bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Computer-aided genomic data analysis of drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae for the Identification of alternative therapeutic targets
Authors: Qasim Aqsa , Jaan Samavia , Wara Tehreem Ul , Shehroz Muhammad , Nishan Umar , Shams Sulaiman , Shah Mohibullah , Ojha Suvash Chandra
Published: March 2023

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is an emerging multidrug resistance pathogen that causes sexually transmitted infections in men and women. The N. gonorrhoeae has demonstrated an emerging antimicrobial resistance against reported antibiotics, hence fetching the attention of researchers to address this problem. The present in-silico study aimed to find putative novel drug and vaccine targets against N. gonorrhoeae infection by the application of bioinformatics approaches. Core genes set of 69 N. gonorrhoeae strains was acquired from complete genome sequences. The essential and non-homologous metabolic pathway proteins of N. gonorrhoeae were identified. Moreover, different bioinformatics databases were used for the downstream analysis. The DrugBank database scanning identified 12 novel drug targets in the prioritized list. They were preferred as drug targets against this bacterium. A viable vaccine is unavailable so far against N. gonorrhoeae infection. In the current study, two outer-membrane proteins were prioritized as vaccine candidates via reverse vaccinology approach. The top lead B and T-cells overlapped epitopes were utilized to generate a chimeric vaccine construct combined with immune-modulating adjuvants, linkers, and PADRE sequences. The top ranked prioritized vaccine construct (V7) showed stable molecular interaction with human immune cell receptors as inferred during the molecular docking and MD simulation analyses. Considerable response for immune cells was interpreted by in-silico immune studies. Additional tentative validation is required to ensure the effectiveness of the prioritized vaccine construct against N. gonorrhoeae infection. The identified proteins can be used for further rational drug and vaccine designing to develop potential therapeutic entities against the multi-drug resistant N. gonorrhoeae.
Protective effects of Theracurmin treatment during experimental infection of the Colombian strain of Trypanosoma cruzi at the testicular site
Authors: Pimenta Breno Luiz , Menezes Tatiana Prata , Louise Vitória , Dias Fernanda Carolina Ribeiro , Machado Bianca Alves Almeida , Ribeiro Lais , Pinto Kelerson Mauro de Castro , Talvani Andre
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Chagas’ disease is a tropical neglected illness caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and remains one of the most significant causes of morbidity and mortality in South and Central Americas. The disease is caused by a moderate to intense and persistent inflammatory response characterized by local upregulated expression and production of inflammatory mediators that favors the activation and recruitment of distinct cells of the immune system into different tissues to eliminate the parasites. Theracurmin is a curcumin’s derived formulation of nanoparticles. Its anti-inflammatory properties make this bioactive compound a mitigating factor in pathological cases after an overwhelming inflammatory response.

Methods

Our research focused on the testicular investigation in 28 mice infected by 103 trypomastigote forms of Colombian strain of T. cruzi and preventively treated with Theracurmin. The mice were treated with 30 mg/Kg of Theracurmin during the period of 30 days. At the 30th day post infection animals were euthanized, and its testicles were collected to morphological and immunological assays.

Results

The animals infected and treated with Theracurmin presented a reduction in the testicular levels of IL-15 and IL-6. The volume density (%) of the tunica propria was also higher in all infected animals, but Theracurmin decreased this parameter in the treated animals. In the intertubular area, the percentage of some intertubular components was decreased in the infected animals such as the percentage and volume of Leydig cells, connective tissue, and macrophages.

Discussion

Furthermore, our data pointed to the daily use of Theracurmin in the diet as a protective element of the testicular function.
Sociodemographic, environmental and biological factors affecting uses of plants from open ecosystems: Insights for improved livelihoods and biodiversity conservation
Authors: Ahoyo Carlos Cédric , Salako Kolawolé Valère , Houéhanou Thierry Dehouegnon , Montcho Immaculée , Glèlè Kakaï Romain Lucas , Houinato Marcel Romuald Benjamin
Published: March 2023

The sustainable management of open ecosystems requires the committed participation of the neighboring people. Attention should be given to plant species ecology, which conditions the rate of vegetation growth. Sociocultural and ecological factors contribute to both the loss and the conservation of fragile ecosystems. Owing to the importance of traditional medicine in Benin, a focus has been made on the selection of species in this field as a case study for highlighting the factors that drive the selection of plant species in Benin. Further inferences highlight the conservation status of the selected woodlands and savannas. The study assessed the effects of people’s sociodemographic status and species’ ecological parameters on the variation in people’s knowledge associated with species’ usefulness in traditional medicine in Benin. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted through semi-structured individual interviews with 590 specialists in traditional medicine. A conditional inference tree model was combined with a generalized linear model to determine the factors associated with traditional medicinal knowledge (TMK). It was found that TMK varied with informant ethnicity, source of knowledge, membership position, age, instruction level, and professional activity. As for the ecological and species accessibility factors, phytodistrict, mode of reproduction of the species, reasons for the species’ disappearance, availability, and conservation status influenced TMK. When combining the two categories of factors, phytodistrict, habitat of species conservation, source of knowledge, and membership position of the informants were highlighted as the principal factors that influenced TMK. These identified factors should be integrated into a comprehensive management plan for TMK conservation and biodiversity management, and the sustainable use of savanna resources. Through this, sustainable management of open ecosystems, resulting in biodiversity conservation, livelihood improvement, and climate change mitigation, will be achieved. Such a plan should be based on the mix of ethnicities and the diversity of the species’ habitat in each phytodistrict.
Cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of TLR4 attenuates angiotensin II-induced hypertension and cardiac remodeling
Authors: Theobald Drew , Nair Anand R. , Sriramula Srinivas , Francis Joseph
Published: March 2023

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is an integral factor in the initiation of the innate immune response and plays an important role in cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and myocardial infarction. Previous studies from our lab demonstrated that central TLR4 blockade reduced cardiac TLR4 expression, attenuated hypertension, and improved cardiac function. However, the contribution of cardiac specific TLR4 to the development of hypertension and cardiac remodeling is unknown. Therefore, we hypothesized that cardiomyocyte specific knockdown of TLR4 would have beneficial effects on hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy, and remodeling. To test this hypothesis, cardiomyocyte-specific TLR4 knockdown (cTLR4KO) mice were generated by crossing floxed TLR4 mice with Myh6-Cre mice, and subjected to angiotensin II (Ang II, 1 µg/kg/min or vehicle for 14 days) hypertension model. Blood pressure measurements using radio telemetry revealed no differences in baseline mean arterial pressure between control littermates and cTLR4KO mice (103 ± 2 vs. 105 ± 3 mmHg, p > 0.05). Ang II-induced hypertension (132 ± 2 vs. 151 ± 3 mmHg, p < 0.01) was attenuated and cardiac hypertrophy (heart/body weight; 4.7 vs. 5.8 mg/g, p < 0.01) was prevented in cTLR4KO mice when compared with control mice. In addition, the level of myocardial fibrosis was significantly reduced, and the cardiac function was improved in cTLR4KO mice infused with Ang II. Furthermore, cardiac inflammation, as evidenced by elevated gene expression of TNF, IL-6, and MCP-1 in the left ventricle, was attenuated in cTLR4KO mice infused with Ang II. Together, this data revealed a protective role for cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of TLR4 against Ang II-induced hypertension and cardiac dysfunction through inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines.
Machine learning-based analysis of risk factors for atrial fibrillation recurrence after Cox-Maze IV procedure in patients with atrial fibrillation and chronic valvular disease: A retrospective cohort study with a control group
Authors: Jiang Zenan , Song Long , Liang Chunshui , Zhang Hao , Tan Haoyu , Sun Yaqin , Guo Ruikang , Liu Liming
Published: March 2023

Objectives

To evaluate the efficacy of the Cox-Maze IV procedure (CMP-IV) in combination with valve surgery in patients with both atrial fibrillation (AF) and valvular disease and use machine learning algorithms to identify potential risk factors of AF recurrence.

Methods

A total of 1,026 patients with AF and valvular disease from two hospitals were included in the study. 555 patients received the CMP-IV procedure in addition to valve surgery and left atrial appendage ligation (CMP-IV group), while 471 patients only received valve surgery and left atrial appendage ligation (Non-CMP-IV group). Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to calculate the sinus rhythm maintenance rate. 58 variables were selected as variables for each group and 10 machine learning models were developed respectively. The performance of the models was evaluated using five-fold cross-validation and metrics including F1 score, accuracy, precision, and recall. The four best-performing models for each group were selected for further analysis, including feature importance evaluation and SHAP analysis.

Results

The 5-year sinus rhythm maintenance rate in the CMP-IV group was 82.13% (95% CI: 78.51%, 85.93%), while in the Non-CMP-IV group, it was 13.40% (95% CI: 10.44%, 17.20%). The eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), LightGBM, Category Boosting (CatBoost) and Random Fores (RF) models performed the best in the CMP-IV group, with area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.768 (95% CI: 0.742, 0.786), 0.766 (95% CI: 0.744, 0.792), 0.762 (95% CI: 0.723, 0.801), and 0.732 (95% CI: 0.701, 0.763), respectively. In the Non-CMP-IV group, the LightGBM, XGBoost, CatBoost and RF models performed the best, with AUC values of 0.738 (95% CI: 0.699, 0.777), 0.732 (95% CI: 0.694, 0.770), 0.724 (95% CI: 0.668, 0.789), and 0.716 (95% CI: 0.656, 0.774), respectively. Analysis of feature importance and SHAP revealed that duration of AF, preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction, postoperative heart rhythm, preoperative neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, preoperative left atrial diameter and heart rate were significant factors in AF recurrence.

Conclusion

CMP-IV is effective in treating AF and multiple machine learning models were successfully developed, and several risk factors were identified for AF recurrence, which may aid clinical decision-making and optimize the individual surgical management of AF.
A novel saline-based occlusion tool allows for dye-less cryoballoon-based pulmonary vein isolation and fluoroscopy reduction
Authors: Rottner Laura , Obergassel Julius , Borof Katrin , My Ilaria , Moser Fabian , Lemoine Marc , Wenzel Jan-Per , Kirchhof Paulus , Ouyang Feifan , Reissmann Bruno , Metzner Andreas , Rillig Andreas
Published: March 2023

Background

Cryoballoon (CB)- based pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) remains guided by fluoroscopy and dye. The novel saline injection-based occlusion tool allows for pulmonary vein (PV)-occlusion assessment without the need for dye injection.

Aim

To compare KODEX-EPD guided CB-PVI using the novel saline injection-based workflow with conventional cryoablation for acute efficacy, fluoroscopy exposure and dye volume.

Methods

Consecutive atrial fibrillation (AF)- patients undergoing CB-PVI in conjunction with KODEX-EPD (CryoEPD group) were analyzed. Patients undergoing conventional CB-PVI (Cryo group) in the same time period acted as controls.

Results

One hundred forty patients [91/140 (65%) persistent AF] were studied. Seventy patients underwent CryoEPD procedures [64 ± 13 years, 21 (30%) female] and seventy patients underwent Cryo procedures [68 ± 10 years, 27 (39%) female].

A total of 560 PVs were identified and successfully isolated. Mean procedure time was 66 ± 15 min for the CryoEPD group, and 65 ± 19 min for the Cryo group (p = 0.3). Fluoroscopy time (CryoEPD 6 ± 4 min; Cryo 13 ± 6 min, p < 0.001) and dose area product (CryoEPD 193 [111; 297] cGycm2; Cryo 381 [268; 614] cGycm2, p < 0.001) were lower in patients undergoing CryoEPD compared with Cryo procedures. No dye was needed in the CryoEPD group while 53 ± 18 ml dye per patient were administered for the Cryo group (p < 0.001). The overall complication rate was comparable between both groups (p = 0.5).

Conclusion

KODEX-EPD guided AF-ablation enables dye-free CB-based PVI with reduced fluoroscopy exposure when compared to conventional CB-ablation, without differences in acute procedural outcomes or procedure duration.
Natural language processing for humanitarian action: Opportunities, challenges, and the path toward humanitarian NLP
Authors: Rocca Roberta , Tamagnone Nicolò , Fekih Selim , Contla Ximena , Rekabsaz Navid
Published: March 2023

Natural language processing (NLP) is a rapidly evolving field at the intersection of linguistics, computer science, and artificial intelligence, which is concerned with developing methods to process and generate language at scale. Modern NLP tools have the potential to support humanitarian action at multiple stages of the humanitarian response cycle. Both internal reports, secondary text data (e.g., social media data, news media articles, or interviews with affected individuals), and external-facing documents like Humanitarian Needs Overviews (HNOs) encode information relevant to monitoring, anticipating, or responding to humanitarian crises. Yet, lack of awareness of the concrete opportunities offered by state-of-the-art techniques, as well as constraints posed by resource scarcity, limit adoption of NLP tools in the humanitarian sector. This paper provides a pragmatically-minded primer to the emerging field of humanitarian NLP, reviewing existing initiatives in the space of humanitarian NLP, highlighting potentially impactful applications of NLP in the humanitarian sector, and describing criteria, challenges, and potential solutions for large-scale adoption. In addition, as one of the main bottlenecks is the lack of data and standards for this domain, we present recent initiatives (the DEEP and HumSet) which are directly aimed at addressing these gaps. With this work, we hope to motivate humanitarians and NLP experts to create long-term impact-driven synergies and to co-develop an ambitious roadmap for the field.
A modified symplectic discontinuous Galerkin method for acoustic and elastic wave simulations
Authors: He Xijun , Zhang Jiaqi , Sun Jianqiang , Huang Xueyuan , Zhou Yanjie
Published: March 2023

Numerically solving seismic wave equations is vital to large-scale forward modeling and full waveform inversion. In this paper, a new modified symplectic discontinuous Galerkin (MSDG) method is proposed to solve the acoustic and elastic equations. The MSDG method employs a symmetric interior penalty Galerkin formulation as the space discretization. The time discretization is based on a modified symplectic partitioned Runge–Kutta scheme with minimized phase error. Thus, the MSDG method has the advantages of high accuracy, being flexible to deal with complex geometric boundaries and internal structures, and stable for long time simulations. The numerical stability conditions, dispersion and dissipation are investigated in detail for the MSDG method. To validate the method, we carry out several numerical examples for solving the acoustic and elastic wave equations in various media. The numerical results show that the MSDG method can effectively suppress the numerical dispersion and is suitable for wavefield simulations.
Application of environmental variables in statistically-based landslide susceptibility mapping: A review
Authors: Zhao Xin , Zhao Zhifang , Huang Faming , Huang Jiangcheng , Yang Zhiquan , Chen Qi , Zhou Dingyi , Fang Liuyang , Ye Xian , Chao Jiangqin
Published: March 2023

Environmental variables are crucial factors affecting the development and distribution of landslides, and they also provide vitally important information for statistically-based landslide susceptibility mapping (SLSM). The acquisition and utilization of appropriate and the most influential environmental variables and their combinations are crucial for improving the quality of SLSM results. However, compared with the construction of SLSM models based on machine learning, the acquisition and utilization of high-quality environmental variables have received very little attention. In order to further clarify the research status of the application of environmental variables and possible development directions in future research, this study systematically analyzed the application of environmental variables in SLSM. To this end, a literature database was constructed by collecting 261 peer-reviewed articles (from 2002 to 2021) on SLSM from the Web of Science and CNKI platform (www.cnki.net) based on the keywords of “landslide susceptibility” and “environmental variable.” We found that existing methods for determining environmental variables do not consider the regional representativeness and geomorphological significance of the variables. We also found that at present, environmental variables are utilized generally without the realization and understanding of their spatial heterogeneity. Accordingly, this study raises two major scientific issues: 1) Effective identification of important environmental variables required in SLSM. 2) Effective representation of the spatial heterogeneity of environmental variables in SLSM modeling. From the perspective of the identification of dominant variables and their geospatial pattern of heterogeneity, targeted solutions for future research are also preliminarily discussed, including the method for identifying dominant variables from qualitative and quantitative perspectives and SLSM model construction considering the specific geospatial patterns. In addition, the applicability and limitation of the mentioned methods are discussed.
Machine learning approaches to estimation of the compressibility of soft soils
Authors: Liu Huifen , Lin Peiyuan , Wang Jianqiang
Published: March 2023

The modulus of compression and coefficient of compressibility of soft soils are key parameters for assessing deformation of geotechnical infrastructure. However, the consolidation tests used to determine these two indices are time-consuming and the results are easily and heavily influenced by workmanship, testing apparatus, and other factors. Therefore, it is of great interest to develop a simple approach to accurately estimate these compressibility indices. This article presents the development of three machine learning (ML) models—at artificial neural network (ANN), a random forest model, and a support vector machine model—for mapping of the two compressibility indices for soft soils. A database containing 743 sets of measured physical and compression parameters of soft soils was adopted to train and validate the models. To quantify model uncertainty, the accuracies of the ML models were statistically evaluated using a bias factor defined as the ratio of the measured to the predicted compression indices. The results showed that all three ML models were accurate on average, with low dispersion in prediction accuracy. The ANN was found to be the best model, as it provides a simple analytical form and has no hidden dependency between the bias and predicted indices. Finally, the probability distribution functions of the bias factors were also determined using the fit-to-tail technique. The results of this study will be helpful in saving cost and time in geotechnical investigation of soft soils.
Developmental trajectories of conditional parental regard and long-term association with students’ academic functioning
Authors: Bouffard Thérèse , Marquis-Trudeau Audrey , Bonneville-Roussy Arielle , Vezeau Carole , Pansu Pascal
Published: March 2023

To feel unconditional love and acceptance from parents is a need which fundamental character is widely recognized. This article presents the results of a longitudinal study which first objective is to identify trajectories of change in perceived parental support conditional on academic success over a 5-year period. The second objective examines whether students’ gender, mental ability, and parental education predict membership in the trajectories and the third examines whether students’ academic functioning differs according to their membership to different trajectories 1 year later, when they were in Secondary 5. A sample of 776 students (371 males) reported their perception of conditional parental support yearly from grade 6 to Secondary 4. In Secondary 5, they answered a questionnaire on their academic motivation, self-regulation, test anxiety and intention to drop out. Teachers also reported their perceptions of the participating students’ academic motivation and self-regulation and rated their academic performance. Results of latent class growth analysis (LCGA) shows that the most optimal model identified three patterns of change in students’ perceptions of their parents’ conditional support. Students’ gender, mental ability, and parental education do not predict membership in trajectories. Results of the BCH procedure indicate that whether self-reported or teacher-reported, the academic functioning of students in the low perceived conditional support trajectory was superior to that in the other two trajectories. These results add evidence that parents can have a long-term impact on children’s academic functioning and underscore the need to educate parents about the importance of avoiding associating their support and regard with their child’s academic performance.
Associations of levels of peripheral blood leukocyte and subtypes with type 2 diabetes: A longitudinal study of Chinese government employees
Authors: Li Ruimin , Li Ling , Liu Bibo , Luo Dan , Xiao Shuiyuan
Published: March 2023

Objectives

Available evidence suggests that type 2 diabetes (T2D) may be associated with inflammation and that leukocytes are a topical clinical, biological indicator of inflammation. This study investigates the associations between peripheral blood leukocyte and subtypes levels with T2D.

Methods

A total of 5,475 individuals were included in the baseline examination from January 2018 to April 2020, with incidence data updated to April 30, 2021, and follow-up to 5,362 individuals. T2D was defined according to the Chinese guidelines for preventing and treating type 2 diabetes. Physiological and biochemical indicators, including leukocyte and subtypes, were obtained from the physical examination results of the tertiary care hospitals relied on at the cohort sites. Covariates such as demographic characteristics and lifestyle were collected by questionnaire. Binary logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models were used to explore the correlations. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves and time-dependent ROC curves were used to estimate the predictive diagnosis of T2D across the subtype of leukocytes.

Results

The mean follow-up time was 12 months, and the cumulative incidence density of T2D was 4.0/1000 person-years. Cross-sectional results at baseline showed that the levels of peripheral blood leukocyte and its subtypes were higher in the T2D group than in the non-T2D group. Total leukocyte count and subtypes levels were grouped by quintile. After adjusting for age, sex, family history of diabetes, lifestyle score, and triglyceride levels, all were compared with the lowest quintile of each group. Logistic regression model results showed that the corrected OR for those with the highest quintile level of leukocyte was 2.01 (95% CI: 1.02-3.98). The longitudinal analysis showed that the adjusted HR was 8.43 (95%CI: 1.06-66.92) for those with the highest quintile level of leukocytes at baseline after controlling for the effects of the above covariates. For those with the highest quintile level of neutrophils at baseline, the adjusted HR was 5.05 (95%CI: 1.01-25.29). The leukocyte and subtypes had predictive values for T2D.

Conclusion

Patients with T2D have a higher level of peripheral blood leukocyte and subtypes than those without the disease. Elevated leukocyte and neutrophil counts may link to a higher risk of T2D.
High-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels is negatively associated with intertrochanter bone mineral density in adults aged 50 years and older
Authors: Yang Pei , Li DongDong , Li Xiaokang , Tan Zongbiao , Wang Huan , Niu Xiaona , Han Yang , Lian Cheng
Published: March 2023

Background

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) has long been viewed as a protective factor for cardiovascular health. Yet, higher HDL-C was not necessarily beneficial. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between HDL-C levels and intertrochanter bone mineral density.

Methods

The study collected the most recent data from the 2017-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Weighted multiple regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between HDL-C and intertrochanter BMD, and further subgroup analysis and threshold effect analysis were conducted. Finally, the relationship between HDL-C and intertrochanter BMD was analyzed by fitting smooth curves.

Results

The study included 3,345 people ranging in age from 50 to 80. HDL-C was discovered to be negatively correlated with intertrochanter BMD (β = -0.03, 95%CI: -0.04, -0.01, P = 0.0002). In subgroup analysis, the negative correlation was found among 60-70-year-olds (β = -0.04, 95%CI: -0.06, -0.02, P = 0.0010), additionally, non-Hispanic whites (β = -0.03, 95%CI: -0.05, -0.01, P = 0.0140), and obese individuals (β = -0.03, 95%CI: -0.05, -0.01, P = 0.0146). The negative correlation, on the other hand, remained significant and consistent across genders, menstruation status, hormone usage, and long-term use of steroids. The relationship between HDL-C and intertrochanter BMD was an inverted U-shaped curve in men and hormone users, with inflection points of 1.01 mmol/L and 1.71 mmol/L, and an U-shaped curve in other Hispanic and premenopausal individuals, with inflection points of 0.96 mmol/L and 1.89 mmol/L.

Conclusions

HDL-C was negatively associated with intertrochanter BMD in people over 50 years of age, non-Hispanic whites, and obesity.
Mitochondrial stress response gene Clpp deficiency impairs oocyte competence and deteriorate cyclophosphamide-induced ovarian damage in young mice
Authors: Li Guangxin , Gu Jingkai , Zhou Xiaomei , Wu Ting , Li Xian , Hua Renwu , Hai Zhuo , Xiao Yuan , Su Jiaping , Yeung Willian S. B. , Liu Kui , Guo Chenxi , Wang Tianren
Published: March 2023

Chemotherapy is extensively used to treat cancers and is often associated with ovarian damage and leads to premature ovarian insufficiency and infertility, while the role of mitochondria during ovarian damage with chemotherapy remains unknown. This study used a mouse model with oocyte-specific deletion of mitochondrial stress response gene Caseinolytic peptidase P (Clpp) to investigate mitochondrial homeostasis in oocytes from mice receiving a chemotherapeutic drug cyclophosphamide (CTX). We found that oocyte-specific deletion of Clpp reduced fecundity of the mice at advanced age. The deletion led to meiotic defects with elevated abnormal spindle rate and aneuploidy rate with impaired mitochondrial function in the MII oocytes from 8-week-old mice. Upon CTX treatment at 8-week-old, the oocyte competence and folliculogenesis from the oocyte-specific Clpp knockout mice was further deteriorated with dramatic impairment of mitochondrial distribution and function including elevated ROS level, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, respiratory chain activity and ATP production. Taken together, the results indicate that that ClpP was required for oocyte competence during maturation and early folliculogenesis, and its deficiency deteriorate cyclophosphamide-induced ovarian damage.
A meta-analysis of obstetric and neonatal outcomes in patients after treatment of hysteroscopic adhesiolysis
Authors: Wenzhi Xu , Xin Xu , Ping Zhou , Hanglin Wu , Xiaona Lin
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Hysteroscopic adhesiolysis is widely performed in women with intrauterine adhesions. Small observational studies have reported the obstetric and neonatal outcomes, but studies with larger sample sizes are few. The aim of this study is to evaluate the obstetric and neonatal outcomes in women after hysteroscopic adhesiolysis.

Methods

We conducted a literature search in July 2022 using the PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases, and finally, 32 studies (N = 3812) were included. We did a meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of placenta-related disorders, including placenta previa, placental abruption, placenta accreta, placenta increta, and retained placenta. We also included other obstetric and neonatal outcomes like postpartum hemorrhage, ectopic pregnancy, oligohydramnios, gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes mellitus, and intrauterine growth restriction. The results were presented as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in studies with a control group, but otherwise as prevalence (%) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

The overall pregnancy and live birth rates were 58.97% and 45.56%, respectively. The prevalence of placenta previa differed in pregnant women who underwent hysteroscopic adhesiolysis compared with those who did not (OR, 3.27; 95% CI, 1.28-8.36). In studies without a comparative group, the pooled rate of placenta accreta was 7% (95% CI, 4-11) in 20 studies; placenta increta was 1% (95% CI, 0-4) in 5 studies; a retained placenta was 11% (95% CI, 5-24) in 5 studies; postpartum hemorrhage was 12% (95% CI, 8-18) in 12 studies; ectopic pregnancy was 1% (95% CI, 0-2) in 13 studies; oligohydramnios was 3% (95% CI, 1-6) in 3 studies; intrauterine growth restriction was 3% (95% CI, 1-8) in 3 studies; gestational hypertension was 5% (95% CI, 2-11) in 4 studies; and diabetes mellitus was 4% (95% CI, 2-7) in 3 studies.

Discussion

Due to the paucity of good quality comparative data, the question of whether there is an increased prevalence of obstetric and neonatal complications in women after hysteroscopic adhesiolysis compared with the general population remains unanswered. The findings from this review will provide a basis for more well-designed studies in the future.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=364021, identifier [CRD42022364021].
Bone regeneration strategies based on organelle homeostasis of mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Xin Liangjing , Wen Yao , Song Jinlin , Chen Tao , Zhai Qiming
Published: March 2023

The organelle modulation has emerged as a crucial contributor to the organismal homeostasis. The mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), with their putative functions in maintaining the regeneration ability of adult tissues, have been identified as a major driver to underlie skeletal health. Bone is a structural and endocrine organ, in which the organelle regulation on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) function has most been discovered recently. Furthermore, potential treatments to control bone regeneration are developing using organelle-targeted techniques based on manipulating MSCs osteogenesis. In this review, we summarize the most current understanding of organelle regulation on MSCs in bone homeostasis, and to outline mechanistic insights as well as organelle-targeted approaches for accelerated bone regeneration.
Prognostic prediction and multidimensional dissections of a macrophages M0-related gene signature in liver cancer
Authors: Xu Xiaoming , Wang Jingzhi
Published: March 2023

Background

Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) is the seventh most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the third leading cause of all cancer death worldwide. The undifferentiated macrophages M0 can be induced into polarized M1 and M2 to exert opposite effects in tumor microenvironment. However, the prognostic value of macrophages M0 phenotype remains obscure in LIHC.

Methods

The transcriptome data of LIHC was obtained from TCGA database and ICGC database. 365 LIHC samples from TCGA database and 231 LIHC samples from ICGC database were finally included. Macrophages M0-related genes (MRGs) were screened by Pearson correlation analysis and univariate Cox regression analysis based on the infiltration level of Macrophages M0. LASSO regression analysis was employed to construct a prognostic signature based on MRGs, and risk scores were accordingly calculated. Then we investigated the MRGs-based prognostic signature with respects to prognostic value, clinical significance, strengthened pathways, immune infiltration, gene mutation and drug sensitivity. Furthermore, the expression pattern of MRGs in the tumor microenvironment were also detected in LIHC.

Results

A ten-MRG signature was developed and clarified as independent prognostic predictors in LIHC. The risk score-based nomogram showed favorable capability in survival prediction. Several substance metabolism activities like fatty acid/amino acid metabolism were strengthened in low-risk group. Low risk group was deciphered to harbor TTN mutation-driven tumorigenesis, while TP53 mutation was dominant in high-risk group. We also ascertained that the infiltration levels of immune cells and expressions of immune checkpoints are significantly influenced by the risk score. Besides, we implied that patients in low-risk group may be more sensitive to several anti-cancer drugs. What’s more important, single-cell analysis verified the expression of MRGs in the tumor microenvironment of LIHC.

Conclusion

Multidimensional evaluations verified the clinical utility of the macrophages M0-related gene signature to predict prognosis, assist risk decision and guide treatment strategy for patients with LIHC.
Melanocortin 4 receptor signaling in Sim1 neurons permits sexual receptivity in female mice
Authors: Semple Erin A. , Harberson Mitchell T. , Xu Baijie , Rashleigh Rebecca , Cartwright Tori L. , Braun Jessica J. , Custer Amy C. , Liu Chen , Hill Jennifer W.
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Female sexual dysfunction affects approximately 40% of women in the United States, yet few therapeutic options exist for these patients. The melanocortin system is a new treatment target for hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), but the neuronal pathways involved are unclear.

Methods

In this study, the sexual behavior of female MC4R knockout mice lacking melanocortin 4 receptors (MC4Rs) was examined. The mice were then bred to express MC4Rs exclusively on Sim1 neurons (tbMC4RSim1 mice) or on oxytocin neurons (tbMC4ROxt mice) to examine the effect on sexual responsiveness.

Results

MC4R knockout mice were found to approach males less and have reduced receptivity to copulation, as indicated by a low lordosis quotient. These changes were independent of body weight. Lordosis behavior was normalized in tbMC4RSim1 mice and improved in tbMC4ROxt mice. In contrast, approach behavior was unchanged in tbMC4RSim1 mice but greatly increased in tbMC4ROxt animals. The changes were independent of melanocortin-driven metabolic effects.

Discussion

These results implicate MC4R signaling in Oxt neurons in appetitive behaviors and MC4R signaling in Sim1 neurons in female sexual receptivity, while suggesting melanocortin-driven sexual function does not rely on metabolic neural circuits.
Can talent policy promote firm innovation: An empirical analysis from solar photovoltaic industry in China
Authors: Zhang Yuanbo , Qu Shiyou , Gao Pengbin
Published: March 2023

Supported by government policies, the innovation of China’s solar photovoltaic industry has been triggered greatly. As an important part of public policy, various talent policies have been issued to increase support for innovation. Therefore, it is essential to study the relationship between talent policy and firm innovation of Chinese solar photovoltaic industry. However, there is less empirical research on this topic. In this context, this study examined whether talent policy influences firm innovation. To examine the underlying causal mechanism, this study explored the role of human capital quality structure and human capital function structure in the relationship between talent policy and firm innovation. Based on the buffering and bridging mechanism of resource dependence theory, an empirical model of talent policy, human capital structure and firm innovation were conceptualized. Using an unbalanced panel data of 101 listed firms of the solar photovoltaic industry in China from 2008 to 2021, the random effect GLS regression was employed to empirically test the impact of talent policy on firm innovation, the mediating effects of human capital quality structure and human capital function structure, and examined the heterogeneous impact of nature of property rights and R&D intensity on the above relationships. The results show that talent policy can significantly promote firm innovation. Human capital structure plays mediating effects on the relationship between talent policy and firm innovation. Moreover, the talent policy and human capital structure’s effects on firm innovation are more significant in non-state-owned firms and firms with low R&D intensity. This study provides an important reference for promoting firm innovation through human capital structure in the construction of the talent policy.
Anaerobic digestion of brewer’s spent grain with biochars—biomethane production and digestate quality effects
Authors: Świechowski Kacper , Rasaq Waheed A. , Syguła Ewa
Published: March 2023

In this research, biochar (BC) made from the brewer’s spent grain at temperatures of 300, 450, and 600 °C was produced and subjected to the anaerobic digestion of the brewer’s spent grain. BC shares of 2, 5, 10, and 50% concerning total solids of the substrate were tested at three substrate-to-inoculum ratios of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0, respectively. The anaerobic digestion process was performed at 37 °C and took 30 days. For anaerobic digestion, biomethane production was recorded and used for kinetics parameter determination according to the first-order model. After the process, process residues (digestate) were analyzed for fertilizing potential. The biomethane yield differs from 264 to 325 mL×gvs−1, while kinetics parameters were 292.7–344.7 mL×gvs−1, 0.08–0.11 d−1, and 24–42.5 mL×(gvs×d)−1, for ymax, k, and r, respectively. The main factors affecting biomethane production were substrate-to-inoculum ratio and BC share. No specific effect between BC types on biomethane yield was found. An increase in BC share from 2% to 50% concerning specific SIR results in biomethane production improvement in the range of 1.8% to 10%. The main factors affecting the quality of digestate (nutrients) were the quality of the used inoculum and the quantity of the used substrate. The research results were complex and showed that the final effect of BC supplementation depends not only on BC properties, but also on process operational parameters and the quality of the used feedstock.
Heterogeneous catalytic oxidation regeneration of desulfurization-rich liquor with Fe3+ modified chitosan
Authors: Liu Zhihao , Chen Zhijie , Chen Qian , Liu Luwei , Wang Yingjie , Shu Peng , Zhong Yu , Sun Zeqin , Qiu Kui
Published: March 2023

To solve the problem of pipeline blockage caused by sulfur deposition in industrial gas wet oxidative desulfurization operations, this study developed an iron-modified chitosan catalyst for the catalytic oxidation regeneration of conventional wet oxidative desulfurization-rich liquids. Detailed characterization results show that Fe3+ species are successfully coordinated with the chitosan substrate. The results of desulfurization and regeneration experiments showed that the Fe3+-modified chitosan could effectively regenerate the desulfurization waste stream and remain stable in the acidic desulfurization stream. The powdered iron-based modified chitosan catalyst prepared with a mass ratio of chitosan to FeCl3 of 1:5 and glutaraldehyde of 12.5% by mass has better catalytic performance than the microbead counterpart. The regeneration performance of the catalyst was evaluated by the desulfurization performance of the regenerated desulfurization solution. The iron-based modified chitosan shows a good regeneration performance, and the loss of Fe content is less than 1.5% after five runs. This study provides an efficient way to develop cost-effective catalysts for the regeneration of wet oxidative desulfurization-rich liquids.
The impact of internet finance on green technology innovation in manufacturing companies --mediating role based on financing constraints
Authors: Yu Yaguai , Li Yuting , Ni Taohan , Gao Chuming
Published: March 2023

To empirically analyze the relationship between internet finance and green technology innovation of manufacturing firms, this paper selects listed manufacturing firms from 2011 to 2020 as the sample. A panel regression model is then constructed and a causal stepwise regression test is used to examine the mediating effect of financing constraints on the role of internet finance in green technology innovation. The results show that the growth of Internet finance can significantly alleviate the financing problems of industrial enterprises and promote their adoption of green technologies. Further research found that enterprises in less developed areas in central and western China, in regions with weaker environmental regulations and smaller size, play a greater role in promoting green technology innovation. Consequently, improving the incentive system for Internet finance to promote green technology innovation in enterprises can effectively link the development of Internet finance and green innovation in enterprises, promote the development of ecological civilization, and serve as an important decision-making tool to help China achieve its “double carbon” goal.
Downstream fish passage at small-scale hydropower plants: Turbine or bypass?
Authors: Knott Josef , Mueller Melanie , Pander Joachim , Geist Juergen
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Hydropower plants are frequently equipped with physical and behavioral fish protection barriers to prevent downstream moving fish from harmful turbine passage and to guide them to alternative bypasses. As not only diadromous but also potamodromous fish species migrate and inevitably have to pass hydropower plants, knowledge on corridor usage for a wide range of species is important to identify potential deficits and to improve bypass efficiency.

Methods: In this study, the corridor usage of downstream moving fish (6,646 individuals from 42 species) was investigated at four small-scale hydropower plants with different concepts to prevent turbine entrainment and to bypass fish.

Results: Despite existing bypasses and fine screens with 15 mm and 20 mm bar spacing to prevent turbine entrainment, a large proportion of fish (35%–88%) still passed the turbines. The mainly poor efficiency of the investigated bypasses was probably due to low discharge and unfavorable bypass location or detectability. The various bypass types were used by a different range of fish species and sizes due to species-specific behavior and differing fish communities between sites. The effectiveness of the investigated downstream corridors was positively correlated with the share of discharge.

Discussion: To reduce the negative ecological impacts of hydropower plants on downstream moving fish, well-performing bypasses are required that consider not only current requirements regarding design, dimensioning and location, but also the site-specific fish community. Thus, bypasses should function for the widest possible range of species, which can be achieved through less selective bypass types such as full-depth bypasses, or a combination of different bypass systems. Moreover, less harmful turbine technologies and more effective fish protection systems need to be implemented, since fine screens with 15 mm and 20 mm bar spacing cannot prevent small-bodied fish species and juvenile fish <20 cm from turbine entrainment.
Identification of key pathways, genes and immune cell infiltration in hypoxia of high-altitude acclimatization via meta-analysis and integrated bioinformatics analysis
Authors: Li Qiong , Xu Zhichao , Fang Fujin , Shen Yan , Lei Huan , Shen Xiaobing
Published: March 2023

Background: For individuals acutely exposed to high-altitude regions, environmental hypobaric hypoxia induces several physiological or pathological responses, especially immune dysfunction. Therefore, hypoxia is a potentially life-threatening factor, which has closely related to high-altitude acclimatization. However, its specific molecular mechanism is still unclear.

Methods: The four expression profiles about hypoxia and high altitude were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database in this study. Meta-analysis of GEO datasets was performed by NetworkAnalyst online tool. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, and visualization were performed using R (version 4.1.3) software, respectively. The CIBERSORT analysis was conducted on GSE46480 to examine immune cell infiltration. In addition, we experimentally verified the bioinformatics analysis with qRT-PCR.

Results: The meta-analysis identified 358 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with 209 upregulated and 149 downregulated. DEGs were mostly enriched in biological processes and pathways associated with hypoxia acclimatization at high altitudes, according to both GO and KEGG enrichment analyses. ERH, VBP1, BINP3L, TOMM5, PSMA4, and POLR2K were identified by taking intersections of the DEGs between meta-analysis and GSE46480 and verified by qRT-PCR experiments, which were inextricably linked to hypoxia. Immune infiltration analysis showed significant differences in immune cells between samples at sea level and high altitudes.

Conclusion: Identifying the DEGs and pathways will improve our understanding of immune function during high-altitude hypoxia at a molecular level. Targeting hypoxia-sensitive pathways in immune cells is interesting in treating high-altitude sickness. This study provides support for further research on high-altitude acclimatization.