bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Various Smoothness Metrics for Upper Limb Movements in Healthy Subjects
Authors: BAYLE Nicolas , LEMPEREUR Mathieu , HUTIN Emilie , MOTAVASSELI Damien , REMY-NERIS Olivier , GRACIES Jean-Michel , CORNEC Gwenaël
Published: March 2022

Background Metrics for movement smoothness include the number of zero-crossings on acceleration profiles (N0C), the Log Dimensionless Jerk (LDLJ), the Normalized Averaged Rectified Jerk (NARJ) and the Spectral Arc Length (SPARC). Sensitivity to handedness and movement type of these four metrics were compared and correlations with other kinematic parameters were explored in healthy subjects.MethodsThirty-two healthy participants (age 63±16 y) underwent 3D upper limb motion analysis during two sets of pointing movements on each side. Participants were seated, palm of the hand facing down on the table before movement onset; they performed forward-pointing movements (FPM) at self-selected speed to a target located ahead at shoulder height and at 90% arm length, and backward pointing movements (BPM), back to the initial position, with and without a three-second pause between FPM and BPM. Kinematics (including trajectory and velocity) were collected and N0C, SPARC, LDLJ and NARJ were computed.ResultsLDLJ, NARJ and N0C found backward movements to be smoother while SPARC found the opposite. No smoothness metric indicated differences across sides. Inter- and intra-subject coefficients of variation were lowest for SPARC. LDLJ, NARJ and N0C were correlated with each other and with movement time, unlike SPARC. ConclusionsThere are major differences between smoothness metrics measured in the temporal domain (N0C, LDLJ, NARJ), which depend on movement time, and that measured in the frequency domain, the SPARC, which gave results opposite to the other metrics when comparing backward and forward movements.Trial Registration Registration number, ID-RCB: NCT01383512, registered on 28 June 2011, updated on 11 October 2017.Approved by the Institutional Review Board of Brest University Hospital under the number 653.
Computational Study on the Clamping Mechanism in Injection Molding Machine
Authors: Le Van-Duong , Hoang Van-Thanh , Bang Tao Quang , Benabou Lahouari , Tran Ngoc-Hai , Luu Duc-Binh , Park Jang Min
Published: March 2022

The clamping mechanism plays an important role in obtaining high-quality products of the injection molding process. The clamping mechanism of five-point double-toggle has been widely used for the high-speed plastics injection molding machine. The purpose of this paper is to optimize the five-point double-toggle clamping mechanism through multi-body dynamics analysis. This work also provides guidelines and a clear understanding for designing the clamping system in an injection molding machine with various clamping forces. The theoretical calculation has been handled first and then the computational model has been verified in this study. In addition, the effects of clamping forces on the main dimensions, including movable-fixed plate thickness, tie-bar diameter and average link cross-section have been investigated theoretically and numerically. The results show that the optimal design allows reaching a high force amplified ratio and that the obtained mechanism has good kinematic performance and works steadily with lower energy consumption and lower cost than the preliminary design. Moreover, the relationships between the parameters such as the critical angles of the double-toggle clamping mechanism, the ratio of force amplification and the stroke of movable mold have been found in this work. The optimized parameters will yield useful knowledge to design and manufacture the clamping mechanism of the micro injection molding machine in practice.
Canalized gene expression during development mediates caste differentiation in ants
Authors: Qiu Bitao , Dai Xueqin , Li Panyi , Larsen Rasmus , Li Ruyan , Price Alivia , Ding Guo , Texada Michael , Zhang Xiafang , Zuo Dashuang , Gao Qionghua , Jiang Wei , Wen Tinggang , Pontieri Luigi , Guo Chunxue , Rewitz Kim , Li Qiye , Liu Weiwei , Boomsma Jacobus , Zhang Guojie
Published: March 2022

Ant colonies are higher-level organisms consisting of specialized reproductive and non-reproductive individuals that differentiate early in development, similar to germ-soma segregation in bilateral Metazoa. Analogous to diverging cell lines, developmental differentiation of individual ants has often been considered in epigenetic terms, but the sets of genes that determine caste phenotypes throughout larval and pupal development remain unknown. Here we reconstruct the individual developmental trajectories of two ant species after obtaining > 1400 whole-genome transcriptomes. Using a novel backward prediction algorithm, we show that caste phenotypes can be accurately predicted by genome-wide transcriptome profiling. We find that caste differentiation is increasingly canalized from early development onwards, particularly in germline individuals (gynes/queens), and that the juvenile hormone signalling pathway regulates this process with feedback from diverging larval body mass. We quantified gene-specific canalization levels and found that canalized genes with gyne/queen-biased expression were enriched for ovary and wing functions while canalized genes with worker-biased expression were enriched in brain and behavioural functions. Suppression in gyne larvae of Freja, a highly canalized gyne-biased ovary gene, disturbed pupal development by inducing non-adaptive intermediate phenotypes between gynes and workers. Our results indicate that the life cycle ontogeny of colonial superorganisms is maintained by strong purifying selection.
Metastasis patterns and prognosis in young breast cancer patients: a SEER database analysis
Authors: zhang weifang , Liu Jinzhao , Zhang Xiangmei , Yang Chao , Cao Miao , Zhang Shuo , Liu Yunjiang
Published: March 2022

Background
There are few studies on young patients with metastatic breast cancer. This study aims to explore the metastasis pattern and prognosis of young patients with metastatic breast cancer.
Methods
6336 metastatic breast cancer patients diagnosed in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End results database from 2010 to 2015 were selected. They were divided into three age groups: the younger group (≤ 40 years old), middle-aged group (41–69 years old) and older group (≥ 70 years old). χ2 test was used to compare clinicopathological characteristics. Survival differences were compared by Kaplan–Meier analysis. Cox regression models were used to determine the prognostic factors affecting survival.
Results
Finally, 494 patients (7.8%) ≤ 40 years old, 3957 patients (62.5%) 41–69 years old, and 1885 patients (29.7%) ≥ 70 years old were included. In younger group, the proportion of liver metastasis was significantly higher than that in middle-aged group and older group; the proportion of lung metastasis was significantly lower than that of the older group, but there was no significant difference with the middle-aged group. Kaplan-meier analysis showed that the younger group had the best prognosis and the older group had the worst. Youth is an independent protective factor for survival.In the young group, liver metastasis had the best prognosis among all metastatic sites, and HR-/HER2 + had the best prognosis among all molecular subtypes.
Conclusions
The disease in young metastatic breast cancer patients is more aggressive but has a better prognosis, especially in liver metastases and the HR-/HER2 + subtypes.
Engineering of macrophage targeted Punicalagin nanoparticles by computational modeling to alleviate methotrexate induced neutropenia
Authors: Raj Ritu
Published: March 2022

Punicalagin is the most bioactive polyphenols of pomegranate and has the potential to cure different ailments related to the CVS system. The current research work was envisioned to predict the targeting efficiency of punicalagin (PG) nanoparticles to the macrophages. For this, we select mannose decorated PLGA-punicalagin nanoparticles (Mn-PLGA-PG) and before formulation we predict the targeting efficiency of this nanocarrier by in-silico analysis. Authors initiated in-silico analysis on macrophage mannose receptor to be acquainted with the binding affinity. In-silico docking studies of macrophage mannose receptor and punicalagin showed binding interaction on its surface with a docking score of -4.00.PG interacts with hydrogen bonds to the charged residue ASP668 and GLY666 and polar residue GLN760 residue of Mn receptor. Mannose with a docking score of -5.811 and interacting with four hydrogen bonds to the mannose receptor of macrophage with two negatively charged residues GLU706, GLU719 also with two hydrophobic residues VAL716, PHE708 and in PLGA, it showed a -4.334-docking score. In trajectory analysis, the complex RMSD of macrophage while stabilizing the structure till 100ns, Mn receptor-PG found within the range of 4.6 Å. Initial fluctuation in RMSD noticed to 4.95 Åat 20ns which started stabilizing with timescale. In the total of 100ns, initially up to 40ns the PG (ligand) deviated to 1.2Å after 40ns, it is noted that the ligand RMSD was almost constant and started stabilizing and at 100ns it was 1.03Å. Findings depict that this nanocarrier could be a promising lead molecule to regulate the incidence of drug induced neutropenia.
Locomotor Activity Of Ixodes Ricinus Females In 900 Mhz Electromagnetic Field
Authors: Vargová Blažena , Majláth Igor , Kurimský Juraj , Cimbala Roman , Zbojovský Ján , Tryjanowski Piotr , Majláthová Viktória
Published: March 2022

Mobile telecommunications technologies have become an indispensable part of people´s lives of all ages around the world. They affect personal life and social interactions and are a work tool in the work routine. The requirements for network availability and the quality of the Internet connection are constantly increasing, to which telecommunications providers are responding. Humans and wildlife live in an environment with the permanent presence of electromagnetic radiation with just a minor knowledge on the impact this radiation has. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of 900 MHz electromagnetic field (EMF) on the exploratory behavior of female Ixodes ricinus ticks under laboratory conditions. Experiments were realized in the radiation-shielded tube (RST) test radiation-shielded circular open field arena, altogether 480 female I. ricinus ticks were tested. While in the RST arena we observed only a tendency to move towards the irradiated part of the arena, in the open field arena the time spent in the part exposed to EMF and the trajectory passed was significantly longer.
Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression Predicting Fall-Related Outcomes Among Older Americans: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: luo yuqian , Miyawaki Christina , Valimaki Maritta , Tang Siyuan , Sun Hongyu , Liu Minhui
Published: March 2022

Background
Anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms are associated with fear of falling and fear of falling-related activity restriction. However, it remains unknown whether anxiety or depressive symptoms alone could predict fear of falling and activity restrictions in older adults. We sought to determine if anxiety and depressive symptoms alone could be an independent predictor of fear of falling and activity restriction in community-dwelling older adults.
Methods
This longitudinal analysis used waves 5 (time 1, [T1])and 6 (time 2, [T2], one year from T1) data (N = 6,376) from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS). We included participants who had completed interviews in both waves. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale − 2 and Patient Health Questionnaire − 2 were used to assess anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms, respectively. Interview questions included demographics, health-related data, and fall worry levels (no fear of falling, fear of falling but no activity restriction, and activity restriction). Using multinomial logistic regression models, we examined whether anxiety symptoms (T1) predicted fear of falling and activity restriction (T2), after adjusting for depressive symptoms, fall worry levels, and covariates, and also whether depressive symptoms predicted future fear of falling and activity restriction adjusting for anxiety symptoms, previous fall worry levels, and covariates.
Results
In the first cohort (T1, mean age: 78 years, 58.1% female), 10% and 13% of participants reported anxiety and depressive symptoms, and 19% and 10% of participants experienced fear of falling but not activity restriction and activity restriction in the second cohort (T2), respectively. Participants with anxiety symptoms at T1 had a 1.33 times higher risk of fear of falling (95% CI = 1.02–1.72) and 1.41 times higher risk of activity restriction (95% CI = 1.04–1.90) at T2 after controlling for depressive symptoms compared with participants without anxiety symptoms. show any significance after adjusting for anxiety symptoms.
Conclusions
Anxiety symptoms seemed to be an independent risk factor for future fear of falling and activity restriction, while depressive symptoms were not. To prevent future fear of falling and activity restriction, we should pay special attention to individuals with anxiety
Quasi-Periodic Eruptions:
Unstable Mass Transfer from a Main-Sequence Star
Authors: Linial Itai , Sari Re'em
Published: March 2022

Quasi-periodic eruptions (QPEs) are enigmatic high amplitude bursts of X-ray radiation with a recurrence period of a few to several hours, recently discovered near the central supermassive black holes (SMBHs) of a few distant galaxies [1-3]. The periodic flares are naturally explained by a star on an eccentric orbit, shedding mass at each pericenter passage, resulting in a highly-modulated accretion luminosity. The energetics of each eruption indicate accretion of roughly 1e-7 M_sun and therefore an apparent evolution time of ~5000 years for a solar mass donor. Assuming stable mass transfer driven by the emission of gravitational waves, the mass-losing object must be a dense stellar object (white dwarf or Helium star) on a highly eccentric (e>0.95) orbit [4,5]. However, these objects are rare since emission of gravitational waves tends to circularize orbits. This led to the suggestion of more complicated scenarios involving two interacting stars on coplanar, counter-rotating orbits [6], or star-disk collisions [7]. Here we argue that QPEs are produced by a main-sequence star orbiting a SMBH on a mildly eccentric orbit (e~0.1). By relaxing the assumption of stable mass transfer, we break the equality between the gravitational wave timescale and the apparent evolution timescale, and therefore infer almost circular orbits which are more frequent. The unstable mass transfer implies that the observed QPEs will evolve within the next ~10 years - they will significantly brighten, and then cease to flare. This timescale is much shorter than the apparent lifetime, allowing for observational test of our predictions. Indeed, archival data of one QPE system shows that it was dimmer two decades ago [2]. We show that a combination of two body scattering and gravitational wave emission around SMBHs produces roughly 10^-6 yr-1 gal-1 stars on orbits that generate QPEs. Given our calculated lifetime of ~10 years, we obtain an abundance of order 1e-5 gal-1 consistent with the eROSITA blind QPE search [3].
Preoperative Risk Factors of Pelvic/Para-Aortic Lymph Node Metastases in Ovarian Cancer: A Multi-Center Retrospective Study
Authors: Xiong Xiaoming , Gao Yue , Wang Mengjie , Chi Jianhua , Jiao Xiaofei , Zeng Shaoqing , Chen Lingxi , Zhou Qi , Wang Li , Xia Yu , Zhang Wei , Fang Yong , Gao Qinglei
Published: March 2022

Background
Ovarian cancer (OC) patients benefited little from systematic pelvic/para-aortic lymph node dissection during surgery, which may attribute to the difficulties in identifying the patients with pelvic/para-aortic lymph node metastases (LNM) preoperatively. Unfortunately, risk factors predicting the pelvic/para-aortic LNM in OC patients are lacking now. The purpose of this study was to investigate preoperative risk factors of predicting OC patients at high risk of pelvic/para-aortic LNM and preventing OC patients at low risk of LNM from receiving unnecessary lymphadenectomy.
Methods
Patients diagnosed with OC between January 2012 and May 2020 from Tongji Hospital, Chongqing Cancer Hospital, and Tumor Hospital of Henan, were retrospectively reviewed. Demographics, pathology, and preoperative laboratory features were extracted from Electronic-Medical Records. The correlation between factors and LNM was assessed by chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis.
Results
A total of 827 patients were included in this study. Univariate analysis indicated 23 preoperative features were significantly associated with LNM. Multivariate analysis showed that BMI ≥ 23.23 kg/m2 (odds ratio [OR], 2.082; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.448–2.995), ascites (OR, 3.022, 95% CI, 2.058–4.438), CA125 ≥ 432.15 U/ml (OR, 4.665, 95% CI, 3.158–6.891), neutrophil count ≥ 2.965*109/L (OR, 2.882, 95% CI, 1.606–5.172), lymphocyte count < 1.30*109/L (OR, 1.554, 95% CI, 1.086–2.223), and monocyte count ≥ 0.415*109/L (OR, 1.506, 95% CI, 1.047–2.166) were independent risk factors in predicting LNM. The area under the curve (AUC) of predicting LNM by combining these factors was 0.836 (95% CI 0.808–0.864). The predicting performance of this model was also promising in OC patients with early-stage (stage I-II) (AUC, 0.809, 95% CI, 0.619–1.000) and advanced-stage (stage III-IV) (AUC, 0.764, 95% CI, 0.723–0.805). Furthermore, patients with 0–3 risk factors had significantly lower LNM rates than those of patients with 4–6 risk factors (15.40% vs 58.92%, p < 0.001).
Conclusions
Preoperative BMI, ascites, CA125 level, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, and monocyte count can predict the risk of LNM and facilitate decision-making of systematic lymphadenectomy in OC patients, which could avoid unnecessary lymphadenectomy.
Integrative Analysis to Identify Diagnostic Biomarkers (HSP90AA1, VCAM1 and MX1) and Reveal Immune Cell Infiltration Changes in Patients with Vitiligo
Authors: Huang Youming , Xu Danfeng , Fan Yibin , Ding Xiaoxia
Published: March 2022

Background
This current study applied bioinformatics analysis to reveal the potential role of immune-related genes and blood immune cell infiltration changes in vitiligo development.
Methods
The gene expression level was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between blood samples from patients with segmental vitiligo (SV), non-segmental vitiligo (NSV) and healthy controls (CL), and the DEGS from two sets were used for further analysis respectively, including hub gene exploration, enrichment analysis, interaction network construction and engaged pathway analysis. Immune-related gene crosstalk analysis, gene-miRNA analysis, and AUC analysis were performed for further gene screening. Furthermore, immune cell infiltration analysis was also performed to reveal the change of systemic environment in patients with vitiligo.
Results
There were 161 DEGs in the comparison of SV and CL, 11 DEGs in NSV and CL. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that DEGS in NSV group mainly involved in responses to virus and type 1 interferon signaling pathway, while DEGS in SV group mainly involved in IL-17 signaling pathway and TNF signaling pathway. After PPI network construction, immune-related gene crosstalk analysis, and verification of diagnostic markers, totally 4 genes were obtained as diagnostic markers (VCAM1, HSP90AA1, TNF from SV group and MX1 from NSV group). Moreover, we found that the infiltrated percentage of resting memory CD4 T cells were both higher in blood samples from patients with segmental vitiligo and non-segmental vitiligo.
Conclusion
For the first time, VCAM1, HSP90AA1, and MX1 were found associated with vitiligo and had good diagnostic significance. Meanwhile, we found that vitiligo patients had more proportion of resting memory CD4 T cells infiltration in blood. These results may provide new research ideas for the pathogenesis and diagnosis of vitiligo.
The association between coagulation/fibrinolysis function and serum lipid levels in people with advanced knee osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Teng Ruo-Ling , Zhao Jie , Zheng Xiao-Ling , Sun Han
Published: March 2022

Background. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between coagulation/fibrinolysis function and serum lipid levels in people with advanced knee osteoarthritis (KOA).Methods. From January 1st 2013 to January 1st 2018, a total of 206 patients underwent total or unicompartmental knee arthroplasty in Changzhou No.1 People’s Hospital were enrolled consecutively in this study. Baseline characteristics and preoperative laboratory indicators of patients were collected. The association between coagulation/fibrinolysis function and serum lipid levels was analyzed using Spearman correlation analysis and multiple linear regression.Results. Spearman correlation analysis revealed that coagulation/fibrinolysis function was associated with serum lipid levels, especially prothrombin time was moderately negatively correlated with Apolipoprotein-A1 (r=-0.4585, P<0.05). The multiple linear regression analyses were performed with serum lipid levels as the independent variables and coagulation/fibrinolysis function parameters as the dependent variables after adjusting for sex, age, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease. We found that the regression analysis was reliable (its imitation degree was ideal, adjusted R^2 = 0.3108) and predictive (P<0.0001) when the dependent variable was prothrombin time. The significant contributors to prothrombin time were triglyceride (P<0.001), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (P=0.003), Apolipoprotein-A1 (P=0.017) and Lipoprotein (a) (P=0.015).Conclusions. The results of this study showed that coagulation/fibrinolysis function was correlated with serum lipid levels in patients with advanced KOA, although the correlation may be small. It may be hypothesized that strategies for lipid control may help improve coagulation/fibrinolytic dysfunction in patients with KOA.Trial registration. This clinical study was retrospectively registered in a publicly available registry because this study was a retrospective study began in 2018. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University in Jiangsu Province of China (No.CZYY2021187).
“Immune Hemolytic Anemia in Patients with Lymphoid Malignancy in Tanzania”
Authors: Uwizeyimana Gilbert , Ally Mwashungi , Yonazi Mbonea , Chamba Clara , Nasser Ahlam , Luzzatto Lucio
Published: March 2022

Background
Hematological malignancies of the lymphoid lineage such as multiple myeloma, lymphomas and lymphoid leukemia are a burden to the world especially in Tanzania; anaemia is one of the presenting symptoms of these conditions and is found in almost 100% of the patients at diagnosis. Of particular importance Immune Hemolytic Anemia (IHA) which has a poor response to treatment and subsequently poor prognosis when it is associated with lymphoid malignancies. The aim of this study is to determine the magnitude of immune hemolytic anemia in lymphoid malignancies in Tanzania
Methods
This was a cross sectional study that recruited 86 patients with lymphoid malignancies attending both Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI) and Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH). The clinical features were captured using a well-structured questionnaire. Laboratory results for Full Blood Count (FBC), reticulocytes count, total, indirect and direct bilirubin and Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) were retrieved from the laboratory reporting system. Additionally, a blood sample for the Direct Antiglobulin Test (DAT) was taken from all participants. This test was performed at the Central Pathology Laboratory (CPL) of MNH. Data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS 20.0) and Microsoft excel 2010. Data analysis was performed using South Texas Art Therapy Association (STATA 15.0).
Results
IHA, indicated by a positive DAT, was found in 10% of patients with lymphoid malignancies. Analysis of DAT among patients never exposed to chemotherapy showed a prevalence of 22%. Among 9 IHA cases, 2 were CLL (Chronic Lymphoid Leukaemia), 2 were MM (Multiple Myeloma), 3 was NHL (Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma), 1 was HL (Hodgkin Lymphoma) and 1 SLL (Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma). All 9 cases had decompensated hemolytic anemia.
Conclusion
IHA is a real complication of chronic lymphoid malignancies and DAT should be included in tests done during the course of management.
Bone Metastasis From Thyroid Papillary Carcinoma Detected on PET/CT: 68Ga-FAPI Better Than 18F-FDG?
Authors: Chen Jie , Li Chongjiao , Tian Yueli , Wen Bing , He Yong
Published: March 2022

In the present study, we here report a case of 71-year-old woman, with bone destruction of L5 vertebral body showing lower of SUVmax for FAPI compared to FDG PET/CT imaging. To our knowledge, this present case is the first study to reveal that 68Ga-FAPI had lower tumour-to-background ratio in detecting bone metastasis from PTCMCa-FV.
The “Vestibular Eye Sign” – “VES”.A new radiological sign of vestibular neuronitis can help to determine the affected vestibule and support the diagnosis.
Authors: Farhat Raed , Awad Anan Abu , Shaheen Waleed Abu , Alwily Diaa , Avraham Yaniv , Najjar Razi , Merchavy Shlomo , Massoud Saqr
Published: March 2022

Introduction: Nystagmus is a valuable clinical finding. Although nystagmus is often described by the direction of its quick phases, it is the slow phase that reflects the underlying disorder. Vestibular neuritis (VN) is thought to be the result of inflammation of the vestibular portion of the eighth cranial nerve. The clinician's task is to differentiate this benign self-limiting disease from other central causes, such as cerebrovascular syndromes. The aim of our study was to describe a new radiological diagnostic sign called “Vestibular Eye Sign”-VES. This sign is defined as an eye deviation that correlates with the slow phase of nystagmus (vestibule pathological side), which is seen in acute vestibular neuronitis and can be assessed on a CT head scan. Materials and methods: A total of 1250 patients were diagnosed with vertigo in the Emergency Department at Ziv Medical Center (ED) in Safed, Israel. The data of 315 patients who arrived at the ED between January 2010 and January 2022 were collected, with criteria eligible for the study. Patients were divided into 4 groups: Group A, “pure VN”, Group B, “non-VN aetiology”, Group C, BPPV patients, and Group D, patients who had a diagnosis of vertigo with unknown aetiology. All groups underwent head CT examination while in the ED.Results: In Group A, pure vestibular neuritis was diagnosed in 70 (22.2%) patients. Regarding accuracy, VES (Vestibular Eye Sign) was found in 65 patients in group A and 8 patients in group B and had a sensitivity of 89%, specificity of 75% and a negative predictive value of 99.4% in group A – pure vestibular neuronitis.Conclusion – VN is still a clinical diagnosis, but if the patient undergoes head CT, we suggest using the “vestibular eye sign” as a complementary sign. As per our findings, this is a valuable sign on CT imaging for diagnosing the pathological side of isolated pure VN. It is sensitive to support a diagnosis with a high negative predictive value.
Low-expression of miR-1929-3p mediates murine cytomegalovirus-induced fibrosis in cardiac fibroblasts via targeting endothelin A receptor/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway
Authors: He Fang , Li Jiayi , Wang Yongjia , Qu Yuanyuan , Zhou Wei , Zhong Hua , Wang LaMei , Xi DongMei , Tang Na
Published: March 2022

It has shown that mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection induced low-expression of miR-1929-3p is closely related to hypertensive myocardial remodeling in our previous research. In this study, we further explored the molecular mechanism of myocardial remodeling induced by miR-1929-3p after MCMV infection on cellular level. We built MCMV infected mouse cardiac fibroblasts (MMCFs) as main cell model. First, MCMV infection caused low-expression of miR-1929-3p and higher mRNA and protein expression of its target gene endothelin receptor type A (ETAR) in mouse cardiac fibroblasts (MCFs), which showed an internal relation to myocardial fibrosis (MF) on high proliferation, phenotypic transformation (α-SMA) and collagen expression in MMCFs. Then, transfection of miR-1929-3p mimic down-regulated the high expression of ETAR and relieve these adverse effects in MMCFs. Inversely, these effects were exacerbated by miR-1929-3p inhibitor. Second, transfection of endothelin receptor type A over-expressed adenovirus (adETAR) reversed these positive effects of miR-1929-3p mimic about MF improvement. Third, it presented strong inflammatory response in MMCFs with more expression of NOD like receptors pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) and secretion of interleukin-18 (IL-18). However, we found ETAR antagonist BQ123 and selected NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor MCC950 effectively eliminated the inflammatory response induced by both MCMV infection and miR-1929-3p inhibitor. Moreover, the supernatant of MCFs was shown to be related to cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Our research revealed that MCMV infection promotes MF by inducing down-regulation of miR-1929-3p and high expression of ETAR which activate NLRP3 inflammasome in MCFs.
Dynamics of Motile Gyrotactic Microorganisms in a Steady Eyring-Powell Nanofluid Flow with Nonlinear Thermal Radiation and Suction
Authors: Khan Naseer M.
Published: March 2022

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Trend of Seasonal and Annual Rainfall in Semi-arid Districts of Karnataka, India: Application of Innovative Trend Analysis Approach
Authors: Chowdari KK , Barma Surajit Deb , Bhat Nagaraj , Girisha R , Gouda K.C. , Mahesha Amai
Published: March 2022

Trend analysis of rainfall is often carried out in water resources management to understand its distribution over a given region. The cumulative seasonal and annual rainfall derived from monthly datasets spanning 102 years (1901–2002) for 11 districts of the semi-arid Karnataka, India, was used for the trend analysis. The two-step homogeneous test approach was carried out on all the time series. Then, lag-1 autocorrelation was conducted only on homogeneous time series. Only 78.18% of the total time series data was detected as homogeneous, and 95.35% of time series data were found to have insignificant autocorrelation. Then, the Innovative Trend Analysis (ITA) method was applied to 43 homogeneous rainfall time series, MK and SR tests to 41 time series, and mMK test to two time series. The MK and SR tests detected 14.63% of the time series as a significant trend, whereas the ITA method could detect 93.02% of the total time series data. The MK and SR tests captured significant trends for the winter season in two districts, but the two tests detected a significant trend only in one district for the summer season. None could be captured for monsoon season. A significant trend was captured for the post-monsoon season in two districts; however, the tests could detect a significant trend in one district for annual rainfall. The mMK test revealed a positive trend for the post-monsoon season in a district. The ITA method could capture a significant trend for all the seasons in most districts.
Association between extra-spousal partnerships and HIV prevalence among married individuals in Rakai, Uganda
Authors: TIGAIZA ARNOLD , MATOVU JOSEPH KB
Published: March 2022

Introduction: The association between extra-spousal partnerships and HIV in married or cohabiting individuals remains controversial. We established the association between extra-spousal partnerships and HIV prevalence among married or cohabiting individuals in Rakai, Uganda.Methods: This secondary analysis uses data from a large cross-sectional study conducted among 2,135 married or cohabiting individuals aged 15-49 years in Rakai, Uganda, between November 2013 and February 2014. Data were collected on socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics, including extra-spousal partnerships. We used a modified Poisson regression model to assess the association between extra-spousal partnerships and HIV prevalence among married or cohabiting individuals living in three study communities with differing HIV prevalence. Stata version 14.0 was used for data analysis. Results: Of 2,103 respondents included in the analysis, 13.4% (282/2103) reported extra-spousal partnerships; 4.5% (n=49) among females and 22.9% (n=233) among males. Of those reporting extra-spousal partnerships, 48.6% (n=137) were in their second or higher order marriage while 74.1% (n=209) reported a marital duration of six or more years. HIV prevalence was higher among those reporting extra-spousal partnerships (14.6%, 36/247) than in those who did not (7.6%, 120/1575; P<0.0001). In multivariable analyses, we found that engaging in extra-spousal relationships increased the risk of HIV infection by 67% (adjusted Prevalence Ratio [adj. PR] = 1.67; 95%CI: 1.16, 2.39), after adjusting for potential and suspected confounders. Conclusion: We found that engaging in extra-spousal partnerships increased the risk of HIV infection by more than two-thirds. These findings suggest a need for targeted HIV prevention interventions for married or cohabiting individuals who report extra-spousal partnerships.
Favorable Safety Profile Of Moderate Hypofractionated Over Normofractionated Radiotherapy In Breast Cancer Patients: A Multicentric Prospective Real-Life Data Farming Analysis
Authors: Issoufaly Irfane , Petit Claire , Guihard Sébastien , Eugène Rémi , Jung Loic , Clavier Jean Baptiste , Vernat Stéphanie Servagi , Bellefquih Sara , Verret Benjamin , Bonnet Naima , Deutsch Eric , Rivera Sofia
Published: March 2022

Background: Moderately hypofractionated whole-breast radiotherapy (HFRT) has proven to be as safe and efficient as normofractionated radiotherapy (NFRT) in randomized trials resulting in major changes in clinical practice. Toxicity rates observed in selected clinical trial patients may differ from those observed in unselected patients with possible comorbidities and frailty in real-life. This study aimed to examine the influence of HFRT versus NFRT on acute toxicity and identify risks factors of dermatitis in real-life patients.Materials and Methods: Prospective data from breast cancer patients, treated with locoregional radiotherapy between November 2015 and February 2020 in 3 comprehensive cancer centers, were collected. Through a systematic data-farming strategy, acute toxicity evaluation forms (CTCAEv4.0) were prospectively completed and extracted electronically. The results from each center were then anonymously merged into a single database for analysis. A Chi-2 test was used to compare HFRT and NFRT. Furthermore, risk factors of dermatitis were identified in a sub-study (622 patients) by multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results: In total, 3518 T0-4 N0-3 mostly M0 (85.8%) breast cancer patients with a median age of 60.7 (24–96 years old) were analyzed. Acute grade 2-3 dermatitis, grade 1-3 breast oedema, and grade 1-2 hyperpigmentation were less frequent with HFRT versus NFRT: respectively 8.9% vs 35.1% (Chi-2=373.7; p<0.001), 29.0% vs 37.0% (Chi-2=23.1; p<0.001) and 27.0% vs 55.8% (Chi-2=279.2; p<0.001). Fewer patients experienced pain with HFRT versus NFRT: 33.4% vs 53.7% respectively (Chi-2=137.1; p<0.001). High BMI (OR=2.30 [95% CI, 1.28-4.26], p<0.01), large breast size (OR=1.88 [95% CI, 1.07-3.28], p<0.01) and lumpectomy over mastectomy (OR=0.52 [95% CI, 0.27-0.97], p<0.05) were associated with greater risk factors of grade 2-3 dermatitis in multivariate analysis regardless of NFRT or HFRT. Conclusion: The results of this study suggests that breast HFRT may be a better option even for patients with a high BMI or large breast size. Acute toxicity was low to mild, and lower with HFRT compared to NFRT. Results from real-life data were robust, and support the use of HFRT beyond randomized study populations. Long-term real-life data awaits further investigation.
Evolving Shallow-conduit Container Affects the Lava Fountaining during the 2021 Fagradalsfjall Eruption, Iceland
Authors: Eibl Eva P. S. , Thordarson Thor , Höskuldsson Ármann , Gudnason Egill Á. , Dietrich Thoralf , Hersir Gylfi Páll , Ágústsdóttir Thorbjörg
Published: March 2022

Pulsating behaviour is observed in volcanic phenomena ranging from caldera collapses to explosions, spattering or lava fountaining. The repeating processes can define irregular, regular or systematically changing patterns. These patterns yield information about the subsurface structure, which often is not considered in detail. We analyse the pattern of 7058 lava fountaining episodes that occur between 2 May and 14 June 2021 during the Fagradalsfjall eruption, Iceland. Our seismometer records the lava fountaining episodes as tremor pulses. We analyse the seismic tremor amplitude, the pulse duration, the repose time and the sum of pulse duration and repose time (cycle duration). We define six periods characterised by different patterns: Three periods feature long pulses that exponentially shorten with time. One period features coexisting long and short pulses in a haphazard sequence. One period shows a stable pulsing duration but increasing repose time and one period has stable, short pulses and repose times. We conclude that the episodic fountaining starts because a shallow-conduit container forms on 2 May shifting the magma degassing from sustained continuous to an episodic state. This situation evolves until 11 May when a semi-stable state is reached. The length of the repose times are most likely influenced by the amount of outgassed magma present in the uppermost part of the shallow conduit. Finally, we suggest that the vent is mechanically eroded and widens with time causing increasing seismic tremor amplitudes. However, the trends are frequently punctuated by partial crater wall collapses that temporarily disrupt the system.
How do multiple masked relevant prime stimuli affect a conscious response: Two prime arrows produce independent priming effects on the target response
Authors: Tu Shen , Liu Chengzhen , Lv Jieyu , Jou Jerwen , Wang Dingding , Song Lei , Qiu Jiang
Published: March 2022

Since there are a lot of sources of unconscious information in our mind, there is a possibility that multiple channels of unconscious information can affect a response at the same time. However, this question has been largely ignored by the researchers. In the present study, we presented two opposite pointing arrows as the masked primes followed by a target arrow. The results suggested that the two pointing directions of the two prime arrows influenced the response to the target simultaneously and independently, i.e. the overall priming effect caused by the two opposite pointing prime arrows was equal to the net effect of the individual congruent effect elicited by the same pointing prime arrow and the individual incongruent priming effect induced by the opposite pointing prime arrow. In addition, in Experiment 1, a biased delayed response to the target was observed when the target arrow and the opposite pointing prime arrow were closely positioned in space due to Gestalt proximity grouping.
Risperidone and Aripiprazole in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Substantially Improves Core Signs and Symptoms in Combination with Standard Supportive Therapies: A Large, Single-Center, Retrospective Case Series
Authors: ALSAYOUF HAMZA , Talo Haitham , Marisa
Published: March 2022

Background: There are a number of medications prescribed to address comorbid challenging behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including risperidone and aripiprazole. This retrospective case series reports the use of these drugs in children aged 2 to 13 years.Methodology: A total of 82 children (mean age, 5 years; 79% male) with ASD treated at the Kids Neuro Clinic and Rehab Center in Dubai between January 2020 and September 2021 were included in this retrospective case series. All patients had comorbid challenging behaviors that were resistant to standard supportive therapies alone and warranted pharmacological intervention. The Childhood Autism Rating Scale – 2nd Edition Standard form (CARS2-ST) and the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) – Severity (CGI-S) and CGI – Improvement (CGI-I) scales were used to assess the severity of ASD at baseline and to monitor response to treatment with risperidone or aripiprazole. Results: Besides the expected improvement in comorbid challenging behaviors, 79/82 patients (96%) attained a CGI-I score of 2 or 1 following treatment, and 35/82 patients (43%) achieved both a CGI-I score of 1 and minimal-to-no symptoms as per the CARS2-ST test, with complete resolution of their ASD signs and symptoms. The differences in the overall mean CARS2-ST and CGI-S scores pre- and post-treatment were statistically significant (Z = −7.86, P < 0.0001 for both), with pre- and post-treatment mean values of 42 and 23 for CARS2-ST, respectively, and 6 and 2 for CGI-S, respectively. The main side effects were asymptomatic elevated prolactin (n=12) and excessive weight gain (n=2).Conclusion: When combined with standard supportive therapies, chronic treatment with antipsychotic medications, either with or without medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, was well tolerated and effective in the treatment of ASD core symptoms and comorbid behaviors in young children. Double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials are needed to verify these findings.
Correlation Analysis of Response of Sorbus pohuashanensis Leaves to High-temperature Stress Based on Label Free-based Quantitative Proteomic and Transcriptomic
Authors: Pei Xin , Zhu Lingyi , Guan Xuelian , Zhang Ruili , Zhang Yan , Lu Yizeng , Dou Dequan , Zheng Jian
Published: March 2022

Background: High-temperature stress is the main abiotic stress of Sorbus pohuashanensis (Hance) Hedl. introduced from the mountains to plain areas. To investigate the mechanisms of heat response in S. pohuashanensis, we compared the transcriptome and proteome after high temperature stress at 43 °C for 8 h. Results: Proteomic sequencing yielded 92 (51 upregulated and 41 downregulated) DAPs, involving heat-killed proteins, molecular chaperones, energy metabolism, signal transduction, cellular autophagy, and reactive oxygen species scavenging systems. TEM results indicated that high-temperature stress led to disruption of the structural integrity of chloroplasts in mature chloroplast cells, reduction of chloroplast vesicle-like lamellae, accumulation of lipophilic granules, and an increase in the number of vesicles. Quantitative combined transcriptomic and proteomic analyses yielded 34 pairs of DAPs/DEG-associated genes. The functional enrichment of these DAPs/DEGs indicated that their functions were related to chaperones, energy metabolism, ROS scavenging system, and cell wall modification. Conclusion: 92 DAPs were identified in the proteomic analysis of S. pohuashanensis under high temperature stress, and co-regulatory analysis revealed 34 DAPs/DEGs in the comparison group, with 24 genes having the same protein and mRNA expression trends and 10 genes with opposite protein and mRNA expression trends. These genes are collectively involved in response to high temperature stress by encoding proteins related to molecular chaperones, energy metabolism, ROS scavenging systems and cell wall modifications. These results provide a basis for the complex HSF–Hsp regulatory network contributes to the heat tolerance of S. pohuashanensis.
Solid solution of CaSiO3 and MgSiO3 perovskites in the lower mantle: The role of ferrous iron
Authors: Zhang Feiwu , Xiao Tingting , Muir Joshua M.R.
Published: March 2022

The solid solution between CaSiO3 and MgSiO3 perovskites is an important control on the properties of the lower mantle but the effect of one of the most important impurity elements (iron) on this solution is largely unknown. Using density functional theory (DFT), ferrous iron’s influence on the reciprocal solubility of MgSiO3 and CaSiO3 perovskite (forming a single Ca-Mg mixed perovskite phase) was calculated under pressures and temperatures of 25–125 GPa and 0–3000 K, respectively. Except at iron-rich conditions, ferrous iron preferentially partitions into the mixed perovskite phase over bridgmanite. This is a small effect (partitioning coefficient KD ~0.25–1), however, when compared to the partitioning of ferrous iron to ferropericlase, which rules out perovskite phase mixing as a mechanism for creating iron-rich regions in the mantle. Iron increases the miscibility of Ca and Mg perovskite phases and reduces the temperature at which the two perovskite phases mix but this effect is highly nonlinear. We find that for a pyrolytic mantle [Ca% = 12.5 where Ca% = Ca/(Ca+Mg)] a perovskite ferrous iron concentration of ~13% leads to the lowest mixing temperature and the highest miscibility. With this composition, 1% ferrous iron in a pyrolytic composition would lead to mixing at ~120 GPa along the geothermal gradient, and 6.25% ferrous iron leads to mixing at ~115 GPa and 13% ~110 GPa. At high iron concentrations, Fe starts to impair miscibility, with 25% ferrous iron leading to mixing at ~120 GPa. Thus, in normal pyrolytic mantle, iron could induce a small amount of Ca-pv and Mg-pv mixing near the D″ layer but it generally partitions to ferropericlase instead and does not impact mixing. Extremely iron rich parts of the lower mantle such as ULVZs or the CMB (potentially) are also not a likely source of phase mixed perovskites due to the nonlinear effect of ferrous iron on phase mixing.
Time-reversal-broken Weyl semimetal in the Hofstadter regime
Authors: Abdulla Faruk , Das Ankur , Rao Sumathi , Murthy Ganpathy
Published: March 2022

We study the phase diagram for a lattice model of a
time-reversal-broken three-dimensional Weyl semimetal (WSM) in an
orbital magnetic field BB
with a flux of p/qp/q
per unit cell (0\le p \le q-10≤p≤q−1),
with minimal crystalline symmetry. We find several interesting phases:
(i) WSM phases with 2q2q,
4q4q,
6q6q,
and 8q8q
Weyl nodes and corresponding surface Fermi arcs, (ii) a layered Chern
insulating (LCI) phase, gapped in the bulk, but with gapless surface
states, (iii) a phase in which some bulk bands are gapless with Weyl
nodes, coexisting with others that are gapped but topologically
nontrivial, adiabatically connected to an LCI phase, (iv) a new gapped
trivially insulating phase (I'′)
with (non-topological) counter-propagating surface states, which could
be gapped out in the absence of crystal symmetries. Importantly, we are
able to obtain the phase boundaries analytically for all
p,qp,q.
Analyzing the gaps for p=1p=1
and very large qq
enables us to smoothly take the zero-field limit, even though the phase
diagrams look ostensibly very different for
q=1, B=0q=1,B=0,
and q\to\infty, B\to 0q→∞,B→0.
AETIOLOGIES AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL BASIS OF MONOCULAR VISUAL AURA
Authors: Yunru Chen
Published: March 2022

Monocular visual aura is an atypical form of visual disturbance that could be indicative of many different underlying causes, originating in either the vascular or nervous system. The word aura is used to refer to migraine aura, but the description of scintillations, scotoma and blindness can also suggest many other aetiologies. There has been a varied use of terminology to describe these visual symptoms, such as monocular blindness, monocular visual loss, phosphenes. This narrative literature review aims to summarise the aetiologies of these monocular visual symptoms and their pathophysiologies. Relevant articles were sourced using databases PubMed and ScienceDirect, and from the bibliography of the articles. 17 articles were selected in total. Monocular visual symptoms were found to be a possible result of benign retinal migraine, as well as vascular and neurological causes. More research is still needed to understand the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying each of the aetiologies.