bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prospects of application of vibratory devices in military equipment
Authors: Vrublevskyi I.
Published: September 2022

Possibilities of employing vibratory devices as conveying mechanisms in some models of military equipment, in particular in engineering weapons, are considered. Vibratory conveyors, which are widely used in industry for moving products over short distances, are mainly devices with one-component rectilinear oscillations, in which at the high conveying velocity the modes of movement with hopping are implemented, that is unacceptable for conveying many military facilities, including weapons and explosive objects. Vibratory conveying in non-hopping modes (without tossing) at high speed is possible when using independent (two-component) horizontal and vertical oscillations of the working body of the vibratory conveyor. Based on the analysis of the influence of oscillation parameters on the velocity and stability of vibratory movement of objects in non-hopping modes, a conclusion is made about the feasibility of using horizontal harmonic oscillations in near-resonant mode and vertical oscillations with piecewise constant acceleration. The equations describing the optimal law of vertical oscillations, which consists of two segments of parabolas during the period of oscillations, are derived. A constructive scheme of the vibratory conveyor based on a three-mass oscillating system with an unbalanced vibratory drive of horizontal oscillations and eccentric vibratory drive of vertical oscillations is proposed. The working body of the vibratory conveyor is connected to the intermediate frame by an elastic system of vertical oscillations, the stiffness of which is adjusted to a mode far from resonance. The reactive frame is connected to the intermediate frame by an elastic system of horizontal oscillations, the stiffness of which provides near-resonant mode. The presented vibratory conveyor significantly enhances the conveying velocity in non-hopping modes, which are required for conveying explosive objects, as well as increases the lifting angles and reduces the vibration transmitted to the environment, which will facilitate its use in military machines. It also outlines a number of issues that need to be addressed in the design and implementation of such devices in military equipment.
Pigmentary Maculopathy in Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome Treated with Oral Pentosan Polysulfate: A Review
Authors: Parkinson Richard , Thurau Stephan , Maag Klaus Peter
Published: September 2022

Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a rare and chronic bladder condition. Pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS) is the only oral medication approved specifically for the management of IC/BPS. In 2018, Pearce et al. reported for the first time a unique pattern of ocular pigmentary maculopathy exclusively in IC/BPS patients following PPS exposure. This publication triggered several published studies, case reports, case series, and media reports claiming a link between PPS and pigmentary maculopathy; however, a clear interpretation of these data is still awaited and there are currently no prospective, well researched, confirmatory data available.

The clinical presentation of pigmentary maculopathy is characterised by moderate visual impairments and macular hyperpigmented spots, yellow-orange deposits, and/or patchy retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) atrophy. Most patients experiencing this ocular effect used high doses of PPS over an extended period, with risk of pigmentary maculopathy associated with PPS increasing with exposure. Studies that rule out prevalent retinal abnormalities are lacking. The cause of this particular maculopathy remains unclear and further research is required. The current data suggest that a median duration of 15 years of PPS exposure must elapse before pigmentary maculopathy is detected. Furthermore, no increased incidence of any type of maculopathy is found up to a median duration of 5 years of PPS use. Thus, in line with the current European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommendation, if patients respond to therapy and a decision is made to continue PPS for longer than 6 months, a fundoscopy with optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fundus autofluorescence should be performed. In cases of no findings, the next eye examination should be after a further 5 years of PPS use; in cases of findings, continuation of the treatment should be re-evaluated by the urologist and monitored by yearly ocular fundus examinations.

This review provides a framework for evidence-based treatment with PPS in patients with IC/BPS using appropriate monitoring and gives an overview of the current understanding and evidence of the association of PPS and a specific pigmentary maculopathy.
Mardin'de Yaşayan Suriyeli Mültecilerin Uyumları ve Gelecek Beklentileri: 2014 ile 2021 Yılları Arasındaki Değişim
Authors: APAK Hıdır
Published: September 2022

The aim of this study is to reveal the changes to the adaptation process for Syrian refugees over the years and to determine their future expectations. The study represents a quantitative research effort in which the survey model was used. In this study, the integration and future expectations of Syrian refugees were examined comparatively for two samples showing similar characteristics in two different time periods. The research is descriptive in order to understand and make sense of the change in Syrian refugees' adaptation, and their future expectations. The study sample consists of 178 Syrian refugees living in Mardin, Turkey since 2013. It was determined that the majority did not have difficulties adapting to Mardin, Turkey and there has been a negative change in their adaptation status over the years. The main result of the study with regard to future expectations is that the majority of the participants complained about the "uncertainty" they experienced, let alone drawing a positive picture of what kind of future awaits them. It has also been determined that this uncertainty has increased compared to 2014. The present study is valuable in that it reveals various results within a relational analysis model.
ИЗМЕНЧИВОСТЬ ПОКАЗАТЕЛЕЙ МАСКУЛИННОСТИ СТУДЕНЧЕСКОЙ МОЛОДЕЖИ БЕЛАРУСИ
Authors: Елена Каспарова , Галина Скриган , Валерий Дунай
Published: September 2022

The aim of the study is to assess the variability of morphofunctional indi-cators of masculinity among students in Belarus over time and depending on the level of physical fitness.The research was carried out in the years between 2016–2021 in Minsk (Republic of Belarus). The sample consisted of 233 students (102 young men, 131 young women) aged 18 to 22. The materials of our research of 180 stu-dents (125 young men and 65 young women) of the Belarusian State University of Physical Culture were also used. The material used for comparison was the archival data of the Department of Anthropology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus from the period 2000–2007: a total of 243 students in Minsk (98 young men, 145 young women).Anthropometric measurements of body length, body weight, shoulder width, pelvic width, waist circumference, hip circumference, tense shoulder cir-cumference, relaxed shoulder circumference, length of the second and fourth fin-gers of both hands, wrist dynamometry of the right and left hand were carried out. The morphological indices were calculated. It was revealed that modern young men have more waist circumference and than young men of the beginning of the XXI century. In young women, waist circumference and body weight showed greater stability. The width of the pelvis, like that of both sexes, has decreased from the beginning of the 21th century to the present. In modern young men, disharmony of physique due to excess body weight in relation to its length occurs more often than at the beginning of the century. The indicators of wrist dyna-mometry among modern Belarusian students have become lower compared to the beginning of the 2000s. The young men and women involved in physical cul-ture had a significantly lower 2D:4D for the left hand and right hand than those who have a lower level of physical fitness.Thus, the features of the temporal variability of young students in Belar-us of such indicators as waist circumference, pelvic width and dynamometry (strength capabilities) were revealed, which were reflected in the dynamics of morphological indices of masculinity
МЕТОДИЧЕСКИЕ ВОПРОСЫ ИДЕНТИФИКАЦИИ ПОЛА НЕПОЛОВОЗРЕЛЫХ ИНДИВИДОВ НА ПРИМЕРЕ РАННЕСРЕДНЕВЕКОВОЙ ОСТЕОЛОГИЧЕСКОЙ ВЫБОРКИ МАМИСОНДОН (СЕВЕРНАЯ ОСЕТИЯ)
Authors: Дарья Ходырева , Наталия Березина , Наталия Гончарова
Published: September 2022

This article verifies the method of sex determination using discriminant functions for the size of teeth in children and adults on an anthropological series from the early medieval burial ground of Mamisondon with a high level of sexual dimorphism. Measurements of the mesio-distal and bucco-lingual sizes of teeth were carried out in 60 adults and 43 children. By the method of step-by-step dis-criminant analysis, the characters were selected that most successfully dividing individuals by sex in our series, they turned out to be the sizes of molars. We have built several discriminant equations based on deciduous and permanent molars, which allow us to determine sex with an accuracy of 70-80%. In our work, we es-pecially note the importance of the first permanent molar for sex determination in children, since it appears first among permanent teeth, which are more dimorphic than deciduous teeth. We consider this method to be promising, however, due tothe unequal level of sexual dimorphism and the size of teeth in different popu-lations, the discriminant functions created by us are not universal and are appli-cable only specifically to our series, or to another series with the same level of sexual dimorphism and dimensional characteristics of the teeth
From Null to Midline: Changes in Head Posture do Not Predictably Change Head Tremor in Cervical Dystonia
Authors: Vu Jeanne P. , Cisneros Elizabeth , Zhao Jerry , Lee Ha Yeon , Jankovic Joseph , Factor Stewart A. , Goetz Christopher G. , Barbano Richard L. , Perlmutter Joel S. , Jinnah Hyder A. , Pirio Richardson Sarah , Stebbins Glenn T. , Elble Rodger J. , Comella Cynthia L. , Peterson David A.
Published: September 2022

Introduction: A common view is that head tremor (HT) in cervical dystonia (CD) decreases when the head assumes an unopposed dystonic posture and increases when the head is held at midline. However, this has not been examined with objective measures in a large, multicenter cohort.

Methods: For 80 participants with CD and HT, we analyzed videos from examination segments in which participants were instructed to 1) let their head drift to its most comfortable position (null point) and then 2) hold their head straight at midline. We used our previously developed Computational Motor Objective Rater (CMOR) to quantify changes in severity, amplitude, and frequency between the two postures.

Results: Although up to 9% of participants had exacerbated HT in midline, across the whole cohort, paired t-tests reveal no significant changes in overall severity (t = −0.23, p = 0.81), amplitude (t = −0.80, p = 0.43), and frequency (t = 1.48, p = 0.14) between the two postures.

Conclusion: When instructed to first let their head drift to its null point and then to hold their head straight at midline, most patient’s changes in HT were below the thresholds one would expect from the sensitivity of clinical rating scales. Counter to common clinical impression, CMOR objectively showed that HT does not consistently increase at midline posture in comparison to the null posture.
γ-Tubulin in microtubule nucleation and beyond
Authors: Sulimenko Vadym , Dráberová Eduarda , Dráber Pavel
Published: September 2022

Microtubules composed of αβ-tubulin dimers are dynamic cytoskeletal polymers that play key roles in essential cellular processes such as cell division, organelle positioning, intracellular transport, and cell migration. γ-Tubulin is a highly conserved member of the tubulin family that is required for microtubule nucleation. γ-Tubulin, together with its associated proteins, forms the γ-tubulin ring complex (γ-TuRC), that templates microtubules. Here we review recent advances in the structure of γ-TuRC, its activation, and centrosomal recruitment. This provides new mechanistic insights into the molecular mechanism of microtubule nucleation. Accumulating data suggest that γ-tubulin also has other, less well understood functions. We discuss emerging evidence that γ-tubulin can form oligomers and filaments, has specific nuclear functions, and might be involved in centrosomal cross-talk between microtubules and microfilaments.
Impact of preparation method on nickel speciation and methane dry reforming performance of Ni/SiO2 catalysts
Authors: Chen Chongchong , Wang Wenbo , Ren Qiuhe , Ye Runping , Nie Ning , Liu Zhen , Zhang Lulu , Xiao Jinbin
Published: September 2022

The methane dry reforming reaction can simultaneously convert two greenhouse gases (CH4 and CO2), which has significantly environmental and economic benefits. Nickel-based catalysts have been widely used in methane dry reforming in past decade due to their low cost and high activity. However, the sintering and coke deposition of catalysts severely limit their industrial applications. In this paper, three Ni/SiO2 catalysts prepared by different methods were systematically studied, and the samples obtained by the ammonia evaporation method exhibited excellent catalytic performance. The characterization results such as H2-TPR, XPS and TEM confirmed that the excellent performance was mainly attributed to the catalyst with smaller Ni particles, stronger metal-support interactions, and abundant Ni-O-Si units on the catalyst surface. The anti-sintering/-coking properties of the catalyst were significantly improved. However, the Ni/SiO2-IM catalyst prepared by impregnation method had uneven distribution of nickel species and large particles, and weak metal-support interactions, showing poor catalytic performance in methane dry reforming. Since the nickel species were encapsulated by the SiO4 tetrahedral network, the Ni/SiO2-SG catalyst prepared by sol-gel method could not expose more effective active sites even if the nickel species were uniformly dispersed, resulting in poor dry reforming performance. This study provides guidance for the preparation of novel anti-sintering/-coking nickel-based catalysts.
Positive digital communication among youth: The development and validation of the digital flourishing scale for adolescents
Authors: Rosič Jasmina , Janicke-Bowles Sophie H. , Carbone Luca , Lobe Bojana , Vandenbosch Laura
Published: September 2022

Research has extensively studied the negative effects of digital communication on adolescents’ well-being. However, positive digital experiences and behavior in adolescence are still poorly understood. The recently developed Digital Flourishing Scale addresses this gap and focuses on the positive perceptions of a user’s experiences and behaviors in digital communication among adults. In this paper, we developed an adolescent version of this scale. Study 1 demonstrated the internal consistency of the scale and the same factor structure for adolescence as for adulthood: connectedness, civil participation, positive social comparison, authentic self-presentation, and self-control. Study 2 confirmed the identified factor structure with a second sample of adolescents and established measurement invariance across genders. The construct validity of the scale was confirmed by investigating associations with related constructs, including the basic psychological needs from self-determination theory (competence, autonomy, and relatedness), secure attachment to a close friend, Internet aggression, social media-induced inspiration, authenticity of posted positive content, and social media self-control failure. The results indicated that not all adolescents flourish equally online. Differences occurred depending on the adolescents’ gender and socioeconomic status. The paper concludes that the newly developed scale is a valid and reliable measure for assessing adolescents’ perceptions of digital thriving and digital empowerment.
Soils and terrestrial sediments on the seafloor: Refining archaeological paleoshoreline estimates and paleoenvironmental reconstruction off the California coast
Authors: Gusick Amy E. , Maloney Jillian , Braje Todd J. , Retallack Gregory J. , Johnson Luke , Klotsko Shannon , Ainis Amira , Erlandson Jon M.
Published: September 2022

On global, regional, and local scales, sea level histories and paleoshoreline reconstructions are critical to understanding the deep history of human adaptations in island and coastal settings. The distance of any individual site from the coast strongly influences decisions about the transport of coastal resources and has a direct impact on human settlement and resources procurement strategies. Our ability, then, to identify relic productive habitats, such as wetlands, that were subaerial during time periods relevant to human occupation, is critical to models of human settlement and resource patterning that guide our search to identify cultural resources. Accurate location of productive habitats becomes more critical when searching for terminal Pleistocene sites submerged by postglacial marine transgression. While paleoshoreline reconstructions and sea level histories can provide a baseline for identifying drowned and ancient coastal ecosystems, post-transgressive sediment deposited on the seafloor can skew accurate paleoshoreline location. To correct for this, we used sub-bottom profiling data from the southern California Coast to determine revised paleoshoreline locations and to identify sonar signatures indicative of paleogeographic contexts that may harbor wetland environments. These data were used to define core sample locations that resulted in the identification of submerged, preserved paleosols. The paleosols data, presented here for the first time, have provided information on ancient landscapes and relic habitats that were subaerial prior to postglacial sea level rise. In our study area on the continental shelf off the California Channel Islands archipelago, the paleosols correspond to a critical period of shifting habitats, evolving landscapes, species extinctions, and the arrival of humans into a rapidly changing ecosystem.
Mapping the most heavily reclaimed shorelines of the Yangtze River delta urban agglomerations
Authors: Lu Ting , Lin Cong , Wang Ya Ping , Wu Hao , Zhou Mengxiao , Chen Yu , Shen Yu
Published: September 2022

Objectively understanding the characteristics and evolution of coastal geomorphology, and predicting the growth potential of intertidal flats are the prerequisites for the effective conservation and development of shoreline resources. However, the vulnerability of shorelines in the long term and large space scale needs to be assessed since human intervention in recent decades has intensified the double oppression of river delta system transformation and land reclamation. The Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomerations (YRDUA) is a highly developed global economy, therefore, the YRDUA with the most intense reclamation, and their dynamic shoreline changes before and after the sharply decreasing sediment supply were detected based on 4,596 remote sensing images and corresponding hydrodynamic data. We found that the sediment replenishment from the radial sand ridges on the middle Jiangsu Coast made the shoreline expansion rate reach 4–5 times that of other Jiangsu coasts. Specifically, a close correlation between the shoreline accretion rate and the amount of sediment supply was found on the eastern Chongming Wetland. Generally, there were still sufficient sediments on the Yangtze River Estuary and Hangzhou Bay interface to support the shoreline expansion despite the upstream sediment reduction. The longshore sediment transport from the delta-front erosion and the land reclamation including vegetation ecological responses were the main factors promoting the shoreline advance. Human interventions, dominated mainly by reclamation, formed positive feedback with local hydrodynamic processes and promoted continuous shoreline accretion. This study focused on the external and internal drivers and their interactions of long-term shoreline evolution with very intensive human activities, which can provide the decision-making reference for the regional coastal zone management and conservation.
Role of acidic fluids in Earth’s deep lithosphere: Insights from the Neoarchean magmatic roots of the Nilgiri Block, southern India
Authors: Samuel Vinod O. , Santosh M. , Jang Yirang , Kwon Sanghoon
Published: September 2022

Fluids play a major role in facilitating igneous/metamorphic processes in the Earth’s crust and mantle. In this study, we investigate the nature and composition of fluids in Earth’s interior by studying the lower crustal rocks. We compare accessory minerals (e.g., apatite, monazite, allanite, and titanite), their texture, mineral reactions and composition among regionally distributed metamorphosed mafic and felsic rocks representing the roots of Neoarchean arc magmatism from the Nilgiri Block of the Southern Granulite Terrane in India. Regional trends in accessory minerals show the formation of monazite, allanite, and titanite in the felsic rocks. Apatite is depleted in REEs in all the rock types, irrespective of the difference in their whole-rock chemistry. Textural features and mineral reactions show that these accessory minerals were affected by fluids present in the lower crustal conditions. By comparing our results with those from previous experimental results, we further show that acidic CO2-H2O-HCl-HF fluids stable in lower crustal conditions could have resulted in these chemical and textural features. Dielectric constant of water is high (10–35 compared to lower crustal conditions) in high-pressure and low-temperature conditions of subduction zones and the upper mantle. Such conditions would enhance dissociation of HCl (compared to lower crust) and result in acidic fluids during dehydration reactions in subduction zones and in the upper mantle. Our results have important implications in understanding the nature and composition of fluids in Earth’s interior and would be helpful to model the tectonic and deep geochemical processes in both early and modern conditions in planetary interiors.
Process-based modeling of soil nitrous oxide emissions from United States corn fields under different management and climate scenarios coupled with evaluation using regional estimates
Authors: Xia Yushu , Wander Michelle M. , Quiring Steven M. , Yuan Shanshui , Kwon Hoyoung
Published: September 2022

Direct emissions of soil nitrous oxide during a growing season (N2Ogs) can be quantified with process-based models considering interactions between management, climate, and soil moisture when key data are available. We used an adapted “parameterized CENTURY/DAYCENT-model” (pCENTURY) calibrated with crop growth and soil organic matter decay coefficients at the county-level for the estimation of N2Ogs in the United States Corn Belt. Model estimated N2O-emissions from corn-based biofuels scenarios considering crop rotation, fertilizer inputs, tillage, and weather were compared against meta-summary of field observations from 55 studies. Both model and meta-summary ranked N2Ogs-emissions to be corn > wheat > soybean phase while model likely underestimated cover crop N2Ogs-emissions. The N2Ogs-emissions and the associated emission factors (EFs) were modeled and summarized to be greater after anhydrous ammonia than urea application and from conventional tilled than non-tilled fields. Modeled and observed N2Ogs-emissions after organic and inorganic fertilizer amendment did not differ due to high variability associated with the treatments. However, the organic fertilizer associated EFs were greater according to meta-summary data because of N input rates. Regionalized weather scenarios indicate hotspots for N2Ogs-emissions can occur where crop N uptake is limited during dry years and in eastern states also during normal or wet seasons. The pCENTURY-derived N2Ogs EFs (0.91 ± 0.19%) for counties investigated were only slightly lower than literature (1.07 ± 0.57%) or Tier-1 (1%) values. Our preliminary evaluation of regional soil moisture estimates showed reasonable agreement between monthly soil moisture estimates and the North American Soil Moisture Dataset during the growing season, but overestimation of soil moisture in winter-spring can influence the estimates of annual N2O emissions so future work is needed to calibrate soil moisture-associated model parameters. Our work provided scenario-based estimates of climate and management impacts on soil N2Ogs-emissions together with valuable spatial insights into EFs that will be improved by more accurate information of fertilizer inputs and more temporally refined model evaluation.
Investigation of the occurrence characteristics of organic components in high-sulfur waste residues (HSWR)
Authors: Wang Zhongbing , Jie Fanghui , Li Weiqi , Zhao Zongwen , Niu Fei , Zhu Junqiang , Qin Weining , Zhou Kai
Published: September 2022

High-sulfur waste residues (HSWR) is a typical byproduct produced in the printing and dyeing industry that has hazardous properties, such as flammability and reactivity, etc. It is of great significance for the directional and harmless treatment of waste residues in the later stage on the research in-depth of the occurrence characteristics of each component in HSWR. In this paper, the combinatorial analysis method is employed to perform in-depth research on the phase composition, surface chemical situation of element, and the occurrence state of functional groups of the waste residue from multiple perspectives. The results show that the organic and inorganic components in HSWR are intricately interwoven, and exhibit significant thermal instability at high temperatures, with a maximum weight less of 86.66%. Carbon mainly exists in the states of C-H/C-OH/C-C, C-O/C-NH2, and C=O/C-N/C-S/CHx and constitutes the main chain of the carboxylic ring. Sulfur mainly occurs in three forms, namely, amorphous aggregated sulfur, sulfur-containing inorganic salts such as sulfate, and nitrogen-heterocyclic organic compounds containing sulfhydryl groups and methyl sulfur groups. These organic compounds constitute branch chains of the organic phase, and combine with metal cations through hydroxyl or carboxyl groups, and deposit on the surface of inorganic agglomerated sulfur. This wrapping structure increases the stability of volatile compounds in the slag and increases the difficulty of sulfur and chlorine removal. These findings provide a material basis for the later development of safe and effective HSWR disposal techniques.
Regional differences and threshold effect of clean technology innovation on industrial green total factor productivity
Authors: Sun Haibo , Zhang Zan , Liu Zhonglu
Published: September 2022

Guiding technological progress towards clean innovations is crucial to industrial green transformation. This paper explains how clean technology innovation affects industrial green total factor productivity, using Tobit and panel smooth transition regression (PSTR) models to empirically test the relationship between clean technology innovation and industrial green total factor productivity. This research shows that clean technology innovation has a significantly positive effect on industrial green total factor productivity. The magnitude of this effect is different in various regions. When the intensity of environmental regulation reaches a particular threshold value in the central and western regions, clean technology innovation can significantly promote industrial green total factor productivity. In the eastern region, however, strict environmental regulation inhibits the promotion effect of clean technology innovation on industrial green total factor productivity. The corresponding research conclusion provide theoretical support and empirical evidence for exploring the way of industrial green transformation.
Reducing agricultural nitrogen use: A price endogenous partial equilibrium analysis in the Yangtze River Basin, China
Authors: Yu S. , Fan S. , Ti C. , Ma Y.
Published: September 2022

The overuse of nitrogen fertilizers in agricultural production in China, resulting in negative impacts on the environment, has become a serious issue. Thus, reducing agricultural nitrogen use has become one of the top priorities for achieving the sustainable development goals of the Chinese agricultural sector. Searching for effective approaches to reduce nitrogen use is essential to agricultural and environmental sustainability. In this study, we selected the Yangtze River Basin as the research area, owing to its critical role in Chinese agricultural production, and established a price endogenous partial equilibrium model to simulate the effect of nitrogen use reduction from nitrogen use optimization (NUO) and nitrogen use efficiency improvement (NUE+). Based on agricultural datasets in 2019, simulation results revealed that 1) NUO helped reduce nitrogen use and nitrogen loss by 6.99% and 7.50%, respectively; if changes in the acreage are considered, then the reduction effect will be less significant; 2) nitrogen use decreased continuously with NUE+, and the reduction rate was 7.85%, 15.38%, 22.65%, and 28.02% under the NUE+10%, NUE+20%, NUE+30%, and NUE+40% scenarios, respectively, and nitrogen loss was highly sensitive; and 3) the crop heterogeneity indicated that cereals are regarded as nitrogen-overuse crops and more sensitive to nitrogen use reduction under the NUE+ scenarios than oil crops. Accordingly, in this study, we suggested that practical NUO and NUE+ policies and incentives are necessary, and flexible adjustment strategies for crop-planting structures, such as enlarging the acreage for cereals, may be useful in reducing nitrogen use in the Yangtze River Basin.
The role of pyroptosis and its crosstalk with immune therapy in breast cancer
Authors: Wu Ling , Lu Hongsheng , Pan Yin , Liu Chen , Wang Jinyan , Chen Baofu , Wang Yichao
Published: September 2022

Pyroptosis is a brand-new category of programmed cell death (PCD) that is brought on by multitudinous inflammasomes, which can recognize several stimuli to pilot the cleavage of and activate inflammatory cytokines like IL-18 and IL-1β is believed to have dual effects on the development of multiple cancers including breast cancer. However, pyroptosis has different effects on cancers depending on the type of tissues and their distinct heredity. Recently, the association between pyroptosis and breast cancer has received more and more attention, and it is thought that inducing pyroptosis could be used as a cancer treatment option. In addition, a great deal of evidence accumulating over the past decades has evinced the crosstalk between pyroptosis and tumor immunological therapy. Thus, a comprehensive summary combining the function of pyroptosis in breast cancer and antitumor immunity is imperative. We portray the prevalent knowledge of the multidimensional roles of pyroptosis in cancer and summarize the pyroptosis in breast cancer principally. Moreover, we elucidate the influence of inflammasomes and pyroptosis-produced cytokines on the tumor microenvironment (TME) of breast cancer. Taken together, we aim to provide a clue to harness pyroptosis rationally and apply it to augment immunotherapy efficiency for breast cancer.
Physical and biological controls on anthropogenic CO2 sink of the Ross Sea
Authors: Ingrosso Gianmarco , Giani Michele , Kralj Martina , Comici Cinzia , Rivaro Paola , Budillon Giorgio , Castagno Pasquale , Zoccarato Luca , Celussi Mauro
Published: September 2022

The Antarctic continental shelf is known as a critical anthropogenic CO2 (Cant) sink due to its cold waters, high primary productivity, and unique circulation, which allow it to sequester large amounts of organic and inorganic carbon into the deep ocean. However, climate change is currently causing significant alteration to the Antarctic marine carbon cycle, with unknown consequences on the Cant uptake capacity, making model-based estimates of future ocean acidification of polar regions highly uncertain. Here, we investigated the marine carbonate system in the Ross Sea in order to assess the current anthropogenic carbon content and how physical–biological processes can control the Cant sequestration along the shelf-slope continuum. The Winter Water mass generated from convective events was characterized by high Cant level (28 µmol kg−1) as a consequence of the mixed layer break-up during the cold season, whereas old and less-ventilated Circumpolar Deep Water entering the Ross Sea revealed a very scarce contribution of anthropogenic carbon (7 µmol kg−1). The Cant concentration was also different between polynya areas and the shelf break, as a result of their specific hydrographic characteristics and biological processes: surface waters of the Ross Sea and Terra Nova Bay polynyas served as strong CO2 sink (up to −185 mmol m−2), due to the remarkable net community production, estimated from the summertime surface-dissolved inorganic carbon deficit. However, a large amount of the generated particulate organic carbon was promptly consumed by intense microbial activity, giving back carbon dioxide into the intermediate and deep layers of the continental shelf zone. Further Cant also derived from High-Salinity Shelf Water produced during winter sea ice formation (25 µmol kg−1), fueling dense shelf waters with additional input of Cant, which was finally stored into the abyssal sink through continental slope outflow (19 µmol kg−1). Our results suggest that summer biological activity over the Ross Sea shelf is pivotal for the shunt of anthropogenic CO2 between the organic and inorganic carbon pools, enhancing the ocean acidification of the upper mesopelagic zone and the long-term Cant sequestration into the deep ocean.
Pharmacotherapeutic potential of pomegranate in age-related neurological disorders
Authors: Emami Kazemabad Mohammad Javad , Asgari Toni Sara , Tizro Neda , Dadkhah Parisa Alsadat , Amani Hanieh , Akhavan Rezayat Shima , Sheikh Zahra , Mohammadi Mohammad , Alijanzadeh Dorsa , Alimohammadi Farnoosh , Shahrokhi Mehregan , Erabi Gisou , Noroozi Masoud , Karimi Mohammad Amin , Honari Sara , Deravi Niloofar
Published: September 2022

Age-related neurological disorders [AND] include neurodegenerative diseases [NDDs] such as Alzheimer's disease [AD] and Parkinson's disease [PD], which are the most prevalent types of dementia in the elderly. It also includes other illnesses such as migraine and epilepsy. ANDs are multifactorial, but aging is their major risk factor. The most frequent and vital pathological features of AND are oxidative stress, inflammation, and accumulation of misfolded proteins. As AND brain damage is a significant public health burden and its incidence is increasing, much has been done to overcome it. Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is one of the polyphenol-rich fruits that is widely mentioned in medical folklore. Pomegranate is commonly used to treat common disorders such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, wound healing, bleeding, dysentery, acidosis, microbial infections, infectious and noninfectious respiratory diseases, and neurological disorders. In the current review article, we aimed to summarize the data on the pharmacotherapeutic potentials of pomegranate in ANDs.
Elevated ApoB/ApoA-I ratio is associated with acute anti-N-Methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis, but not disease outcomes
Authors: Liu Yingying , Ma Xiaomeng , Ma Lili , Su Zhumin , Li Donghong , Chen Xiaohong
Published: September 2022

Objective

The purpose of the present study is to clarify the relationship between the apolipoprotein B100/apolipoprotein A-I (ApoB/ApoA-I) ratio and anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis.

Methods

A total of 71 patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis were included in this study, and their ApoB/ApoA-I ratios in baseline and follow-up were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

The ApoB/ApoA-I ratio was closely correlated with the baseline-modified Rankin scale (mRS) score of >3 in patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis. A subgroup analysis showed obvious differences between the high and low ApoB/ApoA-I ratio groups. The ApoB/ApoA-I ratio was positively correlated with intensive care unit (ICU) treatment, length of hospital stay, baseline mRS score, C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). The ratios of the high and low ApoB/ApoA-I groups both improved in the follow-up.

Conclusion

The increased ApoB/ApoA-I ratio is associated with acute anti-NMDAR encephalitis, but not disease outcomes. Serum ApoB/ApoA-I ratio was related to inflammation and immunity in peripheral blood. The findings might provide a new idea for further exploration of the pathogenesis and treatment of anti-NMDAR encephalitis.
Global, regional, and national neck pain burden in the general population, 1990–2019: An analysis of the global burden of disease study 2019
Authors: Shin Dong Woo , Shin Jae Il , Koyanagi Ai , Jacob Louis , Smith Lee , Lee Heajung , Chang Yoonkyung , Song Tae-Jin
Published: September 2022

Background

This study describes the global epidemiology and trends associated with neck pain. Global Burden of Disease data collected between 1990 and 2019 were used to determine the global burden of neck pain in the general populations of 204 countries.

Methods

Global, regional, and national burdens of neck pain determined by prevalence, incidence, and years lived with a disability (YLD) from 1990 to 2019 were comprehensively analyzed according to age, gender, and socio-demographic index using the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990 and 2019 data provided by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

Results

Globally, in 2019, the age-standardized rates for prevalence, incidence, and YLD of neck pain per 100,000 population was 2,696.5 (95% uncertainty interval [UI], 2,177.0 to 3,375.2), 579.1 (95% UI, 457.9 to 729.6), and 267.4 (95% UI, 175.5 to 383.5) per 100,000 population, respectively. Overall, there was no significant difference in prevalence, incidence, or YLD of neck pain between 1990 and 2019. The highest age-standardized YLD of neck pain per 100,000 population in 2019 was observed in high-income North America (479.1, 95% UI 323.0 to 677.6), Southeast Asia (416.1, 95% UI 273.7 to 596.5), and East Asia (356.4, 95% UI 233.2 to 513.2). High-income North America (17.0, 95% UI 9.0 to 25.4%) had the largest increases in YLD of neck pain per 100,000 population from 1990 to 2019. At the national level, the highest age-standardized YLD of neck pain was found in the Philippines (530.1, 95% UI 350.6 to 764.8) and the highest change age-standardized YLD between 1990 and 2019 was found in the United States (18.4, 95% UI 9.9 to 27.6%). Overall, the global burden of neck pain increased with age until the age of 70–74 years, and was higher in women than men. In general, positive associations between socio-demographic index and burden of neck pain were found.

Conclusions

Because neck pain is a major public health burden with a high prevalence, incidence, and YLD worldwide, it is important to update its epidemiological data and trends to cope with the future burden of neck pain.
Self-supervised learning for modal transfer of brain imaging
Authors: Cheng Dapeng , Chen Chao , Yanyan Mao , You Panlu , Huang Xingdan , Gai Jiale , Zhao Feng , Mao Ning
Published: September 2022

Today's brain imaging modality migration techniques are transformed from one modality data in one domain to another. In the specific clinical diagnosis, multiple modal data can be obtained in the same scanning field, and it is more beneficial to synthesize missing modal data by using the diversity characteristics of multiple modal data. Therefore, we introduce a self-supervised learning cycle-consistent generative adversarial network (BSL-GAN) for brain imaging modality transfer. The framework constructs multi-branch input, which enables the framework to learn the diversity characteristics of multimodal data. In addition, their supervision information is mined from large-scale unsupervised data by establishing auxiliary tasks, and the network is trained by constructing supervision information, which not only ensures the similarity between the input and output of modal images, but can also learn valuable representations for downstream tasks.
Comprehensive prognostic and immunological analysis of CCT2 in pan-cancer
Authors: Lv Wenming , Shi Lin , Pan Jiebing , Wang Shengbao
Published: September 2022

CCT2 acts as a molecular chaperone protein that assists in the proper folding of proteins, thus ensuring a dynamic balance of cellular homeostasis. Despite increasing evidence supporting the important role of CCT2 in the tumorigenesis of certain cancers, few articles that provide a systematic pan-cancer analysis of CCT2 have been published. Hence, to evaluate the expression status and prognostic significance of CCT2 in pan-cancers, an analysis of the relationship between CCT2 and different tumor immune cell infiltrations was conducted using datasets from the Cancer Genome Atlas, Cancer Cell Lineage Encyclopedia, and so on. In most cancers, CCT2 expression was high and was associated with poor prognosis. Moreover, CCT2 gene expression was negatively correlated with infiltration of most immune cells in 10 cancer types, and CCT2 expression was related to tumor mutation burden and microsatellite instability. The role that CCT2 plays in tumorigenesis and tumor immunity suggests that it can serve as a prognostic marker in many cancers.
Artemisinin analog SM934 alleviates epithelial barrier dysfunction via inhibiting apoptosis and caspase-1-mediated pyroptosis in experimental colitis
Authors: Shao Meijuan , Yan Yuxi , Zhu Fenghua , Yang Xiaoqian , Qi Qing , Yang Fangming , Hao Tingting , Lin Zemin , He Peilan , Zhou Yu , Tang Wei , He Shijun , Zuo Jianping
Published: September 2022

Intestinal barrier disruption due to the intestinal epithelial cells’ (IECs) death is one of the critical pathological features of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). SM934, an artemisinin analog, has previously been proven to ameliorate colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in mice by suppressing inflammation response. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of SM934 on the epithelial barrier and the underlying mechanism in trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis mice. We demonstrated that SM934 restored the body weight and colon length, and improved the intestine pathology. Furthermore, SM934 treatment preserved the intestinal barrier functionviadecreasing the intestinal permeability, maintaining epithelial tight junction (TJ) protein expressions, and preventing apoptosis of epithelial cells, which were observed both in the colon tissue and the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced human colonic epithelial cell line HT-29. Specifically, SM934 reduced the pyroptosis of IECs exposed to pathogenic signaling and inhibited pyroptosis-related factors such as NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), adapter apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC), cysteine protease-1 (caspase-1), gasdermin (GSDMD), interleukin-18 (IL-18), and high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) both in colon tissue and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) co-stimulated HT-29 cellsin vitro. Moreover, SM934 interdicted pyroptosisviablocking the transduction of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) signaling pathways. In conclusion, SM934 protected TNBS-induced colitis against intestinal barrier disruption by inhibiting the apoptosis and pyroptosis of epithelial cellsviathe NLRP3/NF-κB/MAPK signal axis, and intestinal barrier protection in company with an anti-inflammatory strategy might yield greater benefits in IBD treatment.
Deciphering the combination mechanisms of Gualou–Xiebai herb pair against atherosclerosis by network pharmacology and HPLC-Q-TOF-MS technology
Authors: Liu Yarong , Zhong Hua , Xu Pengbo , Zhou An , Ding Lidan , Qiu Jingwen , Wu Hongfei , Dai Min
Published: September 2022

Introduction: Gualou (Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim)–Xiebai (Allium macrostemon Bunge) (GLXB) is a well-known herb pair against atherosclerosis (AS). However, the combination mechanisms of GLXB herb pair against AS remain unclear.

Objective: To compare the difference in efficacy between GLXB herb pair and the single herbs and to explore the combination mechanisms of GLXB against AS in terms of compounds, targets, and signaling pathways.

Methods: The combined effects of GLXB were evaluated in AS mice. The main compounds of GLXB were identified via quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) and UNIFI informatics platforms. The united mechanisms of GLXB in terms of nodes, key interactions, and functional clusters were realized by network pharmacology. At last, the anti-atherosclerotic mechanisms of GLXB were validated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot in AS mice.

Results: The anti-atherosclerotic effects of the GLXB herb pair (6 g/kg) were more significant than those of Gualou (4 g/kg) and Xiebai (2 g/kg) alone. From the GLXB herb pair, 48 main components were identified. In addition, the GLXB herb pair handled more anti-atherosclerotic targets and more signaling pathways than Gualou or Xiebai alone, whereas 10 key targets of GLXB were found using topological analysis. Furthermore, the GLXB herb pair (6 g/kg) could suppress the inflammatory target levels of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, ALOX5, PTGS2, and p-p38 in AS mice. GLXB herb pair (6 g/kg) could also ameliorate endothelial growth and function by regulating the levels of VEGFA, eNOS, p-AKT, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1 and reducing macrophage adhesion to vascular wall in AS mice. GLXB herb pair (6 g/kg) could improve the blood lipid levels in AS mice. In addition, the regulating effects of GLXB herb pair (6 g/kg) on levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, ALOX5, VEGFA, eNOS, VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and blood lipids were more significant than those of Gualou (4 g/kg) or Xiebai alone (2 g/kg).

Conclusion: The combination mechanisms of the GLXB herb pair were elucidated in terms of components, targets, and signaling pathways, which may be related to suppressing inflammation, regulating vascular endothelial growth/function, and improving blood lipid levels.
Empagliflozin induces apoptotic-signaling pathway in embryonic vasculature: In vivo and in silico approaches via chick’s yolk sac membrane model
Authors: Mosallanejad Saeedeh , Mahmoodi Mehdi , Tavakkoli Hadi , Khosravi Ahmad , Salarkia Ehsan , Keyhani Alireza , Dabiri Shahriar , Gozashti Mohammad Hossein , Pardakhty Abbas , Khodabandehloo Hadi , Pourghadamyari Hossein
Published: September 2022

The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the vascular-toxicity of empagliflozin (EMP) in embryonic vasculature. Firstly, the vascular-toxicity of the drug as well as its interaction with apoptotic regulator proteins was predicted via in silico approach. In the next step, the apoptotic-signaling pathway in embryonic vasculature was evaluated using a chick’s YSM model. In silico simulation confirmed vascular-toxicity of EMP. There was also an accurate affinity between EMP, Bax and Bcl-2 (−7.9 kcal/mol). Molecular dynamics assay revealed complex stability in the human body conditions. Furthermore, EMP is suggested to alter Bcl-2 more than BAX. Morphometric quantification of the vessels showed that the apoptotic activity of EMP in embryonic vasculature was related to a marked reduction in vessel area, vessel diameter and mean capillary area. Based on the qPCR and immunohistochemistry assays, enhanced expression level of BAX and reduced expression level of Bcl-2 confirmed apoptotic responses in the vessels of the YSM. We observed that induction of an apoptotic signal can cause the embryonic defect of the vascular system following EMP treatment. The acquired data also raised suspicions that alteration in apoptotic genes and proteins in the vasculature are two critical pathways in vascular-toxicity of EMP.