bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efectos de algunas señales visuales y olfativas sobre el consumo de cigarrillo y el ansia por fumar
Authors: Clavijo Álvarez Álvaro Arturo , Avila Rozo Diego Andrés , Henao Barbosa Karen Viviana , Suárez Ordóñez Laura Carolina , Urbano Mejía Cristian Yesid , Molano Gallardo Juan Pablo , Zanguña Villalba Julián Andrés , Ledesma Castro Pablo Andrés
Published: February 2022

Las señales inductoras para el consumo (SIC) son uno de los factores que inciden en que un fumador encienda, o no, el próximo cigarrillo. Las SIC impactan más a los fumadores no dependientes de la nicotina (FND) que a los fumadores dependientes (FD). Los FND no son dependientes de la nicotina y sus niveles de monóxido de carbono tienden a ser más bajos. Los FD muestran niveles de nicotina y monóxido de carbono más altos (dependientes). Este estudio evaluó el nivel de ansia de los individuos frente a imágenes relacionadas con el producto (cigarrillos y cajetilla de cigarrillos) y si existen diferencias entre inductores visuales y olfativos en relación con el consumo de cigarrillo. Los FD muestran niveles de nicotina y monóxido de carbono más altos. Los participantes mostraron mayor ansia ante las imágenes que presentaban cigarrillos saliendo de la cajetilla. No se hallaron diferencias entre inductores visuales y olfativos en relación con el consumo de cigarrillo. No obstante, la ocurrencia de fumar fue mayor en FD que en FND. Por eso, es importante clasificar el tipo de fumador en futuras investigaciones que pretendan evaluar esta población.
Predicción de efectos fisiológicos causados por el estrés académico mediante redes neuronales artificiales
Authors: Mora Romo José Fernando , Martell Muñoz Juan
Published: February 2022

Mediante un modelo de perceptrón multicapa (MLP) de redes neuronales artificiales, se buscó realizar un modelo predictivo de efectos fisiológicos causados por el estrés académico. Para esto, se consideran variables como la procrastinación académica, el nivel de estrés percibido en el semestre, el estrés académico, la edad, el ingreso económico familiar e individual. Se obtuvo un porcentaje de pronósticos incorrectos en la fase de prueba y reserva de 38.5% y 19.2%, respectivamente; así como un porcentaje global de clasificación correcto de 80.8% y un valor de área bajo la curva ROC de .752. Las tres variables mayor importancia normalizada dentro del modelo fueron la procrastinación, el nivel de estrés percibido en el semestre y el estrés académico. Por último, se discuten los efectos de la procrastinación y el estrés académico sobre el bienestar físico y psicológico de los estudiantes.
Relación entre el Razonamiento Perceptivo y el Nivel de Rendimiento Académico en Matemáticas en Niños y Niñas Escolarizados
Authors: Burbano Urbano Christian Danilo , Perugache Adriana del Pilar , Romero Ortega Pedro Mauricio
Published: February 2022

El objetivo del presente estudio es determinar la relación entre el razonamiento perceptivo y el nivel de rendimiento académico en matemáticas en estudiantes de secundaria. Se dispuso de un diseño correlacional de corte transversal, con la participación de 56 niños y niñas de grado sexto de la Institución Educativa Municipal Ciudad de Pasto, Colombia. Para obtener la información sociodemográfica se implementó una ficha de caracterización; para medir las variables de estudio se dispuso del promedio acumulado de calificaciones (rendimiento académico) y se aplicaron las pruebas Diseño con cubos, Conceptos con dibujos y Matrices, de la Escala de Inteligencia de Wechsler para Niños, que evalúan el Índice de Razonamiento Perceptual. Se analizaron los resultados con el software SPSS versión 25, empleando el coeficiente de correlación de Pearson para las dos variables de estudio, se encuentra una correlación positiva (r=0,467), estadísticamente significativa (p<0.05). Se propone además un modelo de regresión lineal, en el cual los resultados indican que el razonamiento perceptivo predice un 21% del nivel de rendimiento académico en matemáticas (R2= 0,21); en el caso de los niños, se encuentra una correlación positiva más alta (r=0,628) y un mayor nivel de predicción (R2= 0,39), mientras que en las niñas, el razonamiento perceptivo no es un predictor del nivel de rendimiento académico en matemáticas. Los resultados son similares a los reportados en con otras investigaciones que evalúan las mismas variables, aunque en este caso, se muestran diferencias de acuerdo a factores sociodemográficos, principalmente entre sexos, con ventajas para los varones.
Applications and Comparison of Dimensionality Reduction Methods for Microbiome Data
Authors: Armstrong George , Rahman Gibraan , Martino Cameron , McDonald Daniel , Gonzalez Antonio , Mishne Gal , Knight Rob
Published: February 2022

Dimensionality reduction techniques are a key component of most microbiome studies, providing both the ability to tractably visualize complex microbiome datasets and the starting point for additional, more formal, statistical analyses. In this review, we discuss the motivation for applying dimensionality reduction techniques, the special characteristics of microbiome data such as sparsity and compositionality that make this difficult, the different categories of strategies that are available for dimensionality reduction, and examples from the literature of how they have been successfully applied (together with pitfalls to avoid). We conclude by describing the need for further development in the field, in particular combining the power of phylogenetic analysis with the ability to handle sparsity, compositionality, and non-normality, as well as discussing current techniques that should be applied more widely in future analyses.
Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells as a Carrier for a Cell-Mediated Drug Delivery
Authors: Litvinova L. S. , Shupletsova V. V. , Khaziakhmatova O. G. , Daminova A. G. , Kudryavtseva V. L. , Yurova K. A. , Malashchenko V. V. , Todosenko N. M. , Popova V. , Litvinov R. I. , Korotkova E. I. , Sukhorukov G. B. , Gow A. J. , Weissman D. , Atochina-Vasserman E. N. , Khlusov I. A.
Published: February 2022

A number of preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated the efficiency of mesenchymal stromal cells to serve as an excellent base for a cell-mediated drug delivery system. Cell-based targeted drug delivery has received much attention as a system to facilitate the uptake a nd transfer of active substances to specific organs and tissues with high efficiency. Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are attracting increased interest as a promising tool for cell-based therapy due to their high proliferative capacity, multi-potency, and anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. In particular, these cells are potentially suitable for use as encapsulated drug transporters to sites of inflammation. Here, we studied the in vitro effects of incorporating synthetic polymer microcapsules at various microcapsule-to-cell ratios on the morphology, ultrastructure, cytokine profile, and migration ability of human adipose-derived MSCs at various time points post-phagocytosis. The data show that under appropriate conditions, human MSCs can be efficiently loaded with synthesized microcapsules without damaging the cell’s structural integrity with unexpressed cytokine secretion, retained motility, and ability to migrate through 8 μm pores. Thus, the strategy of using human MSCs as a delivery vehicle for transferring microcapsules, containing bioactive material, across the tissue–blood or tumor–blood barriers to facilitate the treatment of stroke, cancer, or inflammatory diseases may open a new therapeutic perspective.
Evaluation of Osteogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell on Highly Porous Polycaprolactone Scaffold Reinforced With Layered Double Hydroxides Nanoclay
Authors: Enderami Seyedeh Elnaz , Shafiei Seyedeh Sara , Shamsara Mehdi , Enderami Seyed Ehsan , Rostamian Tabari Abolfazl
Published: February 2022

In recent decades, bone tissue engineering has had an effective role in introducing orthopedic implants. In this regard, polymeric scaffolds reinforced with bioactive nanomaterials can offer great potential in tissue engineering implants for replacing bone loss in patients. In this study, the thermally induced phase separation method was used to fabricate three-dimensional highly porous scaffolds made of layered double hydroxide (LDH)/polycaprolactone (PCL) nanocomposites with varied LDH contents ranging from 0.1 wt.% to 10 wt.%. The Phase identification, morphology, and elemental composition were studied using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, respectively. Interconnected pores ranging from 5 to 150 µm were detected in all samples. The results revealed that the inclusion of LDH to PCL scaffold reinforced mechanical strength and compressive modulus increased from 0.6418 to 1.3251 for the pure PCL and PCL + LDH (1 Wt.%) scaffolds, respectively. Also, thermal stability, degradation rate, and biomineralization especially in comparison with the pure PCL were enhanced. Adhesion, viability, and proliferation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) seeded on PCL + LDH scaffolds were improved as compared to the pure PCL. Furthermore, the addition of LDH resulted in the increased mineral deposition as well as expression of ALP and RUNX2 osteogenic genes in terms of differentiation. All in all, our findings revealed that PCL + LDH (1 Wt.%) scaffold might be an ideal choice for 3D scaffold design in bone tissue engineering approaches.
Intersegmental Coordination in Patients With Total Knee Arthroplasty During Walking
Authors: Wang Yingpeng , Qie Shuyan , Li Yingqi , Yan Songhua , Zeng Jizhou , Zhang Kuan
Published: February 2022

Precise identification of deficient intersegmental coordination patterns and functional limitations is conducive to the evaluation of surgical outcomes after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and the design of optimal personalized rehabilitation protocols. However, it is still not clear how and when intersegmental coordination patterns change during walking, and what functional limitations are in patients with TKA. This study was designed to investigate lower limb intersegmental coordination patterns in patients with knee osteoarthritis before and after TKA and identify how intersegmental coordination of patients is altered during walking before and after TKA. It was hypothesized that 6-month after TKA, intersegmental coordination patterns of patients are improved compared with that before TKA, but still do not recover to the level of healthy subjects. Gait analysis was performed on 36 patients before and 6-month after TKA and on 34 healthy subjects. Continuous relative phase (CRP) derived from the angle-velocity phase portrait was used to measure the coordination between interacting segments throughout the gait cycle. Thigh-shank CRP and shank-foot CRP were calculated for each subject. Statistical parametric mapping (SPM), a one-dimensional analysis of the entire gait cycle curve, was performed directly to determine which periods of the gait cycle were different in patients and healthy subjects. Six-month after TKA, thigh-shank CRP was significantly higher during 5–12% of the gait cycle (p = 0.041) and lower during 44–95% of the gait cycle (p < 0.001) compared with healthy subjects, and was significantly higher during 62–91% of the gait cycle (p = 0.002) compared with pre-operation. Shank-foot CRP was significantly lower during 0–28% of the gait cycle (p < 0.001) and higher during 58–94% of the gait cycle (p < 0.001) compared with healthy subjects, and was significantly lower during 3–18% of the gait cycle (p = 0.005) compared with pre-operation. This study found that patients exhibited altered intersegmental coordination during the loading response and swing phase both before and after TKA. Six-month after TKA, the thigh-shank coordination was partially improved compared with pre-operation, but still did not recover to the level of healthy subjects, while there was no improvement in the shank-foot coordination pattern after TKA compared with pre-operation. CRP combined with SPM methods can provide insights into the evaluation of surgical outcomes and the design of rehabilitation strategy.
Increased Frequency of Diabetic Ketoacidosis: The Link With COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: d’Annunzio Giuseppe , Bassi Marta , De Rose Elena Lucia , Lezzi Marilea , Minuto Nicola , Calevo Maria Grazia , Gaiero Alberto , Fichera Graziella , Borea Riccardo , Maghnie Mohamad
Published: February 2022

Aims

Diabetic ketoacidosis is the most severe metabolic derangement due to prolonged insulin deficiency as in type 1 diabetes. Diabetic ketoacidosis, a life-threatening condition, is often diagnosed late. A timely diagnosis is mandatory to prevent its consequences, mainly neurological. The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown have reduced the availability of medical care and access to hospitals. The aim of our retrospective study was to compare the frequency of ketoacidosis at the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes between the lockdown-post lockdown period and the previous two calendar years, in order to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Patients and Methods

We retrospectively assessed the clinical and metabolic data at the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in children in the Liguria Region during 3 different time periods: calendar year 2018 (Period A), calendar year 2019 until February 23,2020 (Period B) and from February 24, 2020 onwards to March 31, 2021 (Period C).

Results

We analyzed 99 patients with newly-diagnosed T1DM from 01/01/2018 to 31/03/2021. Briefly, a younger age at diagnosis of T1DM was observed in Period 2 compared to Period 1 (p = 0.03). The frequency of DKA at clinical onset of T1DM was similar in Period A (32.3%) and Period B (37.5%), while it significantly increased in Period C (61.1%) compared to Period B (37.5%) (p = 0.03). PH values were similar in Period A (7.29 ± 0.14) and Period B (7.27 ± 0.17), while they were significantly lower in Period C (7.21 ± 0.17) compared to Period B (p = 0.04).

Conclusions

An increase in the frequency of diabetic ketoacidosis has been documented in newly diagnosed pediatric patients in the Liguria Region during and after the lockdown period compared to previous calendar years. This increase could have been caused by the delay in diagnosis following the restrictions imposed by the lockdown with consequently reduced access to health care facilities. More information on the risks of ketoacidosis is desirable by means of social and medical awareness campaigns.
Crystallization of Feline Coronavirus Mpro With GC376 Reveals Mechanism of Inhibition
Authors: Lu Jimmy , Chen Sizhu Amelia , Khan Muhammad Bashir , Brassard Raelynn , Arutyunova Elena , Lamer Tess , Vuong Wayne , Fischer Conrad , Young Howard S. , Vederas John C. , Lemieux M. Joanne
Published: February 2022

Coronaviruses infect a variety of hosts in the animal kingdom, and while each virus is taxonomically different, they all infect their host via the same mechanism. The coronavirus main protease (Mpro, also called 3CLpro), is an attractive target for drug development due to its essential role in mediating viral replication and transcription. An Mpro inhibitor, GC376, has been shown to treat feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a fatal infection in cats caused by internal mutations in the feline enteric coronavirus (FECV). Recently, our lab demonstrated that the feline drug, GC373, and prodrug, GC376, are potent inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and solved the structures in complex with the drugs; however, no crystal structures of the FIP virus (FIPV) Mpro with the feline drugs have been published so far. Here, we present crystal structures of FIPV Mpro-GC373/GC376 complexes, revealing the inhibitors covalently bound to Cys144 in the active site, similar to SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. Additionally, GC376 has a higher affinity for FIPV Mpro with lower nanomolar Ki values compared to SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. We also show that improved derivatives of GC376 have higher potency for FIPV Mpro. Since GC373 and GC376 represent strong starting points for structure-guided drug design, determining the crystal structures of FIPV Mpro with these inhibitors are important steps in drug optimization and structure-based broad-spectrum antiviral drug discovery.
2-Alkylation of 3-Alkyindoles With Unactivated Alkenes
Authors: Pan Xuling , Liu Qian , Nong Yingling
Published: February 2022

An acid-catalyzed 2-alkylation of indole molecules is developed. Only catalytic amount of the commercially available, inexpensive and traceless HI is used as the sole reaction promoter. 2,3-Disubstituted indole molecules bearing congested tertiary carbon centers are afforded as the final products in moderate to excellent yields.
English from Scratch: Preadolescents’ Developing Use of English Lexical Resources in Belgian Dutch
Authors: Schuring Melissa , Zenner Eline
Published: February 2022

Working within the framework of the socio-pragmatic turn in anglicism research, this paper adds a developmental sociolinguistic perspective in investigating preadolescents’ use of English lexical resources in Belgian Dutch. The so far largely undocumented role of English in the linguistic transition from childhood to adolescence is analyzed through a fieldwork corpus of 15,465 utterances, collected during sociolinguistic interviews with 26 (12 boys, 14 girls) Belgian Dutch preadolescent (6–13 years/o) respondents from a local hockey club. All English lexical material in the corpus was identified and categorized following a three-step identification protocol. This protocol introduces a distinction between recognizable unavoidable English (RUE) and recognizable avoidable English (RAE). Results reveal that, overall, 9.7% of the utterances contain recognizable English (RUE + RAE), with RUE being significantly more frequent than RAE. Our findings further indicate only limited stratification according to traditional socio-demographic parameters and display a number of outliers in the respondent profiles. Closer inspection of these outliers allows the conclusion that in the community of practice studied, English is an emerging youth language marker, typically used when talking about gaming or girl-oriented activities. In sum, we conclude that preadolescents in our sample instrumentalize English for incipient identity work, both on the micro-level (being a gamer, a soon-to-be teenage girl) as on the macro-level (through ingroup and outgroup marking).
The Hypertension Paradox: Survival Benefit After ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Patients With History of Hypertension. A Prospective Cohort- and Risk-Analysis
Authors: Hoffmann Fabian , Fassbender Patricia , Zander Wilhelm , Ulbrich Lisa , Kuhr Kathrin , Adler Christoph , Halbach Marcel , Reuter Hannes
Published: February 2022

Background

Mortality after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is dependent from best-medical treatment after initial event.

Objectives

Determining the impact of prescription of guideline-recommended therapy after STEMI in two cohorts, patients with and without history of arterial hypertension, on survival.

Methods

1,025 patients of the Cologne Infarction Model registry with invasively adjudicated STEMI were dichotomized according to their history of arterial hypertension. We recorded prescription rates and dosing of RAS-inhibitors, β-blockers and statins in all patients. The primary outcome was all-cause death. Mean follow-up was 2.5 years.

Results

Mean age was 64 ± 13 years, 246 (25%) were women. 749 (76%) patients had a history of hypertension. All-cause mortality was 24.2%, 30-day and 1-year mortality was 11.3% and 16.6%, respectively. History of hypertension correlated with lower mortality (hazard ratio [HR], @30 days: 0.41 [0.27-0.62], @1 year: 0.37 [0.26-0.53]). After adjusting for age, sex, Killip-class, diabetes mellitus, body-mass index, kidney function and statin prescription at discharge 1-year mortality HR was 0.24 (0.12-0.48). At discharge, prescription rates for RAS-inhibitors, β-blockers and statins, as well as individual dosing and long-term persistence of RAS-inhibitors were higher in patients with history of hypertension. On the same lines, prescription rates for RAS-inhibitors, β-blockers and statins at discharge correlated significantly with lower mortality regardless of history of hypertension.

Conclusion

Patients with history of hypertension show higher penetration of guideline recommended drug therapy after STEMI, which may contribute to better survival. Better tolerance of β-blockers and RAS-inhibitors in patients with history of hypertension, not hypertension itself, likely explains these differences in prescription and dosing.
Association of Nighttime Systolic Blood Pressure With Left Atrial-Left Ventricular–Arterial Coupling in Hypertension
Authors: Sun Qiaobing , Pan Yu , Zhao Yixiao , Liu Yan , Jiang Yinong
Published: February 2022

Objective

Hypertension (HT) induces left atrial (LA) and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, and an increase in arterial stiffness. In this study, we investigated the association between LA-LV–arterial coupling and nighttime systolic blood pressure (BP) as well as BP circadian rhythm in essential hypertension.

Methods

We enrolled 290 HT patients. All subjects were evaluated by 2- dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE), ambulatory 24 h BP monitoring (ABPM), and brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (PWV). According to BP patterns, these patients were divided into two groups, which included dippers (n = 111), patients with a >10% reduction in BP at nighttime; non-dippers (n = 179), patients with a <10% reduction in BP at nighttime. 2D-STE based LA and LV strains were studied and the following parameters were measured, LV global longitudinal strain (GLS), LA reservoir strain (LAS−S), LA conduit strain (LAS−E), and LA booster pump strain (LAS−A). LA stiffness index (LASI) defined as the ratio of E/e′ to LAS−S, and PWV-to-GLS ratio (PWV/GLS) were calculated to reflect LA-LV–arterial coupling. Furthermore, we also explored the correlation between LASI (or PWV/GLS) and ambulatory blood pressure indexes.

Results

Left atrial stiffness index was significantly higher in non-dippers [0.29 (0.21, 0.41)] than in dippers [0.26 (0.21, 0.33)] (P < 0.05). PWV/GLS was significantly higher in non-dippers [−80.9 (−69.3, −101.5)] than in dippers [−74.2 (−60.2, −90.6)] (P < 0.05). LAS−S, LAS−E, LAS−A,and LV GLS were significantly lower in non-dippers than in dippers (P < 0.05). Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that nighttime systolic BP was independently correlated with LASI and PWV/GLS, even adjusted for multiple clinical risk factors, LVMI, and LVEF.

Conclusions

The dipping pattern of BP was related to the abnormalities of myocardial mechanics and LA-LV–arterial coupling. However, absolute nocturnal systolic BP value maybe more important than BP circadian profile in the progression of abnormal LA-LV–arterial coupling.
Statin Use in COVID-19 Hospitalized Patients and Outcomes: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Kouhpeikar Hamideh , Khosaravizade Tabasi Hamidreza , Khazir Zahra , Naghipour Armin , Mohammadi Moghadam Hussein , Forouzanfar Hasan , Abbasifard Mitra , Kirichenko Tatiana V. , Reiner Željko , Banach Maciej , Sahebkar Amirhossein
Published: February 2022

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) might affect everyone, but people with comorbidities such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD) may often have more severe complications and worse outcomes. Although vaccinations are being performed worldwide, it will take a long time until the entire population of the world is vaccinated. On the other hand, we are witnessing the emergence of new variants of this virus. Therefore, effective therapeutic approaches still need to be considered. Statins are well-known lipid-lowering drugs, but they have also anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. This study aimed to investigate the effects of statins on the survival of COVID-19 hospitalized patients.

Methods

This retrospective study was performed on 583 patients admitted to a highly referenced hospital in Tabas, Iran, between February 2020 and December 2020. One hundred sixty-two patients were treated with statins and 421 patients were not. Demographic information, clinical signs, and the results of laboratory, and comorbidities were extracted from patients' medical records and mortality and survival rates were assessed in these two groups.

Results

The results of the Cox crude regression model showed that statins reduced mortality in COVID-19 patients (HR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.32, 0.97; p = 0.040), although this reduction was not significant in the adjusted model (HRs=0.51, 95%CI: 0.22, 1.17; p = 0.114). Using a composite outcome comprising intubation, ICU admission, and mortality, both crude (HR = 0.43; 95% CI: 0.26, 0.73; p = 0.002) and adjusted (HR = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.33, 0.99; p = 0.048) models suggested a significant protective effect of statin therapy.

Conclusion

Due to anti-inflammatory properties of statins, these drugs can be effective as an adjunct therapy in the treatment of COVID-19 patients.
Inhibition of IL17A Using an Affibody Molecule Attenuates Inflammation in ApoE-Deficient Mice
Authors: Kumawat Ashok Kumar , Zegeye Mulugeta M. , Paramel Geena Varghese , Baumgartner Roland , Gisterå Anton , Amegavie Obed , Hellberg Sanna , Jin Hong , Caravaca April S. , Söderström Leif Å. , Gudmundsdotter Lindvi , Frejd Fredrik Y. , Ljungberg Liza U. , Olofsson Peder S. , Ketelhuth Daniel F. J. , Sirsjö Allan
Published: February 2022

The balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines released by immune and non-immune cells plays a decisive role in the progression of atherosclerosis. Interleukin (IL)-17A has been shown to accelerate atherosclerosis. In this study, we investigated the effect on pro-inflammatory mediators and atherosclerosis development of an Affibody molecule that targets IL17A. Affibody molecule neutralizing IL17A, or sham were administered in vitro to human aortic smooth muscle cells (HAoSMCs) and murine NIH/3T3 fibroblasts and in vivo to atherosclerosis-prone, hyperlipidaemic ApoE−/− mice. Levels of mediators of inflammation and development of atherosclerosis were compared between treatments. Exposure of human smooth muscle cells and murine NIH/3T3 fibroblasts in vitro to αIL-17A Affibody molecule markedly reduced IL6 and CXCL1 release in supernatants compared with sham exposure. Treatment of ApoE−/− mice with αIL-17A Affibody molecule significantly reduced plasma protein levels of CXCL1, CCL2, CCL3, HGF, PDGFB, MAP2K6, QDPR, and splenocyte mRNA levels of Ccxl1, Il6, and Ccl20 compared with sham exposure. There was no significant difference in atherosclerosis burden between the groups. In conclusion, administration of αIL17A Affibody molecule reduced levels of pro-inflammatory mediators and attenuated inflammation in ApoE−/− mice.
Non-invasive Multimodality Imaging of Coronary Vulnerable Patient
Authors: Canu Marjorie , Broisat Alexis , Riou Laurent , Vanzetto Gerald , Fagret Daniel , Ghezzi Catherine , Djaileb Loic , Barone-Rochette Gilles
Published: February 2022

Atherosclerotic plaque rupture or erosion remain the primary mechanism responsible for myocardial infarction and the major challenge of cardiovascular researchers is to develop non-invasive methods of accurate risk prediction to identify vulnerable plaques before the event occurs. Multimodal imaging, by CT-TEP or CT-SPECT, provides both morphological and activity information about the plaque and cumulates the advantages of anatomic and molecular imaging to identify vulnerability features among coronary plaques. However, the rate of acute coronary syndromes remains low and the mechanisms leading to adverse events are clearly more complex than initially assumed. Indeed, recent studies suggest that the detection of a state of vulnerability in a patient is more important than the detection of individual sites of vulnerability as a target of focal treatment. Despite this evolution of concepts, multimodal imaging offers a strong potential to assess patient's vulnerability. Here we review the current state of multimodal imaging to identify vulnerable patients, and then focus on emerging imaging techniques and precision medicine.
Tectonic Deformation of an Intraplate Orogenic Belt: Mesozoic Sedimentary Basins in the Northeastern Qilian Shan, China
Authors: Jia Jiabao , Zheng Wenjun , Zhang Yipeng , Wei Shiqi , Liang Shumin , Feng Changhuan , Zhu Yu , Tang Qing , Wang Weitao
Published: February 2022

The Qilian Shan, located in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, is an intraplate orogenic belt that underwent several episodes of fold and thrust deformation, particularly during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. However, the deformation styles and relationships between the basin and mountains remain controversial. Therefore, in the current study, we conducted detailed field mapping of the sedimentary basins in Sunan and Huangcheng, and observed three episodes of compressive tectonic activity. We also restored a deformed section to determine the shortening rate of the Cretaceous sedimentary Sunan Basin. The first thrust episode, during the Paleogene, involved a southwestward thrust motion, comprising the Yumu Shan and Gaizhangdaban thrust systems. The second Neogene episode involved the northeastern thrust belt in the northern Qilian Shan, which comprises the Northern Qilian thrust system. The third episode produced NW-trending strike-slip activity that became the major tectonic deformation style; thus, the entire block rotated clockwise. Additionally, the restored section revealed that the Cretaceous strata have been shortened by ∼3.56%. Collectively, these results indicate that the Sunan and Huangcheng area on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau is influenced by the far-field effects of the collision between the Indian and Asian continents, as well as the effects of intraplate orogenic processes related to the collision of the Alashan Block and the Qilian Shan. Therefore, the current study has defined the deformation style in the northeastern Qilian Shan region, so we wish to give a clarification of the tectonic evolution and forecast the tectonic propagation in the Qilian Shan region.
Helium Signatures of Natural Gas From the Dongpu Sag, Bohai Bay Basin, Eastern China
Authors: Ni Chunhua , Wu Xiaoqi , Liu Quanyou , Zhu Dongya , Yang Fan , Meng Qingqiang , Xu Huiyuan , Xu Shutang , Xu Tianwu
Published: February 2022

The Dongpu Sag is one of the important areas for oil and gas exploration in the Bohai Bay Basin, eastern China, and natural gas from different strata in the sag contain a certain amount of helium, with the geochemical characteristics and the implications being weakly studied. Based on the analyses of the helium contents and isotopic ratios (3He/4He, 40Ar/36Ar, CH4/3He, and CO2/3He) of natural gas, the abundance and origin of helium as well as the correlation with CH4 and CO2 are investigated. The results indicate that, natural gas samples from the Dongpu Sag display the helium contents of 0.0031–0.0217% and 3He/4He ratios of 0.148 × 10−7–11.986 × 10–7, and the CH4/3He and CO2/3He ratios range from 3.7 × 109 to 1.8263 × 1012 and from 0.05×109 to 35.04 × 109, respectively. Natural gas in the sag is helium depleted and extremely depleted, with the average helium content of 0.0133%. The helium reserves in the total gas reserves are 18.38 × 106 m3, meeting the standard of small helium gas field. The helium is mainly crustal which has been mixed by a small amount of mantle-derived helium, whose proportion ranges from 0.01% to 10.72% with an average of 2.39%. Helium-related isotopic ratios of natural gas from the Dongpu Sag are consistent with those from other areas of the Bohai Bay Basin, suggesting crust-mantle mixed sources. Several gas samples from members 2 and 3 of the Shahejie Fm. contain an insignificant amount of mantle-derived helium, displaying the characteristics consistent with natural gas from typical cratonic basins.
DS-InSAR Based Long-Term Deformation Pattern Analysis in the Mining Region With an Improved Phase Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Du Yuling , Yan Shiyong , Zhao Feng , Chen Ding , Zhang Haolei
Published: February 2022

The environment management and land utilization of the abandoned mining region is critically dependent on precise monitoring and comprehensive understanding of mining subsidence. In order to overcome the shortcomings of the traditional distributed target phase optimization method in the space continuity constraints of adjacent pixels, an improved phase optimization algorithm was proposed, which combines region growing and time series interferometric synthetic aperture radar with distributed scatterers (DS-InSAR). By using 17 L-band and 51 C-band SAR images, the characteristics of temporal and spatial distribution in Peibei mining area of Xuzhou, China, were obtained during the period from 2007 to 2011 and the period from 2017 to 2020. With the long-term monitoring, the evolution of deformation in the mining area was carried out. The modified phase optimization technique has proven its ability in the density of measurement points and the influence of noise in space, which is promising for the detection of large gradient deformation and the accurate analysis of surface deformation in mining areas. The study has been concentrated toward detecting continuous subsidence in the mining region. Coal mines in operation are usually accompanied by unstable ground, and the uplift or second subsidence has sometime occurred in the closed mine region. Conclusively, the presented methodology is practically feasible for long-term deformation pattern analysis in coal-exhausted mining areas.
Does Firm Growth Impede or Expedite Insolvency Risk? A Mediated Moderation Model of Leverage Maturity and Potential Fixed Collaterals
Authors: Xuezhou Wen , Hussain Rana Yassir , Salameh Anas A. , Hussain Haroon , Khan Ali Burhan , Fareed Muhammad
Published: February 2022

Business sustainability is compromised with an increase in insolvency risk. Firm growth is desirable, but it brings an associated bundle of high risks. We decomposed firm growth into internal and external growth and studied its impact on insolvency risk using a panel data set of 284 listed non-financial firms in Pakistan from 2013 to 2017. This study used the hierarchical multiple regression approach through panel corrected standard error (PCSE) and feasible generalized least squares estimators to test the proposed relationships. The results reveal that the leverage maturity ratio mediated the relationship between firm growth and insolvency risk. Moreover, we also collected fresh evidence on the moderating role of potential fixed collaterals that negatively moderated the relationship between leverage maturity and insolvency risk. It points toward the accumulation of non-productive fixed assets that create a burden for firms instead of helping them avail of favorable loan opportunities. The findings of this research suggests that fund managers should use more long term debt to tackle insolvency risk in highly volatile markets. Inclusion of assets that serve as better collaterals should be made part of the asset structure.
Clutch Abandoning Parasitised Yellow Warblers Have Increased Circulating Corticosterone With No Effect of Past Corticosterone or Differences in Egg Maculation Characteristics
Authors: Turcotte-van de Rydt Antoine V. , Petalas Christina , Sblendorio Joanna M. , Pearl Christopher A. , Gill Sharon A. , Guigueno Mélanie F.
Published: February 2022

Parental care can be costly to parents’ fitness. As such, abandonment of the current reproductive attempt may benefit potential future opportunities, maximising lifetime reproductive success. Obligate brood parasitism, a reproductive strategy in which parasites lay their eggs in the nests of other species and rely solely on them to raise the parasitic young, is an ideal system to study brood abandonment. Some parasitised host species have evolved anti-parasitic defences, notably clutch abandonment (egg burial and nest desertion), that may mitigate negative consequences of parasitism. Abandonment of clutches due to parasitism is not unlike abandonment of reproduction in times of stress, suggesting that host responses to parasitism could be triggered at least partly by elevated stress hormones that mediate individual decisions. Yet, the mechanistic basis for clutch abandonment remains unclear. Here, we experimentally parasitised clutches of yellow warblers (Setophaga petechia), a common host of the brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater), with model cowbird eggs to examine whether host circulating corticosterone (CORT) differed among females that accepted parasitic eggs or rejected them through clutch abandonment. We also assessed whether feather CORT, a measure of past corticosterone exposure, differed between accepters and abandoners. Finally, we investigated whether egg visual signals, specifically differences in maculation characteristics between model cowbird and host eggs, predicted abandonment of experimentally parasitised clutches. Circulating CORT was higher in females who abandoned their parasitised clutches, but not in those who accepted, relative to controls with no egg addition. Past stress and differences in maculation characteristics did not predict whether individuals accepted or abandoned experimentally parasitised clutches. Moreover, differences in maculation characteristics between the host and model cowbird eggs did not predict CORT levels or nest abandonment. Thus, parasitism with subsequent clutch abandonment may be associated with elevated circulating CORT, but neither past stress nor differences in maculation characteristics influenced abandonment. The combination of these results contributes to our understanding of the roles of corticosterone and egg visual signals in the context of clutch abandonment in brood parasitism specifically, and of parental care more broadly.
Forest Fragments, Lemur Communities and Local Perception of Nature in a Protected Area of Northwestern Madagascar
Authors: Simmen Bruno , Harpet Claire , Hladik Annette , Edmond Roger , Pioch Charlotte , Combo Ashouraffi S. , Andriaholinirina Nicole , Ranarijaona Hery Lisy Tiana , Randriamanana Lantotiana M. E. , Chambon Mouna , Li Tian , Rasoamanantenaniaina Camelia , Randriarisoa Aina M. , Razanajatovo Henintsoa , Manzi Olivier Jean Leonce , Hladik Claude-Marcel , Riera Bernard
Published: February 2022

Biological conservation projects conducted in inhabited areas are often based on the combination of ecological diagnostics and study of practices and use of the environment by local communities. They less frequently integrate the influence of the perception and representation of nature on these practices, while these should also be taken into account in the initiation of sustainable conservation actions. We carried out a long-term study combining biological and social science approaches in North-western Madagascar in the Antrema protected area (with dry forest/savannah/coastal ecosystems), including an analysis of the use and perception of nature by its inhabitants. Together with the study of tree diversity, forest structure and biomass in 7 forest fragments, we estimated population densities of whole communities of diurnal and nocturnal lemurs, one of which is considered sacred. We interviewed local resource users from several villages using classical methods of social anthropology supplemented with perception tests derived from sensory evaluation methods. The structure of forest fragments as well as their basal area and richness in tree species varied with human pressure on specific plants (timber extraction) or with historical changes in pasture management (forest regrowth). Lemurs were generally abundant, with a high total biomass compared to other dry forests. Although the inhabitants of Antrema (Sakalava, Tsimihety, and Betsileo) still strongly adhered to local use rights and shared deeply rooted knowledge about the forest, the use and perception of nature (e.g., regarding the sacred lemurPropithecus coronatus) have changed since the Antrema protection project in 2000. The results suggest that local communities tend to integrate traditional rules about nature with international environmental regulation, perhaps a sign of a new ecological awareness. However, in the new management mode accompanying this transition, it can also be a means of local empowerment that takes advantage of a program supporting pro-environmental management of the Antrema area.
Host Gall Size and Temperature Influence Voltinism in an Exotic Parasitoid
Authors: Aguirrebengoa Martin , Wong María Eva , Boyero Juan Ramón , Quinto Javier
Published: February 2022

Insect phenology is highly temperature-dependent. Higher temperatures can lead to earlier emergence and lengthening of the active period, which enable many insect groups to complete more generations. Studies on the effects of climate change on insect populations are providing concerning evidence supporting this relationship. These kind of shifts in phenology and voltinism also occur in agricultural and forest insect pests and their natural enemies, with potential implications for biological control. The consequences derived from changing temperature regimes on tritrophic interactions remain poorly studied, particularly in gall-inducing insects and their parasitoids. Here we detail the occurrence of bivoltinism in the exotic parasitoid Torymus sinensis, previously categorized as univoltine, a widely introduced species to fight against the invasive Asian chestnut gall wasp Dryocosmus kuriphilus wherever this pest spread. This plasticity in voltinism has been observed in the southernmost European distribution of D. kuriphilus, and appears to be mediated by both temperature and gall traits, namely size or the number of gall chambers. Bivoltinism was most common at annual mean temperatures around 13.5°C and in galls with more chambers. Through this work, we intend to unravel the factors behind this phenomenon and discern the possible consequences on host-parasitoid interactions.
Arthropod Communities on Young Vegetated Roofs Are More Similar to Each Other Than to Communities at Ground Level
Authors: Kyrö Kukka , Kankaanpää Tuomas , Vesterinen Eero J. , Lehvävirta Susanna , Kotze David Johannes
Published: February 2022

Vegetated roofs are human-manufactured ecosystems and potentially promising conservation tools for various taxa and habitats. Focussing on arthropods, we conducted a 3 year study on newly constructed vegetated roofs with shallow substrates (up to 10 cm) and vegetation established with pre-grown mats, plug plants and seeds to describe pioneer arthropod communities on roofs and to compare them with ground level communities. We vacuum sampled arthropods from the roofs and nearby ground level sites with low, open vegetation, i.e., potential source habitats. We showed that the roofs and ground sites resembled each other for ordinal species richness but differed in community composition: with time the roofs started to resemble each other rather than their closest ground level habitats. Species richness increased with time on roofs and at ground level, but the roofs had consistently less species than the ground sites and only a few species were unique to the roofs. Also, the proportion of predators increased on roofs, while not at ground level. We conclude that vegetated roofs established with similar substrates and vegetation, filter arthropods in a way that produces novel communities that are different from those at ground level but similar to one another. The role of these insular communities in species networks and ecosystem function remains to be investigated.
Case Report: Biventricular Noncompaction Cardiomyopathy With Pulmonary Stenosis and Bradycardia in a Fetus With KCNH2 Mutation
Authors: Sun Hairui , Liu Xiaowei , Hao Xiaoyan , Zhou Xiaoxue , Wang Jingyi , Han Jiancheng , Liang Mengmeng , Zhang Hongjia , He Yihua
Published: February 2022

Background: Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a rare cardiomyopathy, long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a rare ion channel disease, and simultaneous occurrence of both is even rarer. Further clinical reports and studies are needed to identify the association between LVNC and LQTS and the underlying mechanism.

Methods and Results: A 26-year-old primigravida was referred at 25 weeks gestation for prenatal echocardiography due to fetal bradycardia detected during the routine ultrasound examination. The echocardiographic findings were consistent with biventricular noncompaction cardiomyopathy (BVNC) with pulmonary stenosis and suspected LQTS. After detailed counseling, the couple decided to terminate the pregnancy, and subsequent postmortem examination confirmed BVNC and pulmonary stenosis. Then, A trio (fetus and the parents) whole-exome sequencing (WES) and copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq) were performed. CNV-seq identified no aneuploidy or pathogenic CNV. A de novo missense variant in KCNH2 (NM_000238.3:c.1847A > G,p.Tyr616Cys) was identified by WES. This KCNH2 missense mutation was classified as pathogenic according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the Association for Molecular Pathology variant interpretation guidelines.

Conclusion: We report the first prenatal case of KCNH2 mutation presenting with LVNC combined with bradycardia and second-degree 2:1 atrioventricular block. Importantly, this case reminds clinicians to systematically search ion channel gene mutations in patients with LVNC and arrhythmia.
Clinical Roles of Risk Model Based on Differentially Expressed Genes in Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Prognosis and Immunity of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Guo Qiang , Xiao Xiao-Yue , Wu Chuang-Yan , Li Dan , Chen Jiu-Ling , Ding Xiang-Chao , Cheng Chao , Chen Chong-Rui , Tong Song , Wang Si-Hua
Published: February 2022

The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important regulatory role in the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the TME might contribute to the occurrence and development of cancer. This study evaluates the role of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of MSCs and the development of NSCLC and develops a prognostic risk model to assess the therapeutic responses. The DEGs in MSCs from lung tissues and from normal tissues were analyzed using GEO2R. The functions and mechanisms of the DEGs were analyzed using the Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Additionally, the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was used to determine the expression levels of the DEGs of MSCs in the NSCLC tissues. The prognostic factors of NSCLC related to MSCs were screened by survival analysis, meta-analysis, Cox regression analysis, and a prognostic risk model and nomogram was developed. The signaling mechanisms and immune roles that risk model participate in NSCLC development were determined via Gene Set Enrichment Analysis and CIBERSORT analysis. Compared to the normal tissues, 161 DEGs were identified in the MSCs of the lung tissues. These DEGs were associated with mechanisms, such as DNA replication, nuclear division, and homologous recombination. The overexpression of DDIT4, IL6, ITGA11, MME, MSX2, POSTN, and TRPA1 were associated with dismal prognosis of NSCLC patients. A high-risk score based on the prognostic risk model indicated the dismal prognosis of NSCLC patients. The nomogram showed that the age, clinical stage, and risk score affected the prognosis of NSCLC patients. Further, the high-risk model was associated with signaling mechanisms, such as the ECM-receptor interaction pathways, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and MAPK pathways, involved in the progression of NSCLC and was also related to the components of the immune system, such as macrophages M0, T follicular helper cells, regulatory T cells. Therefore, the risk model and nomogram that was constructed on the basis of MSC-related factors such as POSTN, TRPA1, and DDIT4 could facilitate the discovery of target molecules that participate in the progression of NSCLC, which might also serve as new candidate markers for evaluating the prognosis of NSCLC patients.