bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Building and testing necessity theories in supply chain management
Authors: Bokrantz Jon , Dul Jan
Published: April 2022

This article contributes to the Emerging Discourse Incubator initiative by presenting how supply chain management scholars can contribute to theory development by means of necessity theories. These are unique theories that inform what level of a concept must be present to achieve a desired level of the outcome. Necessity theories consist of concepts that are necessary but not sufficient conditions for an outcome, where the absence of a single causal concept ensures the absence of the outcome. The theoretical features of necessary conditions have important implications for understanding supply chain management phenomena and providing practical applications. In 2016, Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) became available for building and testing necessity theories with empirical data. However, NCA has not yet been used for the development of supply chain management theories. Therefore, we explain how necessity theories can be built and tested in a supply chain management context using necessity logic and the empirical methodology of NCA. We intend to inspire scholars to develop novel necessity theories that deepen or renew our understanding of supply chain management phenomena.
Religious trajectories of immigrants in the first years after migration
Authors: Khoudja Yassine
Published: April 2022

This paper examines religious change of immigrants from Poland, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Spain in the first years after their arrival in the Netherlands––one of the least religious countries in the world. Religiosity is measured by attendance, praying, and subjective religiosity. Multiple‐group latent growth models are estimated based on four waves spanning a total of 4 years (n = 3354 at Wave 1) to identify religious trajectories. Results show an initial increase in attendance that levels off and ultimately reverses and a steady decrease in subjective religiosity across all immigrant groups. A group‐specific pattern is visible on the praying dimension: Turks show an initial increase that levels off over time and then reverses, whereas the other groups show no substantial change. The analysis suggests that differences in opportunities to attend and exclusion experiences are unlikely to be the main drivers of the immigrants’ religious trajectories.
Spillover effects of quota or parity laws: The case of Ecuador women mayors
Authors: Basabe‐Serrano Santiago , Perez M. Fabricio
Published: April 2022

This article considers whether quota or parity laws designed to improve the representation of women in plurinominal elections have a spillover effect to uninominal elections. It tests empirically the effects of quota and parity legislations implemented in Ecuador for plurinominal elections on the proportion of women elected as mayors. Based on an unpublished database, our results show that, after the implementation of such legislation, the probability of a woman being elected as mayor almost doubles (ceteris paribus). We also find evidence that a possible causal chain effect of the documented spillover effects is the increasing importance of female role models, motivated by institutional changes shaped by the new legislation.
Living with absurdity: A Nobleman's guide
Authors: Preston‐Roedder Ryan
Published: April 2022

In A Confession, a memoir of his philosophical midlife crisis, Tolstoy recounts falling into despair after coming to believe that his life, and for that matter all human life, is meaningless and absurd. Although Tolstoy's account of the origin and phenomenology of his crisis is widely regarded as illuminating, his response to the crisis, namely, embracing a religious tradition that he had previously dismissed as “irrational,” “incomprehensible,” and “mingled with falsehood” seems unpromising, at best. Nevertheless, I argue, Tolstoy's account of his response makes a valuable contribution to contemporary thought about the meaning and absurdity of life. I begin by drawing on classic discussions in the philosophical literature, and on Tolstoy's memoir, in order to characterize the problem of meaning and the problem of the absurd, and to clarify the relation between these problems. I then draw on Tolstoy's account of his response to his crisis in order to characterize a form of faith in our deepest values. I argue that such faith supplies one important part of the story concerning how we might respond to the problem of the absurd — a part that has been overlooked by more recent discussions of these issues.
Evaluation of DNA fragmentation in dog sperm using the sperm chromatin dispersion test
Authors: Monachesi Norma Estela , Gallelli María Florencia , Neild Deborah Margarita , Carretero María Ignacia
Published: April 2022

The study's objective was to adapt the Sperm Chromatin Dispersion (SCD) protocol to evaluate sperm DNA fragmentation and implement a fragmentation control in dogs. Correlation between DNA status and routine sperm parameters was also analysed. To adapt the SCD, two different mercaptoethanol (ME) concentrations were assayed (2.5% and 5%) in fourteen ejaculates from seven dogs and semen incubation with 0.3 M NaOH for 15 min at room temperature was assayed as a control for sperm DNA fragmentation. Data were analysed using a Mann–Whitney test and either Pearson's or Spearman's correlation. The selected ME concentration to use in the SCD test was 5%, as it produced the largest DNA dispersion halo while preserving the core nucleus structure. Four DNA halo patterns were identified as follows: large dispersion halos, medium halos, small halos and nuclei without halos. Semen incubated with NaOH showed 100% sperm without halos (damaged DNA). A significant positive correlation was observed between sperm with fragmented DNA and sperm with coiled tails. Thus, it was possible to adapt the SCD protocol to evaluate dog sperm DNA fragmentation in raw semen without using a commercial kit and establish incubation with NaOH as a DNA fragmentation control. Only coiled tails showed correlation with DNA fragmentation.
The genome of Corydalis reveals the evolution of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis in Ranunculales
Authors: Xu Zhichao , Li Zhen , Ren Fengming , Gao Ranran , Wang Zhe , Zhang Jinlan , Zhao Tao , Ma Xiao , Pu Xiangdong , Xin Tianyi , Rombauts Stephane , Sun Wei , Van de Peer Yves , Chen Shilin , Song Jingyuan
Published: April 2022

Species belonging to the order Ranunculales have attracted much attention because of their phylogenetic position as a sister group to all other eudicot lineages and their ability to produce unique yet diverse benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs). The Papaveraceae family in Ranunculales is often used as a model system for studying BIA biosynthesis. Here, we report the chromosome‐level genome assembly of Corydalis tomentella, a species of Fumarioideae, one of the two subfamilies of Papaveraceae. Based on comparisons of sequenced Ranunculalean species, we present clear evidence of a shared whole‐genome duplication (WGD) event that has occurred before the divergence of Ranunculales but after its divergence from other eudicot lineages. The C. tomentella genome enabled us to integrate isotopic labeling and comparative genomics to reconstruct the BIA biosynthetic pathway for both sanguinarine biosynthesis shared by papaveraceous species and the cavidine biosynthesis that is specific to Corydalis. Also, our comparative analysis revealed that gene duplications, especially tandem gene duplications, underlie the diversification of BIA biosynthetic pathways in Ranunculales. In particular, tandemly duplicated berberine bridge enzyme‐like genes appear to be involved in cavidine biosynthesis. In conclusion, our study of the C. tomentella genome provides important insights into the occurrence of WGDs during the early evolution of eudicots, as well as into the evolution of BIA biosynthesis in Ranunculales.
Optimization of the year‐round mowing schedule of a robotic lawnmower in a Japanese pear orchard
Authors: Hossain Muhammad Zakaria , Watanabe Shoji , Okayama Tsuyoshi , Komatsuzaki Masakazu
Published: April 2022

Commercial robotic lawnmowers have recently gained popularity in orchards. However, more widespread adoption of this technology in orchards requires optimization of the weed cutting height and cutting frequency. To determine the optimum weed cutting height, we tested a robotic lawnmower (Automower 430X, Husqvarna, Sweden) in a Japanese pear orchard at Ibaraki University, Ami, Japan. The mower was operated on short (weed height = 175 ± 42 mm (±SD), medium‐sized (weed height = 286 ± 87 mm) and tall weeds (weed height = 404 ± 118 mm). To determine the optimum cutting height and frequency, we used a weed growth model and data from photogrammetry, weed mechanical properties, and field performance. Our analysis indicates that the mower should be operated when the height of the weed reaches 20 cm. To maintain weed height at <20 cm, the mower, on average, should be operated 10 h week−1 between April 5 and October 13. We believe that the proposed mowing schedule would significantly help the mower tackle field challenges in the orchard.
Experimental analysis of folic acid adsorption on TiO2 thin-films
Authors: Bertel Linda , Ospina Rogelio , Miguel García-Martín José , Miranda David A.
Published: April 2022

TiO 2 thin-films functionalized with specific biomolecules have been used in the fabrication of highly sensitive and selective electrochemical biosensors focused on detecting a variety of diseases. Among the biosensors of scientific and technological interest are those obtained from the functionalization of nanomaterials with folic acid to recognize folate receptors; their importance lies in the fact that these receptors are overexpressed in most abnormal cells, and their identification can allow the detection of tumor cells and the photothermal treatment of cancer. This work presents a methodology for fabricating TiO2 thin-films and functionalizing them with folic acid. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and contact angle measurements were used to examine the adsorption of folic acid on TiO2 thin-film surfaces grown by pulsed laser deposition. XPS and Raman analysis indicated that the interaction of folic acid with the TiO2 surface occurred either through the pteridine ring or through the carboxylic groups of the glutamic acid portion.
Sweating Rate and Sweat Chloride Concentration of Elite Male Basketball Players Measured With a Wearable Microfluidic Device Versus the Standard Absorbent Patch Method
Authors: Baker Lindsay B. , King Michelle A. , Keyes David M. , Brown Shyretha D. , Engel Megan D. , Seib Melissa S. , Aranyosi Alexander J. , Ghaffari Roozbeh
Published: April 2022

The purpose of this study was to compare a wearable microfluidic device and standard absorbent patch in measuring local sweating rate (LSR) and sweat chloride concentration ([Cl−]) in elite basketball players. Participants were 53 male basketball players (25 ± 3 years, 92.2 ± 10.4 kg) in the National Basketball Association’s development league. Players were tested during a moderate-intensity, coach-led practice (98 ± 30 min, 21.0 ± 1.2 °C). From the right ventral forearm, sweat was collected using an absorbent patch (3M Tegaderm™ + Pad). Subsequently, LSR and local sweat [Cl−] were determined via gravimetry and ion chromatography. From the left ventral forearm, LSR and local sweat [Cl−] were measured using a wearable microfluidic device and associated smartphone application-based algorithms. Whole-body sweating rate (WBSR) was determined from pre- to postexercise change in body mass corrected for fluid/food intake (ad libitum), urine loss, and estimated respiratory water and metabolic mass loss. The WBSR values predicted by the algorithms in the smartphone application were also recorded. There were no differences between the absorbent patch and microfluidic patch for LSR (1.25 ± 0.91 mg·cm−2·min−1 vs. 1.14 ±0.78 mg·cm−2·min−1, p = .34) or local sweat [Cl−] (30.6 ± 17.3 mmol/L vs. 29.6 ± 19.4 mmol/L, p = .55). There was no difference between measured and predicted WBSR (0.97 ± 0.41 L/hr vs. 0.89 ± 0.35 L/hr, p = .22; 95% limits of agreement = 0.61 L/hr). The wearable microfluidic device provides similar LSR, local sweat [Cl−], and WBSR results compared with standard field-based methods in elite male basketball players during moderate-intensity practices.
Reliability of Upper-Extremity Muscle Activity and Kinematics During Adaptive Rowing
Authors: Euiler Elizabeth , Finley Margaret
Published: April 2022

Context: The purpose of this study was to determine test–retest reliability of upper-extremity muscle activity and kinematics during submaximal adapted rowing. Design: A repeated-measures design was used. Methods: Data were collected on 10 individuals (7 male and 3 female) with mobility impairment. Surface electromyography of muscles of the dominant arm (upper, middle, and lower trapezius, anterior and posterior deltoid, latissimus dorsi, and infraspinatus) was acquired. Muscle activity was analyzed using the area under the curve, peak amplitude, and mean amplitude. Kinematic analysis determined joint motions for shoulder plane and angle of elevation, and trunk flexion/extension, and rotation at the catch (0%) and finish (100%) of the stroke. Three submaximal rowing trials (20 strokes each) were completed with the middle 10 strokes of each trial averaged for analysis. Results: An interclass correlation coefficient (3, 10) determined test–retest reliability across trials (interclass correlation coefficient defined as poor < .5; moderate .5–.75; and good .75–.9). Moderate to excellent reliability existed across all muscles for the area under the curve, peak amplitude, and mean amplitude. Excellent reliability was seen for all kinematic measures. Conclusion: Results indicate upper-extremity muscle activity and kinematics of the adapted rowing stroke are reliable in a diverse group of individuals with mobility impairment.
Being Involved in Sports or Giving Up: The Effects of Context on Teenage Girls’ Practice in French Disadvantaged Urban Neighborhoods
Authors: Guérandel Carine
Published: April 2022

Despite French policies promoting sports for girls in disadvantaged urban neighborhoods, gender inequalities in practice persist in these areas. Based on the sociology of socialization and Connell’s concept of gender regimes, this article proposes to analyze the effects of sports contexts on the (dis)engagement of girls going through the process of joining a club. The data stem from a number of ethnographic investigations (observations; interviews with athletes [girls and boys] aged 11–17, trainers, and parents, n = 42) conducted in three French disadvantaged urban neighborhoods in three different cities over a total of 5 years of field work. All the sports clubs of the neighborhoods studied were investigated. The results reveal that the forms of socialization favored by the club and the trainers of teenagers might structure feminine interrelationships either favorable to girls’ practice (as in gymnastics) or unfavorable, indeed conflictual (as in soccer).
A unified 3D map of microscopic architecture and MRI of the human brain
Authors: Alkemade Anneke , Bazin Pierre-Louis , Balesar Rawien , Pine Kerrin , Kirilina Evgeniya , Möller Harald E. , Trampel Robert , Kros Johan M. , Keuken Max C. , Bleys Ronald L. A. W. , Swaab Dick F. , Herrler Andreas , Weiskopf Nikolaus , Forstmann Birte U.
Published: April 2022

We present the first three-dimensional (3D) concordance maps of cyto- and fiber architecture of the human brain, combining histology, immunohistochemistry, and 7-T quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in two individual specimens. These 3D maps each integrate data from approximately 800 microscopy sections per brain, showing neuronal and glial cell bodies, nerve fibers, and interneuronal populations, as well as ultrahigh-field quantitative MRI, all coaligned at the 200-μm scale to the stacked blockface images obtained during sectioning. These unprecedented 3D multimodal datasets are shared without any restrictions and provide a unique resource for the joint study of cell and fiber architecture of the brain, detailed anatomical atlasing, or modeling of the microscopic underpinnings of MRI contrasts.
Toward identification of personalized immunological profiles in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Hohlfeld Reinhard , Liblau Roland S.
Published: April 2022

The diversity of four previously unidentified autoantigens found in multiple sclerosis mirrors its notorious clinical variability.
Robots at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics
Authors: Gao Feng , Li Shuo , Gao Yue , Qi Chenkun , Tian Qiyan , Yang Guang-Zhong
Published: April 2022

The 2022 Winter Olympics has shown that robots can serve, protect, and help people excel in many aspects of their lives.
TAU ablation in excitatory neurons and postnatal TAU knockdown reduce epilepsy, SUDEP, and autism behaviors in a Dravet syndrome model
Authors: Shao Eric , Chang Che-Wei , Li Zhiyong , Yu Xinxing , Ho Kaitlyn , Zhang Michelle , Wang Xin , Simms Jeffrey , Lo Iris , Speckart Jessica , Holtzman Julia , Yu Gui-Qiu , Roberson Erik D. , Mucke Lennart
Published: April 2022

Intracellular accumulation of TAU aggregates is a hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases. However, global genetic reduction of TAU is beneficial also in models of other brain disorders that lack such TAU pathology, suggesting a pathogenic role of nonaggregated TAU. Here, conditional ablation of TAU in excitatory, but not inhibitory, neurons reduced epilepsy, sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, overactivation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase–AKT-mammalian target of rapamycin pathway, brain overgrowth (megalencephaly), and autism-like behaviors in a mouse model of Dravet syndrome, a severe epileptic encephalopathy of early childhood. Furthermore, treatment with a TAU-lowering antisense oligonucleotide, initiated on postnatal day 10, had similar therapeutic effects in this mouse model. Our findings suggest that excitatory neurons are the critical cell type in which TAU has to be reduced to counteract brain dysfunctions associated with Dravet syndrome and that overall cerebral TAU reduction could have similar benefits, even when initiated postnatally.
High-Risk Mucosal Human Papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) E6 Protein and Cutaneous HPV5 and HPV8 E6 Proteins Employ Distinct Strategies To Interfere with Interferon Regulatory Factor 3-Mediated Beta Interferon Expression
Authors: Poirson Juline , Suarez Irina Paula , Straub Marie-Laure , Cousido-Siah Alexandra , Peixoto Paul , Hervouet Eric , Foster Anne , Mitschler André , Mukobo Noella , Chebaro Yassmine , Garcin Dominique , Recberlik Sevda , Gaiddon Christian , Altschuh Danièle , Nominé Yves , Podjarny Alberto , Trave Gilles , Masson Murielle
Published: April 2022

Persistent HPV infections can be associated with the development of several cancers. The ability to persist depends on the ability of the virus to escape the host immune system.
ARHGAP1 Transported with Influenza Viral Genome Ensures Integrity of Viral Particle Surface through Efficient Budozone Formation
Authors: Kuroki Takahiro , Hatta Tomohisa , Natsume Tohru , Sakai Nobuaki , Yagi Akira , Kato Kohsuke , Nagata Kyosuke , Kawaguchi Atsushi
Published: April 2022

The endocytic transport of the influenza viral genome triggers the clustering of viral membrane proteins at the plasma membrane to form the viral budozone. However, host factors that promote viral budozone formation in concert with viral genome transport have not been identified.
Comparative Genomics of Synechococcus elongatus Explains the Phenotypic Diversity of the Strains
Authors: Adomako Marie , Ernst Dustin , Simkovsky Ryan , Chao Yi-Yun , Wang Jingtong , Fang Mingxu , Bouchier Christiane , Lopez-Igual Rocio , Mazel Didier , Gugger Muriel , Golden Susan S.
Published: April 2022

Synechococcus elongatus
is a versatile and robust model cyanobacterium for photosynthetic metabolism and circadian biology research, with utility as a biological production platform. We compared the genomes of closely related
S. elongatus
strains to create a pangenome annotation to aid gene discovery for novel phenotypes.
Fecal Microbial Community Composition in Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Patients Is Associated with an Inflammatory State
Authors: Oliver Andrew , El Alaoui Kenza , Haunschild Carolyn , Avelar-Barragan Julio , Mendez Luque Laura F. , Whiteson Katrine , Fleischman Angela G.
Published: April 2022

MPNs are chronic blood cancers in which inflammation plays a key role in disease initiation, progression, and symptomatology. The gut microbiome modulates normal blood development and inflammation and may also impact the development and manifestation of blood cancers.
Ambient heat exposure and COPD hospitalisations in England: a nationwide case-crossover study during 2007–2018
Authors: Konstantinoudis Garyfallos , Minelli Cosetta , Vicedo-Cabrera Ana Maria , Ballester Joan , Gasparrini Antonio , Blangiardo Marta
Published: April 2022

Background

There is emerging evidence suggesting a link between ambient heat exposure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) hospitalisations. Individual and contextual characteristics can affect population vulnerabilities to COPD hospitalisation due to heat exposure. This study quantifies the effect of ambient heat on COPD hospitalisations and examines population vulnerabilities by age, sex and contextual characteristics.

Methods

Individual data on COPD hospitalisation at high geographical resolution (postcodes) during 2007–2018 in England was retrieved from the small area health statistics unit. Maximum temperature at 1 km ×1 km resolution was available from the UK Met Office. We employed a case-crossover study design and fitted Bayesian conditional Poisson regression models. We adjusted for relative humidity and national holidays, and examined effect modification by age, sex, green space, average temperature, deprivation and urbanicity.

Results

After accounting for confounding, we found 1.47% (95% Credible Interval (CrI) 1.19% to 1.73%) increase in the hospitalisation risk for every 1°C increase in temperatures above 23.2°C (lags 0–2 days). We reported weak evidence of an effect modification by sex and age. We found a strong spatial determinant of the COPD hospitalisation risk due to heat exposure, which was alleviated when we accounted for contextual characteristics. 1851 (95% CrI 1 576 to 2 079) COPD hospitalisations were associated with temperatures above 23.2°C annually.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that resources should be allocated to support the public health systems, for instance, through developing or expanding heat-health alerts, to challenge the increasing future heat-related COPD hospitalisation burden.
Polyphenols from Chinese Herbal Medicine: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets in Pulmonary Fibrosis
Authors: Wang Lei , Zhu Ting , Feng Deqin , Li Renshi , Zhang Chaofeng
Published: April 2022

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a highly confounding and fatal pathological process with finite treatment options. Multiple factors such as oxidative and immune/inflammation involve key pathological processes in chronic lung disease, and their intimate interactions mediate chronic lung damage, denudation of the alveolar epithelium, hyperproliferation of type II alveolar epithelial cells (AECIIs), proliferation and differentiation of fibroblasts, and the permeability of microvessels. We reviewed the classic mechanism of PF and highlighted a few emerging mechanisms for studying complex networks in lung disease pathology. Polyphenols, as a multi-target drug, has excellent potential in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. We then reviewed recent advances in discovering phenolic compounds from fruits, tea, and medical herbs with the bioactivities of simultaneously regulating multiple factors (e.g., oxidative stress, inflammation, autophagy, apoptosis, pyroptosis) for minimizing pulmonary fibrosis injury. These compounds include resveratrol, curcumin, salvianolic acid B, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, gallic acid, corilagin. Each phenolic compound can exert its anti-PF effect through various mechanisms, and the signaling pathways involved in different phenolic compounds are not the same. This review summarized the available evidence on phenolic compounds’ effectiveness in pulmonary diseases and explored the molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets of phenolic compounds from Chinese herbal medicine with the properties of inhibition of ongoing fibrogenesis and resolution of existing fibrosis.
Protective Effect of Ginsenosides from Stems and Leaves of Panax ginseng against Scopolamine-Induced Memory Damage via Multiple Molecular Mechanisms
Authors: Wang Ying , Zhang Jun-Jie , Hou Jin-Gang , Li Xin , Liu Wei , Zhang Jing-Tian , Zheng Si-Wen , Su Feng-Yan , Li Wei
Published: April 2022

Although growing evidence has shown that ginsenosides from stems and leaves of Panax ginseng (GSLS) exercise a protective impact on the central nervous system, in the model of memory damage induced by scopolamine, it is still rarely reported. Thus, the mechanism of action needs to be further explored. This study was to investigate the effect of GSLS on scopolamine (SCOP)-induced memory damage and the underlying mechanism. Male ICR mice were treated with SCOP (3 mg/kg) for 7 days, with or without GSLS (75 and 150 mg/kg) treatment for 14 days. After GSLS treatment, the memory damage induced by SCOP was significantly ameliorated as shown by the improvement of cholinergic function (AChE and ChAT), brain tissue hippocampus morphology (H&E staining), and oxidative stress (MDA, GSH, and NO). Meanwhile, immunohistochemical assay suggested that GSLS increased the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and Tyrosine Kinase receptor B (TrkB). Further mechanism research indicated that GSLS inhibited the Tau hyperphosphorylation and cell apoptosis by regulating the PI3K/AKT pathway and inhibited neuroinflammation by regulating the NF-κB pathway, thereby exerting a cognitive impairment improvement effect. This work suggested that GSLS could protect against SCOP-induced memory defects possibly through inhibiting oxidative stress, inhibiting neuroinflammation and cell apoptosis.
Mechanisms of Danggui Buxue Tang on Hematopoiesis via Multiple Targets and Multiple Components: Metabonomics Combined with Database Mining Technology
Authors: Tie Defu , Fan Zhaohui , Chen Dan , Chen Xiao , Chen Qizhu , Chen Jun , Bo Huaben
Published: April 2022

This study aimed to explore the mechanism of action of Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT) with its multiple components and targets in the synergistic regulation of hematopoiesis. Mouse models of hematopoiesis were established using antibiotics. Metabolomics was used to detect body metabolites and enriched pathways. The active ingredients, targets, and pathways of DBT were analyzed using system pharmacology. The results of metabolomics and system pharmacology were integrated to identify the key pathways and targets. A total of 515 metabolites were identified using metabolomics. After the action of antibiotics, 49 metabolites were markedly changed: 23 were increased, 26 were decreased, and 11 were significantly reversed after DBT administration. Pathway enrichment analysis showed that these 11 metabolites were related to bile secretion, cofactor biosynthesis, and fatty acid biosynthesis. The results of the pharmacological analysis showed that 616 targets were related to DBT-induced anemia, which were mainly enriched in biological processes, such as bile secretion, biosynthesis of cofactors, and cholesterol metabolism. Combined with the results of metabolomics and system pharmacology, we found that bile acid metabolism and biotin synthesis were the key pathways for DBT. Forty-two targets of DBT were related to these two metabolic pathways. PPI analysis revealed that the top 10 targets were CYP3A4, ABCG2, and UGT1A8. Twenty-one components interacted with these 10 targets. In one case, a target corresponds to multiple components, and a component corresponds to multiple targets. DBT acts on multiple targets of ABCG2, UGT1A8, and CYP3A4 through multiple components, affecting the biosynthesis of cofactors and bile secretion pathways to regulate hematopoiesis.
SOME RESULTS ON THE LARGEST PARTIAL QUOTIENT IN CONTINUED FRACTIONS
Authors: SHANG LEI , WU MIN
Published: April 2022

Let [Formula: see text] be a function satisfying [Formula: see text] as [Formula: see text]. Write [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text] denotes the largest partial quotient among the first [Formula: see text] terms in the continued fraction expansion of [Formula: see text]. We prove that [Formula: see text] has full Hausdorff dimension for a large class of functions [Formula: see text], which strengthens the result of [L. Fang and J. Liu, On the largest partial quotients in continued fraction expansions, Fractals 29 (2021) 2150099.].
Putative Role of the Kisspeptin/Kiss1R System in Promoting Hypothalamic GnRH Release, Pubertal Maturation, and Regulation of Ovulation Considering the Central Reproductive Axis
Authors: Khan Haroon Latif , Bhatti Shahzad , Sehole Zirva , Younas Hooria , Nathaniel Sammar , Abbas Sana , Kaloglu Celal , Ziders Rachel , Yildiz Aysegul , Isa Ahmed M.
Published: April 2022

Kisspeptin is a class of neuropeptides that are the product of the Kiss1 gene. These neuropeptides play an important role in maintaining gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) levels and their release through hypothalamic neurons. Subsequently, they also play an important role in maintaining gonadotropin levels, as GnRH levels stimulate the release of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), which allow induction of gametogenesis of pubertal maturation. The importance of the Kiss1 gene in reproduction became evident when natural mutations in this gene were discovered, which were associated with hypothalamic hypogonadism (HH) and delayed puberty. Kisspeptin and its KISS1R receptors are expressed in the mammalian ovary. The putative role of the Kisspeptin system in the ovary directly controls oocyte maturation, follicular development, and ovulation in an autocrine and paracrine fashion. These essential facts of kisspeptin and its receptor are necessary to maintain the central reproductive axis.
A Generalization of Self-Improving Algorithms
Authors: Jin Kai , Cheng Siu-Wing , Chiu Man-Kwun , Wong Man Ting
Published: April 2022

Ailon et al. [SICOMP’11] proposed self-improving algorithms for sorting and Delaunay triangulation (DT) when the input instances
x
1
, ... ,
x

n

follow some unknown
product distribution
. That is,

x
i

is drawn independently from a fixed unknown distribution 𝒟

i

. After spending
O
(
n
1+ε
) time in a learning phase, the subsequent expected running time is
O
((
n
+
H
)/ε), where
H
∊ {
H
S
,
H
DT
}, and
H
S
and
H
DT
are the entropies of the distributions of the sorting and DT output, respectively. In this article, we allow dependence among the

x
i

’s under the
group product distribution
. There is a hidden partition of [1,
n
] into groups; the

x
i

’s in the
k
th group are fixed unknown functions of the same hidden variable

u
k

; and the

u
k

’s are drawn from an unknown product distribution. We describe self-improving algorithms for sorting and DT under this model when the functions that map

u
k

to

x
i

’s are well-behaved. After an
O
(poly(
n
))-time training phase, we achieve
O
(
n
+
H
S
) and
O
(
n
α (
n
) +
H
DT
) expected running times for sorting and DT, respectively, where α (⋅) is the inverse Ackermann function.
Planning Your Journey in Audio: Design and Evaluation of Auditory Route Overviews
Authors: Aziz Nida , Stockman Tony , Stewart Rebecca
Published: April 2022

Auditory overviews of routes can provide routing and map information to blind users enabling them to preview route maps before embarking on a journey. This article investigates the usefulness of a system designed to do this through a Preliminary Survey, followed by a Design Study to gather the design requirements, development of a prototype and evaluation through a Usability Study. The design is drawn in two stages with eight audio designers and eight potential blind users. The auditory route overview is sequential and automatically generated as integrated audio. It comprises auditory icons to represent points of interest, earcons for auditory brackets encapsulating repeating points of interest, and speech for directions. A prototype based on this design is developed and evaluated with 22 sighted and eight blind participants. The software architecture of the prototype including the route information retrieval and mapping onto audio has been included. The findings show that both groups perform well in route reconstruction and recognition tasks. Moreover, the functional route information and auditory icons are effectively designed and useful in forming a mental model of the route, which improves over time. However, the design of auditory brackets needs further improvement and testing. At all stages of the system development, input has been acquired from the end-user population and the design is adapted accordingly.
Learning Aspect-Aware High-Order Representations from Ratings and Reviews for Recommendation
Authors: Wang Ke , Zhu Yanmin , Liu Haobing , Zang Tianzi , Wang Chunyang
Published: April 2022

Textual reviews contain rich semantic information that is useful for making better recommendation, as such semantic information may indicate more fine-grained preferences of users. Recent efforts make considerable improvement on recommendation by integrating textual reviews in rating-based recommendations. However, there still exist major challenges on integrating textual reviews for recommendation. On the one hand, most existing works focus on learning a single representation from reviews but ignoring complex relations between users (or items) and reviews, which may fail to capture user preferences and item attributes together. On the other hand, these works independently learn latent representations from ratings and reviews while omitting correlations between rating-based features and review-based features, which may harm recommendation performance. In this article, we capture the aspect-aware relations by constructing heterogeneous graphs from reviews. Furthermore, we propose a new recommendation model, namely AHOR, to jointly distill rating-based features and review-based features, which are derived from ratings and reviews, respectively. To explore the multi-hop connectivity information between users, items, and aspects, a novel graph neural network is introduced to learn aspect-aware high-order representations. Experiments based on public datasets show that our approach outperforms state-of-the-art methods. We also provide detailed analysis on the high-order signals and the aspect importance to show the interpretability of our proposed model.
Modeling Cross-session Information with Multi-interest Graph Neural Networks for the Next-item Recommendation
Authors: Wang Ting-Yun , Chen Chiao-Ting , Huang Ju-Chun , Huang Szu-Hao
Published: April 2022

Next-item recommendation involves predicting the next item of interest of a given user from their past behavior. Users tend to browse and purchase various items on e-commerce websites according to their varied interests and needs, as reflected in their purchasing history. Most existing next-item recommendation methods aim at extracting the main point of interest in each browsing session and encapsulate it in a single representation. However, past behavior sequences reflect the multiple interests of a single user, which cannot be captured by methods that focus on single-interest contexts. Indeed, multiple interests cannot be captured in a single representation, and doing so results in missing information. Therefore, we propose a model with a multi-interest structure for capturing the various interests of users from their behavior sequence. Moreover, we adopted a method based on a graph neural network to construct interest graphs based on the historical and current behavior sequences of users. These graphs can capture complex item transition patterns related to different interests. In experiments, the proposed method outperforms state-of-the-art session-based recommendation systems on three real-world datasets, achieving 4% improvement of Recall over the SOTAs on Jdata dataset.
Individuality Meets Commonality: A Unified Graph Learning Framework for Multi-View Clustering
Authors: Gu Zhibin , Feng Songhe
Published: April 2022

Multi-view clustering, which aims at boosting the clustering performance by leveraging the individual information and the common information of multi-view data, has gained extensive consideration in recent years. However, most existing multi-view clustering algorithms either focus on extracting the multi-view individuality or emphasize on exploring the multi-view commonality, neither of which can fully utilize the comprehensive information from multiple views. To this end, we propose a novel algorithm named
V
iew-specific and
C
onsensus
G
raph
A
lignment (VCGA) for multi-view clustering, which simultaneously formulates the multi-view individuality and the multi-view commonality into a unified framework to effectively partition data points. To be specific, the VCGA model constructs the view-specific graphs and the shared graph from original multi-view data and hidden latent representation, respectively. Furthermore, the view-specific graphs of different views and the consensus graph are aligned into an informative target graph, which is employed as a crucial input to the standard spectral clustering method for clustering. Extensive experimental results on six benchmark datasets demonstrate the superiority of our method against other state-of-the-art clustering algorithms.
Enhancing Ethanol Electrooxidation Stability over PtIr/GN Catalysts by In Situ Formation of IrO2 at Adjacent Sites
Authors: Song Huanqiao , Zhang Shixin , Ma Jialing , Luo Mingsheng
Published: April 2022

PtIr alloy is considered as one of the most promising catalysts for ethanol electrooxidation due to its excellent C–C bond breaking and dehydrogenation abilities. However, a small amount of intermediate species produced by ethanol oxidation can still poison Pt, thereby affecting the stability of ethanol oxidation. Here, graphene supported PtIr nanoparticles (PtIr/GN) with a Pt: Ir atomic ratio of 3:1 is synthesized by a simple hydrothermal reduction and thermal annealing. The physicochemical analyses show that IrO2 is formed in situ in PtIr/GNs (O) during annealing and located adjacent to PtIr alloys. IrO2 and PtIr are evenly dispersed on GNs. The electrochemical results indicate that PtIr/GNs (O) has higher catalytic activity and stability for ethanol electrooxidation than PtIr/GNs. After 1000 voltammetric cycles, the peak current density for PtIr/GNs (O) is 2.5 times higher than that for PtIr/GNs. The outstanding electrochemical performance of PtIr/GNs (O) is derived from PtIr alloy that promotes the cleavage of the C–C bond and weakens the adsorption of Pt to intermediate species, IrO2 that improves the tolerance of Pt to CO-like species and enhances the structural stability of Pt, and PtIr alloy and IrO2 in adjacent positions that synergistically improve the stability of catalytic ethanol oxidation.
GluN3 subunit expression correlates with increased vulnerability of hippocampus and entorhinal cortex to neurodegeneration in a model of temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Beesley Stephen , Sullenberger Thomas , Lee Christopher , Kumar Sanjay S.
Published: April 2022

The role of the GluN3 subunit in NMDAR-mediated pathophysiology underlying TLE is not known. Here, we demonstrate using ASTA (area-specific tissue analysis) that its expression in specific regions of the entorhinal cortex and the hippocampus is correlated with significant cell loss and neurodegeneration, hallmark features of the disease.
Clinical Analysis of Color Doppler Ultrasound Diagnosis of Senile Cataract Based on Intelligent Processor
Authors: Chen Yanyan , Xiao Xuebing , Wu Lan , Liu Yang
Published: April 2022

In order to improve the effect of on-the-spot diagnosis of senile cataract, this paper combines the intelligent processor to explore the application of color Doppler ultrasound in the clinical analysis of senile cataract. Moreover, this paper measures and calculates the diameter, perimeter, area, volume, or velocity of blood flow reflected by color Doppler ultrasound images. In addition, this paper adopts the measurement method provided by composite measurement to design the intelligent processor. Each measurement analysis package is defined as an independent class, and the data, properties, and methods are encapsulated in a class, which is beneficial to the modular design of the program and the overall management of the system. The experimental results verify that the intelligent processor proposed in this paper has a certain effect in the clinical analysis of color Doppler ultrasound diagnosis of senile cataract.
Effect of the Ethanol Extract of Red Okra Pods (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) to Inhibit Cervical Cancer Cells Growth through Cell Cycle-Associated Oncogenes
Authors: Nisa Nabilatun , Wahyuningsih Sri Puji Astuti , Darmanto Win , Purnama Putut Rakhmad , Dewi Firli Rahmah Primula , Soegiarti Tipuk , Karsari Deya
Published: April 2022

This study aims to evaluate the potency of ethanol extract of red okra pods (EEROP) in inhibiting growth of cervical cancer cells through repression of the cell cycle-associated oncogenes. The EEROP treatment was given to HeLa cells cultured with RPMI medium and incubated at 37°C with 5% CO2. The MTT method was used to measure HeLa cell growth and IC50 values. The mRNA levels of the three cell cycle-associated oncogenes (MYC, TYMS, and MDM2) were evaluated by qRT-PCR to determine the effect of EEROP treatment on the cell cycle. The lowest percentage of viable cells at 24, 48, and 72 hours after EEROP treatment was in the dose of 1000 μg/mL with a growth percentage of 71.60% at 24 hours, 55.61% at 48 hours, and 46.97% at 72 hours. The IC50 values were 2845, 1153, and 776.8 μg/mL for 24, 48, and 72 hours, respectively. The three oncogenes at a dose of 1000 μg/mL significantly decreased the lowest mRNA levels compared to other doses with MYC oncogene that experienced the greatest decrease. The mRNA level of dose 1000 μg/mL EEROP at the MYC oncogene was 0.014-fold changes, at the TYMS oncogene was 0.097-fold changes, and at the MDM2 oncogene was 0.028-fold changes. The EEROP has been shown to decrease the expression of three cell cycle-associated oncogenes. This is also supported by the growth of HeLa cells that did not increase throughout 24, 48, and 72 hours. However, further research is needed on the main active components in red okra that function as anticancer, so that in the future, okra can not only stop cancer cell growth but also induce cancer cell death.
Targeting Inhibition of Notch1 Signaling Pathway on the Study of Human Gastric Cancer Stem Cells with Chemosensitization
Authors: Dou Yan , Wang Jinghong
Published: April 2022

Background. Gastric cancer is the second most frequent cause of cancer death worldwide, although much geographical variation in incidence exists. Prevention and personalized treatment are regarded as the best options to reduce gastric cancer mortality rates (Hartgrink et al., 2009). Numerous studies have suggested that Notch1 and its ligands are overexpressed in gastric cancer, and its knockdown can inhibit the proliferation and survival of gastric cancer cells. Objective. To investigate the effect of Notch1 on the stemness and drug sensitivity of human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells. Methods. Highly expressed Notch1 intracellular domain (NICD1) and Notch1-shRNA lentiviral expression vector were used to infect human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells cultured in vitro, and western blot and immunofluorescence staining were used to identify highly expressed NICD and Notch1 silenced cells. The percentage of CD133+ cells was analyzed by flow cytometry, the expression of nestin and CFAP by immunofluorescence staining, the formation rate of tumor cell spheres and the tumorigenicity of SCID mice in vivo, and the regulation of cell stemness by Notch1. The sensitivity of each group of cells to the chemotherapeutic drugs teniposide (VM-26) and carmustine (BCNU) was also detected by the MTT method. Results. The stemness phenotype of tumor cells with the increased NICD expression was enhanced, such as an increased proportion of CD133+ cells, enhanced nestin expression, decreased GFAP expression, increased tumor cell sphere formation rate and tumorigenic rate of SCID mice implantation, and decreased sensitivity to VM-26 and BCNU. In contrast, the stemness phenotype of tumor cells with downregulated Notch1 gene expression was significantly suppressed, while the sensitivity to VM-26 and BCNU was increased. Conclusion. High Notch1 expression increased the stemness of SGC-7901 cells and decreased the sensitivity of SGC-7901 cells to chemotherapeutic drugs.
Suicide versus Accidental Death by Autoerotic Asphyxiation in a Patient Receiving Intravenous Ketamine for Depression
Authors: Weleff Jeremy , Bryant Kelly , Kovacevich Alexsandra , Barnett Brian S.
Published: April 2022

Background. Clinical trials have demonstrated that subanesthetic intravenous ketamine exerts antidepressant effects lasting a week or longer postinfusion, as well as antisuicidal effects starting approximately 4 hours postinfusion and lasting 72 hours or longer. These findings have generated considerable enthusiasm within psychiatry. However, reports of treatment-emergent suicide attempts and completed suicides in some patients receiving ketamine or the ketamine enantiomer esketamine have begun to emerge. Here, we contribute to the small literature on suicide-related adverse events and ketamine with an unusual case of a patient who died either by suicide or accidental death via autoerotic asphyxiation approximately four days after a ketamine infusion. Case Presentation. The patient was a 28-year-old man with major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, autism spectrum disorder without intellectual disability, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, hypothyroidism, low testosterone, and sleep apnea referred for management of treatment resistant depression. His depression briefly remitted with ketamine, and suicidality briefly disappeared. However, these improvements were short-lived. Four days after his seventh and final scheduled ketamine infusion, the patient was found dead, presumably due to autoerotic asphyxiation. Interestingly, ketamine use has been reported in association with autoerotic asphyxiation. However, given our patient’s recent severe suicidality, methods of his past suicide attempts, and family history of suicide, death from suicide seems more likely. Discussion. Here we consider the possibility of whether ketamine may have contributed to the patient’s possible suicide, either via a direct worsening of his suicidality or psychological withdrawal following cessation of treatment, given recent concerns about psychological withdrawal's potential role insuicides following esketamine treatment. Conclusions. Though we are uncertain about the patient’s cause of death, this case provides an opportunity to highlight important gaps in our understanding of the suicide-related risks of subanesthetic intravenous ketamine treatment for mood disorders and suicidality.