bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Personalized Recommendation Method of Sports Online Video Teaching Resources Based on Multiuser Characteristics
Authors: Liu Tengsheng
Published: July 2022

Aiming at the problems of poor precision, low recall rate, and large recommendation time overhead in the personalized recommendation of sports online video teaching resources, this paper designs a personalized recommendation method for sports online video teaching resources based on multi-user characteristics. The area where the collected sports online video teaching resources are collected is fixed, and the confidence space for data collection is determined. The components of each clustering point are determined by the k-means clustering algorithm, and the data collection is completed continuously iteratively. The similar data in the data segments is removed with the help of cosine similarity, and the video segment data in the sports online video teaching resources with high similarity is removed for further data normalization. According to the multi-user feature analysis, the video teaching resource data that the user is interested in is matched, and the matching weight is calculated. In this paper, a personalized recommendation model of sports online video teaching resources is constructed by the recurrent convolutional neural networks (RCNN) method, and the personalized recommendation of video teaching resources is realized. The experimental results show that the mining accuracy of this method is about 96%, the highest recall rate can reach 98%, and its data recommendation time overhead is less than 1.3 s. This method effectively improves the effect of sports online video teaching resources.
The Construction of Green Building Integrated Evaluation System Based on BIM Technology
Authors: Li Hongwei , Wang Chongyu
Published: July 2022

In order to study the problems of information disconnection, poor coordination of project participants, design evaluation, and so on, in the process of green building evaluation in China, this paper proposes a construction method of green building integrated evaluation system based on BIM Technology. This method constructs the research framework through the research on green building evaluation and BIM (building information modeling), analyzes the whole life cycle of BIM in green building, solves the problems existing in green building evaluation in China through the application of BIM, expounds the green building evaluation process under BIM environment, and studies the information interaction of green building evaluation under BIM environment and the application of BIM in green building design evaluation and operation evaluation. The results show that by studying the application of BIM in green building evaluation, it is demonstrated that the green building evaluation based on BIM can effectively improve the evaluation efficiency and realize the informatization, integration, and high efficiency of green building evaluation.
Implementation of Combined Machine Learning with the Big Data Model in IoMT Systems for the Prediction of Network Resource Consumption and Improving the Data Delivery
Authors: Sugadev M. , Rayen Sonia Jenifer , Harirajkumar J. , Rathi R. , Anitha G. , Ramesh S. , Ramaswamy Kiran
Published: July 2022

In recent years, health applications based on the internet of medical things have exploded in popularity in smart cities (IoMT). Many real-time systems help both patients and professionals by allowing remote data access and appropriate responses. The major research problems include making timely medical judgments and efficiently managing massive data utilising IoT-based resources. Furthermore, in many proposed solutions, the dispersed nature of data processing openly raises the risk of information leakage and compromises network integrity. Medical sensors are burdened by such solutions, which reduce the stability of real-time transmission systems. As a result, this study provides a machine-learning approach with SDN-enabled security to forecast network resource usage and enhance sensor data delivery. With a low administration cost, the software define network (SDN) design allows the network to resist dangers among installed sensors. It provides an unsupervised machine learning approach that reduces IoT network communication overheads and uses dynamic measurements to anticipate link status and refines its tactics utilising SDN architecture. Finally, the SDN controller employs a security mechanism to efficiently regulate the consumption of IoT nodes while also protecting them against unidentified events. When the number of nodes and data production rate varies, the suggested approach enhances network speed. As a result, to organise the nodes in a cluster, the suggested model uses an iterative centroid technique. By balancing network demand via durable connections, the multihop transmission technique for routing IoT data improves speed while simultaneously lowering the energy hole problem.
Integrative Analysis of Bulk RNA-Seq and Single-Cell RNA-Seq Unveils the Characteristics of the Immune Microenvironment and Prognosis Signature in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Wang Ruisong , Xiao Yaqian , Pan Meisen , Chen Zhongyuan , Yang Pinhong
Published: July 2022

The immune microenvironment is a culmination of the collaborative effort of immune cells and is important in cancer development. The underlying mechanisms of the tumor immune microenvironment in regulating prostate cancer (PRAD) are unclear. In the current study, 144 natural killer cell-related genes were identified using differential expression, single-sample gene set enrichment analysis, and weighted gene coexpression network analysis. Furthermore, VCL, ACTA2, MYL9, MYLK, MYH11, TPM1, ACTG2, TAGLN, and FLNC were selected as hub genes via the protein-protein interaction network. Based on the expression patterns of the hub genes, endothelial, epithelial, and tissue stem cells were identified as key cell subpopulations, which could regulate PRAD via immune response, extracellular signaling, and protein formation. Moreover, 27 genes were identified as prognostic signatures and used to construct the risk score model. Receiver operating characteristic curves revealed the good performance of the risk score model in both the training and testing datasets. Different chemotherapeutic responses were observed between the low- and high-risk groups. Additionally, a nomogram based on the risk score and other clinical features was established to predict the 1-, 3-, and 5-year progression-free interval of patients with PRAD. This study provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of the immune microenvironment and its role in the pathogenesis of PARD. The identification of key cell subpopulations has a potential therapeutic and prognostic use in PRAD.
Automatic Integration Algorithm of Vocal Performance Learning Materials Based on Multidimensional Association Rules
Authors: Beibei Wang
Published: July 2022

As computer and multimedia technology advances and as the variety of knowledge display forms expands, there are more ways for people to obtain knowledge and information. The best course in musicology is voice performance. A crucial issue is how to select and categorize valuable curriculum materials of varying quality levels. This paper implements an automatic classification and integration algorithm for vocal performance learning materials using machine learning technology and tests it on the corresponding dataset, beginning with multidimensional association rule mining technology and the premise that multimedia data contain numerous useful characteristics. Experiments demonstrate the classification precision and data integration capacity of the proposed algorithm. Vocal performance is the most engaging course in musicology. To cultivate corresponding talents, we can rely on college and university offline courses and the rapidly developing multimedia technology to train talents online. An important topic is how to efficiently select and classify curriculum materials of varying quality in order to provide them to students with different learning needs. We can achieve the automatic classification of the course content by leveraging the superior learning capabilities of artificial intelligence and machine learning technology. Consequently, this paper implements an automatic classification and integration algorithm for vocal performance learning materials using machine learning-related technology and conducts an experimental test on the corresponding dataset, beginning with multidimensional association rule mining technology and the perspective that multimedia information itself contains a large number of useful characteristics. Experiments demonstrate that the proposed algorithm has a high level of classification accuracy and data integration capability.
Correlation between Parenting Style by Personality Traits and Mental Health of College Students
Authors: Ge Minggui , Sun Xiaomeng , Huang Zhen
Published: July 2022

At present, the mental health of college students in China is relatively poor. This work is aimed at analyzing the correlation between family parenting style and college students’ mental health and providing a realistic basis for improving the mental health level of college students. Firstly, this work detailed the family parenting style, the influencing factors of family parenting style, and the theoretical basis of personality traits. Then, 300 college students in Anhui Province were selected as the research objects who answered the questionnaire on parenting style and the Revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Short for Chinese. Finally, statistical software was used to visually analyze the personality characteristics of college students, the overall situation of mental health, the impact of parents’ education on college students’ mental health, and the family parenting style of college students. According to the score of anxiety, the top 27% of the research objects are classified as the high-anxiety group, while the bottom 27% are classified as the low-anxiety group. The results show significant gender differences in the psychoticism and neuroticism dimensions of personality traits (

P
<
0.05

). Besides, the educational level of parents has a certain influence on the mental health of college students, and the influence of mothers is even greater. College students feel more rejection, emotional warmth, and overprotection from mothers. Meanwhile, college students with mothers of different educational levels have significant differences in the scores of various dimensions of the mother’s rearing style. However, there is no difference in this respect among college students with fathers of different educational levels. The average scores of emotional warmth from parents of the high-anxiety group are significantly lower than those of the low-anxiety group (

P
<
0.001

). Moreover, the high-anxiety group has much lower average scores than the low-anxiety group in severe punishment, overprotection, and rejection of father and excessive interference, severe punishment, and rejection of mother (

P
<
0.001

). There is no significant difference in their average scores of the partiality of father or mother between the high-anxiety group and the low-anxiety group. The results show that the parenting style based on personality traits has an impact on college students’ mental health. This signifies that parenting style based on personality traits has an effect on college students’ mental health.
Clinical Study on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Complicated with Knee Bone Infarction
Authors: Zhu Gui-Qi , Qiu Hong-Xia , Ma Xin-mei , Liu Mei-Xia
Published: July 2022

Objective. The present study aims to (1) analyze the clinical characteristics and related influencing factors of knee bone infarction in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and (2) improve the understanding of SLE complicated with knee bone infarction. Methods. The data of patients with SLE complicated with knee bone infarction were retrospectively analysed; patients with SLE during the same period who matched in age, gender, and disease duration were selected as control subjects, with a 1 : 1 ratio with the SLE group. The clinical data were collected to analyze the risk factors for SLE complicated with knee bone infarction. Results. In a total of 36 (6.4%) of 563 patients aged 19–33 (25.8 ± 4.8) years who had SLE during the same period, the disease was complicated with knee bone infarction. The diagnosis of knee bone infarction was made at an SLE duration of 7–65 (26.2 ± 15.7) months. During the SLE course, knee bone infarction occurred within 1 year in 6 cases (16.7%), within 1–5 years in 28 cases (77.8%), and in >5 years in 2 cases (5.6%). Raynaud’s phenomenon incidence and anti-nRNP antibody positivity were significantly higher in the knee bone infarction group than in the control group (

P
<
0.01

and

P
<
0.05

, respectively). The cumulative glucocorticoid dose at 1, 3, and 6 months was significantly higher in the knee bone infarction group than in the control group (

P
<
0.05

). SLE complicated with knee necrosis had a statistically significant rank correlation with Raynaud’s phenomenon (r = 0.445,

P
<
0.001

), anti-nRNP antibody (r = 0.309,

P
=
0.008

), and renal injury (r = 0.252,

P
=
0.032

). The multivariate analysis of SLE complicated with knee bone infarction showed that Raynaud’s phenomenon was an independent influencing factor for the complicated knee bone infarction in SLE patients (OR = 4.938,

P
=
0.004

), and the probability of SLE complicated with knee bone infarction in Raynaud’s phenomenon positive patients was 4.938 times that of Raynaud’s phenomenon negative patients. Conclusions. The risk of knee bone infarction was relatively high in patients with SLE within a 5-year disease course and in young patients. The risk factors were Raynaud’s phenomenon, anti-nRNP antibody positivity, and early high-dose glucocorticoid therapy.
ZNF354C Mediated by DNMT1 Ameliorates Lung Ischemia-Reperfusion Oxidative Stress Injury by Reducing TFPI Promoter Methylation to Upregulate TFPI
Authors: Shi Qi , Feng Nana , Ma Qingyun , Wang Shaohua , Zhang Huijun , Huang Dayu , Sun Jiayuan , Shi Meng
Published: July 2022

Background. Pulmonary ischemia reperfusion- (I/R-) induced dysfunction is a significant clinical problem after lung transplantation. In this study, we aim to explore the molecular mechanism of lung I/R injury (LIRI). Methods. Bioinformatic analysis of gene involved in oxidative stress. A HUVEC oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) model and I/R mouse model were first established via I/R. The cellular proliferation, migration, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and parameters of lung injury were assessed via CCK-8, EdU staining, Transwell, cellular ROS kit, and H&E staining. We also confirmed related gene expressions and protein levels and the interaction between the tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) promotor and ZNF354C. Results. Bioinformatic analysis results showed TFPI contributed to oxidative stress. OGD/R caused a reduction in cell viability and migration, hypermethylation of TFPI, increased ROS, and downregulation of ZNF354C, TFPI, and DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) in HUVECs. Besides, ZNF354C could directly bind to the TFPI promoter, enhance proliferation and migration, and inhibit ROS in OGD/R-induced HUVECs by upregulating TFPI. More importantly, we discovered that 5-Aza could reduce TFPI methylation, upregulate TFPI, and enhance the binding of ZNF354C to the TFPI promoter in LIRI. Furthermore, DNMT1 silencing could induce proliferation and migration and prevent ROS in OGD/R-induced HUVECs by upregulating ZNF354C. Additionally, we verified that ZNF354C could alleviate LIRI by preventing DNA methylation in vivo. Conclusions. ZNF354C overexpression induced proliferation and migration, as well as suppressed ROS in OGD/R-induced HUVECs, and alleviated LIRI in mice by inhibiting TFPI promoter methylation to upregulate TFPI. Therefore, ZNF354C and TFPI methylation might be promising molecular markers for LIRI therapy.
Antidepressant Mechanism of Kaixinsan and Its Active Compounds Based on Upregulation of Antioxidant Thioredoxin
Authors: Li Xia , Wang Yuan-bo , Wang Chao-chen , Jing Rui , Mu Li-hua , Liu Ping , Hu Yuan
Published: July 2022

Objectives. Kaixinsan (KXS), a traditional Chinese medicine formula, has been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of depression. The present study applied a network pharmacology approach to dig out the new targets and mechanism of action of KXS and the active compounds in the treatment of depression. Methods. A network pharmacology approach based on public databases including ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) evaluation, targets prediction, construction of networks, and molecule docking was used and validated the predicted new antioxidant targets and mechanisms in vitro. Based on an in vitro experiment, we verified the AKT1/Nrf2 pathway related to the thioredoxin (Trx) antioxidant mechanism. Results. The present study sorted 31 pharmacologically active components (kaempferol, ginsenoside rh2, ginsenoside rh4, stigmasterol, etc.) through the ADME algorithm from KXS. 136 potential molecular targets (AKT1, TNF, IL-1b, JUN, ESR1, NOS3, etc.) were predicted, of which there were 69 targets clearly related to depression. By compound-depression targets (C-DTs) network constructed, and protein-protein interaction networks (PPI) and KEGG pathway enrichment analyzed, we identified active compounds mediating depression-related targets to exert synergism on the predictive AKT1/Nrf2 pathway related to thioredoxin (Trx) antioxidant mechanism and other inflammation-related signaling pathways as well as neurotransmitter related signaling pathways. In the H2O2 induced SH-SY5Y cell damage model, this showed kaempferol and ginsenoside rh2 could enhance the activity of the Trx system by upregulation of AKT1 to activate Nrf2 in vitro. Conclusions. Taken together, by comprehensive systems pharmacology approach analysis, we found that KXS and its active compounds might exhibit antioxidant effects by stimulating the AKT1/Nrf2 pathway in the treatment of depression, which might shed new light on innovative therapeutic tactics for the new aspects for depression in traditional Chinese medicine in future studies.
Fatty Acid Profile, Physicochemical Composition, and Sensory Properties of Atlantic Salmon Fish (Salmo salar) during Different Culinary Treatments
Authors: Fomena Temgoua Nidelle Sausten , Sun Zongbao , Okoye Charles Obinwanne , Pan Haodong
Published: July 2022

This study was conducted to assess the effects of boiling, steaming, and oven-cooking on the fatty acid profile, physicochemical composition, and sensory properties of Atlantic salmon fish. The protein content of steamed (18.90%) and oven-cooked (20.59%) salmon was significantly higher than that of boiled (16.69%) and raw fish (14.73%). Analysis of the fatty acids profile revealed that steaming significantly (

p
<
0.05

) influenced the fatty acid contents of Atlantic salmon by recording the lowest SFA and the highest omega-3, omega-6, and PUFA contents. Textural properties such as hardness, gumminess, and chewiness were significantly higher (

p
<
0.05

) in oven-cooked salmon, with steamed salmon having significantly lower and higher values of hardness (75.32 ± 4.73) and springiness (90.56 ± 3.94), respectively. Also, volatile organic compounds, including aldehydes, ketones, and alcohol, were significantly higher (

p
<
0.05

) in oven-cooked and steamed salmon. Additionally, the E-nose sensors analysis showed that S2 and S7 were significantly correlated during oven-cooking and steaming. Furthermore, low-field NMR analysis showed that the values of T21 and T22 relaxation characteristics of raw and cooked samples fluctuated, with steamed salmon having the highest peak values indicating reduced proton mobility and increased freedom of the protons compared to other treatments. Therefore, steaming resulted in the best quality salmon when considering the fatty acid profile, physicochemical composition, and sensory properties of Atlantic salmon fish, suggesting further studies to ascertain its effectiveness compared to modern treatments.
Dynamical Behavior of Fractional-Order Delayed Feedback Control on the Mathieu Equation by Incremental Harmonic Balance Method
Authors: Wen Shaofang , Shen Yongjun , Niu Jiangchuan , Liu Yunfei
Published: July 2022

In this study, the dynamical analysis of the Mathieu equation with multifrequency excitation under fractional-order delayed feedback control is investigated by the incremental harmonic balance method (IHBM). IHBM is applied to the fractional-order delayed feedback control system, and the general formulas of the first-order approximate periodic solution for the Mathieu equation are derived. Caputo’s definition is adopted to process the fractional-order delayed feedback term. The general formulas of this system are suitable for not only the weakly but also the strongly nonlinear fractional-order system. Through the analysis of the general formulas of this system, it shows that fractional-order delayed feedback control has two functions, which are velocity delayed feedback control and displacement delayed feedback control. Next, the numerical simulation of the system is carried out. The comparison between the approximate analytical solution and the numerical iterative result is made, and the accuracy of the approximate analytical result by IHBM is proved to be high. At last, the effects of the time delay, feedback coefficient, and fractional order are investigated, respectively. It is generally known that time delay is common and inevitable in the control system. But the fractional order can be used to adjust the influence caused by time delay in fractional-order delayed feedback control. Those new system characteristics will provide theoretical guidance to the design and the control of this kind system.
COPS3 Promotes Proliferation, Invasion, and EMT of Colorectal Cancer Cells by MEK/ERK Pathway
Authors: Xie Yanchao , Wei Zhijiang , Cheng Chi
Published: July 2022

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most aggressive cancers with poor prognosis and high mortality. The study of the pathogenesis of CRC is a top priority in providing effective diagnostic and prognostic strategies for CRC. COPS3 protein is a subunit of the COP9 signaling body (CSN), which is closely associated with the development of multiple types of tumors. However, there are few studies on the role of COPS3 in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD). This study investigated the effects of COPS3 on proliferation, motility, and EMT of colorectal cancer cells and related mechanisms. COPS3 was highly expressed in COAD. The depletion of COPS3 suppressed the viability and stimulated the apoptosis of COAD cells. Depletion of COPS3 suppressed the motility and EMT process of COAD cells. Mechanically, we found that COPS3 could mediate MEK/ERK pathway and therefore affected the process of COAD cells. We thought that COPS3 could serve as a promising COAD target.
Cancer-Associated Exosomal CBFB Facilitates the Aggressive Phenotype, Evasion of Oxidative Stress, and Preferential Predisposition to Bone Prometastatic Factor of Breast Cancer Progression
Authors: Hsu Chia-Hung , Ma Hon-Ping , Ong Jiann Ruey , Hsieh Ming-Shou , Yadav Vijesh Kumar , Yeh Chi-Tai , Chao Tsu-Yi , Lee Wei-Hwa , Huang Wen-Chien , Kuo Kuang-Tai , Fong Iat-Hang , Lin Chih-Cheng , Su Chih-Ming
Published: July 2022

Background. Despite therapeutic advancements, metastasis remains a major cause in breast cancer-specific mortality. Breast cancer cells are susceptible to oxidative damage and exhibit high levels of oxidative stress, including protein damage, DNA damage, and lipid peroxidation. Some breast cancer risk factors may change the level of endogenous oxidative stress. Circulating exosomes play critical roles in tumorigenesis, distant metastasis, and poor prognosis in patients with breast cancer. Methods. We used an online database to analyze the expression and prognostic value of core binding factor subunit β (CBFB) and oxidative stress–related targets in patients with breast cancer. Serum from healthy controls and patients with primary breast cancer or bone metastatic breast cancer in the bone was collected. Exosomes were isolated from the sera or cell culture media. We used an MDA-MB-436-innoculated tumor xenograft mouse model for silencing CBFB. Results. Circulating exosomes from patients with breast cancer metastasis to the bone were rich in CBFB. The human mammary fibroblast cells HMF3A and fibroblasts derived from patient samples cocultured with exosomes had increased α-SMA and vimentin expression and IL-6 and OPN secretion. Similarly, nonmetastatic breast cancer cells cocultured with exosomes exhibited increased levels of certain markers, including vimentin, snail1, CXCR4, and Runx2, and the exosomes had high CBFB expression. Silencing CBFB in metastatic MDA-MB-436 and MDA-MB-157 cells resulted in suppressed migration and invasion and downregulation of vimentin, CXCR4, snail1, Runx2, CD44, and OPN. Conversely, CBFB overexpression resulted in upregulation of Runx2, vimentin, snail1, CD44, and OPN in nonmetastatic T47D and MCF12A cells. The CBFB-rich exosomes derived from MDA-MB-436 cells induced enhanced metastatic phenotypes in the low-metastatic T47D and MCF12A cell lines. Conclusion. Our results revealed that CBFB may promote bone metastasis in patients with breast cancer. Of therapeutic relevance, targeting CBFB resulted in decreased tumor burden and bone metastasis, downregulation of bone metastasis markers, and impaired regulation of oxidative stress–related proteins NAE1 and NOS1.
Application of an Improved DCGAN for Image Generation
Authors: Liu Bingqi , Lv Jiwei , Fan Xinyue , Luo Jie , Zou Tianyi
Published: July 2022

With the rapid development of deep learning, image generation technology has become one of the current hot research areas. A deep convolutional generative adversarial network (DCGAN) can better adapt to complex image distributions than other methods. In this paper, based on a traditional generative adversarial networks (GANs) image generation model, first, the fully connected layer of the DCGAN is further improved. To solve the problem of gradient disappearance in GANs, the activation functions of all layers of the discriminator are LeakyReLU functions, the output layer of the generator uses the Tanh activation function, and the other layers use ReLU. Second, the improved DCGAN model is verified on the MNIST dataset, and simple initial fraction (ISs) and complex initial fraction (ISc) indexes are established from the two aspects of image quality and image generation diversity, respectively. Finally, through a comparison of the two groups of experiments, it is found that the quality of images generated by the DCGAN model constructed in this paper is 2.02 times higher than that of the GANs model, and the diversity of the images generated by the DCGAN is 1.55 times higher than that of GANs. The results show that the improved DCGAN model can solve the problem of low-quality images being generated by the GANs and achieve good results.
Sex-Biased Immune Responses to Antibiotics during Anti-PD-L1 Treatment in Mice with Colon Cancer
Authors: Jing Nan , Wang Luoyang , Zhuang Huiren , Ai Chao , Jiang Guoqiang , Liu Zheng
Published: July 2022

Colitis is a frequently occurred side effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), which are increasingly used in cancer treatment, whereas antibiotics are widely used to treat colitis, their effectiveness in ICI-associated colitis remains controversial. In this study, we firstly assessed the effectiveness of several commonly used antibiotics and antibiotic cocktails in alleviating of dextran sulfate sodium- (DSS-) induced colitis. We observed that two narrow-spectrum antibiotics, neomycin and metronidazole, were more effective in alleviating colitis, as evidenced by the remission of loss of the body weight, enlargement of the spleen, shortening of the colon, secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, and histological score of the colon tissue. Moreover, these two antibiotics resulted in better relief of colitis symptoms in the MC38 tumor-bearing male mice receiving the anti-PD-L1 mAb (αPD-L1) treatment, compared to the females. In the meantime, an enhanced response to αPD-L1 efficiency against mice colon cancer was observed in the male mouse group upon the application of these two antibiotics. In contrast, both neomycin and metronidazole showed destructive effects on the antitumor efficiency of αPD-L1 in female mice, despite relief from colitis. We found that antibiotic treatment attenuated the increased infiltration of granulocytes and myeloid cells in colon tissue induced by DSS in female mice, while reducing the proportion of Th17 cells in male mice. These differences were further associated with the sex-biased differences in the gut microbiota. These findings indicated that sex-dependent alterations in the gut microbiota should be considered when applying antibiotics for the treatment of ICI-associated colitis.
Biomolecular Condensation: A New Phase in Cancer Research
Authors: Chakravarty Anupam K. , McGrail Daniel J. , Lozanoski Thomas M. , Dunn Brandon S. , Shih David J.H. , Cirillo Kara M. , Cetinkaya Sueda H. , Zheng Wenjin Jim , Mills Gordon B. , Yi S. Stephen , Jarosz Daniel F. , Sahni Nidhi
Published: July 2022

Multicellularity was a watershed development in evolution. However, it also meant that individual cells could escape regulatory mechanisms that restrict proliferation at a severe cost to the organism: cancer. From the standpoint of cellular organization, evolutionary complexity scales to organize different molecules within the intracellular milieu. The recent realization that many biomolecules can “phase-separate” into membraneless organelles, reorganizing cellular biochemistry in space and time, has led to an explosion of research activity in this area. In this review, we explore mechanistic connections between phase separation and cancer-associated processes and emerging examples of how these become deranged in malignancy.

Significance:

One of the fundamental functions of phase separation is to rapidly and dynamically respond to environmental perturbations. Importantly, these changes often lead to alterations in cancer-relevant pathways and processes. This review covers recent advances in the field, including emerging principles and mechanisms of phase separation in cancer.
Estimating the Effect of Tafamidis on Cardiovascular-Related Hospitalization in NYHA Class III Patients with Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy in the Presence of Death
Authors: Li Huihua , Rozenbaum Mark , Casey Michelle , Sultan Marla B.
Published: July 2022

Background: The Tafamidis in Transthyretin Cardiomyopathy Clinical Trial (ATTR-ACT) demonstrated the effectiveness of tafamidis for the treatment of patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM). Tafamidis reduced mortality in all subgroups of patients studied. Tafamidis also reduced observed frequency of cardiovascular (CV)-related hospitalizations in all subgroups except those who were New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III at baseline who, paradoxically, had a higher frequency of CV-related hospitalizations than placebo. Given the greater mortality rate with placebo, this analysis assessed the impact of the confounding effect of death on the frequency of CV-related hospitalization in ATTR-ACT. Methods: In ATTR-ACT, patients with ATTR-CM were randomized to tafamidis (n = 264) or placebo (n = 177) for 30 months. Post hoc analyses first defined and compared the effect of tafamidis treatment in the subset of NYHA class III patients from each treatment arm alive at month 30. The impact of a potential survivor bias was then adjusted for using principal stratification, estimating the frequency of CV-related hospitalization in NYHA class III patients who would have survived regardless of assigned treatment group (defined as the survivor average causal effect [SACE]). Results: In the subset of NYHA class III patients alive at month 30, tafamidis reduced the relative risk of CV-related hospitalization versus placebo (relative risk: 0.95 [95% CI: 0.55–1.65]). In the principal stratification analyses of those patients who would survive to 30 months regardless of treatment, tafamidis treatment was associated with a 24% lower risk of CV-related hospitalization (relative risk: 0.76 [95% CI: 0.45–1.24]). Similarly, there was a larger reduction in CV-related hospitalization frequency with tafamidis in NYHA class I or II patients in the SACE than was initially observed in ATTR-ACT. Conclusions: Initial data from ATTR-ACT likely underestimated the effect of tafamidis on CV-related hospitalizations due to the confounding effect of death. When SACE was used to adjust for survivor bias, there was a 24% reduction in the frequency of CV-related hospitalization in NYHA class III patients treated with tafamidis.
Altered Endometrial Expression of α-Inhibin Subunit and Its Co-Receptor Betaglycan in Infertile Women with Endometriosis
Authors: Dela Cruz Cynthia , Vilamil Quesia T. , Casalechi Maíra , Rezende Carolina P. , Assis Wiviane A. , Del Puerto Helen L. , Abrão Maurício Simões , Reis Fernando M.
Published: July 2022

Background: Inhibins and their co-receptor betaglycan are members of the transforming growth factor β superfamily, a group of signaling molecules that control the differentiation of human endometrium in the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. Objective: Since endometriosis is associated with endometrial dysfunction and infertility, this study aimed at evaluating the expression of α-inhibin and betaglycan mRNA and proteins in endometrial samples of infertile women with and without endometriosis. Design: This was a cross-sectional study. Participants/Materials: Endometrial samples of women with (n = 17) and without (n = 22) endometriosis were subdivided according to the menstrual cycle phase into proliferative and secretory. Setting: University hospital. Methods: We used real-time RT-PCR to quantify mRNA levels and immunohistochemistry to localize the proteins. Results: α-inhibin mRNA levels were significantly increased in the secretory phase (p < 0.01 vs. proliferative phase) only among women with endometriosis. Conversely, betaglycan mRNA levels were downregulated in the secretory endometrium of controls (p < 0.01 vs. proliferative) but failed to change between cycle phases of patients with endometriosis. Both proteins were present in the glandular epithelium and stroma in the endometrium of women with and without endometriosis. Immunostaining analysis showed that while α-inhibin protein expression did not vary significantly, the intensity of betaglycan immunostaining decreased in the secretory phase in the control group (p = 0.038 vs. proliferative phase) but not in the endometriosis group. Limitations: We cannot determine whether endometriosis causes the abnormal expression of α-inhibin and betaglycan in the eutopic endometrium or if this alteration already existed before the establishment of endometriotic lesions. Conclusion: Our findings suggest an abnormally increased expression of α-inhibin mRNA (not protein) and betaglycan (mRNA and protein) in the secretory-phase endometrium of women with endometriosis.
Testosterone, Hypogonadism, and Heart Failure
Authors: Di Lodovico Elena , Facondo Paolo , Delbarba Andrea , Pezzaioli Letizia Chiara , Maffezzoni Filippo , Cappelli Carlo , Ferlin Alberto
Published: July 2022

Male hypogonadism is defined as low circulating testosterone level associated with signs and symptoms of testosterone deficiency. Although the bidirectional link between hypogonadism and cardiovascular disease has been clarified, the association between testosterone and chronic heart failure (HF) is more controversial. Herein, we critically review published studies relating to testosterone, hypogonadism, and HF and provide practical clinical information on proper diagnosis and treatment of male hypogonadism in patients with HF. In general, published studies are extremely heterogeneous, frequently have not adhered to hypogonadism guidelines, and suffer from many intrinsic methodological inaccuracies; therefore, data provide only low-quality evidence. Nevertheless, by selecting the few methodologically robust studies, we show the prevalence of testosterone deficiency (30%–50%) and symptomatic hypogonadism (15%) in men with HF is significant. Low testosterone correlates with HF severity, New York Heart Association class, exercise functional capacity, and a worse clinical prognosis and mortality. Interventional studies on testosterone treatment in men with HF are inconclusive but do suggest beneficial effects on exercise capacity, New York Heart Association class, metabolic health, and cardiac prognosis. We suggest that clinicians should measure testosterone levels in men with HF who have symptoms of a testosterone deficiency and conditions that predispose to hypogonadism, such as obesity and diabetes. These patients—if diagnosed as hypogonadal—may benefit from the short- and long-term effects of testosterone replacement therapy, which include improvements in both cardiac prognosis and systemic outcomes. Further collaborative studies involving both cardiologists and endocrinologists are warranted.
Multimorbidity and Mortality Models to Predict Complications Following Percutaneous Coronary Interventions
Authors: Singh Mandeep , Gulati Rajiv , Lewis Bradley R. , Zhou Zhaoliang , Alkhouli Mohamad , Friedman Paul , Bell Malcolm R.
Published: July 2022

Background:

Previous percutaneous coronary intervention risk models were focused on single outcome, such as mortality or bleeding, etc, limiting their applicability. Our objective was to develop contemporary percutaneous coronary intervention risk models that not only determine in-hospital mortality but also predict postprocedure bleeding, acute kidney injury, and stroke from a common set of variables.

Methods:

We built risk models using logistic regression from first percutaneous coronary intervention for any indication per patient (n=19 322, 70.6% with acute coronary syndrome) using the Mayo Clinic registry from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2016. Approval for the current study was obtained from the Mayo Foundation Institutional Review Board. Patients with missing outcomes (n=4183) and those under 18 (n=10) were removed resulting in a sample of 15 129. We built both models that included procedural and angiographic variables (Models A) and precatheterization model (Models B).

Results:

Death, bleeding, acute kidney injury, and stroke occurred in 247 (1.6%), 650 (4.3%), 1184 (7.8%), and 67 (0.4%), respectively. The C statistics from the test dataset for models A were 0.92, 0.70, 0.77, and 0.71 and for models B were 0.90, 0.67, 0.76, and 0.71 for in-hospital death, bleeding, acute kidney injury, and stroke, respectively. Bootstrap analysis indicated that the models were not overfit to the available dataset. The probabilities estimated from the models matched the observed data well, as indicated by the calibration curves. The models were robust across many subgroups, including women, elderly, acute coronary syndrome, cardiogenic shock, and diabetes.

Conclusions:

The new risk scoring models based on precatheterization variables and models including procedural and angiographic variables accurately predict in-hospital mortality, bleeding, acute kidney injury, and stroke. The ease of its application will provide useful prognostic and therapeutic information to both patients and physicians.
Proportionate and Absolute Vascular Disease Mortality by Race and Sex in the United States From 1999 to 2019
Authors: Janus Scott E. , Chami Tarek , Mously Haytham , Hajjari Jamal , Hammad Tarek , Castro‐Dominguez Yulanka , Fakorede Foluso , White Solaru Khendi , Shishehbor Mehdi H. , Al‐Kindi Sadeer G. , Li Jun
Published: July 2022

Background

Despite the known significant morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular disease and peripheral vascular disease (PVD), contemporary data describing racial demographics in PVD mortality are scarce.

Methods and Results

Using the multiple causes of death file from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Wide‐Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research, we analyzed the trends of age‐adjusted mortality (AAMR) for PVD and its subtypes (aortic aneurysm/dissection, arterial thrombosis, venous thrombosis/disease, pulmonary embolism), by race and sex between 1999 and 2019. Of the 17 826 871 deaths attributed to cardiovascular disease, a total of 888 187 (5.0%) PVD deaths were analyzed during the study period (12.4% Black, 85.6% White). Between 1999 and 2019, AAMR for PVD decreased by 52% (24.8–11.8 per 100 000 people) in the overall population. Despite a decrease in the overall mortality across all race and sex groups, Black men and Black women continued to have higher mortality for PVD (1.5×), aortic dissection (1.8×), arterial thrombosis (1.3×), and venous thrombosis/disease (2.0×) mortality compared with White men and White women in 2019. While there was a 53% decrease in PVD among White individuals (AAMR 24.5–11.5 per 100 000), there was only a 43% decrease (30.0–17.1) in PVD AAMR in Black individuals between 1999 and 2019. The ratio of PVD AAMR increased from 1.2 (1999) to 1.5 (2019) in Black men/White men and from to 1.3 (1999) to 1.5 (2019) in Black women/White women. Similar trends were noted in aortic dissection (Black men/White men, 1.2–1.8; and Black women/White women, 1.5–1.7), arterial thrombosis (Black men/White men, 1.0–1.3; and Black women/White women, 0.9–1.3), and venous thrombosis/disease (Black men/White men, 1.7–1.8; and Black women/White women, 1.7–2.0).

Conclusions

In this retrospective review of death certificate data in the United States, we demonstrate continued significant disparities between Black and White populations in PVD mortality and its subtypes. Future studies should investigate etiologies and social determinants of PVD mortality.
Can Agree and Labeling Be Reduced to Minimal Search?
Authors: Ke Alan Hezao
Published: July 2022

This article develops a formal definition of Minimal Search to evaluate the idea that Agree and Labeling can be reduced to Minimal Search. Different aspects of the search algorithm used in Minimal Search (i.e., breadth-first vs. depth-first search, parallel vs. serial search, global vs. modular search) are compared, and reasons for choosing between each of these pairs are given based on detailed examinations of their theoretical and empirical consequences. Given the formal definition of Minimal Search, the article argues that Agree and Labeling can only be partially unified by Minimal Search: the search algorithms used in Agree and Labeling can be unified by Minimal Search, but the values of the search targets and search domains are determined by Agree and Labeling independently. On the basis of the definition of Minimal Search, the article (re)defines Agree and Labeling to capture both the similarities and the differences between these two operations.
Restrictions on Long Passives in English and Brazilian Portuguese: A Phase-Based Account
Authors: Sheehan Michelle , Cyrino Sonia
Published: July 2022

To explain seemingly idiosyncratic restrictions on long passivization of causative/perception verbs in English and Brazilian Portuguese, we show that (a) long passives are blocked wherever the complement of a causative/perception verb constitutes a VoiceP/ProgP phase; (b) both TP complements and VP complements facilitate long passivization. To account for these patterns, we propose that A-movement can only cross a single phase head due to Chomsky’s (2001) (second) Phase Impenetrability Condition and cannot use phase-edge escape hatches, but that T’s EPP feature serves to feed A-movement into the matrix clause. In essence, successive-cyclic A-movement is possible only where embedded T is present to facilitate it.
Revisiting two Stauroneis Ehrenberg (Bacillariophyta) from H. P. Gandhi’s Diatom collection: Notes on Ultrastructure, Types and Nomenclature
Authors: WADMARE NEHA , KARTHICK BALASUBRAMANIAN
Published: July 2022

The study addresses revisiting two Stauroneis taxa described by H. P. Gandhi using his collections from Western India. The type specimens of S. phoenicenteron f. capitata Gonzalves and H.P.Gandhi and S. anceps f. indica H.P.Gandhi were studied employing light and scanning electron microscopy. This contribution documents their valve morphology, with comments on synonyms and type details of similar taxa utilised for comparison. Examining the type specimens of the aforementioned taxa endows evidence of a definable and distinct taxon. Consequently, Stauroneis lacuspowaiensis Wadmare & B.Karthick nom. nov., stat. nov. and Stauroneis dharwarensis Wadmare & B.Karthick nom. nov., stat. nov. are proposed. The present study clarifies the typification of Gandhi’s specimens and derives new morphological information.
Value Similarity and Norm Change: Null Effects and Backlash to Messaging on Same-Sex Rights in Uganda
Authors: Lyon Nicholas
Published: July 2022

Many socially conservative settings oppose pro-LGBT+ advocacy because of its perceived threat to “traditional values.” Can messaging on these issues from sources considered to have similar values be more effective than messaging from sources considered to have different values? This research uses the move towards legal protection of certain LGBT+ rights in Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, and South Africa to understand whether signals of changing social norms from African sources are better able to shift perspectives of those elsewhere on the continent than primes from Western sources. Using a survey experiment conducted in Uganda, I show that neither one-off messaging from African sources nor one-off messaging from Western sources shifts beliefs or behavior on LGBT+ issues. Rather, these messages produce backlash to both African and Western sources. This work highlights the challenges of attempting to rapidly change perspectives on LGBT+ issues in the most socially conservative settings.
Shifting surrogacies: Comparative ethnographies
Authors: König Anika , Whittaker Andrea , Gerrits Trudie , Rozée Virginie
Published: July 2022

Gestational surrogacy is a reproductive arrangement where a woman gestates a child for others—the “intended parents”—in order to be handed over to them after birth. Since the turn of the millennium, demands for surrogacy have continuously increased due to social and demographic changes, rising rates of infertility, and the normalization of new, non-heteronormative, family forms. Many countries prohibit surrogacy, and others that previously permitted this reproductive arrangement closed down as a result of political decisions or surrogacy scandals. Moreover, surrogacy is offered at greatly varying costs, ranging from approximately US$50,000 in countries like the Republic of Georgia to US$200,000 in fertility clinics in California. Accordingly, many of these arrangements are transnational, with intended parents who cannot access surrogacy or afford surrogacy in their home country commissioning it in countries such as the United States, until recently Ukraine, and today increasingly in the Republic of Georgia. Existing research has focused on surrogacy from different angles, such as practices of kinning and de-kinning, inequality and stratification, the political economy of the fertility industry, and its gender dimensions. We engage in, but further these debates by drawing attention to settings, accounts, experiences, and new theoretical notions that diverge from “mainstream” presentations of surrogacy. Moreover, in this Special Issue, we experimented with writing joint papers with a deliberative aim to provide comparative analyses and emphasize the links between and diversity of different cases of surrogacy. Therefore, all papers have an explicit comparative character and are all based on empirical studies from more than one field site. They provide nuanced understandings of surrogacy arrangements, grounded in empirical data rather than ideological, political, or moral assessments.