bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biomechanically Tunable Nano-Silica/P-HEMA Structural Hydrogels for Bone Scaffolding
Authors: Aversa Raffaella , Petrescu Relly Victoria , Petrescu Florian Ion T. , Apicella Davide , Apicella and Antonio
Published: March 2021

Innovative tissue engineering biomimetic hydrogels based on hydrophilic polymers have been investigated for their physical and mechanical properties. 5% to 25% by volume loading PHEMA-nanosilica glassy hybrid samples were equilibrated at 37°C in aqueous physiological isotonic and hypotonic saline solutions (0.15 and 0.05 M NaCl) simulating two limiting possible compositions of physiological extracellular fluids. The glassy and hydrated hybrid materials were characterized both for dynamo-mechanical properties and equilibrium absorptions in the two physiological-like aqueous solutions. Mechanical and the morphological modifications occurring in the samples have been described. The 5% volume nanosilica loading hybrid nanocomposite composition showed mechanical characteristics in the dry and hydrated states that were comparable to those of cortical bone and articular cartilage, respectively, and then chosen for further sorption kinetics characterization. Sorption and swelling kinetics were monitored up to equilibrium. Changes in water activities and osmotic pressures in the water-hybrid systems equilibrated at the two limiting solute molarities of the physiological solutions have been related to the observed anomalous sorption modes using the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter approach. The bulk modulus of the dry and glassy PHEMA-5% nanosilica hybrid at 37°C has been observed to be comparable with the values of the osmotic pressures generated from the sorption of isotonic and hypotonic solutions. The anomalous sorption modes and swelling rates are coherent with the difference between osmotic swelling pressures and hybrid glassy nano-composite bulk modulus: the lower the differences the higher the swelling rate and equilibrium solution uptakes. Bone tissue engineering benefits of use of tuneable biomimetic scaffold biomaterials that can be “designed” to act as biocompatible and biomechanically active hybrid interfaces are discussed.
The rs599839 A>G Variant Disentangles Cardiovascular Risk and Hepatocellular Carcinoma in NAFLD Patients
Authors: Meroni Marica , Longo Miriam , Paolini Erika , Alisi Anna , Miele Luca , De Caro Emilia Rita , Pisano Giuseppina , Maggioni Marco , Soardo Giorgio , Valenti Luca Vittorio , Fracanzani Anna Ludovica , Dongiovanni Paola
Published: March 2021

Background and Aims: Dyslipidemia and cardiovascular diseases (CAD) are comorbidities of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which ranges from steatosis to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The rs599839 A>G variant, in the CELSR2-PSRC1-SORT1 cluster, has been associated CAD, but its impact on metabolic traits and liver damage in NAFLD has not been investigated yet. Methods: We evaluated the effect of the rs599839 variant in 1426 NAFLD patients (Overall cohort) of whom 131 have HCC (NAFLD-HCC), in 500,000 individuals from the UK Biobank Cohort (UKBBC) and in 366 HCC samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Hepatic PSRC1, SORT1 and CELSR2 expressions were evaluated by RNAseq (n=125). Results: The rs599839 variant was associated with reduced circulating LDL, carotid intima-media thickness, carotid plaques and hypertension (p<0.05) in NAFLD patients and with protection against dyslipidemia in UKBBC. The G allele was associated with higher risk of HCC and advanced tumor stage (p<0.05) in the Overall cohort. Hepatic PSRC1, SORT1 and CELSR2 expressions were increased in NAFLD patients carrying the rs599839 variant (p<0.0001). SORT1 mRNA levels negatively correlated with circulating lipids and with those of genes involved in lipoprotein turnover (p<0.0001). Conversely, PSRC1 expression was positively related to that of genes implicated in cell proliferation (p<0.0001). In TCGA, PSRC1 over-expression promoted more aggressive HCC development (p<0.05). Conclusions: In sum, the rs599839 A>G variant improves dyslipidemia thus protecting against CAD in NAFLD patients, but as one it might promote HCC development by modulating SORT1 and PSRC1 expressions which impact on lipid metabolism and cell proliferation, respectively
Glucose-limited Fed-batch Cultivation Strategy to Mimic Large-scale Effects in Escherichia coli Linked to Accumulation of Non-Canonical Branched-Chain Amino Acids by Combination of Pyruvate Pulses and Dissolved Oxygen Limitation
Authors: García Ángel Córcoles , Hauptmann Peter , Neubauer Peter
Published: March 2021

Insufficient mixing in large-scale bioreactors, provokes gradient zones of substrate, dissolved oxygen, pH and other parameters. E. coli responds to a high glucose, low oxygen feeding zone with the accumulation of mixed acid fermentation products, especially formate, but also with the synthesis of non-canonical amino acids, such as norvaline, norleucine and -methyl-norleucine. These amino acids can be mis-incorporated into recombinant products, which causes a problem for pharmaceutical production whose solution is not trivial. While these effects can also be observed in scale down bioreactor systems, these are challenging to operate. Especially the high-throughput screening of clone libraries is not easy, as fed-batch cultivations would need to be controlled via repeated glucose pulses with simultaneous oxygen limitation, as has been demonstrated in well controlled robotic systems. Here we show that not only glucose pulses in combination with oxygen limitation can provoke the synthesis of these non-canonical branched-chain amino acids, but also that pyruvate pulses produce the same effect. Therefore we combined the enzyme based glucose delivery method Enbase® in a PALL24 mini-bioreactor system and combined repeated pyruvate pulses with simultaneous reduction of the aeration rate. These cultivation conditions, produced an increase in the non-canonical branched chain amino acids norvaline and norleucine in both the intracellular soluble protein and inclusion body fractions with mini-proinsulin as an example product, and this effect was verified in a 15 L stirred tank bioreactor. To our opinion this cultivation strategy is easy to apply for the screening of strain libraries under standard laboratory conditions if no complex robotic and well controlled parallel cultivation devices are available.
Combination of Geostatistical and Geovisualisation Techniques for Analysing 120 Year Earthquake Events in Indonesia Using Open-Source Software
Authors: Ramdani Fatwa , Chairunnisa Vivid
Published: March 2021

Significant earthquakes frequently occur in Indonesia. Indonesia is situated over three active tectonic plates, resulting in the formation of faults and trenches on the land and ocean floor. For the last 120 years since 1900, there have been more than 1,250 significant earthquake events in Indonesia. In this study, we analyse Indonesia's significant earthquake events using geostatistical and geovisualisation methods to produce an appropriate geospatial analysis platform using the RShiny package to build the WebGIS application. The results show that the earthquake events were spatially distributed from the Sumatera fault in the western part of Indonesia to the southern part of Indonesia, where the Java trench was located and the eastern part of Indonesia. The WebGIS application received a positive evaluation by respondents, with a mean value of 1.617 for pragmatic quality, 1.808 for hedonic quality, and 1.713 for overall quality. This means that the WebGIS application is of good quality based on respondents' impressions. The users also more easily gained insight into information as a result of geostatistical methods. The information gained by the users during the user interaction with the WebGIS platform overlapped with the information that the researcher started with, that is, the spatial cluster of significant earthquakes in Indonesia.
Fighting Deepfakes Using Body Language Analysis
Authors: Yasrab Robail , Jiang Wanqi , Riaz Adnan
Published: March 2021

Recent improvements in deepfake creation made deepfake videos more realistic. Open-source software has also made deepfake creation more accessible, which reduces the barrier to entry for deepfake creation. This could pose a threat to the public privacy. It is a potential danger if the deepfake creation techniques are used by people with an ulterior motive to produce deepfake videos of world leaders to disrupt the order of the countries and the world. Research into automated detection for deepfaked media is therefore essential for public safety. We propose in this work the use of upper body language analysis for deepfake detection. Specifically, a many-to-one LSTM network was designed and trained as a classification model is trained for deepfake detection. Different models trained using various hyper-parameters to build a final model with benchmark accuracy. We achieve 94.39% accuracy on a test deepfake set. The experimental results show that upper body language can effectively provide identification and deepfake detection.
On the Role of Information Transfer’s Speed in Technological and Biological Computations
Authors: Végh János , Berki Ádám-József
Published: March 2021

Information is commonly considered as a mathematical quantity that forms the basis of computing. In mathematics, information can propagate instantly, so its transfer speed is not the subject of information science. In all kinds of implementations of computing, whether technological or biological, some material carrier for the information exists, so the information’s propagation speed cannot exceed the speed of the carrier. Because of this limitation, for any implementation, one must consider the transfer time between computing units. We need a different mathematical method to take this limitation into account: classic mathematics can only describe infinitely fast and infinitely small computing system implementations. The difference between the mathematical handling methods leads to different descriptions of the behavior of the systems. The correct handling also explains why biological implementations can have lifelong learning and technological ones cannot. The conclusion about learning evidences matches others’ experimental evidence, both in technological and biological computing.
Role of Resveratrol in Prevention and Control of Cardiovascular Disorders and Cardiovascular Complications Related to Covid-19 Disease: Mode of Action and Approaches Explored to Increase Its Bioavailability
Authors: Gligorijević Nikola , Stanić-Vučinić Dragana , Radomirović Mirjana , Stojadinović Marija , Nedic Olgica , Khulal Urmila , Ćirković Veličković Tanja
Published: March 2021

Resveratrol is a phytoalexin produced by many plants as a defense mechanism against stress-inducing conditions. The richest dietary sources of resveratrol are berries and grapes, their juices and wines. Good bioavailability of resveratrol is not reflected in its high biological activity in vivo because of resveratrol isomerization and its poor solubility in aqueous solutions. Proteins, cyclodextrins and nanomaterials have been explored as innovative delivery vehicles for resveratrol to overcome this limitation. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated beneficial effects of resveratrol in cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Main beneficial effects of resveratrol intake are cardioprotective, anti-hypertensive, vasodilatory, anti-diabetic, and improvement of lipid status. As resveratrol can alleviate the numerous factors associated with CVD, it has potential as a functional supplement to reduce COVID-19 illness severity in patients displaying poor prognosis due to cardio-vascular complications. Resveratrol was shown to mitigate the major pathways involved in the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 including regulation of the renin-angiotensin system and expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, stimulation of immune system and downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines release. Therefore, several studies already have anticipated potential implementation of resveratrol in COVID-19 treatment. Regular intake of resveratrol rich diet, or resveratrol-based complementary medicaments, may contribute to a healthier cardio-vascular system, prevention and control of CVD, including COVID-19 disease related complications of CVD.
Psychological Distress and Well-Being among Students of Health Disciplines: The Importance of Academic Satisfaction in the Context of Academic Year-End and COVID-19 Stress
Authors: Tran Nguyen Toan , Franzen Jessica , Jermann Françoise , Rudaz Serge , Bondolfi Guido , Ghisletta Paolo
Published: March 2021

Background University students’ psychological health is linked to their academic satisfaction. This study aimed to investigate students’ psychological health and academic satisfaction in the context of COVID-19 and academic year-end stress. Methods Standardized self-filled scales for anxiety, depression, stress, psychological well-being, and an ad-hoc COVID-19 stress scale were used in this cross-sectional study. Participants were first- to third-year students of eight different health-related tracks in Geneva, Switzerland. Descriptive statistics and hierarchical regression analyses were applied. Results In June 2020, out of 2835 invited students, 433 (15%) completed the survey. Academic satisfaction was a stronger mental health predictor than COVID-19, which mainly predicted stress and anxiety. Lower academic satisfaction scores were significantly associated with stress (β = -.53, p < .001), depression (β = -.26, p < .001), anxiety (β = -.20, p < .001), while higher scores with psychological well-being (β = .48, p < .001). Being female was strongly associated with anxiety and stress but not with depression or psychological well-being. Lower age was associated with stress only. The nature of the academic training had a lesser impact on mental health and the academic year none. Compared to students starting the academic year, year-end students reported significantly lower academic satisfaction, higher depression, and particularly higher anxiety and stress. There was, however, no difference in psychological well-being. Conclusion Students suffer more from anxiety, stress, depression, and lower satisfaction with studies at the end of the academic year than at the beginning. Academic satisfaction plays a more substantial role than COVID-19 in predicting students’ overall mental health status. Training institutions should address the underlying factors that can enhance students’ academic satisfaction, especially during the COVID-19 period, in addition to ensuring that they have a continuous and adequate learning experience, as well as access to psychosocial services that help them cope with mental distress and enhance their psychological well-being.
Vaginal Probiotics for Reproductive Health and Related Dysbiosis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: López-Moreno Ana , Aguilera Margarita
Published: March 2021

The use of probiotics in reproductive-related dysbiosis is an area of continuous progress due to the growing interest from clinicians and patients suffering recurrent reproductive microbiota disorders. An imbalance in the natural colonization sites related to reproductive health: vaginal, cervicovaginal, endometrial and also pregnancy-related altered microbiota could play decisive role in reproductive outcomes. Oral and vaginal administrations are in continuous discussion regarding the clinical effect pursued, but probiotics as oral supplement therapy is the route administration better studied. To complement and summarise with qualitative and quantitative information of vaginal probiotics clinical studies, the main objective of this work was to retrieve the standardised protocols commonly used and their microbiota modulation capacities. The studies selected were related to treat bacterial vaginosis (BV) as the most commonly disorder, few studies on vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and also administration to stabilise microbiota before in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Probiotic doses administered were similar to oral probiotics protocols, ranging from ≥ 107 CFU/day to 2.5 x 1010 CFU/day, and variable regarding posology duration from 1 day to 12 weeks, being 1 week commonly applied. Moderate modulation was achieved regarding the relative abundance decrease of abnormal microbiota, coinciding with parallel increase in Lactobacillus species.
Live Cell FRET Imaging Reveals Amyloid β-Peptide Oligomerization in Hippocampal Neurons
Authors: Gao Yang , Wennmalm Stefan , Winblad Bengt , Schedin-Weiss Sophia , Tjernberg Lars
Published: March 2021

Amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) oligomerization is believed to contribute to the neuronal dysfunction in Alzheimer disease (AD). Despite decades of research, many details of Aβ oligomerization in neurons still need to be revealed. Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) is a simple but effective way to study molecular interactions. Here we use a confocal microscope with a sensitive Airyscan detector for FRET detection. By live cell FRET imaging, we detect Aβ42 oligomerization in primary neurons. The neurons were incubated with fluorescently labelled Aβ42 in the cell culture medium for 24 hours. Aβ42 were internalized and oligomerized into the lysosomes/late endosomes in a concentration-dependent manner. Both the cellular uptake and intracellular oligomerization of Aβ42 were significantly higher than for Aβ40. These findings provide a better understanding of Aβ42 oligomerization in neurons.
Investigation of Heavy Metal Accumulation in Mung Bean through Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy
Authors: Desta Azene Tesfaye , Feleke Tadesse
Published: March 2021

Vigina radiata (Mung bean) is an important legume species belongs to the family Fabaceae, cultivated in varies region of Ethiopia for its nutritional values. The nutritional composition of the crop affected by different biotic and environmental stress which depends on growth environment. The aim of the present study was to determine the concentrations of selected heavy metals (Pb, Cu and Cr) in seed of mung bean collected from Shewarobit, Northcentral Ethiopia using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Acid digestion with HCl, HNO3 and HClO4 for 1hr at temperature of 90oC to 95oC by hot plate digester. The level of the heavy metals in the samples were 2.51 mg/L, Pb; 6.53 mg/L, Cu; and 0.38 mg/L, Cr respectively. The concentration of copper (Cu) in the seed of mung bean was higher than the other target metals (Pb and Cr) whereas, Cr occurred in least concentration. The overall accuracy of the method obtained from spiking experiment (recovery) was within the range 80 to 120%, which accounts 115.75%, 97.5%, 101.17% for Pb Cr and Cu respectively. Notably, these results indicating the reliability and applicability of the procedure for extraction of studied metals. The concentration of heavy metals in edible seed of mungbean is low as compared to WHO/FAO recommendation and absolutely safe for consumption in the study area. Thus, producer should follow similar agroecological managements of the crop production to maintain heavy metal concentration of such in the crop.
Virus Host Jumping Can Be Boosted by Adaptation to a Bridge Plant Species
Authors: Martínez-Turiño Sandra , Calvo María , Bedoya Leonor Cecilia , Zhao Mingmin , García Juan Antonio
Published: March 2021

Understanding biological mechanisms that regulate emergence of viral diseases, in particular those events engaging cross-species pathogens spillover, are becoming increasingly important in Virology. Species barrier jumping has been extensively studied in animal viruses, and the critical role of a suitable intermediate host in animal viruses-generated human pandemics is highly topical. However, studies on host jumping involving plant viruses have been focused on shifting intra-species, leaving aside the putative role of “bridge hosts” in facilitating interspecies crossing. Here, we take advantage of several VPg mutants, derived from a chimeric construct of the potyvirus Plum pox virus (PPV), analysing its differential behaviour in three herbaceous species. Our results showed that two VPg mutations in a Nicotiana clevelandii-adapted virus, emerged during adaptation to the bridge-host Arabidopsis thaliana, drastically prompted partial adaptation to Chenopodium foetidum. Although, both changes are expected to facilitate productive interactions with eIF(iso)4E, polymorphims detected in PPV VPg and the three eIF(iso)4E studied, extrapolated to a recent VPg:eIF4E structural model, suggested that two adaptation ways can be operating. Remarkably, we found that VPg mutations driving host-range expansion in two non-related species, not only are not associated with cost trade-off constraints in the original host, but also improve fitness on it.
Analisis Pengendalian Persediaan Obat BPJS Kategori A(Always) Dan E (Esensial) Dengan Menggunakan Metode ABC, VEN Dan EOQ Di IFRS Bhayangkara Tingkat III Nganjuk
Authors: Darmawan Nopandi Wisnu , Peranginangin Jason Merari , Herowati Rina
Published: March 2021

Penelitian ini  membahas tentang tata kelola obat-obatan di Rumah Sakit dengan manajemen seleksi, pengadaan, distribusi dan penggunaan obat secara rasional yaitu tepat obat, dosis dan biaya. Pemilihan obat kategori AE, karena obat kategori AE memiliki tingkat kritis berdasarkan pada jumlah pemakaian tinggi dan dengan jumlah item obat yang banyak. Tujuan dilakukannya penelitian yaitu untuk melakukan analisa terhadap kendali obat BPJS kategori AE menggunakan ABC and   VEN method, menganalisa pengendalian ketersediaan obat obat BPJS dengan metode EOQ dan ROP dalam peningkatan obat menjadi efisien serta menganalisa tingkat pelayanan obat. Desain penelitian ini yaitu quasi experiment non-control. populasi semua obat BPJS yang ada di instalasi farmasi, sampel penelitaian adalah obat BPJS berdasarkan analisis metode ABC dan VEN kategori AE pada bulan Februari sampai Juli 2019. Untuk mengamati sert amengukur tingkat keefesienan  pada  pengendalian ketersediaan obat-obatan maka diberlakukan indikator nilai persediaan dan Customer servis level (tingkat pelayanan), penelitian yang sudah mendapatkan hasilnya, maka akan dilakukan pengujian statistik Paired t-Test. Dari uji analisis menggunakan metode ABC dan VEN dapat mengidentifikasi obat yang memerlukan pengendalian persediaan yang lebih ketat dan memprioritaskan 29  item obat BPJS kategori AE. Indikator nilai persediaan dengan penerapan metode EOQ dan ROP sebelum intervensi Rp. 403.114.341 dan setelah intervensi Rp. 331.170.915 dapat meningkatkan efesiensi pengelolaan obat BPJS dan menurunkan nilai persediaan sebesar Rp 71.943.426  berdasarkan hasil sebelum – sesudah intervensi menunjukkan hasil signifikan (0,043). Indikator tingkat pelayanan (customer servis level) sebelum intervensi 91,76% dan setelah intervensi 94,39% berdasarkan hasil sebelum – sesudah intervensi menunjukkan hasil signifikan (0,025). Penggunaan metode EOQ dan ROP memudahhkan dalam perencanaan dan pengadaan serta merupakan upaya pengontrolan dan pemantauan persediaan obat agar obat yang diberikan tepat waktu dan kekosongan persediaan obat dapat dihindari.
Spontaneous Reduction of Incarcerated Medial Epicondyle Fragment
Authors: Conley Shaun , Umberhandt Robert , Clinton Rebecca
Published: March 2021

Case:

Three cases of incarcerated medial epicondyle fracture with spontaneous reduction without operative manipulation are presented. Two patients were treated conservatively, and one treated surgically, all with good clinical outcomes.

Conclusion:

Elbow dislocation is a common pediatric injury. Over half have an associated medial epicondyle fracture, which can become incarcerated in the joint. Elbow dislocation with intra-articular incarceration of the medial epicondyle has historically been an indication for prompt surgical intervention. These cases suggest good outcomes with spontaneous reduction are possible without operative intervention, opening opportunities for further research into absolute indications for surgery.
Posterior and Anterior Fusion for Severe Cervical Kyphosis in a Patient with Chondrodysplasia Punctata
Authors: Kato Shuzo , Fujita Nobuyuki , Suzuki Satoshi , Tsuji Osahiko , Nagoshi Narihito , Okada Eijiro , Yagi Mitsuru , Watanabe Kota , Nakamura Masaya , Matsumoto Morio
Published: March 2021

Case:

A 4-year-old girl with spastic gait and hand clumsiness who was diagnosed with cervical myelopathy caused by atlantoaxial dislocation and midcervical severe kyphosis associated with chondrodysplasia punctata (CDP). The patient underwent posterior instrumentation and anterior spinal fusion and successful correction with osseous fusion was obtained 8 months after surgery. In addition, the preoperative neurological symptoms were completely recovered.

Conclusion:

Owing to the characteristics of CDP, the treatment for the cervical lesion is extremely complicated. Successful stabilization and improvement of the neurological symptom were achieved by combining posterior and anterior fusion with instrumentation in this case.
Investigating the USACE Operational Condition Assessment process current and future
Authors: Brown Willie , Alt Jonathan
Published: March 2021

The US Army Corps of Engineers operates, maintains, and manages more than $232 billion worth of the Nation’s water resource infrastructure and relies on the Operational Condition Assessment (OCA) process to determine the condition of the assets and their components. The sheer number of components, all of equal OCA scheduling priority, creates challenges in ensuring that assessments are conducted in a timely manner and that data generated are of sufficient quality to inform resource allocation decisions. This research applied methods from systems design to determine the OCA system “as-is” state and create a stakeholder-informed vision of a “to-be” state that addresses current system challenges. To meet its objective of providing current assessments of asset condition, the OCA system must provide four high-level functions: provide access to asset data, conduct assessments, determine asset risk, and prioritize and schedule assessments. The development of capabilities to provide these functions will facilitate the achievement of the OCA system to-be vision: a consistent view of asset condition and risk across the enterprise.
A Semiempirical Model for Barium-Strontium-Sulfate Solid Solution Scale Crystallization and Inhibition Kinetics at Oilfield Conditions
Authors: Zhao Yue , Dai Zhaoyi , Dai Chong , Wang Xin , Paudyal Samridhdi , Ko Saebom , Yao Xuanzhu , Kan Amy T. , Tomson Mason
Published: March 2021

Scale inhibitors have been widely used as one of the most efficient methods for sulfate-scale control. To accurately predict the required minimum inhibitor concentration (MIC), we have previously developed several crystallization and inhibition models for pure sulfate scales, including barite, celestite, and gypsum. However, disregarding the wide existence of barium-strontium-sulfate (Ba-Sr-SO4) solid solution in the oil field, no related models have been developed that would lead to large errors in MIC determination. In this study, the induction time of Ba-Sr-SO4 solid solution was measured by laser apparatus with or without different concentrations of scale inhibitor diethylenetriamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid) (DTPMP) at the conditions of barite saturation index (SI) from 1.5 to 1.8, temperature (T) from 40 to 70°C, and [Sr2+]/[Ba2+] ratios from 0 to 15 with celestite SI < 0. The results showed that the Ba-Sr-SO4 solid solution’s induction time increases with the [Sr2+]/[Ba2+] ratio at a fixed barite SI, T, and DTPMP dosage. That means the MIC will be overestimated if it is calculated by the previous semiempirical pure barite crystallization and inhibition models without considering the presence of Sr2+. To resolve such deviations, the novel quantitative Ba-Sr-SO4 solid solution crystallization and inhibition models were developed for the first time. The novel models are in good agreement with the experimental data. They can be used to predict the induction time and MIC more accurately at these common Ba2+ and Sr2+ coexisting scenarios. The observations and new models proposed in this study will significantly improve the barite scale management while Ba2+ and Sr2+ coexist in the oil field.
Establishing Differentiated Air-Liquid Interface Primary Human Bronchial Epithelial Cell Cultures
Authors: Dailey Lisa , McCullough Shaun D.
Published: March 2021

This protocol describes the establishment and maintenance of differentiated primary human bronchial epithelial cell (pHBEC) cultures from primary bronchial epithelial cells using Lonza and Gibco media. Note: This is a historical protocol. At the time of publication, this protocol has been superseded by a different version in the McCullough lab; however, it is being published to support the transparency and reproducibility of other studies by which it is referenced.Disclaimer: The information presented here has been reviewed and approved for publication by the US Environmental Protection Agency do not necessarily represent Agency policy. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendations for use.
Antimicrobial Testing of Dry Surfaces through Large Droplet Inoculation
Authors: Caschera Alexander , Ronan Evan , Yusuf Farhan , Tehrani Amir , Porosa Lukasz , Kroukamp Otini , Wolfaardt Gideon , Foucher Daniel
Published: March 2021

The Large Droplet Inoculation (LDI) protocol for testing antimicrobial coatings and treatments is simple, reproducible, and closely mimics real-world conditions at solid/air interfaces. This is an advancement of the current ISO 22196/JIS Z 2801 standard method, as it provides greater ease-of-use and more closely resembles the contamination of common surfaces. The protocol involves inoculating 100 µL droplets containing ~107 microbial cells of a test microorganism onto sets of antimicrobial-treated and untreated control sample material. The sets are protected from dust accumulation and allowed to air dry, which causes all cells within each droplet to encounter the sample surface. The surviving cells are then collected by vortexing in a collection liquid and enumerating to evaluate differences in survival on the antimicrobial-treated and untreated control samples. Overall, the LDI protocol requires 10 hours of basic microbiology over one week and provides a simple means of assessing the efficacy of various antimicrobial coatings and treatments.
Can Physical exercise be an effective adjuvant before the potential COVID-19 vaccine? Insights from serological responses and severity of re-infected cases 
Authors: AbdelMassih Antoine , Menshawey Rahma , Hozaien Rafeef , Kamel Aya , Mishriky Fady , Nathan Lauren , Yacoub Elaria , Hanoura Aia Mohamed , AlShehry Nada , Menshawey Esraa , El-Husseiny Nadine , Yasser Reem , Arsanyous Mariem , Husseiny Reem J. , Seyam Mahmoud , Massoud Doaa , Ali Nada , Kassim Assem , AmanAllah Mostafa , Elsayed Rokaya , Sheashaa Hesham , Husseiny Yousef , Hassan Nourhan , Badr Kirollos , Elkhateb Amr , Fouad Verina , Elfishawy Mayada , Medhat Omar , Mustafa Mai , Khalil Noha , Elsayed Rawan , Nada Youssef , Elshawarbi Passant , Abdelmoneim Noha , Gamal Nada , Messiha Mariam , Ghazy Marihan , Abdelfatah Emmy , Nasry Febronia , Gayed Ramy , Eesa Marian , Luis Merna , Eskandar Estfana , Yacoub Shenoda , Rajab Maram , Abdelaziz Mariam , Elgamal Nadine , Jaber Hutaf , Tayssir Sara , Michael Mark , Sabry Ahmed , Shehata Joseph , Abdelaziz Rania , Rateb Sherry , El-Maghraby Ahmed , Mahjoub Yara , Amr Alaa , Mabrouk Amin , Kelada Peter , Saud Alaa , Ragab Shahd , Eltaher Basant , Galal Rahma Hassan , Aly Omnya Mahmoud , Aly Taquwa , AbdelHaleem Rana , ElShaarawy Areeg , Mohamed Omnia
Published: March 2021

Background:As more than 37 million confirmed cases and 1 million deaths worldwide from COVID-19, we flied to think about supporting immunity, So, there are more than 150 coronavirus vaccines and clinical trials are being developed. The success of those vaccines depends mainly on immunologic memory. People who are at high risk of re-infection with COVID-19 don’t show any evidence of having B-cell memory. 10-20% of infected patients don’t develop antibody response. randomized controlled trials and cross-sectional studies proved variant results about the effect of chronic exercise on vaccination function.The aim of this review is to suggest that exercise is an important adjuvant strategy for prevention of re-infection and for development of better protective responses following vaccination.Methods:Embase, Medline and the Cochrane Central Register were used to search for specific keywords such as “COVID-19” OR “SARS-CoV-2” AND “Re-infection” for relevant publications up to 1st of Nov. 2020. The systematic review was performed using PRISMA protocol.Results:According to inclusion criteria, 6 case reports from search and one case from a press conference were identified. The average age of re-infected patients was 36 years. The average intervening period between initial infection and reinfection was 105 days. 75% of cases who have been tested for antibodies after 1st infection were negative, and turned seropositive after second infection. 57% of cases developing re-infection had worse clinical manifestation.Conclusion:Regular moderate intensity exercise not only can enhance the secondary antibody response of B cell memory but also decrease the severity of re-infection and the adverse reactogenicity of potential vaccines under development.
Regulation of blood pressure by the central nucleus of the amygdala in dynamically changing appetitive and aversive classical conditioning tasks in rats
Authors: Yamanaka Ko , Waki Hidefumi
Published: March 2021

In an environment of dynamically changing conditions, humans and animals can determine whether a current situation is favorable to them and accordingly select actions. Autonomic cardiovascular tuning is as important as motor control for this function. However, neuronal mechanisms underlying the dynamic adjustments of autonomic cardiovascular responses remain unclear. In this study, we hypothesized that the amygdala plays a role in autonomic cardiovascular tuning in a dynamically changing situation. We recorded the blood pressures and heart rates of head-restrained rats during appetitive and aversive classical conditioning tasks. Rats learned varying associations between conditioned stimuli and unconditioned stimuli in appetitive, neutral, and aversive blocks. Blood pressure and heart rate in the appetitive block gradually increased in response to reward-predicting cue, preceded by a vigorously increased response to the actual reward. The predictive response was significantly higher than the responses in the neutral and aversive condition blocks. Blood pressure and heart rate responses to the air puff-predicting cue in the aversive block were significantly lower than that of the responses in the neutral block. The conditioned blood pressure response rapidly changed through condition switching. Furthermore, bilateral pharmacological inactivation of the central nucleus of the amygdala has significantly decreased reward-predictive pressor responses in the latter phase, but not in the initial phase of block change. These results suggest that blood pressure is adaptively tuned by positive and negative conditioned stimuli and that the central nucleus of the amygdala likely assists in maintaining pressor response in dynamically changing situations.
Continuous Infusion of Lidocaine in Pediatric Colonoscopy: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study
Authors: Yuan Chao , Wang Chengli , Wu Jiayao , Gao Ningyang , Li Kuiwei , Li Yongle , Huang Xizhao , Huang Wei , Hu Zurong
Published: March 2021

Background: Propofol is commonly used for providing procedural sedation during pediatric colonoscopy. Intravenous (i.v.) lidocaine can mitigate visceral pain and reduce propofol requirements during surgery. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of intravenous lidocaine on perioperative propofol and sufentanil dose, pulse oxygen saturation, postoperative pain score, and recovery time during pediatric colonoscopy.Methods: We designed a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study and enrolled 80 children aged from 3 to 10 years old who underwent colonoscopy. After titration of propofol to achieve unconsciousness, the patients were given i.v. lidocaine (1.5 mg/kg then 2 mg/kg/h) or the same volume of saline. Sedation was standardized and combined propofol with sufentanil. The primary outcome variables were intraoperative propofol and sufentanil requirements, and the number of oxygen desaturation episodes. Secondary outcome variables were recovery time after colonoscopy and post-colonoscopy pain.Results: Lidocaine infusion resulted in a significant reduction in propofol requirements: (median (quartile) 1.8 (1.5-2.0) vs. 3.0 (2.8-3.3) mg/kg respectively; P<0.001) and sufentanil requirements: (median (quartile) 0.06 (0.05-0.08) vs. 0.1 (0.1-0.1) μg/kg respectively; P<0.001). The number of subjects who experienced oxygen desaturation below 95% in the lidocaine group was also significantly less than that in the control group: 2 vs. 8 (P=0.04). The mean (SD) recovery time was significantly shorter in the lidocaine group: (19.2 (2.6) vs. 13.3 (2.6) min respectively; P<0.001). There was no significant difference regarding post-colonoscopy pain.Conclusion: Continuous infusion of lidocaine resulted in reduction in propofol and sufentanil dose requirements, recovery time, and risk of hypoxemia during pediatric colonoscopy.Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trials Registry, ChiCTR2000028927, January 8, 2020, prospectively registered.
Community Perception of COVID-19: A Qualitative Approach through Applying the  Health Belief Model
Authors: Gishe Gamachu , Hailu Tamirat , Aman Rameto , Dango Sisay
Published: March 2021

To achieve the intended objectives, an in depth exploratory design was utilized. Purposive sampling technique was employed to select 45 participants from bank, hotel, traffic police office, grocery and bus station. Tools of data collection included semi-structured interview guide and observation checklist. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. In the very beginning when few Corona Virus cases were reported, in general, people were scared to death. It is evident that most of the government workers like bank employees, traffic police and all are well aware of Covid-19 preventive methods and consequences and try their best to make the people to be part of the fight against the pandemic. But the common people from different walks of life, some with ignorance, some with innocence and some with a particular political ideology defy and violate the WHO covid-19 protocol.
Nucleocytoplasmic Transport of RNA-Binding Proteins Regulates Neural Stem Cell Fates 
Authors: MacPherson Melissa J. , Erickson Sarah L , Kopp Drayden , Wen Pengqiang , Aghanoori Mohammadreza , Vitobello Antonio , Thomas Quentin , Gold Nina , Brucker William , Amlie-Wolf Louise , Gripp Karen W. , Bodamer Olaf , Faivre Laurence , Muona Mikko , Wei Xing-Chang , Long Quan , Innes A. Micheil , Yang Guang
Published: March 2021

The formation of the cerebral cortex requires balanced expansion and differentiation of neural progenitor cells, the fate choice of which requires regulation at many steps of gene expression. As progenitor cells often exhibit transcriptomic stochasticity, the ultimate output of cell fate-determining genes must be carefully controlled at the post-transcriptional level, but how this is orchestrated is poorly understood. Here we report that de novo missense variants in an RNA-binding protein CELF2 cause human cortical malformations and perturb neural progenitor cell fate decisions in mice by disrupting the nucleocytoplasmic transport of CELF2. In self-renewing neural progenitors, CELF2 is localized in the cytoplasm where it binds and coordinates mRNAs that encode cell fate regulators and neurodevelopmental disorder-related factors. The translocation of CELF2 into the nucleus releases mRNAs for translation and thereby triggers neural progenitor differentiation. Our results reveal a mechanism by which transport of CELF2 between discrete subcellular compartments orchestrates an RNA regulon to instruct cell fates in cerebral cortical development.
Correlation of Sperm DNA Fragmentation Index With Seminal Plasma Biochemical Index and Semen Parameters in Infertile Men
Authors: Liu Kang-Sheng , Mao Xiao-Dong , Pan Feng , Yang Xinyuan
Published: March 2021

BackgroundAccording to world Health Organization guidelines, semen analysis by testing routine parameters is the main method for assessing male fertility.In general, routine semen analysis makes only limited predictions about a man's reproductive potential and is not always able to explain why he is infertile. In fact, many male infertility cases are caused by sperm DNA defects ,which routine semen quality analyses fail to detect.The relationship between sperm DFI , sperm parameters and their diagnostic value were analyzed and evaluated by observing the seminal parameters of infertile patients without accessory gonadal infection.MethodsSpecimens of 151 cases were collected from infertile patients who visited the male department of STD and reproductive specialty clinic of our hospital from August 2018 to September 2019. SCD test was performed to measure the DNA fragmentation in native. The routine semen analysis was performed with a semen quality detection system (WLJY-9000, Beijing Weili New century Science & Tech Dev .Co.Ltd) and supporting reagents. Seminal plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were assessed. Fructose(Fru) 、a-glucosidase (,a-glu), and zinc (Zn) levels are quantitatively detected by kehua-310, a fully automated biochemical tester provided by Nanjing Xindibio.ResultsAccording to DFI level, there were 31 cases in group I (DFI≤15%), 81 cases in group II (15% < DFI < 30%), and 39 cases in group III (DFI≥30%). Compared with group II, there were significant differences in sperm survival rate, PR% and Fru by non-parametric test (Z = -2.16 -2. 43. - 2. 20,respectively,P < 0. 05). There were significant differences in sperm survival rate and PR% between group I and group III (t = 4. 32, 4.25, respectively, P< 0.01). Compared with group III, there were significant differences in sperm survival rate and PR% by non-parametric test (Z= -3. 26, -3. 50, respectively).Sperm DFI was negatively correlated with sperm survival rate and PR%(R=-0.56,-0.46,P<0.01). DFI was positively correlated with MDA content (R=0.42, P<0.01) and negatively correlated with TAC (r=-0.40, P<0.01).There was no correlation with age ,abstinence days, semen volume, sperm concentration, percentage of normal form sperm, Fru, a-Glu, Zn (R= 0. 15, 0. 05,0.03,-0.03, -0.2, -0.16,- 0.20, 0.03, 0.15, p > 0.05).ConclusionThe survival rate and PR% of sperm decreased significantly with the increase of DFI level, antioxidant can decrease the rate of DNA fragmentation, antioxidant can decrease the rate of DNA fragmentation. Semen volume and sperm concentration were mainly related to the secretion volume of accessory gonads and total sperm count, but no correlation was found between them and DFI.
Doxorubicin and siRNA Co-Delivery System Based on Carbon Dots Inhibits Chemoresistance of Lung Cancer
Authors: Luo Hui , Tang Kexin , Huang Kaichen , Lin Xi , Mei Chaoming , Wu Lili , Yang Lei , Yu Hailing
Published: March 2021

BackgroundThe resistance to the anti-cancer agent limits the chemotherapy effect in the cancer therapy. Tumor easily develops resistance to anti-cancer drugs leading to decreased therapy efficiency of chemotherapies. Targeting signaling molecules related with chemoresistance through strategy of co-delivery siRNA and chemotherapeutics may overcome the multidrug resistance to chemotherapy. A co-delivery nanosystem that could carry siRNA and DOX simultaneously has been studied in this work. ResultsThe co-delivery is based on carbon dots was surface-modified with poly-ethylenimine (PEI), and loaded the siMRP1 and chemotherapeutics by electronstatic interactions on the surface with pH-triggered drug release. The CD-PEI was synthesized by one-step microwave assisted method; the PEI were raw materials and passivator during the reaction process that makes CD exhibit excellent optical property and the capability of loading siRNA. The CD-PEI was capable of loading and delivering siMRP1 and DOX to tumor and release synchronously in cell by pH-triggered manner using flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis. MRP1 was successfully knocked down by siRNA. The silencing of MRP1 by co-delivery system could increase DOX accumulation and significantly enhance the inhibitory effect of metastatic potential elicited by doxorubicin in A549 and A549/ADM cells.Conclusion﻿The co-delivery systems effectively loaded and released siRNA and DOX agents to the targeted tumor, overcoming the resistant to chemotherapy. By suppressing MRP1, CD-PEI-DOX-siMRP1 can obviously increase the drug intercellular accumulation and inhibit the cell proliferation, migration and invasion, implying its potential application in enhancing therapeutic efficiency in clinical practices.
Enhancing 3D Printing Producibility in Polylactic Acid Using Fused Filament Fabrication Fused Deposition Modelling and Machine Learning
Authors: Moradi Mahmoud , Meiabadi M. Saleh , Moghadam Mojtaba Karami , Ardabili Sina , Band Shahab S. , Mosavi Amir
Published: March 2021

Polylactic Polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the high applicable material which is used in the 3D printers due to some significant features like its deformation property and affordable costacid (PLA) is brittle in nature with extensive deformation property. For improvement of the end-use quality, it is of significant importance to enhance the quality of Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF)fused deposition modeling (FDM)-printed objects in PLA. The purpose of this investigation is to boost toughness and to reduce the production cost of the FDMFFF-printed tensile test samples with the desired part thickness. Due to prevent from many numerous and idle printing samples the response Surface Method (RSM) is used.To attain the research purpose number of experiments are designed and analyzed by the Response Surface Method (RSM). The statistical analysis is performed to deal with this concern considering extruder temperature (ET), infill percentage (IP), and layer thickness (LT) as controlled factors. The tensile test specimens are printed based on the designed experiments, and the tensile strength tests are conducted by SANTAM 150 universal testing machine based on ASTM D638. The pattern for filling is designed based on honeycomb which is applied to produce lightweight and high-strength specimens. The area under Force- Extension curve up to fracture is acquired as the toughness of the printed specimens. This study also developed a modeling process using artificial neural network (ANN) and artificial neural network- genetic algorithm (ANN-GA) techniques to develop an accurate estimation for toughness, part thickness, and production cost dependent variables. Results were evaluated by correlation coefficient and RMSE values. According to the modeling results, ANN-GA as a hybrid machine learning (ML) technique could could successfully improveenhances the accuracy of modeling about 7.5, 11.5 and 4.5 % for toughness, part thickness, and production cost, respectively, in comparison with those for the single ANN method. On the other side, the optimization results confirm that the optimized specimen is cost-effective and able to comparatively undergo deformation, which enables the usability of printed PLA objects. The research is accomplished under the constraints of PLA compatibility with existing Fused Filament Fabrication fused deposition modeling installation, in the absence of the functional assistant of the machine in the absence of the functional assistant of the machine. Although the mechanical properties and dimensional accuracy of PLA have already been studied, there is little literature on the toughness of the printed PLA with honeycomb internal fill pattern.