bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Utilizing Structural Equation Modeling–Artificial Neural Network Hybrid Approach in Determining Factors Affecting Perceived Usability of Mobile Mental Health Application in the Philippines
Authors: Yuduang Nattakit , Ong Ardvin Kester S. , Vista Nicole B. , Prasetyo Yogi Tri , Nadlifatin Reny , Persada Satria Fadil , Gumasing Ma. Janice J. , German Josephine D. , Robas Kirstien Paola E. , Chuenyindee Thanatorn , Buaphiban Thapanat
Published: May 2022

Mental health problems have emerged as one of the biggest problems in the world and one of the countries that has been seen to be highly impacted is the Philippines. Despite the increasing number of mentally ill Filipinos, it is one of the most neglected problems in the country. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors affecting the perceived usability of mobile mental health applications. A total of 251 respondents voluntarily participated in the online survey we conducted. A structural equation modeling and artificial neural network hybrid was applied to determine the perceived usability (PRU) such as the social influence (SI), service awareness (SA), technology self-efficacy (SE), perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU), convenience (CO), voluntariness (VO), user resistance (UR), intention to use (IU), and actual use (AU). Results indicate that VO had the highest score of importance, followed by CO, PEOU, SA, SE, SI, IU, PU, and ASU. Having the mobile application available and accessible made the users perceive it as highly beneficial and advantageous. This would lead to the continuous usage and patronage of the application. This result highlights the insignificance of UR. This study was the first study that considered the evaluation of mobile mental health applications. This study can be beneficial to people who have mental health disorders and symptoms, even to health government agencies. Finally, the results of this study could be applied and extended among other health-related mobile applications worldwide.
The Effects of Broadband Infrastructure on Carbon Emission Efficiency of Resource-Based Cities in China: A Quasi-Natural Experiment from the “Broadband China” Pilot Policy
Authors: Li Bo , Liu Jing , Liu Qian , Mohiuddin Muhammad
Published: May 2022

Resource-based cities (RBCs) face serious environmental pollution, and there are efforts to try to overcome those challenges by transforming industrial structure through investing in new technologies. Based on the panel data of 114 prefecture-level resource-based cities in China, this paper uses the difference-in-differences (DID) method to identify the effects of the “Broadband China” pilot policy on the carbon emission efficiency of resource-based cities. The results show that the “Broadband China” pilot policy has a significant effect on the improvement of carbon emission efficiency of resource-based cities, and the results are still valid after parallel trend test, PSM-DID estimation and placebo test. This study also finds that there are differences in the carbon emission efficiency of different locations and types of resource-based cities. In addition, the results of the mechanism analysis show that the “Broadband China” pilot policy can promote the improvement of carbon emission efficiency by promoting the upgrading of the industrial structure, the accumulation of human capital and the improvement of the level of urban innovation of resource-based cities. The findings provide a reference for China’s resource-based cities to develop the Broadband infrastructure, realize industrial upgrading, accumulate human capital and improve urban innovation level, and promote low-carbon transformation and improve carbon emission efficiency.
Association between Neck Circumference and Subclinical Atherosclerosis among Chinese Steelworkers: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Yu Miao , Wang Lihua , Zhang Shengkui , Feng Hongman , Wu Jianhui , Li Xiaoming , Yuan Juxiang
Published: May 2022

The purpose of this study was to determine whether neck circumference (NC) is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis among Chinese steelworkers in North China. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among steelworkers in northern China (n = 3467). Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) was measured at the distal wall of the common carotid artery proximal to the bifurcation point along a plaque-free segment 10 mm long on each side by B-ultrasound. The mean of the common CIMT was used bilaterally in this study. In the cross-sectional analysis, large NC was associated with the presence of abnormal CIMT. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between NC tertiles and CIMT. The multivariable-adjusted odds ratio was 1.76 (95% CI: 1.40 to 2.22; p for trend <0.001) for the highest tertile versus the lowest tertile and was 1.07 (95% CI: 1.04 to 1.10; p < 0.001) per 1 standard deviation increment in NC. Among steelworkers in North China, relatively large NC level is associated with elevated odds of subclinical atherosclerosis.
Erythroid Cell Research: 3D Chromatin, Transcription Factors and Beyond
Authors: Andrieu-Soler Charlotte , Soler Eric
Published: May 2022

Studies of the regulatory networks and signals controlling erythropoiesis have brought important insights in several research fields of biology and have been a rich source of discoveries with far-reaching implications beyond erythroid cells biology. The aim of this review is to highlight key recent discoveries and show how studies of erythroid cells bring forward novel concepts and refine current models related to genome and 3D chromatin organization, signaling and disease, with broad interest in life sciences.
The Immune Response in Adipocytes and Their Susceptibility to Infection: A Possible Relationship with Infectobesity
Authors: López-Ortega Orestes , Moreno-Corona Nidia Carolina , Cruz-Holguin Victor Javier , Garcia-Gonzalez Luis Didier , Helguera-Repetto Addy Cecilia , Romero-Valdovinos Mirza , Arevalo-Romero Haruki , Cedillo-Barron Leticia , León-Juárez Moisés
Published: May 2022

The current obesity pandemic has been expanding in both developing and developed countries. This suggests that the factors contributing to this condition need to be reconsidered since some new factors are arising as etiological causes of this disease. Moreover, recent clinical and experimental findings have shown an association between the progress of obesity and some infections, and the functions of adipose tissues, which involve cell metabolism and adipokine release, among others. Furthermore, it has recently been reported that adipocytes could either be reservoirs for these pathogens or play an active role in this process. In addition, there is abundant evidence indicating that during obesity, the immune system is exacerbated, suggesting an increased susceptibility of the patient to the development of several forms of illness or death. Thus, there could be a relationship between infection as a trigger for an increase in adipose cells and the impact on the metabolism that contributes to the development of obesity. In this review, we describe the findings concerning the role of adipose tissue as a mediator in the immune response as well as the possible role of adipocytes as infection targets, with both roles constituting a possible cause of obesity.
Whole-Genome Amplification—Surveying Yield, Reproducibility, and Heterozygous Balance, Reported by STR-Targeting MIPs
Authors: Raz Ofir , Tao Liming , Biezuner Tamir , Marx Tzipy , Neumeier Yaara , Tumanyan Narek , Shapiro Ehud
Published: May 2022

Whole-genome amplification is a crucial first step in nearly all single-cell genomic analyses, with the following steps focused on its products. Bias and variance caused by the whole-genome amplification process add numerous challenges to the world of single-cell genomics. Short tandem repeats are sensitive genomic markers used widely in population genetics, forensics, and retrospective lineage tracing. A previous evaluation of common whole-genome amplification targeting ~1000 non-autosomal short tandem repeat loci is extended here to ~12,000 loci across the entire genome via duplex molecular inversion probes. Other than its improved scale and reduced noise, this system detects an abundance of heterogeneous short tandem repeat loci, allowing the allelic balance to be reported. We show here that while the best overall yield is obtained using RepliG-SC, the maximum uniformity between alleles and reproducibility across cells are maximized by Ampli1, rendering it the best candidate for the comparative heterozygous analysis of single-cell genomes.
Ibuprofen Favors Binding of Amyloid-β Peptide to Its Depot, Serum Albumin
Authors: Litus Ekaterina A. , Kazakov Alexey S. , Deryusheva Evgenia I. , Nemashkalova Ekaterina L. , Shevelyova Marina P. , Machulin Andrey V. , Nazipova Aliya A. , Permyakova Maria E. , Uversky Vladimir N. , Permyakov Sergei E.
Published: May 2022

The deposition of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) in the brain is a critical event in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This Aβ deposition could be prevented by directed enhancement of Aβ binding to its natural depot, human serum albumin (HSA). Previously, we revealed that specific endogenous ligands of HSA improve its affinity to monomeric Aβ. We show here that an exogenous HSA ligand, ibuprofen (IBU), exerts the analogous effect. Plasmon resonance spectroscopy data evidence that a therapeutic IBU level increases HSA affinity to monomeric Aβ40/Aβ42 by a factor of 3–5. Using thioflavin T fluorescence assay and transmission electron microcopy, we show that IBU favors the suppression of Aβ40 fibrillation by HSA. Molecular docking data indicate partial overlap between the IBU/Aβ40-binding sites of HSA. The revealed enhancement of the HSA–Aβ interaction by IBU and the strengthened inhibition of Aβ fibrillation by HSA in the presence of IBU could contribute to the neuroprotective effects of the latter, previously observed in mouse and human studies of AD.
Interaction of Proteins with Inverted Repeats and Cruciform Structures in Nucleic Acids
Authors: Bowater Richard P. , Bohálová Natália , Brázda Václav
Published: May 2022

Cruciforms occur when inverted repeat sequences in double-stranded DNA adopt intra-strand hairpins on opposing strands. Biophysical and molecular studies of these structures confirm their characterization as four-way junctions and have demonstrated that several factors influence their stability, including overall chromatin structure and DNA supercoiling. Here, we review our understanding of processes that influence the formation and stability of cruciforms in genomes, covering the range of sequences shown to have biological significance. It is challenging to accurately sequence repetitive DNA sequences, but recent advances in sequencing methods have deepened understanding about the amounts of inverted repeats in genomes from all forms of life. We highlight that, in the majority of genomes, inverted repeats are present in higher numbers than is expected from a random occurrence. It is, therefore, becoming clear that inverted repeats play important roles in regulating many aspects of DNA metabolism, including replication, gene expression, and recombination. Cruciforms are targets for many architectural and regulatory proteins, including topoisomerases, p53, Rif1, and others. Notably, some of these proteins can induce the formation of cruciform structures when they bind to DNA. Inverted repeat sequences also influence the evolution of genomes, and growing evidence highlights their significance in several human diseases, suggesting that the inverted repeat sequences and/or DNA cruciforms could be useful therapeutic targets in some cases.
Lithosepermic Acid Restored the Skin Barrier Functions in the Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis-like Animal Model
Authors: Chen Li-Ching , Cheng Yu-Ping , Liu Chih-Yi , Guo Jiun-Wen
Published: May 2022

(1) Background: Psoriasis is a T helper 1/T helper 17 cells-involved immune-mediated genetic disease. Lithospermic acid, one of the major phenolic acid compounds of Danshen, has antioxidation and anti-inflammation abilities. Due to the inappropriate molecular weight for topical penetration through the stratum corneum, lithospermic acid was loaded into the well-developed microemulsion delivery system for IMQ-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis treatment. (2) Methods: BALB/c mice were administered with topical imiquimod to induce psoriasis-like dermatitis. Skin barrier function, disease severity, histology assessment, autophagy-related protein expression, and skin and spleen cytokine expression were evaluated. (3) Results: The morphology, histopathology, and skin barrier function results showed that 0.1% lithospermic acid treatment ameliorated the IMQ-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis and restored the skin barrier function. The cytokines array results confirmed that 0.1% lithospermic acid treatment inhibited the cutaneous T helper-17/Interleukin-23 axis related cytokines cascades. (4) Conclusions: The results implied that lithospermic acid might represent a possible new therapeutic agent for psoriasis treatment.
Patients’ Baseline Characteristics, but Not Tocilizumab Exposure, Affect Severe Outcomes Onset in Giant Cell Arteritis: A Real-World Study
Authors: Dumain Cyril , Broner Jonathan , Arnaud Erik , Dewavrin Emmanuel , Holubar Jan , Fantone Myriam , Wazières Benoit de , Parreau Simon , Fesler Pierre , Guilpain Philippe , Roubille Camille , Goulabchand Radjiv
Published: May 2022

Objectives: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is associated with severe outcomes such as infections and cardiovascular diseases. We describe here the impact of GCA patients’ characteristics and treatment exposure on the occurrence of severe outcomes. Methods: Data were collected retrospectively from real-world GCA patients with a minimum of six-months follow-up. We recorded severe outcomes and treatment exposure. In the survival analysis, we studied the predictive factors of severe outcomes occurrence, including treatment exposure (major glucocorticoids (GCs) exposure (>10 g of the cumulative dose) and tocilizumab (TCZ) exposure), as time-dependent covariates. Results: Among the 77 included patients, 26% were overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2). The mean cumulative dose of GCs was 7977 ± 4585 mg, 18 patients (23%) had a major GCs exposure, and 40 (52%) received TCZ. Over the 48-month mean follow-up period, 114 severe outcomes occurred in 77% of the patients: infections—29%, cardiovascular diseases—18%, hypertension—15%, fractural osteoporosis—8%, and deaths—6%. Baseline diabetes and overweight were predictive factors of severe outcomes onset (HR, 2.41 [1.05–5.55], p = 0.039; HR, 2.08 [1.14–3.81], p = 0.018, respectively) independently of age, sex, hypertension, and treatment exposure. Conclusion: Diabetic and overweight GCA patients constitute an at-risk group requiring tailored treatment, including vaccination. The effect of TCZ exposure on the reduction of severe outcomes was not proved here.
Long-Term Health Effects of Curative Therapies on Heart, Lungs, and Kidneys for Individuals with Sickle Cell Disease Compared to Those with Hematologic Malignancies
Authors: Fitzhugh Courtney D. , Volanakis Emmanuel J. , Idassi Ombeni , Duberman Josh A. , DeBaun Michael R. , Friedman Debra L.
Published: May 2022

The goal of curing children and adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) is to maximize benefits and minimize intermediate and long-term adverse outcomes so that individuals can live an average life span with a high quality of life. While greater than 2000 individuals with SCD have been treated with curative therapy, systematic studies have not been performed to evaluate the long-term health effects of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) in this population. Individuals with SCD suffer progressive heart, lung, and kidney disease prior to curative therapy. In adults, these sequalae are associated with earlier death. In comparison, individuals who undergo HSCT for cancer are heavily pretreated with chemotherapy, resulting in potential acute and chronic heart, lung, and kidney disease. The long-term health effects on the heart, lung, and kidney for children and adults undergoing HSCT for cancer have been extensively investigated. These studies provide the best available data to extrapolate the possible late health effects after curative therapy for SCD. Future research is needed to evaluate whether HSCT abates, stabilizes, or exacerbates heart, lung, kidney, and other diseases in children and adults with SCD receiving myeloablative and non-myeloablative conditioning regimens for curative therapy.
Effects of Higher Normal Blood Pressure on Brain Are Detectable before Middle-Age and Differ by Sex
Authors: Alateeq Khawlah , Walsh Erin I. , Abhayaratna Walter P. , Cherbuin Nicolas
Published: May 2022

Background: To quantify the association between blood pressure (BP) across its full range, brain volumes and white matter lesions (WMLs) while investigating the effects of age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and antihypertensive medication. Methods: UK Biobank participants (n = 36,260) aged (40–70) years were included and stratified by sex and four age groups (age ≤ 45, 46–55, 56–65 and > 65 years). Multi-level regression analyses were used to assess the association between mean arterial pressure (MAP), systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), and brain volumes segmented using the FreeSufer software (gray matter volume [GMV], white matter volume [WMV], left [LHCV] and right hippocampal volume [RHCV]) and WMLs. Interaction effects between body mass index (BMI), antihypertensive medication and BP in predicting brain volumes and WMLs were also investigated. Results: Every 10 mmHg higher DBP was associated with lower brain volumes (GMV: −0.19%–−0.40%) [SE = 47.7–62.4]; WMV: −0.20–−0.23% [SE = 34.66–53.03]; LHCV: −0.40–−0.59% [SE = 0.44–0.57]; RHCV: −0.17–−0.57% [SE = 0.32–0.95]) across all age groups. A similar pattern was detected in both sexes, although it was weaker in men. Every 10 mmHg higher MAP was associated with larger WMLs across all age groups but peaked >65 years (1.19–1.23% [SE = 0.002]). Both lower BMI and anti-hypertensive medication appeared to afford a protective effect. Conclusion: Higher BP is associated with worse cerebral health across the full BP range from middle adulthood and into old age.
Hearing Benefits of Clinical Management for Meniere’s Disease
Authors: Zhang Yi , Wei Chenyi , Sun Zhengtao , Wu Yue , Chen Zhengli , Liu Bo
Published: May 2022

Meniere’s disease is a progressive hearing–disabling condition. Patients can benefit from strict clinical management, including lifestyle and dietary counseling, and medical treatment. A prospective cohort study was carried out with 154 patients with definite Meniere’s disease, with an average age of 43.53 ± 11.40, and a male to female ratio of 0.97:1. The pure-tone thresholds of all 165 affected ears, over a one-year clinical management period, were analyzed. After one year, 87.27% of patients had improved or preserved their hearing at a low frequency, and 71.51% at a high frequency. The hearing threshold at frequencies from 250 Hz to 2000 Hz had improved significantly (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.01), and deteriorated slightly at 8000 Hz (p < 0.05). Of all the patients, 40.00% had a hearing average threshold that reached ≤25 dB HL after the clinical management period, among whom 27.27% were patients in stage 3. The restoration time was 2.5 (1.0, 4.125) months, with a range of 0.5–11.0 months, and the restoration time was longer for stage 3 than for stages 1 and 2 (u = −2.542, p < 0.05). The rising curves improved the most (p < 0.05), with most becoming peaks, whereas most peaks and flats remained the same. Patients who were initially in the earlier stages (95% CI 1.710~4.717, OR 2.840, p < 0.001), have an increased odds ratio of hearing by an average of ≤25 dB HL. Age (95% CI 1.003~1.074, OR 1.038, p = 0.031), peak curve (95% CI 1.038~5.945, OR = 2.484, p = 0.041), and flat curve (95% CI 1.056~19.590, OR = 4.549, p = 0.042), compared with the rising curve, increase the odds ratio of hearing on average by >25 dB HL. Most patients can have their hearing preserved or improved through strict clinical management, and sufficient follow-up is also essential. Stage 3 patients also have the potential for hearing improvement, although the restoration time is longer than in the early stages. The initial hearing stage, age, and audiogram pattern are related to the hearing benefits.
Embedded Quantitative MRI T1ρ Mapping Using Non-Linear Primal-Dual Proximal Splitting
Authors: Hanhela Matti , Paajanen Antti , Nissi Mikko J. , Kolehmainen Ville
Published: May 2022

Quantitative MRI (qMRI) methods allow reducing the subjectivity of clinical MRI by providing numerical values on which diagnostic assessment or predictions of tissue properties can be based. However, qMRI measurements typically take more time than anatomical imaging due to requiring multiple measurements with varying contrasts for, e.g., relaxation time mapping. To reduce the scanning time, undersampled data may be combined with compressed sensing (CS) reconstruction techniques. Typical CS reconstructions first reconstruct a complex-valued set of images corresponding to the varying contrasts, followed by a non-linear signal model fit to obtain the parameter maps. We propose a direct, embedded reconstruction method for T1ρ mapping. The proposed method capitalizes on a known signal model to directly reconstruct the desired parameter map using a non-linear optimization model. The proposed reconstruction method also allows directly regularizing the parameter map of interest and greatly reduces the number of unknowns in the reconstruction, which are key factors in the performance of the reconstruction method. We test the proposed model using simulated radially sampled data from a 2D phantom and 2D cartesian ex vivo measurements of a mouse kidney specimen. We compare the embedded reconstruction model to two CS reconstruction models and in the cartesian test case also the direct inverse fast Fourier transform. The T1ρ RMSE of the embedded reconstructions was reduced by 37–76% compared to the CS reconstructions when using undersampled simulated data with the reduction growing with larger acceleration factors. The proposed, embedded model outperformed the reference methods on the experimental test case as well, especially providing robustness with higher acceleration factors.
Dietary Intake of Polyphenols Enhances Executive/Attentional Functioning and Memory with an Improvement of the Milk Lipid Profile of Postpartum Women from Argentina
Authors: Miranda Agustín Ramiro , Cortez Mariela Valentina , Scotta Ana Veronica , Soria Elio Andrés
Published: May 2022

Puerperium may lead to memory and executive/attentional complaints that interfere with women’s daily life. This might be prevented by dietary compounds, such as neuroprotective polyphenols. Their bioactivity depends on their effects on lipid metabolism in different tissues, such as the brain, fat, and breast. Thus, a polyphenol-related cognitive improvement may be associated with changes of lipids in human milk, which are key for infant neurodevelopment. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 75 postpartum women from Córdoba (Argentina), involving several neuropsychological tests. Diet was registered to identify polyphenol intake and food pattern adherence, with sociodemographic and other psychological variables (insomnia, stress, subjective cognitive complaints) being also studied. Triacylglycerols, cholesterol, and their oxidative forms were analyzed as milk biomarkers. Multivariate statistical methods were applied. Results confirmed that women who consumed polyphenols presented better executive/attentional performance (i.e., higher correct responses, conceptual level responses, complete categories, verbal fluency; lower attentional interferences, and perseverative errors) and word retention with lower interference. Polyphenols were positively associated with milk lipids, which were higher in women with better cognition. Furthermore, they had lower oxidized triacylglycerols. In conclusion, polyphenolic intake during postpartum may improve executive/attentional functioning, memory, and milk lipid profile.
Sediment Nitrate Dissimilatory Reduction Processes along a Salinity Gradient in an Estuarine and Coastal Wetland, China
Authors: Gao Lin , Liu Chen , Li Mingcong , Lin Xianbiao
Published: May 2022

Nitrate (NO3−) dissimilatory reduction processes (denitrification, anammox and dissimilatory NO3− reduction to ammonium (DNRA)) in estuarine and coastal ecosystems play a crucial role in regulating reactive nitrogen loadings. However, nitrate reduction process rates and relative proportions along the estuarine salinity gradient remain poorly understood. Here, denitrification, anammox and DNRA were explored simultaneously along a salinity gradient in Yangtze Estuary based on nitrogen isotope-tracing experiments. Measured denitrification, anammox and DNRA process rates were in the range of 2.33–28.21 nmol g−1 h−1, 0.43–1.87 nmol g−1 h−1 and 0.28–0.74 nmol g−1 h−1, respectively, with a large spatio-temporal variation. The changes in these nitrate reduction process rates were mainly affected by the TOC, TN, NH4+ and NOx− concentrations, rather than salinity and related functional gene abundance. Denitrification dominated the total NO3− reduction process (67.52 to 93.85%), while anammox (3.67 to 25.01%) and DNRA (2.48 to 11.21%) also played a substantially important role in nitrate reduction. The proportions of denitrification to gross nitrate reduction in high-salinity areas were generally lower than those in freshwater, but the opposite was true for DNRA. Overall, our study reported the simultaneous observation of nitrate dissimilatory reduction processes along the salinity gradient of the estuary and highlighted that changes in sediment environmental variables affected by human activities can alter the distribution patterns of NO3− reduction processes.
Genomic and AntiSMASH Analyses of Marine-Sponge-Derived Strain Aspergillus niger L14 Unveiling Its Vast Potential of Secondary Metabolites Biosynthesis
Authors: Wang Ping , Xu Shuang , Tang Yuqi , Wang Hong , Bai Xuelian , Zhang Huawei
Published: May 2022

Aspergillus niger is one of the most important sources of secondary metabolites (SMs), with a wide array of pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, antitumor, immunomodulatory and antioxidant effects. However, the biosynthetic analysis of these bioactive components has been rarely reported owing to the lack of high-quality genome sequences and comprehensive analysis. In this study, the whole genome of one marine-sponge-derived strain A. niger L14 was sequenced and assembled as well as in-depth bioinformatic analysis. The results indicated that the sequence assembly of strain L14 generated one high-quality genome with a total size of 36.1 Mb, a G + C content of 45.3% and an N50 scaffold of 4.2 Mb. Gene annotation was extensively deployed using various BLAST databases, including non-redudant (Nr) protein sequence, nucleotide (Nt) sequence, Swiss-Prot, Gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG) as well as Pathogen Host Interactions (PHI) and Carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZy) databases. AntiSMASH analysis revealed that this marine strain harbors a total of 69 SMs biosynthesis gene clusters (BGCs), including 17 PKSs, 18 NRPSs, 21 NRPS-likes, 9 terpenes, 2 indoles, 1 betalactone and 1 siderophore, suggesting its biosynthetic potential to produce a wide variety of SMs. These findings will assist in future investigations on the genetic basis of strain L14 and provide insights into its new bioactive SMs for new drug discovery.
Characterization of the NRAMP Gene Family in the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Rhizophagus irregularis
Authors: López-Lorca Víctor Manuel , Molina-Luzón María Jesús , Ferrol Nuria
Published: May 2022

Transporters of the NRAMP family are ubiquitous metal-transition transporters, playing a key role in metal homeostasis, especially in Mn and Fe homeostasis. In this work, we report the characterization of the NRAMP family members (RiSMF1, RiSMF2, RiSMF3.1 and RiSMF3.2) of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. Phylogenetic analysis of the NRAMP sequences of different AM fungi showed that they are classified in two groups, which probably diverged early in their evolution. Functional analyses in yeast revealed that RiSMF3.2 encodes a protein mediating Mn and Fe transport from the environment. Gene-expression analyses by RT-qPCR showed that the RiSMF genes are differentially expressed in the extraradical (ERM) and intraradical (IRM) mycelium and differentially regulated by Mn and Fe availability. Mn starvation decreased RiSMF1 transcript levels in the ERM but increased RiSMF3.1 expression in the IRM. In the ERM, RiSMF1 expression was up-regulated by Fe deficiency, suggesting a role for its encoded protein in Fe-deficiency alleviation. Expression of RiSMF3.2 in the ERM was up-regulated at the early stages of Fe toxicity but down-regulated at later stages. These data suggest a role for RiSMF3.2 not only in Fe transport but also as a sensor of high external-Fe concentrations. Both Mn- and Fe-deficient conditions affected ERM development. While Mn deficiency increased hyphal length, Fe deficiency reduced sporulation.
Predicting the Risk of Incident Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Chinese Elderly Using Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Liu Qing , Zhang Miao , He Yifeng , Zhang Lei , Zou Jingui , Yan Yaqiong , Guo Yan
Published: May 2022

Early identification of individuals at high risk of diabetes is crucial for implementing early intervention strategies. However, algorithms specific to elderly Chinese adults are lacking. The aim of this study is to build effective prediction models based on machine learning (ML) for the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Chinese elderly. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the health screening data of adults older than 65 years in Wuhan, China from 2018 to 2020. With a strict data filtration, 127,031 records from the eligible participants were utilized. Overall, 8298 participants were diagnosed with incident T2DM during the 2-year follow-up (2019–2020). The dataset was randomly split into training set (n = 101,625) and test set (n = 25,406). We developed prediction models based on four ML algorithms: logistic regression (LR), decision tree (DT), random forest (RF), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost). Using LASSO regression, 21 prediction features were selected. The Random under-sampling (RUS) was applied to address the class imbalance, and the Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) was used to calculate and visualize feature importance. Model performance was evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. The XGBoost model achieved the best performance (AUC = 0.7805, sensitivity = 0.6452, specificity = 0.7577, accuracy = 0.7503). Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), education, exercise, gender, and waist circumference (WC) were the top five important predictors. This study showed that XGBoost model can be applied to screen individuals at high risk of T2DM in the early phrase, which has the strong potential for intelligent prevention and control of diabetes. The key features could also be useful for developing targeted diabetes prevention interventions.
Synthesis and Structure Determination of 2-Cyano-3-(1-phenyl-3-(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)acrylamide
Authors: Kariuki Benson M. , Abdel-Wahab Bakr F. , Mohamed Hanan A. , El-Hiti Gamal A.
Published: May 2022

2-Cyano-3-(1-phenyl-3-(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)acrylamide (3) was synthesized in 90% yield from condensation of equimolar equivalents of 1-phenyl-3-(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carbaldehyde (1) and 2-cyanoacetamide (2) in boiling ethanol under basic condition for 45 min. The structure of 3 was determined using NMR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction.
Active Vibration Control of Piezoelectric Sandwich Plates
Authors: Huang Zhicheng , Mao Yuhang , Dai Anna , Han Mengna , Wang Xingguo , Chu Fulei
Published: May 2022

This paper deals with the active vibration control of piezoelectric sandwich plate. The structure consists of a substrate plate layer sandwiched between two layers of piezoelectric sensor and actuator. Based on laminate theory and constitutive equation of piezoelectric material, the vibration active control dynamic equation of the sandwich structure is established by using hypothetical mode method and Hamilton principle. The Rayleigh-Ritz method is used to solve it. The form of hypothetical solution is used for approximate solution, which is simple and accurate. The method of this paper is verified by several examples. The parametric studies of the sandwich plate structures are carried out. The results show that applying different boundary conditions and piezoelectric patch positions to the structures have a great influence on the natural frequency. When the driving voltage increases, the deflection of the plate structures increase approximately linearly. The active vibration control studies are investigated as well. The results show that within a certain range, the larger the value of the speed feedback coefficient, the better the active control effect. The positions of the piezoelectric patches affect the effectiveness and cost of active control. When the piezoelectric plate is located at the fixed end, the effect and cost of active control are better than that at the midpoint and free end of the plate.
Securing Blockchain-Based Supply Chain Workflow against Internal and External Attacks
Authors: Al-Farsi Sana , Bensmail Halima , Bakiras Spiridon
Published: May 2022

Blockchain is a revolutionary technology that is being used in many applications, including supply chain management. The primary goal of using a blockchain for supply chain management is to reduce the overall production cost while providing comprehensive security to the system. However, current blockchain-based supply-chain workflow(s) (BSW) are still susceptible to various cyber threats due to evolving business processes of different stakeholders involved in the process. In fact, current BSW protects the supply chain process based on the rules that have been implemented in the corresponding smart contracts. However, in practice, the requirements for the process keep evolving due to several organizational policies and directives of the involved stakeholders; therefore, current blockchain-based solutions fail to protect the supply chain process against attacks that exploit the process-related information that is not protected by smart contracts. Therefore, the goal of this work was to develop a methodology that enhances the protection of BSW against various internal (e.g., Stuxnet) and external (e.g., local data breach of a stakeholder) cyber threats through monitoring the stakeholder business process. Our methodology complements the blockchain-based solution because it protects the stakeholder’s local process against the attacks that exploit the process information that is not protected in the smart contracts. We implemented a prototype and demonstrated its application to a typical supply chain workflow example application by successfully detecting internal and external attacks to the application.
Optimal Timing Fault Tolerant Control for Switched Stochastic Systems with Switched Drift Fault
Authors: Zhu Chenglong , He Li , Zhang Kanjian , Sun Wei , He Zengxiang
Published: May 2022

In this article, an optimal timing fault tolerant control strategy is addressed for switched stochastic systems with unknown drift fault for each switching point. The proposed controllers in existing optimal timing control schemes are not directly aimed at the switched drift fault system, which affects the optimal control performance. A cost functional with system state information and fault variable is constructed. By solving the optimal switching time criterion, the switched stochastic system can accommodate switching drift fault. The variational technique is presented for the proposed cost function in deriving the gradient formula. Then, the optimal fault tolerant switching time is calculated by combining the Armijo step-size gradient descent algorithm. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed controller design scheme is proved by the safe trajectory planning for a four wheel drive mobile robot and numerical example.
Enhanced Graph Learning for Recommendation via Causal Inference
Authors: Wang Suhua , Ji Hongjie , Yin Minghao , Wang Yuling , Lu Mengzhu , Sun Hui
Published: May 2022

The goal of the recommender system is to learn the user’s preferences from the entity (user–item) historical interaction data, so as to predict the user’s ratings on new items or recommend new item sequences to users. There are two major challenges: (1) Datasets are usually sparse. The item side is often accompanied by some auxiliary information, such as attributes or context; it can help to slightly improve its representation. However, the user side is usually presented in the form of ID due to personal privacy. (2) Due to the influences of confounding factors, such as the popularity of items, users’ ratings on items often have bias that cannot be recognized by the traditional recommendation methods. In order to solve these two problems, in this paper, (1) we explore the use of a graph model to fuse the interactions between users and common rating items, that is, incorporating the “neighbor” information into the target user to enrich user representations; (2) the do() operator is used to deduce the causality after removing the influences of confounding factors, rather than the correlation of the data surface fitted by traditional machine learning. We propose the EGCI model, i.e., enhanced graph learning for recommendation via causal inference. The model embeds user relationships and item attributes into the latent semantic space to obtain high-quality user and item representations. In addition, the mixed bias implied in the rating process is calibrated by considering the popularity of items. Experimental results on three real-world datasets show that EGCI is significantly better than the baselines.
Finite-Time Stability Analysis of Fractional Delay Systems
Authors: Elshenhab Ahmed M. , Wang Xingtao , Cesarano Clemente , Almarri Barakah , Moaaz Osama
Published: May 2022

Nonhomogeneous systems of fractional differential equations with pure delay are considered. As an application, the representation of solutions of these systems and their delayed Mittag-Leffler matrix functions are used to obtain the finite time stability results. Our results improve and extend the previous related results. Finally, to illustrate our theoretical results, we give an example.
Nonlinear Reaction–Diffusion Equations with Delay: Partial Survey, Exact Solutions, Test Problems, and Numerical Integration
Authors: Sorokin Vsevolod G. , Vyazmin Andrei V.
Published: May 2022

The paper describes essential reaction–diffusion models with delay arising in population theory, medicine, epidemiology, biology, chemistry, control theory, and the mathematical theory of artificial neural networks. A review of publications on the exact solutions and methods for their construction is carried out. Basic numerical methods for integrating nonlinear reaction–diffusion equations with delay are considered. The focus is on the method of lines. This method is based on the approximation of spatial derivatives by the corresponding finite differences, as a result of which the original delay PDE is replaced by an approximate system of delay ODEs. The resulting system is then solved by the implicit Runge–Kutta and BDF methods, built into Mathematica. Numerical solutions are compared with the exact solutions of the test problems.
Chaotic Dynamics of Non-Autonomous Nonlinear System for a Sandwich Plate with Truss Core
Authors: Zhang Dongmei , Li Feng
Published: May 2022

This paper deals with the multi-pulse chaotic dynamics of a sandwich plate with truss core under transverse and in-plane excitations. In order to analyze the complicated nonlinear behaviors of the sandwich plate model by means of the improved extended Melnikov technique, the two-degrees non-autonomous system is transformed into an appropriate form. Through theoretical analysis, the sufficient conditions for the existence of multi-pulse homoclinic orbits and the criterion for the occurrence of chaotic motion are obtained. The damping coefficients and transverse excitation parameters are considered as the control parameters to discuss chaotic behaviors of the sandwich plate system. Numerical results and the maximal Lyapunov exponents are performed to further test the existence of the multi-pulse jumping orbits. The theoretical predictions and numerical results demonstrate that the chaos phenomena may exist in the parametrical excited sandwich plate.
Genus Nocardiopsis: A Prolific Producer of Natural Products
Authors: Shi Ting , Wang Yi-Fei , Wang Han , Wang Bo
Published: May 2022

Actinomycetes are currently one of the major sources of bioactive secondary metabolites used for medicine development. Accumulating evidence has shown that Nocardiopsis, a key class of actinomycetes, has the ability to produce novel bioactive natural products. This review covers the sources, distribution, bioactivities, biosynthesis, and structural characteristics of compounds isolated from Nocardiopsis in the period between March 2018 and 2021. Our results reveal that 67% of Nocardiopsis-derived natural products are reported for the first time, and 73% of them are isolated from marine Nocardiopsis. The chemical structures of the Nocardiopsis-derived compounds have diverse skeletons, concentrating on the categories of polyketides, peptides, terphenyls, and alkaloids. Almost 50% of the natural products isolated from Nocardiopsis have been discovered to display various bioactivities. These results fully demonstrate the great potential of the genus Nocardiopsis to produce novel bioactive secondary metabolites that may serve as a structural foundation for the development of novel drugs.
Current Concepts and Future Trends in Increasing the Benefits of Cochlear Implantation: A Narrative Review
Authors: Blebea Cristina Maria , Ujvary Laszlo Peter , Necula Violeta , Dindelegan Maximilian George , Perde-Schrepler Maria , Stamate Mirela Cristina , Cosgarea Marcel , Maniu Alma Aurelia
Published: May 2022

Hearing loss is the most common neurosensory disorder, and with the constant increase in etiological factors, combined with early detection protocols, numbers will continue to rise. Cochlear implantation has become the gold standard for patients with severe hearing loss, and interest has shifted from implantation principles to the preservation of residual hearing following the procedure itself. As the audiological criteria for cochlear implant eligibility have expanded to include patients with good residual hearing, more attention is focused on complementary development of otoprotective agents, electrode design, and surgical approaches. The focus of this review is current aspects of preserving residual hearing through a summary of recent trends regarding surgical and pharmacological fundamentals. Subsequently, the assessment of new pharmacological options, novel bioactive molecules (neurotrophins, growth factors, etc.), nanoparticles, stem cells, and gene therapy are discussed.
Impact of Sarcopenia and Bone Mineral Density on Implant Failure after Dorsal Instrumentation in Patients with Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures
Authors: Krenzlin Harald , Schmidt Leon , Jankovic Dragan , Schulze Carina , Brockmann Marc A. , Ringel Florian , Keric Naureen
Published: May 2022

Background and Objectives: Age-related loss of bone and muscle mass are signs of frailty and are associated with an increased risk of falls and consecutive vertebral fractures. Management often necessitates fusion surgery. We determined the impacts of sarcopenia and bone density on implant failures (IFs) and complications in patients with spondylodesis due to osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVFs). Materials and Methods: Patients diagnosed with an OVF according to the osteoporotic fracture classification (OF) undergoing spinal instrumentation surgery between 2011 and 2020 were included in our study. The skeletal muscle area (SMA) was measured at the third lumbar vertebra (L3) level using axial CT images. SMA z-scores were calculated for the optimal height and body mass index (BMI) adjustment (zSMAHT). The loss of muscle function was assessed via measurement of myosteatosis (skeletal muscle radiodensity, SMD) using axial CT scans. The bone mineral density (BMD) was determined at L3 in Hounsfield units (HU). Results: A total of 68 patients with OVFs underwent instrumentation in 244 segments (mean age 73.7 ± 7.9 years, 60.3% female). The median time of follow-up was 14.1 ± 15.5 months. Sarcopenia was detected in 28 patients (47.1%), myosteatosis in 45 patients (66.2%), and osteoporosis in 49 patients (72%). The presence of sarcopenia was independent of chronological age (p = 0.77) but correlated with BMI (p = 0.005). The zSMAHT was significantly lower in patients suffering from an IF (p = 0.0092). Sarcopenia (OR 4.511, 95% CI 1.459–13.04, p = 0.0092) and osteoporosis (OR 9.50, 95% CI 1.497 to 104.7, p = 0.014) increased the likelihood of an IF. Using multivariate analysis revealed that the zSMAHT (p = 0.0057) and BMD (p = 0.0041) were significantly related to IF occurrence. Conclusion: Herein, we established sarcopenic obesity as the main determinant for the occurrence of an IF after instrumentation for OVF. To a lesser degree, osteoporosis was associated with impaired implant longevity. Therefore, measuring the SMA and BMD using an axial CT of the lumbar spine might help to prevent an IF in spinal fusion surgery via early detection and treatment of sarcopenia and osteoporosis.
C1q Gene Polymorphism Is Associated with Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Matthiopoulou Georgia , Zervou Maria I. , Stathopoulou Chrysoula , Ioannou Petros , Papadakis John A. , Daraki Vasiliki N. , Pappas Angelos , Souris Sotiris , Samonis George , Goulielmos George N. , Kofteridis Diamantis P.
Published: May 2022

Background and Objectives: Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) appears to have a higher prevalence in diabetics and has been associated with various genetic polymorphisms of the innate immune system. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the C1q gene that encodes for the trigger molecule of the classical complement pathway increase the risk of bacterial infections as well as other diseases. In the present study, we sought to investigate the association of C1q rs292001 (G > A) SNP with ASB in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, performed at the University and the Venizeleion General Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece, 75 adult male and female Cretan patients with T2D and ASB and 75 adult male and female Cretan patients with T2D but without ASB were enrolled and genotyped for rs292001 SNP of C1q gene. Genetic analysis was based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RLFPs) methods. Results: Τhe frequency of homozygotes for the G/G genotype of C1q rs292001 was significantly higher in patients with T2D and ASB than in the control group (p-value = 0.0480, OR = 2.952, 95% CI: 1.052–7.542). Conclusions: Τhe present study provides the first evidence of an association between the C1q rs292001 SNP and an increased susceptibility for ASB in an adult Cretan population with T2D, thus suggesting that this SNP can be encountered as a risk factor for the presence of ASB in patients with T2D.