bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A THING SPEAK IOT BASED VIBRATION MEASUREMENT AND MONITORING SYSTEM USING AN ACCELEROMETER SENSOR
Authors: Kumari Shubhangi , Raj Rohit , Komati Rajkumar
Published: November 2021

this paper presents the development of a Thing
Speak IoT on a Real-Time Vibration measurement System
using the accelerometer Sensor. Many systems have been
designed previously but some lack systems are identified
where it does not provide adaptively connections and alert
to web pages on logging data collections. Thus,
understanding the previous system model is important to
compare the importance of new build parameters in
designing the new system. An evaluation of the current
model, hardware, and software is important before a new
architecture is developed. This research has developed a
prototype system to monitor and measure the vibration of
a system remotely and setting up threshold and alert
accordingly. The designed system assisted with an internet
as vibration monitoring system for the machines.
Research methods consist of two parts involved hardware
and software development. The hardware development
covers the connections of the accelerometer sensor and the
software involved in constructed coding using the C
language program. The program then is compiled and
uploaded into the Node MCU to display the acceleration
of the system. An open-source Internet of Things called
Thing Speak is used as a platform to retrieve and display
the collected data. Real-time monitoring can be accessed
through Smartphone and web applications. This study has
been considered successfully implemented and it is a
significant study that performs on new IoT platforms and
adaptively ready to monitor a vibration remotely
A REVIEW STUDY OF ECONOMICS ANALYSIS IN ENGINEERING PROJECTS
Authors: Elmardi Suleiman Dr. Osama Mohammed , Muki Nafea Nafea Mostafa
Published: November 2021

Engineering economics, previously known
as engineering economy, is a subset
of economics concerned with the use and application of
economic principles in the analysis of engineering
decisions. As a discipline, it is focused on the branch of
economics known as microeconomics in that it studies the
behavior of individuals and firms in making decisions
regarding the allocation of limited resources. Thus, it
focuses on the decision making process, its context and
environment. It is pragmatic by nature, integrating
economic theory with engineering practice. But, it is also a
simplified application of microeconomic theory in that it
avoids a number of microeconomic concepts such as price
determination, competition and demand/supply. As a
discipline though, it is closely related to others such
as statistics, mathematics and cost accounting. It draws
upon the logical framework of economics but adds to that
the analytical power of mathematics and statistics.
Engineers seek solutions to problems, and the economic
viability of each potential solution is normally considered
along with the technical aspects. Fundamentally,
engineering economics involves formulating, estimating,
and evaluating the economic outcomes when alternatives
to accomplish a defined purpose are available.
The study includes an introduction to the application of
economic techniques to the evaluation of design and
engineering alternatives, cash flow concepts, interest
factors, comparison of alternatives, benefit - cost analysis,
and conclusions of the study. One of the objectives of the
economic analysis in engineering projects is the good
management which consists primarily of making wise
decisions; wise decisions in turn involve making a choice
between alternatives. Engineering considerations
determine the possibility of a project being carried out and
point out the alternative ways in which the project could
be handled. Economic considerations also largely
determine a project's desirability and dictate ho
RELIABILITY ANALYSIS IN CEMENT MILLS OF BERBER CEMENT FACTORY
Authors: Muki Nafea Engineer Nafea Mostafa , Elmardi Suleiman Dr. Osama Mohammed
Published: November 2021

Reliability is the probability that a product,
system, or service will perform its intended function
adequately for a specified period, or will operate in a
defined environment without failure.
In this research, the reliability of Berber cement mill
studied. The data collected from the information section of
Berber cement factory related to the milling section. It
includes the daily production reports, the breakdown and
the operating time. The operating time between two
failures (TTF) was calculated from the daily report of the
mill and then a match was made for the data with the
probability distributions to find out what is the probability
distribution corresponding to the distribution of these
data. The best distribution is the Weibull distribution. the
Minitab software was applied and then the distribution
parameters for the data (measurement parameters c and
the shape parameter d) were obtained and then the
reliability of each part of the mill were calculated for each
hour and the reliability of the system was calculated as a
whole. The study found that the reliability of the system is
75% at the first hour of operation. It decreased during
continuous operation to 58% due to the poor reliability of
the heating system, which has a reliability of 72% and the
reliability of the conveying and feeding belts of the clinker,
which have a reliability of 75%.
EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH FOR REMOVAL OF PETROL FROM GROUNDWATER USING STEAM INJECTION TECHNIQUE WITH VIBRATION EFFECT
Authors: A.A. Adegbola , O.A. Olawale , T.O Ajao , K.A. Oguindele , R.A. Raheem
Published: November 2021

The major source of drinking water
is derived from extraction of groundwater out
of aquifers in the ground subsurface. However,
aquifers are often faced with the problem of
contamination from industrial wastes, oil
spillage and other human wastes which tend to
release harmful substances into the water. This
research work entails the experimental
investigation of vibration effect on remediation
of polluted groundwater using steam injection.
Laboratory experiment was set up using petrol
as a separate phase from the water phase as
typical in an aquifer and experiment carried
out. Vibration with frequency of 3.375 Hertz
and 6.75 Hertz was used along with the steam
injection process. The steam generated by the
steam boiler was injected into the sand box at a
pressure of 2.4 bar and temperature of 144oC
using 300ml as initial volume of the
contaminant. The experimental result for
recovery efficiency of petrol using steam
injection only was 56% while that of Steam
Injection with vibration frequency at 3.375-
6.75Hertz yielded 60.67%-62.67%. The
experiment carried out showed that steam
injection technique is effective in the removal
of pollutant in groundwater. The combined
application of steam injection with vibration
appreciably enhances groundwater
remediation.
SEQUEL OF STEEL SHAVINGS AND FIBRES ON THE CONDUCTIVITY OF CONCRETE AND ITS PERFORMANCE PREMIUMS THEREOF
Authors: Nazir Aarif , Bhat Shafaqat , Qazi Haya
Published: November 2021

Concrete being the most important
construction material has found its place in every
nook and corner. The concern of Civil
Engineering is to assure the most economic
construction with optimum strength and
serviceability. This paper deals with the use of
steel shaving and steel fibre in concrete to
enhance its electric conductivity. A comparative
study of the properties of concrete was conducted
using steel shaving only, containing steel fibre
only and containing both steel shaving and steel
fibers. Workability and surface finishability was
also used as primary evaluation criteria. Effect
on Humans due to flow of current through
concrete was also considered.
Transitional Rites in Pre-Dynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt
Authors: Sherkova T.
Published: November 2021

Mythopoetic thinking operates on a binary principle, classifying all the phenomena of the macro- and microcosm. The opposition between cosmos and chaos, in other words, between life and non-being, was fundamental. Spaces assimilated by culture, an ordered world, symbolized by various images: a pillar, a mountain, a temple, a dwelling, was conceived as the center of the universe, which was opposed by chaos that threatened order. These ideas about the world order were actualized in the sphere of ritual, designed to preserve the order created in the first times by the ancestors and gods. The repetition of the original myth in the ritual was supposed to restore, renew the world order in the cyclical movement of time. This applied both to the general Egyptian holidays, such as the New Year, and to the initiations that members of society took place at one stage or another of the development of Ancient Egyptian culture. Transitional rites had two aspects: age and social. When passing the initiation, the members of the collective increased their social status, became initiated, moving from adolescence to marital relations, increasing their status in the collective. A special position was occupied by leaders and kings, who confirmed their high position in society during the holiday sd. Funerals were also considered transitional rites. Transitional rituals united ideas about such opposites as life and death, which was equated with the loss of a person's previous social status. An indispensable attribute of rituals was sacrifice, and not only bloody of animals, but also sacrifice with ancient ritual objects during the construction of temples on the site of ancient sanctuaries. Notable examples have been associated with the kings in charge of the prosperity of Egypt.
Text-composition and Stylistic Opportunities in Speeching Complex Sentences
Authors: Urusova G.
Published: November 2021

This scientific article examines the textual and stylistic possibilities in speech of complex sentences with several subordinate clauses. As well as their features when compiling a text. In both Russian and Kyrgyz, as well as in the Turkic languages, complex sentences with several subordinate clauses or complex sentences of a complex type cannot form special syntactic units that contradict a complex whole formed from two predicative units. But from this opinion it cannot be said that such constructions are not of interest for syntax. Rather, they require serious attention to themselves, but are stylistically viewed from the point of view of syntax. One of the main tasks of syntactic stylistics is to determine which type of complex constructions are most often used in various forms and styles of the language. Complex sentences with multiple subordinate clauses that are used in an artistic style are more expressive of nature. Therefore, in sentences where the beauty of nature is given, expressiveness and musicality are strong. Complex sentences with several subordinate clauses are especially common in journalistic and poetic works. Stylistic goals such as comparing facts and evidence, drawing appropriate conclusions, contrasting two things can be achieved with complex sentences with multiple subordinate clauses.
International experience and common errors in protecting of confidentiality, protection and use of CbC reporting information
Authors:   Kyiv National Economic University named after Vadym Hetman, CHUKHRAIEVA Nataliia
Published: November 2021

Within the OECD, where governments are working together to address important issues of globalization, efforts are also being made to help OECD member countries respond more quickly to new challenges, one of which is to ensure the confidentiality and proper use of information. The OECD provides governments with the opportunity to share experiences in implementing administrative policy, to seek answers to common problems, to identify best practices and to coordinate activities in the context of these issues. The study of issues related to ensuring confidentiality, protection and use of reporting information between countries (Country-by-country, hereinafter - CbC) in the article is considered from the standpoint of international experience, in the context of this issue. For Ukraine as a post-Soviet country, the study of relevant experience is presented by such countries as Georgia, Kazakhstan and Russia. The analysis of international experience in ensuring confidentiality and the appropriate level of protection of information that is the subject of exchange between OECD member countries as part of the implementation of the BEPS Action Plan. The research is based on a combination of general scientific methods, comparison methods and an empirical approach. A summary of the national regulations of the countries in question is made, which contain provisions on confidentiality, data protection and proper use of information Country-by-country reports. Based on the results of the study, it has been proven that different tax administrations should, in practice, have different approaches to ensure the required level of effective protection of confidentiality of country-by-country reports information and establish penalties for breach of confidentiality.
Why African Norms Matter: Subsidiarity and Agency in Peacemaking
Authors: Ifediora Obinna
Published: November 2021

This study explains why the African Union (AU) claims primacy and opposes the UN Security Council’s and the ICC’s efforts to enforce R2P and nonimpunity norms in peacemaking. It draws on the concepts of norm subsidiarity and African agency in global politics and analyses African norm-setting and policy instruments. The central argument is that the AU is a subsidiary actor in the international system and has created subsidiary norms on immunity, the right to protect, and continental sovereignty to defend Africa’s vital security interests. The significance is that existing studies have applied the norm localization model and assumed that the AU is or should be a localizing actor and subordinated African subsidiary norms to international principles. Thus, the current approach has missed the collision of African and international norms we are witnessing. This study contributes to knowledge by enriching the understanding of African subsidiary norms and agency in international relations.
Brief inductive learning but not explicit instruction of a new grammar can produce a Whorfian effect
Authors: Xue Yuyan , Williams John
Published: November 2021

It is known that brief training on new vocabulary and metaphors can shift how we represent concepts and categorize stimuli even when we are not using the language. But it remains unknown whether brief training on grammar can also produce such ‘Whorfian’ effects. Besides, previous studies have neglected how the way in which the language was learned might be a factor. To fill these gaps, Mandarin native speakers learned a new grammatical marker of transitivity through either inductive training or explicit instruction. In subsequent non-verbal matching task the inductively trained group based their judgments on the number of entities involved in motion events to a greater extent than controls naïve to the grammar, but the explicitly trained group did not, despite showing equivalent knowledge of the grammar in a grammaticality judgment task. We interpret the effects in terms of dynamic and unconscious top-down feedback from grammar to lower-level perceptual processes.
NER for Tibetan and Mongolian Newspapers
Authors: Barnett Robert , Faggionato Christian , Meelen Marieke , Yunshaab Sargai , Samdrup Tsering , Hill Nathan , Diemberger Hildegard
Published: November 2021

Modern Tibetan and Vertical (Traditional) Mongolian are scripts used by c.11m people, mostly within the People’s Republic of China. In terms of publicly available tools for NLP, these languages and their scripts are extremely low-resourced and under-researched. We set out firstly to survey the state of NLP for these languages, and secondly to facilitate research by historians and policy analysts working on Tibetan newspapers. Their primary need is to be able to carry out Named Entity Recognition (NER) in Modern Tibetan, a script which has no word or sentence boundaries and for which no segmenters have been developed. Working on LightTag, an online tagger using character-based modelling, we were able to produce gold-standard training data for NER for use with Modern Tibetan.
Depremler ve Afet Yönetimi: 30 Ekim 2020 İzmir Depremi Örneği
Authors: Akduman Öznur
Published: November 2021

Afetler meydana geldiği toplum üzerinde fiziksel, ekonomik, sosyal ve çevresel açıdan olumsuz sonuçlar doğuran, söz konusu toplumun normal yaşam seyrini tamamen veya kısmen durduran ve toplumu dışarıdan bir yardıma muhtaç hale getiren doğa, teknoloji ve insan kaynaklı olayların oluşturduğu sonuçlardır. Ülkemizde yoğun nüfuslu kentler, plansız kentleşme, mühendislik hizmeti almamış yapılaşma, hızlı sanayileşme, afet risklerini azaltmaya yönelik örgütlenmenin olgunlaşmamış olması ve risklerin yönetilememesi gibi faktörlere bağlı olarak birçok afet yaşanmaktadır. Afetlerle ilgili yapılan bilimsel çalışmalar dikkate alındığında; depremler üzerinde meydana gelme sıklığı ve yüksek hasar potansiyeli nedeniyle yoğunlaşılmıştır. Afet ve acil durum yönetimi başkanlığı (AFAD) tarafından hazırlanan raporlara göre ise ülkemizin yaklaşık %92 si deprem tehlikesine sahiptir. Sadece 2020 yılında meydana gelen en ölümcül depremler sıralamasında ülkemiz, yaşanan 2020 İzmir depremi ile 1. Sıradadır. 30 Ekim 2020 tarihinde yaşanan İzmir depremi ülkemizde ve Yunanistan'da toplam 119 kişinin ölümüne ve 1053 kişinin ise yaralanmasına neden olmuştur. 30 Ekim 2020 İzmir depremi gibi yaşadığımız tüm depremlere baktığımızda yönetim uygulamalarının yoğun olarak kriz yönetimine dayandığı görülmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı; İzmir ilinde deprem tehlikesinin ve deprem risk yönetiminin öneminin vurgulanması, tüm sektörlerin katılımıyla modern afet yönetim sisteminin sürdürülebilir bir şekilde uygulanmasına yönelik araştırmalar ortaya konulmaktadır.
Pilot Study Assessing the Impact of Intrathecal Administration of Variants AAV-PHP.B and AAV-PHP.eB on Brain Transduction in Adult Rhesus Macaques
Authors: Arotcarena Marie-Laure , Dovero Sandra , Biendon Nathalie , Dutheil Nathalie , Planche Vincent , Bezard Erwan , Dehay Benjamin
Published: November 2021

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors are increasingly used as an effective and safe approach to deliver genetic material to the central nervous system (CNS). The AAV9-derived variants, AAV-PHP. B and AAV-PHP.eB, reportedly broadly transduce cells throughout the CNS compared to the original serotype 9, AAV9. As non-human primate data are scarce, we here evaluated the CNS transduction efficiencies after lumbar intrathecal bolus delivery of identical doses of either AAV-PHP. B:CAG-EGFP or AAV-PHP. eB:CAG-EGFP in rhesus macaque monkeys. AAV-PHP.eB achieved a more efficient and widespread CNS transduction compared to AAV-PHP.B. We report a strong neuronal and oligodendroglial tropism for both variants in the putamen and in the hippocampus. This proof-of-concept experiment highlights the potential value of intrathecal infusions of AAV-PHP.eB to distribute genetic material in the CNS with cell-type specificity and introduces a new opportunity to model brain diseases in rhesus macaque monkeys and further develop gene therapies targeting the CNS in humans.
Systemic Perspectives on National Infrastructure for a Sustainable, Resilient Net Zero Future
Authors: Dolan Tom
Published: November 2021

All aspects of Modern life are infrastructure-enabled. National infrastructure (NI) simultaneously: supports the realisation of societally beneficial outcomes; and determines the level of GHG emissions; air, water, noise pollution; production of solid waste and sewage. Therefore, all sustainability and resilience challenges are interdependent emergent properties arising directly or indirectly from National Infrastructure. NI is a systemically, societally, economically, globally significant leverage point. The systemic transformation of NI into a net zero enabling, resilience enhancing, sustainability supporting system is urgently needed to catalyse the speed, scale and breadth of synergistic action needed to achieve Net zero and tackle other sustainability and resilience challenges. Systemic perspectives on, and systemic characterisations of, NI; its societal purpose; and the interdependent mechanisms that enable NI to fulfil its purpose are needed to support the required systemic transformation. This paper provides these.
New Autophagy-Ferroptosis Gene Signature Predicts Survival in Glioma
Authors: Zhou Liwei , Jiang Zhengye , Shi Zhongjie , Zhao Wenpeng , Lu Zhenwei , Xie Yuanyuan , Zhang Bingchang , Lu Hanwen , Tan Guowei , Wang Zhanxiang
Published: November 2021

Background: Ferroptosis plays an important role in glioma and significantly affects the prognosis, but the specific mechanism has not yet been elucidated. Recent studies suggest that autophagy regulates the process of ferroptosis. This study aimed to find potential autophagy-ferroptosis genes and explore the prognostic significance in glioma.

Methods: Ferroptosis and autophagy genes were obtained from two online databases (zhounan.org/ferrdb and autophagy.lu/). The RNAseq data and clinical information were obtained from the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) database (http://www.cgga.org.cn/). Univariate, multivariate, lasso and Cox regression analysis screened out prognosis-related genes, and a risk model was constructed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis evaluated the predictive efficiency of the model. Finally, a nomogram was constructed to more accurately predict the prognosis of glioma.

Results: We developed a Venn diagram showing 23 autophagy-ferroptosis genes. A total of 660 cases (including RNA sequences and complete clinical information) from two different cohorts (training group n = 413, verification group n = 247) of the CGGA database was acquired. Cohorts were screened to include five prognosis-related genes (MTOR, BID, HSPA5, CDKN2A, GABARAPLA2). Kaplan-Meier curves showed that the risk model was a good prognostic indicator (p < 0.001). ROC analysis showed good efficacy of the risk model. Multivariate Cox analysis also revealed that the risk model was suitable for clinical factors related to prognosis, including type of disease (primary, recurrence), grade (III-IV), age, temozolomide treatment, and 1p19q state. Using the five prognosis-related genes and the risk score, we constructed a nomogram assessed by C-index (0.7205) and a calibration plot that could more accurately predict glioma prognosis.

Conclusion: Using a current database of autophagy and ferroptosis genes, we confirmed the prognostic significance of autophagy-ferroptosis genes in glioma, and we constructed a prognostic model to help guide treatment for high grade glioma in the future.
Mechanistic Insights From Single-Molecule Studies of Repair of Double Strand Breaks
Authors: Kong Muwen , Greene Eric C.
Published: November 2021

DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) are among some of the most deleterious forms of DNA damage. Left unrepaired, they are detrimental to genome stability, leading to high risk of cancer. Two major mechanisms are responsible for the repair of DSBs, homologous recombination (HR) and nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ). The complex nature of both pathways, involving a myriad of protein factors functioning in a highly coordinated manner at distinct stages of repair, lend themselves to detailed mechanistic studies using the latest single-molecule techniques. In avoiding ensemble averaging effects inherent to traditional biochemical or genetic methods, single-molecule studies have painted an increasingly detailed picture for every step of the DSB repair processes.
Three-Dimensionally Printed Ti2448 With Low Stiffness Enhanced Angiogenesis and Osteogenesis by Regulating Macrophage Polarization via Piezo1/YAP Signaling Axis
Authors: Tang Zhen , Wei Xinghui , Li Tian , Wu Hao , Xiao Xin , Hao Yulin , Li Shujun , Hou Wentao , Shi Lei , Li Xiaokang , Guo Zheng
Published: November 2021

Previous studies have found that the novel low-elastic-modulus Ti2448 alloy can significantly reduce stress shielding and contribute to better bone repair than the conventional Ti6Al4V alloy. In this study, the promotion of osteogenesis and angiogenesis by three-dimensionally printed Ti2448 were also observed in vivo. However, these were not significant in a series of in vitro tests. The stiffness of materials has been reported to greatly affect the response of macrophages, and the immunological regulation mediated by macrophages directly determines the fate of bone implants. Therefore, we designed more experiments to explore the role of three-dimensionally printed Ti2448 in macrophage activation and related osteogenesis and angiogenesis. As expected, we found a significant increase in the number of M2 macrophages around Ti2448 implants, as well as better osteogenesis and angiogenesis in vivo. In vitro studies also showed that macrophages pre-treated with Ti2448 alloy significantly promoted angiogenesis and osteogenic differentiation through increased PDGF-BB and BMP-2 secretion, and the polarization of M2 macrophages was enhanced. We deduced that Ti2448 promotes angiogenesis and osteogenesis through Piezo1/YAP signaling axis-mediated macrophage polarization and related cytokine secretion. This research might provide insight into the biological properties of Ti2448 and provide a powerful theoretical supplement for the future application of three-dimensionally printed Ti2448 implants in orthopaedic surgery.
Value of Echocardiography in the Treatment of Patients With Acute Heart Failure
Authors: Izumo Masaki
Published: November 2021

Heart failure (HF) is a burden in pandemic medicine resulting in high mortality and morbidity. Because acute HF is a life-threatening event, its diagnosis and choice of optimal treatment are important to improve outcomes. Furthermore, understanding the cause and hemodynamics of acute HF is important in selecting the optimal treatment for these patients. Echocardiography is widely used in daily clinical practice because of its non-invasive nature and excellent portability to understand cardiac function and hemodynamics. Echocardiography is highly recommended by guidelines in the practice of HF, but evidence is limited. In this review, I would like to share clinical value of echocardiography in the treatment of patients with acute HF and discuss the usefulness of echocardiography.
New Detrital Apatite Fission Track Thermochronological Constraints on the Meso-Cenozoic Tectono-Thermal Evolution of the Micangshan-Dabashan Tectonic Belt, Central China
Authors: Tian Tao , Yang Peng , Yao Jianming , Duan Zhonghui , Ren Zhanli , Fu Deliang , Yang Fu
Published: November 2021

The Micangshan-Dabashan tectonic belt, located in the southern Qinling-Dabie Orogen near the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, is a crucial area for understanding the processes and mechanisms of orogenesis. Previous studies have been focused on the cooling process via thermochronology and the mechanism and process of basement uplift have been investigated. However, the coupling process of basement exhumation and sedimentary cap cooling is unclear. The tectono-thermal history constrained by the detrital apatite fission track (AFT) results could provide valuable information for understanding crustal evolution and the coupling process. In this study, we provided new detrital AFT thermochronology results from the Micangshan-Dabashan tectonic belt and obtained nine high-quality tectono-thermal models revealing the Meso-Cenozoic cooling histories. The AFT ages and lengths suggest that the cooling events in the Micangshan area were gradual from north (N) to south (S) and different uplift occurred on both sides of Micangshan massif. The cooling in Dabashan tectonic zone was gradual from northeast (NS) to southwest (SW). The thermal histories show that a relatively rapid cooling since ca. 160 Ma occurred in the Micangshan-Dabashan tectonic belt, which was a response to the event of Qinling orogenic belt entered the intracontinental orogenic deformation. This cooling event may relate to the northeastward dextral compression of the Yangtze Block. The sedimentary cap of Cambriano-Ordovician strata responded positively to this rapid cooling event and entered the PAZ since ca. 63 Ma. The deep buried samples may be limited affected by climate and water erosion and the accelerated cooling was not obvious in the Late Cenozoic. Collectively, the cooling processes of basement and sedimentary cap in Micangshan-Dabashan tectonic belt were inconsistent. The uplift of the sedimentary area is not completely consistent with that of the basement under thrust and nappe action. The rigid basement was not always continuous and rapidly uplifted or mainly showed as lateral migration in a certain stage because of the different intensities and modes of thrust and nappe action, and the plastic sedimentary strata rapidly uplifted due to intense folding deformation.
COVID-19 Delta Variant-of-Concern: A Real Concern for Pregnant Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Mamun Md Mahfuz Al , Khan Muhammad Riaz
Published: November 2021

The emergence of the COVID-19 Delta variant-of-concern (VOC), a novel variant of SARS-CoV-2, has threatened the total health systems throughout the world. This highly contagious strain is spreading at a higher exponential rate than any other variants of COVID-19 by infecting and subsequently killing hundreds of thousands of people globally. Among the most sensitive groups, pregnant women are at high risk of increased hospitalization, pneumonia, respiratory support, and admission to intensive care units during the Delta period. Pregnant people with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at increased chances of Delta VOC infection. GDM patients are nine and three times more likely to be infected by Delta VOC than those pregnant patients suffering from diabetes and cardiovascular diseases and hypertension, respectively. Additionally, they are more vulnerable to Delta VOC infection than wild-type and Alpha COVID-19 VOC ones. Thus, this review critically sheds light on the current scenario of the vulnerability of pregnant mothers, especially those with GDM, to Delta VOC infection.
Transient Heat Transfer Characteristics of Twisted Structure Heated by Exponential Heat Flux
Authors: Wang Li , Liu Qiusheng
Published: November 2021

This study was conducted to investigate the transient heat transfer characteristics of a twisted structure. The twisted structure was heated according to exponential function (Q=Q0×exp(t/τ), where Q0 is the initial heat generation rate, W/m3; t is time, s; and τ is the period of heat generation rate). A wide range of τ from 37 ms to 14 s was applied for the experimental study. A platinum plate with five pitches (each was 180° twisted with 20 mm in length) was used in the experiment. Helium gas with inlet temperature of 298 K under 500 kPa was used as the coolant. The heat transfer coefficient is found to increase with the decrease of τ, and the transition point was estimated to be at τ≈1s, which means that, when the increasing ratio of heat generation rate satisfies dQdt≥Q0⋅et, the heat transfer enhancement phenomenon will be observed. The response analysis for transient heat transfer at fluid-solid interface was conducted by applying the concept of penetration depth. It is considered that, when the penetration depth is smaller than the thermal boundary thickness, the heat transfer from the interface (wall surface) to the fluid domain is not fully developed during the disturbance.
Hepatotoxicity-Related Adverse Effects of Proton Pump Inhibitors: A Cross-Sectional Study of Signal Mining and Analysis of the FDA Adverse Event Report System Database
Authors: Zeng Yifan , Dai Ying , Zhou Ziye , Yu Xuben , Shi Dawei
Published: November 2021

Background and Objectives: Mounting evidence demonstrates that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are associated with a number of adverse effects. However, the literatures about hepatotoxicity-related adverse effects (HRAEs) of PPIs are mostly case reports and a few clinical studies.

Methods: We evaluated the association between PPIs and HAREs using the reporting odd ratio (ROR) for mining the adverse event report signals in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database.

Results: There were 23,825 reports of PPIs as primary suspect drug or second suspect drug, of which 3,253 reports were HRAEs. The top five HRAE signals caused by PPIs were hepatitis cholestatic, cholestasis, fulminant hepatitis, subacute hepatic failure, and acute hepatitis. We also summarized the signals of the HRAEs caused by each PPI. The simultaneous signals were cholestasis and hepatitis cholestatic. For the cholestasis signal, esomeprazole showed an ROR of 21.556 (95% CI 17.592–26.413); pantoprazole showed the highest ROR of 22.611 (95% CI 17.794–28.733) in the hepatic cholestatic signal; lansoprazole was the only PPI with expression in the coma hepatic signal, with an ROR of 10.424 (95% CI 3.340–32.532). By analyzing the reports of pantoprazole-induced hepatic encephalopathy, we found that patients aged over 65 years and males reported the highest rate. And from the combination of drugs and indications of drugs, no significant results were obtained.

Conclusions: The RORs of signals of “cholestasis” were generally higher than those of “hepatocellular injury.” And the signals about “cholestasis” in HRAE caused by PPIs are more reported.
Impact of Cumulative Fluid Balance During Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy on Mortality in Patients With Septic Acute Kidney Injury: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Lin Jin , Zhuang Hai Zhou , Zhi De Yuan , Qi Zhili , Bai Jing , Dong Lei , Liu Shuai , Duan Meili
Published: November 2021

Background: The clinicians often use continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) for the fluid management of patients with septic acute kidney injury (AKI). However, there is limited knowledge of the effects of changes in fluid balance (FB) on CRRT and its association with outcomes in patients with septic AKI.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the association of cumulative FB (CFB) during treatment with 28-day all-cause mortality in the patients with septic AKI who require CRRT.

Methods: This retrospective observational study examined patients who received CRRT due to septic AKI in a mixed intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary teaching hospital between January 2015 and December 2018. The patients were divided into three groups—negative FB, even FB, and positive FB—based on the CFB during CRRT. The primary outcome was 28-day all-cause mortality.

Results: We examined 227 eligible patients and the mean age was 62.4 ± 18.3 years. The even FB group had a significantly lower 28-day mortality (43.0%, p = 0.007) than the positive FB group (72.7%) and the negative FB group (54.8%). The unadjusted and adjusted Cox regression models indicated that the positive FB group had an increased risk for 28-day all-cause mortality relative to the even FB group. A restricted cubic splines model indicated a J-shaped association between the CFB and 28-day all-cause mortality in the unadjusted model.

Conclusion: Among the critically ill patients with septic AKI who require CRRT, those with positive FB had a higher mortality rate than those with even FB.
From Microbiome to Inflammation: The Key Drivers of Cervical Cancer
Authors: Zhou Zi-Wei , Long Hui-Zhi , Cheng Yan , Luo Hong-Yu , Wen Dan-Dan , Gao Li-Chen
Published: November 2021

Cervical cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Microbes and hosts form a mutually beneficial symbiosis relationship, and various parts of the host body are microbial habitats. Microbes can trigger inflammation in certain parts of the host body, contributing to cervical cancer development. This article reviews the relationship between cervicovaginal microbes, inflammation and cervical cancer, and discusses the effect of some key cervical microbes on cervical cancer. Finally, probiotic therapy and immunotherapy are summarized.
Roles of Integrins in Gastrointestinal Cancer Metastasis
Authors: Hou Sicong , Wang Jiaxin , Li Wenqian , Hao Xin , Hang Qinglei
Published: November 2021

Integrins are a large family of heterodimeric transmembrane receptors which mediate cell adhesion and transmit signals to the cell interior. The mechanistic roles of integrins have long been an enigma in cancer, given its complexity in regulating different cellular behaviors. Recently, however, increasing research is providing new insights into its function and the underlying mechanisms, which collectively include the influences of altered integrin expression on the aberrant signaling pathways and cancer progression. Many studies have also demonstrated the potentiality of integrins as therapeutic targets in cancer treatment. In this review, we have summarized these recent reports and put a particular emphasis on the dysregulated expression of integrins and how they regulate related signaling pathways to facilitate the metastatic progression of gastrointestinal cancer, including gastric cancer (GC) and colorectal cancer (CRC), which will address the crucial roles of integrins in gastrointestinal cancer.
Molecular Recognition Insights of Sialic Acid Glycans by Distinct Receptors Unveiled by NMR and Molecular Modeling
Authors: Soares Cátia Oliveira , Grosso Ana Sofia , Ereño-Orbea June , Coelho Helena , Marcelo Filipa
Published: November 2021

All cells are decorated with a highly dense and complex structure of glycan chains, which are mostly attached to proteins and lipids. In this context, sialic acids are a family of nine-carbon acidic monosaccharides typically found at the terminal position of glycan chains, modulating several physiological and pathological processes. Sialic acids have many structural and modulatory roles due to their negative charge and hydrophilicity. In addition, the recognition of sialic acid glycans by mammalian cell lectins, such as siglecs, has been described as an important immunological checkpoint. Furthermore, sialic acid glycans also play a pivotal role in host–pathogen interactions. Various pathogen receptors exposed on the surface of viruses and bacteria are responsible for the binding to sialic acid sugars located on the surface of host cells, becoming a critical point of contact in the infection process. Understanding the molecular mechanism of sialic acid glycans recognition by sialic acid-binding proteins, present on the surface of pathogens or human cells, is essential to realize the biological mechanism of these events and paves the way for the rational development of strategies to modulate sialic acid-protein interactions in diseases. In this perspective, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, assisted with molecular modeling protocols, is a versatile and powerful technique to investigate the structural and dynamic aspects of glycoconjugates and their interactions in solution at the atomic level. NMR provides the corresponding ligand and protein epitopes, essential for designing and developing potential glycan-based therapies. In this review, we critically discuss the current state of knowledge about the structural features behind the molecular recognition of sialic acid glycans by different receptors, naturally present on human cells or pathogens, disclosed by NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling protocols.
Modeling DNA Opening in the Eukaryotic Transcription Initiation Complexes via Coarse-Grained Models
Authors: Shino Genki , Takada Shoji
Published: November 2021

Recently, the molecular mechanisms of transcription initiation have been intensively studied. Especially, the cryo-electron microscopy revealed atomic structure details in key states in the eukaryotic transcription initiation. Yet, the dynamic processes of the promoter DNA opening in the pre-initiation complex remain obscured. In this study, based on the three cryo-electron microscopic yeast structures for the closed, open, and initially transcribing complexes, we performed multiscale molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to model structures and dynamic processes of DNA opening. Combining coarse-grained and all-atom MD simulations, we first obtained the atomic model for the DNA bubble in the open complexes. Then, in the MD simulation from the open to the initially transcribing complexes, we found a previously unidentified intermediate state which is formed by the bottleneck in the fork loop 1 of Pol II: The loop opening triggered the escape from the intermediate, serving as a gatekeeper of the promoter DNA opening. In the initially transcribing complex, the non-template DNA strand passes a groove made of the protrusion, the lobe, and the fork of Rpb2 subunit of Pol II, in which several positively charged and highly conserved residues exhibit key interactions to the non-template DNA strand. The back-mapped all-atom models provided further insights on atomistic interactions such as hydrogen bonding and can be used for future simulations.
Glutamate Carboxypeptidase II in Aging Rat Prefrontal Cortex Impairs Working Memory Performance
Authors: Datta Dibyadeep , Leslie Shannon N. , Woo Elizabeth , Amancharla Nishita , Elmansy Ayah , Lepe Miguel , Mecca Adam P. , Slusher Barbara S. , Nairn Angus C. , Arnsten Amy F. T.
Published: November 2021

Glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII) expression in brain is increased by inflammation, and reduces NAAG (N-acetyl aspartyl glutamate) stimulation of mGluR3 signaling. Genetic insults in this signaling cascade are increasingly linked to cognitive disorders in humans, where increased GCPII and or decreased NAAG-mGluR3 are associated with impaired prefrontal cortical (PFC) activation and cognitive impairment. As aging is associated with increased inflammation and PFC cognitive deficits, the current study examined GCPII and mGluR3 expression in the aging rat medial PFC, and tested whether GCPII inhibition with 2-(3-mercaptopropyl) pentanedioic acid (2-MPPA) would improve working memory performance. We found that GCPII protein was expressed on astrocytes and some microglia as expected from previous studies, but was also prominently expressed on neurons, and showed increased levels with advancing age. Systemic administration of the GCPII inhibitor, 2-MPPA, improved working memory performance in young and aged rats, and also improved performance after local infusion into the medial PFC. As GCPII inhibitors are well-tolerated, they may provide an important new direction for treatment of cognitive disorders associated with aging and/or inflammation.
Multimodal CT Imaging Characteristics in Predicting Prognosis of Wake-Up Stroke
Authors: Yu Fan , Bai Xuesong , Sha Arman , Zhang Miao , Shan Yi , Guo Daode , Dmytriw Adam A. , Ma Qingfeng , Jiao Liqun , Lu Jie
Published: November 2021

Background: Multimodal CT imaging can evaluate cerebral hemodynamics and stroke etiology, playing an important role in predicting prognosis. This study aimed to summarize the comprehensive image characteristics of wake-up stroke (WUS), and to explore its value in prognostication.

Methods: WUS patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion were recruited into this prospective study. According to the 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS), all patients were divided into good outcome (mRS 0–2) or bad (mRS 3–6). Baseline clinical information, multimodal CT imaging characteristics including NECT ASPECTS, clot burden score (CBS), collateral score, volume of penumbra and ischemic core on perfusion were compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was further used to analyze predictive factors for good prognosis. Area under curve (AUC) was calculated from the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to assess prognostic value.

Results: Forty WUS were analyzed in this study, with 20 (50%) achieving good outcome. Upon univariable analysis, the good outcome group demonstrated higher ASPECTS, higher CBS, higher rate of good collateral filling and lower penumbra volume when compared with the poor outcome group. Upon logistic regression analysis, poor outcome significantly correlated with penumbra volume (OR: 1.023, 95% CI = 1.003–1.043) and collateral score (OR: 0.140, 95% CI = 0.030–0.664). AUC was 0.715 for penumbra volume (95% CI, 0.550–0.846) and 0.825 for good collaterals (95% CI, 0.672–0.927) in predicting outcome.

Conclusions:Penumbra volume and collateral score are the most relevant baseline imaging characters in predicting outcome of WUS patients. These imaging characteristics might be instructive to treatment selection. As the small sample size of current study, further studies with larger sample size are needed to confirm these observations.
Altered Brain Structure and Spontaneous Functional Activity in Children With Concomitant Strabismus
Authors: Yin Xiaohui , Chen Lingjun , Ma Mingyue , Zhang Hong , Gao Ming , Wu Xiaoping , Li Yongqiang
Published: November 2021

Strabismus occurs in about 2% of children and may result in amblyopia or lazy eyes and loss of depth perception. However, whether/how long-term strabismus shapes the brain structure and functions in children with concomitant strabismus (CS) is still unclear. In this study, a total of 26 patients with CS and 28 age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy controls (HCs) underwent structural and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging examination. The cortical thickness and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) were calculated to assess the structural and functional plasticity in children with CS. Compared with HCs group, patients with CS showed increased cortical thickness in the precentral gyrus and angular gyrus while decreased cortical thickness in the left intraparietal sulcus, parieto-occipital sulcus, superior and middle temporal gyrus, right ventral premotor cortex, anterior insula, orbitofrontal cortex, and paracentral lobule. Meanwhile, CS patients exhibited increased ALFF in the prefrontal cortex and superior temporal gyrus, and decreased ALFF in the caudate and hippocampus. These results show that children with CS have abnormal structure and function in brain regions subserving eye movement, controls, and high-order cognitive functions. Our findings revealed the structural and functional abnormalities induced by CS and may provide new insight into the underlying neural mechanisms for CS.
Altered Spontaneous Brain Activity Related to Neurologic and Sleep Dysfunction in Children With Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome
Authors: Bai Jie , Wen Hongwei , Tai Jun , Peng Yun , Li Hongbin , Mei Lin , Ji Tingting , Li Xiaodan , Li Yanhua , Ni Xin , Liu Yue
Published: November 2021

Childhood obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common chronic sleep-related breathing disorder in children, which leads to growth retardation, neurocognitive impairments, and serious complications. Considering the previous studies about brain structural abnormalities in OSA, in the present study, we aimed to explore the altered spontaneous brain activity among OSA patients, using amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF), fractional ALFF (fALFF), and regional homogeneity (ReHo) methods based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Thirty-one untreated OSA children and 33 age-and gender-matched healthy children (HC) were included in this study. Compared with controls, the OSA group showed significant lower ALFF in the right lingual gyrus, decreased fALFF in the left middle frontal gyrus (MFG), but increased fALFF in the left precuneus. Decreased ReHo was found in the left inferior frontal gyrus (orbital part) and left middle frontal gyrus. Notably, the mean fALFF value of left MFG was not only significantly related to multiple sleep parameters but also demonstrated the best performance in ROC curve analysis. These findings revealed OSA children were associated with dysfunctions in the default mode network, the frontal lobe, and the lingual gyrus, which may implicate the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms of intrinsic brain activity. The correlation between the altered spontaneous neuronal activity and the clinical index provides early useful diagnostic biomarkers for OSA children as well.