bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High-Quality Draft Genome Sequence of Fischerella thermalis JSC-11, a Siderophilic Cyanobacterium with Bioremediation Potential
Authors: Brown Igor , Woyke Tanja , Ivanova Natalia , Shapiro Nicole , Alcorta Jaime , Chistoserdov Andrei , Pan Donald , Sarkisova Svetlana , Tringe Susannah G.
Published: October 2022

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of the siderophilic cyanobacterium
Fischerella thermalis
JSC-11, which was isolated from an iron-depositing hot spring. JSC-11 has bioremediation potential because it is capable of both extracellular absorption and intracellular mineralization of colloidal iron. This genomic information will facilitate the exploration of JSC-11 for bioremediation.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Tomato Stem Endophyte Bacillus safensis TS3
Authors: Chebotar Vladimir K. , Gancheva Maria S. , Voshol Gerben P. , Malfanova Natalia V. , Karasev Evgenyi S. , Chizhevskaya Elena P. , Zaplatkin Alexander N. , Khiutti Alexander V. , Lazarev Alexander M. , Gadjiev Nadim M. , Lebedeva Vera A. , Balakina Svetlana V.
Published: October 2022

Tomato stem endophyte
Bacillus safensis
TS3 was isolated from surface-sterilized stems of greenhouse tomato plants. Here, we sequenced the complete genome of this strain to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying its beneficial activities.
Draft Genome Sequence of Clinical Isolate USM039K of the Pathogenic Yeast Candida parapsilosis
Authors: Yamin Dina , Wan Juhari Wan Khairunnisa , Hanis Zainal Abidin NurWaliyuddin , Mat-Sharani Shuhaila , Harun Azian
Published: October 2022

Here, we announce the draft genome sequence of a
Candida parapsilosis
clinical isolate (USM039K) recovered from a patient with catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI). The genome size is 12,860,016 bp long, with 188 scaffolds, a G+C content of 38.65%, and 5,467 genes.
Quantitative Stable-Isotope Probing (qSIP) with Metagenomics Links Microbial Physiology and Activity to Soil Moisture in Mediterranean-Climate Grassland Ecosystems
Authors: Greenlon Alex , Sieradzki Ella , Zablocki Olivier , Koch Benjamin J. , Foley Megan M. , Kimbrel Jeffrey A. , Hungate Bruce A. , Blazewicz Steven J. , Nuccio Erin E. , Sun Christine L. , Chew Aaron , Mancilla Cynthia-Jeanette , Sullivan Matthew B. , Firestone Mary , Pett-Ridge Jennifer , Banfield Jillian F.
Published: October 2022

Soil moisture is a critical factor that strongly shapes the lifestyle of soil organisms by changing access to nutrients, controlling oxygen diffusion, and regulating the potential for mobility. We identified active microorganisms in three grassland soils with similar mineral contexts, yet different historic rainfall inputs, by adding water labeled with a stable isotope and tracking that isotope in DNA of growing microbes.
Sar1 Interacts with Sec23/Sec24 and Sec13/Sec31 Complexes: Insight into Its Involvement in the Assembly of Coat Protein Complex II in the Microsporidian Nosema bombycis
Authors: Sun Fuzhen , Wang Runpeng , He Ping , Wei Erjun , Wang Qiang , Tang Xudong , Zhang Yiling , Zhu Feng , Shen Zhongyuan
Published: October 2022

As eukaryotes, microsporidia have retained the endomembrane system for transporting and sorting proteins throughout their evolution. Whether the microsporidia form coat protein complex II (COPII) vesicles to transport cargo proteins and whether they play other roles besides cargo transport are not fully explained at present.
Editing of a Specific Strain of Escherichia coli in the Mouse Gut Using Native Phages
Authors: Ping Li , Zhuoya Li , Pei Jia , Jingchao Chen , Yi Li , Guosheng Liu , Hailei Wang
Published: October 2022

This report describes a gut engineering technique for investigation of the functions of a specific bacterium. Native phages with host specificity can knock down the corresponding
E. coli
strain in the mouse gut with limited perturbation of microbial diversity and relative abundance, indicating that they, as a microbial editing tool, can effectively edit the abundance of a target bacterium.
Hexyl-Aminolevulinate Ethosomes: a Novel Antibiofilm Agent Targeting Zinc Homeostasis in Candida albicans
Authors: Wang Yingzhe , Long Wei , Zhang Feiyin , Zhang Meimei , Zeng Kang , Zhu Xiaoliang
Published: October 2022

Candida albicans
is the most prevalent fungal species of the human microbiota. The medical impact of
C. albicans
on its human host depends on its ability to form biofilms.
Geobacter sulfurreducens’ Unique Metabolism Results in Cells with a High Iron and Lipid Content
Authors: Howley Ethan , Ki Dongwon , Krajmalnik-Brown Rosa , Torres César I.
Published: October 2022

Geobacter sulfurreducens
is an electroactive microorganism. In nature, it grows on metallic minerals by transferring electrons to them, effectively “breathing” metals.
Diversified Shifts in the Cross Talk between Members of the Gut Microbiota and Development of Coronary Artery Diseases
Authors: Zhang Tao , Ren Haiqing , Du Zhihui , Zou Tong , Guang Xuefeng , Zhang Yanan , Tian Yuqing , Zhu Lei , Yu Jiangkun , Yu Xue , Zhang Zhigang , Dai Hailong
Published: October 2022

Our study discovered the effect of confounding factors on gut microbial variations and identified gut microbial indicators possibly associated with the CAD development after noise correction. Our discovered indicator microbes may have potential for diagnosis or therapy of cardiovascular disorders.
A Novel Inovirus Reprograms Metabolism and Motility of Marine
Alteromonas
Authors: Jia Kuntong , Peng Yongyi , Chen Xueji , Jian Huahua , Jin Min , Yi Zhiwei , Su Ming , Dong Xiyang , Yi Meisheng
Published: October 2022

Alteromonas
is widely distributed and plays a vital role in biogeochemical in marine environments. However, little information about
Alteromonas
phages is available.
Economic evaluations of fall prevention exercise programs: a systematic review
Authors: Pinheiro Marina B , Sherrington Catherine , Howard Kirsten , Caldwell Patrick , Tiedemann Anne , Wang Belinda , S Oliveira Juliana , Santos Andreia , Bull Fiona C , Willumsen Juana F , Michaleff Zoe A , Ferguson Sarah , Mayo Eleesheva , Fairhall Nicola J , Bauman Adrian E , Norris Sarah
Published: October 2022

Objective

To investigate cost-effectiveness and costs of fall prevention exercise programmes for older adults.

Design

Systematic review.

Data sources

Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, National Institute for Health Research Economic Evaluation Database, Health Technology Assessment database, Tufts Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Registry, Research Papers in Economics and EconLit (inception to May 2022).

Eligibility criteria for study selection

Economic evaluations (trial-based or model-based) and costing studies investigating fall prevention exercise programmes versus no intervention or usual care for older adults living in the community or care facilities, and reporting incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for fall-related outcomes or quality-adjusted life years (QALY, expressed as cost/QALY) and/or intervention costs.

Results

31 studies were included. For community-dwelling older adults (21 economic evaluations, 6 costing studies), results ranged from more effective and less costly (dominant) interventions up to an ICER of US$279 802/QALY gained and US$11 986/fall prevented (US$ in 2020). Assuming an arbitrary willingness-to-pay threshold (US$100 000/QALY), most results (17/24) were considered cost-effective (moderate certainty). The greatest value for money (lower ICER/QALY gained and fall prevented) appeared to accrue for older adults and those with high fall risk, but unsupervised exercise appeared to offer poor value for money (higher ICER/QALY). For care facilities (two economic evaluations, two costing studies), ICERs ranged from dominant (low certainty) to US$35/fall prevented (moderate certainty). Overall, intervention costs varied and were poorly reported.

Conclusions

Most economic evaluations investigated fall prevention exercise programmes for older adults living in the community. There is moderate certainty evidence that fall prevention exercise programmes are likely to be cost-effective. The evidence for older adults living in care facilities is more limited but promising.

PROSPERO registration number

PROSPERO 2020 CRD42020178023.
Investigation of the plasma parameters induced from a silver source in air using Boltzmann–Blott approach
Authors: Noori Aiyah S. , Abdalameer Nisreen kh. , Mazhir Sabah N. , Mohammed Mustafa K. A.
Published: October 2022

In this paper, the influence of laser irradiance on the plasma characteristics of a silver target is investigated in relation to one another. A Q-switched nanosecond Nd:YAG laser with the fundamental harmonic wavelength (1064 nm) and an irradiance ranging from [Formula: see text] W/cm2to [Formula: see text] W/cm2was used to irradiate these matrices. The irradiance was measured at atmospheric pressure. Temperature of the plasma and the electron density were calculated for different laser intensities of silver based on their oxidation states. The Boltzmann plot and the Stark broadening technique were used to compute the properties of the plasma ([Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. Based on the findings, it is clear that the temperature of the electrons in the Ag plasma does not increase linearly with increasing laser irradiation. These variations in the temperatures of the electrons in those matrices are brought on by matrix effects. On the other hand, an increase in laser irradiance was shown to cause an increase in electron density, which resulted in a widening of the line profiles associated to electron density.
MOSFET-C Shadow Filters Based on FDCCII for Cognitive Communications
Authors: Serdar Hasan
Published: October 2022

In cognitive communications, it is very important to be able to use data in different standards with a single receiver for reducing the cost. In order to achieve this, the application of shadow filters in cognitive communications provides an advantage in terms of having both a wide frequency range and an easy reconfiguration. In this paper, new MOSFET-C shadow filters based on the Fully Differential Second-Generation Current Conveyor (FDCCII) are proposed for cognitive communications. To facilitate electronic tuning of the filter parameters, MOSFET-C-based implementation is used. Fully differential applications increase the dynamic range of analog blocks. Also, fully differential implementations with MOSFET-C filters are useful in analog signal processing. The presented filters have the least number of components and no additional summing circuit. This study presents new FDCCII-based MOSFET-C shadow filters for cognitive communications design that provide HP, LP and BP transfer functions at the same time. In this study, two MOSFET-C shadow filters based on FDCCII are designed for single gain and double gain. The presented filters offer circuit simplicity compared to past shadow filter designs. The features of these new shadow filters are explained. Simulation results are presented to confirm the theoretical analysis.
Optimization Approach in Window Function Design for Real-Time Filter Applications
Authors: Serbet Fatmanur , Kaya Turgay
Published: October 2022

Eliminating the Gibbs oscillations that occur during the Finite Impulse Response (FIR) digital filter design with the Fourier Series method will ensure correct filtering. For this reason, the development of the window improves the performance of the filter and, therefore, the system. In this study, the cosh window function is designed using Particle Swarm Optimization, which is a preferred optimization method in many areas. Thus, alternatives to the standard results obtained from the existing traditional calculations will be produced, and different windows that perform the same function will be obtained. In addition, exponential and cosh window functions were designed in LabVIEW environment, which is a graphical programming language-based program, and the designed windows were analyzed at different parameter values. LabVIEW provides a fast and easy programming environment, and it provides the opportunity to realize real-time applications with its external hardware. Utilizing this feature, the amplitude spectrum of cosh window designed in LabVIEW is displayed in real time for different window parameter values. As a result, FIR digital filters were designed using cosh window based on optimization and the cosh window designed in LabVIEW, and the distorted EEG signal was filtered using these filters and displayed in real time.
Proof for strong ascendancy of short range effects on inelastic form factors in some open fp-shell nuclei
Authors: Fadhil Sanna N. , Abdalsattar Sarrah I. , Al-Rahmani Altaf A.
Published: October 2022

Short range effects on inelastic C2 form factors in some open fp nuclei ([Formula: see text]Ti, [Formula: see text]Cr, [Formula: see text]Fe and [Formula: see text]Zn) have been researched. The charge densities in these isotopes have been also researched by the one and two particle components of cluster series using single-particle wavefunctions of the harmonic oscillator potential. The short range effects have been inserted into the two particle components of cluster series employing the Jastrow form correlation. The total form factors of isotopes under consideration arise from the model space and core-polarization participations. The one-body density matrix elements (which are needed for computing the model space transition charge density) of valence nucleons for the transition [Formula: see text] have been computed by accomplishment of shell model calculations using the OXBASH code with various interactions. The shape of Tassie model has been adopted for computing the core-polarization transition charge density. The present computations are reliant on b (oscillator parameter) and [Formula: see text] (correlation parameter), where these parameters have been created independently for each individual nucleus by fitting the computed elastic form factors to those of experimental ones. This study provides a proof for strong ascendancy of short range effects on the present calculations, where inclusion of short range correlations on computations seems to be required for performing a notable modification in the computed outcomes which sequentially causes to elucidate the experimental data astoundingly in the momentum transfer under consideration.
Security and Energy Aware Clustering-Based Routing in Wireless Sensor Network: Hybrid Nature-Inspired Algorithm for Optimal Cluster Head Selection
Authors: Biradar Mallanagouda , Mathapathi Basavaraj
Published: October 2022

One of the significant approaches in implementing the routing of WSNs is clustering that leads to scalability and extending of network lifetime. In the clustered WSN, cluster heads (CHs) utilize maximum energy to another node. Moreover, it balanced the load present in the sensor nodes (SNs) between the CHS for enhancing the network lifespan. Moreover, the CH plays an important part in efficient routing, as well as it must be selected in an optimal way. Thus, this work intends to introduce a cluster-based routing approach in WSN, where it selects the CHs by the optimization algorithm. A new hybrid seagull rock swarm with opposition-based learning (HSROBL) is introduced for this purpose, which is the hybridized concept of rock hyraxes swarm optimization (RHSO) and seagull optimization algorithm (SOA). Further, the optimal CH selection is based on various parameters including distance, security, delay, and energy. At the end, the outcomes of the presented approach are analyzed to extant algorithms based on delay, alive nodes, average throughput, and residual energy, respectively. Based on throughput, alive node, residual energy, as well as delay, the overall improvement in performance is about 28.50%.
A study of conformal almost Ricci solitons on Kenmotsu manifolds
Authors: Sarkar Sumanjit , Dey Santu , Bhattacharyya Arindam
Published: October 2022

The goal of this paper is to study conformal almost Ricci solitons within the framework of Kenmotsu manifolds. First, we demonstrate that if the potential vector field is Jacobi along the Reeb vector field, then the soliton reduces to a conformal Ricci soliton. If the manifold is [Formula: see text]-Einstein Kenmotsu manifold, we show that either the manifold is of constant scalar curvature or the potential vector field is an infinitesimal contact transformation. In addition, if we consider the soliton vector field as a contact vector field, then either the gradient of [Formula: see text] is pointwise collinear with the Reeb vector field or the manifold becomes [Formula: see text]-Einstein. Lastly, we develop an example of a conformal almost Ricci soliton on the Kenmotsu manifold.
About this title - Ice Ages, Climate Dynamics and Biotic Events: the Late Pennsylvanian World
Authors: Lucas S. G. , DiMichele W. A. , Opluštil S. , Wang X.
Published: October 2022

The Middle through Late Pennsylvanian was a time of ice ages, climate dynamics and a turning point in terrestrial biotic evolution. This provides a laboratory for studying changes in a glacial world. This book focuses on a dynamic Late Pennsylvanian world that bears close comparison to the late Cenozoic world.
A Review on Methods and Applications in Multimodal Deep Learning
Authors: Jabeen Summaira , Li Xi , Amin Muhammad Shoib , Bourahla Omar , Li Songyuan , Jabbar Abdul
Published: October 2022

Deep Learning has implemented a wide range of applications and has become increasingly popular in recent years. The goal of multimodal deep learning (MMDL) is to create models that can process and link information using various modalities. Despite the extensive development made for unimodal learning, it still cannot cover all the aspects of human learning. Multimodal learning helps to understand and analyze better when various senses are engaged in the processing of information. This article focuses on multiple types of modalities, i.e., image, video, text, audio, body gestures, facial expressions, physiological signals, flow, RGB, pose, depth, mesh, and point cloud. Detailed analysis of the baseline approaches and an in-depth study of recent advancements during the past five years (2017 to 2021) in multimodal deep learning applications has been provided. A fine-grained taxonomy of various multimodal deep learning methods is proposed, elaborating on different applications in more depth. Last, main issues are highlighted separately for each domain, along with their possible future research directions.
Harnessing Collective Differences in Crowdsourcing Behaviour for Mass Photogrammetry of 3D Cultural Heritage
Authors: Cheng Danzhao , Ch’ng Eugene
Published: October 2022

Disorganised and self-organised crowdsourcing activities that harness collective behaviours to achieve a specific level of performance and task completeness are not well understood. Such phenomena become indistinct when highly varied environments are present, particularly for crowdsourcing photogrammetry-based 3D models. Mass photogrammetry can democratise traditional close-range photogrammetry procedures by outsourcing image acquisition tasks to a crowd of non-experts to capture geographically scattered 3D objects. To improve public engagement, we need to understand how individual behaviour in collective efforts work in traditional disorganised crowdsourcing and how it can be organised for better performance. This research aims to investigate the effectiveness of disorganised and self-organised collaborative crowdsourcing. It examines the collaborative dynamics among participants and the trends we could leverage if team structures were incorporated. Two scenarios were proposed and constructed: asynchronous crowdsourcing, which implicitly aggregates isolated contributions from disorganised individuals; and synchronous collaborative crowdsourcing, which assigns participants into a crowd-based self-organised team. Our experiment demonstrated that a self-organised team working in synchrony can effectively improve crowdsourcing photogrammetric 3D models in terms of model completeness and user experience. Through our study, we demonstrated that this crowdsourcing mechanism can provide a social context where participants can exchange information via implicit communication, and collectively build a shared mental model that pertains to their responsibilities and task goals. It stimulates participants’ prosocial motivation and reinforces their commitment. With more time and effort invested, their positive sense of ownership increases, fostering higher dedication and better contribution. Our findings shed further light on the potentials of adopting team structures to encourage effective collaborations in conventionally individual-based voluntary crowdsourcing settings, especially in the digital heritage domain.
FastCNN: Towards Fast and Accurate Spatiotemporal Network for HEVC Compressed Video Enhancement
Authors: Huang Zhijie , Sun Jun , Guo Xiaopeng
Published: October 2022

Deep neural networks have achieved remarkable success in HEVC compressed video quality enhancement. However, most existing multiframe-based methods either deliver unsatisfactory results or consume a significant amount of resources to leverage temporal information of neighboring frames. For the sake of practicality, a thorough investigation of the architecture design of the video quality enhancement network regarding enhancement performance, model parameters, and running speed is essential. In this article, we first propose an efficient alignment module that can quickly and accurately aggregate the spatiotemporal information of neighboring frames. The proposed module estimates deformable offsets progressively in lower-resolution space motivated by the observation of offset correlations between adjacent pixels. Then, the
quantization parameter (QP)
that represents compression level prior knowledge is utilized to guide aligned feature enhancement. By combining alignment feature distillation with residual feature correction, we obtain an efficient QP attention block. To save the storage space of the network, we design a hash buffer to store QP embedding features. These efficient components allow our network to effectively exploit temporal redundancies and obtain favorable enhancement capability while maintaining a lightweight structure and fast running speed. Extensive experiments demonstrate that the proposed approach outperforms state-of-the-art methods over different QPs by up to 0.09 to 0.11 dB, whereas the inference time can be reduced by up to 69%.
Collaboration, not Confrontation: Understanding General Practitioners’ Attitudes Towards Natural Language and Text Automation in Clinical Practice
Authors: Fraile Navarro David , Kocaballi A. Baki , Dras Mark , Berkovsky Shlomo
Published: October 2022

General Practitioners are among the primary users and curators of textual electronic health records, highlighting the need for technologies supporting record access and administration. Recent advancements in natural language processing facilitate the development of clinical systems, automating some time-consuming record-keeping tasks. However, it remains unclear what automation tasks would benefit clinicians most, what features such automation should exhibit, and how clinicians will interact with the automation. We conducted semi-structured interviews with General Practitioners uncovering their views and attitudes toward text automation. The main emerging theme was doctor-AI collaboration, addressing a reciprocal clinician-technology relationship that does not threaten to substitute clinicians, but rather establishes a constructive synergistic relationship. Other themes included: (i) desired features for clinical text automation; (ii) concerns around clinical text automation; and (iii) the consultation of the future. Our findings will inform the design of future natural language processing systems, to be implemented in general practice.
Between Principle and Pragmatism: Reflections on Prototyping Computational Media with Webstrates
Authors: Borowski Marcel , Fog Bjarke V. , Griggio Carla F. , Eagan James R. , Klokmose Clemens N.
Published: October 2022

Computational media describes a vision of software, which, in contrast to application-centric software, is (1) malleable, so users can modify existing functionality, (2) computable, so users can run custom code, (3) distributable, so users can open documents across different devices, and (4) shareable, so users can easily share and collaborate on documents. Over the last ten years, the Webstrates and Codestrates projects aimed at realizing this vision of computational media. Webstrates is a server application that synchronizes the DOM of websites. Codestrates builds on top of Webstrates and adds an authoring environment, which blurs the use and development of applications. Grounded in a chronology of the development of Webstrates and Codestrates, we present eight tensions that we needed to balance during their development. We use these tensions as an analytical lens in three case studies and a game challenge in which participants created games using Codestrates. We discuss the results of the game challenge based on these tensions and present key takeaways for six of them. Finally, we present six lessons learned from our endeavor to realize the vision of computational media, demonstrating the balancing act of weighing the vision against the pragmatics of implementing a working system.
CmpCNN: CMP Modeling with Transfer Learning CNN Architecture
Authors: Zhang Qing , Huang Huajie , Li Jizuo , Zhang Yuhang , Li Yongfu
Published: October 2022

Performing
chemical mechanical polishing (CMP)
modeling for physical verification on an
integrated circuit (IC)
chip is vital to minimize its manufacturing yield loss. Traditional CMP models calculate post-CMP topography height of the IC’s layout based on physical principles and empirical experiments, which is computationally costly and time-consuming. In this work, we propose a CmpCNN framework based on
convolutional neural networks (CNNs)
with a transfer learning method to accelerate the CMP modeling process. It utilizes a multi-input strategy by feeding the binary image of layout and its density into our CNN-based model to extract features more efficiently. The transfer learning method is adopted to different CMP process parameters and different categories of circuits to further improve its prediction accuracy and convergence speed. Experimental results show that our CmpCNN framework achieves a competitive
root mean square error (
RMSE
)
of 2.7733Å with 1.89× reduction compared to the prior work, and a 57× speedup compared to the commercial CMP simulation tool.
Redox-Mediated and Microwave-Assisted Thiol Activation: Two Approaches to Unsymmetrical Disulfides Synthesis
Authors: Burmistrova Daria A. , Galustyan Andrey , Smolyaninov Ivan V. , Berberova Nadezhda T.
Published: October 2022

Two approaches to synthesis of unsymmetrical disulfides based on different types of thiol activation, namely, an electrochemical method in the presence of a redox mediator and a microwave irradiation, were discussed. The mediated electrosynthesis procedures were carried out by the oxidative coupling of thiols or by the thiol-disulfide exchange in the presence of redox pairs—substituted o-aminophenol/o-iminobenzoquinone. It has been established that the formation of unsymmetrical disulfides under electrochemical conditions occurs as a result of both the oxidative coupling of sulfur-centered radicals, and a redox-mediator promoted thiol-disulfide exchange, which led to a high yield of heterodimeric products (89%–99%). The microwave-assisted synthesis made it possible to obtain the target products with yields of 13%–86% depending on different irradiation parameters such as power, temperature, and irradiation duration. However, this method requires a rigorous selection of conditions for each reaction and is therefore inferior to the electrochemical approach.
Novel Electrochemical Aptasensor Based on Floral Zinc Oxide/Reduced Graphene Oxide/Colloidal Gold Composite for the Detection of Tetracycline, Doxycycline and Oxytetracycline in Milk
Authors: Guan Fukai , Dong Haowei , Xiang Yaodong , Zhang Mei , Huang Jingcheng , Wang Guanjie , Shen Zheng , Xu Deyan , Sun Xia , Guo Yemin , Zhao Shancang
Published: October 2022

In this research, an electrochemical aptamer sensor based on the specific recognition of tetracycline, doxycycline and oxytetracycline was developed through flower-like zinc oxide/reduced graphene oxide/nano-gold composites. Firstly, floral zinc oxide had a large contact area, which bound more gold nanoparticles, and bound more adapters through Au–S bonds. Next, due to the poor conductivity of floral zinc oxide, the combination of floral zinc oxide and rGO was able to improve the conductivity. Finally, the rGO–ZnO–AuNPs composite was used as a platform to improve the electron transport rate on the glassy carbon electrode surface, enhance the electrochemical strength, and provide enough active sites for the capture of aptamers. After condition optimization, the lowest detection concentrations for tetracycline, doxycycline and oxytetracycline were 0.33, 0.28 and 0.3 ng·ml−1 respectively. In addition, this aptasensor had good stability, selectivity, anti-interference and reproducibility. It would be further applied to the detection of antibiotics in milk.
Review—Emerging Trends in the Development of Electrochemical Devices for the On-Site Detection of Food Contaminants
Authors: Umapathi Reddicherla , Ghoreishian Seyed Majid , Rani Gokana Mohana , Cho Youngjin , Huh Yun Suk
Published: October 2022

Traditional laboratory-based sensing strategies for food contaminant detection are often limited because they are time-consuming and expensive and require trained personnel, which makes them unsuitable for routine sensing. Therefore, the scientific and industrial community is showing enormous interest in the design and development of portable sensing devices for the on-site and point-of-care detection of food contaminants. Portability is one of the chief characteristic features of designing contemporary analytical devices. Portable devices have received tremendous attention, as these novel devices have advanced the field of sensing. Various sensing strategies have been utilized for on-site detection of food contaminants. Among these, portable electrochemical devices have emerged vigorously in the past few years. Scientists and industrialists have worked effortlessly to develop portable electrochemical devices for a minute amount of food contaminant detection in water bodies and food products. The current work aims to demonstrate recent research progress related to the design, development, and improvement of portable electrochemical devices for detection of food contaminants.
Physiology education in the medical program at Mandume Ya Ndemufayo University: content description and critical overview
Authors: Matondo Chimuco Kama Sandra , Neto Isabel
Published: October 2022

An Angolan faculty of medicine has taken on the challenge of outcomes-based education, aiming to train qualified professionals according to the needs of the community. This article aims to describe and analyze how the teaching of physiology is organized. The results revealed a correspondence between learning outcomes, the competencies set out in the Profile of the Angolan Doctor, and internationally established sets of competencies. The educational context requires contextualization and periodic adjustment of pedagogical plans.
A bench to bedside perspective on anthracycline chemotherapy-mediated cardiovascular dysfunction: challenges and opportunities. A symposium review
Authors: Clayton Zachary S. , Ade Carl J. , Dieli-Conwright Christina M. , Mathelier Hansie M.
Published: October 2022

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death worldwide and the risk of developing CVD is markedly increased following anthracycline chemotherapy treatment. Anthracyclines are an essential component of the cancer treatment regimen used for common forms of cancer in male and female children, adolescents, young adults, and older adults. Increased CVD risk with anthracyclines occurs, in part, due to vascular dysfunction—impaired endothelial function and arterial stiffening. These features of vascular dysfunction also play a major role in other common disorders observed following anthracycline treatment, including chronic kidney disease, dementia, and exercise intolerance. However, the mechanisms by which anthracycline chemotherapy induces and sustains vascular dysfunction are incompletely understood. This budding area of biomedical research is termed cardio-oncology, which presents the unique opportunity for collaboration between physicians and basic scientists. This symposium, presented at Experimental Biology 2022, provided a timely update on this important biomedical research topic. The speakers presented observations made at levels from cells to mice to humans treated with anthracycline chemotherapeutic agents using an array of translational research approaches. The speaker panel included a diverse mix of female and male investigators and unique insight from a cardio-oncology physician-scientist. Particular emphasis was placed on challenges and opportunities in this field as well as mechanisms that could be viewed as therapeutic targets leading to novel treatment strategies.
Certain retinal horizontal cells have a center-surround antagonistic organization
Authors: Kawai Fusao
Published: October 2022

Retinal horizontal cells form a broad receptive field, which contributes to generating antagonistic surround responses in retinal bipolar cells. Here, I found that depolarizing responses of yellow/red, blue-type horizontal cells (Y/RB HCs) exhibit a larger receptive field than hyperpolarizing responses at monochromatic lights between 480 nm and 520 nm. Because bipolar cells play a key role in the detection of visual contrast, depolarization or hyperpolarization of Y/RB HCs may regulate the size of the surround receptive field in the bipolar cells.
Influence of Aggregate and Asphalt Type on the Bond Strength between Asphalt and Aggregates and Its Self-Healing Properties
Authors: Gan Xinli , Zhang Wenli , Li Jie , Tang Hui , Zhong Peiyuan
Published: October 2022

Determining the bond strength between asphalt and the aggregate base material is an intuitive way to ascertain the adhesion. In this study, we determined the bond strength between different types of asphalt and aggregates. First, the influence of these types of asphalt and aggregates on the bond strength was evaluated. Second, the bond strength of lime aggregate-based material and five types of asphalt in dry and immersion states was measured, and the influence of water on the bond strength was investigated. Third, the asphalt was extracted into aromatic, saturated, colloidal, and asphaltene by an asphalt component separation test, and the bond strength between each asphalt component and aggregate was tested. Finally, for the specimens with adhesive failure, the bond strength was retested to evaluate the self-healing ability of the adhesive. The results show that adhesion is influenced by asphalt and aggregate types as well as water immersion. The adhesion between asphalt and aggregate is primarily gum-based, followed by aromatics. After adhesion failure, the adhesion recovers to a certain extent (that is, it self-heals), but the healing rate decreases with the increase in test frequency; the adhesion tends to be stable after the third test.
Administration of N-Acetylcysteine to Regress the Fibrogenic and Proinflammatory Effects of Oxidative Stress in Hypertrophic Ligamentum Flavum Cells
Authors: Hsu Yu-Chia , Chuang Hao-Chun , Tsai Kun-Ling , Tu Ting-Yuan , Shyong Yan-Jye , Kuo Cheng-Hsiang , Liu Yuan-Fu , Shih Shu-Shien , Lin Cheng-Li
Published: October 2022

Ligamentum flavum hypertrophy (LFH) is a major cause of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). In hypertrophic ligamentum flavum (LF) cells, oxidative stress activates intracellular signaling and induces the expression of inflammatory and fibrotic markers. This study explored whether healthy and hypertrophic LF cells respond differently to oxidative stress, via examining the levels of phosphorylated p38 (p-p38), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Furthermore, the efficacy of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), an antioxidant, in reversing the fibrogenic and proinflammatory effects of oxidative stress in hypertrophic LF cells was investigated by assessing the expression levels of p-p38, p-p65, iNOS, TGF-β, α-SMA, vimentin, and collagen I under H2O2 treatment with or without NAC. Under oxidative stress, p-p38 increased significantly in both hypertrophic and healthy LF cells, and iNOS was elevated in only the hypertrophic LF cells. This revealed that oxidative stress negatively affected both hypertrophic and healthy LF cells, with the hypertrophic LF cells exhibiting more active inflammation than did the healthy cells. After H2O2 treatment, p-p38, p-p65, iNOS, TGF-β, vimentin, and collagen I increased significantly, and NAC administration reversed the effects of oxidative stress. These results can form the basis of a novel therapeutic treatment for LFH using antioxidants.
Ideal Configuration Distribution of Femoral Neck Cannulated Screw in High Altitude Population: A Finite Element Study
Authors: Lei Kai , Li Dechun , Ren Rong , Bai Jingtang , Qi Yuanyuan , Zhang Xuebin
Published: October 2022

Objective. For people in high altitude areas, the shape of the femoral neck is different due to the different living environment. To deduce the optimal insertion angle and position of the cannulated screw using three‐dimensional finite element technology in patients at high altitude. Methods. The data of 100 volunteers were used to establish a finite element model. The stress and displacement of cannulated screws of equilateral and oblique triangle screw placement in femoral neck fracture model and complete femoral neck model were evaluated. Results. On the narrowest plane, the average values of ∠A, B, and C were 47.63o, 75.49o, and 56.88o, respectively, and the shape was an oblique triangle. In complete femoral neck model, the maximum Von Mises stress of the three cannulated screws of equilateral triangle screw placement was slightly larger than oblique triangle screw placement, and this difference was more obvious in femoral neck fracture model. Under same loads, the overall maximum displacement of femur in oblique triangle screw placement was less than equilateral triangle screw placement in two models. Conclusions. For people in high‐altitude areas, the three screws should be implanted in an oblique triangle configuration in cannulated screw treatment of femoral neck fractures.
The Effect of Thyme Essential Oil on Liver Injuries Caused by Renal Ischemia‐Reperfusion in Rats
Authors: Rostami Reza , Eslamifar Zahra , Nazemi Sedighe , Hosseini Seyedeh Zeinab , Behvandi Mohammad mehdi , Jafaripour Leila
Published: October 2022

Liver damage occurs following renal ischemia‐reperfusion (RIR) that can cause inflammation and inflammatory cytokines activated after kidney injury. In this study, thyme essential oil (TE) with antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties was used to reduce liver damage induced by renal IR. 32 male rats were randomly divided into 4 equal groups: (1) control, (2) RIR, (3) RIR+TE, and (4) TE. Rats received TE as a pretreatment at a dose of 0.5 ml/kg for one week. Then, under anesthesia for 45 minutes for ischemia, the kidneys of the animals were closed with clamps, and reperfusion was performed for 24 hours. Animal serum was isolated to evaluate alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) parameters. The liver of rats was examined for the measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT), and expression of genes such as interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), and caspase‐3. ALP, AST, ALT, MDA, NO, IL‐6, TNF‐α, and caspase‐3 increased significantly in the RIR group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). GSH, GPX, and CAT decreased significantly in the RIR group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). TE caused a decrease in ALP, AST, ALT, MDA, NO, IL‐6, and TNF‐α compared to the RIR group and caused an increase in the amount of GSH, GPX, and CAT in the RIR group (p < 0.05). This study showed that TE has antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties that reduce liver damage induced by RIR.
Menstrual Changes after COVID-19 Infection and COVID-19 Vaccination
Authors: Taşkaldıran Işılay , Vuraloğlu Emre , Bozkuş Yusuf , Turhan İyidir Özlem , Nar Aslı , Başçıl Tütüncü Neslihan
Published: October 2022

Background. Several factors such as stress, depression, infection, and vaccination influenced the menstrual cycle in women during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We investigated whether there were changes in the menstrual cycle in women after COVID-19 vaccination or infection and, if so, the nature of the change. Methods. This study was designed as a descriptive, cross-sectional study. A face-to-face survey was conducted among menstruating women aged 18–50 years from May 31 to July 31, 2022. Women were inquired about their first three menstrual cycles that occurred after COVID-19 infection or vaccination. Results. Of 241 women with COVID-19 infection, 86 (35.7%) mentioned that they experienced various changes in their menstrual patterns in the first three cycles after infection. Of 537 participants who received various COVID-19 vaccines, 82 (15.1%) stated that they experienced changes in their menstrual patterns after vaccination. The incidence of postvaccination menstrual change was higher in women who received Pfizer-BioNTech and Sinovac (CoronaVac) vaccines. Only 10.9% of women who reported a change in their menstrual pattern after vaccination or infection consulted a physician. Conclusion. COVID-19 infection and vaccination can affect the menstrual cycle in women. It is important to be aware of the menstrual changes after COVID-19 infection and vaccination and to warn and inform women about this issue.
Biomolecules of the Horseshoe Crab’s Hemolymph: Components of an Ancient Defensive Mechanism and Its Impact on the Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Industry
Authors: Ashrafuzzaman Md. , Razu Mamudul Hasan , Showva Nazmir-Nur , Bondhon Tohmina Afroze , Moniruzzaman Md. , Rahman Sad Al Rezwan , Rabby Md. Raisul Islam , Akter Fatema , Khan Mala
Published: October 2022

Without adaptive immunity, invertebrates have evolved innate immune systems that react to antigens on the surfaces of pathogens. These defense mechanisms are included in horseshoe crab hemocytes’ cellular responses to pathogens. Secretory granules, large (L) and small (S), are found on hemocytes. Once the invasion of pathogens is present, these granules release their contents through exocytosis. Recent data in biochemistry and immunology on the granular constituents of granule-specific proteins are stored in large and small granules which are involved in the cell-mediated immune response. L-granules contain most clotting proteins, which are necessary for hemolymph coagulation. They also include tachylectins; protease inhibitors, such as cystatin and serpins; and anti-lipopolysaccharide (LPS) factors, which bind to LPS and agglutinate bacteria. Big defensin, tachycitin, tachystatin, and tachyplesins are some of the essential cysteine-rich proteins in S-granules. These granules also contain tachycitin and tachystatins, which can agglutinate bacteria. These proteins in granules and hemolymph act synergistically to fight infections. These biomolecules are antimicrobial and antibacterial, enabling them to be drug resistant. This review is aimed at explaining the biomolecules identified in the horseshoe crab’s hemolymph and their application scopes in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors.
Case Series of Triathletes with Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Presenting with Swimming-Induced Pulmonary Edema
Authors: Rigler Caitlin , Menon Gautam , Lipworth Samuel , Langrish Jeremy P , Kipps Courtney , Shanmuganathan Mayooran , Smith Ralph
Published: October 2022

Objectives. To report three cases of triathletes who presented with swimming-induced pulmonary edema (SIPE) following water immersion. They were subsequently diagnosed with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM). Design. Retrospective case series. Method. All cases were recreational athletes competing in mass participation triathlons between June 2018 and 2019. They were initially managed by the event medical team and subsequently at the local tertiary level hospital. Written consent was gained from all the subjects. Results. The three triathletes were aged between 50 and 60 years, two were females, and all presented with acute dyspnoea on exiting the water. Two also presented with chest pain and haemoptysis. A diagnosis of SIPE was suspected by the medical event team on initial presentation of low oxygen saturations and clinical signs of pulmonary oedema. All were transferred to the local emergency department and had signs of pulmonary oedema on chest radiographs. Further investigations led to a diagnosis of TCM with findings of T wave inversion in anterolateral electrocardiogram leads and apical hypokinesia on transthoracic echocardiogram and unobstructed coronary arteries. Conclusions. This case series presents triathletes diagnosed with SIPE and TCM following the open water swim phase. It is unclear whether the myocardial dysfunction contributed to causation of SIPE or was the result of SIPE. Mass participation race organizers must be prepared that both SIPE and TCM can present in this population. Those presenting with an episode of SIPE require prompt evaluation of their cardiac and pulmonary physiology. Further research is required to ascertain the exact nature of the relationship between TCM and SIPE.
Molecular Mechanism of Epimedium Extract against Ischemic Stroke Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation
Authors: Xu Hongbei , You Mingyao , Xiang Xiang , Zhao Jun , Yuan Ping , Chu Lan , Xie Chenchen
Published: October 2022

Ischemic stroke exhibits high morbidity, disability, and mortality, and treatments for ischemic stroke are limited despite intensive research. The potent neuroprotective benefits of Epimedium against ischemic stroke have gained lots of interest. Nevertheless, systematic research on the direct role and mechanisms of Epimedium in ischemic stroke is still lacking. Network pharmacology analysis coupled with experimental verification was utilized to systematically evaluate the potential pharmacological mechanism of Epimedium against ischemic stroke. The TCMSP database was used to mine the bioactive ingredients and Epimedium’s targets. The DrugBank, OMIM, and GeneCards databases were employed to identify potential targets of ischemic stroke. GO and KEGG pathway analyses were also carried out. The interaction between active components and hub targets was confirmed via molecular docking. An experimental ischemic stroke model was used to evaluate the possible therapeutic mechanism of Epimedium. As a result, 23 bioactive compounds of Epimedium were selected, and 30 hub targets of Epimedium in its function against ischemic stroke were identified, and molecular docking results demonstrated good binding. The IL-17 signaling pathway was revealed as a potentially significant pathway, with the NF-κB and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways being involved. Furthermore, in vivo experiments demonstrated that Epimedium treatment could improve neurological function and reduce infarct volume. Additionally, Epimedium reduced the activation of microglia and astrocytes in both the ischemic penumbra of the hippocampus and cerebral cortex following ischemic stroke. Western blot and RT–qPCR analyses demonstrated that Epimedium not only depressed the expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-4 but also inhibited the NF-κB and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways. This study applied network pharmacology and in vivo experiment to explore possible mechanism of Epimedium’s role against ischemic stroke, which provides insight into the treatment of ischemic stroke.