bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental investigation on microlayer behavior and bubble growth based on laser interferometric method
Authors: Wang Ji , Wang Hongbin , Xiong Jinbiao
Published: March 2023

High-speed laser interferometry is synchronized with a high-speed camera to visualize the dynamic microlayer behavior during bubble growth in a pool boiling under pressures from 0.1 to 0.3 MPa. An Indium–Tin-Oxide (ITO) film coated on sapphire is employed as the heating unit to provide the nominal surface heat fluxes in the range from 90 to 150 kW/m2. Based on the instantaneous microlayer thickness and photographed bubble images, microlayer formation and depletion and their relationship with bubble growth are analyzed. Appreciable effects of pressure on microlayer dynamics and bubble growth have been observed. At higher pressure, the microlayer existence time decreases and consequently, the contribution of the microlayer evaporation becomes less important. At elevated pressure, the effects of liquid subcooling and surface heat flux on bubble growth become more pronounced. The dimensionless instantaneous maximum microlayer thickness, δmax/√vt, shows exponential dependence on the ratio rd/rb,1 which increases linearly with time before the microlayer depletion. A correlation is proposed to predict the instantaneous maximum microlayer thickness synthesizing the two relations. The local heat flux will be overestimated and the wall temperature profile is contrary to the experimental observation when the flow inside the microlayer is negligible. During the bubble growth period, only part of the microlayer is evaporated and the internal flow inside cannot be neglected.
Activation of peroxymonosulfate by cow manure biochar@1T-MoS2 for enhancing degradation of dimethyl phthalate: Performance and mechanism
Authors: He Yutian , Wang Xinzhi , Ke Yuhan , Qiu Yiquan , Zhou Qiao , Shen Zheyu , Xie Han , Li Yingqiang , Huang Mingzhi
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Dimethyl phthalate (DMP) which has been widely detected in water is neurotoxic to humans and should be effectively eliminated. Persulfate-based advanced oxidation processes are considered to be reliable methods aiming at emerging contaminants degradation, while an efficient catalyst is urgently needed for the activation of the reaction. As a typical 2D material, 1T-MoS2 is expected to be applied to the activation of persulfate owing to its abundant active sites and excellent electrical conductivity. In practical applications, 1T-MoS2 has the phenomenon of reunion which affects the exposure of its catalytic sites.

Methods: Therefore, in this study, we used waste cow manure as a raw material to prepare biochar and achieved high exposure of 1T-MoS2 activation sites by loading 1T-MoS2 onto the surface of cow manure biochar through hydrothermal synthesis. The prepared composite catalytic material CMB@1T-MoS2 was used to activate PMS for the degradation of DMP.

Results: It was found that CMB@1T-MoS2 has better effect than CMB or 1T-MoS2 alone for the degradation of DMP, reaching 77.65% at pH = 3. Under alkaline conditions, the degradation rate of DMP was reduced due to the inhibition of the catalytic process. Among the different coexisting anions, HCO-3 interfered and inhibited the degradation process the most, leading to the lowest degradation rate of DMP with 42.45%.

Discussion: The quenching experiments and EPR analysis showed that SO-4• and •OH were the main ROS in the CMB@1T-MoS2/PMS process. This study promotes the resourceful use of cow manure and is expected to provide a novel persulfate-based advanced oxidation process catalyzed by CMB@1T-MoS2 for the elimination of DMP in an aqueous environment.
Combination of ozone-based advanced oxidation process and nanobubbles generation toward textile wastewater recovery
Authors: Hutagalung Sutrisno Salomo , Rafryanto Ande Fudja , Sun Wei , Juliasih Nurochma , Aditia Sri , Jiang Jizhou , Arramel  , Dipojono Hermawan Kresno , Suhardi Sri Harjati , Rochman Nurul Taufiqu , Kurniadi Deddy
Published: March 2023

The intricate nature of various textile manufacturing processes introduces colored dyes, surfactants, and toxic chemicals that have been harmful to ecosystems in recent years. Here, a combination ozone-based advanced oxidation process (AOP) is coupled with a nanobubbles generator for the generation of ozone nanobubbles (NB) utilized the same to treat the primary effluent acquired from textile wastewaters. Here we find several key parameters such as chemical oxygen demand ammonia content (NH3), and total suspended solids indicating a substantial recovery in which the respective percentages of 81.1%, 30.81%, and 41.98%, upon 300 min residence time are achieved. On the other hand, the pH is shifted from 7.93 to 7.46, indicating the generation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) due to the termination reaction and the self-reaction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We propose that the reactive oxygen species can be identified from the negative zeta potential measurement (−22.43 ± 0.34 mV) collected in the final state of treatment. The combined method has successfully generated ozone nanobubbles with 99.94% of size distributed in 216.9 nm. This highlights that enhancement of ozone’s reactivity plays a crucial role in improving the water quality of textile wastewater towards being technologically efficient to date.
Soil organic carbon regulation from chemistry in top- but microbial community in subsoil in eastern coastal China poplar plantations
Authors: Liu Binchi , Xu Xia , Xu Chonghua , Ju Chenghui , Guo Liang , Li Ning , Zhu Zhu , Li Qian , Shen Caiqin , Cao Guohua
Published: March 2023

Although patterns in the vertical distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) are key to assessing soil C sequestration potential, they remain poorly understood. We sampled 18 soil profiles at one meter depth at the Dongtai Forest Farm to investigate the vertical distribution of SOC, the stoichiometric relationship between SOC and total nitrogen (TN) and the controlling factors of SOC at different soil depths. We found that SOC content decreased significantly with increasing soil depth. Approximately 67% of SOC was stored in the top 30 cm. The N-C scaling slope (i.e., the slope of the relationship between log-transformed N and C not significantly different from 1.0) revealed significant differences between top- and subsoil with N and C scaled isometrically in topsoil (0–30 cm), but not in subsoil (30–100 cm). SOC content was co-regulated by soil physiochemical and microbial properties at the site level with soil chemical and microbial properties dominant in the top- and subsoil, respectively. Topsoil SOC increased with soil TN, available phosphorus (AP) and fungal abundance. Subsoil SOC increased with the fungal-to-bacterial ratio, fungal abundance and soil dissoluble organic carbon (DOC). Our study highlights the dominance of microbial community in regulating SOC in the subsoil and advances our understanding of the variation in mechanisms regulating SOC along the soil profile.
Characterizing a rare neurogenetic disease, SLC13A5 citrate transporter disorder, utilizing clinical data in a cloud-based medical record collection system
Authors: Spelbrink Emily M. , Brown Tanya L. , Brimble Elise , Blanco Kirsten A. , Nye Kimberly L. , Porter Brenda E.
Published: March 2023

Introduction: SLC13A5 citrate transporter disorder is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disease that has a constellation of neurologic symptoms. To better characterize the neurologic and clinical laboratory phenotype, we utilized patient medical records collected by Ciitizen, an Invitae company, with support from the TESS Research Foundation.

Methods: Medical records for 15 patients with a suspected genetic and clinical diagnosis of SLC13A5 citrate transporter disorder were collected by Ciitizen, an Invitae company. Genotype, clinical phenotypes, and laboratory data were extracted and analyzed.

Results: The 15 patients reported all had epilepsy and global developmental delay. Patients continued to attain motor milestones, though much later than their typically developing peers. Clinical diagnoses support abnormalities in communication, and low or mixed tone with several movement disorders, including, ataxia and dystonia. Serum citrate was elevated in the 3 patients in whom it was measured; other routine laboratory studies assessing renal, liver and blood function had normal values or no consistent abnormalities. Many electroencephalograms (EEGs) were performed (1 to 35 per patient), and most but not all were abnormal, with slowing and/or epileptiform activity. Fourteen of the patients had one or more brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reports: 7 patients had at least one normal brain MRI, but not with any consistent findings except white matter signal changes.

Discussion: These results show that in addition to the epilepsy phenotype, SLC13A5 citrate transporter disorder impacts global development, with marked abnormalities in motor abilities, tone, coordination, and communication skills. Further, utilizing cloud-based medical records allows industry, academic, and patient advocacy group collaboration to provide preliminary characterization of a rare genetic disorder. Additional characterization of the neurologic phenotype will be critical to future study and developing treatment for this and related rare genetic disorders.
Case report: Gene mutation analysis and skin imaging of isolated café-au-lait macules
Authors: Zhong Zhenyu , Yang Tianhui , Liu Siqi , Wang Shan , Zhou Shan , Du Shuli , Zheng Liyun , Wang Xiuli , Wang Hui , Wang Yifan , Gao Min
Published: March 2023

Background: Café-au-lait macules (CALMs) are common birthmarks associated with several genetic syndromes, such as neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Isolated CALMs are defined as multiple café-au-lait macules in patients without any other sign of NF1. Typical CALMs can have predictive significance for NF1, and non-invasive techniques can provide more accurate results for judging whether café-au-lait spots are typical.

Objectives: The study aimed to investigate gene mutations in six Chinese Han pedigrees of isolated CALMs and summarize the characteristics of CALMs under dermoscopy and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM).

Methods: In this study, we used Sanger sequencing to test for genetic mutations in six families and whole exome sequencing (WES) in two families. We used dermoscopy and RCM to describe the imaging characteristics of CALMs.

Results: In this study, we tested six families for genetic mutations, and two mutations were identified as novel mutations. The first family identified [NC_000017.11(NM_001042492.2):c.7355G>A]. The second family identified [NC_000017.11(NM_001042492.2):c.2739_2740del]. According to genotype-phenotype correlation analyses, proband with frameshift mutation tended to have a larger number of CALMs and a higher rate of having atypical CALMs. Dermoscopy showed uniform and consistent tan-pigmented network patches with poorly defined margins with a lighter color around the hair follicles. Under RCM, the appearance of NF1 comprised the increased pigment granules in the basal layer and significantly increased refraction.

Conclusion: A new heterozygous mutation and a new frameshift mutation of NF1 were reported. This article can assist in summarizing the properties of dermoscopy and RCM with CALMs.
SOCS3 as a potential driver of lung metastasis in colon cancer patients
Authors: Li Xuejie , Yang Zuyi , Chen Bi , Gu Lei , Tian Guoyan , Sui Xinbing
Published: March 2023

Background

The suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) is the negative feedback regulator of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. The purpose of our study was to investigate the SOCS3 status in colon primary tumor and lung metastasis and its relationship with macrophages.

Methods

The SOCS3 expression pattern and its relationship with the immune response in pan-cancer was investigated using multiple methods. Samples and corresponding clinical information of 32 colon cancer patients with lung metastasis were collected, and the CD68, CD163, and SOCS3 status were conducted using immunohistochemistry (IHC). The relationship between SOCS3 status and macrophage markers was analyzed. Besides, we explored the molecular mechanisms of SOCS3 in lung metastasis via the TCGA database.

Results

High SOCS3 expression was more inclined to poor prognosis and was positively correlated with main immune cell infiltration in almost each cancer type, especially in colon cancer. Compared with the colon primary tumor, lung metastasis harbored higher CD163 and SOCS3 expression, and high SOCS3 expression was more likely to be associated with high CD163 expression in lung metastasis. Besides, the exceptional differentially expressed genes in lung metastasis significantly enriched in immune responses and regulations.

Conclusions

SOCS3 possessed value as a prognostic marker and target for immunotherapeutic intervention in different tumors and might be a potential target of tumor progression and tumor immunotherapy in colon cancer.
The effect of herbal medicine in innate immunity to Candida albicans
Authors: Bao Meng-Yuan , Li Ming , Bu Qing-Ru , Yang Yue , Song Hang , Wang Chang-Zhong , Wang Tian-Ming , Li Ning
Published: March 2023

Candida albicans (C. albicans) is an opportunistic pathogenic fungus that often causes mucosal and systemic infections. Several pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and C-type lectin receptors (CLRs), have been implicated in the host recognition of C. albicans. These PRRs recognize the pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) of C. albicans to activate innate immune cells, thereby rapidly inducing various inflammatory responses by activating intracellular signaling cascades. Herbal medicine and its active components deserve priority development due to their low toxicity and high antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal activities. This review discussed the activities of herbal compounds against C. albicans and their related mechanisms, especially their regulatory role on innate immune cells such as neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells (DCs) implicated in C. albicans infections. Our work aims to find new therapeutic drugs and targets to prevent and treat diseases caused by C. albicans infection with the mechanisms by which this fungus interacts with the innate immune response.
Active regression model for clinical grading of COVID-19
Authors: Sh Yuan , Dong Jierong , Chen Zhongqing , Yuan Meiqing , Lyu Lingna , Zhang Xiuli
Published: March 2023

Background

In the therapeutic process of COVID-19, the majority of indicators that physicians have for assisting treatment have come from clinical tests represented by proteins, metabolites, and immune levels in patients’ blood. Therefore, this study constructs an individualized treatment model based on deep learning methods, aiming to realize timely intervention based on clinical test indicator data of COVID-19 patients and provide an important theoretical basis for optimizing medical resource allocation.

Methods

This study collected clinical data from a total of 1,799 individuals, including 560 controls for non-respiratory infectious diseases (Negative), 681 controls for other respiratory virus infections (Other), and 558 coronavirus infections (Positive) for COVID-19. We first used the Student T-test to screen for statistically significant differences (Pvalue<0.05); we then used the Adaptive-Lasso method stepwise regression to screen the characteristic variables and filter the features with low importance; we then used analysis of covariance to calculate the correlation between variables and filter the highly correlated features; and finally, we analyzed the feature contribution and screened the best combination of features.

Results

Feature engineering reduced the feature set to 13 feature combinations. The correlation coefficient between the projected results of the artificial intelligence-based individualized diagnostic model and the fitted curve of the actual values in the test group was 0.9449 which could be applied to the clinical prognosis of COVID-19. In addition, the depletion of platelets in patients with COVID-19 is an important factor affecting their severe deterioration. With the progression of COVID-19, there is a slight decrease in the total number of platelets in the patient’s body, particularly as the volume of larger platelets sharply decreases. The importance of plateletCV (count*mean platelet volume) in evaluating the severity of COVID-19 patients is higher than the count of platelets and mean platelet volume.

Conclusion

In general, we found that for patients with COVID-19, the increase in mean platelet volume was a predictor for SARS-Cov-2. The rapid decrease of platelet volume and the decrease of total platelet volume are dangerous signals for the aggravation of SARS-Cov-2 infection. The analysis and modeling results of this study provide a new perspective for individualized accurate diagnosis and treatment of clinical COVID-19 patients.
Histological, microecological and transcriptomic physiological responses underlying hypoxia and reoxygenation adaptation in yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi)
Authors: Zhou Heting , Jiang Yan , Xu Yongjiang , Cui Aijun , Feng Yuan , Jin Zhixin , Wang Bin
Published: March 2023

Yellowtail kingfish has emerged as one of the most promising marine fishes for aquaculture in China because it is tasty, fast growing, and has high economic value. To investigate the tolerance and adaptability to hypoxia of farmed yellowtail kingfish, juveniles were exposed to hypoxia (3.0 ± 0.5 mg/L) for 5 days and then returned to normoxia (7.5 ± 0.5 mg/L) for another 5 days. Using tissue sections and high-throughput sequencing technology, we investigated the histological, microecological, transcriptomic, and physiological adaptation mechanisms of yellowtail kingfish. The results showed that hypoxia increased the gill lamellae length and spacing, which were reversible post-reoxygenation. At the genus level, the relative abundances of Prevotella, Bacteroides, Roseburia, and Blautia in the gastrointestinal tract increased under hypoxia and were maintained post-reoxygenation. The liver transcriptome revealed that, compared with normoxia group, the different expression genes (DEGs) were mainly enriched in Steroid biosynthesis and PPAR signaling pathways in hypoxia group. Compared with normoxia group, the DEGs were mainly enriched in Ribosome biogenesis in eukaryotes, Steroid biosynthesis, Fatty acid biosynthesis, and PPAR signaling pathways in reoxygenation group. Furthermore, compared with hypoxia group, the DEGs were mainly enriched in Ribosome biogenesis in eukaryotes and Ribosome pathways in reoxygenation group. In contrast to normoxia, of the key genes of the PPAR signaling pathway, FABP4 was significantly downregulated, and SCD-1 and FATP were significantly upregulated. These findings indicated reduced lipid deposition and increased lipid decomposition in liver under hypoxia. The genes including PPARα, SCD-1, ANGPTL4, and FASN were significantly upregulated in lipid metabolism-related pathways, which indicated that lipid metabolism activity was more vigorous during reoxygenation. In contrast to the hypoxia group, almost all of the genes involved in Ribosome biogenesis in eukaryotes and Ribosome pathways for protein processing were significantly upregulated during reoxygenation; this is probably related to the clearance of misfolded proteins and the folding of the new proteins repairing there is damage to the body. The present results shed light on the possible synergetic function of lipid metabolism, protein repairment and synthesis, and gastrointestinal microbiota in resistance and homeostasis maintenance of yellowtail kingfish coping with hypoxic stress in aquaculture.
Whole genome characterization of thermophilic Campylobacter species isolated from dairy manure in small specialty crop farms of Northeast Ohio
Authors: Deblais Loic , Jang Hyein , Kauffman Mike , Gangiredla Jayanthi , Sawyer Marianne , Basa Saritha , Poelstra Jelmer W. , Babu Uma S. , Harrison Lisa M. , Hiett Kelli L. , Balan Kannan V. , Rajashekara Gireesh
Published: March 2023

Introduction

With more public interest in consuming locally grown produce, small specialty crop farms (SSCF) are a viable and growing segment of the food production chain in the United States.

Methods

The goal of this study was to investigate the genomic diversity of Campylobacter isolated from dairy manure (n = 69) collected from 10 SSCF in Northeast Ohio between 2018 and 2020.

Results

A total of 56 C. jejuni and 13 C. coli isolates were sequenced. Multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) identified 22 sequence types (STs), with ST-922 (18%) and ST-61 (13%) predominant in C. jejuni and ST-829 (62%) and ST-1068 (38%) predominant in C. coli. Interestingly, isolates with similar genomic and gene contents were detected within and between SSCF over time, suggesting that Campylobacter could be transmitted between farms and may persist in a given SSCF over time. Virulence-associated genes (n = 35) involved in the uptake and utilization of potassium and organic compounds (succinate, gluconate, oxoglutarate, and malate) were detected only in the C. jejuni isolates, while 45 genes associated with increased resistance to environmental stresses (capsule production, cell envelope integrity, and iron uptake) were detected only in the C. coli isolates. Campylobacter coli isolates were also sub-divided into two distinct clusters based on the presence of unique prophages (n = 21) or IncQ conjugative plasmid/type-IV secretion system genes (n = 15). Campylobacter coli isolates harbored genes associated with resistance to streptomycin (aadE-Cc; 54%) and quinolone (gyrA-T86I; 77%), while C. jejuni had resistance genes for kanamycin (aph3’-IIIa; 20%). Both species harbored resistance genes associated with β-lactam (especially, blaOXA-193; up to 100%) and tetracycline (tetO; up to 59%).

Discussion/Conclusion

Our study demonstrated that Campylobacter genome plasticity associated with conjugative transfer might provide resistance to certain antimicrobials and viral infections via the acquisition of protein-encoding genes involved in mechanisms such as ribosomal protection and capsule modification.
Spatiotemporal microvascular changes following contusive spinal cord injury
Authors: Smith Nicole J. , Doody Natalie E. , Štěpánková Kateřina , Fuller Martin , Ichiyama Ronaldo M. , Kwok Jessica C. F. , Egginton Stuart
Published: March 2023

Microvascular integrity is disrupted following spinal cord injury (SCI) by both primary and secondary insults. Changes to neuronal structures are well documented, but little is known about how the capillaries change and recover following injury. Spatiotemporal morphological information is required to explore potential treatments targeting the microvasculature post-SCI to improve functional recovery. Sprague-Dawley rats were given a T10 moderate/severe (200 kDyn) contusion injury and were perfuse-fixed at days 2, 5, 15, and 45 post-injury. Unbiased stereology following immunohistochemistry in four areas (ventral and dorsal grey and white matter) across seven spinal segments (n = 4 for each group) was used to calculate microvessel density, surface area, and areal density. In intact sham spinal cords, average microvessel density across the thoracic spinal cord was: ventral grey matter: 571 ± 45 mm−2, dorsal grey matter: 484 ± 33 mm−2, ventral white matter: 90 ± 8 mm−2, dorsal white matter: 88 ± 7 mm−2. Post-SCI, acute microvascular disruption was evident, particularly at the injury epicentre, and spreading three spinal segments rostrally and caudally. Damage was most severe in grey matter at the injury epicentre (T10) and T11. Reductions in all morphological parameters (95–99% at day 2 post-SCI) implied vessel regression and/or collapse acutely. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed disturbed aspects of neurovascular unit fine structure at day 2 post-SCI (n = 2 per group) at T10 and T11. TEM demonstrated a more diffuse and disrupted basement membrane and wider intercellular clefts at day 2, suggesting a more permeable blood spinal cord barrier and microvessel remodelling. Some evidence of angiogenesis was seen during recovery from days 2 to 45, indicated by increased vessel density, surface area, and areal density at day 45. These novel results show that the spinal cord microvasculature is highly adaptive following SCI, even at chronic stages and up to three spinal segments from the injury epicentre. Multiple measures of gross and fine capillary structure from acute to chronic time points provide insight into microvascular remodelling post-SCI. We have identified key vascular treatment targets, namely stabilising damaged capillaries and replacing destroyed vessels, which may be used to improve functional outcomes following SCI in the future.
Microglia-mediated inflammatory destruction of neuro-cardiovascular dysfunction after stroke
Authors: Deng Jiahong , Chen Chenghan , Xue Shuaishuai , Su Daoqing , Poon Wai Sang , Hou Honghao , Wang Jun
Published: March 2023

Stroke, a serious systemic inflammatory disease, features neurological deficits and cardiovascular dysfunction. Neuroinflammation is characterized by the activation of microglia after stroke, which disrupts the cardiovascular-related neural network and the blood–brain barrier. Neural networks activate the autonomic nervous system to regulate the cardiac and blood vessels. Increased permeability of the blood–brain barrier and the lymphatic pathways promote the transfer of the central immune components to the peripheral immune organs and the recruitment of specific immune cells or cytokines, produced by the peripheral immune system, and thus modulate microglia in the brain. In addition, the spleen will also be stimulated by central inflammation to further mobilize the peripheral immune system. Both NK cells and Treg cells will be generated to enter the central nervous system to suppress further inflammation, while activated monocytes infiltrate the myocardium and cause cardiovascular dysfunction. In this review, we will focus on microglia-mediated inflammation in neural networks that result in cardiovascular dysfunction. Furthermore, we will discuss neuroimmune regulation in the central–peripheral crosstalk, in which the spleen is a vital part. Hopefully, this will benefit in anchoring another therapeutic target for neuro-cardiovascular dysfunction.
Long-term potentiation and spatial memory training stimulate the hippocampal expression of RyR2 calcium release channels
Authors: Valdés-Undurraga Ismael , Lobos Pedro , Sánchez-Robledo Virginia , Arias-Cavieres Alejandra , SanMartín Carol D. , Barrientos Genaro , More Jamileth , Muñoz Pablo , Paula-Lima Andrea Cristina , Hidalgo Cecilia , Adasme Tatiana
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Neuronal Ca2+ signals generated through the activation of Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release in response to activity-generated Ca2+ influx play a significant role in hippocampal synaptic plasticity, spatial learning, and memory. We and others have previously reported that diverse stimulation protocols, or different memory-inducing procedures, enhance the expression of endoplasmic reticulum-resident Ca2+ release channels in rat primary hippocampal neuronal cells or hippocampal tissue.

Methods and Results: Here, we report that induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) by Theta burst stimulation protocols of the CA3-CA1 hippocampal synapse increased the mRNA and protein levels of type-2 Ryanodine Receptor (RyR2) Ca2+ release channels in rat hippocampal slices. Suppression of RyR channel activity (1 h preincubation with 20 μM ryanodine) abolished both LTP induction and the enhanced expression of these channels; it also promoted an increase in the surface expression of the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor subunits GluR1 and GluR2 and caused a moderate but significant reduction of dendritic spine density. In addition, training rats in the Morris water maze induced memory consolidation, which lasted for several days after the end of the training period, accompanied by an increase in the mRNA levels and the protein content of the RyR2 channel isoform.

Discussion: We confirm in this work that LTP induction by TBS protocols requires functional RyR channels. We propose that the increments in the protein content of RyR2 Ca2+ release channels, induced by LTP or spatial memory training, play a significant role in hippocampal synaptic plasticity and spatial memory consolidation.
Insulin modulates the paired-pulse plasticity at glutamatergic synapses of hippocampal neurons under hypoinsulinemia
Authors: Shypshyna Mariia , Kolesnyk Oksana , Fedulova Svitlana , Veselovsky Nickolai
Published: March 2023

Hypoinsulinemia is a pathological consequence of diabetes mellitus that can cause a number of complications of the central and peripheral nervous system. Dysfunction of signaling cascades of insulin receptors under insulin deficiency can contribute to the development of cognitive disorders associated with impaired synaptic plasticity properties. Earlier we have shown that hypoinsulinemia causes a shift of short-term plasticity in glutamatergic hippocampal synapses from facilitation to depression and apparently involves mechanisms of glutamate release probability reduction. Here we used the whole cell patch-clamp recording of evoked glutamatergic excitatory postsynaptic currents (eEPSCs) and the method of local extracellular electrical stimulation of a single presynaptic axon to investigate the effect of insulin (100 nM) on the paired-pulse plasticity at glutamatergic synapses of cultured hippocampal neurons under hypoinsulinemia. Our data indicate that under normoinsulinemia additional insulin enhances the paired-pulse facilitation (PPF) of eEPSCs in hippocampal neurons by stimulating the glutamate release in their synapses. Under hypoinsulinemia, insulin did not have a significant effect on the parameters of paired-pulse plasticity on neurons of PPF subgroup, which may indicate the development of insulin resistance, while the effect of insulin on PPD neurons indicates its ability to recover the form normoinsulinemia, including the increasing probability of plasticity to the control level in of glutamate release in their synapses.
Evaluating migraine with typical aura with neuroimaging
Authors: Karsan Nazia , Silva Elisa , Goadsby Peter J.
Published: March 2023

Objective

To provide an up-to-date narrative literature review of imaging in migraine with typical aura, as a means to understand better migraine subtypes and aura biology.

Background

Characterizing subtypes of migraine with typical aura and appreciating possible biological differences between migraine with and without aura, are important to understanding the neurobiology of aura and trying to advance personalized therapeutics in this area through imaging biomarkers. One means of doing this over recent years has been the use of increasingly advanced neuroimaging techniques.

Methods

We conducted a literature review of neuroimaging studies in migraine with aura, using a PubMed search for terms ‘imaging migraine’, ‘aura imaging’, ‘migraine with aura imaging’, ‘migraine functional imaging’ and ‘migraine structural imaging’. We collated the findings of the main studies, excluding small case reports and series with n < 6, and have summarized these and their implications for better understanding of aura mechanisms.

Results

Aura is likely mediated by widespread brain dysfunction in areas involving, but not limited to, visual cortex, somatosensory and insular cortex, and thalamus. Higher brain excitability in response to sensory stimulation and altered resting-state functional connectivity in migraine sufferers with aura could have a genetic component. Pure visual aura compared to visual aura with other sensory or speech symptoms as well, may involve different functional reorganization of brain networks and additional mitochondrial dysfunction mediating more aura symptoms.

Conclusion

There is a suggestion of at least some distinct neurobiological differences between migraine with and without aura, despite the shared phenotypic similarity in headache and other migraine-associated symptoms. It is clear from the vast majority of aura phenotypes being visual that there is a particular predisposition of the occipital cortex to aura mechanisms. Why this is the case, along with the relationships between cortical spreading depression and headache, and the reasons why aura does not consistently present in affected individuals, are all important research questions for the future.
Neural simulation pipeline: Enabling container-based simulations on-premise and in public clouds
Authors: Chlasta Karol , Sochaczewski Paweł , Wójcik Grzegorz M. , Krejtz Izabela
Published: March 2023

In this study, we explore the simulation setup in computational neuroscience. We use GENESIS, a general purpose simulation engine for sub-cellular components and biochemical reactions, realistic neuron models, large neural networks, and system-level models. GENESIS supports developing and running computer simulations but leaves a gap for setting up today's larger and more complex models. The field of realistic models of brain networks has overgrown the simplicity of earliest models. The challenges include managing the complexity of software dependencies and various models, setting up model parameter values, storing the input parameters alongside the results, and providing execution statistics. Moreover, in the high performance computing (HPC) context, public cloud resources are becoming an alternative to the expensive on-premises clusters. We present Neural Simulation Pipeline (NSP), which facilitates the large-scale computer simulations and their deployment to multiple computing infrastructures using the infrastructure as the code (IaC) containerization approach. The authors demonstrate the effectiveness of NSP in a pattern recognition task programmed with GENESIS, through a custom-built visual system, called RetNet(8 × 5,1) that uses biologically plausible Hodgkin–Huxley spiking neurons. We evaluate the pipeline by performing 54 simulations executed on-premise, at the Hasso Plattner Institute's (HPI) Future Service-Oriented Computing (SOC) Lab, and through the Amazon Web Services (AWS), the biggest public cloud service provider in the world. We report on the non-containerized and containerized execution with Docker, as well as present the cost per simulation in AWS. The results show that our neural simulation pipeline can reduce entry barriers to neural simulations, making them more practical and cost-effective.
GDE6 promotes progenitor identity in the vertebrate neural tube
Authors: McKean Madeline , Napoli Francesca R. , Hasan Tahira , Joseph Thea , Wheeler Alison , Beebe Katherine , Soriano-Cruz Stephanie , Kawano Minori , Cave Clinton
Published: March 2023

The generation of neurons in the central nervous system is a complex, stepwise process necessitating the coordinated activity of mitotic progenitors known as radial glia. Following neural tube closure, radial glia undergo a period of active proliferation to rapidly expand their population, creating a densely packed neurepithelium. Simultaneously, radial glia positioned across the neural tube are uniquely specified to produce diverse neuronal sub-types. Although these cellular dynamics are well studied, the molecular mechanisms governing them are poorly understood. The six-transmembrane Glycerophosphodiester Phosphodiesterase proteins (GDE2, GDE3, and GDE6) comprise a family of cell-surface enzymes expressed in the embryonic nervous system. GDE proteins can release Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins from the cell surface via cleavage of their lipid anchor. GDE2 has established roles in motor neuron differentiation and oligodendrocyte maturation, and GDE3 regulates oligodendrocyte precursor cell proliferation. Here, we describe a role for GDE6 in early neural tube development. Using RNAscope, we show that Gde6 mRNA is expressed by ventricular zone progenitors in the caudal neural tube. Utilizing in-ovo electroporation, we show that GDE6 overexpression promotes neural tube hyperplasia and ectopic growths of the neurepithelium. At later stages, electroporated embryos exhibit an expansion of the ventral patterning domains accompanied by reduced cross-repression. Ultimately, electroporated embryos fail to produce the full complement of post-mitotic motor neurons. Our findings indicate that GDE6 overexpression significantly affects radial glia function and positions GDE6 as a complementary factor to GDE2 during neurogenesis.
Flight training changes the brain functional pattern in cadets
Authors: Chen Xi , Wang Zian , Jiang Hao , Meng Yu , Wang Hongmei , Li You , Xu Kaijun , Yang Jiazhong , Luo Cheng
Published: March 2023

Introduction

To our knowledge, this is the first study to use MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) before and after an intensive flight training. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of flight training in civil flying cadets.

Methods

The civil flying cadets and controls completed two study visits. Visit 1 was performed in 2019, and high spatial resolution structural image and resting-state functional MRI data were collected. The second visit was completed in 2022. In addition to the MRI data mentioned above, participants completed the cognitive function assessment at the second visit.

Results

Mixed-effect regression model analysis found that flight training enhanced the degree centrality (DC) values of the left middle frontal gyrus and left lingual gyrus. The subsequent correlation calculation analysis suggested a possible relationship between these alterations and cognitive function.

Discussion

These results suggest that flight training might promote the DC value of the prefrontal and occipital cortices and, in turn, enhance their executive function.
Extraction, structural characterization, and antioxidant activity of polysaccharides derived from Arctium lappa L.
Authors: Gao Dandan , Chen Hong , Li Haixing , Yang Xuhua , Guo Xingchen , Zhang Yuxuan , Ma Jinpu , Yang Jutian , Ma Shuwen
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Arctium lappa L. root has high nutritional and medicinal values and has been identified as a healthy food raw material by the Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China.

Methods

In the present study, an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-(NH4)2SO4 was used to extract Arctium lappa L. polysaccharides (ALPs) from the Arctium lappa L. roots, the optimal extraction conditions of crude ALPs were optimized by using the single-factor experiment and response surface methodology. The structure and composition of ALPs were determined by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). At the same time, the antioxidant activity of ALPs was investigated by in vitro antioxidant experiment.

Results

The optimized extraction parameters for extraction ALPs were as follows: the PEG relative molecular weight of 6,000, a quality fraction of PEG 25%, a quality fraction of (NH4)2SO4 18%, and an extraction temperature of 80°C. Under these conditions, the extraction rate of ALPs could reach 28.83%. FTIR, SEM and HPLC results showed that ALPs were typical acidic heteropolysaccharides and had uneven particle size distribution, an irregular shape, and a rough surface. The ALPs were chiefly composed of glucose, rhamnose, arabinose, and galactose with a molar ratio of 70.19:10.95:11.16:6.90. In addition, the ALPs had intense antioxidant activity in vitro with IC50 values in the ·OH radical (1.732 mg/ml), DPPH radical (0.29 mg/ml), and superoxide anion (0.15 mg/ml) scavenging abilities.

Discussion

The results showed that ATPS was an efficient method to extract polysaccharides and could be used for the extraction of other polysaccharides. These results indicated that ALPs had great prospects as a functional food and could be exploited in multiple fields.
The synergized diagnostic value of VTQ with chemokine CXCL13 in lung tumors
Authors: Zhang Xu , Lu Yejian , Huang Kenan , Pan Qingfang , Jia Youchao , Cui Baoshuan , Yin Peipei , Li Jianhui , Ju Junping , Fan Xiangyu , Tian Rui
Published: March 2023

Virtual Touch Tissue Quantification (VTQ) offers several advantages in the diagnosis of various lung diseases. Chemokine expression levels, such as CXCL13, play a vital role in the occurrence and development of tumors and aid in the diagnosis process. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the combined value of VTQ and changes in CXCL13 expression levels for the diagnosis of lung tumors. A total of 60 patients with thoracic nodules and pleural effusion were included, with 30 of them having malignant pleural effusion (based on pathology) and the remaining 30 having benign thoracic nodules and pleural effusion. The relative expression level of CXCL13 was measured in the collected pleural effusions using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The relationship between CXCL13 expression levels and various clinical features was analyzed. A Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted on the VTQ results and relative expression levels of CXCL13, and the areas under the curve, critical values, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated. Multivariate analysis incorporating multiple indicators was performed to determine the accuracy of lung tumor diagnosis. The results showed that the expression levels of CXCL13 and VTQ were significantly higher in the lung cancer group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). In the Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) group, CXCL13 expression levels increased with later TNM staging and poorer tumor differentiation. The expression level of CXCL13 in adenocarcinoma was higher than that in squamous cell carcinoma. The ROC curve analysis revealed that CXCL13 had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.74 (0.61, 0.86) with an optimal cut-off value of 777.82 pg/ml for diagnosing lung tumors. The ROC curve analysis of VTQ showed an AUC of 0.67 (0.53, 0.82) with a sensitivity of 60.0% and a specificity of 83.3%, and an optimal diagnostic cut-off of 3.33 m/s. The combination of CXCL13 and VTQ for diagnosing thoracic tumors had an AUC of 0.842 (0.74, 0.94), which was significantly higher than either factor alone. The results of the study demonstrate the strong potential of combining VTQ results with chemokine CXCL13 expression levels for lung tumor diagnosis. Additionally, the findings suggest that elevated relative expression of CXCL13 in cases of malignant pleural effusion caused by non-small cell lung cancer may indicate a poor prognosis. This provides promising potential for using CXCL13 as a screening tool and prognostic indicator for patients with advanced lung cancer complicated by malignant pleural effusion.
The fetal pain paradox
Authors: Thill Bridget
Published: March 2023

Controversy exists as to when conscious pain perception in the fetus may begin. According to the hypothesis of cortical necessity, thalamocortical connections, which do not form until after 24–28 weeks gestation, are necessary for conscious pain perception. However, anesthesiologists and neonatologists treat age-matched neonates as both conscious and pain-capable due to observable and measurable behavioral, hormonal, and physiologic indicators of pain. In preterm infants, these multimodal indicators of pain are uncontroversial, and their presence, despite occurring prior to functional thalamocortical connections, has guided the use of analgesics in neonatology and fetal surgery for decades. However, some medical groups state that below 24 weeks gestation, there is no pain capacity. Thus, a paradox exists in the disparate acknowledgment of pain capability in overlapping patient populations. Brain networks vary by age. During the first and second trimesters, the cortical subplate, a unique structure that is present only during fetal and early neonatal development, forms the first cortical network. In the third trimester, the cortical plate assumes this function. According to the subplate modulation hypothesis, a network of connections to the subplate and subcortical structures is sufficient to facilitate conscious pain perception in the fetus and the preterm neonate prior to 24 weeks gestation. Therefore, similar to other fetal and neonatal systems that have a transitional phase (i.e., circulatory system), there is now strong evidence for transitional developmental phases of fetal and neonatal pain circuitry.
The value of bile acid spectrum in the evaluation of hepatic injury in children with infectious mononucleosis caused by Epstein Barr virus infection
Authors: Shen Ren , Zhou Yan , Zhang Lintao , Yang Shanpu
Published: March 2023

Background

Infectious mononucleosis (IM) is an acute infectious disease, caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, which can invade various systemic systems, among which hepatic injury is the most common. In this study, ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was used to detect serum bile acid spectrum in IM children quantitatively, and to investigate its role in the early assessment of hepatic injury.

Methods

This case-control study was conducted at Yuhuan People's Hospital. A total of 60 IM children and 30 healthy children were included in the study. Among 60 children with IM, 30 had hepatic injury, and 30 without hepatic injury. The clinical and laboratory data were analyzed, and the serum bile acid spectrum and lymphocyte subsets were evaluated in the three groups.

Results

There were statistically significant differences in cholic acid (CA), chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), deoxycholic acid (DCA), lithocholic acid (LCA), glycochenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA), glycodeoxycholic acid(GDCA), glycolithocholic acid (GLCA), taurocholic acid (TCA), taurochenodeoxycholic acid (TCDCA), taurodeoxycholic acid (TDCA), ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), glycoursodeoxycholic acid (GUDCA), tauroursodeoxycholic acid(TUDCA), percentage of NK cells, CD4+ and CD8+ in IM hepatic injury group, without hepatic injury group, and the healthy control group (P < 0.05). The percentage of NK cells was positively correlated with TCA (P < 0.05); it was negatively correlated with CDCA, DCA, LCA, GCDCA, GDCA, GLCA, TDCA, UDCA, GUDCA, TUDCA (P < 0.05). CD4+ was positively correlated with CA, TCA and TCDCA (P < 0.05); it was negatively correlated with CDCA, DCA, LCA, GCDCA, GDCA, GLCA, TDCA, UDCA, GUDCA and TUDCA (P < 0.05). CD8+ was positively correlated with CDCA, DCA, LCA, GCDCA, GDCA, GLCA, TDCA, UDCA, GUDCA and TUDCA (P < 0.05); it was negatively correlated with CA, TCA and TCDCA (P < 0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that CD8+, GDCA and GLCA had high predictive value for hepatic injury in IM patients.

Conclusions

UPLC-MS/MS method can sensitively detect the changes in serum bile acid spectrum before hepatic injury in children with IM, which is helpful for early assessment of hepatic injury in children with IM. The changes in lymphocyte subsets in IM children are related to some bile acid subfractions, which may be related to IM hepatic injury.
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors regulate the progression and treatment of gastrointestinal cancers
Authors: Zhang Min , He Shujie
Published: March 2023

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are essential nuclear hormone receptors regulating metabolic processes, and they participate in the initiation and progression processes of tumors. Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer is a prevalent malignancy worldwide that originates from the tissues of the gastrointestinal tract and is characterized by severe symptoms and poor prognosis. Numerous published studies have investigated the critical role of PPARs in esophageal, gastric, and colorectal cancers. Here, we summarize and review the current literature to understand the role of PPARs in the pathogenesis of GI cancers and to provide a systematic reference for the subsequent investigation and development of efficient therapies targeting PPARs and their pathways.