bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Frequency and cyst density of Sarcocystis spp. in the myocardium of alpacas (Vicugna pacos) according to sex and age in a province of the Peruvian Andes
Authors: Rodríguez Alejandro , Quispe-Solano Miguel , Rodríguez José , Lucas J. Raul
Published: September 2022

Sarcocystis is a threat to food security in the Peruvian Andes. The Sarcocystis species that forms microcysts in the myocardium of alpacas is S. masoni n. sp. (known as "S. lamacanis"). There is a lack of current studies estimating the prevalence of this parasite in alpacas, although this information is crucial for the control and prevention of sarcocystosis. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and cyst density of Sarcocystis masoni n. sp. in the myocardium of alpacas in Huancavelica, a province of the Andean region of Peru. Myocardial samples for histological analysis were taken from 104 alpacas slaughtered in an official abattoir in the area. All alpacas (100%) presented this parasite. About 44% (95% CI: 34.5-53.5%), presented from 31 to 45 microcysts per mm2 of myocardial histological slide (cyst density). Cyst density was significantly higher (p<0.05) as the age of the animals increased. In addition, cyst density was significantly higher (p<0.05) in 4- and 5-years-old males compared to females of the same age. These results confirm that myocardial sarcocystosis is highly endemic in alpacas in Peru.
Excretion of Ergometrine Maleate Injection into Breast Milk and Safety Evaluation of Breastfeeding
Authors: Chen miaomiao , Song Tianmi , Xu Jiacheng , Chao Bingdi , Wang Jie , Luo Xin , Qi Hongbo
Published: September 2022

Background
Ergometrine maleate injection as a first-line drug to prevent postpartum hemorrhage. To investigate the safety of ergometrine maleate injection and breastfeeding.
Methods
Pregnant women were recruited into this study according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and their peripheral blood and breast milk were collected for the first time (some pregnant women have no milk at this time). After the delivery of the fetus, some parturients were further excluded according to the exclusion criteria. The recruited women were randomly divided into the control group and the treat group. The peripheral blood was collected in the control group at 2h and 12h after delivery, respectively, and the peripheral blood and breast milk were collected in the treat group at 2h, 4h, 6h and 12h after delivery, respectively. The concentrations of ergometrine maleate in maternal plasma and breast milk at different periods were detected by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS), and prolactin levels at different time gradients after delivery were detected with chemiluminescence.
Results
Sixty-four women were finally recruited, with 32 in the treat group and 32 in the control group. The final concentration of ergometrine maleate injection reached the peak at 2h after administration and basically decreased to the pre-administration level at 12h after administration in both serum and breast milk. The RID was 4.5762% (2.5146%, 7.8638%) and 0.1842% (0.0000%, 1.1838%) at 6h and 12h after administration, respectively. Ergometrine maleate injection does not affect the PRL concentrations in peripheral blood at 2h and 12h.
Conclusion
The results suggest that breastfeeding at 12h after ergometrine maleate injection is relatively safe. In this study, ergometrine maleate injection was not found to inhibit the concentration of PRL in the peripheral blood, and no serious adverse reactions were found.
Real-time parameter updating for nonlinear digital twins using inverse mapping models and transient-based features
Authors: Kessels Bas Mats , Fey Rob H.B. , de Wouw Nathan van
Published: September 2022

In the context of digital twins, it is essential that a model gives an accurate description of the (controlled) dynamic behavior of a physical system during the system’s entire operational life. Therefore, model updating techniques are required that enable real-time updating of physically interpretable parameter values and are applicable to a wide range of (nonlinear) dynamical systems. As traditional, iterative, parameter updating methods may be computationally too expensive for real-time updating, the Inverse Mapping Parameter Updating (IMPU) method is proposed as an alternative. For this method, first, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is trained offline using novel features of simulated transient response data. Then, in the online phase, this ANN maps, with little computational cost, a set of measured output response features to parameter estimates enabling real-time model updating. In this paper, various types of transient response features are introduced to update parameter values of nonlinear dynamical systems with increased computational efficiency and accuracy. To analyze the efficacy of these features, the IMPU method is applied to a (simulated) nonlinear multibody system. It is shown that a smart selection of features, based on, e.g., the frequency content of the transient response, can improve the accuracy of the estimated parameter values, leading to more accurate updated models. Furthermore, the generalization capabilities of the ANNs are analyzed for these feature types, by varying the number of training samples and assessing the effect of incomplete training data. It is shown that the IMPU method can predict parameter values that are not part of the training data with acceptable accuracy as well.
Effect of cutting tool geometry on hole quality in orbital drilling. Application to titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V
Authors: REY Pierre-andre , Senatore Johanna , Landon Yann
Published: September 2022

The orbital drilling process is a very complex machining operation. Due to the helical path of the tool in the material and the sometimes very complex tool geometry, the geometry of the chip is very variable along the cutting edge and during a revolution of the tool. tool. This complexity explains why the cutting forces are very variable during drilling and they are very difficult to model and estimate for different tool geometries. The aim of this study is therefore to develop a cutting force model taking into account the geometry of the tool and the cutting conditions. The final objective is to control the final quality of the machined borehole. First, the geometry of the chip is modeled from the cutting parameters defining the trajectory and from the macro-geometry of the tool. Cutting force models, based on the instantaneous chip thickness and applied to the drilling, are then implemented. An experimental study validates the modeling by cutting force measurements carried out during orbital drilling tests. From this modeling, it is now possible to study the influence of the geometry of the cutting tool on the forces in order to control the loading on the tool and therefore the final quality of the drilling.
Proteomic analysis of the effect of hemin in breast cancer
Authors: Coló G. P. , Schweitzer K. , Oresti G.M. , Alonso E.G. , Chávez L. Fernández , Mascaró M. , Giorgi G. , Curino A.C. , Facchinetti M.M.
Published: September 2022

Heme, an iron-containing prosthetic group found in many proteins, carries out diverse biological functions such as electron transfer, oxygen storage and enzymatic reactions. Hemin, the oxidised form of heme, is used to treat porphyria and also to activate heme-oxygenase (HO) which catalyses the rate-limiting step in heme degradation. Our group has previously demonstrated that hemin displays antitumor activity in breast cancer (BC). The aim of this work has been to study the effect of hemin on protein expression modifications in a BC cell line to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms of hemin antitumor activity. For this purpose, we carried out proteome analysis by Mass Spectrometry (MS) which showed that 1309 proteins were significantly increased in hemin-treated cells, including HO-1 and the proteases that regulate HO-1 function, and 921 proteins were significantly decreased. Furthermore, the MS-data analysis showed that hemin regulates the expression of heme- and iron- related proteins, adhesion and cytoskeletal proteins, cancer signal transduction proteins and enzymes involved in lipid metabolism. By biochemical and cellular studies, we further corroborated the most relevantin-silicoresults. Altogether, these results show the multiple physiological effects that hemin treatment displays in BC and demonstrate its potential as anticancer agent.
Sustainable Microalgae Growth in Jamaican Industrial Wastewater for Biofuel Production
Authors: Johnson Jervian , English Renee , Johnson Jervian
Published: September 2022

Purpose
The study determined the feasibility of combining phytoremediation of industrial wastewater and biofuel production from microalgae cultivation.
Methods
Seed cultures of algal species Botryococcus braunii and Chlorella sp., cultivated in nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) fertilizer medium, were used to inoculate wastewater samples collected from an abattoir and a creamery. The resulting change in nutrient concentration in the wastewater samples was determined using the American Public Health Association (APHA) standard methods. Algal growth was method measured by gravimetric analysis. Bio-oil extraction was conducted using APHA standard methods, while biodiesel was analysed using gas chromatography – mass spectrometry.
Results
When the microalgae species Botryococcus braunii and Chlorella sp. were cultured in dairy and chicken-processing plant wastewaters, their growth rates increased as Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and nutrients (nitrates and phosphates) depleted, in accordance with the Droop model. The oil content of the B. braunii species was 26.25% (w/w) and 33.60% (w/w) in dry biomass weight from the abattoir and creamery respectively; while the oil content of Chlorella sp. species was 47.27% (w/w) and 26.42% (w/w) in dry biomass weight from the abattoir and creamery respectively. The analysed lipid extracts indicated the presence of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), hexadecanoic acid methyl ester and octadecadienoic acid methyl ester, which were found to be suitable for use in biodiesel production.
Conclusion
It is technically feasible to treat industrial wastewaters with microalgal strains, Botryococcus braunii and Chlorella sp., which in turn accumulates oil that can be extracted and converted to bio-diesel.
Which interventions for alcohol use should be included in a universal healthcare benefit package? An umbrella review of targeted interventions to address harmful drinking and dependence.
Authors: Botwright Siobhan , Sutawong Jiratorn , Kingkaew Pritaporn , Anothaisintawee Thunyarat , Dabak Saudamini , Suwanpanich Chotika , Promchit Nattiwat , Kampang Roongnapa , Isaranuwatchai Wanrudee
Published: September 2022

Background
This study aimed to identify targeted interventions for the prevention and treatment of harmful alcohol use. Umbrella review methodology was used to summarise the effectiveness across a broad range of interventions, in order to identify which interventions should be considered for inclusion within universal health coverage schemes in low- and middle-income countries.
Methods and findings
We included systematic reviews with meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on targeted interventions addressing alcohol use in harmful drinkers or individuals with alcohol use disorder. We only included outcomes related to alcohol consumption, heavy drinking, binge drinking, abstinence, or alcohol-attributable accident, injury, morbidity or mortality. PubMed, Embase, PsychINFO, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the International HTA Database were searched from inception to 3 September 2021. Risk of bias of reviews was assessed using the AMSTAR2 tool. After reviewing the abstracts of 9,167 articles, results were summarised narratively and certainty in the body of evidence for each intervention was assessed using GRADE. In total, 89 studies met the inclusion criteria, of which the majority reported outcomes for brief intervention (30 studies) or pharmacological interventions (30 studies). Overall, methodological quality of included studies was low.
Conclusions
For harmful drinking, brief interventions, cognitive behavioural therapy, and motivational interviewing showed a small effect, whereas mentoring in adolescents and children may have a significant long-term effect. For alcohol use disorder, social network approaches and acamprosate showed evidence of a significant and durable effect. More evidence is required on the effectiveness of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), nalmefene, and quetiapine, as well as optimal combinations of pharmacological and psychosocial interventions. As an umbrella review, we were unable to identify the extent to which variation between studies stemmed from differences in intervention delivery or variation between country contexts. Further research is required on applicability of findings across settings and best practice for implementation.
Funded by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, grant number 61-00-1812.
Pharmacokinetics of Ropivacaine in elderly Patients with combination of paravertebral nerve and lumbosacral plexus blocks for Hip Surgeries
Authors: Chu Qinjun , Wang Pengfei , Xie Weiwei , Sun Liwei , Zhang Dongqing , Li Jiangfeng , Zhang Chenxi , Jin Xiaogao
Published: September 2022

Objective:This study is to describe the pharmacokinetics of ropivacaine in elderly patients with multiple nerve blocks for hip surgeries.
Methods: The patients aged over 65 years with ASA II-III, BMI<35kg/m2, weight>50kg, Albumin>25g/L, and creatinine clearance>30ml/min, undergoing unilateral hip surgery were enrolled in this study. All the patients received unilateral hip surgery under combination of paravertebral nerve (T12, L1) and lumbosacral plexus block (CPLSB) with total dose of 245 mg ropivacaine. The total and free plasma concentrations of ropivacaine were measured from arterial sample using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC).
Results: A total of 40 elderly patients were investigated and analyzed in this study. No signs of LAST were found during the study. The Tmax, Cmax, and t1/2 of free ropivacaine were 23（20.25-26.75）min, 0.1701（0.1201-0.2499）microgram/ml, and 416.2（306.9-618.9）min, respectively. The concentration of free ropivacaine fluctuated significantly within 80 min and presented with multiple peaks on the concentration-time curve. Multiple linear regression analysis found that there were no relationships between Cmax of free ropivacaine and the factors including gender, age, height, weight, dose, incomplete blocks, duration of injection, blood loss, red cell transfusion, infusion fluids, surgery types, and operation time.
Conclusion:The serum free concentration of 245 mg ropivacaine in elderly patients with multiple nerve blocks for hip surgery was below the assumed systemic toxic threshold of 0.46microgram/ml. However, the serum ropivacaine free concentration fluctuated significantly and was hard to predict for the first 80 min after local ropivacaine injection.
Evaluation of the implementation of hospital hygiene components in 30 health-care facilities in the Autonomous District of Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire) with the WHO Infection Prevention and Control Assessment Framework (IPCAF)
Authors: Cissé Doumbia Mariamou , Essis Esme Marie Laure , Koné Atioumounan Blaise , N’gbesso Jean Paul N’gbesso , Mbengue Valérie Gbonon , Cissé Raïssa Adja Mayaka , Gagne Doh Eugénie , Dagnan N’cho Simplice , Kouadio Luc Philippe , Samba Mamadou
Published: September 2022

Introduction: As part of the implementation of its mission "to integrate hygiene activities into health-care", the general directorate of health conducted in 2018 with its technical structures, an evaluation of the implementation of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) using the WHO IPCAF tool in 30 health-care facilities in the autonomous district of Abidjan.
Material and methods: This were a cross-sectional survey with a conceptualized component considering the issue of injection safety and sanitary waste management, which was conducted in the named health-care facilities from March 20 to 28, 2018. The scores of the essential components of the IPC made it possible to assess the IPC level of each health-care facility evaluated and the overall IPCAF score of all facilities.
Results: The overall median IPCAF score of the health-care facilities was 242.5 / 800 and corresponded to an inadequate level overall. No facility reached the "advanced" level of performance, 5 facilities (17%) reached the "intermediate" level, 10 (33%) fell into the "basic" level, and 15 (50%) were at the "inadequate" level. Baseline institutions had much higher scores than first contact institutions.
Conclusion: IPC component activities were inadequate and fragmented in the under-resourced health facilities at the time of the assessment. It would be appropriate to provide adequate resources and develop expertise in IPC through strong political will and leadership. This will contribute to the achievement of Universal Health Insurance objectives with safe health services for patients.
Women’s Empowerment and Nutritional Status of Children in The Gambia: Further Analysis of the 2019–2020 Gambia Demographic and Health Survey
Authors: Sey-Sawo Jainaba , Sarr Francis , Bah Haddy Tunkara , Senghore Thomas
Published: September 2022

Background: Empowering women and the promotion of children’s health are key components of the Sustainable Development Goals targeted for achievement by 2030. The survival of young children, which depends on their nutrition, is influenced by an interaction of factors at the household level. This study aims to investigate the association between women’s empowerment and undernutrition among children under age 5 using The Gambia Demographic Health Survey (GDHS) 2019–20.
Children’s undernutrition was measured with two indicators: stunting and underweight. The women’s empowerment indicators were educational status, employment, decision making, age at first sex and birth, and acceptance of wife beating. StataSE software Version 17 was used for data analysis. Analyses were cluster-adjusted, sample-weighted, with confounding/moderating variables. Descriptive statistics and cross-tabulations were computed for all variables. Bivariate and multivariate analysis of the outcomes and women’s empowerment were conducted.
The prevalence of stunting and underweight among the children under age 5 was 17% and 12%, respectively. The results of the multiple logistic regression show that women with no education had 51% (OR = 1.51; 95% CI = 1.11–2.07; p = 0.009), and 52% (OR = 1.52; 95% CI = 1.06–2.14; p = 0.022) greater odds of having children under age 5 who were stunted or underweight compared to those women with primary and higher level of education, respectively. Mothers with a body mass index classified as thin were associated with an increased odds of having stunted (OR = 1.44; 95% CI 1.01–2.05; p = 0.033) and underweight (OR = 1.69; 95% CI = 1.58–3.52; P<0.001) children. In addition, women who reported accepting wife beating had 69% (OR = 1.69; 95% CI 1.22–2.35; p = 0.002) and 66% (OR = 1.66; 95% CI 1.15–2.40; p = 0.006) greater odds of having stunted and underweight children respectively, compared to those who did not accept wife beating. Similarly, women from households with a wealth index classified as poor had 69% (OR = 1.69; 95% CI 1.03–2.80; p = 0.038) and 83% % (OR = 1.83; 95% CI 1.18–2.83; p = 0.007) greater odds of having underweight and stunting children compared to those from households with middle or rich wealth index.
Observation of large spontaneous emission rate enhancement of quantum dots in a broken-symmetry slow-light waveguide
Authors: Siampour Hamidreza , O'Rourke Christopher , Brash Alistair J , Makhonin Maxim N , Dost René , Hallett Dominic J , Clarke Edmund , Patil Pallavi Kisan , Skolnick Maurice S , fox mark
Published: September 2022

Quantum states of light and matter can be manipulated on the nanoscale to provide a technological resource for aiding the implementation of scalable photonic quantum technologies [1-3]. Experimental progress relies on the quality and efficiency of the coupling between photons and internal states of quantum emitters [4-6]. Here we demonstrate a nanophotonic waveguide platform with embedded quantum dots (QDs) that enables both Purcell-enhanced emission and strong chiral coupling. The design uses slow-light effects in a glide-plane photonic crystal waveguide with QD tuning to match the emission frequency to the slow-light region. Simulations were used to map the chirality and Purcell enhancement depending on the position of a dipole emitter relative to the air holes. The highest Purcell factors and chirality occur in separate regions, but there is still a significant area where high values of both can be obtained. Based on this, we first demonstrate a record large radiative decay rate of 17 ns^-1 (60 ps lifetime) corresponding to a 20 fold Purcell enhancement. This was achieved by electric-field tuning of the QD to the slow-light region and quasi-resonant phonon-sideband excitation. We then demonstrate a 5 fold Purcell enhancement for a dot with high degree of chiral coupling to waveguide modes, substantially surpassing all previous measurements. Together these demonstrate the excellent prospects for using QDs in scalable implementations of on-chip spin-photonics relying on chiral quantum optics.
Parametric identification of fractional order system using Bayesian method
Authors: Jin Zhaopeng , Zhang Jie , Zhao Yanzhi , Tang Yinggan , Shan Yu , Sun Yue
Published: September 2022

In this paper, the estimation issue for fractional order system with unknown parameter and order is addressed. The Bayesian method is used for system identification. First, the framework of parameter identification algorithm is built and the conjugate prior is constructed. Then, an improved descent method is used to update the posterior distribution based on the idea of maximum likelihood function. The proposed method solves the problem of overall identification of order and parameters, and can also estimate the noise in the system. Finally, numerical experiments comparing with the optimization algorithm are completed. Experiments on prediction performance, convergence ability and time complexity verify the effectiveness and speed of the proposed algorithm.
Multi-omics integration of DNA polymerase epsilon protein family reveals clinical outcomes and functional signatures in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Zhang XuSheng , Ma Yongxin , Liu Kejun , Liu Yimin , Zhou Hongcai , Wei Peng , Yu Xuehai , Chen Bendong
Published: September 2022

BACKGROUND
Numerous genetic sequencing projects have demonstrated that alterations in Polε (DNA polymerase epsilon ) due to various causes are associated with the development of multiple human cancers. However, the biological functions of its four core genes, POLE1/2/3/4/, in the occurrence, progression, and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) remain poorly understood to date.
METHODS
Multi-omics, multi-level deep mining of HCC data from TCGA and other publicly available databases by using online analysis tools from GEPIA2, TIMER2.0, DAVID, Kaplan-Meier plotter, cBioPortal and MethSurv databases, as well as the R package to assess Polε family members in HCC for their potential biological functions.
RESULTS
We found that the four target genes were significantly upregulated in HCC (P < 0.001), their high expression was associated with a lower survival rate (P < 0.05), and both diagnostic ROC curves and disease-specific survival time-dependent ROC curves suggested that POLE2/3 showed better disease predictive efficacy, and the four genes were significantly associated with immune infiltration, and drug sensitivity analysis suggested that the high expression groups showed higher drug sensitivity in some chemotherapeutic drugs(P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
The POLE1/2/3 are potential prognostic predictive molecules for HCC and correlate with immune infiltration, and high expression of POLE may serve as a potential predictor of the effect of targeted therapies. POLE2/3 may be the potential diagnostic biomarkers for HCC, and the expression level of POLE3 may be a biological predictor of HCC chemotherapy sensitivity.
Mnx1 Induces Leukemia Transformation Through Altering Histone Methylation in a Model of Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia with t(7;12)(q36;p13)
Authors: Waraky Ahmed , Östlund Anders , Nilsson Tina , Weichenan Dieter , Lutsik Pavlo , Bähr Marion , Hey Joschka , Adamsson Jenni , Morsy Mohammad , Li Susann , Fogelstrand Linda , Plass Christoph , Palmqvist Lars
Published: September 2022

Certain subtypes of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in children have still inferior outcome. One of these AML subtypes has a translocation t(7;12)(q36;p13), always leading to high expression of MNX1 and often to MNX1::ETV6 fusion expression. Here we identified the transforming event in this AML and possible ways to target them. Only MNX1 was able to induce AML in mice, and this was observed using hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells derived from fetal origin but not from adult bone marrow. The restriction in the transforming capacity to cells from fetal liver origin is in concordance with the fact that t(7;12)(q36;p13) AML is mostly restricted to infants. Ectopic expression of MNX1 led to increase of H3K4me1, H3K4me2 and H3K4me3, reduction in H3K27me3, accompanied with changes in genome-wide chromatin accessibility and genome expression, likely mediated through MNX1 interaction with the methionine cycle and different methyltransferases. MNX1 expression resulted in increased DNA damage, depletion of the Lin-/Sca1+/c-Kit+ population and skewing toward the myeloid lineage. These effects, together with leukemia development, was prevented by the S-adenosylmethionine analog Sinefungin. In conclusion, we have shown the importance of MNX1 in leukemia development in AML with t(7;12), supporting a rationale for targeting MNX1 and downstream pathways.
CT-Based Deep Learning Enables Chemotherapy Response Prediction for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Pilot Study
Authors: Kanda Taishu , Wakiya Taiichi , Ishido Keinosuke , Kimura Norihisa , Nagase Hayato , Yoshida Eri , Nakagawa Junichi , Matsuzaka Masashi , Niioka Takenori , Sasaki Yoshihiro , Hakamada Kenichi
Published: September 2022

Background
Predicting response to chemotherapy can lead to its optimization. Furthermore, prediction using a noninvasive approach is clearly preferable to an invasive approach. This study aimed to predict in vitro chemosensitivity assay results by combining computed tomography (CT) images and deep learning (DL) to optimize chemotherapy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)
Methods
We collected the dataset of preoperative CT images and the histoculture drug response assay (HDRA) of 33 patients undergoing surgery for PDAC at our facility. We trimmed small patches from the entire tumor area, using the data augmentation technique, and obtained 10,730 patches. We established various prediction labels for 5-fluorouracil (FU), gemcitabine (GEM), and paclitaxel (PTX). We built a predictive model using a residual convolutional neural network and used 3-fold cross-validation.
Results
Of the 33 patients, effective response to FU, GEM, and PTX by HDRA was observed in 19 (57.6%), 11 (33.3%), and 23 (88.5%) patients, respectively. The average accuracy and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the model for predicting the effective response to FU were 93.4% and 0.979, respectively. In the prediction of GEM, the models demonstrated high accuracy (92.8%) and AUC (0.969). Likewise, the model for predicting response to PTX had a high performance (accuracy 95.9%, AUC 0.979).
Conclusions
Our CT-patch-based DL model exhibited high predictive performance in projecting HDRA results. Our study suggests that the DL approach could possibly provide a noninvasive means for the optimization of chemotherapy.
The cause of discoid meniscus: a genomic exploring research
Authors: Lin Jianping , Zhang Jian , Zhou Gang , Wu Yongchang , Wang Benchao
Published: September 2022

Background: Discoid meniscus is a congenital structural variation of the meniscus. But, its pathogenesis is still unknown. This study aims to find the related genes of this disease through genomics and bioinformatics methods.
Methods and Material: In this study, we recruited 10 patients who were diagnosed with discoid meniscus. DNA were extracted peripheral venous blood from patients respectively, and were broken to fragments about 250-300bp. DNA fragments accepted repairing, connecting, purifying and PCR. The whole exon sequencing performed at these fragments via sequencing platform. The data which output by the platform were dealt with some bioinformatic tools. Last, the genetic and protein damage prediction were put down to variant.
Statistical analysis used: Mann-Whitney U test, and the statistical significance is P<0.05, and 95% confidence was calculated.
Results: The discrepancy of the counts between male and female group is inconspicuous(P<0.05). Based on bioinformatic analysis, we found 9 pathological gene (AFF1, KCTD1, NRF1, PADI4, FLNB, SYNE1, MYO9A, COL11A2 and COL2A1). Although
10 common variants were founded in this study, 7 variants exert subtle on protein. The most harmful sites belong to AFF1, KCTD1, NRF1, PADI4, FLNB, SYNE1, MYO9A.
Conclusions: We screened a total of 9 suspected pathogenic genes. we supposed that the formation of the discoid meniscus is not caused by a single gene mutation.
Thermoelectric properties of topological chains coupled to a quantum dot
Authors: Figueira M S , Continentino Mucio A , Lima A C P , Ribeiro R C Bento , Deus Fernanda , Correa J H
Published: September 2022

Topological one-dimensional superconductors can sustain zero energy modes protected by different kinds of symmetries in their extremities. Observing these excitations in the form of Majorana fermions is one of the most intensive quests in condensed matter physics. We are interested in another class of one-dimensional topological systems in this work, namely topological insulators. Which present symmetry-protected end modes with robust properties and do not require the low temperatures necessary for topological superconductivity. We consider a device in the form of a single electron transistor coupled to the simplest kind of topological insulators, namely chains of atoms with hybridized sp orbitals. We study the thermoelectric properties of the device in the trivial, non-trivial topological phases and at the quantum topological transition of the chains. We show that the device's electrical conductance and the Wiedemann-Franz ratio at the topological transition have universal values at very low temperatures. The conductance and thermopower of the device with diatomic sp-chains, at their topological transition, give direct evidence of fractional charges in the system. The former has an anomalous low-temperature behavior, attaining a universal value that is a consequence of the double degeneracy of the system due to the presence of zero energy modes. On the other hand, the system can be tuned to exhibit high values of the thermoelectric figure of merit and the power factor at high temperatures.
Sub-lethal doses of chemotherapeutic agents induce senescence in T cells and upregulation of PD-1 expression
Authors: Kasamatsu Tetsuhiro , Awata-Shiraiwa Maaya , Ishihara Rei , Murakami Yuki , Masuda Yuta , Gotoh Nanami , Oda Tsukasa , Yokohama Akihiko , Matsumura Ikuko , Handa Hiroshi , Tsukamoto Norifumi , Murakami Hirokazu , Saitoh Takayuki
Published: September 2022

Cellular senescence refers to a pause in the cell cycle, usually in response to internal and/or external stress, including telomere dysfunction, abnormal cellular growth, and DNA damage. Several chemotherapeutic drugs, such as melphalan (MEL) and doxorubicin (DXR), induce cellular senescence in cancer cells. However, it is not clear whether these drugs induce senescence in immune cells. We evaluated the induction of cellular senescence in T cells were derived from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) in healthy donors using sub-lethal doses of chemotherapeutic agents. The PBMNCs were kept overnight in RPMI 1640 medium with 2% phytohemagglutinin and 10% fetal bovine serum and then cultured in RPMI 1640 with 20 ng/mL IL-2 and sub-lethal doses of chemotherapeutic drugs (2 µM MEL and 50 nM DXR) for 48 h. Sub-lethal doses of chemotherapeutic agents induced phenotypes associated with senescence, such as the formation of γH2AX nuclear foci, cell proliferation arrest, and induction of senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) activity, (control vs. MEL, DXR; median mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) 1883 (1130–2163) vs. 2233 (1385–2254), 2406.5 (1377–3119), respectively) in T cells. IL6 and SPP1 mRNA, which are senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors, were significantly upregulated by sublethal doses of MEL and DXR compared to the control (P = 0.043 and 0.018, respectively). Moreover, sub-lethal doses of chemotherapeutic agents significantly enhanced the expression of programmed death 1 (PD-1) on CD3 + CD4 + and CD3 + CD8 + T cells compared to the control (CD4 + T cells; P = 0.043, 0.043, and 0.043, respectively, CD8 + T cells; P = 0.043, 0.043, and 0.043, respectively). Our results suggest that sub-lethal doses of chemotherapeutic agents induce senescence in T cells and tumor immunosuppression by upregulating PD-1 expression on T cells.
Assessment of co-infection with BNYVV and BSCTV on resistance against Rhizomania disease in transgenic sugar beet plants
Authors: Khoshnami Maryam , Zare Bahar , Mardani-Mehrabad Hamideh , Rakhshandehroo Farshad , Baghery Mohammad Amin , Malboobi Mohammad Ali
Published: September 2022

Sugar beet is an economically important crop and one of the major sources of sucrose. Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) and Beet severe curly top virus (BSCTV) are two widespread viruses in sugar beet that cause severe damage to its performance. Previously, we have successfully achieved resistance to BNVYY by introducing coat protein-based DNA sequence constructs inducing gene silencing into sugar beet. However, the RNA silencing-mediated resistance of plants to a specific virus can be potentially broken down by another one as a part of synergistic interactions. In this study, we assayed the efficiency of the induced resistance of transgenic events to BNYVV and BSCTV-Ir under single or mixed infections. All the plants inoculated with just BSCTV-Ir displayed curly-leaf symptoms. However, partial resistance was observed in S3 events based on mild symptoms and low PCR amplification of the BSCTV-Ir coat protein sequence. Similarly, partial resistance to BSCTV-Ir was detected in the same transgenic plants under co-infection conditions. Based on the presented data, resistance to BNYVV was stable in almost all the transgenic plants co-infected with BSCTV-Ir, except for one event (S3-229) that was broken down. Overall, it seems that the co-infection with BNYVV and BSCTV-Ir does not affect the resistance of transgenic plants to both viruses. These findings demonstrated that RNA silencing-based resistance to BNYVV introduced in transgenic sugar beets of this study is very efficient and is not easily weakened after co-infection with a heterologous virus.
Suitability evaluation of land reclamation for cultivated land in coal- mining area based on catastrophe progression method
Authors: LI Ying-hui
Published: September 2022

The suitability of land reclamation as cultivated land in coal mining area was studied, and a synthetic evaluation model was put forward based on the catastrophe progression method (CPM). The classification of land reclamation suitability status was divided into four grades: suitable, moderately suitable, less suitable and unsuitable. On the basis of comprehensive consideration of three factors including land quality, soil nutrients and engineering suitability in the reclamation area, eleven parameters including terrain slope grade, effective thickness of soil layer, soil parent materials, soil contamination, organic content, alkali hydrolyzable nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), available potassium (K), ground collapse, land destruction extent, and conditions of irrigation and drainage were selected as evaluation indicators, and the classification standards of each evaluation indicator were determined. Using MATLAB software to generate 800 total samples (200 samples per level) between the arrays corresponding to each level of standards according to the principle of normal distribution, of which 600 were used as training samples to establish the catastrophe progression criterion, and 200 were used as test samples to verify the reliability of the criterion, and the criterion was verified by engineering examples. The suitability of land reclamation for cultivated land in a coal mining area in Shaodong county, China, was comprehensively evaluated by using the proposed model based on CPM. The research results have reference and guiding significance for the comprehensive evaluation of the suitability of land reclamation for cultivated land in coal mining areas.
Fatty infiltration of multifidus muscle independently increases osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture risk
Authors: Lee Dong Gyu , Bae Jae Hwa
Published: September 2022

Background Vertebral compression fractures decrease daily life activities and increase economic and social burdens. In addition, sarcopenia and back muscle atrophy influence osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF). Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of the multifidus muscle on the OVCF. Methods We retrospectively recruited the study population based on the hospital database following the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The inclusion criteria were: 1) ≥ 60 years and 2) concurrent bone mineral density (BMD) and lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The exclusion criteria were: 1) a history of lumbar spinal surgery, 2) lumbar spine metastasis, and 3) systemic diseases affecting bone density, including chronic renal failure and liver cirrhosis. The participants were divided into three groups based on lumbar spine BMD and OVCF. The control group underwent BMD and spinal MRI evaluation but not OVCF. Based on the T-score of lumbar spine BMD, the fracture groups with OVCF were divided into osteopenia and osteoporosis groups. Osteopenia BMD groups showed osteopenia T-scores of spinal BMD of over − 2.5. Osteoporosis BMD groups also showed osteoporosis T-scores of lumbar BMD of -2.5 and below. Results We included 120 patients who had visited our hospital. Based on spinal MRI, 75 participants were diagnosed with OVCF, and 45 were not. Age, BMD, and the psoas index significantly differed between the control and fracture groups. Moreover, fatty infiltration of the multifidus muscle indifferently affected the OVCF, with and without adjusting for other significant factors. Conclusions The severity of fatty infiltration of the multifidus muscle increases the risk of a spinal fracture. Therefore, preserving the quality of the spinal muscle and bone density is essential for preventing OVCF.
Successful management of an unusual brain abscess with multiple locations: case report and review of literature
Authors: An Yuan , Song Dengpan , Guo Fuyou
Published: September 2022

Introduction: Intracranial abscesses at multiple locations are extremely rare and are associated with poor prognosis. High intracranial hypertension crisis and ventriculitis resulting from abscess rupture are fatal.
Case report:Here, we reported a 15-year male patient with uncommon intracranial abscess involving the bilateral frontal lobe, falx cerebral, left tentorium, left occipital, and temporal subdural locations. Successful treatment was achieved after three aspirations and subsequent systemic anti-infective drug administrations. This patient recovered uneventfully, and follow-up magnetic resonance imaging revealed that the lesions had almost completely disappeared.
Conclusion: This is an extremely rare case of brain abscess in multiple locations. Establishing a timely diagnosis, such as by several cultures of pus and genetic testing, is essential for the proper management of atypical cerebral abscesses.
Numerical analysis of mixed mode (I/II) stress intensity factors of single edge cracked/notched plates under different boundary conditions using strain energy approach
Authors: Shi Liang , Oyadiji S Olutunde
Published: September 2022

The stress intensity factor is a conventional parameter in Fracture Mechanics and there are some analytical solutions for many different fracture cases. This paper presents the mixed mode I/II stress intensity factors (SIF) of slanted cracks/notches under tension loading. A two-dimensional finite element analysis was employed using ABAQUS finite element program. Various crack lengths and angles were analysed. The effect of the different boundary conditions applied at the plate edge was also examined. Based on the literature survey, there is a lack of solution of SIFs of slanted cracks in plane stress plates. The strain energy approach (SEA) was adopted to analyse the notched cases since finite element software are not capable of computing the notched SIFs directly. By obtaining the strain energy in the FEA results, mode I and II SIFs can be calculated simply by using the SEA method. Moreover, the accuracy of this approach has been validated and compared with the available published results and shows an excellent agreement. The key contribution of the present paper is to evaluate the effect of the crack/notch length to plate width ratio on the mode I and II SIFs of a slant-edge-cracked/notched plate under different boundary conditions, i.e. pinned boundary condition and clamped boundary condition. Crack/notch length to plate width ratios from 0.1 to 0.9, slant angle from 0º to 45º, notch initial angle from 0º to 45º were considered. Series of new data of mode I and II SIFs are provided herein.
Characterization of circulating immune cells and correlation with Tie2/Angiopoietins level in well differentiated neuroendocrine gastroenteropancreatic tumors: a cross-sectional analysis
Authors: Sesti Franz , Puliani Giulia , Feola Tiziana , Campolo Federicas , Sciarra Francesca , Hasenmajer Valeria , Lenzi Andrea , Faggiano Antongiulio , Isidori Andrea Marcello , Venneri Mary Anna , Giannetta Elisa
Published: September 2022

Purpose:The immune environment represents a new, but little explored, tool for understanding neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) behavior. An immunosuppressed microenvironment is hypothesized to promote NENs progression. A missing profiling of circulating leukocyte and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) subpopulations would open new perspectives in the still limited diagnostic-therapeutic management of NENs.Methods: A cross-sectional case-control pilot study was performed recruiting 30 consecutive patients: 15 naïve to treatment, with histologically proven gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and 15 healthy controls (Ctrl), matched for age and sex. PBMC subpopulations were studied by flow cytometry. Soluble Tie2 (sTie2), Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) were evaluated by ELISA.Results: Immune cell profiling revealed a significant lower CD3-CD56+ natural killer (NK) cell count in NETsversusCtrl (p=0.04). NK subset analysis showed a reduced relative count of CD56+CD16+ NK cells (p=0.002) in NETsversusCtrl. Patients with NET showed a higher percentage of CD14+CD16++non-classical monocytes (p=0.01), and a lower percentage of CD14+CD16+intermediate monocytes (p=0.04). A decrease in percentage (p=0.004) of CD4+ T-helper lymphocytes was found in NETs patients. Evaluation of cellular and serum angiopoietin pathway mediators revealed in NET patients a higher relative count of TEM (p<0.001), and high levels of Ang-1 (p=0.003) and Ang-2 (p=0.002).Conclusions: patients with GEP-NETs presented an immunosuppressed environment characterized by a low count of cytotoxic NK cells, a high count of anti-inflammatory non-classical monocytes, and a low count of T-helper lymphocytes. Higher levels of TEM and angiopoietins suggest a crosstalk between innate immunity and angiogenic pathways in NETs.
Association and interaction between metal aluminum and iron exposure and the risk of offspring’ congenital heart defects in northwestern China
Authors: Li Jing , Zhang Chunhua , Mao Baohong , Liu Qian , Wang Yanxia , Dai Zhirong , Yi Bin , Liu Qing
Published: September 2022

Congenital heart disease (CHDs) is the leading cause of mortality from birth defects, affecting up to 1% of live births. However, there have been inconsistent results of the relationship between aluminum (Al) /iron (Fe) level and risk of CHDs. We performed a pair-matched case–control study and included 97 cases and 194 controls to investigate the association and interaction between Al/Fe exposure and the risk of CHDs in a birth cohort study conducted in Lanzhou, China. Compared to < 25th percentile of Al in CB, risk differences were significantly detected in > 75th percentile of Al in total CHDs (aOR = 2.826, 95% CI: 1.009–7.266) and isolated CHDs (aOR = 10.713, 95% CI: 1.017–112.851). Although a similar pattern was not detected in MB of Al and Fe in both MB and CB, a significant dose-effect was observed between the Al level and total CHDs in both MB and CB (Ptrend < 0.05). Compared to both lowest tertile of Al and Fe level in umbilical cord blood, the highest tertile was associated with an increased risk of CHDs, especially for multiple CHDs, septal defects and patent ductus arteriosus. Overall, our study suggests a significant association between pregnancy Al exposure (≥ 2.408 mg/L) and risk of CHDs, especially for septal defects, and high Al and Fe elicited a strong correlation on fetal heart development. Future studies are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanism.
Investigation of high-risk HPV infection in high-grade lesions of the cervix and cervical cancer
Authors: 席 敏 , Li Xiaoduo , Sun Guang , Zhang Hailong , Xie Nanzi , Zhou Qin , Xu Bin , Bao Lunmin , Hu Xiaopin , Jiang Hongmei , Zhang Yundong
Published: September 2022

Background
By understanding the diagnostic value of high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) types in high-grade cervical lesions and cervical cancer, we expect to provide a theoretical basis for more targeted cervical lesion diagnosis and vaccine coverage and nucleotide polymorphism in Anshun, Guizhou Province.
Methods
10,774 samples were collected from people who underwent HPV typing test during June 2020 to December 2021 in Anshun People’s Hospital, Guizhou Province. Sources included outpatients, inpatients and physical examination participants. Main types of infection and the extent of cervical lesions were analyzed by PCR-reverse dot blot (PCR-RDB), TCT tests, colposcopy, pathological sections and histochemical staining. Meanwhile, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of HPV52 and HPV58 were analyzed and phylogenetic trees of E6/E7 regions of HPV52 and HPV58 were established by MEGA11.
Results
In Anshun area of Guizhou province, single infection dominated in HR-HPV infections, and the positive rate was 20.36%. The main types were HPV52 (6.11%), HPV16 (3.59%), HPV58 (3.04%), HPV53 (2.31%), and HPV51 (1.95%). Combined TCT test, colposcopy, pathological section and histochemical staining revealed that Type 16, 18, 52 and 58 could cause cervical lesions.The results of pathological section revealed that the positive rates were 27.94% and 36.36% for Type 52 and 58, respectively, which were higher than that of Type 16 and 18. SNP and evolutionary tree analysis revealed that in HPV52, there were 7 single nucleotide mutation sites in E6 and 3 in E7; among them, new mutations were found which included A125T, A294Tand T416C in E6, and T666C in E7, and all HPV52 subtypes were distributed in the B lineage.Similarly, in HPV58, there were 3 single nucleotide mutations found in E6 and 8 found in E7, which were exclusively distributed in the A lineage.
Conclusions
The prevalence of HR-HPV in Anshun area of Guizhou Province was consistent with that in the whole country, which mainly included Type 16, 18, 52, and 58, but with new mutation sites.