bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of 3-Nitroacetophenone on Corrosion Inhibition of Mild Steel in Acidic Medium
Authors: Ibrahim Sani , Sanmugapriya R. , Selvi J. Arockia , Malini T. Pushpa , Kamaraj P. , Vivekanand P. A. , Periyasami Govindasami , Aldalbahi Ali , Perumal Karthikeyan , Madhavan J. , Khanal Santosh
Published: February 2022

Acetophenone derivatives are eco-friendly corrosion inhibitors to prevent corrosion of mild steel (MS) in acidic medium. In this work, the inhibition effect of 3-nitroacetophenone (3-NA) on the corrosion of MS in acidic medium (1 N HCl) was investigated using weight loss measurements, electrochemical measurements, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and quantum chemistry analysis. The studies were performed using different concentrations of inhibitors and at different temperatures. The results indicated that the inhibition efficiency of 3-NA increases with an increase in inhibitor concentration and reaches to a maximum of 64% at inhibitor concentration of 250 ppm at 30°C. The potentiodynamic polarization measurement indicated that 3-NA acts as mixed category of interdict. The adsorption of 3-NA on MS surface followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The mode of adsorption of 3-NA on MS surface was further studied by quantum chemical calculations based on density functional theory (DFT). The results plainly revealed that 3-NA performs fairly as corrosion interdict for MS in acidic medium.
Colloidal Nanosilica Effect on the Properties and Durability of Coir Reinforced Cement Brick
Authors: Hisham Shah M. H. S. , Lee C. C. , Zamzuri M. , Vijayan V.
Published: February 2022

The impact of nanosilica on the properties and microstructure of cement-based products has lately attracted a lot of attention. The effects of colloidal nanosilica (CNS) at different concentrations on the hydration process and performance of cement-based composites reinforced with coconut coir were examined in this study. CNS was applied at concentrations of 0%, 2%, 4%, and 6% by weight of cement, respectively. The samples were evaluated in terms of flexural test, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TG-DTG), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) after 7, 28, and 60 days of curing. Flexural strength improved by 13%, 11%, and 23% in the presence of CNS after 7, 28, and 60 days of hydration, respectively, as compared to the samples without CNS addition. The highest flexural strength was reported in samples containing 4% CNS. Beyond this, flexural strength decreases noticeably owing to the presence of too much nanosilica, which repressed the hydration process. The predominant causes of sample failure appear to be fiber breakage and fiber pull-out. In the sample containing 4% CNS, a dense structure was seen. The fibers had a strong bond with the matrix, showing that fiber/matrix bonding was improved. CNS served as a pozzolanic reaction promoter, converting CH to C-S-H, and a filler to improve cement microstructure. The CH content decreased when CNS was added, while the C-S-H gels increased.
Research on 3D Point Cloud Object Detection Algorithm for Autonomous Driving
Authors: Jiang Haiyang , Lu Yuanyao , Chen Shengnan
Published: February 2022

In autonomous driving, lidar has become the main vehicle sensor due to its advantages such as long-range measurement and high accuracy. However, the collected point cloud data is sparse and unevenly distributed, and it lacks characterization capabilities when facing objects with missing or similar shapes, so that the detection accuracy is low while detecting long-distance small targets with similar shapes and a small number of point clouds. In order to improve the detection accuracy of small targets represented by point clouds, this paper adopts a method that fuses point cloud and RGB image to construct a 3D object detection network architecture based on two-stage complementary fusion. In the first stage of the fusion, we use the FPS method to select some points from the raw point cloud data as key points. Then, we voxelize the raw point cloud and use the 3D sparse convolutional neural network to extract multi-scale points cloud features, which would fuse features of different scales with key points. In the second stage of fusion, a 2D object detector is used to obtain the 2D bounding box and category information of the target in the image and take the camera as the origin to extend along the direction of the 2D bounding box to form a frustum; then the point cloud and target category information within the frustum are fused into the key points. This paper uses key points as a bridge to effectively combine the semantic information of the image such as texture and color with the point cloud features. The experimental results show that the network proposed in this paper has excellent performance on small objects.
Effect of Whole-Course Continuous Nursing Intervention Combined with a Nursing Practice Teaching Method on Quality of Life of Children with Functional Dyspepsia and Parents’ Satisfaction Based on Smart Health
Authors: Li Yue , Xu Fenqin , Sun Jun , Mao Kangwei , Sun Suyun , Dai Jie
Published: February 2022

With the development of information technology, it has become a part of people’s lives. WeChat is not only a popular chatting tool in daily life but can also be used in the medical field. Functional dyspepsia is a common pediatric disease, with complex pathogenic factors, which are usually attributed to abnormal gastric acid secretion and gastrointestinal dysfunction. In our research, we aim to investigate the effects of whole-course continuous nursing intervention combined with a nursing practice teaching method on the quality of life (QOL) of children with functional dyspepsia and parents’ satisfaction. One hundred and twenty children with functional dyspepsia admitted to our hospital (February 2019–February 2020) were retrospectively analyzed and equally divided into the experimental group (EG) and the control group (CG) according to the order of admission. The CG received whole-course continuous nursing intervention, and the EG received whole-course continuous nursing intervention combined with the nursing practice teaching method. Children’s psychological states and QOL and parents’ satisfaction of both groups were compared. After discharge, compared with the CG, the negative emotion scores in the EG were remarkably lower (

P
<
0.001

). After discharge, compared with the CG, the QOL scores (

P
<
0.001

), the proportion of children with good and excellent QOL (

P
<
0.05

), and parents’ satisfaction (

P
<
0.001

) in the EG were remarkably higher. For children with functional dyspepsia, whole-course continuous nursing intervention combined with the nursing practice teaching method can improve their negative emotions, QOL, and parents’ satisfaction, which should be popularized in practice.
Development and Operation of the Dalian Cruise Port in China
Authors: Gong Lina
Published: February 2022

China's cruise industry has developed rapidly in the past ten years, and China's cruise port construction has flourished. A total of 20 cities along the coast of mainland China have built or planned to build cruise terminals. According to WTO estimates, China will gradually become the world's largest source country of cruise passengers and cruise travel consumers in the future. Due to different national conditions, the business model and development prospects of Chinese cruise ports are different from those of foreign ports. It requires finding the pioneers of domestic cruise ports to take the lead, providing advice on the development and operation of cruise ports. Dalian Cruise Port is actively formulating its cruise industry development plan, expanding the cruise port, and improving the supporting facilities in the cruise port area. Based on the characteristics of the operation of the Dalian cruise port, we use the gray model to make a vague prediction of the future development of the cruise port. It reflects the advanced operation mode of Dalian Port. This research systematically analyzed cruise port operations and maritime cruise transportation. Because the cruise port's business model and prospects are essential to the cruise port industry, China's cruise ports must learn more advanced operating models.
Modeling Soil Temperature for Different Days Using Novel Quadruplet Loss-Guided LSTM
Authors: Wang Xuezhi , Li Wenhui , Li Qingliang , Li Xiaoning
Published: February 2022

Soil temperature (Ts), a key variable in geosciences study, has generated growing interest among researchers. There are many factors affecting the spatiotemporal variation of Ts, which poses immense challenges for the Ts estimation. To enrich processing information on loss function and achieve better performance in estimation, the paper designed a new long short-term memory model using quadruplet loss function as an intelligence tool for data processing (QL-LSTM). The model in this paper combined the traditional squared-error loss function with distance metric learning between the sample features. It can zoom analyze the samples accurately to optimize the estimation accuracy. We applied the meteorological data from Laegern and Fluehli stations at 5, 10, and 15 cm depth on the 1st, 5th, and 15th day separately to verify the performance of the proposed soil temperature estimation model. Meanwhile, this paper inputs the variables into the proposed model including radiation, air temperature, vapor pressure deficit, wind speed, air pressure, and past Ts data. The performance of the model was tested by several error evaluation indices, including root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), Nash-Sutcliffe model efficiency coefficient (NS), Willmott Index of Agreement (WI), and Legates and McCabe index (LMI). As the test results at different soil depths show, our model generally outperformed the four existing advanced estimation models, namely, backpropagation neural networks, extreme learning machines, support vector regression, and LSTM. Furthermore, as experiments show, the proposed model achieved the best performance at the 15 cm depth of soil on the 1st day at Laegern station, which achieved higher WI (0.998), NS (0.995), and LMI (0.938) values, and got lower RMSE (0.312) and MAE (0.239) values. Consequently, the QL-LSTM model is recommended to estimate daily Ts profiles estimation on the 1st, 5th, and 15th days.
Grey Wolf Optimizer-Based ANNs to Predict the Compressive Strength of Self-Compacting Concrete
Authors: Andalib Amir , Aminnejad Babak , Lork Alireza
Published: February 2022

Ever since their presentation in the late 80s, self-compacting concrete (SCC) has been well received by researchers. SCC can flow under their weight and exhibit high workability. Nonetheless, their nonlinear behavior has made the prediction of their mix properties more demanding. Furthermore, the complex relationship between mixed proportions and rheological and mechanical properties of SCC renders their behavior prediction challenging. Soft computing approaches have been shown to optimize and reduce uncertainties, and therefore in this paper, we aim to address these challenges by employing artificial neural network (ANN) models optimized using the grey wolf optimizer (GWO) algorithm. The optimized model proved to be more accurate than genetic algorithms and multiple linear regression models. The results indicate that the four most influential parameters on the compressive strength of SCC are the cement content, ground granulated blast furnace slag, rice husk ash, and fly ash.
Losartan Attenuates Atherosclerosis in Uremic Mice by Regulating Treg/Th17 Balance via Mediating PTEN/PI3K/Akt Pathway
Authors: Wei Shanzhai , Sun Jie , Li Yibei , Xu Kangchun , Wang Man , Zhang Yilai
Published: February 2022

Introduction: Uremia could accelerate atherosclerosis (AS) formation involving Treg/Th17 imbalance. Losartan regulates the imbalance between regulatory T cells (Treg cells) and T helper 17 cells (Th17 cells). However, their interactions in uremia accelerated AS (UAAS) remained poorly understood. Methods: UAAS mice model was established, and after losartan and VO-OHpic (VO, phosphatase and tensin homolog [PTEN] inhibitor) injection, biological indexes, and inflammatory cytokines (transforming growth factor-β1, TGF-β1; interleukin-10 [IL-10]; IL-17 and IL-6) levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pathological changes on aorta were observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining. Percentages of Treg cells (CD4+CD25+Foxp3+) and Th17 cells (CD4+IL-17+) in total CD4+ T cells were determined using flow cytometry. PTEN expressions were measured using Western blot, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry staining as needed. Results: After UAAS mice model construction, biological indexes (urea, cholesterol, and triglycerides) levels were increased, and aortic atherosclerotic plaque was formed. In UAAS mice, in total CD4+ T cells, Treg cells percentage was decreased yet Th17 cells percentage was increased, and TGF-β1 and IL-10 levels were downregulated yet IL-17 and IL-6 levels were upregulated. An opposite effect was found after losartan treatment. PTEN was downregulated in UAAS mice, and suppressing PTEN reversed the alleviating effects of losartan in UAAS mice. Conclusion: Losartan attenuated UAAS in mice by regulating Treg/Th17 cells balance via mediating PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathway, providing possible therapeutic method for UAAS in clinical practice.
Fluctuations in Interleukin-6 Levels during Hemodialysis Sessions with Medium Cutoff Membranes: An Analysis on COVID-19 Case Series
Authors: Murt Ahmet , Yalin Serkan Feyyaz , Konukoglu Dildar , Ronco Claudio , Altiparmak Mehmet Riza
Published: February 2022

Introduction: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is one of the most important mediators of inflammation. It is also the culprit for a severe disease course in COVID-19. While COVID-19 has higher mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients, medium cutoff (MCO) membranes were previously suggested as promising tools for better patient outcomes by purging inflammatory mediators. The aim of this study was to analyze changes in IL-6 levels of HD patients who were dialyzed via MCO membranes during their COVID-19 treatments. Methods: This is an observational study on a group of HD patients who were admitted with COVID-19 diagnosis in a university hospital and intermittently dialyzed using MCO membranes during their hospital stay. IL-6 levels of the patients were measured before and after consecutive dialysis sessions by a commercial kit. Measurements were interpreted together with the clinical data. Results: Nine patients with a total of 54 measurements were evaluated. IL-6 levels were significantly higher in patients who died (median and interquartile ranges [IQRs] of IL-6 levels for patients who died and survived were 112.0 pg/mL [48.3–399.4] and 5.3 pg/mL [2.2–27.4], respectively; p < 0.001). In the comparison of changes in IL-6 levels with dialysis sessions, patients who survived had lower post-dialysis levels (median: 4.5 pg/mL; IQR: 2.2–7.6). However, IL-6 levels had a tendency to increase with dialysis sessions in patients who could not survive COVID-19 (median: 237.0 pg/mL; IQR: 53.8–418.2). Conclusion: This study describes over time variations in IL-6 levels of COVID-19 patients undergoing HD with MCO membranes. The trend for the changes of IL-6 levels during dialysis sessions was not uniform for all patients. Surviving patients had decreasing levels of IL-6 with consecutive dialysis sessions, while nonsurvivors had an increasing trend.
Delayed Puberty Phenotype Observed in Noonan Syndrome Is More Pronounced in Girls than Boys
Authors: Rezende Raissa C. , Noronha Renata Maria , Keselman Ana , Quedas Elisangela P.S. , Dantas Naiara C.B. , Andrade Nathalia L.M. , Bertola Debora R. , Malaquias Alexsandra C. , Jorge Alexander A.L.
Published: February 2022

Introduction: Pubertal delay is described as one of the clinical features in Noonan syndrome (NS) and it may be one of the factors causing short adult height in those patients. The present study aimed at characterizing pubertal development in NS and identifying pubertal delay predictors. Methods: We analyzed 133 individuals with a molecular diagnosis of NS and clinical puberty evaluation. We characterized delayed puberty as pubertal onset after 12 years in girls and 13.5 years in boys, according to parameters of the Brazilian population. To investigate its predictors, we correlated the age at onset of puberty with several characteristics and genotype in a multilevel regression model. For comprehending pubertal development in NS, we assessed age and anthropometric measures at each Tanner stage and adult age. Results: The mean age at puberty onset for girls was 11.9 ± 1.9 years and for boys, 12.5 ± 1.7 years, significantly later than the Brazilian population (p = 0.025; p < 0.001). Girls (49.1%) presented delayed puberty more frequently than boys (27.9%, p = 0.031). Body mass index standard deviation scores (SDS) and insulin growth factor 1 SDS at puberty onset significantly predicted later puberty entry. Height gain from the onset of puberty to adult height was lower in children with pubertal delay. Conclusion: Pubertal delay is characteristically found in children with NS, more frequently in females. The low weight of patients with NS could modulate the age of puberty, just as the increase in overweight/obesity in the general population has shown an effect on reducing the age of onset of puberty.
Reciclagem e gestão do ambiente urbano: o trabalho dos catadores de resíduos sólidos na metrópole paulistana em tempos de políticas neoliberais
Authors: Marques Marta Inez Medeiros
Published: February 2022

A atividade de coleta de resíduos sólidos, tradicionalmente desenvolvida por um dos segmentos mais precarizados da classe trabalhadora nas cidades, tem sido alvo de um conjunto de mudanças, e a criação do Movimento Nacional de Catadores de Recicláveis em 2001, bem como a aprovação da Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos (Lei nº 12.305/2010) no final governo Lula, é evidência disso. O objetivo deste artigo é analisar os fundamentos dessas mudanças e as suas relações com transformações recentes observadas no mundo do trabalho e na gestão pública, bem como com o crescente apelo político e mercadológico exercido pela defesa da sustentabilidade ambiental, a partir do estudo do que ocorre na cidade de São Paulo. Em tempos de crise ambiental e do trabalho, dentre outras crises, além dos resíduos sólidos, reciclam-se discursos, políticas e práticas econômicas
Un fonógrafo poderosísimo: la invención de Bioy Casares y los ecos de Thomas Mann
Authors: Souza Ana Claudia Ferreira Martins de
Published: February 2022

El presente artículo elabora un análisis de la novela La invención de Morel (1940) del argentino Adolfo Bioy Casares, concentrando las investigaciones en la invención, tanto en sentido científico como literario, a partir de que pensamos la hipótesis de diálogo con la novela La montaña mágica (1924) de Thomas Mann. Tenendo en cuenta el escenario aislado vinculado a una enfermedad, y aspectos como la música, el tiempo, el amor y las clases sociales en evidencia, buscamos investigar las equivalencias y posibles desdoblamientos, asimismo la hipotética respuesta musical de Thomas Mann al supuesto homenaje de Bioy Casares. El cotejo incluye obras de otros autores que trantan de los mismos temas, buscando ecos de las anteriores, consonancia en las contemporáneas e influyencia en las posteriores.
Lundu Imperfeito: o poema-canção Uma Orquestra de Luiz Gama
Authors: Mora Arthur Katrein
Published: February 2022

Fundamentado na vida e obra do advogado, jornalista e poeta Luiz Gama (1830-1882), homem negro, escravizado na juventude, que transitou espaços institucionais do Brasil Imperial, e nas origens do lundu como amálgama de concepções estéticas europeias e afro-brasileiras, o presente artigo explora a composição temática, formal e ideológica de “Uma orquestra”, poema-canção integrante do volume Primeiras trovas burlescas de Getulino (1859). Trata-se de uma composição conciliadora do duplo entrelugar (SANTIAGO, 2000) habitado tanto por seu autor, quanto pelo seu gênero musical-literário, dos quais expressa o temperamento engajado nos embates, contradições, resistências e assimilações historicamente presentes na arte e na sociedade brasileira. Por intermédio de pesquisas históricas sobre a elaboração e a performance do lundu, de José Ramos Tinhorão (2013) e Edilson Vicente de Lima (2010), e o conceito de sujeito lírico abrangente, que excede o texto literário, de Dominique Combe (2010), “Uma orquestra” afigura-se uma manifestação do alcance e do valor do lundu – em sua versão desprezada e compelida à marginalidade no século XIX – e que encontrou em Luiz Gama o vate que não apenas o registrou literariamente, mas o reputou relevante e belo em sua suposta imperfeição, afirmando-o como componente idealizado de um engajamento romântico.
La mélodie française comme témoignage d’une réception : le cas d’invocation
Authors: Pasini Lucia
Published: February 2022

Tout au long de cet article, j’esquisse en première instance les contours d’un appareil conceptuel afin de définir les termes dans lesquelles je situe mon travail, et je montre ensuite par le biais de l’exemple d’Invocation à quel point la prise en compte du genre mélodique dans une optique littéraire s’avère fructueuse. L’analyse de cet exemple est à son tour divisée en deux parties : une première où il est question de situer la mélodie dans son contexte de production, et une deuxième où l’on se tourne effectivement vers le morceau et ses caractéristiques particulières. En proposant un appareil conceptuel pour concevoir littérairement la mélodie française, je m’appuie sur trois pôles théoriques de références, dont la provenance est hétérogène, à savoir : la théorie de la réception ; la notion de « fenêtre herméneutique », telle que la présente Lawrence Kramer ; et la notion de « réseau des textes possibles », telle qu’en parle Michel Charles. Ensuite, je présente un exemple isolé pour montrer le potentiel d’une conception littéraire de la mélodie française comme témoignage de la réception par les compositeurs des textes poétiques qu’ils choisissent pour leurs morceaux.
A música concreta nos anos 1960: do poetamenos aos Longs Plays no cenário cultural paulista
Authors: Vidal Junior Itamar , Tiné Paulo José de Siqueira
Published: February 2022

Baseado em entrevistas concedidas pelo compositor Rogério Duprat (1932 - 2006) e textos críticos e literários produzidos pelos poetas concretos Augusto de Campos, Haroldo de Campos e Décio Pignatari, este artigo investiga a interação de músicos e escritores paulistas entre meados dos anos 1950 e início dos 1960. A colaboração ativa entre músicos, poetas e artistas visuais (artes plásticas, artes gráficas e cinema) pontuou a produção musical da vanguarda paulista do início dos anos 1960, influenciou o movimento concretista, a concepção do Grupo Música Nova e, no final da década, a eclosão do Tropicalismo.
Arrhythmias in Female Patients: Incidence, Presentation and Management
Authors: Zeitler Emily P. , Poole Jeanne E. , Albert Christine M. , Al-Khatib Sana M. , Ali-Ahmed Fatima , Birgersdotter-Green Ulrika , Cha Yong-Mei , Chung Mina K. , Curtis Anne B. , Hurwitz Jodie L. , Lampert Rachel , Sandhu Roopinder K. , Shaik Fatima , Sullivan Erin , Tamirisa Kamala P. , Santos Volgman Annabelle , Wright Jennifer M. , Russo Andrea M.
Published: February 2022

There is a growing appreciation for differences in epidemiology, treatment, and outcomes of cardiovascular conditions by sex. Historically, cardiovascular clinical trials have under-represented females, but findings have nonetheless been applied to clinical care in a sex-agnostic manner. Thus, much of the collective knowledge about sex-specific cardiovascular outcomes result from post hoc and secondary analyses. In some cases, these investigations have revealed important sex-based differences with implications for optimizing care for female patients with arrhythmias. This review explores the available evidence related to cardiac arrhythmia care among females, with emphasis on areas in which important sex differences are known or suggested. Considerations related to improving female enrollment in clinical trials as a way to establish more robust clinical evidence for the treatment of females are discussed. Areas of remaining evidence gaps are provided, and recommendations for areas of future research and specific action items are suggested. The overarching goal is to improve appreciation for sex-based differences in cardiac arrhythmia care as 1 component of a comprehensive plan to optimize arrhythmia care for all patients.
Transforming Lord’s Supper: Indonesian Protestant Responses to the Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Iwamony Rachel
Published: February 2022

By focusing on the issue of the Lord’s Supper, this article explores the contextual theological responses of three Protestant churches in the eastern part of Indonesia towards the Covid-19 pandemic. The article argues that discourses on the Lord’s Supper in response to the pandemic reflected the mission theology of these communities in terms of their beliefs (doctrine) and practices (rites, structures, order, community). Through online interviews and document analysis, the researcher discovered that churches made significant contextual transformations during the first period of the pandemic. The pandemic challenged these churches to make significant theological responses to fulfill their mission. They changed traditional rituals to adapt to distancing guidelines. In contrast to the belief in the importance of church buildings, the homes of church members were transformed into church-centers. Solidarity among congregational members was stronger than before the pandemic, with ways for members to contact and support each other from home.
A new species of the genus Dendrolasiophilus Nomura, 2010 from the south of the Russian Far East (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae)
Authors: KURBATOV SERGEY A. , KOVALEV ALEXEY V.
Published: February 2022

Dendrolasiophilus subitus sp. nov. from the Russian Far East is described and illustrated. Some nomenclatural notes on the genus Dendrolasiophilus Nomura, 2010 are given.
Digitally Customized and Interactive Laddering: A New Way for Examining Tourists’ Value Structures
Authors: Sorakunnas Esko , Konu Henna
Published: February 2022

Insight into consumer value forms the basis for successful tourism management. The means-end structures of consumer value in tourism are mainly investigated by qualitative, in-depth laddering interviews while structured, quantitative laddering is less common. This study develops quantitative laddering by digitalizing the Association Pattern Technique (APT) in order to increase its interactive customization. The feasibility of digitally customized APT is piloted by investigating 956 nature-based tourists visiting Finnish national parks. The evaluation of the method is based on epistemological laddering criteria and usability. The results demonstrate greater contextuality, increased sample relevance, delivery of complete chains, and decreased risks of misunderstandings compared to conventional APT. Hence, digitalized APT holds potential for examining the structure of consumer value and its larger sample size also reveals less apparent means-end chains and universal values. However, its wider adoption into managerial processes would benefit from the development of specific software.
The lncRNA DANCR promotes development of atherosclerosis by regulating the miR-214-5p/COX20 signaling pathway
Authors: Zhang Ruolan , Hao Yuming , Zhang Jinrong
Published: February 2022

Background

Although long non-coding RNA differentiation antagonizing non-protein coding RNA (DANCR) has been reported to be involved in atherosclerosis (AS) development, its specific mechanism remains unclear.

Methods

DANCR expression levels in blood samples of AS patients and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) treated vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The small interfering RNA targeting DANCR (si-DANCR) was used to silence DANCR expression. Cell viability was assessed by CCK-8 assay. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry. Levels of inflammatory cytokines, anti-oxidative enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and malonaldehyde (MDA) were detected by specific commercial kits. An animal AS model was established to confirm the role of DANCR/microR-214-5p/COX20 (the chaperone of cytochrome c oxidase subunit II COX2) in AS development.

Results

DANCR was significantly increased in the blood samples of AS patients and ox-LDL treated VSMCs and HUVECs. DANCR downregulation obviously increased viability and reduced apoptosis of ox-LDL-treated VSMCs and HUVECs. Meanwhile, DANCR downregulation reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6 (IL-6), IL-1beta (IL-1β), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha (TNF-α) and MDA while increasing the SOD level in ox-LDL-treated VSMCs and HUVECs. DANCR regulated COX20 expression by acting as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) of miR-214-5p. Rescue experiments demonstrated that miR-214-5p downregulation obviously attenuated si-DANCR-induced protective effects on ox-LDL-caused endothelial injury.

Conclusions

Our results revealed that DANCR promoted AS progression by targeting the miR-214-5p/COX20 axis, suggesting that DANCR might be a potential therapeutic target for AS.
Analysis of gene expression in early seed germination of rice: landscape and genetic regulation
Authors: Li Haoxuan , Li Xiaozheng , Wang Guanjie , Zhang Jianhua , Wang Guanqun
Published: February 2022

Background

Seed germination is a crucial process, which determines the initiation of seed plant life cycle. The early events during this important life cycle transition that called early seed germination is defined as initially water uptake plus radicle growing out of the covering seed layers. However, a specific genome-wide analysis of early seed germination in rice is still obscure.

Results

In this study, the physiological characteristics of rice seed during seed germination are determined to define key points of early seed germination. Transcriptome analyses of early phase of seed germination provided deeper insight into the genetic regulation landscape. Many genes involved in starch-to-sucrose transition were differentially expressed, especially alpha-amylase 1b and beta-amylase 2, which were predominantly expressed. Differential exon usage (DEU) genes were identified, which were significantly enriched in the pathway of starch and sucrose metabolism, indicating that DEU events were critical for starch-to-sucrose transition at early seed germination. Transcription factors (TFs) were also dramatic expressed, including the abscisic acid (ABA) responsive gene, OsABI5, and gibberellic acid (GA) responsive genes, GAI. Moreover, GAI transactivated GA responsive gene, GAMYB in vivo, indicating a potential pathway involved in early seed germination process. In addition, CBL-interacting protein kinase (CIPK) genes, such as CIPK13, CIPK14 and CIPK17 were potentially interacted with other proteins, indicating its pivotal role at early seed germination.

Conclusion

Taken together, gene regulation of early seed germination in rice was complex and protein-to-gene or protein-to-protein interactions were indispensable.
Mapping and ablation of left atrial roof-dependent tachycardias using an ultra-high resolution mapping system
Authors: Miyazaki Shinsuke , Hasegawa Kanae , Yamao Kazuya , Ishikawa Eri , Mukai Moe , Aoyama Daisetsu , Nodera Minoru , Yamaguchi Junya , Shiomi Yuichiro , Tama Naoto , Ikeda Hiroyuki , Fukuoka Yoshitomo , Ishida Kentaro , Uzui Hiroyasu , Iesaka Yoshito , Tada Hiroshi
Published: February 2022

Background

Left atrial roof-dependent tachycardias (LARTs) are common macroreentrant atrial tachycardias (ATs). We sought to characterize clinical LARTs using an ultra-high resolution mapping system.

Methods

This study included 22 consecutive LARTs in 21 patients who underwent AT mapping/ablation using Rhythmia systems.

Results

Three, 13, 4, and 2 LART patients were cardiac intervention naïve (Group-A), post-roof line ablation (Group-B), post-atrial fibrillation ablation without linear ablation (Group-C), and post-cardiac surgery (Group-D), respectively. The mean AT cycle length was 244 ± 43 ms. Coronary sinus activation was proximal-to-distal or distal-to-proximal in 16 (72.7%) ATs. The activation map revealed 13 (59.1%) clockwise and 9 (40.9%) counter-clockwise LARTs. A 12-lead synchronous isoelectric interval was observed in 10/19 (52.6%) LARTs. The slow conduction area was identified on the LA roof, anterior/septal wall, and posterior wall in 18, 6, and 2 ATs, respectively. Twenty concomitant ATs among 13 procedures were also eliminated, and peri-mitral AT coexisted in 7 of 9 non-group-B patients. In group-B, the conduction gap was predominantly located on the mid-roof. Sustained LARTs were terminated by a single application and linear ablation in 6 (27.3%) and 9 (40.9%), while converting to other ATs in 7 (31.8%) LARTs. Complete linear block was created without any complications in all, however, ablation at the mid-posterior wall was required to achieve block in 4 (18.2%) procedures. During 14.0 (6.5–28.5) months of follow-up, 17 (81.0%) and 19 (90.5%) patients were free from any atrial tachyarrhythmias after single and last procedures.

Conclusions

The LART mechanisms were distinct in individual patients, and elimination of all concomitant ATs was required for the management.
Chronic diseases, chest computed tomography, and laboratory tests as predictors of severe respiratory failure and death in elderly Brazilian patients hospitalized with COVID-19: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Junior Alberto Frisoli , Azevedo Elaine , Paes Angela Tavares , Lima Eliene , Campos Guerra João Carlos , Ingham Sheila Jean Mc Neill
Published: February 2022

Background

The primary risk factors for severe respiratory failure and death in the elderly hospitalized with COVID-19 remain unclear.

Objective

To determine the association of chronic diseases, chest computed tomography (CT), and laboratory tests with severe respiratory failure and mortality in older adults hospitalized with COVID-19.

Method

This was a prospective cohort with 201 hospitalized older adults with COVID-19. Chronic diseases, chest CT, laboratory tests, and other data were collected within the first 48 h of hospitalization. Outcomes were progression to severe respiratory failure with the need of mechanical ventilation (SRF/MV) and death.

Results

The mean age was 72.7 ± 9.2 years, and 63.2% were men. SRF/MV occurred in 16.9% (p < 0.001), and death occurred in 8%. In the adjusted regression analyses, lung involvement over 50% [odds ratio (OR): 3.09 (1.03–9.28; 0.043)], C-reactive protein (CRP) > 80 ng/mL [OR: 2.97 (0.99–8.93; 0.052)], Vitamin D < 40 ng/mL [OR: 6.41 (1.21–33.88; 0.029)], and hemoglobin < 12 g/mL [OR: 3.32 (1.20–9.20; 0.020)] were independent predictors for SFR/MV, while chronic atrial fibrillation [OR: 26.72 (3.87–184.11; 0.001)], cancer history [OR:8.32 (1.28–53.91; 0.026)] and IL-6 > 40 pg/mL [OR:10.01 (1.66–60.13; 0.012)] were independent predictors of death.

Conclusion

In hospitalized older adults with COVID-19, tomographic pulmonary involvement > 50%, anemia, vitamin D below 40 ng/mL, and CRP above 80 mg/L were independent risk factors for progression to SRF/MV. The presence of chronic atrial fibrillation, previous cancer, IL-6 > 40 pg/mL, and anemia were independent predictors of death.
The application research of AI image recognition and processing technology in the early diagnosis of the COVID-19
Authors: Chen Wenyu , Yao Ming , Zhu Zhenyu , Sun Yanbao , Han Xiuping
Published: February 2022

Background

This study intends to establish a combined prediction model that integrates the clinical symptoms,the lung lesion volume, and the radiomics features of patients with COVID-19, resulting in a new model to predict the severity of COVID-19.

Methods

The clinical data of 386 patients with COVID-19 at several hospitals, as well as images of certain patients during their hospitalization, were collected retrospectively to create a database of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. The contour of lungs and lesion locations may be retrieved from CT scans using a CT-image-based quantitative discrimination and trend analysis method for COVID-19 and the Mask R-CNN deep neural network model to create 3D data of lung lesions. The quantitative COVID-19 factors were then determined, on which the diagnosis of the development of the patients' symptoms could be established. Then, using an artificial neural network, a prediction model of the severity of COVID-19 was constructed by combining characteristic imaging features on CT slices with clinical factors. ANN neural network was used for training, and tenfold cross-validation was used to verify the prediction model. The diagnostic performance of this model is verified by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

Results

CT radiomics features extraction and analysis based on a deep neural network can detect COVID-19 patients with an 86% sensitivity and an 85% specificity. According to the ROC curve, the constructed severity prediction model indicates that the AUC of patients with severe COVID-19 is 0.761, with sensitivity and specificity of 79.1% and 73.1%, respectively.

Conclusions

The combined prediction model for severe COVID-19 pneumonia, which is based on deep learning and integrates clinical aspects, pulmonary lesion volume, and radiomics features of patients, has a remarkable differential ability for predicting the course of disease in COVID-19 patients. This may assist in the early prevention of severe COVID-19 symptoms.
Physical environmental opportunities for active play and physical activity level in preschoolers: a multicriteria analysis
Authors: Nobre Juliana Nogueira Pontes , Morais Rosane Luzia De Souza , Prat Bernat Viñola , Fernandes Amanda Cristina , Viegas Ângela Alves , Figueiredo Pedro Henrique Scheidt , Costa Henrique Silveira , Camargos Ana Cristina Resende , de Alcantara Marcus Alessandro , Mendonça Vanessa Amaral , Lacerda Ana Cristina Rodrigues
Published: February 2022

Background

Active play opportunities seems to influence the level of physical activity during childhood. However, a gap remains about which environmental opportunities including the daycare physical environment could have a positive impact on the level of physical activity in preschoolers.

Objectives

(1) To develop an index to measure the environmental opportunities of free active play for preschoolers of middle-income countries; (2) to check the relationship and contribution of the index to explain objectively the level of physical activity.

Methods

A quantitative, cross-sectional, exploratory study with 51 preschool children. The established criteria for the index according to the literature were: (1) Outdoor time on typical days of the week. (2) Outdoor time on a typical weekend day. (3) The presence of internal space and external environment in the child’s home that allows playing. (4) Presence of patio with space for games at the school. (5) Presence of a playground with a toy at the school. We applied multi-attribute utility theory for the determination of the multicriteria index of physical environmental opportunities. Pearson’s correlation analysis and simple linear regression were used to verify the association between the index and the physical activity level.

Results

The index showed a positive correlation with the level of physical activity, e.g., the average time of MVPA (r = 0.408, p = 0.003). The univariate linear regression demonstrated that the quality of physical environmental opportunities for physical activity explained 20% of the preschooler’s classification as active and 16% of the time in moderate to vigorous physical activity (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Physical environmental opportunities for active play have a positive effect on physical activity in preschoolers and should be encouraged in different social segments.
The relationship between peak inspiratory flow and hand grip strength measurement in men with mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Tsuburai Takahiro , Komase Yuko , Tsuruoka Hajime , Oyama Baku , Muraoka Hiromi , Hida Naoya , Kobayashi Takayuki , Matsushima Shinya
Published: February 2022

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) decreases quality of life and muscular strength. Inspiratory flow is important for inhalants in the bronchi but is complicated to measure in routine practice. We hypothesized that hand grip strength (HGS) would correlate with inhalation rate in patients with mild COPD.

Methods

The COPD patients were recruited at the St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Yokohama Seibu Hospital, from 2015 to 2018. We measured peak inspiratory flow (PIF) through an In-Check flow meter attached with Diskus [PIF(D)] and Turbuhaler [PIF(T)] inhalers. The 6-min walking test (6MWT), and the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO), spirometry, HGS, or forced oscillation technique (FOT) parameters were measured.

Results

Forty-four subjects were enrolled. All were men, with a mean age (± SD) of 77.8 ± 9.36 years. Thirty-nine patients had mild COPD. PIF(D) was 110 (80, 140) L/min (median, interquartile range), PIF(T) was 80 (70, 90) L/min, and HGS was 28.7 (13.8, 43.6) kgf. PIF(D) and PIF(T) were significantly correlated (r = 0.443, p = 0.003). PIF(D) was significantly correlated with age (r = − 0.327, p = 0.030) and HGS (r = 0.326, p = 0.031). PIF(T) was significantly correlated with age (r = − 0.328, p = 0.030), FVC (r = 0.351, p = 0.019), 6MWT distance (r = 0.392, p = 0.011), and HGS (r = 0.328, p = 0.030).

Conclusion

HGS might be more useful for predicting PIF than other parameters. Also, elderly COPD patients need to be taught inhaled methods carefully.
Cooperative ankle-exoskeleton control can reduce effort to recover balance after unexpected disturbances during walking
Authors: Bayón Cristina , Keemink Arvid Q. L. , van Mierlo Michelle , Rampeltshammer Wolfgang , van der Kooij Herman , van Asseldonk Edwin H. F.
Published: February 2022

Background

In the last two decades, lower-limb exoskeletons have been developed to assist human standing and locomotion. One of the ongoing challenges is the cooperation between the exoskeleton balance support and the wearer control. Here we present a cooperative ankle-exoskeleton control strategy to assist in balance recovery after unexpected disturbances during walking, which is inspired on human balance responses.

Methods

We evaluated the novel controller in ten able-bodied participants wearing the ankle modules of the Symbitron exoskeleton. During walking, participants received unexpected forward pushes with different timing and magnitude at the pelvis level, while being supported (Exo-Assistance) or not (Exo-NoAssistance) by the robotic assistance provided by the controller. The effectiveness of the assistive strategy was assessed in terms of (1) controller performance (Detection Delay, Joint Angles, and Exerted Ankle Torques), (2) analysis of effort (integral of normalized Muscle Activity after perturbation onset); and (3) Analysis of center of mass COM kinematics (relative maximum COM Motion, Recovery Time and Margin of Stability) and spatio-temporal parameters (Step Length and Swing Time).

Results

In general, the results show that when the controller was active, it was able to reduce participants’ effort while keeping similar ability to counteract and withstand the balance disturbances. Significant reductions were found for soleus and gastrocnemius medialis activity of the stance leg when comparing Exo-Assistance and Exo-NoAssistance walking conditions.

Conclusions

The proposed controller was able to cooperate with the able-bodied participants in counteracting perturbations, contributing to the state-of-the-art of bio-inspired cooperative ankle exoskeleton controllers for supporting dynamic balance. In the future, this control strategy may be used in exoskeletons to support and improve balance control in users with motor disabilities.
Attenuation of osteoarthritis progression through intra-articular injection of a combination of synovial membrane-derived MSCs (SMMSCs), platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and conditioned medium (secretome)
Authors: Nabavizadeh Sara Sadat , Talaei-Khozani Tahereh , Zarei Moein , Zare Shahrokh , Hosseinabadi Omid Koohi , Tanideh Nader , Daneshi Sajad
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Osteoarthritis (OA) as a progressive destructive disease of articular cartilage is the most common joint disease characterized by reduction of joint cartilage thickness, demolition of cartilage surface and new bone formation. To overcome these problems, the purpose of the current research was to evaluate and compare the in vivo effects of synovial membrane-derived mesenchymal stem cell (SMMSCs), platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and conditioned medium (secretome) on collagenase II-induced rat knee osteoarthritis (KOA) remedy.

Methods

For the first step, SMMSCs were isolated and characterized. Also, secretome was collected from SMMSCs culture. Furthermore, PRP was collect from the rat heart venous blood. Second, two injection of collagenase II with an interval of 3 days was performed in the knee intra-articular space to induce osteoarthritis. Two weeks later, animals were randomly divided into 6 groups. Control group without treatment, positive group: taken an intra-articular sodium hyaluronate injection (0.1 ml), treatment groups taken an intra-articular injection of; treatment 1: SMMSCs (5 × 106), treatment 2: SMMSCs (5 × 106)/secretome (50 µl), treatment 3: SMMSCs (5 × 106)/PRP (50 µl), and treatment 4: SMMSCs (5 × 106)/ secretome (50 µl)/ PRP (50 µl). Three months later, rats were killed and the following assessments were executed: radiography, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry.

Results

Our findings represented that a combination of the SMMSCs/secretome/PRP had a considerable effect on glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and collagen II contents, articular cartilage preservation, compared with other groups. In addition, combination of the SMMSCs with PRP and secretome showed the lowest expression of mmp3, while SOX9 had the highest expression in comparison with other groups. Also, SMMSCs-injected groups demonstrated better results compared with positive and control groups.

Conclusions

Injecting a combination of the SMMSCs/secretome/PRP resulted in better efficacy in terms of joint space width, articular cartilage surface continuity and integrity, sub-chondral bone and ECM constituents such as collagen II. Indeed, transplantation of this combination could be considered as a preliminary therapy for clinical trial study in the future.
Analgesic comparison between perineural and intravenous dexamethasone for shoulder arthroscopy: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Huang Liangku , Li Peng , Zhang Liang , Kang Guangming , Zhou Haizhen , Zhao Zandong
Published: February 2022

Introduction

The analgesic comparison between perineural and intravenous dexamethasone on interscalene block for pain management after shoulder arthroscopy remains controversial. We conduct this meta-analysis to explore the influence of perineural versus intravenous dexamethasone on interscalene block for pain control after shoulder arthroscopy.

Methods

We have searched PubMed, Embase, Web of science, EBSCO and Cochrane library databases through April 2021 and included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of perineural and intravenous dexamethasone on interscalene block in patients with shoulder arthroscopy.

Results

Five RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, compared with intravenous dexamethasone for shoulder arthroscopy, perineural dexamethasone led to similar block duration (SMD = 0.12; 95% CI − 0.12 to 0.35; P = 0.33), pain scores at 12 h (SMD = − 0.67; 95% CI − 1.48 to 0.15; P = 0.11), pain scores at 24 h (SMD = − 0.33; 95% CI − 0.79 to 0.14; P = 0.17), opioid consumption (SMD = 0.01; 95% CI − 0.18 to 0.19; P = 0.95) and incidence of nausea/vomiting (OR = 0.74; 95% CI 0.38–1.44; P = 0.38).

Conclusions

Perineural and intravenous dexamethasone demonstrated comparable pain relief after shoulder arthroscopy.