bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Predictive Occlusal Stability in Amazon Patients and Candidates for “Surgery First” Orthognathic. Occlusal Predictive Model for “Surgery First”
Authors: Cruz Eduardo Luis de Souza , Alves Ana Cristina , Oliveira Douglas Voss , Carneiro José Thiers
Published: October 2022

The aim of this study was to analyze the trend of predictive occlusal stability in 36 Amazonian patients and candidates for orthognathic "Surgery First". The variables gender, age, etiology, existence of orthodontic intervention, number of teeth, surgical movements, number of total contacts, their distribution by segment and intensity were considered. For this, medical records and virtual models made available by the Arch Vertical Collision Map tool of the Dolphin Imaging software were analyzed after the virtual planning was completed. Data were tabulated and processed in Bioestat 5.0 software (Mamirauá Intitute). The sample consisted of individuals with a mean age of 36 years and a mean number of teeth of 28 elements; 81% did not undergo any orthodontic intervention prior to surgery. It was not possible to predict the number and intensity of occlusal contacts according to the type of surgical movement and etiology. Orthodontic intervention in the mandible, even if minimal, has the potential to influence postoperative stability and provide less intense contacts; the number of teeth is not an isolated predictor of stability.
IL-18 and CD14 variants in chronic HBV predisposition: an experimental–bioinformatics study focused on transcription and splicing
Authors: Sarhadi Mohammad , Pahlavani Elham , Razavi Niloufar Hosseini , Ghadyani Fatemeh , Abdollahi Zahra , Sarhadi Somayeh , Majidpour Mahdi
Published: October 2022

Background
Hepatitis B virus (HBV), a vaccine-avoidable infection, is a health concern worldwide, leading to liver disorders such as acute self-constraint and chronic hepatitis, liver failure, hepatic cirrhosis, and even hepatocellular carcinoma if untreated. ‘Immunogeneticprofiling,’ genetic variations of the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines responsible for regulating the immune responses, cause person-to-person differences and impact the clinical manifestation of the disease. The current experimental–bioinformatics research was conducted to examine whether promoteric IL-18–rs187238 C > G and –rs1946518 T > G and intronic CD14–rs2569190 A > G variations are associated with chronic HBV.
Methods
A total of 400 individuals (200 in each case and control group) participated in the study and were genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. The data was also assessed bioinformatics-wise for conservation, genomic transcription and splicing, and protein interactions.
Results
Findings proposed that unlike the IL-18–rs1946518 T > G and CD14–rs2569190 A > G, the IL-18–rs187238 C > G is a protector against chronic HBV (odds ratio [OR] = 0.62, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.46–0.83, and p = 0.002). The TG/CC/AA, TG/CC/AG, TT/CC/AG, and GG/CC/AA combined genotypes significantly increased chronic HBV risk (p < 0.05), while the IL-18 G/T and G/G haplotypes lessened it (p < 0.05). Moreover, in contrast to the IL-18–rs1946518 T > G, IL-18–rs187238 C > G is likely to create novel binding sites for transcription factors, and the CD14–rs2569190 A > G presumably changed the ribonucleic acid splicing pattern.
Conclusions
The IL-18–rs187238 C > G might protect against chronic HBV and is likely to generate novel binding sites for transcription factors.
The Regulatory Functionality of Exosomes in Three Dimensional Culture for articular cavity and osteochondral regeneration
Authors: Yan Zineng , Yin Han , Wu Jiang , Tian Guangzhao , Li Muzhe , Liao Zhiyao , He Songlin , Deng Haoyuan , Ning Chao , Ding Zhengang , Yuan Xun , Sui Xiang , Chen Mingxue , Liu Shuyun , Guo Quanyi
Published: October 2022

Background
Improving the poor microenvironment of the joint cavity has great potential in the treatment of cartilage injury, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-derived exosomes (MSCs-Exos), with their inherent ability to modulate cellular behavior, are becoming a new cell-free therapy for cartilage repair. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether MSCs-Exos cultured on scaffolds of different dimensions could improve the poor joint cavity microenvironment caused by cartilage injury and explore the related mechanisms.
Results
The results of experiments in vitro showed that exosomes derived MSCs which cultured on three-dimension (3D) scaffolds (3D-Exo) has gain efficiency. 3D-Exo enhanced the biological functions of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), including proliferation, migration and chondrogenic differentiation. In addition, 3D-Exo can promote the macrophages toward M2 type and have the effect of protecting chondrocytes. In short-term animal experiments, compared with exosomes derived MSCs which cultured on two-dimension (2D) environment (2D-Exo), 3D-Exo have stronger ability to regulate the microenvironment of the joint cavity. Long-term animal studies have confirmed the therapeutic efficacy of 3D-Exo over 2D-Exo. Based on this, 3D-Exo were applied to the rat knee osteochondral defect model after adsorption in the micro-pores of the scaffold and combined with subsequent articular cavity injections, showing a more powerful cartilage repair ability.
Conclusions
3D-Exo can better accelerate osteochondral defect repairing than 2D-Exo by upregulating the miRNAs related to cartilage repair. This offers a promising novel cell-free therapy for treating osteochondral defect repairing.
Effects of concentration-dependent graphene on maize seedling development and soil nutrients
Authors: Wang‘ Shiya , Liu Ying , Wang Xinyi , Kong Deyong , Wei Na , Guo Wei , Sun Haiyan
Published: October 2022

The long-term use of chemical fertilizers to maintain agricultural production has had various harmful effects on farmland and has greatly impacted agriculture's sustainable expansion. Graphene, a unique and effective nanomaterial, is being used in plant-soil applications to improve plant nutrient uptake, boost fertilizer use, and reduce chemical fertilizer pollution by relieving inadequate soil nutrient conditions and enhancing soil absorption of nutrient components. We investigated the effects of graphene fertilizer on nutrient content, maize growth, and soil physicochemical parameters. In each treatment, graphene concentration gradients (0, 25, 50, 100, and 150 g·kg− 1) were applied in two distinct layers to the soil (single-layer and few-layers). Soil aggregates, soil accessible nutrients, soil enzyme activity, plant nutrients, plant height, stem thickness, dry weight, and fresh weight were all measured throughout maize growth to V3 stage. Compared to the control (0 g·kg− 1), we found that graphene increased the percentage of large agglomerates (0.25-10 mm) in the soil and significantly increased the geometric mean diameter (GMD) and mean weight diameter (MWD) values of > 0.25 mm water-stable agglomerates as the increase of concentration. Soil available nutrient content (AN, AP, and AK) increased, peaking at 150 g·kg− 1. Graphene boosted nutrient absorption by maize plants, and aboveground total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total potassium (TK) contents rose with the increasing application, which raised aboveground fresh weight, dry weight, plant height, and stalk thickness. The findings above confirmed our prediction that adding graphene to the soil may improve maize plant biomass by enhancing soil fertility and improving the soil environment. Given the higher manufacturing cost of single-layer graphene and the greater effect of few-layer graphene on soil and maize plants at the same concentration, single-layer graphene and few-layer graphene at a concentration of 50 g·kg− 1 were the optimal application rates.
6-Shogaol increase FOXO3a/Bim axis to inhibit ovarian cancer through ER stress/NF-κB
Authors: Han Man , Tian Yu , Liu TianQi , Li ShuFan , Liu JinMin , Gong Wei , Liu Yi , jiang hanmei
Published: October 2022

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological tumor. Although surgery and chemotherapy can alleviate the disease, the prognosis for ovarian cancer remains poor. Compounds derived from natural products have been shown to be effective against a variety of diseases, including cancer. 6-Shogaol, active substances isolated from ginger, has been reported to induce apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells, but the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that 6-shogaol had a direct cytotoxic effect on ovarian cancer cells by inducing ER stress to inhibit the expression of NF-κB (P-P65), thereby upregulating FOXO3a/Bim axis to induce apoptosis. These results reveal the relationship of ER Stress, NF-κB (p-p65) and FOXO3a/Bim axis in ovarian cancer cells. Our study provides new insights into the use of 6-Shogaol in the treatment of ovarian cancer.
An analytical framework for 3D microrheology measurements using an optical trap
Authors: Matheson Andrew B. , Mendonca Tania , Smith Matthew , Sutcliffe Ben , Paterson Lynn , Dalgarno Paul A. , Wright Amanda J. , Tassieri Manlio
Published: October 2022

Microrheology with optical tweezers (MOT) is an all-optical technique that allows for viscoelastic properties to be probed at microscopic scales, and is particularly useful for materials that feature complex microstructures, such as biological samples. MOT is increasingly being employed alongside 3D imaging systems and particle tracking methods to allow for the 3D mapping of the viscoelastic properties of materials. The inherently anisotropic nature of the optical trap strength in 3D allows viscoelastic properties to be probed over a wider range of frequencies, as the weaker trap strength in the axial direction will extend the range of low frequency/long time measurements. However, it has been shown that such anisotropy can also result in a significant overestimation of the material viscosity. In this work a new analytical method is demonstrated to overcome this artefact. This is achieved by resampling 3D MOT data over a wide range of solid angles and making some basic assumptions with regards the shape of the optical trap. This approach is applied to simulated data where the anisotropy induced maximum error in viscosity is reduced from ~ 150% to < 5% for a Newtonian fluid. The effectiveness of the method is further confirmed by experimental MOT measurements performed with water and gelatine solutions showing that viscosity can be extracted reliably across a wide frequency range. This work opens a new route to full 3D mapping of the viscoelastic properties of soft materials over a broad frequency range.
Cloud Distributed Secure Data Centre using Erasure codes - related applications
Authors: G Sahaya Stalin Jose. , C Seldev Christopher.
Published: October 2022

Erasure codes were utilized extensively during the past period to execute reliable information stores. They provide attractive trade-oﬀs among performance, storage overhead, and reliability. Encrypted data blocks organize a distributed data store that can withstand the failure of various nodules although that requires only a small proportion of the space that is required for basic replication, although at an improved decrypting and encoding cost. Nowadays, there exist several libraries executing multiple variations of erasure codes, which particularly vary in accordance with the conditions of implementation and complexity. In the current experimental investigation, a new viewpoint was examined at the technology of erasure coding libraries. In this study, a broader set of libraries that run on the contemporary hardware has been examined and their performance was considered once utilized in reasonable settings for cloud-based storage, such as once installed around several nodules in a data center. Therefore, in this study, measurements are measured for the point-to-point expenses of data retrieves across multiple distributed nodules, involving the decrypting and encoding costs, and illuminate the accomplishment one can anticipate from the different libraries when installed in the actual system. Our findings disclose critical variations in the performance of the various libraries, particularly because of the kind of the encoding and the usage of hardware-speciﬁc optimization capabilities.
The Success Rate of Small Renal Mass Core Needle Biopsy and Its Impact on Lowering Benign Resection Rate
Authors: Gao Haijuan , Nowroozizadeh Behdokht , Zepeda Joaquin Ponce , Landman Jaime , Farzaneh Ted , Johnson Cary , Hosseini Hirad , Han Min
Published: October 2022

Background: Small renal mass (SRM) biopsy remains under-utilized due to stigma. Meanwhile, the alarmingly high benign findings in resected kidney masses highlight the need for improved preoperative diagnosis and patient selection.
Methods: The purpose of this study is to review the success rate of SRM biopsy and to evaluate its impact on patient management. A total of 168 percutaneous image-guided core needle biopsies (CNBs) of SRMs were retrieved at a tertiary academic center between 2015 and 2019. Subsequent treatment choices, side effects and outcomes were retrospectively reviewed.
Results: The diagnostic rate of CNB was 86.9%. Benign neoplasms accounted for a significant portion (14.3%) of SRM. Renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) were the most common diagnoses (69.6%) as expected. In biopsy-resection correlation, the positive predictive value of CNB was 100%. Tumor typing and subtyping by CNB were highly accurate, 100% and 98.3% respectively. Nuclear grading for clear cell RCC was accurate in 83.8% cases. The CNB results had significant impact on treatment. Most patients with RCCs underwent either resection (54.1%) or ablation (33.9%), in contrast to observation in benign neoplasms (90.5%). Most importantly, the benign resection rate (3.2%) in this series was much lower than the national average.
Conclusion: CNB provided accurate diagnoses for the majority of SRMs and revealed benign diagnoses in a subset of clinically suspicious lesions. Employment of CNB in suspicious SRM may help avoid overtreatment for benign lesions.
Multiplex polymerase spiral reaction combined with melting curve analysis for simultaneous detection of Salmonella typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Yin Caihong , pang Bo , Huang Yanzhi , Wang Xiaomu , Zhang Mengfan , Zhang Liang , Song Xiuling , Gao Yanli
Published: October 2022

Salmonella typhimurium(S. typhimurium) andStaphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) are common food-borne pathogens that cause food poisoning and acute gastroenteritis in humans. In this study, we developed a method for rapid, sensitive and specific simultaneous determination ofS. typhimuriumandS. aureusbased on multiplex polymerase spiral reaction (m-PSR) and melting curve analysis. Two pairs of primers were designed specifically to target the conservedinvAgene sequence ofS. typhimuriumandnucgene sequence ofS. aureus, and the nucleic acid amplification reaction was achieved using Bst DNA polymerase under isothermal conditions in the same reaction tube. After amplification for 40 min at 61°C, melting curve analysis of the amplification product was carried out. The distinct mean melting temperature allowed simultaneous differentiation of the two target bacteria in the m-PSR assay. The limit of detection ofS. typhimuriumandS. aureusthat could be detected simultaneously was 4.1 × 10−4ng genomic DNA and 20 CFU/mL pure bacterial culture for each reaction. m-PSR had similar detection limits to multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Based on this method, analysis of contaminated food samples showed excellent sensitivity and specificity consistent with those of pure bacterial cultures. In conclusion, our method is rapid, simultaneous and specific, and promises to be a useful tool for the detection of food-borne pathogens in the food industry.
A General Methodology to Measure the Light-to-Heat Conversion Efficiency of Solid Materials
Authors: Zhong Haizheng , Gu Kai
Published: October 2022

Light-to-heat conversion has been intensively investigated due to the potential applications including photothermal therapy and solar energy harvesting. As a fundamental property of materials, accurate measurement of light-to-heat conversion efficiency (LHCE) is of vital importance in developing advanced materials for photothermal applications. Herein, we report a photothermal and electrothermal equivalence (PEE) method to measure the LHCE of solid materials by simulating the laser heating process with electric heating process. The temperature evolution of samples during electric heating process was firstly measure, enabling us to derive the heat dissipation coefficient by performing a linear fitting at thermal equilibrium. The LHCE of sample can be calculated under laser heating with the consideration of heat dissipation coefficient. The random error of PEE method is about 4% with excellent reproducibility. This method is versatile to measure the LHCE of inorganic nanocrystals, carbon-based materials and organic materials, indicating the applicability of a variety of materials.
In Their Own Voices: Living with Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Authors: durgu nihan , ozan erol , gençoğlan gülsüm
Published: October 2022

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
The Biofloc system potential in reducing dietary protein levels for tambaqui
Authors: SANTOS¹ Raphael Brito , IZEL-SILVA Judá , MEDEIROS¹ Paulo Adelino , Sena Michelle Midori , FREITAS¹ Thiago Mendes , ONO Eduardo Akifumi , Claudiano Gustavo , AFFONSO Elizabeth
Published: October 2022

This study aimed to compare tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) aspects when offered different feed protein levels and the water quality of a biofloc (BFT) system vs. a clear water (CW) system. Tambaqui juveniles (9.20 ± 0.23 g) were randomly distributed employing a 2x3 factorial experimental design to evaluate a BFT and CW system and three dietary crude protein (CP) levels (24, 28 and 32% CP) for 60 days. Decreased pH and nitrite (p < 0.05) and increased electrical conductivity, nitrate, turbidity, settleable solids and total suspended solids were observed in the BFT system compared to the CW system (p < 0.05). Tambaqui zootechnical performance in the BFT system indicated better feed conversion, final weight, weight gain, biomass, productivity, specific growth rate and protein efficiency rates and 100% survival for all CP treatments in relation to the CW system. No differences (p > 0.05) were detected in tambaqui nutritional composition and digestive enzymes, except for trypsin, which presented higher activity in fish reared in the BFT system. No statistical differences concerning performance indices were noted for CP levels, regardless of the rearing system, although the results suggest better tambaqui adaptive capacity in the BFT system, through better use of the natural food produced in this system. This estudy indicates that feed containing 24% CP may be offered to tambaqui in both systems, although the BTF system is more efficient for tambaqui farming activities.
GSH-responsive Nanoplatform for Intra/Extracellular Lactate Exhaustion to Enhance Antitumor Immunotherapy
Authors: Tan Yandi , Huang Ju , Zhang Liang , Tang Xinyi , Zhang Chunmei , Xiang Hongwei , Shen Bin , Zheng Jun , Leng Xiaojing , Li Rui
Published: October 2022

Background
Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies have reshaped tumor treatment by activating the antitumor immune response. However, the antitumor effect of ICB is seriously restricted by the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (ITM). A variety of strategies to alleviate the ITM have been investigated. Direct regulation of lactate metabolism in tumor microenvironment holds promise for ITM modulation.
Results
Glutathione (GSH) -responsive hollow mesoporous organosilicon (HMOP) was successfully fabricated, with monocarboxylate transporter 1/4 inhibitor (diclofenac, DC) and lactate oxidase (LOD) were loaded in/onto the HMOP (designed as DC-HMOP-LOD). DC-HMOP-LOD could spontaneously be biodegraded in tumor microenvironment due to disulfide bonds, and then DC/LOD could be released to exhaust intra/extracellular lactate. Consequently, lactate depletion induced an immunocompetent tumor microenvironment by activating immune-promoting cells including dendritic cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and natural killer cells, and inactivating immunosuppressive cells containing tumor-associated macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, ultimately strengthening the antitumor effect of ICB therapy.
Conclusion
DC-HMOP-LOD effectively hindered the transmission of lactate and directly oxidized lactate, collaboratively depleting lactate in the TME. The synergetic depletion reversed the ITM and could improve the antitumor effects of aPD1-based immunotherapy.
OsDPE2 Regulates Rice Panicle Morphogenesis by Modulating the Content of Starch
Authors: Zheng Yi , Fu Bao , Yang Zenan
Published: October 2022

Starch is a carbon sink for most plants, and its biological role changes with response to the environment and during plant development. Disproportionating Enzyme 2 (DPE2) is a 4-α-glycosyltransferase involved in starch degradation in plants at night. LAX1 plays a vital role in axillary meristem initiation of rice. Here, we report that the mutant phenotype of lax1-6, LAX1 mutant, could be rescued by Oryza Disproportionating Enzyme 2 (OsDPE2). OsDPE2 encodes rice DPE2 located in the cytoplasm. Our results show that OsDPE2 affects vegetative plant development of rice by DPE2 activity. Additionally, OsDPE2 regulates vegetative and reproductive plant development of rice by modulating the content of starch of young panicles. Furthermore, haplotype OsDPE2(AQ) with higher DPE2 activity increase the panicle yield of rice. Summery, this study found that OsDPE2 regulates vegetative and reproductive plant development of rice by modulating the content of starch, and the DPE2 activities of OsDPE2 haplotypes were associated with the panicle yield of rice. This study provides guidance and breeding materials for improving panicle yield traits in rice.
Is there any association between urinary phthalate metabolites and type 1 diabetes mellitus?
Authors: Hashemipour Mahin , Amin Mohammad Mehdi , Mozafarian Nafiseh , Hovsepian Silva , Zavareh Mohsen Hani Tabaei , Karimian Pegah , Kelishadi Roya
Published: October 2022

This study aims to investigate the association between some phthalate metabolites and type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in children. This case-control study was conducted in 2019–2020 in Isfahan, Iran. Participants consisted of 150 newly diagnosed cases of T1DM children and an equal number of age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Urinary phthalate metabolites (mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP) and Monobutyl phthalate (MBP)) were measured and compared between the two groups. The association between urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites and T1DM was determined after adjusting for age, sex, parental education, and duration of breastfeeding, and dietary patterns. Overall, 294 children (147 in each group) with a mean age of 8.5(3.7) years completed the study. The mean urinary concentration of phthalate metabolites in diabetic patients were significantly higher than controls [35(0.09–134) vs. 28.9(0.07-95) for MBP, 38.8(0.21-75) vs. 18.9(6.7–46.4) for MBzP, 263(105–603) vs. 90(44.5–237) for MEOHP, 1034(385–1884) vs. 514(188–1447) for MEHHP, P < 0.05 for all metabolites].High levels of urinary MEOHP significantly increased the risk of T1DM; OR (95% CI): 10.1(2.9–34.3).Our study indicated that the urine concentration of phthalate metabolites is significantly higher in T1DM patients and a significant association was found between MEOHP and T1DM.Our findings could be used as a baseline study for identifying the sources of the metabolites and introducing them to health policymakers as well as researchers to plan further studies for better understanding the role of different endocrine disruptor chemicals in the pathogenesis of T1DM.
Benefits of switching to a fixed-dose single-tablet elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide co-formulation from free multi- tablet antiretroviral regimens in people living with HIV: A real-world study
Authors: Nie Jingmin , Cao Qi , Du Xiang , Zeng Qingling , Meng Huiling , Liu Yanbin
Published: October 2022

Background
Fixed-dose single-tablet drug formulations reduce pill burden and improve medication adherence and treatment efficacy in HIV patients taking antiretroviral therapy (ART). This study aimed to describe a single-center experience using co-formulated elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (EVG/COBI/FTC/TAF) for the treatment of HIV-infected patients in Southwest China.
Methods
This prospective study enrolled consecutive HIV-infected patients admitted to the Chongqing Public Health Medical Center from October 2019 to April 2021. The patients who switched from the freely-available standard regimens (available through the Chinese national antiretroviral treatment program) to the EVG/COBI/FTC/TAF tablet were enrolled. Baseline characteristics, HIV viral suppression (< 50 RNA copies/mL), immune status, laboratory indices, and patient-reported outcomes were recorded and analyzed.
Results
During the study period, 246 patients switched to EVG/COBI/FTC/TAF, and the most common regimen used before switching was tenofovir disoproxil fumarate + lamivudine + efavirenz (76.0%). The mean age of enrolled patients was 43.7 ± 13.8 years, and 84.6% of our study population was male. The mean baseline CD4 + T-lymphocyte count was 227.45 ± 177.01 cells/µl. Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) (n = 130, 52.9%), inconvenience (n = 64, 26.0%), and poor therapeutic effect (n = 52, 21.1%) were the reasons for switching therapy. After 24 weeks of EVG/COBI/FTC/TAF treatment, 100 patients underwent drug efficacy evaluation, and the viral suppression rate was observed to be significantly higher than baseline (99% vs. 90%, p = 0.001). Triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein levels were found to be higher than baseline (all p < 0.001). The proportion of patients with hyperglycemia and albuminuria was significantly reduced after switching (p < 0.05). Analysis of responses to the HIV treatment satisfaction questionnaire showed that patient satisfaction increased after switching (p < 0.001) ART drug regimen.
Conclusions
Switching from a multi-tablet regimen to the fixed-dose EVG/COBI/FTC/TAF single-tablet ART regimen was effective and well-tolerated in Chinese HIV-infected patients. Patient satisfaction increased significantly after switching.
Diversity and biogeochemical roles of DNA viruses in Antarctic sea ice
Authors: Liu Gang , Han Meiaoxue , Liang Yantao , McMinn Andrew , Sun Jianhua , Martin Andrew , Kenndy Fraser , Ryan Ken , Gu Chengxiang , Gao Chen , Chen Xuechao , Shao Hongbing , He Jianfeng , Sung Yeong Yik , Mok Wen Jye , Wong Li Lian , Wang Min
Published: October 2022

Background
Polar sea ice is one of the largest ecosystems on Earth, harboring a vast and unexplored microbial diversity, which sustains the polar ecosystems during the long dark winters. Viruses are the most abundant “life forms” in the sea and are considered the main manipulators of microorganisms. However, little is known about the viral assemblages inhabiting Antarctic sea ice and under ice seawater or their biogeochemical roles.
Results
Here we establish an Antarctic sea ice and water DNA virome (ASIWV) dataset by analyzing 11 viral metagenomes derived from sea ice and seawater from below the melting ice in spring. A total of 28,169 viral contigs were identified and classified into 17,284 nonredundant viral Operational Taxonomic Units (vOTUs). Most of vOTUs could not be classified and so are considered probably endemic to Antarctic marine environments. Compared with those from sea water, viruses from within the sea ice preferentially adopted a lysogenic infection strategy, comprising more than 20% of viruses in multiple sea ice samples. The vOTUs in sea ice and sea water were quite similar, but there was still a distinction between their relative abundances. Potential hosts of 222 vOTUs were predicted, mainly linked to the dominant bacterial classes Gammaproteobacteria and Flavobacteriia. Notably, 220 virus-encoded auxiliary metabolic genes from 28 categories were identified, suggesting that viruses mediate microbial metabolism of carbon, sulfur, nitrogen, lipids and cold adaption.
Conclusions
This study is the first to reveal the unique taxonomic characteristics of viruses from polar sea ice and the under ice seawater, provides a baseline for sea ice DNA viral assemblages, highlights an unexplored hotspot of viral diversity and enhances our understanding of the viral contribution to the regulation microbial ecology and biogeochemistry.
A capture methyl-seq protocol with improved efficiency and cost-effectiveness using pre-pooling and enzymatic conversion
Authors: Hasegawa Keita , Nakabayashi Kazuhiko , Ishiwata Keisuke , Kasuga Yoshifumi , Hata Kenichiro , Tanaka Mamoru
Published: October 2022

Objective
The opportunities for sequencing-based methylome analysis of clinical samples are increasing. To reduce its cost and the amount of genomic DNA required for library preparation, we aimed to establish a capture methyl-seq protocol, which adopts pre-pooling of multiple libraries before hybridization capture and TET2/APOBEC-mediated conversion of unmethylated cytosine to thymine.
Results
We compared a publicly available dataset generated by the standard protocol of SureSelect XT Human Methyl-Seq Kit and our dataset obtained by its modified protocol that adopted sample pre-pooling and enzymatic conversion. We confirmed that the quality of DNA methylation data was comparable between the two datasets. As our protocol, EMCap, is more cost-effective and reduces the amount of input genomic DNA, it would serve as a better choice for clinical methylome sequencing.
Biomineralization process of CaCO3 precipitation induced by Bacillus mucilaginosus and its potential in bacteria-based self-healing concrete
Authors: Zhai Haoran , Liu Aizhu , Yang Huiqing , Gao Dong , Liu Chunguang , Yan Wenda
Published: October 2022

Microbial induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) is widely common in nature, which belongs to biomineralization, and has been explored carefully in recent decades. The research studied the main factors including temperature, initial pH value and Ca2+ concentration on bacterial growth and carbonic anhydrase activity by Bacillus mucilaginosus producing extracellular carbonic anhydrase, and revealed the biomineralization process of MICP by Ca2+ concentration and calcification rate in alkali environment. Meanwhile, microbial healing agent containing spores and calcium nitrate was prepared for the early age concrete cracks. The self-healing efficiency was assessed by crack closure rate, water permeability repair rate, healing depth and so on. Moreover, the precipitations generated at the crack mouth of specimens were analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). After 28 d healing time of dry-wet cycles, compared with reference, the crack closure rate with the crack width up to 0.339 mm could reach 95.62%, the water permeability repair rate was 87.54%. In addition, the precipitations generated were most at the crack surface, with the increase of the crack depth, the precipitations gradually decreased. XRD analysis showed that the precipitations at the crack mouth were calcite CaCO3. Meanwhile, the self-healing mechanism of mortar cracks was discussed in detail. What’s more, the CA produced by the bacteria could accelerate the hydration of CO2 in the air, and the mineralization reaction efficiency was also high. In particular, there is no other pollution in the whole mineralization process, and the self-healing system is environmentally friendly, which provides a novel idea and method for the application of microbial self-healing concrete.
Nomogram for predicting fulminant necrotizing enterocolitis： A retrospective case-control study
Authors: Li Weibo , Zhang Chen , Li Wenli , Qin Fanyue , Gao Xiang , Xu Falin
Published: October 2022

Background: Fulminant necrotizing enterocolitis (FNEC) is the most serious subtype of NEC and has a high mortality rate and a high incidence of sequelae. Onset prediction can help in the establishment of a customized treatment strategy. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a predictive nomogram for FNEC.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective observation to study the clinical data of neonates diagnosed with NEC (Bell stage ≥ IIB). Neonates were divided into the FNEC and NEC groups. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to construct the nomogram model. The performance of the nomogram was assessed using area under the curve, calibration analysis, and decision curve analysis.
Results: A total of 206 neonate cases were included, among which 40 (19.4%) fulfilled the definition of FNEC. The identified predictors were assisted ventilation after NEC onset; shock at NEC onset; feeding volumes before NEC onset; neutrophil counts on the day of NEC onset; and neutrophil, lymphocyte, and monocyte counts on day 1 after NEC onset. The nomogram exhibited good discrimination, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.884 (95% CI, 0.825–0.943). The predictive model was well-calibrated. Decision curve analysis confirmed the clinical usefulness of this nomogram.
Conclusion: A nomogram with a potentially effective application was developed to facilitate the individualized prediction of FNEC, with the hope of providing further direction for the early diagnosis of FNEC and timing of intervention.
Medical Informatics Research across 20 Years in China: A Structural Topic Modeling-based Analysis of Master’s Theses
Authors: Huang Wenjing , Shen Lining , Evans Richard , Liu Yi , Rui Tianqi
Published: October 2022

The establishment of the Discipline Development Consortium for Medical Informatics has ushered in a new phase of medical informatics (MI) research in China. Consequently, Chinese government, healthcare providers, and scholars, have increased their attention on the topic with the aim of improving patient care and healthcare delivery. The purpose of this study was to examine the research progress of medical informatics in China over the past 20 years using Master’s theses. Descriptive analysis was completed to identify the temporal distribution, spatial distribution, institutional distribution, specialty distribution, and advisor distribution, of the theses. A structural topic modeling-based analysis was performed to determine topic prevalence, topic correlation, associations between prolific institutions and topics, and topic trend. Our results reveal that the majority of institutions publishing theses on MI include universities with medical departments, medical universities, engineering universities, and research institutes. Most theses advisors focus on the field of medical informatics, while the sub-fields studied include software engineering, computer science, and biomedical engineering. The themes of theses can be divided into seven categories, including: electronic medical records and hospital informatics, Internet + medicine, and health information management and analysis, while new technologies, such as mHealth, Internet+, cloud computing, and big data, are growing in interest. Medical informatics in China should be established as an independent discipline to enhance research focus and to promote cross-institutional, cross-disciplinary, and cross-national collaboration between authors and institutions.
Spectral engineering of integrated photonic filters using mode splitting in silicon nanowire integrated standing-wave resonators
Authors: Moss David J.
Published: October 2022

Mode splitting induced by coherent optical mode interference in coupled resonant cavities is a key phenomenon in photonic resonators that can lead to powerful and versatile filtering functions, in close analogy to electromagnetically-induced-transparency, Autler-Townes splitting, Fano resonances, and dark states. It can not only break the dependence between quality factor, free spectral range, and physical cavity length, but can also lead to group delay response and mode interactions that are useful for enhancing light-material interaction and dispersion engineering in nonlinear optics. In this work, we investigate mode splitting in standing-wave (SW) resonators implemented by cascaded Sagnac loop reflectors (CSLRs) and demonstrate its use for engineering the spectral profile of integrated photonic filters. By changing the reflectivity of the Sagnac loop reflectors (SLRs) and the phase shifts along the connecting waveguides, we tailor mode splitting in the CSLR resonators to achieve a wide range of filter shapes for diverse applications including enhanced light trapping, flat-top filtering, Q factor enhancement, and signal reshaping. We present the theoretical designs and compare the performance of CSLR resonators with three, four, and eight SLRs fabricated in silicon-on-insulator nanowires. We achieve high performance and versatile filter shapes via diverse mode splitting that agree well with theory. The experimental results confirm the effectiveness of our approach towards realizing integrated multi-functional SW filters for flexible spectral engineering.
RESEARCH ON DAMAGE CHARACTERISTICS AND PROTECTIVE STRUCTURE DESIGN OF STEEL PONTOONS UNDER NEAR-FIELD EXPLOSION LOAD
Authors:   School of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China, Li Kai , Zhao Zhichao , Chang Songliang , Bao Jiawei , Yuan Zhijiang , Jiang Xiaogang ,   Department of Navigation, Dalian Naval Academy, Dalian 116001, China
Published: October 2022

The focus of this paper is to investigate the damage characteristics and protective structure design of pontoons as an important barrier for the protection of ports. Two types of protective measures of pontoons are investigated：filling tanks with water and installing springs in tanks. In this paper, the damage characteristics of two types of pontoon side structures under the action of near-field explosion loads are simulated by using LS-DYNA explicit dynamic analysis software and the ALE algorithm. According to the numerical experiment results for filling different volumes of water in the side tanks, the volume of water for the minimum deformation of the shell plate is 100%, and for the first longitudinal bulkhead, it is 30-40%. Moreover, by applying weights to their deformations based on the actual explosion-proof performance requirements of the shell plate and the first longitudinal bulkhead, the pontoon side structure with the best explosion-proof performance can be obtained. The plastic deformation of the pontoon structure equipped with different types of springs is an order of magnitude smaller than that of the ordinary structure and of the pontoon structure filled with a water medium in the positive tanks. The explosive shock wave energy absorbed by the pontoon is effectively reduced by the addition of water or springs to the protective tanks. The minimum energy absorbed by the pontoon structure with water added in the protective tanks is 18.31% of the energy absorbed by the ordinary structure, and the corresponding volume ratio of water added in the protective tanks is 100%. The pontoon structure with springs in the side protection tanks absorbs only 7.2% of the energy absorbed by the ordinary structure. Both new side protection structures have demonstrated excellent explosion-proof performance.
Applying A 'Mentor-Protégé Approach to Broadening Participation of HBCUs in the National Innovation Network
Authors: McEwen Thaddeus , Fields Jessica , Jackson Caesar R. , Keith Jill , Cardaci Cira , Tran Nhi , Blaho John A.
Published: October 2022

Innovation is one of the most important drivers of economic growth, yet only 8% of minorities, 12% of women, and < 0.05% of African Americans are recognized as innovators. However, a comprehensive analysis of nearly all doctoral dissertations from 1977 to 2015 shows that although
individuals from under-represented minority groups demonstrated greater scientific innovation, their contributions are rarely further adopted compared to equally impactful contributions by majority groups. In this instance "rarely further adopted," as noted by Hofstra et al. (1), means that
the "novel contributions by gender and racial minorities are taken up by other scholars at lower rates than novel contributions by gender and racial majorities, and equally impactful contributions of gender and racial minorities are less likely to result in successful scientific careers than
for majority groups." Access to the wealth of potential innovations — going largely unnoticed and underutilized — from under-represented minority groups can be achieved, in part, by engaging science and engineering students, faculty, and staff at Historically Black Colleges and
Universities (HBCUs) in entrepreneurship through the use of the Innovation Corps (I-Corps) curriculum with adaptations to fit the education and research environments at HBCUs. A consortium of three North Carolina universities and the NYC Regional Innovation Network (NYCRIN) I-Corps Node established
a partnership developing a specialized Lean LaunchPad training program for HBCU students, faculty, and staff. Implementation followed a three-step train-the-trainers 'mentor-protégé model, where new instructors 'see one, do one, be one' while learning to deliver the curriculum.
The overarching goals of this initiative are to evaluate the effectiveness of this approach in broadening participation in I-Corps and mainstreaming the innovation capacities of HBCUs. The authors include instructors from the collaborating institutions, who trained and served as the teaching
team for regional and national cohorts. Included are the rationale for creating the program, partnership selection, instructor and team recruitment, best practices for the 'mentor-protégé model, and outcomes for the cohorts. This contribution is a unique opportunity for other
faculty to learn from practitioners about the challenges and successes involved in creating such a new multi-institutional entrepreneurship training paradigm.
Development of the methodological approaches for the attitude control system of the Earth remote sensing satellite in the conditions of the onboard equipment partial failures
Authors: Zheliabov Petro , Lapkhanov Erik
Published: October 2022

The spacecraft controllability of the angular motion is possible only with operability of the attitude and orbit control system (AOCS) of the spacecraft, sensors, actuators and the spacecraft power system. However, there is a rather significant probability of failure of this equipment during the operation of the spacecraft. This is especially observed after half of the spacecraft's lifetime or because of emergency situations. There is a problem which is connected with providing the maximum performance of the AOCS in case of partial failures of their actuators (reaction wheels (RW), magnetorquer rods (MGTR), etc.).

Thus, the purpose of this work is the development and synthesis of special algorithms for spacecraft angular motion control in the emergency situations which are connected with RWs partial failures and restrictions of onboard electricity consumption. The approach of synthesis of this control algorithms is based on using mobile control methods which allow to reserve RWs by MGTRs. There are different variants of control loops depending on MGTRs turning on combinations. There were proposed two types of control switching functions: time-periodic and switching by deviation. Also was proposed a methodology of controller synthesis using these switching functions.

Using this methodology and computer simulation, it was shown the possibility of providing angular nadir orientation and stabilization of the spacecraft with maximum 1−1.5 deg error in case of time-periodic switching functions implementation. Switching by deviation allows to reduce onboard electricity consumption for 25−30 % comparing with using time-periodic switching. However, the accuracy of stabilization significantly lower in case of switching by deviation. Considering these estimates, the corresponding methodological recommendations were formulated for use switching functions depending on emergency
Investigation of the protective capabilities of glass from laser sounding depending on its elemental composition
Authors: Dzianyi Nazarii , Dudykevych Valeriy , Opirskyy Ivan , Rakobovchuk Larysa , Haraniuk Petro
Published: October 2022

One of the most vulnerable issues in the technical protection of information is to obtain data via leakage through the opto-electronic channel.
In this paper, studies of the protective capabilities of glass from laser sounding depending on its elemental composition were carried out using such indicators as the coefficients of reflection and absorption of the laser beam by the window glass.
As a result of the work, an experimental installation based on a continuous solid-state laser was assembled.
The study of the elemental composition of window glass, which is produced by modern industry, X-ray fluorescence method and the study of the coefficients of reflection and absorption of glass samples in the experimental setup showed that the studied window glass chemically belongs to quartz (silicate).
All chemical elements involved in its formation can be divided into 3 groups: glass-forming, transitional, modifiers, which affects the optical properties of the studied glasses, as the elements used have different not only qualitative but also quantitative parameters.
Absorption increases if the number of chemical elements that exhibit amphoteric and non-metallic properties and have (-charge) decreases, and increases if the number of chemical elements in the glass that exhibit the most alkaline, alkaline earth properties and in which the radius of cations (+ions) increases.
Systematization of the elemental and quantitative composition of the studied window glass in accordance with the periods and groups of the periodic table of chemical elements, enabled the relationship between the electronic structure of chemical elements and the protective properties of glass
Ultrasonography (USG) as an adjuvant diagnostic aid in fascial space infections
Authors: Reshi Asif Muzaffer , Bhat Mohd Younis , Shah Ajaz Ahmad
Published: October 2022

The aim: to evaluate the efficiency of USG as an adjuvant diagnostic aid in fascial space infections and help draw a treatment plan as per the diagnosis made by USG examination

Materials and methods: 60 patients having odontogenic superficial fascial space infection of the maxillofacial region were included. All of the patients included in our study were properly examined clinically with proper work up done, ordering different radiographs necessary to ascertain odontogenic cause most patients diagnosed with cellulitis were given medical line of treatment, and those with abscess were subjected to incision and drainage. Informed consent was obtained from all the participants involved in the study.

Results: in this study, total of 60 patients were studied. Out of 60 patients of odontogenic facial space infections, 24 were male and 36 were female. Buccal space was the most common space involved (24;40 %) followed by submandibular space (9;15.0 %) than Canine space (6;10 %). In a total of 60 cases, clinical diagnosis of cellulitis was made in 18 cases (30 %) and that of abscess in 42 patients (70.0 %).

All patients were subjected to the USG examination in which cellulitis was diagnosed in 24 cases (40 %) and abscess in 36 cases (60 %).

Conclusion: USG could be considered to be a valuable adjuvant to clinical examination in patients with fascial space infection and help in delivering better treatment, after intervention 34 cases were found to be abscess while USG found 36 cases hence clearly proving the superiority of USG in diagnosis of abscess than clinical examination.

It has its own advantages like minimal cost, repeated examinations, and readily available in especially in developing countries where people could not easily afford better imaging modalities