bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Case Report: Interventricular Septal Hematoma Complicating Left Bundle Branch Pacing Lead Implantation
Authors: Zheng Rujie , Wu Shengjie , Wang Songjie , Su Lan , Ellenbogen Kenneth A. , Huang Weijian
Published: September 2021

Background: Left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) is a novel physiological pacing and previous studies have confirmed the feasibility and safety of it. The incidence of complications in LBBP is relatively low as reported. Here we present a case of interventricular septal hematoma complicating LBBP lead implantation.

Case summary: LBBP was achieved for treatment of high-grade atrioventricular block in a 67-year-old female. Chest pain began 1 h after implantation when the electrocardiogram showed ST-T changes. Then bedside echocardiography confirmed the formation of interventricular septal hematoma. Urgent coronary angiography showed the contrast agent retention and overflow in the interventricular septum. The symptom was relieved half an hour later. Echocardiogram performed 2 h later revealed the size of the hematoma was the same as before. The electrocardiography, coronary angiography and CTA confirmed the resolution of the hematoma at 1-month follow-up. Pacing parameters and cardiac function remained stable during 6-month follow-up.

Conclusion: This is the first reported case describing the clinic features and management of interventricular septum hematoma complicating LBBP. The importance of routine echocardiograms after implantation for identifying the hematoma should be highlighted.
Sensitivity Analysis of Flash Flood Hazard on Sediment Load Characteristics
Authors: Liu Hongxi , Yi Yujun , Jin Zhongwu
Published: September 2021

Changing climate has raised attention toward weather-driven natural hazards, such as rain-induced flash floods. The flooding model is an efficient tool used in flash flood warning and hazard management. More and more evidence showed significant impacts of sediment on hydrodynamics and flooding hazard of flash flood. But little information is available regarding flooding hazard sensitivity to sediment characteristics, which hampers the inclusion of sediment characteristics into the flash flood warning system and hazard management. This study used a 1D model to simulate flood hazards. After calibrating and validating the hydrodynamic model, we carried out simulations to test the sensitivity of flood hazard to sediment characteristics like inflow point, size distribution, and concentration. Our results showed that sediment from highly erosive slopes affects the flooding hazard more than sediment from watershed. This is particularly true when sediment particles are fine particles with a medium size of 0.06 mm. When medium particle size of sediment increased above 1 mm, most of the sediment particles are deposited in the river and we see little effect on flooding hazard downstream. Sediment concentration significantly influenced the flooding hazard but was less important than sediment inflow point and medium particle size. Our study suggested considering more characteristics than concentration when including sediment particles into the flash flood warning system.
Deformation Bands and Associated FIP Characteristics From High-Porous Triassic Reservoirs in the Tarim Basin, NW China: A Multiscale Analysis
Authors: Yan Wenyuan , Zha Ming , Qu Jiangxiu , Ding Xiujian , Zhang Qinglan
Published: September 2021

Deformation bands are widely formed and distributed in Triassic high-porous rocks as a result of multistage tectonic movement. In this research, core observation, the rock thin section (fluorescence and casting thin section), FIB-SEM, X-ray diffraction, Raman laser, and thermometry of fluid inclusions were employed to describe the macro- and micro characteristics of deformation bands and their associated relationship with microfractures. Results indicate that the main types of deformation bands formed in the Lunnan Triassic high-porosity sandstone during the Yanshanian and Himalayan periods under different temperature and pressure conditions are compaction shear bands, and their quantity increases evidently with the distance of thrust faults. The density of deformation bands near the fault is about 15/m; porosity and permeability decrease sharply compared with those of the host rock. Microscopically, two obtained fluid-inclusion planes (FIPs) can be distinguished as 51 samples collected from 12 wells by the cutting relationship and mechanical characteristics. The homogenization temperature of associated aqueous inclusion is generally characterized by two peaks, mainly 70–80°C and 110–120°C, which were formed in the Late Yanshanian and Late Himalayan periods. The formation period of deformation bands induced by the intragranular microfractures improved the reservoir seepage capacity. In the later stage, as the interlayer and barrier with low porosity and low permeability affects the distribution of oil and gas, which is an important factor in this study of the local fluid dynamic field and high-quality reservoir evolution distribution.
Experimental Investigation on the Cleaning Effect and Influence Rule of Hydrogen Peroxide–Acetic Acid on Lead–Bismuth Eutectic Alloy
Authors: Huang Xi , Pang Bo , Zhou Xuelong , Yin Yuan
Published: September 2021

During the refueling process of lead–bismuth eutectic (LBE)–cooled fast reactors, lead–bismuth alloy can easily adhere to the surface of the fuel rod clads when spent fuel assemblies are unloaded from the reactor core. For some designs, the lead–bismuth alloy attached on the spent fuel rods will be cleaned via physical or/and chemical methods prior to their transportation, storage, and reprocessing. In this article, the cleaning effect of a washing lotion composed of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) aqueous solution and concentrated acetic acid (CH3COOH) as the main components on LBE was experimentally investigated. By adjusting the composition ratio of the washing lotion and the reaction temperature, the law of their influence on the cleaning effect of LBE was determined. The optimal washing lotion composed of 30 Vol% hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution as oxidant, 40 Vol% concentrated acetic acid as acid, and 30 Vol% ultrapure water as the solvent was proposed based on experimental investigations. The optimal working temperature range was also obtained. The reaction intermediate product was characterized with the XRD analysis in order to understand the reaction mechanism. The composition of the released gas (even in a slight amount) was also analyzed with gas chromatography. The hydrogen concentration in the released gas was found to be lower than the detection limit of gas chromatography (10 ppm). Since the explosion limits of hydrogen at atmospheric pressure are between 3.95 and 75.73 Vol%, the risk of possible hydrogen explosion is concluded to be extremely low. Therefore, no special treatment of the released gas is required even in a large-scale industrial platform. Furthermore, corrosion effect of the washing lotion on austenitic stainless steel components was tested as well and found to be negligibly small. The relative mass loss of the thin-walled stainless steel samples immersed in the washing lotion was found to be less than 0.5% after an experimental duration of 144 h, which facilitates sufficient cleaning time in future industrial applications.
Nonlinear Maximum Power Point Tracking Control of Wind Turbine Based on Two-Mass Model Without Anemometer
Authors: Chen Jian , Lu Qun , Chen Libing , Duan Xiaohui , Yang Boping , Duan Wenyong , Zhang Lanhong
Published: September 2021

A nonlinear control without using anemometer is proposed to achieve the maximum power of the wind turbine (WT) based on two-mass model in this paper. To track the maximum power points, the optimal tip speed ratio control strategy requiring to know the optimal rotor speed of the WT (ORS) is employed. To achieve the ORS, a torque observer is designed to estimate the aerodynamic torque, then the ORS can be obtained by the corresponding calculations based on the estimated torque. Due to the high nonlinearities of the WT and time-varying wind speed, a nonlinear control based on feedback linearization control (FLC) is adopted to track the ORS. In the FLC, the WT is linearized firstly, then the rotor speed controller is designed via linear control technique. The effectiveness of the proposed control strategy is verified by simulation studies. The simulation results show that, compared with the traditional PI control based on torque estimation and FLC based on wind speed estimation, the proposed control strategy provides better dynamic performances and higher power conversion efficiency.
Influence of Self-Pulsation on Atomization Characteristics of Gas-Centered Swirl Coaxial Injector
Authors: Jiang Chuanjin , Xie Yuan , Gao Yuchao , Chu Wei , Tong Yiheng , Li Xiuqian , Nie Wansheng
Published: September 2021

There is a lack of understanding of the spray characteristics of gas-centered swirl coaxial (GCSC) injectors during self-pulsation occurs. Therefore, the self-pulsation of a GCSC injector was investigated experimentally in this study. Experiments were conducted at atmospheric pressure with filtered water and dried air supplied through a propellant feed system. A back-lighting high-speed photography technique was used to capture unsteady spray features. A laser-based particle size analyzer (LPSA) was used to measure the size of the droplets in the spray. The effects of recess and gas-liquid ratio on spray self-pulsation were analyzed. It was found that the recess of the injector strongly determines the spray pattern. When spray self-pulsation occurs without recess, both the center and periphery of the spray oscillate. With an increase in the mass flow rate of the gas, the boundary between the center and the periphery of the spray becomes more noticeable. Meanwhile, small droplets in the spray center oscillate, with the periphery of the spray being characterized by a periodic “shoulder.” Under the same operating conditions but with a small recess (2 mm), the spray adheres to the injector faceplate. With a larger recess (7 mm), when spray self-pulsation occurs, the spray periodically forms “shoulder” and “neck,” similar to the behavior of self-pulsation in a liquid-centered coaxial injector. Therefore, it can be concluded that spray self-pulsation enhances atomization at the center of the spray to a certain extent. However, atomization becomes worse in the periphery with an oscillating spray.
Temperature Control of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Based on Machine Learning
Authors: Li Jiawen , Li Yaping , Yu Tao
Published: September 2021

In order to improve the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) working efficiency, we propose a deep-reinforcement-learning based PID controller for realizing optimal PEMFC stack temperature. For this purpose, we propose the Improved Twin Delayed Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (TD3) algorithm, a tuner of the PID controller, which can adjust the coefficients of the controller in real time. This algorithm accelerates the learning speed of an agent by continuously changing the soft update parameters during the training process, thereby improving the training efficiency of the agent, and further reducing training costs and obtaining a robust strategy. The effectiveness of the control algorithm is verified through a simulation in which it is compared against a group of existing algorithms.
Enhancing Uptake of Nature-Based Solutions for Informing Coastal Sustainable Development Policy and Planning: A Malaysia Case Study
Authors: Chee Su Yin , Firth Louise B. , Then Amy Yee-Hui , Yee Jean Chai , Mujahid Aazani , Affendi Yang Amri , Amir A. Aldrie , Lau Chai Ming , Ooi Jillian Lean Sim , Quek Yew Aun , Tan Choo Eng , Yap Tzuen Kiat , Yeap Chin Aik , McQuatters-Gollop Abigail
Published: September 2021

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) have been advocated to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural or modified ecosystems, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits. The uptake of NbS differs regionally with some countries exhibiting greater uptake than others. The success of NbS also differs regionally with varying environmental conditions and social-ecological processes. In many regions, the body of knowledge, particularly around the efficacy of such efforts, remains fragmented. Having an “inventory” or “tool box” of regionally-trialed methods, outcomes and lessons learnt can improve the evidence base, inform adaptive management, and ultimately support the uptake of NbS. Using Malaysia as a case study, we provide a comprehensive overview of trialed and tested NbS efforts that used nature to address societal challenges in marine and coastal environments (here referring to mangroves, seagrass, coral reefs), and detailed these efforts according to their objectives, as well as their anticipated and actual outcomes. The NbS efforts were categorized according to the IUCN NbS approach typology and mapped to provide a spatial overview of IUCN NbS effort types. A total of 229 NbS efforts were collated, representing various levels of implementation success. From the assessment of these efforts, several key actions were identified as a way forward to enhance the uptake of Nature-based Solutions for informing coastal sustainable development policy and planning. These include increasing education, training, and knowledge sharing; rationalizing cooperation across jurisdictions, laws, and regulations; enhancing environmental monitoring; leveraging on existing policies; enabling collaboration and communication; and implementing sustainable finance instruments. These findings can be used to inform the improved application and uptake of NbS, globally.
Genetic Variations and Differential DNA Methylation to Face Contrasted Climates in Small Ruminants: An Analysis on Traditionally-Managed Sheep and Goats
Authors: Denoyelle Laure , de Villemereuil Pierre , Boyer Frédéric , Khelifi Meidhi , Gaffet Clément , Alberto Florian , Benjelloun Badr , Pompanon François
Published: September 2021

The way in which living organisms mobilize a combination of long-term adaptive mechanisms and short-term phenotypic plasticity to face environmental variations is still largely unknown. In the context of climate change, understanding the genetic and epigenetic bases for adaptation and plasticity is a major stake for preserving genomic resources and the resilience capacity of livestock populations. We characterized both epigenetic and genetic variations by contrasting 22 sheep and 21 goats from both sides of a climate gradient, focusing on free-ranging populations from Morocco. We produced for each individual Whole-Genome Sequence at 12X coverage and MeDIP-Seq data, to identify regions under selection and those differentially methylated. For both species, the analysis of genetic differences (FST) along the genome between animals from localities with high vs. low temperature annual variations detected candidate genes under selection in relation to environmental perception (5 genes), immunity (4 genes), reproduction (8 genes) and production (11 genes). Moreover, we found for each species one differentially methylated gene, namely AGPTA4 in goat and SLIT3 in sheep, which were both related, among other functions, to milk production and muscle development. In both sheep and goats, the comparison between genomic regions impacted by genetic and epigenetic variations suggests that climatic variations impacted similar biological pathways but different genes.
Gut Microbial Metabolite Pravastatin Attenuates Intestinal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury Through Promoting IL-13 Release From Type II Innate Lymphoid Cells via IL−33/ST2 Signaling
Authors: Deng Fan , Hu Jing-Juan , Yang Xiao , Sun Qi-Shun , Lin Ze-Bin , Zhao Bing-Cheng , Yao Zhi-Wen , Luo Si-Dan , Chen Ze-Ling , Liu Ying , Yan Zheng-Zheng , Li Cai , Liu Wei-Feng , Liu Ke-Xuan
Published: September 2021

Intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a grave condition with high morbidity and mortality. We previously confirmed that intestinal I/R induces intestinal flora disorders and changes in metabolites, but the role of different metabolites in intestinal I/R injury is currently unclear. Based on targeted metabolic sequencing, pravastatin (PA) was determined to be a metabolite of the gut microbiota. Further, intestinal I/R model mice were established through superior mesenteric artery obstruction. In addition, a co-culture model of small intestinal organoids and type II innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) was subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) to simulate an intestinal I/R model. Moreover, correlation analysis between the PA level in preoperative feces of patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass and the indices of postoperative intestinal I/R injury was carried out. IL-33-deficient mice, ILC2-deleted mice, and anti-IL-13 neutralizing antibodies were also used to explore the potential mechanism through which PA attenuates intestinal I/R injury. We demonstrated that PA levels in the preoperative stool of patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass were negatively correlated with the indices of postoperative intestinal I/R injury. Furthermore, PA alleviated intestinal I/R injury and improved the survival of mice. We further showed that PA promotes IL-13 release from ILC2s by activating IL-33/ST2 signaling to attenuate intestinal I/R injury. In addition, IL-13 promoted the self-renewal of intestinal stem cells by activating Notch1 and Wnt signals. Overall, results indicated that the gut microbial metabolite PA can attenuate intestinal I/R injury by promoting the release of IL-13 from ILC2s via IL-33/ST2 signaling, revealing a novel mechanism of and therapeutic strategy for intestinal I/R injury.
B Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis：Pathogenic Mechanisms and Treatment Prospects
Authors: Wu Fengping , Gao Jinfang , Kang Jie , Wang Xuexue , Niu Qing , Liu Jiaxi , Zhang Liyun
Published: September 2021

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common, chronic, systemic autoimmune disease, and its clinical features are the proliferation of joint synovial tissue, the formation of pannus and the destruction of cartilage. The global incidence of RA is about 1%, and it is more common in women. The basic feature of RA is the body’s immune system disorders, in which autoreactive CD4+T cells, pathogenic B cells, M1 macrophages, inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and autoantibodies abnormally increase in the body of RA patients B cell depletion therapy has well proved the important role of B cells in the pathogenesis of RA, and the treatment of RA with B cells as a target has also been paid more and more attention. Although the inflammatory indicators in RA patients receiving B-cell depletion therapy have been significantly improved, the risk of infection and cancer has also increased, which suggests that we need to deplete pathogenic B cells instead of all B cells. However, at present we cannot distinguish between pathogenic B cells and protective B cells in RA patients. In this review, we explore fresh perspectives upon the roles of B cells in the occurrence, development and treatment of RA.
Mercury Accumulation in Marine Sediments – A Comparison of an Upwelling Area and Two Large River Mouths
Authors: Zaferani Sara , Biester Harald
Published: September 2021

Understanding marine mercury (Hg) biogeochemistry is crucial, as the consumption of Hg-enriched ocean fish is the most important pathway of Hg uptake in humans. Although ocean sediments are seen as the ultimate Hg sink, marine sediment studies on Hg accumulation are still rare. In this context, studying Hg behavior in the marine environment, especially in upwelling environments, is of particular interest due to its importance in these great upwelling regions for the global fishery. There are contradictory statements about the fate of Hg in upwelling regions. Some studies have suggested high biotic reduction of oxidized Hg and gaseous elemental mercury evasion to the atmosphere. More recent work has suggested that in upwelling regions, where productivity is high, evasion of gaseous elemental mercury is diminished due to scavenging and sedimentation of Hg by organic particles. In this study, we compared Hg concentrations and accumulation rates in the past ∼4,300 and 19,400 years derived from sediment cores collected in the Peruvian upwelling region (Peru Margin) and compared them with those of two other cores collected from the sediment fan of the Amazon and a core from the Congo Basin, which is influenced by both seasonal coastal upwelling and discharge from the river. Median Hg concentrations were higher at the Peru Margin (90.7 μg kg–1) and in the Congo Basin (93.4 μg kg–1) than in the Amazon Fan (35.8 μg kg–1). The average Hg accumulation rates in sediments from the Peru Margin (178 μg m–2 yr–1) were factors of ∼4 and ∼39 times higher than those from the Congo Basin (46.7 μg m–2 yr–1) and Amazon Fan (4.52 μg m–2 yr–1), respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the geochemical data set reveals that Amazon Fan sediments are strongly influenced by the deposition of terrestrial material, which is of less importance in the Congo Basin and of minor importance in Peru Margin sediments. Accordingly, Hg export to sediments in upwelling areas largely surpasses that in fans of large rivers that drain large terrestrial catchments. The high Hg accumulation rates in the sediments from the upwelling area and the minor influence of terrestrial Hg fluxes there suggest that atmospheric-derived Hg in upwelling areas is effectively exported to the sediments through scavenging by organic particles.
Simulated Effect of Carbon Black on High Speed Laser Transmission Welding of Polypropylene With Low Line Energy
Authors: Ali M. Mahmood , Dave Foram , Sherlock Richard , Mcilhagger Alistair , Tormey David
Published: September 2021

Laser welding is an important manufacturing tool for a wide variety of polymer products including consumer goods, automotive components and medical devices. The laser process parameters and polymer properties have a significant impact on weld quality. Due to higher heat density generated by the laser transmission welding (LTW) technique, defining a set of suitable parameters for LTW of thermoplastics and composites can be challenging. In this work the effect of carbon black along other control parameters has been investigated for high speed welding using a laser source of 980 nm wavelength with low line energy. In this work, the finite element method (FEM)-based software COMSOL Multiphysics is used to create a 3D transient thermal model for LTW of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) and its composites with carbon black (CB) of concentrations ranging from 0.5 wt% to 1.5 wt%. The design of experiments based on Box-Behnken design (BBD) is used to organize the simulation experiments and mathematical models are developed based on multiple curvilinear regression analysis on the simulation findings. Independent control variables include the laser power, welding speed, beam diameter, and carbon black content in the absorbent polymer. The maximum weld temperature, weld width, and weld depth within the transmissive and absorptive layers are considered as dependent response variables. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis is carried out to investigate the impact of carbon black along with other independent variables on the responses. The welding feasibility check was performed on the basis of melt and degradation temperature of the materials, and weld depths of transmissive and absorptive layers. It has been observed that the composites containing 0.5 wt% and 1 wt% of CB can be welded successfully with neat iPP. However, due to a degradation temperature problem, composites having a larger proportion of CB (>1 wt%) appear to be more difficult to weld.
Effects of Aromatic Thiol Capping Agents on the Structural and Electronic Properties of CdnTen (n = 6,8 and 9) Quantum Dots
Authors: Imran Muhammad , Saif Muhammad Jawwad , Farooq Tahir , Iqbal Javed
Published: September 2021

Thiols are efficient capping agents used for the synthesis of semiconductor and metal nanoparticles. Commonly, long-chain thiols are used as passivating agents to provide stabilization to nanoparticles. Theoretical methods rarely reported aromatic thiol ligands’ effects on small-sized CdTe quantum dots’ structural and electronic properties. We have studied and compared the structural and electronic properties of (i) bare and (ii) aromatic thiols (thiophenol, 4-methoxybenzenethiol, 4-mercaptobenzonitrile, and 4-mercaptobenzoic acid) capped CdnTen quantum dots (QDs). Aromatic thiols are used as thiol-radical because of the higher tendency of thiol-radicals to bind with Cd atoms. This work provides an understanding of how the capping agents affect specific properties. The results show that all aromatic thiol-radical ligands caused significant structural distortion in the geometries. The aromatic thiol-radical ligands stabilize LUMOs, stabilize or destabilize HOMOs, and decrease HOMO-LUMO gaps for all the capped QDs. The stabilization of LUMOs is more pronounced than the destabilization of HOMOs. We also studied the effect of solvent on structural and electronic properties. TD-DFT calculations were performed to calculate the absorption spectra of bare and capped QDs, and all the capping ligands resulted in the redshift of absorption spectra.
Performance of Multiple Metagenomics Pipelines in Understanding Microbial Diversity of a Low-Biomass Spacecraft Assembly Facility
Authors: Wood Jason M. , Singh Nitin K. , Guan Lisa , Seuylemezian Arman , Benardini James Nick , Venkateswaran Kasthuri
Published: September 2021

NASA planetary protection (PP) requires an assessment of the biological contamination of the potential microbial burden on spacecraft destined to explore planetary bodies that may harbor signs of life, like Mars and Europa. To help meet these goals, the performance of multiple metagenomic pipelines were compared and assessed for their ability to detect microbial diversity of a low-biomass clean room environment used to build spacecraft destined to these planetary bodies. Four vendors were chosen to implement their own metagenomic analysis pipeline on the shotgun sequences retrieved from environmental surfaces in the relevant environments at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. None of the vendors showed the same microbial profile patterns when analyzing same raw dataset since each vendor used different pipelines, which begs the question of the validity of a single pipeline to be recommended for future NASA missions. All four vendors detected species of interest, including spore-forming and extremotolerant bacteria, that have the potential to hitch-hike on spacecraft and contaminate the planetary bodies explored. Some vendors demonstrated through functional analysis of the metagenomes that the molecular mechanisms for spore-formation and extremotolerance were represented in the data. However, relative abundances of these microorganisms varied drastically between vendor analyses, questioning the ability of these pipelines to quantify the number of PP-relevant microorganisms on a spacecraft surface. Metagenomics offers tantalizing access to the genetic and functional potential of a microbial community that may offer NASA a viable method for microbial burden assays for planetary protection purposes. However, future development of technologies such as streamlining the processing of shotgun metagenome sequence data, long read sequencing, and all-inclusive larger curated and annotated microbial genome databases will be required to validate and translate relative abundances into an actionable assessment of PP-related microbes of interest. Additionally, the future development of machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques could help enhance the quality of these metagenomic analyses by providing more accurate identification of the genetic and functional potential of a microbial community.
Sustainable Chromium Recovery From Wastewater Using Mango and Jackfruit Seed Kernel Bio-Adsorbents
Authors: Giri Deen Dayal , Shah Maulin , Srivastava Neha , Hashem Abeer , Abd_Allah Elsayed Fathi , Pal Dan Bahadur
Published: September 2021

Wastewater is a rich source of valuable chemicals of industrial importance. However, their economic recovery is crucial for sustainability. The objective of the present work is to recover hexavalent chromium (Cr VI) as a value-added transition metal from wastewater cost-effectively; the biosorbent derived from seed kernels of mango (M) and jackfruit (JF) were applied for removing the metal from simulated wastewater. The functional groups of the biomass were analysed with the help of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, micrographs were generated using a scanning electron microscope, and crystallinity was determined by an x-ray diffractometer (XRD). The concentration of Cr VI in wastewater was analysed by an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). Process parameters (pH, dose, contact time, temperature, and initial concentration) were optimized for efficient Cr VI adsorption using a response surface methodology-based Box–Behnken design (BBD) employing Design-software 6.0.8. The batch experiment at room temperature at pH 4.8 and Cr VI removal ∼94% (M) and ∼92% (JF) was achieved by using a 60-mg dose and an initial Cr (VI) concentration of 2 ppm in 120 min. The equilibrium Cr binding on the biosorbent was well explained using Freundlich isotherm (R2 = 0.97), which indicated the indirect interactions between Cr (VI) and the biosorbent. Biosorption of Cr (VI) followed the pseudo-order and intra-particle diffusion models. The maximum adsorption capacity of the M and JF bio-adsorbent is 517.24 and 207.6 g/mg, respectively. These efficient, cost-effective, and eco-friendly biosorbents could be potentially applied for removing toxic Cr (VI) from polluted water.
In utero Exposure to Valproic-Acid Alters Circadian Organisation and Clock-Gene Expression: Implications for Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Ferraro Sarah , de Zavalia Nuria , Belforte Nicolas , Amir Shimon
Published: September 2021

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by restrictive patterns of behaviour and alterations in social interaction and communication. Up to 80% of children with ASD exhibit sleep-wake cycle disturbances, emphasising the pressing need for novel approaches in the treatment of ASD-associated comorbidities. While sleep disturbances have been identified in ASD individuals, little has been done to assess the contribution of the circadian system to these findings. The objective of this study is to characterise circadian behaviour and clock-gene expression in a valproic acid (VPA)-induced animal model of autism to highlight perturbations potentially contributing to these disturbances. Male and female VPA-exposed offspring underwent circadian challenges, including baseline light-dark cycles, constant dark/light and light pulse protocols. Baseline analysis showed that VPA-exposed males, but not females, had a greater distribution of wheel-running behaviour across light-dark phases and a later activity offset (p < 0.0001), while controls showed greater activity confinement to the dark phase (p = 0.0256). Constant light analysis indicated an attenuated masking response and an increase in the number of days to reach arrhythmicity (p < 0.0001). A 1-h light pulse (150 lux) at CT 15 after 6 days of constant dark showed that both sexes exposed to VPA exhibited a lesser phase-shift when compared to controls (p = 0.0043). Immunohistochemical and western-blot assays reveal no alterations in retinal organisation or function. However, immunohistochemical assay of the SCN revealed altered expression of BMAL1 expression in VPA-exposed males (p = 0.0016), and in females (p = 0.0053). These findings suggest alterations within the core clockwork of the SCN and reduced photic-entrainment capacity, independent of retinal dysfunction. The results of this study shed light on the nature of circadian dysregulation in VPA-exposed animals and highlights the urgent need for novel perspectives in the treatment of ASD-associated comorbidities.
Conditional Control of Instrumental Avoidance by Context Following Extinction
Authors: Campese Vincent D. , Brannigan Lauren A. , LeDoux Joseph E.
Published: September 2021

Using rodents, three training arrangements (i.e., ABB vs. ABA, AAA vs. AAB and ABB vs. ABC) explored whether extinction influences the expression of avoidance in a manner controlled by context. Retention testing following extinction showed that more avoidance responding (i.e., renewal) was observed when extinguished cues were tested outside of the context where they had undergone extinction. In contrast, response rates were significantly lower when stimuli were tested within the context where extinction learning had occurred. These findings add to the emerging literature assessing the role of Pavlovian extinction processes in the development of instrumental avoidance responding by demonstrating conditional control over extinguished responding by context. This study was conducted using a within-subjects approach that minimized the potential for context-outcome associations to bias responding, and thus, reflects hierarchical control over behavior based on the specific associative status of each tested cue in each training context.
Constructing and Tuning Excitatory Cholinergic Synapses: The Multifaceted Functions of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Drosophila Neural Development and Physiology
Authors: Rosenthal Justin S. , Yuan Quan
Published: September 2021

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAchRs) are widely distributed within the nervous system across most animal species. Besides their well-established roles in mammalian neuromuscular junctions, studies using invertebrate models have also proven fruitful in revealing the function of nAchRs in the central nervous system. During the earlier years, bothin vitroand animal studies had helped clarify the basic molecular features of the members of theDrosophilanAchR gene family and illustrated their utility as targets for insecticides. Later, increasingly sophisticated techniques have illuminated how nAchRs mediate excitatory neurotransmission in theDrosophilabrain and play an integral part in neural development and synaptic plasticity, as well as cognitive processes such as learning and memory. This review is intended to provide an updated survey ofDrosophilanAchR subunits, focusing on their molecular diversity and unique contributions to physiology and plasticity of the fly neural circuitry. We will also highlight promising new avenues for nAchR research that will likely contribute to better understanding of central cholinergic neurotransmission in bothDrosophilaand other organisms.
Generalised Analog LSTMs Recurrent Modules for Neural Computing
Authors: Adam Kazybek , Smagulova Kamilya , James Alex
Published: September 2021

The human brain can be considered as a complex dynamic and recurrent neural network. There are several models for neural networks of the human brain, that cover sensory to cortical information processing. Large majority models include feedback mechanisms that are hard to formalise to realistic applications. Recurrent neural networks and Long short-term memory (LSTM) inspire from the neuronal feedback networks. Long short-term memory (LSTM) prevent vanishing and exploding gradients problems faced by simple recurrent neural networks and has the ability to process order-dependent data. Such recurrent neural units can be replicated in hardware and interfaced with analog sensors for efficient and miniaturised implementation of intelligent processing. Implementation of analog memristive LSTM hardware is an open research problem and can offer the advantages of continuous domain analog computing with relatively low on-chip area compared with a digital-only implementation. Designed for solving time-series prediction problems, overall architectures and circuits were tested with TSMC 0.18 μm CMOS technology and hafnium-oxide (HfO2) based memristor crossbars. Extensive circuit based SPICE simulations with over 3,500 (inference only) and 300 system-level simulations (training and inference) were performed for benchmarking the system performance of the proposed implementations. The analysis includes Monte Carlo simulations for the variability of memristors' conductance, and crossbar parasitic, where non-idealities of hybrid CMOS-memristor circuits are taken into the account.
Do Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Genetic Polymorphisms Modulate the Efficacy of Motor Cortex Plasticity Induced by Non-invasive Brain Stimulation? A Systematic Review
Authors: Sasaki Ryoki , Kojima Sho , Onishi Hideaki
Published: September 2021

Techniques of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) of the human primary motor cortex (M1) are widely used in basic and clinical research to induce neural plasticity. The induction of neural plasticity in the M1 may improve motor performance ability in healthy individuals and patients with motor deficit caused by brain disorders. However, several recent studies revealed that various NIBS techniques yield high interindividual variability in the response, and that the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) genotype (i.e., Val/Val and Met carrier types) may be a factor contributing to this variability. Here, we conducted a systematic review of all published studies that investigated the effects of the BDNF genotype on various forms of NIBS techniques applied to the human M1. The motor-evoked potential (MEP) amplitudes elicited by single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), which can evaluate M1 excitability, were investigated as the main outcome. A total of 1,827 articles were identified, of which 17 (facilitatory NIBS protocol, 27 data) and 10 (inhibitory NIBS protocol, 14 data) were included in this review. More than two-thirds of the data (70.4–78.6%) on both NIBS protocols did not show a significant genotype effect of NIBS on MEP changes. Conversely, most of the remaining data revealed that the Val/Val type is likely to yield a greater MEP response after NIBS than the Met carrier type in both NIBS protocols (21.4–25.9%). Finally, to aid future investigation, we discuss the potential effect of the BDNF genotype based on mechanisms and methodological issues.
The Role and Mechanism of AMIGO3 in the Formation of Aberrant Neural Circuits After Status Convulsion in Immature Mice
Authors: Li Xue , Pan Yanan , Gui Jianxiong , Fang Zhixu , Huang Dishu , Luo Hanyu , Cheng Li , Chen Hengsheng , Song Xiaojie , Jiang Li
Published: September 2021

Leucine rich repeat and immunoglobulin-like domain-containing protein 1 (Lingo-1) has gained considerable interest as a potential therapy for demyelinating diseases since it inhibits axonal regeneration and myelin production. However, the results of clinical trials targeted at Lingo-1 have been unsatisfactory. Amphoterin-induced gene and open reading frame-3 (AMIGO3), which is an analog of Lingo-1, might be an alternative therapeutic target for brain damage. In the present study, we investigated the effects of AMIGO3 on neural circuits in immature mice after status convulsion (SC) induced by kainic acid. The expression of both AMIGO3 and Lingo-1 was significantly increased after SC, with levels maintained to 20 days after SC. Following SC, transmission electron microscopy revealed the impaired microstructure of myelin sheaths and Western blot analysis showed a decrease in myelin basic protein expression, and this damage was alleviated by downregulation of AMIGO3 expression. The ROCK/RhoA signaling pathway was inhibited at 20 days after SC by downregulating AMIGO3 expression. These results indicate that AMIGO3 plays important roles in seizure-induced damage of myelin sheaths as well as axon growth and synaptic plasticity via the ROCK/RhoA signaling pathway.
OLFML2A Downregulation Inhibits Glioma Proliferation Through Suppression of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling
Authors: Ma Shize , Duan Lei , Dong Huateng , Ma Xiaodong , Guo Xinyu , Liu Jianli , Li Guoqiang , Yu Yue , Xu Yanlong , Yuan Guoqiang , Zhao Xingkun , Tian Guopeng , Zhai Shijia , Pan Yawen , Zhang Yinian
Published: September 2021

Glioma is a highly heterogeneous and lethal tumor with an extremely poor prognosis. Through analysis of TCGA data, we identified that OLFML2A is a key promotor of gliomagenesis. However, the molecular function of OLFML2A and its underlying mechanism of action in glioma remain unclear. In this study, we found that OLFML2A expression was significantly upregulated in glioma specimens and positively correlated with pathological grades in glioma patients. Moreover, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis of TCGA data revealed that glioma patients with higher OLFML2A expression had shorter overall survival. Importantly, OLFML2A knockdown in glioma cells inhibited cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis. Mechanistically, OLFML2A downregulation inhibits Wnt/β-catenin signaling by upregulating amyloid precursor protein (APP) expression and reducing stabilized β-catenin levels, leading to the repression of MYC, CD44, and CSKN2A2 expression. Furthermore, OLFML2A downregulation suppressed the growth of transplanted glioma subcutaneously and intracranially by inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin pathway-dependent cell proliferation. By uncovering the oncogenic effects in human and rodent gliomas, our data support OLFML2A as a potential therapeutic target for glioma.
Nox4 Promotes RANKL-Induced Autophagy and Osteoclastogenesis via Activating ROS/PERK/eIF-2α/ATF4 Pathway
Authors: Sun Jing , Chen Wugui , Li Songtao , Yang Sizhen , Zhang Ying , Hu Xu , Qiu Hao , Wu Jigong , Xu Shangcheng , Chu Tongwei
Published: September 2021

Receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) has been found to induce osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Via conducting a series of biochemical experiments with in vitro cell lines, this study investigated the role and mechanism of NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4) in RANKL-induced autophagy and osteoclastogenesis. In the current study, we found that RANKL dramatically induced autophagy and osteoclastogenesis, inhibition of autophagy with chloroquine (CQ) markedly attenuates RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis. Interestingly, we found that the protein level of Nox4 was remarkably upregulated by RANKL treatment. Inhibition of Nox4 by 5-O-methyl quercetin or knockdown of Nox4 with specific shRNA markedly attenuated RANKL-induced autophagy and osteoclastogenesis. Furthermore, we found that Nox4 stimulated the production of nonmitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS), activating the critical unfolded protein response (UPR)-related signaling pathway PERK/eIF-2α/ATF4, leading to RANKL-induced autophagy and osteoclastogenesis. Blocking the activation of PERK/eIF-2α/ATF4 signaling pathway either by Nox4 shRNA, ROS scavenger (NAC) or PERK inhibitor (GSK2606414) significantly inhibited autophagy during RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis. Collectively, this study reveals that Nox4 promotes RANKL-induced autophagy and osteoclastogenesis via activating ROS/PERK/eIF-2α/ATF4 pathway, suggesting that the pathway may be a novel potential therapeutic target for osteoclastogenesis-related disease.
COVID-19 Rumor Detection on Social Networks Based on Content Information and User Response
Authors: Yang Jianliang , Pan Yuchen
Published: September 2021

The outbreak of COVID-19 has caused a huge shock for human society. As people experience the attack of the COVID-19 virus, they also are experiencing an information epidemic at the same time. Rumors about COVID-19 have caused severe panic and anxiety. Misinformation has even undermined epidemic prevention to some extent and exacerbated the epidemic. Social networks have allowed COVID-19 rumors to spread unchecked. Removing rumors could protect people’s health by reducing people’s anxiety and wrong behavior caused by the misinformation. Therefore, it is necessary to research COVID-19 rumor detection on social networks. Due to the development of deep learning, existing studies have proposed rumor detection methods from different perspectives. However, not all of these approaches could address COVID-19 rumor detection. COVID-19 rumors are more severe and profoundly influenced, and there are stricter time constraints on COVID-19 rumor detection. Therefore, this study proposed and verified the rumor detection method based on the content and user responses in limited time CR-LSTM-BE. The experimental results show that the performance of our approach is significantly improved compared with the existing baseline methods. User response information can effectively enhance COVID-19 rumor detection.
Agreement and Reliability of Parental Reports and Direct Screening of Developmental Outcomes in Toddlers at Risk
Authors: Giraldo-Huertas Juan , Schafer Graham
Published: September 2021

Developmental screening is a practice that directly benefits vulnerable and low-income families and children when it is regular and frequently applied. A developmental screening tool administered by parents called CARE is tested. CARE contains a compilation of activities to report and enhance development at home. Hundred and fifty-seven families in Bogotá (Colombia) initially responded to a call to participate in developmental screening tools’ validation and reliability study. All children (Average: 42.7 months old;SD: 9.4; Min: 24, Max: 58) were screened directly by trained applicants using a Spanish version of the Denver Developmental Screening test [i.e., the Haizea-Llevant (HLL) screening table]. After a first screening, 61 dyads were positive for follow-up and received a second HLL screening. Fifty-two out of 61 dyads use and returned CARE booklet after 1-month screening at home. The comparative analysis for parent reports using CARE and direct screening observation included (a) the effects of demographic variables on overall and agreement, (b) agreement and congruence between the CARE report classification and direct screening classification (“At risk” or “Not at risk”), (c) receiver operating characteristic analysis, (d) item-Level agreement for specific developmental domains, and (e) acceptability and feasibility analysis. Results and conclusions show the parental report using the CARE booklet as a reliable screening tool that has the potential to activate alerts for an early cognitive delay that reassure clinicians and families to further specialized and controlled developmental evaluations and act as a screen for the presence of such delay in four developmental dimensions.