bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Smart intraoral systems for advanced drug delivery
Authors: Liu Yuan , Guo Honglian , Xu Rengui , Chen Wei
Published: October 2022

Drug administration through the oral cavity is considered to be a convenient, effective, and time‐saving strategy in the clinic with high safety and quick onset, especially for patients with needle fear and swallowing difficulties. Without the degradation in gastrointestinal tract and first‐pass metabolism, the intraoral drug delivery system turns out to be an attractive option for macromolecule absorption, which will provide a promising platform for the successful delivery of protein, peptide, nucleic acid, and polysaccharide. Nevertheless, limited bioavailability, short retention time, and poor reproducibility pose a major hurdle to the further application of conventional intraoral drug delivery systems. Recent advances in chemical, material, and engineering techniques bring great opportunities to improve intraoral system fabrication and applications, owing to the high biocompatibility and functional diversity. In this review, we systematically summarize the recent development of smart intraoral drug delivery systems, including fast dissolving oral films, medicinal chewing gum systems, intraoral mucoadhesive systems, physical assisted systems, intelligent intraoral device, and chemically assisted systems. Moreover, the challenges and prospects for clinical and industrial applications of current strategies are well discussed. It is believed that the smart intraoral system would serve as a promising candidate to improve human life in the near future.
Splicing factor SRSF3 promotes the progression of cervical cancer through regulating DDX5
Authors: Che Yingying , Bai Mixue , Lu Kun , Fu Lin
Published: October 2022

Aberrant alternative splicing (AS) profoundly affects tumorigenesis and cancer progression. Serine/arginine‐rich splicing factor 3 (SRSF3) regulates the AS of precursor mRNAs and acts as a proto‐oncogene in many tumors, but its function and potential mechanisms in cervical cancer remain unclear. Here, we found that SRSF3 was highly expressed in cervical cancer tissues and that SRSF3 expression was correlated with prognosis after analyses of the The Cancer Genome Atlas and GEO databases. Furthermore, knockdown of SRSF3 reduced the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of HeLa cells, while overexpression of SRSF3 promoted proliferation, migration, and invasion of CaSki cells. Further studies showed that SRSF3 mediated the variable splicing of exon 12 of the transcriptional cofactor DEAD‐box helicase 5 (DDX5). Specifically, overexpression of SRSF3 promoted the production of the pro‐oncogenic spliceosome DDX5‐L and repressed the production of the repressive spliceosome DDX5‐S. Ultimately, both SRSF3 and DDX5‐L were able to upregulate oncogenic AKT expression, while DDX5‐S downregulated AKT expression. In conclusion, we found that SRSF3 increased the production of DDX5‐L and decreased the production of DDX5‐S by regulating the variable splicing of DDX5. This, in turn promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of cervical cancer by upregulating the expression level of AKT. These results reveal the oncogenic role of SRSF3 in cervical cancer and emphasize the importance of the SRSF3‐DDX5‐AKT axis in tumorigenesis. SRSF3 and DDX5 are new potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for cervical cancer.
Chitooligosaccharides Attenuated Hepatic Encephalopathy in Mice through Stabilizing Gut–Liver–Brain Disturbance
Authors: Liu Peng , Li Heng , Xu Hongyu , Gong Jinsong , Jiang Min , Qian Jianying , Xu Zhenghong , Shi Jinsong
Published: October 2022

Scope

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) refers to neurological dysfunction associated with hepatic inadequacy and gut dysbiosis. Chitooligosaccharides (COS) possesses prominent biological activities including incalculable hepatoprotective, neuroprotective and prebiotic effects. This study evaluates the protective effects of COS on HE from the influence of gut–liver–brain axis in mice.

Methods and results

Hepatic injured mice show minimal symptoms of HE, reflecting in cognitive impairment, and learning and memory retardation, while they are reversed by COS following orally administrated. Furthermore, COS ameliorates brain function through inhibiting microglial and astrocyte activation in cerebral cortex and hippocampus, promoting neuronal regeneration characterized by the increase of neuron‐specific marker (neuronal nuclear antigen, NeuN). Concurrently, neuroinflammation and hepatitis are restrained by COS through descending toll‐like receptors 4/Nuclear factor kappa B (TLR4/NF‐κB) pathway. Additionally, the dysbiosis of the composition and structure of gut microbiota is displayed in mice with HE, while it is modified by COS through decreasing the relative abundances of Muribaculaceae, Lactobacillus, and Enterorhabdus. The enhancement of blood ammonia is crucially slipped to basal levels by COS.

Conclusion

The present study shows that COS could prevent the pathological process of HE through regulating the gut–liver–brain cross‐talk, which provids new insight into fundamental roles of COS.
A superstrate and FSS embedded dual band waveguide aperture array with improved far‐field characteristics
Authors: Chandra Avinash , Mishra Naveen , Kumar Rajkishor , Kumar Kundan , Patil Hemprasad Yashwant
Published: October 2022

In this article, frequency selective surfaces (FSS) and superstrate embedded waveguide aperture arrays have been proposed. Three FSS are embedded in the transverse‐plane in WR‐90 waveguide and the unit superstrate cell is kept at a certain distance to achieve circular polarization. Optimization and analysis have been done by commercially available software Ansys HFSS 16.0. The proposed array has dual‐band behavior with input reflection coefficient ranges from 8.5 to 9.53 GHz and 10.15 to 10.49 GHz. Further analysis shows that the presented array has a higher gain as compared with the conventional open‐ended WR‐90 waveguide. In addition, the proposed array also provides low cross‐polarization and 5–6 dBi higher gain compared with the open WR‐90 waveguide array.
Perceived social support and sleep quality in patients with arteriosclerotic obliterans: The mediating roles of psychological flexibility
Authors: Lu Ying , Gan Hongyan , Yuan Yanyan , Zheng Chunyan , Bai Liping , Zou Zhuanfang , Yang Yujin
Published: October 2022

Aim

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of perceived social support (PSS) on sleep quality in arteriosclerotic obliterans patients in China and examined whether psychological flexibility (PF) has a mediating effect between PSS and sleep quality.

Design

A cross‐sectional survey.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was conducted between September 2020 and December 2021 on 172 patients with atherosclerotic obliterans recruited from a hospital in China.

Results

PSS was negatively associated with sleep quality and PF, whereas PF was positively associated with sleep quality. This relationship between PSS and sleep quality was mediated by PF.

Patient or public contribution

Vascular surgery specialist nurses assisted the members of the research group in distributing the questionnaires after the patients gave oral informed consent, and the patients cooperated to complete the questionnaires. We thank both parties for their contributions to this survey.
Newborn screening for genetic disorders: Current status and prospects for the future
Authors: Ding Si , Han Lianshu
Published: October 2022

Newborn screening (NBS) is a public health service aimed at identifying infants with severe genetic disorders, thus providing effective treatment early enough to prevent or ameliorate the onset of symptoms. Current NBS uses biochemical analysis of dried blood spots, predominately with time‐resolved fluorescence immunoassay and tandem mass spectrometry, which produces some false positives and false negatives. The application of enzymatic activity‐based testing technology provides a reliable screening method for some disorders. Genetic testing is now commonly used for secondary or confirmatory testing after a positive result in some NBS programs. Recently, next‐generation sequencing (NGS) has emerged as a robust tool that enables large panels of genes to be scanned together rapidly. Rapid advances in NGS emphasize the potential for genomic sequencing to improve NBS programs. However, some challenges still remain and require solution before this is applied for population screening.
Generalized Modeling of Photoluminescence Transients
Authors: Großmann Max , Bohm Sebastian , Heyder Stefan , Schwarzburg Klaus , Kleinschmidt Peter , Runge Erich , Hannappel Thomas
Published: October 2022

Time‐resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) measurements and the extraction of meaningful parameters involve four key ingredients: a suitable sample such as a semiconductor double heterostructure, a state‐of‐the‐art measurement setup, a kinetic model appropriate for the description of the sample behavior, and a general analysis method to extract the model parameters of interest from the measured TRPL transients. Until now, the last ingredient is limited to single curve fits, which are mostly based on simple models and least‐squares fits. These are often insufficient for the parameter extraction in real‐world applications. The goal of this article is to give the community a universal method for the analysis of TRPL measurements, which accounts for the Poisson distribution of photon counting events. The method can be used to fit multiple TRPL transients simultaneously using general kinematic models, but should also be used for single transient fits. To demonstrate this approach, multiple TRPL transients of a GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructure are fitted simultaneously using coupled rate equations. It is shown that the simultaneous fits of several TRPL traces supplemented by systematic error estimations allow for a more meaningful and more robust parameter determination. The statistical methods also quantify the quality of the description by the underlying physical model.
Women's mode of birth preferences and preparedness of hospitals to support vaginal birth in the public health sector in Argentina
Authors: Perrotta Carla , Romero Mariana , Sguassero Yanina , Ingram Carolyn , Righetti Natalia , Gialdini Celina , Betrán Ana P. , Ramos Silvina
Published: October 2022

Background

This paper reports on postpartum women's mode of birth (MOB) preferences across five public maternity hospitals in Argentina, the variables and motives associated with those preferences, and hospital services preparedness.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was conducted with postpartum women aged 15 years or older in geographically diverse public hospitals in Argentina between November 2018 to June 2019. Data on obstetric history, companionship, and MOB preference and motives were collected from mothers using a semistructured interviewer‐administered questionnaire. Hospital and participant characteristics, MOB preferences, and perceived advantages and disadvantages were described. Associations between vaginal birth preference, participant characteristics, and hospitals were assessed using odds ratios generated from mixed‐effect logistic regression analyses.

Results

The sample included 621 postpartum women, 60% of whom had a vaginal birth. In three of the participating hospitals, most women indicated vaginal birth as their preferred MOB (90%); however, the preference for a vaginal birth was lower in the remaining two hospitals (67%). Differences in preferences across hospitals remained after adjusting by women's age or obstetric history. Cited motives for vaginal birth preference included faster recovery, feeling ready for a vaginal birth, and considering it a more natural process. Preference for a caesarean birth was based on perceptions of increased safety and avoiding pain.

Conclusions

The characteristics of obstetric services revealed they are prepared for obstetric emergencies but have limited resources and support to sustain the process of vaginal birth. Despite the limited support, women giving birth in public maternity hospitals preferred vaginal delivery to a caesarean section. This study could not identify hospital variables associated with women's birth preferences across hospitals.
Sustainable manufacturing adoption in textile industries: A systematic state‐of‐art literature review and future research outline
Authors: Chourasiya Rupesh , Pandey Shrikant , Malviya Rakesh Kumar
Published: October 2022

The objective of this study is to investigate and review the sustainable manufacturing (SM) adoption research conducted in textile industries, from 2007 to May 2022. The search term is “SM adoption in the textile industry” in their phrases and titles. Find the number of dimensions including publishing years, country, journal, publishing houses, research design, methods, data analysis, and MCDM methods. This study attempts to provide an overview of the 172 articles, which have been searched with the keyword “SM adoption in the textile industry” in the phrases and the title. The articles were searched from world‐renowned publishers, such as Elsevier, Taylor & Francis, Wiley, Emerald, Inderscience, Springer link publication, and so forth. The articles searched are peer‐reviewed and included in Scopus, science citation index, science citation index expanded, emerging source citation index, web of science, and so forth. The categorization of the data of the current study has also been compared with available literature. These studies are mainly focused on ecological protection, eco‐friendly textile materials, effective land, and water utilization, social, as well as saving natural resources. SM adoption is the key initiative needed for a better environment, human life, and sustainability. This study enhances the understanding of current benefits of cutting‐edge research and what dimensions need to be examined for adoption of SM in the textile industry. This study also provides a discussion on various gaps and future opportunities that require to be addressed for a better understanding of SM adoption in the textile manufacturing sector.
D = 5 static, charged black holes, strings and rings with resonant, scalar Q-hair
Authors: Brihaye Y. , Herdeiro C. , Radu E.
Published: October 2022

Abstract

A mechanism for circumventing the Mayo-Bekenstein no-hair theorem allows endowing four dimensional (D = 4) asymptotically flat, spherical, electro-vacuum black holes with a minimally coupled U (1)-gauged scalar field profile: Q-hair. The scalar field must be massive, self-interacting and obey a resonance condition at the threshold of (charged) superradiance. We establish generality for this mechanism by endowing three different types of static black objects with scalar hair, within a D = 5 Einstein-Maxwell-gauged scalar field model: asymptotically flat black holes and black rings; and black strings which asymptote to a Kaluza-Klein vacuum. These D = 5 Q-hairy black objects share many of the features of their D = 4 counterparts. In particular, the scalar field is subject to a resonance condition and possesses a Q-ball type potential. For the static black ring, the charged scalar hair can balance it, yielding solutions that are singularity free on and outside the horizon.
Lund and Cambridge multiplicities for precision physics
Authors: Medves Rok , Soto-Ontoso Alba , Soyez Gregory
Published: October 2022

Abstract

We revisit the calculation of the average jet multiplicity in high-energy collisions. First, we introduce a new definition of (sub)jet multiplicity based on Lund declusterings obtained using the Cambridge jet algorithm. We develop a new systematic resummation approach. This allows us to compute both the Lund and the Cambridge average multiplicities to next-to-next-to-double (NNDL) logarithmic accuracy in electron-positron annihilation, an order higher in accuracy than previous works in the literature. We match our resummed calculation to the exact NLO ($$ \mathcal{O} $$
O
($$ {\alpha}_s^2 $$

α
s
2

)) result, showing predictions for the Lund multiplicity at LEP energies with theoretical uncertainties up to 50% smaller than the previous state-of-the-art. Adding hadronisation corrections obtained by Monte Carlo simulations, we also show a good agreement with existing Cambridge multiplicity data. Finally, to highlight the flexibility of our method, we extend the Lund multiplicity calculation to hadronic collisions where we reach next-to-double logarithmic accuracy for colour singlet production.
Simultaneous Approximation by Gauss–Weierstrass–Wachnicki Operators
Authors: Abel Ulrich , Agratini Octavian
Published: October 2022

In this note, we spotlight a generalization of Weierstrass integral operators introduced by Eugeniusz Wachnicki. The construction involves modified Bessel functions. The operators are correlated with diffusion equation. Our main result consists in obtaining the asymptotic expansion of derivatives of any order of Wachnicki’s operators. All coefficients are explicitly calculated, and distinct expressions are provided for analytical functions.
In human astrocytes neurotropic flaviviruses increase autophagy, yet their replication is autophagy-independent
Authors: Tavčar Verdev Petra , Potokar Maja , Korva Miša , Resman Rus Katarina , Kolenc Marko , Avšič Županc Tatjana , Zorec Robert , Jorgačevski Jernej
Published: October 2022

Astrocytes, an abundant type of glial cells, are the key cells providing homeostasis in the central nervous system. Due to their susceptibility to infection, combined with high resilience to virus-induced cell death, astrocytes are now considered one of the principal types of cells, responsible for virus retention and dissemination within the brain. Autophagy plays an important role in elimination of intracellular components and in maintaining cellular homeostasis and is also intertwined with the life cycle of viruses. The physiological significance of autophagy in astrocytes, in connection with the life cycle and transmission of viruses, remains poorly investigated. In the present study, we investigated flavivirus-induced modulation of autophagy in human astrocytes by monitoring a tandem fluorescent-tagged LC3 probe (mRFP-EGFP-LC3) with confocal and super-resolution fluorescence microscopy. Astrocytes were infected with tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) or West Nile virus (WNV), both pathogenic flaviviruses, and with mosquito-only flavivirus (MOF), which is considered non-pathogenic. The results revealed that human astrocytes are susceptible to infection with TBEV, WNV and to a much lower extent also to MOF. Infection and replication rates of TBEV and WNV are paralleled by increased rate of autophagy, whereas autophagosome maturation and the size of autophagic compartments are not affected. Modulation of autophagy by rapamycin and wortmannin does not influence TBEV and WNV replication rate, whereas bafilomycin A1 attenuates their replication and infectivity. In human astrocytes infected with MOF, the low infectivity and the lack of efficient replication of this flavivirus are mirrored by the absence of an autophagic response.
Ramanujan’s Theta Functions and Parity of Parts and Cranks of Partitions
Authors: Banerjee Koustav , Dastidar Manosij Ghosh
Published: October 2022

In this paper, we explore intricate connections between Ramanujan’s theta functions and a class of partition functions defined by the nature of the parity of their parts. This consequently leads us to the parity analysis of the crank of a partition and its correlation with the number of partitions with odd number of parts, self-conjugate partitions, and also with Durfee squares and Frobenius symbols.
Multi-scale constitutive model of human trabecular bone
Authors: Jankowski Krzysztof , Pawlikowski Marek , Domański Janusz
Published: October 2022

The present study aims to formulate a new multiscale constitutive model of human trabecular bone. The trabecular bone was modelled as a nonlinear viscoelastic material. The viscoelastic effects of single trabeculae were considered by means of a hereditary integral in which stress depends on time and strain, while the elastic response was described by the hyperelastic Mooney–Rivlin model. The cuboid bone sample was extracted from the femoral head during the hip replacement surgery. The material constants in the constitutive equation were identified based on the stress relaxation test performed on the cuboid sample and the microindentation tests performed on trabeculae using the curve-fitting procedure. The microindentation tests were performed using a spherical tip instead of Vickers or Berkovich tip to minimize plastic effects during trabecular deformation. In order to validate formulated constitutive model, results from a FE simulation of stress relaxation test and uniaxial compression test were compared to the results of the corresponding experiments conducted on a macroscopic bone sample. Good agreement was observed between numerical and experimental results. The viscoelastic behaviour predicted by the proposed constitutive equation corresponds well to the response of human trabecular bone under various types of load conditions. This demonstrates the high ability of our constitutive model to simulate the behaviour of trabecular bone on a micro- and macroscopic scale. Thus, we conclude that the model, which was formulated for a single trabecula, can be successfully applied to simulate mechanical behaviour of the tissue in a macroscale.
Less motor (re-)planning requires fewer working memory resources
Authors: Schütz Christoph , Schack Thomas
Published: October 2022

In the current study, we asked if less motor re-planning requires fewer resources in working memory (WM). To this end, participants executed a spatial WM task in parallel to different sequential motor tasks: (1) a randomised task with a high amount of motor re-planning and (2) an ordered task with a lower amount of motor re-planning. Recall performance in the spatial WM task was measured as the dependent variable. Hand posture was used to calculate the percentage of motor re-planning and, thus, to validate the experimental manipulation. The percentage of motor re-planning was lower in the ordered task, while spatial WM performance was higher. This indicates that WM resources depleted by the motor task scale with the amount of motor re-planning. Results further showed a significant recency effect (i.e. better recall of late items) in the spatial WM task. As previous studies found that recency effects in a verbal WM task are disrupted by a concurrent motor task, the presence of recency in the current study indicates a differential interference of a concurrent motor task on verbal vs. spatial recall, which has important implications for several current models of WM.
Systematic review of the radiomics quality score applications: an EuSoMII Radiomics Auditing Group Initiative
Authors: Spadarella Gaia , Stanzione Arnaldo , Akinci D’Antonoli Tugba , Andreychenko Anna , Fanni Salvatore Claudio , Ugga Lorenzo , Kotter Elmar , Cuocolo Renato
Published: October 2022

Objective

The main aim of the present systematic review was a comprehensive overview of the Radiomics Quality Score (RQS)–based systematic reviews to highlight common issues and challenges of radiomics research application and evaluate the relationship between RQS and review features.

Methods

The literature search was performed on multiple medical literature archives according to PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews that reported radiomic quality assessment through the RQS. Reported scores were converted to a 0–100% scale. The Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare RQS scores and review features.

Results

The literature research yielded 345 articles, from which 44 systematic reviews were finally included in the analysis. Overall, the median of RQS was 21.00% (IQR = 11.50). No significant differences of RQS were observed in subgroup analyses according to targets (oncological/not oncological target, neuroradiology/body imaging focus and one imaging technique/more than one imaging technique, characterization/prognosis/detection/other).

Conclusions

Our review did not reveal a significant difference of quality of radiomic articles reported in systematic reviews, divided in different subgroups. Furthermore, low overall methodological quality of radiomics research was found independent of specific application domains. While the RQS can serve as a reference tool to improve future study designs, future research should also be aimed at improving its reliability and developing new tools to meet an ever-evolving research space.

Key Points

• Radiomics is a promising high-throughput method that may generate novel imaging biomarkers to improve clinical decision-making process, but it is an inherently complex analysis and often lacks reproducibility and generalizability.

• The Radiomics Quality Score serves a necessary role as the de facto reference tool for assessing radiomics studies.

• External auditing of radiomics studies, in addition to the standard peer-review process, is valuable to highlight common limitations and provide insights to improve future study designs and practical applicability of the radiomics models.
The challenge of modeling grounded metasurfaces: a new approach to obtain their constitutive parameters
Authors: Fernández-Álvarez Humberto , de Cos Gómez María Elena , Las-Heras Andrés Fernando
Published: October 2022

A new technique to retrieve the constitutive parameters of grounded metamaterials is proposed in this article. Previous methods presented in the literature used to retrieve the constitutive parameters of materials in general and metamaterials, in particular. are not applicable since they rely on both reflectivity and transmittivity data. In grounded metamaterials, there is no transmission and hence, a new method is needed to obtain the metamaterial constitutive parameters (both permittivity and permeability) by means of just reflectivity data. The proposed methodology is based on extracting the aforementioned constitutive parameters using the reflectivity response to two different angles of the incident plane wave. First, the solution to the problem is presented from a mathematical perspective. Then, the methodology is applied to a grounded metasurface and their constitutive parameters are extracted. From these parameters, interesting phenomena that occurs in the metasurface are explained. Finally, the range of validity of the method is also analysed.
Impact of cavity shaving on residual tumor rates in patients with primary invasive carcinoma and carcinoma in situ in breast conserving surgery
Authors: Fernández-Pacheco Miriam , Gerken Michael , Ortmann Olaf , Ignatov Atanas , Klinkhammer-Schalke Monika , Hatzipanagiotou Maria Eleni , Inwald Elisabeth C.
Published: October 2022

Background

Several international studies reported relatively high re-excision rates due to residual tumor in breast conserving surgery (BCS). Cavity shaving (CS) is a surgical strategy to reduce re-excision rates. This study aimed to investigate the effect of circumferential cavity shaving during BCS to reduce residual tumor.

Material and Methods

A total of 591 patients with early invasive carcinoma or carcinoma in situ of the breast (ICD-10, C50 or D05) who were diagnosed between 01/01/2017 and 31/12/2019 and underwent BCS in a certified breast cancer center of the University Regensburg were analyzed regarding surgical excision methods. Patients with CS during BCS and patients with targeted re-excision in a specific direction depending on the result of intraoperative mammography or sonography during BCS were compared. The risk of pathologic residual tumor (R1) was compared between both groups by means of a multivariable binary logistic regression model to determine if there is a benefit of a certain surgical method to avoid a second intervention for re-excision. We adjusted for age, tumor size, nodal status, histologic type, surgeon, breast side, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Results

80 (n = 13.54%) patients had CS and 511 (n = 86.46%) had a targeted re-excision in a specific direction during BCS according to intraoperative mammography or sonography. After comparing both techniques in a multivariable regression model, there was no significant difference regarding risk of residual tumor (p = 0.738) in the total cohort. However, CS showed a tendency to be favorable regarding rates of residual tumor in patients with invasive breast cancer between 60 and 70 years (p = 0.072) and smaller T1-tumors (p = 0.057) compared to targeted intraoperative re-excision following mammographic or sonographic assessment.

Conclusion

CS showed a tendency to reduce residual tumor compared to the standard technique of intraoperative re-excision in specific subgroups, although no statistical significance was reached. Further studies are needed to overcome potential limitations like surgeon-based bias and missing standardized definitions of CS to reduce residual tumor rates.
Ancestral self-compatibility facilitates the establishment of allopolyploids in Brassicaceae
Authors: Novikova Polina Yu. , Kolesnikova Uliana K. , Scott Alison Dawn
Published: October 2022

Self-incompatibility systems based on self-recognition evolved in hermaphroditic plants to maintain genetic variation of offspring and mitigate inbreeding depression. Despite these benefits in diploid plants, for polyploids who often face a scarcity of mating partners, self-incompatibility can thwart reproduction. In contrast, self-compatibility provides an immediate advantage: a route to reproductive viability. Thus, diploid selfing lineages may facilitate the formation of new allopolyploid species. Here, we describe the mechanism of establishment of at least four allopolyploid species in Brassicaceae (Arabidopsis suecica, Arabidopsis kamchatica, Capsella bursa-pastoris, and Brassica napus), in a manner dependent on the prior loss of the self-incompatibility mechanism in one of the ancestors. In each case, the degraded S-locus from one parental lineage was dominant over the functional S-locus of the outcrossing parental lineage. Such dominant loss-of-function mutations promote an immediate transition to selfing in allopolyploids and may facilitate their establishment.
Development and validation of an efficient nomogram for risk assessment of norovirus infection in pediatric patients
Authors: He Taojun , Chen Xiaohua , Deng Yilin , Li Bin , Wang Hongmei , Wang Qinjin , Zhai Aixia , Shi Liang , Chen Ying , Wu Chao
Published: October 2022

This study aimed to establish a predictive model and nomogram based on routine laboratory blood indicators and clinical symptoms, subsequently providing a rapid risk assessment of norovirus (NoV) infection in children. This retrospective study enrolled 307 pediatric patients with symptoms of acute gastroenteritis and detected NoV using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Significant indicators selected by multivariate logistic regression, including routine blood tests and consultation symptoms, were used to develop the nomogram. We divided the sample into training and internal validation sets and performed external validation of the final model. Furthermore, we evaluated the clinical performance using the Akaike information criterion (AIC), area under the curve (AUC), calibration curve, decision curve analysis (DCA), sensitivity, specificity, concordance rate, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. Overall, 153 cases were NoV-PCR-positive, and 154 were negative. The multivariate logistic regression included five predictors of NoV infection, including symptoms of vomiting, upper respiratory tract infection, and indicators of white blood cells, lymphocyte absolute counts, and platelet counts. The nomogram showed a significant predictive value with overall internal set diagnosis, with an AUC of 0.827 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.785–0.868), and 0.812 (95% CI: 0.755–0.869) with 0.799 (95% CI: 0.705–0.894) in the training and internal validation sets, respectively. Nevertheless, the AUC in the external validation set was higher (0.915; 95% CI: 0.862–0.968). This nomogram is a useful tool for risk assessment for NoV infection. Moreover, the evaluated indicators are accessible, substantially reducing the time for laboratory testing.
Modeling the debonding process of osseointegrated implants due to coupled adhesion and friction
Authors: Immel Katharina , Nguyen Vu-Hieu , Haïat Guillaume , Sauer Roger A.
Published: October 2022

Cementless implants have become widely used for total hip replacement surgery. The long-term stability of these implants is achieved by bone growing around and into the rough surface of the implant, a process called osseointegration. However, debonding of the bone–implant interface can still occur due to aseptic implant loosening and insufficient osseointegration, which may have dramatic consequences. The aim of this work is to describe a new 3D finite element frictional contact formulation for the debonding of partially osseointegrated implants. The contact model is based on a modified Coulomb friction law by Immel et al. (2020), that takes into account the tangential debonding of the bone-implant interface. This model is extended in the direction normal to the bone-implant interface by considering a cohesive zone model, to account for adhesion phenomena in the normal direction and for adhesive friction of partially bonded interfaces. The model is applied to simulate the debonding of an acetabular cup implant. The influence of partial osseointegration and adhesive effects on the long-term stability of the implant is assessed. The influence of different patient- and implant-specific parameters such as the friction coefficient $$\mu _\text {b}$$

μ
b

, the trabecular Young’s modulus $$E_\text {b}$$

E
b

, and the interference fit $$I\!F$$

I

F

is also analyzed, in order to determine the optimal stability for different configurations. Furthermore, this work provides guidelines for future experimental and computational studies that are necessary for further parameter calibration.
Treatment options and survival in real life during the past three decades in patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia
Authors: Reiser Julia , Geissler Klaus
Published: October 2022

The impact of treatment on the outcome of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) patients over a longer period of time and the potential role of predictive factors are not well defined. In a retrospective observational study, we analyzed 168 CMML patients regarding treatment options and survival during the past three decades. The proportion of patients treated with hydroxyurea (HU), intensive chemotherapy, and azacitidine (AZA) was 65/19/0% before 2000, 51/25/32% from 2000–2010, and 36/12/53% after 2010, respectively. Median overall survival (OS) increased from 10 months before 2000 to 23 months thereafter (p = 0.021). AZA-treated patients but not patients treated with other treatment options had improved survival as compared to CMML patients without AZA therapy (19 vs. 25 months, p = 0.041). When looking at subgroups, the following patient cohorts had a significant survival benefit in association with AZA therapy: patients with Hb > 10 g/dL, patients with monocytosis > 10 G/L, and patients with mutations in RASopathy genes.
Significance of reduced renal function in patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia
Authors: Heschl Julia , Geissler Klaus
Published: October 2022

In a retrospective study, we analyzed the prevalence of increased creatinine levels in 166 patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), their potential prognostic impact, and potential correlations with laboratory and molecular features. Increased creatinine values (> 1.1 mg/dl) were found in 71 of 166 (43%) patients. The median survival of patients with increased creatinine values was significantly shorter than in patients without impairment of renal function (20 vs. 52 months, p < 0.001). Patients with increased creatinine values were older, were more often male, had higher leukocyte counts, higher monocyte counts, and higher lactatdehydrogenase (LDH) values. There was a trend toward a higher prevalence of CBL and ASXL1 mutations in patients with renal impairment. Our findings show a high prevalence of renal abnormalities in patients with CMML. Increased creatinine values were identified as a new prognostic marker. These findings may be important for the individualized management of this heterogenous group of patients.
Shift in the seasonality of ixodid ticks after a warm winter in an urban habitat with notes on morphotypes of Ixodes ricinus and data in support of cryptic species within Ixodes frontalis
Authors: Reynolds Ciara , Kontschán Jenő , Takács Nóra , Solymosi Norbert , Sándor Attila D. , Keve Gergő , Hornok Sándor
Published: October 2022

This study was initiated to assess the seasonality and to investigate the morphology of questing ixodid ticks in an urban habitat in Central Europe, Hungary. A neglected part of a large cemetery, with sparse tree covering and dense lower vegetation, was sampled monthly from February 2019 to May 2021. All ticks were analyzed morphologically, and selected specimens by amplifying and sequencing two genetic markers. During the study 3818 ticks were collected, including Ixodes ricinus (n = 2772), Ixodes frontalis (n = 350) and Haemaphysalis concinna (n = 696). Ixodes ricinus adults and nymphs showed year-round activity, whereas H. concinna was not active during winter months and early spring. Most I. frontalis nymphs were collected in late winter and early spring, whereas the peak activity of larvae was during late autumn. Interestingly, during the spring, the peak activity of I. ricinus adults and nymphs was later (in May) when preceded by a warm winter in 2020. In contrast, the 2019 and 2021 spring activity peaks occurred in March and April after sharply rising temperatures in February. This shift in the peak activity of I. ricinus coincided with the initiation of questing activity of H. concinna. Three notably different morphotypes and four malformed specimens of I. ricinus were found. However, these were not significantly different in their mitochondrial haplotypes and phylogenetic clustering from typical specimens of this species. On the other hand, I. frontalis was represented by two remarkably different haplogroups, between which in the nymph stage there were no recognizable morphological differences, suggesting the status of these as cryptic species.
Synthesis by carbonate aminolysis and chiral recognition ability of cellulose 2,3-bis(3,5-dimethylphenyl carbamate)-6-(α-phenylethyl carbamate) selectors
Authors: Bui Cuong Viet , Rosenau Thomas , Hettegger Hubert
Published: October 2022

Novel chiral selectors based on cellulose 2,3-bis(3,5-dimethylphenyl carbamate)-6-(α-phenylethyl carbamate) were regioselectively synthesized by carbonate aminolysis and isocyanate chemistry. By oxycarbonylation with phenyl chloroformate, carbamoylation with 3,5-dimethylphenyl isocyanate, and subsequent aminolysis of the previously introduced reactive carbonate moiety at C6 with enantiopure (R)-or (S)-α-phenylethylamine, chiral selectors have been obtained, which regioselectively carry two different phenyl carbamate substituents. The cellulose derivatives were comprehensively characterized by ATR-FTIR, solid-state NMR, GPC, and elemental analysis. In parallel, 3-aminopropyl-functionalized silica gel as an inert carrier material for the chiral selectors was prepared and the obtained coated-type chiral stationary phases were characterized by both solid-state 29Si NMR, 13C NMR, and elemental analysis. The enantioseparation performance of the chiral selectors was studied and compared to cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenyl carbamate) as a reference. With this protocol in hand, certain shortcomings of conventional approaches towards the regioselective synthesis of polysaccharide-based chiral selectors were overcome, such as the limitation to standard isocyanate reagents, being able to apply now the whole wealth of commercially available (chiral) primary and also secondary alkylamines instead.

Graphical abstract
Same storm, different boats: the impact of COVID-19 on Black students and academic staff in UK and US higher education
Authors: Arday Jason , Jones Christopher
Published: October 2022

The permanence of systemic racism in the UK and USA means that Black people are disadvantaged in myriad ways, including within the Academy. While the disproportionate impact of COVID-19, alongside the Black Lives Matter movement, has increased awareness of the challenges faced by Black communities, these issues remain, both in and beyond higher education. Furthermore, there is still a paucity of research individualising the experiences of Black people, who are often homogenised with other ethnic minority groups. This paper explores the impact of COVID-19 on UK and US Black students and academic staff, utilising a critical race theory (CRT) framework. Analysis revealed that Black students and staff experienced COVID-19 against the backdrop of racism as a “pandemic within a pandemic” (Laurencin and Walker, Cell Systems 11:9–10, 2020), including racial (re)traumatisation, loneliness and isolation. Other themes included precarious employment and exploitation. Recommendations are offered for penetrative interventions that can support Black students and staff in the wake of strained race relations neglecting their adverse experiences and a global pandemic.
The relative efficiency of electrowinning indium from chloride electrolytes
Authors: Illés István B. , Kékesi Tamás
Published: October 2022

The main characteristics of electrolytic reduction applied to indium recovery from aqueous chloride solutions were considered theoretically and examined experimentally. Also other media were considered for comparison. Potentiodynamic examinations pointed out that chloride electrolytes are superior to sulphuric and nitric acid-based ones for efficient indium deposition. The optimum conditions, allowing higher than 90% cathodic current efficiencies, were determined by galvanostatic experiments. In contrast, similar sulphate electrolytes could only yield lower than 50% efficiencies because of a stronger hydrogen evolution. The galvanostatic results confirmed the findings of the potentiodynamic study. The cathodic polarisation curves revealed the major characteristics of the deposition process, implying a reduction of the electroactive In3+ ions. Coupled processes are the dynamic transformations of complex species and various rates of simultaneous hydrogen evolution. The structure and the elemental composition of the—relatively dense—cathodic deposits were examined by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. Various levelling agents were also tested, and gelatine (up to a concentration of 1 g/dm3 in the chloride electrolyte) was found efficient in grain refining.

Graphical abstract
Scale free avalanches in excitatory-inhibitory populations of spiking neurons with conductance based synaptic currents
Authors: Ehsani Masud , Jost Jürgen
Published: October 2022

We investigate spontaneous critical dynamics of excitatory and inhibitory (EI) sparsely connected populations of spiking leaky integrate-and-fire neurons with conductance-based synapses. We use a bottom-up approach to derive a single neuron gain function and a linear Poisson neuron approximation which we use to study mean-field dynamics of the EI population and its bifurcations. In the low firing rate regime, the quiescent state loses stability due to saddle-node or Hopf bifurcations. In particular, at the Bogdanov-Takens (BT) bifurcation point which is the intersection of the Hopf bifurcation and the saddle-node bifurcation lines of the 2D dynamical system, the network shows avalanche dynamics with power-law avalanche size and duration distributions. This matches the characteristics of low firing spontaneous activity in the cortex. By linearizing gain functions and excitatory and inhibitory nullclines, we can approximate the location of the BT bifurcation point. This point in the control parameter phase space corresponds to the internal balance of excitation and inhibition and a slight excess of external excitatory input to the excitatory population. Due to the tight balance of average excitation and inhibition currents, the firing of the individual cells is fluctuation-driven. Around the BT point, the spiking of neurons is a Poisson process and the population average membrane potential of neurons is approximately at the middle of the operating interval $$[V_{Rest}, V_{th}]$$

[

V

Rest

,

V

th

]

. Moreover, the EI network is close to both oscillatory and active-inactive phase transition regimes.
Interferon-Driven Immune Dysregulation in Common Variable Immunodeficiency–Associated Villous Atrophy and Norovirus Infection
Authors: Strohmeier Valentina , Andrieux Geoffroy , Unger Susanne , Pascual-Reguant Anna , Klocperk Adam , Seidl Maximilian , Marques Otavio Cabral , Eckert Marleen , Gräwe Katja , Shabani Michelle , von Spee-Mayer Caroline , Friedmann David , Harder Ina , Gutenberger Sylvia , Keller Baerbel , Proietti Michele , Bulashevska Alla , Grimbacher Bodo , Provaznik Jan , Benes Vladimir , Goldacker Sigune , Schell Christoph , Hauser Anja E. , Boerries Melanie , Hasselblatt Peter , Warnatz Klaus
Published: October 2022

Purpose

About 15% of patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) develop a small intestinal enteropathy, which resembles celiac disease with regard to histopathology but evolves from a distinct, poorly defined pathogenesis that has been linked in some cases to chronic norovirus (NV) infection. Interferon-driven inflammation is a prominent feature of CVID enteropathy, but it remains unknown how NV infection may contribute.

Methods

Duodenal biopsies of CVID patients, stratified according to the presence of villous atrophy (VA), IgA plasma cells (PCs), and chronic NV infection, were investigated by flow cytometry, multi-epitope-ligand cartography, bulk RNA-sequencing, and RT-qPCR of genes of interest.

Results

VA development was connected to the lack of intestinal (IgA+) PC, a T helper 1/T helper 17 cell imbalance, and increased recruitment of granzyme+CD8+ T cells and pro-inflammatory macrophages to the affected site. A mixed interferon type I/III and II signature occurred already in the absence of histopathological changes and increased with the severity of the disease and in the absence of (IgA+) PCs. Chronic NV infection exacerbated this signature when compared to stage-matched NV-negative samples.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that increased IFN signaling and T-cell cytotoxicity are present already in mild and are aggravated in severe stages (VA) of CVID enteropathy. NV infection preempts local high IFN-driven inflammation, usually only seen in VA, at milder disease stages. Thus, revealing the impact of different drivers of the pathological mixed IFN type I/III and II signature may allow for more targeted treatment strategies in CVID enteropathy and supports the goal of viral elimination.

Graphical abstract
Feeding Site Specificity in Frog-biting Midges (Corethrellidae)
Authors: Virgo Jonas , Eltz Thomas
Published: October 2022

Hematophagous arthropods often choose predictable feeding sites on their hosts´ body, presumably to maximize blood uptake while minimizing costs. Feeding sites can be host-specific, mediated by intrinsic host characters and/or specific preferences of the blood feeder. We investigated feeding site specificity in a community of frog-biting midges (Corethrella spp.) and frog hosts in La Gamba, Costa Rica. Midge distribution on hosts differed significantly between 12 investigated frog species, indicating that intrinsic host properties influence potential feeding sites. However, realized feeding sites were also significantly different between four investigated Corethrella morphotypes, across all hosts but also within certain shared hosts, indicating feeding site partitioning among Corethrella. We propose that the diversity of feeding sites in Corethrella-frog associations is determined by an interaction of host traits, e. g. calling site, defensive behavior or skin thickness, and midge traits, especially body size and corresponding mouthpart size/structure.