bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intracranial Atherosclerotic Plaque Characteristics and Burden Associated With Recurrent Acute Stroke: A 3D Quantitative Vessel Wall MRI Study
Authors: Sun Beibei , Wang Lingling , Li Xiao , Zhang Jin , Zhang Jianjian , Liu Xiaosheng , Wu Hengqu , Mossa-Basha Mahmud , Xu Jianrong , Zhao Bing , Zhao Huilin , Zhou Yan , Zhu Chengcheng
Published: July 2021

Background: Intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) tends to affect multiple arterial segments, and previous studies rarely performed a comprehensive plaque analysis of the entire circle of Willis for the evaluation of recurrent stroke risk. We aimed to investigate the features of circle of Willis ICAD on 3D magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging (MR-VWI) and their relationships with recurrent acute stroke.

Methods: Patients with either acute ischemic stroke (within 4 weeks after stroke) or chronic ischemic stroke (after 3 months of stroke) due to intracranial atherosclerotic plaque underwent 3D contrast-enhanced MR-VWI covering major cerebral arteries. Participants were divided into three groups: first-time acute stroke, recurrent acute stroke, and chronic stroke. Culprit plaque (defined as the only lesion or the most stenotic lesion when multiple plaques were present within the same vascular territory of the stroke) and non-culprit plaque characteristics, including total plaque number, plaque thickness, plaque area, plaque burden (calculated as plaque area divided by outer wall area), enhancement ratio (ER), eccentricity, and stenosis, were measured and compared across the three groups. Associations between plaque characteristics and recurrent acute stroke were investigated by multivariate analysis.

Results: A total of 176 participants (aged 61 ± 10 years, 109 men) with 702 intracranial plaques were included in this study. There were 80 patients with first-time acute stroke, 42 patients with recurrent acute stroke, and 54 patients with chronic stroke. More intracranial plaques were found per patient in the recurrent acute stroke group than in the first-time acute stroke or chronic stroke group (5.19 ± 1.90 vs. 3.71 ± 1.96 and 3.46 ± 1.33, p < 0.001). Patients in the recurrent acute stroke group had greater culprit plaque burden (p < 0.001) and higher culprit ER (p < 0.001) than the other two groups. After adjustment of clinical demographic factors, in multivariate analysis, coronary artery disease (CAD) (odds ratio, OR = 4.61; p = 0.035), total plaque number (OR = 1.54; p = 0.003), culprit plaque ER (OR = 2.50; p = 0.036), and culprit plaque burden (OR per 10% increment = 2.44; p = 0.010) were all independently associated with recurrent acute stroke compared to the first-time acute stroke.

Conclusion: Increased intracranial atherosclerotic plaque number, higher culprit plaque ER, greater culprit plaque burden, and CAD are independently associated with recurrent acute stroke.
Preoperative Systemic Therapy Versus Upfront Surgery in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer in the Real World
Authors: Yu Xingfei , Wang Chen , Zheng Yabing , Miao Beibei , Hu Jiejie , Shao Xiying , Sheng Liming , Lin Juan , Ding Yuqin , Xuan Haojun , Ding Yingying , Gong Lijie , Feng Weiliang , Qin Chengdong , Chen Daobao , Yu Yang , Yang Hongjian
Published: July 2021

Purpose

To compare survival in different strategies, preoperative systemic treatment versus upfront surgery, in HER2-positive early breast cancer patients in the real world.

Methods

According to the actual upfront treatment, eligible patients from 2012 to 2015 were classified as preoperative systemic treatment or upfront surgery group prospectively. The primary endpoint is disease-free survival; the second endpoint is overall survival. All the outcomes were examined in the propensity score matching model and inverse probability of treatment weighting model.

Results

Included in the analysis were 1,067 patients (215 in the preoperative systemic treatment group, 852 in the upfront surgery group). In the propensity score matching model (matching at 1:1 ratio), the disease-free survival of the preoperative systemic treatment group was significantly higher than that of the upfront surgery group (hazard ratio, 0.572, 95%CI, 0.371–0.881, P, 0.012). In the inverse probability of treatment weighting model, there was no significant difference in disease-free survival between the two groups (hazard ratio, 0.946, 95%CI, 0.763–1.172, P, 0.609). For overall survival, there was no significant difference between the two groups.

Conclusion

The HER2-positive patients who accepted preoperative systemic treatment had better disease-free survival than those who underwent upfront surgery by real-world statistic methods.

Clinical Trial Registration

Clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT04249440.
Chronoeffects of the Herbal Medicines Puerariae radix and Coptidis rhizoma in Mice: A Potential Role of REV-ERBα
Authors: Liu Jinming , Xu Haiman , Zhang Li , Wang Shuai , Lu Danyi , Chen Min , Wu Baojian
Published: July 2021

Identifying drugs with dosing time-dependent effects (chronoeffects) and understanding the underlying mechanisms would help to improve drug treatment outcome. Here, we aimed to determine chronoeffects of the herbal medicines Puerariae radix (PR) and Coptidis rhizoma (CR), and investigate a potential role of REV-ERBα as a drug target in generating chronoeffects. The pharmacological effect of PR on hyperhomocysteinemia in mice was evaluated by measuring total homocysteine, triglyceride levels and lipid accumulation. PR dosed at ZT10 generated a stronger effect on hyperhomocysteinemia than drug dosed at ZT2. Furthermore, PR increased the expression levels of REV-ERBα target genes Bhmt, Cbs and Cth (encoding three key enzymes responsible for homocysteine catabolism), thereby alleviating hyperhomocysteinemia in mice. Moreover, CR attenuated chronic colitis in mice in a dosing time-dependent manner based on measurements of disease activity index, colon length, malondialdehyde/myeloperoxidase activities and IL-1β/IL-6 levels. ZT10 dosing generated a stronger anti-colitis effect as compared to ZT2 dosing. This was accompanied by lower production of colonic inflammatory cytokines (i.e., Nlrp3, IL-1β, IL-6, Tnf-α and Ccl2, REV-ERBα target genes) in colitis mice dosed at ZT10. The diurnal patterns of PR and CR effects were respectively consistent with those of puerarin (a main active constituent of PR, a REV-ERBα antagonist) and berberine (a main active constituent of CR, a REV-ERBα agonist). In addition, loss of Rev-erbα in mice abolished the dosing time-dependency in PR and CR effects. In conclusion, the therapeutic effects of PR and CR depend on dosing time in mice, which are probably attributed to diurnal expression of REV-ERBα as the drug target. Our findings have implications for improving therapeutic outcomes of herbal medicines with a chronotherapeutic approach.
Psychometric Evaluation of the Chinese Recovering Quality of Life (ReQoL) Outcome Measure and Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Xu Richard Huan , Keetharuth Anju Devianee , Wang Ling-ling , Cheung Annie Wai-ling , Wong Eliza Lai-yi
Published: July 2021

Objective

The primary objective was to translate the Recovering Quality of Life (ReQoL) measures from English to traditional Chinese and assess their psychometric properties in Hong Kong (HK) Chinese population. The secondary objective was to investigate the mental health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of this sample during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Method

Recovering Quality of Life was translated to Traditional Chinese adhering to standard guideline recommended by the official distributors. Five hundred members of the general population were successfully recruited to participate in a telephone-based survey. The following psychometric properties of the ReQoL were evaluated: construct, convergent, and known-group validity and internal consistency and test–retest reliability. The item measurement invariance was assessed on the basis of differential item functioning (DIF). Multiple regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between respondents’ characteristics and mental HRQoL.

Results

Results of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported a two-factor structure of the ReQoL. The ReQoL showed significant correlations with the other mental health, quality of life, and well-being measures, which indicated a satisfactory convergent validity. Known-group validity confirmed that ReQoL is able to differentiate between people with different mental health status. The (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.91 and 0.76 for positive [PF] and negative [NF] factor), and McDonald’s omega of 0.89 (PF = 0.94, NF = 0.82) indicated the ReQoL has good reliability as well as test–retest reliability with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.75. Four items showed negligible DIF with respect to age. Respondents who were highly educated and without psychological problems reported a high ReQoL score.

Conclusion

Traditional Chinese ReQoL was shown to be a valid and reliable instrument to assess the recovery-focused quality of life in HK general population. Future studies are needed to appraise its psychometric properties in local people experiencing mental disorders.
Interpersonal Synchrony in the Context of Caregiver-Child Interactions: A Document Co-citation Analysis
Authors: Carollo Alessandro , Lim Mengyu , Aryadoust Vahid , Esposito Gianluca
Published: July 2021

Social interactions accompany individuals throughout their whole lives. When examining the underlying mechanisms of social processes, dynamics of synchrony, coordination or attunement emerge between individuals at multiple levels. To identify the impactful publications that studied such mechanisms and establishing the trends that dynamically originated the available literature, the current study adopted a scientometric approach. A sample of 543 documents dated from 1971 to 2021 was derived from Scopus. Subsequently, a document co-citation analysis was conducted on 29,183 cited references to examine the patterns of co-citation among the documents. The resulting network consisted of 1,759 documents connected to each other by 5,011 links. Within the network, five major clusters were identified. The analysis of the content of the three major clusters—namely, “Behavioral synchrony,” “Towards bio-behavioral synchrony,” and “Neural attunement”—suggests an interest in studying attunement in social interactions at multiple levels of analysis, from behavioral to neural, by passing through the level of physiological coordination. Furthermore, although initial studies on synchrony focused mostly on parent-child interactions, new hyperscanning paradigms are allowing researchers to explore the role of biobehavioral synchrony in all social processes in a real-time and ecological fashion. Future potential pathways of research were also discussed.
Correlates of Lifetime Physical Abuse Among Schoolchildren Aged 15 Years in Post-communist Albania
Authors: Qirjako Gentiana , Dika Qamil , Mone Iris , Draçini Xheladin , Kuneshka Loreta , Roshi Enver , Burazeri Genc
Published: July 2021

Aim:Our aim was to assess the prevalence and correlates of lifetime physical abuse among schoolchildren in Albania, a post-communist country in South Eastern Europe which is currently undergoing a rapid socioeconomic transition.

Methods:The third wave of Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) in Albania was conducted in 2017–18 including a nationwide representative sample of 1,708 schoolchildren aged 15 years (54% girls; response rate: 95%). Children were asked to report on lifetime physical abuse and a wide range of socio-demographic factors, lifestyle factors and health status characteristics. Binary logistic regression was used to assess the independent association of lifetime physical abuse with covariates.

Results:Overall, the prevalence of lifetime physical abuse was about 32% (30% in boys vs. 32% in girls). In multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models, independent positive correlates of lifetime physical abuse among Albanian schoolchildren included lifetime smoking (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.1–2.2), lifetime alcohol consumption (OR = 1.6, 95%CI = 1.2–2.1), irritability (OR[dailyvs.rarely/never]= 2.0, 95%CI = 1.3–3.0), and especially lifetime witnessed domestic violence (OR = 4.2, 95%CI = 2.2–7.9). Conversely, a higher score on life satisfaction was inversely related to lifetime physical abuse (P< 0.01).

Conclusion:Our study provides novel evidence about the magnitude and selected independent correlates of lifetime physical abuse among schoolchildren in Albania, a country still embedded in an everlasting transition which is associated with tremendous changes in family structure, community links and societal norms and values. Irrespective of a wide range of sociodemographic factors and health characteristics, lifetime smoking, alcohol consumption, irritability, a lower score on life satisfaction and, particularly, witnessed domestic violence were strong and significant correlates of lifetime physical abuse among Albanian schoolchildren aged 15 years.
Community Transmission via Indirect Media-To-Person Route: A Missing Link in the Rapid Spread of COVID-19
Authors: Hu Qunfang , He Lei , Zhang Ying
Published: July 2021

To prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), stringent quarantine measures have been implemented so that healthy people and virus carriers have isolated themselves in the same community owing to the limit capacity of healthcare facilities. With the exponential growth of the infected population, the residential environment is contaminated by fomites from the infected residents and consequently threating the health of susceptible residents. Till now, little has been acknowledged on this indirect transmission route and its role on community transmission. Here we address the impact of self-isolated virus carriers on the residential environment and elucidate the potential transmission pathways via contaminated environment in communities. We urge further investigation on the superspreading cases in communities and hope to arouse the attention to evaluate the potential risk of indirect transmission route as well as the corresponding control measures.
A Pilot Outreach HIV Testing Project Among Homeless Adults
Authors: Pichon Latrice C. , Rossi Kristen Rae , Chapple-McGruder Theresa , Krull Lisa Jane , Kmet Jennifer , Carswell April L.
Published: July 2021

Background: The Memphis metropolitan statistical area (MSA) represents a Deep Southern U.S. city disproportionally affected by the ongoing transmission of new HIV cases as well as those diagnosed in late-stage disease. This region is a subset of nine states, including Memphis, Tennessee (project site), driving the epidemic in the United States. Memphis ranks 4th among all U.S. MSAs for new HIV infections and has been identified in the CDC's Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative as a high HIV burden geographic focus area. The Memphis Ryan White Part A Program conducted a pilot project among adults seeking services in Memphis emergency and transitional housing shelters to offer on-site, rapid HIV testing. In this paper we describe the results from this aforementioned pilot study, including the rate of HIV test acceptance and potential factors associated with a history of HIV testing in Memphis.

Methods: Community-engaged research approaches were employed via a partnership between the local health department, a federally qualified faith-based health center, and an academic university. An interviewer-administered survey to measure potential factors associated with HIV testing history and voluntary HIV testing services were offered to adults living in transitional housing establishments. Bivariate chi-square analyses were performed to determine the association between predisposing, enabling, and need variables with HIV testing history in the past 12 months.

Results: Survey respondents (n = 109) were mostly cisgender male (n = 96; 88.1%), African American (n = 79; 72.5%) and reported engaging in condomless sex in the past 12 months (n = 55; 50.5%). Acceptability and uptake of HIV testing was high (n = 97; 89.0%).

Conclusions: Implementing rapid HIV testing programs outside of traditional health care settings is a strategy that can be used to engage high-risk individuals and those unaware of their HIV status to get tested. To our knowledge, this study represents the first that documents HIV testing acceptance rates offered outside of traditional health care settings for homeless and transitionally housed adults in a Deep Southern state.
Using Google Street View to Examine Urban Context and Green Amenities in the Global South: The Chilean Experience
Authors: Haddad Mônica , Christman Zachary , Pearsall Hamil , Sanchez Melinda
Published: July 2021

This study evaluates the use of virtual, human-interpreted, field observations using Google Street View (GSV) to examine the presence of conditions that may be used to analyze green gentrification in the Global South. We propose that green gentrification is characterized by the introduction or improvement of green amenities (such as parks) as well as corresponding changes to the urban context (such as facade materials). While virtual field observations have been used to examine neighborhood context for other applications, this method has not yet been applied to the study of green gentrification, nor in the Global South. Using one urban park located in Talca, Chile, and in three urban parks located in Santiago, Chile, we sought to address the following research questions: (1) How do in situ and virtual field observations compare as methods of evaluating green amenities and urban context? (2) What characteristics of green amenities and urban context must be addressed to investigate green gentrification in the Global South? (3) How do indicators of green amenities and urban context observed via virtual field observations indicate the potential for green gentrification? In order to observe the streetside conditions of the neighborhoods surrounding established, improved, and new parks, we utilize the ground-level 360° imagery through GSV as an alternative to in situ studies, which can be time-consuming, expensive, and logistically challenging. Features related to the land use composition, building materials used, and the presence of aesthetic improvements and pedestrian amenities were noted as potential indicators of gentrification, and the correspondence between the two methods of observation were evaluated. Results indicate that virtual field observations can provide a promising method that may facilitate the identification and investigation of the effects of green gentrification in the Global South, broadening the scope and application of this research. This comparison offers insight into the use and comparison of virtual and in situ observations for identifying green gentrification in the Global South and for the applicability of the virtual observation method in this heterogeneous urban landscape, especially in cases with unreliable or unavailable data.
On the Impacts of Ions of Ionospheric Origin and Their Composition on Magnetospheric EMIC Waves
Authors: Lee Justin H. , Blum Lauren W. , Chen Lunjin
Published: July 2021

Large numbers of theory and observation studies have been conducted on electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves occurring in Earth’s magnetosphere. Numerous studies have shown that accurately specifying the ions of ionospheric origin and their composition can greatly improve understanding of magnetospheric EMIC waves, specifically their generation, their properties, and their effects on the magnetospheric plasma populations. With the launch and operations of multiple recent missions carrying plasma instrumentation capable of acquiring direct measurements of multiple ion species, we use this opportunity to review recent magnetospheric EMIC wave efforts utilizing these new assets, with particular focus on the role of ions of ionospheric origin in wave generation, propagation, and interaction with particles. The review of progress leads us to a discussion of the unresolved questions to be investigated using future modeling capabilities or when new missions or instrumentation capabilities are developed.
Wind Tunnel Studies on Hover and Forward Flight Performances of a Coaxial Rigid Rotor
Authors: Wang Chang , Huang Minqi , Peng Xianmin , Zhang Guichuan , Tang Min , Wang Haowen
Published: July 2021

The aerodynamic performance of a reduced-scale coaxial rigid rotor system in hover and steady forward flights was experimentally investigated to gain insights into the effect of interference between upper and lower rotors and the influences of the advance ratio, shaft tilt angle and lift offset. The rotor system featured by 2 m-diameter, four-bladed upper and lower hingeless rotors and was installed in a coaxial rotor test rig. Experiments were conducted in the Φ3.2 m wind tunnel at China Aerodynamics Research and Development Center (CARDC). The rotor system was tested in hover states at collective pitches ranging from 0° to 13° and it was also tested in forward flights at advance ratios up to 0.6, with specific focus on the shaft tilt angle and lift offset sweeps. To ensure that the coaxial rotor was operating in a similar manner to that of the real flight, the torque difference was trimmed to zero in hover flight, whilst the constant lift coefficient was maintained in forward flight. An isolated single-rotor configuration test was also conducted with the same pitch angle setting in the coaxial rotor. The hover test results demonstrate that the figure of merit (FM) value of the lower rotor is lower than that of the upper rotor, and both are lower than that of the isolated single rotor. Moreover, the coaxial rotor configuration can contribute to better hover efficiency under the same blade loading coefficient (CT/σ). In forward flight, the effective lift-to-drag (L/De) ratio of the coaxial rigid rotor does not monotonously change as the advance ratio increases. Increases in the required power and drag in the case with a high advance ratio of 0.6 leads to the decreasing L/De ratio of the rotor. Meanwhile, the L/De ratio of the rotor is relatively high when the rotor shaft is tilted backward. The increasing lift offset tends to result in reduced required rotor power and an increase in the rotor drag. When the effect of the reduced rotor power is greater than that of the increased rotor drag, the L/De ratio increases as the lift offset increases. The L/De ratio can benefit significantly from lift offset at a high advance ratio, but it is much less influenced by lift offset at a low advance ratio. The forward performance efficiency of the upper rotor is poorer than that of the lower rotor, which is significantly different from the case in the hover flight.
Determination of a Tentative Epidemiological Cut-Off Value (ECOFF) for Dalbavancin and Enterococcus faecium
Authors: Weber Robert E. , Fleige Carola , Layer Franziska , Neumann Bernd , Kresken Michael , Werner Guido
Published: July 2021

Dalbavancin is a lipoglycopeptide antibiotic that shows potent activity against Gram-positive bacteria. It circumvents vanB-type glycopeptide resistance mechanisms; however, data on the in vitro activity of dalbavancin for Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium) are scarce, and thus, no breakpoints are provided. In recent years, there has been a continuing shift from vanA-type to vanB-type vancomycin-resistance in enterococci in Central Europe. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the in vitro activity of dalbavancin against different van-genotypes, with particular focus on vanB-type E. faecium. Dalbavancin susceptibility was determined for 25 van-negative, 50 vanA-positive, and 101 vanB-positive clinical E. faecium isolates (typed by cgMLST). Epidemiological Cut-Off Values (ECOFFs) were determined using ECOFFinder. For vanB-type E. faecium isolates, dalbavancin MICs were similar to those of vancomycin-susceptible isolates reaching values no higher than 0.125 mg/L. ECOFFs for van-negative and vanB-positive isolates were 0.5 mg/l and 0.25 mg/L respectively. In contrast, E. faecium possessing vanA predominantly showed dalbavancin MICs >8 mg/L, therefore preventing the determination of an ECOFF. We demonstrated the potent in vitro activity of dalbavancin against vancomycin-susceptible and vanB-type E. faecium. On the basis of the observed wildtype distribution, a dalbavancin MIC of 0.25 mg/L can be suggested as a tentative ECOFF for E. faecium.
Antioxidant Effect of Lonicera caerulea L. in the Cardiovascular System of Obese Zucker Rats
Authors: Dayar Ezgi , Cebova Martina , Lietava Jan , Panghyova Elena , Pechanova Olga
Published: July 2021

Lonicera caerulea L. (Loni) represents a promising source of beneficial polyphenols with therapeutical potential in cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to study the effects of Loni and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on selected cardiometabolic parameters and NO/ROS balance in obese Zucker rats. Male Zucker rats were divided into the control group and groups treated with CoQ10 (30 mg/kg/day) or Loni (5 g/kg/day) for 6 weeks. Blood pressure, body weight, heart weight, and plasma lipid profile were determined. NOS activity and protein expressions of eNOS, SOD, NADPH oxidase, and NF-kappa B were measured in the heart and aorta. Neither body weight nor blood pressure were significantly changed after six weeks of Loni or CoQ10 treatment. Both Loni and CoQ10 decreased the plasma LDL level. Moreover, Loni decreased the total cholesterol level. The total NOS activity did not change in the heart after the treatments. However, in the aorta, Loni treatment increased NOS activity and protein expression of SOD and decreased expressions of NADPH oxidase and NF-kappa B compared to both the control and CoQ10 groups. There were no changes in the eNOS protein expression within the groups. In conclusion, it seems that the antioxidant effect of Loni was responsible for both the decrease of plasma LDL and the total cholesterol levels and the increase of vascular NOS activity.
Effect of Thermal Processing on Color, Phenolic Compounds, and Antioxidant Activity of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Leaves and Seeds
Authors: Duan Shu-Cheng , Kwon Soon-Jae , Eom Seok-Hyun
Published: July 2021

The leaves and seeds of the faba bean are good sources of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanin (L-dopa), and are usually eaten with thermal cooking methods. However, little information is available on the effect of thermal treatments on their nutritional value. We compared the changes in color, contents of L-dopa, vitamin C (Vc), total phenolics (TP), total flavonoids (TF) and antioxidant activity after dry heating or steaming faba bean leaves and seeds. The young leaves provided higher values of all the estimate factors, regardless of the thermal treatment. Steaming significantly degraded nutritional values of the leaves, but less changed in seeds, whereas dry heat maintained these attributes. The contents of L-dopa, Vc, TP and TF were shown to have strongly positive correlations with antioxidant activity in the leaves, whereas only L-dopa content was positively correlated with antioxidant activity of the seeds. Faba leaves contained relatively high L-dopa which possessed strong antioxidant activity compared to the Vc. As L-dopa is an important contributor to the antioxidant activity of faba leaves and seeds, consuming L-dopa from leaves may provide beneficial effects not only regarding Parkinson’s Disease.
Supplemental Ferulic Acid Inhibits Total Body Irradiation-Mediated Bone Marrow Damage, Bone Mass Loss, Stem Cell Senescence, and Hematopoietic Defect in Mice by Enhancing Antioxidant Defense Systems
Authors: Wagle Sajeev , Sim Hyun-Jaung , Bhattarai Govinda , Choi Ki-Choon , Kook Sung-Ho , Lee Jeong-Chae , Jeon Young-Mi
Published: July 2021

While total body irradiation (TBI) is an everlasting curative therapy, the irradiation can cause long-term bone marrow (BM) injuries, along with senescence of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) via reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced oxidative damages. Thus, ameliorating or preventing ROS accumulation and oxidative stress is necessary for TBI-requiring clinical treatments. Here, we explored whether administration of ferulic acid, a dietary antioxidant, protects against TBI-mediated systemic damages, and examined the possible mechanisms therein. Sublethal TBI (5 Gy) decreased body growth, lifespan, and production of circulating blood cells in mice, together with ROS accumulation, and senescence induction of BM-conserved HSCs and MSCs. TBI also impaired BM microenvironment and bone mass accrual, which was accompanied by downregulated osteogenesis and by osteoclastogenic and adipogenic activation in BM. Long-term intraperitoneal injection of ferulic acid (50 mg/kg body weight, once per day for 37 consecutive days) protected mice from TBI-mediated mortality, stem cell senescence, and bone mass loss by restoring TBI-stimulated disorders in osteogenic, osteoclastic, and adipogenic activation in BM. In vitro experiments using BM stromal cells supported radioprotective effects of ferulic acid on TBI-mediated defects in proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. Overall, treatment with ferulic acid prevented TBI-mediated liver damage and enhanced endogenous antioxidant defense systems in the liver and BM. Collectively, these results support an efficient protection of TBI-mediated systemic defects by supplemental ferulic acid, indicating its clinical usefulness for TBI-required patients.
Melatonin Prevents Chronic Kidney Disease-Induced Hypertension in Young Rat Treated with Adenine: Implications of Gut Microbiota-Derived Metabolites
Authors: Hsu Chien-Ning , Yang Hung-Wei , Hou Chih-Yao , Chang-Chien Guo-Ping , Lin Sufan , Tain You-Lin
Published: July 2021

Melatonin, a signaling hormone with pleiotropic biofunctions, has shown health benefits. Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) are uremic toxins involved in the development of hypertension. TMAO originates from trimethylamine (TMA), a gut microbial product. ADMA is an endogenous nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor. We examined whether melatonin therapy could prevent hypertension and kidney disease by mediating gut microbiota-derived metabolites and the NO pathway using an adenine-induced chronic kidney disease (CKD) young rat model. Six-week-old young Sprague Dawley rats of both sexes were fed a regular diet (C group), a diet supplemented with 0.5% adenine (CKD group), or adenine plus 0.01% melatonin in their drinking water (CKD + M group) for three weeks (N = 8/group). Adenine-fed rats developed renal dysfunction, hypertension, renal hypertrophy and increased uremic toxin levels of TMAO and ADMA. Melatonin therapy prevented hypertension in both sexes and attenuated kidney injury in males. Melatonin reversed the changes to the plasma TMAO-to-TMA ratio induced by CKD in both sexes. Besides, the protective effects of melatonin were associated with restoration of gut microbiota alterations, including increased α-diversity, and enhancement of the abundance of the phylum Proteobacteria and the genus Roseburia in male rats. Melatonin therapy also partially prevented the increases in ADMA in male CKD rats. Melatonin sex-specifically protected young rats against hypertension and kidney injury induced by CKD. The results of this study contribute toward a greater understanding of the interaction between melatonin, gut microbiota-derived metabolites, and the NO pathway that is behind CKD, which will help to prevent CKD-related disorders in children.
Development of an Optical System for Non-Contact Type Measurement of Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability
Authors: Gondane Jyoti , Panse Meena S.
Published: July 2021

Self-mixing optical coherent detection is a non-contact measurement technique which provides accurate information about the vibration frequency of any test subject. In this research, novel designs of optical homodyne and heterodyne detection techniques are explained. Homodyne and heterodyne setups are used for measuring the frequency of the modulated optical signal. This technique works on the principle of the optical interferometer, which provides a coherent detection of two self-mixing beams. In the optical homodyne technique, one of the two beams receives direct modulation from the vibration frequency of the test subject. In the optical heterodyne detection technique, one of the two optical beams is subjected to modulation by an acousto-optics modulator before becoming further modulated by the vibration frequency of the test subject. These two optical signals form an interference pattern that contains the information of the vibration frequency. The measurement of cardiovascular signals, such as heart rate and heart rate variability, are performed with both homodyne and heterodyne techniques. The optical coherent detection technique provides a high accuracy for the measurement of heart period and heart rate variability. The vibrocardiogram output obtained from both techniques are compared for different heart rate values. Results obtained from both optical homodyne and heterodyne detection techniques are compared and found to be within 1% of deviation value. The results obtained from both the optical techniques have a deviation of less than 1 beat per minute from their corresponding ECG values.
Kinetic Study of the Avocado Sunblotch Viroid Self-Cleavage Reaction Reveals Compensatory Effects between High-Pressure and High-Temperature: Implications for Origins of Life on Earth
Authors: Kaddour Hussein , Lucchi Honorine , Hervé Guy , Vergne Jacques , Maurel Marie-Christine
Published: July 2021

A high pressure apparatus allowing one to study enzyme kinetics under pressure was used to study the self-cleavage activity of the avocado sunblotch viroid. The kinetics of this reaction were determined under pressure over a range up to 300 MPa (1–3000 bar). It appears that the initial rate of this reaction decreases when pressure increases, revealing a positive ΔV≠ of activation, which correlates with the domain closure accompanying the reaction and the decrease of the surface of the viroid exposed to the solvent. Although, as expected, temperature increases the rate of the reaction whose energy of activation was determined, it appeared that it does not significantly influence the ΔV≠ of activation and that pressure does not influence the energy of activation. These results provide information about the structural aspects or this self-cleavage reaction, which is involved in the process of maturation of this viroid. The behavior of ASBVd results from the involvement of the hammerhead ribozyme present at its catalytic domain, indeed a structural motif is very widespread in the ancient and current RNA world.
Light Quality-Dependent Regulation of Non-Photochemical Quenching in Tomato Plants
Authors: Trojak Magdalena , Skowron Ernest
Published: July 2021

Photosynthetic pigments of plants capture light as a source of energy for photosynthesis. However, the amount of energy absorbed often exceeds its utilization, thus causing damage to the photosynthetic apparatus. Plants possess several mechanisms to minimize such risks, including non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), which allows them to dissipate excess excitation energy in the form of harmless heat. However, under non-stressful conditions in indoor farming, it would be favorable to restrict the NPQ activity and increase plant photosynthetic performance by optimizing the light spectrum. Towards this goal, we investigated the dynamics of NPQ, photosynthetic properties, and antioxidant activity in the leaves of tomato plants grown under different light qualities: monochromatic red (R), green (G), or blue (B) light (L) at 80 µmol m−2 s−1 and R:G:B = 1:1:1 (referred to as the white light (WL)) at 120 µmol m−2 s−1. The results confirm that monochromatic BL increased the quantum efficiency of PSII and photosynthetic pigments accumulation. The RL and BL treatments enhanced the NPQ amplitude and showed negative effects on antioxidant enzyme activity. In contrast, plants grown solely under GL or WL presented a lower amplitude of NPQ due to the reduced accumulation of NPQ-related proteins, photosystem II (PSII) subunit S (PsbS), PROTON GRADIENT REGULATION-LIKE1 (PGRL1), cytochrome b6f subunit f (cytf) and violaxanthin de-epoxidase (VDE). Additionally, we noticed that plants grown under GL or RL presented an increased rate of lipid peroxidation. Overall, our results indicate the potential role of GL in lowering the NPQ amplitude, while the role of BL in the RGB spectrum is to ensure photosynthetic performance and photoprotective properties.
Metformin Therapy Effects on the Expression of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2, Leptin, and SIRT6 Levels in Pericoronary Fat Excised from Pre-Diabetic Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Sardu Celestino , D’Onofrio Nunzia , Torella Michele , Portoghese Michele , Mureddu Simone , Loreni Francesco , Ferraraccio Franca , Panarese Iacopo , Trotta Maria Consiglia , Gatta Gianluca , Galdiero Marilena , Sasso Ferdinando Carlo , D’Amico Michele , De Feo Marisa , Balestrieri Maria Luisa , Paolisso Giuseppe , Marfella Raffaele
Published: July 2021

Background and purpose: pericoronary fat over-inflammation might lead to the development and destabilization of coronary plaque in patients with pre-diabetes (PDM). Notably, pericoronary fat could over-express the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) and leptin, along with decreased sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) expression in PDM vs. normoglycemic (NG) patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, in the current study, we evaluated inflammatory markers, SGLT2, SIRT6, and leptin levels in pericoronary fat and, subsequently, 12-month prognosis comparing PDM to NG subjected to CABG for AMI. In addition, we evaluated in PDM patients the effects of metformin therapy on SIRT6 expression, leptin, and SGLT2 levels, and assessed its beneficial effect on nitrotyrosine and inflammatory cytokine levels. Methods: we studied AMI patients referred for CABG, divided into PDM and NG-patients. PDM patients were divided into never-metformin users and metformin users. Finally, we evaluated major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at a 12-month follow-up. Results: the MACE was 9.1% in all PDM and 3% in NG patients (p < 0.05). Metformin users presented a significantly lower MACE rate in PDM than never-metformin users (p < 0.05). PDM showed higher inflammatory cytokines, 3-nitrotyrosine levels, SGLT2, and leptin content, and decreased SIRT6 protein levels in pericoronary fat compared to NG-patients (p < 0.05). PDM never-metformin-users showed higher SGLT2 and leptin levels in pericoronary fat than current-metformin-users (p < 0.05). Conclusions: metformin therapy might ameliorate cardiovascular outcomes by reducing inflammatory parameters, SGLT2, and leptin levels, and finally improving SIRT6 levels in AMI-PDM patients treated with CABG.
Calculation of the Temperature Distribution in Cylindrical Samples of Alumina and Copper Produced by Spark Plasma Sintering
Authors: Krizhanovskiy Vyacheslav V. , Mali Vyacheslav I.
Published: July 2021

Numerical calculations were carried out to simulate, under conditions of close spark plasma sintering (SPS), the temperature distribution during the passage of current in dense cylindrical samples of two materials: aluminum oxide and copper located in graphite forms and clamped between cylindrical graphite punches. The investigated materials differ greatly in their electrical conductivity and other physicochemical properties. Calculations were carried out for various geometric parameters of the samples, as well as graphite molds and punches at varying heating rates from the passing current.
Production of Mobile English Language Teaching Application Based on Text Interface Using Deep Learning
Authors: Cho Yunsik , Kim Jinmo
Published: July 2021

This paper proposes a novel text interface using deep learning in a mobile platform environment and presents the English language teaching applications created based on our interface. First, an interface for handwriting texts is designed with a simple structure based on a touch-based input method of mobile platform applications. This input method is easier and more convenient than the existing graphical user interface (GUI), in which menu items such as buttons are selected repeatedly or step by step. Next, an interaction that intuitively facilitates a behavior and decision making from the input text is proposed. We propose an interaction technique that recognizes a text handwritten on the text interface through the Extended Modified National Institute of Standards and Technology (EMNIST) dataset and a convolutional neural network (CNN) model and connects the text to a behavior. Finally, using the proposed interface, we create English language teaching applications that can effectively facilitate learning alphabet writing and words using handwriting. Then, the satisfaction regarding the interface during the educational process is analyzed and verified through a survey experiment with users.
On-Board Data Management Layer: Connected Vehicle as Data Platform
Authors: Benaissa Khireddine , Bitam Salim , Mellouk Abdelhamid
Published: July 2021

For connected vehicles, as well as generally for the transportation sector, data are now seen as a precious resource. They can be used to make right decisions, improve road safety, reduce CO2 emissions, or optimize processes. However, analyzing these data is not so much a question of which technologies to use, but rather about where these data are analyzed. Thereby, the emerging vehicle architecture has to become a data-oriented architecture based on embedded computing platforms and take into account new applications, artificial intelligence elements, advanced analytics, and operating systems. Accordingly, in this paper, we introduce the concept of data management to the vehicle by proposing an on-board data management layer, so that the vehicle can play the role of data platform capable of storing, processing, and diffusing data. Our proposed layer supports analytics and data science to deliver additional value from the connected vehicle data and stimulate the development of new services. In addition, our data platform can also form or contribute to shaping the backbone of data-driven transport. An on-board platform was built where the dataset size was reduced 80% and a rate of 99% accuracy was achieved in a 5 min traffic flow prediction using artificial neural networks (ANNs).
A Survey on Modern Cloud Computing Security over Smart City Networks: Threats, Vulnerabilities, Consequences, Countermeasures, and Challenges
Authors: Tahirkheli Abeer Iftikhar , Shiraz Muhammad , Hayat Bashir , Idrees Muhammad , Sajid Ahthasham , Ullah Rahat , Ayub Nasir , Kim Ki-Il
Published: July 2021

Cloud Computing (CC) is a promising technology due to its pervasive features, such as online storage, high scalability, and seamless accessibility, in that it plays an important role in reduction of the capital cost and workforce, which attracts organizations to conduct their businesses and financial activities over the cloud. Even though CC is a great innovation in the aspect of computing with ease of access, it also has some drawbacks. With the increase of cloud usage, security issues are proportional to the increase. To address these, there has been much work done in this domain, whereas research work considering the growing constrained applications provided by the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart city networks are still lacking. In this survey, we provide a comprehensive security analysis of CC-enabled IoT and present state-of-the-art in the research area. Finally, future research work and possible areas of implementation and consideration are given to discuss open issues.
Taking Kinetic Evaluations of Degradation Data to the Next Level with Nonlinear Mixed-Effects Models
Authors: Ranke Johannes , Wöltjen Janina , Schmidt Jana , Comets Emmanuelle
Published: July 2021

When data on the degradation of a chemical substance have been collected in a number of environmental media (e.g., in different soils), two strategies can be followed for data evaluation. Currently, each individual dataset is evaluated separately, and representative degradation parameters are obtained by calculating averages of the kinetic parameters. However, such averages often take on unrealistic values if certain degradation parameters are ill-defined in some of the datasets. Moreover, the most appropriate degradation model is selected for each individual dataset, which is time consuming and then requires workarounds for averaging parameters from different models. Therefore, a simultaneous evaluation of all available data is desirable. If the environmental media are viewed as random samples from a population, an advanced strategy based on assumptions about the statistical distribution of the kinetic parameters across the population can be used. Here, we show the advantages of such simultaneous evaluations based on nonlinear mixed-effects models that incorporate such assumptions in the evaluation process. The advantages of this approach are demonstrated using synthetically generated data with known statistical properties and using publicly available experimental degradation data on two pesticidal active substances.
Increased Varietal Aroma Diversity of Marselan Wine by Mixed Fermentation with Indigenous Non-Saccharomyces Yeasts
Authors: Xi Xiaomin , Xin Aili , You Yilin , Huang Weidong , Zhan Jicheng
Published: July 2021

The common use of commercial yeasts usually leads to dull wine with similar aromas and tastes. Therefore, screening for novel indigenous yeasts to practice is a promising method. In this research, aroma discrepancies among six wine groups fermentated with indigenous yeasts were analyzed. Three Saccharomyces yeasts (FS36, HL12, YT28) and three matched non-Saccharomyces yeasts (FS31, HL9, YT2) were selected from typical Chinese vineyards. The basic oenological parameters, aroma compounds, and sensory evaluation were analyzed. The results showed that each indigenous Saccharomyces yeast had excellent fermentation capacity, and mixed-strain fermentation groups produced more glycerol, contributing to sweeter and rounder taste. The results from GC-MS, principal components analysis (PCA), and sensory evaluation highlighted that the HL mixed group kept the most content of Marselan varietal flavors such as calamenene and β-damascone hereby ameliorated the whole aroma quality. Our study also implied that the indigenous yeast from the same region as the grape variety seems more conducive to preserve the natural variety characteristics of grapes.