bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bayesian approach for the value of ambiguous information: theoretical and empirical evidence
Authors: Kraizberg∗ Elli
Published: February 2022

Liquidity traders perceive disclosures of insider trading as ambiguous pieces of information, as they may not be able to assess whether the trades are motivated by significant privileged information related to the true share value, or by other uninformative factors. This paper establishes an algorithm, based on Bayesian inference that represents the rational value of ambiguous information associated with the disclosure of insider trading when market participants subsequently anticipate material information that may or may not follow.
We found that the theoretical value has a statistically significant predictive power for the actual market reaction to these disclosures. We find an overall one-day excess return is in the neighborhood of one percent (and higher for insiders who have a controlling position). However, the ex-post 30- and 90-day single-factor-CAR, are significantly higher, which conforms to the notion of ambiguity.
The small difference between the actual market reaction and the theoretical derivation (0.9674% vs. 1.328%) does not necessarily imply that the market underestimates the value of this type of information, as it may be related to the period until the value of the information is nullified because no new confirming information follows the disclosure.
Jalan Kaki Terstruktur Sebagai Alternatif Intervensi Dalam Menurunkan Tekanan Darah Pada Lansia Penderita Hipertensi
Authors: Sari Nova Nurwinda , Wulandari Retno
Published: February 2022

Tekanan darah tinggi merupakan kondisi keadaan kronis yang ditandai dengan meningkatnya tekanan darah pada dinding pembuluh darah arteri. Keadaan ini mengakibatkan jantung bekerja lebih keras untuk mengedarkan darah keseluruh tubuh melalui pembuluh darah. Berdasarkan data Provinsi Lampung, khususnya dilampung selatan, Kecamatan Natar terjadi peningkatan kasus hipertensi terutama pada lansia. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui apakah jalan kaki terstruktur berpengaruh terhadap tekanan darah pada penderita hipertensi. Jenis penelitian kuantitatif, metode quasy experimen, pendekatan one group pretest posttes design. Tekhnik pengambilan sampel menggunakan purposive sampling dengan jumlah sample sebanyak 14 responden. Uji analisis menggunakan uji T. Hasil Penelitian didapatkan p-value 0,001 (p-value < 0,05) yang artinya ada perbedaan tekanan darah sebelum dan sesudah responden melakukan jalan kaki. Sebaiknya aktivitas jalan kaki terstruktur dilakukan pada penderita hipertensi sebagai salah satu terapi non farmakologi dalam menstabilkan tekanan darah.

 

Kata kunci : Hipertensi, Jalan Kaki Terstruktur
Penerapan Pola Diet Dash Terhadap Tekanan Darah Pada Penderita Hipertensi Di Desa Kalikangkung Semarang
Authors: Fitriyana Mauluda , Wirawati Maulidta Karunianingtyas
Published: February 2022

Latar Belakang: Hipertensi masih menjadi masalah kesehatan yang cukup besar untuk diatasi. WHO menyebutkan bahwa penyakit hipertensi sudah menyerang 22% dari penduduk di dunia. Sedangkan angka hipertensi di Jawa Tengah sendiri mencapai angka 36,53% atau sebanyak 8.888.585. Manajemen hipertensi dapat dilakukan salah satunya dengan cara non farmakologi. Salah satu cara untuk mengatur pola makan bagi penderita hipertensi adalah dengan menerapkan metode diet DASH (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension) sebab selama ini yang dilakukan hanya dengan pengaturan garam dan natriumnya saja (diet rendah garam).

 

Metode Penelitian: Jenis metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah metode deskriptif yang menggunakan pendekatan asuhan keperawatan. Subjek pada penelitian yaitu dua warga di Desa Kalikangkung Semarang yang sudah menderita penyakit hipertensi sejak 2-3 tahun yang lalu dan menjalani pengobatan terkontrol yaitu dengan mengkonsumsi obat amplodipin 10 mg yang diminum satu kali dalam sehari. Instrumen yang digunakan adalah panduan menu harian, lembar observasi, serta standar prosedur terapi pemberian diet DASH. Penelitian dilakukan pada tanggal 1-5 Juni 2021. Pola makan diet DASH ini diberikan 3x dalam sehari, yaitu menu makan pagi, menu makan siang, dan menu makan malam.

 

Hasil: Hasil penelitian menunjukkan adanya penurunan tekanan darah serta beberapa perubahan lainnya. Pada subjek I terjadi penurunan tekanan darah dari 156/100 mmHg menjadi 140/95 mmHg, sementara pada subjek II juga terjadi penurunan tekanan darah dari 155/100 mmHg menjadi 140/90 mmHg. Penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa pemberian terapi pola makan diet DASH dapat menurunkan tekanan darah pada penderi hipertensi.

 

Kesimpulan: Ada pengaruh terapi pola diet DASH untuk menurunkan tekanan darah pada penderita hipertensi.

 

Kata kunci: Hipertensi, Tekanan Darah, Diet DASH.
Unconditional Support for Trump’s Resistance Prior to Election Day in Public Opinion
Authors: Hartnett Brendan , Haver Alexandra
Published: February 2022

Using survey data collected less than two weeks prior to the 2020 Presidential Election, we investigate why likely Trump voters would support Trump resisting the results of the election if he lost. We first do this using an experiment with randomized hypothetical popular vote margins to test if support for resistance is contingent upon the results of the election itself. We also directly ask respondents who said they would support resistance to explain their reasoning in an open-ended response. In doing so, we gain insight into one of the most turbulent elections in American history and examine how support for resistance existed prior to the election itself due to both misinformation about voter fraud and hyper-partisanship which made Trump voters view the electoral process itself as illegitimate.
Gram-Scale Synthesis of (R)-P-Chlorophenyl-1,2-Ethanediol at High Concentration by a Pair of Epoxide Hydrolases
Authors: Zhang Dong , Lei Yuqing , Wang Tingting , Lin Wenqian , Chen Xingyi , Wu Minchen
Published: February 2022

(R)-p-chlorophenyl-1,2-ethanediol (pCPED) is an important intermediate for the synthesis of (R)-eliprodil that is widely applied in the treatment of ischemic stroke. To prepare (R)-pCPED with high enantiomeric excess (eep) and yield via the enantioconvergent hydrolysis of racemic styrene oxide (rac-pCSO) at high concentration, the bi-enzymatic catalysis was designed and investigated by a pair of epoxide hydrolases, a mutant (PvEH1Z4X4-59) of Phaseolus vulgaris EH1 and a mutant (RpEHF361V) of Rhodotorula paludigena RpEH. Firstly, the maximum allowable concentration of rac-pCSO was confirmed. Subsequently, the addition mode and the weight ratio of two Escherichia coli cells were optimized. Finally, under the optimized reaction conditions—the cell weight ratio 20:1 of E. coli/pveh1z4x4-59 to E. coli/rpehF361V, a simultaneous addition mode, and reaction temperature at 25°C—300 mM rac-pCSO in the 100 ml 4% (v/v) Tween-20/phosphate buffer system (100 mM, pH 7.0) was completely hydrolyzed within 5 h, affording (R)-pCPED with 87.8% eep, 93.4% yield, and 8.63 g/L/h space–time yield (STY). This work would be an efficient technical strategy for the preparation of chiral vicinal diols at industrial scale.
Decellularization Strategies for Regenerating Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle Tissues
Authors: Tan Yong How , Helms Haylie R. , Nakayama Karina H.
Published: February 2022

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide and is associated with approximately 17.9 million deaths each year. Musculoskeletal conditions affect more than 1.71 billion people globally and are the leading cause of disability. These two areas represent a massive global health burden that is perpetuated by a lack of functionally restorative treatment options. The fields of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering offer great promise for the development of therapies to repair damaged or diseased tissues. Decellularized tissues and extracellular matrices are cornerstones of regenerative biomaterials and have been used clinically for decades and many have received FDA approval. In this review, we first discuss and compare methods used to produce decellularized tissues and ECMs from cardiac and skeletal muscle. We take a focused look at how different biophysical properties such as spatial topography, extracellular matrix composition, and mechanical characteristics influence cell behavior and function in the context of regenerative medicine. Lastly, we describe emerging research and forecast the future high impact applications of decellularized cardiac and skeletal muscle that will drive novel and effective regenerative therapies.
Mechanical Properties of Lightweight Foamed Concrete With Ceramic Tile Wastes as Partial Cement Replacement Material
Authors: Lim Siong Kang , Lee Yee Ling , Yew Ming Kun , Ng Wen Wei , Lee Foo Wei , Kwong Kok Zee , Lim Jee Hock
Published: February 2022

The production of concrete emits greenhouse gases which aggravate global warming. Meanwhile, ceramic tile wastes generated from manufacturing factories, construction sites, and building demolition projects disposed of by landfills create land and water pollution. Therefore, in this study, the suitability of ceramic tile wastes (CTW) in powder form to partially replace cement in lightweight foamed concrete was investigated with the aim to discover a greener construction material. Once the research outputs show that the ceramic tile dust can appropriately serve as a replacement, environmental impact on air, land, and water pollution can all be reduced. Three types of lightweight foamed concrete with 0%, 25%, and 50% ceramic tile wastes as partial cement replacement material were prepared with a target density of 1,200 kg/m3, namely, LFC-CTW0, LFC-CTW25, and LFC-CTW50, respectively. The effects of ceramic tile wastes on the engineering properties of lightweight foamed concrete were investigated. Concrete specimens were water-cured and tested for various mechanical properties at the concrete ages of 7, 28, and 56 days. Results from the lab experiments showed that the incorporation of 25% ceramic tile wastes into lightweight foamed concrete was more feasible than that of 50%. LFC-CTW25, which performed better than LFC-CTW0 for the splitting tensile strength test at day 56. The results for the compressive strength test, modulus of elasticity, and compressive toughness test showed a minor reduction after the incorporation of ceramic tile wastes. Based on the results, it can be concluded that it is feasible to use ceramic tile wastes up to 25% as partial cement replacement material to produce foamed concrete.
Hit-and-Run Epigenetic Editing for Vectors of Snail-Borne Parasitic Diseases
Authors: Luviano Nelia , Duval David , Ittiprasert Wannaporn , Allienne Jean-Francois , Tavernier Geneviève , Chaparro Cristian , Cosseau Celine , Grunau Christoph
Published: February 2022

Snail-borne parasitic diseases represent an important challenge to human and animal health. Control strategies that target the intermediate snail host has proved very effective. Epigenetic mechanisms are involved in developmental processes and therefore play a fundamental role in developmental variation. DNA methylation is an important epigenetic information carrier in eukaryotes that plays a major role in the control of chromatin structure. Epigenome editing tools have been instrumental to demonstrate functional importance of this mark for gene expression in vertebrates. In invertebrates, such tools are missing, and the role of DNA methylation remains unknown. Here we demonstrate that methylome engineering can be used to modify in vivo the CpG methylation level of a target gene in the freshwater snail Biomphalaria glabrata, intermediate host of the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni. We used a dCas9-SunTag-DNMT3A complex and synthetic sgRNA to transfect B. glabrata embryos and observed an increase of CpG methylation at the target site in 50% of the hatching snails.
The Signature of Moderate Perinatal Hypoxia on Cortical Organization and Behavior: Altered PNN-Parvalbumin Interneuron Connectivity of the Cingulate Circuitries
Authors: Trnski Sara , Nikolić Barbara , Ilic Katarina , Drlje Matea , Bobic-Rasonja Mihaela , Darmopil Sanja , Petanjek Zdravko , Hranilovic Dubravka , Jovanov-Milosevic Natasa
Published: February 2022

This study was designed in a rat model to determine the hallmarks of possible permanent behavioral and structural brain alterations after a single moderate hypoxic insult. Eighty-two Wistar Han (RccHan: WIST) rats were randomly subjected to hypoxia (pO2 73 mmHg/2 h) or normoxia at the first postnatal day. The substantially increased blood lactate, a significantly decreased cytochrome-C-oxygenase expression in the brain, and depleted subventricular zone suggested a high vulnerability of subset of cell populations to oxidative stress and consequent tissue response even after a single, moderate, hypoxic event. The results of behavioral tests (open-field, hole-board, social-choice, and T-maze) applied at the 30–45th and 70–85th postnatal days revealed significant hyperactivity and a slower pace of learning in rats subjected to perinatal hypoxia. At 3.5 months after hypoxic insult, the histochemical examination demonstrated a significantly increased number of specific extracellular matrix—perineuronal nets and increased parvalbumin expression in a subpopulation of interneurons in the medial and retrosplenial cingulate cortex of these animals. Conclusively, moderate perinatal hypoxia in rats causes a long-lasting reorganization of the connectivity in the cingulate cortex and consequent alterations of related behavioral and cognitive abilities. This non-invasive hypoxia model in the rat successfully and complementarily models the moderate perinatal hypoxic injury in fetuses and prematurely born human babies and may enhance future research into new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for perinatal medicine.
Behavior of Estonian Oil Shale in Acidic Oxidative Conditions
Authors: Niidu Allan , Grénman Henrik , Muldma Kati , Kaldas Kristiina , Mikli Valdek , Lopp Margus
Published: February 2022

Oxidation has been a long sought-after alternative to classical thermal processing of oil shale, in order to obtain valuable raw materials for the chemical industry. A number of different methods have been applied, but thus far, one of the most effective ways to transform oil shale to value added products, such as aliphatic terminal dicarboxylic acids, is oxidation with nitric acid. In order to obtain insight into the reactivity of oil shale in nitric acid, a study focusing on the kinetics and behavior of oil shale particles during oxidative leaching was performed. To that end, the particle size distribution, surface area, and carbon content were measured during the leaching process in addition to the amount of total residual solids. Determining the carbon content of the solid residue was proposed as a simple measure of the reaction progress, based on the hypothesis that all carbon measured by elemental analysis correspond to organic carbon since inorganic carbon is present as carbonate in the starting material and would have dissolved under the acidic conditions. To our surprise, the solid residue had a significant amount of organic carbon in the form of calcium oxalate mineral. Thus, measuring carbon content in the solid residue could provide only an indirect measure of the overall oxidation degree provided that the amount of oxalates was known. In general, the results revealed that the total solid residue amounts to between 20% and 34% of the initial values after 24 h of the reaction, while the total carbon content ranges from 4% to 14% of the starting values. These results show that we were able to extract around 90% of the organic carbon present in the solid phase.
Environment Effects on X-Ray Absorption Spectra With Quantum Embedded Real-Time Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory Approaches
Authors: De Santis Matteo , Vallet Valérie , Gomes André Severo Pereira
Published: February 2022

In this work we implement the real-time time-dependent block-orthogonalized Manby-Miller embedding (rt-BOMME) approach alongside our previously developed real-time frozen density embedding time-dependent density functional theory (rt-TDDFT-in-DFT FDE) code, and investigate these methods’ performance in reproducing X-ray absorption spectra (XAS) obtained with standard rt-TDDFT simulations, for model systems comprised of solvated fluoride and chloride ions ([X@(H2O)8−, X = F, Cl). We observe that for ground-state quantities such as core orbital energies, the BOMME approach shows significantly better agreement with supermolecular results than FDE for the strongly interacting fluoride system, while for chloride the two embedding approaches show more similar results. For the excited states, we see that while FDE (constrained not to have the environment densities relaxed in the ground state) is in good agreement with the reference calculations for the region around the K and L1 edges, and is capable of reproducing the splitting of the 1s1 (n + 1)p1 final states (n + 1 being the lowest virtual p orbital of the halides), it by and large fails to properly reproduce the 1s1 (n + 2)p1 states and misses the electronic states arising from excitation to orbitals with important contributions from the solvent. The BOMME results, on the other hand, provide a faithful qualitative representation of the spectra in all energy regions considered, though its intrinsic approximation of employing a lower-accuracy exchange-correlation functional for the environment induces non-negligible shifts in peak positions for the excitations from the halide to the environment. Our results thus confirm that QM/QM embedding approaches are viable alternatives to standard real-time simulations of X-ray absorption spectra of species in complex or confined environments.
Detection Methods of Nanoparticles Synthesized by Gas-Phase Method: A Review
Authors: Zhang Xiushuo , Zhao Xiaolong , Li Hongsheng , Hao Xiaorui , Xu Jing , Tian Jingjing , Wang Yong
Published: February 2022

The detection of nanoparticles is the basis of the study of synthesis mechanism, active regulation of the synthesis process, and the study of nanoparticle properties after synthesis. It is significantly meaningful to the academia and engineering industry. Although there are many relevant detection methods at present, each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, and their measurement quantity and application conditions are also different. There is a lack of unified sorting and generalization. In this paper, the significance of detection of nanoparticles synthesized by a gas-phase method is introduced, the development of detection technology is reviewed, and the future is prospected. It is hoped that this paper will provide a reference for the detection of nanoparticles under various conditions and for the development of new detection methods.
Characterization of MicroRNA Cargo of Extracellular Vesicles Isolated From the Plasma of Schistosoma japonicum-Infected Mice
Authors: Li Shun , Giri Bikash R. , Liu Jingyi , He Xiaobing , Cai Pengfei , Jing Zhizhong , Cheng Guofeng
Published: February 2022

Schistosoma is a genus of parasitic trematodes that undergoes complex migration in final hosts, finally developing into adult worms, which are responsible for egg production and disease dissemination. Recent studies documented the importance of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the regulation of host-parasite interactions. Herein, we investigated the microRNA (miRNA) profiles of EVs isolated from host plasma at different stages of Schistosoma japonicum infection (lung stage: 3 days post-infection (dpi), and liver stages: 14 and 21 dpi) to identify miRNA cargo potentially involved in the pathogenesis and immune regulation of schistosomiasis. Characterization of the isolated plasma EVs revealed their diameter to be approximately 100 nm, containing typical EV markers such as Hsp70 and Tsg101. Deep sequencing analysis indicated the presence of 811 known and 15 novel miRNAs with an increasing number of differential miRNAs from the lung stage (27 miRNAs) to the liver stages (58 and 96 miRNAs at 14 and 21 dpi, respectively) in the plasma EVs of infected mice compared to EVs isolated from the uninfected control. In total, 324 plasma EV miRNAs were shown to be co-detected among different stages of infection and the validation of selected miRNAs showed trends of abundance similar to deep sequencing analysis. For example, miR-1a-3p and miR-122-5p showed higher abundance, whereas miR-150-3p and miR-126a showed lower abundance in the plasma EVs of infected mice at 3, 14, and 21 dpi as compared to those of uninfected mice. In addition, bioinformatic analysis combined with PCR validation of the miRNA targets, particularly those associated with the immune system and parasitic infectious disease, indicated a significant increase in the expression of Gbp7and Ccr5 in contrast to the decreased expression of Fermt3, Akt1, and IL-12a. Our results suggested that the abundance of miRNA cargo of the host plasma EVs was related to the stages of Schistosoma japonicum infection. Further studies on the roles of these miRNAs may reveal the regulatory mechanism of the host-parasite interaction. Moreover, the differentially abundant miRNA cargo in host EVs associated with S. japonicum infection may also provide valuable clues for identifying novel biomarkers for schistosomiasis diagnosis.
Minimizing Guidewire Unwilling Passage and Related Perforation During Transradial Procedures: Prevention Is Better Than Cure
Authors: Xu Lili , Cao Jiatian , Zhang Meng , Yang Hongbo , Huang Zheyong , Song Yanan , Li Chenguang , Dai Yuxiang , Yao Kang , Wang Xiangfei , Zhang Feng , Qian Juying , Ge Junbo
Published: February 2022

Background

Current guidewires for transradial coronary angiography had defects of passage difficulty or branch injury. This study sought to investigate the safety and efficiency of a novel method of active knuckle-angle 0.035-inch hydrophilic guidewire in transradial coronary angiography.

Methods

Patients undergoing a transradial coronary procedure in our team from August 2015 to June 2020 were retrospectively investigated. We compared the demographic and interventional characteristics of 1,457 patients receiving advancement of unmodified guidewires (Traditional group) and 1,322 patients receiving advancement of the knuckle guidewire (Knuckle group). Afterwards we included 239 patients and randomized them according to a random number table to either the unmodified or the knuckle guidewire to further confirm the efficiency and safety of knuckle guidewire advancement.

Results

In the retrospective analysis, unwilling passage of guidewire into branches occurred more in the Traditional group than in the Knuckle group (9.5 vs. 0.08%, p < 0.001). Two patients in the Traditional group experienced guidewire-associated perforation. One patient was treated with covered stent for internal mammarian artery perforation, while the other was managed with compression for brachial branch perforation. In the randomized controlled study, unwilling passage of guidewire also occurred more in the Traditional group (10.8 vs. 1%, p < 0.001). Median duration of guidewire advancement from the sheath to aortic root significantly decreased from 33 seconds in the Traditional group to 21 seconds in the Knuckle group.

Conclusion

Active knuckle angle guidewire represented a novel method to prevent unwilling passage and associated perforation with efficiency improvement and a reduction in radiation exposure.
Association of Lean Body Mass and Fat Mass With 1-Year Mortality Among Patients With Heart Failure
Authors: Ge Yilan , Liu Jiamin , Zhang Lihua , Gao Yan , Wang Bin , Wang Xiuling , Li Jing , Zheng Xin
Published: February 2022

Background

Prior studies have found an unexplained inverse or U-shaped relationship between body mass index (BMI) and mortality in heart failure (HF) patients. However, little is known about the independent effects of each body component, i.e., lean body mass (LBM) and fat mass (FM), on mortality.

Methods

We used data from the China Patient-centered Evaluative Assessment of Cardiac Events-Prospective Heart Failure Study. LBM and FM were calculated using equations developed from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. LBM and FM index, calculated by dividing LBM or FM in kilograms by the square of height in meters, were used for analysis. We used restricted cubic spline and Cox model to examine the association of LBM and FM index with 1-year all-cause mortality.

Results

Among 4,305 patients, median (interquartile range) age was 67 (57–76) years, 37.7% were women. During the 1-year follow-up, 691 (16.1%) patients died. After adjustments, LBM index was inversely associated with mortality in a linear way (P-overall association < 0.01; P-non-linearity = 0.52), but no association between FM index and mortality was observed (P-overall association = 0.19). Compared with patients in the 1st quartile of the LBM index, those in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quartiles had lower risk of death, with hazard ratio of 0.80 (95% CI 0.66–0.97), 0.65 (95% CI 0.52–0.83), and 0.61 (95% CI 0.45–0.82), respectively. In contrast, this association was not observed between FM index quartiles and mortality.

Conclusion

Higher LBM, not FM, was associated with lower 1-year mortality among HF patients.
Dietary α-Linolenic Acid-Rich Flaxseed Oil Ameliorates High-Fat Diet-Induced Atherosclerosis via Gut Microbiota-Inflammation-Artery Axis in ApoE−/− Mice
Authors: Li Yiwei , Yu Zhi , Liu Yuanyuan , Wang Ting , Liu Yajuan , Bai Zhixia , Ren Yi , Ma Huiyan , Bao Ting , Lu Haixia , Wang Rui , Yang Libo , Yan Ning , Yan Ru , Jia Shaobin , Zhang Xiaoxia , Wang Hao
Published: February 2022

Atherosclerosis (AS) is closely associated with abnormally chronic low-grade inflammation and gut dysbiosis. Flaxseed oil (FO) rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are mainly composed of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3 omega-3), has been demonstrated to exhibit pleiotropic benefits in chronic metabolic diseases. However, the impact of dietary ALA-rich FO on AS and its associated underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Thus, the present study was designed as two phases to investigate the effects in atherosclerotic Apolipoprotein E (ApoE)−/− mice. In the initial portion, the ApoE−/− mice were randomly allocated to three groups: control group (CON), model group (MOD), and FO-fed model group (MOD/FO) and were treated for 12 weeks. The second phase used antibiotic (AB)-treated ApoE−/− mice were divided into two groups: AB-treated model group (AB/MOD) and FO-fed AB-treated model group (AB/FO). In the results, the dietary ALA-rich FO administration ameliorated atherosclerotic lesion, as well as the parameters of AS (body weights (BWs) and the total bile acids (TBA). Chronic systemic/vascular inflammatory cytokines and in situ macrophages (Mψs) were reduced with FO intervention. In addition, the FO improved the gut integrity and permeability by decreasing the plasma lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Moreover, gut dysbiosis and metabolites [short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and bile acids (BAs)] in AS were modulated after FO treatment. Intriguingly, during an AB-treated condition, a significantly weakened amelioration of FO-treated on AS proposed that the intestinal microbiota contributed to the FO effects. A correlation analysis showed close relationships among gut bacteria, metabolites, and inflammation. Collectively, these results suggested that the dietary ALA-rich FO ameliorated the AS in ApoE−/− mice via the gut microbiota-inflammation-artery axis.
Amiodarone-Induced Multi-Systemic Toxicity Involving the Liver, Lungs, Thyroid, and Eyes: A Case Report
Authors: You Hye-Su , Yoon Jae Hyun , Cho Sung Bum , Choi Yoo-Duk , Kim Yung Hui , Choi Wonsuk , Kang Ho-Cheol , Choi Sung Kyu
Published: February 2022

Objectives

Amiodarone is widely used to treat arrhythmia. However, amiodarone is known for its severe toxicity to the liver, lungs, and thyroid. Amiodarone causes liver damage ranging from asymptomatic serum aminotransferase elevation to hepatic failure requiring liver transplantation. Although amiodarone toxicity has been reported, its simultaneous multi-organ toxicity is not well-known. Here, we introduce a novel case of multi-systemic amiodarone toxicity involving the liver, lungs, thyroid, and eyes.

Case Presentation

A 61-year-old woman visited the emergency room due to general weakness, nausea, visual disturbance, heat intolerance, and a non-productive cough. The patient had been using clopidogrel and amiodarone due to underlying atrial fibrillation. The total level of bilirubin was 0.71 mg/dL, aspartate aminotransferase was 358 U/L, alanine aminotransferase was 177 U/L, and prothrombin time was 27.1 s. Computed tomography showed diffuse increased liver intensity and scattered hyperattenuated nodular consolidations in both lungs. Transthoracic needle lung biopsy revealed fibrinoid interstitial inflammation with atypical change of type II pneumocytes and intra-alveolar foamy macrophages. In addition, the thyroid-stimulating hormone level was <0.008 μIU/mL, and free thyroxine was 4.67 ng/dL. The thyroid scan showed diffuse homogenous intake of technetium-99 m pertechnetate in both thyroid lobes. The ophthalmologic exam detected bilateral symmetrical corneal deposits in a vortex pattern. With these findings, we could diagnose amiodarone-induced hepatic, pulmonary, thyroid, and ophthalmologic toxicity. Liver function was restored after cessation of amiodarone, and thyroid function was normalized with methimazole administration. However, due to aggravated lung consolidations, systemic steroid treatment was administered, and improvement was seen 1 week after, at the follow-up exam. As her symptoms improved, she was discharged with a plan of steroid administration for 3 to 6 months.

Conclusions

This case implies the possibility of multi-systemic amiodarone toxicity. Thus, the toxicity of amiodarone to multiple organs must be monitored. Prompt cessation of the drug should be considered upon diagnosis.
Loss of m6A Methyltransferase METTL5 Promotes Cardiac Hypertrophy Through Epitranscriptomic Control of SUZ12 Expression
Authors: Han Yanchuang , Du Tailai , Guo Siyao , Wang Lu , Dai Gang , Long Tianxin , Xu Ting , Zhuang Xiaodong , Liu Chen , Li Shujuan , Zhang Dihua , Liao Xinxue , Dong Yugang , Lui Kathy O. , Tan Xu , Lin Shuibin , Chen Yili , Huang Zhan-Peng
Published: February 2022

Enhancement of protein synthesis from mRNA translation is one of the key steps supporting cardiomyocyte hypertrophy during cardiac remodeling. The methyltransferase-like5 (METTL5), which catalyzes m6A modification of 18S rRNA at position A1832, has been shown to regulate the efficiency of mRNA translation during the differentiation of ES cells and the growth of cancer cells. It remains unknown whether and how METTL5 regulates cardiac hypertrophy. In this study, we have generated a mouse model, METTL5-cKO, with cardiac-specific depletion of METTL5 in vivo. Loss function of METTL5 promotes pressure overload-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and adverse remodeling. The regulatory function of METTL5 in hypertrophic growth of cardiomyocytes was further confirmed with both gain- and loss-of-function approaches in primary cardiomyocytes. Mechanically, METTL5 can modulate the mRNA translation of SUZ12, a core component of PRC2 complex, and further regulate the transcriptomic shift during cardiac hypertrophy. Altogether, our study may uncover an important translational regulator of cardiac hypertrophy through m6A modification.
New Directions for Motivational Incentive Interventions for Smoking Cessation
Authors: Coughlin Lara N. , Bonar Erin E. , Walton Maureen A. , Fernandez Anne C. , Duguid Isabelle , Nahum-Shani Inbal
Published: February 2022

Background

Motivational incentive interventions are highly effective for smoking cessation. Yet, these interventions are not widely available to people who want to quit smoking, in part, due to barriers such as administrative burden, concern about the use of extrinsic reinforcement (i.e., incentives) to improve cessation outcomes, suboptimal intervention engagement, individual burden, and up-front costs.

Purpose

Technological advancements can mitigate some of these barriers. For example, mobile abstinence monitoring and digital, automated incentive delivery have the potential to lower the clinic burden associated with monitoring abstinence and administering incentives while also reducing the frequency of clinic visits. However, to fully realize the potential of digital technologies to deliver motivational incentives it is critical to develop strategies to mitigate longstanding concerns that reliance on extrinsic monetary reinforcement may hamper internal motivation for cessation, improve individual engagement with the intervention, and address scalability limitations due to the up-front cost of monetary incentives. Herein, we describe the state of digitally-delivered motivational incentives. We then build on existing principles for creating just-in-time adaptive interventions to highlight new directions in leveraging digital technology to improve the effectiveness and scalability of motivational incentive interventions.

Conclusions

Technological advancement in abstinence monitoring coupled with digital delivery of reinforcers has made the use of motivational incentives for smoking cessation increasingly feasible. We propose future directions for a new era of motivational incentive interventions that leverage technology to integrate monetary and non-monetary incentives in a way that addresses the changing needs of individuals as they unfold in real-time.
Evaluation of Time Series Models in Simulating Different Monthly Scales of Drought Index for Improving Their Forecast Accuracy
Authors: Band Shahab S. , Karami Hojat , Jeong Yong-Wook , Moslemzadeh Mohsen , Farzin Saeed , Chau Kwok-Wing , Bateni Sayed M. , Mosavi Amir
Published: February 2022

Drought is regarded as one of the most intangible and creeping natural disasters, which occurs in almost all climates, and its characteristics vary from region to region. The present study aims to investigate the effect of differentiation operations on improving the static and modeling accuracy of the drought index time series and after selecting the best selected model, evaluate drought severity and duration, as well as predict future drought behavior, in Semnan city. During this process, the effect of time series on modeling different monthly scales of drought index was analyzed, as well as the effect of differencing approach on stationarity improvement and prediction accuracy of the models. First, the stationarity of time series data related to a one-month drought index is investigated. By using seasonal, non-seasonal, and hybrid differencing, new time series are created to examine the improvement of the stationarity of these series through analyzing the ACF diagram and generalized Dickey–Fuller test. Based on the results, hybrid differencing indicates the best degree of stability. Then, the type and number of states required to evaluate the models are determined, and finally, the best prediction model is selected by applying assessment criteria. In the following, the same stages are analyzed for the drought index time series data derived from 6-month rainfall data. The results reveal that the SARIMA (2,0,2) (1,1,1)6 model with calibration assessment criteria of MAE = 0.510, RMSE = 0.752, and R = 0.218 is the best model for one-month data from seasonal differencing series. In addition to identifying and introducing the best time series model related to the six-month drought index data (SARIMA (3,0,5) (1,1,1)6 seasonal model with assessment criteria of MAE = 0.430, RMSE = 0.588, and R = 0.812), the results highlight the increased prediction accuracy of the six-month time series model by 4 times the correlation coefficient in the calibration section and 8 times that in the validation section, respectively, relative to the one-month state. After modeling and comparing the results of the drought index between the selected model and the reality of the event, the severity and duration of the drought were also examined, and the results indicated a high agreement. Finally by applying the best six-month drought index model, a predicted series of the SPI drought index for the next 24 months is created.
Pre-elementary Children With Imperfect Letter-Name Knowledge Are at Great Risk of Reading Difficulty in First Grade: One-Year Longitudinal Study in Japanese Hiragana
Authors: Okumura Yasuko , Kita Yosuke , Kitamura Yuzuki , Oyama Hoko
Published: February 2022

While letter-naming ability is a well-known preschool predictor of the later acquisition of literacy, little is known about an appropriate benchmark (i.e., how many letter names children must know at a given age) and how it may vary among different writing systems. The present study aimed to establish a letter-naming benchmark in Japanese Hiragana for pre-elementary children (age 5 to 6 years) and examined whether this benchmark predicts risk or success in later reading development via a one-year longitudinal survey. Children (N = 291) were assessed once in their pre-elementary year for Hiragana-naming accuracy and once in their first-grade year for oral reading fluency. As a result, the ability to name 40 of 45 letters was determined to be an optimal cut-off, and failure to meet it strongly predicted a risk of deficient reading fluency in first grade. These findings support the notion that Japanese children without near-perfect mastery of Hiragana-naming in their pre-elementary year are at great risk of reading difficulty in first grade. In addition, possible contrasts between Hiragana- and alphabet-naming indicated a need for further research in different languages and scripts to establish appropriate goals and policies for this foundational skill of reading in early education.
Social Participation of Students With a Migration Background—A Comparative Analysis of the Beginning and End of a School Year in German Primary Schools
Authors: Hamel Niklas
Published: February 2022

The social participation of students can be defined as one of the fundamental goals of inclusion. However, current literature shows that (a) children from minorities can belong to groups at risk of low social participation and (b) relatively little is known as yet about changes in social participation over time (longitudinal study). This study therefore seeks to investigate more closely the stability of social participation for students with a migration background. A total of 353 year 4 students (45% girls, including 16% with German as their second language) from North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany) were surveyed about their social participation (friendships, interactions, etc.) using a paper-and-pencil questionnaire at the beginning (September 2018) and at the end (June/July 2019) of a school year. All schools of common learning in North Rhine-Westphalia were contacted and asked to participate voluntarily. Only students who participated in the survey at both measurement points were considered. At the first measurement point, students had an average age of 9 years (SD = 0.42; range 8–11). At the second measurement point, students had an average age of 10 years (SD = 0.57; range 9–12). Student responses were largely in the form of sociometric ratings or sociometric nominations. One finding of the variance analyses (ANOVA with repeated measures) was that, for the most part, there was no difference longitudinally between students with and those without a migration background. However, students with a migration background were found to have significantly fewer stable friendships than their peers. No other differences in relation to changes over time were recorded in any other areas. The findings thus also illustrate that a possible lack of social participation by students with a migration background remains constant, and that the period when students first come into contact with each other appears to be of fundamental importance.
Direct Numerical Simulation of Heat Transfer of Lead–Bismuth Eutectic Flow Over a Circular Cylinder at Re = 500
Authors: Chen Li-Xia , Yuan Chao , Zhao Jun-Long , Zhang Hong-Na , Ma Yu , Li Feng-Chen
Published: February 2022

The flow and heat transfer characteristics of the lead–bismuth eutectic (LBE) (Prandtl number Pr = 0.025) passing over a circular cylinder at Re = 500 are studied by direct numerical simulation and compared with the case of the air (Pr = 0.71). This article makes two major contributions: (1) heat transfer characteristics for the LBE flowing past a circular cylinder. For the case of air, the results show that a similarity exists among the wake structure of instantaneous temperature, fluctuating temperature, and velocity. However, these fields differ severely for the case of LBE. The local time-averaged Nusselt number (Nu¯) and circumferentially averagedNu¯are smaller in the LBE than that in the air. The circumferential and spanwise distributions ofNu¯in the LBE show a greater uniformity. The regions with larger circumferential or spanwise inhomogeneity appear in the flow separation zone. Besides, a resemblance between the distribution of the root mean square of fluctuation temperature and the turbulence kinetic energy can be recognized in the air; however, the similarity disappears for the case of LBE and in which the temperature fluctuation is smaller than that in the air. (2) Study on the temperature and velocity defect laws in the wake. By introducing the defect scales, it is concluded that the velocity field has not entered the self-preserving state yet, while the self-preserving state starts at the location of five times the diameter of the cylinder downstream of the cylinder for the temperature in the LBE and that of 21 times for the temperature in the air. In summary, even if without taking the buoyancy force into consideration, this article provides a fruitful description of the flow and heat transfer characteristics when the LBE flows past a cylinder, which is a typical flow in a helical coil steam generator of lead–bismuth alloy-cooled fast reactors. These highly resolved data on velocity and temperature are valuable for turbulence and heat fluxes modeling in the future and may facilitate the in-depth understanding of such flow and heat transfer characteristics within a limited variation range of operating temperature.
Effect of Preconception, Prenatal and Postnatal Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution on Laryngitis in Southern Chinese Children
Authors: Liu Yanlin , Deng Miaomiao , Zhang Duo , Lu Chan , Lu Shaoyou
Published: February 2022

Environmental exposure is considered to be a main triggering factor of laryngitis, a common upper respiratory tract infection, especially in developing countries. However, unclear detrimental air pollutants and lack of understanding on their early-life exposure and laryngitis warrant further investigation. Therefore, a retrospective cohort including 2328 preschool children was conducted during 2015–2016 in Shenzhen, China. We measured ambient air quality of PM10, SO2 and NO2 in 12 monitoring stations, and obtained childhood laryngitis prevalence and confounding covariates by questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the lifetime prevalence of childhood laryngitis (12.2%) was associated with an interquartile range increase in late preconception (adjusted odds ratio: 1.43, 95% confidence interval: 1.06‒1.92), prenatal (1.35, 1.02–1.79) and early-postnatal (1.32, 1.11‒1.57) exposure to SO2. Sensitivity analysis revealed that this relationship appeared more obvious among boys without parental atopy, mold/damp stains, or window condensation. Nevertheless, there was no evidence for the association between early-life PM10 and NO2 exposure and childhood laryngitis. These findings suggest that early-life exposure to SO2 significantly increases risk of childhood laryngitis. Preventive measures need to be implemented to mitigate industrial air pollution.
Ground Settlement-Induced Building Damage Assessment With Modified Lanczos Algorithm and Extreme Learning Machine
Authors: Yang Weiqi , Wang Lingling , Feng Yuran , Zeng Ting
Published: February 2022

Construction, tunneling, and other urban anthropogenic activities strain neighboring buildings through distortion and rotation on both the surface and underground, resulting in instability of the local geological structure. This may cause devastating structural damage to buildings. Therefore, quantitative assessment of building structural damage is essential for the safety of local communities. In this study, a novel data-driven approach was applied to assess the building damage risks in urban areas. Data collected from over 50 buildings adjacent to the construction site were analyzed. The extreme learning machine (ELM) algorithm was applied to predict building structural risks. A modified Lanczos algorithm was used to regularize the ELM and improve the overall prediction performance. The computational results demonstrate the robustness and efficiency of the proposed Lanczos algorithm-regularized ELM.
MCTS1 as a Novel Prognostic Biomarker and Its Correlation With Immune Infiltrates in Breast Cancer
Authors: Deng Mei , Xiong Chao , He Zhuo-Kai , Bin Qiong , Song Jing-Zhi , Li Wei , Qin Jie
Published: February 2022

Multiple copies in T‐cell lymphoma‐1 (MCTS1) plays an important role in various cancers; however, its effects on patient prognosis and immune infiltration in breast cancer remain unclear. In this study, the expression profiles and clinical information of patients with breast cancer were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test, the MCTS1 expression levels were compared between breast cancer and normal breast tissues. Functional enrichment analyses were performed to explore the potential signaling pathways and biological functions that are involved. Immune cell infiltration was assessed using single-sample gene set enrichment analysis. The UALCAN and MethSurv databases were used to analyze the methylation status of the MCTS1. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis were used to identify the prognostic value of MCTS1. A nomogram was constructed to predict the overall survival (OS) rates at one-, three-, and five-years post-cancer diagnosis. MCTS1 was overexpressed in breast cancer and significantly associated with the M pathological stage, histological type, PAM50, and increased age. MCTS1 overexpression contributes to a significant decline in OS and disease-specific survival. Multivariate Cox analysis identified MCTS1 as an independent negative prognostic marker of OS. The OS nomogram was generated with a concordance index of 0.715. Similarly, the hypomethylation status of MCTS1 is also associated with poor prognosis. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that the enriched pathways included the reactive oxygen species signaling pathway, MYC targets, interferon alpha response, immune response regulating signaling pathway, and leukocyte migration. Moreover, the overexpression of MCTS1 was negatively correlated with the levels of immune cell infiltration of natural killer cells, CD8+ T cells, effector memory T cells, and plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Therefore, MCTS1 maybe a novel prognostic biomarker.