bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The antimicrobial effect of R-limonene and its nanoemulsion on Enterococcus faecalis - In vitro study
Authors: Seker Ilke Doga , Alacam Tayfun , Akca Gulcin , Yilmaz Aysel , Takka Sevgi
Published: July 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial effects of pure R-limonene and its nanoemulsion formulation on Enterococcus faecalis-infected root canals.Materials and Methods: First, a nanoemulsion formulation of R-limonene was prepared with the phase inversion method. E. faecalis was cultivated and MIC/MBC values were determined using the macrodilution method. Then, standardized suspensions of E. faecalis were used for infecting the root canals of extracted teeth. Finally, pure R-limonene at the determined MIC/MBC dose, a nanoemulsion containing 20% R-limonene, calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2), and sterile saline solution were applied to the infected root canals for 7 days. The root canals were then sampled, droplets were plated onto Mueller-Hinton agar plates, and viable bacteria (CFU/mL) were counted. Kruskal-Wallis test and Dunn's test with Bonferroni correction were used for the statistical analyses. The statistical significance was set to p<0.05.Results: The root canal samplings revealed no statistically significant differences among the test materials (p>0.05); all were significantly lower than the saline control values (p<0.05). None of the tested materials eliminated E. faecalis from the root canals.Conclusions: The antimicrobial effects of R-limonene, its 20% nanoemulsion, and Ca(OH)2 were similar in E. faecalis-infected root canals.Clinical Relevance: Nanoemulsions with their enhanced physicochemical properties have led research toward new prospects of treating and preventing intracanal infection. This study aimed to determine whether R-limonene nanoemulsion or natural form would be effective at eradicating E.faecalis within the root canal system.
Minimally Invasive Surgery for Orchidopexy in Children with Cryptorchidism: Reducing the Need for an Inguinal Incision
Authors: Qiang Guo , Xia Li , WenWen Zhong , Lei Ye , Bing Yao , Bo Ma , Hu Qu , ZhongYang Wang , JianGuang Qiu , Dejuan Wang
Published: July 2022

Purpose: This study was to summarize our experience with minimally invasive surgery in the treatment of boys with cryptorchidism.Methods: A retrospective study of laparoscopic orchidopexy (group A = 29) and laparoscopic ligation of the patent processus vaginalis (PPV) plus trans-scrotal orchidopexy (group B = 78) was conducted between July 2018 and July 2021.Results: Seven patients had to be converted to trans-inguinal surgery in group A. In the remaining 22 patients, successful laparoscopic orchidopexy was performed. The discharge rate on post-operative day 1 was 93.5%, but there was no difference between the two groups (p > 0.05). The operative time of group B in bilateral cryptorchidism was significantly shorter than group A (p < 0.05), but there was no difference in the case of unilateral cryptorchidism (p > 0.05). There was no testicular retraction, testicular atrophy, inguinal hernia, or hydrocele during the follow-up period in both groups. Although the incidence of post-operative fever and poor wound healing in group B was higher than in group A, this was not statistically significant (p > 0.05).Conclusion: Laparoscopic and trans-scrotal surgery are safe and effective methods for patients with cryptorchidism, reducing the need for trans-inguinal surgery.
Coding-Elite Particle Swarm Optimization Searching of Moving Targets by UAVs
Authors: Xie Zixuan , Huang Xueyu , Liu Wenwen , Zhu Donglin
Published: July 2022

This paper proposes an elite coded particle swarm optimization (CEPSO) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) search target motion for target detection in the shortest time. According to Bayesian theory, the problem of moving object searched is transformed into the optimization of cost function, which is used to describe the probability of moving objects being found. In order to better fit the problem, a coded elite particle swarm optimization algorithm is used to encode the search trajectory of the UAV as the movement path of the particle in the process of generation and evolution. This coding method uses the cognitive properties and social learning properties of particle swarms to generate better solutions. At the same time, in order to increase the diversity of particle swarms, a method of elite particle perturbation is used, which greatly improves the detection probability. In order to verify the superiority of the algorithm in this paper, a large number of simulation experiments are carried out on the existing methods. The experimental results show that compared with PSO, the detection probability of the proposed CEPSO is improved by 6.9%, and the time performance is improved by 8.5%. It also compares with other meta heuristic algorithms, including differential evolution (DE), artificial bee colony (ABC), harmony search (HS), biogeographic-based optimization (BBO), invasive weed optimization (IWO), teaching-learningbased Optimization (TLBO). The experimental results show that the algorithm proposed in this paper has better detection accuracy and less detection time.
Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health Service Utilization Concerns; a Qualitative Enquiry
Authors: Agbenu Innes , Kyei Josephine , Naab Florence
Published: July 2022

Background: Evidence globally indicates that female adolescents face numerous sexual and reproductive health (SRH) risks. Utilization of sexual reproductive health services among adolescents is of global health importance and plays a crucial role in adolescent sexual reproductive health outcomes and their quality of life. Aim: The current study explored the predisposing, need, and enabling factors influencing the utilization of sexual reproductive health services among female adolescents in one of the Metropolis in Southern Ghana.Methods: The study utilized a qualitative exploratory descriptive design and purposive sampling was used to select 12 female adolescents. In-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. Each interviews lasted between 45 and 60 minutes. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic content analysis.Results: Three major themes (Predisposing, Need and Enabling factors) that influenced participant’s utilization of sexual reproductive health services were identified. Utilization of sexual reproductive health services among female adolescents is low in the metropolis. Factors such as unprotected non-consensual sexual activity or an unwanted pregnancy sometimes triggered the use of these services. Barriers to utilization were also established.Conclusion: To improve service utilization among female adolescents, there is the need for multi sectoral stakeholder engagements to develop and implement modifications to adolescent sexual reproductive health service design, implementation, and delivery
Neural responses to social decision-making in suicide attempters with mental disorders
Authors: Liu Shuang , Duan Moxin , Sun Yiwei , Wang Lingling , An Li , Ming Dong
Published: July 2022

Background: Decision-making deficits have been reported in suicide attempters and may be a neuropsychological trait of vulnerability to suicidal behavior. However, little is known about how neural activity is altered in decision-making. This study aimed to investigate the neural responses in suicide attempters with mental disorders during social decision-making. Electroencephalography (EEG) were recorded from 52 patients with mental disorders with past suicide attempts (SAs = 26) and without past suicide attempts (NSAs = 26), as well as from 22 age- and sex- matched healthy controls (HCs) during the Ultimatum Game (UG), which is a typical paradigm to investigate the responses to fair and unfair decision-making. Methods: Event-related potential (ERP) and phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) were extracted to quantify the neural activity. Furthermore, Spearman correlation and logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the risk factors of suicidal behavior.Results: ERP analysis demonstrated that SA patients had decreased P2 amplitude and prolonged P2 latency when receiving unfair offers. Moreover, SA patients exhibited greater negative-going feedback-related negativity (FRN) to unfair offers compared to fair ones, whereas such a phenomenon was absent in NSA and HC groups. These results revealed that SA patients had a stronger fairness principle and a disregard toward the cost of punishment in social decision-making. Furthermore, theta-gamma and beta-gamma PAC were involved in decision-making, with compromised neural coordination in the frontal, central, and temporal regions in SA patients, suggesting cognitive dysfunction during social interaction. Statistically significant variables were used in logistic regression analysis. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve in the logistic regression model was 0.91 for SA/HC and 0.84 for SA/NSA. Conclusions: Our findings emphasize that suicide attempts in patients with mental disorders are associated with abnormal decision-making. P2, theta-gamma PAC, and beta-gamma PAC may be neuro-electrophysiological biomarkers associated with decision-making. These results provide neurophysiological signatures of suicidal behavior.
HPV 16 E7 Alters Translesion Synthesis Signaling
Authors: Wendel Sebastian O. , Stoltz Avanelle , Xu Xuan , Snow Jazmine A , Wallace Nicholas
Published: July 2022

A subset of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are the cause of virtually every cervical cancer. These so called “high risk” HPVs two major oncogenes (HPV E6 and E7) that are necessary for transformation. Among "high risk” HPVs, HPV16 causes most cervical cancers and is often used as a representative model for oncogenic HPVs. HPV16 E7 facilitates the vial lifecycle by the binding and destabilizing RB, which ensures the virus has access to cellular replication machinery. RB destabilization increases E2F1-responsive gene expression and causes replication stress. While HPV16 E6 mitigates some of the deleterious effects associated with this replication stress by degrading p53, cells undergo separate adaptations to tolerate the stress. Here, we demonstrate that this includes the activation of the translesion synthesis (TLS) pathway, which prevents replication stress from causing replication fork collapse. We show that significantly elevated TLS gene expression is more common in cervical cancers than 14 out of 15 the other cancer types that we analyzed. In addition to increased TLS protein abundance, HPV16 E7 expressing cells have a reduced ability to induct a critical TLS factor (POLη) in response to replication stress inducing agents. Finally, we show that increased expression of at least one TLS gene is associated with improved survival for women with cervical cancer.
The Incidence of Surgical Intervention in Veterans Treated with Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum
Authors: Zucker Isaac , Nackeeran Sirpi , Masterson Thomas
Published: July 2022

Peyronie’s disease (PD) can be managed with surgery or intralesional injections of Collagenase clostridium histolyticum (CCH) however both are associated with side effects and variable results. It is unclear how many patients elect to undergo additional surgical correction after CCH. To answer this, we analyzed the Department of Veterans Affairs Informatics and Computing Infrastructure (VINCI) software. We performed a retrospective analysis over a 5-year period for patients with PD, at least one injection of CCH and surgical CPT codes. In total, 17,646 patients with PD were analyzed with 1,541 treated with CCH. Only 51 (3.3%) were treated with secondary surgical intervention after CCH. Three main surgical procedures were performed: penile plication (51%), penile prosthesis (29%) and plaque excision and grafting (20%). Of the 51 men who underwent surgical corrections post CCH, the most common reason was lack of response/residual curvature (62.8%), followed by ED (29.4%). Previous literature shows that CCH was effective for only 60.8% of patients, potentially leaving the remaining in need of additional treatment. Despite this we found that only 3.3% received secondary therapy in the VA medical system, with residual curvature being the most common reason.
Analysis of living habit risk factors for esophageal cancer in central China: a bi-center case-control study
Authors: Shen Peijun , Yuan Lingzhi , Zheng Shaopeng , Wu Dongwen , Li Xinmeng , Cai Ting , Yao Yao , Song Yunhe , Wang Fen
Published: July 2022

Background: Esophageal cancer remains a public health problem in many countries, especially developing countries. The early lifestyle preventive measures mentioned in the treatment guidelines for esophageal cancer are very limited. We aimed to To explore the correlation between unhealthy lifestyles and the incidence of esophageal cancer in areas with a high incidence of esophageal cancer in China and to provide evidence for clinical intervention in esophageal cancer prevention.Methods: Symptom and lifestyle/habit questionnaires included 19 items were designed. The questionnaire results were subjected to correlation analysis relative to esophageal cancer symptom onset. A total of 708 subjects (365 esophageal cancer, 343 non-esophageal cancer) enrolled from two hospitals in central China (Linzhou Esophageal Cancer Hospital and The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University) completed symptom and lifestyle/habit questionnaires. Results: The top lifestyle factors related to esophageal cancer were eating too fast, drinking, hot drinks, smoking and overeating. Univariate analysis showed that 15 factors, including male sex, smoking, drinking, eating too fast, overeating, hot drinks, and greasy food, were associated with esophageal cancer (p<0.05). Logistic multivariate regression analysis revealed the following risk factors for esophageal cancer [with odds ratios (ORs)]: drinking (3.445), hot drinks (2.656), overeating (2.068), eating too fast (1.857), strong tea (1.845), hard food (1.705), and smoking (1.690).Conclusion: The unhealthy lifestyles of patients in high-incidence areas of esophageal cancer in central China are significantly associated with the incidence of esophageal cancer. Lifestyle changes that address these factors, especially overeating and eating too fast, which are rarely studied or discussed despite being common, may improve esophageal cancer management and treatment outcomes. The present results may be used as a reference for preventive education and treatment.
Functional Results of Modified Mason-Allen Suture versus Horizontal Mattress Suture in the Arthroscopic Broström-Gould Procedure for Chronic Ankle Instability
Authors: Liu Jinlang , Chen Mingliang , Xu Tao , Tian Zhipeng , Xu Liuhai , Zhou You
Published: July 2022

Background: The arthroscopic Broström-Gould procedure (ABG) gained particular attention among clinicians and researchers due to its high rate of satisfactory results. At present, there is a lack of evidence regarding the differences in clinical outcomes for the difference suture method. The purpose of this study was to compare the differences in clinical effect in patients treated with one-anchor modified Mason-Allen suture or two-anchor horizontal mattress suture for chronic ankle instability (CAI).Methods: This retrospective cohort study examined CAI patients who underwent either one-anchor modified Mason-Allen suture or two-anchor horizontal mattress suture ABG between January 2018 and January 2020. Patients were divided into two groups based on the suture knot type used and associated number of anchors. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS), American Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) Score, Karlsson Ankle Functional Score (KAFS), the rate of return to sports, complications, and measured biomechanical strength using standardized equipment in both groups.Results: A total of 64 CAI patients were included (one-anchor modified Mason-Allen suture group n=30, two-anchor horizontal mattress suture group n=34). There were no postoperative complications in two groups, and no significant differences in the VAS, AOFAS and KAFS in postoperative follow-up between two groups, and no significant differences in the rate of return to sports and postoperative ligament strength between two groups at 1 and 2 years after surgery. The operative time of one-anchor modified Mason-Allen suture group were significantly lower (27.0±4.7 min vs 41.5±5.9 min). Conclusion: ABG using one-anchor modified Mason-Allen suture showed comparable clinical results to two-anchor horizontal mattress suture in the treatment of CAI at intermediate-term follow-up time. But one-anchor modified Mason-Allen suture may be a faster, simpler and cost-effective substitute technology.Level of Evidence: Level Ⅲ, comparative study.
Study on spark resistance calculation of discharge channel during capacitor short- circuit
Authors: WANG Dangshu , YANG Yaqiang , LIU Shulin
Published: July 2022

According to the law of conservation of energy and the characteristic curve of capacitor short-circuit discharge, this paper studies the relationship between the circuit parameters and the spark resistance and spark current of the discharge channel during spark discharge. Considering the influence of field emission and Thomson discharge, a mathematical model of micro-nano gap discharge is established. And the time relationship between spark resistance and discharge current including voltage, capacitance, pole distance, and other parameters is derived. Based on the programmable micro-nano gap discharge experimental platform, experiments under different voltages and different capacitances were carried out. The experimental data were compared with the theoretical curve derived by partial weighted regression fitting, and it was found that the theoretical resistance current curve fits well with the experimental fitting curve. Through analysis, we can get: Under different voltages and capacitances, the spark resistance shows a trend of rapid decline first and then slowly rise; the change of the external voltage has no obvious effect on the discharge time, but the peak discharge current will increase accordingly; the increase in capacitance significantly increases the peak discharge current, and the discharge time also significantly increases. The research shows the correctness and accuracy of the theoretical analysis and the proposed model. Through this research, we can further research the energy changes in the discharge gap, which is of great significance to the research of intrinsically safe circuits.
Prognostic significance of lung metastasis-related finding in lenvatinib treatment for differentiated thyroid cancer
Authors: Yamazaki Haruhiko , Iwasaki Hiroyuki , Masudo Katsuhiko , Toda Soji , Matsui Ai , Rino Yasushi
Published: July 2022

Purpose This study aimed to analyze the clinical course of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) who were treated by lenvatinib and investigate the specific criteria for the initiation of lenvatinib treatment in lung metastasis.MethodsA total of 111 patients with DTC treated by lenvatinib were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups based on the target lesion for the initiation of lenvatinib treatment: lung metastasis group and other metastases group.ResultsIn the univariate analysis, the tumor size for the target lesion (p = 0.002) and target lesion (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with overall survival (OS). Multivariate analysis revealed that the target lesion [hazard ratio, 0.408; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.206–0.810; p = 0.010] was the only independent prognostic factor of OS. Of the 53 patients in the lung metastasis group, 12 (23%) had lung metastasis-related finding such as pleural effusion (n = 12), hemoptysis (n = 2), and dyspnea (n = 1) at the initiation of lenvatinib treatment. The median OS in patients with or without lung metastasis-related findings were 41.0 [95% CI, 10.4–not available (NA)] months and 62.9 (95% CI, 53.0–NA) months, respectively (p = 0.022).ConclusionPatients with lung metastasis-related finding at the initiation of lenvatinib treatment had a poorer prognosis among the lung metastasis group. It is important to consider not only the tumor size but also the presence of lung metastasis-related findings when initiating lenvatinib treatment for DTC patients with lung metastasis.
Proximal bronchiolar adenoma with malignant transformation to invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma with 4 years follow-up: A case report
Authors: yin ke , Xu XiaoYing , Ma Guoyuan , Zhang Junlei , Liu Jixuan , Ma Dongxu , Chen Xueyang , Feng Xinzhi , Lin Xiaoyan
Published: July 2022

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Plant molybdenum uptake as mediated by synergism with phosphorus but antagonism with sulfur in a fertilized and mown meadow
Authors: Li Yanyan , Wang Ruzhen , Wang Bin , Zhang Ying , Gu Baitao , Wang Zhirui , Liu Heyong , Yang Lijuan , Jiang Yong
Published: July 2022

Purpose Whether molybdenum (Mo) addition promotes Mo uptake by plants in nitrogen-fertilized ecosystems may depend on nutrient interactions. But this has rarely been paid attention to in continuously mown and nutrient-losing grassland ecosystems. Methods We investigated Mo uptake by three dominant species and how it varied with plant phosphorus and sulfur concentrations after 6-year combined nitrogen and Mo addition and mowing management in a cold meadow. Results Molybdenum addition increased Mo concentrations in the three plant species across all treatments due to increased soil available Mo. Without Mo addition, nitrogen addition significantly reduced Mo concentrations of Leymus chinensis irrespectively of mowing and of Stipa baicalensis with mowing. With Mo addition, the negative nitrogen-addition effect on plant Mo absorption was boosted for all plant species. This could be due to the fact that increases in plant sulfur absorption possibly induced antagonistic effects on plant Mo uptake. Additionally, reductions in plant phosphorus concentration weakened the synergistic uptake of Mo by plants with nitrogen addition, except for Carex duriuscula. Mowing only reduced Mo concentration of S. baicalensis without nitrogen addition under Mo addition. Conclusions Our results indicated that plant Mo deficiency could occur in nitrogen-fertilized ecosystems via nutrient interplay, facilitating it a necessity to supplement Mo.
Difference of the pathogenicity and humoral immune status in Chinese virulent genotype GIIa and GIIb porcine epidemic diarrhea virus strain infected conventional one-and two-month-old weaned pigs.
Authors: zhang liping , Yu Ruiming , Zhang Zhongwang , Zhou Peng , Lv Jianliang , Wang Yonglu , Pan Li , Liu Xinsheng
Published: July 2022

Although the pathogenicity of GII-genotype PEDV strains infected pigs have been extensively studied, little is known about the differences in pathogenicity and humoral immune status between the GIIa and GIIb subgenotypes. Hence, in the present study, we compared the differences of pathogenicity and humoral immunity status in one-and two-month-old weaned pigs elicited by Chinese virulent genotype GIIa (CH/HBXT/2018) and GIIb (CH/HNPJ/2017) PEDV strains. The results showed that all pigs in one-and two-month-old infected with GIIa strain developed severe diarrhea (100%), while the morbidity of GIIb strain in one-and two-month-old pigs were 80% (4/5) and 20% (2/5), respectively. GIIa strain produced higher levels of PEDV specific IgG, IgA and VN antibodies compared GIIb strain in the study. Taken together, the data presented indicate that GIIa strain was more pathogenic and produced higher levels of PEDV specific antibodies.
Examination of Plasmodium parasites in bone marrow puncture fluid for the diagnosis of imported-malaria in patients from the Yunnan Province, China
Authors: Huang Ying , author) Yan Wu(Co-first , Dong Ying , He Hua , Liang Guiliang , Xu Jun , Luo Yun , Li Yang , Zhang Yanling , author) Hongli Huang(Co-corresponding
Published: July 2022

BackgroundChina has been certified as a malaria-free country by World Health Organization (WHO) in June 2021, the pressure of continuously preventing the dissemination from imported-malaria urgently calls for timely monitoring and effective management the malaria cases. To compensate for the risk of missed diagnosis of malaria using peripheral blood examination alone, medical institutions in Yunnan Province launched bone marrow puncture examination to confirm Plasmodium infection more accurately.MethodsPatients with a recent history of travelling to malaria-endemic areas outside of China, who were excluded from microbial infections such as tuberculosis and exhibited persistent abnormalities, including hepatosplenomegaly and decreased platelet pressure and the negative for Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) antigen in the peripheral blood, were enrolled in the study. The cases ware conducted the bone marrow aspirate from anterior superior iliac spine to screen for Plasmodium infection in bone marrow fluid. Then the pLDH genes of the Plasmodium isolates from cases ware amplified by nested PCR. The amplification products were sequenced, and the B-cell epitopes and the oligomeric spatial structures of the pLDH peptide chains were analyzed.ResultsFive patients found Plasmodium infection in bone marrow fluid were included in the study, which included four patients with Plasmodium negative and one patient with Plasmodium falciparum positive in peripheral blood. Two pLDH negative cases in peripheral blood were confirmed as Plasmodium vivax infection, with the proportion of ring stage, large trophozoites, schizonts, and stage III-V gametocytes reaching 28.3%, 38.3%, 4.8%, 11.5%, 16.5% and 0.8%, respectively. The erythrocyte count and hemoglobin concentration of the five cases post-treatment merely increased to the lower end of the normal range. Platelet count returned to the normal range, increasing by 466%, 378%, 252%, 168% and 35%, respectively. There were four to five B-cell antigenic determinants along pLDH peptide chains of the infected strains in the five cases. Of them, the four sequences of 63th~70th aa, 86th~96th aa, 198th~207th aa, 287th~295th were commonly found on pLDH peptide chains from Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium malariea strains. Of note, the sequence of “211-EEVEGIFDR-220" was only detected in Plasmodium vivax strain, whereas the sequence of “207-LISDAE-213” was unique for Plasmodium falciparum strain. The spatial location of both two sequences was proximal to the “fusion region" of antigenic epitopes on the surface of pLDH tetramer.ConclusionExamination of the Plasmodium in bone marrow puncture fluid could make up for the missed diagnosis of malaria that solely relies on peripheral blood.
Investigating the effect of various dietary protein to energy ratios on juvenile spiny lobsters, Panulirus ornatus (Fabricius, 1798)
Authors: Saputra Ishaaq , Fotedar Ravi
Published: July 2022

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
One-dimensional nanostructured vanadium oxides with single-crystalline structure synthesized by cellulose nanocrystal-template-assisted hydrothermal method for Li-ion battery cathodes
Authors: Youn Chulmin , Ko Wonsuk , Jo Ayoung , Lee Joonbong , Yeo Sang Young , Seo Yongho , lee Jonghun , Lee Byoung-Sun , Kim Jongsoon , Choi Taekjib
Published: July 2022

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have emerged as a promising templating material due to unique features, such as high surface area, surface hydroxyl groups and rod-like shape, which allow for sustainable nanoscale control of advanced functional materials. Especially, such high surface functionality and specific morphology can be imparted on the resultant nanomaterials with beneficial properties during templating. Here, we present synthesis of one-dimensional (1D) nanostructured vanadium oxides (NVOs), such as VO2(B) and V2O5‧nH2O nanobelts (NBs), with single- crystalline by hydrothermal treatment using CNCs as a sacrificial template. Importantly, the single-crystal vanadium oxide nanobelts exhibits the enhanced electrochemical performance of Li ion batteries with high specific capacity (>300 mAh/g) and long lifespan (>244 mAh/g at 50 cycles) compared to the polycrystalline nanoflakes (NFs) counterpart. Furthermore, we suggest that during hydrothermal treatment the sacrificial CNCs template-derived carbon is beneficial for electron transfer in cathode materials. Thus, we demonstrate that the utilization of CNCs templating to develop novel single-crystalline oxide cathode nanomaterials can provide a fruitful pathway for extraordinary electrochemical performance of next-generation alkaline batteries.
MEX3A induces the development of thyroid cancer via targeting CREB1 Running title: MEX3A promotes thyroid cancer development
Authors: Feng Guoxun , Wang Penghui , Zhang Hongyi , Cheng Shi , Xing Ying , Wang Yuan
Published: July 2022

Thyroid cancer is a frequent endocrine cancer, and its incidence continues to rise globally. MEX3A has been revealed to be strongly expressed in many human malignant tumors including thyroid cancer and is related to patients’ prognosis. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the tumorigenic capacities of MEX3A in thyroid cancer have not been elucidated. In this study, we verified that MEX3A is overexpressed in thyroid cancer tissues and cell lines. High levels of MEX3A positively link to AJCC stage. Moreover, MEX3A depletion attenuated abilities of proliferation and migration, ameliorated cell apoptosis as well as arrested tumor growth. Mechanistically, we found that the tumor-promoting effects of MEX3A in thyroid cancer was mediated by CREB1. Silencing CREB1 could relieve the promotion of MEX3A elevation on malignant phenotypes of thyroid cancer cells. Together, the results of this study highlight the importance of the MEX3A-CREB1 interaction for thyroid cancer cells to growth and suggest the potential of MEX3A as a therapeutic target for thyroid cancer.
Analysis and reflection on the global Enterovirus A popularity trend
Authors: Qiao Xiaorong , Wang Yan , Li Yuhan , Liu Xiaolan , Wang Lulu , Yang Qingru , Wang Hua , Shen Hongxing
Published: July 2022

Enteroviruses have been in massive, cyclical epidemics worldwide. Enterovirus A(EVA) is the most common enterovirus causing global infections. An in-depth understanding of the international epidemiological characteristics of EVA is critical to determining its clinical significance and total disease burden. Although much research has been conducted on EVA epidemiology, there is still a lack of a comprehensive overview of EVA epidemiological characteristics and trends worldwide. We analyzed the worldwide prevalence of EVA by year, geographic region, and serotype using EVA nucleic acid sequences provided by NCBI virus databases. The results found that 23041 retrieved nucleic acid sequences with precise collection dates and the geographical region as of December 2021, with Asia accounting for 87%, Europe for 11%, and Africa and the Americas for just 2%. EVA showed different epidemic patterns as time went by, with EV-A71 dominating the overall global epidemic from 2008 to 2012; after 2013, CVA6 replaced EV-A71 as the leading prevalent serotype, but EV-A71 still defeated the EVA isolated in cerebrospinal fluid. In conclusion, it was found that the prevalence of different serotypes of EVA varied considerably in other times and spaces, with EV-A71, CVA6, and CVA16 predominating in Asia, Europe and America. In contrast, the prevalence of EV-A71, CVA4, and CVA16 were higher in Africa. This study will likely provide important clues for prevention, control, and future research in virologic surveillance, disease management, and vaccine development.
Reinforcement Learned Adversarial Agent (ReLAA) for Active Fault Detection and Prediction in Space Habitats
Authors: Overlin Matthew , Iannucci Steven , Wilkins Bradly , McBain Alexander , Provancher Jason
Published: July 2022

With growing interest for human space travel in the 21st century, much attention has been directed to the robust engineering of life sustainment systems in deep space habitats. The stable, reliable operation of such a habitat is partly achieved with an ability to recognize and predict faults. For these two purposes, a reinforcement learning adversarial agent (ReLAA) that is trained with experimental data to actively recognize and predict faults is introduced in this work. ReLAA proposes activating known faults in a system then simulates a digital twin of the mock space habitat to discover vulnerabilities which would lead to faulted operation. The methods developed in this work will allow for the discovery of damaging latent behavior, and the reduction of false positive and negative fault identification.
Left ventricular “longitudinal rotation” and conduction abnormalities – a new outlook on dyssynchrony
Authors: Marai Ibrahim , Haddad Rabea , Andria Nizar , Kinany Wadi , Hazanov Yevgeni , Birati Edo , Carasso Shemy
Published: July 2022

Background
CLBBB results in sequential contraction and ventricular dyssynchrony, reducing systolic and diastolic efficiency. We have noticed a distinct clockwise rotation of the left ventricle (LV) in patients with LBBB (“longitudinal rotation”).
Aim
The aim of this study was to quantify this “longitudinal rotation” of the LV in patients with CLBBB in comparison to patients with normal conduction or RBBB.
Methods
60 consecutive patients with normal QRS, RBBB or LBBB were included. Stored raw data DICOM 2D apical-4 chambers view images cine clips were analyzed using EchoPac plugin version 203 (GE Vingmed Ultrasound AS, Horten, Norway). In EchoPac – Q-Analysis/2D strain application was selected. Instead of apical views algorithms, SAX-MV (shore axis – mitral valve level) algorhithm was selected for analysis. A closed loop endocardial contour was drawn to initiate analysis. The “posterior” segment (representing the mitral valve) was excluded before finalizing analysis. Longitudinal rotation direction, peak angle and time to peak rotation were recorded.
Results
All patients with CLBBB (n = 21) had clockwise longitudinal rotation with mean 4 chamber peak rotation angle of -3.9 ± 2.4°. This rotation is significantly higher than patients with normal QRS (-1.4 ± 3°, p = 0.005) and RBBB (0.1 ± 2.2°, p = 0.00001). Clockwise rotation was found to be correlated to QRS duration in patients with non- RBBB pattern. The angle of rotation was not associated with low ejection fraction or the presence of regional wall abnormality or the strain software used.
Conclusion
significant clockwise longitudinal rotation was found in in CLBBB patients compared to normal QRS or RBBB patients using speckle tracking echocardiography.
Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy Versus Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Anal Canal: Analysis of Acute Toxicity and Prognostic Factors for Survival
Authors: Sauter Christina , Peeken Jan C. , Borm Kai , Diehl Christian , Münch Stefan , Combs Stephanie E. , Dapper Hendrik
Published: July 2022

Purpose We compared our institutional experience with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and 3D-conformal radiotherapy (3D-RT) for definitive treatment of primary anal cancer.MethodsWe performed a single-institution retrospective review of all patients with anal squamous cell carcinoma treated with definitive (chemo)radiotherapy with curative intent from 2004 through 2018. We assessed several prognostic factors in respect to relevant survival endpoints. In addition, acute toxicities were determined and compared between IMRT and 3D-RT patients.ResultsThis study included 94 patients (58 IMRT, 36 3D-RT). Mean follow up for all patients, for IMRT and 3D-RT patients was 61 months (range: 6-176), 46 months (range: 6-118), and 85 months (range: 6-176), respectively.5-year overall survival (OS) was 86%, disease-free survival (DFS) was 72%, and colostomy-free survival (CFS) was 75% in the IMRT cohort. In the 3D-RT cohort, OS was 87%, DFS was 71%, and CFS was 81% (all p>0.05). Male gender and Karnofsky Index (KI) were revealed as independent prognostic factors for 5-year OS (p=0.017; p=0.023). UICC stage was an independent prognostic factor for DFS and CFS (p=0.023; p=0.042). In addition, the pre-treatment leukocyte count was an independent prognostic factor for CFS (p=0.042). Acute grade ≥ 3 toxicity was not significantly different between IMRT and 3D-RT patients, but the IMRT cohort had favorable outcomes.ConclusionThis study confirmed IMRT as the primary definitive treatment of anal cancer. With similar survival rates, IMRT had the potential to reduce acute toxicity by sparing organs at risk. Promising prognostic factors such as BMI, KI, and leucocyte and hemoglobin levels should be further investigated.
Antibacterial activity and chemical profile of the bioactive compounds from Aloe polyphylla Schönland
Authors: Maliehe Tsolanku Sidney , Ngidi Londeka Sibusisiwe , Shandu Jabulani Siyabonga Emmanuel , Pooe Ofentse Jacob , Selepe Tlou Nelson
Published: July 2022

Background
The availability of knowledge regarding the ethnomedicinal value and phytochemistry of Aloe polyphylla Schönland has neither been documented nor fully explored. However, this aloe might possess phytocompounds of some medicinal importance.
Objective
This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity and phytochemical profile of A. polyphylla Schönland gel extract.
Methods
The gel extract from A. polyphylla Schönland was evaluated for its antibacterial activity and chemical composition using the microdilution method and gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS), respectively. The molecular interactions of the identified ligands with penicillin‑binding protein 2x (PDP2) were studied by AutoDock Vina to predict the antibacterial mechanisms.
Results
The extract exhibited antibacterial activity against the selected bacteria with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 0.05 to 0.781 mg/mL. The GC-MS analysis revealed 244 phytoconstituents with 4H-pyran-4-one, 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl (15.66%), 5hydroxymethylfurfural (9.63%), tetradecanoic acid (3.93%), 3-butyl-4-nitro-pent-4-enoic acid, methyl ester (3.51%) and 2',4'-dihydroxy-3'-methylacetophenone (3.26%) as main compounds. The molecular structures of the ligands showed moderate interactions with PBP2, with the docking scores of -5.00, -4.8, -4.3, -5.0 and − 5.1 kcal/mol against 4H-pyran-4-one, 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, 2',4'-dihydroxy-3'-methylacetophenone, 3-butyl-4-nitro-pent-4-enoic acid, methyl ester and tetradecanoic acid, respectively.
Conclusion
The gel extract was revealed to have potential pharmacological applicability.
Theoretical Study of Gold Nanoparticles and Microorganisms in the Blood Flow of a Regular Catheterized Multi-Stenosed Artery
Authors: Muthtamilselvan M. , Hingis Y. M. Gifteena
Published: July 2022

In this paper, the flow of blood in the blood vessels through a regular catheterized artery with multiple stenosis under microorganisms and gold nanoparticles is studied theoretically. The blood is considered as Newtonian fluid by the nature of plasma. The assumptions of mild stenosis are made and similar governing equations for the flow of blood are simplified and solved. The Cauchy-Euler method is used for finding the exact solutions. From the exact solutions, graphs for temperature, velocity, shear stress, resistance impedance, nanoparticle concentration, and microorganism concentration are plotted. The study reveals that the gold nanoparticles increase the flow of blood in the arteries and regulates the flow in axial velocity. Multiple stenosis with the shape parameter, stenosis height and the radius of the catheter shows significant effects for concentration, velocity, temperature and other parameters. Effect of Peclet number and Grashof number for various physical paramaters is also discussed.
Biosorption of heavy metal ions from the aqueous solutions using porous Sargassum Wightii (SW) brown algae: batch adsorption, kinetic and thermodynamic studies
Authors: Yogeshwaran V. , Priya A.K.
Published: July 2022

The removal of heavy metal ions (Cr, Pb and Zn) present in aqueous solutions has been examined utilizing Sargassum Wightii (SW) - brown algae – as an organic adsorbent. The functional groups of SW were determined by FTIR analysis before and after heavy metal ion adsorption. Because of the strong Van der Walls forces, the SEM/EDX picture reveals the presence of heavy metal ions on the surface of the SW. The influence of adsorption was studied in different settings by adjusting the parameters of pH, SW dosage, metal ion concentration, time of contact and temperature. In addition, the thermodynamic and isotherm investigations were carried out in order to determine the adsorption process and its connection. It was found that by adding 0.3 N H2SO4, the maximal desorption rate was achieved.
Factors associated with COVID-19 booster vaccine willingness among migrants from the Eastern Mediterranean living in Australia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Allen Keeley , Lambert Stephen B , Yuen Aidan , Pourmarzi Davoud
Published: July 2022

Background
Migrants have been disproportionally affected by COVID-19 in Australia. Vaccination against COVID-19 is a key pillar of Australia's public health response, but little is known about the willingness to receive booster vaccinations among migrants. This study aimed to assess the factors associated with a willingness to receive a COVID-19 booster vaccine among migrants living in Australia born in the World Health Organization’s Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO).
Methods
A cross-sectional survey was conducted from September to November 2021 (n = 300). Participants were questioned on booster vaccine willingness, sociodemographic characteristics, COVID-19 vaccine information needs and sources, and perceptions of COVID-19 vaccines. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to assess factors associated with booster willingness.
Results
Most respondents (87%) had received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine, of which 81% were willing to receive a booster dose. About half of the participants reported high or very high needs for receiving information about “COVID-19 vaccines’ safety monitoring in Australia”, “COVID-19 vaccines protection against illness”, “Safety of COVID-19 vaccines used in Australia”, and “The Australian COVID-19 vaccination program”. People who were willing to receive a boost dose had significantly higher self-estimated knowledge of COVID-19 vaccines, confidence in COVID-19 vaccines and trust in the Australian government’s vaccine recommendations, and perceived COVID-19 as a greater risk compared to those who were unsure/hesitant. Both groups reported similar perceptions of their personal risks from COVID-19 but diverged on their views of COVID-19 as a broader health problem. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of channels used to find information about COVID-19 vaccines. Factors associated with willingness to receive a COVID-19 booster vaccine in the multivariate logistic regression were age (OR:1.07, 95%CI:1.02–1.12), and no exposure to concerning news about COVID-19 vaccines (OR:3.71, 95%CI:1.51–9.08).
Conclusion
Vaccine acceptance and reported booster willingness was high. The results suggest the news and information seen may impact willingness to receive booster doses, even among those who have already received doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Addressing vaccine concerns and transparent communication about uncertainty should be a priority in the current and in future pandemics.
Identification of new flavonoid compounds in dandelion Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz. and evaluation of their antioxidant activities
Authors: Wang Rong , Li Weihua , Fang Cao , Zheng Xinxin , Liu Chao , Huang Qing
Published: July 2022

Due to the interest in the potential pharmacological application of dandelion, the chemical constituents and activities of Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz were studied. Box-Behnken response surface methodology was employed to optimize the protocol for extraction of flavonoids from dandelion. The molecular structures of different flavonoid compounds were acquired and analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Seven flavonoid compounds were isolated and purified, namely, hesperetin−5'-O-β-rhamnoglucoside (I), quercetin (II), hesperetin−7-glucuronide (III), kaempferol−3-glucoside (IV), baicalein (V), hyperseroside (VI) and rutin (VII), among which the flavonoid compounds II, III, V, VI were extracted for the first time from dandelion, whereas the compound I : hesperetin−5'-O-β-rhamnoglucoside, was identified as a new type of flavonoid that had never reported in the literature. The antioxidant activities of the extracted flavonoids were examined, and the determination of structure-related antioxidant activity could be interpreted based on DFT calculations. As such, we have not only illustrated the rich flavonoid contents in Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz, but also revealed new types of flavonoids in dandelion in terms of structure and antioxidant properties.
Sticky PDMP samplers for sparse and local inference problems
Authors: Bierkens Joris , Grazzi Sebastiano , Meulen Frank van der , Schauer Moritz
Published: July 2022

We construct a new class of efficient Monte Carlo methods based on continuous-time piecewise deterministic Markov processes (PDMPs) suitable for inference in high dimensional sparse models, i.e. models for which there is prior knowledge that many coordinates are likely to be exactly 0. This is achieved with the fairly simple idea of endowing existing PDMP samplers with “sticky” coordinate axes, coordinate planes etc. Upon hitting those subspaces, an event is triggered during which the process sticks to the subspace, this way spending some time in a sub-model. This results in non-reversible jumps between different (sub-)models. While we show that PDMP samplers in general can be made sticky, we mainly focus on the Zig-Zag sampler. Compared to the Gibbs sampler for variable selection, we heuristically derive favourable dependence of the Sticky Zig-Zag sampler on dimension and data size. The computational efficiency of the Sticky Zig-Zag sampler is further established through numerical experiments where both the sample size and the dimension of the parameter space are large.
Temporal intra-individual variation of sex pheromone released by female Chilo suppressalis and its application
Authors: Guo Qianshuang , Liu Zhendong , Chen Xiaolan , Wu Xiangwen , Chen Liling , Du Yongjun
Published: July 2022

Individual variation in sex pheromones occurs in insects, but evidence for temporal intra-individual variation in single individuals is lacking. We used individual adult female Chilo suppressalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) of different ages and analyzed the titer changes in sex pheromone emitted at different times of scotophase. The data showed the temporal dynamics of sex pheromones emitted by individual moths. The results revealed individual variation of sex pheromone release time related to age, diel variation, length of time, titer, and the ratio of pheromone compounds. Two-day-old females released the highest pheromone rates and showed the greatest variability in the ratios of major compounds. The correlation between the percentage of Z11-16:Ald in the mixture and the titer of Z11-16:Ald was significantly positive. After the sex pheromone was secreted from the gland, temperature affected the rate of its release. As the temperature increased, the release rate increased. Sex pheromone release decreased rapidly after mating, but the Z11-16:OH levels in some females were similar before and after mating. Variations in these ratios and titers were reflected in differences in the attractiveness of synthetic blends in field trapping. In addition, the optimal ratio of sex pheromones varies with the total dose of the mixture. This results from this study will be helpful for designing effective formulations of synthetic sex pheromones. These data also increase our understanding of the olfactory recognition, calling, and mating behavior of C. suppressalis.