bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECT BASED LEARNING (PJBL) BASED ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) TO IMPROVE METACOGNITIVE THINKING ABILITY
Authors: Mulyani Dian Fitri , Arif Syaiful
Published: June 2021

Good learning is learning that combines approach with an appropriate learning model. The study is done to know the implementation of a learning model with a approach to students' metacognitive thinking ability. The study is conducted with a quantitative experiment, with qualitative descriptive data analysis techniques, using the distinctive quasi design using the research of one group pretest and posttest design. Data gathering instruments are a matter of written tests with multiple choisters, angkets and products design. Using a quantitative descriptive and statistic using a try-t two tailed and one tailed that previously had done normality and homogeneity tests.From research that has been done indicates levels for extr-36.25 so it can be concluded that the experimental class has a better methangnitiver thinking ability than the control class. Next up is the angket results with a solution for.30.75 so that it can be concluded that the experiment class has a better ability than the control class. The next test results with incentives for 16.19 so it can be concluded that experiment classes have better abilities than control class. The impact of research that has been done is as a footing and a referencing model selection with the right approach particularly in improving metacognitive thinking ability.
Type I Interferon Transcriptional Network Regulates Expression of Coinhibitory Receptors in Human T cells
Authors: Hafler David , Sumida Tomokazu , Dulberg Shai , Schupp Jonas , Stillwell Helen , Axisa Pierre-Paul , Comi Michela , Lincoln Matthew , Unterman Avraham , Kaminski Naftali , Madi Asaf , Kuchroo Vijay
Published: June 2021

While inhibition of T cell co-inhibitory receptors has revolutionized cancer therapy, the mechanisms governing their expression on human T cells have not been elucidated. Type 1 interferon (IFN-I) modulates T cell immunity in viral infection, autoimmunity, and cancer, and may facilitate induction of T cell exhaustion in chronic viral infection. Here we show that IFN-I regulates co-inhibitory receptor expression on human T cells, inducing PD-1/TIM-3/LAG-3 while surprisingly inhibiting TIGIT expression. High-temporal-resolution mRNA profiling of IFN-I responses enabled the construction of dynamic transcriptional regulatory networks uncovering three temporal transcriptional waves. Perturbation of key transcription factors on human primary T cells revealed unique regulators that control expression of co-inhibitory receptors. We found that the dynamic IFN-I response in vitro closely mirrored T cell features with IFN-I linked acute SARS-CoV-2 infection in human, with high LAG3 and decreased TIGIT expression. Finally, our gene regulatory network identified SP140 as a key regulator for differential LAG3 and TIGIT expression, which were validated at the level of protein expression. The construction of IFN-I regulatory networks with identification of unique transcription factors controlling co-inhibitory receptor expression may provide targets for enhancement of immunotherapy in cancer, infectious diseases, and autoimmunity.
Numerical and Experimental Analysis of the Effect of Eccentric Phase Difference in a Rotor-Bearing System with Bolted-Disk Joint
Authors: Li Yuqi , Luo Zhong , Wang Jinwen , Ma Hui , Yang Dongsheng
Published: June 2021

Bolted joints are widely used in industrial rotating machines to fasten the adjacent disks together and affect system dynamic properties. Therefore, there is a strong need to study their influence on the response of such systems. This paper investigated the effect of the eccentric phase difference of the disk and bolted-disk joint on rotor dynamics, which takes into account the time-varying bending stiffness of the bolted joint. The bolted-disk joint is modeled as a two-node element based upon the energy theorem and Lagrange’s principle, where the relative lateral displacement stiffness, relative bending stiffness, and coupling stiffness between the adjacent disks are considered. And then the dynamic model of the rotor-bearing system is derived based on the proposed bolted joint element and lumped mass modeling method. Combining with the Newmark-β integration scheme, the established model allows the dynamic response characteristics of the rotor-bearing system with the bolted joint to be predicted, and the impact of eccentric phase difference in the rotor system on the response to be investigated. The validity of the simulation results was confirmed by experiment. Through the modeling method proposed in this paper and obtained results, the bifurcation characteristics of the bolted joint rotor system can be predicted.
Attitudes And Opinions Towards Suicidality In Professionals Working With Oncology Patients: Results From An Online Survey
Authors: Senf Bianca , Maiwurm Paula , Fettel Jens
Published: June 2021

Objective: To explore and describe attitudes and opinions towards suicidality in healthcare professionals (HCP) working with oncological patients.Methods: A 48-item online questionnaire was developed and distributed to HCPs working with cancer patients. Three hundred fifty-four answered questionnaires were analyzed.Results: The majority of HCPs reported that they were able to understand why a cancer patient would commit suicide (87.8%) or would seek help from an assisted suicide organization (ASO; 83.9%). Understandable reasons were pain and physical impairments (34.7%), social isolation (13.4%), loss of control and autonomy (12.2%), terminal disease (11.6%), loss of meaning (10.3%), desperation (9.9%), and psychic distress (6.3%). Personal experiences with suicidality lead only 44.8% of HCPs to believe that thereby they would be better able to understand a patients’ wish for suicide. Religion was negatively associated with understanding of suicide and why a cancer patient would seek help from an ASO. Knowledge of suicidality was positively associated with why a cancer patient would seek help from an ASO.Conclusions: There is still little knowledge in oncology about the relation of HCPs’ attitudes toward suicidality in their patients and how those attitudes influence their behavior, especially care and treatment of patients. More research on this topic is needed. It stands to reason that more education about suicidality in cancer patients seems likely to improve understanding and attitudes and thereby influence care for cancer patients.
Phenylpropanoid conjugated iridoids with anti-malarial activity from the leaves of Morinda morindoides
Authors: Hashim Yasinjan , Toume Kazufumi , Mizukami Shusaku , Ge Yue-Wei , Taniguchi Mayumi , Teklemichael Awet Alem , Huy Nguyen Tien , Bodi Joseph M. , Hirayama Kenji , Komatsu Katsuko
Published: June 2021

Two phenylpropanoid conjugated iridoids, deglucosyl gaertneroside (1) and morindoidin (2), were isolated from the leaves of Morinda morindoides (Rubiaceae) by activity-guided fractionation using an anti-malarial activity assay. The known related iridoids molucidin (3) and prismatomerin (4), two lignans, abscisic acid, two megastigmanes, and two flavonol glycosides were also identified. The structures of isolated compounds were elucidated using spectroscopic analysis. The isolated compounds were evaluated for anti-malarial activity against the chloroquine/mefloquine-sensitive strains of Plasmodium falciparum together with cytotoxicity against adult mouse brain cells. Potent anti-malarial activity of 3 and 4 (IC50 of 0.96 and 0.80 μM, CC50 of 1.02 and 0.88 μM, and SI of 1.06 and 1.10 μM, respectively) was shown, while new iridoids 1 and 2 and pinoresinol (5) displayed moderate activity (IC50 of 40.9, 20.6, and 24.2 μM) without cytotoxicity (CC50 > 50 μM). These results indicate that 1–5 may be promising lead compounds for anti-malarial drugs. In addition, our results imply the necessity of the quality control of the extract of M. morindoides leaves based on the contents of 1–5 in terms of the safety and efficacy.
Nanosecond-Resolution Photothermal Dynamic Imaging via MHz Digitization and Match Filtering
Authors: Yin Jiaze , Lan Lu , Zhang Yi , Ni Hongli , Tan Yuying , Zhang Meng , Bai Yeran , Cheng Ji-Xin
Published: June 2021

Photothermal microscopy has enabled highly sensitive label-free imaging of absorbers, from metallic nanoparticles to chemical bonds. Photothermal signals are conventionally detected via modulation of excitation beam and demodulation of probe beam using lock-in amplifier. While convenient, the wealth of thermal dynamic is not revealed. Here, we present a lock-in free, mid-infrared photothermal dynamic imaging (PDI) system by MHz digitization and match filtering at harmonics of modulation frequency. Thermal-dynamic information is acquired at nanosecond resolution within single pulse excitation. Our method not only increases the imaging speed by two orders of magnitude, but also obtains four-fold enhancement of signal-to-noise ratio over lock-in counterpart, enabling high-throughput metabolism analysis at single-cell level. Moreover, by harnessing the thermal decay difference between water and biomolecules, water background is effectively separated in mid-infrared PDI of living cells. This ability to nondestructively probe chemically specific photothermal dynamics offers a valuable tool to characterize biological and material specimens.
Texture Analysis of Dorsal Striatum in Functional Neurological (Conversion) Disorder
Authors: Baykara Murat , Baykara Sema
Published: June 2021

In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the dorsal striatum nuclei of patients diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder by tissue analysis method from magnetic resonance imaging images and to compare them with healthy controls. Study groups consisted of 20 female patients and 20 healthy women. The brains of patients and controls were scanned for high-resolution images with a 1.5 T scanner using the sagittal plane and 3D spiral fast spin echo sequence. Using the texture analysis method, mean, standard deviation, minimum, maximum, median, variance, entropy, size %L, size %U, size %M, kurtosis, skewness and homogeneity values of the dorsal striatum nuclei were calculated from the images. The data were compared with comparison tests according to Kolmogorov-Smirnov test results. There was no statistically significant difference between paired regions in terms of texture analysis findings in the cross-sectional images of the participants. In patients, mean, standard deviation, minimum, maximum, median, variance and entropy values for the putamen nucleus, and mean, standard deviation, minimum, maximum, median, variance, entropy and kurtosis values for the caudate nucleus were found significantly higher than controls. Additional receiver operating characteristic curve and logistic regression analyzes were performed. The implications of the results of the study are that there are significant microstructural changes in the dorsal striatum nuclei of patients and their reflection on brain images. Texture analysis is a useful technique to show tissue changes in the dorsal striatum of patients using images. It is highly recommended to use tissue analysis to identify and evaluate potentially affected areas of the brain in new studies.
A hybrid deep learning framework for predicting the protein-protein interaction between virus and host
Authors: Deng Lei , Nie Wenjuan , Zhao Jiaojiao , Zhang Jingpu
Published: June 2021

Background: Viral infection and diseases are caused by various viruses involved in the protein-protein interaction (PPI) between virus and host, which are a threat to human health. Studying the virus-host PPI is beneficial to apprehending the mechanism of viral infection and developing new treatment drugs. Although several computational methods for predicting the virus-host PPI have been proposed, most of them are supported by the machine learning algorithms, making the hidden high-level feature difficult to be extracted. Results: We proposed a novel hybrid deep learning framework combined with four CNN layers and LSTM to predict the virus-host PPI only using protein sequence information. CNN can extract the nonlinear position-related features of protein sequence, and LSTM can obtain the long-term relevant information. L1-regularized logistic regression is applied to eliminate the noise and redundant information. Our model achieved the best performance on the benchmark dataset and independent set compared with other existing methods. Conclusion: Our method, through the hybrid deep neural network, is useful for predicting virus-host PPI using protein sequence alone, and achieved the best prediction performance compared with other existing methods, which is promising on the virus-host PPI prediction
The Employment Effect Of Chinese Enterprises Embedded In The Global Environmental Value Chain
Authors: Wang Shuhong , Chen Hanxue , Yin Kedong
Published: June 2021

The employment effect of enterprises embedded in global value chains has important theoretical value, but existing research has ignored the impact of cross-border pollution transfer on employment under the division of labor system within the value chain. This study constructs a global environmental value chain (GEVC) analysis framework to combine economic and environmental issues and establishes a theoretical model to discuss the impact of the degree of enterprise embeddedness in the GEVC on employment. Using 2000–2006 data from the China Industry Business Performance and China Customs databases, the study finds that an increase in the degree of enterprise embeddedness has a significant inhibitory effect on employment, especially for female laborers, lower-skilled laborers, state-owned enterprises, private enterprises, and enterprises in the eastern region. The research also shows that the cost increase effect enhances the negative effect of increased GEVC embeddedness on employment, while the innovation promotion effect and the foreign direct investment effect serve to mitigate the negative effect. The results provide a reference for developing countries seeking to effectively protect people's livelihood and employment while achieving a leap in the division of labor along the green value chain.
Effect of short-term peripheral myopic defocus on ocular biometrics using Fresnel “press-on” lenses in humans
Authors: Kubota Ryo , Joshi Nabin R , Samandarova Inna , Oliva Maksud , Selenow Arkady , Gupta Amitava , Ali Steven R
Published: June 2021

This study assessed axial length and choroidal thickness changes following short-term peripheral myopic defocus in normal adult subjects. Twenty subjects underwent defocus sessions by viewing a full-field projected movie 4 meters away for 4 hours in the morning, while wearing spectacle lenses, corrected for distance vision in both eyes. The right eye, serving as the test eye, was peripherally defocused using a Fresnel lens overlay of + 3.50D with a central aperture of 11.5 mm, while the left eye served as the control. A subset of 10 subjects from the same cohort also underwent additional defocus sessions with + 5.00D of peripheral defocus. Axial length was measured and radial sub-foveal choroidal scans were obtained before and after the defocus sessions. The mean increase in axial length of the test eyes was 8 µm (p < 0.05) less than that of the control eyes with + 3.50D peripheral defocus condition and 14 µm (p < 0.05) less than the control eyes with + 5.00 D peripheral defocus condition. The difference in mean changes for choroidal thickness between test and control eyes were not significant for both dioptric conditions. Our results demonstrated that short-term peripheral myopic defocus significantly inhibited axial elongation in adult humans, without significant changes in choroidal thickness.
An Uncommon Trauma: Hoffa's Fracture Associated with Tibial Avulsion Fracture of the Posterior Cruciate Ligament
Authors: Cengiz Bertan , Karaoglu Sinan
Published: June 2021

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Analysis of National Surveillance of Respiratory Pathogen for Children and Adolescents’ Community Acquired Pneumonia
Authors: Roh Eui jeong , Lee Mi-Hee , Lee JeeYoung , Kim Hyobin , Ahn Youngmin , Kim Ja Koung , Kim Hyoung young , Kim Min Ji , Kang Eun Kyoung , Yang Eun-Ae , Lee Su Jin , Park Yang , Seo Ju Hee , Lee En , Yang En Seok , Cho Hyung Min , Shin Mi Yong , Chung Hae Lee , Jang Yoon Young , Choi Bong Seok , Jung Jin A , You Seung Taek , Sung Myoung Soon , Kim Jin Taek , Kim Bong Seong , Whang Yoon ha , Shim Jung Yeon , Yang Hyun Jong , Han Man Yong , Yew Hae Young , Kim Dong Hyuk , Jeong Sangun , Whang Kyu Jam , Lee Eun Sil , Chung Eun hee
Published: June 2021

Background: Respiratory infection in particular community acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children is a major disease that ranks high in outpatient and inpatient cases. The causes of CAP vary depending on the individual susceptibility, epidemiological characteristics of the community, and season. We performed this study to establish nationwide surveillance network system and identify the causative agents for CAP and antibiotics resistance in Korean children with CAP..Methods: The monitoring network was composed of the 28 secondary and tertiary medical institutions. Upper and lower respiratory samples were assayed using culture or Polymerase chaini reaction (PCR) from Aug 2018 to May 2020. Results: A total of 1023 cases were registered in patients with CAP, and 264 cases (25.8%) were isolated by culture, S. aureus 131 cases (12.8%), S. pneumoniae 92 cases (9%), H. influenzae 20 cases (2%). PCR of atypical pneumonia pathogen revealed 422 cases of M. pneumoniae (41.3%). Respiratory virus showed positive rates in 65.7% by multiplex PCR test and of them, human rhinovirus was most highest with 312 cases (30.5%). The proportion of mixed infection was 49.2%. The rate of antibiotics resistance showed similar results as previous reports. Conclusions: It will identify the pathogens that cause respiratory infections, and analyze the current status of antibiotic resistance to provide scientific evidence for management policies of domestic respiratory infection. Also, in preparation for the new epidemic, including COVID19, monitoring of respiratory infections in children and adolescents, has become more important, and research should be continuously conducted in the future.
Antioxidant Enzyme Responses and Metabolite Functioning of Pisum Sativum L. to Sewage Sludge in arid and Semi-arid Environments
Authors: Hakeem Khalid , Alharby Hesham F. , Al-Ghamdi Khalid M. , Bhat Rouf Ahmad
Published: June 2021

The productivity of plants is a direct variant of the countless biotic and abiotic stresses to which a plant is exposed in an environment. This study aimed to investigate the capabilities of leguminous plant garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) to resist water deficit conditions in arid and semi-arid areas when applied with varied doses of sludge for growth response. The effect of sludge doses was evaluated on crop yield, antioxidant enzymes viz., ascorbate peroxidase APX, dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR) and metabolites (ascorbic acid, glutathione and total protein content). The effective sludge concentrations with respect to seed weight and crop yield were found to be in the following trend: D2 (6.25%) > D3 (12.5%) > D1 (2.5%) > D0 (control) under organic amendment (OA). Conversely, a high dose of the sludge reduced the seed weight and total crop yield. The sludge doses D2 under arid and semi-arid conditions along with organic amendments (OA) significantly enhance the antioxidant enzyme activity whereas, sludge dose D3 with OA ominously regulates the activity of these enzymes. Besides, seeds depicted a considerable increase in ascorbic acid, glutathione and total protein content in arid and semi-arid conditions upon the application of sludge with OA. Sewage sludge as a source of nutrients indirectly enhances crop yield, antioxidant enzymes and antioxidant metabolites. Thus, it improves the defence mechanism, reduces abnormal protein glycation, and depletes susceptibility of protein to proteolysis.
Patterns of Psychopathology and Cognition in Sex Chromosome Aneuploidy
Authors: Rau Srishti , Whitman Ethan T. , Schauder Kimberly , Gogate Nikhita , Lee Nancy Raitano , Kenworthy Lauren , Raznahan Armin
Published: June 2021

Background
Sex chromosome aneuploidies (SCAs) are a collectively common family of genetic disorders that increase risk for neuropsychiatric and cognitive impairment. Beyond being important medical disorders in their own right, SCAs also offer a unique naturally-occurring model for X- and Y-chromosome influences on the human brain. However, it remains unclear if (i) different SCAs are associated with different profiles of psychopathology, and (ii) the notable interindividual variation in psychopathology is related to co-occurring variation in cognitive ability.
Methods
We examined scores for 11 dimensions of psychopathology [Child/Adult Behavior Checklist (CBCL)] and general cognitive ability [full-scale IQ (FSIQ) from Wechsler tests] in 110 youth with varying SCAs (XXY = 41, XYY = 22, XXX = 27, XXYY = 20) and 131 typically developing controls (XX = 59, XY = 72).
Results
All SCAs were associated with elevated CBCL scores across several dimensions of psychopathology, but social and attentional functioning were particularly sensitive to carriage of a supernumerary Y-chromosome. There was marked variability in CBCL scores within each SCA group, which generally correlated negatively with IQ, but most strongly so for social and attentional difficulties. These correlations showed subtle differences as a function of SCA group and CBCL scale.
Conclusions
There is domain-specific variation in psychopathology across SCA groups, and domain-specific correlation between psychopathology and IQ within SCAs. These findings (i) help to tailor clinical assessment of this common and impactful family of genetic disorders, and (ii) suggest that dosage abnormalities of X- and Y-linked genes impart somewhat distinct profiles of neuropsychiatric risk.
DLG2 Impairs dsDNA Break Repair and Maintains Genome Integrity in Neuroblastoma
Authors: Keane Simon , de Weerd Hendrik A. , Ejeskär Katarina
Published: June 2021

Background: In primary neuroblastoma, deletions on chromosome 11q are known to result in an increase in the total number of chromosomal breaks. Microhomology mediated-end joining (MMEJ) is an error-prone pathway for DNA double-strand break repair that is often upregulated in cancer. DLG2, a candidate tumor suppressor gene on chromosome 11q, has previously been implicated in DNA repair.Methods: We evaluated an association between MMEJ gene expression and neuroblastoma patient outcome, risk categorization, and 11q status using publicly available microarray data from independent neuroblastoma patient datasets. Functional studies were conducted using comet assay and H2AX phosphorylation in neuroblastoma cell lines and in the fruit fly with UVC-induced DNA breaks. Results: We show that the MMEJ genes PARP1 and FEN1 are over expressed in neuroblastoma and restoration of DLG2 impairs their gene and protein expression. When exposed to UVC radiation, cells with DLG2 over expression show less DNA fragmentation and induce apoptosis in a p53 S46 dependent manner. We could also confirm that DLG2 expression results in CHK1 phosphorylation consistent with previous reports of G2/M maintenance. Conclusions: Taken together, we show that DLG2 expression increases p53 mediated apoptosis in response to genotoxicity, by maintaining S317 CHK1 phosphorylation and reducing the DNA replication machinery.
Dynamic of a Two-strain COVID-19 Model with Vaccination
Authors: Tchoumi Stéphane yanick , Rwezaura Herieth , Tchuenche Jean Michel
Published: June 2021

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by an RNA virus prone to mutations. In December 2020, variants with different characteristics that could affect transmissibility and death emerged around the world. To address this new dynamic of the disease, we formulate and analyze a mathematical model of a two-strain COVID-19 transmission dynamics with strain 1 vaccination. The model is theoretically analyzed and sufficient conditions for the stability of its equilibria are derived. In addition to the disease-free and endemic equilibria, the model also has single-strain 1 and strain 2 endemic equilibria. Using the center manifold theory, it is shown that the model does not exhibit the phenomenon of backward bifurcation, and global stability of the model equilibria when the basic reproduction number R 0 is either less or greater than unity as the case maybe are proved using various approaches. Simulations to support the model theoretical results are provided. We calculate the basic reproductive number for both strains R_1 and R_2 independently. Results indicate that - both strains will persist when both R 1 > 1 and R 2 > 1 - Stain 2 could establish itself as the dominant strain if R 1 < 1 and R 2 > 1, or when R 2 is at least two times R 1 . However, with the current knowledge of the epidemiology of the COVID-19 pandemic and the availability of treatment and an effective vaccine against strain 1, eventually, strain 2 will likely be eradicated in the population if the threshold parameter R 2 is controlled to remain below unity.
Cognitive Improvement is Correlated with Increased Dynamic Functional Connectivity of Default Mode Network by Personalized rTMS in Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Wei Lili , Wang Jintao , Zhang Yingchun , Xu Luoyi , Yang Kehua , Lv Xinghui , Zhu Zhenwei , Gong Qian , Hu Weiming , Li Xia , Qian Mincai , Shen Yuedi , Chen Wei
Published: June 2021

Background

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is thought to be a promising therapeutic approach for Alzheimer's disease patients.
Methods

In the present report, a double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled rTMS trial was conducted in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease patients. High-frequency rTMS was delivered to a subject-specific left lateral parietal region that demonstrated highest functional connectivity with the hippocampus using resting-state fMRI. The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Philadelphia Verbal Learning Test (PVLT) were used to evaluate patients’ cognitive functions.
Results

Patients receiving active rTMS treatment (n = 31) showed a significant increase in the MMSE, PVLT-Immediate recall, and PVLT-Short Delay recall scores after two weeks of rTMS treatment, whereas patients who received sham rTMS (n = 27) did not show significant changes in these measures. Dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) magnitude of the default mode network (DMN) in the active-rTMS group showed a significant increase after two weeks of rTMS treatment, and no significant changes were found in the sham-rTMS group. There was a significantly positive correlation between changes of the MMSE and changes of the dFC magnitude of DMN in the active-rTMS group, but not the sham-rTMS group.
Conclusions

Our findings are novel in demonstrating the feasibility and effectiveness of the fMRI-guided rTMS treatment in Alzheimer's disease patients, and DMN might play a vital role in therapeutic effectiveness of rTMS in Alzheimer’s disease.
Trial registration:
China National Medical Research Platform (http://114.255.48.20/login, No:MR-33-20-004217), retrospectively registered 2020-12-23.
Generalization of Higuchi’s Fractal Dimension for Multifractal Analysis of Time Series with Limited Length
Authors: Carrizalez-Velazquez Carlos , Donner Reik , Guzmán-Vargas Lev
Published: June 2021

We introduce a generalization of Higuchi’s estimator of the fractal dimension as a new way to characterize the multifractal spectrum of univariate time series. The resulting multifractal Higuchi dimension anal ysis (MF-HDA) method considers the order-q moments of the partition function provided by the length of the time series graph at different levels of subsampling. The results obtained for different types of stochastic processes as well as real-world examples of word length series from fictional texts demonstrate that MF-HDA provides a reliable estimate of the multifractal spectrum already for moderate time series lengths. Practical advantages as well as disadvantages of the new approach as compared to other state-of-the-art methods of multifractal analysis are discussed, highlighting the particular potentials of MF-HDA to distinguish mono from multifractal dynamics based on relatively short time series.
Sensitive Ratiometric Probing of Tamsulosin Hydrochloride Based On Dual-Emission Fluorescent In Biological Fluids Utilizing Amine-Carbon Quantum Dots And Rhodamine B
Authors: Mousavi Aida , Zare-Dorabei Rouholah , Mosavi Seyed Hossein
Published: June 2021

In this work, amine-carbon quantum dots (CQDs)/rhodamine B (RhB) ratiometric fluorescent (RF) sensor was employed for effective and selective determination of tamsulosin hydrochloride (TMS) based on a dual-emission fluorescence system. Although the function of amine-CQDs is to transfer the specific interaction between TMS and sensor into detectable fluorescence (FL) signals, RhB as a reference unit has been employed to omit internal and external effects. The FL signal was quenched by adding the TMS at 442nm; nevertheless, it did not change at 569nm. The material characterization and investigation of the sensing mechanism were done by UV-Vis, fluorimetry, EDS, TEM, FT-IR, and zeta potential analyses. The optimization of pH, the volumetric ratio of CQDs to RhB, and interaction time parameters were carried out by the one-variable-at-a-time (OVAT) method. The quantitative analysis of the concentration of TMS for this RF sensor in a linear range of 0.446-7.083 μg mL-1 was obtained (R2=0.9969, n=3) under optimum conditions. The limit of detection and quantitation values were estimated to be 0.033 μg mL-1 and 0.109 μg mL-1, respectively. Repeatability of intra-day and inter-day were less than one percent. This inexpensive RF probe was well applied to determine TMS in biological fluids, and acceptable achievements were obtained.
Protective Effects and Mechanisms of Babao Dan Capsules on ANIT-Induced Intrahepatic Cholestasis Liver Disease in Mice
Authors: Mao Hua , Liu Guowei , Huang Liyun , Xie Shiyi , Lu Min , Liu Chuan
Published: June 2021

Background

Babao Dan(BBD), as a traditional Chinese medicine, is widely used in a variety of diseases, especially chronic liver diseases. The aim of this study is to observe the effects and possible mechanisms of Babao Dan(BBD) Capsules on α-Naphthyl isothiocyanate (ANIT) - induced intrahepatic cholestasis liver disease in mice.
Methods

Fifteen mice were randomly divided into three groups: control group, model group, and treatment group, with five in each group. Except for the mice in the control group, the mice in the other two groups were gavaged with a 1% α-Naphthyl isothiocyanate (ANIT) olive oil solution, and cholestasis models were established at a dose of 100 mg/Kg. Meanwhile, at the same time point, the control group was gavaged with the same amount of olive oil. After modeling, the control group, the model group and the treatment group were gavaged with the same amount of saline, saline and BBD saline suspension once daily for 10 days, respectively. On the 10th day, we took the blood preparation and liver samples, then we detected serum levels of liver function indexes(TBA, TBil, DBil, ALT, AST, ALP, GGT), liver fibrosis indexes(HA, LN, PC-Ⅲ, C-Ⅳ). Hepatic pathological examinations were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining(HE), Masson staining and picric acid-Sirius red staining. The protein expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3 were detected by immunohistochemistry. The level of mRNA expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3 were detected by RT-PCR.
Results

Compared with the control group, serum levels of liver function indexes(TBA, TBil, DBil, ALT, AST, ALP, GGT) and liver fibrosis indexes(HA, LN, PC-Ⅲ, C-Ⅳ) in the model group were significantly increased (P < 0.01).Similarly, compared with control group, in the model group, HE staining showed that hepatocyte swelling, hepatocellular necrosis and destroyed hepatic lobular structure; Masson staining showed that a large amount of blue collagen fibers deposited in the liver tissue, forming fibrous septa and pseudolobule; Picric acid-Sirius red staining showed that type Ⅰ collagen and type Ⅲ collagen in liver tissue increased significantly, the total area of collagen increased significantly. The protein expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3 were significantly up-regulated; the mRNA expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3 was significantly up-regulated. Compared with the model group, the above indexes in treatment group were significantly decreased(P < 0.01).
Conclusions

Babao Dan(BBD) has significant therapeutical effects on intrahepatic cholestasis liver disease by inhibiting TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.
Time Interval After Various Types of Gastrectomy Until Metachronous Multiple Gastric Cancer: Analysis of Data From A Nationwide Japanese Survey
Authors: Kumagai Koshi , Lee Sang-Woong , Ohira Masaichi , Aizawa Masaki , Kamiya Satoshi , Takahata Takaomi , Toda Makoto , Cho Haruhiko , Takahashi Masazumi , Kubota Takeshi , Kinami Shinichi , Kosaka Takeo
Published: June 2021

Background
The time interval between initial partial gastrectomy and diagnosis of cancer in the remnant stomach reportedly differs according to the reconstruction procedure used in the initial gastrectomy. However, factors correlated with the time interval from the initial surgery for gastric cancer to the detection of metachronous multiple gastric cancer (MMGC) remain unclear. This study was performed to evaluate the association between the type of initial gastrectomy or reconstruction procedure and the time interval from initial gastrectomy to detection of MMGC as well as the association between the type of initial gastrectomy and the procedure performed for MMGC.
Methods
A questionnaire survey on remnant stomach cancer was conducted by the Japanese Society for Gastro-Surgical Pathophysiology in 2018. Participating facilities were asked to indicate the number of patients who underwent surgery for MMGC between 2003 and 2017, in accordance with the time interval from the initial gastrectomy until treatment for MMGC by type of initial gastrectomy or reconstruction procedure. The number of patients who underwent each treatment procedure (completion total gastrectomy or partial gastrectomy) was also collected.
Results
Analyses were performed using data from 45 facilities. Gastrectomy for MMGC was performed in 1,234 patients during the period. Billroth-II and Roux-en Y accounted for 22.3% (103/462) and 1.3% (6/462), respectively, of patients who underwent surgery for MMGC ≥ 10 years from initial DG, while these patients accounted for 8.0% (23/286) and 21.7% (65/286), respectively, of patients who underwent surgery for MMGC within 5 years after initial DG. Likewise, the proportion of each reconstruction procedure differed by the time interval from initial proximal gastrectomy to treatment for MMGC. In terms of the treatments performed for MMGC, the proportion of patients who underwent partial gastrectomy increased in accordance with the size of the remnant stomach after the initial gastrectomy.
Conclusions
The types of gastrectomy or reconstruction procedures for initial gastrectomy differed significantly by time interval between the initial gastrectomy and treatment for MMGC, and their time trends were assumed to be a major cause of the differences. The proportion of patients who underwent completion total gastrectomy deceased as the size of the remnant stomach increased.
Safety and Efficacy of Autologous Non-Hematopoietic Enriched Stem Cell Nebulization in Covid-19 Patients. A Randomized Clinical Trial, Abu Dhabi 2020.
Authors: Carmenate Yendry Ventura , Alkaabi Fatima Mohammed , Aleman Yandy Marx Castillo , Valverde Carlos Agustin Villegas , Ahmed Yasmine Maher , Sanna Pierdanilo , Almarzooqi Ayesha Abdulla , Abdelrazik Abeer , Zambrano Gina Marcela Torres , Mateo Maura Wade , Saliba David Quesada , Hadi Loubna Abdel , Hernandez Antonio Alfonso Bencomo , Jimenez Rene Antonio Rivero
Published: June 2021

Background: The novel SARS-Cov-2 has caused the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, with insufficient worldwide vaccination rates, the identification of treatment solutions to reduce the impact of the virus is urgently needed. Method: An adaptive, multicentric, open-label, and randomized controlled phase I/II clinical trial entitled the “SENTAD-COVID Study” was conducted by the Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center under conditional exceptional approval by the Emirates Institutional Review Board (IRB) for COVID-19 Research Committee from April 4 to July 31, 2020, using an autologous peripheral blood nonhematopoietic enriched stem cell cocktail (PB-NHESC-C) administered by compressor (jet) nebulization as a complement to standard care therapy. The primary endpoints include safety and efficacy assessments, adverse events, the mortality rate within 28 days, and the time to clinical improvement as measured by a 2-point reduction on a seven-category ordinal scale or discharge from the hospital, whichever occurred first. Results: The study included a total of 139 randomized COVID-19 patients with 69 in the experimental group and 70 in the control group (standard care). Overall survival was 94.20% for the cocktail-treated group vs. 90.27% for the control group. Adverse events occurred in 43 (62.32%) patients receiving PB-NHESC-C vs. 44 (62.86%) in the control group, and most adverse events were related to the disease. After the first nine days of the intervention, 67.3% of cocktail-treated patients recovered and were released from hospitals compared to 53.1% (RR=0.84; 95% CI, 0.56-1.28) in the control group. Improvement, i.e., at least a 2-point reduction in the severity scale, was more frequently observed in cocktail-treated patients (42.0%) than in controls (17.0%) (RR=0.69; 95% CI, 0.56-0.88). Conclusions: Cocktail treatment improved clinical outcomes without increasing adverse events. Thus, the nebulization of PB-NHESC-C was safe and effective for treatment in most of these patients. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT04473170. Registered 16 July 2020. Retrospectively registered. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04473170.
Analysis of Outcomes of Endovascular Embolisation: A Cross-Sectional Multicenter Study on 46 Visceral Artery Pseudoaneurysms
Authors: Omar Mohammad Koriem Mahmoud , Othman Moustafa H. M. , Morgan Robert A. , Abdallah Abdelkarem Hasan , Seif Hany M. A. , Zidan Mohamed , Khairallah Mahmoud K. A. , El-Aleem Reham Abd
Published: June 2021

Purpose
Visceral artery aneurysms are subdivided into true aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms. Visceral artery pseudoaneurysms (VAPAs) are uncommon in clinical practice but may have serious clinical outcomes up to death. Endovascular management is a safe effective alternative option to traditional surgical procedures. This study assesses the outcome of different embolic materials and techniques used in the endovascular management of visceral artery pseudoaneurysms.
Materials and methods
This is a multicentric prospective analysis of endovascular embolisation of 46 VAPAs with a mean pseudoaneurysm size of 13 ± 11.35 mm. Management using coils only was done in 28/46 patients (60.87%), NBCA glue only in 16/46 patients (34.78%), combined coils and NBCA glue in 1/46 patient (2.17%), and Amplatzer plugs only in 1 patient (2.17%). The management techniques were sac packing in 9/46 patients (19.57%), inflow occlusion in 28/46 patients (60.87%) and trapping in 9/46 patients (19.57%).
Results
The overall clinical success rate was 93.48%, the overall perioperative complication rate was 15.22% and 30-day mortality was zero. For the coil subgroup (n = 28), the clinical success was 92.86%, while the subgroup of NBCA glue (n = 16) showed clinical success of 93.75%. There was no significant statistical difference between clinical success among coil, and NBCA glue subgroups (P > 0.05). The technical success rate was 100%. Effectiveness of the procedures during the follow-up was 97.83%. Target lesion re-intervention rate was 2.17%.
Conclusion
Transarterial embolisation can provide high technical and clinical success rates with low perioperative complication and re-intervention rates, as well as satisfactory procedure effectiveness in the management of VAPAs.
Dynamic change of COVID-19 seroprevalence among asymptomatic office workers in Tokyo from May through Dec 2020 during the second waves of COVID-19.
Authors: Hibino Sawako , Hayashida Kazutaka , Ahn Andrew C , Hayashida Yasutaka
Published: June 2021

Background COVID-19 deaths per capita in Japan have been low compared to Western Countries despite the absence of the lockdown. It is still unclear either the less spreading of the virus or, the less progression to the severe illness. Therefore, it is crucial to determine the seropositivity rates (SPR) in the general population. We determined SPR in healthy office workers in Tokyo with validation of results by comparing two test results from the same individual a month apart.Method Healthy office workers for a Japanese company in Tokyo were determined seropositivity against COVID19 weekly from May 26 to August 25, 2020, by a rapid COVID19 IgM/IgG test kit using fingertip blood. SPR was calculated by pooled data from each two-week window. For each participant, tests were offered twice, separated by a month, to provide self-reference to validate the results. The seropositive individuals were offered a follow-up test on Dec 8th or 15th, 2020, when the third wave loomed in Tokyo, to determine the persistence of the seropositivity.Results 615 volunteers (mean + SD 40.8 + 10.0; 45.7 % female) from 11 discrete locations received at least one test. 350 individuals completed two tests a month apart. The comparison showed that 93.2 % showed reasonable status changes and no instances with physiologically unexpected changes (e.g., IgG (+) turns IgM(+) in a month). Seroprevalence increased from 5.8 % to 46.8 %, paralleling the rise of the cases in Tokyo. Among 152 seropositive participants, 74 participants underwent the follow-up test in Dec 2020. 40.5 % turned seronegative in four months (mean ± S.D. 120 ± 17 days).Conclusion COVID-19 infection may have spread widely in Tokyo despite the low fatality. Given the temporal correlation between the rise in seropositivity and the peak out of COVID-19 cases without a lockdown, temporary herd immunity might be achieved. However, the relatively short-lived antibodies among the asymptomatic individuals may explain why the herd immunity strategy has not succeeded, and COVID-19 resurgence happens every several months. Moreover, sequential testing for serological response against COVID-19 is useful for understanding the dynamics of COVID-19 infection at the population level.
The Expression Discrepancy and Characteristics of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Peripheral Blood Leukocytes From Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients
Authors: Yu Yujiao , Pang Dejiang , Li Chunyu , Gu Xiaojing , Chen Yongping , Ou Ruwei , Wei Qianqian , Shang Huifang
Published: June 2021

Background
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is known to be a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects upper and lower motor neurons. Less than 10% of ALS patients are defined as familial ALS, more than 90% are sporadic ALS (SALS). According to the genomic information described in existing databases, up to 98% of the human genome consists of non-coding sequences. And of these, nearly 40% of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are specifically expressed in the brain. Hence, we believe the discrepancy of lncRNAs expression plays a key role in neurodegenerative diseases. It is demanded to search for potential lncRNA biomarkers of SALS and find their involvement in related disease mechanisms.
Methods
We screened 30 lncRNAs with altered expression from peripheral blood leukocytes of SALS patients by microarray and validated 13 of them in leukocytes of SALS, Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and healthy controls (HC). The statistical evaluation of expression was performed by the two-tailed Mann-Whitney U test for means between groups. We followed the bioinformatics to perform a functional enrichment analysis of co-expressed mRNAs, transcription factors and lncRNAs for functional prediction. Co-expressed mRNAs of lncRNAs were identified by calculating Pearson Correlation.
Results
We identified lnc-DYRYK2-7:1, lnc-ABCA12-3:1 and lnc-POTEM-4:7 show decreased expression in SALS patients, whereas in PD patients they show increased expression or no change. In addition, expression of lnc-CNTN4-2:1 and lnc-NR3C2-8:1 were decreased in both SALS and PD patients. We found that XIST was only reduced in male patients with SALS and PD, and not in female patients with SALS but was elevated in PD by gender grouping. Furthermore, we performed GO term enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis for lncRNAs showing differential expression in microarray. We discovered that a significant proportion of differential expressed lncRNAs were associated with various signaling pathways and transcription factors which are consistent with other clinical findings.
Conclusion
Our study enriches the analysis of lncRNA transcriptome sequencing for ALS and PD to date. We validated 3 lncRNA transcripts with specific expression differences only in SALS patients and investigated the bioinformatics information of lncRNAs for subsequent functional studies related to neurodegenerative diseases.
Texture Feature Extraction From Microscope Images Enables Robust Estimation of ER Body Phenotype in Arabidopsis
Authors: Basak Arpan Kumar , Mirzaei Mohamadreza , Strzałka Kazimierz , Yamada Kenji
Published: June 2021

Background:

Cellular components are controlled by genetic and physiological factors that define their shape and size. However, quantitively capturing the morphological characteristics and movement of cellular organelles from micrograph images is challenging, because the analysis deals with complexities of images that frequently lead to inaccuracy in the estimation of the features. Here we show a unique quantitative method to overcome biases and inaccuracy of biological samples from confocal micrographs.
Results:

We generated 2D images of cell walls and spindle-shaped cellular organelles, namely ER bodies, with a maximum contrast projection of 3D confocal fluorescent microscope images. The projected images were further processed and segmented by adaptive thresholding of the fluorescent levels in the cell walls. Micrographs are composed of pixels, which have information on position and intensity. From the pixel information we calculated three types of features (spatial, intensity and Haralick) in ER bodies corresponding to segmented cells. The spatial features include basic information on shape, e.g., surface area and perimeter. The intensity features include information on mean, standard deviation and quantile of fluorescence intensities within an ER body. Haralick features describe the texture features, which can be calculated mathematically from the interrelationship between the pixel information. Together these parameters were subjected to multivariate analysis to estimate the morphological diversity. Additionally, we calculated the displacement of the ER bodies using the positional information in a time-lapse image. We captured similar morphological diversity and movement within ER body phenotypes on several microscopy experiments performed in different settings and scanned under different objectives. We then described differences in morphology and movement of ER bodies between A. thaliana wild type and mutants deficient in ER body-related genes.
Conclusions:

The findings unexpectedly revealed multiple genetic factors that are involved in the shape and size of ER bodies in A. thaliana. This is the first report showing morphological characteristics in addition to the movement of cellular components and quantitatively summarises plant phenotypic differences even in plants that show similar cellular components. The estimation of morphological diversity was independent of the cell staining method and the objective lens used in the microscopy. Hence, our study enables a robust estimation of plant phenotypes by recognizing small differences of complex cell organelle shapes and their movement, which is beneficial in a comprehensive analysis of the molecular mechanism for cell organelle formation that is independent of technical variations.