bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Real-Time Optical Mapping of Contracting Cardiac Tissues With GPU-Accelerated Numerical Motion Tracking
Authors: Lebert Jan , Ravi Namita , Kensah George , Christoph Jan
Published: May 2022

Optical mapping of action potentials or calcium transients in contracting cardiac tissues are challenging because of the severe sensitivity of the measurements to motion. The measurements rely on the accurate numerical tracking and analysis of fluorescence changes emitted by the tissue as it moves, and inaccurate or no tracking can produce motion artifacts and lead to imprecise measurements that can prohibit the analysis of the data. Recently, it was demonstrated that numerical motion-tracking and -stabilization can effectively inhibit motion artifacts, allowing highly detailed simultaneous measurements of electrophysiological phenomena and tissue mechanics. However, the field of electromechanical optical mapping is still young and under development. To date, the technique is only used by a few laboratories, the processing of the video data is time-consuming and performed offline post-acquisition as it is associated with a considerable demand for computing power. In addition, a systematic review of numerical motion tracking algorithms applicable to optical mapping data is lacking. To address these issues, we evaluated 5 open-source numerical motion-tracking algorithms implemented on a graphics processing unit (GPU) and compared their performance when tracking and compensating motion and measuring optical traces in voltage- or calcium-sensitive optical mapping videos of contracting cardiac tissues. Using GPU-accelerated numerical motion tracking, the processing times necessary to analyze optical mapping videos become substantially reduced. We demonstrate that it is possible to track and stabilize motion and create motion-compensated optical maps in real-time with low-resolution (128 x 128 pixels) and high resolution (800 x 800 pixels) optical mapping videos acquired at 500 and 40 fps, respectively. We evaluated the tracking accuracies and motion-stabilization capabilities of the GPU-based algorithms on synthetic optical mapping videos, determined their sensitivity to fluorescence signals and noise, and demonstrate the efficacy of the Farnebäck algorithm with recordings of contracting human cardiac cell cultures and beating hearts from 3 different species (mouse, rabbit, pig) imaged with 4 different high-speed cameras. GPU-accelerated processing provides a substantial increase in processing speed, which could open the path for more widespread use of numerical motion tracking and stabilization algorithms during routine optical mapping studies.
Fully Three-Dimensional Hemodynamic Characterization of Altered Blood Flow in Bicuspid Aortic Valve Patients With Respect to Aortic Dilatation: A Finite Element Approach
Authors: Sotelo Julio , Franco Pamela , Guala Andrea , Dux-Santoy Lydia , Ruiz-Muñoz Aroa , Evangelista Arturo , Mella Hernan , Mura Joaquín , Hurtado Daniel E. , Rodríguez-Palomares José F. , Uribe Sergio
Published: May 2022

Background and Purpose

Prognostic models based on cardiovascular hemodynamic parameters may bring new information for an early assessment of patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), playing a key role in reducing the long-term risk of cardiovascular events. This work quantifies several three-dimensional hemodynamic parameters in different patients with BAV and ranks their relationships with aortic diameter.

Materials and Methods

Using 4D-flow CMR data of 74 patients with BAV (49 right-left and 25 right-non-coronary) and 48 healthy volunteers, aortic 3D maps of seventeen 17 different hemodynamic parameters were quantified along the thoracic aorta. Patients with BAV were divided into two morphotype categories, BAV-Non-AAoD (where we include 18 non-dilated patients and 7 root-dilated patients) and BAV-AAoD (where we include the 49 patients with dilatation of the ascending aorta). Differences between volunteers and patients were evaluated using MANOVA with Pillai's trace statistic, Mann–Whitney U test, ROC curves, and minimum redundancy maximum relevance algorithm. Spearman's correlation was used to correlate the dilation with each hemodynamic parameter.

Results

The flow eccentricity, backward velocity, velocity angle, regurgitation fraction, circumferential wall shear stress, axial vorticity, and axial circulation allowed to discriminate between volunteers and patients with BAV, even in the absence of dilation. In patients with BAV, the diameter presented a strong correlation (> |+/−0.7|) with the forward velocity and velocity angle, and a good correlation (> |+/−0.5|) with regurgitation fraction, wall shear stress, wall shear stress axial, and vorticity, also for morphotypes and phenotypes, some of them are correlated with the diameter. The velocity angle proved to be an excellent biomarker in the differentiation between volunteers and patients with BAV, BAV morphotypes, and BAV phenotypes, with an area under the curve bigger than 0.90, and higher predictor important scores.

Conclusions

Through the application of a novel 3D quantification method, hemodynamic parameters related to flow direction, such as flow eccentricity, velocity angle, and regurgitation fraction, presented the best relationships with a local diameter and effectively differentiated patients with BAV from healthy volunteers.
Melatonin and Its Analogs for Prevention of Post-cardiac Surgery Delirium: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Han Yunyang , Tian Yu , Wu Jie , Zhu Xiaoqin , Wang Wei , Zeng Zhenhua , Qin Zaisheng
Published: May 2022

Background

The effectiveness of melatonin and its analogs in preventing postoperative delirium (POD) following cardiac surgery is controversial. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to confirm the benefits of melatonin and its analogs on delirium prevention in adults who underwent cardiac surgery.

Methods

We systematically searched the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, and EBSCOhost databases, the last search was performed in October 2021 and repeated before publication. The controlled studies were included if investigated the impact of melatonin and its analogs on POD in adults who underwent cardiac surgery. The primary outcome was the incidence of delirium. The Stata statistical software 17.0 was used to perform this study.

Results

This meta-analysis included eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and two cohort studies with a total of 1,714 patients. The results showed that melatonin and ramelteon administration were associated with a significantly lower incidence of POD in adults who underwent cardiac surgery (odds ratio [OR], 0.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29–0.74; P = 0.001). The subgroup analyses confirmed that melatonin 3 mg (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.18–0.76; P = 0.007) and 5 mg (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.21–0.56; P < 0.001) significantly reduced the incidence of POD.

Conclusion

Melatonin at dosages of 5 and 3 mg considerably decreased the risk of delirium in adults who underwent cardiac surgery, according to our results. Cautious interpretation of our results is important owing to the modest number of studies included in this meta-analysis and the heterogeneity among them.

Systematic Review Registration

PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021246984.
Inversion of the Temperature and Depth of Geothermal Reservoirs Using Controlled Source Audio Frequency Magnetotellurics and Hydrogeochemical Method
Authors: Zhao Gui , Liu Yanguang , Hu Longhua , Bian Kai , Qin Shenjun , Liu Feng , Hu Jing
Published: May 2022

The detection of the depth and temperature of deep geothermal reservoirs suffers great uncertainty if it is completed using the simple combination of traditional geophysical and geochemical methods. Given this, this study investigated the combined utilization of multiple methods including the multi-information joint detection using the controlled source audio frequency magnetotellurics (CSAMT) method and geothermometers in the Qutan geothermal field. First, the reservoir temperature and the depth of geothermal water circulation in the geothermal field were estimated using the geochemical method. Afterward, the relationship between the CSAMT resistivity and temperature of strata was explored through borehole temperature measurement. Based on this, the depth and temperature of geothermal reservoirs in the geothermal field were estimated again. According to the comprehensive analysis and comparison of the thermal reservoir temperatures and depths obtained using the two methods, the shallow reservoirs in the Qutan geothermal field have a top burial depth of approximately 423 m, a thickness of about 300 m, a temperature of about 79°C, and a fluid circulation depth of about 1959 m.
Human Spermatogenesis: Insights From the Clinical Care of Men With Infertility
Authors: Schlegel Peter N.
Published: May 2022

Human spermatogenesis is a qualitatively and quantitatively different process than that observed for most other mammals. In contrast with most other mammals, human spermatogenesis is characterized by reduced quantitative production and more abnormal sperm morphology. Until recently, direct evaluation and observations of human sperm production has been limited and the majority of scientific knowledge regarding spermatogenesis was derived from rodent models of study. Unique opportunities to observe human spermatogenesis have occurred as a consequence of the treatment of severe male infertility. These patients have sperm production so limited that no sperm reach the ejaculate so their fertility treatment involves surgical sperm retrieval from the testis, coupled with use of those sperm with advanced assisted reproductive techniques. Treatment of men with severe male infertility has enhanced identification of new genetic abnormalities that may cause this condition, since they now seek medical care. Three key novel concepts have resulted: (a) spermatogenesis is spatially heterogeneous in the human male, especially when sperm production is compromised, (b) genetic abnormalities are common in men with severe male infertility, particularly in men with diffuse maturation arrest and (c) rodent studies may not be an ideal model for understanding human male infertility. Scientific understanding of human spermatogenesis has been enhanced by these clinical observations.
Experimental Investigation of the Pressure Dependence of Iso-Octane Combustion
Authors: Shaqiri S. , Kaczmarek D. , vom Lehn F. , Beeckmann J. , Pitsch H. , Kasper T.
Published: May 2022

Iso-octane is frequently used as a surrogate fuel or as a component in primary reference fuel blends when low-temperature combustion strategies in engines are investigated. To develop control strategies for these engines, the reaction kinetics of iso-octane must be known starting from the low temperatures and intermediate pressures before ignition to the high temperatures and pressures of combustion. This work adds new experimental data sets to the validation data for reaction mechanism development by investigating the oxidation of iso-octane in stoichiometric mixtures in a flow reactor at pressures of p = 1, 10, and 20 bar and 473K ≤ T ≤ 973 K. The experimental data are compared to simulations with recent reaction mechanisms [Atef et al., Combustion and Flame 178, (2017), Bagheri et al., Combustion and Flame 212, (2020), Cai et al., Proceedings of the Combustion Institute 37, (2018), Fang et al., Combustion and Flame 214, (2020)]. The comparison between experimental and simulated mole fractions as function of temperature show reasonable agreement for all investigated pressures. In particular, the experimentally observed onset of low-temperature reactivity above a certain pressure, the shift of the negative temperature coefficient (NTC) regime with increasing pressure to higher temperatures, and the acceleration of the high-temperature chemistry are captured well in the simulations. Deviations between experimental and simulated results are discussed in detail for the reactivity of iso-octane and some key intermediates such as 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-tetrahydrofuran, iso-butene and acetone at low temperatures.
Optimal Scheduling of Demand Side Load Management of Smart Grid Considering Energy Efficiency
Authors: Balouch Shoaib , Abrar Muhammad , Abdul Muqeet Hafiz , Shahzad Muhammad , Jamil Harun , Hamdi Monia , Malik Abdul Sattar , Hamam Habib
Published: May 2022

The purpose of this research is to provide power grid energy efficiency solutions. In this paper, a comprehensive review and its optimal solution is proposed considering the various challenges of smart grid demand-side management. The main technique is based on a novel idea in the Smart Grid—demand response optimization which enables autonomous energy management on the demand side for a wide variety of customers. The first section of this research examines the smart grid issue and evaluates the state-of-the-art load management techniques in terms of the work’s scope. The demand-side load management architecture consists of three primary levels, two of them in line planning and low-cost scheduling, while the third layer, demand response which is a significant expansion of this domain. The implementation of the proposed architecture in MATLAB/Simulink, with test results. demonstrating the significance of the proposed solution
Experimental Study on Gas Flow in a Rough Microchannel
Authors: Li Deming , Yang Ruixue , Cao Hui , Yao Feng , Shen Chaoqun , Zhang Chengbin , Wu Suchen
Published: May 2022

The shape and relative roughness of a rough surface have an important influence on microscale flow and heat transfer. In this study, a rectangular silicon microchannel (0.8 mm width and 11.9 μm height) with a large width-depth ratio is fabricated by the MEMS micromachining process. The silicon surface of the microchannel and the two-dimensional rough contours of the glass surface are measured, and the fractal dimensions taken as the only quantitative parameter of the surface morphology are calculated. The three-dimensional morphology of the silicon surface is measured by a confocal laser microscope and atomic force microscope. On this basis, a microscale gas flow performance test system is designed and built, and the flow characteristics of nitrogen and helium in rough silicon microchannel are experimentally studied. The experimental results show that the rough profiles of the silicon surface and the glass surface have possessed self-affine characteristics. Both nitrogen and helium show a certain degree of boundary slip when they flow in a microchannel. The degree of slip of helium flow is larger than that of nitrogen flow, which verifies the rarefied effect of microscale gas flow.
Estimating the Permeability of the Ceramic Coating on Lithium-Ion Battery Separators via the Ideal Laminate Theory
Authors: Mun Sung Cik , Won Jong Ho
Published: May 2022

In this study, a simple method for quantifying the porous nature based on the permeability of the thin ceramic coating on microporous polyolefin flims used as separators in lithium-ion batteries is demonstrated. The air permeability of the ceramic coating was determined via the ideal laminate theory (ILT), which is widely accepted for multilayered films or well-defined laminates. This study mainly aims at introducing an ILT-based resistors-in-series model with the Gurley method and its potential applications in battery separators. We investigated a few previously reported examples of ceramic-coated separators to compare the air permeability of various ceramic coatings along with their base polyolefin films.
The Temporal and Spatial Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Low-Carbon Economy Efficiency and Science and Technology Development Level in China’s Provinces From the Perspective of Uncoordinated Coupling
Authors: Guangming Yang , Qingqing Gui , Fengtai Zhang , Guofang Gong , Yunrui Yang
Published: May 2022

In order to achieve sustainable development, low-carbon economic efficiency (LCEE) is particularly important in China. Therefore, this study uses SBM-DEA model to evaluate the LCEE of 30 provinces in China from 2008 to 2017. Based on the uncoordinated coupling model, this study discusses the interaction between China’s provincial LCEE and scientific and technological development level (STDL), and uses the panel VAR model to consider the interactive response relationship between China’s provincial LCEE and STDL. The research shows that the uncoordinated coupling degree (UCCD) between the STDL and LCEE in 30 provinces showed a decreasing trend as a whole during the research period. In terms of spatial distribution, the provinces with UCCD less than 0.5 mainly concentrated in the eastern and southern provinces, gradually spread to the north, and showed positive spatial autocorrelation, with significant spatial accumulation effect. From the perspective of influencing factors, patents, urbanization level, traffic level and financial development have significant positive effects on promoting the coordinated development of STDL and LCEE. From the relationship between them, the STDL has a positive promoting effect on LCEE, but the mechanism of the two is not obvious enough. Therefore, it is necessary to emphasize the coordinated development of low-carbon economy and science and technology, and promote the development of low-carbon economy through scientific innovation.
Deer Behavior Affects Density Estimates With Camera Traps, but Is Outweighed by Spatial Variability
Authors: Henrich Maik , Hartig Florian , Dormann Carsten F. , Kühl Hjalmar S. , Peters Wibke , Franke Frederik , Peterka Tomáš , Šustr Pavel , Heurich Marco
Published: May 2022

Density is a key trait of populations and an essential parameter in ecological research, wildlife conservation and management. Several models have been developed to estimate population density based on camera trapping data, including the random encounter model (REM) and camera trap distance sampling (CTDS). Both models need to account for variation in animal behavior that depends, for example, on the species and sex of the animals along with temporally varying environmental factors. We examined whether the density estimates of REM and CTDS can be improved for Europe’s most numerous deer species, by adjusting the behavior-related model parameters per species and accounting for differences in movement speeds between sexes, seasons, and years. Our results showed that bias through inadequate consideration of animal behavior was exceeded by the uncertainty of the density estimates, which was mainly influenced by variation in the number of independent observations between camera trap locations. The neglection of seasonal and annual differences in movement speed estimates for REM overestimated densities of red deer in autumn and spring by ca. 14%. This GPS telemetry-derived parameter was found to be most problematic for roe deer females in summer and spring when movement behavior was characterized by small-scale displacements relative to the intervals of the GPS fixes. In CTDS, density estimates of red deer improved foremost through the consideration of behavioral reactions to the camera traps (avoiding bias of max. 19%), while species-specific delays between photos had a larger effect for roe deer. In general, the applicability of both REM and CTDS would profit profoundly from improvements in their precision along with the reduction in bias achieved by exploiting the available information on animal behavior in the camera trap data.
Review of the Impact of Whale Fall on Biodiversity in Deep-Sea Ecosystems
Authors: Li Qihui , Liu Yaping , Li Guo , Wang Zhikai , Zheng Zheng , Sun Yuyang , Lei Ningfei , Li Qi , Zhang Weizhen
Published: May 2022

“Whale Fall” is a collective term for the whale carcass, the process of dead whale fall, and the formed deep-sea ecosystem. The whale fall process produces a lot of unstable organic matter that has a significant impact on deep-sea ecosystems. Scientists speculate that organic matter input is the source of energy and material for organisms in deep-sea ecosystems. In the seafloor of the North Pacific, whale fall supports the survival of at least 12,490 organisms of 43 species, contributing to the prosperity of deep-sea life. Due to the specificity of the time and space of the formation of whale fall, there are few studies on whale fall and its impact on the deep-sea ecosystem. This article summarizes and analyses the current research status on the distribution of whale fall and its impact on the deep-sea ecosystem at home and abroad. The results show that the current distribution of whale fall is mainly concentrated in the Pacific and Atlantic regions, and the research on the impact of whale fall on deep-sea ecosystems focuses on the formation process, degradation rate and impact on deep-sea biological systems. This article has some significance to the understanding of biodiversity and ecosystem succession in the deep-sea “desert area.”
Dissecting Meta-Analysis in GWAS Era: Bayesian Framework for Gene/Subnetwork-Specific Meta-Analysis
Authors: Chimusa Emile R. , Defo Joel
Published: May 2022

Over the past decades, advanced high-throughput technologies have continuously contributed to genome-wide association studies (GWASs). GWAS meta-analysis has been increasingly adopted, has cross-ancestry replicability, and has power to illuminate the genetic architecture of complex traits, informing about the reliability of estimation effects and their variability across human ancestries. However, detecting genetic variants that have low disease risk still poses a challenge. Designing a meta-analysis approach that combines the effect of various SNPs within genes or genes within pathways from multiple independent population GWASs may be helpful in identifying associations with small effect sizes and increasing the association power. Here, we proposed ancMETA, a Bayesian graph-based framework, to perform the gene/pathway-specific meta-analysis by combining the effect size of multiple SNPs within genes, and genes within subnetwork/pathways across multiple independent population GWASs to deconvolute the interactions between genes underlying the pathogenesis of complex diseases across human populations. We assessed the proposed framework on simulated datasets, and the results show that the proposed model holds promise for increasing statistical power for meta-analysis of genetic variants underlying the pathogenesis of complex diseases. To illustrate the proposed meta-analysis framework, we leverage seven different European bipolar disorder (BD) cohorts, and we identify variants in the angiotensinogen (AGT) gene to be significantly associated with BD across all 7 studies. We detect a commonly significant BD-specific subnetwork with the ESR1 gene as the main hub of a subnetwork, associated with neurotrophin signaling (p = 4e−14) and myometrial relaxation and contraction (p = 3e−08) pathways. ancMETA provides a new contribution to post-GWAS methodologies and holds promise for comprehensively examining interactions between genes underlying the pathogenesis of genetic diseases and also underlying ethnic differences.
Case Report: Adolescent-Onset Isolated Nephronophthisis Caused by a Novel Homozygous Inversin Mutation
Authors: Zhong Zhengxia , Yan Xiaoyong , Fang Zhengying , Dong Yijun , Tan Jiaxing , Xie Jingyuan , Hu Linhong , Zhang Shibin , Qin Wei
Published: May 2022

Objective: Nephronophthisis (NPHP) is a rare autosomal recessive inherited kidney disease that can cause cystic enlargement of the kidneys, and lead to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) before the age of 30 years. Herein we describe a case of adolescent-onset NPHP with a novel homozygous mutation in the inversin gene (INVS).

Methods: The patient was a 15-year-old Chinese boy who presented with ESRD. Genetic testing was performed via whole exome sequencing and validated via Sanger sequencing. A novel homozygous INVS mutation was identified (c. 1909C > T; p. Gln637Ter).

Results: The results of laboratory examinations included urinary protein 1.05 g/24 h, urine erythrocyte count 5/high-power field, serum creatinine 1,026.2 μmol/L, and estimated glomerular filtration rate 5.8 ml/min/1.73 mm2. Extrarenal features included hypertension and moderate anemia, and his parents were consanguineous (first cousins). A homozygous 1-bp substitution resulting in a nonsense mutation (c. 1909C > T; p. Gln637Ter) in exon 15 of INVS was detected via whole exome sequencing, and validated via Sanger sequencing. According to the classification system of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, the mutated gene in INVS is strongly pathogenic (PVS1+PM2+PP3+PP5). His parents and a younger brother were heterozygous carriers. Based on the above results he was diagnosed with juvenile type 2 NPHP. He underwent hemodialysis, and received a kidney transplant after 2 months. He is currently recovering well, with a serum creatinine level of 117 μmol/L and an estimated glomerular filtration rate of 79.6 ml/min/1.73 mm2.

Conclusion: Here we have described an extremely rare case of adolescent-onset type 2 NPHP caused by a homozygous INVS mutation. The patient had progressed to ESRD by the age of 15 years. The current report will deepen our understanding of the clinical and genetic basis of this disease.
Comprehensive Analysis of the Immune Cell Infiltration Landscape and Immune-Related Methylation in Retinoblastoma
Authors: Mao Peiyao , Shen Yinchen , Xu Xun , Zhong Jiawei
Published: May 2022

Retinoblastoma is a common pediatric intraocular cancer, originating from cone precursors. The development of immunotherapies can help eradicate the tumor without vision loss, which would largely improve the quality of life of patients with retinoblastoma. Investigation of the tumor immune microenvironment provides knowledge for developing novel immunotherapies in cancer. However, the immune cell infiltrative landscape of retinoblastoma is unknown. Here, we compared the relative expression of immune gene signatures among 59 patients with retinoblastoma. The patients were divided into two subgroups according to the 28 types of immune cell infiltration (ICI) scores. We found that a subgroup with high ICI scores had increased expression levels of late cone markers, while the other subgroup exhibited larger tumor size and metastasis propensity. Furthermore, hypermethylated genes in the high-ICI subgroup were associated with immune regulation in the tumor microenvironment, suggesting that DNA methylation may play a vital regulatory role in retinoblastoma immunity. Our study provides a comprehensive framework for the systemic analysis of the influences of epigenetic events on the tumor immune microenvironment. We anticipate that our assay can not only provide insights into tumor immune regulation but also open up the perspectives for the identification of novel immunotherapy targets for retinoblastoma.
Angiogenic Factor-Based Signature Predicts Prognosis and Immunotherapy Response in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Gu Xinpei , Chu Liuxi , Kang Yanlan
Published: May 2022

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most common malignancies, and specific molecular targets are still lacking. Angiogenesis plays a central regulatory role in the growth and metastasis of malignant tumors and angiogenic factors (AFs) are involved. Although there are many studies comparing AFs and cancer, a prognostic risk model for AFs and cancer in humans has not been reported in the literature. This study aimed to identify the key AFs closely related to the process of NSCLC development, and four genes have been found, C1QTNF6, SLC2A1, PTX3, and FSTL3. Then, we constructed a novel prognostic risk model based on these four genes in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and fully analyzed the relationship with clinical features, immune infiltration, genomes, and predictors. This model had good discrimination and calibration and will perform well in predicting the prognosis of treatment in clinical practice.
RC-Net: Regression Correction for End-To-End Chromosome Instance Segmentation
Authors: Liu Hui , Wang Guangjie , Song Sifan , Huang Daiyun , Zhang Lin
Published: May 2022

Precise segmentation of chromosome in the real image achieved by a microscope is significant for karyotype analysis. The segmentation of image is usually achieved by a pixel-level classification task, which considers different instances as different classes. Many instance segmentation methods predict the Intersection over Union (IoU) through the head branch to correct the classification confidence. Their effectiveness is based on the correlation between branch tasks. However, none of these methods consider the correlation between input and output in branch tasks. Herein, we propose a chromosome instance segmentation network based on regression correction. First, we adopt two head branches to predict two confidences that are more related to localization accuracy and segmentation accuracy to correct the classification confidence, which reduce the omission of predicted boxes in NMS. Furthermore, a NMS algorithm is further designed to screen the target segmentation mask with the IoU of the overlapping instance, which reduces the omission of predicted masks in NMS. Moreover, given the fact that the original IoU loss function is not sensitive to the wrong segmentation, K-IoU loss function is defined to strengthen the penalty of the wrong segmentation, which rationalizes the loss of mis-segmentation and effectively prevents wrong segmentation. Finally, an ablation experiment is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the chromosome instance segmentation network based on regression correction, which shows that our proposed method can effectively enhance the performance in automatic chromosome segmentation tasks and provide a guarantee for end-to-end karyotype analysis.
Altered Cellular Immunity and Differentially Expressed Immune-Related Genes in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis–Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Tu Jianxin , Jin Jinji , Chen Xiaowei , Sun Li , Cai Zhen
Published: May 2022

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is the most common connective tissue disease causing pulmonary hypertension (PAH). However, the cause and potential immune molecular events associated with PAH are still unclear. Therefore, it is particularly essential to analyze the changes in SSc-PAH–related immune cells and their immune-related genes. Three microarray datasets (GSE22356, GSE33463, and GSE19617) were obtained by the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Compared with SSc, we found neutrophils have a statistically higher abundance, while T-cell CD4 naive and T-cell CD4 memory resting have a statistically lower abundance in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Moreover, the results of Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) showed there is a differential enrichment of multiple pathways between SSc and SSc-PAH. By combining differentiated expressed genes (DEGs) and immune-related genes (IRGs), fifteen IRGs were selected. In addition, we also analyzed the first five rich Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways and the most abundant Gene Ontology (GO)-molecular functional terms. Furthermore, interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R), tyrosine–protein kinase (LCK), histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) genes were identified as hub genes via protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. The Comparative Toxic Genomics Database (CTD) analysis result showed that LCK, HDAC1, and EGFR have a higher score with SSc. Coexpression network analysis confirmed that IL-7R, LCK, and HDAC1 are key genes related to immune regulation in SSc without PAH and are involved in T-cell immune regulation. Subsequently, using GSE22356 and GSE33463 as the test sets and GSE19617 as the verification set, it was verified that the mRNA expression levels of the three central genes of SSc-PAH were significantly lower than those of the SSc without PAH samples. Consistent with previous predictions, the expressions of IL-7R, LCK, and HDAC1 are positively correlated with the numbers of T-cell CD4 naive and T-cell CD4 memory, while the expressions of IL-7R and LCK are negatively correlated with the numbers of neutrophils in the peripheral blood. Therefore, this evidence may suggest that these three immune-related genes: IL-7R, LCK, and HDAC1, may be highly related to the immunological changes in SSc-PAH. These three molecules can reduce T cells in SSc-PAH PBMCs through the regulation of T-cell activation, which suggests that these three molecules may be involved in the development of SSc-PAH. Meanwhile, the low expression of IL-7R, LCK, and HDAC1 detected in the peripheral blood of SSc may indicate the possibility of PAH and hopefully become a biomarker for the early detection of SSc-PAH. Finally, 49 target miRNAs of 3 specifically expressed hub genes were obtained, and 49 mRNA–miRNA pairs were identified, which provided directions for our further research.
Differences in the Composition of Abundant Marine Picoeukaryotes in the Marginal Sea Derived from Flooding
Authors: Chung Chih-Ching , Gong Gwo-Ching , Lin Yun-Chi , Hsu Ching-Wei
Published: May 2022

The transient impact of flooding on the community composition of marine picoeukaryotes (PEs, cell size ≤5 μm) in the East China Sea (ECS) was revealed in this study. In a summer without flooding (i.e., July 2009), photosynthetic picoeukaryotes (PPEs) were more abundant in the area covered by the Changjiang River diluted water (CDW, salinity ≤31) than in the non-CDW affected area. According to the 18S ribosomal RNA phylogeny, Alveolata (all from the superclass Dinoflagellata) was the main community component accounting for 72 to 99% of the community at each sampling station during the nonflooded summer. In addition to Dinoflagellata, diatoms or Chlorophyta also contributed a considerable proportion to the PE assemblage at the stations close to the edge of CDW coverage. In July 2010, an extreme flooding event occurred in the Changjiang River basin and led to the CDW covering nearly half of the ECS. In the flooded summer, the abundance of PPEs in the CDW-covered area decreased significantly to less than 1 × 104 cells ml-1. Compared to that during the nonflooded summer, the diversity of the PE composition was increased. While Dinophyceae still dominated the surface waters, Syndiniophyceae, which were represented by the uncultured Marine Alveolata Group (MALV)-I and MALV-II, accounted for a substantial amount in the Dinoflagellata superclass relative to this community composition in the nonflooded summer. Furthermore, a variety of plankton, including Cryptophyta, Haptophyta, Picobiliphyta, the uncultured Marine Stramenopiles (MASTs) and heterotrophic nanoflagellates, were observed. The nutrition modes of these PEs have been reported to be mixotrophic or heterotrophic. Therefore, it was inferred that the potentially mixotrophic and heterotrophic PE compositions might be favored in the marginal sea in the flooded summer.
A Synthesis of the Upper Arctic Ocean Circulation During 2000–2019: Understanding the Roles of Wind Forcing and Sea Ice Decline
Authors: Wang Qiang , Danilov Sergey
Published: May 2022

Major changes have occurred in the Arctic Ocean during 2000–2019, including the unprecedented spin-up of the Beaufort Gyre and the emergence of Arctic Atlantification in the eastern Eurasian Basin. We explored the main drivers for these changes by synthesizing numerical simulations and observations in this paper. The Arctic atmospheric circulation was unusual in some years in this period, with strongly negative wind curl over the Canada Basin. However, the wind-driven spin-up of the Beaufort Gyre would have been much weaker had it not been for Arctic sea ice decline. The sea ice decline not only fed the ocean with meltwater, but also made other freshwater components more available to the Beaufort Gyre through mediating the ocean surface stress. This dynamical effect of shifting surface freshwater from the Eurasian Basin towards the Amerasian Basin also resulted in the Arctic Atlantification in the eastern Eurasian Basin, which is characterized by halocline salinification and the uplift of the boundary between the halocline and the Atlantic Water layer. Contemporarily, the sea ice decline caused a strong warming trend in the Atlantic Water layer. The Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis of Arctic annual sea surface height for this period reveals that the first two modes of the upper ocean circulation have active centers associated with the Arctic Oscillation and Beaufort High variability, respectively. In the presence of sea ice decline the first two EOFs can better distinguish the ocean variability driven by the two atmospheric circulation modes. Therefore, the major changes in the Arctic Ocean in the past two decades are indicators of climate change as is the sea ice retreat. Our synthesis could help assess how the Arctic Ocean might change in future warming climate.
Effects of Soluble and Insoluble Non-Starch Polysaccharides on Growth Performance, Digestive Enzyme Activity, Antioxidant Capacity, and Intestinal Flora of Juvenile Genetic of Improvement of Farmed Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
Authors: Liu Yu , Deng Junming , Tan Beiping , Xie Shiwei , Zhang Wei
Published: May 2022

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of soluble and insoluble non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs) on growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal flora of juvenile GIFT tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Four isonitrogenous and isolipidic experimental diets were formulated, including the FM diet (0% NSPs, FM), INSP diet (5.8% insoluble NSPs, INSP), SNSP diet (12.2% soluble NSPs, SNSP), and NSP diet (5.8% INSP and 12.2% SNSP, NSPs). Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of 40 fish (2.14 ± 0.04 g) per repetition for 10 weeks. Results showed that dietary supplementation with different types of NSPs significantly affected the digestive enzyme activity, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal flora of juvenile GIFT tilapia. Specifically, dietary supplementation with INSP significantly increased pepsin and intestinal lipase activity, while dietary supplementation with SNSP significantly decreased intestinal lipase activity and resulted in a significant decrease in plasma catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and total antioxidant capacity activity. Meanwhile, dietary supplementation with SNSP significantly increased the concentration of urea nitrogen and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in plasma and alanine aminotransferase activity in plasma and hepatic. Moreover, LEfSe analysis showed that dietary supplementation with SNSP significantly increased the abundance of Bacteroidales, Bacteroidia, and Cellulosilyticum, while dietary supplementation with NSPs significantly decreased the abundance of Mycobacteriaceae, Mycobacterium_neoaurum, Corynebacteriales, and Mycobacterium. These results suggest that dietary INSP is an inert ingredient with limited effect, while dietary SNSP inhabited antioxidant capacity, induced liver damage, and altered the abundance of anaerobic/aerobic bacteria in the intestine of GIFT tilapia.
Effect of PyC Inner Coating on Preparation of 3C-SiC Coating on Quartz Glass by Chemical Vapor Reaction
Authors: Wu Jian , Qian Shengteng , Huo Tongguo , Zheng Jianxin , Zhang Pinlong , Dai Yu , Geng Dongsheng
Published: May 2022

The cubic polycrystal of SiC (3C-SiC) coating on the quartz glass (QG) surface was successfully prepared via a two-step chemical vapor deposition (CVD) by introducing a thin PyC coating as a buffer layer. Through combining the intake system of CVD PyC and CVD SiC, the SiC/PyC composite coating can be in-situ prepared on the QG without halfway in-and-out chamber. The results showed that the SiC/PyC composite coating possesses highly uniform, dense, and continuous features, while the pure SiC coating exhibits many cracks, implying that the internal stress between the SiC coating and the QG can be relieved by adding the PyC buffer coating. The average hardness of the SiC/PyC/QG is measured to be 46.8 GPa, and its calculated modulus is 416.3 GPa by using a nanoindentation technique. Compared to the pure QG, the friction coefficient of the SiC/PyC/QG is slightly increased to 1.47 vs. 1.45. Moreover, the SiC/PyC/QG displays the excellent anti-acid corrosion in the 5%HF and 5%HCl mixed solution with the weight loss of about 33% lower than the pure QG after 8 h acid test at 80°C.
High-Efficient and Broadband Acoustic Insulation in a Ventilated Channel With Acoustic Metamaterials
Authors: Su Zihao , Zhu Yifan , Gao Siyuan , Luo Hao , Zhang Hui
Published: May 2022

Acoustic insulation in ventilated structures is an important problem in acoustic engineering with many potential practical applications, such as the noise control for ventilating ducts of buildings, vehicles, or air conditioners. Acoustic metamaterial is a good candidate for the design of acoustic insulation for ventilated channel (AIVC) because the structural design with hard boundary has longer lifetime than conventional sound-absorbing cotton. In this paper, an AIVC with an open region and narrow channels of different lengths is proposed. We numerically and experimentally demonstrate its acoustic insulation larger than 20 dB (T < 0.01) within approximately 500–1,200 Hz with a subwavelength channel length of λ/6. The parameter dependence and air flow effect are numerically studied. Our findings show an alternative design of AIVC that may have applications in noise control and architectural acoustics.
A Potent Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor MPT0E028 Mitigates Emphysema Severity via Components of the Hippo Signaling Pathway in an Emphysematous Mouse Model
Authors: Yeh Lu-Yang , Fang Yu-Ting , Lee Hong-Sheng , Liu Chia-Hao , Chen You-Yin , Lo Yu-Chun , Laiman Vincent , Liou Jing-Ping , Chung Kian Fan , Chuang Hsiao-Chi , Lin Chien-Huang
Published: May 2022

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of chronic mortality. The objective of this study was to investigate the therapeutic potential of a novel potent histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor MPT0E028 on emphysema.

Materials and Methods

A mouse model of porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE)-induced emphysema was orally administered 0, 25, or 50 mg/kg body weight (BW) of the MPT0E028 five times/week for 3 weeks. Pulmonary function, mean linear intercept (MLI), chest CT, inflammation, yes-associated protein (YAP), transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), surfactant protein C (SPC), T1-α, p53, and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) levels were examined.

Results

50 mg/kg BW of the MPT0E028 significantly decreased the tidal volume in emphysematous mice (p < 0.05). Emphysema severity was significantly reduced from 26.65% (PPE only) to 13.83% (50 mg/kg BW of the MPT0E028). Total cell counts, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and eosinophils significantly decreased with both 25 and 50 mg/kg BW of the MPT0E028 (p < 0.05). Also, 50 mg/kg BW of the MPT0E028 significantly decreased the levels of KC, TNF-α, and IL-6 in lung tissues and serum (p < 0.05). Expressions of p-TAZ/TAZ in lung tissues significantly decreased with 50 mg/kg BW of the MPT0E028 (p < 0.05). Expressions of p53 significantly decreased in alveolar regions with 50 mg/kg BW of the MPT0E028 (p < 0.05), and the expression of SPC increased in alveolar regions with 50 mg/kg BW of the MPT0E028 (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Our study showed that the potent HDAC inhibitor MPT0E028 reduced the severity and inflammation of emphysema with improvement in lung function, which could be regulated by Hippo signaling pathway. The MPT0E028 may have therapeutic potential for emphysema.
The Extent of Gender Gap in Citations in Ophthalmology Literature
Authors: Cao Suqi , Xiong Yue , Zhang Wenhua , Zhou Jiawei , He Zhifen
Published: May 2022

Purpose

To investigate the severity and causes of gender imbalance in the counts of ophthalmology citations.

Methods

The PubMed database was searched to identify cited papers that were published in four journals (Prog Retin Eye Res, Ophthalmology, JAMA Ophthalmol, and Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci) between August 2015 and July 2020, and those that referenced these cited papers by 2021 July (i.e., citing papers). The gender category of a given paper is defined by the gender of the first and last author (MM, FM, MF, and FF; M means male and F means female). A generalized additive model to predict the expected proportion was fitted. The difference between the observed proportion and expected proportion of citations of a paper’s gender category was the primary outcome.

Results

The proportion of female-led (MF and FF) papers slightly increased from 27% in 2015 to 30% in 2020. MM, FM, MF, and FF papers were cited as −9.3, −1.5, 13.0, and 23.9% more than expected, respectively. MM papers cited 13.9% more male-led (MM and FM) papers than female-led papers, and FF papers cited 33.5% fewer male-led papers than female-led papers. The difference between the observed proportion and expected proportion of MM citing papers within male-led and female-led cited papers grew at a rate of 0.13 and 0.67% per year.

Conclusion

The high frequency of citations of female-led papers might narrow the gender gap in the citation count within ophthalmology. These findings show that papers by female-led are less common, so the gender gap might still exist even with their high citation count.
Goal-Directed Mobility of Medical Inpatients–A Mini Review of the Literature
Authors: Heinzmann Jeannelle , Baumgartner Christine , Liechti Fabian D.
Published: May 2022

Background

Inpatients spend most of their hospitalization in bed, which can lead to negative physical, social, and psychological outcomes, especially in the geriatric population. Goal-directed mobilization involves setting mobility goals with patients and care teams working together toward achieving these goals.

Methods

Three different platforms (SCOPUS, Ovid Medline, PubMed) were searched. Search terms included “goal-directed,” “goal-attainment” or “goal-setting,” and “inpatient” or “hospitalization” and “mobility” or “mobilization.” Articles were included if mobility goals were set in acutely hospitalized adults. Studies were excluded if only covering specific illness or surgery.

Results

One Hundred Seventy three articles were screened for inclusion by two independent reviewers. In the final analysis, 13 articles (5 randomized controlled trials, 2 Post-hoc analyses, 3 quality-improvement projects, 1 pre-post two group analysis, 1 comment and 1 study protocol) were assessed. Goal-directed mobilization improved mobility-related outcomes, i.e., level of mobilization, activity, daily walking time and functional independence. Readmissions, quality of life, discharge disposition and muscle weakness were not significantly altered and there was conflicting evidence regarding length of stay and activities of daily living.

Conclusion

There is a lack of evidence of goal-directed mobilization on relevant outcomes due to the low number of studies in the field and the study design used. Further research on goal-directed mobility should use standardized mobility protocols and measurements to assess mobility and the effects of goal-directed mobility more accurately and include broader patient populations.