bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms and their determinant factors among patients with cancer in southern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Ayalew Mohammed , Deribe Bedilu , Duko Bereket , Geleta Dereje , Bogale Netsanet , Gemechu Lalisa , Gebretsadik Achamyelesh , Bedaso Asres
Published: January 2022

Objective

The study was aimed to assess the prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms and their determinant factors among patients with cancer attending follow-up at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital cancer treatment centre, Ethiopia.

Design

Institution-based cross-sectional study design was implemented.

Setting

Patients with cancer at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital cancer treatment centre from October 2019 to December 2019.

Participants

Randomly selected 415 patients with cancer who had follow-up at cancer treatment centre.

Main outcome measures

Anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.

Result

The prevalence rates of depression and anxiety symptoms were found to be 244 (58.8%) and 249 (60.0%), respectively. Older age (>50 years) (AOR (adjusted OR)=2.24, 95% CI=1.14 to 4.40), being unemployed (AOR=1.96, 95% CI=1.08 to 3.56), advanced stage of cancer such as stage III (AOR=5.37, 95% CI=1.34 to 21.45) and stage IV (AOR=4.55, 95% CI=1.12 to 18.44), comorbid psychotic symptoms (AOR=1.67, 95% CI=1.07 to 2.61) and eating problem in the past 2 weeks (AOR=6.16, 95% CI=1.98 to 19.11) were independent factors significantly associated with depressive symptoms. In addition, cancer stage such as stage II (AOR=3.92, 95% CI=1.07 to 14.36) and stage IV (AOR=5.04, 95% CI=1.44 to 17.59) and comorbid psychotic symptoms (AOR=1.73, 95% CI=1.12 to 2.66) were significantly associated with anxiety symptoms.

Conclusion

Depression and anxiety symptoms among patients with cancer were considerably high. Age, occupation, cancer stage, comorbid psychotic symptoms and eating problem were determinant factors of depressive symptoms among patients with cancer. Moreover, cancer stage and comorbid psychosis were determinants of anxiety symptoms. Healthcare professionals working in the oncology unity need to conduct routine screening and treatment of depression and anxiety symptoms for patients with cancer.
Persistent SOMAtic symptoms ACROSS diseases — from risk factors to modification: scientific framework and overarching protocol of the interdisciplinary SOMACROSS research unit (RU 5211)
Authors: Löwe Bernd , Andresen Viola , Van den Bergh Omer , Huber Tobias B , von dem Knesebeck Olaf , Lohse Ansgar W , Nestoriuc Yvonne , Schneider Gudrun , Schneider Stefan W , Schramm Christoph , Ständer Sonja , Vettorazzi Eik , Zapf Antonia , Shedden-Mora Meike , Toussaint Anne
Published: January 2022

Introduction

Persistent somatic symptoms (PSS) are highly prevalent in all areas of medicine; they are disabling for patients and costly for society. The subjective symptom burden often correlates poorly with the underlying disease severity, and patients’ needs for effective treatment are far from being met. Initial evidence indicates that, in addition to disease-specific pathophysiological processes, psychological factors such as expectations, somatosensory amplification and prior illness experiences contribute to symptom persistence in functional as well as in somatic diseases. However, prospective studies investigating the transition from acute to chronic somatic symptoms, integrating pathophysiological, psychological and social factors, are scarce. A better understanding of the multifactorial mechanisms of symptom persistence is crucial for developing targeted mechanism-based interventions for effective prevention and treatment of PSS. Thus, the overall aim of the interdisciplinary SOMACROSS research unit is to identify generic and disease-specific risk factors and aetiological mechanisms of symptom persistence across a range of diseases.

Methods and analysis

Seven projects will investigate risk factors and mechanisms of symptom persistence in a total of 3916 patients across 10 medical conditions. All study designs are prospective and share common assessment points, core instruments and outcome variables to allow comparison and validation of results across projects and conditions. Research will focus on the identification of generic and disease-specific mechanisms associated with unfavourable symptom course. The development of a multivariate prediction model will facilitate the understanding of the course of PSS across diseases.

Ethics and dissemination

All individual SOMACROSS studies were approved by the ethics committees of the Medical Chambers Hamburg and Münster, Germany. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, scientific conferences and the involvement of relevant stakeholders, patients and the lay public. This interdisciplinary research unit will fundamentally contribute to earlier recognition of patients at risk, and to the development of prevention and tailored treatment concepts for PSS.
Indwelling pleural catheters: evidence for and management
Authors: Davidson Richard , Carling Michael , Jackson Karl , Aujayeb Avinash
Published: January 2022

The incidence of pleural disease is increasing, and pleural medicine is increasingly recognised as a subspecialty within respiratory medicine. This often requires additional training time. Once underresearched, the last decade has seen an explosion in evidence related to the management of pleural disease. One of the cornerstones of pleural effusion management is the insertion of an indwelling pleural catheter. This allows patient-centred outpatient management and now has a robust evidence base. This article summarises evidence as well serves as a practical guide to the management of any complications related to an indwelling pleural catheter that might present on an acute take.
Neural ventilatory drive decline as a predominant mechanism of obstructive sleep apnoea events
Authors: Gell Laura K , Vena Daniel , Alex Raichel M , Azarbarzin Ali , Calianese Nicole , Hess Lauren B , Taranto-Montemurro Luigi , White David P , Wellman Andrew , Sands Scott A
Published: January 2022

Background

In the classic model of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), respiratory events occur with sleep-related dilator muscle hypotonia, precipitating increased neural ventilatory ‘drive’. By contrast, a drive-dependent model has been proposed, wherebyfallingdrive promotes dilator muscle hypotonia to precipitate respiratory events. Here we determine the extent to which the classic versus drive-dependent models of OSA are best supported by direct physiological measurements.

Methods

In 50 OSA patients (5–91 events/hour), we recorded ventilation (‘flow’, oronasal mask and pneumotach) and ventilatory drive (calibrated intraoesophageal diaphragm electromyography, EMG) overnight. Flow and drive during events were ensemble averaged; patients were classified asdrive dependentif flow fell/rose simultaneously with drive. Overnight effects of lower drive on flow, genioglossus muscle activity (EMGgg) and event risk were quantified (mixed models).

Results

On average, ventilatory drive fell (rather than rose) during events (−20 (−42 to 3)%baseline, median (IQR)) and was strongly correlated with flow (R=0.78 (0.24 to 0.94)). Most patients (30/50, 60%) were classified as exhibitingdrive-dependentevent pathophysiology. Lower drive during sleep was associated with lower flow (−17 (−20 to –14)%/drive) and EMGgg (−3.5 (−3.8 to –3.3)%max/drive) and greater event risk (OR: 2.2 (1.8 to 2.5) per drive reduction of 100%eupnoea); associations were concentrated in patients with drive-dependent OSA (ie, flow: −37 (−40 to –34)%/drive, OR: 6.8 (5.3 to 8.7)). Oesophageal pressure—without tidal volume correction—falsely suggested rising drive during events (classicmodel).

Conclusions

In contrast to the prevailing view, patients with OSA predominantly exhibitdrive-dependentevent pathophysiology, whereby flow is lowest at nadir drive, and lower drive raises event risk. Preventing ventilatory drive decline is therefore considered a target for OSA intervention.
Validation of an automated self-administered 24-hour dietary recall web application against urinary recovery biomarkers in a sample of French-speaking adults of the province of Québec, Canada
Authors: Paradis Frédérique , Lamarche Benoît , Robitaille Julie , Couillard Charles , Lafrenière Jacynthe , Tremblay André J. , Corneau Louise , Lemieux Simone
Published: January 2022

The objective of this study was to validate an automated self-administered 24-hour dietary recall web application (R24W) against recovery biomarkers for sodium, potassium and protein intakes and to identify individual characteristics associated with misreporting in a sample of 61 men and 69 women aged 20–65 years from Québec City, Canada. Each participant completed 3 dietary recalls using the R24W, provided two 24-hour urinary samples and completed questionnaires to document psychosocial factors. Mean reported intakes were 2.2%, 2.1% and 5.0% lower than the urinary reference values, respectively, for sodium, potassium and proteins (significant difference for proteins only (p = 0.04)). Deattenuated correlations between the self-reported intake and biomarkers were significant for sodium (r = 0.48), potassium (r = 0.56) and proteins (r = 0.68). Cross-classification showed that 39.7% (sodium), 42.9% (potassium) and 42.1% (proteins) of participants were ranked into the same quartile with both methods and only 4.8% (sodium), 3.2% (potassium) and 0.8% (proteins) were ranked in opposite quartiles. Lower body esteem related to appearance was associated with sodium underreporting in women (r = 0.33, p = 0.006). No other individual factor was found to be associated with misreporting. These results suggest that the R24W has a good validity for the assessment of sodium, potassium and protein intakes in a sample of French-speaking adults.

Novelty: The validity of an automated self-administered 24-hour dietary recall web application named the R24W was tested using urinary biomarkers. According to 7 criteria, the R24W was found to have a good validity to assess self-reported intakes of sodium, potassium and proteins.
The nuclear-localized GHR is involved in the cell proliferation of gastric cancer, and pegvisomant may be an important potential drug to inhibit the proliferation of gastric cancer cells
Authors: Meng YuanPu , Zhou Bo , Pei Zhe , Chen Ye , Chang Dongmin
Published: January 2022

Under normal physiological conditions, growth hormones (GH) play an important role in body growth and metabolism. A recent study showed that GH has important biological effects on gastric cancer (GC) both in vitro and in vivo. However, the biological properties of GH/GHR (GHR, growth hormone receptor) in GC cells have not been fully elucidated. To this end, we systemically studied the biological properties of GH in GC cells and found that GH/GHR was transported into the nuclei of GC cells. Furthermore, we investigated the functions of nuclear GHR and its potential mechanisms of action. We found that nuclear-localized GHR was closely related to the proliferation of GC cells. In addition, we systematically studied the effect of a GHR inhibitor (pegvisomant) on GC in vivo and in vitro, and the results showed that pegvisomant can not only inhibit the proliferation of GC cells but also inhibit the nuclear localization of GHR, suggesting that pegvisomant may be a dual-effect antagonist. Current research indicates that GHR may be a potential target for the treatment of GC.
Real-Time Functional MRI in the Treatment of Mental Health Disorders
Authors: Taschereau-Dumouchel Vincent , Cushing Cody A. , Lau Hakwan
Published: January 2022

Multiple mental disorders have been associated with dysregulation of precise brain processes. However, few therapeutic approaches can correct such specific patterns of brain activity. Since the late 1960s and early 1970s, many researchers have hoped that this feat could be achieved by closed-loop brain imaging approaches, such as neurofeedback, that aim to modulate brain activity directly. However, neurofeedback never gained mainstream acceptance in mental health, in part due to methodological considerations. In this review, we argue that, when contemporary methodological guidelines are followed, neurofeedback is one of the few intervention methods in psychology that can be assessed in double-blind placebo-controlled trials. Furthermore, using new advances in machine learning and statistics, it is now possible to target very precise patterns of brain activity for therapeutic purposes. We review the recent literature in functional magnetic resonance imaging neurofeedback and discuss current and future applications to mental health.
The Invisibility of Power: A Cultural Ecology of Development in the Contemporary United States
Authors: Mandviwala Tasneem M. , Hall Jennifer , Beale Spencer Margaret
Published: January 2022

This article highlights the invisible power those in racial and gendered privilege continue to hold in the contemporary United States and the harmful psychological effects of this power on both those it oppresses and, importantly, those who wield it. A lack of empathy and an inability for compassion arise in individuals holding sociopolitical and cultural power, and we highlight how this psychological condition is qualifiable as psychosis and question why it has not been discussed as such in the literature until now. We also, however, bring attention to the invisible psychological power that marginalized populations in the United States hold, invisible because it has been left largely unrecognized by mainstream cultural forces. By centering the ways American cultural minorities successfully navigate multiply oppressive structural systems, we conclude with a reflection on how intersectional feminism can offer a philosophical lens through which to mitigate the unhealthy developmental outcomes and effects of White heteronormative male power.
Smart Heuristics for Individuals, Teams, and Organizations
Authors: Gigerenzer Gerd , Reb Jochen , Luan Shenghua
Published: January 2022

Heuristics are fast, frugal, and accurate strategies that enable rather than limit decision making under uncertainty. Uncertainty, as opposed to calculable risk, is characteristic of most organizational contexts. We review existing research and offer a descriptive and prescriptive theoretical framework to integrate the current patchwork of heuristics scattered across various areas of organizational studies. Research on the adaptive toolbox is descriptive, identifying the repertoire of heuristics on which individuals, teams, and organizations rely. Research on ecological rationality is prescriptive, specifying the conditions under which a given heuristic performs well, that is, when it is smart. Our review finds a relatively small but rapidly developing field. We identify promising future research directions, including research on how culture shapes the use of heuristics and how heuristics shape organizational culture. We also outline an educational program for managers and leaders that follows the general approach of “Don't avoid heuristics—learn how to use them.”
Cross-Cultural Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Authors: Stephan Ute
Published: January 2022

How can culture help explain persistent cross-country differences in innovation and entrepreneurship? This overview of cross-cultural innovation/entrepreneurship research draws on the most prominent cultural frameworks (by Hofstede, Schwartz, GLOBE, and Gelfand and colleagues). After outlining similarities and differences between these frameworks, I discuss theoretical perspectives of how culture shapes innovation/entrepreneurship (culture fit, culture misfit, cultural social support, and culture as a boundary condition) and give an overview of empirical research on culture and innovation/entrepreneurship. I conclude by outlining opportunities and best practices for future research and practical implications.
Facile Generation of a Stable Bi-Functional Mixed Phase Fe3O4/Fe-N4 Electrocatalyst for Rechargeable Zinc-Air Battery
Authors: Madan Chetna , Mathur Ankita , Halder Aditi
Published: January 2022

The successful commercialization of rechargeable zinc-air batteries requires an inexpensive and stable bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst which can efficiently facilitate both the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) as well as oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In this paper, we are reporting a simple and effective route to introduce nitrogen functionalities coordinated with Fe to generate ORR active Fe-N4 species. Fe-N-C catalytic sites are known to play an active role towards ORR; however, the higher oxidation state of Fe has been speculated to be good for OER. This method generates a mixture of numerous ORR active and OER active phases. The superior ORR activity of the catalyst, prepared by annealing at 800 °C consists of the mixed phases of Fe-N4, Fe3O4, and Fe3C. The oxygen bifunctional activity measured in terms of ΔE value (1.06 V) makes it suitable for the cathode of an aqueous zinc-air battery. The catalyst remains stable for approximately 63 h of continuous charging-discharging cycles with a high specific capacity of 689 mAh g−1 with a constant charge-discharge voltage gap.
Evaluation of Electrochemical Parameters for Cycle Aging LiCoO2 lithium-Ion Batteries by Quantifying the Incremental Capacity Curve
Authors: Yang Jin-Hao , Chen Kuo-Ching
Published: January 2022

One of the difficulties encountered in the electrochemical theory for modeling the response of aged lithium ion batteries involves finding the evolution of the associated parameters, such as electrode volume fraction and initial lithium ion concentration in electrode at each cycle. This paper proposes an approach, called the first–order compatibility method, to determining the values of these parameters and their cycle evolution. We notice that the lowest point of the first valley in the incremental capacity curve, which presents the first order information about the capacity-voltage relation of a battery in the discharge process, regularly moves to new positions as the cycle number increases. These movements are quantified by performing aging experiments on cycled LiCoO2 cells, and are then linked to the database established by the electrochemical simulations with varying the two selected electrochemical parameters, namely the initial lithium ion concentration in negative electrode and the volume fraction of negative electrode. This approach helps to optimally determine the evolution of the two parameters, which reveals that the former one decreases with increasing cycle number when the cell is cycled at small C rate, and however at high rate the latter one dominates the aging process.
Molecular Dynamics Study of Reaction Conditions at Active Catalyst-Ionomer Interfaces in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells
Authors: Fernández-Alvarez Victor M. , Malek Kourosh , Eikerling Michael H. , Young Alan , Dutta Monica , Kjeang Erik
Published: January 2022

Understanding the local reaction conditions at the catalyst-ionomer interfaces inside of polymer electrolyte fuel cells is vital for improving cell performance and stability. Properties of the water film and distributions of protons and oxygen molecules at the catalyst-ionomer interface are affected by the state of the catalyst and support surfaces and the structure of the ionomer skin layer. In this work, the interfacial region between catalyst and support surface and ionomer skin is simulated using molecular dynamics. This water-filled nanopore model is constructed to study the impact of local charge density, density of sidechains at the ionomer layer, and water layer thickness on the water structure and electrostatic conditions in the pore as well as the transport properties of water, hydronium, and molecular oxygen at the interface. The analysis of the flooded pore model indicates that surface hydrophilicity, represented by water adsorption and the formation of an ordered water layer at the surface, is a major factor determining the interfacial proton density, ionomer sidechain mobility, and interfacial oxygen transport resistance. The results obtained can guide the design of new catalyst materials, where the hydrophilicity of the surface can be tailored to minimize the local proton transport resistance and improve electrode performance.
Acute heat exposure improves microvascular function in skeletal muscle of aged adults
Authors: Richey Rauchelle E. , Hemingway Holden W. , Moore Amy M. , Olivencia-Yurvati Albert H. , Romero Steven A.
Published: January 2022

Acute heat exposure improves microvascular function in aged adults as assessed using reactive hyperemia. The cutaneous and skeletal muscle microcirculations are thought to contribute to this response, but this has never been confirmed due to the methodological challenges associated with differentiating blood flow between these vascular beds. Using the microdialysis technique to bypass the cutaneous circulation, we demonstrated that heat exposure improves endothelial-dependent and endothelial-independent vasodilation in the microcirculation of skeletal muscle in aged humans.
Simulation Testing of Maritime Cyber‐Physical Systems: Application of Model‐View‐ViewModel
Authors: Lee Dong-Chul , Seo Kyung-Min , Park Hee-Mun , Kim Byeong Soo
Published: January 2022

From the perspective of the system of systems development, system‐level functional testing is required for designing subsystems. This study utilizes modeling and simulation techniques to analyze the operational behaviors of the subsystems and confirm data communication between them. The targeted system in the study is a naval combat system (NCS), which is a typical type of defense cyber‐physical system (CPS). Three types of models were designed for the simulation testing of the NCS: a combat‐management model for simulating the overall computational activities, physical models to confirm the intrasubsystem behaviors, and data integration models to test the intersubsystem communications. These models are realized with the Model‐View‐ViewModel design pattern, which strongly facilitates graphical user interfaces being decoupled from model logic and data. We consider underwater combat scenarios as an application. Six significant physical subsystems within the NCS are simulated and tested: a ship‐steering system, an inertial navigation system, a global navigation satellite system, a periscope, sonar systems, and a plotting board. We expect that the proposed work will play a principal role when analyzing the behaviors and communications of defense CPSs and providing an environment for functional testing as a digital twin.
Systematic Pharmacology-Based Strategy to Explore the Molecular Network Mechanism of Modified Taohong Siwu Decoction in the Treatment of Premature Ovarian Failure
Authors: Yuan Xiao , Xiang Wang , Yang Kailin , Liu Huiping , Zhang Guomin , He Qi , Fan Jiapeng
Published: January 2022

Objective. To explore the molecular network mechanism of modified Taohong Siwu Decoction (MTHSWD) to interfere with premature ovarian failure based on systematic pharmacological strategy. Methods. The network pharmacology strategy was used to explore the potential mechanism of MTHSWD intervention in POF, and then it was verified through animal experiments. Mouse zona pellucida 3 was used as an antigen to subcutaneously immunize BALB/c female mice to establish an immune POF model. Mice were divided into MTHSWD low-, medium-, and high-dose groups, positive control group, model group, and normal group. After 30 days of drug intervention, ovarian tissue was taken for pathological hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and immunohistochemical methods were used to detect the expression of TGF-β1 and TGF-βRII and Smad2/3 protein expression in follicular wall granular cells and ovarian tissue, respectively. Results. Network pharmacology studies have shown that MTHSWD may interfere with the TGF-β signaling pathway. Animal experimental research shows that, compared with the model group, the number of ovarian mature follicles in the MTHSWD groups and the positive group was significantly increased, and the number of atresia follicles decreased. Immunohistochemistry showed that, compared with the control group, the expression of TGF-β1, TGF-βRII, and Smad2/3 in the follicular wall granulosa cells and ovarian tissues of MTHSWD groups was significantly higher than that of the model group (

P
<
0.05

). Conclusion. MTHSWD may improve the ovarian function of POF mice by upregulating the protein expression of granulosa cells TGF-β1, TGF-βRII, and Smad2/3.
Analysis of Electromagnetic Interference Effect of the Pulse Interference on the Navigation Receiver
Authors: Huang Xin , Wang Yuming , Chen Yazhou
Published: January 2022

Aiming at the problem that satellite navigation signals are easily interfered by the radio frequency (RF) pulse signal, the electromagnetic interference effect of RF pulse on the navigation receiver is studied in this paper. A mathematical model of the pulse interference signal is established, and we choose the bit error rate (BER) as an indicator of the quality of the BDS signal. It is found that the BER is proportional to the duty cycle of the pulse signal and inversely proportional to the equivalent carrier-to-noise ratio (C/N0) through simulation. Then, an experiment of electromagnetic injection on the BDS receiver has been carried out, which studied the influence of the pulse interference parameters, such as repetition frequency and duty cycle on the C/N0 of the BDS signal and the electromagnetic sensitivity threshold of the receiver. The comparative experiment between the pulse interference and the single-frequency continuous wave (CW) interference was also carried out, and we found that the effect of the pulse interference is better than that of single-frequency CW interference. The former is the correlation interference, and the latter is the blocking interference. Combined with the experiment phenomenon, the interference mechanism was further analyzed according to the relationship between the pulse period and the ranging code period of the navigation signal.
Efficacy and Safety of Qinpi Tongfeng Formula Combined with Bloodletting Therapy in the Treatment of Acute Gouty Arthritis: A Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Lu Hang , Liu Wei , Fan Yihua , Lv Wenliang , Yang Danna , Liu Chunliu , Lin Fangfang
Published: January 2022

Background. Acute gouty arthritis (AGA) is a common arthritis disease, with the characteristics of acute onset, severe condition, and poor prognosis. The conventional treatments have shown certain curative effects but are accompanied with many adverse reactions. The combination of orally taken Qinpi Tongfeng Formula (QPTFF) and bloodletting therapy could effectively alleviate arthralgia and joint swelling in AGA patients. However, there is a lack of high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of the combined therapy against AGA. Methods. This is a prospective, randomized, parallel controlled trial conducted in the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine to explore the efficacy and safety of QPTFF combined with bloodletting therapy in the treatment of AGA. Eighty-six AGA patients meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be randomly divided into the treatment group and control group in a 1 : 1 ratio using a randomization table. The investigators and the patients will not be blinded, while the outcome assessors and statisticians will be blinded to the allocation. Patients in the treatment group will take QPTFF and bloodletting therapy simultaneously, while patients in the control group will be instructed to orally take colchicine tablets. The primary outcome is the total effective rate, and the secondary outcomes are the pain changes after the first treatment, pain scores, complete pain relief time, joint symptom scores, TCM syndrome score, and laboratory test. SPSS22.0 will be used for statistical analysis. Discussion. This study will evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of QPTFF combined with bloodletting therapy in the treatment of AGA, and the results of this study will provide reliable clinical evidence for the clinical use of QPTFF combined with bloodletting in the treatment of AGA. The trial is registered with ChiCTR2100048836.
Mechanism of Yangxinshi Intervention on Cardiac Fibrosis in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy Based on Network Pharmacology
Authors: Kuang Jiangying , Wu Kaiyi , Li Wenjing , Zhang Xuguang , Zhang Hao , Jia Zhiyi , Han Qingmei , Tian Xiaochen , Sun Rong , Lu Qinghua , Liu Yusheng
Published: January 2022

Background. Cardiac fibrosis (CF) is major myocardial change in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). Yangxinshi as a Chinese medicine formula is used to treat cardiovascular diseases. However, the exact effective mechanism of Yangxinshi on CF is still uncertain. Hence, based on the pharmacological network, predicting the active components, potential targets and pathways of Yangxinshi on diabetic fibrosis require to be further studied. Materials and Methods. By using Cytoscape 3.6.0 Bisogenet plug-in, the active components of Yangxinshi were obtained and screened through TCMSP, and the PPI network of DCM-CF was constructed and then screened by CytoNCA plug-in. GO analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were carried out by Cluego plug-in. Combined with the results of network pharmacological analysis, cells in vitro were performed to verify the CF stimulated with high glucose or intervence with Yangxinshi, and the expressions of Cbl-b, p-smad2, and α-SMA were detected. Results. Yangxinshi might play a key role in reversing cardiac fibrosis in individuals with DCM by regulating the signal pathway of CBL and promoted the expression of Cbl-b and inhibited the expression of p-smad2 and α-SMA, verifying some predictive work via network pharmacology. Conclusion. Based on network pharmacology, this study demonstrates that the beneficial effect of Yangxinshi on CF is related to the Cbl-b/smad2 pathway, providing an idea for the therapeutic effect of Yangxinshi on cardiac fibrosis in DCM.
In Vitro and In Vivo Effect of Xylopic Acid on Cytochrome P450 Enzymes
Authors: Agbenyeku Mary A. , Appiah-Opong Regina , Obese Ernest , Biney Robert P. , Adakudugu Emmanuel A. , Forkuo Arnold D. , Osei Silas A. , Abeka Mustapha K. , Ameyaw Elvis O.
Published: January 2022

Introduction. Xylopic acid (XA), the major constituent of the fruit of Xylopia aethiopica, has shown several pharmacological properties. Traditionally, the plant is used to treat several diseases and is being used in the preparation of several local foods despite the lack of information about its safety, food-drug interaction, and other pharmacokinetic properties. This study, therefore, investigated the effect of XA on rat liver cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in vivo and in vitro. Methods. Inhibition or induction of some isoforms of CYP450 enzymes: CYP 1A1/1A2, 1A2, 2B1/2B2, 3A4, 2D6, and 2C9 were investigated using microsomal fractions of the liver obtained from rats pretreated with a low dose of xylopic acid (LDT) 30 mg/kg, high dose of xylopic acid (HDT) 100 mg/kg, phenobarbitone (PC) 80 mg/kg, and ketoconazole (NC) 100 mg/kg, and a no-treatment group received distilled water, with (n = 5) animals in each group. The in vitro inhibition of CYP 3A4 was assessed by treating rat liver microsomes with XA. Results. Xylopic acid induced CYP 1A1/1A2, 1A2, 2D6, and 2C9, inhibited CYP 3A4, and had no effect on 2B1/2B2. Conclusion. The findings would help mitigate toxicity and therapeutic failure especially in cases of coadministration of medications with food containing XA, with metabolism altered by the latter.
Identification of LTF as a Prognostic Biomarker for Osteosarcoma
Authors: Liu Xiaoqi , Wang Zengqiang , Liu Meijiao , Zhi Fengnan , Wang Pengpeng , Liu Xingyu , Yu Shanxiao , Liu Bing , Jiang Yanan
Published: January 2022

Osteosarcoma remains a major health problem in teenagers. However, its pathogenesis mechanism remains not fully elucidated. This study aims to identify the prognostic biomarkers for osteosarcoma. In this study, we selected genes with a median absolute deviation (MAD) value of the top 5000 in the GSE32981 dataset for subsequent analysis. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was used to construct a coexpression network. WGCNA showed that the tan module and midnight blue module were highly correlated with origin and metastases of osteosarcoma, respectively. Enrichment analysis was conducted using genes in the tan module and midnight blue module. A gene coexpression network was constructed by calculating the Spearman correlation coefficients. Four key genes (LTF, C10orf107, HIST1H2AK, and NEXN) were identified to be correlated with the prognosis of osteosarcoma patients. LTF has the highest AUC value, and its effect on osteosarcoma cells was then evaluated. The effect of LTF overexpression on proliferation, migration, and invasion of MG63 and 143B cells was detected by the CCK-8 assay, transwell cell migration assay, and transwell invasion assay, respectively. The overexpression of LTF promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of MG63 and 143B cells. In conclusion, LTF may serve as a prognostic biomarker for osteosarcoma.
Cytotoxicity of Dental Cements on Soft Tissue Associated with Dental Implants
Authors: Bajantri Prashant , Rodrigues Shobha J. , Shama Prasada K. , Pai Umesh Y. , Shetty Thilak , Saldanha Sharon , Mahesh M. , Hegde Puneeth , Sales Ann , Mukherjee Sandipan , Kamath Vignesh
Published: January 2022

Purpose. To investigate and compare the cellular host response of human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) on four currently used cements. Methods and Material. 5 cement pellet samples were made for each of the 4 test cements (n = 20). The cements used for this study were zinc phosphate, zinc oxide noneugenol (ZOE), RelyX U200, and glass ionomer cement (GIC). One commercially available cell line was used to investigate the cytotoxicity of peri-implant tissues. Direct contact cell culture testing was conducted following International Organization for Standardization (ISO) methods 10993-5 and 10993-12 (MTT assay test). Cell cultures without dental cement were considered as control. Cells were allowed to grow and confluence over 48 hours after subcultivation according to standard laboratory procedures. The cells were kept in direct contact with the cement samples for 24 hours before being subjected to analysis. All specimens were tested in triplicate to validate the results. Quantitative evaluation of cytotoxicity was done to measure cell death and inhibition of cell growth. Results were analyzed using 1-way ANOVA (a = 0.05) followed by Tukey B post hoc test. Results. The results of the study showed that HGF was vulnerable to the dental cement test material. GIC, zinc phosphate, ZOE, and resin cement were cytotoxic in decreasing order, respectively, and significantly reduced the cell viability after exposure to HGF

p
<
0.001

. Conclusions. Within the limitations of this in vitro cellular study, results indicated that the test dental cements were cytotoxic to HGF. The highest cytotoxicity was observed in GIC followed by zinc phosphate, ZOE, and resin cement.
DCNN-GCM: A Deep CNN and Granger Causality Models for Forecasting Welfare Level of Energy-Producing Countries and Evaluating the Relationship between Energy Consumption and Sustainable Economic Welfare
Authors: Hoseinbor Nasser , Mousavi Seyed Nematollah , Aminifard Abbas
Published: January 2022

From the beginning of creation, human beings have realized the importance of energy for survival. They have always devoted a significant part of their energy to provide the required energy. Moreover, it can be said that energy resources have an essential role in the life and evolvement of societies. On the contrary, with the depletion of energy resources, severe environmental pollution caused by the consumption of petroleum products, and high cost of energy in the production cycle, allocating these resources must be carried out carefully. This paper aims to look at the connection between energy consumption and sustainable economic welfare in OPEC countries (Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Ecuador, and Venezuela) during 2019–2009, utilizing the panel data method. Finally, we presented a CNN architecture for forecasting welfare levels in the case study countries. As a result, the relationship between energy consumption and economic growth among selected countries from energy-producing countries was compared in this analysis, which used the standard Granger causality test and the Granger causality test in several domains. The findings suggest that economic growth and inflation positively impact energy consumption in the countries studied. In addition, energy consumption positively impacts these countries’ sustainable economic welfare, while inflation has a negative effect. In addition, the findings of the standard Granger causality test indicate a one-way causal association between energy consumption and economic development in Iran and Venezuela, as well as one-way causality from GDP to energy consumption in Ecuador, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. Also, based on the results of the CNN method, the RMSE are 1.75, 3.81, 1.39, 0.52, 0.69, and 1.72 for Ecuador, Emirates, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Venezuela, respectively.
Investigation of the Water Draining Process Pushed by Gas for U-Type and Z-Type Manifolds
Authors: Li Weibao , Yang Lei , Chen Junling , Hu Jiansheng , Guo Bin , Zhu Lili
Published: January 2022

In the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST), the cooling channels of plasma-facing components (PFCs) are familiarly connected in parallel through manifolds. According to the drainage performance of the PFCs, the amount of water trapped in the cooling channels is directly correlated with the type of manifolds. To date, manifold types have been well studied with respect to single-phase and mixed multiphase flow characteristics. However, there are few studies on the drainage performance relevant to the type of manifolds. The friction effect and inertia effect in the manifold intake and exhaust are studied through theoretical analysis. In addition, the draining liquid effect in the branches is dependent on the pressure difference and the resistance coefficient. Furthermore, U-type and Z-type manifolds are studied with FLUENT to discuss their drainage capability in this study. The distribution of the water volume fraction, pressure, and flow ratio is obtained to verify that the Z type is more effective than the U type when applied in the drainage process. This is also supported by comparing the experimental value of the two in drainage discharge. This study will provide a theoretical basis for future upgrades of EAST drainage systems.
Isolation and Characterization of Diesel-Degrading Bacteria from Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Sites, Flower Farms, and Soda Lakes
Authors: Bekele Gessesse Kebede , Gebrie Solomon Abera , Mekonen Eshetu , Fida Tekle Tafese , Woldesemayat Adugna Abdi , Abda Ebrahim M. , Tafesse Mesfin , Assefa Fasil
Published: January 2022

Hydrocarbon-derived pollutants are becoming one of the most concerning ecological issues. Thus, there is a need to investigate and develop innovative, low-cost, eco-friendly, and fast techniques to reduce and/or eliminate pollutants using biological agents. The study was conducted to isolate, characterize, and identify potential diesel-degrading bacteria. Samples were collected from flower farms, lakeshores, old aged garages, asphalt, and bitumen soils and spread on selective medium (Bushnell Haas mineral salt agar) containing diesel as the growth substrate. The isolates were characterized based on their growth patterns using optical density measurement, biochemical tests, and gravimetric analysis and identified using the Biolog database and 16S rRNA gene sequencing techniques. Subsequently, six diesel degraders were identified and belong to Pseudomonas, Providencia, Roseomonas, Stenotrophomonas, Achromobacter, and Bacillus. Among these, based on gravimetric analysis, the three potent isolates AAUW23, AAUG11, and AAUG36 achieved 84%, 83.4%, and 83% diesel degradation efficiency, respectively, in 15 days. Consequently, the partial 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the two most potent bacterial strains (AAUW23 and AAUG11) were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, while AAUG36 was Bacillus subtilis. This study demonstrated that bacterial species isolated from hydrocarbon-contaminated and/or uncontaminated environments could be optimized to be used as potential bioremediation agents for diesel removal.
Redox Metabolism-Associated Molecular Classification of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Wei Xiangling , Deng Weiming , Dong Zhanwen , Luo You , Hu Xiao , Zhang Jinhua , Xie Zhenwei , Zheng Tong , Tan Yuqin , Tang Zuofu , Li Heng , Na Ning
Published: January 2022

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common subtype of renal cell carcinoma. Redox metabolism has been recognized as the hallmark of cancer. But the concrete role of redox-related genes in patient stratification of ccRCC remains unknown. Herein, we aimed to characterize the molecular features of ccRCC based on the redox gene expression profiles from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Differentially expressed redox genes (DERGs) and vital genes in metabolism regulation were identified and analyzed in the ccRCC. Consensus clustering was performed to divide patients into three clusters (C1, C2, and C3) based on 139 redox genes with median

FPKM
 
value
>
1

. We analyzed the correlation of clusters with clinicopathological characteristics, immune infiltration, gene mutation, and response to immunotherapy. Subclass C1 was metabolic active with moderate prognosis and associated with glucose, lipid, and protein metabolism. C2 had intermediate metabolic activity with worse prognosis and correlated with more tumor mutation burden, neoantigen, and aneuploidy, indicating possible drug sensitivities towards immune checkpoint inhibitors. Metabolic exhausted subtype C3 showed high cytolytic activity score, suggesting better prognosis than C1 and C2. Moreover, the qRT-PCR was performed to verify the expression of downregulated DERGs including ALDH6A1, ALDH1L1, GLRX5, ALDH1A3, and GSTM3, and upregulated SHMT1 in ccRCC. Overall, our study provides an insight into the characteristics of molecular classification of ccRCC patients based on redox genes, thereby deepening the understanding of heterogeneity of ccRCC and allowing prediction of prognosis of ccRCC patients.
The Effects of Different Classes of Antihypertensive Drugs on Patients with COVID-19 and Hypertension: A Mini-Review
Authors: Nozari Farnoosh , Hamidizadeh Nasrin
Published: January 2022

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Previous studies showed that patients with hypertension are at an increased risk of developing severe COVID-19 infection. Therefore, proper blood pressure control in hypertensive patients with COVID-19 is of great importance. In this review, we discussed the effects of different classes of antihypertensive drugs on patients with hypertension and COVID-19.
Computation of Topological Indices of Double and Strong Double Graphs of Circumcoronene Series of Benzenoid (Hm)
Authors: Sardar Muhammad Shoaib , Siddique Imran , Alrowaili Dalal , Ali Muhammad Asad , Akhtar Shehnaz
Published: January 2022

Topological indices are very useful to assume certain physiochemical properties of the chemical compound. A molecular descriptor which changes the molecular structures into certain real numbers is said to be a topological index. In chemical graph theory, to create quantitative structure activity relationships in which properties of molecule may be linked with their chemical structures relies greatly on topological indices. The benzene molecule is a common chemical shape in chemistry, physics, and nanoscience. This molecule could be very beneficial to synthesize fragrant compounds. The circumcoronene collection of benzenoid Hm is one family that generates from benzene molecules. The purpose of this study is to calculate the topological indices of the double and strong double graphs of the circumcoronene series of benzenoids (Hm). In addition, we also present a numerical and graphical comparison of topological indices of the double and strong double graphs of the circumcoronene series of benzenoid (Hm).
The Coupling Relationship between Urban Resilience Level and Urbanization Level in Hefei
Authors: Hong Tao , Wang Bing , Li Lulu
Published: January 2022

Urban resilience and urbanization have been researched wildly by urban researchers. The coupling relationship between the level of urban resilience and urbanization is a considerable reference to assess the quality of urban development. Based on the correlation of objective index data, it theoretically explains whether the urban resilience level is coupled with the urbanization level and the degree of coupling, providing advice and wisdom for the future high-quality urban development of Hefei. Objective. To explore whether there is coupling between the urbanization level and the urban resilience level and to explore what extent of the coupling is. Research Methods. The dimensionless method was mainly used to standardize the original statistical data, the entropy method can be chosen to obtain the weight of the indexes of urbanization level and urban resilience level, and the coupling coordination model was chosen to study the degree of coupling coordination. Research conclusions. From 2011 to 2013, the coupling coordinate on degree was low. The coupling coordination level of urbanization and urban resilience was moderately unbalanced in 2011, mild disorder in 2012, and primary coordination in 2013. However, in 2014 and 2015, the situation improved a lot, and the coordination degree was intermediate coordination. From 2016 to 2019, the coupling coordination degree was in the stage of advanced coordination.
Intelligent Model for Brain Tumor Identification Using Deep Learning
Authors: Khan Abdul Hannan , Abbas Sagheer , Khan Muhammad Adnan , Farooq Umer , Khan Wasim Ahmad , Siddiqui Shahan Yamin , Ahmad Aiesha
Published: January 2022

Brain tumors can be a major cause of psychiatric complications such as depression and panic attacks. Quick and timely recognition of a brain tumor is more effective in tumor healing. The processing of medical images plays a crucial role in assisting humans in identifying different diseases. The classification of brain tumors is a significant part that depends on the expertise and knowledge of the physician. An intelligent system for detecting and classifying brain tumors is essential to help physicians. The novel feature of the study is the division of brain tumors into glioma, meningioma, and pituitary using a hierarchical deep learning method. The diagnosis and tumor classification are significant for the quick and productive cure, and medical image processing using a convolutional neural network (CNN) is giving excellent outcomes in this capacity. CNN uses the image fragments to train the data and classify them into tumor types. Hierarchical Deep Learning-Based Brain Tumor (HDL2BT) classification is proposed with the help of CNN for the detection and classification of brain tumors. The proposed system categorizes the tumor into four types: glioma, meningioma, pituitary, and no-tumor. The suggested model achieves 92.13% precision and a miss rate of 7.87%, being superior to earlier methods for detecting and segmentation brain tumors. The proposed system will provide clinical assistance in the area of medicine.