bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Concordant phylogeographic responses to large‐scale coastal disturbance in intertidal macroalgae and their epibiota
Authors: Parvizi Elahe , Dutoit Ludovic , Fraser Ceridwen I. , Craw Dave , Waters Jonathan M.
Published: October 2021

Major ecological disturbance events can provide opportunities to assess multispecies responses to upheaval. In particular, catastrophic disturbances that regionally extirpate habitat‐forming species can potentially influence the genetic diversity of large numbers of codistributed taxa. However, due to the rarity of such disturbance events over ecological timeframes, the genetic dynamics of multispecies recolonization processes have remained little understood. Here, we use single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data from multiple coastal species to track the dynamics of cocolonization events in response to ancient earthquake disturbance in southern New Zealand. Specifically, we use a comparative phylogeographic approach to understand the extent to which epifauna (with varying ecological associations with their macroalgal hosts) share comparable spatial and temporal recolonization patterns. Our study reveals concordant disturbance‐related phylogeographic breaks in two intertidal macroalgal species along with two associated epibiotic species (a chiton and an isopod). By contrast, two codistributed species, one of which is an epibiotic amphipod and the other a subtidal macroalga, show few, if any, genetic effects of palaeoseismic coastal uplift. Phylogeographic model selection reveals similar post‐uplift recolonization routes for the epibiotic chiton and isopod and their macroalgal hosts. Additionally, codemographic analyses support synchronous population expansions of these four phylogeographically similar taxa. Our findings indicate that coastal paleoseismic activity has driven concordant impacts on multiple codistributed species, with concerted recolonization events probably facilitated by macroalgal rafting. These results highlight that high‐resolution comparative genomic data can help reconstruct concerted multispecies responses to recent ecological disturbance.
The outcomes of Clostridioides difficile infection in inpatient liver transplant population
Authors: Amjad Waseem , Qureshi Waqas , Malik Adnan , Singh Ritu , Jafri Syed‐Mohammed
Published: October 2021

Background

Chronic immunosuppression is a known cause of Clostridioides difficile, which presents with colon infection. It is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Our aim is to determine the inpatient outcomes of liver transplant patients with Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) and trends in the last few years.

Methods

We utilized the national re‐admission data (2010–2017) to study the outcomes of CDI in liver transplant patients. Association of C. difficile with re‐admission was computed in a multivariable model adjusted for age, sex, gastrointestinal bleeding, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, obesity, cancer, insurance, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dementia, peripheral vascular disease, smoking, hospital location, and teaching status.

Results

During 2010–2017, there were 310 222 liver transplant patients hospitalized. Out of these, 9826 had CDI. CDI infection in liver transplant patients was associated with higher 30‐day re‐admission (14.3% vs. 11.21%, hazard ratio [HR]: 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01–1.28, p = .02) and in‐hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR]: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.14–1.61, p < .001). The most common causes of re‐admission in the CDI group were recurrent CDI (41.1%), liver transplant complications (16.5%), and sepsis (11.6%). The median cost for liver transplant patients with C. difficile was significantly higher, $53 064 (IQR $24 970–$134 830) compared to patients that did not have C. difficile, $35 703 ($18 793–$73 871) (p < .001). The median length of stay was also longer for patients with CDI, 6 days (4–14) vs. 4 days (2–7) (p < .001).

Conclusion

CDI in post‐liver transplant patients was associated with higher mortality, re‐admission, health care cost, and longer length of stay. The most common cause of re‐admission was recurrent CDI, which raises the question of the efficacy of standard first‐line therapy.
Transfusion 2024: A 5‐year plan for clinical and laboratory transfusion in England
Authors: Allard Shubha , Cort Jon , Howell Catherine , Sherliker Louise , Miflin Gail , Toh Cheng Hock
Published: October 2021

The Transfusion 2024 plan outlines key priorities for clinical and laboratory transfusion practice for safe patient care across the NHS for the next 5 years. It is based on the outcomes of a multi‐professional symposium held in March 2019, organised by the National Blood Transfusion Committee (NBTC) and NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), attended and supported by Professor Keith Willet and Dame Sue Hill on behalf of NHS England and Improvement. This best practice guidance contained within this publication will facilitate the necessary change in pathway design to meet the transfusion challenges and pressures for the restoration of a cohesive, and functional, healthcare system across the NHS following the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Primary multifocal muscular T‐cell lymphoma with cutaneous involvement in a dog: A case report and review of the literature
Authors: Lopes Mariana G. , Marchesi Francesco , Haining Hayley , Morris Joanna S.
Published: October 2021

Canine lymphoma represents a heterogeneous group of lymphoid neoplasms, with multicentric nodal lymphoma being the most common presentation. Musculoskeletal involvement is uncommon, and primary muscular lymphoma is a very rare presentation. Only a few cases have been described in dogs, which were of variable classification and immunophenotype. Here, we report the case of a 5‐year‐old female neutered Beagle that presented with an intramuscular mass on the right shoulder and associated lameness and lethargy. One month after initial presentation, multiple cutaneous nodules appeared on the head, and staging with advanced imaging revealed additional masses affecting other muscles. Cytology, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and PCR for antigen receptor rearrangements of one of the muscle masses and skin lesions supported a diagnosis of peripheral T‐cell lymphoma with large granular lymphocytes at both sites. The dog was euthanized after diagnosis due to the poor prognosis. This is the first report of primary muscular peripheral T‐cell lymphoma with large granular lymphocytes and cutaneous involvement in the dog. Despite being a rare presentation, lymphoma must be considered a differential in dogs presenting with a discrete, intramuscular, soft tissue mass.
Energy Saving on a Full-Size Wheel Loader Through Variable Load Sense Margin Control
Authors: Madau Riccardo , Vacca Andrea , Pintore Francesco
Published: October 2021

This paper presents the formulation of a variable load sense control strategy suitable to achieve power savings in hydraulic systems using postcompensated load sensing (LS) hydraulic control architectures. Such architecture is typical in off-road construction machinery. The paper also describes the application of the proposed control strategy referred to as variable load sensing margin (VLM) on a full-size wheel loader. The paper first presents the rationale for the proposed strategy, showing how the state-of-the-art LS architecture present in commercial machines has a margin for lowering the throttling losses present at the control valves. A feedforward controller, derived from an empirical study on a reference vehicle, is used to control the flow to the front-end loader functions. Test results show improvements of the hydraulic power consumption up to 45%, based on the commanded speed of each front-end loader actuator. The paper also describes a gain scheduling pressure feedback control strategy, which is used to allow controlling also functions that include priority. For the case of off-road vehicles, this is typically the steering function. The experimental results show good performances with an error in controlled velocity below 5%, which is achieved when the front-end loader functions are used concurrently with the steering.
Experiencing the Social Environment of a Canoe Kayak Club: A Case Study of a Special Olympics Program
Authors: Orr Krystn , Evans M. Blair , Tamminen Katherine A. , Arbour-Nicitopoulos Kelly P.
Published: October 2021

For individuals with an intellectual disability, emerging adulthood (18–25 years) may be a disruptive time with an abrupt ending to programming and services after adolescence. This study critically explores the social environment and experiences of individuals involved in a Special Olympics paddling program for emerging adult athletes with an intellectual disability. Using an instrumental case study design, multiple qualitative methods were implemented including photography, videography, observations, and interviews. The participants included four athletes (one female and three male; three with autism spectrum disorder, one with mild intellectual disability), three fathers, a coach, a program coordinator, and an administrator. Analyses were guided by interpretivism and the quality parasport participation framework. The findings highlight how the limited staff training and preparation, the complexity of providing such a program, and parental hidden labor in their adult children’s sport involvement influence the social environment. Implications for coaching practices include the importance of communication strategies and coach education.
Wrestling With Jello: “Good Dads” and the Reproduction of Male Dominance in Children’s Baseball
Authors: Travers  , Berdahl Jennifer
Published: October 2021

Despite being formally all-gender, children’s baseball in Canada and the United States remains highly male dominated. We draw on the autoethnographic fieldwork of Travers as a queer/trans volunteer coach to demonstrate the social processes that reproduce male domination among coaches in children’s baseball. We employ the theoretical lens of doing/redoing/undoing gender to demonstrate the enactment of a hybrid form of masculinity we term “Good Dad Masculinity.” Good Dad Masculinity reproduces male domination in children’s baseball as a de facto highly gendered organization wherein girls, women, and nonnormatively gendered people of all ages are peripherally included, at best. As Good Dad Masculinity reproduces male domination while appearing to embody and endorse gender egalitarianism, resistance to it is akin to wrestling with jello.
Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics of Telacebec (Q203), a New Antituberculosis Agent, in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Kim Jeongjun , Choi Jinho , Kang Hwankyu , Ahn Jiye , Hutchings Jane , van Niekerk Christo , Park Dongsik , Kim Jaeseung , Jeon Yeejin , Nam Kiyean , Shin Soyoung , Shin Beom Soo
Published: October 2021

Telacebec (Q203) is a potent drug candidate under clinical development for the treatment of drug-naïve and drug-resistant tuberculosis. The first-in-human randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, dose-escalation Phase 1A trial (Q203-TB-PI-US001) was conducted to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of telacebec.
The Diguanylate Cyclase YfiN of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Regulates Biofilm Maintenance in Response to Peroxide
Authors: Katharios-Lanwermeyer Stefan , Koval Sophia A. , Barrack Kaitlyn E. , O’Toole George A.
Published: October 2021

We build on previous findings that suggest that
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
utilizes c-di-GMP metabolizing enzymes to actively maintain a mature biofilm. Here, we explore how the diguanylate cyclase YfiN contributes to the regulation of biofilm maintenance during peroxide exposure.
Genomic Characterization of Two Novel RCA Phages Reveals New Insights into the Diversity and Evolution of Marine Viruses
Authors: Zhai Zhiqiang , Zhang Zefeng , Zhao Guiyuan , Liu Xinxin , Qin Fang , Zhao Yanlin
Published: October 2021

Diversity and evolution of phages that infect the relatively slow-growing but dominant
Roseobacter
lineages are largely unknown. In this study, RCA phages CRP-9 and CRP-13 have been isolated on a
Roseobacter
RCA strain and shown to have a unique genomic architecture, which appears to be the result of a recombination event.
Supplemental Material: Deformation between the highly oblique Yakutat–North American plate boundary and the Eastern Denali fault
Authors: Enkelmann E. , Falkowski S.
Published: October 2021

All peak fitting results from this study and previously published catchments (Table S1) and the single-grain data of the new data (Table S2).
GPs may help people at risk of self-harm by asking open questions and acknowledging distress
Authors: Saul Helen , Gursul Deniz
Published: October 2021

The study

Ford J, Thomas F, Byng R, McCabe R. Asking about self-harm and suicide in primary care: moral and practical dimensions.
Patient Educ Couns
2020;104:4.

To read the full NIHR Alert go to:
https://evidence.nihr.ac.uk/alert/open-questions-improve-gp-conversations-self-harm/
Lemon maturation causes anatomical and biochemical changes at the flavedo tissue level
Authors: Albornoz Patricia L. , Interdonato Roque , Hammann Ariadna , Rosa Mariana , Prado Fernando E. , Rapisarda Viviana A. , Hilal Mirna
Published: October 2021

Plants mobilize photosynthates by three transport pathways: apoplastic, symplastic through plasmodesmata (PD), and transcellular. In the flavedo of post-harvest mature lemons, a high level of activity of cell wall-bound invertase (WI), an enzyme associated with transcellular transport of monosaccharides, has been detected. To elucidate whether this high enzymatic activity is related to restricted transport in the symplastic pathway with fruit maturation, the aim of the present work was to compare anatomical and biochemical parameters in peel tissues of immature and mature lemons. Anatomical structure of cell walls, callose deposition, WI activity, and sucrose content were analyzed in peel tissues of immature and mature lemons. The parenchyma of the flavedo tissue of immature lemons presented an elevated number of primary pit fields (PPF). These PPF, associated with PD or cell wall interruptions, had the appearance of a string of beads; however, in mature lemons, the number of PPF was scarce due to callose deposition. WI activity and apoplastic sucrose content increased significantly in the flavedo of mature lemons compared to immature lemons. The present findings lay structural and functional bases relevant to understanding differences between immature and mature lemons, which would help to design agricultural practices in pre- and post-harvest management.
Neutrino-nucleus scattering in the SuSA model
Authors: Amaro J. E. , Barbaro M. B. , Caballero J. A. , Donnelly T. W. , González-Jiménez R. , Megias G. D. , Ruiz Simo I.
Published: October 2021

The super-scaling approach (SuSA) model, based on the analogies between electron and neutrino interactions with nuclei, is reviewed and its application to the description of neutrino-nucleus scattering is presented. The contribution of both one- and two-body relativistic currents is considered. The model is validated with the $$(e,e')$$

(
e
,

e
′

)

data, including also inelastic contributions for the inclusive reaction. A discussion of semi-inclusive reactions and their implications for charge-changing reactions of neutrinos is also presented. A selection of results for the inclusive neutrino reactions with change of charge is presented where theoretical predictions are compared with cross-section measurements from the main ongoing neutrino oscillation experiments.
An improved car-following model based on multiple preceding vehicles under connected vehicles environment
Authors: Zhang Xuhao , Zhao Min , Zhang Yicai , Sun Dihua , Li Linqi
Published: October 2021

Connected vehicles can obtain the position and velocity of multiple preceding vehicles. According to the characteristics of connected vehicles, this paper proposes the new control term and improves the original car-following model. The model considers the optimized acceleration and velocity difference information among the preceding vehicles. Meanwhile, linear stability analysis of the proposed model is executed and the stability criterion is given. It shows that the model has better stability compared with the existing car-following models. Three scenarios including car-following evolution, starting process and braking process are simulated, and the response time, space headway and velocity fluctuations are analyzed separately. The numerical simulation results show that the controlling strategy proposed in this paper has a noticeable effect on the stability of the traffic system. In addition, the calibration results based on the measured data show that the proposed model is more consistent with the actual traffic conditions.
Chaotic Features of a Class of Discrete Maps without Fixed Points
Authors: García-Grimaldo Claudio , Campos Eric
Published: October 2021

Chaotic dynamical systems without fixed points are promising in the generation of pseudo-random sequences because orbits will not converge to a fixed point. In this class of systems there are no final fixed points, so the basin of attraction of a fixed point does not exist. The absence of fixed points makes it difficult to analyze the dynamics of the systems because a fixed point gives us a lot of information about the dynamics of the system. In addition, if there is an amplitude control parameter for the generated chaotic signals, the tolerance and adaptability are higher and better in the application process. In view of the aforementioned, in this paper, a novel class of discrete maps is presented and described by a kind of piecewise linear (PWL) maps. Necessary and sufficient conditions are given to guarantee that this class of discrete maps does not have any fixed point. Furthermore, we introduce families of these PWL discrete maps without fixed points that present positive Lyapunov exponents and have chaotic dynamics with amplitude control. From these families, we select one particular map, which is analyzed theoretically and proved to be chaotic in the sense of Devaney.
A Review: Elastic Metamaterials and Inverse Design Methods for Shock and Vibration Mitigation
Authors: Liu Liangshu , Lee Heow Pueh
Published: October 2021

The development of engineering technology puts forward more demanding requirements for the performance of materials, many of which cannot be met by the existing natural materials. In addition to exploring and refining new natural materials, it is possible to arrange designed microstructures according to periodicity or other rules to produce man-made materials that do not exist in nature itself, mostly due to the development of additive manufacturing (AM) technology. These artificial materials are known as metamaterials. In the past few years, the design and application of metamaterials have made great progress. This paper reviews the research of elastic metamaterials in recent years, which includes both traditional metamaterials with fixed structural properties and active metamaterials with tunable properties. Among many application scenarios, this paper mainly focuses on elastic metamaterials’ applications in vibration control, impact mitigation and wave attenuation. In addition, this paper also discusses the development of metamaterial inverse design or optimization design, with special attention to the application of topology optimization (TO) technology in this area.
Double-Framed Soft Set Theory Applied to Abel-Grassmann’s Hypergroupoids
Authors: Izhar Muhammad , Mahmood Tariq , Khan Asghar , Farooq Muhammad , Hila Kostaq
Published: October 2021

In this paper, we apply the concept of double-framed soft sets to Abel-Grassmann’s hypergroupoids (AG-hypergroupoids). We define double-framed soft AG-hypergroupoids (DFS AG-hypergroupoids) and double-framed soft left (respectively, right) (briefly DFS-left (respectively, DFS-right)) hyperideals of AG-hypergroupoids. It is shown that an idempotent DFS-left hyperideal is a DFS-hyperideal. Also a DFS right hyperideal becomes DFS hyperideal when pure left identity is adjoined to an AG-hypergroupoid, but the converse is not true. We also discuss some properties of these hyperideals in regular AG-hypergroupoids.
Cubic Soft Graphs with Application in Decision Making
Authors: Takallo M. Mohseni , Karazma F. , Kologani M. Aaly , Borzooei R. A.
Published: October 2021

A graph structure is a useful tool in solving the combinatorial problems in different areas of computer science and computational intelligence systems. In this paper, we introduce the concept of cubic soft graph, complete cubic soft graph, (internal, external) cubic soft graphs and investigate some of their properties. Then we deal with fundamental operations, union, intersection, Cartesian product, composition of cubic soft graphs and illustrate these notions by several examples. We prove that cubic soft graphs under these operations are also a cubic soft graph. Finally, we describe an application of cubic soft graphs in decision making.
Student Performance on the BDSI for Basic Data Structures
Authors: Webb Kevin C. , Zingaro Daniel , Liao Soohyun Nam , Taylor Cynthia , Lee Cynthia , Clancy Michael , Porter Leo
Published: October 2021

A Concept Inventory (CI) is an assessment to measure student conceptual understanding of a particular topic. This article presents the results of a CI for basic data structures (BDSI) that has been previously shown to have strong evidence for validity. The goal of this work is to help researchers or instructors who administer the BDSI in their own courses to better understand their results. In support of this goal, we discuss our findings for each question of the CI using data gathered from 1,963 students across seven institutions.
Energy expenditure due to gluconeogenesis in pathological conditions of insulin resistance
Authors: Quaye Emmanuel , Chacko Shaji , Chung Stephanie T. , Brychta Robert J. , Chen Kong Y. , Brown Rebecca J.
Published: October 2021

Gluconeogenesis is an energy-requiring process that is upregulated in diabetes, contributing to hyperglycemia. Previous studies have estimated that gluconeogenesis accounts for less than 10% of resting energy expenditure. This study estimates the energy expenditure attributable to gluconeogenesis in uncommon and severe forms of insulin resistance and common, milder forms of insulin resistance. In these populations, gluconeogenesis accounts for almost one-third of resting energy expenditure, substantially higher than previously theorized in the literature.
Innovative Research on the Construction of Learner’s Emotional Cognitive Model in E-Learning by Big Data Analysis
Authors: Yin Hua , Wu Hong , Tsai Sang-Bing
Published: October 2021

This article first addresses the problem that the unstructured data in the existing e-learning education data is difficult to effectively use and the problem that the coarser granularity of sentiment analysis results in traditional sentiment analysis methods and proposes multipolarized sentiment based on fine-grained sentiment analysis evaluation model. Then, an algorithm for behavior prediction and course recommendation based on emotional change trends is proposed, and the established multiple linear regression equation is solved with an improved algorithm. Finally, the method in this paper is verified by a comprehensive example with algorithm comparison analysis and cross-validation evaluation method. The research method proposed in this article provides new research ideas for evaluating and predicting the learning behavior of e-learners, which is conducive to timely discovering learners’ dropout tendency and recommending relevant courses of interest to improve their graduation rate, so as to optimize the learning experience of learners, promote the development of personalized education and effective teaching of the e-learning teaching platform, and provide a certain reference value for accelerating the reform process of education informatization. In order to improve the speed of searching for parameters and the best parameters, this paper proposes a particle swarm algorithm (to improve the support vector machine parameters in a sense) and finds the best parameters which also achieved the goal from academic expression to academic performance.
Study of Passive Protective Net Protecting the Rockfall Caused by Open‐Pit Blasting on High and Steep Slope
Authors: Zhang Zhiyu , Qian Qingyun , Wang Jianguo , Liu Haoshan , Liang Ke , Li Zhuo , Liu Guoyin
Published: October 2021

In order to prevent rockfall caused by open‐pit blasting on the high and steep slope and ensure that the passive protective net structure has sufficient impact resistance, the mechanism of blasting flyrock causing rockfall is analyzed by using ANSYS/AUTODYN to establish the model of rockfall and passive protective net; at the same time, the influences of protective net size, rockfall kinetic energy, and rockfall size to the protective effect were also studied. The results show that under the condition of the same rockfall kinetic energy and rockfall size, the larger the size of the protective net, the longer the buffer time, and the impact force that net can sustain is greater; by assuming the protective net size and rockfall size to be a constant, the greater the rockfall kinetic energy, the less the interaction time between rock and net, and the greater the impulse force that net can suffer; similarly, by keeping the protective net size and the kinetic energy of rockfall to be a constant, it is found that the larger the size of the rockfall, the larger the interaction area and longer interaction time with the net, and the less net will be disrupted; the protective net used in the mine can intercept the rockfall caused by flyrock in blasting process effectively and ensure the safety of villager at the foot of the mountain.
Metabolic Reprogramming in Kidney Diseases: Evidence and Therapeutic Opportunities
Authors: Li Yin , Sha Zixin , Peng Hui
Published: October 2021

Metabolic reprogramming originally referred to the ability of cancer cells to metabolically adapt to changes in environmental conditions to meet both energy consumption and proliferation requirements. According to recent studies, renal cells are also capable of reprogramming their metabolism after kidney injury, and these cells undergo different kinds of metabolic reprogramming in different kidney diseases. Metabolic reprogramming also plays a role in the progression and prognosis of kidney diseases. Therefore, metabolic reprogramming is not only a prominent feature but also an important contributor to the pathophysiology of kidney diseases. Here, we briefly review kidney diseases and metabolic reprogramming and discuss new ways to treat kidney diseases.
Magnetic Resonance Image Feature Analysis under Deep Learning in Diagnosis of Neurological Rehabilitation in Patients with Cerebrovascular Diseases
Authors: Li Xue , Ji Wenjun , Chang Hufei , Yang Chunyan , Rong Zhao , Hao Jun
Published: October 2021

To explore the impact of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) image features based on deep learning algorithms on the neurological rehabilitation of patients with cerebrovascular diseases, eighty patients with acute cerebrovascular disease were selected as the research objects. According to whether the patients were with vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), they were divided into VCI group (34 cases) and non-VCI group (46 cases). In addition, based on the convolutional neural network (CNN), a new multimodal CNN image segmentation algorithm was proposed. The algorithm was applied to the segmentation of MRI images of patients with vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) and compared with the segmentation results of CNN and fully CNN (FCN). As a result, the segmentation results of the three different algorithms showed that the Dice coefficient, accuracy, and recall of the multimodal CNN algorithm were 0.78 ± 0.24, 0.81 ± 0.28, and 0.88 ± 0.32, respectively, which were significantly increased compared to those of other two algorithms (

P

 < 0.05). The neurological evaluation results showed that the MMSE and MoCA scores of VCI patients were 15.4 and 14.6 ± 5.31, respectively, which were significantly lower than those of the non-VCI group (

P

 < 0.05). The TMT-a and TMT-b scores of VCI patients were 221.7 and 385.9, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of the non-VCI group (

P

 < 0.05). The FA and MD values of nerve function-related fibers shown in the MRI images of the VCI group were significantly different from those of the non-VCI group (

P

 < 0.05). Therefore, the neurological recovery process of VCI patients was affected by multiple neurocognitive-related fiber structures. To sum up, the multimodal CNN algorithm can sensitively and accurately reflect the degree of neurological impairment in patients with cerebrovascular disease and can be applied to disease diagnosis and neurological evaluation of VCI patients.
Delphi Method Combined with Computer-Assisted Teaching of Information Fusion to Explore Intelligent Physical Education in Colleges and Universities
Authors: Liu Mingcan
Published: October 2021

The research aims to provide ideas for improving college students’ physical quality in China. Firstly, the theories of the Delphi method and Computer-Aided Instruction (CAI) are introduced, and the basic process of the Delphi method is deduced. Secondly, the intelligent college Physical Education (PE) is discussed under the Delphi method combined with CAI, and the CAI-added Delphi method-based PE teaching model is proposed. The model verification results show that the proposed model presents an excellent teaching effect by combining intuitive expression and flexible courseware with higher teaching efficiency. As a result, students who have difficulty mastering the essentials of sports actions have shown significant improvement after CAI PE. Meanwhile, the teaching method of CAI is more flexible compared with traditional methods, especially, on-blackboard projection. The proposed teaching model is more vivid and memorable thanks to the video presentations voiced over by teachers. CAI can significantly improve students’ interests in sports and their sports performance. Meanwhile, the CAI PE teaching system is more suitable for theoretical knowledge instruction by replacing the dull teacher-centered word interpretation with vivid and intuitive video presentations voiced over by teachers. Therefore, the proposed CAI-added Delphi method-based PE teaching model has certain feasibility and plays a significant role in promoting PE teaching quality in China.
Simultaneous Oral and Umbilical Locations as a First Sign of Pemphigus Vulgaris
Authors: Moussaoui Eya , Oueslati Yassine , Oualha Lamia , Denguezli Mohamed , Sriha Badreddine , Douki Nabiha
Published: October 2021

The place of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) among autoimmune bullous diseases (AIBD) is well established. It is an acquired chronic, autoimmune, vesiculobullous disease in which IgG antibodies target desmosomal proteins to produce intraepithelial mucocutaneous blistering. The diagnosis is often challenging for the clinicians. It requires a combination of three major features: clinical, histopathological, and immunological. Clinically, oral lesions are the first manifestations of the disease in 50-90% of the patients with widespread blisters affecting the oral mucosa. On the skin, lesions are characterized by flaccid blisters that rapidly progress into erosions and crust formation. Umbilical lesions as a clinical manifestation of PV are peculiar and have rarely been reported, and they are not yet completely elucidated. Umbilical region involvement in patients with pemphigus was assessed in a limited study totalling just 10 patients. This localisation may be a valuable hint easing the diagnosis at the clinical level for patients with oral mucosal blisters. Dentists must be familiar with the clinical manifestations of PV to make an early diagnosis and start an early treatment which determines the prognosis of the disease. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the coexistence of these lesions with the oral lesions as a first sign of PV in the absence of skin involvement was reported in only one case of pemphigus vegetans (PVe). In this paper, we describe an observation of a female patient that was diagnosed with PV that begun with simultaneous oral and umbilical locations which coexisted for a period of 4 months before the appearance of other cutaneous lesions. We highlight the role of dentists, by being familiar with the clinical manifestations of PV, to make an early diagnosis to start an early treatment which determines the prognosis of the disease and to follow closely the evolution of lesions to change treatment if required. We also discuss the clinical, histological, and immunological features of the disease that enabled the differential diagnosis as well as the appropriate therapeutic management.
Periodic Oscillatory Phenomenon in Fractional-Order Neural Networks Involving Different Types of Delays
Authors: Wang Nengfa , Xu Changjin , Liu Zixin
Published: October 2021

This research is chiefly concerned with the stability and Hopf bifurcation for newly established fractional-order neural networks involving different types of delays. By means of an appropriate variable substitution, equivalent fractional-order neural network systems involving one delay are built. By discussing the distribution of roots of the characteristic equation of the established fractional-order neural network systems and selecting the delay as bifurcation parameter, a novel delay-independent bifurcation condition is derived. The investigation verifies that the delay is a significant parameter which has an important influence on stability nature and Hopf bifurcation behavior of neural network systems. The computer simulation plots and bifurcation graphs effectively illustrate the reasonableness of the theoretical fruits.
Oxidative Stress Risk Is Increased with a Sedentary Lifestyle during Aging in Mexican Women
Authors: Sánchez-Rodríguez Martha A. , Zacarías-Flores Mariano , Correa-Muñoz Elsa , Arronte-Rosales Alicia , Mendoza-Núñez Víctor Manuel
Published: October 2021

Oxidative stress (OS) increases during the human aging process, and the sedentary lifestyle could be a prooxidant factor. In this study, we determine the effect of sedentary lifestyle on OS during the aging process in Mexican women. A longitudinal study of two‐year follow‐up was carried out with 177 community‐dwelling women (40‐69 y) from Mexico City. We measured as OS markers plasma malondialdehyde, erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), total plasma antioxidant status, uric acid level, antioxidant gap, and SOD/GPx ratio. To define OS using all the markers, we defined cut‐off values of each parameter based on the 90th percentile of young healthy subjects and, we calculated a stress score (SS) ranging from 0 to 7, which represented the intensity of the marker modifications. All the women answered a structured questionnaire about prooxidant factors, including physical activity specially the type of activity, frequency, and duration, and they answered Spanish versions of self‐assessment tests for establishing dysthymia and insomnia as potential confounders. Principal component and Poisson regression analysis were used as statistical tools, being two‐year OS the primary outcome. The OS was considerate as SS ≥ 4 and sedentary lifestyle as <30 min/day of physical activity, beside several prooxidant factors and age that were covariables. SS is higher in sedentary lifestyle women after the two‐year follow‐up; although, the difference was statistically significant only in older women. Four principal components were associated with the OS, and 7 out of 8 prooxidant factors were important for the analysis, which were included in the Poisson model. The predictive factors for OS were the sedentary lifestyle (adjusted PR = 2.37, CI95%: 1.30–4.30, p < 0.01), and age, in which the risk increases 1.06 (CI95%:1.02–2.11, p < 0.01) by each year of age. Our findings suggest that a sedentary lifestyle increases the OS during the aging in Mexican women.
Oral Cyanobacteria and Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Hernandez Brenda Y. , Zhu Xuemei , Risch Harvey A. , Lu Lingeng , Ma Xiaomei , Irwin Melinda L. , Lim Joseph K. , Taddei Tamar H. , Pawlish Karen S. , Stroup Antoinette M. , Brown Robert , Wang Zhanwei , Wong Linda L. , Yu Herbert
Published: October 2021

Background:

Gut microbial alterations have been linked to chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The role of the oral microbiome in liver cancer development has not been widely investigated.

Methods:

Bacterial 16S rRNA sequences were evaluated in oral samples from 90 HCC cases and 90 controls who were a part of a larger U.S. case–control study of HCC among patients diagnosed from 2011 to 2016.

Results:

The oral microbiome of HCC cases showed significantly reduced alpha diversity compared with controls (Shannon P = 0.002; Simpson P = 0.049), and beta diversity significantly differed (weighted Unifrac P = 0.004). The relative abundance of 30 taxa significantly varied including Cyanobacteria, which was enriched in cases compared with controls (P = 0.018). Cyanobacteria was positively associated with HCC [OR, 8.71; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.22–62.00; P = 0.031] after adjustment for age, race, birthplace, education, smoking, alcohol, obesity, type 2 diabetes, Hepatitis C virus (HCV), Hepatitis B virus (HBV), fatty liver disease, aspirin use, other NSAID use, laboratory batch, and other significant taxa. When stratified by HCC risk factors, significant associations of Cyanobacteria with HCC were exclusively observed among individuals with negative histories of established risk factors as well as females and college graduates. Cyanobacterial genes positively associated with HCC were specific to taxa producing microcystin, the hepatotoxic tumor promotor, and other genes known to be upregulated with microcystin exposure.

Conclusions:

Our study provides novel evidence that oral Cyanobacteria may be an independent risk factor for HCC.

Impact:

These findings support future studies to further examine the causal relationship between oral Cyanobacteria and HCC risk.
A Metabolomics Analysis of Circulating Carotenoids and Breast Cancer Risk
Authors: Peng Cheng , Zeleznik Oana A. , Shutta Katherine H. , Rosner Bernard A. , Kraft Peter , Clish Clary B. , Stampfer Meir J. , Willett Walter C. , Tamimi Rulla M. , Eliassen A. Heather
Published: October 2021

Background:

Higher circulating carotenoids are associated with lower breast cancer risk. The underlying biology remains under-explored.

Methods:

We profiled 293 prediagnostic plasma metabolites in a nested case–control study (n = 887 cases) within the Nurses' Health Studies. Associations between circulating carotenoids and metabolites were identified using linear-mixed models (FDR ≤ 0.05), and we further selected metabolites most predictive of carotenoids with LASSO. Metabolic signatures for carotenoids were calculated as weighted sums of LASSO selected metabolites. We further evaluated the metabolic signatures in relation to breast cancer risk using conditional logistic-regression.

Results:

We identified 48 to 110 metabolites associated with plasma levels of α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, estimated-vitamin-A-potential, lutein/zeaxanthin, and lycopene, which included primarily positively associated metabolites implicated in immune regulation (tryptophan), redox balance (plasmalogens, glutamine), epigenetic regulations (acetylated-/methylated-metabolites), and primarily inversely associated metabolites involved in β-oxidation (carnitines; FDR ≤ 0.05). The metabolomic signatures derived for β-carotene (Q4 vs. Q1 relative risk RR = 0.74, Ptrend = 0.02), and estimated-vitamin-A-potential (Q4 vs. Q1 RR = 0.74, Ptrend = 0.02)—measured ≥10 years before diagnosis—were associated with lower breast cancer risk. Modest attenuations of RR for measured levels of β-carotene and estimated-vitamin-A-potential were seen when we adjusted for their corresponding metabolic signatures.

Conclusions:

Metabolites involved in immune regulation, redox balance, membrane signaling, and β-oxidation were associated with plasma carotenoids. Although some metabolites may reflect shared common food sources or compartmental colocalization with carotenoids, others may signal the underlying pathways of carotenoids-associated lowered breast cancer risk.

Impact:

Consumption of carotenoid-rich diet is associated with a wide-range of metabolic changes which may help to reduce breast cancer risk.
Systolic Blood Pressure and Mortality in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Frailty as an Effect Modifier
Authors: Kremer Kaj-Marko , Braisch Ulrike , Rothenbacher Dietrich , Denkinger Michael , Dallmeier Dhayana ,   for the ActiFE Study Group
Published: October 2021

Current evidence is insufficient to support different hypertension treatment targets in older adults. We evaluated whether frailty modifies the association between systolic blood pressure (SBP) and 8-year all-cause mortality in community-dwelling older adults. Longitudinal data from the ActiFE Ulm study (Activity and Function in the Elderly in Ulm; Germany) was collected. The association between SBP and mortality was analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for age, sex, education, smoking, alcohol consumption, sleep disturbance, diastolic blood pressure, and antihypertensive medications, evaluating the presence of effect modification by frailty according to a frailty index based on the accumulation of deficits. Among 1170 participants (median age 73.9 years, 41.6% women), the prevalence of history of hypertension was 53.8% (median SBP, 144.0 mm Hg [interquartile range, 135.0–149.5], median diastolic blood pressure 78.0 mm Hg [interquartile range, 71.0–86.5]). The median follow-up time was 8.1 years, detecting 268 deaths. We identified 251 (21.5%, 114 deaths) frail participants (frailty index ≥0.2). Effect modification by frailty was detected. Among non-frail a J-shaped association was found with hazard ratio, 4.01 (95% CI, 1.13–14.28) for SBP<110 mm Hg, hazard ratio, 0.92 (95% CI, 0.53–1.59) for SBP 140–150 mm Hg, and hazard ratio, 1.98 (95% CI, 0.75–5.27) for SBP≥160 mm Hg. For frail older adults, a tendency toward lower risk among those with SBP≥130 mm Hg was observed. Our results suggest the presence of effect modification by frailty indicating a possible protective effect for elevated SBP in frail older adults with respect to all-cause mortality even after adjusting for diastolic blood pressure and antihypertensive treatment.
Resolvin E1 Attenuates Pulmonary Hypertension by Suppressing Wnt7a/β-Catenin Signaling
Authors: Liu Guizhu , Wan Naifu , Liu Qian , Chen Yuqin , Cui Hui , Wang Yuanyang , Ren Jiaoqi , Shen Xia , Lu Wenju , Yu Ying , Shen Yujun , Wang Jian
Published: October 2021

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a devastating disease characterized by severe pulmonary vascular wall remodeling and perivascular inflammation. Resolvin E1 (RvE1), a proresolving lipid mediator, has protective effects against various inflammatory diseases. However, the effect of RvE1 on PAH development remains to be determined. We aimed to investigate whether RvE1 has a therapeutic effect on PAH and, if so, to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying its effects. A hypoxia+SU5416-induced mouse model of pulmonary hypertension (PH) and an monocrotaline-induced rat model of PH were used to test therapeutic effect of RvE1. Lung tissues and plasma samples were collected from patients with PAH and rodent models to examine RvE1 production and its receptor chemerin chemokine-like receptor 1 (ChemR23) expression. We observed that RvE1 generation was reduced in the plasma of patients with idiopathic PAH and in lungs from experimental rodent models of PH. ChemR23 expression was markedly downregulated in hypoxia-exposed mouse pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and pulmonary arteries from PH rodents and patients with idiopathic PAH. RvE1 treatment alleviated experimental PH in both male and female rodents by inhibiting PASMC proliferation. Deletion of ChemR23 in vascular SMCs abolished the protective effect of RvE1 against hypoxia+SU5416-induced PAH in mice. Mechanistically, the RvE1/ChemR23 axis suppressed hypoxia-induced PASMC proliferation by inhibiting proliferative wingless-type MMTV integration site family member 7a/β-catenin signaling. Activation of ChemR23 by RvE1 diminished wingless-type MMTV integration site family member 7a expression in PASMCs by inhibiting protein kinase A-mediated Egr2 (early growth response 2) phosphorylation at Ser349. Thus, the RvE1/ChemR23 axis represses experimental PAH by modulating wingless-type MMTV integration site family member 7a/β-catenin signaling in PASMCs and may serve as a therapeutic target for the management of PAH.
Synthesis of Doxorubicin-Loaded Nanobubble and Its Effect on Targeted Therapy for Patients with Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Jiang Ning , Cao Fang
Published: October 2021

Nanomedicine has developed rapidly for improving the solubility of anti-cancer drugs, prolonging the circulation time in the body, and enhancing the accumulation in the lesion through the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. First, a new type of dithiolane trimethylene
carbonate (MGN) was synthesized, and an amphiphilic polymer PEG-P (ERF-MGN) was synthesized based on MGN and trimethylene carbonate (ERF). Then, N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS)-PEG-P (ERF-MGN) was prepared by further polymerizing NHS, which was amidated with polypeptide to obtain CC11-PEG-P (ERF-MGN).
Finally, it was reacted with PEG-P (ERF-MGN) (mass ratio was 1:4), and CC11-PS was made by solvent exchange method. Through pH gradient method, doxorubicin (Dox) was loaded to prepare Dox nanobubble (CC11-PS-Dox). The prepared nanobubble was compared with the commonly utilized polyethylene
glycol liposome Dox (Lipo-Dox) for tumor suppression, and CC11-PS-Dox had a relatively higher tolerated dose. After intravenous administration at a dose of 150 mg/kg, tumor growth in ovarian cancer mice bearing SKOV-3 was effectively inhibited, toxic and side effects were reduced, and the
survival time of mice was dramatically increased (P < 0.05). In addition, CC11-PS-Dox was configured as a solution injected into patients with ovarian cancer, phosphate buffer saline (PBS) was injected as a control, and the tumor was irradiated with near-infrared laser (NIR). The
tumor’s warming range was detected, and the tumor tissue was removed and stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) to observe the growth of the tumor. The results showed that CC11-PS-Dox + NIR can promote the tumor to heat up to 55 °C or more, while PBS + NIR can only promote the tumor
to heat up to 37 °C. HE staining results showed that CC11-PS-Dox + NIR can promote tumor loss and cause cell damage. Therefore, it was verified that CC11-PS-Dox can be adopted for photothermal treatment of ovarian cancer.