bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cardio-ankle Vascular Index Is More Closely Associated Than Brachial-ankle Pulse Wave Velocity With Variables Predicting Future Cardiovascular Disease in Patients With Diabetes
Authors: Saigusa Taro , Watanabe Kentaro , Hada Yurika , Ishii Kota , Kameda Wataru , Susa Shinji , Ishizawa Kenichi , Ishihara Hisamitsu
Published: September 2021

Background: This study aimed to compare the usefulness of arterial stiffness parameters, cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), for evaluating future cardiovascular disease (CVD) in subjects with diabetes.Methods: The study subjects were 277 patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. All subjects were evaluated for vascular stiffness using CAVI (n = 154) or baPWV (n = 123). Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and the Suita score were also measured because these are established risk factors for future CVD. Associations of both CAVI and baPWV with these established parameters were evaluated in all subjects, and then in 172 subjects with adjustment for covariates by using propensity score matching.Results: In all subjects, CAVI and baPWV correlated significantly with both IMT (r = 0.470, P < 0.001, and r = 0.256, P = 0.004, respectively) and the Suita score (r = 0.558, P < 0.001, and r = 0.360, P < 0.001, respectively). The correlation between CAVI and IMT was more significant than that between baPWV and IMT (Z = 2.03, P = 0.042).　Similarly, the correlation between CAVI and the Suita score was more significant than that between baPWV and the Suita score (Z = 2.07, P = 0.039). After adjustment by matching, significant correlations between CAVI and IMT (r = 0.459, P < 0.001) and between CAVI and the Suita score (r = 0.526, P < 0.001) were preserved, though only the association between baPWV and the Suita score was significant (r = 0.270, P = 0.011) while that between baPWV and IMT showed no significance. Again, CAVI showed a significantly stronger association with the Suita score than baPWV (Z = 1.99, P = 0.046).Conclusions: CAVI is more closely associated than baPWV with variables predicting future CVD in patients with diabetes.
Structure Features, Damage and Treatment of Two Pottery artifacts from Tel El-Shobak, Qalyubia, Egypt: Case Study
Authors: elghareb walid kamel
Published: September 2021

The research paper aims to identify structure features, damage and treatment of two pottery artifacts from Tell Al-Shobak in Qalyubia, "one of the archaeological sites dating back to new kingdom". Polarized Microscopy "PLM", Scanning Electron Microscope with Energy dispersive X-ray unit "SEM-EDX", X-Ray Diffraction analysis "XRD", and Differential thermal analysis "DTA" were adopted for investigating and analyzing pottery sherds. The research identified structure features proving that the used clay is Nile clay, the additives are sand, grog and calcite. The formation technique is potter wheel .The surface treatment is slip layer. The firing atmosphere is oxidizing. Firing temperature might be about 726.78°C The first pottery vessel and 737.80°C for the second pottery plate. Research also proved that pottery pieces suffer from various damage aspects such as soil deposits, stains, cracking, fracture, loss of some parts, lack of durability, weakness, and salt crystallization. The studied pottery pieces treated using mechanical cleaning method and chemical cleaning using a mixture of acetone and toluene at a ratio of 1:2 respectively to remove clay soil deposits. EDTA applied to remove lime deposits. Hydrogen peroxide20 % was used to remove soot. Nano Silica 1% was applied to strengthen archaeological pottery .Assembling the pottery sherds was done by Paralloid B72 50%. Replacement pottery sherds conducted by Microballoon and grog in a ratio of 2:1, respectively. After treatment, the pottery artifacts were ready for museum display.
Fully 3D Printed Flexible, Conformal and Multi-directional Tactile Sensor with Integrated Biomimetic and Auxetic Structure
Authors: Wei Yuyang , Li Bingqian , Domingos Marco , Zhu Yiming , Yan Lingyun , Ren Lei , Wei Guowu
Published: September 2021

Tactile sensors are instrumental for developing the next generation of biologically inspired robotic prostheses with tactile feedback. Despite significant advancements made in current sensing technology, several limitations still exist including the reduced sensing sensitivity under high pressure, lack of compliance of the planar sensor with working surfaces and the demand for sophisticated manufacturing processes. In this study, we investigate the feasibility of using the 3D printing technology for the rapid and simple fabrication of a new conformal tactile sensor with an improved linear sensing range. The auxetic structure is integrated with a biomimetic inter-locked papilla feature which allows to detect multi-directional stimuli. Using the proposed design, the linear sensing range is extended to 0.5MPa and responsive to normal and shear forces with the sensitivities of 2.42KPa^(-1)and 2.20N^(-1) respectively. The proposed tactile sensor was printed on the fingertip of a prosthetic robotic hand to perform the sensorimotor control, or on the proximal femur head and lumbar vertebra for monitoring the bone-on-bone load. The results have shown promising application prospects of the proposed tactile sensor.
Mixed-Type Data Generation Method Based On Generative Adversarial Networks
Authors: Wei Ning , Wang Longzhi , Chen Guanhua , Wu Yirong , Sun Shuifa , Chen Peng
Published: September 2021

Data-driven based deep learing has become a key research direction in the field of artificial intelligence. Abundant training data is a guarantee for building efficient and accurate models. However, due to the privacy protection policy, research institutions are often limited to obtain a large number of training data, which would lead to a lack of training sets circumstance. In this paper, a mixed data generation model (mixGAN) based on generative adversarial networks (GANs) is proposed to synthesize fake data that have the same distribution with the real data, so as to supplement the real data and increase the number of available samples. The model first pre-trains the autoencoder which maps given dataset into a low-dimensional continuous space. Then, the Generator constructed in the low-dimension space is obtained by training it adversarially with Discriminator constructed in the original space. Since the constructed Discriminator not only consider the loss of the continuous attributes but also the labeled attributes, the generator nets formed by the Generator and the decoder can effectively learn the intrinsic distribution of the mixed data. We evaluate the proposed method both in the independent distribution of the attribute and in the relationship of the attributes, and the experiment results show that the proposed generate method has a better performance in preserve the intrinsic distribution compared with other generation algorithms based on deep learning.
Multimorbidity and adverse events of special interest associated with CoronaVac (Sinovac) and Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech)
Authors: Lai Francisco , Huang Lei , Chui Celine Sze Ling , Wan Eric , Li Xue , Wong Carlos King Ho , Chan Edward Wai Wa , Ma Tiantian , Lum Dawn Hei , Leung Janice Ching Nam , Luo Hao , Chan Esther Wai Yin , Wong Ian
Published: September 2021

We examined the potential additional risk of adverse events of special interest (AESI) within 28 days post-Covid-19 vaccination with CoronaVac or Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech) imposed by multimorbidity (2+ chronic conditions). Using a territory-wide public healthcare database with linkage to population-based vaccination records in Hong Kong, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with chronic diseases. Thirty AESI according to World Health Organization’s Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety were examined. In total, 883,416 patients were included. During follow-up, 2,807 (0.3%) patients had AESI. Weighted Cox models suggested that vaccinated patients had lower risks of any AESI than those unvaccinated, that multimorbidity was associated with an increased risk regardless of vaccination status, and there was no significant effect modification of the association of vaccination with AESI by multimorbidity status. To conclude, we found no evidence that multimorbidity imposes extra risks of AESI within 28 days following Covid-19 vaccination.
Heterogeneous Strategies For Selective Conversion of Lignocellulosic Polysaccharides
Authors: Yuan Zhengqiu , Dai Wei , Zhang Shenghong , Wang Fengxin , Jian Jian , Zeng Jianxian , Zhou Hu
Published: September 2021

Lignocellulosic biomass is the most abundant renewable carbon resource on earth, for which many efforts have been made to convert it using various chemocatalytic processes. Heterogeneously chemocatalytic conversion conducted based on reusable solid catalysts is the process with the greatest potential studied presently. This review provides insights into the representative achievements in the research area of heterogeneous chemical catalysis technologies for the production of value-added chemicals from lignocellulosic polysaccharides (cellulose and hemicellulose). Popular approaches for the conversion of lignocellulosic polysaccharides into chemicals, including hydrolyzation (glucose, xylose and arabinose), dehydration (5-hydroxymethylfurfuran, furfural and levulinic acid), hydrogenation/hydrogenolysis (sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, 1,2-propylene glycol, ethlyene glycol and ethanol), selective oxidation (gluconic acid and lactic acid), have been comprehensively reviewed. However, technological barriers still exist, which have to be overcome to further integrate hydrolysis with the refinery processes based on multifunctional solid catalysts, and convert ligncellulosic polysaccharides into value-added fine chemicals. In general, the approaches and technologies are discussed and critically evaluated in terms of the possibilities and potential for further industrial implementation.
Profile of Matrix Metalloproteinase Activity, Markers of Collagen and Elastin Degradation and Remodeling During Pregnancy, Delivery, and Puerperium in Pelvic Organ Prolapse 3 Months After Childbirth
Authors: Priyatini Tyas , Santoso Budi Iman , Irianta Trika , . Herqutanto , Siregar Nuryati Chairani , Harahap Alida , Sadikin Mohamad
Published: September 2021

Introduction: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common condition that negatively impacts the quality of life of millions of women. Recent results indicate that a burst of elastic fiber assembly and cross-linking occurs in the vaginal wall postpartum and that synthesis and assembly of elastic fibers are crucial for the recovery of pelvic organ support after vaginal delivery.Methods: A total of 39 primigravida women with gestational age > 36 weeks who underwent vaginal delivery were included in this study. Blood and urine samples were taken for laboratory assessment including carboxyl-terminal telopeptide of the type I collagen (ICTP), procollagen type I N-propeptide (PINP), procollagen type-III N-propeptide (PIIINP), desmosine, tropoelastin, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). At 24 ˗ 48 hours after labor, the subject was observed in the treatment room and a second blood sample was taken for the examination. At 6 weeks post-partum, a third blood sample was taken for examination.Results: There was a significant relationship between serum MMP-9 levels six weeks post-partum in the pelvic floor dysfunction group and the control group (p = 0.025). In addition, a significant difference was also found in the different levels of MMP-9 (p = 0.041) and tropoelastin (p = 0.041) during delivery and 6 weeks after delivery. There was a significant difference between serum ICTP levels at delivery in the cystocele and control groups (p = 0.042), ICTP (p = 0.019) and tropoelastin (p = 0.046) levels also differ significantly during delivery and 6 weeks after delivery.Conclusion: ICTP, MMP-9, and tropoelastin are potential biomarkers in association with pelvic organ prolapse.
Development and Internal Validation of Supervised Machine Learning Algorithms for Predicting the Risk of Surgical Site Infection Following Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion Under Quadrant Channel
Authors: Wang Haosheng , Fan Tingting , Yang Bo , Lin Qiang , Li Wenle , Yang Mingyu
Published: September 2021

Background: Machine Learning (ML) is rapidly growing in capability and is increasingly applied to model outcomes and complications in medicine. Surgical site infections (SSI) are a common postoperative complication in spinal surgery. This study aimed to develop and validate supervised ML algorithms for predicting the risk of SSI following minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) under the Quadrant channel.Methods: This single-central retrospective study included a total of 705 cases between May 2012 and October 2019. Data of patients who underwent MIS-TLIF under the Quadrant channel was extracted by the electronic medical record system. The patient’s clinical characteristics, surgery-related parameters, and routine laboratory tests were collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to screen and identify independent risk factors for SSI. Then, the independent risk factors were imported into six ML algorithms, including k-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), Decision Tree (DT), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), and Naïve Bayes (NB), to develop a prediction model for predicting the risk of SSI following MIS-TLIF under Quadrant channel. During the training process, 10-fold cross-validation was used for validation. Indices like the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy (ACC) were reported to test the performance of ML models.Results: Among the 705 patients, SSI occurred in 33 patients (4.68%). The univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that preoperative glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), estimated blood loss (EBL), preoperative albumin, body mass index (BMI), and age were all independent predictors of SSI. In predicting SSI, six ML models posted an average AUC of 0.60-0.80 and an ACC of 0.80-0.95, with the NB model standing out, registering an average AUC and an ACC of 0.78 and 0.90. Then, the feature importance of the NB model was reported.Conclusions: ML algorithms are impressive tools in clinical decision-making, which can achieve satisfactory prediction of SSI with the NB model performing the best. The NB model may help access the risk of SSI following MIS-TLIF under the Quadrant channel and facilitate clinical decision-making. However, future external validation is needed.
Differentiation of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Alveolar Epithelial Cells Reduces Radiation-Induced Lung Injury by Regulating Angii/ACE2/Ang(1-7) Axis and Suppressing NF-Κb/MAPK Pathway
Authors: niu shiying , cong changsheng , wang zhaopeng , sun meili , zhang yueying
Published: September 2021

Background Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) is one of the most common complications of thoracic tumors radiotherapy. Since therapeutic strategies remains limited, the exploration of new approaches to treat RILI is on high demands. The use of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) to treat RILI holds great promise thanks to their multidifferentiation and anti-inflammatory potential after injury. Here, we investigate the therapeutic potential of BMSCs in RILI. Methods Forty five C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into groups. Except for the control group, all mice received chest irradiation. Within 24 hours after irradiation, BMSCs were injected into the tail vein of mice in BMSCs group. At 4 weeks after irradiation, all mice were dissected. HE staining and immunohistochemistry were used to observe the pathological changes of lung tissue and the expression of inflammatory factors. Immunofluorescence technique was used to detect whether BMSCs migrated to lung tissue and to verify their differentiation potential. The expression of Ang II and Ang (1-7) in lung tissue was detected by ELISA. The expression of MasR mRNA in lung tissue was detected by qRT-PCR. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of ACE2, ACE, AT1R and MAPK related proteins. Results we found that BMSCs significantly reduced RILI by HE and immunohistochemistry. Immunofluorescence results showed that BMSCs migrated to injuried lung tissue and differentiated into alveolar epithelial cells. Combined with qRT-PCR and Western blotting results showed BMSCs significantly up-regulated ACE2/Ang(1-7)/MasR axis and suppressed NF-κB/MAPK pathway. Conclusions The study demonstrated that BMSCs may be transplanted into damaged lung tissue where they differentiated into AEC II to regulate AngII/ACE2/Ang(1-7) axis and suppress NF-κB/MAPK pathway to alleviate RILI.
A Robust and Highly Efficient Approach for Isolation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Wharton’s Jelly for Tissue Repair
Authors: Zheng Shengxia , Gao Yanyan , Chen Kai , Liu Yusheng , Xia Ninuo , Fang Fang
Published: September 2021

BackgroundMesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from umbilical cord Wharton’s Jelly (WJ-MSCs) are emerging as promising therapeutics for a variety of diseases due to their ability of regeneration and immunomodulation and their non-tumorigenic and non-immunogenic properties. Although multiple protocols have been developed for WJ-MSCs isolation, insufficient cell numbers, heterogeneous cell population, and variations in procedures between different laboratories impede further clinical applications.MethodsWe compared six widely used WJ-MSCs isolation methods regarding cell morphology, yield, purity, proliferation rate, and differentiation potential. Based on these analyses, we developed a new isolation approach called “Mince-Soak-Digest (MSD)”, and compared its efficiency with the existing methods. Furthermore, we transplanted WJ-MSCs isolated by different methods to the rat uterus to test their ability for tissue repair.ResultsBased on the comparison and analysis of the six widely used isolation protocols, we identified that the inefficiency of the digestion of the extracellular matrix results in low cell yield. Thus, we have developed a robust and highly efficient method to isolate MSCs from WJ by incorporating a soaking step to facilitate the digestion of the extracellular matrix and release of the cells. Our newly developed method generates significantly higher cell yield (4 to 10-fold higher) than six widely used methods that we tested with high purity and consistency. Importantly, by transplantation of WJ-MSCs isolated by MSD to the rat uterus, we repair the endometrial injury and restore the fertility of the rats.ConclusionOur results provide a robust and highly efficient approach for isolating WJ-MSCs to restore injured tissue. The higher efficiency of MSD assures the abundance of WJ-MSCs for clinical applications. Furthermore, the reliability of MSD contributes to the standardization of WJ-MSCs isolation, which eliminates the discrepancies due to isolation procedures, thus facilitates the evaluation of the efficacy of WJ-MSCs across various human clinical applications.
Adherence to Treatment for Hypothyroidism in Pregnancy and Relationship With Thyrotropin Control: a Retrospective Observational Cohort Study
Authors: Siscart Júlia , Orós Miriam , Serna M. Catalina , Perejon Daniel , Galvan Leonardo , Ortega Marta
Published: September 2021

Background: Hypothyroidism is the second most common endocrinological disease during pregnancy, with percentages that can range between 3.2 and 5.5%. A good maternal and foetal health outcome depends on thyroid hormone replacement therapy. The goal of such therapy is to maintain thyrotropin (TSH) in a range that is specific for pregnant women and varies between the trimesters of pregnancy. In our study, we wanted to analyse the adherence to hypothyroidism treatment among pregnant women and to evaluate the degree of control of the disease.Methods: We performed a retrospective observational cohort study in pregnant women between 2012 and 2018 in the Lleida health region. Therapeutic adherence was analysed by the proportion of days covered (PDC). The relationship with other variables was assessed using the regression coefficients and their 95% confidence interval (CI).Results: We examined a sample of 17281 women, representing more than 92% of the pregnant women in the Lleida health region in the period analysed. Among this sample, the mean prevalence of hypothyroidism was 6.52% (0.07% clinical and 6.45% subclinical). 3.3% of the 17281 pregnant women were treated. Among them, the mean adherence score was 79.6 ± 22.2. Of these, 54% presented high adherence. The latter had a higher mean age and better TSH control, in comparison to the ones showing low adherence. Conclusions: Half of the treated patients had good adherence to treatment and a better TSH control, in comparison to the others. Most of them achieved a good control at the third trimester of pregnancy.
Molecular-Level Characterization of Changes in the Mechanical Properties of Wood in Response to Thermal Treatment
Authors: Wang Dong , Fu Feng , Lin Lanying
Published: September 2021

Thermal treatment can improve the dimensional stability of wood, but it also decreases wood’s stiffness and increases its brittleness. In this paper, combining FTIR spectroscopy and mechanical analysis was used to in-situ study the molecular-level responses to stresses and analyze mechanical interactions among components in thermally-treated wood. For both untreated and treated woods, the cellulose was the longitudinal tensile load-bearing component of wood, but the lignin participated in the load transfer in the fiber direction. Moreover, the FTIR results indicated that hemicellulose degradation, as the interface between cellulose and lignin, decreased shear slipping between microfibrils. The interfacial material degradation also caused the wood’s stiffness and mechanical responses of the matrix along the cell transverse direction decrease. Upon increasing the heat treatment intensity, the cellulose microfibrils rearranged along the cell axis, resulting in the ability of the cell wall to resist deformation and the wood’s stiffness being increased.
A Two-Stage Deep Learning Architecture for Radiographic Assessment of Periodontal Bone Loss
Authors: Jiang Linhong , Chen Daqian , Cao Zheng , Wu Fuli , Zhu Haihua , Zhu Fudong
Published: September 2021

Objective: To establish a comprehensive and accurate assessment model of periodontal alveolar bone loss based on panoramic images.Methods:A total of 640 panoramic images were included, and 3 experienced periodontal physicians marked the key points needed to calculate the degree of periodontal alveolar bone loss and the specific location and shape of the alveolar bone loss. A deep learning architecture based on UNet and YOLO-v4 was proposed to localize the tooth and key points, and the percentage and stageof periodontal alveolar bone loss were accurately calculated. The ability of the model to recognize these features was evaluated and compared with that of general dental practitioners.Results: The overall classification accuracy of the model was 0.77, and the performance of the model varied for different tooth positions and categories;model classification was generally more accurate than that of general practitioners.Conclusion: It is feasible to establish deep learning model forassessmentand staging radiographicperiodontal alveolar bone loss using two-stage architecture based on UNet and YOLO-v4.
Survival-associated 11-AS Events Interact with the Immune Microenvironment in Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Yue Congbo , Zhao Tianyi , Zhang Shoucai , Liu Yingjie , Zheng Guixi , Zhang Yi
Published: September 2021

Alternative splicing (AS) events play a crucial role in the tumorigenesis and progression of cancer. Transcriptome data and Percent Spliced In (PSI) values of OV patients were downloaded from TCGA database and TCGA SpliceSeq. Totally we identified 1,472 AS events that were associated with survival of OV and exon skipping (ES) was the most important type. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis were performed to identify survival-associated AS events and develop the prognostic model based on 11-AS events. The immune cells and different response to cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) blockers in low-risk and high-risk group of OV patients were analyzed. Ten kinds of immune cells were found up-regulated in low-risk group. Activated B cell, natural killer T cell, natural killer cell and regulatory T cell were associated with survival of OV. The patients in low-risk group had good response to CTLA-4 and PD-1 blockers treatment. Moreover, a regulatory network was established according to the correlation between AS events and splicing factors (SFs). The present study provided valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms of OV. AS events that were correlated with the immune system might be potential therapeutic targets.
Detection of Clostridioides Difficile Toxin B Gene: Benefits of Identifying Gastrointestinal Pathogens by mPCR Assay in the Diagnosis of Diarrhea in Pediatric Patients
Authors: Byun Jung-Hyun , Yong Dongeun , Kim Heejung
Published: September 2021

In the pediatric population, severe Clostridioides difficile infection sometimes occurs, but most cases are asymptomatic. Since the asymptomatic carriage rate is reportedly high in pediatric populations, diagnosis of CDI is difficult. Here, we analyzed 960 results of gastrointestinal pathogen multiplex PCR to estimate the positive rate of toxigenic C. difficile in pediatric populations aged between 0 and 18 years. The overall rate of C. difficile toxin B positivity was 10.1% in the stool samples. The positive rate peaked in 1-year-old infants (29/153, 19.0%), and decreased continually thereafter. The positive rate we observed was lower than the rates described in the literature. Remarkably, no C. difficile was detected in neonates. Antibiotic usage was inversely related to the positive rate, especially in infants < 2 years of age. The odds ratio of antibiotics was 0.44 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.28–0.68; P < 0.001). The presence of concomitant gastrointestinal pathogens was not associated with toxigenic C. difficile positivity. Even though toxigenic C. difficile infection is neither an important nor a common cause of pediatric diarrhea, children can spread it to adults who are at risk of developing CDI. Pediatric population can act as hidden reservoirs for pathogenic strains in the community.
Assessing Assemblage-wide Mammal Responses to Different Types of Habitat Modification in Amazonian Forests
Authors: Almeida-Maués Paula , Bueno Anderson , Palmeirim Ana Filipa , Peres Carlos , Mendes-Oliveira Ana Cristina
Published: September 2021

The structure of tropical forest is heavily modified by varying intensities of land use ranging from structural degradation to complete conversion. While ecological responses of vertebrate assemblages to habitat modification are variable, such understanding is critical to appropriate conservation planning of anthropogenic landscapes. We assessed the responses of mammal assemblages to the ecological impacts of reduced impact logging, secondary regrowth, and eucalyptus and oil palm plantations in Eastern Brazilian Amazonia. We used within-landscape paired baseline-treatment comparisons to examine the impact of different types of habitat modification in relation to adjacent primary forest. We examined assemblage-wide metrics including the total number of species, number of primary forest species retained in modified habitats, abundance, species composition, and community integrity. We ranked all types of habitat modification along a gradient of assemblage-wide impact intensity, with oil palm and eucalyptus plantations exerting the greatest impact, followed by secondary regrowth, and selectively logging. Selectively-logged and secondary forests did not experience discernible biodiversity loss, except for the total number of primary forest species retained. Secondary forests further experienced pronounced species turnover, with loss of community integrity. Considering the biodiversity retention capacity of anthropogenic habitats, this study reinforces the landscape-scale importance of setting aside large preserved areas.
Individual Differences in Mental Imagery Modulate Effective Connectivity of Scene-Selective Regions During Resting State
Authors: Tullo Maria Giulia , Almgren Hannes , de Steen Frederik Van , Sulpizio Valentina , Marinazzo Daniele , Galati Gaspare
Published: September 2021

Successful navigation relies on the ability to identify, perceive, and correctly process the spatial structure of a scene. It is well known that visual mental imagery plays a crucial role in navigation. Indeed, cortical regions encoding navigationally relevant information are also active during mental imagery of navigational scenes. However, it remains unknown whether their intrinsic activity and connectivity reflect the individuals’ ability to imagine a scene. Here, we primarily investigated the intrinsic causal interactions among scene-selective brain regions such as Parahipoccampal Place Area (PPA), Retrosplenial Complex (RSC), and Occipital Place Area (OPA) using Dynamic Causal Modelling (DCM) for resting-state functional magnetic resonance (rs-fMRI) data. Second, we tested whether resting-state effective connectivity parameters among scene-selective regions could reflect individual differences in mental imagery in our sample, as assessed by the self-reported Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ). We found an inhibitory influence of occipito-medial on temporal regions, and an excitatory influence of more anterior on more medial and posterior brain regions. Moreover, we found that a key role in imagery is played by the connection strength from OPA to PPA, especially in the left hemisphere, since the influence of the signal between these scene-selective regions positively correlated with good mental imagery ability. Our investigation contributes to the understanding of the complexity of the causal interaction among brain regions involved in navigation and provides new insight in understanding how an essential ability, such as mental imagery, can be explained by the intrinsic fluctuation of brain signal.
An Evaluation of the Effects of Elevated Body Mass Index on Skeletal Age
Authors: French Michael H. , Kung Michael S. , Holmes W. Nathan , Aziz Hossein , Thomas Evelyn S. , Schlechter John A.
Published: September 2021

BackgroundMany treatment decisions in children’s Orthopaedics are based on age. This study determined whether a discrepancy between chronological age (CA) and skeletal age (SA) is dependent on BMI and if overweight or obese children would have an advanced SA.Materials and Methods120 children between ages 8-17 with an adequate hand radiograph and a correlating BMI were enrolled by retrospective chart review. Stratification based on age, sex, ethnicity, and BMI percentile was performed. For each age group, 6 males and 6 females were selected with 50% of each group having an elevated BMI. Two blinded physicians independently evaluated hand radiographs and recorded the SA. Statistical analyses evaluated inter-rater reliability and any discrepancy between groups.ResultsThe final statistical analysis included 96 children. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient for SA determined by the two reviewers was excellent at 0.95. A difference of 13 months was found between CA and SA in the elevated BMI cohort versus the non-elevated BMI cohort, (p<0.001). No significant difference was seen between CA and SA for the non-elevated cohort (p=0.72), while matching for age and sex. ConclusionChronological age and skeletal age are not always equivalent especially in pediatric patients who are overweight or obese.
Nonlinear and Dual-Parameter Chaotic Vibrations of Lumped Parameter Model in Blisk under Combined Aerodynamic Force and Varying Rotating Speed
Authors: Zhang W. , Ma L. , Zhang Y. F. , Behdinan K.
Published: September 2021

In this paper, the nonlinear and dual-parameter chaotic vibrations are investigated for the blisk structure with the lumped parameter model under combined the aerodynamic force and varying rotating speed. The varying rotating speed and aerodynamic force are respectively simplified to the parametric and external excitations. The nonlinear governing equations of motion for the rotating blisk are established by using Hamilton’s principle. The free vibration and mode localization phenomena are studied for the tuning and mistuning blisks. Due to the mistuning, the periodic characteristics of the blisk structure are destroyed and uniform distribution of the energy is broken. It is found that there is a positive correlation between the mistuning variable and mode localization factor to exhibit the large vibration of the blisk in a certain region. The method of multiple scales is applied to derive four-dimensional averaged equations of the blisk under 1:1 internal and principal parametric resonances. The amplitude-frequency response curves of the blisk are studied, which illustrate the influence of different parameters on the bandwidth and vibration amplitudes of the blisk. Lyapunov exponent, bifurcation diagrams, phase portraits, waveforms and Poincare maps are depicted. The dual-parameter Lyapunov exponents and bifurcation diagrams of the blisk reveal the paths leading to the chaos. The influences of different parameters on the bifurcation and chaotic vibrations are analyzed. The numerical results demonstrate that the parametric and external excitations, rotating speed and damping determine the occurrence of the chaotic vibrations and paths leading to the chaotic vibrations in the blisk.
Comparison of Outcomes of Chronic Kidney Disease Based on Etiology: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Ryu Hyunjin , Hong Yeji , Kang Eunjeong , Kang Minjung , Kim Jayoun , Park Hayne Cho , Oh Yun Kyu , Chin Ho Jun , Park Sue K. , Jung Ji Yong , Hyun Young Youl , Sung Su Ah , Ahn Curie , Oh Kook-Hwan
Published: September 2021

Background and objectivesThe cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects outcomes. However, relative risks for adverse outcomes according to specific causes of CKD are not well studied.Design, setting, participants and measurementsProspective cohort study from KNOW-CKD cohort were analyzed using overlap propensity score weighting methods. Patients were grouped into four categories according to the cause of CKD: glomerulonephritis (GN), diabetic nephropathy (DN), hypertensive nephropathy (HTN), or polycystic kidney disease (PKD). From a total of 2,070 patients, the relative risk of kidney failure, composite of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality, and the slope of the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline according to the cause of CKD were compared between causative groups pairwisely.ResultsThere were 565 cases of kidney failure and 259 cases of composite CVD and death over 6.0 years of follow-up. Hazard ratios of the PKD group for kidney failure were significantly increased at 1.82, 2.23, and 1.73 compared to GN, HTN, and DN, respectively. Hazard ratios of the DN group for the composite of CVD and death were also significantly increased at 2.07, and 1.73 compared to GN, and HTN, respectively. The adjusted eGFR decline slope for DN and PKD groups was -3.07, and -3.37 mL/min/1.73m2 per year, respectively, and all of these values were significantly different than those of the GN and HTN groups (-2.16, and -1.42 mL/min/1.73m2 per year, respectively).ConclusionsRisks for renal progression were relatively higher in patients with PKD compared to other causes of CKD. However, the composite of CVD and death were relatively higher in patients with DN-related CKD than those with GN- and HTN-related CKD.
Factors Associated With Treatment Outcome in Patients With Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease: a Large Population-based Retrospective Cohort Study in Shanghai
Authors: Cheng Li Ping , Chen Shan Hao , Lou Hai , Gui Xu Wei , Shen Xiao Na , Cao Jie , Sha Wei , Sun Qin
Published: September 2021

Background: Investigate factors associated with treatment outcome in patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTMPD). Methods: This retrospective cohort study examined NTMPD patients in Shanghai from January 2014 to December 2018. The distribution and incidence of the different causative species were determined. The outcomes of patients infected with different NTM species were compared. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses were used to determine the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association of different factors with treatment failure. Results: The most common species were Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) (50%), M. abscessus (28%), and M. kansasii (15%). Over five years, the proportions of M. kansasii and M. abscessus increased, and that of MAC decreased. The treatment success rate was significantly greater for patients infected with M. kansasii (89.9%) than MAC (65.0%, P<0.001) and M. abscessus (36.1%, P<0.001). Multivariate analysis indicated the risk factors for treatment failure were pathogenic NTM species (M. abscessus: aOR=9.355, P<0.001; MAC: aOR=2.970, P=0.021), having an elevated ESR (>60mm/h: aOR=2.658, P<0.001), receipt of retreatment (aOR=2.074, P<0.001), middle-aged and elderly (>60 years-old: aOR=1.739, P=0.021; 45–60 years-old: aOR=1.661, P=0.034). Conclusions: The main bacterial species responsible for NTMPD infections in Shanghai were MAC, M. abscessus, and M. kansasii. Patients with M. kansasii infections had a higher rate of treatment success. Multiple factors including infection by M. abscessu or MAC, an elevated ESR, receiving retreatment, middle-aged and elderly were associated with treatment failure.
The Relationship Between Insulin Resistance and Obesity and Serum Anti-mullerian Hormone Level in Chinese Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Case-control Study.
Authors: Zhao Han , Zhou Dexin , Liu Cong , Zhang Le
Published: September 2021

BackgroundAnti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) has an important role in the pathophysiological process of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) by regulating follicular development and is closely related to the severity of PCOS. Previous studies have suggested that AMH levels in PCOS is related to hyperandrogenemia levels and are affected by obesity and insulin resistance. however, the exact relationship between AMH levels and obesity and insulin resistance remains unclear. We aimed to elucidate the relationship between insulin resistance and obesity and serum AMH levels in women with PCOS. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study of 220 women with PCOS who had undergone an assortment of physical, endocrine, and metabolic assessments. AMH levels and various other indicators of PCOS in patients with different body mass indices (BMI) and Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) levels were compared. Independent sample t-tests were performed to compare two groups. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to study the correlation between AMH and age, obesity, IR, and other indicators of PCOS, and multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine the factors influencing AMH. Bilateral tests were performed for all statistical tests. The data were analysed using SPSS v25.0. Statistical significance was defined as a two-sided P-value of less than 0.05.ResultsWe found that >50% of patients with PCOS had insulin resistance, obesity, hyperandrogenemia, and abnormal glucose tolerance. AMH, testosterone (T), and HOMA-IR levels were affected by age, and older participants had lower AMH, HOMA-IR, and androgen levels (P < 0.05). Glycated hemoglobin levels were higher and AMH, luteinizing hormone (LH)/follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and LH levels were lower in non-obese individuals than in obese individuals (both P < 0.05). Participants in the non-insulin resistant (IR; NIR) group were older than those in the IR group (P < 0.05). AMH, LH, LH/FSH, and T levels in the IR group were significantly higher than those in the NIR group (P < 0.05). AMH levels were positively correlated with LH, LH/FSH, T, fasting insulin (FINS), and HOMA-IR levels as well as the free androgen index and negatively correlated with age, BMI, and sex hormone binding globulin levels (P < 0.05). Through multiple linear regression, we found that AMH levels could be explained by T, LH/FSH, FINS, sex hormone binding globulin, LH levels, and BMI.ConclusionsSerum AMH levels were closely related to metabolic abnormalities in PCOS. In patients with PCOS, AMH levels were positively correlated with HOMA-IR levels and negatively correlated with BMI. Thus, AMH combined with BMI and HOMA-IR levels could help determine the severity of PCOS.
Association Between Platelet, White Blood Cell Count, Platelet To White Blood Cell Ratio and Sarcopenia in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Focus On Bushehr Elderly Health (BEH) Program
Authors: Gholizade Mohamad , Farhadi Akram , Marzban Maryam , Mahmudpour Mehdi , Nabipour Iraj , Kalantarhormozi Mohammadreza , Shafiee Gita , Ostovar Afshin , Larijani Bagher , Darabi Amir Hossein , Safavi Eisa
Published: September 2021

Background
Sarcopenia is a progressive age-related skeletal muscle disorder associated with harmful impacts on health. The present study aimed to investigate the relation between sarcopenia, platelet (PLT), white blood cell (WBC), and PLT to WBC ratio (PWR) due to the importance of early sarcopenia diagnosis.
Methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted based on the second stage of the Bushehr Elderly Health (BEH) Program. Sarcopenia was defined based on the revised edition of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) in accordance with the Iranian cut-off point. Univariate and adjusted multivariate logistic regression and linear regression were used to evaluate the associations.
Results
The prevalence of sarcopenia among participants was 35.73 %. PLT count and PWR were statistically higher in severe sarcopenic participants, while no differences were seen in WBC. In crude analysis, sarcopenia was not associated with quartiles of PLT, WBC, and PWR, while after adjusting for age, marital status, and sex, the association was seen in the fourth quartile of PLT and PWR [OR (95%CI) = 1.40 (1.08 to 1.81), p-value = 0.009 for PLT; OR (95%CI) = 1.55 (1.20 to 2.00), p-value = 0.001 for PWR]. This association remained significant in the fully adjusted model [OR (95%CI) = 1.92 (1.25 to 2.95), p-value = 0.003 for PLT; OR (95%CI) = 1.64 (1.06 to 2.52), p-value = 0.024 for PWR]. Among sarcopenia parameters, PLT count was more likely to be associated with handgrip strength and muscle mass. After stratifying the participants by gender, sarcopenia parameters were no longer statistically significant in men.
Conclusion
This study showed that PLT and PWR were associated with sarcopenia after considering confounding factors, while this association was not seen in WBC. Moreover, results showed that gender had an important impact on sarcopenia parameters.
Photophysical Challenges and Antenna Effect Between Click Reaction-based Bodipy Derivatives Manufactured From Knorr Pyrrole
Authors: kursunlu ahmed nuri , Yilmaz Akif Kagan , Bastug Elif , Guler Ersin
Published: September 2021

In this paper, a series of click reaction-based Bodipy derivatives have been synthesized as part of a preliminary study. Following the characterization of the four challenger molecules, the photophysical properties (absorption, emission, excitation, molar absorption coefficient, quantum yield, etc.) were examined in various organic solvents. The results showed that the energy transfer from the Bodipy cores to other moieties was calculated between 71% and 93% depending on different π-electron configurations and chromophore groups.
Dynamics and Mass Balance of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in and around the Seto Inland Sea, Japan
Authors: Tsuji Hiroaki , Akiyoshi Yuta , Asakawa Daichi , Nakashita Shinya , Iwamoto Yoko , Sakugawa Hiroshi , Takeda Kazuhiko
Published: September 2021

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed to elucidate the distribution, ecological risk, pathways, and fluxes of these pollutants in and around the Seto Inland Sea, Japan. High molecular weight PAHs (5–6 rings) were primarily found in regions close to the bay estuaries, and their proportions decreased at distances further from the estuaries (offshore areas), where low molecular weight PAHs (2–4 rings) were more ubiquitous. Ecological risk assessments revealed that the PAHs found in the sediments should have no adverse effects on benthic communities, with the exception of fluorene, which was detected in high levels in the sediment from Beppu Bay. A mass balance for PAHs in the Seto Inland Sea, calculated based on data collected in the field and published literature findings, showed the PAH flux into the Seto Inland Sea from atmospheric deposition were ca. 5 times higher than that from riverine inflows. Comparison of the amount of the PAH flux between the Seto Inland Sea and other seas suggested that the Seto Inland Sea is less polluted than the Gulf of Lion and the Bohai Sea, and more polluted than the Yellow Sea.
A Novel Ferroptosis-Related lncRNAs Signature Predicts Clinical Prognosis and is Associated with Immune Landscape in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Ping Haiqin , Jia Xingqing , Ke Hengning
Published: September 2021

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies and currently therapies are severely lacking. In this study, we aimed to establish a novel ferroptosis-related lncRNAs signature to predict the prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer and evaluate the predictive abilities of candidate lncRNAs. According to The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, a total of 182 patients with pancreatic cancer were included in our study. Ferroptosis-related lncRNAs were screened by Pearson correlation analysis with 60 reported ferroptosis-related genes. Through univariate, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and multivariate regression analyses, a novel signature based on five ferroptosis-related lncRNAs(ZNF236-DT, CASC8, PAN3-AS1, SH3PXD2A-AS1, LINP1) was constructed. Risk-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were subjected to enrichment analyses for Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis.The results revealed that that immune cell infiltration, immune-related functions and checkpoints were factors to affect prognoisis of pancreatic cancer. In summary, we identified the prognostic ferroptosis-related lncRNAs in pancreatic cancer and these lncRNAs may serve as therapeutic targets for pancreatic cancer.
Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis of the Temporomandibular Joint with Skull Base Extension: A Retrospective Case Series
Authors: He Qiang , Zan Xin , Chen Fei , You Chao , Xu Jianguo
Published: September 2021

Background: Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) with skull base extension is a rare entity. Here, we summarize the clinical features, treatments, and outcomes of PVNS of the TMJ with skull base extension in a large case series. Methods: We reviewed the clinical information relating to patients diagnosed with PVNS of the TMJ with skull base extension information of patients in our center between 2011 and 2020. Results: We reviewed 10 patients (4 males and 6 females). All cases had presented with a unilateral lesion extending the middle skull base. PVNS of the TMJ with skull base extension occurred on the left side in 6 patients (60%) and on the right side in 4 patients (40%). Of the 10 patients, pain and mass were the most prevalent symptoms. All patients received surgery and no recurrence was seen after 35.90±25.35 months follow-up. Conclusion: Despite destructive biological behavior, surgery can achieve an excellent outcome for patients with PVNS of the TMJ with skull base extension. An en bloc resection may prevent recurrence and provide long-term relief. Radiotherapy may be reserved for subtotal excision and recurrent lesions but require further investigation.