bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Laser-Induced Forward Transfer on Regenerative Medicine Applications
Authors: Kryou Christina , Zergioti Ioanna
Published: December 2022

To date, the ultimate goal of bioprinting is to create autologous tissue grafts for future replacement therapies through utilization of cells and biomaterials simultaneously. Bioprinting is an additive manufacturing technology that has significant potential in the biomedical field. Among the main bioprinting techniques, such as inkjet, laser and extrusion bioprinting, the laser-induced forward transfer technique (LIFT) is based on a precise nozzle-free laser-assisted cell free/cell-laden microdroplet transfer. Although this technique was first reported in the 1980s, it begun to rapidly develop in biomedicine only a decade ago. It is a promising technique due to its high spatial resolution, post-bioprinting cell viability, and the ability to deposit high-viscous biomaterials. These characteristics allow the LIFT technology to control cells precisely to engineer living tissue. In this review, we discuss LIFT technique and its applications in biomedical engineering. This advanced technology enables the precise manipulation of in vitro cellular microenvironments and the ability to engineer functional three-dimensional (3D) tissues with high complexity and heterogeneity, which serve in regenerative medicine and in vitro screening applications. The core of this review is the discussion of biological and physical aspects for tissue engineering and/or organ replacement encountered during printing specifically when utilizing the LIFT technique.
Policy and infrastructure challenges influencing ICT implementation in universities: a literature review
Authors: Ntorukiri Timothy Bariu , Kirugua Joseph Muriungi , Kirimi Francis
Published: December 2022

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has become pivotal in our daily lives and educational institutions' teaching and interaction between instructors and learners. As a result, universities are restructuring their curriculum and classroom instruction bridging the digital gap between education and learning. However, research seldom centers on policies and infrastructure challenges as key ICT implementation factors. Empirical literature identified a substantial technological gap among the ICT policies and infrastructure that significantly influences ICT implementation. The review is essential given the different cultural contexts in which the interplay between ICT implementation, ICT policies, and infrastructure, of which the documentation has been relatively minor. The present study centers on the complex interplay between policy and infrastructural challenges that influence ICT implementation. In line with the study target and contributing to the existing literature, the researcher analyzed the literature drawn from qualitative and quantitative studies from different sources. The review established that ICT implementation depends on policies and relevant ICT infrastructure. Therefore, stakeholders need to intervene and address the challenge of effective ICT implementation. The study findings provide valuable baseline information to stimulate investment in ICT policies and infrastructure to streamline university education by enhancing accessibility, quality, and efficiency through ICT implementation.
U.S. and Latin American Relations
Authors: Weeks Gregory B. , Allison Michael E.
Published: December 2022

The third edition of U.S. and Latin American Relations offers detailed theoretical and historical analyses essential for understanding contemporary US-Latin American relations. Utilizing four different theories (realism, liberal institutionalism, dependency, and autonomy) as a framework, the text provides a succinct history of relations from Latin American independence through the Covid-19 era before then examining critical contemporary issues such as immigration, human rights, and challenges to US hegemony. Engaging pedagogical features such as timelines, research questions, and annotated resources appear throughout the text, along with relevant excerpts from primary source documents. The third edition features a new chapter on the role of extrahemispheric actors such as China and Russia, as well as a significantly revised chapter on citizen insecurity that examines crime, drug trafficking, and climate change. Instructor resources include a test bank, lecture slides, and discussion questions.
Buy America and Buy American: Can Canada Expect a Deal from the Biden Administration?
Authors: DUFOUR GENEVIÈVE , MORIN PIERRE-LUC
Published: December 2022

After US President Joe Biden took office, some believed he would take a different path from that of his predecessor and that the Trump years were over. However, one of President Biden’s first moves was to strengthen American protectionism by heightening the United States’s “Buy America” and “Buy American” requirements. With this, the American government procurement market started to close off even more, and Canadian suppliers, in turn, grew worried. Given the United States’s international procurement commitments and the specificity of the Buy American Act and the Buy America Policy, this article explores the pathways to favourable treatment of Canadian suppliers in keeping with applicable international trade rules.
Californians and Others: Children's Health, Nutrition, and Welfare in Depression-Era Migrant Camps
Authors: HODGSON JACK
Published: December 2022

This state-level study emphasizes the influence of local administration on welfare provision, even amidst a huge national New Deal effort. It interrogates John Steinbeck's allegation in “Starvation under the Orange Trees” that migrant children died avoidable deaths in Depression-era California because of discriminatory policies and apathetic officials. Steinbeck's reportage was a political vehicle for his own ends rather than accurate social history. But with hospital care being reserved for local residents and racialized inferior food rations provided to Mexican American children, California's Depression-era welfare system favoured white Californian children over those it categorized as “others,” with potentially deadly consequences.
The spread of iron in Central Asia: on the etymology of the word for “iron” in Iranian and Tocharian
Authors: Peyrot Michaël , Dragoni Federico , Bernard Chams Benoît
Published: December 2022

Tocharian B eñcuwo “iron” and Tocharian A añcu* have been connected to the Iranian words for “iron”, notably Khwarezmian hnčw. On the basis of insights into the patterns of borrowings from Khotanese into Tocharian, it is argued that the Tocharian words must have been borrowed from a preform of Khotanese hīśśana- “iron”. Further, a new etymology is proposed for “iron” that accounts for the variation of this word in Iranian. The fact that Tocharian borrowed the word for “iron” from Khotanese, not from the archaic steppe dialect of Iranian that is the source of many other loanwords in Tocharian, suggests that the contacts between this latter dialect and Tocharian took place before iron became widespread in the region.
Vergleich von Clomethiazol und Oxazepam im Alkoholentzug
Authors: Holzbach Rüdiger , Droste Philipp , Magerkurth Tilmann , Juckel Georg
Published: December 2022

Zusammenfassung: Zielsetzung: Vergleich von Clomethiazol mit Oxazepam im Alkoholentzug im Hinblick auf die Inzidenz von Delirien und Krampfanfällen, die Reduktion der Entzugssymptome und die Nebenwirkungen. Methodik: Multizentrische, offene Studie. Zunächst wurden alle Patienten scoregesteuert gemäß der Hamburger Alkoholentzugs-Skala (HAES) mit Oxazepam (n= 202) entzogen, danach mit Clomethiazol (n= 218). Es wurden Patienten mit aktuell schweren Entzügen (mind. 50 mg Oxazepam / 10 Kps. Clomethiazol / 24h) und / oder Komplikationen eingeschlossen. Ergebnisse: In der Oxazepam-Gruppe traten mit 3 gegenüber 1 Delirien und 3 gegenüber 2 Krampfanfällen mehr Komplikationen auf als in den Clomethiazol-gestützten Entzügen (n. s.). Die vegetativen Scorepunkte sanken unter beiden Medikamenten etwa gleich stark. Unter Clomethiazol traten signifikant mehr Nebenwirkungen auf als unter Oxazepam. Schlussfolgerungen: Weder für die Prävention von Delirien und Krampfanfällen noch für die Kupierung der vegetativen Entzugssymptome ließ sich eine eindeutige Überlegenheit eines der beiden Medikamente nachweisen. Allerdings ergaben sich starke Hinweise für ein besseres Nebenwirkungsprofil von Oxazepam. Obwohl nur schwere Entzüge in die Studie eingeschlossen wurden, traten Delire nur bei 1,0 % der Patienten auf, Krampfanfälle bei 1,2 %. Das in der Studie verwendete Entzugskonzept mit der Hamburger Alkoholentzugs-Skala kann daher als eine sehr sichere Methode angesehen werden.
Low levels of Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 are accompanied by an increased vulnerability to the negative outcomes of stress exposure during childhood in healthy women
Authors: Cosentino Livia , Zidda Francesca , Dukal Helene , Witt Stephanie H. , De Filippis Bianca , Flor Herta
Published: December 2022

Numerous mental illnesses arise following stressful events in vulnerable individuals, with females being generally more affected than males. Adverse childhood experiences are known to increase the risk of developing psychopathologies and DNA methylation was demonstrated to drive the long-lasting effects of early life stress and promote stress susceptibility. Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2), an X-linked reader of the DNA methylome, is altered in many mental disorders of stress origin, suggesting MECP2 as a marker of stress susceptibility; previous works also suggest a link between MECP2 and early stress experiences. The present work explored whether a reduced expression of MECP2 is paralleled by an increased vulnerability to the negative outcomes of stress exposure during childhood. To this aim, bloodMECP2mRNA levels were analyzed in 63 people without history of mental disorders and traits pertaining to depressive and anxiety symptom clusters were assessed as proxies of the vulnerability to develop stress-related disorders; stress exposure during childhood was also evaluated. Using structural equation modeling, we demonstrate that reducedMECP2expression is accompanied by symptoms of anxiety/depression in association with exposure to stress in early life, selectively in healthy women. These results suggest a gender-specific involvement ofMECP2in the maladaptive outcomes of childhood adversities, and shed new light on the complex biology underlying gender bias in stress susceptibility.
Modern-like deep water circulation in Indian Ocean caused by Central American Seaway closure
Authors: Prabhat Priyesh , Rahaman Waliur , Lathika Nambiyathodi , Tarique Mohd , Mishra Ravi , Thamban Meloth
Published: December 2022

Global overturning circulation underwent significant changes in the late Miocene, driven by tectonic forcing, and impacted the global climate. Prevailing hypotheses related to the late Miocene deep water circulation (DWC) changes driven by the closure of the Central American Seaways (CAS) and its widespread impact remains untested due to the paucity of suitable records away from the CAS region. Here, we test the hypothesis of the large-scale circulation changes by providing a high-resolution record of DWC since the late Miocene (11.3 to ~2 Ma) from the north-western Indian Ocean. Our investigation reveals a progressive shift from Pacific-dominated DWC before ~9.0 Ma to the onset of a modern-like DWC system in the Indian Ocean comprising of Antarctic bottom water and northern component water during the Miocene-Pliocene transition (~6 Ma) caused by progressive shoaling of the CAS and suggests its widespread impact.
Insights into magma ocean dynamics from the transport properties of basaltic melt
Authors: Bajgain Suraj K. , Ashley Aaron Wolfgang , Mookherjee Mainak , Ghosh Dipta B. , Karki Bijaya B.
Published: December 2022

The viscosity of magma plays a crucial role in the dynamics of the Earth: from the crystallization of a magma ocean during its initial stages to modern-day volcanic processes. However, the pressure-dependence behavior of viscosity at high pressure remains controversial. In this study, we report the results of first-principles molecular dynamics simulations of basaltic melt to show that the melt viscosity increases upon compression along each isotherm for the entire lower mantle after showing minima at ~6 GPa. However, elevated temperatures of the magma ocean translate to a narrow range of viscosity, i.e., 0.01–0.03 Pa.s. This low viscosity implies that the crystallization of the magma ocean could be complete within a few million years. These results also suggest that the crystallization of the magma ocean is likely to be fractional, thus supporting the hypothesis that present-day mantle heterogeneities could have been generated during the early crystallization of the primitive mantle.
Rapid induction and long-term self-renewal of neural crest-derived ectodermal chondrogenic cells from hPSCs
Authors: Shen Pei , Chen Lu , Zhang Dahe , Xia Simo , Lv Zhuman , Zou Duohong , Zhang Zhiyuan , Yang Chi , Li Wenlin
Published: December 2022

Articular cartilage is highly specific and has limited capacity for regeneration if damaged. Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) have the potential to generate any cell type in the body. Here, we report the dual-phase induction of ectodermal chondrogenic cells (ECCs) from hPSCs through the neural crest (NC). ECCs were able to self-renew long-term (over numerous passages) in a cocktail of growth factors and small molecules. The cells stably expressed cranial neural crest-derived mandibular condylar cartilage markers, such as MSX1, FOXC1 and FOXC2. Compared with chondroprogenitors from iPSCs via the paraxial mesoderm, ECCs had single-cell transcriptome profiles similar to condylar chondrocytes. After the removal of the cocktail sustaining self-renewal, the cells stopped proliferating and differentiated into a homogenous chondrocyte population. Remarkably, after transplantation, this cell lineage was able to form cartilage-like structures resembling mandibular condylar cartilage in vivo. This finding provides a framework to generate self-renewing cranial chondrogenic progenitors, which could be useful for developing cell-based therapy for cranial cartilage injury.
Methylation pattern and mRNA expression of synapse-relevant genes in the MAM model of schizophrenia in the time-course of adolescence
Authors: Khan Abdul Qayyum , Thielen Lukas , Le Pen Gwenaëlle , Krebs Marie-Odile , Kebir Oussama , Groh Adrian , Deest Maximilian , Bleich Stefan , Frieling Helge , Jahn Kirsten
Published: December 2022

Schizophrenia is highly heritable and aggregating in families, but genetics alone does not exclusively explain the pathogenesis. Many risk factors, including childhood trauma, viral infections, migration, and the use of cannabis, are associated with schizophrenia. Adolescence seems to be the critical period where symptoms of the disease manifest. This work focuses on studying an epigenetic regulatory mechanism (the role of DNA methylation) and its interaction with mRNA expression during development, with a particular emphasis on adolescence. The presumptions regarding the role of aberrant neurodevelopment in schizophrenia were tested in the Methyl-Azoxy-Methanol (MAM) animal model. MAM treatment induces neurodevelopmental disruptions and behavioral deficits in off-springs of the treated animals reminiscent of those observed in schizophrenia and is thus considered a promising model for studying this pathology. On a gestational day-17, adult pregnant rats were treated with the antimitotic agent MAM. Experimental animals were divided into groups and subgroups according to substance treatment (MAM and vehicle agent [Sham]) and age of analysis (pre-adolescent and post-adolescent). Methylation and mRNA expression analysis of four candidate genes, which are often implicated in schizophrenia, with special emphasis on the Dopamine hypothesis i.e., Dopamine receptor D2 (Drd2), and the “co-factors” Disrupted in schizophrenia 1 (DISC1), Synaptophysin (Syp), and Dystrobrevin-binding protein 1 (Dtnbp1), was performed in the Gyrus cingulum (CING) and prefrontal cortex (PFC). Data were analyzed to observe the effect of substance treatment between groups and the impact of adolescence within-group. We found reduced pre-adolescent expression levels of Drd2 in both brain areas under the application of MAM. The “co-factor genes” did not show high deviations in mRNA expression levels but high alterations of methylation rates under the application of MAM (up to ~20%), which diminished in the further time course, reaching a comparable level like in Sham control animals after adolescence. The pre-adolescent reduction in DRD2 expression might be interpreted as downregulation of the receptor due to hyperdopaminergic signaling from the ventral tegmental area (VTA), eventually even to both investigated brain regions. The notable alterations of methylation rates in the three analyzed co-factor genes might be interpreted as attempt to compensate for the altered dopaminergic neurotransmission.
Salivary secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor levels in patients with stage 3 grade C periodontitis: a comparative cross-sectional study
Authors: Afacan Beral , Öztürk Veli Özgen , Emingil Gülnur , Köse Timur , Mitsakakis Konstantinos , Bostanci Nagihan
Published: December 2022

Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) is an anti-protease that protects mucosal tissue integrity owing to its anti-microbial and immunomodulatory properties. This study aimed to investigate SLPI levels in periodontal diseases, and analyze the potential correlation with clinical periodontal parameters. Whole saliva samples were obtained from healthy (n = 24), gingivitis (n = 24) and patients with stage 3 grade C periodontitis (n = 24). SLPI was measured by ELISA and normalized by total protein. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was used for estimating the area under the curve (AUC). The normalized SLPI levels were significantly reduced in periodontitis compared with gingivitis (4.84-fold) or health (1.83-fold) and negatively correlated with periodontal parameters. The ROC curves showed a good predictor value of the SLPI for differentiation of periodontitis versus health or gingivitis (AUC ≥ 0.80). This study demonstrates that the levels of SLPI are high in periodontal health, further elevated in gingivitis, but eventually decreased in severe periodontitis beyond the former two states. This observation may have broader implications in the context of inflammatory diseases affecting the oral mucosa, as it shows that the bacterial burden is disturbing the homeostatic balances of anti-microbial and anti-protease factors in the oral cavity.
Parental attachment and emotional intelligence mediates the effect of childhood maltreatment on callous-unemotional traits among incarcerated male adolescents
Authors: Peng Jiaxi , Lu Huijie , Zhang Jiaxi , Yuan Weizhuo , Fang Peng , Tian Jianquan , Wang Lei
Published: December 2022

This study aimed to examine the impact of childhood maltreatment on callous-unemotional (CU) traits among incarcerated male adolescents, focusing primarily on the roles of parental attachment and emotional intelligence. A total of 454 male incarcerated adolescents from two juvenile correctional facilities, ranging in age from 14 to 18 years, completed a set of questionnaires consisting of a childhood trauma questionnaire, parent-attachment scale, emotional intelligence scale, and the Inventory of CU traits. The results revealed that childhood maltreatment, parental attachment, and emotional intelligence were all correlated with CU traits. Structural equation modeling analysis and the bootstrap test indicated that parental attachment and emotional intelligence mediated, in part, the effect of childhood maltreatment on CU traits. These findings expand the outcomes of previous research and shed light on how childhood maltreatment is related to CU traits.
Spatial energy density of large-scale electricity generation from power sources worldwide
Authors: Nøland Jonas Kristiansen , Auxepaules Juliette , Rousset Antoine , Perney Benjamin , Falletti Guillaume
Published: December 2022

This paper introduces the annual energy density concept for electric power generation, which is proposed as an informative metric to capture the impacts on the environmental footprint. Our investigation covers a wide range of sources classified by rated power and compares different regions to establish typical spatial flows of energy and evaluate the corresponding scalability to meet future net-zero emission (NZE) goals. Our analysis is conducted based on publicly available information pertaining to different regions and remote satellite image data. The results of our systematic analysis indicate that the spatial extent of electric power generation toward 2050 will increase approximately sixfold, from approximately 0.5% to nearly 3.0% of the world’s land area, based on International Energy Agency (IEA) NZE 2050 targets. We investigate the worldwide energy density for ten types of power generation facilities, two involving nonrenewable sources (i.e., nuclear power and natural gas) and eight involving renewable sources (i.e., hydropower, concentrated solar power (CSP), solar photovoltaic (PV) power, onshore wind power, geothermal power, offshore wind power, tidal power, and wave power). In total, our study covers 870 electric power plants worldwide, where not only the energy density but also the resulting land or sea area requirements to power the world are estimated. Based on the provided meta-analysis results, this paper challenges the common notion that solar power is the most energy-dense renewable fuel source by demonstrating that hydropower supersedes solar power in terms of land use in certain regions of the world, depending on the topography.
Observational database study on preeclampsia and postpartum medical care up to 7.5 years after birth
Authors: Scholz Anna S. , Hassdenteufel Kathrin , Gutsfeld Raphael , Müller Mitho , Goetz Maren , Bauer Armin , Wallwiener Markus , Brucker Sara Y. , Joos Stefanie , Colombo Miriam Giovanna , Hawighorst‑Knapstein Sabine , Chaudhuri Ariane , Beck Frauke , Wallwiener Stephanie
Published: December 2022

Preeclampsia is associated with a substantially increased long-term risk for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and renal disease. It remains unclear whether and to which extent specialized medical postpartum care is sought. We aimed to assess current utilization of postpartum primary and specialized care and medication prescription behavior in women who experienced preeclampsia. This retrospective observational study based on statutory claims data included 193,205 women with 258,344 singleton live births between 2010 and 2017 in Southern Germany. Postpartum care was evaluated by analyzing and comparing the frequency of medical consultations in primary and specialized care and prescriptions for antihypertensive medication among women with and without preeclampsia up to 7.5 years after delivery. Gynecologists and general practitioners were the main health care providers for all women. Although specialized postpartum care was sought by more women after preeclampsia, the effect size indices revealed no considerable association between a history of preeclampsia and the utilization of specialized outpatient aftercare (e.g. 2% vs. 0.6% of patients with and without preeclampsia who consulted a nephrologist during the first year postpartum, r = 0.042). Preeclampsia was associated with an increased risk to take any antihypertensive medication after delivery (HR 2.7 [2.6; 2.8]). Postpartum referral to specialized outpatient care and quarterly prescriptions of antihypertensives following preeclampsia failed to match the early and rapidly increased incidence and risk of hypertension. These data highlight the missed opportunity to implement a reasonable follow-up strategy and prevention management in order to achieve long-term clinical benefits.
Effective adjuvantation of nanograms of influenza vaccine and induction of cross-protective immunity by physical radiofrequency adjuvant
Authors: Li Zhuofan , Kang Xinliang , Kim Ki-Hye , Zhao Yiwen , Li Yibo , Kang Sang-Moo , Chen Xinyuan
Published: December 2022

Novel adjuvants are highly demanded to aid in development of improved or new vaccines against existing or emerging infectious diseases. Considering commonly used Alum and MF59 adjuvants induce tissue stress and release of endogenous danger signals to mediate their adjuvant effects, physical modalities may be used to induce tissue stress and endogenous danger signal release to enhance vaccine-induced immune responses. Furthermore, physical adjuvants are less likely to induce significant systemic adverse reactions due to their localized effects. Recently we found non-invasive radiofrequency (RF) pretreatment of the skin could significantly enhance intradermal vaccine-induced immune responses in murine models that included pandemic influenza vaccine, pre-pandemic vaccine, and influenza internal antigen vaccine. It remained to be explored whether the physical RF adjuvant (RFA) could be used to boost seasonal influenza vaccination, spare vaccine doses, and induce cross-protective immunity. This study found the physical RFA could significantly enhance seasonal influenza vaccine-induced immune responses against each viral strain and robustly enhance low-dose (nanograms) H3N2 vaccine-induced immune responses and protection in murine models. RFA also induced cross-protective immunity against heterologous and heterosubtypic influenza viruses. Further studies found heat shock protein 70 (inducible endogenous danger signal) and myeloid differentiation primary response 88 adaptor played a crucial role in dose-sparing effects of RFA. These data strongly support further development of the physical RFA to boost influenza vaccination.
LncRNA CCAT2, involving miR-34a/TGF-β1/Smad4 signaling, regulate hepatic stellate cells proliferation
Authors: Gao Haibing , Wang Xiangmei , Ma Huaxi , Lin Shenglong , Zhang Dongqing , Wu Wenjun , Liao Ziyuan , Chen Mengyun , Ye Hanhui , Li Qin , Lin Minghua , Li Dongliang
Published: December 2022

miR-34a targeting on Smad4 plays important role in TGF-β1 pathway which is a dominant factor for balancing collagen production and degradation in hepatic stellate cells. TGF-β1/Smad4 regulated collagen deposition is a hallmark of hepatic fibrosis. The potential regulation on miR-34a by LncRNAs in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is still reserved to be revealed. In current study, it was hypothesized that a miR-34a interactor, lncRNA CCAT2 may regulate TGF-β1 pathway in liver fibrotic remodeling. The interaction between CCAT2 and miR-34a-5p was checked by dual luciferase assay. the effects of CCAT2 and miR-34a-5p on cell proliferation and apoptosis were verified by MTT assay, colony formation assay, and flow cytometry assay. Dual luciferase activity showed CCAT2 are targets of miR-34a-5p. Sh-CCAT2 transfection prohibit HSCs proliferation and induce HSCs apoptosis, also inhibited ECM protein synthesis in HSCs. Decreased miR-34a-5p enhanced HSCs proliferation, blocked HSCs apoptosis and promoted ECM protein production. miR-34a-5p inhibitor undo protective regulation of sh-CCAT2 in liver fibrosis. Furthermore, clinical investigation showed that CCAT2 and Smad4 expression level were significantly induced, while miR-34a-5p was significantly decreased in HBV related liver fibrosis serum. In conclusion, activated HSCs via TGF-β1/Smad4 signaling pathway was successfully alleviated by CCAT2 inhibition through miR-34a-5p elevation.
Effects of supplementation of pomegranate processing by-products and waste cooking oils as alternative feed resources in broiler nutrition
Authors: Ghasemi-Sadabadi Mohammad , Ebrahimnezhad Yahya , Maheri-Sis Naser , Shaddel-Teli Abdolahad , Ghalehkandi Jamshid Ghiasi , Veldkamp Teun
Published: December 2022

Agricultural residues can be used as alternative feed sources in industrial chicken production. The impacts of different levels of pomegranate peel and waste cooking oil as an agricultural residue on broilers' nutrition were investigated. Results showed that the replacement of 8% pomegranate peel in diets decreased the growth performance of broilers. Supplementing 8% pomegranate peel in diets reduced apparent nutrient digestibility. The highest level of waste oil inclusion in broiler diets indicated negative impacts on apparent zmetabolizable energy and crude fat apparent nutrients digestibility. Broilers fed the diet containing 4% pomegranate peel had a higher Lactobacillus population. The results showed that the Lactobacillus population was lower in broilers fed 8% pomegranate peel powder and 4% waste oil in diets. The inclusion of 8% pomegranate peel powder in diets showed lower villus height and crypt depth in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. The inclusion of 4% pomegranate peel decreased the peroxide value (PV) of meat. Dietary inclusion of 4% waste oil raised the PV of meat. Alpha-tocopherol supplementation decreased the PV of meat. Finally, the results provide information that 4% of pomegranate peel and 4% waste oil could be used as an alternative feed ingredient in broiler diets without adverse effects.
The prognostic index of m7G-related genes in CRC correlates with immune infiltration
Authors: Huang Xinkun , Zhu Bin , Qian Chenyu , Feng Ying
Published: December 2022

N7-methyladenosine (m7G) modifications have been the subject of growing research interest with respect to their relationship with the progression and treatment of various cancers. This analysis was designed to examine the association between m7G-related gene expression and colorectal cancer (CRC) patient outcomes. Initial training analyses were performed using the TCGA dataset, with the GSE28722 dataset then being used to validate these results. Univariate Cox analyses were initially conducted to screen out prognostic m7G-related genes, after which a LASSO approach was used to construct an m7G risk score (MRS) model. Kaplan–Meier curves, ROC curves, and Cox analyses were subsequently used to validate the prognostic utility of this model in CRC patients. The R maftools package was further employed to assess mutational characteristics in CRC patients in different MRS subgroups, while the ESTIMATE, CIBERSORT, and ssGSEA tools were used to conduct immune infiltration analyses. A WGCNA was then performed to identify key immune-associated hub genes. The EIF4E3, GEMIN5, and NCBP2 genes were used to establish the MRS model. Patients with high MRS scores exhibited worse overall survival than patients with low scores. In Cox analyses, MRS scores were independently associated with CRC patient prognosis. Patients with low MRS scores exhibited a higher tumor mutational burden and higher levels of microsatellite instability. In immune infiltration analyses, higher immune checkpoint expression and greater immune cell infiltration were also observed in patients with low MRS scores. WGCNA analyses further identified 25 CD8+ T cell infiltration-associated genes. These findings suggest that MRS values represent a useful biomarker capable of differentiating among CRC patients with different immunological features and prognostic outcomes, offering an opportunity to better determine which patients are likely to benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment.
Metabolomics and transcriptomics reveal the effect of hetero-chitooligosaccharides in promoting growth of Brassica napus
Authors: Tang Chao , Zhai Yang , Wang Zhuo , Zhao Xin , Yang Chen , Zhao Yong , Zeng Liang-bin , Zhang De-yong
Published: December 2022

The hetero-chitooligosaccharide (HTCOS) is a naturally occurring biopolymer in the exoskeleton of crustaceans and insects. Although some studies have been carried out on HTCOS in inducing plant resistance and promoting growth, the molecular mechanism of HTCOS in plants is not clear. In this study, an integrated analysis of metabolomics and transcriptomics was performed to analyze the response of Brassica napus to hetero-chitooligosaccharides treatment. The levels of 26 metabolites in B. napus were significantly changed under the HTCOS treatment. Amongst these metabolites, 9 metabolites were significantly up-regulated, including pentonic acid, indole-3-acetate, and γ-aminobutyric acid. Transcriptome data showed that there were 817 significantly up-regulated genes and 1064 significantly down-regulated genes in B. napus under the HTCOS treatment. Interestingly, the indole-3-acetate (IAA) content under the HTCOS treatment was about five times higher than that under the control condition. Moreover, four genes related to plant hormone signal transduction, three AUX/IAA genes, and one ARF gene, were significantly up-regulated under the HTCOS treatment. Furthermore, the plant height, branching number, and biomass of B. napus under the HTCOS treatment were significantly increased compared to that in the control condition. This evidence indicated that the HTCOS treatment contributed to accumulating the content of plant hormone IAA in the B. napus, up-regulating the expression of key genes in the signaling pathway of plant growth and improving the agronomic traits of B. napus.
Beyond noise to function: reframing the global brain activity and its dynamic topography
Authors: Zhang Jianfeng , Northoff Georg
Published: December 2022

How global and local activity interact with each other is a common question in complex systems like climate and economy. Analogously, the brain too displays ‘global’ activity that interacts with local-regional activity and modulates behavior. The brain’s global activity, investigated as global signal in fMRI, so far, has mainly been conceived as non-neuronal noise. We here review the findings from healthy and clinical populations to demonstrate the neural basis and functions of global signal to brain and behavior. We show that global signal (i) is closely coupled with physiological signals and modulates the arousal level; and (ii) organizes an elaborated dynamic topography and coordinates the different forms of cognition. We also postulate a Dual-Layer Model including both background and surface layers. Together, the latest evidence strongly suggests the need to go beyond the view of global signal as noise by embracing a dual-layer model with background and surface layer.
COVID-19 instigates adipose browning and atrophy through VEGF in small mammals
Authors: Jing Xu , Wu Jieyu , Dong Caijuan , Gao Juan , Seki Takahiro , Kim Changil , Urgard Egon , Hosaka Kayoko , Yang Yunlong , Long Siwen , Huang Ping , Zheng Junnian , Szekely Laszlo , Zhang Yuanting , Tao Wei , Coquet Jonathan , Ge Minghua , Chen Yuguo , Adner Mikael , Cao Yihai
Published: December 2022

Patients with COVID-19 frequently manifest adipose atrophy, weight loss and cachexia, which significantly contribute to poor quality of life and mortality1,2. Browning of white adipose tissue and activation of brown adipose tissue are effective processes for energy expenditure3–7; however, mechanistic and functional links between SARS-CoV-2 infection and adipose thermogenesis have not been studied. In this study, we provide experimental evidence that SARS-CoV-2 infection augments adipose browning and non-shivering thermogenesis (NST), which contributes to adipose atrophy and body weight loss. In mouse and hamster models, SARS-CoV-2 infection activates brown adipose tissue and instigates a browning or beige phenotype of white adipose tissues, including augmented NST. This browning phenotype was also observed in post-mortem adipose tissue of four patients who died of COVID-19. Mechanistically, high levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the adipose tissue induces adipose browning through vasculature–adipocyte interaction. Inhibition of VEGF blocks COVID-19-induced adipose tissue browning and NST and partially prevents infection-induced body weight loss. Our data suggest that the browning of adipose tissues induced by COVID-19 can contribute to adipose tissue atrophy and weight loss observed during infection. Inhibition of VEGF signaling may represent an effective approach for preventing and treating COVID-19-associated weight loss.
Limiting grazing periods combined with proper housing can reduce nutrient losses from dairy systems
Authors: McDowell R. W. , Rotz C. A. , Oenema J. , Macintosh K. A.
Published: December 2022

Pasture-based and grass-fed branding are often associated with consumer perceptions of improved human health, environmental performance and animal welfare. Here, to examine the impacts of dairy production in detail, we contrasted global observational (n = 156) data for nitrogen and phosphorus losses from land by the duration of outdoor livestock grazing in confined, grazed and hybrid systems. Observational nitrogen losses for confined systems were lowest on a productivity—but not area—basis. No differences were noted for phosphorus losses between the systems. Modelling of the three dairy systems in New Zealand, the United States and the Netherlands yielded similar results. We found insufficient evidence that grazed dairy systems have lower nutrient losses than confined ones, but trade-offs exist between systems at farm scale. The use of a hybrid system may allow for uniform distribution of stored excreta, controlled dietary intake, high productivity and mitigation of animal welfare issues arising from climatic extremes.
Tin-catalyzed reductive coupling of amines with CO2 and H2
Authors: Paparakis Alexandros , Turnell-Ritson Roland C. , Sapsford Joshua S. , Ashley Andrew E. , Hulla Martin
Published: December 2022

Tin-based FLPs catalyze reductive coupling reactions of amines with CO2 and H2. Water produced by the reaction is well tolerated and TONs up to 300 can be achieved.
Formation of insoluble brown carbon through iron-catalyzed reaction of biomass burning organics
Authors: Hopstock Katherine S. , Carpenter Brooke P. , Patterson Joseph P. , Al-Abadleh Hind A. , Nizkorodov Sergey A.
Published: December 2022

Biomass burning organic aerosol (BBOA) is one of the largest sources of organics in the atmosphere.
Highly efficient photocatalytic degradation over rose-like 1D/2D La(OH)3/(BiO)2OHCl heterostructures boosted by rich oxygen vacancies and enhanced interfacial charge transfer
Authors: Tan Ying , Zhou Qin , Huang Weiya , Lu Kangqiang , Yang Kai , Chen Xunjun , Li Dan , Dionysiou Dionysios D.
Published: December 2022

Novel rose-like photocatalysts were constructed by 1D/2D La(OH)3/(BiO)2OHCl heterojunctions. The highly efficient photocatalytic degradation was boosted by the combined effects of rich oxygen vacancies and enhanced interfacial charge transfer.
Surface-enhanced Raman scattering used to study the structure of layers formed on metal surfaces from single-stranded DNA and 6-mercaptohexan-1-ol: influence of hybridization with the complementary DNA and influence of the metal substrate
Authors: Michałowska Aleksandra , Gajda Aleksandra , Kowalczyk Agata , Weyher Jan L. , Nowicka Anna M. , Kudelski Andrzej
Published: December 2022

Hybridization-induced rearrangement of alkanethiolate chain forming linking moiety of ssDNA and a blocking layer is significantly larger for systems formed on silver substrates than on previously used gold surfaces.
Rational drug design of CB2 receptor ligands: from 2012 to 2021
Authors: Wu Yan-ran , Tang Jia-qin , Zhang Wan-nian , Zhuang Chun-lin , Shi Ying
Published: December 2022

Cannabinoid receptors belong to the large family of G-protein-coupled receptors, which can be divided into two receptor types, cannabinoid receptor type-1 (CB1) and cannabinoid receptor type-2 (CB2).
Thermodynamics analysis and experiments on Ti-bearing blast furnace slag leaching enhanced by sulfuric acid roasting
Authors: Zhou Lvshan , Peng Tongjiang , Sun Hongjuan , Wang Sanyuan
Published: December 2022

The potential-pH diagrams of the main components of Ti-bearing blast furnace slag (air-cooled slag) at 298.15 K (25 °C) and an ion activity of 1.00 were drawn by thermodynamic calculation.
Nanomaterials for miRNA detection: the hybridization chain reaction strategy
Authors: Mohan Brij , Kumar Sandeep , Kumar Suresh , Modi Krunal , Tyagi Deependra , Papukashvili Dimitri , Rcheulishvili Nino , Pombeiro Armando J. L.
Published: December 2022

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) with nucleotides are a class of endogenous small RNAs and can play crucial functions in diagnosing diseases.
Membrane domain formation induced by binding/unbinding of curvature-inducing molecules on both membrane surfaces
Authors: Noguchi Hiroshi
Published: December 2022

The domain formation of square, stripe, spot, and kagome-lattice patterns, is studied in thermal equilibrium and nonequilibrium using meshless membrane simulations.
Interfacial engineering of metal–organic framework derived hierarchical CoP–Ni5P4 nanosheet arrays for overall water splitting
Authors: Jiang Jiahui , Xu Guancheng , Li Yang , Wang Can , Zhang Li
Published: December 2022

Interface engineering of a MOF derived hierarchical nanosheet CoP–Ni5P4 self-supporting electrode to enhance overall water splitting performance.
Bifunctional bio-photoelectrochemical cells: a “trading” platform for simultaneous production of electric power and hydrogen peroxide
Authors: Zhao Jianguo , Zhang He , Sun Xiaoxuan , Hao Shuai , Zhao Panpan , Zhu Xinyang , Dong Shaojun
Published: December 2022

A bifunctional bio-photoelectrochemical cell based on a biotic/abiotic hybrid strategy was fabricated as a “trading” platform for renewable energy conversion and H2O2 output under mild pH conditions.
From static to active photoluminescence tuning: functional spacer materials for plasmon–fluorophore interaction
Authors: Moradi Maryam , Jäger Michael , Newkome George R. , Schubert Ulrich S.
Published: December 2022

This review provides a detailed insight into the smart selection of spacer material and preparation technique in a plasmonic–fluorophore hybrid system to tailor the system for a desired application, mainly targeting active photoluminescence tuning.
2D spin glass MnIn2Se4: application of liquid-phase exfoliation to a layered structure with seven-atom-thick layers
Authors: Kumar Govind Sasi , Xin Yan , Raaj Vellore Winfred J. S. , Clark Judith K. , Shatruk Michael
Published: December 2022

Liquid-phase exfoliation of a layered-structure semiconductor, MnIn2Se4, followed by sequential centrifugation, affords nanosheets of variable thicknesses. Both the bulk material and nanosheets exhibit spin-glass behavior with spin freezing at ∼3 K.
Sensitization of bismuth tungstate with magnesium phthalocyanine for photoinduced charge redistribution and electron localization: CO2photoreduction from the vis to NIR region
Authors: Teh Yee Wen , Chong Wei-Kean , Er Chen-Chen , Kong Xin Ying , Ng Boon-Junn , Yong Siek-Ting , Chai Siang-Piao
Published: December 2022

MgPc photosensitizers facilitate electron excitation in the NIR region to further enhance the photocatalytic activity of Bi2WO6.
n-Type thermoelectric behavior in oxyethylene surfactant/carbon nanotubes
Authors: Hata Shinichi , Le Thu Thao Huynh , Ihara Hiroki , Du Yukou , Shiraishi Yukihide , Toshima Naoki
Published: December 2022

The semiconductor properties of a carbon nanotube film can be changed from p-type to n-type by molecular wrapping of oxyethylene surfactants.
Structured type III radio bursts observed in interplanetary space
Authors: Jebaraj I. C. , Magdalenic J. , Krasnoselskikh V. , Krupar V. , Poedts S.
Published: December 2022

Context. The last few decades have seen numerous studies dedicated to fine structures of type III radio bursts observed in the meter–decameter wavelengths. Most of the explanations of the structured radio emission involve the propagation of electron beams through the strongly inhomogeneous plasma in the low corona. To date, only a few type III bursts with fine structures, observed at hecto–kilometric wavelengths, have been reported.

Aims. We report here the existence of numerous structured type III radio bursts observed during the STEREO era by all three WAVES instruments on board STEREO A, B, and Wind. The aim of the study is to report and classify structured type III bursts, and to present the characteristics of their fine structures. The final goal is to try to understand the physical mechanism responsible for the generation of structured radio emission.

Methods. In this study we used data from all available spacecraft, specifically STEREO and Wind. We employed 1D density models to obtain the speed of the source of type III radio emission, the electron beam. We also performed a spectral analysis of the fine structures in order to compare their characteristics with the metric–decametric fine structures.

Results. The presented similarities of the type III fine structures in the metric to decametric and interplanetary wavelengths indicate that the physical processes responsible for the generation of structured type III radio bursts could be the same, at heights from the low corona to the interplanetary range. We show that the observed structuring and intermittent nature of the type III bursts can be explained by the variation in the level of density fluctuations, at different distances from the Sun.
Organic detection in the near-infrared spectral Phobos regolith laboratory analogue in preparation for the Martian Moon eXploration mission
Authors: Wargnier A. , Gautier T. , Poch O. , Beck P. , Quirico E. , Buch A. , Drant T. , Perrin Z. , Doressoundiram A.
Published: December 2022

Context.The Martian Moon eXploration mission (MMX) of the Japanese space agency (JAXA) is scheduled to take off in September 2024 to explore Phobos and Deimos – the two martian moons – by in situ observations, but also by a sampling and returning regolith samples to Earth. The origins of Phobos and Deimos are still unknown and their understanding is one of the main goals of the MMX mission. In one scenario, Phobos could be a captured asteroid, as the Phobos spectrum is similar to dark D-type asteroids.

Aims.For the present work, we considered the hypothesis of Phobos being a captured D-type asteroid, and we investigated the detectability of organics on Phobos using laboratory spectral analogues.

Methods.We synthesised a near-infrared spectral analogue of Phobos composed of olivine (77 vol.%, 50–125 µm), hyperfine anthracite (20 vol.%, <1 µm), and organic tholins (3 vol.%, ~400 nm) by measuring the reflectance spectrum from 0.4 to 4.75 µm with the SHADOWS spectrogonio-radiometre developped at IPAG. The best spectral match for a Phobos regolith analogue was chosen based on its reflectance level and spectral slope similarities to Phobos’ observed spectrum. Several samples were then prepared by adding a different volume content of organic matter (Titan tholins). We monitored the 3 µm band attributed toN-Hbands stretching modes absorption due to the amine function in the tholins, so as to assess the detectability of the NH-rich organics on Phobos.

Results.We have demonstrated that the organic compounds become detectable for more than 5 vol.% in the mixture. We further studied the observation geometry effects on the absorption band depth and found no significant effect except at large phase angles (>80º). These results will be useful to interpret the data of the MMX Infrared Spectrometer (MIRS) onboard the MMX spacecraft, which will measure the spectral reflectance of Phobos from 0.9 to 3.6 µm.
Effect of fiber volume fraction on tensile strength and fracture analysis of corn husk reinforced epoxy resin composite
Authors: Pramudia Mirza , Khoirul Umami Mahrus , Prihantoko Aji
Published: December 2022

This study aims to determine the effect of volume fraction of corn husk fiber as reinforcement in epoxy matrix composites on tensile strength and fracture analysis of specimens. This study used a variation of fiber volume fraction of 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% by using the Vacuum Assisted Resin Infusion (VARI) method. Tensile testing and analysis of fracture patterns were carried out to determine the mechanical properties of the material. The results showed that the addition of corn husk fiber volume fraction to the corn husk reinforced epoxy resin composite could increase the tensile strength value. Tensile strength values for fiber length of 165 mm with variations in fiber volume fraction 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% get the tensile stress values of 26.16 N/mm2, 27.09 N/mm2, 27.82 N/mm2, and 30.61 N/mm2. The mechanism of fiber pull out, debonding, and the rich matrix also occurs in the microstructure analysis of the tensile test fracture results.