bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
IV segment portal vein reconstruction in split-liver transplantation with extended right grafts
Authors: Wang Dong , Fan Ning , Wang Xin , Sun Yandong , Guan Ge , Wang Jianhong , Zhu Xiaodan , Zang Yunjin , Cai Jinzhen , Guo Yuan
Published: May 2022

Background: Liver transplantation is one of the most effective treatment for end-stage liver disease. Split liver transplantation (SLT) can effectively improve the utilization efficiency of grafts . However, split liver transplantation still faces the shortcomings and not widely used in the surgery. How to improve the effective transplantation volume of split liver transplantation and promote the postoperative recovery of patients has important clinical significance.Methods: In our study, the donor liver was split into the extended right graft and left lateral sector, and the IV segment occure ischemia. In order to guarantee the functional graft size, and avoid the complications, we reconstructed the IV segment portal vein and left portal vein. And we analysed the operation time, intraoperative bleeding, liver function and postoperative complications.Results: In our research, 13 patients underwent IV segment portal vein reconstruction, and 8 patients did not undergo vascular reconstruction. We found that the ischemic area of the IV segment decreased significantly after IV segment portal vein reconstruction. We found that there was no significant difference in operation time and postoperative complications between the patients of the groups. There were significant differences in ALT on the first day and albumin on the sixth day after operation.Conclusion: It indicates that IV segment reconstruction in SLT surgery can alleviate the graft ischemic and obviously promote the recovery of liver function after operation. And, IV segment reconstruction as a novel operating procedure may be widely used in SLT.
Identification of tubulointerstitial genes and ceRNA networks involved in diabetic nephropathy via integrated bioinformatics approaches
Authors: Cao Haiyan , Rao Xiaosheng , Jia Junya , Yan Tiekun , Li Dong
Published: May 2022

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the major cause of end-stage renal disease worldwide. The mechanism of tubulointerstitial lesions in DN is not fully elucidated. This article aims to identify novel genes and clarify the molecular mechanisms for the progression of DN through integrated bioinformatics approaches. Method: We downloaded microarray datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and identified the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Enrichment analyses, construction of Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, and visualization of the co-expressed network between mRNAs and microRNAs (miRNAs) were performed. Additionally, we validated the expression of hub genes and analyzed the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve in another GEO dataset. Clinical analysis and ceRNA networks were further analyzed. Results: Totally 463 DEGs were identified, and enrichment analyses demonstrated that extracellular matrix structural constituents, regulation of immune effector process, positive regulation of cytokine production, phagosome, and complement and coagulation cascades were the major enriched pathways in DN. Three hub genes (CD53, CSF2RB, and LAPTM5) were obtained, and their expression levels were validated by GEO datasets. Pearson analysis showed that these genes were negatively correlated with the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). After literature searching, the ceRNA networks among circRNAs/IncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs were constructed. The predicted RNA pathway of NEAT1/XIST-hsa-miR-155-5p/hsa-miR-486-5p-CSF2RB provides an important perspective and insights into the molecular mechanism of DN. Conclusion: In conclusion, we identified three genes, namely CD53, CSF2RB, and LAPTM5, as hub genes of tubulointerstitial lesions in DN. They may be closely related to the pathogenesis of DN and the predicted RNA regulatory pathway of NEAT1/XIST-hsa-miR-155-5p/hsa-miR-486-5p-CSF2RB presents a biomarker axis to the occurrence and development of DN.
The effects of Cuprizone on murine subventricular zone-derived neural stem cells and progenitor cells grown as neurospheres
Authors: Molinari Yamila Azul , Byrne Agustin Jesus , Perez Maria Julia , Silvestroff Lucas , Franco Paula Gabriela
Published: May 2022

Despite the extensive use of the cuprizone (CPZ) demyelination animal model, there is little evidence regarding the effects of CPZ on a cellular level. Initial studies have suggested that oligodendrocytes (OL) are the main cell targets for CPZ toxicity. However, recent data have revealed additional effects on neural stem cells and progenitor cells (NSC/NPC), which constitute a reservoir for OL regeneration during brain remyelination. We cultured NSC/NPC as neurospheres to investigate CPZ effects on cell mechanisms which are thought to be involved in demyelination and remyelination processes in vivo. Proliferating NSC/NPC cultures exposed to CPZ showed overproduction of intracellular reactive oxygen species and increased progenitor migration at the expense of a significant inhibition of cell proliferation. Although NSC/NPC survival was not affected by CPZ in proliferative conditions, we found that CPZ treated cultures undergoing cell differentiation were more prone to cell death than controls. The commitment and cell differentiation towards neural lineages did not seem to be affected by CPZ, as shown by the conserved proportions of OL, astrocytes and neurons. Nevertheless, when CPZ treatment was performed after cell differentiation, we detected a significant reduction in the number and the morphological complexity of OL, astrogliosis and neuronal damage. We conclude that, in addition to damaging mature OL, CPZ also reduces NSC/NPC proliferation and activates progenitor migration. These results shed light on CPZ toxicity in the brain and could serve to understand the exhaustion of regenerative mechanisms from NSC/NPC in the chronic CPZ animal model.
Primary stability of different implant macrodesigns in a sinus floor elevation simulated model: An Ex Vivo Study
Authors: Imai Mikio , Ogino Yoichiro , DDS Hideaki Tanaka , Koyano Kiyoshi , Ayukawa Yasunori , DDS Takeshi Toyoshima
Published: May 2022

Background: A novel type of implant (Straumann® BLX implant) has been developed for certain stability from the mechanical and biological aspects and is expected for the implant placement in atrophic maxilla with sinus floor elevation (SFE). Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the primary stability in the implants with different macrodesigns in a SFE simulated model. Primary stability defined as maximum insertion torque (MIT) and implant stability quotient (ISQ) were compared between this novel type of implant and other types.Materials and Methods: Five types of Straumann® 10mm length implants (Standard Plus; SP, Tapered Effect; TE, Bone Level; BL, Bone Level Tapered; BLT and BLX) and two types of Straumann® 6mm length implants (SP short, BLX short) were used in this study. Each Implants were inserted through 5 mm–thick porcine iliac crest blocks (a SFE simulated model). Primary stability was evaluated by using MIT and ISQ. Results: The mean values of MIT for BLX group showed significantly higher values than SP, BL (p < 0.01), and TE (p < 0.05) groups. The mean value of ISQ for BLX group was significantly higher than the other groups (p < 0.01). The mean value of MIT and ISQ for BLX and BLX short group were significantly higher than that for SP and SP short group (p < 0.01). Conclusions: In a SFE simulated ex vivo model, BLX group showed the highest values. These results suggest that implant selection can play a crucial role in the achievement of primary stability during SFE and simultaneous implant placement.
Regiospecific C-H Amination of (─)-Limonene into (─)-Perillamine by Multi-enzymatic Cascade Reactions
Authors: Ge Yue , Huang Zheng-Yu , Pan Jiang , Li Chun-Xiu , Zheng Gao-Wei , Xu Jian-He
Published: May 2022

Background
(−)-Limonene, one of cyclic monoterpenes, is an important renewable compound used widely as a key building block for the synthesis of new biologically active molecules and fine chemicals. (−)-Perillamine, as derived from (−)-limonene, is such a useful synthon for constructing more complicated and functionally relevant chemicals.
Aim
We aimed to report a more sustainable and more efficient method for the regiospecific C-H amination of (−)-limonene into (−)-perillamine.
Results
Here we report an artificial penta-enzymatic cascade system for the transformation of the cheap and easily available (−)-limonene into (−)-perillamine for the first time. This system is composed of cytochrome P450 monooxygenase, alcohol dehydrogenase and w-transaminase for the main reactions, as well as formate dehydrogenase and NADH oxidase for cofactor recycling. After optimization of the multi-enzymatic cascade system, 10 mM (−)-limonene was smoothly converted into 5.4 mM (−)-perillamine in a one-pot-two-step biotransformation, indicating the feasibility of multi-enzymatic C7-regiospecific amination of the inert C-H bond of (−)-limonene. This method represents a concise and efficient route for the biocatalytic synthesis of derivatives from similar natural products.
Method Development for the Quantitative Analysis of Multivitamin Supplements by Laser Ablation– Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS)
Authors: Lopez Claudia Martinez , Carter Jake A. , Corzo Ruthmara , Todorov Todor I.
Published: May 2022

We present the development and optimization of an analytical method based on Laser Ablation–Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) for the analysis of multivitamin dietary supplements. Samples were ground and mixed with a cellulose powder containing internal standard elements; the resulting powder was pressed into pellets. Two calibration strategies were compared: (1) using increasing mass fractions of cellulose powder fortified with multiple elements of interest, and (2) matrix matching using a multivitamin reference material in addition to the multi-element cellulose powder. Laser and ICP-MS parameters were closely monitored to produce the best signal while reducing the variability between replicate measurements. An energy output of 0.5 J/cm2, a repetition rate of 30 Hz, and a He carrier gas flow rate of 800 mL/min provided the best compromise between sensitivity and reproducibility. These parameters produced the most similar ablation behavior between cellulose and a matrix-matched calibration strategy. The dissimilarities in ablation yield due to differences in focal points were successfully corrected after normalizing to an internal standard, resulting in relative differences of less than 10%. The results from the two different calibration approaches were compared to those obtained from solution ICP-MS and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) analyses. For most multivitamins, both calibration methods (i.e., cellulose and matrix-matched calibrations) performed adequately for As, B, Co, Cr, Cu, Mg, Ni, Na, Pb, and Zn. Matrix-matched calibration additionally resulted in better recoveries for S and Fe. Overall, matrix-matched calibration resulted in better recoveries for more multivitamins in comparison with cellulose calibration.
FastIntegration: a fast and high-capacity version of Seurat Integration for large-scale integration of single-cell data
Authors: Chen Jinmiao , Li Mengwei , Zhang Xiaomeng , Siong Ang Kok
Published: May 2022

Atlas-scale integration of hundreds or even thousands of samples has become crucial for creating comprehensive cell maps. Here, we present FastIntegration which can integrate more than 4 million cells within 2 days. It outputs batch corrected values for all genes that we can use for downstream analyses. For the first time, we demonstrated that using batch corrected values can improve the performance of downstream analyses. In particular we demonstrated more accurately identified differentially expressed genes for cell types that are not shared between batches. Moreover, we also showed that FastIntegration outperforms existing methods for both homogeneous and heterogeneous data integration.
Investigation of Cytotoxic and Apoptotic Effects of Disodium Pentaborate Decahydrate on Ovarian Cancer Cells and Assessment of Gene Profiling
Authors: Gunel Nur Selvi , Yildirim Nuri , Ozates Neslihan Pinar , Okyay Latife Merve , Bagca Bakiye Goker , Sogutlu Fatma , Ozsaran Aydin , Avci Cigir Biray
Published: May 2022

After revealing the anti-cancer properties of boron, which is included in the category of essential elements for human health by the World Health Organization, the therapeutic potential of boron compounds has been begun to be evaluated, and its molecular effect mechanisms have still been among the research subjects. In ovarian cancer, mutations or amplifications frequently occur in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway components, and dysregulation of this pathway is shown among the causes of treatment failure. In the present study, it was aimed to investigate the anti-cancer properties of boron-containing DPD in SKOV3 cells, which is an epithelial ovarian cancer model, through PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. The cytotoxic activity of DPD in SKOV3 cells was evaluated by WST-1 test, apoptotic effect by Annexin V and JC-1 test. The gene expressions associated with PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway were determined by real-time qRT-PCR. In SKOV3 cells, the IC50 value of DPD was found to be 6.7 mM, 5.6 mM and 5.2 mM at 24th, 48th and 72nd hour, respectively. Compared with the untreated control group, DPD treatment was found to induce apoptosis 2.6-fold and increase mitochondrial membrane depolarization 4.5-fold. DPD treatment was found to downregulate PIK3CA, PIK3CG, AKT2, IGF1, IRS1, MAPK3, HIF-1, VEGFC, CAB39, CAB39L, STRADB, PRKAB2, PRKAG3, TELO2, RICTOR, MLST8, and EIF4B genes and upregulate TP53, GSK3B, FKBP8, TSC2, ULK1, and ULK2 genes. These results draw attention to the therapeutic potential of DPD, which is frequently exposed in daily life, in epithelial ovarian cancer and show that it can be a candidate compound in combination with chemotherapeutics.
Proteomics of small extracellular vesicle from human plasma for hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Dong Wei , Xia Zeyu , Chai Zehua , Qiu Zhidong , Wang Xuehong , Yang Zebin , Wang Junnan , Zhang Tingrui , Zhang Qinqin , Jin Junfei
Published: May 2022

Purpose
Liver cancer is one of the most common tumors with the seventh-highest incidence and the third-highest mortality. Many studies have shown that small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) play an important role in liver cancer. Here, we report comprehensive signatures for sEV proteins from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patient plasma, which might be valuable for the evaluation and diagnosis of HCC.
Methods
We extracted sEVs from the plasma of controls and HCC patients. Differentially expressed proteins in the sEVs were analyzed via label-free quantification and bioinformatic analysis. Western blotting (WB) was used to validate the abovementioned sEV proteins that differentially accumulated in the validation cohorts.
Results
Protein expression profiles were performed for plasma sEVs from 21 HCC patients and 15 controls. Among 335 identified proteins in our study, 27 were significantly dysregulated, including 13 increased proteins that were involved predominantly in the complement cascade (C1QB, C1QC, C4BPA, and C4BPB) and the coagulation cascade (F13B, FGA, FGB, and FGG). We verified that the protein levels of C1QB, C1QC, C4BPA, and C4BPB were increased in the plasma sEVs of HCC patients in both the discovery cohort and validation cohort.
Conclusion
The complement cascade in sEVs was significantly involved in HCC progression. C1QB, C1QC, C4BPA, and C4BPB were highly abundant in sEVs of HCC patients' plasma, which might be potential molecular signatures.
Natural polymer nanocapsules containing eugenol for nectarine coating to control brown rot caused by Monilinia fructicola
Authors: Jacumazo Joslaine , Parchen Gabriela Pereira , Ballesteros-Garcia Meira Janete , Silva Nayana Cristina da , de Mio Louise Larissa May , Marques Francisco de Asssis , de Freitas Rilton Alves
Published: May 2022

The fruit infection by fungi reduces the quantity and quality of food for human consumption and causes economic damage. Thus, this study aimed to address the effects of nanocapsules (NCs) based on chitosan and carboxymethylcellulose containing eugenol in protecting nectarines against Monilinia fructicola, a brown rot agent, a worldwide important disease. NCs were prepared by Layer-by-Layer self-assembly starting from an anionic template and deposition with up to two polymeric layers. The sizes ranged from 158 nm (nanoemulsion) to 398 nm (two polymeric layers). In vitro release showed an initial burst followed by a gradual release. In addition to showing a good adherence to nectarine surface, the NCs coated with chitosan proved to be the best formulation for the control of brown rot in the antifungal test. Therefore, this study demonstrated that chitosan NCs containing eugenol could be an alternative to preserve fruit for longer periods in the post-harvest.
Mining-induced subsidence prediction by Displacement Discontinuity Method: A case from Barapukuria longwall coal mine, Bangladesh
Authors: Alam AKM Badrul , Fujii Yoshiaki , Eidee Shaolin Jahan , Boeut Sophea , Rahim Afikah Binti
Published: May 2022

It is essential to predict the mining-induced subsidence for sustainable mine management. The maximum observed subsidence having a noticeable areal extent due to Northern Upper Panels (NUP) and Southern Lower Panels (SLP) at the Barapukuria longwall coal mine is 5.8 m and 4.2 m, respectively, after the extraction of a 10 m thick coal seam. The mining-induced subsidence was simulated by the Displacement Discontinuity Method (DDM). The numerical model considered the effects of the ground surface, mining panels, faults, and the dyke. The predicted and the observed subsidence due to the mining of NUP and SLP were compared varying Young's modulus, and the 0.10 GPa Young's modulus was found to be the best match in the geo-environmental condition. The effects of the faults and the dyke in the calculation were negligible. Future subsidence was predicted by considering 30 m extraction of the thick coal seam as 15.7–17.5 m in NUP and 8.7–10.5 m in SLP. The vulnerable areas demarcated considering the tilt angle and extensile strain might extend up to the coal mine office area and some villages.
Association of eye injury on the child's academic success and social inclusion level: a case-crossover study
Authors: Jovanovic Nina , Peek-Asa Corinne , Ling Zhang , Cavanaugh Joe E , Begagic Emir , Alajbegovic-Halimic Jasmina
Published: May 2022

Purpose: To investigate the association between an eye injury and later academic performance as well as the level of social engagement.Method: A case-crossover study was used to investigate any changes in academic success and social inclusion before and after an injury. Eligibility criteria included all severe injuries admitted during 2011-2017 period at the main regional clinic. Parents/caregivers were surveyed during 2018-2019 asking questions on academic performance, level of community or social involvement. Results. The total sample for assessing social inclusion and academic success were 36 and 25 children, respectively. In the following academic year's kappa agreements decreased from 0.88 (p-value <0.001) comparing pre-injury with one-year post to 0.5106 (p-value <.0001) in the second year and 0.4750 (p-value=0.003) in the third, suggesting the deteriorating trend of academic success with subsequent years. Comparing academic success before an injury to two years and three years after the injury, p-values in the Wilcoxon signed-rank test were significant (p=0.005706, and 0.003328, respectively) showing the worsening trend with time. The Fisher score showed a significant association only between final visual acuity and levels of social inclusion after an injury. Using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the kappa results suggested no association between an eye injury and social inclusion.Conclusion: Our findings suggest no association between social inclusion and eye trauma, while in later years academic success may be more impacted by the eye injury. Due to their unpredictability in childhood age a supportive and sensitive climate at home and school is essential to minimize deleterious responses to eye trauma.
Predicting Diagnostic Gene Biomarkers Associated with Ferroptosis in Psoriasis
Authors: Yang Juan , Liu Qing , Lu Xiuyi , Wen Liuyan , Yuan Shaoping , Wu Weiqi
Published: May 2022

Background: Psoriasis is a prevalent, chronic, and recurrent inflammatory disorder, and new research reveals that ferroptosis plays a role in the pathogenic process. Methods: Two microarray datasets (GSE6710 and GSE83582) about psoriasis were collected from the GEO database, and the ferroptosis-related genes were extracted from FerrDb. Enrichment scores associated with ferroptosis were obtained using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and gene set variation analysis (GSVA) in two microarray datasets, and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to identify ferroptosis-associated module genes in psoriasis, and took the intersection of the key modules. Next, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) and Gene Ontology (GO) pathway enrichment analyses, as well as the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment studies, were performed. The hub genes were identified using Cytoscape with CytoHubba, and a receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was utilized to discriminate psoriasis from controls. Results: Ferroptosis-related hub genes in psoriasis (CXCL8, STAT3 and STAT1) were ultimately discovered, and they were able to discriminate psoriasis from controls. The AUC (area under the ROC curve) was above 0.75. To confirm that CXCL8, STAT1, and STAT3 could effectively differentiate psoriasis from controls, the diagnostic value was further validated in the GSE30999, GSE13355, and GSE78097 datasets. Three hub genes had AUC values that were also above 0.75 in three external datasets. Conclusions: We discovered three hub genes (CXCL8, STAT1, and STAT3) that are linked to ferroptosis in psoriasis and can distinguish psoriasis from controls. As a result, CXCL8, STAT1, and STAT3 might be used as ferroptosis-associated biomarkers for disease diagnosis and treatment monitoring.
Anticholinergic Poisoning Due to Spinach Sold in the Supermarket Chain
Authors: dogan halil , Cebeci Halil , Kaya Ezgi
Published: May 2022

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Prognosis and immune infiltration analysis of SASP-related genes in bladder cancer
Authors: Wang YAXuan , Wang Xiaolin , Zhu HaiXia , Zhang Kun
Published: May 2022

Background: Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma(BLCA) is one of the most common tumors of the male urinary system. It is highly heterogeneous and there is still a lack of biomarkers to predict prognosis in patients with advanced BLCA. senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) plays an important role in tumor and many studies have shown that it is closely related to the immune microenvironment. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of SASP-related genes and BLCA immune infiltration. Results: There were significant differences in the expression of SASP-related genes in BLCA. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the 18 SASP-related genes were mainly related to the “HIF−1 signaling pathway”，“PI3K−Akt signaling pathway”，“IL−17 signaling pathway”. A SASP-related gene signature stratifying patients into 2 risk score groups was established based on the TCGA cohort, Patients with higher risk scores had worse overall survival. In addition, we also found that SASP-related genes were closely related to immune cell infiltration.Conclusions: In conclusion, our study confirms the influence of SASP-related genes in BLCA on the prognostic value and immune microenvironment. This will provide important evidence for future research on the role of SASP in BLCA.
Temperature Rise due to Pedestrian Winds and Mitigation Based on Aerodynamic Structural Modification
Authors: Jena Siddharth , Gairola Ajay , Cao Shuyang
Published: May 2022

The urban heat islands have led to several studies on the contribution of urban planning on local temperature rise. But the impact of pedestrian winds due to high-rise buildings and the related rise of temperature due to the venturi effect (increased wind speed through pedestrian channels) have not been investigated. The temperature rise due to pedestrian winds reducing comfort levels and also creating low-pressure regions at ground level, causing accumulation of pollutants. Several researches cited in the paper have studied wind loads and vortex shedding due to pedestrian winds. We have attempted to expand the scope of study to model the non-linear relationship between wind speed and temperature rise in a pedestrian channel and its relevant effect on human comfort. The adverse effect on nearby smaller buildings due to unanticipated downwash has also been studied. The model is validated using Large Eddy Simulation (LES) for the same boundary and wall conditions. Further, the influence has been investigated by corner modification and changing the height to width ratio of the high rise building and feasible solutions have been provided. Such consideration in downwash has not been taken into consideration for interfering with the low-rise building.
LTPConstraint: a transfer learning based end-to-end method for RNA secondary structure prediction
Authors: Fei Yinchao , Zhang Hao , Wang Yili , Liu Zhen , Liu Yuanning
Published: May 2022

Background: RNA secondary structure is very important for deciphering cell’s activity and disease occurrence. The first method which was used by the academics to predict this structure is biological experiment, But this method is too expensive, causing the promotion to be affected. Then, computing methods emerged, which has good efficiency and low cost. However, the accuracy of computing methods are not satisfactory. Many machine learning methods have also been applied to this area, but the accuracy has not improved significantly. Deep learning has matured and achieves great success in many areas such as computer vision and natural language processing. It uses neural network which is a kind of structure that has good functionality and versatility, but its effect is highly correlated with the quantity and quality of the data. At present, there is no model with high accuracy, low data dependence and high convenience in predicting RNA secondary structure. Results: This paper designs a neural network called LTPConstraint to predict RNA secondary structure. The network is based on many network structure such as Bidirectional LSTM, Transformer and generator. It also uses transfer learning to train modelso that the data dependence can be reduced. Conclusions: LTPConstraint has achieved high accuracy in RNA secondary structure prediction. Compared with the previous methods, the accuracy improves obviously both in predicting the structure with pseudoknot and the structure without pseudoknot. At the same time, LTPConstraint is easy to operate and can achieve result very quickly.
Results: This paper designs a neural network called LTPConstraint to predict RNA secondary structure. The network is based on many network structure such as Bidirectional LSTM, Transformer and generator. It also uses transfer learning to train modelso that the data dependence can be reduced.
Conclusions: LTPConstraint has achieved high accuracy in RNA secondary structure prediction. Compared with the previous methods, the accuracy improves obviously both in predicting the structure with pseudoknot and the structure without pseudoknot. At the same time, LTPConstraint is easy to operate and can achieve result very quickly.
Online Fault Detection in Industrial Production Systems based on a Regularized LSTM Autoencoder
Authors: Windmann Stefan , Westerhold Tim
Published: May 2022

In this paper, an LSTM autoencoder approach for online fault detection in industrial production systems is proposed. The presented LSTM autoencoder is used as a stochastic process model, which captures the normal behavior of a production system and allows to predict the probability distribution of sensor data. Discrepancies between the observed sensor data and the predicted probability density distribution are detected as potential faults. The approach combines the advantages of LSTMs and autoencoders: The correlations between individual sensor signals are exploited by an autoencoder, while the temporal dependencies are captured by LSTM neurons. A key challenge in training such a process model from historical data is to control the amount of information passed through the latent space of the autoencoder. Different regularization methods are investigated for this purpose. Fault detection with the proposed LSTM autoencoder has been evaluated on the use case of an industrial penicillin production, achieving significantly improved results in comparison to the baseline LSTM.
Trace Amount of Water Boosting Highly Selective Coupling of Methane to Ethane via a Noble-Metal Free Ni2+-doped MgO/Al2O3 Photocatalyst
Authors: Song Yu-Fei , Shen Tianyang , Bai Ya , Wang Zelin , Sun Xiaoliang , Liu Guihao , Bai Sha , Li Jiaxin , Zheng Lirong
Published: May 2022

Direct and selective coupling of methane into high-value added products under mild conditions is a grand challenge since the activation of the inert C-H bonds (439 kJ mol− 1) and the inhibition of over-oxidation are simultaneously required. Herein, we report the fabrication of a noble-metal free Ni2+-doped MgO/Al2O3 photocatalyst (NiMgAl-x, x represents calcination temperature) through facile topotactic conversion of the corresponding NiMgAl-layered double hydroxides (denoted as NiMgAl-LDH). EXAFS spectroscopy demonstrates that for NiMgAl-x, the Ni2+ ions are isomorphically doped into MgO cell and no NiO phase is formed. By involving trace amounts of water, photo-oxidation of methane to ethane can be accomplished by using NiMgAl-800 as catalyst in a flow reactor with a high production rate (454.30 µmol g− 1 h− 1) and a superior selectivity (97.8%), which was the highest yield among all the noble-metal free photocatalysts reported so far. Detailed characterizations reveal the electron-enriched surface oxygens of NiMgAl-800 generated during the topotatic process lead to the enhanced photocatalytic activity. In-situ DRIFT experiments and DFT calculations show that the introduced H2O molecules can modulate the Gibbs free energy of ŸCH3 towards a coupling conductive pathway instead of production of CO2, resulting in an increased C2H6 selectivity and inhibited CO2 production.
Mast Cell Stabilization: New Mechanism Underlying the Therapeutic Effect of Intense Pulsed Light on Rosacea
Authors: 姜 Peiyu , Liu Yunyi , Zhang Jiawen , Liu Yixuan , Li Min , Tao Meng , Zhang Yue , Tang Zongxiang , Liu Wentao , Xu Yang
Published: May 2022

Background: Rosacea, a chronic inflammatory disorder of the facial skin, is effectively treated by intense pulsed light (IPL). Objective: To explore the potential molecular mechanism underlying the photobiomodulation effect of IPL for rosacea treatment.Methods: Skin samples from patients with rosacea were subjected to histological and immunohistological staining. Ten patients were followed up after IPL treatment using the VISIA® skin analysis system, and the severity was assessed. In vivo, skin changes in mice with rosacea-like inflammation induced by intradermal injection of 320 μM LL-37 with or without IPL treatment were evaluated using L*a*b colorimetry as well as histological and immunological staining. In vitro, LL-37-stimulated mast cells (MCs) with or without IPL treatment were evaluated for protein expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, kallikrein-related peptidase 5 (KLK5), and cathelicidin using western blotting and qRT-PCR.Results: Profound infiltration of inflammatory cells and evident MC degranulation were found in rosacea skin lesions. The expression of rosacea-related biomarkers and inflammatory cytokines was higher in lesion areas than in non-lesional areas, as demonstrated via immunochemical staining. In all patients, rosacea severity reduced after IPL therapy. In vivo, IPL alleviated inflammation in mice with rosacea-like inflammation, as demonstrated by the significantly decreased MMP-9, KLK5, and cathelicidin expression and reduced percentage of degranulating MCs. In vitro, IPL decreased MMP-9, KLK5, and cathelicidin expression in P815 cells, reducing the release of inflammatory cytokines and inhibiting rosacea-like inflammatory reactions. Conclusion: The photobiomodulation effect of IPL for rosacea treatment may inhibit MC degranulation and alleviate inflammatory reactions.
Stereotactic radiosurgery for the treatment of brainstem metastases: a multicenter retrospective study
Authors: Nicosia Luca , Navarria Piera , Pinzi Valentina , Giraffa Martina , Russo Ivana , Tini Paolo , Giaj-Levra Niccolò , Alongi Filippo , Minniti Giuseppe
Published: May 2022

Background: brainstem metastases (BSM) is a rare site of occurrence and their management is a challenging issue. Based on the lack of evidences, the optimal radiation treatment of BSM remains controversial. We evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of linear accelerator (linac)-based stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and steretotactic radiotherapy (SRT) in the treatment of BMS in a series of patients treated in different centers. Methods: we conducted a multicentric retrospective study of patients affected by 1-2 BSM from different solid who underwent SRS/SRT. Freedom from local progression (FLP), cancer-specific survival (CSS), overall survival (OS), and toxicity were evaluated. Moreover, predictive factors of treatment response and survival were evaluated.Results: Between 2008 and 2021, 105 patients with 111 BMS received SRS or SRT for 1-2 BSM. Median follow-up time was 10 months (range 3-130). One-year FLP rate was 90.4%. At the univariate analysis, tumor volume ≤0.4 cc and concomitant target therapy were associated with longer FLP, with concomitant target therapy that remained a significant independent predictor [0.058, HR 0.139 (95% CI 0.0182-1.064]. Median OS and CSS were 11 months and 14.6 months, respectively. At multivariate analysis, concomitant target therapy administration was significantly associated with longer OS [HR 0.514 (95%CI 0.302-0.875); p=0.01]. Neurological death occurred in 30.4% of patients, although this was due to BSM progression in only 3 (2.8%) patients. Conclusion: brainstem metastases can be safely treated with linac-based SRS with apparent no detrimental effect on survival. When treated with ablative intent, BSM are an uncommon cause of neurological death. Future prospective trial should answer the question of whether BSM should be excluded a priori from clinical trial.
The use of Heliox plasma to improve the adhesion of a self-adhesive resin cement to NaOCl treated dentin
Authors: Prado Maíra , Telles Iris Sol , de Lima Carolina Oliveira , Silva Emmanuel João Nogueira Leal da , Marques Juliana das Neves , Maia Lucianne , Simão Renata
Published: May 2022

Objectives To evaluate the influence of Heliox plasma to improve the adhesion of self-adhesive resin cement to sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) treated dentin, in comparison to antioxidant agents, for fiber post cementation. Material and Methods 88 bovine teeth were selected and were cut producing 7mm samples. 65 roots canals were enlarged and assigned to five groups (n=13) according to the treatments, for 1 minute, as follows: control (distilled water); NaOCl (immersed in 5.25% NaOCl for 20 minutes); plasma (after NaOCl immersion, premixed helium and oxygen plasma were applied); sodium thiosulfate (ST) and ascorbate (SA) (after NaOCl immersion, the samples were immersed in 5% ST or 10% SA, respectively). Fiberglass posts were cemented and submitted to the push-out bond strength (POBS) in 10 of 13 samples from each group. Three samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Flat dentin surfaces were obtained from the 23 remaining roots and used for measuring surface energy. Results POBS values were ranked as: SA>plasma>ST=control>NaOCl. The ascorbate and plasma groups showed some smear layer removal by SEM. Surface energy was ranked as: control<NaOCl=ST <SA<plasma. Heliox plasma and antioxidant agents restored the POBS of NaOCl-treated dentin. Conclusion The use of Heliox plasma or antioxidant agents for 1 minute improved the adhesion of fiberglass post to dentin using RelyX U200. Clinical Relevance Heliox plasma and antioxidant agents restored bond strength of treated dentin.
Evaluation of diurnal and postural intracranial pressure employing telemetric monitoring in idiopathic intracranial hypertension
Authors: Mitchell James L , Buckham Rebecca , Lyons Hannah , Walker Jessica K , Yiangou Andreas , Sassani Matilde , Thaller Mark , Grech Olivia , Alimajstorovic Zerin , Julher Marianne , Tsermoulas Georgios , Brock Kristian , Mollan Susan P , Sinclair Alexandra J
Published: May 2022

Objectives:Intracranial pressure (ICP) has been thought to vary diurnally. This study evaluates diurnal ICP measurements and quantifies changes in ICP occurring with changes in body posture in active idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). Methods:This prospective observational study utilized telemetric ICP monitoring in people with active IIH. Participants had the Raumedic p-Tel ICP intraparenchymal device (Raumedic, Hembrechts, Germany) surgically inserted. Changes in ICP in the supine position were evaluated. Then, the ICP was measured in the standing, sitting, supine, left lateral decubitus positions and with coughing and bending. Ultimately, changes in ICP over the course of 24 hours were recorded. ISRCTN registration number 12678718.Results:15 women were included, mean (standard deviation) age 29.5 (9.5) years, body mass index 38.1 (6.2) kg/m2, and baseline ICP of 21.2 (4.8) mmHg (equivalent to 28.8 (6.5) cmCSF). ICP rose with the duration in the supine position 1.2 (3.3) mmHg over 5-minutes (p=0.175), 3.5 (2.8) mmHg over 30-minutes (p=0.0002) and by a further 2.1 (2.2) mmHg over 3 hours (p=0.042). Mean ICP decreased by 51% when moving from the supine position to standing (21.2 (4.8) mmHg to 10.3 (3.7) mmHg respectively, p=0.0001). Mean ICP increased by 13% moving from supine to the left lateral decubitus position (21.2 (4.8) mmHg to 24.0 (3.8) mmHg, p=0.028). There was no significant difference in ICP measurements at any point during the daytime, or between 5-minute standing or supine recordings and prolonged ambulatory daytime and end of night supine recordings respectively. ICP increased progressively in conjunction with lying supine position from 23:00hrs to 07:00hrs by 34% (5.2 (1.9) mmHg, p=0.026).Conclusion:This analysis demonstrated that ICP does not appear to have a diurnal variation in IIH, but varies by position and duration in that position. ICP rose at night whilst the patient was continuously supine. Furthermore, brief standing and supine ICP measures in the day predicted daytime prolonged ambulatory measures and end of night peak ICP respectively. This knowledge gives reassurance that ICP can be accurately measured and compared at any time of day in an ambulant IIH patient. These are useful findings to inform clinical measurements and in the interpretation of ICP analyses in IIH.TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISTCRN (12678718).
PLA-lignin nanofibers as antioxidant biomaterials for cartilage regeneration and osteoarthritis treatment
Authors: Liang Ruiming , Yang Xingchen , Yew Pek Yin Michelle , Sugiarto Sigit , Zhu Qiang , Zhao Jinmin , Loh Xian Jun , Zheng Li , Kai Dan
Published: May 2022

BackgroundOsteoarthritis (OA) is common musculoskeletal disorders associated with overgeneration of free radicals, and it causes joint pain, inflammation, and cartilage degradation. Lignin as a natural antioxidant biopolymer has shown its great potential for biomedical applications. In this work, we developed a series of lignin-based nanofibers as antioxidative scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering.ResultsThe nanofibers were engineered by grafting poly(lactic acid) (PLA) into lignin via ring-opening polymerization and followed by electrospinning. Varying the lignin content in the system was able to adjust the physiochemical properties of the resulting nanofibers, including fiber diameters, mechanical and viscoelastic properties, and antioxidant activity. In vitro study demonstrated that the PLA-lignin nanofibers could protect bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (BMSCs) from oxidative stress and promote the chondrogenic differentiation. Moreover, the animal study showed that the lignin nanofibers could promote cartilage regeneration and repair cartilage defects within 6 weeks of implantation.Conclusion Our study indicated that lignin-based nanofibers could serve as an antioxidant tissue engineering scaffold and facilitate the cartilage regrowth for OA treatment.
Tet2-mediated DNA demethylation regulates the proliferation and apoptosis of human leukemia K562 cells
Authors: Qiao Qian , Zhou Yanhua , Yang Honglan , He Zhixu , Fan Anran
Published: May 2022

Tet2 is one member of TET protein family which is responsible for active DNA demethylation, and mutations of Tet2 frequently lead to hematological malignancies. However, the relationship between Tet2-mediated demethylation and the occurrence of hematological malignancies is unclear. Human leukemia K562 cell line was an immortalized leukemia line that of served as an in vitro model of erythroleukemia. In this study, we investigated the effect of Tet2-mediated demethylation on apoptosis and proliferation of human leukemia K562 cells, and found that knockdown of Tet2 promoted the proliferation and inhibited the apoptosis of K562 cells, while enhancement of enzymic activity of TET2 with α-KG inhibited the proliferation and promoted apoptosis of K562. Therefore, Tet2 gene act as a potential target for the treatment of leukemia and small molecules that targeting for Tet2 gene may be used to screen for anti-tumor drugs in hematological malignancies.
Restrictions in care following the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted Machado-Joseph disease patients: a study in the Azores Islands, Portugal
Authors: Couto Daniela , Sousa Liliana , Sequeiros Jorge , Lima Manuela , Mendes Álvaro
Published: May 2022

This qualitative study describes how the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic impacted on Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) patients and their care, in the island of São Miguel (the Azores, Portugal). In-person semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 participants, including patients, family members, healthcare professionals and care providers. Main findings highlighted the key role played by the local association in psychosocial and healthcare for MJD patients and families; and the adverse effects on their care following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, hindered access to the day-care centre increased isolation and had a negative impact on mental health and disease progression. For persons with a progressive and severe neurological disease there is no “back to normal”. Future restrictive measures ensuing need to be accompanied by a careful definition of daily care routines for patients.
Anti-SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies in human breast milk following SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Fernández-Buhigas Irene , Rayo Nieves , Silos Julia Cuesta , Serrano Berta , Ocón-Hernández Olga , Leung Bo Wah , Delgado Juan Luis , Sánchez-Nieves David , Valle Silvia , de Miguel Laura , Salgado Aroa , Tanoira Ramón Perez , Rolle Valeria , Santacruz Belén , Gil María M , Poon Liona C.
Published: May 2022

BackgroundWhile the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in human breast milk is contentious, anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies have been consistently detected in the human breast milk. However, it is uncertain when the antibodies become present and for how long they last.Methods:This was a prospective cohort study including all consecutive pregnant women with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy, recruited at six maternity units in Spain and Hong Kong over a one-year period. Colostrum and mature milk were prospectively collected by manual expression with strict contact precautions and paired maternal blood samples were also collected. Colostrum samples were first tested with rRT-PCR-SARS-CoV-2 and skimmed acellular milk and maternal sera were tested against SARS-CoV-2 specific immunoglobulin (Ig) M, A and G reactive to receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein 1 to determine the presence of immunoglobulins. Then, we examined how the presence of each immunoglobulin type in the colostrum was related to the time when infection was acquired by logistic regression analysis and how they were correlated to the immunoglobulins present in maternal serum and mature milk by Cohen’s kappa statistic.Results187 pregnant women with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy or at delivery were recruited. No SARS-CoV-2 was found in the human breast milk. IgA and IgG were present in 129/162 and 5/163 colostrum samples and in 19/74 and 3/74 mature milk samples, respectively. IgA was the predominant immunoglobulin found in the breast milk and its levels were significantly higher in the colostrum than in the mature milk. We did not find that the presence of immunoglobulins in the colostrum was correlated to their presence in maternal serum, the severity of the disease or the time when the infection had occurred. InterpretationSince antibodies are found in the colostrum irrespective of the time of infection and SARS-CoV-2 is not detected in human breast milk, all women should be encouraged to breastfeed, undertaking contact precautions when there is active disease.Funding This study was conducted thanks to scholarships granted by the Spanish Ministry of Health (Instituto de Salud Carlos III: COV20/00188) and by iMaterna foundation (www.imaterna.org). PerkinElmer® provided the laboratory reagents and Synlab Diagnósticos Globales (Madrid, Spain) provided human resources to conduct the analyses performed in Madrid.