bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Deep-Learning-Based Graph Neural Network-Long-Short-Term Memory Model for Reservoir Simulation and Optimization With Varying Well Controls
Authors: Huang Hu , Gong Bin , Sun Wenyue
Published: July 2023

A new deep-learning-based surrogate model is developed and applied for predicting dynamic oil rate and water rate with different well controls. The surrogate model is based on the graph neural networks (GNNs) and long-short-term memory (LSTM) techniques. The GNN models are used to characterize the connections of injector-producer pairs and producer-producer pairs, while an LSTM structure is developed to simulate the evolution of the constructed GNN models over time. In this way, we use geological attributes at wells and well controls with different times as input data. The oil rates and water rates at different times are generated. In this study, the GNN-LSTM surrogate model is applied to a high dimensional oil-gas-water field case with flow driven by 189 wells (i.e., 96 producers and 93 injectors) operating under time-varying control specifications. A total of 500 high-fidelity training simulations are performed in the offline stage, out of which 450 simulations are used for training the GNN-LSTM surrogate model, which takes about 150 minutes on an RTX2060 GPU. The trained model is then used to provide production forecasts under various well control scenarios, which are shown to be consistent with those obtained from the high-fidelity simulations (e.g., around 4.8% and 4.3% average relative errors for water production rates and oil production rates, respectively). The online computations from our GNN-LSTM model take about 0.3 seconds per run, achieving a speedup of over a factor of 1,000 relative to the high-fidelity simulations, which takes about 363 seconds per run. Overall, this model is shown to provide reliable and fast predictions of oil rates and water rates with a large level of perturbations in the well controls. Finally, the proposed GNN-LSTM model, in conjunction with the particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique, is applied to optimize the field oil production by varying the well control schedule of all injectors. Due to the significant speedup and high accuracy of the proposed surrogate model, the improved well-control strategies can be efficiently obtained.
MiR-130a-3p Regulates FUNDC1-Mediated Mitophagy by Targeting GJA1 in Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Yan Yan , Tian Liu-yang , Jia Qian , Han Yang , Chen Hui-ning , Cui Sai-jia , Yao Yong-Ming , Zhao Xiao-jing
Published: July 2023

Understanding the complex pathogenesis in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury (IRI) is an urgent problem in clinical trials. Increasing pieces of evidence have suggested that miRNAs are involved in the occurrence and development of heart diseases by regulating mitochondria-related gene expression. Mitochondria have been acknowledged as the key triggers of cardiac I/R injury. However, the potential impact of miR-130a on mitochondria remains unclear in myocardial IRI. Exploring the regulatory mechanism of miR-130a on mitochondria may provide a new target for IRI therapy. In the present study, we found that miR-130a significantly increased in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients and myocardial I/R rats. MiR-130a could downregulate the viability of cardiomyocytes and the knockdown of miR-130a could protect the viability of cardiomyocytes under hypoxia-reoxygenation (HR). Over-expression of miR-130a resulted in mitochondrial dysfunction. It was evidenced by decreases in mitochondrial ATP production, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. However, suppression of miR-130a could protect against mitochondrial damage, show elevation of mitochondrial ATP production rate and MMP, and reduce ROS production. We further explored the effect of miR-130a on the mitochondrial quality control (QMC) system by determining mitochondrial-protein-specific proteases and analyzed mitochondrial morphology by fluorescence imaging and electron microscopy, respectively. It was noted that miR-130a could suppress mitochondrial fusion and FUNDC1-mediated mitophagy to accelerate myocardial IRI. Moreover, we investigated the potential miR-130a targeted mitochondria-related genes to understand the regulatory mechanism of miR-130a in the setting of myocardial IRI. It was revealed that miR-130a targeted GJA1, and GJA1 rescued IRI by enhancing ATP production rate and oxidative phosphorylation, meanwhile protecting cell viability, MMP, and activating mitophagy. In addition, the knockdown of miR-130a significantly activated FUNDC1-mediated mitophagy, while the knockdown of GJA1 reversed the relevant response. Collectively, our findings suggest that miR-130a regulates FUNDC1-mediated mitophagy by targeting GJA1 in myocardial IRI.
Efficient strategy to isolate exosomes using anti-CD63 antibodies conjugated to gold nanoparticles
Authors: Panwar Dikshita , Shrivastava Deepali , Kumar Arvind , Gupta Lavleen Kumar , Kumar N. S. Sampath , Chintagunta Anjani Devi
Published: July 2023

Exosomes, a subpopulation of Extracellular vesicles (EVs), are cell-secreted vesicles found in the majority of biological fluids, including breast milk, tears, sweat, blood and, urine. The density and size of these vesicles depend on a variety of factors, including age, gender and the biological condition of the individual. Researchers are now focusing on the selective extraction of exosomes from bodily fluids due to the unique biomolecule composition of exosomes, which is critical for diagnosis, disease, and regeneration. Furthermore, current approaches for exosome isolation have limitations, necessitating the development of a simpler and more effective technique to achieve this goal. In this study, we investigated a quick and effective strategy for isolating exosomes from serum using a bench-top centrifuge. This was accomplished by raising antibodies against exosome surface tetraspanins (CD9, CD63 & CD81) in Leghorn chickens due to their phylogenetic distance from humans and cost-effectiveness for commercial use. In order to separate exosomes from a complex biological fluid, the antibodies were further coupled with gold nanoparticles. The findings were validated using ELISA, spectrophotometry, and electron microscopy. Using this technique, exosome isolation from serum was achieved rapidly and these were captured by using anti CD63 antibodies bound to AuNPs. To summarize, exosomes were purified from serum using anti-CD63 antibodies conjugated to gold nanoparticles (IgY@AuNPs). Consequently, the approach for exosome isolation from biological fluid could be useful for clinically monitoring the biological state of the patients.
Emergence of robust global modules from local interactions and smooth gradients
Authors: Fiete Ila , Khona Mikail , Chandra Sarthak
Published: July 2023

Modular structure and function are ubiquitous in biology, from the scale of ecosystems to the organization of animal bodies and brains. However, the mechanisms of modularity emergence over development remain unclear. Here we introduce the principle of peak selection, a process in which two local interactions self-organize discontinuous module boundaries from a smooth global gradient, unifying the positional hypothesis and the Turing pattern formation hypothesis for morphogenesis.
Applied to the brain's grid cell networks, peak selection results in the spontaneous emergence of functionally distinct modules with discretely spaced spatial periods. Applied to ecological systems, a generalization of the process results in discrete systems-level niches. The dynamics exhibits emergent self-scaling to variations in system size and ``topological robustness'' that renders module emergence and module properties insensitive to most parameters. Peak selection substantially ameliorates the fine-tuning requirement of continuous attractor dynamics even within single modules. It makes a detail-independent prediction that grid module period ratios should approximate adjacent integer ratios, furnishing the most accurate match to data to date, with additional predictions to connect physiology, connectomics, and transcriptomics data. In sum, our results indicate that local competitive interactions combined with low-information global gradients can lead to robust global module emergence.
Greenhouse gas emissions, carbon stocks and productivity following organic amendments – comparison of impacts in non-saline and salt-affected soils
Authors: Farooqi Zia Ur Rehman , Qadir Ayesha Abdul , Khalid Sehrish , Murtaza Ghulam , Ashraf Muhammad Nadeem , Rahman Shafeeq-ur- , Javed Wasim , Waqas Muhammad Ahmed , Xu Minggang
Published: July 2023

Understanding the impact of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon stock is crucial for effective climate change assessment and agroecosystem management. However, little is known about the effects of organic amendments on GHG emissions and dynamic changes in carbon stocks in salt-affected soils. To fill this research gap, we conducted a pot experiment with four treatments including control (without fertilization), biochar, vermicompost, and compost on non-saline and salt-affected soils, with the application on a carbon equivalent basis. Our results revealed that the addition of vermicompost significantly increased soil organic carbon content by 18% in non-saline soil and 52% in salt-affected soil compared to the control leading to improvements in crop productivity by 73% in non-saline soil and 53% in salt-affected soil. However, the highest carbon dioxide emissions were observed in vermicompost- and compost-treated soils, leading to an increase in emissions of 46% in non-saline soil and 74% in salt-affected soil compared to the control. The compost treatment resulted in the highest nitrous oxide emissions, with an increase of 57% in non-saline soil and 62% in salt-affected soil compared to the control. In saline and non-saline soils treated with vermicompost, the global warming potential was recorded as 267% and 81% more than the control, respectively. All treatments, except biochar in non-saline soil, showed increased net GHG emissions due to organic amendment application. However, biochar reduced net emissions by 12% in non-saline soil. The application of organic amendments increased soil organic carbon content and crop yield in both non-saline and salt-affected soils. In conclusion, biochar is most effective among all tested organic amendments at increasing soil organic carbon content in both normal and salt-affected soils, which could have potential benefits for soil health and crop production.
A novel cholesterol metabolism-related ferroptosis pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Fang Weiwei , Pang Cheng , Li Xiying
Published: July 2023

Background
Emerging studies have reported the contribution of cholesterol to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. However, the specific role and mechanism of cholesterol metabolism on spontaneous and progressive HCC development from the point of view of ferroptosis are still worth exploring. The present study aimed to reveal a novel mechanism of cholesterol metabolism-related ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Methods
Two microarray datasets (GSE25097, GSE22058) related to HCC were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets. Metabolomics analysis was performed by ultra performance liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometer (UPLC-MS/MS). The cholesterol-related proteins were downloaded from HMBD. Ferroptosis-related genes were extracted from FerrDb database. Data sets were separated into two groups. GSE25097 was used to identify ferroptosis-related genes, and GSE22058 was used to verify results. During these processes, chemical–protein interaction (CPI), protein–protein interaction (PPI), the Gene Ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted.
Results
finally identified 8 differentially expressed ferroptosis-related genes (HAMP, PTGS2, IL1B, ALOX15B, CDKN2A, RRM2, NQO1 and KIF20A) and 4 differentially expressed cholesterol-related genes (LCAT, CH25H, CEL and CYP7A1). Further function analysis revealed that the 8 differentially expressed ferroptosis-related genes are enriched in metabolic pathways, arachidonic acid metabolism, NF-kappa B signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, p53 signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway, serotonergic synapse and other related pathways, and the 4 differentially expressed cholesterol-related genes are enriched in primary bile acid biosynthesis, cholesterol metabolism and other related pathways. Furthermore, based on the predicted results with STITCH, we identified indomethacin and IL1B as the essential node for cholesterol-mediated ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cell.
Conclusions
Our findings shed new light on the association between cholesterol metabolism and ferroptosis in HCC, and suggest that IL1B is the necessary node for cholesterol to lead to ferroptosis process in HCC. Also, we identified the potential role of indomethacin in adjuvant therapy of HCC with complications of abnormal cholesterol metabolism.
Investigation on the origin of hot electrons in laser plasma interaction at shock ignition intensities
Authors: Cristoforetti G. , Baffigi F. , Batani D. , Dudzak R. , Fedosejevs R. , Filippov E. D. , Gajdos P. , Juha L. , Khan M. , Koester P. , Krus M. , Mancelli D. , Martynenko A. S. , Nicolai Ph. , Pikuz S. A. , Renner O. , Tentori A. , Volpe L. , Woolsey N. , Zeraouli G. , Gizzi L. A.
Published: July 2023

Shock Ignition is a two-step scheme to reach Inertial Confinement Fusion, where the precompressed fuel capsule is ignited by a strong shock driven by an intense laser pulse at intensity ∼ 1016 W/cm2. In this report we detail the results of an experiment designed to investigate the origin of hot electrons (HE) in laser-plasma interaction at intensities and plasma temperatures expected for Shock Ignition. A detailed time- and spectrally-resolved characterization of Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) and Two Plasmon Decay (TPD) instabilities, as well as of the generated HE, suggest that SRS is the dominant source of HE via the damping of daughter plasma waves. The temperature dependence of laser plasma instabilities was also investigated, enabled by the use of different ablator materials, suggesting that TPD is damped at earlier times for higher plasma temperatures, due to the Landau damping effect. The identification of the predominant HE source and the effect of plasma temperature on laser plasma interaction, here investigated, are extremely useful for developing the mitigation strategies for reducing the impact of HE on the fuel ignition.
Extrusion and Characterization of Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (rPET) Filaments Compounded with Chain Extender and Impact Modifiers for Material-Extrusion Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Rashwan Ola , Koroneos Zachary , Townsend Trent , Wodrig Brennan , Cantor Kirk , Bylone Robert James , Caputo Matthew P.
Published: July 2023

The continuous growth of annual production and consumption of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is coined with increasing waste that leaks into the environment, landfills and oceans as microplastics and nano plastics fragments. Upcycling the recycled PET to make a feedstock for the fast-growing material-extrusion additive manufacturing (MEX-AM) technology can contribute to the solution and supports the concept of sustainable materials.
In this work, extrudable filaments comprising recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) with low-cost additives, such as a chain extender, toughening agent, reactive impact modifier, and non-reactive impact modifier, have been fabricated using the twin-screw extruder. The optimum extrusion process parameters for producing uniform filaments of different rPET compounded formulations have been identified. The compounded filaments are then printed into standard ASTM test specimens for thermal characterization and mechanical characterization, including glass transition and melting temperatures, crystallinity and crystallization temperature, tensile strength, tensile modulus, ductility, flexural strength, and Izod impact energy. Furthermore, the melt flow index for the filaments was measured. More significantly, the experimental data showed that compounding rPET with such additives in the reactive twin-screw extrusion process results in uniform filaments that display advantageous thermal and mechanical properties and can be used as a feedstock in the MEX-AM technology. This study suggests that compounding the recycled PET pellets with low-cost additives while extruding them into filaments for MEX-AM offers excellent potential to make high-value-added customized products from a sustainable polymer feedstock.
HCG18, LEF1AS1 and lncCEACAM21 as biomarkers of disease severity in the Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of COVID-19 patients
Authors: GRECO SIMONA , MADE’ Alisia , MUTOLI Martina , ZHANG Lu , PIELLA Santiago Nicolas , VAUSORT Mélanie , LUMLEY Andrew I. , BELTRAMI Antonio Paolo , SRIVAST Prashant Kumar , MILANI Valentina , BOVERI Sara , RANUCCI Marco , RENNA Laura Valentina , FIRAT Hüseyin , BRUNO Antonino , SPINETTI Gaia , EMANUELI Costanza , DEVAUX Yvan , MARTELLI FABIO
Published: July 2023

Background Even after 3 years from SARS-CoV-2 identification, COVID-19 is still a persistent and dangerous global infectious disease. Significant improvements in our understanding of the disease pathophysiology have now been achieved. Nonetheless, reliable and accurate biomarkers for the early stratification of COVID-19 severity are still lacking. Long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) are ncRNAs longer than 200 nucleotides, regulating the transcription and translation of protein‐coding genes and they can be found in the peripheral blood, thus holding a promising biomarker potential. Specifically, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) have emerged as a source of indirect biomarkers mirroring the conditions of tissues: they include monocytes, B and T lymphocytes, and natural killer T cells (NKT), being highly informative for immune-related events.
Methods We profiled by RNA-Sequencing a panel of 2,906 lncRNAs to investigate their modulation in PBMCs of a pilot group of COVID-19 patients, followed by qPCR validation in 111 hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
Results The levels of four lncRNAs were found to be decreased in association with COVID-19 mortality and disease severity: HLA Complex Group 18-242 and -244 (HCG18-242 and HCG18-244), Lymphoid Enhancer Binding Factor 1-antisense 1 (LEF1-AS1) and lncCEACAM21 (i.e. ENST00000601116.5, a lncRNA in the CEACAM21 locus). Interestingly, these deregulations were confirmed in an independent patient group of hospitalized patients and by the re-analysis of publicly available single-cell transcriptome datasets. The identified lncRNAs were expressed in all of the PBMC cell types and inversely correlated with the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), an inflammatory marker. In vitro, the expression of LEF1-AS1 and lncCEACAM21 was decreased upon THP-1 monocytes exposure to a relevant stimulus, hypoxia.
Conclusion The identified COVID-19-lncRNAs are proposed as potential innovative biomarkers of COVID-19 severity and mortality.
Exploring EM-DAT for depicting spatiotemporal trends of drought and wildfires and their connections with anthropogenic pressure
Authors: Nones Michael , Hamidifar Hossein , Shahabi-Haghighi Seyed Mohammad Bagher
Published: July 2023

The relationship between drought and wildfire events and their impacts on society is of paramount importance, necessitating comprehensive studies to understand long-term trends. This manuscript utilizes the Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT) to gather data on drought and wildfire events, focusing on the number of affected people and human losses. The analysis covers the period from 1983 to 2022 and incorporates eco-hydro-socio-geographical variables such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), precipitation anomaly, population density, and forested area. The study reveals significant geographical disparities in the impacts of drought and wildfire. Asia stands out as the region most affected by these phenomena, with more than 72% of individuals experiencing their effects. In contrast, Europe and Oceania show negligible impacts, accounting for less than 1% collectively. When it comes to losses specifically caused by drought, Asia has the highest share at around 82%. Conversely, Oceanea has the lowest share, with less than 0.1% of total losses attributed to drought. In the case of wildfires, Africa takes the lead with 84% of total losses. On the other hand, Oceania, Europe, Asia, and America collectively contribute only 16% to the total losses, which is considerably lower. Temporal analysis indicates an increasing trend in the number of people affected by both drought and wildfire, particularly after the early 2000s, potentially attributed to climate change and improved reporting in EM-DAT. Correlation tests highlight the inverse relationship between GDP and the studied parameters, while precipitation anomaly exhibits an inverse correlation with wildfire-affected populations. Forested area significantly correlates with wildfire-related damages.
Safety and efficiency of video-assisted thoracoscopic wedge resection as day surgery for lung neoplasms using enhanced recovery after surgery: a single-center retrospective cohort study
Authors: Lou Jieqiong , Ye Bo , Zheng Yue , Dai Jinjie , Chen Yong , Li Bo , Wu Jingxiang , Wu Siyin , Ge Ling , Hou Xumin
Published: July 2023

Background
Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols and minimally invasive technology have improved clinical outcomes and reduced hospital stay length. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficiency of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) wedge resection as day surgery for lung neoplasms.
Methods
This single-center, retrospective cohort analysis was performed from August 2022 to November 2022. A total of 1043 patients scheduled to undergo VATS wedge resection were included, comprising 294 patients for day surgery and 749 patients for inpatient surgery. After propensity score matching (1:1), 568 patients were included in the final analysis, with 284 in the day surgery group and 284 in the inpatient surgery group. Matching was performed on the basis of sex, age, medical insurance, smoking history, diabetes history, hypertension history, surgical side and type of neoplasm.
Results
In the day surgery group, the 24 h discharge rate was 43.31% (123/284), and the 48 h discharge rate was 97.54% (277/284). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of postoperative complications (2.46% vs. 4.23%, p = 0.243), with prolonged air leaks being the most common complication. However, the total incidence of anesthesia-related adverse events was lower in the day surgery group than in the inpatient surgery group (23.59% vs. 36.27%, p = 0.001), and postoperative pain scores were also significantly lower in the day surgery group. In terms of medical efficiency and economy, the day surgery group showed a shorter length of total hospital stay (1.73 ± 0.81 vs. 4.80 ± 1.52 days, p < 0.001) and postoperative stay (1.54 ± 1.10 vs. 2.55 ± 0.92 days, p < 0.001), as well as lower total hospitalization costs (47440.30 ± 10870.63 vs. 57276.89 ± 12126.13 RBM, p < 0.001) and significant reductions in drug costs, materials costs for treatment and anesthesia costs.
Conclusions
The study results demonstrated that VATS day surgery can reduce hospital stay and pain, decrease hospitalization expenses, and optimize the use of medical resources while maintaining the same quality of medical care for selected patients. These results indicate the safety and efficiency of VATS wedge resection as day surgery for lung neoplasms when implemented using ERAS protocols.
Assessment of borehole failure and drilling rationale using geospatial Technique in Unilorin, North-central, Nigeria
Authors: Fatoyinbo¹ A. A. , Ishola K.S. , Okolie C. J. , Daramola O.E. , Hamid-Mosaku I. A. , Ipadeola O. A. , Arungwa I. D. , Ogbeta C. O.
Published: July 2023

Notwithstanding the pre-drilling geophysical surveys, the failure rates and suboptimal productivity of some boreholes within the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) is calling for concern. On the background, this present study investigated the hydrogeological capability and potentiality of some borehole sites. To achieve this, an inventory of 47 boreholes with an existing lineament density map and Groundwater Potential Zonation (GWPZ) map of Ilorin South local government area were integrated. These boreholes were categorized based on the lineament density and groundwater potentiality. The results showed that 85% of the sampled boreholes were sited on zones of low groundwater potential (LGWP) while 15% were on zones of moderate groundwater potential (MGWP). Also, 4% of the boreholes coincided with zones of moderate lineament density and 96% of boreholes coincided with zones of low lineament density, and no borehole was found to coincide within areas of high lineament density. Conclusively, 83% of these boreholes (39 units) were drilled due to logistics motives (e.g., cost consideration, proximity to facilities, and/or as cosmetic projects) while only 17% of these boreholes (8 units) were drilled on account of scientific necessity or after the appropriate geoscientific evaluation was done. It is hoped that the findings in this study will benefit stakeholders and practitioners in water resource management.
New autophagy-modulating lanostane-type triterpenoids from a hallucinogenic poisonous mushroom Gymnopilus orientispectabilis
Authors: Kim Ki Hyun , Lee Seulah , Jang Mina , Ryoo Rhim , Ko Sung-Kyun
Published: July 2023

Gymnopilus orientispectabilis, also known as "big laughter mushroom,” is a hallucinogenic poisonous mushroom that causes excessive laughter upon ingestion. From the fruiting bodies of G. orientispectabilis, eight lanostane-type triterpenoids (1-8), including seven novel compounds: gymnojunols A-G (2-8), were isolated. The chemical structures of these new compounds (2-8) were determined by analyzing their 1D and 2D NMR spectra and HR-EISMS, and their absolute configurations were unambiguously assigned by quantum chemical ECD calculations and a computational method coupled with a statistical procedure (DP4+). Upon evaluating autophagic activity, compounds 2, 6, and 7 increased LC3B-II levels in HeLa cells to a similar extent as bafilomycin, an autophagy inhibitor. In contrast, compound 8 decreased the levels of both LC3B-I and LC3B-II, and a similar effect was observed following treatment with rapamycin, an autophagy inducer. Our findings provide experimental evidence for new potential autophagy modulators in the hallucinogenic poisonous mushroom G. orientispectabilis.
Understanding the nutritional, structural, and physicochemical properties and in vitro digestibility of thermally-treated whole grain highland barley
Authors: Xu Jingwen , Ai Yaxuan , Zhao Yong
Published: July 2023

This study focused on the effect of thermal processing including atmospheric boiling (AB), high-pressure boiling (HPB), and baking (B) on the nutritional and structural properties, gelatinization properties, and in vitro digestibility of starch and protein of whole grain highland barley (HB). Various thermal processing affected the nutritional profile and pasting properties of HB at different extent due to the function of heat-moisture or dry heat. Starch gelatinization of AB-HB and HPB-HB was promoted compared to untreated native HB, whereas, B-HB delayed starch gelatinization. Thermal processing reduced the relative crystallinity of HB compared to untreated native HB. Processing of AB and HPB increased the content of rapidly digestible starch (RDS) and decreased the contents of slowly digestible starch (SDS) and resistant starch (RS) compared to native HB. There was no significant difference of contents of RDS, SDS, and RS between B-HB and untreated native HB. Estimated glycemic index (eGI) of AB-HB and HPB-HB was significantly increased compared to native HB, whereas, eGI of B-HB was significantly reduced. Protein digestibility of native and B-HB was significantly lower than that of AB-HB and HPB-HB during gastric digestion. In the intestinal digestion, protein digestibility of HPB-HB was the highest, then followed by AP-HB, native HB, and B-HB. Digestion and thermal processing both influenced molecular weight of protein subunits of HB. Overall, this research provided theoretical foundation for the effect of thermal processing on whole grain HB regarding to the nutritional profile, physiochemical properties, and in vitro digestibility of starch and protein.
Maternal antibiotic exposure and the risk of developing antenatal or postpartum depression: The Maternal Experience Study protocol
Authors: Pouranayatihosseinabad Mahsa , Taylor Maggie , Hawrelak Jason , Peterson Gregory M. , Veal Felicity , Ling Tristan , Williams Mackenzie , Whatley Megan , Ahdieh Kyan , Mirkazemi Corinne
Published: July 2023

Background

Limited epidemiological evidence suggests a link between antibiotic use and the development of depression. This study seeks to investigate this association in-depth, using a cohort of pregnant individuals. The primary aim is to explore any association between antibiotic use during pregnancy, delivery, and within 12 months postpartum, and the development of antenatal and/or postpartum depression.

Methods

A national prospective, observational, longitudinal cohort study has been designed to examine the relationship between the use of antibiotics during pregnancy and the development of antenatal depression up to the third trimester (32-42 weeks), as well as the use of antibiotics during pregnancy and within 12 months postpartum and the development of depression during the postpartum period. The development of depression is considered as either a diagnosis by a medical doctor and/or a scoring 13 or higher on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Data will be collected using online surveys, during the third trimester, and at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months postpartum. These surveys include a wide range of variables previously identified as being associated with antenatal and postpartum depression (such as level of social support, history of depression, and intimate partner abuse), as well as antibiotic and probiotic use. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on both participants’ pregnancy experience and their mental health will also be explored. Recruitment began in August 2021, using a combination of online paid and unpaid advertisements, as well as distribution of the study flyer in relevant clinics and public spaces. It is anticipated that data collection will be completed in early 2024.

Discussion

This study will provide a much-needed update on the prevalence of depression during pregnancy and postpartum, and its associated factors. It will also, for the first time, comprehensively explore the potential association between antibiotic use during pregnancy and up to 12 months postpartum and the development of depression. Additionally, it will provide a better understanding of the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnant individuals in Australia.
A Review on the Prevalence and Management of Fibroadenoma Cases in Ages 18-39 Years Within 2016-2020 At Asokoro District Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria.
Authors: Ogochukwu Anaziah Grace
Published: July 2023

Fibroadenomas are one of the most common benign tumors of the breast in women between 18–39 years of age. In the adolescent population, the overall incidence of fibroadenoma is 2.2% and they account for 68% of all breast masses and 44–94% of biopsied breast lesions.
A fibroadenoma feels like a firm, smooth or rubbery lump in the breast with a well-defined shape. It is painless and moves easily when touched. Although healthy breast tissue often feels lumpy, a new lump or change in the breasts should be examined by a physician.
This research study was to determine the prevalence of Fibroadenoma primarily in females between ages 18–39 years (with ages < 18 years and post-menopausal ages in view) at Asokoro District Hospital within a five-year period.
The data collected for this five years study indicated a fall and rises of breast samples received at Asokoro District Hospital (Clinical Pathology Unit). From the total number of breast tissues received and processed by the Clinical pathologist, there was a constant increase in the number of fibroadenoma cases amongst ages 18–39 years (which is the active reproductive years of a female).
The prevalence of fibroadenoma in ages 18–39 years, indicated an instability in the reproductive hormones of the female due to estrogen and progesterone receptors. According to Greenberg R, Skornick Y, Kaplan O (September 1998), these hormones stimulated the fibroadenomas via hormone-receptor mechanism leading to excessive proliferation of epithelial and stromal cells but undergo atrophy during menopause. The constant and alarming increase in fibroadenoma cases suggests a progressive and harbored mutations in the exon (exon 2) of the mediator complex subunit 12 (MED12) gene of the stromal cells of the breast which leads to the excessive proliferation. Hence, this indicates that an unhealthy diet pattern over the years could be the leading cause of this hormonal imbalance and stromal cell mutation. These findings agree with the discoveries made by Lee M, Soltanian HT (2015) on the “conditions associated with fibroadenoma”.
Furthermore, according to the November 2018 edition of "Fibroadenomas of the Breast", complex/multiple fibroadenoma cases in the pre-menopausal years of a female, could result in phyllodes tumor at the age of 45–59 (post-menopausal years) which increases the risk of breast cancer. The data collected in this research showed evidence of these cases between ages 40–59 years. which indicates a growing risk of breast cancer each year.
Treatment and management of fibroadenoma cases includes (but are not limited to), surgical removal, proper healthy diet/lifestyle pattern and medical counselling (especially in the active reproductive years of the female) is top priority in reducing the occurrence of fibroadenomas in young adults.
Illicit Trade Uncovered? The Increase of Small-Scale Fishery Seafood Sales During COVID-19 Lockdown in Portugal
Authors: Zejnilovic Leid , Lavado Susana , Grilo Catarina , Sa Rita , Faias Sergio
Published: July 2023

Illicit trading of seafood with hotels, restaurants, and caterers (the HORECA sector) by small-scale fisheries is suspected to be widespread, but estimates rely on heuristics and limited evidence. We hypothesized that when the HORECA selling channel became unavailable, due to the COVID-19 lockdown, an increase in the reported catch in official data indicates the amount of unreported fishing and illicit seafood trade. We analysed a comprehensive dataset of 5 million first sale of seafood transactions by 3,715 small-scale fishers catching 351 species in Portugal from 2017 to 2020. The analysis shows an overall decline in reported catch and number of fishers during the lockdown. Albeit there were significant increases in reported catch volume in regions where historically high tourism activity declined, often for high-value species. This study offers an alternative way to estimate potential illicit seafood trade among small-scale fisheries and practical examples of proactively addressing the illicit trade issue.
Cerebral aneurysm walls contain myoglobin that is possibly produced by myofibroblasts and contributes to wall thickening
Authors: Kimura Hidehito , Mori Tatsuya , Hayashi Kosuke , Ikeuchi Yusuke , Tanaka Kazuhiro , Shinohara Masakazu , Tomiyama Akio , Kohmura Eiji , Sasayama Takashi
Published: July 2023

Cerebral aneurysms rupture at a thin-walled region; however, mechanisms underlying aneurysmal wall thinning and thickening remain unclear. In this study our objective was to uncover the biological basis for these findings. Cerebral aneurysmal wall samples were collected between August 2020 and March 2022 for proteomic analysis and immunohistology. We examined the co-localization of myoglobin expression within smooth muscle cells, identified by α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) staining, and myofibroblasts, identified by periostin staining. Furthermore, we measured collagen density in the samples using Sirius Red staining and investigated its correlation with myoglobin density. Analysis of proteins extracted from aneurysmal walls detected expression of myoglobin only in the thickened wall. Among 24 formalin-fixed aneurysmal wall samples, 19 expressed myoglobin. Myoglobin was scattered or clustered within the vascular smooth muscle layer and tended to be expressed at sites other than where inducible nitric oxide synthase was identified. Double-label immunofluorescence staining confirmed that the myoglobin-positive rate within α-SMA-positive cells and α-SMA-positive areas was 33.2 ± 23.8% and 31.3 ± 37.8%, respectively, whereas within periostin-positive cells and periostin-positive areas, it was 92.2 ± 13.7% and 79.8 ± 29.5, respectively. A moderate correlation was observed between the density of myoglobin and collagen in the same sample field, with a Spearman's rank correlation coefficient of 0.593 (p = 0.036). Cerebral aneurysmal walls express myoglobin, which may be produced by myofibroblasts in the wall. Areas with high myoglobin levels retain high levels of collagen fibers, and myoglobin may be involved in wall thickening by suppressing destructive changes in the extracellular matrix collagen fibers.
Cell-specific modulation of mitochondrial respiration and metabolism by the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members Bax and Bak
Authors: Sovilj Dana , Kelemen Cristina Daniela , Dvorakova Sarka , Zobalova Renata , Raabova Helena , Kriska Jan , Hermanova Zuzana , Knotek Tomas , Anderova Miroslava , Klener Pavel , Filimonenko Vlada , Neuzil Jiri , Andera Ladislav
Published: July 2023

Proteins from the Bcl-2 family play an essential role in regulation of apoptosis. However, they also possess cell death-unrelated activities that are less well understood. This prompted us to study apoptosis-unrelated activities of the Bax and Bak, pro-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family. We prepared Bax/Bak-deficient human cancer cells of different origin and found that while respiration in the glioblastoma U87 Bax/Bak-deficient cells was greatly enhanced, respiration of Bax/Bak-deficient B lymphoma HBL-2 cells was slightly suppressed. Bax/Bak-deficient U87 cells also proliferated faster in culture, formed tumours more rapidly in mice, and showed modulation of metabolism with considerably increased NAD+/NADH ratio. Follow-up analyses documented increased/decreased expression of mitochondria-encoded subunits of respiratory complexes and stabilization/destabilization of the mitochondrial transcription elongation factor TEFM in Bax/Bak-deficient U87 and HBL-2 cells, respectively. We propose that (post)translational regulation of TEFM levels in Bax/Bak-deficient cells modulates levels of subunits of mitochondrial respiratory complexes that, in turn, contribute to respiration and the accompanying changes in metabolism and proliferation in these cells.
Upcycling of Polylactic acid to 2-Bromopropionates and Lactates
Authors: Liang Jianhao , Tang Peifeng , Fu Jinxia , Lan Xinmeng , Wu Yu , Zhang Qin , Kang Shimin
Published: July 2023

The valorization and recycling of bioderived polylactic acid (PLA) have garnered significant attentions. In this study, a pioneering approach using hydrogen bromide (HBr) catalysis for the degradation of PLA to 2-bromopropionates and lactates is presented. Both HBr solution and HBr-HAc (acetic acid) solution were found to be efficient for the process. Notably, the HBr solution predominantly yields lactic acid (LA) with an exceptional yield of ≥ 99 mol% at temperatures ranging from 80 to 110 oC. Conversely, the HBr-HAc solution yields both 2-bromopropionic acid (2BA) and LA, with 2BA yield achieving a remarkable yield of 55.2 mol% at 100 oC. Subsequently, esterification of the PLA derived 2BA and LA was conducted, and a serious of 2-bromopropionates and lactates were synthetized. Furthermore, the impact of reaction factors was investigated via multivariate analysis methods.
Secured Vanet Using Block Chain-sdn Controller and MF-WWO-MCC
Authors: S Thenappan , A Arun C.
Published: July 2023

The development of Vehicle Ad hoc NETwork (VANET) has resulted from the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS). This makes vehicles communicate with each other and provides solutions to the hectic traffic problem. This paper proposes a blockchain-based edge computing framework using Matching Factor-Water Wave Optimization-Montgomery Curve Cryptography (MF-WWO-MCC) to achieve secured communication. Initially, all the vehicles on the road are initialized; also, their details are registered in the blockchain using Inverse-3times Rotate Right Secure Hashing Algorithm (I-3RR-SHA-512). The trustworthiness of the user is evaluated when the user(vehicle) enters into a new Road Side Unit (RSU). Next, for data requests, the authentication of the normal user is verified. Then, by employing the Intuitionistic Fuzzy Set-K-Means Algorithm (IFS-KMA), which assigns RSU as cluster centroids, the vehicles are clustered. Next, through the Software Defined Network (SDN) controller, the requests are transferred to the RSU. In the end, by employing MF-WWO-MCC, the encrypted data is forwarded to the requested user vehicle. The proposed techniques’ performance is validated by analogizing against the prevailing methodologies.
A retrospective cohort study on the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic on assessments and hospital admissions within a specialist adolescent eating disorder service
Authors: Wadsworth Robynne , Hochard Kevin , Doyle Lesley , Watkin Anna , Jaydeokar Sujeet
Published: July 2023

Eating disorder services worldwide were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic experience, including its associated counter-measures. We examined the effect of the pandemic on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of young people assessed and admitted by a specialist adolescent eating disorder service in the Northwest of England (UK). Routinely collected electronic data in the two years following the World Health Organisation declaration of a global pandemic in March 2020, was compared with data collected in the preceding two years.
This service experienced a 21% increase in assessments from the two years pre-COVID (n=78) to the two years following the pandemic onset (n=120), Inpatient admissions also increased by 10%. The pandemic had no effect on admission setting, with approximately 20% admitted to specialist eating disorder units, 40% to paediatric wards and 40% to adolescent mental health units, consistently across the four years. No significant difference in sociodemographic characteristics of young people within the service before or during the pandemic was found. However, self-rated eating disorder pathology at assessment was significantly more severe following the pandemic. Fewer admission had a recorded comorbid diagnosis of an Autistic Spectrum Condition following the pandemic compared to those admitted pre-pandemic.
These findings quantify the increase in demand for highly specialist adolescent eating disorder services since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a higher severity of psychopathology managed outside of hospital. This has implications for service design, allocation of resources and future delivery of appropriate models of care to young people.
Multiple Giant Cystic-solid Hemangioblastomas in the Cerebellopontine Angle and Bilateral Cerebellar Hemispheres: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Song Lvmeng , Wu Xia , Xia Shixue , Cheng Yinchuan , Xia Xiaochao , Wang Zihao , Li Shun
Published: July 2023

Multiple giant cystic-solid hemangioblastomas (HMGs) located in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) and bilateral cerebellar hemispheres are extremely rare. This article describes a 54-year-old female patient who was admitted to the hospital with "headache with hearing loss in both ears for 2 months". Physical examination showed that the patient was conscious and Romberg’s sign was positive. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suggested multiple irregular cystic-solid abnormal signals in the right CPA and bilateral cerebellar hemispheres. A complete resection of the tumor was performed via midline suboccipital approach, and the patient's headache symptoms were relieved significantly after the operation, and the cranial nerve function was well protected. The diagnosis of hemangioblastoma was supported by the results of postoperative immunohistochemical staining.
Mesenteric and omental lymphatic malformations in children: seven-year surgical experience from two centers in China
Authors: Yan Jiayu , Fu Yao , Liu Shuting , Bai Yuzuo , Chen Yajun
Published: July 2023

Purpose To compare the clinical characteristics, surgical management and prognosis of mesenteric lymphatic malformations (ML) and omental lymphatic malformations (OL) in children.
Methods This retrospective study included 148 ML patients and 53 OL patients who underwent surgical treatment at two centers between January 2016 and December 2022. Details of the patients’ clinical characteristics, cyst characteristics, preoperative complications, surgical methods, and prognosis were retrieved and compared.
Results No significant differences between ML and OL patients were noted in sex ratio, prenatal diagnosis, and age of diagnosis. The presence of vomiting was more common in ML patients than in OL patients (46.6% vs. 22.6%, P = 0.002), but OL patients were more likely to be misdiagnosed (35.8% vs. 18.8%, P = 0.012). The size of cysts in OL patients was significantly larger than that in ML patients (14.0 [8.0, 17.3] vs. 10.0 [6.0, 13.0] cm, P＜0.001), and cysts with turbid fluid were more common in OL patients (38.0% vs. 20.6%, P＜0.001). Cyst excision was performed in 137 (92.6%) ML patients and 51 (96.2%) OL patients, and the incidence of postoperative complications was lower (12.6% vs. 4.2%, P = 0.165) among the latter. The main postoperative complications included adhesive ileus and recurrence of cysts. Additionally, laparoscopic surgery was more commonly undergone among OL patients (69.8% vs. 39.2%, P＜0.001).
Conclusions Compared with ML patients, OL patients are more prone to misdiagnosis and infection, but the prognosis of surgical treatment is better. Laparoscopic cyst excision may be the preferred treatment for OL patients.
The Impact of the 2008-2009 Global Crisis on Loan Applications and Access to Finance
Authors: D. Kaya Halil
Published: July 2023

In this study, we examine new loan applications made by manufacturing firms in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. We compare the pre-global crisis and post-global crisis loan applications. We find that fewer manufacturers applied for a new loan post-crisis (45.89% vs 29.91%). When we compare the main reasons for manufacturers not applying for a new loan pre- vs. post-crisis, we find that, after the crisis, more firms stated that there was no need for a loan. Also, more firms stated that application procedures were complex, interest rates were not favorable, and they did not think it would be approved. On the other hand, fewer manufacturers stated that post-crisis, collateral requirement was too high, the size of loan and maturity were insufficient, and it was necessary to make informal payments (i.e., corruption). Overall, our findings suggest that while certain aspects of financing for manufacturers improved after the crisis, others deteriorated. We also find that there was a statistically significant decrease in the percentage of manufacturers that had their financial statements checked/certified by an external auditor. Finally, post-crisis, “access to finance” was seen as a smaller obstacle by manufacturers. We conclude that the reason for fewer manufacturers applying for a new loan post-crisis was not all measures of “access to finance”; it was rather the lack of a need for a new loan and certain aspects of “Access to finance”.