bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of grape pomace from red cultivar 'Nero d’Avola' on the microbiological, physicochemical, phenolic profile and sensory aspects of ovine Vastedda-like stretched cheese
Authors: Barbaccia Pietro , Busetta Gabriele , Barbera Marcella , Alfonzo Antonio , Garofalo Giuliana , Francesca Nicola , Moscarelli Angelo , Moschetti Giancarlo , Settanni Luca , Gaglio Raimondo
Published: November 2021

Aims

The purpose of this study was to functionalize an ovine stretched cheese belonging to 'Vastedda' typology with red grape pomace powder (GPP) of Nero d’Avola cultivar and to characterize the microbiological, physicochemical, phenolic profile and sensory characteristics of the final cheeses.

Methods and Results

Before cheeses production, GPP was characterized for its microbiological profile, antibacterial activity and polyphenolic content. No colonies of bacteria and yeasts were detected in the GPP. GPP showed a large inhibition spectrum against spoilage and pathogenic bacteria. Three classes of polyphenolic compounds belonging to flavan-3-ols, flavonol and phenolic acids were identified. Two cheeses [0 and 1% (w w−1) of GPP] were produced with pasteurized ewe's milk and commercial starter cultures. Plate counts and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analysis demonstrated the ability of the starter strains to drive the fermentation process in the presence of GPP. GPP enrichment resulted in an increase of protein, phenolic compounds, sensory traits and reduced fat.

Conclusions

GPP addition to cheese represents an optimal strategy for the valorization of winemaking by-products and to obtain polyphenol-enriched cheese.

Significance and Impact of the Study

This study allowed to achieve an ovine cheese with specific physicochemical, nutraceutical and sensorial characteristics able to enlarge the functional dairy product portfolio.
CD155/TIGIT signaling regulates the effector function of tumor‐infiltrating CD8+ T cell by NF‐κB pathway in colorectal cancer
Authors: Li Shanshan , Ding Jihu , Wang Ying , Wang Xianling , Lv Lin
Published: November 2021

Background and Aim

CD155/T‐cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT) suppressed anti‐cancer immunity in several cancers, but its roles in colorectal cancer (CRC) were not clear. Here, we investigated its roles in CRC.

Methods

The percentages of CD8+ T cells expressing TIGIT and secreting cytokines (IL‐2, TNF‐α, and IFNγ) were evaluated by flow cytometry. The expression level of CD155 was determined by western blot and immunohistochemistry. The levels of cytokines were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The activation of the nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) pathway was examined by western blot and immunofluorescent assay.

Results

T‐cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain was overexpressed on CD8+ T cells of CRC patients and mice. CD155 was overexpressed in mice CRC tissues and cells. The addition of CD155 recombinant protein could decrease the percentages of CD8+ T cells secreting cytokines. Blocking TIGIT could increase the percentages of cytokine‐secreting CD8+ T cells. Coculturing with CD155‐knockdown CRC cells could upregulate the percentages of CD8+ T cells secreting cytokines. Blocking TIGIT partially counteracted the effect of the knockdown of CD155. Besides, coculturing with CD155‐knockdown CRC cells could promote the secretion of cytokines, activate the NF‐κB pathway, and enhance the nuclear translocation of p65. And these effects were counteracted by the application of an NF‐κB inhibitor. Finally, blocking TIGIT played anti‐cancer roles such as suppression of tumor growth, increasing the percentages of cytokine‐secreting CD8+ T cells and activation of the NF‐κB signaling pathway.

Conclusion

Suppressing CD155/TIGIT exerted anti‐cancer effects against CRC, and our findings provided a potential therapeutic approach to treat CRC.
Levonorgestrel intrauterine system for the treatment of intermenstrual spotting in patients with previous cesarean delivery scar defect
Authors: Ou Yu‐Che , Chen Ying‐Yi , Lan Kuo‐Chung , Tsai Ching‐Chang , Chu Li‐Ching , Cheng Ling‐Yun
Published: November 2021

Aim

To evaluate the efficacy of levonorgestrel 52 mg intrauterine system for intermenstrual bleeding in patients with previous cesarean delivery scar defects (PCDSs).

Methods

The medical records of 28 consecutive patients with previous cesarean delivery scar defect and intermenstrual bleeding who had undergone conservative treatment with levonorgestrel 52 mg intrauterine system were reviewed. The efficacy of treatment and frequency of adverse events were measured retrospectively.

Results

After 1 year of treatment, 22 patients (78.6%) reported an improvement in symptoms. The mean duration of menstruation were 18 and 5 days before and after treatment, respectively. No uterine perforations or pelvic inflammatory diseases occurred during or after the insertion procedures. Eighteen (64.3%) patients did not experience any adverse events, and the patients with adverse events reported that they could be managed by adjusting their medications or observation.

Conclusion

Levonorgestrel intrauterine system may have a role in the safe and effective management of intermenstrual spotting in patients with PCDSs.
How does work impact daily sleep quality? A within‐individual study using actigraphy and self‐reports over the retirement transition
Authors: Garefelt Johanna , Gershagen Sara , Kecklund Göran , Westerlund Hugo , Platts Loretta. G.
Published: November 2021

This study examined how the cessation of work at retirement affects daily measures of actigraphy‐measured and self‐rated sleep quality. Time in bed or asleep and stress at bedtime were examined as potential mechanisms. In total 117 employed participants who were aged 60–72 years and planned to retire soon were recruited to the Swedish Retirement Study. Sleep quality was measured in a baseline week using accelerometers, diaries, and questionnaires. Subjective sleep measures were sleep quality, restless sleep, restorative sleep, getting enough sleep, estimated wake after sleep onset, difficulties falling asleep, too early final awakening, and difficulties waking up. Actigraphy measures were sleep efficiency, wake after sleep onset, and average awakening length. After 1 and 2 years, the measurements were repeated for the now retired participants. Daily variations in sleep quality before and after retirement were analysed using multilevel modelling, with time in bed or asleep and stress at bedtime as potential mediators. We found that several self‐reports of sleep improved (e.g., +0.2 standard deviations for sleep quality and +0.5 standard deviations for restorative sleep) while objective sleep quality remained unchanged or decreased slightly with retirement (e.g., −0.8% for sleep efficiency). Increased time in bed or asleep and stress at bedtime accounted partially for the improvements in self‐rated sleep quality at retirement. In conclusion, actigraph‐measured and self‐reported sleep quality do not change in concert at retirement, highlighting the interest of studying both outcomes. The main effects of retirement from work concern subjective experiences of recovery more than sleep qualityper se.
Light noble gas records and cosmic ray exposure histories of recent ordinary chondrite falls
Authors: Smith Thomas , He Huaiyu , Li Shijie , Ranjith P. M. , Su Fei , Gattacceca Jérôme , Braucher Régis ,   ASTER‐Team
Published: November 2021

We measured noble gas concentrations and isotopic ratios (He, Ne, and Ar isotopes) in six recent ordinary chondrite falls: Mangui (L6), Viñales (L6), Ozerki (L6), Tamdakht (H5), Kheneg Ljouâd (LL5/6), and Katol (L6). Among them, the three L6 chondrites Mangui, Viñales, and Ozerki fell in only a few months' interval; their apparent similar petrographic and mineralogic characteristics might indicate source crater pairing. To test this hypothesis, we have investigated those meteorites for their cosmic ray exposure (CRE) histories, using the cosmogenic noble gases3He,21Ne, and38Ar. We systematically (re)calculated the CRE ages as well as the gas retention ages of these meteorites. The CRE age of the Mangui is, based on noble gases, <1 Ma, which is unusually short for an L chondrite. Indeed, the range of exposure ages for L chondrites is generally distributed between ˜1 and ˜60 Ma, with major peaks occurring around ˜5, ˜30, and ˜40 Ma. In addition, the cosmogenic3Hecosdata of two Mangui duplicates are consistent with a remarkably high loss of helium by diffusion due to heating by solar radiation. Such a short parent body‐Earth transfer time (<1 Ma) can be explained by a delivery from an Earth‐crossing object. Regarding the other L6 chondrites, Viñales has a nominal CRE age of ˜9.4 Ma, whereas the Ozerki meteorite has a nominal CRE age of ˜1.2 Ma, which is consistent with Korochantseva et al. (2019). Based on their CRE ages as well as on their gas retention ages, it appears that none of these three recent L6 chondrite falls are source crater paired, and therefore, all three originate from different meteoroids. The nominal exposure ages of Tamdakht, Kheneg Ljouâd, and Katol are ˜3.2, ˜11, and ˜30 Ma, respectively, and are consistent with identified age peaks on the exposure age histogram of H, LL, and L chondrites, respectively. The nominal CRE age of Tamdakht is consistent with previous observations for H chondrites and implies that they are dominated by small impact events occurring in several parent bodies.
Genome editing using a DNA‐free clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats‐Cas9 system in green seaweed Ulva prolifera
Authors: Ichihara Kensuke , Yamazaki Tomokazu , Kawano Shigeyuki
Published: November 2021

Although the green seaweed Ulva is one of the most common seaweeds in the coastal regions with well‐studied ecological characteristics, few reverse genetic technologies have been developed for it. The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)‐Cas9 system is a simple genome‐editing technology based on a ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex composed of an endonuclease and programmable RNA to target particular DNA sequences. Genome editing makes it possible to generate mutations on a target gene in non‐model organisms without established transgenic technologies. In this study, we applied the CRISPR‐Cas9 RNP genome‐editing system to the green seaweed Ulva prolifera, using polyethylene glycol (PEG)‐mediated transfection. Our experimental system disrupts a single gene (UpAPT) encoding adenine phosphoribosyl transferase (APT) and generates a resistant phenotype for gametophytes cultured in a medium with toxic compound 2‐fluoroadenine. The PEG‐mediated transfection used for gametes resulted in 2‐fluoroadenine‐resistant strains containing short indels or substitutions on UpAPT. Our results showed that the CRISPR‐Cas9 system with PEG‐mediated transfection was efficient for genome editing in Ulva.
Landscape‐level vegetation conversion and biodiversity improvement after 33 years of restoration management in the Drentsche Aa brook valley
Authors: Liu Weier , Fritz Christian , Nonhebel Sanderine , Everts Henk F. , Grootjans Ab P.
Published: November 2021

Effects of restoration management on peatlands formerly used for intensive agriculture are rarely evaluated or discussed over larger spatial and temporal scales. Here, restoration of the Drentsche Aa brook valley was evaluated at the landscape level. Detailed vegetation maps were used with 1982 serving as the baseline, 1994 representing vegetation before rewetting, and 2015 after rewetting. Based on the mapping typology and phytosociological records, 15 main vegetation types were distinguished. Species richness and Shannon index values were calculated as plant diversity indicators, and the number of rare species was used as a rarity indicator. Basic landscape metrics were evaluated as measures of spatial heterogeneity. Results after restoration measures showed extensive vegetation type conversions clearly pointed to lower nutrient levels, and an increase in marsh vegetation at the cost of wet meadows. Significantly higher landscape heterogeneity was achieved, while biodiversity indicators showed small differences over time due to a mixture of positive and negative changes at different locations. This study shows that long‐term restoration management on agricultural peatlands can be successful at landscape level. Our experience highlights the importance of continuity in management given the prolonged influence by intensive agriculture, both from former land uses and from the surrounding valley flanks.
Identification of major and minor chicken allergens in dogs
Authors: Olivry Thierry , Pucheu‐Haston Cherie M. , Mayer Ursula , Bergvall Kerstin , Bexley Jennifer
Published: November 2021

Background

Allergens targeted by serum‐specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) in dogs clinically allergic to chicken have not been reported.

Objectives

To characterise the allergens targeted by sIgE in dogs sensitised and allergic to chicken.

Animals

Sera from three dogs not sensitised to chicken, from 10 chicken sensitised dogs and from 12 chicken allergic dogs.

Methods and materials

Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblotting with a commercial chicken extract were utilized. The bands identified on immunoblotting were sequenced by mass spectrometry for allergen characterization.

Results

Using ELISA, we detected chicken‐sIgE above the positive threshold in zero of three (0%) nonsensitised dogs, five of five (100%) chicken‐sensitised dogs (a selection criterion), and in seven of 12 (58%) chicken‐allergic dogs. Immunoblotting performed with the same extract revealed IgE‐bound protein bands in 100% of all chicken‐sensitised and ‐allergic dogs, respectively. To identify the allergens, we excised the corresponding bands on the electrophoretic gel, and submitted them for sequencing by mass spectrometry. We conclusively identified seven major allergens (serum albumin, pyruvate kinase M, enolase 3, creatine kinase M, lactate dehydrogenase A, glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase and triose‐phosphate isomerase) and one minor allergen (troponin C), which are relevant to dogs.

Conclusions and clinical relevance

We identified herein seven major chicken allergens for dogs, several of which are known to be cross‐reactive allergens for humans. Based on their degree of sequence identity, these allergens exhibit the theoretical potential to be cross‐reactive between poultry and mammalian meats; six of these allergens already are known to be cross‐reactive between chicken and fish species. Future studies should address the clinical relevance and cross‐reactivity potential of these chicken allergens in dogs.
Modular polyketide synthase contains two reaction chambers that operate asynchronously
Authors: Bagde Saket R. , Mathews Irimpan I. , Fromme J. Christopher , Kim Chu-Young
Published: November 2021

Big molecules build small

Actinomycete bacteria are prolific producers of bioactive small molecules such as polyketide antibiotics. These molecules are built by the addition of short carbon units to a growing, protein-tethered chain, either iteratively as in fatty acid synthesis or in a modular fashion by a hand-off from one distinct enzyme complex to the next. Bagde
et al
. and Cogan
et al
. report structures of polyketide synthase modules in action, taking advantage of antibody stabilization of one of the domains. Both groups visualized multiple conformational states and an asymmetric arrangement of domains, providing insight into how these molecular assembly machines transfer substrates from one active site to another. —MAF
Children and COVID-19 in schools
Authors: Ladhani Shamez N. ,   the sKIDs Investigation Team
Published: November 2021

The benefits of in-person schooling with mitigations in place outweigh the risks of COVID-19 for children
Profiling cellular diversity in sponges informs animal cell type and nervous system evolution
Authors: Musser Jacob M. , Schippers Klaske J. , Nickel Michael , Mizzon Giulia , Kohn Andrea B. , Pape Constantin , Ronchi Paolo , Papadopoulos Nikolaos , Tarashansky Alexander J. , Hammel Jörg U. , Wolf Florian , Liang Cong , Hernández-Plaza Ana , Cantalapiedra Carlos P. , Achim Kaia , Schieber Nicole L. , Pan Leslie , Ruperti Fabian , Francis Warren R. , Vargas Sergio , Kling Svenja , Renkert Maike , Polikarpov Maxim , Bourenkov Gleb , Feuda Roberto , Gaspar Imre , Burkhardt Pawel , Wang Bo , Bork Peer , Beck Martin , Schneider Thomas R. , Kreshuk Anna , Wörheide Gert , Huerta-Cepas Jaime , Schwab Yannick , Moroz Leonid L. , Arendt Detlev
Published: November 2021

Sponges and evolutionary origins

Sponges represent our distant animal relatives. They do not have a nervous system but do have a simple body for filter feeding. Surveying the cell types in the freshwater sponge
Spongilla lacustris
, Musser
et al
. found that many genes important in synaptic communication are expressed in cells of the small digestive chambers. They found secretory machinery characteristic of the presynapse in small multipolar cells contacting all other cells and also the receptive apparatus of the postsynapse in the choanocytes that generate water flow and digest microbial food. These results suggest that the first directed communication in animals may have evolved to regulate feeding, serving as a starting point on the long path toward nervous system evolution. —BAP
Can updated climate pledges limit warming well below 2°C?
Authors: Ou Yang , Iyer Gokul , Clarke Leon , Edmonds Jae , Fawcett Allen A. , Hultman Nathan , McFarland James R. , Binsted Matthew , Cui Ryna , Fyson Claire , Geiges Andreas , Gonzales-Zuñiga Sofia , Gidden Matthew J. , Höhne Niklas , Jeffery Louise , Kuramochi Takeshi , Lewis Jared , Meinshausen Malte , Nicholls Zebedee , Patel Pralit , Ragnauth Shaun , Rogelj Joeri , Waldhoff Stephanie , Yu Sha , McJeon Haewon
Published: November 2021

Increased ambition and implementation are essential
Revealing racial bias
Authors: Knox Dean
Published: November 2021

Causal inference can make sense of imperfect policing data
Stabilizing synapses
Authors: Blum David , Lopes Luísa V.
Published: November 2021

Adenosine fine-tunes the fate of nascent synapses in brain development
A new lane for science
Authors: Proctor Enola K. , Geng Elvin
Published: November 2021

A recent
Science
editorial on the social and political headwinds that have blunted, obfuscated, and confused public behavior in the United States’ COVID-19 response cautioned both politicians who appoint themselves scientists and scientists—including virologists and epidemiologists—to stay in their lanes. The warning raises an important question: Should science add another lane?
A greener path
Authors: Normile Dennis
Published: November 2021

China is making its Belt and Road Initiative more environmentally friendly. The massive infrastructure program could still cause ecological devastation
Draft Genome Sequence of the Bacterium Delftia acidovorans Strain D4B, Isolated from Soil
Authors: Harris Jackson , Gross Marie , Kemball Jeremy , Farajollahi Sanaz , Dennis Patrick , Sitko John , Steel J. Jordan , Almand Erin , Kelley-Loughnane Nancy , Varaljay Vanessa A.
Published: November 2021

Delftia acidovorans
strain D4B is an aerobic bacterium within the
Betaproteobacteria
lineage that was isolated from soil. The genome size is 6.26 Mbp, with a G+C content of 67%. The genome encodes enzymes potentially involved in the degradation of fluorinated compounds.
Complete Genome Sequences of Four Phages of the Horse Chestnut Phyllosphere
Authors: Krukonis Greg P. , Roth Sam J. , Delesalle Véronique A.
Published: November 2021

Bacteriophages play important roles in determining bacterial communities, including plant microbiota. Here, we describe four lytic phages, three
Siphoviridae
and one
Podoviridae
, isolated from four different bacterial species found on the leaves of horse chestnut trees. Their double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genomes range from 39,095 to 46,062 bp and contain 51 to 70 genes.
Complete Genomic Sequence of the Clinical Isolate Legionella pneumophila Serogroup 1 Strain 80-045 from Japan
Authors: Morita Masatomo , Harada Nanno , Shinohara Yuna , Murai Miyo , Ishii Naoko , Amemura-Maekawa Junko , Akeda Yukihiro
Published: November 2021

We report the complete genomic sequence of
Legionella pneumophila
serogroup 1 strain 80-045, isolated from autopsy lung tissue of the first patient diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease in Japan.
Draft Genome Sequences of the Ferric Iron-Reducing
Geobacter
sp. Strains AOG1 and AOG2, Isolated from Enrichment Cultures on Crystalline Iron(III) Oxides
Authors: Guo Yong , Aoyagi Tomo , Hori Tomoyuki
Published: November 2021

Here, we report the draft genome sequences of two
Geobacter
sp. strains, AOG1 and AOG2, isolated from enrichment cultures using crystalline Fe(III) oxides as electron acceptors. Strains AOG1 and AOG2 possess numerous genes encoding multiheme
c
-type cytochromes and
pilA-N
genes encoding the pilin monomer of nanowires in their genomes.
PUM1 modulates trophoblast cell proliferation and migration through LRP6
Authors: Wang Yuping , Sun Li , Wang Lanlan , Yu Hui , Yu Xiaoyan , Zou Yanfen
Published: November 2021

Preeclampsia is a severe pregnancy complication characterized by hypertension and may cause maternal morbidity and mortality. A better understanding of the essential genes involved in preeclampsia pathophysiology is urgently needed. This study investigated the function and molecular mechanisms of pumilio RNA binding family member 1 (PUM1) in extravillous trophoblast cells (EVTs). The interaction between protein and mRNA was verified by RNA pull-down assays, RNA immunoprecipitation assays, and luciferase reporter assays. The mRNA and protein levels of the genes involved were determined by RT-qPCR and western blot assays, respectively. Our results demonstrated that PUM1 could bind to the 3′-untranslated region of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6) mRNA, resulting in reduced expression of LRP6 mRNA and protein. Repression of PUM1 resulted in enhanced colony formation, cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of EVTs. The PUM1-depletion-mediated promotion effects on EVTs could be abrogated by LRP6 knockdown. PUM1 regulates the growth and mobility of EVTs by modulating LRP6 expression. Developing strategies to balance PUM1 and LRP6 levels may be beneficial for the management of preeclampsia patients.
COVID-19 school closures and social isolation in children and youth: prioritizing relationships in education
Authors: Vaillancourt Tracy , McDougall Patricia , Comeau Jeannette , Finn Cindy
Published: November 2021

We pursue an evidence-informed argument that interpersonal relationships in childhood and adolescence are central to achieving learning outcomes and that school closures across various parts of Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic have compromised these critical relationships, jeopardizing educational attainment. We highlight how the centrality of relationships with peers and educators in achieving learning goals is well established in the literature. So too is the importance of peers in creating stable mental health and wellness for children and youth. The pandemic context has drastically interfered with ongoing wellness, exacerbating feelings of loneliness and social isolation, which takes a toll on what children and youth can achieve in the virtual classroom. In the interest of reducing harm, we call on provincial/territorial governments to move quickly to ensure schools are open in the fall and to think carefully and consult effectively before any further closure decisions are made. We understand that safety is paramount and as such offer a framework for planning a safe return where necessary. Now more than ever there is a need to prioritize social–emotional learning opportunities to protect young people from the lasting effects of social isolation and threats to the fundamental need to belong that have been induced or exacerbated by the pandemic.
Probabilistic assessment of exergy analysis of a wind turbine for optimum performance
Authors: Siddiqui Mubashir Ali , Yousuf Muhammad Uzair , Rashid Muhammad Kashan , Ahmed Ahsan
Published: November 2021

The performance of a wind turbine depends on its first law efficiency and second law efficiency. This study focuses on the second law of efficiency, that is, the exergy efficiency of a wind turbine. This study introduces a novel technique for determining the optimum performance conditions of a wind turbine. Jhimpir City, Pakistan, was selected for the case study. The wind speed distribution in the selected area was analyzed using different probability density functions. The three-parameter Weibull distribution is the best probability density function for fitting wind speed variation. The probability distribution of the total wind exergy is performed, and a one-year variation of the wind exergy is plotted, showing the maximum exergy around the middle of the year. The exergy efficiency of the turbine using a power curve and wind exergy was determined at different wind speeds. The probabilities of the various exergy efficiencies were also determined. The results show that a high exergy efficiency has a high probability but so does low exergy efficiency owing to seasonal variations. The proposed method can be extended to any wind farm to determine the geographical and meteorological parameters of the site.
The Investigation of Metabonomic Pathways of Serum of Iranian Women with Recurrent Miscarriage Using 1H NMR
Authors: Latifimehr Mahbobeh , Rastegari Ali Asghar , Zamani Zahra , Esfahani Pezhman Fard , Nazari Leila
Published: November 2021

Purpose. Recurrent miscarriage applies to pregnancy loss expulsion of the fetus within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. This study is aimed at comparatively investigating the sera of women with RM with those who have no record of miscarriages to identify if there were any metabolite and metabolic pathway differences using 1H NMR spectroscopy. Methods. Serum samples were collected from women with RM (n = 30) and those who had no records of RM (n = 30) to obtain metabolomics information. 1H NMR spectroscopy was carried out on the samples using Carr Purcell Meiboom Gill spin echo; also, Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis was performed in MATLAB software using the ProMetab program to obtain the classifying chemical shifts; the metabolites were identified by using the Human Metabolome Database (HMDB) in both the experimental and control groups. The pathway analysis option of the Metaboanalyst.ca website was used to identify the changed metabolic pathways. Results. The results of the study revealed that 14 metabolites were different in the patients with RM. Moreover, the pathway analysis showed that taurine and hypotaurine metabolism along with phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis was significantly different in patients with RM. Conclusion. The present study proposes that any alteration in the above metabolic pathways might lead to metabolic dysfunctions which may result in a higher probability of RM.
Graph Regularized Deep Sparse Representation for Unsupervised Anomaly Detection
Authors: Li Shicheng , Lai Shumin , Jiang Yan , Wang Wenle , Yi Yugen
Published: November 2021

Anomaly detection (AD) aims to distinguish the data points that are inconsistent with the overall pattern of the data. Recently, unsupervised anomaly detection methods have aroused huge attention. Among these methods, feature representation (FR) plays an important role, which can directly affect the performance of anomaly detection. Sparse representation (SR) can be regarded as one of matrix factorization (MF) methods, which is a powerful tool for FR. However, there are some limitations in the original SR. On the one hand, it just learns the shallow feature representations, which leads to the poor performance for anomaly detection. On the other hand, the local geometry structure information of data is ignored. To address these shortcomings, a graph regularized deep sparse representation (GRDSR) approach is proposed for unsupervised anomaly detection in this work. In GRDSR, a deep representation framework is first designed by extending the single layer MF to a multilayer MF for extracting hierarchical structure from the original data. Next, a graph regularization term is introduced to capture the intrinsic local geometric structure information of the original data during the process of FR, making the deep features preserve the neighborhood relationship well. Then, a L1‐norm‐based sparsity constraint is added to enhance the discriminant ability of the deep features. Finally, a reconstruction error is applied to distinguish anomalies. In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, we conduct extensive experiments on ten datasets. Compared with the state‐of‐the‐art methods, the proposed approach can achieve the best performance.
[Retracted] A Self‐Diagnostic Method for Automobile Faults in Multiple Working Conditions Based on SOM‐BPNN
Authors: Zhou Zhou , Cheng Xin , Chang Hui , Zhou Jingmei , Zhao Xiangmo
Published: November 2021

Due to the complex and diverse forms of automobile emission detection faults and various interference factors, it is difficult to determine the fault types effectively and accurately use the traditional diagnosis model. In this paper, a multicondition auto fault diagnosis method based on a vehicle chassis dynamometer is proposed. 3σ method and data normalization were used to pretreat tail gas data. BPNN‐RNN (Back Propagation Neural Networks‐Recurrent Neural Networks) variable speed integral PID control method was used to achieve high‐precision vehicle chassis dynamometer control. Accurate tail gas data were obtained. The simulation and test results of BPNN‐RNN variable speed integral PID control were verified and analyzed. The PID control method can quickly adjust PID parameters (within 10 control cycles), control overshoot within 2% of the target value, eliminate the static error, and improve the control performance of the vehicle chassis dynamometer. Combined with BPNN (Back Propagation Neural Network) and SOM (Self‐organizing Maps) network, a BPNN‐SOM fault diagnosis model is proposed in this paper. By comparing and analyzing the fault diagnosis performance of various neural networks and SOM‐BPNN algorithm, it is found that the SOM‐BPNN model has the best comprehensive result, the prediction accuracy is 98.75%, the time is 0.45 seconds, and it has good real‐time stability. The proposed model can effectively diagnose the vehicle fault, provide a certain direction for maintenance personnel to judge the vehicle state, and provide certain help to alleviate traffic pollution problem.
Systematic Study on a Quantitative Analysis of Multicomponents by Single Marker (QAMS) Method for Simultaneous Determination of Eight Constituents in Pneumonia Mixture by UPLC-MS/MS
Authors: Zhang Haibo , Xie Weina , Liu Jiangyun , Xiang Xiaoqiang , Zhang Shilei , Hu Junping , Yang Jianhua
Published: November 2021

Pneumonia mixture was formulated and is available to treat children acute pneumonia and acute bronchitis in our hospital for nearly forty years, but there are few studies of its quality evaluation or control. In this paper, a new strategy for quality evaluation of pneumonia mixture was explored and verified through qualitative and quantitative analyses of multicomponents by single marker (QAMS) by UPLC-MS/MS. Baicalein was selected as an internal reference, and the relative correction factors (RCFs) and the relative retention time (RRT) of (R, S)-goitrin, amygdalin, chlorogenic acid, pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, ephedrine hydrochloride, ammonium glycyrrhizinate, and baicalin were established. The robustness and durability of the QAMS method were investigated. RCF values calculated by the average (AVG) method and linear regression (LRG) method had good repeatability and were acceptable for quantitative analysis, and the RTT combined with the exact masses of precursor and fragment ions and their abundance could be adopted for accurately positioning the chromatographic peak of the eight constituents. The consistency and feasibility of the QAMS method were verified by comparing the contents of the seven components calculated by a classic and validated external standard method (ESM) with those of the QAMS method, which reduces analytical cost and time of detection and avoids the problem of the diversity and large quantity of reference standards. The results demonstrated that the QAMS method developed in this paper could provide a new, alternative, and promising method to comprehensively and effectively determine multicomponents and control the quality of pneumonia mixture or even a group of similar medicines.
Skin Cancer Detection Based on Extreme Learning Machine and a Developed Version of Thermal Exchange Optimization
Authors: Wang Shi , Hamian Melika
Published: November 2021

Melanoma is defined as a disease that has been incurable in advanced stages, which shows the vital importance of timely diagnosis and treatment. To diagnose this type of cancer early, various methods and equipment have been used, almost all of which required a visit to the doctor and were not available to the public. In this study, an automated and accurate process to differentiate between benign skin pigmented lesions and malignant melanoma is presented, so that it can be used by the general public, and it does not require special equipment and special conditions in imaging. In this study, after preprocessing of the input images, the region of interest is segmented based on the Otsu method. Then, a new feature extraction is implemented on the segmented image to mine the beneficial characteristics. The process is then finalized by using an optimized Deep Believe Network (DBN) for categorization into 2 classes of normal and melanoma cases. The optimization process in DBN has been performed by a developed version of the newly introduced Thermal Exchange Optimization (dTEO) algorithm to obtain higher efficacy in different terms. To show the method’s superiority, its performance is compared with 7 different techniques from the literature.
SAM-Competitive PRMT5 Inhibitor PF-06939999 Demonstrates Antitumor Activity in Splicing Dysregulated NSCLC with Decreased Liability of Drug Resistance
Authors: Jensen-Pergakes Kristen , Tatlock John , Maegley Karen A. , McAlpine Indrawan J. , McTigue Michele , Xie Tao , Dillon Christopher P. , Wang Yuli , Yamazaki Shinji , Spiegel Noah , Shi Manli , Nemeth Amy , Miller Natalie , Hendrickson Eleanore , Lam Hieu , Sherrill John , Chung Chi-Yeh , McMillan Elizabeth A. , Bryant Shannon Karlicek , Palde Prakash , Braganza John , Brooun Alexei , Deng Ya-Li , Goshtasbi Vesta , Kephart Susan E. , Kumpf Robert A. , Liu Wei , Patman Ryan L. , Rui Eugene , Scales Stephanie , Tran-Dube Michelle , Wang Fen , Wythes Martin , Paul Thomas A.
Published: November 2021

Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) overexpression in hematologic and solid tumors methylates arginine residues on cellular proteins involved in important cancer functions including cell-cycle regulation, mRNA splicing, cell differentiation, cell signaling, and apoptosis. PRMT5 methyltransferase function has been linked with high rates of tumor cell proliferation and decreased overall survival, and PRMT5 inhibitors are currently being explored as an approach for targeting cancer-specific dependencies due to PRMT5 catalytic function. Here, we describe the discovery of potent and selective S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) competitive PRMT5 inhibitors, with in vitro and in vivo characterization of clinical candidate PF-06939999. Acquired resistance mechanisms were explored through the development of drug resistant cell lines. Our data highlight compound-specific resistance mutations in the PRMT5 enzyme that demonstrate structural constraints in the cofactor binding site that prevent emergence of complete resistance to SAM site inhibitors. PRMT5 inhibition by PF-06939999 treatment reduced proliferation of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, with dose-dependent decreases in symmetric dimethyl arginine (SDMA) levels and changes in alternative splicing of numerous pre-mRNAs. Drug sensitivity to PF-06939999 in NSCLC cells associates with cancer pathways including MYC, cell cycle and spliceosome, and with mutations in splicing factors such as RBM10. Translation of efficacy in mouse tumor xenograft models with splicing mutations provides rationale for therapeutic use of PF-06939999 in the treatment of splicing dysregulated NSCLC.
Nuclear Receptor 4A2 (NR4A2/NURR1) Regulates Autophagy and Chemoresistance in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Zarei Mehrdad , Shrestha Rupesh , Johnson Sneha , Yu Zuhua , Karki Keshav , Vaziri-Gohar Ali , Epps Jessica , Du Heng , Suva Larry , Zarei Mahsa , Safe Stephen
Published: November 2021

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive cancer with poor prognosis and chemotherapy with gemcitabine has limited effects and is associated with development of drug resistance. Treatment of Panc1 and MiaPaca2 pancreatic cancer cells with gemcitabine induced expression of the orphan nuclear receptor 4A2 (NURR1) and analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas indicated the NURR1 is overexpressed in pancreatic tumors and is a negative prognostic factor for patient survival. Results of NURR1 knockdown or treatment with the NURR1 antagonist 1,1-bis(3΄-indolyl)-1-(p-chlorophenyl)methane (C-DIM 12) demonstrated that NURR1 was prooncogenic in pancreatic cancer cells and regulated cancer cell and tumor growth and survival. NURR1 is induced by gemcitabine and serves as a key drug resistance factor and is also required for gemcitabine-induced cytoprotective autophagy. NURR1-regulated genes were determined by RNA sequencing of mRNAs expressed in MiaPaCa2 cells expressing NURR1 and in CRISPR/Cas9 gene–edited cells for NURR1 knockdown and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis of the differentially expressed genes showed that autophagy was the major pathway regulated by NURR1. Moreover, NURR1 regulated expression of two major autophagic genes, ATG7 and ATG12, which are also overexpressed in pancreatic tumors and like NURR1 are negative prognostic factors for patient survival. Thus, gemcitabine-induced cytoprotective autophagy is due to the NURR1–ATG7/ATG12 axis and this can be targeted and disrupted by NURR1 antagonist C-DIM12 demonstrating the potential clinical applications for combination therapies with gemcitabine and NURR1 antagonists.

Significance:

Gemcitabine induces NURR1-dependent ATG7 and ATG12 cytoprotective autophagy in PDA cells that can be reversed by NURR1 antagonists.
Clinical Features and Management of Endometriosis among Patients with MRKH and Functional Uterine Remnants
Authors: Tian Weijie , Chen Na , Liang Ze , Song Shuang , Wang Yuan , Ye Yang , Duan Jiali , Zhu Lan
Published: November 2021

Objective: This study aimed to determine the clinical features of Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome patients with functional uterine remnants and endometriosis in a large cohort of Chinese patients. Design: This was a retrospective study. Participants: This study had a cohort of 511 MRKH patients. A total of 34 MRKH patients with functional remnant were finally included. Setting: This study included a tertiary referring hospital in China. Methods: Patients with MRKH diagnosed and treated at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2009 to January 2020 were recruited. A cohort of 511 MRKH patients were retrospectively screened, and a total of 34 MRKH patients with functional remnant were finally included. Relevant clinical data were reviewed retrospectively from medical charts. Results: Of 34 patients with MRKH and functional uterine remnants, 23 (68%) had endometriosis. These patients had a greater mean age at MRKH diagnosis than patients without endometriosis (15.9 ± 3.3 years vs. 13.2 ± 3.5 years; p = 0.03). Similarly, these patients experienced a longer time between age at onset of symptoms and age at operation than patients without endometriosis (45.5 ± 39.6 years vs. 19.8 ± 13.2 years; p = 0.04). In addition, the CA125 level was significantly higher in patients with endometriosis than in those without it (64.9 ± 85.9 U/mL vs. 25.5 ± 19.1 U/mL; p = 0.03). Limitations: The number of patients with MRKH analyzed in this study was low as we restricted inclusion to patients with at least 1 functional uterine remnant or endometriosis. Conclusions: It is reasonable to monitor the uterine remnant of patients with MRKH closely, regardless of age, to achieve early intervention. The level of CA125 might be helpful to differentiate active uterine remnants with endometriosis and schedule individualized treatments.
Critical analysis of housing condition impacts on residents' well-being and social costs
Authors: Muianga Elisa Atália Daniel , Silva Vanessa Gomes da , Kowaltowski Doris C. C. K. , Moreira Daniel de Carvalho , Granja Ariovaldo Denis , Oliva Carolina A. , Silva Ruth Ferreira da
Published: November 2021

Housing is fundamental to the welfare of people and society. On the contrary, housing may impose costs on users as regards their health and quality of life. These costs are not only individual but also social. Studies on the concept of social costs (SCs) related to living conditions of social housing (SH) are scarce, and the concept needs in-depth debates. A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to answer the primary research question: What are SCs, and what triggers them? The research specifically aims to identify spatial design factors and construction details of SH, which may cause adverse impacts and social costs and affect households' quality of life. The SLR results are analysed and discussed concerning the major concepts of SCs and social impacts (SIs). The visual representation and organization of data contribute to detailed and in-depth conceptual discussions to understand the factors that can induce actions to improve SH design and upgrading of the existing stock. Most publications emphasise physical and mental health risks. Poor thermal conditions cause illnesses, and depression is prevalent in many housing developments putting pressure on public systems and their health services. Social unrest and family conflict can impose further costs on policing and social assistance. Housing conditions’ cause and effect are rarely detailed in the SC literature, which constitutes a research gap. New housing design, Upgrading or refurbishment initiatives should also effectively increase well-being, reduce environmental impacts, and ultimately contribute towards positive social and technological developments.
Identification of Functional Genetic Determinants of Cardiac Troponin T and I in a Multiethnic Population and Causal Associations With Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Yang Yunju , Bartz Traci M. , Brown Michael R. , Guo Xiuqing , Zilhão Nuno R. , Trompet Stella , Weiss Stefan , Yao Jie , Brody Jennifer A. , Defilippi Christopher R. , Hoogeveen Ron C. , Lin Henry J. , Gudnason Vilmundur , Ballantyne Christie M. , Dörr Marcus , Jukema J. Wouter , Petersmann Astrid , Psaty Bruce M. , Rotter Jerome I. , Boerwinkle Eric , Fornage Myriam , Jun Goo , Yu Bing
Published: November 2021

Background:

Elevated cardiac troponin levels in blood are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and mortality. Cardiac troponin levels are heritable, but their genetic architecture remains elusive.

Methods:

We conducted a transethnic genome-wide association analysis on high-sensitivity cTnT (cardiac troponin T; hs-cTnT) and high-sensitivity cTnI (cardiac troponin I; hs-cTnI) levels in 24 617 and 14 336 participants free of coronary heart disease and heart failure from 6 population-based cohorts, followed by a series of bioinformatic analyses to decipher the genetic architecture of hs-cTnT and hs-cTnI.

Results:

We identified 4 genome-wide significant loci for hs-cTnT including a novel locus rs3737882 in
PPFIA4
and 3 previously reported loci at
NCOA2
,
TRAM1
, and
BCL2
. One known locus at
VCL
was replicated for hs-cTnI. One copy of C allele for rs3737882 was associated with a 6% increase in hs-cTnT levels (minor allele frequency, 0.18;
P
=2.80×10
−9
). We observed pleiotropic loci located at
BAG3
and
ANO5
. The proportions of variances explained by single-nucleotide polymorphisms were 10.15% and 7.74% for hs-cTnT and hs-cTnI, respectively. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms were colocalized with
BCL2
expression in heart tissues and hs-cTnT and with
ANO5
expression in artery, heart tissues, and whole blood and both troponins. Mendelian randomization analyses showed that genetically increased hs-cTnT and hs-cTnI levels were associated with higher odds of atrial fibrillation (odds ratio, 1.38 [95% CI, 1.25–1.54] for hs-cTnT and 1.21 [95% CI, 1.06–1.37] for hs-cTnI).

Conclusions:

We identified a novel genetic locus associated with hs-cTnT in a multiethnic population and found that genetically regulated troponin levels were associated with atrial fibrillation.
Effects of Educational and Cultural Facilities on Housing Prices in Seoul from an Accessibility Perspective
Authors: Sung Minki , Ki Junghoon
Published: November 2021

Background and objective A great deal of previous research has highlighted the value of educational and cultural facilities embedded in housing prices, by taking a large spatial area as the focus, such as the city or district level. However, few studies have investigated the extent to which educational and cultural facilities influence the formation of housing prices from an accessibility perspective. This study aims to identify the value of educational and cultural facilities embedded in the housing prices in Seoul Metropolitan City with a focus on the concept of the residents’ neighbourhood and accessibility. Methods To this end, this research used a spatial regression model with educational and cultural facilities as the independent variables and housing prices as the dependent variable. The model assessed the accessibility of cultural and educational facilities by considering geographic effects. Results The findings are as follows. First, the spatial error model was found to be the best fit for multi-unit housing, while the spatial lag model was more appropriate for single-unit housing and apartments. Second, private educational facilities and art museums had positive effects on single- and multi-unit housing prices, while historical sites had a negative effect. Finally, private educational facilities positively influenced apartment prices, whereas public libraries and urban park areas had a negative effect. Conclusion These findings indicate that the accessibility of educational and cultural facilities reflects residents’ preferences and needs, which will ultimately influence housing prices.
A View from Inside: Understanding Puerto Rico Cockfighting
Authors: Aragunde-Kohl Úrsula A. , Segarra-González Yahaira , Meléndez-Samó Liza M. , Hernández-Rivera Ivemarie , Quiles-Peña Carolina
Published: November 2021

The purpose of this research was to better understand the beliefs and practices that the residents of Puerto Rico have regarding cockfighting, including their perception of the recently passed prohibition against nonhuman animal fighting on the island. It had an exploratory descriptive design consisting of three phases, where the qualitative data obtained from phase one would guide the process of identifying variables that could be measured. In the second phase, an instrument was developed, and in the third, it was administered. Most of the participants agreed with the prohibition of cockfighting in Puerto Rico and that it was necessary. The data showed that there is a disconnect between what the federal government of the United States legislated, what the local government and agencies that were supposed to enforce the prohibition did with the legislation, and what the people directly affected by the legislation received for education and guidance.