghua , Jia Baohua , Liu Xue , Ma Tianyi
Published: March 2024

Electrochemical reduction of CO2 to syngas (CO and H2) offers an efficient way to mitigate carbon emissions and store intermittent renewable energy in chemicals. Herein, the hierarchical one‐dimensional/three‐dimensional nitrogen‐doped porous carbon (1D/3D NPC) is prepared by carbonizing the composite of Zn‐MOF‐74 crystals in situ grown on a commercial melamine sponge (MS), for electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR). The 1D/3D NPC exhibits a high CO/H2 ratio (5.06) and CO yield (31 mmol g−1 h−1) at −0.55 V, which are 13.7 times and 21.4 times those of 1D porous carbon (derived from Zn‐MOF‐74) and N‐doped carbon (carbonized by MS), respectively. This is attributed to the unique spatial environment of 1D/3D NPC, which increases the adsorption capacity of CO2 and promotes electron transfer from the 3D N‐doped carbon framework to 1D carbon, improving the reaction kinetics of CO2RR. Experimental results and charge density difference plots indicate that the active site of CO2RR is the positively charged carbon atom adjacent to graphitic N on 1D carbon and the active site of HER is the pyridinic N on 1D carbon. The presence of pyridinic N and pyrrolic N reduces the number of electron transfer, decreasing the reaction kinetics and the activity of CO2RR. The CO/H2 ratio is related to the distribution of N species and the specific surface area, which are determined by the degree of spatial confinement effect. The CO/H2 ratios can be regulated by adjusting the carbonization temperature to adjust the degree of spatial confinement effect. Given the low cost of feedstock and easy strategy, 1D/3D NPC catalysts have great potential for industrial application.
Moisture relationships among conventional and brown‐midrib corn hybrids for silage
Authors: Cherney J. H. , Cherney D. J. R. , Digman M. F.
Published: March 2024

Much of the corn acreage in New York state is harvested as corn silage and moisture assessment in the field is necessary for predicting harvest timing, but moisture estimation visually is very problematic, particularly for brown‐midrib (BMR) hybrids. Our goal was to assess plant moisture relationships between BMR and conventional (CONV) corn hybrids, and to identify metadata that may assist in the prediction of whole plant moisture based on ear moisture estimations. In 2023, 202 corn fields were sampled in central New York from August 18 to September 27. A total of 41 different corn hybrids were sampled, with relative maturity (RM) ranging from 84 to 112 days, and 29% of the fields sampled were planted to BMR hybrids. Five representative plants per field were evaluated for plant height, ear length and width, and ear, stover, and whole plant moisture. Estimation of dry ear:stover ratio would be helpful in estimating whole plant moisture based on ear moisture. Ear length was not related to ear:stover ratio, while plant height and ear width were weakly but significantly correlated with ear:stover ratio. Ear moisture was highly correlated with ear:stover ratio (BMR, r = −0.95; CONV, r = −0.90), and highly correlated with whole plant moisture (BMR, r = 0.97; CONV, r = 0.98). Ear moisture averaged 1 to 2% units lower throughout the sampling season for BMR compared to CONV hybrids, while stover moisture averaged 1 to 2% units higher for BMR compared to CONV hybrids prior to optimum harvest moisture. Whole plant moisture declined about 0.6%units/day and was relatively similar across RM groups.