bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sun Power Implementation for Public Parking Area in Perum Villa Mutiara Serpong, Tangerang Selatan, Banten
Authors: Nur Qosim Muchamad , Pujotomo Isworo , Hasanah Aas Wasri , Hariyati Rinna
Published: November 2021

Keberadaan penerangan jalan dan atau fasilitas umum adalah salah satu hal yang sangat penting demi kenyamanan warga khususnya di area parkir mobil malam hari. Tetapi, tidak semuanya telah terpasang penerangan seperti halnya di area lapangan tanah, blok B/C tahap 1, Villa Mutiara Serpong, Pondok Jagung, Tangerang Selatan. Area ini merupakan lahan Fasum yang areanya masih tanah, dan sebagian besar belum terpasang lampu untuk penerangan seluruh areanya, karena parkir mobil juga membutuhkan pencahayaan yang cukup penting untuk memantau hal yang tidak diinginkan, oleh karena itu diperlukan pemasangan penerangan fasilitas umum tersebut dan jalan dalam hal ini berupa lampu tenaga surya sebagai alternatif efektif untuk solusi dalam penerangan dan pengurangan biaya pemakaian energi listrik dari PLN. Lampu tenaga surya di pasang di titik strategis yaitu di area yang sedikit pencahayaannya. Lampu yang digunakan adalah lampu daya 60-90 watt guna lebih terang lebih bagus. Selain untuk penerangan jalan dan fasilitas umum, analisis ekonomi juga dilakukan pada kegiatan ini dengan cara membandingkan total biaya yang diperlukan antara penerangan lampu pijar dengan tenaga surya.

Dimana didapat selisih nominal dalam rupiah Rp 2.607.455 lebih efisien dari PJU lampu pijar, dan lampu tenaga surya tidak dipengaruhi oleh TDL (tarif dasar listrik).
Public Capita and Growth: The Role of Institutions in Development
Authors: EKA Fred
Published: November 2021

This study analyzes the links between public capital and growth using an econometric model of simultaneous equations, estimated on a panel of forty-three developing countries over the period 2003-2020. This growth model explains the determinants of GDP and public and private capital stocks. The accumulation of public, private and human capital generates externalities that are sources of endogenous growth. However, the formation of public capital generated a crowding out effect, to the detriment of that of private capital, because of differentiated budgetary constraints. Our results show that several developing countries have moved away from an optimal structure for the growth of sharing of available capital between the public and private sectors. In doing so, are institutions a prerequisite for the economic development of African countries.
Working collection of carotenogenic microalgae living cultures of A. O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas
Authors: Dantsyuk N. V. , Chelebieva E. S. , Minyuk G. S.
Published: November 2021

The article contains information on the specialized working collection of carotenogenic microalgae maintained by the staff of the animal physiology and biochemistry department of A. O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of RAS (IBSS). The collection was established within the framework of IBSS scientific and applied research to study the mechanisms of stress tolerance in eurybiontic and extremophilic single-celled phototrophs and to identify commercially significant sources of highly valuable ketocarotenoids of astaxanthin group used for medicine and food production. The collection contains 44 microalgal strains of various taxonomic and ecological specialization with a pronounced ability to hypersynthesize secondary carotenoids and lipids under extreme conditions (drying, nutrient starvation, high-intensity illumination, extreme temperature and salinity, effect of toxicants, etc.). The main ways to replenish the fund are direct exchange of carotenogenic species with leading Russian and foreign collections of microalgae and own field sampling in the Black Sea areas of Crimea and Caucasus. The majority of strains in the collection represent two orders of the class Chlorophyceae: Chlamydomonadales (25 strains) and Sphaeropleales (15 strains), since the phenomenon of secondary carotenogenesis is widespread in these orders. Out of them, inhabitants of ephemeral freshwater ponds predominate, as well as aerophilic and soil microalgae. All strains are maintained under controlled conditions on agarized mineral media as pure cultures. Description of the collection accession includes the following data: a) current taxonomic status of the species verified according to updated information from corresponding collections and algological databases, namely AlgaeBase and NCBI Taxonomy Browser; b) species basionym and known synonyms; c) date and source of the strain deposition; d) author’s surname, geographic location, and biotope, from which the strain was isolated; e) accession number of sequences associated with the strain in NCBI (if any); and f) nutrient medium, on which the strain is maintained in the IBSS collection. The significance of the collection for morphological, biological, physiological, and biochemical studies of growth, secondary carotenogenesis, and biotechnological potential in green microalgae is discussed.
Assessing Groundwater Vulnerability Potential using Modified DRASTIC in Ajabshir Plain, NW of Iran
Authors: Moghaddam Asghar Ashari , sangarab Sorayya Nouri , Ilkhchi Ali Kadkhodaie
Published: November 2021

The vulnerability of groundwater, as the primary source of water for human survival, should be assessed for the purpose of pollution management. The Ajabshir plain, one of the major agricultural areas in the northwest of Iran, is always prone to pollution. Therefore, to prevent the increase in pollution, it is necessary to determine the polluting factors and areas prone to groundwater pollution. In this study, by modifying the DRASTIC method using the land-use layer, called DRASTICL, vulnerable areas and pollution index were mapped. To ensure dealing with the uncertainty of the parameters, the DRASTICL model was optimized utilizing the Sugeno-type fuzzy inference system. The models were validated based on nitrate pollution. The correlation of DRASTICL and its optimized model with the nitrate pollution are 0.31 and 0.80, respectively. The results of this study show that integrating the DRASTIC model and fuzzy knowledge is an instrumental way for assessment of vulnerability potential.
Passive and Active Slab Waveguide Mode Analysis Using Transfer Matrix Method
Authors: Khorrami Yaser , Fathi DAVOOD , Khavasi Amin , Rumpf Raymond C.
Published: November 2021

We present a general approach for numerical mode analysis of the multilayer slab waveguides using the Transfer Matrix Method (TMM) instead of the Finite Difference Frequency Domain (FDFD) method. TMM consists of working through the device one layer at a time and calculating an overall transfer matrix. Using the scattering matrix technique, we develop the proposed method for multilayer structures. We find waveguide modes for both passive and active slabs upon determinant analysis of the scattering matrix of the slab. To do this, we enhance the formulation of spatial scattering matrix to reach spatiotemporal scattering matrix. Our proposed technique is more efficient and faster than other numerical methods. Simulation results show either the spatial modes of inactive and hybrid spacetime modes of active planar waveguide. Also, spacetime wave packets can be seen using plane wave injection into the time-dependent slab waveguide instead of previously reported diffraction-free wave packets which have been obtained using the multifrequency input injection into the un-patterned inactive slab waveguides.
Perirenal White Adipose Tissue Browning and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition, Contributes To Tumor Development in Kidney Cancer
Authors: Ferrando Matias , Bruna Flavia , Romeo Leonardo , Contador David , Moya-Morales Daiana , Santiano Flavia , Zyla Leila , Gomez Silvina , Lopez-Fontana Constanza Matilde , Calvo Juan Carlos , Carón Rubén Walter , Toneatto Judith , Pistone-Creydt Virginia
Published: November 2021

Tumor cells can interact with neighboring adipose tissue and adipocyte dedifferentiation appears to be an important aspect of tumorigenesis. We evaluated the size of adipocytes in human adipose explants from normal (hRAN) and kidney cancer (hRAT); changes in the expression of WAT and BAT/beige markers in hRAN and hRAT; and changes in the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) cell markers; in human kidney tumor (786-O, ACHN and Caki-1) and non-tumor (HK-2) epithelial cell lines incubated with the conditioned media (CMs) of hRAN and hRAT. We observed that hRAT adipocytes showed a significantly minor size compared to hRAN adipocytes. Also, we observed that both Prdm16 and Tbx1 mRNA and the expression of UCP1, TBX1, PPARγ, PCG1α, c/EBPα LAP and c/EBPα LIP was significantly higher in hRAT than hRAN. Finally, we found an increase in vimentin and N-cadherin expression in HK-2 cell incubated for 24 h with hRAT-CMs compared to hRAN- and control-CMs. Furthermore, desmin and N-cadherin expression also increased significantly in 786-O when these cells were incubated with hRAT-CMs compared to the value observed with hRAN- and control-CMs. The results obtained, together with the results previously published by our group, allow us to conclude that perirenal white adipose tissue browning and epithelial-mesenchymal transition, contributes to tumor development in kidney cancer.
Predictive modeling of hospital Length of Stay in COVID-19 patients using Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Orooji Azam , Shanbehzadeh Mostafa , Kazemi-Arpanahi Hadi , Shafiee Mohsen
Published: November 2021

BackgroundThe current pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) causes unexpected economic burdens to worldwide health organizations with severe shortages in hospital bed capacity and other related medical resources. Therefore, predicting the length of stay (LOS) is essential to ensure optimal allocating scarce hospital resources and inform evidence-based decision-making. Thus, the purpose of this research is to construct a model for predicting COVID-19 patients' hospital LOS by multiple multilayer perceptron-artificial neural network (MLP-ANN) algorithms. Material and MethodsUsing a single-center registry, the records of 1225 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 hospitalized cases from February 9, 2020, to December 20, 2020, were analyzed. The correlation coefficient technique was developed to determine the most significant variables as the input of the ANN models. Only variables with a correlation coefficient at the P-value< 0.2 were used in model construction. Ultimately the prediction models were developed based on 12 ANN techniques according to selected variables. ResultsAfter implementing feature selection, a total of 20 variables was determined as the most relevant predictors to build the models. The results indicated that the best performance belongs to a neural network with 20 and 10 neurons in the hidden layer of the Bayesian Regularization classifier for whole and selected features with RMSE of 1.6213 and 2.2332, respectively. Conclusion﻿The developed model in this study can help in the better calculation of LOS in COVID-19 patients. This model also can be leveraged in hospital bed management and optimized resource utilization.
Does More Voluntary “Green” Information Disclosure Cut Down the Cost of Equity: Heavy Pollution Industries in China
Authors: Wendai Lv , Jing Feng , Bin Li
Published: November 2021

Focusing on the unique background of the coexistence of mandatory and voluntary disclosure of environmental information by domestic companies in heavy pollution industries for which is lost sight of in the existing literature. The purpose of this paper is to identify, under the premise of compulsory disclosure of environmental information in the financial report and separate environmental report, whether the further voluntary environmental information disclosure in the corporate social responsibility (CSR_E) captures the discount from investors during equity financing. Employing the sample of 4390 China’s A-share listed companies in the heavy pollution industries between 2010 and 2018, we adopt Python to conduct texture analysis and image recognition, applying the fixed effect regression model to text hypothesizes, within the robust analysis, our empirical results show that the CSR disclosure, higher quality of CSR reports, greater extent of CSR_E disclosure including accurate environmental investment information as well as the amount of graphs and texts all have the positive impact on the cost reduction of equity financing. Moreover, the degree of CSR_E disclosure in reducing cost of equity is 30 times that of CSR disclosure, which indicates that voluntary disclosure of environmental information is better to get extra discount of equity financing by satisfying favor of investors instead of keep silent on the basis of compulsory disclosure of environmental information. In addition, the charts have specific positive effects that’s not available for the text, the accurate quantitative environmental information creates more values for those enterprises disclosed. This study offers guidelines for regulatory authorities to explore the coordination effect of mandatory and voluntary disclosure policies, and achieve environmental governance and sustainable development of enterprises by improving their corporate governance.
Selection of Moment Vectors in Protein Sequence Comparison Under Binary Representation
Authors: Pal Jayanta , Ghosh Soumen , Maji Bansibadan , Bhattacharya Dilip Kumar
Published: November 2021

Similarity/dissimilarity study of protein and genome sequences remains a challenging task and selection of techniques and descriptors to be adopted, plays an important role in computational biology. Again, genome sequence comparison is always preferred to protein sequence comparison due the presence of 20 amino acids in protein sequence compared to only 4 nucleotides in genome sequence. So it is important to consider suitable representation that is both time and space efficient and also equally applicable to protein sequences of equal and unequal lengths. In the binary form of representation, Fourier transform of a protein sequence reduces to the transformation of 20 simple binary sequences in Fourier domain, where in each such sequence, Perseval’s Identity gives a very simple computable form of power spectrum. This gives rise to readily acceptable forms of moments of different degrees. Again such moments, when properly normalized, show a monotonically descending trend with the increase in the degrees of the moments. So it is better to stick to moments of smaller degrees only. In this paper, descriptors are taken as 20 component vectors, where each component corresponds to a general second order moment of one of the 20 simple binary sequences. Then distance matrices are obtained by using Euclidean distance as the distance measure between each pair of sequence. Phylogenetic trees are obtained from the distance matrices using UPGMA algorithm. In the present paper, the datasets used for similarity/dissimilarity study are 9 ND4, 16 ND5, 9 ND6, 24 TF proteins and 12 Baculovirus proteins. It is found that the phylogenetic trees produced by the present method are at par with those produced by the earlier methods adopted by other authors and also their known biological references. Further it takes less computational time and also it is equally applicable to sequences of equal and unequal lengths.
The classification of neurodegenerative disease from acoustic speech data
Authors: Schultz Benjamin , Joukhadar Zaher , Quiroga Maria del Mar , Nattala Usha , Noffs Gustavo , Rojas Sandra , Reece Hannah , Walt Anneke van der , Vogel Adam
Published: November 2021

Neurodegenerative diseases often affect speech. Speech acoustics can be used as objective clinical markers of pathology. Previous investigations of pathological speech have primarily compared controls with one specific condition and excluded comorbidities. We broaden the utility of speech markers by examining how multiple acoustic features can delineate diseases. We used supervised machine learning with gradient boosting (CatBoost) to differentiate healthy speech and speech from people with multiple sclerosis or Friedreich ataxia. Participants performed a diadochokinetic task where they repeated alternating syllables. We extracted 74 spectral and temporal prosodic features from the speech recordings, which were subjected to machine learning. Results showed that Friedreich ataxia, multiple sclerosis and healthy controls were all identified with high accuracy (over 82%). Twenty-one acoustic features were strong markers of neurodegenerative diseases, falling under the categories of spectral qualia, spectral power, and speech rate. We demonstrated that speech markers can delineate neurodegenerative diseases and distinguish healthy speech from pathological speech with high accuracy. Findings emphasize the importance of examining speech outcomes when assessing indicators of neurodegenerative disease. We propose large-scale initiatives to broaden the scope for differentiating other neurological diseases and affective disorders.
Dynamic Nomogram Predicts Overall Survival in Patients With Occult Breast Cancer: a Population-based Analysis
Authors: Yang Xiaomin , Li Kunlong , Song Zhangjun , Wang Huxia , He Sai , Ding Yanni , Ma Dongmei , He Jianjun , Zhou Can
Published: November 2021

Background: Due the rarity of occult breast cancer (OBC), no precise prognostic instruments were available to assess the overall survival (OS) in patients with OBC. The aim of this study is to construct a nomogram for predicting the OS probability in patients with OBC. Methods: Patients who were enrolled in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database between 2004 and 2015 were regarded as subjects and studied. We constructed a dynamic nomogram that can predict prognosis in patients with OBC based on crucial independent factors by using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. C-index and calibration plots were chosen for validation. Net reclassification index (NRI), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) and DCA (Ddecision Curve Analysis) were used to evaluate the nomogram’s clinical pragmatism. Results: Totally, 693 patients with OBC were included in this study. The nomogram integrated six independent prognostic factors through multivariate Cox regression analysis, such as surgical method, radiotherapy status, chemotherapy status, ER status, AJCC-stage and age. The prediction model exhibited robustness with the C-index 0.75 (95%CI: 0.72-0.77) in training cohort and 0.79 (95%CI: 0.76-0.82) in validation group. Moreover, the calibration curves presented favorably. The NRI values of 0.61 (95%CI: 0.28-0.99) for 5-year,0.53 (95%CI: 0.23-0.77) for 8-year OS prediction in the training cohort,0.75 (95%CI: 0.36-1.23) for 5-year and 0.6 (95%CI: 0.15-1.2) for 8-year OS prediction in the validation cohort,and the IDI values of 0.1 (95%CI: 0.04-0.17) for 5-year and 0.11 (95%CI: 0.03-0.19) for 8-year OS prediction in the training cohort, 0.21 (95%CI: 0.09-0.3) for 5-year and 0.22 (95%CI: 0.08-0.32) for 8-year OS prediction in the validation cohort,, indicated that the established nomogram performed significantly better than the AJCC stage system alone. Furthermore, DCA showed that the nomogram in our study was clinically useful and had better discriminative ability than the AJCC stage system. Conclusions: A nomogram was developed and validated to accurately predict the individualized probability OS for patients with occult breast cancer (OBC) and is expected to offer guidance for strategic decision.
Hydrochemistry Characteristics of Groundwater with the Influence of Spatial Variability and Water Flow in Hetao Irrigation District, China
Authors: Yuan Hongying , Yang Shuqing , Wang Bo
Published: November 2021

Groundwater is an important resource of water in arid and semi-arid agricultural regions. This study considered the spatial differentiation of geographical features and the concentration of groundwater flow. The upstream of the Hetao Irrigation District Shenwu Irrigation Area (SWIA) and the downstream Wulate Irrigation Area (WLTIA) were selected as the study area, and a total of 85 groundwater samples (42 from SW and 43 from WLTIA) were collected. The aims of the study were to analyze the chemical composition and main control mechanisms of groundwater, and to evaluate the suitability of groundwater irrigation in the study area from the perspective of salt and alkali damage. Geological and environmental factors increase the spatial variability of groundwater chemical characteristics in the Hetao Irrigation District. In addition the groundwater of the study area is weakly alkaline, with the flow of groundwater; the solute content of downstream (WLTIA) is higher than that of upstream (SWIA); SWIA is mainly fresh water (47.62%); and WLTIA is mainly brackish water (65.12%). The main water chemistry types are Cl-Na type, Cl·SO-Ca· Mg type, Na+ and Cl− have obvious advantages in WLTIA, and they are the main contribution indicators of groundwater TDS in the study area. Rock weathering, ions exchange and evaporate crystallization are the main controlling factors for groundwater in the Hetao Irrigation District. Na+ mainly originates from the dissolution of evaporate salt rock and silicate rock, and Ca2+ from the dissolution of gypsum and carbonate. The order of contribution of different rocks is evaporation rock > silicate rock > carbonate rock, and the contribution rates of human activities and atmospheric input are small. The groundwater quality of the upstream SW is better than that of the downstream WLTIA. However, due to the high chemical ion concentration of the groundwater, most of the groundwater cannot be directly used for irrigation, which may cause salt and alkali damage. Therefore, when using groundwater irrigation, either drip irrigation or irrigation water aeration pretreatment can be used to avoid damages such as reduced soil permeability and compaction.
m6 A Regulator-Mediated Methylation Modification Patterns and Tumor Microenvironment Infiltration Characterization in Early Cervical Cancer
Authors: Sun Dan , Zhao Xingping , Zhang Aiqian , Zou Lingxiao , Huang Huan , Fan Jiangtao , Xu Dabao
Published: November 2021

Background
Cervical cancer (CC) is the malignancy of female and almost cases of cervical cancer were caused by high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Understanding the pathogenesis and characteristics of the postinfection microenvironment (PIM) in early-stage cervical cancer is needed. The mechanism of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) in the regulation of immune microenvironment in cervical cancer is unclear.
Methods
Messenger RNA (mRNA) expression profiles and clinical information of cervical cancer were downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset GSE44001. We comprehensively evaluated the m6A modification patterns in early cervical cancer and systematically correlated these modification patterns with tumor microenvironment (TME) cell-infiltrating characteristics. Analysis of tumor mutational signatures and biological enrichment analysis were also conducted.
Results
LRPPRC had the highest mutation frequency. Writers METTL14 and ZC3H13, as well as reader YTHDF3, were prognostic risk-related genes. DEGs were significantly enriched in the C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway. The m6A cluster A showed a higher level of infiltration immunocytes, and the activity of most immune cells increased. The low-m6Sig score group was poor in prognosis compared with the high-m6Sig score group. Further, we found that the 23 immunocytes, excluding plasmacytoid dendritic cells, negatively correlated with the m6Sig score.
Conclusions
Dysregulation of m6A lays a critical foundation for understanding the regulation of early CC immunity. What’s more, evaluating the m6A modification pattern of early CC contributes to enhancing our knowledge of the characteristics of PIM and provides an important insight into the efficacy of HPV treatment.
Working capacity of deep networks with topology attacks
Authors: Zhang Longjie , Chen Yong , Ali Ikram
Published: November 2021

Deep learning plays an important role in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The security of deep networks has become the crucial thing to be considered. When the deep learning algorithms are implemented in the hardware platform, the interference for topology structure will appear because of cyber-attacks. We analyze the working capacity of acyclic deep networks under the topology attacks and injection attacks. Considering the topology structure of the deep network, the maximum working capacity is studied under the topology attacks and injection attacks. Furthermore, the robustness of the random networks is researched and the structural robustness index (SRI) is proposed to measure the toleration for the topology attacks. This work supplies some suggestions for building a robust deep network and improving the endogenous safety and security (ESS) of the deep networks.
New Chronostratigraphic Constraints on the Lower Jurassic Pliensbachian–Toarcian Boundary at Chacay Melehue (Neuquén Basin, Argentina)
Authors: Al-Suwaidi Aisha H. , Ruhl Micha , Jenkyns Hugh C. , Damborenea Susana E. , Manceñido Miguel O. , Condon Daniel J. , Angelozzi Gladys N. , Kamo Sandra L. , Storm Marisa , Riccardi Alberto C. , Hesselbo Stephen
Published: November 2021

The Pliensbachian–Toarcian boundary interval is characterized by a ~3‰ negative carbon-isotope excursion (CIE) in organic and inorganic marine and terrestrial archives from sections in Europe, such as Peniche (Portugal) and Hawsker Bottoms, Yorkshire (UK). A new high-resolution organic-carbon isotope record, illustrating the same chemostratigraphic feature, is presented from the Southern Hemisphere Arroyo Chacay Melehue section, Chos Malal, Argentina, corroborating the global significance of this disturbance to the carbon cycle. The negative carbon-isotope excursion, mercury and organic-matter enrichment is accompanied by high-resolution ammonite and nannofossil biostratigraphy together with U-Pb CA-ID-TIMS geochronology derived from intercalated volcanic ash beds. A new age of ~183.71 ± 0.40/-0.51 Ma for the Pliensbachian–Toarcian boundary, and 182.77 +0.11/-0.21 for the tenuicostatum–serpentinum zonal boundary, is assigned based on high-precision U-Pb zircon geochronology and a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) stratigraphic age model.
Tracking SARS-COV-2 Variants Using Nanopore Sequencing in Ukraine in Summer 2021
Authors: Yakovleva Anna , Kovalenko Ganna , Redlinger Matthew , Liulchuk Mariia G. , Bortz Eric , Zadorozhna Viktoria I. , Scherbinska Alla M. , Wertheim Joel O. , Goodfellow Ian , Meredith Luke , Vasylyeva Tetyana I.
Published: November 2021

Since spring 2020, Ukraine has experienced at least two COVID-19 waves and has just entered a third wave in autumn 2021. The use of real-time genomic epidemiology has enabled the tracking of SARS-CoV-2 circulation patterns worldwide, thus informing evidence-based public health decision making, including implementation of travel restrictions and vaccine rollout strategies. However, insufficient capacity for local genetic sequencing in Ukraine and other Lower and Middle-Income countries limit opportunities for similar analyses. Herein, we report local sequencing of 24 SARS-CoV-2 genomes from patient samples collected in Kyiv in July 2021 using Oxford Nanopore MinION technology. Together with other published Ukrainian SARS-COV-2 genomes sequenced mostly abroad, our data suggest that the second wave of the epidemic in Ukraine (February-April 2021) was dominated by the Alpha variant of concern (VOC), while the beginning of the third wave has been dominated by the Delta VOC. Furthermore, our phylogeographic analysis revealed that the Delta variant was introduced into Ukraine in summer 2021 from multiple locations worldwide, with most introductions coming from Central and Eastern European countries. This study highlights the need to urgently integrate affordable and easily-scaled pathogen sequencing technologies in locations with less developed genomic infrastructure, in order to support local public health decision making.
Completely dechlorinating of trichloroethene by a Dehalococcoides mccartyi-containing microbial consortium in the absence of cobalamin
Authors: Li Haijun , Wei Shanming , Liu Na , Du Yalu , Ding Guantao
Published: November 2021

Completely dechlorinating of trichloroethene (TCE) by Dehalococcoides mccartyi (D.mccartyi) is catalyzed by reductive dehalogenases (RDases) which possess cobalamin as the crucial cofactor, whereas virtually all pure D.mccartyi strains isolated thus far are corrinoid auxotrophs. Exogenous addition of commercially available cobalamin for real TCE-contaminated site decontamination is deemed to be unrealistic. In this study, TCE reduction by a D.mccartyi-containing microbial consortium utilizing biosynthetic cobalamin generated by interior corrinoid-producing organisms within this mixed consortia was studied. The results confirmed that subcultures with exogenous cobalamin omitting from the medium apparently were impervious and enabled to successively metabolize TCE to non-chlorinated ethene. The 2-bromoethanesulfonate and ampicillin resistance tests results suggested that bacteria (particularly certain ampicillin-sensitive ones) rather than methanogenic archaea within this microbial consortium were responsible for biosynthesizing cobalamin. Moreover, relative stable Ɛ-carbon values of TCE among treatments in disregard of whether exogenous cobalamin or selective inhibitors were existed in the medium also speculated that cobalamin biosynthesized by these organisms was enable to uptake and utilize by D.mccartyi for RDases synthesis and eventually participated in TCE reduction. Finally, the Illumina MiSeq sequencing analysis indicated that Desulfitobacterium and Acetobacterium in this microbial consortium probably both were in charge of de novo cobalamin biosynthesis to fulfillment the requirements of D.mccartyi for TCE metabolism.
Low-Dose Continuation of Lenvatinib for the Treatment of the Patients with Unresectable Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Murakami Daizo , Nishimoto Kohei , Takao Soshi , Miyamaru Satoru , Kadowaki Tomoka , Saito Haruki , Takeda Hiroki , Ise Momoko , Suyama Koichi , Orita Yorihisa
Published: November 2021

Background

Lenvatinib, a multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), has been proven to be an effective treatment option for patients with unresectable thyroid carcinoma. However, it causes certain adverse effects (AEs), and discontinuation or dose reduction of the drug is almost unavoidable. Few studies have investigated the impact of the length, dose, or interruption of lenvatinib administration on the prognosis of patients with unresectable thyroid carcinoma. Here, we aimed to verify the significance of our efforts to continue lenvatinib therapy to the longest duration possible with a reasonable daily dose and minimum discontinuation period in patients with unresectable thyroid carcinoma.
Methods

The clinical records of 42 patients with unresectable thyroid carcinoma treated with lenvatinib between 2015 and 2020 were retrospectively studied.
Results

The Cox proportional hazard model-based analysis indicated that the overall survival (OS) of patients treated with a mean dose of lenvatinib <8 mg/day was significantly better than that of those treated with 8-24 mg/day (hazard ratio (HR)=0.38, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.03-4.99 for 1.14-4.54 mg/day, and HR=0.01, 95% CI: 0.00-0.13 for 4.56-7.97 mg/day) adjusted for various factors (sex, age, length of drug interruption, and so on). The cumulative administration dose of lenvatinib tended to be higher in patients treated with low doses (<8 mg/day) than in those treated with relatively high doses (8-24 mg/day).
Conclusion

Considering its AEs, continuation of lenvatinib administration with an adequate daily dose with drug interruption may be important for prolonging survival of patients with unresectable thyroid carcinoma.
Clinical Profiles in Acute Heart Failure
Authors: García-Gutiérrez Susana , Antón-Ladislao Ane , Quiros Raul , Lara Antonio , Rilo Irene , Rodriguez Ibon , Murga Nekane , Aguirre Urko , Quintana José M
Published: November 2021

Background:Phenotypes could be more frequently related to outcomes than classical classifications of AHF. Our goal was to identify clinical profiles for acute heart failure (AHF) based on clinical variables at the time of the patient arrival to the Emergency Department (ED).Methods:Design: Prospective cohort study. Participants: Patients with symptoms of AHF were recruited at the EDs of seven Spanish National Health Service hospitals between April 2013 and December 2014. Main measures: Information on sociodemographic, baseline functional status, medical history, and time since diagnosis was collected when the patient arrived at the ED. In addition, the MLWHF questionnaire was administered at arrival and at 1 year after discharge from the ED. Change in MLWHF score and mortality, revisits and readmissions during this first year were considered as outcomes. We combined multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) and cluster analysis (CA) to create clinical profiles.Results:A total of 1599 subjects were included in the study. Patients were located on two axes: one was defined as duration of HF and the other as cardiovascular comorbidity. Cluster analysis identified three subtypes of patient (A, B, and C), group B being most frequently corresponding to a “de novo” case. Differences in outcome, including mortality, readmissions and changes in MLWHF score, were encountered between group B and the rest of the groups, results being similar in groups A and C.Conclusions:The clinical phenotypes found were associated with clinical and patient-reported outcomes. Such clinical phenotypes could be useful in decision making processes in ED settings.Clinical registration:ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03512704
Mapping Risks Associated with Soil Copper Contamination Using Availability and Bio-Availability Proxies at the European Scale
Authors: Sereni Laura , Guenet Bertrand , Lamy Isabelle
Published: November 2021

Soil contamination by trace elements like copper (Cu) can affect soil functioning. Environmental policies with guidelines and soil survey measurements still refer to the total contents of Cu in soils. However, Cu contents in soil solution or free Cu contents have been shown to be better proxies of risks of Cu mobility or (bio)availability for soil organisms. Several empirical equations have been defined at the local scale to predict the amounts of Cu in soil solution based on both total soil Cu contents and main soil parameters involved in the soil/solution partitioning. Nevertheless, despite the relevance for risk assessment, these equations are not applied at a large spatial scale due to difficulties to perform changes from local to regional. To progress in this challenge, we collected several empirical equations from literature and selected those allowing estimation of the amount of Cu in solution, used as a proxy of available Cu, from the knowledge of both total soil Cu contents and soil parameters. We did the same for the estimation of free Cu in solution, used as a proxy of bioavailable Cu These equations were used to provide European maps of (bio-)available Cu based on the one of total soil Cu over Europe. Results allowed comparing the maps of available and bio-available Cu at the European scale. This was done with respective median values of each form of Cu to identify specific areas of risks linked to these two proxies. Higher discrepancies were highlighted between the map of bioavailable Cu and the map of soil total Cu compared to the Cu available map. Such results can be used to assess environmental-related issues for land use planning.
Moderate Exercise Protects Against Joint Disease in a Murine Model of Osteoarthritis
Authors: Huesa Carmen , Dunning Lynette , MacDougal Kayleigh , Fegen Margaret , Ortiz Ana , McCulloch Kendall , McGrath Sarah , Litherland Gary J. , Crilly Anne , Ferrell William R. , Lockhart John C. , Goodyear Carl S. , Hof Rob van 't
Published: November 2021

Exercise is recommended as a non-pharmacological therapy for osteoarthritis (OA). Clinical studies investigating the impact of exercise on OA have primarily focussed on the assessment of joint pain and mobilisation, where positive outcomes have been demonstrated. Clinical imaging studies provide limited information on the impact of exercise (positive or negative) on the actual bone and soft tissue pathology. Various exercise regimes, with differing intensities and duration, have been used in a range of OA models, with disparate results. The present study provides definitive insight into the effect of moderate exercise on early joint pathology in the destabilisation of the medial meniscus (DMM) mouse model of OA. Exercise was induced by forced treadmill walking for 3 or 7 weeks. Joints were analysed by microcomputed tomography and histology. Exercise offered protection against cartilage damage and joint inflammation, and a temporary protection against osteosclerosis. Furthermore, exercise modified the metaphyseal trabecular microarchitecture of the osteoarthritic leg. Collectively, our findings provide scientific support for the clinical recommendation of moderate exercise as a physical therapy in OA. In addition to indirect benefit via positive physiological effects of weight loss, our data suggest direct short-term benefits in ameliorating pathology of cartilage, synovitis and bone.
Performance Mechanism of Hydrogel for Enhanced Oil Recovery: A Numerical Simulation Study Based on the Phase-Field Approach
Authors: Hayatolgheibi Seyed Hosein , Ameli Forough , Moghbeli Mohammad Reza
Published: November 2021

Hydrogels are increasingly applied in oil recovery processes. This leads to more controlled flow of fluids in porous media. In this process, hydrogel is injected to the reservoir to block the high permeability areas. The trapped oil in low permeability regions, is then swept by water flooding. pH-sensitive hydrogel microspheres were synthesized in another work of the authors, which effectively increased the oil recovery factor in experimental studies. In this communication, phase-field approach was used to simulate this process and to obtain the tuning parameters of the model including thickness of the contact surface(є), phase transform parameter(M0), excess free energy(\(\wedge\)), and interfacial tension. Diffusion of hydrogels was studied by Cahn–Hilliard conservative approach and the breakage, deformation, and plugging mechanisms were analyzed, based on pressure drop variations in micromodel. Moreover, Effective parameters on oil recovery factor were analyzed. Results indicated a good agreement between experimental and modeling studies of oil recovery factor in water and hydrogel flooding with absolute errors of 2.29% and 4.06%, respectively. The recovery factor was calculated using a statistical method which was in good agreement with the modeling results. The tuned parameters of the model were reported as, є= 111.7µm, M0= 5*10-13m3/s, \(\wedge\)=-0.0003 J/m3, and δ = 2×10-5 Pa.s.
Pretreated Sugarcane Bagasse Result in More Efficient Degradation by Streptomyces sp S2
Authors: Agung Stanislaus Aditya , Yanto Dede Heri Yuli , Meryandini Anja , Sunarti Titi Candra
Published: November 2021

Streptomyces genera plays important role in lignocellulose degradation. Many research founds Streptomyces has cellulolytic and ligninolytic enzymes that sufficient to degrade lignocellulosic materials. However, minimum lignocellulosic material condition that can efficiently degraded by Streptomyces sp. has not been fully understood. In this research, three pretreament conditions (physical, alkaline-hydrotermal, and hydrogen-peroxide chemical treatments) of sugarcane bagasse used as lignocellulosic material, to further degraded by Streptomyces sp. S2. Lignocellulose component measurement conclude that raw (physical treated only) bagasse wasn’t efficiently degraded by Streptomyces sp S2. Hydrogen-peroxide was effective on reducing both syringil and guaiacyl lignin, meanwhile alkaline-hydrotermal pretreatment was very effective on reducing syringil lignin. This study suggest that hydrogen-peroxide pretreatment can be used in many type of lignocellulosic material, which can be further degraded by Streptomyces sp. S2. Alkaline-hydrotermal preteatment on the other hand is best suited to degrade lignocellulosic material that have high percentage of syringil lignin.
Pseudomonas Species Prevalence, Protein Analysis, and Antibiotic Resistance: An Evolving Public Health Challenge
Authors: Elbehiry Ayman , Marzouk Eman , Moussa Ihab , Abalkhail Adil , Ibrahim Mai , Hamada Mohamed , Rawway Mohammed
Published: November 2021

Psychrotrophic Pseudomonas is one of the significant microbes that lead to putrefaction in chilled meat. One of the biggest problems in the detection of Pseudomonas is that several species are seemingly identical. Antibiotic resistance is an alternative considerable challenge worldwide. Therefore, this study was designed to apply an accurate technique for the discrepancy of Pseudomonas species and to study their resistance against various antimicrobials. A total of 320 chicken meat specimens were cultivated, and phenotypically recognized the isolated bacteria. Protein analysis was carried out for cultured isolates via Microflex LT. The resistance of Pseudomonas isolates was recorded through Vitek®ฏ 2 AST-GN83 cards. Overall, 69 samples were identified as Pseudomonas spp. and included 18 Pseudomonas lundensis (P. lundensis), 16 Pseudomonas fragi (P. fragi), 13 Pseudomonas oryzihabitans (P. oryzihabitans), 10 Pseudomonas stutzeri (P. stutzeri), 5 Pseudomonas fluorescens (P. fluorescens), 4 Pseudomonas putida (P. putida), and 3 Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) isolates. Microflex LT identified all Pseudomonas isolates (100%) correctly with a score value ≥2.00. PCA positively discriminated the identified isolates into various groups. The antimicrobial resistance levels against Pseudomonas isolates were 81.16% for nitrofurantoin, 71% for ampicillin and ampicillin/sulbactam, 65.22% for cefuroxime and ceftriaxone, 55% for aztreonam, and 49.28% for ciprofloxacin. The susceptibilities were 100% for cefotaxime, 98.55% for ceftazidime, 94.20% for each piperacillin/tazobactam and cefepime, 91.3% for cefazolin. In conclusion, chicken meat was found to be contaminated with different Pseudomonas spp., with high incidence rates of P. lundensis. Microflex LT is a potent tool for distinguishing Pseudomonads at the species level.
The Relationship Between Sleep Quality and Neck Pain, Shoulder Pain and Disability, Physical Activity, and Health Perception Among Middle-Aged Women : A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Lee Myung Kyung , Oh Jihyun
Published: November 2021

Background

Sleep quality is an important physical requirement for a healthy life, and good sleep quality has been recognized as a significant component in physical and mental health and well-being. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that affect sleep quality as well as the relationship between sleep quality and neck pain, shoulder pain and disability, physical activity, and health perception.
Methods

We conducted surveys on 494 women between the age of 35 and 64 years. The study evaluated neck pain, shoulder pain and disability, physical activity, self-health perception and sleep quality with self-reported questionnaires in middle-aged women. Data were analyzed using SPSS 23.0.
Results

The results showed that the more severe the neck pain and shoulder pain and disability, the worse the sleep quality was in middle-aged women and the better the health perception, the lower the sleep quality score was, indicating good sleep quality. Shoulder pain, self-perceived task difficulty, and health perception were identified as variables that affected the sleep quality in middle-aged women. The explanatory power of the model in explaining sleep quality was 22.9%.
Conclusions

To improve the sleep quality in middle-aged women, healthcare workers should take into consideration the subjects’ symptoms, such as pain, in accordance to their health. Perceived difficulty of one’s work and their health can affect sleep quality; hence, it is necessary to develop health intervention strategy to provide health management, emotional support, and social support for the purpose of improving daily sleep quality.
Genetic Characterization of Global Cultivated Potato Clones, Including Korean Potatoes, Using Genome-Wide Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Markers
Authors: Jo Kwang Ryong , Cho Seungho , Cho Ji-Hong , Park Hyun-Jin , Choi Jang-Gyu , Park Young-Eun , Cho Kwang-Soo
Published: November 2021

Characterizing the genetic diversity and population structure of breeding materials is essential for breeding to improve crop plants. The potato is an important non-cereal food crop worldwide, but breeding potatoes remains challenging owing to their auto-tetraploidy and highly heterozygous genome. We evaluated the genetic structure of a 110-line Korean potato germplasm using the SolCAP 8303 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) Infinium array and compared it with potato clones from other countries to understand the genetic landscape of cultivated potatoes. Following the tetraploid model, we conducted population structure analysis, revealing three subpopulations represented by two Korean potato groups and one separate foreign potato group within 110 lines. When analyzing 393 global potato clones, country/region-specific genetic patterns were revealed. The Korean potato clones exhibited higher heterozygosity than those from Japan, the United States, and other potato landraces. We also employed integrated extended haplotype homozygosity (iHS) and cross-population extended haplotype homozygosity (XP-EHH) to identify selection signatures spanning candidate genes associated with biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. Based on the informativeness of SNPs for dosage genotyping calls, 10 highly informative SNPs discriminating all 393 potatoes were identified. Our results could help understanding a potato breeding history that reflects regional adaptations and distinct market demands.
Hypoxia promotes a perinatal-like progenitor state in the adult murine epicardium
Authors: Sayed Angeliqua , Turoczi Szimonetta , Soares-da-Silva Francisca , Marazzi Giovanna , Hulot Jean-Sebastien , Sassoon David , Valente Mariana
Published: November 2021

The epicardium is a reservoir of progenitors that give rise to coronary vasculature and stroma during development and mediates cardiac vascular repair in lower vertebrates. However, its role as a source of progenitors in the adult mammalian heart remains unclear due to lack of clear lineage markers and single-cell culture systems to elucidate epicardial progeny cell fate. We found that in vivo exposure of mice to physiological hypoxia induced adult epicardial cells to re-enter the cell cycle and to express a subset of developmental genes. Multiplex single cell transcriptional profiling revealed a lineage relationship between epicardial cells and smooth muscle, stromal, and endothelial fates, and that physiological hypoxia promoted an endothelial cell fate. In vitro clonal analyses of purified epicardial cells showed that cell growth and subsequent differentiation is dependent upon hypoxia, and that resident epicardial cells retain progenitor identity in the adult mammalian heart with self-renewal and multilineage differentiation potential. These results point to a source of progenitor cells in the adult heart that can promote heart revascularization, providing an invaluable in vitro model for further studies.