bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Whole exome sequencing of adult Indians with apparently acquired Aplastic Anemia: initial experience at tertiary care hospital
Authors: Mehta Sudhir , Medicherla Krishna Mohan , Gulati Sandhya , Sharma Nidhi , Parveen Rabia , Mishra Ashwani Kumar , Gupta Sonal , Suravajhala Prashanth
Published: May 2023

Aplastic anaemia (AA) is a rare hypocellular bone marrow disease which can be acquired or constitutional. Nearly 10-30% patients with apparently acquired AA have mutations in telomerase reverse transcriptase gene (TERT) leading to bone marrow failure. The TERT plays a crucial role in regulating the telomerase ribonucleoprotein complex which otherwise causes short telomeres leading to AA. We used our benchmarked whole exome sequencing (WES) pipeline and systems bioinformatics approaches to identify sequence variants underlying AA in adult Indian subjects with apparently acquired AA. For 36 affected individuals, we sequenced coding regions to a mean coverage of 100× and a sufficient depth was achieved. The downstream validation and filtering was done to call the variants wherein we identified a host of candidate genes associated with AA who were treated with Cyclosporine A (CsA). Across all samples, six genes were shown to be associated with the AA phenotype with one non-coding SNP underlying intronic region as an exceptional case from interferon gamma (IFNG). While these variants (across the genes, viz. TERT (G/X), IFNG ( T/C), PIGA (T/X) or (T/A), NBS1/NBN(T/X), MPL (G/C) and CYP3A5) spanned across the subjects, a majority of control samples do not have these variants. We demonstrate the application of WES to discover the variants associated with CsA responders and non-responders in the Indian cohort.
The Role of Neutrophil Percentage-to-Albumin Ratio in Cardiovascular Disease Comorbidity and Psychological Distress
Authors: Lu Nan , Chi Yun Peng , Zhang Li Jun , Liu Mei Yan
Published: May 2023

BackgroundInflammation is a comorbidity of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and psychological distress. The neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR) has recently been reported as an inflammatory factor. We aimed to assess the role of NPAR in psychological distress associated with CVD comorbidity.MethodsData for the current study were obtained from a cross-sectional research project based in Beijing. All participants were aged ≥ 18 years and completed the questionnaire and hematological examination. Data on CVD, psychological distress, and NPAR were collected. Psychological distress was defined as symptoms of depression combined with anxiety. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between the NPAR and psychological distress.ResultsA total of 3695 participants (median age, 39 years; 55.67% male) were enrolled in the study. The incidence rates of CVD, psychological distress, and comorbidities of CVD and psychological distress were 16.86%, 6.90%, and 1.35%, respectively. NPAR was a significant risk factor for psychological distress after adjusting for other risk factors in all participants (odds ratio [OR] 4.043, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.083–7.851;P < 0.001), patients with CVD (OR 7.284, 95% CI 1.428–37.161;P = 0.017), and non-CVD participants (OR 4.896, 95% CI 2.403–9.973;P < 0.001).ConclusionNPAR was associated with psychological distress in all participants, including patients with CVD and participants without CVD. The risk of psychological distress associated with NPAR was higher in participants with CVD than in those without CVD.
Exploring Impact of socio economic and Cultural factors for quality education (Case Study: Gedeo Zone)
Authors: Dukale Shimelis F. , Genalle Tesfaye G. , Meti Nigatu L. , Bali Firezer A. , Dukale Mesfin D. , Wote Tekalign T. , Hesso Elisabet G.
Published: May 2023

The brainstorming factor driving for education quality reduction is socio-economic and cultural related factors. In the course of the study, inferential and descriptive statistics was applied. Therefore, software package SPSS version22 are utilized.
Quantitative data obtained for survey the respondents rated "high" (x̄=3.50 to 4.20) with the statement “Coffee harvesting time & labour influencing students learning, youth recruitment on motor bicycle driving affecting their academic achievement, early marriage practices affecting students attendance & academic achievement, and Female home burden affecting their education and active participation” having x̄ = 3.53, 3.67, 3.75 and 3.67; SD=1.431, 1.442, 1.477 & 1.417.
However, the respondents rated “moderate" (x̄=2.7 to 3.4) on five statements “Parents education level influences on students’ academic achievement, Parents income level influences on their children’ academic achievement, Long distance of school from home affecting academic achievement, students have role model educated individuals for their further learning nearby community, and the home environment affecting students’ academic performances”. Its grand mean scores are X̄ =3.09, 3.30, 3.28, 3.12, & 2.93, SD= 1.411, 1.399, 1.428, 1.292 & 1.386 respectively.
In generally female student’s home burden and early marriage practices are among leading socio-cultural aspects that have been affecting student’s attendance & academic achievement in Gede’o Zone. Alongside to this, students labour participation during coffee harvesting time, and youth recruitment on motor bicycle driving greatly contributing for education wastage in which most students have been missing their class regularly and affecting their academic achievement latter on.
Mechanical properties and curing kinetics of biobased benzoxazine-epoxy copolymer for dental fiber post
Authors: Mora Phattarin , Rimdusit Sarawut , Karagiannidis Panagiotis , Srisorrach Ukrit , Jubsilp Chanchira
Published: May 2023

Biocopolymers based on vanillin/fufurylamine-biobenzoxazine (V-fa) and bioepoxy, epoxide castor oil (ECO), were prepared for fiber post application. The mechanical and thermal properties of the V-fa/ECO biocopolymers were assessed in regard to the influence of ECO contents. The addition of the ECO at amount of 20% by weight into the poly(V-fa) preserved the stiffness, the glass transition temperature and thermal stability nearly to the poly(V-fa). Dynamic differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to examine the curing kinetics of the V-fa/ECO system with different heating rates. In order to determine the activation energy (Ea), the experimental data were subjected to the isoconversional approaches, namely Flynn-Wall-Ozawa and Friedman. The V-fa/ECO monomer mixture showed averaged Ea values of 105 kJ/mol and 94 kJ/mol, corresponding to typical Ea of petroleum-based benzoxazine/epoxy. The results derived using the curing reaction model and the experimental data were in good agreement, demonstrating the efficacy of the Flynn-Wall-Ozawa approach for determining the curing kinetics. The simulated mechanical response to external applied loads by finite element analysis of the tooth model restored with glass fiber-reinforced V-fa/ECO biocopolymer post showed a similar stress field with that restored with the commercial glass fiber post. Therefore, the biobased benzoxazine/epoxy copolymer overcomes many of the traditional shortcomings associated with petroleum-based epoxy resins used for dental fiber post, while demonstrating excellent mechanical and thermal properties.
Serum ApoB/ApoA1 ratio in patients with chronic hepatitis B and the occurrence of HBV related cirrhosis and HBV related hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Peng Shi , Cai Xin , Wang Li , Zhang Pingan
Published: May 2023

Background Clinical studies have found that chronic HBV infection affects the occurrence of cardiovascular disease by regulating cholesterol metabolism in liver cells. High serum apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A1 (ApoB/ApoA1) ratio participates in the above regulation and is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, it is unclear whether the ApoB/ApoA1 ratio is associated with chronic HBV infection and its disease progression.Method According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, all 328 participants treated at Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from March 2021 to March 2022, were divided into HCC group (107 cases), LC group (64 cases), CHB group (62 cases), Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) group (46 cases) and Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) group (49 cases). Serum ApoA1 and ApoB concentrations were measured at admission, and the ApoB/ApoA1 ratio was calculated. We compared the levels of laboratory parameters in each group and further analyzed ApoB/ApoA1 levels in HCC patients and LC patients with different severity. ROC curves were plotted to analyze the early diagnostic ability of ApoB/ApoA1 ratio for HBV-related HCC. Logistic regression and restricted cubic spline analysis were used to investigate the association between ApoB/ApoA1 ratio and LC and HCC risk.Result Comparison of ApoB/ApoA1 ratio between the groups: HEV group > CHB group > LC group > HCC group > CHC group, early-stage HCC > middle-stage HCC > advanced-stage HCC, Class A LC > Class B LC > Class C LC. Serum ApoB/ApoA1 ratio combined diagnosis with AFP could improve the detection efficacy and specificity of AFP for HCC.The incidence of LC and HCC in each logistic regression model was negatively correlated with the serum ApoB/ApoA1 ratio in CHB patients (P < 0.05). After adjusting for all confounding factors included in this study, restricted cubic spline analysis found that within a certain range, serum ApoB/ApoA1 ratio was inversely associated with the prevalence of LC or HCC in CHB patients.Conclusion Serum ApoB/ApoA1 ratio in CHB patients may help identify high-risk patients for HCC or LC, thereby preventing the development of HCC or LC, or early diagnosis of HCC.
Thermal Characterization of Electronic Power Component: a comparison between resistive and fiber Bragg grating sensors
Authors: Basma Bechir Mahamat , Pietroy David , Boukhari Mahamat Issa , Chahbi Zacharia , Blanchet Thomas , Chatelon Jean Pierre , Capraro Stéphane , Rousseau Jean-Jacques
Published: May 2023

The operating temperature can be critical in some electronic circuits to ensure the integrity and proper functioning of a circuit, especially in power electronics. A temperature mapping can then be useful to anticipate the malfunction. The objective of this paper is to set up methods to study the thermal behavior of power electronic components such as inductors and transformers. Two methods are compared: a first one based on resistive integrated sensors and a second one based on fiber Bragg grating sensors. The analysis of each method is divided into two parts: the calibration of the sensor and the validation of the procedure.
Sepsis-associated acute kidney injury in the intensive care unit: Incidence, Patient Characteristics, Timing, Trajectory, Treatment, and Associated Outcomes. A multicenter, observational study.
Authors: White Kyle , Serpa-Neto Ary , Hurford Rod , Clement Pierre , Laupland Kevin , See Emily , Mccullough James , White Hayden , Shekar Kiran , Tabah Alexis , Ramanan Mahesh , Garrett Peter , Attokaran Antony , Luke Stephen , Senthuran Siva , Mcilroy Phillipa , Bellomo Rinaldo
Published: May 2023

Purpose The Acute Disease Quality Initiative (ADQI) Workgroup recently released a consensus definition of sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI), combining Sepsis-3 and Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) AKI criteria. This study aims to described the epidemiology of SA-AKI. Methods Retrospective cohort study in 12 intensive care units (ICU) from 2015 to 2021. We studied the incidence, patient characteristics, timing, trajectory, treatment, and associated outcomes of the ADQI SA-AKI definition. Results Of 84,831 admissions, 15,549 met the SA-AKI criteria with its incidence peaking at > 20% in 2021. SA-AKI patients were typically admitted from home via the emergency department (ED) with median time to SA-AKI diagnosis of one day (IQR 1–1) from ICU admission. At diagnosis, most SA-AKI patients had a stage 1 (55%) AKI, mostly due to the low urinary output (UO) criterion only (67%). Compared to diagnosis by creatinine alone, or both UO and creatinine criteria, patients diagnosed by UO alone had lower RRT requirement (3.3% vs 19% vs 51%; p < 0.001), which was consistent across all stages of AKI. SA-AKI hospital mortality was 19% and SA-AKI was independently associated with increased mortality. However, diagnosis by low UO only carried an odds ratio of 0.37 (95% CI, 0.34–0.39) for mortality. Conclusion SA-AKI occurs in one in five ICU patients, is diagnosed on day one, and carries significant morbidity and mortality risk with patients mostly admitted from home via the ED. However, most SA-AKI is stage 1 and mostly due to low UO, which carries much lower risk than diagnosis by other criteria.
A novel 3D non-degenerate hyperchaotic map with ultra-wide parameter rang and coexisting attractors periodic switching
Authors: Huang Lilian , Li Chuang , Liu Jin , Zhong Yu , Zhang Hao
Published: May 2023

With the maximum number of positive Lyapunov exponents, the non-degenerate hyperchaotic systems typically have more complex dynamics and better anti-degradation properties than general chaotic systems. By introducing trigonometric functions, this paper proposes a three-dimensional(3D) hyperchaotic map with a concise symmetric structure. From the perspective of the Lyapunov exponent, it is proved mathematically that the new map can always maintain the chaotic state in an infinitely wide parameter range. Numerical simulations further show that the map has rich dynamic behaviors, such as antimonotonicity, transient chaos, and coexisting symmetric attractors. In particular, periodic switching of symmetric attractors can be achieved by changing the initial value, which is rarely seen in other chaotic maps. Furthermore, combined with an offset constant, the polarity transformation of the attractors in a single direction has been realized successfully. Finally, the performance analysis indicates that the sequence generated by the new map has extremely higher complexity and pseudo-randomness, and the physical realizability of the map is also verified by the results of the DSP hardware experiment.
Elastic porous microspheres combined with extracellular matrix hydrogel as injectable composites for the dual-release of bioactive factors to promote tissue regeneration
Authors: Zhu Meifeng , Li Yi , Kong Deling , Liu Siyang , Li Wen , Zhang Jingjing , wang Yumeng , Midgley Adam , Lu Hongjiang , Song Guangzhou , Niu Fanhua , Shen Yufan , Zhang Yuexi
Published: May 2023

Injectable biomaterials have garnered increasing attention for their potential and beneficial applications in minimally invasive surgical procedures and tissue regeneration. Extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogels and porous synthetic polymer microspheres can be prepared for injectable administration to achieve in situ tissue regeneration. However, the rapid degradation of ECM hydrogels and the poor injectability and biological inertness of most polymeric microspheres limit their pro-regenerative capabilities. Here, we developed a biomaterial system consisting of elastic porous poly(l-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) microspheres mixed with ECM hydrogels as injectable composites with interleukin-4 (IL-4) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) dual-release functionality. The developed multifunctional composites had favorable injectability and biocompatibility, and regulated the behavior of macrophages and myogenic cells following injection into muscle tissue. The elicited promotive effects on tissue regeneration were evidenced by enhanced neomusle formation, vascularization, and neuralization at 2-months post-implantation in a rat model of volumetric muscle loss. Our developed system provides a promising strategy for engineering bioactive injectable composites that demonstrates desirable properties for clinical use and holds translational potential for application as a minimally invasive and pro-regenerative implant material in multiple types of surgical procedures.
Guide-Needle Angle and Sleeve Placement Evaluation on Skin Entry in Percutaneous Endoscopy Lumbar Discectomy Procedure Based on Three-dimensional Computed Tomography
Authors: Magetsari Rahadyan , Rukmoyo Tedjo , Wicaksono Andreas Wahyu , Sakti Yudha Mathan
Published: May 2023

Background: Low back pain and sciatic pain are some of the most common and infuriating pains. The prevalences are about 18-29%. The minimally invasive technique of spine decompression offers several advantages. One of the methods is percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) using the transforaminal approach. This study aimed to evaluate the needle angle and sleeve placement based on skin entry point using 3-dimensional (3D) computed tomography morphometric measurements.
Methods: The data were collected using 3D computed tomography morphometric measurements on the 4th – 5th lumbar. The parameters comprised several aspects of the vertebral morphometry. The vertebral AP length, spinous to skin length, AP vertebral body length, 30% of vertebral body length, and angle of the needle insertion data were collected. All the data were then analyzed using SPSS.
Results: There were 50 patients enrolled in this study. From vertebral morphometry, the average angle for the needle insertion for 4th lumbar spine in the coronal plane was 48.224 (± 4.138)°. The average distance of the needle insertion was 8.185 (±1.709) cm. The average twice the distance of the needle insertion was 16.370 (±3.417) cm and the average angle with the length doubled was 22.268 (±0.953)°. The average angle for 4th lumbar in the sagittal plane was 78.169 (±1.445)°.
Conclusion: We found the angle in the coronal plane for PELD in the 4th vertebra lumbar was 48.224°. The angle of insertion was 22.268° when the distance was doubled. The angle in the sagittal plane for PELD in the 4th lumbar spine was 78.169°.
Lever positioning manipulation alters real-time brain activity in patients with lumbar disc herniation: An amplitude of low- frequency fluctuation and regional homogeneity study
Authors: Zhou Xing-chen , Huang Yu-bo , Wu Shuang , Hong Shuang-wei , Tian Yu , Hu Hui-jie , Lv Li-jiang , Lv Zhi-zhen
Published: May 2023

Introduction
Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is the preeminent disease of lever positioning manipulation (LPM), a complex disorder involving alterations in brain function. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) has the advantages of non-trauma, zero radiation, and high spatial resolution, which has become an effective means to study brain science in contemporary physical therapy. Furthermore, it can better elucidate the response characteristics of the brain region of LPM intervention in LDH. We utilized two data analysis methods, the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) of rs-fMRI, to assess the effects of LPM on real-time brain activity in patients with LDH.
Methods
Patients with LDH (Group 1, n = 21) and age-, gender- and education-matched healthy controls without LDH (Group 2, n = 21) were prospectively enrolled. Brain fMRI was performed for Group 1 at two-time points (TPs): before LPM (TP1) and after one LPM session (TP2). The healthy controls (Group 2) did not receive LPM and underwent only one fMRI scan. Participants in Group 1 completed clinical questionnaires assessing pain and functional disorders using a Visual Analog Scale and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA), respectively.
Results
Compared to the healthy controls (Group 2), the patients with LDH (Group 1) had significant variation in ALFF and ReHo values in brain activity. After the LPM session (TP2), Group 1 at TP1 also showed significant variation in ALFF and ReHo values in brain activity. In addition, the latter (TP2 vs TP1) showed more significant changes in brain regions than the former (Group 1 vs Group 2). The ALFF values were increased in the Frontal_Mid_R and decreased in the Precentral_L in Group 1 at TP2 compared with TP1. The Reho values were increased in the Frontal_Mid_R and decreased in the Precentral_L in Group 1 at TP2 compared with TP1. The ALFF values were increased in the Precuneus_R and decreased in the Frontal_Mid_Orb_L in Group 1 compared with Group 2. Only three brain areas with significant activity in Group 1 compared with Group 2: Frontal_Mid_Orb_L, Frontal_Sup_Orb_L, and Frontal_Mid_R. ALFF value in the Frontal_Mid_R at TP2 correlated positively with the change rates of JOA scores between TP1 and TP2 (P = 0.04, r = 0.319, R2 = 0.102).
Discussion
Patients with LDH showed abnormal brain ALFF and ReHo values, which were altered after LPM. The default mode network, prefrontal cortex, and primary somatosensory cortex regions could predict real-time brain activity for sensory and emotional pain management in patients with LDH after LPM.
Low Tacrolimus trough concentration and high intra-patient variability are associated with chronic lung allograft dysfunction and mortality in lung transplantation recipients
Authors: Du Wenwen , Wang Xiaoxing , Zhang Dan , Chen Wenqian , Qin Wei , Li Shu , Zuo Xianbo , Li Pengmei
Published: May 2023

Background Erratic tacrolimus (Tac) exposure is associated with poor long-term outcomes after kidney transplantation. However, detailed data on the association in lung transplant recipients are lacking.Aim We hypothesized that Tac intra-patient variability (Tac IPV) or mean concentration was associated with chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) and survival after lung transplantation.Methods Data from 132 lung transplant recipients were analyzed retrospectively. Tac trough concentration during 0–6, 6–12 and 12–24 months after transplantation were collected. Tac IPV was calculated based on coefficient of variation. Univariate and multivariate COX analyses were performed to identify risk factors for CLAD and survival.Results Of the 132 patients analyzed, 31 (23.5%) developed CLAD and 20 (15.2%) died. Patients received significantly more intensive monitoring of Tac concentration at 0–6 months and Tac IPV was the highest (median: 33.98%) at this period, while after 6 months it lowered to a relatively steady level. A higher mean concentration at 6–12 months [Hazard Ratio (HR) 0.358 (95% CI: 0.137–0.933)] and at 12–24 months [HR 0.351 (95% CI: 0.136–0.904)] was a protective factor for CLAD incidence, while a higher Tac IPV at 6–12 months [HR 2.839 (95% CI: 1.063–7.585)] was associated with increased risk of mortality.Conclusion Our data indicates that Tac mean concentration and IPV had significant impact on CLAD incidence and mortality in lung transplant recipients. Routine monitoring of Tac concentration and IPV may help identify in patients at increased risk for inferior long-term outcomes.
Construction and validation of an angiogenesis-related lncRNA signature to predict prognosis and immune landscape in colon adenocarcinoma
Authors: Lu Yunfei , Chen Yang , Wang Zhenling , Shen Hengyang , Xu Lei , Huang Changzhi , Wu Jingyu , Shao Yu , Zhang Hongqiang , Chen Tao , Qiu Lei , Fu Zan
Published: May 2023

Background Angiogenesis is critical for the progression, invasion, and metastasis of malignant tumors and is closely related to the prognosis of tumor patients. LncRNAs regulate tumor angiogenesis and progression and hold great promise as novel biomarkers and treatment targets for cancer. Since patients with progressive colon cancer have poor clinical outcomes, it is necessary to develop a novel risk model for patients with colon adenocarcinoma. In our study, we developed a risk model containing five lncRNAs to investigate the association between tumor angiogenesis and the prognosis of the patient and to predict the infiltration of the tumor immune microenvironment in COAD patients.Results The risk model independently predicted the prognosis of COAD patients and supported clinical drug selection. There were significant differences in prognosis and immune infiltration between the high and low-risk groups. Patients in the high-risk group had a worse prognosis and higher expression of CD31, CD34, and CD105, while patients in the low-risk group had the opposite.Conclusions We constructed an angiogenesis-related signature to predict the prognosis and immune infiltration of COAD patients, demonstrating that our risk model is closely connected with the tumor microenvironment. The angiogenesis-related risk model can provide helpful insights into facilitating anti-angiogenic therapy and immunotherapy in COAD patients.
The effect of music intervention on cognitive aging: from the view of EEG microstates
Authors: Guo Sijia , Feng Liangfeng , Chen Jiaxian , Li Yan , Bian Haoyu , Li Longhan , Yang Hua , Lu Jing , Yao Dezhong
Published: May 2023

The effectiveness of music intervention on cognitive aging has been proved by many behavioral and clinical studies. However, the underlying neural mechanism remains to be explored. EEG microstate helps study the complex relationship of functional networks across cognitive and sensory functions such as working memory, attention, inhibitory control, and auditory and visual processing, which helps study the mechanism of music intervention on cognitive aging. In this work, we calculated EEG microstates parameters and found a lower duration of microstate D in old adults than that in young adults, and music training had a mitigating effect on this change. In addition, the age x music training experience interaction was significant for the transition rate between microstate D and microstates A, B, C. Combined with the correlation analysis between these parameters and working memory performance, and we thought that music training could prevent age-related cognitive decline which might relate to the ability to suppress task-irrelevant information in old adults. The underlying mechanism may be the top-down control of fronto-central regions on the sensory network. This work contributes to understanding the neural mechanism of music intervention on cognitive aging.
Existence and Verification of Nash Equilibria in Non-Cooperative Contribution Games with Resource Contention
Authors: Troquard Nicolas
Published: May 2023

In resource contribution games, a class of non-cooperative games, the players want to obtain a bundle of resources and are endowed with bags of bundles of resources that they can make available into a common for all to enjoy. Available resources can then be used towards their private goals.
A player is potentially satisfied with a profile of contributed resources when his bundle could be extracted from the contributed resources. Resource contention occurs when the players who are potentially satisfied, cannot actually all obtain their bundle. The player’s preferences are always single-minded (they consider a profile good or they do not) and parsimonious (between two profiles that are equally good, they prefer the profile where they contribute less). What makes a profile of contributed resources good for a player depends on their attitude towards resource contention.
We study the problem of deciding whether an outcome is a pure Nash equilibrium for three kinds of players’ attitudes towards resource contention: public contention-aversity, private contention-aversity, and contention-tolerance.
In particular, we demonstrate that in the general case when the players are contention-averse, then the problem is harder than when they are contention-tolerant. We then identify a natural class of games where, in presence of contention-averse preferences, it becomes tractable, and where there is always a Nash equilibrium.
Construction of nanoparticle array membranes by tumour metastasis-inspired self-seeded phase inversion for microplastic wastewater treatment
Authors: Ma Yu , He Bin
Published: May 2023

In a typical phase inversion-fabricated membrane, the arrangements and sizes of polymers are random, which generates a wide pore size distribution. Larger pores in the membrane result in inadequate rejection of pollutants; therefore, the designed membrane must feature a mean pore size smaller than the theoretical size to achieve high rejection of pollutants. However, the flow resistance of the membrane significantly increases with a reduction in the mean pore size, which considerably decreases the membrane flux. Herein, inspired by tumour metastasis, we present “self-seeded phase inversion (SSPI)”. This technique utilises partial dissolution of polyvinylidene fluoride nanoparticles to produce seed crystals that are uniformly distributed by vacuum filtration to induce non-solvent induced phase inversion (NIPS). Using this process, nanoparticle array membranes with uniform sizes and regular arrangements can be prepared in a simple, controllable, and practical mannerviafiltration at room temperature and NIPS. Because of their narrow pore-size distributions, low pore tortuosities, and low thicknesses, the obtained membranes demonstrate higher fluxes and rejection of microplastics with sizes similar to the pore sizes of the membranes. SSPI provides a facile way to overcome the current constraints of water-treatment membrane technology, which can facilitate the sustainable development of water-treatment membrane technology and has the potential for wider applications.
Single-trial EEG analysis reveals burst structure during photic driving
Authors: Oppermann Hannes , Thelen Antonia , Haueisen Jens
Published: May 2023

Photic driving in the human visual cortex evoked by intermittent photic stimulation is usually characterized in averaged data by an ongoing oscillation showing frequency entrainment and resonance phenomena during the course of stimulation. We challenge this view of an ongoing oscillation by analyzing unaveraged data. 64-channel EEGs were recorded during visual stimulation with light flashes at eight stimulation frequencies for fourteen healthy volunteers. Time-frequency analyses were performed in averaged and unaveraged data. While we find ongoing oscillations in the averaged data during intermittent photic stimulation, we find transient events (bursts) of activity in the unaveraged data. Both resonance and entrainment occur for the ongoing oscillations in the averaged data and the bursts in the unaveraged data. We argue that the continuous oscillations in the averaged signal may be composed of brief, transient bursts in single trials. Our results can also explain previously observed amplitude fluctuations in averaged photic driving data. Single trail analyses might consequently improve our understanding of resonance and entrainment phenomena in the brain.
Carbon ion irradiation combined with PD-1 inhibitor trigger abscopal effect in Lewis lung cancer via a threshold dose
Authors: Liu Ruifeng , Geng Yichao , Luo Hongtao , Zhang Qiuning , Yang Zhen , Sun Shilong , Liu Zhiqiang , Dong Meng , Du Tianqi , Che Tuanjie , Wang Xiaohu
Published: May 2023

Background and purpose Carbon ion is radiobiologically more effective than photons and are beneficial for treating radioresistant tumors, several animal experiment with tumor-bearing suggest that carbon ion beam irradiation in combination with immunotherapy yields better results, especially in controlling distant metastases, which suggests that carbon ion beam induces a different anti-tumor immune response than photon beam, more complex molecular mechanisms need to be further explored. We conduct this in vivo and in vitro experiment was to investigate the radio-immune effects and its mechanism of different LET rays combined PD-1 inhibitors.Methods and Materials: Lewis lung adenocarcinoma cells and C57BL/6 mice were stablished tumor-bearing mouse model, the irradiated tumor located on the left back and the non-irradiated tumor located on the right hind limb. The left back tumor was irradiated with 10Gy X-ray or carbon ion beam, combined with or without PD-1 inhibitor. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of immunogenicity-related molecules and the infiltration of CD8 + T cells in tumor tissues. ELISA was used to detect the changes of IFN-β in mouse serum, and flow cytometry was used to detect the changes of CD8 + T cells in mouse peripheral blood. Lewis cells were irradiated with different doses of X-ray and carbon ion. The changes of TREX1, PD-L1, and IFN-β in mRNA and protein levels were detected with RT-PCR or Western blot respectively. TREX1 knockdown were constructed by siRNA transfection and irradiated with different rays. Changes in cell proliferation, viability, apoptosis rate were detected using CCK8 assay, BrdU assay, and flow cytometry.Results X-ray or carbon ion combined with αPD-1 had a significant inhibitory effect on bilateral tumors, especially carbon ion in non-irradiated side tumor(p < 0.05). 10 Gy carbon ion irradiation enhanced the proportion of infiltrating CD8 + T cells and the expression level of IFN-β in irradiated side tumor, however, it also increased PD-L1 and TREX1 expression level. Lewis cell in vitro experiment further confirmed that both X-ray and carbon ion irradiation can up-regulate the expression levels of PD-L1 and TREX1 with dose-dependent in tumor, especially the trend of up-regulation TREX1 is more obvious at a higher dose in carbon ions, i.e 8 or 10Gy, while the level of IFN-βis decreased. By gene silencing TREX1, IFN-βlevels were also significantly increased under hypofractioned dose with carbon ion irradiation.Conclusions The combination of X-ray or carbon ion irradiation and PD-1 inhibitors produce better anti-tumor effect and trigger abscopal effect on Lewis lung adenocarcinoma bearing mice through enhanced tumor immunogenicity and increased CD8 + T infiltration in TME via a threshold dose. TREX1 could serve as a prognostic marker and potential target of immunotherapy.
Based polymer nanoparticles from bee pollen attenuate non-small lung cancer through enhancement of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in vivo
Authors: Salim Elsayed I. , Mahfouz Magdy E. , Eltonouby Eman A. , Hamed Ezar H. , hanafy nemany
Published: May 2023

Bee pollen extract (BPE)-based polymer nanoparticles (BPENP) were fabricated by using bovine serum albumin (BSA) and targeted with folic acid and were further characterized. Mice groups are : Group 1 received saline, whereas Groups 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 received a single dose of urethane, followed by weekly injections of butylated hydroxy-toluene (BHT). After the BHT injection, the mice in Groups 3, 4, 5, and 6 received BPE, Avastin,BPENP, and BNENP + Avastin, respectively. The number and size of tumors decreased in Group 6 compared to those in the other groups. The ratios of early and late apoptotic cells in Groups 3, 4, 5, and 6 (42.8%, 41.4%, 26.2%, and 45.4%, respectively) were lower than that in the untreated group. The PCNA-labeling indices (LI)% in tissues and lesions from Group 6 were lower than those in the other groups; on the other hand, the caspase 3 LI (%) was higher than those in the other groups. No significant differences in HRAS and MAPK levels were observed between Group 6 and the other groups. However, the level of Baxwas significantly increased, whereas those of Bcl2 and P21 were decreased in Group 6 compared to those in Groups 4 and 5.
Clinical characteristics and prognosis of acute pulmonary embolism with hemoptysis in autoimmune disease patients
Authors: Li Yiyao , Peng Min , Yang Jianian , Xue Peijun , Shi Juhong
Published: May 2023

Background Hemoptysis is prevalent in acute pulmonary embolism (PE) and holds a significant bearing on clinical decision-making. Although PE is increasingly reported in autoimmune disease patients, few studies have examined the association between acute PE with hemoptysis and autoimmune disease.Methods This retrospective study evaluated autoimmune disease patients presenting with acute PE and hemoptysis at Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) between January 2012 and October 2020. Hemoptysis and non-hemoptysis patients were compared, and autoimmune disease patients were compared to those without autoimmune disease. Clinical characteristics, PE risk stratification, hemoptysis amount, initial anticoagulation management, and prognosis were analyzed descriptively.Results The study analyzed 896 patients diagnosed with acute pulmonary embolism, of which 105 (11.7%) presented with hemoptysis. Hemoptysis was often associated with autoimmune diseases, with a younger patient population, lower-risk PE, and milder volume of hemoptysis. Most patients received therapeutic-dose anticoagulation, and the autoimmune disease subgroup had a higher survival rate (97.5%) compared to the non-autoimmune subgroup (82.8%) with statistical significance (p = 0.022). Patients were grouped based on maximum daily blood volume and PE risk stratification, receiving different treatments and having a hierarchical prognosis.Conclusions It is crucial to consider the underlying cause of hemoptysis in acute PE diagnosis and effectively treat the primary autoimmune disease. Therapeutic decisions should balance PE risk stratification and hemoptysis volume.
Novel Fluorine-containing Energetic Materials: How Potential are They? A Computational Study of Detonation Performance
Authors: Yang Jing , Bai Tiantian , Guan Junxia , Li Minbei , Zhen Ziyu , Dong Xiangyi , Wang Yahui , Wang Yu
Published: May 2023

High energy density materials (HEDMs) have emerged as a research focus due to their advantageous ultra-high detonation pressure and velocity. The key objective of this study is to design materials with the best performance. Density functional theory (DFT) was utilized to evaluate the geometric structure, energy properties, and sensitivities of 28 designed F-containing derivatives. The theoretical density (ρ) and heat of formation (HOF) were used to estimate the detonation velocity (D) and pressure (P) of the title compounds. Our study shows that the introduction of fluorine-containing substituents or fluorine-free substituents into the CHOFN backbone or the CHON backbone can significantly enhance the detonation performance of derivatives. Among them, derivative B1 exhibites the best overall performance, including superior density, detonation performance, and sensitivity (P = 58.89 GPa, D = 8.02 km/s, ρ = 1.93 g/cm³, and characteristic height H50 = 34.6 cm). Our molecular design strategy contributes to the development of more novel HEDMs with excellent detonation performance and stability. It also marks a significant step towards a material engineering era guided by theory-based rational design.
Methods For an accurate analyze, we employed the B3LYP functional with the 6-31+G(d,p) basis set for geometry optimization and exploration of physicochemical properties of the materials. The minima with no imaginary frequencies were confirmed using harmonic vibrational frequency results at the same theory level. With the assistance of DFT calculation, the quantum properties of the materials were analyzed using the Chapman-Jouguet (C-J) thermodynamic detonation theory. Our broad analysis facilitated an extensive assessment of these properties.
Bayesian spatio-temporal modeling of hyperlipidemia risk in Iran; A repeated cross-sectional analysis
Authors: Alinia Shayesteh , Arsang-Jang Shahram , Mansouri Kamyar
Published: May 2023

Background:There is little information about the use of hierarchical Bayesian approaches to accurately investigate the spatial distribution of relative risk of hyperlipidemia in Iran. In this research, we used hierarchical Bayesian models and examined the spatial distribution of relative risk of hyperlipidemia in separate provinces throughout Iran.
Methods:in this study, all individuals with hyperlipidemia in all provinces of Iran in 2019. The main variables of the study included average age, gender, and number of cases of hyperlipidemia in each province. The population of each province was obtained from the Iranian Statistics Center, and was used to compute the disease prevalence, and the expected number of cases. Besag-York-Mollié (BYM) and Besag-York-Mollié 2 (BYM2) models to analyze data and Hamiltonian Monte Carlo method was also applied for parameter estimation.
Results:The relative risk of hyperlipidemia was greater than 1 in 16% (95% CI: (0.304, 0.879)) of Iranian provinces (posterior probability > 0.8). Therefore, those aged >50 years old in Fars, Isfahan, Khuzestan, Razavi Khorasan and Tehran provinces were increasingly at risk of hyperlipidemia. The study found that women aged >70 years had the lowest average incidence of hyperlipidemia (RR=-0.86; 95% CI: (-1.13, -.0463)), while men aged 65-69 had the highest average incidence (RR=1.41; 95% CI: (-0.674, -0.129)).
Conclusions: Our results show various relative risks of hyperlipidemia in different regions of the country, with some provinces at a higher risk. Moreover, the finding that women aged 70 years and above have the lowest average incidence of hyperlipidemia highlights the importance of early detection and management of the condition in younger age groups. Healthcare providers should focus on preventive measures, such as regular health screenings and lifestyle modifications, to reduce the risk of hyperlipidemia in high-risk populations.
Absence of a Lover Promote Dyadic Competition through the Strengthened Interpersonal Neural Synchronization in the Intimate Relationship
Authors: Jia Shuyu , Meng Yujia , Gao Yuan , Ao Lihong , Yang Lei , Wang He , Liu Yingjie
Published: May 2023

Interbrain synchronization is considered the foundation of consciousness. When people jointly complete a social interaction, there is an inevitable overlap in their cognitive activities; brain synchronization is also considered a sign of individuals completing social interaction together. Based on Darwin's sexual selection theory, this study explored the influence of intimate relationship lover's companionship on female individual competitive interaction and peer brain coupling with competitors through EEG hyperscanning technology, using visual cue-target paradigm and taking inter-brain synchronized phase lock value (PLV) as a measurement index. The research results showed that in competitive interactions, there is a significant increase in theta and alpha frequency band activity between women and their competitors' brains. Brain synchronization is strongest when lovers are not around and women compete with same-sex competitors. In addition, there was a significant negative correlation between brain synchronization and behavioral DRT. The research results indicate that intimate companionship impacts the early alertness and late cognitive execution mechanisms of female individuals in competition. Women tend to focus on competitive tasks when their partner is not around. Moreover, due to intimate relationships, women in the romantic group pay less attention to opposite-sex competitors, while they pay more attention to same-sex competitors. This study demonstrates the impact of intimate relationship partner companionship status and opponent gender on individual female competition and improves the theoretical explanation of intimate relationships and competitive interaction.
Straw return enhanced soil carbon and nitrogen fractions and nitrogen use efficiency in a maize-rice rotation system
Authors: Wang Yanwen , Qin Mingguang , Zhan Ming , Liu Tianqi , Yuan Jinzhan
Published: May 2023

Considering straw resource utilization and air pollution prevention, straw return has been commonly practiced in China. However, the practicability of plenty straw return in an emerging maize-rice rotation and their effects on soil C and N pools have not been extensively investigated. This study was to examine effects of straw return on soil nutrients, soil functional C and N fractions, then to figure out their relationships with yield and N use efficiency. Two treatments of straw return (S2Nck) and without straw return (S0Nck) were compared in 3-year field experiment, and subplots without N application were added in their respective plots in the third year. The results showed that, relative to the control (S0Nck), straw return significantly increased soil mineralized nitrogen (Nmin), available P, and exchange K content by 11.7%, 41.1%, and 17.4% averaged across 3-year experiment, respectively. Straw return substantially increased soil dissolved organic C (DOC), microbial biomass C (MBC), and microbial biomass N (MBN) content by 73.0%, 25.2%, and 36.8%, respectively. Furthermore, straw return markedly increased C and N retention in particulate organic matter in microaggregates (iPOM) and mineral associated organic matter within microaggregates (intra-SC), but significantly reduced in free mineral associated organic matter (free-SC) fraction. The structural equation modeling analysis showed that yield and the partial factor productivity of N (PFPN) were positively correlated with labile and slow soil C and N fractions. Consequently, straw incorporation significantly increased grain yields of maize by 14.7% and rice by 15.1%. The annual potential reduction proportion in fertilizer-N induced by straw return (PRP) was estimated to 25.7% in the third year. This study suggests that incorporation of straws is an effective way to enhance soil nutrients and regulate soil C and N pools to improve crops production and has the potential to reduce N fertilizer application under maize-rice rotation in subtropical regions.
One-pot, three-component synthesis, anti-bacterial and molecular modelling studies of novel benzimidazole based isoindoline-1,3-dione and benzo[4,5]imidazo[2,1-b]thiazol hybrids
Authors: Chedupaka Raju , Perugu Shyam , Mamidala Srikanth , Papisetti Venkatesham , Penta Santhosh , Vedula Rajeswar Rao
Published: May 2023

A series of metal-free, thioalkylated benzimidazole-based isoindoline-1,3-dione (4a-w) and N-fused 4,5-benzo[4,5]imidaz[2,1-b]thiazole (5a-h) derivatives were synthesized via a novel, one-pot three-component approach. All the synthesized scaffolds were well characterized by analytical and spectroscopic techniques. The usefulness of this reaction is that it involves easy workup, shorter reaction time, broad substrate scope, and column-free purification of the products. Further, the synthesized scaffolds (4a-w) were evaluated for their in-vitroanti-microbial activity using two Gram-positive and two Gram-negative bacterial cell lines Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus luteus by agar well diffusion method. Among tested compounds, compounds 4a, 4g, 4j, 4q, 4s, and 4t showed significant invitro antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial cell lines. Further, we have also insight of molecular docking studies, based on the docking results compounds 4s, 4j, 4a, 4q, 4t, and 4g have shown stable binding interaction with streptomycin drug with active site of the B-DNA (PDB ID: 1BNA). The antibacterial activity, and molecular docking studies of the title compounds were suggested that these are promising anti-bacterial active skeletons.
Electron Density Analysis on the Alpha Acidity of Nitriles
Authors: López José Luis , Teixeira Filipe , Graña Ana M. , Mosquera Ricardo A.
Published: May 2023

24 substituded cyanocompounds and the corresponding anions obtained upon H +-abstraction from diverse positions were subjected to an electron density analysis with the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM). All the electron densities were obtained at the B3LYP/6-31++G(2d,2p) level on completely optimized geometries. In accordance to experimental evidence, α-H + abstraction is found as the most favored one (by at least 100 kJ mol-1 in all the tested compounds). The presence of additional resonance electron attractors reduces significantly the α-deprotonation energy, whereas this magnitude is quite insensitive to the inclusion of resonance electron donors. The electron density rearrangement accompanying the deprotonation is apparently in line with the predictions of the resonance model (RM). In fact, a significant part of the electron density gained by expelling the proton is transferred to cyano N and to other groups where significant resonance structures delocalize the negative charge. Nevertheless, some significant modifications have to be introduced on the RM picture when the QTAIM results are studied in detail.