bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phenotypic and Molecular-Phylogenetic Analyses Reveal Distinct Features of Crown Gall-Associated
Xanthomonas
Strains
Authors: Mafakheri Hamzeh , Taghavi S. Mohsen , Zarei Sadegh , Rahimi Touraj , Hasannezhad Mohammad Sadegh , Portier Perrine , Fischer-Le Saux Marion , Dimkić Ivica , Koebnik Ralf , Kuzmanović Nemanja , Osdaghi Ebrahim
Published: February 2022

Tumorigenic agrobacteria—members of the bacterial family
Rhizobiaceae
—cause crown gall and hairy root diseases on a broad range of plant species. These bacteria are responsible for economic losses in nurseries of important fruit trees and ornamental plants.
Comparative Evaluation of Phenotypic Synergy Tests versus RESIST-4 O.K.N.V. and NG Test Carba 5 Lateral Flow Immunoassays for the Detection and Differentiation of Carbapenemases in
Enterobacterales
and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Josa M Diego , Leal Rafael , Rojas Julieth , Torres M Isabel , Cortés-Muñoz Fabián , Esparza German , Reyes Luis Felipe
Published: February 2022

Infections due to multidrug-resistant pathogens are a growing problem worldwide. The production of carbapenemases in
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and
Enterobacterales
cause a high impact on the mortality of infected patients.
Evaluation of the Alinity m Resp-4-Plex Assay for the Detection of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, Influenza A Virus, Influenza B Virus, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus
Authors: Zhen Wei , Manji Ryhana , Smith Elizabeth , Wuitschick Jeffrey , Lucic Danijela , Berry Gregory J.
Published: February 2022

The rapid emergence of SARS-CoV-2 has introduced a new challenge in diagnosing and differentiating respiratory infections, especially considering the overlapping symptomology of many of these infections and differences in clinical interventions depending on the pathogen identified. To avoid these issues, multiplex molecular assays like the one described in this article need to be developed to differentiate between the most common respiratory pathogens in a single test and most effectively meet clinical diagnostic needs.
A Novel Lipid-Based MALDI-TOF Assay for the Rapid Detection of Colistin-Resistant
Enterobacter
Species
Authors: Smith Richard D. , McElheny Christi L. , Izac Jerilyn R. , Gardner Francesca M. , Chandler Courtney E. , Goodlett David R. , Doi Yohei , Johnson J. Kristie , Ernst Robert K.
Published: February 2022

In this study, we develop a novel method for identifying colistin resistance in
Enterobacter
species and
Klebsiella aerogenes
without performing antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Typically, susceptibility testing requires an additional 24 to 48 h, while the MS assay described in this study allows for resistant identifications in under 1 h after initial culture.
A Novel Bacteriophage with Broad Host Range against Clostridioides difficile Ribotype 078 Supports SlpA as the Likely Phage Receptor
Authors: Whittle M. J. , Bilverstone T. W. , van Esveld R. J. , Lücke A. C. , Lister M. M. , Kuehne S. A. , Minton N. P.
Published: February 2022

Research into phage therapy has seen a resurgence in recent years owing to growing concerns regarding antimicrobial resistance. Phage research for potential therapy against
Clostridium difficile
infection (CDI) is in its infancy, where an optimal “one size fits all” phage cocktail is yet to be derived.
Rapid, Efficient, and Cost-Effective Gene Editing of Enterococcus faecium with CRISPR-Cas12a
Authors: Chua Michelle J. , Collins James
Published: February 2022

Enterococcus faecium
is increasingly associated with hard-to-treat antibiotic-resistant infections. The ability to generate clean genomic alterations is the first step in generating a complete mechanistic understanding of how
E. faecium
acquires pathogenic traits and causes disease.
Bacterial Surface Detachment during Nebulization with Contaminated Reusable Home Nebulizers
Authors: Harris Jamie C. , Collins Melanie S. , Huang Pamela H. , Schramm Craig M. , Nero Thomas , Yan Jing , Murray Thomas S.
Published: February 2022

Studies from around the world have demonstrated that many patients use contaminated nebulizers to deliver medication into their lungs. While it is known that using contaminated medications in a nebulizer can lead to a lung infection, whether bacteria on the surface of a contaminated nebulizer detach as bioaerosols capable of reaching the lung has not been studied.
Recommended musculoskeletal and sports ultrasound terminology: a Delphi-based consensus statement
Authors: Hall Mederic M , Allen Georgina M , Allison Sandra , Craig Joseph , DeAngelis Joseph P , Delzell Patricia B , Finnoff Jonathan T , Frank Rachel M , Gupta Atul , Hoffman Douglas , Jacobson Jon A , Narouze Samer , Nazarian Levon , Onishi Kentaro , Ray Jeremiah Wayne , Sconfienza Luca Maria , Smith Jay , Tagliafico Alberto
Published: February 2022

The current lack of agreement regarding standardised terminology in musculoskeletal and sports ultrasound presents challenges in education, clinical practice and research. This consensus was developed to provide a reference to improve clarity and consistency in communication. A multidisciplinary expert panel was convened consisting of 18 members representing multiple specialty societies identified as key stakeholders in musculoskeletal and sports ultrasound. A Delphi process was used to reach consensus, which was defined as group level agreement of >80%. Content was organised into seven general topics including: (1) general definitions, (2) equipment and transducer manipulation, (3) anatomical and descriptive terminology, (4) pathology, (5) procedural terminology, (6) image labelling and (7) documentation. Terms and definitions which reached consensus agreement are presented herein. The historic use of multiple similar terms in the absence of precise definitions has led to confusion when conveying information between colleagues, patients and third-party payers. This multidisciplinary expert consensus addresses multiple areas of variability in diagnostic ultrasound imaging and ultrasound-guided procedures related to musculoskeletal and sports medicine.
Engineering of core-shell Au nanorods@ZIF-8 electrocatalyst for sensitive voltammetric determination of 2-chlorophenol in aquaculture
Authors: Sun Junyong , Liu Xian , Chen Like , Peng Lijun , Peng Xitian , Gan Tian
Published: February 2022

Herein, polyvinylpyrrolidone-stabilized Au nanorods were controllably implanted into ZIF-8 to form a well-uniformed AuNRs@ZIF-8 electrocatalyst with a multicore-shell structure. After characterizing the chemical and physical properties, a novel electrochemical sensing platform was fabricated for 2-chlorophenol (2-CP) monitoring based on the AuNRs@ZIF-8 modified glassy carbon electrode. Due to the unique electrochemical property of AuNRs cores and ultra-porous architecture of ZIF-8 shell, the electrocatalyst would effectively accelerate the electron transfer and greatly improve the electrochemical response of 2-CP. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the oxidation peak current of 2-CP enhanced linearly with the increase of its concentration between 0.010 and 40 μM, and the limit of detection was 3.6 nM based on S/N = 3. Meanwhile, the prepared AuNRs@ZIF-8 electrode showed favorable stability, reproducibility, and selectivity, which could be applied to the accurate analysis of 2-CP in aquaculture with standard addition recovery ranging from 96.67% to 104.0%.
Complexity of four-dimensional hairy anti-de-Sitter black holes with a rotating string and shear viscosity in generalized scalar–tensor theories
Authors: Bravo-Gaete Moisés , Santos F. F.
Published: February 2022

In four dimensions, we consider a generalized scalar–tensor theory where the coupling functions only depend on the kinetic term of the scalar field. For this model, we obtain a set of hairy anti-de-Sitter black hole solutions, allowing us to calculate the computational complexity, according to the Complexity equals Action conjecture. To perform this, the system contains a particle moving on the boundary, corresponding to the insertion of a fundamental string in the bulk. The effect string is given by the Nambu–Goto term, analyzing the time development of this system. Together with the above, we calculate the shear viscosity, where the viscosity/entropy density ratio can violate the Kovtun–Son–Starinets bound for a suitable choice of coupling functions.
A Case For Intra-rack Resource Disaggregation in HPC
Authors: Michelogiannakis George , Klenk Benjamin , Cook Brandon , Teh Min Yee , Glick Madeleine , Dennison Larry , Bergman Keren , Shalf John
Published: February 2022

The expected halt of traditional technology scaling is motivating increased heterogeneity in high-performance computing (HPC) systems with the emergence of numerous specialized accelerators. As heterogeneity increases, so does the risk of underutilizing expensive hardware resources if we preserve today’s rigid node configuration and reservation strategies. This has sparked interest in resource disaggregation to enable finer-grain allocation of hardware resources to applications. However, there is currently no data-driven study of what range of disaggregation is appropriate in HPC. To that end, we perform a detailed analysis of key metrics sampled in NERSC’s Cori, a production HPC system that executes a diverse open-science HPC workload. In addition, we profile a variety of deep-learning applications to represent an emerging workload. We show that for a rack (cabinet) configuration and applications similar to Cori, a central processing unit with intra-rack disaggregation has a 99.5% probability to find all resources it requires inside its rack. In addition, ideal intra-rack resource disaggregation in Cori could reduce memory and NIC resources by 5.36% to 69.01% and still satisfy the worst-case average rack utilization.
Electrochemical Immunoassay of Melanoma Biomarker CPEB4 Based on Cobalt Porphyrin Functionalized Graphene Oxide
Authors: Ye Shan , Liu Yanju , Zeng Mengnan , Feng Weisheng , Yang Huaixia , Zheng Xiaoke
Published: February 2022

Rapid and early detection of cytoplasmic polyadenylate element-binding protein 4 (CPEB4) can protect against advanced malignant melanoma. Herein, we developed a sandwich electrochemical immunosensor based on GO-CoPP as a signal amplifier for the highly sensitive quantitative detection of the melanoma biomarker CPEB4. The sensor used gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as a substrate enhancer and graphene oxide (GO) polymer modified with cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP) as a signal carrier (GO-CoPP). The AuNPs were used to capture large amounts of primary antibodies and accelerated the electron transfer rate of the substrate, while GO-CoPP can be used to provide large amounts of the signal unit CoPP and secondary antibodies. These features of the composites conferred high sensitivity and the current response of the proposed immunosensor to CPEB4. Under optimal conditions, the developed immunosensor performed well over a wide linear range of 0.1 pg ml−1 to 10 ng ml−1 with a detection limit of 0.074 pg ml−1 (S/N = 3). In summary, the sensor showed promise for a wide range of applications in the quantitative detection of other tumor markers, with good reproducibility, high selectivity, and simple and sensitive operation.
Protective effects of neuropeptide Y against elastase-induced pulmonary emphysema
Authors: Taniguchi Akihiko , Oda Naohiro , Morichika Daisuke , Senoo Satoru , Itano Junko , Fujii Utako , Guo Lili , Sunami Ryota , Kiura Katsuyuki , Maeda Yoshinobu , Miyahara Nobuaki
Published: February 2022

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a neuropeptide widely expressed in not only the central nervous system but also immune cells and the respiratory epithelium. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) reportedly exhibit decreased NPY expression in the airway epithelium, but the involvement of NPY in the pathophysiology of COPD has not been defined. We investigated the role of NPY in elastase-induced emphysema. NPY-deficient (NPY−/−) mice and wild-type (NPY+/+) mice received intratracheal instillation of porcine pancreas elastase (PPE). The numbers of inflammatory cells and the levels of cytokines and chemokines in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and lung homogenates were determined along with quantitative morphometry of lung sections. Intratracheal instillation of PPE induced emphysematous changes and increased NPY levels in the lungs. Compared with NPY+/+ mice, NPY−/− mice had significantly enhanced PPE-induced emphysematous changes and alveolar enlargement. Neutrophilia seen in BAL fluid of NPY+/+ mice on day 4 after PPE instillation was also enhanced in NPY−/− mice, and the enhancement was associated with increased levels of neutrophil-related and macrophage-related chemokines and IL-17A as well as increased numbers of type 3 innate lymphoid cells in the airways. Treatment with NPY significantly reduced PPE-induced emphysematous changes. Conversely, treatment with a NPY receptor antagonist exacerbated PPE-induced emphysematous changes. These observations indicate that NPY has protective effects against elastase-induced emphysema and suggest that targeting NPY in emphysema has potential as a therapeutic strategy for delaying disease progression.
Woodsmoke particle exposure prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection alters antiviral response gene expression in human nasal epithelial cells in a sex-dependent manner
Authors: Brocke Stephanie A. , Billings Grant T. , Taft-Benz Sharon , Alexis Neil E. , Heise Mark T. , Jaspers Ilona
Published: February 2022

Inhalational exposure to particulate matter (PM) derived from natural or anthropogenic sources alters gene expression in the airways and increases susceptibility to respiratory viral infection. Woodsmoke-derived ambient PM from wildfire events during 2020 was associated with higher COVID-19 case rates in the western United States. We hypothesized that exposure to suspensions of woodsmoke particles (WSPs) or diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection would alter host immune gene expression at the transcript level. Primary human nasal epithelial cells (hNECs) from both sexes were exposed to WSPs or DEPs (22 μg/cm2) for 2 h, followed by infection with SARS-CoV-2 at a multiplicity of infection of 0.5. Forty-six genes related to SARS-CoV-2 entry and host response were assessed. Particle exposure alone minimally affected gene expression, whereas SARS-CoV-2 infection alone induced a robust transcriptional response in hNECs, upregulating type I and III interferons, interferon-stimulated genes, and chemokines by 72 h postinfection (p.i.). This upregulation was higher overall in cells from male donors. However, exposure to WSPs prior to infection dampened expression of antiviral, interferon, and chemokine mRNAs. Sex stratification of these results revealed that WSP exposure downregulated gene expression in cells from females more so than males. We next hypothesized that hNECs exposed to particles would have increased apical viral loads compared with unexposed cells. Although apical viral load was correlated to expression of host response genes, viral titer did not differ between groups. These data indicate that WSPs alter epithelial immune responses in a sex-dependent manner, potentially suppressing host defense to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
The SSLepR mutant rat represents a novel model to study obesity-induced renal injury before puberty
Authors: Poudel Bibek , Shields Corbin A. , Ekperikpe Ubong S. , Brown Andrea K. , Travis Olivia K. , Maury Jordan C. , Fitzgerald Sarah , Smith Stanley V. , Cornelius Denise C. , Williams Jan M.
Published: February 2022

Prepubertal obesity (PPO) has emerged as a major health problem over the past few decades and is a risk factor for the development of proteinuria. The current study investigated whether the development of renal injury in the obese SSLepR mutant strain occurs before puberty. When determining the temporal changes in serum sex hormones in female and male SS and SSLepR mutant rats between 4 and 10 wk of age, we only observed significant increases in estradiol and testosterone levels in female and male SS rats at 10 wk of age than at 4 wk of age. The results suggest that studying both strains between 4 and 8 wk of age is appropriate to study the effects of PPO on renal injury in this model. Proteinuria was significantly higher in SSLepR mutant rats as opposed to the values observed in SS rats at 8 wk of age, and we did not observe any sex differences in proteinuria in either strain. The kidneys from the SSLepR mutant rats displayed significant glomerular and tubular injury and renal fibrosis versus the values measured in SS rats without any sex differences. Overall, we observed increased immune cell infiltration in the kidneys from SSLepR mutant rats compared with SS rats. Interestingly, female SSLepR mutant rats displayed significant increases in not only M1 macrophages (proinflammatory) but also M2 macrophages (anti-inflammatory) versus male SSLepR mutant rats. These results suggest the SSLepR mutant rat may be a useful model to study early progression of obesity-related renal injury before the onset of puberty.
Tissue-specific expression of myosin phosphatase subunits and isoforms in smooth muscle of mice and humans
Authors: Oslin Kimberly , Reho John J. , Lu Yuan , Khanal Sunita , Kenchegowda Doreswamy , Prior Steven J. , Fisher Steven A.
Published: February 2022

Alternative splicing of exon24 (E24) of myosin phosphatase targeting subunit 1 (Mypt1) by setting sensitivity to nitric oxide (NO)/cGMP-mediated relaxation is a key determinant of smooth muscle function. Here we defined expression of myosin phosphatase (MP) subunits and isoforms by creation of new genetic mouse models, assay of human and mouse tissues, and query of public databases. A Mypt1-LacZ reporter mouse revealed that Mypt1 transcription is turned on early in development during smooth muscle differentiation. Mypt1 is not as tightly restricted in its expression as smooth muscle myosin heavy chain ( Myh11) and its E6 splice variant. Mypt1 is enriched in mature smooth versus nonmuscle cells. The E24 splice variant and leucine zipper minus protein isoform that it encodes is enriched in phasic versus tonic smooth muscle. In the vascular system, E24 splicing increases as vessel size decreases. In the gastrointestinal system, E24 splicing is most predominant in smooth muscle of the small intestine. Tissue-specific expression of MP subunits and Mypt1 E24 splicing is conserved in humans, whereas a splice variant of the inhibitory subunit (CPI-17) is unique to humans. A Mypt1 E24 mini-gene splicing reporter mouse generated to define patterns of E24 splicing in smooth muscle cells (SMCs) dispersed throughout the organ systems was unsuccessful. In summary, expression of Mypt1 and splicing of E24 is part of the program of smooth muscle differentiation, is further enhanced in phasic smooth muscle, and is conserved in humans. Its low-level expression in nonmuscle cells may confound its measurement in tissue samples.
Intracellular hydrostatic pressure regulation in the bovine lens: a role in the regulation of lens optics?
Authors: Chen Yadi , Petrova Rosica S. , Qiu Chen , Donaldson Paul J.
Published: February 2022

The optical properties of the bovine lens have been shown to be actively maintained by an internal microcirculation system. In the mouse lens, this water transport through gap junction channels generates an intracellular hydrostatic pressure gradient, which is subjected to a dual feedback regulation that is mediated by the reciprocal modulation of the transient receptor potential vanilloid channels TRPV1 and TRPV4. Here we test whether a similar feedback regulation of pressure exists in the bovine lens and whether it regulates overall lens optics. Lens pressure was measured using a microelectrode/pico-injector-based pressure measurement system, and lens optics were monitored in organ cultured lenses using a laser ray tracing system. Like the mouse, the bovine lenses exhibited a similar pressure gradient (0 to 340 mmHg). Activation of TRPV1 with capsaicin caused a biphasic increase in surface pressure, while activation of TRPV4 with GSK1016790A caused a biphasic decrease in pressure. These biphasic responses were abolished if lenses were preincubated with either the TRPV1 inhibitor A-889425 or the TRPV4 inhibitor HC-067047. While modulation of lens pressure by TRPV1 and TRPV4 had minimal effects on lens power and overall vision quality, the changes in lens pressure did induce opposing changes to lens geometry and its gradient of refractive index that effectively kept lens power constant. Hence, our results suggest that the TRPV1/4-mediated feedback control of lens hydrostatic pressure operates to ensure that any fluctuations in lens water transport, and consequently water content, do not result in changes in lens power and therefore overall vision quality.
Dissociation between abnormal motor synergies and impaired reaching dexterity after stroke
Authors: Hadjiosif Alkis M. , Branscheidt Meret , Anaya Manuel A. , Runnalls Keith D. , Keller Jennifer , Bastian Amy J. , Celnik Pablo A. , Krakauer John W.
Published: February 2022

Motor impairment is common after stroke and comprises reduced dexterity, weakness, and abnormal muscle synergies. Here we report that, when matched on an established synergy and weakness scale (Fugl-Meyer), patients with subacute stroke have worse reaching dexterity than chronic ones. This result suggests that the components of hemiparesis are dissociable and have separable mechanisms and, thus, may require distinct assessments and treatments.
Therapeutic Applications of Curcumin in Diabetes: A Review and Perspective
Authors: Quispe Cristina , Herrera-Bravo Jesús , Javed Zeeshan , Khan Khushbukhat , Raza Shahid , Gulsunoglu-Konuskan Zehra , Daştan Sevgi Durna , Sytar Oksana , Martorell Miquel , Sharifi-Rad Javad , Calina Daniela
Published: February 2022

Diabetes is a metabolic disease with multifactorial causes which requires lifelong drug therapy as well as lifestyle changes. There is now growing scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of the use of herbal supplements in the prevention and control of diabetes. Curcumin is one of the most studied bioactive components of traditional medicine, but its physicochemical characteristics are represented by low solubility, poor absorption, and low efficacy. Nanotechnology‐based pharmaceutical formulations can help overcome the problems of reduced bioavailability of curcumin and increase its antidiabetic effects. The objectives of this review were to review the effects of nanocurcumin on DM and to search for databases such as PubMed/MEDLINE and ScienceDirect. The results showed that the antidiabetic activity of nanocurcumin is due to complex pharmacological mechanisms by reducing the characteristic hyperglycemia of DM. In light of these results, nanocurcumin may be considered as potential agent in the pharmacotherapeutic management of patients with diabetes.
Wheat Seed Classification: Utilizing Ensemble Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Khatri Ajay , Agrawal Shweta , Chatterjee Jyotir M.
Published: February 2022

Recognizing and authenticating wheat varieties is critical for quality evaluation in the grain supply chain, particularly for methods for seed inspection. Recognition and verification of grains are carried out manually through direct visual examination. Automatic categorization techniques based on machine learning and computer vision offered fast and high-throughput solutions. Even yet, categorization remains a complicated process at the varietal level. The paper utilized machine learning approaches for classifying wheat seeds. The seed classification is performed based on 7 physical features: area of wheat, perimeter of wheat, compactness, length of the kernel, width of the kernel, asymmetry coefficient, and kernel groove length. The dataset is collected from the UCI library and has 210 occurrences of wheat kernels. The dataset contains kernels from three wheat varieties Kama, Rosa, and Canadian, with 70 components chosen at random for the experiment. In the first phase, K-nearest neighbor, classification and regression tree, and Gaussian Naïve Bayes algorithms are implemented for classification. The results of these algorithms are compared with the ensemble approach of machine learning. The results reveal that accuracies calculated for KNN, decision, and Naïve Bayes classifiers are 92%, 94%, and 92%, respectively. The highest accuracy of 95% is achieved through the ensemble classifier in which decision is made based on hard voting.
Physiological and Molecular Response of Wheat Cultivars to Titanium Dioxide or Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles under Water Stress Conditions
Authors: El-Bassiouny Hala Mohamed Safwat , Mahfouze Heba Amin , Abdallah Maha Mohamed Shater , Bakry Bakry Ahmed , El-Enany Magda Aly Mahmoud
Published: February 2022

A field trial was conducted through two successive winter seasons 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 to evaluate the influence of TiO2 or ZnO nanoparticles on two wheat cultivars (Gimeza 12 and Sids 13) under different water irrigation requirements of 100% (WW) and 75% (WS). The results showed that drought stress decreases morphological parameters, photosynthetic pigments, and wheat yield (ha−1). However, the total soluble sugars, total free amino acids, proline content, and water productivity were increased. Application of TiO2 or ZnO nanoparticles declines the negative influence of water deficit. Furthermore, SDS-PAGE revealed in Gimeza 12 treated with TiO2 or ZnO nanoparticles, it stimulates the appearance of some proteins at the MW of 28 kDa in WW and WS, while in WS, it records the new polypeptide at 18 kDa. Moreover, Gimeza 12 treated with nano-TiO2 led to the disappearance of two bands at 163 and 51 kDa in WS. However, for Sids13, there was no difference between the treatments in WW and WS except in nano-ZnO at WS that disappeared the polypeptides at MWs of 163, 51, and 18 kDa. Primer SRAP results showed that the plants treated with TiO2 or ZnO nanoparticles had a minor effect at the genomic DNA level, which was illustrated by the appearance or absence of some bands. Besides, the low concentrations of nanoparticles did not damage DNA. On the other hand, one negative marker of −233 bp disappeared in the Gimeza 12 cultivar treated with WS + nano-TiO2 and was revealed in the other treatments using primer SRAP-2. The results showed that the Gimeza 12 cultivar which had the highest grain yield was more tolerant to drought than the Sids 13 cultivar.
Effects of Golden Plaster on Knee Osteoarthritis: A Multicenter Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Authors: Chen Yan , Liu Jintao , Li Xiaofeng , Tang Dezhi , Jin Xiaoqin , Zhang Zhigang , Ji Wanbo , Tao Shuai , Jiang Hong
Published: February 2022

Background. Golden plaster is the preferred and most commonly used in China for pain reduction in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, there was no evidence-based medical evidence about its effect in relieving pain of knee OA patients. Here, a multicenter randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of golden plaster for the improvement of pain relief and function’s obstacle in patients with knee OA. Methods. 320 patients with knee OA were enrolled at four hospitals and randomly divided into the treatment group and the control group with 160 subjects in each group. Patients in treatment group were treated with golden plaster, and those in control group with placebo plaster. The study cycle in both groups was 21 days. Patient visits were documented before treatment and 7-, 14-, and 21-day follow-ups after treatment. The outcomes included VAS score, WOMAC score, and adverse events. Results. Compared to the control group, the VAS score in the treatment group was significantly decreased after treatment with golden plaster for 7 days, 14 days, and 21 days. Compared to the control group, the WOMAC score in the treatment group was significantly decreased 14 days and 21 days. The incidence rate of adverse events had no statistical difference between both the groups. Conclusions. In conclusion, our study, for the first time by carrying on the double-blind and placebo-controlled randomized trial, showed that golden plaster can effectively alleviate the pain of knee and improve the physical function in the patients with knee OA. This trial is registered with ChiCTR-TRC-13003418.
A Traditional Chinese Medicine for the Treatment of Endometrial Hyperplasia via Regulating the HPO Axis in Rats
Authors: Lv Bo , Peng Yuan-de , Fu Wen-hui , Li Wen-jing , Chen Li-jun , Wang Zhi
Published: February 2022

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding, accompanied by endometrial hyperplasia (EH), is a common gynecological disease that seriously affects female physical and mental health. Some drugs have been prompted to cure the disease, but most medications have certain side effects and limitations. In the present study, we demonstrated an unexploited Chinese traditional medicine, a combination of Saururus chinensis, Celosia cristata, and Spatholobus suberectus (SCS), which could be used for the treatment of EH and associated complications in rats. We identified the active components from the three Chinese herbs via thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography methods. In addition, serum biochemical indexes and histologic section results found that acute high-dose SCS exerted no adverse impacts on the rats. We then showed that SCS shortened coagulation time (

p
=
0.018

) and degree of swelling (

p
=
0.021

) on rats at 30 min compared to blank control. Further studies proved that recovered endometrial thickness was associated with the modulation of four hormones (follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estrogen, and progesterone). Specifically, follicle-stimulating hormone and progesterone contents increased gradually with time, and estrogen was decreased, whereas luteinizing hormone content was returned to normal after a short-term elevation (

p
<
0.05

). Besides, SCS increased uterine endometrium’s mRNA expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (

p
<
0.001

) and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (

p
<
0.001

), promoting the repair of proliferating endometrium in the rats. Collectively, our study indicates that SCS harbors a profoundly curative effect on the treatment of EH and relative complications and uncovers the mechanism at molecular and gene expression levels.
Design of Fuzzy Aided Cognition System for International Economic and Trade Information under Supply Chain Management
Authors: Ren Donghong , Madina Zamira
Published: February 2022

The existing fuzzy assistant cognition system has the problem of imperfect retrieval function, which leads to long execution time. This paper designs a fuzzy assistant cognition system of international economic and trade information under supply chain management. Hardware Part. Optimize wireless sensor and connect power interface and related accessories. In the software part, the dynamic characteristics of international economic and trade information elements are extracted, the flexible operation model of supply chain management is constructed, the demand-oriented organizational structure is established, the output set is determined by the product reasoning, and the retrieval function of fuzzy assistant cognitive system is designed by using the fuzzy association algorithm. Experimental Results. The average execution time of the fuzzy assistant cognitive system and the other two systems is 123.593 s, 165.733 s, and 169.506 s, which proves that the cognitive system integrated with supply chain management has a higher practical application value.
Factors Associated with Problematic Alcohol Consumption among Adults in Putalibazar Municipality of Syangja District, Nepal
Authors: Nepal Rajeev , Priyanka Jyoti , Chhetri Pradip , Godar Suruchi , Timsina Pratigya , Doranga Saroj
Published: February 2022

Background. According to the WHO STEPS survey 2013 in Nepal, 17% of the surveyed population had consumed alcohol within the last 30 days. Alcohol consumption in Nepal is socially and culturally accepted in many ethnic groups. The purpose of this study was to determine various factors associated with problematic alcohol consumption among adults in Putalibazar Municipality of Syangja district. Methods. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2020 and January 2021 among 300 adults between ages of 18–64 years in Putalibazar Municipality of Syangja district of Nepal. Using a pretested semistructure questionnaire, a face-to-face interview was performed for collecting the data. An Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) was used as a guiding tool to determine the audit-risk level category among adults according to their drinking status. Respondents with scores 0–7 in AUDIT scores were considered as nonproblematic drinkers, while respondents scoring 8–40 in the AUDIT scores were considered as problematic drinkers. Bivariate and multivariable analysis was performed to find out the association between dependent and independent variables. Variables which were found statistically significant at 95% CI (p ≤ 0.05) during bivariate analysis were further analyzed using the logistic regression model in multivariable analysis to identify determinants associated with problematic alcohol consumption among adults. Results. The mean age of participants was 36.72 years with a ±10.81 standard deviation. A total of 56.3% of adults were problematic drinkers. The multivariable regression analysis model identified adults within the age group of 25–34 years and 35–44 years along with males significantly associated with problematic alcohol consumption. Adults within the age group of 25–34 years and 35–44 years were 7.4 times (AOR = 7.4, CI: 1.97–27.60) and 5.7 times (AOR = 5.7, CI: 1.58–20.56) more likely to be problematic drinkers than their counterparts who were from the age group of 55–64 years. Males were 6.9 times more likely to be (AOR = 6.9, CI: 3.35–14.26) problematic drinkers than females. Conclusion. Problematic alcohol consumption among males was common and significantly associated within the age group of 25–34 years and 35–44 years. This study concerns the need for policy makers to launch awareness programs and community-based interventional programs considering identified factors associated with excessive drinking.
An Effective Approach for Human Activity Classification Using Feature Fusion and Machine Learning Methods
Authors: Ibrahim Muhammad Junaid , Kainat Jaweria , AlSalman Hussain , Ullah Syed Sajid , Al-Hadhrami Suheer , Hussain Saddam
Published: February 2022

Recent advances in image processing and machine learning methods have greatly enhanced the ability of object classification from images and videos in different applications. Classification of human activities is one of the emerging research areas in the field of computer vision. It can be used in several applications including medical informatics, surveillance, human computer interaction, and task monitoring. In the medical and healthcare field, the classification of patients’ activities is important for providing the required information to doctors and physicians for medication reactions and diagnosis. Nowadays, some research approaches to recognize human activity from videos and images have been proposed using machine learning (ML) and soft computational algorithms. However, advanced computer vision methods are still considered promising development directions for developing human activity classification approach from a sequence of video frames. This paper proposes an effective automated approach using feature fusion and ML methods. It consists of five steps, which are the preprocessing, feature extraction, feature selection, feature fusion, and classification steps. Two available public benchmark datasets are utilized to train, validate, and test ML classifiers of the developed approach. The experimental results of this research work show that the accuracies achieved are 99.5% and 99.9% on the first and second datasets, respectively. Compared with many existing related approaches, the proposed approach attained high performance results in terms of sensitivity, accuracy, precision, and specificity evaluation metric.
Prolonged Inhalation Exposure to Coal Dust on Irradiated Rats and Consequences
Authors: Chulenbayeva Laura , Ilderbayev Oralbek , Suleymeneva Dametken , Kaliyeva Aizhan , Kabdykanov Symbat , Nurgaziyev Madiyar , Nurgozhina Ayaulym , Sergazy Shynggys , Kozhakhmetov Samat , Kushugulova Almagul
Published: February 2022

The purposes of this study were to research immune system changes and liver and lung tissues in irradiated rats after prolonged exposure to coal dust. A study was carried out on 30 male Wistar rats that were divided into 3 groups: group I, intact animals; group II, exposure to coal dust and 0.2 Gy γ-irradiation; and group III, combined exposure to 6 Gy γ-irradiation and coal dust. The combination of a low and sublethal dose of γ-irradiation with coal dust leads to a significant change in immunity at the remote period. Particularly, the increase in radioactivity at the combined effect causes weakening of phagocytosis, and reduction in T lymphocytes by a factor of 2, immunoglobulin imbalance, and cytokine dysfunction develop secondary immune failure. During prolonged inhalation with coal dust of irradiated animals with the dose of 0.2 Gy, fibrosis and perivascular sclerosis of the bronchial wall of the lungs are formed, and perivascular fibrosis is formed in the liver. The increase in exposure dose up to 6 Gy in combination with coal, in the distant period, caused pulmonary hypertension amid hypertrophy of light arterial vessels and fibrous changes in arteriole, and destructive changes and collection necrosis develop in liver parenchyma. In the case of dust radiation synergy, the increase in doses leads to a significant immune deficiency, which occurs according to the “dose effect” principle; increases damage to animal tissues; and leads to liver tissue necrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and pulmonary hypertension.
Identification of Prognostic lncRNA Related to the Immune Microenvironment of Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Authors: Dai Wang-Ying , Wang Bin , Li Jian-Yi , Luo Zong-Ping
Published: February 2022

Background. Soft tissue sarcoma is a malignant tumor with high degree of malignancy and poor prognosis, originating from mesenchymal tissue. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in various biological and pathological processes in the body. They perform preprocessing, splicing, transport, degradation, and translation of mRNA to achieve posttranscriptional level regulation, resulting in the occurrence, invasion, and metastasis of tumors. Therefore, they are highly relevant with regard to early diagnoses and as prognostic indicators. Objective. The objective of the present study was to identify immune microenvironment‐related lncRNAs that can be used to predict soft tissue sarcomas. Methods. Clinical data and follow‐up data were obtained from the cBioPortal database, and RNA sequencing data used for the model structure can be accessed from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. LncRNAs were screened by differential expression analysis and coexpression analysis. The Cox regression model and Kaplan–Meier analysis were used to study the association between lncRNAs and soft tissue sarcoma prognosis in the immune microenvironment. Unsupervised cluster analysis was then completed to discover the impact of screening lncRNAs on disease. We constructed an mRNA‐lncRNA network by Cytoscape software. Finally, qRT‐PCR was used to verify the difference in the expression of the lncRNAs in normal cells and sarcoma cells. Results. Unsupervised cluster analysis revealed that the 210 lncRNAs screened showed strong correlation with the tumor immune microenvironment. Two signatures containing seven and five lncRNAs related to the tumor microenvironment were constructed and used to predict overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS). The Kaplan–Meier (K‐M) survival curve showed that the prognoses of patients in the high‐risk and low‐risk groups differed significantly, and the prognosis associated with the low‐risk group was better than that associated with the high‐risk group. Two nomograms with predictive capabilities were established. qRT‐PCR results showed that the expression of AC108134.3 and AL031717.1 was significantly different in normal and sarcoma cells. Conclusion. In summary, the experimental results showed that lncrnA associated with immune microenvironment was related to tumor, which may provide a new idea for immunotherapy of STS.
Taxonomic and Ecological Notes on Termes propinquus Holmgren, 1914 Known from Sumatra (Blattodea: Termitoidae: Termitidae)
Authors: Muarrif Samsul , Samadi Samadi , Jauharlina Jauharlina , Sutekad Dalil , Syaukani Syaukani
Published: February 2022

The genus Termes Linneus, 1758 consisting of a total of 24 valid named species known from the Old World, is a very heterogeneous group of termites and seems to involve many taxonomic obscurities and confusions. In the island of Sumatra, the sixth-largest island located in the Southeast Asian tropics, four species of Termes have been found, namely, T. comis, T. laticornis, T. rostratus, and T. propinquus. Termes propinquus is also known from Brunei, Indonesia (Kalimantan and Sumatra), Malaysia, and Thailand. However, previous authors have mentioned that T. propinquus has been poorly discriminated from the other congeners, especially T. rostratus. Therefore, the present study aimed at clarifying the discrimination of Termes propinquus from the morphologically similar congeners from Sumatra. A total of 14 nests were collected using a standardized sampling protocol and visual colony searching in Sumatra and its adjacent island. As a result of a careful morphological examination of the soldier caste, T. propinquus was discriminated from the three other congeners by a combination of the following characteristics: distinctly long frontal projection, larger head capsule, and 2nd antennal segment distinctly longer than the 3rd. The redescription of the soldier caste of T. propinquus and a key to Termes species known from Sundaland are provided. The nests of T. propinquus were attached to the bases of living trees, clinging to stumps or the bases of the dead tree, or were epigeal.
A Phase Ib/II Randomized Study of RO4929097, a Gamma-Secretase or Notch Inhibitor with or without Vismodegib, a Hedgehog Inhibitor, in Advanced Sarcoma
Authors: Gounder Mrinal M. , Rosenbaum Evan , Wu Nian , Dickson Mark A. , Sheikh Tahir N. , D'Angelo Sandra P. , Chi Ping , Keohan Mary Lou , Erinjeri Joseph P. , Antonescu Cristina R. , Agaram Narasimhan , Hameed Meera R. , Martindale Moriah , Lefkowitz Robert A. , Crago Aimee M. , Singer Sam , Tap William D. , Takebe Naoko , Qin Li-Xuan , Schwartz Gary K.
Published: February 2022

Purpose:

Because the Hedgehog and Notch pathways are often overexpressed in mesenchymal malignancies, we evaluated the efficacy of concurrent inhibition of Notch and Hedgehog signaling using the gamma-secretase inhibitor (GSI) RO4929097 and the smoothened antagonist vismodegib in unresectable or metastatic sarcoma.

Patients and Methods:

In this investigator-initiated trial, phase Ib used standard 3+3 dose escalation in which patients first received vismodegib once daily for 21 days, followed by the combination of RO4929097 concurrently with vismodegib in 21-day cycles. In phase II, patients were randomized to RO4929097 alone or in combination with vismodegib.

Results:

Nine patients were treated in phase Ib with no dose-limiting toxicities. RO4929097 at 15 mg daily in combination with 150 mg daily of vismodegib was declared the recommended phase II dose. Most adverse events were grade ≤ 2. In phase II (closed early due to discontinuation of RO4929097 evaluation), 34 patients were randomized to RO4929097 alone and 33 to RO4929097 plus vismodegib. RO4929097 did not interfere with the steady-state concentration of vismodegib, while vismodegib reduced the plasma concentration of RO492909. No patients had an objective response. Neither progression-free nor overall survival differed significantly between treatment arms. Paired tumor biopsies from a subset of patients demonstrated inhibition of cleaved Notch.

Conclusions:

The combination of RO4929097 plus vismodegib was generally well tolerated. Although accrual to this study was not completed, vismodegib did not meaningfully enhance the clinical efficacy of RO4929097 in an unplanned analysis. GSIs and GSIs plus vismodegib can inhibit intratumoral Notch and downstream phosphorylated Akt signaling.
Surveillance of Liver Function in Uveitis with or without Chronic HBV Infection
Authors: Liao Weiting , Zhong Zhenyu , Su Guannan , Feng Xiaojie , Du Liping , Li Fu-Zhen , Dai Lingyu , Kijlstra Aize , Yang Peizeng
Published: February 2022

Introduction: Immunosuppressive therapy for uveitis may cause liver damage. Methods: To investigate incidence of liver damage during uveitis treatment, we compared serological Hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) status with risk of liver dysfunction in all participants (n = 992), in anterior uveitis (AU) (n = 489), and combined of intermediate, posterior, or panuveitis (IPPU) patients (n = 503). The primary endpoint was incidence of elevated serum alanine aminotransferase level above 2-fold upper limits of normal within 6 months. Results: The incidence rate of primary endpoint for HBcAb-negative and HBcAb-positive patients was 65 and 212 per 1,000 person years, respectively. The absolute rate difference was 147 (95% confidence interval [CI], 80–213) per 1,000 person years. HBcAb positivity was associated with a higher risk for primary endpoint in all participants (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 3.53; 95% CI, 1.79–6.99; p value = 2.8 × 10−4) and in IPPU (aHR, 3.80; 95% CI, 1.61–9.01; p value = 0.002). No significant association with primary endpoint was observed for HBcAb positivity in AU (aHR, 3.21; 95% CI, 0.94–10.95; p value = 0.063). AU was mainly treated with topical eye drops (74.0%), whereas IPPU cases received systemic therapy including prednisone (94.0%), cyclosporine (80.9%), or other additionally combined immunomodulatory agents (14.9%). Conclusion: Noninfectious uveitis cases with HBcAb positivity have an increased risk of liver damage. This association was predominantly driven by IPPU but was not significant in AU, suggesting that the association is mediated by systemic therapy.
miR-126-5p Targets SP1 to Inhibit the Progression of Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Han Yan-Ping , Liu Zhi-Jun , Bao Hong-Hui , Wang Qiong , Su Li-Li
Published: February 2022

Background: At present, symptomatic treatment may improve the life quality of Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients to a certain extent but cannot completely cure PD. Therefore, it is urgent medical problem to be solved for improving the efficacy and safety of PD treatment. Methods: SH-SY5Y and SK-N-SH cells were treated with 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) to establish PD model cells. miR-126-5p and specific protein-1 (SP1) expression levels were detected by quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR). Western blot was applied to measure protein levels of SP1, Bax, and Bcl-2. The viabilities and apoptosis rates of treated cells were measured using cell counting kit-8 assay and flow cytometry analysis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to measure TNF-α and IL-1β releases. Interaction between miR-126-5p and SP1 was examined by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Results: MPP+ treatment greatly downregulated miR-126-5p expression while upregulated SP1 expression in SH-SY5Y and SK-N-SH cells in a time- and does-dependent manner. Overexpression of miR-126-5p facilitated cell viability, while reduced cell apoptosis and inflammatory responses induced by MPP+ treatment. Moreover, SP1 was a target of miR-126-5p and could be negatively regulated by miR-126-5p. Overexpression of SP1 could reverse the effects of miR-126-5p on MPP+-administrated cells. Conclusion: Our results suggested that miR-126-5p attenuated the neurotoxicity induced by MPP+ in vitro through targeting SP1 (Graphical abstract), which further enhanced our understanding of the pathological mechanism of PD.