bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prenatal Developmental Toxicity and Histopathological Changes of the Placenta Induced by Syzygium guineense Leaf Extract in Rats
Authors: Abebe Melese Shenkut , Asres Kaleab , Bekuretsion Yonas , Woldekidan Samuel , Sisay Bihonegn , Seyoum Girma
Published: October 2022

Many of the traditional herbal products are served to the consumer without proper efficacy and safety investigations. A laboratory-based experimental study was employed to investigate the toxic effects of Syzygium guineense leaf extract on the fetal development and histopathology of the placenta in rats. Fifty pregnant Wistar albino rats were randomly allocated into five groups, each consisting of 10 rats. S. guineense leaf extract, at doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg of body weight, was respectively administered to groups I-III rats. Groups four and five were control and ad libitum control, respectively. The number of resorptions, implantation sites, and live or dead fetuses was counted. The weight and crown-rump length of the fetuses were measured. The histopathological investigation of the placenta was conducted. Administration of 70% ethanol extract of S. guineense leaves reduced weight gain and food intake of pregnant rats at

p

value <0.05. The crown-rump length of the near-term rat fetus was significantly reduced in rats treated with 1000 mg/kg body weight of S. guineense extract (

p

value <0.05). The plant extract did not affect the number of implantations, fetal resorptions, live births, and stillbirths. The weight of the fetuses and the placentae also decreased dose-dependently. Decidual cystic degeneration was the most prevalent histopathological change observed in a rat’s placenta treated with 1000 mg/kg body weight of S. guineense extract. Consumption of S. guineense leaves, especially at a high dose, may affect fetal development. Therefore, liberal use of S. guineense leaves during pregnancy should be avoided.
Effect of Mold Flux Containing Ce2O3 on the Contents of Aluminum, Silicon, and Titanium in Incoloy825 Super Alloy
Authors: Xin Geng , Li Boyang , Jiang Zhouhua , Yu Hou
Published: October 2022

The effect of mold flux containing Ce2O3 on the contents of aluminum, silicon, and titanium in Incoloy825 super alloy was investigated based on the slag-steel interfacial chemical reaction experiment between mold flux and alloy. Firstly, the activity model of the CaO-SiO2-Al2O3-Na2O-MgO-CaF2-Ce2O3 slag system was established according to the ion and molecule coexistence theory (IMCT), and the calculation results show that with the increase of Ce2O3 content in the mold flux, the activity of Al2O3 decreases significantly and the activity of SiO2 decreases and gradually tends to 0. Secondly, thermodynamic calculations of the slag-steel interfacial chemical reaction revealed that the main chemical reaction in this study system is [Ti] + (SiO2) = [Si] + (TiO2). With the increase of Ce2O3 content in the mold flux, the slag-steel interfacial chemical reaction is weakened and the oxidation of Al and Ti in steel is inhibited. Finally, the results of slag-steel reaction experiment show that the increase rate of Al content increases from 1.03% to 10.31%, the increase rate of Si content decreases from 55.95% to 31.25%, and the oxidation rate of Ti content decreases from 33.27% to 20.00% when Ce2O3 content in the mold flux increases from 0% to 15% and the slag-steel reaction for 40 mins.
Structural and Morphological Properties of Single and Mixed Halide Pb-Based Perovskites
Authors: Fatema Kanij , Ahmed Mohammad Tanvir , Hossain Md. Kamal , Ahmed Farid
Published: October 2022

Single and mixed-halide perovskite solar cells have attracted much research attention in recent years due to the conditions of low-cost thin film solar cell technology. For this current research, perovskite materials CH3NH3PbCl3, CH3NH3PbI2Cl, CH3NH3PbICl2, and CH3NH3PbI3 have been synthesized and deposited on clean glass substrates by spin coating process. The structural and morphological properties of the prepared thin films have been studied by X-ray diffraction and Scanning electron microscopy. All the perovskite showed fine crystallinity, possessing a tetragonal phase. The average crystallite sizes of the prepared samples are obtained to be 20.77 nm, 30.18 nm, 31.11 nm, and 42.23 nm, respectively. The lattice strain decreased with increasing crystallite size. A drastic change was observed in the morphological properties of the perovskites. The perovskite grains change from microrods to microcube by substituting iodine with chlorine ions.
Crosstalk between the Gut and Brain in Ischemic Stroke: Mechanistic Insights and Therapeutic Options
Authors: Huang Wenjing , Zhu Luwen , Song Wenjing , Zhang Mei , Teng Lili , Wu Minmin
Published: October 2022

There has been a significant amount of interest in the past two decades in the study of the evolution of the gut microbiota, its internal and external impacts on the gut, and risk factors for cerebrovascular disorders such as cerebral ischemic stroke. The network of bidirectional communication between gut microorganisms and their host is known as the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA). There is mounting evidence that maintaining gut microbiota homeostasis can frequently enhance the effectiveness of ischemic stroke treatment by modulating immune, metabolic, and inflammatory responses through MGBA. To effectively monitor and cure ischemic stroke, restoring a healthy microbial ecology in the gut may be a critical therapeutic focus. This review highlights mechanistic insights on the MGBA in disease pathophysiology. This review summarizes the role of MGBA signaling in the development of stroke risk factors such as aging, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and atherosclerosis, as well as changes in the microbiota in experimental or clinical populations. In addition, this review also examines dietary changes, the administration of probiotics and prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation as treatment options for ischemic stroke as potential health benefits. It will become more apparent how the MGBA affects human health and disease with continuing advancements in this emerging field of biomedical sciences.
Solid-Liquid Phase Equilibria of the Quaternary System (LiCl + LiBO2 + Li2B4O7 + H2O) at 308.15 K: Experimental and Theoretical Prediction
Authors: Shen Hongya , Liu Qi , Yang Xiuxiu , Guo Yafei , Li Dan , Meng Lingzong , Deng Tianlong
Published: October 2022

The isothermal dissolution equilibrium method was employed to obtain the solubilities and physicochemical properties of the quaternary system (LiCl + LiBO2 + Li2B4O7 + H2O) at 308.15 K in this work. The dry-salt phase diagram, water-phase diagram, and physicochemical properties, including density, refractive index, and pH against composition in the quaternary system, were established for the first time. The dry-salt phase diagram includes two invariant points, five univariate solubility curves, and four single salt crystalline phase regions (LiCl·H2O, LiBO2·2H2O, LiBO2·8H2O and Li2B4O7·3H2O), respectively. In addition, the physicochemical properties of density, refractive index, and pH in the system change regularly with the changing of the lithium metaborate concentration. Based on the Pitzer model, the mixing ion parameters of θCl,B4O5(OH)4, θB(OH)4,B4O5(OH)4 and Ψ(Li,Cl,B4O5(OH)4, ΨLi,B (OH)4,B4O5(OH)4 and the predictive solubilities in the quaternary system were fitted. Although there is a slight deviation between the calculated and experimental values, the solubility of boron in the quaternary system agrees well, which provides data support for the study of the solubility of boron.
A New Stress Field Model for Semiclosed Crack under Compression considering the Influence of
T
-Stress
Authors: Feng Mingyu , Zhou Xiaoguang , Zhang Yanbin , Wu Saifeng
Published: October 2022

Compression is a typical stress condition for cracks in deep-water structures, where the cracks tend to close from a nonclosed state, due to a certain gap that exists between the surfaces on both sides of cracks. The stress field models around the crack have been established in previous studies, while the crack surfaces are simply assumed in a nonclosed or full-closed state. In fact, the cracks inside deep-water structures are usually in a semiclosed state, leaving the reliability of calculation results in risk. To reflect the actual state of crack, a comprehensive stress field model around the semiclosed crack is established based on the complex potential theory, and the stress intensity factor

K

II

at the crack tip related to the closure amount of crack surfaces, deep-water pressure, friction coefficient in the closed region, and crack inclination angle is derived. The analytical solution of the stress field around the semiclosed crack contains three

T

-stress components, i.e.,

T

x

,

T

y

, and

T

x
y

. The rationality and effectiveness of the proposed stress field model are verified by the isochromatic fringe patterns around the crack obtained from the photoelastic experiment. It reveals that the proposed model can reasonably predict the evolution of the stress field with the closure amount of crack under constant and variable stress conditions.
SN-38 Sensitizes BRCA-Proficient Ovarian Cancers to PARP Inhibitors through Inhibiting Homologous Recombination Repair
Authors: Lin Shengbin , Tian Jiaxin , He Qiang , Yang Minyi , Chen Zuyang , Belogurov Alexey A. , Li Xiao , Zhang Fan , Liu Yongzhu , Chen Guo
Published: October 2022

As a multifunctional protein posttranslational modification enzyme in eukaryotic cells, Poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) acts as a DNA damage sensor, which helps to repair DNA damage through recruiting repair proteins to the DNA break sites. PARP inhibitors offer a significant clinical benefit for ovarian cancer with BRCA1/2 mutations. However, the majority of ovarian cancer patients harbor wild-type (WT) BRCA1/2 status, which narrows its clinical application. Here, we identified a small compound, SN-38, a CPT analog, which sensitizes BRCA-proficient ovarian cancer cells to PARP inhibitor treatment by inhibiting homologous recombination (HR) repair. SN-38 treatment greatly enhanced PARP inhibitor olaparib induced DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and DNA replication stress. Meanwhile, the combination of SN-38 and olaparib synergistically induced apoptosis in ovarian cancer. Furthermore, combination administration of SN-38 and olaparib induced synergistic antitumor efficacy in an ovarian cancer xenograft model in vivo. Therefore, our study provides a novel therapeutic strategy to optimize PARP inhibitor therapy for patients with BRCA-proficient ovarian cancer.
Role of AMPK in Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury-Induced Cell Death in the Presence and Absence of Diabetes
Authors: Kandula Nirupama , Kumar Saurabh , Mandlem Venkata Kiran Kumar , Siddabathuni Aneela , Singh Sanjay , Kosuru Ramoji
Published: October 2022

Recent studies indicate cell death is the hallmark of cardiac pathology in myocardial infarction and diabetes. The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signalling pathway is considered a putative salvaging phenomenon, plays a decisive role in almost all cellular, metabolic, and survival functions, and therefore entails precise regulation of its activity. AMPK regulates various programmed cell death depending on the stimuli and context, including autophagy, apoptosis, necroptosis, and ferroptosis. There is substantial evidence suggesting that AMPK is down-regulated in cardiac tissues of animals and humans with type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome compared to non-diabetic control and that stimulation of AMPK (physiological or pharmacological) can ameliorate diabetes-associated cardiovascular complications, such as myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. Furthermore, AMPK is an exciting therapeutic target for developing novel drug candidates to treat cell death in diabetes-associated myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. Therefore, in this review, we summarized how AMPK regulates autophagic, apoptotic, necroptotic, and ferroptosis pathways in the context of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in the presence and absence of diabetes.
Minor Salivary Gland Surgery and Histopathological Scoring System: A Systematic Review
Authors: Pellegrini Matteo , Pulicari Federica , Kuhn Elisabetta , Scribante Andrea , Spadari Francesco
Published: October 2022

Sjögren’s syndrome is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the exocrine glands with an associated functional deficit. The clinical picture is characterized by symptoms such as dry eyes (xerophthalmia) and dry mouth (xerostomia). The disease is defined as primary if no other autoimmune diseases are associated, otherwise, it is defined as secondary. A systematic review was made using the databases PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, and keywords “biopsy,” “classification,” “clinical pathology,” “salivary glands,” and “Sjogren’s syndrome.” The diagnosis of Sjögren’s syndrome is based on a combination of clinical, serologic, instrumental, and histological features. In addition to ocular tests, a biopsy of the minor salivary glands represents one of the most relevant examinations for the diagnosis. In fact, the evaluation of specific histopathological features represents one of the most important criteria proposed in the last international consensus of 2016, which developed the most recent classification criteria for Sjögren’s syndrome. Knowledge of classification criteria, minor salivary gland biopsy techniques, and histopathological features are essential for the clinician to evaluate the pathology report and make a diagnosis of Sjögren’s syndrome. The aim of this review is to describe the classification criteria of the disease proposed to date, the main biopsy techniques used to analyze the minor salivary glands, and finally, the histopathological diagnostic scoring systems currently applied.
Analyzing Impact of Intellectual Capital on Business Performance Using Structural Models Based on Customer Knowledge Management
Authors: Ameli kalkhoran Seyedeh Maryam , Rabiei Kamran , Seyed Alizadeh Seyed Mehdi , Heravi Hakimeh Morabbi , Rouzpeykar Yaser
Published: October 2022

In the modern era, intellectual capital encompasses all resources within an organization that enhance the value and competence of the organization. Consequently, this indicates that managing intellectual capital effectively will enhance the value and performance of an organization. This study aims to investigate the effects of intellectual capital on business performance through the use of customer knowledge management in the Bank Mellat branches of Iran. In this study, all managers and employees working for Bank Mellat in Tehran are included. Based on Morgan’s table, the sample size was 220 people. Sampling was done by the simple random method. We used a descriptive correlation method to conduct this study and a questionnaire was used to collect data. The questionnaires were scored using a Likert scale. It was confirmed by a consensus of experts that the research instrument was valid, and the reliability of the research was 0.894%. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. According to the results, the dimensions of intellectual capital (human, structural, and relational) have a significant impact on business performance. However, relational capital has been more influential on business performance than other factors.
The Generation of Piano Music Using Deep Learning Aided by Robotic Technology
Authors: Pan Jian , Yu Shaode , Zhang Zi , Hu Zhen , Wei Mingliang
Published: October 2022

In order to improve the accuracy and precision of music generation assisted by robotics, this study analyzes the application of deep learning in piano music generation. Firstly, based on the basic concepts of robotics and deep learning, the advantages of long short-term memory (LSTM) networks are introduced and applied to the piano music generation. Meanwhile, based on LSTM, dropout coefficients are used for optimization. Secondly, various parameters of the algorithm are determined, including the effects of the number of iterations and neurons in the hidden layer on the effect of piano music generation. Finally, the generated music sequence spectrograms are analyzed to illustrate the accuracy and rationality of the algorithm. The spectrograms are compared with the music sequence spectrograms generated by the traditional restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM) music generation algorithm. The results show that (1) when the dropout coefficient value is 0.7, the function converges faster, and the experimental results are better; (2) when the number of iterations is 6000, the error between the generated music sequence and the original music is the smallest; (3) the number of hidden layers of the network is set to 4. When the number of neurons in each hidden layer is set to 1024, the training result of the network is optimal; (4) compared with the traditional RBM piano music generation algorithm, the LSTM-based algorithm and the sampling frequency distribution tend to be consistent with the original sample. The results show that the network has good performance in music generation and can provide a certain reference for automatic music generation.
A Novel Risk Model for lncRNAs Associated with Oxidative Stress Predicts Prognosis of Bladder Cancer
Authors: Feng Lixiang , Yang Kang , Kuang Qihui , Peng Min , Li Lili , Luo Pengcheng
Published: October 2022

Background. Oxidative stress (OS) reactions are closely related to the development and progression of bladder cancer (BCa). This project aimed to identify new potential biomarkers to predict the prognosis of BCa and improve immunotherapy. Methods. We downloaded transcriptomic information and clinical data on BCa from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Screening for OS genes was statistically different between tumor and adjacent normal tissue. A coexpression analysis between lncRNAs and differentially expressed OS genes was performed to identify OS-related lncRNAs. Then, differentially expressed oxidative stress lncRNAs (DEOSlncRNAs) between tumors and normal tissues were identified. Univariate/multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to select the lncRNAs for risk assessment. LASSO analysis was conducted to establish a prognostic model. The prognostic risk model could accurately predict BCa patient prognosis and reveal a close correlation with clinicopathological features. We analyzed the principal component analysis (PCA), immune microenvironment, and half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) in the risk groups. Results. We constructed a model containing eight DEOSlncRNAs (AC021321.1, AC068196.1, AC008750.1, SETBP1-DT, AL590617.2, THUMPD3-AS1, AC112721.1, and NR4A1AS). The prognostic risk model showed better results in predicting the prognosis of BCa patients and was strongly correlated with clinicopathological characteristics. We found great agreement between the calibration plots and prognostic predictions in this model. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUCs) at 1, 3, and 5 years were 0.792, 0.804, and 0.843, respectively. This model also showed good predictive ability regarding the tumor microenvironment and tumor mutation burden. In addition, the high-risk group was more sensitive to eight therapeutic agents, and the low-risk group was more responsive to five therapeutic agents. Sixteen immune checkpoints were significantly different between the two risk groups. Conclusion. Our eight DEOSlncRNA risk models provide new insights into predicting prognosis and clinical progression in BCa patients.
Ageing-Associated Transcriptomic Alterations in Peri-Implantitis Pathology: A Bioinformatic Study
Authors: Tian Zhaojun
Published: October 2022

Background. Ageing is associated with increased incidence of peri-implantitis but the roles of ageing-associated biological mechanisms in the occurrence of peri-implantitis are not known. This study is aimed at performing integrative bioinformatic analysis of publically available datasets to uncover molecular mechanisms related to ageing and peri-implantitis. Methods. Gene expression datasets related to ageing and peri-implantitis (PI) were sought, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analysed. Ageing-related genes were also identified from the “Aging Atlas” database. Using intersection analysis, an age-related-PI gene set was identified. Functional enrichment analysis for enriched GO biological process and KEGG pathways, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, correlation analysis, and immune cell infiltration analysis to determine high-abundance immune cells were performed. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression identified key age-related-PI genes. Transcription factor-gene and drug-gene interactions and enriched KEGG pathways for the key age-related-PI genes were determined. Results. A total of 52 genes were identified as age-related-PI genes and found enriched in several inflammation-associated processes including myeloid leukocyte activation, acute inflammatory response, mononuclear cell differentiation, B cell activation, NF-kappa B signalling, IL-17 signalling, and TNF signalling. LYN, CDKN2A, MAPT, BTK, and PRKCB were hub genes in the PPI network. Immune cell infiltration analysis showed activated dendritic cells, central memory CD4 T cells, immature dendritic cells, and plasmacytoid dendritic cells were highly abundant in PI and ageing. 7 key age-related PI genes including ALOX5AP, EAF2, FAM46C, GZMK, MAPT, RGS1, and SOSTDC1 were identified using LASSO with high predictive values and found to be enriched in multiple neurodegeneration-associated pathways, MAPK signalling, and Fc epsilon RI signalling. MAPT and ALOX5AP were associated with multiple drugs and transcription factors and interacted with other age-related genes to regulate multiple biological pathways. Conclusion. A suite of bioinformatics analysis identified a 7-signature gene set highly relevant to cooccurrence of ageing and peri-implantitis and highlighted the role of neurodegeneration, autoimmune, and inflammation related pathways. MAPT and ALOX5AP were identified as key candidate target genes for clinical translation.
Unveiling the Noncanonical Autophagy-Independent Role of ATG7 and ATG9B in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)
Authors: Guo Yibo , Sun Yiting , Chen Mingtao , Feng Yisheng , Zhang Xu , Ji Tong , Liu Zheqi , Zhang Yu
Published: October 2022

The role of autophagy in cancer remains elusive, and nontargeted autophagy inhibitors have limited therapeutic effects in HNSCC. Here, we systematically analyzed the correlation of autophagy-related genes in HNSCC through TCGA and single-cell sequencing data (GSE103322). ATG9B and ATG7 were found to have noncanonical autophagy-independent functions in HNSCC. Specifically, ATG9B was a protective factor in HNSCC patients through downregulating cancer cell EMT, and ATG7 was correlated with the immunosuppressive environment in HNSCC. Mechanistically, single-cell analysis revealed that ATG9B increased the epithelial phenotype of cancer cells but did not influence EMT signaling pathways. ATG7 was strongly correlated with elevated immunosuppressive checkpoints like PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA4 in HNSCC. Further single-cell analysis and multiple immunofluorescence colocalization analyses indicated that ATG7 contributed to the high expression of PD-L1 in myeloid cells but not cancer cells. Collectively, our results revealed noncanonical autophagy-independent functions of autophagy-related genes. These results increase understanding of the intricacies of autophagy and may contribute to precision treatment using autophagy-targeted therapies.
On

η
,
γ

f
,
g

-Contractions in Extended
b
-Metric Spaces
Authors: Patil Jayashree , Hardan Basel , Hamoud Ahmed A. , Bachhav Amol , Emadifar Homan , Ghanizadeh Afshin , Edalatpanah Seyyed Ahmad , Azizi Hooshmand
Published: October 2022

In this paper, we give a concept of

η
,
γ

f
,
g

-contraction in the setting of expanded

b

–metric spaces and discuss the existence and uniqueness of a common fixed point. Introduced results generalize well-known fixed point theorems on contraction conditions and in the given spaces.
Small-Scale and Occluded Pedestrian Detection Using Multi Mapping Feature Extraction Function and Modified Soft-NMS
Authors: Assefa Addis Abebe , Tian Wenhong , Acheampong Kingsley Nketia , Aftab Muhammad Umar , Ahmad Muhammad
Published: October 2022

In autonomous driving and Intelligent transportation systems, pedestrian detection is vital in reducing traffic accidents. However, detecting small-scale and occluded pedestrians is challenging due to the ineffective utilization of the low-feature content of small-scale objects. The main reasons behind this are the stochastic nature of weight initialization and the greedy nature of nonmaximum suppression. To overcome the aforesaid issues, this work proposes a multifocus feature extractor module by fusing feature maps extracted from the Gaussian and Xavier mapping function to enhance the effective receptive field. We also employ a focused attention feature selection on a higher layer feature map of the single shot detector (SSD) region proposal module to blend with its low-layer feature to tackle the vanishing of the feature detail due to convolution and pooling operation. In addition, this work proposes a decaying nonmaximum suppression function considering score and Intersection Over Union (IOU) parameters to tackle high miss rates caused by greedy nonmaximum suppression used by SSD. Extensive experiments have been conducted on the Caltech pedestrian dataset with the original annotations and the improved annotations. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, particularly for small and occluded pedestrians.
Data Science Analysis Method Design via Big Data Technology and Attention Neural Network
Authors: Ren Yizhong
Published: October 2022

Because of the rapid expansion of big data technology, time series data is on the rise. These time series data include a lot of hidden information, and mining and evaluating hidden information is very important in finance, medical care, and transportation. Time series data forecasting is a data science analysis application, yet present time series data forecasting models do not completely account for the peculiarities of time series data. Traditional machine learning algorithms extract data features through artificially designed rules, while deep learning learns abstract representations of data through multiple processing layers. This not only saves the step of manually extracting features, but also greatly improves generalization performance for model. Therefore, this work utilizes big data technology to collect corresponding time series data and then uses deep learning to study the problem of time series data prediction. This work proposes a time series data prediction analysis network (TSDPANet). First, this work improves the traditional Inception module and proposes a feature extraction module suitable for 2D time series data. In 2D convolution, this solves the inefficiency of time series. Second, the notion of feature attention method for time series features is proposed in this study. The model focuses the neural network’s data on the effectiveness of several measures. The feature attention module is used to assign different weights to different features according to their importance, which can effectively enhance and weaken the features. Third, this work conducts multi-faceted experiments on the proposed method.
Serum Uromodulin Is a Possible Auxiliary Diagnostic Tool for Acute Tubular Injury and Acute Interstitial Nephritis: A Case Series
Authors: Usui Ryosuke , Ogawa Tetsuya , Iwasaki Chihiro , Nitta Kosaku , Koike Minako
Published: October 2022

Recently, the usefulness of serum uromodulin (sUmod) as a novel renal biomarker has been attracting attention. Clinical evidence regarding sUmod measurements has been accumulated by analyzing cross-sectional data. However, little is known about the longitudinal data on sUmod. Therefore, we decided to investigate the variability of sUmod in patients with acute kidney injury due to different causes. High concentrations of sUmod have been observed in patients with acute tubular injury (ATI) and/or acute interstitial nephritis (AIN). sUmod could be used as an auxiliary diagnostic tool for ATI and AIN.
Allergy, Anaphylaxis, and Nonallergic Hypersensitivity: IgE, Mast Cells, and Beyond
Authors: Vitte Joana , Vibhushan Shamila , Bratti Manuela , Montero-Hernandez Juan Eduardo , Blank Ulrich
Published: October 2022

IgE-mediated type I hypersensitivity reactions have many reported beneficial functions in immune defense against parasites, venoms, toxins, etc. However, they are best known for their role in allergies, currently affecting almost one third of the population worldwide. IgE-mediated allergic diseases result from a maladaptive type 2 immune response that promotes the synthesis of IgE antibodies directed at a special class of antigens called allergens. IgE antibodies bind to type I high-affinity IgE receptors (FcεRI) on mast cells and basophils, sensitizing them to get triggered in a subsequent encounter with the cognate allergen. This promotes the release of a large variety of inflammatory mediators including histamine responsible for the symptoms of immediate hypersensitivity. The development of type 2-driven allergies is dependent on a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors at barrier surfaces including the host microbiome that builds up during early life. While IgE-mediated immediate hypersensitivity reactions are undoubtedly at the origin of the majority of allergies, it has become clear that similar responses and symptoms can be triggered by other types of adaptive immune responses mediated via IgG or complement involving other immune cells and mediators. Likewise, various nonadaptive innate triggers via receptors expressed on mast cells have been found to either directly launch a hypersensitivity reaction and/or to amplify existing IgE-mediated responses. This review summarizes recent findings on both IgE-dependent and IgE-independent mechanisms in the development of allergic hypersensitivities and provides an update on the diagnosis of allergy.
Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Are More Likely to Fail Growth Hormone Stimulation Testing than Children without Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Retrospective Chart Review
Authors: Tonyushkina Ksenia N. , Obi Obiageli , Visintainer Paul , Cobb Victoria , Reiter Edward , Allen Holley F.
Published: October 2022

Introduction: Children with ADHD often present to pediatric endocrinologists due to growth concerns. Growth hormone stimulation testing (GHST) may be utilized as part of the workup. We evaluate whether children with ADHD and short stature or growth failure are more likely to fail GHST compared to children without ADHD. Methods: We retrospectively studied children who underwent GHST as part of evaluation for short stature and/or growth failure and had an intact pituitary over a 16-year period (2002–2018). We performed univariate and logistic regression analyses with stratification by age. Results: We included 260 children; 78 children had ADHD and were older, mean age (±SD) 12.2 (±2.6) years versus children without ADHD, mean age (±SD) 10.4 (±3.8) years. The population was largely Caucasian, and boys outnumbered the girls. Of the children with ADHD, only 9 were not medically treated. There was no difference in z-scores for height, weight, and BMI, or mid-parental height between the two groups. We found that children with ADHD were more likely to fail GHST than children without ADHD across the peak GH cut-offs of 10, 7, and 5 ng/mL (p = 0.003, p = 0.023, and p = 0.046 accordingly). The same trend persisted after regression analysis with adjustment for sex and stratification by age, and effect was more robust in the older group. Discussion: The result shows higher likelihood of lower GH peaks in response to GHST in children with ADHD and short stature or impaired linear growth. Future work should evaluate possible mechanistic explanation and the role of psycho-stimulant medications.
Physiological Bases for the Superiority of Apolipoprotein B Over Low‐Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Non–High‐Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol as a Marker of Cardiovascular Risk
Authors: Glavinovic Tamara , Thanassoulis George , de Graaf Jacqueline , Couture Patrick , Hegele Robert A. , Sniderman Allan D.
Published: October 2022

In 2019, the European Society of Cardiology/European Atherosclerosis Society stated that apolipoprotein B (apoB) was a more accurate marker of cardiovascular risk than low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) and non–high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol. Since then, the evidence has continued to mount in favor of apoB. This review explicates the physiological mechanisms responsible for the superiority of apoB as a marker of the cardiovascular risk attributable to the atherogenic apoB lipoprotein particles chylomicron remnants, very low‐density lipoprotein, and low‐density lipoprotein particles. First, the nature and relative numbers of these different apoB particles will be outlined. This will make clear why low‐density lipoprotein particles are almost always the major determinants of cardiovascular risk and why the concentrations of triglycerides and LDL‐C may obscure this relation. Next, the mechanisms that govern the number of very low‐density lipoprotein and low‐density lipoprotein particles will be outlined because, except for dysbetalipoproteinemia, the total number of apoB particles determines cardiovascular risk, Then, the mechanisms that govern the cholesterol mass within very low‐density lipoprotein and low‐density lipoprotein particles will be reviewed because these are responsible for the discordance between the mass of cholesterol within apoB particles, measured either as LDL‐C or non–high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and the number of apoB particles measured as apoB, which creates the superior predictive power of apoB over LDL‐C and non–high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol. Finally, the major apoB dyslipoproteinemias will be briefly outlined. Our objective is to provide a physiological framework for health care givers to understand why apoB is a more accurate marker of cardiovascular risk than LDL‐C or non–high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol.
Progressive and Simultaneous Right and Left Atrial Remodeling Uncovered by a Comprehensive Magnetic Resonance Assessment in Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Gunturiz‐Beltrán Clara , Nuñez‐Garcia Marta , Althoff Till F. , Borràs Roger , Figueras i Ventura Rosa M. , Garre Paz , Caixal Gala , Prat‐González Susanna , Perea Rosario J. , Benito Eva Maria , Tolosana Jose Maria , Arbelo Elena , Roca‐Luque Ivo , Brugada Josep , Sitges Marta , Mont Lluís , Guasch Eduard
Published: October 2022

Background

Left atrial structural remodeling contributes to the arrhythmogenic substrate of atrial fibrillation (AF), but the role of the right atrium (RA) remains unknown. Our aims were to comprehensively characterize right atrial structural remodeling in AF and identify right atrial parameters predicting recurrences after ablation.

Methods and Results

A 3.0 T late gadolinium enhanced–cardiac magnetic resonance was obtained in 109 individuals (9 healthy volunteers, 100 patients with AF undergoing ablation). Right and left atrial volume, surface, and sphericity were quantified. Right atrial global and regional fibrosis burden was assessed with validated thresholds. Patients with AF were systematically followed after ablation for recurrences. Progressive right atrial dilation and an increase in sphericity were observed from healthy volunteers to patients with paroxysmal and persistent AF; fibrosis was similar among the groups. The correlation between parameters recapitulating right atrial remodeling was mild. Subsequently, remodeling in both atria was compared. The RA was larger than the left atrium (LA) in all groups. Fibrosis burden was higher in the LA than in the RA of patients with AF, whereas sphericity was higher in the LA of patients with persistent AF only. Fibrosis, volume, and surface of the RA and LA, but not sphericity, were strongly correlated. Tricuspid regurgitation predicted right atrial volume and shape, whereas diabetes was associated with right atrial fibrosis burden; sex and persistent AF also predicted right atrial volume. Fibrosis in the RA was mostly located in the inferior vena cava–RA junction. Only right atrial sphericity is significantly associated with AF recurrences after ablation (hazard ratio, 1.12 [95% CI, 1.01–1.25]).

Conclusions

AF progression associates with right atrial remodeling in parallel with the LA. Right atrial sphericity yields prognostic significance after ablation.
Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance: Unravelling the Narratives
Authors: Ruppar Andrea L. , Kurth Jennifer A. , McCabe Katie M. , Toews Samantha G. , McQueston Jessica A. , Johnston Russell
Published: October 2022

In this qualitative study, we analyzed the language used by professionals within iep documents for students with disabilities. Viewing the iep as a narrative, and using positioning theory as guiding framework, statements of present levels of academic and functional performance in iep s for 88 students in grades K-12 in the United States were analyzed. Findings revealed that students were negatively positioned through the skills that were reported, the data that were reported, and problems located in the student rather in the environment. Implications for policy, practice, and research are provided.
The Native Roots of Early English Reformation Theology
Authors: Stackhouse Ian
Published: October 2022

The rapid spread of Lutherʼs theology following the events at Wittenberg is one that is historically well attested. However, in this essay Ian Stackhouse questions the impact that the Reformation in Europe in these early years has upon England. Although Luther and Zwingli undoubtedly have their place in English Reformation historiography, the point being made here is that early English Reformation theology owes as much to the enduring strength of a native brand of heresay dating back to Wycliffe and the Lollards. Promoting a biblical morality coupled with a mild iconoclasticism it is Lollardy that surfaces as much as anything else on the English scene. According to the writer this holds true both at the popular level and the academic level. In particular he focuses on the works of William Tyndale and presents him in the final analysis as more a disciple of Wycliffe than Luther.
2. Human Environmental Aesthetics
Authors: Hamann-Rose Paul Hamann-Rose
Published: October 2022

This chapter introduces the concepts of the molecular sublime and the molecular grotesque as key aesthetics in twenty-first-century cultural representations of life at the molecular level. The aesthetics of the sublime and the grotesque as they manifest in the cultural imagination of the molecular and the microbial indicate a particular cluster of concerns and anxieties about the relation between the human and the molecular scales. Moreover, imagining the life around us and questioning the often unsettlingly porous boundaries between individual and environment, has acquired special urgency as humanity is attempting to re-define its ecological practices and self-understanding. The epistemological and affective connotations of the sublime and the grotesque can illuminate such human-environment continuities, but also obstruct the self-awareness that would make such connections meaningful to readers and spectators.

This chapter argues that while the sublime affords spectacular vistas on the very small scales of life, it may be the grotesque molecular and microbial distortions of our familiar selves, and the vision of the human body as molecular and microbial landscape, that prove the more productive aesthetic for crossing the distance between the visible and the imagined that often precludes an understanding of how the molecular relates to us. The chapter traces the aesthetics of the molecular sublime and the molecular grotesque across multiple genres, discussing examples from novels, popular science writing and poetry.
6. Neurocomics and Neuroimaging
Authors: Tougaw Jason
Published: October 2022

Like many works of neuro-narratives, neurocomics ask, in philosopher Catherine Malabou’s words, what should we do with our brain? How might we understand its relation to identity? How should we live with it, study it, or write about it? Like so many twenty-first-century brain narratives, both texts conceive the physical brain as central to the stories they tell, the conflicts they plot, and the characters they portray; both genres engage brain research, translating neurobiological theories into literary experiments. Their creators experiment with narrative forms that may frame new views on the relationship between brain matter and the immaterial experiences that compose a self—what philosophers call phenomenology. Because neurocomics emphasize the construction of images of the brain, they can be used as a lens to understand medical brain imaging. fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging), PET (positron emission tomography), and SPECT (signal photon emission computed tomography) are often described as though they offer direct images of brains at work, rather than images of brains created through a complex process of measurement, statistical analysis, and computer-aided representations. In simple terms, like comics, such technologies are representations of the brain, not direct access to it.
11. The Narrative and Aesthetic Strategies of Climate Change Comics
Authors: Squier Susan
Published: October 2022

How do we get the news about climate change to readers resistant to it? As a hyperobject, climate change is too big to think about, too traumatic to envision. Both imagination and reason recoil from this wicked problem. In this chapter, I survey a range of recent graphic narratives about climate change, showing how they address the narrative and aesthetic challenges posed by climate change by drawing on strategies specific to the comics medium. These climate change comics feature a narrative structure which see-saws between large scale non-fiction reporting and small-scale fictional interludes and an aesthetic strategy which toggles between a focus on the individual life course and attention to expansively scaled complexities. Presenting an affectively charged picture of the present while incorporating the biological discourses of ecology, epigenetics, and extinction, these climate change comics challenge our climate denial and offer a template for deep adaptation.
Fe-ZIF-67-Derived FeCo/NC for Alkaline Water Splitting
Authors: Yang Wenjie , Tang Xiaolan , Jiang Honghui , Liu Juan , Sagar Rizwan Ur Rehman , Deng Yiqun , Qi Xiaopeng , Liang Tongxiang
Published: October 2022

Many results have demonstrated that non-noble metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are good candidates as efficient catalyst templates for water splitting. In this syudy, Fe3+-containing ZIF-67 template is synthesized using the coprecipitation. We find that after pyrolysis Co2Fe4/NC exhibits excellent HER and OER catalytic activities with overpotential (the current density is 10 mA cm−2) values of 135 and 282 mV, respectively. In the overall water-splitting test, after running for 1000 cycles, the required voltage only increases by 24 mV from the onset of voltage 1.619 V. These superior results can be attributed to introduction of Fe3+into the matrix and the increased active sites, which redistributes the d-band electron of Co atoms for better performance.
Preparation and Optimization of MnO2 Nanoparticles
Authors: Zhou Shuwen , Wang Qing , Chen Jun , Shen Yue , Liu Li , Wang Cheng
Published: October 2022

Manganese dioxide (MnO2) is one of the commonly applied inorganic material which is gaining increasing attentions in recent years. However, preparation and optimization of MnO2 nanoparticles have rarely been studied by previous studies, making the mechanisms responsible
for preparation of MnO2 remaining largely unknown. Here in this study, we synthesized MnO2 through reduction of potassium permanganate (KMnO4) using different reductants, including protein, polymers and small molecule organic acids. It was suggested that, stable
MnO2 nanoparticles can only be obtained in balanced synthesis/stabilization process which requires the reductant to have proper reducibility and stabilization ability at the right charge ratios. Our results concluded that, among these materials, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) K30 showed
the best performance at the charge ratio of 8/3 (w/w, PVP K30 to KMnO4, under given reaction conditions, which resulted in nanoparticles (hydrodynamic size: 79.72±31.53) with high stability and well dispersity, which was then selected as the optimal formulation.
Calculation of Phonon Vibrational Spectra Superconductivity of Calcium Dinitride by Theoretical Calculation
Authors: Zhang Li-Qin , Zhang Jin-Feng , Li-Ming  , Zhu Meng-Zheng , Xu Shi-Tao
Published: October 2022

By theoretical calculation, the crystal structure, stability, and electron-phonon interactions of calcium dinitride (CaN2) have been described, and CaN2is predicted to be a superconducting material. The action mechanism of thermodynamics about CaN2are induced through the Debye-Grüneisen model. The dispersion curves of CaN2show large pseudo-gaps in the 400–1300 cm−1range. The total of the electron-phonon coupling constants for CaN2is given byλ= 0.37, with a corresponding estimated superconducting temperature ofTc≈ 1 K. The estimated superconducting temperature of CaN2rose to 28.8 K as the pressure increased to 10 GPa, and then decreased monotonically at higher pressures to almost zero at 50 GPa.
Diurnal and Seasonal Variability of Near-Surface Temperature and Humidity in the Maritime Continent
Authors: May P. T. , Trewin B. , Nairn J. R. , Ostendorf B. , Su Chun-Hsu , Moise A.
Published: October 2022

This work examines the diurnal and seasonal variability of near-surface temperature and humidity at several large areas with high population density within the Maritime Continent using the Bureau of Meteorology Atmospheric Regional Reanalysis (BARRA) 12-km-resolution dataset that covers the period 1990–2019. The diurnal cycle is examined in detail, with a key feature being the relatively small diurnal variation of the wet-bulb temperature TWB when compared with the temperature and dewpoint temperature TD. The diurnal variability is strongly modulated by the monsoons with their increased rainfall and cloud cover. The near-surface signals associated with the Madden–Julian oscillation across the domains are relatively weak. Dry and humid temperature extremes are examined for regional and seasonal variability. The dry and moist variable extremes occur at different times of year, but each have spatially coherent structure.

Significance Statement

This paper examines the climatological variations of near-surface temperature and humidity and their extremes in four locations in the “Maritime Continent.” This is important because there are significant variations potentially affecting human and ecosystem health and its resilience to climate change.