bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plasma Exosome-Derived Fragile-Site Associated Tumor Suppressor is a Powerful Predictor of Prognosis in Patients with Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Hu Renjing , Chen Xiaochun , Zhang Shiliang , Liu Bin , Pei Hao , Tu Fan , Liu Jun , Yu Hao
Published: June 2021

Objective: To investigate the levels of plasma exosome-derived fragile-site associated tumor suppressor (FATS) and evaluate its predictive ability in ovarian cancer (OC) patients.Patients and Methods: Exosome-rich fractions were isolated from the plasma of enrolled 90 patients with OC. The levels of plasma exosome-derived FATS were detected with ELISA.Results: The levels of exosome-derived FATS in OC patient were significantly lower than in healthy controls (P < 0.001). The levels of plasma exosome-derived FATS were obviously higher in OC patients with low grade (1/2), FIGO stages I/II than high grade (3/4), stages III/ IV disease (P = 0.003; P < 0.001). The levels of plasma exosome-derived FATS were significantly higher in OC patients with no lymph node metastasis, no ascites than those with lymph node metastasis, ascites (both P < 0.001). The levels of plasma exosome-derived FATS were obviously higher in OC patients with CA-125 less than 35U/ml than more than 35U/ml (P < 0.001). Among all enrolled OC patients, both 5-DFS and 5-OS were shorter in patients who had low plasma exosome-derived FATS levels than that high levels (both P < 0.001). The AUROC of plasma exosome-derived FATS were 0.85(95% CI: 0.76-0.91) for 5-DFS, 0.91(95% CI: 0.83-0.96) for 5-OS prediction in patients with OC, respectively.Conclusions: Plasma exosome-derived FATS levels in OC patient were significantly down-regulated. Low levels of plasma exosome-derived FATS had close relationship with FIGO stages I/II, low grade, ascites, higher levels of CA-125, lymph node metastasis and prognosis of OC patients. Our findings may provide a new strategy in treating OC.
EMAS: Environment Monitoring and Smart Alert System for Internet of Things (IoT)
Authors: Enam Rabia Noor , Tahir Muhammad , Mustafa Syed Muhammad Nabeel , Rukaiya Rukaiya
Published: June 2021

The emergence of wireless sensor networks has enabled new classes of application for distributed systems that filter into many inter disciplinary fields. In the recent years, wireless technology has come up with great advancements and is supposed to be a great venture for the researchers. The recent advancements open up many significant energy optimization techniques in Internet of Things. The smart systems can now achieve paramount level of control of user comfort while reducing use of energy. Our main purpose is to construct smart Environment Monitoring and Surveillance system (EMAS). The system periodically measures temperature, light and humidity levels of the atmosphere. When a critical change in the environmental variables is detected, the EMAS system can notify the user via text message on their cell phone. Thus, they will be able to act to critical changes as quickly as possible and it may be able to intercept effects of the critical change. Results are obtained in the field tests reasonably ensuring that the proposed EMAS system possess excellent package delivery high power efficiency. The main goal of this paper is to bring more robustness and enhanced features in the wireless environment monitoring system.
A Self-Powered, Real-Time, NRF24L01 IoT Based-Cloud Enabled Service For Smart Agriculture Decision-Making System
Authors: Raju K. Lova , Vijayaraghavan V.
Published: June 2021

Internet of Things (IoT) based automation has provided sophisticated research and developments in the field of agriculture. In agriculture field production, using environmental and deployment sensors like DHT11, soil moisture, soil temperature, and so on, IoT has been utilised to monitor field conditions and automation in precision agriculture. The environmental parameters, field evaluation, deployment parameters, and shortage of water has become an unresolved task for agriculture monitoring. All of this leads to insufficient production of the agricultural crop. To eradicate the above-mentioned problems, we proposed a system in the using an architectural manner. This system uses an NRF24L01 module with in-built power and low noise amplifiers to enable a long-distance communication for transmission of the field information about the current crop situation to the farmers. This work is investigating an appropriate, reasonable, and applied IoT technology for precision agriculture by considering various applications of agriculture and experiments. The proposed system reduces power consumption, and improves operational efficiency. The proposed system reduces human efforts and also evaluates heat index measurement to monitor the environment. Based on the experiments, the current consumption and life expectancy of the AWMU are determined to be 0.02819 A and 3 days 20 hours 13 minutes and 47 seconds, respectively. Furthermore, the maximum transmission of AWMU is in an environmental location is 200 meters line of sight from the router.
A Novel Repairable Fountain Codes Scheme Based on Partial Duplication Technique
Authors: Zhou Anan , Yi Benshun , Xiang Mian , Luo Laigan
Published: June 2021

Distributed storage system (DSS) is an emerging paradigm which provides reliable storage services for various source data. As the fault-tolerance scheme for DSS, erasure codes are required to provide redundancy service with high fault-tolerance and low cost. However, the existing coding scheme cannot provide these requirements well. Thus, it becomes an important yet challenging issue to find a code for storing various source data with high fault-tolerance and low cost. In this paper, a novel construction of repairable fountain codes with unequal locality is proposed by combining with partial duplication tech- nique, namely the PD-ULRFC scheme. We construct a multi-tier heterogeneous storage network, where data core, processing units and storage nodes collaboratively store and transmit data. Moreover, the proposed PD-ULRFC scheme can reduce the repair and download cost by sacrificing a little extra storage occupation. Furthermore, the expressions of the repair cost and download cost are derived to analyze the performance of PD-ULRFC scheme. The simulation results demonstrate that the PD-ULRFC scheme significantly outperforms other redundant schemes in communication cost saving.
WITHDRAWN: A Survey and Analysis of Extreme Machine Learning Models and Its Techniques
Authors: Pande Shubhangi , Rathore Neeraj Kumar , Purohit Anuradha
Published: June 2021

Machine learning applications employ FFNN (Feed Forward Neural Network) in their discipline enormously. But, it has been observed that the FFNN requisite speed is not up the mark. The fundamental causes of this problem are: 1) for training neural networks, slow gradient descent methods are broadly used and 2) for such methods, there is a need for iteratively tuning hidden layer parameters including biases and weights. To resolve these problems, a new emanant machine learning algorithm, which is a substitution of the feed-forward neural network, entitled as Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) introduced in this paper. ELM also come up with a general learning scheme for the immense diversity of different networks (SLFNs and multilayer networks). According to ELM originators, the learning capacity of networks trained using backpropagation is a thousand times slower than the networks trained using ELM, along with this, ELM models exhibit good generalization performance. ELM is more efficient in contradiction of Least Square Support Vector Machine (LS-SVM), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and rest of the precocious approaches. ELM’s eccentric outline has three main targets: 1) high learning accuracy 2) less human intervention 3) fast learning speed. ELM consider as a greater capacity to achieve global optimum. The distribution of application of ELM incorporates: feature learning, clustering, regression, compression, and classification. With this paper, our goal is to familiarize various ELM variants, their applications, ELM strengths, ELM researches and comparison with other learning algorithms, and many more concepts related to ELM.
Piezo2, A Pressure Sensitive Channel Is Expressed in Select Neurons of the Mouse Brain: a Putative Mechanism for Synchronizing Neural Networks by Transducing Intracranial Pressure Pulses
Authors: wang Jigong , hamill owen peter
Published: June 2021

Piezo2 expression in mouse brain was examined using an anti-PIEZO2 antibody (Ab) generated against a C-terminal fragment of the human PIEZO2 protein. As a positive control for Ab staining of mouse neurons, the Ab stained a majority of mouse dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, consistent with recent in situ hybridization and single cell RNA sequencing studies of Piezo2 expression. As a negative control and test for specificity, the Ab failed to stain human erythrocytes, which selectively express PIEZO1. In brain slices isolated from the same mice as the DRG, the Ab displayed high selectivity in staining specific neuron types, including pyramidal neurons in the neocortex and hippocampus, Purkinje cells in the cerebellar cortex and mitral cells in the olfactory bulb. Given the demonstrated role of Piezo2 channels in peripheral neurons as a low-threshold pressure sensor (i.e., ≤ 5 mm Hg) critical for the regulation of breathing and blood pressure, its expression in select brain neurons has interesting implications. In particular, we hypothesize that Piezo2 provides select brain neurons with an intrinsic resonance enabling their entrainment by the normal intracranial pressure (ICP) pulses (~ 5 mm Hg) associated with breathing and cardiac cycles. This mechanism could serve to increase the robustness of respiration-entrained oscillations previously reported across widely distributed neuronal networks in both rodent and human brains. This idea of a “global brain rhythm” has previously been thought to arise from the effect of nasal airflow activating mechanosensitive neurons within the olfactory epithelium, which then synaptically entrain mitral cells within the olfactory bulb and through their projections, neural networks in other brain regions, including the hippocampus and neocortex. Our proposed, non-synaptic, intrinsic mechanism in which Piezo2 tracks the “metronome-like” ICP pulses would have the advantage that spatially separated brain networks could also be synchronized by a physical force that is rapidly transmitted throughout the brain.
Bioconversion of cassava bagasse and sugarcane bagasse using cheap home-made enzymatic cocktails
Authors: Díaz Gabriela Verónica , Afanasiuk Silvana Soledad Sawostjanik , Coniglio Romina Olga , Velázquez Juan Ernesto , Zapata Pedro Darío , Villalba Laura Lidia , Fonseca María Isabel
Published: June 2021

The agricultural industries generate lignocellulosic wastes that can be modified by fungi to generate high value-added products. The aim of this work was to analyze the efficiency of the bioconversion of sugarcane bagasse and cassava bagasse using two cheap home-made enzymatic cocktails from Aspergillus niger LBM 134 (produced also from agroindustrial wastes) and compare the hydrolysis yield with that obtained from the bioconversion using commercial enzymes. Sugarcane bagasse and cassava bagasse were pretreated with a soft alkaline solution before the hydrolysis carried out with home-made enzymatic cocktails of A. niger LBM 134 and with commercial enzymes to compare their performances. Mono and polysaccharides were analyzed before and after the bioconversion of both bagasses as well as their microscopic structure. The maximal yield was the 80% of total glucans saccharified from cassava bagasse. The bioconversion of both bagasses were better when we used the home-made enzymatic cocktails than commercial enzymes. We obtained high added-value products from agroindustrial wastes, home-made enzymatic cocktails and hydrolysates rich in fermentable sugars. The importance of this work lays in the higher performance of the cheap home-made enzymatic cocktails over the hydrolytic performance of commercial enzymes due to the cost of producing the home-made enzymatic cocktails were more than 500 times lower than commercial enzymes.
Pro-NGF Disrupts Adult Neurogenesis in Humans and Mice Affected by Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Olabiyi Bolanle , Fleitas Catherine , Zammou Bahira , Ferrer Isidro , Rampon Claire , Egea Joaquim , EspinetMestre Carme
Published: June 2021

In recent decades, neurogenesis in adult brain has been well demonstrated in a number of animal species, including humans. Interestingly, work with rodents has shown that adult neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus is vital for some cognitive aspects, as increasing neurogenesis improves memory while its disruption triggers the opposite effect. Adult neurogenesis declines with age and has been suggested to play a role in impaired progressive learning and memory loss seen in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Therefore, therapeutic strategies designed to boost adult hippocampal neurogenesis may be beneficial for the treatment of AD. The precursor forms of neurotrophins, such as pro-NGF, display remarkable increase during AD in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex. In contrast to mature NGF, pro-NGF exerts adverse functions in survival, proliferation and differentiation. Hence, we hypothesized that pro-NGF and its receptor p75NTR contribute to disrupting adult hippocampal neurogenesis during AD. In this study, we took advantage of the availability of mouse models of AD (APP/PS1) and AD human samples to address the role of pro-NGF/p75NTR signalling in different aspects of adult neurogenesis. Neuroprogenitors of adult mice and human DG samples were identified by immunofluorescence with doublecortin (DCX) antibodies. Interestingly, DCX + progenitors in healthy humans and control animals express p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR). However, this expression is notably decreased in AD conditions. In APP/PS1 mice, memory and cognition were severely impaired. In order to assess the contribution of the pro-NGF/p75NTR pathway to these memory deficits, we injected pro-NGF neutralizing antibodies (ANTI-PRONGF) into the DG of control and APP/PS1 mice which memory was evaluated in Morris water maze test. We observed that anti-pro-NGF injection significantly improved the performance of APP/PS1 animals, but not controls. Interestingly, improved memory in APP/PS1 animals after injection of ANTI-PRONGF correlated with an increase in DCX + progenitors in the DG region of these animals. In summary, our results suggest that pro-NGF is involved in disrupting spatial memory in AD, at least in part by blocking adult neurogenesis. Moreover, we propose that adult neurogenesis alteration could serve as alternative approach towards understanding AD pathology, and additionally offer pro-NGF/p75NTR signalling as a promising therapeutic target.
The Effects of Atmospheric Oscillations on Crop Yield in the Mediterranean Region, Turkey
Authors: Uzun Aslı , Ustaoğlu Beyza
Published: June 2021

In the last century climate change is a major threat to biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human well‐being. Atmospheric oscillations that occur at the regional oceanic flow pattern may affect significantly the climate of the Earth. In this study, we investigate effects of ENSO (El Nino Southern Oscillation) and NAO (North Atlantic Oscillation) on the Mediterranean crop yield using the Nino 3, Nino3.4, Nino 4, ONI and NAO indices. Olive, which is a bioindicator type in the Mediterranean, and cotton and grapes with high yield and economic value crops were examined. As a method, firstly, Mann Kendall rank correlation test was applied to the yield values ​​of the crops. After the 2000s, it has been determined that the trend of yield has changed and was obtained an increasing trend. Secondly, the correlation between the yields and the indices ​​were determined with the Spearman correlation coefficient. Accordingly, a high correlation of 50% and 80% was found at the p ≤ 0.05 and p ≤ 0.00 significance level in the phenological periods of the crops. The highest correlations were determined especially during flowering period with El Nino indices. The frequency of the correlation detected with the NAO indece is weak. The effect on the efficiency of the phases when El Nino indices are strong was examined graphically. Accordingly, in the 1997 and 2015-2016 periods, when the El Nino phenomen was very stong, there were sharply decreases in the crop yields. It is seriously affects the countries whose economic activity is based on agriculture in the Mediterranean Basin, and it is likely to affect food industry in the future.
Continuous Improvement of Quality Management in the Fall Prevention Process for Inpatients: a Historically Controlled Study
Authors: XU Hua , Cao Xiang , ZHANG Yanhong , Chen Zhaohong
Published: June 2021

Background: Falls are one of the most common adverse nursing events and sensitive indicators to measure nursing quality. The interventions for fall prevention are important; however, monitoring tools for the implementation are scarce.Methods: To explore the effects of monitoring the fall prevention process in reducing inpatients’ falls. Historically controlled trial and retrospective analysis. Explore and refer to the "structure-process-result" quality evaluation model. The design included assessment of fall risks, knowledge of prevention, participation of patients and their families, environment and management. The monitoring form for the implementation of fall prevention measures was used to monitor the effect and reduce the incidence rate of falls. Results: The incidence rate of falls among inpatients with different risk levels was compared and analyzed before monitoring (control group) and 12 months, 24 months, 36 months later after monitoring. The trend chi-square results showed that the incidence rate of falls decreased from 0.199‰ to 0.101‰, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The probability of falls 12 months and 36 months later after intervention was 0.84 times and 0.51 times that of control group. The proportion of patients at high risk of falls had a decreasing trend.Conclusions: After the use of the monitoring form, the incidence rate of falls reduces, nurses' professional quality and personal ability are improved, the awareness of patients and family members participating in patient’s safety is strengthened, the environmental safety management is strengthened and the hardware facility is improved.
Computer Vision Based Detection and Quantification of Extraneous Water in Raw Milk
Authors: Asefa Bezuayehu Gutema , Hagos Legesse , Kore Tamirat , Emire Shimelis Admassu
Published: June 2021

A rapid method based on digital image analysis and machine learning technique is proposed for the detection of milk adulteration with water. Several machine learning algorithms were compared, and SVM performed best with 89.48 % of total accuracy and 95.10 % precision. An increase in the classification performance was observed in extreme classes. Better quantitative determination of the extraneous water was achieved using SVMR with R2(CV) and R2(P) of 0.65 and 0.71 respectively. The proposed technique can be used to screen raw milk based on the level of added extraneous water without the necessity of any additional reagent.
Identification of Genes During the Reprogramming of Fibroblast using Bioinformatics Analysis
Authors: Wu Peng , Sai Xiyalatu , Tang Xiaoying , Guo Huiming , Huang Huanlei , Nasser Moussa Ide , Zhu Ping
Published: June 2021

Bioinformatics method was used to screen Human induced pluripotent stem cells reprogrammed by Human Fibroblasts (FBs). The reprogramming efficiency was explored by difference expressed genes (DEGs) before and after the expression of hiPSCs. Likewise, microarray datasets GSE34309, GSE43996, and GSE56805 datasets were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and GEO2R to screen the differentially expressed DEGs. Further, Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) signaling pathways were analyzed by David database. Likewise, to explore the correlation between DEGs, and the STRING database software was used to construct the protein-protein internet (PPI), and the Cytoscape_v3.7.2 Cytohubba plug-in was used to screen out the core genes. A total of 622 DEGs were identified, including 344 up regulated genes and 278 down-regulated genes. DEGs were mainly concentrated in the cell cycle and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Among the ten core genes screened, CDK1, IL6, EGFR, FN1, CDH1, SOX2, BRCA1, EZH2, CD44, and CCNB1 were most significant in the reprogramming of FBs into iPSCs. Regardless underline the differential of those gene expression profiles and regulatory network during FBs reprogramming could provide a theoretical basis for efficient reprogramming.
Association Between the lncRNA TDRG1 rs8506 C>T Polymorphism and Susceptibility To Kawasaki Disease in Chinese Children
Authors: Li Jinqing , Guo Kai , Yu Hongyan , Xu Yufen , Yang Chuanzi , Qiu Lijuan , Zhou Huazhong , Pi Lei , Che Di , Fu Lanyan , Wei Bing , Ma Shuxuan , Gu Xiaoqiong
Published: June 2021

Background

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic vasculitis with unknown pathogen, and the formation of coronary artery lesions/aneurysm (CAL/CAA) is the most common sequela. Environmental and genetic factors have been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of KD. Human testis development related 1(TDRG1) is a newly identified long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) which stimulates the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between genetic polymorphism of TDRG1 and the risk of KD.
Methods

A total of two cohorts from Guangzhou (988 KD patients and 1054 controls) and Beijing (564 KD patients and 1221 controls) were enrolled in the present study. Rs8506 of TDRG1 was chosen for TaqMan genotyping assay.
Results

Logistic regression suggested that lncRNA TDRG1 rs8506 C > T polymorphism was not associated with the risk of KD in both Guangzhou and Beijing cohort (dominant model and recessive model: P > 0.05). Moreover, we also did not observe a significant association between the lncRNA TDRG1 rs8506 C > T polymorphism and the risk of KD patients with different ages, gender or coronary artery outcomes in both Guangzhou and Beijing cohort.
Conclusions

The present study revealed that the lncRNA TDRG1 rs8506 C > T polymorphism might not be associated with susceptibility to KD in Chinese children. Future research with a larger sample size should be performed to confirm these results.
An iteratively optimised process for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of an industrial SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic facility
Authors: Douthwaite Julie A. , Brown Christopher A. , Ferdinand John R. , Sharma Rahul , Elliott Jane , Taylor Molly , Malintan Nancy T. , Duvoisin Hannah , Hill Thomas , Delpuech Oona , Orton Alexandra L. , Pitt Haidee , Kuenzi Fred , Fish Simon , Nicholls David J. , Cuthbert Anna , Richards Ian , Ratcliffe Giles , Upadhyay Abhishek , Marklew Abigail , Hewitt Craig , Ross-Thriepland Douglas , Brankin Christopher , Chodorge Matthieu , Browne Gareth , Mander Palwinder K. , DeWildt Ruud M. , Weaver Shane , Smee Penny A. , Kempen Joost van , Bartlett Jon G. , Allen Paula M. , Koppe Emma L. , Ashby Charlotte A. , Phipps Julian D. , Mehta Nalini , Brierley David J. , Tew David G. , Leveridge Melanie V. , Baddeley Stuart M. , Goodfellow Ian G. , Green Clive , Abell Chris , Neely Andy , Waddell Ian , Rees Steve , Maxwell Patrick H. , Pangalos Menelas N. , Howes Rob , Clark Roger
Published: June 2021

On 11th March 2020, the UK government announced plans for the scaling of COVID-19 testing, and on 27th March 2020 it was announced that a new alliance of private sector and academic collaborative laboratories were being created to generate the testing capacity required. The Cambridge COVID-19 Testing Centre (CCTC) was established during April 2020 through collaboration between AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, and the University of Cambridge, with Charles River Laboratories joining the collaboration at the end of July 2020. The CCTC lab operation focussed on the optimised use of automation, introduction of novel technologies and process modelling to enable a testing capacity of 22,000 tests per day. Here we describe the optimisation of the laboratory process through the continued exploitation of internal performance metrics, while introducing new technologies including the Heat Inactivation of clinical samples upon receipt into the laboratory and a Direct to PCR protocol that removed the requirement for the RNA extraction step. We anticipate that these methods will have value in driving continued efficiency and effectiveness within all large scale viral diagnostic testing laboratories.
Effect of Single-Port Inflatable Mediastinoscopy Simultaneous Laparoscopic-Assisted Radical Esophagectomy On Respiration and Circulation
Authors: Ye Haibo , Wang Xiaojin , Li Xiaojian , Gan Xiangfeng , Zhong Hongcheng , Wu Xiangwen , Cao Qingdong
Published: June 2021

Background and Purpose

We previously developed a new surgical method, namely, single-port inflatable mediastinoscopy simultaneous laparoscopic-assisted radical esophagectomy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of carbon dioxide inflation on respiration and circulation using this approach.
Methods

From April 2018 to October 2020, 105 patients underwent this novel surgical approach. The changes in respiratory and circulatory functions were reported when the mediastinal pressure and pneumoperitoneum pressure were 10 and 12mmHg, respectively. Data on blood loss, operative time, and postoperative complications were also collected.
Results

104 patients completed the operation successfully, except for 1 patient who was converted to thoracotomy because of intraoperative injury. During the operation, respectively, the heart rate, mean arterial pressure, central venous pressure, peak airway pressure, end-expiratory partial pressure of carbon dioxide and partial pressure of carbon dioxide increased in an admissibility range. The pH and oxygenation index decreased 1 hour after inflation, but these values were all within a safe and acceptable range and restored to the baseline level after CO2 elimination. Postoperative complications included anastomotic fistula (8.6%), pleural effusion that needed to be treated (8.6%), chylothorax (0.9%), pneumonia (7.6%), arrhythmia (3.8%) and postoperative hoarseness (18.2%). There were no cases of perioperative death.
Conclusions

When the inflation pressure in the mediastinum and abdomen was 10 mmHg and 12 mmHg, respectively, the inflation of carbon dioxide from single-port inflatable mediastinoscopy simultaneous laparoscopic-assisted radical esophagectomy did not cause serious changes in respiratory and circulatory function or increase perioperative complications.
Impact of Chronic Obstruction Pulmonary Disease with Acute Exacerbation on Survival in Current-Smoking Patients with Advanced stages Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma undergoing Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Chiu Kuo-Chin , Lin Wei-Chun , Chang Chia-Lun , Wu Szu-Yuan
Published: June 2021

BACKGROUNDTo date, no data are available regarding the effect of chronic obstruction pulmonary disease (COPD) and COPD with acute exacerbation (COPDAE) on survival in patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) receiving definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT).PATIENTS AND METHODSCurrent-smoking patients with clinical stage IIIA-IIIB, lung SCC who had received standard definitive CCRT and categorized them into two groups based on their COPD status to compare overall survival outcomes. We also examined the effects of COPD severity (0, 1, or ≥2 hospitalizations for COPDA within 1 year before CCRT). The aHRs (95% CIs) of lung cancer death for 1 and ≥2 hospitalizations for COPDAE within 1 year before CCRT were 1.21 (1.09, 1.39) and 1.63 (1.34, 1.97), respectively, compared with no hospitalization for COPDAE.RESULTSIn the inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW)-adjusted model, the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) of all-cause death for COPD was 1.06 (1.07, 1.71) compared with the non-COPD group. Moreover, in the IPTW-adjusted model, the aHRs (95% CIs) of 1 and ≥2 hospitalizations for COPDAE within 1 year before CCRT were 1.29 (1.16, 1.43) and 1.77 (1.41, 2.13), respectively, compared with no hospitalization for COPDAE.CONCLUSIONCOPD and its severity are significant independent risk factors for all-cause death in patients with stage IIIA-IIIB lung SCC receiving definitive CCRT. Hospitalization for COPDAE within 1 year before CCRT is the significant independent risk factors for lung cancer death in the patients with stages IIIA-IIIB lung SCC receiving definitive CCRT.
DRP1-Mediated Mitochondrial Fission Regulates the Lung Epithelial Response to Allergen
Authors: Bruno Sierra , Kumar Amit , Mark Zoe , Chandrasekaran Ravishankar , Nakada Emily , Chamberlain Nicolas , Mihavics Bethany , Walzer Joseph , Cahoon Jonathon , Dixon Anne E. , Cunniff Brian , Anathy Vikas
Published: June 2021

Background: Mitochondria regulate a myriad of cellular needs and functions. Dysregulation of mitochondrial control within airway epithelial cells has been implicated in the pro-inflammatory response to allergens in asthmatics. Because of their multifaceted nature, mitochondrial structure needs to be tightly regulated through fission and fusion. Dynamin Related Protein 1 (DRP1), a cytosolic GTPase, is a key driver of mitochondrial fission. During allergic asthma, airway epithelial mitochondria appear smaller and structurally altered. The role of DRP1-mediated mitochondrial fission, however, has not been fully elucidated in allergic airway disease. Methods: We used a Human Bronchial Epithelial Cell line (HBECs), primary Mouse Tracheal Epithelial Cells (MTECs), and conditional ablation of DRP1 in lung epithelial cells to investigate mitochondrial fission and its impact on the pro-inflammatory response to House Dust Mite (HDM) in vitro and in vivo. Results: Our data suggest that, following HDM challenge, mitochondrial fission is rapidly upregulated in airway epithelial cells and precedes production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Further, deletion of DRP1 in lung epithelial cells lead to decreased mitochondrial fission and enhanced pro-inflammatory signaling in response to HDM. Analysis of lung epithelial specific DRP1 deletion in mice demonstrated enhanced Airway Hyper Responsiveness (AHR), inflammation, differential mucin transcription, and epithelial cell death. Conclusions: Mitochondrial fission is rapidly upregulated in airway epithelial cells following HDM exposure, prior to epithelial release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Deletion of DRP1, a necessary pro- fission protein, reduces fission and enhances the pro-inflammatory epithelial response to HDM, exacerbating the allergic response.
In Vitro Radiosensitization by Eribulin in Human Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Benlloch Raquel , Castejón Raquel , Rosado Silvia , Coronado María José , Sánchez Patricia , Romero Jesús
Published: June 2021

Objectives: To determine the radiosensitizing properties of eribulin and to establish the potential mechanisms of radiosensitization in cervical (HeLa) and pharyngeal (FaDu) cancer cell lines.Material and Methods: Cytotoxicity was evaluated by the crystal violet method. The 10% and 50% inhibitory concentration (IC10, IC50) for 24-hour drug exposure were determined in both cell lines. The surviving fraction at 2Gy (SF2) and the sensitizer enhancement ratio (SER) were calculated from radiation cell survival curves in presence or absence of eribulin. Combination index (CI) was calculated to determine if there is a true synergistic interaction between eribulin and irradiation. Cell cycle changes were assessed by propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry analysis. Apoptotic cells were detected by FITC-conjugated annexin-V labelling and flow cytometry and by immunofluorescence with TUNEL-assay.Results: Mean IC50s and IC10s were 1.58nM and 0.7nM and 0.7nM and 0.27nM for HeLa and FaDu cells respectively. Radiosensitization was observed in both lines tested with a SER up to 2.71 and 2.32 for HeLa and FaDu cells respectively. A true synergistic effect was showed with a CI of 0.82 and 0.76 for HeLa and FaDu cells respectively. Eribulin induced significant G2/M cell arrest and marked apoptosis. Irradiation combined with 3nM eribulin enhanced radiation induced apoptosis in Hela cells.Conclusions: Eribulin shows a true in vitro radiosensitizing effect in tested cell lines by inducing significant G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis changes. Further studies are needed to assess the clinical benefits of concurrent eribulin and radiotherapy as a novel therapeutic strategy for cancer.
Genomic Analysis of Lytic Phage V09 that Targets Pathogenic Vibrio Parahaemolyticus
Authors: Ni Peien , Lei Xiaoling , Yin Yujie , Almeida Adelaide , Wang Dapeng
Published: June 2021

Phage therapy is a promising approach to control foodborne pathogenic bacteria. In this study, a lytic phage against Vibrio parahaemolyticus, designated Vibrio phage V09, was isolated from surface water in Shanghai, China and its genomic DNA was sequenced. The data demonstrated that phage V09 is a double-stranded DNA phage. Its genome consists of 243,881 base pairs (42.6% guanine-cytosine content) encoding 377 open reading frames and with 27 tRNAs detected. According to phylogenetic analysis, phage V09 can be considered a member of the subfamily Tevenvirinae and family Myoviridae.
Cost-Utility Analysis of a Chronic Back Pain Multidisciplinary Biopsychosocial Rehabilitation (MBR) compared to Standard Care for Privately Insured in Germany
Authors: Hochheim Martin , Ramm Philipp , Wunderlich Max , Amelung Volker
Published: June 2021

Introduction: Multidisciplinary biopsychosocial rehabilitation (MBR) is highly recommended to treat chronic lower back pain (CLBP). However, its economic benefit remains to be clearly demonstrated. Objective: To analyse the effect of a 12-month MBR with behaviour-change coaching and device-supported exercise on direct medical costs, sick leave and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) at 24 months. Methods: A cohort of privately insured in Germany was evaluated using administrative and trial data. After removing dissimilarities in characteristics between MBR and control via propensity score matching, treatment effects were calculated with a Difference-in-Difference approach.Results: The base-case analysis comprised 112 MBR participants and 111 members in the standard care group. With an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of €8,428 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained, the intervention was classified as cost-effective. Economically unaccounted sick leave due to back pain (BP) in the last six months was reduced by 17.5 days (p = 0.001) in the MBR group. Development of HRQOL was positive for the MBR (0.046, p= 0.026). Subgroup analysis with major impaired participants demonstrated the possibility of a dominant intervention with an ICER of - €6,861 per QALY. Savings were driven by a reduction in BP specific costs by - €1,733 (p= 0.035). Difference in sick leave was 27 days (p = 0.006) in favour of the MBR group.Conclusion: This is the first cost-utility study with combined data from a private health insurer and a controlled trial to demonstrate that long term MBR is cost-effective in the treatment of CLBP. Subgroups with major impairment benefit more from the intervention than participants with minor impairment. MBR significantly reduces sick leave in all participants making it a profitable intervention from society’s point of view.
Covid-19 pandemic in India: Chronological comparison of the regional heterogeneity in the pandemic progression and gaps in mitigation strategies
Authors: Datta Satabdi , Chakroborty Neloy Kumar , Sharda Deepinder , Attri Komal , Choudhury Diptiman
Published: June 2021

COVID-19 second wave, in India, exerted more catastrophe than the first. The progressions of both waves were heterogeneous in the six different regions involving 28 states and 8 union territories. An analysis of the temporal variations in new cases and fatalities in all the states of India was done for both the 1st (30th January 2020 to 31st January 2021) and 2nd wave (1st February 2021 to 29th May 2021) showed India accounted for over 16% and 9% of the cases and fatalities of the world respectively. The Southern and Western regions remained the top contributor of cases and fatalities in both waves. The state of Punjab and Maharashtra reported the highest CFR (3.24 and 2.5 respectively) in the country during 1st wave, and in the second wave, Andaman & Nicobar Islands (2.6), and Punjab (2.25) reported the highest CFR. Goa and Delhi showed the highest CCR and CDR for 1st wave respectively, whereas Lakshadweep and Goa reported the highest CCR and CDR respectively in the 2nd wave. The study comprehends the severity of the second wave over all the states of the country, highlights major hotspots regions and some gaps in mitigation strategies.
Dynamics of Small World Effect and Random Fuzzy Graph
Authors: Zhang Yijin , Huang Jie , Lin Zongbing
Published: June 2021

Small World Effect (or Six Degrees of Separation theory) has generated significant influence in the world. Many researchers and institutes have done lots of work on the study of it. We model Small World Effect by random process and Graph, calculate the probability that any two people i and j in the world can contact each other after n steps (forwarding messages by intermediaries) based on different R (average number of acquaintances everyone has in the world).When R=50 or 80, if n≥5, the probability is 0.848 and the search is very likely to happen. When R=150, n=4, this probability is 0.99994, that is, after 4 steps, any two people in the world will establish connection almost surely. In the sense of Dunbar's number (R=150), six degrees of separation becomes four degrees of separation. We propose the concepts of (directed) Random Fuzzy Graph for the very first time which can describe the fact of recognition among people best, because the relation among persons is random and fuzzy.
Second Wave and Pandemic Situation of COVID-(2020-2021) In Bangladesh
Authors: Khan Ahasan Ullah
Published: June 2021

In Bangladesh, the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) reported the first COVID-19 positive patients in the country on March 8, 2020. The world health organization (WHO) declared a COVID-19 epidemic on March 11, 2020. The aim of this study was related to the situation and relation of tests, infested, recovered and death of people against COVID-19 of Bangladesh. The study was carried out from 8 March 2020 to 30 April 2021 (N=419 days) to observe the status of Bangladesh towards rampant COVID-19. The data of this research was collected from IEDCR, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), and cross-checked with different newspapers and online news portals. Correlations were made using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. The total tests, infection, recovered and died were 5357294, 747761, 669995 and 11250; respectively in Bangladesh. The tests of COVID-19 were 1482, 69252, 244064, 460528, 409503, 362113, 397452, 389452, 436862, 454892, 424034, 392403 and 722848 in March to December, 2020 to January to April 2021; respectively in Bangladesh. The infestation of COVID-19 was 49, 7616, 39486, 98330, 92125, 73070, 50457, 44205, 57248, 58948, 21629, 11077 and 128555 in March to December, 2020 to January to April 2021; respectively in Bangladesh. The recovered of COVID-19 was 25, 135, 7904, 34845, 76517, 69452, 71600, 48658, 56099, 70367, 22285, 17140 and 150816 in March to December, 2020 to January to April 2021; respectively in Bangladesh. The death of COVID-19 was 6, 163, 472, 1198, 1264, 1125, 970, 666, 718, 938, 568, 277 and 2237 in March to December, 2020 to January to April 2021; respectively in Bangladesh. The maximum number of people infested and death in April, 2021. The positive correlation found between infested with tests and recovered with tests of April, 2021 by people where (R2= 0.5289, p<0.012 and 0.0000006 p<0.05) and the negative correlation found between tests with date and death with tests (R2= 0.2567, p<0.01 and 0.3614, p<0.01). All the Spearman correlation positive with moderate to strong relation between the variables at the 0.01 level in two-tailed and the total number was n=419. The mean Spearman correlation for tests was 0.31 (range 0.553 to 0.634), for infested was 0.35 (range 0.611 to 0.880), for recovered was 0.796 (range 0.634 to 0.799), for death was 0.808 (range 0.553 to 0.880). March to December 2020 and January to February 2021, not much less than April 2021. More people infested and died in April, 2021 than previous year. This study also indicated that there is moderate to strong relation among tests, infested, recovered and death with COVID-(2020-2021).
Su Bazlı Boyalarla Yapılan Serigrafi Baskı Tekniğinde Karşılaşılan Yaygın Problemler ve Çözümleri
Authors: Esen Engin , Gündoğdu Doğu
Published: June 2021

1960’lı yıllarda pop sanatçılarının elinde kavramsal yönüyle yeni bağlamlar yaratabilen bir üretim alanına dönüşen serigrafi, 1980’li yıllardan günümüze değin çağdaş sanatın ifade araçlarından birisi olarak sanat dünyasında varlık göstermeye devam etmektedir. Baskı teknolojilerinde yaşanan gelişmelere kıyasla geleneksel yöntemler ile sürdürülen serigrafi baskı, bir fikrin tasarım aşamasından basılmış bir imgeye dönüşmesine kadar çeşitli ve karmaşık süreçleri barındırmaktadır. Çevreye ve insan sağlığına duyarlı, temiz içerikli materyallerin sıklıkla kullanıldığı günümüz baskı dünyasında, sağlığa zararlı ve solvent içerikli malzeme kullanımına ilişkin alışılmış uygulama yöntemlerinin beklentileri karşılamadığı ve baskı sürecinde problemlere sebep olduğu bilinmektedir. Bu çalışma su bazlı boyalar kullanılarak kâğıt üzerine yapılan sanatsal baskılarda, sürdürülebilir ve kaliteli sonuçlar alabilmek adına süreçte karşılaşılan yaygın problemleri saptayan ve çözümlerini kapsayan bir kılavuz olmayı amaçlamaktadır.
Biçimsel, Perdesel ve Ritmik Düzenin Bütünlüğü Açısından Regard Des Anges
Authors: Özatalay Yiğit
Published: June 2021

Olivier Messiaen’ın 1944’te bestelediği Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus’nun 14. parçası olan Regard des Anges, bestecinin geliştirdiği bütünlüklü poetikanın yetkin bir örneğini temsil eder. Bu makalede söz konusu parçanın biçim, perde ve ritim değişkenleri birbirleriyle ilişkili olarak ve müzikal çözümleme yöntemleri kullanılarak ele alınmıştır. Üç başlıkta irdelenen müzikal uygulamaların genel anlamda düzen-düzensizlik salınımı, ek değer, tam-olmayan büyütme/küçültme ve asal sayılar bağlamında birbirleriyle güçlü bağlar kurduğu görülmüştür. Çalışmanın amacı, temel kompozisyonel bileşenlere tutarlı ve uyumlu bir yaklaşım sergileyen Messiaen’ın müzikal diline ışık tutmak, bestecinin poetikasındaki birlik ve bütünlük vurgusunu Regard des Anges aracılığıyla öne çıkarmaktır.
Komedide Kusurlu Fizyolojiye Gülmek Konik Annalar (Komik Aynalar)
Authors: Akın Banu Ayten
Published: June 2021

Gülme teorileri içinde en sık ele alınanı ‘üstünlük teorisi’dir. Hemen arkasından aykırılık teorisi gelir. Bu teoriler, gülenin ironik biçimde kurbana üstünlüğünü ve bir anlamda kötü niyetli bir alaycı olmasını gösterir. Kendini iyi hissetmesi için kurbanın ortalamadan aşağı olması ve acı verici bir kusuru olmaması beklenir. Denebilir ki; kusur gülme sonuçlu komedinin asal malzemesidir. Tiyatroda Aristoteles’ten beri bu kusur, karaktere özgü ya da karakterin temsil ettiği sınıfa özgü bir kusurdur. Anomali, patolojik durumlar ‘acı verici’ olma durumunda trajik bir etki yaratacaktır. Cüce, şişik beden, zayıf beden, uzun burunlu beden gibi öteki türünden bir gruba üye olanlar ise komedide köle, uşak, soytarı sınıfından gelme olduğunda işlev görür. Bu çalışma, Konik Annalar oyununda asal kişilerin fizyolojik kusurlarının komik malzeme olarak kullanılmasının analizini yapmaktadır.
Bauhaus Döneminde Mobilya ve Tekstil Atölyeleri Arasındaki Disiplinlerarası İş Birliği Marcel Breuer Örneklemi
Authors: Ertas Besır Sebnem , Dereci Şeyma
Published: June 2021

Modernleşme sürecinin öncü akımlarından olan Bauhaus; çeşitli disiplinleri kapsayan ve sanatçı, zanaatçı ile endüstrinin etkileşim halinde olması gerektiğini vurgulayan bir felsefe benimsemesi nedeniyle özünde iş birliği kavramını barındırmaktadır. Dönem içerisinde akımın bir simgesi haline gelen Bauhaus Okulu’nda iş birliği, çeşitli atölyeler ve tasarımcıları arasında disiplinlerarası etkileşimlerle devam etmiştir. Dönemin önemli atölyelerinden mobilya atölyesinin kurduğu en belirgin iş birliği ise tekstil atölyesi ile olmuştur. Buna bağlı olarak çalışma kapsamında; tasarladığı yenilikçi mobilyalar ile ön plana çıkan Marcel Breuer mobilyalarının tekstil atölyesi ile kurduğu iş birliği, Bauhaus’un üç dönemi olan Weimar, Dessau ve Berlin dönemlerinde incelenmiş ve bulunan veriler tablolaştırılmıştır. Elde edilen tabloya göre ise; ilerleyen dönemle birlikte hem mobilya, hem de tekstil atölyesinde kullanılan malzeme ve yapım tekniklerinin gelişip değişmesi, bu gelişmelerin atölye isimlerinin değişiminde de etkili olması ve Breuer’in bu dönemlerde belirli bir tekstil tasarımcısı ile iş birliği kurması gibi bazı sonuçlara ulaşılmıştır.
Effect of different timescales of drought on water productivity of rain-fed winter wheat in arid and semi-arid regions
Authors: Moghimi Mohammad Mehdi , Shabani Ali , Zarei Abdol Rasoul
Published: June 2021

This research aims at assessing the impact of drought (in the form of original and modified reconnaissance drought indices (ORDI and MRDI)) on water productivity of rainfed winter wheat in some arid and semi-arid regions of Iran. It focuses on different timescales of drought to determine which period of the year had the greatest significant impact. RDI was modified using the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation method (FAO) (MRDI-1), US Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) (MRDI-2), the Simplified version of Soil Conservation Service of the US Department of Agriculture method (USDA-SCS-simplified) (MRDI-3), and the CROPWAT version of USDA-SCS method (USDA-SCS CROPWAT) (MRDI-4). Results showed that in Tabriz and Zanjan stations, 3-month scale of MRDI-2; in Ghazvin, Arak, and Kerman stations, 6-month scale of MRDI-4; in Sanandaj station, 12-month timescale of MRDI-3; and in Shiraz stations, 1-month timescale of MRDI-1 resulted in the highest values of correlation coefficients. According to the goodness-of-fit parameters, in Tabriz and Zanjan stations, MRDI-1; in Ghazvin, Arak and Kerman stations, MRDI-2; in Shiraz station, MRDI-3; and in Sanandaj station, ORDI resulted in the best generalized estimating equation model. These results can be useful to plann for the management of cultivation in impressive timescales.