bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlation analysis between the use of digital devices and neck and shoulder pain among college students and lifestyle education
Authors: Wang Weiheng , Zhang Yongxing , Liu Yi , Wang Xinyu , Lv Chencong , Bin Xiao , Xi Yanhai , Xu Guohua , Deng Guoying , Ye Xiaojian
Published: August 2022

Background: Musculoskeletal pain (MSP) is frequent complaint among college students, especially neck and shoulder pain (NSP). No study so far has demonstrated a correlation between the use of digital devices and the prevalence of NSP among college students in China. Therefore, a cross-sectional survey investigating this relationship among college students in Shanghai was urgently needed.Objective: The relationship between digital device usage, lifestyle, and the prevalence of self-reported NSP among college students in Shanghai, and neck muscle activity of different degrees of spinal curvature was investigated to provide suggestions for healthy spinal curvature lifestyle education. Methods: 6000 students were randomly enrolled, and a self-reported questionnaire was conducted to assess the prevalence and severity of NSP. The students’ demographic characteristics, habits of using digital devices, and lifestyles were recorded. c2 tests were used to compare the prevalence of NSP; univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify potential risk factors for NSP. A musculoskeletal model of the standard human body was established with the AnyBody platform to test the neck muscle activity of different degrees of spinal curvature.Results: Among the 4848 college students (80.8%) who completed the survey, the prevalence of NSP was 39.1%, with more girls (45.0%) reporting NSP than boys (32.4%). The logistic regression indicated that gender, inappropriate posture and using digital devices for long time had a significant correlation with NSP. Neck muscle activity increased as spinal inclination increased based on the AnyBody platform.Conclusion: NSP seems to be a common condition among college students in Shanghai. Gender, inappropriate posture and using digital devices for long time are closely associated with NSP. The greater the anterior cervical and lumbar flexion, the higher the activity of cervical muscles. Healthy lifestyle education should be used to decrease the NSP among college students.
How entanglements determine the morphology of
semicrystalline polymers
Authors: Wang Zefan , Schäfer Mareen , Petzold Albrecht , Saalwächter Kay , Thurn-Albrecht Thomas
Published: August 2022

Crystallization of polymers from entangled melts generally leads to the formation of semicrystalline materials with a nanoscopic lamellar morphology. Controlling this structure is key to the rational design, application and possible reuse of thermoplastic
materials, but there is no consensus yet on the factors that control the thickness of the amorphous layers. We elucidate the effect of entanglements on the morphology in a series of model blends of high-molecular-weight polymers with unentangled
oligomers leading to a reduced entanglement density as characterized by rheological measurements in the melt. Small-angle X-ray scattering experiments after isothermal
crystallization reveal a reduced thickness of the amorphous layers, while the crystal thickness remains largely unaffected. A simple yet quantitative model without adjustable parameter is suggested, according to which the measured thickness of the
amorphous layers adjusts itself in such a way that the entanglement concentration reaches a specific maximum value.
Decreasing hazards from glacial lakes in Alaska since the 1960s
Authors: Rick Brianna , McGrath Daniel , McCoy Scott , Armstrong William
Published: August 2022

As ice retreats due to climate change, glacial lakes can form and grow. Rapid lake drainage can produce devastating outburst floods leading many to propose that hazards from glacial lakes are increasing. Outburst flood compilations do show an increase in number of events over time, however, recent studies attribute such trends to observational bias. This leaves large uncertainty about current and future glacial-lake hazards. Here, we focus on ice-dammed lake drainages in Alaska, as a third of documented events globally occurred in this region. Using multitemporal satellite imagery, we documented 1150 drainages from 106 lakes over 1985–2020, with an apparent increase in event frequency. However, accounting for increasing number of satellite images, we find no temporal trend in drainage frequency. Furthermore, we document a loss of >75% of ice-dammed lakes since the 1960s. This suggests a decrease in regional flood hazard and motivates an unbiased look at other regions.
Evolution of smoking rates among immigrants in France in the context of comprehensive tobacco control measures, and a decrease in the overall prevalence.
Authors: Héron Mégane , Mahdjoub Sarah , Gomajee Ramchandar , Ducarroz Simon , Melchior Maria , El-Khoury Fabienne
Published: August 2022

BackgroundThe evolution of smoking rates according to migrant status has not been examined in France, despite a recent reduction in overall smoking rates.MethodsDePICT is a two waves (2016: n=4356; 2017: n=4114) nationwide telephone survey, representative of the French adult population We compared smoking-related behaviors before and after implementation of tobacco-control measures (2017), according to the geographical region of birth. ResultsCompared to 2016, individuals originating from Africa or the Middle East had a slightly higher smoking prevalence in 2017 (34.7% vs 31.3%), despite a higher intention to quit or attempt in the preceding year (adjusted OR(ORa)= 2.72[1.90; 3.90]) compared to non-immigrants. They were also less likely to experience an unsuccessful quit attempt (ORa= 1.76[1.18; 2.62])ConclusionTobacco-control measures could have widened smoking inequalities related to migrant status. The evolution of smoking-related behaviors among immigrants should be examined when studying the long-term effects of such policies.
Prevalence and Risk Factors for Falls Among Community-Dwelling Adults in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alenazi Aqeel M , Alanazi Maram F , Elnaggar Ragab K , Alshehri Mohammed M , Alqahtani Bader A , Alhowimel Ahmed S , Alanazi Ahmad D , Alotaibi Mazyad A , Almutairi Sattam M , Alghamdi Mohammed S , Bindawas Saad M
Published: August 2022

Background:This study examined the prevalence and risk factors of falls, by evaluating the association between risk factors and falls and number of falls, and by determining cut-off scores for fall risk measures among community-dwelling adults in Saudi Arabia.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in community, Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. A sample of 276 Saudi citizens aged ³ 40 years who were able to read and write in Arabic. Fall history and number of falls in the past 12 months were determined via self-reports. Variables assessed included demographic information, self-reported chronic diseases, depressive symptoms, and back pain severity.Results:Participants were classified as either fallers (n=28, 10.14%) or non-fallers. Fallers were more likely to have arthritis (odds ratio [OR]: 7.60, p=0.001), back pain (OR: 5.22, p=0.002), and higher depressive symptom scores (OR: 1.09, p=0.013) than non-fallers. The number of reported falls was significantly associated with an elevated body mass index (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 1.09, p=0.045), arthritis (IRR: 8.74, p<0.001), back pain (IRR: 4.08, p=0.005), neurological diseases (IRR: 13.75, p<0.007), and depressive symptoms (IRR: 1.08, p=0.005). Cut-off scores predictive of falls associated with back pain and depressive symptoms were 1.5 (sensitivity: 0.61; specificity: 0.79; area under the curve [AUC]: 0.70) and 11.5 score (sensitivity: 0.57; specificity: 0.76; AUC: 0.66), respectively.Conclusions: The prevalence of falls was relatively low among the individuals considered in this study. Chronic conditions, back pain severity, and depressive symptoms were determined to be associated with falls among community-dwelling individuals in Saudi Arabia.
EDDSN-MRT: Multiple Rodent Tracking Based on Ear Detection and Dual Siamese Network for Rodent Social Behavior Analysis
Authors: Liu Bingbin , Qian Yuxuan , Wang Jianxin
Published: August 2022

Background The rodent social behavior is a commonly used preclinical model to assess human neurological condition mechanisms. Therefore, to understand how the neural system coordinates with social behaviors, neuroscientists need a precise and quantitative generation of multiple rodent's trajectories in laboratory scenarios. But the occlusion of rodents’ individuals precludes the generation of stable long individual tracks. Results To deal with the occlusion interference problem, based on the nature physiological structure of rodents, we propose a Multiple Rodent Tracking approach based on Ear Detection and Dual Siamese Network for tracking of multiple rodents in laboratory environments and analysis of rodent social behavior, named EDDSN-MRT. We validate this tracking system on a public dataset with multiple rodents and compare it with several current state-of-the-art methods. At least 4 rodents can be tracked simultaneously and providing locomotion behavioral data. Next, we demonstrate its application in clinical monitoring of intermittent fasting intervention. And unexpectedly, we reveal that intermittent fasting intervention implemented on multiple mice can lead to decrease in spatial distribution of them, rather than increasing dwelling range in single session monitoring result. Finally, offering accurate tracking, we show that the system is highly suitable for longitudinal studies of aging and fasting-associated locomotion disorder, enabling the quantification of the slight intervention effects in multiple rodent locomotion behavior. Conclusion Comparing with several state-of-the-art methods, the proposed EDDSN-MRT achieves a better tracking performance in terms of Multiple Object Tracking Accuracy (MOTA) and ID Correct Rate (ICR). External clinical validation suggests that our proposed EDDSN-MRT has the applicability to distinguish the behaviors of rodents with locomotion disorder caused by different intermittent fasting models.
WITHDRAWN: ELP2 -NLRP3-GSDMD/GSDME mediated pyroptosis induced by TNF-α during osteogenic differentiation
Authors: Xu Chang-Peng , Xia Chang-Liang , Ou Shuan-Ji , Yang Yang , Zhang Wei , Wu Wen-Jiao , Chen Qi , Li Wen-Jun , Lu Han-Yu , Wang Ye-Yang , Qi Yong
Published: August 2022

Elongated protein 2 (ELP2) affects inflammatory responses through the JAK-STAT3 cascade and downstream pathways which regulates ontogenesis. Our recent experiment suggests that TNF-a induced inflammation during ontogenesis is inextricably linked to pyroptosis and is critical for inhibiting osteogenic differentiation. However, we do not know the effect of ELP2 on pyroptosis under inflammatory microenvironment. Thus, this study aims to investigate the role of ELP2 in molecular mechanism for MC3T3-E1 cell pyroptosis. Firstly, using scanning electron microscope, we observed MC3T3-E1 cells underwent obvious cell membrane rupture and inflammation after 48h of TNF-α treatment under ontogenesis induction. Then, we targeted ELP2 associated with the NLRP3 inflammasome identified by bioinformatics analysis. Besides, the effect of ELP2 on the inflammasome was determined by the detection of STAT3/NLRP3/ASC protein in ELP2 knockdown and overexpression cells. The interaction between ELP2 and NLRP3 was confirm by co-immunoprecipitation. Pyroptosis downstream was demonstrated by activation of Caspase-1 and Caspase-3, cleavage of downstream gas protein D (GSDMD) and gas protein E (GSDME/DFNA5). Clarifying the effect of ELP2 on the degree of apoptosis by Fluorescent Staining and Flow Quantitative Analysis of Cell Death Staining. Finally, the effects of ELP2 on ontogenesis was evaluated by detecting the osteogenic associated protein OPN/OCN/RUNX2/ALP expression using western blot and qPCR, also we conducted the ALP staining after the cell was stimulated with TNF-α. From the data in this study, we get ELP2-NLRP3-GSDMD/GSDME mediated pyroptosis induced by TNF-α during osteogenic differentiation. Regulation of ELP2 may be a potential target for the treatment of bone infections.
Adjuvanting Coxevac® with QuilA® skews Coxiella burnetii-induced inflammatory responses towards a sustained Th1-CD8+-mediated activation and increases protection in an experimental goat model
Authors: Tomaiuolo Sara , Jansen Wiebke , Martins Susana Soares , Devriendt Bert , Cox Eric , Mori Marcella
Published: August 2022

Coxevac® is the EMA-approved veterinary vaccine for the protection of cattle and goats against Q Fever, a zoonotic bacterial disease due to Coxiella burnetii. Since Coxevac® reduces bacterial shedding and clinical symptoms but does not prevent infection, novel, ready-to-use vaccine formulations are needed to increase its immunogenicity. Here, a goat vaccination-challenge model was used to evaluate the impact of the commercially available saponin-based QuilA® adjuvant on Coxevac® immunity. Upon challenge, the QuilA®-Coxevac® group showed a stronger immune response reflected in a higher magnitude of total IgG and an increase in circulating and splenic CD8+ T-cells compared to the Coxevac® and challenged-control groups. The QuilA®-Coxevac® group was characterized by a targeted Th1-type response (IFNɣ, IP10) associated with increased transcripts of CD8+ and NK cells in spleens and γδ T cells in bronchial lymph nodes. Coxevac® vaccinated animals presented an intermediate expression of Th1-related genes, whilst the challenged-control group showed an immune response characterized by pro-inflammatory (IL1β, TNFα, IL12), Th2 (IL4 and IL13), Th17 (IL17A) and other immunoregulatory cytokines (IL6, IL10). An intriguing role was observed for γδ T cells, which were of TBX21- and SOX4-types in the QuilA®-Coxevac® and challenged control group, respectively.
Overall, the addition of QuilA® resulted in a sustained Th1-type activation associated with increased vaccine protection. QuilA® could be proposed as one readily-applied solution to improve Coxevac® efficacy against C. burnetii infection in field settings.
Selection of reference genes for qPCR analysis and variations in the expression of Phosphate (Pi) responsive genes in Brassica rapa
Authors: Shahbuddin Dahlia , Shuid Ahmad Naqib , Rusly Rosazlina
Published: August 2022

Phosphate (Pi) deficiency in soil is one of the limiting factors to a growing plant due to its slow diffusion and high fixation in the rhizosphere. Brassica rapa plants were grown hydroponically under replete (P+) and deplete (P-) conditions to examine the variations in the expression of Pi responsive genes using real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Nine candidate reference genes were selected from the NCBI database. TATA box and SAND were selected as the most suitable reference genes under Pi-replete and Pi-deplete conditions due to their high efficiency and quality. The selected reference genes were validated by analyzing the expression of 14 target Pi responsive genes. The expression analysis of B. rapa root samples under Pi deficiency revealed the variable expression of genes; Bro18-014187 (ALMT1), a gene that is involved in organic acid exudation (OA) in the root system to promote phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) in plants, showed the highest increased (7.6-fold) under Pi-stress. Meanwhile, the expression of genes Bro18-047862 (PAP12), Bro18-038689 (MATE), Bro18-038513 (MMDH1), Bro18-004703 (SUC2), and Bro18-025411 (SUC2) increased with 3.69-fold, 1.9-fold, 1.4-fold, 3.03-fold, and 1.8-fold, respectively. Decreased gene responses were seen in Bro18-009479 (CS4), Bro18-042204 (ALMT1), and Bro18-035630 (MATE), while five other genes Bro18-039999 (PAP12), Bro18-049018 (CS4), Bro18-006954 (ALMT1), Bro18-035465 (MMDH1) and Bro18-013770 (MMDH1) remain unchanged. The whole-genome triplication (WGT) event in B. rapa led to three copies of paralog genes and transcription analysis showed the robust variation in the expression patterns of these paralog genes. Genes involved in signaling, transport, extracellular Pi scavenging, physiological function, and metabolic pathways are among the most highly expressed genes. This research provides a general overview of Pi’s influence on plant growth processes as well as presents particular experimental data on B. rapa responses to Pi deficiency.
Bio-efficacy of insecticidal molecule emodin against dengue, filariasis, and malaria vectors
Authors: Chinnasamy Ragavendran , Govindasamy Balasubramani , Venkatesh Manigandan , Magudeeswaran Sivanandam , Dhanarajan Arulbalachandran , Devarajan Natarajan , Willie Peijnenburg , Perumal Vivekanandhan , Mekchay Supamit , Krutmuang Patcharin
Published: August 2022

Emodin, a chemical isolated from Aspergillus terreus, was studied using chromatographic and spectroscopic methods and compound purity (96%) was assessed by TLC. Furthermore, high larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti-AeA (LC50 5.08 and LC90 8.23 mg.L− 1), Culex quinquefasciatus-CuQ (7.13 and 12.01 mg.L− 1), and Anopheles stephensi-AnS larvae (6.40 and 15.24 mg.L− 1) was recorded. The first isolated fraction showed higher pupicidal activity against AeA (0.349 and 0.872 mg.L− 1). Most emodin-treated larvae (ETL) involutate variations in acetylcholine esterase, α and β-carboxylesterases, and phosphatase activities in the 4th instar, indicating intrinsic differences in their biochemical changes. ETL had numerous altered tissues, including muscle, gastric caeca, hindgut, midgut, nerve ganglia, and midgut epithelium. Acute toxicity of emodin against brine shrimp Artemia nauplii (154.0 and 184.5 mg.L− 1) and the zebrafish Danio rerio (less toxicity observed) was evaluated. In docking studies, Emodin interacted well with odorant-binding-proteins of AeA, AnS, and CuQ with docking scores of -8.89, -6.53, and − 8.09 kcal/mole, respectively. Therefore, A. terreus is likely to be effective against mosquito larvicides.
Improvements to seismicity forecasting based on a Bayesian spatiotemporal ETAS model: Application to 2017-2019 Kermanshah seismic sequence in Western Iran
Authors: Ebrahimian Hossein , Jalayer Fatemeh , Asayesh Behnam Maleki , Hainzl Sebastian , Zafarani Hamid
Published: August 2022

The epidemic-type aftershock sequence (ETAS) model provides an effective tool for predicting the spatio-temporal evolution of aftershock clustering in short-term. Based on this model, a fully probabilistic procedure was previously proposed by the first two authors for providing spatio-temporal predictions of aftershock occurrence in a prescribed forecasting time interval. This procedure exploited the versatility of the Bayesian inference to adaptively update the forecasts based on the incoming information provided by the ongoing seismic sequence. In this work, this Bayesian procedure is improved: (1) the likelihood function for the sequence has been modified to properly consider the piecewise stationary integration of the seismicity rate; (2) the spatial integral of seismicity rate over the whole aftershock zone is calculated analytically; (3) background seismicity is explicitly considered within the forecasting procedure; (4) an adaptive kernel Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulation procedure is adopted; (5) leveraging the stochastic sequences generated by the procedure in the forecasting interval, the N-test and the S-test are adopted to verify the forecasts. This framework is demonstrated and verified through retrospective early forecasting of seismicity associated with the 2017-2019 Kermanshah seismic sequence activities in western Iran in two distinct phases following the main events with Mw7.3 and Mw6.3, respectively.
Controlling Extrudate Volume Fraction through Poroelastic Extrusion of Entangled Fibers
Authors: Pan Zehao , Nunes Janine , Duprat Camille , Shum Ho , Stone Howard
Published: August 2022

Many materials systems consist of mixtures of particles of various shapes, and readily deform and flow. For example, when a suspension of spherical or near-spherical particles passes through a constriction the volume fraction either remains the same or decreases. In contrast to these particle suspensions, here we observe that an entangled fiber suspension increases its volume fraction up to 14-fold after passing through a constriction. We attribute this response to the entanglements among the fibers that allows the network to move faster than the liquid. By changing the fiber geometry, we find that the entanglements originate from interlocking shapes or high flexibility. A quantitative poroelastic model is used to explain the increase in velocity and extrudate volume fractions. These results provide a new strategy to control soft materials, e.g., suspension concentration and porosity, during delivery, as occurs in healthcare, three-dimensional printing, or material repair.
Household drinking water quality and its predictors in flood-prone settings of Northwest Ethiopia: a cross- sectional community-based study
Authors: Birhan Tsegaye Adane , Destaw Bikes , Dagne Henok , Eyachew Dagnachew , Azanaw Jember , Andualem Zewudu , Dessie Awrajaw , Guyasa Gebisa , Getaneh Alem , Addisu Ayenew , Genet Mengesha , Tadege Garedew , Tesfaye Amensisa Hailu
Published: August 2022

Background
In many nations, the deterioration of drinking water quality is a major problem that may be caused by a variety of interrelated biological, physical, and chemical causes. Human feces, animal waste, and effluent farming activities are the main pollutants of water supplies. Even if the source is clean, the process of collecting, transporting, storing, and drawing water in the home can all lead to faecal contamination. In addition, without improved water storage and sanitation, a better water supply doesn't always result in full health benefits. Because of this, it's important to have regular quality control procedures. This study is aimed to assess the level of physioco-chemical and bacteriological quality of hosehold drinking water and its contributing factors in flood-prone settlements of South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia.
Methods
In villages in the South Gondar Zone that are prone to flooding, a community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2021. Using standardized water sampling methods, samples of household water were gathered from each residence. Data on socioeconomic conditions and behavioral patterns were gathered through in-person interviews with structured questionnaires. Logistic regression models were used for both univariate and multivariate studies.
Results
The survey included a total of 675 households. The South Gondar Zone's settlements that are prone to flooding had a prevalence of 62.2 percent (n = 417) with [95% CI (53–60)] positive fecal coliform in household water samples. Family size [AOR = 2.205, 95% CI (1.375–3.536), latrine presence [AOR = 3.449, 95% CI (1.349–8.823)], and utilizing a separate container to draw water from its storage [AOR = 0.454, 95% CI (0.249–0.827)] are variables identified as predictors for fecal coliform contamination of household water.
Conclusion
In this study, there was a high proportion of fecal contamination in drinking water. The presence of fecal coliforms in household drinking water was found to be significantly related to family size, the availability of a toilet, and the usage of a separate can to draw water from its storage.
Non-systemic Epstein-Barr virus infection in patients with ulcerative colitis
Authors: Wang Jin , Liu Rongbei , Deng Min , Xu Mengque , Jiang Zhinong , Cao Qian
Published: August 2022

Background: The potential role of EBV infection in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients has not been fully elucidated yet, therefore we aimed to study it further. Methods: 59 biopsy stecimens and 20 surgical specimens of ulcerative colitis were included in the study. 59 biopsy stecimens were from 18 non-refractory UC patients and 41 refractory UC patients who received steroids therapy. EBV-encoded small RNA (EBER) in situ hybridization (ISH) was performed for the virus detection. The corresponding electronic medical records were reviewed to analysis the clinical characteristics. Results: EBER nuclear expression in biopsy spesimens of non- refractory UC patients and refractory UC patients was 16.7% (3/18) and 9.76% (4/41) respectively, showing no significant differences between the two groups. EBER nuclear expression in surgical specimens of ulcerative colitis were much higher (80%) than in biopsy spesimens. However, EBER positive cells in most samples of UC patients were less than 50 per high-power field. No systemic symptoms of EBV infection were found in UC patients. The 5-year survival rate of UC patients who underwent surgery was 100%. Conclusions: UC patients with EBV infection showed limited systemic active EBV infectious symptoms. EBV infection did not worsen the prognosis of UC patients.
An improved PBFT consensus algorithm based on grouping and credit grading
Authors: Liu Shannan , Zhang Ronghua , Liu Changzheng , Wang Jiaojiao
Published: August 2022

To address the problems of high communication complexity, the random selection of master nodes, and limited supported network size of the Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance (PBFT) consensus algorithm for consortium chains, an improved Byzantine Fault Tolerance (CBFT) algorithm based on grouping and credit hierarchy is proposed to optimize the nodes of large-scale consortium chains structure. First, the network nodes are divided into different consensus sets according to their response speed to the management nodes, and the consensus is carried out inside and outside the group respectively; based on this, a credit grading mechanism is proposed and a credit calculation formula is introduced to select the management nodes; finally, a simulation and performance testing system based on this improved scheme is built. The experimental results show that CBFT has less communication overhead, shorter latency, and higher throughput than PBFT, and it is more obvious with the increase in the number of nodes, which meets the needs of large consortium chains.
Awareness and knowledge of CBCT among a group of Egyptian Pediatric dentists: A questionnaire study
Authors: Elghazawy Reham K , Khalil Sarah M.S. , Sadat Shaimaa Abu El
Published: August 2022

Aim: To assess the knowledge and awareness of CBCT among a group of Egyptian pediatric dentistsMaterials and methods: An online open-ended questionnaire with 21 items were delivered to around 300 applicants, who practice pediatric dentistry in Egypt. The questionnaire was conveyed by Facebook and distributed among different groups, via Whats app groups and messages, through emails and LinkedIn platform. Demographic, knowledge and awareness data regarding CBCT were collected. Categorical data were analyzed using chi square test followed by pairwise comparisons utilizing multiple z-tests with Bonferroni correction. The significance level was set at p ≤ 0.05.Results: Two-hundred twenty-nine participants responded to the survey during a 2-month interval. Almost half of the respondents showed poor knowledge of CBCT, 65.2% believes that adequate teaching is not given to dental students, regarding CBCT in their universities, and 95.2% assumes that continuous education courses is required for pediatric dentists.Conclusions: There is explicit gap in knowledge and awareness of CBCT in pediatric dental practitioners, necessitating additional CBCT education and training courses for both undergraduate and postgraduate students.Clinical relevance: The increase of knowledge and awareness among Egyptian pediatric dentists is required, more training and tuition should be integrated in the students’ curricula in their undergraduate and post graduate stages.
Zero-dispersion soliton and broadband modulational instability Kerr microcombs in anomalous dispersion
Authors: Wu Kan , Xiao Zeyu , Li Tieying , Cai Minglu , Zhang Hongyi , Huang Yi , Li Chao , Yao Baicheng , Chen Jianping
Published: August 2022

The developing advances of microresonator-based Kerr cavity solitons have enabled versatile applications ranging from communication, signal processing to high-precision measurements. Resonator dispersion is the key factor determining the Kerr comb dynamics. Near the zero group-velocity-dispersion (GVD) region, low-noise and broadband microcomb sources are achievable, which is crucial to the application of the Kerr soliton. When the GVD is almost vanished, higher-order dispersion can significantly affect the Kerr comb dynamics. Although many studies have investigated the Kerr comb dynamics near the zero-dispersion region in microresonator or fiber ring system, limited by dispersion profiles and dispersion perturbations, the zero-dispersion soliton structure in the anomalous dispersion region is still elusive so far. Here, we theoretically and experimentally investigate the microcomb dynamics in fiber-based Fabry-Perot microresonator with ultra-small anomalous GVD. We obtain 2/3-octave-spaning microcombs with ~ 10 GHz spacing, > 84 THz span and > 8400 comb lines in the modulational instability (MI) state, without any external nonlinear spectral broadening. Such widely-spanned MI combs are also able to enter the soliton state. Moreover, we report the first observation of anomalous-dispersion based zero-dispersion solitons, which exhibits a local repetition rate up to 8.6 THz, an individual pulse duration < 100 fs, a span > 32 THz and > 3200 comb lines. These two distinct comb states have their own advantages. The broadband MI combs possess high conversion efficiency and wide existing range, while the zero-dispersion soliton exhibits the low phase noise and ultra-high local repetition rate. This work complements the dynamics of Kerr cavity soliton near the zero-dispersion region, and may stimulate cross-disciplinary inspirations ranging from dispersion-controlled microresonators to broadband coherent comb devices.
Fast Estimation and Choice of Confidence Interval Methods for Step Regression
Authors: Hua Shuangcheng , Fong Youyi , Kath Jarrod
Published: August 2022

In this paper we propose a new fast grid search algorithm for finding the least square estimators of a step regression model. This algorithm makes it practical to compute resampling-based confidence intervals for step regression models. We introduce five data generating models, including one where the mean model is a step model (model correctly specified) and four where the mean models are not step models (model misspecified), and use them to study the coverage probabilities of two new types of resampling-based confidence intervals for step regression: symmetric percentile bootstrap confidence intervals and subsampling confidence intervals using a new set of rules-of-thumb to select block size. Our results show that when the model is correctly specified, the symmetric percentile Efron bootstrap confidence intervals provide close-to-nominal coverage and have shorter intervals than the subsampling methods; when the model is misspecified, the subsampling method using the rules-of-thumb provides good coverage and shorter confidence intervals than the symmetric percentile Efron bootstrap method and the subsampling method using a double bootstrap-like procedure for block size selection. Finally, we apply the proposed methods to a real world environmental dataset on the relationship between grassland productivity, soil moisture anomalies and other hydro-climatic and land use variables to provide inference for the threshold in soil moisture anomalies, across which there is a jump in grassland productivity.
Thuja orientalis folium protects against Influenza A virus via inhibition of hemagglutinin and viral binding at early stage
Authors: Lee Myong-Min , Yang Hye Jin , Yim Nam-Hui , Cho Won-Kyung , Ma Jin Yeul
Published: August 2022

Background: Morbidity and mortality as a result of influenza is an ongoing global health issue. Macrophages are part of the immune defense mechanism, as they play a role in the inflammatory response that blocks viral replication. Thuja orientalis Folium (TOF) has been prescribed traditionally as an expectorant for inflammatory airway disease. In this investigation, we have assessed the anti-viral properties of TOF water extract on the infectivity of the influenza A (H1N1) virus in RAW 264.7 macrophages.Method: We assessed the ability of GFP-tagged influenza A virus (A/PR/8/34-GFP) to infect murine macrophages. To determine the potential of antiviral activity using Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), fluorescent microscopy with green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged Influenza A/PR/8/34 virus. Hemagglutination inhibition assay, Western blotting, and Immunofluorescence analyses were performed to find the target protein. To investigate which stage of viral infection is associated with the TOF antiviral impact, we evaluated viral infection at three stages: attachment, entry, and virucidal in the presence of TOF.Results: FACS and immunofluorescence analyses results showed that TOF significantly inhibited viral infection and 100 μg/mL of TOF repressed that up to 98% of untreated control. Consistently, Western blot and immunofluorescence analyses against the influenza viral protein confirmed the TOF extract reduced the influenza viral protein expression in a dose-dependent manner. Time of addition and hemagglutination assays elucidated that TOF suppresses influenza A viral infection at early stages and interfere with HA protein.Conclusion: The TOF extract was thus found to exhibit inhibitory effects on influenza virus infection by inhibiting hemagglutination, blocking viral attachment and entry, and through virucidal effects. Based on our results, TOF may be a potential natural resource that could be utilized to develop an antiviral reagent.
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 IgA and IgG in human milk and breastfeeding infant stool 6 months after maternal COVID-19 vaccination
Authors: Stafford Lauren , Valcarce Vivian , Henry Matthew , Neu Josef , Parker Leslie , Martina Mueller , Vicuna Valeria , Gowen Taylor , Cato Emilee , Kosik Ivan , Yewdell Jonathan , Atkinson Mark , Cacho Nicole , Li Nan , Larkin Joseph
Published: August 2022

Objective Assess the presence, durability, and neutralization capacity of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies in breastfeeding infants’ stools, mother’s plasma, and human milk following maternal vaccination.DesignThirty-seven mothers and 25 infants were enrolled between December 2020 and November 2021 for this prospective observational study. Human milk, maternal plasma, and infants' stools were collected pre-vaccination and at periods up to 6 months following COVID-19 vaccine series initiation/completion. SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels and their neutralization capacities were assessed in collected samples. Results SARS-CoV-2-specific IgA and IgG levels were higher in infant stool post-maternal vaccination amongst milk-fed compared to pre-COVID controls. Human milk and plasma SARS-CoV-2-specific IgA and IgG concentrations decreased over 6 months post-vaccination but remained higher than pre-vaccination levels. We observed improved neutralization capacity in milk antibodies over time.ConclusionsThe presence of neutralizing SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies in infant stool following maternal vaccination offers further evidence of the lasting transfer of these antibodies through breastfeeding and their protective effect.
Differentiation of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma and Chronic Pancreatitis using Graph Neural Networks on Histopathology and Collagen Fiber Features
Authors: Li Bin , Nelson Michael , Savari Omid , Loeffler Agnes , Eliceiri Kevin
Published: August 2022

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal human cancers. However, the symptoms and follow-up radiographic and histopathology assessments of PDAC are similar to chronic pancreatitis (CP) and can lead to misdiagnosis. The need for accurate differentiation of PDAC and CP has become a major topic in pancreatic pathology. These two diseases can present similar histomorphological features, such as excessive deposition of fibrotic stroma in the tissue microenvironment and inflammatory cell infiltration. In this paper, we present a quantitative analysis pipeline empowered by graph neural networks (GNN) capable of automatic detection and differentiation of PDAC and CP in human histological specimens. Modeling histological images as graphs and deploying graph convolutions can enable the capture of histomorphological features at different scales, ranging from nuclear size to the organization of ducts. The analysis pipeline combines image features computed from co-registered hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) images and Second-Harmonic Generation (SHG) microscopy images, with the SHG images enabling the extraction of collagen fiber morphological features. Evaluating the analysis pipeline on a human tissue micro-array dataset consisting of 786 cores and a tissue region dataset consisting of 268 images, it attained 86.4% accuracy with an average area under the curve (AUC) of 0.954 and 88.9% accuracy with an average AUC of 0.957, respectively. Moreover, incorporating topological features of collagen fibers computed from SHG images into the model further increases the classification accuracy on the tissue region dataset to 91.3% with an average AUC of 0.962, suggesting that collagen characteristics are diagnostic features in PDAC and CP detection and differentiation.
The Theory of Planned Behaviour as a predictor of intention to engage in BDSM and vanilla
Sex
Authors: Banbury Samantha , Sidorova Polina , Lusher Joanne , Nercessian Tiga Rose
Published: August 2022

The authors postulate that the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) offers a hypothetically valuable framework for investigating Bondage, Discipline, Dominance, Submission and Sadomasochism (BDSM) and non-BDSM sexual behaviours, i.e. “vanilla” sex. This is because it examines attitudes, beliefs, subjective norms, intention, and perceived behavioural control over exhibited behaviours. Online cross-sectional data were gathered from participants classified as “BDSM” (n = 61) and “vanilla” (n = 41). Measures included the Theory of Planned Behaviour Questionnaire (TPB Constructs), as well as Anxiety (GAD–7), Depression (PHQ–9), and Self-Efficacy questionnaires. Findings revealed that the constructs of attitude towards vanilla sex predicts the person’s intention to engage in this behaviour (β = .42, p = .005). Similarly, perceived behavioural control predicts intention to engage in paraphilic or BDSM sex (β = .47, p < .001). This study concludes that the TPB is a useful model for predicting BDSM and vanilla sexual behavioural intention. Future research could uncover additional underlying determining or correlating factors associated with BDSM and vanilla sex, such as mental illness and childhood experiences. Having this understanding of the role that social cognition plays in the development and behaviour of different sexual practices, would benefit the development of sexual wellbeing programmes.
In which cases does collecting system entry occur in robot-assisted partial nephrectomy? Development of a novel predictive model based on the contact surface area of the tumor to the renal parenchyma
Authors: Umemoto Tatsuya , Hasegawa Masanori , Yuzuriha Soichiro , Kano Tatsuo , Ogawa Takahiro , Kawakami Masayoshi , Nakano Mayura , Kim Hakushi , Nitta Masahiro , Kawamura Yoshiaki , Shoji Sunao , Mizuno Ryuichi , Miyajima Akira
Published: August 2022

Background
Collecting system entry in robot-assisted partial nephrectomy may occur even in cases showing a low N factor in the R.E.N.A.L nephrometry score. Therefore, we focused on the tumor contact surface area with the adjacent renal parenchyma and attempted to construct a novel predictive model for collecting system entry.
Methods
Among 190 patients who underwent robot-assisted partial nephrectomy at our institution from 2015 to 2021, 94 patients with a low N factor (12) were analyzed. Contact surface was measured with three-dimensional imaging software and defined as the C factor, classified as C1, < 10 cm2; C2, ≥ 10 and < 15 cm2; and C3: ≥ 15 cm2. Additionally, a modified R factor (mR) was classified as mR1, < 20 mm; mR2, ≥ 20 and < 40 mm; and mR3, ≥ 40 mm. We discussed the factors influencing collecting system entry, including the C factor, and created a novel collecting system entry predictive model.
Results
Collecting system entry was observed in 32 patients with a low N factor (34%). The C factor was the only independent predictive factor for collecting system entry in multivariate regression analysis (odds ratio: 4.195, 95% CI: 2.160–8.146, p < 0.0001). Models including the C factor showed better discriminative power than the models without the C factor.
Conclusions
The new predictive model, including the C factor in N1-2 cases, may be beneficial, considering its indication for preoperative ureteral catheter placement in patients undergoing robot-assisted partial nephrectomy.
Development of optimized self nano emulsifying systems of entrectinib for enhanced dissolution
Authors: Reddy Muthadi Radhika , Gubbiyappa Kumar Shiva
Published: August 2022

Entrectinib is a novel potent anticancer drug with poor aqueous solubility. A supersaturable self nano emulsifying drug delivery system of entrectinib is developed using a super saturation promoter. The components of the isotropic mixture of SNEDDS were selected based on solubility and emulsification study. The optimum composition was identified using phase diagrams and further optimized by mixture design. The supersaturated SNEDDS was prepared using HPMC K4M as precipitation inhibitor. The droplet of sSNEDDS ranges from 118.42 ± 1.26 to 128.34 ± 0.63 nm with PDI values ranges from 0.112 to 0.204, which is significantly smaller than that observed with plain SNEDDS. The percent transmittance of the diluted formulation was found to be 98.78 ± 0.74. The viscosity was found to be 528 ± 32 centipoises indicating the good flow ability. FTIR and DSC studies indicated the amorphization of the drug. The dissolution profile of sSNEDDS indicated the faster release of drug compared to both pure drug suspension and SNEDDS formulation. The drug release rate is directly proportional to the concentration of the drug. The drug release from the insoluble matrix is a square root of time dependent Fickian diffusion process. The formulation was found to be stable and transparent at all pH values and the percent transmittance was more than 95%. No significant difference was observed with all the samples exposed at different storage conditions. This study demonstrated the feasibility of stabilizing and improving the in-vitro performance of SNEDDS by incorporating HPMC K4M as precipitation inhibitor.
Unsupervised Deep Learning of Bright Field Images for Apoptotic Cell Classification
Authors: Zheng Zhuo , Sun Beini , He Siqi , Wang Guanchen , Bi Chenyang , Chen Tongsheng
Published: August 2022

The classification of apoptotic and living cells is significant in drug screening and treating various diseases. Conventional supervised methods require a large amount of prelabelled data, which is often costly and consumes immense human resources in the biological field. In this study, unsupervised deep-learning algorithms were used to extract cell characteristics and classify cells. A model integrating a convolutional neural network and an auto-encoder network was utilised to extract cell characteristics, and a hybrid clustering approach was employed to obtain cell feature clustering results. Experiments on both public and private datasets revealed that the proposed unsupervised strategy performs well in cell categorisation. For instance, in the public dataset, our method obtained a precision of 96.72% on only 1000 unlabelled cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time unsupervised deep learning has been applied to distinguish apoptosis and live cells with high accuracy.
Accidental acquisition of a JEV rescued virus with introns unspliced in the viral genome using intron-based stabilization approach
Authors: Huang Ying , Xu Hongshan , Liu Shan , Lu Jiansheng , Jia Lili , Li Yuhua , Wang Rong , Yu Yongxin , Yang Zhixin
Published: August 2022

The intron-based stabilization approach is a very useful strategy for construction of stable flavivirus infectious clones. SA14-14-2 is a highly attenuated Japanese encephalitis live vaccine and widely used in China. To develop safe and effective recombinant vaccines with SA14-14-2 as a backbone vector, we constructed the DNA-based infectious clone pCMW-JEV of the vaccine strain using the intron-based stabilization approach, and acquired the rescued virus rDJEV which retained the identical biological properties of the parental virus. Unexpectedly, a rescued virus strain, designated rHV-DJEV, with altered virulence was acquired in one of the transfection experiments. rHV-DJEV showed up to 105-fold increased neurovirulence compared with SA14-14-2 parental strain. Genome sequencing found that the inserted introns still existed in the genome of rHV-DJEV. Therefore, we think that the intron-based stabilization approach should be used carefully in vaccine development and direct iDNA immunization.
The Power Spectrum Of Primordial Gravitational Waves Generated by Anisotropic Metric
Authors: Mohammadi Taimur , Malekolkalami Behrooz
Published: August 2022

One of the predictions from simple inflation models is stochastic background of gravitational waves (or literally what is called Primordial Gravitational Waves (PGW)) with a nearly scale– invariant spectrum. To discuss a possible direct detection of PGW, the quantity so–called Spectral Energy Density (SED) has crucial role. In this work, we consider PGW amplified by inflation and generated by perturbing the Anisotropic (Bianchi type–I) metric. We focus on the SED quantity of these gravity waves. The intended frameworks are the Einstein’s and modified (pure quadratic Ricci scalar) gravities. The spectral graphs for SED shows that in Einstein’s gravity, the anisotropic model has the ability to adapt to the observational data (BBN bounds) and in the modified gravity, in addition to observational constraint adaptation, the scale–invariant character of the spectrum is much more pronounced.
Stable, reproducible, and binder-free gold/copper core-shell nanostructures for high-sensitive non-enzymatic glucose detection
Authors: Siampour Hossein , Abbasian Sara , Moshaii Ahmad , Amirsoleimani Amir R.
Published: August 2022

The core-shell non-enzymatic glucose sensors are generally fabricated by chemical synthesis approaches followed by a binder-based immobilization process. Here, we have introduced a new approach to directly synthesis the core-shell of Au@Cu and its Au@CuxO oxides on an FTO electrode for non-enzymatic glucose detection. Physical vapor deposition of Au thin film followed by thermal annealing has been used to fabricate Au nanocores on the electrode. The Cu shells have been deposited selectively on the Au cores using an electrodeposition method. Additionally, Au@Cu2O and Au@CuO have been synthesized via post thermal annealing of the Au@Cu electrode. This binder-free and selective-growing approach has the merit of high electrooxidation activity owing to improving electron transfer ability and providing more active sites on the surface. Electrochemical measurements indicate the superior activity of the Au@Cu2O electrode for glucose oxidation. The high sensitivity of 1601 μAcm-2mM-1 and a low detection limit of 0.6 μM are achieved for the superior electrode. Additionally, the sensor indicates remarkable reproducibility and supplies accurate results for glucose detection in human serums. Moreover, this synthesis approach can be used for fast, highly controllable and precise fabrication of many core-shell structures by adjusting the electrochemical deposition and thermal treatment parameters.