bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High-level Modeling and Verification Platform for Elastic Circuits with Process Variation Considerations
Authors: Zaeemi Meysam , Mohammadi Siamak
Published: May 2022

In addition to the advantages of asynchronous circuits, compatibility with synchronous EDA tools is another strength point of synchronous elastic circuits. Synchronous elastic circuits face some challenges, such as process variations that can compromise its performance and functionality, and the multitude of available implementations based on elastic elements’ combinations, meaning that choosing the best combination could not be simple. In this paper, a novel method is introduced to model and verify synchronous elastic circuits in the presence of variations. The model is based on xMAS, which is a new formal modeling paradigm to synthesize, test, and verify circuits and networks. In this method, various elastic elements are modeled and available in the form of a library in xMAS, so the designer can build complicated elastic circuits by combining different elastic elements. Additionally, by translating a high-level xMAS model into a SAN statistical model and using its capabilities, elements’ internal delays will be embedded, which makes the high-level modeling and elastic circuits’ high-resolution time analysis available. Based on the obtained results, elastic circuits are highly capable of tolerating variations. However, this phenomenon could lead to a maximum of 2.35% error in synchronization control units and data in these circuits.
High Energy Limit of the Size-Tunable Photoluminescence of Hydrogen-Terminated Porous Silicon Nanostructures in HF
Authors: Gelloz B. , Takura N. , Sakata S. , Jin L.
Published: May 2022

The photoluminescence (PL) of various porous silicon (PSi) layers was studied during chemical dissolution in HF. The relative PL quantum efficiency of some layers was also monitored. Typically, the PL increased, reached a maximum and then dropped down to complete extinction, accompanied with a PL blueshift. During PL fall, both the PL intensity and layer quantum efficiency fell sharply, accompanied by a decrease in full width at half maximum and a slowing blueshift. In the final stage, the PL intensity decreased without any further blueshift, the saturated PL peak wavelength being ∼515 nm (∼2.4 eV) for most layers, identifying a high energy limit for the achievable PL of hydrogen-terminated Si nanostructures. Our results show that sudden catastrophic mechanical failure of nanostructure cannot explain the sharp PL drop and saturation of PL blueshift. Rather, they support the idea of a critical size (∼1.5–2 nm) below which the PL quantum efficiency vanishes. The possible reasons were discussed, privileging the emergence of structural non-radiative defects below a certain size, though the decreasing intrinsic quantum efficiency of Si nanocrystals with decreasing size could also play an important role. Maximum PL intensity was generally obtained for a peak wavelength of ∼565 nm (∼2.2 eV).
The Architecture of an Intelligent Technical Support System for Electricity Spot Market
Authors: Sun Shuhao , Gu Huijie , Peng Chaoyi , Zhou Huafeng , Seng Dewen
Published: May 2022

With the accelerating pace of China's electricity market reform, the construction of the electricity spot market has been put on the agenda. However, as the number and scope of market participants gradually expand, the market-oriented transaction power continues to rise, and the intraprovincial and interprovincial transaction varieties are increasingly abundant. How to design an intelligent and powerful system that can meet the performance requirements of high concurrency and high-frequency transactions in the future market is a major problem in power reform. Based on the research of theoretical research results, this paper builds the front-end interaction platform of the southern spot electricity system based on the regional center to provide a data declaration interface for market users, including market management, market declaration, market release, market evaluation, intelligent analysis, front-end data interface, security protection, and other functional modules, provide declaration information and some market evaluation results to the southern regional spot power system platform, and obtain clearance results and published information from this platform.
Design and Optimization of a Decision Support System for Sports Training Based on Data Mining Technology
Authors: Cao Lijing
Published: May 2022

This paper presents an in-depth study and analysis of sports training decision support systems through data mining techniques, and designs a corresponding sports training decision support system for application in practical situations. It investigates the application of data mining techniques in solving the problem of optimal analysis of sports training indicators. The Apriori algorithm is used to find out the hidden correlations behind the data, while the correlation study applicable to college students’ physical fitness indicators is proposed and practiced, and the potential hidden relationships between the indicator data are found. The analysis results are further verified by the improved AP algorithm, FP algorithm, which provides important opinions for college physical education curriculum reform and youth physical culture development. Then, the Shi-Tomasi algorithm is used for feature point tracking and the support vector machine approach for human motion posture recognition. Considering that the collected action data contain a large amount of stationary action data, a threshold-based action segmentation algorithm is designed to extract useful action segments; after extracting the action segments, common action features are extracted from both statistical features, such as mean, variance, skewness, kurtosis, and physical features, such as acceleration and plantar pressure, to give a specific description of human daily actions. Thus, the fatigue of different postures is judged according to their number of occurrences and a preliminary assessment result is obtained. Then, the surface EMG data collected by the sensors are pre-processed to reduce noise, and the surface EMG signals are fused at the feature level based on the wavelet change algorithm, and the feature vectors are trained with BP neural networks to evaluate the fatigue of human muscle movements and obtain a preliminary evaluation result. Finally, by studying the application of information fusion technology at the decision level, the assessment results of the comprehensive human movement analysis are obtained using D-S evidence theory. In addition, a web platform is built on this basis to display and manage human exercise data and assessment results, and to facilitate the storage and query of historical exercise records.
Elaboration and Characterization of Raw Clay Matrix Composites Reinforced by Vegetable Fibers with a View to Their Industrial Uses
Authors: Mvogo Neme Sébastien Didime , Simon Armand Zogo Tsala , Noah Pierre Marcel Anicet , Ayissi Merlin Zacharie , Nguiya Severin , Atangana Ateba
Published: May 2022

The increasing use of composites reinforced with vegetable fibers in the industrial field poses a serious problem of the reliability of the structures produced. For us, this credibility can be ensured when developing the composite, by a judicious choice of matrix and reinforcement, a choice leading to obtaining a material having acceptable mechanical and physicochemical characteristics. The main objective of this study is to characterize a composite material with a clay matrix reinforced with coconut and palm nut fibers. To achieve this objective, we first opted for the implementation of this composite by contact molding, at different fiber percentages (2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10%), and we then subjected our specimens to mechanical tests (three-point bending and compression). The mechanical characterization allowed us to have a Young’s modulus in compression varying between 63.82 and 68.82 MPa for palm nut fibers and from 68.28 to 74.43 MPa for coconut fibers (this allows us to note that our coconut fibers make the material rigid in compression), and a Young’s modulus in bending varying between 5.71 and 6.51 MPa for palm nut fibers and from 6.50 to 6.525 MPa for coconut fibers (this allows us to see that our coconut fibers make the material rigid in bending). The results also show that the rate of water absorption of the composite increases with the increase in the fiber content, which is explained in particular by the fact that the fibers of plant origin are hydrophilic and have a porous character; therefore, they absorb water. This study also shows that there is a reduction in the density of the fiber composite with increasing fiber content.
Identification of Serum Metabolomics Characteristics in Patients with Stable Angina Pectoris Using UHPLC-QE-MS
Authors: Zhou Yufei , Zhou Chen , Luo Gang , Ren Wei , Dong Li , Liang Junjie , Mao Linshen , Liu Mengnan , Dong Yanli , Liang Pan , Yang Sijin
Published: May 2022

Background. Stable angina pectoris (SAP) is one of the main types of coronary heart disease (CHD). To improve treatment outcomes, more effective biomarkers are needed. Currently, studies on the metabolic characteristics of SAP are lacking. Here, we explored the serum metabolomic profile of SAP and identified potential biomarkers and related pathways to assist the clinical diagnosis and treatment of SAP. Method. Thirty patients with SAP patients and 30 healthy controls (CON) without stenosis were selected for this study. All patients underwent coronary angiography. The metabolites of the two groups’ serum samples were investigated using UHPLC-QE-MS. Changes in serum metabolic profile were evaluated using multivariate statistical analysis and pathway analysis. Result. OPLS-DA analysis identified significant differences in the serum metabolic profiles between patients with SAP and CON. Twenty-five differential metabolites were identified between patients from SAP and CON groups, including choline, creatine, L-arginine, beta-guanidinopropionic acid, isopalmitic acid, xanthine, LysoPC (18 : 1), and LysoPC (20 : 3). Pathway analysis found that these differential metabolites were involved in energy metabolism, oxidative stress, purine metabolism, and other metabolic pathways. Conclusion. By comparing the serum metabolic profiles of SAP patients with a control group, we identified 25 potential biomarkers that could improve the clinical diagnosis and treatment of SAP.
The Optimization Model of E-Commerce Logistics Distribution Path Based on GIS Technology
Authors: Jiao Jianhong , Liu Yong , Xie Cuijie
Published: May 2022

The optimization of the e-commerce logistics distribution path has always been an important research object in intelligent control. Based on the geographic information system (GIS) platform, this paper proposes an improved ant colony algorithm for the logistics distribution path optimization model based on the GIS platform. Firstly, ArcGIS software is used to solve the problem of complex networks and realize the selection and output of optional routes. Secondly, the basic ant colony algorithm is improved, and a dynamic path planning method combining global planning information and local planning is proposed. It mainly includes the improvement of the heuristic function and the improvement of the update method of pheromone. Finally, through simulation experiments and case validation experiments, it is concluded that the improved algorithm outperforms the traditional ant colony algorithm. In the case validation part, a local area of Beijing is selected to simulate a natural distribution environment, and the path optimization experiments are validated by building an actual road network model. The results show that the model can plan the optimal path for logistics distribution according to the road congestion. The data analysis shows that the route optimization model proposed in this paper can effectively reduce the distribution cost of enterprises, increase vehicle loading, and increase the profit and industry competitiveness of logistics enterprises.
Risk Factors Associated with Surgical Site Infection following Cesarean Section in Tertiary Care Hospital, Nepal
Authors: Regmi Astha , Ojha Neebha , Singh Meeta , Ghimire Asmita , Kharel Nisha
Published: May 2022

Background. Cesarean section (CS) is one of the most performed surgeries in obstetrics. Surgical site infection is the major cause of morbidity and mortality causing an increase in the duration of hospitalization as well as the cost of admission for the patient. Objective. To determine incidence of surgical site infection following cesarean section, classify them according to CDC criteria, and identify the different risk factors. Methodology. This is a case-control study conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), main campus of Institute of Medicine (IOM), Kathmandu, Nepal. Surgical site infections (SSI) in patients who underwent cesarean sections from February 2019 to August 2019 were taken as cases, while the patients who underwent cesarean section before or after the procedure and did not develop SSI comprised the controls. Visual inspection during ward rounds, reports from laboratory, and postprocedure follow-ups for up to 30 days formed the basis of identifying infections on the patients. Risk factors were identified by bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results. Out of 1135 cases of cesarean sections, 97 of them developed SSI with incidence rate of 8.54%. Among them, 94.85% were superficial incisional and 5.15% were deep incisional type of SSI with no organ space type. Cases had higher mean age26.88±4.38years compared to24.81±5.08years in controls. Host-related risk factors which led to higher odds of developing surgical site infection (SSI) were obesity with adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 15.72 (confidence interval (CI): 4.60-53.67), diabetes/hypertension in pregnancy with AOR 4.75(CI 1.69-13.32), and other medical diseases with AOR 9.38 (CI 2.89-30.46). Duration of the rupture of membrane for more than 18 hours with AOR 8.38 (CI 1.48-47.35), more than five per vaginal (PV) examination with AOR 1.93 (95% CI 1.03-3.64), and in labor status with AOR 6.52 (CI 1.17-36.38) were some procedure-related factors resulting into higher odds of infection. Conclusion. Multiple risk factors like age, obesity, medical complications during pregnancy, occurrence of labor status during cesarean section, prolonged duration of rupture of membrane for more than 18 hours, and more than five vaginal examinations before the procedure increases the chance of surgical site infection (SSI) following cesarean section.
Study on Influencing Factors and Countermeasures of Elderly Nursing Services in the Elderly
Authors: Liu Shuo , Chen Li , Li Dandan , Yang Qianqian , Liu Fangfang , Cheng Yanli
Published: May 2022

Objective and Background. In order to explore the needs of the elderly for elderly nursing services, this paper studies from this aspect; China’s economic development, scientific, and technological progress and concepts have also changed. Although the living conditions of the Chinese people have improved, the rapid growth of the population has led to an aging society. Therefore, great attention has been paid to the care of the elderly. In addition, with the fast pace of life, many elderly people with chronic diseases, poor physical conditions, and need spiritual comfort are in a state of lack of care for a long time. It has affected the stability and harmony of Chinese society. Methods. 500 inpatients with chronic diseases in a famous tertiary hospital in a city were studied, and the corresponding countermeasures were put forward through the analysis of their needs and influencing factors. Results. The study found that the vast majority of elderly patients have higher requirements for elderly care services, which is related to factors such as family income. Compared with the huge medical demand, there is a large gap in the level of domestic medical and health talents. According to relevant research, the current number of beds in China is 1 : 0.27, but in fact it is 1 : 0.4. Therefore, relevant units should strengthen the health examination of the elderly, provide high-quality medical services, make full use of health resources, and strengthen nursing management, so as to improve the quality of nursing services. Conclusion. The survey results show that the vast majority of elderly patients have high requirements for their elderly care services, which is related to family income and other related factors. Therefore, relevant departments should formulate corresponding measures to improve the quality of life of the elderly.
Cross-Linguistic Similarity Evaluation Techniques Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Li Jun , Zhang Jing , Qian Mengjie
Published: May 2022

For the cross-linguistic similarity problem, a twin network model with ordered neuron long- and short-term memory neural network as a subnet is proposed. The model fuses bilingual word embeddings and encodes the representation of input sequences by ordered neuron long- and short-term memory neural networks. Based on this, the distributed semantic vector representation of the sentences is jointly constructed by using the global modelling capability of the fully connected network for higher-order semantic extraction. The final output part is the similarity of the bilingual sentences and is optimized by optimizing the parameters of each layer in the framework. Multiple experiments on the dataset show that the model achieves 81.05% accuracy, which effectively improves the accuracy of text similarity and converges faster and improves the semantic text analysis to some extent.
Morphological, Structural, and Optical Properties of Doped/Codoped ZnO Nanocrystals Film Prepared by Spin Coating Technique and Their Gas Sensing Application
Authors: Verma Neha , Jagota Vishal , Alimuddin  , Alguno Arnold C. , Rakhra Manik , K. Chanthirasekaran , Dugbakie Betty Nokobi
Published: May 2022

In today’s world of electronics, nanomaterial applications pose a challenge. The spin coating approach was used to create nanostructured ZnO with wurtzite structure in a recent study. Antimony doping, aluminum, and antimony codoping with 2.0 percent were used to make these films. The impact of doped and codoped films on structural, optical properties, and morphological has been examined using a variety of characterization approaches. A ZnO nanocrystal with a diameter of 20‐30 nm was discovered using XRD (X‐ray diffraction). According to SEM (scanning electron microscope) scans, the grain size is in the 80‐120 nm region. The use of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to detect elemental elements was studied, and the peak at 400‐520 cm-1 was identified as ZnO. The optical properties of doped and codoped ZnO were checked, and it was discovered that antimony‐doped ZnO has a larger band gap than Al and antimony‐codoped ZnO. This proved that ZnO may be used in gas sensors and solar cells. The gas response of a static gas sensor system based on Sb‐doped films was measured and compared to Al‐ and Sb‐codoped films in the presence of ethanol vapor.
A Three‐Dimensional Autonomous System with a Parabolic Equilibrium: Dynamical Analysis, Adaptive Synchronization via Relay Coupling, and Applications to Steganography and Chaos Encryption
Authors: Ramadoss Janarthanan , Kengne Romanic , Tokoue Ngatcha Dianorré , Kamdoum Tamba Victor , Rajagopal Karthikeyan , Motchongom Tingue Marceline
Published: May 2022

This paper is reporting on electronic implementation of a three‐dimensional autonomous system with infinite equilibrium point belonging to a parabola. Performance analysis of an adaptive synchronization via relay coupling and a hybrid steganography chaos encryption application are provided. Besides striking parabolic equilibrium, the proposed three‐dimensional autonomous system also exhibits hidden chaotic oscillations as well as hidden chaotic bursting oscillations. Electronic implementation of the hidden chaotic behaviors is done to confirm their physical existence. A good qualitative agreement is shown between numerical simulations and OrCAD‐PSpice results. Moreover, adaptive synchronization via relay coupling of three three‐dimensional autonomous systems with a parabolic equilibrium is analysed by using time histories. Numerical results demonstrate that global synchronization is achieved between the three units. Finally, chaotic behavior found is exploited to provide a suitable text encryption scheme by hidden secret message inside an image using steganography and chaos encryption.
Mitochondrial Damage in Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury and Application of Natural Plant Products
Authors: Su Xin , Zhou Mingyang , Li Yingjian , An Na , Yang Fan , Zhang Guoxia , Xu Lianjiang , Chen Hengwen , Wu Hongjin , Xing Yanwei
Published: May 2022

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is currently one of the leading causes of death among cardiovascular diseases worldwide. In addition, blood reflow and reperfusion paradoxically also lead to further death of cardiomyocytes and increase the infarct size. Multiple evidences indicated that mitochondrial function and structural disorders were the basic driving force of IHD. We summed up the latest evidence of the basic associations and underlying mechanisms of mitochondrial damage in the event of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. This review then reviewed natural plant products (NPPs) which have been demonstrated to mitochondria-targeted therapeutic effects during I/R injury and the potential pathways involved. We realized that NPPs mainly maintained the integrality of mitochondria membrane and ameliorated dysfunction, such as improving abnormal mitochondrial calcium handling and inhibiting oxidative stress, so as to protect cardiomyocytes during I/R injury. This information will improve our knowledge of mitochondrial biology and I/R-induced injury’s pathogenesis and exhibit that NPPs hold promise for translation into potential therapies that target mitochondria.
Abstract A038: Does mutation rate of cancer cells change as the stage of the disease advances?
Authors: Neinavaie Fargam , Kramer Andrew
Published: May 2022

Tumorigenesis begins with cells that have normal mutation rates. As the cells become immortal and accumulate different numbers of mutations along the way, current literature splits in two describing if and how mutation rates increase as the cancer progresses. Some argue that as the mutation rates are small (mutation rate in healthy cells is per nucleotide site per cell division) and malignant cells are loaded with thousands of different types of mutations, they must have acquired a mutator phenotype early in their development. Others argue that immortality of malignant cells, and their rate of proliferation is responsible for their genetic instability and number of mutations observed in their genome. We conduct a review of the literature with the key words “mutation rate” and “cancer” in their title. We review 123 papers and found that description of mutation rates varied in the published work. This leads to estimates of mutation rates in cancer from per nucleotide site per cell division. Some of this variation in mutational rates arises across different organs of the body, for instance liver cells have a higher mutation rate than heart and brain. Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy influence mutation rate, and mutation rate of drug and multidrug resistance cancer cell is higher than newly diagnosed cancer cells. Further, mutation rate is defined differently in different literature, some papers measure the mutation rate in a population or a gene, some calculate it per base pair, genome, or mitosis. Here we provide a comprehensive picture of published mutation rates across different cancer types in order to inform cancer models and treatment plans for individual patients. We propose a unified framework for discussing and reporting mutation rate of cancer cells and formulations on how to switch between definitions.

Citation Format: Fargam Neinavaie, Andrew Kramer. Does mutation rate of cancer cells change as the stage of the disease advances? [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on the Evolutionary Dynamics in Carcinogenesis and Response to Therapy; 2022 Mar 14-17. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(10 Suppl):Abstract nr A038.
Abstract B028: Overcoming resistance by driving melanoma cells into drug-susceptible states
Authors: Harmange Guillaume , Emert Ben , Schaff Dylan , Reyes-Hueros Raul , Shaffer Sydney
Published: May 2022

The goal of this study is to target pre-existing heterogeneity in gene expression to ultimately overcome resistance to targeted therapy in melanoma. Despite significant advances in the treatment of melanoma, many patients still fail to achieve durable responses to therapy due to the development of drug resistance. Our lab recently discovered that in drug-naive melanoma rare cells transiently enter distinct gene expression states that allows them to ultimately survive treatment with targeted therapy (we refer to these cells as “primed for drug resistance”). The goal of this work is to develop a strategy to overcome this form of resistance by driving cells out of states primed for resistance and into drug-susceptible states. To identify the pathways that regulate the transition to the primed state we combined single-cell RNA sequencing with DNA barcoding to extract the transcriptional profiles and lineage information of over 7,000 drug-naive melanoma cells. We found that cells in lineages that transitioned into states primed for drug resistance express high levels of genes associated with TGFβ and PI3K signaling compared to lineages that stayed in a drug-susceptible state. To test whether TGFβ can directly cause cells to enter the primed state, we treated cells with recombinant TGFβ which led to a significant increase in the number of primed cells. Intriguingly, we also found that treating with TGFB receptor inhibitor or PI3K inhibitor reduced the number of cells in the primed cell state. Further, we sequentially treated these cells first with either the TGFB or PI3K inhibitor followed by targeted therapy and ultimately reduced the number of resistant colonies, demonstrating the potential for this therapeutic paradigm. To better understand how targeting the TGFB and PI3K pathways shift the population dynamics, we used single-cell RNA-seq and cellular barcoding to track lineages following treatment with TGFB, TGFB inhibitor, and PI3K inhibitor. Our analysis reveals the population changes following each therapy and directly demonstrates that treating with PI3K inhibitor decreases the number of primed cells, shifting the population into a drug-susceptible expression state. Ultimately, this work defines two key pathways underlying the primed cell state in melanoma and presents a therapeutic paradigm to eliminate this form of therapy resistance.

Citation Format: Guillaume Harmange, Ben Emert, Dylan Schaff, Raul Reyes-Hueros, Sydney Shaffer. Overcoming resistance by driving melanoma cells into drug-susceptible states [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on the Evolutionary Dynamics in Carcinogenesis and Response to Therapy; 2022 Mar 14-17. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(10 Suppl):Abstract nr B028.
Abstract IA008: Charting normal and malignant differentiation topologies with single-cell multi-omics
Authors: Landau Dan
Published: May 2022

Somatic evolution is a novel emerging frontier in human biology, as cells within diverse normal and malignant tissues have been shown to diversify and undergo selection. We and others have shown that somatic evolution is driven by both genetic and non-genetic modes of inheritance (Cell, 2013; Cancer Cell, 2014; Nature, 2015; Nature Communications 2016 & 2019; Cell Systems, 2019). A key challenge is to integrate across these different layers of information at the level of the single cell – the atomic unit of the evolutionary process (Nature Reviews Genetics, 2020). To address this challenge, we have developed single-cell multi-omics technologies and analytical frameworks to link genetic, epigenetic and phenotypic information (Nature, 2019a & Nature, 2019b). We have applied these methods to chart how somatic mutations reshape the differentiation topographies of neoplastic and normal hematopoiesis (Nature, 2019a; Nature Genetics, 2020), as well as defined the epigenetic encoding, inheritance, and plasticity of malignant transcriptional cell states (Nature, 2019b; Nature Genetics, 2021).

Citation Format: Dan Landau. Charting normal and malignant differentiation topologies with single-cell multi-omics [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on the Evolutionary Dynamics in Carcinogenesis and Response to Therapy; 2022 Mar 14-17. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(10 Suppl):Abstract nr IA008.
Low-Dose Alcohol-Induced Inhibition of Mouse Orthotopically Transplanted Tumors Is Associated with T-Cell Response
Authors: Kimoto Akiko , Kunisho Shoma , Morita Ryohei , Onishi Minako , Zhou Qian , Ono Atsushi , Miki Daiki , Shimamoto Fumio , Kitadai Yasuhiko
Published: May 2022

Introduction: The effects of low-dose alcohol consumption on colorectal cancer development are not well understood. Epidemiological studies have reported that people who consume small amounts of alcohol have lower mortality rates than both nondrinkers and heavy drinkers. This phenomenon has been labeled the “J-curve effect” of alcohol. This study examined the effects of low-dose alcohol (0.5%, 1%, and 2%) on tumor growth in a transplant colon cancer model. Methods: BALB/c and BALB/c nude mice were used to analyze T-cell immunity. Syngeneic CT26 murine colon cancer cells were implanted into the cecal wall, and the resulting T-cell immune effects were monitored. Results: The growth of orthotopic tumors was markedly inhibited upon ingestion of low-dose (0.5%) alcohol compared with that in the control mice. In contrast, cells from the same line were injected into the cecal wall of nude mice, and tumor growth inhibition was not observed. Histopathological and RNA sequence analyses were performed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying tumor growth inhibition. An increase in tumor CD8+ T lymphocytes and changes in cytokine levels were observed. Microbiome analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequencing of cecal contents was performed and revealed Mucispirillum schaedleri and Clostridium cocleatum showed decreased and increased abundance, respectively, in the alcohol group. Discussion/Conclusion: Ingesting a threshold amount of alcohol results in the infiltration of T lymphocytes, which may enhance immune responsiveness in mouse colorectal cancer models.
Relationship between Psychopathology and Sources of Meaning in Psychotherapeutically Treated Patients: A Naturalistic Cross-Sectional Analysis
Authors: Chmielewski Fabian , Hanning Sven , Juckel Georg , Mavrogiorgou Paraskevi
Published: May 2022

Introduction: The experience of meaning seems to be crucial for psychic well-being. In the literature, there are reports of relationships between personality, illness, and life meanings. The objective of this study was to investigate types of experiences of meaning (meaningfulness, crisis of meaning, existential indifference) and their associations with some psychopathological categories in a clinical population. Methods: In a naturalistic and cross-sectional design, 56 German patients in outpatient psychotherapy (29 women, 27 men; mean age = 42.8 years, standard deviation = 13.8) were assessed by the Sources of Meaning and Meaning in Life Questionnaire (SoMe) Questionnaire (meaning of life, hedonism, eudaemonia). Psychopathology (Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Clinical Global Impression scale, Symptom Checklist (SCL)-90), self-esteem (Rosenberg scale), neuroticism (NEO-Five-Factor Inventory), and suicidality (Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire Revised (SBQ-R)). Results: Three distinct groups concerning the experience of meaning emerged: meaningfulness (33.9%), crisis of meaning (21.4%), and, as the largest group, existential indifference (42.9%). Eudaemonia as well as the hedonistic SoMe variables of fun and wellness were shown to be inversely related to psychopathology such as suicide risk (SBQ-R), general symptom distress (SCL-90), and depressive symptomatology (BDI-II). Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of a differential consideration of existential factors, sources of meaning and life orientations for psychopathology in mental health, which should be more considered in standard psychotherapeutic situations.
Primary Mediastinal Large B-Cell Lymphoma Achieved by Non-Cautery Assisted Transbronchial Mediastinal Cryobiopsy
Authors: Zhang Jing , Huang Zan-Sheng , Wu Xian-Li , Zhang An-Mei , Fu Wan-Lei , Liu Gang , Herth Felix J.F. , Fan Ye
Published: May 2022

Transbronchial mediastinal cryobiopsy is a novel sampling strategy that shows improved diagnostic utility for mediastinal lesions, particularly in rare tumors and benign disorders, as compared to standard endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration. During this procedure, electrocautery incision is frequently needed to advance the cryoprobe through the airway into the mediastinal lesion, which however results in increased operative difficulty and prolonged procedural time. Here we present a case of mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma successfully diagnosed by transbronchial mediastinal cryobiopsy without cautery-induced airway incision.
Genetic Epidemiology of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Norway: A 2-Year Population-Based Study
Authors: Olsen Cathrine Goberg , Busk Øyvind Løvold , Aanjesen Tori Navestad , Alstadhaug Karl Bjørnar , Bjørnå Ingrid Kristine , Braathen Geir Julius , Breivik Kristin Lif , Demic Natasha , Flemmen Heidi Øyen , Hallerstig Erika , HogenEsch Ineke , Holla Øystein Lunde , Jøntvedt Anne Berit , Kampman Margitta T. , Kleveland Grethe , Kvernmo Helene Ballo , Ljøstad Unn , Maniaol Angelina , Morsund Åse Hagen , Nakken Ola , Novy Camilla , Rekand Tiina , Schlüter Katrin , Schüler Stephan , Tveten Kristian , Tysnes Ole-Bjørn , Holmøy Trygve , Høyer Helle
Published: May 2022

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons. In Europe, disease-causing genetic variants have been identified in 40–70% of familial ALS patients and approximately 5% of sporadic ALS patients. In Norway, the contribution of genetic variants to ALS has not yet been studied. In light of the potential development of personalized medicine, knowledge of the genetic causes of ALS in a population is becoming increasingly important. The present study provides clinical and genetic data on familial and sporadic ALS patients in a Norwegian population-based cohort. Methods: Blood samples and clinical information from ALS patients were obtained at all 17 neurological departments throughout Norway during a 2-year period. Genetic analysis of the samples involved expansion analysis of C9orf72 and exome sequencing targeting 30 known ALS-linked genes. The variants were classified using genotype-phenotype correlations and bioinformatics tools. Results: A total of 279 ALS patients were included in the study. Of these, 11.5% had one or several family members affected by ALS, whereas 88.5% had no known family history of ALS. A genetic cause of ALS was identified in 31 individuals (11.1%), among which 18 (58.1%) were familial and 13 (41.9%) were sporadic. The most common genetic cause was the C9orf72 expansion (6.8%), which was identified in 8 familial and 11 sporadic ALS patients. Pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants of SOD1 and TBK1 were identified in 10 familial and 2 sporadic cases. C9orf72 expansions dominated in patients from the Northern and Central regions, whereas SOD1 variants dominated in patients from the South-Eastern region. Conclusion: In the present study, we identified several pathogenic gene variants in both familial and sporadic ALS patients. Restricting genetic analysis to only familial cases would miss more than 40 percent of those with a disease-causing genetic variant, indicating the need for genetic analysis in sporadic cases as well.
ATF4 Protects the Heart From Failure by Antagonizing Oxidative Stress
Authors: Wang Xiaoding , Zhang Guangyu , Dasgupta Subhajit , Niewold Erica L. , Li Chao , Li Qinfeng , Luo Xiang , Tan Lin , Ferdous Anwarul , Lorenzi Philip L. , Rothermel Beverly A. , Gillette Thomas G. , Adams Christopher M. , Scherer Philipp E. , Hill Joseph A. , Wang Zhao V.
Published: May 2022

Background:

Cellular redox control is maintained by generation of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species balanced by activation of antioxidative pathways. Disruption of redox balance leads to oxidative stress, a central causative event in numerous diseases including heart failure. Redox control in the heart exposed to hemodynamic stress, however, remains to be fully elucidated.

Methods:

Pressure overload was triggered by transverse aortic constriction in mice. Transcriptomic and metabolomic regulations were evaluated by RNA-sequencing and metabolomics, respectively. Stable isotope tracer labeling experiments were conducted to determine metabolic flux in vitro. Neonatal rat ventricular myocytes and H9c2 cells were used to examine molecular mechanisms.

Results:

We show that production of cardiomyocyte NADPH, a key factor in redox regulation, is decreased in pressure overload-induced heart failure. As a consequence, the level of reduced glutathione is downregulated, a change associated with fibrosis and cardiomyopathy. We report that the pentose phosphate pathway and mitochondrial serine/glycine/folate metabolic signaling, 2 NADPH-generating pathways in the cytosol and mitochondria, respectively, are induced by transverse aortic constriction. We identify ATF4 (activating transcription factor 4) as an upstream transcription factor controlling the expression of multiple enzymes in these 2 pathways. Consistently, joint pathway analysis of transcriptomic and metabolomic data reveal that ATF4 preferably controls oxidative stress and redox-related pathways. Overexpression of ATF4 in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes increases NADPH-producing enzymes‚ whereas silencing of ATF4 decreases their expression. Further, stable isotope tracer experiments reveal that ATF4 overexpression augments metabolic flux within these 2 pathways. In vivo, cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of ATF4 exacerbates cardiomyopathy in the setting of transverse aortic constriction and accelerates heart failure development, attributable, at least in part, to an inability to increase the expression of NADPH-generating enzymes.

Conclusions:

Our findings reveal that ATF4 plays a critical role in the heart under conditions of hemodynamic stress by governing both cytosolic and mitochondrial production of NADPH.
A Biomarker‐Enhanced Model for Prediction of Acute Kidney Injury and Cardiovascular Risk Following Angiographic Procedures: CASABLANCA AKI Prediction Substudy
Authors: Mohebi Reza , van Kimmenade Roland , McCarthy Cian , Gaggin Hanna , Mehran Roxana , Dangas George , Januzzi James L.
Published: May 2022

Background

The 2020 Acute Disease Quality Initiative Consensus provided recommendations on novel acute kidney injury biomarkers. In this study, we sought to assess the added value of novel kidney biomarkers to a clinical score in the CASABLANCA (Catheter Sampled Blood Archive in Cardiovascular Diseases) study.

Methods and Results

We evaluated individuals undergoing coronary and/or peripheral angiography and added 4 candidate biomarkers for acute kidney injury (kidney injury molecule‐1, interleukin‐18, osteopontin, and cystatin C) to a previously described contrast‐associated acute kidney injury (CA‐AKI) risk score. Participants were categorized into integer score groups based on the risk assigned by the biomarker‐enhanced CA‐AKI model. Risk for incident cardiorenal outcomes during a median 3.7 years of follow‐up was assessed. Of 1114 participants studied, 55 (4.94%) developed CA‐AKI. In adjusted models, neither kidney injury molecule‐1 nor interleukin‐18 improved discrimination for CA‐AKI; addition of osteopontin and cystatin C to the CA‐AKI clinical model significantly increased the c‐statistic from 0.69 to 0.73 (
P
for change <0.001) and resulted in a Net Reclassification Index of 59.4. Considering those with the lowest CA‐AKI integer score as a reference, the intermediate, high‐risk, and very‐high‐risk groups were associated with adverse cardiorenal outcomes. The corresponding hazard ratios of the very‐high‐risk group were 3.39 (95% CI, 2.14–5.38) for nonprocedural acute kidney injury, 5.58 (95% CI, 3.23–9.63) for incident chronic kidney disease, 6.21 (95% CI, 3.67–10.47) for myocardial infarction, and 8.94 (95% CI, 4.83–16.53) for all‐cause mortality.

Conclusions

A biomarker‐enhanced risk model significantly improves the prediction of CA‐AKI beyond clinical variables alone and may stratify the risk of future cardiorenal outcomes.

Registration

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT00842868.
A Linear Superposition Model of Envelope and Frequency Following Responses May Help Identify Generators Based on Latency
Authors: Teichert Tobias , Gnanateja G. Nike , Sadagopan Srivatsun , Chandrasekaran Bharath
Published: May 2022

Envelope and frequency-following responses (FFRENV and FFRTFS) are scalp-recorded electrophysiological potentials that closely follow the periodicity of complex sounds such as speech. These signals have been established as important biomarkers in speech and learning disorders. However, despite important advances, it has remained challenging to map altered FFRENV and FFRTFS to altered processing in specific brain regions. Here we explore the utility of a deconvolution approach based on the assumption that FFRENV and FFRTFS reflect the linear superposition of responses that are triggered by the glottal pulse in each cycle of the fundamental frequency (F0 responses). We tested the deconvolution method by applying it to FFRENV and FFRTFS of rhesus monkeys to human speech and click trains with time-varying pitch patterns. Our analyses show that F0ENV responses could be measured with high signal-to-noise ratio and featured several spectro-temporally and topographically distinct components that likely reflect the activation of brainstem (<5 ms; 200–1000 Hz), midbrain (5–15 ms; 100–250 Hz), and cortex (15–35 ms; ∼90 Hz). In contrast, F0TFS responses contained only one spectro-temporal component that likely reflected activity in the midbrain. In summary, our results support the notion that the latency of F0 components map meaningfully onto successive processing stages. This opens the possibility that pathologically altered FFRENV or FFRTFS may be linked to altered F0ENV or F0TFS and from there to specific processing stages and ultimately spatially targeted interventions.
Warding off Development: Local Control, Housing Supply, and NIMBYs
Authors: Mast Evan
Published: May 2022

Local control of land-use regulation creates a not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) problem that can suppress housing construction, contributing to rising prices and potentially slowing economic growth. I study how increased local control affects housing production by exploiting a common electoral reform—changing from “at-large” to “ward” elections for town council. These reforms, which are not typically motivated by housing markets, shrink each representative’s constituency from the entire town to one ward. Results from a variety of difference-in-differences estimators show that this decentralization decreases housing units permitted by 20%, with similar effects on multi- and single-family permits. Effects are larger in whiter and higher-income towns.
Exporting, Abatement, and Firm-Level Emissions: Evidence from China’s Accession to the WTO
Authors: Rodrigue Joel , Sheng Dan , Tan Yong
Published: May 2022

This paper studies the joint impact of exporting and abatement on the environmental performance of Chinese manufacturers. For two common air pollutants (SO2 and industrial dust) we document that (a) exporters are significantly less emissions-intensive relative to their nonexporting counterparts and (b) this difference cannot be explained by differential rates of abatement alone. Employing variation in trade and environmental conditions across time and space, we quantify the impact of endogenous export and abatement decisions on firm-level emissions. We find that exporting reduces emissions by at least 36% across pollutants. We explore underlying determinants of export-driven reductions in emissions intensity.
Silurichthys exortivus, a new catfish (Teleostei: Siluridae) from eastern Borneo, Indonesia
Authors: NG HEOK HEE , KOTTELAT MAURICE
Published: May 2022

Silurichthys exortivus, a new species of silurid catfish, is described from the Mahakam River drainage in eastern Borneo. The new species can be distinguished from congeners in lacking a dorsal fin, having 4 (vs. 6–7) principal rays on the upper caudal-fin lobe and a combination of: body depth at anus 14.0% SL, caudal peduncle depth 5.1% SL, pelvic fins absent, 54 anal-fin rays, caudal fin with asymmetrical lobes (upper lobe 1.1 times longer than lower), 48 vertebrae, 1 gill raker on the first branchial arch, and a mottled brown body. Based on the reduced number of principal caudal-fin rays, S. exortivus, S. ligneolus and S. sanguineus are hypothesized to form an exclusively Bornean clade.
Recommendations for Interinstitutional and Interdisciplinary Research Informed by a PIRE Graduate Student Cohort Perspective
Authors: Henny Lexi , Gaudet Lauriana C. , Lupo Kevin M. , Goods Kenya , Sanders Shadya , Zhang Yanda
Published: May 2022

The U.S.–Taiwan Partnership for International Research and Education (PIRE) “Building Extreme Weather Resiliency through Improved Weather and Climate Prediction and Emergency Response Strategies” was an NSF-funded grant between universities and institutions in the United States and Taiwan that intended to understand 1) weather forecast uncertainty during extreme precipitation events and 2) how emergency managers use such information to make decisions. In this reflective paper, graduate students from the project’s working groups, including climate, ensemble, microphysics, and decision science, share their experiences of being involved in this ambitious program. A notable strength of this PIRE was its opportunities for international collaboration and related cultural experiences; however, despite direct student involvement in PIRE, student experiences varied considerably (e.g., research experiences, cultural exposure). Recommendations for improvement are informed predominantly by U.S.-based graduate student experiences and are discussed with the intention of bolstering future interdisciplinary research for students and investigators. To this end, projects of this scale and scope could benefit from more frequent communication among leadership and research groups, as well as explicitly outlining and prioritizing interactions between groups to focus and strengthen collaboration toward the completion of interdisciplinary research goals.