bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
146 What´s Up With Our Patients 3 Years After Finishing Penile Rehabilitation Study Programs and 5 Years After nsRP?
Authors: Bannowsky A , Osmonov D , Maerker V , Ueckert S
Published: April 2022

Introduction

Several strategies are published for postoperative erectile function rehabilitation after nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy (nsRP).

Objective

The aim of our study was to evaluate the use of any ED-treatment or the adherence to study protocol medication 3 years after the end of the initiated rehabilitation program.

Methods

124 patients (mean age 69 years) from 3 different rehabilitation studies after nsRP with a regular dose of different PDE5-inhibitors (sildenafil/vardenafil/tadalafil) were enrolled for this evaluation. The regular initial follow-up of all of the 3 studies was 24 months. We performed a questionnaire sent to all enrolled patients of these studies 3 years after the end of the study / 5 years after nsRP. The survey consists of different questions, e.g. if and what kind of ED-treatment the patients still use. Further questions dealt with the reasons to end the study medication or switch to any other treatment.

Results

91 patients (73.4%) completed and returned the questionnaire. 51 patients (56%) had stopped medical ED-treatment therapy completely at the time of the survey because of different reasons (completely restored erectile function without any medication 12%, subsequent ineffectiveness of the medication 8.8%, progressive disease of prostate cancer 7.7%, subsequent comorbidities 27.5%). From the remaining 48 patients only 21 patients (23%) still using only PDE5-inhibitors (daily or on demand). 16 patients (17.5%) using penile injection therapy, 3 patients MUSE (3.2%) and 8 patients VCD (with/without PDE5-inhibitors) (8.8%).

Conclusions

5 years after nsRP / 3 years after the end of the different rehabilitation studies most of the patients (56%) do not use any ED-medication anymore due to different reasons. Only 12% of the patients after being enrolled in rehabilitation programs for 24 months are still reporting a restored erectile function 5 years after nsRP without any medication.

Disclosure

No
Direct numerical simulation of forced thermal convection in square ducts up to
Authors: Modesti Davide , Pirozzoli Sergio
Published: April 2022

We carry out direct numerical simulations (DNS) of flow in a turbulent square duct by focusing on heat transfer effects, considering the case of unit Prandtl number. Reynolds numbers up to

${{Re}}_{\tau } \approx 2000$

are considered that are much higher than in previous studies, and that yield clear scale separation between inner- and outer-layer dynamics. Close similarity between the behaviour of the temperature and the streamwise velocity fields is confirmed as in previous studies related to plane channels and pipes. Just like the mean velocity, the mean temperature is found to exhibit logarithmic layers as a function of the nearest wall, but with a different slope. The most important practical implication is the validity of the traditional hydraulic diameter as the correct reference length for reporting heat transfer data, as we show rigorously here. Temperature and velocity fluctuations also have similar behaviour, but apparently logarithmic growth of their inner-scaled peak variances is not observed here, unlike in canonical wall-bounded flows. Analysis of the split contributions to the heat transfer coefficient shows that mean cross-stream convection associated with secondary motions is responsible for about

$5\,\%$

of the total. Finally, we use the DNS database to highlight shortcomings of traditional linear closures for the turbulent heat flux, and show that substantial modelling improvement in principle may be obtained by retaining at least the three terms in the vector polynomial integrity basis expansion.
Workplace ostracism and team members' creativity: The mediating role of self-reflection and moderating role of high-involvement work practices
Authors: Wang Zhining , Guan Chunjie , Ren Shuang , Cai Shaohan
Published: April 2022

Drawing on social cognitive theory, this paper examines whether self-reflection mediates the association between workplace ostracism and team members' creativity, and whether this mediating effect is moderated by high-involvement work practices (HIWPs). We construct and test a cross-level model using multilevel path analysis to analyse data collected from 81 teams (a total of 393 members) in China. The results show that workplace ostracism negatively influences team members' reflection but positively influences rumination, which in turn affects individual creativity. Furthermore, HIWPs negatively moderate the effects of workplace ostracism on self-reflection, and moderate the linkages among workplace ostracism, reflection/rumination and team members' creativity. Finally, theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Wh-EverConstructions in American Hasidic Yiddish: The Rise of a Germanic Construction
Authors: Assouline Dalit
Published: April 2022

This paper discusses the hitherto undocumentedwh-everconstructions in contemporary American Hasidic Yiddish. Employment of these Germanic constructions in both written and spoken American Hasidic Yiddish raises the question of their origin and the possibility that several Germanic varieties have influenced this seemingly new pattern. Specifically, these constructions might have originated from German-ized Yiddish varieties and past contact with Judeo-German, and then gradually become entrenched in American Hasidic Yiddish through contact with English. The paper uses this particular construction to offer some more general reflections on the possibility of historical impact of German on American Hasidic Yiddish during the formation of Hasidic Yiddish varieties in Williamsburg (New York) in the 1950s.*
Analyzing institutional changes in community-based management: a case study of a participatory guarantee system for organic labeling in Brazil
Authors: Lemeilleur Sylvaine , Dorville Claire , Niederle Paulo , Ilbert Hélène
Published: April 2022

The literature on collective action has poorly addressed processes of incremental institutional changes within organizations. This paper helps fill this gap by shedding light on how the community-based management of an organic label has changed following its formal recognition as a ‘participatory guarantee system’ (PGS). Ostrom and Basurto's (2011) analytical tool is useful to describe the changes in collective rules to address collective action problems that take place in standard-setting and labeling activities. Using original data collected from the Ecovida Agroecology Network – the oldest and largest PGS in Brazil –, we study the multi-scale changes in governance rules from the 1970s until today. We pay particular attention to the links between the institutional consolidation of PGS, its recognition by public authorities, and its adaptation to legal rules. We detail analytical operators indicating whether the introduction of the PGS rules at the national level was bottom-up or top-down. Our findings emphasize how local communities have been able to both adapt their governance system in response to the official arrangements concerning organic regulations, and influence national public arenas where these arrangements are defined. This form of co-management has been accompanied by a significant increase in the number of PGS-certified farmers.
Wer profitiert von einem Workshop zur Suizidprävention an Schulen?
Authors: Bockhoff Katharina , Bruder Simone , Ellermeier Wolfgang , Rohrbach Theresa , Hertel und Silke
Published: April 2022

Zusammenfassung. Um die Suizidprävention an Schulen zu verbessern, wurden psychoedukative Workshops für Schüler_innen implementiert und angeboten. N=200 Schüler_innen der 8.–10. Jahrgangsstufe wurden zufällig einer Experimental- oder Kontrollgruppe zugewiesen. Vor und nach dem Training sowie nach drei Monaten wurden sie zu ihrem hilfesuchenden und hilfegebendem Verhalten sowie ihrer depressiven Symptomatik befragt. Die Ergebnisse weisen darauf hin, dass besonders die als stärker suizidgefährdet eingestuften Jugendlichen von dem Training durch eine Abnahme ihrer depressiven Symptomatik profitierten. Schüler_innen der Kontrollgruppe verbesserten sich demgegenüber nicht signifikant in ihrer depressiven Symptomatik. Für das hilfesuchende ebenso wie das hilfegebende Verhalten zeigten sich positive Trends, die jedoch nicht statistisch signifikant wurden. Diese Ergebnisse zeigen – wenn auch mit Limitationen aufgrund von Ausfällen durch die Coronapandemie 2020 und durch ein restriktives Vor-Screening – die Wirksamkeit einer aufwändigen außerschulischen Suizidprävention auf Befinden und Verhalten.
Impact of Different Genres of Background Music on a Memory Test
Authors: Birman Anna R. , Ferguson Christopher J.
Published: April 2022

Abstract. Many studies have examined the effects of different types of background music on cognitive abilities. However, the results of these studies range from finding music to be a significant distraction to finding it to be beneficial. This study examined the effects of different music genres and silence on a memory test. One hundred participants were randomly assigned to four different groups: silence (no music), classical music, rock, and the final group could choose any genre they liked. The California Verbal Learning Test – Second Edition (CVLT-II) was administered to assess participant’s memory. Anxiety was also assessed before and after the memory test to see whether the music had any effect. Generally, results suggested that music presence or genre had little tangible effect on memory or anxiety.
Cessation of Hardground Accretion by the Cold‐Water Coralline Algae Clathromorphum Compactum and Clathromorphum Nereostratum Predicted Within Two Centuries
Authors: Westfield Isaac , Gunnell John , Rasher Douglas B. , Williams Branwen , Ries Justin B.
Published: April 2022

Ocean acidification and warming are expected to disproportionately affect high‐latitude calcifying species, such as crustose coralline algae. Clathromorphum nereostratum and Clathromorphum compactum are the primary builders of carbonate‐hardgrounds in the Aleutians Islands of Alaska and North Atlantic shelf, respectively, providing habitat and settlement substrates for a large number of species. We exposed wild‐collected specimens to 12 pCO2/T treatments (344–3322 μatm; 6.38–12.40°C) for 4 months in a factorially crossed, replicated laboratory experiment. Impacts of pCO2/T on algal calcification were quantified from linear extension and buoyant weight. Here we show that, despite belonging to the same genus, C. nereostratum exhibited greater sensitivity to thermal stress, while C. compactum exhibited greater sensitivity to pH stress. Furthermore, multivariate models of algal calcification derived from the experiment indicate that both C. nereostratum and C. compactum will commence net dissolution as early as 2120 and 2200 AD, respectively. Our results therefore indicate that near‐term climate change may lead to substantial degradation of these species and loss of the critical hardground habitats that they form.
Cloud Morphology Evolution in Arctic Cold‐Air Outbreak: Two Cases During COMBLE Period
Authors: Wu Peng , Ovchinnikov Mikhail
Published: April 2022

Cloud feedbacks play an important role in Arctic warming. Cloud morphology, for example, cloud size and spatial distributions, is among key factors that directly impact their radiative effects. In this work, we use two cases observed during the Cold‐air Outbreak (CAO) in the Marine Boundary Layer Experiment (COMBLE) to study the evolution of cloud size distributions as an air mass is advected from the Arctic over a comparatively warm ocean and cloud mesoscale organization changes from rolls to cells. Cloud objects are identified from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) reflectance images through an object segmentation procedure and roll breakup is identified by homogeneities in cloud water path (CWP). Roll breakup is found to be accompanied by a local minimum in wind shear and local maxima in cloud size and marine cold air outbreak index. The mean cloud horizontal aspect ratio has weak fetch dependency and is around 2 in roll, transition, and cell regimes. Regardless of distance from the ice edge, smaller clouds (<10 km2) dominate the population number but not cloud cover. Cloud size distributions show bimodality in transition and cell regimes. For clouds with comparable sizes, mean nearest neighbor distances normalized by equivalent cloud radius converge to a single value for all regimes and for all but the smallest clouds, suggesting that clouds of comparable sizes in CAOs are separated by distance proportional to their sizes. The presented statistical results pave the way to evaluating model simulated cloud organizations during CAO events.
Influence of Monsoon Climate on Chemical Weathering of Granitic Regoliths
Authors: Mao Hai‐Ruo , Cui Li‐Feng , Zhang Zhuo‐Jun , Xu Sheng , Liu Cong‐Qiang , Zhao Zhi‐Qi
Published: April 2022

Chemical weathering of silicates is a key process regulating global climate and biogeochemical cycles. However, little consensus has emerged on whether and how climate controls the chemical weathering of regolith. We present data on climate, geochemistry, and denudation rates of six low‐gradient granitic regoliths in the summer monsoon region. We used the time‐integrated Na loss rate (QNa) and chemical depletion fraction (CDF) to indicate plagioclase weathering and total weathering, respectively. Most profiles are primarily influenced by supply‐limited weathering (i.e., tectonic control on weathering), while the weak insignificant correlations between CDF or QNa and erosion rates or slopes suggest that tectonics and topography did not have the major control on weathering. In contrast, annual mean temperature (MAT) and annual mean water availability (MAP‐MAPET) strongly regulate weathering (QNa and CDF) exponentially, likely because of the approximately synergistic effects of temperature and water availability in the monsoon climate. The total sufficient monthly mean temperature (MMT) and monthly mean water availability (MMP‐MMPET) are utilized to further evaluate the relative influence of climate on CDF and QNa. The results suggest that total MMT and MMP‐MMPET both strongly influence CDF exponentially and linearly, respectively. However, total MMT and MMP‐MMPET show significant exponential correlations with QNa. The different effects of water availability imply that total weathering responding to variations in water availability is probably less sensitive than plagioclase weathering. The influence of climate on weathering on a large scale through MAT and MAP needs to be interpreted with caution due to the seasonal discrepancy of temperature and water availability.
Future Amplification of Sea Surface Temperature Seasonality Due To Enhanced Ocean Stratification
Authors: Jo Anila Rani , Lee June‐Yi , Timmermann Axel , Jin Fei‐Fei , Yamaguchi Ryohei , Gallego Angeles
Published: April 2022

In many regions the projected future sea surface temperature (SST) response to greenhouse warming is larger in summer than in winter. What causes this amplification of the SST seasonal cycle has remained unclear. To determine robustness of the projected seasonal cycle intensification and ascertain underlying physical mechanisms we analyze a suite of historical and greenhouse warming simulations conducted with 13 coupled general circulation models in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5. In the Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 scenario, the amplitude of SST seasonal cycle, defined as the difference between climatological maximum and minimum temperature, increases by 30% ± 20% on average by the end of 21st century. Analysis of a simplified mixed layer heat budget demonstrates that the amplification can be attributed to the increasing upper ocean stratification and hence shoaling of the annual‐mean mixed layer. The projected intensification of SST seasonality may have important implications for future changes in marine ecosystems.
Multiple Reconnection X‐Lines at the Magnetopause and Overlapping Cusp Ion Injections
Authors: Fuselier S. A. , Kletzing C. A. , Petrinec S. M. , Trattner K. J. , George D. , Bounds S. R. , Sawyer R. P. , Bonnell J. W. , Burch J. L. , Giles B. L. , Strangeway R. J.
Published: April 2022

Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) observations during an extended crossing of the Earth's dayside magnetopause show evidence of multiple reconnections at the boundary. This crossing occurred when the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) was southward and had a significant BY component. Approximately 2 hr after this crossing, the Twin Rocket Investigation of Cusp Electrodynamics‐2 rockets were launched into the northern hemisphere cusp and observed overlapping cusp ion injections. These overlapping injections are also evidence of multiple reconnections at the magnetopause. Observations more than 2 hr apart do not constitute conjunction between the spacecraft and the rockets. However, the IMF conditions during the magnetopause crossing and the cusp traversal were very similar. Therefore, had the magnetopause crossings and cusp traversals occurred at the same time, the observations would have been similar. Thus, these two events illustrate the link between multiple reconnections at the magnetopause and overlapping cusp ion injections.
Developmental programming of hypothalamic melanocortin circuits
Authors: Bouret Sebastien G.
Published: April 2022

The melanocortin system plays a critical role in the central regulation of food intake and energy balance. This system consists of neurons producing pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), melanocortin receptors (MC4Rs), and the endogenous antagonist agouti-related peptide (AgRP).PomcandMc4rdeficiency in rodents and humans causes early onset of obesity, whereas a loss ofAgrpfunction is associated with leanness. Accumulating evidence shows that many chronic diseases, including obesity, might originate during early life. The melanocortin system develops during a relatively long period beginning during embryonic life with the birth of POMC and AgRP neurons and continuing postnatally with the assembly of their neuronal circuitry. The development of the melanocortin system requires the tight temporal regulation of molecular factors, such as transcription factors and axon guidance molecules, and cellular mechanisms, such as autophagy. It also involves a complex interplay of endocrine and nutritional factors. The disruption of one or more of these developmental factors can lead to abnormal maturation and function of the melanocortin system and has profound metabolic consequences later in life.
Autonomic control of energy balance and glucose homeostasis
Authors: Hyun Uisu , Sohn Jong-Woo
Published: April 2022

Neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) communicate with peripheral organs largely via the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Through such communications, the sympathetic and parasympathetic efferent divisions of the ANS may affect thermogenesis and blood glucose levels. In contrast, peripheral organs send feedback to the CNS via hormones and autonomic afferent nerves. These humoral and neural feedbacks, as well as neural commands from higher brain centers directly or indirectly shape the metabolic function of autonomic neurons. Notably, recent developments in mouse genetics have enabled more detailed studies of ANS neurons and circuits, which have helped elucidate autonomic control of metabolism. Here, we will summarize the functional organization of the ANS and discuss recent updates on the roles of neural and humoral factors in the regulation of energy balance and glucose homeostasis by the ANS.
A periplasmic cinched protein is required for siderophore secretion and virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Zhang Lei , Kent James E. , Whitaker Meredith , Young David C. , Herrmann Dominik , Aleshin Alexander E. , Ko Ying-Hui , Cingolani Gino , Saad Jamil S. , Moody D. Branch , Marassi Francesca M. , Ehrt Sabine , Niederweis Michael
Published: April 2022

Iron is essential for growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis. To acquire iron from the host, M. tuberculosis uses the siderophores called mycobactins and carboxymycobactins. Here, we show that the rv0455c gene is essential for M. tuberculosis to grow in low-iron medium and that secretion of both mycobactins and carboxymycobactins is drastically reduced in the rv0455c deletion mutant. Both water-soluble and membrane-anchored Rv0455c are functional in siderophore secretion, supporting an intracellular role. Lack of Rv0455c results in siderophore toxicity, a phenotype observed for other siderophore secretion mutants, and severely impairs replication of M. tuberculosis in mice, demonstrating the importance of Rv0455c and siderophore secretion during disease. The crystal structure of a Rv0455c homolog reveals a novel protein fold consisting of a helical bundle with a ‘cinch’ formed by an essential intramolecular disulfide bond. These findings advance our understanding of the distinct M. tuberculosis siderophore secretion system.
Microrobot collectives with reconfigurable morphologies, behaviors, and functions
Authors: Gardi Gaurav , Ceron Steven , Wang Wendong , Petersen Kirstin , Sitti Metin
Published: April 2022

Mobile microrobots, which can navigate, sense, and interact with their environment, could potentially revolutionize biomedicine and environmental remediation. Many self-organizing microrobotic collectives have been developed to overcome inherent limits in actuation, sensing, and manipulation of individual microrobots; however, reconfigurable collectives with robust transitions between behaviors are rare. Such systems that perform multiple functions are advantageous to operate in complex environments. Here, we present a versatile microrobotic collective system capable of on-demand reconfiguration to adapt to and utilize their environments to perform various functions at the air–water interface. Our system exhibits diverse modes ranging from isotropic to anisotrpic behaviors and transitions between a globally driven and a novel self-propelling behavior. We show the transition between different modes in experiments and simulations, and demonstrate various functions, using the reconfigurability of our system to navigate, explore, and interact with the environment. Such versatile microrobot collectives with globally driven and self-propelled behaviors have great potential in future medical and environmental applications.
High-mobility semiconducting polymers with different spin ground states
Authors: Chen Xiao-Xiang , Li Jia-Tong , Fang Yu-Hui , Deng Xin-Yu , Wang Xue-Qing , Liu Guangchao , Wang Yunfei , Gu Xiaodan , Jiang Shang-Da , Lei Ting
Published: April 2022

Organic semiconductors with high-spin ground states are fascinating because they could enable fundamental understanding on the spin-related phenomenon in light element and provide opportunities for organic magnetic and quantum materials. Although high-spin ground states have been observed in some quinoidal type small molecules or doped organic semiconductors, semiconducting polymers with high-spin at their neutral ground state are rarely reported. Here we report three high-mobility semiconducting polymers with different spin ground states. We show that polymer building blocks with small singlet-triplet energy gap (ΔES-T) could enable small ΔES-T gap and increase the diradical character in copolymers. We demonstrate that the electronic structure, spin density, and solid-state interchain interactions in the high-spin polymers are crucial for their ground states. Polymers with a triplet ground state (S = 1) could exhibit doublet (S = 1/2) behavior due to different spin distributions and solid-state interchain spin-spin interactions. Besides, these polymers showed outstanding charge transport properties with high hole/electron mobilities and can be both n- and p-doped with superior conductivities. Our results demonstrate a rational approach to obtain high-mobility semiconducting polymers with different spin ground states.
Evolution of metamemory based on self-reference to own memory in artificial neural network with neuromodulation
Authors: Yamato Yusuke , Suzuki Reiji , Arita Takaya
Published: April 2022

The ability of humans to self-monitor and control their memory processes is called metamemory and has been widely studied as a component of metacognition in cognitive psychology. Metamemory in non-human animals has also been investigated in recent years, although it had been regarded as a truly unique characteristic of human memory. We attempt to evolve artificial neural networks with neuromodulation, which have a metamemory function. Our constructive approach is expected to contribute, by introducing a novel dimension of evolutionary plausibility, to the discussion of animal experiments to detect metamemory. In this study, we demonstrate the evolution of neural networks that have a metamemory function based on the self-reference of memory, including the analysis of the evolved mechanism of metamemory. In addition, we discuss the similarity between the structure of the evolved neural network and the metamemory model defined by Nelson and Narens.
The complexity of simple counting: ERP findings reveal early perceptual and late numerical processes in different arrangements
Authors: Akbari Shadi , Soltanlou Mojtaba , Sabourimoghaddam Hassan , Nuerk Hans-Christoph , Leuthold Hartmut
Published: April 2022

The counting process can only be fully understood when taking into account the visual characteristics of the sets counted. Comparing behavioral data as well as event-related brain potentials (ERPs) evoked by different task-irrelevant arrangements of dots during an exact enumeration task, we aimed to investigate the effect of illusory contour detection on the counting process while other grouping cues like proximity were controlled and dot sparsity did not provide a cue to the numerosity of sets. Adult participants (N = 37) enumerated dots (8–12) in irregular and two different types of regular arrangements which differed in the shape of their illusory dot lattices. Enumeration speed was affected by both arrangement and magnitude. The type of arrangement influenced an early ERP negativity peaking at about 270 ms after stimulus onset, whereas numerosity only affected later ERP components (> 300 ms). We also observed that without perceptual cues, magnitude was constructed at a later stage of cognitive processing. We suggest that chunking is a prerequisite for more fluent counting which influences automatic processing (< 300 ms) during enumeration. We conclude that the procedure of exact enumeration depends on the interaction of several perceptual and numerical processes that are influenced by magnitude and arrangement.
Intensity distribution segmentation in ultrafast Doppler combined with scanning laser confocal microscopy for assessing vascular changes associated with ageing in murine hippocampi
Authors: Anzibar Fialho Maximiliano , Vázquez Alberdi Lucia , Martínez Mariana , Calero Miguel , Baranger Jerome , Tanter Mickael , Damián Juan Pablo , Negreira Carlos , Rubido Nicolás , Kun Alejandra , Brum Javier
Published: April 2022

The hippocampus plays an important role in learning and memory, requiring high-neuronal oxygenation. Understanding the relationship between blood flow and vascular structure—and how it changes with ageing—is physiologically and anatomically relevant. Ultrafast Doppler ($$\mu$$
μ
Doppler) and scanning laser confocal microscopy (SLCM) are powerful imaging modalities that can measure in vivo cerebral blood volume (CBV) and post mortem vascular structure, respectively. Here, we apply both imaging modalities to a cross-sectional and longitudinal study of hippocampi vasculature in wild-type mice brains. We introduce a segmentation of CBV distribution obtained from $$\mu$$
μ
Doppler and show that this mice-independent and mesoscopic measurement is correlated with vessel volume fraction (VVF) distribution obtained from SLCM—e.g., high CBV relates to specific vessel locations with large VVF. Moreover, we find significant changes in CBV distribution and vasculature due to ageing (5 vs. 21 month-old mice), highlighting the sensitivity of our approach. Overall, we are able to associate CBV with vascular structure—and track its longitudinal changes—at the artery-vein, venules, arteriole, and capillary levels. We believe that this combined approach can be a powerful tool for studying other acute (e.g., brain injuries), progressive (e.g., neurodegeneration) or induced pathological changes.
Association of zoonotic protozoan parasites with microplastics in seawater and implications for human and wildlife health
Authors: Zhang Emma , Kim Minji , Rueda Lezlie , Rochman Chelsea , VanWormer Elizabeth , Moore James , Shapiro Karen
Published: April 2022

Plastics are widely recognized as a pervasive marine pollutant. Microplastics have been garnering increasing attention due to reports documenting their ingestion by animals, including those intended for human consumption. Their accumulation in the marine food chain may also pose a threat to wildlife that consume species that can accumulate microplastic particles. Microplastic contamination in marine ecosystems has thus raised concerns for both human and wildlife health. Our study addresses an unexplored area of research targeting the interaction between plastic and pathogen pollution of coastal waters. We investigated the association of the zoonotic protozoan parasites Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium parvum, and Giardia enterica with polyethylene microbeads and polyester microfibers. These pathogens were chosen because they have been recognized by the World Health Organization as underestimated causes of illness from shellfish consumption, and due to their persistence in the marine environment. We show that pathogens are capable of associating with microplastics in contaminated seawater, with more parasites adhering to microfiber surfaces as compared with microbeads. Given the global presence of microplastics in fish and shellfish, this study demonstrates a novel pathway by which anthropogenic pollutants may be mediating pathogen transmission in the marine environment, with important ramifications for wildlife and human health.
Blockade of inhibitory killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors and IL-2 triggering reverses the functional hypoactivity of tumor-derived NK-cells in glioblastomas
Authors: Sönmez Cüneyt , Wölfer Johannes , Holling Markus , Brokinkel Benjamin , Stummer Walter , Wiendl Heinz , Thomas Christian , Schulte-Mecklenbeck Andreas , Grauer Oliver M.
Published: April 2022

Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) comprise a group of highly polymorphic inhibitory receptors which are specific for classical HLA class-I molecules. Peripheral blood and freshly prepared tumor cell suspensions (n = 60) as well as control samples (n = 32) were investigated for the distribution, phenotype, and functional relevance of CD158ab/KIR2DL1,-2/3 expressing NK-cells in glioblastoma (GBM) patients. We found that GBM were scarcely infiltrated by NK-cells that preferentially expressed CD158ab/KIR2DL1,-2/3 as inhibitory receptors, displayed reduced levels of the activating receptors CD335/NKp46, CD226/DNAM-1, CD159c/NKG2C, and showed diminished capacity to produce IFN-γ and perforin. Functional hypoactivity of GBM-derived NK-cells persisted despite IL-2 preactivation. Blockade with a specific KIR2DL-1,2/3 monoclonal antibody reversed NK-cell inhibition and significantly enhanced degranulation and IFN-γ production of IL-2 preactivated NK-cells in the presence of primary GBM cells and HLA-C expressing but not HLA class-I deficient K562 cells. Additional analysis revealed that significant amounts of IL-2 could be produced by tumor-derived CD4+ and CD8+CD45RA- memory T-cells after combined anti-CD3/anti-CD28 stimulation. Our data indicate that both blockade of inhibitory KIR and IL-2 triggering of tumor-derived NK-cells are necessary to enhance NK-cell responsiveness in GBM.
Droplet motion on sonically excited hydrophobic meshes
Authors: Abubakar Abba Abdulhamid , Yilbas Bekir Sami , Al-Qahtani Hussain , Alzaydi Ammar
Published: April 2022

The sonic excitation of the liquid droplet on a hydrophobic mesh surface gives rise to a different oscillation behavior than that of the flat hydrophobic surface having the same contact angle. To assess the droplet oscillatory behavior over the hydrophobic mesh, the droplet motion is examined under the external sonic excitations for various mesh screen aperture ratios. An experiment is carried out and the droplet motion is recorded by a high-speed facility. The findings revealed that increasing sonic excitation frequencies enhance the droplet maximum displacement in vertical and horizontal planes; however, the vertical displacements remain larger than those of the horizontal displacements. The resonance frequency measured agrees well with the predictions and the excitation frequency at 105 Hz results in a droplet oscillation mode (n) of 4. The maximum displacement of the droplet surface remains larger for the flat hydrophobic surface than that of the mesh surface with the same contact angle. In addition, the damping factor is considerably influenced by the sonic excitation frequencies; hence, increasing sonic frequency enhances the damping factor, which becomes more apparent for the large mesh screen aperture ratios. The small-amplitude surface tension waves create ripples on the droplet surface.
Metamaterial sensor based on rectangular enclosed adjacent triple circle split ring resonator with good quality factor for microwave sensing application
Authors: Islam Md. Rashedul , Islam Mohammad Tariqul , M. M. Salaheldeen , Bais Badariah , Almalki Sami H. A. , Alsaif Haitham , Islam Md. Shabiul
Published: April 2022

In this article, a novel shaped metamaterial sensor is presented for the recognition of various oils, fluids, and chemicals using microwave frequency. The performance of the designed sensor structure has been studied both theoretically and experimentally, and it works well. A new sample holder for convenient operation is created and located just behind the designed structure. The results of this study performed better than those of prior liquids sensing studies. Various designs were explored using the Genetic Algorithm (GA), and it is embedded in the Computer Simulation Technology (CST) microwave studio, to optimize the optimal dimensions of the resonator. The suggested metamaterial sensor has a good-quality factor and sensitivity in both frequency shifting and amplitude changing. The resonance frequency shifted to 100 MHz between olive and corn oils, 70 MHz between sunflower and palm oils, 80 MHz between clean and waste brake fluids, and 90 MHz between benzene and carbon-tetrachloride chemicals. The quality factor of the sensor is 135, sensitivity is 0.56, and the figure of merit is 76 which expresses its efficient performance. Furthermore, the proposed sensor can sensitively distinguish different liquids by using the frequency shifting property. The study was carried out in three stages: dielectric constant (DK) measurement with the N1500A dielectric measurement kit, simulation of the structure, and experimental test study with the vector network analyzer. Since the recommended sensor has high sensitivity, good quality factor, and excellent performance, hence it can be used in chemical, oil, and microfluidic industries for detecting various liquid samples.
Application of Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer as a non-invasive biomarker for probing liver disease
Authors: Tangvoraphonkchai Kawin , Suttichaimongkol Tanita , Kularbkaew Churairat , Sangaimwibool Prakasit , Sukeepaisarnjaroen Wattana
Published: April 2022

Liver disease remains a major critical challenge in Thailand due to viral hepatitis. Clinical management requires close monitoring of liver fibrosis severity. Non-invasive testing is an attractive method for probing of disease progression. Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) is a novel serum marker for fibrosis staging. The current study evaluates the marker among healthy donors and hepatitis C (HCV) patients. 100 HCV subjects were evaluated by liver biopsy. These patients had varying fibrosis severity based on METAVIR scores. Healthy donors were confirmed based on normal liver functions tests. Comparisons of M2BPGi levels among different study groups were performed and the effectiveness was evaluated using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves. Using liver biopsy as the reference standard, median M2BPGi levels in HCV cases were 0.74, 1.38 and 2.88 COI for F0-1, F2 and > F3 cases respectively. In healthy donors, the baseline values ranged 0.1–0.24 COI and statistically lower than liver disease cases profiled using M2BPGi. ROC analysis demonstrated superior results for M2BPGi levels among diseased populations and healthy controls. AUROC was determined at 0.983. Comparing with other non-invasive tests, M2BPGi showed a positive linear trend that indicated a strong match to existing methodologies. M2BPGi addresses a critical need in the management of liver disease by providing straightforward means to probe fibrosis severity. In this study, we found significant differences between hepatitis C and healthy subjects and established the background level in healthy donors.
Glioma facilitates the epileptic and tumor-suppressive gene expressions in the surrounding region
Authors: Komiyama Kazuki , Iijima Keiya , Kawabata-Iwakawa Reika , Fujihara Kazuyuki , Kakizaki Toshikazu , Yanagawa Yuchio , Yoshimoto Yuhei , Miyata Shigeo
Published: April 2022

Patients with glioma often demonstrate epilepsy. We previously found burst discharges in the peritumoral area in patients with malignant brain tumors during biopsy. Therefore, we hypothesized that the peritumoral area may possess an epileptic focus and that biological alterations in the peritumoral area may cause epileptic symptoms in patients with glioma. To test our hypothesis, we developed a rat model of glioma and characterized it at the cellular and molecular levels. We first labeled rat C6 glioma cells with tdTomato, a red fluorescent protein (C6-tdTomato), and implanted them into the somatosensory cortex of VGAT-Venus rats, which specifically expressed Venus, a yellow fluorescent protein in GABAergic neurons. We observed that the density of GABAergic neurons was significantly decreased in the peritumoral area of rats with glioma compared with the contralateral healthy side. By using a combination technique of laser capture microdissection and RNA sequencing (LCM-seq) of paraformaldehyde-fixed brain sections, we demonstrated that 19 genes were differentially expressed in the peritumoral area and that five of them were associated with epilepsy and neurodevelopmental disorders. In addition, the canonical pathways actively altered in the peritumoral area were predicted to cause a reduction in GABAergic neurons. These results suggest that biological alterations in the peritumoral area may be a cause of glioma-related epilepsy.
A TRIzol-based method for high recovery of plasma sncRNAs approximately 30 to 60 nucleotides
Authors: Rodgers Kristen P. , Hulbert Alicia , Khan Hamza , Shishikura Maria , Ishiyama Shun , Brock Malcolm V. , Mei Yuping
Published: April 2022

Protein functional effector sncRNAs (pfeRNAs) are approximately 30–60 nucleotides (nt), of which the extraction method from plasma has not yet been reported. Silver staining in a high-resolution polyacrylamide gel suggested that the majority of plasma sncRNAs extracted by some broadly used commercial kits were sncRNAs from 100 nt upwards. Additionally, TRIzol’s protocol is for long RNA but not sncRNA recovery. Here, we report a TRIzol-based frozen precipitation method (TFP method), which shows rigor and reproducibility in high yield and quality for plasma sncRNAs approximately 30–60 nt. In contrast to the yields by the commercial kit, plasma sncRNAs extracted by the TFP method enriched more sncRNAs. We used four different pfeRNAs of 34 nt, 45 nt, 53 nt, and 58 nt to represent typical sizes of sncRNAs from 30 to 60 nt and compared their levels in the recovered sncRNAs by the TFP method and by the commercial kit. The TFP method showed lower cycle threshold (CT) values by 2.01–9.17 cycles in 38 plasma samples from 38 patients, including Caucasian, Asian, African American, Latin, Mexican, and those who were a mix of more than one race. In addition, pfeRNAs extracted by two organic-based extraction methods and four commercial kits were undetermined in 22 of 38 samples. Thus, the quick and unbiased TFP method enriches plasma sncRNA ranging from 30 to 60 nt.
Season of birth has no effect on symptoms of depression and anxiety in older adults
Authors: Csajbók Zsófia , Kagstrom Anna , Cermakova Pavla
Published: April 2022

There remains a lack of conclusive evidence as to the merit of season of birth as a predictor of mental illness across contexts. We studied 72,370 individuals (55% women; mean age 66) from the Survey on Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. Depressive symptoms were assessed with EURO-D scale and symptoms of anxiety with modified Beck Anxiety Inventory. Multilevel modeling was used to assess the association of season of birth as well as month of birth with symptoms of depression and anxiety, by sex and region. Adjusting for sex and age, month of birth explained only 0.01% to 0.07% of anxiety and depressive symptoms with non-significant improvement in the overall models; using season of birth instead of month of birth added 0.00% to 0.04% of explained variance. When stratified by sex and European region, age explained 0.23% to 5.19% of anxiety and depressive symptoms; the addition of month of birth or season of birth improved the models by negligible amount. Season of birth and month of birth are not reliable predictors of anxiety and depression across the life course.
Definition of the snoring episode index based on the analyses of snoring parameters and the apnea hypopnea index
Authors: Kim Su Geun , Cho Sung-Woo , Kim Jeong-Whun
Published: April 2022

Although snoring is the most common subjective symptom in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), an international consensus on the definition of snoring is lacking. This study aimed to define snoring by analyzing correlations between snoring parameters and the apnea hypopnea index (AHI). We retrospectively analyzed the polysomnography data of patients with OSA. A snoring event was defined when airflow pressure was > 200 microbar. We included four snoring parameters. Snoring percentage was defined as the cumulative time of snoring events divided by total sleep time. A snoring episode was defined as the occurrence of ≥ 3 consecutive snoring events, and the snoring episode index was defined as the number of snoring episodes per hour. The average and longest durations of snoring episodes were also investigated. The study enrolled 5035 patients. Their mean AHI was 26.5/h and the mean snoring episode index was 19.2/h. Although the four snoring parameters showed significant correlations with the AHI, the snoring episode index showed the strongest positive correlation with the AHI (r = 0.741, P < 0.001). The snoring episode index may be used as a definition of snoring from the perspective of a highly positive correlation with the AHI.
An electroencephalography connectome predictive model of major depressive disorder severity
Authors: Kabbara Aya , Robert Gabriel , Khalil Mohamad , Verin Marc , Benquet Pascal , Hassan Mahmoud
Published: April 2022

Emerging evidence showed that major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with disruptions of brain structural and functional networks, rather than impairment of isolated brain region. Thus, connectome-based models capable of predicting the depression severity at the individual level can be clinically useful. Here, we applied a machine-learning approach to predict the severity of depression using resting-state networks derived from source-reconstructed Electroencephalography (EEG) signals. Using regression models and three independent EEG datasets (N = 328), we tested whether resting state functional connectivity could predict individual depression score. On the first dataset, results showed that individuals scores could be reasonably predicted (r = 0.6, p = 4 × 10–18) using intrinsic functional connectivity in the EEG alpha band (8–13 Hz). In particular, the brain regions which contributed the most to the predictive network belong to the default mode network. We further tested the predictive potential of the established model by conducting two external validations on (N1 = 53, N2 = 154). Results showed statistically significant correlations between the predicted and the measured depression scale scores (r1 = 0.52, r2 = 0.44, p < 0.001). These findings lay the foundation for developing a generalizable and scientifically interpretable EEG network-based markers that can ultimately support clinicians in a biologically-based characterization of MDD.
Rapid proteolysis of gluten-derived immunogenic peptides in bread by actinidin in a combined in vivo and in vitro oro-gastrointestinal digestion model
Authors: Jayawardana Isuri A. , Boland Mike J. , Loo Trevor S. , McNabb Warren C. , Montoya Carlos A.
Published: April 2022

This study determined whether actinidin, a cysteine protease in green kiwifruit, can hydrolyse wheat proteins and gluten-derived immunogenic peptides in a food matrix (bread) using a combined in vivo and in vitro oro-gastrointestinal tract model.
A mitochondria-targeted rhodol fluorescent probe for imaging of hydrogen peroxide in living cells
Authors: Lv Linlin , Luo Weiwei , Diao Quanping
Published: April 2022

A new type of fluorescent probe Rhodol-OAc for the specific detection of H2O2 was synthesized. The probe was also successfully applied to indirectly detect xanthine and glucose, and satisfactory results were achieved.
Slow magnetic relaxation in a trigonal-planar mononuclear Fe(ii) complex
Authors: Li Yuzhu , Xi Jing , Ferrando-Soria Jesús , Zhang Yi-Quan , Wang Wenyuan , Song You , Guo Yan , Pardo Emilio , Liu Xiangyu
Published: April 2022

A trigonal planar Fe(ii) complex exhibits slow magnetic relaxation and a significant butterfly-like hysteresis loop.
Iodine(iii)-promoted regioselective and efficient synthesis of β-triazolyl BODIPYs for the selective recognition of nickel ions and bovine serum albumin
Authors: Kumar Bintu , Bhatta Anindita , Saraf Prakriti , Rangan Krishnan , Sarkar Madhushree , Mitra Sivaprasad , Kumar Dalip
Published: April 2022

Novel β-triazolyl BODIPYs were synthesized by iodine(iii)-promoted direct C–H functionalization for the sensitive and selective detection of Ni2+ ions and BSA protein.
A robust thermoelectric module based on MgAgSb/Mg3(Sb,Bi)2with a conversion efficiency of 8.5% and a maximum cooling of 72 K
Authors: Ying Pingjun , Wilkens Lennart , Reith Heiko , Rodriguez Nicolas Perez , Hong Xiaochen , Lu Qiongqiong , Hess Christian , Nielsch Kornelius , He Ran
Published: April 2022

Demonstration of a robust, tellurium-free thermoelectric module for near-room-temperature applications with a high conversion efficiency of 8.5% and a maximum cooling of 72 K.
Bioaccessibility of essential lipophilic nutrients in a chloroplast-rich fraction (CRF) from agricultural green waste during simulated human gastrointestinal tract digestion
Authors: Wattanakul Jutarat , Syamila Mansor , Darwish Randa , Gedi Mohamed A. , Sutcharit Poramat , Chi Chao , Akepach Patchaniya , Sahaka Moulay , Gontero Brigitte , Carrière Frédéric , Gray David A.
Published: April 2022

The lipophilic nutrients in a chloroplast-rich fraction derived from pea vine postharvest field-residue are released in an in vitro digestion model; the extent of their release (bioaccessibility) is affected by heat-treatment of biomass or juice.
Polyamidoamine dendrimer-assisted 3-carboxybenzoboroxole-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles for highly efficient capture of trace cis-diol-containing biomacromolecules
Authors: Fan Yanli , Yang Yumin , Huang Yan , Cai Ke , Qiao Yuqing
Published: April 2022

Boronate affinity materials have attracted more and more attention in recent years due to their highly selective capture of cis-diol-containing biomacromolecules.