bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bone Health in Children with Rheumatic Disorders: Focus on Molecular Mechanisms, Diagnosis, and Management
Authors: Di Marcello Francesca , Di Donato Giulia , d’Angelo Debora Mariarita , Breda Luciana , Chiarelli Francesco
Published: May 2022

Bone is an extremely dynamic and adaptive tissue, whose metabolism and homeostasis is influenced by many different hormonal, mechanical, nutritional, immunological and pharmacological stimuli. Genetic factors significantly affect bone health, through their influence on bone cells function, cartilage quality, calcium and vitamin D homeostasis, sex hormone metabolism and pubertal timing. In addition, optimal nutrition and physical activity contribute to bone mass acquisition in the growing age. All these factors influence the attainment of peak bone mass, a critical determinant of bone health and fracture risk in adulthood. Secondary osteoporosis is an important issue of clinical care in children with acute and chronic diseases. Systemic autoimmune disorders, like juvenile idiopathic arthritis, can affect the skeletal system, causing reduced bone mineral density and high risk of fragility fractures during childhood. In these patients, multiple factors contribute to reduce bone strength, including systemic inflammation with elevated cytokines, reduced physical activity, malabsorption and nutritional deficiency, inadequate daily calcium and vitamin D intake, use of glucocorticoids, poor growth and pubertal delay. In juvenile arthritis, osteoporosis is more prominent at the femoral neck and radius compared to the lumbar spine. Nevertheless, vertebral fractures are an important, often asymptomatic manifestation, especially in glucocorticoid-treated patients. A standardized diagnostic approach to the musculoskeletal system, including prophylaxis, therapy and follow up, is therefore mandatory in at risk children. Here we discuss the molecular mechanisms involved in skeletal homeostasis and the influence of inflammation and chronic disease on bone metabolism.
Exploration of Multiverse Activities of Endocannabinoids in Biological Systems
Authors: Behl Tapan , Makkar Rashita , Sehgal Aayush , Singh Sukhbir , Makeen Hafiz A. , Albratty Mohammed , Alhazmi Hassan A. , Meraya Abdulkarim M. , Bungau Simona
Published: May 2022

Over the last 25 years, the human endocannabinoid system (ECS) has come into the limelight as an imperative neuro-modulatory system. It is mainly comprised of endogenous cannabinoid (endocannabinoid), cannabinoid receptors and the associated enzymes accountable for its synthesis and deterioration. The ECS plays a proven role in the management of several neurological, cardiovascular, immunological, and other relevant chronic conditions. Endocannabinoid or endogenous cannabinoid are endogenous lipid molecules which connect with cannabinoid receptors and impose a fashionable impact on the behavior and physiological processes of the individual. Arachidonoyl ethanolamide or Anandamide and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol or 2-AG were the endocannabinoid molecules that were first characterized and discovered. The presence of lipid membranes in the precursor molecules is the characteristic feature of endocannabinoids. The endocannabinoids are released upon rapid enzymatic reactions into the extracellular space via activation through G-protein coupled receptors, which is contradictory to other neurotransmitter that are synthesized beforehand, and stock up into the synaptic vesicles. The current review highlights the functioning, synthesis, and degradation of endocannabinoid, and explains its functioning in biological systems.
ALCAM/CD166 Is Involved in the Binding and Uptake of Cancer-Derived Extracellular Vesicles
Authors: Cardeñes Beatriz , Clares Irene , Bezos Tamara , Toribio Víctor , López-Martín Soraya , Rocha Almudena , Peinado Héctor , Yáñez-Mó María , Cabañas Carlos
Published: May 2022

Colorectal cancer (CRC) and ovarian cancer (OvC) patients frequently develop peritoneal metastasis, a condition associated with a very poor prognosis. In these cancers, tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) cause immunosuppression, facilitate the direct attachment and invasion of cancer cells through the mesothelium, induce the conversion of peritoneal mesothelial cells (PMCs) into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and transfer a more aggressive phenotype amongst cancer cells. Although the promoting role of EVs in CRC and OvC peritoneal metastasis is well established, the specific molecules that mediate the interactions between tumor-derived EVs and immune and non-immune target cells remain elusive. Here, we employed the SKOV-3 (ovarian adenocarcinoma) and Colo-320 (colorectal adenocarcinoma) human cell lines as model systems to study the interactions and uptake of EVs produced by ovarian carcinoma and colorectal carcinoma cells, respectively. We established that the adhesion molecule ALCAM/CD166 is involved in the interaction of cancer-derived EVs with recipient cancer cells (a process termed “EV binding” or “EV docking”) and in their subsequent uptake by these cells. The identification of ALCAM/CD166 as a molecule mediating the docking and uptake of CRC and OvC-derived EVs may be potentially exploited to block the peritoneal metastasis cascade promoted by EVs in CRC and OvC patients.
Study on the Preparation of Estrone Molecularly Imprinted Polymers and Their Application in a Quartz Crystal Microbalance Sensor via a Computer-Assisted Design
Authors: Liu Jin , Cai Xuhong , Liu Junbo , Liang Dadong , Chen Kaiyin , Tang Shanshan , Xu Bao
Published: May 2022

Computer simulations are widely used for the selection of conditions for the synthesis of molecularly imprinted polymers and can rapidly reduce the experimental cycle time and save labor and materials. In this paper, estrone molecularly imprinted polymers (E1-MIPs) are designed at the M062X/6-311+G(d,p) level with itaconic acid (IA) as the functional monomer. The imprinted molar ratio between E1 and IA was optimized, cross-linkers and solvents were screened, and the nature of interactions between E1 and IA was explored. The simulated results showed that pentaerythritol triacrylate was the best cross-linker. Meanwhile, when the imprinted molar ratio between E1 and IA was 1:4, the E1–IA complex had the largest amount of hydrogen bonds, the lowest binding energy, and the strongest stability. Using the simulation results as guidance, the E1-MIPs were prepared to modify the electrons of a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor. The experimental studies showed that the E1-MIPs-QCM sensor had the highest adsorption capacity to E1 in comparison with their analogues, and the lowest detection value of the sensor was 16.00 μg/L. The computer simulations and experimental studies could provide guidance for synthesize novel E1-MIPs materials. It also could provide important references and directions for the application of E1-MIPs.
Extracellular Vesicles Released from Stem Cells as a New Therapeutic Strategy for Primary and Secondary Glomerulonephritis
Authors: Quaglia Marco , Merlotti Guido , Fornara Laura , Colombatto Andrea , Cantaluppi Vincenzo
Published: May 2022

Current treatment of primary and secondary glomerulopathies is hampered by many limits and a significant proportion of these disorders still evolves towards end-stage renal disease. A possible answer to this unmet challenge could be represented by therapies with stem cells, which include a variety of progenitor cell types derived from embryonic or adult tissues. Stem cell self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation ability explain their potential to protect and regenerate injured cells, including kidney tubular cells, podocytes and endothelial cells. In addition, a broad spectrum of anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory actions appears to interfere with the pathogenic mechanisms of glomerulonephritis. Of note, mesenchymal stromal cells have been particularly investigated as therapy for Lupus Nephritis and Diabetic Nephropathy, whereas initial evidence suggest their beneficial effects in primary glomerulopathies such as IgA nephritis. Extracellular vesicles mediate a complex intercellular communication network, shuttling proteins, nucleic acids and other bioactive molecules from origin to target cells to modulate their functions. Stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles recapitulate beneficial cytoprotective, reparative and immunomodulatory properties of parental cells and are increasingly recognized as a cell-free alternative to stem cell-based therapies for different diseases including glomerulonephritis, also considering the low risk for potential adverse effects such as maldifferentiation and tumorigenesis. We herein summarize the renoprotective potential of therapies with stem cells and extracellular vesicles derived from progenitor cells in glomerulonephritis, with a focus on their different mechanisms of actions. Technological progress and growing knowledge are paving the way for wider clinical application of regenerative medicine to primary and secondary glomerulonephritis: this multi-level, pleiotropic therapy may open new scenarios overcoming the limits and side effects of traditional treatments, although the promising results of experimental models need to be confirmed in the clinical setting.
Towards Predictions of Interaction Dynamics between Cereal Aphids and Their Natural Enemies: A Review
Authors: Stell Eric , Meiss Helmut , Lasserre-Joulin Françoise , Therond Olivier
Published: May 2022

(1) Although most past studies are based on static analyses of the pest regulation drivers, evidence shows that a greater focus on the temporal dynamics of these interactions is urgently required to develop more efficient strategies. (2) Focusing on aphids, we systematically reviewed (i) empirical knowledge on the drivers influencing the dynamics of aphid–natural enemy interactions and (ii) models developed to simulate temporal or spatio-temporal aphid dynamics. (3) Reviewed studies mainly focus on the abundance dynamics of aphids and their natural enemies, and on aphid population growth rates. The dynamics of parasitism and predation are rarely measured empirically, although it is often represented in models. Temperature is mostly positively correlated with aphid population growth rates. Plant phenology and landscape effects are poorly represented in models. (4) We propose a research agenda to progress towards models and empirical knowledge usable to design effective CBC strategies. We claim that crossover works between empirical and modeling community will help design new empirical settings based on simulation results and build more accurate and robust models integrating more key drivers of aphid dynamics. Such models, turned into decision support systems, are urgently needed by farmers and advisors in order to design effective integrated pest management.
High Nutritional Vulnerability and Associated Risk Factors of Bangladeshi Wetland Community People Aged 50 Years and Older
Authors: Rahman Mohammad Meshbahur , Farhana Zaki , Chowdhury Taniya Tajmin , Uddin Md Taj , Islam Md. Ziaul , Hamiduzzaman Mohammad
Published: May 2022

People aged 50 years and over often show nutritional vulnerability in South Asia, including Bangladesh. Consequently, they present physical weakness and illness that escalate overtime. Community-focused investigations have the potential to inform healthcare interventions in Bangladesh, but current studies examine older adults’ nutrition status which are not all-encompassing (e.g., wetland communities). We, therefore, assessed the malnutrition status among wetland community-dwelling older adults aged ≥50 years in Bangladesh. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 400 older adults living in the north-eastern wetland community of the country through simple random sampling. Demographics and general health information were collected using a structured questionnaire, and the Nestlé Mini Nutrition Assessment—Short Form was used to assess nutrition status. Respondents’ socio-demographic and health profiles were assessed, and the Pearson Chi-square test was performed to identify the associated risk factors of malnutrition. The prevalence of malnutrition and risk of malnutrition were 59.75 and 39.75 percent, respectively. The malnutrition prevalence rate was higher with increasing of age and females were more malnourished than males. Age, gender, educational status, occupation, and income were significantly associated with the participants’ malnutrition. The wetland community-dwelling people suffering from sleep disorders and having poor health condition, were found to be more malnourished. The findings confirm that the prevalence of malnutrition and risk of malnutrition are high among the wetland community-dwelling people aged ≥50 years. Our findings suggest health professionals to implement public health nutrition surveillance and clinical interventions simultaneously in wetland elderly to improve nutritional status of this cohort.
Long-Term Sex-Specific Effects of Cadmium Exposure on Osteoporosis and Bone Density: A 10-Year Community-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Chung Seung Min
Published: May 2022

This study explored the long-term effects of cadmium (Cd) exposure on osteoporosis incidence and bone mineral density (BMD). This retrospective cohort study included men aged ≥50 years and post-menopausal women from the 2001–2002 Korea Genome and Epidemiology Study. Participants previously diagnosed with osteoporosis were excluded. Blood Cd concentrations were measured and categorized as <0.5, 0.5–1.0, and >1.0 μg/L. BMD was measured using quantitative ultrasound. Osteoporosis was diagnosed when the T-score was ≤−2.5. Confounders that affect exposure and outcome were controlled. Osteoporosis incidence and differences in BMD (ΔBMD) were assessed until 2012. The osteoporosis incidence among 243 participants who were followed up for an average of 6.3 years was 22.2%. In all the participants, a dose–response relationship was observed between blood Cd and incident osteoporosis and ΔBMD (both p-for-trend < 0.01). After adjusting for age, sex, smoking, physical activity, body mass index, creatinine, and baseline BMD, a blood Cd concentration of >1.0 μg/L was an independent risk factor for incident osteoporosis and decrements in ΔBMD. In women, blood Cd concentrations of >0.5 μg/L increased the risk for osteoporosis. Exposure to Cd prospectively increases the risk for osteoporosis and decrements of ΔBMD, particularly in women, even in lower doses of Cd.
Asymmetrical Handgrip Strength Is Associated with Lower Cognitive Performance in the Elderly
Authors: Choi Ju-Young , Lee Sohyae , Min Jin-Young , Min Kyoung-Bok
Published: May 2022

(1) Background: Several studies have reported that handgrip strength (HGS) may be a sign of lower cognitive performance. However, studies supporting an association between asymmetrical HGS and cognitive function are lacking. This study aimed to determine the association between asymmetrical HGS and cognitive performance among the elderly. (2) Methods: The study sample included 2729 individuals aged ≥60 years-old who participated in the 2011–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The cognitive tests consisted of the word learning and recall modules from the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease (CERAD), Animal Fluency Test, and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). HGS was measured using a handgrip dynamometer, and asymmetrical HGS was used to calculate HGS. (3) Results: Of the 2729 participants, 53.0% were aged 60 to 69 years-old, and 47.0% were aged 70 years and older. All cognitive performance scores were significantly correlated with asymmetrical HGS in both age groups. After adjusting for confounders, there was a significant association between DSST and HGS asymmetry in both age groups. Contrastingly, a significant association was only observed for the relationship between the CERAD test and HGS asymmetry in the ≥70 year-old group. (4) Conclusions: We found that low cognitive function was associated with asymmetrical HGS in elderly participants in the United States. Thus, asymmetrical HGS may be an important predictor of cognitive deficits. However, further research is required to confirm our results and to establish possible mechanisms.
A Review of Delayed Delivery Models and the Analysis Method in Mice
Authors: Yomogita Hiroshi , Miyasaka Naoyuki , Kanai-Azuma Masami
Published: May 2022

In humans, the incidence of post-term delivery is 1–10%. Post-term delivery significantly increases the risk of cesarean section or neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission. Despite these serious challenges, the cause of prolonged delivery remains unclear. Several common factors of delayed parturition between mice and humans will help elucidate the mechanisms of pregnancy and labor. At present, gene modification techniques are rapidly developing; however, there are limited reviews available describing the mouse phenotype analysis as a human model for post-term delivery. We classified the delayed-labor mice into nine types according to their causes. In mice, progesterone (P₄) maintains pregnancy, and the most common cause of delayed labor is luteolysis failure. Other contributing factors include humoral molecules in the fetus/placenta, uterine contractile dysfunction, poor cervical ripening, and delayed implantation. The etiology of delayed parturition is overexpression of the pregnancy maintenance mechanism or suppression of the labor induction mechanism. Here, we describe how to investigated their causes using mouse genetic analysis. In addition, we generated a list to identify the causes. Our review will help understand the findings obtained using the mouse model, providing a foundation for conducting more systematic research on delayed delivery.
Bioactive Compounds for Quorum Sensing Signal-Response Systems in Marine Phycosphere
Authors: Qiao Zhen , Li Jialin , Qin Song
Published: May 2022

Quorum sensing in the phycosphere refers to a sensor system in which bacteria secrete bioactive compounds to coordinate group behavior relying on cell density. It is an important way for algae and bacteria to communicate with each other and achieve interactions. It has been determined that quorum sensing is widely presented in the marine phycosphere, which involves a variety of bioactive compounds. Focused on these compounds in marine phycosphere, this review summarizes the types and structures of the compounds, describes the methods in detection and functional evaluation, discusses the ecological functions regulated by the compounds, such as modulating microbial colonization, achieving algae–bacteria mutualism or competition and contributing to marine biogeochemical cycles. Meanwhile, the application prospects of the compounds are also proposed, including controlling harmful algal blooms and producing biofuel. Future research should focus on improving detection techniques, developing more model systems and investigating the effects of climate change on the quorum-sensing pathway to further understand the mechanism and application potential of quorum sensing compounds. This review aims to present an overview of current research carried out in order to provide the reader with perspective on bioactive compounds involved in quorum sensing.
Pericardial Recesses Mimicking Mediastinal Adenopathy on CT
Authors: Archer John Matthew , Ahuja Jitesh , Strange Chad D. , Shroff Girish S. , Unlu Ebru , Truong Mylene T.
Published: May 2022

Thin-section computed tomography (CT) has improved the detection of pericardial recesses and sinuses. Physiologic fluid in the pericardial recesses and sinuses can mimic mediastinal adenopathy. The misinterpretation of pericardial recesses and other benign pericardial entities in the oncologic setting can lead to inappropriate staging and management. Knowledge of the anatomy of the pericardium with emphasis on the imaging of different pericardial recesses on CT is important to avoid misdiagnosis, unnecessary further investigations, and/or biopsy.
The Impact of Concomitant Proton Pump Inhibitors on Immunotherapy Efficacy among Patients with Urothelial Carcinoma: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Rizzo Alessandro , Santoni Matteo , Mollica Veronica , Ricci Angela Dalia , Calabrò Concetta , Cusmai Antonio , Gadaleta-Caldarola Gennaro , Palmiotti Gennaro , Massari Francesco
Published: May 2022

Background. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have recently represented a breakthrough in urothelial carcinoma (UC). Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are routinely used for extended time periods in UC patients, with these agents having potentially and frequently undervalued effects on ICIs efficacy. Methods. We performed a meta-analysis aimed at investigating the impact of concomitant PPI administration on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) among patients receiving immunotherapy for metastatic UC. Results. Two studies encompassing a total of 1015 patients were included. The pooled Hazard Ratios (HRs) for OS and PFS were 1.55 (95% CI, 1.31–1.84) and 1.43 (95% CI, 1.23–1.66), respectively, suggesting that the administration of PPIs was negatively associated with PFS and with OS in UC patients treated with ICIs. Conclusions. The current meta-analysis represents the first study to provide a systematic evaluation of the impact of concomitant PPI use in UC patients treated with ICIs. Further studies are warranted on this topic to clarify the relationship between gut microbiome, antiacid exposure, and cancer immunotherapy. In the current era of medical oncology, progress in this setting will require the collaboration of basic science and clinical research to optimize systemic treatment and to improve the outcomes of UC patients receiving ICIs.
Regulatory Effects of Statins on SIRT1 and Other Sirtuins in Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Khayatan Danial , Razavi Seyed Mehrad , Arab Zahra Najafi , Khanahmadi Maryam , Momtaz Saeideh , Butler Alexandra E. , Montecucco Fabrizio , Markina Yuliya V. , Abdolghaffari Amir Hossein , Sahebkar Amirhossein
Published: May 2022

Adverse cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes, such as sudden cardiac death, acute myocardial infarction, and stroke, are often catastrophic. Statins are frequently used to attenuate the risk of CVD-associated morbidity and mortality through their impact on lipids and they may also have anti-inflammatory and other plaque-stabilization effects via different signaling pathways. Different statins, including atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, pravastatin, pitavastatin, and simvastatin, are administered to manage circulatory lipid levels. In addition, statins are potent inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMGCoA) reductase via modulating sirtuins (SIRTs). During the last two decades, SIRTs have been investigated in mammals and categorized as a family of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent histone deacetylases (HDACs) with significant oxidative stress regulatory function in cells—a key factor in extending cell lifespan. Recent work has demonstrated that statins upregulate SIRT1 and SIRT2 and downregulate SIRT6 in both in vitro and in vivo experiments and clinical trials. As statins show modulatory properties, especially in CVDs, future investigations are needed to delineate the role of SIRT family members in disease and to expand knowledge about the effects of statins on SIRTs. Here, we review what is currently known about the impact of statins on SIRTs and how these changes correlate with disease, particularly CVDs.
Bonding Acetylated Veneer for Engineered Wood Products—A Review
Authors: Slabohm Maik , Mai Carsten , Militz Holger
Published: May 2022

The purpose of this review is to put previous research findings on acetylated wood and the fabrication of veneer-based products in a common context. The first research on wood acetylation was already conducted in the 1920s using wood meal, whereas relevant research on veneer acetylation was published nearly two decades later, during the 1940s. In the years that followed, a great deal of research has been done on both solid wood and composite acetylation. Developments in the 1990s and early 2000s resulted in the creation of commercial products. Nowadays, wood is becoming increasingly popular in construction. Therefore, high-performance materials with high dimensional stability and durability are required. Veneers are thereby of particular relevance because of their propensity to absorb chemicals into even tough-to-treat wood species. However, acetylation alters the bonding properties of wood, which is important for the manufacture of engineered veneer products, especially in load-bearing construction. A large amount of research is now being conducted on the acetylation of veneer, and acetylated veneer products are anticipated in the near future. This study covers the fundamentals of bonding but focuses specifically on veneer acetylation and its fabrication to engineered veneer-based products. The influencing factors of acetylation on bonding are also discussed.
Calculation of Rotor Harmonic Losses in Multiphase Induction Machines
Authors: Brkovic Bogdan , Jecmenica Milos
Published: May 2022

The topic of this paper is the determination of rotor harmonic losses in multiphase machines. Specifically, harmonic losses occur in the rotor winding and core due to higher-order spatial harmonics of the flux density. This phenomenon influences machine parameters and overall performance and increases temperature rise in parts of the rotor. The flux density distribution is determined by the stator magnetomotive force harmonic content, which is directly related to the winding distribution. A cage-rotor asymmetrical six-phase induction machine is selected for this case study. An analysis of different stator winding topologies and their influence on harmonic losses is presented. A finite element-based method for calculating the contribution of individual stator magnetomotive force harmonics to the rotor losses is developed and described in the paper. The analysis includes scenarios with different phase current waveforms to emphasize the issues specific to the asymmetrical six-phase machine. It is found that the magnetomotive force components generated by non-torque-producing current components contribute significantly to harmonic losses. The obtained results can represent a foundation for optimal stator winding topology selection. This work is intended to motivate the development of new and the modification of existing models to properly include rotor harmonic losses during the design, performance prediction, and control of multiphase machines.
A New Method for Reconstructing Data Considering the Factor of Selected Provider Nodes Set in Distributed Storage System
Authors: Ye Miao , Zhang Qinghao , Wei Ruoyu , Wang Yong , Deng Xiaofang
Published: May 2022

In the distributed storage system, when data need to be recovered after node failure, the erasure code redundancy method occupies less storage space than the multi-copy method. At present, the repair mechanism using erasure code to reconstruct the failed node only considers the improvement of link bandwidth on the repair rate and does not consider the impact of the selection of data providing node-set on the repair performance. A single node fault data reconstruction method based on the Software Defined Network (SDN) using the erasure code method is designed to solve the above problems. This method collects the network link-state through SDN, establishes a multi-attribute decision-making model of the data providing node-set based on the node performance, and determines the data providing nodes participating in providing data through the ideal point method. Then, the data recovery problem of a single fault node is modeled as the optimization problem of an optimal repair tree, and a hybrid genetic algorithm is designed to solve it. The experimental results show that under the same erasure code scale, after selecting the nodes of the data providing node-set, compared with the traditional tree topology and star topology, the repair delay distribution of the designed single fault node repair method for a distributed storage system is reduced by 15% and 45% respectively, and the repair flow is close to the star topology, which is reduced by 40% compared with the traditional tree repair.
A Two-Sample Test of High Dimensional Means Based on Posterior Bayes Factor
Authors: Jiang Yuanyuan , Xu Xingzhong
Published: May 2022

In classical statistics, the primary test statistic is the likelihood ratio. However, for high dimensional data, the likelihood ratio test is no longer effective and sometimes does not work altogether. By replacing the maximum likelihood with the integral of the likelihood, the Bayes factor is obtained. The posterior Bayes factor is the ratio of the integrals of the likelihood function with respect to the posterior. In this paper, we investigate the performance of the posterior Bayes factor in high dimensional hypothesis testing through the problem of testing the equality of two multivariate normal mean vectors. The asymptotic normality of the linear function of the logarithm of the posterior Bayes factor is established. Then we construct a test with an asymptotically nominal significance level. The asymptotic power of the test is also derived. Simulation results and an application example are presented, which show good performance of the test. Hence, taking the posterior Bayes factor as a statistic in high dimensional hypothesis testing is a reasonable methodology.
Spatial Channel Attention for Deep Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Liu Tonglai , Luo Ronghai , Xu Longqin , Feng Dachun , Cao Liang , Liu Shuangyin , Guo Jianjun
Published: May 2022

Recently, the attention mechanism combining spatial and channel information has been widely used in various deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs), proving its great potential in improving model performance. However, this usually uses 2D global pooling operations to compress spatial information or scaling methods to reduce the computational overhead in channel attention. These methods will result in severe information loss. Therefore, we propose a Spatial channel attention mechanism that captures cross-dimensional interaction, which does not involve dimensionality reduction and brings significant performance improvement with negligible computational overhead. The proposed attention mechanism can be seamlessly integrated into any convolutional neural network since it is a lightweight general module. Our method achieves a performance improvement of 2.08% on ResNet and 1.02% on MobileNetV2 in top-one error rate on the ImageNet dataset.
Approaches to Configuration Determinations of Flexible Marine Natural Products: Advances and Prospects
Authors: Huo Zong-Qing , Zhu Feng , Zhang Xing-Wang , Zhang Xiao , Liang Hong-Bao , Yao Jing-Chun , Liu Zhong , Zhang Gui-Min , Yao Qing-Qiang , Qin Guo-Fei
Published: May 2022

Flexible marine natural products (MNPs), such as eribulin and bryostatin, play an important role in the development of modern marine drugs. However, due to the multiple chiral centers and geometrical uncertainty of flexible systems, configuration determinations of flexible MNPs face great challenges, which, in turn, have led to obstacles in druggability research. To resolve this issue, the comprehensive use of multiple methods is necessary. Additionally, configuration assignment methods, such as X-ray single-crystal diffraction (crystalline derivatives, crystallization chaperones, and crystalline sponges), NMR-based methods (JBCA and Mosher’s method), circular dichroism-based methods (ECCD and ICD), quantum computational chemistry-based methods (NMR calculations, ECD calculations, and VCD calculations), and chemical transformation-based methods should be summarized. This paper reviews the basic principles, characteristics, and applicability of the methods mentioned above as well as application examples to broaden the research and applications of these methods and to provide a reference for the configuration determinations of flexible MNPs.
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy Provides Limited Therapeutic Effects on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Chen Ko-Ta , Chen Yu-Pin , Kuo Yi-Jie , Chiang Ming-Hsiu
Published: May 2022

Night wrist splinting has been a conservative treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. The addition of extracorporeal shock wave therapy provides an alternative treatment. However, strong evidence on the clinical effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for carpal tunnel syndrome is still lacking. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of extracorporeal shock wave therapy compared with treatments of night wrist splints alone for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, no limitation criteria were used for study selection. All available articles that compare the effectiveness between extracorporeal shock wave therapy combined with night wrist splint and night wrist splint alone for treating carpal tunnel syndrome published up to 20 January 2022 were identified from the databases of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials Central. The primary outcomes were a standard mean difference with a 95% confidence interval on the improvement of symptom severity and functional impairment between the two groups. In an attempt to analyze trends over time in studies that report repeated measurements, an all time-points meta-analysis (ATM) was undertaken. Seven randomized controlled trials with a total of 376 participants were included in this study. Significant improvements in functional impairment and symptom remission were only observed in the extracorporeal shock wave group at four weeks post-treatment. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy did not demonstrate superior efficacy compared to treatment with night wrist splint alone at 8–10 and 12–14 weeks post-treatment, or through the ATM approach. In conclusion, the therapeutic effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy is transient and mostly nonsignificant compared with using night wrist splint alone. No serious side effects were reported in all included studies. Other conservative treatments to ameliorate carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms are warranted.
A Spontaneous Extracranial Internal Carotid Artery Dissection with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Izumo Tsuyoshi , Ogawa Yuka , Matsuo Ayaka , Okamura Kazuaki , Takahira Ryotaro , Sadakata Eisaku , Yoshida Michiharu , Yamaguchi Susumu , Tateishi Yohei , Baba Shiro , Morofuji Yoichi , Hiu Takeshi , Anda Takeo , Matsuo Takayuki
Published: May 2022

Background and Objectives: Non-cystic manifestation of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is an important risk factor for cerebral aneurysms. In this report, we describe a rare spontaneous internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection in a patient with ADPKD. Observations: A 38-year-old woman with a history of ADPKD and acute myocardial infarction due to coronary artery dissection experienced severe spontaneous pain on the left side of her neck. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a severe left ICA stenosis localized at its origin. Carotid plaque MRI showed that the stenotic lesion was due to a subacute intramural hematoma. Close follow-up by an imaging study was performed under the diagnosis of spontaneous extracranial ICA dissection, and spontaneous regression of the intramural hematoma was observed uneventfully. Conclusions: When patients with a history of ADPKD present with severe neck pain, it is crucial to consider the possibility of a spontaneous ICA dissection. A carotid plaque MRI is beneficial in the differential diagnosis. Conservative management may benefit patients without ischemic symptoms.
Investigations of Personality Trait in Subacute Post-Stroke Patients: Some Preliminary Observations
Authors: Lo Buono Viviana , Noto Francesca , Bonanno Lilla , Formica Caterina , Corallo Francesco
Published: May 2022

Background and Objectives: Personality change is an important psychiatric complication following stroke linked to severe affective dysregulation and behavioral alterations. Methods: We investigated personality traits in 20 patients (age 45.37 ± 13.41 years) with subacute stroke submitted to rehabilitation training within 1–3 months after a first-onset stroke. All patients underwent psychological evaluation by using the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 for adults (PID-5), a specific instrument that enables traits (dimensions and facets) to be assessed by providing a personality profile, and the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems 47 (IIP-47), a brief and valid self-report measure for screening personality disorders. Results: Personality change was identified by a positive correlation IIP-47 and PID-5 (r = 0.76; p = 0.03). Our patients, after a stroke, presented maladaptive personality traits associated with negative affect such as anxiety, emotional lability, and rigid perfectionism, and they reported interpersonal problems. These negative affective disorders correlated positively with cluster C personality disorders, including the avoidant, dependent, and obsessive compulsive personality disorders. Conclusion: Preliminary results show personality changes in stroke survivors. The evaluation of personality changes could be useful to improve the management of the patient’s behavioral alterations in a familiar environment and permit the possibility of prevention of psychological distress of the patients and their respective caregivers.
Modeling of Diffusion-Controlled Crystallization Kinetics in Al-Cu-Zr Metallic Glass
Authors: Ericsson Anders , Fisk Martin
Published: May 2022

Crystallization is a major challenge in metallic glass production, and predictive models may aid the development of controlled microstructures. This work describes a modeling strategy of nucleation, growth and the dissolution of crystals in a multicomponent glass-forming system. The numerical model is based on classical nucleation theory in combination with a multicomponent diffusion-controlled growth model that is valid for high supersaturation. The required thermodynamic properties are obtained by coupling the model to a CALPHAD database using the Al-Cu-Zr system as a demonstrator. The crystallization of intermetallic Al,CumZrn phases from the undercooled liquid phase were simulated under isothermal as well as rapid heating and cooling conditions (10−1–106Ks−1). The obtained time–temperature transformation and continuous-heating/cooling transformation diagrams agree satisfactorily with the experimental data over a wide temperature range, thereby, demonstrating the predictability of the modeling approach. A comparison of the simulation results and experimental data is discussed.
Face Bend Property of 7N01-T4 Aluminum Alloy MIG Welded Joint by Using Different Welding Wires
Authors: Wei Ping , Wu Mingfang , Liu Dashuang , Liang Yun , Zhao Ziqiang
Published: May 2022

7N01-T4 aluminum alloy were welded into three layers by metal inert gas (MIG) welding, with ER5087 welding wire containing Zr and ER5356 welding wire without Zr, respectively. The microstructures and face bend properties of the ER5356 and ER5087 welded joints were investigated. The weld zone (WZ) of the ER5087 welded joint had a smaller grain size than that of the ER5356 welded joint. Two kinds of welded joints were not broken via the face-bend test. However, there were some small holes and microcracks on the surface of the ER5356 welded joint, and there were no obvious defects on the surface of the ER5087 welded joint. The face bending specimen metallography shows that the grains of the cover layer were elongated, and the grains of the bottom layer were extruded. The ER5087 welded joint had a better bending performance than the ER5356 welded joint due to the microstructure refinement of the WZ through adding Zr element in ER5087 welding wire.
Zam Is a Redox-Regulated Member of the RNB-Family Required for Optimal Photosynthesis in Cyanobacteria
Authors: Thomas Patrick E. , Gates Colin , Campodonico-Burnett William , Cameron Jeffrey C.
Published: May 2022

The zam gene mediating resistance to acetazolamide in cyanobacteria was discovered thirty years ago during a drug tolerance screen. We use phylogenetics to show that Zam proteins are distributed across cyanobacteria and that they form their own unique clade of the ribonuclease II/R (RNB) family. Despite being RNB family members, multiple sequence alignments reveal that Zam proteins lack conservation and exhibit extreme degeneracy in the canonical active site—raising questions about their cellular function(s). Several known phenotypes arise from the deletion of zam, including drug resistance, slower growth, and altered pigmentation. Using room-temperature and low-temperature fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy, we show that deletion of zam results in decreased phycocyanin synthesis rates, altered PSI:PSII ratios, and an increase in coupling between the phycobilisome and PSII. Conserved cysteines within Zam are identified and assayed for function using in vitro and in vivo methods. We show that these cysteines are essential for Zam function, with mutation of either residue to serine causing phenotypes identical to the deletion of Zam. Redox regulation of Zam activity based on the reversible oxidation-reduction of a disulfide bond involving these cysteine residues could provide a mechanism to integrate the ‘central dogma’ with photosynthesis in cyanobacteria.
Pedestal High-Contrast Gratings for Biosensing
Authors: Beliaev Leonid Yu. , Stounbjerg Peter Groth , Finco Giovanni , Bunea Ada-Ioana , Malureanu Radu , Lindvold Lars René , Takayama Osamu , Andersen Peter E. , Lavrinenko Andrei V.
Published: May 2022

High-contrast gratings (HCG) are an excellent candidate for label-free detection of various kinds of biomarkers because they exhibit sharp and sensitive optical resonances. In this work, we experimentally show the performance of pedestal HCG (PHCG), which is significantly enhanced in comparison with that of conventional HCG. PCHGs were found to provide a 11.2% improvement in bulk refractive index sensitivity, from 482 nm/RIU for the conventional design to 536 nm/RIU. The observed resonance was narrower, resulting in a higher Q-factor and figure of merit. By depositing Al2O3, HfO2, and TiO2 of different thicknesses as model analyte layers, surface sensitivity values were estimated to be 10.5% better for PHCG. To evaluate the operation of the sensor in solution, avidin was employed as a model analyte. For avidin detection, the surface of the HCG was first silanized and subsequently functionalized with biotin, which is well known for its ability to bind selectively to avidin. A consistent red shift was observed with the addition of each of the functional layers, and the analysis of the spectral shift for various concentrations of avidin made it possible to calculate the limit of detection (LoD) and limit of quantification (LoQ) for the structures. PHCG showed a LoD of 2.1 ng/mL and LoQ of 85 ng/mL, significantly better than the values 3.2 ng/mL and 213 ng/mL respectively, obtained with the conventional HCG. These results demonstrate that the proposed PHCG have great potential for biosensing applications, particularly for detecting and quantifying low analyte concentrations.
Electrodeposition of Two-Dimensional Pt Nanostructures on Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite (HOPG): The Effect of Evolved Hydrogen and Chloride Ions
Authors: Alpuche-Aviles Mario A. , Farina Filippo , Ercolano Giorgio , Subedi Pradeep , Cavaliere Sara , Jones Deborah J. , Rozière Jacques
Published: May 2022

We discuss the electrodeposition of two-dimensional (2D) Pt-nanostructures on Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite (HOPG) achieved under constant applied potential versus a Pt counter electrode (Eappl = ca. −2.2 V vs. NHE, normal hydrogen electrode). The deposition conditions are discussed in terms of the electrochemical behavior of the electrodeposition precursor (H2PtCl6). We performed cyclic voltammetry (CV) of the electrochemical Pt deposit on HOPG and on Pt substrates to study the relevant phenomena that affect the morphology of Pt deposition. Under conditions where the Pt deposition occurs and H2 evolution is occurring at the diffusion-limited rate (−0.3 V vs. NHE), Pt forms larger structures on the surface of HOPG, and the electrodeposition of Pt is not limited by diffusion. This indicates the need for large overpotentials to direct the 2D growth of Pt. Investigation of the possible effect of Cl− showed that Cl− deposits on the surface of Pt at low overpotentials, but strips from the surface at potentials more positive than the electrodeposition potential. The CV of Pt on HOPG is a strong function of the nature of the surface. We propose that during immersion of HOPG in the electrodeposition solution (3 mM H2PtCl6, 0.5 M NaCl, pH 2.3) Pt islands are formed spontaneously, and these islands drive the growth of the 2D nanostructures. The reducing agents for the spontaneous deposition of Pt from solution are proposed as step edges that get oxidized in the solution. We discuss the possible oxidation reactions for the edge sites.
Alkaline Phosphatase: An Old Friend as Treatment Target for Cardiovascular and Mineral Bone Disorders in Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Haarhaus Mathias , Cianciolo Giuseppe , Barbuto Simona , La Manna Gaetano , Gasperoni Lorenzo , Tripepi Giovanni , Plebani Mario , Fusaro Maria , Magnusson Per
Published: May 2022

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is an evolutionary conserved enzyme and widely used biomarker in clinical practice. Tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNALP) is one of four human isozymes that are expressed as distinct TNALP isoforms after posttranslational modifications, mainly in bone, liver, and kidney tissues. Beyond the well-known effects on bone mineralization, the bone ALP (BALP) isoforms (B/I, B1, B1x, and B2) are also involved in the pathogenesis of ectopic calcification. This narrative review summarizes the recent clinical investigations and mechanisms that link ALP and BALP to inflammation, metabolic syndrome, vascular calcification, endothelial dysfunction, fibrosis, cardiovascular disease, and mortality. The association between ALP, vitamin K, bone metabolism, and fracture risk in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is also discussed. Recent advances in different pharmacological strategies are highlighted, with the potential to modulate the expression of ALP directly and indirectly in CKD–mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD), e.g., epigenetic modulation, phosphate binders, calcimimetics, vitamin D, and other anti-fracture treatments. We conclude that the significant evidence for ALP as a pathogenic factor and risk marker in CKD-MBD supports the inclusion of concrete treatment targets for ALP in clinical guidelines. While a target value below 120 U/L is associated with improved survival, further experimental and clinical research should explore interventional strategies with optimal risk–benefit profiles. The future holds great promise for novel drug therapies modulating ALP.