bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysing EMI assessment in higher education
Authors: Otto Ana , Estrada Chichón José Luis
Published: August 2021

This research article reveals current English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) lecturers’ assessment practices in a medium-sized (i.e., 12,000 students) private university in Madrid, Spain. The investigation aims to analyse how EMI assessment is conducted; what are the most popular assessment tools that EMI lecturers use; and the role that English as a foreign language plays in EMI teaching. Moreover, this is a mixed-methods research investigation in which data were obtained throughout two tools: One questionnaire (Otto, 218) and two focus groups. All in all, the study clearly verifies that EMI lecturers are not trained enough in terms of EMI teaching in general, and assessment in particular. There are no significant differences between EMI and non-EMI assessment tools, apart from the fact that summative assessment mainly prevails over formative assessment. Final recommendations are provided regarding accurate EMI assessment practices after empirical evidence was gathered.
Virtual Interviews in the Era of COVID-19
Authors: Brueggeman David A. , Via Garrhett G. , Froehle Andrew W. , Krishnamurthy Anil B.
Published: August 2021

Update

This article was updated on August 20, 2021, because of a previous error. On page 1, the link to the Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest forms was corrected to http://links.lww.com/JBJSOA/A314.

An erratum has been published: JBJS Open Access 2021;6(3):e21.00034ER.

Background:

Orthopaedic surgery residency program directors (PDs) and candidates consider interviews to be central to the application process. In-person interviews are typical, but virtual interviews present a potentially appealing alternative. Candidate and PD expectations and perceptions of virtual interviews during the 2020/2021 orthopaedic surgery application cycle were assessed.

Methods:

Candidates and PDs were surveyed electronically. Questions covered pre–virtual-interview and post–virtual-interview expectations and perceptions, and past in-person experiences (PDs and reapplicants) on the relative importance of application components, ability to assess fit, interview costs, and preferred interview mode. Identical questions allowed between-group comparisons.

Results:

Responses included n = 29 PDs and n = 99 candidates. PDs reported diminished ability to assess candidate fit; social, clinical, and surgical skills; and genuine interest in the virtual context (each p ≤ 0.01). They placed greater importance on research and less on the interview in the virtual vs. in-person context (each p = 0.02). Most candidates (78%) reported fair/good ability to demonstrate potential and were better able to assess research opportunities than expected (p < 0.01). Candidates expected virtual interviews to increase the importance of research, transcripts, and recommendations (for each, p ≤ 0.02) and decrease the importance of the interview itself (p < 0.01). Compared with PDs, candidates overvalued research, United States Medical Licensing Examination scores, transcripts, and recommendations (each p ≤ 0.02) and may have slightly undervalued the virtual interview (p = 0.08). Most candidates (81%) and PDs (79%) preferred in-person interviews, despite both groups reporting monetary savings.

Conclusions:

Despite cost savings associated with virtual interviews, orthopaedic surgery residency PDs and candidates identified reduced abilities to assess candidate or program fit and displayed a preference for in-person interviews.
Information and Communication Technologies of households and individuals, geographical proximity and regional competitiveness: distribution, clusters and spatial patterns of technological capacity in Europe
Authors: González-Relaño Reyes , Lucendo-Monedero Ángel Luis , Ruiz-Rodríguez Francisca
Published: August 2021

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been consolidated as a fundamental pillar of the new model of competitiveness and sustainable development of territories. However, there has still not been sufficient in-depth study of the role that geographical proximity plays in the digital inequalities that affect regional competitiveness. In this context, this paper aims to identify and characterise the clusters and patterns that define the spatial behaviour of ICT access and usage variables at household and individual level in the Technology Readiness (TR) pillar of the Regional Competitiveness Index (RCI). A database of 280 NUTS2 has been created in order to perform: i) an exploratory statistical analysis to show the regional behaviour of the ICT variables; and ii) a spatial autocorrelation analysis to detect the presence of spatial dependence. The results at regional level in Europe demonstrate that: i) the greatest inequalities occur in the ICT usage variables and not in those of access; ii) the indicators of TR create a spatial pattern with a gradient from the regions of the extreme north-west to south-western and eastern Europe; and iii) there is evidently an opportunity to incorporate other regional variables of ICT usage for future editions of the RCI.
LINC00665 Affects the Malignant Biological Behavior of Ovarian Cancer via the miR-148b-3p/KLF5
Authors: Wang Shenglan , Liu Chuanchuan , Li Yongchuan , Qiao Jinwan , Chen Xinling , Bao Jin , Li Ran , Xing Yanxia
Published: August 2021

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Diverse recruitment to a globally structured atmospheric microbiome
Authors: Archer Stephen , Lee Kevin , Caruso Tancredi , Leung Marcus , Tong Xinzhao , Salter Susannah J. , Hinchliffe Graham , Maki Teruya , Santl-Temkiv Tina , Warren-Rhodes Kimberley , Gomez-Silva Benito , Hyde Kevin , Liu Celine , Alcamí Antonio , Al-Mailem Dina , Araya Jonathan , Cary Stephen , Cowan Don , Dempsey Jessica , Etchebehere Claudia , Gantsetseg Batdelger , Hartery Sean , Harvey Mike , Hayakawa Kazuichi , Hogg Ian , Inoue Mutsoe , Kansour Mayada , Lawrence Tim , Lee Charles , Leopold Mathius , McKay Christopher , Nagao Seiya , Poh Yan Hong , Ramond Jean-Baptiste , Rastrojo Alberto , Sekiguchi Toshio , Sim Joo Huang , Stahm William , Sun Henry , Tang Ning , Vandenbrink Bryan , Walther Craig , Lee Patrick , Pointing Stephen Brian
Published: August 2021

Atmospheric transport is critical to dispersal of microorganisms between habitats and this underpins resilience in terrestrial and marine ecosystems globally. A key unresolved question is whether microorganisms assemble to form a taxonomically distinct, geographically variable, and functionally adapted atmospheric microbiome. Here we characterised globalscale patterns of microbial taxonomic and functional diversity in air within and above the atmospheric boundary layer and in underlying soils. Bacterial and fungal assemblages in air were taxonomically structured and deviated significantly from purely stochastic assembly. Patterns differed with location and reflected underlying surface cover and environmental filtering. Source-tracking indicated a complex recruitment process involving local soils plus globally distributed inputs from drylands and the phyllosphere. Assemblages displayed stressresponse and metabolic traits relevant to survival in air, and taxonomic and functional diversity were correlated with macroclimate and atmospheric variables. Our findings highlight complexity in the atmospheric microbiome that is key to understanding regional and global ecosystem connectivity.
Differences in the roles of types 1 and 2 diabetes in the susceptibility to the risk of fracture: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Dou Jiaqing , Wang Jing , Zhang Qiu
Published: August 2021

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) causes excess risk of fracture at varied sites. Whereas, the difference between the roles of types 1 DM (T1DM) and 2 DM (T2DM) diabetes in the risk of fractures remains limited and inconclusive. We, therefore, conducted a meta-analysis to assess the differences for the associations of T1DM and T2DM with the risk of fractures.Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane library for eligible studies until May 2021. The odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to calculate the pooled effect estimates for the associations of T1DM and T2DM with the risk of fractures using the random-effects model. An indirect comparison results for the ratio of OR (ROR) with 95% CI were also applied to assess the difference between T1DM and T2DM with the risk of fractures.Results: Twenty-two cohort studies involving a total of 6,484,851 individuals were selected for meta-analysis. We noted that T1DM was associated with an increased risk of all fractures (OR: 1.72; 95% CI: 1.36–2.19; P < 0.001), and fractures at the hip (OR: 4.01; 95% CI: 2.90–5.54; P < 0.001), upper arm (OR: 2.20; 95% CI: 1.61–3.00; P < 0.001), ankle (OR: 1.97; 95% CI: 1.24–3.14; P = 0.004), and vertebrae (OR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.85–2.57; P < 0.001). Moreover, T2DM induced excess risk to all fractures (OR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.09–1.31; P < 0.001), including fractures at the hip (OR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.15–1.35; P < 0.001), upper arm (OR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.20–1.67; P < 0.001), and ankle (OR: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.01–1.31; P = 0.029). Furthermore, we noted that T1DM versus T2DM was associated with greater risk to all fractures (ROR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.12–1.87; P = 0.005), including fractures at the hip (ROR: 3.21; 95% CI: 2.30–4.48; P < 0.001), upper arm (ROR: 1.55; 95% CI: 1.09–2.20; P = 0.015), and ankle (ROR: 1.71; 95% CI: 1.06–2.78; P = 0.029).Conclusions: This study found that T1DM caused an excess risk to all fractures, including fractures at the hip, upper arm, and ankle than T2DM. Further studies should therefore be conducted to directly compare the differences between T1DM and T2DM with the risk of fractures at various sites.
Evaluating the Efficacy and Side Effects of Corticosteroid Therapy in Severely ill COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Cai Yun , Li Lu , Chen Jing , Li Kening , Zhang Shenli , Wang Ziyu , Li Jie , Zhu Mengyan , Huang Bin , Wu Lingxiang , Wu Wei , Wu Min , Ding Rong , Jia Xiuzhi , Wang Chaochen , Wang Qianghu , Xia Xinyi , Xiao Ying , Lyu Sali
Published: August 2021

Background: Cytokine storms are a common complication in severely ill patients with COVID-19, for which corticosteroid therapy (CsT) is used as adjuvant treatment. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of CsT in patients with COVID-19.Methods: A single-center, retrospective cohort study was conducted in 1,392 severely ill patients with COVID-19 from Wuhan Huoshenshan Hospital. Patients received at least one dose (1–2 mg·kg-1·day-1 for 3–5 days) of methylprednisolone were divided into CsT group, whereas the rest were assigned into the non-CsT group. Results: Of 1,392 patients, 116 were assigned to the CsT group and 1,226 to the non-CsT group. Patients in the CsT group showed comparable mortality rate (1.8% vs. 1.2%, P > 0.99) and viral clearance time (44.5 days vs. 46.0 days, P = 0.48), but longer hospitalization time (21 days vs. 12 days, P < 0.001) than those in non-CsT group. During CsT, the proportion of lymphocytes was lower (14.7 % vs. 18.5 %, P = 0.01), while neutrophils was higher (77.1 % vs. 69.8 %, P < 0.001), than before treatment. The C-reactive protein (CRP) level was significantly lower after CsT (3.1 mg/L vs. 9.5 mg/L, P < 0.001). Furthermore, indicators of liver function (gamma-glutamyl transferase [GGT], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], and aspartate aminotransferase [AST]) and cardiac function (brain natriuretic peptide [BNP], α-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase [α-HBDH], and lactate dehydrogenase [LDH]) increased significantly during CsT but returned to normal after CsT. Patients who developed liver damage showed higher GGT, ALT, AST, LDH, Cre, and CRP; patients who developed heart injury had higher AST, LPH, CRP, lymphocyte (LYM), glucose, BNP, and α-HBDH; and patients who developed kidney failure had higher α-HBDH, LDH, CRP, and LYM values than before CsT. Additionally, patients who received CsT with cardiovascular disease showed a continuous elevation in D-dimer levels.Conclusions: CsT effectively attenuates the inflammatory response in severely ill patients with COVID-19 at a relatively low dose in a short duration; however, CsT increases the risk of hepatic and cardiac abnormalities.
Deciphering the interactions of SARS-CoV-2 proteins with human ion channels using machine learning-based method
Authors: Munjal Nupur S. , Sapra Dikscha , Goyal Abhishek , Parthasarathi K.T. Shreya , Pandey Akhilesh , Banerjee Manidipa , Sharma Jyoti
Published: August 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic which began in 2019. It has a high transmission rate and pathogenicity leading to health emergencies and economic crisis. Recent studies pertaining to the understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection exhibited the indispensable role of ion channels in viral infection inside the host. Moreover, machine learning (ML)-based algorithms are providing higher accuracy for host-SARS-CoV-2 protein-protein interactions (PPIs). In this study, predictions of PPIs of SARS-CoV-2 proteins with human ion channels (HICs) were performed using PPI-MetaGO algorithm. The PPIs were predicted with 82.71% accuracy, 84.09% precision, 84.09% sensitivity, 0.89 AUC-ROC, 65.17% Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) score and 84.09% F1 score. Thereafter, PPI networks of SARSCoV-2 proteins with HICs were generated. Furthermore, biological pathway analysis of HICs interacting with SARS-CoV-2 proteins showed the involvement of six pathways, namely inflammatory mediator regulation of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, insulin secretion, renin secretion, gap junction, taste transduction and apelin signaling pathway. Our analysis suggests that transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 4 (TRPM4), transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily A member 1 (TRPA1), gap junction protein alpha 1 (GJA1), potassium calcium-activated channel subfamily N member 4 (KCNN4), acid sensing ion channel subunit 1 (ASIC1) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 1 (ITPR1) could serve as an initial set to the experimentalists for further validation. Additionally, various US food and drug administration (FDA) approved drugs interacting with the potential HICs were also identified. The study also reinforcesthe drug repurposing approach for the development of host directed antiviral drugs.
Bio-Intervention Phyto-Based Material For Raw Goatskin Preservation: A Cleaner-Sustainable Approach
Authors: Hashem Md. Abul , Hasan Md. Anik , Momen Md. Abdul , Payel Sofia , Hasan Mehedi , Shaikh Md. Zillur Rahaman
Published: August 2021

The regular practice of using sodium chloride to preserve raw animal skin triggers increasing salinity and total dissolved solids (TDS) in the surface and groundwater during rehydration soaking operations. The process disrupts the lives of animals, plants, and human beings. This paper is focused on the phyto-based short-term preservation of goatskin to reduce salinity in tannery soaking operations. The indigenous Persicaria hydropiper leaf was investigated to assess the preservation of animal skin to diminish salinity and TDS of tannery soaking wastewater. Methanol extracted leaf was characterized by GC-MS and FTIR for chemical composition analysis and affiliated functional groups. Fresh goatskins were preserved at the preliminary, laboratory, and pilot-scale scenarios to establish the best possible mixture, monitor the moisture and nitrogen content, shrinkage temperature, microorganism analysis, and pollution load at each level. The processed leathers derived from the preserved skins with an optimal mixture of 10% leaf paste with 8% salt and conventional 50% salt were tested for their physical strength. Finally, the modification in fiber structure due to the varieties of preserving chemicals was evaluated through a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and detected insignificant variation of leather fibers. The findings reported in this study can be applied to the industrial level and remove certain amounts of salinity and TDS from tannery soaking wastewater.
Safety and Efficacy of Common Endoscopic Treatments in Patients with Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis
Authors: Yang Hang , Hu Bing
Published: August 2021

BackgroundThe safety and efficacy has always been a concern, when patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis (DLC) receive endoscopic treatments. Methods We performed a retrospective study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of common endoscopic treatments including endoscopic resection (ER) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) applying to patients with DLC. Results81 patients received ER (43 endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and 38 endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD)) and 131 patients were treated by ERCP. There were no significant differences of the rate of degeneration and invariability of Child-Pugh (CP) class and the overall rate of adverse events between two groups (93.8%/8.6% ER vs. 96.2%/15.3% ERCP). Both the degeneration rate of CP class (35.4%) and the rate of adverse events (27.1%) in subgroup C of ERCP group was significantly higher (P=0). The rate of poor outcomes was higher in ERCP group (12.2%) than that in ER group (2.5%) (P=.02). And subgroup C of ERCP group had a higher poor outcome rate (27.1%) (P=0).ConclusionsER and ERCP could remove focal lesions or relieve symptoms induced by targeted diseases without significant changes of CP class. Significant benefits and risks coexisted in CP class C patients with DLC when receiving ERCP.
Comparison of The Accuracy of Clinicians’ Prediction of Survival and Palliative Prognostic Score: An East Asian Cross-Cultural Study
Authors: Hiratsuka Yusuke , Yoon Seok-Joon , Suh Sang-Yeon , Choi Sung-Eun , Hui David , Kim Sun-Hyun , Lee Eon Sook , Hwang Sun Wook , Cheng Shao-Yi , Chen Ping-Jen , Mori Masanori , Yamaguchi Takashi , Morita Tatsuya , Tsuneto Satoru , Inoue Akira
Published: August 2021

Purpose:No study has been conducted to compare the clinicians’ prediction of survival (CPS) with Palliative Prognostic Scores (PaP) across countries. We aimed to compare the performance of the CPS in PaP (PaP-CPS), the PaP without the CPS, and the PaP total scores in patients with advanced cancer in three East Asian countries.Methods:We compared the discriminative accuracy of the three predictive models (the PaP-CPS [the score of the categorical CPS of PaP], the PaP without the CPS [sum of the scores of only the objective variables of PaP], and the PaP total score) in patients in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. We calculated the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for 30-day survival to compare the discriminative accuracy of these three models.Results:We analyzed 2,072 patients from three countries. The AUROC for the PaP total scores was 0.84 in patients in Japan, 0.76 in Korea, and 0.79 in Taiwan. The AUROC of the PaP-CPS was 0.82 in patients in Japan, 0.75 in Korea, and 0.78 in Taiwan. The AUROC of the PaP without the CPS was 0.75 in patients in Japan, 0.66 in Korea, and 0.67 in Taiwan.Conclusion:The PaP total scores and the PaP-CPS consistently showed similar discriminative accuracy in predicting 30-day survival in patients in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. It may be sufficient for experienced clinicians to use the CPS alone for estimating the short-term survival (less than one month) of patients with far-advanced cancer. The PaP may help to improve prognostic confidence and further reduce subjective variations.
Redefining Waters of the US: A Case Study from the Edge of the Okefenokee Swamp
Authors: Jackson C Rhett , Sytsma Caleb , Sutter Lori A. , Batzer Darold P.
Published: August 2021

Defining the upslope extent of Federal Clean Water Act jurisdiction over wetlands and streams has been contentious since the passage of the Act but has large effects on the type, number, and area of wetlands that are protected by legislation. Federal guidance in the US has changed and evolved in response to scientific knowledge, Supreme Court decisions, and policy goals of Presidential Administrations. In 2020, the Trump administration replaced the Obama administration Clean Water Rule with the Navigable Waters Protection Rule with the goal of reducing jurisdiction over so-called isolated depressional wetlands and small streams. Here we use a case study of a titanium sands mining proposal on Trail Ridge southeast of Okefenokee Swamp to illustrate the large reduction in wetland and stream protection engendered by this policy change. Under the Navigable Waters Protection Rule, all seven wetlands within the 232 ha mining area, totaling 131 ha or 56% of the project area, were deemed non-jurisdictional and thus the project required no federal review or permitting. Under an earlier mining application under the Clean Water Rule, all of these wetlands were declared jurisdictional. Trail Ridge is located on the Atlantic Coastal Plain, an ecological province rich in depressional wetlands and ill-defined surface drainages. This case study shows that in such environments, the Navigable Water Protection Rule will allow destruction of large numbers and areas of ecologically significant wetlands.
Time Trend and Bayesian Mapping of Multiple Myeloma Incidence in Sardinia, Italy
Authors: Broccia Giorgio , Carter Jonathan , Ozsin-Ozler Cansu , Meloni Federico , Pilia Ilaria , De Matteis Sara , Cocco Pierluigi
Published: August 2021

A few reports have described increasing trends and spatial distribution of multiple myeloma (MM). We used a validated database including the 1606 cases of MM diagnosed in Sardinia in 1974–2003 to explore its time trend, and we applied Bayesian methods to plot MM probability by administrative unit on the regional map. Over the 30 years of observation, the MM standardized incidence rate (standard world population, all ages) was 2.17 x 10− 5 (95% CI 2.01–2.34), 2.29 (95% CI 2.06–2.52) among men, and 2.06 (95% CI 1.83–2.28) among women. MM incidence increased by 3.3%/year in 1974–2003, in both males and females, particularly among the elderly and in the high incidence areas. Areas at risk tended to cluster in the north-eastern part of the region. A higher proportion of elderly in the resident population, but not socioeconomic factors, nor livestock farming, was associated with higher incidence rates. The steep upward time trend and the spatial clustering of MM suggest interactions between genetic and environmental determinants that might be more efficiently investigated in the areas at risk.
Power Allocation for OFDMA-Based Cognitive Radio Systems With Joint Overlay and Underlay Spectrum Access Mechanism Using GWFPP and MFO
Authors: Mishra Keshav , Trivedi Aditya , Gupta Rekha
Published: August 2021

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Biodegradation of Naphthalene Using Glass Beads Roller Bioreactor: Application of Artificial Neural Network Modeling
Authors: Mohammed Sinan J. , mustafa yasmen , Jabbar Mohanad S.
Published: August 2021

A roller bioreactor containing inert glass beads was employed to enhance naphthalene biodegradation in an aqueous solution. Mixed culture of microorganisms was isolated from sewage waste sludge and adopted for naphthalene biodegradation. The biodegradation of 300mg/L naphthalene in the bioreactor with no glass beads proceeded slowly until depletion after seven days. In the presence of glass beads, the biodegradation rate was faster; it depleted after four days. The biodegradation rate of naphthalene was equal to 1.99 mgL-1 hr-1 for bioreactor with no beads, while it is equal to 5.42, and 5.54 mgL-1 hr-1 for bioreactor with 40%load, 6mm size and 50% load, 5mm size of glass beads, respectively. For 500mg/L naphthalene, nine days on the bioreactor with no glass beads and five days on glass beads bioreactors were required to complete depletion. The biodegradation rate is equal to 2.33, 7.29, and 7.85 mg/L-1hr-1 for bioreactors with no glass beads, 40% load with 6mm, and 50% load with 5mm glass beads, respectively. The specific growth rate was increased in the bioreactor with glass beads; it represents 0.031, 0.050, and 0.054 hr−1 for 300mg/L and 0.043, 0.061, and 0.065 hr−1 for 500mg/L respectively for the previously mentioned conditions. An artificial neural network was used to model naphthalene dissolution and biodegradation. A correlation coefficient of 99.2% and 98.3% were obtained between the experimental and predicted output values for dissolution and biodegradation, respectively, indicating that the ANN model could efficiently predict the experimental results. Time represents the most influential parameter on the dissolution and biodegradation treatment.
A Cold-Atom Interferometer with Microfabricated Gratings and a Single Seed Laser
Authors: Lee Jongmin , Ding Roger , Christensen Justin , Rosenthal Randy , Ison Aaron , Gillund Daniel , Bossert David , Fuerschbach Kyle , Kindel William , Finnegan Patrick , Wendt Joel , Gehl Michael , McGuinness Hayden , Walker Charles , Lentine Anthony , Kemme Shanalyn , Biedermann Grant , Schwindt Peter
Published: August 2021

The extreme miniaturization of a cold-atom interferometer accelerometer requires the development of novel technologies and architectures for the interferometer subsystems.
We describe several component technologies and a laser system architecture to enable a path to such miniaturization.
We developed a custom, compact titanium vacuum package containing a microfabricated grating chip for a tetrahedral grating magneto-optical trap (GMOT) using a single cooling beam.
The vacuum package is integrated into the optomechanical design of a compact cold-atom sensor head with fixed optical components.
In addition, a multichannel laser system driven by a single seed laser has been implemented with time-multiplexed frequency shifting using single sideband modulators, reducing the number of optical channels connected to the sensor head.
This laser system architecture is compatible with a highly miniaturized photonic integrated circuit approach, and by demonstrating atom-interferometer operation with this laser system, we show feasibility for the integrated photonic approach.
In the compact sensor head, sub-Doppler cooling in the GMOT produces 15 μK temperatures, which can operate at a 20 Hz data rate for the atom interferometer sequence.
After validating atomic coherence with Ramsey interferometry, we demonstrate a light-pulse atom interferometer in a gravimeter configuration without vibration isolation for 10 Hz measurement cycle rate and T = 0 - 4.5 ms interrogation time, resulting in Δg/g = 2.0e-6.
All these efforts demonstrate progress towards deployable cold-atom inertial sensors under large amplitude motional dynamics.
Up-Regulation of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-2 Promotes Cell Proliferation and Migration and is Associated with Bone Metastasis in Non Small Cell Lung Cancer.
Authors: Han Shuai , Wang Zhenhua , Bai Guangjian , Han Zhitao , Bai Yunpeng , Song Xin , Zeng Jin , Liu Tielong , Wang Jian
Published: August 2021

Background:Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality. About 40% NSCLC patients develop bone metastasis. The aberrant expression of IGF2 (insulin-like growth factor-2) is known to be linked with many malignancies, but it has not been reported in NSCLC. Methods and Results:We first used the GEO database for differential gene analysis and showed a correlation between IGF2 and bone metastasis in NSCLC. IGF2 was highly expressed in primary NSCLC and even more highly expressed in bone metastases. Our in vivo experiment also showed that IGF2 promoted lung cancer proliferation and migration. In addition, IGF2 overexpression activated AKT/NF-κB pathway by promoting IGF1R and INSR phosphorylation, and enhanced osteolytic lesions in lung cancer.Conclusions：Up-regulation of insulin-like growth factor-2 can promote the proliferation and migration of non-small cell lung cancer cells, and is related to bone metastasis.
Privacy Preserved Medical Service Provider Selection in Cloud-based WBAN
Authors: Pattanayak Anupam , Dutta Mou , Dhal Subhasish
Published: August 2021

Continuous health status monitoring of the persons equipped with Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) is one of the key emerging technologies in the area of e-healthcare. In this technology, WBANs and Medical Service Providers (MSPs) are connected via a cloud infrastructure, where WBAN continuously uploads the present readings of physiological parameters via base station such as smart phone, smart watch, etc. Cloud analyzes the physiological parameters and whenever any medical emergency of the user is detected, it checks the infrastructural parameters including the location information of all MSPs connected to it and finds the most appropriate MSP to handle the

medical emergency. This MSP selection task has to be performed efficiently so that the medical treatment of the user can start as early as possible. In the existing works, a trusted third party, namely, trusted authority (TA) actively participates in the MSP selection process, which may take undue advantages. The aim of the work in this paper is to remove the role of TA during MSP

selection process. However, TA will participate in the system setup phase such that it cannot obtain any advantage in compromising the MSP selection task. The proposed scheme has been scrutinized through an adversary model and simulated using ProVerif tool to verify the security and privacy.
Evaluation of Prenatal Central Nervous System Anomalies: Obstetric Management, Fetal Outcomes and Chromosome Abnormalities
Authors: Tan Ann Gee , Sethi Neha , Sulaiman Sofiah
Published: August 2021

Objective: To study the prognostic outcomes of fetuses with prenatally diagnosed central nervous system (CNS) anomalies and describe the obstetric management for those fetuses.Methods: In this retrospective study, fetuses who were detected to have central nervous system by prenatal ultrasound from January 2010 to December 2019 were recruited. Data regarding prenatal diagnosis and obstetric outcome were retrieved from maternal and paediatric records. Prognosis of children who survived till delivery was classified based on their neurodevelopmental outcome within 2 years of life.Results: 365 fetuses were prenatally diagnosed with CNS malformations within the 10-year study period, at a mean gestational age of 24.65±7.37 weeks at diagnosis. Ventriculomegaly (23.36%) was the commonest CNS anomalies diagnosed antenatally. 198 (54.20%) fetuses has associated extra-CNS anomalies, with cardiovascular system being the most common organ system involved with CNS anomalies. Karyotyping was performed in 111 pregnancies, with chromosomal aberrations detected in 53 (49.07%) cases and culture failure in 3 cases. Edward syndrome and Patau syndrome were commonly associated with CNS anomalies. Fetuses with congenital CNS anomalies and abnormal chromosomal karyotyping more likely to be diagnosed earlier by prenatal ultrasound and tend to have poorer obstetric and neurocognitive prognosis. Among the 279 cases whom their pregnancy outcomes were available, 105 (37.63%) pregnancies were electively terminated, 35 (12.54%) pregnancies ended in spontaneous loss while the remaining 139 (49.82%) cases resulted in live births. The decision of TOP largely depends on mean diagnostic gestational age, presence of chromosomal aberrations and abnormal amniotic fluid volume in those fetuses. Ruling out 21 (15.11%) cases which were lost to 2-year follow-up, only 75 (53.96%) infants were still alive by the age of 2 years. Only 32 (23.02%) children with prenatally diagnosed CNS anomalies had normal neurodevelopmental outcome. The presence of multiple CNS anomalies and involvement of extra-CNS anomalies indicated a poorer neurodevelopmental prognosis.Conclusion: Less than 50% of fetuses with prenatally diagnosed CNS anomalies resulted in live births. Even if they survive till delivery, majority passed away within 2 years or had neurodevelopmental disability.
The Viral Distribution and Pathological Characteristics of BALB/c Mice Infected With Highly Pathogenic Influenza H7N9 Virus
Authors: Wu Xiao-Xin , Tang Song-Jia , Yao Shu-Hao , Zhou Yu-Qin , Xiao Lan-Lan , Cheng Lin-Fang , Liu Fu-Ming , Wu Nan-Ping , Yao Hang-Ping , Li Lan-Juan
Published: August 2021

Background: The highly pathogenic Influenza H7N9 virus is believed to cause multiple organ infections. However, there have been few systematic animal experiments demonstrating the virus distribution after H7N9 virus infection. The present study was carried out to investigate the viral distribution and pathological changes in the main organs of mice after experimental infection with highly pathogenic H7N9 virus.Methods: The mice were infected with A/Guangdong/GZ8H002/2017(H7N9) virus via nasal inoculation. Some mice were killed at 2, 3, and 7 days after infection. The other mice were used to observe their illness status and weight changes. The characteristics of viral invasion were analysed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and viral isolation. The pathological changes of the main organs were observed using haematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry.Results: The weight of mice infected with A/Guangdong/GZ8H002/2017(H7N9) virus increased slightly in the first two days. However, the weight of the mice decreased sharply in the following days by up to 20%. All the mice had died by the 8th day after infection and showed multiple organ injury. The emergence of viremia in mice was synchronous with lung infection. On the third day after infection, except in the brain, the virus could be isolated from all organs (lung, heart, kidney, liver, and spleen). On the seventh day after infection, the virus could be detected in all six organs. Brain infection was detected in all mice, and the viral titre in the heart, kidney, and spleen infection was high.Conclusion: Acute diffuse lung injury was the initial pathogenesis in highly pathogenic H7N9 virus infection. In addition to lung infection and viremia, the highly pathogenic H7N9 virus could cause multiple organ infection and injury.
Simvastatin Retards Cartilage Degradation and Improves Subchondral Bone Microstructure in Osteoarthritis Mice Induced by High-fat Diet
Authors: Li Hetong , Gou Yu , Hu Yunpeng , Lian Qiangqiang , Tian Faming , Zhang Liu
Published: August 2021

ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the effects of simvastatin on the metabolism of cartilage and subchondral bone in a mice model of osteoarthritis (OA) induced by obesity. MethodsWe randomly assigned thirty C57BL/6J mice into 3 groups: the Control group received normal diet, the HFD group and HFD+S group received high-fat diet, HFD+S group were simultaneously treated with simvastatin (10 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks. The pathology of OA was assessed by histomorphology analyses, immunohistochemistry, micro-computed tomography and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ResultsHistomorphological analysis revealed that OA was significantly exacerbated by the HFD-induced obesity and markedly alleviated by the simvastatin intervention. In details, simvastatin ameliorated the abnormal metabolic status and cartilage lesions, significantly increased aggrecan and collagen-II expression and decreased the expression of MMP-13. Furthermore, the results of micro-computed tomography analysis revealed that the HFD+S group exhibited higher BMD, BV/TV, and Tb.N values but a lower Tb.Sp value than that of the HFD group. Serum COMP concentrations, the number of adipocytes in subchondral bone marrow and the number of osteoclasts on trabecular bone surface were significantly correlated with OARSI score. Conclusions﻿In conclusion, HFD-induced obesity aggravates articular degeneration and abnormal metabolic pathology in subchondral bone, which could be reversed by the intervention of simvastatin, suggesting that simvastatin may be a potential candidate for amelioration of the progression of OA.
Effects of Extreme High Temperatures on Proliferation, Cell Cycle, Cell Differentiation and ROS of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells
Authors: Gao Yuanhui , Cao Hui , Wang Shunlan , Zheng Linlin , He Haowei , Nie Zhenyu , Chen Mei , Jiang Rong , Huang Denggao , Zhang Shufang
Published: August 2021

Backgrounds: Global warming has led to extreme temperatures in different latitudinal regions, resulting in the extinction of a large number of species. This study focuses on the effects of extreme high temperatures on cell proliferation, cell cycle, cell differentiation and mitochondria activity in human adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (hADSCs). Methods: hADSCs were divided into three groups and incubated in 37°C, 39°C and 40°C environment for 5 hours of exposure each day, and then to 37°C circumstances for further incubation. Cell surface markers, cell cycle, cell proliferation activity, mitochondrial activity and cell polarization were detected and analyzed by flow cytometry, CCK-8 assay, ROS and JC-1 staining respectively on the 1 st and 3 rd day of cell culture; osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation ability of hASCs was analyzed by staining after 21 days of osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation induction culture. Results The results of this study showed that hASCs grown under high temperature conditions had restricted growth activity, blocked S and G2 phases of the cell cycle, reduced cytokinesis and impaired mitochondrial activity, while their osteogenic differentiation ability and membrane potential depolarization were enhanced. Conclusions: hADSCs were subjected to high temperature stimulation with restricted growth activity, reduced cell division, impaired mitochondrial activity, significant cell depolarization and enhanced osteogenic differentiation, and these results were closely related to the pathogenic mechanisms of skin aging and heat stroke due to outdoor sun exposure.
A dry lunar mantle reservoir for young mare basalts of Chang’E-5
Authors: Hu Sen , He Huicun , Ji Jianglong , Lin Yangting , Hui Hejiu , Anand Mahesh , Tartese Romain , Yan Yihong , Hao Jialong , Li Ruiying , Gu Lixin , Guo Qian , He Huaiyu , Ouyang Zi-Yuan
Published: August 2021

The distribution of water in the Moon’s interior carries key implications for the origin of the Moon1, the crystallisation of the lunar magma ocean2, and the duration of lunar volcanism2. The Chang’E-5 (CE5) mission returned the youngest mare basalt samples, dated at ca. 2.0 billion years ago3, from the northwestern Procellarum KREEP Terrane (PKT), providing a probe into the spatio-temporal evolution of lunar water. Here we report the water abundance and hydrogen isotope composition of apatite and ilmenite-hosted melt inclusions from CE5 basalts, from which we derived a maximum water abundance of 370 ± 30 μg.g-1 and a δD value (-330 ± 160‰) for their parent magma. During eruption, hydrogen degassing led to an increase in the D/H ratio of the residual melts up to δD values of 300-900‰. Accounting for low degrees of mantle partial melting followed by extensive magma fractional crystallisation4, we estimate a maximum mantle water abundance of 2-6 μg.g-1, which are too low for water contents alone to account for generating the Moon’s youngest basalts. Such modest water abundances for the lunar mantle are at the lower end of those estimated from mare basalts that erupted from ca. 4.0-2.8 Ga5, 6, suggesting the mantle source of CE5 basalts dried up by ca. 2.0 Ga through previous melt extraction from the PKT mantle during prolonged volcanic activity.
Engineering surgical stitches to prevent bacterial infection
Authors: Vieira Daniela , Angel Samuel N , Honjol Yazan , Masse Maude , Gruenheid Samantha , Harvey Edward , Merle Geraldine
Published: August 2021

Surgical site infections (SSIs) account for a massive economic, temporal, physiological, and psychological burden on patients and health care providers. It has been shown that sutures provide a surface to which bacteria can adhere, proliferate, and promote SSIs. Current methods for fighting postoperative SSIs involve the use of sutures coated with common antibiotics such as chlorohexidine or triclosan. Unfortunately, these antibiotics have been rendered ineffective in many cases due to the increasing rate of antibiotic resistance. A promising new avenue involves the use of metallic nanoparticles (NPs). Metallic NPs have been shown to exhibit low cytotoxicity and a strong propensity for killing bacteria while evading the typical antibiotic resistance mechanisms. In this work, we developed a novel metallic NPs dip-coating method for PDS-II sutures and explored the capabilities of a wide variety of metallic NPs coatings in killing bacteria while retaining the cytocompatibility of the suture. Our findings indicated that our non-toxic technique provided a homogeneous and well coating methodology for PDS-II sutures with a wide variety of metallic NP while maintaining the strength, structural integrity, and degradability of the suture. Excitingly, the metallic NP coatings possess strong in vitro antibacterial properties against P aeruginosa and S. aureus – varying the percentage of dead bacteria from ~ 40% (for MgO NPs) to ~ 95% (for Fe2O3) compared to ~ 15% for uncoated PDS-II suture, after 7 days. All sutures demonstrated minimal cytotoxicity (cell viability > 70%) reinforcing the movement towards the use metallic NPs as a viable antibacterial technology. PDS II sutures were successfully coated by an easy and non-toxic dip-coating method using a variety of metallic nanoparticles, proving to be a promising new avenue of research to fight surgical site infections.
Novel IBA57 Mutations in Two Chinese Patients and Literature Review of Multiple Mitochondrial Dysfunction Syndrome
Authors: Zhan Feixia , Liu Xiaoli , Ni Ruilong , Liu Tiaotiao , Cao Yuwen , Wu Jingying , Tian Wotu , Luan Xinghua , Cao Li
Published: August 2021

Multiple mitochondrial dysfunction syndrome (MMDS) refers to a class of mitochondrial diseases caused by nuclear gene mutations, which usually begins in early infancy and is classically characterized by markedly impaired neurological development, generalized muscle weakness, lactic acidosis, and hyperglycinemia, cavitating leukoencephalopathy, respiratory failure, as well as early fatality resulted from dysfunction of energy metabolism in multiple systems. So far, six types of MMDS have been identified based on different genotypes, which are caused by mutations in NFU1, BOLA3, IBA57, ISCA2, ISCA1 and PMPCB, respectively. IBA57 encodes a protein involved in the mitochondrial Fe/S cluster assembly process, which plays a vital role in the activity of multiple mitochondrial enzymes. Herein, detailed clinical investigation of 2 Chinese patients from two unrelated families were described, both of them showed mildly delay in developmental milestone before disease onset, and the initial symptoms were all presented with acute motor and mental retrogression, and brain MRI showed diffused leukoencephalopathy with cavities, dysplasia of corpus callosum and cerebral atrophy. Exome sequencing revealed three IBA57 mutations, one shared variant (c.286T > C) has been previously reported, the remaining two (c.189delC and c.580A > G) are novel. To enhance the understanding of this rare disease, we further made a literature review about the current progress in clinical, genetic and treatment of the disorder. Due to the rapid progress of MMDS, early awareness is crucial to prompt and proper administration, as well as genetic counseling.
Predictors of The Chest CT Score in COVID-19 Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Yazdi Niloofar Ayoobi , ghadery Abdolkarim Haji , Seyedalinaghi SeyedAhmad , Jafari Fatemeh , Jafari Sirous , Hasannezad Malihe , Koochak Hamid Emadi , Salehi Mohammadreza , Manshadi Seyed Ali Dehghan , Meidani Mohsen , Hajiabdolbaghi Mahboubeh , Ahmadinejad Zahra , Khalili Hossein , Mehrabinejad Mohammad-Mehdi , Abbasian Ladan
Published: August 2021

Background: Since the COVID-19 outbreak, pulmonary involvement was one of the most significant concerns in assessing patients. In the current study, we evaluated patient’s signs, symptoms, and laboratory data on the first visit to predict the severity of pulmonary involvement and their outcome regarding their initial findings.Methods: All referred patients to the CODID-19 clinic of a tertiary referral university hospital were evaluated from April to August 2020. Four hundred seventy-eight COVID-19 patients with positive real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or highly suggestive symptoms with computed tomography(CT) imaging results with typical findings of COVID-19 were enrolled in the study. The clinical features, initial laboratory, CT findings, and short-term outcomes (ICU admission, mortality, length of hospitalization, and recovery time) were recorded. In addition, the severity of pulmonary involvement was assessed using a semi-quantitative scoring system (0-25). Results: Among 478 participants in this study, 353 (73.6%) were admitted to the hospital, and 57 (11.9%) patients were admitted to the ICU. Myalgia (60.3%), fever (59.3%), and dyspnea (57.8%) were the most common symptoms of participants at the first visit. A review of chest CT scans showed that Ground Glass Opacity (GGO) (58.5%) and consolidation (20.7%) were the most patterns of lung lesions. Among initial clinical and laboratory findings, anosmia (P = 0.01), respiratory rate (RR) with a cut point of 25 (P = 0.001), C-reactive protein (CRP) with a cut point of 90 (P = 0.002), white Blood Cell (WBC) with a cut point of 10,000 (P = 0.009), and SpO2 with a cut point of 93 (P = 0.04) was associated with higher chest CT score. Lung involvement and consolidation lesions on chest CT scans were also associated with a more extended hospitalization and recovery period.Conclusions: Initial assessment of COVID-19 patients, including symptoms, vital signs, and routine laboratory tests, can predict the severity of lung involvement and unfavorable outcomes.
Effect of Early Supraglottic Airway Device Insertion on Chest Compression Fraction during Simulated Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Stuby Loric , Jampen Laurent , Sierro Julien , Bergeron Maxime , Paus Erik , Spichiger Thierry , Suppan Laurent , Thurre David
Published: August 2021

Early insertion of a supraglottic airway (SGA) device could improve CCF by allowing providers to perform continuous chest compressions or by shortening the interruptions needed to deliver ventilations. SGA devices do not require the same expertise as endotracheal intubation. This study aimed to determine whether the immediate insertion of an i-gel® while providing continuous chest compressions with asynchronous ventilations could generate higher CCFs than the standard 30:2 approach using a face-mask in a simulation of OHCA. A multicenter, parallel, randomised, superiority, simulation study was carried out. The primary outcome was the difference in CCF during the first two minutes of resuscitation. Overall and per-cycle CCF, quality of compressions and ventilations parameters were also compared. Among 13 teams of two participants, the early insertion of an i-gel® resulted in higher CCFs during the first two minutes (89.0% vs 83.6%, p=0.001). Overall and per-cycle CCF were consistently higher in the i-gel® group, even after the 30:2 alternation had been resumed. In this group, ventilation parameters were enhanced, but compressions were significantly shallower (4.6 cm vs 5.2 cm, p=0.007). This latter issue must be addressed before clinical trials can be considered.Trial registration: NCT04736446 (03/02/2021)