bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel porphyrazine derivative – 2,3,5,7,8,10,12,13,15,17,18,20-dodecaazaporphin and its complexes with M(II) ions of 3d-elements: DFT quantum-chemical modeling
Authors: Mikhailov Oleg V. , Chachkov Denis V.
Published: October 2022

Using three different versions of the density functional theory (DFT) – B3PW91/TZVP, M06/TZVP and OPBE/TZVP chemical models, the calculation of the molecular structures of (6666) macrocyclic complexes of 3d-elements (M) with a novel (NNNN)-donor macrocyclic ligand, 2,3,5,7,8,10,12,13,15,17,18,20-dodecaazaporphin (H2L), was carried out. The values of the most important bond lengths, bond and non-bond angles in these metal complexes were presented. The standard enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs energy of formation of these compounds were also calculated. It was noted that according to the data of the above chemical models, [MnL], [FeL], [CoL], [NiL], and [CuL] complexes with this novel ligand have a flat MN4 chelate node and a planar structure as a whole, while the [TiL], [VL], [CrL] and [ZnL] complexes have a non-coplanar MN4 chelate node. Moreover, all 6-membered rings in each of these metal chelates are identical to each other (both in terms of the sum of the bond angles included in them and in their assortment); adjoining 5-membered cycles for the majority of M are also identical to each other (non-identity is noted only in the cases M = Ti, Mn, as well as for the original 2,3,5,7,8,10,12,13,15,17,18,20-dodecaazaporphin). A good agreement was also noted between similar parameters calculated by various DFT methods, both qualitatively and quantitatively.
Efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine for mammary nodules: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Shuo , Zhang Xin , Chen Zhen-Lin , Zhang Pu , Wang Miao , Wang Hong-Yan , Zhang Jing-Ming
Published: October 2022

Background: Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is often used in China to treat patients with mammary nodules (MMND), and treating them by CHM can not only achieve good efficacy, but also reduce adverse reactions in clinic. However, the efficacy of CHM in the treatment of MMND has not been systematically assessed right now.

Methods: From the establishment of 11 electronic databases to February 1, 2022, a comprehensive literature search was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CHM in the treatment of MMND. Relevant trials were screened in NoteExpress, and the risks of bias were assessed with Cochrane Collaboration’s tool.

Results: This study included 22 randomized controlled trials involving 3839 participants. Meta-analysis revealed that CHM had a significant clinical effect in treating MMND. Compared with chemical drugs, CHM had certain advantages in alleviating the size, range, hardness and pain of the lump, decreasing the TCM syndrome score and reducing the packed cell volume and whole blood viscosity. And it could obviously reduce the occurrence of adverse reactions. In combination with chemical drugs, CHM could significantly improve the level of sex hormone secretion and ultrasound indicators. Ru-pi-xiao was the most commonly used formula for the treatment of MMND, and Bupleuri Radix was the most frequently used single Chinese herb.

Conclusion: CHM had certain advantages in treating MMND without obvious adverse reactions. However, due to the poor methodological quality of the included trials, well-designed, long-term follow-up randomized controlled trials will be required in future to provide strong clinical evidence for the CHM treatment of MMND. (PROSPERO No. CRD42020170939.)
Rationale and the Protocol for the Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated ILD: Screening and Evaluation in High-Risk Patients (RAISE) Study
Authors: Chan Shirley Chiu Wai , Yeung Winnie Wan Yin , Cheung Chak Kwan , Kwok Wing Sum , Chan Leo Tsz Long , Ho Carmen Tze Kwan
Published: October 2022

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is chronic inflammatory joint disease with a prevalence of up to 1%. Various extra-articular manifestations have been reported, including rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD). RA-ILD contributes to significant morbidity and is a leading cause of death in patients with RA. Detection of lung involvement is therefore important. However, the prevalence of RA-ILD is not well known and varies among different studies depending on the methods of detection. Multiple clinical risk factors and novel biomarkers have been explored. To evaluate the usefulness of these predictors and to evaluate the burden of interstitial lung disease (ILD) among patients with RA, we designed a study (RAISE, Rheumatoid Arthritis-associated ILD: Screening and Evaluation in high-risk patients) to assess the prevalence of RA-ILD among RA patients with high risk, and to identify potential clinical and biochemical markers associated with the condition.
Fast Polynomial Time Approximate Solution for 0-1 Knapsack Problem
Authors: Wang Zhengyuan , Zhang Hui , Li Yali
Published: October 2022

0-1 Knapsack problem (KP) is NP-hard. Approximate solution is vital for solving KP exactly. In this paper, a fast polynomial time approximate solution (FPTAS) is proposed for KP. FPTAS is a local search algorithm. The best approximate solution to KP can be found in the neighborhood of the solution of upper bound for exact k-item knapsack problem (E-kKP) where k is near to the critical item s. FPTAS, in practice, often achieves high accuracy with high speed in solving KP. The computational experiments show that the approximate algorithm for KP is valid.
The Effects of Ficus carica on Male and Female Reproductive Capabilities in Rats
Authors: ain Noor ul , Khan Rafeeq Alam , Mirza Talat , Fayyaz Talha Bin
Published: October 2022

The basic purpose of pharmacology is to look into the benefits of natural remedies and make them available to the general populace. Herbal medicines are now considered to be the future of humanity. The current study explored the effects of Ficus carica (FC) extract in rats of two-generation F0 (parents) and F1 (offspring) in either sex. The F. carica extract was initially tested for acute and sub-chronic toxicity. Extracts were also tested for fertility assessment and effects on reproductive hormones like follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), estradiol, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS), insulin, progesterone, and prolactin. The antioxidant activity of the extract was also evaluated by testing mRNA expressions of SOD2, GPX1, CAT, and GR in male testes and female ovaries. The animals treated with 100 mg/kg FC extract produced a more pronounced fertility effect in both genders. Expression of CAT, SOD2, GPX1, and GR was found to be increased in the reproductive organs of both sexes. Histology of the testes reveals increased spermatogenesis and increased folliculogenesis in ovaries. The hormone profile showed an increase in FSH, DHT, estradiol, and DHEAS levels in males and FSH, LH, estrogen, and DHEAS in females. The results of the study establish the effectiveness of natural products in improving fertility issues in either sex.
A Rare Case of Small Bowel Obstruction in a Patient with Endosalpingiosis, Fitz-Hugh-Curtis Syndrome, and Chlamydia trachomatis Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Authors: Sia Zhi Kiat , Trautman Jodie , Yabe Takako Eva , Wykes James
Published: October 2022

A 19-year-old female has multiple presentations to emergency department with recurrent abdominal pain. During her third presentation, the radiological features were suggestive of high-grade small bowel obstruction in a virgin abdomen. A diagnostic laparoscopy has been performed. The intraoperative findings include a band adhesion between omentum and small bowel mesentery, and perihepatic adhesions consistent with Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome. The histopathology from a biopsy of the macular lesions of the abdominal wall showed endosalpingiosis. The postoperative high vaginal swab was positive for Chlamydia trachomatis. The underlying cause of her small bowel obstruction could be due to pelvic inflammatory disease, Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome, or endosalpingiosis. We aimed to create awareness amongst readers that small bowel obstruction in young female patients with no prior abdominal surgery is possible and often difficult to diagnose immediately.
A-Kinase Anchoring Protein 9 Promotes Gastric Cancer Progression as a Downstream Effector of Cadherin 1
Authors: Yan Qiang , Wu Youliang , Li Deguan , Li Yongxiang
Published: October 2022

Background. Genetic studies identified a dozen of frequently mutated genes in gastric cancer, such as cadherin 1 (CDH1) and A-kinase anchoring protein 9 (AKAP9). Of note, genetic alterations including depletion and amplification frameshift mutations of AKAP9 have been observed in 10–15% of gastric cancer patients. However, it is unknown of the expression and role of AKAP9 in gastric cancer. This study is aimed to characterize the expression and function of AKAP9 in gastric cancer. Methods. Using qRT-PCR, we analyzed the mRNA levels of AKAP9 in gastric cancer patient samples. We investigated the role of AKAP9 in gastric cancer by performing cell proliferation assay, transwell assay, and mouse xenograft assay. Results. AKAP9 was upregulated in gastric cancer patients. Overexpression of AKAP9 promoted cell proliferation, migration, and gastric tumor growth. Loss of CDH1 elevated AKAP9 mRNA and protein levels. Conclusion. Our study demonstrates that AKAP9 functions as an oncoprotein to promote gastric cancer cell proliferation, migration, and tumor growth. Moreover, we reveal a possible molecular link showing that AKAP9 is a critical effector downstream of CDH1 in gastric cancer.
DFT Studies of p-N,N-(Dimethylamino) Benzoic Acid with Para or Meta–Electron Withdrawing or Donating Moieties for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs)
Authors: Osman Osman I. , Alalem Mohamed Yagoub , Ali Mahmoud Mohamed , Elroby Shaaban A. , Aziz Saadullah G
Published: October 2022

Solar energy is receiving considerable attention worldwide. Our contribution here focuses on fabricating p-N,N-(dimethylamino) benzoic acid (4-DMABA) donor-π-acceptor derivatives for use in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The gas-phase and solvated 4-DMABA and some of its electron donating or withdrawing ortho or meta derivatives were studied theoretically. Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) were applied to visualize their structural, molecular, photoelectrical, electronic, and photophysical parameters. The parameters for monitoring DSSC efficacies include HOMOs, LUMOs, energy gaps, wavelengths, oscillator strengths, light harvesting efficiencies (LHE), electron injection driving forces (ΔGinject), regeneration driving forces (ΔGregen), open circuit voltages (VOC), and short-circuit current densities (Jsc).
Helicobacter pylori Infection Elicits Type I Interferon Response in Human Monocytes via Toll-Like Receptor 8 Signaling
Authors: Lee Chalystha Yie Qin , Chan Yee Teng , Cheok Yi Ying , Tan Grace Min Yi , Tang Ting Fang , Cheong Heng Choon , Vadivelu Jamuna , Abdullah Suhailah , Looi Chung Yeng , Wong Won Fen
Published: October 2022

Helicobacter pylori colonization and persistence could precede gastric adenocarcinoma. Elucidating immune recognition strategies of H. pylori is therefore imperative to curb chronic persistence in the human host. Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) and TLR8 are widely known as viral single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) sensors yet less studied in the bacteria context. Here, we investigated the involvement of these receptors in the immunity to H. pylori. Human THP-1 monocytic cells were infected with H. pylori, and the expression levels of human Toll-like receptors (TLRs) were examined. The roles of TLR7 and TLR8 in response to H. pylori infection were further investigated using receptor antagonists. Among all TLR transcripts examined, TLR8 exhibited the most prominent upregulation, followed by TLR7 in the THP-1 cells infected with H. pylori J99 or SS1 strains. H. pylori infection-mediated IFN-α and IFN-β transactivation was significantly abrogated by the TLR7/8 (but not TLR7) antagonist. Additionally, TLR7/8 antagonist treatment reduced H. pylori infection-mediated phosphorylation of interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7). Our study suggests a novel role of TLR8 signaling in host immunity against H. pylori through sensing live bacteria to elicit the production of type I interferon.
Multi Level Approach for Segmentation of Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) Patterns Classification Based on Superpixel Processing and Fusion of K-Means Clusters: SPFKMC
Authors: Gupta Anni U. , Singh Bhadauria Sarita
Published: October 2022

During the COVID-19 pandemic, huge interstitial lung disease (ILD) lung images have been captured. It is high time to develop the efficient segmentation techniques utilized to separate the anatomical structures and ILD patterns for disease and infection level identification. The effectiveness of disease classification directly depends on the accuracy of initial stages like preprocessing and segmentation. This paper proposed a hybrid segmentation algorithm designed for ILD images by taking advantage of superpixel and K-means clustering approaches. Segmented superpixel images adapt the better irregular local and spatial neighborhoods that are helpful to improving the performance of K-means clustering-based ILD image segmentation. To overcome the limitations of multiclass belongings, semiadaptive wavelet-based fusion is applied over selected K-means clusters. The performance of the proposed SPFKMC was compared with that of 3-class Fuzzy C-Means clustering (FCM) and K-Means clustering in terms of accuracy, Jaccard similarity index, and Dice similarity coefficient. The SPFKMC algorithm gives an accuracy of 99.28%, DSC 98.72%, and JSI 97.87%. The proposed Fused Clustering gives better results as compared to traditional K-means clustering segmentation with wavelet-based fused cluster results.
Customized Titanium Mesh for Guided Bone Regeneration in the Posterior Mandible in a Patient Previously Treated with Bisphosphonates
Authors: Müller Johannes , Junker Rüdiger
Published: October 2022

We describe the restorative treatment of an 86-year-old female patient who was referred to our specialist prosthodontics clinic. Due to secondary osteoporosis, she underwent oral antiresorptive therapy with ibandronic acid for 10 years. Although she was classified as a patient at increased risk of drug-induced osteonecrosis of the jaw, she eventually signed a consent form for fixed implant-supported prosthetic rehabilitation in her 4th sextant. However, after tooth extraction, the bone ridge was too small at the intended implant positions. Therefore, guided bone regeneration was performed with a computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing three-dimensional printed titanium mesh. Finally, a continuous augmented hard tissue ridge above 7 mm was found, and three implants were inserted. Eventually, after four months of submerged healing, the implants were loaded with single crowns. Now, the patient is seen regularly for supportive peri-implant therapy.
Multiscale Traffic Sign Detection Method in Complex Environment Based on YOLOv4
Authors: Wang Yongjie , Bai Miaoyuan , Wang Mingzhi , Zhao Fengfeng , Guo Jifeng
Published: October 2022

Traffic sign detection is a challenging problem in the field of unmanned driving, particularly important in complex environments. We propose a method, based on the improved You only look once (YOLO) v4, to detect and recognize multiscale traffic signs in complex environments. This method employs an image preprocessing module that can classify and denoize images of complex environments and then input the images into the improved YOLOv4. We also design an improved feature pyramid structure to replace the original feature pyramid of YOLOv4. This structure uses an adaptive feature fusion module and a multiscale feature transfer mechanism to reduce putative information loss in the feature map generation process and improve the information transfer between deep and shallow features, enhancing the representation ability of feature pyramids. Finally, we use EIOU LOSS and Cluster-NMS to further improve the model performance. The experimental results on the fusion of Tsinghua-Tencent 100 K and our collected dataset show that the proposed method achieves an mAP of 81.78%. Compared to existing methods, our method demonstrates its superiority with regard to traffic sign detection.
Aftermath of Apixaban: Atypical Anticoagulation Aftereffect
Authors: Karki Bhesh , Costanzo Louis , Joshi Sameer , Fiksman Aleksey
Published: October 2022

An elderly man with prostate cancer and a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremity diagnosed 12 days ago on apixaban presented with a new-onset palpable rash on both of his legs. Extensive laboratory workup was largely unremarkable, except for multiple skin punch biopsies revealing deposition of immunoglobulin A (IgA) in the superficial blood vessels with infiltration of leukocytes, concerning for a small vessel vasculitis. Given the temporal association along with the negative workup, the rash was attributed to apixaban, and the anticoagulation regimen was switched to dabigatran. At a 2-week follow-up visit, the patient was asymptomatic and tolerating dabigatran without any adverse events.
miRNA‐Based Early Healing Mechanism of Extraction Sockets: miR‐190a‐5p, a Potential Enhancer of Bone Healing
Authors: Lee Shin-Kyu , Jung Su-Hyeon , Song Sang-Jin , Lee In-Gyu , Choi Jae-Yoon , Zadeh Homayoun , Lee Dong-Woon , Pi Sung-Hee , You Hyung-Keun
Published: October 2022

Objective. Tooth extraction causes a wound with hard and soft tissue defects in the alveolar ridge. Few studies have reported the function of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the healing of extraction sockets. This study used bioinformatics analysis to reveal the possible relevance and role of miRNAs during the early stages following tooth extraction. Materials and Methods. Socket tissues from beagle dogs (Canis familiaris; two males and two females) were collected 1 and 12 hours after extraction of premolars on both sides of the mandible. miRNA expression was profiled through miRNA sequencing, and hub miRNAs showing characteristic expression patterns were selected and subjected to target enrichment analysis. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity analysis and reverse transcription‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) were performed to verify the effect of hub miRNA on osteoblast differentiation and bone regeneration in vivo. Results. Five miRNAs were identified to have consistently high expression levels, with cfa‐miR‐451 showing the highest expression. Additionally, 20 hub miRNAs were selected as candidates expected to play an important role in the healing process. Pathways, such as the MAPK, axon guidance, TGF‐β, and Wnt signaling, were significantly enriched. Among hub miRNAs, miR‐190a‐5p increased ALP activity and mRNA expression of osteogenic markers and increased new bone formation in vivo. Conclusions. Our findings suggest that miRNAs may be involved in the earliest stages of socket healing after tooth extraction and can play an important role in moderating the entire socket healing mechanism in the extraction socket.
Identification and Validation of Hub Genes for Predicting Treatment Targets and Immune Landscape in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: He Xinling , Yin Ji , Yu Mingfang , Wang Haoyu , Qiu Jiao , Wang Aiyang , He Xueyi , Wu Xiao
Published: October 2022

Background. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is recognized as a chronic inflammatory disease featured by pathological synovial inflammation. Currently, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of RA remain unclear. In the study, we attempted to explore the underlying mechanisms of RA and provide potential targets for the therapy of RA via bioinformatics analysis. Methods. We downloaded four microarray datasets (GSE77298, GSE55235, GSE12021, and GSE55457) from the GEO database. Firstly, GSE77298 and GSE55457 were identified DEGs by the “limma” and “sva” packages of R software. Then, we performed GO, KEGG, and GSEA enrichment analyses to further analyze the function of DEGs. Hub genes were screened using LASSO analysis and SVM‐RFE analysis. To further explore the differences of the expression of hub genes in healthy control and RA patient synovial tissues, we calculated the ROC curves and AUC. The expression levels of hub genes were verified in synovial tissues of normal and RA rats by qRT‐PCR and western blot. Furthermore, the CIBERSORTx was implemented to assess the differences of infiltration in 22 immune cells between normal and RA synovial tissues. We explored the association between hub genes and infiltrating immune cells. Results. CRTAM, CXCL13, and LRRC15 were identified as RA’s potential hub genes by machine learning and LASSO algorithms. In addition, we verified the expression levels of three hub genes in the synovial tissue of normal and RA rats by PCR and western blot. Moreover, immune cell infiltration analysis showed that plasma cells, T follicular helper cells, M0 macrophages, M1 macrophages, and gamma delta T cells may be engaged in the development and progression of RA. Conclusions. In brief, our study identified and validated that three hub genes CRTAM, CXCL13, and LRRC15 might involve in the pathological development of RA, which could provide novel perspectives for the diagnosis and treatment with RA.
Measurement of Phenolic Compounds by Spectrometry and Chromatography in Lime Juices
Authors: Shakeri Fatemeh , Shakeri Mohammad , Pour Ramezani Fatemeh , Pirhadi Mohadeseh , Aman Mohammadi Masoud , Shokri Samira , Zeinali Tayebeh
Published: October 2022

Juice demand has been increasing at a rapid rate in recent years, and one of the major efforts underway to meet this demand is to minimize changes during the juice process. Due to the high consumption of juice and the carcinogenicity of synthetic and chemical substances, this research uses high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and spectrophotometry to detect fake juices. For the detection of fraud, the tests of sodium and potassium content along with determining the amount of flavonoids (hesperidin and eriocitrin) were carried out using spectrophotometry and HPLC. The results showed the average amount of total polyphenol was from 32.4 to 42.6 mg L-1. The total polyphenol content in all samples conformed to the standard, and there was no significant difference between the samples and the standard. The amounts of flavonoids (hesperidin and eriocitrin) in the juice samples were below the standard level (a minimum of 90 and 20 g/mL, respectively). Also, there was a significant difference between the mean sodium and potassium content of standard versus feigned juices. Generally, the amount of hesperidin, eriocitrin, Na+, and K+ as diagnostic biomarkers of natural juice in all samples was below the standard level. All the analysed samples in the experiment were nonstandard. There is a lot of fraud in the juice business, so it has been suggested that the government should have more control over how manufacturing companies make juice.
Objective Evaluation of Obstacle Perception Using Spontaneous Body Movements of Blind People Evoked by Movements of Acoustic Virtual Wall
Authors: Seki Yoshikazu , Ito Kiyohide
Published: October 2022

Obstacle perception using sound is the ability to detect silent objects, such as walls and poles. It is very important for blind people to recognize their environment using acoustic information through their auditory sense when walking or conducting various daily activities. In this paper, to develop an objective method for evaluating the degree of obstacle perception acquisition in the education and rehabilitation of the blind, the authors measured the spontaneous body movements evoked by the approach of an acoustic virtual wall. Ten blind persons who have experienced obstacle perception in their daily life, and seven sighted persons with no such experience participated in the experiment. The reciprocal (approach and receding) movements of the virtual wall were presented using simulated reflected sound, and the spontaneous body movements of the subjects were measured. As the results indicate, eight of the ten blind participants showed large maximum values for the correlation function between the wall and their body movements, whereas six of the seven sighted participants showed small maximum values. These results indicate that body movements can be used for an objective evaluation of obstacle perception. In particular, it was determined that the maximum value of the correlation function is the most appropriate for such an evaluation, because it does not depend on the subject’s physique.
NFKB1 Gene Mutant Was Associated with Prognosis of Coronary Artery Disease and Exacerbated Endothelial Mitochondrial Fission and Dysfunction
Authors: Luo Jun-Yi , Liu Fen , Fang Bin-Bin , Tian Ting , Li Yan-Hong , Zhang Tong , Li Xiao-Mei , Yang Yi-Ning
Published: October 2022

Endothelial apoptosis is the core pathological change in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease (CAD). Determining the molecular mechanisms underlying endothelial apoptosis is important. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) is a crucial transcription factor for controlling apoptosis. Our previous study demonstrated that the -94 ATTG ins/del mutant in the promoter of NFKB1 gene (rs28362491) is a risk factor for CAD. In the present study, we found that NFKB1 rs28362491 polymorphism was positively associated with increased major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) in CAD patients. After adjusting for confounding factors including age, smoking, hypertension, glucose, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the mutant DD genotype was an independent predictor of MACCEs (

OR
=
2.578

,

95
%
CI
=
1.64

–4.05,

P
=
0.003

). The in vitro study showed that mutant human umbilical vein endothelial cells (DD-mutant HUVECs) were more susceptible to high-glucose/palmitate-induced apoptosis, which was accompanied by decreased p50 expression and increased expression of cleaved caspase-3, Cytochrome c, and phospho-p65 (

P
<
0.05

). The mitochondrial membrane potential was significantly lower, while increasing levels of mtROS and more opening of the mPTP were observed in DD-mutant HUVECs (

P
<
0.05

). Furthermore, the percentage of cells with fragmented or spherical mitochondria was significantly higher in DD-mutant HUVECs than in wild-type cells (genotype II HUVECs) (

P
<
0.05

). In addition, after stimulation with high glucose/palmitate, the NFKB1 gene mutant significantly increased the expression of Drp1, which indicated that the NFKB1 gene mutant affected the expression of mitochondrial morphology-related proteins, leading to excessive mitochondrial fission. In conclusion, the mutant DD genotype of the NFKB1 gene was an independent predictor of worse long-term prognosis for CAD patients. DD-mutant HUVECs exhibited abnormal activation of the NF-κB pathway and increased Drp1 expression, which caused excessive mitochondrial fission and dysfunction, ultimately leading to increased apoptosis.
Effect of Social Actors Perceived Agency on Social Presence in Computer-Mediated Communication
Authors: Poinsot Killian , Gorisse Geoffrey , Christmann Olivier , Fleury Sylvain , Richir Simon
Published: October 2022

Nowadays, both text-based and 3D online applications rely on conversational agents and autonomous characters to interact with users. Previous experiments demonstrated that perceived agency, that is to say, one’s belief in interacting with a computer- or another human-controlled entity could impact social interaction. At present, theories and results still diverge and no consensus has been reached. Therefore, we developed an experiment to investigate the effect of perceived agency and emotional communication on social presence. Participants were told that they would play an online image recognition game against a computer- or a human-controlled opponent. In both cases, participants faced a computer-controlled opponent designed to provide a challenging yet balanced competitive experience. Depending on the experimental conditions, participants were able to communicate with their opponents using emoticons between the game rounds. Results demonstrate a significant main effect of emotional communication on the three dimensions of social presence we considered in this experiment. An interaction effect between perceived agency and emotional communication was observed in copresence, another core dimension of social presence. The impact of emotional communication on participants’ sense of copresence depends on the perceived agency of the opponent. A significant increase was observed for participants facing a computer-controlled opponent when emotional communication was allowed. The sense of copresence was even higher when they were facing a computer-controlled opponent rather than a presumed human-controlled one. These results are discussed with regard to theories of social interaction in computer-mediated communication.
Investigation of the Effect of Molecular Weight, Density, and Initiator Structure Size on the Repulsive Force between a PNIPAM Polymer Brush and Protein
Authors: Tizazu Getachew
Published: October 2022

This paper focuses on the effect of degree of polymerization (N), density (

σ

), and pattern size (

x

) on the interaction force between a periodically patterned Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) brush and protein. The hydrophobic interaction, the Van der Waals attractive force, and the steric repulsive force were expressed in terms of

N

,

σ

, and

x

. The osmotic constant (k1) and the entropic constant (k2) were determined from the fit of the steric repulsive force to an experimentally obtained force distance curve. The osmotic constant was 0.105, and the entropic constant was 0.255. Using these constants, the steric repulsive force was plotted as a function of the separation distance(s) between the substrate and the protein. The forces were determined at a separation distance equal to 0.3 nm, where L0 is the equilibrium thickness of the PNIPAM brush. At this separation distance, the value of the steric repulsive force was much higher than the value of the sum of the hydrophobic interaction and the Van der Waals attractive force for large degree of polymerization (

N
>
100

) and density (

σ
>
0.2

chains/nm2). However, the repulsive force was comparable to the sum of the hydrophobic interaction and the Van der Waals attractive force for a small degree of polymerization (

N
<
100

) and density (

σ
=
0.2

). Furthermore, the steric repulsive force was plotted as a function of pattern size

x

. The plot indicated that the steric repulsive force becomes nearly zero for all degrees of polymerization and density when the value of the initiator structure size was less than 200 nm. In addition to the steric repulsive force, the lateral extension of the chains in the periodically patterned PNIPAM brush was calculated by scaling low and compared with the experimental data taken from previously published literatures. The polymer brush structure was modelled as if the immediate bare substrate is so wide that even a stretched polymer segment cannot reach to the next polymer brush structure. In such models, the value of the lateral extension was equal to the thickness of the homogenous brush. It was independent of the pattern size. However, when the polymer brush structure was modelled as if there is another polymer brush structure at a distance half of the size of the period, the lateral extension was found to be dependent on the size of the initiator structure size due to chain bridging. This was witnessed by the patterning of polymer brushes using the interferometric patterning of PNIPAM brushes and an atomic force microscopy imaging of the polymer brush structures both in air and in water. The polymer brush structure resolution in water was much lower than the resolution in air, which indicates the lateral extension of the polymer chains in water. For such kind of periodic polymer brush structures, the gap between them was calculated, and it was found dependent on the degree of polymerization, density, and initiator structure size.
Formation Mechanism of “Large-Area Sweating” Water Seepage from Deep Mine Sandstone Pores
Authors: Li Yanzhi , Qiao Weiguo , Wu Yue , Li Xungang , Zhang Shuai , Zhang Xiaoli
Published: October 2022

The groundwater in nonkarst areas can be divided into two categories: pore water and fracture water. Unlike fracture seepage, sandstone pore seepage in deep mines manifests as a large area of “sweating,” rather than an area of local “spray,” and is difficult to plug via conventional grouting methods. This study focused on pore seepage in deep mine sandstone to improve the grouting effect. Taking the deep mine sandstone in the southwest Shandong coal field, where “large-area sweating” seepage occurs, as the study object, this study examined the pore structure, petrological characteristics, physical properties, and grain sizes of the sandstone by analyzing experimental data from thin sections and scanning electron microscopy samples. The formation mechanism of the “large-area sweating” seepage was then analyzed. The range of permeability in which “large-area sweating” seepage may occur in the sandstone was discussed. The results indicate that the process of “large-area sweating” seepage in deep mine sandstone can be divided into a matrix softening stage, a matrix erosion stage, and a “large-area sweating” water seepage formation stage. According to the case analysis on the “large-area sweating” seepage in the Tangkou coal mine of the Southwest Shandong coalfield, the lower limit of permeability of the “large-area sweating” sandstone is approximately 0.25 mD. Thus, this type of seepage can occur in deep mine sandstone with a permeability of greater than 0.25 mD and affect typical mining production. The results of this study provide information about the formation mechanism of “large-area sweating” water seepage from sandstone pores and can theoretically inform the development of a new permeation grouting technique.
Leer el proceso constituyente en perspectiva histórica
Authors: Atzeni Mauricio
Published: October 2022

El rechazo al texto propuesto para la nueva Constitución de Chile ha vuelto a abrir el debate sobre los procesos, acuerdos y tiempos políticos-institucionales a través de los cuales poder llegar a un nuevo texto constitucional y sobre los instrumentos para producir su contenido. Las opiniones son variadas, con “bordes” y “áreas de exclusión” de diverso tipo y llamados un poco retóricos a un texto inclusivo, pero expresan claramente las diferentes concepciones de la economía, de la sociedad, de los procesos democráticos y en definitiva de la ubicación y pertenencia de clase de quien opina. Continuar leyendo...
Trabajando y ahorrando de forma informal
Authors: Tejada Mauricio
Published: October 2022

Las economías en desarrollo, particularmente América Latina y el Caribe (ALC), se caracterizan por altas tasas de informalidad laboral y por bajas tasas de ahorro. Cada uno de estos representa un problema en sí mismo. En efecto, mientras la informalidad introduce cierto grado de flexibilidad en mercados laborales con excesiva regulación, también reduce el acceso de los trabajadores a las redes de protección social y aumenta los riesgos en el trabajo. Adicionalmente, la informalidad puede también distorsionar los incentivos a la inversión, tanto en capital físico por parte de las empresas, como en capital humano por parte de los trabajadores, lo que en última instancia redunda en una menor productividad en la economía en su conjunto. Continuar leyendo...
Latissimus Dorsi Muscle Sling for Reconstruction of Chronic Seroma Pocket in the Axillary Fossa
Authors: Kim Jae Won , Jeon Hui Hyung , Lee Jun Yong
Published: October 2022

Managing chronic axillary seroma after breast cancer surgery is troublesome because of the challenges in obliterating the seroma pocket and the possible injury to the axillary neurovascular bundles during the procedure. Using the muscle sling technique, we successfully managed an axillary chronic seroma patient after mastectomy with a latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous (LDMC) flap.

A 64-year-old woman with right breast cancer underwent radical mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection 17 years ago. A mass of chronic seroma was observed in the right axilla 1 year postoperatively and gradually increased in size. The refractory seroma was excised. The LDMC flap was designed to obliterate the pocket, rotated counterclockwise, and fixed to the upper boundary of the pectoralis major in a U-shaped sling. In this way, the direct suture of the flap to the vessels-crossing axillary apex could be avoided, and the flap’s lymphatic-rich fat tissue promoted alternative lymphatic drainage that improved lymphedema.
Homogeneous dispersion and mechanical performance of aluminum reinforced with high graphene content
Authors: Yehia Hossam M , Nouh Fathei , El-Kady Omayma A , Abdelwahed Khaled , El-Bitar Taher
Published: October 2022

In this research, trials were performed to improve the mechanical properties of pure aluminum, maintain its lightweight, and enhance the distribution of graphene with high content up to 1.5 wt%. Aluminum composites reinforced with 10% copper, 2.5% alumina, and different ratios of graphene up to 1.5% were manufactured by powder metallurgy followed by hot rolling. The suitable sintering conditions were 565°C for 60 min under a vacuum atmosphere. The powder metallurgy method showed a general improvement in aluminum’s microstructure. An excellent distribution of the different reinforcements was achieved up to 1.5 wt% GNs due to the long mixing time in the hexane solution. However, some aggregations of the GNs layers were observed at 1.5 GNs percent. The mapping analysis detected the nano-alumina distribution. The 1 wt% GNs sample exhibit the greatest improvement in hardness with 2.4 times and yield strength increment with 76% compared to pure aluminum. Also, the wear rate decreased significantly at 1 wt% GNs percent. By conducting the hot rolling process, all results exceeded their counterparts by the powder metallurgy method up to 1.5% GNS content. The accumulated GNs at 1.5 GNs percent were spread due to slipping them over each other as a result of the rolling process. Eliminating the internal pores and improving the distribution of graphene in that sample improved its hardness, yield resistance, and mechanical wear. After the rolling process, the hardness at 1.5 wt% GNs increased from 218 HV to 389 HV, and the yield strength from 203 MPa to 280 MPa.
Bioinspired Anti-demineralization Enamel Coating for Orthodontics
Authors: Peng S. , Sang T. , Wang H. , Guan Y. , Deng Y. , Wang P. , Huang Z. , Ye Z. , Wu J.
Published: October 2022

White spot lesions and enamel cracks are the 2 most prominent diseases that occur after orthodontic treatment and are caused by enamel demineralization from accumulated bacterial biofilms and/or enamel damage caused by the removal of residual adhesive after bracket debonding. Inspired by the self-assembled amelogenin nanoribbons in enamel, we developed an enamel coating with a self-assembling antimicrobial peptide, D-GL13K, to simultaneously reduce demineralization and residual adhesive. The self-assembled amphiphilic nanoribbons significantly increased the hydrophobicity of the etched enamel, which reduced the permeability of the coated enamel surfaces as desired. The antimicrobial activity of this coating was evaluated against Streptococcus mutans by colony-forming unit counting and live/dead assays. The anti-demineralization effect was demonstrated by the reduced demineralization depth analyzed by optical coherence tomography and the increased Vickers hardness. The coatings did not reduce the shear bond strength but significantly reduced the adhesive remnant index score. This bioinspired enamel coating may provide a new strategy for preventing white spot lesions and enamel cracks after orthodontic treatment.
How High-Frequency Users Embraced Cannabis Regulation in Uruguay
Authors: Queirolo Rosario , Álvarez Eliana , Sotto Belén , Cruz José Miguel
Published: October 2022

How cannabis legalization affects users’ behaviors? In this paper, we describe changes in the way users access cannabis in Uruguay before and after the implementation of cannabis regulation. We explore the differences between users that access through the legal, black, and gray markets. To do so, we rely on two face-to-face surveys of high-frequency users using the Respondent Driven Sample technique. The first survey was conducted at the beginning of the regulation implementation in 2014, and the second one in 2017. Results indicate that cannabis users gradually moved to the legal market, and most switched to the gray market. Furthermore, users kept acquiring cannabis from the black market even when using legal mechanisms. Considering these results, we argue that the strict regulations imposed in Uruguay may have operated as barriers for consumers to abandon the black market completely. These findings show that the specifics of each legalization policy matter.
New forms of distinction: How contemporary cultural elites understand ‘good’ taste
Authors: O’Brien Dave , Ianni Lisa
Published: October 2022

Taste is a subject of longstanding academic interest. The question of how cultural interests and preferences are socially stratified is at the heart of the sociology of culture. This article adds to this literature by examining the tastes of a specific social fraction, those working in cultural and creative occupations ( N = 203). The analysis finds that, in keeping with existing quantitative research on changing cultural hierarchies, cultural workers are open and eclectic in their expressions of taste. They are reflexive, able to play with, and question, ideas of taste alongside conceptions of artistic or cultural legitimacy, connecting their understandings to broader questions of social division and distinction. At the same time, this ‘emerging’ form of cultural capital is a new dividing line, substantiated by modes of consumption, depth of appreciation, and willingness to articulate commitments to engagement with culture. These distinctive tastes of cultural workers matter because, as creators, commissioners and curators of what ends up on stage, page and screen, cultural workers’ tastes shape the cultural hierarchies of which they are a part. In the context of cultural and creative industries, we can expect that these new forms of distinction will serve to create group identities, providing yet another way that cultural elites are socially closed, in addition to well-known exclusions based on demographics such as race, class, gender, age or disability.
Spatial proximity in relationships research methods: The effect of partner’s presence during survey completion on shared reality in romantic couples’ daily lives
Authors: Enestrom M Catalina , Bar-Kalifa Eran , Bar-Shachar Yael , Lydon John E
Published: October 2022

Spatial proximity may be an artifact of relationships research methodology; however, little work has explored how this feature of research designs influences perceptions of one’s relationship, particularly shared reality (i.e., experiencing a commonality of inner states). The present research tested whether spatial proximity would independently contribute to shared reality in couples’ daily lives. In 2 daily diary studies, each across 3–4 weeks (N1 = 76 couples, 3694 observations; N2 = 84 couples, 3073 observations), participants indicated whether or not their partner was spatially proximal, and also completed measures of shared reality and relationship satisfaction. Spatial proximity to one’s partner resulted in higher shared reality on the day of the survey completion and predicted increases in shared reality from the previous day, but this effect did not spillover into the following day. These findings held controlling for conflict, shared daily experiences (e.g., cooking together), and shared survey experiences (i.e., whether they completed the survey at the same time). In addition, this effect was unique to shared reality, whereby spatial proximity did not predict relationship satisfaction. However, shared reality was associated with increases in relationship satisfaction across the daily diary period. Thus, researchers should consider spatial proximity when developing their research design as it may influence shared reality, which has implications for relationship well-being.
Researching minoritised communities in palliative care: An agenda for change
Authors: Koffman Jonathan , Bajwah Sabrina , Davies Joanna M , Hussain Jamilla Akhter
Published: October 2022

Background:

Palliative care access, experiences and outcomes of care disadvantage those from ethnically diverse, Indigenous, First nation and First people communities. Research into this field of inquiry raises unique theoretical, methodological, and moral issues. Without the critical reflection of methods of study and reporting of findings, researchers may inadvertently compromise their contribution to reducing injustices and perpetuating racism.

Aim:

To examine key evidence of the place of minoritised communities in palliative care research to devise recommendations that improve the precision and rigour of research and reporting of findings.

Methods:

Narrative review of articles identified from PubMed, CINAHL and Google Scholar for 10 years augmented with supplementary searches.

Results:

We identified and appraised 109 relevant articles. Four main themes were identified (i) Lack of precision when working with a difference; (ii) ‘black box epidemiology’ and its presence in palliative care research; (iii) the inclusion of minoritised communities in palliative care research; and (iv) the potential to cause harm. All stymie opportunities to ‘level up’ health experiences and outcomes across the palliative care spectrum.

Conclusions:

Based on the findings of this review palliative care research must reflect on and justify the classification of minoritised communities, explore and understand intersectionality, optimise data quality, decolonise research teams and methods, and focus on reducing inequities to level up end-of-life care experiences and outcomes. Palliative care research must be forthright in explicitly indentifying instances of structural and systemic racism in palliative care research and engaging in non-judgemental debate on changes required.
Precision estimates of relative and absolute cerebral blood flow in Alzheimer’s disease and cognitively normal individuals
Authors: Heeman Fiona , Visser Denise , Yaqub Maqsood , Verfaillie Sander , Timmers Tessa , Pijnenburg Yolande AL , van der Flier Wiesje M , van Berckel Bart NM , Boellaard Ronald , Lammertsma Adriaan A , Golla Sandeep SV
Published: October 2022

Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by regional reductions in cerebral blood flow (CBF). Although the gold standard for measuring CBF is [15O]H2O PET, proxies of relative CBF, derived from the early distribution phase of amyloid and tau tracers, have gained attention. The present study assessed precision of [15O]H2O derived relative and absolute CBF, and compared precision of these measures with that of (relative) CBF proxies. Dynamic [15O]H2O, [18F]florbetapir and [18F]flortaucipir PET test-retest (TrT) datasets with eleven, nine and fourteen subjects, respectively, were included. Analyses were performed using an arterial input model and/or a simplified reference tissue model, depending on the data available. Relative CBF values (i.e. K1/ K1′ and/or R1) were obtained using cerebellar cortex as reference tissue and TrT repeatability (i.e. precision) was calculated and compared between tracers, parameters and clinical groups. Relative CBF had significantly better TrT repeatability than absolute CBF derived from [15O]H2O ( r = −0.53), while best TrT repeatability was observed for [18F]florbetapir and [18F]flortaucipir R1 ( r = −0.23, r = −0.33). Furthermore, only R1 showed, better TrT repeatability for cognitively normal individuals. High precision of CBF proxies could be due to a compensatory effect of the extraction fraction, although changes in extraction fraction could also bias these proxies, but not the gold standard.