bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the histopathological effects of injectable hyaluronic acid as a filler material in rat’s lip
Authors: Al-aroomy Leena , AbdelBary Sawsan , El-Rouby Dalia , Alwadeai Mohamed , Ashoub Madiha
Published: May 2023

Objectives: The present work aimed to examine the early and late histopathological changes occurring in the lower lips of rats, as a result of hyaluronic acid injection, and to determine whether it could really bring us closer to the ideal soft tissue filler material. This research highlights the importance of experimental studies on this subject since adverse reactions have been observed routinely in dental practice.
Material and Methods: The present study was carried out on 36 adult male albino rats with age ranging from 2 to 3 months and weight ranging from 150 to 200g. Rats were divided into two equal groups, each consisting of 18 rats; group I (control group) and group II (experimental group). Rats in the experimental group were injected with hyaluronic acid (0.07 ml), whereas rats in the control group were injected with 0.9% sodium chloride. Each group was further subdivided into 3 subgroups: A, B and C according to the time of sacrifice at one week, one and a half months and three months respectively.
Results: The results showed inflammation triggered by the injection of hyaluronic acid. On examining the specimens histologically using Hematoxylin and Eosin stains, Toluidine Blue stain and immunohistochemistry with anti-CD68 antibody, there was a significantly greater inflammatory response in the groups at early intervals with hyaluronic acid compared with the control (P<0.0001). Higher collagen formation was also observed with Masson’s Trichrome staining.
Conclusions: Based on the histopathological, histochemical and immunohistochemical results of this study, undesirable effects of hyaluronic acid filler injection can be detected at early intervals following its injection. Fortunately, all the undesirable effects are transient and decrease by time, reaching levels comparable to normal. Overall, HA was well-tolerated by tissues, reflecting how this filler material possesses a biocompatible property.
Clinical Relevance: This study introduces hyaluronic acid as a favorable dermal filling material to improve skin contour, and lip augmentation, reduce depression in the skin, and treatment of facial wrinkles with minimal side effects and reasonable cost.
Higher Platelet Count is Associated with First Episode of Peritonitis Risk in Incident Peritoneal Dialysis Patients
Authors: Yu Jing , Ye Hongjian , Li Hongyu , Hua Shun , Liu Jiaqi , Li Hongyu , Wang Yating , Mao Haiping
Published: May 2023

Platelets play parts in infection, inflammation, and immune processes. However, the association between platelet count and the risk of peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis is unclear. This was a retrospective, observational, single-center cohort study. A Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the independent association of platelet count with the occurrence of first PD-associated peritonitis. Models were adjusted for gender, age, BMI, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, white blood cell, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, hemoglobin, albumin, potassium, and anti-platelet medication usage. A total of 2374 patients were enrolled in this study (59% men; mean age 47.40 ± 12.12). The average platelet count was 229.30 ± 82.12 x 109/L. 467 (20%) patients suffered from PD-associated peritonitis at least once. In the multivariable model, the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for quartiles 2, 3, and 4 versus quartile 1 were 1.391 (95% CI 0.984–1.996, P = 0.062), 1.835 (95% CI 1.316–2.558, P < 0.001), and 1.919 (95% CI 1.356–2.715, P < 0.001) with baseline data. A nonlinear relationship between platelet count and first PD-associated peritonitis was observed. Further, the association between platelet and first PD-associated peritonitis was significant in the patients with hypokalemia (P for interaction = 0.040). In PD patients, elevated platelet counts were significantly associated with an increased risk of the first onset of PD-associated peritonitis.
Presenilin2 D439A mutation induced the dysfunction of mitochondrial fusion/fission dynamics via regulating Miro2 in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Gao Chenhao , Shang Junkui , Sun Zhengyu , Xia Mingrong , Gao Dandan , Sun Ruihua , Li Wei , Wang Fengyu , Zhang Jie-wen
Published: May 2023

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related progressive neurodegenerative disease, about 10% of AD patients are called early-onset familial AD (EOFAD), which is mainly linked to the point mutations in genes encoding Presenilins (PS1 and PS2). Mutations in PS2 are extremely rare and PS2 mutations have not received enough attention. Recently studies have found that Rho GTPase was closely related to the pathogenesis of AD. In this study, we used transcriptome sequencing in PS2 siRNA SH-SY5Y cells and found a group of differential expression genes (DEGs) play a key role in the regulation of GTPase activity. Among those DEGs, the most significantly down regulated was Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor5 (ARHGEF5). The GTPase activity in PS2 siRNA cells decreased significantly. Then we found that the expression of ARHGEF5 and the GTPase activity of Mitochondrial Rho GTPase 2 (Miro2) in PS2 D439A mutant SH-SY5Y cells decreased significantly. We found for the first time that PS2 can bind to Miro2, and PS2 D439A mutation reduced the binding between PS2 and Miro2, reduced the expression of Miro2, and resulted in the imbalance of mitochondrial fusion/fission dynamics. In conclusion, PS2 gene knockdown may participate in the pathogenesis of AD through the regulation of GTPase activity. The imbalance of mitochondrial dynamics mediated by PS2 D439A mutation through regulating Miro2 expression and Miro2-GTPase activity may be one of the potential pathogenic mechanisms of AD.
Hedging our bet on forest permanence
Authors: Windisch Michael G. , Humpenöder Florian , Merfort Leon , Bauer Nico , Luderer Gunnar , Dietrich Jan Philipp , Heinke Jens , Müller Christoph , Lotze-Campen Hermann , Popp Alexander
Published: May 2023

Forests currently absorb a quarter of anthropogenic carbon emissions. Moreover, establishing additional forests is presently the most cost-effective and scalable option for carbon removal services. Thus, mitigation pledges and scenarios aiming for the Paris Agreement climate goals became heavily dependent on maintaining the existing forest carbon sink and expanding it further . However, a mounting body of evidence questions the permanence of the carbon stored in forests under the pressure of both climate change and direct human intervention. Here we show that rapid decarbonization can secure mitigation goals despite potential carbon loss of forest disturbances. Yet, the projected CO2 price to stay below 1.5°C of warming is 71$/tCO2 higher (+22%) compared to a world without increasing disturbance trends. Likewise, it entails a 20% (-1.2GtCO2/yr) reduction in allowed yearly emissions and an expansion of 69 million hectares (+17%) of dedicated mitigation land. Responding late to the disturbance, rather than taking preemptive action, doubles the projected cost and effort until mid-century in multiple key sectors. Our results underline the urgent need to safeguard forests for the economic feasibility of the Paris Agreement climate goals. Deferring fossil fuel phase-out leaves us ill-prepared if trends of increasing forest disturbance rates continue.
Instability of Cs1-xFAxPbI3 quantum dots – the role of ion migration, octahedral tilt and the A-site cation
Authors: Li Weilun , Hao Mengmeng , Wang Lianzhou , Etheridge Joanne
Published: May 2023

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites are promising materials for the next generation photovoltaics and optoelectronics; however, their practical application has been hindered by poor structural stability mainly caused by ion migration and external stimuli. Understanding the mechanism(s) of ion migration and structure decomposition is thus critical. Here we observe the sequence of structural changes at the atomic level that precede structural decomposition in the technologically important Cs1-xFAxPbI3 quantum dots using ultralow dose transmission electron microscopy. We find that these changes differ, depending upon the A-site composition. Initially, there is a random loss of FA+, complemented by the loss of I-. The remaining FA+ and I- ions then migrate, unit cell by unit cell, into an ordered and more stable phase with a √2 x √2 superstructure. Further ion loss is accompanied by A-site dependent octahedral tilt modes and associated tetragonal phases with different stabilities. These observations of the loss of FA+/I- ion pairs, ion migration, octahedral tilt modes, and the role of the A-cation, provide insights into the atomic-scale structural mechanisms that drive and block ion loss and ion migration, opening pathways to inhibit ion loss, migration and improve structural stability.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) litter in terrestrial urban areas of Iligan City, Philippines
Authors: Araña Kent Naiah D. , Dimaongon Noralyn G. , Mauyag Noronimah D. , Morad Nisriah M. Hadji , Manupac Shekinah Ruth R. , Bacosa Hernando P.
Published: May 2023

In recent years, many countries have relied on the massive use of personal protective equipment (PPE) following the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO) to combat coronavirus disease (COVID-19). These PPEs include facemasks, face shields, disinfectant wipes, and disposable gloves. While PPE can serve as protection, it can also be a source of pollution. This study is first to establish a baseline monitoring and assessment on the spatial distribution of COVID-19 related PPE litter approaching into the post-pandemic from the urban areas in a city of the Philippines. A total of 1,632 Covid-19 PPE litter were gathered in all surveyed locations; predominantly were facemasks (90%) and disinfectant wipes (10%). Among the surveyed areas, the location that recorded the highest count and density of PPE litter is in a residential zone (52.14%; n=851; 0.0317 item m-2); the lowest was determined in the recreational parks (2.57%; n = 42; 0.0016 item m-2). The relatively significant difference among the total count of PPE items in each location could be traced to the varying land-use and ecosystem as well as the human behavior and activities. FTIR results revealed that all types of facemasks sampled are principally made of polypropylene, a material that threatens environmental sustainability and low recyclability. As the country is embracing the new normal and somewhat returning to pre-pandemic activities; this study calls for the prioritization of the government agendas on ecological solid waste management in the country.
Impact of Diabetes Distress on Glycemic Control and Diabetic Complications in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Park Hye-Sun , Cho Yongin , Seo Da Hea , Ahn Seong Hee , Hong Seongbin , Suh Young Ju , Chon Suk , Woo Jeong-Taek , Baik Sei Hyun , Lee Kwan Woo , Kim So Hun
Published: May 2023

The effect of diabetes distress on glycemic control and its association with diabetes complications is still poorly understood. We aimed to study the clinical features of patients with high diabetes distress, focusing on changes in glycemic control and risk of diabetic complications. From the Korean National Diabetes Program data, we investigated 1,862 individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who completed diabetic complication studies and the Korean version of the Problem Areas in Diabetes Survey (PAID-K). A total score of PAID-K ≥40 was considered indicative of high distress. Individuals with high distress (n=589) had significantly higher levels of glycated hemoglobin than those without distress (7.4% vs. 7.1%, p < 0.001). This trend persisted throughout the 3-year follow-up period. Higher PAID-K scores were associated with younger age, longer duration of diabetes, and higher homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance level (all p<0.05). There was a significant association between high distress and diabetic neuropathy (adjusted odds ratio, 1.63; p=0.002), but no significant association was found with other complications, including retinopathy, albuminuria, and carotid artery plaque. In conclusion, high diabetes distress was associated with uncontrolled hyperglycemia and higher odds of having diabetic neuropathy.
Is Malignancies Related Gastrointestinal Bleeding Safe for Cardiopulmonary Bypass Surgery? - A Case-control Study
Authors: Liu XinPei , Chu Frances , Wen YuLin , Tang Yi , Miao Qi
Published: May 2023

The aggravation risk of malignancies related gastrointestinal bleeding (M-GIB) after cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was unknown, our study aimed to demonstrate the risk to help clinical decision making under this complicated circumstance. 19 patients with preoperative M-GIB and underwent cardiac surgery with CPB constituted the exposed group. Up to 5 controls were matched for each exposed patient according to age, sex and surgery type and constituted the control group. We defined a seven-grade ordinal scale to assess the clinical severity of gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB). Pre-and post-operative GIB grade and other clinical endpoints were compared between the two groups. Among our cardiac surgery patients, M-GIB were caused mostly by TNM grade III gastrointestinal cancer. Antiplatelet drugs or anticoagulants were reduced preoperatively for 47.4% patients and postoperatively for 42.1% patients considering the risk of GIB. Although postoperative GIB grade was higher (P = 0.042) compared to the controls, we found no postoperative aggravation of GIB in the exposed group. After cardiac surgery, 89.5% patients underwent gastrointestinal surgery as scheduled. Although the priority of cardiac or gastrointestinal surgery for patients with cardiac surgical indication and M-GIB was difficult to decide, cardiac surgery didn’t increase the aggravation risk of M-GIB.
The bat-borne influenza A virus H9N2 exhibits a set of unexpected pre-pandemic features
Authors: Halwe Nico , Hamberger Lea , Sehl-Ewert Julia , Mache Christin , Schön Jacob , Ulrich Lorenz , Calvelage Sten , Fuchs Jonas , Bandawane Pooja , Loganathan Madhumathi , Abbad Anass , Carreño Juan Manuel , Simon Viviana , Kayali Ghazi , Tönnies Mario , Kandeil Ahmed , El-Shesheny Rabeh , Ali Mohamed , Wolff Thorsten , Budt Matthias , Hippenstiel Stefan , Hocke Andreas , Krammer Florian , Schwemmle Martin , Ciminski Kevin , Hoffmann Donata , Bermudez-Gonzalez Maria , Beer Martin
Published: May 2023

An Old-World bat H9N2 influenza A virus (IAV) identified in Egypt exhibits high replication and transmission potential in ferrets, efficient infection of human lung explant cultures and marked escape from the antiviral activity of MxA. Together with low antigenic similarity to N2 of seasonal human strains, bat H9N2 meets key criteria for pre-pandemic IAVs.
A Prospective Cohort Study on the Effect of Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy on Head and Neck Cancer Patients’ Quality of Life Using Version 4 of the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire
Authors: Mojdami Zahra Dorna , Watson Erin , Hope Andrew , R. de Almeida John , Howard Tenenbaum , Azarpazhooh Amir , Glogauer Michael
Published: May 2023

Purpose: The management of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients requires balancing disease control with structural, cosmetic, and functional deficits that can negatively impact quality of life (QoL). Therefore, understanding the physical, emotional and social aspects of QoL of patients throughout their HNC treatment process can help providers better treat this populations of patients in order to improve their QoL.
Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of sixty-eight consecutive patients with HNC receiving curative intent RT at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre who had completed the self-administered UW-QoL v4 pre-RT, Mid-RT, 1-month and 6-months post-RT.
Results: All scores on the questionnaire decreased mid-RT, with taste and saliva demonstrating the greatest decrease (p <. 05). All scores increased and therefore improved 1-month post-RT and further improved at 6-months post-RT (p <.05). Mean scores did not return to the mean pre-RT levels for the domains swallowing, taste, saliva, and for the physical function composite scores.
Conclusions:HNC patients undergoing RT treatment need to be supported and monitored by health care providers for alterations in QoL during and post-RT, especially with respect to their taste and saliva.
Exploring The Influence of Driver’s Presence on Passengers’ Willingness Level to Take Autonomous Taxis – Evidence from Seattle Metropolitan Area
Authors: Wang Jun , Dunham-Jones Ellen , Akar Gulsah
Published: May 2023

This study aims to identify the potential determinants of people's willingness to adopt autonomous vehicle (AV) taxis, with or without a backup driver, using Binary Logistic Regression in combination with the enhanced Random Forest attribute selection method. The results indicate that young men with frequent use of ride-sharing services, walk frequently, and have household incomes of approximately $150,000 - $200,000 are more likely to be interested in using AV taxis regardless of the presence of a backup driver. The study finds that previous travel habits (use of different modes) can greatly influence individuals' interest levels in using AV taxis. The study points AV taxi service providers should address female passengers' concerns to pursue a larger market. This study innovatively uses individuals’ preferences for their residential locations, such as proximity to the workplace, walkability, and affordability. Through the inclusion of these variables in the analysis, this study offers a more comprehensive insight into the potential users of AV taxis, thus enabling urban designers and planners to pursue a transportation system that is sustainable, equitable, and responsive to the diverse needs and preferences of different populations. The study has limitations in that it lacks users' perceived benefits and their specific needs pertaining to AVs. Finally, the study emphasizes the importance of examining the causes of inequality and promoting equitable access to AV technology, particularly for vulnerable groups.
Effects of Open Circuit Immersion Time and Vertex Potential on
Cyclic Potentiodynamic Polarization Scans of Two Metallic Biomaterials
Authors: Obregon Javier , Ebert William L. , Indacochea J Ernesto , Gattu Vineeth Kumar
Published: May 2023

Electrodes made of commercially pure titanium (CP-Ti) and a CoCrMo alloy were immersed at open circuit in a phosphate buffer saline electrolyte at room temperature for different durations prior to electrochemical analyses. Open circuit potential measurements, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements and cyclic potentiodynamic polarization (CPP) scans were used to assess the impact of the immersion time on derived property values. Stable passivation layers formed on both materials during immersion. The corrosion potentials determined from anodic legs of CPP scans became more cathodic and the corrosion currents decreased to lower values after longer immersion times. Layers formed on CP-Ti stabilized during forward anodic scans and persisted to the vertex potential, whereas passivation breakdown occurred during anodic scans with CoCrMo with active corrosion at voltages up to the vertex potential. The characteristics of the return cathodic legs of CPP scans represented the surface conditions present at the vertex potential: characteristic corrosion property values derived from the test responses represented passivated surfaces on CP-Ti and leached surfaces on CoCrMo rather than intrinsic properties of those materials.
Decoding the Complex Genetic Network of Antimicrobial Resistance in Campylobacter jejuni using Advanced Gene Network Analysis
Authors: Selvam Prasanna Kumar , E Santhosh M , Dey Hrituraj , Vasudevan Karthick , C George Priya Doss
Published: May 2023

One of the biggest threats to public health in the 21st century is antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which happens when bacteria change and make antibiotics that treat infections less effective. Understanding the AMR genes that impart the resistance to multidrug resistance is vital to comprehend the issue. Campylobacter jejuni, which has AMR genes, is the focus of our study. For the evolutionary examination of the genes and their variations, phylogenetic analysis has been conducted. To further our insight, The construction and analysis of a gene interaction network with 39 functional relationships. The clustering analysis revealed two interconnected clusters (C1, C2) that are associated with AMR processes. In functional enrichment analysis, Cellular components (CCs), Molecular Functions (MFs), and Biological Processes (BPs) were observed to have massive involvement. Resistance is inherited by Gram-positive bacteria via mutations in the rpl genes, which code for ribosomal proteins. The gene network analysis revealed genes rplE, rplV, rplG, rplK, rplA, rplJ, rpsE, rplB, rpsL, and rpmA interacting with their functional counterparts as frequently as feasible and can be considered as hub genes. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of AMR can be achieved by analyzing the ribosome pathway’s enriched KEGG pathway is essential for comprehending antibiotic resistance.A further benefit of the study is that it may help researchers create new drug-resistant strains of bacteria treatments for C. jejuni.
Identification of ferroptosis-related biomarkers in depression using a bioinformatics approach
Authors: Wang Zhe , Chen Che
Published: May 2023

Background Depression is a common psychiatric disorder. Many studies have highlighted the involvement of ferroptosis in the pathological process of depression.Methods All datasets on depression: GSE98793、GSE201332、GSE76826、GSE54564、GSE44593、GSE38206 and GSE54570 were collected from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and categorized into the test and validation sets, respectively. In addition, depression-associated module genes were detected using the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), based on the expression data from the GSE98793 test set. Afterward, Ferroptosis-Related Genes (FRGs) were extracted from the FerrDb database. Furthermore, pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) were extracted from the MSigDB and GeneCard databases as controls. Subsequently, ferroptosis-related and pyroptosis-related potential biomarkers were screened by machine learning (ML) algorithms. Nomograms were constructed separately based on the above genes to predict disease occurrence. The reliability of the nomograms was assessed after analyzing the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The clinical predictive effects of the two cell death modalities were compared to highlight the specificity of ferroptosis in the pathological process of depression. Moreover, Next, we evaluated the expression levels and clinical predictive power of ferroptosis-related biomarkers in the samples in the GSE201332, GSE76826, GSE54564, GSE44593, GSE38206 and GSE54570 validation sets. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and immune function analysis were performed for ferroptosis-related biomarkers. Finally, miRNAs and drugs associated with ferroptosis-related biomarkers were predicted.Results In total, 27 FRGs and 19 PRGs were identified. Ferroptosis-related potential biomarkers (AKR1C3, IDO1, LCN2, PANX2, and PEX12) and pyroptosis-related potential biomarkers (GZMA, ELANE, CD274, TUBB6, and CD14) were screened by ML algorithms. Subsequently, nomograms incorporating these biomarkers were constructed separately. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) values for the FRGs (0.689) were seen to be greater than the values for the PRGs (0.619), suggesting that ferroptosis is more specific in the pathogenesis of depression compared to pyroptosis. Most of the ferroptosis-related biomarkers were significantly expressed in the validation set, and all biomarkers could distinguish disease samples from normal samples. GSEA suggested that immune-related pathways such as primary immunodeficiency had been significantly enriched, in addition to the ferroptosis-related pathway. Subsequently, five ferroptosis-related biomarkers were seen to be significantly related to NK cells resting, T cells CD4 memory activated, and T cells regulatory (Tregs). Finally, 55 miRNAs and 10 key drugs were predicted.Conclusions Ferroptosis is more specific in the pathological mechanisms of depression compared to pyroptosis. In addition, AKR1C3, IDO1, LCN2, PANX2, and PEX12 are ferroptosis-related potential biomarkers in depression.
Contamination and ecological risk assessment of Cr, As, Cd and Pb in water and sediment of an urban river in a developing country
Authors: Islam Md. Saiful , Islam Md. Towhidul , Ismail Zulhilmi , Shahid Shamsuddin , I Abu Reza Md. Towfiqul , Ali Mir Mohammad , Idris Abubakr M.
Published: May 2023

Safe levels of heavy metals in the surface water and sediment of the Kirtankhola River watershed have not been universally established. Current study characterized heavy metals such as arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in surface water and sediments of the most important fishing resource at the coastal area of Bangladesh. Considering both of the season, the mean concentration of Cr, As, Cd and Pb in water sample was 33.25, 8.14, 0.48 and 21.14 µg/L, respectively and in sediment was 30.47, 4.48, 0.20 and 19.98 mg/kg, respectively. Heavy metals concentration in water samples surpassed the acceptable limits of drinking water quality, indicating that water from this river is not safe for drinking and cooking. Enrichment factors also directed minor enrichment of heavy metals in sediments of the watershed. Other indexes for ecological risk assessment such as pollution load index (PLI), contamination factor (CF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), modified contamination degree (mCd) and potential ecological risk index (PERI) also indicated that the sediment of the study river was low contamination. Taking into account, water and sediment of the study river, in-depth inventorying of heavy metals and holistic ecological risk assessments are required to determine river health.
Epidemiological Distribution of respiratory viral pathogens in marketable vaccinated broiler chickens in six governorates in the Nile Delta, Egypt, January to October 2022
Authors: El-Shemy Ahmed Ali , Amer Mohamed Mahrous , Hassan Heba M , Elaish Mohamed
Published: May 2023

Background and Aim:
Respiratory viral infections have a considerable detrimental impact on animal welfare as well as significant financial ramifications in the poultry industry. Avian influenza virus (AIV) subtypes H5 and H9, Newcastle disease (ND), and infectious bronchitis (IB) are the most economically significant illnesses impacting the poultry sector worldwide, including Egypt. From January to October 2022, this study examined the presence of respiratory viral infections (AI-H5, AI-H9, ND, and IB) in 359 flocks of broiler chickens (33–38 days) in six Egyptian governorates (Beheira, Gharbia, Giza, Monufiya and Qalyoubia).
Results
Out of 359 flocks examined, 293 tested positive, whereas 66 tested fully negative for the four viruses tested with the highest positive results in Beheira. Out of 293 positive flocks, 211 were positive to a single virus with Beheira having the highest rate, followed by Qalyoubia, Giza, and Monufiya. NDV was found to be the highest across all governorates, followed by IBV, AI-H9, and AI-H5. Double infection was detected in 73 flocks with either H9 or ND or both H9 and IB would co-infect one another. The most common viral co-infection was H9 + IB, ND + IB, and ND + H9. Giza had the greatest prevalence of co-infection with ND + H9, H9 + IB, and ND + IB in the governorates, followed by Monufiya and El Buhyera. Only 6 out of 359 flocks were tribally infected with ND + H9 + IB in three governorates: Giza, Monufiya, and Beheira. According to the number of flocks and the month of the year, July had the fewest tested flocks (23) and both September and October had the most (48 flocks). The positive flocks were highest in October and lowest in January.
Conclusion
The results revealed that IBV and H9 as a single or a mixed infection had a great role in the respiratory infection in broiler. The used vaccine (regardless their origin and type) is not able to protect broiler chickens from developing infection and shedding of virus to the poultry environment. Therefore, poultry vaccines need regular evaluation, renovation in face infective field virus mutants and also, poultry farms must be adopting more biosecurity measures.
One step synthesis of high-performance CoSe 2 /PPy nanocomposite for water oxidation in alkaline media
Authors: Abid Abdul Ghafoor , Abdullah Muhammad , Manzoor Sumaira
Published: May 2023

Electrochemical water splitting is an undergoing intensive investigation in an effort to report the environmental degradation and the energy problems. The progress of low-cost metal electrocatalysts with desirable electrocatalytic activity and long-lasting stability for quick oxygen evolution is a goal of the clean and sustainable energy industries. In this study, a CoSe2 nanoparticles are decorated on PPy to form CoSe2/PPy nanocomposite synthesized by controlled hydrothermal method. This method depends on the creation of cross-linked network of PPy, which makes it possible to include highly active sites. The CoSe2/PPy nanocomposite exhibits comparable activity toward oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in basic conditions, taking advantage of the metallicity of selenides and the development of a heterogeneous interface. The electrocatalyst performs efficiency with extremely low OER overpotential. On the other hand, the fabricated nanocomposite shows an overpotential of 215 mV with 43 mV/dec of Tafel slope at a current density 10 mA/cm2. The current study shows a unique method for creating highly active cobalt-based catalysts to improve the performance in long-lasting water splitting, also exposed new route for the widespread use in energy domains.
3D modeling of in vivo MRI guided nano-photothermal therapy mediated by magneto-plasmonic nanohybrids
Authors: Tavangari Zahed , Asadi Mohammadreza , Irajirad Rasoul , Sarikhani Abolfazl , Alamzadeh Zahra , Ghaznavi Habib , Khoei Samideh
Published: May 2023

Background: Nano-photothermal therapy (NPTT) has gained wide attention in cancer treatment due to its high efficiency and selective treatment strategy. The biggest challenges in the clinical application are the lack of (i) a reliable platform for mapping the thermal dose and (ii) efficient photothermal transduction agents (PTAs). This study developed a 3D treatment planning for NPTT to reduce the uncertainty of treatment procedures, based on our synthesized nanohybrid.
Methods: This study aimed to develop a three-dimensional finite element method (FEM) model for in vivonano-photothermal therapy (NPTT) in mice using magneto-plasmonic nanohybrids, which are complex assemblies of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and gold nanorods. The model was based on Pennes' bio-heat equation and utilized a geometrically correct mice whole-body. CT26 colon tumor-bearing BALB/c mice were injected with nanohybrids and imaged using MRI (3 Tesla) before and after injection. MR images were segmented, and STereoLithography (STL) files of mice bodies and nanohybrid distribution in the tumor were established to create a realistic geometry for the model. The accuracy of the temperature predictions was validated by using an infrared (IR) camera.
Results: The photothermal conversion efficiency (η) of the nanohybrids was experimentally determined to be approximately 30%. The intratumoral (IT) injection group showed the highest temperature increase, with a maximum of 17°C observed at the hottest point on the surface of the tumor-bearing mice for 300 seconds of laser exposure at a power density of 1.4 W/cm². Furthermore, the highest level of tissue damage, with a maximum value of Ω=0.4, was observed in the intratumoral (IT) group, as determined through a simulation study.
Conclusions: Our synthesized nanohybrid shows potential as an effective agent for MRI-guided NPTT. The developed model accurately predicted temperature distributions and tissue damage in the tumor. However, the current temperature validation method, which relies on limited 2D measurements, may be too lenient. Further refinement is necessary to improve validation. Nevertheless, the presented FEM model holds great promise for clinical NPTT treatment planning.
Understanding the Prediction of Student Retention Behavior during covid-19 Using Effective Data Mining Techniques
Authors: Parvez Rezwanul , Tarantino Alysha , Meerza Syed Imran Ali
Published: May 2023

Student success, including enrollment, degree completion, and improved retention, has been adversely affected due to the covid-19 pandemic across the higher academic landscape in the United States. It is quite a challenge to accurately predict what factors impact student retention in an academic institution most. This research aims to develop and empirically test a comprehensive list of factors contributing to student retention behavior using data mining techniques (DMT). This study examines retention behavior prediction from the dataset (pre-pandemic and post-pandemic) of 18,000+ students enrolled at an academic institution. Here, we deploy six different machine learning (ML) models (e.g., Logistic Regression (LR), Support Vector Machine (Linear Classifier), Support Vector Machine (Radial Basis Function), Decision Tree (DT), Random Forest (RF), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) to predict student retention. Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) is also being used to fix the imbalance class problem and improve the performance of data mining algorithms. Empirical results showed that completed credits, grade point average (GPA), college entrance age, and attempted credits were vital factors in student retention behavior. This research also highlighted that RF algorithms outperformed other DMTs' and achieved the highest accuracy (0.86) with SMOTE for retention prediction. The critical results discussed here should apply to similar higher academic institutions worldwide. Academic institutions would benefit from launching preventative measures to avoid dropouts and improve retention based on the retention metrics reported here.
Association between nutritional status and gait performance in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: He Mingyue , Lian Tenghong , Guo Peng , Zhang Yanan , Huang Yue , Qi Jing , Li Jinghui , Guan Huiying , Luo Dongmei , Liu Zhan , Zhang Weijia , Zheng Zijing , Yue Hao , Li Jing , Zhang Wenjing , Wang Ruidan , Zhang Fan , Wang Xiaomin , Zhang Wei
Published: May 2023

Background
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients have worse nutritional status and gait performance, but the current research is not in-depth, and the relationship between the two is not clear. This study aimed to comprehensively explore the nutrition and gait of AD patients at different stages and the relationship between them.
Methods
AD patients were consecutively enrolled in this cross-sectional study, and divided into the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to AD (AD-MCI) and the dementia due to AD (AD-D) groups. Demographic information, nutritional status and gait performance were compared between the two groups, and the correlation between nutritional status and gait performance was subsequently analyzed by Pearson and Spearman correlation analysis.
Results
Totals 85 AD patients were included in this study. The AD-D group had lower scores of Mini-nutritional Assessment (MNA) and MNAm, lower levels of blood urea nitrogen, folic acid and vitamin B12, and higher homocysteine level than that in the AD-MCI group (all P < 0.05). AD-D group had slower step speed, shorter step length, and shorter stride length than those in the AD-MCI group (all P < 0.05). AD patients with decreased scores of MNA and MNAm, and declined levels of blood urea nitrogen and vitamin B12 had reduced gait speed and gait cadence, and prolonged step time and stride time, whereas, homocysteine showed the opposite result (all P < 0.05). In the AD-MCI group, the MNA score was negatively correlated with coefficient of variation (CV) of stride length, and the folic acid level was negatively correlated with the CV of stride length and cadence (all P < 0.05).
Conclusions
AD patients in the dementia stage had worse nutritional status and gait performance than those in the MCI stage, which was associated with worse global cognition and activities of daily living. Poorer nutritional status was associated with higher gait variability in patients at the MCI stage, and with poorer gait performance in patients at the dementia stage. Early identification and intervention of patients with nutritional risk or malnutrition may improve gait performance, thus reducing the risk of falling and cognitive decline, as well as the mortality.
Bifurcation and synchronization analysis of chemical synapses coupled neuron models
Authors: Wang Qixia , Li Xinying , Guo Wenhui
Published: May 2023

Based on a modified four-dimensional Hindmarsh-Rose neuron model, two neurons are coupled using chemical synapses to study the effects of different parameters on the bifurcation and synchronization of the coupled system. Matcant software is used to determine the type of equilibrium point and Hopf bifurcation point. It is found that the system generates subcritical Hopf bifurcation with the change of parameters, and the hidden dynamics behavior near the subcritical Hopf bifurcation point is discussed. Based on the bifurcation theory, the effects of single and multiple parameters on the firing pattern, bifurcation, and synchronization of the coupled neuron system are studied, and it is concluded that the coupled neuron system can generate periodic firing, inverse period-doubling discharge, and chaotic cluster discharge under different parameter values, and compare and analyze the synchronization situation of the coupled system before and after adding time lag; moreover, a certain time lag can destroy and delay the synchronization state of the coupled neural system is found. Using the synchronization factor statistic, the synchronous behavior and existence of chimera states of coupled neural network systems are studied, which will provide useful clues to reveal the underlying mechanisms of information encoding and transmission processes in complex neural systems.
Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin-complexed resveratrol protects A53T transgenic Parkinson’s disease mice via modulating signaling pathways of the microbiota-gut-brain axis
Authors: Sang Ming , Sun Xiaodong , Feng Shenglan , Qin Binqing , Ye Junjie , Xie Lixia , Gui Jianjun
Published: May 2023

Background Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurological disorder characterized by motor and gastrointestinal dysfunctions. There is a significant need for more effective treatment options. Resveratrol (RES) is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytoalexin known for its health-promoting benefits. However, little is known about its potential in treating PD by modulating the microbial gut-brain axis, and its clinical application has been limited due to poor water solubility, rapid metabolism, and limited systemic bioavailability. Our study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of RHSD, a resveratrol-cyclodextrin inclusion complex, in treating PD through the gut-brain axis in human SNCA-transgenic (A53T) mice PD models.Results We have demonstrated that administering RHSD can prevent neurodegeneration, improve motor skills, and restore the levels of phosphorylated tyrosine hydroxylase in A53T mice, while also leading to a positive impact on gastrointestinal function. Our metagenomic sequencing indicated significant changes in the richness, evenness, and composition of the gut microbiome in A53T mice, with a significant increase in the levels of Lactobacillus murinus, Lactobacillus reuteri, Enterorhabduscaecimuris, Lactobacillus taiwanensis, and Lactobacillus animals following RHSD administration. Furthermore, metabolomics profiling showed that the levels of gut microbiome metabolites were reversed after RHSD treatment, with altered metabolites primarily present in metabolic pathways such as drug metabolism-cytochrome P450, retinol metabolism, purine metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, and methane metabolism. The altered gut microbiota showed significant correlations with microbiota metabolites. With an integrated analysis of microbiota metabolites and host transcriptomics, our research provides insights into the potential interaction between abnormalities in amino acid metabolism, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation in Parkinson's disease.Conclusions This study illustrates the profound impact of RHSD administration on rectifying gut microbiota dysbiosis and improving the A53T mouse model. We also observed that the proliferation and metabolism of multiple probiotic strains of Lactobacillus were significantly altered. Moreover, our research supports the hypothesis that microbiota-related metabolites could regulate the transcription of host genes, including dopamine receptors and calcium stabilization. Our findings thus highlight the potential of RHSD as a viable therapeutic candidate for treating PD by targeting several signaling pathways of the microbiota-gut-brain axis.
Does Aftermarket Monopolization Facilitate Upstream Collusion?
Authors: Cheng Long , Ye Guangliang
Published: May 2023

This article explores the stability of collusion among upstream firms selling to downstream firms with an aftermarket. Consumer lock-in due to aftermarket monopolization prevents the deviating firm from capturing the aftermarket of its rivals which reduces the deviation profits. On the other hand, the deviation firm locks in the old consumers in the aftermarket, which mitigates the severity of the punishments. The latter effect dominates the former, making collusion unstable in the aftermarket monopolization case. Ironically, when the size of the monopolistic aftermarket is large enough, increasing the aftermarket size stabilizes the collusion. In contrast to prior literature, there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between the stability of collusion and collusive prices in the presence of an aftermarket.
Face Warping Detection and Localization in a Digital Video using Transfer Learning Approach
Authors: Dhanaraj Rachel Selva , Srid M
Published: May 2023

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making its entire existence safer in this digital world. Another deepfake technique, face warping, is booming in the media. Digitally altered videos of a person’s face or body are considered as deepfakes. Face warping is the process of digitally processing a face to significantly distort shapes represented in itself. Warping can be used to correct image distortion or for creative purposes such as morphing. It is important to track such face warping in images and videos so that the very purpose of face warping is not used for destructive purposes. The deep learning approaches are used to determine and localize face warping in videos. In the proposed approach, the input video is extracted to perform various image preprocessing techniques that refine the video into a format that is more likely to classify the classes efficiently. Transfer learning is employed and the pretrained model is adopted to train using Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) with the source videos to detect and localize face warping. It is perceived that the proposed model is able to detect and localize the warped areas in the face satisfactorily with an accuracy of 89.25%.
Thymoquinone affects hypoxia-inducible factor-1α expression in pancreatic cancer via HSP90 and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways
Authors: Zhao Zhanxue , Yang Jinyu , Chen Hekai , Li Shuai , Hou Xiaofan , Ma Chunhua , Liu Linxun
Published: May 2023

Purpose
To clarify the therapeutic effects of thymoquinone (TQ) in pancreatic cancer (PC) and the potential hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)-mediated mechanisms.
Methods
Western blotting and polymerase chain reaction were used to detect the expression levels of HIF-1α in PC cells treated with TQ. The effects of TQ on proliferation, migration, invasion, cell cycle, and apoptosis of PC cells and pancreatic ductal epithelial cells were assessed using in vitro experiments.
Results
TQ significantly inhibited the migration and invasion ability of PANC-1 cells (p < 0.05) but had no effects in hTERT-HPNE cells, and it significantly increased the proportion of the G2 phase and promoted apoptosis in PANC-1 cells compared with those in hTERT-HPNE cells (p < 0.05). Additionally, TQ significantly inhibited the expression of HIF-1α and phosphatidyl inositol-4,5-bisphosphate-3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/Akt/mTOR)-related proteins in PANC-1 cells (p < 0.05). TQ affected the interaction between heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) and HIF-1α in PANC-1 cells.
Conclusion
TQ showed suppressive effects on proliferation, migration, invasion, cell cycle, and apoptosis of PC; promoted ubiquitination-mediated degradation of HIF-1α by affecting the interaction of HIF-1α with HSP90; and reduced HIF-1α synthesis by affecting PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. The findings suggest that TQ might have potential anti-tumor effects in PC.
ETS1-Mediated Control of EFNA4 in Gastric Cancer: Effects on Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Cancer Immune Response
Authors: Chen Yixuan , Yao Zhoujuan , Zhang Hui , Wang Wenbin
Published: May 2023

Gastric cancer (GC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with complex molecular mechanisms driving its development and progression. The PI3K-Akt signaling pathway is known to be dysregulated in various cancers, including GC. In this research, our objective was to explore the relationship between EFNA4 and ETS1 in GC and assess their interconnections with relevant signaling cascades and immune system components. Utilizing publicly accessible datasets, we conducted bioinformatic analyses to evaluate the expression profiles, functional roles, and prognostic significance of EFNA4 and ETS1 in the context of GC. We conducted consensus clustering on 373 TCGA-STAD specimens, utilizing the expression matrix of EFNA4 and ETS1, which resulted in the segregation of samples into two distinct clusters. To evaluate immune infiltration, we employed analytical techniques such as ESTIMATE, CIBERSORT, and ssGSEA to investigate the relationship between these two clusters concerning tumor purity, immune checkpoints, and various immune cell populations. Our findings demonstrated a negative correlation between EFNA4 and ETS1 expression in GC tissues, with distinct roles of EFNA4 in cell differentiation and signaling pathways, while ETS1 played a key role in modulating tumor immunity. Additionally, we performed experimental validation using dual-luciferase reporter assays to investigate the potential regulatory effects of ETS1 on EFNA4 transcription. Our study provides novel insights into the roles of EFNA4 and ETS1 in GC pathogenesis and tumor immunity, highlighting their potential as prognostic markers and therapeutic targets for gastric cancer.