bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structure of lasso peptide epimerase MslH reveals metal-dependent acid/base catalytic mechanism
Authors: Nakashima Yu , Kawakami Atsushi , Ogasawara Yasushi , Maeki Masatoshi , Tokeshi Manabu , Dairi Tohru , Morita Hiroyuki
Published: January 2023

The lasso peptide MS-271 is a ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide (RiPP) consisting of 21 amino acids with D-tryptophan at theC-terminus, and is derived from the precursor peptide MslA. MslH, encoded in the MS-271 biosynthetic gene cluster (msl), catalyzes the epimerization at the Cα center of the MslAC-terminal Trp, leading toepi-MslA. The detailed catalytic process, including the catalytic site and cofactors, has remained enigmatic. Herein, based on X-ray crystallographic studies in association with the MslA core peptide, we show that MslH is a mechanistically unprecedented epimerase with a unique calcineurin-like fold. The crystal structure analysis followed by site-directed mutagenesis, docking simulation, and ICP-MS studies demonstrated that MslH employs acid/base chemistry to facilitate the reversible epimerization of theC-terminal Trp21 of MslA, by utilizing two pairs of His/Asp catalytic residues that are electrostatically tethered to a six-coordination motif with a Ca(II) ion via water molecules.
Atheroma-relevant 7-oxysterols differentially upregulate CD14 expression
Authors: Kim Bo-Young , Son Yonghae , Kim Byoung Joon , Chung Sung-Woon , Lee Dongjun , Eo Seong-Kug , Kim Koanhoi
Published: January 2023

The expression of CD14 in monocytes/macrophages is elevated in atherosclerotic lesions where 7-oxyterols are abundant. However, it remains unknown whether atheroma-relevant 7-oxysterols are involved in receptor expression. Therefore, we investigated the effects of 7α-hydroxycholesterol (7αOHChol), 7β-hydroxycholesterol (7βOHChol), and 7-ketocholesterol (7K) on CD14 levels in THP-1 monocytes/macrophages. The three 7-oxysterols increased CD14 transcript levels at a distinct time point, elevated cellular CD14 protein levels, and promoted the release of soluble CD (sCD14) from THP-1 cells. Our data revealed that CD14 expression was most strongly induced after treatment with 7αOHChol. However, they did not affect CD14 transcript levels in vascular smooth muscle cells and Jurkat T cells. Moreover, 7αOHChol alone upregulated membrane-bound CD14 levels and enhanced responses to lipopolysaccharides, as determined by CCL2 production and monocytic cell migration. The 7-oxysterols also increased the gelatinolytic activity of MMP-9, and a cell-permeable, reversible MMP-9 inhibitor, MMP-9 inhibitor I, significantly impaired sCD14 release. These results indicate that 7-oxysterols differentially induce CD14 expression in vascular cells and contribute to the monocyte/macrophage expression of CD14 via overlapping but distinct mechanisms.
Effect of Meteorological Factors, Air Pollutants on Daily Hospital Admissions for Ischemic Heart Disease in Lanzhou, China
Authors: Meng Xiaoxue , Jin Jianjian , Han Xia , Han Bing , Bai Ming , Zhang Zheng
Published: January 2023

Background: Meteorological factors and air pollutants are believed to be associated with cardiovascular disease. Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is a major public health issue worldwide. Few studies have investigated the associations among meteorological factors, air pollutants and IHD daily hospital admissions in Lanzhou, China.
Methods: We conducted a distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) on the basis of five years data, aiming at disentangling the impact of meteorological factors and air pollutants on IHD hospital admissions. All IHD daily hospital admissions recorded from January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2019 were obtained from three hospitals in Lanzhou, China. Daily air pollutant concentrations and meteorological data were synchronously collected from Gansu Meteorological Administration and Lanzhou Environmental Protection Administration. Stratified analyses were performed by sex and two age-groups.
Results: A total of 23555 IHD hospital admissions were recorded, of which 10477 admissions were for coronary artery disease (CAD), 13078 admissions were for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Our results showed that there was a non-linear (J-shaped) relationship between temperature and IHD hospital admissions. The number of IHD hospital admissions were positively correlated with NO2, O3, humidity and pressure, indicating an increased risk of hospital admissions for IHD under NO2, O3, humidity and pressure exposure. Meanwhile, both extremely low (-12ºC) and high (30ºC) temperature reduced IHD hospital admissions, but the harmful effect increased with the lag time in Lanzhou, China, while the cold effect was more pronounced and long-lasting than the heat effect. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that the risk on CAD hospital admissions increased significantly in female and <65 years of age at -12ºC.
Conclusion: Our findings added to the growing evidence regarding the potential impact of meteorological factors, air pollutants on policymaking from the perspective of hospital management efficiency.
Clinical outcomes of bilateral implantation of new generation monofocal IOL enhanced for intermediate distance and conventional monofocal IOL in a Korean population
Authors: Choi Wan Kyu , Han Hyo Ji , Son Hyeck Soo , Khoramnia Ramin , Auffarth Gerd Uwe , Choi Chul Young
Published: January 2023

Background:
To compare the clinical outcomes of bilateral implantation of enhanced intermediate function intraocular lenses (IOLs) and standard monofocal IOLs.
Methods:
In this prospective, randomized, comparative controlled study, we compared the visual outcomes of patients who underwent bilateral cataract surgery at the Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, with either enhanced monofocal IOLs (Tecnis Eyhance, ICB00, Johnson and Johnson Vision Care, Inc) (Group 1) or standard monofocal IOLs (Tecnis, ZCB00, Johnson and Johnson Vision Care, Inc) (Group 2). The assessment included monocular and binocular uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), uncorrected intermediate (UIVA at 60 cm) and near (UNVA at 40 cm) visual acuity, uncorrected defocus curves, contrast sensitivity testing (CST), and reading speed test using Quality of vision was evaluated using the Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25).
Results:
At 3-months postoperatively, monocular and binocular outcomes of UIVA and UNVA were statistically significantly better in Group 1 (P<0.05). The binocular uncorrected defocus curve of Group 1 showed statistically significantly better outcomes at vergence ranges of -1.5 to -4.0 D (P<0.05). Significantly higher reading speed test was also observed in Group 1 in all ranges tested (1.0 to 0.1 LogMAR) (P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in CST between groups.
Conclusions:
Bilateral implantation of enhanced monofocal IOLs provided better vision at intermediate and near distances compared to standard monofocal IOLs, while maintaining good distance vision and contrast sensitivity.
Gene orthology inference via large-scale rearrangements for partially assembled genomes
Authors: Rubert Diego P. , Braga Marilia D. V.
Published: January 2023

Background: Recently we developed a gene orthology inference tool based on genome rearrangements (Journal of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology 19:6, 2021). Given a set of genomes our method first computes all pairwise gene similarities. Then it runs pairwise ILP comparisons to compute optimal gene matchings, which minimize, by taking the similarities into account, the weighted rearrangement distance between the analyzed genomes (a problem that is NP-hard). The gene matchings are then integrated into gene families in the final step. Although the ILP is quite efficient and could conceptually analyze genomes that are not completely assembled but split in several contigs, our tool failed in completing that task. The main reason is that each ILP pairwise comparison includes an optimal capping that connects each end of a linear segment of one genome to an end of a linear segment in the other genome, producing an exponential increase of the search space.
Results: In this work, we design and implement a heuristic capping algorithm that replaces the optimal capping by clustering (based on their gene content intersections) the linear segments into m ≥ 1 subsets, whose ends are capped independently. Furthermore, in each subset, instead of allowing all possible connections, we let only the ends of content-related segments be connected. Although there is no guarantee that m is much bigger than one, and with the possible side effect of resulting in sub-optimal instead of optimal gene matchings, the heuristic works very well in practice, from both the speed performance and the quality of computed solutions. Our experiments on fruit fly genomes show two positive results. First, for complete assemblies the version with heuristic capping reports orthologies that are very similar to the orthologies computed by the version of our tool with optimal capping. Second, we were able to efficiently analyze genomes with incomplete assemblies distributed in hundreds or even thousands of contigs, obtaining orthologies that are more similar to FlyBase orthologies when compared to orthologies computed by other inference tools. We added a post-processing for refining, with the aid of the mcl algorithm, our ambiguous families (those with more than one gene per genome), improving even more the accuracy of our results. Our approach is implemented into a pipeline incorporating the pre-computation of gene similarities and the post-processing refinement of ambiguous families with mcl. We optimized several aspects of our implementation, achieving running times that are similar to the fastest alternative tools. Both the original version with optimal capping and the new modified version with heuristic capping can be downloaded from our GitLab server at gitlab.ub.uni-bielefeld.de/gi/FFGC.
IDENTIFICATION OF HUMAN GENETIC VARIANTS MODULATING THE COURSE OF COVID-19 INFECTION
Authors: Ašić Adna , Salihefendić Lana , Čeko Ivana , Bešić Larisa , Mulahuseinović Naida , Durgut Selma , Pećar Dino , Prnjavorac Lejla , Kandić Enis , Meseldžić Neven , Bego Tamer , Prnjavorac Besim , Marjanovic Damir , Konjhodžić Rijad
Published: January 2023

COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has been a major focus of scientific research since late 2019 and early 2020. Due to its enormous societal, economic, and clinical impact worldwide, research efforts aimed, among other questions, to address the effect of host genetics in susceptibility and severity of COVID-19. In this research, we performed next-generation sequencing of coding and regulatory regions of 16 selected human genes, involved in the maintenance of the immune system or encoding the receptors for viral entry into the host cells, in a subset of 60 COVID-19 patients from the General Hospital Tešanj, Bosnia and Herzegovina, classified into three groups of patients with clinical conditions of different severity (“mild”, “moderate”, and “severe” clinical groups). In accordance with previous studies, we found out that the male sex and older age are risk factors for severe clinical picture. We identified 13 variants on seven genes (CD55, IL1B, IL4, IRF7, DDX58, TMPRSS2, and ACE2) with potential functional significance, either as genetic markers of modulated susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection or as modifiers of the course of infection in terms of predicted symptom severity. Our results include variants reported for the first time as potentially associated with COVID-19. Future studies on larger patient cohorts, focused on candidate genes and/or candidate genetic variants, have a potential to answer a range of open questions regarding the effect of host (human) genetic makeup on the expected outcome of COVID-19.
Source Reconstruction of the ERP Uncertainty Effects reveals common Neural Mechanisms for different Stimulus Categories
Authors: Hecker Lukas , Joos Ellen , Feige Bernd , Maier Simon , Elst Ludger Tebartz van , Kornmeier Jürgen
Published: January 2023

During the observation of an ambiguous figure, our perception becomes unstable and alternates repeatedly between mutual exclusive interpretations. Tiny changes of the stimulus features can disambiguate the figure and stabilize percepts. Recent EEG studies found much smaller amplitudes of two event-related potentials (ERPs), an anterior P200, 200 ms after stimulus onset and a posterior P400, 200 ms later, when participants observed an ambiguous stimulus compared to disambiguated stimulus variants. Interestingly, this pattern of results was found across stimuli differing in ambiguity (geometry, motion and gestalt) and in visibility. We postulate a meta-perceptual / meta-cognitive evaluation instance that rates the reliability of perceptual constructs at a high processing level generalized beyond sensory details. We further postulate that the above described ERP effects reflect the outcome of this evaluation process.
According to these hypotheses, the distributions of these ERP effects on the scalp across three different stimulus categories, should originate from the same neural structures in the sensor and source space. This was tested by calculating EEG inverse solutions using a novel artificial neural network-based approach.We found very similar sources across stimulus categories, both on the level of individual participants and on the group level. Regions involved in the earlier processing steps (P200) encompass lateral occipital cortex, inferior parietal cortex and medial cingulate cortex. Later processes (P400) originated mostly from the right inferior temporal cortex. Our findings were consistent with comparable studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging and EEG source imaging. In summary, we found highly coherent neural sources of the ERP Uncertainty Effects. The underlying processes may be related to a common uncertainty resolution at a higher processing level beyond sensory details.
Refractory Atrial Flutter, the Only Presentation of covid-19 Infection in a Neonate: a case report and review of literature
Authors: Saadat Seyed Hossein , Tariverdi Marjan , jahromi mohammadreza kargarfard , sharma Deepak , Farahbakhsh Nazanin
Published: January 2023

Background

The accurate incidence of different cardiovascular consequences of COVID-19 in pediatric population have been inadequately defined due to ongoing genotype changes in the virus. Although COVID-19 is known to increase inflammatory markers associated with atrial arrhythmias, the contemporary literature has poorly described new onset arrhythmias as a complication in previously healthy neonate with COVID-19

Case presentation

Twenty-day-old female term neonate, born by caesarean section with immediate cry developed labored breathing, cyanosis and tachycardia after having close contact with a confirmed case of covid-19. She developed atrial flutter, which was refractory to cardioversion and drugs namely Amiodarone, Flecainide and Propranolol. The neonate was treated with IVIG. This is the first reported case of atrial flutter in neonatal period secondary to COVID-19.

Conclusion

Since the starting of SARS –COV2 pandemic all attentions and concerns has been mainly on respiratory manifestations and complications. The cardiovascular complications and treatment are neglected. This case reports tachyarrhythmia (Atrial Flutter) as unusual presentation of MISC in neonatal population and show role of IvIg in treatment of refractory arrhythmias.
Plasmepsin X activates function of the PCRCR complex in P. falciparum by processing PfRh5 for binding to basigin and invasion of human erythrocytes
Authors: Triglia Tony , Scally Stephen , Seager Benjamin , Pasternak Michal , Dagley Laura , Cowman Alan
Published: January 2023

Plasmodium falciparum causes the most severe form of malaria in humans. The protozoan parasite develops within erythrocytes to mature schizonts, that contain more than 16 merozoites, which egress and invade fresh erythrocytes. The aspartic protease plasmepsin X (PMX), processes proteins and proteases essential for merozoite egress from the schizont and invasion of the host erythrocyte, including the leading vaccine candidate PfRh5. PfRh5 is anchored to the merozoite surface through a 5-membered complex (PCRCR), consisting of Plasmodium thrombospondin-related apical merozoite protein (PTRAMP), cysteine-rich small secreted protein (CSS), Rh5-interacting protein (PfRipr) and cysteine-rich protective antigen (CyRPA). We show that PCRCR is processed by PMX in micronemes to remove the N-terminal prodomain of PhRh5 and this activates the function of the complex unmasking a form that can bind basigin on the erythrocyte membrane and mediate merozoite invasion. The ability to activate PCRCR at a specific time in merozoite invasion most likely masks potential deleterious effects of its function until they are required. These results provide an important understanding of the essential role of PMX and the fine regulation of PCRCR function in P. falciparum biology.
Comparison of target antigen and immunoglobulin isotypes in anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies from natural infection and vaccination
Authors: Kim Jeong Hui , Kikuchi Ryosuke , Suzuki Atsuo , Watarai Rika , Goto Kaori , Okumura Yui , Matsushita Tadashi
Published: January 2023

The immune system produces antibodies following SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination. However, we lack comprehensive information about the humoral responses after infection and vaccination, which are similar but might differ in type or amount of produced antibodies. Therefore, we compared different types and amounts of antibodies produced by the immune system in response to infection versus those produced by BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech) vaccines. Our findings indicated that naturally infected individuals had 14-fold higher anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (anti-S) and 41-fold higher anti-SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain of the viral spike protein (anti-RBD) IgM titers than SARS-CoV-2-naïve vaccinees. A significantly rapid increase in anti-S IgG titers in primary infection was observed, eventually reaching a level similar to that in people who had third booster vaccination. Moreover, a significant positive correlation was observed between anti-S and anti-RBD levels in naturally infected and BNT162b2-vaccinated individuals. Collectively, our data suggest that anti-RBD and anti-S IgG can serve as neutralizing antibody predictors during routine laboratory testing.
Prospecting the Intricate Role of Intestinal Microbe and Microbial Metabolite Biomarkers in Schizophrenia
Authors: Shi Li , Ju Peijun , Meng Xiaojing , Wang Zhongxian , Yao Lihui , Zheng Mingming , Cheng Xialong , Li Jingwei , Yu Tao , Xia Qingrong , Yan Junwei , Zhu Cuizhen , Zhang Xulai
Published: January 2023

Background: The brain-gut axis has gained increasing attention due to its contribution to the etiology of various central nervous system disorders. In particular, impaired intestinal microflora and intestinal metabolite dysbiosis have been implicated in schizophrenia.
Methods: In this study, we used a 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) gene sequence–based approach and an untargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolic profiling approach to measure the gut microbiome and microbial metabolites from 44 healthy controls, 41 acute patients, and 39 remission patients, to evaluate whether microbial dysbiosis and microbial metabolite biomarkers were linked with the severity of schizophrenic symptoms.
Results: Here, we identified 20 dominant disturbances in the gut microbial composition of patients compared with healthy controls, with 3 orders, 4 families, 9 genera, and 4 species. Several unique bacterial taxa associated with schizophreniaseverity. Compared with healthy controls, 145 unusual microflora metabolites were detected in the acute and remission groups, which were mainly involved in environmental information processing, metabolism, organismal systems, and human diseases in the Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway. The Sankey diagram showed that 4 abnormal intestinal and 4 anomalous intestinal microbial metabolites were associated with psychiatric clinical symptoms.
Conclusions: These findings suggest a possible interactive influence of the gut microbiota and their metabolites on the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
Comparison of key genes regulating the prognosis of HBV/HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Huang Yiwen , Wang Shangzi , Yuan Huangbo , Liu Zhenqiu , Zhang Tiejun
Published: January 2023

Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Despite the decrease in both incidence and mortality rates in the last few years, Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection account for 70% of global liver cancer deaths. However, few researches have explored the prognostic similarities and differences between HBV-related HCC (HBV-HCC) and HCV-related HCC (HCV-HCC) at transcript level. Therefore, we aim to identify genes that may play an important role in regulating prognosis for HBV-HCC and HCV-HCC respectively and potentially lead to the prognostic difference between HBV-HCC and HCV-HCC.
Methods Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was first conducted to identify gene modules related with prognosis using The Cancer Genome Atlas Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma (TCGA-LIHC) cohort. The K-means clustering algorithm, Univariate and Multivariate Cox regression were, in turn, used to identify hub gene related to prognosis. The hub genes were then validated using ICGC-LIRI-JP cohort from The International Cancer Genome Consortium(ICGC) database by Multivariate Cox regression. Lastly, the validated genes in each group were alternately validated in other group.
Results Midnightblue and paleturquoise modules in HBV group, greenyellow and white modules in HCV group were selected during WGCNA. Later, CALCRL, TMEM204, APLNR, MED8, HSPB11, TRAPPC3, ADPRS and BTF3L4 in HBV group, NEU1, DHX16, EDEM3, GLRX2 and CYB5R1 in HCV group were screened as our hub genes. Eventually, during validation phase, TMEM204 remained significant in both groups, and CYB5R1 was only significant in HCV group.
Conclusions Our study suggested that there may be substantial prognostic differences between HBV-HCC and HCV-HCC in terms of mechanism. CYB5R1 may be partially related to prognostic difference between HBV-HCC and HCV-HCC.
Grafted Amberlite 200 C resin for adsorptive removal of salicylic acid
Authors: SAOUD Fairouz SAAD , BERBAR Yassine , AMARA Mourad
Published: January 2023

Removal of salicylic acid (SA) present in the pharmaceutical aqueous waste was performed by unmodified and modified commercial cationic exchange resin (Amberlite 200C). Modification of commercial resin was carried out by grafting of functional molecules either into aromatic ring using classical organic reaction or by physical irreversible adsorption in the resin skeleton. Nitro group NO2+ was prepared by mixing nitric and sulfuric acids and fixed by nitration whereas 2,4-dinitrophenyl hydrazine (DNPH), tributyl phosphate (TBP), and NH4+ were adsorbed on the resin matrix by immersion. As a result, unmodified resin allow elimination 21% of initial salicylic acid. While the yield of salicylic acid elimination was found to be notably increased by using modified resins. Elimination of SA by NH4+ and DNPH modified resins reached respectively 51.94 and 41.5%. In the same purpose, it has been observed no consequently removal of SA when TBP and NO2+ modified resins were employed. It was noted that the optimal operational conditions were pH=5.5 T° = 21°C, t = 20 min
Theil-Sen Regressive Bivariate Correlation based Hybridization of Whale Optimized MultiLayer Perceptive Classifier for Cardiovascular Disease Diagnosis
Authors: Angayarkanni G. , Hemalatha S.
Published: January 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Exome sequencing reveals that the CYP1B1 and FOXC1 genes are mainly responsible for childhood glaucoma in Japanese patients
Authors: Fuse Nobuo , Kimura Masae , Shimizu Ai , Hamanaka Teruhiko , Nakamura Makoto , Ishida Nobuo , Sakai Hiroshi , Ikeda Yoko , Mori Kazuhiko , Endo Atsushi , nagasaki Masao , Katsuoka Fumiki , Yasuda Jun , Matsubara Yoichi , Nakazawa Toru , Yamamoto Masayuki
Published: January 2023

Childhood glaucoma is a group of heterogeneous genetic disorders. The purpose of this study was to explore the genetic background in the Japanese population. Genomic DNA was extracted from 31 patients with childhood glaucoma from 29 families in the Japanese population. We screened the CYP1B1, FOXC1 and candidate genes using Sanger sequencing and whole-exome sequencing (WES). In the CYP1B1 gene, we identified nine mutations, of which four were novel. Almost all affected individuals had severe early-onset childhood glaucoma. In the FOXC1 gene, three novel mutations were identified in a heterozygous state. We next attempted to extract the candidate genes from the subjects showing negative results for two genes. The iterative filtering process by WES revealed 4 single-nucleotide variations (SNVs) in the PTPRF, SMPD4, VPS13B, and DHRS1 genes on autosomal chromosomes and 4 SNVs in the NHS, KCND1, BRWD3, and ENOX2 genes on the X chromosome. The CYP1B1 and FOXC1 genes are major causal genes of childhood glaucoma in Japanese families (30% and 10%, respectively), and WES results reveal the heterogeneity of the genetic background. Screening the CYP1B1 and FOXC1 genes is useful to ensure the proper diagnosis and adequate treatment of childhood glaucoma.
The effects of chemical, nuclear, radiological medical training on first responders: dysfunctional heart rate variably leads to altered physiological and psychological response.
Authors: Giaume Louise , Roy Barbara Le , Jost Daniel , Cami Heloise Lauga , Travers Stephane , Trousselard Marion
Published: January 2023

Background: While professionals working in chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) environments have underlined the need to improve the psychological and operational safety of personnel, there are few data regarding the stress induced in responders who must wear CBRN equipment. These conditions are particularly restrictive, both due to the risk of exposure to life-threatening toxic agents, and the need to wear equipment that places demand on their psychological, cognitive, and physiological capacities. Inter-individual variability remains poorly understood. Current research recognizes that the activity of the parasympathetic system (PSS) can be used as an objective marker of stress adaptation, measured as heart rate variability (HRV).
Methods:28 members of the Paris Fire Brigade medical team attended to three simulated scenarios requiring CBRN management of casualties. We examine: (i) anxiety, emotions, coping, body awareness, cognitive load, HRV, and exteroception impacts of working in CBRN environment; (ii) the role of PSS functioning in stress responses; and (iii) recovery. We recorded for three days: before the simulations (baseline), simulations’ day (pre- and post-training), and the following day.
Results show: (i) a high level of anxiety at baseline (Median 51 [46;56]) which decreased between pre- and post-training (p = 0.02); (ii) a post-simulation decrease in negative affect (p = 0.03); (iii) a tendency to decrease in body awareness during simulation (p = 0.06), which returned to the initial level at follow-up (p = 0.07); and (iv) decrease in mean RR between baseline and post-simulation n°1 (p = 0.04), and between baseline and post-training (p= 0.01). Clustering analysis based on the post-training median RMSSD: (i.e., stress-adapted subject versus non-stress-adapted subject) shows that stress-adapted subject tends to have more positive affect (p=0.006), a higher mean RR (p = 0.014) and SDNN (p = 0.005). The autonomic nervous system (ANS) shows different kinetics: the PSS activity increases post simulation in stress-adapted subject, and collapse between baseline, pre- and post-training in non-stress-adapted subject (p = 0.002). The sympathetic activity tends to increase in stress-adapted subject between baseline, pre- and post-simulation and tend to decrease in non-stress-adapted subject.
Conclusion: stress-adapted subject has a hardiness psycho-physiological response under CBRN stress.
Adsorption of Methylene Blue Dye from aqueous solution using low cost adsorbent: Kinetic, Isotherm Adsorption and Thermodynamic Studies
Authors: Al-Asadi Safaa Talib , Al-Qaim Fouad Fadhil
Published: January 2023

Fig leaf as an environmentally friendly byproduct of fruit plants, has been used for the first time to treatment of methylene blue dye. The fig leaf activated carbon (FLAC) was prepared successfully and used for adsorption of methylene blue dye (MB) purpose. The adsorbent was characterized by the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the specific surface area by the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET). In the present study, initial concentrations, contact time, temperatures, pH, carbon dose, volume solution and activation agent were covered. However, the initial concentration of MB was investigated at different concentrations 20, 40, 80, 120 and 200 mg/L. pH value was examined at these values (pH3, pH7, pH8 and pH 11). When pH is 11, the adsorption efficiency of MB retains at 84.3%. To determine how well FLAC removed MB, adsorption temperatures were changed at 20, 30, 40, and 50 °C. The adsorption capacity of FLAC was determined to be 22.7 mg/g for 0.08 g and 54.9 mg/g for 0.02 g. This adsorption inclined toward the Langmuir isotherm model (R2>0.95), where the adsorption created a monolayer covering the surface of the adsorbent, based on the curve-fitting using the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models. Additionally, it was discovered that the maximum adsorption capacity (Qm) was 69.93 mg/g and the Langmuir affinity constant (KL) was 0.08 L/mg. The FLAC as low-cost adsorbents for methylene blue dye has shown good cationic dye adsorption performance.
Modeling chronic pain experiences from online reports using the Reddit Reports of Chronic Pain dataset
Authors: Nunes Diogo A.P. , Ferreira-Gomes Joana , Neto Fani , de Matos David Martins
Published: January 2023

Purpose
Reveal and quantify qualities of reported experiences of chronic pain on social media, from multiple pathological backgrounds, by means of the novel Reddit Reports of Chronic Pain (RRCP) dataset, using Natural Language Processing techniques.
Methods
Define and validate the RRCP dataset for a set of subreddits related to chronic pain. Identify the main concerns discussed in each subreddit. Model each subreddit according to their main concerns. Compare subreddit models.
Results
The RRCP dataset comprises 86,537 Reddit submissions from 12 subreddits related to chronic pain (each related to one pathological background). Each RRCP subreddit has various main concerns. Some of these concerns are shared between multiple subreddits (e.g., the subreddit Sciatica semantically entails the subreddit backpain in their various concerns, but not the other way around), whilst some concerns are exclusive to specific subreddits (e.g., Interstitialcystitis and CrohnsDisease).
Conclusion
These results suggest that the reported experience of chronic pain, from multiple pathologies (i.e., subreddits), has concerns relevant to all, and concerns exclusive to certain pathologies. Our analysis details each of these concerns and their similarity relations. Although limited by intrinsic qualities of the Reddit platform, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first research work attempting to model the linguistic expression of various chronic pain-inducing pathologies and comparing these models to identify and quantify the similarities and differences between the corresponding emergent chronic pain experiences.
Association between ultra-processed food intakes with lipid profiles - A cross-sectional study
Authors: Nouri Mehran , Eskandarzadeh Sevda , Rajabzadeh-Dehkordi Milad , Omidbeigi Niloofar , Najafi Maryam , Faghih Shiva
Published: January 2023

The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to examine the association between UPFs intake level and lipid profile in Iranian people. This is a cross-sectional study which was performed on 236 individuals with the age range of 20 to 50 years in Shiraz, Iran. Food intakes of participants were evaluated by food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) which was previously validated in Iranian populations. For estimating the ultra-processed food, the classification of NOVA food group was used. Serum lipids including TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C were measured in blood samples. Logistic regression was used to evaluation the relation between UPF score and lipid profile. Higher UPFs intake was associated with increased OR of TG, LDL and HDL in both crude (OR: 2.60; 95% CI: 1.24–5.46 and OR: 2.05; 95% CI: 1.01–4.17 and OR: 4.34; 95% CI: 1.89–9.91 and adjusted model (OR: 2.76; 95% CI: 1.29–5.89 and OR: 2.08; 95% CI: 1.01–4.26 and OR: 4.91; 95% CI: 2.05–11.74). Thus, our results show significant associations between ultra-processed foods intake and dietary nutrient profiles that result in dyslipidemia as a risk factor of chronic diseases. In conclusion, UPF consumption worsen the nutritional profile of the diet and lead to negative changes in the lipid profile parameters.
The volatilome reveals toxicity, microbial composition, and indicators of ecosystem stress in a critical Oregon freshwater lake
Authors: Collart Lindsay , Jiang Duo , Halsey Kimberly
Published: January 2023

Toxins commonly produced by cyanobacterial blooms in freshwater lakes are a serious public health problem. The conditions leading to toxin production are currently unpredictable, thereby requiring expensive sampling and monitoring programs globally. We explored the potential of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to indicate water toxicity and microbial community composition in Upper Klamath Lake, OR. Elastic net regularization regression selected 29 of 229 detected m/z + 1 values (corresponding to unique VOCs) in models predicting microcystin toxicity that outperformed or significantly improved upon regression models based on environmental parameters, such as chlorophyll, pH, and temperature. Several m/z + 1 values are tentatively identified as epinephrine pathway metabolites, indicating organismal stress associated with microcystin production. Unique sets of m/z + 1 values were also identified by elastic net regression that predicted the relative abundance of the most dominant bacterial phyla, classes, and cyanobacterial genera. These results show that VOCs may be a key component of lake monitoring strategies.
Comparison of the Performance of Two Rapid Immunochromatographic Methods for the Detection of Carbapenemase Genes among Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales Clinical Strains
Authors: Liu Pingjuan , Deng Jiankai , Yi Siting , Ye Mengmin , Guo Penghao , Wu Zhongwen , Peng Yaqin , Huang Jianyu , cui Yingpeng , Huang Han , Chen Peisong , Liu Min , Liao Kang , Chen Yili
Published: January 2023

A rapid and accurate detection of carbapenemases for Enterobacterales isolates is crucial to the selection of antibiotics and the control of hospital infection. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of two immunochromatographic methods, NG-Test Carba 5 (Carba 5) and Goldstream Carbapenem-resistant K.N.I.V.O. Detection K-Set (K-Set), for detecting five major carbapenemases genes (blaKPC, blaNDM, blaIMP, blaOXA−48−like, and blaVIM). Carbapenemase genes were confirmed by PCR. In this study, 245 carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales(CRE) strains were included, 96.7% of which produced carbapenemase. 58.2% of Klebsiella pneumoniae producing KPC carbapenemase was the most common CRE. NDM-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae accounted for 30.4%. Significantly, NDM-type are the primary carbapenemase among Escherichia coli and Enterobacter cloacae strains, accounting for 46 (93.9%) and 20 (83.3%) respectively. The performance of two methods showed excellent results in the carbapenemase detection with an overall specificity and sensitivity values both > 99%. Specially, one KPC-carbapenemase of K. pneumonia was accurately detected by the K-Set, but failed detected by Carba 5, since it harbored a novel blaKPC gene with a point mutation (A to G) at nucleotide position 787 compared with the blaKPC−33 gene. In conclusion, as simple, rapid and accurate diagnostic, these two methods are suitable for the carbapenemase genes detection in routine microbiology laboratories, providing an important basis for clinical rational selection of antibiotics.
Ovarian stimulation induced reduction of uterine NK cells proliferation and production of cytokines by perturbing estrogen signaling in mice
Authors: Ma Rong , Jin Ni , Lei Hui , Dong Jie , Xiong Yujing , Qian Chenxi , Chen Shuqiang , Wang Xiaohong
Published: January 2023

Background
Ovarian stimulation is associated with an increased incidence of abnormal placentation. Uterine natural killer (uNK) cells are the major subpopulation of decidual immune cells, which are crucial for placentation. In a previous study, we found that ovarian stimulation impairs uNK cell density on gestation day (GD) 8.5 in mice. However, it is not clear how ovarian stimulation led to a reduction in the density of uNK cells. In this study, we transferred blastocysts that were obtained from natural mating and in vivo development into individual pseudopregnant recipients produced by either natural mating (control group) or mating following ovarian stimulation (SO group).
Materials and Methods
Results
The fetal weights of the SO group were significantly lower than those of the control group on GD 18.5 (P < 0.001). In the SO placentas, PAS−positive area was significantly expanded (P < 0.05), and the micro vessel density values at the labyrinth zone were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). Notably, the density, maturity and cell proliferation activity of PAS+DBA+ uNK cells significantly declined in SO pregnant uteri compared with control, and the production of cytokines including IFN-γ, VEGF and PLGF of CD45+CD3−DBA+ uNK cells was also attenuated by ovarian stimulation. Additionally, we demonstrated that the production of chemokines and cytokines related to uNK recruitment, proliferation, and differentiation in the decidua is suppressed by ovarian stimulation.
Conclusion
we found that ovarian stimulation resulted in aberrant estrogen signaling and may contribute to the disorder of uNK cells caused by ovarian stimulation. Together, these results provided new insights on the mechanisms of aberrant maternal endocrine environments and abnormal placentation.
A Novel Mitochondria-Related Gene Signature in Esophageal Carcinoma: Prognostic, Immune, and Therapeutic Features
Authors: Zhang Xintong , Wu Hao , Niu Jingjing , Hu Yanfen , Zhang Wentao , Chang Jingjia , Li Li , Zhu Jianjun , Zhang Chunle , Liu Ming
Published: January 2023

Esophageal Carcinoma (ESCA) is a common and lethal malignant tumor worldwide. A role for mitochondria in tumorigenesis and progression has been proposed. The mitochondrial biomarkers were useful in finding significant prognostic gene modules associated with ESCA. In the present work, we obtained the transcriptome expression profiles and corresponding clinical information of ESCA from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Differential expressed genes (DEGs) were overlapped with mitochondria related genes to obtain mitochondria related DEGs. The univariate cox regression, Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression, and multivariate cox regression was sequentially used to define the risk scoring model for mitochondria-related DEGs, and its prognostic value was verified in the external datasets GSE53624. Based on risk score, ESCA patients were divided into high and low risk groups. GO, KEGG and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) were performed to further investigate the difference between low and high risk groups in the gene pathway level. CIBERSORT was used to evaluate immune cell infiltration. The mutation difference between high and low risk groups was compared by the R package “Maftools”. Cellminer was used to assess the interactions of the risk scoring model and drug sensitivity. As the most important outcome of the study, we obtained 306 mitochondria related DEGs, and constructed a 6-gene risk scoring model (APOOL, HIGD1A, MAOB, BCAP31, SLC44A2 and CHPT1). Between high and low risk group, pathways including “hippo signaling pathway” and “cell-cell junction” was enriched. According to CIBERSORT, samples with high risk demonstrated higher abundance of CD4+ T cells, NK cells, M0 and M2 Macrophages, and lower abundance of M1 Macrophages. The immune cell marker genes were correlated with risk score. In mutation analysis, the mutation rate of TP53 was significantly different between the high and low risk groups. Drugs with strong correlation with model genes and risk score were selected. In conclusion, we focused on the role of mitochondria-related genes in cancer development, and proposed a prognostic signature for individualized integrative assessment.
Periodic Generalized Birkhoff Solutions and Farey Intervals for Monotone Recurrence Relations
Authors: Zhou Tong
Published: January 2023

The aim of this paper is to extend the results associated with periodic orbits from two-dimensions to higher-dimensions. Because of the one-to-one correspondence between solutions for the monotone recurrence relation and orbits for the induced high-dimensional cylinder twist map, we consider the system of solutions for monotone recurrence relations instead. By introducing intersections of type (k,l), we propose the definition of generalized Birkhoff solutions, generalizing the concept of Birkhoff solutions. We show that if there is a (p,q)-periodic solution which is not a generalized Birkhoff solution, then the system has positive topological entropy and the Farey interval of p/q is contained in the rotation set.
MSC: 37B40, 37C65, 37E40, 37E45.
Patients with Post-COVID-19 Vaccination Myocarditis Have More Favorable Strain in Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Than Those With Viral Myocarditis
Authors: Vaiyani Danish , Elias Matthew D. , Biko David M , Whitehead Kevin K , Harris Matthew A , Partington Sara L , Fogel Mark A
Published: January 2023

Introduction There have been reports of myocarditis following vaccination against COVID-19. We sought to describe cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) findings among pediatric patients. Methods and Results Retrospective review at a large academic center of patients clinically diagnosed with post-vaccine myocarditis (PVM) undergoing CMR. Data collected included parametric mapping, ventricular function and degree of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). Post processing strain analysis was performed using tissue tracking. Strain values, T1/T2 values and ventricular function were compared to age-and gender-matched controls with viral myocarditis using a Wilcoxon Signed Rank test. Among 12 patients with presumed PVM, 11 were male and 11 presented after the second vaccination dose, typically within 4 days. All presented with chest pain and elevated troponin. 10 met MRI criteria for myocarditis. All had LGE typically seen in the lateral and inferior walls; only five had prolonged T1 values. 10 met criteria for edema based on skeletal muscle to myocardium signal intensity ratio, and only 5 had prolonged T2 mapping values. Patients with PVM had greater short-axis global circumferential and radial strain, right ventricle function and cardiac output when compared to those with viral myocarditis. Conclusion Patients with PVM have greater short-axis global circumferential and radial strains compared to those with viral myocarditis. LGE was universal in our cohort. Signal intensity ratios between skeletal muscle and myocardium may be more sensitive in identifying edema than T2 mapping. Overall, the impact on myocardial strain by CMR is less significant in PVM compared to more classic viral myocarditis.
Cooperation in public goods game in populations of dynamic groups with varying evolution time scales
Authors: Xu Xin-Yun , Zhang Hong-Bin
Published: January 2023

The cooperation in a large population engaging in the Public Goods Game (PGG) is investigated. Agents have two strategies to choose, i.e., to cooperate or to defect. These agents are temporally formed into groups for playing the PGG. The group sizes are randomly distributed and the payoffs obtained by the two-type agents after playing the games are related to the strategy selection implemented by the death-birth process. The time scales between the interactions of the agents and the strategy update are also considered. We find that the frequency of cooperation as a function of the game parameter is greatly affected by the group size distributions and the time scales of the evolutionary dynamics. At some cases, the cooperative behavior can be analytically solved. In this model, a mixed state with coexistence of cooperators and defectors and a totally cooperative state are observed. The critical game parameter, above which a totally cooperative state will occur, is obtained by an analytical treatment or analyzed by the last-surviving pattern. When the process of the strategy selection is fast, the critical game parameter for the emergence of an AllC state depends on the size scope of the group size distribution and the time scale of the interactions via grouping dynamics. At slow strategy selection, the critical game parameter approaches to rely on the mean group size of the dynamically formed groups. All the theoretical results are verified by computer simulations and they are in a good agreement.
Schwartz Function Valued Solutions of the Euler and the Navier-Stokes Equations
Authors: Dio Philipp di
Published: January 2023

We prove the existence of a solution for the second order system of partial differential equations ∂tf = Δf + g . ∇f + h . f + k by a Montel space version of Arzelà--Ascoli and bound all Schwartz semi-norms. We find that for the Euler and the Navier--Stokes equations the vorticity remains a Schwartz function as long as the classical solution exists. Our approach is not affected by viscosity. It treats the hyperbolic Euler and the parabolic Navier--Stokes equation simultaneously.
2020 MSC: 35Q30, 76D03, 76D05
Unusual grafts for living-donor liver transplantation
Authors: Yim Seung Hyuk , Min Eun-Ki , Choi Mun Chae , Kim Deok Gie , Han Dai Hoon , Joo Dong Jin , Choi Jin Sub , Kim Myong Soo , Choi Gi Hong , Lee Jae Geun
Published: January 2023

Purpose: Unusual grafts, including extended left liver plus caudate lobe, right anterior section, and right posterior section grafts, are alternatives to left and right lobe grafts for living-donor liver transplantation. This study aimed to investigate unusual grafts from the perspectives of recipients and donors.
Methods: From 2016 to 2021, 497 patients received living-donor liver transplantation at Severance Hospital. Among them, 10 patients received unusual grafts. Three patients received extended left liver plus caudate lobe grafts, two patients received right anterior section grafts, and five patients received right posterior section grafts. Liver volumetrics and anatomy were analyzed for all recipients and donors. We collected data on laboratory examinations (alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, international normalized ratio), imaging studies, graft survival, and complications. A 1:2 ratio propensity score matching method was used to reduce selection bias and balance variables between the unusual and conventional graft groups.
Results: The mean model for end-stage liver disease score of unusual graft recipients was 18±9.64 and mean graft recipient weight ratio was 0.80±0.18. ABO incompatibility was observed in four cases. The alanine aminotransferase level, total bilirubin level, and international normalized ratio decreased in both recipients and donors. Unusual and conventional grafts had similar survival rates (p=0.492). The right and left subgroups did not differ from each counter-conventional sub-group (p=0.339 and p=0.695, respectively). The incidence of major complications was not significantly different between unusual and conventional graft recipients (p=0.513). Wound seromas were reported by unusual graft donors; the complication ratio was similar to that in conventional graft donors (p=0.169).
Conclusion: Although unusual grafts require a complex indication, they may show feasible surgical outcomes for recipients with a donor safety.