bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patterns of Fungal Diversity in Needles, Rootlets and Soil of Endemic Pinus Peuce
Authors: Lazarević Jelena , Topalović Ana , Menkis Audrius
Published: July 2021

Pinus peuce Griseb is five-needle pine native in high-altitude montane habitats of the Balkans. The aim was to assess the diversity and composition of fungal communities associated with the soil, rootlets and living needles of P. peuce at three high-altitude forest sites with different edaphic conditions and stand characteristics in southeastern Montenegro. In total, 90 needle, 90 rootlet and 90 soil samples were sampled. DNA amplification using ITS2 rDNA as a marker and high-throughput sequencing resulted in 17,620 high-quality reads, representing 825 fungal taxa. There were 52.5% Basidiomycota, 43.9% Ascomycota and 3.6% Mucoromycotina. There were 118 unique fungal taxa in the rootlets, 230 in the soil and 113 in the needles, with 8 taxa were shared. The most common fungi in rootlets were Rhizopogon mohelensis (11.0%), Suillus sibiricus (8.4%), R. fallax (6.9%), in the soil – Phlebiopsis gigantea (5.1%), Tylospora asterophora (2.9%), Sollicocossima terricola (2.7%), and in the needles – Dothideomycetes sp. 3360_7 (17.6%), Dothideomycetes sp. 3360_10 (10.7%), Leotiomycetes sp. 3360_16 (6.5%). The results showed that the functional tissues and the rhizosphere soil of P. peuce were inhabited by a high diversity of fungi, which were largely specific to each particular substrate, while. the site conditions had only limited effect on associated fungal communities. Associated fungal communities were largely determined by the host tree species, substrate properties and functional capabilities of associated fungi.
Accuracy of Doppler Assessment of the Uterine Arteries in Healthy Girls for the Diagnosis of Pubertal Onset
Authors: Cheuiche Amanda , Silveira Letícia Guimarães da , Escott Gustavo Monteiro , Lucena Iara Regina Siqueira , Puñales Márcia , Costenaro Fabíola , Kopacek Cristiane , de Paula Leila Cristina Pedroso , Silveiro Sandra Pinho
Published: July 2021

Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy of the uterine artery pulsatility index (PI) for the diagnosis of pubertal onset in girls. Methods: Cross-sectional study of girls with normal pubertal development. Puberty was diagnosed by the presence of Tanner breast development score ≥2. All girls underwent pelvic ultrasound and Doppler imaging of the uterine arteries. We evaluated the uterine artery PI and uterine, endometrial, and ovarian measurements. We used ROC curves with cutoffs determined by Youden index for data analysis. Results: We included 169 girls aged 5-16 years who underwent 202 pelvic ultrasound examinations. Prepubertal girls had a significantly higher mean PI (mean, 6.70; SD, 2.15) than girls in initial puberty (mean, 4.14; SD, 1.55) and in late puberty (mean, 2.81; SD, 1.05) (P<0.001 for all comparisons), which reflects a progressive increase in blood flow to the uterus with the progression of puberty. ROC curve analysis showed that the PI was able to identify the onset of puberty with a mean area under the curve of 0.838 (SD, 0.04) (P<0.001), and the PI cutoff point of 5.05 had a sensitivity of 77%, specificity of 85%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 92%, and accuracy of 79%. The combination of PI <5.05 plus uterine volume >3.75 cm³ had a sensitivity of 73%, specificity of 95%, PPV of 97%, and accuracy of 79% to detect initial puberty. Conclusions: The significant reduction in the PI during pubertal development combined with increasing uterine volume can be a valuable, highly specific, noninvasive tool to confirm the onset of puberty.
Productive and Reproductive Aspects in Dairy Cows Raised with and Without Access to Pasture in Southern Brazil
Authors: Gonçalves Rodrigo Schallenberger , Guagnini Fábio de Souza , Storck Daniel , Brose Mariana de Matos , Contreras Laura Victoria Quishpe , Gonzalez Félix Hilário Diaz , Dalto André Gustavo Cabrera
Published: July 2021

Since productive performance in dairy cows is directly linked to the manner in which cows are raised, the breeding system can have a direct influence on the parameters of a farm. Unlike the main European and North American countries, in southern Brazil the use of confinement systems with access to pasture is widespread. Grazing cows are believed to be less stressed from the metabolic point of view. This study was conducted on nine commercial dairy farms located in the Serra Gaúcha, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, from September 2016 to November 2017. A total of 393 Holstein dairy cows were included immediately after birth. The dairy farms had an average of 45 lactating cows and were milked twice a day with an average milk production in 305 days of 9,500 kg / cow for the confinement system with access to pasture and 10,700 kg / cow for the confined system. The confinement system with access to pasture (CAP) was composed of five properties and was characterized by access to rotating pasture, while the confinement system without access to pasture (CNP) was composed of four properties. The study diagnosed uterine diseases, metabolic diseases and their correlations, and assessed the conception rate in the first service of the herds. Animals with access to pasture had generally lower production rates than animals reared in confinement, which suggests that the model with access to pasture used in the extreme south of the country can result in deleterious effects on animal production.
Open Quantum Dynamics Theory on the Basis of Periodical System-Bath Model for Discrete Wigner Function
Authors: Iwamoto Yuki , Tanimura Yoshitaka
Published: July 2021

Discretizing distribution function in a phase space for an efficient quantum dynamics simulation is non-trivial challenge, in particular for a case that a system is further coupled to environmental degrees of freedom. Such open quantum dynamics is described by a reduced equation of motion (REOM) most notably by a quantum Fokker-Planck equation (QFPE) for a Wigner distribution function (WDF). To develop a discretization scheme that is stable for numerical simulations from the REOM approach, we find that a two-dimensional (2D) periodically invariant system-bath (PISB) model with two heat baths is an ideal platform not only for a periodical system but also for a system confined by a potential. We then derive the numerically ''exact'' hierarchical equations of motion (HEOM) for a discrete WDF in terms of periodically invariant operators in both coordinate and momentum spaces. The obtained equations can treat non-Markovian heat-bath in a non-perturbative manner at finite temperatures regardless of the mesh size. The stability of the present scheme is demonstrated in a high-temperature Markovian case by numerically integrating the discrete QFPE with by a coarse mesh for a 2D free rotor and harmonic potential systems for an initial condition that involves singularity.
Exceptional hydrogen evolution in acid enabled by a multi-function-site complex oxide via atomic-scale hydrogen spillover
Authors: Dai Jie , Zhu Yinlong , Chen Yu , Wen Xue , Long Mingce , Wu Xinhao , Hu Zhiwei , Guan Daqin , Wang Xixi , Lin Qian , Sun Yifei , Weng Shih-Chang , Wang Huanting , Zhou Wei , Shao Zongping
Published: July 2021

Improving the catalytic efficiency of platinum (Pt) for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is crucial for water splitting technologies, and hydrogen spillover has emerged as a new frontier in designing the binary-component Pt/support HER electrocatalysts. However, such binary catalysts always suffer from long reaction pathway, undesirable interfacial barrier, and complicated synthesis processes. Here we report a single-phase complex oxide La2Sr2PtO7+δ as a high-performance HER electrocatalysts in acidic media via a unique atomic-scale hydrogen spillover effect between multifunctional catalytic sites. With insights from theoretical calculations, a possible synergistic mechanism involving the hydrogen spillover channel from OLa site→La-Pt bridge site→Pt site is proposed; namely, the OLa site enriches proton, the La-Pt bridge site with thermo-neutral H* adsorption facilitates the hydrogen spillover and H2 generation, and Pt site favors the final H2 desorption. Benefiting from such unusual phenomenon, the resulting La2Sr2PtO7+δ exhibits an exceptional HER electrode activity with low overpotential of 13 mV at 10 mA cm− 2 and small Tafel slope of 22 mV dec− 1, and significantly enhanced intrinsic activity and durability than commercial Pt black catalyst.
Interferon-α Auto-Antibodies in Convalescent Plasma Therapy for COVID-19
Authors: Raadsen Matthijs , Gharbharan Arvind , Jordans Carlijn.C.E. , Mykytyn Anna Z. , Lamers Mart M. , Doel Petra B. van den , Endeman Henrik , Akker Johannes P.C. van den , GeurtsvanKessel Corine H. , Koopmans Marion P.G. , Rokx Casper , Goeijenbier Marco , Gorp Eric C.M. van , Rijnders Bart J.A. , Haagmans Bart L.
Published: July 2021

Purpose: ﻿To study the effect of Interferon-α auto-antibodies (IFN-α Abs) on clinical and virological outcomes in critically ill COVID-19 patients and the risk of IFN-α Abs transfer during convalescent plasma treatment.Methods: Sera from cases of COVID-19 and other respiratory illness were tested for IFN-αAbs by ELISA and bioassay. IFN-α Abslevels were compared between critically, severely and moderately ill groups in both acute and convalescent stages. Longitudinal analyses were performed to determine whether IFN-α Abs levels change after convalescent plasma transfusion.Results: Critically ill COVID-19 caseshad significantly higher IFN-α Abs detection rate and levels compared tonon-COVID-19 controls.Neutralizing IFN-α Abs levels were found in 1 out of 118plasma donors.Plasma from 2 positive donors was administered to 5 patients, with no subsequent elevation of IFN-α Abs levels in the recipients. Neutralizing levels of IFN-α Abswere associated with delayed viral clearance from the respiratory tract.Conclusions: IFN-α Abs can be detected by ELISA in critical, severe, moderate and mild COVID-19 cases in both the acute and convalescent stages of disease. The presence of neutralizing IFN-α Abs in critically ill COVID-19 is associated with delayed viral clearance. Levels of IFN-α Abs inCOVID-19 convalescent plasma donorsare likely too low to be clinically relevant to the recipients.
Multi-criteria Optimization Scheduling of Surgical Units: a Case Study at AOU-Policlinico Umberto I
Authors: Croella Anna Livia , Tronci Edoardo Maria , Petitti Federico , Nastasi Alberto , Palagi Laura , Romano Ferdinando
Published: July 2021

Nowadays, Operating Rooms (ORs) scheduling and planning represent one of the most challenging aspects in healthcare systems management. In particular, one of the main concern is doubtless the under-use of the surgery rooms, that one can tackle by modelling different management decision aspects. The number of ORs available in the operating theatre and their daily opening time, the ideal OR Utilization Rate (UR) that the hospital aims to fulfil, the possibility to transfer patients between different surgical units (SUs) are just some of them. Taking into account these management and economic factors, we develop a multi-criteria integer linear optimization model for the advance scheduling of patients for the Azienda Ospedaliera - Universitaria Policlinico Umberto I of Rome, among the largest public hospitals in Europe for by total area occupied. The problem is formulated according to an open scheduling strategy that, for each surgical case placed on a waiting list, determines the date, time, and operating room resources needed. Extensive tests were carried out on real data collected during twelve weeks in two SUs, each of them consisting of two ORs. The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of different policies of opening times on the hospital Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of interest. The results show a relevant improvement of the ORs usage of the case study.
Blockchain-based BATMAN protocol using Mobile ad-hoc Network (MANET) with an Ensemble Algorithm
Authors: Singh Upendra , Sharma Sumit Kumar , Shukla Mukul , Jha Preeti
Published: July 2021

A MANET is a decentralized type of wireless network of mobile devices, it can also be defined as an autonomous system of nodes. All the nodes in the network are connected by wireless links and are mobile. They can come together and form a network without any support from any existing network infrastructure. MANET is a new field of study based on blockchain in a wireless ad-hoc environment. However, the main challenge for blockchain applications in ad-hoc networks is how to adapt to the extreme computational complexity of block validation while preserving the characteristics of blockchain and include nodes in the validation process. This article proposes a blockchain-based mobile network (MANET) with an ensemble algorithm. The proposed scheme provides a distributed environment for MANETS routing using a blockchain based on the Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT) protocol. Taking advantage of the better approach of mobile ad-hoc networking (BATMAN) to incorporate the concept of blockchain into the MANET as a representative protocol. The proposed method named Extended-BATMAN (E-BATMAN) incorporates the concept of blockchain into BATMAN protocol using MANET. As a secure, distributed and reliable platform, Blockchain solves most BFT security issues, with each node performing repeated security operations individually. The experimental analysis of the proposed ensemble algorithm is based on four parameters such as packet delivery rate, average end-to-end latency, network throughput, and energy. All of these parameters show better results with the proposed ensemble protocol than with existing state-of-the-art protocols.
Genetic Analysis of Gorlin Syndrome Using a Multiplex PCR Gene Panel, and Its Potential Clinical Utility for Liquid Biopsy
Authors: Nakamura Yuriko , Onodera Shoko , Hashimoto Kazuhiko , Takano Masayuki , Katakura Akira , Nomura Takeshi , Azuma Toshifumi
Published: July 2021

Background: Gorlin syndrome is an autosomal dominant, rare disease caused by mutations in PTCH1, PTCH2, and SUFU with various symptoms in multiple organs making early diagnosis challenging. In this study, we generated a Gorlin syndrome gene panel that could help to overcome the difficulties in diagnosing Gorlin syndrome using a single test. Results: This gene panel is time- and cost-efficient and highly reliable with a high-quality score of 30, on-target ratio, and coverage depth, and could detect more mutations than whole-exome sequencing of the same patient. Although the current in silico prediction tools have a limited genetic database of gene mutations in rare hereditary diseases, five prediction tools were used to identify pathological mutations. Pathogenic gene mutations were detected not only in PTCH1 but also in PTCH2 in five out of 12 patients with Gorlin syndrome diagnosed based on clinical symptoms. Conclusions: Using this gene panel, we showed the same gene mutation in the patients and their asymptomatic relatives; hence, it has enabled a highly reliable genetic diagnosis of Gorlin syndrome at a low cost requiring only blood sample.
Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants expand species tropism to rodents
Authors: Shuai Huiping , Chan Jasper , Yuen Terrence Tsz-Tai , Yoon Chaemin , Hu Jingchu , Wen Lei , Hu Bingjie , Yang Dong , Wang Yixin , Hou Yuxin , Huang Xiner , Chai Yue , Chan Chris , Poon Vincent , Zhang Rui-Qi , Chan Wan-Mui , Ip Jonathan Daniel , Chu Allen Wing Ho , Hu Ye-fan , Cai Jian-Piao , Chan Kwok-Hung , Zhou Jie , Srid Siddharth , Zhang Bao-Zhong , Yuan Shuofeng , Zhang Jinxia , Huang Jiandong , To Kelvin , Yuen Kwok-Yung , Chu Hin
Published: July 2021

Mice are not susceptible to wildtype SARS-CoV-2 infection. Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants including B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P.1, and P.3 contain mutations in spike, which have been suggested to associate with an increased recognition of mouse ACE2, raising the postulation that they may have evolved to expand species tropism to rodents. Here, we investigated the capacity of B.1.1.7 and other emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants in infecting mouse (Mus musculus) and rats (Rattus norvegicus) under in vitro and in vivo settings. Our results show that B.1.1.7 and P.3, but not B.1 or wildtype SARS-CoV-2, can utilize mouse and rat ACE2 for virus entry in vitro. High infectious virus titers, abundant viral antigen expression, and pathological changes are detected in the nasal turbinate and lung of B.1.1.7-inocluated mice and rats. Together, these results reveal that the current predominant circulating SARS-CoV-2 variant, B.1.1.7, has gained the capability to expand species tropism to rodents.
Hyperbolic graphene framework with optimum efficiency for conductive composites
Authors: Liu Xiaoting , Pang Kai , Liu Yingjun , Gao Chao , Xu Zhen
Published: July 2021

Constructing conductive filler networks with high efficiency is essential to fabricating functional polymer composites. Although two-dimensional (2D) sheets have prevailed in nanocomposites, their efficiency in enhancing conductive functions seems to reach the limit, as if merely addressing the dispersion homogeneity. Here, we exploit the unrecognized geometrical curvature of 2D sheets to break the efficiency limit of filler systems. The hyperbolic curvature meditates the incompatibility between 2D topology and 3D filler space and holds the efficient conductive path through face-to-face contact. The hyperbolic graphene framework exhibits the record efficiency in enhancing electrically and thermally conductive functions of nanocomposites. At volume loading of only 1.6%, the thermal and electrical conductivities reach 31.6 W/(mK) and 13,911 S/m, respectively. Nanocomposites with hyperbolic graphene framework exhibit great potentials in thermal management, sensing and electromagnetic shielding. Our work presents a geometrically optimal filler system to break the efficiency limit of multifunctional nanocomposites and broadens the structural design space of 2D sheets by curvature modulation to meet more applications.
A High-resolution Colloidal Quantum Dot Imager by Monolithic Integration
Authors: Liu Jing , Liu Peilin , Chen Dengyang , Shi Tailong , Qu Xixi , Chen Long , Wu Tong , Ke Jiangping , Xiong Kao , Li Mingyu , Song Haisheng , Wei Wei , Cao Junkai , Zhang Jianbing , Gao Liang , Tang Jiang
Published: July 2021

Near-infrared (NIR, 0.7–1.4 µm) imagers have wide applications in night surveillance, material sorting, machine vision and potentially automatic driving. However, limited by the high-temperature processing and requirement of single-crystalline substrate, so far flip-chip is the dominant way to connect infrared photodiodes and silicon-based readout integrated circuit (ROIC) to produce infrared imagers, suffering from complicated process and ultra-high cost and hence limiting their widespread applications in the market. Here we report the monolithic integration of colloidal quantum dots (CQD) photodiodes with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) ROIC, operating as a low-cost and high-performance imager. The CQD photodetector is well designed with a CMOS-compatible structure, demonstrating a response spectral range of 400–1300 nm, a detectivity of 2.1×1012 Jones at room temperature, a -3dB bandwidth of 140 kHz and a linear dynamic range over 100 dB. The CQD imager can identify materials, inspect apple scar and veins with a large size of 640×512 pixels and a spatial resolution of 40 lp/mm at a modulation transfer function of 50%. Monolithic integration significantly reduces the cost without sacrificing performance, thus providing huge potential for the ubiquitous deployment of infrared imagers.
Long-term follow-up of SARS-CoV-2 convalescents reveals
distinct magnitude of spike-specific immunity after viral re-exposure and vaccination
Authors: Knolle Percy , Körber Nina , Priller Alina , Yazici Sarah , Bauer Tanja , Cheng Cho-Chin , Mijocevic Hrvoje , Wintersteller Hannah , Jeske Samuel , Vogel Emanuel , Tinnefeld Kathrin , Gerhard Markus , Haller Bernhard , Christa Catharina , Zelger Otto , Roggendorf Hedwig , Halle Martin , Erber Johanna , Keppler Oliver , Zehn Dietmar , Protzer Ulrike , Lingor Paul
Published: July 2021

Infection with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is controlled by the host´s immune response1-4, but longitudinal follow-up studies of virus-specific immunity to evaluate protection from re-infection are lacking. Here, we report the results from a prospective study that started during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020, where we identified 91 convalescents from mild SARS-CoV-2 infection among 4554 health care workers. We followed the dynamics and magnitude of spike-specific immunity in convalescents during the spontaneous course over ≥ 9 months, after SARS-CoV-2 re-exposure and after BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination. Virus-neutralizing antibodies and spike-specific T cell responses with predominance of IL-2-secreting polyfunctional CD4 T cells continuously declined over 9 months, but remained detectable at low levels. After a single vaccination, convalescents simultaneously mounted strong antibody and T cell responses against the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins. In naïve individuals, a prime vaccination induced preferentially IL-2-secreting CD4 T cells that preceded production of spike-specific virus-neutralizing antibodies after boost vaccination. Response to vaccination, however, was not homogenous. Compared to four individuals among 455 naïve vaccinees (0.9%), we identified 5/82 (6.1%) convalescents with a delayed response to vaccination. These convalescents had originally developed dysfunctional spike-specific immune responses after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and required prime and boost vaccination to develop strong spike-specific immunity. Importantly, during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in fall/winter of 2021 and prior to vaccination we detected a surge of virus-neutralizing antibodies consistent with re-exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in 6 out of 82 convalescents. The selective increase in virus-neutralizing antibodies occurred without systemic re-activation of spike-specific T cell immunity, whereas a single BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination sufficed to induce strong spike-specific antibody and systemic T cell responses in the same individuals. These results support the notion that BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination synchronizes spike-specific immunity in all convalescents of mild SARS-CoV-2 infection and may provide additional protection from re-infection by inducing more rigorous stimulation of spike-specific T cell immunity than re-exposure with SARS-CoV-2.
Tertiary lymphoid structures critical for prognosis in endometrial cancer patients - a TransPORTEC study
Authors: Horeweg Nanda , Workel Hagma , Loiero Dominik , Church David , Vermij Lisa , Léon-Castillo Alicia , Krog Ricki , de Boer Stephanie , Nout Remi , Powel Melanie , Mileshkin Linda , MacKay Helen , Leary Alexandra , Singh Naveena , Jürgenliemk-Schulz Ina , Creutzberg Carien , Koelzer Viktor , Nijman Hans , Bosse Tjalling , Bruyn Marco
Published: July 2021

B-cells play a key role in cancer suppression, particularly when aggregated in tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS). Here, we investigated the role of B-cells and TLS in endometrial cancer (EC). Single cell RNA-sequencing of B-cells showed presence of activated/memory B-cells, cycling/germinal center B-cells and antibody-secreting cells. Differential gene expression analysis showed association of TLS with L1CAM overexpression. Immunohistochemistry and co-immunofluorescence showed L1CAM expression in mature TLS localized in the myometrial wall or at the tumor invasive border, independent of L1CAM expression the tumor. Using L1CAM as a marker, 378 of the 411 molecularly classified ECs from the PORTEC-3 biobank were evaluated. TLS were found in 19%, predominantly in mismatch-repair deficient and polymerase-epsilon mutant EC. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed strong favorable prognostic impact of TLS, independent of clinicopathological and molecular factors. Our data suggests a pivotal role of TLS in outcome of EC patients, and establishes L1CAM as a simple biomarker.Statement of significance Tertiary lymphoid structures have a pivotal role in the immune response against endometrial cancer. Presence of mature tertiary lymphoid structures can be easily assessed using L1CAM immunohistochemistry and has independent favorable predictive value for recurrence and endometrial cancer-specific survival.
Attenuation of Osteoarthritis Progression via a Combination of Intra-articular Injection of Synovial Membrane-derived MSCs (SMMSCs), Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and Conditioned Medium (Secretome)
Authors: Nabavizadeh Sara Sadat , Talaei-Khozani Tahereh , Zarei Moein , Zare Shahrokh , Hosseinabadi Omid Koohi , Tanideh Nader , Daneshi Sajad
Published: July 2021

Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) as a progressive destructive disease of articular cartilage is the most common joint disease characterized by reduction of joint cartilage thickness, demolition of cartilage surface and new bone formation. To overcome these problems, the purpose of the current research was to evaluate and compare the in vivo effects of Synovial membrane-derived MSCs (SMMSCs), platelet rich plasma (PRP) and conditioned medium (secretome) on collagenase II-induced rat knee osteoarthritis (KOA) remedy. Methods: For the first step, SMMSCs were isolated and characterized. Also, secretome was collected from SMMSCs culture. Furthermore, PRP was collect from the rat heart venous blood. Second, two injection of collagenase II with an interval of 3 days was performed in the knee intra- articular space to induce osteoarthritis. Two weeks later, animals were randomly divided into 6 groups. Control group without treatment, positive group: taken an intra-articular Hyalgan injection (0.1 cc), treatment groups taken an intra-articular injection of; treatment 1: SMMSCs (5 × 106), treatment 2: SMMSCs (5 × 106) + secretome (50 µl), treatment 3: SMMSCs (5 × 106) + PRP (50 µl), and treatment 4: SMMSCs (5 × 106) + secretome (50 µl) + PRP (50 µl). Three months later, rats were sacrificed and the following assessments were executed: radiography, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry. Results: Our findings represented that a combination of the SMMSCs with PRP and secretome had a considerable effect on GAGs and collagen II contents, articular cartilage preservation, compared with other groups. In addition, combination of the SMMSCs with PRP and secretome showed the lowest expression of mmp3, while SOX9 had the highest expression in comparision with other groups. Also, SMMSCs -injected groups demonstrated better results compared with positive and control groups. Conclusions: Injection a combination of the SMMSCs with PRP and secretome resulted in better efficacy in terms of joint space width, articular cartilage surface continuity and integrity, sub chondral bone and ECM constituents such as collagen II. Indeed, transplantation of this combination could be considered as a promising therapy for patients with KOA.
On the Classification of Modulation Schemes using Higher Order Statistics and Support Vector Machines
Authors: C Remziye Büsra , Yalcinkaya Bengisu , Benzaghta Mohamed , Kara Ali
Published: July 2021

The recognition of modulation schemes in military and civilian applications is a major task for intelligent receiving systems. Having no previous knowledge of the transmitted signal as well as uncertainties in the channel and the receiver makes the identification of the modulation scheme a difficult task. Various Automatic Modulation Classification (AMC) algorithms have been developed to overcome this challenging task. However, classification with low computational complexity as well as reasonable processing time is still a challenge, especially, for modulation types with similar constellations under realistic channel conditions. In this paper, a feature-based approach along with various classifiers is employed based on statistical features as well as higher-order moments and cumulants. First, some well-known classifiers including Decision Trees (DT), Support Vector Machines (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) and ensemble are evaluated at different SNR values. Then, various forms of SVMs have been utilized. An over-the-air (OTA) recorded dataset consisting of four analog and ten digital modulation schemes are used for testing the proposed method. The classification performance is compared against SNR (0-20 dB). The overall accuracy for quadratic SVM is found to be as high as 98% at 10 dB. This has been comparable with the reported performance based on simulated dataset. Overall, the comparison of the results with those published in the literature indicates that this is the first paper presenting such a high accuracy with OTA dataset consisting of fourteen modulation schemes.
Microbial Structure and Diversity in Rhizosphere Soil under Different Forest Types in the Subtropical Zone of China
Authors: Zhou Liuting , Li Jianjuan , Zhang Chen , Guo Xinlai , Chu Wei , Zhao Yanlin , Wu Chengzhen , Lin Wenxiong , Wu Zeyan
Published: July 2021

The aim of this study was to explore the soil microbial variability within different forest ecosystems (evergreen broad-leaf forest (EBF), coniferous forest (CF), subalpine dwarf forest (SDF) and alpine meadow (AM) at different altitudes in mid-subtropics of China. The phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) method was used to analyze the microbial communities in rhizosphere soil under different forest types. The relationships were also analyzed between the microbial diversity and soil nutrients. A total of 27 PLFA biomarkers were detected and the PLFA concentrations decreased in the sequence of bacteria > fungus > actinomycete > protozoa in all forest types. The microbial communities in the soil under all forest types were distinct. The predominant microflora in all soils were 18:1ω9c, 16:1ω7c, cy19:0, a17:0 and 18:0. The indexes of Simpson, Shannon-Wiener and Brillouin of soil microbial community diversity in these four forest types all showed a trend of EBF > CF > SDF > AM. According to principal component analyses (PCA), the variable variances of principal components 1 and 2, which were related to the PLFA biomarkers of soil microorganisms, were 67.67% and 17.91%, respectively. Furthermore, the total PLFAs of different soil microbial groups showed a correlation with soil nutrients and enzyme activities in all forest types. The soil microbial diversity gradually decreased in the order of EBF > CF > SDF > AM in the Daiyun Mountains. Different vegetation types affect soil microbial community composition and diversity by changing the soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activity.
Overview of Nurse Anxiety Screening Dealing with the Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Tohri Tonika , Yuliani Risna , Ramadhan Muhammad Deri
Published: July 2021

BackgroundThe increasing number of Covid-19 patients every day has caused anxiety in all circles of society, including nurses. Even though these prevention efforts have been carried out strictly, the potential for exposure to this virus is still quite high, even causing clusters in several buildings at Hasan Sadikin Hospital (RSHS) Indonesia. DestinationKnowing An overview of nurses' anxiety screening in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic and an overview nurse characteristics at RSHS by gender, age, education level. MethodologyThe research design is descriptive. The number of research samples is 301 people. The sampling technique is Probability Sampling: Cluster Random Sampling. The research time is March 2021 using the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS). ResultOf the total respondents 301 people there are 14 (4.65) people experiencing dysfunctional anxiety, women i.e. 13 (4.32) people, aged 26 - < 46 years old that is 9 (2.99) people and D3 is 8 (2.66) people. ConclusionThe picture of nurses' anxiety at RSHS is very low because the pandemic has been running for 1 (one) year, the researcher recommends doing research by comparing the anxiety of nurses at the beginning of the pandemic with the current pandemic.
Anlotinib induces tumor blood vessel normalization to strengthen the anticancer effect of radiotherapy on esophageal cancer by inhibiting EphA2
Authors: Zhu Weiguo , Huang Jing , Gu Zhenlin , Huang Jiasheng , Xu Yingying , Wang Wanwei
Published: July 2021

Background

Anlotinib has anti-tumor activity in diverse solid tumors. Given that, our study was designed to unearth the mechanism of Anlotinib in radioresistant esophageal cancer (EC) cells by modulating Ephrin type-A receptor 2 (EphA2).
Methods

EC cells (TE-1 and KYSE-150) were induced to radioresistant EC cells (TE-1R and KYSE-150R). EphA2 expression in TE-1R and KYSE-150R cells was measured. Then, TE-1R and KYSE-150R cells were treated with Anlotinib and/or transfected with the plasmids that altered EphA2 expression. Otherwise, TE-1R and KYSE-150R cells were transfected with si-EphA2 or OE-EphA2 plasmids independently. In vitro experiments were conducted to monitor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, migration and invasion. In vivo experiment was also implemented to observe tumor growth.
Results

EphA2 expression was raised in TE-1R and KYSE-150R cells. Anlotinib inhibited proliferation, angiogenesis, migration and invasion of TE-1R and KYSE-150R cells in vitro, as well as tumor growth and MVD in vivo. Inhibiting EphA2 enhanced Anlotinib-mediated effects on TE-1R and KYSE-150R cells. Down-regulating EphA2 restrained proliferation, angiogenesis, migration and invasion of TE-1R and KYSE-150R cells.
Conclusion

It is concluded that Anlotinib suppresses EC development under radiotherapy by inhibiting EphA2, providing another perspective to overcome radioresistance in EC.
Single-Atom Tungsten Doped Nis0.5Se0.5 Nanosheets@Nanorods Heterostructures Catalyze Water Splitting Highly Active and Durable
Authors: Wang Yang , Li Xiaopeng , Zhang Mengmeng , Zhang Jinfeng , Chen Zelin , Zheng Xuerong , Zhao Naiqin , Tian Zhangliu , Han Xiaopeng , Zaghib Karim , Wang Yuesheng , Deng Yida , Hu wenbin
Published: July 2021

Developing robust nonprecious electrocatalysts towards hydrogen/oxygen evolution reaction (HER/OER) is crucial for the spread of hydrogen energy industrialization. Here, we prepared a highly active and durable electrocatalyst of W single-atoms doped NiS0.5Se0.5 nanosheets@NiS0.5Se0.5 nanorods heterostructure (W-NiS0.5Se0.5). The W-NiS0.5Se0.5 exhibits superior catalytic activity for HER and OER with an ultralow overpotential (39, 106 mV for HER and 171, 239 mV for OER) and excellent long-term durability (500 h) at 10 and 100 mA cm− 2, outperforming commercial precious-metal catalysts and many other reported transition-metal-based compounds. The spin state of Ni was delocalized by introducing low spin-state of W single-atom, thus increasing the electron density of Ni 2p orbital, optimizing the adsorption/desorption process of H, significantly reducing the energy barrier of the rate-determining step (O* → OOH*), finally accelerating thermodynamics and kinetics of HER/OER. This work provides a rational feasible strategy to design single-atom catalysts for water splitting and develop advanced transition metal-based electrocatalysts via regulating delocalized spin states.
Synchronous Organ Failure and Infected Pancreatic Necrosis Define Genuine Critical Acute Pancreatitis
Authors: Shen Dingcheng , Wei Qin , Huang Haosu , Ning Caihong , Li Jiarong , Chen Lu , Zhu Shuai , Huang Gengwen
Published: July 2021

Background: The determinant-based classification (DBC) of acute pancreatitis (AP) was proposed in 2012. One of the highlights of the DBC was critical acute pancreatitis (CAP), which was supposed to be strongly associated with the highest risk of adverse outcomes. However, the definition of CAP needs to be further clarified.Methods: A prospective cohort with consecutive patients of infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) at a tertiary hospital was analyzed. Patients were assigned to IPN alone, Metachronous-CAP (MCAP) and Synchronous-CAP group (SCAP) according to presence or absence of organ failure (OF) and the crosstalk between OF and IPN. Clinical interventions and outcomes were compared among groups.Results: A total of 248 IPN patients were enrolled and the overall mortality was 25.8%. Compared with MCAP, patients with SCAP were associated with higher mortality (45/68, 66.2% vs. 5/50, 10.0%; OR= 17.6,95% CI, 6.2-50.4; P < 0.001) and morbidity (28/68, 41.2% vs. 9/50, 18.0%; P = 0.013), longer duration of OF (median 35.5 days vs. 12.0 days, P < 0.001), longer ICU length of stay (LOS) (median 28.0 days vs. 16.0 days, P = 0.001), longer hospital LOS (median 67.0 days vs. 60.0 days, P < 0.001) as well as earlier requirement for surgical interventions. The IPN alone and MCAP had comparable mortality (10.8% vs. 10.0%, P = 0.88), morbidity and hospital LOS, except that MCAP patients were characterized with longer duration of OF and ICU LOS (P< 0.05).Conclusions: SCAP, characterized with synchronous persistent OF and IPN, was associated with higher mortality and morbidity and should be defined as genuine CAP.
WITHDRAWN: Reliability Framework for Characterizing Heat Wave and Cold Spell Events
Authors: Moghim Sanaz , Jahangir Mohammad Sina
Published: July 2021

Extreme weather events such as heat waves and cold spells affect people’s lives. This study uses a probabilistic framework to evaluate heat waves and cold spells in different regions (Tehran in Iran and Vancouver in Canada). Average daily temperatures of meteorological stations of the two cities from 1995 to 2016 are used to identify four main indicators including intensity, average intensity, duration, and the rate of the occurrence. In addition, average intensities of the events are obtained from the MODIS Land Surface Temperature (LST) in each pixel of the two cities. To include possible uncertainties, the predictive probability distributions of the intensity and duration are derived using a Bayesian scheme and Monte-Carlo Markov Chain (MCMC) method. The probability distributions of the indicators show that the most extreme temperature (lowest temperature) occurs during the cold spell. Results indicate that although Tehran is more probable to experience heat waves than Vancouver, both cities are more likely to be affected by the cold spell than the heat wave. The developed approach can be used to characterize other extreme weather events in any location.
Recognition of Inter-Class Variation of Human Actions in Sports Video
Authors: Akila.K
Published: July 2021

Background: Human action recognition encompasses a scope for an automatic analysis of current events from video and has varied applications in multi-various fields. Recognizing and understanding of human actions from videos still remains a difficult downside as a result of the massive variations in human look, posture and body size inside identical category.Objective: This paper focuses on a specific issue related to inter-class variation in Human Action Recognition.Approach: To discriminate the human actions among the category, a novel approach which is based on wavelet packet transformation for feature extraction. As we are concentrating on classifying similar actions non-linearity among the features are analyzed and discriminated by Deterministic Normalized - Linear Discriminant Analysis (DN-LDA). However the major part of the recognition system relays on classification part and the dynamic feeds are classified by Hidden Markov Model at the final stage based on rule set..Conclusion: Experiments results have shown that the proposed approach is discriminative for similar human action recognition and well adapted to the inter-class variation
The Effect of Guilu Erxian Jiao on Osteoporosis Patients: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Lai Yuan-Xin , Tseng Chu-Yao , Yang Huang-Yu , Yang Sien-Hung , Yang Tsung-Hsien
Published: July 2021

Background: This retrospective study aimed to evaluate whether the Chinese herbal medicine formula Guilu Erxian Jiao can improve T-score in osteoporosis patients diagnosed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and even decrease fracture rate.Method: Osteoporosis participants were collected through the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (CGMH) database from 2000 to 2019. Intervention was taking Guilu Erxian Jiao pills. We analyzed the change of T-score and the following cumulative incidence of fracture. The Student’s T-test, Cox’s proportional hazard model, Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were conducted using SAS software.Results: There was no significant difference about the baseline between the Guilu Erxian Jiao group and non-Guilu Erxian Jiao group. Guilu Erxian Jiao can improve the osteoporosis of the vertebrate of lumbar. However, there is no significant diffidence about the vertebrate of lumbar and femoral neck between the Guilu Erxian Jiao group and non-Guilu Erxian Jiao group. The cumulative rate of fracture between these two groups is no significant difference. However, if patients took the total dose of Guilu Erxian Jiao over 600 pill*days, the fracture rate would decrease.Conclusion: Usage of Guilu Erxian Jiao would improve the osteoporosis of vertebrate of lumbar, but does not improve the cumulative incidence of fracture, unless they took the total dose of Guilu Erxian Jiao over 600 pill*days.
Anemia Can Predict the Prognosis of Colorectal Cancer in the Pre-Operative Stage: A Retrospective Analysis.
Authors: Gvirtzman Rotem , Livovsky Dan Meir , Tahover Esther , Goldin Eran , Koslowsky Benjamin
Published: July 2021

Introduction: Early detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) improves prognosis, yet many CRCs are diagnosed following symptoms. The aim of this study was to determine which CRC-related symptoms or signs can predict an advanced CRC in the pre-operative stage.Methods: Retrospective analysis of 300 patients who underwent surgery for CRC between the years 2008-2019. Patients' symptoms prior to CRC diagnosis were documented. Primary endpoint was the association of signs or/and symptoms with CRC diagnosis at TNM stages of 2-4 (i.e. highly advanced), compared to TNM score of 0-1 (i.e. locally advanced).Results: 300 patients, 91 with locally advanced and 209 with highly advanced CRC, were enrolled. There was a significant correlation between highly advanced CRC, compared to locally advanced, regarding tumor size (4.8 vs. 2.6 cm, p<0.001), presentation of any symptom prior to diagnosis (77% vs. 54%, p<0.001), anemia (46% vs. 29%, p=0.004), and severe anemia (17% vs. 4%, p=0.002). Mean Hemoglobin was 12.2 ± 2.2 and 13.1 ± 1.8 in the highly advanced compared to locally advanced CRC, respectively, p<0.001. Anemia correlated with the T stage of the tumor: 21% of patients diagnosed at stages 0-1 had anemia, 39% at stage 2, 44% at stage 3 and 66% at stage 4 (p=0.001).Conclusions: Anemia is the only finding that correlates with highly advanced CRC, in the pre- operative stage. Physicians should be aware that when anemia is present, the risk for highly advanced CRC increases, and therefore insist to pursue with CRC detection.
Theoretical Analysis of the Variation of Hydraulic Pressure in Cracks Under Uniaxial Compression of Water-saturated Rock Pillar
Authors: YANG Mengze , HUANG Houxu , YANG Yu
Published: July 2021

In order to analyse the variation of hydraulic pressure in cracks of water-saturated rock pillar under uniaxial compression,taking the water-saturated rock pillar as the research object,in which the cracks are divided into two types: longitudinal crack and inclined crack, and the elastic-brittle plastic model is used to describe the mechanical behavior of rock. Assuming that the long axial direction of the crack is consistent with the axial direction of the rock pillar, the expression of tensile stress in the direction perpendicular to the long axial direction of the crack under axial compression is derived by using Maxwell model and Inglis formula. Simplifying the crack to flat elliptic, clinical hydraulic pressure in the case of tensile shear failure and compressive shear damage of the cracks are deduced, and the distribution of clinical hydraulic pressure in uniaxial compression cracks with different growth pattern is analysed. The results show that with the propagation of cracks, the clinical hydraulic pressure near the tip is approach to zero, and in case of hydraulic fracturing, the extension should exhibit the characteristic of discontinuity.
Exosomal microRNA-let-7b-5p Derived From Pancreatic Cancer Cells Possibly Promotes Insulin Resistance in C2C12 Myotube Cells by Targeting SLC6A15
Authors: Wang Lantian
Published: July 2021

Background Cancers trigger systemic metabolic disorder usually associated glucose intolerance, which as initial apparent phenomenon. One of the features of pancreatic cancer (PC) metabolic reprogramming is the crosstalk between PC and peripheral tissues (skeletal muscle and adipose tissues), emphasized by insulin resistance (IR). In our previous study (Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):5384), we reported that mice pancreatic cancer derived exosomes could induce skeletal muscle cells(C2C12) IR and exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) may exert an important effect. This work was carried out to investigate whether there exist a direct functional relationship between PC exosomal miRNAs and C2C12 cell genes, in the pathological process of IR.Methods The expression profiles of exosomal miRNAs were evaluated using the Agilent Mouse miRNA V21.0 chip (GSE95741). The differentially expressed genes were screened through Agilent SurePrint G3 Mouse GE V2.0 chip (GSE174058). TargetScan and miRbase databases were used for target genes prediction and the prediction results were verified by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay.Results The biochips (GSE95741 and GSE174058) revealed that exosomes derived from mouse pancreatic cancer cells had higher levels of miRNA-let-7b-5p (Log FC 8.6); SLC6A15 gene expression was down-regulated in C2C12 cells (Log FC -4.7). Related mice and human studies has showed that SLC6A15 is associated with IR of metabolic disorder. In this work, luciferase assays confirmed that a direct interaction between miRNA-let-7b-5p and the SLC6A15 3΄-untranslated region (3΄-UTR) was established, as predicted by the TargetScan and miRbase.Conclusions Our data suggest that exosomal miRNA-let-7b-5p may promote IR in C2C12 myotube cells targeting SLC6A15.
WITHDRAWN: Exploring the Ethical Constructs of Dental Patients to Guide Dental Ethics Teaching
Authors: Imtiaz Muhammad , Mahboob Usman , Khan Rehan Ahmed , Yasmeen Rahila
Published: July 2021

BackgroundDental ethics as a construct is mostly developed based on the ethics theory and experiences of professionals. Dental patients, as a stakeholder can guide us about their ethical constructs thereby curriculum developer can contextualize ethics to the local needs. The purpose of this study is to explore the ethical constructs of dental patients to guide dental ethical teaching. MethodsA grounded theory approach, inspired by the socio-constructivist paradigm was used for data collection. The duration of the study was six months and non-probability, purposive, convenience, theoretical sampling was used. Dental patients visiting the various department of dental colleges in Lahore, Pakistan were interviewed to explore their ethical constructs and thematic analysis was done. ResultsNineteen dental patients were interviewed. Three themes were derived from four hundred and sixty-two codes. Three themes were: dental patient ethical constructs, dental ethics teaching, and ethical context. Under these themes, honesty, good communication ethics and respect for patients were the main ethical constructs of dental patients. Dental patient also emphasized effective ethics teaching and assessment. Finally, for the dental patient, religion and economic condition were two main contextual factors effecting ethical construct. ConclusionDental patient desire honesty, good communication ethics, and respect for patient from dental students. The patient defined ethical context and ethical constructs may help curriculum developer to contextualize and emphasize dental ethics teaching. Religion and the financial aspect are the two contextual factors effecting ethical construct that play key roles.