Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carles Canto
Summary: The last decade has witnessed a rise in therapeutic strategies aimed at increasing cellular NAD(+) bioavailability for the treatment of metabolic and age-related diseases. Among these strategies, dietary supplementation with NAD(+) precursors, commonly known as vitamin B3, has received significant attention. Various molecules can serve as NAD(+) precursors through different biosynthetic pathways, and eukaryotic organisms have evolved the ability to utilize all of these molecules, even those that are rare in nature. This suggests that different NAD(+) precursors may have specialized purposes.
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Dimity Stephen
Summary: A key feature of questionable journals is the lack of adequate peer review. This study investigates the profile and impact of research in questionable journals by authors in Germany. Nearly 600 articles in 88 questionable journals were published by German authors in 2010-2020, mainly in medical and health sciences. Although medical articles in questionable journals received fewer citations than non-questionable journals, they were extensively cited in primarily non-questionable journals.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Charles Spence
Summary: Research indicates that consumers may associate glossy packaging with unhealthy food products, while matte packaging is more likely to be associated with natural foods. Many consumers do not appreciate the attempt by glossy packaging to capture their attention.
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Taekh You, Jinseo Park, June Young Lee, Jinhyuk Yun, Woo-Sung Jung
Summary: This study examines the impact of questionable publications and proposes a new metric for detecting self-favoring citations among publishers. The findings reveal that questionable publications are less disruptive and influential compared to their counterparts.
JOURNAL OF INFORMETRICS
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Marie Pierre Krafft, Jean G. Riess
Summary: Polyhedral molecules are attractive due to their unique architecture and chemistry. Perfluorination of these compounds, which are often highly strained, poses a significant challenge as it profoundly alters their electron distribution, structure, and properties. Specifically, small high-symmetry perfluoropolyhedranes have been found to possess a centrally located, star-shaped low-energy unoccupied molecular orbital that can accommodate an extra electron, resulting in a radical anion without symmetry loss. The ability to host atoms, molecules, or ions within these cage structures is complicated, and the specific applications of perfluorinated counterparts of adamantane and cubane are yet to be determined. Some aspects of highly fluorinated carbon allotropes, such as fullerenes and graphite, are mentioned briefly for context.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Emanuel Kulczycki, Marek Holowiecki, Zehra Taskin, Franciszek Krawczyk
Summary: The study aims to investigate the impact of legitimate journals recognized by authorities on the visibility of questionable journals, and found that the impact factor of citing journals and the size of cited journals are not good predictors of the number of citations to the questionable journals.
Article
Business
Jingning Ao, Jesse-Burton Nicholson, Gal Blatman, John E. Prescott, Ravi Madhavan
Summary: The relational competition concept introduced by Chen and Miller represents a potential new view of competition that is culturally distinct. However, its validity as a theoretical construct is questionable due to its reliance on outdated linguistic theory and inadequate construct clarity.
ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVES
(2022)
Article
Ethics
Matthias Kaiser, Laura Drivdal, Johs Hjellbrekke, Helene Ingierd, Ole Bjorn Rekdal
Summary: The study found a low percentage of self-reported fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism (FFP) among researchers, but a troublingly high percentage of researchers reporting engaging in more questionable research practices (QRPs). Overall, researchers generally consider FFP to be more serious than QRPs.
SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ETHICS
(2022)
Letter
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Borja Somovilla Del Saz
Summary: This study conducted a meta-analysis on the effects of COVID vaccines, finding no association with all-cause mortality but an increase in cardiac-related mortality. The reliance on a non-peer-reviewed study and lack of sensitivity analyses raise concerns and warrant careful consideration.
HUMAN VACCINES & IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Abderrahmane Ouazir, Asma Hadjadj, Hatem Gasmi, Hatem Karoui
Summary: This study investigates the impact of accidental torsion in symmetric RC multistory buildings and suggests reevaluating the current seismic code requirements. It recommends using the static moment approach for implementing accidental eccentricity while waiting for new seismic code recommendations.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING AND MECHANICS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Medical Ethics
Jesse D. Troy, Frank Rockhold, Gregory P. Samsa
Summary: Questionable research practices (QRP) refer to a range of actions taken by researchers that violate research best practices and pose risks to institutions and research participants. In this editorial, the risks associated with QRP are discussed and mitigation strategies at the institutional level are proposed, using a common QRP as an example.
ACCOUNTABILITY IN RESEARCH-ETHICS INTEGRITY AND POLICY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Michael R. Jackson
Summary: The survey sheds light on the perception of psychologists' roles in national security, but the data and authors' interpretations are subject to scrutiny.
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGIST
(2021)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Emanuel Kulczycki, Marek Holowiecki, Zehra Taskin, Guleda Dogan
Summary: This article investigates conferences organized by OMICS and WASET, which are considered predatory or questionable conferences. The analysis shows that the participants are mainly researchers from the US, India, UK, China, Turkey, and South Korea. Furthermore, these companies primarily organize conferences in popular tourist destinations.
JOURNAL OF INFORMATION SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Johanna A. Damen, Pauline Heus, Herm J. Lamberink, Joeri K. Tijdink, Lex Bouter, Paul Glasziou, David Moher, Willem M. Otte, Christiaan H. Vinkers, Lotty Hooft
Summary: This study explores indicators of questionable research practices in randomized controlled trials, including bias risk, selective reporting bias, sample size, and statistical discrepancy. The findings suggest that more recent publication year, trial registration, mentioning of reporting standards, and higher journal impact factor are associated with a lower risk of questionable research practices.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Michael J. Kellett, Joan E. Maloof, Susan A. Masino, Lee E. Frelich, Edward K. Faison, Sunshine L. Brosi, David R. Foster
Summary: A campaign is underway to clear established forests and expand early-successional habitats in order to benefit specific species. While forest-clearing has become a major focus in certain regions, there is little attention given to protecting and recovering old-forest ecosystems. In the face of urgent global crises, public land forest and wildlife management programs must be reevaluated to ensure lasting protection for old-growth and mature forests.
FRONTIERS IN FORESTS AND GLOBAL CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Michael Schweigmann, Frank Kirchhoff, Klaus P. Koch
Summary: Decoding the cellular network interaction between neurons and glial cells is crucial for developing new therapies for central nervous system diseases. In this study, in vivo electrophysiological experiments in mice were conducted to understand the complex network. The optimization of electrode plating parameters successfully reduced the electrode impedance and increased the charge storage capacity. Results showed that pulsed current electroplating was more feasible than constant current electroplating.
BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING-BIOMEDIZINISCHE TECHNIK
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Luciana Politti Cartarozzi, Matheus Perez, Gabriel Gripp Fernandes, Gabriela Bortolanca Chiarotto, Angela Cristina Malgeiros Luzo, Alline Cristina Campos, Frank Kirchhoff, Alexandre Leite Rodrigues de Oliveira
Summary: This study investigated the effects of human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) therapy on mice with ventral root crush (VRC). The results showed that hMSC treatment increased motoneuron survival, reduced astrogliosis and microglial reaction, and maintained synaptic inputs in the ventral horn.
MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Urszula Hohmann, Christoph Walsleben, Chalid Ghadban, Frank Kirchhoff, Faramarz Dehghani, Tim Hohmann
Summary: In brain tumor, the interactions between tumor cells and glial cells have complex effects on tumor heterogeneity and progression. Phytocannabinoids can increase the size of tumor spheroids without affecting cell migration and cell death.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Li-Pao Fang, Na Zhao, Laura C. Caudal, Hsin-Fang Chang, Renping Zhao, Ching-Hsin Lin, Nadine Hainz, Carola Meier, Bernhard Bettler, Wenhui Huang, Anja Scheller, Frank Kirchhoff, Xianshu Bai
Summary: Early disruption of GABA/TNFSF12 signaling between interneurons and oligodendrocyte precursor cells impairs prefrontal cortical network activity and social cognitive behavior later in life. The study identifies a bidirectional communication pathway between fast spiking interneurons and oligodendrocyte precursor cells that determines the density and function of interneurons in the developing prefrontal cortex. Interruption of this signaling results in reduced myelination, hypoactivity of interneurons, changes in cortical network activities, and impaired social cognitive behavior. Glial transmitter receptors play a crucial role in fine-tuning distinct brain functions.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Phillip Rieder, Davide Gobbo, Gebhard Stopper, Anna Welle, Elisa Damo, Frank Kirchhoff, Anja Scheller
Summary: The spinal cord is the main pathway connecting the brain and peripheral nervous system. This study investigates the calcium signaling in astrocytes and microglia, two types of glial cells, using genetically encoded calcium indicators. The results reveal diverse calcium signaling patterns in glial cells of the mouse spinal cord, contributing to the understanding of glial heterogeneity and cell-specific calcium dynamics in non-neuronal networks.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Li-Pao Fang, Qing Liu, Erika Meyer, Anna Welle, Wenhui Huang, Anja Scheller, Frank Kirchhoff, Xianshu Bai
Summary: Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) are uniformly distributed in the mammalian brain, but their function varies depending on their origin, location, receptor/channel expression, and age. A subset of OPCs lacking Olig2 was identified in various brain regions, most commonly in the juvenile brain and rarely in the adult brain. These cells do not proliferate and have a less complex morphology compared to OPCs that express Olig2. They prefer to remain in a precursor stage and do not differentiate into highly branched oligodendrocytes. Changes in the brain activity can stimulate the transition of OPCs with Olig2 expression to OPCs without Olig2.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qing Liu, Qilin Guo, Li-Pao Fang, Honghong Yao, Anja Scheller, Frank Kirchhoff, Wenhui Huang
Summary: This study identified a specific antibody and established an immunohistochemical protocol to investigate the expression pattern of the chaperone protein sigma-1 receptor (S1R) in the mouse brain. The results showed widespread expression of S1R in different cell types, including neurons, interneurons, and glial cells. The findings also raised concerns over previously reported properties of S1R.
JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Marianne Lizeth Martinez-Mendoza, Cynthia Alejandra Rodriguez-Arzate, Gabriela B. Gomez-Gonzalez, Frank Kirchhoff, Ataulfo Martinez-Torres
Summary: We identified a novel group of cells in the dorsal section of the aqueduct of Sylvius, called dorsal aqueduct niche or DAN, which express glial/stem cell markers and have the potential to generate new cells. These cells resemble tanycytes of the third ventricle and may act as a niche for glial cell generation in the adult mouse brain.
NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Emeline Buttigieg, Anja Scheller, Bilal El Waly, Frank Kirchhoff, Franck Debarbieux
Summary: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by myelin loss, axonopathy, and inflammation in the central nervous system. Animal models have been developed to study the pathomechanisms of MS and recent advances in imaging techniques have allowed for in vivo analysis. This review provides an overview of current MS animal models and emphasizes the importance of multimodal approaches to improve our understanding of the disease and reduce animal usage.
Article
Cell Biology
Xianshu Bai, Na Zhao, Christina Koupourtidou, Li-Pao Fang, Veronika Schwarz, Laura C. Caudal, Renping Zhao, Johannes Hirrlinger, Wolfgang Walz, Shan Bian, Wenhui Huang, Jovica Ninkovic, Frank Kirchhoff, Anja Scheller
Summary: Acute brain injuries can reprogram oligodendrocytes to activate astroglial genes, leading to their conversion into astrocytes. This conversion is promoted by IL-6 derived from microglia and can be visualized in transgenic mice using imaging techniques. The plastic potential of oligodendrocytes in acute brain trauma highlights the complexity of glial scar formation.
DEVELOPMENTAL CELL
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Aline Timmermann, Dario Tascio, Ronald Jabs, Anne Boehlen, Catia Domingos, Magdalena Skubal, Wenhui Huang, Frank Kirchhoff, Christian Henneberger, Andras Bilkei-Gorzo, Gerald Seifert, Christian Steinhaeuser
Summary: NG2 glia is a unique type of macroglial cells in the CNS that receive synaptic input from neurons. Dysfunction in NG2 glia has been found to improve spatial memory but has no effect on social memory. Loss of the K+ channel Kir4.1 in NG2 glia leads to enhanced synaptic depolarizations and expression of myelin basic protein in the hippocampus. Targeted deletion of the K+ channel in NG2 glia impairs long-term potentiation at CA3-CA1 synapses, which can be rescued by extracellular application of a TrkB receptor agonist. These findings highlight the importance of proper NG2 glia function in brain function and behavior.
Article
Neurosciences
Lisa A. Hassel, Franziska Froeb, Melanie Kuespert, Simone Hillgaertner, Philipp Arnold, Wenhui Huang, Frank Kirchhoff, Michael Wegner
Summary: The transcription factor Sox9 plays an important role in neuroepithelial precursors, conferring them with glial competence in the central nervous system. It is crucial for astroglial and oligodendroglial specification. Sox9 is expressed in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) during development, but is turned off in differentiating oligodendrocytes and adult OPCs. By studying mouse models, it has been found that Sox9 enhances oligodendrogenesis during development, but its expression in adult OPCs leads to their conversion into myelinating oligodendrocytes. This suggests that increased levels of Sox9 in adult OPCs may enhance their remyelination capacity, which is important in demyelinating diseases like Multiple Sclerosis.
Article
Cell Biology
Evangelia Xingi, Paraskevi N. Koutsoudaki, Irini Thanou, Minh-Son Phan, Maria Margariti, Anja Scheller, Jean-Yves Tinevez, Frank Kirchhoff, Dimitra Thomaidou
Summary: The Neurovascular Unit (NVU) consists of multiple types of cells and is important for the functioning of the central nervous system (CNS). Neuroinflammation, often seen in neurodegenerative diseases, affects the activity of microglia and astrocytes. This study used imaging techniques to observe the changes in morphology and interactions between the cells and blood vessels in a mouse model of neuroinflammation. The results showed that activated astrocytes lose their normal connection with blood vessels, possibly contributing to a loss of blood-brain barrier integrity, while microglial cells become more physically connected to the blood vessels. These changes persist for several days after neuroinflammation induction.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Luisa Werner, Michael Gliem, Nicole Rychlik, Goran Pavic, Laura Reiche, Frank Kirchhoff, Markley Silva Oliveira Junior, Joel Gruchot, Sven G. Meuth, Patrick Kuery, Peter Goettle
Summary: Stroke leads to persistent disability due to insufficient treatment strategies. After injury, oligodendroglial precursor cells (OPCs) compensate for myelin loss and prevent axonal loss, but the process is inefficient. Phenotypic screening identified substances that promote myelin repair. The adult organotypic coronal slice culture (OCSC) system provides a resource-efficient model to study repair after stroke.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Emeline Buttigieg, Anja Scheller, Bilal El Waly, Frank Kirchhoff, Franck Debarbieux
Summary: This review provides an overview of animal models of multiple sclerosis (MS) and emphasizes the importance of current imaging modalities at the microscopic and macroscopic levels. The review highlights the significance of using multimodal approaches to enhance our understanding of the disease and minimize the use of animals.
