bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The third inactivated vaccine booster dramatically enhanced SARS‐CoV‐2 antibody responses and did not influence the profile of prothrombotic antibody
Authors: Pan Yunbao , Wang Shilin , Liu Guohong , Wang Liping , Yang Liu , Zeng Xiaojiao , Qian Chungen , Lin Jun , Pan Zhenyu , Li Yirong
Published: November 2022

The purpose of this study is to investigate the production of both severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2)‐specific antibodies and autoantibodies in serum following the third booster vaccination of the inactivated COVID‐19 vaccine, and to study the effect of B cell subsets with CD27 and CD38 phenotypes in peripheral blood on antibody production. Routine blood indexes, SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies, platelet factor 4 and seven antiphospholipid antibodies were detected both before and 2 months after vaccination in the medical staff of the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University. Peripheral blood B cell subtypes were detected before vaccination. Following immunization, the positive rate of anti‐N‐S1 immunoglobulin (IgG) had increased from 24.8% to 91.3% and the average antibody concentration had increased by 11 times. The positive rate of neutralizing antibody had increased from 24.8% to 91.3%, the average antibody concentration had increased by 12 times, and the primary increased anti‐S1 IgG subtype was that of IgG1. Peripheral blood CD27 + CD38+ B cells were positively correlated with antibody levels after vaccination and were a predictor of the antibody response. In addition, although some indicators showed slight absolute changes, the blood parameters and antiphospholipid antibodies of most volunteers were normal both before and after COVID‐19 inactivated vaccine inoculation, and there was no statistical difference in abnormal rates either before or after inoculation. Antibodies in vivo were increased after vaccination with the inactivated vaccine, and IgG1 was the main subtype involved in response to the vaccine. Vaccination with the inactivated COVID‐19 vaccine did not appear to affect thrombus‐related autoantibodies.
Accurate segmentation of small targets for LCD defects using deep convolutional neural networks
Authors: Chen Mingfang , Chen Songlin , Wang Sen , Cui Yu , Chen Ping
Published: November 2022

For the purpose of effectively solving the problems of manual inspection of thin‐film transistor–liquid crystal display (TFT‐LCD) with spot Mura high leakage rate and time consuming, this article proposes a visual detection method for LCD defects based on Mask R‐CNN convolutional neural network. In this article, a new feature extraction network is built by fusing ResNet with efficient channel attention (ECA) channel attention mechanism, and a new feature fusion network is constructed by adding ECA channel attention mechanism to Feature Pyramid Network (FPN). In the dataset of self‐made display defect images collected at the production site, the current more advanced segmentation network was compared qualitatively and quantitatively with our method, and the results showed that the proposed method was more accurate in detecting spot Mura, with a detection accuracy of 91%.
Low‐Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ameliorates Ischemic Heart Failure Related to the Cholinergic Anti‐Inflammatory Pathway
Authors: Zhong Shenrong , Cai Qianyun , Zhong Longhe , Wang Yuegang , Liang Fengchu , Deng Zhe , Li Shasha , Zha Daogang , Qiu Weibao , Wu Juefei
Published: November 2022

Objectives

This study aims to determine the effect of low‐intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) in ischemic heart failure (IHF) and explore the potential neuroimmune mechanism.

Methods

Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to ultrasound (US) with specific parameters, and electrocardiograms were recorded to analyze the effect of LIFU and/or vagal denervation on heart rate. Thereafter, myocardial infarction (MI) was induced by left anterior artery ligation, and LIFU was performed three times a day for 25 days after MI. Echocardiography, Masson staining, and ELISA were used to evaluate the effect of LIFU on the structure and function of the heart. Finally, ELISA, flow cytometry, qRT‐PCR, and Western blot analysis were performed to determine the effect of LIFU on the inflammation and the expression of the cholinergic anti‐inflammatory pathway (CAP)‐related mediators.

Results

LIFU reduced heart rate in rats (control vs LIFU, P < .01), and vagotomy (VT) eliminated this effect of LIFU on heart rate (VT vs LIFU + VT, P > .01). LIFU‐ameliorated IHF in terms of cardiac structure and function (MI vs MI + LIFU, P < .01), but VT abrogated the beneficial effect of LIFU (MI + VT vs MI + LIFU + VT, P > .01). After the treatment of LIFU, decreased levels of inflammatory cytokines, increased proportion of anti‐inflammatory macrophages, and increased expression of CAP‐related mediators (MI vs MI + LIFU, P < .01).

Conclusions

LIFU ameliorates IHF whereas the CAP plays a promising role. LIFU has the potential to be a novel nonpharmacological and noninvasive therapy for the treatment of coronary artery disease and other cardiovascular diseases.
Cones of lines having high contact with general hypersurfaces and applications
Authors: Bastianelli Francesco , Ciliberto Ciro , Flamini Flaminio , Supino Paola
Published: November 2022

Given a smooth hypersurface of degree , we study the cones swept out by lines having contact order at a point . In particular, we prove that if X is general, then for any and , the cone has dimension exactly . Moreover, when X is a very general hypersurface of degree , we describe the relation between the cones and the degree of irrationality of k‐dimensional subvarieties of X passing through a general point of X. As an application, we give some bounds on the least degree of irrationality of k‐dimensional subvarieties of X passing through a general point of X, and we prove that the connecting gonality of X satisfies .
Restricted estimates of the fractional integral on the diagonal
Authors: Chen Ting , Sun Wenchang
Published: November 2022

For a function in a mixed‐norm Lebesgue space, we study the restriction of its fractional integral on the diagonal. We show that the restriction is weakly bounded when the indices satisfy certain conditions. We give a complete characterization of such indices. To prove this result, we generalize a classical result on operators that commute with translations.
Vector bundles on flag varieties
Authors: Du Rong , Fang Xinyi , Gao Yun
Published: November 2022

We study vector bundles on flag varieties over an algebraically closed field k. In the first part, we suppose to be the Grassmannian parameterizing linear subspaces of dimension d in , where k is an algebraically closed field of characteristic . Let E be a uniform vector bundle over G of rank . We show that E is either a direct sum of line bundles or a twist of the pullback of the universal subbundle or its dual by a series of absolute Frobenius maps. In the second part, splitting properties of vector bundles on general flag varieties in characteristic zero are considered. We prove a structure theorem for bundles over flag varieties which are uniform with respect to the ith component of the manifold of lines in . Furthermore, we generalize the Grauert–Mlich–Barth theorem to flag varieties. As a corollary, we show that any strongly uniform i‐semistable bundle over the complete flag variety splits as a direct sum of special line bundles.
Efficacy of Omaveloxolone in Friedreich's Ataxia: Delayed‐Start Analysis of the MOXIe Extension
Authors: Lynch David R. , Chin Melanie P. , Boesch Sylvia , Delatycki Martin B. , Giunti Paola , Goldsberry Angie , Hoyle J. Chad , Mariotti Caterina , Mathews Katherine D. , Nachbauer Wolfgang , O'Grady Megan , Perlman Susan , Subramony S.H. , Wilmot George , Zesiewicz Theresa , Meyer Colin J.
Published: November 2022

Background

MOXIe was a two‐part study evaluating the safety and efficacy of omaveloxolone in patients with Friedreich's ataxia, a rare, progressive neurological disease with no proven therapy. MOXIe part 2, a randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial, showed omaveloxolone significantly improved modified Friedreich's Ataxia Rating Scale (mFARS) scores relative to placebo. Patients who completed part 1 or 2 were eligible to receive omaveloxolone in an open‐label extension study.

Objective

The delayed‐start study compared mFARS scores at the end of MOXIe part 2 with those at 72 weeks in the open‐label extension period (up to 144 weeks) for patients initially randomized to omaveloxolone versus those initially randomized to placebo.

Methods

We performed a noninferiority test to compare the difference between treatment groups (placebo to omaveloxolone versus omaveloxolone to omaveloxolone) using a single mixed model repeated measures (MMRM) model. In addition, slopes of the change in mFARS scores were compared between both groups in the open‐label extension.

Results

The noninferiority testing demonstrated that the difference in mFARS between omaveloxolone and placebo observed at the end of placebo‐controlled MOXIe part 2 (−2.17 ± 1.09 points) was preserved after 72 weeks in the extension (−2.91 ± 1.44 points). In addition, patients previously randomized to omaveloxolone in MOXIe part 2 continued to show no worsening in mFARS relative to their extension baseline through 144 weeks.

Conclusions

These results support the positive results of MOXIe part 2 and indicate a persistent benefit of omaveloxolone treatment on disease course in Friedreich's ataxia. © 2022 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Numerical solution of the coupled Burgers equation by trigonometric B‐spline collocation method
Authors: Uçar Yusuf , Yağmurlu Nuri Murat , Yiğit Mehmet Kerem
Published: November 2022

In the present study, the coupled Burgers equation is going to be solved numerically by presenting a new technique based on collocation finite element method in which cubic trigonometric and quintic B‐splines are used as approximate functions. In order to support the present study, three test problems given with appropriate initial and boundary conditions are going to be investigated. The newly obtained results are compared with some of the other published numerical solutions available in the literature. The accuracy of the proposed method is discussed by computing the error norms
and
. A linear stability analysis of the approximation obtained by the scheme shows that the method is unconditionally stable.
State bounding and synthesis of switched genetic regulatory networks with mixed delays and bounded disturbances
Authors: Xue Yu , Su Meng , Zhang Xian
Published: November 2022

This paper investigates the problem of state bounding and controller design for switched genetic regulatory networks with mixed delays and bounded disturbances. A delay‐dependent sufficient condition containing several simple inequalities is first proposed to guarantee that the state trajectories remain inside or converge globally exponentially into a Cartesian product of two polytopes under the minimal dwell‐time constraint. Second, the reachable set estimation problem is further studied, and another reachable set estimation condition can be derived. Based on the reachable set estimation result, state‐feedback controllers are designed such that the state trajectories of the closed‐loop system are limited in a given Cartesian product of two polytopes. A numerical example is provided to verify the effectiveness of the obtained theoretical results.
Deep learning‐based Accelerated and Noise‐Suppressed Estimation (DANSE) of quantitative Gradient‐Recalled Echo (qGRE) magnetic resonance imaging metrics associated with human brain neuronal structure and hemodynamic properties
Authors: Kahali Sayan , Kothapalli Satya V. V. N. , Xu Xiaojian , Kamilov Ulugbek S. , Yablonskiy Dmitriy A.
Published: November 2022

The purpose of the current study was to introduce a Deep learning‐based Accelerated and Noise‐Suppressed Estimation (DANSE) method for reconstructing quantitative maps of biological tissue cellular‐specific, R2t*, and hemodynamic‐specific, R2’, metrics of quantitative gradient‐recalled echo (qGRE) MRI. The DANSE method adapts a supervised learning paradigm to train a convolutional neural network for robust estimation of R2t* and R2’ maps with significantly reduced sensitivity to noise and the adverse effects of macroscopic (B0) magnetic field inhomogeneities directly from the gradient‐recalled echo (GRE) magnitude images. The R2t* and R2’ maps for training were generated by means of a voxel‐by‐voxel fitting of a previously developed biophysical quantitative qGRE model accounting for tissue, hemodynamic, and B0‐inhomogeneities contributions to multigradient‐echo GRE signal using a nonlinear least squares (NLLS) algorithm. We show that the DANSE model efficiently estimates the aforementioned qGRE maps and preserves all the features of the NLLS approach with significant improvements including noise suppression and computation speed (from many hours to seconds). The noise‐suppression feature of DANSE is especially prominent for data with low signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR ~ 50–100), where DANSE‐generated R2t* and R2’ maps had up to three times smaller errors than that of the NLLS method. The DANSE method enables fast reconstruction of qGRE maps with significantly reduced sensitivity to noise and magnetic field inhomogeneities. The DANSE method does not require any information about field inhomogeneities during application. It exploits spatial and gradient echo time‐dependent patterns in the GRE data and previously gained knowledge from the biophysical model, thus producing high quality qGRE maps, even in environments with high noise levels. These features along with fast computational speed can lead to broad qGRE clinical and research applications.
Effects of a grocery shopping intervention designed to improve diet adherence in diabetes: a randomized trial
Authors: Anzman‐Frasca Stephanie , McGovern Lily , Ferrante Mackenzie J. , Drozdowsky Julia , Epstein Leonard H. , Hollis‐Hansen Kelseanna , Lassetter Lindsay , Leone Lucia A. , Tan Sherey
Published: November 2022

Objective

The goal of this study was to examine the potential of an optimal‐defaults intervention to promote grocery purchases corresponding to a diet for diabetes.

Methods

In total, 65 adults diagnosed with or at increased risk for type 2 diabetes who grocery shopped at one of two study stores were randomized to one of three groups: Defaults, Online, or Control. All groups received diabetes‐friendly recipes. In addition, the Online group was asked to grocery shop online during a 3‐week intervention, and the Defaults group was asked to shop online, with their online grocery carts prefilled with food items needed to prepare provided recipes. Participants provided weekly grocery receipt data at baseline, at each week of the 3‐week intervention, and at post‐intervention.

Results

Overall, the Defaults group had grocery purchases of a significantly greater nutritional quality versus other groups (F = 16.3, p < 0.001). Between‐group comparisons of least‐squares means showed consistent effects of the Defaults intervention while intervention components were in place, with a similar pattern for energy and carbohydrate content of grocery purchases.

Conclusions

These results build upon emerging evidence that optimal defaults can promote healthier grocery purchases. Continued examination of this approach could promote healthy food acquisition in accordance with individual dietary preferences and needs.
Tailoring thermal and thermomechanical properties of biobased blends by hybridization of difuran benzoxazine with polysiloxane‐based benzoxazine and epoxy monomers
Authors: Forchetti Casarino Agustín , Taverna María Eugenia , Candia Adriana , Spontón Marisa Elisabet , Palmese Giuseppe Raffaello , La Scala John , Estenoz Diana Alejandra
Published: November 2022

A difuran bio‐based benzoxazine (SA‐dfda) was synthesized by a three‐stage process from difurandiamine (DFDA) and 2‐hydroxybenzaldehyde with a final yield of 90%. Three copolymer systems were prepared by blending the difuran bio‐resin with epoxy resin (DGEBA), conventional benzoxazine (BA‐a), and polysiloxane‐based benzoxazine precursor [Pr(BA‐3aptms)] at different ratios. In order to study the effect of the renewable content on the main characteristics of the materials, thermal, thermomechanical, and morphological analyses were performed. The bio‐based benzoxazine/epoxy systems exhibited the lowest polymerization temperature with enhanced processability. However, the incorporation of epoxy slightly decreased the mechanical properties of materials. Bio‐based copolymers containing 5 wt%. of polysilsesquioxane precursor showed the highest glass transition temperatures, thermal stability, and char yields. All the copolymers exhibited good flame retardant properties as it was observed by their limiting oxygen index values (>21) and UL‐94 tests (V‐0 or V‐1). The copolymerization of bio‐based benzoxazines with different thermoset resins such as epoxy or benzoxazines can be used as a strategy to develop novel materials with tailor‐made properties.
Isolation of single circulating trophoblasts from maternal circulation for noninvasive fetal copy number variant profiling
Authors: Doffini Anna , Forcato Claudio , Mangano Chiara , Lattuada Debora , Aversa Roberta , Maranta Chiara , Giovannone Emilia D. , Buson Genny , Bolognesi Chiara , Maiocchi Rebecca , Dori Martina , Jamal Liyana , Ahmad Raidah B. , Yeo George S. H. , Yeo Tai Wai , Saragozza Silvia , Silipigni Rosamaria , Serafini Marta , Biondi Andrea , Perego Sofia , Vergani Patrizia , Ferrazzi Enrico , Ricciardi‐Castagnoli Paola , Musci Thomas J. , Grati Francesca Romana
Published: November 2022

Objective

To develop a multi‐step workflow for the isolation of circulating extravillous trophoblasts (cEVTs) by describing the key steps enabling a semi‐automated process, including a proprietary algorithm for fetal cell origin genetic confirmation and copy number variant (CNV) detection.

Methods

Determination of the limit of detection (LoD) for submicroscopic CNV was performed by serial experiments with genomic DNA and single cells from Coriell cell line biobank with known imbalances of different sizes. A pregnancy population of 372 women was prospectively enrolled and blindly analyzed to evaluate the current workflow.

Results

An LoD of 800 Kb was demonstrated with Coriell cell lines. This level of resolution was confirmed in the clinical cohort with the identification of a pathogenic CNV of 800 Kb, also detected by chromosomal microarray. The mean number of recovered cEVTs was 3.5 cells per sample with a significant reverse linear trend between gestational age and cEVT recovery rate and number of recovered cEVTs. In twin pregnanices, evaluation of zygosity, fetal sex and copy number profiling was performed in each individual cell.

Conclusion

Our semi‐automated methodology for the isolation and single‐cell analysis of cEVTS supports the feasibility of a cell‐based noninvasive prenatal test for fetal genomic profiling.
Sorption and other properties of polytetrafluoroethylene/cellulose composite aerogels
Authors: Baskakov Sergey A. , Baskakova Yuliya V. , Krasnikova Svetlana S. , Kabachkov Eugene N. , Kapustyanskaya Maria A. , Dremova Nadezhda N. , Milovich Filipp O. , Shulga Yury M. , Wang Xiaowu , Li Zhi
Published: November 2022

Polytetrafluoroethylene/cellulose composite aerogels containing PTFE from 0 to 40 wt.% were obtained by drying the corresponding suspension mixtures at a temperature of 50°C. Cellulose isolated from the stem of Sosnowski hogweed was used as the main component of the aerogels. In present work, the composite aerogels were heated in an inert atmosphere at a temperature of 370°C to partially hydrophobize cellulose and remove surfactants that were present in the initial PTFE suspension. It was found that at this temperature, the thermal degradation of cellulose proceeded differently in the presence and absence of PTFE. The maximum water contact angle (156°) was obtained for the sample with 10 wt.% PTFE. Hydrophobized samples of aerogels were studied with the help of infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and powder x‐ray diffractometry and tested as sorbents for various solvents. It was found that the volume of solvent absorbed by the aerogel, in the case of a sample with a PTFE content of 40 wt.%, can even exceed the initial volume of the absorber.
Impact of elexacaftor–tezacaftor–ivacaftor on bacterial colonization and inflammatory responses in cystic fibrosis
Authors: Sheikh Shahid , Britt Rodney D. , Ryan‐Wenger Nancy A. , Khan Aiman Q. , Lewis Brandon W. , Gushue Courtney , Ozuna Hazel , Jaganathan Devi , McCoy Karen , Kopp Benjamin T.
Published: November 2022

Background

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a multisystem disease with progressive deterioration. Recently, CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator therapies were introduced that repair underlying protein defects. Objective of this study was to determine the impact of elexacaftor–tezacaftor–ivacaftor (ETI) on clinical parameters and inflammatory responses in people with CF (pwCF).

Methods

Lung function (FEV1), body mass index (BMI) and microbiologic data were collected at initiation and 3‐month intervals for 1 year. Blood was analyzed at baseline and 6 months for cytokines and immune cell populations via flow cytometry and compared to non‐CF controls.

Results

Sample size was 48 pwCF, 28 (58.3%) males with a mean age of 28.8 ± 10.7 years. Significant increases in %predicted FEV1 and BMI were observed through 6 months of ETI therapy with no change thereafter. Changes in FEV1 and BMI at 3 months were significantly correlated (r = 57.2, p < 0.01). There were significant reductions in Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus positivity (percent of total samples) in pwCF through 12 months of ETI treatment. Healthy controls (n = 20) had significantly lower levels of circulating neutrophils, interleukin (IL)‐6, IL‐8, and IL‐17A and higher levels of IL‐13 compared to pwCF at baseline (n = 48). After 6 months of ETI, pwCF had significant decreases in IL‐8, IL‐6, and IL‐17A levels and normalization of peripheral blood immune cell composition.

Conclusions

In pwCF, ETI significantly improved clinical outcomes, reduced systemic pro‐inflammatory cytokines, and restored circulating immune cell composition after 6 months of therapy.
Oxygen‐insensitive nitroreductase E. coliNfsA, but not NfsB, is inhibited by fumarate
Authors: Day Martin A. , Jarrom David , Rajah Navina , Searle Peter F. , Hyde Eva I. , White Scott A.
Published: November 2022

Escherichia coli NfsA and NfsB are founding members of two flavoprotein families that catalyze the oxygen‐insensitive reduction of nitroaromatics and quinones by NAD(P)H. This reduction is required for the activity of nitrofuran antibiotics and the enzymes have also been proposed for use with nitroaromatic prodrugs in cancer gene therapy and biocatalysis, but the roles of the proteins in vivo in bacteria are not known. NfsA is NADPH‐specific whereas NfsB can also use NADH. The crystal structures of E. coli NfsA and NfsB and several analogs have been determined previously. In our crystal trials, we unexpectedly observed NfsA bound to fumarate. We here present the X‐ray structure of the E. coli NfsA‐fumarate complex and show that fumarate acts as a weak inhibitor of NfsA but not of NfsB. The structural basis of this differential inhibition is conserved in the two protein families and occurs at fumarate concentrations found in vivo, so impacting the efficacy of these proteins.
Epitaxial Growth of AgxCu1−xI on Al2O3(0001)
Authors: Krüger Evgeny , Gottschalch Volker , Benndorf Gabriele , Hildebrandt Ron , Pereira Ana Lucía , Bar Michael S. , Blaurock Steffen , Merker Stefan , Sturm Chris , Grundmann Marius , Krautscheid Harald
Published: November 2022

Herein, the epitaxial growth of alloy layers and isolated small crystals on using close distance sublimation (CDS) technique is presented. Single‐phase thin films are fabricated up to an Ag content of , while at higher Ag contents the β‐phase is also observed. The epitaxial relationships between the deposited layers and the substrate as well as the structure type are discussed for different alloy compositions. In addition, a further approach is presented for deposition of polycrystalline single‐phase thin films for Ag contents up to based on the solid‐state reaction of AgI layers on substrate with CuI. Furthermore, for differently prepared samples it is shown that the near‐band‐edge emission at 2 K is dominated by excitonic recombination, whereas the spectral position of the emission profile can be tuned by the alloy composition.
Efficacy of frankincense‐based herbal product in urinary incontinence: A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐ and active‐controlled clinical trial
Authors: Karbalaiee Mahbubeh , Daneshpajooh Azar , Khanjani Narges , Sohbati Samira , Mehrabani Mehrnaz , Mehrbani Mehrzad , Mehrabani Mitra
Published: November 2022

Urinary incontinence is a silent epidemic that has a serious impact on a person's quality of life (QOL). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of frankincense‐based herbal product (FHP) in urinary incontinence compared with placebo and solifenacin. In this randomized, double‐blind clinical trial, 120 postmenopausal women with mixed urinary incontinence were randomized to one of the three groups of FHP, placebo, and standard treatment (solifenacin). Frequency, amount of leakage, and score of urinary incontinence as well as the QOL were measured at the end of the second and fourth weeks and 2 weeks after the interruption of the treatment. The ICIQ‐UI SF and I‐QOL questionnaires were used for the measurements. Mean frequency of urinary incontinence and amount of leakage significantly decreased in the FHP and solifenacin groups in the fourth week compared to the placebo group. In addition, 2 weeks after treatment completion, the effects of the FHP were significant compared to the solifenacin group. Due to the effect of FHP on improving the QOL and also the prolonged effect of this drug, the use of FHP in urinary incontinence, as a complementary treatment could be suggested.
Asiaticoside hampers epithelial–mesenchymal transition by promoting PPARG expression and suppressing P2RX7‐mediated TGF‐β/Smad signaling in triple‐negative breast cancer
Authors: Huang Xuemei , Jia Zhiqin , Li Xiangyue , Hu Zhilan , Yu Xiaolan , Xia Jiyi
Published: November 2022

Triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for 10–20% of all human ductal adenocarcinomas and has a poor prognosis relative to other subtypes because of its high propensity to develop metastases. Here, the anticancer effects of asiaticoside (AC) against TNBC and the possible underlying mechanism were examined. We found that AC inhibited the TGF‐β1 expression and the SMAD2/3 phosphorylation in TNBC cells, thereby impairing the TGF‐β/SMAD signaling. AC inhibited the migration, invasion, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of TNBC cells by suppressing the TGF‐β/SMAD signaling. Meanwhile, AC inhibited the lung metastasis of TNBC cells in vivo and the expression of p‐SMAD2/3 and vimentin, and increased the expression of E‐cadherin and ZO‐1 in the lung. Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARG) was identified as a potential target of AC. AC increased PPARG expression, while PPARG knockdown attenuated the therapeutic effect of AC. AC‐mediated PPARG overexpression suppressed the transcription of P2X purinoceptor 7 (P2RX7). The restoration of P2RX7 reversed the therapeutic effect of AC. These results suggested that AC blocked P2RX7‐mediated TGF‐β/SMAD signaling by increasing PPARG expression, thereby suppressing EMT in TNBC.
Acute lung injury after balloon pulmonary angioplasty results in a similar haemodynamic response and possible clinical advantage at follow‐up
Authors: Rodgers Matthew S. , Kirkby Louise C. , Amaral‐Almeida Liliana , Sheares Karen , Toshner Mark , Taboada Dolores , Ng Choo , Cannon John E. , D'Errico Luigia , Ruggiero Alessandro , Screaton Nicholas , Jenkins David , Coghlan John G. , Pepke‐Zaba Joanna , Hoole Stephen P.
Published: November 2022

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common but poorly defined and understood complication of balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Little data are available on the medium term clinical outcomes of BPA complicated by ALI. We analyzed per‐procedure data from 282 procedures in 109 patients and per‐patient data from 85 patients. Serial right heart catheterization at baseline, after each BPA and at 3‐month follow‐up measured pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), and cardiac output (CO). ALI (ALI+) was identified by chest radiography alone (ALIr+) or in association with hypoxia clinically (ALIcr+). Procedural predictors of ALI and patient outcomes at 3‐months were compared no ALI (ALI−). ALI+ occurred in 17/282 (6.0%) procedures (ALIcr+: 2.5%, ALIr+: 3.5%). Prevailing haemodynamics (PVR: p < 0.01; mPAP: p < 0.05) at a procedural and patient level, as well as number of BPA sessions (p < 0.01), total number of vessels (p < 0.05), and occlusions (p < 0.05) treated at a patient level predicted ALI+. Those with ALI had greater percentage improvement in ΔCAMPHOR symptoms score (ALI+: −63.5 ± 35.7% (p < 0.05); ALIcr+: −84.4 ± 14.5% (p < 0.01); ALI−: −27.2 ± 74.2%) and ΔNT‐proBNP (ALIcr+: −78.4 ± 11.9% (p < 0.01); ALI−: −42.9 ± 36.0%) at follow‐up. There was no net significant difference in haemodynamic changes in ALI+ versus ALI− at follow‐up. ALI is predicted by haemodynamic severity, number of vessels treated, number of BPA sessions, and treating occlusive disease. ALI in this cohort was associated with a clinical advantage at follow‐up.
Robust self‐triggered control for nonlinear cyber‐physical systems with state constraints under DoS attacks
Authors: Cuan Zhaoyang , Ding Da‐Wei , An Cuijuan
Published: November 2022

This article is concerned with the event‐based control problem for nonlinear cyber‐physical systems (CPSs) with state constraints. A novel security control strategy with a self‐triggered mechanism is developed to decrease the network communication loads to the most extent on the basis of ensuring system safety and stability. The maximum capability of the designed self‐triggered mechanism to resist denial‐of‐service attacks occurring in controller‐actuator and sensor‐controller channels synchronously is analyzed. In particular, we prove that the security control strategy can guarantee the safety and stability of the CPSs without resulting in Zeno behavior. Finally, a numerical example is provided to demonstrate the prominent effectiveness and the advantages over the existing results.
An exact solution approach for the mobile multi‐agent sensing problem
Authors: Kim Gwang , Lee Jongmin , Moon Ilkyeong
Published: November 2022

Multi‐agent systems are generally applicable in various fields and aim to coordinate the decisions from agents, each of which makes a local decision. In particular, research on operations management with mobile multi‐agents such as drones has gained prominence in recent years. In this article, we present a mobile multi‐agent sensing problem, which is formulated as a submodular maximization problem under a partition matroid constraint. When events detected by agents lead to severe and catastrophic consequences, obtaining (near)‐optimal solutions by using exact algorithms is crucial to reducing the probability of harmful situations. Therefore, in this article we propose an exact solution approach, using two valid inequalities for our problem to find a (near)‐optimal solution. Moreover, we deal with the risk‐averse decision and its cutting‐plane algorithm for our problem, which is to maximize conditional value‐at‐risk (CVaR). Finally, we show the performance of our algorithms through numerical experiments, including a case study on forest fires.
State estimation of Boolean control networks under stochastic disturbances with random delay in measurements
Authors: Sun Liangjie , Ching Wai‐Ki
Published: November 2022

In the existing literature on state estimation of Boolean control networks (BCNs), it is almost assumed that the measurements are received without delay. However, in practice, measurements are always received with delay. This means that the received measurements may contain information about the previous state of the BCN. We study the optimal state estimation issue of BCNs with stochastic disturbances coming from measurements with random delay in this paper. Two types of random delay in measurements are considered. The first type is that the received measurements with delay or loss, and the probability distribution of the received measurement under different delay values is given. The second type is that the delay process follows a finite‐state Markov chain. For each type of the measurements, a method is put forward to compute the conditional probability distribution vector (CPDV) of the state through some input and output observations. After that, the state of a BCN can be estimated by minimizing the conditional mean squared deviation, where the difference between the estimated value and the real state is measured by the Euclidean distance. Moreover, with the purpose of estimating the state of a large‐scale BCN with stochastic disturbances without too much computational complexity, we transform the large‐scale BCN into a size‐reduced BCN and then obtain the optimal state estimation of the large‐scale BCN by estimating the state of the size‐reduced BCN. Since sampled measurements can sometimes be transformed into the second type of measurements with random delay, the method proposed here is also applicable for estimating the state of a BCN subject to sampled measurements.
Mechanistic Observation of Interactions between Macrophages and Inorganic Particles with Different Densities
Authors: Zhang Chengchen , Tang Jianbo , Xie Wanjie , Allioux Francois‐Marie , Cao Zhenbang , Biazik Joanna M. , Tajik Mohammad , Deng Fei , Li Yi , Abbasi Roozbeh , Baharfar Mahroo , Mousavi Maedehsadat , Esrafilzadeh Dorna , Kalantar‐Zadeh Kourosh
Published: November 2022

Many different types of inorganic materials are processed into nano/microparticles for medical utilization. The impact of selected key characteristics of these particles, including size, shape, and surface chemistries, on biological systems, is frequently studied in clinical contexts. However, one of the most important basic characteristics of these particles, their density, is yet to be investigated. When the particles are designed for drug delivery, highly mobile macrophages are the major participants in cellular levels that process them in vivo. As such, it is essential to understand the impact of particles’ densities on the mobility of macrophages. Here, inorganic particles with different densities are applied, and their interactions with macrophages studied. A set of these particles are incubated with the macrophages and the outcomes are explored by optical microscopy. This microscopic view provides the understanding of the mechanistic interactions between particles of different densities and macrophages to conclude that the particles’ density can affect the migratory behaviors of macrophages: the higher the density of particles engulfed inside the macrophages, the less mobile the macrophages become. This work is a strong reminder that the density of particles cannot be neglected when they are designed to be utilized in biological applications.
Exploring the use of blockchain in resource‐constrained fog computing environments
Authors: Sánchez‐de la Rosa Miguel , Núñez‐Gómez Carlos , Caminero M. Blanca , Carrión Carmen
Published: November 2022

Fog computing has become a complementary technology to cloud computing and addresses some of the cloud computing threats such as the response time and network bandwidth demand. Fog computing successes processing data and storing data near to the edge, and usually is combined with container virtualization to provide hardware isolation. Empowered by these capabilities, numerous Internet of Things (IoT) applications are developed as virtualized instances on resource‐constrained fog nodes such as single‐board computers (SBC). In addition, blockchain has emerged as a key technology that is transforming the way we share information. Blockchain technology represents a decentralised, distributed, and immutable database ledger and is a potential solution for the distributed ecosystem of IoT applications. The distributed structure of blockchain is naturally suitable for IoT applications. However, it introduces new challenges related to CPU overhead or response time. This paper proposes a layered architecture that integrates blockchain technology and OS‐level virtualization technology to develop fog‐based IoT applications. It also provides insights for future deployments through a proof‐of‐concept use case harnessing SBCs, in this case Raspberry Pi, as blockchain‐enabled fog nodes to drive virtualized IoT applications. The study shows that the maximum CPU overhead added by a permissioned blockchain based on Ethereum on the Raspberry Pi is around a 25% under stress situations while the overhead introduced by the sealer process is negligible. These results support the feasibility of using blockchain on resource‐constrained fog nodes for supporting IoT applications.
The trans‐kingdom communication of noncoding RNAs in plant–environment interactions
Authors: Liu Ting , Xu Liu‐Gen , Duan Cheng‐Guo
Published: November 2022

As conserved regulatory agents, noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) have an important impact on many aspects of plant life, including growth, development, and environmental response. Noncoding RNAs can travel through not only plasmodesma and phloem but also intercellular barriers to regulate distinct processes. Increasing evidence shows that the intercellular trans‐kingdom transmission of ncRNAs is able to modulate many important interactions between plants and other organisms, such as plant response to pathogen attack, the symbiosis between legume plants and rhizobia and the interactions with parasitic plants. In these interactions, plant ncRNAs are believed to be sorted into extracellular vesicles (EVs) or other nonvesicular vehicles to pass through cell barriers and trigger trans‐kingdom RNA interference (RNAi) in recipient cells from different species. There is evidence that the features of extracellular RNAs and associated RNA‐binding proteins (RBPs) play a role in defining the RNAs to retain in cell or secrete outside cells. Despite the few reports about RNA secretion pathway in plants, the export of extracellular ncRNAs is orchestrated by a series of pathways in plants. The identification and functional analysis of mobile small RNAs (sRNAs) are attracting increasing attention in recent years. In this review, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the function, sorting, transport, and regulation of plant extracellular ncRNAs.
Angle-Tuned Coil: A Focality-Adjustable Transcranial Magnetic Stimulator
Authors: Meng Qinglei , Bagherzadeh Hedyeh , Hong Elliot , Yang Yihong , Lu Hanbing , Choa Fow-Sen
Published: November 2022

Conventional transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) coils are limited by the depth-focality tradeoff rule. To better utilize this depth-focality tradeoff rule, a new approach needs to be employed. In this study, a new multi-layer winding-tilted TMS coil design is proposed for human brain stimulation. It can deliver stimulation with better depth-focality characteristic than the double cone coils to deep brain regions. In our design, circular coils were accumulated along their central axis to improve the field decay rate as a function of the stimulation depth. We also tilted the winding angle of the coils to break the ring-shaped symmetry of the electric field distribution and accomplish the focality. New curves were plotted in the depth-focality tradeoff profile for our coil design, which intersected with the figure-8 coil curve. The new curves break the depth-focality tradeoff, and our coil design presents better focality than the H coils and circular coils, deeper stimulation depth than figure-8 coils, and the capability for multisite brain stimulation due to its unique structure and the limited contact area with the human head surface, which cannot be accomplished with the double cone coils.
Computational Tool Comprising Visible Human Project® Based Anatomical Female CAD Model and Ansys HFSS/Mechanical® FEM Software for Temperature Rise Prediction Near an Orthopedic Femoral Nail Implant During a 1.5 T MRI Scan
Authors: Noetscher Gregory , Serano Peter , Nazarian Ara , Makarov Sergey
Published: November 2022

This medical device development tool (MDDT) is categorized as a non-clinical assessment model (NAM). This MDDT is a computational modeling and simulation tool. It can predict heating of metallic orthopedic implants with the radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coils while targeting a mid-aged and elderly female population primarily affected by osteoporosis and the associated bone fracture.

This MDDT uses a high resolution anatomical female CAD (computer aided design) model coupled with the proven multiphysics finite element method (FEM) software (Ansys Workbench) to simulate the complete MRI environment. The environment is consisting of a tuned MRI coil with the given output power, detailed heterogeneous human model within the coil at the given landmark and a properly embedded metallic implant within the anatomical model to compute the extent of heating generated around the implant.

Specifically, this MDDT is the in silico analog of an MRI scan for an elderly female subject with a metallic orthopedic implant at 1.5 T in a full-body birdcage RF coil.
Comparative Analysis of Policy Developments
Authors: Bharadwaj Ashish , Devaiah Vishwas H. , Gupta Indranath
Published: November 2022

The regulatory mechanisms and public policies governing licensing of Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) are constantly adapting to the needs of the high-tech industry and evolving jurisprudence. This chapter focuses on policy changes in five jurisdictions—the United States of America (USA), the European Union, China, Japan and India. We outline areas of policy convergence and divergence in global standard setting and SEP licensing among them. Policymakers and technology specialists in each jurisdiction have a certain vision of improving the current framework governing standardization and SEP licensing in the interest of multiple stakeholders.
Generalized spectral form factors and the statistics of heavy operators
Authors: Belin Alexandre , de Boer Jan , Nayak Pranjal , Sonner Julian
Published: November 2022

Abstract

The spectral form factor is a powerful probe of quantum chaos that diagnoses the statistics of energy levels, but is blind to other features of a theory such as matrix elements of operators or OPE coefficients in conformal field theories. In this paper, we introduce generalized spectral form factors: new probes of quantum chaos sensitive to the dynamical data of a theory. These quantities can be studied using random matrix theory and an effective theory of quantum chaos. We focus our attention on a particular combination of heavy-heavy-heavy OPE coefficients that generalizes the genus-2 partition function of two-dimensional CFTs, for which we define a form factor. Assuming that random matrix theory applies to chaotic CFTs, we probe heavy-heavy-heavy OPE coefficients and find statistical correlations that agree with the OPE Randomness Hypothesis: these coefficients have a random tensor component. The EFT of quantum chaos predicts that the genus-2 form factor displays a ramp and a plateau. Our results suggest that this is a common property of generalized spectral form factors.
Color appearance in rotational material jetting
Authors: Golhin Ali Payami , Sole Aditya Suneel , Strandlie Are
Published: November 2022

Material jetting (MJT) is a recognized additive manufacturing (AM) method to combine various materials and create a wide range of designed appearances. However, the measured color of MJT objects is frequently different from the color provided in the printer software. As a result, estimating the color quality and the measured color attributes of an object before printing is vital for accurate color reproduction. This study investigates the color variation based on the texture in an object 3D-printed using the MJT method on a rotary tray. The novel radial shape of the rotary tray build platform and variation in the layers structure were targeted as the main factors that can increase the uncertainty in accurate color reproduction. The influence of the PolyJet printer setup has been examined by thickness variation of the colored layers, location on the tray (swath selection), ink color, and finish type between layers. Color quality was assessed by comparing the produced object color by calculating spectral and colorimetric differences. Spearman rank correlation coefficient and principal component analysis (PCA) methods were used to analyze the direct or indirect influence of independent categorical factors on the measured color variables. Based on the studied parameters, switching swathes did not fail printer objects for industrial color matching. In contrast, a thickness variation as small as 0.5 mm could cause CIEDE2000 above 5 for most models, resulting in unnatural color reproduction. Color differences in most objects might be discernible to inexperienced observers, depending on the 3D printing parameters.
Levosimendan increases the phosphorylation state of phospholamban in the isolated human atrium
Authors: Abella Lina Maria Rayo , Hoffmann Robert , Neumann Joachim , Hofmann Britt , Gergs Ulrich
Published: November 2022

Levosimendan (up to 10 µM) given alone failed to increase force of contraction in isolated electrically stimulated (1 Hz) left atrial (LA) preparations from wild-type mice. Only in the additional presence of 0.1 µM rolipram, an inhibitor of the activity of phosphodiesterase IV, levosimendan increased force of contraction in LA and increased the phosphorylation state of phospholamban at amino acid serine 16. Levosimendan alone increased the beating rate in isolated spontaneously beating right atrial preparations from mice and this effect was potentiated by rolipram. The positive inotropic and the positive chronotropic effects of levosimendan in mouse atrial preparations were attenuated by 10 µM propranolol. Finally, we studied the contractile effects of levosimendan in isolated electrically stimulated (1 Hz) right atrial preparations from the human atrium (HAP), obtained during cardiac surgery. We detected concentration-dependent positive inotropic effects of levosimendan alone that reached plateau at 1 µM levosimendan in HAP (n = 11). Levosimendan shortened time of tension relaxation in HAP. Cilostamide (1 µM), an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase III, or propranolol (10 µM) blocked the positive inotropic effect of levosimendan in HAP. Levosimendan (1 µM) alone increased in HAP the phosphorylation state of phospholamban. In conclusion, we present evidence that levosimendan acts via phosphodiesterase III inhibition in the human atrium leading to phospholamban phosphorylation and thus explaining the positive inotropic effects of levosimendan in HAP.