bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Increased miR-124-3p alleviates type 2 inflammatory response in allergic rhinitis via IL-4Rα
Authors: Liu Qian , Shen Yang , Xiao Yifang , Xiang Hong , Chu Ling , Wang Tiansheng , Liu Honghui , Tan Guolin 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Background and objectives
miRNAs play a crucial role in regulating immune responses. However, the effect of miR-124-3p on type 2 inflammation in allergic rhinitis (AR) is unclear. We aimed to study the immune regulation of miR-124-3p in AR and the mechanisms involved.

Methods
The direct interaction between miR-124-3p and IL-4Rα was confirmed through a dual-luciferase reporter assay. In vitro splenic lymphocytes from mice and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy individuals were cultured and treated with miR-124-3p mimic/inhibitor. Twenty-four female C57BL/C mice were divided into four groups: control, AR model, miR-124-3p agomir, and miR-124-3p antagomir groups (n = 6 per group). The allergic responses were evaluated based on the number of sneezing and nasal scratching, the serum HDM-specific IgE (sIgE) levels, and the degree of nasal mucosa eosinophil infiltration. The expression of IL-4Rα, p-STAT6, and type 2 inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13) in lymphocytes or nasal mucosa was determined by qPCR, western blotting, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence.

Results
miR-124-3p directly targets the 3'UTR of IL-4Rα. The miR-124-3p mimic lowered the IL-4Rα, p-STAT6, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 expression levels in both mouse splenic lymphocytes and human PBMCs in vitro, and the miR-124-3p inhibitor rescued these changes. Furthermore, the miR-124-3p agomir decreased the levels of IL-4Rα and IL-4 in nasal mucosa, Th2 differentiation in spleen, and allergic response in AR mice. Moreover, the miR-124-3p antagonist increased the IL-4Rα and IL-4 levels and further aggravated the allergic responses.

Conclusions
miR-124-3p might attenuate type 2 inflammation in AR by regulating IL-4Rα signaling, and miR-124-3p may be a promising new target in AR treatment.
Forensische Altersdiagnostik mittels Niederfeld-Magnetresonanztomographie
Authors: Ottow C. , Schmidt S. , Schulz R. , Sottmann L. , Heindel W. , Krähling T. , Pfeiffer H. , Vieth V. , Schmeling A. 
Published: August 2022

Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund
Ein rechtlich zulässiges medizinisches Altersfeststellungsverfahren mit möglichst schonenden und zuverlässigen Methoden bei unbegleiteten und fraglich minderjährigen Ausländern ist erforderlich, um den tatsächlich Minderjährigen den für sie gesetzlich vorgesehenen besonderen Schutz zukommen zu lassen.

Ziel der Arbeit
Studiendesign und erste Ergebnisse einer Studie zur forensischen Altersdiagnostik mittels Niederfeld-Magnetresonanztomographie werden vorgestellt.

Material und Methoden
Geplant ist die prospektive Untersuchung von 650 Studienteilnehmenden, gleichmäßig verteilt innerhalb der Altersgruppe 12 bis 24 Jahre zu je 25 Personen je Geschlecht. Es sollen Entwicklungsstadien von distalem Radius, distaler Ulna, distalem Femur und proximaler Tibia mithilfe eines 0,31-Tesla(T)-Niederfeld-MRT-Scanners erfasst und mittels Anwendung der Vieth-Klassifikation ausgewertet werden.

Ergebnisse
Nach Auswertung der Untersuchungen der bisher 487 untersuchten Studienteilnehmenden ist ersichtlich, dass die gewählten Sequenzen die für die Vieth-Klassifikation relevanten Charakteristika der Ossifikation der untersuchten Epiphysen erfassen. Die Untersuchungen erweisen sich überdies als einfach in der Durchführung.

Schlussfolgerung
Untersuchungen zur forensischen Altersschätzung am Lebenden unter Anwendung der Vieth-Klassifikation sind mit Niederfeld-MRT-Scannern bei einer Feldstärke von 0,31 T durchführbar. Es bleibt zu klären, ob die mit einem 0,31-T-Niederfeld-MRT-Scanner nachweisbaren Ossifikationsmerkmale am Handgelenk und am Knie einen zweifelsfreien Volljährigkeitsnachweis erlauben.
The effect of self-administered methamphetamine on GABAergic interneuron populations and functional connectivity of the nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex
Authors: Robinson Katherine J. , Everett Nicholas A. , Baracz Sarah J. , Cornish Jennifer L. 
Published: August 2022

Abstract

Introduction
Methamphetamine (METH, “ice”) is a potent and addictive psychostimulant. Abuse of METH perturbs neurotransmitter systems and induces neurotoxicity; however, the neurobiological mechanisms which underlie addiction to METH are not fully understood, limiting the efficacy of available treatments. Here we investigate METH-induced changes to neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), parvalbumin and calretinin-expressing GABAergic interneuron populations within the nucleus accumbens (NAc), prefrontal cortex (PFC) and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). We hypothesise that dysfunction or loss of these GABAergic interneuron populations may disrupt the excitatory/inhibitory balance within the brain.

Methods
Male Long Evans rats (N = 32) were trained to lever press for intravenous METH or received yoked saline infusions. Following 14 days of behavioural extinction, animals were given a non-contingent injection of saline or METH (1 mg/kg, IP) to examine drug-primed reinstatement to METH-seeking behaviours. Ninety minutes post-IP injection, animals were culled and brain sections were analysed for Fos, nNOS, parvalbumin and calretinin immunoreactivity in eight distinct subregions of the NAc, PFC and OFC.

Results
METH exposure differentially affected GABAergic populations, with METH self-administration increasing nNOS immunoreactivity at distinct locations in the prelimbic cortex and decreasing parvalbumin immunoreactivity in the NAc. METH self-administration triggered reduced calretinin immunoreactivity, whilst acute METH administration produced a significant increase in calretinin immunoreactivity. As expected, non-contingent METH-priming treatment increased Fos immunoreactivity in subregions of the NAc and PFC.

Conclusion
Here we report that METH exposure in this model may alter the function of GABAergic interneurons in more subtle ways, such as alterations in neuronal firing or synaptic connectivity.
Immunization of preterm infants: current evidence and future strategies to individualized approaches
Authors: Fortmann Mats Ingmar , Dirks Johannes , Goedicke-Fritz Sybelle , Liese Johannes , Zemlin Michael , Morbach Henner , Härtel Christoph 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Preterm infants are at particularly high risk for infectious diseases. As this vulnerability extends beyond the neonatal period into childhood and adolescence, preterm infants benefit greatly from infection-preventive measures such as immunizations. However, there is an ongoing discussion about vaccine safety and efficacy due to preterm infants’ distinct immunological features. A significant proportion of infants remains un- or under-immunized when discharged from primary hospital stay. Educating health care professionals and parents, promoting maternal immunization and evaluating the potential of new vaccination tools are important means to reduce the overall burden from infectious diseases in preterm infants. In this narrative review, we summarize the current knowledge about vaccinations in premature infants. We discuss the specificities of early life immunity and memory function, including the role of polyreactive B cells, restricted B cell receptor diversity and heterologous immunity mediated by a cross-reactive T cell repertoire. Recently, mechanistic studies indicated that tissue-resident memory (Trm) cell populations including T cells, B cells and macrophages are already established in the fetus. Their role in human early life immunity, however, is not yet understood. Tissue-resident memory T cells, for example, are diminished in airway tissues in neonates as compared to older children or adults. Hence, the ability to make specific recall responses after secondary infectious stimulus is hampered, a phenomenon that is transcriptionally regulated by enhanced expression of T-bet. Furthermore, the microbiome establishment is a dominant factor to shape resident immunity at mucosal surfaces, but it is often disturbed in the context of preterm birth. The proposed function of Trm T cells to remember benign interactions with the microbiome might therefore be reduced which would contribute to an increased risk for sustained inflammation. An improved understanding of Trm interactions may determine novel targets of vaccination, e.g., modulation of T-bet responses and facilitate more individualized approaches to protect preterm babies in the future.
New confirmed depth limit of Antarctic macroalgae: Palmaria decipiens found at 100 m depth in the Southern Ocean
Authors: Robinson Ben Jamie Owen , Morley Simon A. , Rizouli Anastasia , Sarantopoulou Joanne , Gkafas George A. , Exadactylos Athanasios , Küpper Frithjof C. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractLiving specimens of the macroalga Palmaria decipiens were collected from 100 m depth, representing a new confirmed depth record, considerably exceeding the previous record of 42 m depth. Previous deeper collections (below conventional SCUBA depths) have relied on dredge/grab samples or drop camera surveys. Remote techniques cannot conclusively prove that macroalgae are living at these depths, as algae detach from shallower substrata, e.g., through ice scouring, and drift to depths below their growth limit. This, combined with a low rate of decay of macroalgae around Antarctica, requires validation that algal samples from depth have grown in situ. Estimates of macroalgal biomass, energy fluxes, and the potential energy fixation may need adjusting to consider the deeper growing depths particularly with glacial retreat along the Antarctic Peninsula revealing areas of rocky substrata for macroalgal colonisation. The confirmed extension of depth where macroalgae can grow will have implications for assessments of benthic productivity and food webs in Antarctica.
Interaction of quasi-two-dimensional vortical gusts with airfoils, unswept and swept wings
Authors: Qian Yuanzhi , Wang Zhijin , Gursul Ismet 
Published: August 2022

AbstractA nearly two-dimensional vortex of small core size has been produced by the transient plunging motion of an upstream airfoil and it interacted with the downstream wings. Depending on the offset distance of the vortex and wing angle of attack, the incident vortex filament deforms, diffuses, and loses coherence, while inducing leading-edge vortex formation and shedding from the wing. No significant spanwise flow develops in the incident vortices during the interaction. The interaction with the swept wing at each spanwise plane appears to be unaffected by the other spanwise planes. The counter-clockwise vortex induces a positive lift peak as it approaches the wing, which can be predicted by the potential flow assumption. The peak lift force is proportional to the circulation of the incident vortex and has its maximum near the zero-offset distance. The minimum lift coefficient is reached after the vortex has just passed and caused flow separation on the lower surface. The maximum lift coefficients for the finite unswept and swept wings can be estimated by making a correction for the aspect ratio and using the independence principle. The only exception is observed for the swept wing at a post-stall angle of attack for which the leading-edge vortex shedding becomes parallel to the leading-edge and increases the peak lift force.
Graphical abstract
Sequential bilateral cochlear implant: long-term speech perception results in children first implanted at an early age
Authors: Forli F. , Bruschini L. , Franciosi B. , Berrettini S. , Lazzerini F. 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to assess the benefit of sequential bilateral cochlear implantation in children with congenital bilateral profound hearing loss, submitted to the first implant at an early age.

Methods
We enrolled all the bilateral sequential cochlear implanted children who received the first implant within 48 months and the second within 12 years of age at our Institution. The children were submitted to disyllabic word recognition tests and Speech Reception Threshold (SRT) assessment using the OLSA matrix sentence test with the first implanted device (CI1), with the second implanted device (CI2), and with both devices (CIbil). Furthermore, we measured the datalogging of both devices. Then we calculated the binaural SRT gain (b-SRTgain) and checked the correlations between speech perception results and the b-SRTgain with the child’s age at CI1 and CI2, DELTA and the datalogging reports.

Results
With the bilateral electric stimulation, we found a significant improvement in disyllabic word recognition scores and in SRT. Moreover, the datalogging showed no significant differences in the time of use of CI1 and CI2. We found significant negative correlations between speech perception abilities with CI2 and age at CI2 and DELTA, and between the SRT with CI1 and the b-SRTgain.

Conclusions
From this study we can conclude that in a sequential CI procedure, even if a short inter-implant delay and lower ages at the second surgery can lead to better speech perception with CI2, children can benefit from bilateral stimulation independently of age at the second surgery and the DELTA.
Relationship between laparoscopic and microscopic findings of peritoneum in peritoneal dialysis patients
Authors: Hamada Chieko 
Published: August 2022

AbstractLong-term exposure to the peritoneal dialysis solution (PDS) causes functional and morphological alterations that diminish the efficacy of peritoneal dialysis (PD). Macroscopic and microscopic findings, submesothelial compact zone (SMC) thickness and vascular patency, were associated with PD duration. The relationship between microscopic and laparoscopic morphological findings in PD patients was determined. A total of 78 laparoscopic intraperitoneal findings were recorded during PD catheter removal and 45 peritoneal tissues were obtained from the anterior parietal peritoneum. We examined macroscopic morphological findings in both parietal and visceral peritoneums and bowel movement and assessed the score semiquantitatively. SMC thickness and vascular patency were examined as microscopic findings. Total laparoscopic finding’s score (LFS) and microscopic findings, SMC thickness and vascular patency, were associated with PD duration. Total LFS was related to SMC thickness in both visceral and parietal peritoneum, whereas it was related to vascular patency in parietal but not in visceral peritoneum. There was no relationship between microscopic findings and peritoneal surface color, properties, vasculopathy, and adhesion. Total LFS in patients with newly formed membrane and omentum atrophy was higher than in those without. There was a significant relationship between microscopic and laparoscopic findings in PD patients. It is important to evaluate laparoscopic findings in more PD patients to find the predictive findings of encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis development.
Improving dynamic treatment unit forest planning with cellular automata heuristics
Authors: Pär Wilhelmsson , Tomas Lämås , Jörgen Wallerman , Jeannette Eggers , Karin Öhman 
Published: August 2022

AbstractWe present a model for conducting dynamic treatment unit (DTU) forest planning using a heuristic cellular automata (CA) approach. The clustering of DTUs is driven by entry costs associated with treatments, thus we directly model the economic incentive to cluster. The model is based on the work presented in the literature but enhanced by adding a third phase to the CA algorithm where DTUs are mapped in high detail. The model allows separate but nearby forest areas to be included in the same DTU and shares the entry cost if they are within a defined distance. The model is applied to a typical long-term forest planning problem for a 1 182 ha landscape in northern Sweden, represented by 4 218 microsegments with an average size of 0.28 ha. The added phase increased the utility by 1.5–32.2%. The model produced consistent solutions—more than half of all microsegments were managed with the same treatment program in 95% of all solutions when multiple solutions were found.
Controlling non-stationarity and periodicities in time series generation using conditional invertible neural networks
Authors: Heidrich Benedikt , Turowski Marian , Phipps Kaleb , Schmieder Kai , Süß Wolfgang , Mikut Ralf , Hagenmeyer Veit 
Published: August 2022

AbstractGenerated synthetic time series aim to be both realistic by mirroring the characteristics of real-world time series and useful by including characteristics that are useful for subsequent applications, such as forecasting and missing value imputation. To generate such realistic and useful time series, we require generation methods capable of controlling the non-stationarity and periodicities of the generated time series. However, existing approaches do not consider such explicit control. Therefore, in the present paper, we present a novel approach to control non-stationarity and periodicities with calendar and statistical information when generating time series. We first define the requirements for methods to generate time series with non-stationarity and periodicities, which we show are not fulfilled by existing generation methods. Second, we formally describe the novel approach for controlling non-stationarity and periodicities in generated time series. Thirdly, we introduce an exemplary implementation of this approach using a conditional Invertible Neural Network (cINN). We evaluate this cINN empirically in experiments with real-world data sets and compare it to state-of-the-art time series generation methods. Our experiments show that the evaluated cINN can generate time series with controlled periodicities and non-stationarity, and it also generally outperforms the selected benchmarks.
ConvNet-based performers attention and supervised contrastive learning for activity recognition
Authors: Hamad Rebeen Ali , Yang Longzhi , Woo Wai Lok , Wei Bo 
Published: August 2022

AbstractHuman activity recognition based on generated sensor data plays a major role in a large number of applications such as healthcare monitoring and surveillance system. Yet, accurately recognizing human activities is still challenging and active research due to people’s tendency to perform daily activities in a different and multitasking way. Existing approaches based on the recurrent setting for human activity recognition have some issues, such as the inability to process data parallelly, the requirement for more memory and high computational cost albeit they achieved reasonable results. Convolutional Neural Network processes data parallelly, but, it breaks the ordering of input data, which is significant to build an effective model for human activity recognition. To overcome these challenges, this study proposes causal convolution based on performers-attention and supervised contrastive learning to entirely forego recurrent architectures, efficiently maintain the ordering of human daily activities and focus more on important timesteps of the sensors’ data. Supervised contrastive learning is integrated to learn a discriminative representation of human activities and enhance predictive performance. The proposed network is extensively evaluated for human activities using multiple datasets including wearable sensor data and smart home environments data. The experiments on three wearable sensor datasets and five smart home public datasets of human activities reveal that our proposed network achieves better results and reduces the training time compared with the existing state-of-the-art methods and basic temporal models.
The multifaceted mechanisms of malignant glioblastoma progression and clinical implications
Authors: Sun Rui , Kim Albert H. 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
With the application of high throughput sequencing technologies at single-cell resolution, studies of the tumor microenvironment in glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive and invasive of all cancers, have revealed immense cellular and tissue heterogeneity. A unique extracellular scaffold system adapts to and supports progressive infiltration and migration of tumor cells, which is characterized by altered composition, effector delivery, and mechanical properties. The spatiotemporal interactions between malignant and immune cells generate an immunosuppressive microenvironment, contributing to the failure of effective anti-tumor immune attack. Among the heterogeneous tumor cell subpopulations of glioblastoma, glioma stem cells (GSCs), which exhibit tumorigenic properties and strong invasive capacity, are critical for tumor growth and are believed to contribute to therapeutic resistance and tumor recurrence. Here we discuss the role of extracellular matrix and immune cell populations, major components of the tumor ecosystem in glioblastoma, as well as signaling pathways that regulate GSC maintenance and invasion. We also highlight emerging advances in therapeutic targeting of these components.
What self-regulation strategies do elementary students utilize while learning online?
Authors: Torrington Jodie , Bower Matt , Burns Emma C. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractLittle is known about the strategies elementary school students use to self-regulate their learning while in a hypermedia environment. This exploratory study investigated the self-regulatory strategies that young students (N = 48, Mage = 10.75) utilized while individually completing a 20-min online research task about space. Video data was coded using Azevedo et al.'s (2004) established coding scheme for analyzing self-regulatory behavior in hypermedia environments. Results showed that young students spent the majority of their time using cognitive strategies (M = 75.26%) to read and summarise information to complete the task. Little time was taken to plan (M = 6.99%) or monitor (M = 5.92%) their work or learning processes, which are key attributes of effective self-regulation. The study reveals the disparity between the ability to navigate within a hypermedia environment and utilizing planning and monitoring processes to enhance learning while using digital tools. This study highlights the need for the explicit teaching of planning and monitoring strategies in order for young students to develop the full range of self-regulation skills they need when using technology, for instance while learning from home during COVID-19. Implications for curriculum policy and teacher practice are discussed.
The impact of FinTech firms on bank financial stability
Authors: Safiullah Md , Paramati Sudharshan Reddy 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThis study is the first to examine the impact of FinTech firms on bank financial stability. Using a sample of 26 banks from an emerging market (Malaysia), over the period 2003–2018, we find that the development of FinTech firms over time increases bank financial stability. We uncover further evidence that FinTech firms’ impact on bank financial stability holds when we conduct sub-sample analyses by bank size, bank type (Islamic vis-à-vis conventional), and level of corporate governance. The results are robust to alternative model specifications, measures of financial stability, and FinTech.