bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of diagnosis and treatment status of pseudomyxoma peritonei based on Chinese real-world data
Authors: Zhang Ying , Zhao Xin , Lin Yulin , Li Yan
Published: September 2022

Objective

To analyze the diagnosis and treatment status, natural course, and related factors of patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei based on Chinese real-world data.

Methods

Retrospective analysis was conducted on real world data of PMP patients with a complete natural history at the our center from February 2009 to July 2020, including clinicopathological characteristics, non-standardized treatment (time of misdiagnosis, time of mistreatment, previous anti-tumor treatment), CRS + HIPEC treatment (operation time, intraoperative blood transfusion, PCI score, CC score, number of organ removed, number of peritoneal resection areas, serious adverse events (SAE)), and the end point of follow-up was death due to disease-specific death. The natural course and the postoperative course of disease and related factors were analyzed.

Results

a total of 142 patients were included, 83 (58.5%) males and 59 (41.5%) females, the median age was 55 (24~79) years old, the median time of misdiagnosis was 0.8 (0~62.5) months, and the median time of mistreatment was 15.6 (0~411.1) months. The median time of misdiagnosis and mistreatment after 2016 was shorter than that before. All patients were treated with CRS + HIPEC. The median operation time was 10 (3.33~16.5) h, and the median PCI score was 33 (3~39). The median overall survival of the natural course was 30.3 (2.4~416.7) months, and the 1 -, 2 -, 3-and 5-year survival rates were 90.1%, 62.7%, 43.7% and 19.7%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that there were three independent prognostic factors affecting the natural course: PSS 1–3 (HR = 0.472, 95%CI:0.324 ~ 0.688, P = 0.000), lymph node metastasis (HR = 2.219, 95%CI:1.226 ~ 4.014, P = 0.008), and number of CRS + HIPEC operations (HR = 0.523, 95%CI:0.353 ~ 0.777, P = 0.001). Median postoperative survival was 11.93 (0.03~79.70) months, and the 1 -, 2 -, 3-and 5-year postoperative survival rates were 49.3%, 19.7%, 10.6% and 1.4%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that there were five independent prognostic factors affecting the postoperative course: previous targeted therapy (HR = 1.628, 95%CI:1.017 ~ 2.607, P = 0.042), occurrence of serious adverse events (SAE) (HR = 1.562, 95%CI:1.053 ~ 2.317, P = 0.026), preoperative CEA level > 39.29 ng/mL (HR = 0.667, 95%CI:0.462 ~ 0.963, P = 0.031), postoperative adjuvant therapy (HR = 0.418, 95%CI:0.284 ~ 0.614, P = 0.000). Postoperative SAE occurred in 44 cases (31%), and 4 cases (2.8%) died within 30 days after operation. Preoperative thrombosis and previous intravenous chemotherapy are independent influencing factors of SAE.

Conclusion

The diagnosis and treatment of PMP in China has a trend of improvement year by year, and CRS + HIPEC is still the standard treatment for PMP. Early diagnosis and the popularization and application of CRS + HIPEC procedures still need to be strengthened. How to reduce postoperative complications is still a problem that we need to solve.
Effects of remifentanil pretreatment on sufentanil-induced cough suppression during the induction of general anesthesia: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Zhang Jinjin , Zhang Daying , Yu Wenjun , Lin Yue , Wei Gen , Zhang Jing , Hua Fuzhou , Ying Jun
Published: September 2022

Background: Sufentanil is widely used for induction of general anesthesia, however, sufentanil can lead to cough during general anesthesia induction. This study aimed to observe the effect of remifentanil pretreatment on sufentanil-induced cough (SIC) during general anesthesia induction.
Methods: A total of 120 patients who were scheduled for elective surgery were equally randomized into two groups (n=60 each). Patients in R group received 0.5 μg/kg remifentanil and N group received same volume of normal saline 1 minute before sufentanil (0.5 μg/kg) intravenous injection. Remifentanil and sufentanil were diluted to 5ml and then administered to patients in both R and N groups within 5 seconds. Then midazolam (0.04mg/kg), etomidate (0.3mg/kg) and rocuronium bromide (0.6mg/kg) were given to facilitate tracheal intubation. The incidence and severity of cough in both groups were recorded within 2 minutes after sufentanil administration during general anesthesia induction. The mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) were recorded at T1(before the injection of remifentanil or normal saline), T2 (1 minute after remifentanil administration), T3 (before intubation) and T4 (1 minute after intubation). Additionally, the incidences of adverse events, including dizziness, nausea, apnea, truncal rigidity, bradycardia or other adverse effects were also recorded.
Results: The incidence of SIC in R group was significantly decreased when compared with N group (3.33% vs 35.00%, respectively; P < 0.001). No statistical differences were found in MAP, HR, SpO2, and the incidences of other side effects between two groups at T1, T2, T3, and T4 (P > 0.05).Two patients experienced dizziness in R group, and one patient in N group suffered from muscle rigidity.
Conclusion: Pretreatment with remifentanil 0.5 μg/kg can effectively and safely suppress the incidence and severity of sufentanil-induced cough, and provide a reference for the medication of patients during general anesthesia induction.
Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (30/09/2020, ChiCTR2000038756)
Quantifying plasmonic characteristics of a series of pure Aluminum and alkali doped Aluminum clusters
Authors: Guin Surajit , Jana Atish Dipankar
Published: September 2022

Al clusters have drawn tremendous attention of scientific community for their characteristic deep ultraviolet plasmonic emission. In this study, we have explored the plasmonic characteristics of a series of linear (Aln; n = 2 to 9) and cyclic aluminum clusters (n = 3,4) along with our recently reported three Al13+ isomer system [Guin et. al. Journal of Molecular Graphics and Modeling, 2020, 97, 107544] and corresponding alkali doped clusters [Guin et. al. Journal of Molecular Modeling, 2021, 27, 235]. Among the three Al13+ isomers one is perfectly planar (CI) and two others are quasi-planar clusters (CT and CII). It is a well-known fact that properties of nano-clusters strongly depend on the size and shape of the clusters. The current study reveals that for the linear chains the plamonic character systematically increases with the nuclearity of the clusters. For the cyclic clusters (Al3 and Al4) the plamonicity is lower compared to corresponding linear clusters. In case of Al13+ isomer system, the planar isomer is having higher plasmonicity compared to the non-planar isomers. The doping of alkali atoms in planar clusters, has a general tendency to reduce the plasmonic nature compared to the undoped clusters. The plasmonic emission for these aluminum clusters fall in the UV range (170 to 416 nm).
Chandipura virus nucleoprotein interact with heat shock cognate 71 and actin proteins in Neuro-2a cells during replication
Authors: Balakrishnan Anukumar , Kavathekar Vishal K , Sambhare Susmit
Published: September 2022

To complete their lifecycle, viruses interacts with variety of cellular proteins. Identifying host proteins involved in the viral lifecycle is an excellent target for drug. In neuro-2a cells, we employed recombinant Chandipura virus (CHPV) nucleoprotein (N) as bait in a protein pull down assay to see which cellular proteins interact with nucleoprotein. A total of ten proteins interact with the CHPV N protein. Out of ten proteins, heat shock cognate 71 (HSC70) and actin proteins were investigated further. In CHPV-infected neuro-2a cells, confocal microscopy revealed that HSC70 and actin co-localized with CHPV N protein, and that the expression was altered by viral infection. The association with HSC70 may help to mitigate the negative repercussions of misfolded proteins produced by viral polymerase's erroneous nature. More research on the role of these proteins in viral replication in infected cells is needed.
Dynamic basis for dA-dGTP and dA-d8OGTP misincorporation via Hoogsteen base pairs
Authors: Gu Stephanie , Szymanski Eric , Rangadurai Atul , Shi Honglue , Liu Bei , Manghrani Akanksha , Al-Hashimi Hashim
Published: September 2022

Replicative errors contribute to the genetic diversity needed for evolution but in high frequency can lead to genomic instability. The mechanisms determining the frequency of DNA copying errors are not fully understood. Here, we show DNA dynamics determines the frequency of misincorporating the A-G mismatch and altered dynamics explains the high frequency of 8-oxoguanine (8OG) A-8OG misincorporation. NMR measurements revealed Aanti-Ganti (pop. >91%) transiently forms sparsely-populated and short-lived Aanti+-Gsyn (pop. ~ 2% and kex=kforward + kreverse ~ 137 s− 1) and Asyn-Ganti (pop. ~ 6% and kex ~ 2200 s− 1) Hoogsteen conformations. 8OG redistributed the ensemble rendering Aanti-8OGsyn the dominant state. A kinetic model in which Aanti+-Gsyn is misincorporated quantitatively predicted the kinetics of dA-dGTP misincorporation by human polymerase b, the pH dependence of misincorporation, and the impact of the 8OG lesion. Thus, 8OG increases replicative errors by increasing the abundance of a pre-existing, sparsely-populated, short-lived, and mutagenic Aanti+-Gsyn Hoogsteen state.
Tacrolimus improved reproductive outcomes of women with recurrent pregnancy loss (PRL) showing elevated T helper 1 (Th1) /Th2 cell ratios
Authors: NAKAGAWA KOJI , Kwak-Kim Joanne , Kuroda keiji , Horikawa Takashi , Takamizawa Satoru , Hisano Michi , Kasahara Yoshimitsu , Sugiyama Rikikazu , Yamaguchi Koushi
Published: September 2022

Purpose:
Elevated T helper 1 (Th1)/Th2 cell ratio has been associated with recurrent pregnancy losses (PRL). In this study, the clinical efficacy of tacrolimus, a calcineurin inhibitor, was investigated in women with consecutive four or more recurrent pregnancy losses (RPL) and elevated Th1/Th2 (CD4+IFN-γ+/ CD4+IL-4+) cell ratio. The live-birth rate (LBR) was prospectively investigated in women with RPL who received tacrolimus treatment.
Methods: A total of 100 pregnant women with PRL with elevated Th1/Th2 cell ratios (≥10.3) were recruited from November 2013 to December 2019. Seventy-one women received tacrolimus between 1 mg and 4 mg daily (treatment group) and 29 women did not receive tacrolimus (control group).
Results: In the treatment group, the LBR was 70.4% (50/71), which was significantly higher than that of the control group (48.2%, p<0.05). According to the tacrolimus doses, the treatment group was divided into three subgroups. The LBRs of women with tacrolimus 1mg, 2mg, and ≥3mg daily were 52.2%, 72.3%, and 93.3%, respectively. In women with tacrolimus ≥3mg daily, the LBR was significantly higher than women with tacrolimus 1mg daily (P<0.05).
Conclusion: In conclusion, the LBR of RPL women with increased Th1/Th2 cell ratios was significantly improved with tacrolimus treatment.
The relationship of nutritional risk and NRS2002 score with disease progression and prognosis in patients with COVID-19
Authors: Zhou Yuanyuan , Chen Yi , Zhao Bennan , Gao Fengjiao , Yuan Xiaoyan , Zhu Yanfeng , Liu Dafeng
Published: September 2022

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between nutritional risk and Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS2002) score with disease progression and prognosis in patients with COVID-19.
Methods: The NRS2002 score of 1228 COVID-19 patients were retrospective analyzed, they were divided into with-nutritional risk group (NRS2002 score≥3) and without-nutritional risk group (NRS2002 score<3) according to the NRS2002 score at admission. To compare the differences between the two groups in clinical and outcome data and assess the relationship between the NRS2002 score and the disease progression and prognosis of COVID-19 patients.
Results: Of 1228 COVID-19 patients, the nutritional risk rate was 7.90%. Compared with those in without-nutritional risk group, patients in with-nutritional risk group had significantly longer the coronavirus negative conversion time, obviously lower albumin (ALB), total protein (TP) and hemoglobin (HGB), obviously greater proportion with 3 or more comorbidities, and significantly higher rate of critical illness and mortality (P<0.01). Regression analysis showed that with nutritional risk, NRS2002 score and ALB were the risk factors for disease severity, and with nutritional risk, NRS2002 score and TP were the risk factors for prognosis. The NRS2002 score showed the best utility for predicting critical and dead COVID-19 patients.
Conclusions: With nutritional risk and high NRS2002 score are closely related to disease progression and poor prognosis in COVID-19 patients. For patients with NRS2002 score >0.5, early intervention of malnutrition is needed to reduce the occurrence of critical disease. And for patients with NRS2002 score >5.5, continuous nutritional support therapy is needs to reduce mortality and improve prognosis.
Clinical Trial Registry: Chinese Clinical Trial Register ChiCTR2000034563
Application of various matrix methods for balancing chemical equation by using R programming language as a tool
Authors: Altintas Bahadır
Published: September 2022

Algebraic methods are very useful to solve system of linear equations and coefficients in unbalanced chemical reactions can be written as a system of linear equations. This makes us to use algebraic methods to solve this type of chemical problems. R programming language have implemented packages to solve this type of system of equations and, can be used to solve chemical balancing problem. In this article, we give examples for use of R for balancing chemical reactions easily and efficiently.
Exploring the translocation mechanism of a hydrophobic penetrating peptide
Authors: Muñoz-Gacitúa Diego , Guzman Fanny , Weiss-Lopez Boris
Published: September 2022

Crossing the cellular membrane is one of the main barriers during drug discovery;
many potential drugs are rejected for their inability to integrate into the intracell fluid.
Although many solutions have been proposed to overcome this barrier, arguably the
most promising solution is the use of cell-penetrating peptides. These are short peptides
that can internalize into the cell while carrying a cargo. Until few years ago, most of
the development was focused on cationic penetrating peptides which enter the cell via
endocytosis. This mechanism has the unfortunate consequence of leaving the cargo
entrapped inside the endocyte. However, hydrophobic penetrating peptides present
themselves as a solution to this problem since they can translocate the membrane
passively and directly. Recently, an array of hydrophobic penetrating peptides was
discovered via high throughput screening which proved to be able to cross the membrane
passively, and although these peptides proved to be effective at penetrating the cell, the
underlying mechanism of this process remains unsolved. In this study, we developed a
method to find the equilibrium structure of a hydrophobic penetrating peptide in the
transmembrane domain by selectively deuterium-labeling amino acids in the peptidic
chain, and employing the results of 2H-NMR spectroscopy to find a molecular dynamics
equilibrium simulation of the peptide, that reproduces the experimental results, and
therefore the orientation and dynamics of the peptide in the membrane. We employed
this equilibrium structure to simulate the entire translocation mechanism and found
that after the peptide reaches its equilibrium structure, it must undergo a two-step
mechanism in order to completely translocate the membrane, each step involving the
flip-flop of each arginine residue in the peptide. This leads us to conclude that the
RLLR motif is essential for the translocating activity of the peptide.
Enhancement of superconducting properties in the La–Ce–H system at moderate pressures
Authors: Chen Wuhao , Huang Xiaoli , Semenok Dmitrii , Chen Su , Zhou Di , Zhang Kexin , Oganov Artem , Cui Tian
Published: September 2022

Compressed polyhydrides have been regarded as an important platform for exploring high-temperature superconductors. The disordered states with high entropy could possess better superconducting properties than conventional periodic structures. Here, we have discovered a new high entropy superconducting La–Ce polyhydride (initial ratio La: Ce = 2.5–3.5:1), which is stable under low pressures with the giant enhancement of superconducting properties compared with the binary La-H and Ce-H system. Its superconductivity at 176 K was strikingly preserved to about 100 GPa, and the extrapolated upper critical field Hc2(0) reached 235 T, both of which are the record values among the synthesized polyhydrides at 100 GPa. We also performed the contrast experiments on binary lanthanum hydride that show a much lower Tc (up to 100 K) at the same pressure range. The experimental results and theoretical calculation indicate the disordering state of the La-Ce-H system with high configurational entropy. The aroused configurational entropy shifts the La-Ce-H system towards a dirty limit that not only enhanced the stability but also improved the superconducting properties by softening the phonon frequency (ω), shorting the electron mean free path (ℓ), and increasing the electron-phonon coupling parameter (λe−p). These results show how better superconductors can be engineered in this new class of hydrides.
Copper-promoted hypercontraction of rat aortic rings and its mitigation by natural molecules
Authors: Afrin Farah , Basir Seemi Farhat , Khan Luqman A.
Published: September 2022

Previous studies on copper (Cu) toxicity suggest a causal relationship between Cu overdose and abnormal vascular tone, hypertension, and cardiovascular abnormalities. However, the direct effect of free Cu in aortic smooth muscle contraction has been largely unexamined. In this study direct effect of Cu (II) on isolated rat aortic rings in the organ bath system is investigated. The contribution of different contractile factors in Cu (II)-mediated hypercontraction was examined by employing inhibitors of respective factors in aortic rings. Results obtained suggest that the exposure to 6µM Cu (II) causes a significant increase of 42% to phenylephrine (PE)- stimulated contractile magnitude in endothelium-intact aortic rings. Major contributors of Cu (II)-mediated hypercontraction in aortic rings are observed to be ROS generation and calcium influx via voltage-gated calcium channels. Cu (II)-mediated hypercontraction does not appear to involve COX-mediated pathways. Reported natural smooth muscle relaxants, linalool, carvone, eugenol, and thymol are investigated as mitigators of Cu (II)-mediated hypercontraction. Linalool and carvone are found to mitigate elevated aortic contraction in presence of Cu (II) whereas eugenol and thymol were unable to effectively mitigate the contractile effect of Cu (II).
Embryo fragmentation – Is it really a detrimental factor?
Authors: Lahav-Baratz Shirly , Blais Idit , Koifman Mara , Dirnfeld Martha , Oron Galia
Published: September 2022

Purpose: To learn what is the implantation potential of fragmented embryos that underwent morphokinetic evaluation in a time-lapse incubator.
Methods: A retrospective study analyzing 4,210 Day 5 embryos incubated in a time-lapse incubator, between 2013 and 2019. Fragmentation was measured by using the software tools. Embryos selected using the general model and re-examined by our in-house model. Embryos with more than 5% fragmentation (379 embryos) were included in the study.
Embryo fragmentation percentage was documented from the first cell division (start fragmentation) to its maximal percentage (final fragmentation), and the ratio between them (fragmentation worsening). Data was analyzed with relation to embryo development, morphokinetics, embryos transfer or freezing, clinical pregnancy and live birth rates.
Results: Embryo fragmentation and morphokinetics were found to be independent variables for clinical pregnancy achievements. A higher fragmentation worsening was noted among discarded embryos compared to transferred or frozen embryos (p<0.0001). Advanced maternal age had a significant negative effect on fragmentation (p<0.001). Missed abortion rates were similar in fragmented embryos that implanted compared with the overall population. Live birth rates were comparable among embryos with different severity of fragmentation.
Conclusion: Our study shows that fragmented embryos have a potential to implant and therefore should be selected for transfer. Laboratories which do not use time-lapse incubators for embryo selection, should consider transferring fragmented embryos, since they have an acceptable chance for live birth. Embryo evaluation for fragmentation and the calculation of fragmentation worsening may enhance our ability to predict embryo development and lead to decreased embryo wastage.
Bactericidal effect of bacteria isolated from the marine sponges Hymeniacidon perlevis and Halichondria panicea against carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Jimenez Ana Rodriguez , Breine Anke , Whiteway Clemence , Dechamps Etienne , George Isabelle , Henst Charles Van der
Published: September 2022

Aims
In this study, we evaluate the antimicrobial activity of bacteria isolated from marine sponges Hymeniacidon perlevis and Halichondria panicea against clinically relevant carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAb) isolates.
Methods and results
We observe the inhibitory activity of 18 (out of 114) sponge-isolated bacterial strains using medium throughput solid agar overlay assays. These strains belong to the genera Lactococcus, Pseudomonas and Vagococcus. In addition, this antimicrobial activity is validated through a liquid co-cultivation challenge using an inhibitory strain of each genus.
Conclusions
We show the inhibitory effect of the sponge-isolated strains against clinically relevant, modern CRAb strains and characterize this antimicrobial activity as bactericidal.
Significance and impact of the study
A. baumannii is one of the most problematic nosocomial ESKAPE pathogens that imposes a global threat to human health, because of its increasing resistance to last-resort antibiotics. The World Health Organization has emphasized that new alternative treatments against CRAb strains are urgently needed. Our results show promising opportunities for the isolation of potentially new bactericidal compounds from sponge-isolated bacteria of the genera Lactococcus, Pseudomonas and
Vagococcus to fight modern CRAb isolates and other problematic bacterial pathogens.
Dosage balance acts as a time-dependent selective barrier to subfunctionalization
Authors: Wilson Amanda , Liberles David
Published: September 2022

Background
Gene duplication is an important process for genome expansion, sometimes allowing for new functionalities to develop. Duplicate genes can be retained through multiple processes, either for intermediate periods of time through processes such as dosage balance, or over extended periods of time through processes such as subfunctionalization and neofunctionalization.
Results
Here, we built upon an existing Markov model and created a new Markov model describing the interplay between subfunctionalization and dosage balance to explore selective pressures on duplicate copies when both subfunctionalization and dosage balance occur. Our model incorporates dosage balance using a biophysical framework that penalizes the fitness of genetic states with stoichiometrically imbalanced proteins. These imbalanced states cause increased concentrations of exposed hydrophobic surface areas, which cause deleterious misinteractions. We draw comparison between our Subfunctionalization + Dosage-Balance Model (Sub + Dos) and the previous Subfunctionalization-Only (Sub-Only) Model. This comparison includes how the retention probabilities change over time, dependent upon the effective population size and the selective cost associated with spurious interaction of dosage-imbalanced partners. We show comparison between Sub-Only and Sub + Dos models for both whole-genome duplication and small-scale duplication events.
Conclusion
These comparisons show that following whole-genome duplication, dosage balance serves as a time-dependent selective barrier to the subfunctionalization process, by causing an overall delay but ultimately leading to increased retention rates through subfunctionalization. This is because the competing nonfunctionalization process is also selectively blocked to a greater extent. In small-scale duplication, the reverse pattern is seen, where dosage balance drives faster rates of subfunctionalization, but ultimately leads to lower rates of retained duplicates. This is because the dosage balance of interacting gene products is negatively affected immediately after duplication and loss of a duplicate restores stoichiometric balance. Contrary to previous understanding of subfunctionalization, our findings show subfunctionalization of genes that are susceptible to dosage balance effects, such as proteins involved in complexes is not a purely neutral process. With stronger selection against stoichiometrically imbalanced gene partners, the rates of subfunctionalization and nonfunctionalization slow; however, this ultimately led to a greater proportion of subfunctionalized gene pairs.
Determining the geometric surface area of mesoporous materials
Authors: Wang Yijie , Chen Zhixin , HU Liming
Published: September 2022

Specific surface area is an important property of porous materials and mainly measured using nitrogen isotherm and Brunauer–Emmett-Teller (BET) equation. BET surface area is remarkably higher than geometric surface area, which is defined as the surface area of the crystal geometry structure. However, many studies directly use the BET surface area as the geometric surface area. We proposed a simple, general, and accurate method that only needs nitrogen adsorption isotherm as input to calculate the geometric surface area of mesoporous materials using an iterative algorithm. The proposed method considers the adsorbent influences combined with the physical state of adsorbed nitrogen in estimating the surface area. We utilized 18 isotherms generated by molecular simulations and actual experiments to cover a wide range of materials, including catalysts, minerals, and carbon-based tube, and validate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Our results showed that the surface area determined by the proposed method and referenced geometric area are almost identical. The surface obtained by the proposed method can be typically considered a geometric surface area.
Assessment of the relationship between sarcopenia and heart failure among postmenopausal women
Authors: Xu Rui , Chen Xin-Chun , Wen Fang-Mei , Xu Hong
Published: September 2022

Objectives Sarcopenia is among the most important extracardiac conditions associated with reductions in functional capacity and negative outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). However, the relationship between sarcopenia and systolic HF in postmenopausal women remains to be fully characterized. Accordingly, this study was developed to examine this relationship in further detail.
Methods This was a cross-sectional study enrolling 139 consecutive postmenopausal women ≥ 55 years of age, including 69 who were hospitalized with systolic HF (ejection fraction < 50%) with an average age of 77.28 ± 6.42 years and 70 participants without HF with an average age of 77.10 ± 6.93 years. Participants were diagnosed with sarcopenia based on standard international criteria assessing handgrip strength as a measure of muscle strength, gait speed as a measure of physical performance, and appendicular skeletal muscle mass.
Results The group containing patients diagnosed with systolic HF contained more participants with low handgrip strengths, slow gait speed, and low appendicular skeletal muscle mass index values as compared to the control group (all P < 0.05). Among postmenopausal women, sarcopenia was independently associated with the odds of being diagnosed with systolic HF after adjusting for potential confounding factors (OR = 3.058; 95% CI, 1.315-7.111; P = 0.009).
Conclusion Sarcopenia is independently associated with systolic HF risk among postmenopausal women.
Numerical and experimental investigations on the effect of particle properties on the erosion behavior of aluminum alloy during abrasive air jet machining process
Authors: Zhu Yansong , Yang Xiang , Wang Shen
Published: September 2022

In this study, experimental and numerical investigations have been done to explore the effect of the particle properties on the erosion behavior of aluminum alloy during the abrasive air jet machining process by using the novel medium-hard amino thermoset plastic (ATP) and conventional super-hard alumina (Al2O3) particles. In the numerical simulation, a novel linear elastic material model with the failure standard was proposed to define the ATP particle and the conventional rigid material model was used to define the Al2O3 particle; and the impact target model was established by using smooth particle hydrodynamics (SPH) interpolant with the moving-least-squares method. Then a multi-particle impact model based on the SPH and finite element coupling method (SPH-FEM) was developed to investigate the particle impact process. It indicates that the SPH-FEM method can be used to simulate the erosion behaviors of aluminum alloy impacted by the medium-hard ATP particle, and the simulation results are fundamentally consistent with the experimental ones. The results demonstrate that the effect of particle hardness on the erosion behavior of the impact target is about 200 times higher than that of compressive air pressure. More significantly, there exists an optimal impact angle where the surface material can be removed by chip formation resulting in the maximum material removal rate and the surface erosion behavior can be accurately predicted by simulation. Furthermore, with the particle hardness increasing, such optimal impact angle would be reduced accordingly.
Maxillary canine position of patients with non-syndromic craniofacial disorder – a retrospective evaluation of panoramic radiographs
Authors: Weise Christina , Lehmann Max , Koos Bernd , Schulz Matthias
Published: September 2022

Objectives
The study objective was to evaluate the tooth position of maxillary permanent canines in German orthodontic patients with non-syndromic cleft lip and/or palate and Robin sequence compared to a control group without.
Materials and Methods
A total of 116 panoramic radiographs were included and divided into group 1 craniofacial disorder (n = 50) and group 2 without (n = 66). In order to evaluate the position of maxillary canines, radiographic parameters (sector subdivision; inclination angle) were used. Additionally, clinical records, parameters like sex, cleft localization, interobserver reliability were evaluated.
Results
The canine position in sector subdivision showed no position in sector 1 and 2. The most common canine sector position in group 1 was sector 5 in the first quadrant and sector 4 in the second and group 2 sector 5 in both quadrants. Inclination angle showed statistically significant displacement tendency (p = 0.015) of 11 cases in group 1 and 6 in group 2 of the right sided canines. There was a significantly difference in (p = 0.0259 (χ2))between cleft and non-cleft side in the inclination of the maxillary canine. In total four cases showed a displacement tendency of the maxillary canine, two in the cleft and two in the non-cleft side. Success rate of orthodontic alignment was 100%.
Conclusion
Displacement tendency of the maxillary canine in patients with craniofacial disorder is higher.
Clinical Relevance
Radiographic evaluation enables the diagnosis of displaced teeth. A rigorous monitoring of canine eruption position is imperative and important to consider in the long lasting and comprehensive orthodontic treatment planning in craniofacial disorder patients.
Decrease in RT-PCR Ct values among SARS-CoV-2 positive samples during the emergence of the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant in Malaysia
Authors: Che-Kamaruddin Naim , Teoh Boon-Teong , Tan Kim-Kee , Tan Jia-Yi , Wong Jo-Ern , Tiong Vunjia , Abd-Jamil Juraina , Nor’e Siti-Sarah , Khor Chee-Sieng , Johari Jefree , Yaacob Che-Norainon , Zulkifli Mulya-Mustika-Sari , CheMatSeri AsmaAnati , Mahfodz Nur-Hidayana , Azizan Noor Syahida , AbuBakar Sazaly
Published: September 2022

The RT-PCR cycle threshold (Ct) value for the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is inversely proportionate to the virus load in the patient’s specimen. These values could be beneficial to be used in monitoring the epidemic trajectory at the population level. The SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant which emerged in late 2020, caused an unprecedented exponential increase in SARS-CoV-2 infection cases worldwide. In Malaysia, the surge in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases and the inclining positivity rate contributed to the epidemic waves started in late May 2021. The sudden surge in cases was speculated to be associated with increased transmission caused by the emergence of the B.1.617.2 variant. This could be reflected by changes in the mean Ct value distribution which reflects the viral load in the population. In the present study, the Ct value distribution of COVID-19 infected person samples from the years 2020 and 2021 were tabulated against the SARS-CoV-2 genomic variants determined from genomic sequencing. A significant decreasing pattern of the mean Ct values from the overall 2020 and 2021 samples were noted (p<0.01). There was, however, high variability in the Ct values of samples obtained between 2020 and 2021 in contrast to samples with lower mean Ct value obtained in 2021. The percentages representation of SARS-CoV-2 genomic variants B.1.36 and B.1.524 were 31.6% and 68.4%, respectively, for samples obtained in October and December 2020. Whereas samples obtained in June and July 2021 were 100% of the B.1.617.2 variant. The decreasing trend in the Ct value distribution from samples tested in our laboratory correlated well with the increasing weekly COVID-19 cases reported by the Malaysia national data which was subsequently attributed by the emergence of B.1.617.2 in the country. This study suggests that the Ct value distribution of samples taken from the screening of SARS-CoV-2 infected population could provide insight into the potential epidemiologic transmission dynamic at the population level and when coupled to the virus genomic sequencing surveillance could allow detection of an emerging SARS-CoV-2 variant with different transmission behaviour. This could facilitate early response control strategies to limit the transmission of an emerging SARS-CoV-2 variant.
Two-Step Approaches to Overcome Data Imbalance in the Development of an Electrocardiography Data Quality Assessment Algorithm: A Real-World Data Challenge
Authors: Venkat S. Jayakumar , Chang Hyoung Woo , Kim Hyun Joo , Cho Yang Hyun , Lee Jee Yang , Koo Kyunghee
Published: September 2022

Automation of electrocardiography (ECG) signal quality assessment is indispensable for the development of artificial intelligence-based decision support systems. We developed machine and deep learning algorithms to classify the quality of ECG data automatically. A total of 31,127 twenty-second ECG segments of 250 Hz were used as the training/validation dataset. Data qualities were categorized into three classes: acceptable, unacceptable, and uncertain. In the training/validation dataset, 29,606 segments (95%) were in the acceptable class. Two 1-step 3-class approaches and two 2-step binary sequential approaches were developed using random forest (RF) and 2-dimensional convolutional neural network (2D CNN) classifiers. Four approaches were tested on 9,779 test samples from another hospital. On the test dataset, the 2-step 2D CNN approach showed the best overall accuracy (0.85), and the 1-step 3-class 2D CNN approach showed the worst overall accuracy (0.54). The most important parameter, precision in the acceptable class, was greater than 0.9 for all approaches but recall in the acceptable class was better for the 2-step approaches: 1-step RF (0.77) and 2D CNN (0.51) vs. 2-step RF (0.89) and 2D CNN (0.94). When the acceptable and uncertain classes were merged, all four approaches showed comparable performance, but the 2-step approaches had higher precision in the unacceptable class: 1-step RF (0.47) and 2D CNN (0.37) vs. 2-step RF (0.72) and 2D CNN (0.71). For ECG quality classification, where substantial data imbalance exists, the 2-step approaches showed more robust performance than the 1-step approach.
Observations of up-to-fivefold reverberating waves through the Earth’s center: distinctly anisotropic innermost inner core
Authors: Phạm Thanh-Son , Tkalčić Hrvoje
Published: September 2022

Probing the Earth’s center is critical for understanding planetary formation and evolution. However, geophysical inferences have been challenging due to the lack of seismological probes sensitive to the Earth’s center. Here, by stacking waveforms recorded by a growing number of global seismic stations, we observe up-to-fivefold reverberating waves from selected earthquakes along the Earth's diameter. Differential travel times of these “exotic” arrival pairs, hitherto unreported in seismological literature, complement and improve currently available information. The inferred transversely isotropic inner-core model contains a ~ 650-km thick innermost ball with P-wave speeds ~ 4% slower at ~ 50° from the Earth’s rotation axis. In contrast, the inner core’s outer shell displays much weaker anisotropy with the slowest direction in the equatorial plane. Our findings strengthen the evidence for an anisotropically-distinctive innermost inner core and its transition to a weakly anisotropic outer shell, which could be a fossilized record of a significant global event from the past.
Algal blooms as a reactive dynamic response to seasonal perturbation in an experimental system
Authors: Fryxell John M. , Betini Gustavo
Published: September 2022

Algal blooms are typical of many aquatic freshwater ecosystems in seasonal environments. Such blooms could derive from transient reactive dynamics of algae and limiting nutrients following seasonal perturbation events. Linking parameter estimates derived from previously published lab experiments with empirical estimates of algal density-dependence, we modeled dynamic interactions between nutrients and the green algal species Chlorella vulgaris and tested model predictions in a dozen 140L mesocosms supplied with biweekly inputs of liquid fertilizer. Consistent with the reactive nutrient-driven model, Chlorella populations exhibited an initial surge in abundance over the first month followed by collapse as they rapidly converged on stable equilibria. The reactive model suggests that the magnitude of transient blooms is positively related to augmentation of nutrients and depression of algae over the winter period. The magnitude of both algal peaks and equilibrium abundance was positively related to fertilizer loading, as predicted by the reactive model. Our results suggest that transient reactive responses to climate-driven perturbation events can be an important contributor to seasonal algal blooms observed in many temperate freshwater ecosystems. Controlled experimental studies such as ours may be helpful in understanding and potentially mediating the impact of fertilizer runoff on freshwater systems in temperate agricultural landscapes.
Pathogenicity and infection behaviour of Exserohilum rostratum on wheat and associated collateral hosts.
Authors: Korra Tulasi , Navathe Sudhir , Chand Ramesh
Published: September 2022

Exserohilum leaf spot is a newly arising fungal disease that mostly affects monocots. Thirty-two plant species of 14 families were evaluated for pathogenicity to Exserohilum rostratum as a potential pathogen. The isolate collected from diseased wheat leaves produced typical dark brown lesions upon inoculation to healthy wheat plants and produced similar symptoms. The artificial inoculation of detached leaf assay symptoms appeared on major cereals like Triticum aestivum, Oryza sativa, Echinochloa esculenta, Panicum miliaceum and Eleusine coracana. The symptoms were reddish-brown in most of the genera of Poaceae. Histopathological studies revealed that conidia produce the appressoria within 24 hrs and penetrate the host through stomata or epidermal cells after germination. Study reveals that collateral hosts serve as reservoirs for the infection, allowing it to persist in the absence of its primary host. These secondary hosts aid the pathogen in continuing the infection cycle and spreading the disease.
An Invitro Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) Evaluation of preparations by an Air Turbine and Electric Handpieces
Authors: Ravindra Pavithra , Keshav Aditya , Rao H Murali
Published: September 2022

Tooth preparation have for long, been the cornerstones of a well- established dental practice and are considered necessary requirements to be a successful dental practitioner. Being in the realms of general dentistry and taught at an undergraduate level in dental schools world over, these procedures have evolved with time from the use of hand instruments to motor driven instruments. Every advancement is a quantum leap from the previous technique in terms of ease of preparation, time consumed and the quality of the resultant preparation.
The electric motor driven handpiece is a recent advancement with a 1:5 advancement gear ratio which promises to deliver better results in a more comfortable manner in lesser time than its predecessor, the air turbine. Hence, this study aims to be a curtain raiser by comparing preparations using an air turbine vis-à-vis the electric motor using diamond abrasives by equating the surface smoothness using a profilometer and checking the prepared surface of the tooth under electron microscope for qualitative and quantitative analysis.
Mining of resistance gene analogue specific SSR markers (RGA-eSSRs) in pomegranate and their validation
Authors: Kunnur Afsana D. , Gunnaiah Raghavendra , Singh Nripendra Vikram , Raghavendra S. , Mulla Sayeed Wajeed R , Hubballi Manjunath , Rajashekhara Eranna
Published: September 2022

Pomegranate has been a highly nutritious and medicinally valued fruit for ages. Pomegranate cultivation is severely threatened by multiple biotic stresses, including bacterial blight and wilt, the major bottlenecks. Identifying candidate genes and markers linked to such genes is necessary to accelerate host resistance breeding. 132 resistance gene analogues (RGAs) specific simple sequence repeats (RGA-eSSRs) located on the coding regions of 103 RGAs were mined from 958 pomegranates RGAs. An average of 58.56 SSRs/Mb of RGA genes was observed with a relative density of 1170.84 bp of SSR motifs per Mb of RGA. Tri-nucleotide repeats were highly abundant in the RGA-eSSRs, followed by hexanucleotide repeats. The high density of RGAs was noticed on the RLK and CNL genes with an average of 3.34 and 3.0 SSRs per RGA, respectively. The abundance of RGA-eSSRs on each chromosome was correlated with the number of RGAs, with chromosome 08 bearing the highest RGA-eSSRs. Primers were designed for 121 of the 132 RGA-SSR and validated by both in silico and in vitro PCR. RGA-eSSRs exhibited high transferability with most markers amplified in four of the five genotypes tested under in silico PCR and 100% amplification in biological validation with eight genotypes. Pomegranate RGA-eSSRs also exhibited high polymorphism with an average polymorphic information content of 0.5. Discovered RGA-eSSRs are useful in the genetic mapping of biotic stress genes and diversity analysis.
Effect of induced plastic strain on the porosity of PA12 printed through selective laser sintering studied by X-ray computed micro-tomography
Authors: Morano Chiara , Crocco Maria Caterina , Formoso Vincenzo , Pagnotta Leonardo
Published: September 2022

3D printing is a widespread technology in different fields, such as medicine, construction, ergonomics, and the transportation industry. Its diffusion is related to the ability of this technique to produce complex parts without needing for assembly of different components or post-processing. However, the quality of the parts produced by additive manufacturing could be affected by the fabrication process, thus leading to the development of different kinds of defects such as porosity or inclusions. Understanding the role played by these defects and promoting strategies that could help reduce their occurrence represents a key point to allow using 3D printing for structural applications. In this work, 3D printed parts have been subjected to porosity characterization by using experimental tests on Dogbones samples subjected to plastic deformation. In particular, X-ray computed micro-tomography (μ-CT) has been employed as an investigation tool for the identification of fabrication defects and for analyzing the crack growth mechanism that occurs after subjecting samples to quasi-static loading conditions.
Room-Temperature Long-Range Ferromagnetic Order in a Confined Molecular Monolayer
Authors: Liu Yuhua , Lv Haifeng , Yuan Bingkai , Guo Yuqiao , Lin Yue , Tai Xiaolin , Qin Yongliang , Peng Jing , Zhao Jiyin , Su Yueqi , Liu Yang , Chu Wangsheng , Wu Xiaojun , Wu Changzheng , Xie Yi
Published: September 2022

Pursuing new ferromagnetic systems could bring about research breakthroughs for magnetism. Currently, studies of magnetic ordering are expanding from interatomic to intermolecular exchange interactions to produce ferromagnets in inorganic/organic crystals. To date, the crystalline framework used for stabilizing parallel spin alignment via an ordered lattice seems to be indispensable to ferromagnetism. In our case, we demonstrated room-temperature long-range ferromagnetic order in two-dimensional confined cobaltocene (Co(Cp)2) molecular monolayers. In a confined van der Waals (vdW) interlayer space, spontaneous uniform spin orientation of Co(Cp)2 can be settled. Ferromagnetic coupling is established by an intermolecular vibronic superexchange interaction, a new long-distance exchange interaction in a cooperative dynamic Jahn-Teller (J-T) Co(Cp)2 monolayer. As expected, the confined Co(Cp)2 monolayers exhibit a high ferromagnetic transition temperature (above room temperature) with a saturation magnetization up to 4 emu.g-1.
Sub-bandgap photo-response of metal-black silicon-metal photodiodes
Authors: Yang Yang , Ren Zhe-Yi , Li Chao , Zhao Ji-Hong
Published: September 2022

The molybdenum-doped black silicon materials were fabricated by using femtosecond laser pulses. The energy level of molybdenum in bandgap of silicon was determined by temperature-dependent Hall effect measurements. By introducing intermediate band in the bandgap of silicon, molybdenum-hyperdoped black silicon materials showed thermally stable absorption to photons with energy below the bandgap of silicon (0.5~1.1 eV). We studied current-voltage characteristics of metal-black silicon-metal photodiodes prepared using molybdenum doped black silicon. The lateral structural photodiodes showed an observable photo-response to the infrared photon. The room-temperature responsivity of 25.1 mA/W at 0.95 eV was obtained.