bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human and monkey infant attention to dynamic social and nonsocial stimuli
Authors: Maylott Sarah E. , Paukner Annika , Ahn Yeojin A. , Simpson Elizabeth A.
Published: May 2020

The present study explored behavioral norms for infant social attention in typically developing human and nonhuman primate infants. We examined the normative development of attention to dynamic social and nonsocial stimuli longitudinally in macaques (Macaca mulatta) at 1, 3, and 5 months of age (N = 75) and humans at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 13 months of age (N = 69) using eye tracking. All infants viewed concurrently played silent videos—one social video and one nonsocial video. Both macaque and human infants were faster to look to the social than the nonsocial stimulus, and both species grew faster to orient to the social stimulus with age. Further, macaque infants’ social attention increased linearly from 1 to 5 months. In contrast, human infants displayed a nonlinear pattern of social interest, with initially greater attention to the social stimulus, followed by a period of greater interest in the nonsocial stimulus, and then a rise in social interest from 6 to 13 months. Overall, human infants looked longer than macaque infants, suggesting humans have more sustained attention in the first year of life. These findings highlight potential species similarities and differences, and reflect a first step in establishing baseline patterns of early social attention development.
Modulation of β‐catenin levels regulates cranial neural crest patterning and dispersal into first pharyngeal arch
Authors: Javali Alok , Lakshmanan Vairavan , Palakodeti Dasaradhi , Sambasivan Ramkumar
Published: May 2020

Background

Vertebrate cranial neural crest cells (CNCCs) are multipotent, proximal to the source CNCC form the cranial ganglia. Distally, in the pharyngeal arches, they give rise to the craniofacial skeleton and connective tissues. Fate choices are made as CNCC pattern into distinct destination compartments. In spite of this importance, the mechanism patterning CNCC is poorly defined.

Results

Here, we report that a novel β‐catenin‐dependent regulation of N‐Cadherin levels may drive CNCC patterning. In mouse embryos, at the first pharyngeal arch axial level, membrane β‐catenin levels correlate with the extent of N‐cadherin‐mediated adhesion and thus suggest the presence of collective and dispersed states of CNCC. Using in vitro human neural crest model and chemical modulators of β‐catenin levels, we show a requirement for down‐modulating β‐catenin for regulating N‐cadherin levels and cell‐cell adhesion. Similarly, in β‐catenin gain‐of‐function mutant mouse embryos, CNCC fail to lower N‐cadherin levels. This indicates a failure to reduce cell‐cell adhesion, which may underlie the failure of mutant CNCC to populate first pharyngeal arch.

Conclusion

We suggest that β‐catenin‐mediated regulation of CNCC adhesion, a previously underappreciated mechanism, underlies the patterning of CNCC into fate‐specific compartments.
The Sonozotz project: Assembling an echolocation call library for bats in a megadiverse country
Authors: Zamora‐Gutierrez Veronica , Ortega Jorge , Avila‐Flores Rafael , Aguilar‐Rodríguez Pedro Adrián , Alarcón‐Montano Martín , Avila‐Torresagatón Luis Gerardo , Ayala‐Berdón Jorge , Bolívar‐Cimé Beatriz , Briones‐Salas Miguel , Chan‐Noh Martha , Chávez‐Cauich Manuel , Chávez Cuauhtémoc , Cortés‐Calva Patricia , Cruzado Juan , Cuevas Jesús Carlo , Del Real‐Monroy Melina , Elizalde‐Arellano Cynthia , García‐Luis Margarita , García‐Morales Rodrigo , Guerrero José Antonio , Guevara‐Carrizales Aldo A. , Gutiérrez Edgar G. , Hernández‐Mijangos Luis Arturo , Ibarra‐López Martha Pilar , Iñiguez‐Dávalos Luis Ignacio , León‐Madrazo Rafael , López‐González Celia , López‐Téllez M. Concepción , López‐Vidal Juan Carlos , Martínez‐Balvanera Santiago , Montiel‐Reyes Fernando , Murrieta‐Galindo Rene , Orozco‐Lugo Carmen Lorena , Pech‐Canché Juan M. , Pérez‐Pérez Lucio , Ramírez‐Martínez María Magdalena , Rizo‐Aguilar Areli , Robredo‐Esquivelzeta Everardo , Rodas‐Martínez Alba Z. , Rojo‐Cruz Marcial Alejandro , Selem‐Salas Celia Isela , Uribe‐Bencomo Elena , Vargas‐Contreras Jorge A. , MacSwiney G. M. Cristina
Published: May 2020

Bat acoustic libraries are important tools that assemble echolocation calls to allow the comparison and discrimination to confirm species identifications. The Sonozotz project represents the first nation‐wide library of bat echolocation calls for a megadiverse country. It was assembled following a standardized recording protocol that aimed to cover different recording habitats, recording techniques, and call variation inherent to individuals. The Sonozotz project included 69 species of echolocating bats, a high species richness that represents 50% of bat species found in the country. We include recommendations on how the database can be used and how the sampling methods can be potentially replicated in countries with similar environmental and geographic conditions. To our knowledge, this represents the most exhaustive effort to date to document and compile the diversity of bat echolocation calls for a megadiverse country. This database will be useful to address a range of ecological questions including the effects of anthropogenic activities on bat communities through the analysis of bat sound.
Interspecific comparison of the fecal microbiota structure in three Arctic migratory bird species
Authors: Cho Hyunjun , Lee Won Young
Published: May 2020

The gut microbiota of birds is known to be characterized for different species, although it may change with feeding items. In this study, we compared the gut microbiota of birds with different feeding behaviors in the same habitat. We collected fecal samples from three Arctic species, snow buntings Plectrophenax nivalis, sanderlings Calidris alba, and pink‐footed geese Anser brachyrhynchus that are phylogenetically quite distant in different families to evaluate effects of diet on gut microbiota. Also, we characterized the prevalence of fecal bacteria using the Illumina MiSeq platform to sequence bacterial 16S rRNA genes. Our NMDS results showed that fecal bacteria of snow buntings and sanderlings were significantly distant from those of pink‐footed geese. Although all three birds were occupied by three bacterial phyla, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes, dominant taxa still varied among the species. Our bacterial sequences showed that snow buntings and sanderlings were dominated by Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, while pink‐footed geese were dominated by Proteobacteria. In addition, the bacterial diversity in snow buntings and sanderlings was significantly higher than that in pink‐footed geese. Our results suggest that insectivorous feeding diet of snow buntings and sanderlings could be responsible for the similar bacterial communities between the two species despite the distant phylogenetic relationship. The distinctive bacterial community in pink‐footed geese was discussed to be related with their herbivorous diet.
Sika deer presence affects the host–parasite interface of a Japanese land leech
Authors: Morishima Kaori , Nakano Takafumi , Aizawa Mineaki
Published: May 2020

Since the 1990s, increasing populations of a blood feeding land leech (Haemadipsa japonica) have become a serious issue in several Japanese prefectures, and it may be caused by the increases in sika deer (Cervus nippon) populations seen over the last quarter of the century. Therefore, this study aimed to reveal the host animal species of H. japonica using iDNA (vertebrate DNA isolated from invertebrates) and to test the hypothesis that the increasingly widespread distribution of sika deer results in increased H. japonica populations through changes to the host–parasite interface. We amplified mitochondrial DNA 16S ribosome RNA fragments from iDNA isolated from the blood clots of H. japonica collected across Japan. We identified 17 host animal species, including four orders of Mammalia (Carnivora, Artiodactyla, Rodentia, and Lagomorpha) and two orders of Amphibia (Caudata and Anura). The sika deer was the dominant host species of H. japonica. Additionally, the host animal species composition of H. japonica differed according to the presence or absence of sika deer. In the sites where sika deer were not found, Anura (frog) species were the most commonly identified hosts of H. japonica. These results suggest that the increases in H. japonica populations might have occurred via a change in host preference to sika deer. This change might be driven by the increases in sika deer populations and subsequent increase in the frequency that H. japonica uses the sika deer as easy prey, as well as by sika deer providing more reproductive energy per blood meal than blood meal from frog species. The present study suggests that a more widespread distribution of sika deer resulted in an increase in H. japonica through a change in the host–parasite interface. Therefore, management that focuses on decreasing sika deer populations would likely be an effective method for the reduction of H. japonica populations.
Insights on the concept of indicator populations derived from parentage‐based tagging in a large‐scale coho salmon application in British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Beacham Terry D. , Wallace Colin , Jonsen Kim , McIntosh Brenda , Candy John R. , Willis David , Lynch Cheryl , Withler Ruth E.
Published: May 2020

For Pacific salmon, the key fisheries management goal in British Columbia (BC) is to maintain and restore healthy and diverse Pacific salmon populations, making conservation of salmon biodiversity the highest priority for resource management decision‐making. Salmon status assessments are often conducted on coded‐wire‐tagged subsets of indicator populations based on assumptions of little differentiation within or among proximal populations. In the current study of southern BC coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) populations, parentage‐based tagging (PBT) analysis provided novel information on migration and life‐history patterns to test the assumptions of biological homogeneity over limited (generally < 100 km) geographic distances and, potentially, to inform management of fisheries and hatchery broodstocks. Heterogeneity for location and timing of fishery captures, family productivity, and exploitation rate was observed over small geographic scales, within regions that are, or might be expected to be, within the area encompassed by a single‐tagged indicator population. These results provide little support for the suggestion that information gained from tagged indicator populations is representative of marine distribution, productivity, and exploitation patterns of proximal populations.
Supported Ionic Liquids for the Efficient Removal of Acetylsalicylic Acid from Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Bernardo Sandra C. , Araújo Beatriz R. , Sousa Ana C. A. , Barros Rafael A. , Cristovão Ana C. , Neves Márcia C. , Freire Mara G.
Published: May 2020

Acetylsalicylic acid, commercially available as aspirin, is one of the most used drugs in the world, being detected in several environmental compartments, including drinking water supplies. Given its environmental impact, the development of a cost‐effective technology capable of removing this pharmaceutical from water samples is of high relevance, for which materials based on silica chemically modified with ionic liquids (SILs) can be foreseen as a promising alternative. In this work, four SILs (with the chloride anion and imidazolium or tetraalkylammonium cations of different alkyl side chain length) were synthesized and characterized, and their potential for the adsorption of acetylsalicylic acid appraised by adsorption kinetics and isotherms. Envisioning their use to treat drinking water, the toxicity of all SILs towards the liver cell line Hep2G was determined. The best identified SIL, comprising the dimethylbutylammonium cation, displays a maximum adsorption capacity of 0.08 mmol/g, being 1 g of this material sufficient to treat ca. 14,500 L of water containing 1 µg/L of acetylsalicylic acid (under ideal conditions). Furthermore, this material has a negligible toxicity towards the liver cell line Hep2G. The results obtained reinforce the potential of SILs as alternative adsorbents to effectively remove acetylsalicylic acid from aqueous solutions, and may be envisioned as a promising strategy for the treatment of wastewater and drinking water.
New Isolated‐Pentagon‐Rule Isomers of Fullerene C96 Captured as Chloro Derivatives
Authors: Tamm Nadezhda B. , Guan Runnan , Yang Shangfeng , Troyanov Sergey I.
Published: May 2020

Fullerene C96 possesses 187 isomers obeying the isolated pentagon rule (IPR), from which five, nos. 144, 145, 175, 176 and 183, have been confirmed earlier as chloro derivatives, whereas two isomers in pristine form, nos. 3 and 181, have been detected in fullerene soot as adducts with Ni porphyrinates. High‐temperature chlorination of C96‐containing mixtures afforded crystals of several chloro derivatives C96Cl22/24/26 and the structure elucidation by X‐ray crystallography with the use of synchrotron radiation revealed the presence of new isomers nos. 127, 129, 143, and 146 in the fullerene soot. The structural data on new chloro derivatives C96(144)Cl18/24 have been also obtained. The chlorination patterns of the chlorides are discussed in terms of the formation of isolated C=C bonds and aromatic substructures on the fullerene cages. An overview of all structurally confirmed isomers of C96 fullerene is presented.
Solar Energy Harvesting using Candle‐Soot‐Coated Thermoelectric Materials
Authors: Yadav Deepshikha , Azad Puneet , Vaish Rahul
Published: May 2020

This article reports the thermoelectric‐based solar energy harvesting. The effect of candle soot (CS) coating on solar energy harvesting potential of thermoelectric modules is studied. To compare the performance, uncoated/coated modules are exposed to solar radiations (through Fresnel lens) and the other side is kept at lower temperature using continuous water flow. Substantial enhancements in electrical outputs are observed due to CS coating on the upper surface of the thermoelectric module. The open‐circuit voltage and short‐circuit current across coated module improve more than six times in comparison to the uncoated module with maximum voltage and current reaching up to 1.5 V and 14 mA. Similarly, the generator can deliver a maximum power of 10 mW across a resistance of 50 Ω. Results indicate that the CS coating is an effective technique to improve the performance of thermoelectric materials for running sensors and other low‐power electronic devices.
Geochemical analysis of the truncated Viking Age trading settlement of Heimdalsjordet, Norway
Authors: Cannell Rebecca J. S. , Bill Jan , Cheetham Paul , Welham Kate
Published: May 2020

Single and multielement archaeological geochemistry has been applied to research and rescue projects for many decades to enhance our understanding of the past use of space. Often applied on one contextual plane, this ignores the complex palimpsest resulting from past occupation and soil processes. Furthermore, many important sites are now heavily truncated by plowing, leaving little more than negative features below the homogenized topsoil. These challenges require new approaches to archaeological geochemistry to gather information before these sites are lost to modern land use. The research presented here applied coring as a sampling method on a truncated site, the sample locations guided by high‐resolution ground‐penetrating radar data and excavation, before using portable X‐ray fluorescence directly on the core samples to understand the phase by phase composition of the deposits and thus past human occupation. The results suggest that even in truncated and secondary contexts, such as the case study of the Viking Age trade settlement of Heimdalsjordet, Norway, archaeological geochemistry can give insight into the chronological and spatial development of the site, and is especially relevant for detecting nonferrous metalworking activity.
Predictors of quetiapine extended‐release formulation add‐on in older patients exposed to antidepressant drugs: A Danish register‐based cohort study
Authors: Hashimi Hadia , Andersen Morten , Sessa Maurizio
Published: May 2020

Objective

This study investigated which comorbidities or comedications increased the probability of receiving quetiapine extended‐release formulation (quetiapine XR) as an add‐on treatment.

Methods

Danish administrative registers were used as data sources. The study period was from 01 January 2011 to 01 July 2017. New users of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI), atypical antidepressants (AAD), and tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) aged ≥65 years were included in the study population. A multivariable Cox regression model was used to find predictors for receiving quetiapine XR add‐on within the first year of antidepressant therapy.

Results

A total of 123 655 new users of SSRI, SNRI, TCA, and AAD were eligible. The study population was composed of 57.7% females and the mean age was 77.2 years (SD 7.9 years). SSRI users comprised 49.6% of the study population. Among users of antidepressants, 171 (0.14%) patients received quetiapine XR as add‐on treatment. In the adjusted analyses, female patients (HR 0.70; 95%CI 0.52‐0.95) and glucocorticoid users (HR 0.41; 95%CI 0.21‐0.80) had a significantly lower hazard of receiving quetiapine XR. Patients with dementia (HR 2.43; 95%CI 1.52‐3.87) had a significantly higher hazard of receiving quetiapine XR than patients without this condition. When compared with SSRI users, AAD (HR 1.80; 95%CI 1.31‐2.46) and TCA users (HR 0.18; 95%CI 0.06‐0.49) had an increased/reduced hazard of receiving quetiapine XR, respectively.

Conclusions

This study suggests that the choice of prescribing quetiapine add‐on is driven by patient's differences in comorbidities, comedications and the type of antidepressant drug.
Safe and effective management of tracheostomy in COVID‐19 patients
Authors: Zhang Xiaomeng , Huang Qiling , Niu Xun , Zhou Tao , Xie Zhen , Zhong Yi , Xiao Hongjun
Published: May 2020

Background

An increasing number of COVID‐19 patients worldwide will probably need tracheostomy in an emergency or at the recovering stage of COVID‐19. We explored the safe and effective management of tracheostomy in COVID‐19 patients, to benefit patients and protect health care workers at the same time.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 11 hospitalized COVID‐19 patients undergoing tracheostomy. Clinical features of patients, ventilator withdrawal after tracheostomy, surgical complications, and nosocomial infection of the health care workers associated with the tracheostomy were analyzed.

Results

The tracheostomy of all the 11 cases (100%) was performed successfully, including percutaneous tracheostomy of 6 cases (54.5%) and conventional open tracheostomy of 5 cases (45.5%). No severe postoperative complications occurred, and no health care workers associated with the tracheostomy are confirmed to be infected by SARS‐CoV‐2.

Conclusion

Comprehensive evaluation before tracheostomy, optimized procedures during tracheostomy, and special care after tracheostomy can make the tracheostomy safe and beneficial in COVID‐19 patients.
Mortality of NAFLD According to the Body Composition and Presence of Metabolic Abnormalities
Authors: Golabi Pegah , Paik James M. , Arshad Tamoore , Younossi Youssef , Mishra Alita , Younossi Zobair M.
Published: May 2020

Although nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with obesity, it can also occur in lean and metabolically normal individuals. Our aim was to determine the effect of different combinations of abdominal adiposity and overall adiposity on the mortality of NAFLD. The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey with mortality data from the National Death Index were used. NAFLD was defined as steatosis without other liver diseases. Body composition was categorized according to waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI). Obesity pattern was defined according to BMI (lean, overweight, and obese) and WC (normal and obese) using accepted definitions. The “metabolically abnormal” group had visceral obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia. Of the 9,341 study individuals (47.9% male; 76.8% white), NAFLD was present in 3,140 (33.6%), of whom 0.6% had lean BMI and normal WC, and 1.7% had lean BMI and obese WC. The prevalence of metabolically normal NAFLD was 3.26% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.62%‐3.90%), with most of these subjects having lean BMI (79.2%). During an average follow‐up of 22.4 years, 24.1% of the subjects died from all causes. Among these deceased individuals, 41.7% had NAFLD at baseline. Causes of death were cardiovascular disease (24.8%), cancer‐related (24.3%), type 2 diabetes–related (4.4%), and liver‐related (1.7%). Individuals with NAFLD who were lean by BMI but obese by WC had higher risk of all‐cause mortality. Individuals with NAFLD with normal BMI but obese WC had a higher risk of cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratio 2.63 [95% CI: 1.15‐6.01]) as compared with overweight (by BMI) NAFLD with normal WC. Conclusion: The risk of mortality in NAFLD can be affected by the presence of visceral obesity, especially in the lean BMI group. These data have important management implications for patients with NAFLD.
Lubrication aspects in an axisymmetric magneto nanofluid flow with radiated chemical reaction
Authors: Ahmad M. , Jalil Faisal , Taj M. , Shehzad Sabir A.
Published: May 2020

This paper addresses the effects of axisymmetric magnetohydrodynamic stagnation point flow of nanofluid through the lubrication of power‐law fluid by taking the general slip at the interfacial condition. The impacts of radiated chemical reaction, thermophoresis, and Brownian motions are further accounted. The fluid is impinging orthogonally on the surface via power‐law slim coating liquid lubrication. The partial differential system is governed for both the lubricant and the base fluid. Using dimensional analysis, the arisen partial differential system is modified to ordinary differential systems subject to nonlinear boundary conditions. An implicit numerical technique namely the Keller‐Box method is executed to formulate the solution of developed nonlinear expressions. The influence of different involved constraints on quantities of interest are sketched and discussed. The effects of the skin friction coefficient, heat transfer, and concentration rate at the surface are given and analyzed. The condition from full slip to the no‐slip can be achieved from the present solution. The obtained solutions are matched through the existing data and observed good agreement.
Crossing the rural–urban boundary in hydrological modelling: How do conceptual rainfall–runoff models handle the specificities of urbanized catchments?
Authors: Saadi Mohamed , Oudin Ludovic , Ribstein Pierre
Published: May 2020

Landscape differences induced by urbanization have prompted hydrologists to define a fuzzy boundary between rural‐ and urban‐specific hydrological models. We addressed the validity of establishing this boundary, by testing two rural models on a large sample of 175 French and United States (US) urbanized catchments, and their 175 rural neighbours. The impact of urbanization on the hydrological behaviour was checked using four metrics. Using a split‐sample test, we have compared the performances, parameter distributions, and internal fluxes of GR4H and IHACRES, two conceptual and continuous models running at the hourly time step. Both model structures are based on soil moisture accounting reservoirs (infiltration, runoff, and actual evapotranspiration) and quick flow/slow flow routing components, with no consideration of any specific feature related to urbanization. Results showed: (a) Except for the ratio of streamflow flashiness to precipitation flashiness, the range of hydrological signature metrics in rural catchments encompassed the specificities of urbanized ones. Overall, the urbanized catchments showed higher ratios of mean streamflow to mean precipitation (median values: 0.39 vs. 0.27) and streamflow flashiness to precipitation flashiness (0.13 vs. 0.03), besides lower baseflow index (0.42 vs. 0.62) and shorter characteristic response time (3 vs. 14 hr). (b) The performances of GR4H revealed no significant distinction between rural and urbanized catchments in terms of Kling–Gupta Efficiency (KGE), whereas IHACRES better simulated urbanized catchments, especially during summer. (c) With respect to differences in urbanization level, the GR4H and IHACRES parameters showed different distributions. The differences in parameters were consistent with the differences in hydrological behaviour, which is promising for a model‐based assessment of the impact of urbanization. (d) The models agreed less in reproducing the internal fluxes over the urbanized catchments than over the rural ones. These results demonstrate the flexibility of conceptual models to handle the specificities of urbanized catchments.
Experimental exploration on loss surface of deep neural network
Authors: Yuan Qunyong , Xiao Nanfeng
Published: May 2020

The loss function of the deep neural network is high dimensional, nonconvex and complex. So far, the geometric properties of the loss surface of the neural network have not been well understood. Different from most theoretical studies on the loss surface, this article makes the experimental exploration on the loss surface of the deep neural network, including trajectories of various adaptive optimization algorithms, the Hessian matrix of the loss function of the deep neural network, the curvature of the loss surface along the trajectories of the various adaptive optimization algorithms. It is found that the gradient direction of the adaptive optimization algorithms is almost perpendicular to the direction of the maximum curvature of the loss surface, while the gradient directions of the stochastic gradient descent (SGD) algorithm do not have such a rule. The Hessian matrix of the loss surface along the trajectory of the optimization algorithm is degraded, which is inconsistent with the hypothetical that nonsingular of the Hessian matrix in many theoretical studies of deep learning. Besides, this article proposes a new ensemble learning method of the neural network based on the scaling invariance of the ReLu neural network and mode connectivity.
Intracellular Accumulation of Advanced Glycation End Products Induces Osteoblast Apoptosis Via Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress
Authors: Suzuki Ryusuke , Fujiwara Yukio , Saito Mitsuru , Arakawa Shoutaro , Shirakawa Jun-ichi , Yamanaka Mikihiro , Komohara Yoshihiro , Marumo Keishi , Nagai Ryoji
Published: May 2020

Osteoporosis is an aging-associated disease that is attributed to excessive osteoblast apoptosis. It is known that the accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in bone extracellular matrix deteriorates osteoblast functions. However, little is known about the interaction between intracellular AGE accumulation and the induction of osteoblast apoptosis. In this study, we investigated the effect of intracellular AGE accumulation on osteoblast apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, murine osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells were treated with glycolaldehyde (GA), an AGE precursor. GA-induced intracellular AGE accumulation progressed in time- and dose-dependent manners, followed by apoptosis induction. Intracellular AGE formation also activated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related proteins (such as glucose-regulated protein 78, inositol-requiring protein-1α (IRE1α), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase) and induced apoptosis. In agreement, treatment with the ER stress inhibitor 4-phenylbutyric acid and knocking down IRE1α expression ameliorated osteoblast apoptosis. Furthermore, the ratio between AGE- and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive osteoblasts in human vertebral bodies was significantly higher in an elderly group than in a younger group. A positive linear correlation between the ratio of AGE-positive and TUNEL-positive osteoblasts (r = 0.72) was also observed. Collectively, these results indicate that AGEs accumulated in osteoblasts with age and that intracellular AGE accumulation induces apoptosis via ER stress. These findings offer new insight into the mechanisms of osteoblast apoptosis and age-related osteoporosis. © 2020 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
p.P1379S, a benign variant with reduced ATP7B protein level in Wilson Disease
Authors: Yi Fan , Poskanzer Sheri A. , Myers Candace T. , Thies Jenny , Collins Christopher J. , Dayuha Remwilyn , Duong Phi , Houwen Roderick , Hahn Si Houn
Published: May 2020

Background

Wilson disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive disorder of copper transport caused by inherited defects in the ATP7B gene and results in toxic accumulation of copper in various organs. We previously reported a family with three consecutive generations affected by WD that carries the variant, p.P1379S, which was classified at the time as likely pathogenic. However, recent investigations of the p.P1379S variant indicate a possible conflict of interpretations regarding its pathogenicity. This led us to explore the quantification of ATP7B in dried blood spots (DBS) using a surrogate peptide to study the effects of the p.P1379S variant on ATP7B concentrations in two unrelated families with the common p.P1379S variant.

Methods and results

ATP7B was quantified using the peptide immunoaffinity enrichment coupled with selected reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (immuno‐SRM) method which utilizes antibody‐mediated peptide capture from DBS. Two patients affected with WD had undetectable ATP7B level while four compound heterozygous children with one known pathogenic variant and the p.P1379S had significantly reduced ATP7B levels. Of note, all four children remain asymptomatic without abnormal laboratory consequences despite being untreated for WD.

Conclusion

These two families demonstrated that p.P1379S, when compounded with two known pathogenic variants, resulted in significantly reduced protein levels but retained enough function to maintain normal copper homeostasis. This implies that p.P1379S is benign in nature. A better understanding of the nature and consequences of variants in WD will help in informing patient care and avoiding unnecessary treatments.
Armored with skin and bone: A combined histological and μCT‐study of the exceptional integument of the Antsingy leaf chameleon Brookesia perarmata (Angel, 1933)
Authors: Schucht Pia J. , Rühr Peter T. , Geier Benedikt , Glaw Frank , Lambertz Markus
Published: May 2020

Madagascar's endemic ground‐dwelling leaf chameleons (Brookesiinae: Brookesia Gray, 1865 + Palleon Glaw, et al., Salamandra, 2013, 49, pp. 237–238) form the sister taxon to all other chameleons (i.e., the Chamaeleoninae). They possess a limited ability of color change, a rather dull coloration, and a nonprehensile tail assisting locomotion in the leaf litter on the forest floor. Most Brookesia species can readily be recognized by peculiar spiky dorsolateral projections (“Rückensäge”), which are caused by an aberrant vertebral structure and might function as body armor to prevent predation. In addition to a pronounced Rückensäge, the Antsingy leaf chameleon Brookesia perarmata (Angel, 1933) exhibits conspicuous, acuminate tubercle scales on the lateral flanks and extremities, thereby considerably enhancing the overall armored appearance. Such structures are exceptional within the Chamaeleonidae and despite an appreciable interest in the integument of chameleons in general, the morphology of these integumentary elements remains shrouded in mystery. Using various conventional and petrographic histological approaches combined with μCT‐imaging, we reveal that the tubercle scales consist of osseous, multicusped cores that are embedded within the dermis. Based on this, they consequently can be interpreted as osteoderms, which to the best of our knowledge is the first record of such for the entire Chamaeleonidae and only the second one for the entire clade Iguania. The combination of certain aspects of tissue composition (especially the presence of large, interconnected, and marrow‐filled cavities) together with the precise location within the dermis (being completely enveloped by the stratum superficiale), however, discriminate the osteoderms of B. perarmata from those known for all other lepidosaurs.
The point of epiphyseal penetration affects rotational stability of screw fixation in slipped capital femoral epiphysis: A biomechanical study
Authors: Morris William Z. , Riccio Anthony I. , Podeszwa David A. , Pierce William A. , Standefer Karen D. , Kiapour Ata , Liu Raymond W. , Novais Eduardo N.
Published: May 2020

The epiphyseal tubercle, a posterosuperior projection of the epiphysis into the metaphysis, serves as the axis of rotation in slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) and a source of physeal stability. We hypothesized that in a biomechanical model of single screw fixation of stable SCFE, a screw passing through the epiphyseal tubercle (the axis of rotation) would confer less rotational stability than a centrally placed screw. Three femurs were selected from a sample population of 8‐ to 15‐year‐old healthy hips to represent three stages of maturation: a “young” femur with a prominent epiphyseal tubercle and decreased epiphyseal cupping around the metaphysis, a “median” femur with a subsiding tubercle, and a “mature” femur with a subsided epiphyseal tubercle and increased peripheral epiphyseal cupping. Specimens were three‐dimensional printed with one of two screw trajectories: passing centrally in the epiphysis or directly through the epiphyseal tubercle. Resistance to rotational displacement was measured through stiffness and maximum torque over 30° degrees of displacement. In the “young” model, epiphyseal tubercle screw position conferred less rotational stiffness and required less maximum torque during rotational displacement when compared to a centrally placed screw (P < .001). In the “median” and “mature” models where the tubercle has subsided and is replaced by peripheral epiphyseal cupping, screw position through the tubercle was associated with equal or greater rotational stiffness and maximum torque during displacement as a centrally placed screw.
A Bayesian approach to assessing small‐study effects in meta‐analysis of a binary outcome with controlled false positive rate
Authors: Shi Linyu , Chu Haitao , Lin Lifeng
Published: May 2020

Publication bias threatens meta‐analysis validity. It is often assessed via the funnel plot; an asymmetric plot implies small‐study effects, and publication bias is one cause of the asymmetry. Egger's regression test is a widely used tool to quantitatively assess such asymmetry. It examines the association between the observed effect sizes and their sample SEs; a strong association indicates small‐study effects. However, its false positive rates may be inflated if such an association intrinsically exists even if no small‐study effects appear, particularly in meta‐analyses of odds ratios (ORs). Various alternatives are available to address this problem. They usually replace Egger's regression predictor or response with different measures; consequently, they are powerful only in specific cases. We propose a Bayesian approach to assessing small‐study effects in meta‐analyses of ORs. It controls false positive rates by using latent “true” SEs, rather than sample SEs, in the Egger‐type regression to avoid the intrinsic association between ORs and their SEs. Although “true” SEs are unknown in practice, they can be modeled under the Bayesian framework. We use simulated and real data to compare various methods. When ORs are away from 1, the proposed method may have high powers with controlled false positive rates, while Egger's test has seriously inflated false positive rates; nevertheless, in other situations, some other methods may be superior. In general, the proposed method may serve as an alternative to rule out potential confounding effects caused by the intrinsic association between ORs and their SEs in the assessment of small‐study effects.
Risk factors of posthepatectomy liver failure for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Lee Jong W. , Lee Jae H. , Park Yejong , Lee Woohyung , Kwon Jaewoo , Song Ki B. , Hwang Dae W. , Kim Song C.
Published: May 2020

Background

Surgery for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHCC) is associated with high morbidity. This study aimed to investigate the clinical value of the future liver remnant volume‐to‐body weight (FLRV/BW) and propose a risk score for predicting the risk of patients with PHCC developing posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF).

Methods

This study included 348 patients who underwent major hepatectomy with bile duct resection for PHCC during 2008‐2015 at a single center in Korea and they were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

Clinically relevant PHLF was noted in 40 patients (11.4%). The area under the curve (AUC) for FLRV/BW was not significantly different from that for FLRV/total liver volume (P = .803) or indocyanine green clearance of the future liver remnant (P = .629) in terms of predicting PHLF. On multivariate analysis, predictors of PHLF (P < .05) were male sex, albumin less than 3.5 g/dL, preoperative cholangitis, portal vein resection, FLRV/BW less than 0.5%, and FLRV/BW 0.5% to 0.75%. These variables were included in the risk score that showed good discrimination (AUC, 0.853; 95% CI, 0.802‐0.904). It will help rank patients into three risk subgroups with a predicted liver failure incidence of 4.75%, 18.73%, and 51.58%, respectively.

Conclusions

FLRV/BW is a comparable risk prediction factor of PHLF and the proposed risk score can help to predict the risk of planned surgery in PHCC.
Middle Cranial Fossa Repair of Temporal Bone Spontaneous CSF Leaks With Hydroxyapatite Bone Cement
Authors: Alwani Mohamedkazim M. , Saltagi Mohamad Z. , MacPhail Margaret E. , Nelson Rick F.
Published: May 2020

Objectives

To determine the safety and effectiveness of the middle cranial fossa (MCF) approach in repairing spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (sCSF) leaks.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Methods

Patient with sCSF leaks repaired by MCF approach between January 1, 2014 and August 31, 2019 were included. Demographic information, clinical and surgical findings, and postoperative outcomes were recorded.

Results

The cohort (n = 45) included 24 tegmen repairs by multilayer reconstruction using hydroxyapatite cement and 21 cases of multilayer repair without hydroxyapatite cement. Ten MCF repairs were performed on patients ≥65 years old. Twenty (53%) ears had multiple tegmen defects (range, 1–9 tegmen defects) and 78% of patients had ≥1 encephaloceles. All sCSF leaks were resolved with one surgical intervention. There were no major intracranial complications. Transient expressive aphasia occurred in 2 patients. Medical complications occurred in four patients. There were no short‐term postoperative CSF leaks with bone cement reconstruction and two postoperative leaks without bone cement. One resolved with lumbar drain (LD) and the other resolved without treatment. The average (SD) length of stay (LOS) with bone cement was shorter than in patients without bone cement (2.54 [0.83] days vs. 3.52 [1.99] days, P < .05). There have been no long‐term CSF leak recurrences with an average (SD) follow‐up of 13.5 (12.9) months (range 0.25–46 months).

Conclusions

MCF approach for sCSF repairs demonstrate efficacious outcomes, particularly with tegmen reconstruction using hydroxyapatite cement. The approach exhibited no serious adverse events and few complications requiring intervention. Therefore, MCF is a safe and effective approach to resolve sCSF leaks.

Level of Evidence

3 Laryngoscope, 131:624–632, 2021
Resonance‐Induced Dispersion Tuning for Tailoring Nonsolitonic Radiation via Nanofilms in Exposed Core Fibers
Authors: Lühder Tilman A. K. , Schaarschmidt Kay , Goerke Sebastian , Schartner Erik P. , Ebendorff‐Heidepriem Heike , Schmidt Markus A.
Published: May 2020

Efficient supercontinuum generation demands for fine‐tuning of the dispersion of the underlying waveguide. Resonances introduced into waveguide systems can substantially improve nonlinear dynamics in ultrafast supercontinuum generation via modal hybridization and formation of avoided crossings. Using the example of exposed core fibers functionalized by nanofilms with sub‐nanometer precision both zero‐dispersion and dispersive wave emission wavelengths are shifted by 227 and 300 nm, respectively, at tuning slopes higher than 20 nm/nm. The presented concept relies on dispersion management via induced resonances and can be straightforwardly extended to other deposition techniques and film geometries such as multilayers or 2D materials. It allows for the creation of unique dispersion landscapes, thus tailoring nonlinear dynamics and emission wavelengths and for making otherwise unsuitable waveguides relevant for ultrafast nonlinear photonics.
Novel Nanocomposite PEM Membranes with Continuous Proton Transportation Channel and Reinforcing Network Formed by Electrospinning Solution Casting Method
Authors: Hu Wei , Yang Xue , Hou Xiaowei , Zhao Qi , Liu Baijun , Sun Zhaoyan , Xie Haiming , Zhu Guangshan
Published: May 2020

In this work, a kind of novel nanocomposite proton exchange membranes (PEMs) with excellent properties for fuel cell application is obtained through the combination of electrospinning and solution casting. PEMs are obtained via the electrospinning of solution of sulfonated poly(arylene ether ketone)s (SPAEK)s with carboxylic acid group (SPAEK‐COOH) inserted with nanocrystal cellulose (NCC) first, and then, the SPAEK‐COOH solution is cast on the obtained electrospinning membrane to fill the voids. According to the scanning electron microscopy image of the membrane surface and freeze‐fractured cross section, the nonporous membrane was successfully obtained. The water uptake and the swelling rate of the nanocomposite membrane with 2% NCC (NF‐NCC2) decrease to 62% and 61.5%, respectively, and the membrane shows much higher proton conductivity (0.29 S cm−1) than the pristine SPAEK‐COOH membrane (NF‐NCC0) (0.196 S cm−1) at 100 °C. Furthermore, NF‐NCC2 shows a tensile strength of 38 MPa, which is an increase of 36% compared to NF‐NCC0 (28 MPa). The orderly and uniform distribution of NCC in the electrospinning nanofiber and further in the membranes.
Inhibition of p62/SQSTM1 sensitizes small‐cell lung cancer cells to cisplatin‐induced cytotoxicity by targeting NEDD9 expression
Authors: Xu Lingzhi , Xu Fan , Kong Qingxia , Yang Ting , Tan Dewei , Zhang Xiaoling , Li Na , Zhao Shanshan , Zhao Jinbo , Li Man
Published: May 2020

Drug resistance is the leading cause for rapid progression and relapse in small‐cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients. Thus overcoming drug resistance still remains to be urgently resolved during SCLC treatment. Here, we found p62/SQSTM1 was enriched in SCLC spheroids, a subpopulation possessing cancer stem‐like properties, which is responsible for cancer relapse and metastasis. Subsequent functional assays in vitro showed that short hairpin RNA (shRNA)‐mediated p62 knockdown increased sensitivity of SCLC cell lines to cisplatin (DDP), whereas lentivirus‐mediated p62 ectopic overexpression diminished DDP‐induced cytotoxicity in both NCI‐H446 and NCI‐H1688 cell lines. Moreover, ectopic p62 overexpression promoted DDP resistance of NCI‐H446 cells‐derived tumor xenografts in immunodeficient mice in vivo, as indicated by accelerated tumor growth rate and reduced fluorescent activity of cleaved caspase‐3. Gene expression profiling analysis revealed that p62 was positively correlated with neuronal precursor cell‐expressed, developmentally downregulated gene 9 (NEDD9) expression level. Consistently, NEDD9 messenger RNA (mRNA) level was decreased upon p62 suppression by small interfering RNA (siRNA) and increased with p62 transient overexpression in SCLC cell lines, suggesting that p62 positively regulated NEDD9 mRNA. Depletion of NEDD9 by siRNA, to a large extent, reversed p62‐overexpressed SCLC cells to DDP‐induced cytotoxicity, implying NEDD9 might act as a downstream target which was in charge of p62‐mediated DDP resistance. Taken together, our findings uncovered a previously unknown role of p62 in the regulation of SCLC drug resistance, assigning p62 as an attractive target for SCLC treatment.
Zeolite in tissue engineering: Opportunities and challenges
Authors: Zarrintaj Payam , Mahmodi Ghader , Manouchehri Saeed , Mashhadzadeh Amin Hamed , Khodadadi Mohsen , Servatan Morteza , Ganjali Mohammad Reza , Azambre Bruno , Kim Seok‐Jhin , Ramsey Josh D , Habibzadeh Sajjad , Saeb Mohammad Reza , Mozafari Masoud
Published: May 2020

Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine follow a multidisciplinary attitude to the expansion and application of new materials for the treatment of different tissue defects. Typically, proper tissue regeneration is accomplished through concurrent biocompatibility and positive cellular activity. This can be resulted by the smart selection of platforms among bewildering arrays of structural possibilities with various porosity properties (ie, pore size, pore connectivity, etc). Among diverse porous structures, zeolite is known as a microporous tectosilicate that can potentially provide a biological microenvironment in tissue engineering applications. In addition, zeolite has been particularly appeared promising in wound dressing and bone‐ and tooth‐oriented scaffolds. The wide range of composition and hierarchical pore structure renders the zeolitic materials a unique character, particularly, for tissue engineering purposes. Despite such unique features, research on zeolitic platforms for tissue engineering has not been classically presented. In this review, we overview, classify, and categorize zeolitic platforms employed in biological and tissue engineering applications.
Decentralized triboelectric electronic health monitoring flexible microdevice
Authors: Chowdhury Aminur Rashid , Abdullah Abu Musa , Romero Ulises Vidaurri , Hussain Istiak , Olivares Carolina , Danti Serena , Li Jianzhi , Uddin Mohammed Jasim
Published: May 2020

Versatile applications of triboelectric nanogenerator as a microsystem component have widened the access to advanced healthcare monitoring and green energy systems. Recent research on wearable electronic technologies has been focusing on more complex architecture and costly materials for sensory applications resulting in less commercial feasibility. Here, we report a biocompatible, cost‐effective, highly sensible, structurally simple, multifunctional and wearable triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) as a universal health monitoring device. This triboelectric universal health monitoring device (TUHMD) was fabricated with cellulose paper and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) copolymer electrodes. This device demonstrated high sensitivity and notable identical signals on diverse body motions related to body muscles and respiratory system by mechanical triggering. The device was also observed to be sensitive to vocal cord vibration. Integration of this device with computer‐aided system offers real‐time data of physiological movement, potentially useful for personalized medicine, rehabilitation and remote monitoring of patients. The device was also tested from 30 to 90 beat per minute (BPM) load frequencies to observe the triboelectric performance of the device. TUHMD showed response as a triboelectric nanogenerator with a range of 12 V with negligible charge accumulation, along with a maximum capacitive performance of 11 F. This smart device showed a potential to be an advanced biomedical sensor for maintaining full health care or monitoring applications.