bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transport of micron-sized polyethylene particles in confined aquifer: Effects of size, ageing, and confining pressure
Authors: Chen Xin , Wan yong , Jia Jia , Xue Qiang , Wu Chenxi
Published: November 2022

Contamination of groundwater by microplastics (MPs) is increasingly reported and draw growing attention due to their potential risks. To understand how MPs migrate into the groundwater, many previous works have investigated the transport of MPs using man-made microspheres of few microns or smaller as models. However, MPs observed in the environment are more diverse in size, shape, and types, which may have different migration behaviors. In this work, transport of irregular shaped polyethylene (PE) particles in sand packed column was studied. Small MPs (22-37 μm) generally have a high mobility than large MPs (44-74 μm) but can also be affected by aging. Ageing decreased the hydrophobicity of the MPs and increased their surface negative charge, which could have facilitated the transport of MPs. However, the physical barrier of space in the porous medium might have a greater influence on the transport of the MPs. The retention of the MPs was enhanced with the increase in pressure due to compression that decreased pore size. Results from this study showed that MPs of environmental features can also be transported in the groundwater but the processes could be governed by different factors from that of man-made plastic microspheres.
Exploring the mechanism of LncRNA CASC15 affecting hepatocellular carcinoma through miRNA
Authors: Cai Qingshan , Wu Dongyang , Shen Yueling , Li Shudong , Liu Liyou , Zheng Jianxing , Liu Dong , Li Yong , Chen Xiaonan , Wang Limin
Published: November 2022

Objective: This study aimed to determine the potential mechanisms through which long noncoding (Lnc) RNA cancer susceptibility candidate 15 (CASC15)affects hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Methods: We retrieved HCC RNA-seq and clinical information from the UCSC Xena database. The differential expression (DE) of CASC15 was detected. Overall survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves. Molecular function and signaling pathways affected by CASC15 were determined using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). Associations between CASC15 and the HCC microenvironment were investigated using immuno-infiltration assays. A differential CASC15-miRNA-mRNA network and HCC-specific CASC15-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network were constructed.
Results: The overexpression of CASC15 in HCC tissues was associated with histological grade, clinical stage, pathological T stage, poor survival, more complex immune cell components, and 12 immune checkpoints. We identified 27 differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs and 270 DE mRNAs in the differential CASC15-miRNA-mRNA network, and 10 key genes that were enriched in 12 cancer-related signaling pathways. Extraction of the HCC-specific CASC15-miRNA-mRNA network revealed that IGF1R, MET, and KRAS were associated with HCC progression and occurrence.
Conclusion: Our bioinformatic findings confirmed that CASC15 is a promising prognostic biomarker for HCC, and elevated levels in HCC are associated with the tumor microenvironment. We also constructed a disease-specific CASC15-miRNA-mRNA regulatory ceRNA network that provides a new perspective for the precise indexing of patients with elevated levels of CASC15.
Detection of Normal Force, Bending, and Torsion Using MEMS Tactile Sensor Embedded in Flexible Sheet
Authors: Okako So , Nambu Taisei , Abe Takashi , Sohgawa Masayuki
Published: November 2022

The control of human motion depends heavily on tactile sensation; hence it is important to understand this sensation digitally in the analysis of motion such as grasping. When representing tactile sensation digitally, a sensor that converts the grip force, bending, and torsion generated during grasping into data is necessary. In this study, an ultra-small tactile sensor was embedded in a flexible elastomer sheet, and its response to applied force, bending, and twisting was measured and investigated. As a result, it is demonstrated that this sensor can be used to obtain responses not only to force but also to the amount and direction of bending and torsion.
Hypercapnia and severe hyperkalemia following robot-assisted endoscopic thyroid surgery: A case report
Authors: Xu Chang , Wu Zhifang , Yin Anqi , Zhang Lidong
Published: November 2022

Background: Robot-assisted thyroidectomy has been widely performed because it has many advantages, such as less invasiveness and better cosmesis. Due to the need to inject carbon dioxide (CO2) into the neck skin during the operation, the incidence of subcutaneous emphysema and hypercapnia is increased. Thalassemia, which is a type of haemolytic anaemia caused by the lack of globin chain synthesis, causes damage, instability and fragility of the erythrocyte membrane and can easily lead to haemolysis and hyperkalaemia due to changes in pH. Hypercapnia is a complication of endoscopic surgery, but severe hyperkalaemia is rare that we suspect it may be related to the patient's history of thalassemia. Here, we report this case and analyse the possible causes described in the literature to improve the anesthetic management of patients undergoing thyroidectomy or thalassemia in the future.
Clinical features: A 30-year-old man who was scheduled for robot-assisted thyroidectomy received general anaesthesia. Ninety minutes after CO2 injection, his end-expiratory carbon dioxide (PetCO2) suddenly increased to 45 mmHg, and arterial blood gas analysis (ABG) showed serious abnormalities. He developed severe hypercapnia and hyperkalemia during the operation. The patient gradually recovered after hyperventilation and sodium bicarbonate treatment.
Conclusion: Hypercapnia and subcutaneous emphysema are severe complications of robot-assisted endoscopic thyroid surgery. Anesthesiologists should conduct an ABG right away and make a diagnosis immediately when facing this crisis. Patients with thalassemia, which easily leads to haemolysis and hyperkalemia due to changes in pH, should carefully select endoscopic surgery requiring CO2.
Quality And Reliability Analysis Of Combined Intracavernous Injection And Stimulation Test Videos On The Youtube Platform
Authors: Cil Gokhan , yilmaz mehmet , sahin yusuf
Published: November 2022

Objective: In this study, we evaluated how reliable and high-quality content YouTube videos about ICI provide for healthcare professionals or patients in daily life, using a scoring system as well as validated scoring.
Material and Methods: In March 2022, YouTube was searched using the keywords "intracavernous injection, penile injection, ICI and combined intracavernous injection and stimulation" and the videos opened in the first 10 pages were listed according to their relevance. We found total 66 videos, after excluding non-English language content of less than 2 minutes or duplicate videos with no audio or subtitles from the study total 36 videos were excluded. Each video was evaluated by two evaluators with a validated Global Quality Score (GQS) and a checklist assessment tool created specifically for this topic by 3 andologs. analyzed by. In addition, the video power index (VPI) obtained from the view ratio X, such as like the ratio/100 formula was used for video quality evaluation.
Results: When videos were uploaded, the median duration on platform 695.50 (range 165-4175) median video length was 300 (range 120-1020). While the main source of loading videos was health information sites (n=16; 53.3%), this was followed by academic (n=8; 26.7%) and health professionals (n=6; 20%) videos. While 86.7% of the videos were high quality, 13.3% were considered low quality. The median GQS, check list score and VPI were 3 (range 1-4), 5 (range 2-7) and 32.5 (range 0.33-1762.12), respectively. Videos produced by the academic channel had higher GQS and checklist scores (p values 0.07 and 0.013, respectively). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of the VPI (p=0.338). Spearman's correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between the check list score and GQS (r=0.857, p<0.001).
Discussion: Combined intracavernous injection and stimulation test videos on YouTube generally have high quality content, but academically sourced videos offer better quality and reliable content for healthcare professionals. Considering that today patients use the internet as their first source of reference, the content and reliability level of the products uploaded by healthcare professionals on this platform should be increased.
Differential genomic effects of four nano-sized and one micro-sized CeO 2 particles on HepG2 cells
Authors: Thai Sheau-Fung , Jones Carlton P. , Robinette Brian L. , Ren Hongzu , Vallanat Beena , Fisher Anna , Kitchin Kirk T.
Published: November 2022

The objective of this research was to perform a genomics study of five cerium oxide particles, 4 nano and one micrometer-sized particles which have been studied previously by our group with respect to cytotoxicity, biochemistry and metabolomics. Human liver carcinoma HepG2 cells were exposed to between 0.3 to 300 ug/ml of CeO2particles for 72 hours and then total RNA was harvested. Fatty acid accumulation was observed with W4, X5, Z7 and less with Q but not Y6. The gene expression changes in the fatty acid metabolism genes correlated the fatty acid accumulation we detected in the prior metabolomics study for the CeO2particles named W4, Y6, Z7 and Q, but not for X5. In particular, the observed genomics effects on fatty acid uptake and fatty acid oxidation offer a possible explanation of why many CeO2particles increase cellular free fatty acid concentrations in HepG2 cells. The major genomic changes observed in this study were sirtuin, ubiquitination signaling pathways, NRF2-mediated stress response and mitochondrial dysfunction. The sirtuin pathway was affected by many CeO2particle treatments. Sirtuin signaling itself is sensitive to oxidative stress state of the cells and may be an important contributor in CeO2particle induced fatty acid accumulation. Ubiquitination pathway regulates many protein functions in the cells, including sirtuin signaling, NRF2-mediated stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction pathways. NRF2-mediated stress response and mitochondrial were reported to be altered in many nanoparticles treated cells. All these pathways may contribute to the fatty acid accumulation in the CeO2particle treated cells.
Phenome-wide association network demonstrates close connection with individual disease trajectories from the HUNT study
Authors: Hall Martina , Skinderhaug Marit K. , Almaas Eivind
Published: November 2022

Background: Disease networks offer a potential road map of connections between diseases. Several studies have created disease networks where diseases are connected either based on shared genes or Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) associations. However, it is still unclear to which degree SNP-based networks map to empirical co-observed diseases within a different, general, adult study population spanning over a long time period.
Methods: We create a SNP-based disease network (PheNet) from a large population using the UK biobank phenome-wide association studies. Importantly, the SNP-associations are unbiased towards much studied diseases, adjusted for linkage disequilibrium, case/control imbalances, as well as relatedness. We map the PheNet on to significantly co-occurring diseases in the Norwegian HUNT study population, and further, identify consecutively occurring diseases with significant occurrence independent of age and gender in the PheNet.
Results: We find that the overlap between the networks are far larger than expected, where most diseases tend to link to diseases of the same category and some categories are more linked to each other than expected by chance. Considering the ordering of consecutively occurring diseases in the HUNT data, we find that many diabetic disorders and cardiovascular disorders are subsequent the diagnostication of obesity and overweight, and cardiovascular disorders that often tend to be observed subsequent to other diseases are associated with higher mortality rates.
Conclusions: The HUNT sub-PheNet showing both genetically and co-observed diseases offers an interesting framework to study groups of diseases and examine if they, in fact, are comorbidities and pinpoint exactly which mutation(s) that constitute shared cause of the diseases. This could be of great benefit to both researchers and clinicians studying relationships between diseases.
Phase plate fabrication process to simulate the turbulence effects on an optical imaging system in Korean atmospheric circumstances
Authors: Oh Han-gyol , Kang Pilseong , Lee Jaehyun , Rhee Hyug-Gyo , Ghim Young-sik
Published: November 2022

Telescopes which use light that has propagated through atmospheric paths detect distorted wave generated by atmosphere turbulence. The distorted wave decreases an image quality of the telescope. Adaptive optics technology can be applied to compensate the aberration caused by atmospheric turbulence. However, there are limitations in conducting experiment of the adaptive optical system with real atmosphere. Phase plate is one of the devices that can simulate the real atmosphere in laboratory. We suggest a novel two-step process for fabrication of the phase plate and present a process for manufacturing a phase plate that could simulate atmospheric turbulence similar to the actual atmosphere. The proposed fabrication method does not take additional activities such as a designing phase-screen and a phase simulation. Therefore, anyone can simply and inexpensively produce the phase plate. An analysis is conducted using the statistics of the index of the refraction fluctuation and the modal expansion from Kolmogorov theory. The goal of the experiment is to produce a phase plate for which D/r0 ≈ = 20 and r0 ≈ 7.5 cm. The target of the goal is set in consideration of the Korean atmospheric circumstances. Finally, the phase plate is manufactured by the proposed method, which follows characteristics similar to that of the actual atmosphere.
Safety and efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention combined with catheter ablation in a single procedure for patients with coronary artery disease complicated with atrial fibrillation
Authors: Chen Lizhu , Liang Tuo , Gao Huikuan , Zhang Heping
Published: November 2022

Background
Coronary artery disease (CAD) always co-exists with atrial fibrillation (AF). A new delivery of cardiac interventions for patients is needed during or even after the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) combined with AF catheter ablation (AFCA) in a single procedure for patients with CAD and AF.
Methods
From Jan 2020 to Jun 2021, 40 consecutive patients who underwent both PCI and AFCA were retrospectively enrolled for this study. All patients were followed up 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the procedure. The primary safety outcomes included cardiac tamponade, cerebrovascular accident/stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), thromboembolism, myocardial infarction, vascular access site complications, and bleeding. The primary efficacy outcomes included 12-month AF recurrence and in-stent restenosis (ISR).
Results
Six adverse events were reported, including small hematoma at the groin access site in two cases, minor bleeding in three cases, and stroke not related to the procedure in one case. No ISR was reported. The Kaplan-Meier analysis estimated that the AF-free success rate at 12 months was 95.7% in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) patients and 64.7% in those with persistent atrial fibrillation (PsAF).
Conclusions
The combination of PCI and AFCA in one procedure was feasible, safe, and efficacious in patients with CAD and AF. The combined procedure can be recommended in clinical practice, during or even after the COVID-19 era.
Highly Realistic Whole Transcriptome Synthesis through Generative Adversarial Networks
Authors: Fu Suneng
Published: November 2022

The transcriptome is the most extensive and standardized among all biological data, but its lack of inherent structure impedes the application of deep learning tools. This study resolves the neighborhood relationship of protein-coding genes through uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP) of high-quality gene expression data. The resultant transcriptome image is conducive to classification tasks and generative learning. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) trained with full or partial transcriptome images differentiate normal versus lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) and LUSC versus lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) with over 96% accuracy, comparable to XGBoost. Meanwhile, the generative adversarial network (GAN) model trained with 93 TcgaTargetGtex transcriptome classes synthesizes highly realistic and diverse tissue/cancer-specific transcriptome images. Comparative analysis of GAN-synthesized LUSC and LUAD transcriptome images show selective retention and enhancement of epithelial identity gene expression in the LUSC transcriptome. Further analyses of synthetic LUSC transcriptomes identify a novel role for mitochondria electron transport complex I expression in LUSC stratification and prognosis. In summary, this study provides an intuitive transcriptome embedding compatible with generative deep learning and realistic transcriptome synthesis.
Computed Tomography Analysis of Acetabular Component Anteversion after Total Hip Arthroplasty: Conventional Axial versus Functional Coronal Plane
Authors: Lee Sang-Min , Shin Won Chul , Moon Nam Hoon , Do Min Uk , Kim Jung Shin , Suh Kuen Tak
Published: November 2022

Aims: This study aimed to compare the accuracy and reliability of computed tomography (CT) anteversion measurements between the conventional axial plane (CAP) and functional coronal plane (FCP).
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 68 patients who underwent primary unilateral total hip arthroplasty (THA) and postoperative CT. Values obtained using PolyWare software were considered the reference standard. The anteversion of the acetabular component was measured in the CAP as anatomical anteversion and in the reformatted FCP as radiographic anteversion using a reconstruction software. Reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient.
Results: The mean anteversion of the acetabular component in the CAP and FCP CT images was 29.18° ± 6.06° and 21.17° ± 5.38°, respectively. The CT anteversion measurement was more accurate in the reformatted FCP than in the CAP owing to its similarity with the reference standard (20.70° ± 4.39°, p = 0.281). The CT anteversion was larger in the CAP than in the FCP, showing a significant linear correlation and a difference of 8.01°. The intra- and interobserverreliabilities were excellent for all measurement methods.
Conclusion: The reformatted FCP CT image is useful in the accurate measurement of anteversion after THA. This study will also help measure anteversion through CT.
Effect of Crataegus Azarolus on blood glucose, lipid profile and antioxidant status in streptozotocin diabetic rats fed zinc deficient diet
Authors: Triki Ramzi , Boughediri Khaoula , Chelaghmia Mohamed Lyamine , Kechrid Zine
Published: November 2022

Objective
zinc plays an important role in insulin's biosynthesis and storage. Consequently, its deficiency may have a deleterious impact on the progression of diabetes and associated consequences. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of Hawthorn “Crataegus Azarolus” on blood biochemical parameters, tissue zinc status, and oxidative stress biomarkers in streptozotocin diabetic rats fed zinc insufficient diet.
Methods
Thirty-two males albino Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: 2 groups were fed zinc-sufficient diet (One non-diabetic and the other diabetic), while the others 2 groups of diabetic rats were fed zinc insufficient diet. One non-treated group and the other treated with the extract of Crataegus Azarolus (150mg/kg Body weight). Body weight and food intake were recorded regularly. After 4 weeks of dietary manipulation, fasting animals were scarified
Results
zinc deficiency feed decreased body-weight, insulin, zinc tissues (femur, liver, kidney, and pancreas), glutathione concentrations, lactic dehydrogenase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities. It was also noticed that inadequate dietary zinc intake increased concentrations of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, uric acid, creatinine, lipid peroxidation levels, and transaminases activities. However, oral administration of hawthorn extract ameliorated all the previous parameters approximately to their normal levels.
Conclusion
the present study showed that Crataegus Azarolus supplementation presumably acting as an antioxidant, and it can be a natural source for the reduction of diabetes development caused by zinc deficiency.
Identification of a DAMP receptor and its cognate peptide ligand in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas)
Authors: Lu Hsueh-Han , Meents Anja , Fliegmann Judith , Hwang Ming-Jing , Suen Ching-Shu , Felix Georg , Mithöfer Axel , Yeh Kai-Wun
Published: November 2022

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is an important tuber crop, but also target of numerous insect pests. Intriguingly, the abundant storage protein in tubers, sporamin, has intrinsic trypsin protease inhibitory activity. In leaves, sporamin is induced by wounding or a volatile homoterpene and enhances insect resistance. While the signaling pathway leading to sporamin synthesis is partially established, the initial event, perception of a stress-related signal is still unknown. Here, we identified a leucine-rich repeat receptor kinase (IbLRR-RK1) that is induced upon wounding and herbivory, and related to peptide-elicitor receptors (PEPRs) from tomato and Arabidopsis. We also identified a gene encoding a precursor protein comprising a peptide ligand (IbPep1) for IbLRR-RK1. IbPep1 represents a distinct signal in sweet potato, which might work in a complementary and/or parallel pathway to the previously described HypSys peptides to strengthen insect resistance. Notably, an inter-family compatibility in the Pep/PEPR system from Convolvulaceae and Solanaceae was identified.
Pancreatic cancer cells crave glutamine for glycosylation and CA19-9 biosynthesis through hexosamine biosynthetic pathway
Authors: Liu Chen , Deng Shengming , Xiao Zhiwen , Lu Renquan , Cheng He , Feng Jingjing , Shen Xuxia , Ni Quanxing , Wu Weiding , Yu Xianjun , Luo Guopei
Published: November 2022

Background: Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) is the most widely used biomarker for pancreatic cancer. Since CA19-9 closely correlates with patient outcome and tumor stage in pancreatic cancer, the deciphering of CA19-9 biosynthesis provides a potential clue for treatment.
Methods: Concentration of amino acids was detected by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Metabolic flux of glutamine was examined by isotope tracing untargeted metabolomics. Label-free quantitative N-glycosylation proteomics was used to examine N-glycosylation alterations.
Results: Among all amino acids, glutamine was higher in CA19-9-high pancreatic cancers (> 37 U/mL, 66 cases) than in CA19-9-normal clinical specimens (≤ 37 U/mL, 37 cases). The glutamine concentration in clinical specimens was positively correlated with liver metastasis or lymphovascular invasion. Glutamine blockade using diazooxonorleucine suppressed pancreatic cancer growth and intraperitoneal and lymphatic metastasis. Glutamine promotes O-GlcNAcylation, protein glycosylation, and CA19-9 biosynthesis through the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway. UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) was an intermediate product between glutamine and CA19-9.
Conclusions: Pancreatic cancer cells crave glutamine for CA19-9 biosynthesis. Glutamine blockade may be a potential therapeutic strategy for pancreatic cancer.
Digitally restored damaged Bodhisattva statue from the Tang Dynasty in Longmen Grottoes
Authors: xiaoshu li , Yusof Mohd Johari Mohd , Hiong Ser Wue , Perumal Velu , Xiufeng Wang
Published: November 2022

Bodhisattvas has the highest level in practice, which is second only to or equal to Buddha. Because of the special status of the Bodhisattva, most of the statues are beside the Buddha. It is also because of her importance that she has become the first choice of many grave robbers. The heads of many existing Bodhisattva statues have been stolen. Besides that, due to environmental and other factors, many Buddha statues have been unreasonably damaged. In order to prevent secondary damage and let future generations still enjoy this magnificent art after hundreds of years, this paper will digitally restore this valuable statue. In this paper, firstly, the facial features of the same type of Bodhisattva were analyzed by MEGVII "face++" software to obtain the angle extremes of the restored data. Then, the facial features analyzed by systematic literature review(SLR) method were used for artistic processing to make it closer to the original appearance of Buddha statue. Notably, the digital restoration of the damaged Bodhisattvas could provide a new approach to the restoration plan and basis for the digitization of Longmen Grottoes. This form of restoration is also able to organically combine modern science and technology with traditional art research, which offers a new academic research method for restoring traditional art history.
Epigenetic silencing of HOXA4 gene is associated with imatinib resistance, disease progression, BCR-ABL1 transcript type and smoking status among Chronic Myeloid Leukemia patients
Authors: Radin Dariush , Hamid Mohammad , Kargar Mohammad , Jafarinia Mojtaba
Published: November 2022

Background
We aimed to investigate the role of HOXA4 gene methylation concerning response to imatinib, and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) progression, also investigated the impact of the type of BCR-ABL1 transcript and smoking on methylation level.
Methods
45 CML patients at different clinical stages of the disease (including 20 good responses and 25 non-mutated imatinib-resistant patients) and 15 health controls were recruited. Methylation level of HOXA4 gene promoter was evaluated by Methylation Sensitive High-Resolution Melt (MS-HRM) analysis.
Results
There was a significant difference in the mean of HOXA4 methylation percentage between two response groups (mean = 63.8; SD = 17.79 vs mean = 47.75; SD = 14.18, P = 0. 002). HOXA4 promoter hypermethylation (51–100% methylation level) indicated a higher risk for progression to advance phase (OR = 5.75; 95% CI: 1.40-23.49; P = 0.01) and imatinib resistance (OR = 8.5; 95% CI: 1.96–36.79; P = 0.004). Importantly, the patients with b2a2 transcript and smokers were associated with a higher percentage of HOXA4 methylation (OR = 7.08; 95% CI, 1.80-27.79; P = 0.005, OR = 11.8; 95% CI, 2.67–52.67; P = 0.001 respectively).
Conclusion
Our study suggests the association of the HOXA4 gene hypermethylation with imatinib resistance and CML progression. Moreover, the BCR-ABL1 transcript type and smoking have an impact on methylation levels.
The Effect of Mechanical Ventilation Modes on Salivary Cortisol Levels of Premature Babies
Authors: Satar Mehmet , Kaplan Selin , Tuli Abdullah , Aydın Ümmühan Fulden , Yıldızdaş Hacer Yapıcıoğlu , Narlı Nejat
Published: November 2022

Objective: Respiratory failure is common in preterm infants and mechanical ventilation treatment may be required. Pain and stress in newborns during mechanical ventilation may have negative effects on neurological development of the babies. Salivary cortisol level is one of the important non-invasive tests to detect stress. In this study, we aimed to examine the relationship between mechanical ventilation modes and stress levels by measuring salivary cortisol level of the preterm infants.
Methods: The study group consisted of 65 preterm infants on respiratory support, and 43 control preterm infants. Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS) was used to evaluate the pain. To determine the stress level, salivary cortisol level was studied in saliva samples taken in the morning and in the evening on the 4th postnatal day.
Results: The morning and evening salivary cortisol levels of the infants in the study group were found to be significantly higher than the babies in the control group (p<0.001; p<0.001, respectively). Both morning and evening salivary cortisol levels of infants on invasive mechanical ventilation were found to be higher than the cortisol values of infants on non-invasive mechanical ventilation (p<0.001; p<0.001, respectively). Pressure Support mode and Synchronised Intermittant Positive Pressure Ventilation mode did not differ in cortisol levels either in the morning or in the evening (p=0.402; p=0.391, respectively). However in non-invasive modes, nasal Synchronised Intermittant Mandatory Ventilation caused higher cortisol levels compared to nasal Continous Positive Pressure Ventilation mode both in the morning and in the evening samples (p=0.031; p=0.038, respectively).
Conclusion: Increased salivary cortisol levels in invasive modes show that intubation causes pain and stress in newborns. For this reason, we assume that physicians and nurses have important duties for the pain and stress management of infants undergoing mechanical ventilation.
Coping with abrasion and structural failure – diverging composition of radular teeth in two Porifera-consuming nudibranch species (Mollusca, Gastropoda)
Authors: Krings Wencke , Wägele Heike , Neumann Charlotte , Gorb Stanislav N.
Published: November 2022

Background: Most molluscs forage with their radula, a chitinous membrane with embedded teeth. As teeth are interfaces between the individual and its ingesta, trophic specialisations can be reflected by morphology, composition, and mechanical properties of the radula. Adaptations to the ingesta – especially with regard to mechanisms contributing to the reduction of structural failure and wear – are well studied in the heavily mineralized teeth of Polyplacophora and Patellogastropoda. For the rather chitinous teeth of non-limpet snails, we are however confronted with a large gap of knowledge.
Results: For this study, we selected nudibranch gastropods, which are of high interest, when studying trophic specialisations, because taxa are strongly adapted to forage on certain prey types. To shed some light on this type of radula, we here investigated two species – Felimare picta and Doris pseudoargus, which are similar with regard to their food preference (Porifera-consuming). Tooth morphologies were documented using scanning-electron-microscopy and mechanical properties were tested by nanoindentation, to develop hypotheses on functional adaptations of the radula to the ingesta. We found that tooth morphologies and mechanical properties are rather similar in both species, indicating that teeth are similar in their function. In the search for the reasons of the specific mechanical properties, we studied the material composition. Teeth were visualized using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), to determine the degree of tanning, and analysed with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), to determine the elemental composition. Our results show, that the inorganic content and the emitted autofluorescence signal differ between the species. This was especially prominent, when studying the inner and outer sides (leading and trailing edges) of teeth. In F. picta, we detected high proportions of Si, whereas teeth of D. pseudoargus contained high amounts of Ca, which influenced the autofluorescence signal in CLSM. Using nanoindentation we determined high Young’s modulus and hardness values for the leading edges of teeth, which seem to correlate with the Si- and Ca-content.
Conclusions: This is a new set of data for non-limpet gastropods, rendering that their teeth can be mechanically enhanced via different chemical pathways to reach similar properties in reducing structural failure and abrasion.
Examining the quality of news media reporting of complex mental illness in relation to violent crime in Australia
Authors: Graham Madeline , Ross Anna , Morgan Amy , Paton Elizabeth
Published: November 2022

Purpose

News reporting on mental illness can perpetuate stigma. An understanding of the current picture of such reporting is important to identify areas for improvement. This study investigated the quality of Australian news media coverage of complex mental illness in the context of crime and violence over a 2-year period, prior to the release of new media guidelines.

Methods

This research utilised a systematic search of Australian news articles that were published between July 2018 and July 2020 and reported on mental illness in relation to violent crime. Researchers developed a Mental Illness and Crime Reporting Quality Framework to determine quality scores for news articles according to 11 relevant factors in media guidelines. An additional 11 characteristics of articles were extracted for further descriptive analysis.

Results

One-hundred and twenty-eight Australian news articles met inclusion criteria. The average quality score was 50 (SD = 13.91) out of a possible maximum score of 100 (range 11 – 78). Strengths and weaknesses were identified as some criteria were consistently met, and other criteria were met rarely or not at all. There were emerging trends between quality scores and article characteristics, including publication source, though these analyses were not statistically significant.

Conclusion

The findings indicate that Australian news coverage of complex mental illness and violent crime met half of the criteria of reporting guidelines that minimises risk of perpetuating or reinforcing stigma. This demonstrates significant opportunity to improve the overall quality of media reporting on crime and mental illness. Future research should evaluate the impact of the guidelines on the quality of news reporting after their implementation by utilising a similar methodology, using these findings as a baseline measure.
Clofarabine and Total Body Irradiation (TBI) as Conditioning Regimen for Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation in High-Risk Acute Leukemia Patients.
Authors: Cheikh Jean El , bidaoui ghassan , Atoui Ali , terro khodr , sharrouf layal , Zahreddine Ammar , moukalled nour , abudalle imane , Bazarbachi Ali , Mohty Mohamad , Dulery Remy
Published: November 2022

Background: Clofarabine (Clo) is an immunosuppressive purine analog that may have better anti-leukemic activity than fludarabine (Flu) in the conditioning regimen for allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-SCT) for acute leukemia patients. The addition of total body irradiation (TBI) to conditioning regimens has been widely investigated. However, the use of single agent Clo in combination with intermediate doses of TBI ranging from 4-8 Gy has not been studied yet.
Objective: This study aims to identify the outcome of patients with high-risk hematological malignancies who underwent allo-SCT from different donor types and received Clo and TBI (4-8 Gy) as a conditioning regimen.
Methods: This is a double center, observational, retrospective study of patients with high-risk hematological malignancies diagnosed from 2012 to 2021, treated at the American University of Beirut Medical Center in Beirut (AUBMC), Lebanon, and Saint-Antoine Hospital (SA) in Paris, France. Data regarding patient baseline characteristics, disease-related factors, and transplant outcomes including graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), Non-relapse mortality (NRM), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS), were collected.
Results: We identified 24 high-risk patients with a median age at transplant of 37 years (range 22-78). Of these, 15 patients (63%) were males, 8 patients (33%) had acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 3 patients (13%) had myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and 12 patients (50%) had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and 1 patient had B-lymphoblastic lymphoma (B-ALL) (4%). At the time of the transplant, only 15 patients (63%) were in complete remission (CR). Nine patients (38%) received transplants from a matched related donor(MRD), 9 patients (38%) from a haploidentical related donor(haplo), 4 patients (17%) from a matched unrelated donor(MUD), and 2 patients (8%) from an unrelated cord blood donor (UCB). All patients received Clo. For TBI, 21 patients (88%) received a total dose of 4 Gy, and 3 (12%) received 8 Gy. Sixteen patients (67%) received anti-thymocyte globulin(ATG). After a median follow-up of 40 months, the cumulative incidences of grade II-III acute GVHD, grade IV acute GVHD, and chronic GVHD were 50%, 4%, and 8%, respectively. NRM at 100 days, and 1 year after transplant was 4% and 25%, respectively. 17% of the patients had a relapse or progression of the disease by the end of the study. The 2-year PFS and OS were 50% and 56%, respectively. The median PFS and OS were not reached.
Conclusions: Clo/TBI (4-8 Gy) as a conditioning regimen for allo-SCT in high-risk patients confers disease control with an acceptable toxicity profile.
Hydrogen-controlled structural reconstruction of palladium-bismuth oxide cluster to single atom alloy for low-temperature CO Oxidation
Authors: Nan Bing , Li Lulu , Li Yunan , Guo lingling , Du Meng , Liu Zhengwu , Tao Xin , Tian Chen , Liang Zhenye , Zhang Yanxing , Ma Chao , Shen Lu , Si Rui , Li Lina
Published: November 2022

Palladium (Pd) has been widely regarded as a high-performance catalyst for various oxidative reactions, however, the actual structure of active site remains controversial due to structural evolution under operation conditions. Herein, we prepared a series of bismuth (Bi)-doped silica-supported Pd catalysts and found a hydrogen-controlled structural reconstruction mechanism of palladium-bismuth oxide cluster to single atom alloy to efficiently catalyze low-temperature CO oxidation. The formation of PdxBiyOz clusters with unique Pd−O−Bi coordination structure could enhance the sinter-resistance ability of Pd species. This structural evolution of active site is clearly uncovered by in-situ XAFS results, in which metallic Bi−Pd shell gradually generates as the increase of reduction temperature without any metallic Bi−Bi bond. More importantly, PdBi1 single atom alloy exhibits an excellent CO oxidation activity with a high CO2 production rate of 413 µmolCO2·gPd−1·s− 1 at 100°C and excellent catalytic stability. Density function calculation (DFT) results indicate that there are geometric and electronic effects between Bi and Pd atoms, which favor total linear-CO adsorption, activate CO and O2 molecules, and reduce the barrier for the formation of OO-CO intermediates in PdBi1 single atom alloy.
Dose-related Adaptive Reconstruction of DMN in isoflurane Administration: a Study in the Rat
Authors: Guo Fengru , Li Yuqin , Jian Zhaoxin , Cui Yan , Gong Wenhui , Li Airui , Jing Wei , Xu Peng , Chen Ke , Guo Daqing , Yao Dezhong , Xia Yang
Published: November 2022

The anesthetic states are accompanied by functional alterations. However, the dose-related adaptive alterations in the higher-order network under anesthesia, e. g. default mode network (DMN), are poorly revealed. Herein, we implanted electrodes in brain regions of the rat DMN to acquire local field potentials to investigate the perturbations produced by anesthesia. Relative power spectral density, static functional connectivity (FC), fuzzy entropy of dynamic FC, and topological features were computed from the data. The results showed that adaptive reconstruction were induced by isoflurane, exhibiting reduced static and stable long-range FC, altered topological features. These reconstruction patterns were in a dose-related fashion and delta-band dominated. These results might impart insights into the neural network mechanisms underlying anesthesia and suggest the potential of monitoring the depth of anesthesia based on the parameters of DMN.
Effect of Bacillus subtilis BS-Z15 metabolite mycosubtilin on body weight gain in mice
Authors: Yang Jun , You Jia , Ma Ming-Yue , Liu Huan , Chen Jia-Yi , Cao Xi-Yuan , Aimaier Reyihanguli , Li Hao-Ran , Zibibula Xieyidai , Zhao He-Ping , Yang Yi , Zhao Hui-Xin
Published: November 2022

Our previous study reported that the metabolite of Bacillus subtilis BS-Z15 n-butanol site could reduce body weight gain in mice, showing anti-obesity effects. This study further demonstrated the effects of purified mycosubtilin on the body weight gain and gut microbiota of Kunming mice. 30 male Kunming white mice were randomly selected into three groups at four weeks of age: Control (group A), gavage-administered with saline daily; n-butanol site treated (group B), gavage-administered with n-butanol site metabolites (90 mg/kg); and mycosubtilin treated (group C), gavage-administered with mycosubtilin (6 mg/kg). Different groups' gut microbiota compositions were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing technology. The results showed that the effects of mycosubtilin and n-butanol sites were consistent; the treatment groups showed a significant reduction in body weight gain as well as triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein contents as compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the size and contents of epididymal adipocytes were also significantly reduced (P < 0.05), and the gavage administration of mycosubtilin could significantly increase the expression levels of lipolysis gene adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) in the mice liver. Mycosubtilin and n-butanol site treatments could significantly alter the composition of the gut microbiota as compared to the physiologic saline treatment. B. subtilis BS-Z15 metabolites may regulate weight gain primarily by mycosubtilin, according to these findings. The mycosubtilin might reduce weight gain in mice by regulating lipid metabolism, thereby reducing fat accumulation and altering the composition of gut microbiota.
Development and application of a data processing method for food metabolomics analysis
Authors: Lei Yuanluo , Chen Xiaoying , Shi Jiachen , Liu Yuanfa , Xu Yong-Jiang
Published: November 2022

Food metabolomics is described as the implementation of metabolomics to food systems such as food materials, food processing, and food nutrition. These applications generally create large amounts of data, and although while the technology exists to analyze this data and different tools exist in various ecosystems, downstream analysis is still a challenge and the tools are not integrated into a single method. In this article, we developed a data processing method for untargeted LC-MS data in metabolomics, derived from the integration of computational MS tools from OpenMS into workflow system Konstanz Information Miner (KNIME). This method can analyze raw MS data and produce high-quality visualizations. A MS1 spectra-based identification, two MS2 spectra-based identification workflows and a GNPSExport-GNPS workflow were included in this method. As compared with conventional approaches, combining the result of MS1&MS2 spectra-based identification workflow via the tolerance of retention time and mass to charge ratio (m/z), which can greatly reduce the rate of false positives in metabolomics datasets. In our example, filtering with the tolerance removed more than 50% of the possible identifications while keeping 90% of the correct identification. The result demonstrated that the developed method is rapid and reliable method for food metabolomics data processing.
Optical properties and structural features of UV-C irradiated polyvinylidene chloride films
Authors: B Akkamma M. , Lobo Blaise
Published: November 2022

The modifications caused in polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) polymer films on exposure to ultra-violet light (UV-C light of wavelength 254 nm) in air for different exposure times varying from one hour up to six hours have been investigated by using ultraviolet - visible (UV-Vis) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic techniques, as well as powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. XRD scans reveal that the degree of crystallinity (Xc) increased from 4.7% up to 28.6% on increasing the UV exposure time of PVDC from 1 hour up to 4 hours, and a further increase in the exposure time causes a decrease in the value of Xc. The FTIR scans reveal the formation of hydrogen bonded hydroxyl groups as well as conjugated alkene structures in the PVDC sample on exposure to UV-C radiation. For the study of modification in band structure of the UV irradiated PVDC films, the UV-Vis spectroscopy was used; it was found that the optical band gap decreases from 4.70 eV down to 3.92 eV, as obtained from the plot of √εi hν versus hν, using linear fit method and the penetration depth (δ) decreased from 0.0074 cm down to 0.0035 cm at 4.88eV, the energy corresponding to UV-C radiation. The calculation of percentage decrease in the value of δ with respect to wavelength and UV-C exposure time reveals that UV-C irradiated PVDC films are good radiation shields against both UV-A and UV-B EM radiation. The study of refractive index with respect to wavelength reveals that UV irradiation of PVDC films is an effective method to modify the refractive index of PVDC, thereby making the material suitable for use in different optical applications. The optical dielectric constant was studied systematically, which demonstrates that the energy storage properties of the PVDC films can be tuned and tailored by UV-C radiation. Details are discussed.
Obesity and sex- and age-specific income – evidence from the HUNT study
Authors: Edwards Christina , Bjørngaard Johan H. , Kinge Jonas
Published: November 2022

Background
Elevated body mass index (BMI) has been found to be associated with lower income, especially among women, and increasing evidence suggests that this association is causal. However, there is limited knowledge about the sex-specific effect of BMI on income at different ages. The relationship between BMI and income may change with age due to, for example, BMI-related morbidities or discrimination. The aim of this study was to investigate the sex-specific causal link between BMI and income at different ages.
Methods
The age-, and sex-specific effects were estimated using an instrumental variable approach with genetic variants as instruments (i.e., Mendelian randomisation) in an effort to deal with reverse causality and omitted variables that may bias the relationship between BMI and income. We also reduced measurement error by using registry-based income and clinically measured height and weight.
Findings
Elevated BMI led to a reduced likelihood of working, and lower income. For females, increased BMI led to lower income throughout, and particularly at the end of, work life. For males, increased BMI led to lower income from age 49 onwards.
Bioaccumulation of chemical elements in the largemouth bass (Fish): Insight from three Missouri reservoirs
Authors: Onema pauline , Ikem Abua , Knot Kattrina , Adojoh Onema
Published: November 2022

Due to the bioaccumulation and biomagnification effects of Methyl Mercury (MeHg), elevated Hg concentration in fish has been found in some lakes and new impoundment reservoirs. Thus, this study analyzes the presence of Mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), selenium (Se), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) to determine the composite of whole-body largemouth bass (LMB; Micropterus salmoides) samples across three Missouri Lakes. The three lakes (Port Hudson, Buffalo Bill, and Ben Branch reservoirs) were compared with US-EPA Standard values to determine the concentration of 26 elements (Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Se, V, Zn, B, Hg, Pb, P, Tl, Be, Ba, Sb, Ag, Al, and As) in largemouth bass (LMB; skin–off fillet). The two methods were validated from the analyses of certified reference materials (DOLT-5 and DORM-4). In addition, the weekly intakes of metals and metalloids in comparison with regulatory thresholds and the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks via the consumption of muscle are observed. The overall elemental content of LMB from the three reservoirs shows the metal levels in this study were below the maximum limits.