bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Topological Organization Alterations of Whole-Brain Functional Networks in Patients with Childhood Absence Epilepsy: Associations with Treatment Effects
Authors: Wang Xueyu , Fang Peng , Jiao Dongmei , Hu Tian , Yang Qi , Liang Wei , Li Yijun , Yan Yibing , Liu Libo
Published: June 2021

Purpose. The purpose of the current study is to detect changes of topological organization of whole-brain functional networks and their relationship with the clinical treatment effects of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) for patients with childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) using resting-state functional MRI (RS-fMRI). Patients and Methods. RS-fMRI data from 30 CAE patients were collected and compared with findings from 30 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (HCs). The patients were treated with first-line AEDs for 46.03 months before undergoing a second RS-fMRI scan. Results. CAE children at baseline showed a reduced clustering coefficient (Cp) and local efficiency (El) than the HC group, implying the reduction of functional segregation. CAE children at baseline also showed smaller characteristic path length (Lp) and higher global efficiency (Eg) compared with the HC group, implying the impairment of functional segregation. However, those metrics showed no significant differences between CAE children at follow-up and the HC group which indicated a clear renormalization of topological organization after AED treatments. CAE at follow-up also showed significantly decreased connectivity between several network regions, with which the thalamus is mainly involved. Furthermore, the reduced connectivity change between the left superior parietal gyrus and the left thalamus is positively correlated with the symptom improvements after AED treatment. Conclusion. We highlighted the convergence and divergence of brain functional network dysfunctions in CAE patients and provided crucial insights into pathophysiological mechanisms and the AED effects.
Microbial Fuel Cell: Recent Developments in Organic Substrate Use and Bacterial Electrode Interaction
Authors: Fadzli Fatin Syahirah , Bhawani Showkat Ahmad , Adam Mohammad Rania Edrees
Published: June 2021

A new bioelectrochemical approach based on metabolic activities inoculated bacteria, and the microbial fuel cell (MFC) acts as biocatalysts for the natural conversion to energy of organic substrates. Among several factors, the organic substrate is the most critical challenge in MFC, which requires long-term stability. The utilization of unstable organic substrate directly affects the MFC performance, such as low energy generation. Similarly, the interaction and effect of the electrode with organic substrate are well discussed. The electrode-bacterial interaction is also another aspect after organic substrate in order to ensure the MFC performance. The conclusion is based on this literature view; the electrode content is also a significant challenge for MFCs with organic substrates in realistic applications. The current review discusses several commercial aspects of MFCs and their potential prospects. A durable organic substrate with an efficient electron transfer medium (anode electrode) is the modern necessity for this approach.
[Retracted] Adoption of Convolutional Neural Network Algorithm Combined with Augmented Reality in Building Data Visualization and Intelligent Detection
Authors: Wei Minghui , Tang Jingjing , Tang Haotian , Zhao Rui , Gai Xiaohui , Lin Renying
Published: June 2021

It aims to improve the degree of visualization of building data, ensure the ability of intelligent detection, and effectively solve the problems encountered in building data processing. Convolutional neural network and augmented reality technology are adopted, and a building visualization model based on convolutional neural network and augmented reality is proposed. The performance of the proposed algorithm is further confirmed by performance verification on public datasets. It is found that the building target detection model based on convolutional neural network and augmented reality has obvious advantages in algorithm complexity and recognition accuracy. It is 25 percent more accurate than the latest model. The model can make full use of mobile computing resources, avoid network delay and dependence, and guarantee the real‐time requirement of data processing. Moreover, the model can also well realize the augmented reality navigation and interaction effect of buildings in outdoor scenes. To sum up, this study provides a research idea for the identification, data processing, and intelligent detection of urban buildings.
PLOD2 Is a Potent Prognostic Marker and Associates with Immune Infiltration in Cervical Cancer
Authors: Li Guang , Wang Xuefeng , Liu Guobing
Published: June 2021

Background. PLOD2 is overexpressed in diverse tumors and plays a vital role in tumorigenesis. However, the prognostic value of PLOD2 in cervical cancer (CESC) remains unclear. Methods. PLOD2 expression and CESC patients’ survival data were collected from the Oncomine, GEPIA, UALCAN, and Kaplan‐Meier Plotter databases; immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to validate the expression of PLOD2 in CESC; Gene Set Enrichment Analysis was performed using the STRING and DAVID databases; and the correlations between PLOD2 and cancer immune infiltrates were investigated using the TIMER and TISIDB databases. Results. We found that the expression level of PLOD2 was increased in various cancers, and meta‐analysis in the Oncomine database revealed that PLOD2 was significantly upregulated in CESC compared to that in normal tissues (P < 0.001). In addition, the high expression of PLOD2 was closely related to poor overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) in patients with CESC (OS HR = 1.73, P = 0.029; DFS HR = 2.60, P = 0.018). Functional annotations indicated that differentially expressed PLOD2 were primarily related to protein digestion and absorption pathways and to the collagen fibril organization process. Immune infiltration analysis showed that PLOD2 was highly correlated with B cells, CD4+ T cells, T helper type 2 (Th2) cells, and eosinophils in CESC. Conclusion. PLOD2 is positively associated with poor prognosis and might be considered a novel diagnostic and prognostic marker for CESC patients.
LINC00707 Regulates miR-382-5p/VEGFA Pathway to Enhance Cervical Cancer Progression
Authors: Guo Hua , Li Jing , Fan Furong , Zhou Ping
Published: June 2021

Long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) are reported to exhibit crucial roles in cancer progression. LINC00707 is recently indicated to be a significant oncogene in various cancers. Up to now, the mechanism of LINC00707 in cervical cancer is still unclear. In this study, our present work was designed to study the biological effects of LINC00707 in cervical cancer. Firstly, the expression level of LINC00707 in cervical cancer was tested. We observed LINC00707 expression was greatly increased in cervical cancer. Then, we assessed the detailed effect of LINC00707 on the development of cervical cancer using CCK-8 assay, Transwell assays, and tumor xenograft experiments. Gain-of-function and loss-of-function assays revealed the function of LINC00707 in cervical cancer progression. In addition, the action of LINC00707 in cervical cancer cells was studied using bioinformatic tools and luciferase reporter experiment. It was displayed that loss of LINC00707 significantly repressed cell growth of cervical cancer. Meanwhile, restoration of LINC00707 expression obviously induced cervical cancer cell growth. Then, we predicted that LINC00707 could serve as a molecular sponge for miR-382-5p to modulate VEGFA expression in cervical cancer. Subsequently, lack of VEGFA expression reversed the influence of miR-382-5p knockdown on cervical cancer cells. In conclusion, our findings evidenced the significant role of LINC00707-miR-382-5p-VEGFA network in cervical cancer and it can provide an attractive target.
The Use of Sugarcane Bagasse to Remove the Organic Dyes from Wastewater
Authors: Kerrou Meryem , Bouslamti Najia , Raada Abdelaziz , Elanssari Abdellah , Mrani Driss , Slimani My Sliman
Published: June 2021

In the present study, the potential of sugarcane bagasse (SCB) was evaluated by methylene blue (MB) retention. The selected low-cost adsorbent was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), BET method, and determination of the point of zero charge (pHzpc). Batch kinetic and isothermal studies were performed to examine the effects of contact time, initial dye concentration, adsorbent dose, pH, and temperature. The results show that the kinetic study of MB adsorption on sugarcane bagasse is very fast; the equilibrium is reached after only 20 minutes. The kinetic model of pseudo-second-order and the Langmuir isotherm model perfectly explain the adsorption process of MB with a monolayer adsorption capacity equal to 49.261 mg·g−1 activation parameters’ values such as free energy (ΔG°), enthalpy (ΔH°), and entropy (ΔS°) also determined as −4.35 kJ·mol−1, −31.062 kJ·mol−1, and −0.084 J·mol−1·K−1, respectively. Besides, the thermodynamic parameters of the methylene blue sugarcane bagasse system indicate that the exothermic adsorption process is spontaneous.
Dietary Supplementation with Inulin Modulates the Gut Microbiota and Improves Insulin Sensitivity in Prediabetes
Authors: Wang Xiaojing , Wang Tong , Zhang Qian , Xu Li , Xiao Xinhua
Published: June 2021

Aims. Accumulating evidence indicates gut microbiota dysbiosis is involved in metabolic disorders, including prediabetes. The prebiotic inulin has been frequently reported to exert beneficial effects on the host metabolism. Here, we aimed to evaluate whether dietary supplementation with inulin modulates gut microbiota structure in prediabetes, affecting glucose and lipid metabolism. Methods. We performed a prospective single-arm study. A total of 49 subjects with prediabetes (WHO 1999 criteria) were voluntarily enrolled. Each subject received a daily supplement with 15 g of inulin for 6 months. Glucose and lipid metabolic parameters and gut microbiota were analyzed at baseline and at 3 and 6 months after inulin intervention. Intestinal microbiota profile was evaluated using the Illumina MiSeq platform based on V3-V4 bacterial 16S rRNA gene. Results. The mean age of 49 subjects was 56.6 ± 6.9 years and BMI was 25.07 ± 3.02 kg/m2. After 24 weeks of prevention, inulin significantly decreased fasting insulin (2.38 ± 0.50 vs. 2.22 ± 0.62,

P
=
0.03

) and 2-hour post-OGTT insulin (4.01 ± 0.77 vs. 3.74 ± 0.76,

P
=
0.02

) and improved HOMA-IR (1.05 ± 0.53 vs. 0.85 ± 0.66,

P
=
0.03

). Gut microbiota analysis indicated that inulin supplement resulted in an increase in the relative abundance of Actinobacteria, Bifidobacteriales, Bifidobacteriaceae, Lactobacillaceae, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Anaerostipes both at 3 and 6 months, while with a decrease in the relative abundance of Alistipes. Spearman correlation analysis revealed altered microbial community was associated with glucose and lipids metabolic parameters. Conclusions. Inulin supplementation improves insulin resistance of prediabetes and exerts beneficial effects on modulating the intestinal microbiota composition. These findings suggest that insulin may be a potentially novel and inexpensive intervention for prediabetes.
Incorporating Differential Gene Expression Analysis with Predictive Biomarkers to Identify Novel Therapeutic Drugs for Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy
Authors: Wen Huaming , Gallo Ryan A. , Huang Xiaosheng , Cai Jiamin , Mei Shaoyi , Farooqi Ammad Ahmad , Zhao Jun , Tao Wensi
Published: June 2021

Purpose. Based on the differential gene expression analysis for predictive biomarkers with RNA-Sequencing data from Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) patients, we are aiming to evaluate the efficacy of Library of Integrated Network-based Cellular Signatures (LINCS) perturbagen prediction software to identify novel pharmacotherapeutic targets that can revert the pathogenic gene expression signatures and reverse disease phenotype in FECD. Methods. A publicly available RNA-seq dataset was used to compare corneal endothelial specimens from controls and patients with FECD. Based on the differential gene expression analysis for predictive biomarkers, we evaluated the efficacy of LINCS perturbagen prediction software to identify novel therapeutic targets that can revert the pathogenic gene expression signatures and reverse disease phenotypes in FECD. Results. The RNA-seq dataset of the corneal endothelial cells from FECD patients revealed the differential gene expression signatures of FECD. Many of the differential expressed genes are related to canonical pathways of the FECD pathogenesis, such as extracellular matrix reorganization and immunological response. The expression levels of genes VSIG2, IL18, and ITGB8 were significantly increased in FECD compared with control. Meanwhile, the expression levels of CNGA3, SMOX, and CERS1 were significantly lower in the FECD than in control. We employed LINCS L1000 Characteristic Direction Signature Search Engine (L1000-CDS2) to investigate pathway-based molecular treatment. L1000-CDS2 predicted that small molecule drugs such as histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors might be a potential candidate to reverse the pathological gene expression signature in FECD. Conclusions. Based on differential gene expression signatures, several candidate drugs have been identified to reverse the disease phenotypes in FECD. Gene expression signature with LINCS small molecule prediction software can discover novel preclinical drug candidates for FECD.
Peripheral Oxidation Markers in Down Syndrome Patients: The Better and the Worse
Authors: Szwajgier Dominik , Baranowska-Wójcik Ewa , Grzelczyk Joanna , Żukiewicz-Sobczak Wioletta
Published: June 2021

Oxidative stress plays an important role in Down syndrome (DS) pathology since the gene dose effect leads to abnormal levels of certain enzymes and metabolites. In this review, we focused on relatively easy-to-obtain, peripheral markers of oxidative stress and inflammation, in order to compare the levels of these markers in DS patients and chromosomally healthy persons. Studies taking into account age- and sex-matched control groups were of particular interest in this context. We analyzed the factors that influence the levels of said markers in both groups (i.e., the usefulness of the markers), including the age of DS patients, occurrence of regular trisomy 21 or mosaicism, physical activity of patients, and the onset of Alzheimer’s disease in DS. This paper was conceived as a handbook—to help for selecting suitable, easy-to-obtain markers for monitoring of the health status of DS patients (e.g., in nutritional studies and during dietary supplementation).
[Retracted] Effect of Manganese Ions on Spectroscopic and Insulating Properties of Aluminophosphate Glasses
Authors: Kassa B. , Leta Tesfaye J. , Bulcha B. , Kiran R. , Deepak T. , Lal Dayanand , Venkatesh S. , Krishnaraj R.
Published: June 2021

The melt‐quenching technique was used to produce 39CdO–10Al2O3‐(51‐x) P2O5: xMnO glasses (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 wt.%). Various stability factors were calculated and presented from DTA analysis. The stability of the glass network appears to increase with the increase of MnO concentration, according to the findings. IR spectral analysis of these glasses exhibited several symmetrical and asymmetrical bands due to phosphate groups. The observed change in these band intensities with the rise in MnO concentrations, ranging from 0.1 wt.% to 0.4 wt.%, shows an increase in the stability of the glass network. Optical absorption analyses of these glasses revealed an absorption band that shifted from 500 to 488 nm as the concentration of manganese oxide (MnO) increased from 0.1 wt.% to 0.4 wt.%, indicating that Mn2+ ions were gradually converted into Mn3+ ions. EPR spectra of these glasses were characterized by two signals due to Mn2+ and Mn3+ ions. Observations on these signal intensity variations revealed an increase in stability of the glass network with the increase of MnO concentration from 0.1 wt.% to 0.4 wt.%. Parameters, which describe the insulating characteristics, for example, dielectric constant, ε, dielectric loss, tan δ, and AC conductivity σac, were determined in relation to frequency (103 Hz to 105 Hz) and temperature (20°C to 400°C) and presented in the dielectric analysis of these glasses.
Body Mass Index Is Associated with the Severity and All‐Cause Mortality of Acute Kidney Injury in Critically Ill Patients: An Analysis of a Large Critical Care Database
Authors: Wang Benji , Li Diwen , Gong Yuqiang , Ying Binyu , Cheng Bihuan , Sun Laifang
Published: June 2021

Background. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common clinical syndrome carrying high morbidity and mortality. Body mass index (BMI) is a common health indicator, and a high BMI value‐obesity has been shown to be associated with the outcomes of several diseases. However, the relationship between different BMI categories and mortality in all critically ill patients with AKI is unclear and needs further investigation. Therefore, we evaluated the ability of BMI to predict the severity and all‐cause mortality of AKI in critically ill patients. Methods. We extracted clinical data from the MIMIC‐III v1.4 database. All adult patients with AKI were initially screened. The baseline data extracted within 24 hours after ICU admission were presented according to WHO BMI categories. Logistic regression models and the Cox proportional hazards models were, respectively, constructed to assess the relationship between BMI and the severity and all‐cause mortality of AKI. The generalized additive model (GAM) was used to identify nonlinear relationships as BMI was a continuous variable. The subgroup analyses were performed to further analyze the stability of the association between BMI category and 365‐day all‐cause mortality of AKI. Result. A total of 15,174 patients were extracted and were divided into four groups according to BMI. Obese patients were more likely to be young and male. In the fully adjusted logistic regression model, we found that overweight and obesity were significant predictors of AKI stage III (OR, 95 CI: 1.17, 1.05–1.30; 1.32, 1.18–1.47). In the fully adjusted Cox proportional hazards model, overweight and obesity were associated with significantly lower 30‐day, 90‐day, and 365‐day all‐cause mortality. The corresponding adjusted HRs (95 CIs) for overweight patients were 0.87 (0.77, 0.99), 0.84 (0.76, 0.93), and 0.80 (0.74, 0.88), and for obese patients, they were 0.87 (0.77, 0.98), 0.79 (0.71, 0.88), and 0.73 (0.66, 0.80), respectively. The subgroup analyses further presented a stable relationship between BMI category and 365‐day all‐cause mortality. Conclusions. BMI was independently associated with the severity and all‐cause mortality of AKI in critical illness. Overweight and obesity were associated with increased risk of AKI stage III; however, they were predictive of a relatively lower mortality risk in these patients.
Correlation between Stroke Risk and Systolic Blood Pressure in Patients over 50 Years with Uncontrolled Hypertension: Results from the SYSTUP-India Study
Authors: Sethi Rishi , Hiremath J. S. , Ganesh V. , Banerjee Sunip , Shah Mahesh , Mehta Ashwani , Nikam Preeti , Jaiswal Minakshi , Shah Nishita
Published: June 2021

Objectives. To assess mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) levels in patients ≥50 years with uncontrolled hypertension (HTN) and evaluate the correlation between BP and stroke risk. It also assessed therapeutic drug classes prescribed in these patients. Methods. A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted at 176 outpatient centers across India, including patients aged ≥50 years with elevated SBP (≥140 mmHg). The relationship between stroke risk, calculated using Stroke Riskometer™, and mean SBP, mean DBP, and other risk factors was evaluated using Pearson correlation coefficient and logistic regression analysis. Results. The study included 3791 patients (men, 60.0%; mean age:

62.1
±
8.3

years; mean BMI: 27 kg/m2) with mean SBP

157.3
±
12.8
 
mmHg

and mean DBP

89.8
±
9.7
 
mmHg

. Five-year stroke risk in 33.9% and 10-year stroke risk in 70% patients were moderate to severe. A ~4% increase in both 5- and 10-year stroke risk with each 1 mmHg increase in mean SBP (

p
<
0.0001

) was seen. However, mean DBP did not exhibit any significant correlation with 5-year (

p
=
0.242

) or 10-year (

p
=
0.8038

) stroke risk. There was a positive correlation between mean SBP and patient age, comorbid diabetes, and smoking and alcohol habits (

p
<
0.0001

). Comorbid diabetes and smoking increased 5- and 10-year stroke risk by 2- to 5-fold. Irrespective of the risk category, most patients received antihypertensive therapy with an angiotensin receptor blocker. Conclusion. Findings corroborate an association between stroke risk and mean SBP. These real-world clinical findings indicate that efforts are required to improve primary prevention of stroke and reduce the prevalence of recurrent stroke in India.
Effect of the Wii Sports Resort on Mobility and Health-Related Quality of Life in Moderate Stroke
Authors: Unibaso-Markaida Iratxe , Iraurgi Ioseba
Published: June 2021

Background. Stroke is a common cerebral circulatory disorder that has several sequelae that affect the daily life of patients as well as their quality of life and the lives of people close to them. Video games are being used in the rehabilitation process to address these sequelae and their benefits are shown on physical activity and in the cognition area. However, their effects on daily life activities and quality of life are not known. This study was aimed to test the effect of the Nintendo Wii Sports Resort on mobility and health-related quality of life among patients who have suffered a moderate stroke. Methods. A prepost design study was conducted with 30 moderately impaired stroke patients aged

65
±
15

. The study lasted eight weeks. 15 participated in the intervention group and the others belong to the control group. They were assessed in mobility (Timed Get Up and Go Test—TUG) and health-related quality of life (SF-36 Health Questionnaire). Parametric test and effect sizes were used to analyze the change in outcomes and to compare groups. Results. There were no differences at baseline between the groups. After the intervention, the intervention group had experienced a greater change according to the size of the effect on the variables concerning TUG (

d
=
1.32

), physical function (

d
=
1.32

), social function (

d
=
0.71

), and Physical Component Summary (

d
=
0.75

). On the other hand, the control group had a significant change in mental health according to effect size; however, this effect is not statistically relevant (

d
=
0.88

;

CI
 
95
%
=
−
3.74
 
to
 
5.50

). Conclusions. The results on mobility and health-related quality of life indicate an improvement in both groups. However, according to the effect sizes and its confidence of interval, the intervention group achieved better results than the control group. Although more studies are needed in this area, the results are encouraging for improving mobility and health-related quality of life after stroke.
Electrochemical Properties of Ce0.5Sr0.5 (Co0.8Fe0.2)1−xZrxO3−δ Cathode Materials for Low Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (LIT‐SOFCs) Synthesized by Sol‐Gel Method
Authors: Ayalew Beyene Tesfaw , Vijay Bhaskar Rao P.
Published: June 2021

Ce0.5Sr0.5 (Co0.8Fe0.2)1−x ZrxO3−δ (CSCFZ) powders were synthesized by the sol‐gel method and characterized to study structural and electrochemical properties. X‐ray diffractometer (XRD) patterns of all samples give nanosized particles of a high‐degree crystalline cathode having a cubic‐type perovskite structure of space group Pm‐3m with the existence of oxygen vacancies in the lattices. The results have the perovskite phase with average crystallite sizes of 26.57 nm, 18.14 nm, 18.13 nm, and 18.12 nm with porosities of 9.93%, 9.87%, 9.50%, and 9.08% for x = 0, 0.1, 0.15, and 0.2, respectively. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs showed the presence of pores on the microstructure. Average grain sizes of prepared samples found from SEM images were in the range of 105.30–183.02 nm. The partial substitution of zirconium at the B‐site shows more stable materials than the host without decreasing the porosity that much. The results of electronic conductivity analyzed by the four‐probe dc technique show that the conductivity of synthesized materials increases with the increment of both dopant concentration and temperature by the decrement of area specific resistances. The electrical conductivity of CSCFZ steadily increased with the increment of temperature which reached 42.76 Scm−1 at around 450°C.
A Novel Privacy‐Preserving Authentication Protocol Using Bilinear Pairings for the VANET Environment
Authors: Zhang Junsong , Zhang Qikun , Lu Xianling , Gan Yong
Published: June 2021

With the rapid development of communication and microelectronic technology, the vehicular ad hoc network (VANET) has received extensive attention. However, due to the open nature of wireless communication links, it will cause VANET to generate many network security issues such as data leakage, network hijacking, and eavesdropping. To solve the above problem, this paper proposes a new authentication protocol which uses bilinear pairings and temporary pseudonyms. The proposed authentication protocol can realize functions such as the identity authentication of the vehicle and the verification of the message sent by the vehicle. Moreover, the proposed authentication protocol is capable of preventing any party (peer vehicles, service providers, etc.) from tracking the vehicle. To improve the efficiency of message verification, this paper also presents a batch authentication method for the vehicle to verify all messages received within a certain period of time. Finally, through security and performance analysis, it is actually easy to find that the proposed authentication protocol can not only resist various security threats but also have good computing and communication performance in the VANET environment.
Proteomic Analysis Reveals Commonly Secreted Proteins of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Bone Marrow, Adipose Tissue, and Synovial Membrane to Show Potential for Cartilage Regeneration in Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: Lee Yura , Park Yo Seph , Choi Na Young , Kim Yong Il , Koh Yong-Gon
Published: June 2021

Paracrine factors secreted by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) reportedly modulate inflammation and reparative processes in damaged tissues and have been explored for knee osteoarthritis (OA) therapy. Although various studies have reported the effects of paracrine factors in knee OA, it is not yet clear which paracrine factors directly affect the regeneration of damaged cartilage and which are secreted under various knee OA conditions. In this study, we cultured MSCs derived from three types of tissues and treated each type with IL-1β and TNF-α or not to obtain conditioned medium. Each conditioned medium was used to analyse the paracrine factors related to cartilage regeneration using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Bone marrow-, adipose tissue-, and synovial membrane-MSCs (all-MSCs) exhibited expression of 93 proteins under normal conditions and 105 proteins under inflammatory conditions. It was confirmed that the types of secreted proteins differed depending on the environmental conditions, and the proteins were validated using ELISA. The results of Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis using a list of proteins secreted by all-MSCs under each condition confirmed that the secreted proteins were closely related to cartilage repair under inflammatory conditions. Protein-protein interaction networks were confirmed to change depending on environmental differences and were found to enhance the secretion of paracrine factors related to cartilage regeneration under inflammatory conditions. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that compared with knee OA conditions, the differential expression proteins may contribute to the regeneration of damaged cartilage. In addition, the detailed information on commonly secreted proteins by all-MSCs provides a comprehensive basis for understanding the potential of paracrine factors to influence tissue repair and regeneration in knee OA.
MiR-373 Inhibits the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Prostatic Cancer via Targeting Runt-Related Transcription Factor 2
Authors: Pang Jianyi , Dai Limei , Zhang Chen , Zhang Qinglei
Published: June 2021

Prostatic cancer (PCa) is a prevalent form of malignancy based on its high associated levels of mortality and morbidity across the world. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are significant in the advancement of prostatic cancer. The current study is aimed at exploring the potential roles of miR-373 in PCa. In turn, the study conducted a qRT-PCR test to determine the levels of mRNA. A western blot test was also executed in determining the protein level. The processes of transwell assay and wound healing were integrated in the detection of the potential for PCa cells to invade and migrate. The integration of dual luciferase reporter assay is critical in determining the levels of luciferase activity among prostatic cancer cells. Then, the results showed a net decrease of miR-373 within prostatic cancer cells and tissues. Upregulated miR-373 reduced the invasion and migration potential of PCa cells. Moreover, overexpressed miR-373 increased the levels of E-cadherin and FSP1 as epithelial cell markers. Similarly, the overregulation of miR-373 brought about the upregulation of mesenchymal markers (N-cadherin, Snail, and vimentin). The study predicted runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) to be a target of miR-373. The luciferase activity of PCa cells was decreased after the cotransfection with miR-373 mimics and RUNX2 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) wild type (WT). Moreover, RUNX2 became upregulated in PCa cells and tissues. The upregulation of miR-373 decreased the mRNA and protein level of RUNX2. However, overexpressed RUNX2 abated the roles of miR-373 in the intrusion and migration of PCa cells and in regulating the expression of epithelial cell markers and mesenchymal markers. In short, miR-373 may regulate the EMT of PCa cells via targeting RUNX2. The miR-373/RUNX2 axis provides a therapeutic target for PCa.
Investigating Transformational Complexity: Counting Functions a Region Induces on Another in Elementary Cellular Automata
Authors: Biehl Martin , Witkowski Olaf
Published: June 2021

Over the years, the field of artificial life has attempted to capture significant properties of life in artificial systems. By measuring quantities within such complex systems, the hope is to capture the reasons for the explosion of complexity in living systems. A major effort has been in discrete dynamical systems such as cellular automata, where very few rules lead to high levels of complexity. In this paper, for every elementary cellular automaton, we count the number of ways a finite region can transform an enclosed finite region. We discuss the relation of this count to existing notions of controllability, physical universality, and constructor theory. Numerically, we find that particular sizes of surrounding regions have preferred sizes of enclosed regions on which they can induce more transformations. We also find three particularly powerful rules (90, 105, 150) from this perspective.
Research on Hub-and-Spoke Transportation Network of China Railway Express
Authors: Tang Yinying , Chen Si , Lu Guangyu , Zhang Qisheng
Published: June 2021

China Railway Express is developing rapidly, but the point-to-point direct organization mode has brought many problems to it. Therefore, this paper proposes to construct a hub-and-spoke network and adopt the “collecting and transportation” organization mode. In this paper, based on the single distribution p-hub median problem, a dual-objective planning model was constructed by considering the characteristics of CR Express in terms of cost and time. In addition, considering the port as a key node of international rail transport network, it plays a vital role for CR Express. Therefore, a hub-port allocation model was constructed to determine the hub-port allocation relationship. Furthermore, a Lagrangian relaxation heuristic algorithm was designed to solve the model built for CR Express transportation network. Finally, based on the constructed model, the actual operation data of CR Express were used in the designed example to verify the effectiveness and applicability of the models and methods.
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Bovine Mastitis in Southern Zone of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia
Authors: Baraki Adehanom , Teklue Teshale , Atsbha Tesfay , Tesfay Temesgen , Wayou Solomon
Published: June 2021

Mastitis is the most common disease of adult dairy cattle. The disease continues to be one of the most perplexing and costly diseases of dairy cattle. The present study was conducted to detect bovine mastitis cows and identify potential risk factors for the distribution of bovine mastitis of smallholder dairy farmers using the California mastitis test. A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2013 to May 2015 in the southern zone of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia, on 146 head of randomly selected cattle, of which 99 (67.8%) were crossed zebu and 47 (32.2%) pure local zebu using the California mastitis test and questionnaire. The overall prevalence was 65 (45.5%), of which 72.3% of crossed local and 27.69% of local zebu were found positive for the CMT test. The investigated risk factors were the season of lactation (OR = 0.510, CI = 0.208–1.247,

P
=
0.140

), washing hands between consecutive milking events (OR = 0.354, CI = 0.146–0.856,

P
=
0.021

), and history of previous mastitis (OR = 0.441, CI = 0.226–0.858,

P
=
0.016

), which had significant (

P
<
0.05

) effect on the present prevalence of bovine mastitis in the study area. A high prevalence of bovine mastitis was observed in the southern zone of Tigray. The summer season of lactation and not washing hands between consecutive milking of cows were significant mastitis causation risk factors in addition to the history of previous mastitis disease history.
Influence of Breast Implant Surface Finishing on Physicochemical and Mechanical Properties before and after Extreme Degradation Studies
Authors: de Mello Gindri Izabelle , Kurth de Azambuja Lucas , da Silva Barreto Michele , do Prado Dionatha José , Salmoria Gean Vitor , Rodrigo de Mello Roesler Carlos
Published: June 2021

The influence of the surface finishing of breast implants on physicochemical and mechanical properties, before and after extreme degradation experiments, was investigated in this study. Removal of superficial layers after degradation was verified for both smooth and rough membranes, in which local erosion was verified. FTIR results demonstrated the generation of low-molecular-weight structures in all samples due to exposure to acidic and basic environments. Furthermore, smooth samples presented higher degrees of crosslinking than rough samples. Considering the mechanical properties, no difference was verified between smooth and rough samples as received and after degradation studies. However, the pH of the degradation solution had an influence on mechanical properties of the material and a basic environment caused greater deterioration of the mechanical properties compared to acidic conditions.
Towards an Application Helping to Minimize Medication Error Rate
Authors: Alharbi Ali I. , Gay Valerie , AlGhamdi Mohammad J. , Alturki Ryan , Alyamani Hasan J.
Published: June 2021

Medication errors related to medication administration done by both doctors and nurses can be considered a vital issue around the world. It is believed that systematisation and the introduction of main documents are done manually, which might increase the opportunities to have inaccuracies and errors because of unexpected wrong actions done by medical practitioners. Experts stated that the lack of pharmacological knowledge is one of the key factors, which play an important role in causing such errors. Doctors and nurses may face problems when they move from one unit to another and the medication administration list has changed. However, promoting public health activities and recent AI-enabled applications can provide general information about medication that helps both doctors and nurses administer the right medication. However, such an application can require a lot of time and effort to search and then find a medication. Therefore, this article aims to investigate whether AI-enabled applications can help avoid or at least minimize medication error rates.
A Novel Immune-Related lncRNA-Based Model for Survival Prediction in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Zedan , Tang Yanlin , Liu Yanjun , Zhuang Hongkai , Lin Enyu , Xie Lu , Feng Xiaoqiang , Tian Kaiwen , Zeng Jiayi , Liu Jiumin , Yu Yuming
Published: June 2021

Background. Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common subtype of kidney cancer whose incidence and mortality rate are increasing. Identifying immune-related lncRNAs and constructing a model would probably provide new insights into biomarkers and immunotherapy for ccRCC and aid in the prognosis prediction. Methods. The transcription profile and clinical information were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Immune-related gene sets and transcription factor genes were downloaded from GSEA website and Cistrome database, respectively. Tumor samples were divided into the training set and the testing set. Immune-related differentially expressed lncRNAs (IDElncRNAs) were identified from the whole set. Univariate Cox regression, LASSO, and stepwise multivariate Cox regression were performed to screen out ideal prognostic IDElncRNAs (PIDElncRNAs) from the training set and develop a multi-lncRNA signature. Results. Consequently, AC012236.1, AC078778.1, AC078950.1, AC087318.1, and AC092535.4 were screened to be significantly related to the prognosis of ccRCC patients, which were used to establish the five-lncRNA signature. Its wide diagnostic capacity was revealed in different subgroups of clinical parameters. Then AJCC-stage, Fuhrman-grade, pharmaceutical, age, and risk score regarded as independent prognostic factors were integrated to construct a nomogram, whose good performance in predicting 3-, 5-, and 7-year overall survival of ccRCC patients was revealed by time-dependent ROC curves and verified by the testing sets and ICGC dataset. The calibration plots showed great agreement of the nomogram between predicted and observed outcomes. Functional enrichment analysis showed the signature and each lncRNA were mainly enriched in pathways associated with regulation of immune response. Several kinds of tumor-infiltrating immune cells like regulatory T cells, T follicular helper cells, CD8+ T cells, resting mast cells, and naïve B cells were significantly correlated with the signature. Conclusion. Therefore, we constructed a five-lncRNA model integrating clinical parameters to help predict the prognosis of ccRCC patients. The five immune-related lncRNAs could potentially be therapeutic targets for immunotherapy in ccRCC in the future.
A Provably Secure Authentication and Key Exchange Protocol in Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Wu Tsu-Yang , Lee Zhiyuan , Yang Lei , Chen Chien-Ming
Published: June 2021

While cloud computing and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies have gradually matured, mobile intelligent transportation systems have begun to be widely used. In particular, the application of vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) is very convenient for real-time collection and analysis of traffic data. VANETs provide a great convenience for drivers and passengers, making it easier to choose routes. Currently, most research on VANETs obtains data through cloud servers. However, there are few studies on cloud servers obtaining vehicle information through the roadside unit (RSU). In the process of reading traffic information, there will be some private and sensitive information, which may be intercepted or tampered with in untrusted public channels. Therefore, it is necessary to propose a protocol to protect vehicle data during the information reading phase. In this paper, we propose a new provably secure authentication protocol to negotiate a session key before transmitting traffic information. This protocol can complete mutual authentication and generate a session key. Finally, security analysis and performance analysis show that our protocol is secure and efficient.
Fixed Point Results for Rational Orbitally (
Θ
,

δ

b

)-Contractions with an Application
Authors: Ma Zhenhua , Ahmad Jamshaid , Al-Mazrooei Abdullah Eqal , Lateef Durdana
Published: June 2021

The purpose of this paper is to define a rational orbitally (

Θ
,

δ

b

)-contraction and prove some new results in the context of

b

-metric spaces. Our results extend, generalize, and unify some known results in the literature. As application of our main result, we investigate the solution of Fredholm integral inclusion. We also provide an example to substantiate the advantage and usefulness of obtained results.
The Potential Role of Gymnema inodorum Leaf Extract Treatment in Hematological Parameters in Mice Infected with Plasmodium berghei
Authors: Ounjaijean Sakaewan , Sukati Suriyan , Somsak Voravuth , Sarakul Orawan
Published: June 2021

Malaria remains a significant cause of death in tropical and subtropical regions by serious complications with hematological abnormalities consistent with high parasitemia. Hence, this study aimed to determine the efficacy of the Gymnema inodorum leaf extract (GIE) on hematological alteration in Plasmodium berghei infection in mice. Groups of ICR mice were infected intraperitoneally with parasitized red blood cells of P. berghei ANKA (PbANKA). They were administered orally by gavage of 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg of GIE for 4 consecutive days. Healthy and untreated groups were given distilled water, while 10 mg/kg of chloroquine was treated as the positive control. Hematological parameters including RBC count, hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean cell hemoglobin (MCH), mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), RBC distribution width (RDW), white blood cell (WBC) count, and WBC differential count were measured. The results showed that significant decreases of RBC count, Hb, Hct, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and reticulocytes were observed in the untreated group, while RDW was significantly increased compared with the healthy control. Furthermore, the WBC, neutrophil, monocyte, basophil, and eosinophil of untreated mice increased significantly, while the lymphocyte was significantly decreased compared with the healthy control. Interestingly, GIE normalized the hematological alteration induced by PbANKA infection in GIE-treated groups compared with healthy and untreated groups. The highest efficacy of GIE was observed at a dose of 500 mg/kg. Our results confirmed that GIE presented the potential role in the treatment of hematological alteration during malaria infection.
Mechanism of Ferroptosis and Its Role in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Sha Wenxin , Hu Fei , Xi Yang , Chu Yudong , Bu Shizhong
Published: June 2021

Ferroptosis is a novel form of nonapoptotic regulated cell death (RCD). It features iron-dependent lipid peroxide accumulation accompanied by inadequate redox enzymes, especially glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). RAS-selective lethal 3 (RSL3), erastin, and ferroptosis inducing 56 (FIN56) induce ferroptosis via different manners targeting GPX4 function. Acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family 4 (ACSL4), lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 3 (LPCAT3), and lipoxygenases (LOXs) participate in the production of lipid peroxides. Heat shock protein family B member 1 (HSPB1) and nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4) regulate iron homeostasis preventing ferroptosis caused by the high concentration of intracellular iron. Ferroptosis is ubiquitous in our body as it exists in both physiologic and pathogenic processes. It is involved in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) impairment and arsenic-induced pancreatic damage in the pathogenesis of diabetes. Moreover, iron and the iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster influence each other, causing mitochondrial iron accumulation, more reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, failure in biosynthesis of insulin, and ferroptosis in β-cells. In addition, ferroptosis also engages in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications such as myocardial ischemia and diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). In this review, we summarize the mechanism of ferroptosis and especially its association with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Interactions of Carbohydrate Intake and Physical Activity with Regulatory Genes Affecting Glycaemia: A Food4Me Study Analysis
Authors: Navas-Carretero Santiago , San-Cristobal Rodrigo , Alvarez-Alvarez Ismael , Celis-Morales Carlos , Livingstone Katherine M. , O’Donovan Claire B. , Mavrogianni Christina , Lambrinou Christina P. , Manios Yannis , Traczyck Iwona , Drevon Christian A. , Marsaux Cyril F.M. , Saris Wim H.M. , Fallaize Rosalind , Macready Anna L. , Lovegrove Julie A. , Gundersen Thomas E. , Walsh Marianne , Brennan Lorraine , Gibney Eileen R. , Gibney Mike , Mathers John C. , Martinez J. Alfredo ,   on behalf of Food4Me
Published: June 2021

Introduction: Carbohydrate intake and physical activity are related to glucose homeostasis, both being influenced by individual genetic makeup. However, the interactions between these 2 factors, as affected by genetics, on glycaemia have been scarcely reported. Objective: We focused on analysing the interplay between carbohydrate intake and physical activity levels on blood glucose, taking into account a genetic risk score (GRS), based on SNPs related to glucose/energy metabolism. Methods: A total of 1,271 individuals from the Food4Me cohort, who completed the nutritional intervention, were evaluated at baseline. We collected dietary information by using an online-validated food frequency questionnaire, a questionnaire on physical activity, blood biochemistry by analysis of dried blood spots, and by analysis of selected SNPs. Fifteen out of 31 SNPs, with recognized participation in carbohydrate/energy metabolism, were included in the component analyses. The GRS included risk alleles involved in the control of glycaemia or energy-yielding processes. Results: Data concerning anthropometric, clinical, metabolic, dietary intake, physical activity, and genetics related to blood glucose levels showed expected trends in European individuals of comparable sex and age, being categorized by lifestyle, BMI, and energy/carbohydrate intakes, in this Food4Me population. Blood glucose was inversely associated with physical activity level (β = −0.041, p = 0.013) and positively correlated with the GRS values (β = 0.015, p = 0.047). Interestingly, an interaction affecting glycaemia, concerning physical activity level with carbohydrate intake, was found (β = −0.060, p = 0.033), which also significantly depended on the genetic background (GRS). Conclusions: The relationships of carbohydrate intake and physical activity are important in understanding glucose homeostasis, where a role for the genetic background should be ascribed.