bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Population Health Assessment of Screening Mammography on Breast Cancer Mortality in North Carolina
Authors: Burch Ashley E. , Irish William D. , Wong Jan H.
Published: August 2022

Purpose: To identify predictors of screening mammography use and the effect of screening mammography on breast cancer mortality in North Carolina.Methods: This cross-sectional study integrated publicly available data from government and private data repositories to model predictors of screening mammography and breast cancer mortality in North Carolina.Results: In North Carolina, on average, 68.1% of women aged 40 to 74 years underwent a screening mammogram in the previous two years (range: 38.7% – 82.1). The ordinary least-squares (OLS) regression demonstrated counties experiencing persistent poverty have mammography screening rates that are 4.3% less, on average, than counties without persistent poverty (estimate (SE) = -4.283 (2.105), p=0.045). As the percentage of women with a college education increases, the mammography screening rates increase by approximately 0.3% (estimate (SE) = 0.319 (0.078), P < .001) and as the health literacy score increases, the mammography screening rate decreases by 0.3% (estimate (SE) = -0.318 (0.104), p=0.003). These variables explain 7.0% of the variability in mammographic screening rates. The OLS regression analysis demonstrated that age-adjusted breast cancer incidence (Estimate (SE) = 0.074 (0.024), p=0.003) and health literacy score (estimate (SE) = -0.175 (0.083), p=0.039) are significantly related to breast cancer mortality.Conclusions: Demographic, socioeconomic, and environmental variables explain only a small percentage of the variability in the rates of screening mammography and breast cancer mortality in North Carolina. Advances in the available treatments are likely the major contributor to improving breast cancer mortality.
Spatial fuzzy c-means for delineation of potential management zones based on soil physico-chemical properties and cowpea yield
Authors: Júnior João Fernandes da Silva , Silva Thiago Thome da , Sousa Devid Jakson da Silva , Pinheiro Daniel Pereira , Tavares Rose Luiza Moraes
Published: August 2022

Aims Management zone delineation is one of the principles of precision agriculture. The spatial variability of the different environmental factors (soil and plants) is evident in several studies. The associations between soil physico-chemical properties and cowpea yield have been assessed, but scholars have usually reported a large unexplained variance of ranges between kriged maps. This suggests that a deeper exploration into the soil properties of these spatial interactions will help develop our understanding on how to reduce the number of soil property maps to delineate management zones and simplify interpretation. Methods This research proposes to investigate whether factorial kriging analysis can be used as an auxiliary variable in cokriging to estimate soil properties and cowpea, and what is the potential of spatial Fuzzy C-Means associated with factorial kriging analysis to delineate management zones. Results By using factor maps and spatial clustering, two management zones were classified. The kriged maps of soil properties were not efficient to delineate management zones. Conclusions Appropriately the results indicate that the proposed method is a practical tool to delineate management zones and it is more efficient than multiple soil properties maps.
EHTT2022-Tribological Mechanism of Graphene/Ionic Liquid Nanofluid on Grain/Workpiece Grinding Interface under Nanofluid Minimum Quantity Lubrication
Authors: Wang Dexiang , Zhang Yu , Zhao Qiliang , Jiang Jingliang , Liu Guoliang , Li Chang-He
Published: August 2022

Graphene nanosheets and ionic liquids (ILs) both have excellent heat transfer and lubricating properties and both have great potential in minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) grinding, however the grinding performance of graphene/IL nanofluids under nanofluid minimum quantity lubrication (NMQL) is still unclear. This research firstly evaluates the grinding performances of graphene/IL nanofluids under NMQL experimentally. The evaluation shows that graphene/IL nanofluids can further strengthen both the cooling and lubricating performances compared with MQL grinding using ILs only. The specific grinding energy and grinding force ratio can be reduced by over 40 percent at grinding depth of 10 μm. Workpiece machined surface roughness can be decreased by over 10 percent, and grinding temperature can be lowered over 50 ℃ at grinding depth of 30 μm. Aiming at the unclear tribological mechanism of graphene/IL nanofluids, molecular dynamics simulations for abrasive grain/workpiece grinding interface are performed to explore the formation mechanism of physical adsorption film. The simulations show that the grinding interface is in a boundary lubrication state. IL molecules absorb in groove-like fractures on grain wear flat face to form boundary lubrication film, and graphene nanosheets can enter into the grinding interface to further decrease the contact area between abrasive grain and workpiece. The interlayer shear effect and low interlayer shear strength of graphene nanosheets are the principal causes of enhanced lubricating performance on the grinding interface. EDS and XPS analyses are further carried out to explore the formation mechanism of chemical reaction film. The analyses show that IL base fluid happens chemical reactions with workpiece material, producing FeF2, CrF3, and BN. The fresh machined surface of workpiece is oxidized by air, producing NiO, Cr2O3 and Fe2O3. The chemical reaction film is constituted by fluorides, nitrides and oxides together.
Long non-coding RNA H19 regulates matrisome signature and impacts cell behavior on MSC-engineered extracellular matrices
Authors: Moura Sara Reis , Freitas Jaime , Ribeiro-Machado Cláudia , Lopes Jorge , Neves Nuno , Canhão Helena , Rodrigues Ana Maria , Barbosa Mário Adolfo , Almeida Maria Ines
Published: August 2022

BackgroundProteins, protein-encoding transcripts and microRNAs have been investigated as molecular drivers of bone regeneration but few reached clinical relevance, while the vast and promising class of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) remains poorly studied. The lncRNA H19 mediates osteogenic differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells (MSCs) through the control of intracellular pathways. However, the effect of H19 over the extracellular matrix (ECM) components remains largely unknown. This study was designed to decode the H19-mediated ECM regulatory network and to reveal how the decellularized siH19-engineered matrices influence MSC proliferation and fate. This is particularly relevant for diseases in which the ECM regulation and remodelling processes are disrupted, such as in osteoporosis.MethodsMass spectrometry-based quantitative proteomics analysis was used to identify ECM components, after oligonucleotides delivery to osteoporosis-derived hMSCs. qRT-PCR, immunofluorescence and proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis assays were performed. Engineered matrices were decellularized, characterized by atomic force microscopy and repopulated with hMSC and pre-adipocytes. Clinical bone samples were characterized by histomorphometry analysis. ResultsOur study provides an in-depth proteome-wide and matrisome-specific analysis of the ECM proteins controlled by the lncRNA H19. Using bone-marrow isolated MSC from osteoporosis patients, we identified fibrillin-1 (FBN1), vitronectin (VTN) and collagen triple helix repeat containing 1 (CTHRC1), among others, as having different pattern levels following H19 silencing. Decellularized siH19-engineered matrices are less dense and with a decreased collagen content compared with control matrices. Repopulation with naïve MSCs promotes a shift towards the adipogenic lineage in detriment of the osteogenic lineage and inhibits proliferation. In pre-adipocytes, these siH19-matrices enhance lipid droplets formation. Mechanistically, H19 is targeted by miR-29c, which expression is decreased in osteoporotic bone clinical samples. Accordingly, miR-29c impacts MSC proliferation and collagen production, but do not influence ALP staining or mineralization, revealing H19 silencing and miR-29c mimics have complementary but not overlapping functions.ConclusionOur data suggests H19 as a therapeutic target to engineer the bone ECM and control cell behaviour.
The expression of genes on chromosome 20q defines the mucinous characteristic of colorectal cancer
Authors: Seishima Ryo , Ogiri Masayo , Monno Masayoshi , Suzuki Yoshiyuki , Hattori Kaoru , Matsui Shimpei , Shigeta Kohei , Okabayashi Koji , Kitagawa Yuko
Published: August 2022

Colorectal mucinous adenocarcinoma (MAC) is one of the poorest prognostic types of histological diagnoses, and its mechanism of development is not well understood. In this study, we aimed to clarify the molecular characteristics of MAC from the perspective of chromosomal instability. In silico analysis using The Cancer Genome Atlas database revealed that there was a significant difference in copy number alteration of chromosome 20q (Chr20q) between MAC and nonmucinous adenocarcinoma (NMAC). In addition, the expression of genes on Chr20q was negatively associated with the expression of MUC2, which is a key molecule that can be used to distinguish the two histological types. We further identified 475 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between MAC and NMAC, and some of the Chr20q genes in DEGs are considered to be pivotal genes used to define MAC. In vitro analysis showed that simultaneous knockdown of POFUT1 and PLAGL2, both of which are located on Chr20q, attenuated MUC2 expression. Moreover, these genes were highly expressed in NMAC but not in MAC according to the results of immunohistological studies using human samples. In conclusion, the genes on Chr20q are considered to be important for defining MAC.
Cholinergic signaling influences the expression of immune checkpoint inhibitors, PD-L1 and PD-L2, in human colorectal cancer tissues and cell lines
Authors: Kuol Nyanbol , Godlewski Janusz , Kmiec Zbigniew , Vogrin Sara , Fraser Sarah , Apostolopoulos Vasso , Nurgali Kulmira
Published: August 2022

Background
Cancer cells express immunosuppressive molecules, such as programmed death ligands (PD-L)1 and PD-L2, enabling evasion from the host's immune system. Cancer cells synthesize and secrete acetylcholine (ACh), acting as an autocrine or paracrine hormone to promote their proliferation, differentiation, and migration.
Methods
We correlated the expression of PD-L1, PD-L2, cholinergic muscarinic receptor 3 (M3R), alpha 7 nicotinic receptor (α7nAChR), and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues with the stage of disease, gender, age, risk, and patient survival. The effects of a muscarinic receptor blocker, atropine, and a selective M3R blocker, 4-DAMP, on the expression of immunosuppressive and cholinergic markers were evaluated in human CRC (LIM-2405, HT-29) and intestinal epithelial (T4056) cells.
Results
Increased expression of PD-L1, M3R, and ChAT at stages III-IV was associated with a high risk of CRC and poor survival outcomes independent of patients' gender and age. α7nAChR and PD-L2 were not changed at any CRC stages. Atropine and 4-DAMP suppressed proliferation and migration of human CRC and T4056 cells, induced apoptosis, and decreased PD-L1, PD-L2, and M3R expression in CRC cells via inhibition of EGFR and phosphorylation of ERK and STAT3.
Conclusions
The expression of immunosuppressive and cholinergic markers may increase the risk of recurrence of CRC. These markers might be used in determining prognosis and treatment regimens for CRC patients. Blocking cholinergic signaling may be a potential therapeutic for CRC through anti-proliferation and anti-migration via inhibition of EGFR and phosphorylation of ERK and STAT3. These effects allow the immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer cells.
Design for welding: an application in top class cars chassis
Authors: Renzi Cristina , Leali Francesco
Published: August 2022

High quality standards and components downsizing are two main quests of the engineering designers in the nowadays automotive industry. To this aim, lightweight materials as aluminum are used. Moreover, most parts of the automotive chassis made of aluminum are assembled by means of welding techniques. Lightweight materials, such as aluminum, are more and more adopted in chassis design even if the assembly process represents a challenge from a technological point of view, especially due to the distortions caused by the welding process. In case of thin aluminum structures, non-convenient distortions occur due to a combination of effects of fixturing and cooling (after welding) process. The reduction of distortions or almost their prediction is still a very challenging issue, so that no conclusive technique has been found to exclusively fix the problem yet. In this paper, a “design for welding” approach is proposed as an integrated product design and process simulation method, with the aim of predicting the final distortion of an aluminum welded automotive chassis. Thermal-Elastic-Plastic (TEP) finite element analyses (FEA) simulations are capable to provide acceptable results, but require high computational efforts, especially in case of complex geometries as car chassis. To overcome this problem, in this paper, the local-global FEA approach has been adopted with satisfactory results. A top-class car automotive aluminum chassis has been chosen as a case study.
Species-level drivers of avian centrality within seed-dispersal networks across different levels of organization
Authors: Moulatlet Gabriel , Dáttilo Wesley , Villalobos Fabricio
Published: August 2022

Bird-plant seed-dispersal networks are structural components of ecosystems and have been used to assess species’ functional roles. The role that bird species play in seed-dispersal networks (from less connected [peripheral] to more connected [central]), determine the interaction patterns and their ecosystem services. These roles may be determined by drivers related to morphological and functional traits, evolutionary properties, geography, and environmental conditions acting at different spatial and temporal scales. However, it is still unknown if such drivers are equally important in determining species centrality at different network levels, from individual local networks to the global meta-network representing interactions across all local networks. Here, using a dataset of 314 local networks covering five continents and eleven biogeographic regions, we show that drivers related to geography are more important in explaining species centrality in the meta-network, but these drivers were not as important in local networks. At the global meta-network level, we found that species’ range size was the most important driver with more central species having larger range sizes, which would facilitate the interaction with a higher number of plant species and thus the maintenance of seed-dispersal interaction patterns at the global scale. Morphological traits such as beak width, body mass, and wing length had secondary explanatory power. At the local network level, none of the tested drivers of centrality had significant effects, perhaps because local factors related to resource availability are more important at this scale. Taken together, our results show that the drivers determining species centrality are scale dependent, suggesting that prediction and protection of species functional roles in seed-dispersal interactions requires a combined local and global approach.
A BLADE-ON-PETIOLE ortholog regulates floral proximodistal patterning in Torenia fournieri
Authors: SU Shihao , Lei Yawen , Zhou Xuan , Suzuki Takamasa , Xiao Wei , Higashiyama Tetsuya
Published: August 2022

The three-dimensional shape of a flower is integrated by morphogenesis along different independent floral axes. Differentiation along the floral proximodistal axis is tightly linked to specification of pollinators; however, it is still obscure how a flower patterns its proximodistal axis. The corolla of a Torenia fournieri flower exhibits strong differentiation along the proximodistal axis, including a distal petal lobe region, an intermediate corolla tube, and a proximal corolla neck region that is control by an ALOG (Arabidopsis LSH1 and Oryza G1) family homolog, TfALOG3. In this study, we report a floral specific BOP (BLADE-ON-PETIOLE) gene, TfBOP2, which is predominantly expressed in the proximal region of corolla. CRISPR knockout mutants of TfBOP2 have shorter proximal corolla tube and longer distal lobe region, with ectopic growth of conical cells in the fusion boundaries of corolla tube, consistent with its expression pattern as a proximal regulator. Mutants of BOP homologs in Arabidopsis thaliana also shows developmental defects in petal proximal region, favoring a conserved role of BOPs among different species. Genetic analysis demonstrates interaction between TfBOP2 and TfALOG3 in the control of corolla proximodistal patterning, since double mutants have shortest proximal corolla tube, while exhibiting normal boundary fusion. We further find that TfALOG3 physically interacts with TfBOP2, and can recruit TfBOP2 to the nucleus region, indicating their function possibly as a dimer. Our study unveils a plant universal BOP-ALOG complex being recruited to regulate flower proximodistal patterning of T. fournieri.
Transcriptional alteration in NF-κB-associated long noncoding RNAs in the gastric tissue of the Helicobacter pylori infected and non-infected patients with chronic gastritis
Authors: Ghanbarian Marzieh , Bakhtiari Ronak , Mirbagheri Seyedeh Zohre , Rezaei Fatemeh , Foroushani Abbas Rahimi , Alebouyeh Masoud
Published: August 2022

Background
Helicobacter pylori could colonize the gastric mucosa and cause gastritis, gastric ulcer and gastric cancer. Numerous virulence factors have been identified in this bacterium that play important roles in the promotion of gastric disorders. Although the interaction of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) with transcription, processing, and translation of genes associated with different diseases are described, their interaction with the inflammatory genes and H. pylori infection in the gastric tissue is not well known. In this study, H. pylori infection and its effect on the transcription of common lncRNAs that regulate NF-κB expression were analyzed relative to the non-infected patients.
Materials and Methods
Two groups of H. pylori-infected and non-infected patients with chronic gastritis were included in the study after general histopathological and microbiological analysis. Genotyping of the H. pylori strains was done by PCR and relative changes in the expression of NF-κB and regulatory lncRNAs, lincRNA-p21, MALAT1, NKILA, were measured by relative quantitative real time-PCR.
Results
Significant increase in the NF-κB gene expression was shown, while the expression level of MALAT1, lincRNA-p21 and NKILA genes decreased in the infected patients compared with the non-infected patients. Our results showed that the hypervirulent strain with oipA“on”/HP-NAP+/iceA1+/iceA2+/vacA s1m1/s1m2+/cagA+ genotype can promote a higher level of NF-κB transcription in the inflamed tissue.
Conclusion
H. pylori infection could promote down-regulation of lincRNA-p21, MALAT1 and NKILA in the infected gastric tissue that is correlated with upregulation of NF-κB. More detailed studies are needed to show link between the virulence genes and their impact on the deregulation of lncRNAs in the gastric tissue.
Cervical precancerous and cancerous lesions screening using Pap smear test at Provincial Referral Hospital of Bukavu, Eastern DR Congo: profile and recommendations to stakeholders
Authors: Mayeri Daniel Garhalangwanamuntu , Pierre Mulumeoderhwa Kahasha , Kibalama Isaac Barhishindi , Mongane Jules , Medina Louguè , Birindwa Etienne Kajibwami , Serge Chentwali Mwimangire , Claude Kalegamire Kikuru , Jeanne Maningo Materanya , Yvette Kujirakwinja Bisimwa , Benjamin Kasago , Léon-Emmanuel Mubenga Mukengeshai
Published: August 2022

Introduction: Cervical cancer is a health concern worldwide. The South Kivu Province in the Eastern DR Congo is facing many cases of this disease but poorly screened and reported. The objective of this was to determine the prevalence of cell abnormalities at cervical cytology in a tertiary teaching Hospital in Bukavu and their association with common risk factors of cervical cancer$Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on 142 women attending the Provincial Referral Hospital of Bukavu (HPGRB) from February to December 2021. Quantitative variables were described by their median following their asymmetric distributions and the qualitative variables in absolute and relative frequencies. Then the Chi-square test was used for the comparison of proportion.ResultsForty-five per cent of the participants had between three and five children. Twenty-two (15.5%) of the 142 patients reported to have two or more sexual partners and 17.5% reported the use of hormonal contraception. The prevalence of cell abnormalities at cervical cytology was 17 % of which Low- Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (LSIL) was the most representative (12.9%).There was no statistically significant association between the common cervical risk factors and the occurrence of cell abnormalities.ConclusionCervical Pre (cancerous lesions are frequent in South Kivu province. The Pap smear test remains an early and affordable screening method and constitutes a secondary prevention strategy in women of 18 years and older in a low-income country such as DR Congo where vaccination against HPV is still hypothetic
Wild deer contribute to the sylvatic cycle of Neospora caninum in Australia
Authors: Huaman Jose L. , Pacioni Carlo , Doyle Mark , Forsyth David M. , Helbig Karla J. , Carvalho Teresa G.
Published: August 2022

Background
Infections with the coccidian parasite Neospora caninum affect domestic and wild animals worldwide. In Australia, N. caninum infections cause considerable losses to the cattle industry, but livestock infection source is contentious. Similarly, the role of wild animals, such as wild deer and kangaroos, in maintaining the parasite cycle is also unclear. It is possible that native or introduced herbivorous species could be reservoir hosts of N. caninum in Australia, but to date, this has not been investigated.
Results
We report here the first large-scale screening of the immune status of wild deer in Australia, spanning three species. In so doing, we also assessed two commercial cELISA tests validated for detecting N. caninum in cattle for their ability to detect N. caninum antibodies in serum samples of wild deer. N. caninum antibodies were detected in 3.7% of the wild deer serum samples collected in south-eastern Australia (n = 189), including 97 fallow deer, 14 red deer, and 78 sambar deer.
Conclusions
Overall, our study provides the first evidence of N. caninum antibody profiles in wild deer, quantifying deer's potential role in the sylvatic cycle of N. caninum, and epidemiological baseline information relevant for managing N. caninum infections in Australia.
Characterization of a polyclonal antibody that is highly selective for the D-isoAsp-25 variant of mammalian histone H2b
Authors: Aswad Dana W. , O'Leary Kevin S. , Williams Katherine
Published: August 2022

Approximately 12% of histone H2b molecules in mammalian brain contain a modification wherein Asp-25 is present as the D-enantiomer, and is mostly linked to Gly-26 via the side-chain carboxyl. Here we (1) demonstrate the high specificity of a polyclonal antibody to this modification, and (2) use this Ab to demonstrate that this modification is enriched in brain relative to liver, thymus, and HeLa cells.
Role of Gastric Aspirate Polymorphs in Diagnosis of Early Onset Neonatal Sepsis
Authors: Chaudhary¹ Dinesh , Basnet² Sahisnuta , Gauchan Eva , Gupta Binod Kumar , Chaudhary Nagendra , kafle Raju , Singh Shivani
Published: August 2022

Introduction
: Neonatal sepsis is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the newborn. Early diagnosis of neonatal septicemia is the cornerstone for the successful management and favorable outcome. It is a challenge because of non-specific symptoms and signs of neonatal sepsis. Gastric aspirate cytology has been used for the diagnosis of neonatal infection. The presence of more than five polymorphs per high power field co-relate with neonatal infection.
Objective
To study correlation between positive gastric aspirate and development of early onset neonatal sepsis.
Methods
This is a Prospective Hospital based cross sectional Study conducted at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Department of Pediatrics, Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal from November 2017 to May 2019. A total of 96 cases who were admitted in NICU suspected with EONS were included in the study. Under all aseptic conditions, nasogastric tube was inserted and gastric fluid was collected and sent to the pathology department. All slides were stained with Leishman’s stain and then examined for the presence of neutrophils under light microscope.
Results
Out of 96 neonates, 24 were blood culture positive and 72 were culture negative. Gastric aspirate examination was positive in 61 patients and negative in 35 patients. Gastric aspirate is more positive in term and normal birth weight babies. Among 61 gastric aspirate positive cases 21 are blood culture positive and 40 are culture negative (p = 0.005). Among other acute phase reactant, gastric aspirate has highest sensitivity (87.5%).
Conclusions
The present study concludes that gastric aspirate polymorphs are good screening tool in the early detection of early neonatal sepsis in a resource limited settings.
Global functional spectrum of soil bacterial communities
Authors: Piton Gabin , Allison Steven , Bahram Mohammad , Hildebrand Falk , Martiny Jennifer , Treseder Kathleen K. , Martiny Adam
Published: August 2022

Despite the tremendous importance of soil bacterial communities in biogeochemical cycles, the main functional variations developed by soil bacteria communities in-situ (as opposed to culture conditions) across the globe, and their environmental drivers has yet to be elucidated. Here we use shotgun metagenomes from all terrestrial biomes to characterize a genomic trait based soil bacteria’s functional spectrum, simplifying in two dimensions 53% of the global variation of their functional potential. Using machine learning, we show that soil pH, P content and climate (Precipitation patterns and temperature) predict 78% and 45% of the first and second dimension of the spectrum, respectively. The first dimension captures a continuum from small to large genomes associated with an increase of metabolism and resource acquisition complexity and versatility. Decrease in water stress and increased acidity drives this shift from small- to large-genome. The second dimension shows a continuum from microbial necromass and nutrient usage specialists to reactive degraders of simple carbons with more CAZy, rRNA and sigma factor genes. This shift to reactive bacteria was observed when climate restrains the growing window (low precipitation with high seasonality and extreme temperature) and pH becomes acidic. Overall, our study showed that metabolism versatility, reactivity and stoichiometry dominate soil bacteria functional spectrum across the globe.
Metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for efficient production of L-5-hydroxytryptophan from sugars
Authors: Zhang Zhen , Yu Zichen , Wang Jinduo , Yu Yifa , Li Lanxiao , Sun Pengjie , Fan Xiaoguang , Xu Qingyang
Published: August 2022

Background
5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), the direct biosynthetic precursor of the neurotransmitter 5-hydroxytryptamine, has been shown to have unique efficacy in the treatment of a variety of disorders, including depression, insomnia, and chronic headaches, and is one of the most commercially valuable amino acid derivatives. However, microbial fermentation for 5-HTP production continues to face many challenges, including low titer/yield and the presence of the intermediate L-tryptophan (L-Trp), owing to the complexity and low activity of heterologous expression in prokaryotes. Therefore, there is a need to construct an efficient microbial cell factory for 5-HTP production.
Results
We describe the systematic modular engineering of wild-type Escherichia coli for the efficient fermentation of 5-HTP from sugars. First, a xylose-induced T7 RNA polymerase-PT7 promoter system was constructed to ensure the efficient expression of each key heterologous pathway in E. coli. Next, a new tryptophan hydroxylase mutant was used to construct an efficient tryptophan hydroxylation module, and the cofactor tetrahydrobiopterin synthesis and regeneration pathway was expressed in combination. The L-Trp synthesis module was constructed by modifying the key metabolic nodes of tryptophan biosynthesis, and the de novo synthesis of 5-HTP was achieved. Finally, the NAD(P)H regeneration module was constructed by the moderate expression of the heterologous GDHesi pathway, which successfully reduced the surplus of the intermediate L-Trp. The final engineered strain HTP11 was able to produce 8.58 g/L 5-HTP in a 5-L bioreactor with a yield of 0.095 g/g glucose and a maximum real-time productivity of 0.48 g/L/h, the highest values reported by microbial fermentation.
Conclusions
In this study, we demonstrate the successful design of a cell factory for high-level 5-HTP production, combined with simple processes that have potential for use in industrial applications in the future. Thus, this study provides a reference for the production of high-value amino acid derivatives using a systematic modular engineering strategy and a basis for an efficient engineered strain development of 5-HTP high-value derivatives.
Sex difference in the association of the triglyceride glucose index with obstructive coronary artery disease
Authors: Lu Ya-Wen , Tsai Chuan-Tsai Tsai , Chou Ruey-Hsing , Tsai Yi-Lin , Kuo Chin-Sung , Huang Po-Hsun , Lin Shing-Jong
Published: August 2022

Background
Insulin resistance is associated with cardiovascular disease in nondiabetic patients. The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, incorporating serum glucose and insulin concentrations, is a surrogate insulin resistance marker. We investigated its association with obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) and sex differences therein.
Methods
Patients with stable angina pectoris requiring invasive coronary angiography between January 2010 and December 2018 were enrolled. They were divided into two groups according to TyG indices. Two interventional cardiologists diagnosed obstructive CAD by angiography review. Demographic characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared between groups.
Results
Relative to lower indices, patients with higher (≥ 8.60) TyG indices had higher BMIs and more prevalent hypertension, diabetes, and elevated lipid profiles [total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, fasting plasma glucose]. Higher TyG indices increased women’s obstructive CAD risk after adjustment for age; smoking; BMI; hypertension; congestive heart failure; stroke; diabetes; LDL; estimated glomerular filtration rate; and statin, antiplatelet agent, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker use (adjusted odds ratio 2.15, 95% confidence interval 1.08–4.26, p = 0.02). No sex difference was found for diabetic patients.
Conclusion
Higher TyG indices significantly increased the obstructive CAD risk, overall and for non-diabetic women. Larger-scale studies are needed to confirm our findings.
Associated factors with mortality in people living with HIV in Ziguinchor, Southern-region, Senegal: about 804 cases
Authors: Diallo Kalilou , Wembulua Bruce Shinga , Sarr Généviève D , Diallo Khadidiatou , Kane Yaya , Diatta Ansoumana , Manga Noel Magloire
Published: August 2022

Background: The effectiveness and increasingly easy access to highly active antiretroviral treatment (ART) have contributed to a considerable drop in HIV-related mortality. However, the mortality of adults in people living with HIV (PLHIV) remains overall higher than in the population in general. The objective of this study was to determine the associated factors with the occurrence of death in (PLHIV) followed in Ziguinchor , in order to improve the care of these patients in our context.Patients and method: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study on cohorts of PLHIV followed in the health districts of Ziguinchor during 5 years. All PLHIV, aged 15 and beyond, regularly followed on antiretroviral treatment during the study period in those health districts were included.Results: We included 804 patients, women represented 597 (74.25%), i.e. a sex ratio (F/M) of 2.88. The average age was 45.61 ± 13.01 years with extremes from 15 to 96 years. The 46-60 age group was the most represented, 297 (36.94%). 286 patients (35.58%) were diagnosed at stages 3 and 4 of WHO. 82.34% were infected with HIV1. HIV2 was found in 122 (15.17%) patients and the dual profile in 20 cases (2.49%). The average CD4 count was 327±295/mm3 with extremes from 1 to 2156/mm3. Two hundred and thirteen patients (40.73%) had a CD4 count below 200/mm3 and 117 patients (22.37%) had a CD4 count above 500/mm3. Antiretroviral treatment was initiated in 791 patients (98.38%). The antiretroviral regimen combined 2 NRTIs (nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor) with 1 NNTI (non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor) in 82.71% of cases. The average length of follow-up was 3.22±1.33 years (range 1 to 6 years). In multivariate analysis, the occurrence of death was associated with age greater than 65 years (p = 0.027), treatment duration < 12 months (p 0.005), delay in ARV treatment (CD4 at baseline less than 500 cells/mm3 (p=0.001) and high viral load greater than 1000 copies/mL (p=0.000) at baseline).Conclusion: Strengthening screening, early initiation of ART, strengthening the therapeutic arsenal of antiretrovirals, are the main factors to be taken into consideration in order to reduce mortality in HIV-infected patients.
Enhanced delivery of low-dose of aducanumab via FUS in 5xFAD mice, an AD model
Authors: Kong Chanho , Yang Eun-Jeong , Shin Jaewoo , Park Junwon , Kim Si-Hyun , Chang Won Seok , Lee Changhan , Kim Hyunju , Kim Hye-Sun , Chang Jin Woo
Published: August 2022

BackgroundAducanumab (Adu), which is a human IgG1 monoclonal antibody that targets oligomer and fibril forms of beta-amyloid (Aβ), has been reported to reduce amyloid pathology and improve impaired cognition after the administration of a high dose (10 mg/kg) of the drug in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) clinical trials. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of a lower dose of Adu (3mg/kg) with enhanced delivery via focused ultrasound (FUS) in an AD mouse model.MethodsThe FUS with microbubbles opened the blood-brain barrier of the hippocampus for the delivery of Aducanumab. Combined therapy of FUS and Aducanumab was performed three times in total and each treatment was performed biweekly. Y-maze test, Brdu labeling, immunohistochemical experimental methods were employed in this study. In addition, RNA sequencing and ingenuity pathway analysis were employed to investigate gene expression profiles in the hippocampi of experimental animals.ResultsThe combined treatment with FUS markedly increased the delivery of Adu into the brain by approximately 8.1 times in the brains. The combined treatment significantly restored cognitive impairment and decreased the level of amyloid plaques in the hippocampi of 5xFAD mice compared with Adu or FUS alone. The combined treatment with FUS and Adu increased reactive microglia and astrocytes associated with amyloid plaques in the hippocampi of 5xFAD mice. Furthermore, RNA sequencing identified 4 enriched canonical pathways such as phagosome formation, neuroinflammation signaling, CREB signaling and reelin signaling was altered in the hippocami of 5xFAD given the combined treatment. ConclusionIn conclusion, the enhanced delivery of a low dose of Aducanumab via FUS decreased amyloid deposits and restored cognitive function. This study provides better insight into establishing a solid therapeutic strategy for the treatment of AD as well as other neurodegenerative diseases.
Holocene Records of Large Palaeoearthquake events from the Brahmaputra valley in the proximity of the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis and Environmental Impacts
Authors: Bhadran Arun , Duarah B.P. , Girishbai Drishya , Raza Mohammed Atif , Mero Avi , Lahon Sandeep , A.L. Achu , Gopinath Girish
Published: August 2022

The Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis (EHS) and associated tectonic plate boundaries have caused two great earthquakes within hundred years and more than fifteen strong earthquakes (from eighteen centuries) in the foredeep Brahmaputra Basin. These earthquakes are generally considered blind, owing to the deficiency of surface rupture. Further, the lack of instrumental and historical archives elicits palaeo-seismological proxies for future seismic hazard assessment. The present study area is confined to the rapidly growing Dibrugarh City, lies on left bank of Brahmaputra and bounded by EHS in northeast, Main Frontal Thrust (MFT) in North, Naga Thrust (NT) in Southeast and Mishmi Thrust (MT) in east. This tectonically active area witnessed dreadful damages during the 1950 great Assam earthquake (Mw = 8.4), the largest continental ever recorded event. In this study, palaeoseismological evidence such as sand dyke and sand blow from different levels of the river terraces in and around Dibrugarh City has been dated using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) methodology to understand the ages of the causative event. The optical dates from the palaeoliquefacton features indicate multiple episodic events ca. 888 ± 63 yrs, ca. 934 ± 63 yrs & ca. 989 ± 83 yrs. On the other hand, an age of ca. 11.3 ± 0.7 ka, early Holocene has been obtained from a neotectonic scarp indicates the crustal shortening time during MFT orogeny. Further, the empirical back-calculation of the complex geometry of the palaeoliquefaction feature facilitated in determining the causative earthquake magnitude and PGA, which is first of its kind from northeast of India. Back-calculation indicates, the magnitude of the earthquake might be range from 6.2-7.4Mw with PGA ~ 0.5-0.6g. The overlapping of palaeointensity lines /isoseismic lines from the empirical calculation, ESI and 1950 earthquake indicate the effect of multiple episodes of earthquake and vulnerability in Eastern Himalayan foothill areas. This study is of immense importance considering the seismic hazard potential in the eastern Himalaya and its surroundings and inadequate instrumentally recorded earthquake database.
The prevalence and social determinants of Intimate partner violence and its association with children under 5 morbidity and mortality in Afghanistan; An implication for global advocacy and women’s rights
Authors: Dadras Omid , Dadras Mohammad Yasin , Nakayama Takeo
Published: August 2022

Background
Limited knowledge exists concerning the prevalence and drivers of IPV against Afghan women and its association with child morbidity and mortality; thus, further studies are warranted.
Methods
A cross-sectional study, using the data from Afghanistan Demographic and Health Survey (ADHS) conducted in 2015. To estimate the prevalence and associated sociodemographic factors, the analysis was restricted to the women aged 15–49 years who were selected for the IPV module in ADHS 2015 (n = 24070). To estimate the morbidity and mortality of children and its association with IPV, the children born in the past 5 years to married women aged 15–49 years who were selected for the IPV module were included (n = 22927). The significant level was set at 0.05.
Results
More than half of the Afghan women aged 15–49 years experienced IPV in the past year. Illiteracy (OR = 1.69; 95%CI: 1.19–2.39), living in rural areas (OR = 1.47; 95%CI: 1.19–1.82) being from the Pashtun, Tajik, Uzbak, and Pashai ethnic backgrounds were associated with a higher risk of IPV exposure. In general, the likelihood of child mortality within the first five years was higher among children born to mothers exposed to IPV, particularly physical and sexual even after adjustment for sociodemographic inequalities, the number of antenatal care, and marriage age. In addition, the odds of diarrhea, acute respiratory infection, and fever in the past two weeks were significantly higher among the children of victimized mothers in both adjusted and unadjusted models. Moreover, low birth weight and small birth size were more likely to be observed among the children of a mother who either experienced sexual or physical violence.
Conclusion
The findings emphasized the elevated risk of morbidity and mortality among children under 5 born by mothers aged 15–49 years who were exposed to IPV in Afghanistan. A high rate of spousal violence was also observed among Afghan women driven mainly by illiteracy, particularly in rural areas. This calls for immediate action, formulating interventions and protective measures to reduce IPV against Afghan women by engaging all stakeholders. First and foremost could be incorporating IPV screening, as an important predictor of child morbidity and mortality, into maternity and child care programs in Afghanistan.
Successive variational mode decomposition and blind source separation based on salp swarm optimization for bearing fault diagnosis
Authors: tawfik thelaidjia , Thelaidjia Tawfik , Chetih Nabil , Moussaoui Abdelkrim , Chenikher Salah
Published: August 2022

In this paper we are interested in developing a new approach that combines successive variational mode decomposition and blind source separation based on salp swarm optimization for bearing fault diagnosis. Firstly, vibration signals are pre-processed using successive variational mode decomposition to increase the signal-to-noise ratio. Then, the dynamic time warping algorithm is adopted to select the most effective modes which will be considered as mixture signals. In the second step we apply salp swarm algorithm (SSA) for estimating the de-mixing matrix to extract independent components from mixture signals. However, SSA suffers from the problem of population diversity. Consequently, it offers somewhat different independent sources at every execution of the program. To overcome this shortcoming, the SSA based source estimation will be executed several times with different ranges of initial positions. Then, a fuzzy C-mean algorithm is introduced to select the reliable independent components. The suggested method is tested based on two experiments and compared with other blind source algorithms based on Bat and particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithms. The obtained results demonstrate the effectiveness of the suggested method in recovering reliable independent components and extracting fault frequency of bearings.
Prognostic nomogram for acute pancreatitis after percutaneous biliary stent insertion in patients with malignant obstruction
Authors: Xu Chen , Gu Yiming , Zhou Weizhong , Liu Sheng , Shi Haibin
Published: August 2022

Objective: This study aimed to develop and validate a nomogram to predict the risk of pancreatitis after percutaneous transhepatic biliary stenting (PTBS) in patients with malignant biliary obstruction (MBO).Materials and methods: We enrolled 314 patients who underwent PTBS for MBO from March 2016 to July 2021 in this retrospective study. We used univariate analysis to identify potential risk factors, while a multivariate logistic regression model was employed to establish a nomogram for predicting the risk of pancreatitis. The discrimination and calibration of the nomogram were evaluated by estimating the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) and by bootstrap resampling and visual inspection of the calibration curve. The clinical utility of the nomogram was assessed using decision curve analysis (DCA).Results: After the procedure, 41 (13.1%) patients developed pancreatitis. Based on multivariate logistic regression analysis, young age (OR = 2.57, 95% CI 1.16 to 5.69), stent insertion across the papilla (OR = 6.47, 95% CI 2.66 to 15.70), and visualization of the pancreatic duct (OR = 15.40, 95% CI 6.07 to 39.03) were associated with an elevated risk of pancreatitis. Importantly, the performance of the nomogram was satisfactory, with an identical AUC (0.807, 95% CI 0.730 to 0.883) and high-level agreement between predicted and observed probabilities as suggested in calibration curves. The DCA curve subsequently confirmed the clinical utility.Conclusion: A predictive nomogram for pancreatitis after PTBS in patients with MBO was successfully established in the present study.
NCAPG promotes proliferation of epithelial ovarian cancer by activating the NF-κB and AKT/mTOR pathways
Authors: Wang Sixue , Li Zeying , Yi Mingyu , Jiang Li , Zhang Tingting , Fang Xiaoling , Wang Xi
Published: August 2022

Objective
Dysregulation of nonstructural maintenance of chromosome condensin I complex subunit G (NCAPG) in ovarian cancer might be associated with tumor progression, while the mechanistic roles of NCAPG in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) are still unclear. In this research, we aimed to elucidate the potential role and molecular basis of NCAPG in EOC.
Methods
We identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between EOC and normal tissues based on five Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets (GSE18520, GSE54388, GSE9891, GSE63885 and GSE40595) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. A protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was established to evaluate the relationship between the DEGs and to screen hub genes. The expression levels of the hub genes were further validated through the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) databases. Additionally, the prognostic values of the hub genes were evaluated by the Kaplan‒Meier plotter. Furthermore, the expression of NCAPG, the most remarkable hub gene in EOC, was examined by qRT‒PCR, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and western blotting. A2780 and SKOV3 cell lines were stably transfected with lentivirus to build knockdown and overexpression cell lines. CCK8, clone formation, transwell, and flow cytometry assays were used to evaluate the migratory and proliferation potential of EOC cells. Transcriptome profiling analysis was used to reveal the mechanism by which NCAPG regulated the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of EOC. Finally, the mechanistic roles of NCAPG were examined through in vitro and in vivo experiments.
Results
Our findings demonstrated that NCAPG expression was enhanced in EOC tissues compared to normal ovarian tissues and was associated with poor prognosis. NCAPG could facilitate the proliferation, invasion, and migration of EOC cells through the EMT mechanism. Mechanistically, NCAPG could activate the NF-κB and AKT/mTOR pathways to regulate the EMT process of EOC.
Conclusion
Overall, our investigation revealed NCAPG as an important candidate oncogene in EOC. Targeting NCAPG could be a novel treatment with the potential to act as an EOC biomarker.