bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aerosol Characterization with Long-Term AERONET Sun-Photometer Measurements in the Naples Mediterranean Area
Authors: Damiano Riccardo , Sannino Alessia , Amoruso Salvatore , Boselli Antonella
Published: December 2022

We report on the characterization of columnar aerosol optical and microphysical properties in the Naples Mediterranean area over a period of five years by the ground-based sun–sky–lunar photometer operating at our observational station in the frame of the AERONET network. Statistical and climatological analyses of daily mean values of aerosol optical depth at 440 nm (AOD440) and Ångström exponent at 440/870 nm (α440/870) allowed for highlighting their typical seasonal behavior. In particular, we observe higher mean values of the AOD440 during summer or spring, which are consistent with an increased frequency of both Saharan dust transport events and biomass burning episodes affecting the measurement area in these periods of the year. Conversely, α440/870 does not show any typical seasonal trend. In order to gain information on the different aerosol contributions along the atmospheric column, the frequency distributions of AOD440 and α440/870 were analyzed and fitted by a superposition of Gaussian functions. The most populated modes are centered at α440/870 = 1.26 ± 0.07 and AOD440 = 0.16 ± 0.01. These values are associated with continental polluted aerosol mixed with sea salt aerosol and correspond to the background conditions typically observed in clear atmospheric conditions. Daily size distributions averaged over each month highlight that the fine aerosol component always prevails over the coarse fraction, except for the few months in which Saharan dust events are particularly frequent. Finally, the mean value of the SSA at 440 nm resulted as 0.94 ± 0.05, while the refractive index real and imaginary part were 1.47 ± 0.07 and (6.5 ± 0.2) × 10−3, respectively. These values are in agreement with those observed in other Mediterranean sites located in Southern Italy, evidencing a rather characteristic feature of the geographical region.
Relationship Assessment of COVID-19, Air Pollution, and Copper Demand from the Perspective of Copper Price
Authors: Guo Raofeng , Hung Chin-Chao , Lin Zong-Han , Chen Wei-Ting
Published: December 2022

Copper in the international market has been priced by copper futures contracts from the London Metal Exchange (LME) and the New York Commodity Exchange (COMEX). Copper prices initially showed a downward trend until March 2020, but after the outbreak of COVID-19, they continued to rise and reached a record high in May 2021. The rise in copper demand also stimulated the continuous growth of copper production. However, a significant amount of smelting flue gas is produced in the copper smelting process. The main component of the flue gas is SO2 and other acid gases, which pollute the environmental atmosphere. At the same time, due to the Chinese government’s effective control of the pandemic, China’s economy continued to grow. Therefore, as one of the world’s largest copper consumers and producers, China’s futures market has attracted attention for its influence on copper pricing and the pollution caused by copper smelting. In this paper, we used the grey entropy method to compare the influence of copper prices on the three futures markets and changes in China’s air pollution in recent years. Our results show that before the pandemic, the influence of the LME futures copper price was the same as the COMEX but greater than the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE). After the outbreak of the pandemic, the influence of the SHFE copper futures price significantly improved and slightly exceeded the LME and COMEX. This result echoes our finding that SO2 has caused serious air pollution in recent years.
TOPSIS Method Based on Hamacher Choquet-Integral Aggregation Operators for Atanassov-Intuitionistic Fuzzy Sets and Their Applications in Decision-Making
Authors: Mahmood Tahir , Ali Zeeshan , Baupradist Samruam , Chinram Ronnason
Published: December 2022

The collection of Hamacher t-norms was created by Hamacher in 1970, which played a critical and significant role in computing aggregation operators. All aggregation operators that are derived based on Hamacher norms are very powerful and are beneficial because of the parameter 0≤ζ≤+∞. Choquet first posited the theory of the Choquet integral (CI) in 1953, which is used for evaluating awkward and unreliable information to address real-life problems. In this manuscript, we analyze several aggregation operators based on CI, aggregation operators, the Hamacher t-norm and t-conorm, and Atanassov intuitionistic fuzzy (A-IF) information. These are called A-IF Hamacher CI averaging (A-IFHCIA), A-IF Hamacher CI ordered averaging (A-IFHCIOA), A-IF Hamacher CI geometric (A-IFHCIG), and A-IF Hamacher CI ordered geometric (A-IFHCIOG) operators; herein, we identify their most beneficial and valuable results according to their main properties. Working continuously, we developed a multi-attribute decision-making (MADM) procedure for evaluating awkward and unreliable information, with the help of the TOPSIS technique for order performance by similarity to the ideal solution, and derive operators to enhance the worth and value of the present information. Finally, by comparing the pioneering information with some of the existing operators, we illustrate some examples for evaluating the real-life problems related to enterprises, wherein the owner of a company appointed four senior board members of the enterprise to decide what was the best Asian company in which to invest money, to show the supremacy and superiority of the invented approaches.
Criteria for Oscillation of Half-Linear Functional Differential Equations of Second-Order
Authors: Almarri Barakah , Moaaz Osama , Muhib Ali
Published: December 2022

The present article aims to establish more effective criteria for testing the oscillation of a class of functional differential equations with delay arguments. In the non-canonical case, we deduce some improved monotonic and asymptotic properties of the class of decreasing positive solutions of the studied equation. Depending on both the new properties and the linear representation of the studied equation, we obtain new oscillation criteria. Moreover, we test the effectiveness of the new criteria by applying them to some special cases of the studied equation.
Machine Learning Styles for Diabetic Retinopathy Detection: A Review and Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Subramanian Shyamala , Mishra Sashikala , Patil Shruti , Shaw Kailash , Aghajari Ebrahim
Published: December 2022

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a medical condition caused by diabetes. The development of retinopathy significantly depends on how long a person has had diabetes. Initially, there may be no symptoms or just a slight vision problem due to impairment of the retinal blood vessels. Later, it may lead to blindness. Recognizing the early clinical signs of DR is very important for intervening in and effectively treating DR. Thus, regular eye check-ups are necessary to direct the person to a doctor for a comprehensive ocular examination and treatment as soon as possible to avoid permanent vision loss. Nevertheless, due to limited resources, it is not feasible for screening. As a result, emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, for the automatic detection and classification of DR are alternative screening methodologies and thereby make the system cost-effective. People have been working on artificial-intelligence-based technologies to detect and analyze DR in recent years. This study aimed to investigate different machine learning styles that are chosen for diagnosing retinopathy. Thus, a bibliometric analysis was systematically done to discover different machine learning styles for detecting diabetic retinopathy. The data were exported from popular databases, namely, Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus. These data were analyzed using Biblioshiny and VOSviewer in terms of publications, top countries, sources, subject area, top authors, trend topics, co-occurrences, thematic evolution, factorial map, citation analysis, etc., which form the base for researchers to identify the research gaps in diabetic retinopathy detection and classification.
Explaining Exploration–Exploitation in Humans
Authors: Candelieri Antonio , Ponti Andrea , Archetti Francesco
Published: December 2022

Human as well as algorithmic searches are performed to balance exploration and exploitation. The search task in this paper is the global optimization of a 2D multimodal function, unknown to the searcher. Thus, the task presents the following features: (i) uncertainty (i.e., information about the function can be acquired only through function observations), (ii) sequentiality (i.e., the choice of the next point to observe depends on the previous ones), and (iii) limited budget (i.e., a maximum number of sequential choices allowed to the players). The data about human behavior are gathered through a gaming app whose screen represents all the possible locations the player can click on. The associated value of the unknown function is shown to the player. Experimental data are gathered from 39 subjects playing 10 different tasks each. Decisions are analyzed in a Pareto optimality setting—improvement vs. uncertainty. The experimental results show that the most significant deviations from the Pareto rationality are associated with a behavior named “exasperated exploration”, close to random search. This behavior shows a statistically significant association with stressful situations occurring when, according to their current belief, the human feels there are no chances to improve over the best value observed so far, while the remaining budget is running out. To classify between Pareto and Not-Pareto decisions, an explainable/interpretable Machine Learning model based on Decision Tree learning is developed. The resulting model is used to implement a synthetic human searcher/optimizer successively compared against Bayesian Optimization. On half of the test problems, the synthetic human results as more effective and efficient.
Polymorphism, Expression, and Structure Analysis of a Key Gene ARNT in Sheep (Ovis aries)
Authors: Wang Xinyue , Bao Jingjing , Bi Yazhen , Hu Wenping , Zhang Li
Published: December 2022

Growth traits are influential factors that significantly affects the development of the sheep industry. A previous TMT proteomic analysis found that a key protein in the HIF signaling pathway, ARNT, may influence embryonic skeletal muscle growth and development in sheep. The purpose of this study was to better understand the association between the polymorphisms of ARNT and growth traits of sheep, and the potential function of ARNT. Real-time qPCR (qRT-PCR) of ARNT was carried out to compare its expression in different developmental stages of the muscle tissues and primary myoblasts in the Hu, Chinese merino, and Gangba sheep. The genetic variance of ARNT was detected using the Illumina Ovine SNP 50 K and 600 K BeadChip in the Hu and Ujimqin sheep populations, respectively. The CDS sequence of the ARNT gene was cloned in the Hu sheep using PCR technology. Finally, bioinformatic analytical methods were applied to characterize the genes and their hypothetical protein products. The qRT-PCR results showed that the ARNT gene was expressed significantly in the Chinese merino embryo after 85 gestation days (D85) (p < 0.05). Additionally, after the sheep were born, the expression of ARNT was significant at the weaning stage of the Hu sheep (p < 0.01). However, there was no difference in the Gangba sheep.In addition, six SNP loci were screened using 50 K and 600 K BeadChip. We found a significant association between rs413597480 A > G and the Hu sheep weight at weaning and backfat thickness in the 5-month-old sheep (p < 0.05), and four SNP loci (rs162298018 G > C, rs159644025 G > A, rs421351865 G > A, and rs401758103 A > G) were also associated with growth traits in the Ujimqin sheep (p < 0.05). Interestingly, we found that a G > C mutation at 1948 bp in the cloned ARNT CDS sequence of the Hu sheep was the same locus mutation as rs162298018 G > C identified using the 600 K BeadChip, which resulted in a nonconservative missense point mutation, leading to a change from proline to alanine and altering the number of DNA, protein-binding sites, and the α-helix of the ARNT protein. There was a strong linkage disequilibrium between rs162298018 G > C and rs159644025 G > A, and the ARNT protein was conserved among the goat, Hu sheep, and Texel sheep. And, we propose that a putative molecular marker for growth and development in sheep may be the G > C mutation at 1948 bp in the CDS region of the ARNT gene. Our study systematically analyzed the expression, structure, and function of the ARNT gene and its encoded proteins in sheep. This provides a basis for future studies of the regulatory mechanisms of the ARNT gene.
High-Throughput Sequencing-Based Analysis of Changes in the Vaginal Microbiome during the Disease Course of Patients with Bacterial Vaginosis: A Case–Control Study
Authors: Gao Jing , Peng Yiqian , Jiang Nanyan , Shi Youhao , Ying Chunmei
Published: December 2022

Background: The vaginal microbiome is closely associated with the onset and recurrence of bacterial vaginosis (BV). In the present study, the state of vaginal microbiota during the onset and post-treatment asymptomatic stages of BV were compared to that of a healthy population to evaluate the changes in different characteristic bacteria during the onset, progression, and remission of BV. Methods: A case–control study was performed to explore these changes. Women with clinical symptoms of BV were divided into the disease group (M) and case–control group (C) based on the Nugent score. Subjects in the disease group whose symptoms were resolved after the treatment were assigned to the treated group (T) and healthy subjects were recruited into the normal control (N) group. The V3–V4 hypervariable regions of bacterial 16S rRNA genes were sequenced on the Illumina MiSeq platform. Results: The N harbored the highest number of detected species and a higher abundance of microbiota; they had a significantly higher abundance of Lactobacillus and different bacterial community composition compared to the other three groups. In group M, Gardnerella vaginalis was the dominant species, whereas Lactobacillus iners was predominant in the other three groups. While Lactobacillus was more commonly present in Group C compared to group M. it was significantly increased in group T. Alpha diversity analysis of bacterial communities revealed significant differences in community richness and diversity among all four groups (p < 0.05). Significant differences in the distribution of various bacterial communities among the different groups were also observed (p < 0.05). Specifically, the abundance of eight bacterial taxa (Megasphaera, Aerococcus christensenii, Clostridiales, Gardnerella, Peptostreptococcus, Veillonellaceae, Akkermansia, Coriobacteriales) differed significantly among the four groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Significant differences in the composition and alpha diversity of the vaginal microbiota at different stages of BV and the distribution of bacterial communities were observed among the investigated groups. In addition to Gardnerella, Sneathia sanguinegens and Prevotella timonensis play an important role in the pathogenesis of BV. The appearance of BV-like clinical symptoms was closely associated with the decrease in Prevotella and Atopobium vaginae populations.
Impacts of Ecological Shading by Roadside Trees on Tea Foliar Nutritional and Bioactive Components, Community Diversity of Insects and Soil Microbes in Tea Plantation
Authors: Zou Yan , Zhong Yanni , Yu Han , Pokharel Sabin Saurav , Fang Wanping , Chen Fajun
Published: December 2022

Roadside trees not only add aesthetic appeal to tea plantations, but also serve important ecological purposes for the shaded tea plants. In this study, we selected tea orchards with two access roads, from east to west (EW-road) and from south to north (SN-road), and the roadside trees formed three types of ecological shading of the adjoining tea plants; i.e., south shading (SS) by the roadside trees on the EW-road, and east shading and west shading (ES and WS) by the roadside trees on the SN-road. We studied the impacts of ecological shading by roadside trees on the tea plants, insects, and soil microbes in the tea plantation, by measuring the contents of soluble nutrients, bioactive compounds in the tea, and tea quality indices; and by investigating the population occurrence of key species of insects and calculating insect community indexes, while simultaneously assaying the soil microbiome. The results vividly demonstrated that the shading formed by roadside tree lines on the surrounding tea plantation (SS, ES, and WS) had adverse effects on the concentration of tea soluble sugars but enhanced the foliar contents of bioactive components and improved the overall tea quality, in contrast to the no-shading control tea plants. In addition, the roadside tree lines seemed to be beneficial for the tea plantation, as they reduced pest occurrence, and ES shading enhanced the microbial soil diversity in the rhizosphere of the tea plants.
Assessment of the RNA Silencing Suppressor Activity of Protein P0 of Pepper Vein Yellows Virus 5: Uncovering Natural Variability, Relevant Motifs and Underlying Mechanism
Authors: Pérez-Cañamás Miryam , Bustos Mónica , Puértolas Victoria , Castelló Yolanda , Peiró Sofía , Hernández Carmen
Published: December 2022

Pepper vein yellows virus 5 (PeVYV-5) belongs to a group of emerging poleroviruses (family Solemoviridae) which pose a risk to pepper cultivation worldwide. Since its first detection in Spain in 2013 and the determination of the complete genome sequence of an isolate in 2018, little is known on the presence, genomic variation and molecular properties of this pathogen. As other members of genus Polerovirus, PeVYV-5 encodes a P0 protein that was predicted to act as viral suppressor of RNA silencing (VSR), one of the major antiviral defense mechanisms in plants. The results of the present work have indicated that PeVYV-5 P0 is a potent VSR, which is able to induce the degradation of Argonaute (AGO) endonucleases, the main effectors of RNA silencing. New viral isolates have been identified in samples collected in 2020–2021 and sequencing of their P0 gene has revealed limited heterogeneity, suggesting that the protein is under negative selection. Analysis of natural and engineered P0 variants has pinpointed distinct protein motifs as critical for the VSR role. Moreover, a positive correlation between the VSR activity of the protein and its capability to promote AGO degradation could be established, supporting that such activity essentially relies on the clearance of core components of the RNA silencing machinery.
Degradation Mechanism of AAA+ Proteases and Regulation of Streptomyces Metabolism
Authors: Xu Weifeng , Gao Wenli , Bu Qingting , Li Yongquan
Published: December 2022

Hundreds of proteins work together in microorganisms to coordinate and control normal activity in cells. Their degradation is not only the last step in the cell’s lifespan but also the starting point for its recycling. In recent years, protein degradation has been extensively studied in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. Understanding the degradation process is essential for revealing the complex regulatory network in microorganisms, as well as further artificial reconstructions and applications. This review will discuss several studies on protein quality-control family members Lon, FtsH, ClpP, the proteasome in Streptomyces, and a few classical model organisms, mainly focusing on their structure, recognition mechanisms, and metabolic influences.
Detection of QTLs Regulating Six Agronomic Traits of Rice Based on Chromosome Segment Substitution Lines of Common Wild Rice (Oryza rufipogon Griff.) and Mapping of qPH1.1 and qLMC6.1
Authors: Zhao Neng , Yuan Ruizhi , Usman Babar , Qin Jiaming , Yang Jinlian , Peng Liyun , Mackon Enerand , Liu Fang , Qin Baoxiang , Li Rongbai
Published: December 2022

Wild rice is a primary source of genes that can be utilized to generate rice cultivars with advantageous traits. Chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) are consisting of a set of consecutive and overlapping donor chromosome segments in a recipient’s genetic background. CSSLs are an ideal genetic population for mapping quantitative traits loci (QTLs). In this study, 59 CSSLs from the common wild rice (Oryza rufipogon Griff.) accession DP15 under the indica rice cultivar (O. sativa L. ssp. indica) variety 93-11 background were constructed through multiple backcrosses and marker-assisted selection (MAS). Through high-throughput whole genome re-sequencing (WGRS) of parental lines, 12,565 mapped InDels were identified and designed for polymorphic molecular markers. The 59 CSSLs library covered 91.72% of the genome of common wild rice accession DP15. The DP15-CSSLs displayed variation in six economic traits including grain length (GL), grain width (GW), thousand-grain weight (TGW), grain length-width ratio (GLWR), plant height (PH), and leaf margin color (LMC), which were finally attributed to 22 QTLs. A homozygous CSSL line and a purple leave margin CSSL line were selected to construct two secondary genetic populations for the QTLs mapping. Thus, the PH-controlling QTL qPH1.1 was mapped to a region of 4.31-Mb on chromosome 1, and the LMC-controlling QTL qLMC6.1 was mapped to a region of 370-kb on chromosome 6. Taken together, these identified novel QTLs/genes from common wild rice can potentially promote theoretical knowledge and genetic applications to rice breeders worldwide.
Silk Fibroin Biomaterials and Their Beneficial Role in Skin Wound Healing
Authors: Mazurek Łukasz , Szudzik Mateusz , Rybka Mateusz , Konop Marek
Published: December 2022

The skin, acting as the outer protection of the human body, is most vulnerable to injury. Wound healing can often be impaired, leading to chronic, hard-to-heal wounds. For this reason, searching for the most effective dressings that can significantly enhance the wound healing process is necessary. In this regard, silk fibroin, a protein derived from silk fibres that has excellent properties, is noteworthy. Silk fibroin is highly biocompatible and biodegradable. It can easily make various dressings, which can be loaded with additional substances to improve healing. Dressings based on silk fibroin have anti-inflammatory, pro-angiogenic properties and significantly accelerate skin wound healing, even compared to commercially available wound dressings. Animal studies confirm the beneficial influence of silk fibroin in wound healing. Clinical research focusing on fibroin dressings is also promising. These properties make silk fibroin a remarkable natural material for creating innovative, simple, and effective dressings for skin wound healing. In this review, we summarise the application of silk fibroin biomaterials as wound dressings in full-thickness, burn, and diabetic wounds in preclinical and clinical settings.
Integrative Analysis of Bulk RNA-Seq and Single-Cell RNA-Seq Unveils Novel Prognostic Biomarkers in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Zhao Jing , Wang Xiaoning , Zhu Huachao , Wei Suhua , Zhang Hailing , Ma Le , He Pengcheng
Published: December 2022

Molecular heterogeneity has great significance in the disease biology of multiple myeloma (MM). Thus, the analysis combined single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) and bulk RNA-seq data were performed to investigate the clonal evolution characteristics and to find novel prognostic targets in MM. The scRNA-seq data were analyzed by the Seurat pipeline and Monocle 2 to identify MM cell branches with different differentiation states. Marker genes in each branch were uploaded to the STRING database to construct the Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network, followed by the detection of hub genes by Cytoscape software. Using bulk RNA-seq data, Kaplan-Meier (K-M) survival analysis was then carried out to determine prognostic biomarkers in MM. A total of 342 marker genes in two branches with different differentiation states were identified, and the top 20 marker genes with the highest scores in the network calculated by the MCC algorithm were selected as hub genes in MM. Furthermore, K-M survival analysis revealed that higher NDUFB8, COX6C, NDUFA6, USMG5, and COX5B expression correlated closely with a worse prognosis in MM patients. Moreover, ssGSEA and Pearson analyses showed that their expression had a significant negative correlation with the proportion of Tcm (central memory cell) immune cells. Our findings identified NDUFB8, COX6C, NDUFA6, USMG5, and COX5B as novel prognostic biomarkers in MM, and also revealed the significance of genetic heterogeneity during cell differentiation in MM prognosis.
Gabapentin Disrupts Binding of Perlecan to the α2δ1 Voltage Sensitive Calcium Channel Subunit and Impairs Skeletal Mechanosensation
Authors: Reyes Fernandez Perla C. , Wright Christian S. , Masterson Adrianna N. , Yi Xin , Tellman Tristen V. , Bonteanu Andrei , Rust Katie , Noonan Megan L. , White Kenneth E. , Lewis Karl J. , Sankar Uma , Hum Julia M. , Bix Gregory , Wu Danielle , Robling Alexander G. , Sardar Rajesh , Farach-Carson Mary C. , Thompson William R.
Published: December 2022

Our understanding of how osteocytes, the principal mechanosensors within bone, sense and perceive force remains unclear. Previous work identified “tethering elements” (TEs) spanning the pericellular space of osteocytes and transmitting mechanical information into biochemical signals. While we identified the heparan sulfate proteoglycan perlecan (PLN) as a component of these TEs, PLN must attach to the cell surface to induce biochemical responses. As voltage-sensitive calcium channels (VSCCs) are critical for bone mechanotransduction, we hypothesized that PLN binds the extracellular α2δ1 subunit of VSCCs to couple the bone matrix to the osteocyte membrane. Here, we showed co-localization of PLN and α2δ1 along osteocyte dendritic processes. Additionally, we quantified the molecular interactions between α2δ1 and PLN domains and demonstrated for the first time that α2δ1 strongly associates with PLN via its domain III. Furthermore, α2δ1 is the binding site for the commonly used pain drug, gabapentin (GBP), which is associated with adverse skeletal effects when used chronically. We found that GBP disrupts PLN::α2δ1 binding in vitro, and GBP treatment in vivo results in impaired bone mechanosensation. Our work identified a novel mechanosensory complex within osteocytes composed of PLN and α2δ1, necessary for bone force transmission and sensitive to the drug GBP.
Case Report of Myelodysplastic Syndrome in a Sickle-Cell Disease Patient Treated with Hydroxyurea and Literature Review
Authors: Flevari Pagona , Voskaridou Ersi , Galactéros Frédéric , Cannas Giovanna , Loko Gylna , Joseph Laure , Bartolucci Pablo , Gellen-Dautremer Justine , Bernit Emmanuelle , Charneau Corine , Habibi Anoosha
Published: December 2022

The safety profile of hydroxyurea (HU) in patients with sickle-cell disease (SCD) is relatively well known. However, despite the suspected association of HU with myeloid neoplasms in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), and the publication of sporadic reports of myeloid malignancies in SCD patients treated with HU, the possible excess risk imparted by HU in this population having an increasing life expectancy has failed to be demonstrated. Herein, we report one case of myelodysplastic syndrome emanating from the results on safety and effectiveness of HU on the largest European cohort of 1903 HU-treated adults and children who were followed-up prospectively in an observational setting over 10 years, accounting for a total exposure of 7309.5 patient-years. A comparison of this single case with previously published similar cases did not allow us to draw any significant conclusions due to the paucity of these events.
B-TURP versus HoLEP: Peri-Operative Outcomes and Complications in Frail Elderly (>75 y.o.) Patients: A Prospective Randomized Study
Authors: Fuschi Andrea , Asimakopoulos Anastasios D. , Scalzo Silvio , Martoccia Alessia , Al Salhi Yazan , Suraci Paolo Pietro , Carbone Flavia , Maggi Martina , Bozzini Giorgio , Zucchi Alessandro , De Nunzio Cosimo , Carbone Antonio , Pastore Antonio Luigi
Published: December 2022

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the peri-operative and functional results between trans-urethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in middle-old patients. Materials and Methods: This prospective single-center study included patients over 75 years old treated with B-TURP or HoLEP for BPH associated with LUTS with prostate volume (PV) <100 mL. Primary endpoints were the intra-operative blood loss, percentage of loss of hemoglobin, blood transfusion, complications, and the comparison of functional outcomes. All patients were evaluated at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up. Results: Overall, 96 patients undergoing HoLEP and 104 B-TURP were eligible and enrolled for the study. Post-operative results showed statistically significant differences between the two groups, all in favor of HoLEP group, specifically in terms of removed prostate tissue, PV reduction rate, hemoglobin values at 24 h, hemoglobin loss, operative time, length of hospitalization, days of catheterization, and urinary flow rates. There was no significant difference in terms of postvoid residual urine volume, perioperative complication, blood transfusion, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and IPSS quality of life scores. Conclusions: In middle-old patients, the HoLEP technique represents a prostate size-independent treatment option with a more favorable safety profile defined by less bleeding, lower blood transfusions, and a significantly lower hemoglobin drop than B-TURP.
A Scoping Review of Rodent Studies Investigating the Epigenetic Mechanisms in the Brain Underlying the Effects of Diet on Depressive-like Behaviour
Authors: Sánchez-Lafuente Carla L. , Reive Brady S. , Kalynchuk Lisa E. , Caruncho Hector J.
Published: December 2022

A healthy diet has been highly associated with a decreased risk for mental health problems such as major depression. Evidence from human studies shows that diet can influence mood but there is a poor understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind these effects, especially the role of epigenetic alterations in the brain. Our objective was to use the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) format to gather all recent studies using animal models that investigate direct or indirect (on the offspring) effects of diet on depressive symptoms, including studies that assess epigenetic mechanisms in the brain. In this format, two authors conducted independent database searches of PubMed, Web of Science, and Academic search premier using one search block “diet epigenetics depression” to find papers published between 2000 and 2022. Relevant studies were selected using pre-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria that were performed independently by the two authors before a subset of studies were selected for qualitative analysis. A total of 11 studies met the inclusion criteria for this systematic scoping review. We found that the literature focuses primarily on the effects of individual nutrients, instead of a specific diet, on despair-like behaviour and anxiety. Studies are heterogenous with the techniques used to asses epigenetic changes in the brain and therefore making it hard to reach common mechanistic explanations. However, all studies report diet-induced changes in the epigenome mainly by the action of DNA methylation, histone acetylation and microRNAs that are parallelel with changes in behaviour. Moreover studies show that inadequate maternal diets can make the offspring more susceptible to develop anxiety and depressive-like behaviour later in life, which is paralleled with changes in the epigenome. Overall, this systematic review shows that there is some literature suggesting a role of brain epigenetics on the diet-induced protective or detrimental effects, specifically on anxiety and depressive-like behaviour. However, studies are limited, lacking the study of some types of diets, behavioural tasks or epigenetic mechanisms. Nevertherless, it shows the importance of genome-environment interactions, bringing new insights towards mechanisms that could be involved in the pathophysiology of mood disorders as well as putative therapeutic targets.
Surface Refractive Surgery Outcomes in Israeli Combat Pilots
Authors: Achiron Asaf , Shemesh Nadav , Yahalomi Tal , Barequet Dana , Biran Amit , Levinger Eliya , Levinger Nadav , Levinger Shmuel , Hirsch Ami
Published: December 2022

Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) has long been the method of choice for refractive surgery in pilots, and was FDA approved for U.S. Air Force aviators in 2000. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 16 male combat pilots (mean age 25.0 ± 5.5 years) who had undergone bilateral laser refractive surgery with surface ablation (alcohol-assisted PRK: 81.25%, transepithelial-PRK: 18.75%), and who had a mean baseline spherical equivalent (SE) of −2.1 ± 0.7 D in the right eye, and −2.0 ± 0.7 D in the left. The mean follow-up was 8.4 ± 6.6 months. On the last visit, the uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) had improved from 0.75 ± 0.33 logMar to −0.02 ± 0.03 logMar (p < 0.001), and from 0.72 ± 0.36 logMar to −0.02 ± 0.05 logMar (p < 0.001), for the right and left eyes, respectively. The percentages of participants with a right eye UCVA of at least 0.0, −0.08, and −0.18 logMAR (6/6, 6/5, and 6/4 Snellen in meters) were 100%, 37.5%, and 6.2%, respectively, and for the left eye, 93.7%, 43.75%, and 6.2%, respectively. No complications occurred. This is the first study to assess refractive surgery outcomes in a cohort of Israeli combat pilots. Surface refractive surgery effectively improved UCVA and reduced spectacle reliance for the members of this visually demanding profession.
Optical Tweezers to Force Information out of Biological and Synthetic Systems One Molecule at a Time
Authors: Bocanegra Rebeca , Ortiz-Rodríguez María , Garcia-Abadillo Ismael Plaza , R-Pulido Carlos , Ibarra Borja
Published: December 2022

Over the last few decades, in vitro single-molecule manipulation techniques have enabled the use of force and displacement as controlled variables in biochemistry. Measuring the effect of mechanical force on the real-time kinetics of a biological process gives us access to the rates, equilibrium constants and free-energy landscapes of the mechanical steps of the reaction; this information is not accessible by ensemble assays. Optical tweezers are the current method of choice in single-molecule manipulation due to their versatility, high force and spatial and temporal resolutions. The aim of this review is to describe the contributions of our lab in the single-molecule manipulation field. We present here several optical tweezers assays refined in our laboratory to probe the dynamics and mechano-chemical properties of biological molecular motors and synthetic molecular devices at the single-molecule level.
Procedural Data Processing for Single-Molecule Identification by Nanopore Sensors
Authors: Wang Yupeng , Yuan Jianxuan , Deng Haofeng , Zhang Ziang , Ma Qianli D. Y. , Wu Lingzhi , Weng Lixing
Published: December 2022

Nanopores are promising single-molecule sensing devices that have been successfully used for DNA sequencing, protein identification, as well as virus/particles detection. It is important to understand and characterize the current pulses collected by nanopore sensors, which imply the associated information of the analytes, including the size, structure, and surface charge. Therefore, a signal processing program, based on the MATLAB platform, was designed to characterize the ionic current signals of nanopore measurements. In a movable data window, the selected current segment was analyzed by the adaptive thresholds and corrected by multi-functions to reduce the noise obstruction of pulse signals. Accordingly, a set of single molecular events was identified, and the abundant information of current signals with the dwell time, amplitude, and current pulse area was exported for quantitative analysis. The program contributes to the efficient and fast processing of nanopore signals with a high signal-to-noise ratio, which promotes the development of the nanopore sensing devices in various fields of diagnosis systems and precision medicine.
Optical Light Sources and Wavelengths within the Visible and Near-Infrared Range Using Photoacoustic Effects for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Jung Unsang , Ryu Jaemyung , Choi Hojong
Published: December 2022

The photoacoustic (PA) effect occurs when sound waves are generated by light according to the thermodynamic and optical properties of the materials; they are absorption spectroscopic techniques that can be applied to characterize materials that absorb pulse or continuous wave (CW)-modulated electromagnetic radiation. In addition, the wavelengths and properties of the incident light significantly impact the signal-to-ratio and contrast with photoacoustic signals. In this paper, we reviewed how absorption spectroscopic research results have been used in applying actual photoacoustic effects, focusing on light sources of each wavelength. In addition, the characteristics and compositions of the light sources used for the applications were investigated and organized based on the absorption spectrum of the target materials. Therefore, we expect that this study will help researchers (who desire to study photoacoustic effects) to more efficiently approach the appropriate conditions or environments for selecting the target materials and light sources.
Recent Advances in Nanotechnology for the Management of Klebsiella pneumoniae–Related Infections
Authors: Barani Mahmood , Fathizadeh Hadis , Arkaban Hassan , Kalantar-Neyestanaki Davood , Akbarizadeh Majid Reza , Turki Jalil Abduladheem , Akhavan-Sigari Reza
Published: December 2022

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an important human pathogen that causes diseases such as urinary tract infections, pneumonia, bloodstream infections, bacteremia, and sepsis. The rise of multidrug-resistant strains has severely limited the available treatments for K. pneumoniae infections. On the other hand, K. pneumoniae activity (and related infections) urgently requires improved management strategies. A growing number of medical applications are using nanotechnology, which uses materials with atomic or molecular dimensions, to diagnose, eliminate, or reduce the activity of different infections. In this review, we start with the traditional treatment and detection method for K. pneumoniae and then concentrate on selected studies (2015–2022) that investigated the application of nanoparticles separately and in combination with other techniques against K. pneumoniae.
Application of Multi-Dimensional Intelligent Visual Quantitative Assessment System to Evaluate Hand Function Rehabilitation in Stroke Patients
Authors: Du Yuying , Shi Yu , Ma Hongmei , Li Dong , Su Ting , Meidege Ou Zhabayier , Wang Baolan , Lu Xiaofeng
Published: December 2022

Background: Hand dysfunction is one of the main symptoms of stroke patients, but there is still a lack of accurate hand function assessment systems. This study focused on the application of the multi-dimensional intelligent visual quantitative assessment system (MDIVQAS) in the rehabilitation assessment of hand function in stroke patients and evaluate hand function rehabilitation in stroke patients. Methods: Eighty-two patients with stroke and unilateral hand dysfunction were evaluated by MDIVQAS. Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient was used to assess the internal consistency of MDIVQAS; the F-test is used to assess the differences in MDIVQAS for multiple repeated measures. Spearman’s analysis was used to identify correlations of MDIVQAS with other assessment systems. t-tests were used to identify differences in outcomes assessed with MDIVQAS in patients before and after treatment. p < 0.05 were considered significant. Results: (1) Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient of MDIVQAS in evaluating hand’s function > 0.9. (2) There was no significant difference between the other repeated measurements, except for thumb rotation in MDIVQAS. (3) MDIVQAS had a significant correlation with other assessment systems (r > 0.5, p < 0.01). (4) There were significant differences in the evaluation of hand function in patients before and after treatment using MDIVQAS. Conclusion: The MDIVQAS system has good reliability and validity in the evaluation of stroke hand function, and it can also better evaluate the treatment effect.
The D-Dimer/Albumin Ratio Is a Prognostic Marker for Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Wu Wei , Liu Xunzhi , Zhu Qi , Chen Xiangxin , Sheng Bin , Zhang Jiatong , Li Wei , Zhang Dingding , Hang Chunhua
Published: December 2022

Background: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is a severe neurological event with limited treatment options, and little is known about its pathophysiology. There are few objective tools for predicting outcomes of aSAH patients and further aiding in directing clinical therapeutic programs. This study aimed to determine whether an elevated serum D-dimer/albumin ratio (DAR) reflects disease severity and predicts aSAH outcomes. Methods: We included 178 patients with aSAH. Data included demographics; clinical severity of aSAH (World Federation of Neurological Societies (WFNS) grade and Hunt–Hess grade); levels of D-dimer, albumin, and c-reactive protein (CRP); leukocyte counts on admission; and three-month outcomes. The outcomes were dichotomized into good and poor. The predictive ability of DAR for outcomes was determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: Serum DAR showed a positive correlation with disease severity. Univariate analysis revealed that DAR, WFNS grade, Hunt–Hess grade, delayed cerebral infarction (DCI), age, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and CRP/albumin ratio (CAR) were associated with unfavorable outcomes. Multivariate regression analysis further revealed that elevated DAR predicted poor outcomes after adjusting for WFNS grade, Hunt–Hess grade, DCI, age, NLR, and CRP/albumin ratio. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that DAR predicted outcomes at a level comparable with NLR and CAR and had superior predictivity than D-dimer alone. Conclusion: DAR is a promising objective tool for aSAH outcome prediction. A high content DAR was associated with disease severity and unfavorable short-term outcomes.
Systems Neuroscience 2021 Top Papers: An Editorial Summary
Authors: Slavin Konstantin V.
Published: December 2022

Many years ago, before the Internet and the introduction of the electronic publications, bibliographical research was conducted in physical libraries, and the most commonly used source of information was the regularly updated Index Medicus, a multi-volume treatise that for 125 years summarized and indexed all published medical literature, classifying it by keywords and subject headings [...]
Clozapine Suppresses the Gene Expression and the Production of Cytokines and Up-Regulates Cyclooxygenase 2 mRNA in Human Astroglial Cells
Authors: Yuhas Yael , Ashkenazi Shai , Berent Eva , Weizman Abraham
Published: December 2022

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a chronic neurodevelopmental psychotic disorder. The immune system and neuroinflammation seem to play a central role in the pathophysiology of SCZ. Clozapine is an effective atypical antipsychotic used for treatment-resistant SCZ. Life-threatening side effects, such as myocarditis, limit its use. We investigated the immunomodulatory effects of clozapine in an astroglial model of neuroinflammation. We thus assessed the effect of clozapine on the production of inflammatory mediators in human-derived astroglial (A172) cells, stimulated with a cytokine mix (TNFα, IL-1β, IFNγ). RT-PCR and ELISA analyses demonstrated that clozapine suppressed gene expression and production of TNFα, IL-1β and IL-8 and increased COX2 mRNA 24 h after stimulation. Clozapine inhibited Akt phosphorylation induced by the cytokine mix at 10 min and 40 min, as assessed by Western blot analysis with anti-pT308Akt antibody. Pretreatment with the Akt inhibitor MK-2206 increased COX2 gene expression in cytokine-stimulated cells, suggesting that Akt inhibition may be involved in COX2 gene expression upregulation. Clozapine may possess dual beneficial effects: inhibiting astroglial production of proinflammatory cytokines, thus attenuating neuroinflammation, and upregulating COX2 expression that may be relevant to improvement of neural functioning while accounting for some of its detrimental effects. Patients with TRS and neuroinflammatory markers may benefit particularly from clozapine treatment.
Case-Study: Fully Prefabricated Wood Wall Connection to Improve Building Envelope and On-Site Efficiency
Authors: Julien Etienne , Blanchet Pierre , Gosselin Louis
Published: December 2022

As fully prefabricated wood walls (FPWW) are envisioned to increase building envelope performance, the junction between panels becomes crucial. Since FPWW restricts access to the inter-panel joints, it is preferable to generate an upstream mechanism to complete the joint automatically on-site. This study aimed to design a self-sealing joint for FPWW that would achieve high energy standards and accelerate on-site construction. Airtightness tests and thermal bridge assessments were conducted in the laboratory to compare the developed self-sealing joints with different sealing materials. These same tests were conducted on-site, in addition to observations of the assembly speed of conventional prefabricated walls and FPWW. Of all the materials tested, butyl tape showed the tightest connections. This material helps the joint developed to automatically seal adjacent walls spaced up to 7 mm apart. FPWW maximize the industrialization of conventional prefabricated walls by realizing the sealing details and the installation of doors, windows and exterior siding offsite. This way, FPWW could reduce the duration of a conventional single-family residential project. FPWW maximize quality control while reducing transportation costs associated with conventional modular solutions.
Evaluation of Building Energy Savings Achievable with an Attached Bioclimatic Greenhouse: Parametric Analysis and Solar Gain Control Techniques
Authors: Kaliakatsos Dimitrios , Nicoletti Francesco , Paradisi Francesca , Bevilacqua Piero , Arcuri Natale
Published: December 2022

Bioclimatic solar greenhouses are passive solar systems of relevant interest in the building sector, as they allow the reduction of energy needs related to air-conditioning. The aim of this work is to analyze the thermal behavior of a bioclimatic solar greenhouse attached to a residential building. It is equipped with photovoltaic solar blinds (SPBs) to manage solar inputs and produce electricity. Automated control systems are implemented to activate the vents and SPBs. The parametric performance analysis conducted using the dynamic simulation software EnergyPlus allowed the evaluation of the influence of glass type, thermal mass, size, ventilation and location. The results show how the automation of the vents allows the maximization of heat exchange throughout the year, leading to a reduction in consumption even during the summer period. Analyses conducted for some cities in the Mediterranean area show that the maximum energy saving obtained is greater than 13%; in addition, photovoltaic solar shading contributes to the production of more than 1000 kWh/year of electricity.