bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mentha piperita Oil Exerts an Antiepileptic Effect in Pilocarpine and Pentylenetetrazol-Induced Seizures in Mice
Authors: Abdulsahib Waleed K. , Kathem Sarmed H. , Al-Radeef Mohanad Y. , Jasim Layth S.
Published: September 2022

Introduction. Epilepsy is a progressive, chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures. Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) (MP) is one of the most commonly ingested herbal teas or tisanes with a single component. Aim. We aimed to assess the potential antiepileptic and neuroprotective features of MP essential oil (MPO) in pilocarpine (P) and pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) models of epilepsy. Methods. The study used eight groups of mice to assess the anticonvulsant activity of MPO in both the P and PTZ acute models in mice. P (350 mg/kg, i.p.) was given 30 minutes after MPO (1.6, 3.2, and 6.4 ml/kg, i.p.). As a positive control group, diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p) was used. PTZ (95 mg/kg, i.p.) was given 30 minutes after MPO (6.4 ml/kg, i.p.). The first convulsion’s latency time, the number of convulsions, the latency time to death, and the percentage of deaths were calculated in all groups. Results. MPO significantly (

P
<
0.05

) increases the first convulsion’s latency time and the death’s latency time. Moreover, the essential oil significantly decreases the number of convulsions and reduces the mortality rate compared to the negative control group. Conclusion. MPO at 3.2 and 6.4 ml/kg doses can reduce the percentage and the number of convulsions and increase the latency time of both the first convulsion and death so that it can be used as a supplement in the treatment of epilepsy.
Voice Detection and Music Smart Classroom Teaching Application Based on Mobile Edge Computing
Authors: Huang Jun , Zhang Baoli
Published: September 2022

Audio monitoring information technology plays an important role in the application of monitoring systems, and it is an indispensable and important link. Whether intelligent audio monitoring management can be successfully realized, the key is to successfully detect abnormal sounds from a variety of external environment background sounds. The core technology of abnormal sound detection is a pattern classification task. The dimension of features is fixed in the traditional abnormal sound detection model. Such an ordinary solution will lead to a long time-consuming detection process and increase the boundary error. Traditional speech detection is not good enough for sound discrimination in a noisy environment, so this paper proposes an abnormal speech detection technology based on moving edge computing. Aiming at the noisy environment of the music classroom, the determination of objective function should be further optimized. Through the related technology, a certain sound can be quickly identified and analyzed in the music classroom to promote the development of the music wisdom classroom, and music wisdom classrooms can be used as a computer-aided system to help music teachers better grasp the learning situation of students, put forward relevant guidance strategies, improve students’ learning enthusiasm, and enhance teachers’ teaching efficiency so as to promote the progress of music teaching.
Solution of Space‐Time Fractional Differential Equations Using Aboodh Transform Iterative Method
Authors: Awuya Michael A. , Ojo Gbenga O. , Mahmudov Nazim I.
Published: September 2022

A relatively new and efficient approach based on a new iterative method and the Aboodh transform called the Aboodh transform iterative method is proposed to solve space‐time fractional differential equations, the fractional order is considered in the Caputo sense. This method is a combination of the Aboodh transform and the new iterative method and gives the solution in series form with easily computable components. The nonlinear term is easily handled by the new iterative method, to affirm the simplicity and performance of the proposed method, five examples were considered, and the solution plots were presented to show the effect of the fractional order. The outcome reveals that the approach is accurate and easy to implement.
TAZ Regulates the Cisplatin Resistance of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Cells via the ANGPTL4/SOX2 Axis
Authors: Li Caihong , Wang Qin , Luo Youzhen , Xiang Juan
Published: September 2022

Objective. Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is a fatal gynecological malignancy. This study explored the mechanism of TAZ in regulating drug sensitivity of cisplatin (DDP-)-resistant EOC cells through the ANGPTL4/SOX2 axis. Methods. The A2780/DDP cells were prepared by stepwise progressive concentration method. The drug resistance and TAZ expression in EOC cells were determined. Drug sensitivity was measured after TAZ overexpression in A2780 cells and TAZ downregulation in A2780/DDP cells, respectively. The effects of TAZ knockdown on apoptosis rate, stemness, and cancer stem cell (CSC) marker (CD44, OCT4, and ALDH1A) levels in A2780/DDP and DDP-treated A2780/DDP cells were assessed. The binding of TAZ and ANGPTL4 was verified using ChIP-qPCR, and ANGPTL4 and SOX2 levels were determined. The effects of different combined treatments of TAZ, ANGPTL4, and SOX2 on drug sensitivity of A2780/DDP cells and DDP-treated A2780/DDP cells were evaluated. Results. TAZ was upregulated in drug-resistant EOC cells. TAZ knockdown significantly increased the drug sensitivity of A2780/DDP cells, while TAZ overexpression markedly decreased the drug sensitivity of A2780 cells. TAZ silencing promoted apoptosis of drug-resistant EOC cells and inhibited cell stemness. TAZ targeted ANGPTL4 and TAZ silencing enhanced drug sensitivity of A2780/DDP cells by inhibiting ANGPTL4. ANGPTL4 overexpression elevated SOX2 expression, and SOX2 downregulation reduced the drug resistance and promoted the apoptosis of A2780/DDP cells. Conclusion. TAZ regulates DDP sensitivity of drug-resistant EOC cells via the ANGPTL4/SOX2 axis.
New Path Innovation of Rural Tourism Development Based on Mobile Communication
Authors: Shi Bin , Fan Huanhuan
Published: September 2022

Mobile communication is the communication between mobile bodies and an important way of communication between mobile users and fixed users. Power control technology is one of the keys of mobile communication information technology. This technology mainly adopts the core technology of the CDMA system. Through the self-interference system, it overcomes the problem of the mobile communication network and improves the quality of mobile communication. In the early twenty-first century, the rapid development of mobile communication technology has made important contributions to communication services worldwide. Rural tourism is a type of holiday with the aim of tourism, using the countryside as a framework for wandering and wild behavior. In fact, rural tourism is a project that has emerged in recent years, aiming to promote the economic development of rural areas and provide economic support for rural revitalization. At present, rural tourism is an important direction of tourism development, but the characteristics of the countryside have been ignored, and a large number of homogenizations have appeared in the development of rural areas. The development of rural tourism should highly combine agriculture, farmers, and rural development, make tourism an important industry in rural communities, strive to develop the local characteristics of rural tourism, increase tourism revenue, and truly benefit farmers. The purpose of this paper is to study the innovative research on the new path of rural tourism development based on mobile communication. It is hoped that mobile communication technology will be used to analyze the development patterns of rural tourism in different regions and to explore new development paths. This article first describes the notion of rural tourism, makes a comparative analysis of the different development models of rural tourism at home and abroad around rural revitalization, and makes a corresponding discussion on China’s rural tourism model. China’s rural tourism includes city-based, scenic-based, historical and cultural-based, transportation-based, industrial economy-based, and folk-custom-based. This paper briefly introduces the main development process of mobile communication technology, analyzes the relationship between the current era of big data and mobile communication networks, and explores the importance of mobile communication technology at present. The experimental results of this paper show that in terms of income, tourists above 70,000 yuan account for 31.8%, and tourists below 20,000 yuan account for 8.7%, indicating that rural tourism is less affected by the annual income of tourists. Tourists with a single consumption of less than 500 yuan accounted for 8.2%, indicating that there are many types of rural tourism, and tourists can choose according to their own abilities.
LP‐Kenmotsu Manifolds Admitting η‐Ricci Solitons and Spacetime
Authors: Li Yanlin , Haseeb Abdul , Ali Musavvir
Published: September 2022

In the present paper, LP‐Kenmotsu manifolds admitting η‐Ricci solitons have been studied. Moreover, some results for η‐Ricci solitons in LP‐Kenmotsu manifolds in the spacetime of general relativity have also been proved. Through a nontrivial example, we have given a proof for the existence of η‐Ricci solitons in a 5‐dimensional LP‐Kenmotsu manifold.
An Integrated Node Selection Model Using FAHP and FTOPSIS for Data Retrieval in Ubiquitous Computing
Authors: Hassan Belal Z. , Gad-Elrab Ahmed. A. A. , Farag Mohamed S. , Abo Youssef Shaban E.
Published: September 2022

Ubiquitous computing (UC) is an advanced computing concept that makes services and computing available everywhere and anytime. In UC, data lies at the heart of all UC applications, and the key technologies that are required to make UC a reality are data and task management. In this context, retrieving data is influenced by the dynamic nature of these systems in addition to human and sensor failures. So the main problem is how to select the most appropriate service provider for retrieving data. Retrieving data is a complex issue that requires an extensive evaluation process and is one of the biggest challenges in UC. In addition, not every eventuality in these systems can be predicted due to their dynamic nature. As a result, there is a strong need to address the uncertainty in context data. In this paper, to assist users to efficiently select their most preferred service provider for retrieving data, a new fuzzy integrated multicriteria decision-making model, which meets quality of context (QoC) and quality of service (QoS) and satisfies user quality requirements and needs, is proposed. The proposed model is based on four stages. In the initial stage, the identification of evaluation criteria is performed due to the varying importance of the selected criteria. In the second stage, a fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) procedure is utilized to assign importance weights to each criterion. In the third stage, the fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity of an Ideal Solution (FTOPSIS) is used to evaluate and measure the performance of each alternative. Finally, sensitivity analysis is performed to check the robustness and the applicability of the proposed model.
Compressive Strength Prediction of Self-Compacting Concrete-A Bat Optimization Algorithm Based ANNs
Authors: Andalib Amir , Aminnejad Babak , Lork Alireza
Published: September 2022

This article examines the feasibility of using bat-trained artificial neural networks (ANNs) to predict the compressive strength of self-compacting concrete (SCC). The nonlinear behavior of SCC challenges traditional modeling techniques. Therefore, this work takes advantage of the superior predictive performance of ANNs coupled with the bat algorithm. A database of 205 SCC samples collected from the literature is used to develop the ANN model. The correctness of the bat-based neural network model is then substantiated by contrasting its performance with that of the particle swarm optimization and teaching-learning-based optimization algorithms employed to train a neural network model. The statistical indices indicate the superior performance of the bat-based ANN model. In addition, a sensitivity analysis was carried out to determine the effects of various input parameters on the compressive strength of SCC.
Insights into the Promising Prospect of G Protein and GPCR-Mediated Signaling in Neuropathophysiology and Its Therapeutic Regulation
Authors: Rahman Md. Mominur , Islam Md. Rezaul , Mim Sadia Afsana , Sultana Nasrin , Chellappan Dinesh Kumar , Dua Kamal , Kamal Mohammad Amjad , Sharma Rohit , Emran Talha Bin
Published: September 2022

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are intricately involved in the conversion of extracellular feedback to intracellular responses. These specialized receptors possess a crucial role in neurological and psychiatric disorders. Most nonsensory GPCRs are active in almost 90% of complex brain functions. At the time of receptor phosphorylation, a GPCR pathway is essentially activated through a G protein signaling mechanism via a G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK). Dopamine, an important neurotransmitter, is primarily involved in the pathophysiology of several CNS disorders; for instance, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease, and ADHD. Since dopamine, acetylcholine, and glutamate are potent neuropharmacological targets, dopamine itself has potential therapeutic effects in several CNS disorders. GPCRs essentially regulate brain functions by modulating downstream signaling pathways. GPR6, GPR52, and GPR8 are termed orphan GPCRs because they colocalize with dopamine D1 and D2 receptors in neurons of the basal ganglia, either alone or with both receptors. Among the orphan GPCRs, the GPR52 is recognized for being an effective psychiatric receptor. Various antipsychotics like aripiprazole and quetiapine mainly target GPCRs to exert their actions. One of the most important parts of signal transduction is the regulation of G protein signaling (RGS). These substances inhibit the activation of the G protein that initiates GPCR signaling. Developing a combination of RGS inhibitors with GPCR agonists may prove to have promising therapeutic potential. Indeed, several recent studies have suggested that GPCRs represent potentially valuable therapeutic targets for various psychiatric disorders. Molecular biology and genetically modified animal model studies recommend that these enriched GPCRs may also act as potential therapeutic psychoreceptors. Neurotransmitter and neuropeptide GPCR malfunction in the frontal cortex and limbic-related regions, including the hippocampus, hypothalamus, and brainstem, is likely responsible for the complex clinical picture that includes cognitive, perceptual, emotional, and motor symptoms. G protein and GPCR-mediated signaling play a critical role in developing new treatment options for mental health issues, and this study is aimed at offering a thorough picture of that involvement. For patients who are resistant to current therapies, the development of new drugs that target GPCR signaling cascades remains an interesting possibility. These discoveries might serve as a fresh foundation for the creation of creative methods for pharmacologically useful modulation of GPCR function.
Innovation and Design of Physical Teaching Resource Intelligent Distribution Platform Based on Blockchain Technology
Authors: Wang Jing , Ran Peng , Xie Zhe
Published: September 2022

This article aims to study the innovation and design of an intelligent distribution platform for physical teaching resources based on blockchain technology (BT). With the continuous shrinking of teaching, the problem of balanced shrinking of teaching has become a hot issue in the field of teaching. In the distribution of physical education resources, there are problems such as lack of physical equipment and not fully open teaching, which as an important and shrinking point in the overall shrinking of society, will inevitably be included in the ranks of the overall shrinking of urban and rural areas. Physical teaching should be mentioned in the proposal as an important content of the school’s teaching. It can make teaching resources more distinctive and personalized, closer to life, and can also make more sports resources become school materials. School physical teaching resources are the basis for all school physical teaching. However, for historical and practical reasons, the gap in the allocation of physical teaching resources in urban and rural primary and secondary schools is gradually increasing. This problem has always restricted the modernization of school sports. To achieve the coordinated shrinking of urban and rural school sports, the balanced shrinking of urban and rural school sports resources is a prerequisite. It enables users to build portrait and content intelligent recommendation algorithms to build a cross-platform and geographic one-stop teaching resource intelligent distribution platform. Through experiments, the statistical data of the questionnaire survey results after the design and test show that 80% of the primary and middle school students are satisfied with the subplatform and believe that the design of this platform has a role in enhancing physical exercise.
Distributed 3D Environment Design System Based on Color Image Model
Authors: Huai Kang , Ni Longjiao , Zhu Miaomiao , Zhou Huihui
Published: September 2022

In order to improve the effect of distributed 3D interior design, a distributed 3D interior design method based on color image model is proposed in this paper. In this paper, the author uses the distributed feature information fusion method to construct the color image model of the distributed 3D interior design, and carries out edge contour detection and feature extraction for the distributed 3D interior spatial distribution image. The RGB color decomposition method is used to decompose the color pixel features of the three-dimensional indoor spatial distribution image. Combined with the three-dimensional point cloud feature reorganization method, the color space reconstruction of the distributed three-dimensional interior design is realized, and the optimal combination of color features of the distributed three-dimensional interior design is realized. Based on the design of image and color processing algorithm, the development and design of distributed 3D interior design system is carried out based on virtual reality and visual simulation technology. The 3D modeling of distributed 3D interior design is carried out using 3ds max, and the indoor hierarchical structure design is realized using the modeling software Multigen Creator. The experimental results show that, according to the color information fusion results, the distributed 3D interior design optimization is realized. Compared with the traditional manual design method, the root mean square error of this method is greatly reduced from 0.232 to 0.023, and the time cost is 82.8% faster. This method has a better visual effect and strong feature expression ability. Conclusion. The visual effect of distributed 3D interior design with this method is good, the error is small, and the visual expression ability is strong.
Prognosis and Efficacy of Laparoscopic Surgery on Patients with Endometrial Carcinoma: Systematic Evaluation and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ma Jiong , Zhou Chunxia , Chen Jinyan , Chen Xuejun
Published: September 2022

Objective. The prognosis and efficacy of laparoscopic surgery (LPS) and open surgery or robotic surgery (RS) on endometrial carcinoma (EC) patients were compared. Methods. Data as of May 2021 were retrieved from databases like PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. The study involved randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies, or case-control studies for comparing the effects of LPS and open surgery or robotic surgery (RS) on EC treatment. The primary outcomes included duration of operation, blood loss, length of stay (LOS), postoperative complications, and recurrence rate. Secondary outcomes included 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate/disease-free survival (DFS) rate and 3-year overall survival (OS) rate. Results. A total of 24 studies were involved, and all of them were cohort studies except 1 RCT and 1 case-control study. There was no significant difference in duration of operation between LPS and open surgery (

MD
=
−
0.06

, 95% CI: -0.37 to 0.25) or RS (

MD
=
−
0.15

, 95% CI: -1.27 to 0.96). In comparison with the open surgery, LPS remarkably reduced blood loss (

MD
=
−
0.43

, 95% CI: -0.58 to -0.29), LOS (

MD
=
−
0.71

, 95% CI: -0.92 to -0.50), and the complication occurrence rate (

RR
=
0.83

, 95% CI: 0.73 to 0.95). However, LPS and RS saw no difference in blood loss (

MD
=
0.01

, 95% CI: -0.77 to 0.79). Besides, in comparison with RS, LPS prominently shortened the LOS (

MD
=
0.26

, 95% CI: 0.12 to 0.40) but increased the complication occurrence rate (

RR
=
1.74

, 95% CI: 1.57 to 1.92). In contrast to open surgery or RS, LPS saw no difference in occurrence rate (

RR
=
0.75

, 95% CI: 0.56 to 1.01;

RR
=
0.97

, 95% CI: 0.62 to 1.53), 3-year PFS/DFS (

RR
=
0.99

, 95% CI: 0.90 to 1.09;

RR
=
1.30

, 95% CI: 0.87 to 1.96), and 3-year OS (

RR
=
0.97

, 95% CI: 0.91 to 1.04;

RR
=
1.21

, 95% CI: 0.91 to 1.60). Conclusion. In sum, LPS was better than open surgery, which manifested in the aspects of less blood loss, shorter LOS, and fewer complications. LPS, therefore, was the most suitable option for EC patients. Nevertheless, LPS had no advantage over RS, and sufficient prospective RCTs are needed to further confirm its strengths.
Acute Outcomes of Cigarette Smoke and Electronic Cigarette Aerosol Inhalation in a Murine Model
Authors: da Silva Pamela Félix , de Matos Natália Alves , Ramos Camila de Oliveira , Castro Thalles de Freitas , Araújo Natália Pereira da Silva , de Souza Ana Beatriz Farias , Costa Guilherme de Paula , Cangussú Sílvia Dantas , Talvani André , Nagato Akinori Cardozo , Bezerra Frank Silva
Published: September 2022

Cigarette smoking throughout life causes serious health issues in the lungs. The electronic cigarette (E‐Cig) use increased, since it was first introduced in the world. This research work compared the short‐term exposure consequences to e‐cigarette vapor and cigarette smoke in male mice. Forty‐five C57BL/6 mice were randomized into control (C) in an ambient air exposition cigarette smoke (CS) and aerosol electronic cigarette (EC), both were exposed to 120 puffs, 3 times/day during five days. Then, in the experimental protocol, the euthanized mice had their tissues removed for analysis. Our study showed that CS and EC resulted in higher cell influx into the airways, and an increase in macrophage counts in CS (209.25 ± 7.41) and EC (220.32 ± 8.15) when compared to C (108.40 ± 4.49) (p < 0.0001). The CS (1.92 ± 0.23) displayed a higher pulmonary lipid peroxidation as opposed to C (0.93 ± 0.06) and EC (1.23 ± 0.17) (p < 0.05). The EC (282.30 ± 25.68) and CS (368.50 ± 38.05) promoted increased levels of interleukin 17 when compared to C (177.20 ± 10.49) (p < 0.05). The EC developed shifts in lung histoarchitecture, characterized by a higher volume density in the alveolar air space (60.21; 55.00‐65.83) related to C (51.25; 18.75‐68.75) and CS (50.26; 43.75‐62.08) (p =0.002). The EC (185.6 ± 9.01) presented a higher respiratory rate related to CS (133.6 ± 10.2) (p < 0.002). Therefore, our findings demonstrated that the short‐term exposure to e‐cig promoted more acute inflammation comparing to cigarette smoke in the ventilatory parameters of the animals.
Performance Test of Micro-Slit Antenna Loaded with High Refractive Index Medium Based on Image Recognition
Authors: Yibo Wang , Bo Yu , Jinju Zhang , Zengjie Tao
Published: September 2022

Image recognition is the pattern recognition of images. Simply put, it is the prescribed use of the pattern recognition technology in the image. It creates an image recognition template for the input of image information, analyzes and extracts the shape characteristics of the image, and then creates a classifier, relying on the shape of the image classified. However, since particles with high refractive index media can detect galvanic couples and magnetic dipoles together under the excitation of an external field, the interference of the radiation fields of galvanic couples and magnetic dipoles can be used to adjust the incident field. For the study of nanocubes with high refractive index media, the polarization phase of the nanocube particle environment is obtained by the method of long-distance propagation. The loaded micro-slit antenna is also a kind of aperture antenna, which is formed by opening a hole in the metal surface, and the hole will emit electromagnetic waves from the outside of the unit. Loaded micro-slit antennas have a variety of shapes, and they have many advantages such as sturdy structure, fast handling, convenient feeding, and being simple, compact, concealed, and decorative. Therefore, it is necessary to verify various performance parameters of the system by simulating performance tests and to verify the performance of the system by simulating various normal, high load, and abnormal load conditions. The performance test includes load and stress tests, and they can be used together. The purpose of load testing is to clarify the performance of the system under different tasks and to verify the changes in various system performance parameters as the load gradually increases.
Generative Adversarial Network and Its Application in Energy Internet
Authors: Xiao Zeqing
Published: September 2022

Energy Internet (EI) can provide consumers with flexible energy-sharing services. Recently, artificial intelligence (AI) technology has been widely used in the field of EI. Generative adversarial network (GAN) is one of the hottest research directions in the field of AI in recent years, and its excellent data generation ability has attracted wide attention. First, this paper introduces the framework, advantages, disadvantages, and improvement of classic GAN. Then, the application of GAN in the field of EI is reviewed. Finally, the paper is summarized, and the possible application of GAN in EI is prospected.
Sustainability in Hospital Food Catering: How We Can Adapt to the New Reality
Authors: Poulia Kalliopi Anna
Published: September 2022

Purpose: The healthcare sector is an important area for sustainable food initiatives, given its inherent mission to heal and its substantial impact on the food system. Foodservice managers can take part in these initiatives by using sustainable menu practices (SMPs). This study aimed to explore managerial perceptions of barriers and facilitators to adopting SMPs in Québec healthcare institutions. Methods: Seventeen foodservice managers were recruited through purposeful sampling to participate in a qualitative semi-structured interview. The Diffusion of Innovations theory was used to assess the main determinants of the diffusion of an innovation (SMPs) through a complex social system (healthcare organization). Results: Participants reported more barriers than facilitators. Lack of support at many levels was recognized as a major hindrance to SMP adoption, as were shortfalls in political directives. Increased collaboration between all food system actors and better communication in healthcare were perceived as needed for increased SMP adoption. Conclusions: This research contributes to an in-depth understanding of managerial experiences in SMP adoption in various regional and healthcare settings. Findings suggest the need for support and strategies that would remove important barriers for foodservice managers and contributed to the development of a guide to support foodservice managers in implementing SMPs.
A 2-Year, Single-Center Study to Assess the Safety and Effectiveness of the MicroShunt in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma
Authors: Riss Isabelle
Published: September 2022

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of the MicroShunt (formerly known as the MIDI-Arrow or InnFocus MicroShunt®), an 8.5-mm-long, 70-μm lumen-controlled ab externo glaucoma filtration surgery device made from poly(styrene-block-isobutylene-block-styrene) (SIBS), in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Methods: A 2-year, single-center, single-surgeon, nonrandomized, adaptive feasibility clinical study (NCT01563237) was conducted in France from June 2011 to November 2016. Eligible patients were aged 18–85 years and had POAG inadequately controlled on maximum tolerated medical therapy with intraocular pressure (IOP) ≥18 and ≤40 mm Hg. The MicroShunt was implanted ab externo with adjunctive use of mitomycin C (0.2–0.4 mg/mL applied for 2–3 min), alone or in combination with cataract surgery. The primary effectiveness endpoints were the reduction in IOP relative to the preoperative value assessed at each postoperative visit and the measurement of success at years 1 and 2. The primary safety endpoint was the incidence of all procedure- and/or device-related adverse events (AEs) during the study. The secondary effectiveness endpoint was the mean number of glaucoma medications per patient, and the secondary safety endpoint was the incidence of glaucoma reoperation. Results: Sixty-one eyes from 61 patients underwent MicroShunt implantation. Mean IOP ± standard deviation (SD) was significantly reduced from 25.7 ± 6.1 mm Hg at baseline (N = 61) to 15.8 ± 4.7 mm Hg at year 1 (n = 58) and 16.5 ± 6.0 mm Hg at year 2 (n = 52) (both p < 0.001). Overall success rates for patients achieving IOP ≥6 mm Hg and <21 mm Hg at year 1 and year 2 were 80.3% and 75.4%, respectively. Mean ± SD number of glaucoma medications per patient decreased significantly from 2.9 ± 1.1 at baseline to 0.6 ± 1.0 at year 1 (n = 58) and 1.0 ± 1.3 at year 2 (n = 52) (both p < 0.001). The most common procedure- and/or device-related AEs were investigator-reported increased IOP and hyphema. Four patients required reoperation. Conclusions: In this study, sustained reductions in mean IOP and number of glaucoma medications from baseline were observed up to 2 years post-surgery. No long-term, sight-threatening AEs were observed.
Quantile-Specific Heritability of Mean Platelet Volume, Leukocyte Count, and Other Blood Cell Phenotypes
Authors: Williams Paul T.
Published: September 2022

Introduction: “Quantile-dependent expressivity” occurs when the effect size of a genetic variant depends upon whether the phenotype (e.g., mean platelet volume, MPV) is high or low relative to its distribution. Methods: Offspring-parent regression slopes (βOP) were estimated by quantile regression, from which quantile-specific heritabilities (h2) were calculated (h2 = 2βOP/[1 + rspouse]) for blood cell phenotypes in 3,929 parent-offspring pairs from the Framingham Heart Study. Results: Quantile-specific h2 (±SE) increased with increasing percentiles of the offspring’s age- and sex-adjusted MPV distribution (plinear = 0.0001): 0.48 ± 0.09 at the 10th, 0.53 ± 0.04 at the 25th, 0.70 ± 0.06 at the 50th, 0.74 ± 0.06 at the 75th, and 0.90 ± 0.12 at the 90th percentile. Quantile-specific h2 also increased with increasing percentiles of the offspring’s white blood cell (WBC, plinear = 0.002), monocyte (plinear = 0.01), and eosinophil distributions (plinear = 0.0005). In contrast, heritibilities of red blood cell (RBC) count, hematocrit (HCT), and hemoglobin (HGB) showed little evidence of quantile dependence. Quantile-dependent expressivity is consistent with gene-environment interactions reported by others, including (1) greater increases in WBC and PLT concentrations in subjects who are glutathione-S-transferase Mu1 (GSTM1) null homozygotes than GSTM1 sufficient when exposed to endotoxin; (2) significantly higher WBC count in AA homozygotes than carriers of the G-allele of the glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) rs1695 polymorphism at low but not high benzene exposure in shoe factory workers; (3) higher WBC counts in TT homozygotes than C-allele carriers of the interleukin-1β (IL1B) c.315C>T polymorphism after undergoing surgery for infective endocarditis but not before surgery. Discussion/Conclusion: Quantile-dependent expressivity may explain several purported gene-environment interactions involving blood cell phenotypes.
Extracellular Vesicles and the Stress System
Authors: Makrygianni Evanthia A. , Chrousos George P.
Published: September 2022

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-enclosed nanoparticles that contain various biomolecules, including nucleic acids, proteins and lipids, and are manufactured and released by virtually all cell types. There is evidence that EVs are involved in intercellular communication, acting in an autocrine, paracrine or/and endocrine manner. EVs are released by the cells of the central nervous system (CNS), including neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and microglia, and have the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and enter the systemic circulation. Neuroendocrine cells are specialized neurons that secrete hormones directly into blood vessels, such as the hypophyseal portal system or the systemic circulation, a process that allows neuroendocrine integration to take place. In mammals, neuroendocrine cells are widely distributed throughout various anatomic compartments, with the hypothalamus being a central neuroendocrine integrator. The hypothalamus is a key part of the stress system (SS), a highly conserved neuronal/neuroendocrine system aiming at maintaining systemic homeostasis when the latter is threatened by various stressors. The central parts of the SS are the interconnected hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and the brainstem locus caeruleus-norepinephrine (LC-NE) systems, while their peripheral parts are, respectively, the pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous/sympatho-adrenomedullary systems (SNS-SAM) as well as components of the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS). During stress, multiple CNS loci show plasticity and undergo remodeling, partly mediated by increased glutamatergic and noradrenergic activity, and the actions of cytokines and glucocorticoids, all regulated by the interaction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the LC-NE/SNS-SAM systems. In addition, there are peripheral changes due to the increased secretion of stress hormones and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the context of stress-related systemic (para)inflammation. We speculate that during stress, central and peripheral, cellular and molecular alterations take place, with some of them generated, communicated, and spread via the release of stress-induced neural/neuroendocrine cell-derived EVs.
Guia de diagnose para aulas práticas de fitopatologia: LFN 0424 - Fitopatologia
Authors:   Universidade de São Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura ", Gonçalves Manoel Penachio ,   Luiz de Queiroz", Simões Ana Laura Toledo ,   Universidade de São Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", Santos Ricardo Feliciano dos ,   Universidade de São Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", Lourenço Silvia de Afonseca ,   Universidade de São Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", Amorim Lilian ,   Universidade de São Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz"
Published: September 2022

Esta segunda edição do Guia de Diagnose para Aulas Práticas de Fitopatologia é uma versão revisada e ampliada do primeiro Guia, elaborado em 2020 para auxiliar as aulas remotas sobre diagnose de doenças de plantas. Desta vez, o Guia servirá de auxílio às aulas presenciais, pois, nele, estão apresentados os sintomas e os agentes causais dos principais grupos de doenças de plantas que ocorrem nos estados do Sudeste do Brasil. Como introdução a cada grupo de doenças, há um breve texto sobre a importância daquele grupo, informações sobre o ciclo de relações patógeno-hospedeiro e um mapa com a distribuição mundial de uma das doenças típicas do grupo. Além da inclusão de novas imagens de plantas sintomáticas e de estruturas patogênicas, esta edição apresenta também as sequências utilizadas no preparo de lâminas para visualização de estruturas fúngicas e bacterianas ao microscópio de luz. Esta publicação busca auxiliar o ensino da diagnose a alunos do curso de Engenharia Agronômica.
الأثر المتخيَّل والتأويل: ”إرَم ذات العِماد“ في الخطاب الأدبيّ العربيّ أنموذجًا
Authors: Al Kaabi (ضياء عبد الله خميس الكعبي Dheya Abdullah Khamis
Published: September 2022

المستخلص

تستقصي هذه المقاربة النقديّة الثقافيّة التأويليّة تمثيلات إرَم ذات العِماد في المتخيَّل الثقافيّ العربيّ وامتداداتها منذ القديم إلى الحديث بوصفها ”أثرًا“ خاضعًا للتأويل. يندرج هذا الأثر في سياقات متعدّدة ومتناقضة: مدينة اللعنة والعِقاب الإلهيّ، ومدينة التِّيه الأسطوريّة، وسرديّات المدينة اللامرئيّة، والمدينة/اليوتوبيا، وغيرها من التمثيلات الثقافيّة التي ارتبطت بها‫.‬

لقد كشفت هذه المقاربة عن تعدّد دلالات تأويل إرَم ذات العِماد في مصنّفات الثقافة العربيّة القديمة بين التلقّي الوعظيّ المرتهن لقراءات بعض المفسّرين في ربط إرَم ذات العِماد بالعقاب الإلهيّ، والتلقّي الاستعاديّ التمجيديّ لسرديّات اليمن الكبرى، والتلقّي النقديّ التاريخيّ الذي يسائل المتخيَّل ويحيله إلى مرجعيّاته التاريخيّة. في حين خضعت إرَم ذات العِماد في الخطاب الأدبيّ الحديث إلى تأويلات متنوّعة بتعدّد المرجعيّات الأدبيّة والثقافيّة لكلٍّ من: جبران خليل جبران (ت 1931م)، ونسيب عريضة (ت 1946م)، وبدر شاكر السيّاب (ت 1964م)، وأدونيس‫.‬
Traversing between Supra, Macro, and Meso Sites
Authors: Hizli-Alkan Sinem
Published: September 2022

This paper examines different curriculum making actors, discourses and practices at different sites and then situate Scotland and Wales within these. I illustrate the interconnected nature of different sites of curriculum making and explain how these exert influences in the two countries while acknowledging their social and cultural differences. Analysing of policy documents suggest that certain supra discourses and trends are evident in both countries following similar curriculum structures. Nevertheless, there are differences in the ways curriculum is constructed and the steps taken for increasing curriculum making capacity.
Dolichopodidae (Diptera) from the Eocene amber deposits of Cambay and Kutch Basins, India
Authors: BICKEL DANIEL J. , MARTIN JOHN , AGNIHOTRI PRIYA , SINGH HUKAM
Published: September 2022

The family Dolichopodidae (Diptera) from the Eocene amber of the Cambay and Kutch, India is reviewed. Based on a sample of 38 inclusions, the fauna preserved in amber reveals that the family was well-differentiated by early the Eocene. Palaeomedeterus cambayensis Bickel sp. nov. is described and provisionally assigned to the Peloropeodinae, and is congeneric with European Baltic amber species, suggesting the genus was widespread for a considerable time period in both Europe and India. Two small-sized new monotypic genera are also described, Gujaratmyia rotunda Bickel gen. et sp. nov. and Rajpardia grimaldii Bickel gen. et sp. nov. Also included are undescribed members of the dolichopodid subfamilies Diaphorinae and Medeterinae, and unplaced species. The Baltic amber species Prohercostomus noxialis (Meunier, 1907) is regarded as the new senior synonym of Sympycnites primaevus Grimaldi & Cumming, 1999, described with a mistaken provenance of Cretaceous Lebanese amber.
A broadly sampled 3-loci plastid phylogeny of Atraphaxis (Polygoneae, Polygonoideae, Polygonaceae) reveals new taxa: III. A. kuvaevii and сryptic species in A. pungens from Southern Siberia and Northern Mongolia
Authors: YURTSEVA OLGA V. , VASILIEVA NATALIA V. , KOSTIKOVA VERA A. , SAMIGULLIN TAHIR H.
Published: September 2022

Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian analyses (BI) applied for combined plastid matrix (cpDNA trnL(UAA) intron, trnL–trnF IGS, and rpl32–trnL(UAG) IGS regions) of 124 accessions of 36 species of the genus Atraphaxis have shown new species from southern Siberia. The analysis of 112 accessions of 36 species of nrDNA ITS1–5.8S–ITS2 regions showed less clear topology. A new species A. kuvaevii endemic for Yenisey Valley in Tuva was revealed with molecular and morphological data. The plants attributed previously to A. pungens split into three cryptic species with different plastid regions. A. pungens grows in the south of Krasnoyarskii Krai, Khakassia, Tuva and Mongolia. A. ledebourii is distributed in Altai Mts, Tuva and Mongolia. It combines a functional ITS ribotype and a psedogenized ribotype, what agrees with high chromosome numbers. The third pseudogenized ribotype shared with A. ariana was found in a single sample from SE Tuva. A. ×uyukensis is a species of hybrid origin from the Uyuk ridge with the ITS ribotype of A. pungens, which probably captured cpDNA of unknown species related to A. selengensis and A. davurica by maternal lineage. Despite the differences in plastid regions, these cryptic species have no clear morphoplogical distinctions. The hybrid A. pungens × A. ledebourii from Tuva and the hybrid A. ledebourii × A. pungens from Hangay Mts in Mongolia do not differ from the parents. The eastern race of A. frutescens s.l. sub A. decipiens from Tuva and Altai Republics differs from the western race of A. frutescens with a single nucleotide substitution in cpDNA trnL–trnF IGS, a distinct ITS ribotype, a short perianth tube equal to outer tepals, herbaceous tubular ochreolas and linear-lanceolate leaf blades. The hybrids A. pungens × A. decipiens and A. decipiens × A. pungens were detected in three locations in Tuva. Cryptic hybrids A. ledebourii × A. decipiens, A. ledebourii × A. frutescens, and A. decipiens × A. ledebourii were detected in Altai and Tuva Republics. Two hybrids A. decipiens × A. ledebourii have shown the capture of cpDNA of A. decipiens. Atraphaxis laetevirens is limited by the territory of Kazakhstan, Altai Republic and Dzungaria and does not grow in Tuva and Khakassia.
Combination of morphological and molecular data support Pestalotiopsis eleutherococci (Sporocadaceae) as a new species
Authors: TIAN SHANGQING , XU RONG , BHUNJUN CHITRABHANU S. , SU WENXIN , HYDE KEVIN D. , LI YU , FU YONGPING , PHUKHAMSAKDA CHAYANARD
Published: September 2022

Molecular barcoding and morphological characters were used to identify a new saprotrophic species in Pestalotiopsis, which was associated with senescent leaves of Eleutherococcus brachypus (Araliaceae) in Jilin Province, China. The matrix of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1-α), and β-tubulin (tub2) were used in the maximum likelihood (ML), maximum parsimony (MP) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods. The new collections formed a distinct clade with Pestalotiopsis lijiangensis. The new species differs from P. lijiangensis by its conidial length/width ratio. Detailed description and micrographs revealed that the species is unique in its olivaceous concolorous median cells and has significantly smaller conidia compared to other related species. The position of the apical appendages of Pestalotiopsis eleutherococci are distinct and are slightly shorter while the basal appendage is slightly longer compared to P. lijiangensis. Therefore, we introduce Pestalotiopsis eleutherococci as a novel species.
Nomenclature notes on two names in Allium (Amaryllidaceae)
Authors: IDREES MUHAMMAD , SHAW JULIAN M.H.
Published: September 2022

N/A
A new species of Atrichopogon (Atrichopogon) Kieffer (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), redescription and first record from Argentina of Atrichopogon (A.) eucnemus and Atrichopogon (A.) woodfordi by Macfie
Authors: MARINO PABLO I. , ROSSI JUAN F. , CAZORLA CARLA G.
Published: September 2022

A new species of the subgenus Atrichopogon (Atrichopogon) Kieffer without distinctive pigmented wings is described and illustrated based on males and females: A. (A.) rufiventris. Atrichopogon (A.) eucnemus Macfie and A. (A.) woodfordi Macfie are redescribed and illustrated from specimens collected in several provinces of Argentina. This is the first record of those species from Argentina.
Allocation of Salamandra auriculata Holbrook, 1838, with a new species of swamp-dwelling dusky salamander (Plethodontidae: Desmognathus) from the Atlantic Coastal Plain
Authors: PYRON R. ALEXANDER , BEAMER DAVID A.
Published: September 2022

Most swamp-dwelling dusky salamanders of the genus Desmognathus from the Coastal Plain were long treated as a single species (Desmognathus auriculatus) ranging from east Texas to southeastern Virginia. This taxon concept was based on the name Salamandra auriculata Holbrook, 1838 with type locality Riceboro, Liberty County, Georgia and a type series that could not be located by later authors. Recent workers have been unable to locate or verify swamp-dwelling populations from east Texas and western Louisiana, which appear to be extirpated and may not have represented a distinct taxon from co-occurring lineages of D. conanti. Recent molecular phylogenies have supported at least four distinct species-level taxa within D. auriculatus. Populations from the Gulf Coastal Plain in eastern Louisiana, Mississippi, and southwestern Alabama were recently described as D. valentinei Means, Lamb, and Bernardo, 2017 and D. pascagoula Pyron, O’Connell, Lamb, and Beamer, 2022. This leaves two remaining species-level lineages with uncertain taxonomy and nomenclature: D. auriculatus A (Alabama, Florida, and Georgia), and D. auriculatus B/C (Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina), both of which occur near the type locality. We recently located a specimen at the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle in Paris (MNHN 0.4675) that we concluded is one of Holbrook’s syntypes and designated it as the lectotype, but without allocation. Here, we use linear morphometrics to confidently allocate it to D. auriculatus A, bolstered by examination of three historical topotypic collections. This requires a new name for D. auriculatus B/C, which we describe as D. valtos sp. nov. (suggested common name: Carolina Swamp Dusky Salamander) from Otter Creek, Craven County, North Carolina. Other related and sympatric species of Desmognathus remain to be described from the Atlantic Coastal Plain and adjacent Piedmont of the southeastern United States.
Resection Versus Observation for Small (≤2 cm) Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors
Authors: Irfan Ahmer , Gleason Frank , Reddy Sushanth , Heslin Martin J. , Rose J Bart
Published: September 2022

Background

We hypothesized that those patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) ≤2 cm managed nonoperatively would have comparable disease progression to individuals undergoing an operation.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with nonfunctional pNETs ≤ 2 cm who were evaluated at a single comprehensive cancer center from 2010 to 2017 were selected from a cancer registry database. Clinicopathologic variables were obtained via retrospective chart review. Primary outcomes were overall and disease specific survival. Variables were compared between the 2 groups using chi-square and independent t-test.

Results

Fifty-two individuals had tumors ≤2 cm, of whom 75% had an operation, while 25% were observed. Each treatment arm had similar distributions of gender, race, and tumor location. The most common operation was distal pancreatectomy (n = 29) followed by pancreatoduodenectomy (n = 6). Nine patients had grade III postoperative complications and 4 had grade IV under Clavien-Dindo classification. The observation group was noted to have a mean disease progression interval of 80.9 months, while those who underwent an operation had a mean disease progression interval of 94.6 months ( P = .246).

Conclusions

Overall disease progression in patients with pNETs ≤ 2 cm without evidence of metastasis at the time of presentation is not different between those who underwent operation compared to those observed.