bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
CSI Launches Autism Mentorship STEM Program
Authors: Elfman Lois 
Published: March 2024

As the academic year got underway, Dr. Kristen Gillespie‐Lynch launched Making Mentors: Enhancing Access to STEM Careers for Autistic Youth through Mentorship Programs and Makerspaces. Gillespie‐Lynch, Associate Professor of Psychology and Director of Project REACH at the College of Staten Island (CSI), is partnering with the Education Development Center (EDC) and New York University's (NYU) Maker Program on this project, which is funded by a $1.3 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
ATP1A2‐related epileptic encephalopathy and movement disorder: Clinical features of three novel patients
Authors: Córdoba Natalia Martínez , Lince‐Rivera Isabella , Gómez Jorge Luis Ramón , Rubboli Guido , De la Rosa Sebastián Ortiz 
Published: March 2024

AbstractObjectiveVariants in the ATP1A2 gene exhibit a wide clinical spectrum, ranging from familial hemiplegic migraine to childhood epilepsies and early infantile developmental epileptic encephalopathy (EIDEE) with movement disorders. This study aims to describe the epileptology of three unpublished cases and summarize epilepsy features of the other 17 published cases with ATP1A2 variants and EIDEE.MethodsMedical records of three novel patients with pathogenic ATP1A2 variants were retrospectively reviewed. Additionally, the PUBMED, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched until December 2023 for articles on EIDEE with ATP1A2 variants, without language or publication year restrictions.ResultsThree female patients, aged 6 months–10 years, were investigated. Epilepsy onset occurred between 5 days and 2 years, accompanied by severe developmental delay, intellectual disability, drug‐resistant epilepsy, severe movement disorder, and recurrent status epilepticus. All individuals had pathogenic variants of the ATP1A2 gene (ATP1A2 c.720_721del (p.Ile240MetfsTer9), ATP1A2c.3022C > T (p.Arg1008Trp), ATP1A2 c.1096G > T (p.Gly366Cys), according to ACMG criteria. Memantine was p) rescribed to three patients, one with a reduction in ictal frequency, one with improvement in gait pattern, coordination, and attention span, and another one in alertness without significant side effects.SignificanceThis study reinforces the association between ATP1A2 variants and a severe phenotype. All patients had de novo variants, focal motor seizures with impaired awareness as the primary type of seizure; of the 11 EEGs recorded, 10 presented a slow background rhythm, 7 multifocal interictal epileptiform discharges (IED), predominantly temporal IEDs, followed by frontal IED, as well as ten ictal recordings, which showed ictal onset from the same regions mentioned above. Treatment with antiseizure medication was generally ineffective, but memantine showed moderate improvement. Prospective studies are needed to enlarge the phenotype and assess the efficacy of NMDA receptor antagonist therapies in reducing seizure frequency and improving quality of life.
The effects of high‐intensity ultrasonic treatment on emulsification, rheological properties, and flow behavior of liquid egg yolk
Authors: Yoshimasa Tsujii , Akihiro Handa , Li Po‐Hsien , Wang Jiunnye , Huang Ping‐Hsiu , Ho Jou‐Hsuan 
Published: March 2024

AbstractHigh‐intensity ultrasonic (HIU) treatment has been used to improve and modify the functional properties of food. HIU potentially inactivates microorganisms in food and modifies the physicochemical properties via the cavitation effect. This study evaluated the combination of different HIU power intensities, temperatures, and times for their effects on diluted liquid egg yolks’ physicochemical properties and rheological and flow behavior. The results showed that Salmonella enteritidis and Escherichia coli in the diluted liquid egg yolks were significantly destroyed as HIU power was increased, and complete destroyed conditions were achieved at 210 W, 60°C for 6 or 9 min. Moreover, the emulsifying activity index of the diluted liquid egg yolks increased significantly at 45 and 60°C under the 75 W HIU treatment, whereas the maximum emulsifying stability index was obtained at 30°C, 210 W for 9 min. Yolk viscosity was positively correlated with HIU power intensity and temperature; the same trend was observed for flow behavior and shear stress. The fluid dynamics of the storage modulus (G′) for the 150 and 210 W HIU treatments increased significantly following the increase in temperature to 45 and 60°C, and G′ > loss modulus (G″). However, free hydrogen sulfide group content also increased significantly after the HIU treatment. Thus, this study revealed that the HIU treatment effectively destroyed the bacteria population in the diluted liquid egg yolk while maintaining or improving the emulsification properties. Moreover, the diluted liquid egg yolk flow parameters apply to egg yolk product manufacturing processes.
An early enriched experience drives targeted microglial engulfment of miswired neural circuitry during a restricted postnatal period
Authors: Rogerson‐Wood Lara , Goldsbury Claire S. , Sawatari Atomu , Leamey Catherine A. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBrain function is critically dependent on correct circuit assembly. Microglia are well‐known for their important roles in immunological defense and neural plasticity, but whether they can also mediate experience‐induced correction of miswired circuitry is unclear. Ten‐m3 knockout (KO) mice display a pronounced and stereotyped visuotopic mismapping of ipsilateral retinal inputs in their visual thalamus, providing a useful model to probe circuit correction mechanisms. Environmental enrichment (EE) commenced around birth, but not later in life, can drive a partial correction of the most mismapped retinal inputs in Ten‐m3 KO mice. Here, we assess whether enrichment unlocks the capacity for microglia to selectively engulf and remove miswired circuitry, and the timing of this effect. Expression of the microglial‐associated lysosomal protein CD68 showed a clear enrichment‐driven, spatially restricted change which had not commenced at postnatal day (P)18, was evident at P21, more robust at P25, and had ceased by P30. This was observed specifically at the corrective pruning site and was absent at a control site. An engulfment assay at the corrective pruning site in P25 mice showed EE‐driven microglial‐uptake of the mismapped axon terminals. This was temporally and spatially specific, as no enrichment‐driven microglial engulfment was seen in P18 KO mice, nor the control locus. The timecourse of the EE‐driven corrective pruning as determined anatomically, aligned with this pattern of microglia reactivity and engulfment. Collectively, these findings show experience can drive targeted microglial engulfment of miswired neural circuitry during a restricted postnatal window. This may have important therapeutic implications for neurodevelopmental conditions involving aberrant neural connectivity.
Pornography usage during adolescence: Does it lead to risky sexual behavior?
Authors: Mubasshera Hamida 
Published: March 2024

AbstractAre youths who consume pornography more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors? Using longitudinal data from the National Study of Youth and Religion and an individual fixed effects strategy, this paper investigates the relationship between pornography use among 13‐ to 23‐year‐olds and a range of subsequent risky sexual behaviors. It also estimates a lagged dependent variable model where risky sexual behavior of the previous wave is included as a control. The findings suggest that moderate and frequent pornography use increases the likelihood of engaging in acts such as unprotected sex and having multiple sexual partners. Finally, a heterogeneity analysis by gender reveals that males and females behave differently in response to exposure to pornography, but that is true for only a few indicators of risky sex. The paper's findings provide critical information on determinants of risky sexual behavior and meaningful evidence for the policy debate on government censoring and monitoring online behavior.
Developmental trajectory of depressive symptoms among left‐behind adolescents: The effects of parent‐adolescent separation and parent‐adolescent cohesion
Authors: Liu Yuan , Wang Lei , Zhao Jingxin 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIntroductionLeft‐behind adolescents are vulnerable to depressive symptoms under the context of parent‐adolescent separation. However, limited knowledge is available regarding left‐behind adolescents' depression trajectory and the protective resources against it. The aim of this longitudinal study was to investigate the depression trajectory and its association with parent‐adolescent separation (left‐behind status, age of separation and duration of separation) and parent‐adolescent cohesion (father‐adolescent cohesion, mother‐adolescent cohesion) among left‐behind adolescents.MethodsThe participants were 1,107 left‐behind adolescents (Mage = 13.23 ± 0.86 years at T1; 45.17% girls; 38.48% both‐parent migrant adolescents, 61.52% father‐only migrant adolescents) from two rural areas of Shandong Province in China, who were participated in assessment at three time points with 6 months apart from November 2014 to November 2015.ResultsThe results indicated that the trajectory of left‐behind adolescents' depression symptoms showed a decreasing trend. Both‐parent migrant adolescents reported a higher initial level of depressive symptoms than father‐only migrant adolescents. Duration of separation positively predicted the initial level of left‐behind adolescents' depressive symptoms. Mother‐adolescent cohesion negatively predicted the initial level and positively predicted the change rate of left‐behind adolescents' depressive symptoms. Moreover, mother‐adolescent and father‐adolescent cohesion buffered the negative effect of parent‐adolescent separation on the initial level of left‐behind adolescents' depressive symptoms.ConclusionsThese findings highlight the protective role of parent‐adolescent cohesion for left‐behind adolescents, having important implications for interventions targeted toward mitigating the detrimental influence of parent‐adolescent separation on left‐behind adolescents' depression trajectory.
The kinetics of Torque Teno virus plasma load following calcineurin inhibitor dose change in kidney transplant recipients
Authors: Regele Florina , Haupenthal Frederik , Doberer Konstantin , Görzer Irene , Kapps Sebastian , Strassl Robert , Bond Gregor 
Published: March 2024

AbstractTorque Teno virus (TTV) is nonpathogenic, highly prevalent, and reflects the immune status of its host. Thus, TTV plasma load was suggested for the guidance of immunosuppression post solid organ transplantation. The present study was designed to determine the kinetics of TTV following changes in calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) dose. A total of 48 adult recipients of a kidney graft transplanted at the Medical University of Vienna between 2018 and 2019 with isolated changes in CNI dose were selected from the prospective TTV‐POET trial. TTV plasma load was quantified by in‐house PCR. At Day 30 following CNI dose adaptation (median 33% of daily dose) no changes in TTV load were noted. However, at Day 60, following CNI dose reduction a lower TTV load of 6.4 log10 c/mL (median; interquartile range [IQR] 4.9–8.1) compared with the baseline of 7.1 log10 c/mL (IQR 5.3–8.9) was noted (p = 0.001); there was also a trend toward a higher TTV load following CNI increase (6.6 log10 c/mL, IQR 4.1–9.7 vs. 5.2 log10 c/mL, IQR 4.5–6.8; p = 0.09). The data suggested that TTV load changes become noticeable only 2 months after CNI dose adaptation, which might be the ideal time point for TTV load monitoring.
Prevalence of eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases in children with short bowel syndrome: A single center study
Authors: Du Nicole , Torres Clarivet 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPatients with short bowel syndrome (SBS) have multiple risk factors for eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGIDs) including increased risk for intestinal dysbiosis and food allergy compared to their counterparts with normal anatomy. However, there is limited data on the prevalence of EGIDs in children with SBS. We aimed to define the prevalence of EGIDs in an SBS cohort and its association with different risk factors via a retrospective chart review of patients with SBS at Children's National Hospital. The prevalence of eosinophilic esophagitis in our SBS cohort was 10%, eosinophilic gastritis was 4.9%, and eosinophilic enteritis was 4.9%. SBS patients with history of allergy or atopy were more likely to have esophageal and intestinal eosinophilia on biopsy than patients without allergy. The prevalence of EGIDs in our SBS cohort is significantly higher than in the general population and may be associated with allergic polarization.
Fabrication of Superhydrophobic Polycaprolactone Foam via Phase Separation and Silica Modification for Oil–Water Separation
Authors: Wang Xiaolong , Liu Qianwei , Pan Yamin , Tu Yongqiang , Liu Xianhu 
Published: March 2024

AbstractRising oil spills from contemporary industrial activities pose threats to local ecosystems. This study presents a novel approach, fabricating superhydrophobic polycaprolactone (PCL) 3D porous foam for oil–water separation using thermally induced nonsolvent‐induced phase separation (TINIPS) and silica modification, achieving an impressive water contact angle of 151.56°. PCL foam exhibits remarkable versatility, proving effective in oil absorption on water surfaces and underwater, with an adsorption capacity reaching 9.32 times its weight. Additionally, film‐like PCL foam emerges as a valuable tool for oil–water separation through filtration, maintaining a flux of 13.63 m3 m−2 h−1 even after 10 cycles. This research advances superhydrophobic materials, demonstrating practical applications in mitigating environmental challenges posed by oil spills.
Role of solar PV in net‐zero growth: An analysis of international manufacturers and policies
Authors: Aleksandra Arcipowska , Sara Blanco Perez , Małgorzata Jakimów , Brian Baldassarre , Davide Polverini , Miguel Cabrera 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn May 2022, the European Commission adopted a new European Union (EU) Solar Energy Strategy [1] aiming to ensure that solar energy achieves its full potential in helping to meet the European Green Deal's climate and energy targets. A goal of the strategy is to reach nearly 600 GW of installed solar photovoltaics (PV) capacity by 2030. While Europe is a pioneer in the definition of new policy requirements to ensure the circularity and sustainability of PV products, its manufacturing capabilities are limited. The EU mostly imports PV modules from China, which for the last decade has remained the global leader in PV manufacturing across the supply chain. This article aims to provide insight into the solar PV industry and the surrounding policy context, focusing on the manufacturing phase and its climate impact. It provides a comparative overview of the key players in the European and Chinese PV markets with an overview of the whole supply chain (i.e. production of polysilicon, cells, wafers and modules). Having in mind the net‐zero commitments across the globe, and a central role of the solar PV in the energy transition, the demand for PV products is expected to grow exponentially in the next decades. With this in mind, the authors look into environmental impacts from the PV manufacturing. A simplified analysis concludes on the suitability of the PV manufacturing process today and indicates the opportunities for the net‐zero transition in the future. While the focus is on the carbon impacts of the solar PV industry, the authors also identify other relevant aspects (such as circularity), laying the ground for a future research.
Unraveling paralog‐specific Notch signaling through thermodynamics of ternary complex formation and transcriptional activation of chimeric receptors
Authors: Ramsey Kristen M. , Barrick Doug 
Published: March 2024

AbstractNotch signaling in humans is mediated by four paralogous receptors that share conserved architectures and possess overlapping, yet non‐redundant functions. The receptors share a canonical activation pathway wherein upon extracellular ligand binding, the Notch intracellular domain (NICD) is cleaved from the membrane and translocates to the nucleus where its N‐terminal RBP‐j‐associated molecule (RAM) region and ankyrin repeat (ANK) domain bind transcription factor CSL and recruit co‐activator Mastermind‐like‐1 (MAML1) to activate transcription. However, different paralogs can lead to distinct outcomes. To better understand paralog‐specific differences in Notch signaling, we performed a thermodynamic analysis of the Notch transcriptional activation complexes for all four Notch paralogs using isothermal titration calorimetry. Using chimeric constructs, we find that the RAM region is the primary determinant of stability of binary RAMANK:CSL complexes, and that the ANK regions are largely the determinants of MAML1 binding to pre‐formed RAMANK:CSL complexes. Free energies of these binding reactions (ΔGRA and ΔGMAML) vary among the four Notch paralogs, although variations for Notch2, 3, and 4 offset in the free energy of the ternary complex (ΔGTC, where ΔGTC = ΔGRA + ΔGMAML). To probe how these affinity differences affect Notch signaling, we performed transcriptional activation assays with the paralogous and chimeric NICDs, and analyzed the results with an independent multiplicative model that quantifies contributions of the paralogous RAM, ANK, and C‐terminal regions (CTR) to activation. This analysis shows that transcription activation correlates with ΔGTC, but that activation is further modified by CTR identity in a paralog‐specific way.
Liquid–liquid phase separation of α‐synuclein is highly sensitive to sequence complexity
Authors: Mahapatra Anindita , Newberry Robert W. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe Parkinson's‐associated protein α‐synuclein (α‐syn) can undergo liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS), which typically leads to the formation of amyloid fibrils. The coincidence of LLPS and amyloid formation has complicated the identification of the molecular determinants unique to LLPS of α‐syn. Moreover, the lack of strategies to selectively perturb LLPS makes it difficult to dissect the biological roles specific to α‐syn LLPS, independent of fibrillation. Herein, using a combination of subtle missense mutations, we show that LLPS of α‐syn is highly sensitive to its sequence complexity. In fact, we find that even a highly conservative mutation (V16I) that increases sequence complexity without perturbing physicochemical and structural properties, is sufficient to reduce LLPS by 75%; this effect can be reversed by an adjacent V‐to‐I mutation (V15I) that restores the original sequence complexity. A18T, a complexity‐enhancing PD‐associated mutation, was likewise found to reduce LLPS, implicating sequence complexity in α‐syn pathogenicity. Furthermore, leveraging the differences in LLPS propensities among different α‐syn variants, we demonstrate that fibrillation of α‐syn does not necessarily correlate with its LLPS. In fact, we identify mutations that selectively perturb LLPS or fibrillation of α‐syn, unlike previously studied mutations. The variants and design principles reported herein should therefore empower future studies to disentangle these two phenomena and distinguish their (patho)biological roles.
Engineering a monobody specific to monomeric Cu/Zn‐superoxide dismutase associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Amesaka Hiroshi , Hara Mizuho , Sakai Yuki , Shintani Atsuko , Sue Kaori , Yamanaka Tomoyuki , Tanaka Shun‐ichi , Furukawa Yoshiaki 
Published: March 2024

AbstractMisfolding of mutant Cu/Zn‐superoxide dismutase (SOD1) has been implicated in familial form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A natively folded SOD1 forms a tight homodimer, and the dimer dissociation has been proposed to trigger the oligomerization/aggregation of SOD1. Besides increasing demand for probes allowing the detection of monomerized forms of SOD1 in various applications, the development of probes has been limited to conventional antibodies. Here, we have developed Mb(S4) monobody, a small synthetic binding protein based on the fibronectin type III scaffold, that recognizes a monomeric but not dimeric form of SOD1 by performing combinatorial library selections using phage and yeast‐surface display methods. Although Mb(S4) was characterized by its excellent selectivity to the monomeric conformation of SOD1, the monomeric SOD1/Mb(S4) complex was not so stable (apparent Kd ~ μM) as to be detected in conventional pull‐down experiments. Instead, the complex of Mb(S4) with monomeric but not dimeric SOD1 was successfully trapped by proximity‐enabled chemical crosslinking even when reacted in the cell lysates. We thus anticipate that Mb(S4) binding followed by chemical crosslinking would be a useful strategy for in vitro and also ex vivo detection of the monomeric SOD1 proteins.
Pulsed Photothermal Therapy of Solid Tumors as a Precondition for Immunotherapy
Authors: Farivar Negin , Khazamipour Nastaran , Roberts Morgan E. , Nelepcu Irina , Marzban Mona , Moeen Alireza , Oo Htoo Zarni , Nakouzi Nader Al , Dolleris Casper , Black Peter C. , Daugaard Mads 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPhotothermal therapy (PTT) refers to the use of plasmonic nanoparticles to convert electromagnetic radiation in the near infrared region to heat and kill tumor cells. Continuous wave lasers have been used clinically to induce PTT, but the treatment is associated with heat‐induced tissue damage that limits usability. Here, the engineering and validation of a novel long‐pulsed laser device able to induce selective and localized mild hyperthermia in tumors while reducing the heat affected zone and unwanted damage to surrounding tissue are reported. Long‐pulsed PTT induces acute necrotic cell death in heat affected areas and the release of tumor associated antigens. This antigen release triggers maturation and stimulation of CD80/CD86 in dendritic cells in vivo that primes a cytotoxic T cell response. Accordingly, long‐pulsed PTT enhances the therapeutic effects of immune checkpoint inhibition and increases survival of mice with bladder cancer. Combined, the data promote long‐pulsed PTT as a safe and effective strategy for enhancing therapeutic responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors while minimizing unwanted tissue damage.
A Flexible, Adaptive, and Self‐Powered Triboelectric Vibration Sensor with Conductive Sponge‐Silicone for Machinery Condition Monitoring
Authors: Zou Yongjiu , Sun Minzheng , Zhang Xinyu , Wang Junpeng , Li Fangming , Dong Fangyang , Zhao Zhenhang , Du Taili , Ji Yulong , Sun Peiting , Xu Minyi 
Published: March 2024

AbstractVibration sensors for continuous and reliable condition monitoring of mechanical equipment, especially detection points of curved surfaces, remain a great challenge and are highly desired. Herein, a highly flexible and adaptive triboelectric vibration sensor for high‐fidelity and continuous monitoring of mechanical vibration conditions is proposed. The sensor is entirely composed of flexible materials. It consists of a conductive sponge‐silicone layer and a fluorinated ethylene propylene film. It can detect vibration acceleration of 5 to 50 m s−2 and vibration frequency of 10 to 100 Hz. It has strong robustness and stability, and the output performance barely changes after the durability test of 168 000 working cycles. Additionally, the flexible sensor can work even when the detection point of the mechanical equipment is curved, and the linear fit of the output voltage and acceleration is very close to that when the detection point is flat. Finally, it can be applied to monitoring the working condition of blower and vehicle engine, and can transmit vibration signal to mobile phone application through Wi‐Fi module for real‐time monitoring. The flexible triboelectric vibration sensor is expected to provide a practical paradigm for smart, green, and sustainable wireless sensor system in the era of Internet of Things.