bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dissection, in vivo imaging and analysis of the mouse epitrochleoanconeus muscle
Authors: Villarroel‐Campos David , Schiavo Giampietro , Sleigh James N.
Published: June 2021

Analysis of rodent muscles affords an opportunity to glean key insights into neuromuscular development and the detrimental impact of disease‐causing genetic mutations. Muscles of the distal leg, for instance the gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior, are commonly used in such studies with mice and rats. However, thin and flat muscles, which can be dissected, processed and imaged without major disruption to muscle fibres and nerve‐muscle contacts, are more suitable for accurate and detailed analyses of the peripheral motor nervous system. One such wholemount muscle is the predominantly fast twitch epitrochleoanconeus (ETA), which is located in the upper forelimb, innervated by the radial nerve, and contains relatively large and uniformly flat neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). To facilitate incorporation of the ETA into the experimental toolkit of the neuromuscular disease field, here, we describe a simple method for its rapid isolation (<5 min), supported by high‐resolution videos and step‐by‐step images. Furthermore, we outline how the ETA can be imaged in live, anaesthetised mice, to enable examination of dynamic cellular processes occurring at the NMJ and within intramuscular axons, including transport of organelles, such as mitochondria and signalling endosomes. Finally, we present reference data on wild‐type ETA fibre‐type composition in young adult, male C57BL6/J mice. Comparative neuroanatomical studies of different muscles in rodent models of disease can generate critical insights into pathogenesis and pathology; dissection of the wholemount ETA provides the possibility to diversify the repertoire of muscles analysed for this endeavour.
The effect of cold application on episiotomy pain: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Şolt Kırca Ayça , Korkut Öksüz Sevda , Murat Naci
Published: June 2021

Aims and Objectives

To evaluate the effectiveness of cold application methods in reducing postpartum episiotomy pain.

Background

Many women suffer from pain after giving birth due to an episiotomy. This prolonged pain affects their daily lives as they recover. Various methods can help alleviate this pain; however, the effects of cold application specifically are still under discussion.

Design

Systematic review and meta‐analysis were used.

Methods

In this review, we investigated studies from the CINAHL, PubMed, Google Scholar and Science Direct databases that met PICOS inclusion criteria. We also assessed the studies' methodological quality with the JADAD and JBI checklists. This study was performed based on the Guidelines of Systematic Reporting of Examination presented in the PRISMA checklist (Appendix S1). The search protocol has been registered at the PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews.

Results

A total of seven published studies including 700 total participants were included in this review. Various cold application methods (cold gel pack/pad, crushed ice gel pad, ice pack) significantly reduced the pain after an episiotomy. Ice packs in particular did not significantly differ from lavender oil and acupressure in reducing pain after an episiotomy.

Conclusions

Cold application methods can be an effective, non‐pharmacological midwifery and nursing intervention to reduce pain after an episiotomy.

Relevance to clinical practice

The use of cold application methods to reduce pain after episiotomy may reduce the need for pharmacological medication in women due to the reduction in pain in the perineum.
Prognostic value of tertiary lymphoid structures in early clinical stage oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Wang Cheng , Huang Zhengxian , Zhang Ming , Xiong Gan , Chen Xiaohua , Xie Nan
Published: June 2021

Background

Tertiary lymphoid structures have been observed in several solid tumors and suggested to be a favorable prognostic factor. However, the prognostic value of tertiary lymphoid structures for early clinical stage (cT1/2N0) oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of tertiary lymphoid structures in cT1/2N0 stage OTSCC.

Methods

Ninety‐seven patients with cT1/2N0 stage OTSCC were enrolled in this study. Tertiary lymphoid structures were assessed in paraffin sections with H.E and immunohistochemistry staining. Overall and disease‐free survivals were evaluated by the Kaplan‐Meier method. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess their prognostic value.

Results

Tertiary lymphoid structures can be readily identified in cT1/2N0 stage OTSCC, including early tertiary lymphoid structures, primary follicle‐like tertiary lymphoid structures, and secondary follicle‐like tertiary lymphoid structures. Its frequency in OTSCC was 76.3% in the cohort. The presence of tertiary lymphoid structures was associated with favorable overall survival (p = 0.0176) and disease‐free survival (p = 0.0183) in early clinical stage OTSCC. Cox regression models showed that tertiary lymphoid structures can serve as an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (HR = 0.434, 95% CI = 0.212–0.886, p = 0.022) and disease‐free survival (HR = 0.459, 95% CI = 0.235–0.897, p = 0.023) in early clinical stage OTSCC. The group of low maturity of TLS combined with pN positive had the lowest overall survival (p = 0.0094) and disease‐free survival (p = 0.0028).

Conclusions

Tertiary lymphoid structures are frequently observed in OTSCC. It is associated with a favorable prognosis for patients with cT1/2N0 stage OTSCC and may be used to predict immunotherapy sensitivity.
Short‐term stress responses and recovery of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera, Laminariales, Phaeophyceae) juvenile sporophytes to a simulated marine heatwave and nitrate scarcity1
Authors: Umanzor Schery , Sandoval‐Gil José , Sánchez‐Barredo Mariana , Ladah Lydia B. , Ramírez‐García Mary‐Mar , Zertuche‐González José Antonio
Published: June 2021

The frequency of marine heatwaves (MHWs) is increasing due to climate change. Although seaweeds are resilient to environmental changes, an increasing body of evidence shows that rising sea surface temperatures have deleterious effects on temperate kelp species. However, information on the vulnerability of juvenile kelp to these stressors and their population stability is limited. This study summarizes findings on the ability of juvenile sporophytes of Macrocystis pyrifera to survive and recover from simulated MHW conditions (22°C, 5 d) in combination with nitrate limitation (<1 µM) by evaluating photosynthetic capacity, nitrate uptake, tissue composition, bio‐optical properties, and oxidative stress of single‐blade juvenile sporophytes (<20 cm). Temperature, nitrate availability, and their interaction had significant effects on the physiological status of juvenile sporophytes after the exposure and recovery periods. Overall, as expected, the photosynthetic capacity of juvenile sporophytes decreased with increased temperature and lower nitrate availability. Short‐term exposure to simulated MHWs resulted in oxidative damage and reduced growth. The termination of the experimental warming allowed partial recovery to control values, indicating high physiological resilience. However, the interaction of both high temperature and nitrate scarcity induced irreversible damage to their photosynthetic capacity, with an increase in compensation irradiance, highlighting potential limitations in the carbon balance of juvenile sporophytes.
Going to sleep and going to school: Linking bedtime to student absenteeism
Authors: Gottfried Michael A. , Kirksey J. Jacob
Published: June 2021

Educators continuously regard health as being a major driver of school attendance. While physical health factors have been explored in regards to reducing student absenteeism, no attention has been given to the role of bedtime. The present study explored associations between having a regular bedtime, the hour of going to sleep, and school start time to student attendance. Our findings indicate that a regular bedtime reduces kindergartners’ absences and decreases their likelihood of being chronically absent. However, the time of bed was not associated with absenteeism, nor was the start time of kindergarten each morning. Potential mechanisms involve school‐going routines and practices, and therefore we discuss how schools and communities can play an influential role in helping to address student absenteeism.
Why don't all species overexploit?
Authors: Vuorinen Katariina E. M. , Oksanen Tarja , Oksanen Lauri , Vuorisalo Timo , Speed James D. M.
Published: June 2021

Overexploitation of natural resources is often viewed as a problem characteristic of only the human species. However, any species could evolve a capacity to overexploit its essential resources through natural selection and competition, even to the point of resource collapse. Here, we describe the processes that potentially lead to overexploitation and synthesize what is known about overexploitation limiters in other species. We propose that there are five pathways that counteract the evolutionary drive towards overexploitation and/or mitigate its consequences: top–down trophic control, interference, cost‐efficiency tradeoffs, resource trait evolution, and spatial heterogeneity. These mechanisms constrain the number of exploiters and/or lower the rate of the resource usage at the individual level. We hypothesize that in ecosystems with reasonable functional diversity, coevolution strengthens this limiter network, preventing overexploitation, and thus argue that diversity begets stability via evolution. Violent population cycles in species‐poor northern ecosystems and eruptions of invading alien species are exceptions that confirm this rule, because these ecosystems either lack functional diversity or there has not been enough time for coevolution to play out its stabilizing role. We propose that the overexploitation by our own species could be prevented via a network of socio‐economical limiters that act in an analogous way.
Direct and indirect effects of global change on mycorrhizal associations of savanna plant communities
Authors: Pérez‐Ramos Ignacio M. , Álvarez‐Méndez Andrea , Wald Katharina , Matías Luis , Hidalgo‐Galvez María D. , Navarro‐Fernández Carmen M.
Published: June 2021

Mycorrhizal fungi are key components of whole‐plant adaptive strategies to cope with different abiotic and biotic constraints. Although they are particularly sensitive to different global change drivers, there are still many gaps on the mechanisms underpinning shifts in mycorrhizal associations under different climatic and management scenarios.

We carried out a field manipulative experiment of rainfall exclusion and increased temperature aimed to evaluate the impact of forecasted warming and drying on mycorrhizal associations of savanna plant communities subjected to different grazing history. Additionally, we compiled detailed information on the abiotic and biotic environment with the final aim of disentangling the direct and indirect effects of climate change on this widespread mycorrhizal symbiosis.

Our results suggest that climate change could induce relevant changes in mycorrhizal associations, primarily promoted by warming, which decreased the abundance of mycorrhizae but induced higher activity of nutrient exchange between the host–plant and the mycosymbiont. Temperature did not only affect this symbiosis in a direct way, but also exerted relevant indirect effects via changes in soil functioning and other root‐colonizing microorganisms such as dark septate endophytes. Grazing history influenced the allocation of fungal structures inside the host‐root, but its effect differed as a function of the climatic treatment.

Results from this study suggest that mycorrhizal fungi might become less prevalent in plant communities inhabiting savanna ecosystems under future scenarios of increasing aridity. In agreement with this finding, higher temperatures also promoted the predominance of plants with root traits that favour efficient resource acquisition by themselves without the help of a mycorrhizal partner. Our results provide new insights into the interactive effects of the two main threats facing Mediterranean savanna ecosystems, as well as potentially useful information to be applied in ecologically‐based management strategies aimed at attenuating the potential impact of global change on mycorrhizal fungi.
Photodynamic Therapy of Inorganic Complexes for the Treatment of Cancer†
Authors: Smith Chloe B. , Days Lindsay C. , Alajroush Duaa R. , Faye Khadija , Khodour Yara , Beebe Stephen J. , Holder Alvin A.
Published: June 2021

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a medicinal tool that uses a photosensitizer and a light source to treat several conditions, including cancer. PDT uses reactive oxygen species such as cytotoxic singlet oxygen (1O2) to induce cell death in cancer cells. Chemotherapy has historically utilized the cytotoxic effects of many metals, especially transition metal complexes. However, chemotherapy is a systemic treatment so all cells in a patient’s body are exposed to the same cytotoxic effects. Transition metal complexes have also shown high cytotoxicity as PDT agents. PDT is a potential localized method for treating several cancer types by using inorganic complexes as photosensitizing agents. This review covers several in vitro and in vivo studies, as well as clinical trials that reported on the anticancer properties of inorganic pharmaceuticals used in PDT against different types of cancer.
Bullous amyloidosis in a horse: first description in veterinary medicine
Authors: Fussell Devin , Bizikova Petra , Breuhaus Babetta , Harris R. Adam , Moore A. Russell , Chen Laura , Linder Keith E.
Published: June 2021

Background

Bullous amyloidosis is a rare disease in humans that has not been described in a veterinary species in the peer‐reviewed literature. The human disease is characterised by haemorrhagic vesicles and bullae on the skin and mucosae, which form due to amyloid deposition.

Hypothesis/Objectives

To describe the clinical features, laboratory analysis and histopathological features of an unique presentation of bullous disease in a horse.

Animals

A 17‐year‐old thoroughbred mare presented for weight loss and severe oral cavity ulcers.

Methods and materials

Investigations involved haematological evaluation, chemistry profiles, gastroscopy and serum protein electrophoresis, and, postmortem, histopathological evaluation, Congo‐red staining and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Results

Haemorrhagic vesicles and bullae occurred on the mucosa of the oral cavity, lips, oesophagus and stomach, and much less the muzzle, face and mucocutaneous areas of the perineum, where scarring was evident. Histopathological evaluation and Congo‐red staining confirmed the presence of amyloid deposits in dermis and submucosa, in association with vesicle and bulla formation, consistent with bullous amyloidosis. TEM confirmed amyloid fibril deposition in the dermis and along the basement membrane zone. Clefts occurred in the superficial dermis and submucosa, which explained haemorrhage and scarring. The presence of a polyclonal gammopathy and the rapid abolishment of Congo‐red staining with performate pretreatment supported serum amyloid A and secondary amyloidosis.

Conclusion and Clinical Importance

Bullous amyloidosis is a novel disease of the horse and a newly recognised differential for bullous disease, for which the haemorrhagic nature of bullae, scarring and deep secondary ulcers are considered clinical clues to the condition.
Improved abrasion resistance of silica-based CVD thin films on polycarbonate substrates for automotive applications
Authors: Tanaka Sae , Endo Hayate , Shirakura Akira , Kudo Shinya , Suzuki Tetsuya
Published: June 2021

A silica-based thin film was synthesized on polycarbonate substrates topped with acrylic primer. The synthesis was performed by chemical vapor deposition under a remote-type atmospheric pressure plasma. The source gas used was TrMS/O2, and the carrier gas used was either He or Ar. The abrasion resistance and adhesion strength were improved by changing the carrier gas from He to Ar. After a standard Taber abrasion test, the minimum change in haze value was approximately 1.3% for a sample synthesized under Ar (below the 2.0% requirement for vehicle window glass). The adhesion strength between the thin film and the substrate probably improved because of the etching effect of the primer by the Ar plasma during the deposition. The results confirmed that atmospheric remote technology can synthesize silica-based films and demonstrated that the technology is applicable to manufacturing vehicle window glass replacements.
Empty Stands and Empty Pockets: Revenue Generation in a Pandemic
Authors: Armentrout Suzannah , Zdroik Jen , Dutove Julia
Published: June 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic changed not only the way professional sports were played in 2020, but also changed the way sport-related organizations had to operate. An example of this is a fictional sports app, FanStand, that primarily offered opportunities for sports teams to engage fans through team information, in-game trivia and contests, services at games, and the purchasing of tickets and merchandise. The primary use of the app was inside arenas and stadiums, meaning that when COVID-19 stopped all play, the app was not used. Even as professional sport returned to play, fans were not attending in-person games and were not using the app. The purpose of this case study is to consider how apps like FanStand can generate revenue during the COVID-19 outbreak and beyond, using strategic and operational planning, as well as stakeholder theory, to account for various groups and individuals who are impacted by the decisions FanStand makes during this time.
Key Metabolic Enzymes Involved in Remdesivir Activation in Human Lung Cells
Authors: Li Ruidong , Liclican Albert , Xu Yili , Pitts Jared , Niu Congrong , Zhang Jingyu , Kim Cynthia , Zhao Xiaofeng , Soohoo Daniel , Babusis Darius , Yue Qin , Ma Bin , Murray Bernard P. , Subramanian Raju , Xie Xuping , Zou Jing , Bilello John P. , Li Li , Schultz Brian E. , Sakowicz Roman , Smith Bill J. , Shi Pei-Yong , Murakami Eisuke , Feng Joy Y.
Published: June 2021

Remdesivir (RDV; GS-5734, Veklury), the first FDA-approved antiviral to treat COVID-19, is a single-diastereomer monophosphoramidate prodrug of an adenosine analogue. RDV is taken up in the target cells and metabolized in multiple steps to form the active nucleoside triphosphate (TP) (GS-443902), which, in turn, acts as a potent and selective inhibitor of multiple viral RNA polymerases.
Salmonella Genomics in Public Health and Food Safety
Authors: Brown Eric W. , Bell Rebecca , Zhang Guodong , Timme Ruth , Zheng Jie , Hammack Thomas S. , Allard Marc W.
Published: June 2021

The species
Salmonella enterica
comprises over 2,600 serovars, many of which are known to be intracellular pathogens of mammals, birds, and reptiles. It is now apparent that
Salmonella
is a highly adapted environmental microbe and can readily persist in a number of environmental niches, including water, soil, and various plant (including produce) species.
Copper Homeostatic Mechanisms and Their Role in the Virulence of Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica
Authors: Hyre Amanda , Casanova-Hampton Kaitlin , Subashchandrabose Sargurunathan
Published: June 2021

Copper is an essential micronutrient that also exerts toxic effects at high concentrations. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on copper handling and homeostasis systems in
Escherichia coli
and
Salmonella enterica
.
Molecular and Cell Biological Analysis of SwrB in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Phillips Andrew M. , Sanchez Sandra , Sysoeva Tatyana A. , Burton Briana M. , Kearns Daniel B.
Published: June 2021

Type III secretion systems (T3SSs) are elaborate nanomachines that form the core of the bacterial flagellum and injectisome of pathogens. The machines not only secrete proteins like virulence factors but also secrete the structural components for their own assembly.
Supplemental Material: Tectonic pressure gradients during viscous creep drive fluid flow and brittle failure at the base of the seismogenic zone
Authors: Menegon Luca , Fagereng Ake
Published: June 2021

Analytical methods, derivation of the failure diagram, additional field photos, photomicrographs and EBSD map, and chlorite composition data.
Completeness of reporting of quality improvement studies in neonatology is inadequate: a systematic literature survey
Authors: Hu Zheng Jing , Fusch Gerhard , Hu Catherine , Wang Jie Yi , el Helou Zoe , Hassan Muhammad Taaha , Mbuagbaw Lawrence , el Helou Salhab , Thabane Lehana
Published: June 2021

Introduction

Quality improvement (QI) is a growing field of inquiry in healthcare, but the reporting quality of QI studies in neonatology remains unclear. We conducted a systematic survey of the literature to assess the reporting quality of QI studies and factors associated with reporting quality.

Methods

We searched Medline for publications of QI studies from 2016 to 16 April 2020. Pairs of reviewers independently screened citations and assessed reporting quality using a 31-item modified Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence, 2nd edition (SQUIRE 2.0) checklist. We reported the number (percentage) of studies that reported each item and their corresponding 95% CIs. We used Poisson regression to explore factors associated with reporting quality, namely, journal endorsement of SQUIRE 2.0, declaration of funding sources, year of publication and number of authors. The results were reported as incidence rate ratio (IRR) and 95% CI.

Results

Of 1921 citations, 336 were eligible; among them, we randomly selected 100 articles to assess reporting quality. The mean (standard deviation) number of SQUIRE 2.0 items adhered to was 22.0 (4.5). Percentage of articles reporting each item varied from 26% to 100%. Journal endorsement of SQUIRE 2.0 (IRR=1.11, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.21, p=0.015), declaration of funding sources and increasing number of authors were significantly associated with better reporting.

Conclusions

Reporting quality of QI studies in neonatology is inadequate. Endorsing the SQUIRE 2.0 guideline is a step that journals can implement to enhance the completeness of reporting.
Host and gut microbial tryptophan metabolism and type 2 diabetes: an integrative analysis of host genetics, diet, gut microbiome and circulating metabolites in cohort studies
Authors: Qi Qibin , Li Jun , Yu Bing , Moon Jee-Young , Chai Jin C , Merino Jordi , Hu Jie , Ruiz-Canela Miguel , Rebholz Casey , Wang Zheng , Usyk Mykhaylo , Chen Guo-Chong , Porneala Bianca C , Wang Wenshuang , Nguyen Ngoc Quynh , Feofanova Elena V , Grove Megan L , Wang Thomas J , Gerszten Robert E , Dupuis Josée , Salas-Salvadó Jordi , Bao Wei , Perkins David L , Daviglus Martha L , Thyagarajan Bharat , Cai Jianwen , Wang Tao , Manson JoAnn E , Martínez-González Miguel A , Selvin Elizabeth , Rexrode Kathryn M , Clish Clary B , Hu Frank B , Meigs James B , Knight Rob , Burk Robert D , Boerwinkle Eric , Kaplan Robert C
Published: June 2021

Objective

Tryptophan can be catabolised to various metabolites through host kynurenine and microbial indole pathways. We aimed to examine relationships of host and microbial tryptophan metabolites with incident type 2 diabetes (T2D), host genetics, diet and gut microbiota.

Method

We analysed associations between circulating levels of 11 tryptophan metabolites and incident T2D in 9180 participants of diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds from five cohorts. We examined host genome-wide variants, dietary intake and gut microbiome associated with these metabolites.

Results

Tryptophan, four kynurenine-pathway metabolites (kynurenine, kynurenate, xanthurenate and quinolinate) and indolelactate were positively associated with T2D risk, while indolepropionate was inversely associated with T2D risk. We identified multiple host genetic variants, dietary factors, gut bacteria and their potential interplay associated with these T2D-relaetd metabolites. Intakes of fibre-rich foods, but not protein/tryptophan-rich foods, were the dietary factors most strongly associated with tryptophan metabolites. The fibre-indolepropionate association was partially explained by indolepropionate-associated gut bacteria, mostly fibre-usingFirmicutes. We identified a novel association between a host functionalLCTvariant (determining lactase persistence) and serum indolepropionate, which might be related to a host gene-diet interaction on gutBifidobacterium, a probiotic bacterium significantly associated with indolepropionate independent of other fibre-related bacteria. Higher milk intake was associated with higher levels of gutBifidobacteriumand serum indolepropionate only among genetically lactase non-persistent individuals.

Conclusion

Higher milk intake among lactase non-persistent individuals, and higher fibre intake were associated with a favourable profile of circulating tryptophan metabolites for T2D, potentially through the host–microbial cross-talk shifting tryptophan metabolism toward gut microbial indolepropionate production.
IGF1 receptor inhibition amplifies the effects of cancer drugs by autophagy and immune-dependent mechanisms
Authors: Wu Qi , Tian Ai-Ling , Li Bei , Leduc Marion , Forveille Sabrina , Hamley Peter , Galloway Warren , Xie Wei , Liu Peng , Zhao Liwei , Zhang Shuai , Hui Pan , Madeo Frank , Tu Yi , Kepp Oliver , Kroemer Guido
Published: June 2021

Background

Pharmacological autophagy enhancement constitutes a preclinically validated strategy for preventing or treating most major age-associated diseases. Driven by this consideration, we performed a high-content/high-throughput screen on 65 000 distinct compounds on a robotized fluorescence microscopy platform to identify novel autophagy inducers.

Results

Here, we report the discovery of picropodophyllin (PPP) as a potent inducer of autophagic flux that acts on-target, as an inhibitor of the tyrosine kinase activity of the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF1R). Thus, PPP lost its autophagy-stimulatory activity in cells engineered to lack IGF1R or to express a constitutively active AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1) mutant. When administered to cancer-bearing mice, PPP improved the therapeutic efficacy of chemoimmunotherapy with a combination of immunogenic cytotoxicants and programmed cell death 1 (PDCD1, better known as PD-1) blockade. These PPP effects were lost when tumors were rendered PPP-insensitive or autophagy-incompetent. In combination with chemotherapy, PPP enhanced the infiltration of tumors by cytotoxic T lymphocytes, while reducing regulatory T cells. In human triple-negative breast cancer patients, the activating phosphorylation of IGF1R correlated with inhibited autophagy, an unfavorable local immune profile, and poor prognosis.

Conclusion

Altogether, these results suggest that IGF1R may constitute a novel and druggable therapeutic target for the treatment of cancer in conjunction with chemoimmunotherapies.
Analyzing human factor impacts of a programming pedagogy strategy at University of Coimbra
Authors: Martins Scheila
Published: June 2021

This paper presents an ethnographic study, focusing on the human factor impacts, by analyzing the relation of the pedagogical strategy requirements implemented into a regular programming classes with the efficacy of the classroom changes proposed to improve teaching practice and study behavior. The paper summarizes the updates implemented in the Introduction to Programming and Problem Solving (IPRP in Portuguese equivalent acronym), the first programming course offered for two undergraduates degrees, Informatics Engineering and Design and Multimedia, by the Informatics Engineering Department at the University of Coimbra. The changes applied in IPRP were inspired by pedagogical strategy recommendations developed in previous research, and its updated version has been run since 2011/12 academic year. The present study reports only the developments observed in IPRP classes from the Design and Multimedia degree through the lecturer's point of view assessments
Combined effect of different teaching strategies on student performance in a large-enrollment undergraduate health sciences course
Authors: Marwaha Aditi , Zakeri Marjan , Sansgiry Sujit S. , Salim Samina
Published: June 2021

Students’ course performance is fundamental for any institution to carry out its academic mission. Often, in-class disengagement and lack of after-class course support in large-enrollment classes trigger academic problems for students. This leads to poor exam performance and an increased rate of final letter grade of a D or F or student withdrawal (DFW), an indicator of students’ poor academic success. Changing teaching strategies by using interventions that incorporate student-student interaction and student-faculty interaction may offer the opportunity to improve course performance. In this retrospective study, we examined the effect of changing teaching strategies on student course performance of 5,553 students enrolled in an undergraduate health sciences course over a span of 20 semesters. Three different interventions namely 1) daily low-stake in-class quizzes, 2) team-based learning, and 3) after-class review sessions were incorporated as teaching strategies. To assess the combined effect of these strategies’ students’ performance in the intervention period (12 semesters) was compared with control period (8 semesters). Student performance in the course was measured by exam grades; overall score; percentage of students receiving letter grades and A, B, C; and DFW rates. The data indicated that in the intervention period, exam scores increased by 6.6%, overall course score increased by 6.2%, percentage of students receiving letter grade A/B increased by 21.3%, percentage of students receiving letter grade C decreased by 6.9%, and the DFW rates decreased by 14.5%. Overall, changing teaching strategies through incorporation of these interventions improved students’ performance in the course.
FRL: An Integrative Feature Selection Algorithm Based on the Fisher Score, Recursive Feature Elimination, and Logistic Regression to Identify Potential Genomic Biomarkers
Authors: Ge Chenyu , Luo Liqun , Zhang Jialin , Meng Xiangbing , Chen Yun
Published: June 2021

Accurate screening on cancer biomarkers contributes to health assessment, drug screening, and targeted therapy for precision medicine. The rapid development of high‐throughput sequencing technology has identified abundant genomic biomarkers, but most of them are limited to single‐cancer analysis. Based on the combination of Fisher score, Recursive feature elimination, and Logistic regression (FRL), this paper proposes an integrative feature selection algorithm named FRL to explore potential cancer genomic biomarkers on cancer subsets. Fisher score is initially used to calculate the weights of genes to rapidly reduce the dimension. Recursive feature elimination and Logistic regression are then jointly employed to extract the optimal subset. Compared to the current differential expression analysis tool GEO2R based on the Limma algorithm, FRL has greater classification precision than Limma. Compared with five traditional feature selection algorithms, FRL exhibits excellent performance on accuracy (ACC) and F1‐score and greatly improves computational efficiency. On high‐noise datasets such as esophageal cancer, the ACC of FRL is 30% superior to the average ACC achieved with other traditional algorithms. As biomarkers found in multiple studies are more reliable and reproducible, and reveal stronger association on potential clinical value than single analysis, through literature review and spatial analyses of gene functional enrichment and functional pathways, we conduct cluster analysis on 10 diverse cancers with high mortality and form a potential biomarker module comprising 19 genes. All genes in this module can serve as potential biomarkers to provide more information on the overall oncogenesis mechanism for the detection of diverse early cancers and assist in targeted anticancer therapies for further developments in precision medicine.
CALCB rs3829222 T/T Genotype and Low Expression of CALCB Are High-Risk Factors for Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of Salivary Gland
Authors: Dai Chaobin , Zhang Bin , Liao Yunyang , Liu Qicai , Wu Feiguang , Lv Xiaoting , Zeng Kai , Zhu Xiaofeng
Published: June 2021

Objectives. To investigate the relationship between polymorphisms of calcitonin-related peptide gene II (beta-calcitonin gene-related peptide (βCGRP), CALCB) and serum CGRP levels in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma. Materials and Methods. Using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, the full-length amplification and genotype analysis of CALCB genes were performed in 39 patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary gland and 158 normal controls. The gene frequencies of major genotype of CALCB in adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary gland and normal control group were analyzed. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to evaluate serum calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and its concentration of alpha and beta subtypes. Results. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that the CALCB rs2839222 T/T genotype was closely related to the occurrence of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma, with a correlation coefficient of 3.89. Conclusions. The serum CGRP concentration in the salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma group was 1.56 times that of the normal control group. The αCGRP subtype was significant, which was 3.02 times that of the normal control. The polymorphism of βCGRP gene is associated with genetic susceptibility to salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma, and serum CGRP and βCGRP can be used as novel markers of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma.
Speed Guidance and Trajectory Optimization of Traffic Flow in a Low-Visibility Zone of a Highway Segment within Multiple Signalized Intersections
Authors: Ding Heng , Cheng Yajie , Zheng Xiaoyan , Huang Wenjuan , Li Jiye , Yuan Hanyu
Published: June 2021

In a low-visibility environment, the speed of traffic flow is more discrete on highways, which easily causes traffic accidents. To improve the safety and efficiency level of low-visibility zones on highways, a comprehensive optimization control method is proposed. The method uses formations of a low-visibility zone to queue discrete vehicles from the upstream intersection. Then, according to the relationship between the arrival time of the fleet and the phase state of the intersection, speed guidance and trajectory optimization are carried out to improve the traffic efficiency of the fleet that enters the low-visibility zone. Finally, a low-visibility zone of a highway segment is analysed with different traffic flows for the main road and the secondary roads, and the results show that the proposed optimization control method can prevent trajectory overlap and effectively decrease traffic delays on highways.
Threshold-Enhanced PROMETHEE Group Decision Support under Uncertainties
Authors: Shih Hsu-Shih
Published: June 2021

As threshold determination is arduous when using PROMETHEE (Preference Ranking Organization METHod for Enrichment Evaluations) to make decisions, this study proposes a comprehensive PROMETHEE-based group decision support for covering the uncertainties of threshold determination, risk preferences, and the evaluation itself. To reduce the difficulty on threshold determination, it explicitly offers statistical aggregation of individuals’ indifference and preference thresholds so as to obtain benefits from multiple sources of knowledge and experience. Three typical combinations are characterized that reflect conservative, balanced, and aggressive group preferences. We also derive 6 properties to illustrate the effects of threshold changes on preference changes. Despite variances among the individual rankings of alternatives, the rank differences within the group decisions do converge by the illustrative example. A larger interval of a conservative group preference generates more diverse ranks versus the other two group preferences. Moreover, PROMETHEE III has a power on managing inaccurate measurement. The introduction of S-shaped functions has the benefit of fitting behavioral decision making under uncertainty. Integrating these approaches together for a decision support, our proposal is less affected by rank variance and coherent with traditional group PROMETHEE under differentiated decision power.
Angiotensin II Induces Differentiation of Human Neuroblastoma Cells by Increasing MAP2 and ROS Levels
Authors: Collazo Bryan Jael , Morales-Vázquez Dariana , Álvarez-Del Valle Jaylene , Sierra-Pagan Javier E. , Medina Juan Carlos , Méndez-Álvarez Jarold , Gerena Yamil
Published: June 2021

Introduction. The roles of angiotensin II (Ang II) in the brain are still under investigation. In this study, we investigated if Ang II influences differentiation of human neuroblastoma cells with simultaneous activation of NADPH oxidase and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, we investigated the Ang II receptor type involved during differentiation. Methods. Human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y; [Formula: see text] cells) were exposed to Ang II (600 nM) for 24 h. Differentiation was monitored by measuring MAP2 and NF-H levels. Cell size and ROS were analyzed by flow cytometry, and NADPH oxidase activation was assayed using apocynin (500  μM). Ang II receptors (ATR) activation was assayed using ATR blockers or Ang II metabolism inhibitors (10-7 M). Results. (1) Cell size decreased significantly in Ang II-treated cells; (2) MAP2 and ROS increased significantly in Ang II-treated cells with no changes in viability; (3) MAP2 and ROS decreased significantly in cells incubated with Ang II plus apocynin. (4) A significant decrease in MAP2 was observed in cells exposed to Ang II plus PD123.319 (AT2R blocker). Conclusion. Our findings suggest that Ang II influences differentiation of SH-SY5Y by increasing MAP2 through the AT2R. The increase in MAP2 and ROS were also mediated through NADPH oxidase with no cell death.
An Efficient and Secure Session Key Management Scheme in Wireless Sensor Network
Authors: Mehmood Gulzar , Khan Muhammad Sohail , Waheed Abdul , Zareei Mahdi , Fayaz Muhammad , Sadad Tariq , Kama Nazri , Azmi Azri
Published: June 2021

Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) is a particular network built from small sensor nodes. These sensor nodes have unique features. That is, it can sense and process data in WSN. WSN has tremendous applications in many fields. Despite the significance of WSN, this kind of network faced several issues. The biggest problems rising in WSN are energy consumption and security. Robust security development is needed to cope with WSN applications. For security purposes in WSN, cryptography techniques are very favorable. However, WSN has resource limitations, which is the main problem in applying any security scheme. Hence, if we are using the cryptography scheme in WSN, we must first guarantee that it must be energy‐efficient. Thus, we proposed a secure hybrid session key management scheme for WSN. In this scheme, the major steps of public key cryptography are minimized, and much of the operations are based on symmetric key cryptography. This strategy extensively reduces the energy consumption of WSN and ensures optimum security. The proposed scheme is implemented, and their analysis is performed using different parameters with benchmark schemes. We concluded that the proposed scheme is energy‐efficient and outperforms the available benchmark schemes. Furthermore, it provides an effective platform for secure key agreements and management in the WSN environment.
Correlation between C-Reactive Protein to Albumin Ratio and Disease Activity in Patients with Axial Spondyloarthritis
Authors: Zhong Zheng , Huang Yukai , Liu Yuqi , Chen Junming , Liu Meng , Huang Qidang , Zheng Shaoling , Guo Xin , Deng Weiming , Li Tianwang
Published: June 2021

Background. The C-reactive protein (CRP) to albumin (ALB) ratio (CAR) has emerged as a novel inflammatory biomarker. This study was designed to investigate the role of CAR in the disease activity of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Methods. A total of 241 patients and 61 healthy controls were retrospectively enrolled in this study. AxSpA patients were further divided into the inactive group (

n
=
176

) and active group (

n
=
65

) according to Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) cutoff value of 4. Laboratory data and clinical assessment indices were recorded. Spearman’s correlation analysis, receiver operation characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and binary logistic regression analysis were performed. Results. In axSpA patients, CAR was significantly higher than the healthy group (

P
<
0.001

). Similarly, axSpA patients in the active group had higher CAR than the inactive group (

P
<
0.001

). Besides, CAR was positively correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (

r
=
0.704

,

P
<
0.001

), CRP (

r
=
0.996

,

P
<
0.001

), BASDAI (

r
=
0.329

,

P
<
0.001

), and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) (

r
=
0.330

,

P
<
0.001

). ROC curve analysis suggested that the area under the curve (AUC) of CAR for axSpA of the active group was 0.701, which was higher than that of CRP and ESR. The optimal cutoff point of CAR for axSpA of the active group was 0.3644, with a sensitivity and specificity of 58.5% and 79.0%. Binary logistic analysis results revealed that CAR was an independent predictive factor for axSpA disease activity (

odds
 
ratio
=
4.673

, 95% CI: 1.423-15.348,

P
=
0.011

). Conclusions. CAR was increased in axSpA and axSpA of the active group. CAR may be a novel and reliable indicator for axSpA disease activity.
The Gingiva from the Tissue Surrounding the Bone to the Tissue Regenerating the Bone: A Systematic Review of the Osteogenic Capacity of Gingival Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Preclinical Studies
Authors: Al-Qadhi Gamilah , Aboushady Iman , Al-Sharabi Niyaz
Published: June 2021

The current review aims to systematically assess the osteogenic capacity of gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs) in preclinical studies. A comprehensive electronic search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, as well as a manual search of relevant references, was performed in June 2020 without date or language restrictions. Eligibility criteria were the following: studies that compared mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from the gingiva with other MSC sources (in vitro or in vivo) or cell-free scaffold (in vivo) and studies that reported at least one of the following outcomes: osteogenic potential and new bone formation for in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Moreover, the assessment of included studies was conducted using appropriate guidelines. From 646 initial retrieved studies, 35 full-text articles were subjected to further screening and 26 studies were selected (20 in vitro studies and 6 in vivo studies). GMSCs showed great proliferation capacity and expressed recognized mesenchymal stem cell markers, particularly CD90. In vitro, MSC sources including GMSCs were capable of undergoing osteogenic differentiation with less ability in GMSCs, while most in vivo studies confirmed the capacity of GMSCs to regenerate bony defects. Concerning the assessment of methodological quality, in vitro studies met the relevant guideline except in five areas: the sample size calculation, randomization, allocation concealment, implementation, and blinding, and in vivo publications had probably low risk of bias in most domains except in three areas: allocation concealment, attrition, and blinding items.
An Analytical Computational Algorithm for Solving a System of Multipantograph DDEs Using Laplace Variational Iteration Algorithm
Authors: Bahgat Mohamed S. M. , Sebaq A. M.
Published: June 2021

In this research, an approximation symbolic algorithm is suggested to obtain an approximate solution of multipantograph system of type delay differential equations (DDEs) using a combination of Laplace transform and variational iteration algorithm (VIA). The corresponding convergence results are acquired, and an efficient algorithm for choosing a feasible Lagrange multiplier is designed in the solving process. The application of the Laplace variational iteration algorithm (LVIA) for the problems is clarified. With graphics and tables, LVIA approximates to a high degree of accuracy with a few numbers of iterates. Also, computational results of the considered examples imply that LVIA is accurate, simple, and appropriate for solving a system of multipantograph delay differential equations (SMPDDEs).
Fracture Characteristics of Polyurethane Grouting Materials Based on Acoustic Emission Monitoring
Authors: Ren Baihui , Shen Jianjun , Liu Weitao , Hu Yingying , Cao Qing
Published: June 2021

In this study, 16 groups of tests were designed by the orthogonal test method, and a PU grouting material was prepared, which can be used for the construction of sealing wall in mined‐out area of coal mine. The basic properties of the material were measured. Firstly, the viscosity of four groups of samples with different polyether polyol contents was measured by a dynamic rheometer. Secondly, the uniaxial compressive strength of pure slurry samples and sand‐containing samples was measured by a universal testing machine. Finally, the failure process of sand‐containing samples was monitored by acoustic emission equipment. Through the above research and analysis, a PU grouting material with excellent performance has been obtained. That is, when the ratio of polyether triol:polyether tetraol:catalyst:surfactant:chain extender:plasticizer is 11 : 9 : 0.5 : 1.0 : 1.2 : 6.0, PU grouting material has higher injectability and ideal compressive strength, which has been proved in grouting experiments.
TaxiInt: Predicting the Taxi Flow at Urban Traffic Hotspots Using Graph Convolutional Networks and the Trajectory Data
Authors: Zhang Jinmao , Chen Huanchang , Fang Yiming
Published: June 2021

Taxi flow is an important part of the urban intelligent transportation system. The accurate prediction of taxi flow provides an attractive way to find the potential traffic hotspots in the city, which helps to avoid serious traffic congestions by taking effective measures in advance. The current prediction of taxi flow and its impact on urban transportation are closely related to the passenger origin-destination (OD) information. However, high-quality OD information is not always available. To address this problem, a prediction model, named as TaxiInt, is proposed in this study. Different from other density-clustering-based approaches, neural network, or OD information based models, TaxiInt predicted the taxi flow using the trajectory data of taxis. The spatial features and temporal features of each road were extracted using a graph convolutional network, which was trained with the road network information and the trajectory data. The experiments carried on a real taxi dataset showed the validity of our model. It can predict the taxi flow at a given urban intersection with high accuracy.
A Novel Frameshift Variant of the MITF Gene in a Chinese Family with Waardenburg Syndrome Type 2
Authors: Li Ying , Xu Yajuan , Li Genxia , Chen Kang , Yu Haiyang , Gao Jinshuang , Tian Weifang , Liu Yuehua , Liu Pingping , Zhang Linlin , Zhang Zhan
Published: June 2021

Waardenburg syndrome (WS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by varying combinations of sensorineural hearing loss and abnormal pigmentation involving the hair, skin and iris. WS is classified into 4 subtypes (WS1–WS4) based on additional symptoms. WS2 is characterized by the absence of additional symptoms and is mainly attributed to variants in the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) gene. We detected a novel frameshift variant c.1025_1032delGGAACAAG (NM_198159) of MITF in 5 patients with WS2 from the same Chinese family by using targeted next-generation sequencing and Sanger sequencing. Phenotypic and genotypic analyses of the family members suggested that this novel variants was pathogenic. Our finding expands the spectrum of MITF variants.