bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Proposed strategies to overcome venous occlusion in the implantation of a cardiac implantable electronic device: A case report and literature review
Authors: Li Yi-Pan , Lee Cheng-Han , Chen Ju-Yi
Published: October 2022

This case report describes a successful balloon venoplasty to overcome a total occlusion from the brachiocephalic vein to the superior vena cava in a patient undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy. It is crucial for implanting physicians to be familiar with strategies to overcome venous occlusion in lead implantation, especially balloon venoplasty, which is an effective and safe approach.
Does types of atrial fibrillation matter in the impairment of global and regional left ventricular mechanics and intra-ventricular dyssynchrony?
Authors: Zhen Xiao-Wen , Li Wen-Cai , Wang Hua , Song Nian-Peng , Zhong Lin
Published: October 2022

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, which is associated with cardiac dysfunction. This study aimed to compare the impairment severity of left ventricular strain and intra-ventricular dyssynchrony using echocardiography-derived velocity vector imaging in patients with different types of AF without heart failure.

Methods

168 non-valvular AF patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (98 paroxysmal AF patients and 70 persistent AF patients) and 86 healthy control subjects were included in this study. Regional and global left ventricular longitudinal and circumferential strain were measured. Time to regional peak longitudinal strain was measured and the standard deviation of all 12 segments (SDT-S) was used as a measure of intra-ventricular dyssynchrony.

Results

Significantly lower GLS (−18.71 ± 3.00% in controls vs. −17.10 ± 3.01% in paroxysmal AF vs. −12.23 ± 3.25% in persistent AF, P < 0.05) and GCS (−28.75 ± 6.34% in controls vs. −24.43 ± 6.86% in paroxysmal AF vs. −18.46 ± 6.42% in persistent AF, P < 0.01) were observed in either persistent AF subjects or paroxysmal AF subjects compared with healthy control subjects (P < 0.05). The impairment was much worse in persistent AF subjects compared with paroxysmal AF subjects (P < 0.001). Intraventricular dyssynchrony was found in both persistent AF patients and paroxysmal AF patients, and it’s worse in persistent AF patients (52 ± 18 ms in controls, 61 ± 17 ms in paroxysmal AF, and 70 ± 28 ms in persistent AF, P < 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis revealed AF types were independent risk factors of GLS, GCS, and intraventricular dyssynchrony.

Conclusion

AF types were not only associated with impaired longitudinal and circumferential left ventricle mechanics but also intra-ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony. Worse systolic mechanics and intra-ventricular dyssynchrony were found in patients with persistent AF compared with these in patients with paroxysmal AF.
Underlying mechanisms of acupuncture therapy on polycystic ovary syndrome: Evidences from animal and clinical studies
Authors: Ye Yang , Zhou Cong-Cong , Hu Hang-Qi , Fukuzawa Ii , Zhang Hao-Lin
Published: October 2022

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and metabolic disorder among women of reproductive age. Current standard treatment includes lifestyle change, oral pharmacological agents, and surgical modalities. However, the efficacy of current therapies is less than satisfactory. Clinical evidence has shown that acupuncture is effective for regulating hormone levels, promoting ovulation, and attenuating insulin resistance in patients with PCOS. Acupuncture may affect the production of β‐endorphin, which may lead to gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion and then affect ovulation, menstrual cycle, and fertility. The mechanism of acupuncture for patients with PCOS has not been comprehensively reviewed so far. Better understanding of the mechanisms of acupuncture would help popularize the use of acupuncture therapy for patients with PCOS. In this narrative review, we aimed to overview the potential mechanisms and evidence-based data of acupuncture on PCOS, and analyze the most frequently used acupoints based on animal and clinical studies. The results of this study will contribute to a better understanding of the current situation in this field.
Estimation of failure probability of wave energy farms by group method of data handling: An indian scenario
Authors: Ghosh Soumya , Majumder Mrinmoy , Mohammed Omar Hazem , Bajaj Mohit , Singh Arvind R. , Kamel Salah
Published: October 2022

The failure probability of the wave energy converters is exceptionally high, which again increases the operation cost of the entities. The cause of this high cost lies in the fact that various factors influence the production efficiency of the converters. To solve this problem, multiple converters are utilized in series and parallel formation to produce energy simultaneously. This multiple converter system, known as wave energy farms, also fails to increase efficiency and decrease the cost of operation sufficiently. The reason for this is that not only technical but socio-economic as well as different environmental factors have a significant role in this aspect, which remains undetected or under- or over-detected while calculating the potential wave energy. The present investigation tries to classify the different factors which are most influential in controlling the transfer efficiency of wave energy farms to solve the problem of erroneously detecting significant factors. The authors offer a new indicator for estimating the failure likelihood of wave energy farms in converting ocean wave energy into electricity by combining Multi-Criteria Decision Making and Polynomial Neural Networks with information collected from an unbiased ranking technique.
Evolutionary game analysis of green production transformation of small farmers led by cooperatives based on prospect theory
Authors: Liu Wenlong , Liu Zhenya
Published: October 2022

For countries with small farmers as the main body of agricultural production, green production transformation of small farmers is crucial to achieve green agricultural development. Based on the prospect theory, this paper builds an evolutionary game model of cooperative leading the green production transformation of small farmers, systematically deduces the possible combination of different strategies of both sides, and puts forward targeted countermeasures for improvement. Finally, the simulation is verified, and the influence of relevant parameters on the decision-making of both sides is analyzed. In the initial stage of green production transformation, the local government’s support to the cooperative supervision and incentive strategy is the key to the successful transformation. Cooperatives can effectively promote small farmers’ transition to green production by reducing green production costs and increasing their perceived ecological benefits, moral benefits and brand benefits, but the effect of simply increasing the proportion of dividends is not obvious. Under the supervision and incentive strategy of cooperatives, there is an interval in which small farmers adopt cooperation strategy but fail to realize income increase, so cooperatives should increase the benefit distribution of small farmers. The research results provide reference for the green production transformation of small farmers, and also have strong enlightenment for the cooperative hitchhiking governance.
Fluconazole-resistant Candida parapsilosis: A new emerging threat in the fungi arena
Authors: Escribano Pilar , Guinea Jesús
Published: October 2022

Candida parapsilosis is a leading cause of invasive candidiasis in southern Europe, Latin America and Asia. C. parapsilosis has been mostly considered susceptible to triazoles, but fluconazole resistance is on the rise in some countries. The main mechanism related to fluconazole resistance is the presence of ERG11p substitutions, dominated by the Y132F amino acid substitution. Isolates harbouring this substitution mimic C. auris given that they may cause hospital outbreaks, become endemic, and emerge simultaneously in distant areas around the world. At the moment, Spain is experiencing a brusque emergence of fluconazole resistance in C. parapsilosis; isolates harbouring the Y132F substitution were detected for the first time in 2019. A recent study on Candida spp isolates from blood cultures collected in 16 hospitals located in the Madrid metropolitan area (2019 to 2021) reported that fluconazole resistance in C. parapsilosis reached as high as 13.6%. Resistance rates rose significantly during those three years: 3.8% in 2019, 5.7% in 2020, and 29.1% in 2021; resistant isolates harboured either the dominant Y132F substitution (a single clone found in four hospitals) or G458S (another clone found in a fifth hospital). The COVID-19 pandemic may have increased the number of candidaemia cases. The reason for such an increase might be a consequence of uncontrolled intra-hospital patient-to-patient transmission in some hospitals, as an increase not only in C. parapsilosis candidaemia episodes but also in the spread of clonal fluconazole-resistant isolates might have occurred in other hospitals during the pandemic period. Patients affected with fluconazole-resistant C. parapsilosis harbouring the Y132F substitution presented a mortality rate ranging from 9% to 78%, were mainly admitted to intensive care wards but did not have differential risk factors compared to those infected by susceptible isolates. With scarce exceptions, few patients (≤20%) infected with fluconazole-resistant isolates had previously received fluconazole, thus supporting the fact that, although fluconazole might have been a key factor to promote resistance, the main driver promoting the spread of fluconazole-resistant isolates was patient-to-patient transmission.
Symbiotic and toxinogenic Rhizopus spp. isolated from soils of different papaya producing regions in Mexico
Authors: Cabrera-Rangel José Francisco , Mendoza-Servín Judit Valeria , Córdova-López Gonzalo , Alcalde-Vázquez Raúl , García-Estrada Raymundo Saúl , Winkler Robert , Partida-Martínez Laila P.
Published: October 2022

Mucoralean fungi from the genus Rhizopus are common inhabitants of terrestrial ecosystems, being some pathogens of animals and plants. In this study, we analyzed the symbiotic and toxinogenic potential of Rhizopus species derived from agricultural soils dedicated to the production of papaya (Carica papaya L.) in Mexico. Four representative strains of soil-derived Rhizopus spp. were analyzed employing molecular, microscopic, and metabolic methods. The ITS phylogenies identified the fungi as Rhizopus microsporus HP499, Rhizopus delemar HP475 and HP479, and Rhizopus homothallicus HP487. We discovered that R. microsporus HP499 and R. delemar HP475 harbor similar endofungal bacterial symbionts that belong to the genus Mycetohabitans (Burkholderia sensu lato) and that none of the four fungi were associated with Narnavirus RmNV-20S and RmNV-23S. Intriguingly, the interaction between R. delemar - Mycetohabitans showed different phenotypes from known R. microsporus - Mycetohabitans symbioses. Elimination of bacteria in R. delemar HP475 did not cause a detrimental effect on fungal growth or asexual reproduction. Moreover, metabolic and molecular analyses confirmed that, unlike symbiotic R. microsporus HP499, R. delemar HP475 does not produce rhizoxin, one of the best-characterized toxins produced by Mycetohabitans spp. The rhizoxin (rhi) biosynthetic gene cluster seems absent in this symbiotic bacterium. Our study highlights that the symbioses between Rhizopus and Mycetohabitans are more diverse than anticipated. Our findings contribute to expanding our understanding of the role bacterial symbionts have in the pathogenicity, biology and evolution of Mucorales.
Genome-wide screening of sex-biased genetic variants potentially associated with COVID-19 hospitalization
Authors: Luo Yu-Si , Li Wei , Cai Yi , Zhang Jingxuan , Gui Hongsheng , Zhang Ke , Cheng Zhong-Shan
Published: October 2022

Sex-biased difference in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalization has been observed as that male patients tend to be more likely to be hospitalized than female patients. However, due to the insufficient sample size and existed studies that more prioritized to sex-stratified COVID-19 genome-wide association study (GWAS), the searching for sex-biased genetic variants showing differential association signals between sexes with COVID-19 hospitalization was severely hindered. We hypothesized genetic variants would show potentially sex-biased genetic effects on COVID-19 hospitalization if they display significant differential association effect sizes between male and female COVID-19 patients. By integrating two COVID-19 GWASs, including hospitalized COVID-19 patients vs. general population separated into males (case = 1,917 and control = 221,174) and females (case = 1,343 and control = 262,886), we differentiated the association effect sizes of each common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) within the two GWASs. Twelve SNPs were suggested to show differential COVID-19 associations between sexes. Further investigation of genes (n = 58) close to these 12 SNPs resulted in the identification of 34 genes demonstrating sex-biased differential expression in at least one GTEx tissue. Finally, 5 SNPs are mapped to 8 genes, including rs1134004 (GADD45G), rs140657166 (TRIM29 and PVRL1), rs148143613 (KNDC1 and STK32C), rs2443615 (PGAP2 and TRIM21), and rs2924725 (CSMD1). The 8 genes display significantly differential gene expression in blood samples derived from COVID-19 patients compared to healthy controls. These genes are potential genetic factors contributing to sex differences in COVID-19 hospitalization and warranted for further functional studies.
Severe G6PD deficiency leads to recurrent infections and defects in ROS production: Case report and literature review
Authors: Sun Bijun , Li Qifan , Dong Xiaolong , Hou Jia , Wang Wenjie , Ying Wenjing , Hui Xiaoying , Zhou Qinhua , Yao Haili , Sun Jinqiao , Wang Xiaochuan
Published: October 2022

Purpose: Severe glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency can lead to reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activity in phagocytes, resulting in immunodeficiency, with a limited number of reported cases. Here, we aimed to report a child with severe G6PD deficiency in China and investigate the mechanism of his recurrent infections.

Methods: The clinical manifestations and immunological phenotypes of this patient were retrospectively collected. Gene mutation was detected by whole-exome sequencing and confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Dihydrorhodamine (DHR) analysis was performed to measure the respiratory burst of neutrophils. Messenger ribonucleic acid and protein levels were detected in the patient under lipopolysaccharide stimulation by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. A review of the literature was performed.

Results: A male child with G6PD deficiency presented with recurrent respiratory infections, Epstein‒Barr virus infection and tonsillitis from 8 months of age. Gene testing revealed that the proband had one hemizygous mutation in the G6PD gene (c.496 C>T, p. R166C), inherited from his mother. This mutation might affect hydrophobic binding, and the G6PD enzyme activity of the patient was 0. The stimulation indexes of the neutrophils in the patient and mother were 22 and 37, respectively. Compared with healthy controls, decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was observed in the patient. Activation of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling was found to be influenced, and the synthesis of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) was downregulated in the patient-derived cells. In neutrophils of his mother, 74.71% of the X chromosome carrying the mutated gene was inactivated. By performing a systematic literature review, an additional 15 patients with severe G6PD deficiency and recurrent infections were identified. Four other G6PD gene mutations have been reported, including c.1157T>A, c.180_182del, c.514C>T, and c.953_976del.

Conclusion: Severe G6PD deficiency, not only class I but also class II, can contribute to a chronic granulomatous disease-like phenotype. Decreased reactive oxygen species synthesis led to decreased activation of the NF-κB pathway in G6PD-deficient patients. Children with severe G6PD deficiency should be aware of immunodeficiency disease, and the DHR assay is recommended to evaluate neutrophil function for early identification.
Gut transcriptome reveals differential gene expression and enriched pathways linked to immune activation in response to weaning in pigs
Authors: Le Bon M. , Tötemeyer S. , Emes R. D. , Mellits K. H.
Published: October 2022

Weaning represents one of the most critical periods in pig production associated with increase in disease risk, reduction in performance and economic loss. Physiological changes faced by piglets during the weaning period have been well characterised, however little is currently known about the underlying molecular pathways involved in these processes. As pig meat remains one of the most consumed sources of protein worldwide, understanding how these changes are mediated is critical to improve pig production and consequently sustainable food production globally. In this study, we evaluated the effect of weaning on transcriptomic changes in the colon of healthy piglets over time using an RNA-sequencing approach. The findings revealed a complex and coordinated response to weaning with the majority of genes found to be rapidly differentially expressed within 1 day post weaning. Multiple genes and pathways affected by weaning in the colon were associated with immune regulation, cell signalling and bacterial defence. NOD-like receptors, Toll-like receptor and JAK-STAT signalling pathways were amongst the pathways significantly enriched. Immune activation was evidenced by the enrichment of pathways involved in interferon response, cytokines interactions, oxidoreductase activities and response to microbial invasion. Biosynthesis of amino acids, in particular arginine, was also amongst the most enriched KEGG pathways in weaned pigs, reinforcing the critical role of arginine in gut homeostasis under stress conditions. Overall, transcriptomic and physiological results suggest that pigs going through the weaning transition undergo a transient period of inflammatory state with a temporary breakdown of barrier functions in the gut. These findings could provide valuable tools to monitor host response post weaning, and may be of particular relevance for the investigation and development of intervention strategies aimed to reduce antibiotic use and improve pig health and performance.
Vaccination in pregnancy: The role of the midwife
Authors: Homer Caroline S. E. , Javid Nasrin , Wilton Kellie , Bradfield Zoe
Published: October 2022

Midwives are the front-line workers providing maternity care for women in many countries. The role of the midwife includes providing information about, and recommendations for, maternal vaccination in pregnancy and for the baby in the postnatal period. Vaccinations recommended in pregnancy include those to prevent influenza, pertussis, tetanus and now COVID-19. Vaccinations for the newborn baby include hepatitis B. Healthcare professionals play an important role in influencing decision-making around vaccination and midwives are key in supporting vaccination uptake. Midwives are strong influencer in women's decisions around vaccination for themselves and their babies. The COVID-19 vaccination programs have shone a light on vaccination in pregnancy especially as SARS-COV-2 infection has significant adverse effects in pregnancy. COVID-19 vaccination has been shown to be safe and effective in pregnancy. Despite this, there is vaccine hesitancy from pregnant women in many countries. Midwives play a unique role in the provision of care to women and families but they need specific support and information regarding vaccination in pregnancy. Targeted education, supportive mentoring and supervision and opportunities to lead innovative ways of ensuring vaccine access is logistically easy and possible are all needed. This Commentary outlines the key vaccinations recommended in pregnancy including COVID-19 vaccination and highlights some strategies to scale-up vaccination programs in pregnancy with a particular focus on the role of midwives.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is not a causal risk factor for psoriasis: A Mendelian randomization study of 108,835 individuals
Authors: Näslund-Koch Charlotte , Bojesen Stig Egil , Gluud Lise Lotte , Skov Lone , Vedel-Krogh Signe
Published: October 2022

Background

Psoriasis is observationally associated with a higher risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); however, the causal relationship between the two diseases remains unclear.

Objective

We hypothesized that individuals with NAFLD or elevated liver fat content have higher risk of psoriasis and that NAFLD is a causal risk factor for psoriasis. We tested this using a Mendelian randomization approach.

Methods

We included 108,835 individuals from the Danish general population, including 1,277 individuals with psoriasis and 802 individuals with NAFLD according to ICD codes. To estimate liver fat content, a subset of the participants (N = 7,416) also had a CT scan performed. First, we tested whether a diagnosis of NAFLD or elevated liver fat content was observationally associated with risk of psoriasis. Subsequently, we used the genetic variants PNPLA3 and TM6SF2, both strongly associated with NAFLD and high liver fat content, to test whether NAFLD was causally associated with increased risk of psoriasis.

Results

Observationally, individuals with vs. without a diagnosis of NAFLD had higher risk of psoriasis with an odds ratio of 2.03 (95% confidence interval 1.28-3.21). The risk of psoriasis increased in a stepwise manner with increasing liver fat content with an odds ratio of 5.00 (2.63-9.46) in individuals in the highest quartile of liver fat content compared to individuals in the lowest quartile. In genetic analyses, PNPLA3 and TM6SF2 were both associated with increased risk of NAFLD but not with increased risk of psoriasis.

Conclusion

Observationally, a diagnosis of NAFLD or elevated liver fat content was associated with higher risk of psoriasis. However, using genetic variants as a proxy for NAFLD, we did not find evidence of a causal relationship between NAFLD and psoriasis. Thus, the observational association between NAFLD and psoriasis is presumably a result of shared confounding factors or reverse causation.
The significance of glycolysis index and its correlations with immune infiltrates in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Qiu Zhiqiang , Bai Xuanyang , Ji Xiangwen , Wang Xiang , Han Xinye , Wang Duo , Jiang Fenjun , An Yihua
Published: October 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder without an effective treatment, and results in an increasingly serious health problem. However, its pathogenesis is complex and poorly understood. Nonetheless, the exact role of dysfunctional glucose metabolism in AD pathogenesis remains unclear. We screened 28 core glycolysis-related genes and introduced a novel metric, the glycolysis index, to estimate the activation of glycolysis. The glycolysis index was significantly lower in the AD group in four different brain regions (frontal cortex, FC; temporal cortex, TC; hippocampus, HP; and entorhinal cortex, EC) than that in the control group. Combined with differential expression and over-representation analyses, we determined the clinical and pathological relevance of glycolysis in AD. Subsequently, we investigated the role of glycolysis in the AD brain microenvironment. We developed a glycolysis-brain cell marker connection network, which revealed a close relationship between glycolysis and seven brain cell types, most of which presented abundant variants in AD. Using immunohistochemistry, we detected greater infiltrated microglia and higher expression of glycolysis-related microglia markers in the APP/PS1 AD model than that in the control group, consistent with our bioinformatic analysis results. Furthermore, the excellent predictive value of the glycolysis index has been verified in different populations. Overall, our present findings revealed the clinical and biological significance of glycolysis and the brain microenvironment in AD.
Building an international arbitration hub: China’s competitiveness and direction
Authors: Chu Beiping , Wang Wei
Published: October 2022

Building an international arbitration hub or a regional international arbitration hub has become the development goal and future direction of many countries and regions. The Chinese arbitration community has also been exploring the possibility of establishing an international arbitration hub in China. By issuing the Several Opinions on Promoting the Sound Development of the Maritime Industry in 2015 and the Plan for Further Deepening the Reform and Opening-up of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone in 2017, the State Council of the PRC deployed a key task, that is, to develop a modern shipping service industry (including maritime arbitration), and further set the goal of “exploring the establishment of a national arbitration legal service alliance for pilot free trade zones and an exchange and cooperation mechanism for Asia-Pacific arbitration institutions, so as to accelerating the formation of a global-oriented Asia-Pacific arbitration hub in China”. In this context, China has initiated the revision of the Arbitration Law of the People’s Republic of China, and foreign-related arbitration institutions in China have invested considerable resources in exploring ways to improve their level of arbitration services. In this article, the authors will discuss whether China has the competitive advantages to establish an international arbitration hub and its possible direction of efforts from the perspective of comparative analysis of several major countries, regions or institutions that are currently in the leading position in the global arbitration service industry.
Diapycnal mixing variations induced by subthermocline eddies observed in the north Pacific western boundary region
Authors: Nan Feng , Xue Huijie , Yu Fei , Ren Qiang , Wang Jianfeng
Published: October 2022

Recent observations prove that subthermocline eddies (SEs) are energetic in the north Pacific western boundary region, where interhemispheric waters meet. Our previous study showed that the SEs play an important role in isopycnal mixing of interhemispheric intermediate waters. Whether the SEs can induce diapycnal mixing in the western boundary region is unknown although it has been found true in the interior region. In this study, based on in-situ observations and fine-scale parameterization method, we show spatial structure and variability of diapycnal mixing induced by the SEs in the north Pacific western boundary region. The SEs are located between 200 and 750 m with a maximum swirl speed reaching 0.5 m s-1 and exhibit significant intra-seasonal variability with the period ranging between 50 and 100 days. Compared with shears induced by tides and near-inertial oscillation, sub-inertial shears induced by the SEs are dominant in the subthermocline layer. Consequently, diapycnal diffusivity is elevated up to O(10-4) m2 s-1 about one order higher than the background value when the SEs were passing by. The integrated diapycnal diffusivity between 200 and 750 m is increased by 210%. Modulated by the SEs, diapycnal mixing in the subthermocline has significant intra-seasonal variations. With more and more SEs being observed around the global oceans, we suggest that SE-induced mixing may not be trivial in closing the global ocean energy budget.
Electrorheological polishing performance of cerium-doped titanium dioxide particles
Authors: Hu Xufeng , Sun Han , Yang Zhiyao , Zhao Xiaopeng , Yin Jianbo
Published: October 2022

Electrorheological (ER) polishing as a new type of polishing technique has flexibility and controllability. However, ER polishing cannot be widely used in actual processing because the present ER polishing fluid is usually prepared by simple mixing abrasive materials into ER fluid, which is easy to occur phase separation and decreased ER performance. This paper develops a new type of ER polishing material based on cerium-doped titanium dioxide. As a classic abrasive, the cerium oxide not only has high polishing performance but also can enhance ER performance of titanium dioxide by doping effect, which endows the cerium-doped titanium dioxide with high ER polishing efficiency compared to ER polishing fluid prepared by a simple mixing method. Cerium-doped titanium dioxide particles were prepared by the sol-gel method. The size, surface morphology and elemental distribution were characterized. The ER properties were tested. The effects of different concentrations, machining gap, voltage and rotation speed on polishing performance were studied. Under the conditions of a 0.2 mm machining gap, 3 kV voltage and 200 r/min rotation speed, the surface roughness (Ra) of the copper workpiece decrease from 136 nm to 14.4 nm after 0.5 h of polishing, which is far higher than the polishing efficiency of simple mixed ER polishing fluid.
Research on the Phase Transformation of a Newly Developed Carbonitride-Strengthened Martensitic Heat Resistant Steel
Authors: Zhang Wenfeng , Pan Ping , Zhou Jun , Xiong Wei , Liu Yunqiang , Liu Xiaogang , Yan Wei
Published: October 2022

The phase transformation behavior of nitrides-strengthened martensitic (NSM) heat resistant steel, showing excellent creep behavior under 500°C, was studied in this article. The results showed that during the heating procedure, the formation of austenite was composed successively by intermetallic compound formation in martensite, crystal structure shift from body-centered cubic (BCC) to face-centered cubic (FCC), martensite/ferrite grain boundary migration, austenite nucleation, and growing. The crystal structure switch from BCC to FCC was sensitive to temperature, while the switch from FCC to BCC was only done with phase transformations. During the continuous cooling procedure, the carbide-free bainite would form if the cooling rate was beneath the critical cooling rate. The critical cooling rate was defined as 0.5°C/s for single martensite in NSM steel, according to its inconsistent results of microstructure and continuous cooling transformation (CCT) expansion curve under this condition. Two phase transformation zones were detected in NSM steel: one was a nose-shaped bainite zone and the other was a stripe-shaped martensite zone.
Investigation of deoxidation of high-silicon austenitic sulfuric acid-resistant stainless steel
Authors: Dou Guanxiong , Guo Hanjie , Guo Jing , Li Shaoying , Yan Yan , Wang Zihan
Published: October 2022

The oxygen content in high-silicon austenitic sulfuric acid-resistant stainless steels is one of the most detrimental parameters to their corrosion resistance. Based on the ion-molecular coexistence theory (IMCT), a thermodynamic model of the slag-steel reaction of austenitic stainless steel containing 5.0 wt% Si with CaF2-CaO-Al2O3-MgO-SiO2 pentabasic slag was developed to investigate the deoxidation reaction and the oxygen control mechanism of the steel. The model was validated through experiments proposed in this study. The results of the slag-steel reaction indicated that the equilibrium oxygen content was determined by the greater of two factors: w[O]%, Si obtained from the [Si]-[O] equilibrium reaction controlled by the activity of SiO2 and w[O]%, Al obtained from the [Al]-[O] equilibrium reaction controlled by the activity of Al2O3. The system temperature and the basicity of slag are the most crucial among the multiple variables affecting the equilibrium oxygen content compared with Al2O3 and CaF2 in slag. However, achieving an ultra-low oxygen steel, both a basicity of slag greater than two and a low activity of Al2O3 in slag should be maintained. The total oxygen content in steel can reach a minimum value of 3.4 ppm when the slag composition encompasses w(CaF2)% = 29.38, w(CaO)% = 44.07, w(SiO2)% = 14.69, w(MgO)% = 9.89, w(Al2O3)% = 1.96. The high basicity of slag reduces the total oxygen content of stainless steel, whereas the influence of redox reactions between Si and Al results in a higher Al content in steel and the formation of more inclusions during solidification. Thus, the optimal Al2O3 content is less than 4% and the optimal basicity is 2.4 during the refining process.
Case report: Development of vanishing bile duct syndrome in Stevens-Johnson syndrome complicated by hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
Authors: Lin Wan-Chen , Hsieh Tyng-Shiuan , Chu Chia-Yu
Published: October 2022

Background

Vanishing bile duct syndrome is a rare drug-induced disease characterized by cholestasis and ensuing ductopenia. Dermatological manifestations of drug hypersensitivity such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis may also present in such cases. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is a hyperimmune response caused by unchecked stimulation of macrophages, natural killer cells, and cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Case presentation

We report a severe case who presented with concurrent Stevens-Johnson syndrome and vanishing bile duct syndrome complicated by hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis after the ingestion of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Despite the fact that improvements in vanishing bile duct syndrome can be assumed when combining the clinical lab data clues, as well as repeated liver biopsies showing recovering ductopenia, the patient developed hypovolemic shock combined with septic shock episodes and died on day 236.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is the fifteenth report of vanishing bile duct syndrome associated with Stevens-Johnson disease or toxic epidermal necrolysis. Mortality rate remains high without treatment guidelines established due to the rarity and heterogenicity of the population. Further studies are needed to identify possible risk factors, prognostic indicators, and the standard of care for vanishing bile duct syndrome associated with Stevens-Johnson disease or toxic epidermal necrolysis.
Proteomics unveil a central role for peroxisomes in butyrate assimilation of the heterotrophic Chlorophyte alga Polytomella sp.
Authors: Lacroux Julien , Atteia Ariane , Brugière Sabine , Couté Yohann , Vallon Olivier , Steyer Jean-Philippe , van Lis Robert
Published: October 2022

Volatile fatty acids found in effluents of the dark fermentation of biowastes can be used for mixotrophic growth of microalgae, improving productivity and reducing the cost of the feedstock. Microalgae can use the acetate in the effluents very well, but butyrate is poorly assimilated and can inhibit growth above 1 gC.L−1. The non-photosynthetic chlorophyte alga Polytomella sp. SAG 198.80 was found to be able to assimilate butyrate fast. To decipher the metabolic pathways implicated in butyrate assimilation, quantitative proteomics study was developed comparing Polytomella sp. cells grown on acetate and butyrate at 1 gC.L−1. After statistical analysis, a total of 1772 proteins were retained, of which 119 proteins were found to be overaccumulated on butyrate vs. only 46 on acetate, indicating that butyrate assimilation necessitates additional metabolic steps. The data show that butyrate assimilation occurs in the peroxisome via the β-oxidation pathway to produce acetyl-CoA and further tri/dicarboxylic acids in the glyoxylate cycle. Concomitantly, reactive oxygen species defense enzymes as well as the branched amino acid degradation pathway were strongly induced. Although no clear dedicated butyrate transport mechanism could be inferred, several membrane transporters induced on butyrate are identified as potential condidates. Metabolic responses correspond globally to the increased needs for central cofactors NAD, ATP and CoA, especially in the peroxisome and the cytosol.
Molecular mechanisms of plant growth promotion for methylotrophic Bacillus aryabhattai LAD
Authors: Deng Chao , Liang Xiaolong , Zhang Ning , Li Bingxue , Wang Xiaoyu , Zeng Nan
Published: October 2022

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can produce hormone-like substances, promote plant nutrient uptake, enhance plant resistance, inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria, and induce plant resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Bacillus is one of the most studied genera that promote plant root development. Since its discovery in 2009, B. aryabhattai has shown promising properties such as promoting plant growth and improving crop yield. However, the mechanisms of B. aryabhattai promoting plant growth remain to be investigated. In this study, the chromosome of B. aryabhattai strain LAD and five plasmids within the cell were sequenced and annotated. The genome, with a length of 5,194,589 bp and 38.12% GC content, contains 5,288 putative protein-coding genes, 39 rRNA, and 112 tRNA. The length of the five plasmids ranged from 116,519 to 212,484 bp, and a total of 810 putative protein-coding genes, 4 rRNA, and 32 tRNA were predicted in the plasmids. Functional annotation of the predicted genes revealed numerous genes associated with indole-3 acetic acid (IAA) and exopolysaccharides (EPSs) biosynthesis, membrane transport, nitrogen cycle metabolism, signal transduction, cell mobility, stress response, and antibiotic resistance on the genome which benefits the plants. Genes of carbohydrate-active enzymes were detected in both the genome and plasmids suggesting that LAD has the capacity of synthesizing saccharides and utilizing organic materials like root exudates. LAD can utilize different carbon sources of varied carbon chain length, i.e., methanol, acetate, glycerol, glucose, sucrose, and starch for growth and temperature adaptation suggesting a high versatility of LAD for thriving in fluctuating environments. LAD produced the most EPSs with sucrose as sole carbon source, and high concentration of IAA was produced when the maize plant was cultivated with LAD, which may enhance plant growth. LAD significantly stimulated the development of the maize root. The genome-based information and experimental evidence demonstrated that LAD with diverse metabolic capabilities and positive interactions with plants has tremendous potential for adaptation to the dynamic soil environments and promoting plant growth.
The periplasmic chaperone Skp prevents misfolding of the secretory lipase A from Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Papadopoulos Athanasios , Busch Max , Reiners Jens , Hachani Eymen , Baeumers Miriam , Berger Julia , Schmitt Lutz , Jaeger Karl-Erich , Kovacic Filip , Smits Sander H. J. , Kedrov Alexej
Published: October 2022

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a wide-spread opportunistic human pathogen and a high-risk factor for immunodeficient people and patients with cystic fibrosis. The extracellular lipase A belongs to the virulence factors of P. aeruginosa. Prior to the secretion, the lipase undergoes folding and activation by the periplasmic foldase LipH. At this stage, the enzyme is highly prone to aggregation in mild and high salt concentrations typical for the sputum of cystic fibrosis patients. Here, we demonstrate that the periplasmic chaperone Skp of P. aeruginosa efficiently prevents misfolding of the lipase A in vitro. In vivo experiments in P. aeruginosa show that the lipase secretion is nearly abolished in absence of the endogenous Skp. Small-angle X-ray scattering elucidates the trimeric architecture of P. aeruginosa Skp and identifies two primary conformations of the chaperone, a compact and a widely open. We describe two binding modes of Skp to the lipase, with affinities of 20 nM and 2 μM, which correspond to 1:1 and 1:2 stoichiometry of the lipase:Skp complex. Two Skp trimers are required to stabilize the lipase via the apolar interactions, which are not affected by elevated salt concentrations. We propose that Skp is a crucial chaperone along the lipase maturation and secretion pathway that ensures stabilization and carry-over of the client to LipH.
Therapeutic potential of selenium nanoparticles
Authors: K Deepasree , Venugopal Subhashree
Published: October 2022

Diseases have always been a disconcerting issue and have changed into being an inevitable member of the world’s population. Medical advancements have brought in improved treatments for particular ailments, but unfortunately those betterments have resulted in either side effects or turned out futile to a certain extent. The emergence of nanotechnology has considerably benefitted medical experts in disease diagnosis and therapeutics. Currently, an expansive range of nanoparticles is being explored for their effectiveness in therapies, and one among them is selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs). Nano-selenium exhibits significant properties which make it best suited for this purpose. The article highlights the key role of SeNPs in treating major diseases like cancer, diabetes, and microbial infections.
Evaluation of the apposition in unruptured aneurysms treated with flow diverters by optical coherence tomography: Preliminary clinical experience
Authors: Li Jing , Gong Wentao , Li Dongdong , Song Wenpeng , Fan Feng , Yuan Yongjie , Li Youxiang , Guan Sheng
Published: October 2022

Background

The risk of perioperative stroke and the rate of occlusion of long-term aneurysms in the treatment of unruptured aneurysms with flow diverters (FDs) are affected by stent apposition. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) may be an optional technique in evaluating apposition.

Purpose

To explore the feasibility of the OCT imaging technique in evaluating stent apposition in the clinical application of the FD for unruptured aneurysms.

Methods

OCT and Vaso CT were used in patients with indications for surgery to treat unruptured aneurysms with the FDs, to evaluate the apposition of the FDs after fully released, and to analyze OCT images for FDs apposition and compare with corresponding Vaso CT images.

Results

A total of four patients were enrolled, and OCT found malapposition after FDs placement in all four patients, and the maximum gap between the stent and vascular wall ranged from 0.68 to 1.95 mm and the length of malapposition ranged from 1.80 to 7.40 mm. However, Vaso CT found malapposition only in two of the four patients and missed malapposition near aneurysm in all three patients treated by the FD combined with coiling and could not accurately evaluate the maximum gap and the length of the malapposition.

Conclusion

The optical coherence tomography technique is a possible approach to evaluate apposition after the treatment of unruptured aneurysms by the FDs.
MELK is a prognostic biomarker and correlated with immune infiltration in glioma
Authors: Yang Haiyan , Zhou Huandi , Wang Guohui , Tian Lei , Li Haonan , Zhang Yufeng , Xue Xiaoying
Published: October 2022

Objective

Glioma accounts for the vast majority of primary brain tumors with inevitable recurrence and poor prognosis. Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK) is overexpressed in multiple human tumors and could activate a variety of oncogenic-associated signal pathways. However, its role in the glioma microenvironment is still largely unknown.

Methods

We collected the RNA sequence data and clinical information of gliomas from the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA), The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, and investigated MELK expression and its correlation with clinicopathologic features and prognosis in glioma. Moreover, the relationship between MELK expression and immune cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment of gliomas was explored through single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) and CIBERSORT. In addition, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and Metascape online analysis were performed to find out signaling pathways enriched by differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between high- and low-MELK expression groups. Finally, immunohistochemistry was performed to validate our findings.

Results

Data analysis of CGGA and GEO datasets showed that MELK was significantly upregulated in gliomas than in normal brain tissues, and MELK expression was obviously correlated with clinicopathologic features, including age, WHO grade, histological subtype, IDH mutant status, 1p19q codeletion status, and PRS type. Stratified analysis, Cox regression analysis, and nomogram model revealed that high expression of MELK predicted poor survival; hence, MELK could serve as an independent prognostic biomarker for glioma. Moreover, results from enrichment pathway analysis indicated that the immune system process, angiogenesis, apoptosis, cell cycle, and other oncogenic-related signal pathways were significantly enriched between high- and low-MELK expression groups. Immune infiltration analysis demonstrated that increased MELK expression was significantly correlated with higher immune scores, higher fractions of immunocytes (T cells, NK cells resting, macrophages, resting mast cells, and neutrophils), and higher expression levels of immune checkpoints (B7-H3, CTLA4, LAG3, PD-1, PD-L1, and TIM3). Finally, immunohistochemistry analysis validated our findings that high expression of MELK relates to increased malignancy and poor prognosis of glioma.

Conclusion

Our findings identified that MELK could act as an independent prognostic indicator and potential immunotherapy target for glioma. In conclusion, these findings suggested that DDOST mediated the immunosuppressive microenvironment of gliomas and could be an important biomarker in diagnosing and treating gliomas.
Establishment of online deep learning model for insect-affected pests in “Yali” pears based on visible-near-infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Hao Yong , Zhang Chengxiang , Li Xiyan , Lei Zuxiang
Published: October 2022

Insect-affected pests, as an important indicator in inspection and quarantine, must be inspected in the imports and exports of fruits like “Yali” pears (a kind of duck head-shaped pear). Therefore, the insect-affected pests in Yali pears should be previously detected in an online, real-time, and accurate manner during the commercial sorting process, thus improving the import and export trade competitiveness of Yali pears. This paper intends to establish a model of online and real-time discrimination for recessive insect-affected pests in Yali pears during commercial sorting. The visible-near-infrared (Vis-NIR) spectra of Yali samples were pretreated to reduce noise interference and improve the spectral signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The Competitive Adaptive Reweighted Sampling (CARS) method was adopted for the selection of feature modeling variables, while Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Convolutional Block Attention Module-Convolutional Neural Networks (CBAM-CNN) were used to establish online discriminant models. T-distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding (T-SNE) and Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad-CAM) were used for the clustering and attention distribution display of spectral features of deep learning models. The results show that the online discriminant model obtained by SGS pretreatment combined with the CBAM-CNN deep learning method exhibits the best performance, with 96.88 and 92.71% accuracy on the calibration set and validation set, respectively. The prediction time of a single pear is 0.032 s, which meets the online sorting requirements.