bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adult‐born granule cell mossy fibers preferentially target parvalbumin‐positive interneurons surrounded by perineuronal nets
Authors: Briones Brandy A. , Pisano Thomas J. , Pitcher Miah N. , Haye Amanda E. , Diethorn Emma J. , Engel Esteban A. , Cameron Heather A. , Gould Elizabeth
Published: January 2021

Adult‐born granule cells (abGCs) integrate into the hippocampus and form connections with dentate gyrus parvalbumin‐positive (PV+) interneurons, a circuit important for modulating plasticity. Many of these interneurons are surrounded by perineuronal nets (PNNs), extracellular matrix structures known to participate in plasticity. We compared abGC projections to PV+ interneurons with negative‐to‐low intensity PNNs to those with high intensity PNNs using retroviral and 3R‐Tau labeling in adult mice, and found that abGC mossy fibers and boutons are more frequently located near PV+ interneurons with high intensity PNNs. These results suggest that axons of new neurons preferentially stabilize near target cells with intense PNNs. Next, we asked whether the number of abGCs influences PNN formation around PV+ interneurons, and found that near complete ablation of abGCs produced a decrease in the intensity and number of PV+ neurons with PNNs, suggesting that new neuron innervation may enhance PNN formation. Experience‐driven changes in adult neurogenesis did not produce consistent effects, perhaps due to widespread effects on plasticity. Our study identifies abGC projections to PV+ interneurons with PNNs, with more presumed abGC mossy fiber boutons found near the cell body of PV+ interneurons with strong PNNs.
Numerical and machine learning analyses of entropy generation in an unsteady squeezing flow of copper/aluminum oxide/water hybrid nanofluid
Authors: Oloniiju Shina D. , Oyelakin Ibukun S. , Goqo Sicelo P. , Sibanda Precious
Published: January 2021

Several studies have been carried out on the squeezing flow of mono‐nanofluids. However, this study investigates numerical and machine learning analyses of entropy generated in an unsteady squeezing flow of a copper–aluminum oxide/water hybrid nanofluid. Numerical analysis and the flow model simulation are done using the hybridization of Chebyshev pseudospectral and quasilinearization methods. The results show that the magnetic force is the most significant in the entropy generation number. A support vector machine learning model is introduced to calculate the average entropy generation number. The machine learning model's accuracy is measured using known performance metrics of regression models. The root mean square error is obtained as 4.1184, the mean absolute error as 1.8776, and the coefficient of determination () as 0.995. Furthermore, the Hartman and Eckert numbers are identified to be highly positively correlated to the entropy generation number. However, for increasing values of the Hartman number, the temperature distribution between the two parallel plates decreases. We found that the temperature of copper/aluminum oxide/water nanofluid is greater than that of copper/water nanofluid, and the percentage difference between the temperature at the lower plate is estimated to be between 6% and 9% for .
Urban stream temperature patterns: Spatial and temporal heterogeneity in the Philadelphia region, Pennsylvania, USA
Authors: Beganskas Sarah , Toran Laura
Published: January 2021

Stream temperature is a critical water quality parameter that is not fully understood, particularly in urban areas. This study explores drivers contributing to stream temperature variability within an urban system, at 21 sites within the Philadelphia region, Pennsylvania, USA. A comprehensive set of temperature metrics were evaluated, including temperature sensitivity, daily maximum temperatures, time >20°C, and temperature surges during storms. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were the strongest driver of downstream temperature variability along 32 km in Wissahickon Creek. WWTP effluent temperature controlled local (1–3 km downstream) temperatures year‐round, but the impacts varied seasonally: during winter, local warming of 2–7°C was consistently observed, while local cooling up to 1°C occurred during summer. Summer cooling and winter warming were detected up to 12 km downstream of a WWTP. Comparing effects from different WWTPs provided guidelines for mitigating their thermal impact; WWTPs that discharged into larger streams, had cooler effluent, or had lower discharge had less effect on stream temperatures. Comparing thermal regimes in four urban headwater streams, sites with more local riparian canopy had cooler maximum temperatures by up to 1.5°C, had lower temperature sensitivity, and spent less time at high temperatures, although mean temperatures were unaffected. Watershed‐scale impervious area was associated with increased surge frequency and magnitude at headwater sites, but most storms did not result in a surge and most surges had a low magnitude. These results suggest that maintaining or restoring riparian canopy in urban settings will have a larger impact on stream temperatures than stormwater management that treats impervious area. Mitigation efforts may be most impactful at urban headwater sites, which are particularly vulnerable to stream temperature disruptions. It is vital that stream temperature impacts are considered when planning stormwater management or stream restoration projects, and the appropriate metrics need to be considered when assessing impacts.
An overview of hydrometeorological datasets from a small agricultural catchment (Nučice) in the Czech Republic
Authors: Li Tailin , Jeřábek Jakub , Noreika Nina , Dostál Tomáš , Zumr David
Published: January 2021

We introduce the freely available web‐based Water in an Agricultural Landscape—NUčice Database (WALNUD) dataset that includes both hydrological and meteorological records at the Nučice experimental catchment (0.53 km2), which is representative of an intensively farmed landscape in the Czech Republic. The Nučice experimental catchment was established in 2011 for the observation of rainfall–runoff processes, soil erosion processes, and water balance of a cultivated landscape. The average altitude is 401 m a.s.l., the mean land slope is 3.9%, and the climate is humid continental (mean annual temperature 7.9°C, annual precipitation 630 mm). The catchment is drained by an artificially straightened stream and consists of three fields covering over 95% of the area which are managed by two different farmers. The typical crops are winter wheat, rapeseed, and alfalfa. The installed equipment includes a standard meteorological station, several rain gauges distributed across the basin, and a flume with an H‐type facing that is used to monitor stream discharge, water turbidity, and basic water quality indicators. Additionally, the groundwater level and soil water content at various depths near the stream are recorded. Recently, large‐scale soil moisture monitoring efforts have been introduced with the installation of two cosmic‐ray neutron sensors for soil moisture monitoring. The datasets consist of observed variables (e.g. measured precipitation, air temperature, stream discharge, and soil moisture) and are available online for public use. The cross‐seasonal, open access datasets at this small‐scale agricultural catchment will benefit not only hydrologists but also local farmers.
Toxoplasma gondii infection and the risk of adult glioma in two prospective studies
Authors: Hodge James M. , Coghill Anna E. , Kim Youngchul , Bender Noemi , Smith‐Warner Stephanie A. , Gapstur Susan , Teras Lauren R. , Grimsrud Tom K. , Waterboer Tim , Egan Kathleen M.
Published: January 2021

Toxoplasma gondii (T gondii) is a common parasite that shows affinity to neural tissue and may lead to the formation of cysts in the brain. Previous epidemiologic studies have suggested an association between glioma and increased prevalence of T gondii infection, but prospective studies are lacking. Therefore, we examined the association between prediagnostic T gondii antibodies and risk of glioma in two prospective cohorts using a nested case‐control study design. Cases and matched controls were selected from the American Cancer Society's Cancer Prevention Study‐II Nutrition Cohort (CPSII‐NC) (n = 37 cases and 74 controls) and the Norwegian Cancer Registry's Janus Serum Bank (Janus) (n = 323 cases and 323 controls). Blood samples collected prior to diagnosis were analyzed for antibodies to two T gondii surface antigens (p22 and sag‐1), with individuals considered seropositive if antibodies to either antigen were detected. Conditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for each cohort. In both cohorts, a suggestive increase in glioma risk was observed among those infected with T gondii (OR: 2.70; 95% CI: 0.96‐7.62 for CPSII‐NC; OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 0.85‐2.07 for Janus), particularly among participants with high antibody titers specific to the sag‐1 antigen (CPSII‐NC OR: 3.35, 95% CI: 0.99‐11.38; Janus OR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.02‐3.14). Our findings provide the first prospective evidence of an association between T gondii infection and risk of glioma. Further studies with larger case numbers are needed to confirm a potential etiologic role for T gondii in glioma.
Determinants of loan survival rates for small and medium‐sized enterprises: Evidence from an emerging economy
Authors: Batiz‐Zuk Enrique , López‐Gallo Fabrizio , Mohamed Abdulkadir , Sánchez‐Cajal Fátima
Published: January 2021

This article investigates the determinants of bank loan survival time in an emerging economy for ‘micro’, ‘small’ and ‘medium’‐sized enterprises. We use proprietary data from the Central Bank of Mexico for approximately 1.5 million company loans between January 2010 and May 2017. Our results show that firm' characteristics at the time of loan origination, and lagged macroeconomic factors have a significant impact on the loan survival times. Further tests on model validation show that our fitted survival model performs reasonably well in out of sample forecasts.
The effect of Confucian culture on household risky asset holdings: Using categorical principal component analysis
Authors: Ge Yongbo , Kong Xiaoran , Dadilabang Geilegeilao , Ho Kung‐Cheng
Published: January 2021

Confucianism, as an informal system, influences the risk preferences of households and, therefore, affects households' investment behaviours. This study investigates the effects of Confucian culture on household risky assets by using data from the 2016 China Family Panel Studies and using categorical principal component analysis. The empirical results reveal that Confucian culture is negatively correlated with risky assets held by households. Specifically, households more influenced by Confucian culture demonstrate a low probability of participating in the risky financial market and a decreased proportion of risky asset holdings. Further research indicates that this negative correlation is diminished in areas with high levels of social trust. Furthermore, foreign culture impact drives households to enter financial markets. Therefore, the Chinese government must thoroughly consider the potential effects of culture when formulating policies, utilize Confucian culture's adaptation to modern society and promote the healthy development of the financial market. This study augments the household finance theory from the perspective of informal systems and contributes to the research on ‘culture and finance.’
Bayesian non‐linear quantile effects on modelling realized kernels
Authors: Dong Manh Cuong , Chen Cathy W. S. , Asai Manabu
Published: January 2021

This article examines the non‐linear responses of a stock market's realized measure of volatility to its potential factors across different quantile levels. Specifically, we apply the threshold quantile autoregressive model with exogenous variables and GARCH specification to model the realized kernel series of the Nikkei 225 stock market. Using this model, we investigate the relationship between the realized kernel series and its lagged one autoregressive effect, intraday returns, and abnormal trading volume. Applying an adaptive Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling scheme, our results confirm the existence of volatility clustering, a leverage effect, and a negative and asymmetric impact of trading volume on market volatility. We discover that the asymmetric characteristic of the news impact curve of the stock market varies over different quantile levels. This finding provides an in‐depth understanding about how stock volatility reacts to its determinants and how stock markets operate under different market conditions.
Reduced response to controlled ovarian stimulation after radical trachelectomy: A pitfall of fertility‐sparing surgery for cervical cancer
Authors: Tamauchi Satoshi , Kajiyama Hiroaki , Osuka Satoko , Moriyama Yoshinori , Yoshihara Masato , Kikkawa Fumitaka
Published: January 2021

Objective

To clarify the decrease in response to controlled ovarian stimulation in patients who receive in vitro fertilization treatment after radical trachelectomy.

Methods

The outcomes of ovarian stimulation were retrospectively evaluated and compared between patients who have undergone radical trachelectomy and control patients who had male factor infertility or unexplained infertility.

Results

A total of 30 ovarian stimulation cycles in 14 radical trachelectomy patients and 54 cycles in 30 control patients were reviewed. The median age at ovarian stimulation was 34.8 years in the radical trachelectomy group and 36.5 years in the control group. Compared with the control group, the radical trachelectomy group had significantly lower mean estradiol concentration (1461.7 pg/ml, SD 775.0 vs. 1950.9 pg/ml, SD 1057.3, P = 0.029) during controlled ovarian stimulation cycle and smaller median number of retrieved oocytes (5, range 1–14 vs. 8, range 1–19, P = 0.007), despite the higher use of gonadotropin (3527.5 IU, SD 1313.4 vs. 2670.8 IU, SD 905.1, P = 0.001).

Conclusion

The response to controlled ovarian stimulation decreased after radical trachelectomy.
An outbreak of xenophobia: Perceived discrimination and anxiety in Chinese American college students before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Haft Stephanie L. , Zhou Qing
Published: January 2021

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic, reports of xenophobic and racist incidents directed at Chinese Americans have escalated. The present study adds further understanding to potential psychosocial effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic by comparing self‐reported questionnaire data from two groups of Chinese students attending a public university in western United States: the group who participated in the study before the outbreak of COVID‐19 (Pre‐COVID, N = 134), and the group who participated at the beginning (during‐COVID, N = 64). The aim of the study was to: (a) compare mean differences in perceived discrimination and anxiety between the two groups, (b) test whether COVID‐19 moderated the link between perceived discrimination and anxiety, and (c) examine whether media exposure portraying Chinese individuals negatively mediated relations between COVID‐19 and discrimination. Results showed that the During‐COVID group reported higher perceived discrimination and anxiety than the Pre‐COVID group. The link between perceived discrimination and anxiety was stronger for the During‐COVID group. Mediation analyses suggested that negative Chinese media exposure partly accounted for the group difference in perceived discrimination. Results suggest that future studies on the psychosocial implications of the COVID‐19 pandemic should consider the role of discrimination in understanding the mental health of Chinese American college students.
Artificial intelligence approach to estimating rice yield*
Authors: Babaee Maryam , Maroufpoor Saman , Jalali Mohammadnabi , Zarei Manizhe , Elbeltagi Ahmed
Published: January 2021

After wheat, rice is one of the most important agricultural products in the world, and Iran has a special position here with annual production of more than 2 million t of rice. Evaluation of crop yield has an important role in agricultural policy making due to different conditions and restrictions. Estimating rice yield is a key factor in food security. Any change in the effective parameters can cause changes in rice yield and therefore the food security of the population will be affected. In this study, rice crop yield was estimated by artificial neural networks (ANNs) and ANN‐genetic programming (GP) in 2011 and 2015. Rainfall, permeability, soil texture, land type, evapotranspiration and inlet and inflow and outflow water to paddy lands were used as inputs. The results showed that the ANN‐GP with a root mean square error (RMSE = 80.8 kg ha‾¹) and a correlation coefficient (CC = 0.91) was more accurate than the stand‐alone ANN (with RMSE = 139 kg ha‾¹ and CC = 0.67). Finally, the effect of each input parameter on rice yield was evaluated. Irrigation, drainage and soil type parameters had the best impact rank, with 36, 28 and 31%, respectively. Therefore, the proposed method can act as an efficient tool in estimating rice yield and help decision makers to manage and develop the agricultural system.
Anthraquinones inhibit cytochromes P450 enzyme activity in silico and in vitro
Authors: Liu Yitong , Mapa Mapa S. T. , Sprando Robert L.
Published: January 2021

Anthraquinones exhibit various pharmacological activities (e.g., antioxidant and laxative) and are commonly found in consumer products including foods, dietary supplements, drugs, and traditional medicines. Despite their widespread use, there are limited data available on their toxicokinetic properties. Cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs) in the liver play major roles in metabolizing exogenous chemicals (e.g., pharmaceuticals, food ingredients, and environmental pollutants) and endogenous biomolecules (e.g., steroid hormones and cholesterol). Inhibition of CYP activities may lead to serious interactions among these compounds. Here, in silico (quantitative structure‐activity relationship modeling) and in vitro (human recombinant enzymes and liver microsomes) methods were used to identify inhibitors of five major CYP isoforms (CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4) among 22 anthraquinones. First, in silico prediction and in vitro human recombinant enzyme assays were conducted for all compounds, and results showed that most of the anthraquinones were potent CYP1A2 inhibitors. Second, five selected anthraquinones (emodin, aloe‐emodin, rhein, purpurin, and rubiadin) were further evaluated in human liver microsomes. Finally, plasma concentrations of the five anthraquinones in animal and humans were identified in the literature and compared to their in vitro inhibition potency (IC50 values) towards CYP activities. Emodin, rhein, and aloe‐emodin inhibited activities of multiple CYPs in human liver microsomes and potential in vivo inhibition may occur due to their high plasma concentrations. These in silico and in vitro results enabled rapid identification of potential CYP inhibitors and prioritized future in‐depth studies.
Metabolomics Insights into Osteoporosis Through Association With Bone Mineral Density
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyu , Xu Hanfei , Li Gloria HY , Long Michelle T , Cheung Ching-Lung , Vasan Ramachandran S , Hsu Yi-Hsiang , Kiel Douglas P , Liu Ching-Ti
Published: January 2021

Osteoporosis, a disease characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD), increases the risk for fractures. Conventional risk factors alone do not completely explain measured BMD or osteoporotic fracture risk. Metabolomics may provide additional information. We aim to identify BMD-associated metabolomic markers that are predictive of fracture risk. We assessed 209 plasma metabolites by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) in 1552 Framingham Offspring Study participants, and measured femoral neck (FN) and lumbar spine (LS) BMD 2 to 10 years later using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. We assessed osteoporotic fractures up to 27-year follow-up after metabolomic profiling. We identified 27 metabolites associated with FN-BMD or LS-BMD by LASSO regression with internal validation. Incorporating selected metabolites significantly improved the prediction and the classification of osteoporotic fracture risk beyond conventional risk factors (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.74 for the model with identified metabolites and risk factors versus AUC = 0.70 with risk factors alone, p = .001; net reclassification index = 0.07, p = .03). We replicated significant improvement in fracture prediction by incorporating selected metabolites in 634 participants from the Hong Kong Osteoporosis Study (HKOS). The glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism pathway (including four identified metabolites: creatine, dimethylglycine, glycine, and serine) was significantly enriched (false discovery rate [FDR] p value = .028). Furthermore, three causally related metabolites (glycine, phosphatidylcholine [PC], and triacylglycerol [TAG]) were negatively associated with FN-BMD, whereas PC and TAG were negatively associated with LS-BMD through Mendelian randomization analysis. In summary, metabolites associated with BMD are helpful in osteoporotic fracture risk prediction. Potential causal mechanisms explaining the three metabolites on BMD are worthy of further experimental validation. Our findings may provide novel insights into the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. © 2021 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Future orientation in successful therapies: Expanding the concept of goal in the working alliance
Authors: Oddli Hanne W. , McLeod John , Nissen‐Lie Helene A. , Rønnestad Michael H. , Halvorsen Margrethe S.
Published: January 2021

Objective

To better understand how therapists facilitate client goal attainment in therapy, we analyzed therapists’ future‐oriented actions in good outcome cases in which clients recorded high ratings on goal items in the Working Alliance Inventory‐Short Revised.

Method

We selected clients who were within the clinical range (OQ‐45.2) at pretreatment, demonstrated reliable change at the end of treatment, and recorded high WAI client goals scores early in treatment. Qualitative analyses of transcripts of the initial three sessions and client posttreatment interviews were integrated into a combined analysis to identify themes across the two separate sets of findings.

Results

Therapist future‐oriented activity included: (1) Picking up explicit and implicit intentions; (2) using linguistic devices, such as meta‐communication, action language, and hedging; (3) using evocative interventions; and (4) nudging the client into practicing change. Core finding: Therapists aligned with clients’ directionality in a forward‐driven, gradually evolving process.

Conclusion

Conceptual and clinical implications are discussed.
The effect of caffeine, metronidazole, and ibuprofen on continuous flow activated sludge process
Authors: Kanafin Yerkanat N , Kakimov Yerbolat , Adamov Assyl , Makhatova Ardak , Yeshmuratov Abilmansur , Poulopoulos Stavros G , Inglezakis Vassilis J , Arkhangelsky Elizabeth
Published: January 2021

BACKGROUND

The aim of this work was to study the biological treatment of a synthetic wastewater containing emerging contaminants. The 95‐day experiment was conducted in an 81 L continuous flow conventional activated sludge apparatus consisting of anoxic and aerobic reactors with internal recycling, and a clarifier with activated sludge recycling. Real activated sludge from the municipal wastewater treatment plant in the Nur‐Sultan city was used. The degradation efficiencies of caffeine, metronidazole, and ibuprofen in the synthetic wastewater were studied either separately or in combination.

RESULTS

When treated separately at the concentration of 30 mg/L, the degradation of caffeine and ibuprofen was up to 100%, while the degradation of metronidazole was in the range of 12–27%. Caffeine and ibuprofen inhibited the nitrification process, while the presence of metronidazole in the system suppressed the activity of denitrifying microorganisms. The biological treatment of the synthetic wastewater containing all three compounds (at the concentration of 10 mg/L each) resulted in degradation of caffeine and ibuprofen up to 100%, and 56% in the case of metronidazole. As both nitrification and denitrification processes were affected, the total nitrogen removal was significantly reduced from 53% to 22%.

CONCLUSION

Complete degradation of caffeine and ibuprofen, and partial degradation of metronidazole were observed in a synthetic wastewater using the activated sludge process. As the presence of emerging pollutants in a wastewater affects the general efficiency of the wastewater treatment plants, other physical or chemical pre‐treatment should be utilized to minimize the harmful effect of contaminants on the biological processes. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry
Strongly perfect claw‐free graphs—A short proof
Authors: Chudnovsky Maria , Dibek Cemil
Published: January 2021

A graph is strongly perfect if every induced subgraph of it has a stable set that meets every maximal clique of . A graph is claw‐free if no vertex has three pairwise nonadjacent neighbors. The characterization of claw‐free graphs that are strongly perfect by a set of forbidden induced subgraphs was conjectured by Ravindra in 1990 and was proved by Wang in 2006. Here we give a shorter proof of this characterization.
A Mixed‐Method Analysis of Remittance Scripts Among Bolivian Immigrants in Spain
Authors: Parella Sònia , Silvestre Javier , Petroff Alisa
Published: January 2021

The use of mixed methods to deal with the complexity of remittance motivations is still infrequent. This paper uses statistical and qualitative data and provides evidence on the conceptual framework for understanding remittance behaviour proposed by the scholar Jørgen Carling. Carling's ‘remittance scripts’ understand remittances as multifaceted transactions and enrich the assessment of the relationship between remittances and development at origin. We use quantitative and qualitative data, both extracted from an ethnosurvey conducted in Spain, to shed light on the situation of transnational Bolivian immigrants after the economic crisis of 2008. We argue that the transactions are best represented by the necessity to provide for the recipients' basic needs. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Is SGSH heterozygosity a risk factor for early‐onset neurodegenerative disease?
Authors: Douglass Meghan L. , Beard Helen , Shoubridge Andrew , Nazri Nazzmer , King Barbara , Trim Paul J. , Duplock Stephen K. , Snel Marten F. , Hopwood John J. , Hemsley Kim M.
Published: January 2021

Lysosomal dysfunction may be an important factor in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD). Heterozygous mutations in the gene encoding the lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase (GBA1) have been found in PD patients, and some but not all mutations in other lysosomal enzyme genes, for example, NPC1 and MCOLN1 have been associated with PD. We have examined the behaviour and brain structure of mice carrying a D31N mutation in the sulphamidase (Sgsh) gene which encodes a lysosomal sulphatase. Female heterozygotes and wildtype mice aged 12‐, 15‐, 18‐ and 21‐months of age underwent motor phenotyping and the brain was comprehensively evaluated for disease‐associated lesions. Heterozygous mice exhibited impaired performance in the negative geotaxis test when compared with wildtype mice. Whilst the brain of Sgsh heterozygotes aged up to 21‐months did not exhibit any of the gross features of PD, Alzheimer's disease or the neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorders, for example, loss of striatal dopamine, reduced GBA activity, α‐synuclein‐positive inclusions, perturbation of lipid synthesis, or cerebellar Purkinje cell drop‐out, we noted discrete structural aberrations in the dendritic tree of cortical pyramidal neurons in 21‐month old animals. The overt disease lesions and resultant phenotypic changes previously described in individuals with heterozygous mutations in lysosomal enzyme genes such as glucocerebrosidase may be enzyme dependent. By better understanding why deficiency in, or mutant forms of some but not all lysosomal proteins leads to heightened risk or earlier onset of classical neurodegenerative disorders, novel disease‐causing mechanisms may be identified.
Exogenous ATP modulates PGE2 release in macrophages through sustained phosphorylation of CDK9 and p38 MAPK
Authors: Akter Shamima , Sharma Rakesh Kumar , Sharma Shilpa , Rastogi Saumya , Fiebich Bernd L , Akundi Ravi Shankar
Published: January 2021

An important mediator of inflammation is prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), whose levels are determined by the activity of the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX). Of the two isoforms of the enzyme, COX-2 has been shown to be induced in macrophages during inflammation. Although general COX inhibitors, belonging to the class of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or specific COX-2 inhibitors, called coxibs, are useful in the control of acute inflammation, adverse reactions were seen when used chronically in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis or neurodegenerative diseases. Extracellular ATP (eATP) has been reported as a damage-associated molecular pattern signal. In this report, we show that eATP synergistically increases the levels of COX-2 enzyme and PGE2 in LPS-activated RAW264.7 macrophages and human monocytes. Activation of macrophages also occurred when cultured in media obtained from dying neurons that contained higher levels of ATP. We show that eATP increases the levels of COX-2 protein, which is sustained up to 36 h poststimulation. This is in turn due to sustained levels of phosphorylated, or activated, cyclin-dependent kinase 9 and p38 MAPK in ATP-treated cells compared to LPS-stimulated cells. The eATP-dependent increase in COX-2/PGE2 levels in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells could be abolished using antagonists for purinergic P2X7 -and P2Y6 receptors. Similarly, the increase in COX-2/PGE2 levels in the peritoneum of LPS-treated mice could be significantly abolished in mice that were preinjected with the nonspecific P2 receptor antagonist, suramin. P2 receptor antagonists, therefore, should be explored in our search for an ideal anti-inflammatory candidate.
Production of the next‐generation positron nuclide zirconium‐89 (89Zr) guided by Monte Carlo simulation and its good quality for antibody labeling
Authors: Wang Feng , Ding Jin , Guo Xiaoyi , Liu Teli , Ding Lixin , Xia Lei , Zhu Hua , Yang Zhi
Published: January 2021

The next‐generation positron zirconium‐89 (89Zr, T1/2 = 3.27 days) is a novel nuclide for immunological positron emission tomography because of its favorite longer half‐life. The aim of this work is to develop optimized methods for routine production and purification of 89Zr through Monte Carlo (MC) simulation and laboratory experiments. 89Y(p,n)89Zr reaction was used for 89Zr production. Optimized thicknesses of Al degrader (0.11 cm) and 89Y foil (0.064 cm) were simulated through MC method. 89Zr (15.0–40.7 mCi) with an average production rate of 0.92 ± 0.12 mCi/μA·h was produced after 1‐ to 2‐h bombardment at the proton beam energy of 20 MeV and current of 20 μA. High radio‐purity 89Zr (6.14–26.8 mCi) obtained eluted from hydroxamate resin using 1‐mol/L oxalic acid solution, with the concentration of 2.7 × 104 mCi/L. The gamma spectrum showed that the characteristic peak of 89Zr was 511 and 909 keV, and no impurities were found. [89Zr]Zr‐DFO‐trastuzumab was successfully labeled and performed good radiochemical purity (>95%) and stability that showed potential application in tumor molecular imaging.
Review: Self‐radiolysis of compounds containing tritium and carbon‐14
Authors: Wolf Jeremy R.
Published: January 2021

Energy released from beta emission causes molecules that incorporate tritium (3H) and carbon‐14 (14C) atoms to be less stable than their stable labeled counterparts, thus making radiolabeled compounds prone to self‐radiolysis. This literature review examines the stability of organic compounds incorporating3H and14C atoms and discusses stability of the compound with respect to functional groups within the radiolabeled molecules. The goal of this paper is to serve as a reference for the stability of radiolabeled compounds.
Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging measures of three‐dimensional aortic morphology in healthy aging and hypertension
Authors: Dietenbeck Thomas , Houriez‐‐Gombaud‐Saintonge Sophia , Charpentier Etienne , Gencer Umit , Giron Alain , Gallo Antonio , Boussouar Samia , Pasi Nicoletta , Soulat Gilles , Mousseaux Elie , Redheuil Alban , Kachenoura Nadjia
Published: January 2021

Automated segmentation of three‐dimensional (3D) aortic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) renders a possible retrospective selection of any location to perform quantification of aortic caliber perpendicular to its centerline and provides regional and global 3D biomarkers such as length, diameter, or volume. However, normative age‐related values of such measures are still lacking. The aim of this study was to provide normal values for 3D aortic morphological measures and investigate their changes in aging and hypertension. This was a retrospective study, in which 119 healthy controls (HC: 48 ± 14 years, 61 men) and 82 hypertensive patients (HT: 60 ± 14 years, 43 men) were enrolled. 1.5 and 3 T/3D steady state free precession or spoiled gradient echo were used. Automated 3D aortic segmentation provided aortic length, diameter, volume for the ascending (AAo), and descending aorta (DAo), along with cross‐sectional diameters at three aortic landmarks. Age, sex, body surface area (BSA), smoking, and blood pressures were recorded. Both groups were divided into two subgroups (≤50 years, >50 years). Statistical tests performed were linear regression for age‐related normal values and confidence intervals, Wilcoxon rank sum test for differences between groups (HC or HT), and multivariate analysis to identify main determinants of aortic morphological changes. In HC, linear regression revealed an increase in the AAo (respectively DAo) length by 2.84 mm (7.78 mm), maximal diameter by 1.36 mm (1.29 mm), and volume by 4.28 ml (8.71 ml) per decade. AAo morphological measures were higher in HT patients than in HC both ≤50 years but did not reach statistical significance (length: +2 mm, p = 0.531; diameter: +1.4 mm, p = 0.2936; volume:+6.8 ml, p = 0.1857). However, length (+6 mm, p = 0.003), maximal diameter (+4 mm, p < 0.001) and volume (+12 ml, p < 0.001) were significantly higher in HT patients than in HC, both >50 years. In a multivariate analysis, age, sex, and BSA were the major determinants of aortic morphology, irrespective of the presence of hypertension. Global and segmental aortic length, volume, and diameters at specific landmarks were automatically measured from 3D MRI to serve as normative measures of 3D aortic morphology. Such indices increased significantly with age and hypertension among the elderly subjects.

Level of Evidence

3

Technical Efficacy Stage

3
Proximal seminal vesicle displacement and margins for prostate cancer radiotherapy
Authors: Lim Joon Daryl , Chao Michael , Piccolo Angelina , Schneider Michal , Anderson Nigel , Handley Monica , Benci Margaret , Ong Wee Loon , Daly Karen , Morrell Rebecca , Wan Kenneth , Lawrentschuk Nathan , Foroudi Farshad , Jenkins Trish , Angus David , Wada Morikatsu , Sengupta Shomik , Khoo Vincent
Published: January 2021

Introduction

Guidelines recommend that the proximal seminal vesicles (PrSV) should be included in the clinical target volume for locally advanced prostate cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. Verification and margins for the prostate may not necessarily account for PrSV displacement. The purpose was to determine the inter‐fraction displacement of the PrSV relative to the prostate during radiotherapy.

Methods

Fiducials were inserted into the prostate, and right and left PrSV (RSV and LSV) in 30 prostate cancer patients. Correctional shifts for the prostate, right and left PrSV and pelvic bones were determined from each patient's 39 daily orthogonal portal images relative to reference digitally reconstructed radiographs.

Results

There was a significant displacement of the RSV relative to the prostate in all directions: on average 0.38 mm (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.26 to 0.50) to the left, 0.80–0.81 mm (CI 0.68 to 0.93) superiorly and 1.51 mm (CI 1.36 to 1.65) posteriorly. The LSV was significantly displaced superiorly to the prostate 1.09–1.13 mm (CI 0.97 to 1.25) and posteriorly 1.81 mm (CI 1.67 to 1.96), but not laterally (mean 0.06, CI −0.06 to 0.18). The calculated PTV margins (left–right, superior–inferior, posterior–anterior) were 4.9, 5.3–5.6 and 4.8 mm for the prostate, 5.2, 7.1–8.0 and 9.7 mm for the RSV, and 7.2, 7.5–7.6 and 8.6 mm for the LSV.

Conclusion

There is a significant displacement of the PrSV relative to the prostate during radiotherapy. Greater margins are recommended for the PrSV compared to the prostate.
Identification of Sassafras albidum alkaloids by high‐performance thin‐layer chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and mapping by desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging
Authors: Conceição Rodrigo S. , Perez Consuelo J. , Branco Alexsandro , Botura Mariana B. , Ifa Demian R.
Published: January 2021

Sassafras albidum is an important tree species that occurs across North America. The presence of benzylisoquinoline and aporphine alkaloids has been previously described; however, the spatial distribution of these compounds within S. albidum and other plants of Lauraceae family is still unclear. Mass spectrometry imaging has become an important tool in analysis of plants metabolites, uncovering important contributions about the functional role, biosynthetic pathway, and accumulation of these compounds in the plant. This work aimed to identify further alkaloids present in S. albidum roots, twigs, and leaves by high‐performance thin‐layer chromatography coupled to desorption electrospray ionization multistage mass spectrometry (HPTLC DESI‐MSn) and to map the spatial distribution of these compounds by DESI‐MS imaging. A total of 12 alkaloids were indentified in the roots and twigs, and six of them were detected for the first time in S. albidum. A high number of alkaloids was found in S. albidum roots; however, alkaloids were not detected in the leaves. Cross sections of roots and twigs were blotted onto TLC plates assisted by heating and solvent extraction, and these imprints were analyzed by DESI‐MS imaging. The profile of alkaloid spatial distribution in DESI‐MS images showed different accumulation patterns across and within different plant parts. Most alkaloids displayed higher intensities in the outer‐most layer of the roots and twigs. The detailed spatial localization pattern of these alkaloids analyzed by DESI‐MS imaging in different plant parts could contribute to a better understanding of the profile of distribution, accumulation, and biosynthesis of benzylisoquinoline and aporphine alkaloids.
Characteristics of COVID‐19 patients with bacterial coinfection admitted to the hospital from the emergency department in a large regional healthcare system
Authors: Lardaro Thomas , Wang Alfred Z. , Bucca Antonino , Croft Alexander , Glober Nancy , Holt Daniel B. , Musey Paul I. , Peterson Kelli D. , Trigonis Russell A. , Schaffer Jason T. , Hunter Benton R.
Published: January 2021

Introduction

The rate of bacterial coinfection with SARS‐CoV‐2 is poorly defined. The decision to administer antibiotics early in the course of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection depends on the likelihood of bacterial coinfection.

Methods

We performed a retrospective chart review of all patients admitted through the emergency department with confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection over a 6‐week period in a large healthcare system in the United States. Blood and respiratory culture results were abstracted and adjudicated by multiple authors. The primary outcome was the rate of bacteremia. We secondarily looked to define clinical or laboratory features associated with bacteremia.

Results

There were 542 patients admitted with confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, with an average age of 62.8 years. Of these, 395 had blood cultures performed upon admission, with six true positive results (1.1% of the total population). An additional 14 patients had positive respiratory cultures treated as true pathogens in the first 72 h. Low blood pressure and elevated white blood cell count, neutrophil count, blood urea nitrogen, and lactate were statistically significantly associated with bacteremia. Clinical outcomes were not statistically significantly different between patients with and without bacteremia.

Conclusions

We found a low rate of bacteremia in patients admitted with confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. In hemodynamically stable patients, routine antibiotics may not be warranted in this population.
Clinical efficacy of methylprednisolone and the combined use of lopinavir/ritonavir with arbidol in treatment of coronavirus disease 2019
Authors: Xia Qi , Dai Wanrong , Xu Kaijin , Ni Qin , Li Yongtao , Liu Jun , Zhao Hong , Guo Yongzheng , Yu Liang , Yi Ping , Su Junwei , Lang Guanjing , Tao Jingjing , Shi Ding , Wu Wenrui , Wu Xiaoxin , Xu Yan , Xu Min , Yu Ling , Wang Xiaoyan , Cai Hongliu , Fang Qiang , Zhou Jianying , Qiu Yunqing , Li Lanjuan
Published: January 2021

This study aims to comparatively analyze the therapeutic efficacy upon multiple medication plans over lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r), arbidol (ARB), and methylprednisolone on patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). Totally, 75 COVID‐19 patients admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine from January 22, 2020 to February 29, 2020 were recruited and grouped based on whether or not LPV/r and ARB were jointly used and whether or not methylprednisolone was used. Indexes including body temperature, time for nucleic acid negative conversion, hospital stays, and laboratory indexes were examined and compared. For all patients, there were no significant differences in the change of body temperature, the time for negative conversion, and hospital stays whether LPV/r and ARB were jointly used or not. While for severe and critically severe patients, methylprednisolone noticeably reduced the time for negative conversion. Meanwhile, the clinical efficacy was superior on patients receiving methylprednisolone within 3 days upon admission, and the duration of hospital stays was much shorter when methylprednisolone was given at a total dose of 0–400 mg than a higher dose of >400 mg if all patients received a similar dose per day. Nonetheless, no significant changes across hepatic, renal, and myocardial function indexes were observed. LPV/r combined with ARB produced no noticeably better effect on COVID‐19 patients relative to the single‐agent treatment. Additionally, methylprednisolone was efficient in severe and critically severe cases, and superior efficacy could be realized upon its early, appropriate, and short‐term application.
Post‐training stimulation of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex impairs working memory training performance
Authors: Au Jacky , Katz Benjamin , Moon Austin , Talati Sheebani , Abagis Tessa R. , Jonides John , Jaeggi Susanne M.
Published: January 2021

Research investigating transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to enhance cognitive training augments both our understanding of its long‐term effects on cognitive plasticity as well as potential applications to strengthen cognitive interventions. Previous work has demonstrated enhancement of working memory training while applying concurrent tDCS to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). However, the optimal stimulation parameters are still unknown. For example, the timing of tDCS delivery has been shown to be an influential variable that can interact with task learning. In the present study, we used tDCS to target the right DLPFC while participants trained on a visuospatial working memory task. We sought to compare the relative efficacy of online stimulation delivered during training to offline stimulation delivered either immediately before or afterwards. We were unable to replicate previously demonstrated benefits of online stimulation; however, we did find evidence that offline stimulation delivered after training can actually be detrimental to training performance relative to sham. We interpret our results in light of evidence suggesting a role of the right DLPFC in promoting memory interference, and conclude that while tDCS may be a promising tool to influence the results of cognitive training, more research and an abundance of caution are needed before fully endorsing its use for cognitive enhancement. This work suggests that effects can vary substantially in magnitude and direction between studies, and may be heavily dependent on a variety of intervention protocol parameters such as the timing and location of stimulation delivery, about which our understanding is still nascent.
Differential expression of proteins in Pseudomonas mendocina SMSKVR‐3 under arsenate stress
Authors: Mishra Shraddha , Verma Sanjay K.
Published: January 2021

This study focuses on analyzing the protein expression pattern of intracellular proteins when Pseudomonas mendocina SMSKVR‐3 exposed to 300 mM of arsenate to find out the proteins that are overexpressed or exclusively expressed in response to arsenate. The sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of protein expression at different time intervals showed the highest number of protein bands (14) that are overexpressed at 8 h of the time interval. It was also observed that treatment with at least 200 mM of As(V) is required to induce a difference in protein expression. Two‐dimensional (2D)‐PAGE analysis of 8‐h sample exhibited 146 unique spots, 45 underexpressed, and 46 overexpressed spots in arsenate‐treated sample. Based on the highest percent volume and fold change, three unique spots and one overexpressed spot were selected and analyzed by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐time of flight (MALDI‐TOF/TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) analysis followed by the MASCOT search. These proteins were identified as ribosome‐recycling factor (20.13 kDa), polyphosphate:ADP/GDP phosphotransferase (40.88 kDa), ribonuclease P protein component (14.96 kDa) and cobalt‐precorrin‐5B C(1)‐methyltransferase (38.43 kDa) with MASCOT score of 54, 81, 94, and 100, respectively. All of these proteins help the bacteria to overcome arsenate stress.
Classification and analysis of sea‐effect snowbands for Danube Sea area in Black Sea
Authors: Yavuz Veli , Deniz Ali , Özdemir E. Tuncay , Kolay Oğuzhan , Karan Haldun
Published: January 2021

In this study, for the Danube Sea Area (Danube Region—western part of the Black Sea), the structure of the sea effect snow (SES) bands, meteorological conditions in which SES bands occurred, and SES band types are analysed for the period 2009–2018. In the 10‐year period, snowy times were determined using aviation reports published by four airports within the borders of the Marmara Region. SES events and SES bands were determined by examining the several satellite images (Channel 9‐IR, Natural Colour‐RGB, Airmass‐RGB, Channel 6‐VW) obtained from the Spinning‐Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) device on MSG‐2 (Meteosat‐9) and MSG‐3 (Meteosat‐10) satellites. The Danube Region is divided into six sub‐regions. Five different types of SES bands were analysed separately for each sub‐region. Some meteorological conditions that are known to play an important role in the formation of SES bands (presence, thickness and level of the inversion layer; wind structure in the upper levels over the sea; sea surface temperature—SST) were analysed for the snowy times with sea‐effect. According to the preliminary results; a total of 186 days were found to be snowy, 75 days of these snowy days occurred with sea‐effect, and SES bands were seen in 8 days but did not cause snowfall in the Marmara Region. Type‐2 (T‐2) band was the most common band type (85%) over the Danube Region. The inversion layer(s) were observed between the level of 850–700 hPa in 52 days of 75 snowy days with sea effect. The majority of the direction of the upper‐level winds (at 850 and 700 hPa) was found to be northern (North‐N, Northwest‐NW, Northeast‐NE). The lowest average SST value (6.02°C) observed in the sub‐region ‘A’ and the highest average SST value (8.66°C) was observed in the sub‐region ‘F’.