bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anatomical and functional healing after resorbable magnesium scaffold implantation in human coronary vessels: A combined optical coherence tomography and quantitative flow ratio analysis
Authors: Cerrato Enrico , Belliggiano Davide , Quadri Giorgio , Erriquez Andrea , Anselmino Matteo , Quirós Alicia , Franzè Alfonso , Ferrari Fabio , Rolfo Cristina , Mejia‐Renteria Hernan , Escaned Javier , Gonzalo Nieves , Campo Gianluca , Varbella Ferdinando
Published: November 2020

Background

No data are currently available on the process of vessel healing and long‐term physiological results after implantation of resorbable magnesium‐made scaffold (RMS) in human coronary arteries.

Objectives

To investigate after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and at 12 months follow‐up (a) RMS resorption process and vessel healing, as judged by optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging; and (b) physiological result of RMS implantation evaluated by quantitative flow ratio (QFR).

Methods

All patients successfully treated with at least one RMS from July 2016 to August 2018 at 2 Italian centers were evaluated. All cases with OCT pullback and/or coronary angiography suitable for QFR analysis performed after PCI and at 12 months were included. Resorption process was analyzed at OCT in each frame reporting presence of residual struts in the vessel.

Results

Forty‐four patients/forty‐nine lesions were included. 12‐months mean lumen area (LA; 7.54 ± 3.04 mm2) significantly decreased compared to mean LA recorded immediately after PCI (8.12 ± 1.89 mm2; p < .01). However, LA changes did not affect the functional result of PCI with a non‐ischemic QFR value (>0.80) in 98% of cases at 12‐months follow‐up. Protruding struts were detectable in more than half of cases and their presence was correlated with an increase in mean LA (+0.73mm2 [95% CI 0.51–0.94], p < .001).

Conclusions

RMS implantation in a real‐world population lead to significant decrease in mean LA without significant functional impairment. Two different patterns of RMS resorption were recorded, whose clinical significance remains to be investigated.
B(C6F5)3‐Catalyzed Hydroboration of Alkenes with N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Boranes via B—H Bond Activation
Authors: Wang Qiaotian , Meng Wei , Feng Xiangqing , Du Haifeng
Published: November 2020

Main observation and conclusion

In this work, a novel mode for the activation of N‐heterocyclic carbene boranes (NHC‐boranes) was developed by generating the highly reactive zwitterion species through hydride abstraction with Lewis acid B(C6F5)3 in an frustrated Lewis pairs manner. A broad range of alkenes including stilbenes, β‐methylstyrenes, styrenes, and alkyl‐alkenes were suitable substrates for the B(C6F5)3‐catalyzed hydroboration to furnish the desired products in good to high yields. Significantly, excellent regioselectivities were obtained in some cases. Mechanistic studies indicate that the B—H bond cleavage is likely involved in the rate‐determining step. In addition, an electrophilic addition of NHC‐borenium cation to alkenes and the subsequent formation of carbocation are also postulated. The current work provides a promising method for the activation of stable borane adducts, which might lead to some interesting transformations in the future.
Overcome Debye Length Limitations for Biomolecule Sensing Based on Field Effective Transistors†
Authors: Zheng Zhi , Zhang Hongyuan , Zhai Tianyou , Xia Fan
Published: November 2020

Biosensors based on field effective transistor (FET) have aroused tremendous attention in the past few years owning to their huge application in drug discovery, disease diagnosis and environmental monitoring. The FET biosensors possess small volume, high sensitivity at ultra‐low concentration, considerable mechanical strength, as well as excellent stability in solution, which plays a vital role in the point of care testing (POCT) systems. Recent advances have summarized some progress involved in the improvement of morphology and structure of channel materials, the functionalization of organic molecule, the influence of device operation and sensing environment on the detecting performance. However, for FET biosensors, the charge screening phenomena were inevitable in the solution, which seriously degrade the device performance. In this article, we summarize recent advances to overcome debye length limitations for biomolecule sensing based on FET. We will firstly describe the charge screening mechanism, then focous on the strategy to overcome charge screening, including synthesizing special channel materials with crumpled morphology, designing aptamer binding mode, and modulating device measurement. Finally, we discuss the major challenges and perspectives about overcoming debye length limitations of FET biosensors. These summaries provide further insights to realize real‐time, lable‐free, high‐sensitivity FET sensors for medical healthcare.
Design and Efficient Synthesis of RalA Inhibitors Containing the Dihydro‐α‐carboline Scaffold
Authors: Leng Hai‐Jun , Wang Yu‐Ting , He Xiang‐Hong , Xia Hou‐Lin , Xu Peng‐Shuai , Xiang Peng , He Qing‐Qing , Zhan Gu , Huang Wei
Published: November 2020

Ras‐related protein RalA is a member of the Ras small GTPases superfamily. Its activation plays an important role in regulating tumor initiation, invasion, migration, and metastasis. In this study, we designed a new type of RalA inhibitor containing a dihydro‐α‐carboline scaffold. The structurally new dihydro‐α‐carboline derivatives could be efficiently synthesized in good yields through a newly developed three‐component [3+2+1] cyclization reaction. Evaluation of the biological activity showed that some of the dihydro‐α‐carboline derivatives can inhibit RalA/B and proliferative activities of NSCLC cell lines. The 4‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)‐dihydro‐α‐carboline compound (3 o) was found to be the most potent derivative, with IC50 values of 0.43±0.03, 0.64±0.07, 0.93±0.10, and 1.54±0.15 μM against A549, H1299, H460, and H1975 cells, respectively. Mechanism investigation suggested that 3 o inhibits the RalA/B activation of A549, down‐regulates Bcl‐2, stimulates cytochrome c and PARP cleavage, and induces cell apoptosis. A molecular docking study revealed that 3 o can form stable hydrogen bonds with residues of RalA. Moreover, amide‐π and alkyl‐π interactions also contributed to the affinity between 3 o and RalA.
A Europium(III) Complex Embedded in a Polysulfone Host Matrix: A Flexible Film with Temperature‐Responsive Ratiometric Behaviour
Authors: Outis Mani , Leal João P. , Avó João , Monteiro Bernardo , Pereira Cláudia C. L.
Published: November 2020

An emissive europium(III) complex [C2mim][Eu(fod)4] (1; C2mim=1‐ethyl‐3‐methyl‐imidazolium; fod=1,1,1,2,2,3,3‐heptafluoro‐7,7‐dimethyloctane‐4,6‐dionate) was prepared. The complex shows ratiometric thermal behaviour up to 155 °C. These unusual temperature‐dependent properties arise from a solid‐solid phase transition that promotes increased contact between the anion and the cation, affecting the emission profile of the emissive anion in two different ratiometric relations. A ultrabright and flexible emissive photopolymer film was obtained using polysulfone (PSU) as the host matrix of 10 % (w/w) of 1, that also induced changes on the lanthanide emissive profile with temperature. A temperature‐responsive luminescent film 1/PSU is sensitivr to heating between 100 and 155 °C. Also, the emission lifetime of 1 was not affected by confinement in PSU, while its emission quantum yield was reduced from 82 to 59 %.
Novel Arylazo‐1,2,5‐oxadiazole Photoswitches: Synthesis, Photoisomerization and Nitric Oxide Releasing Properties
Authors: Zhilin Egor S. , Polkovnichenko Michael S. , Ananyev Ivan V. , Fershtat Leonid L. , Makhova Nina N.
Published: November 2020

The front cover artwork is provided by the Laboratory of Nitrogen‐Containing Compounds at the Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ZIOC RAS; Russia). The image shows a metronome which symbolizes the ability of arylazofuroxans to switch between two isomers with significantly different NO donor ability. The switching process can be easily tuned by visible light or elevated temperature. Read the full text of the Article at 10.1002/cptc.2020000157.
Optimal analog‐to‐digital transformation of fractional‐order Butterworth filter using binomial series expansion with Al‐Alaoui operator
Authors: Mahata Shibendu , Kar Rajib , Mandal Durbadal
Published: November 2020

This paper deals with the optimal analog‐to‐digital transformation of fractional‐order Butterworth filter (FOBF) in terms of infinite impulse response templates. The fractional‐order transfer function of the analog FOBF is transformed into its digital counterpart by employing the Binomial series expansion of different truncation orders, based on the Al‐Alaoui operator. This nonoptimal solution is then treated as an initial point for a local search optimizer such as the Nelder–Mead simplex (NMS) algorithm and also injected as a super‐fit individual in the initial population of a global search constrained evolutionary optimization algorithm (CEOA). Design stability and minimum‐phase response constraints are formulated for the super‐fit scheme. Both the techniques demonstrate good modeling performance; however, the super‐fit CEOA can markedly outperform the NMS method as the problem dimensionality increases.
Task scheduling approaches in fog computing: A systematic review
Authors: Alizadeh Mohammad Reza , Khajehvand Vahid , Rahmani Amir Masoud , Akbari Ebrahim
Published: November 2020

The Internet of Things (IoT) interconnects billions of physical objects to collect and exchange information and makes available various applications. Despite all the advantages of the IoT, some of its applications are not feasible because of the existing restrictions in the IoT sensors. To overcome these restrictions, cloud computing has been developed in recent years. Although cloud computing has removed some of these restrictions, the cloud itself has faced some other challenges. One of these challenges is the distance between the cloud and the end‐devices, which is not ideal for delay‐sensitive applications and also leads to high communication costs and security problems. To handle these challenges, the fog computing has been introduced in literature, which places the resources and services at the edge of the network, close to the end‐devices. On the other hand, fog nodes suffer from heterogeneity, uncertainty, and dispersion of resources, and also processing, storage, and memory limitations. Thus, there is need for a proper task scheduling approach to use these resources optimally. In this study, the task scheduling algorithms proposed by different researchers for the cloud‐fog environment, their advantages and disadvantages, and also various tools and issues regarding the scheduling methods and their restrictions were discussed. The results indicated that about 58% of the scheduling algorithms use static scheduling and that the other 42% use dynamic scheduling, and the delay metric is the most noteworthy parameter considered in most studies with a share of nearly 17%. Finally, we identified the open issues related to the task scheduling based on cloud‐fog computing and provided some directions for future works.
Intense pulsed light for the treatment of pigmented and vascular disorders and lesions: A review
Authors: Fischer Daniel L. , Han Haowei , Gade Anita , Nestor Mark S.
Published: November 2020

Background

Intense pulsed light (IPL) technology has evolved since its first introduction to the market in the 1990s. The underlying mechanism, similar to that of lasers, involves selective thermal damage to specific targets. IPL uses flashlamps and bandpass filters to emit pulsed light of adjustable wavelengths, fluences, and pulse durations. These features contribute to its versatility in treating a wide range of dermatological conditions.

Aims

The purpose of this review is to highlight the history, mechanisms of action, and clinical applications of IPL in treating pigmented and vascular lesions, and to present a comparison of commonly‐used IPL devices available to the market.

Materials and Methods

A literature search was conducted using electronic databases (Medline, Pubmed, Embase, CINAHL, EBSCO) and textbooks, in addition to the authors’ clinical experience on IPL therapy, and findings are presented here.

Results

Studies have demonstrated IPL to be an efficacious and safe modality for treating a variety of pigmented and vascular disorders and lesions, including postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, melasma, ephelides and solar lentigines, telangiectasias, port‐wine stains, poikiloderma of Civatte, rosacea, hemangiomas, venous malformations, and is comparable to other standard therapeutic options. Literature is supportive yet limited due to small sample sizes and short follow‐up periods.

Discussion

The adaptability and affordability of IPL often deem it a favorable primary or adjunctive option for treating benign pigmented and vascular skin lesions. IPL technology has evolved over time and modern devices are similar in both efficacy and side effect profile.
Optimal sampling design for spatial capture–recapture
Authors: Dupont Gates , Royle J. Andrew , Nawaz Muhammad Ali , Sutherland Chris
Published: November 2020

Spatial capture–recapture (SCR) has emerged as the industry standard for estimating population density by leveraging information from spatial locations of repeat encounters of individuals. The precision of density estimates depends fundamentally on the number and spatial configuration of traps. Despite this knowledge, existing sampling design recommendations are heuristic and their performance remains untested for most practical applications. To address this issue, we propose a genetic algorithm that minimizes any sensible, criteria‐based objective function to produce near‐optimal sampling designs. To motivate the idea of optimality, we compare the performance of designs optimized using three model‐based criteria related to the probability of capture. We use simulation to show that these designs outperform those based on existing recommendations in terms of bias, precision, and accuracy in the estimation of population size. Our approach, available as a function in the R package oSCR, allows conservation practitioners and researchers to generate customized and improved sampling designs for wildlife monitoring.
Linking bacterial diversity to floral identity in the bumble bee pollen basket
Authors: Sookhan Nicholas , Lorenzo Antonio , Tatsumi Shinichi , Yuen Mandy , MacIvor J. Scott
Published: November 2020

Multitrophic interactions are ubiquitous in nature and form the basis of biodiversity. For example, bumble bees visit flowers to collect pollen, on which a variety of bacteria exist. Such bacteria consist of pathogens and mutualists and therefore have consequences for bumble bee colony fitness. However, we still know little about how plant diversity and floral selection by bees translate into the bacterial diversity and composition on the pollen consumed by important pollinators. The aim of this study was to characterize the bacterial and floral alpha and beta diversity from bumble bee corbicula (pollen baskets), identify core communities, and characterize their functional role. We found that bacterial alpha diversity (i.e., the diversity of bacteria determined from the pollen basket of a single bumble bee) was positively correlated with floral pollen alpha diversity (i.e., the diversity of plants from that same pollen basket). Bacterial beta diversity (i.e., bacterial composition) was generally weakly correlated with pollen beta diversity (i.e., floral composition). The abundance of some bacterial genera and pollen families was correlated, specificallyLactobacillusandAcinetobacterwere positively correlated with Asteraceae pollen and negatively correlated with Lamiaceae pollen. The most widespread bacteria (the “core OTU”) in bumble bee pollen baskets included both possibly beneficial (Lactobacillus) and potentially pathogenic (Pseudomonas) taxa, but more core OTU functions were unknown vs. known for bumble bees, illustrating the importance of understanding bee–flower–microbe relationships in natural settings.
Analysis of proton and electron transport impedance of a PEM fuel cell in H2/N2 regime
Authors: Kulikovsky Andrei
Published: November 2020

Analytical expressions for impedance of proton and electron transport in the cathode catalyst layer of a PEM fuel cell operating in H/N regime are derived. In the high–frequency range, the dependence of imaginary part of impedance on is a straight line with the slope depending on the cathode catalyst layer (CCL) proton and electron conductivity. The characteristic frequencies of proton and electron transport associated with the double layer charging are close to each other (denoted below as ). The frequency in the cathodes of various type may differ by three orders of magnitude. DRT spectrum of CCL impedance in H2/N2 regime shows two peaks located at the frequencies and . The second frequency of electron transport in the CCL is about four times higher than . Analytical results can be used for simultaneous measurement of proton and electron conductivity of PEMFC cathodes using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.
Birth of Homo erectus
Authors: Wood Bernard
Published: November 2020

Eugène Dubois was the pioneer of human origins research in South‐East Asia, specifically on two of the islands, Sumatra and Java, now included in Indonesia. Dubois was a polymath, whose research interests embraced encephalization and hydrology as well as paleoanthropology. His interpretations of the hominin fossil evidence he collected, which he eventually assigned to Pithecanthropus erectus, changed over the years, and he evidently felt defensive about those interpretations, but in his 1894 paper he presents cogent reasons for his decision. The taxon he introduced is still recognized, and while it is no longer seen as “the” link between fossil apes and modern humans, it is currently one of the longest surviving hominin taxa.
Forecasting Baden‐Württemberg's GDP growth: MIDAS regressions versus dynamic mixed‐frequency factor models
Authors: Kuck Konstantin , Schweikert Karsten
Published: November 2020

Germany's economic composition is heterogenous across regions, which makes regional economic projections based on German gross domestic product (GDP) growth unreliable. In this paper, we develop forecasting models for Baden‐Württemberg's economic growth, a regional economy that is dominated by small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises with a strong focus on foreign trade. For this purpose, we evaluate the backcasting and nowcasting performance of mixed data sampling (MIDAS) regressions with forecast combinations against an approximate dynamic mixed‐frequency factor model. Considering a wide range of regional, national, and global predictors, we find that our high‐dimensional models outperform benchmark time series models. Surprisingly, we also find that combined forecasts based on simple single‐predictor MIDAS regressions are able to outperform forecasts from more sophisticated dynamic factor models.
Testing the reinforcement learning hypothesis of social conformity
Authors: Levorsen Marie , Ito Ayahito , Suzuki Shinsuke , Izuma Keise
Published: November 2020

Our preferences are influenced by the opinions of others. The past human neuroimaging studies on social conformity have identified a network of brain regions related to social conformity that includes the posterior medial frontal cortex (pMFC), anterior insula, and striatum. Since these brain regions are also known to play important roles in reinforcement learning (i.e., processing prediction error), it was previously hypothesized that social conformity and reinforcement learning have a common neural mechanism. However, although this view is currently widely accepted, these two processes have never been directly compared; therefore, the extent to which they shared a common neural mechanism had remained unclear. This study aimed to formally test the hypothesis. The same group of participants (n = 25) performed social conformity and reinforcement learning tasks inside a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanner. Univariate fMRI data analyses revealed activation overlaps in the pMFC and bilateral insula between social conflict and unsigned prediction error and in the striatum between social conflict and signed prediction error. We further conducted multivoxel pattern analysis (MVPA) for more direct evidence of a shared neural mechanism. MVPA did not reveal any evidence to support the hypothesis in any of these regions but found that activation patterns between social conflict and prediction error in these regions were largely distinct. Taken together, the present study provides no clear evidence of a common neural mechanism between social conformity and reinforcement learning.
Parotid gland stem cells: Mini yet mighty
Authors: Sari Sezin Yuce , Yilmaz Melek Tugce , Elmali Aysenur , Yedekci Fazli Yagiz , Yuce Deniz , Ozyigit Gokhan , Cengiz Mustafa , Yazici Gozde
Published: November 2020

Background

Our aim was to evaluate the correlation between the radiation doses to parotid gland (PG) stem cells and xerostomia.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer (HNC) were retrospectively evaluated, and xerostomia inventory (XI) was applied to these patients. PG stem cells were delineated on the treatment planning CT, and the mean doses to the PG stem cells calculated.

Results

The total test score and mean doses to bilateral PGs were significantly correlated (r = .34, P = .001), and the mean doses to bilateral PG stem cell niches were significantly correlated with the total test score (r = .32, P = .002).

Conclusions

In this study, we found that the mean dose to PG stem cells can predict dry mouth as much as the mean dose to the PG.
Could the UK Foundation Programme training post allocation process result in regional variations in the knowledge and skills of Foundation doctors? A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Beck Christopher , Brown Celia
Published: November 2020

Background and Aims

The allocation of medical school graduates to Foundation Schools (post‐qualification training, organized at regional level) in the United Kingdom uses a ranking process that takes into account educational performance at medical school and performance on a situational judgment test (SJT). We aimed to compare the performance of United Kingdom graduates allocated to different United Kingdom Foundation School according to three metrics: educational performance measure (EPM), SJT, and prescribing safety assessment (PSA).

Methods

We used a cross‐sectional study design using data from the UK Medical Education Database, studying 19 United Kingdom Foundation School groups. A total of 33 730 graduates from United Kingdom medical schools in the period 2014 to 2018 (inclusive) who started Foundation Training in August 2018 or earlier were included in the study, excluding those allocated to the Academic Foundation Programme or the Armed Forces Deanery. The outcomes were within‐year standardized mean scores (by Foundation School) on the EPM, SJT, and PSA.

Results

There was a significant difference between Foundation Schools in the Educational Performance Measure (F = 401, P < .001), SJT (F = 213, P < .001), and PSA (F = 95, P < .001). Tukey‐Kramer pairwise comparisons between Foundation Schools showed a very high percentage of statistical significance (78%, 402/513 comparisons). The Cohen's d effect size for the difference in means and Tukey‐Kramer 95% confidence intervals between the Foundation Schools with the highest (North West Thames) and lowest (West Midlands North) means were 1.92 (1.77‐2.07) for the EPM, 1.59 (1.44‐1.73) for the SJT, and 0.94 (0.79‐1.09) for the PSA.

Conclusion

There is a statistically significant difference between the knowledge and skills of doctors (as measured by the three metrics used in this study) entering the Foundation Programme in different Foundation Schools. It is less clear whether this has an impact on patient care and thus is unfair from the perspective of the patient.
Safety of hydroxychloroquine for treatment or prevention of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection: A rapid systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized clinical trials
Authors: Maraolo Alberto Enrico , Grossi Adriano
Published: November 2020

Introduction

Hydroxycloroquine (HCQ) has been extensively studied for treatment and prevention of coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID‐19) from the start of the pandemic. Conflicting evidence about its usefulness has begun to accrue.

Methods

In the face of controversial results about clinical efficacy of HCQ, we performed a rapid systematic review to assess its safety in the framework of COVID‐19 randomized clinical trials.

Results

Five studies investigating 2291 subjects were included. The use of HCQ was associated with higher risk of adverse event compared with placebo or standard of care: odds ratio 4.57, 95% confidence interval 2.14–9.45.

Conclusion

Safety profile of HCQ appears to be unsatisfactory when used to treat or prevent COVID‐19, especially in the light of unproved clinical benefit.
Local Investigators Significantly Overestimate Overall Response Rates Compared to Blinded Independent Central Reviews in Phase 2 Oncology Trials
Authors: Dello Russo Cinzia , Cappoli Natalia , Pilunni Daniela , Navarra Pierluigi
Published: November 2020

The overall response rate (ORR) is a largely adopted outcome measure in early‐phase oncology trials. ORR is highly relevant in cancer drug development at the time of deciding whether to move to confirmatory phase 3 trials; moreover, ORR is gaining increasing relevance in fast‐track registration procedures. No systematic analysis has been conducted so far to investigate whether a discrepancy exists between ORR assessed by local investigators and those assessed by blinded reviewers in phase 2 oncology trials. In this study, we carried out a search in the clinicaltrials.gov and EudraCT databases, looking at the trials reporting the results of both investigator‐assessed and independently‐assessed ORR. A discrepancy index was obtained by calculating the ratio of each investigator‐assessed ORR on the corresponding independently assessed ORR, so that a discrepancy index >1 indicates that the investigator was “more optimistic,” whereas a discrepancy index <1 indicates the opposite. We also analyzed different subgroups (by tumor type, by drug type, by year). Twenty trials met the search criteria; in some cases, >1 comparison was conducted in the trial, so that the total number of comparisons analyzed was 33. The estimated mean discrepancy index was 1.175 (95% confidence interval, 1.083‐1.264; n = 33). In conclusion, local investigators significantly overestimate ORR compared to paired blinded reviewers in phase 2 oncology trials. This may represent a risk in drug development, when deciding whether to move to confirmatory, more expensive phase 3 trials. Blinded independent central review should be used in ORR assessment if a more conservative estimate of treatment efficacy is required, as in the case of fast‐track drug developments leading to accelerated approvals of cancer therapies.
The hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis controls muscle stem cell senescence through autophagosome clearance
Authors: Kim Ji‐Hoon , Park Inkuk , Shin Hijai R. , Rhee Joonwoo , Seo Ji‐Yun , Jo Young‐Woo , Yoo Kyusang , Hann Sang‐Hyeon , Kang Jong‐Seol , Park Jieon , Kim Ye Lynne , Moon Ju‐Yeon , Choi Man Ho , Kong Young‐Yun
Published: November 2020

Background

With organismal aging, the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) activity gradually decreases, resulting in the systemic functional declines of the target tissues including skeletal muscles. Although the HPG axis plays an important role in health span, how the HPG axis systemically prevents functional aging is largely unknown.

Methods

We generated muscle stem cell (MuSC)‐specific androgen receptor (Ar) and oestrogen receptor 2 (Esr2) double knockout (dKO) mice and pharmacologically inhibited (Antide) the HPG axis to mimic decreased serum levels of sex steroid hormones in aged mice. After short‐term and long‐term sex hormone signalling ablation, the MuSCs were functionally analysed, and their aging phenotypes were compared with those of geriatric mice (30‐month‐old). To investigate pathways associated with sex hormone signalling disruption, RNA sequencing and bioinformatic analyses were performed.

Results

Disrupting the HPG axis results in impaired muscle regeneration [wild‐type (WT) vs. dKO, P < 0.0001; Veh vs. Antide, P = 0.004]. The expression of DNA damage marker (in WT = 7.0 ± 1.6%, dKO = 32.5 ± 2.6%, P < 0.01; in Veh = 13.4 ± 4.5%, Antide = 29.7 ± 5.5%, P = 0.028) and senescence‐associated β‐galactosidase activity (in WT = 3.8 ± 1.2%, dKO = 10.3 ± 1.6%, P < 0.01; in Veh = 2.1 ± 0.4%, Antide = 9.6 ± 0.8%, P = 0.005), as well as the expression levels of senescence‐associated genes, p16Ink4a and p21Cip1, was significantly increased in the MuSCs, indicating that genetic and pharmacological inhibition of the HPG axis recapitulates the progressive aging process of MuSCs. Mechanistically, the ablation of sex hormone signalling reduced the expression of transcription factor EB (Tfeb) and Tfeb target gene in MuSCs, suggesting that sex hormones directly induce the expression of Tfeb, a master regulator of the autophagy–lysosome pathway, and consequently autophagosome clearance. Transduction of the Tfeb in naturally aged MuSCs increased muscle mass [control geriatric MuSC transplanted tibialis anterior (TA) muscle = 34.3 ± 2.9 mg, Tfeb‐transducing geriatric MuSC transplanted TA muscle = 44.7 ± 6.7 mg, P = 0.015] and regenerating myofibre size [eMyHC+tdTomato+ myofibre cross‐section area (CSA) in control vs. Tfeb, P = 0.002] after muscle injury.

Conclusions

Our data show that the HPG axis systemically controls autophagosome clearance in MuSCs through Tfeb and prevents MuSCs from senescence, suggesting that sustained HPG activity throughout life regulates autophagosome clearance to maintain the quiescence of MuSCs by preventing senescence until advanced age.
Deep eutectic solvent‐assisted synthesis of polyaniline by laccase enzyme
Authors: Altundağ Aybike , Ünlü Ayşe Ezgi , Takaç Serpil
Published: November 2020

BACKGROUND

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have attracted considerable attention for many chemical applications due to their environmentally friendly characteristics, low cost and limited or no health issues. Polyaniline (PANI) has been of a great interest for many years due to its distinctive electrical and optical properties and accordingly its diverse application fields. Enzymatic synthesis of PANI offers mild and environmentally benign conditions. However, the main difficulty of the enzymatic method is the formation of undesired units in the polymer, which can be overcome by the use of templates. Thus, the reaction is guided towards the desired products. This study reports – for the first time – that DESs can be used as templates in the synthesis of polymers.

RESULTS

Several DESs were tested in the oxidation of aniline to form PANI by the catalytic effect of laccase and it was found that d,l‐menthol–decanoic acid (Ment‐DA; 1:1) assisted the polymer formation. The effects of synthesis conditions such as volume concentration of Ment‐DA, laccase activity, initial concentration of aniline, pH of the medium, temperature and agitation rate on the formation of PANI were investigated. In situ doping of PANI with acids during DES‐assisted synthesis of the polymer was also carried out to provide electrically conducting PANI. The resulting polymers were characterized using their UV–visible and Fourier transform infrared spectra, electrical conductivities and morphologies.

CONCLUSIONS

This work introduces a new type of template for use in polymerization reactions. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Investigating the neural activity of various 3D visual fatigue degrees using depth‐related visual evoked potentials
Authors: Yue Kang , Wang Danli
Published: November 2020

Severe visual fatigue symptoms occur while users view three‐dimensional (3D) content. These symptoms adversely affect the user experience and hinder the widespread application of 3D media. Existing studies mainly used electroencephalography (EEG) power (based on frequency domain analysis) to evaluate 3D visual fatigue (3DVF), but their results were often contradictory and confusing. To address this problem, we investigated the relationship between EEG features and visual fatigue from the perspective of both time and time‐frequency domain. Random‐dot stereograms (RDS) with various disparities were employed to elicit depth‐related visual evoked potentials (VEPs). The experiment lasted about 27 min for each subject to induce fatigue, and the EEG was recorded synchronously. VEPs of different fatigue levels were processed to extract both time (such as P120 and N170 components in VEPs) and time‐frequency (like event‐related spectral perturbation [ERSP]) domain characteristics. A significant increase in P120 amplitude was observed in the parietal region, and time‐frequency analysis also revealed a significant ERSP decrease of theta bands in the central‐frontal region with a latency of 200 to 300 ms when subjects suffered fatigue. Our results confirm the hypothesis that activity of theta decreased with 3DVF level, or rather, we found ERSPs of theta bands on FC4 and Cz in the 200‐ to 300‐ms window decreased significantly across four fatigue levels. Furthermore, we first reported the relationship between P120 amplitude and 3DVF, which implied this feature could be considered as a feature of 3DVF evaluation. In summary, our studies could provide a new insight for 3DVF evaluation using EEG.
Isopropanol dehydration reaction rate kinetics measurement using H2O time histories
Authors: Cooper Sean P. , Mulvihill Clayton R. , Mathieu Olivier , Petersen Eric L.
Published: November 2020

H2O formation during thermal decomposition of isopropanol was measured behind reflected shock waves at temperatures ranging from 1127 to 1621 K at an average pressure of 1.42 atm using a laser absorption technique. Of the five modern chemical kinetics models used to compare the H2O time histories, the model from Li et al (Combust. Flame 2019;207:171‐185) showed the best overall agreement. Sensitivity and rate of production analyses using the Li et al model (as well as those from AramcoMech 3.0, CRECK, and Togbe et al (Energy Fuel. 2011;25:676‐683)) showed unimolecular dehydration of isopropanol, iC3H7OH ⇌ H2O + C3H6 (R1), is nearly the sole reaction controlling H2O production at early times, allowing for an a priori measurement of the forward rate constant k1. The Arrhenius expression k1 (s–1) = 2.60 × 1013 exp(−31 120 K/T) was determined to represent best the data from this study. According to the models and previous experimental investigations, the pressure investigated is well within the high‐pressure limit (HPL) for this reaction. Additional, higher‐pressure experiments also confirmed the HPL assumption. An uncertainty analysis was performed by varying secondary reactions within their uncertainties and examining their effect on the overall prediction, establishing an uncertainty within ±20% for all but the highest temperature cases, which have a maximum uncertainty of ±40%. Experiments conducted with a radical trapper, toluene, showed little influence from radical chemistry, suggesting this estimated uncertainty is fairly conservative. Experimental data from Heyne et al (Z Phys Chem. 2015;229:881‐907) were found to be in good agreement with the rate measurements from this study and, therefore, a second Arrhenius expression, k1 (s–1) = 2.11 × 1013 exp(−30 820 K/T), was found to represent both datasets well. This second expression has a larger temperature range of 976‐1621 K. The present study provides the first high‐temperature data collected for this reaction, adding to the limited data available for isopropanol in the literature.
Early Postoperative Magnetic Resonance in the Diagnosis of Persistent Juvenile Angiofibroma
Authors: Schreiber Alberto , Ravanelli Marco , Ferrari Marco , Mattavelli Davide , Rampinelli Vittorio , Bolzoni Villaret Andrea , Bertazzoni Giacomo , Tomasoni Michele , Gualtieri Tommaso , Zorza Ivan , Farina Davide , Maroldi Roberto , Nicolai Piero
Published: November 2020

Objectives/Hypothesis

Despite improvements in the treatment of juvenile angiofibroma (JA), the rate of persistence (pJA) is still not negligible. In the present study, we assessed the value of early postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in depicting unintentional pJAs and designed a MRI‐driven decisional flow‐chart for pJA management and follow‐up.

Study Design

Observational study.

Methods

Patients undergoing early postoperative MRI after endoscopic resection of JA in the Unit of Otorhinolaryngology – ASST Spedali Civili, University of Brescia from 2007 to 2017 were enrolled. MRI was defined as negative or positive based on defined radiological criteria. The diagnostic performance of MRI was evaluated.

Results

The analysis included 26 patients, with a mean age of 16.5 years (range, 11–25). Early MRI was negative for pJA in 21 (80.8%) patients and positive in five (19.2%). No patient with a negative finding was found positive at subsequent follow‐up MRIs. The accuracy of a positive finding was confirmed by pathologic examination (three cases) or follow‐up MRIs (two cases). The diagnostic performance of MRI was excellent with sensitivity and specificity of 100%. An MRI‐driven flow‐chart for pJA management and follow‐up was designed.

Conclusions

Early postoperative MRI demonstrated a high diagnostic accuracy in the detection of unintentional pJA. Our MRI‐driven strategy and decisional flow‐chart could aid in the decision‐making process in the management of pJA and definition of postoperative surveillance.

Level of evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 131:E2436–E2441, 2021
Self‐Healing Epoxy and Reversible Diels‐Alder Based Interpenetrating Networks
Authors: Strachota Beata , Hodan Jiří , Dybal Jiří , Matějka Libor
Published: November 2020

Dual networks, containing Diels‐Alder (DA) based reversible and epoxy networks, are studied as self‐healing thermoset materials. The thermoreversible DA network acts as a healing agent at healing procedure and the epoxy network (E) keeps the material integrity. Two types of the dual networks are investigated, the interpenetrating networks (IPN) and the DA‐epoxy copolymers. The rate of bonds breaking and reformation is monitored by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and dynamic mechanical analysis. Two healing steps are followed: the sealing of the notch by microscopy and recovery of the structure by tensile tests. The factors governing the healing efficiency are determined and analyzed. The fraction of the sol generated at healing is found to be the crucial parameter. The novel architecture of the IPN with a high content of the DA network is designed. This IPN generates a high amount of the sol at healing and shows the healing efficiency approaching to 100%.
In Vivo Assessment of Neuroinflammation in 4‐Repeat Tauopathies
Authors: Palleis Carla , Sauerbeck Julia , Beyer Leonie , Harris Stefanie , Schmitt Julia , Morenas‐Rodriguez Estrella , Finze Anika , Nitschmann Alexander , Ruch‐Rubinstein Francois , Eckenweber Florian , Biechele Gloria , Blume Tanja , Shi Yuan , Weidinger Endy , Prix Catharina , Bötzel Kai , Danek Adrian , Rauchmann Boris‐Stephan , Stöcklein Sophia , Lindner Simon , Unterrainer Marcus , Albert Nathalie L. , Wetzel Christian , Rupprecht Rainer , Rominger Axel , Bartenstein Peter , Herms Jochen , Perneczky Robert , Haass Christian , Levin Johannes , Höglinger Günter U. , Brendel Matthias
Published: November 2020

Background

Neuroinflammation has received growing interest as a therapeutic target in neurodegenerative disorders, including 4‐repeat tauopathies.

Objectives

The aim of this cross‐sectional study was to investigate 18 kDa translocator protein positron emission tomography (PET) as a biomarker for microglial activation in the 4‐repeat tauopathies corticobasal degeneration and progressive supranuclear palsy.

Methods

Specific binding of the 18 kDa translocator protein tracer 18F‐GE‐180 was determined by serial PET during pharmacological depletion of microglia in a 4‐repeat tau mouse model. The 18 kDa translocator protein PET was performed in 30 patients with corticobasal syndrome (68 ± 9 years, 16 women) and 14 patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (69 ± 9 years, 8 women), and 13 control subjects (70 ± 7 years, 7 women). Group comparisons and associations with parameters of disease progression were assessed by region‐based and voxel‐wise analyses.

Results

Tracer binding was significantly reduced after pharmacological depletion of microglia in 4‐repeat tau mice. Elevated 18 kDa translocator protein labeling was observed in the subcortical brain areas of patients with corticobasal syndrome and progressive supranuclear palsy when compared with controls and was most pronounced in the globus pallidus internus, whereas only patients with corticobasal syndrome showed additionally elevated tracer binding in motor and supplemental motor areas. The 18 kDa translocator protein labeling was not correlated with parameters of disease progression in corticobasal syndrome and progressive supranuclear palsy but allowed sensitive detection in patients with 4‐repeat tauopathies by a multiregion classifier.

Conclusions

Our data indicate that 18F‐GE‐180 PET detects microglial activation in the brain of patients with 4‐repeat tauopathy, fitting to predilection sites of the phenotype. The 18 kDa translocator protein PET has a potential for monitoring neuroinflammation in 4‐repeat tauopathies. © 2020 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Ti6Al4V mandibular devices by additive manufacturing: Assessment of as‐built quality
Authors: Campioni Ilaria , Gupta Nikhil
Published: November 2020

Additive manufacturing (AM) represents a promising healthcare innovation. Clinicians need ready‐to‐use devices in short time, which means high as‐built quality and low uncertainty. Medical devices need to respect stringent quality requirements ensuring safety and effectiveness. The medical practitioners often outsource the manufacturing to hub services. This study aims to assess the as‐built quality of AM mandibular plate prototypes manufactured by direct metal laser sintering technology using Ti6Al4V alloy and highlights several challenges that emerge from using the commercial printing services where user does not have control over the actual manufacturing process. Verification of dimensions, morphology, surface finish and mechanical properties is conducted. Finite element analysis on computer‐aided design (CAD) models was performed for stress analysis. Non‐destructive analysis by micro‐computed tomography (micro‐CT) allowed measurement of the dimensions, ascertaining the dimensional accuracy in reference to the CAD models, and the presence of pores and internal defects, while destructive analysis allowed determination of the mechanical properties. Although no large internal defects were detected, some regions of micro‐porosity and incomplete fusion of feed particles were observed. Accurate production of fine details was also a concern in the printed parts. The proposed framework establishes a structured assessment scheme, which could be useful for other AM medical designs and for stakeholders involved in AM for biomedical applications.
On some combinatorial properties of bihyperbolic numbers of the Fibonacci type
Authors: Bród Dorota , Szynal‐Liana Anetta , Włoch Iwona
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we give some properties of the bihyperbolic Fibonacci, Jacobsthal and Pell numbers, among others the Binet formula, Catalan, Cassini, and d'Ocagne identities. Moreover, we present the generating function and summation formulas for these numbers.
Exogenous activation and inhibition of plasminogen/plasmin activity during in vitro maturation of bovine cumulus‐oocyte complexes: A biological and spectroscopic approach
Authors: Rizo Gabriela , Barrera Antonio Daniel , Jimenez Luis Emanuel , García Elina Vanesa , García Daniela C. , Roldán‐Olarte Mariela
Published: November 2020

This study deals with the effect of plasminogen/plasmin on the in vitro maturation (IVM) of bovine cumulus‐oocyte complexes (COCs). Exogenous plasminogen activator streptokinase (SK) added to the IVM medium revealed similar values of cumulus expansion and oocyte nuclear maturation compared to controls (standard IVM medium). However, a decrease in both determinations was observed in COCs matured with the supplementation of ɛ‐aminocaproic acid (ɛ‐ACA), a specific plasmin inhibitor. After in vitro fertilization, no differences were observed in either cleavage or blastocyst rates between SK and control groups; however, ε‐ACA treatment caused a decrease in both developmental rates. Zona pellucida (ZP) digestion time decreased in the SK group while it increased in the ε‐ACA group. Raman microspectroscopy revealed an increase in the intensity of the band corresponding to the glycerol group of sialic acid in the ZP of oocytes matured with SK, whereas ZP spectra of oocytes treated with ɛ‐ACA presented similarities with immature oocytes. The results indicate that although treatment with SK did not alter oocyte developmental competence, it induced modifications in the ZP of oocytes that could modify the folding of glycoproteins. Plasmin inhibition impairs oocyte maturation and has an impact on embryo development, thus evidencing the importance of this protease during IVM.
A relaxin‐like gonad‐stimulating peptide identified from the starfish Astropecten scoparius
Authors: Mita Masatoshi , Osugi Tomohiro , Matsubara Shin , Kawada Tsuyoshi , Satake Honoo , Katayama Hidekazu
Published: November 2020

A relaxin‐like gonad‐stimulating peptide (RGP) in starfish was the first identified invertebrate gonadotropin responsible for final gamete maturation. An RGP ortholog was newly identified from Astropecten scoparius of the order Paxillosida. The A. scoparius RGP (AscRGP) precursor is encoded by a 354 base pair open reading frame and is a 118 amino acid (aa) protein consisting of a signal peptide (26 aa), B‐chain (21 aa), C‐peptide (47 aa), and A‐chain (24 aa). There are three putative processing sites (Lys‐Arg) between the B‐chain and C‐peptide, between the C‐peptide and A‐chain, and within the C‐peptide. This structural organization revealed that the mature AscRGP is composed of A‐ and B‐chains with two interchain disulfide bonds and one intrachain disulfide bond. The C‐terminal residues of the B‐chain are Gln‐Gly‐Arg, which is a potential substrate for formation of an amidated C‐terminal Gln residue. Non‐amidated (AscRGP‐GR) and amidated (AscRGP‐NH2) peptides were chemically synthesized and their effect on gamete shedding activity was examined using A. scoparius ovaries. Both AscRGP‐GR and AscRGP‐NH2 induced oocyte maturation and ovulation in similar dose‐dependent manners. This is the first report on a C‐terminally amidated functional RGP. Collectively, these results suggest that AscRGP‐GR and AscRGP‐NH2 act as a natural gonadotropic hormone in A. scoparius.