bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inflammation-based Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio(NLR) as a Prognostic Biomarker for Patients With High-Risk Neuroblastoma
Authors: Qi Can , Wang Le , Zhou Yun , Niu Huizhong , Chen Zhiguo , Duan Guochen
Published: July 2022

Background: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been proven to be a prognostic biomarker in many malignancies. However, the prognostic significance of NLR in patients with high-risk neuroblastoma has not been reported. This study aims to evaluate the correlation between NLR and prognosis of patients with high-risk neuroblastoma.Methods: We retrospectively analysed a cohort of 41 patients with high-risk neuroblastoma between January 2011 and December 2020. The optimal cut-off points of prognostic biomarkers were determined by drawing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. According to the cut-off value, the patients were divided into low NLR group and high NLR group. The chi-square test was used to compare the clinicopathological parameters between the two NLR groups. The prognostic value of NLR was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier and univariable and multivariable Cox models.Results: Patients with high NLR were significantly related to poorer clinical characteristics and survival rate in high-risk subgroup neuroblastoma. In the univariate and multivariate Cox analyses, high NLR was an independent prognostic factor for patients with high-risk neuroblastoma (hazard ratio (HR) 5.066, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.303-19.699, P=0.019 ).Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that NLR was an independent prognostic biomarker for high-risk neuroblastoma. As NLR is easily calculated by widely available tests without additional costs, it can help guide subsequent therapeutic strategies for patients with high-risk neuroblastoma.
When one door closes: a qualitative exploration of women’s experiences of access to sexual and reproductive health services during the COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria
Authors: Adelekan Babatunde , Ikuteyijo Lanre , Goldson Erika , Abubakar Zubaida , Adepoju Oluwatomi , Oyedun Olaitan , Adebayo Gbenga , Dasogot Andat , Mueller Ulla , Fatusi Adesegun O.
Published: July 2022

BackgroundCOVID-19 pandemic widely disrupted health services provision, especially during the lockdown period, with females disproportionately affected. Very little is known about alternative healthcare sources used by women when access to conventional health services became challenging. This study examined the experiences of women and adolescent girls regarding access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services during the COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria and their choices of alternative healthcare sources.MethodsThe study sites were two northern states, two southern states, and the Federal Capital Territory. Qualitative data were obtained through 10 focus group discussion sessions held with married adolescents, unmarried adolescents, and older women of reproductive age. The data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a thematic approach and with the aid of Atlas ti software.ResultsWomen reported that access to family planning services was the most affected SRH services during the COVID-19 lockdown. Several barriers to accessing SRH services during COVID-19 lockdown were reported, including restriction of vehicular movement, harassment by law enforcement officers, fear of contracting COVID-19 from health facilities, and fear of undergoing compulsory COVID-19 tests when seeking care in health facilities. In the face of constrained access to SRH services in public sector facilities during the COVID-19 lockdown, women sought care from several alternative sources, mostly locally available and informal services, including medicine vendors, traditional birth attendants, and neighbours with some health experience. Women also widely engaged in self-medication, using both orthodox drugs and non-orthodox preparations like herbs. The lockdown negatively impacted on women’s SRH, with increased incidence of sexual- and gender-based violence, unplanned pregnancy resulting from lack of access to contraceptives, and early marriage involving adolescents with unplanned pregnancies. ConclusionCOVID-19 negatively impacted access to SRH services and forced women to utilise mostly informal service outlets and home remedies as alternatives to conventional health services. There is a need to ensure the continuity of essential SRH services during future lockdowns occasioned by disease outbreaks. Also, community systems strengthening that ensures effective community-based health services, empowered community resource persons, and health-literate populations are imperative for overcoming barriers to healthcare access during future lockdowns.
Link between Seashore Water Temperature and Open Ocean State in Peru
Authors: Masuda Shuhei , Kobayashi Masato , Salas Luis Alfredo Icochea , Quintana Gandy Maria Rosales
Published: July 2022

The link between the coastal ocean and the open sea varies greatly by region. This factor must be elucidated to consider climate projections for a particular coastal region. This study examines this link between coastal areas in Peru and open seas. Water temperature loggers were installed at six sites along the Peruvian coast between 2017 and 2020. The obtained data and that from the EN4 dataset of the open ocean were compared. The coastal water temperature changes in Peru correlates well with the open ocean sea surface temperature in terms of monthly mean anomalies. The correlation coefficient values range from 0.80 to 0.92 with a > 99% confidence level except for one observation point (0.26). This suggests a global ocean observation system underlying EN4 can directly contribute to a reliable climate (water temperature) prediction of coastal areas in Peru. On shorter timescales, the logger-derived temperature changes show spectral peaks at 80 and 120 days north of 5°S, suggesting the coastal monitoring can capture the sub-seasonal dynamical aspects of equatorial Kelvin waves. In contrast, clear peaks are not detected south of 5ºS, implying that a practical leak of equatorial wave energy into off-equatorial regions is not anticipated along Peruvian coast on this time scale.
Inhibition of XPO1 with KPT-330 induces autophagy-dependent apoptosis in gallbladder cancer by activating the p53/mTOR pathway
Authors: Zhao Cheng , Yang Zi-yi , Zhang Jian , Li Ou , Liu Shi-lei , Cai Chen , Shu Yi-jun , Pan Li-jia , Gong Wei , Dong Ping
Published: July 2022

Background
Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a highly aggressive malignant cancer in the biliary system with poor prognosis. XPO1 (chromosome region maintenance 1 or CRM1) mediates the nuclear export of several proteins, mainly tumor suppressors. Thus, XPO1 functions as a pro-oncogenic factor. KPT-330 (Selinexor) is a United States Food and Drug Administration approved selective inhibitor of XPO1 that demonstrates good therapeutic effects in hematologic cancers. However, the function of XPO1 and the effect of KPT-330 have not been reported in GBC.
Methods
We analyzed the correlation between XPO1 expression levels by q-PCR and clinical features of GBC patients. Cell proliferation assays were used to analyze the in vitro antitumor effects of XPO1 inhibitor KPT-330. mRNA sequencing was used to explore the underlying mechanisms. Western blot was performed to explore the relationship between apoptosis and autophagy. The in vivo antitumor effect of KPT-330 was investigated in a nude mouse model of gallbladder cancer.
Results
We found high expression of XPO1 was related to poor prognosis of GBC patients. We observed that XPO1 inhibitor KPT-330 the proliferation of GBC cells in vitro. Furthermore, XPO1 inhibitor KPT-330 induced apoptosis by reducing the mitochondrial membrane potential and autophagy in NOZ and GBC-SD cells. Indeed, KPT-330 led to nuclear accumulation of p53 and activated the p53/mTOR pathway to regulate autophagy-dependent apoptosis. Importantly, KPT-330 suppressed tumor growth with no obvious toxic effects in vivo.
Conclusion
XPO1 may be a promising prognostic indicator for GBC, and KPT-330 appears to be a potential drug for treating GBC effectively and safely.
Network distance teaching of minimally invasive spinal endoscopic surgery video of orthopedist amid COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Wu Jianxin , Qiu Yuanyuan , Xiao Bing , Ye Xiaojian , Shi Zhicai , Xu Guohua , Xi Yanhai , Wang Weiheng
Published: July 2022

Background: The global outbreak of COVID-19 has prompted reforms in the teaching model of orthopedics. The wide spread of mutant strains such as Omicron has put the epidemic prevention and control in a high-pressure state for a long time in China. Due to the control of people gathering and social distancing restrictions, offline medical training and education have been greatly affected. The traditional spinal endoscopic surgery training mode cannot meet the increasing training needs of spine surgeons. This study aimed to explore the network distance teaching of minimally invasive spinal endoscopic surgery (MISES) videos of orthopedist amid COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: From January 2021 to June 2022, 76 orthopaedical surgeons who were trained in the orthopedics department of Shanghai Changzheng Hospital were selected to do network distance teaching. After the 2-month training, the training effect assessment and the satisfaction survey of trainers were conducted. Results: After an average of 2 months of training, the average examination score of trainees was 87.211±7.278, and the pass rate was 100%, the excellent and good rate was 92.11%. The results of the satisfaction survey showed that the overall satisfaction was as high as 88.184±6.560%. The videos database of MISES, as well as the distance teaching and training mode are continuously improved according to the satisfaction survey.Conclusions: The training mode of MISES network distance teaching can help orthopedic surgeons to quickly master MISES and improve the training effect, especially amid COVID-19.
Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Qualified for Both Upper and Lower Abdominal Pains and Its Associated Factors among Adults in Urban Community of Jimma, Southwest Ethiopia
Authors: Zawdie Belay , Hassen Kalkidan , Tamiru Desalegn , Belachew Tefera
Published: July 2022

Background
The occurrence of multiple Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (FGIDs) and their potentiation risk factors are varying substantially from region to region. Therefore, this study aims to detect multiple FGIDs qualified for both upper and lower abdominal pains and associated factors in the urban community of Jimma. Southwest Ethiopia.
Methods
A cross-sectional community based was used to select 865 adults in Jimma town aged ≥ 18 years. Structured questionnaires were used retrospectively to collect data on multiple FGIDs. A stepwise approach was employed to collect socio-demographic, behavioural, anthropometric, biomarkers and clinical measurements data. For screening multiple FGIDs symptoms among the study population, Rome III criteria was employed. Data was entered to Epi Data version 3.1 and export to SPSS version 27. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between explanatory variables and the outcome variable. The association was declared at p < 0.05
Results
More than half of study participants, 52%, were males. The mean age of the study participants was 38.4 ± 13.5 years. The prevalence of unrecognized FGIDs qualified for both upper and lower abdominal pain was, 19.4%. However, the occurrences of FGIDs qualified for only upper abdominal pain(dyspepsia) and lower abdominal pain were 17.6% and 15.5% respectively. In the multivariable analysis, khat chewing [AOR (95% CI) 7.37(1.76–30.87)], alcohol conception [AOR (95% CI) 3.24(1.15–9.18), low-income wealth index [AOR (95% CI) 2.63(1.16–5.96)], using butter or ghee and margarine[AOR (95% CI) 6.79(2.82–16.37) ], sedentary life [AOR (95% CI) 12.28(3.19–48.40) ], less physical activity [AOR (95% CI) 4.44(1.43–13.75)], elevated LDL [AOR (95% CI) 4.26(1.61–11.29)],elevated TAG [AOR (95% CI) 5.44(2.78–8.10)],higher WC [AOR(95% CI) 6.91(2.78(1.08–7.14))], low HDL [AOR (95% CI) 5.89(2.22–15.00))] and being positive H-pylori stool antigen test [AOR(95% CI) 2.7(1.86–7.72) ] were positively associated with multiple FGIDs
Conclusion
Multiple FGIDs were exists unrecognizably among adults in southwest Ethiopia. khat chewing, alcohol conceptions, often high conception of butter or ghee and margarine, sedentary life, less physical activity, higher central obesity, dyslipidemia, and positive H-pylori stool antigen tests were found to be significantly associated with occurrence of multiple FGIDs qualified for both upper and lower abdominal symptoms in the community at this study area. Therefore, early screening and create awareness about factors positively associated with Multiple FGIDs recommendable at the study community.
A Novel Method for Reducing Dispensing Error in Hospital Pharmacy
Authors: Meng Mingzhu , Li Hong , Wang Yuqun
Published: July 2022

Background
Dispensing Error occurs frequently in outpatient pharmacies. The aim of this article is to explore the value of the YOLO-V5 deep learning algorithm for object detection in packaging drugs from outpatient pharmacies and to develop an artificial intelligence assist pharmacist drug dispensation system (AI-APDDS) capable of completely reducing or eliminating dispensing errors.
Methods
A total of 1784 images from 136 different packaging drugs were collected and labeled to form a deep learning dataset. The dataset was split into training and validation sets at a ratio of 3:1. The YOLO-V5 deep-learning algorithm was trained using images from our dataset (training epochs:1000, batch size:4, learning rate:0.01). The values of precision (Pr) and mean average precision(mAP) were used as measures for model performance evaluation.
Results
Pr in the training set was, for all models, equal to 1.00. The mAP_0.5 of YOLO-V5x was 0.992, which was higher than that of YOLO-V5n (0.975), YOLO-V5s (0.976), YOLO-V5m (0.978), and YOLO-V5l (0.983). The mAP_0.5:0.95 of YOLO-V5x was 0.955, which was higher than those of YOLO-V5n (0.916), YOLO-V5s (0.920), YOLO-V5m (0.921) and YOLO-V5l (0.935). The training time and model size were 92.67 hours and 465MB, respectively, for YOLO-V5x, which were the highest among the four models. The speed of detection for one image was 6.0ms for YOLO-V5n, which was the fastest among the four models.
Conclusions
It can identify the packaging drugs accurately for five submodels of YOLO-V5, it is feasible to implement the artificial-intelligence assisted drug dispensation system for pharmacist to achieve “zero” dispensing error.
Study on BP-LSTM fusion prediction model and application of gas concentration in gas tunnel blasting
Authors: Qiu Daohong , Fu Yusong , Xue Yiguo , Fu Kang , Feng Jianxiang
Published: July 2022

With the development of China's transportation industry, more and more tunnel projects will pass through the gas geological area, resulting in the tunnel construction will face a huge hidden danger. The gas will flow out rapidly after the excavation of the working face. The distribution and concentration of gas in the tunnel are the key factors affecting the gas disaster. In time, grasping the gas concentration near the excavation face is the key to avoiding safety accidents. Therefore, predicting the gas concentration near the tunnel excavation face is necessary after blasting excavation. This paper relies on the NEW Chengdu-Kunming Railway Like Tunnel project to conduct research. According to the collected historical gas concentration data, based on the back-propagation neural network and long and short-term memory neural network, a new gas concentration prediction model based on the fusion algorithm of back-propagation and long and short-term memory (BP-LSTM) is proposed to realize the long-term prediction of gas concentration near the face of the tunnel after blasting excavation. This paper used the Pearson correlation method to improve model prediction accuracy and analyze the correlation between geological parameters and environmental factors and gas concentration occurrence. This model predicts the gas concentration of four monitoring points (LAFEF monitoring point, RAFEF monitoring point, EFV monitoring point, and AFEF monitoring point) in actual tunnel engineering. And compared with the prediction results of the back-propagation and long and short-term memory models, the model was evaluated according to the error. The results indicate that the prediction result of this model has high accuracy, and it can be successfully applied to predict the gas concentration after excavating the face of the gas tunnel, which can ensure the safety of construction.
A Hybrid SEIHCRDV-UKF Model for COVID-19 Prediction. Application on real-time data
Authors: Papageorgiou Vasileios E. , Tsaklidis George
Published: July 2022

The prevalence of COVID-19 has been the most serious health challenge of the 21th century to date, concerning national health systems on a daily basis, since December 2019 when it appeared in Wuhan City. Prediction of pandemic spread plays an important role in effectively reducing this highly contagious disease. Nevertheless, most of the proposed mathematical methodologies, which aim to describe the dynamics of the pandemic, rely on deterministic models that are not able to reflect the true nature of the spread of COVID. In this paper, we propose a SEIHCRDV model – an extension of the classic SIR compartmental model – which also takes into consideration the populations of exposed, hospitalized, admitted in intensive care units (ICU), deceased and vaccinated cases, in combination with an unscented Kalman filter (UKF), providing a dynamic estimation of the time dependent parameters of the system. Apparently, this new consideration could be useful for examining also other pandemics. We examine the reliability of our model over a long period of 265 days, where we observe two major waves of infection, starting in January 2021 which signified the start of vaccinations in Europe, providing quite encouraging predictive performance. Finally, special emphasis is given to proving the non-negativity of SEIHCRDV model, to achieve a representative basic reproductive number R0 and to investigating the existence and stability of disease equilibriums in accordance with the formula produced to estimate R0.
Identification of hub genes and its relationship with colorectal cancer patient prognosis
Authors: Li Shan , Sun Xuguang , Li Ting , Shi Yanqing
Published: July 2022

Background
Colon cancer is a common gastrointestinal malignancy that with high morbidity and mortality, however, predicting prognosis in colon cancer is imperfect, so searching for effective prognostic biomarkers is in urgent need. Our study aimed to investigate hub genes and their prognostic value in colon cancer via bioinformatics analysis.
Methods
The data set of colon cancer was downloaded from GEO database (GSE21510, GSE110225, GSE74602) for differential gene analysis using the GEO2R tool, and hub gene was identified by Cytoscape. The Human Protein Atlas database was used to analyze the expression of hub genes and evaluate their prognostic value using GEPIA. TIMER database was used to study the correlation between hub gene and immune infiltration of COAD cells. After that, PPI networks were established using the SRTING database and Cytoscape to analyze hub genes and protein-protein interactions. Finally, identify hub gene mutation through cBioPortal, the co-expression analysis of hub genes were identified by LinkedOmics, and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were analyzed using the comprehensive functional classification database in the Web-based Web Gestalt.
Results
We identified 349 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 117 upregulated and 229 downregulated. The PPI network was constructed and four hub genes (AURKA, CCNB1, EXO1 and CCNA2) were selected by survival analysis and expression validation. The expression level of AURKA, CCNB1, EXO1 and CCNA2 were all higher in COAD tumor tissues than in adjacent tissues, as well as the immunohistochemical results. There has varying degrees gene mutation and varying degrees immune cell infiltration about AURKA, CCNB1, EXO1 and CCNA2, especially B cells and CD8 + T cells. GSEA was performed to determine co-expressed genes of AURKA, CCNB1, CCNA2 and EXO1, the results showed that they both had a close relationship with chromosome segregation, DNA replication, translational elongation and cell cycle.
Conclusion
Overexpression of AURKA, CCNB1, CCNA2 and EXO1 had a better prognosis in colon cancer and this consequences was correlation with gene mutation and infiltration of immune cells.
Facilitators supporting settlement among women who are Syrian refugees and mothering: Findings from a longitudinal participatory action research study
Authors: Kassam Shahin , O'Mahony Joyce , Clark Nancy
Published: July 2022

Background
Over 13 million Syrians have been forcibly displaced since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011. In response to this overwhelming humanitarian crisis, several high income countries have settled thousands of Syrian refugees. In Canada, over 50,000 Syrian refugees have resettled through varying resettlement programs. Half of these refugees are women who are mothers or of child-bearing age. Women who are refugees and mothering comprise a population that experience numerous health disparities including higher rates of depression and anxiety, social exclusion and lower socioeconomic status. This article reports findings from a larger, Canadian-based study inquiring into the factors supporting and shaping the settlement and integration experiences among women who are Syrian refugees and mothering.
Methods
This study employed a longitudinal intersectionality-framed participatory action approach. This design was initiated through multiple community-based meetings with a diverse range of non-profit organizations focused on refugee health and settlement. Through these meaningful engagements, sustainable relationships were formed and trust was built toward further immersing ourselves within the Syrian refugee mothering women population. Consequential establishment of a core group of 4 women led to the emergence of a peer research assistant model which informed data collection, reflexive analysis, and knowledge mobilization activities.
Results
In total, 40 Syrian refugee mothering women participated in this study and six themes emerged from data analysis of their lived experiences of resettlement. Four of the themes are published elsewhere. We focus this article on two of the six key findings: harnessing strength-based capabilities, and peer research assistant experiences.
Conclusions
While multiple barriers continue to exist within recent re-settlement processes of Syrian refugee mothering women, these two findings convey facilitators that add to understanding influences to the mental well-being of this often overlooked population. Unique to this study is the novel integration of peer research assistants and a model of support which contributes to an ethical and inclusive approach to understanding lived experiences among refugee women. This article highlights how this model benefits the peer research assistant and promotes community engagement among women.
Learning Inverse Problem from Sparse Noisy Data with Operator Split and Physics-Constraints Machine Learning
Authors: Li Chun , Deng Lijun
Published: July 2022

Inverse problems (IPs) begin with measured data and try to estimate the model parameters. In science and engineering, many problems are seen as inverse problems. Partial differential equations (PDEs) or variational problems are also used to characterize similar issues (VPs). A VP is usually an energy functional that is solved by lowering the energy function. Since curvature-driven regularities have been proven to need considerable prior understanding of physics, they have gotten a lot of attention. Unfortunately, the curvaturedriven regularities correlate to the higher-order EulerLagrangian equations. Furthermore, they frequently have non-smooth and non-convex features, making numerical solutions a difficult challenge in a variety of applications. In this paper (AD), we introduced a method based on physics-constrained deep learning (PCL) and automatic differentiation to handle inverse issues from noisy data. In addition, to address this challenge, we combine standard variational approaches (VMs) with DL-based algorithms. The operator split technique may successfully break non-convex variational models into multiple simple sub-problems to solve. Each sub-problem corresponds to an Euler-Lagrangian PDE, which is effectively solved using deep neural networks (DNNs) via the AD process.
Gait Alterations Associated With Mild Unilateral Knee Pain During Walking: a Machine Learning Approach Using Wearable Sensors
Authors: Bacon Kathryn L. , Felson David T. , Jafarzadeh S. Reza , Kolachalama Vijaya B. , Hausdorff Jeffrey M. , Gazit Eran , Segal Neil A. , Lewis Cora E. , Nevitt Michael C. , Kumar Deepak
Published: July 2022

Gait alterations in those with mild unilateral knee pain during walking may provide clues to modifiable alterations that affect progression of knee pain and osteoarthritis(OA). To examine this, we applied machine learning (ML) approaches to gait data from wearable sensors in a large observational knee OA cohort, the Multicenter Osteoarthritis (MOST) study. Participants completed a 20-meter walk test wearing sensors on their trunk and ankles. Parameters describing spatiotemporal features of gait and symmetry, variability and complexity were extracted. We used an ensemble ML technique (“super learning”) to identify gait variables in our cross-sectional data associated with the presence/absence of unilateral knee pain. We then used logistic regression to determine the association of selected gait variables with odds of mild knee pain.Of 2066 participants (mean age 63.6 [SD: 10.4] years, 56% female), 21.3% had mild unilateral pain while walking. Gait parameters selected in the ML process as influential included step regularity, sample entropy, gait speed, and amplitude dominant frequency, among others. In adjusted cross-sectional analyses, lower levels of step regularity (i.e., greater gait variability) and lower sample entropy(i.e., lower gait complexity) were associated with increased likelihood of unilateral mild pain while walking [aOR=0.80 (0.64-1.00) and aOR=0.79(0.66-0.95), respectively].
Comparison of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness and Bruch’s Membrane Opening Minimum Rim Width Thinning Rate in Open-Angle Glaucoma
Authors: Park Donghee , Park Sung Pyo , Na Kyeong Ik
Published: July 2022

This study aimed to compare the rate of thinning between retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) and Bruch’s membrane opening minimum rim width (BMO-MRW) in open-angle glaucoma (OAG) according to glaucoma severity. We retrospectively reviewed subjects with a total of 111 eyes with OAG that had undergone optical coherence tomography more than four times during more than three years of follow-up. The subjects were divided into three groups based on the mean deviation (MD) of the baseline visual field test: high MD (MD > -2 dB), medium MD (-2 dB ≥ MD > -6 dB), and low MD (-6 dB ≥ MD > -12 dB) groups. A linear mixed model was employed to compare the rate of thinning between RNFLT and BMO-MRW among the three groups. The rate of RNFLT thinning was fastest in the inferotemporal sector in all three groups. The rate of BMO-MRW thinning was fastest in the inferotemporal sector of the high MD group and the superotemporal sector of the other two groups. Among the three groups, the rate of RNFLT thinning was not significantly different in the global sector and all sectors except the nasal sector. The rate of BMO-MRW thinning in the inferotemporal sector showed no significant difference, but that in the superotemporal sector was faster in the medium MD and low MD groups than in the high MD group. The fastest rate of RNFLT thinning was consistently observed in the inferotemporal sector, but BMO-MRW showed a change in the fastest thinning sector from inferotemporal to superotemporal, with increasing severity in early to moderate OAG. The difference in the changes in the two parameters may help understand the pathogenesis of glaucoma and predict its progression.
Riluzole partially restores RNA polymerase III complex assembly in cells expressing the leukodystrophy-causative variant POLR3B R103H
Authors: Pinard Maxime , Dastpeyman Samaneh , Poitras Christian , Bernard Geneviève , Gauthier Marie-Soleil , Coulombe Benoit
Published: July 2022

The mechanism of assembly of RNA polymerase III (Pol III), the 17-subunit enzyme that synthesizes tRNAs, 5S rRNA, and other small-nuclear (sn) RNAs in eukaryotes, is not clearly understood. The recent discovery of the HSP90 co-chaperone PAQosome (Particle for Arrangement of Quaternary structure) revealed a function for this machinery in the biogenesis of nuclear RNA polymerases. However, the connection between Pol III subunits and the PAQosome during the assembly process remains unexplored. Here, we report the development of a mass spectrometry-based assay that allows the characterization of Pol III assembly. This assay was used to dissect the stages of Pol III assembly, to start defining the function of the PAQosome in this process, to dissect the assembly defects driven by the leukodystrophy-causative R103H substitution in POLR3B, and to discover that riluzole, an FDA-approved drug for alleviation of ALS symptoms, partly corrects these assembly defects. Together, these results shed new light on the mechanism and regulation of human nuclear Pol III biogenesis.
The Circadian Clock is Essential for the Crosstalk of VEGF-Notch-mediated Endothelial Angiogenesis in Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Zhang Yuxing , Zhao Xin , Guo Chun , Zhang Ying , Zeng Fukang , Yin Qian , Li Zhong , Shao Le , Zhou Desheng , Liu Lijuan
Published: July 2022

Ischemic stroke is a major public health problem in China. Angiogenesis plays an essential role in the rehabilitation of ischemic brain injury. Recent studies demonstrated that the circadian clock is involved in the process of ischemic stroke, however, the exact mechanism of the circadian clock in regulating angiogenesis after cerebral infarction remains unclear. In the present study, we determined that environmental circadian disruption (ECD) could increase the stroke severity and impair the ability of angiogenesis in a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model, by detecting the rat’s infarct volume, neurological test, and western blot of angiogenesis-related protein, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2). We further report that the core circadian clock, aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator-like 1 (BMAL1, also known as ARNTL1), plays an irreplaceable role in angiogenesis. Overexpression of BMAL1 promotes tube forming, migration, and wound healing capacity, and upregulate the VEGF and Notch pathway protein level. While this kind of promoting effect is reversed by the Notch pathway inhibitor, DAPT, according to the results of angiogenesis capacity and VEGF pathway protein level. In conclusion, our study reveals the intervention of ECD in angiogenesis in ischemic stroke and further identifies the exact mechanism by which BMAL1 regulates angiogenesis through the VEGF-Notch1 pathway.
Identify Types of Cars from Free-View Video Images Based on Machine Learning
Authors: Xin Liu , Ajdani Mahdi
Published: July 2022

Urban traffic monitoring systems have played an important role in improving transportation in recent years and have led to an increase in access to such systems in most major cities around the world. Automatic analysis of traffic situation and intelligent and optimal control based on the analysis is a new and important solution in these systems. Creating an expert system that can detect and classify vehicles on roads and highways can help control traffic, monitor traffic statistics, identify offending drivers, and more. In this study, a vehicle identification system and their classification into two categories of light and heavy vehicles was performed. One of the main problems of recognizing cars on the road is that it may be taken from different angles of the car, so it is difficult to detect. To solve this problem, a dynamic pattern matching method is used to be able to in the situation. Recognize different vehicles. We have used a component-based method to classify vehicles. This method helps to improve the problem of image obstruction to some extent. The results obtained in comparison with other methods have a good result.
Exposure to family planning messages and contraceptive use among women of reproductive age in Sub-Saharan Africa: A cross-sectional program impact evaluation study
Authors: Dwomoh Duah , Amuasi Susan Ama , Amoah Emefa Modey , Gborgbortsi Winfred , Tetteh John
Published: July 2022

Many women of reproductive age in sub Saharan Africa are not utilizing any contraceptive method which is contributing to the high burden of maternal mortality. This study determined the prevalence, trends, and the impact of exposure to family planning messages (FPM) on contraceptive use (CU) among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We utilized the most recent data from demographic and health surveys across 26 SSA countries between 2013 and 2019. We assessed the prevalence and trends and quantified the impact of exposure to FPM on contraceptive use using augmented inverse probability weighting with regression adjustment. Sensitivity analysis of the impact estimate was conducted using endogenous treatment effect models, inverse probability weighting, and propensity score with nearest-neighbor matching techniques. The study involved 328,386 women of reproductive age. The overall prevalence of CU and the percentage of women of reproductive age in SSA exposed to FPM were 31.1% [95% CI: 30.6–31.5] and 38.9% [95% CI: 38.8–39.4] respectively. Exposure to FPM increased CU by 7.1 percentage points (pp) [95% CI = 6.7, 7.4] among women of reproductive age in SSA. The impact of FPM on CU was highest in Central Africa [6.7 pp; 95% CI: [5.7–7.7] and lowest in Southern Africa [2.2 pp; 95% CI: [1.3-3.0]. There was a marginal decline in the impact estimate among adolescents (estimate = 6.0 pp [95% CI = 5.0, 8.0]). Exposure to FPM has contributed to an increase in CU among women of reproductive age. Programs that are geared towards intensifying exposure to FPM through traditional media in addition to exploring avenues for appropriate use of electronic media remain critical.
ITGA9, a target of miR-146a-3p, inhibits proliferation and migration of dermal microvascular endothelial cells in psoriasis
Authors: Hou Hui , Li Jiao , Wang Juanjuan , Zhou Ling , Li Junqin , Liang Jiannan , Yin Guohua , Li Xinhua , Cheng Yueai , Zhang Kaiming
Published: July 2022

Background
Cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis are aberrant in human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMECs), resulting in abnormal endothelial function and microvascular dilation.
Objective
To explore the role of Integrin subunit alpha 9 (ITGA9) in proliferation and migration of dermal microvascular endothelial cells.
Methods
HDMECs were isolated from the skin of 6 psoriatic patients and 6 healthy controls. Expression levels of ITGA9 mRNA and protein were assessed with qRT-PCR and western blot, respectively, while miqRT-PCR was used to determine expression levels of miR-146a-3p. Cell proliferation and migration were assessed in human microvascular endothelial cell line (HMEC-1), following overexpression of either ITGA9 or miR-146a-3p, or co-transfection with miR-146a-3p-mimic and pLVX - ITGA9. Cell viability was detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and 5ethynyl2′deoxyuridine (EdU) cell proliferation assay. Cell apoptosis was assessed, using annexin V-FITC/PI apoptosis detection kit, while cell migration was detected by wound healing and transwell assay.
Results
Expression levels of ITGA9 were significantly decreased in psoriatic HDMECs compared to normal controls. Moreover, expression levels of miR-146a-3p were higher in psoriatic HDMECs than in normal controls. Overexpression of miR-146a-3p lowered expression levels of ITGA9, accompanied by increased proliferation and migration of HMEC-1 in vitro. In contrast, overexpression of ITGA9 inhibited proliferation and migration of HMEC-1, while increasing expression levels of cdc42, ki67, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), c-Src tyrosine kinase (Src), RAC1 and RhoA.
Conclusion
ITGA9 can repress the proliferation and migration of HMEC-1, suggesting utility of ITGA9 as a potential therapeutic intervention for psoriasis.
Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Education Research: A Comprehensive Overview of 22 Years of Research indexed in the Scopus Database
Authors: Okagbue Ekene Francis , Ezeachikulo Ujunwa Perpetua , Nwigwe Esther Onyinye , Juma Amina Abedi
Published: July 2022

Objectives:Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) remain crucial in education research and pedagogical development. The study provides an overview of ML and AI in education and research.Methods:In order to explore the field of ML and AI, a bibliometric approach was employed to extract and analyze data from the Scopus database. Bibliometrics analysis tools, VOS Viewer, Bibliometrics, and R packages were used to analyze the retrieved data.Results:A total of 1138 documents retrieved were written by 2800 authors, and published in 635 journals from 2000 to 2022, with average citations per document of 5.984 from 62 countries.Conclusion:The study identified an interesting gap that the previously published articles did not address: the implications of ML and AI in classroom learning activities and other pedagogical-related programmes.
Stereological Evaluation of Volume Densities of Mature Ovarian Follicular Components of Hyperprolactin Sprague-Dawley Rats Treated With Immature Coconut Water
Authors: Falana Benedict Abiola , Bakare Adeola Airat , Samson Adeleke Opeyemi , Moyosore Afodun Adam
Published: July 2022

Background: Hyperprolactinaemia impairs ovarian structural and functional development thereby causing anovulation and infertility. Immature coconut water (ICW) contains β-sitosterol known to be involved in the synthesis of steroid hormones in-vivo. Volume density (VD) evaluation of the ovarian follicular components has been used to measure the pattern of ovarian development and also to provide information on the physiological status of the ovaries. Thus, this study aimed to determine the effect of immature coconut water (ICW) on VD of the antrum, granulosa cell and theca cell of mature follicles in hyperprolactin rats treated with ICW.Material and Methods: A total of fifty- five (55) cyclic female Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 145-170 g were used for this study. The animals were randomly divided into four experimental study groups. Group 1 received distilled water only while group 2 rats were treated with metoclopramide hydrochloride (MCH) at 0.2 mg/100 g body weight for 28 days to induce hyperprolactinaemia and this was withdrawn for 8, 16 and 28 days to check for recovery. The animals in group 3 were post-treated with ICW for 8, 16 and 28 days and group 4, animals were treated with ICW only for 8, 16 and 28 days.Result: There were significant decreases in the VD of granulosa cell in the withdrawal groups when compared with the control. The VD of all cell types in the post-treated groups were statistically comparable with the control and the groups treated with immature coconut water only.Conclusion: Findings from this present study indicate that ICW stimulates follicular growth in hyperprolactin and control rats in the same pattern.
Association Between Hypertension and Physical Findings of COVID-19 Infected Patients; A Clinical Retrospective Study
Authors: Aslanbeigi Fatemeh , Rahimi Habiballah , Malekipour Adeleh , Pahlevani Hamed , Najafizadeh Maedeh , Ksahani Hamed Haddad
Published: July 2022

Background
The sudden outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19), which originated from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV2) infection, has recently become an international public health emergency. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical symptoms and physical findings in both hypertensive and non-hypertensive patients infected with covid-19.
Methods
Retrospective observational study with diagnosis of corona-induced pneumonia by laboratory-confirmed test was conducted on 280 consecutive unselected patients. The demographics, laboratory, and clinical findings data were extracted from the hospital registry database.
Results
Of our two hundred and eighty patients in the study, there were 70 men (47%) and the male-female ratio was 1.17:1 and 138 (50%) were older than 60 years (mean = 67.75), and also 50 in-hospital deaths occurred (mortality rate, 17%). totally 19(6.9%) were taking tobacco, opioid, and weed. There were no significant differences in the percentages of fever, cough, sputum production, gastrointestinal symptoms, muscle ache, and headache in the both hypertensive and non-hypertensive groups. The prevalence of underlying diseases was significantly higher in older patients in comparison with younger ones (p-value = 0 < 0.05), Clinical worsening was higher in patients with hypertension relative to patients with average blood pressure (P-value = 0 < 0.05).
Conclusion
The most common comorbidities in several reports was hypertension. People with high blood pressure are also slightly more likely to experience poor prognosis and even higher rate of mortality.in the other hand, hypertension may have associated with higher risk of severe or fatal COVID-19 disease.
Iron overload causes ferroptosis but not apoptosis in MO3.13 oligodendrocytes
Authors: Li Yinghui , Wang Bingjing , Yang Jiahua , Liu Rong , Xie Junxia , Wang Jun
Published: July 2022

Oligodendrocytes are the most iron-rich cells in the brain. Studies have shown that oligodendrocytes are very sensitive to oxidative stress, and iron overload is more likely to cause damage to oligodendrocytes. The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the damaging effect and mechanism of ferric ammonium citrate (FAC) on MO3.13 oligodendrocytes. In FAC treatment group, the intracellular iron concentration and intracellular reactive oxygen species were increased. There were no obvious changes in nucleus and chromatin, but increased mitochondrial membrane density, decreased mitochondrial cristae and mitochondrial length were observed. Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) expression was decreased, but the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax protein levels and cleaved caspase-3 expression did not change. Moreover, the iron chelator deferoxamine and the ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 could inhibit the upregulation of GPX4 in MO3.13 oligodendrocytes induced by iron overload. Moreover, the phosphorylation level of p53 was not changed, while the ratio of protein expressions of p-Erk1/2/Erk1/2 were markedly increased. Taken together, our data suggest that iron overload induces ferroptosis but not apoptosis in oligodendrocytes. The mechanism may be related to mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway activation rather than p53 pathway activation.
Topological Mott Insulator at Quarter Filing in the Interacting Haldane Model
Authors: Phillips Philip , Feldman Benjamin , Mai Peizhi
Published: July 2022

While the recent advances in topology have led to a classification scheme for electronic bands described by the standard theory of metals, a similar scheme has not emerged for strongly correlated systems such as Mott insulators in which a partially filled band carries no current. By including interactions in the topologically non-trivial Haldane model, we show that a quarter-filled state emerges with a non-zero Chern number provided the interactions are sufficiently large. We establish this result first analytically by solving exactly a model in which interactions are local in momentum space. The exact same results obtain also for the Hubbard interaction, lending credence to the claim that both interactions lie in the same universality class. From the simulations with determinantal quantum Monte Carlo, we find that the spin structure at quarter filling is ferromagnetic for the topologically non-trivial case. Possible experimental realizations in cold-atom and solid state systems are discussed.
Fluoride exposure and systemic markers of inflammation in children and adolescents in the United States: NHANES, 2013-2016
Authors: Besten Pamela Kay Den , Uyghurturk Dawud Abduweli , Wells Christine
Published: July 2022

Background: Ingestion of fluoride in drinking water has been shown to result in increased cellular markers of inflammation in rodent models. However, the approximately 10x greater fluoride concentrations in drinking water required by rat and mouse models to obtain blood fluoride concentrations similar those of found in humans, has made the relevance of these animal studies difficult to assess. Increased white blood cell count is a marker of inflammation in humans, and therefore we used available 2013-2016 NHANES survey data, which includes both blood cell counts and plasma fluoride concentrations, to explore the relationship between fluoride and inflammation in humans.OBJECTIVE: To assess associations between plasma fluoride levels and blood cell markers of inflammation in a US population. METHODS: Multiple linear regressions to determine the association of blood cell counts and plasma fluoride were done using publicly available NHANES survey data from the 2013-2014 and 2015-2016 cycles. Plasma fluoride concentrations were available for children aged 6 to 19, and therefore this subpopulation was used for all analyses. Covariate predictors along with plasma fluoride were age, gender, and Body Mass Index (BMI). RESULTS: Plasma fluoride was significantly positively associated with water fluoride, total white blood cell count, segmented neutrophils, monocytes, and negatively associated with red blood cell count when adjusted for age, gender and BMI. CONCLUSION: Our finding that neutrophils and monocytes are associated with higher plasma fluoride in US children and adolescents is consistent with animal data showing fluoride related effects in increasing inflammation. These findings suggest the importance of further studies to assess potential mechanisms for these fluoride related effects in tissues and organs, such as the small intestine, liver and kidney, that are involved in absorption and filtration of ingested fluoride.