bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors associated with prominent vessel sign on susceptibility-weighted imaging in acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Jiang Hai-fei , Zhang Yi-qun , Pang Jiang-xia , Shao Pei-ning , Qiu Han-cheng , Liu Ao-fei , Li Chen , Jin Min , Man Feng-yuan , Jiang Wei-jian
Published: March 2021

The prominent vessel sign (PVS) on susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) is not displayed in all cases of acute ischemia. We aimed to investigate the factors associated with the presence of PVS in stroke patients. Consecutive ischemic stroke patients admitted within 24 h from symptom onset underwent emergency multimodal MRI at admission. Associated factors for the presence of PVS were analyzed using univariate analyses and multivariable logistic regression analyses. A total of 218 patients were enrolled. The occurrence rate of PVS was 55.5%. Univariate analyses showed significant differences between PVS-positive group and PVS-negative group in age, history of coronary heart disease, baseline NIHSS scores, total cholesterol, hemoglobin, anterior circulation infarct, large vessel occlusion, and cardioembolism. Multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that the independent factors associated with PVS were anterior circulation infarct (odds ratio [OR] 13.7; 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.5–53.3), large vessel occlusion (OR 123.3; 95% CI 33.7–451.5), and cardioembolism (OR 5.6; 95% CI 2.1–15.3). Anterior circulation infarct, large vessel occlusion, and cardioembolism are independently associated with the presence of PVS on SWI.
Determination of metabolic activity in planktonic and biofilm cells of Mycoplasma fermentans and Mycoplasma pneumoniae by nuclear magnetic resonance
Authors: Awadh Ammar A. , Le Gresley Adam , Forster-Wilkins Gary , Kelly Alison F. , Fielder Mark D.
Published: March 2021

Mycoplasmas are fastidious microorganisms, typically characterised by their restricted metabolism and minimalist genome. Although there is reported evidence that some mycoplasmas can develop biofilms little is known about any differences in metabolism in these organisms between the growth states. A systematic metabolomics approach may help clarify differences associated between planktonic and biofilm associated mycoplasmas. In the current study, the metabolomics of two different mycoplasmas of clinical importance (Mycoplasma pneumoniaeandMycoplasma fermentans) were examined using a novel approach involving nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and principle component analysis. Characterisation of metabolic changes was facilitated through the generation of high-density metabolite data and diffusion-ordered spectroscopy that provided the size and structural information of the molecules under examination. This enabled the discrimination between biofilms and planktonic states for the metabolomic profiles of both organisms. This work identified clear biofilm/planktonic differences in metabolite composition for both clinical mycoplasmas and the outcomes serve to establish a baseline understanding of the changes in metabolism observed in these pathogens in their different growth states. This may offer insight into how these organisms are capable of exploiting and persisting in different niches and so facilitate their survival in the clinical setting.
Temporal variation and potential origins of atmospheric speciated mercury at a remote island in South China Sea based on two-year field measurement data
Authors: Yeh Ming-Jie , Yuan Chung-Shin , Hung Kuo-Ning , Ie Iau-Ren , Lee Cheng-En , Chiang Kuan-Chen , Soong Ker-Yea
Published: March 2021

This study explored the temporal variation, gas-particle partition, and potential origins of atmospheric speciated mercury at a remote island in the South China Sea. Two-year data of three mercury species was measured at the Taiping Island. Air masses were clustered into five transport routes (A-E) to resolve the potential origins of atmospheric mercury. Field measurement showed that the concentration of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) (1.33 ± 0.52 ng/m3) was close to the GEM background level of Northern Hemisphere, while those of GOM and PHg were 13.39 ± 3.58 and 94.33 ± 30.25 pg/m3, respectively. Both regular and intensive samplings concluded a consistent trend of higher mercury level in winter and spring than that in summer and fall. GEM dominated atmospheric mercury in all seasons (86.2–98.5%), while the highest partition of particle-bound mercury (PHg) was observed in winter (13.8%). The highest GEM concentrations were observed for Route A originating from central China and western Taiwan Island, and followed by Routes D and E from the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia, while the lowest concentrations of GEM were observed for Routes B and C originating from North China, Korea, and Japan. Most importantly, high correlation of GEM versus levoglucosan and K+ in PM2.5 (r = 0.764 and 0.758, p < 0.01) confirmed that GEM was mainly emitted from biomass burning sources at the surrounding countries.
Variations in stability revealed by temporal asymmetries in contraction of phase space flow
Authors: Williams Zachary C , McNamara Dylan E
Published: March 2021

Empirical diagnosis of stability has received considerable attention, often focused on variance metrics for early warning signals of abrupt system change or delicate techniques measuring Lyapunov spectra. The theoretical foundation for the popular early warning signal approach has been limited to relatively simple system changes such as bifurcating fixed points where variability is extrinsic to the steady state. We offer a novel measurement of stability that applies in wide ranging systems that contain variability in both internal steady state dynamics and in response to external perturbations. Utilizing connections between stability, dissipation, and phase space flow, we show that stability correlates with temporal asymmetry in a measure of phase space flow contraction. Our method is general as it reveals stability variation independent of assumptions about the nature of system variability or attractor shape. After showing efficacy in a variety of model systems, we apply our technique for measuring stability to monthly returns of the S&P 500 index in the time periods surrounding the global stock market crash of October 1987. Market stability is shown to be higher in the several years preceding and subsequent to the 1987 market crash. We anticipate our technique will have wide applicability in climate, ecological, financial, and social systems where stability is a pressing concern.
Pilot study of gadoxetate disodium-enhanced mri for localized and metastatic prostate cancers
Authors: Lochrin Sarah E. , Turkbey Baris , Gasmi Billel , Schmidt Keith , Strope Jonathan D. , Chau Cindy H. , Sissung Tristan M. , Price Douglas K. , Cordes Lisa , Markolovic Suzana , Wood Bradford J. , Pinto Peter A. , McKinney Yolanda L. , Shih Joanna H. , Levy Elliot , Madan Ravi , Dahut William , Choyke Peter L. , Merino Maria , Figg William D.
Published: March 2021

OATP1B3 is expressed de novo in primary prostate cancer tissue and to a greater degree in prostate cancer metastases. Gadoxetate disodium is a substrate of OATP1B3, and its uptake has been shown to correlate with OATP1B3 expression in other cancers. We aimed to evaluate use of gadoxetate disodium to image prostate cancer and to track its utility as a biomarker. A single center open-label non-randomized pilot study recruited men with (1) localized, and (2) metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MRI was performed at four timepoints post-injection. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare MRI contrast enhancement ratio (CER) pre-injection and post-injection. OATP1B3 expression was evaluated via immunohistochemistry (IHC) and a pharmacogenomic analysis of OATP1B3, NCTP and OATP1B1 was conducted. The mCRPC subgroup (n = 9) demonstrated significant enhancement compared to pre-contrast images at 20-, 40- and 60-min timepoints (p < 0.0078). The localized cancer subgroup (n = 11) demonstrated earlier enhancement compared to the mCRPC group, but no retention over time (p > 0.05). OATP1B3 expression on IHC trended higher contrast enhancement between 20–40 min (p ≤ 0.064) and was associated with contrast enhancement at 60 min (p = 0.0422). OATP1B1 haplotype, with N130D and V174A substitutions, impacted enhancement at 40–60 min (p ≤ 0.038). mCRPC lesions demonstrate enhancement after injection of gadoxetate disodium on MRI and retention over 60 min. As inter-individual variability in OATP1B3 expression and function has both predictive and prognostic significance, gadoxetate disodium has potential as a biomarker in prostate cancer.
Electromyographic activation patterns during swallowing in older adults
Authors: Ko Jin Young , Kim Hayoung , Jang Joonyoung , Lee Jun Chang , Ryu Ju Seok
Published: March 2021

Age-related weakness due to atrophy and fatty infiltration in oropharyngeal muscles may be related to dysphagia in older adults. However, little is known about changes in the oropharyngeal muscle activation pattern in older adults. This was a prospective and experimental study. Forty healthy participants (20 older [> 60 years] and 20 young [< 60 years] adults) were enrolled. Six channel surface electrodes were placed over the bilateral suprahyoid (SH), bilateral retrohyoid (RH), thyrohyoid (TH), and sternothyroid (StH) muscles. Electromyography signals were then recorded twice for each patient during swallowing of 2 cc of water, 5 cc of water, and 5 cc of a highly viscous fluid. Latency, duration, and peak amplitude were measured. The activation patterns were the same, in the order of SH, TH, and StH, in both groups. The muscle activation patterns were classified as type I and II; the type I pattern was characterized by a monophasic shape, and the type II comprised a pre-reflex phase and a main phase. The oropharyngeal muscles and SH muscles were found to develop a pre-reflex phase specifically with increasing volume and viscosity of the swallowed fluid. Type I showed a different response to the highly viscous fluid in the older group compared to that in the younger group. However, type II showed concordant changes in the groups. Therefore, healthy older people were found to compensate for swallowing with a pre-reflex phase of muscle activation in response to increased liquid volume and viscosity, to adjust for age-related muscle weakness.
Multi-factor mediated functional modules identify novel classification of ulcerative colitis and functional gene panel
Authors: Lai Lijie , Li Hanyang , Feng Qi , Shen Jun , Ran Zhihua
Published: March 2021

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic, idiopathic, and inflammatory disease of the rectal and colonic mucosa, the behavior of which is of heterogeneity in individuals. Here, we explored the multifactor-mediated functional modules associated with ulcerative colitis classification in the whole genome. Datasets downloaded from the GEO database were used to identify differentially expressed genes between ulcerative colitis patients and healthy individuals initially, followed by acquisition of the remaining ulcerative colitis -related genes from the OMIM and STRING databases. The results identified 914 ulcerative colitis-related genes, of which 60 were differentially expressed genes obtained from GEO datasets. Through weighted co-expression network analysis of ulcerative colitis-related genes, four modules were obtained, three of which were related to ulcerative colitis. Following interactions between microRNA, long noncoding RNA, transcription factors, and module hub genes were predicted and used to construct ulcerative colitis multifactor networks. Additionally, we performed consensus clustering of the ulcerative colitis samples. The results revealed that ulcerative colitis could be divided into four subtypes, with six hub genes identified as potential biomarkers for classification. These findings offer novel insights into ulcerative colitis and a basis for disease classification of ulcerative colitis.
CYP2D6-inhibiting drugs and risk of fall injuries after newly initiated antidepressant and antipsychotic therapy in a Swedish, register-based case-crossover study
Authors: Dahl Marja-Liisa , Leander Karin , Vikström Max , Frumerie Clara , Nordenmalm Sofia , Möller Jette , Söderberg-Löfdal Karin
Published: March 2021

Drug-drug interactions have been shown to affect the risk of fall injuries when opioids are used concomitantly with drugs inhibiting the cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) enzyme in a previous pharmacoepidemiological study. The aim of this study was to determine whether CYP2D6-inhibiting drugs reinforce the risk of fall injuries when used concomitantly with antidepressants or antipsychotics. We identified all 252,704 adults with a first fall injury leading to hospitalisation from the National Patient Register in Sweden 2006–2013. Data on dispensed drugs was linked from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register. We applied a case-crossover design to analyse newly dispensed (28 days preceding the fall injury, preceded by a 12-week washout period) antidepressants and antipsychotics, respectively, in relation to risk of a fall injury and according to concomitant use of CYP2D6-inhibiting drugs. Newly dispensed drugs were assessed correspondingly in a control period of equal length, 28 days prior to the 12-week washout period. Overall, the risk of fall injury was increased after newly initiated antidepressant and antipsychotic treatment. For antidepressants, concomitant CYP2D6 inhibitor use further elevated the risk estimates compared to non-use, most pronounced for the groups selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (sertraline excluded) [OR = 1.47 (95% CI 1.19–1.80) vs. OR = 1.19 (95% CI 1.13–1.26)], and tricyclic antidepressants [OR = 1.71 (95% CI 1.17–2.51) vs. 1.27 (95% CI 1.11–1.47)] as well as for sertraline [OR = 1.61 (95% CI 1.05–2.38) vs. 1.12 (95% CI 1.00–1.26)]. For antipsychotics, the risk of fall injury was not altered by concomitant use of CYP2D6-inhibiting drugs. In conclusion, concomitant use of CYP2D6 inhibiting drugs tends to further increase the risk of fall injury in newly initiated antidepressant treatment, but not in antipsychotic treatment.
A multifaceted approach to understanding bat community response to disturbance in a seasonally dry tropical forest
Authors: Valle Darwin , Griffith Daniel M. , Jara-Guerrero Andrea , Armijos-Ojeda Diego , Espinosa Carlos I.
Published: March 2021

Given widespread habitat degradation and loss, reliable indicators are needed that provide a comprehensive assessment of community response to anthropogenic disturbance. The family Phyllostomidae (Order Chiroptera) has frequently been the focus of research evaluating bats’ response to habitat disturbance in seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs). However, few studies compare this family to the larger bat assemblage to assess its efficacy as a bioindicator. We compared community and species-specific attributes of understory phyllostomid and all understory bat species: (1) along a gradient of habitat disturbance within a human-modified SDTF landscape; and (2) between forest and riparian habitats within each disturbance level. We captured 290 individuals belonging to 13 species and 4 families. Phyllostomid species exhibited greater sensitivity to disturbance than the understory bat community as a whole based on richness and beta diversity. Both groups were more sensitive to disturbance in forest than riparian habitat, but phyllostomid species were more likely to be lost from highly disturbed forest habitat. The two dominant species declined in abundance with disturbance but variation in body condition was species-specific. These results suggest that Phyllostomidae are more effective indicators of human disturbance in SDTF than the understory bat community as a whole and evaluation of bats’ response to disturbance is best accomplished with a multifaceted approach.
Pentagalloyl glucose inhibits TNF‐α‐activated CXCL1/GRO-α expression and induces apoptosis‐related genes in triple-negative breast cancer cells
Authors: Mendonca Patricia , Alghamdi Sumaih , Messeha Samia , Soliman Karam F. A.
Published: March 2021

In triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), the tumor microenvironment is associated with increased proliferation, suppressing apoptotic mechanisms, an altered immune response, and drug resistance. The current investigation was designed to examine the natural compound pentagalloyl glucose (PGG) effects on TNF-α activated TNBC cell lines, MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468. The results obtained showed that PGG reduced the expression of the cytokine GRO-α/CXCL1. PGG also inhibited IƙBKE and MAPK1 genes and the protein expression of IƙBKE and MAPK, indicating that GRO-α downregulation is possibly through NFƙB and MAPK signaling pathway. PGG also inhibited cell proliferation in both cell lines. Moreover, PGG induced apoptosis, modulating caspases, and TNF superfamily receptor genes. It also augmented mRNA of receptors DR4 and DR5 expression, which binds to TNF-related apoptosis-induced ligand, a potent and specific stimulator of apoptosis in tumors. Remarkably, PGG induced a 154-fold increase in TNF expression in MDA-MB-468 compared to a 14.6-fold increase in MDA-MB-231 cells. These findings indicate PGG anti-cancer ability in inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and GRO-α release and inducing apoptosis by increasing TNF and TNF family receptors' expression. Thus, PGG use may be recommended as an adjunct therapy for TNBC to increase chemotherapy effectiveness and prevent cancer progression.
Antioxidants, lysosomes and elements status during the life cycle of sea trout Salmo trutta m. trutta L.
Authors: Kurhaluk Natalia , Tkachenko Halyna
Published: March 2021

The aim of our study was to elucidate the effects of both development stages (parr, smolt, adult, spawner), and kelt as a survival form and sex (male, female) on the functional stability of the lysosomal complex, biomarkers of oxidative stress, and element contents in the muscle tissue of the sea trout (Salmo truttam.truttaL.) sampled in the Pomerania region (northern Poland). We have evaluated the maximal activities of lysosomal enzymes (alanyl aminopeptidase, leucyl aminopeptidase, β-N-acetylglucosaminidase, and acid phosphatase), lipid peroxidation level, and protein carbonyl derivatives as indices of muscle tissue degradation. The relationship between lysosomal activity and oxidative stress biomarkers estimated by the lipid peroxidation level and protein carbonyl derivatives was also assessed, as well as the relationships between element levels and oxidative stress biomarkers. Trends of the main effects (i.e., the development stages and sex alone, the interaction of the sex and development stage simultaneously) on oxidative stress biomarkers, lysosomal functioning, and element contents in the muscle tissue were evaluated. The study has shown sex-related relationships between the pro- and antioxidant balance and the tissue type in the adult stage as well as modifications in the lysosomal functioning induced by long-term environmental stress associated with changing the habitats from freshwater to seawater and intense migrations. The highest level of toxic products generated in oxidative reactions and oxidative modification of proteins was noted in both the spawner stage and the kelt form. The holistic model of analysis of all parameters of antioxidant defense in all development stages and sex demonstrated the following dependencies for the level of lipid peroxidation, oxidative modification of proteins, lysosomal activities, and element contents: TBARS > OMP KD > OMP AD > TAC, AcP > NAG > LAP > AAP and Cu > Fe > Ca > Mn > Zn > Mg, respectively.
Targeted therapy of human leukemia xenografts in immunodeficient zebrafish
Authors: Somasagara Ranganatha R. , Huang Xiaoyan , Xu Chunyu , Haider Jamil , Serody Jonathan S. , Armistead Paul M. , Leung TinChung
Published: March 2021

Personalized medicine holds tremendous promise for improving safety and efficacy of drug therapies by optimizing treatment regimens. Rapidly developed patient-derived xenografts (pdx) could be a helpful tool for analyzing the effect of drugs against an individual’s tumor by growing the tumor in an immunodeficient animal. Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice enable efficient in vivo expansion of vital tumor cells and generation of personalized xenografts. However, they are not amenable to large-scale rapid screening, which is critical in identifying new compounds from large compound libraries. The development of a zebrafish model suitable for pdx could facilitate large-scale screening of drugs targeted against specific malignancies. Here, we describe a novel strategy for establishing a zebrafish model for drug testing in leukemia xenografts. We used chronic myelogenous leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia for xenotransplantation into SCID zebrafish to evaluate drug screening protocols. We showed the in vivo efficacy of the ABL inhibitor imatinib, MEK inhibitor U0126, cytarabine, azacitidine and arsenic trioxide. We performed corresponding in vitro studies, demonstrating that combination of MEK- and FLT3-inhibitors exhibit an enhanced effect in vitro. We further evaluated the feasibility of zebrafish for transplantation of primary human hematopoietic cells that can survive at 15 day-post-fertilization. Our results provide critical insights to guide development of high-throughput platforms for evaluating leukemia.
A systematic review with network meta-analysis on mono strategy of anaesthesia for preeclampsia in caesarean section
Authors: Cheng Chu , Liao Alan Hsi-Wen , Chen Chien-Yu , Lin Yu-Cih , Kang Yi-No
Published: March 2021

The aim of this study was to reveal the effects of anaesthesia strategies on maternal mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate, vasopressor consumption, adverse events, and neonatal resuscitation when women with preeclampsia (PE) undergo caesarean section (CS). Three major databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective controlled studies (PCSs). Two authors independently screened, extracted, and checked eligibility and outcome data. Outcomes involved MAP, vasopressor use, maternal adverse events, APGAR scores, and neonatal resuscitation. Pooled estimates were carried out by contrast-based network meta-analysis, and pooled effect sizes were presented with 95% confidence interval (CI). Eleven RCTs and one PCS (n = 782) formed three-node network meta-analysis, and non-significant differences were observed in MAP, 5-min APGAR score, and neonatal intubation rate among the three anaesthesia strategies. General anaesthesia had significantly lower vasopressor consumption than spinal anaesthesia did (standardised mean difference =  − 1.19, 95% confidence interval [CI]: − 1.76 to − 0.63), but it had higher maternal adverse event rate (risk ratio = 2.00, 95% CI 1.16–3.47). Because no optimal anaesthesia strategy has been shown to achieve a balanced maternal and neonatal outcome, therefore a shared decision-making process may be required regarding the most suitable choice of anaesthetic strategy for individual preeclamptic mother undergoing CS. Future larger studies may need to focus on evaluating the role of vasopressors on maternal hemodynamic as well as factors affecting maternal outcomes for different anaesthetic techniques in preeclamptic women undergoing CS.
The influence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome on anthropometric parameters at 12 months after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy
Authors: Mihalache Laura , Siriopol Dimitrie , Arhire Lidia Iuliana , Pădureanu Sergiu , Preda Cristina , Boișteanu Daniela , Scripcariu Dragoș , Cusai Silvia , Covic Adrian
Published: March 2021

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) on the change in anthropometric parameters and body composition, in patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). This prospective study included patients undergoing LSG who had pre-operative polysomnography data and were also evaluated at six and 12 months after surgery. All patients included also had whole body composition analysis data before surgery and at six and 12 months after surgery. The results are presented in comparison between patients with and without OSAS. We included 73 patients in the analysis with a mean ± SD age and body mass index (BMI) of 40.3 ± 10.9 years and 45.4 ± 6.3 kg/m2, respectively. As compared to the baseline levels, at 6 months there was a significant decrease in BMI, weight, waist circumference, serum glucose and HbA1c. At 12 months there was no further decrease as compared to the 6 months levels, irrespective of OSAS status. We observed a significant decrease at 6 months in percentage of fat, in both types of patients. However, as compared to the 6 months levels, at 12 months the percent fat had a significant decrease only in patients without OSAS (− 4.6%, 95% CI − 7.6 to − 1.7%) and not in those with OSAS (− 2.2%, 95% CI − 4.5 to 0.2%). In our study, patients with OSAS showed a similar decrease in different anthropometric parameters as those without OSAS after LSG. However, at 12 months of follow-up there was a significant decrease in the percent fat only in patients without OSAS.
Structural insights into phosphatidylethanolamine formation in bacterial membrane biogenesis
Authors: Cho Gyuhyeok , Lee Eunju , Kim Jungwook
Published: March 2021

Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), a major component of the cellular membrane across all domains of life, is synthesized exclusively by membrane-anchored phosphatidylserine decarboxylase (PSD) in most bacteria. The enzyme undergoes auto-cleavage for activation and utilizes the pyruvoyl moiety to form a Schiff base intermediate with PS to facilitate decarboxylation. However, the structural basis for self-maturation, PS binding, and decarboxylation processes directed by PSD remain unclear. Here, we present X-ray crystal structures of PSD from Escherichia coli, representing an apo form and a PE-bound complex, in which the phospholipid is chemically conjugated to the essential pyruvoyl residue, mimicking the Schiff base intermediate. The high-resolution structures of PE-complexed PSD clearly illustrate extensive hydrophobic interactions with the fatty acyl chains of the phospholipid, providing insights into the broad specificity of the enzyme over a wide range of cellular PS. Furthermore, these structures strongly advocate the unique topology of the enzyme in a lipid bilayer environment, where the enzyme associates with cell membranes in a monotopic fashion via the N-terminal domain composed of three amphipathic helices. Lastly, mutagenesis analyses reveal that E. coli PSD primarily employs D90/D142–H144–S254 to achieve auto-cleavage for the proenzyme maturation, where D90 and D142 act in complementary to each other.
Event-related components are structurally represented by intrinsic event-related potentials
Authors: Tsai Chong-Chih , Liang Wei-Kuang
Published: March 2021

The detection of event-related potentials (ERPs) through electroencephalogram (EEG) analysis is a well-established method for understanding brain functions during a cognitive process. To increase the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and stationarity of the data, ERPs are often filtered to a wideband frequency range, such as 0.05–30 Hz. Alternatively, a natural-filtering procedure can be performed through empirical mode decomposition (EMD), which yields intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) for each trial of the EEG data, followed by averaging over trials to generate the event-related modes. However, although the EMD-based filtering procedure has advantages such as a high SNR, suitable waveform shape, and high statistical power, one fundamental drawback of the procedure is that it requires the selection of an IMF (or a partial sum of a range of IMFs) to determine an ERP component effectively. Therefore, in this study, we propose an intrinsic ERP (iERP) method to overcome the drawbacks and retain the advantages of event-related mode analysis for investigating ERP components. The iERP method can reveal multiple ERP components at their characteristic time scales and suitably cluster statistical effects among modes by using a tailored definition of each mode’s neighbors. We validated the iERP method by using realistic EEG data sets acquired from a face perception task and visual working memory task. By using these two data sets, we demonstrated how to apply the iERP method to a cognitive task and incorporate existing cluster-based tests into iERP analysis. Moreover, iERP analysis revealed the statistical effects between (or among) experimental conditions more effectively than the conventional ERP method did.
Origin of n type properties in single wall carbon nanotube films with anionic surfactants investigated by experimental and theoretical analyses
Authors: Yonezawa Susumu , Chiba Tomoyuki , Seki Yuhei , Takashiri Masayuki
Published: March 2021

We investigated the origin of n-type thermoelectric properties in single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) films with anionic surfactants via experimental analyses and first-principles calculations. Several types of anionic surfactants were employed to fabricate SWCNT films via drop-casting, followed by heat treatment at various temperatures. In particular, SWCNT films with sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) surfactant heated to 350 °C exhibited a longer retention period, wherein the n-type Seebeck coefficient lasted for a maximum of 35 days. In x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, SWCNT films with SDBS surfactant exhibited a larger amount of sodium than oxygen on the SWCNT surface. The electronic band structure and density of states of SWCNTs with oxygen atoms, oxygen molecules, water molecules, sulfur atoms, and sodium atoms were analyzed using first-principles calculations. The calculations showed that sodium atoms and oxygen molecules moved the Fermi level closer to the conduction and valence bands, respectively. The water molecules, oxygen, and sulfur atoms did not affect the Fermi level. Therefore, SWCNT films exhibited n-type thermoelectric properties when the interaction between the sodium atoms and the SWCNTs was larger than that between the oxygen molecules and the SWCNTs.
Unactivated leukocyte expression of C-reactive protein is minimal and not dependent on rs1205 genotype
Authors: Best L. G. , Azure C. , Martell K. , Tsosie K. S. , Voels B.
Published: March 2021

C-reactive protein (CRP), a prominent component of the innate immune system, is implicated in the pathophysiology of many conditions. CRP production primarily occurs in the liver; but contributions from other tissues is unclear. The Genotype-Tissue Expression Portal shows essentially no expression in whole blood and reports in the literature are conflicting. Multiple genomic variants influence serum levels of CRP. We measured CRP mRNA expression in leukocytes and sought to determine if rs1205 genotype influences leukocyte expression. Leukocytes were obtained from 20 women differing by genotype. Quantitative, real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) detected CRP and reference gene (GAPDH) mRNA. Leukocyte expression was calculated by the 2ΔCT method, and against a standard curve. Digital drop PCR was also used to calculate expression ratios. Student's t test and linear regression methods examined possible differences between genotypes. During 32 runs (10 replicates each), the RT-qPCR mean (SD) CRP/GAPDH ratio was 3.39 × 10–4 (SD 1.73 × 10–4) and 3.15 × 10–4 (SD 1.64 × 10–4) for TT and CC genotypes respectively, p = 0.76; and digital drop PCR results were similar. Serum CRP was not significantly different between genotypes, nor correlated with leukocyte expression. CRP is minimally expressed in unactivated leukocytes and this expression is not likely influenced by rs1205 genotype.
Histopathological analysis of mucinous breast cancer subtypes and comparison with invasive carcinoma of no special type
Authors: Budzik Michał Piotr , Fudalej Marta Magdalena , Badowska-Kozakiewicz Anna Maria
Published: March 2021

Mucinous breast cancer (MBC) is a rare histological type of breast cancer characterized primarily by mucin's production and extracellular presence. MBC is usually associated with a better prognosis than other invasive breast neoplasms. Because of the low prevalence, MBC biology is not well understood. The aim of the present study was to introduce the last 2-year experience regarding MBC pathological diagnostics in our clinical center and comparison of the obtained data with invasive breast carcinoma of no special type (NST) comprising the most common invasive breast cancer. We identified 24 MBC cases representing 3.09% of all 766 invasive breast cancers, including 15 cases of pure type and 9 mixed MBCs. The median MBC patients' age at presentation was 65.5 years. Compared to NST, MBC presented a higher T stage with a statistically larger tumor median size, although lower regional lymph node involvement, tumor histological grade and TNM stage. MBC is a rare type of breast cancer, accounting for about 4% of all diagnosed breast cancers. Our findings are consistent with those published in recent years and show significant differences between MBC and NST cancer patients and also highlight differences between pure and mixed MBC, emphasizing the essence of their differentiation. MBC is associated with a better long-term prognosis than NST and is characterized by the less aggressive biological behavior expressed through favorable clinicopathologic features in terms of tumor grade, regional lymph node involvement and hormone receptor status.
An Integrated biomarker approach for explaining the potency of exogenous glucose on transportation induced stress in Labeo rohita fingerlings
Authors: Biswal Abhilipsa , Srivastava Prem Prakash , Krishna Gopal , Paul Tapas , Pal Prasenjit , Gupta Subodh , Varghese Tincy , Jayant Manish
Published: March 2021

Transportation of fish seed is a complex phenomenon associated with multiple kinds of stressors that simultaneously affect the fish in a confined environment, causing stress and mortality. The present study investigated the stress-relieving effect of exogenous glucose as a water additive in different concentrations (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4%) during simulated transportation (12 h) of L. rohita fingerlings. The integrated biomarker response (IBR) index is a holistic tool to determine the optimum dose of exogenous glucose for mitigating transportation stress in fish. Based on selected biomarkers related to the stress hormone, serum biochemistry, oxidative stress, and HSP70 mRNA expression, the IBR index is calculated for each treatment and control group. The result showed a significant change in the level of stress hormone cortisol, enzymes (SGPT, LDH, MDH, SOD, CAT) and metabolites (serum glucose, triglyceride, creatinine) along with an upregulation in liver HSP70 mRNA expression. IBR index suggests that 0.2% glucose exhibited the lowest multi-biomarker stress response in comparison to other treatments and control. Therefore, the use of 0.2% glucose as a water additive will provide a solution to transportation induced stress in L. rohita fingerling and will underwrite the success of grow-out fish culture in days to come.
Hyperpolarized 13C-glucose magnetic resonance highlights reduced aerobic glycolysis in vivo in infiltrative glioblastoma
Authors: Mishkovsky Mor , Gusyatiner Olga , Lanz Bernard , Cudalbu Cristina , Vassallo Irene , Hamou Marie-France , Bloch Jocelyne , Comment Arnaud , Gruetter Rolf , Hegi Monika E.
Published: March 2021

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive brain tumor type in adults. GBM is heterogeneous, with a compact core lesion surrounded by an invasive tumor front. This front is highly relevant for tumor recurrence but is generally non-detectable using standard imaging techniques. Recent studies demonstrated distinct metabolic profiles of the invasive phenotype in GBM. Magnetic resonance (MR) of hyperpolarized 13C-labeled probes is a rapidly advancing field that provides real-time metabolic information. Here, we applied hyperpolarized 13C-glucose MR to mouse GBM models. Compared to controls, the amount of lactate produced from hyperpolarized glucose was higher in the compact GBM model, consistent with the accepted “Warburg effect”. However, the opposite response was observed in models reflecting the invasive zone, with less lactate produced than in controls, implying a reduction in aerobic glycolysis. These striking differences could be used to map the metabolic heterogeneity in GBM and to visualize the infiltrative front of GBM.
Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometry and spectroscopy using entangled photons
Authors: Dorfman Konstantin E. , Asban Shahaf , Gu Bing , Mukamel Shaul
Published: March 2021

Optical interferometry has been a long-standing setup for characterization of quantum states of light. Both linear and the nonlinear interferences can provide information regarding the light statistics and underlying detail of the light-matter interactions. Here we demonstrate how interferometric detection of nonlinear spectroscopic signals may be used to improve the measurement accuracy of matter susceptibilities. Light-matter interactions change the photon statistics of quantum light, which are encoded in the field correlation functions. Application is made to the Hong-Ou-Mandel two-photon interferometer that reveals entanglement-enhanced resolution that can be achieved with existing optical technology.
The role of lithium in the osteogenic bioactivity of clay nanoparticles
Authors: Mousa Mohamed , Milan Juan Aviles , Kelly Oscar , Doyle Jane , Evans Nicholas D. , Oreffo Richard O. C. , Dawson Jonathan I.
Published: March 2021

Lithium content does not underlie the bioactive effects of LAPONITE® on human bone marrow stromal cell osteogenic activity.
A broadband near-infrared phosphor BaZrGe3O9:Cr3+: luminescence and application for light-emitting diodes
Authors: Hou Dejian , Lin Huihong , Zhang Yi , Li Jin-Yan , Li Hongliang , Dong Jianhong , Lin Zhenxu , Huang Rui
Published: March 2021

A broadband NIR luminescence material BaZrGe3O9:Cr3+ was designed, the crystal field parameters and Huang–Rhys factor were calculated to evaluate the luminescence. The potential application for NIR pc-LED was demonstrated.
Phase transitions in nanostructured water confined in carbon nanotubes by external electric and magnetic fields: a molecular dynamics investigation
Authors: Abbaspour Mohsen , Akbarzadeh Hamed , Salemi Sirous , Bahmanipour Leila
Published: March 2021

Phase transitions from pentagonal to twisted pentagonal, spiral and circle-like shapes by electric field from 104 to 107 (V m−1). Magnetic fields have small effects but the highest magnetic field (300 T) makes the pentagonal shape more ordered.
Nb and Cu co-doped (La,Sr)(Co,Fe)O3: a stable electrode for solid oxide cells
Authors: Neacsa D. M. , Abbassi K. , Guesmi H. , Coddet P. L. , Vulliet J. , El Amrani M. , Dealmeida-Didry S. , Roger S. , Ta Phuoc V. , Sopracase R. , Gervais F. , Autret-Lambert C.
Published: March 2021

The stabilization of the cubic phase of LSCF co-substitution on the Fe site deposited on YSZ + GDC symmetrical cells to improve the performance.
Orientation of a bipolar membrane determines the dominant ion and carbonic species transport in membrane electrode assemblies for CO2 reduction
Authors: Blommaert Marijn A. , Sharifian Rezvan , Shah Namrata U. , Nesbitt Nathan T. , Smith Wilson A. , Vermaas David A.
Published: March 2021

To study the transport mechanisms and effect of the orientation of a bipolar membrane, a novel bipolar membrane electrode assembly was created, indicating that reverse bias is most favourable for CO2 reduction.
Atomic layer deposition of a ruthenium thin film using a precursor with enhanced reactivity
Authors: Hwang Jeong Min , Han Seung-Min , Yang Hanuel , Yeo Seungmin , Lee Seung-Hun , Park Chan Woo , Kim Gun Hwan , Park Bo Keun , Byun Younghun , Eom Taeyong , Chung Taek-Mo
Published: March 2021

The incubation cycle free ALD Ru film was deposited using an open-coordinated structured Ru(ii) precursor, Ru(η5-cycloheptadienyl)2.
Critical overview on the green synthesis of carbon quantum dots and their application for cancer therapy
Authors: Desmond Liam Joseph , Phan Anh N. , Gentile Piergiorgio
Published: March 2021

A critical review which delves into the advantages of the use of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) in nano-based cancer therapy, which includes its more positive environmental impact compared to previous systems.
Palladium-catalyzed domino Heck-disilylation and Heck-monosilylation of alkene-tethered carbamoyl chlorides: synthesis of versatile silylated oxindoles
Authors: Chen Chen , Sun Wan , Liu Liying , Zhao Jinghui , Huang Yujie , Shi Xiaonan , Ding Jie , Jiao Dequan , Zhu Bolin
Published: March 2021

We report efficient domino Heck-disilylation and Heck-monosilylation of alkene-tethered carbamoyl chlorides with hexamethyldisilane under mild reaction conditions.
Sulfur quantum dot-based “ON–OFF–ON” fluorescence platform for detection and bioimaging of Cr(vi) and ascorbic acid in complex environmental matrices and biological tissues
Authors: Xia Mengke , Mei He , Qian Qiuhui , Dahlgren Randy A. , Gao Ming , Wang Xuedong
Published: March 2021

A SQDs-based “ON–OFF–ON” platform is constructed for detection of Cr(vi) and AA. SQDs are feasible for bioimaging of zebrafish embryos/larvae and HeLa cells.
Copolymer chain formation of 2-oxazolines by in situ1H-NMR spectroscopy: dependence of sequential composition on substituent structure and monomer ratios
Authors: Abbrent Sabina , Mahun Andrii , Smrčková Miroslava Dušková , Kobera Libor , Konefał Rafał , Černoch Peter , Dušek Karel , Brus Jiří
Published: March 2021

In situ1H NMR characterization of copolymerization reactions of various 2-oxazoline monomers at different molar ratios offers detailed insight into the build-up and composition of the polymer chains.
A Preliminary Look Into the Clinical Evolution of Motor Speech Characteristics in Primary Progressive Apraxia of Speech in Québec French
Authors: Bouvier Liziane , Monetta Laura , Vitali Paolo , Laforce Robert , Martel-Sauvageau Vincent
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This study aimed to track changes in acoustical and perceptual features of motor speech in patients with phonetic and prosodic primary progressive apraxia of speech (PPAOS) in Québec French over an 18-month period.

Method

A prospective multiple-case series with multiple testing periods, including four participants with a diagnosis of PPAOS, was conducted. Participants were 0.5–4 years postonset of disease at baseline. They underwent comprehensive motor speech and language assessments and cognitive screening every 6 months for up to 18 months. Acoustical and perceptual analyses of motor speech were conducted.

Results

Results showed a considerable impairment in motor speech abilities for patients with PPAOS at all time points and a significant decrease in performance for almost all articulatory and prosodic measures over time. Passage reading and diadochokinesis seemed particularly promising for the tracking of changes in PPAOS motor speech characteristics and PPAOS classification. Quantifying length of speech runs made it possible to distinguish phonetic from prosodic PPAOS. Finally, the patients who evolved to phonetic PPAOS developed aphasia, and the two with prosodic PPAOS showed greater motor symptoms such as unequivocal dysarthria.

Conclusion

This study extends the growing literature on PPAOS and its subtypes by describing specific changes in articulatory and prosodic abilities over a period of at least 6 months, which are important for the diagnosis and management of PPAOS.
Modified QUIC protocol with congestion control for improved network performance
Authors: Kharat Prashant , Kulkarni Muralidhar
Published: March 2021

In the networks, a transport layer is responsible for reliable data with guaranteed Quality of Service. A Modified‐QUIC protocol provides improved throughput and reduced latency of the network. This work proposes a modification in handshaking mechanism for QUIC protocol to minimize overhead due to control signals and time required to update the congestion‐window size. This modification fine‐tunes the window update mechanism with the acknowledgment frame, which results in a smooth variation in the congestion‐window size. This leads to the control congestion by regulating traffic in the network. In the proposed mechanism, unnecessary time out events are avoided by updating the congestion‐window on receipt of the acknowledgment frame. This work has been carried out using two different testbed setups to verify the transport layer and a browser network performance. It has been observed that a Modified‐QUIC protocol is easy to deploy, improves the throughput and data rate by 35% and 3.43%, respectively, over the QUIC protocol. The average fairness index is increased with a file size and for the long live traffic.
Neural guided visual slam system with Laplacian of Gaussian operator
Authors: Zhang Ge , Yan Xiaoqiang , Xu Yulong , Ye Yangdong
Published: March 2021

Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) addresses the problem of constructing the map from noisy sensor data and tracking the robot's path within the built map. After decades of development, a lot of mature systems achieve competent results in feature‐based implementations. However, there are still problems when migrating the technology to practical applications. One typical example is the accuracy and robustness of SLAM in environment with illuminance and texture variations. To this end, two modules in the existing systems are improved here namely tracking and camera relocalization. In tracking module, image pyramid is processed with Laplacian of Gaussian (LoG) operator in feature extraction for enhanced edges and details. A majority voting mechanism is proposed to dynamically evaluate and redetermine the zero‐mean sum of square difference threshold according to the matching error estimation in patch search. In camera relocalization module, full convolutional neural network which focuses on certain parts of the input data is utilized in guiding for accurate output predictions. The authors implement the two modules into OpenvSLAM and propose a neural guided visual SLAM system named LoG‐SLAM. Experiments on publicly available datasets show that the accuracy and efficiency increase with LoG‐SLAM when compared with other feature‐based methods, and relocalization accuracy also improves compared with the recently proposed deep learning pipelines.
Frequency analysis in fault detection of dual‐channel BLDC motors with combined star–delta winding
Authors: Korkosz Mariusz , Prokop Jan , Pakla Bartłomiej , Bogusz Piotr
Published: March 2021

This study compares the properties of dual‐channel brushless DC motors with permanent magnets (DCBLDCMs) in three configurations of the stator windings of both channels. An analysis was performed of star‐connected (Y), delta‐connected (Δ), and combined star–delta (YΔ) channel windings. A proprietary mathematical model of a DCBLDCM machine with combined star–delta windings is presented. Each type of winding configuration was evaluated in terms of tolerance to the occurrence of a discontinuity in the channel. An Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analysis of the selected voltage signal was used to diagnose the operating status of the DCBLDCM. It was demonstrated that it provides unambiguous information about the operating status of individual channels of the motor. In the case od 24/10 DCBLDCM design, the harmonic spectra of a selected voltage signal in relation to the artificial neutral point, are presented. The results of simulation tests were compared with the results of laboratory measurements. It was demonstrated that an FFT analysis of a voltage signal in relation to the artificial neutral point identifies a fault in a channel of the motor. When evaluating the characteristics of individual winding configurations, the value of electromagnetic torque, torque ripple, system efficiency, and emitted noise were taken into account. In the conclusions, the advantages of the combined star–delta winding compared to the traditional star and delta winding configurations are presented.