bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Genome-Wide Association Study To Identify Candidate Genes for Metabolic Disorders in Offspring by In Vitro Fertilization
Authors: Liu Lihong , Ha Siyao , Li Zhiling , Li MingQing
Published: September 2021

In vitro fertilization (IVF) processes increase offspring's short-term and long-term health risks, but their mechanisms remain unclear. We conducted a bibliometric analysis to determine the landscape of IVF offspring health. Subsequently, a bioinformatics method was utilized to identify the co-genes properties and biological function mechanisms of IVF and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Finally, we predicted compounds against key targets and performed multiple validations of the mechanisms underlying IVF offspring health risks. We identified 15 genes associated with T2DM, and their biological functions are primarily associated with lipid metabolism. We also identified the properties of co-genes, modified characteristics, confirmed a conserved motif, identified 3 SNPs sites, and determined the three core genes, APOA1, APOB, and APOE, which were mainly correlated with metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, we predicted drugs that may improve metabolic abnormalities in IVF offspring. The impact of aberrant lipid metabolism in offspring after IVF therapy warrants additional investigation, particularly in terms of long-term health consequences and possible mechanisms.
PAPR Reduction of FBMC Signals Based on Uniform and Linear PDF Companding Schemes
Authors: Ramavath Srinivas , Samal Umesh Chandra
Published: September 2021

In this paper, two new companders are designed to reduce the ratio of peak to average power (PAPR) experienced by filter bank multicarrier (FBMC) signals. Specifically, the compander basic model is generalized, which alter the distributed FBMC signal amplitude peak. The proposed companders design approach provides better performance in terms of reducing the PAPR, Bit Error Rate (BER) and phase error degradation over the previously existing compander schemes. Many PAPR reduction approaches, such as the µ-law companding technique, are also available. It results in the formation of spectrum side lobes, although the proposed techniques result in a spectrum with fewer side lobes. The theoretical analysis of linear compander and expander transform for a few specific parameters are derived and analyzed. The suggested linear companding technique is analytically analysed using simulations to show that it efficiently decreases the high peaks in the FBMC system.
Relationships between Developmental Strategies for Additional Indications and Price Revisions for Anticancer Drugs in Japan
Authors: Maeda Hideki , Okabe Ayano , Sakakura Kenichi , Ng Daniel Bin , Akazawa Manabu
Published: September 2021

Background
The relationships between developmental strategies for additional indications and drug price revisions have not been thoroughly studied. Here, we investigated the price revisions for anticancer drugs approved in Japan.
Methods
The study was based on published information on anticancer drugs approved between January 2009 and March 2020 in Japan. We investigated the relationships between the pharmacological and regulatory characteristics of anticancer drugs and occurrence/non-occurrence of the Japanese National Health Insurance (NHI) price revisions.
Results
Eighty-one new anticancer drugs were given NHI price listings during the survey. On April 1, 2020, the prices of 23 anticancer drugs had been revised from the initial pricing, the prices were reduced for all, except for one drug. Several parameters showed the relationships between drug characteristics and NHI price revisions. The achievement of additional indications and compound type were identified as explanatory factors for these relationships. Additional indication profiles were defined to assess the relationships between the methods for additional indication achievement and price revisions. For the 32 drugs with additional indications, the relationships between the additional indication profiles and occurrence/non-occurrence of NHI price revision were investigated. The proportion of drugs with NHI price revisions was higher if the additional indication had more patients than if the additional indications had approximately the same numbers of patients or fewer patients.
Conclusions
NHI price revision was significantly related to the achievement of additional indications and compound type. The strategy for additional indications was found to affect the occurrence/non-occurrence of NHI price revisions.
Stress Detection using EEG Signal Based on Fast Walsh Hadamard transform and Voting Classifier
Authors: Shakya Navdeep , DUBEY RAHUL , Shrivastava Laxmi
Published: September 2021

Mental stress is currently a significant concern, especially among the young. Stress adversely affects the overall performance of people’s work, and in certain cases, can even cause serious health issues. Everyone experiences stress in life. A unique way to identify and classify stress levels based on Electroencephalogram (EEG) is proposed in this manuscript. In this work, fast Walsh Hadamard transform is used to generate all frequencies which exist in the EEG signals. The range of alpha, beta, gamma, and delta from index value is calculated in subsequent stage. Principal component analysis (PCA) is applied for the feature dimensional reduction which is followed by the standard scaler. The PSD vector has been calculated for healthy and unhealthy EEG signal groups using the Welch method. The PSD vector is used an input to the voting classifier which is the combination of the k-NN and logistic regression classifier. The experimental results found that the proposed method provides better results when compared to the existing methods in terms of Accuracy (Acc) and Mean Square Error (MSE). The proposed method achieves a highest classification accuracy of 94.22%
Cluster Routing Algorithm for Ring Based Wireless Sensor Network Using Particle Swarm And Lion Swarm Optimization
Authors: Hu Huangshui , Guo Yuxin , Zhang Jinfeng , Yin Chunhua , Gao Dong
Published: September 2021

In order to solve the problem of hot spot caused by uneven energy consumption of nodes in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) and reduce the network energy consumption, a novel cluster routing algorithm called CRPL for ring based wireless sensor networks using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Lion Swarm Optimization (LSO) is proposed in this paper. In CRPL, the optimal cluster head (CH) of each ring are selected by using LSO whose fitness function is composed of energy,number of neighbor nodes, number of cluster heads and distance. Moreover, PSO with a multi-objective fitness function considering distance, energy and cluster size is used to find the next hop relay node in the process of data transmission, and the optimal routing paths are obtained, so as to alleviate the hot spot problem as well as decrease the energy consumption in the routing process. The simulation results show that, compared with some existing optimization algorithms, CRPL has better effects in balancing the energy consumption of the network and prolonging the life cycle of the network.
Carbon Black Nanoparticles Exposure Induces Intestinal Flora Dysbiosis and Consequent Activation of Gut-Liver Axis Leading to Liver Lipid Accumulation in Zebrafish
Authors: Liu Qingqing , Wang Bing , Wang Shengchen , Jing Hongyuan , Xu Shiwen
Published: September 2021

Background:Carbon black nanoparticles (CBNPs) are a major carbonaceous nanomaterial, which have been widely left in the environment. The integrity of the gut-liver axis function is critical to the survival of animals. Therefore, we studied the effects of three concentrations of CBNPs (50, 100, 200 mg/L) on zebrafish intestines, liver and intestinal flora. Results:The results showed that CBNPs exposure could reduce the diversity of intestinal flora, change the structure of core microbial populations, enhance the permeability of the intestinal mucosal barrier, and cause changes in genes related to tight junctions in intestinal tissues. The H&E staining and Oil red O staining showed that CBNPs exposure would lead to vacuolar degeneration and lipid accumulation in zebrafish liver. Further detection of glycolipid metabolism related genes showed that CBNPs exposure induced the up-regulation of glycolysis related genes PFKFB3, LDHA, and LEPr, reduces the expression of glycogen synthase kinase GSK-3b, and increases lipid transport and production related genes PPAR-α, PPAR-γ, LIPC, apoa4, Fabp2 and Fabp11 expression. Conclusions:In brief, our data demonstrated that CBNPs exposure induced intestinal microflora disturbance in zebrafish can lead to liver lipid accumulation.
Impact of Crop Insurance On Cocoa Farmers’ Income: An Empirical Analysis From Ghana
Authors: Agbenyo Wonder , Jiang Yuansheng , Ntim-Amo Gideon
Published: September 2021

Risk is associated with every sector of an economy, and the pervasiveness of risk in agriculture is not new to farmers; they have, over the decades, developed ways to minimize and cope with it. The question is whether traditional strategies employed by farmers are adequate to curb unavoidable natural disasters. The goal of this study is to see how crop insurance affects cocoa producers' incomes in Ghana. A well-structured questionnaire was delivered to a sample of 600 cocoa farmers in Ghana's Ashanti region, and data was collected using a multi-stage random sampling technique. Tobit, and Propensity score-matching effect estimators were used to assess crop insurance's impact on cocoa farmers’ income. The result indicates that crop insurance had a significant positive impact on cocoa farmers’ income in the Ashanti region. The study recommends that the government of Ghana, with urgency, design agricultural insurance policy that can capture various farmers in the country to enhance their income and reduce poverty. Again, insurers need to promote publicity through public seminars, training, and media advertising to improve farmer awareness and knowledge of the insurance scheme.
Effects of Virtual Reality-Based Teaching On Students’ Learning Performance In Anatomy
Authors: Rasouli Behnam , Aliabadi Khadijeh , Ardakani Saeid Pourroostaei
Published: September 2021

Background: Students should become familiar with spatial relationships around anatomical structures, not just their appearance and function. This is a challenge in traditional classrooms where students use 2D images of books and descriptive articles as a reference. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of VR training applied in anatomy training compared to conventional or 2D digital methods in the classroom.Method: Our quasi-experimental method used pre-test and post-test to measure academic achievement and technology acceptance questionnaires. A total of 92 fourth-year medical students were from three classes. They were randomly divided into three groups: 1) Traditional education group and 2) Virtual Reality education group 3) E-learning group (based on Moodle). To examine learning performance, the measurement tools included pre-test and post-test of anatomy and technology acceptance questionnaire.Result: The results showed that students who took anatomy courses in VR showed significantly higher academic achievement than those who taught through traditional methods. There was also a significant difference between E-learning and traditional groups and no significant difference was observed between E-learning and VR groups.Conclusion: The present study provides empirical evidence for the use of VR in anatomy education. In addition, it explains how to create and implement a VR-based class for formal educational purposes.
The Lasting Effect of Discontinuing Zoledronic Acid On Periprosthetic Bone Mineral Density Five Years After Total Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Hsu Allen Herng Shouh , Yen Chun-Hsien , Lu Yu-Der , Kuo Feng-Chih , Wu Cheng-Ta , Huang Tsan-Wen , Lee Mel S.
Published: September 2021

Background: Previous study has shown that a short-term use of zoledronic acid (ZA) after cementless total hip arthroplasty (THA) significantly increases bone mineral density (BMD) over the proximal femur and inhibits bone turnover markers (BTMs) after two years. However, could the discontinuation of ZA have a lasting effect is of interest.Method: This is an extension study of a two-year prospective randomized controlled trial on 54 cementless THA treated with either two doses of ZA or placebo. We compared BTMs [alkaline phosphatase (ALP); osteocalcin (OC); procollagen 1 intact N-terminal propeptide (P1NP)], serum calcium, renal function, radiological findings, and functional outcomes (Harris hip score and UCLA activity score) from baseline to 5 years post-THA in 49 patients, and periprosthetic BMD of the seven Gruen zones in 19 patients.Result: All patients had well-functioning hip prostheses, normal renal function, and normal serum calcium levels at 5-year follow-up. At the fifth year, the BMD levels were not statistically different between the two groups, but the change in BMD from baseline (BMD change ratios) in ZA group were significantly increased in zone 2, 4, and 6 as compared with control group. Parallel to that, in ZA group, levels of ALP were significantly lower at the fifth year; OC were significantly lower at the second and the fifth year; P1NP were significantly lower from 6 weeks to 2 years as compared with those in control group.Conclusion: This study demonstrates the lasting effect of a two-dose ZA given within one year after THA on bone metabolism and periprosthetic BMD at five years. The short-term dosing of ZA followed by a 4-year drug holiday had no adverse events and resulted in significant inhibition of periprosthetic bone loss and BTMs.Trial Registration:This extension study on a randomized, open label, single-center clinical trial was conducted under Institutional Review Board of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Protocol Records 98-1150A3; 105-1296C1; 105-7004D, and was registered July 19th, 2016 on public registry ClinicalTrials.gov trial registration number NCT02838121.
Assessment of Potability of Minewater Pumped Out from Jharia Coalfield, India: An Integrated Approach Using Integrated Water Quality Index, Heavy Metal Pollution Index and Multivariate Statistics
Authors: Baruah Pritam Mazinder , Singh Gurdeep
Published: September 2021

The dense and industrialized populace in the mining areas of Jharia Coalfield (JCF) is plagued by a severe shortage of water supply. The unutilized pumped out coal minewater discharges may be utilized to cater to the increasing water demand of the region but it runs the risk of getting contaminated from domestic and industrial effluents. The current study aimed to assess the suitableness of augmenting underground minewater for potable purposes. Minewater samples collected from 15 locations (minewater treatment plants) across JCF for the hydrological year 2019-2020 were analysed to gain an insight on the physico-chemical characteristics of the minewater using an integrated approach of standard hydrochemical methods, Integrated Water Quality Index (IWQI), Heavy metal Pollution Index (HPI) and Multivariate Statistical Analysis. The integrated approach gives a holistic assessment of the minewater quality, overcoming the limitations of traditional water quality indices, to give a more accurate assessment. The analysis of minewater in the region identified Ca–Mg–HCO3 and Ca–Mg–Cl–SO4 as the two major water types. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) of the minewater revealed the influence of lithogenic and anthropogenic processes in modulating the water chemistry of the region. This study could facilitate effective water quality management practices while also laying the foundation for augmenting minewater for potable purposes to meet increasing demands.
The Impact of Long-term Care Needs on the Socio-economic Deprivation of Older People and Their Families: a Scoping Review Protocol
Authors: Martarelli Rossella , Casanova Georgia , Lamura Giovanni
Published: September 2021

BackgroundPopulation ageing, constantly on the increase in all countries worldwide, has long been the object of scientific research from several perspectives, including multi and interdisciplinary approaches. This scoping review aims to investigate the socio-economic consequences of older people’s poor health on their own economic conditions and those of their families. This study aims to: a) map the main concepts that characterise the body of literature pertaining to this issue; b) identify conceptual gaps or unexplored research areas to be addressed; c) delve into the ways of arguing about the difficulties that affect a large number of families with older members to care for, especially with regard to the concept of socio-economic deprivation, which in our perspective includes both material and social deprivation (e.g. in the form of loneliness experienced as a consequence of health disorders). This protocol fulfils the purpose of clarifying the stages and methods of the study and listing the techniques used.MethodsThis article is being drafted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses for Protocols 2015 (PRISMA-P 2015). The rationale behind the study and its stages are aligned with the guidelines of Lockwood et al. (2019) and the recommendations of Munn et al. (2018): Each stage links up with the next, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (the 2020 PRISMA Statement), while the reporting phase refers to the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist. The search process is being performed by means of databases such as PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science. The latest version of MAXQDA will be used for analyzing all data.Discussion We aim to highlight and connect the most useful insights addressed to stakeholders and policymakers and, most of all, the ones valuable to social innovation. Nevertheless, it is necessary for us to remark that, despite the prevalence of the English language, most research articles are written and published in other languages. Therefore, they are excluded from the search process.Systematic review registration Open Science Framework (OSF), https://osf.io/xq58z Registration DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/XQ58Z
The Effect of Benzyl Isothiocyanate On The Expression of Genes Encoding NADH Oxidase And Fibronectin-Binding Protein In Oral Streptococcal Biofilms
Authors: Alhandal Hawraa , Almesaileikh Esraa , Bhardwaj Radhika G , Khabbaz Areej Al , Karched Maribasappa
Published: September 2021

Background: Recent studies have shown that antibiotic treatment results in up- or down regulation of several virulence-associated genes. The genes encoding NADH oxidase (nox) and fibronectin-binding protein (fbp) are known to play important roles in biofilms of some oral bacterial species. The objective was to study the effect of benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), an antimicrobial agent from Miswak plant, on the expression of nox and fbp genes in some oral streptococci.Methods: Bacterial strains were grown as biofilms in brucella broth. The crystal violet stained biofilms were quantified by optical density measurements at 590 nm. The biofilms were treated with an antimicrobial agent (BITC) for 2 h and fold change in mRNA expression of nox and fbp genes in BITC treated selected oral streptococci was measured by comparative ∆∆Ct method on Real-Time PCR machine.Results: The highest amount of biofilm mass was produced by A. defectiva, followed by S. gordonii, S. mutans, G. elegans and G. adiacens. Upon treatment with BITC, S. gordonii biofilms showed highest mRNA expression for both fbp and nox genes. Mean (SE) folds increase in the expression of nox mRNA: S. gordonii 2 (0.30), followed by S. mutans 1.25 (0.18), A. defectiva 1.03 (0.09), G. adiacens 0.7 (0.03). Similarly for fbp, folds increase in mRNA expression was: S. gordonii 2.65 (0.03), followed by A. defectiva 2.09 (0.60), G. elegans 1.61 (0.40), S. mutans 1.57 (0.20), and G. adiacens 0.58 (0.06). G. elegans mRNA levels for nox were extremely low (0.006-fold). Conclusion: BITC treatment of the biofilms caused an upregulation of biofilm-associated genes fbp and nox genes in most of the tested species suggesting the significance of these genes in biofilm lifestyle of these oral bacteria. Increased expression of nox and fbp genes in the biofilm lifestyle of these species needs further investigation to understand if it contributes to antimicrobial resistance.
Drivers and Constraints of Land use Transitions on Western Grasslands: Insights from a California Mountain Ranching Community
Authors: Biggs Nicole Buckley
Published: September 2021

Context. Land use change drives a host of sustainability challenges on Earth’s grasslands. To understand the relationship between changing land use patterns, human well-being, and ecosystem services, research is needed into land use transitions on privately-owned grasslands. Such inquiry lies at the intersection of land system science and landscape sustainability science. Objectives. This study investigated land use change in a mountain cattle ranching community in the Sierra Nevada, California. The research objective was to highlight the drivers and constraints of identified land use transitions and the types of landowners and policies influencing ecological outcomes. Methods. This research used a mixed methods case study based on participant observation, 30 semi-structured interviews, and analysis of land cover and real estate data from California’s Farmland Monitoring and Mapping Program, USDA CropScape, and a local real estate sales database. Interviews were conducted with ranchers, public agencies, and conservation and real estate industry representatives, and analyzed with the constant comparison method using Nvivo 12. Results. Land use transitions in the case study region include agricultural intensification, residential and solar development, and disintensification from amenity migration. These transitions were influenced by decreasing land access and water availability, remote work, intergenerational succession, and conservation policy. Conclusions. By highlighting influences on working lands, this study can be applied to improve the uptake of conservation policies. For the future, several factors appear critical to conserving ecosystem services on private grasslands: ensuring grazing lands access, income diversification, groundwater regulations, agriculture-compatible conservation easements, and land use policies supporting ownership transition to amenity purposes rather than low-density residential development.
Effects of Selenium-enriched Bacillus Subtilis on Growth Inflammatory and Intestinal Microbes of Common Carp Induced by Mercury
Authors: Shang Xinchi , Wang Bo , Sun Qingsong , Zhang Yue , Lu Yuting , Liu Shaojun , li yuehong
Published: September 2021

Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant that affects the health of humans and ecosystems. Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for many organisms including humans. Bacillus subtilis is widely distributed in nature, is one of the main probiotics used in aquaculture, and has a certain adsorption effect on heavy metals. The interaction between Hg and Se was rigorously studied, especially due to the observation of the protective effect of Se on Hg toxicity. The common carp was exposed to Hg (0.03 mg/L), and 105 cfu/g Se-rich B. subtilis was added to the feed. After 30 days of feeding, samples were taken to evaluate the growth performance, serological response, inflammatory response, and intestinal microbial changes. In this study, when fish were exposed to Hg, the growth performance of the Se-rich B. subtilis plus 0.03 mg/L Hg fish group was lower than that of the control group and higher than 0.03 mg/L Hg; The levels of LZM and IgM decreased, but after supplementation with Se-rich B. subtilis, the levels of LZM and IgM increased; Hg treatment significantly up-regulated the mRNA expression of IL-1β, IL-8, TNF-α and NF-κB P65, but down-regulated the mRNA expression of IL-10, TGF-β and IkBα. However, compared with the Hg group, the Se-rich B. subtilis plus Hg group can significantly increase the mRNA expression levels of IL-1β, IL-8, TNF-α and NF-κB P65, but reduce the regulation of IL-10, TGF-β and IkBα expression. At the genus level, the abundance of Aeromonas in the intestines of common carp in the Hg treatment group increased, and Se-rich B. subtilis could reduce the abundance of Aeromonas (pathogenic bacteria). Through the analysis of the species, we found that the Hg group was mainly composed of Aeromonas sobria and Aeromonas hydrophila. However, in the Se-rich B. subtilis treatment group, we found that Aeromonas sobria was significantly less than the Hg group. Because Aeromonas (pathogenic bacteria) is harmful to the fish, it can induce inflammation in the fish and make the fish sick. Through microbiological analysis, it is found that Se-rich B. subtilis improves Hg-induced intestinal microbial changes, alleviates the abundance of Aeromonas, and alleviates the inflammation of the fish.
Maintaining the Resilience and Productivity of Co-culture Systems in the Face of Environmental Change
Authors: Lao Angelyn , Aviso Kathleen , Cabezas Heriberto , Tan Raymond
Published: September 2021

Co-culture systems can address food security issues by intensifying production of crops and animal protein without requiring additional land area. We show how a graph-theoretic optimization model based on ecological network analysis can determine resilient co-culture strategies by controlling the presence of key species. Results of simulations on a hybrid rice and crayfish production system indicate that comparable levels of productivity can be achieved with different ecological system structures.
Six Hub Genes Associated with Erectile Dysfunction And Acute Myocardial Infarction Based On GEO
Authors: xu zekun , Ang Xiaojie , Wang Yuxuan , Ge Nianxin , Xu Jiangnan , Pei Changsong
Published: September 2021

Background: Erectile dysfunction(ED) is a common male sexual dysfunction that significantly affects quality of life in men and induce a significant public health problem. Nowadays, vascular dysfunction is known as a common cause of ED. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) became co-morbidity with ED as vascular event. The increasing number of males with both diseases is a public health problem that deserves our attention.Results: Seven commom genes of DEGs were obtained in ED and AMI. Fifteen terms mainly including I−kappaB kinase/NF−kappaB signaling et al and five KEGG pathways mainly including Toll−like receptor signaling pathway were also obtained. Further, the diagnostic value of top 6 hub genes were identified. Conclusion: The hub genes IKBKG, RIPK1, TNF, RPS27A, TLR2, and TNFAIP3 were selected and their diagnostic values were validated. They may play an important potential role in the occurrence and offer viable targets for treating inflammation-mediated vascular dysfunction in the ED and AMI.
Knockdown of Stromal Interaction Molecule 1 (STIM1) Suppresses Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cell Line Survival Through Inhibition of Reactive Oxygen Species Activities
Authors: Algariri Eman Salem , Mydin Rabiatul Basria S. M. N. , Moses Emmanuel Jairaj , Okekpa Simon Imakwu , Rahim Nur Arzuar Abdul , Yusoff Narazah Mohd
Published: September 2021

Stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) is a critical regulator of calcium homeostasis through store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) and recently considered a potential therapeutic target for cancer. However, the role of STIM1 in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains unclear. The present study investigates the role of STIM1 in AML cell line (THP-1) proliferation and survival and its effect on reactive oxygen species (ROS) activities. Dicer-substrate siRNA (dsiRNA) - mediated STIM1 knockdown inhibited the THP-1 cells proliferation and colony formation ability. Further observation on ROS profile showed a significant reduction in the ROS level, which was associated with a significant down-regulation of NOX2 and protein kinase C (PKC). Furthermore, STIM1 knockdown exhibited significant down-regulation of Akt, KRAS, and MAPK which are critical proliferative and survival pathway-related genes. This study unveiled the importance of STIM1 in the regulation of AML cells proliferation and survival which could be through maintaining ROS at level keeping the proliferative and survival pathways at an active state. These findings represent STIM1 as a potential therapeutic target for AML treatment.
Inhibition effects of Gorge Fischer plumbing system on growth and amplification of Legionella Pneumophila with culture and PCR based on 16sRNA and mip genes
Authors: Barzegar Leila , Ghanizadeh Ghader , Esmaeili Davoud
Published: September 2021

Background

Legionella is an aquatic bacterium that causes Legionnaires' fever.
Methods

Fifty-six samples of the hot and cold-water system were collected. Characteristics of water samples were measured. Culture was performed in BCYE agar. Molecular identification was performed by PCR.
Results

The mean residual chlorine were 0.73 to 0.88 mg / l. Culture results were positive 58.8% of George Fischer and 23.5% of Ray Ho and 60% Taleghani hospital samples. PCR results based on 16sRNA were 35.2% of the George Fischer system, 45.4%, from Ray Ho piping and 54.5% from Taleghani hospital. the results of the mip gene, 82.3% of George Fischer, 54.5% of RayHo and 20% of Taleghani hospital were positive.
Conclusion

George Fischer’s Legionella stopper pipes and fittings have a good ability to control the growth Legion density in the indoor water supply system and can be considered as a suitable option for use in indoor plumbing and water supply.
Capsaicin Improves The Hypoglycemic Effect of Metformin Benefitted From Gut Microbiota
Authors: Kang Zhi-Qiang , Hu Jing-Lei , Chen Man-Yun , Mao Yu , Xie Li-Fang , Yang Nian , Liu Tao , Zhang Wei , Huang Wei-Hua
Published: September 2021

Background: Capsaicin(CAP) possesses a hypoglycemic activity through remodulating gut microbiota as well as the first-line oral hypoglycemic drug, metformin(MET). However, CAP on the hypoglycemic effect of MET pertinent to gut microbiota remained poorly known.Methods: The glucose and insulin tolerance of diabetic rats were monitored. The glycolipid metabolism were analyzed by detecting blood biochemical parameters. Liver pathological changes were observed by HE staining. The inflammatory cytokines and intestinal tight junction proteins were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. 16S rRNA sequencing was employed to analyze gut microbiota.Results: Compared with MET monotherapy, CAP and MET co-treatment could significantly reduce fasting blood glucose, improve glucose tolerance, lessen the degree of liver injury and inflammatory infiltration, reduce the expression of inflammatory cytokines and increase the expression of intestinal tight junction proteins in diabetic rats. Moreover, CAP and MET co-treatment altered gut microbiota profiles by regulating microbial abundances such as Akkermansia.Conclusion: CAP showed significant hypoglycemic effect of MET benefitted from remodulating gut microbiota in diabetic rats.
Species Diversity of Trichoderma Associated With Soil In The Zoige Alpine Wetland of Southwest China
Authors: Tang Guiting , Li Ying , Zhou You , Zheng Xiaojuan , Chang Xiaoli , Zhang Shirong , Gong Guoshu
Published: September 2021

Background: The Zoige alpine wetland is one of the most important wetlands in China because of its complex natural environment, abundant ecological resources, and unique climatic conditions. The ecology of soil fungi is poorly understood, and recent comprehensive reports on Trichoderma are not available for any region, including the Zoige alpine wetland ecological region in China. Our results may be used as a reference for a greater understanding of soil microorganism at various ecological regions, ecological rehabilitation and reconstruction and as microbial resources. Results: One hundred soil samples were collected from different soil types and soil layers in Zoige alpine wetland ecological regions in 2013. Using the traditional suspension plating method, a total of 80 Trichoderma strains were isolated. After a preliminary classification of morphological characteristics and the genes glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gpd), 57 strains were representatively selected and eventually identified as seven species via phylogenetic analyses of multilocus sequences based on the genes transcription elongation factor 1 alpha (tef1), encoding RNA polymerase II subunit B (rpb2) and ATP citrate lyase (acl1). Among them, Trichoderma harzianum was the dominant species and had the highest isolation frequency (23%) in this zone, while Trichoderma polysporum and Trichoderma pyramidale were rare species, with isolation frequencies of less than 1%.Conclusions: Our detailed morphological observation and molecular phylogenetic analyses support the recognition of Trichoderma zoigense was described for the first time as a new species.
One-Dimensional Diffraction Grating of Poly(Methacrylic Acid) Brushes For The Rapid Label-Free Detection of Yersinia Pestis With a Reflective Laser System
Authors: Lin Feng-Ping , Hsu Hui-Ling , Lin Hui-Chung , Huang Hsin-Hsien , Lu Chien-Hsing , Chen Jem-Kun
Published: September 2021

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Improved Optical Flow Estimation Method for Deepfake Videos
Authors: Nassif Ali Bou , Nasir Qassim , Talib Manar Abu , Gouda Omar Mohamed
Published: September 2021

Creating deepfake multimedia, and especially deepfake videos, has become much easier these days due to the availability of deepfake tools and the virtually unlimited numbers of face images found online. Research and industry communities have dedicated time and resources to develop detection methods to expose these fake videos. Although these detection methods have been developed over the past few years, synthesis methods have also made progress, allowing for the production of deepfake videos that are harder and harder to differentiate from real videos. This research paper proposes an improved optical flow estimation-based method to detect and expose the discrepancies between video frames. Augmentation and modification are used to improve the system’s overall accuracy. Furthermore, the system is trained on Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) and Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) to explore the effects and benefit of each type of hardware in deepfake detection. TPUs were found to have shorter training times compared to the GPUs. VGG-16 is the best performing model when used as backbone for the system, as it achieved around 82.0% detection accuracy when trained on GPUs and 71.34% accuracy on TPUs.
Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation Modulates GABAergic Activity In Neurofibromatosis 1
Authors: Garg Shruti , Williams Steve , Jung JeYoung , Pobric Gorana , Nandi Tulika , Lim Ben , Vassallo Grace , Green Jonathan , Evans D. Gareth , Stagg Charlotte J , Parkes Laura , Stivaros Stavros
Published: September 2021

BackgroundNeurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) is a single-gene disorder associated with cognitive phenotypes common to neurodevelopmental conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) & Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). GABAergic dysregulation underlies working memory impairments seen in NF1. This mechanistic experimental study investigates how inter-individual differences in GABA relate to working memory and whether application of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (atDCS) can modulate of GABA and working memory.Methods31 adolescents with NF1 were recruited to a single-blind, sham-controlled cross-over trial. Baseline assessments included detailed working memory tests and parent reported measures. Each participant had two study visits, one with atDCS and another with sham intervention applied to the left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC) inside the scanner. Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy was collected before and after aTDCS/sham intervention in the left DLPFC and occipital cortex.ResultsHigher baseline GABA was associated with faster response times (RT) on verbal and visuospatial working memory measures. No correlation was observed between baseline GABA and working memory accuracy. AtDCS was associated with significantly greater reduction in GABA, as compared to sham in the left DLPFC. There was no effect of atDCS on Glx in left DLPFC and no significant effect of atDCS on GABA or Glx in the occipital cortex. There was no effect of atDCS on behavioural measures of working memory.LimitationsLimitations of this study include use of brief behavioural outcome measures post tDCS chosen to reduce participant burden and the lack of a healthy control group. The GABA levels measured in this study will contain contributions from co-edited macromolecule signal (so-called GABA+), but the relative contribution of these macromolecular signals are thought to be constant unlikely to account for within participant/session GABA changes. ConclusionsThis first such study in adolescents with NF1, showed that atDCS modulates inhibitory activity in the DLPFC. This focussed mechanism trial presents a highly promising approach to understanding complex neural pathology in neurodevelopmental disorders. Given the strong evidence linking GABA abnormalities to cognitive deficits across neurodevelopmental conditions such as ASD, modulation of GABA using atDCS offers a promising novel therapeutic approach. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0499142. Registered 5th August 2021; retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04991428
Does Spiritual Health Contribute To The Oral Health Behaviors in Adolescents?
Authors: Ghasemi Hadi , Namdari Mahshid , Khorankeh Reza , Bakhshandeh Soheila
Published: September 2021

In a search for any correlation between spiritual health and oral health among adolescents, a cross-sectional study was performed. Junior high school students from three cities in Iran, were selected by multi-stage random sampling. They answered a questionnaire including questions on oral health-related behaviors and spiritual health. Majority of the students reported close ties with God. From 20–120, the mean score of spiritual health in these students was 94.29 (± 15.38). Students with higher spiritual health scores more frequently reported acceptable level of brushing, dental visit, and no smoking (p < 0.01). This indicates the significance of spiritual health in achieving healthy behaviors.
Compound Heterozygous Splicing Variants In KIAA0586 Cause Fetal Short-Rib Thoracic Dysplasia And Cerebellar Malformation: The Use of Whole Exome Sequencing In Prenatal Diagnosis
Authors: Zhao Qianying , Xu Bocheng , Xiang Qinqin , Tan Yu , Xie Hanbin , Gao Qianqian , Wen Lingyi , Wang He , Yang Mei , Liu Shanling
Published: September 2021

Background: Short-rib thoracic dysplasia (SRTD) and Joubert syndrome (JS) are rare genetic ciliopathies, both patients can manifest cerebellar malformation and variable developmental delays. However, neither could be easily diagnosed during pregnancy due to limited fetal phenotype. Here, we investigated a fetus with short limbs, polydactyly initially and uncovered a compound heterozygous pathogenesis through whole exome sequencing (WES).Results: Merely short limbs and polydactyly of the fetus were detected during second trimester of gestation. Two variants (c.3940+1G>A and c.3303G>A), affecting splicing of KIAA0586 gene, were identified from amniocytes through WES. The presence and effect of these mutations were further validated on DNA and RNA level through Sanger sequencing. More intensive fetal monitoring was applied; deformed cerebellar malformation and restricted thoracic cage of the fetus were additionally uncovered. Conclusion: Herein, we discovered a genetic pathogenesis of KIAA0586 gene associated with SRTD and/or JS in a fetus with mild ultrasound anomalies initially. With the information of prenatal WES and distinct phenotypes of the fetus uncovered by imaging examination, we could reach more accurate clinical diagnosis and provide valuable prognosis information for parents.
Platelet Derived Extracellular Vesicles Promote in Vitro Gingival Wound Healing.
Authors: Antich-Rosselló Miquel , Munar-Bestard Marta , Forteza-Genestra Maria Antònia , Calvo Javier , Gayà Antoni , Monjo Marta , Ramis Joana Maria
Published: September 2021

Purpose: Gingival regeneration aims at restoring the architecture and functionality of oral damaged tissue. Different biomaterials or biological materials have been tested for tissue repair, such as platelet concentrates like platelet lysate (PL). In this article, the use of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from PL and their combination with hyaluronic acid biomaterials (HA) in wound healing was investigated.Methods: EVs were isolated by size exclusion chromatography from PL. In addition, HA gels were formulated with PL or EVs. EVs or HA combined with EVs (HA-EVs) were tested in vitro for biocompatibility (LDH activity and metabolic activity) and by a wound healing assay and gene expression analysis.Results: EVs and EVs-HA treatments were biocompatible and showed an increase in wound healing compared to control. Moreover, changes in gene expression related to extracellular matrix remodeling were observed in gingival keratinocytes and gingival fibroblasts after the treatment with EVs.Conclusion: EVs can be combined with HA biomaterials, showing good biocompatibility and preserving their activity and functionality. Therefore, platelet derived EVs emerge as promising candidates for oral regeneration with the possibility to combine them with biomaterials in order to enhance their application in clinical use.
Host Tau Genotype Specifically Regulates and Designs Tau Seeding and Spreading Following Intracerebral Injection of Identical Tau ADInoculum
Authors: Andrés-Benito Pol , Carmona Margarita , Jordán Mónica , Rio José Antonio del , Ferrer Isidro
Published: September 2021

BackgroundSeveral studies have demonstrated the capacity for seeding and spreading of tau-enriched fractions of brain homogenates from AD and other human and mouse tauopathies following intracerebral inoculation into transgenic mice bearing human tau or mutant human tau and into WT mice. However, little attention has been paid about the importance of host tau in tau seeding. MethodsThe brains of four adult murine genotypes expressing different forms of tau—WT (murine 4Rtau), P301S (human 4Rtau expressing the P301S mutation), hTau (homozygous transgenic mice knock-out for murine tau protein and heterozygous expressing human forms of 3Rtau and 4Rtau proteins), and mtWt (homozygous transgenic mice knock-out for murine tau protein)—were analyzed following unilateral hippocampal inoculation of sarkosyl-insoluble tau fractions from the same AD case. ResultsNo tau deposits were identified in inoculated mtWT mice. Involvement of CA1 neurons was higher and that of oligodendrocytes lower in inoculated hTau when compared with inoculated WT and P301S mice. tau-P Ser422, PHF1, and MAP2-P immunoreactivity was moderate or weak in WT and P301S, but strong i in inoculated hTau mice. p38-P and SAPK/JNK-P were observed in recruited phospho-tau deposits in inoculated WT, P301S, and hTau mice. However, CK1-δ, GSK-3β-P Ser9, AKT-P Ser473, PKAα/β-P Tyr197, and CLK1 were identified in neurons with tau deposits only in inoculated hTau. Finally, 3Rtau deposits predominated in inoculated WT and P301S, and 4Rtau deposits in hTau transgenic mice. ConclusionsOur results reveal that a) host tau is mandatory for tau seeding and spreading following tau inoculation; b) tau seeding and spreading is characterized by major genotype-dependent biochemical changes linked to post-translational tau modifications including tau phosphorylation and tau nitration at different sites, c) it is accompanied by genotype-dependent activation of various kinases thus pointing to a complex molecular response in the receptive host cells; d) tau seeding and spreading is accompanied by modifications in tau splicing with variable expression of new 3Rtau and 4Rtau isoforms; e) selective regional and cellular vulnerabilities, and different molecular compositions of the deposits are dependent on the host tau genotypes injected with identical AD tau inoculum.
A Novel Machine Learning-Based Radiomic Model for Diagnosing High Bleeding Risk Esophageal Varices in Cirrhotic Patients
Authors: Yan Yijie , Li Yue , Fan Chunlei , Zhang Yuening , Zhang Shibin , Wang Zhi , Huang Tehui , Ding Zhenjia , Hu Keqin , Li Lei , Ding Huiguo
Published: September 2021

Background & aims: To develop and validate a novel machine learning-based radiomic model (RM) for diagnosing high bleeding risk esophageal varices (HREV) in cirrhosis. Methods: In training cohort, total 218 cirrhotic patients for mild esophageal varices (EV) and 240 for HREV RM were enrolled for training and internal validation. In external validation cohort, 159 and 340 cirrhotic patients were respectively used for mild EV and HREV RM validation. Interesting regions of liver, spleen, and esophagus were labeled on the portal venous-phase enhanced CT images. RM was assessed by area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC), sensitivity, specificity, calibration and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results: The AUROC of mild EV RM in training and internal validation was 0.943 and 0.732, sensitivity and specificity was 0.863, 0.773 and 0.763, 0.763. The AUROC, sensitivity and specificity was 0.654, 0.773 and 0.632 in external validation. Interestingly, the AUROC of HREV RM in training and internal validation was 0.983 and 0.834, sensitivity and specificity was 0.948, 0.916 and 0.977, 0.969. The AUROC, sensitivity and specificity was 0.736, 0.690 and 0.762 in external validation. Calibration and DCA indicated RM had good performance in clinical practice. Compared with Baveno VI and its expanded criteria, HREV RM had a higher accuracy and net reclassification improvement reached 49.0% and 32.8%. Conclusion: A novel non-invasive RM for diagnosing HREV in cirrhotic patients with highly accuracy was developed. However, this RM still needs to be validated by a multi-center large cohort.