bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Principal Subspace of Dynamic Functional Connectivity for Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Al-Hiyali Mohammed Isam , Yahya Norashikin , Faye Ibrahima , Al-Quraishi Maged S. , Al-Ezzi Abdulhakim
Published: September 2022

The study of functional connectivity (FC) of the brain using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) has gained traction for uncovering FC patterns related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It is believed that the neurodynamic components of neuroimaging data enhance the measurement of the FC of brain nodes. Hence, methods based on linear correlations of rs-fMRI may not accurately represent the FC patterns of brain nodes in ASD patients. In this study, we proposed a new biomarker for ASD detection based on wavelet coherence and singular value decomposition. In essence, the proposed method provides a novel feature-vector based on extraction of the principal component of the neuronal dynamic FC patterns of rs-fMRI BOLD signals. The method, known as principal wavelet coherence (PWC), is implemented by applying singular value decomposition (SVD) on wavelet coherence (WC) and extracting the first principal component. ASD biomarkers are selected by analyzing the relationship between ASD severity scores and the amplitude of wavelet coherence fluctuation (WCF). The experimental rs-fMRI dataset is obtained from the publicly available Autism Brain Image Data Exchange (ABIDE), and includes 505 ASD patients and 530 normal control subjects. The data are randomly divided into 90% for training and cross-validation and the remaining 10% unseen data used for testing the performance of the trained network. With 95.2% accuracy on the ABIDE database, our ASD classification technique has better performance than previous methods. The results of this study illustrate the potential of PWC in representing FC dynamics between brain nodes and opens up possibilities for its clinical application in diagnosis of other neuropsychiatric disorders.
The Importance of Rehabilitation Programs Using Balneary Treatments in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Oprea Doinita , Iliescu Madalina Gabriela , Ionescu Elena Valentina , Stanciu Liliana Elena , Petcu Lucian , Chiriac Sorin , Stefan Andra Maria , Gidu Diana Victoria , Oltean Antoanela , Ciortea Viorela Mihaela , Oprea Carmen
Published: September 2022

The rehabilitation tools that are designed to improve the function of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) have various effects. The goals of rehabilitation are to prevent secondary complications, maximize physical functioning, and integrate them into the community. The objective of this study is to evaluate the functional and neurological outcomes of patients with SCI after in-patient rehabilitation in a balneary unit. Methods: one hundred forty-two patients, admitted for primary rehabilitation in a two-year period (2020–2021), aged ≥18 years with SCI, divided into traumatic SCI (T-SCI) and nontraumatic SCI (NT-SCI). The following demographic information was collected: gender, age, studies, occupation, and environment. All patients underwent an initial clinical examination which included diagnosis, causes of SCI, medication, Carmeli score, fall risk, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, Functional Independence Measure Motor (FIMm), Functional Independence Measure Cognitive (FIMc), and Functional Independence Measure Total (FIMt). At discharge, the fall risk, VAS, FIMm, FIMc, and FIMt were analyzed. We compared the results between the two groups. Results: T-SCI group was 65 (45.77%) and the NT-SCI group was 77 (54.23%). The study analyzed the effects of rehabilitation on the functional presentation of patients with SCI. It also compared the effects of rehabilitation on T-SCI versus NT-SCI on different outcomes such as age, gender, and clinical–functional impairment. Conclusions: Physical medicine and rehabilitation increase the autonomy of patients. Neurological improvement begins in the first 10 days of complex rehabilitation treatment and is not significantly different between the two groups. The cause of the injury in SCI does not affect the results of the rehabilitation.
Estimation of Resonance Frequency for Systems with Contact Using Linear Dynamics Methods
Authors: Wnuk Maciej , Iluk Artur
Published: September 2022

Limitations in determining the resonance frequency for large models, taking into account non-linearity in the form of contact, initiated work on the creation of a simplified method of estimating these resonance frequencies. The trend in this field is the use of time-domain methods with full contact, or frequency-domain methods which take into account nonlinearity for specific cases. For simplification, classical modal analysis is often used, with boundary conditions taken into account or freeform vibrations, with neglected contact, or with tied contact areas, as though the contact was always closed. The presented approximation method is based on both types of such analysis and compensates for the error of both of the solutions. The method was elaborated with nonlinear dynamics simulations in the time domain. This work presents experimental verification of the method for a simple beam, and for more complex geometry—the satellite antenna panel.
A Brief Report on the Role of SPECT/TC in the Optimization of Radiotherapy Treatment with Radical Intent for Unresectable Stage III NSCLC
Authors: Imbrescia Jessica , Volpi Giulia , Lucchini Silvia , Toraci Cristian , Facheris Giorgio , La Mattina Salvatore , Singh Navdeep , Vaccher Filippo , Guerini Andrea , Buglione di Monale e Bastia Michela , Bruni Alessio , Borghetti Paolo
Published: September 2022

Background: The standard treatment for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC) is represented by concomitant chemo-radiotherapy followed by consolidation with durvalumab that ensures a 5-year survival of 46%. However, the risk of radiotherapy-induced pneumonia (RIP) is almost 10–15%. Complete cardiological examination is also usually performed during the cardiopulmonary pre-treatment evaluation and pulmonary function testing is one of the most used tool to predict the risk of RIP development. Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of Tc-99 macroaggregated albumin (MAA) lung perfusion scan with single photon emission-computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) in the preliminary assessment of lung functions and its potential role for the optimization of the radiotherapy treatment planning. Methods: Descriptive and statistical analysis were performed on eight patients affected by unresectable stage III LA-NSCLC treated with chemo-radiotherapy. Before starting radiotherapy, patients underwent lung perfusion SPECT/CT. The SPECT/CT images were firstly co-registered with the simulation CT scan ones, then a specific region of interest (ROI) of lung volumes was created to represent the areas with a perfusion of at least 20% 40%, 60% and 80% of maximum perfusion, respectively. Finally, optimization of the standard treatment plan was performed with the aim of preserving the better perfused lung volumes. The dosimetric correlations of both plans were made comparing pulmonary V20 and V5, mean pulmonary, esophagus and heart dose. Results: From the DVH comparative analysis of the two treatment plans (standard one versus SPECT optimized one) obtained for each patient, the data confirmed an equal coverage of the target volume while respecting all lungs, heart and esophagus dose constraints. At the same time, SPECT-optimized plans allowed to reduce the average dose to the better perfused lung volumes. Conclusions: Lung perfusion scintigraphy could be considered a preliminary assessment tool to explore lung functions and stratify the risk of RIP development. SPECT/TC may also be proposed as a dose painting tool to optimize radiotherapy treatment plans. Only prospective analysis will be enable us to confirm the real reduction of RIP risk in lung areas with an optimal perfusion.
Detecting Music-Induced Emotion Based on Acoustic Analysis and Physiological Sensing: A Multimodal Approach
Authors: Hu Xiao , Li Fanjie , Liu Ruilun
Published: September 2022

The subjectivity of listeners’ emotional responses to music is at the crux of optimizing emotion-aware music recommendation. To address this challenge, we constructed a new multimodal dataset (“HKU956”) with aligned peripheral physiological signals (i.e., heart rate, skin conductance, blood volume pulse, skin temperature) and self-reported emotion collected from 30 participants, as well as original audio of 956 music pieces listened to by the participants. A comprehensive set of features was extracted from physiological signals using methods in physiological computing. This study then compared performances of three feature sets (i.e., acoustic, physiological, and combined) on the task of classifying music-induced emotion. Moreover, the classifiers were also trained on subgroups of users with different Big-Five personality traits for further customized modeling. The results reveal that (1) physiological features contribute to improving performance on valence classification with statistical significance; (2) classification models built for users in different personality groups could sometimes further improve arousal prediction; and (3) the multimodal classifier outperformed single-modality ones on valence classification for most user groups. This study contributes to designing music retrieval systems which incorporate user physiological data and model listeners’ emotional responses to music in a customized manner.
A Bug Triage Technique Using Developer-Based Feature Selection and CNN-LSTM Algorithm
Authors: Jang Jeongmin , Yang Geunseok
Published: September 2022

With an increase in the use of software, the incidence of bugs and resulting maintenance costs also increase. In open source projects, developer reassignment accounts for approximately 50%. Software maintenance costs can be reduced if appropriate developers are recommended to resolve bugs. In this study, features are extracted by applying feature selection for each developer. These features are entered into CNN-LSTM algorithm to learn the model and recommend appropriate developers. To compare the performance of the proposed model, open source projects (Google Chrome, Mozilla Core, and Mozilla Firefox) were used to compare the performance of the proposed method with a baseline for developer recommendation. In this paper, the performance showed 54% for F-measure and 52% for accuracy in open source projects. The proposed model has improved and showed about a 13% more effective performance improvement than with DeepTriage. It was discovered that the performance of the proposed model was better.
Preservation of Inner Ear Functions: Extending Glucocorticoid Therapy by Tissue-Protective α1-Antitrypsin
Authors: Amar Amit , Lewis Eli C. , Kaplan Daniel M. , El-Saied Sabri
Published: September 2022

Protecting tissues from excessive inflammation by glucocorticoids results in an effective blockade of inflammation; however, it does not instigate processes of inflammatory resolution or tissue repair. Moreover, glucocorticoids have side effects such as a susceptibility to infections. In otolaryngology—specifically, within the inner ear—surgical and non-surgical pathologies include cochlear implantation, stapes surgery, perilymph fistulas and Meniere’s disease. For these, steroids are indicated in order to prevent excessive inflammation that might lead to hearing and vestibular failure. Unless tissue homeostasis is restored, the compromised tissue is at risk of a functional loss. α1-Antitrypsin (AAT) is a circulating inflammation-modulating molecule that rises during the molecular signs of a tissue injury; it manipulates inflammation towards an inflammatory resolution and advances tissue repair. Lifelong infusions of AAT are currently indicated for genetic AAT deficiencies and are safe. In the present review, we discuss the advantages and downfalls of glucocorticoid treatments across several surgical inner ear injuries alongside evidence of the beneficial attributes of treatments with AAT. Collectively, the present knowledge places AAT treatments, wither independent or in combination with glucocorticoids, as adding focus on tissue repair in the context of unmet medical needs in otolaryngology.
Stability Analysis and Fracture Mechanism of Surrounding Rock in a Hydraulic Tunnel Based on Microseismic Monitoring
Authors: Li Zhi , Mao Haoyu , Li Biao , Zhou Xiang , Liao Guo , Chen Jianjun
Published: September 2022

Numerous large hydropower projects have been built, are being built, or are planned to be developed in southwest China as a result of the increasing demand for clean energy in China’s social and economic development. Based on engineering geological data, site surveys, and the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of microseismic (MS) events, an MS monitoring system was developed in this study to analyze the stability of the surrounding rock of the spillway tunnel of the Jinchuan hydropower station as well as the fracture and damage mechanism in the concentration zone. The results of the study indicated that the distribution of MS events was correlated with the construction process and geological conditions, that the concentration of MS events and their great moment magnitude could be regarded as signs of future damage to the surrounding rock, and that the surrounding rock of the spillway tunnel primarily exhibited non-shear failure, such as tensile failure, with only a small area exhibiting shear failure. The results can be used as a construction reference and as a forewarning of surrounding rock deformation.
Fabrication of Multifunctional Composites with Hydrophobicity, High Thermal Conductivity and Wear Resistance Based on Carbon Fiber/Epoxy Resin Composites
Authors: Huang Haichao , Cui Yexiang , Fu Zhen , Wang Shuaipeng , Du Yan , Liu Fang , Zhu Yanji
Published: September 2022

The design and preparation of hydrophobic, wear-resistant, and thermally conductive multifunctional composites is an important direction of scientific research and application. In this study, A-CF/EP/FEP composites were prepared by incorporating APDMS-modified carbon felt (A-CF) into an epoxy resin (EP) and fluorinated ethylene propylene resin (FEP) mixed resin. The low surface energy of FEP, good adhesion of EP, and the supporting of carbon felt framework endow the A-CF/EP/FEP composites with hydrophobicity, wear resistance, and thermal conductivity at the same time. Firstly, the water contact angle (WCA) of A-CF/EP/FEP composites with 20 wt% FEP reaches 109.9 ± 2.6°, and the WCAs of all composites with different FEP contents (10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 wt%) is greater than 90°, indicating the composites have a hydrophobic surface. Secondly, the A-CF/EP/FEP composites have high wear resistance and maintain long-term hydrophobicity after tribological tests, because the residual debris and nanoparticles generated by external loading adhere to the friction interface, regenerating the microstructure of the hydrophobic surface. Finally, the A-CF/EP/FEP composites have high thermal conductivity up to 0.38 W/(m·K), which is 1.81 and 2.0 times that of pure EP and EP/FEP composites, respectively. This is because a relatively complete heat conduction network is formed after the addition of A-CF to the composites. The synergy among epoxy resin, FEP, and the A-CF filler plays a particularly important role in constructing hydrophobic surfaces and improving wear resistance and thermal conductivity. The EP enhances adhesion, the FEP supplies low surface energy, and the A-CF framework improves the wear resistance of A-CF/EP/FEP composites. This work provides ideas for the design and preparation of multifunctional composites and will underlie the application of high-performance epoxy resin and its composites.
Virtual Surgical Planning in Orthognathic Surgery: Two Software Platforms Compared
Authors: Piombino Pasquale , Abbate Vincenzo , Sani Lorenzo , Troise Stefania , Committeri Umberto , Carraturo Emanuele , Maglitto Fabio , De Riu Giacomo , Vaira Luigi Angelo , Califano Luigi
Published: September 2022

Over 70% of patients suffering from dentofacial deformities mention esthetics as the biggest issue pushing them to look for orthodontic and orthognathic treatment. At present, several pieces of software for computer-aided surgery have been released on the market. This surgical planning software allows surgeons to manipulate digital representations of hard and soft tissue profile tracings and subsequently morph the pretreatment image to produce a treatment simulation. The aims of this study were to investigate and find the difference between two of the most used pieces of digital software in pre-surgical planning for patients affected by dentofacial deformities by using the following parameters: usability, validity, timing, accessibility, efficacy, and predictability of the pre-surgical planning. Analyzing the results obtained from our study, it is correct to define both software tools useful and valid in digital surgical planning for the treatment of patients with dentofacial deformities. Each software has negligible differences in performance that do not in any way affect the success of surgical planning. The IPS software represents a valid alternative to the most popular and tested Dolphin Imaging software, and we are even inclined to evaluate it as better in terms of accuracy, effectiveness, and reliability.
Improving IoT Data Security and Integrity Using Lightweight Blockchain Dynamic Table
Authors: Hameedi Saleem S. , Bayat Oguz
Published: September 2022

Over the past few years, the Internet of Things (IoT) is one of the most significant technologies ever used, as everything is connected to the Internet. Integrating IoT technologies with the cloud improves the performance, activity, and innovation of such a system. However, one of the major problems which cannot be ignored in such integration is the security of the data that are transferred between the client (IoT) and the server (cloud). Solving that problem leads to the use the of IoT technologies in more critical applications and fields. This paper proposes a new security framework by combining blockchain technology with the AES algorithm. Blockchain technology is used and modified to protect data integrity and generate unique device identification within minimal power consumption and best performance. The AES algorithm is used to improve the data confidentiality when being transmitted to the server. The outcomes demonstrated that the proposed solution improves the security system of the IoT healthcare data and proved its efficiency and power consumption compared to other methods.
Impact of PM10 Particles on the Measurement Error of SO2 Electrochemical Gas Sensor
Authors: Chen Wei , Wu Shijing , Liao Dongmei , Zhang Hanping
Published: September 2022

To address the problems of poor measurement accuracy and long service life of SO2 electrochemical gas sensors when used in thermal power plant areas, fly ash emitted from a thermal power plant in China was used as the research object. Based on the analysis of the morphological characteristics of fly ash particles, theoretical calculations were used to obtain the settling speed of fly ash particles and the amount of fly ash deposited at different times, and then the impact of fly ash on the measurement error of a SO2 electrochemical gas sensor was investigated by experimental tests. The research results show that the particle size distribution of fly ash is 2–11 μm, the average settling speed of fly ash particles is 1.34 × 10−3 m/s, and the deposition amount of fly ash on the surface of the sensor inlet film is 0.95 mg per day. The deposition time of fly ash affects the sensor measurement error, and the longer the deposition time, the larger the sensor measurement error, which is due to the reduction of gas diffusion area S and diffusion coefficient K in the sensor caused by fly ash deposition. Fly ash deposition has a greater impact on the sensor when measuring low concentration gases. The higher the gas concentration, the lower the measurement error, because the higher the gas concentration, the faster the gas reaches the working electrode area and the higher the effective SO2 concentration detected in the limited response time. When using SO2 electrochemical sensors in environments with high concentrations of fly ash or dust, it is recommended to install dust-proof devices (such as air-permeable filter membranes with a pore size of less than 4 μm) and regularly clean the deposited fly ash, which can improve the accuracy of the sensor measurement and extend the service life.
Seismo-Ionospheric Effects Prior to Two Earthquakes in Taiwan Detected by the China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite
Authors: Guo Yufan , Zhang Xuemin , Liu Jiang , Yang Muping , Yang Xing , Du Xiaohui , Lü Jian , Xiao Jian
Published: September 2022

In this paper, we focused on the characteristics of the seismo-ionospheric effects related to two successive earthquakes, namely, the earthquakes in 2022 in Taitung Sea, Taiwan, China, with magnitudes (M) of 6.7 and 6.3, at 23.45° N, 121.55° E and 23.39° N, 121.52° E and with the same focal depth of 20 km, which were detected by the China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES). By applying the sliding interquartile range method to electron density (Ne) data acquired by the Langmuir probe (LAP) onboard the CSES and the grid total electron content (TEC) data obtained from the Center for Orbit Determination in Europe (CODE), positive anomalies were found under quiet geomagnetic conditions on 2–3 March and 8–9 March 2022—that is, 19–20 and 13–14 d before the earthquakes, respectively, and the global ionospheric mapping (GIM) TEC data suggested that anomalies may also have been triggered in the magnetic conjugate area 13–14 d prior to the earthquakes occurrences. In addition, the CSES Ne data showed enhancements 3 and 5 d before the earthquakes occurred. Furthermore, 138 earthquakes with M ≥ 5.0 that occurred in Taiwan and the surrounding region during the period February 2019 to March 2022 were statistically analyzed using the CSES Ne data. The results show that most of the Ne anomalies were positive. Moreover, the greater the earthquake magnitude, the greater the frequency of the anomalies; however, the amplitude of the anomalies did not increase with the earthquake magnitude. The anomalies were concentrated during the period of 10 d before to 5 d after the earthquakes. No increase in the amplitude of anomalies was observed as the time of the earthquakes approached. Finally, based on evidence relating to earthquake precursor anomalies, we conclude that it is possible that earthquakes in Taiwan and the surrounding region affect the ionosphere through the geochemical, acoustic, and electromagnetic channels, as described by the lithosphere–atmosphere–ionosphere coupling (LAIC) model, and that the two studied earthquakes in Taiwan may have induced ionospheric effects through the geochemical channel.
A High-Order Approximate Solution for the Nonlinear 3D Volterra Integral Equations with Uniform Accuracy
Authors: Wang Zi-Qiang , Long Ming-Dan , Cao Jun-Ying
Published: September 2022

In this paper, we present a high-order approximate solution with uniform accuracy for nonlinear 3D Volterra integral equations. This numerical scheme is constructed based on the three-dimensional block cubic Lagrangian interpolation method. At the same time, we give the local truncation error analysis of the numerical scheme based on Taylor’s theorem. Through theoretical analysis, we reach the conclusion that the optimal convergence order of this high-order numerical scheme is 4. Finally, we verify the effectiveness and applicability of the method through four numerical examples.
Fixed-Point Theorems for ℒγ Contractions in Branciari Distance Spaces
Authors: Cho Seong-Hoon
Published: September 2022

In this paper, the concepts of Suzuki-type ℒγ contractions and Suzuki–Berinde-type ℒγ contractions are introduced, and new fixed-point theorems for these two contractions are established.
Study on Comprehensive Evaluation Based on AHP-MADM Model for Patent Value of Balanced Vehicle
Authors: Huang Zhili , Li Jinli , Yue Hongge
Published: September 2022

With the development of science and technology, people’s travel modes have become more diversified, and self-balancing vehicles have become a popular travel tool for young people. However, in recent years, due to its quality instability, many regions have issued relevant bans, affecting the development of the balanced vehicle industry. In order to better understand balancing vehicle technology, this paper starts with the balancing vehicle patent, and carries out the following research: This paper first introduces the background and current situation of balanced vehicles and the patent. Then, the principle and model of multi-attribute decision-making based on the analytic hierarchy process (AHP-MADM) are described. According to the three-dimensional patent valuation system issued by the State Intellectual Property Office, a core patent valuation system is established. Then, the weights of patent evaluation attributes are calculated by the improved AHP. After, the patent value of the self-balancing vehicle is evaluated using the established AHP-MADM model. On this basis, the status of patent research and the development of self-balancing vehicles is studied to provide a reference for relevant industry personnel, especially R & D personnel, in future product technology updates and patent layout.
Advances in Nanofabrication Technology for Nutraceuticals: New Insights and Future Trends
Authors: Puttasiddaiah Rachitha , Lakshminarayana Rohitha , Somashekar Nandini Lalithadripura , Gupta Vijai Kumar , Inbaraj Baskaran Stephen , Usmani Zeba , Raghavendra Vinay Basavegowda , Sridhar Kandi , Sharma Minaxi
Published: September 2022

Bioactive components such as polyphenolics, flavonoids, bioactive peptides, pigments, and essential fatty acids were known to ward off some deadliest diseases. Nutraceuticals are those beneficial compounds that may be food or part of food that has come up with medical or health benefits. Nanoencapsulation and nanofabricated delivery systems are an imminent approach in the field of food sciences. The sustainable fabrication of nutraceuticals and biocompatible active components indisputably enhances the food grade and promotes good health. Nanofabricated delivery systems include carbohydrates-based, lipids (solid and liquid), and proteins-based delivery systems. Solid nano-delivery systems include lipid nanoparticles. Liquid nano-delivery systems include nanoliposomes and nanoemulsions. Physicochemical properties of nanoparticles such as size, charge, hydrophobicity, and targeting molecules affect the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of nano delivery systems. Advance research in toxicity studies is necessary to ensure the safety of the nanofabricated delivery systems, as the safety of nano delivery systems for use in food applications is unknown. Therefore, improved nanotechnology could play a pivotal role in developing functional foods, a contemporary concept assuring the consumers to provide programmed, high-priced, and high-quality research toward nanofabricated delivery systems.
Comparative Analysis of NanoLuc Luciferase and Alkaline Phosphatase Luminescence Reporter Systems for Phage-Based Detection of Bacteria
Authors: Wijeratne Shalini , Bakshi Arindam , Talbert Joey
Published: September 2022

Reporter phage assays are a promising alternative to culture-based assays for rapidly detecting viable bacteria. The reporter systems used in phage-based detection are typically enzymes and their corresponding substrates that provide a signal following infection and expression. While several reporter systems have been developed, comparing reporter systems based on reported bacteria detection limits from literature can be challenging due to factors other than the reporter system that influence detection capabilities. To advance the development of phage-based assays, a systematic comparison and understanding of the components are necessary. The objective of this study was to directly compare two common enzyme-mediated luminescence reporter systems, NanoLuc/Nano-Glo and alkaline phosphatase (ALP*)/DynaLight, for phage-based detection of bacteria. The detection limits of the purified enzymes were determined, as well as the expression levels and bacteria detection capabilities following engineering of the coding genes into T7 phage and infection of E. coli BL21. When comparing the sensitivity of the purified enzymes, NLuc/Nano-Glo enzyme/substrate system demonstrated a lower detection limit than ALP*/DynaLight. In addition, the expression of the NLuc reporter following phage infection of E. coli was greater than ALP*. The lower detection limit combined with the higher expression resulted in a greater than 100-fold increase in sensitivity for the NLuc/Nano-Glo® reporter system compared to ALP*/DynaLight when used for the detection of E. coli in a model system. These findings provide a comparative analysis of two common reporter systems used for phage-based detection of bacteria and a foundational understanding of these systems for engineering future reporter phage assays.
Multiscale Encoding of Electrocardiogram Signals with a Residual Network for the Detection of Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Alsaleem Mona N. , Islam Md Saiful , Al-Ahmadi Saad , Soudani Adel
Published: September 2022

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias, and it is an indication of high-risk factors for stroke, myocardial ischemia, and other malignant cardiovascular diseases. Most of the existing AF detection methods typically convert one-dimensional time-series electrocardiogram (ECG) signals into two-dimensional representations to train a deep and complex AF detection system, which results in heavy training computation and high implementation costs. In this paper, a multiscale signal encoding scheme is proposed to improve feature representation and detection performance without the need for using any transformation or handcrafted feature engineering techniques. The proposed scheme uses different kernel sizes to produce the encoded signal by using multiple streams that are passed into a one-dimensional sequence of blocks of a residual convolutional neural network (ResNet) to extract representative features from the input ECG signal. This also allows networks to grow in breadth rather than in depth, thus reducing the computing time by using the parallel processing capability of deep learning networks. We investigated the effects of the use of a different number of streams with different kernel sizes on the performance. Experiments were carried out for a performance evaluation using the publicly available PhysioNet CinC Challenge 2017 dataset. The proposed multiscale encoding scheme outperformed existing deep learning-based methods with an average F1 score of 98.54%, but with a lower network complexity.
Evidence of Orientation-Dependent Early States of Prion Protein Misfolded Structures from Single Molecule Force Spectroscopy
Authors: Raspadori Andrea , Vignali Valentina , Murello Anna , Giachin Gabriele , Samorì Bruno , Tanaka Motomasa , Bustamante Carlos , Zuccheri Giampaolo , Legname Giuseppe
Published: September 2022

Prion diseases are neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the presence of oligomers and amyloid fibrils. These are the result of protein aggregation processes of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) into amyloidal forms denoted as prions or PrPSc. We employed atomic force microscopy (AFM) for single molecule pulling (single molecule force spectroscopy, SMFS) experiments on the recombinant truncated murine prion protein (PrP) domain to characterize its conformations and potential initial oligomerization processes. Our AFM-SMFS results point to a complex scenario of structural heterogeneity of PrP at the monomeric and dimer level, like other amyloid proteins involved in similar pathologies. By applying this technique, we revealed that the PrP C-terminal domain unfolds in a two-state process. We used two dimeric constructs with different PrP reciprocal orientations: one construct with two sequential PrP in the N- to C-terminal orientation (N-C dimer) and a second one in the C- to C-terminal orientation (C-C dimer). The analysis revealed that the different behavior in terms of unfolding force, whereby the dimer placed C-C dimer unfolds at a higher force compared to the N-C orientation. We propose that the C-C dimer orientation may represent a building block of amyloid fibril formation.
The Role of Two Linear β-Glucans Activated by c-di-GMP in Rhizobium etli CFN42
Authors: Pérez-Mendoza Daniel , Romero-Jiménez Lorena , Rodríguez-Carvajal Miguel Ángel , Lorite María J. , Muñoz Socorro , Olmedilla Adela , Sanjuán Juan
Published: September 2022

Bacterial exopolysaccharides (EPS) have been implicated in a variety of functions that assist in bacterial survival, colonization, and host–microbe interactions. Among them, bacterial linear β-glucans are polysaccharides formed by D-glucose units linked by β-glycosidic bonds, which include curdlan, cellulose, and the new described Mixed Linkage β-Glucan (MLG). Bis-(3′,5′)-cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) is a universal bacterial second messenger that usually promote EPS production. Here, we report Rhizobium etli as the first bacterium capable of producing cellulose and MLG. Significant amounts of these two β-glucans are not produced under free-living laboratory conditions, but their production is triggered upon elevation of intracellular c-di-GMP levels, both contributing to Congo red (CR+) and Calcofluor (CF+) phenotypes. Cellulose turned out to be more relevant for free-living phenotypes promoting flocculation and biofilm formation under high c-di-GMP conditions. None of these two EPS are essential for attachment to roots of Phaseolus vulgaris, neither for nodulation nor for symbiotic nitrogen fixation. However, both β-glucans separately contribute to the fitness of interaction between R. etli and its host. Overproduction of these β-glucans, particularly cellulose, appears detrimental for symbiosis. This indicates that their activation by c-di-GMP must be strictly regulated in time and space and should be controlled by different, yet unknown, regulatory pathways.
Detecting Intestinal Goblet Cells of the Broadgilled Hagfish Eptatretus cirrhatus (Forster, 1801): A Confocal Microscopy Evaluation
Authors: Alesci Alessio , Pergolizzi Simona , Savoca Serena , Fumia Angelo , Mangano Angelica , Albano Marco , Messina Emmanuele , Aragona Marialuisa , Lo Cascio Patrizia , Capillo Gioele , Lauriano Eugenia Rita
Published: September 2022

The fish intestine operates as a complicated interface between the organism and the environment, providing biological and mechanical protections as a result of a viscous layer of mucus released by goblet cells, which serves as a barrier against bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens, and contributes to the functions of the immune system. Therefore, goblet cells have a role in preserving the health of the body by secreting mucus and acting as sentinels. The ancient jawless fish broadgilled hagfish (Eptatretus cirrhatus, Forster, 1801) has a very basic digestive system because it lacks a stomach. By examining the presence, localization, and co-localization of 5-HT, TLR2, iNOS, and Piscidin1, this study intends to provide insight into the potential immune system contributions arranged by the gut goblet cells of broadgilled hagfish. Our results characterize intestinal goblet cells of broadgilled hagfish, for the first time, with the former antibodies, suggesting the hypothesis of conservation of the roles played by these cells also in primitive vertebrates. Moreover, this study deepens the knowledge about the still little-known immune system of hagfish.
Comparative Effect of Three Different Exercise Intensities in Combination with Diazoxide on Contraction Capacity and Oxidative Stress of Skeletal Muscle in Obese Rats
Authors: Gómez-Barroso Mariana , Vargas-Vargas Manuel A. , Peña-Montes Donovan J. , Cortés-Rojo Christian , Saavedra-Molina Alfredo , Sánchez-Duarte Elizabeth , Rodríguez-Orozco Alain R. , Montoya-Pérez Rocío
Published: September 2022

Obesity is a chronic disease that impairs skeletal muscle function, affects the ability to contract, and promotes the development of fatigue. For this reason, the study of treatments that seek to reduce the harmful effects of obesity on muscle tissue has been deepened. Diazoxide treatment and various exercise protocols have been proposed to protect skeletal muscle against oxidative stress and its effects. However, the intensity and duration of exercise combined with diazoxide that would obtain the best results for improving skeletal muscle function in obese rats is unknown. To this end, this study evaluated the effects of three different exercise intensities combined with diazoxide on contraction capacity, resistance to fatigue, markers of oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, ROS, and glutathione redox status of skeletal muscle. The results showed that treatments with diazoxide and exercise at different intensities improved muscle contraction capacity by reducing oxidative stress during obesity, with the best results being obtained with low-intensity exercise in combination with diazoxide. Therefore, these results suggest that diazoxide and low-intensity exercise improve muscle function during obesity by decreasing oxidative stress with the same efficiency as a moderate-intensity exercise protocol.
Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation over the Primary Motor Cortex in Improving Postural Stability in Healthy Young Adults
Authors: Hou Jinqian , Nitsche Michael A. , Yi Longyan , Kong Zhaowei , Qi Fengxue
Published: September 2022

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the primary motor cortex (M1) is of increasing interest to improve motor performance in healthy adults and patients with respective deficits. This study aimed to examine whether tDCS over M1 can improve static and dynamic postural stability in young healthy adults. Seventeen healthy participants (mean age = 25.14 ± 2.50 (standard deviation, SD) years) received sham and anodal tDCS (2 mA) over the vertex at the Cz electrode position for 15 min. Static and dynamic postural stability were evaluated before and immediately after tDCS. The center of pressure (COP) sway area (COPSA) and COP maximum displacements to medio-lateral (COPML) and antero-posterior directions (COPAP) were used to evaluate static postural stability. The anterior–posterior stability index (APSI), medial–lateral stability index (MLSI), vertical stability index (VSI), dynamic postural stability index (DPSI), and time to stabilization (TTS) in forward (FL), 45° anterior lateral (LL), and 45° anterior medial (ML) direction landing, as well as the Y-balance composite score (YBTCS) were used to assess dynamic postural stability. The results showed that the LL-TTS (p = 0.044), non-dominant leg COPSA (p = 0.015), and YBTCS (p < 0.0001) were significantly improved in the real stimulation as compared with the sham stimulation session, and anodal tDCS significantly changed dominant leg COPAP (p = 0.021), FL-APSI (p < 0.0001), FL-TTS (p = 0.008), ML-TTS (p = 0.002), non-dominant leg YBTCS (p < 0.0001), and dominant leg YBTCS (p = 0.014). There were no significant differences in all obtained balance values in the sham stimulation session, except for non-dominant leg YBTCS (p = 0.049). We conclude that anodal tDCS over M1 has an immediate improving effect on static postural stability and dynamic performance in young healthy adults. This makes tDCS a promising adjuvant rehabilitation treatment to enhance postural stability deficits in the future.
Aerosol-Administered Adelmidrol Attenuates Lung Inflammation in a Murine Model of Acute Lung Injury
Authors: Interdonato Livia , D’amico Ramona , Cordaro Marika , Siracusa Rosalba , Fusco Roberta , Peritore Alessio Filippo , Gugliandolo Enrico , Crupi Rosalia , Coaccioli Stefano , Genovese Tiziana , Impellizzeri Daniela , Di Paola Rosanna , Cuzzocrea Salvatore
Published: September 2022

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common and devastating clinical disorder with a high mortality rate and no specific therapy. The pathophysiology of ALI is characterized by increased alveolar/capillary permeability, lung inflammation, oxidative stress and structural damage to lung tissues, which can progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Adelmidrol (ADM), an analogue of palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions, which are mainly due to down-modulating mast cells (MCs) and promoting endogenous antioxidant defense. The aim of this study is to evaluate the protective effects of ADM in a mice model of ALI, induced by intratracheal administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at the dose of 5 mg/kg. ADM 2% was administered by aerosol 1 and 6 h after LPS instillation. In this study, we clearly demonstrated that ADM reduced lung damage and airway infiltration induced by LPS instillation. At the same time, ADM counteracted the increase in MC number and the expression of specific markers of MC activation, i.e., chymase and tryptase. Moreover, ADM reduced oxidative stress by upregulating antioxidant enzymes as well as modulating the Nf-kB pathway and the resulting pro-inflammatory cytokine release. These results suggest that ADM could be a potential candidate in the management of ALI.
6-Furopyridine Hexamethylene Amiloride Is a Non-Selective P2X7 Receptor Antagonist
Authors: Cuthbertson Peter , Elhage Amal , Al-Rifai Dena , Sophocleous Reece A. , Turner Ross J. , Aboelela Ashraf , Majed Hiwa , Bujaroski Richard S. , Jalilian Iman , Kelso Michael J. , Watson Debbie , Buckley Benjamin J. , Sluyter Ronald
Published: September 2022

P2X7 is an extracellular adenosine 5′-triphopshate (ATP)-gated cation channel present on leukocytes, where its activation induces pro-inflammatory cytokine release and ectodomain shedding of cell surface molecules. Human P2X7 can be partially inhibited by amiloride and its derivatives at micromolar concentrations. This study aimed to screen a library of compounds derived from amiloride or its derivative 5-(N,N-hexamethylene) amiloride (HMA) to identify a potential P2X7 antagonist. 6-Furopyridine HMA (6-FPHMA) was identified as a novel P2X7 antagonist and was characterized further. 6-FPHMA impaired ATP-induced dye uptake into human RPMI8226 multiple myeloma cells and human P2X7-HEK293 cells, in a concentration-dependent, non-competitive manner. Likewise, 6-FPHMA blocked ATP-induced Ca2+ fluxes in human P2X7-HEK293 cells in a concentration-dependent, non-competitive manner. 6-FPHMA inhibited ATP-induced dye uptake into human T cells, and interleukin-1β release within human blood and CD23 shedding from RPMI8226 cells. 6-FPHMA also impaired ATP-induced dye uptake into murine P2X7- and canine P2X7-HEK293 cells. However, 6-FPHMA impaired ATP-induced Ca2+ fluxes in human P2X4-HEK293 cells and non-transfected HEK293 cells, which express native P2Y1, P2Y2 and P2Y4. In conclusion, 6-FPHMA inhibits P2X7 from multiple species. Its poor selectivity excludes its use as a specific P2X7 antagonist, but further study of amiloride derivatives as P2 receptor antagonists is warranted.
Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 (DPP4) as A Novel Adipokine: Role in Metabolism and Fat Homeostasis
Authors: Barchetta Ilaria , Cimini Flavia Agata , Dule Sara , Cavallo Maria Gisella
Published: September 2022

Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) is a molecule implicated in the regulation of metabolic homeostasis and inflammatory processes, and it exerts its main action through its enzymatic activity. DPP4 represents the enzyme most involved in the catabolism of incretin hormones; thus, its activity impacts appetite, energy balance, and the fine regulation of glucose homeostasis. Indeed, DPP4 inhibitors represent a class of antidiabetic agents widely used for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). DPP4 also acts as an adipokine and is mainly secreted by the adipose tissue, mostly from mature adipocytes of the visceral compartment, where it exerts autocrine and paracrine activities. DPP4 can disrupt insulin signaling within the adipocyte and in other target cells and tissues, where it also favors the development of a proinflammatory environment. This is likely at the basis of the presence of elevated circulating DPP4 levels in several metabolic diseases. In this review, we summarize the most recent evidence of the role of the DPP4 as an adipokine-regulating glucose/insulin metabolism and fat homeostasis, with a particular focus on clinical outcomes associated with its increased secretion in the presence of adipose tissue accumulation and dysfunction.
A Comprehensive Review on Collagen Type I Development of Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering: From Biosynthesis to Bioscaffold
Authors: Amirrah Ibrahim N. , Lokanathan Yogeswaran , Zulkiflee Izzat , Wee M. F. Mohd Razip , Motta Antonella , Fauzi Mh Busra
Published: September 2022

Collagen is the most abundant structural protein found in humans and mammals, particularly in the extracellular matrix (ECM). Its primary function is to hold the body together. The collagen superfamily of proteins includes over 20 types that have been identified. Yet, collagen type I is the major component in many tissues and can be extracted as a natural biomaterial for various medical and biological purposes. Collagen has multiple advantageous characteristics, including varied sources, biocompatibility, sustainability, low immunogenicity, porosity, and biodegradability. As such, collagen-type-I-based bioscaffolds have been widely used in tissue engineering. Biomaterials based on collagen type I can also be modified to improve their functions, such as by crosslinking to strengthen the mechanical property or adding biochemical factors to enhance their biological activity. This review discusses the complexities of collagen type I structure, biosynthesis, sources for collagen derivatives, methods of isolation and purification, physicochemical characteristics, and the current development of collagen-type-I-based scaffolds in tissue engineering applications. The advancement of additional novel tissue engineered bioproducts with refined techniques and continuous biomaterial augmentation is facilitated by understanding the conventional design and application of biomaterials based on collagen type I.
Photoreactive Coating Material as an Effective and Durable Antimicrobial Composite in Reducing Bacterial Load on Surfaces in Livestock
Authors: Kerek Ádám , Sasvári Mátyás , Jerzsele Ákos , Somogyi Zoltán , Janovák László , Abonyi-Tóth Zsolt , Dékány Imre
Published: September 2022

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a well-known photocatalytic compound that can be used to effectively reduce the presence of pathogens in human and animal hospitals via ROS release. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a polymer-based composite layer containing TiO2 and zinc oxide (ZnO) against Escherichia coli (E. coli) of animal origin. We showed that the photocatalyst coating caused a significant (p < 0.001) reduction in pathogen numbers compared to the control with an average reduction of 94% over 30 min. We used six light sources of different wattages (4 W, 7 W, 9 W, 12 W, 18 W, 36 W) at six distances (35 cm, 100 cm, 150 cm, 200 cm, 250 cm, 300 cm). Samples (n = 2160) were taken in the 36 settings and showed no significant difference in efficacy between light intensity and distance. We also investigated the influence of organic contaminant that resulted in lower activity as well as the effect of a water jet and a high-pressure device on the antibacterial activity. We found that the latter completely removed the coating from the surface, which significantly (p < 0.0001) reduced its antibacterial potential. As a conclusion, light intensity and distance does not reduce the efficacy of the polymer, but the presence of organic contaminants does.