bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implications of Porphyromonas gingivalis peptidyl arginine deiminase and gingipain R in human health and diseases
Authors: Chow Yoke Chan , Yam Hok Chai , Gunasekaran Baskaran , Lai Weng Yeen , Wo Weng Yue , Agarwal Tarun , Ong Yien Yien , Cheong Siew Lee , Tan Sheri-Ann
Published: September 2022

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a major pathogenic bacterium involved in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. Citrullination has been reported as the underlying mechanism of the pathogenesis, which relies on the interplay between two virulence factors of the bacterium, namely gingipain R and the bacterial peptidyl arginine deiminase. Gingipain R cleaves host proteins to expose the C-terminal arginines for peptidyl arginine deiminase to citrullinate and generate citrullinated proteins. Apart from carrying out citrullination in the periodontium, the bacterium is found capable of citrullinating proteins present in the host synovial tissues, atherosclerotic plaques and neurons. Studies have suggested that both virulence factors are the key factors that trigger distal effects mediated by citrullination, leading to the development of some non-communicable diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, and Alzheimer’s disease. Thus, inhibition of these virulence factors not only can mitigate periodontitis, but also can provide new therapeutic solutions for systematic diseases involving bacterial citrullination. Herein, we described both these proteins in terms of their unique structural conformations and biological relevance to different human diseases. Moreover, investigations of inhibitory actions on the enzymes are also enumerated. New approaches for identifying inhibitors for peptidyl arginine deiminase through drug repurposing and virtual screening are also discussed.
Prognostic impact of incident left ventricular systolic dysfunction after myocardial infarction
Authors: Yoshioka Goro , Tanaka Atsushi , Watanabe Nozomi , Nishihira Kensaku , Natsuaki Masahiro , Kawaguchi Atsushi , Shibata Yoshisato , Node Koichi
Published: September 2022

Introduction

We sought to investigate the prognostic impact of incident left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction at the chronic phase of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Materials and methods

Among 2,266 consecutive patients admitted for AMI, 1,330 patients with LV ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 40% during hospitalization who had LVEF data at 6 months after AMI were analyzed. Patients were divided into three subgroups based on LVEF at 6 months: reduced-LVEF (<40%), mid-range-LVEF (≥ 40% and < 50%) and preserved-LVEF (≥ 50%). Occurrence of a composite of hospitalization for heart failure or cardiovascular death after 6 months of AMI was the primary endpoint. The prognostic impact of LVEF at 6 months was assessed with a multivariate-adjusted Cox model.

Results

Overall, the mean patient age was 67.5 ± 11.9 years, and LVEF during initial hospitalization was 59.4 ± 9.1%. The median (interquartile range) duration of follow-up was 3.0 (1.5–4.8) years, and the primary endpoint occurred in 35/1330 (2.6%) patients (13/69 [18.8%] in the reduced-LVEF, 9/265 [3.4%] in the mid-range-LVEF, and 13/996 [1.3%] in the preserved-LVEF category). The adjusted hazard ratio for the primary endpoint in the reduced-LVEF vs. mid-range-LVEF category and in the reduced-LVEF vs. preserved-LVEF category was 4.71 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.83 to 12.13; p < 0.001) and 14.37 (95% CI, 5.38 to 38.36; p < 0.001), respectively.

Conclusion

Incident LV systolic dysfunction at the chronic phase after AMI was significantly associated with long-term adverse outcomes. Even in AMI survivors without LV systolic dysfunction at the time of AMI, post-AMI reassessment and careful monitoring of LVEF are required to identify patients at risk.
Case report: Cement entrapped in the inferior vena cava filter after pedicle screw augmentation
Authors: Han Xinqiang , Zhang Yongzhen , Wang Zhu , Zhao Mengpeng
Published: September 2022

Background

Cement leakage into the inferior vena cava (IVC) is one of the most common complications associated with cement vertebroplasty, and can lead to potentially life-threatening complications such as pulmonary cement embolism (PCE). Implantation of an IVC filter is effective in the prevention of fatal pulmonary embolism. Here, we present an extremely rarely case of cement entrapped in an IVC filter after pedicle screw augmentation, and discuss all similar cases reported in the literature.

Case presentation

A 70-year-old female presented with significant back and lower extremities pain and was unable to walk. MRI of the lumbar spine revealed an osteoporotic compression fracture of the L1–L3. She underwent cement-augmented pedicle screws implanted at the L1 and L3 vertebral bodies. A retrievable IVC filter was implanted due to the presence of calf vein thrombosis before cement vertebroplasty. Cement leaked into the IVC and was trapped by the filter, rendering the filter unretrievable using a conventional method. The asymptomatic patient received rivaroxaban 20 mg daily for anticoagulant postoperatively and lifelong anticoagulation was administered to prevent secondary IVC and cemented filter thrombosis.

Methods

A literature search was conducted utilizing the PUBMED/MEDLINE using the following terms: “vertebroplasty,” “complication,” “bone cement,” and “inferior vena cava (IVC),” or “inferior vena cava (IVC) filter.” All relevant articles published in English or in other languages with English abstracts since 1962 were included.

Results

A total of 36 articles were retrieved according to the search strategy. Only 6 out of these 36 studies contained information regarding the inferior vena cava filter and cement. Of the patients, 85.7% (36/42) reported in the literature whose gender was known were female and 14.3% were male. 28.5% (45/158) patients with pulmonary arterial and cardiovascular complications.

Conclusion

Cement embolization occurring in the IVC filter is rare. Accurate knowledge about the lumbar vertebral venous anatomy and skillful operation during vertebral cementoplasty should be required in clinical practice.
Cardiac phase-resolved late gadolinium enhancement imaging
Authors: Weingärtner Sebastian , Demirel Ömer B. , Gama Francisco , Pierce Iain , Treibel Thomas A. , Schulz-Menger Jeanette , Akçakaya Mehmet
Published: September 2022

Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is the clinical reference for assessment of myocardial scar and focal fibrosis. However, current LGE techniques are confined to imaging of a single cardiac phase, which hampers assessment of scar motility and does not allow cross-comparison between multiple phases. In this work, we investigate a three step approach to obtain cardiac phase-resolved LGE images: (1) Acquisition of cardiac phase-resolved imaging data with varying T1 weighting. (2) Generation of semi-quantitative T1* maps for each cardiac phase. (3) Synthetization of LGE contrast to obtain functional LGE images. The proposed method is evaluated in phantom imaging, six healthy subjects at 3T and 20 patients at 1.5T. Phantom imaging at 3T demonstrates consistent contrast throughout the cardiac cycle with a coefficient of variation of 2.55 ± 0.42%. In-vivo results show reliable LGE contrast with thorough suppression of the myocardial tissue is healthy subjects. The contrast between blood and myocardium showed moderate variation throughout the cardiac cycle in healthy subjects (coefficient of variation 18.2 ± 3.51%). Images were acquired at 40–60 ms and 80 ms temporal resolution, at 3T and 1.5, respectively. Functional LGE images acquired in patients with myocardial scar visualized scar tissue throughout the cardiac cycle, albeit at noticeably lower imaging resolution and noise resilience than the reference technique. The proposed technique bears the promise of integrating the advantages of phase-resolved CMR with LGE imaging, but further improvements in the acquisition quality are warranted for clinical use.
Overdrive pacing in the acute management of osimertinib-induced ventricular arrhythmias: A case report and literature review
Authors: Zhang Yanyu , Wang Xingtong , Pan Yilin , Du Beibei , Nanthakumar Kumaraswamy , Yang Ping
Published: September 2022

QT interval prolongation and ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) induced by osimertinib, a third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, are life-threatening complications. However, no consensus has been achieved regarding their management. Overdrive pacing has been shown to be effective in shortening the QT interval and terminating torsade de pointes (TdP). Here, we report a case of osimertinib-induced QT prolongation accompanied by frequent VAs and TdP. Osimertinib was immediately discontinued after it was identified as the etiology for QT prolongation and VAs. A temporary pacemaker and overdrive pacing were used after other anti-arrhythmia treatments had failed and successfully shortened the QTc interval and terminated VAs. Repeated Holter monitoring at 1 week showed no remaining VAs or TdP, and the pacemaker was removed. Routine electrocardiography (ECG) surveillance was conducted afterward, and three- and 6-month follow-ups showed good recovery and normal ECG results. Vigilance is required for rare vital arrhythmias in patients taking osimertinib, and ECG surveillance should be conducted.
Transfer RNA-derived small RNAs and their potential roles in the therapeutic heterogeneity of sacubitril/valsartan in heart failure patients after acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Su Jia , Cheng Ji , Hu Yingchu , Yu Qinglin , Li Zhenwei , Li Jiyi , Zheng Nan , Zhang Zhaoxia , Yang Jin , Li Xiaojing , Zhang Zeqin , Wang Yong , Zhu Keqi , Du Weiping , Chen Xiaomin
Published: September 2022

Background

It has been reported that sacubitril/valsartan can improve cardiac function in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients complicated by heart failure (HF). However, a number of patients cannot be treated successfully; this phenomenon is called sacubitril/valsartan resistance (SVR), and the mechanisms remain unclear.

Methods

In our present research, the expression profiles of transfer RNA (tRNA)-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) in SVR along with no sacubitril/valsartan resistance (NSVR) patients were determined by RNA sequencing. Through bioinformatics, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and cell-based experiments, we identified SVR-related tsRNAs and confirmed their diagnostic value, predicted their targeted genes, and explored the enriched signal pathways as well as regulatory roles of tsRNAs in SVR.

Results

Our research indicated that 36 tsRNAs were upregulated and that 21 tsRNAs were downregulated in SVR. Among these tsRNAs, the expression of tRF-59:76-Tyr-GTA-2-M3 and tRF-60:76-Val-AAC-1-M5 was upregulated, while the expression of tRF-1:29-Gly-GCC-1 was downregulated in the group of SVR. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated that these three tsRNAs were potential biomarkers of the therapeutic heterogeneity of sacubitril/valsartan. Moreover, tRF-60:76-Val-AAC-1-M5 might target Tnfrsf10b and Bcl2l1 to influence the observed therapeutic heterogeneity through the lipid and atherosclerosis signaling pathways.

Conclusion

Hence, tsRNA might play a vital role in SVR. These discoveries provide new insights for the mechanistic investigation of responsiveness to sacubitril/valsartan.
Crenigacestat (LY3039478) inhibits osteogenic differentiation of human valve interstitial cells from patients with aortic valve calcification in vitro
Authors: Lobov Arseniy A. , Boyarskaya Nadezhda V. , Kachanova Olga S. , Gromova Ekaterina S. , Shishkova Anastassia A. , Zainullina Bozhana R. , Pishchugin Alexander S. , Filippov Alexey A. , Uspensky Vladimir E. , Malashicheva Anna B.
Published: September 2022

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is one of the dangerous forms of vascular calcification. CAVD leads to calcification of the aortic valve and disturbance of blood flow. Despite high mortality, there is no targeted therapy against CAVD or vascular calcification. Osteogenic differentiation of valve interstitial cells (VICs) is one of the key factors of CAVD progression and inhibition of this process seems a fruitful target for potential therapy. By our previous study we assumed that inhibitors of Notch pathway might be effective to suppress aortic valve leaflet calcification. We tested CB-103 and crenigacestat (LY3039478), two selective inhibitors of Notch-signaling, for suppression of osteogenic differentiation of VICs isolated from patients with CAVD in vitro. Effect of inhibitors were assessed by the measurement of extracellular matrix calcification and osteogenic gene expression. For effective inhibitor (crenigacestat) we also performed MTT and proteomics study for better understanding of its effect on VICs in vitro. CB-103 did not affect osteogenic differentiation. Crenigacestat completely inhibited osteogenic differentiation (both matrix mineralization and Runx2 expression) in the dosages that had no obvious cytotoxicity. Using proteomics analysis, we found several osteogenic differentiation-related proteins associated with the effect of crenigacestat on VICs differentiation. Taking into account that crenigacestat is FDA approved for clinical trials for anti-tumor therapy, we argue that this drug could be considered as a potential inhibitor of cardiovascular calcification.
ML-misfit: A neural network formulation of the misfit function for full-waveform inversion
Authors: Sun Bingbing , Alkhalifah Tariq
Published: September 2022

A robust misfit function is essential for mitigating cycle-skipping in full-waveform inversion (FWI), leading to stable updates of the velocity model in this highly nonlinear optimization process. State-of-the-art misfit functions, including matching filter or optimal transport misfits, are all hand-crafted and developed from first principles. With the growth of artificial intelligence in geoscience, we propose learning a robust misfit function for FWI, entitled ML-misfit, based on machine learning. Inspired by the recently introduced optimal transport of the matching filter objective function, we design a specific neural network architecture for the misfit function in a form that allows for global comparison of the predicted and measured data. The proposed neural network architecture also guarantees that the resulting misfit is a pseudo-metric for efficient training. In the framework of meta-learning, we train the network by running FWI to invert for randomly generated velocity models and update the parameters of the neural network by minimizing the meta-loss, which is defined as the accumulated difference between the true and inverted velocity models. The learning and improvement of such an ML-misfit are automatic, and the resulting ML-misfit is data-adaptive. We first illustrate the basic principles behind the ML-misfit for learning a convex misfit function using a travel-time shifted signal example. Furthermore, we train the neural network on 2D horizontally layered models and apply the trained neural network to the Marmousi model; the resulting ML-misfit provides robust updating of the model and mitigates the cycle-skipping issue successfully.
Experimental analysis of dissolution reconstruction of deep dolomite reservoirs: A case study of the Cambrian dolomite reservoirs in the Tarim Basin
Authors: Zhang Xin , Li Bin , Peng Jun , Qu Fang , Zhang Kun , Yang Suju , Xu Qingqi
Published: September 2022

The deeply buried carbonate reservoir of Cambrian is an important target of oil and gas exploration in the Tarim Basin. Understanding the dissolution mechanism of the deep-buried carbonate reservoir is an urgent problem to be solved. In this study, 11 carbonate samples from three types of deep reservoirs in Tarim Basin were selected as experimental objects, and the dissolution process of carbonate reservoir was simulated by using an advanced reaction system of continuous flow at high temperature and high pressure. The dissolution test of continuous flow shows that the burial depth has an effect on carbonate dissolution, with the increasing of the depths from shallow to deep, the dissolution ability of acidic fluids in carbonate rocks increases first and then decreases. A comparison of dissolution results from different lithologic samples shows that the incomplete dolomitization calcite in the diagenetic stage provides the material basis for dissolution in the later stage. The relationship between reservoir type and physical property is discussed, and it is found that the permeability of the fracture-type and pore-fracture samples increase significantly after dissolution, indicating the pre-existing pores of carbonate rocks may be critical to the formation of high-quality reservoirs in deeply buried conditions. An interesting phenomenon was found by comparing the dissolution rates of experimental samples shows that the dissolution rate of dolomite reservoir has a trend of first increasing and then decreasing under the deeply buried environment, which proves that there is an optimal dissolution range of dolomite in the deeply buried environment, which is conducive to the formation of dolomite reservoir. The genetic model of burial dissolution in deep carbonate reservoirs was established and indicated that the search for dolostone reservoirs near the Himalayan fault may be a new idea for Cambrian deep oil and gas exploration.
On the computational thinking and diagrammatic reasoning of first-year computer science and engineering students
Authors: Osztián Pálma Rozália , Kátai Zoltán , Osztián Erika
Published: September 2022

Computational thinking (CT) and diagrammatic reasoning (DR) are important competencies from the perspective of both Computer Science and Engineering education. CT is often described as a critically important attitude or skill set for all students regardless of the educational program in which they are enrolled. Diagrammatic reasoning is commonly referred to as a student's ability to think logically and solve complex problems. Accordingly, these two competencies are closely related and both skills are parallelly linked to several curriculum subjects (with preponderance in the case of STEM disciplines) during the educational process. Consequently, one might conclude that even without an explicit focus on them, students might develop these abilities latently as they advance with the K-12 current curriculum. We have proposed to test this assumption. In the experiment, 137 first-year students were involved in six different Computer Science and Engineering educational programs. Students were invited to participate in a CT and a DR test. We were particularly interested in possible correlations between the results of the two tests. Our results confirmed that computational thinking and diagrammatic reasoning are closely related abilities. We also found that CT, DR, and students' prior programming experience positively correlate with their first course exam results in Computer Science.
Modeling higher order thinking skills and metacognitive awareness in English reading comprehension among university learners
Authors: Aziz Musharraf , Rawian Rafizah
Published: September 2022

This study aimed to examine the levels of Pakistani university learners' higher order thinking skills (HOTS) in English reading comprehension and to explore how explicit assessments of HOTS can reveal learners' strengths and weaknesses in reading as compared to the traditional assessment of reading. Secondly, the study analyzed the effect of learners' metacognitive awareness on reading on the relationship between their HOTS levels and reading performance. It used a mixed-method approach. In the quantitative phase, an explicit HOTS-based reading test was designed using Bloom's taxonomy. Using random stratified sampling, it was administered to the learners of Bachelor of Science in English (n = 200). Stratified sampling was performed for investigating the gender gap in HOTS levels. The learners' metacognitive awareness of reading was analyzed using Survey of Reading Strategies. Descriptive analysis, independent sample t-test, correlation analysis, and moderator analysis were conducted. It was found that the learners' HOTS levels correlated with their reading performance where creative skill was the strongest, and evaluating skill was the weakest. Metacognitive awareness of reading positively moderated the relationship between the learners' HOTS levels and reading performance. In the qualitative phase, purposive stratified sampling was applied. A subsample (n = 6) was extracted from the core sample based on the high, average, and low reading performance, and three groups were formed. A semi-structured interview was conducted to know learners' opinions on using HOTS-based assessment in reading and their cognitive and metacognitive abilities. The thematic analysis of the qualitative data revealed that three out of six learners did not approve of the way they were assessed by the university. They informed that they had issues with cognitive and metacognitive control of English texts. The findings revealed that the majority of learners suffered low HOTS levels in English reading. The study offers recommendations for English as a second language (ESL) teachers, assessors, and policymakers to improve learner performance to the possible optimal level, especially in underdeveloped contexts that use traditional reading assessments.
Magnetic resonance imaging of the supra-cervical fetal membrane detects an increased risk of prelabor rupture of membranes
Authors: Qi Wenxu , Zhao Peinan , Wang Wei , Wen Zichao , Sun Zhexian , Wu Wenjie , Woodard Pamela Karen , Wang Qing , McKinstry Robert C. , Wang Yong
Published: September 2022

Objective

In 10% of term deliveries and 40% of preterm deliveries, the fetal membrane (FM) ruptures before labor. However, the ability to predict these cases of premature rupture of membranes (PROM) and preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) is very limited. In this paper, our objective was to determine whether a prediction method based on T2 weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the supra-cervical FM could predict PROM and PPROM.

Methods

This prospective cohort study enrolled 77 women between the 28th and 37th weeks of gestation. Two indicators of fetal membrane defects, including prolapsed depth >5 mm and signal abnormalities, are investigated for our prediction. Fisher’s exact test was used to determine whether prolapsed depth >5 mm and/or signal abnormalities were associated with PROM and PPROM. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy were calculated for prolapsed depth >5 mm, signal abnormalities, and the combination of prolapsed depth >5 mm and signal abnormalities.

Result

Among 12 women with PROM (5 preterm and 7 term, prior to labor onset), 9 had membrane prolapse >5 mm and 5 had FM signal abnormalities. Among 65 women with rupture of membranes at term, 2 had membrane prolapse >5 mm and 1 had signal abnormalities. By Fisher’s exact test both indicators, membrane prolapse >5 mm and signal abnormalities, were associated with PROM (P<0.001, P<0.001) and PPROM (P=0.001, P<0.001). Additionally, membrane prolapse >5 mm, signal abnormalities, and the combination of the two indicators all demonstrated high specificity for predicting PROM (96.9%, 98.5%, and 100%, respectively) and PPROM (90.3%, 97.2%, and 100%, respectively).

Conclusion

MRI can distinguish the supra-cervical fetal membrane in vivo and may be able to identify women at high risk of PPROM.
Exploring the risk factors of impaired fasting glucose in middle-aged population living in South Korean communities by using categorical boosting machine
Authors: Byeon Haewon
Published: September 2022

Objective

This epidemiological study (1) identified factors associated with impaired fasting glucose using 3,019 subjects (≥30 years old and <60 years old) without diabetes mellitus from national survey data and (2) developed a nomogram that could predict groups vulnerable to impaired fasting glucose by using machine learning.

Methods

This study analyzed 3,019 adults between 30 and 65 years old who completed blood tests, physical measurements, blood pressure measurements, and health surveys. Impaired fasting glucose, a dependent variable, was classified into normal blood glucose (glycated hemoglobin<5.7% and fasting blood glucose ≤ 100mg/dl) and impaired fasting glucose (glycated hemoglobin is 5.7-6.4% and fasting blood glucose is 100-125mg/dl). Explanatory variables included socio-demographic factors, health habit factors, anthropometric factors, dietary habit factors, and cardiovascular disease risk factors. This study developed a model for predicting impaired fasting glucose by using logistic nomogram and categorical boosting (CatBoost).

Results

In this study, the top eight variables with a high impact on CatBoost model output were age, high cholesterol, WHtR, BMI, drinking more than one shot per month for the past year, marital status, hypertension, and smoking.

Conclusion

It is necessary to improve lifestyle and continuously monitor subjects at the primary medical care level so that we can detect non-diabetics vulnerable to impaired fasting glucose living in the community at an early stage and manage their blood glucose.
Ubiquitin-like processing of TUG proteins as a mechanism to regulate glucose uptake and energy metabolism in fat and muscle
Authors: Bogan Jonathan S.
Published: September 2022

In response to insulin stimulation, fat and muscle cells mobilize GLUT4 glucose transporters to the cell surface to enhance glucose uptake. Ubiquitin-like processing of TUG (Aspscr1, UBXD9) proteins is a central mechanism to regulate this process. Here, recent advances in this area are reviewed. The data support a model in which intact TUG traps insulin-responsive “GLUT4 storage vesicles” at the Golgi matrix by binding vesicle cargoes with its N-terminus and matrix proteins with its C-terminus. Insulin stimulation liberates these vesicles by triggering endoproteolytic cleavage of TUG, mediated by the Usp25m protease. Cleavage occurs in fat and muscle cells, but not in fibroblasts or other cell types. Proteolytic processing of intact TUG generates TUGUL, a ubiquitin-like protein modifier, as the N-terminal cleavage product. In adipocytes, TUGUL modifies a single protein, the KIF5B kinesin motor, which carries GLUT4 and other vesicle cargoes to the cell surface. In muscle, this or another motor may be modified. After cleavage of intact TUG, the TUG C-terminal product is extracted from the Golgi matrix by the p97 (VCP) ATPase. In both muscle and fat, this cleavage product enters the nucleus, binds PPARγ and PGC-1α, and regulates gene expression to promote fatty acid oxidation and thermogenesis. The stability of the TUG C-terminal product is regulated by an Ate1 arginyltransferase-dependent N-degron pathway, which may create a feedback mechanism to control oxidative metabolism. Although it is now clear that TUG processing coordinates glucose uptake with other aspects of physiology and metabolism, many questions remain about how this pathway is regulated and how it is altered in metabolic disease in humans.
Contribution of immune cells to bone metastasis pathogenesis
Authors: He Ningning , Jiang Jingting
Published: September 2022

Bone metastasis is closely related to the survival rate of cancer patients and reduces their quality of life. The bone marrow microenvironment contains a complex immune cell component with a local microenvironment that is conducive to tumor formation and growth. In this unique immune environment, a variety of immune cells, including T cells, natural killer cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, participate in the process of bone metastasis. In this review, we will introduce the interactions between immune cells and cancer cells in the bone microenvironment, obtain the details of their contributions to the implications of bone metastasis, and discuss immunotherapeutic strategies targeting immune cells in cancer patients with bone metastasis.
Gamma-glutamyl transferase to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio: A valuable predictor of type 2 diabetes mellitus incidence
Authors: Xie Wangcheng , Liu Bin , Tang Yansong , Yang Tingsong , Song Zhenshun
Published: September 2022

Background

Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) have been proven to be valuable predictors of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this study was to investigate the association between GGT/HDL-C ratio and incident T2DM.

Methods

The study retrospectively analyzed 15453 participants from 2004 to 2015. Cox proportional hazards regression models and Kaplan-Meier curves were used to elucidate the effect of GGT/HDL-C ratio on T2DM. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis was performed to explore any non-linear correlation between GGT/HDL-C ratio and the risk of T2DM. The predictive performance of GGT, HDL-C and GGT/HDL-C ratio for T2DM was evaluated utilizing receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) curves.

Results

During a median follow-up of 5.39 years, 373 cases of incident T2DM were observed. Kaplan-Meier curves showed that the cumulative probabilities of T2DM increased in the participants with higher GGT/HDL-C ratio significantly (P < 0.001). Cox models further clarified that high GGT/HDL-C ratio was an independent risk factor for T2DM (HR = 1.01, 95% CI = 1.00-1.01, P = 0.011). Linear positive correlation between GGT/HDL-C ratio and the risk of T2DM was demonstrated through RCS analysis. In the ROC analysis, GGT/HDL-C ratio (AUC = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.73-0.77) showed competitive role in the prediction of T2DM compared with single GGT and HDL-C.

Conclusions

The GGT/HDL-C ratio could serve as a valuable predictor of T2DM, and the risk of T2DM increases in the condition of higher GGT/HDL-C ratio.
The evolving roles of alarin in physiological and disease conditions, and its future potential clinical implications
Authors: Abebe Endeshaw Chekol , Mengstie Misganaw Asmamaw , Seid Mohammed Abdu , Malik Tabarak , Dejenie Tadesse Asmamaw
Published: September 2022

Alarin is a member of the galanin family of neuropeptides that is widely expressed in the central nervous system and peripheral tissues in humans and rodents. It was initially isolated fifteen years ago in ganglionic cells of human neuroblastoma. Subsequently, it was demonstrated to be broadly distributed in the blood vessels, skin, eyes, peripheral and central nervous systems, thymus, gastrointestinal tract, and endocrine organs of different species. Alarin is a 25 amino acid neuropeptide derived from the alternative splicing of the GALP gene, missing exon 3. It is found to be involved in several physiological functions that include feeding behavior, energy homeostasis, glucose homeostasis, body temperature, and reproduction. It has also vasoactive, anti-inflammatory, anti-edema, and antimicrobial activities. However, the physiological effects of alarin have not been fully elucidated and the receptors that mediate these effects are not currently known. Unearthing the novel biological effects of alarin and its unidentified receptors will therefore be a task in future biomedical research.

In addition, alarin is involved in various disease conditions, such as metabolic syndrome, obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, cardiac fibrosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and depression. Thus, alarin may serve as a promising tool for future pharmacological treatment and diagnosis. But further research is awaited to confirm whether alarin has a protective or pathological role in these diseases. This article provides a comprehensive review on the evolving implications of alarin in a variety of physiological and disease conditions, and its future perspectives.
The role of GABA in islet function
Authors: Hagan D. Walker , Ferreira Sandra M. , Santos Gustavo J. , Phelps Edward A.
Published: September 2022

Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a non-proteinogenic amino acid and neurotransmitter that is produced in the islet at levels as high as in the brain. GABA is synthesized by the enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), of which the 65 kDa isoform (GAD65) is a major autoantigen in type 1 diabetes. Originally described to be released via synaptic-like microvesicles or from insulin secretory vesicles, beta cells are now understood to release substantial quantities of GABA directly from the cytosol via volume-regulated anion channels (VRAC). Once released, GABA influences the activity of multiple islet cell types through ionotropic GABAA receptors and metabotropic GABAB receptors. GABA also interfaces with cellular metabolism and ATP production via the GABA shunt pathway. Beta cells become depleted of GABA in type 1 diabetes (in remaining beta cells) and type 2 diabetes, suggesting that loss or reduction of islet GABA correlates with diabetes pathogenesis and may contribute to dysfunction of alpha, beta, and delta cells in diabetic individuals. While the function of GABA in the nervous system is well-understood, the description of the islet GABA system is clouded by differing reports describing multiple secretion pathways and effector functions. This review will discuss and attempt to unify the major experimental results from over 40 years of literature characterizing the role of GABA in the islet.
CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutation on an insulin-like peptide encoding gene affects the growth of the ridgetail white prawn Exopalaemon carinicauda
Authors: Gao Yi , Zhang Xiaojun , Yuan Jianbo , Zhang Chengsong , Li Shihao , Li Fuhua
Published: September 2022

Insulin-like peptides (ILPs) play key roles in animal growth, metabolism and reproduction in vertebrates. In crustaceans, one type of ILPs, insulin-like androgenic gland hormone (IAG) had been reported to be related to the sex differentiations. However, the function of other types of ILPs is rarely reported. Here, we identified another type of ILPs in the ridgetail white prawn Exopalaemon carinicauda (EcILP), which is an ortholog of Drosophila melanogaster ILP7. Sequence characterization and expression analyses showed that EcILP is similar to vertebrate insulin/IGFs and insect ILPs in its heterodimeric structure and expression profile. Using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology, we generated EcILP knockout (KO) prawns. EcILP-KO individuals have a significant higher growth-inhibitory trait and mortality than those in the normal group. In addition, knockdown of EcILP by RNA interference (RNAi) resulted in slower growth rate and higher mortality. These results indicated that EcILP was an important growth regulator in E. carinicauda.
Dynamic power-based temporary frequency support scheme for a wind farm
Authors: You Jiahan , Xu Dan , Cao Jiangdong
Published: September 2022

Doubly fed induction generators can participate in frequency support following a disturbance by releasing their rotational energies. However, when regaining the rotor speed, a secondary frequency dip (SFD) tends to produce a sudden output drop. This study suggests a dynamic power-based stepwise inertial control (IC) scheme of a wind power plant for minimizing the SFD while reducing the maximum frequency deviation (MFD), considering the non-negligible wake. To this end, the reference of the output power increases to the torque limit. Afterward, the power reference smoothly decays with the dynamically decreasing incremental power and then automatically switches to the maximum power point tracking operation. The performance of the temporary frequency support with the suggested stepwise IC strategy is investigated with various penetration levels of wind power. Test results demonstrate that the suggested stepwise IC strategy can minimize the SFD and reduce mechanical stresses on the wind turbine during the recovery of the rotor speed while reducing the MFD. Therefore, the suggested stepwise IC strategy secures the dynamic frequency stability of an electric power system dominated by wind power generations.
Enovoltaics: Symbiotic integration of photovoltaics in vineyards
Authors: Padilla Javier , Toledo Carlos , Abad José
Published: September 2022

In this study, we propose the symbiotic integration of photovoltaic (PV) systems into previously built vineyards structures, so as to reduce land intervention, visual impact and costs while suppressing impact over crop production and quality. For this purpose, we have identified grape trellises as an ideal crop type to implement this concept based on a simulation study that analyzes the shading patterns and the PV energy generation of different PV design configurations using Photovoltaic Geographical Information System’s solar radiation data and system performance tool. Our proposal consists in the vertical integration of photovoltaic surfaces over the vines, using the same trellis structure, therefore minimizing cost and land building. We found that a ratio between row distance and trellis height equal or greater than 1.5 allows for the PV integration without generating significant shadowing between consecutive lines, while vertical orientation of the panels allows complete irradiation to the plants below. Different module configurations have been proposed and evaluated, resulting in a range of 40–60% installable capacity (compared to a ground mounted installation) with negligible shadowing over the leaves and grapes. Land equivalent ratio for the proposed architectures ranges between 1.27–1.50, therefore confirming the viability of this proposed agrivoltaic solution.
Status and challenges of multi-junction solar cell technology
Authors: Baiju Adil , Yarema Maksym
Published: September 2022

The ongoing energy transition to curb carbon dioxide emissions and meet the increasing energy demands have enhanced the need for integration of renewable energy into the existing electricity system. Solar energy has been gaining an increasing market share over the past decade. Multi-junction solar cells (MJSCs) enable the efficient conversion of sunlight to energy without being bound by the 33% limit as in the commercialized single junction silicon solar cells. III-V semiconductors have been used effectively in space applications and concentrated photovoltaics (CPV) over the past few decades. This review discusses the working and components of MJSCs at cell level as well as module level for space applications and CPV. The fabrication procedure, material acquirement of MJSCs is analyzed before introducing the current challenges preventing MJSCs from achieving widespread commercialization and the research direction in the future where these challenges can be addressed.
The impact of environmental regulation on water resources utilization efficiency
Authors: Wang Qizhen , Wang Shengyuan
Published: September 2022

With the rapid development of economy and the increase of population, water consumption has increased in China. Meanwhile, water waste, water pollution and uneven distributions of water resources have posed a great challenge to China’s economic development. Hence, the improvement of water resources utilization efficiency has become an important measure to solve the shortage of water resources. In this study, the super efficiency Data envelopment analysis model and Tobit model are adopted to study the impact of environmental regulation on water resources utilization efficiency. The results show that water resources efficiency score is different in different regions in China, where the efficiency score in the eastern region is the highest, followed by the western region and the central region. Environmental regulation negatively affects water resources utilization efficiency and these effects are different effects in different regions. Environmental regulation affects three variables, foreign direct investment, technological innovation, industrial structure, and then affects water resources utilization efficiency through these variables. Based on the above research, we put forward some policy recommendations for increasing environmental regulation intensity to improve water resources utilization efficiency.
Analysis of air pollution characteristics, transport pathways and potential source areas identification in Beijing before, during and after the COVID-19 outbreak
Authors: Zhang Hanyu , Wang Xuejun , Shen Xianbao , Li Xin , Wu Bobo , Chen Wenjing , Yao Zhiliang
Published: September 2022

A series of lockdown measures in response to the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak resulted in a drop in anthropogenic emissions and changes in concentrations of PM2.5 and O3. Backward trajectories analysis, cluster analysis, potential source contribution function (PSCF) and concentration weighted trajectory (CWT) technologies were conducted to reveal the characteristics and potential source areas of pollutants in Beijing before the COVID-19 outbreak (BCO period), during the outbreak (COB period) and after the outbreak (ACO period), as well as the contemporaneous period in 2019 (CCO period), which is critical for exploring the efficient control measures and making policy. The results indicated that despite the significant reduction in anthropogenic emissions during the epidemic, the PM2.5 concentrations increased by 1.0% caused by unfavorable meteorological conditions. O3 concentrations increased by 174.8% compared to that during the BCO period due to the increased temperature and inappropriate precursor reduction ratios. A considerable decrease of NO3- in PM2.5 was observed under the influence of significant reductions in vehicle emissions during the lockdown. The cluster analysis revealed that short-range transport played a significant role in the accumulation of local PM2.5 pollution, while long-range northwest airflows contributed more to O3 accumulation, and weakened as the season changed. The PSCF and CWT analysis demonstrated that potential source areas of PM2.5 were mostly located in the central and southern Hebei, the southwestern Shandong in the CCO period, and expanded to central Inner Mongolia and northern Shanxi in the COB period. These areas were highly compatible with the high emission areas of the emission inventory statistics. After the outbreak, the source areas of O3 were centered in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and Shandong province, with a radial dispersion in all directions, while they were distributed in the central Mongolia and Inner Mongolia during the other periods.
A novel method for prediction of extreme wind speeds across parts of Southern Norway
Authors: Gaidai Oleg , Yan Ping , Xing Yihan
Published: September 2022

The paper describes a novel structural reliability method, particularly suitable for multi-dimensional environmental systems, either measured or numerically simulated over a sufficient period, resulting in sufficiently long ergodic time series. This study illustrates the efficiency of the proposed methodology by applying it to predict extreme wind speeds of a group of selected measured sites in Southern Norway in the region near the Landvik wind station. It is well known that wind speeds at different locations are highly non-linear, multi-dimensional and cross-correlated dynamic environmental responses, which can be challenging to analyse accurately. Unlike other environmental reliability methods, the new method does not require restarting the simulation each time the system fails, e.g., in the case of numerical simulation. In the case of measured environmental system response, an accurate prediction of system failure probability is also possible, as illustrated in this study. Moreover, in contrast to classical reliability methods, the proposed method can handle systems with high dimensionality and cross-correlation between the different dimensions.
Pharmacogenomics of drug transporters for antiretroviral long-acting pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV
Authors: Zondo Nomusa M. , Sobia Parveen , Sivro Aida , Ngcapu Sinaye , Ramsuran Veron , Archary Derseree
Published: September 2022

The use of antiretrovirals (ARVs) as oral, topical, or long-acting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has emerged as a promising strategy for HIV prevention. Clinical trials testing Truvada® [tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)/tenofovir (TFV) and emtricitabine (FTC)] as oral or topical PrEP in African women showed mixed results in preventing HIV infections. Since oral and topical PrEP effectiveness is dependent on adequate drug delivery and availability to sites of HIV infection such as the blood and female genital tract (FGT); host biological factors such as drug transporters have been implicated as key regulators of PrEP. Drug transporter expression levels and function have been identified as critical determinants of PrEP efficacy by regulating PrEP pharmacokinetics across various cells and tissues of the blood, renal tissues, FGT mucosal tissues and other immune cells targeted by HIV. In addition, biological factors such as genetic polymorphisms and genital inflammation also influence drug transporter expression levels and functionality. In this review, drug transporters and biological factors modulating drug transporter disposition are used to explain discrepancies observed in PrEP clinical trials. This review also provides insight at a pharmacological level of how these factors further increase the susceptibility of the FGT to HIV infections, subsequently contributing to ineffective PrEP interventions in African women.
Investigating the evolution process of lung adenocarcinoma via random walk and dynamic network analysis
Authors: Chen Bolin , Zhang Jinlei , Wang Teng , Shao Ci , Miao Lijun , Zhang Shengli , Shang Xuequn
Published: September 2022

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a typical disease regarded as having multi-stage progression. However, many existing methods often ignore the critical differences among these stages, thereby limiting their effectiveness for discovering key biological molecules and biological functions as signals at each stage. In this study, we propose a method to discover the evolution between biological molecules and biological functions by investigating the multi-stage biological molecules of LUAD. The method is based on the random walk algorithm and the Monte Carlo method to generate clusters as the modules, which were used as subgraphs of the differentiated biological molecules network in each stage. The connection between modules of adjacent stages is based on the measurement of the Jaccard coefficient. The online gene set enrichment analysis tool (DAVID) was used to obtain biological functions corresponding to the individual important modules. The core evolution network was constructed by combining the aforementioned two networks. Since the networks here are all dynamic, we also propose a strategy to visualize the dynamic information together in one network. Eventually, 12 core modules and 11 core biological functions were found through such evolutionary analyses. Among the core biological functions that we obtained, six functions are related to the disease, the biological function of neutrophil chemotaxis is not directly associated with LUAD but can serve as a predictor, two functions may serve as a predictive signal, and two functions need to be verified through more biological evidence. Compared with two alternative design methods, the method proposed in this study performed more efficiently.