bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Activated Carbon from Palm Date Seeds for CO2 Capture
Authors: Alazmi Amira , Nicolae Sabina A. , Modugno Pierpaolo , Hasanov Bashir E. , Titirici Maria M. , Costa Pedro M. F. J.
Published: November 2021

The process of carbon dioxide capture and storage is seen as a critical strategy to mitigate the so-called greenhouse effect and the planetary climate changes associated with it. In this study, we investigated the CO2 adsorption capacity of various microporous carbon materials originating from palm date seeds (PDS) using green chemistry synthesis. The PDS was used as a precursor for the hydrochar and activated carbon (AC). Typically, by using the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) process, we obtained a powder that was then subjected to an activation step using KOH, H3PO4 or CO2, thereby producing the activated HTC-PDS samples. Beyond their morphological and textural characteristics, we investigated the chemical composition and lattice ordering. Most PDS-derived powders have a high surface area (>1000 m2 g−1) and large micropore volume (>0.5 cm3 g−1). However, the defining characteristic for the maximal CO2 uptake (5.44 mmol g−1, by one of the alkaline activated samples) was the lattice restructuring that occurred. This work highlights the need to conduct structural and elemental analysis of carbon powders used as gas adsorbents and activated with chemicals that can produce graphite intercalation compounds.
Fear of COVID-19 and Trust in the Healthcare System Mediates the Association between Individual’s Risk Perception and Preventive COVID-19 Behaviours among Iranians
Authors: Alijanzadeh Mehran , Ahorsu Daniel Kwasi , Alimoradi Zainab , Mahmoudi Narges , Griffiths Mark D. , Lin Chung-Ying , Liu Hsien-Kuan , Pakpour Amir H.
Published: November 2021

Problems caused by the novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and its mutations have brought challenges in pandemic control for all countries worldwide. The present study examines the mediating roles of fear of COVID-19 and trust in the healthcare system in the association between individual’s risk perception and performing preventive COVID-19 behaviours among Iranians. A cross-sectional study design was used to collect data from 3652 residents of Qazvin province in Iran from 3 February to 15 April 2021 using a multistage stratified cluster sampling method. Participants responded to an online questionnaire concerning their fear of COVID-19, risk perception, trust in the healthcare system, and preventive COVID-19 behaviours. Small to medium positive interrelationships were observed between the variables of the study. Fear of COVID-19, trust in the healthcare system or both (fear of COVID-19 and trust in the healthcare system) mediated the association between an individual’s risk perception and performing preventive COVID-19 behaviours. The study demonstrated there are at least four ways through which an individual’s risk perception can influence preventive COVID-19 behaviours. Therefore, clinicians, health communicators, and researchers may capitalize on these findings to enhance preventive COVID-19 behaviours to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 infection.
Pain Control, Acceptance and Adjustment to the Disease among Patients with Ovarian, Endometrial and Breast Cancer in Poland
Authors: Czerw Aleksandra , Religioni Urszula , Sygit Katarzyna , Nieradko-Heluszko Agnieszka , Mękal Dominika , Partyka Olga , Mikos Marcin , Eid Mateusz , Strzępek Łukasz , Banaś Tomasz
Published: November 2021

Background: Breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancer are among the most common causes of morbidity and mortality of women in Poland. In 2016, breast cancer was the most common cause of morbidity and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women, endometrial cancer was the third most common cause of morbidity and the seventh leading cause of death, and ovarian cancer was the fifth most common cause of morbidity and the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in women. The aim of the study was to assess the strategy of pain control, acceptance of the cancer and adjustment to life with disease in women with ovarian cancer, endometrial and breast cancer. This study shows how level of pain control, acceptance, and adjustment can differ among patients with the three kinds of cancer and which factors have the most influence on patients’ adjustment to the disease. Methods: The study was carried out with 481 patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer, endometrial and breast cancer. In the study BPCQ, CSQ, AIS and Mini-MAC questionnaires were used. Results: In the BPCQ questionnaire the highest result was acquired in the scope of the impact of doctors (M = 16.45, SD = 4.30), differentiated by cancer location and socio-economic variables. In the CSQ test, the highest result was achieved by praying/hoping, differentiated by cancer location and socio-economic variables. The average AIS acceptance score was M = 27.48 (SD = 7.68). The highest result of the Mini-Mac scale was obtained by patients in the area of fighting spirit (M = 22.94, SD = 3.62), and these results depended on socio-economic and treatment-related variables but were not differentiated by cancer location. Conclusions: Patients attribute the highest importance in the disease to the influence of physicians, praying/hoping, and fighting spirit. The awareness of the pain management strategies of patients with cancer allows appropriate psychological support to be designed for specific groups of patients.
Associations between Brain Reserve Proxies and Clinical Progression in Alzheimer’s Disease Dementia
Authors: Yoon Hyung-Jun , Kim Seung-Gon , Kim Sang Hoon , Woo Jong Inn , Seo Eun Hyun ,   For the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaing Initiative
Published: November 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether brain and cognitive reserves were associated with the clinical progression of AD dementia. We included participants with AD dementia from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, provided they were followed up at least once, and candidate proxies for cognitive (education for early-life reserve and Adult Reading Test for late-life reserve) or brain reserve (intracranial volume [ICV] for early-life reserve and the composite value of [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography regions of interest (FDG-ROIs) for late-life reserve) were available. The final analysis included 120 participants. Cox proportional hazards model revealed that FDG-ROIs were the only significant predictor of clinical progression. Subgroup analysis revealed a significant association between FDG-ROIs and clinical progression only in the larger ICV group (HR = 0.388, p = 0.028, 95% CI 0.167–0.902). Our preliminary findings suggest that relatively preserved cerebral glucose metabolism might delay further clinical progression in AD dementia, particularly in the greater ICV group. In addition to ICV, cerebral glucose metabolism could play an important role as a late-life brain reserve in the process of neurodegeneration. Distinguishing between early- and late-life reserves, and considering both proxies simultaneously, would provide a wider range of factors associated with the prognosis of AD dementia.
Referral Patterns in Oral Medicine: A Retrospective Analysis of an Oral Medicine University Center in Southern Italy
Authors: Coppola Noemi , Baldares Stefania , Blasi Andrea , Bucci Rosaria , Spagnuolo Gianrico , Mignogna Michele Davide , Leuci Stefania
Published: November 2021

Referral of a patient from one healthcare provider to another is an important part of the medical practice. The aim of this study was to analyze the referral process to the Oral Medicine Unit in a university-based tertiary center in Southern Italy. A chart review of new referrals to the Oral Medicine Unit during a 24-month period was conducted. The following data were recorded: demographic characteristics, medical history, number of physicians seen prior to Oral Medicine assessment, referral source, diagnostic procedures ordered by referrals, reason for referral, site of lesion/condition, final diagnosis. Then, the rates of correct identification for health-care professionals and the appropriateness of the reference diagnosis based on the disease were calculated with descriptive statistic indicators. There were 583 new first consultations. A total of 62.9% of patients were referred by general dental practitioners, 27.4% by physicians, and 9.7% did not have a referral. The most common diseases for referral were immune-mediated diseases (39.6%) and oro-facial pain disorders (25.2%). Only 28.5% of patients had a correct provisional diagnosis. The results of this study show the need to implement curricula in the field of oral medicine among dentistry and medical students, and to support the continuing education among healthcare providers to reduce diagnostic delay for oral diseases.
Conceptualizing Vulnerability for Health Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Associated Measures in Utrecht and Zeist: A Concept Map
Authors: van der Ven Lilian G. L. , Duinhof Elisa L. , Dückers Michel L. A. , Jambroes Marielle , van Bon-Martens Marja J. H.
Published: November 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated measures have impacted the health of many. Not all population groups are equally vulnerable to such health effects, possibly increasing health inequalities. We performed a group concept mapping procedure to define a common, context-specific understanding of what makes people vulnerable to health effects of the pandemic and the measures. We organized a two-step, blended brainstorming session with locally involved community members, using the brainstorm focus prompt ‘What I think makes people vulnerable for the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures is…’. We asked participants to generate as many statements as possible. Participants then individually structured (sorted and ranked) these statements. The structuring data was analysed using the groupwisdomTM software and then interpreted by the researchers to generate the concept map. Ninety-eight statements were generated by 19 participants. Sixteen participants completed both structuring tasks. The final concept map consisted of 12 clusters of vulnerability factors, indicating a broad conceptualization of vulnerability during the pandemic. It is being used as a basis for future research and local supportive interventions. Concept mapping is an effective method to arrive at a vulnerability assessment in a community in a short time and, moreover, a method that promotes community engagement.
Impact of the Geographic Resolution on Population Synthesis Quality
Authors: Khachman Mohamed , Morency Catherine , Ciari Francesco
Published: November 2021

Microsimulation-based models, increasingly used in the transportation domain, require richer datasets than traditional models. Precisely enumerated population data being usually unavailable, transportation researchers generate their statistical equivalent through population synthesis. While various synthesizers are proposed to optimize the accuracy of synthetic populations, no insight is given regarding the impact of the geographic resolution on population synthesis quality. In this paper, we synthesize populations for the Census Metropolitan Areas of Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver at various geographic resolutions using the enhanced iterative proportional updating algorithm. We define accuracy (representativeness of the sociodemographic characteristics of the entire population) and precision (representativeness of the real population’s spatial heterogeneity) as metrics of synthetic populations’ quality and measure the impact of the reference resolution on them. Moreover, we assess census targets’ harmonization and double geographic resolution control as means of quality improvement. We find that with a less aggregate reference resolution, the gain in precision is higher than the loss in accuracy. The most disaggregate resolution is thus found to be the best choice. Harmonization proves to further optimize synthetic populations while double control harms their quality. Hence, synthesizing at the Dissemination Area resolution using harmonized census targets is found to yield optimal synthetic populations.
Osteopontin Deficiency Ameliorates Prostatic Fibrosis and Inflammation
Authors: Popovics Petra , Jain Asha , Skalitzky Kegan O. , Schroeder Elise , Ruetten Hannah , Cadena Mark , Uchtmann Kristen S. , Vezina Chad M. , Ricke William A.
Published: November 2021

Fibrogenic and inflammatory processes in the prostate are linked to the development of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men. Our previous studies identified that osteopontin (OPN), a pro-fibrotic cytokine, is abundant in the prostate of men with LUTS, and its secretion is stimulated by inflammatory cytokines potentially to drive fibrosis. This study investigates whether the lack of OPN ameliorates inflammation and fibrosis in the mouse prostate. We instilled uropathogenic E. coli (UTI89) or saline (control) transurethrally to C57BL/6J (WT) or Spp1tm1Blh/J (OPN-KO) mice and collected the prostates one or 8 weeks later. We found that OPN mRNA and protein expression were significantly induced by E. coli-instillation in the dorsal prostate (DP) after one week in WT mice. Deficiency in OPN expression led to decreased inflammation and fibrosis and the prevention of urinary dysfunction after 8 weeks. RNAseq analysis identified that E. coli-instilled WT mice expressed increased levels of inflammatory and fibrotic marker RNAs compared to OPN-KO mice including Col3a1, Dpt, Lum and Mmp3 which were confirmed by RNAscope. Our results indicate that OPN is induced by inflammation and prolongs the inflammatory state; genetic blockade of OPN accelerates recovery after inflammation, including a resolution of prostate fibrosis.
Transcriptome Analysis of Insulin Signaling-Associated Transcription Factors in C. elegans Reveal Their Genome-Wide Target Genes Specificity and Complexity
Authors: Kaushik Neha , Rastogi Soumya , Verma Sonia , Pandey Deepak , Halder Ashutosh , Mukhopadhyay Arnab , Kumar Neeraj
Published: November 2021

Insulin/IGF-1-like signaling (IIS) plays a crucial, conserved role in development, growth, reproduction, stress tolerance, and longevity. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the enhanced longevity under reduced insulin signaling (rIIS) is primarily regulated by the transcription factors (TFs) DAF-16/FOXO, SKN-1/Nrf-1, and HSF1/HSF-1. The specific and coordinated regulation of gene expression by these TFs under rIIS has not been comprehensively elucidated. Here, using RNA-sequencing analysis, we report a systematic study of the complexity of TF-dependent target gene interactions during rIIS under analogous genetic and experimental conditions. We found that DAF-16 regulates only a fraction of the C. elegans transcriptome but controls a large set of genes under rIIS; SKN-1 and HSF-1 show the opposite trend. Both of the latter TFs function as activators and repressors to a similar extent, while DAF-16 is predominantly an activator. For expression of the genes commonly regulated by TFs under rIIS conditions, DAF-16 is the principal determining factor, dominating over the other two TFs, irrespective of whether they activate or repress these genes. The functional annotations and regulatory networks presented in this study provide novel insights into the complexity of the gene regulatory networks downstream of the IIS pathway that controls diverse phenotypes, including longevity.
Protein Misfolding and Aggregation: The Relatedness between Parkinson’s Disease and Hepatic Endoplasmic Reticulum Storage Disorders
Authors: Padilla-Godínez Francisco J. , Ramos-Acevedo Rodrigo , Martínez-Becerril Hilda Angélica , Bernal-Conde Luis D. , Garrido-Figueroa Jerónimo F. , Hiriart Marcia , Hernández-López Adriana , Argüero-Sánchez Rubén , Callea Francesco , Guerra-Crespo Magdalena
Published: November 2021

Dysfunction of cellular homeostasis can lead to misfolding of proteins thus acquiring conformations prone to polymerization into pathological aggregates. This process is associated with several disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), and endoplasmic reticulum storage disorders (ERSDs), like alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) and hereditary hypofibrinogenemia with hepatic storage (HHHS). Given the shared pathophysiological mechanisms involved in such conditions, it is necessary to deepen our understanding of the basic principles of misfolding and aggregation akin to these diseases which, although heterogeneous in symptomatology, present similarities that could lead to potential mutual treatments. Here, we review: (i) the pathological bases leading to misfolding and aggregation of proteins involved in PD, AATD, and HHHS: alpha-synuclein, alpha-1-antitrypsin, and fibrinogen, respectively, (ii) the evidence linking each protein aggregation to the stress mechanisms occurring in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of each pathology, (iii) a comparison of the mechanisms related to dysfunction of proteostasis and regulation of homeostasis between the diseases (such as the unfolded protein response and/or autophagy), (iv) and clinical perspectives regarding possible common treatments focused on improving the defensive responses to protein aggregation for diseases as different as PD, and ERSDs.
Digging Deeper: Advancements in Visualization of Inhibitory Synapses in Neurodegenerative Disorders
Authors: Radulović Snježana , Sunkara Sowmya , Maurer Christa , Leitinger Gerd
Published: November 2021

Recent research has provided strong evidence that neurodegeneration may develop from an imbalance between synaptic structural components in the brain. Lately, inhibitory synapses communicating via the neurotransmitters GABA or glycine have come to the center of attention. Increasing evidence suggests that imbalance in the structural composition of inhibitory synapses affect deeply the ability of neurons to communicate effectively over synaptic connections. Progressive failure of synaptic plasticity and memory are thus hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases. In order to prove that structural changes at synapses contribute to neurodegeneration, we need to visualize single-molecule interactions at synaptic sites in an exact spatial and time frame. This visualization has been restricted in terms of spatial and temporal resolution. New developments in electron microscopy and super-resolution microscopy have improved spatial and time resolution tremendously, opening up numerous possibilities. Here we critically review current and recently developed methods for high-resolution visualization of inhibitory synapses in the context of neurodegenerative diseases. We present advantages, strengths, weaknesses, and current limitations for selected methods in research, as well as present a future perspective. A range of new options has become available that will soon help understand the involvement of inhibitory synapses in neurodegenerative disorders.
Statins and Bempedoic Acid: Different Actions of Cholesterol Inhibitors on Macrophage Activation
Authors: Linnenberger Rebecca , Hoppstädter Jessica , Wrublewsky Selina , Ampofo Emmanuel , Kiemer Alexandra K.
Published: November 2021

Statins represent the most prescribed class of drugs for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Effects that go beyond lipid-lowering actions have been suggested to contribute to their beneficial pharmacological properties. Whether and how statins act on macrophages has been a matter of debate. In the present study, we aimed at characterizing the impact of statins on macrophage polarization and comparing these to the effects of bempedoic acid, a recently registered drug for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, which has been suggested to have a similar beneficial profile but fewer side effects. Treatment of primary murine macrophages with two different statins, i.e., simvastatin and cerivastatin, impaired phagocytotic activity and, concurrently, enhanced pro-inflammatory responses upon short-term lipopolysaccharide challenge, as characterized by an induction of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin (IL) 1β, and IL6. In contrast, no differences were observed under long-term inflammatory (M1) or anti-inflammatory (M2) conditions, and neither inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression nor nitric oxide production was altered. Statin treatment led to extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) activation, and the pro-inflammatory statin effects were abolished by ERK inhibition. Bempedoic acid only had a negligible impact on macrophage responses when compared with statins. Taken together, our data point toward an immunomodulatory effect of statins on macrophage polarization, which is absent upon bempedoic acid treatment.
Histone Methyltransferases SUV39H1 and G9a and DNA Methyltransferase DNMT1 in Penumbra Neurons and Astrocytes after Photothrombotic Stroke
Authors: Sharifulina Svetlana , Dzreyan Valentina , Guzenko Valeria , Demyanenko Svetlana
Published: November 2021

Background: Cerebral ischemia, a common cerebrovascular disease, is one of the great threats to human health and new targets for stroke therapy are needed. The transcriptional activity in the cell is regulated by epigenetic processes such as DNA methylation/demethylation, acetylation/deacetylation, histone methylation, etc. Changes in DNA methylation after ischemia can have both neuroprotective and neurotoxic effects depending on the degree of ischemia damage, the time elapsed after injury, and the site of methylation. Methods: In this study, we investigated the changes in the expression and intracellular localization of DNA methyltransferase DNMT1, histone methyltransferases SUV39H1, and G9a in penumbra neurons and astrocytes at 4 and 24 h after stroke in the rat cerebral cortex using photothrombotic stroke (PTS) model. Methods of immunofluorescence microscopy analysis, apoptosis analysis, and immunoblotting were used. Additionally, we have studied the effect of DNMT1 and G9a inhibitors on the volume of PTS-induced infarction and apoptosis of penumbra cells in the cortex of mice after PTS. Results: This study has shown that the level of DNMT1 increased in the nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions of the penumbra tissue at 24 h after PTS. Inhibition of DNMT1 by 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine protected cells of PTS-induced penumbra from apoptosis. An increase in the level of SUV39H1 in the penumbra was found at 24 h after PTS and G9a was overexpressed at 4 and 24 h after PTS. G9a inhibitors A-366 and BIX01294 protected penumbra cells from apoptosis and reduced the volume of PTS-induced cerebral infarction. Conclusion: Thus, the data obtained show that DNA methyltransferase DNMT1 and histone methyltransferase G9a can be potential protein targets in ischemic penumbra cells, and their inhibitors are potential neuroprotective agents capable of protecting penumbra cells from postischemic damage to the cerebral cortex.
Repurposing Riociguat to Target a Novel Paracrine Nitric Oxide-TRPC6 Pathway to Prevent Podocyte Injury
Authors: ‘t Hart Daan , Li Jinhua , van der Vlag Johan , Nijenhuis Tom
Published: November 2021

Increased expression and activity of the Ca2+ channel transient receptor potential channel 6 (TRPC6) is associated with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, but therapeutic strategies to target TRPC6 are currently lacking. Nitric oxide (NO) is crucial for normal glomerular function and plays a protective role in preventing glomerular diseases. We investigated if NO prevents podocyte injury by inhibiting injurious TRPC6-mediated signaling in a soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC)-dependent manner and studied the therapeutic potential of the sGC stimulator Riociguat. Experiments were performed using human glomerular endothelial cells and podocytes. Podocyte injury was induced by Adriamycin incubation for 24 h, with or without the NO-donor S-Nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine (SNAP), the sGC stimulator Riociguat or the TRPC6 inhibitor Larixyl Acetate (LA). NO and Riociguat stimulated cGMP synthesis in podocytes, decreased Adriamycin-induced TRPC6 expression, inhibited the Adriamycin-induced TRPC6-mediated Ca2+ influx and reduced podocyte injury. The protective effects of Riociguat and NO were blocked when sGC activity was inhibited with 1H-[1,2,4]Oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) or when TRPC6 activity was inhibited by LA. Our data demonstrate a glomerular (e)NOS-NO-sGC-cGMP-TRPC6 pathway that prevents podocyte injury, which can be translated to future clinical use by, e.g., repurposing the market-approved drug Riociguat.
The Roles of the Colon Cancer Associated Transcript 2 (CCAT2) Long Non-Coding RNA in Cancer: A Comprehensive Characterization of the Tumorigenic and Molecular Functions
Authors: Pirlog Radu , Drula Rares , Nutu Andreea , Calin George Adrian , Berindan-Neagoe Ioana
Published: November 2021

Colon cancer-associated transcript 2 (CCAT2) is an intensively studied lncRNA with important regulatory roles in cancer. As such, cumulative studies indicate that CCAT2 displays a high functional versatility due to its direct interaction with multiple RNA binding proteins, transcription factors, and other species of non-coding RNA, especially microRNA. The definitory mechanisms of CCAT2 are its role as a regulator of the TCF7L2 transcription factor, enhancer of MYC expression, and activator of the WNT/β-catenin pathway, as well as a role in promoting and maintaining chromosome instability through the BOP1–AURKB pathway. Additionally, we highlight how the encompassing rs6983267 SNP has been shown to confer CCAT2 with allele-specific functional and structural particularities, such as the allelic-specific reprogramming of glutamine metabolism. Additionally, we emphasize CCAT2’s role as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for multiple tumor suppressor miRNAs, such as miR-4496, miR-493, miR-424, miR-216b, miR-23b, miR-34a, miR-145, miR-200b, and miR-143 and the pro-tumorigenic role of the altered regulatory axis. Additionally, due to its upregulation in tumor tissues, wide distribution across cancer types, and presence in serum samples, we outline CCAT2’s potential as a biomarker and disease indicator and its implications for the development of resistance against current cancer therapy regiments and metastasis.
HBV HBx-Downregulated lncRNA LINC01010 Attenuates Cell Proliferation by Interacting with Vimentin
Authors: Gan Lipeng , Shangguan Qilin , Zhang Fang , Tong Xiaomei , Qi Dandan , Zhao Yan , Ye Xin
Published: November 2021

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is closely related to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. To investigate the mechanism of HBV causing HCC, we previously analyzed the transcription of the HBV-transgenic cell line HepG2-4D14 and parental HepG2 cells and identified a subset of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) differentially expressed between them. In this study, we focus on lncRNA LINC01010, as it is significantly downregulated in HepG2-4D14 cells and in liver tissues of HCC patients, and positively correlated with survival. We found that HBV-encoded HBx can reduce the transcription of LINC01010. Functional analysis showed that the overexpression of LINC01010 inhibits proliferation, migration and invasion of HepG2 cells while the knockdown of LINC01010 promotes these processes. By taking the approach of RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and mass spectrometry, we identified that LINC01010 can interact with vimentin. Further studies demonstrated that LINC01010 negatively affects the vimentin network extension and causes more rapid subunit exchange and lower stability of vimentin filaments. In addition, LINC01010 can reduce the amount of insoluble vimentin within cells, which suggests that LINC01010 interfers with vimentin polymerization. These data indicate that LINC01010 can inhibit the assembly of vimentin filament. Thus, we revealed that HBV HBx-downregulated LINC01010, which suppresses cell proliferation and migration by negatively regulating the formation of vimentin filament. Taken together, LINC01010 is a potential tumor suppressor that may restrain HBV-related HCC development.
The Role of Social Media in Raising Public Health Awareness during the Pandemic COVID-19: An International Comparative Study
Authors: Abuhashesh Mohammad Yousef , Al-Dmour Hani , Masa’deh Ra’ed , Salman Amer , Al-Dmour Rand , Boguszewicz-Kreft Monika , AlAmaireh Qout Nidal
Published: November 2021

The main objective of this research is to investigate the role of social media campaigns (the type of social media platform, type of message, and message source sender) in raising public health awareness and behavioral change during (COVID-19) as a global pandemic across national selected countries (Poland and Jordan). The research utilizes a quantitative method with an exploratory and descriptive design to accumulate the initial data from a research survey given to the respondents from Jordan and Poland. A total of 1149 web questionnaires were collected from respondents in the two countries (Poland 531 and Jordan 618). In addition, multiple regression analysis was used to test the study hypotheses. The findings showed positive relationships between the components of a social media campaign, public health awareness, and behavioral change during (COVID-19) in the two countries at the same time. However, the preferred type of social media platforms, the message types and type of source sender significantly differ among the respondents due to their countries. This is the first study that examines the role of social media campaigns (the type of social media platform, type of message and message source sender) in public health awareness and behavioral change during (COVID-19) as a global pandemic in across national selected countries (Poland and Jordan).
A New Maximum Power Point Tracking Technique for Thermoelectric Generator Modules
Authors: A. Qasim Mohammed , T. Alwan Naseer , PraveenKumar Seepana , Velkin Vladimir I. , Agyekum Ephraim Bonah
Published: November 2021

Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) are devices that convert heat into electricity. This paper is about the design of a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) technique for a TEG module. The module is built using 204 TEGs connected in series. It is connected to the load through a DC/DC boost converter. The MPPT technique used in this work is the Interval Type 2 Fuzzy Logic Controller (IT2FLC). To verify its performance, the IT2FLC is compared with a traditional Perturb and Observe (P&O) MPPT algorithm in the case of power and voltage response at steady state, load switching, and through various ranges of temperature differences (ΔT). The TEG module is modeled and the whole system is simulated successfully using MATLAB SIMULINK R2017a.
Effect of High-Intensity Interval Training on Physical Health in Coronary Artery Disease Patients: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Du Litao , Zhang Xianliang , Chen Ke , Ren Xiaoyu , Chen Si , He Qiang
Published: November 2021

The effects of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on physical health in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients has long been established, while the optimal exercise mode remains to be determined. This meta-analysis compared the efficacy of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) versus moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) in CAD patients. Databases were searched up to December 2020. Twenty-five studies with 1272 participants were analyzed. The results showed that both HIIT and MICT induced significant VO2peak improvement with a 4.52 mL/kg/min (p < 0.01) and 2.36 mL/kg/min (p < 0.01), respectively. Additionally, a larger improvement of VO2peak (1.92 mL/kg/min, p < 0.01) was observed in HIIT over MICT. HIIT with medium and long intervals, higher work/rest ratio induced larger VO2peak improvement than the compared subgroup. Interestingly, non-isocaloric exercise protocols induced larger VO2peak improvement compared with isocaloric protocols. In addition, both HIIT and MICT significantly increased anaerobic threshold and peak power with HIIT superior to MICT. No significant different changes were observed in blood pressure after HIIT or MICT intervention, however when HIIT was compared with MICT, MICT seems superior to HIIT in reducing systolic blood pressure (−3.61 mmHg, p < 0.01) and diastolic blood pressure (−2.37 mmHg, p < 0.01). Although, HIIT and MICT induced significant improvement of most other parameters, like HRrest, HRpeak, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), quality of life (QoL), no significant differences were noted between groups. This meta-analysis suggested that HIIT is superior to MICT in increasing VO2peak, anaerobic threshold, peak power in CAD patients. Additionally, the efficacy of HIIT over MICT in improving VO2peaks was influenced by HIIT intervals, work/rest ratio and total caloric consumption. Both HIIT and MICT did not significantly influence resting BP, however, MICT seemed to be more effective in reducing BP than HIIT. HIIT and MICT equally significantly influenced HRrest, HRpeak, HRR1min, OUES, LVEF%, QoL.
Deep-Sea Fish Fauna on the Seamounts of Southern Japan with Taxonomic Notes on the Observed Species
Authors: Koeda Keita , Takashima Soutarou , Yamakita Takehisa , Tsuchida Shinji , Fujiwara Yoshihiro
Published: November 2021

Several volcanic islands and submarine volcanoes exist in the sea connecting the Izu-Bonin Islands with the Mariana Islands, with trenches and islands formed by the submergence of the Pacific Plate under the Philippine Sea Plate. Although designated as a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in December 2020, the seamounts’ biodiversity has not been sufficiently researched. Therefore, direct observations and specimen sampling were conducted on four seamounts in this area using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), and baited cameras (BCs). The ROV survey was conducted for 2–4 days on each seamount and divided into shallow and deep areas. During the expedition, 20 orders and 51 families of 81 deep-sea fish species were observed, including several potentially undescribed species, new genus or species records from Japanese waters, new depth records, new ecological information, and several rare fishes. The fish fauna and biodiversity abundance clearly differed among the seamounts; the seamount with a hydrothermal vent had the lowest diversity among the four seamounts. In shallow water, 23, 7, and 12 species were recorded only by ROV, AUV, and BC, respectively, indicating that combining these methods is beneficial for understanding the fish fauna of seamounts.
Studying the Community of Trump Supporters on Twitter during the 2020 US Presidential Election via Hashtags #maga and #trump2020
Authors: Tran Huu Dat
Published: November 2021

(1) The study investigated the social network surrounding the hashtags #maga (Make America Great Again, the campaign slogan popularized by Donald Trump during his 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns) and #trump2020 on Twitter to better understand Donald Trump, his community of supporters, and their political discourse and activities in the political context of the 2020 US presidential election. (2) Social network analysis of a sample of 220,336 tweets from 96,820 unique users, posted between 27 October and 2 November 2020 (i.e., one week before the general election day) was conducted. (3) The most active and influential users within the #maga and #trump2020 network, the likelihood of those users being spamming bots, and their tweets’ content were revealed. (4) The study then discussed the hierarchy of Donald Trump and the problematic nature of spamming bot detection, while also providing suggestions for future research.
Transplant Prognosis in Kidney Transplant Recipients with Diabetes under Mycophenolic Acid-Focused Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
Authors: Nakamura Eisuke , Sofue Tadashi , Kunisho Yasushi , Onishi Keisuke , Yamaguchi Kazunori , Ibuki Emi , Taoka Rikiya , Ueda Nobufumi , Sugimoto Mikio , Minamino Tetsuo
Published: November 2021

Mycophenolate mofetil is a key immunosuppressant that is metabolized into mycophenolic acid (MPA). The prognostic impact of MPA-focused therapeutic drug monitoring on allograft prognosis has not been determined in kidney transplant recipients with diabetes. In this study, we assessed the pharmacokinetics of MPA and allograft prognosis in recipients with diabetes. This study retrospectively analyzed 64 adult kidney transplant recipients. MPA blood concentration data (e.g., the time to the maximum concentration (Tmax), and the area under the concentration–time curve from 0 to 12 h (AUC0–12)) were collected at 3 weeks and 3 months after kidney transplantation. Of the 64 recipients, 15 had pre-existing diabetes. At 3 months after kidney transplantation, the Tmax of MPA was significantly longer in recipients with diabetes (mean (standard deviation): 2.8 (2.1) h) than in recipients without diabetes (1.9 (1.1) h, p = 0.02). However, the allograft estimated glomerular filtration rate and acute rejection rate, including borderline change, did not differ according to the diabetes status in patients with adjusted AUC0–12 of MPA within the target range. In conclusion, a longer Tmax of MPA was observed in recipients with diabetes; however, acceptable allograft prognosis was observed in kidney transplant recipients with diabetes and a sufficient AUC0–12 of MPA.
Airway Wall Remodeling in Childhood Asthma—A Personalized Perspective from Cell Type-Specific Biology
Authors: Fang Lei , Roth Michael
Published: November 2021

Airway wall remodeling is a pathology occurring in chronic inflammatory lung diseases including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and fibrosis. In 2017, the American Thoracic Society released a research statement highlighting the gaps in knowledge and understanding of airway wall remodeling. The four major challenges addressed in this statement were: (i) the lack of consensus to define “airway wall remodeling” in different diseases, (ii) methodologic limitations and inappropriate models, (iii) the lack of anti-remodeling therapies, and (iv) the difficulty to define endpoints and outcomes in relevant studies. This review focuses on the importance of cell-cell interaction, especially the bronchial epithelium, in asthma-associated airway wall remodeling. The pathology of “airway wall remodeling” summarizes all structural changes of the airway wall without differentiating between different pheno- or endo-types of asthma. Indicators of airway wall remodeling have been reported in childhood asthma in the absence of any sign of inflammation; thus, the initiation event remains unknown. Recent studies have implied that the interaction between the epithelium with immune cells and sub-epithelial mesenchymal cells is modified in asthma by a yet unknown epigenetic mechanism during early childhood.
Sediment Yield in Dam-Controlled Watersheds in the Pisha Sandstone Region on the Northern Loess Plateau, China
Authors: Xie Fabing , Zhao Guangju , Mu Xingmin , Tian Peng , Gao Peng , Sun Wenyi
Published: November 2021

Soil erosion has become the dominant environmental issue endangering sustainable development in agriculture and the ecosystem on the Loess Plateau. Determination of watershed soil erosion rates and sediment yields is essential for reasonable utilization of water resources and soil loss control. In this study, we employed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry to determine the sediment yields in 24 dam-controlled watersheds in the Pisha sandstone region of the northern Loess Plateau. High differences in total sediment were trapped before the check dams due to their running periods and sediment yields. The estimated specific sediment yield ranged from 34.32 t/(ha∙a) to 123.80 t/(ha∙a) with an average of 63.55 t/(ha∙a), which indicated that the Pisha sandstone region had an intense soil erosion rate. Furthermore, the modified Sediment Distributed Delivery (SEDD) model was applied to identify the erosion-prone areas in the watersheds, and the sediment retained in the check dams were used for model calibration. The performance of the model was acceptable, and the modeling results indicated that the steep Pisha sandstone was the major sediment source for the watersheds, accounting for approximately 87.37% of the sediment yield. Catchment area, erosive precipitation, and badland proportion were the key factors for sediment yield in the dam-controlled watersheds of the Pisha sandstone region, according to multiple regression analyses. These findings indicated that the modified SEDD model is very efficient in identifying spatial heterogeneities of sediment yield in the watershed but requires comprehensive calibration and validation with long-term observations. The Pisha sandstone region is still the key area of soil erosion control in the Loess Plateau, which needs more attention for soil and water conservation due to high sediment yield.
Legal Mobilization and the Internationalization of Anticorruption Enforcement
Authors: Christensen Mikkel Jarle
Published: November 2021

This article contributes a critical study of efforts to internationalize the investigation and prosecution of corruption. The efforts to internationalize anticorruption enforcement are visible, for instance, in calls for an International Anticorruption Court (IACC) or an Anticorruption Protocol to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (APUNCAC). Inspired by a historical sociological perspective, this article investigates mobilizations around these initiatives, how mobilizers frame their engagement, and the ideological context in which they operate. In particular, the article zooms in on elites and how they push for states to internationalize the investigation and prosecution of corruption. This article situates the efforts of these elites in a larger historical context and compares the push to internationalize anticorruption enforcement to earlier legal mobilizations in the field of international criminal justice focused on atrocity crimes.
An Episomal CRISPR/Cas12a System for Mediating Efficient Gene Editing
Authors: Duan Nannan , Tang Shuqing , Zeng Baitao , Hu Zhiqing , Hu Qian , Wu Lingqian , Zhou Miaojin , Liang Desheng
Published: November 2021

(1) Background: Gene editing technology, as represented by CRISPR is a powerful tool used in biomedical science. However, the editing efficiency of such technologies, especially in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and other types of stem cells, is low which hinders its application in regenerative medicine; (2) Methods: A gene-editing system, COE, was designed and constructed based on CRISPR/Cas12a and Orip/EBNA1, and its editing efficiency was evaluated in human embryonic kidney 293T (HEK-293T) cells with flow cytometry and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. The COE was nucleofected into iPSCs, then, the editing efficiency was verified by a polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing; (3) Results: With the extension of time, COE enables the generation of up to 90% insertion or deletion rates in HEK-293T cells. Furthermore, the deletion of a 2.5 kb fragment containing Exon 51 of the dystrophin gene (DMD) in iPSCs was achieved with high efficiency; out of 14 clones analyzed, 3 were positive. Additionally, the Exon 51-deleted iPSCs derived from cardiomyocytes had similar expression profiles to those of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patient-specific iPSCs. Moreover, there was no residue of each component of the plasmid in the editing cells; (4) Conclusions: In this study, a novel, efficient, and safe gene-editing system, COE, was developed, providing a powerful tool for gene editing.
A Multi-Component Framework for the Analysis and Design of Explainable Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Kim Mi-Young , Atakishiyev Shahin , Babiker Housam Khalifa Bashier , Farruque Nawshad , Goebel Randy , Zaïane Osmar R. , Motallebi Mohammad-Hossein , Rabelo Juliano , Syed Talat , Yao Hengshuai , Chun Peter
Published: November 2021

The rapid growth of research in explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) follows on two substantial developments. First, the enormous application success of modern machine learning methods, especially deep and reinforcement learning, have created high expectations for industrial, commercial, and social value. Second, the emerging and growing concern for creating ethical and trusted AI systems, including compliance with regulatory principles to ensure transparency and trust. These two threads have created a kind of “perfect storm” of research activity, all motivated to create and deliver any set of tools and techniques to address the XAI demand. As some surveys of current XAI suggest, there is yet to appear a principled framework that respects the literature of explainability in the history of science and which provides a basis for the development of a framework for transparent XAI. We identify four foundational components, including the requirements for (1) explicit explanation knowledge representation, (2) delivery of alternative explanations, (3) adjusting explanations based on knowledge of the explainee, and (4) exploiting the advantage of interactive explanation. With those four components in mind, we intend to provide a strategic inventory of XAI requirements, demonstrate their connection to a basic history of XAI ideas, and then synthesize those ideas into a simple framework that can guide the design of AI systems that require XAI.
Mathematical Modeling of Electrical Conductivity of Anisotropic Nanocomposite with Periodic Structure
Authors: Korchagin Sergey , Pleshakova Ekaterina , Alexandrova Irina , Dolgov Vitaliy , Dogadina Elena , Serdechnyy Denis , Bublikov Konstantin
Published: November 2021

Composite materials consisting of a dielectric matrix with conductive inclusions are promising in the field of micro- and optoelectronics. The properties of a nanocomposite material are strongly influenced by the characteristics of the substances included in its composition, as well as the shape and size of inclusions and the orientation of particles in the matrix. The use of nanocomposite material has significantly expanded and covers various systems. The anisotropic form of inclusions is the main reason for the appearance of optical anisotropy. In this article, models and methods describing the electrical conductivity of a layered nanocomposite of a self-similar structure are proposed. The method of modeling the electrical conductivity of individual blocks, layers, and composite as a whole is carried out similarly to the method of determining the dielectric constant. The advantage of the method proposed in this paper is the removal of restrictions imposed on the theory of generalized conductivity associated with the need to set the dielectric constant.
A Hardy–Hilbert-Type Inequality Involving Parameters Composed of a Pair of Weight Coefficients with Their Sums
Authors: Yang Bicheng , Wu Shanhe , Huang Xingshou
Published: November 2021

In this paper, we establish a new Hardy–Hilbert-type inequality involving parameters composed of a pair of weight coefficients with their sum. Our result is a unified generalization of some Hardy–Hilbert-type inequalities presented in earlier papers. Based on the obtained inequality, the equivalent conditions of the best possible constant factor related to several parameters are discussed, and the equivalent forms and the operator expressions are also considered. As applications, we illustrate how the inequality obtained can generate some new Hardy–Hilbert-type inequalities.
Clinical Effectiveness of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer with a Poor Performance Status
Authors: Kaira Kyoichi , Imai Hisao , Mouri Atsuto , Yamaguchi Ou , Kagamu Hiroshi
Published: November 2021

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are standard treatments for patients with lung cancer. PD-1/PD-L1 or CTLA4 antibodies are chosen as the first-line therapy, contributing to the long-term survival and tolerability. Unlike molecular targeting agents, such as gefitinib, lung cancer patients with a poor performance status (PS) display unsatisfactory clinical improvements after ICI treatment. Several previous reports also demonstrated that the PS is identified as one of the most probable prognostic factors for predicting poor outcomes after ICI treatment. However, first-line pembrolizumab seemed to be effective for lung cancer patients with a PS of 2 if PD-L1 expression was greater than 50%. Currently, the induction of ICIs in patients with lung cancer with a poor PS is controversial. These problems are discussed in this review.