bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High-Fat-Diet–Induced Oxidative Stress Linked to the Increased Colonization of Lactobacillus sakei in an Obese Population
Authors: Lee Jee-Yon , Bae Eunsoo , Kim Hwa Young , Lee Kang-Mu , Yoon Sang Sun , Lee Duk-Chul
Published: June 2021

Lactobacillus
provides many health benefits; its various species are widely used as probiotics. However, an increased abundance of
Lactobacillus
has been reported in obesity, and the role of
Lactobacillus
strains in obesity remains unknown.
Burden, treatment use, and outcome of secondary mitral regurgitation across the spectrum of heart failure: observational cohort study
Authors: Bartko Philipp E , Heitzinger Gregor , Pavo Noemi , Heitzinger Maria , Spinka Georg , Prausmüller Suriya , Arfsten Henrike , Andreas Martin , Gabler Cornelia , Strunk Guido , Mascherbauer Julia , Hengstenberg Christian , Hülsmann Martin , Goliasch Georg
Published: June 2021

Objectives

To define prevalence, long term outcome, and treatment standards of secondary mitral regurgitation (sMR) across the heart failure spectrum.

Design

Large scale cohort study.

Setting

Observational cohort study with data from the Viennese community healthcare provider network between 2010 and 2020, Austria.

Participants

13 223 patients with sMR across all heart failure subtypes.

Main outcome measures

Association between sMR and mortality in patients assigned by guideline diagnostic criteria to one of three heart failure subtypes: reduced, mid-range, and preserved ejection fraction, was assessed.

Results

Severe sMR was diagnosed in 1317 patients (10%), correlated with increasing age (P<0.001), occurred across the entire spectrum of heart failure, and was most common in 656 (25%) of 2619 patients with reduced ejection fraction. Mortality of patients with severe sMR was higher than expected for people of the same age and sex in the same community (hazard ratio 7.53; 95% confidence interval 6.83 to 8.30, P<0.001). In comparison with patients with heart failure and no/mild sMR, mortality increased stepwise with a hazard ratio of 1.29 (95% confidence interval 1.20 to 1.38, P<0.001) for moderate and 1.82 (1.64 to 2.02, P<0.001) for severe sMR. The association between severe sMR and excess mortality was consistent after multivariate adjustment and across all heart failure subgroups (mid-range ejection fraction: hazard ratio 2.53 (95% confidence interval 2.00 to 3.19, P<0.001), reduced ejection fraction: 1.70 (1.43 to 2.03, P<0.001), and preserved ejection fraction: 1.52 (1.25 to 1.85, P<0.001)). Despite available state-of-the-art healthcare, high volume heart failure, and valve disease programmes, severe sMR was rarely treated by surgical valve repair (7%) or replacement (5%); low risk transcatheter repair (4%) was similarly seldom used.

Conclusion

Secondary mitral regurgitation is common overall, increasing with age and associated with excess mortality. The association with adverse outcome is significant across the entire heart failure spectrum but most pronounced in those with mid-range and reduced ejection fractions. Despite these poor outcomes, surgical valve repair or replacement are rarely performed; similarly, low risk transcatheter repair, specifically in the heart failure subsets with the highest expected benefit from treatment, is seldom used. The current data suggest an increasing demand for treatment, particularly in view of an expected increase in heart failure in an ageing population.
Analgesic effects of intravenous ketamine after spinal anaesthesia for non-elective caesarean delivery: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Adhikari Prahlad , Subedi Asish , Sah Birendra Prasad , Pokharel Krishna
Published: June 2021

Objectives

This study aimed to determine if low dose intravenous ketamine is effective in reducing opioid use and pain after non-elective caesarean delivery.

Design

Prospective, randomised, double-blind.

Setting

Tertiary hospital, Bisheshwar Prasad Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal

Participants

80 patients undergoing non-elective caesarean section with spinal anaesthesia.

Interventions

Patients were allocated in 1:1 ratio to receive either intravenous ketamine 0.25 mg/kg or normal saline before the skin incision.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The primary outcome was the total amount of morphine equivalents needed up to postoperative 24 hours. Secondary outcome measures were postoperative pain scores, time to the first perception of pain, maternal adverse effects (nausea, vomiting, hypotension, shivering, diplopia, nystagmus, hallucination) and neonatal Apgar score at 1 and 5 min, neonatal respiratory depression and neonatal intensive-care referral.

Results

The median (range) cumulative morphine consumption during the first 24 hours of surgery was 0 (0–4.67) mg in ketamine group and 1 (0–6) mg in saline group (p=0.003). The median (range) time to the first perception of pain was 6 (1–12) hours and 2 (0.5–6) hours in ketamine and saline group, respectively (p<0.001). A significant reduction in postoperative pain scores was observed only at 2 hours and 6 hours in the ketamine group compared with placebo group (p<0.05). Maternal adverse effects and neonatal outcomes were comparable between the two groups.

Conclusions

Intravenous administration of low dose ketamine before surgical incision significantly reduced the opioid requirement in the first 24 hours in patients undergoing non-elective caesarean delivery.

Trial registration number

NCT03450499.
Changing the narrative around obesity in the UK: a survey of people with obesity and healthcare professionals from the ACTION-IO study
Authors: Hughes Carly A , Ahern Amy L , Kasetty Harsha , McGowan Barbara M , Parretti Helen M , Vincent Ann , Halford Jason C G
Published: June 2021

Objectives

To investigate the perceptions, attitudes, behaviours and potential barriers to effective obesity care in the UK using data collected from people with obesity (PwO) and healthcare professionals (HCPs) in the Awareness, Care, and Treatment In Obesity maNagement–International Observation (ACTION-IO) study.

Design

UK’s PwO (body mass index of ≥30 kg/m2 based on self-reported height and weight) and HCPs who manage patients with obesity completed an online survey.

Results

In the UK, 1500 PwO and 306 HCPs completed the survey. Among the 47% of PwO who discussed weight with an HCP in the past 5 years, it took a mean of 9 years from the start of their struggles with weight until a discussion occurred. HCPs reported that PwO initiated 35% of weight-related discussions; PwO reported that they initiated 47% of discussions. Most PwO (85%) assumed full responsibility for their own weight loss. The presence of obesity-related comorbidities was cited by 76% of HCPs as a top criterion for initiating weight management conversations. The perception of lack of interest (72%) and motivation (61%) in losing weight was reported as top reasons by HCPs for not discussing weight with a patient. Sixty-five per cent of PwO liked their HCP bringing up weight during appointments. PwO reported complex and varied emotions following a weight loss conversation with an HCP, including supported (36%), hopeful (31%), motivated (23%) and embarrassed (17%). Follow-up appointments were scheduled for 19% of PwO after a weight discussion despite 62% wanting follow-up.

Conclusions

The current narrative around obesity requires a paradigm shift in the UK to address the delay between PwO struggling with their weight and discussing weight with their HCP. Perceptions of lack of patient interest and motivation in weight management must be challenged along with the blame culture of individual responsibility that is prevalent throughout society. While PwO may welcome weight-related conversations with an HCP, they evoke complex feelings, demonstrating the need for sensitivity and respect in these conversations.

Trial registration number

NCT03584191.
Comparison of treatment efficacy between 100% platelet-rich plasma and 100% serum eye drops in moderate-to-severe dry eye disease: a randomised controlled trial protocol
Authors: Jongkhajornpong Passara , Numthavaj Pawin , Anothaisintawee Thunyarat , Lekhanont Kaevalin , McKay Gareth , Attia John , Thakkinstian Ammarin
Published: June 2021

Introduction

Dry eye disease (DED) is a common eye problem. Although the disease is not fatal, it substantially reduces quality of life and creates a high economic burden, especially in patients with moderate-to-severe DED. Several biological tear substitutes (eg, autologous serum (AS), autologous platelet-rich plasma (APRP) and autologous platelet lysate) could effectively improve dry eyes. However, evidence on their comparative efficacy is controversial. This study aims to compare the efficacy of 100% APRP with 100% AS eye drops in patients with moderate-to-severe DED.

Methods and analysis

The study is a single-centre, double-blinded randomised, parallel, non-inferiority trial. One hundred and thirty patients with moderate-to-severe DED, aged 18–70 years will be recruited from outpatient clinic, Department of Ophthalmology, Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok from February 2021 to January 2023. Patients will be randomised to receive either 100% APRP or 100% AS eye drops (1:1 ratio) for 4 weeks. The primary outcomes are ocular surface disease index (OSDI) and ocular surface staining (OSS) evaluated using the Oxford scale. Secondary outcomes are fluorescein break-up time, Schirmer’s I test, meibomian gland parameters and adverse events. Other measured outcomes include best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure and compliance.

Ethics and dissemination

The study protocol and any supplements used in conducting this trial have been approved by the Ethics Committee of Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University (MURA2020/1930). Informed consent will be obtained from all patients before study entry. Results will be presented in peer-reviewed journals and international conferences.

Trial registration number

NCT04683796.
Effects of Maslinic Acid on Cardiac Function in Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury Rats
Authors: Wang Ning , Ma Zhanfeng , Chen Chao , Xiao Na
Published: June 2021

Maslinic acid (MA), a pentacyclic triterpenoid, has been reported to exert broad pharmacological properties. However, it is still unclear whether MA exhibits protective effects against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Herein, we aimed to investigate the effects of MA on I/R injury and its underlying mechanisms. A rat model of I/R injury was established and administrated with MA by intraperitoneal injection. Cardiac function was assessed with a color ultrasound diagnosis system and PowerLab system. The levels of oxidative stress-related and I/R-related biomarkers were evaluated by using commercial kits. Apoptosis-related biomarkers and sirtuin (SIRT)1/AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling proteins were determined by using quantitative reverse transcription PCR and western blotting, respectively. Treatment with MA improved cardiac performance and cardiac hemodynamic parameters in the I/R injury rat model. Besides, treatment with MA (20 mg/kg) ameliorated I/R injury-related biomarkers in serum. Interestingly, treatment with MA (20 mg/kg) also regulated myocardial apoptosis and inhibited oxidative-stress in left ventricular tissue. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that MA upregulated SIRT1 and AMPK phosphorylation in the left ventricular tissue. In summary, MA exerted protective effects against the impairments of cardiac function in I/R injury rats by the regulation of SIRT1/AMPK signaling pathways.
Middle meningeal artery embolization for chronic subdural hematoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ironside Natasha , Nguyen Candice , Do Quan , Ugiliweneza Beatrice , Chen Ching-Jen , Sieg Emily P , James Robert F , Ding Dale
Published: June 2021

Middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolization has been proposed as a minimally invasive treatment for chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH). The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to compare outcomes after MMA embolization versus conventional management for cSDH. We performed a systematic review of PubMed, Embase, Oxford Journal, Cochrane, and Google Scholar databases from April 1987 to October 2020 in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Studies reporting outcomes after MMA embolization for ≥3 patients with cSDH were included. A meta-analysis comparing MMA embolization with conventional management was performed. The analysis comprised 20 studies with 1416 patients, including 718 and 698 patients in the MMA embolization and conventional management cohorts, respectively. The pooled recurrence, surgical rescue, and in-hospital complication rates in the MMA embolization cohort were 4.8% (95% CI 3.2% to 6.5%), 4.4% (2.8% to 5.9%), and 1.7% (0.8% to 2.6%), respectively. The pooled recurrence, surgical rescue, and in-hospital complication rates in the conventional management cohort were 21.5% (0.6% to 42.4%), 16.4% (5.9% to 27.0%), and 4.9% (2.8% to 7.1%), respectively. Compared with conservative management, MMA embolization was associated with lower rates of cSDH recurrence (OR=0.15 (95% CI 0.03 to 0.75), p=0.02) and surgical rescue (OR=0.21 (0.07 to 0.58), p=0.003). In-hospital complication rates were comparable between the two cohorts (OR=0.78 (0.34 to 1.76), p=0.55). MMA embolization is a promising minimally invasive therapy that may reduce the need for surgical intervention in appropriately selected patients with cSDH. Additional prospective studies are warranted to determine the long-term durability of MMA embolization, refine eligibility criteria, and establish this endovascular approach as a viable definitive treatment for cSDH.
Chronology and stratigraphy of the Imlay Channel in Lapeer County, Michigan, USA
Authors: Luczak Jonathan N. , Fisher Timothy G. , Lepper Kenneth
Published: June 2021

The Imlay Channel in Lapeer County, Michigan, was one of two outlets for the glacial Lake Maumee phase of ancestral Lake Erie. Fifteen new radiocarbon and optical ages from within and adjacent to the Imlay Channel constrain sedimentation rates within the channel and the timing of regional deglaciation. For nearly 50 years, the deglaciation of this region of Michigan has been based on a single age from the Weaver Drain site located near the Imlay Channel, and a new radiocarbon age of 16.7–17.0 cal ka BP from 3 km east of the Imlay Channel supports this long-standing deglacial age. On average, there is a 14 m thick sediment fill within the channel. Radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence ages reveal that much of the alluvial fill was deposited by 14.9 ka, and alluvial fans building into the channel stabilized in the early Holocene. Cross-sections along and perpendicular to the Imlay Channel, built from geotechnical borings and water-well records, reveal a current-day bedrock sill elevation at 235 m a.s.l. that would have permitted drainage of all stages of glacial Lake Maumee in the past.
Population-based Metaheuristics for the Dynamic Minimum Cost Hybrid Berth Allocation Problem
Authors: Kovač Nataša , Davidović Tatjana , Stanimirović Zorica
Published: June 2021

This study considers the Dynamic Minimum Cost Hybrid Berth Allocation Problem (DMCHBAP) with fixed handling times of vessels. The objective function to be minimized consists of three components: costs of positioning, waiting, and tardiness of completion for all vessels. A mathematical formulation of DMCHBAP, based on Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP), is proposed and used within the framework of commercial CPLEX 12.3 solver. As the speed of finding high-quality solutions is of crucial importance for an efficient and reliable decision support system in container terminal, two population-based metaheuristic approaches to DMCHBAP are proposed: combined Genetic Algorithm (cGA) and improvement-based Bee Colony Optimization (BCOi). Both cGA and BCOi are evaluated and compared against each other and against state-of-the-art solution methods for DMCHBAP on five sets of problem instances. The conducted computational experiments and statistical analysis indicate that population-based metaheuristic methods represent promising approaches for DMCHBAP and similar problems in maritime transportation.
Improved Framework using Rider Optimization Algorithm for Precise Image Caption Generation
Authors: Chaudhari Chaitrali Prasanna , Devane Satish
Published: June 2021

“Image Captioning is the process of generating a textual description of an image”. It deploys both computer vision and natural language processing for caption generation. However, the majority of the image captioning systems offer unclear depictions regarding the objects like “man”, “woman”, “group of people”, “building”, etc. Hence, this paper intends to develop an intelligent-based image captioning model. The adopted model comprises of few steps like word generation, sentence formation, and caption generation. Initially, the input image is subjected to the Deep learning classifier called Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). Since the classifier is already trained in the relevant words that are related to all images, it can easily classify the associated words of the given image. Further, a set of sentences is formed with the generated words using Long-Short Term Memory (LSTM) model. The likelihood of the formed sentences is computed using the Maximum Likelihood (ML) function, and the sentences with higher probability are taken, which is further used for generating the visual representation of the scene in terms of image caption. As a major novelty, this paper aims to enhance the performance of CNN by optimally tuning its weight and activation function. This paper introduces a new enhanced optimization algorithm Rider with Randomized Bypass and Over-taker update (RR-BOU) for this optimal selection. In the proposed RR-BOU is the enhanced version of the Rider Optimization Algorithm (ROA). Finally, the performance of the proposed captioning model is compared over other conventional models with respect to statistical analysis.
A Scoring System for Information Security Governance Framework Using Deep Learning Algorithms: A Case Study on the Banking Sector
Authors: Al Batayneh Abeer A. , Qasaimeh Malik , Al-Qassas Raad S.
Published: June 2021

Cybercrime reports showed an increase in the number of attacks targeting financial institutions. Indeed, banks were the target of 30% of the total number of cyber-attacks. One of the recommended methods for driving the security challenges is to implement an Information Security Governance Framework (ISGF), a comprehensive practice that starts from the top management and ends with the smallest function in a bank. Although such initiatives are effective, they typically take years to achieve and require loads of resources, especially for larger banks or if there are multiple ISGFs available for the bank to choose. These implementation challenges showed the necessity of having a method for evaluating the adequacy of an ISGF for a bank. The research performed during the preparation of this article did not reveal any available structured evaluation method for an ISGF before its implementation. This chapter introduces a novel method for scoring an ISGF to assess its adequacy for a bank without implementing it. The suggested approach is based on ISGF decomposition and transformation into a survey that will be answered by security experts. The survey results were loaded into a Deep Learning Algorithm that produced a scoring model that could predict the adequacy of an ISGF for a bank with an accuracy of 75%.
Business Intelligence Framework Design and Implementation: A Real-estate Market Case Study
Authors: Fraihat Salam , Salameh Walid A. , Elhassan Ammar , Tahoun Bushra Abu , Asasfeh Maisa
Published: June 2021

This article builds on previous work in the area of real-world applications of Business Intelligence (BI) technology. It illustrates the analysis, modeling, and framework design of a BI solution with high data quality to provide reliable analytics and decision support in the Jordanian real estate market. The motivation is to provide analytics dashboards to potential investors about specific segments or units in the market. The article ekxplains the design of a BI solution, including background market and technology investigation, problem domain requirements, solution architecture modeling, design and testing, and the usability of descriptive and predictive features. The resulting framework provides an effective BI solution with user-friendly market insights for investors with little or no market knowledge. The solution features predictive analytics based on established Machine Learning modeling techniques, analyzed and contrasted to select the optimum methodology and model combination for predicting market behavior to empower inexperienced users.
Clique Is Hard on Average for Regular Resolution
Authors: Atserias Albert , Bonacina Ilario , De Rezende Susanna F. , Lauria Massimo , Nordström Jakob , Razborov Alexander
Published: June 2021

We prove that for
k
≪ 4√
n
regular resolution requires length
n

Ω(
k
)

to establish that an Erdős–Rényi graph with appropriately chosen edge density does not contain a
k
-clique. This lower bound is optimal up to the multiplicative constant in the exponent and also implies unconditional
n

Ω(
k
)

lower bounds on running time for several state-of-the-art algorithms for finding maximum cliques in graphs.
Intermodal Sentiment Analysis for Images with Text Captions Using the VGGNET Technique
Authors: Sathish R. , Ezhumalai P.
Published: June 2021

More individuals actively express their opinions and attitudes in social media through advanced improvements such as visual content and text captions. Sentiment analysis for visuals such as images, video, and GIFs has become an emerging research trend in understanding social involvement and opinion prediction. Numerous individual researchers have obtained good progress in outcomes for text sentiment analysis and image sentiment analysis. The combination of image sentiment analysis with text caption analysis needs more research. This article presents a VGG Network-based Intermodal Sentiment Analysis Model (VGGNET-ISAM) for transferring the connection between texts to images. A mapping process is developed using the VGG Network for gathering the opinion information as numerical vectors. The Active Deep Learning (ADL) classifier is used for opinion prediction from the obtained information vectors. Simulation experiments are carried out to evaluate the proposed approach. The findings show that the model outperforms and gives better solutions with high accuracy, precision with low delay, and low error rate.
A Survey Describing Beyond Si Transistors and Exploring Their Implications for Future Processors
Authors: Kim Heewoo , Amarnath Aporva , Bagherzadeh Javad , Talati Nishil , Dreslinski Ronald G.
Published: June 2021

The advancement of Silicon CMOS technology has led information technology innovation for decades. However, scaling transistors down according to Moore’s law is almost reaching its limitations. To improve system performance, cost, and energy efficiency, vertical-optimization in multiple layers of the computing stack is required. Technological awareness in terms of devices and circuits could enable informed system-level decisions. For example, graphene is a promising material for extremely scaled high-speed transistors because of its remarkably high mobility, but it can not be used in integrated circuits as a result of the high leakage current from its zero bandgap. In this article, we discuss the fundamental physics of transistors and their ramifications on system design to assist device-level technology consideration during system design. Additionally, various emerging devices and their utilization on a vertically-optimized computing stack are introduced. This article serves as a survey of emerging device technologies that may be relevant in these areas, with an emphasis on making the descriptions approachable by system and software designers to understand the potential solutions. A basic vocabulary will be built to understand how to digest technical content, followed by a survey of devices, and finally a discussion of the implications for future processing systems.
Dystrophin deficiency disrupts muscle clock expression and mitochondrial quality control in mdx mice
Authors: Hardee Justin P. , Caldow Marissa K. , Chan Audrey S. M. , Plenderleith Stuart K. , Trieu Jennifer , Koopman René , Lynch Gordon S.
Published: June 2021

Impaired oxidative capacity and mitochondrial function contribute to the dystrophic pathology in muscles of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and in relevant mouse models of the disease. Emerging evidence suggests an association between disrupted core clock expression and mitochondrial quality control, but this has not been established in muscles lacking dystrophin. We examined the diurnal regulation of muscle core clock and mitochondrial quality control expression in dystrophin-deficient C57BL/10ScSn- Dmdmdx ( mdx) mice, an established model of DMD. Male C57BL/10 (BL/10; n = 18) and mdx mice ( n = 18) were examined every 4 h beginning at the dark cycle. Throughout the entire light-dark cycle, extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles from mdx mice had decreased core clock mRNA expression ( Arntl, Cry1, Cry2, Nr1d2; P < 0.05) and disrupted mitochondrial quality control mRNA expression related to biogenesis (decreased; Ppargc1a, Esrra; P < 0.05), fission (increased; Dnm1l; P < 0.01), fusion (decreased; Opa1, Mfn1; P < 0.05), and autophagy/mitophagy (decreased: Bnip3; P < 0.05; increased: Becn1; P < 0.05). Cosinor analysis revealed a decrease in the rhythmicity parameters mesor and amplitude for Arntl, Cry1, Cry2, Per2, and Nr1d1 ( P < 0.001) in mdx mice. Diurnal oscillations in Esrra, Sirt1, Map1lc3b, and Sqstm1 were absent in mdx mice, along with decreased mesor and amplitude of Ppargc1a mRNA expression ( P < 0.01). The expression of proteins involved in mitochondrial biogenesis (decreased: PPARGC1A, P < 0.05) and autophagy/mitophagy (increased: MAP1LC3BII, SQSTM1, BNIP3; P < 0.05) were also dysregulated in tibialis anterior muscles of mdx mice. These findings suggest that dystrophin deficiency in mdx mice impairs the regulation of the core clock and mitochondrial quality control, with relevance to DMD and related disorders.
The inflammatory role of dysregulated IRS2 in pulmonary vascular remodeling under hypoxic conditions
Authors: Nakahara Mayumi , Ito Homare , Skinner John T. , Lin Qing , Tamosiuniene Rasa , Nicolls Mark R. , Keegan Achsah D. , Johns Roger A. , Yamaji-Kegan Kazuyo
Published: June 2021

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a devastating disease characterized by progressive elevation of pulmonary vascular resistance, right ventricular failure, and ultimately death. We have shown previously that insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS2), a molecule highly critical to insulin resistance and metabolism, has an anti-inflammatory role in Th2-skewed lung inflammation and pulmonary vascular remodeling. Here, we investigated the hypothesis that IRS2 has an immunomodulatory role in human and experimental PH. Expression analysis showed that IRS2 was significantly decreased in the pulmonary vasculature of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and in rat models of PH. In mice, genetic ablation of IRS2 enhanced the hypoxia-induced signaling pathway of Akt and Forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) in the lung tissue and increased pulmonary vascular muscularization, proliferation, and perivascular macrophage recruitment. Furthermore, mice with homozygous IRS2 gene deletion showed a significant gene dosage-dependent increase in pulmonary vascular remodeling and right ventricular hypertrophy in response to hypoxia. Functional studies with bone marrow-derived macrophages isolated from homozygous IRS2 gene-deleted mice showed that hypoxia exposure led to enhancement of the Akt and ERK signaling pathway followed by increases in the pro-PH macrophage activation markers, vascular endothelial growth factor-A and arginase 1. Our data suggest that IRS2 contributes to anti-inflammatory effects by regulating macrophage activation and recruitment, which may limit the vascular inflammation, remodeling, and right ventricular hypertrophy that are seen in PH pathology. Restoring the IRS2 pathway may be an effective therapeutic approach for the treatment of PH and right heart failure.
Hyperpolarized 129Xe magnetic resonance spectroscopy in a rat model of bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Authors: Fliss Jordan D. , Zanette Brandon , Friedlander Yonni , Sadanand Siddharth , Lindenmaier Andras A. , Stirrat Elaine , Li Daniel , Post Martin , Jankov Robert P. , Santyr Giles
Published: June 2021

Premature infants often require mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy, which can result in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), characterized by developmental arrest and impaired lung function. Conventional clinical methods for assessing the prenatal lung are not adequate for the detection and assessment of long-term health risks in infants with BPD, highlighting the need for a noninvasive tool for the characterization of lung microstructure and function. Theoretical diffusion models, like the model of xenon exchange (MOXE), interrogate alveolar gas exchange by predicting the uptake of inert hyperpolarized (HP) 129Xe gas measured with HP 129Xe magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). To investigate HP 129Xe MRS as a tool for noninvasive characterization of pulmonary microstructural and functional changes in vivo, HP 129Xe gas exchange data were acquired in an oxygen exposure rat model of BPD that recapitulates the fewer and larger distal airways and pulmonary vascular stunting characteristics of BPD. Gas exchange parameters from MOXE, including airspace mean chord length ( Lm), apparent hematocrit in the pulmonary capillaries (HCT), and pulmonary capillary transit time ( tx), were compared with airspace mean axis length and area density (MAL and ρA) and percentage area of tissue and air (PTA and PAA) from histology. Lm was significantly larger in the exposed rats ( P = 0.003) and correlated with MAL, ρA, PTA, and PAA (0.59<|ρ|<0.66 and P < 0.05). Observed increase in HCT ( P = 0.012) and changes in tx are also discussed. These findings support the use of HP 129Xe MRS for detecting fewer, enlarged distal airways in this rat model of BPD, and potentially in humans.
Exercising muscle mass influences neuromuscular, cardiorespiratory, and perceptual responses during and following ramp-incremental cycling to task failure
Authors: Zhang Jenny , Iannetta Danilo , Alzeeby Mohammed , MacInnis Martin J. , Aboodarda Saied J.
Published: June 2021

Neuromuscular (NM), cardiorespiratory, and perceptual responses to maximal-graded exercise using different amounts of active muscle mass remain unclear. We hypothesized that during dynamic exercise, peripheral NM fatigue (declined twitch force) and muscle pain would be greater using smaller muscle mass, whereas central fatigue (declined voluntary activation) and ventilatory variables would be greater using larger muscle mass. Twelve males (29.8 ± 4.7 years) performed two ramp-incremental cycling tests until task failure: 1) single-leg (SL) with 10 W·min−1 ramp and 2) double-leg (DL) with 20 W·min−1 ramp. NM fatigue was assessed at baseline, task failure (post), and after 1, 4, and 8 min of recovery. Cardiorespiratory and perceptual variables [i.e., ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), pain, and dyspnea] were measured throughout cycling. Exercise duration was similar between sessions (SL: 857.7 ± 263.6 s; DL: 855.0 ± 218.8 s; P = 0.923), and higher absolute peak power output was attained in DL (SL: 163.2 ± 43.8 W; DL: 307.0 ± 72.0 W; P < 0.001). Although central fatigue did not differ between conditions (SL: −6.6 ± 6.5%; DL: −3.5 ± 4.8%; P = 0.091), maximal voluntary contraction (SL: −41.6 ± 10.9%; DL: −33.7 ± 8.5%; P = 0.032) and single twitch forces (SL: −59.4 ± 18.8%; DL: −46.2 ± 16.2%; P = 0.003) declined more following SL. DL elicited higher peak oxygen uptake (SL: 42.1 ± 10.0 mL·kg−1·min−1; DL: 50.3 ± 9.3 mL·kg−1·min−1; P < 0.001), ventilation (SL: 137.1 ± 38.1 L·min−1; DL: 171.5 ± 33.2 L·min−1; P < 0.001), and heart rate (SL: 167 ± 21 bpm; DL: 187 ± 8 bpm; P = 0.005). Dyspnea ( P = 0.025) was higher in DL; however, RPE ( P = 0.005) and pain ( P < 0.001) were higher in SL. These results suggest that interplay between NM, cardiorespiratory, and perceptual determinants of exercise performance during ramp-incremental cycling to task failure is muscle mass dependent.
Isometric agonist and antagonist muscle activation interacts differently with 140-Hz transcranial alternating current stimulation aftereffects at different intensities
Authors: Shorafa Y. , Halawa I. , Hewitt M. , Nitsche M. A. , Antal A. , Paulus W.
Published: June 2021

Stimulation intensity and activation of center versus surround muscles affect cortical excitability alterations generated by 140-Hz tACS. At rest, excitatory aftereffects were induced by tACS with 1 mA, but not 2 mA stimulation intensity. With agonistic muscle activation, excitability first decreases, and then increases with 2 mA. For antagonist activation, the MEP amplitude reduction observed in the sham condition is counteracted upon by 1 and 2 mA tACS. This reflects the relation of LTP-like aftereffects to Ca2+ concentration alterations.
Muscle torques and joint accelerations provide more sensitive measures of poststroke movement deficits than joint angles
Authors: Thomas Ariel B. , Olesh Erienne V. , Adcock Amelia , Gritsenko Valeriya
Published: June 2021

Functional deficits seen in task performance have biomechanical underpinnings, seen only through the analysis of forces. Our study has shown that estimating muscle moments can quantify with high-sensitivity poststroke deficits in intersegmental coordination. An assessment developed based on this method could help quantify less observable deficits in mildly affected stroke patients. It may also bridge the gap between evidence from studies of constrained or robotically manipulated movements and research with functional and unconstrained movements.
Case Studies in Neuroscience: Neuropathology and diaphragm dysfunction in ventilatory failure from late-onset Pompe disease
Authors: Fuller David D. , Trejo-Lopez Jorge A. , Yachnis Anthony T. , Sunshine Michael D. , Rana Sabhya , Bindi Victoria E. , Byrne Barry J. , Smith Barbara K.
Published: June 2021

This case study offered a unique opportunity to investigate longitudinal changes in phrenic neurophysiology in an individual with severe, ventilator-dependent, late-onset Pompe disease. Additional diaphragm and neural tissue histology upon autopsy confirmed significant neuromuscular degeneration, and it provided novel insights regarding rostral to caudal variability in the neuropathology. These findings suggest that a successful treatment approach for ventilator-dependent Pompe disease should target the central nervous system, in addition to skeletal muscle.
Common and distinct muscle synergies during level and slope locomotion in the cat
Authors: Klishko Alexander N. , Akyildiz Adil , Mehta-Desai Ricky , Prilutsky Boris I.
Published: June 2021

We demonstrated that the atypical EMG activities during cat downslope walking, silent one-joint hip extensors and stance-related EMG bursts in flexors, have many features shared with activities of level and upslope walking. Majority of EMG burst groups and muscle synergies were shared among these slopes, and upslope modulated the swing/stance phase duration but not cycle duration. Thus, synergistic EMG activities in all slopes might result from a shared CPG receiving somatosensory and supraspinal inputs.
Coordinating Demand and Supply for Crowd Logistics Platforms with Network Effect
Authors: Wang Wenjie , Xie Lei
Published: June 2021

The crowd logistics platforms connect stochastic demand with uncertain delivery supply which is provided by independent service providers. Considering direct-network effects and cross-network effects between the demand and supply side, a dynamic surge pricing model for crowd logistics platforms is built. The pricing strategy is derived to coordinate the supply with demand to equilibrium. Furthermore, the pricing strategy minimizing cumulative delivery orders is analyzed. The numerical simulation results show that the dynamic surge pricing strategies can stimulate the uncertain delivery supply for maximizing platforms’ revenue. And, direct-network effects pose a positive impact on the dynamic surge pricing strategy. In contrast, the cross-network effects have a negative impact on the pricing strategy. However, direct-network effects and cross-network effects negatively influence platforms’ revenue.
Global Existence and General Decay of Solutions for a Quasilinear System with Degenerate Damping Terms
Authors: Ekinci Fatma , Pișkin Erhan , Boulaaras Salah Mahmoud , Mekawy Ibrahim
Published: June 2021

In this work, we consider a quasilinear system of viscoelastic equations with degenerate damping, dispersion, and source terms under Dirichlet boundary condition. Under some restrictions on the initial datum and standard conditions on relaxation functions, we study global existence and general decay of solutions. The results obtained here are generalization of the previous recent work.
Exosomes of Mesenchymal Stem Cells as a Proper Vehicle for Transfecting miR‐145 into the Breast Cancer Cell Line and Its Effect on Metastasis
Authors: Sheykhhasan Mohsen , Kalhor Naser , Sheikholeslami Azar , Dolati Masoumeh , Amini Elaheh , Fazaeli Hoda
Published: June 2021

Background. Despite recent advances in scientific knowledge and clinical practice, management, and treatment of breast cancer, as one of the leading causes of female mortality, breast cancer remains a major burden. Recently, methods employing stem cells and their derivatives, i.e., exosomes, in gene‐based therapies hold great promise. Since these natural nanovesicles are able to transmit crucial cellular information which can be engineered to have robust delivery and targeting capacity, they are considered one of the modes of intercellular communication. miR‐145, one of the downregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) in various cancers, can regulate tumor cell invasion, metastasis, apoptosis, and proliferation and stem cell differentiation. Objectives. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of exosomes secreted from adipose tissue‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for miR‐145 transfection into breast cancer cells in order to weaken their expansion and metastasis. Methods. Here, we exploited the exosomes from adipose tissue‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC‐Exo) to deliver miR‐145 in the T‐47D breast cancer cell line. Lentiviral vectors of miR‐145‐pLenti‐III‐enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) and empty pLenti‐III‐eGFP as the backbone were used to transfect MSCs and T‐47D cells. In order to find the efficiency of exosomes as a delivery vehicle, the expression level of some miR‐145 target genes, including Rho‐Associated Coiled‐Coil Containing Protein Kinase 1 (ROCK1), Erb‐B2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinase 2 (ERBB2), Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), and Tumor Protein p53 (TP53), was compared in all treatment groups (T‐47D cells treated by miR‐145‐transfected MSCs and their derivatives or their backbone) and control group (untransfected T‐47D cells) using real‐time PCR. Results. The obtained data represented the inhibitory effect of miR‐145 on apoptosis induction and metastasis in both direct miR‐treated groups. However, exosome‐mediated delivery caused an improved anticancer property of miR‐145. Conclusion. Restoration of miR‐145 using MSC‐Exo can be considered a potential novel therapeutic strategy in breast cancer in the future.
Recognition of Flexion and Extension Imagery Involving the Right and Left Arms Based on Deep Belief Network and Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Fu Yunfa , Chen Rui , Gong Anmin , Qian Qian , Ding Ning , Zhang Wei , Su Lei , Zhao Lei
Published: June 2021

Brain-computer interaction based on motor imagery (MI) is an important brain-computer interface (BCI). Most methods for MI classification are based on electroencephalogram (EEG), and few studies have investigated signal processing based on MI-Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS). In addition, there is a need to improve the classification accuracy for MI fNIRS methods. In this study, a deep belief network (DBN) based on a restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM) was used to classify fNIRS signals of flexion and extension imagery involving the left and right arms. fNIRS signals from 16 channels covering the motor cortex area were recorded for each of 10 subjects executing or imagining flexion and extension involving the left and right arms. Oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) concentration was used as a feature to train two RBMs that were subsequently stacked with an additional softmax regression output layer to construct DBN. We also explored the DBN model classification accuracy for the test dataset from one subject using training dataset from other subjects. The average DBN classification accuracy for flexion and extension movement and imagery involving the left and right arms was 84.35 ± 3.86% and 78.19 ± 3.73%, respectively. For a given DBN model, better classification results are obtained for test datasets for a given subject when the model is trained using dataset from the same subject than when the model is trained using datasets from other subjects. The results show that the DBN algorithm can effectively identify flexion and extension imagery involving the right and left arms using fNIRS. This study is expected to serve as a reference for constructing online MI-BCI systems based on DBN and fNIRS.
Elastodynamic Solutions of a Finite Soil Layer under Interior Distributed Actions
Authors: Zhang Shiping , Xu Zhan
Published: June 2021

Through a method of displacement potentials, Fourier series, and Hankel integral transformation, the generalized solutions of an elastic layer resting on a rigid base under arbitrary, distributed, buried, and time‐harmonic loads are developed in this study. With the proposed solution, the specific results for two kinds of uniform distributions as a kind of fundamental solutions in the interaction analysis of media and inclusions by the method of boundary integral equations are included as illustrations. Finally, numerical examples involving surface and buried patch loads are presented to validate the solutions and examine the effects of the thickness of the elastic layer. The results show that the proposed solution can cover the classical half‐space solution by taking enough large thickness of the elastic layer (e.g., the ratio of the layer thickness beneath the load to the load radius ≥50) and the surface load solution by setting the load depth to zero; the underlying rigid base has significant and complex influence on the dynamic response of the thin layer due to wave reflections, which needs to be considered in the design and practice of related engineering.
Dollar’s Influence on Crude Oil and Gold Based on MF-DPCCA Method
Authors: Ding Zhonghui , Shi Kai , Wang Bin
Published: June 2021

This paper analyzed the influence of dollar on crude oil and gold based on the multifractal detrended partial cross-correlation analysis method. It showed that affected by the dollar, the crude oil and gold markets have a partial cross-correlation relationship which is stronger than their own cross-correlation. The partial cross-correlation is long-term and has multifractal characteristics. Through shuffled and Fourier-phase randomization, it is found that this multifractal feature is caused by the combined effect of the long-term cross-correlation between the returns and the fluctuation fat-tailed distribution, where the influence of the fat-tailed distribution is slightly greater than that of the long-term cross-correlation between the returns.
Integrated Analysis of the Roles of RNA Binding Proteins and Their Prognostic Value in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Wang Bowen , Zhao Haoran , Ni Shaobin , Ding Beichen
Published: June 2021

Background and Purpose. The renal cell carcinoma is one of the main malignant tumors in the genitourinary system, which seriously affects human health. Unregulated expression of RNA binding proteins (RBPs) is thought to be involved in the progression of many cancers. However, the role of RBPs in the clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is not yet clear. Methods. We downloaded the RNA sequencing data of ccRCC from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and identified differently expressed RBPs in different tissues. In this study, we used bioinformatics to analyze the expression and prognostic value of RBPs; then, we performed functional analysis and constructed a protein interaction network for them. We also screened out some RBPs related to the prognosis of ccRCC. Finally, based on the identified RBPs, we constructed a prognostic model that can predict patients’ risk of illness and survival time. Also, the data in the HPA database were used for verification. Results. In our experiment, we obtained 539 ccRCC samples and 72 normal controls. In the subsequent analysis, 87 upregulated RBPs and 38 downregulated RBPs were obtained. In addition, 9 genes related to the prognosis of patients were selected, namely, RPL36A, THOC6, RNASE2, NOVA2, TLR3, PPARGC1A, DARS, LARS2, and U2AF1L4. We further constructed a prognostic model based on these genes and plotted the ROC curve. This ROC curve performed well in judgement and evaluation. A nomogram that can judge the patient’s life span is also made. Conclusion. In conclusion, we have identified differentially expressed RBPs in ccRCC and carried out a series of in-depth research studies, the results of which may provide ideas for the diagnosis of ccRCC and the research of new targeted drugs.
2.5D Facial Personality Prediction Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Xu Jia , Tian Weijian , Lv Guoyun , Liu Shiya , Fan Yangyu
Published: June 2021

The assessment of personality traits is now a key part of many important social activities, such as job hunting, accident prevention in transportation, disease treatment, policing, and interpersonal interactions. In a previous study, we predicted personality based on positive images of college students. Although this method achieved a high accuracy, the reliance on positive images alone results in the loss of much personality-related information. Our new findings show that using real-life 2.5D static facial contour images, it is possible to make statistically significant predictions about a wider range of personality traits for both men and women. We address the objective of comprehensive understanding of a person’s personality traits by developing a multiperspective 2.5D hybrid personality-computing model to evaluate the potential correlation between static facial contour images and personality characteristics. Our experimental results show that the deep neural network trained by large labeled datasets can reliably predict people’s multidimensional personality characteristics through 2.5D static facial contour images, and the prediction accuracy is better than the previous method using 2D images.