bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Population genetic structure and evolutionary history of Psammochloa villosa (Trin.) Bor (Poaceae) revealed by AFLP marker
Authors: Lv Ting , Harris AJ , Liu Yuping , Liu Tao , Liang Ruifang , Ma Zilan , Su Xu
Published: July 2021

Psammochloa villosa is an ecologically important desert grass that occurs in the Inner Mongolian Plateau where it is frequently the dominant species and is involved in sand stabilization and wind breaking. We sought to generate a preliminary demographic framework for P. villosa to support the future studies of this species, its conservation, and sustainable utilization. To accomplish this, we characterized the genetic diversity and structure of 210 individuals from 43 natural populations of P. villosa using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. We obtained 1,728 well‐defined amplified bands from eight pairs of primers, of which 1,654 bands (95.7%) were polymorphic. Results obtained from the AFLPs suggested effective alleles among populations of 1.32, a Nei's standard genetic distance value of 0.206, a Shannon index of 0.332, a coefficient of gene differentiation (GST) of 0.469, and a gene flow parameter (Nm) of 0.576. All these values indicate that there is abundant genetic diversity in P. villosa, but limited gene flow. An analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that genetic variation mainly exists within populations (64.2%), and we found that the most genetically similar populations were often not geographically adjacent. Thus, this suggests that the mechanisms of gene flow are surprisingly complex in this species and may occur over long distances. In addition, we predicted the distribution dynamics of P. villosa based on the spatial distribution modeling and found that its range has contracted continuously since the last interglacial period. We speculate that dry, cold climates have been critical in determining the geographic distribution of P. villosa during the Quaternary period. Our study provides new insights into the population genetics and evolutionary history of P. villosa in the Inner Mongolian Plateau and provides a resource that can be used to design in situ conservation actions and prioritize sustainable utilization.
Observing electrochemistry on single plasmonic nanoparticles
Authors: Jing Chao , Long Yi‐Tao
Published: July 2021

Noble metal nanoparticles with plasmon resonance features have been widely applied in electrocatalysis and photo‐electrochemistry owing to their unique physical, optical, and catalytic properties. As heterogeneity of nanostructures has considerable influence on their catalytic activities, investigation of electrochemical process on a single nano‐catalyst is necessary to eliminate bulk effect and averaged results. Dark‐field microscopy (DFM) enables the measurements of plasmon resonance scattering spectroscopy of a single nanoparticle. Integrating with electrochemistry, DFM provides a powerful tool to real‐time monitor electrochemical reactions at the nanoscale surface to get new insight into the reaction mechanism. Herein, this mini‐review presented impressive applications of DFM in single‐nanoparticle electrochemistry and discussed recent progress on its performance with enhanced sensitivity and resolution.
Removing Disturbing Matrix Constituents from Biota Extracts from Total Extraction and Silicone-Based Passive Sampling
Authors: Muz Melis , Rojo-Nieto Elisa , Jahnke Annika
Published: July 2021

Contaminant analysis in biota extracts can be hampered by matrix interferences caused by, for example, co-extracted lipids that compromise the quality of the analytical data and require frequent maintenance of the analytical instruments. In the present study, using gas chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS), we aimed to develop and validate a straightforward, robust, and reproducible cleanup method with acceptable recoveries for diverse compound classes with a wide range of physicochemical properties representative of pollutant screening in biota extracts. We compared Oasis PRiME HLB cartridges, Agilent Captiva EMR-Lipid cartridges, and “Freeze-Out” with salmon lipids spiked with 113 target chemicals. The EMR-Lipid cartridges provided extracts with low matrix effects at reproducible recoveries of the multi-class target analytes (93 ± 9% and 95 ± 7% for low and high lipid amounts, respectively). The EMR-Lipid cartridges were further tested with spiked pork lipids submitted to total extraction or silicone-based passive sampling. Reproducible recoveries were achieved and matrix residuals were largely removed as demonstrated gravimetrically for both types of extracts. Ion suppression of halogenated compounds was not as efficiently removed by the cleanup of total and silicone-based extracts of pork lipids as for the salmon lipids. However, the samples with clean up provided better instrument robustness than those without cleanup. Hence, EMR-Lipid cartridges were shown to be efficient as a cleanup method in multi-class monitoring of biota samples and open up new possibilities as a suitable cleanup method for silicone extracts in biota passive sampling studies using GC-HRMS analysis. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:2693–2704. © 2021 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
Cardiac Toxicity of Cadmium Involves Complex Interactions Among Multiple Ion Currents in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Ventricular Myocytes
Authors: Haverinen Jaakko , Badr Ahmed , Vornanen Matti
Published: July 2021

Cadmium (Cd2+) is cardiotoxic to fish, but its effect on the electrical excitability of cardiac myocytes is largely unknown. To this end, we used the whole-cell patch-clamp method to investigate the effects of Cd2+ on ventricular action potentials (APs) and major ion currents in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) ventricular myocytes. Trout were acclimated to +4 °C, and APs were measured at the acclimated temperature and elevated temperature (+18 °C). Cd2+ (10, 20, and 100 µM) altered the shape of the ventricular AP in a complex manner. The early plateau fell to less positive membrane voltages, and the total duration of AP prolonged. These effects were obvious at both +4 °C and +18 °C. The depression of the early plateau is due to the strong Cd2+-induced inhibition of the L-type calcium (Ca2+) current (ICaL), whereas the prolongation of the AP is an indirect consequence of the ICaL inhibition: at low voltages of the early plateau, the delayed rectifier potassium (K+) current (IKr) remains small, delaying repolarization of AP. Cd2+ reduced the density and slowed the kinetics of the Na+ current (INa) but left the inward rectifier K+ current (IK1) intact. These altered cellular and molecular functions can explain several Cd2+-induced changes in impulse conduction of the fish heart, for example, slowed propagation of the AP in atrial and ventricular myocardia (inhibition of INa), delayed relaxation of the ventricle (prolongation of ventricular AP duration), bradycardia, and atrioventricular block (inhibition of ICaL). These findings indicate that the cardiotoxicity of Cd2+ in fish involves multiple ion currents that are directly and indirectly altered by Cd2+. Through these mechanisms, Cd2+ may trigger cardiac arrhythmias and impair myocardial contraction. Elevated temperature (+18 °C) slightly increases Cd2+ toxicity in trout ventricular myocytes. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:2874–2885. © 2021 SETAC

Abstract

Micromolar concentrations of cadmium (Cd2+) induced cardiotoxicity in the rainbow trout heart by inhibiting multiple major ion currents and changing the action potential (AP) waveform. (1) Cd2+ strongly induced inhibition of L-type Ca2+ current (ICa) that (2) depressed the early plateau to less positive membrane voltages at which (3) the delayed rectifier K+ current (IKr) remains small and delaying repolarization of AP. Our findings provide ionic mechanistic explanations for several of the ECG changes found in fish exposed to Cd2+ and may provide clues as how cardiac arrhythmias are induced in vertebrates. Cd2+= cadmium; ICa= L-type calcium (Ca2+) current; IKr = delayed rectifier potassium (K+) current; AP = action potential; ECG = electrocardiograph; P wave = depolarization of the atrium; QRS complex = depolarization of the ventricle; T wave = repolarization of the ventricle.
Study on characteristics of methane explosion flame and pressure wave propagation to the non‐methane area in a connected chamber
Authors: Gu Zhoujie , Liu Zhentang , Wang Zhirong , Shen Rongxi , Qian Jifa , Lin Song
Published: July 2021

This study is aimed at investigating the characteristics of CH4 explosion diffusion and propagation to the non‐methane area. The CH4 explosion pressure and flame were tested with the aid of a self‐built horizontal pipeline system. On this basis, the flame images, photoelectric signals, and pressure propagation laws during explosions of methane with different volume fractions in the pipeline were obtained. The experimental research results indicate that an obvious secondary explosion pressure occurs at L/D = 3.5. After the explosion pressures at different positions along the entire pipeline reach the peak values, they experience varying degrees of oscillations. The maximum explosion pressure in the non‐methane zone may occur at different length‐to‐diameter ratios. When the volume fraction of CH4 is larger, the maximum explosion pressure occurs farther. However, the explosion pressure at the end of the pipeline is lower than that at the explosion source. The flame intensity and flame duration of methane explosion are remarkably enhanced at L/D = 17.5 and then become gradually weakened in the non‐methane area. The variations of explosion pressure are always prior to those of flame signal. CO and CO2 are the main toxic and harmful gases produced by methane explosions, and high‐concentration (13% in this experiment) methane explosions produce a small amount of hydrocarbon gases such as C2H4 and C2H6. The volume fractions of the gases produced decrease with the increase in the distance from the explosion source. The research results boast great significance for suppressing methane explosions and their propagation in the pipeline.
Development of an amplified luminescent proximity homogeneous assay for the detection of sulfonamides in animal‐derived products
Authors: Jin Yong , He Yanping , Zhao Dali , Chen Yan , Xue Qiang , Zou Mingqiang , Yin Hong , Xing Shige
Published: July 2021

In this study, we carried out an amplified luminescent proximity homogeneous assay (AlphaLISA) to detect sulfonamides (SAs) antibiotic residues in plasma, milk, pork, chicken, and fish. The SAs AlphaLISA method can detect 13 SAs with half‐inhibitory concentration (IC50) 2.11–29.77 ng/ml. The detection level of those SAs was 0.3–41.12 ng/ml in matrices, which satisfied the maximum residue limit (MRL) of the European Union, United States, and China. Our recoveries are in the range of 88% to 116.8% with a coefficient of variation less than 9.3% for different spiked food samples. We observed a good correlation between the AlphaLISA and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) with blood samples from injected rabbits. The established AlphaLISA method provided a no‐washing, rapid, high‐throughput screening tool for SAs in food quality control, which is suitable for small‐volume samples.
Opioid Treatment Agreements and Patient Accountability
Authors: Svirsky Larisa
Published: July 2021

Opioid treatment agreements are written agreements between physicians and patients enumerating the risks associated with opioid medications along with the requirements that patients must meet to receive these medications on an ongoing basis. The choice to use such agreements goes beyond the standard informed consent process and has a distinctive symbolic significance. Specifically, it suggests that physicians regard it as important to hold their patients accountable for adhering to various protocols regarding the use of their opioid medications. After laying out a taxonomy of accountability relations between physicians and patients, I argue that opioid treatment agreements are justifiable for physicians to use in their provision of care only if they improve patient or public health outcomes, which has yet to be demonstrated.
Hope to the End
Authors: Caplan Arthur
Published: July 2021

In the book Exploiting Hope: How the Promise of New Medical Interventions Sustains Us—and Makes Us Vulnerable, Jeremy Snyder takes on the dominant theory that exploitation in research ethics involves culpable inequity in transactions between parties. He rightly dismisses that economic explanation as inadequate. His theory of exploitation argues that it happens when those who have a duty of beneficence to someone take advantage of their hope. Exploitation is not just an unfair transaction; it is a betrayal of an obligation owed to the vulnerable, weak, or dependent to protect them.

Snyder is persuasive. But only to a point. He helps us understand the betrayal involved in exploiting hope. But much more remains to be debated about hope and exploitation. Exploitation in health care is not just a matter of schemers and ne'er‐do‐wells playing fast and loose with ever‐hopeful patients. Sometimes it involves patient groups looking for the right to try any intervention, no matter how dangerous or outlandish, at government expense.
After the European Global Vaccination Summit—The need for practical policies to boost vaccination delivery to children in Europe
Authors: Rigby Michael J.
Published: July 2021

Background

Low childhood vaccination rates in Europe continue to cause concern and have triggered much policy study. However, regarding children, making immunisation a stand‐alone issue cuts across integrated child health services. Most initiatives, including the 10 Action Points from the 2019 European‐hosted Global Vaccination Summit, are all laudable but high level enablement policies. Delivery processes have been ignored, and key stakeholders not involved in discussions.

Methods

Reviews of policies, literature and planned actions, leading to identification of further delivery policies needed to facilitate and stimulate practical accomplishments.

Results

10 aspects are identified where European coordinated action to develop policies, share evidence and increase standards, would be beneficial. These also fit in with established European Commission strengths, and the incoming Commission’s policies and priorities.

Conclusion

The European Commission, Member States and child health stakeholders should pursue a holistic approach, taking immunisation as a component of integrated child health. Service delivery should be compatible with modern societal challenges and related parenting patterns, and public health processes modernised and reinvigorated. Nursing and societal stakeholders should be brought in, and fit‐for‐purpose digital support facilitated. This is even more urgent following the diversion of the Covid‐19 pandemic.
Emotional competences and subjective well‐being: The mediating role of relationship satisfaction in young Spanish adults
Authors: Mónaco Estefanía , Gil‐Gómez José‐Antonio , Montoya‐Castilla Inmaculada
Published: July 2021

Establishing and maintaining relationships is one of the challenges facing young adults at the beginning of this stage in their lives. Emotional competences are related to relationship satisfaction and subjective well‐being. This paper aims to study the relationship between emotional competences and subjective well‐being in young adults, considering the mediating role of satisfaction with the partner. Two hundred and thirty‐three young Spanish people (60.1% women) between 18 and 35 years old (Mean = 22.93; SD = 3.72) participated in the study. All of them had a romantic partner. The Questionnaire of Emotional Skills and Competences (ESCQ‐21), the Scale of Evaluation of the Relationships (RAS), the Scale of Satisfaction with Life (SWLS) and the Scale of Positive and Negative Experiences (SPANE) were used to measure the variables. For analysis, the SPSS version 26 and Mplus version 7.0 were used. The results indicate a significant relationship between emotional competences, relationship satisfaction and subjective well‐being. The mediation model showed that satisfaction with the relationship plays a mediating role between the ability to regulate emotions and subjective well‐being. The importance of emotional education both inside and outside relationships is considered, in order to promote healthy and non‐violent relationships among young people.
The emotional tone of child descriptions during pregnancy is associated with later parenting
Authors: Guyon‐Harris Katherine L. , Carell Regan , DeVlieger Shana , Humphreys Kathryn L. , Huth‐Bocks Alissa C.
Published: July 2021

Introduction

How parents think and feel about their young children has implications for the parent–child relationship. We examined prospective associations between prenatal descriptions of the unborn child's personality and later parenting behavior.

Methods

Pregnant women (N = 120; mean age = 26.16, SD = 5.71) were recruited in their third trimester for a longitudinal study. The sample is demographically diverse and predominantly economically disadvantaged. During prenatal interviews, women described their unborn child's personality, from which positive and negative emotion words were coded. Parenting behavior was coded 12 months postpartum (n = 105 for longitudinal analyses).

Results

Use of positive and negative words was negatively correlated (r = −.34, p < .001). Greater use of positive words to describe the unborn child's personality was associated with higher observed sensitivity, warmth, and engagement during mother–infant interactions, whereas negative words were associated with higher interference and lower levels of sensitivity. Mothers who used anxiety‐ and/or anger‐related words to describe their unborn child, relative to mothers who did not, demonstrated higher interference and lower warmth and sensitivity.

Conclusion

Descriptions of a child's personality before the child is born were associated with postnatal parenting behavior. Prenatal interventions that address negative thoughts and feelings regarding the child may be beneficial for promoting positive parenting postnatally.
Prepared Pd/MgO/BiVO4 composite for photoreduction of CO2 to CH4
Authors: Zhu Zhen , Hwang Yu‐Teng , Liang Hao‐Chun , Wu Ren‐Jang
Published: July 2021

In this study, several Pd/MgO/BiVO4 nanocomposites were prepared using the hydrothermal method and their effective photocatalyst activity for the photoreduction of CO2 to CH4 was investigated. The microstructure and photocatalytic behavior of the prepared photocatalysts were studied through X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, tunneling electron microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller specific surface area, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. CH4 yields of 5.9 and 9.4 μmol g−1 hr−1 were obtained using BiVO4 and 25% MgO/BiVO4 nanocomposites, respectively. The highest production rate of CH4 was measured as 12.8 μmol g−1 hr−1 on overloading 0.3% Pd on 25% MgO/BiVO4. Pd/MgO/BiVO4 exhibited excellent CO2 photoreduction stability with negligible loss after five consecutive cycles. Finally, a possible mechanism of CO2 photoreduction using Pd/MgO/BiVO4 was proposed for understanding the synergistic effects. The results of the experiment revealed that Pd/MgO/BiVO4 can be a promising photocatalyst in solar energy conversion and storage application and can achieve excellent CO2 photoreduction performance.
Astrocytes‐derived extracellular vesicles in motion at the neuron surface: Involvement of the prion protein
Authors: D'Arrigo Giulia , Gabrielli Martina , Scaroni Federica , Swuec Paolo , Amin Ladan , Pegoraro Anna , Adinolfi Elena , Di Virgilio Francesco , Cojoc Dan , Legname Giuseppe , Verderio Claudia
Published: July 2021

Astrocytes‐derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are key players in glia‐neuron communication. However, whether EVs interact with neurons at preferential sites and how EVs reach these sites on neurons remains elusive. Using optical manipulation to study single EV‐neuron dynamics, we here show that large EVs scan the neuron surface and use neuronal processes as highways to move extracellularly. Large EV motion on neurites is driven by the binding of EV to a surface receptor that slides on neuronal membrane, thanks to actin cytoskeleton rearrangements. The use of prion protein (PrP)‐coated synthetic beads and PrP knock out EVs/neurons points at vesicular PrP and its receptor(s) on neurons in the control of EV motion. Surprisingly, a fraction of large EVs contains actin filaments and has an independent capacity to move in an actin‐mediated way, through intermittent contacts with the plasma membrane. Our results unveil, for the first time, a dual mechanism exploited by astrocytic large EVs to passively/actively reach target sites on neurons moving on the neuron surface.
LncRNA‐encoded microproteins: A new form of cargo in cell culture‐derived and circulating extracellular vesicles
Authors: Cai Tanxi , Zhang Qing , Wu Bowen , Wang Jifeng , Li Na , Zhang Tingting , Wang Zhipeng , Luo Jianjun , Guo Xiaojing , Ding Xiang , Xie Zhensheng , Niu Lili , Ning Weihai , Fan Zhen , Chen Xiaowei , Guo Xiangqian , Chen Runsheng , Zhang Hongwei , Yang Fuquan
Published: July 2021

Advancements in omics‐based technologies over the past few years have led to the discovery of numerous biologically relevant peptides encoded by small open reading frames (smORFs) embedded in long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) transcripts (referred to as microproteins here) in a variety of species. However, the mechanisms and modes of action that underlie the roles of microproteins have yet to be fully characterized. Herein, we provide the first experimental evidence of abundant microproteins in extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from glioma cancer cells, indicating that the EV‐mediated transfer of microproteins may represent a novel mechanism for intercellular communication. Intriguingly, when examining human plasma, 48, 11 and 3 microproteins were identified from purified EVs, whole plasma and EV‐free plasma, respectively, suggesting that circulating microproteins are primarily enriched in EVs. Most importantly, the preliminary data showed that the expression profile of EV microproteins in glioma patient diverged from the health donors, suggesting that the circulating microproteins in EVs might have potential diagnostic application in identifying patients with glioma.
Time‐course changes in the regulation of ions and amino acids in the hard clam Meretrix lusoria upon lower salinity challenge
Authors: Lin Chia‐Hao , Yeh Po‐Ling , Lee Tsung‐Han
Published: July 2021

In this study, we examined ion and amino acid regulation in the gill and mantle of the hard clam Meretrix lusoria. We found that the osmolality and Na+ and Cl‐ concentrations of hard clam hemolymph were significantly reduced after transferring clams from the salinity of their natural habitat [20‰ saltwater (SW)] to a lower salinity environment (10‰ SW). Specific activities of Na+, K+‐ATPase (NKA), which provides the driving force for the secondary ion transport associated with cell osmoregulation in gills and mantles, were unaffected during the acclimation to lower salinity. In contrast, there was a significant decline in the contents of free amino acids (FAAs) in the gills and mantles of hard clams during lower salinity acclimation. Taurine was established to be the dominant FAA, the content of which is considerably higher than that of other FAAs in the hard clam. Following acclimation to the lower salinity environment, mRNA expression of the taurine transporter (TAUT), which plays a pivotal role in regulating intracellular taurine contents, was significantly upregulated in the gill and downregulated in the mantle of hard clams at different time points. However, the relative abundance of TAUT protein in the gill and mantle was significantly increased after transfer from 20‰ SW to 10‰ SW, which may reflect feedback regulation in response to reduced taurine contents in the gill and mantle of hard clams. Collectively, the findings of this study provide important insights on the dynamic processes of ion and amino acid regulation in the peripheral tissues of bivalves.
Clinical Application of Non‐Contrast‐Enhanced Dixon Water‐Fat Separation Compressed SENSE Whole‐Heart Coronary MR Angiography at 3.0 T With and Without Nitroglycerin
Authors: Lu Hongfei , Zhao Shihai , Tian Di , Yang Shan , Ma Jianying , Chen Yinyin , Ge Meiying , Zeng Mengsu , Jin Hang
Published: July 2021

Background

3.0 T non‐contrast‐enhanced nitroglycerin (NTG)‐assisted whole‐heart coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) employing Dixon water‐fat separation and compressed SENSE (CS‐SENSE) acceleration is a promising method for diagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD).

Purpose

To evaluate the diagnostic performance of this technique for detecting clinically‐relevant (≥50% diameter reducing) CAD and to evaluate the difference in NTG‐induced coronary vasodilation between patients with and without clinically‐relevant CAD.

Study Type

Prospective.

Population

Sixty‐six patients with suspected CAD.

Field Strength/Sequence

3.0 T; CSSENSE, Dixon water‐fat separation, three‐dimensional segmented turbo field gradient‐echo sequence for whole‐heart coronary MRA.

Assessment

Overall image quality of coronary MRA was calculated on the basis of all visible coronary segments. The diagnostic performance of coronary MRA for detecting a ≥50% reduction in coronary artery diameter with and without NTG was compared using X‐ray coronary angiography (CAG) as the reference. According to CAG, patients were divided into a non‐clinically‐relevant CAD group and clinically‐relevant CAD group, and the difference in NTG‐induced vasodilation between the groups was evaluated.

Statistical Tests

Unpaired/paired Student's t‐test, Mann–Whitney U test, paired Wilcoxon signed‐rank test, χ2 test, McNemar test. A two‐tailed P value <0.05 was considered significant.

Results

Overall image quality was increased significantly in the coronary MRA images after NTG. The diagnostic performance of the non‐NTG vs. NTG‐assisted coronary MRA was as follows on a per‐patient basis: sensitivity 94.3% vs. 94.3%, specificity 64.5% vs. 83.9%, positive predictive value 75.0% vs. 86.8%, negative predictive value 90.9% vs. 92.9%, and accuracy 80.3% vs. 89.4%, respectively. NTG‐induced vasodilation was significantly lower in the clinically‐relevant CAD group than in the non‐clinically‐relevant CAD group (13.7 ± 8.1% vs. 24.1 ± 16.3%).

Data Conclusion

Non‐contrast Dixon water‐fat separation CS‐SENSE coronary MRA at 3.0 T can noninvasively detect clinically‐relevant CAD and sublingual NTG improved performance. Combining pre‐ and post‐NTG coronary MRA may provide a simple noninvasive and nonionizing test to evaluate coronary vasodilation function.

Level of Evidence

1

Technical Efficacy Stage

2
Effects of the middle Holocene high sea‐level stand and climate on Amazonian mangroves
Authors: Cohen Marcelo C. L. , Camargo Paloma Maria Pinto , Pessenda Luiz C. R. , Lorente Flávio Lima , De Souza Adriana V. , Corrêa José Augusto Martins , Bendassolli José , Dietz Marianne
Published: July 2021

The high sea‐level stand during the mid‐Holocene is a benchmark in mangrove dynamics along the north‐east/south‐east coast of Brazil and provides a reference point for landward and seaward mangrove migrations corresponding to changes in relative sea level (RSL). However, evidence of the impacts associated with RSL fall on the northern Brazilian coast is scarce. Multi‐proxy data from the highest tidal flats of the Bragança Peninsula in northern Brazil revealed modern herbaceous areas were occupied by mangroves Rhizophora and Avicennia from ~6250 to ~5850 cal a bp, and only Avicennia between ~5850 and ~5000 cal a bp. The same tidal flats were vegetation‐free between ~5000 and ~4300 cal a bp. A combination of a high sea‐level stand (0.6 ± 0.1 m) at ~5000 cal a bp and a dry early–middle Holocene in the Amazon probably caused an increase in porewater salinity of tidal flats, which resulted in a mangrove succession from Rhizophora to Avicennia dominance. RSL fall accentuated this process, contributing to mangrove degradation between ~5000 and ~4300 cal a bp. RSL fall, and a wetter period over the past ~4300 cal a bp caused a mangrove migration from highest to lowest flats, followed by expansion of herbaceous vegetation on the highest flats.
An ecological baseline for Laminaria hyperborea forests in western Ireland
Authors: Schoenrock Kathryn M. , O'Callaghan Rory , O'Callaghan Tony , O'Connor Aisha , Stengel Dagmar B.
Published: July 2021

The biodiversity associated with subtidal Irish kelp forests dominated by Laminaria hyperborea has never been described. To enumerate species assemblages in these ecosystems, subtidal surveys were done throughout the calendar year to investigate species assemblages within kelp forests, composition of benthic communities, species colonizing kelp thalli, recruitment to kelp forests, and habitat recovery processes after canopy clearances. Surveys were further undertaken in maërl beds, sediment‐bottom bays, Serpula vermicularis reefs, and bedrock habitats for comparison. Across all four seasons, kelp forests harbor the richest species assemblages, second only S. vermicularis reefs in diversity, with a total of 313 unique species in the habitat (from juvenile recruits to mature macrofauna). Peak diversity in kelp forests occurred in summer and echinoderms were one of the most abundant groups, though urchins never reach densities that would threaten over‐grazing. The thalli of L. hyperborea are diverse habitats harboring many deposit feeders, filter feeders, and marine macroalgae. Epibiotic communities become more diverse with age of kelp, culminating in a maximum of 1660 individuals on stipes and 949 on holdfasts. Recruitment of crustaceans, echinoderms, and worms was high in kelp forests, but recruitment of common Irish fish could not be monitored because of unique life history stage. Habitat establishment took over a year on artificial substrata which were colonized by macroalgae and dense canopy cover inhibited growth of juvenile sporophytes. This descriptive study represents an essential baseline for kelp forest biodiversity in Ireland.
Short‐pulsed and Q‐switched ND‐YAG laser with topical carbon versus fractional CO2 laser in the treatment of enlarged facial pores: A split‐face comparative study
Authors: Tarek Eman , Mostafa Wedad Z. , Allam Riham S. H. M. , El‐Samanoudy Solwan I. , Saadi Dina G.
Published: July 2021

Objectives

To assess and compare the efficacy and safety of topical carbon plus short‐pulsed and Q‐switched Nd‐YAG laser to fractional carbon dioxide (CO2) laser in improving the appearance of wide facial pores.

Materials and Methods

Thirty Egyptian patients with wide facial pores were treated in a split‐face manner with two sessions of fractional CO2 laser on one side of the face and topical carbon followed by short‐pulsed and Q‐switched Nd‐YAG laser on the other side at 4‐week intervals. Clinical evaluation by Investigator Global Assessment (IGA), patient satisfaction level, and photography before treatment and 1 month after the second laser session was performed and adverse effects were monitored. Dermoscopic evaluation by dermoscopy pore score and optical coherence tomography (OCT) evaluation by surface irregularities score were performed at baseline and 1‐month posttreatment.

Results

One month after treatment, both modalities produced significant reduction in IGA score, dermoscopy pore score, and surface irregularities by OCT (p < 0.001, p < 0.001). Both procedures were well‐tolerated. There was no significant difference in IGA, dermoscopy pore score, surface irregularities score by OCT, adverse effects or patient satisfaction level between both treated sides.

Conclusion

Fractional CO2 laser and topical carbon application followed by short‐pulsed and Q‐switched Nd‐YAG laser can be safely and effectively used to improve the appearance of wide facial pores.
Quantifying myelin in crossing fibers using diffusion‐prepared phase imaging: Theory and simulations
Authors: Cottaar Michiel , Wu Wenchuan , Tendler Benjamin C. , Nagy Zoltan , Miller Karla , Jbabdi Saad
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Myelin has long been the target of neuroimaging research. However, most available techniques can only provide a voxel‐averaged estimate of myelin content. In the human brain, white matter fiber pathways connecting different brain areas and carrying different functions often cross each other in the same voxel. A measure that can differentiate the degree of myelination of crossing fibers would provide a more specific marker of myelination.

Theory and Methods

One MRI signal property that is sensitive to myelin is the phase accumulation. This sensitivity is used by measuring the phase accumulation of the signal remaining after diffusion‐weighting, which is called diffusion‐prepared phase imaging (DIPPI). Including diffusion‐weighting before estimating the phase accumulation has two distinct advantages for estimating the degree of myelination: (1) It increases the relative contribution of intra‐axonal water, whose phase is related linearly to the thickness of the surrounding myelin (in particular the logg‐ratio); and (2) it gives directional information, which can be used to distinguish between crossing fibers. Here the DIPPI sequence is described, an approach is proposed to estimate the logg‐ratio, and simulations are used and DIPPI data acquired in an isotropic phantom to quantify other sources of phase accumulation.

Results

The expected bias is estimated in the logg‐ratio for reasonable in vivo acquisition parameters caused by eddy currents (~4%‐10%), remaining extra‐axonal signal (~15%), and gradients in the bulk off‐resonance field (<10% for most of the brain).

Conclusion

This new sequence may provide ag‐ratio estimate per fiber population crossing within a voxel.
Longitudinal motor function in proximal versus distal DMD pathogenic variants
Authors: Thangarajh Mathula , Bello Luca , Gordish‐Dressman Heather ,   CINRG‐DNHS Investigators
Published: July 2021

Introduction/Aims

There is considerable heterogenicity in clinical outcomes in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The aim of this study was to assess whether dystrophin gene (DMD) pathogenic variant location influences upper or lower extremity motor function outcomes in a large prospective cohort.

Methods

We used longitudinal timed and quantitative motor function measurements obtained from 154 boys with DMD over a 10‐y period by the Cooperative International Neuromuscular Research Group Duchenne Natural History Study (CINRG‐DNHS) to understand how the trajectories of motor function differ based on proximal versus distal DMD pathogenic variants. Proximal variants were defined as located proximal to 5′ DMD intron 44, and distal variants as those including nucleotides 3′ DMD including intron 44. Distal DMD variants are predicted to alter the expression of short dystrophin isoforms (Dp140, Dp116, and Dp71). We compared various upper extremity and lower extremity motor function measures in these two groups, after adjusting for total lifetime corticosteroid use.

Results

The time to loss‐of‐ambulation and timed motor function measurements of both upper and lower limbs over a 10‐y period were comparable between boys with proximal (n = 53) and distal (n = 101) DMD pathogenic variants. Age had a significant effect on several motor function outcomes. Boys younger than 7 y of age (n = 49) showed gain in function whereas boys 7 y and older (n = 71) declined, regardless of dystrophin pathogenic variant location.

Discussion

The longitudinal decline in upper and lower motor function is independent of proximal versus distal location of DMD pathogenic variants.
Once were warriors: Challenging occupation preconceptions in Lebanese weapon‐associated burials (Middle Bronze Age, Sidon)
Authors: Kharobi Arwa , Stantis Chris , Maaranen Nina , Schutkowski Holger
Published: July 2021

Objectives

Found throughout the ancient Near East during the Middle Bronze Age (ca. 2000–1600 BCE), many modern scholars emphasize that weapon‐associated burials are ideological and symbolic associations, not reflections of occupation. However, the term “warrior burial” still carries interpretive value that misinforms popular perception. The site of Sidon (Lebanon) offers an excellent context to discuss this phenomenon. Our paper aims to assess whether there are any commonalities or trends that set the Sidonian weapon‐associated burials (n = 6) apart from the rest of the assemblage (n = 62) beyond funerary practice and to explore any patterns regarding occupation and/or elite lifestyle.

Materials and methods

The six skeletons, presumed to be males with funerary practices, associated with high social status and cultural values awarded to the warrior elite, were examined using bioarchaeological methods (paleopathology, activity lesions, stable isotopes and non‐metric dental traits).

Results

Weapon‐associated burials shared similar pathological condition prevalence to the “non‐warriors.” Further, noweapons‐associated burials display common skeletal evidence of interpersonal violence. Additionally, they do not present specific entheseal changes suggestive of frequent weaponry use. δ13C and δ15N analysis of bone collagen found that all weapon‐associated burials except Burial 12 consumed a diet similar to the wider assemblage. Finally, the different avenues of statistical analysis using dental nonmetric traits indicate that the weapon‐associated burials were not from ancestry groups different from the rest of the Sidon population.

Discussion

Therefore, we conclude that associating those individuals with copper alloy weaponry is a funerary gesture reflecting more their social and/or cultural status than their occupation and lived experience. We suggest care when using the term “warrior burial” with these types of funerary practices, as it may conflate incorrect interpretation.
Reachable set estimation for discrete‐time systems with hybrid time‐delays
Authors: Zhao Jiemei
Published: July 2021

This article investigates the problem of reachable set estimation for linear discrete‐time systems (LDSs) with both discrete and distributed delays as well as bounded disturbance inputs. The purpose is to determine a bounded set in which all the LDSs states are in the set. By exploiting Wirtinger‐based summation inequality and linear matrix inequalities techniques, a sufficient criterion is established which guarantees the states of LDSs are bounded by the ellipsoid. An improved Lyapunov–Krasovskii (L‐K) functional is addressed and the L‐K functional matrices are not required all to be positive definite. Finally, the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed methods are substantiated by two numerical examples.
Adoptive Transfer of Autologous Invariant Natural Killer T Cells as Immunotherapy for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Phase I Clinical Trial
Authors: Gao Yao , Guo Jia , Bao Xuli , Xiong Fang , Ma Yanpin , Tan Bingqin , Yu Lele , Zhao Yong , Lu Jun
Published: July 2021

Lessons Learned

Background

Invariant natural killer T cells co-express T-cell antigen receptor and natural killer (NK) cell receptors. Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells exhibit antitumor activity, but their numbers and functions are impaired in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The adoptive transfer of iNKT cells might treat advanced HCC.

Methods

This phase I study (NCT03175679) enrolled 10 patients with HCC (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer [BCLC] stage B/C) at Beijing YouAn Hospital (April 2017 to May 2018). iNKT cells isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were expanded and alpha-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer)–pulsed. Dosage escalated from 3 × 107 to 6 × 107 to 9 × 107 cells/m2 (3+3 design). An exploratory dose trial (1 × 1010 cells/m2) was conducted in one patient.

Results

Expanded iNKT cells produced greater quantities of T-helper 1 (Th1) cytokines (e.g., interferon-gamma, perforin, and granzyme B) but less interleukin-4 than nonexpanded iNKT cells. Circulating numbers of iNKT cells and activated NK cells were increased after iNKT cell infusion. Most treatment-related adverse events were grade 1–2, and three grade 3 adverse events were reported; all resolved without treatment. Four patients were progression-free at 5.5, 6, 7, and 11 months after therapy, and one patient was alive and without tumor recurrence at the last follow-up. Five patients died at 1.5 to 11 months after treatment.

Conclusion

Autologous iNKT cell treatment is safe and well-tolerated. Expanded iNKT cells produce Th1-like responses with possible antitumor activity. The antitumor effects of iNKT cell infusion in patients with advanced HCC merit further investigation.
Chemotherapy with atezolizumab for small cell or neuroendocrine carcinoma of the prostate: A single institution experience
Authors: Wee Christopher E. , Costello Brian A. , Orme Jacob J. , Quevedo J. Fernando , Pagliaro Lance C.
Published: July 2021

Introduction

Chemotherapy in combination with immunotherapy has a proven survival benefit compared to chemotherapy alone in extensive stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and is the new standard of care. Since extrapulmonary small cell carcinomas (SCCs) are less common, treatment paradigms are reasonably extrapolated from SCLC regimens. We examined our institution's experience utilizing the combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy (as used in SCLC) for SCC and neuroendocrine carcinoma of the prostate.

Methods

Utilizing an institutional database search tool, we queried the electronic medical record to identify patients with SCC or neuroendocrine carcinoma of the prostate who had been treated with atezolizumab and chemotherapy. We recorded patient characteristics, including age, pathology, and disease extent. Treatment characteristics included number of prior treatments, use of concominant androgen deprivation, number of cycles of immunotherapy, and prior systemic therapies (including those for adenocarcinoma of the prostate). Progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were the primary outcomes.

Results

We identified seven men who received atezolizumab for metastatic prostate cancer with a small cell or neuroendocrine component. In six of the seven patients, the combination of carboplatin, etoposide, and atezolizumab was the first‐line of treatment after diagnosis of small cell or neuroendocrine carcinoma. Two of the seven patients had de novo small cell/neuroendocrine pathology, while the other five had transformation from a preexisting adenocarcinoma. In the patients who received chemotherapy plus immunotherapy in the first‐line setting, at a median follow‐up of 6.5 months (range: 1.5–15.1) the median PFS was 3.4 months and median OS was 8.4 months.

Conclusion

Small cell or neuroendocrine carcinoma of the prostate was associated with poor survival outcomes despite adding immunotherapy (atezolizumab) to chemotherapy (carboplatin and etoposide). To our knowledge, there has been no demonstrable benefit of adding immunotherapy to chemotherapy in this setting.
Experimental and numerical simulation studies of liquefied petroleum gas fire in a full–scale compartment
Authors: Kumar Aravind , Kumar Rajiv , Ansari A. A. , Kumar Rakesh
Published: July 2021

Liquefied petroleum gas fuel fire hazard characteristics such as thermal, toxic, and radiation hazards were investigated in a full–scale compartment. A 0.3 m × 0.3 m sand–filled burner was used as a fire source with quasi–steady–state heat release rate of 40 kW and 160 kW for 300 s and 600 s respectively. The experimental study was carried out in the compartment of size 2.4 m × 3.6 m × 2.4 m with a doorway opening of size 0.8 m × 1 m for ventilation condition. Temperatures, gas concentrations, and irradiance measurements were carried out at different locations in the compartment with respect to time. Numerical simulation studies were performed for validation and predictions for different door aspect ratios using the computational fluid dynamics tool, fire dynamics simulator. Experimental measurements temperatures, velocities, heat flux, and species concentrations at different locations were reported in transient analysis. Numerical predictions were carried out for different door aspect opening ratios and discussed the impact of the thermal, toxic, and radiation hazards. Comparative evaluation of numerical predictions was in good agreement with measurements of experimental data.
Co‐occurrence of subunit B and C mutations in respiratory complex II confers high resistance levels to pyflubumide and cyenopyrafen in the two‐spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae)
Authors: Maeoka Ayumu , Osakabe Masahiro
Published: July 2021

BACKGROUND

Pyflubumide and cyenopyrafen are respiratory complex II (complex II) inhibitors. Previous quantitative trait locus analyses suggested associations of I260V and S56L in complex II subunit B (B‐I260V) and subunit C (C‐S56L) with pyflubumide and cyenopyrafen resistance, respectively, in Tetranychus urticae. However, although resistant strains had been selected separately by these acaricides, all strains were homozygous for both B‐I260V and C‐S56L. Hence, the effects of each mutation on resistance development remain unclear.

RESULTS

We established strains homozygous for B‐I260V with C‐S56 (B‐I260V_I260V/C‐S56_S56) and for C‐S56L with B‐I260 (B‐I260_I260/C‐S56L_S56L). High resistance levels (LC50 > 1000 mg L−1) to pyflubumide and cyenopyrafen was not conferred by B‐I260V or C‐S56L alone. Next, we prepared intermixed strains by crossing B‐I260V_I260V/C‐S56_S56 and B‐I260_I260/C‐S56L_S56L. Selection of the intermixed strains by either acaricide caused very high resistance levels (LC50 ≥ 10 000 mg L−1) to both acaricides and fixed both mutations. Allele‐selected recoupling of the mutations without acaricide selection also conferred very high resistance levels to both acaricides in the intermixed strains. Unlike these, B‐I260V or C‐S56L alone conferred very high and high resistance levels to cyflumetofen, respectively.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that the effect of individual mutations characteristically varies among complex II inhibitors. Moreover, very high resistance levels to pyflubumide and cyenopyrafen is conferred by the co‐occurrence of B‐I260V and C‐S56L mutations, which alone have limited effects on resistance level.
The effect of (Cornus mas L.) fruit extract on liver function among patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver: A double‐blind randomized clinical trial
Authors: Sangsefidi Zohreh Sadat , Yarhosseini Faezeh , Hosseinzadeh Mahdieh , Ranjbar Alimohammad , Akhondi‐Meybodi Mohsen , Fallahzadeh Hossein , Mozaffari‐Khosravi Hassan
Published: July 2021

This double‐blind randomized clinical trial aimed to investigate impact of Cornus mas L. fruit extract (CMFE) on liver function in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Fifty patients were randomly assigned into the CMFE and placebo groups to receive 20 ml of the extract or placebo for 12 weeks, respectively. Serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, cytokeratin 18 (CK‐18) levels, and steatosis and fibrosis scores were examined before and after the intervention. Although, a significant decrease was observed in CK‐18 levels among the CMFE group (288.80 ± 85.40 vs. 235.66 ± 60.38; p = .001) after 12 weeks, no significant difference was found between the two groups. Moreover, a significant increase in fibrosis score in the placebo group (8.20 (6.35–9.40) vs. 8.40 (7.70–13.00); p = .03) as well as a significant difference in this marker (CMEF: 7.64 (6.30–8.25); placebo: 8.40 (7.70–13.00); p = .02) and its changes (CMEF: 0.60 (−1.00–1.07); placebo: 0.80 (−0.25–3.95); p = .02) were found between the groups after 12 weeks. No significant effect was noted on other variables. Therefore, consuming CMFE might have some beneficial effects on liver function markers in NAFLD. However, more studies are required in this area.