bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CTAB-assisted fabrication of Zn-doped TiO 2 with improved dielectric performance and electrical response for energy storage and photocatalytic activity
Authors: Dhaou Mariem , Elaloui Elimame
Published: November 2022

The synthesis of undoped and Zn-doped TiO2 prepared by the Stöber modified sol-gel technique and characterized for their microstructural, compositional, optical and electrical properties. XRD patterns have shown the existence of a single anatase crystalline phase. Grain sizes calculated by the Rietveld method were obtained with a decrease of 28 to 12 nm do to the incorporation of both CTAB and Zn content doping. An optical study shows a red shift with a band gap narrowing (from 3.2 to 3.1 eV) attributed to the formation of defects in the host lattice. The Raman spectra showed both broadening and shifting of the TiO2 bands with decreasing particle size. The electric and dielectric spectra have been successfully studied in the frequency range of 40 Hz to 1 MHz between 500 K to 600 K. With the rising temperature, the dc conductivity values remain close to 10− 8 S/cm, and the activation energies rise from 0.37 to 1.2 eV, respectively. The ac conductivity follows the Jonscher power law, which depends obviously on the Zn amount. Nyquist plots were fitted to a parallel combination of a resistance and constant phase (CPE) circuit. These results strongly suggest that the oxygen vacancies play a pivotal role and these oxides are potential candidate for photocatalysis device applications.
In vitro studies of titanium dioxide nanoparticles modified with glutathione as a potential drug delivery system
Authors: Pulit-Prociak Jolanta , Długosz Olga , Staroń Anita , Radomski Piotr , Domagała Dominik , Banach Marcin
Published: November 2022

Nowadays, the development of medicine is inextricably linked with the use of new products, often with unique features. Nanotechnology deals with the creation of materials with specific properties in order to meet the requirements. This paper addresses issues related to the use of nanoparticles as drug delivery carriers, with a particular focus on titanium dioxide nanoparticles. To reduce the release of harmful titanium ions from the carrier surface, the materials were modified. In the first stage of research work, TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared by sol-gel method. Their surface was coated with an organic substance, i.e. glutathione. The properties of the obtained materials were then investigated, including particle size, specific surface area and microscopic morphology. In the next stage of the study, the amount of titanium ions released from the modified carriers was determined. For this purpose, leaching of nanoparticle samples in deionized water environment was performed. Another stage included the assessment of an active substance releasing froth the prepared materials loaded with tadalafil. In vitro studies were also performed. Cytotoxic and mutagenic properties of the obtained materials in relation to CHO cells were investigated. The results obtained confirmed a decrease in the amount of titanium ions released in comparison to the reference material in which no modifier was used. In addition, the obtained materials show satisfactory purity and surface morphology allowing the formation of carrier-drug interfaces. The results of in vitro studies let us to claim that the prepared modified titanium dioxide nanoparticles have a great potential for being applied as drug carrier.
Assessment of Artemisinin Tolerance in Plasmodium Falciparum Field Isolates in Children with Uncomplicated Malaria in a Ghanaian Population
Authors: Ahorhorlu Samuel Yao , Quashie Neils Ben , Jensen Rasmus Weisel , Kudzi William , Nartey Edmund Tetteh , Duah-Quashie Nancy Odurowah , Zoiku Felix , Dzudzor Bartholomew , Wang Christian William , Hansson Helle , Alifrangis Michael , Adjei George Obeng
Published: November 2022

Background
Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) are the first-line treatments for uncomplicated malaria in Ghana. Artemisinin (ART) tolerance in Plasmodium falciparum has arisen in Southeast Asia (SEA) and recently, in parts of East Africa. This is ascribed to the survival of ring-stage parasites post treatment. We sought to assess and characterize correlates of potential ART tolerance based on post-treatment parasite clearance, ex vivo and in vitro drug vulnerability, and molecular markers of drug resistance in P. falciparum isolates from children with uncomplicated malaria in Ghana.
Methods
Six months to fourteen years old children having uncomplicated malaria (n = 115) were enrolled from two hospitals and a health center in Ghana’s Greater Accra region and treated with artemether-lumefantrine (AL) according to body weight. Pre- and post-treatment parasitemia (day 0 and day 3) was confirmed by microscopy. The ex vivo ring-stage survival assay (RSA) was used to detect percent ring survival while the 72 hr SYBR Green 1 assay was used to measure the 50% inhibition concentration (IC50s) of ART and its derivatives and partner drugs. Genetic markers of drug tolerance /resistance were evaluated using selective whole genome sequencing.
Results
Of the total of 115 participants, 85 were successfully followed up on day 3 post-treatment and had 2/85 (2.4%) parasitemia. The IC50 values of ART, artesunate (AS), artemether (AM), dihydroartemisinin (DHA), amodiaquine (AQ), and lumefantrine (LUM) were not indicative of drug tolerance. However, 7/90 (7.8%) pre-treatment isolates had > 10% ring survival rates against DHA. Of the four isolates (2 RSA positive and 2 RSA negative) with high genomic coverage, P. falciparum kelch 13 K188* and Pfcoronin V424I mutations were only present in the two RSA positive isolates with > 10% ring survival rates.
Conclusions
The observed low proportion of participants with post-treatment parasitemia suggests AL remains efficacious. However, the increased rates of survival observed in the ex vivo RSA against DHA, maybe a pointer of an early start of ART tolerance. Furthermore, the role of two novel mutations in PfK13 and Pfcoronin genes, harbored by the two RSA positive isolates that had high ring survival in our study, remains to be elucidated.
Insights into the circulating microbiome of the Atlantic and Greenland halibut populations: the role of species-specific and environmental factors
Authors: Fronton Fanny , Ferchiou Sophia , Caza France , Villemur Richard , Robert Dominique , St-Pierre Yves
Published: November 2022

The establishment of long-term microbiome-based monitoring programs is critical for the management and conservation of wild fish populations in response to climate change. In most cases, these studies have been conducted on gut and, to a lesser extent, skin (mucus) microbiomes. Here, we exploited the concept of liquid biopsy to study the circulating bacterial microbiome of two Northern halibut species of economic and ecological importance. Amplification and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was achieved using a single drop of blood fixed on FTA™ cards to identify the core blood microbiome of Atlantic and Greenland halibut populations inhabiting the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada. We provide evidence that the circulating microbiome DNA (cmDNA) is driven by both species-specific and environmental factors. More specifically, we found that the circulating microbiome signatures are species specific and vary according to sex, size, temperature, condition factor, and geographical localization. Overall, our study provides a novel approach for the detection of dysbiotic signatures and the risk of disease in wild fish populations for fisheries management, most notably in the context of climate change.
Characterization of the bacterial microbiome of Swedish ticks through 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of whole ticks and of individual tick organs
Authors: Grandi Giulio , Chiappa Giulia , Ullman Karin , Lindgren Per-Eric , Olivieri Emanuela , Sassera Davide , Östlund Emma , Omazic Anna , Perissinotto Debora , Söderlund Robert
Published: November 2022

Background
The composition of the microbial flora associated with ixodid ticks has been studied in several species, revealing the importance of geographical origin, developmental stage(s) and feeding status of the tick, as well as substantial differences between tissues and organs. Studying the microbiome in the correct context and scale is therefore necessary for understanding the interactions between tick-borne pathogens and other microorganisms as well as other aspects of tick biology.
Methods
In the present study the microbial flora of whole Ixodes ricinus, I. persulcatus and I. trianguliceps ticks were analyzed with 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Additionally, tick organs (midguts, Malpighian tubules, ovaries, salivary glands) from flat and engorged I. ricinus female ticks were examined with the same methodology.
Results
The most abundant bacteria belonged to the group of Proteobacteria (Cand.Midichloria mitochondrii and Cand.Lariskella). 16S amplicon sequencing of dissected tick organs provided more information on the diversity of I. ricinus-associated microbial flora, especially when organs were collected from engorged ticks. Bacterial genera significantly associated with tick feeding status as well as genera associated with the presence of tick-borne pathogens were identified.
Conclusions
These results contribute to the knowledge of microbial flora associated with ixodid ticks in their northernmost distribution limit in Europe and opens new perspectives for other investigations on the function of these bacteria, including those using other approaches like in vitro cultivation and in vitro models.
Genome-wide mapping of gene-microbe interactions in the murine lung microbiota based on quantitative microbial profiling
Authors: Chung Cecilia J. , Hermes Britt M. , Gupta Yask , Ibrahim Saleh , Belheouane Meriem , Baines John F.
Published: November 2022

Background: Mammalian lungs comprise a complex microbial ecosystem that interacts with host physiology. Previous research demonstrates that the environment significantly contributes to bacterial community structure in the upper and lower respiratory tract. However, the influence of host genetics on the makeup of lung microbiota remains ambiguous, largely due to technical difficulties related to sampling, as well as challenges inherent to investigating low biomass communities. Thus, innovative approaches are warranted to clarify host-microbe interactions in the mammalian lung.Results: Here, we aimed to characterize host genomic regions associated with lung bacterial traits in an advanced intercross mouse line (AIL). By performing quantitative microbial profiling (QMP) using the highly precise method of droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), we refined 16S rRNA gene amplicon-based traits to identify and map candidate lung-resident taxa using a QTL mapping approach. In addition, the two abundant core taxaLactobacillusandPelomonaswere chosen for independent microbial phenotyping using genus-specific primers. In total, this revealed seven significant loci involving eight bacterial traits. The narrow confidence intervals afforded by the AIL population allowed us to identify several promising candidate genes related to immune and inflammatory responses, cell apoptosis, DNA repair, and lung functioning and disease susceptibility. Interestingly, one genomic region associated withLactobacillusabundance contains the well-known anti-inflammatory cytokineIl10, which we confirmed through the analysis ofIl10knockout mice.Conclusions: Our study provides the first evidence for a role of host genetic variation contributing to variation in the lung microbiota. This was in large part made possible through the careful curation of 16S rRNA gene amplicon data and the incorporation of a QMP-based methods. This approach to evaluating the low biomass lung environment opens new avenues for advancing lung microbiome research using animal models.
Introduction of a PRRSV-1 strain of increased virulence in a pig production structure in Spain: virus evolution and impact on production
Authors: Martín-Valls Gerard E. , Cortey Martí , Allepuz Alberto , Illas Francesc , Tello Montserrat , Mateu Enric
Published: November 2022

Background A strainof Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus(PRRSV), showing characteristics of enhanced virulence, affected a pyramidal production system from Spain with 7,600 sows in 4 genetic nuclei and 13,000 sows in multipliers. Different PRRSV strains circulating in this production system from December 2020 to October 2021 were detected and sequenced. The spread of each isolate was examined and their impact on health and production in three of the affected farms was evaluated. Results The newly emerged PRRSV isolate with enhanced virulence entered the system before the onset of the study (January 2020) and afterwards four significantly different clades were detected during the study period in different farms, probably because of independent introduction events. The diversification of the enhanced virulence strain was higher for those clades (substitution rates up to 1.1% nucleotides/year) compared to other PRRSV strains present in the production system (up to 0.17%), suggesting a faster spread and adaptation. The impact of the infection in the first affected farm was dramatic, with an average abortion rate above 27% during 17 weeks before returning to the baseline production. Fertile sow mortality reached 6.5% for 39 weeks. In two farms infected later by other clades of this enhanced virulence strain, the impact was less acute; despite for parameters such as the proportion of stillbirths or mummies, more than 10 months were needed to recover pre-outbreak values. In the examined nurseries, mortalities reached peaks between 28% and 50% and several months were needed to return to normality. Conclusion Introduction of a PRRSV strain of enhanced virulence in a production system where several farms were previously positive for other PRRSV strains, resulted in a fast spread like that observed in naïve farms. The productive and health impact was very high needing several months to return to normality.
A study on the Water quality and the change detection of aquatic vegetation of Satajaan beel, North Lakhimpur, Assam
Authors: Bhuyan Jintu Moni , Sharma Pallavi
Published: November 2022

Water quality assessment is one of the important processes to understand the environmental status of the wetland. The study is carried out to analysis of the water quality and change detection of aquatic vegetation in Satajaan Wetland, situated in Lakhimpur, Assam in the floodplain of Ranganadi river. 10 water sample has been collected from the selected samples station through random sampling method to understand the quality of water. For the study we have assessed Physical parameters like temperature, pH, Electric Conductivity, Total dissolved solid and chemical parameters such as Salinity, alkalinity, CO2, Dissolved oxygen, Cl-, Total Hardness, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, SO42-, NO3-, F-, PO43 etc. For the statistical analysis of the water parameter, we have done Correlation coefficient analysis, PCA and HCA. WQI of the study area has been also observed by using weighted arithmetic method. Along with the water quality parameter we also try to analysis the change of area of aquatic vegetation in the study area using NDVI. From the NDVI calculation it has been observed that the area of the aquatic vegetation in the study area has been decreaded year by year. The rate of degradtion of aquatic vegetation in the study area is calculated 2.84 acer or 7.84%.
Molecular Analysis of ADAMTS-1, -4, -5, and IL-17A Cytokine Relationship in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Buran Tahir , Batır Muhammet Burak , ÇAM Fethi Sırrı , Kasap Elmas , Çöllü Fatih , Çelebi Hamide Betül Gerik , Şahin Mustafa
Published: November 2022

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that develops due to the impaired immune response in genetically susceptible individuals, and its etiopathogenesis is not fully elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between interleukin 17 (IL-17A) cytokine, which plays a role in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis, and the inflammation-controlled matrix enzymes thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS)-1, -4, and -5 protein members.
Methods: Bowel tissue samples and blood serum from 51 patients with UC and 51 healthy controls were included in this study. mRNA expression levels of the ADAMTS-1, -4, -5, and IL-17A were analyzed by RT-PCR, and immunohistochemical analyses were performed to evaluate ADAMTS-1, -4, -5, and IL-17A proteins in tissue samples. In addition, ELISA analysis determined serum levels of the ADAMTS-1, -4, -5, and IL-17A.
Results: RT-qPCR results reveal that the expression of ADAMTS-1, -4, -5, and IL-17A genes in the UC tissue samples were significantly high according to the control tissue samples. Also, ADAMTS-1, -4, -5, and IL-17A proteins revealed enhanced expression pattern UC groups according to the control. Also, ADAMTS-1, -4, -5, and IL-17A protein showed cytoplasmic localization patterns in both control and UC groups. The serum levels of ADAMTS-1,-5, and IL-17A were significantly higher in UC samples than in the control group.
Conclusions: We observed a positive correlation between the ADAMTS-1, -5 and IL17A cytokine expression in UC samples. These results provide a new understanding of controlling crucial ADAMTS family protein members by IL-17A cytokines with UC.
WITHDRAWN: Non-interference patterns evolving to interference patterns in double slit experiments and in cross double slit experiments
Authors: Peng Hui
Published: November 2022

Young’s double slit experiment revived the wave theory of the light. The standard interpretation is that the light behaves as waves before and after passing through the diaphragm of the double slit. Feynman called the double slit experiment the only mystery in quantum mechanics. Recently, the photon chamber has been proposed and utilized to study the behavior of photons near the detecting screen. The experiments show that the light, near the screen, behaves as photons propagating along the straight-line trajectories, and the trajectories distribute as waves. In this article, we utilize two new methods to study experimentally the patterns near the diaphragm of the double slit/cross double slit. The experiments show that, the first time, within certain macroscopic distance from the diaphragm, (1) the pattern is non-interference and thus, the light behaves as photons and produces the “particle pattern” near the double slit; and (2) both the shape and nature of the patterns are distance-dependent; when the distance increases, the non-interference pattern gradually evolves to the interference pattern. The experiments: (1) provide novel phenomena/data for further theoretical development of the optics and for understanding the nature of the light; and (2) show the Feynman’s mystery with different aspect.
Influence of granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor on the cytological picture of the wound in patients with purulent-inflammatory diseases of soft tissues on the background of diabetes mellitus
Authors: Okhunov A.O.
Published: November 2022

Background
. Purulent-inflammatory diseases of soft tissues in patients with diabetes mellitus proceeds quite aggressively and, according to the standards, characteristic of acute infections of soft tissues without diabetes mellitus, can inconsistently affect the fate of patients with concomitant diabetes mellitus. The aim of the study was to study the features of the cytological picture of wounds in patients with purulent-inflammatory diseases of soft tissues on the background of diabetes mellitus after the use of granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor.
Methods
. In 132 patients with purulent-inflammatory diseases of soft tissues on the background of diabetes mellitus, cytological studies of the wound were performed. The background materials of the cytological preparation were detritus, small protein grains, fat drops, crystals, hematoidin, cholesterol, etc. The cytological material was stained with azure-eosin mixtures.
Conclusion
. The results obtained indicate that along with cellular elements in the morphology of the wound in patients with purulent-inflammatory diseases of soft tissues against the background of diabetes mellitus, other representatives of the cytological picture also play a significant role. The results of a cytological study of smears-imprints of a purulent-inflammatory wound of soft tissues in patients with diabetes mellitus showed that the microscopic picture of the smear was characterized, first, by the presence of a microbial factor in combination with background elements. Under the influence of the preparation of granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor in patients with purulent-inflammatory diseases of soft tissues against the background of diabetes mellitus, it increases the number of neutrophils and lymphocytes, and increases their phagocytic activity in the wound.
Time Series Neural Network-based Analysis of Hospital Material Prediction under Infectious Disease Epidemic
Authors: Wang Yu , Chen Rui , Wang Yadong , Liu Peng , Guan Zhongjun
Published: November 2022

In order to overcome the inaccuracy of traditional time series and linear models for predicting short-time hospital supplies under infectious disease epidemics, this paper combines time series and neural network models, establishes a neural network-based time series prediction model, preprocesses hospital supplies data, and uses the model to train the data for prediction, and uses a tertiary class A sentinel hospital in Guizhou province for 24 days in February 2020 for medical. The study shows that the absolute value of error is mostly less than 0.2, the mean absolute error is less than 0.001, and the root means the square error is less than 0.1, indicating that the time series neural network model has high prediction accuracy.
Effects of Irrigation and Rain fed practices on Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Normalized Difference Vegetative Index and its implications on Grain Yield in North China
Authors: Mazengo Tumaini Erasto Robert , Guo Zhongying , Liu Xiaoying , Wu Yingnan , Li Yuzhong , Gwandu Catherine
Published: November 2022

The five winter wheat genotypes were evaluated based on Normalized Difference Vegetative Index (NDVI) under irrigation and rain fed conditions. The 30 treatments were appropriately conducted according to the experimental design during the two consecutive cropping seasons, from 2017 to 2019. The NDVI was used to evaluate the differences of wheat genotypes from irrigation and rain fed effects. The results indicated that NDVI varied at all vegetative stages and there were some significant differences ( p < 0.05) on NDVI indices among genotypes throughout the growth period and were critical at the booting and grain filling stages from the end of March to mid-May but indices values started to decrease immediately after physiological maturity. In the entire study, the maximum NDVI (0.82) from Zhongmai-36 genotype corresponded to grain yield (8.05 Mgha− 1) and was obtained in one supplementary irrigation treatment. The maximum NDVI in rain fed treatment was (0.78) from Zhongmai-36 and corresponded to the grain yield of (7.28 Mgha− 1). This study suggests that, wheat genotype (Zhongmai-36) among the other four, can be prioritized to grow under limited irrigation applications without compromising grain yield (GY). Moreover, since the NDVI, leaf area index (LAI) and GY related positively during the entire growth period, hence can be used for the real time wheat growth monitoring, in season water requirements and grain yield simulation. This information can be used by agricultural stakeholders and decision makers on food security for early warning.
Unravelling the mechanism of autoinhibition by Pseudomonas aeruginosa aminopeptidase enables the development of a potent antibiofilm cyclic peptide
Authors: Harding Christopher John , Bischoff Marcus , Bergkessel Megan , Czekster Clarissa Melo
Published: November 2022

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that causes serious illness, especially in immunocompromised individuals, including those with cystic fibrosis. P. aeruginosa extensively forms biofilms which significantly contribute to its growth and persistence in a wide range of environments. In addition, its success can be attributed to several secreted proteases. Here, we investigated the aminopeptidase PaAP from P. aeruginosa, which is one of the most abundant extracellular proteins in the biofilm matrix. Increasing evidence suggests this quorum-sensing-regulated peptidase is associated with biofilm development and contributes to nutrient recycling by complementing the activity of other secreted proteases. We confirmed that post translational processing was required for activation, as a C-terminal truncation mutant possessed ~100-fold higher activity than the full-length enzyme. We determined that PaAP is a promiscuous aminopeptidase acting on unstructured regions of peptides and proteins. High-resolution crystal structures of wild type enzyme and mutants revealed the mechanism of autoinhibition, whereby the C-terminal pro-peptide locks the protease-associated (PA) domain and the catalytic peptidase domain, into a closed, inhibited conformation. Inspired by this self-regulatory mechanism and guided by structural data, we designed a highly potent small cyclic-peptide inhibitor (Ki in the nM range). This inhibitor recapitulates the deleterious phenotype observed with a PaAP deletion mutant in liquid cultures and biofilm assays and presents a path towards targeting secreted proteins in a biofilm context.
Ultrastructural study confirms the formation of single and heterotypic syncytial cells in bronchoalveolar fluids of COVID-19 patients
Authors: Chaudhary Shikha , Yadav Ravi Prakash , Kumar Shailendra , Yadav Subhash Chandra
Published: November 2022

Background
SARS-CoV-2 was reported to induce cell fusions to form multinuclear syncytia that might facilitate viral replication, dissemination, immune evasion, and inflammatory responses. In this study, we have reported the types of cells involved in syncytia formation at different stages of COVID-19 disease through electron microscopy.
Methods
Bronchoalveolar fluids from the mild (n = 8, 2–8 days), moderate (n = 8, 9–16 days), and severe (n = 8, after 17th days) COVID-19 patients were examined by PAP (cell type identification), immunofluorescence (for the level of viral infection), scanning (SEM), and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy to identify the syncytia.
Results
Immunofluorescence studies (S protein-specific antibodies) from each syncytium cell indicate a very high infection level. We could not find any syncytial cells in mildly infected patients. However, identical (neutrophils or type 2 pneumocytes) and heterotypic (neutrophils-monocytes) plasma membrane initial fusion (indicating initiation of fusion) was observed under TEM in moderately infected patients. Fully matured large-size (20–100µm) syncytial cells were found in severe ARDS patients of neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophage origin under SEM.
Conclusions
This ultrastructural study on the syncytial cells from COVID-19 patients sheds light on the disease's stages and types of cells involved in the syncytia formations. Syncytia formation was first induced in type II pneumocytes by homotypic fusion and later with haematopoetic cells (monocyte and neutrophils) by heterotypic fusion in the moderate stage (9–16 days) of the disease. Matured syncytia were reported in the late phase of the disease and formed large giant cells of 40 to 100 µm.
Bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation identify flotillin-1 as diagnostic biomarker of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Liang , Chen Yalun , Yan Xiang , Tang Shanhong
Published: November 2022

This study aimed to analyze the expression of lipid raft protein flotillin-1 in hepatocellular carcinoma and its relationship with clinicopathological features and prognosis. The expression of flotillin-1 in hepatocellular carcinoma was analyzed by TIMER, TNMplot and UALCAN, a comprehensive gene expression database. Western-blot and immunohistochemical experiments were used to detect the expression of flotillin-1 in hepatocellular carcinoma and adjacent normal tissues. GEPIA, LinkedOmics and KM-Plotter databases were used to analyze the correlation between flotillin-1 and the clinicopathological features and stage of hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as the clinical prognosis of patients. Finally, the potential signaling pathway was studied by analyzing the protein interaction network. Database analysis found that flotillin-1 was highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma. Western-blot and immunohistochemical experiments confirmed that flotillin-1 was abnormally highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues. The expression of flotillin-1 was significantly correlated with the clinical stage, pathological T stage, differentiation degree, TP53 mutation, hepatitis B infection and vascular invasion. Survival analysis showed that patients with high expression of flotillin-1 had poor prognosis. The protein interaction network and signal pathway enrichment analysis found that flotillin-1 may promote the development of hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating RNA-related metabolic processes. In conclusion, flotillin-1 is a potential prognostic indicator and may promote the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating RNA metabolism.
Cervical sagittal balance after consecutive three-level hybrid surgery versus anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: radiological results from a single-center experience
Authors: Chen Shihao , Deng Yuxiao , Liu Hao , Wu Tingkui , Huang Kangkang , He Junbo , Wang Beiyu
Published: November 2022

Introduction: According to the different numbers and relative locations of cervical disc replacement (CDR) and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), three-level hybrid surgery (HS) has many constructs. The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare the sagittal alignment parameters of HS and ACDF for cervical degenerative disc disease (CDDD) and the association of the respective parameters.
Methods: This study involved patients with three-level CDDD who underwent ACDF or HS at our institution between June 2012 and August 2021. This follow-up included one-level CDR and two-level ACDF (type I group), two-level CDR and one-level ACDF (type II group) and three-level ACDF. Cervical sagittal alignment parameters included cervical lordosis (CL), segment alignment (SA), T1 slope (T1S), C2-C7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA), T1S-CL, C2 slope (C2S), occipital to C2 angle (O-C2A) and segment range of motion (ROM).Postoperative complications included adjacent segment degeneration (ASD), imbalance, prosthetic subsidence and heterotopic ossification (HO).
Results: The three groups with a total of 106 patients were better matched in terms of demographics. Patients who underwent HS had significantly higher CL than those who underwent ACDF at 1 week, 6 months, 12 months and the final follow-up after surgery, as well as significantly better SA at 12 months and the final follow-up. There was no significant difference in T1S, SVA, T1S-CL, C2S, O-C2A or segment ROM among the three groups after surgery. The T1S-CL was significantly associated with C2S in the type I and type II groups at the preoperative and final follow-up. There was no significant difference in postoperative complications among the three groups.
Conclusions: Most improvements in cervical sagittal alignment (CL, SA, T1S, SVA, T1S-CL, C2S, O-C2A, and segmental ROM) were observed in all three groups postoperatively. HS was more advantageous than ACDF in the maintenance of postoperative CL and SA. Thus, three-level HS may be better for maintaining cervical curvature. The number of replacement segments differed in those who underwent HS but did not affect the correlation between T1S-CL and C2S, both of which are well balanced.
Prognostic Prediction and Immunotherapy Analysis of Basement Membranes-Related Genes in Osteosarcoma Based on Bioinformatics
Authors: Lai Xingming , Liu Nian , Liu Li , Huang Xinyu , Xiong Tao , Li Cheng , Hu Wei
Published: November 2022

Purpose:The prognosis and survival rate of metastatic osteosarcoma have been puzzling people. The penetration of basement membranes (BMs) is one of the necessary conditions for tumor metastasis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) also plays an indispensable role in tumor proliferation, migration and invasion. It is unclear whether BMs-related lncRNAs are associated with osteosarcoma prognosis. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether there is a correlation between BMs-related lncRNAs and the prognosis of osteosarcoma.Methods:The BMs-related lncRNAs associated with prognosis were screened out, and several participating models were selected by LASSO Cox regression method.All OS samples from TCGA were divided into high-risk group and low-risk group according to the median risk score. The model was used to value prognosis and survival, and the validity and accuracy of the model were verified.Results:The high-risk group had a worse prognosis than the low-risk group. The clinicopathological characteristics analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), ROC curve, C-index curve and model comparison analysis all proved that the model was reliable. Moreover, there was an association between risk score and OS immunity.Conclusion:the lncRNAs associated with BMs can be used to value the prognosis of OS and may be involved in tumor immunity.
Analysis of rainfall variability and trends for better climate risk management in the major maize producing districts in northwestern part of Ethiopia
Authors: Wossen Tesfaye , Tesfaye Kindie , Simane Belay , Ousman Yenus
Published: November 2022

The current study evaluated historical rainfall data for its variability in three districts of the Central Gondar Zone in Ethiopia's northwestern region. The rainfall required for crop production in the research areas is the contribution of rain from June to September (kiremt rain). The annual rainfall total has a higher percentage during the Kiremt season, ranging from 79% at Chilga, 85.6% at Alefa, and 88% at Maksegnit. Rainfall totals from the bega (October to January) and belg (February to May) seasons made up the remaining portion. The lowest CV values for the seasonal fluctuation of rainfall during the kiremt season are 7.7 at Alefa, 7.6 at Chilga, and 17.9 at Maksegnit. The CV is substantially larger for the total rainfall during the bega and belg seasons than it is for the kiremt season, indicating that there is greater temporal variability in the total rainfall during the bega and belg seasons. At Alefa and Chilga locations, the monthly totals were 280 mm and 357 mm respectively in July, while the Maksegnit site recorded 349 mm in August. The average rainy season began on May 21 (142.3 DOY) in Alefa and ended on June 12 (164.2 DOY) in Chilga. On the other hand, the rainy season ends November 3 (308 DOY), November 4 (309 DOY), and November 12 (317 DOY) in Alefa, Chilga, and Maksegnit, respectively. At Maksegnit, Chilga, and Alefa, the mean LGP is 133.3, 136.5, and 143.2, respectively. At Alefa, the likelihood of dry periods lasting more than five days steadily reduces starting on May 21, October 12, and March 1, and then gradually increases again around October 17 and November 1.Therfore, this findings give a clue of understanding the rainfall features and associated to crop production in the study area.
Promoter hypomethylation upregulates ANXA2 expression in pancreatic cancer and is associated with poor prognosis.
Authors: MENADI Soumaya , CACAN Ercan
Published: November 2022

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the world's most aggressive and deadly cancers, owing to non-specific early clinical symptoms, late-stage diagnosis, and poor survival. Therefore, it is critical to identify specific biomarkers for its early diagnosis. Annexin A2 (ANXA2) is a calcium-dependent phospholipid-binding protein that has been reported to be up-regulated in several cancer types, making it an emerging biomarker and potential cancer therapeutic target. However, the mechanism underlying the regulation of ANXA2 overexpression is still unclear. It is well established that genetic and epigenetic alteration may lead to widespread dysregulation of gene expression. Hence, in this study, we focused on exploring the regulatory mechanism of ANXA2 by investigating the transcriptional profile, methylation pattern, somatic mutation, and prognostic value of ANXA2 in PC using several bioinformatics databases. Our results revealed that the expression levels of ANXA2 were remarkably increased in PC tissues comparing to normal tissues. Furthermore, the high expression of ANXA2 was significantly related to the poor prognosis of PC patients. More importantly, we demonstrated for the first time that the ANXA2 promoter is hypomethylated in PC tissues compared to normal tissues which may result in ANXA2 overexpression in PC. However, more experimental research is required to corroborate our findings.
Circadian Modulation of the Time Course of Automatic and Controlled Semantic Processing
Authors: Palmero Lucía B. , Tortajada Miriam , Martínez-Pérez Víctor , Sandoval-Lentisco Alejandro , Campoy Guillermo , Fuentes Luis J.
Published: November 2022

Background
Circadian rhythm patterns vary across individuals, producing the existence of different chronotypes. Chronotype refers to the preferences of individuals to perform their daily life activities, being classified as intermediate-types (no specific circadian preference), morning-types (preference for early morning hours) and evening-types (preference for later hours). We investigated whether chronotype and time-of-day modulate the time course of automatic and controlled semantic processing. Participants performed a category semantic priming task at either the optimal or non-optimal time-of-day. We varied the prime-target onset asynchrony (100-, 450-, 650-, and 850-ms SOAs) and kept the percentage of unrelated targets constant at 80%. Automatic processing, producing facilitatory priming, was expected with the short SOA, and controlled processing, producing inhibitory priming, was expected with longer SOAs.
Results
Intermediate-types (Experiment 1) verified that our task was sensitive to capturing both types of processes. Facilitatory automatic priming was observed early in the first trials of the short 100-ms SOA, then controlled and automatic processing cancelled each other producing a lack of priming effects (2nd and 3rd subblocks of the 100-ms SOA and the 450-ms SOA). Finally, with the longer SOAs only inhibitory controlled priming was observed, which size increased with time. This time course of automatic and controlled processing in intermediate-types served as reference to assessed both types of processes in extreme chronotypes. Morning-type and evening-type participants (Experiment 2) differed in the influence of time of testing on priming effects. Morning-types applied control in all conditions, and no modulation of performance by time-of-day was observed. In contrast, evening-types were only able to suppress automatic processing when the task was performed at their optimal time of day. Also, they were considerably slower in the implementation of controlled processing as inhibitory priming occur in the longest 850-ms SOA only.
Conclusions
These results suggest that extreme chronotypes are associated with different styles of cognitive control. Morning-types show a proactive control style that fosters maintenance of active response strategies to resolve conflict without producing negative effects. Evening-types show a reactive control style such that conflict resolution is influenced by task demands. This dissociation suggests a better adaptation strategy of the morning-type chronotype.
Multiple sources of genetic diversity contributed to the extensive ethnolinguistic diversity in Southwest China
Authors: He Guanglin , Duan Shuhan , Sun Qiuxia , Xu Xiaofei , Liu Yan , Tang Renkuan , Yang Junbao , Yeh Hui-Yuan , Liu Jing , Wang Zheng , Chen Pengyu , Liu Chao , Wang Mengge
Published: November 2022

Fine-scale genetic backgrounds based on the sharing of alleles and haplotypes can gain new insights into the population admixture processes of ethnolinguistically diverse populations, which is essential for evolutionary and medical phenotypes. However, the genetic diversity and population history of southern Chinese indigenous people and their interaction with Han Chinese populations keep unknown. Here, we genotyped 700K genome-wide SNPs from four Guizhou populations and merged them with publicly available data from 18 Guizhou populations and SNP data from 200 modern and ancient East Asian groups to perform one comprehensive population genetic analysis. We found that Guizhou populations harbored a strong genetic substructure correlated with the ethnolinguistically diverse Tai-Kadai (TK), Hmong-Mien (HM), and Tibeto-Burman (TB) categories. We comprehensively characterized the genetic signatures of geographically diverse HM people. We identified the unique HM genetic lineages in Southwestern China and Southeast Asia as their shared ancestry component in the admixture and demographical history reconstruction. Our identified admixture signatures and times further supported the hypothesis that the HM people originated in the Yungui Plateau and then southward migration during the historical period. Admixture models focused on ST and TK people supported their intense interaction and harbored the most extensive gene flow levels consistent with their shared linguistic and cultural characteristics and lifestyles. Estimates of shared IBD and effective population size showed the extensive population intrafraction and gene flow events in different time scales. This work focuses on the genetic features of high-density SNP markers, presents one complete landscape of the evolutionary genetic history of ethnolinguistically different southern China, and fills the gap of missing diversity in South China.
A Secured Wireless Charging Scheme with Data Transmission
Authors: Lin Chun-Liang , Wong Zi-Qian , Yang Jamie
Published: November 2022

This research task proposes a magnetic resonant coupling wireless power transfer (MRC-WPT) scheme for electric vehicles, which realizes secure data communication between the wireless charging station and the electric vehicle using binary phase shift-keying (BPSK) data transmission, thereby waving any radio frequency (RF) communication links. The secondary side is designed to accept power while transmits data back to the primary side simultaneously. The BPSK design ensures data transmission robustness to against disturbance interference. The data is encrypted by the user's biometric features for information security. The magnetic resonance performs better than that of the traditional magnetic induction in the power transmission efficiency against coil misalignments. With the Internet of Thing (IoT) architecture, the encrypted data can be stored and retrieved via the cloud server.
Evaluation of Grewia optiva Drummond Clonal seed orchard for morphometric and fodder quality parameters
Authors: Thakur Sushmita , Sankhyan H P , Sharma J P
Published: November 2022

Grewia optiva is an important agroforestry species and is grown in lower and mid hills of Western Himalayas by the farmers. It is a multi-purpose tree that provides leaf fodder, fibre and fuelwood. The leaves have high digestibility, nutritive value and is preferred by the livestock. With the increasing demand for fodder, there is a need to develop clones of genetically superior trees. Production of good quality seeds in sufficient large quantity ensures increased productivity of forest plantations by stable supply of genetically desirable and well adapted planting stock. Clonal seed orchard of Grewia optiva consisting of 21 clones was established in the year 2013 in three replicates in RBD design by planting of clonally propagated best families of seedling seed orchard. The clones were evaluated for variability in plant growth parameters, fruit and seed parameters, leaf parameters and fodder quality parameters. The data was subject to principle component analysis and cluster analysis to select best clones for various traits.
Molecular changes accompanying the loss in fertility of Spodoptera frugiperda female moths following infection with sub-lethal dose of baculovirus
Authors: Nayyar Nishtha , Gopal Ashwitha , Venkatesan Thiruvengadam , Syamala Ramya Ramesan , Agrawal Aditi , Sivakumar Gopalsamy , Mohan Muthugounder , Gracy Gandhi
Published: November 2022

Sub-lethal baculoviral infections are associated with several developmental and reproductive defects but the mechanism behind these defects is not well understood. Here, we investigated the reproductive defects induced by sub-lethal infection of Spodoptera frugiperda nucleopolyhedrovirus (SfNPV) in Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E.Smith) adults. We observed significantly less oviposition, loss of fecundity and egg hatchability in surviving adults after SfNPV infection. Reciprocal crosses with both the genders suggested that the infection of either sex could result in the fertility defects. An investigation of anatomy of reproductive of the surviving females suggested minor defects but confirmed reduced mating with infected males. Oviposition defects were observed in the infected group in spite of successful mating. Differential transcriptome analysis of infertile females from sub-lethally infected group revealed alteration of reproductive, developmental and behavioural pathway genes in comparison to control. We have also investigated the involvement of hormonal genes and piRNAs in their contribution to reproductive defects post sub-lethal baculoviral infection. This study will shed some light on the molecular mechanisms behind the sub-lethal effects observed in the surviving adults post baculovirus infection and will be useful to understand the infertility pathways in insects.
Optical coherence tomography as a monitoring and predicting tool in Graves’ ophthalmopathy
Authors: Sun Yi-Ning , Jiang Dan , Zhu Hui , Ye Jie , Yang Xiao-Ling , Hu Xiao-Zhou , Tan Hua , Wu Wen-Can , Yan Wen-Tao
Published: November 2022

Purpose
To study the relationship between macular thickness in Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) patients and the occurrence and progression of the disease.
Method
32 eyes of GO patients and 32 eyes of normal controls were included. All patients and control group participants underwent eye examinations, which included optical coherence tomography (OCT) analysis, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measurement, intraocular pressure (IOP) analysis, slit lamp biomicroscopy, OCT examination and visual field examination. We evaluated the retinal structure of GO patients by measuring the thickness of the macular area and the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), studied the relationship between the thickness of the macular area and IOP, and compared the macular thickness of GO patients with and without visual field defects and visual impairment.
Results
Here, we evaluated structural retinal abnormalities, including the thickness of the macular area and the RNFL, in patients with GO. Part of the RNFL thickness of GO patients were significantly thinner than those in normal controls.In particular, after 7 months of follow-up, the macular thickness of GO patients was reduced. Macular thickness thinning was related with visual field defects and visual loss, and had a negative correlation with IOP.
Conclusion
Loss of macular and RNFL thickness associated with GO can be detected by OCT. The macular retina becomes thinner as the disease progresses. Peripapillary, macula thickness parameters may be used as an indicator for the diagnosis, prediction of disease progression, and assessment of visual function loss in GO patients.