bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pkhd1cyli/cyli mice have altered renal Pkhd1 mRNA processing and hormonally sensitive liver disease
Authors: Yang Chaozhe , Harafuji Naoe , Caldovic Ljubica , Yu Weiying , Boddu Ravindra , Bhattacharya Surajit , Barseghyan Hayk , Gordish-Dressman Heather , Foreman Oded , Bebok Zsuzsa , Eicher Eva M. , Guay-Woodford Lisa M.
Published: August 2023

Autosomal-recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD; MIM #263200) is a severe, hereditary, hepato-renal fibrocystic disorder that causes early childhood morbidity and mortality. Mutations in the polycystic kidney and hepatic disease 1 (PKHD1) gene, which encodes the protein fibrocystin/polyductin complex (FPC), cause all typical forms of ARPKD. Several mouse lines carrying diverse, genetically engineered disruptions in the orthologous Pkhd1 gene have been generated, but none expresses the classic ARPKD renal phenotype. In the current study, we characterized a spontaneous mouse Pkhd1 mutation that is transmitted as a recessive trait and causes cysticliver (cyli), similar to the hepato-biliary disease in ARPKD, but which is exacerbated by age, sex, and parity. We mapped the mutation to Chromosome 1 and determined that an insertion/deletion mutation causes a frameshift within Pkhd1 exon 48, which is predicted to result in a premature termination codon (UGA). Pkhd1cyli/cyli (cyli) mice exhibit a severe liver pathology but lack renal disease. Further analysis revealed that several alternatively spliced Pkhd1 mRNA, all containing exon 48, were expressed in cyli kidneys, but in lower abundance than in wild-type kidneys, suggesting that these transcripts escaped from nonsense-mediated decay (NMD). We identified an AAAAAT motif in exon 48 upstream of the cyli mutation which could enable ribosomal frameshifting, thus potentially allowing production of sufficient amounts of FPC for renoprotection. This mechanism, expressed in a species-specific fashion, may help explain the disparities in the renal phenotype observed between Pkhd1 mutant mice and patients with PKHD1-related disease.

Key messages

The Pkhd1cyli/cyli mouse expresses cystic liver disease, but no kidney phenotype.

Pkhd1 mRNA expression is decreased in cyli liver and kidneys compared to wild-type.

Ribosomal frameshifting may be responsible for Pkhd1 mRNA escape from NMD.

Pkhd1 mRNA escape from NMD could contribute to the absent kidney phenotype.
The ever wider clinical spectrum of RMND1-related disorders and limitedness of phenotype-based classifications
Authors: Rioux Alexis V. , Bergeron Nicolas AD. , Riopel Julie , Marcoux Nicolas , Thériault Catherine , Gould Peter V. , Garneau Alexandre P. , Isenring Paul
Published: August 2023

RMND1 has been identified as a mitochondriopathy-associated gene less than 12 years ago. The most common phenotype related to this gene is an early onset, severe form of encephalomyopathy that leads to death in a medium time of three years after birth. However, milder and later onset presentations have been reported in some individuals, including two in whom the mitochondriopathy was identified at ~ 40 years of age, and the early onset presentations have been the object of no reports in those who survived beyond age 10. It is thus unclear how lethal RMND1-related conditions really are. We herein describe the oldest case to have been identified hitherto with this condition, i.e., that of a white female who was 61 at the time of diagnosis but was still active in her everyday life. The gene defect identified was nonetheless associated with many manifestations including ovarian insufficiency and sensorineural hearing loss (two features of what is currently designated as Perrault syndrome) as well as chronic renal failure, asymptomatic myopathy, leukopenia, and a few others. In our opinion, this case is of great translational interest for at least three reasons. First, it hints towards the possibility of near-normal life expectancies in some if not many individuals with RMND1 insufficiency. Second, it underlines the wide clinical spectrum associated with this gene. Third, it brings us to question the use of eponyms and syndromic features to identify the true etiology of multisystemic phenotypes.

Key messages

RMND1-related conditions typically manifest at an early age with a progressive and lethal form of encephalomyopathy.

More benign presentations have been described with some being categorized as Perrault syndrome but none have been diagnosed after the age of 45.

The clinical spectrum and presenting age of RMND1-related mitochondriopathies are probably much more varied than implied in the current literature.

The case reported in this manuscript illustrates the limitedness of phenotype-based classifications of genetic disorders to identify the defect at cause.
Ultrahigh-field MRI: where it really makes a difference
Authors: Trattnig Siegfried , Hangel Gilbert , Robinson Simon D. , Juras Vladimir , Szomolanyi Pavol , Dal-Bianco Assunta
Published: August 2023

Background

Currently, two major magnetic resonance (MR) vendors provide commercial 7‑T scanners that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical application. There is growing interest in ultrahigh-field MRI because of the improved clinical results in terms of morphological detail, as well as functional and metabolic imaging capabilities.

Materials and methods

The 7‑T systems benefit from a higher signal-to-noise ratio, which scales supralinearly with field strength, a supralinear increase in the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) contrast for functional MRI and susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI), and the chemical shift increases linearly with field strength with consequently higher spectral resolution.

Results

In multiple sclerosis (MS), 7‑T imaging enables visualization of cortical lesions, the central vein sign, and paramagnetic rim lesions, which may be beneficial for the differential diagnosis between MS and other neuroinflammatory diseases in challenging and inconclusive clinical presentations and are seen as promising biomarkers for prognosis and treatment monitoring. The recent development of high-resolution proton MR spectroscopic imaging in clinically reasonable scan times has provided new insights into tumor metabolism and tumor grading as well as into early metabolic changes that may precede inflammatory processes in MS. This technique also improves the detection of epileptogenic foci in the brain. Multi-nuclear clinical applications, such as sodium imaging, have shown great potential for the evaluation of repair tissue quality after cartilage transplantation and in the monitoring of newly developed cartilage regenerative drugs for osteoarthritis.

Conclusion

For special clinical applications, such as SWI in MS, MR spectroscopic imaging in tumors, MS and epilepsy, and sodium imaging in cartilage repair, 7T may become a new standard.
Exploring implications of Trace (Inversion) formula and Artin algebras in extremal combinatorics
Authors: Pardo Luis M.
Published: August 2023

This note is just a modest contribution to prove several classical results in Combinatorics from notions of Duality in some Artinian K-algebras (mainly through the Trace Formula), where K is a perfect field of characteristics not equal to 2. We prove how several classic combinatorial results are particular instances of a Trace (Inversion) Formula in finite $$\mathbb {Q}$$
Q
-algebras. This is the case with the Exclusion-Inclusion Principle (in its general form, both with direct and reverse order associated to subsets inclusion). This approach also allows us to exhibit a basis of the space of null t-designs, which differs from the one described in Theorem 4 of Deza and Frankl (Combinatorica 2:341–345, 1982). Provoked by the elegant proof (which uses no induction) in Frankl and Pach (Eur J Comb 4:21–23, 1983) of the Sauer–Shelah–Perles Lemma, we produce a new one based only in duality in the $$\mathbb {Q}$$
Q
-algebra $$\mathbb {Q}[V_n]$$

Q
[

V
n

]

of polynomials functions defined on the zero-dimensional algebraic variety of subsets of the set $$[n]:=\{1,2,\ldots , n\}$$

[
n
]
:
=
{
1
,
2
,
…
,
n
}

. All results are equally true if we replace $$\mathbb {Q}[V_n]$$

Q
[

V
n

]

by $$K[V_n]$$

K
[

V
n

]

, where K is any perfect field of characteristics $$\not =2$$

≠
2

. The article connects results from two fields of mathematical knowledge that are not usually connected, at least not in this form. Thus, we decided to write the manuscript in a self-contained survey-like style, although it is not a survey paper at all. Readers familiar with Commutative Algebra probably know most of the proofs of the statements described in section 2. We decided to include these proofs for those potential readers not so familiar with this framework.
A randomized controlled study evaluating the head-lift exercise in head and neck cancer patients with radiation-induced dysphagia: effect on swallowing function and health-related quality of life over 12 months
Authors: Petersson Kerstin , Finizia Caterina , Pauli Nina , Dotevall Hans , Tuomi Lisa
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Dysphagia is common after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer (HNC) and can affect health-related quality of life (HRQL). This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effect of the head-lift exercise (HLE) over 12 months in HNC patients with radiation-induced dysphagia.

Methods

Sixty-one patients with dysphagia were randomized to intervention group (n = 30) and control group (n = 31) at 6–36 months after completion of radiotherapy for HNC. Dysphagia-specific HRQL was measured with the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI); general and HNC-specific HRQL was measured with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and QLQ-H&N35. Measurements were made at baseline, and at 8 weeks and 12 months after start of intervention.

Results

Adherence to the intervention was good throughout the year. When comparing change from baseline reports to each follow-up no statistically significant differences between the groups were found in any of the HRQL instruments. There were some statistically significant changes within groups compared to baseline. The intervention group improved self-rated swallowing function on the MDADI at 8 weeks (emotional domain, p = 0.03; functional domain, p = 0.007; total score, p = 0.01) and the control at twelve months (emotional domain, p = 0.03; functional domain, p = 0.02; physical domain, p = 0.004; total score, p = 0.002).

Conclusion

In this randomized control study, no effect was observed short term or at 12 months on HRQL after use of the HLE as rehabilitation for radiation-induced dysphagia.
Longterm course of neuropsychological symptoms and ME/CFS after SARS-CoV-2-infection: a prospective registry study
Authors: Reuken P. A. , Besteher B. , Finke K. , Fischer A. , Holl A. , Katzer K. , Lehmann-Pohl K. , Lemhöfer C. , Nowka M. , Puta C. , Walter M. , Weißenborn C. , Stallmach A.
Published: August 2023

A significant proportion of patients after SARS-CoV-2 infection suffer from long-lasting symptoms. Although many different symptoms are described, the majority of patients complains about neuropsychological symptoms. Additionally, a subgroup of patients fulfills diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS. We analyzed a registry of all patients presenting in the out-patients clinic at a German university center. For patients with more than one visit, changes in reported symptoms from first to second visit were analyzed. A total of 1022 patients were included in the study, 411 of them had more than one visit. 95.5% of the patients reported a polysymptomatic disease. At the first visit 31.3% of the patients fulfilled ME/CFS criteria after a median time of 255 days post infection and and at the second visit after a median of 402 days, 19.4% still suffered from ME/CFS. Self-reported fatigue (83.7–72.7%) and concentration impairment (66.2–57.9%) decreased from first to second visit contrasting non-significant changes in the structured screening. A significant proportion of SARS-CoV-2 survivors presenting with ongoing symptoms present with ME/CFS. Although the proportion of subjective reported symptoms and their severity reduce over time, a significant proportion of patients suffer from long-lasting symptoms necessitating new therapeutic concepts.
Oxide-silicate petrology and geochemistry of subducted hydrous ultramafic rocks beyond antigorite dehydration (Central Alps, Switzerland)
Authors: Vieira Duarte Joana Filipa , Pettke Thomas , Hermann Jörg , Piccoli Francesca
Published: August 2023

Oxide minerals contained in ultramafic rocks are useful tools to assess the redox conditions of the rock and fluids liberated upon progressive serpentinite dehydration during subduction, as these minerals contain a relevant redox-sensitive element, iron. Previous studies have revealed that magnetite predominates across the antigorite-out reaction. However, the fate of magnetite and other oxides at higher pressure and temperature conditions has remained underexplored. We present a comprehensive petrological and geochemical study of oxide-sulfide-silicate mineral assemblages in metaperidotites beyond antigorite- and chlorite-out reactions (T = 650–850 °C and P = 1–3 GPa). Several ultramafic lenses, covering different bulk rock compositions and extents of oxidation upon oceanic serpentinization, were investigated from the Central Alps, Switzerland. Results point to two endmember scenarios: (i) Most frequently, metaperidotites have olivine with a Mg# of 89–91 (defined as molar Mg/(Mg + Fetot) × 100) and contain low oxide modes (0.06–1.41 vol.%), hematite is absent, and redox conditions are weakly oxidized and buffered by orthopyroxene-olivine-magnetite. (ii) Rare occurrence, high olivine Mg# > 94.5 metaperidotites display coexisting hematite and magnetite, high oxide modes (up to 4 vol.%), and redox conditions are hematite-magnetite (HM) buffered (Δlog10fO2,QFM of + 3 to + 4). Spinel displays evolving compositions from magnetite over chromite to Al-Cr-spinel, roughly correlating with increasing temperature. Most of the samples buffered by the olivine-orthopyroxene-magnetite assemblage contain coexisting pentlandite ± pyrrhotite, thus identifying stable sulfides beyond antigorite dehydration for these weakly oxidized samples (Δlog10fO2,QFM < 2.5). No sulfides were recognized in the highly oxidized sample. The transition of magnetite to chromite at around 700 °C goes along with a shift in fO2 to lower values. At the prevailing oxygen fugacity in the weakly oxidized metaperidotites sulfur in a coexisting fluid is always present in its reduced form. However, oxidized sulfur can be stable in the dehydration fluids released from highly oxidized serpentinites.
The use of brain tissue mechanics for time since death estimations
Authors: Zwirner Johann , Devananthan Pavithran , Docherty Paul , Ondruschka Benjamin , Kabaliuk Natalia
Published: August 2023

Time since death estimation is a vital part of forensic pathology. Despite the known tissue degradation after death, the efficacy of using biomechanical tissue properties to estimate time since death remains unexplored. Here, eight brain tissue localizations were sampled from the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, anterior and posterior deep brain, superior colliculi, pons, medulla, and cerebellum of 30 sheep; were then stored at 20 °C; and subsequently subjected to rheometry tests on days zero to four after death. Overall, the measured tissue storage modulus, loss modulus, and complex shear modulus decreased after death for all of the tested regions in a site-specific manner. Day zero to day one changes were the only 24-h interval, for which statistically significant differences in tissue mechanical moduli were observed for some of the tested brain regions. Based on receiver operator characteristic analyses between day zero and the pooled data of days one to four, a post mortem interval of at least 1 day can be determined with a sensitivity of 90%, a specificity of 92%, and a positive likelihood ratio of 10.8 using a complex shear modulus cut-off value of 1461 Pa for cerebellar samples. In summary, biomechanical properties of brain tissue can discriminate between fresh and at least 1-day-old samples stored at 20 °C with high diagnostic accuracy. This supports the possible value of biomechanical analyses for forensic time since death estimations. A striking advantage over established methods to estimate the time since death is its usability in cases of disintegrated bodies, e.g. when just the head is found.
Exercise and fatigue: integrating the role of K+, Na+ and Cl− in the regulation of sarcolemmal excitability of skeletal muscle
Authors: Renaud Jean-Marc , Ørtenblad Niels , McKenna Michael J. , Overgaard Kristian
Published: August 2023

Perturbations in K+have long been considered a key factor in skeletal muscle fatigue. However, the exercise-induced changes in K+intra-to-extracellular gradient is by itself insufficiently large to be a major cause for the force decrease during fatigue unless combined to other ion gradient changes such as for Na+. Whilst several studies described K+-induced force depression at high extracellular [K+] ([K+]e), others reported that small increases in [K+]einduced potentiation during submaximal activation frequencies, a finding that has mostly been ignored. There is evidence for decreased Cl−ClC-1 channel activity at muscle activity onset, which may limit K+-induced force depression, and large increases in ClC-1 channel activity during metabolic stress that may enhance K+induced force depression. The ATP-sensitive K+channel (KATPchannel) is also activated during metabolic stress to lower sarcolemmal excitability. Taking into account all these findings, we propose a revised concept in which K+has two physiological roles: (1) K+-induced potentiation and (2) K+-induced force depression. During low-moderate intensity muscle contractions, the K+-induced force depression associated with increased [K+]eis prevented by concomitant decreased ClC-1 channel activity, allowing K+-induced potentiation of sub-maximal tetanic contractions to dominate, thereby optimizing muscle performance. When ATP demand exceeds supply, creating metabolic stress, both KATPand ClC-1 channels are activated. KATPchannels contribute to force reductions by lowering sarcolemmal generation of action potentials, whilst ClC-1 channel enhances the force-depressing effects of K+, thereby triggering fatigue. The ultimate function of these changes is to preserve the remaining ATP to prevent damaging ATP depletion.
Advance Care Planning (ACP) als Element eines klinisch-ethischen Unterstützungsangebotes – Darstellung und Evaluation
Authors: Nowak Andre , Linoh Kim Philip , Flöther Lilit , Schildmann Jan , Nadolny Stephan
Published: August 2023

Hintergrund

Advance Care Planning (ACP) wird auch in Deutschland zunehmend praktiziert. Aus klinisch-ethischer Perspektive bietet ACP eine Möglichkeit, Vorausverfügungen zu konkretisieren und auf diese Weise die Entscheidungsfindung bei fehlender Selbstbestimmungsfähigkeit von Patient:innen zu unterstützen. Während es für Gesprächsangebote im Sinne des ACP in Pflegeeinrichtungen und Einrichtungen der Eingliederungshilfe seit 2015 Finanzierungsmöglichkeiten gibt und erste Studien zu Angeboten veröffentlich wurden, fehlt es in Deutschland bisher an publizierten Evaluationsstudien zu ACP-Angeboten im Krankenhaus.

Intervention und Methoden

Im vorliegenden Beitrag erfolgt die strukturierte Darstellung von ACP als ein Element des klinisch-ethischen Unterstützungsangebotes am Universitätsklinikum Halle (Saale) (UKH). Es erfolgte eine quantitative Inhaltsanalyse der schriftlichen Dokumentation von durchgeführten ACP-Gesprächsprozessen für den Zeitraum der Pilotphase von 01/2020 bis 08/2021 (20 Monate).

Ergebnisse

Im Zeitraum wurden 93 ACP-Gespräche angefragt. Mit 79 Patient:innen konnten 110 Gespräche geführt werden. 46 % der Anfragen kamen von Palliative Care betreuten Patient:innen. Im Durchschnitt dauerten die Beratungen 45 min. Der Gesprächsprozess zur Erstellung einer Patientenverfügung benötigte durchschnittlich 122 min und 2,5 Gespräche. Bei 23 % der Patient:innen endete der ACP-Prozess nach dem Erstgespräch. Die Inhalte der ACP-Prozesse tangierten verschiedene Bereiche anderer Professionen im Krankenhaus, insbesondere die Entscheidungsfindung über aktuelle Diagnostik und Therapie zwischen Ärzt:innen und Patient:innen.

Diskussion

Die Einführung eines ACP-Angebotes im Krankenhaus zeigt neben einer Vielzahl an Chancen auch Herausforderungen auf, welche es im gemeinsamen Diskurs zu bewältigen gilt. Bei der Einbettung eines ACP-Angebots im Krankenhaus müssen die Besonderheiten der Klinik und insbesondere die Abgrenzung von ACP zu anderen Arbeitsfeldern der Ethikberatung, wie beispielsweise die Ethikfallberatung, bedacht werden.
Severity of spinal degeneration does not affect the pain reduction under continuous epidural analgesia
Authors: Heck Vincent J. , Himpe Bastian , Vinas-Rios Juan M. , Prasse Tobias , Pflüger Michael J. , Lenz Maximilian , Schmidt Sven , Kessler Paul , Rauschmann Michael
Published: August 2023

Purpose

To outline clinical effectiveness of continuous epidural analgesia (CEA) in patients with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) or lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) depending on severity of spinal degeneration.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, all patients with FBSS or LSS who underwent CEA within an inpatient rehabilitation program were evaluated. The pain reduction was measured by VAS on an hourly basis. Substantial pain reduction was defined as a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) > 50%. Severity of spinal degeneration, side effects and patient-specific characteristics were documented.

Result

We included a total of 148 patients with 105 patients suffering from FBSS and 48 with LSS. The average pain reduction was − 37.6 ± 19.2 in FBSS and − 38.1 ± 17.8 in LSS group (p < .001 and p < .001, respectively). In the FBSS group, sensory deficits (p = .047) and numbness (p = .002), and in the LSS group, a severe disability measured by ODI (38.2 ± 15.4 vs. 57.3 ± 11.3, p < .001) significantly contributed to a worse outcome. The severity of the spinal degeneration and psychological disorders did not affect the pain reduction in terms of MCID.

Conclusions

This study provides new evidence about CEA in the treatment of FBSS and LSS. CEA provides a significant pain reduction even under intensified physiotherapeutic exercising in patients with severe spinal degeneration and a broad variety of secondary diagnoses. Neurologic deficits in case of FBSS and severe disability in case of LSS may be risk factors for less favorable outcome.
Long-term results of arthroscopic repair of type II SLAP lesions in sports: assessment of return to pre-injury playing level and critical risk factors for complication
Authors: Della Rotonda G. , Guastafierro A. , Viglione S. , Cozzolino A. , Russo F. , Polito R. , Daniele A. , Nigro E. , Ciccarelli M. , Russo R.
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The management of isolated SLAP lesions is still debated especially in athletes. Aims of the study were: 1. to analyse our algorithm to treat SLAP lesions starting from the selection of patients for surgery and 2. to correlate the familiarity for diabetes and hypothyroid disorders with post-operative results.

Methods

Seventy-eight patients with isolated SLAP lesion were arthroscopically treated using knotless anchors and microfractures. All patients had a pre-operative and post-operative clinical examination according to Walch–Duplay, Constant, Rowe and Dash scores and interviewed for familiarity to diabetes and hypothyroid disorders.

Results

About 68.8% of patients solved pain with rehabilitation. About 29% of patients returned to the sports activities. About 32% of patients were no responder to physiotherapy and were arthroscopically treated. About 53.9% of patients responded excellent, 34.7% good, 3.8% medium and 7.6% poor results according to Walch–Duplay score. The Constant score increased from 64 to 95, the Rowe score from 48 to 96. The outcomes were significantly worse in patients with familiarity for diabetes.

Conclusions

Microfractures and knotless anchor give long-term good results for the treatment of SLAP lesions in athletes. The familiarity for diabetes is an important risk factor that can lead to decreased outcomes.
Offering Method and Pricing of IPOs: An Analysis of Stock IPOs in the Netherlands, 1918–1939
Authors: Legierse Wilco
Published: August 2023

Research into the benefits of underwritten issues has been conducted primarily in settings that exhibit information asymmetries between issuing firms, financial intermediaries, and investors. This paper examines, during the interwar period, an era characterized by longstanding relationships between issuers, banks, and investors, the pricing and choice of method for offering shares of Dutch IPOs. Offering method in this setting is related mainly to the volume of the issue open for subscription prior to listing. The larger the volume, the more firms tended towards an underwritten offering. The pricing is found to be unrelated to offering method as well as to variables that theoretically proxy information asymmetries. The relatively low level of underpricing largely fluctuates with past investor sentiment.
Plant and soil N of different winter cover crops as green manure for subsequent organic white cabbage
Authors: Stein Sophie , Hartung Jens , Perkons Ute , Möller Kurt , Zikeli Sabine
Published: August 2023

Leguminous cover crops used as green manures can reduce fertilizer inputs by supplying nitrogen (N) via mineralization of incorporated N-rich biomass derived from biological N2 fixation. In a multi-year trial at three locations in Germany, the effects of leguminous, non-leguminous and mixed green manure crops on the yield of the subsequent cash crop white cabbage (Brassica oleracea convar. capitata var. alba) were investigated. The winter cover crop treatments were forage rye (Secale cereale L.), a mixture of forage rye with winter Hungarian vetch (Vicia pannonica Crantz), sole-cropped winter Hungarian vetch, winter pea (Pisum sativum L.), and winter faba bean (Vicia faba L.) with bare soil as a control. Sole-cropped legumes showed higher marketable cabbage head yields (head weight > 1.0 kg) compared to the other cover crop treatments, with 25.5, 25.9 and 28.1 Mg ha− 1 for vetch, pea and faba bean, respectively. The aboveground biomass of the legume winter cover crop treatments had higher N offtakes with 185, 177 and 159 kg N ha− 1 for vetch, pea and faba bean, respectively, with significantly lower carbon (C)/N ratios compared to rye and rye with vetch. The constant C/N ratio of the aboveground biomass of leguminous cover crops throughout the growing period indicates that the optimum incorporation date to achieve high N mineralization rates is less time dependent in leguminous compared to non-leguminous cover crops. The results of the present study show that leguminous winter cover crops do not reduce the soil N availability for a succeeding high N demanding cabbage crop resulting in yields comparable to agricultural practice without winter cover crops.
The Spiritual Aspect of Pain: An Integrative Review
Authors: De-Diego-Cordero Rocío , Velasco-Domínguez Cristina , Aranda-Jerez Alicia , Vega-Escaño Juan
Published: August 2023

Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience that affects individuals in various ways involving biological, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects. There is currently no comprehensive treatment that effectively addresses all aspects of pain. This integrative review aimed to analyze the spiritual aspect of pain relief. Following the specified methodological criteria, a total of 20 articles were selected. There evidenced a lack of spiritual care provided by healthcare professionals, even though its correlation with pain and its potential benefits have been widely demonstrated in the literature. Fortunately, some patients put into practice existential and religious tools to self-control and cope with their pain, although not always with a successful response.
Religious reforms and large-scale rebellions (via the case of the Honganji sect of the True Pure Land Buddhism)
Authors: Maltsev Vladimir
Published: August 2023

The paper explores the economics behind two large-scale rebellions in Japan throughout 1532–1536 and 1570–1580, launched by a religious organization called Honganji. The paper argues that Honganji’s large-scale rebellions took off primarily due to religious reforms, particularly, the creation of an after-life pardon doctrine, which enabled the functioning of more potent incentives that fostered participation. First, the doctrine raised the costs of not joining a rebellion by excluding the non-participants and consigning them to hell. This resulted in immediate spiritual, social and economic penalties, as condemned individuals were considered religiously corrupt and were expelled from the sect’s temple towns and sect-dominated village communities. Second, the after-life pardon doctrine reduced the costs of rebellious participation by guaranteeing an instant rebirth in paradise after dying for the sect’s cause. As many individuals at the time saw the world through the lens of religion and spirituality, the guarantee of paradise was an especially potent incentive to join a rebellion.
Toxic effects of AB-CHMINACA on liver and kidney and detection of its blood level in adult male mice
Authors: Mohammad Soheir Ali , Mousa Rasha Elhaddad Ali , Gebril Sahar Mohamed , Masoud Khaled Masoud Mohamed , Radwan Rania Ahmad
Published: August 2023

Background

AB-CHMINACA is a cannabimimetic indazole derivative. In 2013, it was reported in different countries as a substance of abuse.

Purpose

This study evaluated the subacute toxic effects of AB-CHMINACA on the liver and kidneys and measured its blood level in adult male mice.

Methods

The histological and biochemical subacute toxic effects on the liver and kidneys were assessed after four weeks of daily intraperitoneal injections of one of the following doses: 0.3 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg, or 10 mg/kg as the highest dose in adult male albino mice. In addition, the blood concentration level of AB-CHMINACA was determined by GC–MS-MS.

Results

The histological effects showed congestion, hemorrhage, degeneration, and cellular infiltration of the liver and kidney tissues. Considering the control groups as a reference, biochemical results indicated a significant increase in the serum AST only in the highest dose group, while the ALT and creatinine levels did not significantly change. The mean values of AB-CHMINACA blood levels were 3.05 ± 1.16, 15.08 ± 4.30, and 54.43 ± 8.70 ng/mL for the three treated groups, respectively, one hour after the last dose of intraperitoneal injection. The calibration curves were linear in the 2.5–500 ng/mL concentration range. The intra-assay precision and accuracy of the method were less than 7.0% (RSD) and ± 9.2% (Bias).

Conclusion

This research supports the available case reports on AB-CHMINACA toxicity that it has low lethality; still, the chronic administration causes evident liver and kidney histotoxic effects even at low doses with unnoticeable clinical effects in mice.
Distributions of Visual Receptive Fields from Retinotopic to Craniotopic Coordinates in the Lateral Intraparietal Area and Frontal Eye Fields of the Macaque
Authors: Yang Lin , Jin Min , Zhang Cong , Qian Ning , Zhang Mingsha
Published: August 2023

Even though retinal images of objects change their locations following each eye movement, we perceive a stable and continuous world. One possible mechanism by which the brain achieves such visual stability is to construct a craniotopic coordinate by integrating retinal and extraretinal information. There have been several proposals on how this may be done, including eye-position modulation (gain fields) of retinotopic receptive fields (RFs) and craniotopic RFs. In the present study, we investigated coordinate systems used by RFs in the lateral intraparietal (LIP) cortex and frontal eye fields (FEF) and compared the two areas. We mapped the two-dimensional RFs of neurons in detail under two eye fixations and analyzed how the RF of a given neuron changes with eye position to determine its coordinate representation. The same recording and analysis procedures were applied to the two brain areas. We found that, in both areas, RFs were distributed from retinotopic to craniotopic representations. There was no significant difference between the distributions in the LIP and FEF. Only a small fraction of neurons was fully craniotopic, whereas most neurons were between the retinotopic and craniotopic representations. The distributions were strongly biased toward the retinotopic side but with significant craniotopic shifts. These results suggest that there is only weak evidence for craniotopic RFs in the LIP and FEF, and that transformation from retinotopic to craniotopic coordinates in these areas must rely on other factors such as gain fields.
Be a Mom Coping with Depression: a Feasibility Study of a Blended Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention for Postpartum Depression
Authors: Branquinho Mariana , Canavarro Maria Cristina , Fonseca Ana
Published: August 2023

A blended cognitive-behavioral intervention for postpartum depression (Be a Mom Coping with Depression) was developed, consisting of the combination of seven face-to-face sessions (delivered through videocall) with six online sessions in a web-based program. This study aimed to assess the intervention’s feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects on depressive symptoms. A single-arm pre- and post-test study was conducted, and adult Portuguese women in the postpartum period (up to 12 months) with a clinical diagnosis of a major depressive episode were eligible to participate (n = 9). Participants completed self-report measures and were interviewed after completing the intervention. Eight participants completed the blended intervention. The recruitment rate was low, but the adherence to treatment was high. Participants reported several advantages of this intervention and high levels of satisfaction. The blended intervention was found to be feasible and acceptable, and a reduction on depressive symptoms was observed in our sample. These results support the conduction of a randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy of this blended intervention and provided important information to proceed with the necessary modifications.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Network Attribute Analysis and Competitiveness Evaluation of Auto Parts Industry Cluster for e-Commerce Platform
Authors: Meng Xiangling
Published: August 2023

The automotive parts industry cluster is a complex operating system, and it is no longer possible to use a simple theory to make a scientific and reasonable explanation for the parts industry cluster. In view of this, the study takes the automotive parts industry cluster as the research object, innovatively invokes the theory of organizational ecology and constructs a competitiveness analysis mechanism based on population co-evolution. The study conducts performance analysis and simulation tests on the constructed model, integrating the CS–AHP evaluation method to evaluate the competitiveness of the parts industry cluster. The performance comparison results show that the research method has a minimum training error of 0.0108, when the number of iterations of the system is 69th. This method has a stable loss function value at the fifth iteration, which is a stable convergence state earlier than the GA algorithm, differential evolution and distribution estimation algorithm. The A-level index score of the off-line platform auto parts industry cluster is 0.5174, which is significantly greater than 0.5. The competitive cooperation effect, technological innovation effect and cluster culture scores of the e-commerce platform are 0.5885, 0.6899 and 0.5329, respectively, which are significantly higher than those of the off-line. The above results show that the accuracy of the research algorithm is higher than that of the off-line industry. The above results show that the accuracy of the research algorithm is better, which can make a reasonable scientific basis for the auto parts industry and carry out competitiveness evaluation. To a certain extent, it can provide technical reference for the future development of the auto field industry.
Pore‐Scale Modeling of PFAS Transport in Water‐Unsaturated Porous Media: Air–Water Interfacial Adsorption and Mass‐Transfer Processes in Thin Water Films
Authors: Chen Sidian , Guo Bo
Published: August 2023

Air–water interfacial adsorption complicates per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) transport in vadose zones. Air–water interfaces can arise from pendular rings between soil grains and thin water films on grain surfaces, the latter of which account for over 90% of the total air–water interfaces for most field‐relevant conditions. However, whether all thin‐water‐film air–water interfaces are accessible by PFAS and how mass‐transfer limitations in thin water films control PFAS transport in soils remain unknown. We develop a pore‐scale model that represents both PFAS adsorption at bulk capillary and thin‐water‐film air–water interfaces and the mass‐transfer processes between bulk capillary water and thin water films (including advection, aqueous diffusion, and surface diffusion along air–water interfaces). We apply the pore‐scale model to a series of numerical experiments—constrained by experimentally determined hydraulic parameters and air–water interfacial area data sets—to examine the impact of thin‐water‐film mass‐transfer limitations in a sand medium. Our analyses suggest: (a) The mass‐transfer limitations between bulk capillary water and thin water films inside a pore are negligible due to surface diffusion. (b) However, strong mass‐transfer limitations arise in thin water films of pore clusters where pendular rings disconnect. The mass‐transfer limitations lead to early arrival and long tailing behaviors even if surface diffusion is present. (c) Despite the mass‐transfer limitations, all air–water interfaces in the thin water films were accessed by PFAS under the simulated conditions. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating the thin‐water‐film mass‐transfer limitations and surface diffusion for modeling PFAS transport in vadose zones.
Similarities and differences in the functional architecture of mother- infant communication in rhesus macaque and British mother-infant dyads
Authors: Sclafani V. , De Pascalis L. , Bozicevic L. , Sepe A. , Ferrari P. F. , Murray L.
Published: August 2023

Similarly to humans, rhesus macaques engage in mother-infant face-to-face interactions. However, no previous studies have described the naturally occurring structure and development of mother-infant interactions in this population and used a comparative-developmental perspective to directly compare them to the ones reported in humans. Here, we investigate the development of infant communication, and maternal responsiveness in the two groups. We video-recorded mother-infant interactions in both groups in naturalistic settings and analysed them with the same micro-analytic coding scheme. Results show that infant social expressiveness and maternal responsiveness are similarly structured in humans and macaques. Both human and macaque mothers use specific mirroring responses to specific infant social behaviours (modified mirroring to communicative signals, enriched mirroring to affiliative gestures). However, important differences were identified in the development of infant social expressiveness, and in forms of maternal responsiveness, with vocal responses and marking behaviours being predominantly human. Results indicate a commonfunctional architectureof mother-infant communication in humans and monkeys, and contribute to theories concerning the evolution of specific traits of human behaviour.
Class switch towards spike protein-specific IgG4 antibodies after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination depends on prior infection history
Authors: Kiszel Petra , Sík Pál , Miklós János , Kajdácsi Erika , Sinkovits György , Cervenak László , Prohászka Zoltán
Published: August 2023

Vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2 reduce the risk of developing serious COVID-19 disease. Monitoring spike-specific IgG subclass levels after vaccinations may provide additional information on SARS-CoV-2 specific humoral immune response. Here, we examined the presence and levels of spike-specific IgG antibody subclasses in health-care coworkers vaccinated with vector- (Sputnik, AstraZeneca) or mRNA-based (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna) vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and in unvaccinated COVID-19 patients. We found that vector-based vaccines elicited lower total spike-specific IgG levels than mRNA vaccines. The pattern of spike-specific IgG subclasses in individuals infected before mRNA vaccinations resembled that of vector-vaccinated subjects or unvaccinated COVID-19 patients. However, the pattern of mRNA-vaccinated individuals without SARS-CoV-2 preinfection showed a markedly different pattern. In addition to IgG1 and IgG3 subclasses presented in all groups, a switch towards distal IgG subclasses (spike-specific IgG4 and IgG2) appeared almost exclusively in individuals who received only mRNA vaccines or were infected after mRNA vaccinations. In these subjects, the magnitude of the spike-specific IgG4 response was comparable to that of the spike-specific IgG1 response. These data suggest that the priming of the immune system either by natural SARS-CoV-2 infection or by vector- or mRNA-based vaccinations has an important impact on the characteristics of the developed specific humoral immunity.
Biodistribution and racemization of gut-absorbed l/d-alanine in germ-free mice
Authors: Qiu Tian , Lee Cindy J. , Huang Chen , Lee Dong-Kyu , Rubakhin Stanislav S. , Romanova Elena V. , Sweedler Jonathan V.
Published: August 2023

Microbiome-derived metabolites are important for the microbiome-gut-brain axis and the discovery of new disease treatments. d-Alanine (d-Ala) is found in many animals as a potential co-agonist of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDAR), receptors widely used in the nervous and endocrine systems. The gut microbiome, diet and putative endogenous synthesis are the potential sources of d-Ala in animals, although there is no direct evidence to show the distribution and racemization of gut-absorbed l-/d-Ala with regards to host-microbe interactions in mammals. In this work, we utilized germ-free mice to control the interference from microbiota and isotopically labeled l-/d-Ala to track their biodistribution and racemization in vivo. Results showed time-dependent biodistribution of gut-absorbed d-Ala, particularly accumulation of gut-absorbed d-Ala in pancreatic tissues, brain, and pituitary. No endogenous synthesis of d-Ala via racemization was observed in germ-free mice. The sources of d-Ala in mice were revealed as microbiota and diet, but not endogenous racemization. This work indicates the importance of further investigating the in vivo biological functions of gut-microbiome derived d-Ala, particularly on NMDAR-related activities, for d-Ala as a potential signaling molecules in the microbiome-gut-brain axis.
Accumulation of rare earth elements in common vine leaves is achieved through extraction from soil and transport in the xylem sap
Authors: Barbera Marcella , Zuddas Pierpaolo , Piazzese Daniela , Oddo Elisabetta , Lopes Fernando , Censi Paolo , Saiano Filippo
Published: August 2023

Rare Earth Elements play a critical role in current clean technologies but face scarcity and environmental challenges in their extraction. Using semi-natural controlled experiments, we tested the ability of V. vinifera L. to accumulate Rare Earth Elements naturally present in the soil. We demonstrate that V. vinifera L. passively transports all Rare Earth Elements from soil to leaves via Xylem-sap mirroring soil conditions. Since this process starts from the fifth month of V. vinifera L. growth without damaging the crops, we. estimate that it is possible to recover 900 milligrams of Rare Earth Elements per hectares from vineyard without harvesting the whole plant. We propose the direct extraction of Rare Earth Elements from leaves overcoming unstainable biomass burning yielding environmental and economic benefits.
Comparison of click-capable oxaliplatin and cisplatin derivatives to better understand Pt(ii)-induced nucleolar stress
Authors: Guerrero Andres S. , O’Dowd Paul D. , Pigg Hannah C. , Alley Katelyn R. , Griffith Darren M. , DeRose Victoria J.
Published: August 2023

A novel click-capable oxaliplatin mimic as a tool to study Pt(ii)-induced nucleolar stress.
Deep representation learning determines drug mechanism of action from cell painting images
Authors: Wong Daniel R. , Logan David J. , Hariharan Santosh , Stanton Robert , Clevert Djork-Arné , Kiruluta Andrew
Published: August 2023

Fluorescent-based microscopy screens carry a broad range of phenotypic information about how compounds affect cellular biology.
Outdoor radon-222 in Arctic Finland
Authors: Paatero Jussi , Hatakka Juha , Virtanen Timo H.
Published: August 2023

The radon-222 content of the ground-level air depends on the source areas of air masses and local meteorological conditions.
Palladium-catalyzed carbonylation of activated alkyl halides via radical intermediates
Authors: Bao Zhi-Peng , Wu Xiao-Feng
Published: August 2023

In this review, we summarize and discuss recent achievements in palladium-catalyzed carbonylative reactions of activated alkyl halides. Aliphatic carboxylic acid derivates were prepared effectively with various nucleophiles.
Solution-based in situ deposition of Sb2S3 from a single source precursor for resistive random-access memory devices
Authors: Harke Sayali Shrishail , Zhang Tongjun , Huang Ruomeng , Gurnani Chitra
Published: August 2023

A one-step, scalable, reproducible, low-temperature, and in situ solvothermal deposition method has been established for the growth of Sb2S3 on FTO using [Sb{S2P{O(Pr)2}3] precursor. The Ag/Sb2S3/FTO device demonstrated low operating voltage and excellent resistive switching characteristics.
Residual Blood in Neonatal Oxygenators After Drainage
Authors: Henrick Basil , Keartland Paul , McCarthy Annette , Daly Liam , Wood A. E.
Published: August 2023

The objective of this investigation was to measure the quantity of residual blood remaining in neonatal cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuits after they had been drained and to assess the overall significance with regards to total patient blood volume.

The residual blood volume left in three infant/neonatal CPB circuits-Medtronic Minimax 3381 (Group MM; n=5), Polystan Safe Micro (Group SM; n=6), and Terumo Capiox 308 (Group CX; n=3)-after they had been drained was determined. This was done by using an electronic scale to weigh the circuit before setup and after CPB when all possible blood was recovered from it. Total priming volume, estimated patient blood volume, residual blood volume, surgical blood loss in theater, and autogeneic blood usage were recorded in each case.

Mean residual blood volumes measured were MM=161ml (SD 27ml), SM=103ml (SD 19ml), and CX=133ml (SD 15ml). These volumes were significant, because calculations show that the volume of red cells lost in the circuit is equivalent to fourteen percent of the total patient blood volume.

In view of this, neonatal oxygenator design should be minimized to reduce the priming volume and more consideration should be given to ease of residual blood recovery.