bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Taxonomy and Distribution of the Deep-Sea Batfish Genus Halieutopsis (Teleostei: Ogcocephalidae), with Descriptions of Five New Species
Authors: Ho Hsuan-Ching
Published: December 2021

The deep-sea batfish genus Halieutopsis is reviewed based on worldwide collections. Sixteen species are recognized, including five newly described species: Halieutopsis echinoderma sp. nov. from eastern Taiwan and northeastern Australia, Halieutopsis kawaii sp. nov. from Taiwan and Indonesia, Halieutopsis okamurai sp. nov. from southeastern Japan, Halieutopsis murrayi sp. nov. from the Gulf of Aden, and Halieutopsis taiwanea sp. nov. from northeastern Taiwan. These species differ from their congeners in escal morphology, squamation, and morphometric proportions. Dibranchus nasutus Alcock, 1891, a senior synonym of Halieutopsis vermicularis Smith & Radcliffe, 1912, as well as Dibranchus nudiventer Lloyd, 1909 and Coelophrys oblonga Smith & Radcliffe, 1912, are recognized as valid species in Halieutopsis. Comments on the systematics and biogeographic distributions of the species of Halieutopsis are provided, along with a key to the species.
Epidemiology and Antifungal Susceptibility Patterns of Invasive Fungal Infections (IFIs) in India: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Dabas Yubhisha , Xess Immaculata , Pandey Mragnayani , Ahmed Jaweed , Sachdev Janya , Iram Azka , Singh Gagandeep , Mahapatra Manoranjan , Seth Rachna , Bakhshi Sameer , Kumar Rakesh , Jyotsna Viveka P. , Mathur Sandeep
Published: December 2021

The epidemiology of invasive fungal infections (IFI) is ever evolving. The aim of the present study was to analyze the clinical, microbiological, susceptibility, and outcome data of IFI in Indian patients to identify determinants of infection and 30-day mortality. Proven and probable/putative IFI (defined according to modified European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group and AspICU criteria) from April 2017 to December 2018 were evaluated in a prospective observational study. All recruited patients were antifungal naïve (n = 3300). There were 253 episodes of IFI (7.6%) with 134 (52.9%) proven and 119 (47%) probable/putative infections. There were four major clusters of infection: invasive candidiasis (IC) (n = 53, 20.9%), cryptococcosis (n = 34, 13.4%), invasive aspergillosis (IA) (n = 103, 40.7%), and mucormycosis (n = 62, 24.5%). The significant risk factors were high particulate efficiency air (HEPA) room admission, ICU admission, prolonged exposure to corticosteroids, diabetes mellitus, chronic liver disease (CLD), acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), coronary arterial disease (CAD), trauma, and multiorgan involvement (p < 0.5; odds ratio: >1). The all-cause 30-day mortality was 43.4% (n = 110). It varied by fungal group: 52.8% (28/53) in IC, 58.8% (20/34) in cryptococcosis, 39.8% (41/103) in IA, and 33.9% (21/62) in mucormycosis. HEPA room, ICU admission for IC; HEPA rooms, diabetes mellitus for cryptococcosis; hematological malignancies, chronic kidney disease (CKD), sepsis, galactomannan antigen index value ≥1 for IA and nodules; and ground glass opacities on radiology for mucormycosis were significant predictors of death (odds ratio >1). High minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for azoles were observed in C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. glabrata, A. fumigatus, A. flavus, R. arrhizus, R. microsporus, and M. circinelloides. For echinocandin, high MIC values were seen in C. tropicalis, C. guillermondii, C. glabrata, and A. fumigatus. This study highlights the shift in epidemiology and also raises concern of high MICs to azoles among our isolates. It warrants regular surveillance, which can provide the local clinically correlated microbiological data to clinicians and which might aid in guiding patient treatment.
Genome-Wide Identification of bZIP Transcription Factor Genes and Functional Analyses of Two Members in Cytospora chrysosperma
Authors: Wen Dasen , Yu Lu , Xiong Dianguang , Tian Chengming
Published: December 2021

The basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor (TF) family, one of the largest and the most diverse TF families, is widely distributed across the eukaryotes. It has been described that the bZIP TFs play diverse roles in development, nutrient utilization, and various stress responses in fungi. However, little is known of the bZIP members in Cytospora chrysosperma, a notorious plant pathogenic fungus, which causes canker disease on over 80 woody plant species. In this study, 26 bZIP genes were systematically identified in the genome of C. chrysosperma, and two of them (named CcbZIP05 and CcbZIP23) significantly down-regulated in CcPmk1 deletion mutant (a pathogenicity-related mitogen-activated protein kinase) were selected for further analysis. Deletion of CcbZIP05 or CcbZIP23 displayed a dramatic reduction in fungal growth but showed increased hypha branching and resistance to cell wall inhibitors and abiotic stresses. The CcbZIP05 deletion mutants but not CcbZIP23 deletion mutants were more sensitive to the hydrogen peroxide compared to the wild-type and complemented strains. Additionally, the CcbZIP23 deletion mutants produced few pycnidia but more pigment. Remarkably, both CcbZIP05 and CcbZIP23 deletion mutants were significantly reduced in fungal virulence. Further analysis showed that CcbZIP05 and CcbZIP23 could regulate the expression of putative effector genes and chitin synthesis-related genes. Taken together, our results suggest that CcbZIP05 and CcbZIP23 play important roles in fungal growth, abiotic stresses response, and pathogenicity, which will provide comprehensive information on the CcbZIP genes and lay the foundation for further research on the bZIP members in C. chrysosperma.
A Phylogenetic and Taxonomic Study on Xylodon (Hymenochaetales): Focusing on Three New Xylodon Species from Southern China
Authors: Qu Meng-Han , Wang Dong-Qiong , Zhao Chang-Lin
Published: December 2021

Three wood-inhabiting fungal species, Xylodon laceratus, X. montanus, and X. tropicus spp. nov., were collected from southern China, here proposed as new taxa based on a combination of morphological features and molecular evidence. Xylodon laceratus is characterized by the resupinate basidiomata with grandinioid hymenophore having cracked hymenial surface, and ellipsoid basidiospores; X. montanus is characterized by the annual basidiomata having the hard, brittle hymenophore with cream hymenial surface, and ellipsoid to broadly ellipsoid basidiospores (3.9–5.3 × 3.2–4.3 µm); and X. tropicus is characterized by its grandinioid hymenophore with buff to a pale brown hymenial surface and subglobose basidiospores measuring 2–4.8 × 1.6–4 µm. Sequences of ITS and nLSU rRNA markers of the studied samples were generated, and phylogenetic analyses were performed with maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods. The ITS+nLSU analysis of the order Hymenochaetales indicated that the three new species clustered into the family Schizoporaceae, located in genus Xylodon; based on further analysis of ITS dataset, X. laceratus was a sister to X. heterocystidiatus; X. montanus closely grouped with X. subclavatus and X. xinpingensis with high support; while X.tropicus was retrieved as a sister to X. hastifer.
Artificial Intelligence in News Media: Current Perceptions and Future Outlook
Authors: de-Lima-Santos Mathias-Felipe , Ceron Wilson
Published: December 2021

In recent years, news media has been greatly disrupted by the potential of technologically driven approaches in the creation, production, and distribution of news products and services. Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged from the realm of science fiction and has become a very real tool that can aid society in addressing many issues, including the challenges faced by the news industry. The ubiquity of computing has become apparent and has demonstrated the different approaches that can be achieved using AI. We analyzed the news industry’s AI adoption based on the seven subfields of AI: (i) machine learning; (ii) computer vision (CV); (iii) speech recognition; (iv) natural language processing (NLP); (v) planning, scheduling, and optimization; (vi) expert systems; and (vii) robotics. Our findings suggest that three subfields are being developed more in the news media: machine learning, computer vision, and planning, scheduling, and optimization. Other areas have not been fully deployed in the journalistic field. Most AI news projects rely on funds from tech companies such as Google. This limits AI’s potential to a small number of players in the news industry. We made conclusions by providing examples of how these subfields are being developed in journalism and presented an agenda for future research.
Subjective Return Expectations, Perceptions, and Portfolio Choice
Authors: Calvo-Pardo Hector , Oliver Xisco , Arrondel Luc
Published: December 2021

Exploiting a representative sample of the French population by age, wealth, and asset classes, we document novel facts about their expectations and perceptions of stock market returns. Both expectations and perceptions of returns are very dispersed, significantly lower than their data counterparts, and a substantial portion of the variation in the former is explained by dispersion in the latter. Consistent with portfolio choice models under incomplete information, a conditional risk-return trade-off explains the intensive margin, while at the extensive margin, only expected returns matter. Despite accounting for survey measurement error in subjective return expectations, ’muted sensitivities’ at both portfolio choice margins obtain, getting consistently (i) bigger when excluding informed non-participants, and (ii) smaller, for inertial and professionally delegated portfolios.
Editorial for Special Issue “Socio-Economic Impacts of Carbon Sequestration on Livelihoods and Future Climate”
Authors: Kumar Amit , Kumar Munesh , Cabral Pinto Marina
Published: December 2021

In the modern era of industrial revolution, urbanization, and deforestation of forest land, carbon (C) sequestration through well-known activities called “land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF)” could establish a win–win situation from a climate change and sustainable development perspective [...]
Gender Differences in Environmental Correlates of Cycling Activity among Older Urban Adults
Authors: Wang Lanjing , Xiaohelaiti Xiayidan , Zhang Yi , Liu Xiaofei , Chen Xumei , Li Chaoyang , Wang Tao , Wu Jiani
Published: December 2021

Cycling is a form of active transport that can improve the level of health among the elderly population. However, little is known about the environmental correlates of bicycle use among older adults. This study investigated the relationship between the built and social environment and the gender differences in cycling frequency among older urban adults in China. The data were derived from a household travel survey in 2012 and covered thirty-three urban neighborhoods in Zhongshan. The results suggest that denser intersections are negatively related to cycling trips among both older men and women. Reverse associations for either gender, however, are observed between the average income in a neighborhood and cycling frequency. For older women, living far from a bus stop is positively correlated to an increase in daily cycling trips. For older men, social environment, including the proportions of employed or elderly people in a neighborhood, is significantly associated with cycling activity. The findings facilitate the understanding of the gender gap in cycling activity among older urban adults, and help towards designing effective planning strategies as health interventions.
Analyzing the Value and Evolution of Land Use Functions from “Demand–Function–Value” Perspective: A Framework and Case Study from Zhangjiakou City, China
Authors: Liu Chao , Xu Yueqing , Wang Yue , Cheng Long , Lu Xinhai , Yang Qingke
Published: December 2021

Understanding land use functions (LUFs) value is critical for implementing sustainable land resources management and optimizing territorial space in China. However, existing research insufficiently portrays the contributions of land use to economic activity and people’s well-being. To address this crucial absence, this paper attempts to clarify the connotation of LUFs’ value and the logic of LUFs’ optimization under the national territorial space planning system by applying the “demand–function–value” integrated framework. Based on this framework and taking Zhangjiakou City as a case study, we classified LUFs into economic, social, and ecological functions. Then, we assessed the monetary value of LUFs at the grid level using spatialization and environmental economics methods. Besides, we analyzed the evolutionary characteristics of LUFs and their diversity and dominance. The results showed that the total value of economic, social, and ecological LUFs increased continuously between 1990 and 2015. Spatially, the ecological function showed an opposite pattern to that of social and economic functions. Additionally, the dominant role shifted from ecological function to social function, and the dominant functional combination changed from ELP-ENS-ST to SP-ENS-ELT over this period. Lastly, this paper proposes that policymakers identify and optimize ecological–production–living space through LUFs’ value assessment and coordination. The results provide a new methodological insight into the assessment and coordination of LUFs and adaptive land use management.
Evaluation of Desertification Severity in El-Farafra Oasis, Western Desert of Egypt: Application of Modified MEDALUS Approach Using Wind Erosion Index and Factor Analysis
Authors: Fadl Mohamed E. , Abuzaid Ahmed S. , AbdelRahman Mohamed A. E. , Biswas Asim
Published: December 2021

Desertification is a serious threat to human survival and to ecosystems, especially to inland desert oases. An assessment of desertification severity is essential to ensure national sustainable development for agricultural and land expansion processes in this region. In this study, Index of Land Susceptibility to Wind Erosion (ILSWE) was integrated with a Modified Mediterranean Desertification and Land Use (MEDALUS) method and factor analysis (FA) to develop a GIS-based model for mapping desertification severity. The model was then applied to 987.77 km2 in the El-Farafra Oasis, located in the Western Desert of Egypt, as a case study. Climate and field survey data together with remote sensing images were used to generate five quality indices (soil, climate, vegetation, land management and wind erosion). Based on the FA, a weighted value was assigned to each index. Five thematic layers representing the indices were created within the GIS environment and overlaid using the weighted sum model. The developed model showed that 59% of the total area was identified as high-critical and 38% as medium-critical. The results of an environmentally sensitive area index suggested by the original MEDALUS model indicated similar results: 18.37% of the total area was classified as high-critical and 78.73% as medium-critical. However, the sensitivity analysis indicated that weights derived from FA resulted in better performance of the developed spatial model than that derived from the original MEDALUS method. The proposed model would be a suitable tool for monitoring vulnerable zones, and could be a starting point for sustainable agricultural development in inland oases.
Special Needs Assessment in Bilingual School-Age Children in Germany
Authors: Hertel Irina , Chilla Solveig , Abed Ibrahim Lina
Published: December 2021

Educational and (psycho-)linguistic research on L1 and L2 acquisition in bilingual children sketches them as a group of language learners varying in many aspects. However, most studies to date have based evaluations of language proficiency or new assessment tools on data from heritage children, while studies on the appropriateness of assessment tools for school-age refugee children remain a notable exception. This study focuses on the standardized assessment tool BUEGA for primary school children, which is, among others, a widespread tool for the assessment of pedagogical support or special needs (SN) in Germany. We compare the performance of 12 typically developing monolinguals (MoTD: 7;3–12;1), 14 heritage-bilinguals (BiTD: 7;1–13;4, L1 Turkish and Arabic), 12 refugee- students (BiTD: 8;7–13;1, L1 Arabic), and 7 children with developmental language disorders (DLD: 7;7–13;9) on the subtests of grammar, word-reading, and spelling. Overall results show that refugee-BiTDs perform in the (monolingual) pathology range. No significant differences emerged between students with DLD and typically developing (TD) refugee students. Considering the assessment of school-related language performance, bilingual refugees are at risk of misdiagnosis, along with the well-known effects of educational disadvantage. This particularly applies to children with low socioeconomic status (SES). Looking beyond oral language competencies and using test combinations can help exclude language disorders in school-age children with limited L2 proficiency.
B Chromosomes’ Sequences in Yellow-Necked Mice Apodemus flavicollis—Exploring the Transcription
Authors: Rajičić Marija , Makunin Alexey , Adnađević Tanja , Trifonov Vladimir , Vujošević Mladen , Blagojević Jelena
Published: December 2021

B chromosomes (Bs) are highly polymorphic additional chromosomes in the genomes of many species. Due to the dispensability of Bs and the lack of noticeable phenotypic effects in their carriers, they were considered genetically inert for a long time. Recent studies on Bs in Apodemus flavicollis revealed their genetic composition, potential origin, and spatial organization in the interphase nucleus. Surprisingly, the genetic content of Bs in this species is preserved in all studied samples, even in geographically distinct populations, indicating its biological importance. Using RT-PCR we studied the transcription activity of three genes (Rraga, Haus6, and Cenpe) previously identified on Bs in A. flavicollis. We analysed mRNA isolated from spleen tissues of 34 animals harboring different numbers of Bs (0–3).The products of transcriptional activity of the analysed sequences differ in individuals with and without Bs. We recorded B-genes and/or genes from the standard genome in the presence of Bs, showing sex-dependent higher levels of transcriptional activity. Furthermore, the transcriptional activity of Cenpe varied with the age of the animals differently in the group with and without Bs. With aging, the amount of product was only found to significantly decrease in B carriers. The potential biological significance of all these differences is discussed in the paper.
Continuous Flow Labeling and In-Line Magnetic Separation of Cells
Authors: Qian Zhixi , Hanley Thomas R. , Reece Lisa M. , Leary James F. , Boland Eugene D. , Todd Paul
Published: December 2021

There is an identified need for point-of-care diagnostic systems for detecting and counting specific rare types of circulating cells in blood. By adequately labeling such cells with immunomagnetic beads and quantum dots, they can be efficiently collected magnetically for quantification using fluorescence methods. Automation of this process requires adequate mixing of the labeling materials with blood samples. A static mixing device can be employed to improve cell labeling efficiency and eliminate error-prone laboratory operations. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) were utilized to simulate the flow of a labeling-materials/blood mixture through a 20-stage in-line static mixer of the interfacial-surface-generator type. Optimal fluid mixing conditions were identified and tested in a magnetic bead/tumor cell model, and it was found that labeled cells could be produced at 1.0 mL/min flow rate and fed directly into an in-line magnetic trap. The trap design consists of a dual flow channel with three bends and a permanent magnet positioned at the outer curve of each bend. The capture of labeled cells in the device was simulated using CFD, finite-element analysis and magnetophoretic mobility distributions of labeled cells. Testing with cultured CRL14777 human melanoma cells labeled with anti-CD146 1.5 μm diameter beads indicated that 90 ± 10% are captured at the first stage, and these cells can be captured when present in whole blood. Both in-line devices were demonstrated to function separately and together as predicted.
The Microscopic Mechanisms Involved in Superexchange
Authors: Curély Jacques
Published: December 2021

In earlier work, we previously established a formalism that allows to express the exchange energy J vs. fundamental molecular integrals without crystal field, for a fragment A–X–B, where A and B are 3d1 ions and X is a closed-shell diamagnetic ligand. In this article, we recall this formalism and give a physical interpretation: we may rigorously predict the ferromagnetic (J < 0) or antiferromagnetic (J > 0) character of the isotropic (Heisenberg) spin-spin exchange coupling. We generalize our results to ndm ions (3 ≤ n ≤ 5, 1 ≤ m ≤ 10). By introducing a crystal field we show that, starting from an isotropic (Heisenberg) exchange coupling when there is no crystal field, the appearance of a crystal field induces an anisotropy of exchange coupling, thus leading to a z-z (Ising-like) coupling or a x-y one. Finally, we discuss the effects of a weak crystal field magnitude (3d ions) compared to a stronger (4d ions) and even stronger one (5d ions). In the last step, we are then able to write the corresponding Hamiltonian exchange as a spin-spin one.
Manipulation of Time- and Frequency-Domain Dynamics by Magnon-Magnon Coupling in Synthetic Antiferromagnets
Authors: Chen Xing , Zheng Cuixiu , Zhou Sai , Liu Yaowen , Zhang Zongzhi
Published: December 2021

Magnons (the quanta of spin waves) could be used to encode information in beyond Moore computing applications. In this study, the magnon coupling between acoustic mode and optic mode in synthetic antiferromagnets (SAFs) is investigated by micromagnetic simulations. For a symmetrical SAF system, the time-evolution magnetizations of the two ferromagnetic layers oscillate in-phase at the acoustic mode and out-of-phase at the optic mode, showing an obvious crossing point in their antiferromagnetic resonance spectra. However, the symmetry breaking in an asymmetrical SAF system by the thickness difference, can induce an anti-crossing gap between the two frequency branches of resonance modes and thereby a strong magnon-magnon coupling appears between the resonance modes. The magnon coupling induced a hybridized resonance mode and its phase difference varies with the coupling strength. The maximum coupling occurs at the bias magnetic field at which the two ferromagnetic layers oscillate with a 90° phase difference. Besides, we show how the resonance modes in SAFs change from the in-phase state to the out-of-phase state by slightly tuning the magnon-magnon coupling strength. Our work provides a clear physical picture for the understanding of magnon-magnon coupling in a SAF system and may provide an opportunity to handle the magnon interaction in synthetic antiferromagnetic spintronics.
Latent-Insensitive Autoencoders for Anomaly Detection
Authors: Battikh Muhammad S. , Lenskiy Artem A.
Published: December 2021

Reconstruction-based approaches to anomaly detection tend to fall short when applied to complex datasets with target classes that possess high inter-class variance. Similar to the idea of self-taught learning used in transfer learning, many domains are rich with similar unlabeled datasets that could be leveraged as a proxy for out-of-distribution samples. In this paper we introduce the latent-insensitive autoencoder (LIS-AE) where unlabeled data from a similar domain are utilized as negative examples to shape the latent layer (bottleneck) of a regular autoencoder such that it is only capable of reconstructing one task. We provide theoretical justification for the proposed training process and loss functions along with an extensive ablation study highlighting important aspects of our model. We test our model in multiple anomaly detection settings presenting quantitative and qualitative analysis showcasing the significant performance improvement of our model for anomaly detection tasks.
Solution of the Problem P = L
Authors: Goncharov Sergey , Nechesov Andrey
Published: December 2021

The problems associated with the construction of polynomial complexity computer programs require new techniques and approaches from mathematicians. One of such approaches is representing some class of polynomial algorithms as a certain class of special logical programs. Goncharov and Sviridenko described a logical programming language L0, where programs inductively are obtained from the set of Δ0-formulas using special terms. In their work, a new idea has been proposed to look at the term as a program. The computational complexity of such programs is polynomial. In the same years, a number of other logical languages with similar properties were created. However, the following question remained: can all polynomial algorithms be described in these languages? It is a long-standing problem, and the method of describing some polynomial algorithm in a not Turing complete logical programming language was not previously clear. In this paper, special types of terms and formulas have been found and added to solve this problem. One of the main contributions is the construction of p-iterative terms that simulate the work of the Turing machine. Using p-iterative terms, the work showed that class P is equal to class L, which extends the programming language L0 with p-iterative terms. Thus, it is shown that L is quite expressive and has no halting problem, which occurs in high-level programming languages. For these reasons, the logical language L can be used to create fast and reliable programs. The main limitation of the language L is that the implementation of algorithms of complexity is not higher than polynomial.
Glucocorticoid-Induced Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis after Short-Term Use of Tenofovir with Hypophosphatemia: A Case Report
Authors: Shin Yujin , Kim Yonglee , Kim Kyong Young , Baek Jong Ha , Kim Soo Kyoung , Jung Jung Hwa , Hahm Jong Ryeal , Kim Min Young , Jung Jaehoon , Kim Hosu
Published: December 2021

Hypokalemic periodic paralysis (HPP) is a neuromuscular disorder associated with muscular dysfunction caused by hypokalemia. There are various causes of HPPs and rarely, HPP appears to be relevant to tenofovir or glucocorticoid treatment. There have been several case reports of tenofovir-related nephrotoxicity or tenofovir-induced HPP. However, a case report of glucocorticoid-induced HPP in a patient using tenofovir temporarily has not been reported. Herein, we report a case of glucocorticoid-induced HPP with short-term use of tenofovir. A 28-year-old man visited the emergency room with decreased muscle power in all extremities (2/5 grade). In their past medical history, the patient was treated with tenofovir for two months for a hepatitis B virus infection. At the time of the visit, the drug had been discontinued for four months. The day before visiting the emergency room, betamethasone was administered at a local clinic for herpes on the lips. Laboratory tests showed hypokalemia, hypophosphatemia, and mild metabolic acidosis. However, urinalysis revealed no abnormal findings. Consequently, it can be postulated that this patient developed HPP by glucocorticoids after taking tenofovir temporarily. This is the first case report of glucocorticoid-induced HPP in a patient using tenofovir. Clinicians who prescribe tenofovir should be aware of HPP occurring when glucocorticoids are used.
Autologous Tooth Dentin Graft: A Retrospective Study in Humans
Authors: Cervera-Maillo José Manuel , Morales-Schwarz David , Morales-Melendez Hilde , Mahesh Lanka , Calvo-Guirado José Luis
Published: December 2021

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of an autologous dentin graft, via extracted teeth that are processed into bacteria-free particulate dentin in a Smart dentin grinder and then grafted immediately into alveolus post extraction or into bone deficiencies. Materials and Methods: Ten healthy, partially edentulous patients with some teeth in the mandible were recruited in the study. After their own teeth were grinded, particulate teeth were placed in empty sockets and bone defects after teeth extractions. Furthermore, after three, six, 12 and 24 months, core samples using a 3 mm trephine were obtained. Results: At three months, the particles of grinded tooth were immersed inside a new connective tissue with a small new bone formation (16.3 ± 1.98). At six months, we observed small particles of dentin integrated in new immature bone, without inflammation in the soft tissue (41.1 ± 0.76). At twelve months, we observed a high amount of bone formation surrounding tooth particles (54.5 ± 0.24), and at twenty-four months, new bone, a big structure of bone, was observed with dentin particles (59.4 ± 1.23), statistically different when compared it with at three months. Conclusions: A particulate dentin graft should be considered as an alternative material for sockets’ preservation, split technique, and also for sinus lifting. One of the special characteristics after 24 months of evaluation was the high resorption rate and bone replacement without inflammation. This material could be considered as an acceptable biomaterial for different bone defects due to its osteoinductive and osteoconductive properties
Effects of Physical Activity and Micronutrients on Cognitive Performance in Children Aged 6 to 11 Years: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Meli Atiah Munirah , Ali Asma’ , Mhd Jalil Abbe Maleyki , Mohd Yusof Hayati , Tan Michelle M. C.
Published: December 2021

Background and Objectives: Cognitive performance is essential for children, given this is a critical stage of brain growth and development. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to ascertain if physical activity or micronutrients impact cognitive performance in children. Materials and Methods: Electronic databases (PubMed and Scopus®) were searched for relevant articles published between 2012 and 2021. We emphasized randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examined the effect of physical activity and micronutrients on cognitive performance. Data from eligible studies were gathered and evaluated using random-, fixed- or pooled-effects models with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: Physical activity appeared to improve both Mathematics (d = 1.12, 95% CI: 0.56, 1.67) and attention (d = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.15, 1.14) performances. The micronutrient vitamin B12 had a positive effect on Mathematics (d = 2.39, 95% CI: 0.79, 3.98), English (d = 5.29, 95% CI: 2.76, 7.83), Geography (d = 5.29, 95% CI: 2.76, 7.83), Science (d = 3.39, 95% CI: 2.62, 4.16) and Arts (d = 3.32, 95% CI: 1.84, 4.79). Zinc was found to positively affect English (d = 3.78, 95% CI: 0.44, 7.13), Geography (d = 4.77, 95% CI: 0.56, 8.98) and Arts (d = 2.39, CI: 0.33, 4.45). Iron positively affected Mathematics (d = 1.29, 95% CI: 0.54, 2.06), English (d = 1.29, 95% CI: 0.44, 7.13), Geography (d = 4.77, 95% CI: 0.56, 8.98) and Arts (d = 2.39, 95% CI: 0.33, 4.45). Conclusions: A more comprehensive intervention with a specific dose/level of physical activity, an increased range of cognitive performance, and a well-designed study design that accounts for dietary intake and other health outcomes are required for future studies.
Survival Benefit of Anticoagulation Therapy in End Stage Kidney Disease Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: A Single Center Retrospective Study
Authors: Kim Mi-Ryung , Kim Deok-Gie , Shin Han-Wul , Kim Sung-Hwa , Kim Jae-Seok , Yang Jae-Won , Han Byoung-Geun , Choi Seong-Ok , Lee Jun Young
Published: December 2021

Background and Objectives: Although the need for anticoagulation to prevent thromboembolism is increasing and non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have been tried, there is still controversy about the efficacy of anticoagulation in patients with dialysis. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the risk and benefit of anticoagulation in dialysis patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We retrospectively analyzed all data of 89 patients who received dialysis therapy and were diagnosed with AF. Among them, 27 received anticoagulation (11 warfarin and 16 apixaban 2.5 mg twice a day), while 62 received no anticoagulation. Results: In multivariate Cox regression analysis, compared to no anticoagulation treatment, anticoagulation treatment was associated with a low incidence of all-cause mortality (hazard ratios (HR) 0.36; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.15–0.88). Compared to no anticoagulation treatment, more anticoagulation treatment patients experienced severe bleeding (HR 4.67; 95% CI 1.26–17.25) and any bleeding (HR 2.79; 95% CI 1.01–7.74). Compared to no anticoagulation, warfarin treatment patients were associated with a low incidence of all-cause mortality (HR 0.26; 95% CI 0.09–0.81) and a high incidence of severe bleeding (HR 4.85; 95% CI 1.12–21.10). All-cause mortality and bleeding were not significantly different between no anticoagulation and apixaban treatment patients. Conclusions: In dialysis patients with AF, anticoagulation therapy is associated with an increased incidence of severe bleeding, but anticoagulation therapy is associated with a low incidence of all-cause mortality. Individualized anticoagulation therapy with careful bleeding monitoring is needed in dialysis patients with AF.
Coal-Fired Boiler Flue Gas Desulfurization System Based on Slurry Waste Heat Recovery in Severe Cold Areas
Authors: Zhang Chenghu , Zou Dezhi , Huang Xinpeng , Lu Weijun
Published: December 2021

To reduce operating costs on the basis of ensuring the desulfurization efficiency in a wet flue gas desulfurization system, a theoretical model was put forward, and a calculation method was set up. Correlations between reaction zone height, flue gas inlet temperature, slurry inlet temperature, gas–liquid ratio and desulfurization efficiency were found. Based on the heat and mass transfer model of the spray tower, the integrated system of desulfurization tower and open slurry pool and the flue gas desulfurization-waste heat recovery system were established. Additionally, the effect of outdoor wind speed, heat dissipation area and ambient temperature on the slurry equilibrium temperature in the integrated system were analyzed. The results show the slurry equilibrium temperature of the desulfurization system is negatively correlated with outdoor wind speed and heat dissipation area, and positively related to ambient temperature. The slurry temperature is the main factor that affects the performance of the wet flue gas desulfurization system. Finally, based on the Harbin heating group Hua Hui hotspot energy-saving reconstruction project, a case analysis was conducted, which proves the flue gas desulfurization-waste heat recovery system is profitable, energy saving and a suitable investment project.
Heat to Hydrogen by RED—Reviewing Membranes and Salts for the RED Heat Engine Concept
Authors: Zimmermann Pauline , Solberg Simon Birger Byremo , Tekinalp Önder , Lamb Jacob Joseph , Wilhelmsen Øivind , Deng Liyuan , Burheim Odne Stokke
Published: December 2021

The Reverse electrodialysis heat engine (REDHE) combines a reverse electrodialysis stack for power generation with a thermal regeneration unit to restore the concentration difference of the salt solutions. Current approaches for converting low-temperature waste heat to electricity with REDHE have not yielded conversion efficiencies and profits that would allow for the industrialization of the technology. This review explores the concept of Heat-to-Hydrogen with REDHEs and maps crucial developments toward industrialization. We discuss current advances in membrane development that are vital for the breakthrough of the RED Heat Engine. In addition, the choice of salt is a crucial factor that has not received enough attention in the field. Based on ion properties relevant for both the transport through IEMs and the feasibility for regeneration, we pinpoint the most promising salts for use in REDHE, which we find to be KNO3, LiNO3, LiBr and LiCl. To further validate these results and compare the system performance with different salts, there is a demand for a comprehensive thermodynamic model of the REDHE that considers all its units. Guided by such a model, experimental studies can be designed to utilize the most favorable process conditions (e.g., salt solutions).
Dependence of Protein Structure on Environment: FOD Model Applied to Membrane Proteins
Authors: Roterman Irena , Stapor Katarzyna , Gądek Krzysztof , Gubała Tomasz , Nowakowski Piotr , Fabian Piotr , Konieczny Leszek
Published: December 2021

The natural environment of proteins is the polar aquatic environment and the hydrophobic (amphipathic) environment of the membrane. The fuzzy oil drop model (FOD) used to characterize water-soluble proteins, as well as its modified version FOD-M, enables a mathematical description of the presence and influence of diverse environments on protein structure. The present work characterized the structures of membrane proteins, including those that act as channels, and a water-soluble protein for contrast. The purpose of the analysis was to verify the possibility that an external force field can be used in the simulation of the protein-folding process, taking into account the diverse nature of the environment that guarantees a structure showing biological activity.
Physiological Role of Bile Acids Modified by the Gut Microbiome
Authors: Kiriyama Yoshimitsu , Nochi Hiromi
Published: December 2021

Bile acids (BAs) are produced from cholesterol in the liver and are termed primary BAs. Primary BAs are conjugated with glycine and taurine in the liver and then released into the intestine via the gallbladder. After the deconjugation of glycine or taurine by the gut microbiome, primary BAs are converted into secondary BAs by the gut microbiome through modifications such as dehydroxylation, oxidation, and epimerization. Most BAs in the intestine are reabsorbed and transported to the liver, where both primary and secondary BAs are conjugated with glycine or taurine and rereleased into the intestine. Thus, unconjugated primary Bas, as well as conjugated and unconjugated secondary BAs, have been modified by the gut microbiome. Some of the BAs reabsorbed from the intestine spill into the systemic circulation, where they bind to a variety of nuclear and cell-surface receptors in tissues, whereas some of the BAs are not reabsorbed and bind to receptors in the terminal ileum. BAs play crucial roles in the physiological regulation of various tissues. Furthermore, various factors, such as diet, age, and antibiotics influence BA composition. Here, we review recent findings regarding the physiological roles of BAs modified by the gut microbiome in the metabolic, immune, and nervous systems.
The Effect of Volatile Organic Compounds on Different Organisms: Agrobacteria, Plants and Insects
Authors: Sidorova Daria E. , Plyuta Vladimir A. , Padiy Darya A. , Kupriyanova Evgeniya V. , Roshina Natalia V. , Koksharova Olga A. , Khmel Inessa A.
Published: December 2021

Bacteria and fungi emit a huge variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can provide a valuable arsenal for practical use. However, the biological activities and functions of the VOCs are poorly understood. This work aimed to study the action of individual VOCs on the bacteria Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Arabidopsis thaliana plants, and fruit flies Drosophila melanogaster. VOCs used in the work included ketones, alcohols, and terpenes. The potent inhibitory effect on the growth of A. tumefaciens was shown for 2-octanone and isoamyl alcohol. Terpenes (−)-limonene and (+)-α-pinene practically did not act on bacteria, even at high doses (up to 400 µmol). 2-Butanone and 2-pentanone increased the biomass of A. thaliana at doses of 200–400 μmol by 1.5–2 times; 2-octanone had the same effect at 10 μmol and decreased plant biomass at higher doses. Isoamyl alcohol and 2-phenylethanol suppressed plant biomass several times at doses of 50–100 μmol. Plant seed germination was most strongly suppressed by isoamyl alcohol and 2-phenylethanol. The substantial killing effect (at low doses) on D. melanogaster was exerted by the terpenes and the ketones 2-octanone and 2-pentanone. The obtained data showed new information about the biological activities of VOCs in relation to organisms belonging to different kingdoms.
Analyzing the Role of Gut Microbiota on the Onset of Autoimmune Diseases Using TNFΔARE Murine Model
Authors: Edwards Vivienne , Smith Dylan L. , Meylan Francoise , Tiffany Linda , Poncet Sarah , Wu Wells W. , Phue Je-Nie , Santana-Quintero Luis , Clouse Kathleen A. , Gabay Odile
Published: December 2021

Very little is known about disease transmission via the gut microbiome. We hypothesized that certain inflammatory features could be transmitted via the gut microbiome and tested this hypothesis using an animal model of inflammatory diseases. Twelve-week-old healthy C57 Bl/6 and Germ-Free (GF) female and male mice were fecal matter transplanted (FMT) under anaerobic conditions with TNFΔARE−/+ donors exhibiting spontaneous Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) or with conventional healthy mice control donors. The gut microbiome analysis was performed using 16S rRNA sequencing amplification and bioinformatics analysis with the HIVE bioinformatics platform. Histology, immunohistochemistry, ELISA Multiplex analysis, and flow cytometry were conducted to confirm the inflammatory transmission status. We observed RA and IBD features transmitted in the GF mice cohort, with gut tissue disruption, cartilage alteration, elevated inflammatory mediators in the tissues, activation of CD4/CD8+ T cells, and colonization and transmission of the gut microbiome similar to the donors’ profile. We did not observe a change or transmission when conventional healthy mice were FMT with TNFΔARE−/+ donors, suggesting that a healthy microbiome might withstand an unhealthy transplant. These findings show the potential involvement of the gut microbiome in inflammatory diseases. We identified a cluster of bacteria playing a role in this mechanism.
Characterization of the Gene Encoding S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet) Synthetase in Penicillium chrysogenum; Role in Secondary Metabolism and Penicillin Production
Authors: Domínguez-Santos Rebeca , Kosalková Katarina , Sánchez-Orejas Isabel-Clara , Barreiro Carlos , Pérez-Pertejo Yolanda , Reguera Rosa M. , Balaña-Fouce Rafael , García-Estrada Carlos
Published: December 2021

The filamentous fungus Penicillium chrysogenum (recently reidentified as Penicillium rubens) is used in the industrial production of the β-lactam antibiotic penicillin. There are several mechanisms regulating the production of this antibiotic, acting both at the genetic and epigenetic levels, the latter including the modification of chromatin by methyltransferases. S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet) is the main donor of methyl groups for methyltransferases. In addition, it also acts as a donor of aminopropyl groups during the biosynthesis of polyamines. AdoMet is synthesized from L-methionine and ATP by AdoMet-synthetase. In silico analysis of the P. chrysogenum genome revealed the presence of a single gene (Pc16g04380) encoding a putative protein with high similarity to well-known AdoMet-synthetases. Due to the essential nature of this gene, functional analysis was carried out using RNAi-mediated silencing techniques. Knock-down transformants exhibited a decrease in AdoMet, S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (AdoHcy), spermidine and benzylpenicillin levels, whereas they accumulated a yellow-orange pigment in submerged cultures. On the other hand, overexpression led to reduced levels of benzylpenicillin, thereby suggesting that the AdoMet synthetase, in addition to participate in primary metabolism, also controls secondary metabolism in P. chrysogenum.
Caseinolytic Proteins (Clp) in the Genus Klebsiella: Special Focus on ClpK
Authors: Motiwala Tehrim , Akumadu Blessing Oluebube , Zuma Sbahle , Mfeka Mbalenhle Sizamile , Chen Wanping , Achilonu Ikechukwu , Syed Khajamohiddin , Khoza Thandeka
Published: December 2021

Caseinolytic proteins (Clp), which are present in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, play a major role in cell protein quality control and survival of bacteria in harsh environmental conditions. Recently, a member of this protein family, ClpK was identified in a pathogenic strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae which was responsible for nosocomial infections. ClpK is linked to the thermal stress survival of this pathogen. The genome wide analysis of Clp proteins in Klebsiella spp. indicates that ClpK is present in only 34% of the investigated strains. This suggests that the uptake of the clpk gene is selective and may only be taken up by a pathogen that needs to survive harsh environmental conditions. In silico analyses and molecular dynamic simulations show that ClpK is mainly α-helical and is highly dynamic. ClpK was successfully expressed and purified to homogeneity using affinity and anion exchange chromatography. Biophysical characterization of ClpK showed that it is predominantly alpha-helical, and this is in agreement with in silico analysis of the protein structure. Furthermore, the purified protein is biologically active and hydrolyses ATP in a concentration- dependent manner.
‘Aggregation-Induced Emission’ Active Mono-Cyclometalated Iridium(III) Complex Mediated Efficient Vapor-Phase Detection of Dichloromethane
Authors: Raichure Pramod C. , Kachwal Vishal , Laskar Inamur Rahaman
Published: December 2021

Selective vapor-phase detection of dichloromethane (DCM) is a challenge, it being a well-known hazardous volatile organic solvent in trace amounts. With this in mind, we have developed an ‘Aggregation-induced Emission’ (AIE) active mono-cyclometalated iridium(III)-based (M1) probe molecule, which detects DCM sensitively and selectively in vapor phase with a response time <30 s. It reveals a turn-on emission (non-emissive to intense yellow) on exposing DCM vapor directly to the solid M1. The recorded detection limit is 4.9 ppm for DCM vapor with pristine M1. The mechanism of DCM detection was explored. Moreover, the detection of DCM vapor by M1 was extended with a low-cost filter paper as the substrate. The DCM is weakly bound with the probe and can be removed with a mild treatment, so, notably, the probe can be reused.
Terpenoid Hydrazones as Biomembrane Penetration Enhancers: FT-IR Spectroscopy and Fluorescence Probe Studies
Authors: Nesterkina Mariia , Smola Serhii , Rusakova Nataliya , Kravchenko Iryna
Published: December 2021

Hydrazones based on mono- and bicyclic terpenoids (verbenone, menthone and carvone) have been investigated in vitro as potential biomembrane penetration enhancers. In this regard, liposomes composed of lecithin or cardiolipin as phospholipid phase components with incorporated fluorescence probes have been prepared using the thin-film ultrasonic dispersion method. The mean particle size of the obtained liposomes, established using laser diffraction, was found to be 583 ± 0.95 nm, allowing us to categorize them as multilamellar vesicles (MLVs) according to their morphology. Pursuant to fluorescence analysis, we may assume a reduction in microviscosity and, consequently, a decrease in the packing density of lecithin and cardiolipin lipids to be the major mechanism of action for terpenoid hydrazones 1–15. In order to determine the molecular organization of the lipid matrix, lipids were isolated from rat strata cornea (SCs) and their interaction with tested compounds was studied by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. FT-IR examination suggested that these hydrazones fluidized the SC lipids via the disruption of the hydrogen-bonded network formed by polar groups of SC constituents. The relationship between the structure of terpenoid hydrazones and their ability to enhance biomembrane penetration is discussed.