bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Penerapan Modifikasi Mesin Pencetak Rengginang Berbasis Mikrokontroler Pada Usaha Mikro di Desa Tangkilsari Kabupaten Malang
Authors: Fahmi Muhammad Hanif , Nafisa Adita , Syahminan  , Pradhana Candra , Abidin Zainal , Zamzami Muhammad Rizal Akbar , Rahmawati Zurriat Nyndia , Yahya Alfian Nur
Published: December 2022

Rengginang merupakan kudapan tradisional yang digemari baik oleh hampir semua kalangan dan bisa ditemukan diberbagai daerah di Indonesia. Salah satu sentra produksi rengginang yang terdapat Desa Tangkilsari, Kecamatan Tajinan, Kabupaten Malang. Selain dijual untuk makanan ringan sehari-hari, rengginang juga dijual untuk oleh-oleh. Masalah yang dihadapi oleh mitra antara lain: a) Proses produksi belum efisien kurang nya aneka model cetakan dan sistem pengeringan yang tidak merata; b) Kurangnya varian produk; c) Belum memiliki pengelolaan manajemen keuangan. Jadi solusi yang ditawarkan untuk mengatasi permasalahan adalah: a) Membuat modifikasi desain mesin cetak rengginang dan mesin pengering otomatis sesuai dengan yang diminta sehingga pengeringan pada rengginang merata; b) Pengembangan produk rengginang; c) Pelatihan dan pendampingan pembuatan laporan keuangan usaha; d) Pelatihan manajemen usaha. Hasil yang diperolah pada PKM  ini yaitu dibuatnya Mesin Pengering dan cetak rengginang dan alat tersebut di serahkan pada mitra pengguna untuk di implemetasikan untuk membantu meningkatkan produksi dan omzet mitra.
Hayat bilgisi dersine yönelik öz yeterlik ölçeğinin geliştirilmesi
Authors: YILMAZ Ferat
Published: December 2022

Mevcut çalışmada “Hayat Bilgisi Dersi Öz Yeterlik Ölçeğinin (HBDÖYÖ)” geliştirilip geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışmalarının yapılması amaçlanmıştır. Bu araştırma, bir ölçek geliştirme çalışmasıdır. Bu araştırmanın katılımcılarını, Diyarbakır ilinin merkez ilçelerinde eğitim gören 2. ve 3. sınıf öğrencileri oluşturmuştur. Veri toplama aracı olarak HBDÖYÖ Taslak Formu ve Başol (2010) tarafından Türkçeye uyarlanan Çocuklar için Öz yeterlik Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. HBDÖYÖ’nün geliştirilmesi aşamalarında Temel Bileşenler Analizi ve Doğrulayıcı Faktör Analizinden faydalanılmıştır. Ölçeğin benzer ölçekler geçerliğini test etmek amacıyla Pearson korelasyon analizinden faydalanılmıştır. Maddelerin ayırt edici olup olmadığını anlamak için maddelere ait Düzeltilmiş Madde Toplam Korelasyonları hesaplanmış ve alt-üst grupların puan ortalamaları Bağımsız Gruplar için t-Testi ile karşılaştırılmıştır. HBDÖYÖ ile yapılan ölçümlerin güvenirliği, iç tutarlılık, test yarılama ve test-tekrar test yöntemleriyle yorumlanmıştır. Bu araştırmadan elde edilen sonuçlara göre HBDÖYÖ, 2. ve 3. sınıf öğrencilerinin hayat bilgisi dersine yönelik öz yeterlik düzeylerini belirlemek amacıyla geçerli ve güvenilir bir ölçme aracı olarak kullanılabilir. HBDÖYÖ’de 15 madde yer almaktadır. Bu ölçek “Hiçbir zaman, nadiren, bazen, çoğu zaman ve her zaman” şeklinde 5’li likert bir ölçektir. HBDÖYÖ, Otorite Odaklı Öz Yeterlik Ölçeği (OOÖYÖ) ve Birey Odaklı Öz Yeterlik Ölçeği (BOÖYÖ) adında iki alt ölçekten meydana gelmektedir. HBDÖYÖ’nün kullanılması sayesinde ilerleyen zamanlarda birçok yeni araştırmanın yürütülebileceği öngörülmektedir.
CORRELATION DEGREES OF TUMOR INFILTRATING LYMPHOCYTES (TILs) WITH GLEASON SCORE IN PROSTATE ADENOCARCINOMA
Authors:   Faculty of Medicine, Widya Mandala Surabaya Catholic University Indonesia, Theny Mitchell , Parengkuan Irene Lingkan ,   Department of Pathological Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Widya Mandala Surabaya Catholic University Indonesia, Tahalele Paul L ,   Department of Surgery and Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Widya Mandala Surabaya Catholic University Indonesia
Published: December 2022

Introduction: One of the abnormalities in the prostate gland is prostate adenocarcinoma. Prostate adenocarcinoma expresses tumor antigen in the form of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) which will then be recognized by the immune system. The immune system then responds by infiltrating the tumor tissue. Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs) are defined as the infiltration of lymphocytes into the tumor microenvironment. T lymphocytes have a role in recognizing and killing tumor cells. The Gleason grading system together with serum PSA assessment and clinical staging are key in determining appropriate therapy and prognosis in prostate adenocarcinoma. The Gleason grading system is used to assess the degrees of glandular differentiation in prostate adenocarcinoma. An increase in the gleason score indicates poor gland differentiation. Purpose: To assess the correlation between the degrees of Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs) with gleason score in prostate adenocarcinoma. Method: This retrospective study used a correlation analytic method with a cross sectional study design that measured the degrees of Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs) in each gleason score of prostateadenocarcinoma that was observed once at a time. The research samples obtained from the patient's medical records included the gleason score and histopathological slides of the Transurethral Resection of Prostate (TURP) with hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining which were diagnosed as prostate adenocarcinoma according to the inclusion criteria using the non-probability total sampling method at Dr.RamelanNavy’s Central Hospital and analyzed using SPSS version 25 application. Result: Spearman correlation test to assess the correlation between the degree of stromal TILs with gleason score obtained p-value = 0.345 (p >0.05) which indicates there is nocorrelation. Conclusion: There is nocorrelation between high grade stromal TILs and high Gleason Score in prostate adenocarcinoma
A Rare Neonatal Testicular Swelling Cause: Neonatal Testicular Torsion
Authors:   Saglik Bilimleri University, Gulhane Medicine Faculty, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Ankara, Turkey, Bozat Ali Dinc , Baldemi Nurgul ,   Saglik Bilimleri University, Gulhane Medicine Faculty, Department of Pediatrics, Ankara, Turkey, Bahadi Gokhan Berktug ,   Saglik Bilimleri University, Gulhane Medicine Faculty, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Ankara, Turkey, Calisici Erhan ,   Saglik Bilimleri University, Gulhane Medicine Faculty, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Ankara, Turkey, Yaprak Deniz ,   Saglik Bilimleri University, Gulhane Medicine Faculty, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Ankara, Turkey, Karago Belma Saygili ,   Saglik Bilimleri University, Gulhane Medicine Faculty, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Ankara, Turkey
Published: December 2022

Testicular torsion is a rare medical condition among neonates. Main symptoms are swelling, erythema and pain of the scrotum. It can be both perinatal (diagnosed at birth) and postnatal (diagnosed after birth to 28 days of life). If not treated, atrophy of both involving and/or contra lateral testis can be developed. Still being the main treatment option is surgery, new researches suggest delayed surgery in perinatal torsion because of low rates of salvaging involving testis. We present a perinatal testicular torsion newborn who undergone surgery in third hour of life. Orchioectomy of the effected testis and orchiopexy of the contra lateral testis is performed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the earliest diagnostic time report of a testicular torsion with successful management. Physicians should always alert for testicular torsion in neonatal period, even in delivery room on performing first physical examination of the newborn baby.
Elizabeth Bowen’s The Hotel: An ABC of Reading
Authors: Royle Nicholas
Published: December 2022

This essay is an exercise in the phenomenology – and post-phenomenology – of reading in relation to Elizabeth Bowen’s The Hotel (1927), a novel that thematizes and reflects on the uncanny status of reading and provokes in response an experimental critical ABC. Special attention is given to the work of French psychoanalyst Charles Baudouin in foregrounding the role and effects of suggestion in reading. Engaging with the concerns of writing and reading fiction in the ‘Anthropocene’ (especially in the form of what is here called twi-fi) and drawing on notions of literary anachrony, cryptaesthetic resistance, queerness and deferred effect, the essay offers a new critical appreciation of the singularity of Bowen’s novel.
Database creation plants of the legume family (Fabaceae) in the flora of Belgorod areas
Authors: Chernyavskih Vladimir , SOPINA Natal'ya , SOPIN Denis , LOGVINOV Aleksandr , SAYFUTDINOVA Luiza
Published: December 2022

The development of information technologies in Russia makes it possible to organize, preserve, systematize and collect large amounts of data into electronic databases for various purposes. Based on the analysis of a large volume of field research, the authors have developed an MS Access database for plants of the Fabaceae family of the Belgorod region. The Microsoft Office software package includes the Microsoft Access program (MS Access), designed to create databases, store, process and quickly access the necessary information. The review of methodological approaches used to create a database of species and genera of the legume family (Fabaceae), common in the flora of the Belgorod region, is given. The developed database makes it easier to find valuable source forms for the selection of legumes resistant to biotic and abiotic environmental factors.
Results of agroecological testing perennial grasses in the conditions of the Middle Urals
Authors: Kasatkina Nadezhda , Nelyubina Zhanna
Published: December 2022

Experimental data on the fodder and seed productivity of varieties of meadow timothy, awnless brome, meadow fescue with three-year use of herbage are presented. The obtained yield is justified by its structure (stem density, height, stem mass, leafiness, number and length of inflorescences, weight of 1000 seeds).
CNV-PCC: An efficient method for detecting copy number variations from next-generation sequencing data
Authors: Zhang Tong , Dong Jinxin , Jiang Hua , Zhao Zuyao , Zhou Mengjiao , Yuan Tianting
Published: December 2022

Copy number variations (CNVs) significantly influence the diversity of the human genome and the occurrence of many complex diseases. The next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology provides rich data for detecting CNVs, and the read depth (RD)-based approach is widely used. However, low CN (copy number of 3–4) duplication events are challenging to identify with existing methods, especially when the size of CNVs is small. In addition, the RD-based approach can only obtain rough breakpoints. We propose a new method, CNV-PCC (detection of CNVs based on Principal Component Classifier), to identify CNVs in whole genome sequencing data. CNV-PPC first uses the split read signal to search for potential breakpoints. A two-stage segmentation strategy is then implemented to enhance the identification capabilities of low CN duplications and small CNVs. Next, the outlier scores are calculated for each segment by PCC (Principal Component Classifier). Finally, the OTSU algorithm calculates the threshold to determine the CNVs regions. The analysis of simulated data results indicates that CNV-PCC outperforms the other methods for sensitivity and F1-score and improves breakpoint accuracy. Furthermore, CNV-PCC shows high consistency on real sequencing samples with other methods. This study demonstrates that CNV-PCC is an effective method for detecting CNVs, even for low CN duplications and small CNVs.
Predictive models for IOPs measured with NCT, GAT, and ORA among patients undergoing SMILE
Authors: Han Tian , Shi Wanru , Chen Yingjun , Shen Yang , Xu Ye , Zhou Xingtao
Published: December 2022

Purpose: To develop predictive models for the intraocular pressure (IOP) of patients undergoing small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) procedures, measured with a noncontact tonometer (NCT), Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT), and an ocular response analyzer (ORA).

Methods: In this prospective study, a total of 104 eyes (−6.23 ± 2.06 diopters) of 52 patients (24.38 ± 4.76 years) undergoing SMILE procedures were included. The intraocular pressure was measured (IOPNCT with NCT, IOPGAT with GAT, and IOPcc and IOPg with ORA) before surgery and at postoperative 6 months. Information on age, preoperative and attempted spherical equivalent (SE), ablation depth, preoperative values and postoperative changes in central corneal thickness (CCT), K1, K2, Km, corneal hysteresis (CH) and corneal resistance factor (CRF) values was collected in order to predict IOPs.

Results: All surgeries were uneventful. At postoperative 6 months, the efficacy and safety index were 1.04 ± 0.15 and 1.08 ± 0.18, respectively. Significant decreases were detected in postoperative IOPNCT, IOPGAT, IOPcc, and IOPg compared to preoperative values (all p < 0.001). No relationship was found between any IOP and ablation depth, attempted SE, and preoperative SE, as well as CCTdifference (all p > 0.05). Predictive models for IOPs were constructed to predict preoperative values, and R2 values were 67.5% (IOPNCT), 64.5% (IOPGAT), 78.7% (IOPcc), and 82.0% (IOPg). The prediction band of IOPNCT and IOPGAT was 7.4–15.1 mmHg and 8–16 mmHg, respectively.

Conclusion: Predictive models for IOP measurements after SMILE procedures can be helpful in clinical practice.
Evaluation of the effects of focused ultrasound stimulation on the central nervous system through a multiscale simulation approach
Authors: Scarpelli Alessia , Stefano Mattia , Cordella Francesca , Zollo Loredana
Published: December 2022

The lack of sensory feedback represents one of the main drawbacks of commercial upper limb prosthesis. Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Stimulation (tFUS) seems to be a valid non-invasive technique for restoring sensory feedback allowing to deliver acoustic energy to cortical sensory areas with high spatial resolution and depth penetration. This paper aims at studying in simulation the use of tFUS on cortical sensory areas to evaluate its effects in terms of latency ad firing rate of the cells response, for understanding if these parameters influence the safety and the efficacy of the stimulation. In this paper, in order to study the propagation of the ultrasound wave from the transducer to the cortical cells, a multiscale approach was implemented by building a macroscopic model, which estimates the pressure profile in a simplified 2D human head geometry, and coupling it with the SONIC microscale model, that describes the electrical behaviour of a cortical neuron. The influence of the stimulation parameters and of the skull thickness on the latency and the firing rate are evaluated and the obtained behaviour is linked to the sensory response obtained on human subjects. Results have shown that slight changes in the transducer position should not affect the efficacy of the stimulation; however, high skull thickness leads to lower cells activation. These results will be useful for evaluating safety and effectiveness of tFUS for sensory feedback in closed-loop prosthetic systems.
Cardioprotective effects of preconditioning exercise in the female tumor bearing mouse
Authors: Parry Traci L. , Tichy Louisa , Brantley Jason T.
Published: December 2022

Cancer cachexia, a metabolic wasting syndrome, affects up to 80% of cancer patients and leads to the death in up to 20% of cancer patients. While research is growing in the field, there are still no clear diagnostic criteria and cancer cachexia remains an untreated condition. Aerobic exercise has been shown to positively impact cachexia by slowing its development and attenuating muscle loss. The most effective timing, duration, and intensity of exercise as a preventative and protective measure against cancer cachexia remains questionable. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of preconditioning exercise as a protective measure for tumor-mediated muscle wasting. Female LC3 Tg+ and wildtype mice were randomly separated into four groups, sedentary non-tumor bearing (SED + NT), sedentary tumor bearing (SED + T), treadmill exercise non-tumor bearing (TM + NT), and treadmill exercise tumor bearing (TM + T). Mice underwent an 8-week treadmill exercise training protocol (TM) or remained sedentary (SED). Next, mice were implanted with tumor cells (T group; 5 × 105 Lewis Lung Carcinoma cells in flank) or remained non-tumor (NT) for 4 weeks. Tumor bearing resulted in a significant decline in cardiac function. SED + T showed a significant decrease in fractional shortening (p < 0.05) when compared to the other groups. This coincided with an increase in beclin-1 and MyD88 protein expression and decrease in p-FOXO1 (inactivated) protein expression in SED + T mice. Interestingly, preconditioning exercise (exercise prior to tumor bearing) appeared to preserve cardiac function (TM + T not significantly different than SED + NT). Exercise-mediated cardioprotection also coincided with abolished beclin-1 and MyD88 signaling that was not significantly elevated in TM + T mice. Additionally, TM resulted in a 22-fold decrease in estimated tumor volume (p < 0.05) and a 45% decrease in tumor mass (p < 0.05) compared to SED tumors. The data indicate potential cardioprotective effects of preconditioning exercise on preserving cardiac structure and function, as well as regulating autophagic (beclin-1), inflammatory (TGF-β and MyD88), and atrophy (p-FOXO1) pathways during tumor bearing. Preconditioning exercise may be an effective and accessible treatment intervention for early-stage cancer survivors. This data is crucial in identifying the significance of exercise and the timing of exercise as a protective measure against the detrimental effects of cancer cachexia.
Anticancer effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles prepared by varying entry time of ion carriers against A431 skin cancer cells in vitro
Authors: Aljohar Albandri Yousef , Muteeb Ghazala , Zia Qamar , Siddiqui Sahabjada , Aatif Mohammad , Farhan Mohd , Khan Mohd. Farhan , Alsultan Abdulrahman , Jamal Azfar , Alshoaibi Adil , Ahmad Ejaz , Alam Mir Waqas , Arshad Md , Ahamed Mohd Imran
Published: December 2022

Although, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZRTs) as an anti-cancer agent have been the subject of numerous studies, none of the reports has investigated the impact of the reaction entry time of ion-carriers on the preparation of ZRTs. Therefore, we synthesized variants of ZRTs by extending the entry time of NaOH (that acts as a carrier of hydroxyl ions) in the reaction mixture. The anti-proliferative action, morphological changes, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and nuclear apoptosis of ZRTs on human A431 skin carcinoma cells were observed. The samples revealed crystallinity and purity by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of ZRT-1 (5 min ion carrier entry) and ZRT-2 (10 min ion carrier entry) revealed microtubule like morphology. On prolonging the entry time for ion carrier (NaOH) introduction in the reaction mixture, a relative ascent in the aspect ratio was seen. The typical ZnO band with a slight shift in the absorption maxima was evident with UV-visible spectroscopy. Both ZRT-1 and ZRT-2 exhibited non-toxic behavior as evident by RBC lysis assay. Additionally, ZRT-2 showed better anti-cancer potential against A431 cells as seen by MTT assay, ROS generation and chromatin condensation analyses. At 25 μM of ZRT-2, 5.56% cells were viable in MTT test, ROS production was enhanced to 166.71%, while 33.0% of apoptotic cells were observed. The IC50 for ZRT-2 was slightly lower (6 μM) than that for ZRT-1 (8 μM) against A431 cells. In conclusion, this paper presents a modest, economical procedure to generate ZRT nano-structures exhibiting strong cytotoxicity against the A431 cell line, indicating that ZRTs may have application in combating cancer.
Evaluation of docking procedures reliability in affitins-partners interactions
Authors: Ranaudo Anna , Cosentino Ugo , Greco Claudio , Moro Giorgio , Bonardi Alessandro , Maiocchi Alessandro , Moroni Elisabetta
Published: December 2022

Affitins constitute a class of small proteins belonging to Sul7d family, which, in microorganisms such as Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, bind DNA preventing its denaturation. Thanks to their stability and small size (60–66 residues in length) they have been considered as ideal candidates for engineering and have been used for more than 10 years now, for different applications. The individuation of a mutant able to recognize a specific target does not imply the knowledge of the binding geometry between the two proteins. However, its identification is of undoubted importance but not always experimentally accessible. For this reason, computational approaches such as protein-protein docking can be helpful for an initial structural characterization of the complex. This method, which produces tens of putative binding geometries ordered according to a binding score, needs to be followed by a further reranking procedure for finding the most plausible one. In the present paper, we use the server ClusPro for generating docking models of affitins with different protein partners whose experimental structures are available in the Protein Data Bank. Then, we apply two protocols for reranking the docking models. The first one investigates their stability by means of Molecular Dynamics simulations; the second one, instead, compares the docking models with the interacting residues predicted by the Matrix of Local Coupling Energies method. Results show that the more efficient way to deal with the reranking problem is to consider the information given by the two protocols together, i.e. employing a consensus approach.
Advances in hydrophilic metal–organic frameworks for N-linked glycopeptide enrichment
Authors: Li Siqi , Wei Yuanhua , Wang Ya , Liang Haoran
Published: December 2022

The comprehensive profiling of glycoproteins is of great significance for the timely clinical diagnosis and therapy. However, inherent obstacles hamper their direct analysis from biological samples, and specific enrichment prior to analysis is indispensable. Among the various approaches for glycopeptide enrichment, hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) has attracted special focus, especially for the development of novel hydrophilic materials, which is the key of HILIC. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are a type of porous materials constructed from the self-assembly of metal and organic linkers. Advantages such as high surface area, flexible pore size, and easy modification render hydrophilic MOFs as ideal candidates for HILIC, which has inspired many studies over the past years. In this review, advances in hydrophilic MOFs for N-linked glycopeptide enrichment are summarized. According to the synthesis strategies, those materials are categorized into three classes, namely pristine MOFs, MOFs with chemical modifications, and MOFs-derived composite. In each categorization, the preparation and the function of different moieties are covered, as well as the enrichment performances of sensitivity, selectivity, and practical application. Finally, a summary and future perspective on the applications of hydrophilic MOFs for N-linked glycopeptide enrichment are briefly discussed. This review is expected to raise awareness of the properties of hydrophilic MOFs and offer some valuable information to further research in glycoproteomics.
Novel antimicrobial agents targeting the Streptococcus mutans biofilms discovery through computer technology
Authors: Zhang Bin , Zhao Min , Tian Jiangang , Lei Lei , Huang Ruizhe
Published: December 2022

Dental caries is one of the most prevalent and costly biofilm-associated infectious diseases worldwide. Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is well recognized as the major causative factor of dental caries due to its acidogenicity, aciduricity and extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) synthesis ability. The EPSs have been considered as a virulent factor of cariogenic biofilm, which enhance biofilms resistance to antimicrobial agents and virulence compared with planktonic bacterial cells. The traditional anti-caries therapies, such as chlorhexidine and antibiotics are characterized by side-effects and drug resistance. With the development of computer technology, several novel approaches are being used to synthesize or discover antimicrobial agents. In this mini review, we summarized the novel antimicrobial agents targeting the S. mutans biofilms discovery through computer technology. Drug repurposing of small molecules expands the original medical indications and lowers drug development costs and risks. The computer-aided drug design (CADD) has been used for identifying compounds with optimal interactions with the target via silico screening and computational methods. The synthetic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) based on the rational design, computational design or high-throughput screening have shown increased selectivity for both single- and multi-species biofilms. These methods provide potential therapeutic agents to promote targeted control of the oral microbial biofilms in the near future.
Invasive assessment of aortic stenosis in contemporary practice
Authors: Brito João , Raposo Luís , Teles Rui Campante
Published: December 2022

The authors review the current role of cardiac catheterization in the characterization of aortic stenosis, its main clinical applications, its pitfalls, and its additional value to the information provided by echocardiography. Discrepancies that may arise between these two modalities are discussed and further explained. Hemodynamic variables besides transvalvular pressure drop are described, and emphasis is given to an integrative approach to aortic stenosis assessment, that includes invasive and noninvasive evaluation.
Right atrial cardiac lipoma with distinctive imaging characteristics. A rare case report and literature review
Authors: Chen Qiqing , Yang Dayan , Liu Lili , Jing Xiangxiang
Published: December 2022

Cardiac lipomas are rare primary cardiac tumors that are often only detected incidentally during other examinations. Lipomas of the right atrium are particularly rare. In this report, we describe the case of a patient presenting with a mixed cystic-solid lipoma in the right atrium. The symptoms, imaging findings, and treatment strategies associated with this case are discussed herein. This 65-year-old female patient reported to our hospital due to exertional chest tightness, shortness of breath, and occasional chest pain for over 1 year. She subsequently underwent transthoracic echocardiography and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, both of which revealed a cystic-solid mass in the right atrium. The transthoracic computed tomography scan showed a dense patchy shadow in the right atrium. The mass was completely excised from the atrial septum, and subsequent histopathological examination confirmed its identity as a lipoma. Surgical resection remains the primary treatment approach for cardiac lipomas, and multimodal imaging is of key importance for the diagnosis and follow-up monitoring of affected patients.
Development and analysis of a comprehensive diagnostic model for aortic valve calcification using machine learning methods and artificial neural networks
Authors: Xiong Tao , Chen Yan , Han Shen , Zhang Tian-Chen , Pu Lei , Fan Yu-Xin , Fan Wei-Chen , Zhang Ya-Yong , Li Ya-Xiong
Published: December 2022

Background

Although advanced surgical and interventional treatments are available for advanced aortic valve calcification (AVC) with severe clinical symptoms, early diagnosis, and intervention is critical in order to reduce calcification progression and improve patient prognosis. The aim of this study was to develop therapeutic targets for improving outcomes for patients with AVC.

Materials and methods

We used the public expression profiles of individuals with AVC (GSE12644 and GSE51472) to identify potential diagnostic markers. First, the R software was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and perform functional enrichment analysis. Next, we combined bioinformatics techniques with machine learning methodologies such as random forest algorithms and support vector machines to screen for and identify diagnostic markers of AVC. Subsequently, artificial neural networks were employed to filter and model the diagnostic characteristics for AVC incidence. The diagnostic values were determined using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Furthermore, CIBERSORT immune infiltration analysis was used to determine the expression of different immune cells in the AVC. Finally, the CMap database was used to predict candidate small compounds as prospective AVC therapeutics.

Results

A total of 78 strong DEGs were identified. The leukocyte migration and pid integrin 1 pathways were highly enriched for AVC-specific DEGs. CXCL16, GPM6A, BEX2, S100A9, and SCARA5 genes were all regarded diagnostic markers for AVC. The model was effectively constructed using a molecular diagnostic score system with significant diagnostic value (AUC = 0.987) and verified using the independent dataset GSE83453 (AUC = 0.986). Immune cell infiltration research revealed that B cell naive, B cell memory, plasma cells, NK cell activated, monocytes, and macrophage M0 may be involved in the development of AVC. Additionally, all diagnostic characteristics may have varying degrees of correlation with immune cells. The most promising small molecule medicines for reversing AVC gene expression are Doxazosin and Terfenadine.

Conclusion

It was identified that CXCL16, GPM6A, BEX2, S100A9, and SCARA5 are potentially beneficial for diagnosing and treating AVC. A diagnostic model was constructed based on a molecular prognostic score system using machine learning. The aforementioned immune cell infiltration may have a significant influence on the development and incidence of AVC.
Giving a lot of ourselves: How mother leaders in higher education experienced parenting and leading during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Boche Laura
Published: December 2022

This qualitative interpretative phenomenological analysis explored the lived experience of mother executive administrators in higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizing the philosophical underpinnings of the Heideggerian phenomenological approach, the following research question guided this study: What are the lived experiences of mother executive administrators in higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic? Participants included nine self-identified mother executive administrators from one Midwest state at a variety of institution types and locations within the state. Data collection involved two focus groups and individual interviews with all nine participants. After data analysis, three recurrent themes emerged from the data: (1) Burnout and Exhaustion, (2) Never Enough: Responsibility Generated Feelings of Guilt, and (3) Receiving Support: Importance of Gender, Family Role, and Agency. The findings of this study exposed the neoliberal feminist and capitalistic ideological stronghold on the United States workforce and culture intensifying the already existing challenges of these mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The integration of affective characteristics of the family environment for a more comprehensive explanatory model of reading abilities
Authors: Gagné Andréanne , Bigras Nathalie , Charron Annie , Lemire Julie
Published: December 2022

Introduction

This research focuses on the influence of familial affective characteristics on family literacy practices and children’s reading abilities. Parenting stress and educational practices were two affective characteristics of interest. Parenting stress is defined as a state of psychological discomfort specifically associated with the education of a child whereas educational practices are defined as various means the parent uses to educate and socialize the child.

Methods

A sample of 154 grade 1 children allowed for a correlational analysis between parenting stress, educational practices, the frequency of family reading activities, the diversity of literacy material available and the type of child-parent exchange (alphabet-focus or story-focus). Regression analyses were conducted to develop a model predicting reading abilities.

Results

Three result outcomes are of interest for the field of reading development. First, our study establishes relations between educational practices and certain aspects of family literacy: diversity of supports, frequency of exchanges, and type of child-parent exchange and it suggests that parental engagement plays a significant role in various aspects related to at-home discussions about books. Second, our regression analysis highlights evidence that parenting stress is an explanatory factor directly linked to the child’s reading abilities. Therefore, our findings add reading abilities to the list of developmental aspects that is affected by parenting stress. Finally, the results show that, when parenting stress and educational practices are integrated in the predictive model, the story-focus exchanges remain predictive of reading abilities but not the alphabet-focus exchanges.

Discussion

Our findings confirm that the benefit of parent–child exchange on reading abilities is dependent of conditions of the family environment in which these activities occur. These findings also lead us to question the value of making alphabet-focus exchanges, the cornerstone of some literacy programs in family settings. Our findings call for caution when implementing such programs in family context. In fact, activities involving conversation about the meaning of a text or the links between the text and the child’s everyday reality represent the only activities, in our study, that had a beneficial effect on reading abilities while remaining permeable to parenting stress.
Adverse impact of elevated serum progesterone and luteinizing hormone levels on the hCG trigger day on clinical pregnancy outcomes of modified natural frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles
Authors: Huang Chenyang , Shen Xiaoyue , Shi Qingqing , Shan Huizhi , Yan Yuan , Liu Jingyu , Kong Na
Published: December 2022

Research question

The relationship between serum progesterone (P) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels on the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) trigger day and the clinical pregnancy outcomes in modified natural frozen-thawed embryo transfer (mNC-FET) cycles are controversial.

Design

This was a retrospective study of 788 mNC-FET cycles. A smooth fitting curve and threshold effect analysis was performed to identify the effect of serum P and LH levels measured on the hCG day on the clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and live birth rate (LBR) of mNC-FET cycles.

Results

The CPR and LBR decreased significantly when the LH level on the hCG day was greater than or equal to 32 IU/L. Further subgroup analysis showed that the CPR decreased significantly when the P level on the hCG day was equal to or greater than 1 ng/mL. When the P level was lower (< 1 ng/mL), the patients with an LH level greater than or equal to 32 IU/L had reduced CPR and LBR in mNC-FET cycles.

Conclusion

Applying the hCG trigger on a day with a higher P level (≥ 1 ng/mL) leads to a decreased CPR and LBR. hCG administration with a higher LH level (≥ 32 IU/L) also leads to a decreased CPR and LBR in mNC-FET cycles when the P level is less than 1 ng/mL.
Overexpression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α and excessive vascularization in the peri-implantation endometrium of infertile women with chronic endometritis
Authors: Liu Zhenteng , Liu Xuemei , Li Fenghua , Sun Yuxia , Yu Lili , Zhang Wei , Zhu Ping , Ma Ding , Wang Xinrong , Lai Shoucui , Bao Hongchu
Published: December 2022

Objective

Chronic endometritis (CE) contributes to impaired endometrial receptivity and is closely associated with poor in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes. However, the mechanisms underlying CE are unclear. Here, we investigated the role of the hypoxic microenvironment and endometrial vascularization in the peri-implantation endometrium of infertile women with CE.

Methods

This retrospective study involved 15 fertile women and 77 infertile patients diagnosed with CE based on CD138+ ≥1/10 high-power fields (HPFs). The CE patients were divided into Group 1 (CD138+ 1–4/10 HPFs, 53 cases) and Group 2 (CD138+ ≥5/10 HPFs, 24 cases). The expression levels of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) in peri-implantation endometrium were assessed by qRT-PCR and western blot analyses. Spatial levels of HIF1α, VEGFA, and VEGFR2 in various endometrial compartments was determined using immunohistochemistry and H-score analysis. Microvascular density (MVD) was determined using CD34 staining and scored using Image J. Finally, we used qRT-PCR to assess changes in the expression of HIF1α, VEGFA, and VEGFR2 in CE patients after treatment with first-line antibiotics.

Result(s)

Relative to Group 1 and control group, during the implantation window, protein and mRNA levels of HIF1α, VEGFA, and VEGFR2 were markedly high in Group 2 (P<0.05). H-score analysis showed that HIF1α, VEGFA, and VEGFR2 in the luminal, glandular epithelium, and stromal compartments were markedly elevated in Group 2, comparing to control group and Group 1 (P<0.05). Moreover, markedly elevated MVD levels were observed in Group 2. Notably, the above indexes did not differ significantly in the control group versus Group 1. Treatment with antibiotics significantly suppressed the endometrial HIF1α and VEGFA levels in CE-cured patients.

Conclusion(s)

Here, we for the first time report the upregulation of HIF1α, VEGFA, and VEGFR2, as well as excessive endometrial vascularization in the peri-implantation endometrium of CE patients. Our findings offer new insights into reduced endometrial receptivity in CE-associated infertility.
Hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype: Association with initial neurological severity and etiologic subtypes in patients with acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Ren Yuan , Qiu Zi-Han , Wu Wei-Hua , Dong Xiao-Guang , Han Shuang , Zhang Fu-Liang , Kong Fan-Li , Li Feng-E
Published: December 2022

Objective

To explore the relationship of hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype (HTWP) with initial neurological severity and etiologic subtypes in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Methods

The data for this study were collected from hospitalized patients within 72 h of acute ischemic stroke onset at the Department of Neurology of the Affiliated Hospital of Beihua University from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2022. The initial neurological severity was assessed by the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) on the day of admission: NIHSS <6 was defined as mild stroke, and NIHSS ≥6 as moderate to severe stroke. HTWP was defined by fasting serum triglycerides ≥1.7 mmol/L and waist circumference ≥90 cm in men and ≥80 cm in women. Differentiation of etiologic subtypes was based on the method reported in the Trial of Org 10 172 in Acute Stroke Treatment. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the association of HTWP with initial neurological severity and etiologic subtypes.

Results

The study included 431 patients. Compared with the normal waist–normal blood triglyceride group, patients with HTWP had reduced risks of moderate to severe stroke [odds ratio (OR): 0.384, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.170–0.869; P = 0.022]. In addition, the risk of small-artery occlusion stroke was 2.318 times higher in the HTWP group than in the normal triglyceride–normal waist (NWNT) group (OR: 2.318, 95% CI: 1.244–4.319; P = 0.008).

Conclusion

Initial neurological severity was less severe in patients with HTWP, and HTWP was associated with an increased risk of small-artery occlusion stroke.
Low number of neurosecretory vesicles in neuroblastoma impairs massive catecholamine release and prevents hypertension
Authors: Mühlethaler-Mottet Annick , Uccella Silvia , Marchiori Deborah , La Rosa Stefano , Daraspe Jean , Balmas Bourloud Katia , Beck Popovic Maja , Eugster Philippe J. , Grouzmann Eric , Abid Karim
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a pediatric cancer of the developing sympathetic nervous system. It produces and releases metanephrines, which are used as biomarkers for diagnosis in plasma and urine. However, plasma catecholamine concentrations remain generally normal in children with NB. Thus, unlike pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PHEO/PGL), two other non-epithelial neuroendocrine tumors, hypertension is not part of the usual clinical picture of patients with NB. This suggests that the mode of production and secretion of catecholamines and metanephrines in NB is different from that in PHEO/PGL, but little is known about these discrepancies. Here we aim to provide a detailed comparison of the biosynthesis, metabolism and storage of catecholamines and metanephrines between patients with NB and PHEO.

Method

Catecholamines and metanephrines were quantified in NB and PHEO/PGL patients from plasma and tumor tissues by ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Electron microscopy was used to quantify neurosecretory vesicles within cells derived from PHEO tumor biopsies, NB-PDX and NB cell lines. Chromaffin markers were detected by qPCR, IHC and/or immunoblotting.

Results

Plasma levels of metanephrines were comparable between NB and PHEO patients, while catecholamines were 3.5-fold lower in NB vs PHEO affected individuals. However, we observed that intratumoral concentrations of metanephrines and catecholamines measured in NB were several orders of magnitude lower than in PHEO. Cellular and molecular analyses revealed that NB cell lines, primary cells dissociated from human tumor biopsies as well as cells from patient-derived xenograft tumors (NB-PDX) stored a very low amount of intracellular catecholamines, and contained only rare neurosecretory vesicles relative to PHEO cells. In addition, primary NB expressed reduced levels of numerous chromaffin markers, as compared to PHEO/PGL, except catechol O-methyltransferase and monoamine oxidase A. Furthermore, functional assays through induction of chromaffin differentiation of the IMR32 NB cell line with Bt2cAMP led to an increase of neurosecretory vesicles able to secrete catecholamines after KCl or nicotine stimulation.

Conclusion

The low amount of neurosecretory vesicles in NB cytoplasm prevents catecholamine storage and lead to their rapid transformation by catechol O-methyltransferase into metanephrines that diffuse in blood. Hence, in contrast to PHEO/PGL, catecholamines are not secreted massively in the blood, which explains why systemic hypertension is not observed in most patients with NB.
Oroxin B alleviates osteoarthritis through anti-inflammation and inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and enhancement of autophagy
Authors: Lu Rui , He Zhiyi , Zhang Weikai , Wang Yingguang , Cheng Peng , Lv Zhengtao , Yuan Xuefeng , Guo Fengjing , You Hongbo , Chen An-min , Hu Weihua
Published: December 2022

Background

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common aging-related degenerative joint disease with chronic inflammation as its possible pathogenesis. Oroxin B (OB), a flavonoid isolated from traditional Chinese herbal medicine, possesses anti-inflammation properties which may be involved in regulating the pathogenesis of OA, but its mechanism has not been elucidated. Our study was the first to explore the potential chondroprotective effect and elucidate the underlying mechanism of OB in OA.

Methods

In vitro, primary mice chondrocytes were stimulated with IL-1β along with or without the administration of OB or autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA). Cell viability assay was measured with a cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). The phenotypes of anabolic-related (Aggrecan and Collagen II), catabolic-related (MMP3, MMP13, and ADAMTS5), inflammation-related (iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β), and markers of related signaling pathways in chondrocytes with different treatment were detected through western blot, RT-qPCR, and immunofluorescent staining. In vivo, the destabilized medial meniscus (DMM) operation was performed to establish the OA mice model. After knee intra-articular injection with OB for 8 weeks, the mice’s knee joints were obtained for subsequent histological staining and analysis.

Results

OB reversed the expression level of anabolic-related proteins (Aggrecan and Collagen II) and catabolic-related (MMP3, MMP13, and ADAMTS5) in IL-1β-induced chondrocytes. Mechanistically, OB suppressed the inflammatory response stimulated by IL-1β, as the inflammation-related (iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) markers were downregulated after the administration of OB in IL-1β-induced chondrocytes. Besides, the activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway induced by IL-1β could be inhibited by OB. Additionally, the autophagy process impaired by IL-1β could be rescued by OB. What’s more, the introduction of 3-MA to specifically inhibit the autophagic process impairs the protective effect of OB on cartilage. In vivo, histological staining revealed that intra-articular injection of OB attenuated the cartilage degradation, as well as reversed the expression level of anabolic and catabolic-related proteins such as Aggrecan, Collagen II, and MMP13 induced in DMM-induced OA models.

Conclusions

The study verified that OB exhibited the chondroprotective effect by anti-inflammatory, inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, and enhancing the autophagy process, indicating that OB might be a promising agent for the treatment of OA.
Perinatal outcomes of singleton live births after late moderate-to-severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: A propensity score-matched study
Authors: Ran Shiyu , Zu Ruowen , Wu Huan , Zheng Wei , Yang Chen , Yang Shuheng , Ren Bingnan , Zhang Wen , Du Jiangbo , Guan Yichun
Published: December 2022

Objective

To evaluate whether singleton live births achieved following in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in women with late moderate-to-severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes.

Methods

This was a single-center retrospective cohort study conducted from January 2016 to June 2021. A total of 4,012 IVF/ICSI-fresh embryo transfer cycles that achieved singleton live births were included. According to the diagnosis of OHSS, the cycles were divided into two groups: late moderate-to-severe OHSS (MS-OHSS) group (n = 114) and non-OHSS group (n = 3,898). Multiple baseline covariates were controlled by propensity score matching, yielding 114 late MS-OHSS singleton live births matched to 337 non-OHSS singleton live births. The primary outcome of the study was normal term infant. The secondary outcomes were perinatal complications, gestational age at birth, birth weight, and birth height.

Result(s)

Before propensity score matching, no significant difference in perinatal outcomes was identified between late MS-OHSS group and non-OHSS group. After matching maternal age, BMI, basal serum FSH level, basal serum AMH level, basal antral follicle count, type of stimulation protocol, day of embryo development for embryo transfer, number of embryo transfer, and number of oocytes retrieved, there was still no significant difference in obstetric outcomes and neonatal outcomes between the two groups.

Conclusion(s)

The findings demonstrate that the perinatal outcomes were similar between the two groups. However, because the sample size of patients with late MS-OHSS was limited in this study, further investigations are warranted using a larger sample size.