bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An insight into mitochondrial genomes of Trichoderma afroharzianum strains: a comparative and evolutionary analysis
Authors: ÖZKALEKAYA Evrim , DOĞAN Özgül , BUDAK Mahir , KORKMAZ Ertan Mahir
Published: October 2022

Trichoderma afroharzianum (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) is known as an important mycoparasite and biocontrol fungus and feeds on fungal material by parasitizing other fungi. Recent studies indicate that this species is also an ear rot pathogen in Europe. Here, the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of three T. afroharzianum strains was sequenced using next generation sequencing and comparatively characterised by the reported Trichoderma mitogenomes. T. afroharzianum mitogenomes were varying between 29,511 bp and 29,517 bp in length, with an average A + T content of 72.32%. These relatively compact mitogenomes contain 14 core PCGs, 22 tRNAs, two rRNAs, one gene encoding the ribosomal protein S3 and three or four genes including conserved domains for the homing endonucleases (HEGs; GIY-YIG type and LAGLIDADG type). All PCGs are initiated by ATG codons, except for atp8, and all are terminated with TAA as a stop codon. A significant correlation was observed between nucleotide composition and codon preference. Four introns belonging to the group I intron were predicted, accounting for about 14.54% of size of the mitogenomes. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the positions of T. afroharzianum strains within the genus of Trichoderma and supported a sister relationship between T. afroharzianum and T. harzianum + T. lixii. The recovered trees also supported the monophyly of Nectriaceae, Bionectriaceae, Hypocreales incertea sedis, Cordycipitaceae and Hypocreaceae. However, Ophiocordycipitaceae and Clavicipitaceae were found to be paraphyletic.
Cytoglobin regulates nitric oxide-dependent cilia motility and organ laterality in development
Authors: Corti Paola , Rochon Elizabeth , Xue Jianmin , Saydmohammed Manush , Smith Caroline , Zahid Maliha , DeMartino Anthony , Lo Cecilia , Tsang Michael , Tejero Jesus , Gladwin Mark
Published: October 2022

Cytoglobin is a highly conserved redox sensor heme protein with unknown physiological function. Unexpectedly, genetic deletion of zebrafish cytoglobin (cygb2) causes cardiac and gastro-intestinal tract laterality defects, modeling Kartagener’s syndrome, which in humans is associated with low airway epithelial nitric oxide (NO) production. Cygb2 co-localized with cilia and the NO synthase Nos2b in the Kupffer’s vesicle (KV) laterality organ and the structure and function of cilia were disrupted in cygb2 mutants, abolishing fluid flow within the KV. Abnormal ciliary function and organ laterality was phenocopied by depletion of nos2band gucy1a, the canonical NO receptor soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) homolog in fish, and rescued by exposing cygb2 mutant embryos to an NO donor or an sGC stimulator and with over-expression of nos2b. Consistent with a conserved role in the modulation of ciliary function, cytoglobin knock out in the mouse also impaired airway epithelial ciliary structure and beat frequency. This is the first evidence that cytoglobin is essential for normal development stage-specific NO signaling, ciliogenesis and cilia motility, required for the establishment of left-right patterning.
Correlation of preoperative anemia subtypes with tumor characteristics, systemic inflammation and immediate postoperative outcomes in gastrointestinal cancer patients – a prospective observational study
Authors: Mahalingam Sudharshan , Anandhi Amaranathan , Sureshkumar Sathasivam , Udayakumar Karthikrajan Parasuraman
Published: October 2022

Purpose
Patients with Gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies more frequently present with anemia. A large proportion of them exhibits a systemic inflammatory response causing anemia of chronic disease. Although tumor factors play an essential role in determining the prognosis, studies have also reported the role of host factors in the outcome. This study was done to determine the association between systemic inflammation, tumor characteristics, and immediate postoperative outcome among various anemia subgroups.
Methods
This was a single-center, prospective observational study of patients undergoing treatment for GI cancers. The modified Glasgow prognostic Score (mGPS) was calculated and patients were followed up until discharge regarding postoperative complications, length of the hospital, ICU stay, and mortality. The patient demographics, tumor characteristics, systemic inflammation, and postoperative complications were studied among different subtypes of anemia.
Results
A total of 209 patients were analysed, and a higher prevalence of normocytic anemia (52.63%) and systemic inflammatory response (62.21%) was observed among the study population. Systemic inflammation was significantly associated with a higher nodal stage (p = 0.02) and margin positivity (p = 0.006). Patients with higher mGPS had significantly higher requirements for blood transfusion (p = 0.003), superficial SSI (p = 0.03), and sepsis (p = 0.02), however, other postoperative complications were comparable among patients without an inflammatory response.
Conclusion
High prevalence of systemic inflammation and resultant normocytic anemia among GI cancers warrants thorough knowledge in this field among the treating surgeons. This study opens up a platform for further research to consider anti-inflammatory agents in its management to circumvent the morbidity of blood transfusions.
Distributed Multi-robot Collaboration for Tasks Allocation based on Optimized Greedy Algorithm Approach
Authors: TAMALI Abderrahmane , AMARDJIA Nourredine , TAMALI Mohammed
Published: October 2022

During the last decades, the intervention using robots in sensitive areas reached appreciable mathematical confidence. Robots are equipped with adequate payload and embed processes using high-performance algorithms oriented topology, statistical observations, ontology, or bio-inspired. These algorithms improve considerably the processing capacity in time savings and computational efficiency.The modified GREEDY approach adopted in this contribution aims to optimize the gain in time and cost of processing for task allocation among a cluster of micro-robots with adequate means for the purpose of identifying sensitive areas.Evaluation of the efficiency of the task’s planning process to order each agent micro-robot, we optimally evaluate the cost function by grouping the dependencies; radio connectivity, energy at disposal, and the absolute and relative availability of the agent for itself and within the group. One of the first concerns is to validate the positive trend of the growing number of agents forming the cluster.For this objective, our approach introduces a cluster of three micro-robots. The proposed idea is qualified as an adaptive approach for a mission to identify victims at risk in a challenging environment. Each micro-robot in the cluster is configured to maintain interoperability and collaboration that gain support to evolve in the target scene in order to perform the assigned task. Collaboration algorithms are implemented as an adaptive strategy where it is necessary to optimize agents' mobility according to criteria depending on the characteristic of the place to be identified.
Synthesis of lignite-based Ni/C composite with low-medium temperature pyrolysis method as an efficient Pt-free counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Mao Wei , Wei Liguo , Zhao Lishuang , Xu Xiaohu , Lin Jianmin , He Huiyi , Zhang Xindan , Zhang Zihan
Published: October 2022

In order to obtain inexpensive Pt-free counter electrode materials for dye sensitized solar cells and expand the application fields of low-rank coal, lignite-based Ni/C composite counter electrode materials were prepared by low-medium temperature pyrolysis method using Huolinhe Lignite as raw material. The structure and chemical components of as-synthesized lignite-based Ni/C composite counter electrode materials were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, TG, Raman, SEM, TEM and XPS, and the electrocatalytic activity of lignite-based Ni/C composite counter electrode were investigated by cyclic voltammetric curve, electrochemical impedance spectrum, Tafel polarization curve. It is found that the electrocatalytic activity of the lignite was improved after low-medium temperature pyrolysis and composited with Ni species to form lignite-based Ni/C composites, which helps to catalyze the electrolyte reduction and thus improve the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the cell. The photoelectric conversion efficiency (η) of the lignite-based Ni/C composite counter electrode was 3.42% (Jsc = 11.49 mA cm-2, Voc = 0.75 V, FF = 0.40) significantly higher than that of the lignite counter electrode (η = 0.20%, Jsc = 3.16 mA cm-2, Voc = 0.72 V, FF = 0.09). This indicates that low-medium temperature pyrolysis and composition with Ni is an effective method to improve the photovoltaic performance of coal-based counter electrode materials.
Nano cellulose packaging for increasing the shelf life of food Products
Authors: Cheran E , Sharmila C , Lakshmanan A , Subramanian P , Raja K , Divyabharathi P
Published: October 2022

Studies were carried out to develop eco-friendly Packaging material for extended shelf-life of food products. Nano cellulose (NC) from Maize Cob was used as filler in the synthesis of Nanopolymers enriched with Thyme oil, Cinnamon oil, clove oil, and Rosemary oil. Characterization of nanopolymer coated bag and their effect on enhancing the shelf-life of food products in different temperature condition was also studied. Nanocellulose was extracted from the maize cob using steam coupled chemical treatment. The average size of NC extracted from the maize cob was found to be around 20–100 nm when observed under Scanning Electron Micrscope (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). The polymer based nano-films were developed using NC (1%), Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) (7%), Glycerol Triacetate (3%) and the nano polymers were enriched separately with thyme oil, Cinnamon oil, Clove oil and Rosemary oil at a concentration of 5000 ppm. The functional characterization of the nanocomposites was done using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and the developed nanocomposite coated sheet showed that the peaks corresponding to the aromatic groups were obtained at 2981cm− 1. The peaks of the cellulose were present at 1215 cm− 1. The Triacetin compounds were present at the range of 1063 cm− 1. The X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) pattern of the Maize cob, Cellulose and Nanocellulose exhibited strong peaks at 2θ ≈ 22.44°, 22.49°, and 22.03° respectively. The particle size of 213.5nm and zeta of -34mV was observed. TGA curve has shown that all the nanocomposites films got degraded at a temperature of 400°C. Approximately 95% of the samples degraded thermally above 360°C.The contact angle of uncoated paper sheet was found to be hydrophilic in nature with the angle of 78o and the different essential oil based nanocomposite coated sheet of thyme, cinnamon, clove and rosemary exhibited the angle of 115.6°, 100.1°, 95.1° and 88.9° which are hydrophobic in nature. The insect repellency test was carried out for nanocomposite coated and uncoated bags and the result show that nanocomposite bags repel the insects with the efficiency of more than 80% and the uncoated bags with efficiency of 20%. The antifungal test was carried out for different essential oil based nanocomposites against Fusarium spp and the nanocomposites show good antifungal property with 100% inhibition zone.
Sleep and sleep hygiene of adolescents with and without ADHD during COVID-19
Authors: Marten Finja , Keuppens Lena , Baeyens Dieter , Boyer Bianca , Danckaerts Marina , Oord Saskia Van der
Published: October 2022

Restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic may have significantly impacted adolescents’ sleep, possibly even more so in adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The current study examines the sleep of adolescents without ADHD (TD) and a homogeneous group of adolescents with ADHD and comorbid sleep problems using a multi-method objective and subjective assessment of sleep outcomes, during few and multiple COVID-19 restrictions. Four groups (2 TD and 2 ADHD) of in total 100 adolescents (50 TD and 50 ADHD) were included. One ADHD group was tested during numerous COVID-19 restrictions, the other during few. The same was done with the two TD groups. All participants were between 13 and 17 years old. Three two-way MANCOVAs were implemented with ADHD diagnosis and level of COVID-19 restrictions as independent and sleep outcomes (sleep hygiene, sleep deprivation, and objective and subjective total sleep time (TST) and sleep onset latency (SOL)) as dependent variables. As expected, adolescents with ADHD and comorbid sleep problems had significantly more subjective and objective sleep problems. Additionally, COVID-19 restrictions were related to sleep outcomes in both TD and ADHD groups, with both objective TST and subjective SOL being shorter when there were numerous COVID-19 restrictions. However, the shorter SOL was only found in the ADHD group. COVID-19 restrictions are related to sleep in adolescents, and more so in the ADHD group. Future research should focus on mechanisms underlying these relations.
Identification of novel a chromatin regulator signature predicting overall survival for breast cancer
Authors: Liu Jingting , Zhou Yawei , Zhou Qingyun , Wang Wendi , Wang Yanxia , Zhao Peng
Published: October 2022

Background
Breast cancer (BRCA) has the highest incidence among female malignancies. Increasing evidence has confirmed that chromatin regulators (CRs) are involved in cancer progression. We aim to develop a chromatin regulators signature to predict the prognosis of BRCA patients.
Methods
The mRNA expression profiles and corresponding clinical data of BRCA patients were downloaded from TCGA databases, and then the differentially expressed CRs genes were screened. We also used the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression model to construct a multigene signature with CRs genes of BRCA patients and evaluated the efficacy of the CRs prognostic signature with GEO validation cohort. Then, we explored the differences of tumor immune cell infiltration, tumor mutation burden (TMB), and patients’ response to chemotherapy between the different risk group.
Results
This CRs prognostic signature consisted of 8 chromatin regulators related genes, which was an independent prognostic factor of BRCA. The prognostic signature was further validated in GSE42568 cohort. According to the signature, patients with BRCA were divide into two risk groups. Functional annotation and the pathway analysis showed that the high-risk group had an enrichment of many tumor features, including cGMP-PKG signaling pathway, chromatin remodeling, DNA repair, thyroid cancer, cell cycle, homologous recombination, lysine degradation, pathways in cancer. Moreover, the immune cell types of tumor immune microenvironment and the TMB value of patients in the high-risk group was significantly different from those in low-risk group. ROC curves and nomogram indicated that the risk score had a good accuracy for predicting the survival of BRCA patients.
Conclusions
We identified a novel CRs prognostic signature which could precisely predict the prognosis of breast cancer patients. Our work elucidated that the CRs genes may serve as an indispensable player in complexity and diversity of tumor progression.
Elevated expression of circulating CDR1as in childhood dilated cardiomyopathy patients; Expanding MAPK signaling pathway role in dilated cardiomyopathies pathogenesis.
Authors: Esmaiel Nora N. , Ibrahim LA. , Fayez Alaaeldin , Ammar TH , El-Bassyouni Hala T.
Published: October 2022

Background Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are non-coding RNAs resulting from back splicing of pre-mRNA. circRNAs exhibit higher stability with multiple functional modes. Thus, this circRNAs characteristic make it a promising entity for the development of diagnostic tools and therapies for human disease. In the present study, we mainly aimed to evaluate two circRNAs CDR1as and has-circRNA_105039 as noninvasive biomarkers for childhood dilated cardiomyopathy and ventricular septal defects patients. Methods Fold change of CDR1as and has-circRNA_105039 was detected by qRT-PCR in 101 participants. The diagnostic accuracy of CDR1as was determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEEG) pathway analyses were performed to predict CDR1as/miRNAs and CDR1as/proteins interaction networks related to congenital ventricular septal defects (VSD) and childhood dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Results CDR1as showed significant higher fold change (FC = 2.8) in DCM group than controls and VSD groups. Experimental evidence-based GO and KEGG pathways analysis showed that has-miR-7-5p and hsa-miR-619 targeted 3'UTR of three mRNAs involved in MAPK signaling pathway. Conclusion Upregulated CDR1as may influence the level of has-miR-7-5p and hsa-miR-619 in childhood DCM patients, and further relieve the inhibitory effect of these miRNAs on kinases of the MAPK signaling pathway.
Revisiting the Pathology of Bilateral Macronodular Adrenocortical Disease in Light of Recent Discoveries
Authors: Botelho Maria Luiza Anhaia Arruda , Nishi Mirian Yumie , Zerbini Maria Claudia Nogueira
Published: October 2022

Bilateral Macronodular Adrenocortical Disease (BMAD) is a rare cause of ACTH-pituitary-independent Cushing’s syndrome. The recent discovery of a relationship with pathogenic variants of ARMC5, a putative tumor suppressor gene, suggests that genetic determination of the disease is more common than previously thought. In view of apparently sporadic and familial cases from a single tertiary center, we carried out a detailed morphologic review of 22 surgical specimens excised from patients with BMAD, comparing those with pathogenic variants of ARMC5 (PV+, n = 14) and those without (PV−, n = 8), as well as comparing those groups with a control group (n = 11). We also evaluated the expression of Ki-67, BCL-2, BAX, p53, ACTH, and ARMC5 protein. We observed that capsular extrusion, and trabecular and pseudoglandular architectural patterns, were more common in the PV+ group than in the PV− group, suggesting that the boundaries between hyperplastic and neoplastic processes are unclear in BMAD. The disorganized adrenal growth in BMAD was found to be unrelated to increased cell proliferation evaluated by Ki-67 or to changes in the expression of apoptosis-regulating proteins (BCL2 and BAX). In all cases, the ACTH immunoexpression was observed only in the adrenal medulla, suggesting that disruption of the corticomedullary architecture due to large confluent cortical nodules causes an imbalance in ACTH regulation in this intricate morphofunctional relationship. These data open new possibilities for comprehension of this heterogeneous adrenal disorder and further studies can clarify the role of cross-talking of the ACTH in BMAD nodules.
Exosome-derived lncRNA HOXA-AS3 promotes castration resistance and progression of prostate cancer via the miR-29b-3p/Mcl-1/STAT3 axis
Authors: Teng Jie , Zhao Yan , Shang Limin , Li Yang , Zhang Jian , Zhu Liang , Li Gang , Liu Zhifei , Jia Mingfei , Kang Shaosan , Chen Yegang , Niu Yuanjie , Cai Qiliang
Published: October 2022

Background
Tumor microenvironment are involved in the progression of prostate cancer as an "accomplice", and cancer cell–secreted exosomes were identified as crucial messengers can carry lncRNAs to participate in intercellular communication. Herein, we report that an lncRNA HOXA-AS3, was correlated positively with the castration resistance and progression of prostate cancer.
Methods
Indirect co-culture of PC-3 and LNCaP was performed to explore the androgen resistance of prostate cancer. MTT, colony formation test, exosome isolation, identification and uptake test, and western blot confirmed that exosomes promote androgen resistance in LNCaP cells. Further, the molecular mechanism of HOXA-AS3 was proved by bioinformation analysis, Dual-Luciferase Reporter Gene Assays, gene knockout and overexpression experiment, cell proliferation and apoptosis experiment, qPCR, immunofluorescence experiment and rescue experiment. Finally, rats xenografts and prostate tissue section were used to examine the role of HOXA-AS3 in the transformation of ADPC into CRPC.
Results
Exosome-derived lncRNA HOXA-AS3 promotes the proliferation, migration, invasion and hormone resistance of prostate cancer cells. HOXA-AS3 functions as a competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) for miRNA-29b-3p, thereby elevating Mcl-1 and STAT3 expression, inhibiting the release of cytochrome c and the activation of Caspases-9, resulting in the decrease of hormone sensitivity, and finally leads to androgen resistance and progression of prostate cancer.
Conclusions
lncRNA HOXA-AS3 participates in the castration resistance and progression of prostate cancer through regulating the miR-29b-3p/Mcl-1/STAT3 pathway. lncRNA HOXA-AS3 might have the potential to serve as a candidate intervention targets for prostate cancer treatment.
Current treatment strategies for postoperative intrahepatic bile duct stones in congenital biliary dilatation: A single center retrospective study
Authors: Takimoto Atsuro , Fumino Shigehisa , Iguchi Masafumi , Takemoto Masakazu , Takayama Shohei , Kim Kiyokazu , Higashi Mayumi , Aoi Shigeyoshi
Published: October 2022

Background: Intrahepatic bile duct (IHBD) stones are one of the most common late complications of Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy for congenital biliary dilatation (CBD). We report the current treatment strategies for IHBD stones and their outcomes in our institute.
Methods: Between 1983 and 2021, 117 patients with CBD were surgically treated in our institute. Our treatment strategies included oral ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), double-balloon endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (DB-ERC), percutaneous cholangio-drainage (PTCD), and open surgery. A retrospective study was conducted using medical charts.
Results: Postoperative IHBD stones were identified in 12 of 117 patients with CBD (10.2%). Five patients received UDCA, and small stones were successfully resolved in two cases. DB-ERC was performed eight times in five patients, but the endoscope could not reach the porta hepatis due to a long jejunal loop in two of five patients. One patient presented with severe acute pancreatitis induced by prolonged DB-ERC. PTCD was performed in three patients, two of whom finally underwent open surgery due to unsuccessful lithotomy. Open surgery was eventually performed in three patients. Lithotomy was performed in one patient; lithotomy with strictureplasty was performed in another patient. The other patient was diagnosed with intrahepatic cholelithiasis with adenocarcinoma. He underwent left lobectomy and died of carcinomatous peritonitis.
Conclusions: Oral UDCA may be effective for small stones. Although DB-ERC should be considered as a first-line interventional therapy for lithotomy, it may not be feasible due to a long jejunal loop, and pancreatitis may occur. Long-term follow-up and early detection and treatment for IHBD stones may yield a good prognosis.
Effects of acidic phosphorus-rich biochar from halophyte species on P availability and fractions in alkaline soils
Authors: Wang Xuyang , Sun Tao , Ma Haigang , Tang Guangmu , Chen Mo , Abulaizi Maidinuer , Yu Guangling , Jia Hongtao
Published: October 2022

Conditioning alkaline soil with acidic phosphorus-rich biochar might contribute to achieving sustainable phosphorus (P) use and residue management. In this study, acidic phosphorus-rich biochar was prepared from halophyte species biochar (HBC) by the modification of H3PO4 (P-HBC) and H4P2O7 (PA-HBC). The P combination method and fractions in biochars were characterized, and the effects of biochars on P fractions in different types of alkaline soil were examined with incubation experiments. The results showed that the pH values of P-HBC (3.31) and PA-HBC (2.17) decreased significantly, and the total P content increased to 4.66 g·kg− 1 and 5.24 g·kg− 1, respectively. The spectral analysis confirmed the doping of P and acid groups in biochar. The addition of modified biochars in alkaline soils will makes the soil tend to be neutral. Sequential extraction of soil P confirmed that biochars application facilitated the transformation of stable P into active fractions, with greater effects from modified biochars than HBC. Activation mechanism of biochar to soil P fractions varies from soil types. Overall, acidic phosphorus-rich biochars can be employed to improve alkaline soil properties and increase P activity.
Effects of high frequency-repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on pattern visual evoked potential and vasoactive intestinal peptide expression in visual cortex of rats with amblyopia
Authors: Song Weiqi , Fan Haobo , zou Yunchun , Tang Xiuping , Wang Ying , Xie Juan
Published: October 2022

Aim
To explore the effects of high frequency-repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (hf-rTMS) on pattern visual evoked potential (PVEP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) expression in visual cortex of rats with amblyopia and to preliminarily discuss the underlying mechanism of action.
Methods
Thirty SD rats aged 3 weeks were randomly selected and equally divided into the normal control group (NC), monocular deprivation group (MD), and monocular deprivation + hf-rTMS group (MD + hf-rTMS). Rats in the NC group were not intervened. Rats in the MD and MD + hf-rTMS groups were used to establish an amblyopia model by suturing the lid in the right eye for 3 weeks, while rats in the MD + hf-rTMS group were further intervened by two weeks of hf-rTMS. PVEP was tested in the right eye of rats at 6 and 8 weeks of age. Rats at 8 weeks of age were sacrificed, and the left visual cortex was extracted for immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH) examinations.
Results
At 6 weeks of age, there was no significant difference between the MD and MD + hf-rTMS group in terms of the P100 wave (P < 0.05). Besides, in comparison to the NC group, both the two groups had a distinct reduction in P100 amplitude (P < 0.05) and a prolonged latency (P < 0.05). At 8 weeks of age, the P100 amplitude in the MD + hf-rTMS group increased evidently than that in the MD group (P < 0.05). As compared to the NC group, the MD + hf-rTMS group had a remarkably lower P100 amplitude (P < 0.05). No distinct difference was found in the latency between the MD + hf-rTMS group and the MD or NC group (P > 0.05). IHC and ISH analyses demonstrated that VIP was expressed in all groups, and the mean OD value and the number of VIP-positive cells in the MD + hf-rTMS group were significantly higher than those in the MD group (P < 0.05) but distinctly lower than those in the NC group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion
hf-rTMS could increase the VIP expression in visual cortex and improve visual transduction in rats with amblyopia.The mechanism of hf-rTMS may be to participate in the remodeling of the visual system by improving the expression of VIP
WITHDRAWN: Investigating User Experience (UX) on the Top Most Frequently Visited E-Commerce Websites in Malaysia
Authors: Hasan Layla
Published: October 2022

This research developed specific criteria to evaluate user experience of e-commerce websites. These consist of 40 metrics: 27 metrics to evaluate utilitarian benefits (quality) and 13 metrics to evaluate hedonic benefits (quality) of any e-commerce website. Then, the research investigated the user experience (UX) on the top three most frequently visited e-commerce websites in Malaysia (Shopee, Lazada, Pgmall) in two stages using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews based on the developed criteria. The results identified both common and unique major issues and strong features (utilitarian and hedonic), as well as common and unique minor issues and strong characteristics (utilitarian and hedonic) on the tested e-commerce websites, which affected users’ experience on the sites. The results also showed that the quality of the utilitarian features of the e-commerce websites affected the quality of the hedonic features of the sites. Poor quality utilitarian features on e-commerce websites from the point view of participants resulted in identifying negative (low quality) hedonic features on those sites. The results also proved the usefulness and effectiveness of employing semi-structured interviews to obtain rich information regarding the user experience. Based on the results of this research, recommendations were suggested to achieve positive experiences on e-commerce websites from the point view of users.
Aberration measurements by Talbot wavefront sensor in presence of intensity variations
Authors: Kotov Myhailo , Danko Volodymyr , Goloborodko Andrii
Published: October 2022

Paper deals with the theoretical investigations of measurement accuracy of optical aberrations by Talbot wavefront sensor in the presence of random amplitude variations. Theoretical prediction of intensity distribution for gratings of any type based on their spatial spectrum is obtained, and it is shown that grating is fully restored in Talbot plane even for the high fraction of random amplitude. The possibilities of self-imaging phenomenon is investigated based on the simulation results. Simulation results show that pit displacement error increases when the correlation length decreases or when grating spatial spectrum increases. It is found that for defocus aberration intensity variations decrease measured defocus value and increment of aberrations of same order (oblique and vertical astigmatisms).
PACS 42.25.Fx · 42.25.-p · 42.15.Dp
Leveraging an open source serverless framework for High Energy Physics computing
Authors: Padulano Vincenzo Eduardo , Cortés Pablo Oliver , Alonso-Jordá Pedro , Saavedra Enric Tejedor , Risco Sebastián , Moltó Germán
Published: October 2022

CERN (Centre Europeen pour la Recherce Nucleaire) is the largest research centre for High Energy Physics (HEP). It offers unique computational challenges as a result of the large amount of data generated by the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). CERN has developed and supports a software called ROOT, which is the de facto standard for HEP data analysis. This framework offers a high-level and easy-to-use interface called RDataFrame, which allows managing and processing large data sets. In recent years, its functionality has been extended to take advantage of distributed computing capabilities. Thanks to its declarative programming model, the user-facing API can be decoupled from the actual execution backend. This decoupling allows physical analysis to scale automatically to thousands of computational cores over various types of distributed resources. In fact, the distributed RDataFrame module already supports the use of established general industry engines such as Apache Spark or Dask. Notwithstanding the foregoing, these current solutions will not be sufficient to meet future requirements in terms of the amount of data that the new projected accelerators will generate. It is of interest, for this reason, to investigate a different approach, the one offered by serverless computing. Based on a first prototype using AWS Lambda, this work presents the creation of a new backend for RDataFrame distributed over the OSCAR tool, an open source framework that supports serverless computing. The implementation introduces new ways, relative to the AWS Lambda-based prototype, to synchronize the work of functions.
Stability and minimal decay rate of systems of ODE
Authors: Kushel Olga , Pavani Raffaella
Published: October 2022

In this paper, we provide new stability conditions for second-order dynamical systems. We study the stability conditions for a parameter-dependent second order model and the minimal decay rate for some variations of positive parameters. A certain way of gyroscopic stabilization of an unstable parameter-dependent system is also considered.
Mathematics Subject Classification (2010) 15A18 · 15A12 · 34D10
Programmable control over the coffee-ring formation through the use of the multi-ring mechanism guided by the self-assembly of magnetic nanoparticles
Authors: Marc Maciej , Wolak Wiktor , Drzewinski Andrzej , Dudek Miroslaw Roman
Published: October 2022

The control of the mechanism leading to the appearance of the ring-shaped stains from the dried liquid colloidal droplets has been the subject of intense studies over the last 25 years. This stems from the immense significance of this effect for technological applications. One of the key open topics in this field is the emergence of a regular multi-ring deposit from the dried droplet. Here, we show that magnetic nanoparticles in a drying magnetic liquid droplet can self-assemble into a multi-ring deposit structure, and even more importantly, a magnetic field can be turned on to control the underlying processes. The magnetic liquid is prepared as an aqueous suspension of Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles stabilized with (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) and its droplets are placed on low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film. The results of this work are expected to be very promising in the case of multiple applications including ink-jet printing methods and 2D printed electronics.
C-section delivery induces gut barrier-microbiota imbalances in early life and leads to higher sensitivity to inflammation
Authors: Barone M , Ramayo-Caldas Y , Estellé J , Tambosco K , Chadi S , Maillard F , Gallopin M , Planchais J , Chain F , Kropp C , Rios-Covian D , Sokol H , Brigidi P , Langella P , Martín R
Published: October 2022

Background
The mother-newborn transmission of microorganisms is the most important factor influencing microbial colonization in the neonate, and C-section delivery (CSD) is an important disruptive factor of this transfer. Although this medical procedure saves countless lives, it may also have costs. Recently, the deregulation of symbiotic host-microbe interactions in early life has been shown to alter the maturation of the immune system, predisposing the host to gut barrier dysfunction and inflammation. The main goal of this study is to decipher the role of CSD in the early-life gut microbiota-barrier alterations and its links with later-life risks of intestinal inflammation.
Results
The higher sensitivity to inflammation in CSD mice is related to excessive exposure to a too diverse microbiota too early in life. This early microbial stimulus has short-term consequences on the host homeostasis. It switches the newborn immune response to an inflammatory context and alters the epithelium structure and the mucus-producing cells, disrupting gut homeostasis. This "too much too early" principle involves a disproportionate short-chain fatty acids ratio and an excessive antigen exposure across the vulnerable gut barrier in the first days of life. Besides, as shown by microbiota transfer experiments, the microbiota is causal in the high sensitivity of CSD mice to chemical-induced colitis and in most of the phenotypical parameters found altered in early life. Finally, supplementation with Lactobacilli, the main bacterial group impacted by CSD in mice, reverts the higher sensitivity to inflammation in ex germ-free mice colonised by CSD pups’ microbiota.
Conclusions
Early life gut microbiota-host crosstalk alterations related to CSD could be the linchpin behind the phenotypic effects that lead to increased disease susceptibility later in life.
London Underground air pollution particles are finer than you think
Authors: Sheikh Hassan Aftab , Tung Po-Yen , Ringe Emilie , Harrison Richard J
Published: October 2022

Particulate matter (PM) concentration levels in the London Underground (LU) are higher than London background levels, and beyond World Health Organization defined limits. Wheel, track, and brake abrasion are the primary sources of particulate matter, producing predominantly Fe-rich particles that make the LU microenvironment particularly well suited to study using environmental magnetism. Here we combine magnetic properties, high-resolution electron microscopy, and electron tomography to characterize the structure, chemistry, and morphometric properties of LU particles in three dimensions with nanoscale resolution. Our findings show that LU PM is dominated by 5-500 nm particles of oxidized magnetite, occurring as 0.1-2 µm aggregated clusters, skewing the size-fractioned concentration of PM artificially to larger sizes when measured with traditional monitors. Magnetic properties are largely independent of the PM filter size (PM10, PM4, and PM2.5), and demonstrate the presence of superparamagnetic, single-domain, and vortex/pseudo-single domain signals only (i.e., no multi-domain particles > 1 µm). The oxidized state of the particles suggests that PM exposure in the LU is dominated by resuspension of aged dust particles relative to freshly abraded, metallic particles from the wheel/track/brake system, suggesting that periodic removal of accumulated dust from underground tunnels might provide a cost-effective strategy for reducing exposure. The abundance of ultrafine particles identified here could have particularly adverse health impacts as their smaller size makes it possible to pass from lungs to the blood stream. Magnetic methods are shown to provide an accurate assessment of ultrafine PM characteristics, providing a robust route to monitoring, and potentially mitigating this hazard.
Evaluation of the Reliability, Utility, and Quality of the Lid Loading Videos on YouTube
Authors: Balci Ali Safa , Cabuk Kubra Şerefoglu , Topcu Husna , Efe Ayse Cetin , Ulas Mehmet Goksel
Published: October 2022

Purpose:
It is aimed to determine the utility, reliability and quality of the lid loading videos on YouTube, a video sharing platform.
Methods:
A YouTube searches were made with the keywords 'Eyelid Loading', 'Gold Weight Implantation', 'Lid Loading for Lagophthalmos' (without user login, cleared search history, in incognito tab). A total of 75 videos were recorded. Length of videos (seconds), number of views, uploaded source (doctor/health institution/medical channel), number of subscribers, number of likes, time since uploading (days), video content (surgical/theoretical information), type of narration (verbal narration/subtitle) recorded. DISCERN, The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), and Global Quality scores of the videos were evaluated and recorded by two experienced oculoplastic surgeons (KSC, HT).
Results:
After the exclusion criteria, the remaining 46 videos were included in the study. The mean DISCERN score was 25.17 ± 6.88 (very poor quality), the JAMA score was 0.79 0.63 (very poor quality), GQS was 2.84 ±1.03 (medium quality). Thirty videos (65.2%) had verbal narration and 16 videos (34.8%) had subtitled narration. The DISCERN score and GQS were significantly higher in the videos with verbal narration compared to the narration with subtitles (p<0.05). All 3 scores were positively correlated with each other. There was also a positive correlation between video length, number of subscribers, and DISCERN score.
Conclusions:
The videos about lid loading on YouTube are of poor reliability, accuracy, and educational quality. The duration of the video and the type of narration can be kept in the foreground when choosing the video. Experts must review the content that is uploaded to websites like YouTube.
Reliable Adaptive Distributed Hyper Parameter Optimization (RadHPO) for Deep Learning Training and Uncertainty Estimation
Authors: Li John , Pantoja Maria , Fernández-Escribano Gerardo
Published: October 2022

Training and validation of Neural Networks (NN) are very computation-ally intensive. In this paper, we propose a NN infrastructure that achieves two goals: to accelerate model training, specifically for hyperparameter optimization (HPO), and to re-use some of these intermediate models to evaluate the uncertainty of the model. By accelerating model training , we can obtain a large set of potential models and compare them in a shorter amount of time. Automating this process reduces development time and provides an easy way to compare different models. Our application runs different models on distinct servers with a single training data set, each with tweaked hyperparameters. By adding uncertainty to our results, our framework provides not just a single prediction but a distribution over prediction. Adding uncertainty is essential to some NN since most models assume that the input data distribution is identical between test and validation. However, in reality , they are not producing some dreadful mistakes. Since our solution is a distributed system, we make our implementation robust to common distributed system failures (servers going down, loss of communication among some nodes, and others). Furthermore, we use a gossip-style heartbeat protocol for failure detection and recovery. Finally, some preliminary results using a black-box approach to generate the training models show that our infrastructure scale well in different hardware platforms.
Exogenous spermidine alleviates diabetic cardiomyopathy via suppressing Pannexin-1-mediated ferroptosis in db/db mice
Authors: Sun Jian , Xu Jiyu , Liu Yong , Lin Yitong , Wang Fengge , Han Yue , Zhang Shumin , Gao Xiaoyan , Xu Changqing , Yuan Hui
Published: October 2022

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a serious complication and death cause of diabetes mellitus (DM). Recent cardiology studies suggest that spermidine has cardioprotective effects. Here, the hypothesis was tested the spermidine effects of DCM. Therefore, db/db mice and primary neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes were used to observe the effects of spermidine. Immunoblotting showed that ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and SPD/spermine N1-acetyltransferase (SSAT) were downregulated and upregulated in the myocardium of db/db mice, respectively. We found that diabetic mice showed cardiac dysfunction in 12 weeks. Conversely, exogenous spermidine could improve cardiac functions and reduce the deposition of collagens, myocardial damage, ROS levels and endoplasmic reticulum stress in diabetic mouse hearts. Our results also demonstrated that cardiomyocytes appeared ferroptosis and then activated Pannexin-1 expression, which resulted in increasing the extracellular ATP. Subsequently, increased ATP as a paracrine molecule combined to P2X7 receptors to activate ERK1/2 signaling pathway in cardiomyocytes, and activated NCOA4-mediated ferroptinophagy to promote lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis. Interestingly, spermidine could reverse these molecular processes. Our findings indicate an important new mechanism for DCM, and suggest spermidine have potential applicability to protect against deterioration of cardiac function with DCM.
Feasibility and Safety of Subcutaneous Sternal Suspension in The Treatment of Pectus Excavatum
Authors: Jing Tao , Jiang Peng , Feng Haiming , Zhang Shaobo , Wei Xiaoping , Song Tieniu , Yan Weijian , Lin Junping , Wang Cheng , Li Bin
Published: October 2022

Background: Nuss procedure is rarely used in young children. The application of subcutaneous sternal suspension (SSS) in low-collar children solves this embarrassment. This study aims to compare the safety and feasibility of subcutaneous sternal suspension and Nuss operation in the treatment of pectus excavatum.
Methods: 69 patients with pectus excavatum surgery from 2013 to 2022 were included. The patients were divided into two groups according to surgical method: SSS group and Nuss group. Comparing basic information and perioperative complications to evaluate the feasibility and safety of two groups.
Results: 44 patients in Nuss group had removed steel bars and 4 patients in SSS group. The average age of the SSS group was significantly lower than that of the Nuss group (P=0.0001). There were no significant differences in other baseline information such as gender, Haller index, symmetry and comorbidities. The SSS group was better than the Nuss group in the comparison of blood loss(P=0.22), postoperative hospital stays(P=0.003), operation time(P=0.0001). There was no significant difference in the complications between the two groups.
Conclusions: SSS surgery is more suitable for low-collar patients (3years old and above) because of the advantages fast recovery. Thus, this method requires longer follow-up to observe its long-term therapeutic effect.
Identification of Causal Pathways among Gut Microbiota, Food Intake and Telomere Length: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Hou Lei , Yu Yuanyuan , Jin Chuandi , Zhang Lei , Ge Yilei , Liu Xinhui , Wu Sijia , Qian Fengtong , Wu Yutong , Yu Yifan , Luo Qingxin , He Yina , Feng Yue , Wei Yun , Li Hongkai , Xue Fuzhong
Published: October 2022

Background: Dietary habit plays an important role in the composition and function of gut microbiota which possibly manipulates host eating behavior. Gut microflora and nutritional imbalance are associated with telomere length (TL). However, the causality among them remains unclear. We aim to explore the causal pathways among gut microbiota, food intake (FI) and TL.Results:Firstly, we calculate the significance threshold based on genetic correlations.Then we perform bi-directional Mendelian Randomization (MR) analyses among 82 FIs (UK Biobank, N=455,146), 95 gut microbial traits (Flemish Gut Flora Project, N=2,223) and TL (genome-wide meta-analysis from 15 cohorts, N=37,684) using summary-level data from large genome-wide association studies. Fixed-effect inverse variance weighting is the main analysis method and the other eight two-sample MR methods and three sensitivity analyses are performed. Several bi-directional causal relationships among gut microbiota, FIs and TL are obtained by two-sample MR. Overall, we find suggestive evidence of three main causal pathways among them. Drinking more glasses of water per day is able to affect the habit of eating dried fruit through the host gut microbiota (Barnesiella). The change of one gut microbiota taxon (Collinsella) in the host causally influences another gut microbiota taxon (Lactonccus) through the diet habits (intake of oil-based spread). Additionally, the TL alters the habits of drinking ground coffee and further affects the gut microbiota (Acidaminococcaceae). Finally, GO enrichment analyses are used to investigate the bio-function and confirm the MR results.Conclusions: TL has an impact on diet habits and gut microbiota and there are bi-directional relationships between diet habits and gut microbiota.
Evaluation of Automated Sample Preparation System for Lymph Node Sampling
Authors: Duke Jennifer D. , Sturgis Charles D. , Hartley Christopher , Bailey Morgan , Reid Michal , Kern Ryan , Bluestone Alex , Subramanian Hariharan , Reisenauer Janani
Published: October 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and specimen quality of lymph node biopsies prepared through a novel automated system for automated fixation, drying and staining compared to standard slide preparation method.
Methods: We performed a prospective, single-center study of patients undergoing endobronchial ultrasound. Samples were split into conventional standard of care (SOC) slide preparation and preparation using the device (ASP). Pathologists compared the SOC slides to the slides prepared by the automated system and assessed the following metrics: nuclear and cytoplasmic quality, presence of debris/artifact, staining quality, creation of a monolayer, and ease of adequacy/diagnosis assessment. A score between 1 (lowest quality) and 3 (highest quality) was assigned to the above metrics.
Results: 60 patients were recruited. One to three lymph nodes were sampled for each patient with a total of 73 samples collected. The mean scores of each assessment category showed no statistical difference between the two preparation techniques except for improved monolayer creation in the ASP samples. All samples showed diagnostic equivalency between the automated slides and conventional slides except for one which was reported to be suspicious on the ASP sample and atypical on the SOC.
Conclusion: Study results suggest that slides prepared by the automated system are of adequate quality for adequacy assessment with diagnostic concordance when compared to SOC slides.