bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Formation and evolution of an Early Cambrian foreland basin in the NW Yangtze Block, South China
Authors: Gu Zhidong , Jian Xing , Watts Anthony B. , Zhai Xiufen , Liu Guixia , Jiang Hua
Published: December 2022

The Ediacaran to Cambrian succession in the NW Yangtze Block has long been considered to have formed in a passive margin. The Ediacaran is dominated by thick carbonate rocks, whereas the Lower Cambrian comprises a thick clastic succession. The transition from carbonate to clastic rocks and the provenance and tectonic setting of the clastic succession are poorly understood. Stratigraphic correlation shows a distinct stratigraphic absence from the Lower Cambrian to Devonian in the Bikou terrane. A regional seismic profile shows a wedge geometry of the Lower Cambrian from NW to SE. Outcrops reveal an overall coarsening-upward Lower Cambrian succession. The petrographic analysis of clastic rocks indicates immaturity, implying a proximal source. Palaeocurrent measurements of clastic rocks point to dominant SE-vergent orientations. The age spectra of detrital zircons imply that they were derived from Early Cambrian continental arcs and older continental crust. Geological, geophysical and geochemical evidence indicates that an Early Cambrian foreland basin was formed in the NW Yangtze Block. This foreland basin appears to have been strongly influenced by orogenic loading northwestward. We propose that this orogenic event should be named the Motianling orogeny, the origin of which may be related to subduction of the Proto-Tethys ocean beneath the NW Yangtze Block.

Supplementary material:
Supplementary tables A–D and a petrological description of detrital zircons are available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.6332980
On the Origins of Mind: A Comparative Perspective
Authors: Durdevic Kresimir , Call Josep
Published: December 2022

One of the most fundamental questions in cognitive science pertains to how the mind emerges and develops, that is, what is the origin of mind? In this article we use comparative data to contribute to three important questions about the origin of human and nonhuman minds: ( a) which human psychological traits are ancestral and which ones are derived (i.e., which traits can we assume to be unique to humans), ( b) whether language has a role in developing psychological abilities, and ( c) what the cognitive architecture of animal minds looks like. Based on our selective review, we conclude that ( a) deductive reasoning, rather than relational or belief reasoning, is so far the best candidate for a human-unique derived cognitive ability, ( b) language and symbolic representation are not necessary for the emergence of conceptual and abstract thinking, and ( c) support for a modular cognitive architecture in animals is mixed.
Inhibition and Creativity in Aging: Does Distractibility Enhance Creativity?
Authors: Yang Lixia , Kandasamy Kesaan , Hasher Lynn
Published: December 2022

As a fundamental attention regulation process, inhibition serves to selectively filter out distraction (i.e., access), dampen activation of automatically activated irrelevant or no-longer-relevant information (i.e., deletion), and select for task-appropriate thoughts and/or responses in the face of competition (i.e., restraint). Inhibition allows us to direct attention or processing toward target information, thoughts, or actions. It is affected by several factors and is especially compromised with aging as demonstrated in both behavioral and neuroimaging research. Nevertheless, older adults show significant and durable plasticity in inhibition performance. Heightened distractibility as a result of impaired inhibition in older adults can manifest as a cost or a benefit with a tendency to be related to better creativity performance when distraction becomes task relevant. In this article, we review the components of inhibitory theory, summarizing intraindividual variability and interindividual differences in inhibition, with a specific focus on the inhibitory deficit associated with aging. The review also brings together theories and empirical findings to support the relationship between inhibitory deficit and creativity in the context of aging.
High Capacity Aqueous Bi/BiOCl Battery in AlCl3 Electrolytes with pH Mitigation
Authors: Lam Wai-Yu Ashley , Chan Kwong-Yu , Li Chi-Ying Vanessa
Published: December 2022

Rechargeable aqueous batteries have attracted much attention for large-scale energy storage applications. Bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) is considered as one of the desirable electrode materials for its low cost, environmental benignity, and synergy with desalination technologies. Herein, we report the electrochemical activity of BiOCl in different metal ion chloride solutions of different pH. A high surface area electrode of nanosheet BiOCl on carbon cloth (n-BiOCl) is fabricated and exhibited outstanding rate capability in optimal AlCl3 electrolyte with capacities of 221 mAh g−1 at ∼1.1 A g−1 and 181 mAh g−1 at ∼4.4 A g−1. The present work demonstrates not only the potential use of nanosheet BiOCl in a large-scale energy storage system, but also the advantages of using AlCl3 electrolyte to enhance performance of aqueous batteries.
Hybrid Aluminum-Ion Capacitor with High Energy Density and Long-Term Durability
Authors: Il Kim Yong , Kim Bumjin , Baek Jeonghun , Kim Jong-Huy , Yoo Jungjoon
Published: December 2022

Hybrid capacitors have been extensively investigated owing to their potential applications in advanced devices to satisfy the requirements of high-energy, high-power, and extended cycle life. With the aim of significantly improving the performance of such devices, we propose a novel hybrid aluminum-ion capacitor (AIC) utilizing pore-size-controlled activated carbon as the cathode, Al foil as the anode, and an AlCl3-based ionic liquid as the electrolyte. The AIC exhibits high gravimetric and volumetric energy densities (51 W h kg−1 and 28 mW h cm−3, respectively), exceeding those of electrochemical double-layer capacitors and comparable to those of Li-ion capacitors. The hybrid device also exhibits a long-term cycle life, with a capacitance retention of 97.9% after 10,000 cycles, and a coulombic efficiency of 97.6%–99.9% over a specific current range of 0.1–5.0 A g−1. Therefore, high-performance AICs, obtained by optimizing the electrode materials have the potential to be cost-effective and safe, with high-energy and power density.
Existing States of Co-Deposited Hydrogen in Electrolessly Deposited Copper Films from EDTA Complex Bath
Authors: Fukumuro Naoki , Tohda Kosuke , Yae Shinji
Published: December 2022

The existing states of co-deposited hydrogen in copper films electrolessly deposited from an ethylenediaminetetraacetatic acid complex bath were investigated using thermal desorption spectroscopy. Small desorption peaks at 500–700 K and large desorption peaks at 900–1300 K were observed in the as-deposited copper film, and these were attributed to the break-up of vacancy-hydrogen clusters and the desorption of molecular hydrogen from nanovoids, respectively. Moreover, an unknown desorption peak appeared at around 390 K. The total amount of desorbed hydrogen from the copper film in atomic ratio was 1.2 × 10−2, most of which was non-diffusible hydrogen desorbed above 800 K. A large number of nanovoids distributed in the grains were observed in the copper film. After 7 days, no significant change in hydrogen desorption above 500 K was observed, while the unknown desorption peak around 390 K disappeared. The as-deposited copper film showed lattice expansion and compressive residual stress, which were reduced after 7 days. Therefore, we attributed the unknown desorption peak appearing at around 390 K to the desorption of hydrogen atoms trapped by regular interstitial sites in the copper lattice.
Fractional-Order Active Disturbance Rejection Controller Design for Large Radio Telescope Antenna
Authors: Jiang Jian-Yu , Wu Bin , Zhou Ting
Published: December 2022

large radio telescope antennas are required in current astronomical research and deep space communication applications. The wind disturbance becomes a serious problem with an increase in the size of the antennas. Based on the typical antenna model, this work aims to design a fractional-order active disturbance rejection controller (FOADRC) for improving the accuracy of the antenna pointing mechanism in wind disturbance. First, the fractional-order active disturbance rejection control scheme is chosen to estimate and compensate both the wind disturbance and other uncertain mechanical dynamics. Afterwards, the relationship between the parameters of fractional-order extended state observer and the performance of disturbance suppression and noise immunity is revealed. The stability of fractional-order extended state observer is proved under similar assumptions as an integer order extended state observer. In addition, a stability region boundary calculation method is presented to simplify the parameter setting procedure. Finally, we perform simulations to verify the superiority of FOADRC in the antenna control system under wind disturbance. The results demonstrate that FOADRC has a good capability of resisting wind disturbance; at the same time, it limits the response overshoot and converges faster compared to other industrial controllers.
A Novel Epoch-Based Transaction Consistency Sorting Protocol for DAG Distributed Ledger
Authors: Li Rong , Wang Shangping , Xie Na
Published: December 2022

Because of the characteristics of decentralization, immutability, and transparency, blockchain has gradually become a new and revolutionary technology, which has far-reaching significance for the development of modern technology. However, the traditional Bitcoin blockchain that supports synchronous consensus suffers from the fatal flaw of low throughput. To improve throughput, a number of DAG distributed ledgers have been proposed that support asynchronous consensus, all of which allow multiple nodes to process concurrent transactions asynchronously. However, most DAG distributed ledgers do not implement consistent sorting of transactions, making it difficult to deploy smart contracts. To overcome this problem, in this paper, an epoch-based transaction consistency sorting protocol for DAG distributed ledger is proposed, which not only provides the possibility for the deployment of smart contracts but also can be used to resolve conflicting transactions in the ledger. Transaction consistency sorting protocol provides a more reasonably ordered list of all transactions by taking scalars, such as the set of their own past and future, parent block, and timestamp. In addition, through theoretical analysis, the stability and rationality of the transaction consistency sorting protocol are proved, and there is no Condorcet cycle. Finally, the simulation results demonstrate the protocol is efficient and achieve a throughput of at least 2000 transactions per second.
Chloride Adsorption on EDTA Intercalated MnFe-LDHs: Characterization, Performance, and Application
Authors: Han Xue
Published: December 2022

Ethylenediamine tetraacetate-intercalated Fe-Mn layered double hydroxides (MnFe-EDTA-LDHs) were prepared by coprecipitation. The influence of different factors on Cl− adsorption by MnFe-EDTA-LDHs was investigated. Additionally, MnFe-EDTA-LDHs were incorporated into the concrete to study the Cl− erosion properties. The result showed that the Cl− adsorption on MnFe-EDTA-LDHs was affected by the initial pH, dosage, and coexisting anions. The Cl− adsorption process by MnFe-EDTA-LDHs accorded with the pseudo-second-order model and the Redlich–Peterson model. The maximum adsorption capacity of Cl− on MnFe-EDTA-LDHs reached 129.50 mg/g. The adsorption mechanism involved the complexation of O-containing groups, ion exchange, and electrostatic interaction. Moderate additions of MnFe-EDTA-LDHs improved the resistance of the concrete to Cl− erosion, while excessive additions reduced the Cl− erosion resistance. This work indicated that MnFe-EDTA-LDHs effectively retarded the Cl− erosion on concrete.
Influence of Milk on Exhaled Carbon Monoxide (CO) Measurement by Portable CO Monitors
Authors: Miyoshi Kiho , Kurioka Narito , Kawazoe Sadahiro , Miyawaki Takashi , Bittoun Renee
Published: December 2022

Background. A portable breath carbon monoxide (CO) monitor has a high cross-sensitivity to hydrogen (H2). This study examined the influences of H2 after consuming milk on the detected CO values using three types of portable CO monitors. Materials and Methods. Exhaled breath from seven participants (four healthy nonsmokers and three smokers with otherwise unknown comorbidities) was collected in sampling bags. The participants then consumed 200 mL of milk, and the exhaled breath of each was collected in separate bags every 30 minutes until 9 hours later. CO and H2 in the bag were measured using a gas chromatograph as a reference analyzer, and CO was also measured using three types of portable CO monitors. Results. After consuming milk, H2 levels were significantly higher, and CO levels were not significantly elevated as measured by the reference analyzer. However, CO levels in monitors A and B were significantly elevated, even though participants did not smoke. The H2 levels in the reference analyzer significantly increased and reached a maximum 4.5 hours after consuming milk. The difference in CO levels between the reference analyzer and each monitor increased significantly after 5 or 5.5 hours. Conclusions. This study suggested that the breath CO monitors with a cross-sensitivity to H2 responded to H2 as CO in the exhaled gas and measured higher than actual values after milk consumption. The extent of the influence of H2 differed depending on the type of CO monitor. It is necessary to consider milk consumption when assessing the smoking status of people using portable CO monitors.
Inhibition of Prostaglandin E2 Receptor EP3 Attenuates Oxidative Stress and Neuronal Apoptosis Partially by Modulating p38MAPK/FOXO3/Mul1/Mfn2 Pathway after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Rats
Authors: Liu Yu , Liu Rui , Huang Lei , Zuo Gang , Dai Jiaxing , Gao Ling , Shi Hui , Fang Yuanjian , Lu Qin , Okada Takeshi , Wang Zhifei , Hu Xiao , Lenahan Cameron , Tang Jiping , Xiao Jie , Zhang John H.
Published: December 2022

Oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis contribute to pathological processes of early brain injury (EBI) after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Previous studies demonstrated that the inhibition of prostaglandin E2 receptor EP3 suppressed oxidative stress and apoptotic effects after Alzheimer’s disease and intracerebral hemorrhage. This study is aimed at investigating the antioxidative stress and antiapoptotic effect of EP3 inhibition and the underlying mechanisms in a rat mode of SAH. A total of 263 Sprague–Dawley male rats were used. SAH was induced by endovascular perforation. Selective EP3 antagonist L798106 was administered intranasally at 1 h, 25 h, and 49 h after SAH induction. EP3 knockout CRISPR and FOXO3 activation CRISPR were administered intracerebroventricularly at 48 h prior to SAH, while selective EP3 agonist sulprostone was administered at 1 h prior to SAH. SAH grade, neurological deficits, western blots, immunofluorescence staining, Fluoro-Jade C staining, TUNEL staining, 8-OHdG staining, and Nissl staining were conducted after SAH. The expression of endogenous PGES2 increased and peaked at 12 h while the expression of EP1, EP2, EP3, EP4, and Mul1 increased and peaked at 24 h in the ipsilateral brain after SAH. EP3 was expressed mainly in neurons. The inhibition of EP3 with L798106 or EP3 KO CRISPR ameliorated the neurological impairments, brain tissue oxidative stress, and neuronal apoptosis after SAH. To examine potential downstream mediators of EP3, we examined the effect of the increased expression of activated FOXO3 following the administration of FOXO3 activation CRISPR. Mechanism studies demonstrated that L798106 treatment significantly decreased the expression of EP3, p-p38, p-FOXO3, Mul1, 4-HNE, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3 but upregulated the expression of Mfn2 and Bcl-2 in SAH rats. EP3 agonist sulprostone or FOXO3 activation CRISPR abolished the neuroprotective effects of L798106 and its regulation on expression of p38MAPK/FOXO3/Mul1/Mfn2 in the ipsilateral brain after SAH. In conclusion, the inhibition of EP3 by L798106 attenuated oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis partly through p38MAPK/FOXO3/Mul1/Mfn2 pathway post-SAH in rats. EP3 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for SAH patients.
A Novel Threat Intelligence Information Extraction System Combining Multiple Models
Authors: Li Yongfei , Guo Yuanbo , Fang Chen , Liu Yingze , Chen Qingli
Published: December 2022

The increasing number of cyberattacks has made the cybersecurity situation more serious. Thus, it is urgent to use cyber threat intelligence to deal with the complex and changing cyber environment. However, cyber threat intelligence usually exists in an unstructured form, and a huge amount of data poses a great challenge to security analysts. To this end, this paper proposes a novel threat intelligence information extraction system combining multiple models, which contains four key steps: entity extraction, coreference resolution, relation extraction, and knowledge graph construction. In the entity extraction task, a multihead self-attention mechanism is adopted to extract the dependency relationships between words. In the coreference resolution task, contextual information and mention embedding are fused to improve the mention representation. Meanwhile, features of different dimensions are extracted using a convolutional neural network. In the relation extraction task, additional features such as part of speech, mention width, entity type, and distance of entity pairs are incorporated to improve the embedding representation. Finally, a knowledge graph is constructed to explicitly present entities and their relationships. Experimental results indicate that compared with the baseline model, the F1 score of our model is improved by at least 8.87, 9.82, and 10.56 on entity extraction, coreference resolution, and relation extraction, respectively. The knowledge graph in Neo4j demonstrates the effectiveness of our system.
Construction and Structural Analysis of Inter‐Regional Industrial Circular Network: A Case of the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yellow River in China
Authors: Yin Chong , Cui Yingxin , Liu Yue , Su Xiaoni
Published: December 2022

Imbalance, incoordination, and inter‐regional economic segmentation of the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River (MLYR) have brought challenges to high‐quality development in the Yellow River basin. To solve the problem, from the perspective of optimization of inter‐regional economic circulation, combining input‐output technology and complex network model, we proposed a systematic framework for structural analysis of circular economy and applied it in analysis of economic circulation of the MLYR. Firstly, we defined the inter‐regional industrial circular network (ICN) and proposed the construction method of the ICN. Secondly, we designed indicators such as network, cycle, and inter‐regional circulation effects to measure the structural characteristics of industrial circular network. Thirdly, the models and indicators were applied to explore the structural factors, revealing how the economic circulation was hindered and imbalance of development happened in the MLYR. We found that the external inter‐regional circulation of the provinces was more differentiated, and limitation of utilization of technological resources and inter‐regional capital flow, and weak investment and consumption demand for emerging services inhabited the quantity and vitality of cycles, which resulted in the imbalance of regional development in the MLYR. The results provide a basis for the suggestion, such as collaborative scientific and technological innovation, building a unified and efficient financial market, and development of emerging industries. The model and method were verified in the case of the MLYR and have practical meaning in supporting policy‐making on promoting high‐quality development of China.
An Industrial Approach to Production of Tofacitinib Citrate (TFC) as an Anti-COVID-19 Agent: A Joint Experimental and Theoretical Study
Authors: Siadati Seyyed Amir , Soheilizad Mehdi , Firoozpour Loghman , Samadi Marjan , Payab Meghdad , Bagherpour Saeed , Mousavi Seyyed Mehdi
Published: December 2022

In this report, we have presented our experience about a facile method for synthesis of tofacitinib citrate (TFC). The developed analytical methods for identification and qualifications are also included. As TFC seems to be effective in treatment of the symptoms of COVID-19 (SARS family), manufacturing of this active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) could be helpful. The API of TFC was prepared from the diamine intermediate in an ambient and solvent-free condition. Elimination of the reaction solvent resulted in decreasing the cost and preventing the rejection of the organic volatile impurity (OVI) test. The final citrate addition step was carried out using water as a solvent (the citrate content was 37.5% by potentiometry). Moreover, the results of the Karl-Fischer (KF) titration analysis was about 0.24%, which showed that the use of water does not increase the water content of the crystal structure.
Nitrogen Deficiency Tolerance and Responsiveness of Durum Wheat Genotypes in Ethiopia
Authors: Aga Tesfaye Geleta , Abera Fetien Abay , Tufa Tesfaye Balemi , Abebe Kebebew Assefa , Abeyo Bekele Geleta , Ayana Negash Geleta
Published: December 2022

Development of low-nitrogen (N) tolerant and N-responsive durum wheat genotypes is required since nitrogen efficiency has emerged as a highly desirable trait from economic and environmental perspectives. Two hundred durum wheat genotypes were evaluated at three locations under optimum (ON) and low (LN) nitrogen conditions to screen genotypes for low-nitrogen tolerance and responsiveness to an optimum N supply. The results showed significant variations among the durum wheat genotypes for low-N tolerance and responsiveness. The average reduction in grain yield under the LN condition was 48.03% across genotypes. Only 17% of the genotypes tested performed well (grain yield reduction <40%) under LN conditions. Based on the absolute grain yield, biomass yield, and normalized difference vegetative index value, on average, 32, 14, 17, and 37% of the tested genotypes were classified as efficient and responsive, efficient and nonresponsive, inefficient and responsive, and inefficient and nonresponsive, respectively. Considering the absolute and relative grain yield, biomass yield, normalized difference vegetative index values, and stress tolerance indices as selection criteria, 17 genotypes were chosen for subsequent breeding. Among the screening indices, geometric mean productivity, stress tolerance index, yield index, and stress susceptibility index exhibited positive and significant correlations with grain yield under both N conditions; hence, either of these traits can be used to select low-N-tolerant genotypes. The common genotypes identified as LN-tolerant and responsive to N application in this study could be used as parental donors for developing N-efficient and responsive durum wheat varieties.
Mitochondrial DNA Mutations as Natural Barcodes for Lineage Tracing of Murine Tumor Models
Authors: Penter Livius , ten Hacken Elisa , Southard Jackson , Lareau Caleb A. , Ludwig Leif S. , Li Shuqiang , Neuberg Donna S. , Livak Kenneth J. , Wu Catherine J.
Published: December 2022

Murine models are indispensable tools for functional genomic studies and preclinical testing of novel therapeutic approaches. Mitochondrial single-cell assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (mtscATAC-seq) enables the dissection of cellular heterogeneity and clonal dynamics by capturing chromatin accessibility, copy-number variations (CNV), and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations, yet its applicability to murine studies remains unexplored. By leveraging mtscATAC-seq in novel chronic lymphocytic leukemia and Richter syndrome mouse models, we report the detection of mtDNA mutations, particularly in highly proliferative murine cells, alongside CNV and chromatin state changes indicative of clonal evolution upon secondary transplant. This study thus demonstrates the feasibility and utility of multi-modal single-cell and natural barcoding approaches to characterize murine cancer models.

Significance:

mtDNA mutations can serve as natural barcodes to enable lineage tracing in murine cancer models, which can be used to provide new insights into disease biology and to identify therapeutic vulnerabilities.
Protein Phosphatase 1 Subunit PPP1R14B Stabilizes STMN1 to Promote Progression and Paclitaxel Resistance in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Liao Li , Zhang Yin-Ling , Deng Ling , Chen Chao , Ma Xiao-Yan , Andriani Lisa , Yang Shao-Ying , Hu Shu-Yuan , Zhang Fang-Lin , Shao Zhi-Min , Li Da-Qiang
Published: December 2022

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents the most lethal subtype of breast cancer due to its aggressive clinical features and the lack of effective therapeutic targets. To identify novel approaches for targeting TNBC, we examined the role of protein phosphatases in TNBC progression and chemoresistance. Protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 14B (PPP1R14B), a poorly defined member of the protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunits, was aberrantly upregulated in TNBC tissues and predicted poor prognosis. PPP1R14B was degraded mainly through the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. RPS27A recruited deubiquitinase USP9X to deubiquitinate and stabilize PPP1R14B, resulting in overexpression of PPP1R14B in TNBC tissues. Gain- and loss-of-function assays demonstrated that PPP1R14B promoted TNBC cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, invasion, and resistance to paclitaxel in vitro. PPP1R14B also induced xenograft tumor growth, lung metastasis, and paclitaxel resistance in vivo. Mechanistic investigations revealed that PPP1R14B maintained phosphorylation and stability of oncoprotein stathmin 1 (STMN1), a microtubule-destabilizing phosphoprotein critically involved in cancer progression and paclitaxel resistance, which was dependent on PP1 catalytic subunits α and γ. Importantly, the tumor-suppressive effects of PPP1R14B deficiency could be partially rescued by ectopic expression of wild-type but not phosphorylation-deficient STMN1. Moreover, PPP1R14B decreased STMN1-mediated α-tubulin acetylation, microtubule stability, and promoted cell-cycle progression, leading to resistance of TNBC cells to paclitaxel. Collectively, these findings uncover a functional and mechanistic role of PPP1R14B in TNBC progression and paclitaxel resistance, indicating PPP1R14B is a potential therapeutic target for TNBC.

Significance:

PPP1R14B upregulation induced by RPS27A/USP9X in TNBC increases STMN1 activity, leading to cancer progression and paclitaxel resistance.
Multistrain Probiotics Supplement Alleviates Asthma Symptoms via Increasing Treg Cells Population: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Authors: Abbasi-Dokht Tannaz , Sadrifar Sina , Forouzandeh Sarvenaz , Malek Farhad , Hemmati Maral , Kokhaei Parviz , Salek Farrokhi Amir , Baharlou Rasoul
Published: December 2022

Introduction: The favorable effects of probiotics have been demonstrated in allergic disorders. However, the underlying immunological mechanisms are poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the improvement of clinical symptoms and immunological balance after receiving probiotics in patients with asthma. Methods: The present study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which 40 patients with asthma were enrolled. They were treated with probiotics or placebo: 1 capsule/day for 8 weeks. Pulmonary function test, percentage of CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ Tregs, and gene expression of T-bet, GATA-3, RORγt, and Foxp3 in PBMCs were assessed at baseline and after treatment. Results: Our results showed a significant increase in the expression of FoxP3 and CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ Tregs population, while RORγt and GATA3 expression were reduced. In addition, pulmonary function tests showed a significant improvement in forced expiratory volume and forced vital capacity after receiving probiotics. Discussion/Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that 8-week treatment with probiotic supplementation can control T-helper 2-predominant and Th17 pro-inflammatory responses and improve forced vital and forced expiratory volume in asthmatic patients. It seems probiotics can be used besides common treatments for patients with asthma.
B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia with iAMP21 in a Patient with Constitutional Ring Chromosome 21
Authors: Baloda Vandana , Aggarwal Nidhi , Rosado Flavia G. , Mackey Sarah , Felker James , Yatsenko Svetlana A.
Published: December 2022

Pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) is associated with various specific cytogenetic and molecular markers that significantly influence treatment and prognosis. Intrachromosomal amplification of chromosome 21 (iAMP21) defines a rare distinct cytogenetic subgroup of childhood B-ALL, which is characterized by amplification of region 21q22.12 comprising the RUNX1 gene. Constitutional structural chromosomal abnormalities involving chromosome 21 confer an increased risk for B-ALL with iAMP21. Here, we report the development of B-ALL with iAMP21 in a 9-year-old child with a constitutional ring chromosome 21, r(21)c, uncovered after B-ALL diagnosis. Cytogenetic and microarray analysis of the post-therapy sample revealed an abnormal chromosome 21 lacking a satellite and having a deletion of the terminal 22q22.3 region, consistent with a constitutional ring chromosome 21, r(21)(p11.2q22). On a retrospective analysis, this ring chromosome was observed in the normal cells in the pre-treatment diagnostic specimen. Constitutional ring chromosome 21 may remain undetected in patients with mild or no neurodevelopmental phenotype, posing an unknown lifelong risk of developing B-ALL with iAMP21. Individuals with constitutional structural chromosome 21 rearrangements such as ring 21 require a close surveillance and long-term follow-up studies to establish their risk of B-ALL relapse and possibility of developing other malignancies. Germline analysis is recommended to all pediatric patients with iAMP21-related B-ALL to rule out structural chromosome 21 rearrangements and to elucidate molecular mechanisms of iAMP21 formation.
Patterns of Respiratory Support by Gestational Age in Very Preterm Infants
Authors: Norman Mikael , Jonsson Baldvin , Söderling Jonas , Björklund Lars J. , Håkansson Stellan
Published: December 2022

Introduction: A detailed understanding of respiratory support patterns in preterm infants is lacking. The aim was to explore and visualize this practice in Sweden. Methods: Preterm infants with gestational ages of 22–31 weeks, admitted to neonatal units reporting daily to the Swedish Neonatal Quality Register and discharged alive in November 2015–April 2022, were included in this descriptive cohort study. Proportions receiving mechanical ventilation, noninvasive support, or supplemental oxygen were calculated and graphically displayed for each gestational week and postnatal day (range 0–97) up to hospital discharge or 36 weeks of postmenstrual age. Results: Respiratory support in 148,515 days of care (3,368 infants; 54% males; median [interquartile range] birthweight = 1,215 [900–1,525] g) was evaluated. Trajectories showed distinct nonlinear patterns for each category of respiratory support, but differences in respiratory support over the gestational age range were linear: the proportion of infants on mechanical ventilation decreased by −11.7 to −7.3% (variability in estimates related to the postnatal day chosen for regression analysis) for each week higher gestational age (r = −0.99 to −0.87, p ≤ 0.001). The corresponding proportions of infants with supplemental oxygen decreased by −12.4% to −4.5% for each week higher gestational age (r = −0.98 to −0.94, p < 0.001). At 36 weeks of postmenstrual age, dependencies on mechanical ventilation, noninvasive support, and supplemental oxygen varied from 3%, 84%, and 94% at 22 weeks to 0%, 3%, and 5% at 31 weeks of gestational age, respectively. Conclusions: Respiratory support patterns in very preterm infants follow nonlinear, gestational age-specific postnatal trajectories in a dose-response-related fashion.
Domains for a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment of Older Adults with Chronic Kidney Disease: Results from the CRIC Study
Authors: Chiu Venus , Gross Alden L. , Chu Nadia M. , Segev Dorry , Hall Rasheeda K. , McAdams-DeMarco Mara ,   the CRIC Study Investigators
Published: December 2022

Introduction: A comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) tailored to the chronic kidney disease (CKD) population would yield a more targeted approach to assessment and care. We aimed to identify domains of a CKD-specific CGA (CKD-CGA), characterize patterns of these domains, and evaluate their predictive utility on adverse health outcomes. Methods: We used data from 864 participants in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort aged ≥55 years and not on dialysis. Constituents of the CKD-CGA were selected a priori. Latent class analysis informed the selection of domains and identified classes of participants based on their domain patterns. The predictive utility of class membership on mortality, dialysis initiation, and hospitalization was examined. Model discrimination was assessed with C-statistics. Results: The CKD-CGA included 16 domains: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, five frailty phenotype components, depressive symptoms, cognition, five kidney disease quality-of-life components, health literacy, and medication use. A two-class latent class model fit the data best, with 34.7% and 65.3% in the high- and low-burden of geriatric conditions classes, respectively. Relative to the low-burden class, participants in the high-burden class were at increased risk of mortality (aHR = 2.09; 95% CI: 1.56, 2.78), dialysis initiation (aHR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.06, 2.52), and hospitalization (aOR = 2.00; 95% CI: 1.38, 2.88). Model discrimination was the strongest for dialysis initiation (C-statistics = 0.86) and moderate for mortality and hospitalization (C-statistics = 0.70 and 0.66, respectively). Conclusion: With further validation in an external cohort, the CKD-CGA has the potential to be used in nephrology practices for assessing and managing geriatric conditions in older adults with CKD.
Real-World Multiple Comparison of Transcatheter Aortic Valves: Insights From the Multicenter OBSERVANT II Study
Authors: Costa Giuliano , Barbanti Marco , Rosato Stefano , Seccareccia Fulvia , Tarantini Giuseppe , Fineschi Massimo , Salizzoni Stefano , Valvo Roberto , Tamburino Corrado , Biancari Fausto , Baglio Giovanni , Santoro Gennaro , Baiocchi Massimo , D’Errigo Paola ,   the OBSERVANT II Research Group
Published: December 2022

Background:

Head-to-head comparisons of devices for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) are mostly limited to 2-arm studies so far. The aim of this study was to compare simultaneously outcomes of the most used, second- and third-generation transcatheter aortic valves in a real-world population.

Methods:

A total of 2728 patients undergoing TAVI with different second- and third-generation devices, and enrolled in the multicenter, prospective OBSERVANT II study (Observational Study of Effectiveness of TAVI With New Generation Devices for Severe Aortic Stenosis Treatment) from December 2016 to September 2018 were compared according to the transcatheter aortic valve received. Outcomes were adjudicated through a linkage with administrative databases, and adjusted using inverse propensity of treatment weighting. The primary end point was the composite of all-cause death, stroke and rehospitalization for heart failure at 1-year. Rates were reported consecutively for Evolut R, Evolut PRO, SAPIEN 3, ACURATE neo, and Portico groups.

Results:

The primary end point did not differ among groups (23.9% versus 24.7% versus 21.5% versus 23.7% versus 27.4%, respectively,
P
=0.56). Permanent pacemaker implantation was significantly lower for patients receiving SAPIEN 3 (19.9% versus 19.3% versus 12.5% versus 14.7% versus 22.1%, respectively,
P
<0.01) at 1 year. The SAPIEN 3 had lower rates of paravalvular regurgitation (moderate-to-severe grade 10.1% versus 5.0% versus 2.1% versus 13.1% versus 10.8%, respectively,
P
<0.01) but higher transprosthetic gradients (median mean gradients 7.0 versus 6.0 versus 10.0 versus 7.0 versus 8.0 mm Hg, respectively,
P
<0.01) after TAVI.

Conclusions:

Data from real-world practice showed low and comparable rates of complications after TAVI considering all the available devices. Patients receiving SAPIEN 3 valve had lower rates of paravalvular regurgitation and permanent pacemaker implantation, but higher transprosthetic gradients.
Seed priming using Moringa oleifera leaf decoction increases BPT 5204 rice yield
Authors: Kusampudi Varun , Kusampudi Shilpa , B.S. Lakshmi
Published: December 2022

The present study screened different concentrations of Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) leaf decoction (M. oleifera hot water extract-MWE) (100, 10, 1, and 0.1 g/L) to investigate their potential in increasing the yield of BPT 5204 rice variety. We aimed to analyze the effect of MWE on rice yield with different modes of treatment such as seed soaking, root treatment, and foliar spray. Rice seeds were soaked at different concentrations of MWE for 24 h before seeding. Plants grown from rice seeds soaked in 100 g/L MWE produced 6.6 tons/ha yield, whereas, roots of rice seedlings soaked for 4 h in varied MWE concentrations before transplantation and plants treated with 100 g/L MWE produced an yield of 6 tons/ha. In the last group, 45 day old rice plants were subjected to foliar spray with varying concentrations of MWE, where the foliar spray of rice plants with 100 g/L MWE showed a 6.5 tons/ha yield. As plants grown from rice seeds soaked in 100 g/L MWE produced a high yield, the leaves from these plants were analyzed to study the effect of MWE treatment on phenylalanine lyase and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and nitric oxide levels and genes involved in rice yield. The leaves of plants grown from rice seeds soaked in 100 g/L MWE showed increased H2O2 and SAM2 gene levels compared to control plants. This study reports the potential role of MWE as an environmentally safe, cost-effective and easy-to-use biostimulant for enhancing yield of rice.
The Ontology of the City in the Quran: A Study Based on Ibn ‘Āšūr’s Commentaries in the Book of al-Taḥrīr wa al-Tanwīr
Authors: Muhamad
Published: December 2022

Ibn ‘Āšūr was an interdisciplinary commentator. His thoughts on the development and civilization of Islam are remarkable and spectacular. This article discusses Ibn ‘Āšūr’s thoughts on the response of the Quran to one of the civilization issues, especially in the city definition. Ontology dimensions of the city still play an essential role and basis for understanding the urban characteristics in establishing civilizational construction. This study is based on the thematic interpretation method (maudū’ī) by explaining six-city terms according to Ibn Āšūr’s interpretation in the Book al-Taḥrīr wa al-Tanwīr. The findings illustrate that city definition is more context-oriented to the region’s functioning than the linguistic explanation, while the function of an area determines the scale of the city. Overall, this study presents the approach of Ibn ‘Ašūr in exegeting the Quran by combining the Quran sciences with urban theories.
Hadith Palsu Moden Dan Bentuk-Bentuknya Dalam Realiti Semasa
Authors: Ahmad Khadher , Ariffin Mohd Farhan Md , Nasir Mohd Khairulnazrin Mohd
Published: December 2022

The propagation of bogus hadiths within the Muslim community can no longer be ignored due to the advancement of modern technology. The Internet and social media give a platform for the unfettered transmission of any material, including weak and fake hadiths. The purpose of this study is to present a new narrative on fake hadiths and describe the varieties of “contemporary fake hadiths” that are prevalent in the community. All relevant documentary and video information is studied using inductive, deductive, and descriptive methods in order to provide a foundation for a discussion of modern fake hadith along with pertinent examples. According to the findings of the study, a modern fake hadith is a statement that claims to be related to the Prophet Muhammad SAW, whether the statement has a basis of evidence but is misunderstood or does not have a basis of evidence but is associated with the Prophet SAW. The types of modern fake hadith are: [1] testimony and claims of meeting the Prophet accompanied by an alibi. [2] Testimony and assertions from the hadith, but based on a misunderstanding of the hadith’s or text’s content, and, [3] False evidence and assertions that are based directly on the Prophet SAW or not, and are not of the type of false hadith that have been recorded in existing fake hadith publications. In conclusion, the dissemination of erroneous hadith within the community today is not confined to what has been reported in al-Da‘ifat wa al-Mawdu‘at. There are still hadiths and modern fake rumours that continue to expose society to diverse comments and claims attributed to the Prophet SAW for a variety of purposes.
Clinical effect of modified fixed protraction treatment in children with crossbite
Authors: Wang Wei , Liu Qingwen , Zhu Yunge
Published: December 2022

To compare the effect of modified fixed protraction for patients with crossbite. 20 patients with crossbite are included in this clinical study and are randomly allocated to following two groups: Patients with the modified fixed protraction are considered as experiment group and patients with conventional fixed protraction are considered as control group, and the clinical material from two groups patients with crossbite are collected, and lateral cephalogram, treatment time, protraction dislodging or loss times in two group are measured and analyzed. Our outcomes show that patients by the modified fixed protraction show less protraction dislodging or loss times and less treatment time than those by conventional fixed protraction, post-treatment lateral cephalogram by modified fixed protraction and the conventional fixed protraction is significantly better than those in pre-treatment. It can conclude that the modified fixed protraction can effectively correct the crossbite, and the modified fixed protraction is promising tool to treat the patients with crossbite.
Poly-2-oxazoline nanoparticles potentiate effectiveness of vismodegib for breast cancer through improvement in pharmacokinetics and reduction in systemic toxicity
Authors: Lu Yanqin , Yang Yiming , Liu Xiaohui , Li Ning , Hu Fen , Zhang Bolin , Dai Hao , Cai Haifeng , Yan Yan Jinyin
Published: December 2022

Breast cancer is one of the most significant health challenges in the world. Vismodegib has been used for treatment of breast cancer limits the prescriptions of this drug. Therefore, it is of great significance to improve therapeutic effect of vismodegib therapy. This study modified
the vismodegib with poly-2-oxazoline (POx) nanoparticles (POx-vismo) and examined the therapeutic potential of this approach for treating breast cancer. After preparation of POx-vismo micelles, they were characterized and loading efficiency, which was also measured by high performance liquid
chromatography. The POx-vismo and vismodegib were administered to mice with breast cancer and healthy, respectively. Tumor, forebrain and blood samples were taken for analysis of pharmacokinetics and measurement of toxicity, where the concentration of POx was determined. Pharmacodynamic response
was evaluated and Western blot analysis was used to determine the expression of retinoblastoma protein (pRB) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Compared with traditional vismodegib, POx-vismo significantly improved the delivery efficiency of drugs in central nervous system accompanied
with higher level of vismodegib. Administration with POx-vismo greatly improved the pharmacokinetics, diminished the toxicity, and strengthened the efficacy. POx-vismo therapy more effectively suppressed tumor cell growth and decreased pRB expression than oral administration of vismodegib.
Collectively, the POx effectively served as a carrier of vismodegib in breast cancer and brain. POx-vismo micelles suppressed breast cell growth with low toxicity and addition of POx can enhance the efficacy of vismodegib for breast cancer and improves pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic
response. These findings provide a novel insight into the drug therapy against the disorder.
Fabrication and characterization of 4-aminoantipyrine electrospun nanofiber polymer membranes for rapid visualization of pentachlorophenol in water samples
Authors: Liu Bolin , Wang Deqian , Yang Zihao , Zhao Yong , Xie Jing , Zhong Jian , Wang Zhengquan
Published: December 2022

In this work, we pioneered the development of a novel 4-aminoantipyrine loaded polylactic acid electrospun membrane for visualization and rapid detection of pentachlorophenol in water samples. The morphology, pH value, selectivity and detection sensitivity of electrospun membranes were
systematically studied and optimized. The study found that the detection limit of the electrospun nanofiber polylactic acid membrane loaded with 4-aminoantipyrine was 0.4 mg/L, and the effective detection time was 0.5 h. The membranes have good stability after one month of storage in the dark
at room temperature, the selectivity of 4-aminoantipyrineloaded polylactic acid electrospun membranes to other and its analogs in aqueous environment was then compared. The actual sample (including drinking water, tap water used in our lives, lake water and temporary water samples collected
during production, transportation and distribution of fish) test result is negative. The fast-response electrospun nanofiber polylactic acid membrane loaded with 4-aminoantipyrine have available detection limits, simple detection methods, fast detection times, no secondary contamination of
the solution to be tested, and the amount of sample required extremely small, showed great potential for materials science, environmental monitoring and food safety inspection.
Formation Mechanisms of the Mesoscale Environment Conducive to a Downslope Windstorm over the Cuyamaca Mountains Associated with Santa Ana Wind during the Cedar Fire (2003)
Authors: Karim S. M. Shajedul , Lin Yuh-Lang , Kaplan Michael L.
Published: December 2022

Numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the upstream environment’s impacts on the airflow over the lee slope of the Cuyamaca Mountains (CM) near San Diego, California, during the Cedar Fire that occurred from 25 to 29 October 2003. The upstream environment was largely controlled by a southwest–northeast-oriented upper-tropospheric jet streak that rotated around a positively tilted ridge within the polar jet stream. Three sequential dynamical processes were found to be responsible for modifying the mesoscale environment conducive to low-level momentum and dry air that sustained the Cedar Fire. First, the sinking motion associated with the indirect circulation of the jet streak’s exit region strengthened the midtropospheric flow over the southern Rockies and the lee slope of the Sawatch and San Juan Ranges, thus modestly affecting the airflow by enhancing the downslope wind over the CM. Second, consistent with the coupling process between the upper-level sinking motion, downward momentum transfer, and developing lower-layer mountain waves, a wave-induced critical level over the mountain produced wave breaking, which was characterized by a strong turbulent mixed region with a wind reversal on top of it. This critical level helped to produce severe downslope winds leading to the third stage: a hydraulic jump that subsequently enhanced the downstream extent of the strong winds conducive to the favorable lower-tropospheric environment for rapid fire spread. Consistent with these findings was the deep-layer resonance between the mountain surface and tropopause, which had a strong impact on strengthening the severe downslope winds over the lee slope of the CM accompanying the elevated strong easterly jet at low levels.