bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Connection Between Maxwell's Equations and the Dirac Equation
Authors: Nyambuya Golden Gadzirayi
Published: August 2021

Electrically charged particles such as Electrons and Protons carry electric, E, and magnetic, B, fields. In addition to these fields, Quantum Mechanics (QM) endows these particles with an `arcane and spooky' field --- the wavefunction. This wavefunction of QM is not only assumed to be separate but distinct from the electromagnetic field. We herein upend this view by demonstrating otherwise. That is, we demonstrate that the four components of the Dirac wavefunction, can be shown to not only be an intimate, but, a direct function of the electromagnetic field carried by the particle in question. Insofar as unity, depth in our understanding and insight into both Dirac and Maxwell's equations as major pillars of Modern Physics, we believe that this work may very well inch us one-step-closer to the truth.
Theoretical Investigation of Glycine Micro-solvated. Energy and NMR Spin Spin Coupling Constants Calculations
Authors: Caputo Maria Cristina , Provasi Patricio Federico
Published: August 2021

Glycine in its neutral form can exist in the gas phase while its zwitterion form is more stable in water solution.But how many waters are actually necessary to stabilize the zwitterionic structure in the gas phase? Are the intramolecular isotropic spin spin coupling constants sensitive enough to accuse the change in the environment? or the conformer observed? These and related questions have been investigated by a computational study at the level of density functional theory employing the B3LYP functional and the 6-31++G**-J basis set. We found that at least two water molecules explicitly accounted in the super-molecule structure are necessary to stabilize both conformers of glycine within a water polarizable continuum model. At least half of the SSCC’s of both conformers are very stable to changes in the environment and at least four of them differ significantly between Neutral and Zwitterion conformation.
Short Word-Length Entering Compressive Sensing Domain: Improved Energy-Efficiency in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Alwan Nuha A. S. , Hussain Zahir M.
Published: August 2021

This work combines compressive sensing and short word-length techniques to achieve localization and target tracking in wireless sensor networks with energy-efficient communication between the network anchors and the fusion center. Gradient descent localization is performed using time-of-arrival (TOA) data which are indicative of the distance between anchors and the target thereby achieving range-based localization. The short word-length techniques considered are delta modulation and sigma-delta modulation. The energy efficiency is due to the reduction of the data volume transmitted from anchors to the fusion center by employing any of the two delta modulation variants with compressive sensing techniques. Delta modulation allows the transmission of one bit per TOA sample. The communication energy efficiency is increased by RⱮ, R≥1, where R is the sample reduction ratio of compressive sensing and Ɱ is the number of bits originally present in a TOA-sample word. It is found that the localization system involving sigma-delta modulation has a superior performance to that using delta-modulation or pure compressive sampling alone, in terms of both energy efficiency and localization error in the presence of TOA measurement noise, owing to the noise shaping property of sigma-delta modulation.
Serum Magnesium Levels in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Al Wadee Zahraa , Ooi Soo Liang , Pak Sok Cheon
Published: August 2021

Purpose: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) affects patients’ quality of life and health. Magnesium (Mg) is an essential mineral and a potent antioxidant. Mg deficiency can worsen oxidative stress caused by sleep deprivation or disorders. The impact of OSA on serum Mg levels and its health consequences remain unclear. Methods: This study systematically reviewed clinical studies investigating the serum Mg levels of OSA patients and the potential relationships with other biomarkers.Results: Six articles were included for qualitative synthesis; five were used in quantitative analysis. Two out of four studies that compared OSA patients to healthy controls found them to have significantly lower serum Mg levels. Our meta-analysis with three studies shows that patients with OSA had significantly lower serum Mg with an effect size of -1.22 (95% CI: -2.24, -0.21). However, the mean serum Mg level of OSA patients (n=251) pooled from five studies (1.90 mg/dL, 95% CI: 1.77, 2.04) does not differ significantly from the normal range. OSA severity appears to affect serum Mg negatively. Serum Mg levels generally improve after treatment, coincide with the improvement of OSA severity. Low serum Mg levels correlate with worsening of cardiovascular risk biomarkers of C-reactive protein, ischaemia-modified albumin, and carotid intima-media thickness. The serum Mg levels also potentially correlate with biomarkers for lipid profile, glucose metabolism, calcium and heavy metals. Conclusions: Sleep deprivation appears to deplete Mg levels of OSA patients, making them at risk of Mg deficiency, which potentially increases systemic inflammation and the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
Biomass Burning and Gas Flares Create the Extreme West African Aerosol Plume Which Perturbs the Hadley Circulation and Thereby Changes Europe’s Winter Climate
Authors: Potts Keith A.
Published: August 2021

Europe’s winter climate has experienced three significant changes recently: increased UK flooding; Iberian drought; and warmer temperatures north of the Alps. The literature links all three to a persistent, significant increase in sea level pressure over the Mediterranean and Iberia which changes the atmospheric circulation system by: forcing cold fronts north away from Iberia; and creating a south westerly flow around the high-pressure region bringing warmer, moist air from the subtropical Atlantic to Europe which increases UK precipitation and European temperatures. Here I show, using modelled, reanalysis and measured data, that: the extreme, anthropogenic, West African aerosol Plume (WAP) which exists from late December to early April perturbs the northern, regional Hadley Circulation creating the high-pressure region; and that the WAP has only existed in its extreme form in recent decades as the major sources of the aerosols: biomass burning; and gas flaring have both increased significantly since 1950 due to: a four-fold increase in population (United Nations); and gas flaring rising from zero to 7.4 billion m3/annum (Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership). I also suggest that the WAP can be eliminated and Europe’s winter climate returned to its natural state after the crucial first step of recognising the cause of the changes is taken.
Аlcohol as a cause of death. Dynamics of the indicator and its statistical analysis
Authors: Makarov I. Yu. , Minaeva P. V. , Letnikova L. I. , Nekrasov M. S.
Published: August 2021

The implementation of state programs in the feld of health protection, in particular to combat excessive alcohol consumption and associated mortality, naturally entails the need for regular and thorough monitoring the relevant indicators and determine the eﬀectiveness of the measures taken. The authors of the study, in order to determine the dynamics of the rates of alcohol poisoning fatal cases, carried out an analysis of the statistical data. It is concluded that there is a tendency towards a gradual decrease in the studied indicator in various federal districts of Russian Federation, which determines the eﬀectiveness of measures taken to combat excessive alcohol consumption, and also federal districts were identifed where additional measures are required.
Тhe impact of alcohol abuse on the development of non-communicable diseases (analytical review)
Authors: Kaigorodova T. V. , Kryukova I. A.
Published: August 2021

The harmful use of alcohol is a risk factor for the development of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal diseases, diabetes and others. In addition to morbidity, alcohol abuse increases mortality, especially at young ages. An important characteristic is the frequency and amount of alcohol consumed by a person. The more often and more a person abuses alcohol, the higher the risk of developing NCDs and the mortality rate. Purpose of the study: analysis of publications of the World Health Organization and scientific publications of foreign researchers on the influence of alcohol on the development of non-communicable diseases.

Materials and research methods. Content analysis of documents of the World Health Organization and foreign studies on the assessment of the impact of alcohol In total, 48 documents of international organizations were analyzed, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations (UN), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC-IARC) and the World Bank, as well as 211 scientific publications. Of these, 19 documents were selected, which included materials from WHO, UN, IARC and the World Bank on the impact of alcohol abuse on health, and 63 scientific publications on this topic. Selection criterion: the content in the documents of materials that adequately describe the impact of alcohol abuse on health as a risk factor for the development of various diseases.

Results. An analysis of the documents and publications presented revealed a large massif of evidence that the harmful use of alcohol is a causal factor in the development of a number of noncommunicable diseases, an increase in mortality and disability at earlier stages of life, and the development of a link between harmful use of alcohol and a number of mental and behavioral disorders.
Structure and Assessment of the Oil Potential of Carbonaceous Carbonate-Siliceous Domanik Deposits in the Volga–Ural Oil and Gas Province
Authors: Fortunatova N.K. , Varlamov A.I. , Kanev A.S. , Poroskun V.I. , Baranova A.V. , Bushueva M.A.
Published: August 2021

—The paper considers the regularities in the structure and conditions of formation of Domanik carbonaceous carbonate-siliceous productive deposits. They are shown to occur in the stratigraphic interval from middle Frasnian to upper Famennian. The highly persistent structure of their sections for many kilometers within specific sedimentation zones and the drastic changes in the structure at the boundaries of the zones are justified. Lithological classification of rocks is considered. Methods and results of combined paleontological, lithological, geochemical, and petrophysical core studies are presented, as well as interpretation of well logging data and seismic-survey materials used in the assessment of oil resources and identification of oil- and gas-promising zones and areas. The conducted studies have proved significant oil resources in the Domanik productive sequence; their extraction might compensate for the decline in oil production from conventional pools.
Survive, Revive, Thrive: Chapter 10—Anchors Aweigh
Authors: Blasingame Tom
Published: August 2021

It Is Time To Leave Port

Education is not a way to escape poverty; it is a way of fighting it.—Julius Nyerere, Tanzanian president, 1922–1999

As the COVID-19 pandemic subsides in most parts of the world, and as a global society we commit ourselves to its control and eradication everywhere, it is time for our “ship” to leave port. As we pull up our anchor (“anchors aweigh” means the anchor is off bottom and the ship is free to move), we must accept that there are risks out there, but we must get back to the task of exploration and production of oil and gas as never before. As I predicted in this column many months ago, we are definitely leaner (fewer people, with even more work to do) and now we need to be much meaner (better skilled, better motivated, and better focused). All the old adages apply: “life isn’t fair,” “there are no guarantees,” etc.—but a commitment to “duty, honor, and service” (an unofficial motto of my employer, Texas A&M University) stands firm in my mind for our industry. As we leave port, we must have the confidence and purpose that has defined our industry since its inception—improving lives, mitigating poverty, and providing the energy to enable a modern global society.

Reasons We Must Change as an Industry

Life’s a bit like mountaineering—never look down.— Edmund Hillary, New Zealand explorer, 1919–2008

I was in a panel session a few weeks back and, as SPE President, I am certain they saved the toughest question for me: “What are the reasons we must change as an industry?” I confess that this question was particularly hard because it requires a sketch of our future strategies as an industry and as a professional society, which in many ways remains undefined. Fortunately, I had some advance notice and was able to put some thought into my answer. Paraphrasing Darwin, “we must adapt or die.” It is that simple. Our industry provides enormous societal benefit, and just as the future of renewables lies in metals for batteries, conducting materials, circuitry, etc., the present and future of manufacturing lies in oil and gas. There simply are no viable substitutes.
Clinical Efficacy and Imaging Analysis for the Surgical Treatment of Thoracolumbar Infections in Elderly Patients
Authors: Zhong Yanlong , Tang Benyu , Lai Qi , Sheng Yonghong , Li Chao , Guo Jia , Luo Shiwei , Yao Haoqun , Wan Zongmiao
Published: August 2021

BackgroundFew reports have been conducted to comparing surgical results and safety evaluations between the different types of infections in geriatric patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the safety and efficacy of surgical treatment for thoracolumbar infections in elderly patients.Methods21 patients with pyogenic spondylodiscitis (PS) and 26 patients with tuberculous spondylodiscitis (TS) were enrolled in the study. All patients were treated using one-stage posterior debridement, decompression, and pedicle screw fixation. Comparison of operative safety parameters between the two groups. Clinical efficacy was evaluated using visual analog scale (VAS) score, the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grade, the short form (SF)-36 survey and Oswestry disability index (ODI) to determine patient quality of life pre- and post-operatively. Results Hospitalisation and intensive care unit duration in the PS group were significantly shorter than in the TS group (P<0.05). The total incidence of post-operative complications for both groups was 44.7%. More complications occurred in the TS group, but the difference was not significant. The VAS and SF-36 scores (physical component) were significantly better in the PS group six months post-operatively, and the SF-36 (mental component) scores were significantly better in the PS group at the one-year follow-up. Neurological status in both groups improved post-operatively, and 83% of the patients were satisfied with the results of their operation. Imaging results showed that bone graft fusion improved in both groups at six months, one year and at the final follow-up. ConclusionSurgical treatment can provide satisfactory clinical and imaging results for thoracolumbar infection in patients over 65 years old. Although the incidence of peri-operative complications in the elderly is high, it is controllable and surgical treatment remains a safe and effective measure.
Genomic Scan of Male Fertility Restoration Genes in a ‘Gülzow’ Type Hybrid Breeding System of Rye Secale cereale L.)
Authors: Vendelbo Nikolaj , Mahmood Khalid , Sarup Pernille , Kristensen Peter , Orabi Jihad , Jahoor Ahmed
Published: August 2021

Efficient and stable restoration of male fertility (Rf) is a prerequisite for large-scale hybrid seed production but remains an inherent issue in the predominant fertility control system of rye (Secale cereale L.). The ‘Gülzow’ (G)-type cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) system in hybrid rye breeding exhibits a superior Rf. While having received little scientific attention, one major G-type Rf gene has been identified on 4RL (Rfg1) and two minor genes on 3R (Rfg2) and 6R (Rfg3) chromosomes. Here, we report a comprehensive investigation of the genetics underlying restoration of male fertility in a large G-type CMS breeding system using recent advents in rye genomic resources. This includes: (I) genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on G-type germplasm; (II) GWAS on a biparental mapping population; and (III) an RNA sequence study to investigate the expression of genes residing in Rf-associated regions in G-type rye hybrids. Our findings provide compelling evidence of a novel major G-type non-PPR Rf gene on the 3RL chromosome belonging to the mitochondrial transcription termination factor gene family. We provisionally denote the identified novel Rf gene on 3RL RfNOS1. The discovery made in this study is distinct from known P- and C-type systems in rye as well as recognized CMS systems in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). We believe this study constitutes a stepping stone towards understanding the restoration of male fertility in the G-type CMS system and potential resources for addressing the inherent issues of the P-type system.
Ecological impact evaluation of urban heat island in Dhaka city; a spatio-temporal approach
Authors: Rashid Kazi Jihadur , Islam Sumaia , Rahman Mohammad Atiqur
Published: August 2021

Urban heat island (UHI) is one of the major causes for deteriorating ecology of the rapidly expanding Dhaka city in the changing climatic conditions. Although researchers have identified, characterized and modeled UHI in the study area, the ecological evaluation of UHI effect has not yet been focused. This study uses land surface normalization techniques such as urban thermal field variance (UTFVI) to quantify the impact of UHI and also identifies vulnerable UHI areas compared to land cover types. Landsat imageries from 1990 to 2020 were used at decadal intervals. Results of the study primarily show that intensified UHI areas have increased spatially from 33.1–40.9% in response to urban growth throughout the period of 1990 to 2020. Extreme surface temperature values above 31°C have also been shown in open soils in under-construction sites for future developmental purposes. UTFVI is categorized into six categories representing UHI intensity in relation to ecological conditions. Finally, comparative analysis between land use/land cover (LULC) with UTFVI shows that the ecological conditions deteriorate as the intensity of UHI increases in the area. The developed areas facing ecological threat have increased from 9.3–19.8% throughout the period. Effective mitigating measures such as increasing green surfaces and planned urbanization practices are crucial in this regard. This study would help policymakers to concentrate on controlling thermal exposure and on preserving sustainable urban life.
No Evidence for an Association Between Variability in Sulcal Pattern and Academic Achievement
Authors: Roell Margot , Bellon E. , Polspoel B. , Declercq M. , De Smedt B.
Published: August 2021

Investigating how the brain may constrain academic achievement is not only relevant to understanding brain structure but also to providing insight into the origins of individual differences in these academic abilities. In this pre-registered study, we investigated whether the variability of sulcal patterns, a qualitative feature of the brain determined in-utero and not affected by brain maturation and learning, accounted for individual differences in reading and mathematics. Participants were 97 typically developing 10-year-olds. We examined (a) the association between the sulcal pattern of the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) and mathematical ability; (b) the association between the sulcal pattern of the occipitotemporal sulcus (OTS) and reading ability; and (c) the overlap and specificity of sulcal morphology of IPS and OTS and their associations with mathematics and reading. Despite its large sample, the present study was unable to replicate a previously observed relationship between the IPS sulcal pattern and mathematical ability and a previously observed association between the Left posterior OTS sulcal pattern and reading. We found no evidence for a possible overlap or specificity in the effect of sulcal morphology on mathematics and reading. Possible explanations for this absence of an association between sulcal morphology and academic achievement and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Multimodal Magnetic Resonance and Fluorescence Imaging of the Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Transplantation in the Brain
Authors: Zhang yunchao , Wang Jingwen , Wu Yue , Tao Qing , Wang Feifei , Wang Nana , Gi Xingrui , Li Yonggang , Yu Shuang , Zhang Jingzhong
Published: August 2021

BackgroundThe understanding of the engrafted cell behaviors such as the survival, growth and distribution is the prerequisite to optimize cell therapy, and a multimodal imaging at both anatomical and molecular levels is designed to achieve this goal. Methods and results We constructed a lentiviral vector carrying ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1), near-infrared fluorescent protein (iRFP) and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) via T2A linker, and established the induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) culture stably expressing these three reporter genes. These iPSCs showed green and near-infrared fluorescence as well as the iron uptake capacity in vitro. After transplanted the labeled iPSCs into the rat brain, the engrafted cells could be in vivo imaged using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and near-infrared fluorescent imaging (NIF) up to 60 days at the anatomical level, moreover, these cells could be detected using EGFP immunostaining and Prussian blue stain at the cellular level. Conclusions Our study provides a novel tool to study the cellular behaviors of the transplanted cells in a multimodal way, which will be valuable for the effectiveness and safety evaluation of cell therapy.
Neutrosophic N-structures on Sheffer stroke BE-algebras
Authors: Oner Tahsin , Katican Tugce , Svanidze Salviya , Rezaei Akbar
Published: August 2021

In this study, a neutrosophic N-subalgebra, a (implicative) neutrosophic N-filter, level sets of these neutrosophic N-structures and their properties are introduced on a Sheffer stroke BE-algebras (briefly, SBE-algebras). It is proved that the level set of neutrosophic N-subalgebras ((implicative) neutrosophic N-filter) of this algebra is the SBE-subalgebra ((implicative) SBE-filter) and vice versa. Then it is proved that the family of all neutrosophic N-subalgebras of a SBE-algebra forms a complete distributive modular lattice. We present relationships between upper sets and neutrosophic N-filters of this algebra. Also, it is given that every neutrosophic N-filter of a SBE-algebra is its neutrosophic N-subalgebra but the inverse is generally not true. It is demonstrated that a neutrosophic N-structure on a SBE-algebra defi ned by a (implicative) neutrosophic N-filter of another SBE-algebra and a surjective SBE-homomorphism is a (implicative) neutrosophic N-filter. We present relationships between a neutrosophic N-filter and an implicative neutrosophic N-filter of a SBE-algebra in detail. Finally, certain subsets of a SBE-algebra are determined by means of N-functions and some properties are examined.
Computational modelling of Chromosomally Clustering Protein Domains In Bacteria
Authors: Cotroneo Chiara E. , Gormley Isobel Claire , Shields Denis C. , Salter-Townshend Michael
Published: August 2021

Background: In bacteria, genes with related functions - such as those involved in the metabolism of the same compound or in infection processes - are often physically close on the genome and form groups called clusters. The enrichment of such clusters over various distantly related bacteria can be used to predict the roles of genes of unknown function that cluster with characterised genes. There is no obvious rule to define a cluster, given their variability in size and intergenic distances, and the definition of what comprises a “gene”, since genes can gain and lose domains over time. Protein domains can cluster within a gene, or in adjacent genes of related function, and in both cases these are chromosomally clustered. Here, we model the distances between pairs of protein domain coding regions across a wide range of bacteria and archaea via a probabilistic two component mixture model, without imposing arbitrary thresholds in terms of gene numbers or distances. Results: We trained our model using matched Gene Ontology terms to label functionally related pairs and assess the stability of the parameters of the model across 14, 178 archaeal and bacterial strains. We found that the parameters of our mixture model are remarkably stable across bacteria and archaea, except for endosymbionts and obligate intracellular pathogens. Obligate pathogens have smaller genomes, and although they vary, on average do not show noticeably different clustering distances; the main difference in the parameter estimates is that a far greater proportion of the genes sharing ontology terms are clustered. This may reflect that these genomes are enriched for complexes encoded by clustered core housekeeping genes, as a proportion of the total genes. Given the overall stability of the parameter estimates, we then used the mean parameter estimates across the entire dataset to investigate which gene ontology terms are most frequently associated with clustered genes. Conclusions: Given the stability of the mixture model across species, it may be used to predict bacterial gene clusters that are shared across multiple species, in addition to giving insights into the evolutionary pressures on the chromosomal locations of genes in different species.
Stem Cell, Fibrin Glue, and Normal Saline on Partially Torn Tendons: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Chun Se-Woong , Kim Won , Lee Sang Yoon , Lim Chai-Young , Kim Keewon , Kim Jeong-Gil , Park Chul-Hyun , Hong Sung Hwan , Yoo Hye Jin , Chung Sun G.
Published: August 2021

Background: Tendons have limited reparative ability and perform a relatively simple mechanical function via the extracellular matrix. Thus, the injured tendon might successfully treated by stem cell transplantation. We performed a randomized, controlled study to investigate the effects of mesenchymal stem cell injection for treating partial tears in the supraspinatus tendon.Methods: We enrolled 24 patients with shoulder pain lasting more than 3 months and partial tears in the supraspinatus tendon. Participants were assigned to three groups: stem cells in fibrin glue, normal saline/fibrin glue mixture, and normal saline only, with which intra-lesional injection was performed. Pain at activity and rest, shoulder function and tear size were evaluated. For safety measures, laboratory tests were taken and adverse events were recorded at every visit. Participants were followed up at 6, 12 weeks, 6, 12 months and 2 years after injection. The primary outcome measure was the improvement in pain at activity at 3 months after injection. Results: Twenty-three patients were included in the final analysis. Primary outcome did not differ among groups (p = 0.35). A mixed effect model revealed no statistically significant interactions. Only time significantly predicted the outcome measure. All participants reported transient pain at the injection site. There were no differences in post-injection pain duration or severity. Safety measures did not differ between groups, and there were no persistent adverse events.Conclusions: Stem cell injection into supraspinatus partial tears in patients with shoulder pain lasting more than 3 months was not more effective than control injections. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02298023)
Optimization of LoRaWAN Access control
Authors: Tounsi Hajer , Benkahla Norhane , Song Ye-Qiong , Frikha Mounir
Published: August 2021

Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN) enables flexible long-range communication with low power consumption which is suitable for IoT applications. LoRaWAN’s performance is due on the one hand to its spreading factor modulation allowing the spread out of communication between end-devices and gateways on different frequency channels and data rates. And on the other hand, to the ability to manage for each node its data rate and its transmission power thanks to the adaptive data rate (ADR) scheme in order to increase the overall network capacity and to maximize the battery life of end devices. However, because of the Aloha access technique adopted by LoRaWAN, the risk of using the same data rate on the same channel is not negligible. Despite the limitation of the duty cycle for each node, the risk of collision is high with the increase of the number of end devices which degrades the LoRaWAN’s performance. In this context, our paper proposes different approaches to improve the performance of LoRaWAN. The first contribution consists in improving the ADR technique to meet the characteristics of a mobile environment. The new mechanism proposed, called VHMM-based E-ADR, consists of adapting the data rate of the end-device according to its position. The second contribution consists in better managing the use of the duty cycle by proposing a dynamic sharing mechanism (Dynamic Duty-Cycle). The last contribution consists in proposing a deterministic access technique to replace Aloha. Our experimental study has shown that our proposals give better results in terms
of Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR) and energy consumption than basic LoRaWAN in a mobile environment.
Sheffer Stroke Nelson Algebras
Authors: Oner Tahsin , Katican Tugce , Saeid Arsham Borumand
Published: August 2021

In this study, Sheffer stroke Nelson algebras (briefly, s-Nelson algebras), (ultra) ideals, quasi-subalgebras and quotient sets on these algebraic structures are introduced. The relationships between s-Nelson and Nelson algebras are analyzed. Also, it is shown that a s-Nelson algbera is a bounded distributive modular lattice, and the family of all ideals forms a complete distributive modular lattice. A congruence relation on s-Nelson algebra is determined by its ideal and quotient s-Nelson algebras are constructed by this congruence relation. Finally, it is indicated that a quotient s-Nelson algebra defined by the ultra ideal is totally ordered and that the cardinality of the quotient is less than or equals to 2.
Conductive, Superhydrophobic, and Microwave-Absorbing Cotton Fabric by Dip-Coating of Aqueous Silk Nanofibers Stabilized MWCNTs and Octadecanoyl Chain Bonding
Authors: Liu Ling , Wu Mingyuan , Wu Qingyun , Liu Jiuyi , Yang Jianjun , Zhang Jianan
Published: August 2021

A facile dip-coating method to endow cotton fabric (CF) with satisfactory conductivity, superhydrophobicity and microwave absorption performance was proposed based on the combination of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) incorporation and hydrophobic octadecanoyl chain bonding. The entanglement and bundling of MWCNTs induced by the particularly high aspect ratio and high interaction energy renders homogeneous dispersion of MWCNTs a challenging. The durable coating adhesion of MWCNTs on hydrophilic CF remains the other challenge due to the absence of strong interactions with intrinsic hydrophobic MWCNTs. In this work, silk nanofibers (SNFs) were synthesized by degrading silk at high temperature, which was adopted as dispersant to prepare individually dispersed MWCNTs via ultrasonication and homogenization processes. The coating adhesion of MWCNTs to CF (MWCNTs-CF) was enhanced via dipping coating and thermal treatment induced chemical immobilization cycles. Octadecanoyl chain-tethered MWCNTs-CF (C18-MWCNTs-CF) was manufactured by further treatment with stearoyl chloride to achieve superhydrophobicity. The scanning and transmission electron microscopy micrographs demonstrated that the aggregates of MWCNTs were successfully de-bundled into individually dispersed nanotubes by taking advantages of the high π-π interaction and electrostatic repulsive interactions between MWCNTs and SNFs. SNFs has the superiority of chemical bonding with CF at high temperature and providing active sites for subsequent hydrophobic treatment. The electrical conductivity, surface properties, thermal stability, mechanical properties, and microwave absorption performance of the CF samples were evaluated systematically. Compared with pristine CF (1.04🞩1010 Ω), the C18-MWCNTs-CF exhibited excellent conductive property with surface resistance reaching 55 Ω when the loaded MWCNTs on CF were 247.5 mg/g in the case of 3 dipping-drying cycles and possessed a relatively greater microwave absorption performance of -36.08 dB at 9.28 GHz with merely 2.7 mm thickness. Compared with pristine CF, C18-MWCNTs-CF exhibited superhydrophobicity with the WCA increasing from 26° to 150° even after 20 scratching cycles due to the combination of facile octadecanoyl group tethering and the increased surface roughness. The biodegradable and recyclable C18-MWCNTs-CF exhibited reasonable electrical conductivity, superhydrophobicity and microwave absorption that promises an ideal application prospect in the field of smart textile and wearable electronic devices.
DNAJC10 Correlates with Tumor Immune Characteristics and Predicts the Prognosis of Glioma Patients
Authors: Liu Feng , Tu Zewei , Liu Junzhe , Long Xiaoyan , Xiao Bing , Fang Hua , Huang Kai , Zhu Xingen
Published: August 2021

Background: A role of DNAJC10 has been reported in several cancers, but its function in glioma is not clear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic role and the underlying functions of DNAJC10 in glioma.Methods: Reverse transcription and quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were performed to quantify the relative DNAJC10 mRNA and protein expressions of clinical samples. Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to compare DNAJC10 expression between or among glioma subgroups with different clinicopathological features. The overall survival (OS) rates of glioma patients with different DNAJC10 expression were compared with the Kaplan-Meier method (two-sided log-rank test). The prognosis-predictive accuracy of the DNAJC10 was evaluated by time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes annotations were conducted using the “clusterProfiler” package. Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis was used to estimate immune cell infiltrations and immune-related function levels. The independent prognostic role of DNAJC10 was determined by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. A DNAJC10-based nomogram model was established using multivariate Cox regression in the R package “rms.” Results: Higher DNAJC10 expression was observed in gliomas. It was upregulated in tumors with higher World Health Organization grade, isocitrate dehydrogenase wild-type status, 1p/19q non-co-deletion, and methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase unmethylated gliomas. Patients with gliomas with higher DNAJC10 expression had poorer prognoses than those with low-DNAJC10 gliomas. The predictive accuracy of 1/3/5-year OS of DNAJC10 was stable and robust using a time-dependent ROC model. Functional enrichment analysis recognized that T cell activation and T cell receptor signaling were enriched in higher DNAJC10 gliomas. Immune cell and stromal cell infiltrations, tumor mutation burden, copy number alteration burden, and immune checkpoint genes were also positively correlated with glioma DNAJC10 expression. A DNAJ10-based nomogram model was established and showed strong prognosis-predictive ability.Conclusion: Higher DNAJC10 expression correlates with poor prognosis of patients with glioma and is a potential and useful prognostic biomarker.
Amelioration of C - Reactive Protein and Lectin Like Oxidised Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor Complex Induced Endothelial Dysfunction by Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins.
Authors: Jamuna Sankar , Ashokkumar Rathinavel , Sivasithamparam Niranjali Devaraj
Published: August 2021

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a well established biochemical marker for atherosclerosis. Inflammation induced by CRP promotes endothelial dysfunction. Modification of LDL inside the artery wall favors the elevation of this acute phase protein. The mechanism of OxLDL+CRP complex is unrevealed so far. Hence, this mechanism was considered as the important factor to trigger the monocyte to macrophages differentiation which in leads to foam cells formation. Hence this key event should be targeted and focused on how this complex (OxLDL+CRP) proceeds to endothelial dysfunction. OPC is a well known cardioprotective flavon-3-ols. The present study is challenged between the protective roles of OPC against the deleterious effect of this complex (OxLDL+CRP) on endothelial cells. Monolayer of Endothelial cells were incubated with THP-1 monocytes for 48 h supplemented with OxLDL (10mg/ml) + CRP (10 mg/ml) complex and treated with OPC (100mg/ml). Morphological changes, cell migration assay and capillary tube forming assay was carried out. Myeleoperoxidase levels were estimated to determine the adhesion of monocytes onto EC monolayer. RT-PCR analysis of L-Selectin was done. The quantification of NO levels and analysis of mRNA expressions of eNOS is to determine the nitric oxide demand caused due to OxLDL+CRP complex. LOX-1, scavenger receptor levels were analysed by mRNA expression. Proinflammatory markers such as IL-6, MCP-1 and IL-1b were studied. Accumulation of ROS levels were measured fluorimetrically using DCF-DA. Spectrophotometric analysis of Sirius red dye binding collagen levels was observed. Mitochondrial membrane potential was determined by JC-1 dye and cell cycle analysis was done by FACS analysis. Protein –Protein docking was carried out between CRP and LOX-1. This docked protein complex were again docked with OPC and atrovastatin to show the inhibitory mechanism of CRP binding with LOX-1. OPC showed a promising inhibitory mechanism against OxLDL+CRP complex. To emphasis the results OPC treated group showed decreased levels of proinflammatory markers, LOX-1 and L-Selectin levels. Endothelial nitric oxide levels were increased upon OPC treatment and reduction in the ROS levels. Endothelial cells apoptosis was prevented by OPC. Docking studies showed that in the absence of ligands (OPC) binding of CRP and LOX-1 was greater and vice versa in the presence of ligands. To conclude, OxLDL + CRP complex inhibitory effects of OPC could maintain the normal homeostasis.
The Psychological Effect of COVID-19 Epidemic on University Teachers in China
Authors: Fu Wenning , Yan Shijiao , Zou Li , Zong Qiao , Song Xingyue , Zhou Ning , Wen Jing , Han Xiaotong , Liu Yifang , Lv Chuanzhu
Published: August 2021

Objectives：To assess the mental status of Chinese teachers during the COVID-19 epidemic, and to provide theoretical evidences for psychological intervention. Methods：From October 23, 2020 to December 12, 2020, we conducted the online survey. Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale (GAD-7) was used to assess anxiety symptoms. Classified and continuous data were reported as numbers, percentages, and Mean ± SD, respectively. Multivariate Logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between different factors and anxiety symptoms. Results：A total of 10302 university teachers participated in this study, 4416 of them (40.0%) showed anxiety symptoms. Female gender (OR=1.207) and the age of ≥60 years old (OR=2.004) were associated with anxiety. Being married (OR=1.319) was the risk factor for anxiety; being neutral (OR=1.292), or not-support on returning school (OR=1.620) was common risk factors for anxiety. Conclusions：About two-fifths of Chinese university teachers reported anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 epidemic. The government should pay more attention to the mental health of teachers, take timely and appropriate psychological intervention measures, improve the psychological adjustment ability of teachers, and reduce the psychological harm of COVID-19 epidemic to teachers.
Primary Peripheral Epstein-Barr Virus Infection Can Lead to CNS Infection and Neuroinflammation in a Rabbit Model: Implications for Multiple Sclerosis Pathogenesis
Authors: Hassani Asma , Reguraman Narendran , Shehab Safa , Khan Gulfaraz
Published: August 2021

Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a common herpesvirus associated with malignant and non-malignant conditions. An accumulating body of evidence supports a role for EBV in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), a demyelinative disease of the CNS. However, little is known about the details of the link between EBV and MS. One obstacle which has hindered research in this area has been the lack of a suitable animal model recapitulating natural infection in humans. We have recently shown that healthy rabbits are susceptible to EBV infection, and viral persistence in these animals mimics latent infection in humans. Methods: We used the rabbit model to investigate if peripheral EBV infection can lead to infection of the CNS and its potential consequences. We injected EBV intravenously in one group of animals, and PBS in another, with and without immunosuppression. Histopathological changes and viral dynamics were examined in peripheral blood, spleen, brain, and spinal cord, using a range of molecular and histopathology techniques. Results: Our investigations uncovered important findings that could not be previously addressed. We showed that primary peripheral EBV infection can lead to the virus traversing the CNS. Cell associated, but not free virus in the plasma, correlated with CNS infection. The infected cells within the brain were found to be B-lymphocytes. Most notably, animals injected with EBV, but not PBS, developed inflammatory cellular aggregates in the CNS. The incidence of these aggregates increased in the immunosuppressed animals. The cellular aggregates contained compact clusters of macrophages surrounded by reactive astrocytes and dispersed B and T lymphocytes, but not myelinated nerve fibers. Moreover, studying EBV infection over a span of 28 days, revealed that the peak point for viral load in the periphery and CNS coincides with increased occurrence of cellular aggregates in the brain. Finally, peripheral EBV infection triggered temporal changes in the expression of latent viral transcripts and cytokines in the brain. Conclusion: The present study provides the first direct in vivo evidence for the role of peripheral EBV infection in CNS pathology, and highlights a unique model to dissect viral mechanisms contributing to the development of MS.
The Effects and Underlying Mechanisms of Hepatitis B Virus X Gene Mutants on the Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Pu Rui , Liu Wenbin , Zhou Xinyu , Hou Xiaomei , Cai Shiliang , Chen Xi , Chen Liping , Wu Jianfeng , Yang Fan , Tan Xiaojie , Yin Jianhua , Wang Xin , Cao Guangwen
Published: August 2021

Background: We aimed to elucidate the mechanism by which hepatitis B virus X (HBx) gene mutations increase the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and identify novel therapeutic targets.Methods: Wild-type and four HBx mutants (M1, A1762T/G1764A; M2, T1674G+T1753C+A1762T/G1764A; M3, C1653T+T1674G+A1762T/G1764A; Ct-HBx, carboxylic acid-terminal truncated HBx) were delivered into the livers of fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase-deficient mice by using the Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon system, respectively. Seven liver tissues and seven tumor tissues of the SB mouse models were subjected to HBV-capture sequencing. Three liver tissues from WT-HBx mice, three tumor tissues from M3-HBx mice, and three tumor tissues from Ct-HBx mice were subjected to cDNA microarray analysis. HeLa cells stably expressing WT-HBx and the four HBx mutants were also subjected to cDNA microarray assay.Results: The incidence of HCC was higher in the mice injected with M3-HBx or Ct-HBx. M3-HBx had a stronger capacity of upregulating inflammatory cytokines than other HBx variants. HBV-capture sequencing showed that the HBx fragments were mainly integrated into intergenic and intron regions. No significant difference was observed in the number of insertion sites between tumors and liver tissues. Ectopic expression of the HBx mutants, especially M3-HBx and Ct-HBx, significantly increased cell proliferation and the S phase proportion of HepG2 and HeLa cells, compared to WT-HBx. Liver tissues of the SB mice and the transfected cells were subjected to cDNA microarray analysis. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI1) and cell division cycle 20 (CDC20) were identified as novel effectors. M3-HBx and Ct-HBx significantly upregulated the expression of PAI1 and CDC20 in HepG2 and HeLa cells as well as the livers of the SB mice. PAI1 silencing attenuated the effect of M3-HBx and Ct-HBx on the growth of HepG2 cells and greatly decreased the growth of HeLa cells with Ct-HBx. Conclusion: HBx C1653T+T1674G+A1762T/G1764A mutant and Ct-HBx promote carcinogenesis via upregulating PAI1 and CDC20. PAI1, an important player bridging the HBx mutants and HCC, should be a promising candidate as a predictive and prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in HBV-related HCC.
An Orally Available Small Molecule BCL6 Inhibitor Effectively Suppresses Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma Cells Growth in Vitro and in Vivo
Authors: Xing Yajing , Guo Weikai , Wu Min , Xie Jiuqing , Huang Dongxia , Hu Pan , Zhou Miaoran , Zhang Lin , Zhang Qiansen , Wang Peili , Wang Xin , Wang Guixue , Wu Huangan , Zhou Cili , Chen Yihua , Liu Mingyao , Yi Zhengfang , Sun Zhenliang
Published: August 2021

Background: The transcription factor B cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) is an oncogenic driver of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and mediates lymphomagenesis through transcriptional repression of its target genes by recruiting corepressors to its N-terminal broad-complex/tramtrack/bric-a-brac (BTB) domain. Blocking the protein-protein interactions of BCL6 and its corepressors has been proposed as an effective approach for the treatment of DLBCL. However, BCL6 inhibitors with excellent drug-like properties are rare. Hence, the development of BCL6 inhibitors is worth pursuing. Methods: We screened our internal chemical library by luciferase reporter assay and Homogenous Time Resolved Fluorescence (HTRF) assay and a small molecule compound named WK500B was identified. The binding affinity between WK500B and BCL6 was evaluated by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay and the binding mode of WK500B and BCL6 was predicted by molecular docking. The function evaluation and anti-cancer activity of WK500B in vitro and in vivo was detected by immunofluorescence assay, Real-Time Quantitative PCR, cell proliferation assay, cell cycle assay, cell apoptosis assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), germinal centre (GC) formation mouse model and mouse xenograft model. Results: WK500B engaged BCL6 inside cells, blocked BCL6 repression complexes, reactivated BCL6 target genes, killed DLBCL cells and caused apoptosis as well as cell cycle arrest. In animal models, WK500B inhibited germinal centre formation and DLBCL tumor growth without toxic and side effects. Moreover, WK500B showed favourable pharmacokinetics and presented superior druggability compared to other BCL6 inhibitors. Conclusions: WK500B showed strong efficacy and favourable pharmacokinetics and presented superior druggability compared to other BCL6 inhibitors. So, WK500B is a promising candidate that could be developed as an effective orally available therapeutic agent for DLBCL.