bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An M0 Macrophage-Related Prognostic Model for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Yiya , Zou Ju , Chen Ruochan
Published: February 2022

Background
The role of M0 macrophages and their related genes in the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains poorly characterized.
Methods
Multidimensional bioinformatic methods were used to constructed a risk score model using M0 macrophage-related genes (M0RGs).
Results
Infiltration of M0 macrophages was significantly higher in HCC tissues than in normal liver tissues (P = 2.299e-07). Further analysis revealed 35 M0RGs that were associated with HCC prognosis; two M0RGs (OLA1 and ATIC) were constructed and validated as a prognostic signature for overall survival of patients with HCC. Survival analysis revealed the positive relationship between the M0RG signature and unfavorable prognosis. Correlation analysis showed that this risk model had positive associations with clinicopathological characteristics, somatic gene mutations, immune cell infiltration, immune checkpoint inhibitor targets, and efficacy of common drugs.
Conclusions
The constructed M0RG-based risk model may be promising for the clinical prediction of prognoses and therapeutic responses in patients with HCC.
Risk factors associated with testing positive for brucellosis and occurrence of abortion in high-yielding Holstein heifers
Authors: Luna Marcos , Encina Juan , Álvarez Perpetuo , García José Eduardo , Macías-Cruz Ulises , Avendaño-Reyes Leonel , Mellado Miguel
Published: February 2022

This retrospective study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of bovine brucellosis (bBR) in high-yielding Holstein heifers and identify risk factors associated with seropositivity to this disease. An additional aim was to assess the heifer-related risk factors for abortion. This study was carried out on a commercial dairy farm in northern Mexico (25° N) using 3848 heifers from 2018 to 2021. The seroprevalence of bBR was 30% (95% CI = 29–32%) for lactating heifers (card test). Multiple logistic regression models indicated that heifers with > 680 kg at calving had half the risk of being positive to bBR than heifers with < 680 kg at calving (22.7 vs. 36.1%). Heifers suffering from diarrhea during the growing period were 1.3 times more likely to be seropositive to bBR than heifers not diagnosed with this disease (34.1 vs. 29.4%; P < 0.01). The risk of being seropositive to bBR increased in heifers suffering from retained placenta compared with heifers not suffering from this reproductive disorder (OR = 2.46; 47.5 vs. 26.3%). Heifers vaccinated with two doses of commercial vaccines against brucellosis were associated (P < 0.01) with 2.2 times higher odds of being seropositive to bBR than heifers vaccinated only once. Heifers seropositive to bBR were 3.1 times more likely to abort than heifers seronegative to this disease (38.5 vs. 16.2%; P < 0.01). Heifers with body condition score (BCS) ≥ 3.5 at calving (OR = 0.3) had a protective role for seropositive to bBR. The likelihood of having an abortion was 3.1 times higher in heifers diagnosed with retained placenta than in those not having this reproductive disorder. It was concluded that brucellosis control programs should focus on age at first calving, retained placenta, and the number of brucellosis strain RB51 vaccinations applied to heifers. Increasing BCS was advantageous to achieve lower abortion rates.
WITHDRAWN: HSPA8 is a New Biomarker of Triple Negative Breast Cancer Associated with Prognosis and Immune Infiltration
Authors: bicheng ying , wenting xu , yan nie , yongtao li
Published: February 2022

Objective
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a malignant tumor that endangers the health and lives of women all over the world in the 21st century. Heat shock protein member 8 (HSPA8/HSC70) is the chaperone gene of the heat shock protein family. It is involved in many cellular functions.For example, it promotes the circulation between ATP and ADP, participates in protein folding, and can change the vitality of the cell and inhibit its growth. HSPA8 overexpression in several human cancers reportedly leads to its malignant transformation. Nonetheless, the HSPA8 mRNA abnormal expression in TNBC and its diagnostic and prognostic significance remains to be elucidated.
Methods
TCGA, GEO, ONCOMINE,TIMER2.0, UALCAN, HPA, STRING and Kaplan-Meier plotter were conducted for bioinformatics analysis. HSPA8 protein expression was evaluated by Immunohistochemical method in TNBC tissues. Western blotting experiments were carried out to verify the results. Then the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with TNBC were analyzed by R software and Cox regression analysis. On this basis, a nomogram is constructed to estimate the 5-year overall survival. The prognostic Nomogram performance was calibrated and evaluated by calibration curve and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve .
Results
In this study, we discovered remarkably upregulated transcription of HSPA8 in breast cancer (BC) samples and TNBC samples relative to normal breast samples through bioinformatic analysis, which was further verified in clinical tissue samples and in experiments. Moreover, the transcriptional level of HSPA8 in BC samples and TNBC samples was positively associated with clinical parameters such as clinical tumor stage. Cox regression analysis revealed that the expression of HSPA8 in TNBC had significant clinical prognostic value. The nomogram and ROC analysis results demonstrated the strong predictive ability of HSPA8 in TNBC. KEGG and GO researches indicated that HSPA8 was mainly involved in partner-mediated autophagy, mRNA catabolism, neutrophil activation, immune response, protein targeting, RNA splicing, RNA catabolism and other biological processes.Immune infiltration analysis indicated that HSPA8 was significantly associated with immune cell subsets.
Conclusions
Our study findings demonstrate the potential diagnostic and prognostic significance of HSPA8 expression in TNBC, and elucidate the potential molecular mechanism of promoting the occurrence and development of TNBC. These results may provide new opportunities and research approaches for targeted therapies in TNBC.
Real-Time Laser Ultrasonic Monitoring of Laser-Induced Thermal Processes
Authors: Morales Rosa E. , Harke Kathryn J. , Tringe Joseph W. , Stobbe David M. , Murray Todd W.
Published: February 2022

Intra- and inter-layer integrity of components fabricated with advanced manufacturing techniques, such as laser powder bed fusion, is dependent upon rapid heating, melting, and solidification processes. There is a need for new techniques to provide in situ feedback of these processes. Here a laser-based ultrasonic technique to probe thermal effects induced by a high-power continuous wave laser in titanium samples is described. Numerical simulations were performed to show that, for a spatially uniform heating beam, laser-induced surface acoustic waves are strongly influenced by surface heating conditions, are dispersive in the case of rapid heating, and that an abrupt velocity reduction happens upon the onset of surface melting. Furthermore, laser-based ultrasound experimental results which monitor the transient change of surface wave travel time associated with high power laser surface heating are provided. A pulsed laser is used to generate high frequency surface acoustic waves that propagate through the laser-heated region and are detected using a photorefractive crystal-based interferometer. Qualitative agreement is observed between theory and experiment with both showing a rapid delay in the surface wave velocity at the onset of illumination and further decrease in surface wave velocity associated with melting. It is demonstrated that changes in the surface wave velocity can be used to track local heating and detect the onset of surface melting in real time.
Meary Angle for the prediction of mitral valve prolapse risk in non-syndromic patients with pes planus, a cross-sectional study
Authors: Abdelmassih Antoine Fakhry , Hozaien Rafeef , Mishriky Fady , Michael Mark , AmanAllah Mostafa , Ali Nada , ElGamal Nadine , Medhat Omar , Kamel Mona , Helmy Rasha , Sarhan Mai , Attalla Hams , Dawoud Omneya , Marwan Athar , Ghobashy Mohamed
Published: February 2022

Objectives: Mitral Valve prolapse (MVP) is the commonest valvular abnormality. There is a reported association between pes planus (PP) and MVP in some syndromes such as Marfan, however, this association has not been tested in non-syndromic cases. The primary outcome of this study is to measure the prevalence of MVP in a population of patients with PP. The secondary outcome parameter is to determine if the Meary angle (MA), a measure of severity of flat foot, can be effectively used in the prediction of the presence of MVP. Forty-One patients with PP have been screened with lateral x-ray foot to determine MA and echocardiography to determine the presence and grade of MVP.Results: 88% of screened patients were diagnosed with MVP. MA was correlated with the grade of MVP and showed high diagnostic accuracy (Sensitivity 100% and Specificity 90%) in predicting MVP risk when higher than 5. Children with PP are at a higher risk of MVP than the general population. Utilizing MA in such a specific population for the determination of patients at the higher need for echocardiography seems to be a useful strategy to diagnose MVP in those patients.
Individuals of Higher Social Class Engage in Other-Oriented and Adaptive Humor
Authors: Tsukawaki Ryota , Imura Tomoya , Hirakawa Makoto
Published: February 2022

Previous research on individual social class (SC) and humor has found support for the hypothesis that those with higher SC engage in dominant and selfish humor (aggressive humor). This hypothesis is based on the well-known theory that people with high SC are selfish, but there are mixed findings regarding this theoretical perspective. In this study, SC was measured by objective measures (income and educational attainment) and subjective measures (perceived social status) and examined in relation to humor. Previous research on SC and humor has been limited, focusing only on the limited dimensions of humor (aggressive and affiliative humor). In the present study, four types of humor assessed by the Humor Styles Questionnaire and two types of humor measured by the Dual Self-Directed Humor Scale were taken into account to learn more about the relationship between SC and humor. Study 1 (N = 344) and Study 2 (N = 604) consistently showed that SC and aggressive humor are not related, and the findings of previous studies were not replicated. Rather, SC was shown to be positively associated with adaptive humor, such as other-oriented humor and humor for coping with stress.
Evaluating the effectiveness of abbreviated breast MRI (abMRI) interpretation-training for mammogram-readers: a multicentre study assessing diagnostic performance, using an enriched dataset
Authors: Jones Lyn I , Marshall Andrea , Elangovan Premkumar , Geach Rebecca , McKeown-Keegan Sadie , Vinnicombe Sarah , Harding Sam A , Taylor-Phillips Sian , Halling-Brown Mark , Foy Christopher , O’Flynn Elizabeth , Ghiasvand Hesam , Hulme Claire , Dunn Janet A
Published: February 2022

Background: Abbreviated breast MRI (abMRI) is being introduced in breast screening trials and clinical practice, particularly for women with dense breasts. Upscaling abMRI provision requires the workforce of mammogram-readers to learn to effectively interpret abMRI. The purpose of this study was to examine the diagnostic accuracy of mammogram-readers to interpret abMRI after a single day of standardised small-group training and to compare diagnostic performance of mammogram-readers experienced in full-protocol breast MRI (fpMRI) interpretation (Group 1) with that of those without fpMRI interpretation experience (Group 2).Methods: Mammogram-readers were recruited from six NHS Breast Screening Programme sites. Small-group hands-on workstation training was provided, with subsequent prospective, independent, blinded interpretation of an enriched dataset with known outcome. A simplified form of abMRI (first-post-contrast-subtracted-images (FAST MRI), displayed as maximum-intensity-projection (MIP) and subtracted slice-stack), was used. Per-breast and per-lesion diagnostic accuracy analysis was undertaken, with comparison across groups, and double-reading simulation of a consecutive screening subset.Results: 37 readers (Group 1: 17, Group 2: 20) completed the reading task of 125 scans (250 breasts) (total = 9250 reads). Overall sensitivity was 86% (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 84-87%; 1776/2072) and specificity, 86% (95%CI 85-86%; 6140/7178). Group 1 showed significantly higher sensitivity (843/952; 89%; 95%CI 86-91%) and higher specificity (2957/3298; 90%; 95%CI 89-91%) than Group 2 (sensitivity = 83%; 95%CI 81-85% (933/1120) p<0.0001; specificity = 82%; 95%CI 81-83% (3183/3880) p<0.0001). Inter-reader agreement was higher for Group 1 (kappa = 0.73; 95%CI 0.68-0.79) than for Group 2 (kappa = 0.51; 95%CI 0.45-0.56). Specificity improved for Group 2, from the first 55 cases (81%) to the remaining 70 (83%) (p=0.02) but not for Group 1 (90% to 89% p=0.44); whereas sensitivity remained consistent for both Group 1 (88% to 89%) and Group 2 (83% to 84%).Conclusions: Single day abMRI interpretation-training for mammogram-readers achieved an overall diagnostic performance within benchmarks published for fpMRI but was insufficient for diagnostic accuracy of mammogram-readers new to breast MRI to match that of experienced fpMRI readers. Novice MRI reader performance improved during the reading task, suggesting additional training could further narrow this performance gap.
CCR2 Expression Promotes Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Survival and Invasion
Authors: Hu Quan-Quan , Wen Zhao-Feng , Huang Qi-Tang , Li Qian , Zhai Zhi-Min , Li Yan-Li
Published: February 2022

Background CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2), has been regarded to involve in tumor growth, angiogenesis, epithelial mesenchymal transition, metastasis and immune escape etc. in recent years, but the role and mechanism in DLBCL has not been reported yet. Methods We examined the expression of CCR2 and assessed the relationship between the expression level of this receptor and the clinicopathological characteristics of DLBCL patients. Next, characterization of CCR2 expression in the development of DLBCL cell lines was explored by blocking CCR2 expression through a novel antagonist in vitro and in vivo. Results We showed that CCR2 expression was an independent prognostic marker that influenced DLBCL patients and predicted shorter overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). The results showed that CCR2 antagonists inhibited the ability of DLBCL cells to proliferate, migrate and promoted apoptosis by activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and the p38MARK signaling pathway. Furthermore, in vivo experiments, also confirmed that CCR2 antagonists inhibited the proliferation and metastasis of DLBCL neoplasms. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that CCR2 expression plays an important role in the development of DLBCL by stimulating cell proliferation, migration and anti-apoptosis. The inhibition of CCR2 may, therefore, be a potential target for anticancer therapy in DLBCL.
Performance Evaluation of Short Wavelength Gain of A Thulium-Doped Tantalum Pentoxide Waveguide
Authors: khamis mustafa
Published: February 2022

In this study, the design of a thulium-doped Ta2O5 amplifier is promoted for amplification at 1.72 µm. The width of the rib waveguide is theoretically optimized to achieve single mode guidance. The finite element method is used to compute the main optical characteristics such as effective mode field area and the waveguide confinement factor. The theoretical model based on the rate and propagation equations is built up to study the amplification performance of the Tm doped Ta2O5 amplifier. The waveguide length and pump power are investigated through the analytical analysis to achieve a high performance amplifier at 1.72 µm. The obtained results support that thulium-doped Ta2O5 is a good way to realize an efficient amplifier and laser source at 1.7 µm waveband.
Collective skyrmion motion under the influence of an additional interfacial spin-transfer torque
Authors: MacKinnon Callum R. , Zeissler Katharina , Finizio Simone , Raabe Jörg , Marrows Christopher H. , Mercer Tim , Bissell Philip R. , Lepadatu Serban
Published: February 2022

Here we study the effect of an additional interfacial spin-transfer torque, as well as the well-established spin-orbit torque and bulk spin-transfer torque, on skyrmion collections – group of skyrmions dense enough that they are not isolated from one another – in ultrathin heavy metal / ferromagnetic multilayers, by comparing modelling with experimental results. Using a skyrmion collection with a range of skyrmion diameters and landscape disorder, we study the dependence of the skyrmion Hall angle on diameter and velocity, as well as the velocity as a function of diameter. We show that inclusion of the interfacial spin-transfer torque results in reduced skyrmion Hall angles, with values close to experimental results. We also show that for skyrmion collections the velocity is approximately independent of diameter, in marked contrast to the motion of isolated skyrmions, as the group of skyrmions move together at an average group velocity. Moreover, the calculated skyrmion velocities are comparable to those obtained in experiments when the interfacial spin-transfer torque is included. Our results thus show the significance of the interfacial spin-transfer torque in ultrathin magnetic multilayers, which helps to explain the low skyrmion Hall angles and velocities observed in experiment. We conclude that the interfacial spin-transfer torque should be considered in numerical modelling for reproduction of experimental results.
Reversal of tau-dependent cognitive decay by blocking adenosine A1 receptors in mouse models of tauopathy
Authors: Anglada-Huguet Marta , Endepols Heike , Sydow Astrid , Hilgers Ronja , Neumaier Bernd , Drzezga Alexander , Kaniyappan Senthilvelrajan , Mandelkow Eckhard , Mandelkow Eva-Maria
Published: February 2022

Background: Accumulation of tau is a characteristic hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases and is associated with neuronal hypoactivity and presynaptic dysfunction. Oral administration of the adenosine A1 receptor antagonist rolofylline (KW-3902) has been shown previously to reverse spatial memory deficits and to normalize the basic synaptic transmission in a mouse line expressing full-length proaggregant tau (TauΔK). Methods: Using a combination of behavioral assays, imaging by PET with several PET-tracers, and analysis of brain tissue, we studied the curative reversal of tau pathology by blocking adenosine A1 receptors in transgenic mice expressing different types of tau and tau mutants. Results: We show by positron emission tomography using the tracer [18F]CPFPX (a selective A1 receptor ligand) that intravenous injection of rolofylline effectively blocks A1 receptors in the brain. Moreover, when administered to TauΔK mice, rolofylline can reverse tau pathology and synaptic decay. The beneficial effects are not restricted to the full-length TauΔK mouse line as they were also observed in a line with more aggressive tau pathology, expressing the amyloidogenic repeat domain of tau (TauRDΔK) with higher aggregation propensity. Both transgenic models develop a progressive tau pathology with missorting, phosphorylation, local accumulation of tau, loss of synapses and cognitive decline. TauRDΔK causes pronounced neurofibrillary tangle assembly concomitant with neuronal death, whereas TauΔK accumulates only to tau pretangles without overt neuronal loss. A third model tested, the rTg4510 line has a high expression of mutant TauP301L and hence a very aggressive phenotype starting at ~3 months of age. This line failed to reverse pathology upon rolofylline treatment, consistent with higher accumulation of tau-specific PET tracers and inflammation. Conclusions: Blocking adenosine A1 receptors by rolofylline can reverse pathology if the pathological potential of tau remains below a threshold value that depends on concentration and aggregation propensity. Thus, reversal is possible even in presence of potent pro-aggregant mutants near physiological tau levels but is overwhelmed by high levels of mutant tau, accompanied by intense neuroinflammation.
Outcomes Of One-Staged Procedures To Treat Aortic Coarctation Complicated By Cardiac Anomalies
Authors: Lin Hongyuan , Chang Yi , Qian Xiangyang , Yu Cuntao , Sun Xiaogang
Published: February 2022

Objective: One-staged surgical treatment of aortic coarctation combined with cardiac anomalies is challenging. We aim to evaluate the feasibility of bilateral aortofemoral bypass technique in one-staged surgery treating coractation by comparing surgical outcomes with catheter intervention plus stent(hybrid).Methods: Between January 2012 and December 2017, 50 patients underwent one-staged surgical procedures to treat coarctation and repair concomitant cardiac anomalies, like aortic root dilatation, cardiac valvular disease and so on. Among them, 30 patients underwent bilateral aortofemoral bypass and 20 patients underwent hybrid procedure to treat coarctation. We retrospectively analyzed the data of these patients and compared the early and late results. Results: All the baseline clinical characteristics were comparable between groups except that the mean age of bypass group was 39.5±14.0 years which was older than hybrid group (27.9±8.5 years, P=0.002). Technical success was achieved in all patients, with no hospital death or other severe complications. Immediately after surgery, in bypass and hybrid group, the mean upper-limb systolic blood pressure decreased from 159.4mmHg to 119.7mmHg and 148.4mmHg to 111.6mmHg, the median peak systolic gradient decreased from 68.0mmHg to 10mmHg and 46.5mmHg to 10mmHg respectively(P=0.09). And the mean upper-lower limbs gradient decreased from 21.7mmHg to 5.9mmHg and 21.0mmHg to 2.7mmHg respectively(P=0.104). The mean follow-up time was 76.92±18.7 in bypass group and 85.4±20.6 months in hybrid group. There were 4 late deaths in bypass group (one died of gastrointestinal bleeding, one died of pulmonary embolism and the other two died of heart failure caused by mechanical prosthetic valve dysfunction). The follow-up peak systolic gradient and other blood pressure parameters showed stable and no differences between two groups.Conclusions: The bilateral aortofemoral bypass surgery is a safe and effective method which can be used in one-staged surgical strategy to treat coarctation complicated by cardiac anomalies and can be an alternative to the hybrid method.
Creatinine-To-Cystatin C Ratio as a Marker of Sarcopenia for Identifying Osteoporosis in Male Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Dai Huifan , Xu Jing
Published: February 2022

Background
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with an increased incidence rate of sarcopenia and osteoporosis. Serum creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio (CCR) is a novel and simple tool which can be used as an index of sarcopenia. This study aims to investigate the association between CCR and osteoporosis and bone mineral density (BMD) in T2DM patients.
Methods
Recruited 166 females and 252 males with T2DM patients. Collect general information, BMD data and laboratory data. The correlation between CCR, BMD, bone metabolism markers and osteoporosis was discussed by spearman correlation, receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and multiple regression analysis.
Results
Spearman correlation analysis showed that CCR in male patients was positively correlated with ASM/height2 and BMD (r = 215-0.381, P < 0.01), but the female group did not show such relationship. In multivariate regression analysis, it was found that there was a significant correlation between CCR and BMD of total lumbar spine, hip and femoral neck in male patients. ROC curve showed that the optimal cut-off value of CCR for predicting osteoporosis in male patients was 6.73 with the sensitivity of 88% and specificity of 63%.
Conclusion
In male T2DM patients, CCR was negatively correlated with osteoporosis and positively correlated with BMD.
Speech as a complex signal
Authors: Guevara Ramón , Bogge Lukas
Published: February 2022

Speech is an auditory signal that needs to robustly transmit complex messages under noisy conditions in an efficient way. How can this be achieved? To answer this question we developed a method for the analysis of time series complexity and applied it to a collection of artificial and natural auditory signals, including speech in different languages. Our complexity measure is the Shannon entropy of the recurrence networks of time series. We found that speech has higher complexity than animal vocalizations, pink noise and a quasiperiodic synthetically generated signal and its complexity is of the order of environmental sounds. We have also found that the global connectivity of recurrence networks correlates with speech rhythm, the temporal modulation of the speech envelope, as well as with a spectral measure of the scaling properties of efficient speech codes. We observe that signals with too large or too small phase autocorrelation have relatively small complexity values, and can thus transmit little information. Speech is situated at intermediate values of phase autocorrelation, in the region of large complexity, in agreement with the idea that complex systems lie at the frontier between order and disorder and that speech has evolved to match the human mind in complexity.
Unique single-nucleotide variations, insertions/deletions and copy number variations in myelodysplastic syndrome during treatment resistance and progression revealed by a single-cell DNA sequencing platform
Authors: Lee Paul , Yim Rita Lok Hay , Fung Sin-Hang , Miu Ka-Kai , Wang Zhangting , Wu Ka Chun , Au Lester , Leung Garret , Lee Victor , Gill Harinder
Published: February 2022

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a clonal myeloid neoplasm characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis, cytopenia, dysplasia and clonal instability leading to leukemic transformation. Hypomethylating agents are the mainstay of treatment in higher-risk MDS. However, treatment resistance and disease transformation into acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is observed in the majority patients and portend a dismal outcome. The residual cell clones resistant to therapy or cell clones acquiring new genetic aberrations are two of the key events responsible for drug resistance. Bulk tumor sequencing often fail to detect these rare subclones that confer resistance to therapy. In this study, we employed a single-cell DNA (sc-DNA) sequencing approach to study the clonal heterogeneity and clonal evolution in two MDS patients refractory to HMA. In both patients, different single nucleotide variations (SNVs) or insertions and deletions (INDELs) were detected concordant with bulk tumor sequencing. Rare cell clones with mutations undetectable on bulk tumor sequencing, were detected on single-cell DNA sequencing. In addition to SNVs and short INDELs, this study also revealed the presence clonal copy number loss of DNMT3A, TET2, and GAT2 as standalone events or in associated with the small SNVs or INDELs detected during HMA resistance and disease progression.
Anterior and Posterior Bundles of Superficial Medial Collateral Ligament of Knee Joint: Achieving Balanced Structural Behaviors with Different Material Properties
Authors: Chen Wentao , Zhou Qing
Published: February 2022

Background
In the knee joint simulations under accidents or physiological loadings, the mechanical properties of the superficial medial collateral ligament (sMCL) are essential. The common practice for sMCL material parameters in simulations is to either assign different structural properties to the fiber bundles of the sMCL in 1D models or give homogeneous material properties in 2D or 3D models. The sMCL can be functionally divided into anterior bundle (AB) and posterior bundle (PB), which are alternatively loaded during walking. However, little data are available on the mechanical properties of the two bundles; consequently, the rationality of the material assignment method used in current computational studies is questionable.
Methods
Using porcine stifle joints as test subjects, we obtained the mechanical properties (i.e., threshold strain, failure strain, failure stress, and modulus) of the AB, PB, and whole ligament of the sMCL.
Results
The three subjects had significant differences in the modulus (p < 0.05), and the AB had higher failure strain (p < 0.01) and threshold strain (p < 0.001) than the PB. The ligament length may be the main reason for the modulus and failure strain differences. Meanwhile, the AB and PB had no significant differences in the structural properties (i.e., stiffness per unit area and failure displacement) as well as the failure stress. Based on the understanding of the balanced structural properties, we proposed a method to estimate the material properties of the AB and PB from those of the whole ligament to reduce the experimental cost for simulations.
Conclusions
This study suggests that, contrary to the current material assignment method, the AB and PB of the sMCL have different material properties and similar structural properties. The AB and PB should be treated separately and assigned different properties according to their geometry to realize the biomechanics of native knee joints in simulations.
Archaea, the unseen kingdom in the gut microbiome of Anastrepha obliqua
Authors: Amores GR , Zepeda-Ramos G , García-Fajardo LV , Emilio Hernández , Guillén-Navarro Karina
Published: February 2022

The fruit fly Anastrepha obliqua is an economically important pest. The sterile insect technique is used to control this pest; it involves mass production and release of sterile flies to reduce the reproduction of the wild population. As noted in different tephritidae, the performance of sterile males may be affected by the assimilation of nutrients under mass-rearing conditions. In the wild, the fly’s life cycle suggests the acquisition of different organisms that could modulate its fitness and physiology. For A. obliqua, there is no information regarding microorganisms other than bacteria. This study analyzed bacteria, fungi, and archaea communities in the A. obliqua gut through denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiles of 16S (using different set of primers for bacteria and archaea) and 18S ribosomal DNA markers. We found that wild flies presented higher microbial diversity than laboratory samples related to fructose assimilation. In contrast, laboratory microbial species suggest that microorganisms have led to a specialized metabolism to process nutrients associated to an artificial diet. We showed that by employing different primer sets aimed at the same molecular marker but targeting diverse hypervariable regions of bacteria and archaea 16S rDNA, it was possible to identify species that have not been previously described in this fruit fly. Here, the archaea kingdom is suggested as an important player in fly metabolism. This report of the intestinal microbial (bacteria, archaea, and fungi) composition of A. obliqua, contributes to our understanding of the role of microorganisms in the development and physiology of the flies.
The Impact of Online Teaching Under the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Teaching of Medical Immunology and Medical Microbiology to Second-Year Dentistry Students: A Prospective Comparative Study
Authors: Zhang Xiaoqian , Jiang Yuwei , Chen Yihan , Ma Bishu , Li Zhen , Zhang Yunjiao , Liu Dan , Luo Jia , Zhang Hui
Published: February 2022

Background
Medical microbiology and medical immunology are required introductory courses for second-year dentistry students. It is essential to find suitable teaching methods after the outbreak of COVID-19 to implement the call for "stop class, but not stop teaching and not stop learning."
Methods
We mainly used Rain Classroom for online teaching and QQ Group Classroom to support education during this particular period.
Result
We assessed the effectiveness of this special period instruction by analyzing anonymous questionnaires and final exam results. The anonymous questionnaire showed that most of the students were satisfied with this online instruction and found it very helpful in answering their questions and solving their problems. The final exam results showed that teaching in 2020 was no worse than teaching in 2019 and better in terms of pass rate. Teaching in 2021 was worse than in 2020, but there was a breakthrough in the highest score.
Conclusion
These data suggest that online teaching during the epidemic had an impact on teaching effectiveness. Most students are satisfied with online teaching, but some students' grades are affected, which may be related to the fact that some students were not comfortable with blended teaching or online teaching. We share our experiences and reflections on online and blended teaching of medical immunology and medical microbiology courses during the epidemic, hoping that it will be helpful for other teachers to teach.
Provision of social support and mental health in U.S. military veterans:Results from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study
Authors: Na Peter Jongho , Tsai Jack , Southwick Steven , Pietrzak Robert
Published: February 2022

While social support has been linked to better health, most research has focused on the receipt of social support. In this study, we evaluated associations between provided support and mental health in a nationally representative cohort of 4,069 US veterans. The majority (60-72%) of veterans reported providing support consistently. Veterans who scored higher on aspects of personality (i.e., agreeableness, conscientiousness, and emotional stability) and received support were more likely to provide support. Further, each standard deviation increase in provided support was independently associated with 15-40% reduced odds of internalizing psychiatric disorders and suicidality, and veterans who scored higher on both provided and received support had 3.5- to 14-fold lower odds of these outcomes relative to those with high received support but low provided support. Results suggest that separate from the receipt of social support, the provision of support may be a potential pathway to mitigate adverse mental health conditions.
Successful management of a breastfeeding mother with severe eczema of the nipple beginning from puberty
Authors: Li Rui , Zhang Li-Xia , Tian Ce , Ma Liang-Kun , Li Ying
Published: February 2022

Background Nipple eczema is the most common presentation of atopic dermatitis of the breast, which seriously influences breastfeeding of mothers. We here present a case of severe nipple eczema that started in puberty and received continuous care and interventions during pregnancy, the patient was successful in breastfeeding after the interventions. So the case was to provide a reference for nurses to formulate nursing programs. Case presentation A 36-year-old woman with 16-weeks of gestation, G1P0, visited the breastfeeding consultation clinic, complaining of excessive nipple secretion, severe itching, and concerns about breastfeeding. Severe nipple eczema was diagnosed. Through continuous monitoring and guidance of the patient, nipple eczema significantly improved, lactating confidence improved, anxiety symptoms reduced, and exclusive breastfeeding was achieved. Conclusions For lactating women with nipple eczema, breastfeeding consultants should play an important role and provide whole-process and individual guidance.
Activation of embryonic/germ cell-like axis links poor outcomes of gliomas
Authors: Liu Chunfang , Ma Zhan , Zhang Fengyu , Zhang Haishi , Lin Hui-Kuan
Published: February 2022

BackgroundIt is unclear which core events drive the malignant progression of gliomas. Earlier studies have revealed that the embryonic stem (ES) cell/early PGC state is associated with tumourigenicity. This study was designed to investigate the role of ES/PGC state in poor outcomes of gliomas.MethodsCrispr-Cas9 technology, RT-PCR and animal experiments were used to investigate whether PGC-like cell formation play crucial roles in the tumorigenicity of human glioma cells. Bioinformatic analysis was used to address the link between ES/PGC developmental axis and glioma overall outcomes.ResultsHere, our findings showed that germ cell-like cells were present in human gliomas and cultured glioma cells and that the formation of germ cell-like cells was essential for glioma tumours. Bioinformatic analysis showed that the mRNA levels of genes related to embryonic/germ cell development could be detected in most gliomas. Our findings showed that the activation of genes related to reprogramming or the germ cell-like state alone seemed to be insufficient to lead to a malignant prognosis, whereas increased mRNA levels of genes related to the activation of the embryonic/germ cell-like cycle (somatic PGC-EGC-like cycle and somatic parthenogenetic embryo-like cycle) were positively correlated with malignant prognoses and poor clinical outcomes of gliomas. Genes related to the embryonic/germ cell cycle alone or in combination with the WHO grade or 1p19q codeletion status could be used to subdivide gliomas with distinct clinical behaviours. ConclusionsTogether, our findings indicated that a crucial role of germ cell-like cell formation in glioma initiation as well as activation of genes related with the parthenogenetic embryo-like cycle and PGC-EGC-like cycle link to the malignant prognosis and poor outcomes of gliomas, which might provide a novel way to better understand the nature of and develop targeted therapies for gliomas as well as important markers for predicting clinical outcomes in gliomas.
The Yield of Neuroimaging in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department with Isolated Neuro-ophthalmological Complaints
Authors: Zahran Tharwat El , Hadi Dalia El , Mostafa Hala , Mansour Hana , Hashim Ibrahim , Tahhan Soubhi , Ghannam Alaa Bou
Published: February 2022

Background: Neuro-ophthalmological emergencies require prompt assessment and management to avoid vision or life-threatening sequelae. The decision to perform a neuroimaging procedure is currently based on the clinical judgement of the medical team, without defined indications. This study aims to identify presenting symptoms and physical exam findings associated with relative positive findings on neuroimaging studies,Methods: This study was conducted by reviewing the electronic medical records of patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) with isolated neuro-ophthalmologic complaints between January 1st, 2013 and September 30th 2019. We collected data on the clinical presentation, neuroimaging procedures and results, consults, and diagnoses.Results: We reviewed the charts of 211 patients of whom 50.7% were females and had a mean age of 41.2 ±21.4 years. Most presented with unilateral eye complaints (53.6%), and the most common symptoms were blurred vision (77.3%) and headaches (42.2%). A total of 126 imaging procedures were performed of which 74.6% were normal, while 25.4% showed relevant abnormal findings. Complaining of blurry vision (p=0.038) or visual field changes (p=0.014) at presentation were associated with having positive findings on imaging. Physical exam findings of a visual field defect (p=0.016), abnormal pupil reactivity (p=0.028), afferent pupillary defect (p=0.018), or abnormal optic disc exam (p=0.009) were also associated with positive findings on imaging.Conclusion: Neuroimaging is more likely to yield positive findings in patients presenting to the ED with blurred vision or changes in visual field and in those found to have visual field irregularities, afferent pupillary defects or abnormal optic discs on physical exam. These findings - when combined with the proper clinical setting - should lower the threshold to proceed with neuroimaging in the emergency department. Based on our results, larger-scale studies might lead to a well-structured algorithm to be followed by ED physicians in decision making.
A Comparison among Fast Point Multiplication Algorithms in Elliptic Curve Cryptosystem
Authors: Padhy Sasmita , Shankar T. N. , Dash Sachikanta
Published: February 2022

In the Elliptic Curve Cryptosystem, the multiplication of points is essential in the successful computation of any operation. Reduction of time complexity for the mathematical operations in Elliptic Curve Cryptosystems with minimum hardware resources, the methods: Addition and Subtraction, Mutual Opposite Form, and Complementary Recoding techniques proposed as fast scalar multiplication schemes. The fast-point multiplication method is always necessary for any mathematical operation on an Elliptic Curve Cryptosystem with a restricted system. This study compares the performance of fast-point multiplication algorithms in terms of computational and execution time to determine the quickest one. For any elliptic curve-related arithmetic operations, point multiplication has a vital role in reducing the idle time of hardware utilization. Rapid point multiplication is essential to minimize enhanced time complexity to determine the most suitable algorithm for mobile devices.
A signature of ferroptosis-related genes in the prognosis and tumor microenvironment of Cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma
Authors: Zhao Dongmei , Qing Xiuli
Published: February 2022

Background: The role of iron death in cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma (CESC) is unclear. This study is based on the TCGA data set to explore the expression of ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) in CESC and its clinical value. Methods: We download the transcriptome and clinical data of CESC patients from the Cancer Genome Atlas of America (TCGA). R 4.4.0 software was used to analyze the differential expression of FRGs (DEFGs) and survival data to construct a risk prognostic model, determine the signature related to ferroptosis, and calculate the tumor microenvironment score of CESC. Then we analyzed the correlation between the ferroptosis-related signature, patient prognosis and tumor microenvironment score. GEPIA database and HPA database verified the differences in the expression and survival of DFRGs in normal cervical tissues and CESC tissues. Results: Compared with normal cervical tissues, there were 14 DEFGs in CESC, 12 were up-regulated and 2 were down-regulated. Finally, four prognostic-related DEFGs (ACACA, PHKG2, SQLE and TFRC) were obtained to construct a prognostic risk model. It was found that the survival time was longer in the low-risk group (HR=0.444, 95%CI: 0.279-0.707), and the stromal score, immune score and estimated score were higher (P<0.05). The verification in the GEPIA database and HPA database is basically consistent with our results. Conclusion: The ferroptosis-related signature is significantly correlated with the survival and prognosis of CESC patients and the tumor microenvironment, suggesting that 4 DEFGs may be potential therapeutic targets and prognostic markers of CESC.
Study on The Effect of Different Extraction Methods in Four Pharmacopoeia on The Content and Structural Transformation of Ginsenoside and The Optimization of Extraction Process
Authors: Sun Kai , Jiang Huang , Li Pingya , Xu lei , Deng Yaling , Xu Jing , Zhao Yuqing
Published: February 2022

Background
In recent years, ginseng products are widely used in various fields. More and more people pay attention to the extraction methods and quality evaluation of ginseng. At present, China, the United States, Europe, Japan and Korea have the quality standards and content determination methods of ginseng. However, due to the different treatment methods adopted before the determination of ginseng samples, the content limits of the index components, such as ginsenoside Rb1, Rg1 and Re are also different. There have been research analyzed the similarities and differences of ginseng content detection methods in pharmacopoeias of different countries, but the comparison of the effects of different methods on ginsenoside content and structural transformation has not been reported.
Methods
In this paper, ginsenosides in ginseng were extracted according to four national Pharmacopoeia, and analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively by UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS and HPLC-UV. Finally, a simple and feasible extraction method was optimized by response surface method.
Results
Twelve kinds of ginsenosides in ginseng were quantitatively analyzed by using the methods of four national pharmacopoeia. Among them, the contents of Rg1, Re and Rd were high, and they were the highest by using unheated J/KP (Japan/Korea Pharmacopoeia) method. Ten kinds of ginsenosides were determined by heated CP (China Pharmacopoeia), USP (the United States Pharmacopoeia) and EP (European Pharmacopoeia) method, and seven kinds of ginsenosides were determined by unheated J/KP method. In the following UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS study, 34, 36, 21 and 19 ginsenosides were identified by CP, USP, EP and J/KP method, respectively. In the optimization of ginsenoside extraction process, an efficient extraction method was selected from the solvent, extraction time, solid-liquid ratio and other factors. In conclusion, through the qualitative and quantitative comparison of CP, USP and EP samples after heating, it can be seen that ginsenoside heating will increase the content of rare saponins, and the heating time is directly proportional to the content of rare saponins.
Conclusion
The pretreatment method has a significant effect on the content determination of ginseng. The analysis of the preparation method and process optimization of the four Pharmacopoeia can provide important reference for the revision of ginseng standard.
Does work-life balance and organizational justice affect female nurses’ performance in a pandemic era?
Authors: Nopy Diah Sundari Made , Wayan Gede Supartha I , Made Artha Wibawa I , Bagus Ketut Surya Ida
Published: February 2022

Nowadays, the study on antecedents of employee performance is of great importance. This paper aims to investigate the direct and indirect effects of female nurses’ performance antecedents, with organizational commitment as a mediating variable. The variables of work-life balance and organizational justice are also analyzed. The study was carried out at four government hospitals in the Indonesian province of Bali, with 285 female nurses as respondents. The paper employs total sampling as a sampling technique. SmartPLS software was used to perform data analysis using partial least squares. The findings show that various antecedents of female nurses’ performance have a significant positive effect. However, organizational justice has no significant effect. The results revealed a link between different female nurses’ performance antecedents. With a t-statistic value of 7.986, organizational commitment is more effective than the other antecedents. The results revealed a partially mediating effect of work-life balance with a t-statistic value of 3.493. In addition, the effect of organizational justice is fully mediated based on a t-statistic value of 5.097. This study suggested that female nurses’ pay should be calculated based on their workload and job risks.