bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multitargeted inhibitory effect of Mitoxantrone 2HCl on cervical cancer cell cycle regulatory proteins: A multitargeted docking-based MM\GBSA and MD Simulation Study
Authors: Alshehri Mohammed Ali , Asiri Saeed Ahmed , Alzahrani Abdulrahman , Alazragi Reem S. , Alqahtani Leena S. , Alqosaibi Amany I. , Alnamshan Mashael M. , Alam Qamre , Rafeeq Misbahuddin M
Published: September 2023

Cervical cancer remains a significant global health concern that starts in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina and is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), necessitating the development of effective multitargeted effective and resistance-proof therapies. In early-stage cervical cancer may not show any symptoms, however, as the cancer progresses, some people may experience- abnormal vaginal bleeding, watery or bloody vaginal discharge, pain in the pelvis or lower back, pain during sex, and frequent and painful urination. In this study, we screened the complete FDA-approved drug library using a multitargeted inhibitory approach against four cervical cancer proteins, namely mitotic arrest deficient-2, DNA polymerase epsilon B-subunit, benzimidazole-related-1, and threonine-protein kinase-1 which crucially plays its role for the in its development process. We employed the HTVS, SP and XP algorithms for efficient filtering and screening that helped to identify Mitoxantrone 2HCl against all of them with docking and MM\GBSA scores ranging from -11.63 to -7.802 Kcal/mol and -74.38 to -47.73 Kcal/mol, respectively. We also evaluated the interaction patterns of each complex and the pharmacokinetics properties that helped gain insight into interactions. Subsequently, we performed multiscale MD simulations for 100ns to understand the dynamic behaviour and stability of the Mitoxantrone 2HCl -protein complexes that revealed the formation of stable drug-protein complexes and provided insights into the molecular interactions that contribute to Mitoxantrone’s inhibitory effects on these proteins and can be a better drug for cervical cancer. However, experimental studies of these findings could pave the way for therapies to combat cervical cancer effectively.
Tracing the Ancestral Footprints: Unraveling Thailand's Mitochondrial Heritage through Comprehensive Analysis of Expanded mtDNA Data
Authors: Jaisamut Kitipong , Pitiwararom Rachtipan , Sukawutthiya Poonyapat , Sathirapatya Tikumphorn , Noh Hasnee , Worrapitirungsi Wikanda , Vongpaisarnsin Kornkiat
Published: September 2023

The evolutionary dynamics of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) within the Thai population were comprehensively explored with a specific focus on the influence of South Asian admixture. A total of 166 samples were collected through randomized sampling, ensuring a diverse representation. Our findings unveil substantial genetic and haplogroup diversity within the Thai population. We have identified 164 haplotypes categorized into 97 haplogroups, with a notable inclusion of 20 novel haplogroups. The distribution of haplogroups exhibited variations across different populations and countries. The central Thai population displayed a high diversity of haplogroups from both the M and N clades. Maternal lineage affinities were discerned between several Mainland Southeast Asia (MSEA) and South Asian populations, implying ancestral genetic connections and a substantial influence of South Asian women in establishing these relationships. f4-statistics indicates the presence of a Tibeto-Burman genetic component within the Mon population from Thailand. New findings demonstrate two phases of population expansion occurring 22,000–26,000 and 2,500-3,800 years ago, coinciding with the Last Glacial Maximum, and Neolithic demographic transition, respectively. This research significantly enhances our understanding of the genetic history of Thailand and MSEA, emphasizing the influence of South Asian admixture. Moreover, it underscores the critical role of prior information, such as mutation rates, within the Bayesian framework for accurate estimation of coalescence times and inferring demographic history.
Large terahertz birefringence in nanocomposite films made from magnetorheological fluid
Authors: Chen Yanqing , Zhu Guofeng , Huang Feng , Chen Ying , Wang Jiaxun , Wang Xiangfeng
Published: September 2023

In this work, magnetic nanocomposite films were prepared using magnetorheological fluids and were characterized by time-domain terahertz spectroscopy. Applying magnetic field during the curing process of magnetorheological fluids makes Fe nanoparticles align into a chain-like structure. Permanent anisotropy is solidified in the films, resulting in a birefringence coefficient as high as 0.37 in a frequency range from 0.4 to 2.0 THz. The polarization state of terahertz wave can be converted by rotating the film at room temperature without external magnetic field. When the rotation angle is at 50°- 60°, the ellipticity is greater than 0.8 in the frequency range of 1.19–1.6 THz, indicating that the film can be used as a quarter waveplate.
Effect of Lupinus albus conglutin gamma protein on experimentally induced diabetes in rats.
Authors: Bhieldeen Marwa , Moustafa Yasser M. , Tawfik Afaf A. , Elsayed Sami M. , El-shaarawy Fatma F.
Published: September 2023

Early insulin resistance and a progressive loss of pancreatic β cell function combine to cause type 2 diabetes (T2D), which leads to insufficient insulin production followed by hyperglycemia. Purified from Lupinus albus seed, conglutin gamma (Cγ) is a protein that lowers blood sugar. The primary function of adipocytokines, hormones released by adipose tissue, is to alert important organs to maintain metabolic balance. This study aimed to identify and compare the role of Cγ and glimepiride in controlling hyperglycemia, insulin secretion, insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia in high-fat diet and low- dose streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetes in experimental rats. Male Spargue Dawely rat groups were divided into seven groups; normal, Cγ control, T2D control, and four T2D groups which received Cγ (30, 60, and 120 mg/Kg) and Glimepiride (0.1 mg/kg) treatments. Administration of Cγ successfully eliminated hyperglycemia and increased insulin secretion and sensitivity. Additionally, when compared to (STZ+HFD) control rats, treatment with Cγ improved the expression of leptin, adiponectin, and their blood concentrations, as well as the activity of the enzyme chitotriosidase. It also significantly decreased the expression of apelin, NAMPT and RBP4. The present data suggests that Cγ has an effective role in controlling hyperglycemia induced by diabetes through amelioration of leptin, adiponectin, lipid profile and metabolic syndrome.
Leveraging Multi-Task Transfer Learning for Enhanced Breast Mass Classification in Digital Mammography
Authors: Wu Shuyu , Zhou Lu , Zhang Guoqian , Wang Lingjing , Liao Yuliang , Wang Wei , Zhou Cheng , Zhang Shuxu , Mei Yingjie
Published: September 2023

Purpose
Accurate breast mass classification is crucial for early breast cancer diagnosis. Deep learning shows promise in computer-aided diagnosis but faces challenges due to limited annotated data and lesion complexity. We propose a novel multi-task transfer learning framework to improve mass classification performance and provide a well-performed framework for medical image analysis.
Methods
The proposed framework comprises a transfer learning backbone and multi-task-specific branches. Pretraining weights from natural image datasets are leveraged to finetune the backbone network, enhancing the ability to extract breast mass characteristics. The classification branches include the primary task for breast mass classification and auxiliary tasks for BI-RADS evaluation, guiding the model to focus on relevant diagnostic features.
Result
Three models were compared using ResNet50/InceptionV3 as backbones. The Multi-Task Transfer Learning Framework (MTL + TL) achieved the highest AUC values of 0.852 ± 0.019 / 0.824 ± 0.021, outperforming other models in accuracy (0.7654 ± 0.0218 / 0.7667 ± 0.0224), precision (0.6842 ± 0.0379 / 0.7179 ± 0.0379), and F1-score (0.6842 ± 0.0379 / 0.7179 ± 0.0379). Grad-CAM heatmaps confirmed its effectiveness and ability to capture breast mass characteristics.
Conclusion
Our proposed framework significantly improved breast mass classification, addressing limited annotated data and providing an effective solution to address the limited availability of annotated data. The proposed framework enhanced feature recognition and overall performance by simulating a clinician's observation and decision-making of imaging features through the auxiliary task. This approach can be extended to other breast lesion classifications and provide valuable guidance for medical imaging analysis.
Frequency chimera state induced by time delays in neural networks
Authors: Huang ShouFang , Li ZhiHang , Cai ZhengGang , Yu ChengYu , Zhang JiQian , Wang MaoSheng , Xu Fei
Published: September 2023

The delay of information transmission is an inherent factor of the nervous systems, which has great influences on their collective dynamic behaviors. In this paper, we constructed a ring neural network using FHN neuron model as the network node and memristive synapses as the connection mode. Our primary focus was on investigating the effects of time delay and coupling strength on the firing frequency of neurons. Simulation results revealed that the frequency chimera state could be induced in the neural network with appropriate time delay, which is a new type of chimera state characterized by firing frequency rather than membrane potential. By adjusting the time delay properly, the neural network can also display multi-cluster frequency chimera states that coexisted with various incoherent regions and coherent regions. Meanwhile, we exhibit that initial value and coupling strength could have great influences on the effects of time delay on inducing frequency chimera state of the nervous systems.
Preparation of Molybdenum-based carbon nanoparticle for electronic packaging materials
Authors: Xie jiaqiang , chen jin , zhou wenwen , Guo zhifeng
Published: September 2023

This study demonstrated preparation of Mo-Cu-CNTs composites by reflux treatment of carbon nanotubes along with chemical and mechanical activation. We used carbon nanotubes as raw materials and added concentrated sulfuric and nitric acids using the concentrated acid reflux method to activate them. Moreover, we modified the carbon nanotubes by chemical activation method at 100°C. Further, the activated carbon nanotubes and copper molybdenum powder were mechanically activated into mixed powder. Finally, molybdenum-based carbon nanoencapsulation material was prepared by powder metallurgy. Several characterization techniques revealed that the concentrated acid reflux method generated functional groups on the surface, improving the pressing performance and wettability, thereby preventing the occurrence of an interfacial reaction. Furthermore, the composite material of carbon nanotube and molybdenum matrix was realized by the mechanical and chemical activation methods. Thermal conductivity experiments revealed efficient heat transfer of the composite material, and carbon nanotube density variation characteristics showed low density acid treatment after 24 h. The conductivity of the sintered body reached a maximum of 22.4 MS/m, and the thermal conductivity was found to be the highest, reaching 146 Wm− 1K− 1'. The composite material obtained by sintering at 1100°C exhibited the highest Vickers hardness with a value of 214 HV.
Risk factors of retinal hemorrhage among full-term newborns in Anhui Province of China: a retrospective study
Authors: Huang Jin , Wang Lili , Hu Miaomiao , Xu Hong , Li Yingying , Zhang Jinqiu , Mei Zhenzhu , Zhang Rui
Published: September 2023

Background
Neonatal fundus disease lacks typical symptoms, thus early identification and prompt treatment are crucial for preventing visual dysfunction. This study aimed to identify the factors influencing the severity of retinal hemorrhage.
Methods
A total of 507 full-term newborns who underwent fundus disease screening at Suzhou Municipal Hospital from January 2023 to July 2023 were enrolled in this study. All full-term newborns underwent fundus examination using RetCam III shuttle within 7 days of birth, and clinical information on the newborns and their mothers was collected. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were employed to identify independent risk factors and develop clinical risk nomogram. The risk nomogram was developed using the rms package and evaluated using decision curve analyses.
Results
Among the 507 newborns included in the study, a total of 210 cases exhibited fundus abnormalities. Retinal hemorrhage was identified as the most prevalent fundus abnormality (75.71%), followed by familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (14.76%) and retinopathy of prematurity (3.8%). Univariate and multivariate analysis demonstrated that vaginal delivery (OR = 4.875), binocular hemorrhage (OR = 6.434), and macular involvement (OR = 3.932) as independent risk factors for severe retinal hemorrhage. The C-index of the nomogram model was 0.804, with AUC of the ROC curve at 0.804 (95%CI, 0.733–0.875). The decision curve analysis indicated clinical risk nomogram has application value.
Conclusion
Vaginal delivery, binocular hemorrhage and macular involvement are risk factors for neonatal retinal hemorrhage. The clinical risk model can effectively predict the severity of neonatal retinal hemorrhage.
Identification of the Interaction Domains in the ENO1/Hsp70 Complex, Delve into Novel Potential Therapeutic Target
Authors: Gulotta Maria Rita , Perricone Ugo , Rubino Patrizia , Bonura Angela , Feo Salvatore , Giallongo Agata , Perconti Giovanni
Published: September 2023

Alpha-enolase is a multifunctional protein with oncogenic roles. First described as a glycolytic enzyme the protein performs different functions according to its cellular localization, post-translational modifications, and binding partners. Cell surface-localized alpha-enolase serves as a plasminogen binding receptor and it has been detected in several cell types, including various tumor cells. Plasminogen system plays a crucial role in pathological events such as tumor cell invasion and metastasis. We have previously demonstrated that the interaction of alpha-enolase with the multifunctional chaperone Hsp70 increases its surface localization and the migratory and invasive capacity of breast cancer cells, thus representing a novel potential target to counteract the metastatic potential of tumors. Here we used experimental and computational approaches for the mapping and hot-spot prediction of the interaction domains between alpha-enolase and Hsp70. The molecular definition of this disease-relevant protein-protein interaction will provide the basis for the design of specific inhibitors as potential anti-metastatic agents.
The minimum covariance determinant estimatorfor interval-valued data
Authors: Tian Wan , Qin Zhongfeng
Published: September 2023

Effective estimation of covariance matrices is crucial for statistical analyses andapplications. In this paper, we focus on the robust estimation of the covariancematrix for interval-valued data in low and moderate high dimensions. In the low-dimensional scenario, we extend the Minimum Covariance Determinant (MCD)estimator to interval-valued data. We derive an iterative algorithm for computing this estimator, demonstrate its convergence, and theoretically establish thatit retains the high breakdown-point property of the MCD estimator. Further,we propose a projection-based estimator and a regularization-based estimatorto extend the MCD estimator to moderately high-dimensional settings, respectively. We propose efficient iterative algorithms for solving these two estimatorsand demonstrate their convergence properties. We conduct extensive simulationstudies and real data analysis to validate the finite sample properties of theseproposed estimators.
Mirror Therapy Reduces Pain and Inhibits Reduction of Corticomotor Excitability in Experimental Skeletal Muscle Pain
Authors: Nishi Keita , Okamura Ryohei , Hasegawa Takashi , Matsumoto Shinichi , Xiaoqian Chang , Zongxiang Zhang , Koseki Hironobu , Higashi Toshio , Moriuchi Takefumi
Published: September 2023

Skeletal muscle pain can reduce corticomotor excitability (CE). We examined the effects of mirror therapy (MT), which can increase CE, on skeletal muscle pain. Fifteen healthy adults were injected with hypertonic saline (5.8% NaCl, 0.2 mL) into the first dorsal interosseous muscle (FDI) of the right hand to induce an experimental skeletal muscle pain condition and then divided into pain + MT and pain groups. The pain + MT group observed their left index finger abducting and adducting for 4 min after injection, creating the illusion that they were performing the movement with their right index finger. However, the pain group remained at rest. CE was assessed by measuring motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) of the right FDI through transcranial magnetic stimulation. Pain was assessed using a numerical rating scale (NRS). MEP amplitudes were significantly higher in the pain + MT group; the same trend was observed after MT. NRS scores were significantly lower in the pain + MT group from 60 to 390 s after injection; the time to pain disappearance was also shorter. MT could decrease CE reduction and alleviate skeletal muscle pain. MT may be effective in preventing plastic changes in the neural system associated with skeletal muscle pain and providing early pain relief.
Total Retinal Detachment Combined with a Novel Nonsense Mutation in the COL2A1 Gene: A Case Report
Authors: xu qin , feng Yaling , Xiang Xiaohong , Tang Min , Lv Hongbin
Published: September 2023

Purpose
This study reports a novel nonsense mutation in a family with Stickler syndrome.
Methods
A 20-year-old female patient presented to the Ophthalmology Department of the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University with a 360° giant retinal tear. In addition to ocular damage (high myopia, cataracts, and retinal detachment), the patient had distinctive facial features, including midface hypoplasia and micrognathia. The patient was diagnosed with Stickler syndrome. Family members were validated using whole-exome and Sanger sequencing.
Results
The family showed autosomal dominant inheritance, with eight members in three generations, six of whom had the disease. The results revealed a nonsense mutation in exon 47 of COL2A1, C.3325C > T, and p.Gln1109Ter. Sanger sequencing confirmed that the mutation at this locus was detected only in patients, and not present in healthy subjects, consistent with family segregation. The patient was subsequently treated with a vitrectomy at our hospital and was discharged after retinal reattachment.
Conclusions
The C.3325C > T locus mutation in COL2A1 is a pathogenic locus mutation in this particular family and is the first such novel nonsense mutation in COL2A1 combined with a 360° giant retinal tear reported in China.
Weight Perception and Its Impact on Health Behaviors among College Students in Hong Kong: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Yeung Joanna Wing Yan , Tsang Mark Cheuk Man , Luk Bronya Hi Kwan , Dang Beatrice Yan Yan
Published: September 2023

Background
Tertiary education is a crucial period during which students develop lifelong habits, including those related to health and wellness. Such students face new stressors and exhibit unhealthy eating behaviors thatmay lead them to become underweight or overweight. Weight misperception is common among young adults but may vary in prevalence by gender and study program. Such misperception may affect a person’s physical and mental health and lead to aggressive weight control behaviors. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the factors affecting weight perception and the relationship between weight perception and mental health among college students.
Methods
This cross-sectional study involved 553 students at two higher education institutions in Hong Kong during 2021 and 2022. Students aged 18 or older were eligible for inclusion. The key variables included gender, body mass index (BMI), study program, weight perception, weight control behaviors, and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 Items (DASS-21) scores.
Results
The mean age of the participants was 19.6 years; 65.5% of the participants were female; and 53.3% were enrolled in a nursing program. First, stronger agreement between the actual weight and perceived weight was observed in men (Kappa = 0.441) than in women (Kappa = 0.303). Women had a significantly greatertendency to incorrectly perceive themselves as overweight than did men(chi-square test, p < .001). Second, similar levels of agreement were observed in health and non-health students (Kappa = 0.331 and 0.343, respectively),but health students were significantly more likely to perceive themselves as underweight (p = .049). Third, women’s use of weight control behaviors, especially vigorous exercise, walking, and a carbohydrate-based diet, tended to be based on weight perception rather than actual weight, whereas such behaviors were not observed in men. Finally, among students with a normal weight, those who perceived themselves as overweight hadsignificantly higher DASS-21 depression (p =.027), anxiety (p =.001), and stress scores (p =.006) than did their counterparts.
Conclusion
In our sample, an incorrect weight perception was associated with female gender and found to induce unnecessary weight control behaviors and affect mental health among the college students. These findings indicate the need for comprehensive approaches to address weight-related stress and highlight the importance of promoting healthy weight management in future health education programs and policies.
Novel Steganography with Discrete Wavelet Transform for Copyright Protection and Performance Evaluation
Authors: Singh Arun Kumar , Singh Juhi
Published: September 2023

The art and science of hiding information in digital images has become more important in modern times. Currently, a significant amount of one's personal information is openly accessible at a variety of places on the internet in the form of text photographs and video. In this investigation, the data hiding is carried out by altering the coefficients, which is carried out by means of a discrete wavelet transform. Data hiding in frequency domain technique (DFT) offers many advantages as compared to time domain techniques. The scaling factor (SF) is a parameter that influences numerous performance characteristics, such as peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), similarity index, and histogram analysis. The trade-off between SF and PSNR is there and is still relevant in the presence of Gaussian noise, Salt and pepper noise, filtering, and compression.
I/O-signature-based feature analysis and classification of high-performance computing applications
Authors: Park Ju-Won , Huang Xin , Lee Jae-Kook , Hong Taeyoung
Published: September 2023

The demand for high-performance computing (HPC) resources in computing fields such as machine learning has increased significantly in recent years. Computing power has been growing exponentially to keep up with this demand. However, these gains have not been able to translate to performance improvement in real-world applications. One of the biggest reasons for this is performance degradation in terms of input/output (I/O) due to the increased storage latency and complex parallel I/O architecture of accessing data in distributed storage systems. In this study, we analyze application-specific I/O patterns to gain a deeper understanding of I/O throughput and the interaction between applications and the I/O system. Specifically, we analyze the importance of each feature of I/O patterns through feature analysis based on the collected monitoring information. We also investigate the feasibility of identifying the application based on the analyzed key features. To this end, we present the analysis accuracy and confusion matrix of four algorithms, including random forest, which are widely used as classification algorithms in the experimental results. The experiment results confirm that we can distinguish applications with an accuracy of more than 90\% by using application-specific I/O patterns.
Fibrosis quantification using multiphoton excitation imaging of picrosirius red stained cardiac tissue
Authors: Jones Bryce A. , Torrado Belen , Myakala Komuraiah , Wang Xiaoxin X. , Perry Priscilla E. , Rosenberg Avi Z. , Levi Moshe , Ranjit Suman
Published: September 2023

Traditional methodologies for fibrosis quantification involve histological measurements, staining with Masson’s trichrome and picrosirius red (PSR), and label-free imaging using second harmonic generation (SHG). The difficulty of label-free cardiac SHG imaging is that both collagen (i.e., collagen 1 fibrils) and myosin are harmonophores that generate SHG signals, and specific identification of either collagen or myosin is difficult to achieve. Here we present an alternate method of quantifying cardiac fibrosis by using PSR staining followed by multiphoton excitation fluorescence imaging. Our data from the deoxycorticosterone model of cardiac fibrosis shows that this imaging method and downstream analyses, including background correction, are robust and easy to perform. These advantages are due to the high signal-to-noise ratio provided by PSR in areas of collagen fibers. Furthermore, the hyperspectral and fluorescence lifetime information of PSR-stained area of fibrosis shows better quantification can eventually be obtained using more complex instrumentation.
The association between physical activity, self-efficacy, stress self- management and mental health among adolescents
Authors: Zhang Ge , Feng Wanxuan , Zhao Liangyu , Zhao Xiuhan , Li Tuojian
Published: September 2023

This study aimed to explore the interplay between physical activity, self-efficacy, stress self-management and mental health among adolescents. The study gathered data from an online survey conducted among 400 Chinese middle school students (mean age = 13.74 years). The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 27.0 and PROCESS 4.1. The findings indicated a positive and significant relationship between physical activity, self-efficacy, stress self-management, and mental health. Notably, the association between physical activity and mental health was entirely mediated by self-efficacy and stress self-management. Moreover, self-efficacy and stress self-management exhibited a chain mediation effect on the relationship between physical activity and mental health. It is suggested that interventions focusing on physical activity should prioritize strategies for enhancing students' self-efficacy and stress self-management skills as integral components of promoting adolescents' mental health. Future research should delve into identifying specific types of physical activities that have a greater potential to enhance self-efficacy and stress self-management abilities.
Maximum standardized uptake value in 11C-methionine positron emission tomography may predict the prognosis of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Kuroshima Takeshi , Kitagawa Yoshimasa , Sato Jun , Watanabe Shiro , Asaka Takuya , Abe Takahiro , Harada Hiroyuki , Hirata Kenji , Kuge Yuji
Published: September 2023

Objective: The present study aimed to elucidate the correlation between the uptake of 11C-methionine (MET) by a primary tumor and the survival of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
Methods: This study enrolled 31 patients who underwent radical surgery for OSCC. The patients underwent pretreatment MET-positron emission tomography (PET) scanning. We analyzed correlations between the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of MET-PET in a primary tumor and the clinicopathological features. Further, we compared overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and loco-regional recurrence (LRR) rates between the two groups according to SUVmax of MET-PET.
Results: SUVmax of MET-PET in a primary tumor was higher in patients with advanced T-classification and advanced clinical stage, with significant differences (P = 0.001 and P = 0.016, respectively). The patients with SUVmax of MET-PET ≥4.4 showed significantly lower DSS rates and higher LRR rates than those with SUVmax of <4.4 (P = 0.015 and P = 0.016, respectively). SUVmax of MET-PET and OS rates showed no significant correlation (P = 0.073).
Conclusions: The present study revealed that SUVmax of MET-PET may predict clinical outcomes and prognosis in patients with OSCC who underwent radical surgery.
BAG3 promotes proliferation and migration of arterial smooth muscle cells by regulating STAT3 phosphorylation in diabetic vascular remodeling
Authors: Huang Xinyue , Guo Jiayan , Ning Anqi , Zhang Naijin , Sun Yingxian
Published: September 2023

Diabetic vascular remodeling is the most important pathological basis of diabetic cardiovascular complications. The accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) caused by elevated blood glucose promotes the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), leading to arterial wall thickening and ultimately vascular remodeling. Therefore, the excessive proliferation and migration of VSMCs is considered as an important therapeutic target for vascular remodeling in diabetes mellitus. However, due to the lack of breakthrough in experiments, there is currently no effective treatment for the excessive proliferation and migration of VSMCs in diabetic patients.
Bcl-2-associated athanogene 3 (BAG3) protein is a multifunctional protein highly expressed in skeletal muscle and myocardium. Previous research has confirmed that BAG3 can not only regulate cell survival and apoptosis, but also affect cell proliferation and migration. Since the excessive proliferation and migration of VSMCs is an important pathogenesis of vascular remodeling in diabetes, the role of BAG3 in the excessive proliferation and migration of VSMCs and its molecular mechanism deserve further investigation.
In this study, BAG3 gene was manipulated in smooth muscle to acquire SM22αCre；BAG3FL/FL mice. Using SM22αCre；BAG3FL/FL mice and human aorta smooth muscle cell line (HASMC), we demonstrated that elevated blood sugar or AGEs could both promote the interaction between BAG3 and STAT3, while BAG3 simultaneously enhanced the interaction between STAT3 and JAK2 and reduced the interaction between STAT3 and ERK1/2, leading to accumulated p-STAT3(705) and decreased p-STAT3(727). Subsequently, the expression of MMP2 is upregulated, thus promoting the migration of VSMCs. In conclusion, our study provides a new orientation for the prevention and treatment of diabetic vascular remodeling.
Analysis of Tightly-Coupled Dipole Phased Array Antennas with Metasurface Superstrate
Authors: Hosseini Seyed Mahdi , Atlasbaf Zahra
Published: September 2023

Tightly coupled dipole arrays, including connected arrays, and capacitively coupled arrays, are one of the best solutions for wideband phased array antenna designs. However, to increase bandwidth and maximum scan angle, we can use a metasurface superstrate. We propose an analytical or semi-analytical model to compute the scan impedance of a tightly coupled dipole array loaded with a metasurface. It is shown that the metasurface superstrate improves the bandwidth and beam scanning angles of the array. Using the proposed general transmission line model, the computation of the scan impedance of tightly coupled dipole arrays is done very fast with minimum error. The semi-analytical model is about 7 times faster than a full-wave simulation.
Data Transformation and Wrapper Impact on Machine Learning Algorithms in Credit Evaluation
Authors: Koc Oguz , Kestel Ayse Sevtap , Ugur Omur
Published: September 2023

Banks utilize credit scoring as an important indicator for the financial strength and the eligibility for credit. Scoring models aim to assign statistical odds or probabilities for predicting if there is a risk of nonpayment in relation to many other factors involved. This paper aims to illustrate the beneficial use of the ten machine learning methods (Support Vector Machine, Gaussian Naïve Bayes, Decision Trees, Random Forest, XGBoost, K-Nearest Neighbors, Multi-layer Perceptron Neural Networks, CatBoost, Light Gradient Boosting Machine, and Logistic Regression) in finding the default risk as well as the features contributing to it. An extensive comparison is made in three aspects: (i) which ML models with and without its own wrapper feature selection performs the best; (ii) how appropriate data scaling influences the performance and computational costs; (iii) which of the most successful combination (machine learning method, feature selection and scaling) delivers the best validation indicators such as accuracy rate, sensitivity, and specificity ratio. An open-access credit scoring default risk data sets on German and Australian cases are taken into account for which we determine the best method, scaling and features contributing to default risk. We also illustrate the positive contribution of the feature selection method and scaling on the performance indicators, and a ranking system.
Modeling dissolved Fe and H 2 inter-relationships under low pressure natural systems: Insights on long term hydrogen storage
Authors: Pathak Arkajyoti , Bowman Samuel , Agrawal Vikas , Sharma Shikha
Published: September 2023

Subsurface hydrogen storage is necessary to shift towards sustainable and zero-emission energy technologies, but geochemical data on the suitability of different reservoirs for hydrogen storage are scarce. Studies on complex chemical dynamics of aqueous Fe2+ and H2 have partially quantified the degree of loss for hydrogen gas in the subsurface at different operating pressures of hydrogen. However, a consensus regarding their thermodynamic relationships is lacking. In this study, we have investigated the magnitude of variation of hydrogen partial pressure in the subsurface in the presence of various concentrations of dissolved Fe2+ through simulations. Observations imply that for considerably low partial pressures of hydrogen (~ 10 − 5 bars), a feature of many natural brines, decreasing activity of Fe2+ by an order of magnitude can reduce the initial partial pressure of hydrogen by 3–4 orders of magnitude within a few years, due to enhanced reductive dissolution of the oxides. When pH2 of injected hydrogen exceeds 10 − 2 bars, magnetite becomes dominant as a secondary phase after the reduction of primary Fe3+ oxides, leading to almost three orders of magnitude of H2 (gaseous) loss that is almost independent of variation in Fe2+ activity. Both processes are supplemented with a varying degree of Fe2+ increase in the aqueous phase, supporting the release of Fe2+ to the aqueous phase due to Fe3+ oxide dissolution. These results point towards the degree of formation of magnetite as a potential controller of brine chemistry that depends upon nucleation kinetics and a threshold partial pressure for injected H2 under low reservoir temperatures (50–100℃). These results directly apply to understanding the cycling of redox-controlled elements and injected hydrogen in subsurface aqueous systems.
Navier-Stokes bounds and early turbulent scaling for compact trefoils in (2ℓπ)3 domains.
Authors: Kerr Robert
Published: September 2023

A principle largely unknown outside of the applied analysis fluids community is that ν≠0Navier-Stokes solutions in (2π)3 periodic domains are bounded by their ν ≡ 0 Euler solutions as ν → 0 for ν < νs, with the νs critical viscosities coming from analysis in higher-s Sobolev Hs spaces. This result also bounds lower-s norms. Could modest Reynolds number viscous calculations in larger domains be influenced by this result? Numerically, for (2lπ)3 domains, empirical critical viscosities νc(l) have been identified using compact trefoil vortex knots. √νZ(t), Z(t) enstrophy could be disrupted if ν < νc (l). And then restored if l is increased. That type of convergence has now been extended to higher-order vorticity moments with temporal convergence of ν1/4Ωm, m = 9,∞, at tm < tx, scaling that is consistent with the empirical observation that the domain should increase as l ∼ ν-1/4 as the observed vortex sheets grow with decreasing ν. Once formed, enstrophy growth accelerates as those sheets roll-up, leading to convergent dissipation rates with ε = νZ at t ∼ teps ∼ 2tx. Simultaneously, between tx and teps, a Zv ∼ k1/3 enstrophy spectrum develops, analogous to a k-5/3 energy spectrum. To explain these observations, the Sobolev νs critical viscosity analysis in (2π)3 domains is extended to larger (2lπ)3, l > 1, domains. The method squeezes the ∥u)∥s ̇+1 of Navier- Stokes solutions in a large (2lπ)3 domain into a (2π)3 domain, then in (2π)3 applies the resulting ∥u_λ∥.s+1+1 (λ = l) to approximations of the Hs2pi Sobolev mathematics developed in (2π)3 domains. Finally, the resulting νs2pi are rescaled back into the original (2lπ)3 domain. Resulting in decreasing νs ∼ exp( ∫λs+1∥ul(τ)∥.s+1dτ)λ3 as λ = l increases, with the ∥ul(τ)∥.s+1coming from the original domain and the exponential factor dominating over the algebraic λ3 factor. In the discussion, mathematics that might fill gaps between the high-s Sobolev analysis and the numerical analysis is mentioned.
Synergistic Nickel-Molybdenum Carbide-Graphite Nanofiber Composite Catalyst for Enhanced Green Hydrogen Production Through Ethanol Electrooxidation
Authors: Barakat Nasser A. M. , Gomaa Hassan E. , Khalil Khalil , Al-Mubaddel Fahad S , Abdel-Aty Marwa M.
Published: September 2023

Novel nickel-molybdenum carbide-graphite nanofiber composite is introduced as an electrocatalyst to produce green hydrogen from ethanol electrooxidation. The proposed nanofibers have been prepared by calcinating electrospun nanofibers composed of nickel acetate tetrahydrate, molybdenum chloride, and poly (vinyl alcohol). Physicochemical characterizations have indicated that during the sintering process, nickel acetate is entirely reduced to nickel metal, and molybdenum has bonded with carbon to produce molybdenum carbide. At the same time, the used polymer has been pyrolyzed to produce a carbon nanofiber matrix embedding formed inorganic nanoparticles. Electrochemical measurements concluded that both molybdenum content and calcination temperature should be controlled to maximize the electrocatalytic activity of the proposed catalyst. Typically, the oxidation peak current density was 28.5, 28.8, 51.5, 128.3, 25.6, and 3 mA/cm2 for nanofibers prepared from an electrospun solution containing 0, 5, 10, 15, 25, and 35 wt% molybdenum carbide, respectively. Moreover, the optimum calcination temperature was found to be 1000 oC. Kinetic studies have indicated that the order of reaction is close to zero with a reaction temperature-dependent value. Moreover, it was detected that electrooxidation reaction of ethanol over the proposed nanofiber composite follows Arrhenius equation, the determined activation energy is 33 kJ/mol which indicates good catalytic activity of the introduced nanofibers. Through the application of a set of visualization-based tools and the general linear model (GLM), the optimal conditions that generate the highest current density were identified. The computations unveiled that the optimal parameter settings are as follows: Mo content at 15 wt.%, methanol concentration of 1.55 M, and reaction temperature of 59°C.
The Role of Methyl Jasmonate During the Biotic Stress in Matricaria Chamomilla L.
Authors: Dučaiová Zuzana , Petrulova Veronika
Published: September 2023

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) in plant resistance to polyphagous thrips. Eight-weeks old diploid and tetraploid chamomile plants (Matricaria chamomilla) in stage of leaf-rosettes were pre-treated with 0.22 mM MeJA for 72 h and then co-cultivated with thrips for next 96 h. In both cultivars, there was an increase in the content of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide radical, with a maximum in plants after thrips infestation. The pre-treatment with MJ led to a reduction, but the measured values were still higher than those in the control plants. The accumulation of total phenols and flavonoids corresponded with the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL). The highest PAL activity and the highest levels of total phenols were observed in plants infected with thrips. MeJA pre-treatment slightly decreased their values. Within the cultivars we noticed differences in the accumulation of monitored coumarins: (Z)- and (E)-GMCA, herniarin and umbelliferone. In diploids MeJA significantly ameliorated their accumulation caused by thrips. On the other hand, in tetraploids, changes were minimal. The amount of umbelliferone sharply increased in both cultivars which points to its role as a stress metabolite.
AEGAN-Pathifier: A data augmentation method to improve cancer classification for imbalanced gene expression data
Authors: Zhang Qiaosheng , Wei Yalong , Hou Jie , Li Hongpeng , Zhong Zhaoman
Published: September 2023

Background: Cancer classification has consistently been a challenging problem, with the main difficulties being high-dimensional data and the collection of patient samples. Concretely, obtaining patient samples is a costly and resource-intensive process, and imbalances often exist between samples. Moreover, expression data is characterized by high dimensionality, small samples and high noise, which could easily lead to struggles such as dimensionality catastrophe and overfitting. Thus, we incorporate prior knowledge from the pathway and combine AutoEncoder and Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) to solve these difficulties.
Results: In this study, we propose an effective and efficient deep learning method, called AEGAN, for generating synthetic samples of the minority class in imbalanced gene expression data. The proposed data balancing technique has been demonstrated to be highly useful for cancer classification and improving the performance of classifier models. Additionally, we integrate prior knowledge from the pathway and employ the pathifier algorithm to calculate pathway scores for each sample. This data augmentation approach, referred to as AEGAN-Pathifier, not only preserves the biological features of the data but also possesses dimensionality reduction capabilities. Through extensive validation with various classifiers, the experimental results consistently show an improvement in classifier performance.
Conclusion: AEGAN-Pathifier demonstrates superior performance on all three imbalanced datasets: GSE25066, GSE20194, and Liver24. The results obtain with various classifiers strongly indicate the remarkable generalizability of AEGAN-Pathifier, making it easily applicable to other tasks.
Escherichia coli Isolation, Prevalence, and Multi Drug Resistance from a Poultry Farm in Sendafa Town, Central Ethiopia
Authors: Umer Abdi Ahmed , Hambisa Ebisa Mezgebu
Published: September 2023

Background: Escherichia coliis bacteria that exist as commensal in the intestine of animals and humans, but pathogenic strains cause disease in chickens. The growth of antimicrobial resistance in E. coli is one of major concern worldwide.
Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence, and Multi drug resistance profile and determine the potential risk factor of E. coli isolates from chickens and chickens environment in Sendafa town, central Ethiopia
Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out from January to August 2023 in Sendafa town. Purposive sampling techniques were used based on the presence of clinical symptoms suggestive of E. coli in chicken farms. Different types of samples were collected including 207 cloacae swabs, 8 feed, and 8 water from different farms. E. coli isolation and identification were done using bacterial culture, and biochemical, and confirmed using the Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI TOF MS). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) was done using the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. Data were entered in Microsoft Excel and analyzed with descriptive statistics using SPSS version 20.
Result: Out of a total of 223 samples of cloacae swab, feed, and water 71 (31.83 %) were found to be E. coli suspected by biochemical and finally confirmed with Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI TOF MS). All confirmed isolates were subjected to 12 antimicrobial agents to check their susceptibility. From 71 tested E. coliisolates we found resistant patterns of E. coli to 62(87.3%) Amoxicillin, 44(62%) Tetracycline, and 39(54.9%) Streptomycin respectively. Multi-drug resistance was observed in this study for two or more than resistant detected. Some isolate was sensitive to 60(84.5%) Trimethoprim Sulphamethoxazole, 57(80.3%) Norfloxacin, 56(78.9 %) Ceftriaxone, and 53(74.6%) Meropenem respectively. Intermediate antibiotics were observed on 32(45.1 %) Sulfonamides, and 23(32.4%) Gentamicin for E. coli isolate.
Risk factors were analyzed with descriptive statistics. In the study, the difference in E. coli prevalence by age and among sample types was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Between kebeles and farms, there was a statistically significant difference in E. coli prevalence (P <0.05).
Conclusion: In this study, a high incidence of E. coli and antibiotic resistance to commonly used antibiotics including Amoxicillin, Tetracycline, and Streptomycin in poultry were found. This implies that there is the existence of practices that accelerate antimicrobial resistance in the sampled chickens. Therefore, appropriate use of antimicrobial agents, good biosecurity measures, and hygiene practices in chicken farms are important.