bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic diversity maintained in comparison of captive-propagated and wild populations of Lampsilis fasciola and Ptychobranchus fasciolaris (Bivalvia: Unionidae)1
Authors: VanTassel Nichelle M. , Morris Todd J. , Wilson Christopher G. , Zanatta David T.
Published: April 2021

We compared the genetic diversity and structure of wild versus captive-propagated at-risk species of freshwater mussels in Canada, Lampsilis fasciola (wavy-rayed lampmussel; WRL) and Ptychobranchus fasciolaris (kidneyshell; KS), using microsatellite-generated genotypes. No significant differences were detected using Kruskal–Wallis tests that compared the genetic diversity metrics of wild and captive-propagated WRL (from 12 mothers) and KS (from seven mothers). After effective population size (Ne) was estimated, considerable overlap was found in the estimated Ne between wild and captive populations of both species. Pairwise FST and Dest values among wild WRL, hatchery-raised WRL juveniles, and across different time periods (2008–2018) were generally low (FST = 0.007–0.043, Dest = 0.005–0.282). Pairwise FST and Dest for KS were not significant and low (0.012, 0.017). When comparing captive-reared offspring with the wild population, STRUCTURE analysis revealed strong support for a single genetic population. With at least seven females contributing to brood stock, genetic diversity was maintained. Further research is needed to assess the male contribution to each glochidial brood as well as the variability of genetic diversity in individual glochidial broods.
Quantum many-body effects on Rydberg excitons in cuprous oxide
Authors: Semkat D. , Fehske H. , Stolz H.
Published: April 2021

We investigate quantum many-body effects on Rydberg excitons in cuprous oxide induced by the surrounding electron-hole plasma. Line shifts and widths are calculated by full diagonalisation of the plasma Hamiltonian and compared to results in first order perturbation theory, and the oscillator strength of the exciton lines is analysed.
Estimation of rheological parameters for unstained living cells
Authors: Lonhus Kirill , Rychtáriková Renata , Ghaznavi Ali , Štys Dalibor
Published: April 2021

In video-records, objects moving in intracellular regions are often hardly detectable and identifiable. To squeeze the information on the intracellular flows, we propose an automatic method of reconstruction of intracellular flow velocity fields based only on a recorded video of an unstained cell. The basis of the method is detection of speeded-up robust features (SURF) and assembling them into trajectories. Two components of motion—direct and Brownian—are separated by an original method based on minimum covariance estimation. The Brownian component gives a spatially resolved diffusion coefficient. The directed component yields a velocity field, and after fitting the vorticity equation, estimation of the spatially distributed effective viscosity. The method was applied to videos of a human osteoblast and a hepatocyte. The obtained parameters are in agreement with the literature data.
Merging Decision-Making Units with Fuzzy Data
Authors: Ghobadi Saeid , Soleimani-Chamkhorami Khosro
Published: April 2021

This paper studies the problem of target setting for a generated entity from a merger among two or more decision making units. Identification of the inherited input/output levels from merging decision-making units is an important issue. In this study, a novel inverse data envelopment analysis model is introduced for target setting of a merger in the presence of fuzzy data. This model enables the merged unit to recognize the required input/output levels from merging units to achieve a predefined efficiency target. Moreover, a fuzzy linear programming model is presented for estimating the minimum attainable efficiency score through a given merging. Then, the performance of the proposed method is examined through a banking application.
B-Subdifferentials of the Projection onto the Generalized Simplex
Authors: Lin Youyicun , Hu Shenglong
Published: April 2021

In this paper, a complete characterization of the B-subdifferential of the projection onto the generalized simplex is given. This work is accomplished with the help of Han–Sun Jacobian, whose full characterization is also given in this case. The characterizations are given with simple and explicit formulae in terms of the active index set of the projection.
A STUDY ON GAS DRAINAGE CONSIDERING COUPLING PROCESS OF FRACTURE-PORE MICROSTRUCTURE AND COAL DEFORMATION
Authors: GUANNAN LIU , DAYU YE , BOMING YU , FENG GAO , PEIJIAN CHEN
Published: April 2021

Coal seam contains a large number of fractures, whose shape and structure of fissures are complicated, and they are the main channels for gas migration. Therefore, the quantitative analysis of the internal relationship between the microstructure and the macroscopic permeability is the key issue to increase the drainage volume. Some investigators discussed the permeability of coal seams based on the fractal theory, but the mechanisms of gas migration under the influence of fissure microstructures and coal deformation are still unclear. Moreover, most of the multi-process coupling analysis in the stage of Coal Bed Methane (CBM) mining was not taken into account. In this paper, the effects of fissure structures on the coal gas drainage rate in multi-field coupling are studied. Aiming at the mechanisms of gas drainage under the joint action of fracture structure, in-situ stress and adsorption deformation, we propose a two-scale multi-field coupling model, which takes into account the influences of micro fracture and pore structure. On this basis, we obtained the pressure evolution rule of coal seam pore system and fissure system and the distribution rule of coal seam displacement with drilling positions. Meanwhile, the effects of coal seam maximum fracture length, maximum pore diameter, the fractal dimension for fractures and fractal dimension for pores on coal seam extraction are discussed.
PHOTOINDUCED CURRENT GENERATION AND PHOTOCATALYTIC ACTIVITY OF TiO2–Fe2O3 NANOPARTICLES COATED MWCNTS FILMS PREPARED BY SPARKING PROCESS
Authors: SROILA W. , PANTHAWAN A. , JUMRUS N. , THONGPAN W. , KANTARAK E. , KUMPIKA T. , SINGJAI P. , THONGSUWAN W.
Published: April 2021

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and iron oxide (Fe2O3) nanoparticles (NPs) were successfully deposited on multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) films using a low-cost and simple sparking process. The as-deposited film was annealed at [Formula: see text]C for 2[Formula: see text]h to improve their crystallinity. The results show the anatase TiO2 and hematite Fe2O3 NPs with the size of 5–10[Formula: see text]nm are coated on MWCNTs. The bandgap energy of the as-prepared and the annealed films were 2.3[Formula: see text]eV and 2.7[Formula: see text]eV. Photocatalytic activity of the annealed films under visible irradiation is greater than the as-prepared films. Moreover, TiO2:Fe2O3 with the ratio of 3:1 was the optimized condition. Interestingly, the relative current of the annealed films increased to 0.75 when increasing the irradiation time for 5[Formula: see text]h. This result confirmed that the excited electron from photocatalytic activity can be transferred through the MWCNTs. This is an alternative way to produce the electric current from photocatalysis in the future.
FG-purity and FG-flat modules
Authors: Gillespie James
Published: April 2021

Let [Formula: see text] be a ring. We study the FG-pure exact sequences, which are defined analogously to pure exact sequences except with respect to finitely generated [Formula: see text]-modules rather than the finitely presented [Formula: see text]-modules. For Noetherian rings the two notions coincide. But for non-Noetherian rings, the FG-purity is sharper than the usual purity. We also study the corresponding notion of FG-flat module and construct a model for the FG-pure derived category. It is a compactly generated triangulated category.
3D U-Net: A voxel-based method in binding site prediction of protein structure
Authors: Nazem Fatemeh , Ghasemi Fahimeh , Fassihi Afshin , Dehnavi Alireza Mehri
Published: April 2021

Binding site prediction for new proteins is important in structure-based drug design. The identified binding sites may be helpful in the development of treatments for new viral outbreaks in the world when there is no information available about their pockets with COVID-19 being a case in point. Identification of the pockets using computational methods, as an alternative method, has recently attracted much interest. In this study, the binding site prediction is viewed as a semantic segmentation problem. An improved 3D version of the U-Net model based on the dice loss function is utilized to predict the binding sites accurately. The performance of the proposed model on the independent test datasets and SARS-COV-2 shows the segmentation model could predict the binding sites with a more accurate shape than the recently published deep learning model, i.e. DeepSite. Therefore, the model may help predict the binding sites of proteins and could be used in drug design for novel proteins.
Optimally Blended Spectral Elements in Structural Dynamics: Selective Integration and Mesh Distortion
Authors: Radtke Lars , Müller David , Düster Alexander
Published: April 2021

In the field of structural dynamics, spectral finite elements are well known for their appealing approximation properties. Based on a special combination of shape functions and quadrature points, a diagonal mass matrix is obtained. More recently, the so-called optimally blended spectral element method was introduced, which further improves the accuracy but comes at the cost of a non-diagonal mass matrix. In this work, we study and compare the approximation properties of the different spectral and finite element methods. For each method, an [Formula: see text]-version (fine meshes and low-order shape functions) as well as a [Formula: see text]-version (coarse meshes and high-order shape functions) are considered. Special attention is paid to the influence of the quadrature rule used to compute the stiffness matrix and the element distortion on the convergence behavior. The investigations reveal the importance of a correct (full) integration of the stiffness matrix in order to achieve the theoretically predicted convergence rates. However, looking at the full spectrum, novel variants of the method that apply only a single (reduced) quadrature rule for mass and stiffness matrix show a higher accuracy.
Element Differential Method for Solving Linear and Nonlinear Electromagnetic Problems
Authors: Gao Lan-Fang , Feng Wei-Zhe , Gao Xiao-Wei
Published: April 2021

A novel numerical method named element differential method (EDM) is first presented to solve linear and nonlinear static electromagnetic problems. The main idea of this method is to use the direct differentiation formulation of the shape functions of Lagrange isoparametric elements to evaluate geometry and physical variables. A new collocation method is proposed to establish the system of equations, in which the governing equation is collocated at the internal nodes of the elements, the continuity conditions of tangential component of magnetic field intensity and normal component of electric displacement vector are collocated at interface nodes between elements, and Neumann boundary conditions are collocated at outer surface nodes. Compared with the finite element method, there is no need to use any variational or energy principles to establish the system of equations and there is no requirement for integral evaluation. The derived spatial derivatives can be directly substituted into the static electromagnetic governing equations and the boundary conditions to form the final system of algebraic equations. Three 2D numerical examples are used to verify the correctness and effectiveness of the presented method for solving linear and nonlinear static electromagnetic problems.
Why Does Globalization Fuel Populism? Economics, Culture, and the Rise of Right-Wing Populism
Authors: Rodrik Dani
Published: April 2021

There is compelling evidence that globalization shocks, often working through culture and identity, have played an important role in driving up support for populist movements, particularly of the right-wing kind. I start with an empirical analysis of the 2016 presidential election in the United States to show that globalization-related attitudinal variables were important correlates of the switch to Trump. I then provide a conceptual framework that identifies four distinct channels through which globalization can stimulate populism, two each on the demand and supply sides of politics. I evaluate the empirical literature with the help of this framework, discussing trade, financial globalization, and immigration separately. I conclude the review by discussing some apparently anomalous cases in which populists have been against, rather than in favor of, trade protection.
From the Editor: Regulation and Compliance – A Double-Edged Sword
Authors: Rajeshwar Krishnan
Published: April 2021

What do electricity, workplace safety standards, automobile air bags, anti-pollution laws, and auto fuel standards have in common? They are all objects of industry or social regulation—regulation being the key operative word here.
From the Editor: Molecules to Solids and Back
Authors: Rajeshwar Krishnan
Published: April 2021

When I was a graduate student in the 1970s, solid state chemistry was not on the radar screen of many research scientists in the physical sciences. Chemists then were mainly focusing their attention on the other two states of matter—namely, gases and liquids. How dramatically the situation has changed since then!
Philadelphia Meeting Highlights: The Meeting of the Century – ECS Celebrates the Centennial
Authors: Rajeshwar Krishnan , Evans Dennis
Published: April 2021

It was a challenge for the century — to pack 100 years worth of celebrating into just six days — but the Society’s Centennial meeting did it, and provided a host of new memories for the Society’s next history book. The meeting included three plenary lectures, a record number of technical sessions, talks by two Nobel Laureates, a surprise visit by none other than Dr. Benjamin Franklin, visiting representatives of 21 “sister” societies from around the world, and a pull-out-the-stops closing celebration party for over 800 people.
Centennial Campaign - Winter 2002
Authors: Miller Troy
Published: April 2021

Supporting the growth of the educational and training opportunities that The Electrochemical Society provides to its members, and to the solid state and electrochemical community as a whole, is a goal of the ECS Centennial Campaign.
VERONICA and TINOR 2000: New Technologies for Aluminum Production
Authors: de Nora Vittoria
Published: April 2021

The technology for the production of aluminum by the electrolysis of alumina, dissolved in molten cryolite at temperatures around 950°C, is more than one hundred years old. The process, conceived almost simultaneously by Hall and Héroult, which can be expressed 2Al2O3 + 3C → 4Al + 3CO2 has not undergone the same process evolution that other large electrochemical processes have, such as the electrochemical production of chlorine and caustic soda from brine.
New Strategies for Electrochemical Nucleic Acid Detection
Authors: Popovich Natasha , Thorp Holden
Published: April 2021

Electrochemical technologies have received increasing attention for development of biological assays. Electrochemical methods have the potential to allow for very low limits of detection if all of the analyte can be delivered efficiently to the electrode surface. In addition, the electroactivity of the nucleobases and sugars may provide a means by which the attachment of fluorescent and radioactive labels to target nucleic acids can be avoided.
New Magnetic Functionalities Presented by Prussian Blue Analogues
Authors: Ohkoshi Shin-ichi , Hashimoto Kazuhito
Published: April 2021

Molecular magnetism has been one of the active areas in molecular chemistry for the last 15 years. The advantages of molecule-based magnets compared to classical metal and metal oxide ones are that the magnets can be obtained through a selection of proper spin sources (e.g., transition metal ions, organic radicals) and coordinating ligands.
Sacubitril/valsartan treatment has differential effects in modulating diabetic kidney disease in db/db mice and KKAy mice compared with valsartan treatment
Authors: Myakala Komuraiah , Jones Bryce A. , Wang Xiaoxin X. , Levi Moshe
Published: April 2021

The first-in-class drug sacubitril/valsartan, a combination of the angiotensin II receptor blocker valsartan and neprilysin inhibitor sacubitril, was tested for its effects in diabetic kidney disease using db/db mice and KKAy mice. We found that Sac/Val has sufficient therapeutical potential to counter the pathophysiological effects of diabetic kidney disease. We further revealed a new mechanism to cause inflammation, self-DNA-activated cGAS-STING signaling, which was activated in diabetic kidneys and prevented by sacubitril/valsartan or valsartan treatment.
Muscle transcriptional networks linked to resistance exercise training hypertrophic response heterogeneity
Authors: Lavin Kaleen M. , Bell Margaret B. , McAdam Jeremy S. , Peck Bailey D. , Walton R. Grace , Windham Samuel T. , Tuggle S. Craig , Long Douglas E. , Kern Philip A. , Peterson Charlotte A. , Bamman Marcas M.
Published: April 2021

The skeletal muscle hypertrophic response to resistance exercise training (RT) is highly variable across individuals. The molecular underpinnings of this heterogeneity are unclear. This study investigated transcriptional networks linked to RT-induced muscle hypertrophy, classified as 1) predictive of hypertrophy, 2) responsive to RT independent of muscle hypertrophy, or 3) plastic with hypertrophy. Older adults ( n = 31, 18 F/13 M, 70 ± 4 yr) underwent 14-wk RT (3 days/wk, alternating high-low-high intensity). Muscle hypertrophy was assessed by pre- to post-RT change in mid-thigh muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) [computed tomography (CT), primary outcome] and thigh lean mass [dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), secondary outcome]. Transcriptome-wide poly-A RNA-seq was performed on vastus lateralis tissue collected pre- ( n = 31) and post-RT ( n = 22). Prediction networks (using only baseline RNA-seq) were identified by weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA). To identify Plasticity networks, WGCNA change indices for paired samples were calculated and correlated to changes in muscle size outcomes. Pathway-level information extractor (PLIER) was applied to identify Response networks and link genes to biological annotation. Prediction networks ( n = 6) confirmed transcripts previously connected to resistance/aerobic training adaptations in the MetaMEx database while revealing novel member genes that should fuel future research to understand the influence of baseline muscle gene expression on hypertrophy. Response networks ( n = 6) indicated RT-induced increase in aerobic metabolism and reduced expression of genes associated with spliceosome biology and type-I myofibers. A single exploratory Plasticity network was identified. Findings support that interindividual differences in baseline gene expression may contribute more than RT-induced changes in gene networks to muscle hypertrophic response heterogeneity. Code/Data: https://github.com/kallavin/MASTERS_manuscript/tree/master .
Cloud Classroom Design for English Education Based on Internet of Things and Data Mining
Authors: Luo Xiaohua
Published: April 2021

The Informa ionization of social life and the globalization of economy have made the importance of English increasingly prominent. Building an information-based teaching platform for supplementary teaching under the network environment has become a mainstream teaching method in various basic schools. How to integrate various types of multimedia teaching resources into English classroom teaching has become the main goal of the current college teaching reform. Aiming at the shortcomings of the current English education classroom, this paper designs and develops an English education cloud classroom based on the Internet of Things and data mining methods. First of all, the system adopts a three-tier B/S model, the development platform chooses, NET, the development language, uses ASP.NET, and the database chooses SQL server. Secondly, the data mining method is used to clean and organize the data in the cloud classroom background to explore the course education status behind the data. Finally, the simulation test analysis verifies the efficiency of the English education cloud classroom established in this article.
A Novel PAPR Reduction Scheme for OFDM Systems Based on Neural Networks
Authors: Zou Feng , Liu Zhijun , Hu Xin , Wang Gang
Published: April 2021

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is extensively applied in the downlink of narrowband Internet of Things (NB‐IoT). However, the high peak‐to‐average power ratio (PAPR) of OFDM systems leads to a decrease in transmitter efficiency. Therefore, the researchers proposed the artificial neural network (ANN) based PAPR reduction schemes. However, these schemes have the disadvantages of high complexity or cannot overcome the defects of traditional schemes. In this paper, a novel PAPR reduction scheme based on neural networks (NNs) is proposed for OFDM systems. This scheme establishes a PAPR reduction module based on NN, which is trained using the low PAPR data obtained by the simplified clipping and filtering (SCF) method. To overcome the defect of poor BER performance of the SCF scheme, a recovery module is introduced at the receiver, to recover the distorted signal. To realize the improvement of BER performance and the reduction of PAPR simultaneously, the two modules are jointly trained based on multiobjective optimization. Experimental results based on a 100 MHz OFDM signal show that this scheme can reduce PAPR by 4.5 dB. Meanwhile, the BER of this scheme can be reduced to 0.001 times that of the SCF scheme.
The Correlation between Demographical and Lifestyle Factors and Traditional Chinese Medicine Constitution among Macau Elderly Individuals
Authors: Bai Qian , Chuang Yaochen , Zhao Yonghua , Wang Yao , Ge Pu , Xu Youhua , Bian Ying
Published: April 2021

Objectives. To measure the distributed characteristics of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) constitutions, as well as related factors with biased TCM constitutions among the elderly individuals in Macau. Methods. The elderly individuals from elderly healthcare centers located in Macao Peninsula, Taipa, and Coloane were selected as research samples. The basic information questionnaire and the Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire (CCMQ) for elderly were employed. Descriptive analysis was applied to illustrate demographical characteristics and TCM constitution distribution. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to explore potential factors influencing biased constitutions, and weight of each variable for constitution was further calculated. Results. A total of 313 participants were recruited. Eighty-six (27.48%) elderly were identified as balanced constitution; others were biased constitutions accounting for 72.52%. Distribution differences related to gender and age were identified among participants with unbalanced constitutions. Four biased constitutions were further analyzed with EFA. For qi-stagnation and yang-deficiency constitutions, three similar factors were determined in the domains of education, sleeping habits, and lifestyle behaviors, successively. Although four factors were identified in phlegm-dampness constitution, the latter two belonged to lifestyle behaviors and the former two were education and sleeping habits. For yin-deficiency constitution, education, tobacco-alcohol consumption, sleeping habits, and exercise were four dimensions of potential influential factors. Tobacco consumption, sleep, and exercise duration weighted the most for qi-stagnation constitution; sleep duration, education level, and sugar-containing beverage intake for phlegm-dampness; length of education, alcohol consumption, and education level for yang-deficiency constitution; and weekly exercise hours, sleep duration, and education level for yin-deficiency constitution. Conclusion. The prevalence rate of biased constitutions was relatively high among elderly residents in Macau. Relations between demographical and lifestyle behavioral factors and biased constitutions were identified in this study. Controlling these influential factors might be beneficial for health management of Macau elderly individuals.
Corrosion Reason Analysis of 13Cr110 Tubing in an Injection and Production Well of the Suqiao Gas Storage Group
Authors: Cai Rui , Gui Jie , Li Mingxing , Zhao Binbin , Bai Xiaohong , Cheng Guangxu
Published: April 2021

Natural gas as a clean energy, its extensive use can alleviate energy crisis and environmental pollution and other problems. The storage and transportation of natural gas are of great significance to the standard use of natural gas. Suqiao gas storage reservoir is responsible for seasonal peak adjustment and emergency gas supply in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, and the corrosion of tubular goods is the most important issue. In this paper, the tubing composition analysis, metallographic structure analysis, mechanical property analysis, simulated corrosion test, corrosion morphology, and product analysis were carried out to analyze and study the corrosion behavior under the conditions, and suggestions were put forward to control the corrosion of the outer surface of the tubing.
Prevalence and Social and Built Environmental Determinants of Maternal Prepregnancy Obesity in 68 Major Metropolitan Cities of the United States, 2013–2016
Authors: Singh Gopal K. , DiBari Jessica N. , Lee Hyunjung
Published: April 2021

Objective. Maternal prepregnancy obesity is related to increased maternal morbidity and mortality and poor birth outcomes. However, prevalence and risk factors for prepregnancy obesity in US cities are not known. This study examines the prevalence and social and environmental determinants of maternal prepregnancy obesity (BMI ≥30), overweight/obesity (BMI ≥25), and severe obesity (BMI ≥40) in the 68 largest metropolitan cities of the United States. Methods. We fitted logistic and Poisson regression models to the 2013–2016 national vital statistics birth cohort data (N = 3,083,600) to derive unadjusted and adjusted city differentials in maternal obesity and to determine social and environmental determinants. Results. Considerable disparities existed across cities, with the prevalence of prepregnancy obesity ranging from 10.4% in San Francisco to 36.6% in Detroit. Approximately 63.0% of mothers in Detroit were overweight or obese before pregnancy, compared with 29.2% of mothers in San Francisco. Severe obesity ranged from 1.4% in San Francisco to 8.5% in Cleveland. Women in Anchorage, Buffalo, Cleveland, Fresno, Indianapolis, Louisville, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, Sacramento, St Paul, Toledo, Tulsa, and Wichita had >2 times higher adjusted odds of prepregnancy obesity compared to those in San Francisco. Race/ethnicity, maternal age, parity, marital status, nativity/immigrant status, and maternal education were important individual-level risk factors and accounted for 63%, 39%, and 72% of the city disparities in prepregnancy obesity, overweight/obesity, and severe obesity, respectively. Area deprivation, violent crime rates, physical inactivity rates, public transport use, and access to parkland and green spaces remained significant predictors of prepregnancy obesity even after controlling for individual-level covariates. Conclusions. Substantial disparities in maternal prepregnancy obesity among the major US cities remain despite risk-factor adjustment, with women in several Southern and Midwestern cities experiencing high risks of obesity. Sound urban policies are needed to promote healthier lifestyles and favorable social and built environments for obesity reduction and improved maternal health.
Therapeutic Effects and Associated Mechanisms by which “Fuyang Jiedu Huayu” Granules Treat Chronic Liver Failure in the Rat
Authors: Ye Qianling , Jiang Hainan , Lan Yanmei , Wang Minggang , Mao Dewen
Published: April 2021

Aim. Fuyang Jiedu Huayu (FYJDHY) granules are a combination of five traditional Chinese medicines with known therapeutic effects against chronic liver failure (CLF). The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of FYJDHY to ameliorate the effects of carbon tetrachloride- (CCl4-) induced CLF in rats and to explore the possible molecular mechanisms underlying its therapeutic efficacy. Methods. A model of chronic liver failure was established by intraperitoneal injection of 50% carbon tetrachloride into SD rats for 8 weeks. After establishing the model, rats were treated with either low-dose (4.725 kg/d), medium-dose (9.45 kg/d), or high-dose (18.9 g/kg/d) FYJDHY for 2 weeks. After treatment, samples of liver tissue and blood were harvested from rats in each group. Serum ALT, AST, and TBIL levels and prothrombin time were measured using a biochemical analyzer. The expression of Gab1 (Grb2-associated binder 1), TPO (thrombopoietin), and its receptor c-Mpl were measured using quantitative real-time PCR (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis, and assessment of histological improvement in liver tissue was by H&E-stained tissue sections. Results. Compared with the model group, serum ALT, AST, and TBIL levels and PT of rats in the intervention group were significantly reduced (

P
<
0.05

). In addition, FYJDHY alleviated pathological damage to liver tissue and increased the expression of Gab1, TPO, and its receptor c-Mpl in liver tissue, to levels statistically significant compared with the model group (

P
<
0.05

). Conclusions. The therapeutic effect of FYJDHY on CLF may be related to the promotion of angiogenesis and improvement in hemopoietic function in individuals suffering from CLF.
Multiple Influence Factor Sensitivity Analysis and Height Prediction of Water-Conducting Fracture Zone
Authors: Li Xiaobin , Li Quansheng , Xu Xuhui , Zhao Yongqiang , Li Peng
Published: April 2021

To explore the influence law and sensitivity of various factors on the height of the water-conducting fracture zone, and further predict the development height of the water-conducting fracture zone, taking the field survey and collected actual measured data as the research foundation, establishing mathematical model, regression analysis, and field measurement were adopted comprehensively. Based on the Data Processing System (DPS), influence factors of the development height of the water-conducting fracture zone were analyzed. By introducing sensitivity coefficient, a sensitivity quantification mathematical model was established, and sensitivity ranking was obtained. The regression relationship between each factor and the height of the water-conducting fracture zone was obtained by single factor analysis. Based on this, the prediction formula was proposed and successfully used in the field practice. Results show that the sensitivity coefficient of mining thickness, ratio coefficient of hard rock lithology, mining depth, and length of working face was 0.75, 0.69, 0.66, and 0.58, respectively. The dispersion degree of working face length and mining depth was greater than that of ratio coefficient of hard rock lithology and mining thickness. To some extent, it also reflects that the sensitivity of working face length and mining depth to the height of the water-conducting fracture zone was the weakest, which was consistent with the previous conclusions. Using the multiple regression mathematical model, a nonlinear statistical relationship between the height of the water-conducting fracture zone and ratio coefficient of hard rock lithology, mining thickness, working face length, and mining depth was obtained. This research provides some scientific basis and guidance for safe and efficient underwater mining.
Evaluation of Potential Application of Wharton’s Jelly-Derived Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and its Conditioned Media for Dermal Regeneration using Rat Wound Healing Model
Authors: Mathen Caroline , Ghag Sawant Mrunal , Gupta Raghubansh , Dsouza Wilfrid , Krishna Shilpa G.
Published: April 2021

Mesenchymal stromal cells and the derived conditioned media represent an area of tremendous medical interest and, among other clinical applications, are currently being extensively explored for wound healing. The aim of this study was to comparatively evaluate the wound healing potential of xeno-free human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and the conditioned media (CM) in a full-thickness excision wound model in rats. The evaluation parameters included rate of wound healing, serum cytokine analyses, collagen content, histopathology, and hyperspectral imaging as an independent qualitative and quantitative tool. Both the cell-based and cell-free approaches scored better in lower inflammation, as evidenced in lower IL-10 and stable IL-6 levels, and improved rate of wound healing (p < 0.0001). More importantly, no adverse reaction or rejection was observed although human MSCs and CM were used in a xenogeneic model. The presence of hFGF, hHGF, hGCSF, hIL-1Ra, hVEGF, and hIL-6 in the secretome may elucidate the regenerative potential of the xeno-free cell-based and cell-free approaches which have translational value for advanced wound care. The results revealed the therapeutic potential of both the cell-based and cell-free approaches for wound healing.
Pathophysiological Implication of Vitamin D in Diabetic Kidney Disease
Authors: Galuška David , Pácal Lukáš , Kaňková Kateřina
Published: April 2021

Background: Vitamin D is a hormone regulating not only calcium and phosphate homeostasis but also, at the same time, exerting many other extraskeletal functions via genomic effects (gene transcription) and probably by non-genomic effects as well. Availability is ensured by dietary intake of its precursors and by de novo production via sunlight. Yet, vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are very common across the globe and are connected to many pathophysiological states, for example, diabetes mellitus, allergies, autoimmune diseases, pregnancy complications, and recently have also been associated with worse COVID-19 clinical outcomes. Summary: In this review, we summarize current knowledge about vitamin D metabolism in general, its role in diabetes mellitus (mainly type 2) and diabetic complications (mainly diabetic kidney disease), and potential therapeutic perspectives including vitamin D signalling as a druggable target. Key Messages: Vitamin D is not only a vitamin but also a hormone involved in many physiological processes. Its insufficiency or deficiency can lead to many pathological states.
Inhibition of Both Cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 Promotes Epicutaneous Th2 and Th17 Sensitization and Allergic Airway Inflammation on Subsequent Airway Exposure to Protease Allergen in Mice
Authors: Suchiva Punyada , Takai Toshiro , Kamijo Seiji , Maruyama Natsuko , Yokomizo Takehiko , Sugimoto Yukihiko , Okumura Ko , Ikeda Shigaku , Ogawa Hideoki
Published: April 2021

Introduction: Epicutaneous (e.c.) allergen exposure is an important route of sensitization toward allergic diseases in the atopic march. Allergen sources such as house dust mites contain proteases that involve in the pathogenesis of allergy. Prostanoids produced via pathways downstream of cyclooxygenases (COXs) regulate immune responses. Here, we demonstrate effects of COX inhibition with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on e.c. sensitization to protease allergen and subsequent airway inflammation in mice. Methods: Mice were treated with NSAIDs during e.c. sensitization to a model protease allergen, papain, and/or subsequent intranasal challenge with low-dose papain. Serum antibodies, cytokine production in antigen-restimulated skin or bronchial draining lymph node (DLN) cells, and airway inflammation were analyzed. Results: In e.c. sensitization, treatment with a nonspecific COX inhibitor, indomethacin, promoted serum total and papain-specific IgE response and Th2 and Th17 cytokine production in skin DLN cells. After intranasal challenge, treatment with indomethacin promoted allergic airway inflammation and Th2 and Th17 cytokine production in bronchial DLN cells, which depended modestly or largely on COX inhibition during e.c. sensitization or intranasal challenge, respectively. Co-treatment with COX-1-selective and COX-2-selective inhibitors promoted the skin and bronchial DLN cell Th cytokine responses and airway inflammation more efficiently than treatment with either selective inhibitor. Conclusion: The results suggest that the overall effects of COX downstream prostanoids are suppressive for development and expansion of not only Th2 but also, unexpectedly, Th17 upon exposure to protease allergens via skin or airways and allergic airway inflammation.
Utility of True Fast Imaging with Steady-State Precession in Detecting Arachnoid Veils of the Posterior Fossa
Authors: Kashanian Alon , Binesh Nader , Pressman Barry D. , Danielpour Moise
Published: April 2021

Introduction: Arachnoid membranes are well recognized as a cause of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow impairment in disorders such as obstructive hydrocephalus and syringohydromyelia, but can be difficult to detect with standard noninvasive imaging techniques. True fast imaging with steady-state precession (TrueFISP) can exhibit brain pulsations and CSF dynamics with high spatiotemporal resolution. Here, we demonstrate the utility of this technique in the diagnosis and management of arachnoid membranes in the posterior fossa. Case Presentations: Three symptomatic children underwent cine TrueFISP imaging for suspicion of CSF membranous obstruction. Whereas standard imaging failed to or did not clearly visualize the site of an obstructive lesion, preoperative TrueFISP identified a membrane in all 3 cases. The membranes were confirmed intraoperatively, and postoperative TrueFISP helped verify adequate marsupialization and recommunication of CSF flow. Two out of the 3 cases showed a decrease in cerebellar tonsillar pulsatility following surgery. All children showed symptomatic improvement. Conclusion: TrueFISP is able to detect pulsatile arachnoid membranes responsible for CSF outflow obstruction that are otherwise difficult to visualize using standard imaging techniques. We advocate use of this technology in pre- and postsurgical decision-making as it provides a more representative image of posterior fossa pathology and contributes to our understanding of CSF flow dynamics. There is potential to use this technology to establish prognostic biomarkers for disorders of CSF hydrodynamics.
Intradermal Testing Identifies 1 in 4 Patients with Nonimmediate Penicillin Allergy
Authors: Fransson Sara , Mosbech Holger F. , Elberling Jesper , Kappel Mogens , Garvey Lene H.
Published: April 2021

Background: Intradermal testing with delayed reading (IDTdr), used routinely in many centers, may identify delayed reactions to penicillins. However, few studies have compared the results of IDTdr with drug provocation test (DPT). The aim of this study was to examine the proportion of provocation-positive patients testing positive on IDTdr. Methods: Fifty-seven patients with a positive DPT occurring >2 h after intake of penicillin V, dicloxacillin, pivampicillin, or amoxicillin had an IDTdr with penicillin G, amoxicillin, ampicillin, and dicloxacillin. A control group included 18 patients with negative DPTs with the suspected penicillin. Results: In total 25% (n = 14) of provocation-positive patients tested positive on IDTdr. Among patients with positive IDTdr, 9/14 (64%) versus 11/43 (26%) in the IDTdr negative group (p < 0.05) had required oral steroids to treat skin reactions following DPT. No other differences between IDTdr positive and negative groups were found. No controls had a positive IDTdr. Conclusion: Investigating with IDTdr would have identified 25% of patients with a DPT-verified allergy with delayed reactions. It is difficult to target subgroups who will test positive on IDTdr. There were more patients who tested positive on IDT who had received oral steroids after DPT, and this may be an indication that skin reaction severity plays a role in skin testing diagnostics. Further potential predictors for positivity of IDTdr, such as duration of skin symptoms, should be assessed in large studies in order to optimize the investigations of nonimmediate drug allergic reactions.
Systematic Review of Microthrombi in COVID-19 Autopsies
Authors: Parra-Medina Rafael , Herrera Sabrina , Mejia Jaime
Published: April 2021

Background: Histopathological analysis can provide additional clues in COVID-19 understanding. During the last year, autopsy reports have revealed that diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) is the most significant observed finding. The aim of this study is to review cases in the literature about COVID-19 autopsies that reported microthrombi in different organs. Methods: We performed a systematic literature review in PubMed, Virtual Health Library (VHL), and Google Scholar. Results: In total, 151 autopsies were included, and 91 cases presented microthrombi in the lung (73%), heart (11.2%), kidney (24%), and liver (16.3%). The age range was between 27 and 96 years. Males were 64.8%. The patients with microthrombi had more comorbidities such as arterial hypertension (62%), obesity or overweight (64%), diabetes mellitus type 2 (51%), and heart disease (53%). The most common histopathological changes found in patients with lung microthrombosis were DAD in exudative phase (78%), pulmonary embolism (59%), and lung infarct (81%). Presence of microthrombi was associated with arterial hypertension (p < 0.0001) and DAD in exudative and proliferative phases (p = 0.02). Discussion: The analysis of these results shows that microthrombi in COVID-19 autopsies may be found in different organs and are more frequent in patients with comorbidities, pulmonary embolism, and lung infarct.
Evaluation of Allergic Disease Prevalence and Related Risk Factors in Children with Autoimmune Thyroiditis
Authors: Ademhan Tural Dilber , Ucakturk Seyit Ahmet , Guvenir Hakan , Kocabas Can Naci , Dibek Misirlioglu Emine
Published: April 2021

Background: Allergic and autoimmune diseases are caused by an impaired immunological response resulting from different types of T-helper (Th) cells. Since the Th cell production is in a certain balance, an inverse relationship between the 2 disease groups may exist. In this study, we aimed to investigate the frequency of allergic diseases in children with autoimmune thyroiditis (AT). Methods: Symptoms of allergic diseases were investigated by the (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood) ISAAC questionnaire. The questionnaire was administered to a group of 300 children with AT and a control group of 300 children with no known autoimmune disease. The risk factors for allergic diseases and sociodemographic characteristics were investigated. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed with the risk factors of allergic diseases. Results: Asthma, wheezing during the last year, wheezing with exercise, disease-free night cough, and night cough were significantly less common in patients with AT. Allergic rhinitis symptoms, except physician-diagnosed allergic rhinitis, are found significantly less frequently in patients with AT. It was found that the presence of AT and an increase in the number of children in the family reduce the risk of allergic diseases; cat-dog contact before 1 year of age and the presence of asthma, eczema, or allergic rhinitis in the mother increase the risk of allergic diseases. Conclusions: Asthma and allergic rhinitis symptoms were significantly less common in children with AT. AT reduces the risk of allergic diseases.
Wearable Devices: Current Status and Opportunities in Pain Assessment and Management
Authors: Leroux Andrew , Rzasa-Lynn Rachael , Crainiceanu Ciprian , Sharma Tushar
Published: April 2021

Introduction: We investigated the possibilities and opportunities for using wearable devices that measure physical activity and physiometric signals in conjunction with ecological momentary assessment (EMA) data to improve the assessment and treatment of pain. Methods: We considered studies with cross-sectional and longitudinal designs as well as interventional or observational studies correlating pain scores with measures derived from wearable devices. A search was also performed on studies that investigated physical activity and physiometric signals among patients with pain. Results: Few studies have assessed the possibility of incorporating wearable devices as objective tools for contextualizing pain and physical function in free-living environments. Of the studies that have been conducted, most focus solely on physical activity and functional outcomes as measured by a wearable accelerometer. Several studies report promising correlations between pain scores and signals derived from wearable devices, objectively measured physical activity, and physical function. In addition, there is a known association between physiologic signals that can be measured by wearable devices and pain, though studies using wearable devices to measure these signals and associate them with pain in free-living environments are limited. Conclusion: There exists a great opportunity to study the complex interplay between physiometric signals, physical function, and pain in a real-time fashion in free-living environments. The literature supports the hypothesis that wearable devices can be used to develop reproducible biosignals that correlate with pain. The combination of wearable devices and EMA will likely lead to the development of clinically meaningful endpoints that will transform how we understand and treat pain patients.
Right Heart Phenotype in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Guazzi Marco , Naeije Robert
Published: April 2021

The health burden of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is increasingly recognized. Despite improvements in diagnostic algorithms and established knowledge on the clinical trajectory, effective treatment options for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction remain limited, mainly because of the high mechanistic heterogeneity. Diagnostic scores, big data, and phenomapping categorization are proposed as key steps needed for progress. In the meantime, advancements in imaging techniques combined to high-fidelity pressure signaling analysis have uncovered right ventricular dysfunction as a mediator of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction progression and as major independent determinant of poor outcome. This review summarizes the current understanding of the pathophysiology of right ventricular dysfunction in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction covering the different right heart phenotypes and offering perspectives on new treatments targeting the right ventricle in its function and geometry.