bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Calcaneous interlock-nail treatment for Calcaneous fracture: a multiple center retrospective study
Authors: Peng Ye , Wang Junsong , Feng Bo , Li Yunshou , Zhu Yunlong , Yuan Weiqing , Teng Lei , Zhu Chengming , Shi Bin , Zhang Lihai
Published: June 2022

Background
Minimally invasive treatments for calcaneous fractures have the same outcomes and fewer complications. However, they are technically demanding, and there are a lack reduction tools. To overcome these problems, a calcaneous interlock nail system was developed that can make reduction and fixation minimally invasive and effective. We retrospectively studied the calcaneous fracture variables intraoperatively and followed up to evaluate the outcomes of patients treated with the interlock nail system.
Methods
All patients in 7 institutions between October 2020 and May 2021 who had calcaneous fractures treated with interlock nails were retrospectively analyzed. The patient characteristics, including age, sex, injury mechanism, Sanders type classification, smoking status, and diabetes, were recorded. The interlock calcaneous nail and standard surgical technique were introduced. The intraoperative variables, including days waiting for surgery, surgery time, blood loss, incision length, and fluoroscopy time, were recorded. The outcomes of complications, AOFAS scores and VAS scores were recorded.
Results
Fifty-nine patients were involved in this study; 54 were male; 5 were female; and they had an average age of 47.5 ± 9.2 years (range 25–70). Two of these fractures were Sanders type I, 28 of these fractures were Sanders type II, 27 of these fractures were Sanders type III, and 2 of these were Sanders type IV. The surgery time was 131.9 ± 50.5 (30–240) minutes on average. The blood loss was 36.9 ± 41.1 (1-250). The average incision length was 3.5 ± 1.8 (1–8) cm; 57 were sinus tarsi incisions; and 2 were closed fixations without incisions. The average fluoroscopy time was 12.3 ± 3.6 (10–25) seconds during the surgery. The VAS score of patients on the day after surgery was 2.4 ± 0.7 (1–3). The AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score in patients who had a follow-up of at 12 months was 93.3 ± 3.6(85–99). During the follow-up, all patients’ functional outcomes were good. One patient had a superficial infection. The rate of complications of the 59 patients was 1.7% (1/59).
Conclusions
The calcaneous interlock nail system can have satisfactory reduction and fixation in calcaneous fractures, even in Sanders type IV. The outcomes of follow-up showed good function. The interlock nail could be an alternative method for minimally invasive calcaneous fracture fixation.
Rotational Stability and Clinical Effects of Different Toric ICL Placements: A Case- Control Study
Authors: zhu qiu-jian , Xing Xiao-Ying , Zhu Wei-Jian , Zhu Man-Hui , Ma Lie , Yuan You
Published: June 2022

Background
To compare the visual and refractive outcomes, vault, and rotational stability between horizontal and vertical toric implantable collamer lens (ICL) placement.
Methods
This retrospective case-control study comprised 36 eyes of 36 patients with vertical toric ICL placement and 36 eyes of 36 patients with horizontal placement. The two groups were matched strictly 1:1 from January 2020 to October 2020. The visual acuity, vault, manifest refraction, efficacy index (EI), safety index (SI), vector analysis, and rotational stability were compared between the two groups.
Results
Residual astigmatism in the vertical group was slightly smaller than that in the horizontal group (P = 0.024), and the index of success (IOS) was slightly greater in the vertical group than in the horizontal group (P = 0.013). Furthermore, the vault was significantly higher in the horizontal placement group than in the vertical placement group (P < 0.001). Compared to the preoperative design, the absolute degree of rotation at 3 months postoperatively was 3.44° ± 2.72° for the horizontal group and 4.83° ± 2.93° for the vertical group. However, if the reference was changed to 2 hours postoperatively, the absolute rotation degree was 1.81° ± 1.84° for the horizontal placement group and 1.97° ± 1.70° for the vertical placement group. There was no significant difference in other parameters between the two groups.
Conclusions
Vertical placement of a toric ICL can have clinical effects and rotational stability as good as those with horizontal placement. Moreover, compared with horizontal placement, vertical placement can effectively reduce vault.
A retrospective study of the risk factors for linezolid - induced haematological toxicity in Chinese patients
Authors: Mo Kai , Cao Wen , Lu YaTing , Qin YanE , Li JuMan , Liang YingE , Wei RuHua , Zhong Hui , Xiaobu Lan
Published: June 2022

Purpose: To investigate the risk factors of linezolid-induced haematological toxicity in hospitalized patients.Methods: In this retrospective, single-center, observational cohort study, patients underwent linezolid TDM trough concentration (Cmin) during treatment between January 2020 and December 2021 were analysed.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to investigate the relevant risk variables, and a relative operating characteristic (ROC) curve was generated to predict clinical characteristics. Results: A total of 111 valid individuals were studied, among which 47 were diagnosed with linezolidine-related thrombocytopenia and 18 were diagnosed with linezolidine-related hemoglobin decrease, respectively. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that creatinine clearance level (Ccr) <50 ml/min/1.73 m2 [OR, 5.463; 95% Cl, 1.249-23.888, P=0.024] and the plasma trough concentration >7mg/L [OR, 62.660; 95% Cl, 14.293-274.708, P=0.001] were risk factors associated with thrombocytopenia induced by linezolid. The area under the ROC curve of linezolid plasma trough concentration was 0.955, the Youden index was 0.837 at the maximum, and the corresponding critical value was 6.94 mg/L, with a sensitivity of 91.5% and a specificity of 92.2%. Moreover, Ccr <50 ml/min/1.73 m2 [OR, 7.282; 95% Cl, 1.765-30.048, P=0.006] and the plasma trough concentration >7mg/L[OR, 6.364; 95% Cl, 1.937-20.910, P=0.020] were closely related to linezolid related hemoglobin reduction. The area under the ROC curve of linezolid plasma trough concentration was 0.755, the Youden index was 0.477 at the maximum, and the corresponding critical value was 7.53 mg/L, with a sensitivity of 77.8% and a specificity of 69.9%. Conclusion: Renal insufficiency is a related risk factor for linezolid-induced haematological toxicity. It is recommended that patients treated with linezolid should monitor blood routine and plasma concentration, especially in patients with moderate or severe renal insufficiency. Plasma trough concentration of linezolid could be a suitable predictor for linezolid-related thrombocytopenia and anemia.
An effective selenium-based fluorescence chemosensor for selective recognition of Hg2+ in aqueous medium: experimental and theoretical studies
Authors: - Puthiyavalappil Rasin , - Moideen Musthafa , Sreekant Anandaram
Published: June 2022

We introduce a novel selenium-based compound [N-(Phenylcarbamoselenoyl) furan-2-carboxamide] for the optical and fluorimetric detection of Hg in an aqueous medium. The synthesized compound was characterized by different spectroscopic methods. The designed chemosensor FSU has shown a significant fluorescence quenching when Hg2+ ions were added to the sensing medium. Furthermore, Hg2+ ions provoked a 2:1 complex formation with the chemosensor FSU. It is found that the compound offers high selectivity over a variety of cations such as Co2+, Cr3+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Mg2+, Hg2+, Cd2+, Ca2+, Mn2+, Ga3+, Pb2+, Na+, Fe2+ and K+. The detection limit was calculated as 7.35×10-7 M. Also, FSU shows appreciable binding affinity towards Hg2+ ions with a binding constant value of 1.413×103 M-1. The ICT mechanism of mercury sensing was confirmed with spectroscopic techniques and DFT studies. Density functional theory was also implemented to investigate the structure of the Hg2+ complex and its electronic distribution in the aqueous medium. Finally, an MEP study was also carried out to obtain detailed information about the surface characteristics of the chemosensor FSU. Effectively, we have reported a potent chemosensor for Hg2+ in the aqueous medium.
Abrasive fluidized bed finishing of additive manufactured cobalt-chrome parts: effects on surface morphology and fatigue behaviour
Authors: Atzeni Eleonora , Genna Silvio , Salmi Alessandro , Trovalusci Federica , Rubino Gianluca
Published: June 2022

The possibility of processing cobalt-chrome parts by additive manufacturing opens the way to the production of complex net-shaped parts able to withstand high loads and at the same time resist to corrosive environment or thermal loads. However, the surface morphology typical of additive manufactured parts could be detrimental to the fatigue life, and finishing operations become necessary. In this paper, the adoption of abrasive fluidized bed (AFB) processing as finishing solution is explored, and the effect of the main process parameters, namely the abrasive type, treatment time and the rotational speed, on morphological features and fatigue life is investigated. Field emission gun-scanning electron microscopy and contact gauge profilometry showed an improvement in sample finishing due to the AFB process. The advantages in surface properties were related to an increase in fatigue life. The experimental results show that AFB has a beneficial effect both on finishing and fatigue behavior of additively manufactured components, a smoother surface was obtained and the crack initiation during fatigue tests was retarded.
Stable and efficient expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in tobacco chloroplasts
Authors: Wang Yunpeng , Xu Nuo , Fan Jieying , Wei Zhengyi , Xin Wen , xing shaochen
Published: June 2022

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a factor with many functions such as acceleration of cell proliferation and differentiation and is therefore widely used in clinical applications. In this study, an expression vector named pWYP23402 having a codon-optimized BDNF gene was constructed and transferred into chloroplasts of tobacco by gene-gun. After three or four rounds of selection with proper spectinomycin, BDNF was integrated into the chloroplast genome of homoplastomic plants confirmed by PCR and Southern hybridization. ELISA assay indicated that BDNF fused with GFP represented approximately 15.72%±0.33% of total soluble protein in the leaves of transplastomic plants. Moreover, the chloroplast-derived BDNF displayed similar biological activity to the commercial product. This is the first case report of BDNF expression by chloroplast transformation in this model plant, supplying an additional pathway for the production of chloroplast-expressed therapeutic proteins.
Elevated eosinophils as predictor of immune-related adverse events after ipilimumab and nivolumab treatment of advanced and metastatic renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Tasaki Yoshihiko , Hamamoto Shuzo , Sugiyama Yosuke , Tomiyama Nami , Naiki Taku , Etani Toshiki , Taguchi Kazumi , Iwatsuki Shoichiro , Matsuyama Nayuka , Sue Yasuhito , Mimura Yoshihisa , Odagiri Kunihiro , Kubota Hiroki , Noda Yusuke , Hashimoto Yoshihiro , Sakakura Tsuyoshi , Aoki Maria , Ikegami Yosuke , Kobayakawa Yuki , Moritoki Yosinobu , Nozaki Satoshi , Takeda Tomoki , Kurokawa Satoshi , Okada Atsushi , Kawai Noriyasu , Yasui Takahiro , Kimura Kazunori
Published: June 2022

Ipilimumab and nivolumab treatment against advanced and metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cause severe and lethal immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Predicting irAEs might improve clinical outcomes, however no practical biomarkers exist. This study examined whether eosinophils could be effective biomarkers for irAEs in RCC. We retrospectively analyzed 75 patients with RCC treated with ipilimumab and nivolumab between August 2018 and March 2021 in a multicenter study. The median overall and progression-free survival of patients who experienced irAEs (irAE group) were longer than those of the non-irAE group. Grade ≧2 irAEs were associated with poor mPFS. The eosinophil level two weeks after treatment was significantly elevated in the irAEs compared to non-irAE group (mean, 3.0% vs. 5.7%; P < 0.05). The receiver operating characteristic curve revealed the optimal cutoff value for eosinophil levels against ≧grade 2 irAEs two weeks after treatment was 3.0% (area under the curve=0.699). In multivariate analyses, an eosinophil level ≧3.0% was a risk factor for ≧grade 2 irAEs (odds ratio 4.18, 95% confidence interval 1.16–15.1). An increased eosinophil level two weeks after treatment might be an effective biomarker for ≧grade 2 irAEs in patients with RCC treated with ipilimumab and nivolumab.
Controlling blooms of Planktothrix rubescens by optimized metalimnetic water withdrawal: a modelling study on adaptive reservoir operation
Authors: Mi Chenxi , Hamilton David P. , Frassl Marieke A. , Shatwell Tom , Kong Xiangzhen , Boehrer Bertram , Li Yiping , Donner Jan , Rinke Karsten
Published: June 2022

Background: Aggregations of cyanobacteria in lakes and reservoirs are commonly associated with surface blooms, but may also occur in the metalimnion as subsurface or deep chlorophyll maxima. Metalimnetic cyanobacteria blooms are of great concern when potentially toxic species, such as Planktothrix rubescens, are involved. Metalimnetic blooms of P. rubescens have apparently increased in frequency and severity in recent years, so there is a strong need to identify reservoir management options to control it. We hypothesized that P. rubescens blooms in reservoirs can be suppressed using selective withdrawal to maximize its export from the reservoir. We also expect that altering the light climate can affect the dynamics of this species. We tested our hypothesis in Rappbode Reservoir (the largest drinking water reservoir in Germany) by establishing a series of withdrawal and light scenarios based on a calibrated water quality model (CE-QUAL-W2). Results: The novel withdrawal strategy, in which water is withdrawn from a certain depth below the surface within the metalimnion instead of at a fixed elevation relative to the dam wall, significantly reduced P. rubescens biomass in the reservoir. According to the simulation results, we defined an optimal withdrawal volume to control P. rubescens blooms in the reservoir as approximately 10 million m3 (10% of the reservoir volume) during its bloom phase. The results also illustrated that P. rubescens growth can be most effectively suppressed if the metalimnetic withdrawal is applied in the early stage of its rapid growth, i.e., before the bloom occurs. Additionally, our study showed that P. rubescens biomass gradually decreased with increasing light extinction and nearly disappeared when the extinction coefficient exceeded 0.55 m-1. Conclusion: Our study indicates the rise in P. rubescens biomass can be effectively offset by selective withdrawal strategy and controlling light intensity beneath the water surface. Considering the widespread occurrence of P. rubescens in stratified lakes and reservoirs worldwide, we believe the results will be helpful for scientists and water managers working on other water bodies to minimize the negative impacts of this harmful algae.
Development of accreditation standards for midwifery clinical education in Iran
Authors: Abedian Sara , Javadnoori Mojgan , Montazeri Simin , Khosravi Shahla , Ebadi Abbas , Nikbakht Roshan
Published: June 2022

Background
Improving the quality of clinical education leads to the training of competent and professional staff. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to effective clinical education standards. The present study was designed to develop accreditation standards for midwifery clinical education in Iran.
Methods
This study was performed in two phases. In the first phase, accreditation standards for midwifery clinical education in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia and the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) were thoroughly examined through a narrative review study in 2021. In the second phase, a qualitative study with a directed content analysis approach was conducted. The axes extracted from the first phase were used as a framework and guide in this phase. The study population consisted of senior midwifery managers, faculty members of midwifery departments with a background in clinical teaching, clinical midwifery instructors, and final year undergraduate midwifery students (n = 15). Participants were selected by purposive sampling method, and data collection was continued until data saturation.
Results
The results of extracting the standards and accreditation criteria of midwifery schools from the review study were divided into 6 areas: Mission and goals; Curricula; Clinical instructors; Students, Clinical setting; and Assessment. These axes were used as a guide in formulating questions and conducting semi-structured interviews in the second phase. Data analysis in this phase led to the extraction of 131 codes, which were divided into 35 sub-subcategories, 15 sub-categories and 6 main categories.
Conclusion
If implemented, integrated and localized standards of clinical midwifery education in Iran is promising in improving the quality of clinical education programs.
Preoperative Factors Analysis on Root Development after Regenerative Endodontic Procedures: a Retrospective Study of 116 Cases
Authors: Zeng Qian , Zhang Jianying , Guo Jiang , Liu Shuya , Yang Maobin , Lin Jiacheng
Published: June 2022

Background Regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs) has achieved clinical success on the immature permanent teeth with pulp necrosis, and can promote root development. However, preoperative factors and their effects on root development of REPs have not been definitely concluded. The aim of this study was to investigate the preoperative factors that may influence the root development of REPs.Methods A total of 116 teeth in 110 patients treated with REPs in the Paediatric Dentistry Department and Endodontics Department from 2013 to 2017 were included in this study. Factors including aetiology, age, preoperative diagnosis and initial root morphology were collected retrospectively, and the associations between these factors and root development after REPs were analysed by Fisher's exact test and multivariate logistic regression model.Results The overall rate of root development after REPs was 89.7%. The dens evaginatus group showed a higher rate (98.8%) in root development than the trauma group (67.6%) (P<0.01). There was no significant difference among the different age groups (7-13 years old) or among different preoperative diagnoses regarding root development (P>0.05). And it showed in the trauma group that the teeth with apical foramen sizes larger than 3 mm obviously continued root development than those smaller than 3 mm (P<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression indicated that aetiology was significantly correlated with root development of REPs (OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 0.007, 0.627, P<0.05).Conclusions Within the limitation of the present study, aetiology was correlated with the root development of REPs and the REPs achieved better outcomes in the cases caused by dens evaginatus than the trauma cases.
A Human Pan-Cancer System Analysis of Regulator of Chromatin Condensation 2
Authors: Gong Siming , Wu Hao , Wu Changwu , Duan Yingjuan , Wu Panfeng , Tang Juyu , Fu Jinfei
Published: June 2022

Regulation of chromosome condensation 2 (RCC2) is associated with the cell cycle and is a crucial regulator of the chromatin condensation 1 (RCC1) family. The members of this family were normally regulators in the process of DNA replication and nucleocytoplasmic transport. RCC2 overexpression may lead to tumor formation and poor prognosis in some tumors including breast cancer and lung adenocarcinoma. However, the possible role of RCC2 in tumor formation and its prognostic function remains unclear. In this study, expression analysis from databases including The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC) were combined to perform the first integrative and comprehensive analysis of RCC2 in human pan-cancer. RCC2 was high expressed in most tumors which may lead to poor prognosis. RCC2 expression was associated with immune/stromal infiltration, immune checkpoints, tumor mutational burden, and microsatellite instability. Thus, RCC2 could be a novel biomarker for prognosis and a promising cancer therapy target.
Association between oral cavity cancer and metabolic syndrome
Authors: Choi Gang Won , Cheong Hyeon-Kyoung , Choi Soo Young , Lee Young Chan , Oh In-Hwan , Eun Young-Gyu
Published: June 2022

Purpose
Few studies have been conducted on the association between oral cavity cancer and metabolic diseases. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between oral cavity cancer and metabolic diseases.
Methods
This cohort study used the database of the Korean National Health Insurance Service, which contains medical data of 97% of the Korean population. Oral cavity cancer occurred in a total of 2,718 patients. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to IDF criteria. The Cox proportional hazard regression model was used.
Results
The HR for oral cavity cancer in patients with metabolic syndrome was 1.113(95% CI, 1.006–1.232), which was significantly higher than that in normal patients, especially in males (p = 0.0386). When the number of metabolic syndrome factors was ≥ 3, the HR of oral cavity cancer was 1.191(95% CI, 1.026–1.383), which was significantly higher than that of 0 metabolic syndrome factors, especially in males (p = 0.0218). When the number of metabolic syndrome factors was ≥ 3, the HR for oral cavity cancer was 1.439(95% CI, 1.066–1.942), which was significantly higher than that of 0 metabolic syndrome factors, especially in males aged < 50 years (p = 0.0173).
Conclusion
Metabolic syndrome increases the risk of oral cavity cancer only in males. In addition, the incidence of oral cavity cancer increased as the number of factors constituting metabolic syndrome increased, only in young males aged < 50 years. Thus, metabolic syndrome is an important risk factor for oral cavity cancer, particularly in young males.
A nomogram prognostic model for clinical stage IA NSCLC: based on SEER databases
Authors: Xu Bingchen , Ye Ziming , Zhu Lianxin , Xu Chunwei , Lu Mingjian , Wang Qian , Yao Wang , Zhu Zhihua
Published: June 2022

Background: The aim of this study was to establish and validate a nomogram model for accurate prediction of patients’ survival with T1aN0M0 none small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods: The patients, diagnosed with the stage IA NSCLC from 2004-2015, were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. The variables with a P value < 0.05 in a multivariate Cox regression were selected to establish the nomogram. The discriminative ability of the model was evaluated by the concordance index(C-index). The proximity of the nomogram prediction to the actual risk was depicted by a calibration plot. The clinical usefulness was estimated by the decision curve analysis (DCA). Survival curves were made with Kaplan-Meier method and compared by Log-Rank test. Result: Eight variables, including treatment, age, sex, race, marriage, tumor size, histology and grade were selected to develop the nomogram model by univariate and multivariate cox regression. The C-index was 0.704 (95%CI, 0.694 to 0.714) in the training set and 0.713 (95%CI, 0.697 to 0.728) in the test set, which performed significantly better than 8th edition AJCC TNM stage system (0.550, 95% CI, 0.408-0.683, P<0.001). The calibration curve showed that the prediction ability of 3-years and 5-years survival rate demonstrated a high degree of agreement between the nomogram model and the actual observation. The DCA curves also proved that the nomogram-assisted decisions could improve patient outcomes. Conclusions: We established and validated a prognostic nomogram to predict 3-years and 5-years overall survival in stage IA NSCLC.
Utilizations of Reaction Exothermic heat to Compensate The Cost of The Permanent CO2 Sequestration through the Geological Mineral CO2 Carbonation
Authors: Ouyang Mingwei , Cao Yan
Published: June 2022

Many climate change events related to the carbon emissions push the worldwide action on the CO2 sequestration to achieve the carbon neutrality. Among of them, the must-do list includes the CO2 geological storage which has potentials on the leakage of the sequestrated CO2 back to atmosphere. The new "geological mineral CO2 carbonation” provides an alternative routine to rapidly sequester CO2 by means of chemical reactions, and thus to permanently store CO2 as the stable carbonates. The exothermic nature of the mineral carbonation reaction can release recoverable heat which can potentially compensate the energy consumption during the CO2 sequestration. This study mainly addresses a two-dimensional model on the geological mineral CO2 carbonation (herein the geological formation of peridotite), by which effects of temperature conditions on the reaction rate and their quantity of the sequestrated CO2 and exothermic heat energy are discussed. Results reveals a typical case of the average temperature elevation of peridotite by over 60 oC (reaching 248oC) after 2 years, in case of the initial temperature of the geological peridotite formation at 185oC and that of the fluid inflow CO2 at 37oC. In this typical case, the average CO2 sequestration rate in peridotite can achieve 123.71 kg/(year·m³), meaning that the permanent sequestration of CO2 generated from a 600 MW coal-fired power plant within its 20-year operation only demands a geological peridotite formation of 1 km 2 in its area and 160 m in its thickness. By changing both the fluid inflow temperature and the initial peridotite temperature to be 110 ~ 150oC, the average CO2 sequestration rate can be increased by 29 ~ 45% compared to that in the typical case, and leads to a temperature rise of 81 ~ 125oC after 2 years, achieving a high-temperature geothermal condition which the temperature is greater than 150oC. This heat production from the geological mineral CO2 carbonation can profitably compensate the energy consumption in the carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects via the geological mineral CO2 carbonation, leading a shift of an expense in $25.041/t CO2 in China (the current general case) to an earning in $24.096/t CO2 in a best case at the price of the global carbon emission allowance converge.
Massive expansion of P-selectin genes in two Venerida species, Sinonovacula constricta and Mercenaria mercenaria: evidence from comparative genomics of Bivalvia
Authors: Xu Yuanfeng , Dong Xumeng , Ma Shuonan , Luo Cheng , Xu Jilin
Published: June 2022

Background: P-selectin is an adhesion molecule participating in the inflammatory response essential for wound repair. However, studies regarding P-selectin in Bivalvia are rare. This study identified 90 P-selectin genes among nine bivalve genomes and classified them into 4 subfamilies according to phylogenetic analysis. Results: Notable P-selectin gene expansion was observed in two Venerida species, Sinonovacula constricta and Mercenaria mercenaria. The synteny analysis revealed that P-selectin gene expansion was mostly caused by tandem duplication. In addition, the expression profiles of P-selectin genes in S. constricta showed that many P-selectins were specifically highly expressed in the gills, and the P-selectin expression patterns changed dramatically under low salt stress and ammonia nitrogen stress. Conclusions: The massive expansion of P-selectins may facilitate the tolerance to environmental stresses. This study sheds light on the characterizations and expression profiles of P-selectin genes in Bivalvia and provides an integrated framework for further investigation of the role of P-selectins in the environmental tolerance of bivalves.
In vitro screening of non-antibiotic components to mitigate intestinal lesions caused by Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, Lawsonia intracellularis and Salmonella enterica serovar
Authors: de Groot Nienke , Meneguzzi Mariana , de Souza Barbara , Costa Matheus de O.
Published: June 2022

Swine dysentery, ileitis, and porcine salmonellosis are production-limiting diseases global importance in swine production. They are caused by infection with Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, Lawsonia intracellularis, and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, respectively. Currently, the prevention, treatment, and control of these diseases still rely on antimicrobials. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of four commercially available non-antimicrobial compounds in preventing lesions caused by the bacteria cited above using an in vitro intestinal culture model. A total of five pigs per pathogen were used and multiple compounds were evaluated. For compounds F (a fungal fermented rye), S (a blend of short and medium chain fatty acids) and P (a synergistic blend of short and medium chain fatty acids, including coated butyrates) a total of 4 explants/pig for each treatment were used, while for compound D (an extract of carob and thyme) only 12 explants/pig for each treatment were used. Explants were exposed to a combination of pathogen only (n = 4/compound/pig), compound only (n = 4/compound/pig) or pathogen and compound (n = 4/compound/pig) and sampled a two time-points. Histopathology and gene expression levels were evaluated to investigate the treatment effect on explants. Short and medium-chain fatty acids, and an extract of carob and thyme can mitigate lesions due to B. hyodysenteriae exposure. A fungal fermented prebiotic increased healthy epithelial coverage when explants were exposed to L. intracellularis or S. Typhimurium. These findings are a step towards finding alternatives to antimicrobials usage and control of swine dysentery, ileitis, and salmonellosis in pork production.
In-silico molecular modeling studies to identify novel Potential inhibitors of HPV E6 protein
Authors: Soumia Moujane , Hajji Halima , khatabi Khalil El , Mzibri Mohamed El , Younesd Filali Zegzouti , Mohammed Bouachrine , Mohameda Benlyas , Benaissa Moualij
Published: June 2022

The etiological agent of some anogenital tract cancers is infection with the high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV). Currently, prophylactic vaccines against HPV have been validated, but the presence of drug treatment directed against the infection and its oncogenic effects remain essential. Among the best drug targets, oncoprotein E6 has been identified as a key factor in cell immortalization and tumor progression in HPV-positive cells. E6, through interaction with the cellular ubiquitin ligase E6AP, can promote the degradation of p53, a tumor suppressor protein. Therefore, suppression of the creation of the E6-E6AP complex is one of the essential strategies to inhibit the survival and proliferation of infected cells. In the present study, we proposed an in-silico approach for the discovery of small molecules with inhibitory activity on the E6-E6AP interaction. The first three compounds (F0679-0355, F33774-0275, and F3345-0326) were selected based on virtual screening and prediction of the ADME properties of the molecules and the docking with E6 protein, likewise, their stability in the docked E6 complex and their effect in inhibiting the E6-E6AP interaction was determined. In contrast, the identified molecules were selected. Their stability in the E6 complex and their inhibitory effect on the E6-E6AP interaction were confirmed by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Hence, the identified molecules represent a good starting point for the development of anti-HPV drugs.
Treadmill exercise promotes E3 ubiquitin ligase to remove amyloid β and P-tau and improve cognitive ability in APP/PS1 Transgenic Mice
Authors: Xu Longfei , Li Mingzhe , Wei Aili , Yang Miaomiao , Li Chao , Liu Ran , Zheng Yuejun , Chen Yuxin , Wang Zixi , Wang Kun , Wang Tianhui
Published: June 2022

Background
Moderate physical exercise has beneficial effects on the brains of healthy humans and AD patients. Previous reports have suggested that treadmill exercise plays an anti-AD role and improves cognitive ability by promoting amyloid clearance, inhibiting neuronal apoptosis, reducing oxidative stress level, alleviating brain inflammation, and promoting autophagy- lysosome pathway in AD mice. However, few studies have explored the relationship between the ubiquitin-proteasome system and scientific exercise in AD.
Objective
The current study aimed to investigate the mechanism by which the exercise- regulated E3 ubiquitin ligase improves AD.
Methods
Both Wildtype and APP/PS1 transgenic mice were divided into sedentary (WTC and ADC) and exercise (WTE and ADE) groups (n = 12 for each group). WTE and ADE mice were subjected to treadmill exercise for 12 weeks, evaluating the effect of treadmill running on learning and memory ability, Aβ plaque burden, hyper-phosphorylated tau protein and E3 ubiquitin ligase.
Results
The results indicated that exercise not only restored learning and memory ability, but also reduced Aβ plaque area, inhibited the hyperphosphorylation of Tau protein activated PI3K/ Akt/Hsp70 signaling pathway, and improved ubiquitin-proteasome system function (increased UCHL-1 and CHIP levels, decreased BACE1 levels) in APP/PS1 transgenic mice.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that exercise may promote the E3 ubiquitin ligase to clear β-Amyloid and hyper-phosphorylated Tau by activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in the hippocampus of AD mice, which is efficient in ameliorating pathological phenotypes and improving learning and memory ability.
Andrographolide attenuates short-term spatial and recognition memory impairment and neuroinflammation induced by a streptozotocin rat model of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Souza Leonardo C. , Andrade Marcos K. , Azevedo Evellyn M. , Ramos Daniele C. , Bail Ellen L. , Vital Maria A. B. F.
Published: June 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder clinically manifested by a gradual cognitive decline. Intracerebroventricular injection (ICV) of streptozotocin (STZ), a model of Sporadic AD (sAD), shows many aspects of sAD abnormalities (i.e., neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, protein aggregation) resulting in memory impairment. Andrographolide (ANDRO), a natural diterpene lactone, has numerous bioactivities including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Studies in rodents revealed that ANDRO has neuroprotective properties and restores cognitive impairment. In the present study, we investigated the effects of ANDRO in the ICV-STZ model relative to short-term spatial memory (Object location test (OLT) and Y maze test), short-term recognition memory (Object recognition test (ORT)), locomotor activity (Open field test (OFT)), expression of amyloid precursor protein (APP), and activation of astrocytes (glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression) and microglia (ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule-1 (Iba-1) immunohistochemistry) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus (HIP). Wistar rats were injected ICV with STZ (3 mg/kg) or vehicle and treated with ANDRO (2 mg/kg, i.p.; three times per week). After four weeks, ANDRO attenuated the impairments of the Y maze and ORT performances, and the increase of the astrocyte activation in the PFC induced by the ICV-STZ model. In addition, ANDRO decreased the number of activated microglia cells in the HIP of STZ-injected rats. The APP expression was not altered, neither by the STZ nor ANDRO. ANDRO showed a beneficial effect on memory impairment and neuroinflammation in the STZ model of AD.
Dikkopf-1 promotes matrix mineralization of osteoblasts by regulating Ca+-CAMK2A-CREB
Authors: Park Hyosun , Jo Sungsin , Jang Mi-Ae , Choi Sung Hoon , Kim Tae-Hwan
Published: June 2022

Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) is a secreted protein that acts as an antagonist of the canonical WNT/β-catenin pathway, which regulates osteoblast differentiation. However, the role of DKK1 on osteoblast differentiation has not yet been fully clarified. Here, we investigate the functional role of DKK1 on osteoblast differentiation. Primary osteoprogenitor cells were isolated from human spinal bone tissues. To examine the role of DKK1 in osteoblast differentiation, we manipulated the expression of DKK1, and the cells were differentiated into mature osteoblasts. DKK1 overexpression in osteoprogenitor cells promoted matrix mineralization of osteoblast differentiation but did not promote matrix maturation. DKK1 increased Ca+ influx and activation of the Ca+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II Alpha (CAMK2A)-cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and increased translocation of p-CREB into the nucleus. In contrast, stable DKK1 knockdown in SaOS2 cells exhibited reduced nuclear translocation of p-CREB and matrix mineralization. Overall, we suggest that manipulating DKK1 regulates the matrix mineralization of osteoblasts by Ca+-CAMK2A-CREB, and DKK1 is a crucial gene for bone mineralization of osteoblasts.
Comparative analysis of the bacterial community in the cuttlefish Sepia pharaonis with different statuses
Authors: 许 丽婷 , Ruan Yilong , Jiang Maowang , Peng Ruibing , Jiang Xiamin , Zhang Weiwei , Han Qingxi
Published: June 2022

The cuttlefish Sepia pharaonis is rich in nutritional value, and thus has been cultured in large-scale artificial culture. During its culture process in 2021 and 2022, a contagious disease with a mortality as high as 90% occurred when the dorsal mantle length of the cuttlefish was approximately 2.5 cm, which presented as obvious symptoms of small white spots on their dorsal mantle surface. To address the cause of the disease outbreak from a microbiome perspective, the bacterial communities in the healthy, infected, and dead cuttlefish S. pharaonis were assessed using bacterial culturing and 16S rRNA sequencing technology. Cultivable bacteria showed that there was an antagonistic phenomenon in the healthy S. pharaonis, and the highest diversity of bacteria was found in the dead individuals. The bacterial community was distinctly different among the three groups of samples, characterized by decreased alpha diversity and alteration of the dominant bacteria and bacterial community structures as the disease progressed. In addition, bacterial genera can be used as biomarkers for this disease, including Photobacterium, Bacillus, and Halarcobacter. In conclusion, the balance of the microbiome is necessary for S. pharaonis to remain healthy, and biomarker bacteria can aid in the early detection of occurrences of disease.
Sodium butyrate alleviates chronic alcoholic neuroinflammation by regulating microgila polarization through GPR109A / PPAR-γ / NF-κB signaling pathway
Authors: Wei Huiling , Ren Yi , Yu Chunyang , Zhang Chun , Guo Li , Wang Ting , Chen Feifei , Zhang Xiaoxia , Wang Hao , Liu Juan
Published: June 2022

Background
Alcohol can cause neuroinflammation, leading to neuron damage and further memory and cognitive impairment. Recent animal studies have shown that the exposure to chronic alcohol consumption induces robust inflammatory microglial activation in the brain. However, as a novel anti-inflammation approach, the impact of sodium butyrate on chronic alcohol-induced neuroinflammation still remains unclear.
Methods
Sixty female C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: pair-fed (PF) group (PF/CON), alcohol-fed (AF) group (AF/CON), PF with sodium butyrate (NaB) group (PF/NaB) and AF with NaB group (AF/NaB). Each group was fed a modified Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet with or without alcohol. Mice were subjected to different behavioral tests to assess aberrant behaviours (deficits in cognitive functions, depression and anxiety). Pathological changes were further investigated by Hematoxylin and eosin staining (HE) and Nissl staining. The microglial activation and microglial polarization were observed by immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence (IF) and flow cytometry. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the levels of inflammatory factors. G-protein coupled receptor 109A (GPR109A), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) mRNA and protein levels were evaluated by reverse transcription‑quantitative (RT‑q) PCR and western blot (WB).
Results
As indicated by the behavioural tests, inflammatory indicators, microglial activation (M1/M2 microglia polarization) and brain morphology, sodium butyrate administration ameliorated aberrant behaviours (locomotor hypoactivity, anxiety disorders and depressive behaviours, impaired learning and spatial recognition memory), effectively reduced neuroinflammation and neuronal damage. The effectiveness of sodium butyrate may attribute to the GPR109A receptor in microglia by up-regulating the expression of PPAR-γ and inhibiting the activation of NF-κB.
Conclusion
Sodium butyrate ameliorates neuroinflammation induced by chronic alcohol exposure and improves memory and cognitive functions in mice via modulating microglia-mediated GPR109A / PPAR-γ / NF-κB signaling pathway.
Evaluation and mapping of the social values for ecosystem services in the urban river landscape. Case study: Zamora and Malacatos rivers in Loja - Ecuador
Authors: Alvarado-Arias Natalia , Cabrera-Torres Francisco , Moya-Almeida Vinicio
Published: June 2022

Context:
The progressive degradation of urban rivers has serious socio-ecological impacts, compromising the provision of ecosystem services (ES), thus affecting the quality of life of the inhabitants, however, few are integrated into the social perspective together with the diagnosis of the immaterial and non-monetary benefits as complementary knowledge to traditional approaches.
Objective
This work sought to add complexity to the diagnosis of the ES, through the identification and mapping of the positive and negative landscape preferences of the local community concerning the urban fluvial landscape of the Zamora and Malacatos rivers in the urban-periurban environment of the city of Loja in Ecuador.
Methods
This work is resolved with the dissemination of a virtual geo-form, processed with the SolVES model, a participatory mapping tool (PPGIS) that integrates social and biophysical variables.
Results
The value points obtained revealed different spatial patterns for each social value group. The positives exhibited more dispersed patterns, clustering in peripheral areas. The negatives were concentrated in the centre of the city. Of the ten social values studied, the most relevant were: Learning, Aesthetic, Therapeutic and Disgust, Poor and Inaccessible Infrastructure, and Flood Threat. The environmental variable with the greatest contribution was the Horizontal Distance to Green Areas.
Conclusions
The results help to identify possible places of conflict as well as attractive locations based on place-based knowledge, which enables a better understanding of the value of the benefits of urban rivers, further, it stimulates the inclusion of the local community in the development of more participatory management and governance and sensitive to the landscape.
A resampling-based empirical Bayes method for precise false discovery rate estimation under dependence
Authors: Hawinkel Stijn , Bijnens Luc , Thas Olivier
Published: June 2022

Many methods exist for controlling or estimating the false discovery rate (FDR), which is the mean of the false discovery proportion (FDP). However, in the presence of correlation between the test statistics, the FDP may show considerable variation between repeated experiments. Here we first provide an intuitive explanation for this phenomenon by demonstrating an increased sampling variability of the test statistics when tests are dependent. Next, we propose an empirical Bayes solution based on resampling techniques that is applicable to many types of test statistics, and allows to estimate the null distribution more precisely. This reduces the variability of the FDP and even yields an increase in sensitivity. Furthermore the implicit assumptions made by empirical Bayes approaches to false discovery rate estimation are explored. We demonstrate our approach on the differential expression problem in RNA-sequencing, and on a data integration problem of microbiome sequence count and flow cytometry data, where the test statistics are correlated by design. Our algorithm is available as the R-package reconsi.
Pan-cancer analysis reveals nucleolar and spindle-associated protein 1 as a predictive marker for human cancer
Authors: Zheng Jiehua , Chen Yaokun , Wu Jinyao , Zheng Daitian , Liu Yiyuan , Cai Jiehui , Chen Lingzhi , Ji Zeqi , Tian Huiting , Yang Qiuping , Chen Yexi , Li Zhiyang
Published: June 2022

Understanding the driving factors and the common and unique mechanisms of human tumorigenesis is essential for the development of effective treatments. As a potential oncogene, nucleolar and spindle-associated protein 1 (NUSAP1) participates in the regulation of a variety of tumor cells (e.g. hepatocellular carcinoma), lung cancer proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance. However, a systematic pan-cancer analysis has not yet been carried out. Using The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus datasets, the Human Protein Atlas, and several bioinformatics tools, we investigated the expression and potential carcinogenic effects of NUSAP1 in 33 tumors. We found that NUSAP1 overexpression usually indicated poor overall survival in patients with tumors with high NUSAP1 expression, such as lung cancer, breast cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma. We also analyzed the NUSAP1 mutation burden in cancers and NUSAP1-related survival in patients with tumors, compared NUSAP1 phosphorylation in normal and primary tumor tissues, and explored possible functional mechanisms of NUSAP1-mediated tumorigenesis. The current pan-cancer analysis provides a relatively comprehensive overview of the carcinogenic effects of NUSAP1 in a variety of human cancers, which may stimulate new ideas for treating several tumors.
Effective Localization of Energy Harvesting Empowered UWSNS Using Krill Herd Optimization and Support Value
Authors: Vankdothu Ramdas , Abdul Hameed Mohd , Banothu Balaji
Published: June 2022

In this paper, using support value-based adaptive fuzzy c-means clustering and krill herd optimization, we demonstrate how to effectively localise energy harvesting enabled underwater wireless sensor networks. Replacement or recharge of a sensor node's battery is challenging in an aquatic environment. As a result, building an energy harvester that is both efficient and dependable is essential to ensure the continued operation of an underwater wireless sensor network (UWSN). We presented a technique that is capable of harvesting energy from a variety of sources and distributing it to the sensor nodes. The proposed work gathers energy from sensor nodes with insufficient batteries and begins communicating once they have sufficient energy storage. The RSS (received signal strength) and TOA (time of arrival) of active nodes are used to determine the network's location. This is based on the characteristics of the channels used in underwater optical communication. Following that, the RSS and TOA measures' support values are determined. Then, using support value-based adaptive fuzzy c-means clustering, support kernel matrices are created. The proposed support kernel matrices significantly reduce path error during data transmission. To increase sensor node localisation, the obtained support kernel matrices are further improved using a krill herd optimization approach. The proposed method outperforms existing techniques in the laboratory.
Isolation Enhancement in UWB-MIMO Antenna Using Decoupling Structure
Authors: Srinivasa Pasumarthi , Ramya Vinukonda Venkata Sesha , Sireesha Vadlamudi
Published: June 2022

This article presents a compact UWB MIMO antenna. The proposed MIMO antenna covers bandwidth of 3.9–13.4 GHz. The proposed MIMO antenna gives good isolation between two elements from 8-13.4 GHz. In order to reduce mutual coupling over entire operating band a novel decoupling is inserted between them. It provides minimum of -18 dB isolation over entire operating band. The performance of the MIMO antenna is further evaluated in terms of gain, ECC, radiation pattern, and diversity gain.