bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrating community engagement with implementation science to advance the measurement of translational science
Authors: Gunn Christine M. , Sprague Martinez Linda S. , Battaglia Tracy A. , Lobb Rebecca , Chassler Deborah , Hakim Dema , Drainoni Mari-Lynn
Published: August 2022

This special communication provides an approach for applying implementation science frameworks to a Clinical and Translational Science Institutes (CTSIs) community engagement (CE) program that measures the use of implementation strategies and outcomes that promote the uptake of CE in research. Using an iterative multi-disciplinary group process, we executed a four-phased approach to developing an evaluation plan: 1) creating an evaluation model adapted from Proctor’s conceptual model of implementation research; 2) mapping implementation strategies to CTSI CE program interventions that support change in research practice; 3) identifying and operationalizing measures for each strategy; and 4) conducting an evaluation. Phase 2 employed 73 implementation strategies across 9 domains generated by the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change project. The nine domains were used to classify each CE program implementation strategy. In Phase 3, the group used the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework to define measures for each individual strategy. Phase 4 demonstrates the application of this framework and measures Year 1 outcomes for the strategy providing interactive assistance, which we implemented using a centralized consultation model. This approach can support the CTSA program in operationalizing CE program measurement to demonstrate which activities and strategies may lead to benefits derived by the program, institution, and community.
Culture and group-functional punishment behaviour
Authors: Espín Antonio M. , Brañas-Garza Pablo , Gamella Juan F. , Herrmann Benedikt , Martín Jesús
Published: August 2022

Humans often ‘altruistically’ punish non-cooperators in one-shot interactions among genetically unrelated individuals. This poses an evolutionary puzzle because altruistic punishment enforces cooperation norms that benefit the whole group but is costly for the punisher. One key explanation is that punishment follows a social-benefits logic: it is eminently normative and group-functional (drawing on cultural group selection theories). In contrast, mismatch-based deterrence theory argues that punishment serves the individual-level function of deterring mistreatment of oneself and one's allies, hinging upon the evolved human coalitional psychology. We conducted multilateral-cooperation experiments with a sample of Spanish Romani people (GitanosorCalé) and the non-Gitanomajority. TheGitanosrepresent a unique case study because they rely heavily on close kin-based networks and display a strong ethnic identity. We find thatGitanonon-cooperators were not punished by co-ethnics in only-Gitano(ethnically) homogeneous groups but were harshly punished by otherGitanosand by non-Gitanosin ethnically mixed groups. Our findings suggest the existence of culture-specific motives for punishment:Gitanos, especially males, appear to use punishment to protect their ethnic identity, whereas non-Gitanosuse punishment to protect a norm of universal cooperation. Only theories that consider normative, group-functional forces underlying punishment behaviour can explain our data.
Distal systems in topological dynamics and ergodic theory
Authors: EDEKO NIKOLAI , KREIDLER HENRIK
Published: August 2022

We generalize a result of Lindenstrauss on the interplay between measurable and topological dynamics which shows that every separable ergodic measurably distal dynamical system has a minimal distal model. We show that such a model can, in fact, be chosen completely canonically. The construction is performed by going through the Furstenberg–Zimmer tower of a measurably distal system and showing that at each step there is a simple and canonical distal minimal model. This hinges on a new characterization of isometric extensions in topological dynamics.
Automated hand hygiene compliance system’s audible alert reminder increases healthcare worker hand hygiene compliance
Authors: Webster Kristen L. , Bishop Sarah M. , Scott LaShawn E. , Oppy Leah M. , Heishman Crystal R. , Stevenson Gina M. , Arnold Forest W.
Published: August 2022

Objective:

To evaluate the effectiveness of an automated hand hygiene compliance system (AHHCS) audible alert and vibration for increasing hand hygiene compliance.

Design:

A nonrandomized, before-and-after, quasi-experimental study of an AHHCS was implemented in several inpatient units. Over a 51-day period, the system’s real-time audible alert was turned on, off, and back on. Overall, hand hygiene compliance was compared between days with activated and deactivated alerts and vibration.

Setting:

This study was conducted at a level 1 trauma center, a regional academic health system with 1,564 beds.

Participants:

The AHHCS was implemented in 9 inpatient units: 3 adult medical-surgical step-down units, and 6 adult intensive care units. The AHHCS badges were assigned to patient care assistants, registered nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, respiratory therapists, and physicians.

Intervention:

In the 9 inpatient units, selected healthcare staff were issued wearable badges that detected entry into and exit from a patient room. The audible alert was turned on for 16 days, turned off for 17 days, and then turned back on for 18 days, for a total of 51 days.

Results:

Utilization of the AHHCS real-time audible alert reminder resulted in sustained HH compliance ≥90%. When the alert and vibration were deactivated, HH compliance dropped to an average of 74% (range, 62%–78%). Once the alert resumed, HH compliance returned to ≥90%.

Conclusion:

Utilization of an AHHCS with real-time reminder audible alerts may be an effective method to increase healthcare worker HH compliance to ≥90%. Users of AHHCSs should consider the use of real-time reminders to improve HH compliance.
Critical selection of shear sheltering in electroconvective flow from chaotic to steady state
Authors: Liu Wei , Zhou Yueting , Shi Pengpeng
Published: August 2022

Ion and water are transported by electroconvection near permselective membranes, resulting in complex phenomena associated with the flow–fines interaction. Sheltering the flow chaos by the shear flow is a common strategy in plasma fluids and has recently been successfully applied to control ionic fluids. The paper herein reveals the critical selection of shear velocity regarding the fluid from a chaotic to a steady state through numerical and theoretical analyses. For the shear sheltering, the dimensionless Debye length

${\lambda _D}$

with varying channel height is introduced to achieve a comprehensive discussion of the factors and laws affecting the shear vortex state. Based on an analysis of the vortex driving mechanism, the scaling of the slip velocity

${u_s}\sim {(\lambda _D^{ - 1}\Delta {\phi ^4})^{1/3}}$

is recommended as the critical selection factor for the steady and chaotic state under a fixed shear flow velocity, which involves the dimensionless Debye length

${\lambda _D}$

and voltage difference

$\Delta \phi $

. Furthermore, for ionic fluid control by shear flow, a critical shear velocity

${U_{HPC}}$

is proposed to distinguish the electroconvective flow from a chaotic state to a steady state. When the shear flow velocity

${U_{HP}} > {U_{HPC}}$

, the shear flow shelters chaos, and the scaling law is also recommended for the regulation of the critical shear flow velocity

${U_{HPC}}$

jointly by

${\lambda _D}$

and

$\Delta \phi $

. The analysis is confirmed by direct numerical simulation and existing experimental data (J. Fluid Mech, vol. 813, 2017, pp. 799–823). This work provides a more comprehensive physical insight for shear sheltering and affects the design of electromembrane microfluidics.
Two-fluid coaxial atomization in a high-pressure environment
Authors: Fong Kee Onn , Xue Xinzhi , Osuna-Orozco R. , Aliseda A.
Published: August 2022

We study the dynamics of atomization of a liquid column by a coaxial gas flow with varying gas pressures. Specifically, we analyse how the gas density increase associated with elevated gas pressures in the ambient and co-flowing gas jet influences the liquid destabilization and breakup process, as well as the resulting droplet formation and dispersion. We present new experimental results for a coaxial liquid–gas atomizer operating in a high-pressure environment, with gas–liquid momentum ratio in the range

$M = 5\unicode{x2013}56$

and pressurized gas densities

$\rho _g/\rho _0 = 1\unicode{x2013}5$

, where

$\rho _0$

is the ambient gas density at standard conditions. High-speed shadowgraphy images are used to quantify the spatially and temporally varying liquid–gas interface in the spray near-field. Liquid core lengths, spreading angles and other spray metrics are presented, and the influence of gas density is identified from the comparison with atomization at atmospheric conditions. In the spray mid-field, phase Doppler interferometry is used in conjunction with laser Doppler velocimetry to quantify the droplet size and velocities, as well as their radial variations across the spray. Results show an increase in droplet size at elevated ambient pressures, when keeping the gas–liquid momentum ratio constant. Finally, we show that these observations are in line with predictions from the Kelvin–Helmholtz and Rayleigh–Taylor instabilities, both of which are relevant to the gas–liquid atomization process.
Wright about Wight: A dialect glossary of the Isle of Wight based on EDD Online
Authors: Markus Manfred
Published: August 2022

Describing specific dialect areas in terms of their lexis is an attractive idea now that the latest version of the English Dialect Dictionary Online (EDD Online 3.0, 2019) allows for quick and easy lexical retrievals of English dialect words of the Late Modern English period. This paper uses the Isle of Wight (I.W.) as a test case for putting such an idea into practice. The 137 words uniquely attributed in the EDD to I.W. are analyzed and interpreted in relation to the 1500-odd words used on I.W. alongside other areas of the UK. The paper informs the reader of the available query modes and discusses their pros and cons, quantifying and mapping the different numbers of isolated words in use on I.W. versus those unique to other English counties. The larger number of words that the island shared with the counties of the “mainland” will likewise be considered, thus allowing for first steps towards a “dialectometrical” analysis. The findings are related to the historical background of I.W., particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Dispersals from the West Tethys as the source of the Indo-West Pacific diversity hotspot in comatulid crinoids
Authors: Saulsbury James G. , Baumiller Tomasz K.
Published: August 2022

Conspicuous centers of biodiversity are frequently attributed to local conditions that promote speciation or resistance to extinction, but recent diversification studies indicate this mode of explanation might not be very general, so it may be fruitful to revisit the role of dispersal in concentrating biodiversity. Here we consider the processes underlying the marine diversity hotspot in the Indo-West Pacific among comatulid crinoids, suspension-feeding echinoderms conspicuous on modern tropical reefs. We used ancestral-range reconstruction on a phylogeny of extant crinoids, assembled a new occurrence database of fossil comatulids and interrogated it with probabilistic preservational models, and developed a morphological character matrix to estimate the relationships among living and fossil comatulids. Ancestral-range reconstruction on a phylogeny of extant comatulids recovers an origin outside the Indo-Pacific and elevated dispersal into it. A new occurrence database records the comatulid clade spreading out gradually from origin in the Early Jurassic of the West Tethys. Comatulids do not appear in their modern hotspot until the Oligocene, and taphonomic analyses show these results cannot be explained solely as a result of inadequate sampling in Asia and Oceania. Finally, phylogenetic analyses demonstrate that deeply nested crown-group comatulids had originated before the clade became well established in the East Tethys, implying many independent dispersals into the modern hotspot. These consilient results suggest a biodiversity hotspot that owes its existence to dispersals out of the ancient West Tethys rather than to elevated in situ diversification.
High dietary Ca and microbial phytase reduce the expression of Ca transporters while enhancing claudins involved in paracellular Ca absorption in the porcine jejunum and colon
Authors: Hu Yixin , van Baal Jurgen , Hendriks Wouter H. , Resink Jan-Willem , Liesegang Annette , van Krimpen Marinus M. , Bikker Paul
Published: August 2022

Expression levels of genes (RT-qPCR) related to Ca and P homeostasis (transporters and claudins (CLDN)) were determined in porcine jejunal and colonic mucosa. Forty growing pigs (BW 30·4 (sem 1·3) kg) received a low and high Ca content (2·0 and 9·6 g/kg, respectively) diet with or without microbial phytase (500 FTU/kg) for 21 d. Dietary Ca intake enhanced serum Ca and alkaline phosphatase concentration and reduced P, 1,25(OH)2D3, and parathyroid hormone concentration. Jejunal transient receptor potential vanilloid 5 (TRPV5) mRNA expression was decreased (32%) with phytase inclusion only, while colonic TRPV5 mRNA was reduced by dietary Ca (34%) and phytase (44%). Both jejunal and colonic TRPV6 mRNA expression was reduced (30%) with microbial phytase. Calbindin-D9k mRNA expression was lower in colonic but not jejunal mucosa with high dietary Ca (59%) and microbial phytase (37%). None of the mRNAs encoding the Na–P cotransporters (NaPi-IIc, PiT-1, PiT-2) were affected. Jejunal, but not colonic expression of the phosphate transporter XPR1, was slightly downregulated with dietary Ca. Dietary Ca downregulated colonic CLDN-4 (20%) and CLDN-10 (40%) expression while CLDN-7 was reduced by phytase inclusion in pigs fed low dietary Ca. Expression of colonic CLDN-12 tended to be increased by phytase. In jejunal mucosa, dietary Ca increased CLDN-2 expression (48%) and decreased CLDN-10 (49%) expression, while phytase slightly upregulated CLDN-12 expression. In conclusion, compared with a Ca-deficient phytase-free diet, high dietary Ca and phytase intake in pigs downregulate jejunal and colonic genes related to transcellular Ca absorption and upregulate Ca pore-forming claudins.
The Social Biography: Pitfalls and Temptations
Authors: Stutje Jan Willem
Published: August 2022

There were times – not so long ago – when it seemed that historical processes could be dissected as though human action did not matter. Those times have changed. Nowadays, scholarly biography is enjoying broad interest, also among social historians, as is shown in this issue of the IRSH, in which John D. French explains how biography can contribute to a better understanding of global labour history. This contribution addresses three issues. Firstly, the relationship between agency (subject) and structure, or the role of the personality in history and society; secondly, the question of charismatic leadership, and finally, the question of how to deal with issues of necessity and coincidence and with the selection of leadership.
Lactobacillus buchneri inoculation compared to chitosan and facultative heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria improves sugarcane silage conservation
Authors: Del Valle T. A. , Campana M. , Pereira N. R. , Osório J. A. C. , Garcia T. M. , Capucho E. , de Morais J. P. G.
Published: August 2022

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of chitosan instead of microbial inoculants on fermentation profile, losses, chemical composition, in vitro degradation, and aerobic stability of sugarcane silage (SS). Forty experimental silos (PVC tubes with 28 cm i.d., 25 cm height) were used in a randomized block design to evaluate the following treatments: (I) Control (CON): SS with no additive; (II) LB: SS ensiled with 5.0 × 105 colony forming units (CFU) of Lactobacillus buchneri (NCIM 40788)/g as-fed; (III) LPPA: SS ensiled with 1.6 × 105 CFU of L. plantarum and 1.6 × 105 CFU of Pediococcus acidilactici/g as-fed; and (IV) Chitosan (CHI): SS ensiled with 6 g/kg dry matter (DM) of chitosan. Microbial inoculation of SS reduced (P ≤ 0.05) silage pH relative to CON and CHI treatment. The LPPA decreased ammonia-nitrogen and LB decreased (P ≤ 0.05) ethanol content and increased acetic acid content relative to other treatments. The LPPA-silos had higher (P ≤ 0.05) gas losses and lower (P ≤ 0.05) DM recovery than other treatment silos. Consequently, LPPA reduced (P ≤ 0.05) DM and non-fibre carbohydrates and increased (P ≤ 0.05) neutral detergent fibre (NDF) silage content compared to other treatments. Treatments did not affect (P ≥ 0.212) DM and NDF in vitro degradation and silage pH after aerobic exposure. However, LB reduced silage temperature after aerobic exposure. Thus, LB reduces alcoholic fermentation and improves SS aerobic stability. Inoculation of LPPA reduces DM recovery and negatively affects SS chemical composition. Although CHI positively affects SS conservation relative to CON, it shows higher gas losses and decreased SS temperature after aerobic exposure compared to LB.
Intercropping and cover crop effects on maize nitrogen requirement for optimal growth
Authors: Souza S. S. , Flôres J. A. , Coelho A. P. , Deienno J. M. , Lemos L. B. , Rolim G. S.
Published: August 2022

Intercropping maize (Zea mays L.) with cover crops (Crotalaria spectabilis and Urochloa ruziziensis) is a sustainable cultivation strategy that can generate ecological benefits combined with grain yield (GY). However, cover crops may require nitrogen (N) fertilization management to be adjusted to obtain a high GY in intercropping systems. This study was carried out over 2 years in southeastern Brazil using randomized complete block design in a split-plot scheme. The plots were composed of three cropping systems: sole maize, maize + U. ruziziensis and maize + C. spectabilis. The subplots consisted of four N levels: 0, 70, 140 and 210 kg/ha. The GY of the maize + U. ruziziensis may be reduced by 13% compared to the sole maize. The GY of the sole maize increased up to 11.3 Mg/ha for 95 kg/ha of N in the first year and 6.7 Mg/ha for 169 kg/ha of N in the second year. The GY of the maize + U. ruziziensis intercropping system showed linear increments of 120 kg/ha for every 10 kg/ha of N applied. In the maize + C. spectabilis intercropping, GY increased up to 9.8 Mg/ha for 201 kg/ha of N in the first year, without any variation during the second year. The land equivalent ratio (LER) of intercropping was increased by more than 35% compared to that of sole maize, and N fertilization increased the LER of the sole maize and maize + U. ruziziensis intercropping. Maize intercropping had higher LER values with greater demand for nitrogen to obtain similar yields compared to sole maize cropping.
Long-term storage of microalgae: determination of optimum cryopreservation conditions
Authors: Deniz Irem , Demirel Zeliha , Imamoglu Esra , Conk-Dalay Meltem
Published: August 2022

Maintenance of eukaryotic microalgae strains for the long term is generally carried out using serial subculture techniques which require labour, time and cost. Cryopreservation techniques provide long-term storage of up to years for numerous microorganism strains and cell cultures. Ssu930ijn vbvbhnn8;l,n is related to a successfully designed mass and heat transfer balance throughout the cell. In this study, optimization of the cryopreservation process was carried out for two commercially used microalgal strains. The parameters to be optimized were DMSO percentage (0–25%), incubation time (1–15 min) and cryopreservation term (7–180 days) using a central composite design (CCD). Long-term storage up to 123.17 and 111.44 days corresponding to high cell viabilities was achieved for Chlorella vulgaris and Neochloris texensis, respectively. Generated models were found to be in good agreement with experimental results. The study also revealed holistic results for storage of microalgal strains in a stable state for industrial applications.
Between- and within-person effects of stress on emotional eating in women: a longitudinal study over 49 days
Authors: Fowler Natasha , Mikhail Megan E. , Neale Michael , Keel Pamela K. , Katzman Debra K. , Sisk Cheryl L. , Burt S. Alexandra , Klump Kelly L.
Published: August 2022

Background

Stress is associated with binge eating and emotional eating (EE) cross-sectionally. However, few studies have examined stress longitudinally, limiting understanding of how within-person fluctuations in stress influence EE over time and whether stress is a risk factor or consequence of EE. Additionally, little is known regarding how the biological stress response relates to EE.

Methods

We used an intensive, longitudinal design to examine between-person and within-person effects of major life stress, daily stress, and cortisol on EE in a population-based sample of women (N = 477; ages 15–30; M = 21.8; s.d. = 3.0) from the Michigan State University Twin Registry. Participants reported past year major life stress, then provided daily ratings of EE and stress for 49 consecutive days. Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) was collected as a longitudinal biological stress measure.

Results

Women reported greater EE when they experienced greater mean stress across days (between-person effects) or greater stress relative to their own average on a given day (within-person effects). Daily stress was more strongly associated with EE than major life stress. However, the impact of daily stress on EE was amplified in women with greater past year major life stress. Finally, participants with lower HCC had increased EE.

Conclusions

Findings confirm longitudinal associations between stress and EE in women, and highlight the importance of within-person shifts in stress in EE risk. Results also highlight HCC as a novel biological stress measure that is significantly associated with EE and may overcome limitations of prior physiological stress response indicators.
Passive Remote Monitoring and Aging in Place: A Scoping Review
Authors: Read Emily , Woolsey Cora , Donelle Lorie , Weeks Lori , Chinho Norma
Published: August 2022

Passive remote monitoring is a relatively new technology that may support older adults to age in place. However, current knowledge about the effectiveness of this technology in extending older adults’ independence is lacking. Therefore, we conducted a scoping review of studies examining passive remote monitoring to systematically synthesize evidence about the technology’s effectiveness as an intervention. Our initial search of Embase, CINAHL, PubMed, and Scopus databases identified 486 unique articles. Of these, 14 articles met our inclusion criteria. Results show that passive remote monitoring technologies are being used in innovative and diverse ways to support older adults aging in place and their caregivers. More high-quality research on this topic is needed.
Inverse pole figure of CVD coatings of metal cutting tools using an XRD Bragg Brentano geometry
Authors: Shibata Tomohiro
Published: August 2022

CVD-coated cemented carbides are widely used for various metal cutting applications. It has been established that the textures of the coating materials especially that of the α-Al2O3 greatly affect the cut performance for some applications. The characterization of the coating texture is thus very important. In this paper, inverse pole figures of α-Al2O3 based on XRD with Bragg Brentano geometry were calculated for several metal cutting inserts available in the market. This method is simple, less time-consuming and can be applied to previously collected data and is compared with that of the EBSD. Despite several differences, IPF maps based on XRD powder diffraction represent the texture of metal cutting inserts.
The New Recipe for a General Principle of Law: Premise Theory to “Fill in the Gaps”
Authors: OCHI Megumi
Published: August 2022

This article proposes a new theory, “premise theory”, to account for recent international criminal courts’ practice on finding general principles of law. After analysing the traditional theory of transposition from national to international legal settings, and the modification/choice model, this article demonstrates that the focus should be shifted from arbitrariness to the determinants of results of recognizing general principles of law. Premise theory explains a mechanism that judges modify a common legal principle or choose the most appropriate national legal principle to apply to the issue at hand to reflect the premises of the legal field, the court, and, sometimes, even the individual case. This article concludes with a proposal for utilizing premise theory as an explanatory tool and as a guide for legal reasoning to increase judicial transparency and predictability. Lastly, it advocates for the application of premise theory to other areas of international law.
Triennium Linguae Latinae: a case study of introducing Latin to the Key Stage 3 timetable in a comprehensive school
Authors: McMillan Ian David
Published: August 2022

A personal reflection on the experience of introducing Latin to the curriculum. School S. (non-selective, secondary) introduced Latin as a timetabled subject at Key Stage 3 between 2016 and 2019. This is a case study and personal reflection from the teacher who instigated and taught the course, comprising the extracurricular efforts which paved the way for the class, methodological considerations, an evaluation of the project, and the reasons why Latin was ultimately discontinued from the curriculum.
APOE interacts with ACE2 inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 cellular entry and inflammation in COVID-19 patients
Authors: Zhang Hongsheng , Shao Lin , Lin Zhihao , Long Quan-Xin , Yuan Huilong , Cai Lujian , Jiang Guangtong , Guo Xiaoyi , Yang Renzhi , Zhang Zepeng , Zhang Bingchang , Liu Fan , Li Zhiyong , Ma Qilin , Zhang Yun-Wu , Huang Ai-Long , Wang Zhanxiang , Zhao Yingjun , Xu Huaxi
Published: August 2022

Apolipoprotein E (APOE) plays a pivotal role in lipid including cholesterol metabolism. The APOE ε4 (APOE4) allele is a major genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular diseases. Although APOE has recently been associated with increased susceptibility to infections of several viruses, whether and how APOE and its isoforms affect SARS-CoV-2 infection remains unclear. Here, we show that serum concentrations of APOE correlate inversely with levels of cytokine/chemokine in 73 COVID-19 patients. Utilizing multiple protein interaction assays, we demonstrate that APOE3 and APOE4 interact with the SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2; and APOE/ACE2 interactions require zinc metallopeptidase domain of ACE2, a key docking site for SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein. In addition, immuno-imaging assays using confocal, super-resolution, and transmission electron microscopies reveal that both APOE3 and APOE4 reduce ACE2/Spike-mediated viral entry into cells. Interestingly, while having a comparable binding affinity to ACE2, APOE4 inhibits viral entry to a lesser extent compared to APOE3, which is likely due to APOE4’s more compact structure and smaller spatial obstacle to compete against Spike binding to ACE2. Furthermore, APOE ε4 carriers clinically correlate with increased SARS-CoV-2 infection and elevated serum inflammatory factors in 142 COVID-19 patients assessed. Our study suggests a regulatory mechanism underlying SARS-CoV-2 infection through APOE interactions with ACE2, which may explain in part increased COVID-19 infection and disease severity in APOE ε4 carriers.
D-aspartate oxidase gene duplication induces social recognition memory deficit in mice and intellectual disabilities in humans
Authors: Lombardo Barbara , Pagani Marco , De Rosa Arianna , Nunziato Marcella , Migliarini Sara , Garofalo Martina , Terrile Marta , D’Argenio Valeria , Galbusera Alberto , Nuzzo Tommaso , Ranieri Annaluisa , Vitale Andrea , Leggiero Eleonora , Di Maio Anna , Barsotti Noemi , Borello Ugo , Napolitano Francesco , Mandarino Alessandra , Carotenuto Marco , Heresco-Levy Uriel , Pasqualetti Massimo , Malatesta Paolo , Gozzi Alessandro , Errico Francesco , Salvatore Francesco , Pastore Lucio , Usiello Alessandro
Published: August 2022

TheD-aspartate oxidase(DDO) gene encodes the enzyme responsible for the catabolism of D-aspartate, an atypical amino acid enriched in the mammalian brain and acting as an endogenous NMDA receptor agonist. Considering the key role of NMDA receptors in neurodevelopmental disorders, recent findings suggest a link between D-aspartate dysmetabolism and schizophrenia. To clarify the role of D-aspartate on brain development and functioning, we used a mouse model with constitutiveDdooverexpression and D-aspartate depletion. In these mice, we found reduced number of BrdU-positive dorsal pallium neurons during corticogenesis, and decreased cortical and striatal gray matter volume at adulthood. Brain abnormalities were associated with social recognition memory deficit at juvenile phase, suggesting that early D-aspartate occurrence influences neurodevelopmental related phenotypes. We corroborated this hypothesis by reporting the first clinical case of a young patient with severe intellectual disability, thought disorders and autism spectrum disorder symptomatology, harboring a duplication of a chromosome 6 region, including the entireDDOgene.
Knockdown of RRM1 in tumor cells promotes radio-/chemotherapy induced ferroptosis by regulating p53 ubiquitination and p21-GPX4 signaling axis
Authors: Gao Yang , Chen Bin , Wang Ruru , Xu An , Wu Lijun , Lu Huayi , Zhao Guoping
Published: August 2022

Ferroptosis, a type of regulated cell death brought about by lipid peroxidation, has been discovered to suppress tumor growth. Here, we report that targeting RRM1 promotes ferroptosis and affects sensitivity to radiation and chemotherapeutics in cancer cells. In vitro experiments demonstrate that RRM1 increases the accumulation of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation by disrupting the activity and expression of the antioxidant enzyme GPX4. Further studies reveal the downstream mechanisms of RRM1, which can regulate the deubiquitinating enzyme USP11 and ubiquitinating enzyme MDM2 to affect the ubiquitination modification of p53. Unstable p53 then inhibited the activity and expression of GPX4 by restraining the p21 protein. Furthermore, our data reveal that targeting RRM1 also increases radiation-induced DNA damage and apoptotic signaling and causes crosstalk between ferroptosis and apoptosis. On the basis of our collective findings, we propose that RRM1 is an essential negative mediator of radiosensitivity through regulating ferroptosis, which could serve as a potential target to inhibit the tumor’s antioxidant system and enhance the efficiency of radio/chemotherapy.
Stable solar water splitting with wettable organic-layer-protected silicon photocathodes
Authors: Wu Bo , Wang Tuo , Liu Bin , Li Huimin , Wang Yunlong , Wang Shujie , Zhang Lili , Jiang Shaokun , Pei Chunlei , Gong Jinlong
Published: August 2022

Protective layers are essential for Si-based photocathodes to achieve long-term stability. The conventionally used inorganic protective layers, such as TiO2, need to be free of pinholes to isolate Si from corrosive solution, which demands extremely high-quality deposition techniques. On the other hand, organic hydrophobic protective layers suffer from the trade-off between current density and stability. This paper describes the design and fabrication of a discontinuous hybrid organic protective layer with controllable surface wettability. The underlying hydrophobic layer induces the formation of thin gas layers at the discontinuous pores to isolate the electrolyte from Si substrate, while allowing Pt co-catalyst to contact the electrolyte for water splitting. Meanwhile, the surface of this organic layer is modified with hydrophilic hydroxyl groups to facilitate bubble detachment. The optimized photocathode achieves a stable photocurrent of 35 mA/cm2 for over 110 h with no trend of decay.
Visible-light mediated catalytic asymmetric radical deuteration at non-benzylic positions
Authors: Shi Qinglong , Xu Meichen , Chang Rui , Ramanathan Devenderan , Peñin Beatriz , Funes-Ardoiz Ignacio , Ye Juntao
Published: August 2022

Site- and enantioselective incorporation of deuterium into organic compounds is of broad interest in organic synthesis, especially within the pharmaceutical industry. While catalytic approaches relying on two-electron reaction manifolds have allowed for stereoselective delivery of a formal deuteride (D–) or deuteron (D+) at benzylic positions, complementary strategies that make use of one-electron deuterium atom transfer and target non-benzylic positions remain elusive. Here we report a photochemical approach for asymmetric radical deuteration by utilizing readily available peptide- or sugar-derived thiols as the catalyst and inexpensive deuterium oxide as the deuterium source. This metal-free platform enables four types of deuterofunctionalization reactions of exocyclic olefins and allows deuteration at non-benzylic positions with high levels of enantioselectivity and deuterium incorporation. Computational studies reveal that attractive non-covalent interactions are responsible for stereocontrol. We anticipate that our findings will open up new avenues for asymmetric deuteration.
The latent dedifferentiation capacity of newt limb muscles is unleashed by a combination of metamorphosis and body growth
Authors: Yu Zhan Yang , Shiga Shota , Casco-Robles Martin Miguel , Takeshima Kazuhito , Maruo Fumiaki , Chiba Chikafumi
Published: August 2022

Newts can regenerate their limbs throughout their life-span. Focusing on muscle, certain species of newts such as Cynops pyrrhogaster dedifferentiate muscle fibers in the limb stump and mobilize them for muscle creation in the regenerating limb, as they grow beyond metamorphosis. However, which developmental process is essential for muscle dedifferentiation, metamorphosis or body growth, is unknown. To address this issue, we tracked muscle fibers during limb regeneration under conditions in which metamorphosis and body growth were experimentally shifted along the axis of development. Our results indicate that a combination of metamorphosis and body growth is necessary for muscle dedifferentiation. On the other hand, ex vivo tracking of larval muscle fibers revealed that newt muscle fibers have the ability to dedifferentiate independently of metamorphosis and body growth. These results suggest that newt muscle fibers have an intrinsic ability to dedifferentiate, but that metamorphosis and body growth are necessary for them to exhibit this hidden ability. Presumably, changes in the extracellular environment (niche) during developmental processes allow muscle fibers to contribute to limb regeneration through dedifferentiation. This study can stimulate research on niches as well as gene regulation for dedifferentiation, contributing to a further understanding of regeneration and future medical applications.
Application of trans-sutural distraction osteogenesis based on an optical surgical navigation system to correct midfacial dysplasia
Authors: Chen YuJie , Du ShanShan , Lin ZhiYu , Zhang PeiYang , Zhang XinLing , Bin Yang , Wang JunChen , Zhao ZhenMin
Published: August 2022

Midfacial hypoplasia is a common maxillofacial deformity in patients with cleft lip and palate, which requires surgical treatment. However, trans-sutural distraction osteogenesis (TSDO) remains some disadvantages, including difficulty in accurate location of surgical path, prolonged operation time, and excess surgical bleeding. This study aimed to evaluate the application of an optical surgical navigation system (OSNS) developed for TSDO. Six consecutive patients with midfacial hypoplasia who required TSDO were included in the study. Preoperatively, a head computed tomography was performed, and the data were imported into Mimics software (version: 20.0.0.691, Materialise Inc, Belgium) to design a three-dimensional simulation of the surgical approach. TSDO was performed with the use of OSNS. The accuracy and results of the procedure were initially evaluated by comparing the preoperative and postoperative periods. The patients included five boys and one girl, with an average age of 10 years; five with postoperative cleft lip and palate, and one without combined cleft lip and palate. The surgical procedure was successful, with a postoperative follow-up of 4–5 months. All patients demonstrated good treatment results without complications. In conclusioin, OSNS-assisted TSDO can noninvasively correct midfacial dysplasia, improve surgical precision, reduce bleeding and obtain better clinical results. OSNS can guide the TSDO safely and effectively.
Comparing emotion inferences from dogs (Canis familiaris), panins (Pan troglodytes/Pan paniscus), and humans (Homo sapiens) facial displays
Authors: Sullivan S. Kezia , Kim Ahyoung , Vinicius Castilho Lucio , Harris Lasana T.
Published: August 2022

Human beings are highly familiar over-learnt social targets, with similar physical facial morphology between perceiver and target. But does experience with or similarity to a social target determine whether we can accurately infer emotions from their facial displays? Here, we test this question across two studies by having human participants infer emotions from facial displays of: dogs, a highly experienced social target but with relatively dissimilar facial morphology; panins (chimpanzees/bonobos), inexperienced social targets, but close genetic relatives with a more similar facial morphology; and humans. We find that people are more accurate inferring emotions from facial displays of dogs compared to panins, though they are most accurate for human faces. However, we also find an effect of emotion, such that people vary in their ability to infer different emotional states from different species’ facial displays, with anger more accurately inferred than happiness across species, perhaps hinting at an evolutionary bias towards detecting threat. These results not only compare emotion inferences from human and animal faces but provide initial evidence that experience with a non-human animal affects inferring emotion from facial displays.
Association of the prefrailty with global brain atrophy and white matter lesions among cognitively unimpaired older adults: the Nakajima study
Authors: Noguchi-Shinohara Moeko , Ono Kenjiro , Yuki-Nozaki Sohshi , Iwasa Kazuo , Yokogawa Masami , Komai Kiyonobu , Thyreau Benjamin , Tatewaki Yasuko , Taki Yasuyuki , Shibata Mao , Ohara Tomoyuki , Hata Jun , Ninomiya Toshiharu , Yamada Masahito
Published: August 2022

Physical frailty has been associated with adverse outcomes such as dementia. However, the underlying structural brain abnormalities of physical frailty are unclear. We investigated the relationship between physical frailty and structural brain abnormalities in 670 cognitively unimpaired individuals (mean age 70.1 years). Total brain volume (TBV), hippocampal volume (HV), total white matter hypointensities volume (WMHV), and estimated total intracranial volume (eTIV) on the 3D T1-weighted images were automatically computed using FreeSurfer software. Participants were divided into two states of physical frailty (robust vs. prefrail) based on the revised Japanese version of the Cardiovascular Health Study criteria. The multivariable-adjusted mean values of the TBV-to-eTIV ratio was significantly decreased, whereas that of the WMHV-to-eTIV ratio was significantly increased in the prefrail group compared with the robust group. Slowness, one of the components of physical frailty, was significantly associated with reduced TBV-to-eTIV and HV-to-eTIV ratios, and slowness and weakness were significantly associated with an increased WMHV-to-eTIV ratio. Our results suggest that the prefrail state is significantly associated with global brain atrophy and white matter hypointensities. Furthermore, slowness was significantly associated with hippocampal atrophy.
Coagulation parameters abnormalities and their relation to clinical outcomes in hospitalized and severe COVID-19 patients: prospective study
Authors: Esmaeel Hend M. , Ahmed Heba A. , Elbadry Mahmoud I. , Khalaf Asmaa R. , Mohammed Nesreen A. , Mahmoud Hamza A. , Taha Elhaisam M.
Published: August 2022

There has been growing attention toward the predictive value of the coagulation parameters abnormalities in COVID-19. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of coagulation parameters namely Prothrombin concentration (PC), activated Partial thromboplastin Time (aPTT), D-Dimer (DD), Anti Thrombin III (ATIII) and fibrinogen (Fg) together with hematological, and biochemical parameters in predicting the severity of COVID-19 patients and estimating their relation to clinical outcomes in hospitalized and severe COVID-19 Patients. In a prospective study, a total of 267 newly diagnosed COVID-19 patients were enrolled. They were divided into two groups; hospitalized group which included 144 patients and non-hospitalized group that included 123 patients. According to severity, the patients were divided into severe group which included 71 patients and non-severe group that included 196 patients who were admitted to ward or not hospitalized. Clinical evaluation, measurement of coagulation parameters, biochemical indices, outcome and survival data were recorded. Hospitalized and severe patients were older and commonly presented with dyspnea (P ≤ 0.001). Differences in coagulation parameters were highly significant in hospitalized and severe groups in almost all parameters, same for inflammatory markers. D-dimer, AT-III and LDH showed excellent independently prediction of severity risk. With a cut-off of > 2.0 ng/L, the sensitivity and specificity of D dimer in predicting severity were 76% and 93%, respectively. Patients with coagulation abnormalities showed worse survival than those without (p = 0.002). Early assessment and dynamic monitoring of coagulation parameters may be a benchmark in the prediction of COVID-19 severity and death.
Changes in palaeoclimate and palaeoenvironment in the Upper Yangtze area (South China) during the Ordovician–Silurian transition
Authors: Men Xin , Mou Chuanlong , Ge Xiangying
Published: August 2022

The Ordovician–Silurian transition was a critical period in geological history, during which profound changes in climatic, biotic, and oceanic conditions occurred. To explore the provenance, palaeoclimate, and palaeoredox conditions in the Sichuan Basin during the Late Ordovician–early Silurian interval, we conducted mineralogical, geochemical, and isotopic analyses of three formations (Wufeng, Guanyinqiao and Longmaxi formations) in the Xindi No. 2 well. The ternary and bivariate diagrams indicate that the provenance is mainly felsic igneous rocks and originated mainly from a collisional setting, presumably due to an active continental margin. The chemical index of alteration (CIA) values in the lower Wufeng and Longmaxi formations are relatively high (67.48–73.57), indicating a warm and humid climate. In contrast, the CIA values declined rapidly (58.30–64.66) during the late Katian to early Hirnantian, which had a fluctuating cold and dry climate and was interrupted by a transient warm and humid climate. The palaeoredox indices (Mo concentrations and Moauth/Uauth, U/Th, V/Cr, Ni/Co, and V/V + Ni values) during the Late Ordovician–early Silurian indicate two cycles of water column euxinia. The first cycle occurred during Wufeng Formation deposition, with bottom waters evolving from oxic-suboxic to suboxic-anoxic. Most samples show relatively low redox-sensitive trace element concentrations during the Guanyinqiao Formation, pointing to oxic-suboxic conditions. The second cycle, during the late Hirnantian, transitioned from oxic to euxinic water conditions. Our δ13Corgdata are comparable to previously reported records and exhibit a strong correlation between the Hirnantian isotopic carbon excursion (HICE), climate change, and redox conditions. We suggest that the variations in the δ13C values are related to two elements: (1) increased photosynthetic activity under oxic water conditions, and (2) increased carbonate weathering exposed by the glacio-eustatic sea- level. In addition, the high δ13Corgvalues might indicate a more shelf-proximal setting during Xindi No. 2 well deposition. The δ13Corgisotopic data effectively constrain the timing of the Late Ordovician mass extinction (LOME) and the evolution of the temporal changes in the climatic and ocean redox conditions, suggesting an apparent stratigraphic coincidence between climate and redox fluctuations and two-phase extinctions, which implies a strong causal relationship. The LOME was systematically driven by the combination of cooler glacial temperatures, glacio-eustatic sea-level fluctuations, and anoxic water conditions that caused the two pulses of extinction in the Yangtze shelf sea.
Profiling of gene expression in the brain associated with anxiety-related behaviors in the chronic phase following cranial irradiation
Authors: Lee Hae-June , Kim Joong-Sun , Moon Changjong , Son Yeonghoon
Published: August 2022

Although the brain is exposed to cranial irradiation in many clinical contexts, including malignant brain tumor therapy, such exposure can cause delayed neuropsychiatric disorders in the chronic phase. However, how specific molecular mechanisms are associated with irradiation-induced behavioral dysfunction, especially anxiety-like behaviors, is unclear. In the present study, we evaluated anxiety-like behaviors in adult C57BL/6 mice using the open-field (OF) and elevated plus maze (EPM) tests 3 months following single cranial irradiation (10 Gy). Additionally, by using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), we analyzed gene expression profiles in the cortex and hippocampus of the adult brain to demonstrate the molecular mechanisms of radiation-induced brain dysfunction. In the OF and EPM tests, mice treated with radiation exhibited increased anxiety-like behaviors in the chronic phase. Gene expression analysis by RNA-seq revealed 89 and 106 differentially expressed genes in the cortex and hippocampus, respectively, following cranial irradiation. Subsequently, ClueGO and STRING analyses clustered these genes in pathways related to protein kinase activity, circadian behavior, and cell differentiation. Based on our expression analysis, we suggest that behavioral dysfunction following cranial irradiation is associated with altered expression of Cdkn1a, Ciart, Fos, Hspa5, Hspb1 and Klf10. These novel findings may provide potential genetic targets to investigate for the development of radioprotective agents.