bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Usefulness of lung ultrasound in the early identification of severe COVID-19: results from a prospective study
Authors: Hernández-Píriz Alba , Tung-Chen Yale , Jiménez-Virumbrales David , Ayala-Larrañaga Ibone , Barba-Martín Raquel , Canora-Lebrato Jesús , Zapatero-Gaviria Antonio , García De Casasola-Sánchez Gonzalo
Published: November 2021

Aim: There is growing evidence regarding the imaging findings of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in lung ultrasound (LUS); however, its role in predicting the prognosis has yet to be explored. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between lung ultrasound findings with the degree of respiratory failure measured by the PaO2/FiO2 ratio (PaFi) andthe prognosis of these patients: need for non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV), admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and mortality.Material and method: Prospective, longitudinal and observational study performed in patients with confirmed COVID-19 underwent a LUS examination and laboratory tests.Results: A total of 107 patients were enrolled: 93.4% with bilateral involvement and 73.83% presented at least one consolidation. A good inverse correlation (Rho Spearman coefficient -0.897) between the ultrasound score and PaFi was obtained. The AUC for identification of patients with more severe respiratory failure, a moderate and severe ARDS, was 0.97 (CI 95%: 0.95-1) and a cut-off score of 34.5 showed a sensitivity of 0.94 and a specificity of 0.91. The Kappa index showed a high concordance (0.83) of the classification by ultrasound lunginvolvement and ARDS.Conclusions: The combination of the ultrasound score and the presence of respiratory failure can easily identify patients with a higher risk to present complications.
Perceptual roughness of spatially assigned sparse noise for rendering reverberation
Authors: Meyer-Kahlen Nils , Schlecht Sebastian J. , Lokki Tapio
Published: November 2021

Multichannel auralizations based on spatial room impulse responses often employ sample-wise assignment of an omnidirectional response to form loudspeaker responses. This leads to sparse impulse responses in each reproduction loudspeaker and the auralization of transient signals can sound rough. Based on this observation, we conducted a listening test to examine the general phenomenon of roughness due to spatial assignment. First, participants assessed the roughness of both Gaussian noise and velvet noise, assigned sample-wise to up to 36 loudspeakers by two algorithms. The first algorithm assigns channels merely by selecting random indices, while the second one constrains the time between two peaks on each channel. The results show that roughness already occurs when few channels are used and that the assignment algorithm influences it. In a second experiment, virtualizations of the test were used to examine the factors contributing to increased roughness. We systematically show the effect of spatial assignment on noise and conclude that besides time-differences, level-differences caused by head-shadowing are the principal cause for the perceived roughness. The results have significance in spatial room impulse response rendering and spatial reverberator design.
Short-Term Stability of Urine Electrolytes: Effect of Time and Storage Conditions
Authors: Adams J.D. , Badolato Miranda , Pierce Ethan , Cantrell Abbie , Parker Zac , Farzam Donya
Published: November 2021

The purpose of this investigation was to quantify the effects of storage temperature and duration on the assessment of urine electrolytes. Twenty-one separate human urine specimens were analyzed as baseline and with the remaining specimen separated into eight vials, two in each of the following four temperatures: 22, 7, −20, and −80 °C. Each specimen was analyzed for urine electrolytes (sodium, potassium, and chloride) after 24 and 48 hr. After 24 hr, no significant difference was detected from baseline in urine sodium, potassium, and chloride at all four storage temperatures (p > .05). Similarly, after 48 hr, urine sodium, potassium, and chloride were not significantly different from baseline in all four storage temperatures (p > .05). In conclusion, these data show that urine specimens analyzed for urine sodium, chloride, and potassium are stable up to 48 hr in temperatures ranging from deep freezing to room temperature.
Dual activities of ACC synthase: Novel clues regarding the molecular evolution of
ACS
genes
Authors: Xu Chang , Hao Bowei , Sun Gongling , Mei Yuanyuan , Sun Lifang , Sun Yunmei , Wang Yibo , Zhang Yongyan , Zhang Wei , Zhang Mengyuan , Zhang Yue , Wang Dan , Rao Zihe , Li Xin , Shen Qingxi Jeffery , Wang Ning Ning
Published: November 2021

Seed plant ACC synthases widely have C
β
-S lyase activity, suggesting that they may be evolved from C
β
-S lyases.
Loss of functional diversity through anthropogenic extinctions of island birds is not offset by biotic invasions
Authors: Sayol Ferran , Cooke Robert S. C. , Pigot Alex L. , Blackburn Tim M. , Tobias Joseph A. , Steinbauer Manuel J. , Antonelli Alexandre , Faurby Søren
Published: November 2021

Anthropogenic extinctions and alien establishments cause an overall loss of functional diversity of island bird communities.
All-optical switching based on interacting exciton polaritons in self-assembled perovskite microwires
Authors: Feng Jiangang , Wang Jun , Fieramosca Antonio , Bao Ruiqi , Zhao Jiaxin , Su Rui , Peng Yutian , Liew Timothy C. H. , Sanvitto Daniele , Xiong Qihua
Published: November 2021

All-optical switching is demonstrated on the basis of interacting exciton polaritons in self-assembled perovskite microwires.
The stabilization potential of a standing molecule
Authors: Knol Marvin , Arefi Hadi H. , Corken Daniel , Gardner James , Tautz F. Stefan , Maurer Reinhard J. , Wagner Christian
Published: November 2021

Competing chemical and van der Waals interactions keep a molecule in the vertical until it is knocked over by heat.
Dissecting the evolutionary role of the
Hox
gene
proboscipedia
in
Drosophila
mouthpart diversification by full locus replacement
Authors: Auradkar Ankush , Bulger Emily A. , Devkota Sushil , McGinnis William , Bier Ethan
Published: November 2021

Full replacement of
D. melanogaster pb Hox
locus with
D. mimica pb
locus produces mouthparts with similarities to
D. mimica.
High-sucrose diets contribute to brain angiopathy with impaired glucose uptake and psychosis-related higher brain dysfunctions in mice
Authors: Hirai Shinobu , Miwa Hideki , Tanaka Tomoko , Toriumi Kazuya , Kunii Yasuto , Shimbo Hiroko , Sakamoto Takuya , Hino Mizuki , Izumi Ryuta , Nagaoka Atsuko , Yabe Hirooki , Nakamachi Tomoya , Shioda Seiji , Dan Takashi , Miyata Toshio , Nishito Yasumasa , Suzuki Kazuhiro , Miyashita Mitsuhiro , Tomoda Toshifumi , Hikida Takatoshi , Horiuchi Junjiro , Itokawa Masanari , Arai Makoto , Okado Haruo
Published: November 2021

High-sugar diet in adolescence induces neural angiopathy and multiple psychiatric endophenotypes with impaired glucose logistics.
Sexual dimorphism in functional pain syndromes
Authors: Navratilova Edita , Fillingim Roger B. , Porreca Frank
Published: November 2021

Sexual dimorphism in functional pain suggests the need of developing sex-specific therapies.
Fucosylated Human Milk Oligosaccharide Foraging within the Species Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum Is Driven by Glycosyl Hydrolase Content and Specificity
Authors: Shani Guy , Hoeflinger Jennifer L. , Heiss Britta E. , Masarweh Chad F. , Larke Jules A. , Jensen Nick M. , Wickramasinghe Saumya , Davis Jasmine C. , Goonatilleke Elisha , El-Hawiet Amr , Nguyen Linh , Klassen John S. , Slupsky Carolyn M. , Lebrilla Carlito B. , Mills David A.
Published: November 2021

Often isolated from the human gut, microbes from the bacterial family
Bifidobacteriaceae
commonly possess genes enabling carbohydrate utilization. Isolates from breastfed infants often grow on and possess genes for the catabolism of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), glycans found in human breast milk.
Nonstarter Bacterial Communities in Aged Cheddar Cheese: Patterns on Two Timescales
Authors: Johnson Jared , Selover Brandon , Curtin Chris , Waite-Cusic Joy
Published: November 2021

Long production schedules used in modern cheese manufacturing can create circumstances that support the growth of microorganisms in the cheese processing environment. This work demonstrates that this growth can lead to significant changes in the microbial quality of aged cheese produced later in the production day.
Viral Fitness and Antigenic Determinants of Porcine Parvovirus at the Amino Acid Level of the Capsid Protein
Authors: Streck André Felipe , Canal Cláudio Wageck , Truyen Uwe
Published: November 2021

Porcine parvovirus is one of the most important causes of reproductive failure in swine. Recently, despite the continuous use of vaccines, “new” strains emerged, leading to the hypothesis that the emergence of new amino acid substitutions could be a viral adaptation to the immune response against the commercial vaccines.
Lipid Droplets Are Beneficial for Rabies Virus Replication by Facilitating Viral Budding
Authors: Zhao Jianqing , Zeng Zonghui , Chen Yixi , Liu Wei , Chen Huanchun , Fu Zhen F. , Zhao Ling , Zhou Ming
Published: November 2021

Lipid droplets have been proven to play an important role in viral infections, but their role in RABV infection has not yet been elaborated. Here, we find that RABV infection upregulates the generation of LDs by enhancing the expression of N-myc downstream regulated gene-1 (NDRG1).
The M2 Gene Is a Determinant of Reovirus-Induced Myocarditis
Authors: Dina Zita Marcelle , Phillips Matthew B. , Stuart Johnasha D. , Kumarapeli Asangi R. , Snyder Anthony J. , Paredes Amairani , Sridharan Vijayalakshmi , Boerma Marjan , Danthi Pranav , Boehme Karl W.
Published: November 2021

Reovirus is a nonenveloped virus with a segmented double-stranded RNA genome that serves as a model for studying viral myocarditis. The mechanisms by which reovirus drives myocarditis development are not fully elucidated.
Molecular Mechanisms and Evolutionary Consequences of Spore Killers in Ascomycetes
Authors: Zanders Sarah , Johannesson Hanna
Published: November 2021

In this review, we examine the fungal spore killers. These are meiotic drive elements that cheat during sexual reproduction to increase their transmission into the next generation.
Supplemental Material: Appearance and disappearance rates of Phanerozoic marine animal paleocommunities
Authors: Muscente A.D. , al. et
Published: November 2021

Additional information on methods and results including supplemental figures and tables.
Self-testing for HIV could increase diagnoses in the trans community
Authors: Saul Helen , Gursul Deniz
Published: November 2021

The study

Witzel TC, Wright T, McCabe L, et al. Impact and acceptability of HIV self-testing for trans men and trans women: A mixed-methods subgroup analysis of the SELPHI randomised controlled trial and process evaluation in England and Wales.EClinicalMedicine2021;32:100700.

To read the full NIHR Alert, go to:https://evidence.nihr.ac.uk/alert/hiv-self-testing-increases-diagnoses-trans-people/
Local perceptions of spatial management indicate challenges and opportunities for effective zoning of sustainable-use protected areas in Brazil
Authors: Borges Rebecca , Breckwoldt Annette , Barboza Roberta Sá Leitão , Glaser Marion
Published: November 2021

Protected areas (PAs) are widely applied conservation instruments. Often, they are also expected to help secure livelihoods of poor subsistence, small-scale producers, making the management of PAs often dependent on community support. The usefulness of analyzing the perceptions of PAs among local users to improve the effectiveness of PA management is increasingly recognized; however, there are few studies on spatial perceptions, for example, how users perceive the PA’s geographical boundaries or its zoning, and how these can be used in PA zoning. Here, we analyze how local stakeholders perceive two sustainable-use PAs on the Amazon coast, the changes they have brought about, and their current management. We identify and link the mental models of different user groups to formal conceptualizations of the PAs in legal instruments and identify mismatches related to what the PA means to local stakeholders and where it is located, which need to be considered when building a zoning plan. Because of the frequent research in our study area, we also discuss possible research fatigue in this region. We highlight the challenges and opportunities related to promoting spatial literacy and awareness-raising regarding PAs. We recommend adapting legal instruments to include diverse territorial representations and alternative management tools.
Embryo position of Castanopsis sclerophylla (Fagaceae) seeds with recalcitrant storage behavior differs from Quercus genus but response to desiccation shows no difference
Authors: Li Jiajin , Jaganathan Ganesh K. , Han Kang , Liu Baolin
Published: November 2021

In many but not all recalcitrant Quercus seeds, water loss during drying only occurs through the scar. Consequently, the embryo axis sitting on the opposite side of the scar is well protected from desiccation. However, whether such a mechanism is common throughout Fagaceae species is unexplored. Similarly, little is known about the desiccation response of other Fagaceae genera. Germination and desiccation tolerance of Castanopsis sclerophylla (Lindl. & Paxton) Schottky (Fagaceae) were studied by drying the seeds with silica gel. Fresh seeds had a moisture content (MC) of 36% and germinated to 92.5% when incubated at 15/20 °C. Drying seeds to 22.5% and 20.7% MC decreased germination to 27% and 5%, respectively, indicating that seeds are recalcitrant. X-ray computed tomography and photomicrographs showed that the embryo axis of C. sclerophylla is located just below the scar. Regardless of drying occurring either through only the scar or the whole pericarp, embryo drying was deemed unavoidable. Nevertheless, germination percentage during drying showed exceptional similarities with the other Fagaceae species.
Beyond pre-Columbian burning: the impact of firewood collection on forest fuel loads
Authors: Markwith Scott H. , Paudel Asha
Published: November 2021

Government agencies in the United States (US) adopted a prescribed burning policy based in part on paleo-environmental evidence of pre-Columbian Native American burning regimes. However, biomass collection by Native Americans in the pre-Columbian era left little direct or indirect evidence of its magnitude or influence on fire regimes. In many developing countries, local peoples harvest biomass for shelter, tool production, cooking, and heating, and often manage forests communally. The objective of this study was to use modern proxy biomass collection estimates analogous to pre-Columbian era practices in the western US to estimate the potential impacts of regionwide firewood collection on fuel loads in the Sierra Nevada range of California. A minimum of 59% of the forested area of the Sierra Nevada range could have been completely stripped of surface fuel accumulation in the 100-hour (100 h) fuel moisture class (2.54–7.62 cm diameter) each year in the pre-Columbian era, but upper estimates suggest Native American fuelwood requirements may have exceeded the amount of 100-h surface fuels accumulated over the entire range each year. The collection and removal of the fuels from the surface fuel loads may have contributed to reduced fire severities over that era. Dead wood collection in Nepal and India was found to reduce the threat of forest fires. Including the effects of cultural practices on fuel loads may improve reconstructions of past fuel and fire regimes and may benefit modern management strategies.
PPARα/γ, adiponectin, and GLUT4 overexpression induced by moronic acid methyl ester influenced glucose and triglyceride levels of experimental diabetic mice
Authors: Estrada-Soto Samuel , Cerón-Romero Litzia , Navarrete-Vázquez Gabriel , Rosales-Ortega Edgar , Gómez-Zamudio Jaime , Cruz Miguel , Villalobos-Molina Rafael
Published: November 2021

The current study aimed to determine the antidiabetic and antidyslipidemic activities of moronic acid methyl ester (1) (compound 1) by in vivo, in vitro, in silico, and molecular biology studies. Compound 1 was evaluated to establish its dose-dependent antidiabetic and antihyperglycemic (50 mg/kg) activities, in diabetic and normoglycemic male CD1 mice, respectively. Also, compound 1 was subjected to a subacute study (50 mg/kg per day for 8 days) to determine blood biochemical profiles and the expression of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP-1B), glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPAR-α), PPAR-γ, adiponectin, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) in adipose tissue of animals after treatment. Different doses in acute administration of compound 1 decreased glycemia (p < 0.05) compared with vehicle, showing greater effectiveness in the range 50–160 mg/kg. Also, the oral glucose tolerance test showed that compound 1 induced a significant antihyperglycemic action by opposing the hyperglycemic peak (p < 0.05). Moreover, compound 1 subacute administration decreased glucose and triglyceride levels after treatment (p < 0.05); while the expression of PPAR-α and PPAR-γ, adiponectin, and GLUT4 displayed an increase (p < 0.05) compared with the diabetic control group. In conclusion, compound 1 showed antihyperglycemic, antidiabetic, and antidyslipidemic effects in normal and diabetic mice, probably due to insulin sensitization through increased mRNA expression of GLUT4, PPAR-α, PPAR-γ, and adiponectin genes.
Effect of color reconnection and rope formation on resonance production in p–p collisions in Pythia 8
Authors: Goswami Ankita , Nayak Ranjit , Nandi Basanta Kumar , Dash Sadhana
Published: November 2021

Resonance production in proton–proton collisions at$$\sqrt{s} = 7$$s=7TeV and 13 TeV have been investigated using a Pythia 8 event generator within the framework of microscopic processes including color reconnection and rope hadronization. Specifically, the observable effects of different modes of color reconnections on the ratio of yields of mesonic and baryonic resonances with respect to their stable counterpart have been explored as a function of mean charged particle multiplicity. A suppression in the ratio is observed as a function of the mean number of charged particles for mesonic resonances. The$$\phi /\mathrm {K}$$ϕ/Kand$${\phi /\pi }$$ϕ/πratios show an enhancement for high-multiplicity events due to enhanced production of strange quarks via the microscopic process of rope hadronization in the partonic phase. The mechanism of the hadronization of color ropes together with the quark–gluon plasma (QCD)-based color reconnection of partons predicted an enhancement in the ratio for baryonic resonances to non-resonance baryons having similar quark content. The yield ratios of resonances are found to be independent of the collision energy and strongly dependent on event activity.
Path integral analysis from the D-dimensional generalized displacement operator, and some of their applications
Authors: Benkrane A. , Benzair H.
Published: November 2021

Recently, H. Benzair et al. [Mod. Phys. Lett. A 35, 2050246 (2020).] formulated in one dimension the nonrelativistic propagator for position-dependent mass (PDM) from the generalized displacement operator approach. According to the path integral formulation, we generalize this process in [Formula: see text]-dimensional space. As a result, the wave functions are obtained analytically for the pseudo-harmonic oscillator and the inverse square plus Coulomb potentials, and the corresponding energy spectrum are studied. In addition, the effects of PDM on the canonical partition function and other thermodynamic functions have been extracted. The limit cases are then deduced for a small parameter.
Synergistically Enhanced Electrochemical Properties of LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 by the Co-Modification of Ti and Na
Authors: Li Xiaohui , Xie Hongyan , Jin Huixin , Zhang Yaqing , Li Kaifeng , Luo Fenglan , Li Wenlei
Published: November 2021

The layered material of nickel cobalt manganese oxide lithium oxide is one of the most promising lithium-ion battery (LIBs) materials, with the characteristics of high capacity and high density. However, most nickel-rich layered oxides have the phenomenon of cation mixing and the phenomenon that the layered structure changes to the spinel structure during the cycle, which results in poor capacity and cycle performance under high cut-off voltage. Herein, we modified LiNi[Formula: see text]Co[Formula: see text]Mn[Formula: see text]O2 with Ti and Na co-doping to observe the changes in the specific capacity, cycle performance and crystal structure of the material. Ti and Na co-doped LiNi[Formula: see text]Co[Formula: see text]Mn[Formula: see text]O2 has the most obvious effect on increasing the discharge specific capacity and improving the cycle performance. In sthe voltage range of 3–4.5[Formula: see text]V, its discharge specific capacity reaches 183.5[Formula: see text]mAh/gat 0.5C, and the capacity retention rate after 100 cycles is 81.96%, and its discharge specific capacity reaches 164.2[Formula: see text]mAh/g at 1C and after 100 cycles Capacity retention rate is 80.93%. The introduction of Ti and Na plays an important role in improving the cation mixing phenomenon and improving the stability of the crystal structure.
An overview of the plumbing systems of large igneous provinces and their significance
Authors: Srivastava Rajesh K. , Ernst Richard E. , Buchan Kenneth L. , de Kock Michiel
Published: November 2021

Identification of large-volume, short-duration mafic magmatic events of intraplate affinity in both continental and oceanic settings on the Earth and other planets provides invaluable clues for understanding several vital geological issues of current concern. Of particular importance is understanding the assembly and dispersal of supercontinents through Earth's history, dramatic climate change events including mass extinctions, and processes that have produced a wide range of large igneous province (LIP)-related resources such as Ni–Cu–PGE, Au, U, base metals and petroleum. This current volume presents some of the latest developments and new information on the temporal and spatial distribution of LIPs in both the Precambrian and Phanerozoic, their origin, the plumbing system of mafic dyke swarms, sill provinces and layered intrusions, and links to mantle plume/superplume events, supercontinent reconstructions and associated metallogeny.
Processes controlling volcanic and epiclastic reservoir formation in a buried polygenetic stratocone
Authors: Bischoff Alan , Fensom Jessica , Tang Huafeng , Rossetti Marcos , Nicol Andrew
Published: November 2021

Understanding the formation of volcanic and epiclastic reservoirs is pivotal for exploring geoenergy resources such as geothermal energy, hydrocarbons, and new CO
2
sequestration and hydrogen storage opportunities. This paper examines the processes controlling the quality of pyroclastic and epiclastic reservoirs of the Kora volcano, an extinct stratocone presently buried in the offshore Taranaki Basin, New Zealand. We conduct detailed seismic reflection interpretation, drillcore lithofacies and wireline-log description, petrographic analysis, and analytical tests to generate a unified framework that explains the formation of volcaniclastic reservoirs from basin to pore-scale.

Each stage of construction and degradation of the Kora volcano is associated with particular processes that increase or reduce reservoir quality. Primary processes include quench fragmentation, deuteric mineral dissolution, and epiclastic sedimentation. Secondary processes comprise mineral alteration (mainly meteoric; minor hydrothermal and diagenetic), mechanical stress fracturing (mainly tectonic; minor magmatic and burial deformation), and pervasive biogenic cementation. Epiclastic conglomerates present the highest reservoir quality (average 23% porosity and up to 997 mD permeability), followed by lapilli-tuffs and tuff-breccias. In contrast, bioclastic epiclastic sandstones are typically cemented by carbonates and pyrite. Our models and interpretations will increase understanding of the formation of volcaniclastic reservoirs and aid exploration of geoenergy resources in volcanic terrains.
Meaning and Context in Computer Programs
Authors: Videla Alvaro
Published: November 2021

When you look at a function program's source code, how do you know what it means? Is the meaning found in the return values of the function, or is it located inside the function body? What about the function name? Answering these questions is important to understanding how to share domain knowledge among programmers using the source code as the medium. The program is the medium of communication among programmers to share their solutions.
Differentiating Degradation Characteristics in Lithium-Ion Cells
Authors: Saunders Luke , Wang Jiabin , Stimming Ulrich
Published: November 2021

Lithium-ion batteries are prevalent in everyday usage and ensuring they are used efficiently is of paramount concern. The degradation of lithium-ion batteries under cycling can affect various components in the cells. Understanding the degradation characteristics of the cell can aid in ensuring longer lifetime through optimized usage. Long-term automated EIS data collection has been used as a non-destructive tool to track the impedance changes within the cells over time due to repeated cycling. Separating the different degradation factors contributed by the graphite and NMC electrodes in a non-invasive way is still a challenge. In this work, EIS measurements of half-cells dissembled from full cells are shown to provide further insight into cell degradation characteristics. By using this methodology to differentiate the degradation at different electrodes, new materials can be easily screened for their viability in next generation batteries. The methodology also helps estimate the degradation changes with cycling and provides useful information for further understanding the degradation mechanism.
Long-term normothermic machine preservation of human livers: what is needed to succeed?
Authors: Lascaris Bianca , Thorne Adam M. , Lisman Ton , Nijsten Maarten W. N. , Porte Robert J. , de Meijer Vincent E.
Published: November 2021

Although short‐term machine perfusion (≤24 h) allows for resuscitation and viability assessment of high‐risk donor livers, the donor organ shortage might be further remedied by long‐term perfusion machines. Extended preservation of injured donor livers may allow reconditioning, repairing, and regeneration. This review summarizes the necessary requirements and challenges for long‐term liver machine preservation, which requires integrating multiple core physiological functions to mimic the physiological environment inside the body. A pump simulates the heart in the perfusion system, including automatically controlled adjustment of flow and pressure settings. Oxygenation and ventilation are required to account for the absence of the lungs combined with continuous blood gas analysis. To avoid pressure necrosis and achieve heterogenic tissue perfusion during preservation, diaphragm movement should be simulated. An artificial kidney is required to remove waste products and control the perfusion solution’s composition. The perfusate requires an oxygen carrier, but will also be challenged by coagulation and activation of the immune system. The role of the pancreas can be mimicked through closed‐loop control of glucose concentrations by automatic injection of insulin or glucagon. Nutrients and bile salts, generally transported from the intestine to the liver, have to be supplemented when preserving livers long term. Especially for long‐term perfusion, the container should allow maintenance of sterility. In summary, the main challenge to develop a long‐term perfusion machine is to maintain the liver’s homeostasis in a sterile, carefully controlled environment. Long‐term machine preservation of human livers may allow organ regeneration and repair, thereby ultimately solving the shortage of donor livers.
Human immunodeficiency viruses and their effect on the pulmonary vascular bed
Authors: Butrous Ghazwan
Published: November 2021

December 1, 2021, is “World AIDS Day,” reminding us that HIV infection is still widespread and that many of its long-term effects can be deadly. One of these complications is its effect on the pulmonary vascular beds, leading to an increase in the pulmonary pressure, causing the clinical manifestation of “pulmonary hypertension.” Unfortunately, we are still far from fully understanding the prevalence, mechanics, and pathobiology of “HIV pulmonary hypertension,” especially in Africa and other developing countries where HIV is still common. In addition, the impact of other factors like coinfection and illicit drugs can add and modify the effect on the pulmonary vascular bed, complicating the pathological and clinical effects of HIV. Thus, “World AIDS Day” can be an impetus to pursue further research in this area.
Individual arcuate nucleus proopiomelanocortin neurons project to select target sites
Authors: Metz Marissa J. , Daimon Caitlin M. , King Connie M. , Rau Andrew R. , Hentges Shane T.
Published: November 2021

Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARH) are a diverse group of neurons that project widely to different brain regions. It is unknown how this small population of neurons organizes its efferent projections. In this study, we hypothesized that individual ARH POMC neurons exclusively innervate select target regions. To investigate this hypothesis, we first verified that only a fraction of ARH POMC neurons innervate the lateral hypothalamus (LH), the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), the periaqueductal gray (PAG), or the ventral tegmental area (VTA) using the retrograde tracer cholera toxin B (CTB). Next, two versions of CTB conjugated to distinct fluorophores were injected bilaterally into two of the regions such that PVN and VTA, PAG and VTA, or LH and PVN received tracers simultaneously. These pairs of target sites were chosen based on function and location. Few individual ARH POMC neurons projected to two brain regions at once, suggesting that there are ARH POMC neuron subpopulations organized by their efferent projections. We also investigated whether increasing the activity of POMC neurons could increase the number of ARH POMC neurons labeled with CTB, implying an increase in new synaptic connections to downstream regions. However, chemogenetic enhancement of POMC neuron activity did not increase retrograde tracing of CTB back to ARH POMC neurons from either the LH, PVN, or VTA. Overall, subpopulations of ARH POMC neurons with distinct efferent projections may serve as a way for the POMC population to organize its many functions.
The effect of subliminal incentives on goal-directed eye movements
Authors: Hinze Vasko Kilian , Uslu Ozge , Antono Jessica Emily , Wilke Melanie , Pooresmaeili Arezoo
Published: November 2021

Reward incentives motivate humans to exert more effort, and they do so even when rewards are subconsciously perceived. It has been unknown whether these effects also extend to eye movements that have lower energetic demands compared with other movement types. We devised a behavioral task that required fast execution of multiple eye movements. Subliminal rewards enhanced the frequency and peak velocity of saccadic eye movements, with the most reliable effect observed for saccadic frequency.
Calcium homeostasis in parvalbumin DRG neurons is altered after sciatic nerve crush and sciatic nerve transection injuries
Authors: Walters Marie C. , Ladle David R.
Published: November 2021

This study examines calcium homeostasis after peripheral nerve injury in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons expressing parvalbumin, a group of large-diameter afferents primarily consisting of proprioceptors, using two-photon calcium imaging in the intact DRG. Our findings identify aberrant calcium homeostasis as an additional source of sensory neuron dysfunction following peripheral nerve injury, uncover differences between two injury models, and track how these changes develop and resolve over the course of recovery.
Research on Accessibility and Equity of Urban Transport Based on Multisource Big Data
Authors: Shi Fei
Published: November 2021

Daily travel is an important means for everyone to obtain the right to development. With the development of the economy and the progress of the times, the equalization of public infrastructure has become an important concern. The accessibility and fairness of transportation have become a hot topic of research in various fields. To promote transport equity and formulate more reasonable transport planning and policies, this paper takes the Kunshan city as the research object, based on the mobile phone signaling data and the travel time consumption data from the application programming interface (API) of Gaode Map, using weighted average accessibility and the Theil index to investigate the accessibility and equity of public transport and car traffic in the Kunshan city. The study found that the accessibility of public transport is lower than that of car transport in the same research unit, but the equity of public transport is better than that of car transport, that is, the public transport is fair and the efficiency is neglected. In the same mode of transportation, equity presents a high four-week low distribution in the central urban area, and the spatial equity difference is mainly caused by the difference in accessibility levels between cell units. According to the research conclusions, it is recommended that Kunshan further optimize the spatial layout of public transportation infrastructure and adopt measures such as bus speed increase to achieve equity and efficiency and improve the competitiveness of public transportation.
Bonding Reactions of Dental Self-Adhesive Cements with Synthetic Hydroxyapatite as a Function of the Polymerization Protocol
Authors: Borges Roger , Graeff Carlos Frederico de Oliveira , Marchi Juliana , D'Alpino Paulo Henrique Perlatti
Published: November 2021

Objectives. This study evaluated the influence of the cement composition and different polymerization protocols on the bonding chemical interaction of self-adhesive cements with synthetic hydroxyapatite. Materials and Methods. Two commercial self-adhesive resin cements (RelyX U200 and Maxcem Elite) were selected, manipulated, mixed with hydroxyapatite dry powder (HAp), dispensed into molds, and distributed into three groups according to polymerization protocols: immediate photoactivation (IP); delayed photoactivation, 10 min self-curing and light-curing (DP); and chemical activation (CA, no light exposure). The detailed chemical information, at atomic scale, on the surface and deeper into the bulk of self-adhesive cement/hydroxyapatite mixtures was evaluated with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Results. Chemical elements were detected in both cements, such as Na, O, Ca, C, P, and Si. Other elements were detected in minor concentrations. RelyX U200 exhibited the most intense formation of calcium salts products when the cement/HAp mixtures were photoactivated (immediate or delayed). RelyX U200/HAp mixture under delayed photoactivation (DP) also exhibited higher binding energy between calcium moieties of the HAp and methacrylates in the cement. A higher energy difference in the interaction of HAp with the cement comparing the bulk and surface areas was observed when RelyX U200 underwent the delayed photoactivation protocol. Maxcem Elite exhibited an increased chemical reactivity when either chemically activated or immediately photoactivated and a higher binding energy of the carboxyl groups bonded to the calcium of HAp when chemically activated. Conclusions. The interaction of cements with hydroxyapatite is chemical in nature and leads to the formation of calcium salts, which may favor better integrity and longevity of adhesive restorations. The polymerization protocol affects the chemical interaction in mixtures of self-adhesive cements and hydroxyapatite, influencing the formation of these salts and the establishment of intermolecular interactions between the HAp and the cements.
Regional Variation in Restorative Treatment Need among Finnish Young People
Authors: Karki Saujanya , Kämppi Antti , Tanner Tarja , Päkkilä Jari , Seppänen Marjo , Tjäderhane Leo , Anttonen Vuokko , Patinen Pertti
Published: November 2021

Aim. To evaluate the regional variation in restorative treatment need among Finnish young people based on the socioeconomic factors. Materials and Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 20 garrisons of the Finnish Defence Forces in January and July 2011. The study population comprised 13,819 Finnish conscripts born in the beginning of 1990s, including females. A computer-based survey was done together with clinical oral examination to gather background information, e.g., educational status. Furthermore, average annual income of the conscript’s residence municipality was achieved from the Statistics of Finland. The zip code of the place of residence of each conscript was later extracted from the Mildoc® system. Georeferenced place of residence and income status were merged as information on provinces’ level in a dataset. The association between the outcome variable and explanatory variables was determined by using the generalized linear mixed model, and geomaps were constructed. Results. Mean D value was 1.41 ranging from 0.89 (Kymenlaakso) to 2.33 (Kainuu). Higher education and high-income level were protective factors for restorative treatment need. Restorative treatment need was also low in those areas with high (OR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.56–0.87) and medium (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.70–0.89) yearly income compared to low yearly income. The high odds for the need of restorative treatment were discovered in Northern Ostrobothnia (OR: 2.26, 95% CI: 1.53–3.33) followed by Central Ostrobothnia (OR: 2.08, 95% CI: 1.17–3.70), Uusimaa (OR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.16–2.08), and Central Finland (OR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.10–2.16) compared to Varsinais-Suomi. Conclusion. In conclusion, there is a significant regional variation in restorative treatment need among Finnish young people in their twenties based on the socioeconomic factors.
Edge Theoretic Extended Contractions and Their Applications
Authors: Rajagopalan R. , Tamrakar Ekta , Alshammari Fahad. S. , Pathak H. K. , George Reny
Published: November 2021

Edge theoretic extended contractions are introduced and coincidence point theorems and common fixed-point theorems are proved for such contraction mappings in a metric space endowed with a graph. As further applications, we have proved the existence of a solution of a nonlinear integral equation of Volterra type and given a suitable example in support of our result.
Targeting the Ang2/Tie2 Axis with Tanshinone IIA Elicits Vascular Normalization in Ischemic Injury and Colon Cancer
Authors: Zou Wei , Qian Cheng , Zhang Shan , Wan Xueting , Wei Zhonghong , Li Xiaoman , Wu Yuanyuan , Chen Wenxing , Wang Aiyun , Zhao Yang , Lu Yin
Published: November 2021

Pathological angiogenesis, as exhibited by aberrant vascular structure and function, has been well deemed to be a hallmark of cancer and various ischemic diseases. Therefore, strategies to normalize vasculature are of potential therapeutic interest in these diseases. Recently, identifying bioactive compounds from medicinal plant extracts to reverse abnormal vasculature has been gaining increasing attention. Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA), an active component of Salvia miltiorrhiza, has been shown to play significant roles in improving blood circulation and delaying tumor progression. However, the underlying mechanisms responsible for the therapeutic effects of Tan IIA are not fully understood. Herein, we established animal models of HT‐29 human colon cancer xenograft and hind limb ischemia to investigate the role of Tan IIA in regulating abnormal vasculature. Interestingly, our results demonstrated that Tan IIA could significantly promote the blood flow, alleviate the hypoxia, improve the muscle quality, and ameliorate the pathological damage after ischemic insult. Meanwhile, we also revealed that Tan IIA promoted the integrity of vascular structure, reduced vascular leakage, and attenuated the hypoxia in HT‐29 tumors. Moreover, the circulating angiopoietin 2 (Ang2), which is extremely high in these two pathological states, was substantially depleted in the presence of Tan IIA. Also, the activation of Tie2 was potentiated by Tan IIA, resulting in decreased vascular permeability and elevated vascular integrity. Mechanistically, we uncovered that Tan IIA maintained vascular stability by targeting the Ang2‐Tie2‐AKT‐MLCK cascade. Collectively, our data suggest that Tan IIA normalizes vessels in tumors and ischemic injury via regulating the Ang2/Tie2 signaling pathway.
A Variable Step‐Size Leaky LMS Algorithm
Authors: Zhao Sihai , Xu Jiangye , Zhang Yuyan
Published: November 2021

The leaky LMS algorithm has been extensively studied because of its control of parameter drift. This unexpected parameter drift is linked to the inadequacy of excitation in the input sequence. And generally leaky LMS algorithms use fixed step size to force the performance of compromise between the fast convergence rate and small steady‐state misalignment. In this paper, variable step‐size (VSS) leaky LMS algorithm is proposed. And the variable step‐size method combines the time average estimation of the error and the time average estimation of the normalized quantity. Variable step‐size method proposed incorporating with leaky LMS algorithm can effectively eliminate noise interference and make the early convergence, and final small misalignments are obtained together. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm has better performance than the existing variable step‐size algorithms in the unexcited environment. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm is comparable in performance to other variable step‐size algorithms under the adequacy of excitation.
A Ferroptosis‐Related Prognostic Risk Score Model to Predict Clinical Significance and Immunogenic Characteristics in Glioblastoma Multiforme
Authors: Xiao Dongdong , Zhou Yujie , Wang Xuan , Zhao Hongyang , Nie Chuansheng , Jiang Xiaobing
Published: November 2021

Background. Ferroptosis is a recently identified cell death pathway, and the susceptibility to ferroptosis inducers varies among cancer cell types. There have been recent attempts to clarify the mechanisms implicated in ferroptosis, glioma invasion, and the immune microenvironment but little is known about ferroptosis regulation in GBM. Methods. Screening ferroptosis‐related genes from published reports and existing databases, we constructed an integrated model based on the RNA‐sequencing data in GBM. The association of FRGPRS and overall survival is identified and validated across several different datasets. Genomic and clinical characteristics, immune infiltration, enriched pathways, pan‐cancer, drug resistance, and immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy are compared among various FRGPRS subgroups. Results. We identified and confirmed the influences of five ferroptosis key hub genes in the FRGPRS model. The FRGPRS model could serve to predict overall survival and progression‐free survival in GBM patients, and high FRGPRS was associated with comparatively stronger immunity, higher proportions of tumour tissue, and good cytolytic immune and chemotherapeutics response in GBM patients. Conclusions. The five ferroptosis key hub genes constituting the FRGPRS model could serve to predict overall survival and progression‐free survival in patients with GBM and help guide timely and efficacious therapeutic strategies customised and optimised for each individual patient. This discovery may lay the foundation for the development and optimisation of other iterations of this model for the improved forecasting, detection, and treatment of other malignancies notorious for their drug resistance and immune escape.
Numerical Solution for the 2D Linear Fredholm Functional Integral Equations
Authors: Khaksari Neda , Paripour Mahmoud , Karamikabir Nasrin
Published: November 2021

In this work, a numerical method is applied for obtaining numerical solutions of Fredholm two-dimensional functional linear integral equations based on the radial basis function (RBF). To find the approximate solutions of these types of equations, first, we approximate the unknown function as a finite series in terms of basic functions. Then, by using the proposed method, we give a formula for determining the unknown function. Using this formula, we obtain a numerical method for solving Fredholm two-dimensional functional linear integral equations. Using the proposed method, we get a system of linear algebraic equations which are solved by an iteration method. In the end, the accuracy and applicability of the proposed method are shown through some numerical applications.
A New Application of the Sumudu Transform for the Falling Body Problem
Authors: Akgül Esra Karatas , Akgül Ali , Alqahtani Rubayyi T.
Published: November 2021

In this study, we investigate the falling body problem with three different fractional derivatives. We acquire the solutions of the model by the Sumudu transform. We show the accuracy of the Sumudu transform by some theoretic results and implementations.
Biomarkers of Inflammation and Redox Imbalance in Umbilical Cord in Pregnancies with and without Preeclampsia and Consequent Perinatal Outcomes
Authors: Fragoso Marilene Brandão Tenório , Ferreira Raphaela Costa , Tenório Micaely Cristina dos Santos , Moura Fabiana Andréa , de Araújo Orlando Roberto Pimentel , Bueno Nassib Bezerra , Goulart Marília Oliveira Fonseca , de Oliveira Alane Cabral Menezes
Published: November 2021

Objective. To compare redox imbalance and inflammation biomarkers in umbilical cords from pregnancies with and without preeclampsia (PE) and to analyse their relationships with perinatal outcomes. Methods. A controlled cross‐sectional study was conducted in Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil, that involved pregnant women with PE and a group of women without the disease, through the application of a standardized questionnaire. After delivery, umbilical cord samples were collected to measure antioxidant defense, products from oxidative damage, and inflammation biomarkers such as myeloperoxidase (MPO), interleukin‐ (IL‐) 6, IL‐8, IL‐10, and tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α). Statistical analyses were performed using Stata version 13.0 software and IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 20.0, adopting a 95% confidence level (α = 0.05), with the chi‐square test, the Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney test, and the multinomial and Poisson regression tests. Results. One hundred PE pregnant women and 50 women without the disease were studied. The umbilical cords from PE pregnancies showed higher levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) (p ≤ 0.001), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (p = 0.016), and malondialdehyde (MDA) (p = 0.028) and lower levels of IL‐6 (p = 0.030) and TNF‐α (p ≤ 0.001) than the other group, with some associations among these biomarkers with perinatal outcomes. Conclusion. The higher levels of GSH and GPx, in addition to the lower levels of IL‐6 and TNF‐α, found in the PE umbilical cord, may result from adaptive mechanisms to maintain the oxidative and inflammatory balance; however, despite these changes, the damage to the cell membranes was not minimized, as the MDA level was higher in women with PE than in women without the disease. This implies that a redox imbalance is present, confirming that other physiological and adaptive mechanisms are being activated to preserve foetal health. Therefore, the present work unveils an important role of the umbilical cord in controlling redox imbalance and inflammation in PE pregnancies. Our results reinforce the necessity for continuous research on GSH as a protective compound for the perinatal outcome, especially in PE women.