bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tracking the Uncertainty Propagation Process Between Hydrological Forecasting and Reservoir Real-Time Optimal Operation
Authors: Zhu Feilin , Zhong Ping-an , Xu Bin , Ma Yufei , Lu Qingwen , Wang Han
Published: May 2021

The inherent uncertainty in hydrological forecasting poses a challenge for reservoir real-time optimal operation. In this paper, a stochastic framework is proposed to track the uncertainty propagation process between hydrological forecasting and reservoir operation. The framework simulates the comprehensive uncertainty of hydrological forecasts in the form of ensemble forecasts and scenario trees. Based on the derived analytic relationship between the performance metric Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (NSE) and forecast uncertainty probability distribution, we use three methods (two are commonly used classical methods and one is the Gaussian copula method) simultaneously to generate inflow forecast ensembles. Compared with the two classical methods, the Gaussian copula method additionally takes into account the temporal correlation of reservoir inflows. Then, the neural gas method is employed to transform the generated ensembles into a scenario tree, which is further used as an input for reservoir stochastic optimization. To improve the adaptability to uncertainties in inflow forecasts, we establish a stochastic optimization model that optimizes the expectation of objective values over all scenarios. Meanwhile, we propose a parallel differential evolution (DE) algorithm based on parallel computing techniques for solving the stochastic optimization model efficiently. Risk assessment is performed to capture the uncertainty and corresponding risk associated with the reservoir optimal decision. The proposed framework is demonstrated in a flood control reservoir system in China. Furthermore, we conduct several numerical experiments to explore the effect of forecast uncertainty level and temporal correlation on reservoir real-time optimal operation. The results indicate that the temporal correlation of inflows must be considered in inflow stochastic simulation and reservoir stochastic optimization, otherwise the operational risk is likely to be overestimated or underestimated, thus leading to operation failures. Based on the risk simulation surface, reservoir operators can examine the robustness of operational decisions and thus make more reliable final decisions.
Emergent Helical Edge States in a Hybridized Three-Dimensional Topological Insulator
Authors: Chong Su Kong , Liu Lizhe , Watanabe Kenji , Taniguchi Takashi , Sparks Taylor , Liu Feng , Deshpande Vikram V.
Published: May 2021

As the thickness of a three-dimensional (3D) topological insulator (TI) becomes comparable to the penetration depth of surface states, quantum tunneling between surfaces turns their gapless Dirac electronic structure into a gapped spectrum. Whether the surface hybridization gap can host topological edge states is still an open question. Herein, we provide transport evidence of 2D topological states in the quantum tunneling regime of a bulk insulating 3D TI BiSbTeSe2. Different from its trivial insulating phase, this 2D topological state exhibits a finite longitudinal conductance at ~2e2/h when the Fermi level is aligned within the surface gap, indicating an emergent quantum spin Hall (QSH) state. The transition from the QSH to quantum Hall (QH) state in a transverse magnetic field further supports the existence of this distinguished 2D topological phase. In addition, we demonstrate a second route to realize the 2D topological state via surface gap-closing and topological phase transition mechanism mediated by a transverse electric field. The experimental realization of the 2D topological phase in a 3D TI enriches its phase diagram and marks an important step toward functional topological quantum devices.
miR-98-5p as a Novel Biomarker Suppress Liver Fibrosis by Targeting TGFβ Receptor 1
Authors: Ma Yanhua , yuan xiaoxue , Han Ming , Han Kai , Liang Pu , Liu Shunai , Cheng Jun , Xing Huichun
Published: May 2021

Hepatic fibrosis is the repair reaction of excessive deposition and abnormal distribution of extracellular matrix after various liver injuries, especially chronic HBV infection, which is a key step in the development of various chronic liver diseases to cirrhosis. Recent studies show that microRNAs (miRNA) can regulate a series of liver fibrosis-related gene express and play an important role in the development of liver fibrosis. To detect the miRNAs expression profiling and to screen the differentially expressed miRNAs in patients with HBV-related liver fibrosis, the whole blood was collected from the HBV-related liver fibrosis patients (F2/3, n=10) based on Scheuer’s staging criteria. In addition, healthy volunteers (n=8) served as the control group. The expression of plasma miRNAs was detected by IlluminaHiSeq sequencing. Cluster analysis and target genes prediction of differentially expressed miRNAs were carried out. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of differentially expressed miRNAs target genes were performed. Compared with the healthy control group 104 miRNAs were screened out from the liver fibrosis group, among which 72 miRNAs were up-regulated and 32 were down-regulated. Pathway annotations for the target genes of the miRNAs identified were found that it participated in many signal pathways including MAPK signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, Notch signaling pathway, phosphatidylinositol signal system and so on. According to the bioinformatic analysis，miR-98-5p were selected for function research among the differentially expressed miRNAs.MiR-98-5p prevents liver fibrosis by targeting TGFβR1 and blocking TGFβ1/Smad3 signaling pathway. In addition, serum miR-98-5p levels were measured from a total of 70 recruited patients with chronic HBV infection and 29 healthy individuals as controls. We found that serum miR-98-5p level was significantly lower in patients with live fibrosis than in healthy controls and HBV carriers (P<0.05). Those results suggest that miR-98-5p could be a potential therapeutic target for liver fibrosis .
Friction Stir Processing of Hybrid Al-Si Alloy Metal Matrix Composite
Authors: Sharma Vipin , Dewang Yogesh , Nagpal Pardeep Kumar , Kumar Suresh
Published: May 2021

Metal matrix composites are an important class of material that is developing rapidly to fulfil the diversified engineering requirements. The metal matrix composites are attractive owing to superior properties as compared to monolithic material. Their properties are dependent on various factors and fabrication techniques. The metal matrix composites are associated with several issues which hinder their full potential. In the present study friction stir processing is applied on the metal matrix composite as a post-processing operation. The friction stir processing offers many advantages owing to the solid-state nature of the processing. Stir cast metal matrix composites are prepared by using zircon sand particles of 50 µm in the matrix of LM13 aluminium alloy. The friction stir processing is applied on the metal matrix plates at a constant rotational speed and traverse speed of 1400 rpm and 63 mm/min, respectively. Multiple passes of friction stir processing are applied to elucidate the effect of the number of passes on microstructural modification. Microstructural examination showed a significant improvement in eutectic silicon morphology and distribution of zircon sand particles. A more than 5 times reduction as compared to the initial size was observed in the zircon sand particles after four passes of friction stir processing. The processed metal matrix composite also exhibits improvement in tensile strength and hardness.
Phenotypic Characterization of Hair and Honamli Goats by Using Classification Trees Algorithms and Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (Mars)
Authors: ALTAY Yasin
Published: May 2021

In order to meet the food demand of the increasing world population, it is very important to define the animal breeds and species raised in tropical and subtropical regions and to organize breeding programs for this. Discrimination animal breeds by morphological classification are a widely used method for a century. Although Honamli and Hair goats are very similar to each other morphologically, they can be subjectively distinguished by experienced breeders with some distinctive morphological markers. In the current study, certain body characteristics of Hair goats, which have a large portion of the population in Turkey, and Honamli goat, which has recently been registered as a new breed were used. Phenotypic characterization of these breeds has been made using data mining methods such as Classification and regression tree (CART), chi-square automatic interaction detector (CHAID), Exhaustive CHAID, Quick Unbiased, Efficient Statistical Tree, (QUEST), and multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) algorithms. In other words, the current study is the first data mining algorithms used for phenotypic characterization in Hair and Honamli goat breeds. Goats’ morphological characteristics such as live weight (LW), withers height (WH), back height (BH), rump height (RH), chest Depth (CD), body length (BL), chest girth (CG), leg girth (LG), head length (HL), fore head (FH), ear length (EL), and tail length (TL), used in diagnosis of discrimination on breeds, were used as a binary response variable in Honamli and Hair breeds. Here, the independent variables used in data mining algorithms are the morphological characteristics of goats. CHAID, Exhaustive CHAID, CART, QUEST, and MARS were used as data mining algorithms to make an accurate decision in detecting effective morphological traits in breed discrimination. The success of the CHAID, Exhaustive CHAID, CART, QUEST and MARS algorithms in breed discrimination is 87.80%, 85.80%, 87.80%, 77.00%, and 88.51%, respectively, while the area under the ROC curve is 0.880, 0.853, 0.868, 0.784 and 0.942, respectively. As a result, using data mining methods for some body measurements of Honamli and Hair goats, whose morphological distinction is not exactly accurate, phenotype characterization separation was performed with high success in MARS and CHAID algorithms compared with the other methods. The outputs of this study can be used for breeding material by enabling pure Honamli goat breeding. Also, data mining algorithms can be included in gene resource conservation programs.
All-Chalcogenide Ring Fiber Laser
Authors: Rezaei Mohsen , Rochette Martin
Published: May 2021

We demonstrate the first all-chalcogenide Brillouin fiber laser as well as the first all-chalcogenide ring cavity laser. The compact device comprises two engineered components: an As2Se3 optical fiber coupler combined to an As2S3 amplifying fiber. While the coupler simultaneously enables insertion of pump light, extraction of laser light, and the formation of a ring cavity, the amplifying fiber provides nonlinear gain to ensure laser oscillation. Thanks to the strong Brillouin gain of As2S3, only 3 m of amplifying fiber is required, thus making a resonant cavity with a free spectral range significantly larger than the Brillouin gain spectrum. The laser therefore naturally enables single longitudinal mode operation without additional filtering device. Acting as a coherence enhancing component, the resulting Brillouin laser benefits of a linewidth reduction factor of 7 with respect to the pump laser. Finally, this laser design is compatible with a broad range of wavelengths that spreads from 1.55 µm up to 8 µm, thanks to its all-chalcogenide structure.
Water Treadmill Training Ameliorates Neurite Outgrowth Inhibition Associated With NGR/RhoA/ROCK by Inhibiting Astrocyte Activation Following Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Ying Xinwang , Yu Xiaolan , Zhu Jintao , Li Xuqing , Zheng Yujun , Xie Qingfeng , Wu Qiaoyun , Li Shengcun , Yue Jingjing , Zhou Ye , Zhou Kecheng , Tu Wenzhan , Jiang Songhe
Published: May 2021

Background: Axons become scattered and incomplete after spinal cord injury (SCI). Cross-talk between astrocytes and neurons plays a pivotal role in neurite outgrowth following SCI. Rehabilitative training is a recognized method for the treatment of SCI, but the specific mechanism of its effect on axonal outgrowth in the central nervous system (CNS) has not been determined.Methods: A total of 160 adult male SD rats weighing 200–250 g were randomly divided into three groups, and an SCI animal model was established. Rats were subjected to water treadmill training (TT) for 7 or 14 d. The Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) motor function scale, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, Nissl staining, Western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to measure the degree of neurological deficit, tissue morphology, quantitative expression and accurate localization of the corresponding proteins.Results: We found that TT decreased tissue structure damage and improved functional recovery. TT promoted the regeneration of neurons and reduced apoptosis induced by SCI around the lesion. TT significantly increased the expression of GAP43 and NF200 after SCI. In addition, the injury-induced increase in the expression of proinflammatory factors was significantly inhibited by TT. TT reduced the activation of astrocytes and microglia, accompanied by reduced expression of C3d and higher increased of S100A10. Finally, the level of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) surrounding the lesion and activation of the NGR/RhoA/ROCK signalling pathway in neurons after SCI were effectively inhibited by TT.Conclusions: In this study, we found that TT played a novel role in recovery from SCI by promoting axonal outgrowth associated with the NGR/RhoA/ROCK by inhibiting astrocyte activation after SCI.
Sex Differences in Immune Gene Expression in the Brain of a Small Shorebird
Authors: Valdebenito José O. , Maher Kathryn H. , Zachar Gergely , Huang Qin , Zhang Zhengwang , Young Larry J. , Székely Tamás , Que Pinjia , Liu Yang , Urrutia Araxi O.
Published: May 2021

Background: Males and females often exhibit different behaviour, life histories and ecology, and sex differences are typically reflected in their brains. Neuronal protection and maintenance include complex processes led by the microglia that also interact with metabolites such as hormones or immune components. Despite increasing interest in sex-specific brain activation in laboratory animals, the crucial significance of immune function protecting in the brain of wildlife is widely lacking. Here, we study sex-specific expression of immune genes in the brain of a small shorebird, the Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), that is an emerging model of mating system evolution and speciation. We compare immune gene expression patterns between adult males and adult females in two wild breeding populations in contrasting habitats: a coastal sea-level population and a high-altitude inland population in China.Results: Our analysis yielded 379 genes associated with immune function. We show a significant male-biased immune gene upregulation, which is in line with ecological studies that showed higher survival in males than in females. Immune gene expression in the brain did not differ in upregulation between the coastal and inland populations.Conclusions: We discuss the role of dosage compensation in our findings and their evolutionary significance mediated by sex-specific survival and neuronal deterioration. Similar expression profiles in the coastal and inland populations suggest comparable pathogen pressures between the habitats. We call for further studies on gene expressions of males and females in wild population to understand the implications of immune function for life-histories and demography in natural systems.
Determining Chromosomal Arms 1p/19q Co-deletion Status in Low Graded Glioma by Cross Correlation-periodogram Pattern Analysis
Authors: Bhattacharya Debanjali , Sinha Neelam , Saini Jitender
Published: May 2021

Prediction of mutational status of different graded glioma is extremely crucial for its diagnosis and treatment planning. Currently FISH and the surgical biopsy techniques are the ‘gold standard’ in the field of diagnostics; the analyses of which helps to decide appropriate treatment regime. In this study we have proposed a novel approach that analyzed structural MRI image signature pattern for predicting 1p/19q co-deletion status non-invasively. A total of 159 patients with grade-II and grade-III glioma were included in the analysis. These patients earlier underwent biopsy; the report of which confirmed 57 cases with no 1p/19q co-deletion and 102 cases with 1p/19q co-deletion. Tumor tissue heterogeneity was investigated by variance of cross correlation (VoCC). The marked difference in pattern of VoCC between two classes was quantified using Lomb-Scargle (LS) periodogram. Energy and the cutoff frequency of LS power spectral density were derived and utilized as the features for classification. RUSBoost classifier was used that yield highest classification accuracy of 84% for G-II and 86.09% for G-III respectively in classifying 1p/19q co-deleted and 1p/19q non-deleted glioma. In clinical practice the proposed technique can be utilized as a pre-confirmatory test of glioma mutation, before wet-lab validation.
Asynchronous glutamate exocytosis is enhanced in low release probability synapses and is widely dispersed across the active zone.
Authors: Mendonca Philipe , Tagliatti Erica , Langley Helen , Kotzadimitriou Dimitrios , Zamora-Chimal Criseida , Timofeeva Yulia , Volynski Kirill
Published: May 2021

The balance between fast synchronous and delayed asynchronous release of neurotransmitters has a major role in defining computational properties of neuronal synapses and regulation of neuronal network activity. However, how it is tuned at the single synapse level remains poorly understood. Here, using the fluorescent glutamate sensor SF-iGluSnFR, we image quantal vesicular release in tens to hundreds of individual synaptic outputs from single pyramidal cells with 4 millisecond temporal and 75 nm spatial resolution. We find that the ratio between synchronous and asynchronous synaptic vesicle exocytosis varies extensively among synapses supplied by the same axon, and that and that synchronicity of release is reduced at low release probability synapses. We further demonstrate that asynchronous exocytosis sites are more widely distributed within the release area than synchronous sites. Together, our results reveal a universal relationship between the two major functional properties of synapses – the timing and the probability of neurotransmitter release.
Molecular Typing and Epidemiology Profiles of Human Metapneumovirus Infection Among Children With Severe Acute Respiratory Infection in Huzhou, China
Authors: ji lei , chen liping , xu deshun , wu xiaofang
Published: May 2021

Background: Severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) threaten human health and cause a large number of hospitalized patients every year. However, as one of the most common pathogen that cause acute respiratory tract infection, the molecular epidemiological information relating to hMPV among patients with SARI is limited. Here, we evaluate the epidemiological and molecular characteristics of hMPV infections among children hospitalized patients with SARI from January 2016 to December 2020 in Huzhou, China.Methods: From January 2016 to December 2020, a total of 1133 nasopharyngeal swabs collected from children inpatients with SARI were screened for hMPV by real-time PCR. All samples that tested positive for hMPV were further typed by sequencing partial sequences of hexon gene. Genotypes of hMPV were confirmed by phylogenetic analysis. Epidemiological data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2010 and service solutions (SPSS) 21.0 software.Results: 56 (4.94%) samples were positive for hMPV, children under 5 years old accounted for 85.71% (48/56) of the infections. Higher activity of hMPV infection could be seen in the period in Spring and Winter. 3 different types of hMPV were identified in hospitalized SARI cases, with hMPV-B1 (42.86 %) was the most prevalent types, followed by HAdV-B2 (35.71 %) and hMPV-A1(21.42 %). The predominant genotypes of hMPV during our study period varied according to surveillance year. Overall, 1 type (hMPV-B1) were detected in 2016, 2 different types(hMPV-B1 and HAdV-A1) were detected in 2017, 3 different types(hMPV-B1, hMPV-B2 and hMPV-A1) were detected in 2018, 2 different types(hMPV-B1 and hMPV-B2) were detected in 2019, 1 type (hMPV-B2) were detected in 2020.Conclusions: This study revealed the prevalence and the molecular epidemiological characteristics of hMPV infections among children hospitalized patients with SARI in Huzhou from January 2016 to December 2020. The hMPV prevalence is related to age and season. As the most prevalent hMPV types, hMPV-B1 was co-circulating with other types and presented an alternate prevalence pattern.
Investigations on the occurrence of fatty muscular dystrophy in Austrian slaughter pigs
Authors: Schwarz Lukas , Schöner Carolin , Brunthaler Rene , Weißenböck Herbert , Bernreiter-Hofer Tanja , Wallner Barbara , Ladinig Andrea
Published: May 2021

Background

In slaughterhouses, veterinarians responsible for meat inspection are often confronted with abnormalities in carcasses, not only in pigs but in all livestock species. Regularly occurring pathological abnormalities such as abscesses, milk spots or muscular necrosis in case of vitamin E/selenium deficiency usually are undoubtful and need no further investigations for a diagnosis. Contrarily, sometimes rare and unexpected observations are reported. In 2017, a veterinarian responsible for meat inspection in a slaughterhouse in Styria, Austria, observed gluteal muscles infiltrated by fat and muscle tissue obviously being replaced by fat in two different slaughter pigs. These muscles were sent for further diagnostics to the University Clinic for Swine. In 2013, Japanese researchers reported of a disease similar to Becker Muscular Dystrophy of humans in slaughter pigs, which can be assumed also in our case.
Results

The two muscle samples were investigated histopathologically and diagnosed with fatty muscular dystrophy. The results of routine histopathology were confirmed by dystrophin-specific immunohistochemistry. Sex of the two affected animals was determined retrospectively using a PCR-based protocol and resulted in one male and one female pig. A survey to determine the prevalence of fatty muscular dystrophy of pork revealed that this phenomenon gets frequently observed in Styria, but also occurs in Upper Austria and Lower Austria. Mostly gluteal and lumbal muscles were affected and approximately 20% – 40% of the affected muscles were replaced by fat.
Conclusions

Fatty muscular dystrophy or muscular steatosis, as it was sometimes called in early literature, seems not to be an uncommon and rare event. As it was detected in both sexes, our observations are different to the described case in Japan, where only one male individual was affected. To avoid further increase of such cases (fatty muscular dystrophy), it would be useful to clarify the cause. First, whether the cause is environmental or genetic, and in case it is genetic it would be key to disentangle the underlying genomic architecture. Having causal variants described – one could think about integrating this information (depending on the mode of inheritance and the number of loci involved) in the breeding program of pigs. Furthermore, the proportion of non-Austrian pig genetics used for commercial pig production in Austria should be reviewed in order to be able to make reliable statements about the spread of the disease not only in Austrian pig breeds, but also in pig breeds worldwide.
Ticks and tick-borne pathogens in popular recreational areas in Tallinn, Estonia: an underestimated risk of tick-borne diseases
Authors: Vikentjeva Maria , Bragina Olga , Geller Julia
Published: May 2021

BACKGROUND

For over several decades ticks are noticed to be widely present in the green spaces of urban environments. Rodents that provide essential blood-meals for subadult ticks and serve as natural reservoirs for many known tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis, might be quite abundant in green areas within urban settlements. In that way, the improvement of green infrastructures within cities possess not only to better human well-being but might also increase the risk of being bitten by a tick and having a tick-borne disease. This study aimed to provide a first insight into ticks and tick-borne pathogen presence and prevalence in popular recreational green areas in Tallinn, Estonia.
METHODS

Ticks were collected by flagging in May-June, 2018. Tick species identification was performed on morphological criteria. Tick-borne pathogens detection was performed by pathogen-specific PCR and qPCR reactions.
RESULTS

855 Ixodes ticks were collected from a total area of 12 000 m2. An estimated tick abundance were up to 18.5 ticks per 100 m2. 34.3% of all ticks were revealed positive for at least one tick-borne pathogen. Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. was found in 17.5%, Rickettsia sp in 13.8%, Neoehrlichia mikurensis on 5.4%, B. miyamotoi in 2.5%, Anaplasma phagocytophilum in 0.6% and tick-borne encephalitis virus in 0.5% of ticks.
CONCLUSION

This study reports the occurrence of Ixodes tick species in popular recreational, outdoor sports and leisure areas in the largest city of Estonia, with abundance and prevalence rates compatible or even exceeding those detected previously in the most endemic foci in the natural environments. Taking into account increasing Lyme borreliosis incidence, the risk of acquiring a tick bite and being infected with a tick-borne disease in urban recreational sites should not be ignored and proper information about the precautions might be considered.
Antitumour effect of neoantigen-reactive T cells induced by RNA mutanome vaccine in mouse lung cancer
Authors: Sun Jiaxing , Zhang Jing , Hu Haiyan , Qin Huan , Liao Ximing , Wang Feilong , Zhang Wei , Yin Qi , Su Xiaoping , He Yanan , Li Wenfeng , Wang Kun , Li Qiang
Published: May 2021

Purpose
Mutation-specific T-cell response to epithelial cancers and T-cell-based immunotherapy has been successfully used to treat several human solid cancers. We aimed to investigate the antitumour effect of neoantigen-reactive T(NRT) cells induced by RNA mutanome vaccine, which may serve as a feasible and effective therapeutic approach for lung cancer.
Methods
We predicted candidate neoantigens according to the mutant gene analysis by sequencing the mouse Lewis cells and C57BL/6 mouse tail tissue. RNA vaccine was prepared with the neoantigens as the template. We assessed antitumor efficacy, cytokine secretion and pathological changes after adoptive transfer of NRT cells in vitro and vivo experiments.
Results
We identified 10 nonsynonymous somatic mutations and successfully generated NRT cells. The percentage of T-cell activation proportion was increased from 0.072% in conventional T cells to 9.96% in NRT cells. Interferon-γ secretion augmented from 17.8–24.2% as well. As an in vivo model, adoptive NRT cell infusion could promote active T-cell infiltration into the tumour tissue and could delay tumour progression.
Conclusions
NRT cells induced by RNA mutanome vaccine exert a significant antitumour effect in mouse lung cancer, and adoptive NRT cell therapy might be considered a feasible, effective therapeutic approach for lung cancer.
An Amalgam of Mg-Doped TiO2 Nanoparticles Prepared by Sol-Gel Method for Effective Antimicrobial and Photocatalytic Activity
Authors: NITHYA N , Gopi S , Bhoopathi G
Published: May 2021

In this study, undoped and Magnesium doped TiO2 nanoparticles (Mg-TiO2 NPs) were successfully synthesized via a simple sol-gel method cost-effectively. The prepared Mg- TiO2 NPs were characterized by UV-Vis, FTIR, PL, XRD, FESEM, TEM, and EDAX. UV – Visible Spectroscopy showed that an increase in the optical bandgap concerning the concentration of dopant Mg increases. The bandgap values were found to be 3.57-3.54 eV. FTIR spectra showed that the presence of the characteristic stretching and bending vibrational band of Ti – O bonding at 468 cm-1 and shifts in vibrational bands were observed for Mg-TiO2 NPs. PL spectra of Mg- TiO2 NPs at different concentrations exhibit a strong UV emission band. X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of the tetragonal anatase phase. The average crystallite size of prepared samples was found to be 22-19 nm. The average crystallite size of Mg- TiO2 NPs decreases with increasing the concentration of dopant Mg. The FESEM and TEM analysis confirmed that the spherical morphology for both TiO2 and Mg-TiO2 NPs. SAED pattern confirms the crystalline nature of prepared samples. EDAX spectra confirm the presence of Ti, O, and Mg and confirm that Mg2+ ions are present in the TiO2 lattices. The prepared samples were investigated against gram-positive (B. subtilis and S. aureus) and gram-negative (P. eugenia and K. Pneumonia) bacteria. The prepared samples showed potent antibacterial activity against gram-negative bacteria than the gram-positive bacteria. The prepared samples show the excellent photocatalytic degradation for Methylene blue.
Age-dependent electroencephalogram characteristics during different levels of anesthetic depth
Authors: Li Feixiang , Lu Yunchun , Dang Yaoyao , Chen Huiming , Lv Huanhuan , Sun Jian
Published: May 2021

Objective

The monitoring of anesthetic depth based on electroencephalogram (EEG) derivation is not currently adjusted for age. Here we analyze the influence of age factors on EEG characteristics.
Methods

Frontal EEG recordings were obtained from 80 adults during routine clinical anesthesia. The characteristics of EEG with age and anesthesia were observed during four kinds of anesthesia.
Results

Relative slow wave power, relative delta power, absolute slow wave power, BIS value and approximate entropy were statistically different in the adjacent anesthesia states (P < 0.05). Under very deep anesthesia, the relative slow wave power increases linearly with age (R2 = 0.1802; P = 0.0001), the relative delta power decreased linearly with age (R2 = 0.3587; P < 0.0001), the BIS value increased linearly with age (R2 = 0.0986; P = 0.005), and the approximate entropy increases linearly with age (R2 = 0.0565; P = 0.036). The relative slow wave power did not change in an age-dependent manner.
Conclusions

When using relative delta power, absolute slow wave power, BIS value and approximate entropy to monitor the depth of anesthesia, the influence of age should be considered, However, when using relative slow wave power, age should not be considered.
Comparison of metabolic phenotypes and BMI as indicators of recurrent stroke in Chinese hospitalized stroke patients: a retrospective study
Authors: Huang Xiaolin , Zhou Jiaojiao , Zhang Hong , Gao Pei , Wang Long , Yang Yuting , Jiang Xiaohong , Chen Lu , Hua Fei
Published: May 2021

Background

Metabolic status and body mass index (BMI) are known as apparent risk factors of recurrent stroke, but which one is more likely related to recurrent stroke remains uncertain. This study aimed to compare the metabolic phenotypes and BMI as indicators of recurrent stroke in Chinese hospitalized stroke patients.
Methods

In this retrospective population-based study, 856 hospitalized stroke patients from the Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University were enrolled. Recurrent stroke was defined as newly-onset stroke patients with a history of previous stroke. Metabolic phenotypes were based on Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. BMI ≥ 25kg/m2 was defined as obesity.
Results

Among the hospitalized stroke patients, the prevalence of recurrent stroke was 21.9%. Metabolic phenotypes rather than BMI were significantly associated with recurrent stroke. Compared with metabolically healthy patients, metabolically unhealthy ones had 72% (odds ratio [OR] = 1.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01–2.68) increased recurrent stroke, regardless of BMI and other confounding factors. Whereas, no statistical association between BMI and recurrent stroke were found. Metabolic status improved risk prediction of recurrent stroke when adding to conventional risk factors (net reclassification index 17.6%, P = 0.0047; integrated discrimination improvement 0.7%, P = 0.014), while BMI did not.
Conclusions

Recurrent stroke was likely associated with poor metabolic status rather than with BMI, suggesting that controlling metabolic abnormalities could be an important method for recurrent stroke prevention.
Meta-Analysis of the Disease Spectrum of Hospitalized Crew-Members
Authors: Ye Zhouheng , Zhang Tianyi , Liu Jianchao , Meng Guo , Han Lei
Published: May 2021

Background: The disease spectrum of hospitalized crew-members could give good service to the support of health management. However, the disease spectrum of Chinese crew-members is still obscure. Methods: Four different database were searched with keywords. Papers were included and excluded using given rules. Data such as publishing year, investigation period, subject resources, total number of subjects, name of diagnosis, proportion of diseases were extracted for investigation. Then the investigation year(before 2010 or after 2011) was applied for sub-analysis in further research. Results: 24 results of disease spectrum of crew-members from numbers of hospitals were meta-analyzed. The first common disease was cervical and lumbar spine disorder which occupied 10% of diseases for hospitalization. And the other diseases followed it were hyperlipidemia(8%), cervical spine disease(7%), neurasthenia(6%), hypertension(6%), gastritis and duodenitis(6%), headache(6%), vegetative nerve functional disturbance(6%), upper respiratory infection(6%), fatty liver(5%), gastric and duodenal ulcers(4%), arrhythmia(4%), ground syncope(3%), urinary calculus(3%) and poor acceleration tolerance(2%), respectively. The spectrum of diseases was sub-analyzed by investigation year for further exploration. The proportion of cervical and lumbar spine disorder increased dramatically in the group of after 2011. Conclusion: Our work gave evidenced-based support for disease spectrum of crew-members, pointed research directions for treatment and prevention of crew-members’ common diseases, supported health strategy constitution of crew-members and guided well allocation of medical resources.
Beyond biopolitics: the importance of the later work of Foucault to understand care practices of healthcare workers caring for undocumented migrants
Authors: Lafaut Dirk
Published: May 2021

BackgroundUndocumented migrants experience multiple institutional and legal barriers when trying to access healthcare services. Due to such limitations, healthcare workers often experience ethical dilemmas when caring for undocumented migrants. This article aims to understand how individual healthcare workers who regularly take care of undocumented migrants deal with these dilemmas in practice. So far, the role of healthcare workers in this context has mainly been theorized through the lens of biopolitics, conceiving of healthcare workers as merely obedient instruments of humanitarian government or gatekeeping.MethodsBased on semi-structured, in-depth interviews and ethnographic observations with healthcare workers in Belgium, we explore how they ascribe meaning, reflect upon and give shape to care practices in relation to undocumented migrants. We use Foucault’s later work on care of the self to interpret the accounts given by the healthcare workers.ResultsHealthcare workers in clinical roles exercise a certain degree of freedom in relation to the existing limitations to healthcare access of undocumented migrants. They developed techniques such as purposefully being inattentive to the undocumented status of the migrants. They also try to master their affective responses and transform their bodily attitude towards undocumented patients. They perform practical mental exercises to remind themselves of their role or position in the wider healthcare system and about their commitment to treat all patients equally. These techniques and exercises are inspired by colleagues who function as role models, inspiring them to relate in an ethical way to limitations in healthcare access. The developed care practices sometimes reproduce, sometimes transform the legal and institutional limitations to care for undocumented migrants.ConclusionsThe findings nuance the biopolitical analysis regarding the role of healthcare workers in healthcare delivery to undocumented migrants that has been dominant so far. Theoretically this article provides a reconceptualization of healthcare ethics as care of the self, an ethical practice that is somewhat independent of the traditional professional ethics.Trial RegistrationMedical ethics committee UZ Jette, Brussels, Belgium – Registration date: 18/05/2016 – Registration number: B.U.N. 143201628279
Folate Supplementation during Oocyte Maturation Positively Impacts the Folate-Methionine Metabolism in Pre-Implantation Embryos
Authors: Saini Sikander , Sharma Vishal , Ansari Shama , Kumar Amit , Thakur Abhishek , Malik Hruda Nanda , Kumar Satish , Malakar Dhruba
Published: May 2021

Folic acid is vital for DNA synthesis and methylations through one-carbon (C1) metabolism. Thus, it is essential for cell division during embryonic development. The present study investigated the effect of folic acid supplementation on oocyte maturation, blastocyst development and the expression of folate transporters as well as folate metabolism enzymes in oocytes and pre-implantation embryos of goat. Immature goat oocytes, matured in maturation medium comprising different folic acid concentrations (0, 10, 50, 100 and 150 µM), were in vitro fertilized and cultured. Cumulus expansion markers (Ptx3 and Ptgs2) in cumulus cells were highly upregulated after 50 µM folic acid supplementation indicating higher degree of maturation. Supplementation of 50 µM folic acid during oocyte maturation resulted in significantly higher blastocyst production rate, reduction in intracellular ROS levels as well as upregulation of the transcripts for folate transporters and key folate-methionine cycle enzymes in comparison to control. The present study demonstrates the existence of active folate-methionine cycle in oocytes and pre-implantation goat embryos. Supplementation of 50 µM folic acid in maturation medium increases the blastocyst production rate, improves oocyte maturation, reduces ROS production as well as upregulate the expression of Folr1 and folate metabolism enzyme, Mtr.
Potts Clustering with Complete Shrinkage: a novel clustering methodology with its Software Package pottscompleteshrinkage in Python
Authors: ALAHASSA Nonvikan Karl-Augustt
Published: May 2021

We have modified the Potts Model Swendsen-Wang algorithm to insert some clusters constraints by applying a modified agglomerative clustering approach (Kurita, 1991). We have called the induced Potts Model, the Potts Clustering with Complete Shrinkage (PCCS), under the Python package pottscompleteshrinkage deployed on PyPi Index under its current release. In this approach, we deal with the increasing number of small clusters generated in a given partition by merging all small clusters of size ≤ h with their closest cluster in terms of minimal distance respectively, where h is an integer greater or equal to 2. The algorithm uses a technique in which distances of all pairs of observations are stored. Then the nearest cluster (with size ≥ h) is given by the cluster with the closest node in terms of minimal distance to the cluster to be merged using complete linkage. This approach is truly effective as it helps to control the clusters size, and we have found empirical evidence of Chi-Square and Gamma density curves for the constrained cluster size distribution of PCCS, when applied to some datasets taken from the multiple-output benchmark datasets available in the Mulan project website (Tsoumakas et al., 2020). We add a last framework based on Frequency of frequency distribution (FoF) to find the conditional bonds distribution given the clusters size constraints which results in an intractable distribution for large datasets, but its computation framework is a land of rich mathematical developments.
Immune infiltration of MMP14 in Pan-cancer and its prognostic effect on tumor
Authors: Li Minde , Li Shaoyang , Zhou Lin , Yang Le , Wu Xiao , Tang Bin , Xie Shenhao , Fang Linchun , Zheng Suyue , Hong Tao
Published: May 2021

Background: Matrix metallopeptidase 14(MMPL4) is a member of the matrix metalloproteinase family, which interacts with tissue metalloproteinase inhibitors (TIMPs), and is involved in normal physiological functions such as cell migration, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis and proliferation, as well as tumor genesis and progression. However, there has been a lack of relevant reports on the effect of MMP14 on pan-cancer. This study aims to explore the correlation between MMP14 and pan-cancer prognosis, immune infiltration, and the effects of pan-cancer gene mismatch repair (MMR), microsatellite instability (MSI), tumor mutation load (TMB), DNA methylation, and immune checkpoint genes.Methods: In this study, we used bioinformatics to analyze data from multiple databases, including TCGA, Oncomine and Kaplan-Meier Plotter. We investigated the relationship between the expression of MMP14 in tumors and tumor prognosis, the relationship between MMP14 expression and tumor cell immune infiltration, and the relationship between MMR gene mismatch repair (MMR), microsatellite instability (MSI), tumor mutation load (TMB), DNA methylation, and immune checkpoint genes.Results: MMP14 expression is highly associated with prognosis of a variety of cancers, tumor immunoinvasion, and has important effects on pan-oncologic mismatch repair (MMR), microsatellite instability (MSI), tumor mutation load (TMB), DNA methylation, and immune checkpoint genes. Conclusion: MMP14 is highly correlated with tumor prognosis and immunoinvasion, and affects the occurrence and progression of many tumors. All these fully indicate that MMP14 may be a biomarker for the prognosis, diagnosis and treatment of many tumors, and provide a new idea and direction for subsequent tumor immune research and treatment strategies.
Detection of SARS CoV-2 reinfections by rapid inexpensive techniques
Authors: Niranji Sherko Subhan , Al-Jaf Sirwan M.A.
Published: May 2021

Reinfections of SARS CoV-2 are rare in the world and it is difficult to be confirmed whether it is a reinfection or persistent infection. The most prominent factors used for differentiating the reinfections from persistent infections are whole genome sequencings and phylogenetic analyses that require times and funds, which may not be feasible in most developing countries. We previously developed rapid economical methods to identify both D614G and N501Y mutations in clinical samples using rRT PCR probes and endpoint PCR specific primers. Current study has found an immunocompetent patient with a SARS CoV-2 N501Y reinfection without comorbidities. The results suggested that the initial infection was due to a variant contained only D614G mutation while the reinfection was potentially as result of the UK variant contained three mutations confirmed by DNA sequences, including D614G, N501Y and A570D mutations. Seven cases of reinfections were also confirmed by these methods suggested that these techniques will support rapid detection of SARS CoV-2 reinfections in developing countries where sequencing tools are unavailable.
A photonic based microwave and RF integrator with a transversal filter
Authors: moss david
Published: May 2021

We demonstrate a photonic RF integrator based on an integrated soliton crystal micro-comb source. By multicasting and progressively delaying the input RF signal using a transversal structure, the input RF signal is integrated discretely. Up to 81 wavelengths are provided by the microcomb source, which enable a large integration time window of ~6.8 ns, together with a time resolution as fast as ~84 ps. We perform signal integration of a diverse range of input RF signals including Gaussian pulses with varying time widths, dual pulses with varying time intervals and a square waveform. The experimental results show good agreement with theory. These results verify our microcomb-based integrator as a competitive approach for RF signal integration with high performance and potentially lower cost and footprint.
Pediatric Tuina in children with autism spectrum disorder: A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Feng Xiang , Yu Jun , Li Wu , Li Tao , Jiang Quanrui , Zhang Yuxing , Wei Wei , Li Jiangshan
Published: May 2021

Background
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by repetitive stereotypical behaviour and communication disorders. Currently, it lacks a specific clinical treatment method. Pediatric Tuina is a recent therapy in traditional Chinese medicine; however, there have been studies on the treatment of children with ASD by Tuina. Nonetheless, it remains uncommon given the lack of large-scale evidence-based medical studies. This study aims to compare the efficacy of Tuina and conventional treatment in children with ASD.
Methods
Eligible children will be randomly divided into the pediatric Tuina plus conventional treatment group or conventional treatment group based on a random table at a ratio of 1:1. Effectiveness will be evaluated using a scale; moreover, the primary outcome will be the Childhood Autism Rating Scale. The secondary outcome will be the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist. All participants will be assessed on the scale by a third party not involved in the study. Baseline values of the participants will be determined at the registration time. Outcomes will be evaluated after the 30th treatment session. The follow-up period will last for 6 post-treatment months.
Discussion
This study will evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Tuina in ASD treatment, which could provide reliable evidence-based findings to improve clinical treatment.
Trial registration:
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (CHICTR), ChiCTR2000040452. Registered on 28 November 2020