bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Single-cell transcriptome in silico analysis reveals conserved regulatory programs in macrophages/monocytes of abdominal aortic aneurysm from multiple mouse models and human
Authors: Wu Shiyong , Liu Shibiao , Wang Baoheng , Li Meng , Cheng Chao , Zhang Hairong , Chen Ningheng , Guo Xueli
Published: January 2023

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening disease and there is currently a lack of effective treatment to prevent it rupturing. ScRNA-seq studies of AAA are still lacking. In the study, we analyzed the published AAA scRNA-seq datasets from the mouse elastase-induced model, CaCl2 treatment model, Ang II-induced model and human by using bioinformatic approaches and in silico analysis. A total of 26 cell clusters were obtained and 11 cell types were identified from multiple mouse AAA models. Also, the proportion of Mφ/Mo increased in the AAA group and Mφ/Mo was divided into seven subtypes. There were significant differences in transcriptional regulation patterns of Mφ/Mo in different AAA models. The enrichment pathways of upregulated or downregulated genes from Mφ/Mo in the three mouse datasets were different. The actived regulons of Mφ/Mo had strong specificity and the repressed regulons showed high consistency. The co-upregulated genes as well as actived regulons and co-downregulated genes as well as repressed regulons were closely correlated and formed regulatory networks. Mφ/Mo from human AAA dataset was divided into five subtypes. The proportion of three macrophage subpopulations increased but the proportion of two monocyte subpopulations decreased. In the AAA group, the upregulated or downregulated genes of Mφ/Mo were enriched in different pathways. After further analyzing the genes in Mφ/Mo of both mouse and human scRNA-seq datasets, two genes were upregulated in the four datasets, IL-1B and THBS1. In conclusion, in silico analysis of scRNA-seq revealed that Mφ/Mo and their regulatory related genes as well as interaction networks played an important role in the pathogenesis of AAA.
The prognostic value of admission D-dimer level in patients with cardiogenic shock after acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Jiang Yi , Zhu Yuansong , Xiang Zhenxian , Sasmita Bryan Richard , Wang Yaxin , Ming Gong , Chen Siyu , Luo Suxin , Huang Bi
Published: January 2023

Background

Shock is associated with the activation of the coagulation and fibrinolytic system, and D-dimer is the degradation product of cross-linked fibrin. However, the prognostic value of D-dimer in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains unclear.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the data of consecutive patients with CS complicating AMI. The primary endpoint was 30-day mortality and the secondary endpoint was the major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) including 30-day all-cause mortality, ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation, atrioventricular block, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, and non-fatal stroke. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analyses were performed to assess the association between admission D-dimer and outcomes. A multivariable Cox regression model was performed to identify independent risk factors. The risk predictive potency with D-dimer added to the traditional risk scores was evaluated by C-statistics and the net reclassification index.

Results

Among 218 patients with CS complicating AMI, those who died during the 30-day follow-up presented with worse baseline characteristics and laboratory test results, including a higher level of D-dimer. According to the X-tile program result, the continuous plasma D-dimer level was divided into three gradients. The 30-day all-cause mortality in patients with low, medium, and high levels of D-dimer were 22.4, 53.3, and 86.2%, respectively (p < 0.001 for all). The 30-day incidence of MACEs was 46.3, 77.0, and 89.7%, respectively (p < 0.001). In the multivariable Cox regression model, the trilogy of D-dimer level was an independent risk predictor for 30-day mortality (median D-dimer cohort: HR 1.768, 95% CI 0.982–3.183, p = 0.057; high D-dimer cohort: HR 2.602, 95% CI 1.310–5.168, p = 0.006), a similar result was observed in secondary endpoint events (median D-dimer cohort: HR 2.012, 95% CI 1.329–3.044, p = 0.001; high D-dimer cohort: HR 2.543, 95% CI 1.452–4.453, p = 0.001). The RCS analyses suggested non-linear associations of D-dimer with 30-day mortality. The enrollment of D-dimer improved risk discrimination for all-cause death when combined with the traditional CardShock score (C-index: 0.741 vs. 0.756, pdifference = 0.004) and the IABP-SHOCK II score (C-index: 0.732 vs. 0.754, pdifference = 0.006), and the GRACE score (C-index: 0.679 vs. 0.715, pdifference < 0.001). Similar results were acquired after logarithmic transformed D-dimer was included in the risk score. The improvements in reclassification which were calculated as additional net reclassification index were 7.5, 8.6, and 12.8%, respectively.

Conclusion

Admission D-dimer level was independently associated with the short-term outcome in patients with CS complicating AMI and addition of D-dimer brought incremental risk prediction value to traditional risk prediction scores.
Study on factors affecting the petro physical properties of sandstone and conglomerate reservoirs of Baikouquan Formation, Junggar Basin
Authors: Kuang Hao , Liu Hao , Tan Xianfeng , Yu Jingwei , Song Haiqiang , Zhou Runchi , Wang Junmin , Liu Fei
Published: January 2023

In recent years, oil and gas exploration of the Baikouquan Formation in the northwestern margin of the Junggar Basin has seen major breakthroughs have been made in oil and gas exploration. Sandstone and conglomerate reservoirs are developed in the Baikouquan Formation in this area, but the factors affecting the differences in petro physical properties of these two types of reservoirs are still unclear. In this paper, taking the Baikouquan Formation in the Hongcheguai area on the northwestern margin of the Junggar Basin as an example, a large number of core observations, thin sections, scanning electron microscopy, and petro physical property test data were used to evaluate the petro logical characteristics, reservoir space types, digenesis and pore evolution of the sandstone and conglomerate reservoirs. The results show that the sandstone and conglomerate rocks of the Baikouquan Formation in the study area have a large content of tuffaceous components. The sandstone reservoirs are dominated by primary intergranular pores, and the conglomerate reservoirs are dominated by secondary dissolved pores. In addition, the porosity is negatively correlated with rock permeability for the conglomerate rocks of the Baikouquan Formation. However, the porosity is positively correlated with rock permeability of the sandstone reservoirs. According to the analysis of the digenetic process, the compaction and cementation can lead to a significant decrease in the petro physical properties of the reservoir. While dissolution can improve the petro physical properties of the sandstone reservoirs to a small extent, and can improve that of the conglomerate reservoirs to a greater extent. Moreover, local fractures are important factors affecting the petro physical properties of the conglomerate reservoirs. The existence of abnormal high pressure has a certain effect on the preservation of primary pores. On the whole, the controlling factors of the petro physical properties of the conglomerate reservoirs in the Baikouquan Formation include sedimentation, diagenesis, and tectonic actives, while that of the sandstone reservoirs mainly include sedimentation and diagenesis.
Study on the test of coal mass fracture grouting sealing with coal-based materials and its application
Authors: Gao Yingjun , Yao Banghua , Zhang Hongtu , Zhang Boyang , Song Jinhu , Wang Qian , Niu Jinming , Li Jinhua
Published: January 2023

This study is focused on coal mass fracture grouting sealing and seepage reduction with coal-based grouting sealing materials. First, a new type of coal-based grouting sealing materials was developed and applied to the fractured coal sample in the grouting test. Then, the coal sample before and after grouting was scanned and reconstructed with the aid of industrial computed tomography (CT). Based on CT images and reconstructed data, a theoretical model of grouting sealing for fractured coal mass was constructed by taking the migration and sedimentation of grouting slurry particles into consideration. Furthermore, on the ground of the theoretical model, a numerical calculation model of grouting sealing for the fractured coal sample was established, and the mechanism of grouting sealing and seepage reduction with coal-based sealing materials was simulated. Finally, a field test of gas extraction drilling and sealing was performed using the coal-based grouting sealing technology. The results show that: 1) The new type of coal-based grouting materials is effective in sealing the coal mass fracture, as the fracture is tightly filled with slurry particles after grouting. 2) The numerical simulation reproduces the whole process of grouting slurry flow and fracture sealing. After the permeability of the grouting coal sample decreases rapidly, it gradually tends to stabilize. The permeability of the whole coal sample goes down by 96% on average, and that of the fracture drops by more than 99.9% on average. The law of slurry diffusion and permeability variation calculated by numerical simulation is in line with the test results, which verifies the reasonableness of the model. 3) The application of the coal-based grouting sealing technology achieves an excellent sealing effect, promoting the gas extraction concentration by 1.43 times. The research results provide guidance for revealing mechanism of coal mass fracture grouting sealing with coal-based materials and bolstering the effect of extraction borehole sealing.
Region-dependent site conditions in China: Evidence from borehole data statistics
Authors: Yao Xinxin , Zhang Peng , Zhao Yu , Wang Hongwei , Wang Daren
Published: January 2023

Consideration of site effects is vital in modeling and predicting earthquake ground motions. However, site conditions can vary markedly between different localities. The regional dependency of site conditions in China has not yet been investigated systematically. In this study, profiles of 6,179 boreholes were collected from four regions in China, i.e., the Capital Metropolitan (CM), Xinjiang (XJ), Guangdong—Guangxi (GG), and Sichuan–Yunnan (SY) areas. Quantitative characteristic parameters including site category, equivalent shear wave velocity (Vse), and the thickness of the overlying soil layer (H) defined by the Chinese seismic code, and VS30 and the median shear wave profile were all analyzed to confirm the dependency on site conditions among the four regions. Investigation revealed that the majority of sites in most regions are classified as Class-II sites with no Class-IV sites, except in CM. In comparison with the other three regions, a larger number of GG sites are classified as Class-I. Sites in XJ are generally characterized by small H values (<20 m) and large Vse values (250 –450 m/s), while those in CM are characterized by large H values (average: ∼50 m) and small Vse values (150 –300 m/s). Generally, the Vse and H values are similar in GG and SY, i.e., the sites are covered by an overlying soil layer that is ∼20 m thick with an average Vse value of ∼250 m/s. A very thin (<5 m) overlying soil layer is observed at many more sites in GG than at sites in the other three regions. The VS30 values in CM, SY, and GG all approximately follow a lognormal distribution with various logarithmic means, i.e., 257.2, 299.6, and 360.9 m/s, respectively. However, the VS30 values of most sites in XJ broadly follow a uniform distribution with a range of 200 –550 m/s. We summarized the characteristics of the median VS profiles of each VS30-based category (C1, C2, and C3) for each region. The median VS profiles between any two regions are mainly manifested as parallel trends for sites in category C1, whereas they present trends of intersection for sites in categories C2 and C3. The findings of this study could serve as a basis for the establishment of a regional empirical model for site-dependent seismic response in China.
Improving the MODIS leaf area index product for a cropland with the nonlinear autoregressive neural network with eXogenous input model
Authors: Li Shangzhi , Zhang Meng
Published: January 2023

The leaf area index (LAI) is a crucial descriptive parameter of the dynamic change of ground vegetation. The widely used MODIS LAI product, however, does not satisfy the requirements of regional eco-environment modeling. There is an urgent need to improve the product’s overall accuracy. Under this circumstance, this study proposed an improvement scheme based on the nonlinear autoregressive neural network with eXogenous input (NARXNN) model and the high-quality time series LAI inversion result. Case studies were implemented for two seasons a year croplands in Wuzhi, Xinzheng, and Xiangcheng in Henan province. This research acquired 46 periods of the NARXNN model-improved LAI, which went through rigid in situ LAI validation. The in situ measured LAI by LAI-2000 was used to validate the accuracy of NARXNN-enhanced LAI data. The R2 values of the improved LAI of the three research areas are 0.54, 0.41, and 0.51, while the RMSE decreased by 0.07, 0.1, and 0.03, and the bias also decreased to a certain extent. Direct validation using the in situ measured LAI demonstrates that the NARXNN model-enhanced LAI data were more accurate and had a lower bias than MCD15A2H. A comparison of the time series change indicates that the NARXNN-enhanced LAI shows a smoother bimodal change trend and is more conformed to the actual cropland growth than the original MODIS product. The results indicated that the NARXNN neural network further increased the accuracy of the MODIS product and has a particular practical value in future research.
Impact of the Alamosa gap-filling radar on streamflow in the National Water Model
Authors: Grim Joseph A. , Zhang Yongxin , Gochis David J.
Published: January 2023

The installation of the Alamosa gap-filling radar in 2019 not only greatly improved surveillance of current precipitation in the mountain-ringed San Luis valley, but also improved estimates of rain and snow accumulation. This is particularly important for hydrological prediction in this headwaters region, as it provides vital information for potential downstream floods and reservoir storage. This study performs three experiments using the community WRF-Hydro modeling system (the core model of the National Water Model) during 2021 to estimate the effect of the new Alamosa gap-filling radar, as integrated into the National Severe Storms Laboratory Multi-radar Multi-sensor quantitative precipitation estimate product on model-predicted streamflow. The first model experiment utilizes the Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor data, including from the new Alamosa radar; the second utilizes a spatially-downscaled version of the NLDAS-2 precipitation field, mapped to a high resolution WRF-Hydro model grid; while the third experiment uses a combination of the two, with MRMS used in areas observed by the Alamosa radar. Emphasis is placed on analyzing the impact of the radar quantitative precipitation estimate on total seasonal runoff in the Conejos River basin and overall runoff throughout the Upper Rio Grande River basin in southern Colorado.
Active learning to develop disciplinary competencies related to automatic control in engineering curricula using low cost do-it-yourself didactic stations
Authors: Navarro-Durán David , Félix-Herrán Luis C. , Membrillo-Hernández Jorge , Craig Kevin C. , Ramírez-Cadena Miguel J. , Ramírez-Mendoza Ricardo A.
Published: January 2023

Introduction

In general, in automatic control courses, the process of designing and testing a control system includes applying physical laws to model the system, working with virtual models, building one or various prototypes, and testing the control algorithms. However, in the industry, the approach must be more pragmatic because the design and implementation time must be shorter, and the success of the solution must be ensured.

Methods

Challenged with this problem, a black-box model from which data are generated turns into a convenient starting point to design and implement the automation, and this approach is addressed in this research. The herein proposal is the design and implementation of didactic stations and their application in undergraduate automatic control courses. In the context of active learning, by using the stations to identify the model’s dynamics, and subsequently, design and implement an automatic system, students reinforce the theory and receive another stimulus for the development of competencies in automatic control.

Results

The didactic stations emulate those cases in the industry where the hardware is already working, and it is necessary to automate or improve some process following a practical approach. During the first phase, students, guided by professors, designed and implemented four electromechanical prototypes. The second phase was using the prototypes in the curricular courses Control Engineering and Computerized Control to implement and evaluate controllers. The research included a control group and an experimental group. The group using the stations had a higher final course average grade than the control group.

Discussion

The findings encourage the application of this type of approach to complement the teaching of automatic control, which could positively impact the professional performance of future control engineers.
Learning to innovate: Students and teachers constructing collective innovation practices in a primary school’s makerspace
Authors: Leskinen Jasmiina , Kajamaa Anu , Kumpulainen Kristiina
Published: January 2023

The need to foster citizens’ innovation skills is widely recognized. Although current research acknowledges the potential of makerspaces to promote innovation activities, research still lacks an understanding of underlying mechanisms that can lead the creation of innovations in makerspaces by students. Moreover, research to date has overlooked how innovation practices are formed in K–12 makerspaces. In this sociocultural study, we used ethnographic video data from a Finnish primary school’s makerspace and applied methods of abductive Video Data Analysis to investigate how innovation practices are constructed in first to sixth grade students’ and teachers’ interactions. The results of this study show that the innovations created by the students in the makerspace were an outcome of students’ and teachers’ collective innovation practices. The study provides a typology of these collective innovation practices, namely: taking joint action to innovate, navigating a network of resources, and sustaining innovation activities. Further, our results reveal that the collective actions encouraged students to use skills deemed to be important for innovation creation. Also, adding to existing research knowledge, our results reveal two mechanisms that potentially promote students’ learning to innovate. These mechanisms include the teachers’ orientation to facilitating open-ended STEAM projects and practices that emphasize students’ ownership over their personal projects.
Impact of demand side management on the operational cost of microgrids using ABC algorithm
Authors: Ullah Kalim , Quanyuan Jiang , Geng Guangchao , Khan Rehan Ali , Khan Wahab
Published: January 2023

Self-sustaining microgrids (MG) are now possible due to the integration of renewable energy and communication technology in utility. It is essential to have an effective energy management system (EMS) because of the unpredictable response of these resources, the uncertainty of the load variations, and the market pricing. Only operational expenses have been considered while discussing MG’s optimum operation so far. It is necessary to examine the potential of adding demand-side management (DSM) to the energy management system challenges and its impact on overall operational costs and peak reduction. This article investigates the influence of the load shaping approach that is imposed by the utility on non-dispatchable energy sources. A stochastic EMS framework is developed to come up with an optimum solution for day-ahead scheduling and minimize operating costs for grid-connected MG. Using real-time weather data, four different solar and wind power production profiles are developed in the first step to address the issue of unpredictability. MG system design, operational restrictions, and allocating demand side management load participation data to the goal function are all addressed in this second step of the algorithm development. Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) is designed in the third stage to find the ideal setup of DG units for maximum electricity dispatch and comparing outcomes for all scenarios with and without DSM involvement. It has been shown that with a 20% DSM load participation, a proposed stochastic framework may save costs by 62%, according to the simulation results.
Carbon nanomaterials staked with nonwoven (EG/PAN/CQDs) composite as a counter electrode for enhanced photons and photocatalytic efficiency
Authors: Syed Noureen , Feng Yongqiang , Fahad Raja , Sahito Iftikhar Ali , Huang Jianfeng
Published: January 2023

Prior studies on heavy metal heterojunction with carbon nanomaterials for dye-sensitized solar cells (D-SSCs) found that they were not only toxic but also had poor stability and led to a difficult synthesis. In this work, nanomaterials with flexible nonwoven sheets were employed to improve cell efficiency and were easily synthesized with high stability, durability, washability, and flexibility. By incorporating carbon quantum dots (CQDs) into the anode and counter electrodes, it is possible to boost photon efficiency by scattering the sunlight and turning a huge amount into current density. Here in this research, Textile carbon–based flexible dye-sensitized solar cells (TC-DSSC) with N-doped CQDs may significantly increase solar cell efficiency. Carbon-based nanoparticles stacked with textile apparel (nonwoven bamboo) sheets enabled the desired flexible end applications to be achieved. The prepared material significantly increased solar cell efficiency to 11.26% compared to 8.04% of the one without CQDs. Carbon-based nanomaterials are stacked with textile apparel (nonwoven bamboo) sheets to make them lightweight, highly flexible, wearable, and user-friendly. Furthermore, compared to pure expanded graphite on the nonwoven substrate, a single electrode incorporating CQDs offered low impedance and high current/voltage. On the other hand, when tested for photocatalytic activity using spectrophotometry, the proposed counter electrode made of expanded graphite, PAN, and CQDs loaded on nonwoven material completely degraded the methylene blue dye in a very short period of time. The N-CQDs may prove to be very stable with outstanding washing endurance anchored with expanded graphite layered on a nonwoven medium with an optimum thickness.
Like-attracts-like optimizer-based video robotics clustering control design for power device monitoring and inspection
Authors: Huang Xuyong , Tang Biao , Zhu Mengmeng , Ma Yutang , Ma Xianlong , Tang Lijun , Wang Xin , Zhu Dongdong
Published: January 2023

A new meta-heuristic algorithm called like-attracts-like optimizer (LALO) is proposed in this article. It is inspired by the fact that an excellent person (i.e., a high-quality solution) easily attracts like-minded people to approach him or her. This LALO algorithm is an important inspiration for video robotics cluster control. First, the searching individuals are dynamically divided into multiple clusters by a growing neural gas network according to their positions, in which the topological relations between different clusters can also be determined. Second, each individual will approach a better individual from its superordinate cluster and the adjacent clusters. The performance of LALO is evaluated based on unimodal benchmark functions compared with various well-known meta-heuristic algorithms, which reveals that it is competitive for some optimizations.
Research on security-constrained unit commitment based on an improved ordinal optimization algorithm
Authors: Zhang Zhi , Xu Guobin , Yang Nan
Published: January 2023

It is of great significance for the development of intermittent renewable energy and the marketization of electricity to study an efficient and accurate algorithm for solving the unit commitment problem with security constraints. Based on the existing constrained ordinal optimization (COO) algorithm, an improved ordinal optimization (OO) algorithm is proposed, which can be applied to solve SCUC problems. In order to solve the rough model and the accurate model, the discrete variable identification strategy and the effective safety constraint reduction strategy are adopted, respectively. Compared with the traditional object-oriented algorithm, the improved object-oriented algorithm not only gives full play to the computational efficiency of the traditional object-oriented algorithm but also further improves the compactness and reduces the computational redundancy. IEEE 118 simulation results verify the correctness and effectiveness of the algorithm.
Pressure transient analysis of multistage fractured horizontal wells based on detailed characterization of stimulated area
Authors: Wang Huzhen , Liu Tiancheng , Sun Zhuangzhuang , Wang Chunyao , Zhang Yangang , Chen Yulin , Liu Zhenyu , Zhou Zhijun
Published: January 2023

In ultralow permeability tight oil reservoirs, the fracturing scale of multistage fractured horizontal wells (MFHWs) is relatively large, and the artificial fracture system is generally more complex. Analytical and semi-analytical methods are difficult to characterize the stimulated area in detail, which includes main fractures, branch fractures, and microfractures. Numerical methods have unique advantages in studying such problems. The mathematical model of oil–water two-phase seepage is established by the finite element method, the permeability and pseudo threshold pressure gradient that vary with spatial position are proposed to characterize the stimulated area except the main fracture. A single well numerical model was established to study the influence of the width and permeability of the stimulated area on the pressure response. The analysis shows that the transient pressure response of MFHW is controlled by main fracture conductivity. Main fractures have high conductivity can better communicate the stimulated area, and MFHW can be better developed.
Can the opening of China railway express reduce urban carbon emissions? a Difference-in-differences analysis in China
Authors: Qiu Zhiping , Liu Di , Liao Qiumin
Published: January 2023

In the background of global “carbon neutrality,” China Railway Express (CRE) is contributing to the long-term development of low-carbon environmental protection while promoting economic growth. Based on panel data of 284 cities at the prefecture level and above in China from 2003 to 2019, we empirically investigate the impact and mechanism of CRE opening on urban carbon emissions using the multi-period DID model and mediating effect model. Under the assumption of meeting parallel trends, we find that the opening of CRE considerably lowers urban carbon emissions by .78 percentage points as compared to the control group. This finding holds after placebo testing, PSM-DID estimation, replacing key variables, excluding other policies and disturbances from the opening of the high-speed railway (HSR), and overcoming endogeneity problems. According to the findings of the mechanism tests, the influence of transportation substitution, improved industrial structure, economic agglomeration, and trade openness are crucial mechanisms for reducing carbon emissions by opening CRE. Further heterogeneity tests show that the carbon reduction effect of CRE opening is more pronounced in east-central China, larger and non-resource-based cities. Therefore, this study suggests that the Chinese government should pay attention to the positive effect of CRE on environmental protection. The government should accelerate the construction of comprehensive transportation infrastructure while rationalizing the layout of economic activities and population clustering.
Comprehensive analysis of PTPN family expression and prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Liu Yong , Zhang Jing , Du Zefan , Huang Junbin , Cheng Yucai , Yi Wenfang , Li Tianwen , Yang Jing , Chen Chun
Published: January 2023

Background: Tyrosyl phosphorylation is carried out by a group of enzymes known as non-receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPNs). In the current investigation, it is hoped to shed light on the relationships between the expression patterns of PTPN family members and the prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Methods:PTPN expression was examined using GEPIA and GEO databases. To investigate the connection between PTPN expression and survival in AML patients, we downloaded data from the Broad TCGA Firehose and Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis (CPTAC) of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We used quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) to confirm that essential genes were performed in clinical samples and cell lines. We then used western blot to verify that the genes expressed in the above databases were positive in normal tissues, AML patient samples, and AML cell lines. Next, we investigated associations between genome-wide expression profiles and PTPN6 expression using the GEO datasets. We investigated the interactive exploration of multidimensional cancer genomics using the cBioPortal datasets. Using the DAVID database, a study of gene ontology enrichment was performed. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was created using the STRING portal, and the gene-gene interaction network was performed using GeneMANIA.

Results: Data from GEO and GEPIA revealed that most PTPN family members were linked to AML. Patients with leukemia have elevated levels of several PTPN members. All of the AML patients’ poor overall survival (OS, p < .05) was significantly linked with higher expression of PTPN1, PTPN6, and PTPN7. Additionally, clinical samples showed that the expression of PTPN 6, PTPN 7, PTPN 13, and PTPN 14 was higher than normal in AML patients (p = .0116, p = .0034, p = .0092, and p = .0057, respectively) and AML cell lines (p = .0004, p = .0035, p = .0357, and p = .0177, respectively). Western blotting results showed that the expression of PTPN6 in AML samples and AML cell lines was significantly higher than that in normal control samples.

Conclusion: Differentially expressed PTPN family members were found in AML. The prognosis of patients and PTPN gene expression were shown to be correlated. PTPN6 is one of these members and may be used as an AML diagnostic and prognostic marker.
Bacterial community characteristics in the rhizosphere of Suaeda glauca versus bulk soil in coastal silt soil modified by sea-sand and their implications
Authors: An Xiaochi , Wang Zaifeng , Jiao Kairui , Teng Xiaoming , Zhou Ruirong , Xu Min , Lian Bin
Published: January 2023

In the exploitation and development of the muddy coastal zone in Lianyun New Town, Jiangsu Province, much coastal silt soil (CSS) has been formed through reclamation projects, which is difficult to use. The proportion of wild Suaeda glauca increased significantly and became a dominant species in CSS modified by sea-sand mulching (Treated CSS, TCSS), but it was still affected by saline-alkali stress. To use S. glauca efficiently to improve TCSS, high-throughput sequencing technology and conventional soil analysis methods were adopted to investigate the rhizosphere microbial community structure of S. glauca and the physico-chemical properties of TCSS as well as its internal correlation. The results showed that TCSS had low organic matter content, poor nutrients such as N and P, and poor fertility retention. TCSS was still affected by mild or moderate saline-alkali stress, and the total Ca was greater than 1%, so the soil properties indicated a calcareous saline-alkali soil. The growth of S. glauca can reduce soil salinity and increase soil TN content, and its rhizosphere bacterial community was significantly different from that of bulk soil without S. glauca: the rhizosphere was significantly enriched with C-cycle-related bacterium such as organic matter degrading bacteria mariniflexile, photobacterium Sphingomonadaceae, and N-cycle-related bacterium such as nitrogen-fixing bacteria Azoarcus, denitrifying bacteria Pseudomonadaceae; the symbiotic relationship of rhizosphere bacterial community in S. glauca tended to be more complicated, and the functions of nitrogen-respiration, photo-nutrition, and methyl-nutrition were enhanced. Based on the above results, it is reasonable to predict that the interaction between S. glauca and its rhizosphere bacteria in TCSS could promote the process of soil carbon and nitrogen cycles, as to accelerate soil substance transformation and increase soil fertility, thus driving the benign development of TCSS. The results lay a theoretical basis for developing muddy coasts and promoting the precise improvement of TCSS by large-scale cultivation of S. glauca in the local area.
Characteristics of chromophoric dissolved organic matter in the Northern Andaman Sea
Authors: Zhao Ruoshi , Li Zhongqiao , Aye Aung Aung , Zheng Hao , Jin Weifang , Zhang Jingjing , Zhou Feng , Li Hongliang , Han Nang Mya , Lwin Myat , Chen Jianfang
Published: January 2023

The dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the ocean is a large carbon pool that plays an important role in the global carbon cycle. Investigation of the characteristics and behaviors of DOM in some areas facilitates a better understanding of biochemical processes in the water column. In February 2020, water samples were collected to characterize the distribution and optical properties of DOM from the Northern Andaman Sea and the Northeastern Bay of Bengal. A high dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration appeared in the Northern Andaman Sea, which is strongly affected by the DOM contents of the Irrawaddy and Salween Rivers. A barrier layer that resulted from the freshwater input was observed above the thermocline. This layer was believed to have had a consistent effect on the concentration of DOM in the surface water and contributed to the differences in DOC concentration on each side of the Preparis Channel. Based on the fluorescence excitation emission matrix and parallel factor analysis, four fluorescent components were identified, including three humic-like components (C1, C2, and C4 with their maximal Ex/Em at ≤240/418 nm, 315/384 nm, and 270 (360)/442 nm and represented as peaks A, M, and A+C, respectively) and one protein-like component (C3 with maximal Ex/Em at 275/334 nm and represented as peak T). The humic-like components were mainly derived from terrestrial inputs. Low levels of humic-like components were confined in the upper water, with strong photodegradation in the euphotic zone. C3 was a typical tryptophan-like component that represented freshly produced autochthonous DOM. The correlation between C3 and biological index and apparent oxygen utilization suggested that it was highly bioavailable and not easy to be preserved in the deep sea. Overall, our results showed the distributions of DOM in the Northern Andaman Sea and the Northeastern Bay of Bengal and revealed the behaviors and controlling factors for DOM in the upper water.
Case report: Importance of early and continuous tocilizumab therapy in nephrotic syndrome associated with idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease: A case series
Authors: Kojima Daiki , Yamaguchi Shintaro , Hashiguchi Akinori , Hayashi Kaori , Uchiyama Kiyotaka , Yoshimoto Norifumi , Adachi Keika , Nakayama Takashin , Nishioka Ken , Tajima Takaya , Morimoto Kohkichi , Yoshino Jun , Yoshida Tadashi , Monkawa Toshiaki , Kanda Takeshi , Itoh Hiroshi
Published: January 2023

Idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) is a systemic and polyclonal lymphoproliferative disease involving multiple organs, including the kidneys, due to the overproduction of interleukin-6 (IL-6). Recently, several reports have suggested that excessive IL-6 actions in iMCD could have a causal relationship with the development of diverse histopathological renal manifestations that cause nephrotic syndrome. However, the treatment for such cases remains unclear. We report a series of three cases of nephrotic syndrome due to iMCD that helps to delineate the importance of early and continuous therapy with the anti-interleukin-6 receptor antibody tocilizumab. First, treatment was suspended for infectious control, and the patient presented with nephrotic syndrome due to diffuse mesangial and endocapillary hypercellularity without immune deposits complicating acute kidney injury. Second, iMCD was treated with prednisolone alone. The patient suddenly developed nephrotic syndrome due to immune-complex glomerulonephritis, not otherwise specified, complicated with acute kidney injury. In the third case, nephrotic syndrome secondary to membranous glomerulonephritis was diagnosed, with a skin rash and IgE antibodies to tocilizumab, and was therefore treated with prednisolone alone. In contrast to the first two cases, the third progressed to end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis. Taken together, this series suggests that clinicians should maintain clinical vigilance for iMCD as a possible underlying component of nephrotic syndrome, since iMCD presents with a variety of renal pathologies. Prompt initiation and continuous administration of tocilizumab are likely key determinants of renal outcomes in such cases. In particular, when tocilizumab is suspended due to infection or in the perioperative period, consideration of its expeditious resumption should be made, taking into account both the withdrawal period and systemic conditions.
Acute and chronic HBV infection in central Argentina: High frequency of sub-genotype F1b, low detection of clinically relevant mutations and first evidence of HDV
Authors: Castro Gonzalo M. , Sosa María J. , Sicilia Paola E. , Riberi María I. , Moreno Claudia , Cattaneo Rodolfo , Debes José D. , Barbás María G. , Cudolá Analía E. , Pisano María B. , Ré Viviana E.
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Genomic analysis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) identifies phylogenetic variants, which may lead to distinct biological and clinical behaviors. The satellite hepatitis D virus (HDV) may also influence clinical outcomes in patients with hepatitis B. The aim of this study was to investigate HBV genetic variants, including clinically relevant mutations, and HDV infection in acute and chronic hepatitis B patients in central Argentina.

Methods

A total of 217 adult HBV infected patients [acute (AHB): n = 79; chronic (CHB): n = 138] were studied; 67 were HBV/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfected. Clinical and demographic data were obtained from medical records. Serological markers were determined. Molecular detection of HBV and HDV was carried out by RT-Nested PCR, followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis.

Results

Overall, genotype (gt) F [sub-genotype (sgt) F1b] was the most frequently found. In AHB patients, the gts/sgts found were: F1b (74.7%) > A2 (13.9%) > F4 (7.6%) > C (2.5%) > A1 (1.3%). Among CHB patients: F1b (39.1%) > A2 (23.9%) > F4 (18.2%) > D (9.4%) > C and F6 (3.6% each) > A1, A3 and B2 (0.7% each). The distribution of sgt A2 and gt D was significantly different between HBV mono and HBV/HIV coinfected patients [A2: 15.9% vs. 35.7% (p < 0.05), respectively and D: 14.6% vs. 1.8% (p < 0.05), respectively]. Mutation frequency in basal core promoter/pre-Core (BCP/pC) region was 35.5% (77/217) [AHB: 20.3% (16/79), CHB: 44.2% (61/138)]. In the open reading frame (ORF) S, mutations associated with vaccine escape and diagnostic failure were detected in 7.8% of the sequences (17/217) [AHB: 3.8% (3/79), CHB: 10.1% (14/138)]. ORF-P amino acid substitutions associated with antiviral resistance were detected in 3.2% of the samples (7/217) [AHB: 1.3% (1/79), CHB 4.3%, (6/138)]. The anti-HDV seropositivity was 5.2% (4/77); one sample could be sequenced, belonging to gt HDV-1 associated with sgt HBV-D3.

Discussion

We detected an increase in the circulation of genotype F in Central Argentina, particularly among AHB patients, suggesting transmission advantages over the other genotypes. A low rate of mutations was detected, especially those with antiviral resistance implications, which is an encouraging result. The evidence of HDV circulation in our region, reported for the first time, alerts the health system for its search and diagnosis.
Serum creatinine/cystatin C ratio as a muscle mass evaluating tool and prognostic indicator for hospitalized patients: A meta-analysis
Authors: Zheng Wen-He , Zhu Yi-Bing , Yao Yan , Huang Hui-Bin
Published: January 2023

Objective

Sarcopenia is a syndrome of decreased muscle mass and deficits in muscle strength and physical function. We aimed to investigate the relationship between creatinine/cystatin C ratio (CCR) and sarcopenia and the prognostic value of CCR in hospitalized patients.

Materials and methods

We searched for relevant studies in PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Database up to August 25, 2022. Meta-analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between CCR and skeletal muscle [computed tomography-assessed skeletal muscle (CTASM), muscle strength, and physical performance], prognosis and important clinical outcomes in hospitalized adults. The pooled correlation coefficient, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and hazard ratio (HR) together with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. We also conducted subgroup analyses to explore the sources of heterogeneity.

Results

A total of 38 studies with 20,362 patients were eligible. These studies were of moderate to high quality. Our results showed that CCR was significant correlations with all CTASM types (Fisher’s Z ranged from 0.35 to 0.5; P values ranged from < 0.01 to 0.01), handgrip strength (Fisher’s Z = 0.39; 95% CI, 0.32–0.45; P < 0.001) and gait speed (Fisher’s Z = 0.25; 95% CI, 0.21–0.30; P < 0.001). The ROC curves suggested that CCR had good diagnostic efficacy (0.689; 95% CI, 0.632–0.746; P < 0.01) for sarcopenia. CCR can reliably predict mortality in hospitalized patients, which was confirmed by regression analysis of CCR as both continuous (HR 0.78; 95% CI, 0.72–0.84; P < 0.01) and categorical variables (HR 2.05; 95% CI, 1.58–2.66; P < 0.0001). In addition, less evidence showed that higher CCR was independently associated with a shorter duration of mechanical ventilation, reduced length of stay in the intensive care unit and hospital, less nutritional risk, and decreased complications in hospitalized patients.

Conclusion

CCR could be a simple, economical, and effective screening tool for sarcopenia in hospitalized patients, and it is a helpful prognostic factor for mortality and other important clinical outcomes.

Systematic review registration

https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2022-9-0097/, identifier INPLASY202290097.
Retrospective cohort study to determine the effect of preinjury antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy on mortality in patients with major trauma
Authors: Yamaji Fuminori , Okada Hideshi , Kamidani Ryo , Kawasaki Yuki , Yoshimura Genki , Mizuno Yosuke , Kitagawa Yuichiro , Fukuta Tetsuya , Ishihara Takuma , Suzuki Kodai , Miyake Takahito , Kanda Norihide , Doi Tomoaki , Yoshida Takahiro , Yoshida Shozo , Ogura Shinji
Published: January 2023

Objective

This study aimed to compare outcomes among patients who sustained major trauma from injury with and without receiving antiplatelet therapy (APT) or anticoagulant therapy (ACT) to test the hypothesis that APT does not increase the risk of mortality. However, ACT increases the mortality risk in the acute phase of trauma.

Methods

Patients registered in the Japanese Observational body for Coagulation and Thrombolysis in Early Trauma 2 between April 2017 and March 2018 who had sustained a severe injury in any anatomic region of the body, as determined using an injury severity score (ISS) ≥ 16 were included in this retrospective cohort study. We analyzed the mortality within 24 h from the arrival using a multivariable linear regression analysis adjusted for several confounding variables.

Results

We identified 1,186 eligible participants who met the inclusion criteria for this study: 105 in the APT (cases), 1,081 in the non-antiplatelet therapy (nAPT) group (controls), 65 in the ACT (cases), and 1,121 in the non-anticoagulant therapy (nACT) group (controls). The mortality within 24 h in the ACT group was significantly higher than in the nACT group (odds ratio 4.5; 95%CI: 1.2–16.79; p = 0.025); however, there was no significant difference between the two groups with or without the antiplatelet drug (odds ratio 0.32; 95%CI: 0.04–2.79; p = 0.3) administration. Other outcomes, like the 28-day mortality, mortality at discharge, and surgery for hemostasis, were not significantly different between regular users and non-users of either antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs.

Conclusion

Regular antiplatelet medications did not increase mortality within 24 h, 28 days, or at discharge in patients with major trauma, suggesting that standard treatment, including surgery, is sufficient.
Hemorheological profiles and chronic inflammation markers in transfusion-dependent and non-transfusion- dependent thalassemia
Authors: Caprari Patrizia , Profumo Elisabetta , Massimi Sara , Buttari Brigitta , Riganò Rachele , Regine Vincenza , Gabbianelli Marco , Rossi Stefania , Risoluti Roberta , Materazzi Stefano , Gullifa Giuseppina , Maffei Laura , Sorrentino Francesco
Published: January 2023

The rheological properties of blood play an important role in regulating blood flow in micro and macro circulation. In thalassemia syndromes red blood cells exhibit altered hemodynamic properties that facilitate microcirculatory diseases: increased aggregation and reduced deformability, as well as a marked increase in adherence to the vascular endothelial cells. A personalized approach to treating thalassemia patients (transfusions, iron chelation, and splenectomy), has increased patients’ life expectancy, however they generally present many complications and several studies have demonstrated the presence of high incidence of thromboembolic events. In this study the hemorheological profiles of thalassemia patients have been characterized to point out new indices of vascular impairment in thalassemia. Plasma viscosity, blood viscosities at low and high shear rates (η1 and η200, respectively), erythrocyte aggregation index (η1/η200), and the erythrocyte viscoelastic profile (elastic modulus G', and viscous modulus G") have been studied in transfusion-dependent and non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients. Moreover, the levels of inflammation biomarkers in thalassemia have been evaluated to investigate a relationship between the biomarkers, the disease severity and the rheological parameters. The biomarkers studied are the main components of the immune and endothelial systems or are related to vascular inflammation: cytokines (IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, TNF-alpha), chemokines (IL-8, MIP-1alpha), adipocytokines (leptin and adiponectin), growth factors (VEGF, angiopoietin-1), adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin, L-selectin), and a monocyte/macrophage activation marker (CD163). This study shows that transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients, both major and intermedia, have blood viscosities comparable to those of healthy subjects. Non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia intermedia patients show high blood viscosities at low shear rates (η1), corresponding to the flow conditions of the microcirculation, an increase in erythrocyte aggregation, and high values of the elastic G' and viscous G" modules that reflect a reduced erythrocyte deformability and an increase in blood viscosity. Levels of cytokines, chemokines and adhesion molecules are different in transfusion- and non-transfusion dependent patients and positive correlations between η1 or η1/η200 and the cytokines IL-6 and IL-10 have been observed. The evaluation of the hemorheological profiles in thalassemia can provide new indicators of vascular impairment and disease severity in thalassemia in order to prevent the onset of thromboembolic events.