bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metabolic status is not related to dietary acid load in polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: OMMA Tülay , ZENGİN Fatmanur Hümeyra , AYDOĞMUŞ Süheyla , ÇULHA Cavit
Published: August 2022

Aim:Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are at high risk for obesity-related disorders, insulin resistance (IR), and metabolic syndrome (MS). Adopting potent approaches to diet enhances cardiometabolic risk profile and reproductive function. Different types of diets have provided conflicting results so far. We aimed to investigate whether dietary acid load (DAL) contributed to the metabolic process in PCOS.

Material and Method: This study included 46 newly diagnosed PCOS patients and 46 healthy individuals with matched age, sex, and BMI. Clinical, anthropometric, and biochemical measurements were obtained. We extracted net endogenous acid production (NEAP) and potential renal acid load (PRAL) scores from 24-hour dietary data recorded on a nutrient database program for three days (BeBiS software program).

Results:We concluded no statistically significant difference between the groups by NEAP (p=0.569) and PRAL (p=0.969).Patients with PCOS had higher fasting insulin levels and HOMA-IR (p
EVALUATION OF CLINICAL FEATURES AND RISK FACTORS AFFECTING BLEEDING IN PATIENTS WITH GASTROINTESTINAL ANGIODYSPLASIA
Authors: YALINBAŞ Berrin , DİZEN Hayrettin , YENİLMEZ İsmail
Published: August 2022

AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical features and risk factors affecting bleeding in patients with angiodysplasia.

MATERIA L AND METHOD: This retrospective study was conducted between January 2016 and December 2019, and included patients who underwent endoscopy/colonoscopy examination for any reason at two institutions (n=2177). Patients with angiodysplasia were divided into two groups according to their bleeding status, and their clinical features and risk factors affecting bleeding were analyzed.

RESULTS: Angiodysplasia was detected in 44 (2.02%) patients who underwent endoscopy and colonoscopy. Bleeding was detected in 25% (n=11) of patients with angiodysplasia. Warfarin use frequency (p=0.016) and heart disease frequency (p=0.008) were higher in patients with angiodysplasia with bleeding. Hemoglobin (p=0.001), hematocrit (p < 0.001), platelet levels (p=0.009) and total iron binding capacity (p=0.036) were found to be significantly lower in patients with bleeding angiodysplasia. It was found that patients using warfarin had a 12.917-fold higher risk of bleeding than nonusers (OR:12.917, 95%CI: 2.014-82.830, p=0.007). Bleeding was not associated with age (p=0.196), gender (p=0.326), number of lesions (p=0.063), gastric lesion (p=0.880), duodenal lesion (p=0.472), colonic lesion (p=0.947), size of lesion (p=0.789), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (p=0.631), hypertension (p=0.163), cirrhosis (p=0.179), coronary artery disease (p=0.448) and heart diseases (p=0.207).

CONCLUSION: The use of warfarin increases the risk of bleeding in patients with gastrointestinal angiodysplasia. Risk factors affecting bleeding in patients with gastrointestinal angiodysplasia need to be evaluated in comprehensive prospective studies.
Geriatrik Kalça Kırıklarında Perioperatif Kan Transfüzyon İhtiyacına Etki Eden Faktörler
Authors: KAVAK Mustafa , GÜNAY Cüneyd
Published: August 2022

Kalça kırıkları geriatrik hastalarda hastaneye yatışların önemli bir nedenidir. Allojenik kan transfüzyonu (AKT) hasta sağlığını etkiler ve ayrıca ekonomik etkileri vardır. Bu nedenle, hasta sonuçlarını iyileştirmek ve kaynak kullanımını optimize etmek için kan yönetimi hakkında daha fazla veriye ihtiyaç vardır. Bu çalışmada birincil amacımız geriatrik kalça kırıkları sonrası AKT ihtiyacını etkileyen prediktif faktörleri belirlemekti.Yöntemler: Kliniğimizde 2011-2021 yılları arasında cerrahi olarak tedavi edilen toplam 596 kalça kırığı hastası analiz edildi. Yaş, cinsiyet, kırık tipi, ASA skoru, cerrahi gecikme süresi, anestezi tipi, ameliyat tipi, antiagregan veya antikoagülan kullanımı, komplikasyonlar ve başvuru anındaki hemoglobin (Hg), hematokrit (Hct), kreatinin ve INR değerleri belirlendi. Risk faktörlerini belirlemek için ikili lojistik regresyon kullanıldı. Uygun kesme noktasını belirlemek için ROC eğrisi kullanıldı. AKT uygulanan hastaların başvuru anında ortalama Hg değeri 10,6±1,2 g/dl iken (p<0,001), ortalama Hct değeri %31,6±3,7 (p<0,001) ve ortalama kreatinin değeri; 1,25±0,88mg/dl (p=0,007). Regresyon analizi sonuçları, preoperatif Hg seviyesinin (p<0,001, OR:0.113, CI:0.068-0.190) ve preoperatif Hct seviyesinin (p=0.016,OR:0.841, CI:0.730-0.968) AKT için prediktif faktörler olduğunu gösterdi. ROC analizi, preoperatif Hg için ≤11,9 g/dl ve preoperatif Hct için ≤35.5'lik bir cut-off değerinin bulunduğunu gösterdi. Kan transfüzyonu ihtiyacını belirleyen ana faktörler başvuru anındaki Hg ve Hct değerleridir. ≤11,9 g/dl'lik bir Hg seviyesi ve ≤35.5'lik bir Hct seviyesi, cut-off değeri olarak güvenle kullanılabilir.
Depicting the Work of Police Foundations on Social Media: A Visual Communication Analysis
Authors: Dolamore Stephanie , Sowa Jessica E. , Edwards Lauren Hamilton
Published: August 2022

Visual imagery is a fundamental element of our communication systems. Unlike spoken or written words that deliver meaning one word at a time, images convey multiple messages instantly with powerful impact. This study explores the content embedded in the social media images used by nonprofit police foundations in the United States through archeological visual analysis. Findings reveal that public service organizations navigate curation choices when selecting images for social media accounts, such as how best to depict the mission of the organization. The prioritization of image curation is imperative, especially with the growth of social media as a space for promoting encounters with, not just information distribution to, citizens. In the public service, the importance of image curation lies in the potential to reinforce the work of organizations, but the risk is miscommunication with consequences for public trust.
The Varieties of Nonprofit Organizations and Local Hazard Mitigation Efforts
Authors: Ji Hyunjung , Yeo Jungwon , No Won
Published: August 2022

This study examines how different types of NPOs influence local governments’ hazard mitigation efforts. Based on Marquis et al. (2013), we categorized NPOs into three types and analyzed a county-level dataset (N=1,626) with fixed-effect Poisson regression. Findings indicate that counties with a greater number of NPOs working for enhancing the overall community’s social welfare are more likely to develop hazard mitigation projects. In contrast, the prevalence of elite-oriented NPOs that focus on selective community constituents is negatively associated with local governments’ hazard mitigation project development. This study provides important implications for the critical roles of NPOs in facilitating hazard mitigation efforts in relationships with local governments.
A Case Report: Multifocal Necrotizing Encephalitis and Myocarditis after BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccination against Covid-19
Authors: Mörz Michael
Published: August 2022

The current report represents a case of a 77-year-old man with Parkinson’s disease who died three weeks after receiving his third COVID-19 vaccination in January 2022. The patient was first vaccinated in May 2021 with the ChAdOx1 nCov- 19 vector vaccine, followed by two more doses with the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine in July and December 2021. The family of the deceased requested an autopsy due to the ambivalent clinical features noted before death. The underlying illness (Parkinson’s disease) was confirmed by autopsy. However, no sign of a florid COVID-19 was discovered. Meanwhile, the immunohistochemical staining of the brain and heart revealed previously undiagnosed conditions. The brain, in distinctive, revealed multifocal necrotizing encephalitis with massive inflammatory lymphocyte infiltrates. In addition, the heart showed signs of serious myocarditis. Finally, immunohistochemical staining revealed that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was evident in the tissues investigated. Based on these immunohistochemical findings, it appears that the inflammatory changes in the patient's brain tissues are most likely the result of immunological processes. Concurrently, the absence of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid-protein was evidenced, indicating that the detected spike-protein is unrelated to a SARS-CoV-2 infection. If such an infection was the cause of the spike protein, the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein would also be detectable. As a consequence, the confirmed presence of the spike protein had to be attributed to the previous vaccination with the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine that the deceased patient had received.
The Role of the Dynorphin/Kappa Opioid Receptor System in the Actions of Alcohol
Authors: Sureshkumar Keerthana , Guo Julian , Tran Michelle , Malhotra Sagunya , Ahmad Syed M , Lutfy Kabirullah
Published: August 2022

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) represents major public and socioeconomic issues. Alcohol exerts its phar-macological effects by altering different neurotransmitter systems, such as g-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate, opioids, etc. Recent evidence suggests that the dynorphin (DYN)/kappa opioid receptor (KOR) system mediates the negative affective states associated with alcohol withdrawal. This system is also in-volved in stress-mediated alcohol intake in alcohol-dependent subjects. The DYN/KOR system probably exerts its action in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) to mediate the negative affective states as-sociated with alcohol withdrawal. This article aims to review the current literature regarding the role of the DYN/KOR system in the actions of alcohol. We first review the literature regarding the effect of alcohol on the level of the peptide and its receptor, and the role of the endogenous DYN/KOR system in alcohol reward and negative affective states associated with alcohol withdrawal is then discussed. We also review the literature regarding the effects of KOR ligands on these processes.
Lost Lessons of the 1918 Influenza: The 1920s Working Hypothesis, the Public Health Paradigm, and the Prevention of Deadly Pandemics
Authors: Aligne C. Andrew
Published: August 2022

In standard historical accounts, the hyperlethal 1918 flu pandemic was inevitable once a novel influenza virus appeared. However, in the years following the pandemic, it was obvious to distinguished flu experts from around the world that social and environmental conditions interacted with infectious agents and could enhance the virulence of flu germs. On the basis of the timing and geographic pattern of the pandemic, they hypothesized that an “essential cause” of the pandemic’s extraordinary lethality was the extreme, prolonged, and industrial-scale overcrowding of US soldiers in World War I, particularly on troopships. This literature synthesis considers research from history, public health, military medicine, veterinary science, molecular genetics, virology, immunology, and epidemiology. Arguments against the hypothesis do not provide disconfirming evidence. Overall, the findings are consistent with an immunologically similar virus varying in virulence in response to war-related conditions. The enhancement-of-virulence hypothesis deserves to be included in the history of the pandemic and the war. These lost lessons of 1918 point to possibilities for blocking the transformation of innocuous infections into deadly disasters and are relevant beyond influenza for diseases like COVID-19. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(10):1454–1464. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.306976 )
Feed1st, No Questions Asked: How a Hospital-Based Food Pantry Program Grew Its Impact During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Frazier Cristianne R.  M. , Pinkerton El A. , Grana Mellissa , Davis Meryl , Asay Spencer , Makelarski Jennifer A. , Lindau Stacy Tessler
Published: August 2022

Feed1st, a no-questions-asked, self-serve food pantry program at a Chicago, Illinois, medical center, increased its impact during the COVID-19 pandemic, adding five new pantries and distributing 124% more food in March 2020 to November 2021 (42 970 pounds or 36 000 meals) than in the same period of 2018 to 2019 (19 220 pounds or 16 000 meals). Of 11 locations, distribution was highest in a phlebotomy waiting area and a cafeteria pantry. The community-engaged model enabled Feed1st to increase food access for patients, caregivers, and workers during the pandemic. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(10):1394–1398. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.306984 )
Trends in COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in Spain, September 2020‒May 2021
Authors: Beca-Martínez María Teresa , Romay-Barja María , Ayala Alba , Falcon-Romero María , Rodríguez-Blázquez Carmen , Benito Agustín , Forjaz Maria João
Published: August 2022

Objectives. To analyze factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in Spain, over time.

Methods. We used data from a national study that included 5 online surveys carried out every 2 months from September 2020 to May 2021. Each round recruited a sample of 1000 participants aged 18 years or older. We performed a multivariable logistic regression with vaccination acceptance as the dependent variable. We evaluated time trends through the interaction terms of each of the explanatory variables and the time.

Results. Vaccination acceptance increased from 43.1% in September 2020 to 84.5% in May 2021. Sex, age, concerns about disease severity, health services overload, and people not wearing a face mask, together with adherence to preventive behavior, health literacy, and confidence in scientists, health care professionals’ information, and adequacy of governmental decisions, were variables associated with vaccination acceptance.

Conclusions. In a changing situation, vaccine acceptance factors and time trends could help in the design of contextualized public health messages. It is important to strengthen the population’s trust in institutions, health care professionals, and scientists to increase vaccination rates, as well as to ensure easy access to accurate information for those who are more reluctant. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(11):1611–1619. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.307039 )
SIGNIFICANCE OF A SMALL REGURGITALITE CONTAINING LISSAMPHIBIAN BONES, FROM THE MORRISON FORMATION (UPPER JURASSIC), WITHIN A DIVERSE PLANT LOCALITY DEPOSIT IN SOUTHEASTERN UTAH, USA
Authors: FOSTER JOHN R. , HUNT ADRIAN P. , KIRKLAND JAMES I.
Published: August 2022

A new specimen from a plant locality in the Morrison Formation of southeastern Utah exhibits characters suggestive of a small bromalite, possibly from a fish or semi-aquatic mammal. The specimen consists of a cluster of small bones, most referable to lissamphibians, including elements of at least one small frog (possibly a tadpole) and possibly the smallest reported salamander specimen from the formation. Chemical and taphonomic characters suggest that the specimen is a regurgitalite, the first from both the Morrison Formation and the Jurassic of North America. The lissamphibian material in the bromalite represents the southernmost likely occurrence of frogs and salamanders in the formation. The possible salamander material may represent a rare juvenile rather than a new taxon, and it is morphologically more similar to Valdotriton and Comonecturoides than it is to Iridotriton. The frog material is similarly unidentifiable to specific taxon.
Using Flipgrid for teaching practice: Pre-service student teachers’ reflections and lessons learnt
Authors:   Sol Plaatje University, Wepener Tiani
Published: August 2022

Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, South African universities have, like other universities worldwide, been faced with the transition from face-to-face classes to online teaching. Teaching practice (TP) coordinators (university lecturers responsible for the work-integrated learning component of teacher training programmes) found themselves having to improvise and innovate to meet this sudden pedagogical change by revisiting conventional TP models and approaches and finding new ways to give student teachers valid and constructive alternatives to face-to-face classes when these were suspended (Carrillo and Flores, 2020; Hojeij and Baroudi, 2021; Sepulveda-Escobar and Morrison, 2020). From the perspective of pre-service student teachers at a South African university, this case study reviews the effectiveness of ‘Flipgrid’, a social-learning video platform, which was successfully integrated into a third-year TP module. One of its greatest strengths proves to be its ability to provide pre-service student teachers with the opportunity to gain confidence in their teaching abilities.
HSPC-SDN: Heuristic Driven Self-Configuring Proactive Controller for QoS-Centric Software Defined Network
Authors: S Sharathkumar , N Sreenath
Published: August 2022

The exponential rise in software computing, low-cost hardware and allied application demands has broadened the horizon for wireless technologies to serve different purposes. Wireless communication systems being central to the modern innovation and industrial growth have given rise to the different communication ecosystems including internet of things, machine to machine communication, wireless local area network, Ad-hoc networks etc. However, coping with non-negotiable service level agreements have forced industries to ensure quality of service (QoS) and quality of experience demands. To meet such demands, software defined network (SDN) has gained widespread attention. The ability to enable higher programmability, flexibility and scalability makes SDN-based system viable; yet, guaranteeing their robustness towards dynamic network, link-failure and adaptive QoS-centric recovery has remained a challenge. In synchronization with this motive, in this paper a robust Heuristic Driven Self-Configuring Proactive Controller is designed for QoS-centric SDN network (HSPC-SDN). Unlike classical data-plane SDN controllers or allied routing solutions, HSPC-SDN performs multi-constraints risk assessment followed by heuristic driven disjoint multiple path selection to support proactive network failure-recovery. HSPC-SDN applies dynamic link-quality information, cumulative congestion degree, probability of successful transmission and link quality change index to perform best forwarding device selection to alleviate any malicious behaviour or malfunction during transmission. Subsequently, it applies genetic algorithm to perform disjoint multiple forwarding cum failure recovery path selection that in conjunction with AND logic function enables self-configuring route recovery to meet fault-tolerant QoS-centric communication. The proposed heuristic model exploits network availability information amalgamated with minimal distance and strictly no-shared component criteria to perform multiple disjoint forwarding-paths cum recovery-path selection. Simulation based results revealed that HSPC-SDN, which can be implemented as a standalone single data-plane controller as well as a middleware routing concept achieves superior average packet delivery rate of 98.03%, packet loss rate of 1.97%, recovery time of 1.66ms and energy consumption of 77.14mJ over other disjoint forwarding path based SDN controllers.
Prescribed Performance Synchronization of Neural Networks with Impulsive Effects
Authors: Wang Zhining , Fan Aili , Lei Youming , Wang Yating , Du Lin
Published: August 2022

In this paper, we consider the prescribed performance synchronization problem of a class of neural networks with impulsive effects. The proposed control scheme can guarantee not only the steady-state performance, but also the transient performance of the system under the impulsive effects. According to Lyapunov stability theory, a sufficient condition for Drive -Response networks synchronization is given. Finally, a numerical simulation is given to show the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed control scheme.
Convergence analysis of nonlinear model predictive control based on fractional Hammerstein model
Authors: Chouaibi Dhouha , Wassila Chagra
Published: August 2022

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Management of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms by yoga: an overview
Authors: Laplaud Nina , Perrochon Anaïck , Gallou-Guyot Matthieu , Maarten Moens , Goudman Lisa , David Romain , Rigoard Philippe , Billot Maxime
Published: August 2022

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can occur after facing with trauma. While PTSD management strategies include first-line pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, mind-body therapies, such as yoga, are applied in PTSD population. This overview aimed to summarize the effectiveness of yoga interventions on PTSD symptoms in adults in a systematic review including randomized controlled trials (RCTs).Method: We searched for systematic reviews with or without meta-analysis of RCTs involving adults with PTSD diagnosis or trauma history. The search was conducted until April 2022, through six databases (Cochrane Database, MEDLINE (Pubmed), Scopus, Embase, CINHAL and PEDro). The primary outcome was the evolution of PTSD symptoms throughout the intervention. Secondary outcomes included follow-up, safety, adherence, and cost of the intervention. Two authors independently performed the selection, data extraction and risk of bias assessment with the AMSTAR 2 tool and overlap calculation. This overview is a qualitative summary of the results obtained in the selected studies.Results: Eleven systematic reviews were analyzed, of which 8 included meta-analyses. The overlap between studies was considered as very high (corrected covered area of 21 %). Fifty-nine RCTs involving 4434 participants were included. Yoga had significant small-to-moderate effect-size on PTSD symptoms decrease in 7 and non-significant effects in 1 systematic review with meta-analysis. All systematic reviews without meta-analysis found beneficial effects of yoga on PTSD. Secondary outcomes were not sufficiently assessed to provide clear evidence. Results should be interpreted with caution as 1 systematic review was rated as at moderate risk of bias, 3 as low and 7 as critically low. Conclusions: While yoga therapy seems promising for decreasing PTSD symptoms, future research should standardize yoga therapy duration and consider long-term efficacy to better delineate yoga therapy efficacy in PTSD patients.
Systemic review of age brackets in pediatric emergency medicine literature and the development of a universal age classification for pediatric emergency patients - the Munich Age Classification System (MACS)
Authors: Althammer Alexander , Prückner Stephan Dr.med. , Gehring Christian Dipl.-Geogr , Lieftüchter Victoria Dr.med. , Trentzsch Heiko Dr.med. , Hoffmann Florian PD Dr.med.
Published: August 2022

Currently arbitrary, inconsistent and non-evidence-based age cutoffs are used in the literature to classify pediatric emergencies. None of these classifications have valid medical rationale. This leads to confusion and poor comparability of the different study results. To clarify this problem, this paper presents a systematic review of the commonly used age limits from 115 relevant articles. In the literature search 6226 articles were screened. To be included, the articles had to address the following three topics: “health services research in emergency medicine”, "pediatrics" and "age as a differentiator". Physiologic and anatomic principles with reference to emergency medicine were used to solve the problem to create a medically based age classification for the first time. The Munich Age Classification System (MACS) presented in this paper is thus consistent with previous literature and is based on medical evidence. In the future, MAC should lead to ensure that a uniform classification is used. This will allow a better comparability of study results and enable meta-analyses across studies.
EHTT2022 Grinding characteristics of MoS2-coated brazed CBN grinding wheels in dry grinding of titanium alloy
Authors: Zhao Junshuai , Zhao Biao , DING Wenfeng , Wu Bangfu , Han Ming , Xu Jiuhua , Liu Guoliang
Published: August 2022

As an important green manufacturing process, dry grinding has problems such as high grinding temperature and insufficient cooling capacity. Aiming at the problems of sticking and burns in dry grinding of titanium alloys, grinding performance evaluation of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) solid lubricant coated brazed cubic boron carbide (CBN) grinding wheel (MoS2-coated CBN wheel) in dry grinding titanium alloys was carried out. The lubrication mechanism of MoS2 in the grinding process is analyzed, and the MoS2-coated CBN wheel is prepared. The results show that the MoS2 solid lubricant can form a lubricating film on the ground surface and reduce the friction coefficient and grinding force. Within the experimental parameters, normal grinding force decreased by 42.5%, and tangential grinding force decreased by 28.1%. MoS2 lubricant can effectively improve the heat dissipation effect of titanium alloy grinding arc area. Compared with ordinary CBN grinding wheel, MoS2-coated CBN wheel has lower grinding temperature. When the grinding depth reaches 20 µm, the grinding temperature decreased by 30.5%. The wear of CBN grains of grinding wheel were analyzed by mathematical statistical method. MoS2 lubricating coating can essentially decrease the wear of grains, reduce the adhesion of titanium alloy chip, prolong the service life of grinding wheel, and help to enhance the surface quality of workpiece. This research provides high-quality and efficient technical support for titanium alloy grinding.
Genome-wide identification and characterization of circRNAs in wheat tiller
Authors: Wu Fangkun , Wang Zhiqiang , Zhou Wanlin , Liu Yan , Shi Haoran , Gou Xiangjian , Li Haojie , Lin Yu , Li Caixia , Liu Yaxi
Published: August 2022

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of endogenous non-coding RNAs with covalently closed circular structures, which play an important role in transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation. Tiller is an important agronomic trait that determines plant morphological architecture and affects spike number in wheat. However, no studies on the characteristics and functions of circRNAs involved in the regulation of wheat tiller. Here, we performed a genome-wide identification of circRNAs using ribosomal-depleted RNA-seq from wheat tiller of two pairs near-isogenic lines. A total of 686 circRNAs were identified and distributed on 21 chromosomes of wheat, of which 537 novel circRNAs. Unlike other plants, the majority of these circRNAs (61.8%) were derived from intergenic regions. One circRNA-mediated network associated with tillering was constructed through weighted gene co-expression network analysis, including 323 circRNAs, 117 miRNAs and 968 mRNAs. GO and pathway enrichment analysis of mRNAs suggested that these circRNAs are involved in cell cycle, ncRNA export from nucleus, developmental process, Plant hormone signal transduction, MAPK signaling pathway, RNA degradation. Of these circRNAs, 10 circRNAs are associated with known tillering/branching genes in rice or Arabidopsis thaliana, including OsCesA7, EBR1, DTE1, CRD1, LPA1, PAY1, LRK1, OsNR2, OsCCA1, OsBZR1. In summary, we present the first study of the identification and characterization of circRNAs in wheat tiller, and the results suggest these circRNAs associated with tillering could play an important role in wheat tiller formation and development.
The Usefulness of Heart Rate Variability Spectrum Analysis in Detecting Covert Atrial Fibrillation among Patients with Cryptogenic Stroke
Authors: Komine Yukari , Shimizu Takahiro , Akiyama Hisanao , Hagiwara Yuta , Fukano Takayuki , Kuwata Chihiro , Hasegawa Yasuhiro , Yamano Yoshihisa
Published: August 2022

We examined the usefulness of heart rate variability spectrum analysis as a predictor of covert paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), an essential risk factor for cryptogenic stroke. Between July 2021 and January 2022, 77 patients (mean age, 76.3 ± 10.9 years) hospitalized with cryptogenic stroke within 3 days of symptom onset were monitored by performing an electrocardiogram (ECG) using telemetry ECG transmitter Duranta®. Autonomic nervous activity up to maximum 30 days after mounting Duranta® was analyzed with and without PAF. PAF was detected in 20 episodes among 8 patients within 1 month. During 24 h post-mounting, 8 patients with PAF had significantly higher levels of low-frequency components (LF), high-frequency components (HF), and HF normalization units and significantly lower levels of LF/HF ratio than those without PAF. Conversely, LF and HF were significantly lower < 1 h before the onset of PAF, especially 15 min before onset. In patients with PAF, parasympathetic activity is predominant in the acute phase of brain infarction; however, parasympathetic activity is reduced just before the PAF occurrence. These findings suggest that autonomic changes may trigger PAF occurrence.
Understanding Deep Learning using Topological Dynamical Systems, Index Theory, and Homology
Authors: Basener Bill
Published: August 2022

In this paper we investigate Deep Learning Models using topological dynamical systems, index theory, and computational homology. These mathematical machinery was invented initially by Henri Poincar\'e around 1900 and developed over time to understand shapes and dynamical systems whose structure and behavior is too complicated to solve for analytically but can be understood via global relationships. In particular, we show how individual neurons in a neural network can correspond to simplexes in a simplicial complex manifold approximation to the decision surface learned by the NN, and how these simplexes can be used to compute topological invariants from algebraic topology for the decision manifold with an explicit computation of homology groups by hand in a simple case. We also show how the gradient of the probability density function learned by the NN creates a dynamical system, which can be analyzed by a myriad of topological tools such as Conley Index Theory, Morse Theory, and Stable Manifolds. We solve analytically for associated the differential equation for a trained NN with a single hidden layer of 256 Neurons applied to the MINST digit dataset, and approximately numerically that it a sink and basin of attraction for each of the 10 classes, but the sinks and strong attracting manifolds lie in regions not corresponding to images of actual digits. Index theory implies the existence of saddles. Level sets of the probability functions are 783-dimensional manifolds which can only change topology at critical points of the dynamical system, and these changes in topology can be investigated with Morse Theory.
Auranofin induces paraptosis by dual inhibition of thioredoxin reductase and proteasome in breast cancer cells
Authors: Seo Min Ji , Lee Dong Min , Jin Hyo Joon , Choi Kyeong Sook
Published: August 2022

Auranofin (AF), a gold (I)-containing phosphine compound, is being investigated for oncological application as a repurposed drug. We show here that AF induces paraptosis, a non-apoptotic cell death mode characterized by the dilation of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria, in breast cancer cells. Although the covalent inhibition of thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), an enzyme that critically controls intracellular redox homeostasis, is considered the primary mechanism of AF’s anticancer activity, knockdown of TrxR1 did not induce paraptosis. Instead, TrxR1 knockdown plus the proteasome inhibitor (PI), bortezomib (Bz), or low doses of AF plus Bz induced paraptosis, mimicking the effect of high-dose AF. These results suggest that the paraptosis induced by high-dose AF requires the inhibition of both TrxR1 and proteasome. We found that TrxR1 knockdown/Bz or subtoxic doses of AF and Bz induced paraptosis selectively in breast cancer cells, sparing non-transformed MCF10A cells, whereas high-dose AF killed both cancer and MCF10A cells. GSH depletion was found to be critically involved in the paraptosis induced by dual TrxR1/proteasome inhibition, independent of ROS generation. In this process, the ATF4/CHAC1 (glutathione-specific gamma-glutamylcyclotransferase 1) axis plays a crucial role in GSH degradation, contributing to proteotoxic stress possibly due to accumulation of the misfolded thiol-containing proteins. These results suggest that the paraptosis-inducing strategy of AF plus a PI may provide an effective therapeutic strategy against pro-apoptotic therapy-resistant cancers and reduce the potential side effects by high-dose AF.
Material-Engineered Bioartificial Microorganisms Enable Efficient Waterborne Viruses Scavenging
Authors: Li Huixin , Cui Yihao , Lin Jiake , Zhang Ying , Hao Haibin , Wang Yang , Xu Yan , Nie Zi-Hao , Zhou Yuemin , Wang Xiao-Yu , Tang Ruikang
Published: August 2022

Material-based tactics have attracted extensive attention for promoting the functional evolution of organisms. Aiming at design of steerable bioartificial organisms to scavenge pathogenic waterborne viruses, we engineer Paramecia (Para), single-celled water clarifying microorganisms, through integrating a semiartificial and specific virus-scavenging organelle (VSO). To achieve the virus-scavenging function, Fe3O4magnetic nanoparticles modified with a virus-targeted antibody (MNPs@Ab) were efficiently integrated into vacuole organelles of natural Para during the feeding process. The carboxyl group-modified VSO persists inside Para for a long period without compromising the swimming ability. Compared with natural Para, which has no capture specificity and inefficient biodegradation, the VSO-engineered Para (E-Para) efficiently gathers all the viruses in water, and confines them inside the VSO. Moreover, the captured viruses are completely deactivated inside VSOs, because their acidic environment symbiotically elevates the peroxidase-like activity of nano Fe3O4, resulting in the production of virus-deactivated hydroxyl radicals (•OH). After treatment, E-Para can be readily recycled using magnetic fields, thus avoiding further environmental contamination. This strategy has the potential to promote functional evolution of organisms by materials-based artificial organelles, which tailors natural Para into a "living virus scavenger", leading to clearance of waterborne viruses with high efficiency and no extra energy consumption.
Testing the Pace-of-Life Syndrome in the Tree Lizard, Urosaurus ornatus
Authors: Goerge Tyler M , Miles Donald B.
Published: August 2022

The pace-of-life syndrome (POLS) describes covariation between behavioral, physiological, and in some instances thermal traits. The POLS predicts that bolder, more exploratory individuals should have higher metabolic rates, higher physiological performance, and prefer and perform better at high temperatures. Evidence supporting the POLS has been mixed. The goal of this study was to test the POLS in the color polymorphic tree lizard (Urosaurus ornatus) by comparing behavioral, thermal, and physiological performance traits, among all individuals, between the sexes, and among color morphs. We measured behavioral traits using laboratory-based estimates of boldness and exploration, thermal preference traits using a thermal gradient, and used stamina as a measure of locomotor performance. We described the patterns of covariation among the physiological, behavioral, and thermal traits using a principal component analysis. Bolder lizards were more exploratory, but selected cooler body temperatures, which contradicts the relationship predicted by the POLS. We also found that stamina was unrelated to either behavioral or thermal traits. Only boldness and exploration differed among the color morphs: blue and yellow/blue throated males were more exploratory than yellow males and yellow/blue males were bolder than yellow and orange/yellow males. Our results provide little support for the POLS in tree lizards. This study emphasizes the importance of not overgeneralizing the prevalence of the POLS and that in some populations, local conditions and selection pressures may play a larger role in trait correlations than suites of generalized traits.
The anti-angiogenic effect of Astragalus hamosus extract on human umbilical vein endothelial cells cultured on three-dimensional fibrin gel model
Authors: Ai Jafar , Samani Saeed , Kavianpour Maria , Ebrahimi-Barough Somayeh , Abdi Mohammad , Mikaeiliagah Elmira , Bahrami Naghmeh , Rahbari Rezgar , Ai Armin , Mahmoodi Mozaffar
Published: August 2022

Objective: Angiogenesis is necessary for solid tumors to grow and metastasize because it provides oxygen and nutrients for the tumor. By considering similar anti-tumor activity by a similar mechanism in herbal medicine, Astragalus hamosus (A. hamosus) was used in this study in a 3D fibrin gel model against human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to investigate its anti-angiogenic properties.Materials and Methods: A. hamosus extract was tested for cytotoxicity on HUVECs using MTT assay. Flow cytometry was used to examine apoptosis, cell cycle, and proliferation. Also, by qPCR, we quantified the expression of genes related to apoptosis, such as caspase-9, -8, -3, and Bcl-2.Results: Angiogenic activities of HUVECs were significantly decreased after treatment with IC50 concentration of A. hamosus extract. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that the cell cycle in HUVECs was arrested in G0/G1 phase in the 3D model higher than 2D culture. Anti-proliferation activity of the extract decreased the expression of Ki-67, especially in the 3D culture.Conclusion: Based on our results, A. hamosus extract can be used to treat tumors by inhibiting angiogenesis. Also, 3D fibrin gel can simulate anti-proliferative and anti-apoptotic properties of tumors better than 2D culture environment.
Aqueous Humor Cytokines Levels in Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy before and after intravitreal injection of Conbercept
Authors: Yang Hongxia , Yan Xixi , Nie Yuhong , Xiao Xuan
Published: August 2022

Purpose: To retrospectively investigate changes of aqueous humor inflammatory cytokines and angiogenic biomarkers levels in response to intravitreal injection of Conbercept (IVC) treatment for the management of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).Methods: Thirty eyes of 30 PCV patients were enrolled and were received with three consecutive monthly injections of Conbercept. Aqueous humour was collected before the first and third injections. The concentrations of 4 inflammatory cytokines (interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL-10, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1) and 4 angiogenic biomarkers (vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietin 2, endothelin 1, IL-8) in the aqueous humor samples of both groups were measured.Results: Concentrations of 2 inflammatory cytokines (IL-10, MCP-1) and 4 angiogenic biomarkers (VEGF, angiopoietin 2, endothelin 1, IL-8) in aqueous humors were significantly higher in eyes of PCV compared with control eyes (all p<0.05), while concentrations of IL-2 and IL-6 did not differ significantly between the two groups (all p>0.05). After IVC treatment, concentrations of 4 cytokines (IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, MCP-1) and VEGF in aqueous humors were significantly decreased in eyes of PCV compared with baseline (all p<0.05), no other angiogenic biomarker (angiopoietin 2, endothelin 1 or IL-8) concentration was significantly altered by IVC treatment.Conclusions: PCV has remarkably distinct inflammatory cytokines and angiogenic biomarkers levels in the aqueous humor. After consecutive Conbercept injection for two monthly, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, MCP-1 and VEGF levels in aqueous humors from eyes of PCV were strongly inhibited. Our findings suggest that some key inflammatory cytokines and angiogenic biomarkers may be paticipated in the pathogenesis of PCV.
Using Artificial Intelligence for Analysis of Histological and Morphological Diversity in Salivary Gland Tumors
Authors: Alsanie Ibrahim , Shephard Adam , Azarmehr Neda , Rajpoot Nasir , Khurram Syed Ali
Published: August 2022

Salivary gland tumors (SGT) are aheterogeneous neoplasms with large morphological diversity and overlapping features. Recently, numerous artificial intelligence (AI) methods shown for reproducible histological diagnosis and prognosis. However, their application to SGT has not been reported to date. This study aims to examine if AI can be used to differentiate between different SGT subtypes based on the analysis of digitized whole-slide images (WSIs) of Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) stained slides. A two-stage machine learning (ML) algorithm was developed and tested on 240 scanned H&E WSIs of SGT cases using an open-source bioimage analysis software (QuPath) to train and analyze features on representative regions of interest. The first classifier was designed to differentiate between two benign and four malignant SGT subtypes with an equal split between benign and malignant SGTs (n = 120 each), while the second classifier was used for malignant SGT subtyping (n = 120). Features extracted using the ML classifiers were also analysed using deep learning (DL) networks to determine any performance improvements. Our first classifier showed excellent accuracy for automated differentiation between benign and malignant SGTs (F1-score = 0.90). The second classifier also performed well for differentiation between four different malignant SGTs (average F1 = 0.92). Significant differences between cellularity, nuclear hematoxylin, cytoplasmic eosin, and nucleus/cell ratio (p < 0.05) were seen between tumors in both experiments. Most of the DL networks also achieved high F1-scores for benign versus malignant differentiation (> 0.80), with EfficientNet-B0 giving the best performance (F1 = 0.87) but with inferior accuracy than the ML classifier for malignant subtyping (highest F1 = 0.60 for ResNet-18 and ResNet-50). Our novel findings show that AI can be used for automated differentiation between benign and malignant SGT and tumor subtyping on H&E images. Analysis of a larger multicentre cohort using ML and DL at the WSI level is required to establish the significance and clinical usefulness of these findings.
Sexual, urinary and intestinal dysfunction after rectal surgery: pre-, intra- and post-operative predictors and trends over time in a single high-volume center
Authors: Masini Gaia , Bertocchi Elisa , Barugola Giuliano , Guerriero Massimo , Ruffo Giacomo
Published: August 2022

PurposeThe incidence of long-term complications after rectal surgery varies widely among studies, and data regarding functional sequelae after transanal surgery are lacking. The aim of this study is to describe the incidence and change over time of sexual, urinary and intestinal dysfunction in a single-center cohort, identifying independent predictors of dysfunction.MethodsA retrospective analysis of all rectal resections performed between March 2016 and March 2020 at our institution was conducted. Validated questionnaires were administered to assess postoperative function. Predictors of dysfunction were assessed by univariate and multivariate analysis. Latent class analysis was used to distinguish different risk profile classes. Results145 patients were included. Sexual dysfunction at 1 month rose to 37% for both sexes, whereas urinary dysfunction reached 34% in males only. A significant (p<0.05) improvement in urogenital function was observed between 1 and 6 months only. Intestinal dysfunction increased at 1 month, with no significant improvement between 1 and 12 months. Independent predictors of genitourinary dysfunction were postoperative urinary retention, pelvic collection and Clavien-Dindo score ³ III (p<0.05). Transanal surgery resulted an independent predictor of better function (p<0.05). Transanal approach, Clavien-Dindo score ³ III and anastomotic stenosis were independent predictors of higher LARS scores (p<0.05).ConclusionsMaximum dysfunction was found at 1 month after surgery. Improvement was earlier for sexual and urinary dysfunction, whereas intestinal dysfunction improved slower and depended on pelvic floor rehabilitation. Transanal approach was protective for urinary and sexual function, although associated with a higher LARS score. Prevention of anastomosis related complications resulted protective of postoperative function.
How to Determine the Orientation of Acetabular Prosthesis in Total Hip Arthroplasty by Refering to the Anatomical landmarker of acetabular notches?
Authors: Zhang Heng , Zhou Jiansheng , Ling Xiao , Chen Haonan , Du Mingqiu , Zhao Jianning
Published: August 2022

Aims: The aim of this study was to explore a novel method to determine the orientation of acetabular prosthesis in total hip arthroplasty (THA) by refering to the anatomical landmarker of acetabular notches.Methods: Forty-one normal developmental hips were included in the present study. The acetabulums were reamed according to standard surgical procedures of THA on life-size 3D printing pelvis models.The inferior edge of acetabular cup were placed (1-5)mm proximal and distal to the proximal line of the anterior and posterior acetabular notches (PLAPAN) respectively to determine cup inclination. The inferior edge of acetabular cup were placed (1-5) mm pronating and supinating around the proximal point of acetabular posterior notch (PPAPN) respectively to determine cup anteversion. The pelvis plain radiographs were took and the inclination and anteversion of the acetabular cup at 22 positions were calculated. Results: In the normal developmental hip, the mean inclination of acetabular prothesis were (35.10±3.22) ° and (45.90±2.68) ° when the inferior edge of the acetabular cup was 3mm proximal and 1mm distal to the PLAPAN.The optimal cup inclination could be obtained when the inferior edge of the acetabular cup was 1mm proximal to the PLAPAN (the mean inclination was (40.71±2.80) °) .The mean anteversion of acetabular prothesis were (10.67±4.55) ° and (20.86±4.44) ° when the inferior edge of the acetabular cup was 1mm pronating and 1mm supinating around the PPAPN. The optimal cup anteversion could be obtained when the inferior edge of the acetabular cup was parallel to the PLAPAN (the mean anteversion was (18.00±1.64) °).Conclusions: The inclination and anteversion of acetabular prosthesis could be determined by refering the anatomical landmarks of acetabular notches，which could help orthopedists to install the acetabular prosthesis quickly and safely in THA.