bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Based on the Results of PEDV Phylogenetic Analysis of the Most Recent Isolates in China, the Occurrence of Further Mutations in the Antigenic Site S1° and COE of the S Protein Which Is the Target Protein of the Vaccine
Authors: Yao Xin , Zhu Yu , Qiao Wen-Ting , Lu Wei-Hong , Zhang Yu-Qian , Li Jin-Long
Published: February 2023

The continuous challenge of existing vaccine systems by porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) variant strains in recent years, it caused significant economic losses in the global swine industry. A PEDV virulent strain CH/HLJBQL/2022 was successfully isolated in China in this study. A genome-wide based phylogenetic analysis suggests that CH/HLJBQL/2022 belongs to the GII subtype, and 96.3%–99.6% homology existed in the whole genomes of other strains. For the first time, simultaneous mutations of four amino acids were found in the highly conserved membrane (M) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins, as well as five amino acid mutations that differed from the vast majority of strains in the spike (S) protein. Mutations in the M and S proteins were found to produce coils with different angles by building 2D and 3D structural models. Epitope analysis indicated that the isolates produced specific changes and that the transmembrane function of the M protein had not been affected. In addition, typing markers exist during strain evolution, but isolates are using the fusion of specific amino acids from multiple variant strains to add additional features, as also demonstrated by protein alignments and 3D models of numerous subtype strains. These results suggest that aa mutations in the M and S proteins may have changed the structure and antigenic epitope of the isolates and PEDV is evolving again on the basis of variants that have been found to counteract the immune network of the new vaccine.
[Retracted] The Function of Retinal Thickness and Microvascular Alterations in the Diagnosis of Systemic Sclerosis
Authors: Fang Xia , Yu Shujiao , Peng Yilin , Huang Bozhi , Kang Min , Xiong Jiangbiao , Luo Ting , Wu Rui , Shao Yi
Published: February 2023

In this study, we aim to investigate retinal thickness (RT) and superficial vascular density (SVD) differences between patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and healthy controls (HCs) by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Sixteen patients with a definitive SSc diagnosis without clinical signs of retinopathy and 16 normal control subjects were recruited. All individuals underwent OCTA scanning to assess macular RT and SVD. We divided each image into nine subregions as the early treatment diabetic retinopathy study (ETDRS). Visual acuity (VA) was considerably different between patients with SSc (32 eyes) and control subjects (32 eyes) (p < 0.001). Compared to the control group, individuals with SSc had decreased inner RT in inner superior, outer superior, outer temporal, inner temporal, center, and inner nasal regions (p < 0.05). Outer RT was decreased in the outer and inner temporal regions, and full RT was decreased in the regions of outer superior, inner superior, inner temporal, and outer temporal, in comparison to the control group (p < 0.05). Patients with SSc had significant reduction of SVD in the inner and outer of both superior and temporal, besides outer nasal regions than controls. (p < 0.05). Moreover, SVD was significantly associated with the outer temporal region of patients suffering from SSc (p < 0.05). Diagnostic Sensitivity of RT and SVD of Inner Superior Regions in SSc, as indicated by areas under curves of the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC), were 0.874 (95% CI: 0.786–0.962) and 0.827 (95% CI: 0.704–0.950), respectively. In conclusion, VA may be affected by RT variations inside the macula in patients with SSc. Measuring RT with OCTA could be a useful predictor of early diagnosis.
Rehabilitation Training Can Significantly Increase the Serum IL-11 Levels and Improve the Prognosis in Ischemic Stroke Patients
Authors: Li Xiaoliu , Zhang Jing , Wang Qiang , Xiang Lian , Dong Jing
Published: February 2023

We aimed to explore the expression of IL-11 in ischemic stroke patients and its correlation with rehabilitation training and prognosis. The present randomized control study recruited ischemic stroke patients who were admitted during March 2014 to November 2020. All patients underwent computer tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination. All patients were randomly divided into two groups, including rehabilitation training (RT) group and control group. The patients in the RT group were received rehabilitation training within 2 days after the vital signs were stable while control group received routine nursing. The serum interleukin- (IL-) 11 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) when patients were just hospitalized and 6 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, and 90 h after treatment. Demographic, clinical statistics, imaging data, and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scores (NIHSS) were recorded. The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores were measured after 90 days treatment to assess the prognosis of ischemic patients. The serum IL-11 levels of the RT group elevated more quickly during the study time compared with the control group. In addition, the NIHSS and mRS scores of ischemic stroke patients in the RT group were significantly lower than that in the control group. The NIHSS score, the proportion receiving rehabilitation training, and the levels of IL-11, triglyceride (TG), and high-density leptin cholesterol (HDLC) of ischemic stroke patients in the

mRS
 
score
≥
3

group were remarkably elevated than that in the

mRS
 
score
≤
2

group. However, the serum IL-11 levels of ischemic stroke patients were obviously decreased in the

mRS
 
score
≥
3

group. IL-11 could be a potential diagnostic biomarker of poor prognosis of ischemic stroke patients. Furthermore, IL-11, NIHSS score, and rehabilitation training were the risk factors for poor prognosis of ischemic stroke patients. This study demonstrated that the ischemic stroke patients in the RT group had higher serum IL-11 levels and better prognosis. This study might provide a new approach to improve the prognosis of patients with ischemic stroke. This trial is registered with ChiCTR-PNR-16007706.
Recent Developments in Materials and Manufacturing Techniques Used for Sports Textiles
Authors: Ahmad Faheem , Akhtar Khurram Shehzad , Anam Wardah , Mushtaq Bushra , Rasheed Abher , Ahmad Sheraz , Azam Farooq , Nawab Yasir
Published: February 2023

In the recent era of development, the global market for the sportswear textile manufacturing industries has increased with the increase in consumption of active sportswear. The sportswear manufacturers not only focused on the market trends but also focused on material diversification with technology enhancement. The performance characteristics of active sportswear directly influence comfort level and athletic performance during sports activities. Different types of sportswear products require different performance characteristics. Appropriate moisture and heat management are the key factors for the endowment of the required physiological comfort level. In highly engineered textile-based sports goods, special characteristics are incorporated in the polymer/fibers/product manufacturing procedures/finishing techniques to obtain the maximum performance and comfort level. In this review paper current market trends, highly engineered polymers, fibers, fabrics, finishes, nanomaterials, and the recent developments in the manufacturing techniques of sportswear are illustrated.
Computational Thinking Training and Deep Learning Evaluation Model Construction Based on Scratch Modular Programming Course
Authors: Chen Xiaoli , Wang XiaoMing
Published: February 2023

To improve the algorithmic dimension, critical thinking, and problem‐solving ability of computational thinking (CT) in students′ programming courses, first, a programming teaching model is constructed based on the scratch modular programming course. Secondly, the design process of the teaching model and the problem‐solving model of visual programming are studied. Finally, a deep learning (DL) evaluation model is constructed, and the effectiveness of the designed teaching model is analyzed and evaluated. The T‐test result of paired samples of CT is t = −2.08, P < 0.05. There are significant differences in the results of the two tests, and the designed teaching model can cause changes in students′ CT abilities. The results reveal that the effectiveness of the teaching model based on scratch modular programming has been verified on the basis of experiments. The post‐test values of the dimensions of algorithmic thinking, critical thinking, collaborative thinking, and problem‐solving thinking are all higher than the pretest values, and there are individual differences. The P values are all less than 0.05, which testifies that the CT training of the designed teaching model has the algorithm dimension, critical thinking, collaborative thinking, and problem‐solving ability of students′ CT. The post‐test values of cognitive load are all lower than the pretest values, indicating that the model has a certain positive effect on reducing cognitive load, and there is a significant difference between the pretest and post‐test. In the dimension of creative thinking, the P value is 0.218, and there is no obvious difference in the dimensions of creativity and self‐efficacy. It can be found from the DL evaluation that the average value of the DL knowledge and skills dimensions is greater than 3.5, and college students can reach a certain standard level in terms of knowledge and skills. The mean value of the process and method dimensions is about 3.1, and the mean value of the emotional attitudes and values is 2.77. The process and method, as well as emotional attitude and values, need to be strengthened. The DL level of college students is relatively low, and it is necessary to improve their DL level from the perspective of knowledge and skills, processes and methods, emotional attitudes and values. This research makes up for the shortcomings of traditional programming and design software to a certain extent. It has a certain reference value for researchers and teachers to carry out programming teaching practice.
On Domatic Number of Some Rotationally Symmetric Graphs
Authors: Raza Hassan , Sharma Sunny Kumar , Azeem Muhammad
Published: February 2023

Domination is a well-known graph theoretic concept due to its significant real-world applications in several domains, such as design and communication network analysis, coding theory, and optimization. For a connected graph

Γ
=

V
,
E

, a subset

U

of

V

Γ

is called a dominating set if every member present in

V
−
U

is adjacent to at least one member in

U

. The domatic partition is the partition of the vertices

V

Γ

into the disjoint dominating set. The domatic number of the graph

Γ

is the maximum cardinality of the disjoint dominating sets. In this paper, we improved the results for the middle and central graphs of a cycle, respectively. Furthermore, we discuss the domatic number for some other cycle-related graphs and graphs of convex polytopes.
Influence of Support Parameter and Excavation Methods on Statistical Distribution Characteristics of Surrounding Rock Pressure in Shallow-Buried Metro Tunnel
Authors: Chen Song , Yang Zhao , Zheng Yibo , Yuan Ying , Sun Jinglai , Li Liufang
Published: February 2023

For large-spanshallow-buried tunnels in composite strata of urban metro, the study on the distribution characteristics of surrounding rock pressure is a necessary prerequisite for the reliability analysis of tunnel structure. In this paper, through numerical simulation, the random joint file generated by MATLAB is combined with the discrete element software to establish the corresponding random network model. According to the network model calculation, the influence of surrounding rock pressure on the support structure system is discussed, and the reasonable support parameter types are given. Comparing the whole section excavation with the subsectional excavation, the subsectional excavation can effectively control the internal stress self-adjustment of the surrounding rock and effectively restrain the plastic zone. It provides some theoretical guidance and reference for tunnel reliability design.
[Retracted] Edge‐Enabled Heart Rate Estimation from Multisensor PPG Signals
Authors: Chen Xingchi , Zhu Fa , Zhao Hai
Published: February 2023

Heart rate (HR) estimation from multisensor PPG signals suffers from the dilemma of inconsistent computation results, due to the prevalence of bio‐artifacts (BAs). Furthermore, advancements in edge computing have shown promising results from capturing and processing diversified types of sensing signals using the devices of Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). In this paper, an edge‐enabled method is proposed to estimate HRs accurately and with low latency from multisensor PPG signals captured by bilateral IoMT devices. First, we design a real‐world edge network with several resource‐constrained devices, divided into collection edge nodes and computing edge nodes. Second, a self‐iteration RR interval calculation method, at the collection edge nodes, is proposed leveraging the inherent frequency spectrum feature of PPG signals and preliminarily eliminating the influence of BAs on HR estimation. Meanwhile, this part also reduces the volume of sent data from IoMT devices to compute edge nodes. Afterward, at the computing edge nodes, a heart rate pool with an unsupervised abnormal detection method is proposed to estimate the average HR. Experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms traditional approaches which rely on a single PPG signal, attaining better results in terms of the consistency and accuracy for HR estimation. Furthermore, at the designed edge network, our proposed method processes a 30 s PPG signal to obtain an HR, consuming only 4.24 s of computation time. Hence, the proposed method is of significant value for the low‐latency applications in the field of IoMT healthcare and fitness management.
Automatic Intelligent System Using Medical of Things for Multiple Sclerosis Detection
Authors: Krishnamoorthy Sujatha , Zhang Yaxi , Kadry Seifedine , Khan Muhammad Attique , Alhaisoni Majed , Mustafa Nasser , Yu Weifeng , Alqahtani Abdullah
Published: February 2023

Malfunctions in the immune system cause multiple sclerosis (MS), which initiates mild to severe nerve damage. MS will disturb the signal communication between the brain and other body parts, and early diagnosis will help reduce the harshness of MS in humankind. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) supported MS detection is a standard clinical procedure in which the bio‐image recorded with a chosen modality is considered to assess the severity of the disease. The proposed research aims to implement a convolutional neural network (CNN) supported scheme to detect MS lesions in the chosen brain MRI slices. The stages of this framework include (i) image collection and resizing, (ii) deep feature mining, (iii) hand‐crafted feature mining, (iii) feature optimization with firefly algorithm, and (iv) serial feature integration and classification. In this work, five‐fold cross‐validation is executed, and the final result is considered for the assessment. The brain MRI slices with/without the skull section are examined separately, presenting the attained results. The experimental outcome of this study confirms that the VGG16 with random forest (RF) classifier offered a classification accuracy of >98% MRI with skull, and VGG16 with K‐nearest neighbor (KNN) provided an accuracy of >98% without the skull.
An Improved DTN Scheme for Large-Scale LEO Satellite Networks
Authors: Liu Gaosai , Jiang Xinglong , Li Huawang , Sun Siyue , Zhang Zhenhua , Liang Guang
Published: February 2023

A large-scale low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network has the characteristics of a complex link environment, a large number of satellites, and the limited resources of a single satellite. Applying traditional routing algorithms has disadvantages such as high overhead, high end-to-end latency, and low message delivery rate. This paper proposes an improved delay tolerant (DTN) scheme for large-scale LEO satellite networks (LIDTN) to improve transmission efficiency and reduce the resource overhead and end-to-end latency of large-scale satellite networks. This scheme improves the network performance in three aspects: next hop selection, congestion control mechanism, and acknowledgment mechanism. For the next hop selection, we propose an equivalent distance and priori knowledge-based forwarding strategy (EPFS), which has the advantages of low overhead, loop avoidance, and fast convergence. For congestion control, we put forward an emergency function-based bundle drop algorithm (EBDA). For acknowledging, we propose the virtual acknowledgment algorithm (VAA) by combining the characteristics of many path hops and high link disruption rates in large-scale constellations. Finally, we simulate and verify the LIDTN scheme on the OneWeb constellation. The results show that the LIDTN scheme is suitable for large-scale constellations, the EPFS algorithm can reduce the network overhead during data transmission, EBDA can reduce the bundle drop rate, and VAA can reduce the end-to-end latency. LIDTN provides a new solution for large-scale constellation communication.
The Senolytic Drug Fisetin Attenuates Bone Degeneration in the Zmpste24−/− Progeria Mouse Model
Authors: Hambright William S. , Mu Xiaodong , Gao Xueqin , Guo Ping , Kawakami Yohei , Mitchell John , Mullen Michael , Nelson Anna-Laura , Bahney Chelsea , Nishimura Haruki , Hellwinkel Justin , Eck Andrew , Huard Johnny
Published: February 2023

Aging leads to several geriatric conditions including osteoporosis (OP) and associated frailty syndrome. Treatments for these conditions are limited and none target fundamental drivers of pathology, and thus identifying strategies to delay progressive loss of tissue homeostasis and functional reserve will significantly improve quality of life in elderly individuals. A fundamental property of aging is the accumulation of senescent cells. Senescence is a cell state defined by loss of proliferative capacity, resistance to apoptosis, and the release of a proinflammatory and anti-regenerative senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). The accumulation of senescent cells and SASP factors is thought to significantly contribute to systemic aging. Senolytics—compounds which selectively target and kill senescent cells—have been characterized to target and inhibit anti-apoptotic pathways that are upregulated during senescence, which can elicit apoptosis in senescent cells and relieve SASP production. Senescent cells have been linked to several age-related pathologies including bone density loss and osteoarthritis in mice. Previous studies in murine models of OP have demonstrated that targeting senescent cells pharmacologically with senolytic drugs can reduce symptomology of the disease. Here, we demonstrate the efficacy of senolytic drugs (dasatinib, quercetin, and fisetin) to improve age-associated degeneration in bone using the Zmpste24−/− (Z24−/−) progeria murine system for Hutchinson–Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS). We found that the combination of dasatinib plus quercetin could not significantly mitigate trabecular bone loss although fisetin administration could reduce bone density loss in the accelerated aging Z24−/− model. Furthermore, the overt bone density loss observed in the Z24−/− model reported herein highlights the Z24 model as a translational model to recapitulate alterations in bone density associated with advanced age. Consistent with the “geroscience hypothesis,” these data demonstrate the utility of targeting a fundamental driver of systemic aging (senescent cell accumulation) to alleviate a common condition with age, bone deterioration.
Functional Connectivity Changes in the Insular Subregions of Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea after 6 Months of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment
Authors: Long Ting , Li Haijun , Shu Yongqiang , Li Kunyao , Xie Wei , Zeng Yaping , Huang Ling , Zeng Li , Liu Xiang , Peng Dechang
Published: February 2023

This study was aimed at investigating the functional connectivity (FC) changes between the insular subregions and whole brain in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) after 6 months of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment and at exploring the relationship between resting-state FC changes and cognitive impairment in OSA patients. Data from 15 patients with OSA before and after 6 months of CPAP treatment were included in this study. The FC between the insular subregions and whole brain was compared between baseline and after 6 months of CPAP treatment in OSA. After 6 months of treatment, OSA patients had increased FC from the right ventral anterior insula to the bilateral superior frontal gyrus and bilateral middle frontal gyrus and increased FC from the left posterior insula to the left middle temporal gyrus and left inferior temporal gyrus. Hyperconnectivity was found from the right posterior insula to the right middle temporal gyrus, bilateral precuneus, and bilateral posterior cingulate cortex, which mainly involved the default mode network. There are changes in functional connectivity patterns between the insular subregions and whole brain in OSA patients after 6 months of CPAP treatment. These changes provide a better understanding of the neuroimaging mechanisms underlying the improvement in cognitive function and emotional impairment in OSA patients and can be used as potential biomarkers for clinical CPAP treatment.
Construction of a TTN Mutation-Based Prognostic Model for Evaluating Immune Microenvironment, Cancer Stemness, and Outcomes of Colorectal Cancer Patients
Authors: Zhao Lei , Fan Weiwei , Luo Kunpeng , Xie Siqi , Wang Rui , Guan Jingming , Chen Zhendong , Jin Shizhu
Published: February 2023

Background. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the commonest cancers worldwide. As conventional biomarkers cannot clearly define the heterogeneity of CRC, it is essential to establish novel prognostic models. Methods. For the training set, data pertaining to mutations, gene expression profiles, and clinical parameters were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas. Consensus clustering analysis was used to identify the CRC immune subtypes. CIBERSORT was used to analyze the immune heterogeneity across different CRC subgroups. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression was used to identify the genes for constructing the immune feature-based prognostic model and to determine their coefficients. Result. A gene prognostic model was then constructed to predict patient outcomes; the model was then externally validated using data from the Gene Expression Omnibus. As a high-frequency somatic mutation, the titin (TTN) mutation has been identified as a risk factor for CRC. Our results demonstrated that TTN mutations have the potential to modulate the tumor microenvironment, converting it into the immunosuppressive type. In this study, we identified the immune subtypes of CRC. Based on the identified subtypes, 25 genes were selected for prognostic model construction; a prediction model was also constructed, and its prediction accuracy was tested using the validation dataset. The potential of the model in predicting immunotherapy responsiveness was then explored. Conclusion. TTN-mutant and TTN-wild-type CRC demonstrated different microenvironment features and prognosis. Our model provides a robust immune-related gene prognostic tool and a series of gene signatures for evaluating the immune features, cancer stemness, and prognosis of CRC.
Correlation between High Myopia Susceptibility and Polymorphisms of RASGRF1 Gene among College Students in Zhejiang
Authors: Yi Jipan , Dai Yingying , Ma Shangsheng , Zheng Yiyi , Liang Yunjie , Huang Xiaojie
Published: February 2023

Objective. The aim of the study is to analyze the correlation between high myopia susceptibility and Ras protein-specific guanine nucleotide-releasing factor-1(RASGRF1) gene polymorphism among college students in Zhejiang. Methods. A stratified whole-group sampling method was used to select 218 cases of college students in Zhejiang who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria from January, 2019, to December, 2021, and they were divided into 77 cases (154 eyes) in the high myopia group and 141 cases (282 eyes) in the medium-low myopia group according to the degree of myopia, and 109 cases of college volunteers without myopia from the same period of medical examination in the region were included in the control group. The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in functional regions were selected by searching the literature and genetic databases, and the base sequences of rs939658, rs4778879, and rs8033417 loci were obtained by genotyping candidate SNPs using multiplex ligase detection reaction technique. The cardinality test was used to compare the differences in genotype frequency distribution of each locus of the RASGRF1 gene between the high myopia group and the low to moderate myopia group and the control group. Results. The genotype frequencies and allele frequencies of the RASGRF1 gene rs939658 locus in the high myopia group compared with the moderate-low myopia group and the control group were not statistically significant

P
>
0.05

. The genotype frequencies and allele frequencies of the rs4778879 locus of the RASGRF1 gene were compared among the three groups, and the differences were not statistically significant

P
>
0.05

. The genotype frequency and allele frequency of the rs8033417 locus of the RASGRF1 gene differed significantly among the three groups

P
<
0.05

. Conclusion. The polymorphism of the rs8033417 locus of the RASGRF1 gene was significantly correlated with the susceptibility of high myopia among college students in Zhejiang.
Prediction Formula Describing Viscoelasticity of Unvulcanized Rubber Compound Based on Time-Temperature Equivalent Superposition Principle
Authors: Li Yong , Sun Xunhua , Miao Yanan , Zhang Shuang , Guo Fangkai , Chen Long
Published: February 2023

Fitting unvulcanized rubber compound’s (URC) dynamic viscoelasticity prediction formula and then constructing its mechanical constitutive model are of great significance for studying defect mechanisms in rubber products. However, it is difficult to measure the dynamic viscoelasticity of unvulcanized rubber at high and low frequencies due to its rapid relaxation property. This paper presents a convenient method to measure the dynamic viscoelasticity of unvulcanized rubber. The data of different temperatures at a fixed frequency are measured by dynamic thermomechanical analysis, and the master curve of unvulcanized rubber is obtained by using the time-temperature equivalent superposition principle, which is used to predict the modulus and stress at different temperatures as a function of frequency. The predicted moduli are in good agreement with experimental data when the strain is less than 10% and the applicable temperature range of the Williams–Landel–Ferry (WLF) equation, which indicates that the proposed method is a feasible way to study the dynamic viscoelasticity of unvulcanized rubber at different temperatures.
Identification and Validation of FGF-Related Prognostic Signatures in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Ye Yongkang , Mo Rujun , Zheng Ruinian , Zou Jun , Liu Shaoqian , Mi Qiwu , Zhong Weide
Published: February 2023

Background. FGF signaling is critical to controlling various cancers. Nevertheless, the functions of FGF-related genes in PCa are still unknown. Objective. The objective of this study is to build a FGF-related signature that was capable of accurately predicting PCa survival and prognosis for BCR. Methods. The univariate and multivariate Cox regression, infiltrating immune cells, LASSO, and GSEA analyses were carried out to build a prognostic model. Results. A FGF-related signature that consists of PIK3CA and SOS1 was developed for the purpose of predicting PCa prognosis, and all patients were categorized into low- and high-risk groups. In comparison to the low-risk group, high-risk score patients had poorer BCR survival. This signature’s predictive power has been investigated utilizing the AUC of the ROC curves. The risk score has been shown to be an independent prognostic factor by multivariate analysis. The four enriched pathways of the high-risk group were obtained by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and found to be associated with the tumorigenesis and development of PCa, including focal adhesion, TGF-β signaling pathway, adherens junction, and ECM receptor interaction. The high-risk groups had considerably higher levels of immune status and tumor immune cell infiltration, suggesting a more favorable response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. IHC found that the expression of the two FGF-related genes in the predictive signature was extremely different in PCa tissues. Conclusion. To summarize, our FGF-related risk signature may effectively predict and diagnose PCa, indicating that in PCa patients, they are potential therapeutic targets and promising prognostic biomarkers.
Nettle (Urtica dioica) Additive as a Growth Promoter and Immune Stimulator in Fish
Authors: Zare Mahyar , Esmaeili Noah , Paolacci Simona , Stejskal Vlastimil
Published: February 2023

Aquaculture will become an important food production sector for humans in the coming decades. However, disease outbreaks can be considered a significant obstacle to continually developing aquaculture. Plant powders and extracts are natural feed additives that, due to their bioactive compounds, including phenolic compounds, proteins, vitamins, and minerals, have antistress, antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal effects on fish. One of these herbs is nettle (Urtica dioica), which has a long history of being used in traditional medicine. While it has been widely investigated in mammalian medicine, few studies have been done on aquaculture species. The positive effect of this herb on the growth performance, hematology, blood biochemistry, and immune system of fish species has been observed. When fish were exposed to pathogens, nettle-fed fish showed a higher survival rate and less stress than controls. Therefore, this literature review is aimed at reviewing the use of this herb in fish diets and its impacts on growth performance, hematology, blood biochemistry, liver enzymes, immune system stimulation, and challenges with pathogens.
Recovering the Soybean Hulls after Peroxidase Extraction and Their Application as Adsorbent for Metal Ions and Dyes
Authors: Ivanovska Aleksandra , Dojčinović Biljana , Lađarević Jelena , Pavun Leposava , Mijin Dušan , Kostić Mirjana , Svetozarević Milica
Published: February 2023

This study is aimed at extending the soybean hulls’ lifetime by their utilization as an adsorbent for metal ions (Cd2+ and Cu2+) and dyes (Reactive Yellow 39 (RY 39) and Acid Blue 225 (AB 225)). ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, FE-SEM microscopy, and zeta potential measurements were used for adsorbent characterization. The effect of the solution’s pH, peroxidase extraction, adsorbent particle size, contact time, the pollutant’s initial concentration, and temperature on the soybean hulls’ adsorption potential was studied. Before peroxidase extraction, soybean hulls were capable of removing 72% Cd2+, 71% Cu2+ (at a pH of 5.00) or 81% RY 39, and 73% AB 225 (at a pH of 3.00). For further experiments, soybean hulls without peroxidase were used for several reasons: (1) due to their observed higher metal ion removal, (2) in order to reduce the waste disposal cost after the peroxidase (usually used for wastewater decolorization) extraction, and (3) since the soybean hulls without peroxidase possessed significantly lower secondary pollution than those with peroxidase. Cd2+ and Cu2+ removal was slightly increased when the smaller adsorbent fraction (710-1000  μm) was used, while the adsorbent particle size did not have an impact on dye removal. After 30 min of contact time, 92% and 88% of RY 39 and AB 225 were removed, respectively, while after the same contact time, 80% and 69% of Cd2+ and Cu2+ were removed, respectively. Adsorption of all tested pollutants follows a pseudo-second-order reaction through the fast adsorption, intraparticle diffusion, and final equilibrium stage. The maximal adsorption capacities determined by the Langmuir model were 21.10, 20.54, 16.54, and 17.23 mg/g for Cd2+, Cu2+, RY 39, and AB 225, respectively. Calculated thermodynamic parameters suggested that the adsorption of all pollutants is spontaneous and of endothermic character. Moreover, different binary mixtures were prepared, and the competitive adsorptions revealed that the soybean hulls are the most efficient adsorbent for the mixture of AB 225 and Cu2+. The findings of this study contribute to the soybean hulls’ recovery after the peroxidase extraction and bring them into the circular economy concept.
A Comprehensive Review of Lightweight Authenticated Encryption for IoT Devices
Authors: AlJabri Zainab , Abawajy Jemal , Huda Shamsul
Published: February 2023

Internet of Things (IoT) is a promising technology for creating smart environments, smart systems, and smart services. Since security is a fundamental requirement of IoT platforms, solutions that can provide both encryption and authenticity simultaneously have recently attracted much attention from academia and industry. This article analyses in detail state-of-the-art lightweight authenticated encryption (LAE) targeted to IoT systems. This work provides a thorough description of the algorithms, and the study systematically classifies them to facilitate understanding of relevant intricacies of the schemes. Among reviewed algorithms, there is a trade-off to retain design security, resources cost, and efficient performance. ACORN is the effective scheme on various platforms in terms of utilization of resources and power consumption, while MORUS and AES-CLOC are the fastest in hardware platforms. However, they are susceptible to misuse despite their resistance to side channel attacks. In contrast, JOLTICK, PRIMATESs, COLM, DeoxysII, OCB, and AES-JAMBU are provably resistant to nonce misuse. The challenges for possible future research are summarized. Overall, the article provides researchers and developers with practical guidance on various design aspects and limitations as well as open research challenges in the current lightweight authenticated encryption for IoT.
Identification of Prognostic Aging-Related Genes Associated with Immune Cell Infiltration in Glioblastoma
Authors: Zhu Xiaopeng , Chen Xun , Liu Zhao , Yang Bihui , Zhou Yuxiang , Pan Sian , Huang Yongkai , Han Deqing , Zeng Yiqian , Liu Chao
Published: February 2023

Background. Aging is recognized as a main tumor risk factor, and thus aging has become a field of interest in the tumor research field. Glioblastoma multiforme represents the most typical primary malignant intracranial tumor, particularly in the elderly. However, the association between aging-related genes (AGs) and GBM prognosis remains unknown. As a result, the primary goal of this study was to determine the association among AGs and the prognosis of GBM. Methods. A total of 307 human AGs were downloaded from the HAGR database, while the expression profiles of GSE4290 and GSE4412 were obtained from the GEO database. Furthermore, data on GBM expression profiles were obtained from the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) database. The DEAGs that were differentially expressed among the AG and GBM gene expression profiles derived from GSE4290 were then identified, followed by functional analysis of the DEAGs. The survival-related AGs were then screened using univariate Cox regression analysis , which was used to build and validate a prognostic risk model. Furthermore, the ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT algorithms were utilized to explore the association between the survival-related AGs and the tumor immune microenvironment. Results. In entire, 29 DEAGs were identified in the GSE4290. This was monitored by the construction of the prognosis risk model using four DEAGs from the CGGA training set, including C1QA, CDK1, EFEMP1, and IGFBP2. Next, the risk model was confirmed in the CGGA experiment set and the GSE 4412 dataset. Results showed that C1QA, CDK1, EFEMP1, and IGFBP2 levels were remarkably higher in the high-risk score groups, and they had a good association with immune and stromal scores. Conclusion. A robust prognostic risk model was constructed and validated using four AGs, including C1QA, CDK1, EFEMP1, and IGFBP2, which had a close relationship with the immune microenvironment of GBM. This study offers a new reference to further explore the pathogenesis of GBM and recognize new and more effective GBM treatments.
Optimization of Keratin Hydrolysate Extraction from Tannery Sheep Hair Waste
Authors: Mengistu Ashagrie , Angassa Kenatu , Tessema Israel
Published: February 2023

Tannery hair wastes are becoming a challenge for tanners regarding environmental pollution control and human health. In this study, an experiment had been designed to hydrolyse sheep hair in an alkaline medium, and the operational condition for the alkaline extraction of KH has been modeled and optimized. The structure, morphology, functional groups, particle size, and molecular mass of the KH extracts were evaluated experimentally by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), particle size analysis, and SDS-PAGE analysis, respectively. FTIR analysis of the extract confirmed the presence of carboxylic, amide, and aldehyde functional groups and alkyl side chains of amino acids. The molecular weight of the extracted keratin ranges between 3–15 kDa, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed an amorphous form of structure with two peaks at 2 theta of 9.36° and 21.16° due to

α

-helix and

β

- sheet structure in keratin. Response surface methodology (RSM) coupled with BOX-Behnken design was applied as a statistical tool to investigate the effect of extraction time, the concentration of the hydrolysing agent, and temperature on the response variable (yield of keratin protein). The concentration of the hydrolysing agent was found to be the most significant factor affecting the speed of extraction, but its gradual increase tends to affect the protein content of the extract. Optimum parameters of 0.5 N, 80°C, and 3.5 hr were obtained for the concentration of NaOH, temperature, and extraction time, respectively, with a maximum average protein yield of 91.5% and a percentage total nitrogen content of 14.6% using the Kjeldahl method and 86.57% using the biuret test method.
[Retracted] A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Influences of Chronic Kidney Disease on Patients after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Chronic Total Occlusions
Authors: Wu Weifei , Gao Menghan , Wu Xu
Published: February 2023

Objective. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a clinical collective term for kidney disease with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) < 60 mL/min for more than three months due to various factors and is usually associated with coronary heart disease and is also an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease. This study is aimed at systematically reviewing the influence of CKD on the outcomes of patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusions (CTOs). Methods. The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, China biomedical literature database (SinoMed), China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang database were searched for case‐control studies on the influence of CKD on outcomes after PCI for CTOs. After screening the literature, extracting data, and evaluating the quality of literature, RevMan 5.3 software was used for meta‐analysis. Results. There were 11 articles with a total of 558,440 patients included. Meta‐analysis results indicated that left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) level, diabetes, smoking, hypertension, coronary artery bypass grafting, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI)/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), β‐blockers, age, and renal insufficiency were the factors affecting outcomes after PCI for CTOs [risk ratio and 95% confidence interval were: 0.88 (0.86, 0.90), 0.96 (0.95, 0.96), 0.76 (0.59, 0.98), 1.39 (0.89, 2.16), 0.73 (0.38, 1.40), 0.24 (0.02, 3.9), 0.78 (0.77, 0.79), 0.81 (0.80, 0.82), and 1.50 (0.47, 4.79)]. Conclusion. LVEF level, diabetes, smoking, hypertension, coronary artery bypass grafting, ACEI/ARB, β‐blockers, age, renal insufficiency, etc. are important risk factors for outcomes after PCI for CTOs. Controlling these risk factors is of great significance for the prevention, treatment, and prognosis of CKD.
Test-Retest Reliability of the Coordinate Response Measure in Adults with Normal Hearing or Cochlear Implants
Authors: Saleh Shaza Mahmoud , Saeed Shakeel Riaz , Vickers Deborah
Published: February 2023

Background: Speech perception in noise is especially challenging for cochlear implant (CI) recipients; thus, speech in noise tests are used to clinically evaluate functional hearing with CIs. The coordinate response measure (CRM) corpus can be utilized in an adaptive speech perception test with competing speakers as the masker. Determining the critical difference for CRM thresholds can enable it to be used to evaluate changes in CI outcomes for clinical and research purposes. If a change in CRM exceeds the critical difference, then this would indicate significant improvement or decrement in speech perception. Additionally, this information provides figures for power calculations that could be used for planning studies and clinical trials [Bland JM: An Introduction to Medical Statistics, 2000]. Objectives: This study determined the test-retest reliability of the CRM for adults with normal hearing (NH) and adults with CIs. The replicability, variability, and repeatability of the CRM were evaluated for the two groups separately. Method: Thirty-three NH adults and thirteen adult CI recipients were recruited and tested with the CRM twice, 1 month apart. The CI group was tested with two talkers only, while the NH group was tested with seven talkers as well as two talkers. Results: CRM had better replicability, repeatability and lower variability for the CI adults compared to NH adults. The critical difference (at p < 0.05) in the two-talker CRM speech reception thresholds (SRTs) among CI users was >5.2 dB, and it was >6.2 dB for the NH if an individual were to be tested under two different conditions. The critical difference (at p < 0.05) in the seven-talker CRM SRT was >6.49. The Mann-Whitney U test showed that CI recipients’ CRM scores’ variance (Mdn = −0.94) was significantly less than the NH group’s (Mdn = 2.2) (U = 54, p < 0.0001). Although the NH had significantly better SRTs in the two-talker condition than in the seven-talker condition (t = −20.29, df = 65, p < 0.0001), the Wilcoxon signed ranks test showed no significant difference between the CRM scores’ variance in the two conditions (Z = −1, N = 33, p = 0.08). Conclusions: NH adults had significantly lower CRM SRTs than the CI recipients; t (31.16) = −23.91, p < 0.001. CRM had better replicability, stability and lower variability for the CI adults compared to NH adults.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based Evaluation of Anatomy and Outcome Prediction in Infants with Esophageal Atresia
Authors: Marks Kaitlyn T. , Higano Nara S. , Kotagal Meera , Woods Jason C. , Kingma Paul S.
Published: February 2023

Introduction: There is currently no validated diagnostic modality to characterize the anatomy and predict outcomes of tracheal esophageal defects, such as esophageal atresia (EA) and tracheal esophageal fistulas (TEFs). We hypothesized that ultra-short echo-time MRI would provide enhanced anatomic information allowing for evaluation of specific EA/TEF anatomy and identification of risk factors that predict outcome in infants with EA/TEF. Methods: In this observational study, 11 infants had pre-repair ultra-short echo-time MRI of the chest completed. Esophageal size was measured at the widest point distal to the epiglottis and proximal to the carina. Angle of tracheal deviation was measured by identifying the initial point of deviation and the farthest lateral point proximal to the carina. Results: Infants without a proximal TEF had a larger proximal esophageal diameter (13.5 ± 5.1 mm vs. 6.8 ± 2.1 mm, p = 0.07) when compared to infants with a proximal TEF. The angle of tracheal deviation in infants without a proximal TEF was larger than infants with a proximal TEF (16.1 ± 6.1° vs. 8.2 ± 5.4°, p = 0.09) and controls (16.1 ± 6.1° vs. 8.0 ± 3.1°, p = 0.005). An increase in the angle of tracheal deviation was positively correlated with duration of post-operative mechanical ventilation (Pearson r = 0.83, p < 0.002) and total duration of post-operative respiratory support (Pearson r = 0.80, p = 0.004). Discussion: These results demonstrate that infants without a proximal TEF have a larger proximal esophagus and a greater angle of tracheal deviation which is directly correlated with the need for longer post-operative respiratory support. Additionally, these results demonstrate that MRI is a useful tool to assess the anatomy of EA/TEF.
Long-Term Safety, Clinical and Immunological Outcomes in Primary Membranous Nephropathy with Severe Renal Impairment Treated with Cyclophosphamide and Steroid-Based Regimen
Authors: Ragy Omar , Hamilton Patrick , Pathi Anjali , Ahmed Adil Abdalla Mohamed , Mitra Sandip , Kanigicherla Durga A.K.
Published: February 2023

Introduction and Aims: Therapy of primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) with progressive advanced kidney dysfunction is challenging with limited literature and no clear therapeutic strategies. This is due to the scant evidence of effectiveness and uncertainty around the risk-benefit profile of immunosuppression (ImS) when eGFR is less than 30 mL/min. We aimed to determine long-term clinical outcomes in patients with PMN and severe renal impairment treated with combined cyclophosphamide and steroids. Methods: The study is a single-center retrospective longitudinal cohort study. All patients (between 2004 and 2019) with biopsy confirmed PMN who initiated combination therapy with steroids and cyclophosphamide and had an eGFR of ≤30 mL/min/1.73 m2 at the time of initiation of therapy were included for analysis. Clinical and laboratory parameters including anti-PLA2R-Ab were monitored as per standard clinical guidance. Primary outcome was achievement of partial remission. Secondary outcomes included immunological remission, need for renal replacement therapy, and adverse effects. Results: Eighteen patients with median age of 68 (IQR 58–73) years and 5:1 M:F ratio received the combination therapy when eGFR was ≤30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (CKD-EPI). At time of ImS, median eGFR and uPCR were 23 (IQR 18–27) mL/min/1.73 m2 and 8.4 (IQR 6.9–10.7) g/g, respectively. Median follow-up was for 67 (IQR 27–80) months. 16 patients (89%) achieved partial remission and 7 (39%) achieved complete remission. eGFR increased by 7 mL/min/1.73 m2 (27%) after 1 year of starting ImS treatment and 12 mL/min/1.73 m2 at end of follow-up. Two patients (11%) developed end-stage renal disease needing renal replacement therapy. 67% achieved both immunological and clinical remission. At the end of the follow-up period, 2 (11%) patients required hospitalization secondary to infections, 4 (22%) patients developed cancer and 4 patients died (22%). Conclusion: Combination therapy with cyclophosphamide and steroids is effective in achieving partial remission and improving renal function in PMN with advanced renal dysfunction. Prospective controlled studies are required to provide further evidence to rationalize treatment and improve outcomes in such patients.