bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exogenous γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Treatment Suppresses Ethylene Biosynthesis in Hardy Kiwifruit (Actinidia aruguta) During Postharvest Storage
Authors: Dong Haiqiang , Lan Qingqing , Zhou Yuwen , Zhou Yufei , Bao Zeyang , Wen Qingde , Xiang Chongjian , Zheng Caixia , Li Xu
Published: October 2022

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) plays an important role in plant development and postharvest properties of fruits. However, studies on regulation of kiwifruit ripening by GABA are scarce. Here, we evaluted physicochemical characters and the expression profile of genes related to ripening in hardy kiwifruit treated with exogenous GABA compared to control during postharvest storage period. The results showed that (1) exogenous GABA treatment not only improved the fruit quality but also inhibited respiration rate and ethylene production, as well as reduced the enzyme activities of ACC oxidase (ACO) and ACC synthase (ACS), via down-regulating the expression of AaACO1 and AaACO3, AaACS1 and AaACS2 during kiwifruit storage period; (2) on the one hand, overexpression of AaGAD1 or AaGAD4 gene which is involved in GABA biosynthesis inhibited ethylene production by reducing the enzyme activities of ACO and ACS, whereas silencing of AaGAD1 or AaGAD4 gene led to the reverse effect. On the other hand, overexpression of AaGAD1 or AaGAD4 decreased the expression levels of AaACO1 and AaACO3, AaACS1 and AaACS2, whereas silencing of AaGAD1 or AaGAD4 gene increased the expression levels of these four genes. Above all, our findings demonstrate that exogenous GABA treatment could improve the storage quality and extend the shelf life of kiwifruit, Additionally, the content of GABA was participated in the regulation of ethylene biosynthesis at the molecular level.
Acquisition and Visualization of Micro-Vibration of a Sound Wave in 3D Space
Authors: Sagawa Ryusuke , Higuchi Yusuke , Furukawa Ryo , Kawasaki Hiroshi ,   National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology Tsukuba Central 1, 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8560, Japan,   Graduate School of Information Science and Engineering, Kyushu University 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan,   Department of Informatics, Kindai University 1 Umenobe Takaya, Higashi-hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-2116, Japan
Published: October 2022

The acquisition of micro-vibrations is important for analyzing machinery. In the present study, we propose a method for measuring and visualizing the three-dimensional (3D) displacements of such micro-vibrations, especially in the case of sound waves propagating through space. The proposed method uses the speckle patterns of coherent light to measure the minute displacements. Speckle patterns are useful for detecting extremely small displacements owing to their sensitivity to the pose of the object. However, it is impossible to measure the displacement at each position because the pattern changes nonlinearly with respect to large depth changes. Therefore, a method of nonlinear low-dimensional embedding of the speckle pattern is proposed to analyze the displacements and extended to measure micro-displacements in a 3D space. We divided the 3D space into multiple slices and synchronously captured each speckle pattern. The displacements in the entire 3D space were simultaneously recovered by optimizing the embedded vectors, which were consistent in a 3D lattice. The propagation of sound waves in the 3D space was visualized using the volume-rendering technique. The experiments confirmed that the proposed method correctly measured the displacements by comparing them with the ground truth captured by microphones. We also visualized the wavefront of the sound wave propagating through space.
Multi-Thread AI Cameras Using High-Speed Active Vision System
Authors: Jiang Mingjun , Zhang Zihan , Shimasaki Kohei , Hu Shaopeng , Ishii Idaku ,   Innovative Research Excellence, Honda R&D Co., Ltd. Midtown Tower 38F, 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6238, Japan,   DENSO TEN Limited 1-2-28 Goshodori, Hyogo-ku, Kobe 652-8510, Japan,   Digital Monozukuri (Manufacturing) Education Research Center, Hiroshima University 3-10-32 Kagamiyama, Higashi-hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-0046, Japan,   Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University 1-4-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8527, Japan
Published: October 2022

In this study, we propose a multi-thread artificial intelligence (AI) camera system that can simultaneously recognize remote objects in desired multiple areas of interest (AOIs), which are distributed in a wide field of view (FOV) by using single image sensor. The proposed multi-thread AI camera consists of an ultrafast active vision system and a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based ultrafast object recognition system. The ultrafast active vision system can function as multiple virtual cameras with high spatial resolution by synchronizing exposure of a high-speed camera and movement of an ultrafast two-axis mirror device at hundreds of hertz, and the CNN-based ultrafast object recognition system simultaneously recognizes the acquired high-frame-rate images in real time. The desired AOIs for monitoring can be automatically determined after rapidly scanning pre-placed visual anchors in the wide FOV at hundreds of fps with object recognition. The effectiveness of the proposed multi-thread AI camera system was demonstrated by conducting several wide area monitoring experiments on quick response (QR) codes and persons in nature spacious scene such as meeting room, which was formerly too wide for a single still camera with wide angle lens to simultaneously acquire clear images.
High-Speed and Low-Latency 3D Fluorescence Imaging for Robotic Microscope
Authors: Yamato Kazuki , Iuchi Masatoshi , Oku Hiromasa ,   School of Engineering, Utsunomiya University 7-1-4 Yoto, Utsunomiya, Tochigi 321-8585, Japan,   Graduate School of Science and Technology, Gunma University 1-5-1 Tenjin-cho, Kiryu, Gunma 376-8515, Japan
Published: October 2022

In this study, we propose a high-speed and low-latency 3D fluorescence imaging method for robotic microscopes. The prototype system consists of a focus-tunable lens called a TAG lens, which operates at several hundred kHz, an image intensifier (I.I.) that enhances faint light such as fluorescence, and a high-speed vision system that can transfer acquired images to the host PC in 500 Hz. The proposed method can acquire images at arbitrary focal lengths at frame rates on the order of 1 kHz by synchronizing the focal-length fluctuation of the TAG lens and the exposure timing of the I.I., whose duration is a few hundred nanoseconds. The low-latency we aim for in this paper is on the order of a few milliseconds. A prototype system was developed to validate the proposed method. High-speed 3D tracking of the Brownian motion of a fluorescent bead of 0.5 μm diameter was demonstrated to verify the feedback performance of the proposed low-latency 3D fluorescence imaging method.
Analysis of New Orthopaedic Technologies in Large Database Research
Authors: Callaghan John J. , DeMik David E. , Carender Christopher N. , Bedard Nicholas A.
Published: October 2022

Improvements in orthopaedic surgery go hand in hand with technological advances. The present article outlines the historical and current uses of large databases and registries for the evaluation of new orthopaedic technologies, providing insights for future utilization, with robotic-assisted surgery as the example technology.
Motivating Santri to Choose Islamic Boarding Schools as a Means of Shaping Islamic Character
Authors: Khurriyah Ummil , Haryanto Budi
Published: October 2022

This study aims to determine, understand, and describe the motivation of students to choose Islamic boarding schools as a means of forming Islamic character and the most dominant motivational factors for students in Sungon Hamlet. This type of research is qualitative using a naturalistic approach. Sources of data obtained are primary and secondary data sources. Data collection techniques were carried out by means of observation, interviews and documentation. While the technique of data analysis and interpretation by means of data reduction, data presentation and data verification. The results of this study reveal that students choose Islamic boarding schools as a means of forming Islamic character because they get encouragement from their parents. In addition, there is self-motivation. Because every parent wants a child who has noble character, is good at the Koran, avoids negative actions and is able to know the teachings of Islam widely. Factors that motivate students to choose Islamic boarding schools as a means of character building are dominated by external factors. The factors that encourage students to choose Islamic boarding schools are factors from their parents and factors that grow from within themselves. So, it can be concluded that the factor that encourages students to continue their education in Islamic boarding schools and aims to build their character is that the majority of the encouragement comes from their parents.
Robert Halifax, an Oxford Calculator of Shadows
Authors: Lukács Edit Anna
Published: October 2022

In his commentary on Lombardʼs Sentences, question 1, Robert Halifax OFM presents a remarkably original and inventive optical argument. It compares two pairs of luminous and opaque bodies with two shadow cones until the luminous bodies reach the zenith. In placing two moving human beings into the shadow cones whose moral evolution parallels the size of the shadows, Halifax creates an unprecedented shadow theater equipped with mathematics and theorems of motion from Thomas Bradwardineʼs Treatise on Proportions. This paper is a first attempt at analyzing this imaginary experiment and the mathematics of the infinite it implies. It also shows that optics had new aims through its connexion with the theorems of motion of the Oxford Calculators.
SHARIAH COMPLIANT FIRMS AND RISK SHARING UNDER PANDEMIC ERA
Authors: Balli Faruk , Husman Jardine A.
Published: October 2022

In this paper we analyse the Shari’ah Compliant (here after SC) firms and how do they share the output risk under pandemic era. Firms that are accepted to be SC, have been exposed to financial ratio restrictions (like debt ratios, profit ratio or current assets). For those firm not able to use debt to eliminate the income shocks, It is expected that firms after a negative output shock would be reflected to shareholders.  In this paper, we measure to what extent SC firms share the risk of income shocks with the market and shareholders. Under pandemic era, SC firms have been exposed to substantial negative income shocks. For the sake of holding their SC certificates, debt leverage is not considered as an option but dropping (or cutting down) dividend payments would make the firms look bad, if they have not done it before.  At this stage, firms that have the flexibility to share their income shocks with both market and shareholders before, i.e, produce more on boom market and distribute more dividends and produce less on recession and distribute less dividends, are performed better – stock prices returned to original levels earlier-during the pandemic area.
DO ISLAMIC CRYPTOCURRENCIES PROVIDE DIVERSIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES TO INDONESIAN ISLAMIC INVESTORS?
Authors: Rizvi Syed Aun R. , Ali Mohsin
Published: October 2022

This study examines whether Islamic gold-backed cryptocurrencies (Onegram and X8X) provide any diversification benefits to the Islamic investors of Indonesia. We study the co-movements between return and volatility of cryptocurrencies and Indonesian Islamic equity indices during the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 periods. We employ Multivariate Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedastic-Dynamic Conditional Correlation (M-GARCH-DCC) and Continuous Wavelet Transforms (CWT) for this study. We find that the COVID-19 crisis enhanced the spillover effect among the Islamic gold-backed cryptocurrencies and Islamic equities. We also provide evidence that Indonesian investors may invest in cryptocurrencies to minimize the equity sector risks during the pandemic. Our results bear significant implications for portfolio diversification strategies for Indonesian investors.
DETERMINANTS OF IPO OVERSUBSCRIPTION ON ISLAMIC STOCKS: EVIDENCE FROM INDONESIA
Authors: Rasyad Azwar Aulia , Fianto Bayu Arie , Busser Rogier
Published: October 2022

This study aims to investigate factors that affect IPO oversubscription on Islamic stocks. Using data of 202 IPOs indexed from Indonesia Sharia Stock Index, this study uses ordinary least squaresand quantile regression to test the formulated hypothesis from 2011 to 2020. This study finds that issue price and issue size negatively affect IPO oversubscription. Meanwhile, firm size and raw return positively affect IPO oversubscription. The findings of this study offer implications forcompanies especially related to go public subscription. This study can be reference for investors as well when engage in IPO related activities for Islamic stocks.
EFFECT OF ISLAMIC FINANCIAL SYSTEM STABILITY ON ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE IN INDONESIA: EVIDENCE FROM DYNAMIC FACTOR MODEL AND NARDL APPROACHES
Authors: Law Siong Hook , Ridhwan Masagus M.
Published: October 2022

This study constructs the financial stability indexes of Islamic and conventional banking systems for Indonesia using the dynamic factor model. Both stability indexes are then linked to economic performance in Indonesia by employing a nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) model. We contribute to the literature by investigating the possibility of asymmetric linkages between both financial system stability indexes and economic performance. The financial stability indexes constructed and a broad range of macro-financial variables can capture the 2008-2009 global financial crisis and the 2020-2021 COVID-19 pandemic crisis periods. The most significant results posit that positive and negative shocks in Islamic financial stability in the long run increase and decrease economic performance, respectively. However, the financial stability of conventional banks is negatively associated with economic performance in the long run. The quantile regression results also demonstrate that Islamic financial stability is statistically significant throughout all quantiles in promoting economic performance.  It plays a greater role at lower quantiles and diminishes when the economic performance has been achieved at a high level. However, the conventional banking stability is a negative and significant determinant of economic performance throughout all quantiles. Results highlight that the stability of the financial system especially the Islamic financial system deepening would enhance economic performance.
Gold–Rare-Metal Mineralization of the Mokrundya Placer Deposit in Arctic Siberia, Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
Authors: Airiyants E.V. , Belyanin D.K. , Zhmodik S.M. , Ivanov P.O. , Kiseleva O.N.
Published: October 2022

—The Mokrundya alluvial-placer gold deposit is located in the Verkhoyansk–Kolyma folded region, within the Tuguchak ore–placer cluster. The authors used ore and scanning electron microscopy and chemical–analytical methods to study the typomorphic and mineralogic–geochemical features of gold, minerals of the heavy fraction of the placer, and ore mineralization of the dolerite dike complex stripped in the placer bedrock. Stages of development of the ore-forming system in dolerites have been established. The main productive periods with native gold are associated with the postmagmatic stages: (a) early arsenopyrite–polysulfide stage and (b) gold–bismuth–telluride stage. The latter is composed of bismuth tellurides and sulfotellurides, native gold, bismuth, maldonite AuBi2, and complex Au and Bi intermetallic compounds. The authors hypothesize the sources of placer gold in the alluvial deposits. One of them is the ore mineralization of the dolerite dike complex, and the other is associated with mineralized zones of the Gematitovoe skarn–hydrothermal ore occurrence in the upper reaches of the Mokrundya Stream.
Construção de conhecimento: Cidades Inteligentes
Authors: Fuchs Pablo , Stefenon Daniel
Published: October 2022

Este plano de aula tem por objetivo desenvolver junto uma sequência didática que possa proporcionar um entendimento sobre cidades inteligentes. Neste tocante, o desenvolvimento das aulas ocorrerá na forma de pesquisa em estudo de casos onde cidades do Brasil e do mundo desenvolveram algum tipo de direcionamento aos problemas urbanos atuais.
Van der Waals heterostructure mid-infrared emitters with electrically controllable polarization states and spectral characteristics
Authors: Chen Po-Liang , Chang Tian-Yun , Chen Pei-Sin , Chan Alvin Hsien-Yi , Rosyadi Adzilah Shahna , Lin Yen-Ju , Huang Pei-Yu , Li Jia-Xin , Li Wei-Qing , Hsu Chia-Jui , Na Neil , Lee Yao-Chang , Ho Ching-Hwa , Liu Chang-Hua
Published: October 2022

Modern infrared (IR) microscopy, communication, and sensing systems demand control of the spectral characteristics and polarization states of light. Typically, these systems require the cascading of multiple filters, polarization optics and rotating components to manipulate light, inevitably increasing their sizes and complexities. Here, we report two-terminal mid-infrared (mid-IR) emitters with electrically controllable spectral and polarization properties. Our devices are composed of two back-to-back p-n junctions formed by stacking anisotropic light-emitting materials, black phosphorus and black arsenic-phosphorus with MoS2. By controlling the crystallographic orientations and engineering the band profile of heterostructures, the emissions of two junctions exhibit distinct spectral ranges and polarization directions; more importantly, these two electroluminescence (EL) units can be independently activated, depending on the polarity of the applied bias. Furthermore, we show that when operating our emitter under the polarity-switched pulse mode, its EL exhibits the characteristics of broad spectral coverage, encompassing the entire first mid-IR atmospheric window (λ: 3–5 µm), and electrically tuneable spectral shapes. Our results provide the basis for developing groundbreaking technology in the field of light emitters.
Linalool as a novel natural factor enhancing ginsenoside production in hairy root cultures of American ginseng
Authors: Kochan Ewa , Szymańska Grażyna , Kwiatkowski Paweł , Sienkiewicz Monika
Published: October 2022

Ginsenosides are triterpenoid saponins that are accumulated in root of Panax qiunquefolius . These secondary metabolites have numerous pharmacological properties such as: antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammation, anticancer. They have been found to regulate the functioning of the nervous and endocrine systems, thus maintaining homeostasis. Root harvesting for ginsenoside extraction for the pharmaceutical industry destroys the entire plant, limiting its natural occurrence and consequently destroying biodiversity. The present study showed that hairy root cultures of P. quinquefolius , after using linalool as elicitor, can increase ginsenoside yield without the using of field-grown plants and independly to vegetative season.
The content of seven ginsenosides (Rb1, Rb2, Rb3, Rc, Rd, Rg1, Re) was determined. We found linalool to stimulate most studied saponin accumulation regardless of exposure time (24 and 72 hours). Shorter time of elicitation and 0.1 μM linalool in medium proved to be the optimum conditions for the highest increase in total saponin content (29% higher level that of untreated roots) and Rg-group metabolites (2.28 fold higher amount than untreated roots). Ginsenosides, belonging to protopanaxadiol derivatives, were found to have different dynamics of their content changes depending on linalool concentration . The highest increase over untreated roots was noted for compound Rd. Therefore, the elicitation with linalool can be an effective method of enhancing ginsenoside production in P. quinquefolium hairy root cultures cultivated in shake flasks.
Beyond network centrality: Individual-level behavioural traits for predicting and seeding information spreading in social media
Authors: Zhou Fang , Lü Linyuan , Liu Jianguo , Mariani Manuel Sebastian
Published: October 2022

Understanding the heterogeneous role of individuals for large-scale information spreading is essential to manage online behaviour as well as its potential offline consequences. To this end, most existing studies from diverse research domains focus on the disproportionate role played by highly-connected “hub” individuals. However, we demonstrate here that information spreading in online social media is best understood and predicted by simultaneously uncovering two individual-level behavioural traits: influence and susceptibility. Specifically, we derive a nonlinear network-based algorithm to quantify individuals’ influence and susceptibility from multiple spreading event data. By applying the algorithm to large-scale data from Twitter and Weibo, we demonstrate that both individuals’ influence and susceptibility are key determinants of peer-to-peer information propagation: neglecting one of the two properties leads to sub-optimal propagation predictions. We show that, as a consequence, considering both properties can significantly improve seeding policies aimed at broadly disseminating information.
Potential Risk of Proton Pump Inhibitors for Parkinson’s Disease: a Nationwide Nested Case-control Study
Authors: Jung Hye-Kyung , hong jitaek , Lee Kwang Jae , Gong Eun Jeong , Shin Cheol Min , Kim Jong Wook , Youn Young Hoon , Lee Bora
Published: October 2022

The role of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in Parkinson's disease (PD) remains unclear. Thus, from the Korean National Health Insurance Services Database, we identified patients newly diagnosed with PD from January 2010 to December 2019 (N = 31,326) and healthy controls matched (1:4 ratio) by age, sex, body mass index, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, and dementia (N = 125,304). Cumulative defined daily doses (cDDDs) of PPIs were extracted from treatment claims. A conditional logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association. We excluded patients with PD diagnosed within a 1-year lag period after PPI exposure and applied 2- and 3-year lag periods for sensitivity analysis. PPI use was associated with an increased PD risk when all lag periods were applied. There was a significant positive dose-response relationship between the cDDDs of PPIs and PD development; moreover, PPI use increased the risk of PD in patients aged ≥ 50 years but not those aged < 50 years.
Efficacy of ophthalmological curriculum in Kafrelsheikh University: awareness of retinoblastoma among medical students and fresh graduates
Authors: ELShafie Mohamed Ahmed , Abd-‎‎elkader‎ Mostafa Mahmod , Sr Azza Magdy , el-Ansarey Hussien Saad , Waly Mostafa Ahmed , Mohamed‎ Mayada Ali
Published: October 2022

Background: retinoblastoma (RB) is a rare inherited eye disease. Leukocoria is the first presenting sign of this disease. Early diagnosis is important to gain better life outcomes. We aim to assess Kafr Elsheikh university medical students' knowledge about retinoblastoma.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was performed using a web-based questionnaire to collect data. We analyzed the data using the SPSS program.
Results: we survived 235 medical students and graduates at Kafr Elsheikh university. Most participants (n=131, 55.7%) had sufficient knowledge about retinoblastoma, while 78 (33.2%) had poor knowledge. Only 26 (11.1%) had a proficient level. Almost all participants (99.6%) detected that the abnormal eye was due to disease. Nearly two-thirds (63%) thought that it was a life-threatening leukocoria. While (96.6%) knew that an ophthalmologist referral was the right thing to do. We found no significant differences between academic grades and test results (H= 1.093, P=.779). As well, no correlation was found between academic grades and results (r=.033, p=.086).
Conclusion: Retinoblastoma is a fatal disease that needs attention in developing countries. Early detection of RB is the key to successful management with a higher survival rate. All healthcare providers, particularly those who have direct contact with children, should receive comprehensive education to improve their clinical screening skills.
Panduratin A: a possible potential treatment for keloids identified by in vitro inhibition of fibroblast migration on scratch wound healing assays
Authors: Salakshna Nuntida , Thanasarnaksorn Wilai , Thanaboonsombat Khanya , Kanjanasirirat Phongthon , Jearawuttanakul Kedchin , Khumpanied Tanawadee , Borwornpinyo Suparerk , Hongeng Suradej
Published: October 2022

Background
Keloids are of utmost clinical concern with regard to the wound healing process caused by chronic inflammation. Today, many treatments have been executed but none have shown permanent results.
Objective
This study aims to find another possible keloid treatment using panduratin A, a phytochemical found in Boesenbergia rotunda (fingerroot) extract.
Materials and Methods
The effects of panduratin A on fibroblast proliferation and migration were assessed by scratch wound healing assays.
Results
Panduratin A inhibited wound closure in a dose-dependent manner. The wound region at 24 hours using 2.5, 5, 10, 20 µM panduratin A was significantly larger than the wound region of 0 µM panduratin A (3.6 x 106, 5.6 x 106, 6.5 x 106, 7.5 x 106 vs 1.8 x 106 µm2, p = 0.0011, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, respectively).
Discussion
Panduratin A inhibited fibroblast cell migration and proliferation. Many studies found that panduratin A inhibits the release of cytokines related to the pathogenesis of keloids; these include transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1).
Conclusion
These results propose that panduratin A could be a possible modality for inhibiting keloid formation.
miRNA-485 Regulates Th17 Generation and Pathogenesis in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis through Targeting STAT3
Authors: xue yumei , Zhang Lu , Guo Ruoyi , Shao Xi , Shi Mengya , Yuan Congcong , Li Xiaobing , Li Bin
Published: October 2022

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) refers to the T-helper (Th) cell-induced autoimmune disease causing demyelination, axonal loss, as well as neurodegeneration of central nervous system (CNS). EAE pathogenesis is highly dependent on T-helper 17 cells (Th17) that generate interleukin-17 (IL-17), and their activity and differentiation are tightly regulated by some cytokines and transcription factors (TFs). In the pathogenic mechanism of various autoimmune disorders, including EAE, certain miRNAs play a role. Our research detected a novel microRNA (miR) that can regulate EAE. According to the results, during EAE, the expression of miR-485 notably lowered while significant increase could be found through STAT3 expression. It was discovered that miR-485 knockdown in vivo upregulated Th17-associated cytokines while aggravating EAE, whereas miR-485 up-regulation down-regulated Th17-associated cytokines while mitigating EAE. The up-regulation of miRNA-485 in vitro inhibited Th17-associated cytokine expression within EAE CD4+T cells. Furthermore, as revealed by target prediction and dual-luciferase reporter assays, STAT3 was miR-485’s direct target, a gene that encodes a protein responsible for Th17 generation. Taken together, miRNAs exert vital functions in Th17 generation and EAE pathogenesis.
Mutant huntingtin oligomers drive early human pathogenesis in Huntington’s disease
Authors: Miguez Andrés , Gomis Cinta , Vila Cristina , Monguió-Tortajada Marta , Fernández-García Sara , Bombau Georgina , Galofré Mireia , García-Bravo María , Sanders Phil , Fernández-Medina Helena , Poquet Blanca , Salado-Manzano Cristina , Roura Santiago , Alberch Jordi , Segovia José Carlos , Allen Nicholas D. , Borràs Francesc E. , Canals Josep M.
Published: October 2022

Huntington's disease (HD) is an incurable inherited brain disorder characterized by massive degeneration of striatal neurons, which correlates with abnormal accumulation of misfolded mutant huntingtin (mHTT) protein. Research on HD has been hampered by the inability to study early dysfunction and progressive degeneration of human striatal neurons in vivo. To investigate human pathogenesis in a physiologically relevant context, we transplanted human pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) from control and HD patients into the striatum of newborn mice. Chimeric mice were subjected to behavioral testing and implanted human cells were examined by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Most hNPCs differentiated into striatal neurons that projected to their target areas and established synaptic connections within the host basal ganglia circuitry. Remarkably, HD human striatal neurons first developed mHTT oligomers, which primarily targeted endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and nuclear membrane to cause structural alterations. Furthermore, HD human cells secreted extracellular vesicles containing mHTT oligomers, which were internalized by non-mutated mouse striatal neurons triggering cell death. We conclude that interaction of mHTT oligomers with key cellular organelles initially drives disease progression in HD patients, and that mHTT oligomers within extracellular vesicles contribute to spread the disease in a non-cell autonomous manner.
The impact of JCI accreditation on the clinical, operational, and financial performance of Chinese private hospitals
Authors: Zhang HongFan , Chiu Herng-Chia , Shi Leiyu , Engineer Lilly , Bittle Mark J.
Published: October 2022

Background: Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation is well known as an international hospital accreditation body focused on improving the quality of health care and patient safety. Over 90% of JCI-accredited hospitals in China are private hospitals. Our study is the first one to examine the impact of JCI accreditation on Chinese private hospitals. The study objective was to assess the association between JCI accreditation and clinical, operational, and financial performance measures.
Methods: We used multiple-group interrupted time series analysis(ITSA) to compare intervention Hospital A and comparison Hospital B in terms of eight performance measures based on monthly observations over seven years from January 2015 to December 2021. The clinical quality measures used were the C-section rate, perineal incision rate, incidence of macrosomia, and preterm birth rate. The operational performance indicators were the number of outpatient visits and the number of deliveries. The financial performance measures were revenue and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation & amortization(EBITDA).
Results: P value of <0.05 was used for statistical significance. The regression analysis indicated that JCI accreditation significantly associated with the C-section rate, the number of outpatient visits, the number of deliveries, and revenue. However, JCI accreditation had no statistically significant association with the other three clinical measures, namely, the perineal incision rate, incidence of macrosomia, and preterm birth rate. No evidence demonstrated that JCI accreditation statistically associated with EBITDA.
Conclusions: This is the first study to evaluatethe impact of JCI accreditationon select clinical, operational, and financial performance measures in Chinese private hospitals, which account for over 90% of all JCI-accredited hospitals in China. JCI accreditation is significantly associated with a reduction in the C-section rate, an increase in revenue, and increased outpatient visits and deliveries. The associated external assessment promotes the continuous improvement of care quality and patient safety. Hospital management may use JCI accreditation as a management tool to drive integration, collaboration, and improvement.
Clinical trial registration: Not applicable
Genetic architecture of DCC and influence on psychological, psychiatric and cardiometabolic traits in multiple ancestry groups in UK Biobank
Authors: Strawbridge Rona , Forsyth Lewis , Cullen Breda , Graham Nicholas , Lyall Donald , Lyall Laura , Pell Jill , Ward Joey , Smith Daniel
Published: October 2022

People with severe mental illness have a higher risk of cardiometabolic disease than the general population. Traditionally attributed to sociodemographic and behavioural factors and medication effects, recent genetic studies have provided evidence of shared biological mechanisms underlying mental illness and cardiometabolic disease. This study aimed to determine whether signals in the DCC locus, implicated in cardiometabolic and psychiatric conditions, were shared with, or distinct. Using the UK Biobank cohort, we systematically assessed the impact of genetic variation in the DCC (deleted in colorectal carcinoma) locus on traits related to cardiometabolic and psychiatric conditions in unrelated “white British” participants (N = 402837). Logistic or linear regression were applied assuming an additive genetic model and adjusting for age, sex, genotyping chip and population structure (eight genetic principal components). Bonferroni correction for the number of independent SNPs within the locus was applied. Conditional analyses (including lead variants as covariates) and trans-ancestry analyses were used to investigate linkage disequilibrium between signals. Significant associations were observed between DCC variants and smoking, anhedonia, body mass index (BMI), neuroticism and mood instability, with multiple conditionally-independent signals being identified for the latter three traits. Conditional analyses and linkage disequilibrium structure suggested signals for smoking and BMI were distinct from each other and the mood traits, whilst individual mood traits were inter-related in a complex manner. Genetic variation in the DCC locus had distinct effects on BMI, smoking and mood traits, and therefore is unlikely to contribute to shared mechanisms underpinning mental and cardiometabolic traits.
Screen-printed electrochemically activated ink on stretchable fabric for wearable micro-supercapacitors
Authors: Li Xiaoyan , Lin Xiaoping , Zhang Zhihui , Li Xianghong , Zhang Wei , Song Kaili
Published: October 2022

Micro-supercapacitors (MSCs) have received a lot of attention with the rapid development of wearable, highly integrated and flexible electronics due to their high power density and long cycle life. Among the preparation methods, the screen printing is widely used due to its simplicity, low cost, integratability and ease of industrial production. However, the conductivity, rheology and printability of the ink are still required to be further optimized in order to improve the resolution and electrochemical properties of the printed patterns. And combining high energy capacity and wearability of micro-supercapacitors is also a big challenge. Therefore, a new water-based conductive ink is prepared herein to develop CO-CNT-MnO2-based micro-electrode on stretchable cotton/spandex fabric by screen printing. The CO-CNT-MnO2/F-based MSCs with forked finger structure are further assembled combined with PVA/LiCl, which achieve an area capacitance of 8.479 mF/cm2 at 10 mV/s and reach a maximum energy density of 0.132 mWh/cm2 at the power density of 0.176 mW/cm2. In addition, the MSC still has high capacitance retention under bending/friction/tensile conditions. This work highlights the great potential of the new water-based conductive ink for application of stretchable MSCs based on screen printing.
Experimental study and numerical simulation of cutting and tearing of silicone rubber using Extended Finite Element Method (XFEM)
Authors: Gzaiel Marwa , Triki Ennouri , BARKAOUI Abdelwahed , Chafra Moez
Published: October 2022

Failure of soft materials is a fundamental challenge due to the strongly nonlinear and dissipative deformation involved. An experimental and extended finite element study of dynamic crack in silicone rubber are investigated. Hence, material preparation procedures, details of sample as well as testing apparatus which have been used for cutting, pure shear tests are presented. First, the rate of energy restitution and an instantaneous propagation speed were achieved. The crack propagation speed / energy release rate relationships are given for the different strain rates. second, an analysis of the mechanical fields and stress state in the fracture process zone is proposed. Finally, cutting force evolution according to stretches is established. Then, an energy-based approach was introduced. Results show that the cutting force and the total cutting energy decreases significantly with increasing deformation rate.
Investigation of electrode combinations in electricity generation from the pulp and paper industry wastewater
Authors: Iqbal Humayun , Bhowmik Arup , Yasmin Sabina , Aziz Shahin , Islam Dipa , Jamal Mohammad Shah , Hossain Mosharof
Published: October 2022

Bioelectrochemical systems are a new secondary effluent treatment method where bacteria degrade industrial sludge and generate electricity for the external circuit. In this study, paper industry wastewater effluents were treated in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) by utilising six different sets of electrodes to produce bioelectricity. Bacterial biofilms were studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Investigation disclosed that zinc mesh and carbon plate (MFC-2) had the highest power generation as observed with 1193 mV of output voltage, 2.69 mA output current and 533 mW/m2 power density along with 92% BOD removal without electrolyte solution. The lowest 325 mV of output voltage, 0.15 mA of output current and 7.0 mW/m2 of power density with 37% removal of BOD were measured for MFC-3, which was constructed with Al mesh and carbon plate. A total of 1.0 M CuSO4.5H2O cathodic electrolyte solution was added in MFC-5 with zinc and copper plates as electrodes, which enhanced the power generation and BOD removal. The highest output voltage, current and power density were obtained for MFC-5 with the magnitude of 1185 mV, 4.79 mA and 939 mW/m2, respectively.
Validity of the Polar H10 for RR intervals acquisition during different conditions for heart rate variability analysis in ski mountaineers
Authors: Gąsior Jakub S. , Rosoł Maciej , Młyńczak Marcel , Gąsienica-Józkowy Maciej , Flatt Andrew , Baranowski Rafał , Werner Bożena
Published: October 2022

Wearable devices enable RR interval (RRi) measurements during various conditions. We aimed to assess the validity of the Polar H10 for RRi acquisition during pre-rest stabilization, rest, sympathetic nervous system activity stimulation and recovery conditions for heart rate variability (HRV) analysis in ski mountaineers. RRi were simultaneously obtained via electrocardiogram and the Polar H10 with V800 wrist-watch among eleven elite athletes in the supine position. Short-term (5-min) and ultra-short-term (1-min) heart rate (HR) and HRV parameters were analyzed. Mean absolute percentage difference between parameters from different devices ranged from 0% to 5.4%. Intraclass correlation and concordance correlations ranged between 0.76 and 1.00. Limits of agreement (LoA) for short-term measures did not exceed the defined maximum acceptable difference (SWC) through all conditions for mean RRi, HR, time-domain and nonlinear indices, and for frequency-domain (fast-Fourier-related) during the rest condition. LoA exceeded the SWC for mean, minimal and maximal HR, time-domain and nonlinear parameters from select 1-minute samples in all conditions. The Polar H10 provides RRi that could be used for short-and ultra-short-term HRV analysis from stable resting conditions in elite ski mountaineers. Ultra-short-term parameters from exercise should be analyzed with caution especially from later minutes of activity.
Clinical significance of prolymphocytes in Chinese patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia including those treated with BTK inhibitors
Authors: Xing Ling-Xiao , Wang Yan , Jin Ze , Sha Ye-Qin , Qiu Tong-Lu , Wang Li , Fan Lei , Zhu Hua-Yuan , Xu Wei , Li Jian-Yong , Miao Yi
Published: October 2022

Background
A higher percentage of prolymphocytes was reported to be associated with worse survival outcomes in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Therefore, we tried to explore the effect of prolymphocytes on the prognosis of CLL in a cohort of Chinese patients.
Methods
Three hundred untreated CLL patients were enrolled. The relevance of prolymphocyte percentage with other parameters was analyzed. Then an optimal cutoff of prolymphocyte percentage was provided by X-tile analysis. Further survival analysis and prognostic model construction were used to validate the predictive value of prolymphocyte percentage.
Results
Patients with a higher prolymphocyte percentage were more likely to present with advanced stages, higher β2-microglobulin, unmutated immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable region gene(IGHV), and tumor protein 53 gene(TP53) aberration. The optimal cutoff of the percentage of prolymphocytes was 1%. Prolymphocyte percentage showed a marginally independent prognostic effect on treatment free survival (TFS)(P = 0.071) and did not independently predict overall survival (OS) (P = 0.913) in multivariate analysis. Nomograms combining factors of CLL international prognostic index(CLL-IPI) and prolymphocyte percentage showed better discrimination and calibration in contrast with CLL-IPI alone. Besides, patients with a higher prolymphocyte percentage were more likely to progress or relapse after treatment with Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors(BTKi) (P = 0.038).
Conclusions
Prolymphocyte percentage was associated with various clinical and biological parameters as well as prognosis of treatment naïve CLL patients.
Propagation of Cyber-Attacks in Computer Network: A simulation study
Authors: Rawther Shiju , S Sathyalakshmi
Published: October 2022

The propagation of attacks of malicious objects in the computer network can be realized like the spreading of epidemic diseases such that each node of the complex computer network can be assigned to compartments with labels as Susceptible, Infectious, or Recovered nodes in such a way that the nodes can progress between these compartments. The computational model predicts how a cyber attack propagates in the network. In this paper, we use the compartmental epidemic model to investigate the temporary immunity of the nodes in a computer network, and the probabilistic simulation results validate the computational model.
FTIR-based Metabolomics Approach to Discriminate Soybeans from Different Geographical Origins of China
Authors: Xue Weifeng , Qin Zhaoqiu , Liu Ying , Bian Haitao , Dong Zhenlin , Zhang Haiqin
Published: October 2022

Origin traceability of soybeans using infrared spectroscopy is bound by data mining, which can be solved by metabolomics analysis. In this study, a novel infrared spectroscopy-based metabolomics approach via seeking ‘wave number markers’ was developed to achieve the discrimination of soybeans from ten different cities of China. Multivariate analytical procedures including principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were designed for separation of all soybean groups, which provides a possibility to discern ‘markers’ among groups. S-plot, permutation test and variable importance in projection (VIP) embedded in OPLS-DA model took on the screening of ‘markers’, which were further verified by pairwise t-test in univariate analysis. There are 27 ~ 330 ‘markers’ picked out in ten soybean groups, with the wave number range to be 761.882 ~ 956.693, 2430.308 ~ 2789.068, 974.052 ~ 1068.564, 1504.476 ~ 1554.626, 2796.783 ~ 3431.364, 3890.422 ~ 4000.364, 3805.554 ~ 4000.364, 761.882 ~ 819.747, 457.129 ~ 530.424 and 460.987 ~ 514.994 cm− 1, during which significantly high absorbance can be observed for No. 2 ~ No. 7 soybeans, but for No. 1 and No. 8 ~ No. 10 soybeans, we can observe significantly low absorbance. The results indicate that infrared spectroscopy coupled with metabolomics analysis is equal to origin traceability of soybeans, thus, it provides a novel and viable approach for the accurate and rapid discrimination of soybeans from different geographical origins.
Vertical niche differentiation of comammox Nitrospira in hydro-fluctuation zone soil of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region
Authors: Ding Hang , Zhou Mingzhi , Wang Yuchun , Hu Mingming , Wen Jie , Li Shanze , Bao Yufei , Zhao Jianwei
Published: October 2022

CMX NB can accomplish ammonia oxidation independently, and its niche differentiation holds a promise for its ecological and survival function. In this work, the vertical niche differentiation of comammox (CMX) Nitrospira bacteria (NB) was investigated in the soils of 6 hydro-fluctuation (HF) zones (both natural and artificial) in the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) Region. The results demonstrated that the level of clade A amoA was obviously reduced with the increasing soil depth in the natural HF zone and one of the artificial HF zones. However, in the other two artificial HF zones, the abundance of this gene was not dramatically reduced along the depth. The level of clade B amoA was not markedly decreased with the increasing soil depth in most HF zones, and remained stable in three HF zones. Total nitrogen had the most significant effect on the abundance of CMX NB. Clade A.1, A.2.1, A.2.2, A.3, and B of CMX NB co-occurred simultaneously in all HF zones. The number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of clade A in the two types of HF zones was first elevated and then reduced with the increasing depth, whereas the number of OTUs of clade B was continuously increased with depth in the artificial HF zone. pH and total carbon (TC), as environmental factors, affected the community structure of CMX NB. This study confirmed the vertical differentiation of the abundance and diversity of CMX NB in the HF zone of the TGR area, and the artificial restoration of the HF zone affected the niche differentiation of CMX NB to a certain degree.
Research on the redesign of China's intangible cultural heritage based on sustainable livelihood——the case of Luanzhou’s Shadow Puppetry Empowering its Rural Revitalization
Authors: Sun Li , Wang Zeyi , Li Jiangnan , Liu Weishang , Zhang Shuo , Wu Jiantao
Published: October 2022

Motivation：Rural revitalization is a development strategy proposed in 2017 to solve the issues relating to agriculture, rural areas and farmers in China, and the redesign of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) with Chinese characteristics can maintain the sustainability of rural revitalization.
Purpose：This study attempts to construct a development framework for rural-based ICH redesign through the sustainable livelihood theory in order to realize rural revitalization.
Methodology: Taking Luanzhou Shadow Puppetry as an example, this study examines the factors that affect livelihood capital using questionnaires, investigates the hierarchy of cultural and design capital, and identifies effective design strategies to support the economic, social, and cultural development in rural areas.
Conclusions: The findings demonstrate how the development of ICH and rural rehabilitation can be facilitated by combining cultural capital with design capital. Such a combination is also applicable to the creative transformation of ICT resources in other villages, and can thus offer some insights to the study on rural revitalization