bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementasi Metode K-Means Clustering dalam Analisis Persebaran UMKM di Jawa Barat
Authors: Syifa Nur , Fahmi Resti Noor
Published: July 2022

Usaha Mikro Kecil dan Menengah atau UMKM ialah usaha produktif yang sudah teruji membuka lapangan kerja dan menjadi penggerak roda perekonomian di Indonesia. Perlu adanya pengembangan potensi dalam melaksanakan UMKM dengan menganalisis strategi persebaran UMKM dan peningkatan jumlah UMKM. Penelitian ini akan menjelaskan cara mengimplementasikan metode k-means clustering untuk menganalisis persebaran UMKM sehingga diharapkan dapat menjadi perhatian bagi pemerintah atau institusi terkait dalam meningkatkan perekonomian UMKM di Jawa Barat. Clustering UMKM akan dibagi menjadi 3 bagian berdasarkan tingkat persebaran UMKM yaitu cluster 0 atau rendah memperoleh hasil 9 Kabupaten/Kota, cluster 1 atau sedang memperoleh hasil 15 Kabupaten/Kota, dan cluster 2 atau tinggi memperoleh hasil 3 Kabupaten/Kota. Hasil evaluasi clustering akan dibandingkan dengan 2 metode evaluasi yaitu silhouette coefficient yang menghasilkan nilai sebesar 0,73, sedangkan metode davies bouldin index (DBI) menghasilkan nilai sebesar 0,29. Dari hasil perbandingan kedua evaluasi cluster tersebut menunjukan hasil cluster dengan menerapkan algoritma k-means yang terbentuk baik.
Peningkatan Usability Point of Sales (PoS) Berbasis Human Centered Design (HCD)
Authors: Hermanto Agus , Ameiliawati Nur Sela , Gumelar Agustinus Bimo , Junaedi Lukman , Widodo Agung , Sulistyono MY Teguh , Wibowo Achmad Teguh
Published: July 2022

Dalam perkembangan teknologi transaksi online hingga fasilitas e-commerce, sistem point-of-sale (POS) menjadi sangat populer karena menyediakan cara transaksi yang cepat dan nyaman untuk bisnis. Sistem ini mampu mengakomodasi tugas-tugas vital seperti transaksi online, keamanan, integrasi dengan perpajakan, hingga laporan manajemen. Oleh karena itu, menjadi penting dalam memastikan kualitas perangkat lunak dan pemanfaatan fungsi bisnis yang efektif. Di antara beberapa fungsi dan atribut kualitas perangkat lunak, sifat kegunaan perangkat lunak POS sangatlah krusial, karena antarmuka pengguna secara langsung sangat terkait dengan perilaku kasir, kepuasan pelanggan, dan keuntungan pasar. Namun, pelaksanaan evaluasi kegunaan sistem transaksi yang menggunakan teknologi POS tidak mudah karena secara umum ditampilkan banyak konfigurasi, dan antarmuka yang kompleks. Banyak model kualitas yang tersedia belum cukup untuk mengevaluasi kegunaan sistem POS yang hanya mencakup sebagian tampilan fungsinya.Dalam penelitian ini, kami melakukan investigasi sepuluh model kualitas dari metode System Usability Scale (SUS) dan mengekstrak faktor terkait kegunaan dari masing-masing model dan mengimplementasikannya berbasis desain yang berfokus pada manusia atau Human Centered Design (HCD). Evaluasi dari penggunaan aplikasi POS yang dibuat menghasilkan nilai rata-rata skor SUS sebesar 78,2 yang menunjukkan tingkat penerimaan masuk kategori Baik (Good).
Analisis Sentimen Masyarakat Terhadap Layanan Shopeefood Melalui Media Sosial Twitter Dengan Algoritma Naïve Bayes Classifier
Authors: Mufidah Farah Syadza , Winarno Sri , Alzami Farrikh , Udayanti Erika Devi , Sani Ramadhan Rakhmat
Published: July 2022

Twitter adalah salah satu media sosial dan fasilitas microblogging yang menjadi tempat bagi penggunanya berbagi pengalamannya secara bebas, realtime, dan bersifat publik. Hal ini dapat menjadikan twitter sebagai sumber informasi yang dapat berupa opini, ataupun komentar yang bersifat positif maupun negatif. Dari opini masyarakat tersebut dapat diimplementasikan sebagai tolak ukur, karena memiliki nilai bagi suatu perusahaan agar dapat menjadi bahan evaluasi untuk menentukan langkah dalam meningkatkan layanannya. Oleh karena itu untuk mengolah opini tersebut dibutuhkan teknik analisis sentimen untuk dapat mengidentifikasi opini baik positif maupun negatif. Pada penelitian ini akan menganalisis tweet berbahasa Indonesia dengan topik layanan yang ada pada E-commerce shopee yaitu layanan ShopeeFood yang sedang populer dikalangan masyarakat saat ini. Metode yang akan digunakan untuk analisa sentimen pada penelitian ini yaitu Naïve Bayes Classifier untuk proses mengklasifikasi. Berdasarkan hasil pengujian klasifikasi tweet pada penelitian ini dibuktikan keakuratan yang didapatkan melalui confusion matrix dengan nilai accuracy sebesar 90,62%, precision sebesar 88,23%, dan recall sebesar 93,75%. Kata kunci: Analisis Sentimen, Teks Mining, Naïve Bayes Classifier, Twitter, ShopeeFood
COVID-19 Contact Tracing and the Operationalisation of Somatechnics
Authors: Yang Wang Wilfred
Published: July 2022

This article draws on the paradigm of media operationalism to understand the somatechnical construction of bodies during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the concept of somatechnics, one’s experience with the social world is articulated through the available technologies and techniques required to and developed from using these technologies ( Sullivan and Murray 2016 ). By drawing on the case of the Service Victoria app, the digital COVID-19 contact tracing system launched by the Victoria State government in Australia, I focus on the transformative meaning of technologies and somatechnics and how subjectivity is being redefined through the lens of technological utilisation. I suggest that all human-related forms of relations (human-to-human and human-to-machine) have become secondary and give way to the synchronic data-to-data relation of the app. In the regime of operational media, the body is not just a historical and cultural construction but a techno-transactional object that supports the optimisation of automated-decision making. The recent operational-turn in media studies provides a useful pathway to rethink the changing meaning of body and the human/technologies entanglement.
Modelling and Simulation of A Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell: Electrochemical Reactions and Mass Transport Consideration
Authors: LIEW CHALU CHRISTOPHER JANTING
Published: July 2022

Mathematical modelling was developed for direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC) by considering electrochemical reactions and mass transport. The model was validated against experimental data from previous research and showed good agreement with the data. The developed mathematical modelling for this research was based on the Butler-Volmer equation, Tafel equation and Fick’s law. The model was used to investigate parameters such as ethanol concentration and cell operating temperature. The developed mathematical model simulated the data from previous research. Ethanol concentration played a vital role to achieve high-performance DEFC. The higher the ethanol concentration, the higher current could be generated in DEFC. Nonetheless, the higher the usage of the ethanol concentration, the higher the ethanol crossover might occur. The highest current density produced from the fuel cell was at 21.48 mA cm-2, for 2M of ethanol concentration. Operating temperature also affected cell performance. The higher the operating temperature, the higher power density could be generated—the peak power density of 5.7 mWcm-2 at 75 oC with 2M of ethanol. As for ethanol crossover, the highest ethanol crossover was at 12.4 mol m-3 for 3M concentration of ethanol. It proved that higher ethanol concentration led to higher ethanol crossover.
Measuring the Impact of Food Immunotherapy on Health-Related Quality of Life in Clinical Trials
Authors: Lloyd Melanie , Dunn Galvin Audrey , Tang Mimi L. K.
Published: July 2022

Food allergy is a common, and often lifelong, disorder with considerable negative impact on the quality of life of those affected and their families. While several promising immunotherapies for food allergy have either been approved or are in late-phase clinical trials based on demonstrated effectiveness at inducing desensitization, evidence of benefit in terms of improving patient-centered outcomes is inconsistent. Historically, health-related quality of life has not been prioritized as an endpoint in food immunotherapy trials and, even when included, findings have been undermined by methodological limitations of the measurement instruments used and issues with data interpretation. This review highlights the importance of measuring health-related quality of life as an endpoint in food immunotherapy trials and discusses the strengths and limitations of available evidence in this regard, with a focus on the appropriate use of assessment instruments and interpretation of findings. There remains much to learn regarding the impact of food immunotherapies on patient wellbeing, both during treatment and over the longer term. Our aim is to assist clinicians, researchers, policy makers and consumers in their interpretation of the existing literature, and to promote greater scientific rigor in the design and selection of outcome measurement frameworks for future studies evaluating the efficacy of immunotherapy treatments for food allergy.
Novel Microorganisms Contribute to Biosulfidogenesis in the Deep Layer of an Acidic Pit Lake
Authors: Ayala-Muñoz Diana , Burgos William D. , Sánchez-España Javier , Falagán Carmen , Couradeau Estelle , Macalady Jennifer L.
Published: July 2022

Cueva de la Mora is a permanently stratified acidic pit lake with extremely high concentrations of heavy metals at depth. In order to evaluate the potential for in situ sulfide production, we characterized the microbial community in the deep layer using metagenomics and metatranscriptomics. We retrieved 18 high quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) representing the most abundant populations. None of the MAGs were closely related to either cultured or non-cultured organisms from the Genome Taxonomy or NCBI databases (none with average nucleotide identity >95%). Despite oxygen concentrations that are consistently below detection in the deep layer, some archaeal and bacterial MAGs mapped transcripts of genes for sulfide oxidation coupled with oxygen reduction. Among these microaerophilic sulfide oxidizers, mixotrophic Thermoplasmatales archaea were the most numerous and represented 24% of the total community. Populations associated with the highest predicted in situ activity for sulfate reduction were affiliated with Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Nitrospirae phyla, and together represented about 9% of the total community. These MAGs, in addition to a less abundant Proteobacteria MAG in the genus Desulfomonile, contained transcripts of genes in the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway. All MAGs had significant genetic potential for organic carbon oxidation. Our results indicate that novel acidophiles are contributing to biosulfidogenesis in the deep layer of Cueva de la Mora, and that in situ sulfide production is limited by organic carbon availability and sulfur oxidation.
Multimodal Magnetic Resonance and Photoacoustic Imaging of Tumor-Specific Enzyme-Responsive Hybrid Nanoparticles for Oxygen Modulation
Authors: Sivasubramanian Maharajan , Chu Chia-Hui , Cheng Shih-Hsun , Chen Nai-Tzu , Chen Chin-Tu , Chuang Yao Chen , Yu Hsia , Chen Yu-Lin , Liao Lun-De , Lo Leu-Wei
Published: July 2022

Multimodal imaging contrast agents for cancer that can not only perform diagnostic functions but also serve as tumor microenvironment–responsive biomaterials are encouraging. In this study, we report the design and fabrication of a novel enzyme-responsive T1 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent that can modulate oxygen in the tumor microenvironment via the catalytic conversion of H2O2 to O2. The T1 contrast agent is a core–shell nanoparticle that consists of manganese oxide and hyaluronic acid (HA)–conjugated mesoporous silica nanoparticle (HA-MnO@MSN). The salient features of the nanoparticle developed in this study are as follows: 1) HA serves as a targeting ligand for CD44-expressing cancer cells; 2) HA allows controlled access of water molecules to the MnO core via the digestion of enzyme hyaluronidase; 3) the generation of O2 bubbles in the tumor by consuming H2O2; and 4) the capability to increase the oxygen tension in the tumor. The r1 relaxivity of HA-MnO@MSN was measured to be 1.29 mM−1s−1 at a magnetic field strength of 9.4 T. In vitro results demonstrated the ability of continuous oxygen evolution by HA-MnO@MSN. After intratumoral administration of HA-MnO@MSN to an HCT116 xenograft mouse model, T1 weighted MRI contrast was observed after 5 h postinjection and retained up to 48 h. In addition, in vivo photoacoustic imaging of HA-MnO@MSN demonstrated an increase in the tumor oxygen saturation over time after i. t. administration. Thus, the core–shell nanoparticles developed in this study could be helpful in tumor-targeted T1 MR imaging and oxygen modulation.
Suppression of AGTR1 Induces Cellular Senescence in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Through Inactivating ERK Signaling
Authors: Wang Houhong , Cui Yayun , Gong Huihui , Xu Jianguo , Huang Shuqin , Tang Amao
Published: July 2022

Objective: Cellular senescence is an effective barrier against tumorigenesis. Hence, it is of significance to characterize key features of cellular senescence and the induction of senescence in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells via pharmacological interventions. Our study determined the biological roles as well as mechanisms of angiotensin II type I receptor (AGTR1) on cellular senescence in HCC.

Methods: Lentivirus vector-mediated overexpression or knockdown of AGTR1 was conducted in HCC cells, respectively. A volume of 8 μM sorafenib was used to induce cellular senescence, and ERK was activated by 30 ng/ml ERK agonist EGF. Proliferation was evaluated via clone formation assay. HCC cell senescence was examined by flow cytometry for cell cycle, senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining, and senescence-associated heterochromatin foci (SAHF) analysis. AGTR1, p53, p21, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and p-ERK expression were assessed through Western blot or immunofluorescence.

Results: AGTR1-knockout HCC cells displayed the attenuated proliferative capacity, G2-M phase arrest, increased expression of p53 and p21, and elevated percentages of SA-β-gal- and SAHF-positive cells. In sorafenib-exposed HCC cells, overexpressed AGTR1 enhanced the proliferative capacity and alleviated G2-M phase arrest as well as decreased p53 and p21 expression and the proportions of SA-β-gal- and SAHF-positive cells. Moreover, AGTR1 knockdown attenuated the activity of p-ERK in HCC cells, and ERK agonist ameliorated AGTR1 knockdown-induced cellular senescence.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that suppression of AGTR1 induces cellular senescence in HCC through inactivating ERK signaling. The significant synergistic effect of AGTR1 suppression and sorafenib might represent a potential combination therapy for HCC.
Enzymatic Production of Chondroitin Oligosaccharides and Its Sulfate Derivatives
Authors: Zhang Weijiao , Xu Ruirui , Jin Xuerong , Wang Yang , Hu Litao , Zhang Tianmeng , Du Guocheng , Kang Zhen
Published: July 2022

Chondroitin sulfate (CS) has a wide range of physiological functions and clinical applications. However, the biosynthesis of chondroitin oligosaccharides (o-CHs) and sulfate derivatives with specific length is always challenging. Herein, we report enzymatic strategies for producing homogeneous o-CHs and its sulfate derivatives from microbial sourced chondroitin. Chondroitin disaccharides, tetrasaccharides, hexasaccharides, octasaccharides, and decasaccharides with defined structure were produced by controllably depolymerizing microbial sourced chondroitin with an engineered chondroitinase ABC I. The highest conversion rates of the above corresponding o-CHs were 65.5%, 32.1%, 12.7%, 7.2%, and 16.3%, respectively. A new efficient enzymatic sulfation system that directly initiates from adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) and sulfate was developed and improved the sulfation of chondroitin from 8.3% to 85.8% by optimizing the temperature, sulfate and ATP concentration. o-CHs decasaccharide, octasaccharide, hexasaccharide, tetrasaccharide and disaccharide were modified and the corresponding sulfate derivatives with one sulfate group were prepared. The enzymatic approaches constructed here for preparing o-CHs and its sulfate derivatives pave the way for the study of structure-activity relationship and applications.
Lung Organoids—The Ultimate Tool to Dissect Pulmonary Diseases?
Authors: Bosáková Veronika , De Zuani Marco , Sládková Lucie , Garlíková Zuzana , Jose Shyam Sushama , Zelante Teresa , Hortová Kohoutková Marcela , Frič Jan
Published: July 2022

Organoids are complex multicellular three-dimensional (3D) in vitro models that are designed to allow accurate studies of the molecular processes and pathologies of human organs. Organoids can be derived from a variety of cell types, such as human primary progenitor cells, pluripotent stem cells, or tumor-derived cells and can be co-cultured with immune or microbial cells to further mimic the tissue niche. Here, we focus on the development of 3D lung organoids and their use as disease models and drug screening tools. We introduce the various experimental approaches used to model complex human diseases and analyze their advantages and disadvantages. We also discuss validation of the organoids and their physiological relevance to the study of lung diseases. Furthermore, we summarize the current use of lung organoids as models of host-pathogen interactions and human lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, we discuss the use of lung organoids derived from tumor cells as lung cancer models and their application in personalized cancer medicine research. Finally, we outline the future of research in the field of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived organoids.
Spectroscopic and Electrochemical Exploration of Carbon-Infused Intercalation-Type Spinel Composite for Aqueous Systems
Authors: Willenberg Shane , Carleschi Emanuela , Ross Natasha
Published: July 2022

Lithium-manganese-based compounds are promising intercalation host materials for aqueous battery systems due to their synergy with high ionic conductive aqueous electrolytes, safety, eco-friendliness, and low cost. Yet, due to poor electrical conductivity and trapping of diffused electrolyte cations within its crystal formation, achieving optimum cycle stability and rate capability remains a challenge. This unfortunately limits their use in modern day high-powered devices, which require quality output with high reliability. Here, the authors propose a facile method to produce LiMn2O4 and LiFe0.5Mn0.5PO4 and compare their structural stability and corresponding electrochemical performance by controlling the interfacial layer through multi-walled carbon nanotubes’ (MWCNTs) infusion. High-resolution scanning electron microscopy results revealed that the active particles were connected by MWCNT via the formation of a three-dimensional wiring network, suggesting that stronger interfacial bonding exists within the composite. As a result, the conducting composite decreases the electron transport distance with an increased number of active sites, thus accelerating the lithium ion intercalation/de-intercalation process. Compared to C/LMO with a Rct of 226.3 Ω and change transfer (io) of 2.75 × 10−3, the C/LFMPO-composite has a reduced Rct of 138 Ω and enhanced rate of 1.86 × 10−4 A cm−2. The faster kinetics can be attributed to the unique synergy between the conductive MWCNTs and the contribution of both single-phase and two-phase regions in Li1-x(Fe,Mn)PO4 during Li+ extraction and insertion. The electrochemical features before and after modification correlate well with the interplanar distance of the expanded manganese and manganese phosphate layers shown by their unique surface features, as analyzed by advanced spectroscopy techniques. The results reveal that MWCNTs facilitate faster electron transmission whilst maintaining the stability of the host framework, which makes them favorable as next generation cathode materials.
Coinage Metal Compounds With 4-Methoxy-Diphenylphosphane Benzoate Ligand Inhibit Female Cancer Cell Growth
Authors: Luciani Lorenzo , Galassi Rossana , Wang Junbiao , Marchini Cristina , Cogo Alessia , Di Paolo Maria Luisa , Dalla Via Lisa
Published: July 2022

In the continuous effort to find new metal-based compounds as alternatives to platinum-related anticancer drugs, 11th group metal phosphane compounds have been thoroughly taken into consideration. Tris-arylphosphane metal derivatives have been extensively considered as heteroleptic metal compounds exhibiting remarkable cytotoxic activities. Functional groups in the aryl moieties modulate the activity reinforcing or eliminating it. Previous works have highlighted that the presence of hydrophilic groups in the phosphane ligands, such as COOH or OH, hampers the anticancer activity of gold azolate/PPh3 compounds. To increase the polarity of the triarylphosphane ligand without affecting the activity, we considered the preparation of esters starting from the 4-diphenylphosphane-benzoic acid. The resulting phosphanes are poorer donators than the PPh3, leading to poly-phosphane M(I) compounds, and they exhibit intense emissive properties. A homologous series of L3MX-type compounds (where M = Au and X = Cl, M = Cu and X = BF4, and M = Ag and X = PF6) were obtained with the 4-methoxy-diphenylphosphane benzoate. The homologous metal compounds have been characterized by analytical and spectroscopic methods and, remarkably, their formation was associated with high frequencies of 31P NMR chemical shift variations (5–35 ppm in CDCl3). The new complexes and the ligand were evaluated on sensitive and cisplatin-resistant human tumor cell lines. The ligand is ineffective on cells while the complexes exert a notable antiproliferative effect. The homologous series of the L3MX complexes were able to significantly reduce the cell viability of human triple-negative breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231), representing the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer, and of ovarian carcinoma (A2780). Among these coinage metal compounds, L3AgPF6 results the most interesting, showing the lowest GI50 values in all cell lines. Interestingly, this silver complex is more cytotoxic than cisplatin, taken as reference drug. The investigation of the mechanism of action of L3AgPF6 in A2780 cells highlighted the induction of the apoptotic pathway, the depolarization of the mitochondrial inner membrane, and a significant accumulation in cells.
Preparation, Shelf, and Eating Quality of Ready-to-Eat “Guichang” Kiwifruit: Regulation by Ethylene and 1-MCP
Authors: Yan Han , Wang Rui , Ji Ning , Cao Sen , Ma Chao , Li Jiangkuo , Wang Guoli , Huang Yaxin , Lei Jiqing , Ba Liangjie
Published: July 2022

The acceptance of kiwifruit by consumers is significantly affected by its slow ripening and susceptibility to deterioration. Ready-to-eat “Guichang” kiwifruit and its preparation technology were studied by the regulation of ethylene and 1-MCP. Harvested kiwifruits were treated with 100–2000 μl L−1ethylene for 36 h (20°C) and then treatment with 0–0.5 μl L−1 1-MCP. The results showed that the preservation effect of 0.5 μl L−1 1-MCP is inefficient when the soluble solid content of kiwifruit exceeded 15%. The ethylene-treated fruits reached an “edible window” after 24 h, but a higher concentration of ethylene would not further improve ripening efficiency, while the optimal ethylene concentration was 250 μl L−1. Moreover, after 250 μl L−1 ethylene treatment, 0.5 μl L−1 1-MCP would effectively prolong the “edible window” of fruits by approximately 19 days. The volatile component variety and ester content of 0.5 μl L−1 1-MCP-treated fruits were not different from those of the CK group. Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis indicated that the eating quality of fruits treated with 0.5 μl L−1 1-MCP was similar to that of fruits treated with ethylene. Consequently, ready-to-eat “Guichang” kiwifruit preparation includes ripening with 250 μl L−1 (20°C, 36 h) ethylene without exceeding the 1-MCP threshold and then treated with 0.5 μl L−1 1-MCP (20°C, 24 h). This study highlights the first development of a facile and low-cost preparation technology for ready-to-eat “Guichang” kiwifruit, which could reduce the time for harvested kiwifruit to reach the “edible window” and prolong the “edible window” of edible kiwifruit.
Visible-Light-Promoted Transition-Metal-Free Construction of 3-Perfluoroalkylated Thioflavones
Authors: Ma Chunhua , Meng Hui , He Xing , Jiang Yuqin , Yu Bing
Published: July 2022

A visible-light-promoted transition-metal-free perfluoroalkylation/cyclization reaction was developed with 9-mesityl-10-methylacridinium perchlorate (Acr+-Mes·ClO4−) as the photocatalyst, by which various perfluoroalkyl-substituted heterocycles including thioflavones, oxindoles, and quinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones were prepared at room temperature. Moreover, the potential of this sustainable method is demonstrated by the excellent in vitro anti-lymphoma and cervical carcinoma activity of the novel 3-perfluoroalkylated thioflavone 3m.
Recent Progress in Doped g-C3N4 Photocatalyst for Solar Water Splitting: A Review
Authors: Yang Yilong , Niu Wantong , Dang Liyun , Mao Yanli , Wu Junshu , Xu Kaidong
Published: July 2022

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) photocatalysis for water splitting is harvested as a fascinating way for addressing the global energy crisis. At present, numerous research subjects have been achieved to design and develop g-C3N4 photocatalysis, and the photocatalytic system still suffers from low efficiency that is far from practical applications. Here, there is an inspiring review on the latest progress of the doping strategies to modify g-C3N4 for enhancing the efficiency of photocatalytic water splitting, including non-metal doping, metal doping, and molecular doping. Finally, the review concludes a summary and highlights some perspectives on the challenges and future research of g-C3N4 photocatalysts.
Clinical Application and Influencing Factor Analysis of Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing (mNGS) in ICU Patients With Sepsis
Authors: Sun Limin , Zhang Shuguang , Yang Ziyue , Yang Fei , Wang Zhenhua , Li Hongqiang , Li Yaoguang , Sun Tongwen
Published: July 2022

Objective

To analyze the clinical application and related influencing factors of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in patients with sepsis in intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods

The study included 124 patients with severe sepsis admitted to the ICU in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from June 2020 to September 2021. Two experienced clinicians took blood mNGS and routine blood cultures of patients meeting the sepsis diagnostic criteria within 24 hours after sepsis was considered, and collection the general clinical data.

Results

mNGS positive rate was higher than traditional blood culture (67.74% vs. 19.35%). APACHE II score [odds ratio (OR)=1.096], immune-related diseases (OR=6.544), and hypertension (OR=2.819) were considered as positive independent factors for mNGS or culture-positive. The sequence number of microorganisms and pathogen detection (mNGS) type had no effect on prognosis. Age (OR=1.016), female (OR=5.963), myoglobin (OR=1.005), and positive virus result (OR=8.531) were independent risk factors of sepsis mortality. Adjusting antibiotics according to mNGS results, there was no statistical difference in the prognosis of patients with sepsis.

Conclusion

mNGS has the advantages of rapid and high positive rate in the detection of pathogens in patients with severe sepsis. Patients with high APACHE II score, immune-related diseases, and hypertension are more likely to obtain positive mNGS results. The effect of adjusting antibiotics according to mNGS results on the prognosis of sepsis needs to be further evaluated.
Early Prediction of Cardiogenic Shock Using Machine Learning
Authors: Chang Yale , Antonescu Corneliu , Ravindranath Shreyas , Dong Junzi , Lu Mingyu , Vicario Francesco , Wondrely Lisa , Thompson Pam , Swearingen Dennis , Acharya Deepak
Published: July 2022

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a severe condition with in-hospital mortality of up to 50%. Patients who develop CS may have previous cardiac history, but that may not always be the case, adding to the challenges in optimally identifying and managing these patients. Patients may present to a medical facility with CS or develop CS while in the emergency department (ED), in a general inpatient ward (WARD) or in the critical care unit (CC). While different clinical pathways for management exist once CS is recognized, there are challenges in identifying the patients in a timely manner, in all settings, in a timeframe that will allow proper management. We therefore developed and evaluated retrospectively a machine learning model based on the XGBoost (XGB) algorithm which runs automatically on patient data from the electronic health record (EHR). The algorithm was trained on 8 years of de-identified data (from 2010 to 2017) collected from a large regional healthcare system. The input variables include demographics, vital signs, laboratory values, some orders, and specific pre-existing diagnoses. The model was designed to make predictions 2 h prior to the need of first CS intervention (inotrope, vasopressor, or mechanical circulatory support). The algorithm achieves an overall area under curve (AUC) of 0.87 (0.81 in CC, 0.84 in ED, 0.97 in WARD), which is considered useful for clinical use. The algorithm can be refined based on specific elements defining patient subpopulations, for example presence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or congestive heart failure (CHF), further increasing its precision when a patient has these conditions. The top-contributing risk factors learned by the model are consistent with existing clinical findings. Our conclusion is that a useful machine learning model can be used to predict the development of CS. This manuscript describes the main steps of the development process and our results.
Light intensity physical activity is beneficially associated with brain volume in older adults with high cardiovascular risk
Authors: Makino Keitaro , Lee Sangyoon , Bae Seongryu , Harada Kenji , Chiba Ippei , Katayama Osamu , Tomida Kouki , Morikawa Masanori , Yamashiro Yukari , Sudo Motoki , Takayanagi Naoto , Shimada Hiroyuki
Published: July 2022

Background

Older people with high cardiovascular risk, including those without cardiovascular diseases, are an at-risk population for dementia. Regular physical activity is generally recommended to maintain brain health; however, the optimal intensity of physical activity for maintaining brain volume in older adults with cardiovascular risk remains unclear. We examined the associations between intensity-specific physical activity and brain volume stratified by absolute cardiovascular risk level in older adults without cardiovascular diseases.

Methods and results

This cross-sectional study involved 725 community-dwelling older Japanese adults without cardiovascular diseases. We estimated absolute cardiovascular risk using the World Health Organization risk estimation charts, which include variables such as age, sex, diabetes mellitus, smoking, systolic blood pressure, and total cholesterol, and stratified cardiovascular risk level into three risk categories: low (≤ 9%), moderate (10–14%), and high (≥15%). We measured daily physical activity using a triaxial accelerometer, and calculated the average time spent in moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) and light intensity physical activity (LPA). We performed brain T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and calculated the volume of the cortical gray matter, subcortical gray matter, and cerebral white matter, using the FreeSurfer software. In the overall sample, multivariable linear regression analysis showed that greater MVPA was significantly associated with greater volume of the cortical gray matter and cerebral white matter, and greater LPA was significantly associated with greater volume of the cerebral white matter. Additionally, in the analysis of the sample stratified by absolute cardiovascular risk level, cerebral white matter volume was significantly associated with both MVPA and LPA in the high cardiovascular risk group.

Conclusions

The association between physical activity and brain volume differed according to cardiovascular risk level in community-dwelling older adults. In a population at high cardiovascular risk, maintaining or increasing LPA might be a practical and achievable strategy for healthy brain aging.
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Extracellular Vesicle-Derived miRNAs in an Italian Cohort of Individuals With Obesity: A Key to Explain the Link Between Depression and Atherothrombosis
Authors: Amadio Patrizia , Macchi Chiara , Favero Chiara , Zarà Marta , Solazzo Giulia , Dioni Laura , Sandrini Leonardo , Vigna Luisella , Greco Maria Francesca , Buoli Massimiliano , Sirtori Cesare R. , Pesatori Angela Cecilia , Ieraci Alessandro , Ruscica Massimiliano , Barbieri Silvia Stella , Bollati Valentina
Published: July 2022

Background

Obesity and depression are intertwined diseases often associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) complications. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), altered in the brain both of subjects with depression and obesity, provides a potential link between depression and thrombosis. Since the relationship among peripheral BDNF, depression and obesity is not well-defined, the aim of the present report has been to address this issue taking advantage of the contribution played by extracellular vesicle (EV)-derived miRNAs.

Research Process

Associations among circulating BDNF, depression and EV-derived miRNAs related to atherothrombosis have been evaluated in a large Italian cohort of obese individuals (n = 743), characterized by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) score.

Results

BDI-II was negatively associated with BDNF levels without a significant impact of the rs6265 BDNF polymorphism; this association was modified by raised levels of IFN-γ. BDNF levels were linked to an increase of 80 EV-derived miRNAs and a decrease of 59 miRNAs related to atherosclerosis and thrombosis. Network analysis identified at least 18 genes targeted by these miRNAs, 7 of which involved in depression and CV risk. The observation of a possible link among BDNF, depression, and miRNAs related to atherothrombosis and depression in obesity is novel and may lead to a wider use of BDNF as a CV risk biomarker in this specific subject group.
Association Between Pulse Pressure With All-Cause and Cardiac Mortality in Acute Coronary Syndrome: An Observational Cohort Study
Authors: Wang Man , Su Wen , Jiang Chun-Yan , Li Wei-Ping , Chen Hui , Li Hong-Wei
Published: July 2022

Background

Pulse pressure (PP) is a surrogate of aortic stiffness, and reflects cardiac performance and stroke volume. Previous studies have indicated that PP was a robust predictor of cardiovascular outcomes and mortality. However, results have been mixed, and very few studies have focused on the association of PP with mortality in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Thus, we aimed to investigate the relationship between admission PP and the prognosis of patients with ACS.

Methods

This cohort study included 10,824 patients diagnosed with ACS from the Cardiovascular Center Beijing Friendship Hospital Database Bank (CBDBANK) from January 2013 to October 2018. Patients with cardiogenic shock, malignancy, severe trauma and, no PP at admission were excluded. Restricted cubic spline and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to evaluate the association between PP and 1-year all-cause and cardiac mortality.

Results

In the whole cohort, a total of 237 (2.19%) all-cause deaths were reported at 1-year follow-up. Restricted cubic spline analysis suggested a J-shaped relationship between PP and mortality. Among patients with ACS, both lower and higher PP levels were related to an increased risk of mortality (Pnon–linear < 0.001); with a PP level of 30 or 80 mmHg, as compared with 50 mmHg, the adjusted hazard ratios for 1-year all-cause mortality were 2.02 (95% CI, 1.27–3.22) and 1.62 (95% CI, 1.13–2.33), respectively, after adjustments for potential confounders. Similar results were observed for cardiac deaths. The J-shaped relationship between PP and mortality remained in a series of subgroup analyses.

Conclusion

Our results suggested that both low and high PP were associated with an increased risk of mortality in patients with ACS.
Geochemical Characteristics and Gas Source Contributions of Noble Gases of the Sulige Large Tight Gas Field of Upper Paleozoic in Ordos Basin, China
Authors: Xiaobo Wang , Lianhua Hou , Jian Li , Chunxia Yang , Liyong Fan , Jianfa Chen , Chunlin Zhang , Jianying Guo , Jixian Tian , Yue Zheng , Chunlong Yang
Published: July 2022

Tight gas is the fastest developing unconventional natural gas resource, becoming the principal part for gas reserves and production growth in China. The Sulige gas field is the largest gas field and also the typical low porosity and low permeability tight sandstone gas field discovered in China, with an annual natural gas output exceeding 300 billion and cumulative output exceeding 290 billion, playing an important role in ensuring national energy provision, helping China’s energy transformation, and promoting green, low-carbon, environmental protection and high-quality development. Based on sample collection and laboratory analysis, natural gas compositions including hydrocarbons, non-hydrocarbons, light hydrocarbons, and noble gases of the Sulige gas field are systematically analyzed, their genetic identifications are identified, and finally gas source originations and contribution proportions are comprehensively discussed from the perspectives of noble gases and hydrocarbon gases. The main achievements are as follows: 1) natural gases in the Sulige gas field are mainly alkane gases, with high methane content, high drying coefficient, low heavy hydrocarbon contents, low non-hydrocarbon gas contents of CO2 and N2, and relatively low noble gas contents. The helium content is relative 2 order of magnitude higher than the atmospheric value, while neon, argon, krypton, and xenon are relatively about 1–2 orders of magnitudes lower than the atmospheric values. 2) The carbon and hydrogen isotopes of alkanes are generally positive sequence distributions with some part inversion. The 3He/4He values are mainly distributed in magnitude of 10−8, the 40Ar/36Ar is ranged from 506 to 1940, the 129Xe is relative loss, and the 132Xe is relative surplus. 3) Natural gases in the Sulige gas field are typical coal-formed gases generated from a humic organic mother material with maturity from high mature to over mature according to C7 and C8 light hydrocarbons and alkane carbon isotopes. Noble gases are typical crustal genesis, mainly originating from the radioactive decay of crustal source materials. 4) The gas source correlations of noble gases and alkane gases and their quantitative evaluations on source contributions show that natural gases in the Sulige gas field are originated from Carboniferous-Permian coal measure source rocks in Ordos Basin, mainly contributed by coals and supplemented by mudstones, accounting for 55–60% and 40–45%, respectively.
Review on the Application of Airborne LiDAR in Active Tectonics of China: Dushanzi Reverse Fault in the Northern Tian Shan
Authors: Sun Wen , Wei Zhanyu , Sun Haoyue , He Honglin
Published: July 2022

High-resolution topographic data are fundamental for active tectonics studies. Within the last 2 decades, the airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system provided a solution for the accurate and efficient acquisition of detailed geomorphic features. The use of LiDAR data for the identification of microstructural and geomorphic features, fault zone activity analysis, and earthquake disaster assessment remains challenging and has been the focus of active tectonics studies. Based on the LiDAR data of Dushanzi anticline–a reverse fault zone in Xinjiang, China, our group carried out a significant number of active tectonic research studies. By reviewing the specific content of these works, we summarized the main application of LiDAR for a specific structure, the Dushanzi Reverse Fault in the northern Tianshan. In addition, other applications of LiDAR in active tectonics are summarized in this paper. These studies show that high-resolution LiDAR data facilitate detailed studies of the fault activity and paleoseismicity. We hope more researchers can realize the advantages of LiDAR technology in active tectonics research and apply LiDAR technology into their own practical work, so as to promote the development of active tectonics research.
A Low-Cost Approach for Lake Volume Estimation on the Tibetan Plateau: Coupling the Lake Hypsometric Curve and Bottom Elevation
Authors: Liu Kai , Song Chunqiao , Zhan Pengfei , Luo Shuangxiao , Fan Chenyu
Published: July 2022

The widespread lakes on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) are key components of the water cycle, thus the knowledge of their spatial distribution and volume is crucial for understanding the hydrological processes under ongoing climate change. Many previous studies focus on investigating surface elevation, inundation area variations and water volume changes for these lakes. However, how much water is stored in lakes across the TP remains relatively unexplored. It is because of the incapacity of satellite remote sensing methods in lake depth measurements and the high cost of field bathymetric measurement. This study developed a low-cost approach by integrating remote sensing data and limited underwater surveys. The observed lake areas and surface elevations generated the elevation-area relationship. Underwater surveys were conducted to detect the potentially “maximum” lake depths using three optimized survey routes. With the constraint of lake-bottom elevation, the lake-bottom zone area could be estimated for calculating the lake volume. Experiments on nine TP lakes with different size and geometric characteristics demonstrate that the optimized survey line along the lake short axis is well balanced in efficiency and accuracy, with an overall volume bias of 15% approximately. The proposed hypsometric curve method coupled with the bottom elevation measurement is expected to provide a simplified but efficient solution for estimating the lake water volume on the TP, which could be applicable to ungauged lakes in other harsh environments.
Molecular Tools for Guiding Therapy in Patients With Staphylococcal Bone and Joint Infections: A Diagnostic Test Accuracy Meta-analysis
Authors: Chen Ke , Wang Yanqiu , Yuan Yue , Qin Wen , Sheng Yun-Jian , Ahmed Sarfraz , Sun Changfeng , Deng Cun-Liang , Ojha Suvash Chandra
Published: July 2022

Background

Timely detection of causative pathogens and their antimicrobial resistance are essential for guiding targeted therapies in bone and joint infections (BJI) patients. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the diagnostic value of testing osteoarticular samples with the nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) for effective staphylococcal strain identification and the administration of appropriately targeted antimicrobial agents in BJI patients.

Methods

Five databases, including PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, were searched for related publications from inception to July 24, 2021. Studies comparing the diagnostic accuracy of NAAT to a microbiological culture reference standard of osteoarticular specimens were eligible. Pooled summary values of sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) of NAAT compared to the microbiological culture reference standard were calculated using bivariate random-effects meta-analyses.

Results

From 906 citations, 11 studies were included. Eleven studies comprising 13 datasets (n = 1047) evaluated NAAT accuracy for methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) identification, while seven studies comprising nine datasets (n = 727) evaluated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) identification. Against the microbiological culture reference standard, the pooled summary estimates for detection of both MSSA [sensitivity: 0.89 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.84–0.93), specificity: 0.99 (95% CI 0.97–0.99), PLR: 34.13 (95% CI 20.54–56.73), NLR: 0.19 (95% CI 0.12–0.3), and DOR: 283.37 (95% CI 129.49–620.1)] and MRSA [sensitivity: 0.81 (95% CI 0.67–0.91), specificity: 1.0 (95% CI 0.99–1.0), PLR: 62.1 (95% CI 24.5–157.6), NLR: 0.33 (95% CI 0.16–0.69), and DOR: 300.25 (95% CI 85.01–1060.5)] were comparable. Heterogeneity was moderate. GeneXpert was frequently used among NAA tests, and its diagnostic accuracy was in line with the overall pooled summary estimates. The heterogeneity in diagnostic efficacy (P >0.05) could not be explained by a meta-regression and subgroup analysis of the research design, sample condition, and patient selection technique.

Conclusions

Our study suggested that NAAT can be applied as the preferred prescreening test for the timely diagnosis of staphylococcal strains associated with BJI in osteoarticular samples for successful antimicrobial therapy.
Sulfated Fucogalactan From Laminaria Japonica Ameliorates β-Cell Failure by Attenuating Mitochondrial Dysfunction via SIRT1–PGC1-α Signaling Pathway Activation
Authors: Wu Nan , Jin Weihua , Zhao Yuchen , Wang Hong , He Sunyue , Zhang Wenjing , Zhou Jiaqiang
Published: July 2022

As mitochondrial metabolism is a major determinant of β-cell insulin secretion, mitochondrial dysfunction underlies β-cell failure and type 2 diabetes mellitus progression. An algal polysaccharide of Laminaria japonica, sulfated fucogalactan (SFG) displays various pharmacological effects in a variety of conditions, including metabolic disease. We investigated the protective effects of SFG against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced β-cell failure in MIN6 cells and islets. SFG significantly promoted the H2O2-inhibited proliferation in the cells and ameliorated their senescence, and potentiated β-cell function by regulating β-cell identity and the insulin exocytosis-related genes and proteins in H2O2-induced β-cells. SFG also attenuated mitochondrial dysfunction, including alterations in ATP content, mitochondrial respiratory chain genes and proteins expression, and reactive oxygen species and superoxide dismutase levels. Furthermore, SFG resulted in SIRT1–PGC1-α pathway activation and upregulated the downstream Nrf2 and Tfam. Taken together, the results show that SFG attenuates H2O2-induced β-cell failure by improving mitochondrial function via SIRT1–PGC1-α signaling pathway activation. Therefore, SFG is implicated as a potential agent for treating pancreatic β-cell failure.
Human Immunocompetent Model of Neuroendocrine Liver Metastases Recapitulates Patient-Specific Tumour Microenvironment
Authors: Doornebal Ewald Jan , Harris Nicola , Riva Antonio , Jagatia Ravi , Pizanias Michail , Prachalias Andreas , Menon Krishna , Preziosi Melissa , Zamalloa Ane , Miquel Rosa , Zen Yoh , Orford Michael Robert , Eaton Simon , Heaton Nigel , Ramage John , Palma Elena , Srirajaskanthan Rajaventhan , Chokshi Shilpa
Published: July 2022

Neuroendocrine liver metastases (LM-NEN) develop in a considerable proportion of patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms. There is a paucity of experimental models that accurately recapitulate this complex metastatic human liver microenvironment precluding scientific and clinical advancements. Here, we describe the development of a novel personalised immunocompetent precision cut tumour slice (PCTS) model for LM-NEN using resected human liver tissue. The histological assessment throughout the culture demonstrated that slices maintain viability for at least 7 days and retain the cellular heterogeneity of the original tumour. Essential clinical features, such as patient-specific histoarchitecture, tumour grade, neuroendocrine differentiation and metabolic capacity, are preserved in the slices. The PCTS also replicate the tumor-specific immunological profile as shown by the innate and adaptive immunity markers analysis. Furthermore, the study of soluble immune checkpoint receptors in the culture supernatants proves that these immunomodulators are actively produced by LM-NEN and suggests that this process is epithelium-dependent. This model can be employed to investigate these pathways and provides a powerful platform for mechanistic, immunological and pre-clinical studies.