bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dose Escalation Biodistribution, Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Imaging and Dosimetry of a Highly Specific Radionuclide-labeled Non-blocking Nanobody
Authors: yanling Yang , Zhao Feng , Chen Daquan , Wang Chao , Sun Yan , Xu Tao , Xu Hui , Fan Huaying
Published: May 2021

Backgroud: Immunotherapy is a valuable option for the treatment of cancers, and the curative effect anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy correlates closely with PD-L1 expression levels. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of PD-L1 expression is feasible using 68Ga-NOTA-Nb109 nanobodies. 68Ga-NOTA-Nb109 was generated by radionuclide (68Ga) labeling of Nb109 using a NOTA chelator. To facilitate clinical trials, We explored the optimal dose range of 68Ga-NOTA-Nb109 in BALB/c A375-hPD-L1 tumor-burdened nude mice and C57-hPD-L1 transgenic MC38-hPD-L1 tumor-burdened mice by intravenous of a single intravenous dose of 68Ga-NOTA-Nb109 and confirmed the dose in cynomolgus monkeys. The biodistribution data of cynomolgus monkey PET images were extrapolated to estimate the radiation dose for the adult male using OLINDA2.1 software.Results: 68Ga-NOTA-Nb109 was stable in physiologic media and human serum. Ex vivo biodistribution studies showed rapid and specific uptake in A375-hPDL1 or MC38-hPDL1 tumors. The estimated ED50 was approximately 5.4 µg in humanized mice. The injected mass (0.3–100 µg in nude mice and approximately 1–100 µg in humanized mice) greatly influenced the general biodistribution, with a better tumor-to-background ratio acquired at lower doses of Nb109 (0.3–10 µg in nude mice and approximately 1 µg in humanized mice), indicating maximum uptake in tumors at administered mass doses below the estimated ED50. Therefore, a single 15 μg/kg dose was adopted for the PET/CT imaging in cynomolgus monkey. The highest specific and persistent uptake of the tracer was detected in the spleen, with the exception of the levels in the kidney and urine bladder, which was related to metabolism and excretion. The spleen-to-muscle ratio of the tracer exceeded 10 from immediately to 4 h after administration, indicating that the dose was appropriate. The estimated effective dose was calculated to yield a radiation dose of 4.1 mSv to a patient after injection of 185 MBq of 68Ga-NOTA-Nb109.Conclusion: 68Ga-NOTA-Nb109 showed specific accumulation in hPD-L1 xenografts in ex vivo biodistribution studies and monkey PET/CT imaging. The dose escalation distribution data provided a recommended dose range for further use, and the safety of the tracer was confirmed in dosimetry studies.
Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal in the Bottom Sediment of River Surma, Bangladesh using Monte Carlo Simulation and Multivariate Statistical Analysis.
Authors: Acharjee Arup , Ahmed Zia , Alam Rafiul , Rahman Md. Safiur , Xie Zhixiao
Published: May 2021

The study aims to achieve an accurate assessment of 7 heavy metals, including Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Ni, Pb and Cd. Data were collected from 15 sampling stations and analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The potential detrimental effects of these heavy metals were evaluated by Hakanson risk index. Hakanson risk index (RI) and Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) and the ecological risk were articulated as probability distribution of Risk Index values instead of single point values to estimate the uncertainties in the risk evaluation process. The results showed that the levels of SEF (sediment enrichment factor) in the sediments were in the following order: Ni > Pb > Cd > Mn > Cu > Zn. Geo-accumulation index (Igeo) values showed no pollution for most of the metals except Ni, which portrayed the sediment was moderately contaminated and may have adverse effects on the ecology of the river. RI values from Hakanson Risk Index showed each individual station are at low ecological risks throughout the study area. According to the Monte Carlo simulation results and the traditional Hakanson risk index, the cumulative probability of Risk Index (RI) values is less than 150, which, according to the Hakanson risk index, represents low ecological risk. From the sensitivity analysis, the comparatively highest contribution to variance can be ranked as Cd > Pb > Ni > Zn > Cu. The outputs of this study could be used to assess ecological risk near urban area river sediment and help predict how the disposal of domestic sewage will affect the riverine ecosystem.
Precipitation in Iran from 2003 to 2021
Authors: Sorkhabi Omid Memarian
Published: May 2021

Satellite data between 2003 and 2021 have been used for Iran's precipitation. The average monthly precipitation is about 20 mm. The maximum amount of monthly precipitation is observed in 2019. The average is 233 mm. The lowest precipitation years in Iran are 2009, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and the highest precipitation is in 2020, 2007 and 2005, respectively.
A realist evaluation of the continuum of HIV services for men who have sex with men
Authors: Dunbar Willy , Labat Aline , Maulet Nathalie , Coppieters Yves
Published: May 2021

Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) represent the risk group that are disproportionately most affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), yet are understudied in intervention research. This realist evaluation assessed the continuum of HIV services for MSM in Haiti. Guided by the Context-Mechanisms-Outcomes configuration, first, aninitial program theory (IPT) was developed based on reviews, observations and discussions. Second, the IPT was tested using a mixed-method explanatory study. Third, we refined the IPT by eliciting the underlying mechanisms. The results showed that the current service delivery model is suboptimal in engaging and retaining MSM, resulting in loss to follow-up and failure to fully realize the health benefits of antiretroviral. However, the mechanisms through which linkages across the continuum can be improved are: self-acceptance, sense of community support and sense of comprehensive and tailored HIV services. Our evaluation highlighted the importance of taking a comprehensive approach to improve the continuum.
A Novel Methodology Using Dexamethasone To Induce Neuronal Differentiation in The CNS-Derived Catecholaminergic CAD Cells
Authors: Khongkla Ekkaphot , Uppakara Kwanchanok , Boonmuen Nittaya , Bhukhai Kanit , Saengsawang Witchuda
Published: May 2021

The Cath.a-differentiated (CAD) cell line is a central nervous system-derived catecholaminergic cell line originating from tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-producing neurons located around the locus coeruleus area of the mouse brain. CAD cells have been used as an in vitro model for cellular and molecular studies due to their ability to differentiate under serum-free media conditions. However, the lack of serum-derived survival factors, limits the longevity for differentiated CAD cells to be maintained in healthy conditions; thereby, limiting their use in long-term culture studies. Here, we present a novel differentiation method that utilizes dexamethasone (Dex), a synthetic glucocorticoid receptor agonist. Specifically, we discovered that the addition of 100 µM of Dex into the 1% fetal bovine serum (FBS)-supplemented media effectively induced neuronal differentiation of CAD cells, as characterized by neurite formation and elongation. Dex-differentiated CAD cells exited the cell cycle, stopped proliferating, extended the neurites, and expressed neuronal markers. These effects were dependent on the glucocorticoid receptors (GR) as they were abolished by GR knockdown. Importantly, Dex-differentiated CAD cells showed longer survival duration than serum-free differentiated CAD cells. In addition, RNA-sequencing and qPCR data demonstrate that several genes involved in proliferation, neuronal differentiation, and survival pathways were differentially expressed in the Dex-differentiated cells. This is the first study to reveal Dex as a novel differentiation methodology used to generate postmitotic neuronal CAD cells, which may be utilized as an in vitro neuronal model for cellular and molecular neurobiology research.
Is a Brain Stroke Caused by the COVID-19 Seen Under Two Years of Age? A Case Report
Authors: Vafaee-Shahi Mohammad , Yousefzadegan Sedigheh , Mahmoudabadi Ramin Zare , Ahmadi Fatemeh , Riahi Aina
Published: May 2021

Introduction: Brain ischemic stroke in children especially in infancy is a rare condition. Stroke presents with a variety of symptoms and usually is an underestimated diagnosis in infants. The current pandemic of novel coronavirus disease type 2 (COVID-19), involves different organs in the human body, like the central nervous system. Researchers believe that there is a probable association between this retroviral infection and stroke but there were a few cases of strokes in the pediatrics field with positive RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2. Case presentation: Herein we introduce a 17-month-old girl with a hemiparesis and focal status epilepticus that was admitted to Firoozabadi hospital. The onset of symptoms was approximately 4 days before the admission with non-bloody, watery diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and low-grade fever. The brain MRI with DWI sequence confirmed acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Because of her multisystemic involvement, the COVID-19 RT-PCR test was requested and the result was positive. So according to the positive PCR test and negative of other results along with fever and gastrointestinal involvement picture - which is a common form of COVID-19 infection in pediatric patients- her neurological symptoms could be explainable with COVID-19 infection. Based on our knowledge, this is the first case of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to SARS CoV-2 infection that was reported under two years of age in the world. Conclusion: COVID-19 infection in pediatric patients has different presentations. In a significant number of these patients, the involvement of more than 2 body organs could be seen, known as “Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) Associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). There are some reports of stroke due to COVID-19 infection and it's related to hypercoagulability state so far and we introduce one infant case of that. According to this new emerging coronavirus and probability of nervous system involvement with this virus, we recommended checking the COVID-19 RT-PCR test in nasopharynx and cerebrospinal fluid of all children presented with neurological symptoms, even in the post-COVID-19 era.
Four-layer Convnet to Facial Emotion Recognition With Minimal Epochs and the Significance of Data Diversity
Authors: Debnath Tanoy , Reza Md. Mahfuz , Rahman Anichur , Band Shahab S. , Alinejad-Rokny Hamid
Published: May 2021

Emotion recognition defined as identifying human emotion and is directly related to different fields such as human-computer interfaces, human emotional processing, irrational analysis, medical diagnostics, data-driven animation, human-robot communi- cation and many more. The purpose of this study is to propose a new facial emotional recognition model using convolutional neural network. Our proposed model, “ConvNet”, detects seven specific emotions from image data including anger, disgust, fear, happiness, neutrality, sadness, and surprise. This research focuses on the model’s training accuracy in a short number of epoch which the authors can develop a real-time schema that can easily fit the model and sense emotions. Furthermore, this work focuses on the mental or emotional stuff of a man or woman using the behavioral aspects. To complete the training of the CNN network model, we use the FER2013 databases, and we test the system’s success by identifying facial expressions in the real-time. ConvNet consists of four layers of convolution together with two fully connected layers. The experimental results show that the ConvNet is able to achieve 96% training accuracy which is much better than current existing models. ConvNet also achieved validation accuracy of 65% to 70% (considering different datasets used for experiments), resulting in a higher classification accuracy compared to other existing models. We also made all the materials publicly accessible for the research community at: https://github.com/Tanoy004/Emotion-recognition-through-CNN.
Diagnostic Value of 18F-PET/CT in Patients with Primary Lymphoma and the Prognostic Value of Maximum Standardized Uptake Value (SUVmax) in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL)
Authors: Zhu Lin , Nie Kai , Chen Yinan , Liu Jing , Xiao Yongxing , Yu Hong
Published: May 2021

Background

The diagnostic accuracy of 18F-PET/CT was assessed in patients with primary lymphoma and the clinical application value of SUVmax was determined.
Results

The diagnostic accuracy of a total of 97 patients with initial 18F-PET/CT scans between January 2015 and February 2020 were assessed, and the SUVmax was compared according to the different pathological subtypes. The relationship between SUVmax and immunophenotype, clinical characteristics, and genetic types were estimated. According to the pathological results, 10 cases were misdiagnosed by PET/CT, and the accuracy was about 90%. Statistical analysis did not reveal a significant difference between Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) (p = 0.9071). Among NHL, the average SUVmax was statistically different between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and follicular lymphoma (FL) (p = 0.0004), FL and natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (p = 0.0078), FL and peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) (p = 0.0117), DLBCL and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) (p = 0.0294). In patients with DLBCL, SUVmax was correlated with the expression level of proliferation index Ki-67 (r = 0.33, p = 0.018), while average SUVmax shows no difference between various immunophenotype expression levels, ages, gender, skeletal invasion situations, clinical grade stages, international prognostic index (IPI) score, and different gene types (germinal center B cell-like (GCB) and non-GCB).
Conclusions

Although 18F-PET/CT had a marked diagnostic value in patients with primary lymphoma, some misdiagnosis was probable. The SUVmax is valuable in the differential diagnosis of different pathological types of NHL. Simultaneously, the SUVmax of patients with DLBCL correlated with Ki-67 might reflect the tumor invasiveness, thereby revealing a prognostic value.
Substitution Mapping of Two Closely Linked QTLs Controlling Grain Chalkiness and Grain Shape on Rice Chromosome 8
Authors: Yang Weifeng , Xiong Liang , Liang Jiayan , Hao Qingwen , Luan Xin , Tan Quanya , Lin Shiwan , Zhu Haitao , Liu Guifu , Liu Zupei , Bu Suhong , Wang Shaokui , Zhang Guiquan
Published: May 2021

Background: Rice varieties are required to have high yield and good grain quality. Grain chalkiness and grain shape are two important traits of rice grain quality. Low chalkiness slender grains are preferred by most rice consumers. Here, we dissected two closely linked quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling grain chalkiness and grain shape on rice chromosome 8 by substitution mapping. Results: Two closely linked QTLs controlling grain chalkiness and grain shape were identified using single-segment substitution lines (SSSLs). The two QTLs were then dissected on rice chromosome 8 by secondary substitution mapping. qPGC8.1 was located in an interval of 1382.6 kb and qPGC8.2 was mapped in a 2057.1 kb region. The maximum distance of the two QTLs was 4.37 Mb and the space distance of two QTL intervals was 0.72 Mb. qPGC8.1 controlled grain chalkiness and grain width. qPGC8.2 was responsible for grain chalkiness and for grain length and grain width. The additive effects of qPGC8.1 and qPGC8.2 on grain chalkiness were not affected by heat stress. Conclusions: Two closely linked QTLs qPGC8.1 and qPGC8.2 were dissected on rice chromosome 8. They controlled the phenotypes of grain chalkiness and grain shape. The two QTLs were insensitive to high temperature.
Effect of Stachyose on Growth, Non-Specific Immune Response, and Disease Resistance in Oreochromis Niloticus
Authors: elumalai preetham , Lakshmi Sreeja , Balakrishnan Ambili , Arokiaraj Jesu , Baskerlingam Vasaheeran , Ringo Einar
Published: May 2021

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of stachyose on immune responses, gut morphology, growth, and disease resistance in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Fishes were distributed randomly into fifteen 150 L glass tanks with 20 fish tank− 1 and fed control (0 g/kg), 2 g/kg, 4 g/kg, 8 g/kg, and 16 g/kg of stachyose. After eight weeks of experimental feeding, skin mucus and serum innate immune parameters (lysozyme, alternative complement, phagocytosis, peroxidase), and growth performance (weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio) were analysed, and disease resistance against Streptococcus agalactiae was also determined. Supplementation of stachyose revealed that serum lysozyme, serum and mucus peroxidase activities, weight gain and disease resistance against Streptococcus agalactiae were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher compared to control fed fish. In contrast, specific growth ratio, phagocytic activity and mucus lysozyme did not show significant (P > 0.05) differences.
Association between thyroid hormones and diabetic complications in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Li Yanli , Yi Min , Deng Xiaoyi , Li Wangen , Chen Yimei , Zhang Xiaodan
Published: May 2021

Background

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and thyroid dysfunction (TD) are two closely associated disorders. The coexistence of TD could adversely influence metabolic control and even increase the long-term mortality in patients with DM. The objective of the present study was to investigate the thyroid status and the relationship between thyroid hormones, diabetic complications and metabolic parameters in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 DM (T2DM).
Methods

This is an observational cross-sectional study, conducting on 340 patients with newly diagnosed T2DM who were admitted to ward of endocrinology department and 120 matched nondiabetic subjects. Clinical characteristics were collected and laboratory measurements were conducted.
Results

Levels of free T3 (FT3), free T4 (FT4) and TSH were significantly lower in patients with T2DM as compared to nondiabetic subjects. The prevalence of TD was 21.2% in patients with diabetes, higher than that of controls (4.2%). The low T3 syndrome was the most frequent TD, shown in 14.7% of patients. The presence of diabetic complications (diabetic nephropathy (DN), diabetic ketosis), metabolic and demographic factors, including age, glycemic control and insulin resistance were factors associated with levels of thyroid hormones. FT3 level was inversely correlated with the level of urinary total protein (mg/24h) and the presence of DN. Multivariate analysis indicated low FT3 level as a strong independent risk factor (OR = 0.364, P < 0.001) for DN.
Conclusions

TD is not rarely seen in patients with newly diagnosed T2DM. Diabetic complications and diabetes-related metabolic and demographic factors are related to TD. Decreased FT3 is strongly correlated with the presence of DN.
Landuse and Water Quality Threats to Current and Historical Cryptobranchus Alleganiensis Streams Across Multiple Ecoregions
Authors: Neto J.G. Da Silva , Williams Lori A. , Lawson Charles R. , Groves John D. , BYL T. D. , GIBSON C. , Perkins C. , Sutton W. B.
Published: May 2021

The hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) is a large, long-lived, and fully aquatic salamander species endemic to streams and rivers across 15 states in the Midwest and Eastern United States. Hellbender populations have experienced drastic declines due to habitat degradation, accelerated sedimentation, aquatic contaminants, and infectious diseases. Although declining water quality is often suggested as a major contributing factor to hellbender population declines, few studies have evaluated the presence of aquatic contaminants at sites with current and historical C. alleganiensis populations. We used a novel passive sampling technique to assess the presence and concentration of two herbicides (glyphosate and atrazine) in the water and analyzed heavy metal (cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb)) concentrations in stream sediment samples at 30 sites across a watershed development gradient throughout the C. alleganiensis range in Tennessee (TN) and North Carolina (NC). Our results indicated the presence of atrazine in 23% of our sites. All 30 sites contained Cd and Pb, and 26 sites contained Hg. Levels of glyphosate were too low to detect using our methods. Although percent watershed development was not significantly different among ecoregions, Blue Ridge watersheds were overall less developed than watersheds in the Ridge and Valley and Interior Plateau ecoregions. The model with greatest support suggested that percent watershed development and specific conductivity were negatively correlated with hellbender population status. Because this research focused on assessing the prevalence of commonly encountered aquatic contaminants, our results and study design are broadly applicable to C. alleganiensis populations across the species range.
Influence of Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding on Serum and Erythrocyte Zinc Levels in Preterm and Term Infants: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Silva Talita Rodrigues Azevedo e , Vivi Anna Caroline Pereira , Fonseca Fernando Luiz Affonso , Lebrão Cibele Wolf , Strufaldi Maria Wany Louzada , Sarni Roseli Oselka Saccardo , Suano-Souza Fabiola Isabel
Published: May 2021

Background: Zinc is an important micronutrient involved in cell division, growth, and immune system function. Most studies evaluating the nutritional status related to zinc and prematurity were conducted with hospitalized preterm infants. These studies show controversial results regarding the prevalence of deficiency, clinical implications, and the effect of zinc supplementation on mortality, infectious diseases, and growth in these groups. This study aimed to compare serum and erythrocyte zinc levels in a group of preterm and term infants during complementary feeding and related the zinc levels to dietary intake, and current nutritional condition in both groups. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 43 preterm infants (24 to 33 weeks) aged 9-24 months (mean: 14.3±6.4 months), compared with 47 term healthy infants. Data collected: socioeconomic status and maternal health during pregnancy, dietary history, anthropometry (weight, height, and head circumference), and current dietary intake. Laboratory tests: blood count, serum and erythrocyte zinc concentrations, and C-reactive protein.Results: Males predominated (24, or 55.8%) in the preterm group; the mean birth weight was 1,245±381.7 grams. Serum zinc levels <65 µg/dL and anemia were observed in four preterm (5.1%) and four term infants (5.3%), respectively. No infant had erythrocyte zinc < 40 µg/gHb. The variables independently associated with serum zinc levels were breastfeeding at the time of evaluation (20.11 µg/dL; 95% CI 9.62 to 30.60; p<0.001) and late (4-7 months) introduction of complementary feeding (6.6 µg/dL; 95% CI 5.3 to 11.4; p<0.001). Breastfeeding was also independently and directly associated with erythrocyte zinc levels (18.8 ug/dL; 95% CI 3.7 to 33.8; p=0.015). Conclusions: No difference was observed in the nutritional status related to zinc between preterm and term infants during complementary feeding. Serum and erythrocyte zinc levels were influenced by breastfeeding and the onset of solid foods.
Differentiation of Vulnerable Carotid Plaques by Analysis of Calcium Content and Spectral Curve Slope using Gemstone Spectral Imaging
Authors: Fan Ze-Xin , Li Xiao-Qing , Yang Ting-Ting , Yuan Shao-Jie , Niu Tian-Tong , Ma Lin , Sun Kai , Wang Li , Liu Guang-Zhi
Published: May 2021

Growing evidence indicates that vulnerable carotid plaque rupture is an important cause of stroke. However, fewer studies have been conducted to investigate the role of a novel gemstone spectral imaging (GSI) in assessment of vulnerable carotid plaque. In this study, we analyzed GSI data including calcium content of carotid atherosclerotic plaque and spectral curve slope, as well as serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) levels in patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaque using the GSI-computed tomographic angiography (CTA) and immunoturbidimetry. The patients with unstable plaques demonstrated a significantly lower calcium content and higher spectral curve slope than the stable plaques group. In addition, the patients with unstable plaque showed an increase in Hs-CRP levels and MCP-1 levels compared with the stable plaque and normal controls (NC) group. The alternation in GSI calcium content and spectral curve slope reflects a close link between calcification and plaque instability, while derangement of Hs-CRP and MCP-1 is involved in the formation or development of vulnerable plaques. Taken together, our results strongly support the feasibility of using these serological and newly discovered imaging parameters as multiple potential biomarkers relevant to plaque vulnerability or stroke progression.
Enhanced Catalytic Activity in the Oxidative Synthesis of Benzoxazoles by Tuning Local Electron Charge Densities in N-doped sp3@sp2 Hybrid Nanodiamond
Authors: Gu Qingqing , Zhou Yanan , Huang Rui , Lin Yangming , Xu Chi , Jiang Qian , Perathoner Siglinda , Centi Gabriele , Liu Yuefeng
Published: May 2021

Metal-free nanocarbons among other unique characteristics, offer the possibility of tuning the local electronic structure of the active sites allowing to identify precisely how to enhance the catalytic activity. Hence N-doped sp3@sp2 hybrid nanocarbons are studied here for the catalytic oxidative synthesis of a broad series of drug-related compounds (23 examples), like 2-substituted benzoxazoles, benzothiazoles and benzimidazoles under mild conditions and they show good catalytic activity and reusability which is comparable to homogeneous /heterogeneous metal-based catalysts. We demonstrate for the first time that the electron-donating capability and intrinsic catalytic activity of pyridinic N and neighboring C atoms can be enhanced by increasing up to c.a. 3 layers of sp2 C over the N-doped sp3@sp2 nanocarbon, which is evidenced by the KPFM measurements and DFT calculations. The mechanistic study suggests that the O2 could be activated to O2•−, which could subsequently react with abstracted H along with the formation of H2O2. This study provides a methodology of applying carbocatalysts for the synthesis of complex drug targets and shed light on the origin of the intrinsic catalytic activity enhancement of the pyridinic N by regulating the sp2 C layers of the catalysts.
Light Guide Layer Thickness Optimization for Enhancement of the Light Extraction Efficiency of Ultraviolet Light–Emitting Diodes
Authors: Ye Zhi Ting , Cheng Yuan Heng , Hung Li Wei , Hsu Kung Hsieh , Hu Yu Chang
Published: May 2021

Challenges related to deep-ultraviolet light-emitting diode substrates include material costs and lattice mismatch. Sapphire substrates are commonly used, although their high refractive index can result in the total internal reflection of light whereby some light is absorbed, reducing light extraction efficiency (LEE). In this study, we proposed an optimal thickness value of a sapphire substrate light guide layer through first-order optical design and used the optical simulation software Ansys SPEOS to assess and refine its effect on LEE. AlGaN ultraviolet-C light-emitting diode (UV-C LED) wafers with a substrate thickness of 150–700 μm were used. The simulation proceeded under a UV-C LED center wavelength of 275 nm to determine the optimal thickness of the light guide layer. Finally, the experimental results demonstrated that a light guide layer thickness of 150 μm resulted in a reference output power of 13.53 mW, and an increased thickness of 600 um resulted in output power of 20.58 mW. The LEE can therefore be increased by 1.52 times through light guide layer thickness optimization.
Prognostic Value of Immune-Related lncRNA Pairs In Patients with Bladder Cancer
Authors: Gao zhenzhen , Wu Dongjuan , Zheng Wenwen , Zhu taohong , Sun Ting , Yuan Lianhong , Fei Faming , Fu Peng
Published: May 2021

Background: The characteristics of immune-related long non-coding ribonucleic acids (ir-lncRNAs), regardless of their specific expression level, have important implications for the prognosis of patients with bladder cancer. Methods: Based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, we downloaded original transcript data, obtained the ir-lncRNAs using a coexpression method, and identified the differentially expressed pairs of ir-lncRNAs (DE-ir-lncRNAs) using univariate analysis. The lncRNA pairs were verified using a Lasso regression test. Thereafter, receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) were generated; the area under the curve was calculated; the Akaike information criterion (AIC) of the 5-y ROC was determined; the optimal cutoff value of the high- and low-risk populations of patients with bladder cancer was confirmed, and the optimal risk model was established. The clinical value of the model was verified using survival analysis, clinicopathological characteristics, presence of tumor-infiltrating immune cells, and chemotherapy efficacy evaluation. Results: In total, 49 pairs of DE-ir-lncRNAs were identified, and 21 pairs were included in the Cox regression model. In this study, ir-lncRNA pairs were obtained, and a risk regression model was established on the premise of not involving the specific expression value of transcripts. Conclusions: The method and model used in this study have important clinical predictive value for bladder cancer and other malignant tumors.
Natural Selection at an Exceptionally Long GGC Repeat in the Human RASGEF1C and Divergent Genotypes in Late-onset Neurocognitive Disorder
Authors: Jafarian Z , Khamse S , Afshar H , HR Khorram Khorshid , Delbari A , Ohadi M
Published: May 2021

Across the human protein-coding genes, the neuron-specific gene, RASGEF1C, contains the longest (GGC)-repeat, spanning its core promoter and 5′ untranslated region (RASGEF1C-201 ENST00000361132.9). RASGEF1C expression dysregulation occurs in late-onset neurocognitive disorders (NCDs), such as Alzheimer’s disease. Here we sequenced the GGC-repeat in a sample of human subjects (N = 269), consisting of late-onset NCDs (N = 115) and controls (N = 154). We also studied the status of this STR across vertebrates. The 6-repeat allele of this repeat was the predominant allele in the controls (frequency = 0.85) and NCD patients (frequency = 0.78). The NCD genotype compartment consisted of an excess of genotypes that lacked the 6-repeat (Mid-P exact = 0.004). We also detected divergent genotypes that were present in five NCD patients and not in the controls (Mid-P exact = 0.007). This STR expanded beyond 2-repeats specifically in primates, and was at maximum length in human. We conclude that there is natural selection for the 6-repeat allele of the RASGEF1C (GGC)-repeat in human, and significant divergence from that allele in late-onset NCDs. Indication of natural selection for predominantly abundant STR alleles and divergent genotypes enhance the perspective of evolutionary biology and disease pathogenesis in human complex disorders.
Efficacy of a Breastfeeding Support Education Program for Late Preterm Infants: a Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Sato Izumi , Imura Masumi
Published: May 2021

Background: Nutritional support affects the growth and development of late preterm infants (LPIs) and also impacts their health in the long term. Though breastmilk is the first choice as a nutrition source for LPIs, there is no consensus on how to provide supplements when breastmilk is unavailable, as well as the quantity to be provided or nutritional strategies to be followed. LPIs may need to wait for a certain period until breastmilk supply is sufficient. Nurses and midwives play an important role in supporting the promotion of breastmilk secretion in the postnatal period. Therefore, this study aimed to develop an educational program for them and test its efficacy. Methods: In this two-group parallel randomized controlled trial, the data were collected between July and April 2019 from nurses and midwives working in obstetrics facilities who were randomly assigned to either the breastfeeding support for LPIs (BSLPI) program or the non-technical skills (NTS) program. The effects of the intervention were assessed immediately before, after, and one month after the program. Results: There were 36 participants in the BSLPI group and 33 in the NTS group. The BSLPI group had significantly higher self-efficacy for providing breastfeeding support immediately after (mean=55.7, SD=8.0, p=.001) and one month after the intervention (mean=57.3, SD=8.6, p=.001) compared to immediately before the intervention (mean=47.8, SD=10.3). The BSLPI group demonstrated significant improvements in social skills in nursing interactions with mothers immediately after the intervention (BSLPI: mean=80.5, SD=110.9 vs. NTC: mean=75.0, SD=9.7, p=.032) and one month later (BSLPI: mean=82.5, SD=10.1 vs. NTC: mean=75.8, SD=9.4, p=.010), as well as in knowledge and skills necessary for breastfeeding support for LPIs immediately after the intervention (BSLPI: mean=84.5, SD=8.3 vs. NTC: mean=48.7, SD=11.9, p=.001) and one month later (BSLPI: mean=79.3, SD=11.3 vs. NTC: mean=51.3, SD=12.6, p=.001). Conclusions: The BSLPI intervention increased nurses’ and midwives’ sense of self-efficacy for providing breastfeeding support, social skills in nursing interactions with mothers, and knowledge and skills necessary for breastfeeding support for LPIs, suggesting that it provided effective support. This trial was retrospectively registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN; R000040145UMIN000035227).
Morroniside protect human granulosa cells against H2O2-induced oxidative damage via regulating Nrf2 and MAPK signaling pathway
Authors: Ma Yucong , Hao Guimin , Lin Xiaohua , Zhao Zhiming , Yang Aimin , Cao Yucong , Zhang Shuancheng , Geng Jingran , Fan Lijie , Zhang Yu , Chen Jingwei , He Ming , Du Huilan
Published: May 2021

Background

Morroniside is the main ingredient of Cornus officinalis, which has an antioxidant effect. Ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) are responsible for regulating the development and atresia of follicles, which are susceptible to oxidative stress. In this study, we investigated whether morroniside could inhibit oxidative stress of GCs induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), thus leading to improve oocyte quality.
Methods

The study was divided into 5 groups: control group, H2O2 group, morroniside (5 µM) + H2O2, morroniside (10 µM) + H2O2, Morroniside (20 µM) + H2O2. Cell survival rate was determined by CCK-8, ROS fluorescence level was determined by DCFH-DA probe, MDA, 8-OHdG, T-AOC, SOD, NQO1 and caspase-3 were determined by ELISA, SOD, NQO1, Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, caspase-9, Nrf2 and MAPKs protein expression were determined by Western blot, and Nrf2 nuclear translocation level was determined by immunofluorescence method. SPSS21.0 was used for statistical data analysis.
Results

After pretreatment with morroniside, the levels of ROS, MDA and 8-OHdG in ovarian GCs were significantly decreased. Morroniside significantly upregulated the level of p-Nrf2 and promoted the nuclear translocation level of Nrf2, which transcriptionally activated antioxidase SOD and NQO1. In addition, the levels of apoptosis-related proteins Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3 and caspase-9 were significantly regulated via p38 and JNK pathway by morroniside.
Conclusions

These results suggested that morroniside could reduce oxidative damage and apoptosis of ovarian GCs induced by H2O2 in multiple ways, which provided a new idea for clinical improvement of oxidative stress in female reproductive system.
Regional shifts of crop species diversity in rainfed and irrigated cultivation in Iran
Authors: Jafaria Leila , Asadi Sara , Asgari Ashkan
Published: May 2021

Concerns about the negative effects of declining agricultural biodiversity due to modern agricultural practices and climatic constraints in various parts of the world, including Iran, on the sustainability of agricultural ecosystems are increasingly growing. However, the historical knowledge of temporal and spatial biodiversity is lacking. To identify the value and trend of crop diversity in Iran was used biodiversity indices based on the area under rainfed and irrigated crops and total from 1991 to 2018. The crop species diversity of irrigated cultivation was higher than the rainfed and total cultivations area. The Shannon and Simpson indices had experienced a constant trend, but species richness was increased, which was related to the rise in the area of some species in recent years. The area of wheat and barley had a significant impact on crop diversity so that Shannon diversity was reduced with their dominance. Overall, this study revealed that Iran's agricultural system relies on wheat and barley. We warn that by increasing the area of these crops and the prevalence of monoculture, the probability of damages increased due to external factors such as sudden weather changes or the spread of diseases and the important consequences of which will be instability and production risk in the future.
A Novel Clustering-Based Purity and Distance Imputation for Handling Medical Data With Missing Values
Authors: Cheng Ching-Hsue , Huang Shu-Fen
Published: May 2021

Nowadays, people pay increasing attention to health, and the integrity of medical records has been put into focus. Recently, medical data imputation has become a very active field because medical data usually have missing values. Many imputation methods have been proposed, but many model-based imputation methods such as expectation-maximization and regression-based imputation based on the variables data have a multivariate normal distribution, which assumption can lead to biased results. Sometimes this becomes a bottleneck, such as computationally more complex than model-free methods. Furthermore, directly remove instances with missing values, this approach has several problems, and it is possible to lose the important data, produce ineffective research samples, and cause research deviations, and so on. Therefore, this study proposes a novel clustering-based purity and distance imputation method to improve the handling of missing values. In the experiment, we collected eight different medical datasets to compare the proposed imputation methods with the listed imputation methods with regard to the results of different situations. In imputation measures, the area under the curve (AUC) is used to evaluate the performance of the imbalanced class datasets in MAR and MCAR experiments, and accuracy is applied to measure its performance of the balanced class in MNAR experiment. Finally, the root-mean-square error (RMSE) is also used to compare the proposed and the listing imputation methods. In addition, this study utilized the elbow method and the average silhouette method to find the optimal number of clusters for all datasets. Results showed that the proposed imputation method could improve imputation performance in the accuracy, AUC, and RMSE of different missing degrees and missing types.
Classification of Atrial Fibrillation and Congestive Heart Failure using Convolutional Neural Network with Electrocardiogram
Authors: Fu’adah Yunendah Nur , Lim Ki Moo
Published: May 2021

Delayed diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF) and congestive heart failure (CHF) can lead to death. Early diagnosis of these cardiac conditions is possible by manually analyzing electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. However, manual diagnosis is complex, owing to the various characteristics of ECG signals. Several studies have reported promising results using the automatic classification of ECG signals. The performance accuracy needs to be improved considering that an accurate classification system of AF and CHF has the potential to save a patient’s life. An optimal ECG signal classification system for AF and CHF has been proposed in this study using a one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1-D CNN) to improve the performance. A total of 150 datasets of ECG signals were modeled using the1-D CNN. The proposed 1-D CNN algorithm, provided precision values, recall, f1-score, accuracy of 100%, and successfully classified raw data of ECG signals into three conditions, which are normal sinus rhythm (NSR), AF, and CHF. The results showed that the proposed method outperformed the previous methods. This approach can be considered as an adjunct for medical personnel to diagnose AF, CHF, and NSR.
Nutlet Micromorphology and Character Evolution of Some Species of Rochelieae (Boraginaceae) and Its Systematic Implications
Authors: Ebadi Mostafa , Nikzat Sedigheh
Published: May 2021

Background: The macro/micro-morphology of nutlets in 11 species (and 22 accessions) of the Boraginaceae family was investigated by stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscopy to evaluate the taxonomic relevance of these traits. To evaluate the phylogenetic significance of the character evolution, available DNA sequence data from GenBank were combined with selected original nutlet data, and phylogenetic analysis was performed.Results: The Rochelieae nutlets' shape varied from ovoid (ovoid, ovoid-triangular, and ovoid-rectangular) to the pyramid. Six major patterns were recognized based on nutlet ultrastructure characters. Rocheliae is characterized by a transition from “without appendage” to “with tubercles and prickles” on the nutlet disk, and also by a shift from “lack of prickles” to “glossy prickles”.Conclusions: The results indicated that the nutlet ultrastructure pattern of Rochelieae is systematically informative at the genus level, but not at the species level. The results showed that glochid is not an ancestral trait but is a synapomorphy and the transition to this trait occurred in the genus Lappula. The Close boundary of nutlet microstructures between L. barbata and L. microcarpa was discussed.
Constitutive modeling of an electro-magneto-rheological fluid: A continuum mechanics approach
Authors: Kumar Deepak , Sarangi Somnath
Published: May 2021

The present article deals with a continuum mechanics-based method to model an electro-magneto-rheological (EMR) fluid deformation under an electromagnetic field. The proposed method follows the fundamental laws of physics, including the principles of thermodynamics. We start with the general balance laws for mass, linear momentum, angular momentum, energy, and the second law of thermodynamics in the form of Clausius-Duhem inequality with Maxwell’s equations. Then, we derive the generalized constitutive relation for EMR fluids following the representation theorem. To validate of the same, the developed constitutive relation is applied to an electro-rheological fluid valve system. The analytical predictions of the considered system are consistent with the experimentation. At last, we simulate different velocity profiles from the developed constitutive relation in the case of the parallel plate configuration. As a result, we succeed in providing more physics-based analytical findings than the existing studies in the literature.
Minimizing outliers on cardiovascular signals: an open-source solution
Authors: Bazo Gabriel , Silva Taiz Francine Brasil da , Corrêa Fernando Morgan de Aguiar
Published: May 2021

Context: Intravenous cardiovascular recording of conscious animals is susceptible to outlier’s presence, due to freely movement and manipulations. These outliers can interfere on heart rate variability results, indicating erroneous results of sympathetic or parasympathetic modulation.Objective: Develop an automated computational approach to minimize the presence of outliers in cardiovascular recorded signals.Method: An application was developed according to the problem addressed based on free-use web frameworks.Results: The use of the proposed application detected and minimized respectively 1% and 0.97% of points outliers in signals of systolic arterial pressure (SAP) and pulse interval (PI) from a representative blood pressure recording. As until then the work of minimization of outliers was carried out manually; the use of the new application considerably reduced time spend analyzing the data.Conclusion: The proposed algorithm can detect and minimize interferent points, reducing chances of an erroneous interpretation about the cardiovascular modulation by the autonomic nervous system. The method can also significantly reduce the time of manual point-to-point screening performed by researchers.
Impaction of Regurgitation Jet on Anterior Mitral Leaflet Causes Diastolic Dysfunction in Patients With Bicuspid Aortic Valve and Mild Insufficiency: A Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Study
Authors: Galea Nicola , Pambianchi Giacomo , Cundari Giulia , Sturla Francesco , Marchitelli Livia , Putotto Carolina , Versacci Paolo , De Paulis Ruggero , Francone Marco , Catalano Carlo
Published: May 2021

Purpose: To assess the impact of regurgitant jet direction on left ventricular function and intraventricular hemodynamics in asymptomatic patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and mild aortic valve regurgitation (AR), using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) feature tracking and 4D flow imaging.Methods: Fifty BAV individuals were retrospectively selected: 15 with mild AR and posterior regurgitation jet (Group-PJ), 15 with regurgitant jet in other directions (Group-nPJ) and 20 with no regurgitation (Controls). CMR protocol included cine steady state free precession (SSFP) sequences and 4D Flow imaging covering the entire left ventricle (LV) cavity and the aortic root. Cine-SSFP images were analyzed to assess LV volumes, longitudinal and circumferential myocardial strain.Results: Circumferential and longitudinal peak diastolic strain rate (PDSR) and peak diastolic velocity (PDV) were reduced in group PJ if compared to group nPJ and control group (PDSR = 1.10±0.2 s-1 vs 1.34±0.5 s-1 vs 1.53±0.3 s-1 , p:0.001 and 0.68±0.2 s-1 vs 1.17±0.2 s-1 vs 1.05±0.4 s-1 ; p<0.001, PDV = -101.6±28.1 deg/s vs -201.4±85.9 deg/s vs - 221.6±67.1 deg/s; p<0.001 and -28.1±8 mm/s vs -38.9±11.1 mm/s vs -43.6±14.3 mm/s, p<0.001, respectively), whereas no differences have been found in systolic strain values. 4D Flow images (available only in 9 patients) showed deformation of diastolic transmitral streamlines direction in group PJ compared to other groups.Conclusion: In BAV patients with AR, the posterior direction of the regurgitant jet may hamper the complete mitral valve opening, disturbing transmitral flow and slowing the LV diastolic filling
Towards an inclusive research culture in upcoming Health and Education Precincts in New South Wales, Australia: implications for policy and practice
Authors: Balasubramanian Madhan , Flood Victoria
Published: May 2021

An inclusive research culture is vital towards the maturity of Health and Education Precincts into an active innovation ecosystem. To date, substantial investments have been made in 13 upcoming Health and Education Precincts in varying stages of development in the Greater Sydney region, New South Wales. The political commitment to create an innovative environment for teaching and a vibrant research culture is noticeable. However, it is unclear to what extent government policy engages the breadth of clinical personnel in teaching and research-related activities and contributes towards improving research culture. Based on a study conducted at the central river district of the Greater Sydney region, we argue that better engagement of clinical personnel in teaching/research-related activities and inclusion of research-related roles within the job description of clinical personnel can substantially drive a positive research culture and thereby contribute towards the overall development of Health and Education Precincts. Opportunities for continued education and training of clinical personnel and involvement in graduate research programs also substantially drives research culture. We argue that future policy and practice solutions for upcoming Health and Education Precincts need to foster an inclusive research culture and should be tailored to meet the needs of an innovative ecosystem. Future solutions will need to contribute towards improving research culture as well as the health and wellbeing of people in the region.