bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Model based on preoperative clinical characteristics to predict lymph node metastasis in patients with gastric cancer
Authors: Ding Baicheng , Luo Panquan , Yong Jiahui
Published: September 2022

Background

The risk factors of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in gastric cancer (GC) remain controversial. We aimed to identify risk factors of LNM in GC and construct a predictive model.

Methods

A total of 1,337 resectable GC patients who underwent radical D2 lymphadenectomy at the first affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from January 2011 to January 2014 were retrospectively analyzed and randomly divided into training and validation cohorts (n = 1,003 and n = 334, respectively) in a 3:1 ratio. Collecting indicators include age, gender, body mass index (BMI), tumor location, pathology, histological grade, tumor size, preoperative neutrophils to lymphocytes ratio (NLR), platelets to lymphocytes ratio (PLR), fibrinogen to albumin ratio (FAR), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cancer antigen19-9 (CA19-9) and lymph nodes status. Significant risk factors were identified through univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis, which were then included and presented as a nomogram. The performance of the model was assessed with receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC curves), calibration plots, and Decision curve analysis (DCA), and the risk groups were divided into low-and high-risk groups according to the cutoff value which was determined by the ROC curve.

Results

BMI, histological grade, tumor size, CEA, and CA19-9 were enrolled in the model as independent risk factors of LNM. The model showed good resolution, with a C-index of 0.716 and 0.727 in the training and validation cohort, respectively, and good calibration. The cutoff value for predicted probability is 0.594, the proportion of patients with LNM in the high-risk group was significantly higher than that in the low-risk group. Decision curve analysis also indicated that the model had a good positive net gain.

Conclusions

The nomogram-based prediction model developed in this study is stable with good resolution, reliability, and net gain. It can be used by clinicians to assess preoperative lymph node metastasis and risk stratification to develop individualized treatment plans.
The effect of K-line classification in different cervical dynamic position on surgical outcomes in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament after anterior controllable antedisplacement and fusion
Authors: Han Lin-Hui , Sun Kai-Qiang , Yan Chen , Sun Jing-Chuan , Shi Jian-Gang
Published: September 2022

Purpose

To investigate whether the K-line classification in different cervical dynamic position of patients with Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament (OPLL) affects clinical outcome after Anterior Controllable Antedisplacement and Fusion (ACAF) surgery.

Methods

A total of 93 patients who suffered from cervical spondylosis caused by OPLL underwent ACAF surgery between June 2015 and December 2017 in a single institution. Neutral, neck-flexed and neck-extended cervical radiographs were obtained from every patient. Subsequently they were classified into K-line (+) and K-line (−) with reference to the K-line classification criteria. Clinical outcomes were assessed by the JOA score, improvement rate (IR) and visual analogue scale (VAS). Radiological assessment included Cobb angle and occupation ratio (OR) of OPLL. Correlations between the long-term surgical outcomes and classification of K-line in different dynamic position were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance.

Results

Significant improvements were shown in all postoperative clinical and radiographic assessments (P < 0.05). There were no differences in IR, Cobb angle and VAS among flexion K-line (−), flexion K-line (+), extension K-line (−) and extension K-line (+) at the 2-year follow-up (P > 0.05). However, the OR of extension K-line (−) (16.13% ± 11.58%) was higher than that of extension K-line (+) (9.00% ± 10.27%) and flexion K-line (+) subgroup (9.47% ± 9.97%) (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The ACAF procedure has shown satisfactory surgical outcomes in various K-line classifications in different dynamic position.
Case report and review of literature: Resection of a huge mediastinal low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma with neck, axillary, and lung involvement
Authors: Khamashta Natalie , Dalal Ahmad , Alashwas Mo’men , Idkedek Mayar , Abu-Akar Firas
Published: September 2022

Low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma is an extremely rare malignant neoplasm, with an incidence of 0.18 per million, and comprises 0.6% of all soft tissue sarcomas. It has a high recurrence rate and late metastatic spread and is chemotherapy and radiotherapy insensitive. This paper reports a case of an unusually large mediastinal low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma in a 55-year-old patient. The tumor was engulfing the main blood vessels of the mediastinum, involving the lung, and extending beyond the chest cavity to involve the cervical and axillary regions. The patient has a 21-year history of frequent surgical resections for lesions that were repeatedly misdiagnosed as neurofibroma. The tumor was successfully resected by a challenging operation that involved mediastinal mass resection, chest wall mass resection, and wedge resection of the left upper lobe of the lung. The deceivingly benign-looking histology of this tumor makes it a commonly misdiagnosed one, requiring careful assessment by pathologists to reach the right diagnosis. Surgical resection with clear margins remains the treatment of choice for these lesions. Due to the behavior of this tumor, once detected and managed, extensive long-term follow-up is always recommended.
Integrated Genotoxicity Testing of three anti-infective drugs using the TGx-DDI transcriptomic biomarker and high-throughput CometChip® assay in TK6 cells
Authors: Buick Julie K. , Rowan-Carroll Andrea , Gagné Rémi , Williams Andrew , Chen Renxiang , Li Heng-Hong , Fornace Albert J. , Chao Christy , Engelward Bevin P. , Frötschl Roland , Ellinger-Ziegelbauer Heidrun , Pettit Syril D. , Aubrecht Jiri , Yauk Carole L.
Published: September 2022

Genotoxicity testing relies on the detection of gene mutations and chromosome damage and has been used in the genetic safety assessment of drugs and chemicals for decades. However, the results of standard genotoxicity tests are often difficult to interpret due to lack of mode of action information. The TGx-DDI transcriptomic biomarker provides mechanistic information on the DNA damage-inducing (DDI) capability of chemicals to aid in the interpretation of positive in vitro genotoxicity data. The CometChip® assay was developed to assess DNA strand breaks in a higher-throughput format. We paired the TGx-DDI biomarker with the CometChip® assay in TK6 cells to evaluate three model agents: nitrofurantoin (NIT), metronidazole (MTZ), and novobiocin (NOV). TGx-DDI was analyzed by two independent labs and technologies (nCounter® and TempO-Seq®). Although these anti-infective drugs are, or have been, used in human and/or veterinary medicine, the standard genotoxicity testing battery showed significant genetic safety findings. Specifically, NIT is a mutagen and causes chromosome damage, and MTZ and NOV cause chromosome damage in conventional in vitro tests. Herein, the TGx-DDI biomarker classified NIT and MTZ as non-DDI at all concentrations tested, suggesting that NIT’s mutagenic activity is bacterial specific and that the observed chromosome damage by MTZ might be a consequence of in vitro test conditions. In contrast, NOV was classified as DDI at the second highest concentration tested, which is in line with the fact that NOV is a bacterial DNA-gyrase inhibitor that also affects topoisomerase II at high concentrations. The lack of DNA damage for NIT and MTZ was confirmed by the CometChip® results, which were negative for all three drugs except at overtly cytotoxic concentrations. This case study demonstrates the utility of combining the TGx-DDI biomarker and CometChip® to resolve conflicting genotoxicity data and provides further validation to support the reproducibility of the biomarker.
The beneficial effects of traditional Chinese medicine on antioxidative status and inflammatory cytokines expression in the liver of piglets
Authors: Wang Xiaoyu , Wang Yun , Mao Yaqin , Hu Aiming , Xu Tianfang , Yang Yan , Wang Feibing , Zhou Guangbin , Guo Xiaowang , Cao Huabin , Yang Fan
Published: September 2022

Oxidative stress and inflammation seriously affected the growth and development of piglets. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescriptions has been used to prevent various diseases of piglets, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Here, we identified the effects of Xiao-Jian-Zhong-Tang (XJZT) and Jingsananli-sepsis (JJS) on the oxidative stress and inflammatory in the liver of piglets. The piglets were fed with the basal diet (Control group), basal diet affixed with 10 g/kg XJZT (TCM I group), and basal diet affixed with 3 g/kg JJS (TCM II group), respectively. The serum was gathered on days 30 and 60 and the liver samples were also collected on day 60. Results showed that the TCM I and TCM II markedly increased the activities of the glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and reduced the levels of malonaldehyde (MDA), TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 in serum. In addition, compared to the control group, Nrf2, SOD-1, NQO-1, and HO-1 mRNA expression levels and the protein levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 were significantly increased while NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 mRNA expression levels and the phosphorylation levels of NF-κB and IκB-α were decreased in TCM I and TCM II groups. Collectively, these findings suggested that TCM I and TCM II could enhance anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory capabilities in the liver of piglets via the Nrf2/NF-κB pathway, providing a basis for the functional exploration of TCM prescriptions.
Glycosylation of Ganoderic Acid F by Bacillus Glycosyltransferase
Authors: Chang Te-Sheng
Published: September 2022

Ganoderma lucidum is a medicinal fungus and has been used for improvements of health or prevention of certain diseases in Asia for thousands of years. Despite numerous kinds of triterpenoids having been identified from G. lucidum, few natural Ganoderma triterpenoids exist in the form of glycosides (saponins). To expand the diversity of Ganoderma triterpenoids and find rare Ganoderma saponins, ganoderic acid F (GAF), a Ganoderma triterpenoid, was biotransformed by a glycosyltransferase (BsGT110) from Bacillus subtilis ATCC (American type culture collection) 6633. The results showed that BsGT110 catalyzed biotransformation of GAF to produce a metabolite, which was confirmed as a GAF glucoside by mass–mass spectroscopy. The GAF glucoside showed 89-fold higher aqueous solubility than that of GAF. The present study highlights the utility of BsGT110 in the production of novel Ganoderma triterpenoid saponins, and the newly identified and highly soluble GAF glucoside can be studied for its bioactivity in the future.
Effects of LED Light Quality on the Growth of Pepper (Capsicum spp.) Seedlings and the Development after Transplanting
Authors: Liu Xiaojuan , Shi Rui , Gao Meifang , He Rui , Li Yamin , Liu Houcheng
Published: September 2022

In this study, the effects of different light conditions on the growth of pepper seedlings and the development of these pepper seedlings after transplanting were explored. Based on the control light, pepper seedlings were grown under radiation with different proportions of added blue, UV-A, and far-red light for 18 days. Compared with the control, supplementation with UV-A and far-red light increased the seedling height whereas blue light decreased. Blue and UV-A treatments increased seedling compactness and the seedling index while far-red light treatments have obvious inhibitory effects. The chlorophyll content of the UV-A treated seedlings was significantly increased, but far-red light reduced the carotenoid content. Far-red light increased the activities of SOD and CAT and decreased the MDA content of seedlings. After transplanting, there was no obvious difference in the flowering time of all treated pepper plants. An increase in pepper yield was discovered when pepper seedlings were supplemented with blue and UV-A light. Overall, our results demonstrated that proper supplementation of UV-A and blue light at the seedling stage positively produces strong and healthy pepper seedlings, and could increase the yield of pepper plants after transplanting.
Foliar Spraying of Mannose Alleviates Cadmium Stress by Changing the Subcellular Distribution and Chemical Forms of Cadmium in Wheat Root
Authors: Zheng Xiang , Cheng Xue , Pan Ni , Huang Wei , Shi Liang , Lu Wei
Published: September 2022

Cadmium (Cd)-contaminated soil has been receiving increasing attention worldwide due to the great harm it causes via food-chain enrichment through crops such as wheat. However, there is little research regarding the effects of mannose (MAN) on plants in response to Cd stress. Hence, hydroponic and potted soil experiments were conducted to investigate the mitigation effects of MAN on wheat under Cd stress and the possible mechanism. Compared with Cd treatment alone, foliar spraying of 160 μM MAN significantly reduced the Cd accumulation in shoots and increased the Cd retention in roots. The content of hemicellulose was increased by MAN treatment, and the proportion of Cd retained by hemicellulose in the cell wall of roots was increased. Furthermore, 160 μM MAN significantly reduced the water-extracted and ethanol-extracted Cd in roots, which are easily transported to shoots. In potted soil experiments using Cd-contaminated soil, MAN reduced the Cd content in wheat grain by 26.3%, compared with the control. These findings indicate that foliar spraying of 160 μM MAN resulted in less Cd being transported from roots to shoots by increasing the Cd retention in the cell wall and changing the Cd chemical forms in roots, which promoted wheat growth and reduced the Cd concentration in wheat grain.
A Comparison of Aerodynamic Parameters in Two Subspecies of the American Barn Owl (Tyto furcata)
Authors: Wagner Hermann , Piedrahita Paolo Michael
Published: September 2022

Aerodynamic parameters, such as wing loading, are important indicators of flight maneuverability. We studied two subspecies of the American Barn owl (Tyto furcata), the North American subspecies, T.f.pratincola, and the Galapagos subspecies, T.f.punctatissima, with respect to aerodynamic parameters and compared our findings with those in other owl and bird species. The body mass of T.f.pratincola is about two times higher than that of T.f.punctatissima. Wing loading between the two subspecies scales allometrically. Wing loading in T.f.pratincola is about 50% higher than in T.f.punctatissima. The scaling of wing length is not statistically different from the prediction for isometric scaling. By contrast, the wing chord in T.f.punctatissima is larger than predicted by isometric scaling, as is the wing area. The scaling of wing loading observed here for T.f.punctatissima differs considerably from the scaling in other owl and bird species as available in the literature. We speculate that the allometric scaling helps T.f.punctatissima to catch smaller prey such, as insects that are found in many pellets of T.f.punctatissima, despite the fact that in both subspecies, small rodents make up most of the diet.
Relationships between Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in Seminal Plasma and Sperm Motility in Bulls before and after Cryopreservation
Authors: Vigolo Veronica , Giaretta Elisa , Da Dalt Laura , Damiani Jana , Gabai Gianfranco , Bertuzzo Federica , Falomo Maria Elena
Published: September 2022

This study aimed at evaluating the relationship between biomarkers of oxidative stress (OS) in seminal plasma and sperm motility in bulls before and after cryopreservation. Three ejaculates per bull were collected from 20 young bulls. Each ejaculate was analyzed for motility before and after cryopreservation (by CASA), and the SP concentration of Advanced Oxidation Protein Products (AOPP), thiols, and carbonyl groups (CT) were examined. Then, based on their motility, the ejaculates were grouped into: high motility fresh (HMF), low motility fresh (LMF), high motility thawed (HMT), and low motility thawed (LMT) groups. Higher AOPP and thiol concentrations on SP were related (p < 0.05) to the higher LIN and BCF and lower ALH of fresh semen. In addition, AOPP and thiols were significantly higher in HMF than LMF. As a confirmation of this, the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that AOPP and thiol concentrations in SP were able to discriminate between HMF and LMF ejaculates (Area Under the Curve of 71.67% and 72.04%, respectively). These observations give an alternative perspective on the relationship between sperm motility and the OS parameters of SP, which need further investigations.
Influence of Cold Environments on Growth, Antioxidant Status, Immunity and Expression of Related Genes in Lambs
Authors: Shi Lulu , Xu Yuanqing , Jin Xiao , Wang Zheqi , Mao Chenyu , Guo Shiwei , Yan Sumei , Shi Binlin
Published: September 2022

Cold climates may be a risk to the health and welfare of lambs during winter because cold environments alter the physiological processes of lambs, and we used cold environments with three different temperature gradients—an indoor heating control group (IHC) using electric heating; an indoor temperature group (IT) with intermittent and slight degrees of stimulation of coldness; an outdoor temperature group (OT) exposed to cold environments in an external natural environment. The results showed that the lambs in the OT group had a greater decrease in the average daily gain (ADG) and increase in the average daily feed intake (ADFI) and the feed-to-gain ratio (F:G) compared to the other two groups. The decrease in immunoglobulin A (IgA) and interleukin 2 (IL-2) contents and IL-2 gene expression, and the increase in tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) content and TNF-α and nuclear factor kappa-B p65 (NF-κB p65) gene expressions in the OT group suggested that the lambs had a compromised immune status in cold environments. Moreover, the decrease in catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) levels, and CAT, GPx, SOD1, SOD2, and nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) gene expressions, and the increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) in the OT group suggested that the lambs had a lower antioxidant defense capacity in cold environments. Thus, in extreme cold, lambs kept outdoors could reduce growth, immune function and antioxidant status. However, shelter feeding in winter could relieve the stress of cold environments on lambs, and housing with heating equipment was more conducive to the improve growth, immune, and antioxidant function of the lambs.
Ruminal Fiber Degradation Kinetics within and among Warm-Season Annual Grasses as Affected by the Brown Midrib Mutation
Authors: Ferreira Gonzalo , Galyon Hailey , Silva-Reis Ayelen I. , Pereyra Agustin A. , Richardson Emily S. , Teets Christy L. , Blevins Phil , Cockrum Rebecca R. , Aguerre Matías J.
Published: September 2022

The objective of this study was to compare the nutritional composition and the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) degradation kinetics of brown midrib (BMR) and non-BMR genotypes within and across warm-season annual grasses. Four commercial varieties (two non-BMR and two BMR) of corn, sorghum, and pearl millet were planted in plots. Forage samples were incubated in the rumen of three rumen-cannulated cows for 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96, and 240 h. On an NDF basis, all forage types showed lower acid detergent lignin (ADL) concentrations for BMR genotypes, but the magnitude of the difference differed among forage types. The concentration of undegraded NDF (uNDF; NDF basis) differed among forage types and between genotypes. Corn had the least, pearl millet had the intermediate, and sorghum had the greatest concentration of uNDF. Non-BMR genotypes had greater concentrations of uNDF than BMR genotypes. No interaction existed between forage type and genotype for the concentration of uNDF. In conclusion, although BMR forages may show lower ADL concentrations in the cell wall and greater NDF degradability than non-BMR forages of the same forage type, BMR forages do not always have the least ADL concentration or the greatest NDF degradability when comparing different forage types.
Effects of Stocking Density on Fatty Acid Metabolism by Skeletal Muscle in Mice
Authors: Chen Qiuyan , Li Xiaohui , Cui Jiarun , Xu Caiyun , Wei Hongfei , Zhao Qian , Yao Hongli , You Hailong , Zhang Dawei , Yu Huimei
Published: September 2022

Specific pathogen-free (SPF) grade laboratory animals are kept in specific cages for life. The limited space could affect the characterization of colonization and dynamic changes related to gut microorganisms, and affect adipokines, even further affecting the fat synthesis and muscle quality of animals. The objective of this study was to analyze the stocking density on the dynamic distribution of gut microbiota, fat synthesis and muscle quality of SPF grade Kunming mice. Three housing densities were accomplished by raising different mice per cage with the same floor size. Kunming mice were reared at low stocking density (LSD, three mice a group), medium stocking density (MSD, 5 mice a group), and high stocking density (HSD, 10 mice a group) for 12 weeks. The results demonstrated that the stocking density affected intestinal microbial flora composition. We found that compared with the MSD group, the abundance of Lactobacillus in the LSD group and the HSD group decreased, but the abundance of unclassified_Porphyromonadaceae increased. Moreover, fat synthesis and muscle quality were linked to the intestinal microbial flora and stocking density. Compared with the LSD group and the HSD group, the MSD group had a more balanced gut flora, higher fat synthesis and higher muscle quality. Overall, this study demonstrated that stocking density could affect gut microbiota composition, and reasonable stocking density could improve fat synthesis and muscle quality. Our study will provide theoretical support for the suitable stocking density of laboratory animals.
A “Good Life” for Dairy Cattle: Developing and Piloting a Framework for Assessing Positive Welfare Opportunities Based on Scientific Evidence and Farmer Expertise
Authors: Stokes Jessica E. , Rowe Elizabeth , Mullan Siobhan , Pritchard Joy C. , Horler Rachel , Haskell Marie J. , Dwyer Cathy M. , Main David C. J.
Published: September 2022

On-farm welfare assessment tends to focus on minimising negative welfare, but providing positive welfare is important in order to give animals a good life. This study developed a positive welfare framework for dairy cows based on the existing scientific literature which has focused on developing positive welfare indicators, and trialled a participatory approach with farmers; refining the framework based on their recommendations, followed by a vet pilot phase on farm. The results revealed that farmers and scientists agree on what constitutes “a good life” for dairy cattle. Farmers value positive welfare because they value their cows’ quality of life, and want to be proud of their work, improve their own wellbeing as well as receive business benefits. For each good life resource, the proportion of farmers going above and beyond legislation ranged from 27 to 84%. Furthermore, barriers to achieving positive welfare opportunities, including monetary and time costs, were not apparently insurmountable if implementation costs were remunerated (by the government). However, the intrinsic value in providing such opportunities also incentivises farmers. Overall, most farmers appeared to support positive welfare assessment, with the largest proportion (50%) supporting its use within existing farm assurance schemes, or to justify national and global marketing claims. Collaborating with farmers to co-create policy is crucial to showcase and quantify the UK’s high welfare standards, and to maximise engagement, relevance and uptake of animal welfare policy, to ensure continuous improvement and leadership in the quality of lives for farm animals.
Dietary Ground Flaxseed Increases Serum Alpha-Linolenic Acid Concentrations in Adult Cats
Authors: Panasevich Matthew R. , Daristotle Leighann , Yamka Ryan M. , Frantz Nolan Z.
Published: September 2022

We evaluated effects of dietary ground flaxseed on fecal and serum alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) concentrations, nutrient digestibility, and stool quality in female and male adult cats (n = 20 (8 males, 12 females); 3.95 ± 1.49 years of age (mean ± SD); 3.88 ± 0.82 kg BW). We hypothesized that adding ground flaxseed would increase serum ALA compared with feeding no flax, without changing nutrient digestibility. Cats were fed as-is 2.6% added-flaxseed (flax, n = 10) or no-flax (control, n = 10) diets (2.66 vs. 0.78% ALA of total fatty acids; crude protein 35%, fat 20%, fiber 3% as-fed) twice daily to maintain body weight for 28 days. Fecal collections were conducted on days 23–27 for total-tract nutrient digestibility, stool quality (scale 1–5; 1 = watery diarrhea, 5 = hard, dry, crumbly) and long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) analyses. Blood was collected on days 0, 14, and 28 for serum LCFA and chemistry analysis. Digestibility and fecal data were analyzed by ANOVA (SAS v9.4, Cary, NC, USA) and a repeated measures ANOVA for serum ALA. Flax-fed cats, compared with control-fed, had greater (p < 0.05) serum ALA after 14 days (4.00 vs. 0.71 µg/mL) and 28 days (7.83 and 3.67 µg/mL). No differences were observed in stool quality, and dry matter, protein, fat, and ALA digestibility. However, metabolizable energy was greater in the flax vs. control diet (4.18 vs. 3.91 kcal/g; p < 0.05). Overall, these data demonstrate that ground flaxseed added to cat diets increases serum ALA within 14 days, with no detriments to nutrient digestibility. We conclude that flaxseed can be used as a bioavailable source of ALA in cat diets.
A Minimal Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Model to Characterize CNS Distribution of Metronidazole in Neuro Care ICU Patients
Authors: Chauzy Alexia , Bouchène Salim , Aranzana-Climent Vincent , Clarhaut Jonathan , Adier Christophe , Grégoire Nicolas , Couet William , Dahyot-Fizelier Claire , Marchand Sandrine
Published: September 2022

Understanding antibiotic concentration-time profiles in the central nervous system (CNS) is crucial to treat severe life-threatening CNS infections, such as nosocomial ventriculitis or meningitis. Yet CNS distribution is likely to be altered in patients with brain damage and infection/inflammation. Our objective was to develop a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model to predict brain concentration-time profiles of antibiotics and to simulate the impact of pathophysiological changes on CNS profiles. A minimal PBPK model consisting of three physiological brain compartments was developed from metronidazole concentrations previously measured in plasma, brain extracellular fluid (ECF) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of eight brain-injured patients. Volumes and blood flows were fixed to their physiological value obtained from the literature. Diffusion clearances characterizing transport across the blood–brain barrier and blood–CSF barrier were estimated from system- and drug-specific parameters and were confirmed from a Caco-2 model. The model described well unbound metronidazole pharmacokinetic profiles in plasma, ECF and CSF. Simulations showed that with metronidazole, an antibiotic with extensive CNS distribution simply governed by passive diffusion, pathophysiological alterations of membrane permeability, brain ECF volume or cerebral blood flow would have no effect on ECF or CSF pharmacokinetic profiles. This work will serve as a starting point for the development of a new PBPK model to describe the CNS distribution of antibiotics with more limited permeability for which pathophysiological conditions are expected to have a greater effect.
Kelulut Honey Ameliorates Oestrus Cycle, Hormonal Profiles, and Oxidative Stress in Letrozole-Induced Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Rats
Authors: Kamal Datu Agasi Mohd , Ibrahim Siti Fatimah , Ugusman Azizah , Mokhtar Mohd Helmy
Published: September 2022

Kelulut honey (KH) has been proven to have excellent antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties with unique physicochemical characteristics. Therefore, we investigated the isolated and combined effects of KH, metformin, or clomiphene in alleviating oxidative stress and reproductive and metabolic abnormalities in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were given 1 mg/kg/day of letrozole for 21 days to induce PCOS. PCOS rats were then divided into six treatment groups: untreated, metformin (500 mg/kg/day), clomiphene (2 mg/kg/day), KH (1 g/kg/day), combined KH (1 g/kg/day) and metformin (500 mg/kg/day), and combined KH (1 g/kg/day) and clomiphene (2 mg/kg/day). All treatments were administered orally for 35 days. The physicochemical characteristics of KH were assessed through hydroxymethylfurfural, free acidity, diastase number, moisture content, sugar profile, metals, and mineral compounds. Additionally, we determined the semivolatile organic compounds present in KH through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis. KH and its combination with metformin or clomiphene were shown to improve the oestrus cycle, hormonal profile, and oxidative stress in PCOS rats. However, KH did not reduce the fasting blood glucose, insulin, and body weight gain in PCOS rats. These findings may provide a basis for future studies to discover the potential use of KH as a complementary treatment for women with PCOS.
A Feasibility Study of Utilizing Nuclear Energy for an Existing MED-TVC Desalination Plant
Authors: Alessi Yasser M. , Al-Rabiah Abdulrahman A.
Published: September 2022

This study aims to investigate the viability of using a nuclear heating reactor to supply energy and replace the used fossil crude oil energy supply of an existing MED-TVC (Multi-Effect Distillation-Thermal-Vapor-Compression) desalination plant located in Saudi Arabia. The MED-TVC, with a 91,200 m3/day capacity, was simulated using Aspen Plus®. The MED-TVC desalination plant was built in a parallel arrangement with oil-fired steam boilers, and it uses Red Sea water with a salinity of about 45,000 ppm. The simulation results of the MED-TVC are in good agreement with the actual data of the existing desalination plant. The heat required to operate the existing MED-TVC was determined to be 169 MW (th). This amount of heat was utilized as an input to DEEP (Desalination Economic Evaluation Program) to evaluate the production cost of fresh water using nuclear energy instead of fossil fuel. An economic comparison between the two energy sources was carried out in this study. The production cost of freshwater was estimated to be USD 1.38/m3 when using a nuclear reactor. In contrast, the estimated production cost was USD 0.95/m3 when using oil-fired boilers at a subsidized oil price of USD 4.4/bbl. The economic analysis has considered the discounted domestic crude oil prices in Saudi Arabia. Nuclear energy is cost-competitive with oil if Saudi Arabia raises the price of domestic crude oil to more than USD 15 per barrel or imposes a carbon tax of at least USD 20 per ton of greenhouse gas emissions.
Scalable Dew Computing
Authors: Gusev Marjan
Published: September 2022

Dew computing differs from the classical cloud and edge computing by bringing devices closer to the end-users and adding autonomous processing independent from the Internet, but it is still able to collaborate with other devices to exchange information on the Internet. The difference is expressed also on scalability, since edge and cloud providers can provide (almost endless) resources, and in the case of dew computing the scalability needs to be realized on the level of devices, instead of servers. In this paper, we introduce an approach to provide deviceless and thingless computing and ensure scalable dew computing. The deviceless approach allows functions to be executed on nearby devices found closer to the user, and the thingless approach goes even further, providing scalability on a low-level infrastructure that consists of multiple things, such as IoT devices. These approaches introduce the distribution of computing to other smart devices or things on a lower architectural level. Such an approach enhances the existing dew computing architectural model as a sophisticated platform for future generation IoT systems.
Special Issue on Contaminants in Coastal Environments: From the Sediment-Water Interface to the Trophic Chain
Authors: Covelli Stefano , Acquavita Alessandro , García-Ordiales Efren
Published: September 2022

Rapid industrialization and urbanization have led to a decline in environmental quality, especially in coastal aquatic environments (i [...]
Radioactivity in Soils of Kosovo and Radiological Implications
Authors: Kadiri Sehad , Dizman Serdar , Yeşilkanat Cafer M. , Aliu Hamdi , Hodolli Gezim
Published: September 2022

This study was carried out to determine the presence of the main radionuclides from natural and artificial radioactivity in the soil of Kosovo, using gamma-ray spectroscopy. The mean activity concentration for Ra-226, Th-232, K-40, and Cs-137 was 22.32 ± 1.41, 22.14 ± 1.31, 358.16 ± 8.85, and 12.94 ± 0.44 Bq/kg, respectively. Radium equivalent activity ranged from 47 to 100 Bq/kg. The mean of calculated values for the gamma index (Iγ), external hazard index (Hex), absorbed dose rate (ADR), annual gonadal dose rate (AGDE), annual effective dose rate (AEDE), and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) were 0.61, 0.22, 40 nGy/h, 275 µSv/year, 49 µSv/year, and 170, respectively. In conclusion, the radiological parameters arising from the soil samples of Kosovo belong to the normal range of radionuclides, compared to those compiled by UNSCEAR from worldwide reports; therefore, health hazards are insignificant.
Diverse Pose Lip-Reading Framework
Authors: Akhter Naheed , Ali Mushtaq , Hussain Lal , Shah Mohsin , Mahmood Toqeer , Ali Amjad , Al-Fuqaha Ala
Published: September 2022

Lip-reading is a technique to understand speech by observing a speaker’s lips movement. It has numerous applications; for example, it is helpful for hearing impaired persons and understanding the speech in noisy environments. Most of the previous works of lips-reading focused on frontal and near frontal face lip-reading and some of them targeted multiple poses in high quality videos. However, their results are not satisfactory on low quality videos containing multiple poses. In this research work, a lip-reading framework is proposed for improving the recognition rate in low quality videos. In this work, a Multiple Pose (MP) dataset of low quality videos containing multiple extreme poses is built. The proposed framework decomposes the input video into frames and enhances them by applying the Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization (CLAHE) method. Next, faces are detected from enhanced frames and frontalized the multiple poses using the face frontalization Generative Adversarial Network (FF-GAN). After face frontalization, the mouth region is extracted. The extracted mouth region in the whole video and its respective sentences are then provided to the ResNet during the training process. The proposed framework achieved a sentence prediction accuracy of 90% on a testing dataset containing 100 silent low-quality videos with multiple poses that are better as compared to state-of-the-art methods.
Aerodynamic Modeling and Performance Analysis of Variable-Speed Coaxial Helicopter
Authors: Xu Anan , Wang Fang , Chen Ming , Li Liang
Published: September 2022

In this paper, the variable-speed coaxial helicopter is modelled by the blade element method, non-uniform inflow method and empirical function method, and the aerodynamic performance analysis method is proposed. To ensure the accuracy of this method, a flight test of the verification aircraft has been performed, and the rotor speed and required power under different forward flight speeds have been obtained. By comparing the experimental results with the calculation results, it is ascertained that the rotor speed trim error of this method is less than 6%, and the required power calculation error is less than 5%, which demonstrates the accuracy of this method. Finally, when the rotor diameter, hovering collective pitch and hovering rotor speed are equal, the required power of variable-speed coaxial helicopter and variable collective-pitch coaxial helicopter is compared through this method. The comparison results show that the variable-speed coaxial helicopter has low required power when it is less than the forward flight speed corresponding to the hovering rotor speed. When the forward speed is higher than that corresponding to the hovering rotor speed, the variable-pitch coaxial helicopter has lower required power.
Biomolecular Mechanisms of Cardiorenal Protection with Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter 2 Inhibitors
Authors: Prandi Francesca Romana , Barone Lucy , Lecis Dalgisio , Belli Martina , Sergi Domenico , Milite Marialucia , Lerakis Stamatios , Romeo Francesco , Barillà Francesco
Published: September 2022

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia and associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality, primarily from cardiovascular and renal diseases. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2-Is) are novel drugs for the treatment of type 2 DM and heart failure (HF). SGLT2-Is mediate protective effects on both the renal and cardiovascular systems. This review addresses the current knowledge on the biomolecular mechanisms of the cardiorenal protective effects of SGLT2-Is, which appear to act mainly through non-glucose-mediated pathways. Cardiorenal protection mechanisms lead to reduced chronic renal disease progression and improved myocardial and coronary endothelial function. Concomitantly, it is possible to observe reflected changes in biomarkers linked with diabetic kidney disease and HF.
PAX9 Is Involved in Periodontal Ligament Stem Cell-like Differentiation of Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells by Regulating Extracellular Matrix
Authors: Sugiura Risa , Hamano Sayuri , Tomokiyo Atsushi , Hasegawa Daigaku , Yoshida Shinichiro , Sugii Hideki , Fujino Shoko , Adachi Orie , Kadowaki Masataka , Yamashita Daiki , Maeda Hidefumi
Published: September 2022

Periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) play central roles in periodontal ligament (PDL) tissue homeostasis, repair, and regeneration. Previously, we established a protocol to differentiate human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural crest-like cells (iNCs) into PDLSC-like cells (iPDLSCs) using human PDL cell-derived extracellular matrix (ECM). However, it remained unclear what factors principally regulate the differentiation of iNCs into iPDLSCs. In this study, we aimed to identify the transcription factor regulating production of human PDL cell-derived ECM, which is responsible for the generation of iPDLSCs. We cultured iNCs on ECMs of two human PDL cell lines (HPDLC-3S and HPDLC-3U) and of human dermal fibroblasts (HDF). iNCs cultured on HPDLC-3U demonstrated higher iPDLSC-associated gene expression and mesenchymal differentiation capacity than cells cultured on HDF or HPDLC-3S. The transcription factor PAX9 was highly expressed in HPDLC-3U compared with HDF and HPDLC-3S. iNCs cultured on siPAX9-transfected HPDLC-3U displayed downregulation of iPDLSC-associated marker expression and adipocytic differentiation capacity relative to controls. Our findings suggest that PAX9 is one of the transcription factors regulating ECM production in human PDL cells, which is responsible for the differentiation of iNCs into iPDLSCs.
Safety of Clinical Ultrasound Neuromodulation
Authors: Radjenovic Sonja , Dörl Gregor , Gaal Martin , Beisteiner Roland
Published: September 2022

Transcranial ultrasound holds much potential as a safe, non-invasive modality for navigated neuromodulation, with low-intensity focused ultrasound (FUS) and transcranial pulse stimulation (TPS) representing the two main modalities. While neuroscientific and preclinical applications have received much interest, clinical applications are still relatively scarce. For safety considerations, the current literature is largely based on guidelines for ultrasound imaging that uses various physical parameters to describe the ultrasound pulse form and expected bioeffects. However, the safety situation for neuromodulation is inherently different. This article provides an overview of relevant ultrasound parameters with a focus on bioeffects relevant for safe clinical applications. Further, a retrospective analysis of safety data for clinical TPS applications in patients is presented.
Brain Anatomy Alterations and Mental Health Challenges Correlate to Email Addiction Tendency
Authors: Sadeghi Saeid , Takeuchi Hikaru , Shalani Bita , Taki Yasuyuki , Nouchi Rui , Yokoyama Ryoichi , Kotozaki Yuka , Nakagawa Seishu , Sekiguchi Atsushi , Iizuka Kunio , Hanawa Sugiko , Araki Tsuyoshi , Miyauchi Carlos Makoto , Sakaki Kohei , Nozawa Takayuki , Ikeda Shigeyuki , Yokota Susumu , Magistro Daniele , Sassa Yuko , Kawashima Ryuta
Published: September 2022

Despite the widespread use of email, our knowledge regarding the consequences of email addiction is lacking. The purpose of this study was to develop an email addiction tendency scale to evaluate its correlation to behavior and brain structure. Following this, the validity and reliability of the developed scale was investigated. We used voxel-based morphometry, correlation, and univariate regression analysis to assess the relationships between email addiction tendency scores and regional gray and white matter volumes, depression, and nonverbal reasoning abilities in a large sample of healthy young adults (n = 1152; mean age, 20.69 ± 1.84 years). The content validity ratio, content validity index, principal component analysis, and confirmatory factorial analysis all showed that the email addiction tendency scale (EATS) has high validity. Additionally, the Cronbach’s alpha internal consistency and split-half reliability coefficient showed that the EATS has high reliability. We found that email addiction tendency scores were significantly negatively correlated with nonverbal reasoning. We also observed that the email addiction tendency scores were significantly and positively correlated with depression symptom severity and gray matter volume of the left rostrolateral prefrontal cortex (RLPC) in subjects. These results indicate that email addiction tendency is associated with lower mental health outcomes and increased GMV in the left RLPC.
High-Intensity Interval Training-Induced Hippocampal Molecular Changes Associated with Improvement in Anxiety-like Behavior but Not Cognitive Function in Rats with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Orumiyehei Amin , Khoramipour Kayvan , Rezaei Maryam Hossein , Madadizadeh Elham , Meymandi Manzumeh Shamsi , Mohammadi Fatemeh , Chamanara Mohsen , Bashiri Hamideh , Suzuki Katsuhiko
Published: September 2022

(1) Background: Exercise exerts many neuroprotective effects in diabetes-induced brain disorders. In this study, we investigated the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on brain molecular changes and cognitive and anxiety-like behaviors in rats with type 2 diabetes. (2) Methods: Twenty-eight adult male rats were divided into four groups (n = 7): control (C), exercise + control (C+EX), diabetes (DM), and diabetes + exercise (DM+EX). Diabetes was induced using a two-month high-fat diet and a single dose of streptozotocin (35 mg/kg) in the DM and DM+EX groups. After, the C+EX and DM+EX groups performed HIIT for eight weeks (five sessions per week, running at 80–100% of VMax, 4–10 intervals) on a motorized treadmill. Then, the elevated plus maze (EPM) and open field test (OFT) were performed to evaluate anxiety-like behaviors. The Morris water maze (MWM) and shuttle box were used to assess cognitive function. The hippocampal levels of beta-amyloid and tau protein were also assessed using Western blot. (3) Results: The hippocampal levels of beta-amyloid and tau protein were increased in the DM group, but HIIT restored these changes. While diabetes led to a significant decrease in open arm time percentage (%OAT) and open arm enters percentage (%OAE) in the EPM, indicating anxiety-like behavior, HIIT restored them. In the OFT, grooming was decreased in diabetic rats, which was restored by HIIT. No significant difference between groups was seen in the latency time in the shuttle box or for learning and memory in the MWM. (4) Conclusions: HIIT-induced hippocampal molecular changes were associated with anxiety-like behavior improvement but not cognitive function in rats with type 2 diabetes.
Landmarks of the Metropolis, the Types of Forms of Varsovian Skyscrapers as Compared to Global Precedence
Authors: Goncikowski Marcin
Published: September 2022

The following paper is devoted to research on the types of forms of skyscrapers built in Warsaw from 1989 to 2022. The research focuses on defining the architectural typology of such forms as elements of the image of the city. The research was carried out in the following stages: defining the character of international examples of skyscrapers, research on types of forms of high-rise buildings realized in Warsaw and their formal classification, determination of typological features of twenty-four high-rise buildings under study, and their changes over time. The characteristic elements of the image of the city and urban composition related to the examined buildings were determined. As a result of the research, it was determined that the most common types of forms found in the study group were free forms—41.6%, polygonal forms—25%, and obelisk forms—20.8%. In individual cases, there are tapered, aerodynamic, and regional forms. The research showed a trend in the latest projects, dating back to the last five years, consisting of an increase in the number of buildings constructed, an increase their scale, a lowering of their slenderness, and a tendency to implement polygonal forms more often than free forms. High-rise buildings are landmarks in the urban composition and the image of Warsaw. Most often, they designate paths and nodes with which they are associated. The types of forms of high-rise buildings in Warsaw vary; there is no uniform type of form of high-rise building implemented in the period. For this reason, the research should be updated and carried out using the methodology presented in the paper.
Research on the Indicators of Sustainable Campus Renewal and Reconstruction in Pursuit of Continuous Historical and Regional Context
Authors: Guo Weihong , Ding Yaqian , Yang Guang , Liu Xiao
Published: September 2022

As cities transition from incremental development to stock development, university campuses in suburban areas are progressively becoming urban university campuses. The stability of the boundary between urban university campuses and the city, along with the fact that the campus’s overall spatial capacity is reaching its maximum, makes it impossible for urban university campuses to have future spatial expansions. This article focused on the stock development, renewal, and transformation of urban campuses. From the perspective of urban university campus block morphology hierarchy and using the Wushan Campus of South China University of Technology in Guangzhou as an example, this study utilized urban morphology theory, data mining technology, big data collection, and visualization techniques to measure campus block morphology. Then, K-means clustering was utilized to classify the block form, and historical background research was employed to study the many forms of typical block form. Finally, the campus renewal and transformation guiding principles were introduced, and the control index of block form renewal and transformation was formed, evolving into the university campus block form renewal and transformation design technique. This strategy was used to investigate the general revitalization of college campuses.