bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fibroblast growth factor receptor type 4 as a potential therapeutic target in clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Narisawa Takafumi , Naito Sei , Ito Hiromi , Ichiyanagi Osamu , Sakurai Toshihiko , Kato Tomoyuki , Tsuchiya Norihiko
Published: November 2022

Background
Several clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) cases harbour fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) gene copy number (CN) gains. In this study, we investigated the functional contribution of FGFR4 CN amplification in ccRCC.
Methods
The correlation between FGFR4 CN determined via real-time PCR and protein expression evaluated by western blotting and immunohistochemistry was assessed in ccRCC cell lines (A498, A704, and 769-P), a papillary RCC cell line (ACHN), and clinical ccRCC specimens. The effect of FGFR4 inhibition on ccRCC cell proliferation and survival was assessed via either RNA interference or selective FGFR4 inhibitor BLU9931, followed by MTS assays, western blotting, and flow cytometry. To investigate FGFR4 as a potential therapeutic target, a xenograft mouse model was administered BLU9931.
Results
Sixty percent of ccRCC surgical specimens harboured an FGFR4 CN amplification. FGFR4 CN was positively correlated with its protein expression. All ccRCC cell lines harboured FGFR4 CN amplifications, while ACHN did not. FGFR4 silencing or inhibition attenuated intracellular signal transduction pathways, resulting in apoptosis and suppressed proliferation in ccRCC cell lines. BLU9931 suppressed tumours at a tolerable dose in the mouse model.
Conclusion
FGFR4 contributes to ccRCC cell proliferation and survival following FGFR4 amplification, making it a potential therapeutic target for ccRCC.
The utilisation of a cyclone ventilator with the addition of an activated carbon filter to improve room air quality in a TB patient's home
Authors: khambali khambali , Rachmaniyah Rachmaniyah , Roslan Rosidi , Wardoyo Slamet
Published: November 2022

The presence of air pollutants in the room can cause health problems in the long and short term. Indication of air pollution is the presence of CO and dust or particulates and bacteria. In addition to CO air pollutant substances and dust in the room, bacteria due to droplets is a severe problem. This study aimed to analyze the modification of a cyclone ventilator with the addition of an activated carbon filter to improve room air quality. This research is an experiment with an application in a natural environment in the form of a One Group Pre-Post Test Design. The air parameters analyzed were temperature, humidity, air flow rate, particulate meter (PM 2.5 ), and total bacteria in the room. The results show that the use of a cyclone ventilator with the addition of an activated carbon filter can improve indoor air quality for temperature parameters from 28.37 o C to 20.54 o C, humidity from 65.61–52.22%, PM 2.5 from 53.41 to 40.66 and air microbiology from 123.04 CFU to 66, 40 CFU and the airflow rate increased from 0.15 m/s to 0.29 m/s. Statistically, there was a significant difference (p ≤ 0.001) for all parameters measured before and after using a cyclone ventilator.
Who pays?—Reorganizing tax burden based on purchasing power
Authors: Tominaga Kazuto
Published: November 2022

People generally believe that a tax levied on sellers of some commodity is at least partly paid by buyers if its price rises. Contrary to this shared belief, this paper demonstrates, based on the formal treatment of purchasing power, that such ``shifting of tax burden'' does not occur in essence. Thus indirect taxes that assume such shifting are no different from direct ones in respect of tax payment: sellers pay the whole tax, and buyers only suffer a diminution in the value of their monetary assets by the price rise. We show a possible cause of the misconception is cognitive biases, including money illusions. We also examine how tax payment and economic incidence differ and show that economic incidence, the widely accepted measure of changes in welfare, cannot be a yardstick for evaluating ``who pays the tax'' at the same time. In addition, we discuss other types of taxes where a taxpayer does not deliver the tax directly to the government, such as withholding income taxes. We thereby show that the taxpayer pays the tax as intended (i.e., paid by employees in this case) owing to the explicit designation of taxpayers by law, in contrast to ``indirect'' taxes.
JEL Classification: H20 , H22 , K34
Competition for water and rapid exclusion of an island endemic by a pantropical species in a tropical climate
Authors: Gomes Anabele S. , Callaway Ragan M. , Rabelo Bruno S. , Petry Graziela L. , Barbosa Eduardo M. , Borghetti Fabian
Published: November 2022

Water availability has major effects on community structure and dynamics globally, yet our understanding of competition for water in the tropics is limited. On the tropical Trindade Island, we explored competition for water in the context of the rapid exclusion of an endemic sedge, Cyperus atlanticus, by a pantropical shrub, Guilandina bonduc. Guilandina patches were generally surrounded by rings of bare soil, and dead Cyperus halos commonly surrounded these bare zones. With geo-referenced measurements, we showed that Guilandina patches and bare soil zones rapidly expanded and replaced adjacent Cyperus populations. We found that soil water potentials were much lower in bare soils than soils under Guilandina or Cyperus, and that leaf water potentials of Cyperus plants were lower when co-occurring with Guilandina than when alone. When Guilandina was removed experimentally, Cyperus populations expanded and largely covered the bare soil zones. Our results indicate that when Guilandina establishes, its root systems expand beyond its canopies and these roots pull water from soils beneath Cyperus and kill it, creating bare zone halos, and then Guilandina expands and repeats the process. This scenario indicates rapid competitive exclusion and displacement of an endemic by a common pantropical species, at least in part through competition for water.
Immobilization of Cr (III) on the surface of natural asphalt sulfonic acid (NASA): novel and efficient nanocatalyst for the oxidation of sulfides
Authors: Soleiman-Beigi Mohammad , Abdi Mahsa , Kohzadi Homa
Published: November 2022

In this research, we reported synthesis of NASA@Cr(III) nanoparticles using natural asphalt. Characterization of this heterogeneous nanocatalyst was performed using various analysis including FT-IR, SEM, EDX, XRD, TGA and BET techniques. Then activity of the NASA@Cr(III) nanoparticles in the chemoselective oxidation of sulfides, was investigated. Use of this nanocatalyst for the oxidation of sulfides have features such as green condition, high yield, low time and reusability of the catalyst for the several times.
The contribution of large-scale atmospheric circulation to variations of observed near-surface wind speed across Sweden since 1926
Authors: Minola Lorenzo , Lönn Jessika , Azorin-Molina Cesar , Zhou Chunlüe , Engström Erik , Wern Lennart , Hellström Sverker , Zhang Gangfeng , Shen Cheng , Pezzoli Alessandro , Chen Deliang
Published: November 2022

This study investigates the centennial-scale (i.e., since 1926) variability of observed near-surface wind speed across Sweden. Results show that wind speed underwent various phases of change during 1926–2019: (a) a clear slowdown during 1926–1960; (b) a stabilization from 1960 to 1990; (c) another clear slowdown during 1990–2003; (d) a slight recovery/stabilization period for 2003–2014, which may continue with a possible new slowdown. Furthermore, the performance of three reanalysis products in representing past wind variations is evaluated. The observed low-frequency variability is properly simulated by the selected reanalyses and is linked to the variations of different large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns (e.g., the North Atlantic Oscillation). However, the evident periods of decreasing trend during 1926–1960 and 1990–2003, which drive most of the stilling in the last century, are missing in the reanalyses and cannot be realistically modeled through multiple linear regression by only using indexes of atmospheric circulation. Therefore, this study reveals that changes in large-scale atmospheric circulation mainly drives the low-frequency variability of observed near-surface wind speed, while other factors (e.g., changes in surface roughness) are crucial for explaining the periods of strong terrestrial stilling across Sweden.
A novel cuproptosis-related prognostic long non-coding RNAs signature model in neuroblastoma
Authors: Chen Ke , Wang Jing , Xiao Jun , Li Zejian , Zhao Xiang , Chen Xuyong , Meng Xinyao , Feng Jiexiong
Published: November 2022

Background
Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common malignant solid tumor of the autonomic nervous system in children, which exhibits diverse with dramatic clinical behaviors. Cuproptosis, as a novel form of cell death, has already caused the extensive attention. However, the prognostic value of cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) in NB remains unelucidated. In this research, we aimed to identify the association and construct a prognostic multigene signature of CRGs and cuproptosis-related long-chain non-coding RNAs (CRlncRNAs).
Methods
Obtaining RNA-sequence profiles and corresponding clinical data of NB patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA, https://portal.gdc.cancer.gov/, accessed on 22 June 2022) database. Next, constructing the co-expression of CRGs and CRlncRNAs, and utilizing lasso, univariate Cox and multivariate Cox regression analysis to develop a prognostic signature. Then, Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare the overall survival (OS) among the groups classified by median CRlncRNAs signature score. Moreover, GO/KEGG enrichment analysis, tumor mutation burden (TMB), immune infiltration and CIBERSORT were conducted in high-risk and low-risk groups.
Results
CRlncRNA DIRC3-AS1, FOXN3-AS1, LINC00682, RASSF8-AS1 formed the prognostic signature model and patients with high-risk score were demonstrated to have a poor OS (Hazard ratio: 1.177, 95% CI: 1.066-1.300, p < 0.001). Besides, the accuracy of this model was verified by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and principal component analysis (PCA). Furthermore, prognostic nomogram showed that the risk group of CRlncRNAs signature model appeared to have the ability of prognostic prediction. After that, TMB revealed that there was no statistical difference of genetic alterations in low-risk and high-risk group patients. Immune infiltration was also evaluated and revealed that immune functions were enriched in low-risk group.
Conclusion
The CRlncRNAs signature model presented to have efficacious prognostic value in profiles of NB patients.
Electrochemical machining properties and blades manufacturing of forged Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb intermetallic in sodium nitrate solution
Authors: Wang Yudi , Xu Zhengyang
Published: November 2022

Electrochemical machining (ECM) has great advantages for the manufacture of difficult-to-cut γ-TiAl alloys considering its many inherent advantages over traditional cutting techniques. In this study, the ECM characteristics of a new forged Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb (TiAl 4822) intermetallic with α and γ phases were investigated in NaNO3 solution. The polarization characteristics of the sample were studied by potentiodynamic and potentiostatic polarization tests. The results show that the alloy has typical active, passive, and transpassive regions, and the compactness and corrosion resistance of passive film are getting better and better with the increase of test time at passive potential. The XPS test revealed that the main components of the passive film are titanium dioxide and aluminum oxide. Furthermore, the alloy exhibits high material removal rates that remain almost constant in the range of current density less than 50 A/cm2. Moreover, the dissolution mechanism of TiAl 4822 alloy was also revealed through the dissolution morphology, elemental composition, surface roughness, and intergranular corrosion at different current densities. The sample shows a loose lamellar dissolution morphology and is very rough at low current density. The sample exhibits a very flat surface at high current density, but many micro-bulges with high content of Cr element on the dissolved surface. Finally, several forged TiAl 4822 alloy blades were successfully fabricated with an average surface roughness of Ra 0.55µm. It is prove that ECM can obtain high surface quality and high material removal rate of forged TiAl 4822 alloy for complex structural components in aero-engines.
Mobile Health Technology, Exercise Adherence and Optimal Nutrition post rehabilitation among people with Parkinson’s Disease (mHEXANUT) – a Randomized controlled trial protocol
Authors: Alnes Sigrid Ryeng , Laerum-Onsager Ellisiv , Bye Asta , Vistven Annette , Franzén Erika , Holst Mette , Brovold Therese
Published: November 2022

Background
Although it is well known that regular physical activity and exercise, as well as maintaining adequate nutritional status is important to delaying symptom development and maintaining physical capacity and function in people with Parkinson’s Disease (PD), many are unable to follow self-management recommendations. Active interventions have shown short-term effects, but there is a need for interventions that facilitate self-management over the course of the disease. Until now, no studies have combined exercise and nutritional interventions with an individual self-management approach in PD. Thus, we aim to examine the effect of a six-month mobile health technology(m-health)-based follow-up programme, focusing on self-management in exercise and nutrition, after an in-service interdisciplinary rehabilitation programme.
Methods
A single-blinded, two-group randomised controlled trial. Participants are Adults aged 40 or older, with idiopathic PD, Hoehn-Yahr 1-3, living at home. The intervention group receives a monthly, individualized, digital conversation with a PT, combined with use of an activity tracker. People at nutritional risk get additional digital-follow-up from a nutritional specialist. The control group receives usual care. The primary outcome is physical capacity, measured by 6-minute walk test (6MWT). Secondary outcomes are nutritional status, Health related quality of life (HRQOL), physical function and exercise adherence. All measurements are performed at baseline, after 3 months and after 6 months. Sample size, based on primary outcome, is set at 100 participants randomized into the two arms, including an estimated 20% drop out.
Discussion
The increasing prevalence of PD globally makes it even more important to develop evidence-based interventions that can increase motivation to stay active, promote adequate nutritional status and improve self-management in people with PD. Theindividually tailored digital follow-up programme, based on evidence-based practice, has the potential to promote evidence-based decision-making and to empower people with PD to implement exercise and optimal nutrition in their daily lives and, hopefully, increase adherence to exercise and nutritional recommendations.
Trial Registration
ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04945876). First registration 01.03.2021.
A Vision Transformer Architecture for the Automated Segmentation of Retinal Fluids in Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Images
Authors: Philippi Daniel , Rothaus Kai , Castelli Mauro
Published: November 2022

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is one of the major causes of irreversible blindness and is characterized by accumulations of different fluids inside the retina. An early detection and activity monitoring of predominately three types of fluids, namely intra-retinal fluid (IRF), sub-retinal fluid (SRF), and pigment epithelium detachment (PED), is critical for a successful treatment. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) revolutionized nAMD treatment by providing cross-sectional, high-resolution images of the retina. Automatic segmentation and quantification of IRF, SRF, and PED in SD-OCT images can be extremely useful for clinical decision-making. Despite the use of state-of-the-art convolutional neural network (CNN)-based methods, the task remains challenging due to relevant variations in the location, size, shape, and texture of the fluids. This work is the first to adopt a transformer-based method to automatically segment retinal fluid from SD-OCT images and qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate its performance against CNN-based methods. The method combines the efficient long-range feature extraction and aggregation capabilities of Vision Transformers (ViTs) with data-efficient training of CNNs. The proposed method was tested on a private dataset containing 3842 2-dimensional SD-OCT retina images, manually labeled by experts of the Franziskus-Eye-Hospital. While one of the competitors presents a better performance in terms of Dice score, the proposed method is significantly less computationally expensive. Thus, future research will focus on the proposed network's architecture to increase its segmentation performance while maintaining its computational efficiency.
Patterns of bladder management and associated factors among community-dwelling persons with spinal cord injury: a latent class analysis
Authors: Zhang Mengyang , Chen Ye , Liu Jiawei , Luo Can , Chen Zhong , Xu Tao
Published: November 2022

Background
People with spinal cord injury are vulnerable to neuropathic lower urinary tract dysfunction. Active bladder management is crucial to manage the neuropathic lower urinary tract dysfunction. Understanding the type of bladder management patterns will assist with targeted intervention for people with spinal cord injury. Thus, this study aimed to identify different patterns of bladder management among community-dwelling persons with spinal cord injury and explore the factors associated with latent classes.
Methods
The study was conducted in four regions (eastern region, northeast region, central region and western region) in China from August 3, 2020 to August 31, 2020. A convenience sample of 2582 participants was included in the analysis. The data were collected by a questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic factors, disease-related factors, and a list of 8 bladder management methods. Latent class analysis was used to identify different latent classes of bladder management. Then the multinomial logistic regression was applied to analyze the relationship between bladder management patterns and socio-demographic and disease-related factors.
Results
Bladder management pattern among community-dwelling persons with spinal cord injury was divided into four latent classes: “urinal collecting apparatus dominated pattern” (40.3%), “bladder compression dominated pattern” (30.7%), “intermittent catheterization dominated pattern” (19.3%) and “urethral indwelling catheterization dominated pattern” (9.6%). Multinomial logistic regression analysis found that the employment status, residential region, nursing need, payment method for catheterization products, hand function, time since spinal cord injury, urinary incontinence and concerns about social interaction affected by urination problems were significantly associated with latent classes.
Conclusion
Only 19.3% of people used the intermittent catheterization as their main bladder management method. More attention needs to be paid to the promotion of the standardization process of intermittent catheterization in community-dwelling persons with spinal cord injury. The associated factors of the four classes can be used for tailored and targeted interventions to increase the use of intermittent catheterization.
Structure-based insight into development of selective and non-selective amylin and calcitonin receptor agonists
Authors: Cao Jianjun , Belousoff Matthew , Danev Radostin , Fletcher Madeleine , Maso Emma dal , Schreuder Herman , Lorenz Katrin , Evers Andreas , Tiwari Garima , Besenius Melissa , Li Ziyu , Johnson Rachel , Wootten Denise , Sexton Patrick M.
Published: November 2022

Targeting amylin (Amy) receptors (AMYRs) can reduce body weight with additional benefits to other anti-obesity treatments such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists. AMYRs are heterodimers of the calcitonin receptor (CTR) and one of three receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs), yielding AMY1R, AMY2R and AMY3R, respectively. A hallmark of AMYR activation by Amy is the formation of a secondary structural motif, termed a “bypass motif” (residues S19-P25) that partly contributes to selective activation of cAMP responses at AMYRs over CTR. This study explored the feasibility of tuning the selectivity of Amy analogues by modifying the residues (19-22) located within the bypass motif, resulting in a selective AMYR agonist, San385, as well as a series of non-selective dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonists (DACRAs), with San45 being an exemplar. We determined the structure and dynamics of San385-bound AMY3R, as well as San45-bound AMY3R and CTR, decoding the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of these peptides. In particular, San45 is conjugated at position 19 with a lipid modification that anchors the peptide at the edge of receptor bundle and enables an alternate binding mode when bound to the CTR, in addition to the bypass mode of binding to AMY3R. This unique mechanism provides a single intervention strategy through targeted lipid modification to the structure-based design of long-acting, non-selective, Amy-based DACRAs with potential anti-obesity effects.
Acute septic deep venous thrombosis of the lower extremities due to foreign body injury and infection: a case report
Authors: Zheng Guofu , Xie Hailiang , Lai Minggui , Ye Bo , Liu Xiaochun
Published: November 2022

Background: Septic deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremities caused by foreign bodies is rare in the clinic, and the symptoms are serious. If the correct treatment is not implemented as soon as possible, the patient may progress to sepsis.
Case presentation: We report the case of a 51-year-old normally healthy male who developed fever 3 days after field work. He was diagnosed with scrub typhus but did not respond well to anti-infective treatment. After a detailed inquiry of his medical history and an auxiliary examination, the diagnosis was confirmed as septic DVT of the left lower limb caused by a foreign body. After surgery, anticoagulation and anti-infection treatment, the infection and thrombosis were controlled, and the patient was cured and discharged.
Conclusions: Early detection of the aetiology of sepsis and early adoption of the correct measures can effectively block the progression of the disease and reduce patients’ pain. Clinicians should identify the source of sepsis through a medical history and clinical examination.
A case of an occult bronchial foreign body in the right upper lung of an adult
Authors: Huang Xiaoqing , Qiu Jinfeng , Zhang Zhihuan , Lin Sujuan , Song Mei , Zheng Yongyuan
Published: November 2022

Background
Bronchial foreign bodies (BFBs) are less common in adults. An occult bronchial foreign body (OBFB) is a BFB with nontypical history, symptoms, physical signs and imaging, and is prone to either a delayed diagnosis, a missed diagnosis, or a misdiagnosis. There are no reported cases of adult OBFBs present in the upper lobe of the right lung alone.
Case Description
A 57-year-old previously healthy woman with no history of foreign body aspiration presented with recurrent cough and sputum that was present from August 2021 to May 2022. Her chest computed tomography (CT) suggested pneumonia in the upper lobe of the right lung, and tuberculosis had to be ruled out. After the laboratory tests to exclude tuberculosis were performed, she was diagnosed with pneumonia of the upper lobe of the right lung. Her symptoms were still recurrent after anti-infection and expectorant treatment. Finally, a yellowish-white substance (curd-like or cottage cheese-like) was found in the upper lobe of the right lung under flexible bronchoscopy, and the patient's cough and sputum symptoms were significantly relieved after removal of the substance.
Conclusions
OBFBs in adults are clinically rare and are prone to either a delayed diagnosis, a missed diagnosis or a misdiagnosis. A patient can be suspected of having a BFB after meeting the 4 conditions of OBFB and having any one indicator—risk factors, indirect signs of lesions on CT, or recurrent respiratory symptoms after treatment. Flexible bronchoscopy is necessary, and rigid bronchoscopy and surgery can be alternate means.
Indoor environmental quality and employees’ workplace satisfaction: a case study of university buildings
Authors: Taherkhani Roohollah , Hashempour Najme , Motamedi Shadi , Asadi Somayeh
Published: November 2022

Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) is an effective factor in evaluating the performance of employees in the workplace. This paper aims to investigate the IEQ of an office building of Imam Khomeini International University (IKIU), by evaluating the relationship between staffs' satisfaction and the orientation, window to wall ratio (WWR), and their gender. The results indicated that the size and landscape of the rooms, WWR, place of worktables, cooling and heating facilities and lighting systems, upgrading partitions and adding new spaces without increasing systems capacity, and the shared space usage by multi-users are the key factors that impact users’ satisfaction. Moreover, user comfort did not only depend on the features and equipment of the building and physical and physiological factors, but also on the habits, culture, and expectations of individuals. The results showed the same thermal satisfaction for both genders in the warm season and slightly higher dissatisfaction of females (4.62% higher compared to men) in the cold season. In addition, the main sources of noise were from the doors and the students passing the hallways. In conclusion, improving indoor air quality and thermal comfort were the most important ways to improve users' performance. This study is the first research concentrated on evaluating the current status of offices and presenting solutions to improve the IEQ factors in order to improve IKIU employees’ performance.
Resonant Second Harmonic Generation in an Array of Magnetized Anharmonic Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Vij Shivani , Kumar Sandeep , Thakur Vishal , Kant Niti , Singh Vikramjeet
Published: November 2022

An analytical model of second harmonic generation (SHG) from amplitude modulated laser irradiated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) implanted in silica substrate is presented. In the interaction of an intense amplitude modulated laser with an array of magnetized anharmonic CNTs, a force is exerted on the electrons of CNTs due to the electric field of the laser. The exerted force causes the displacement of the electrons which is of the order of the radius of CNTs due to their nanoscale dimensions. In turn, the restoring force of the electrons becomes a nonlinear function of the displacement and results in anharmonicity. The CNTs are magnetized by applying the magnetic field perpendicularly to the beam propagation direction. The anharmonicity in CNTs broadens the plasmon resonance. The effects of the amplitude modulated parameter and CNTs parameters on the amplitude of the second harmonic are analyzed. The magnetic field also helps to enhance the power of generated second harmonic.
Biocontrol of Rhizoctonia solani in Basmati Rice by the Application of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Weissella confusa
Authors: Akhtar Maira , Nosheen Asia , Keyani Rumana , Yasmin Humaira , Naz Rabia , Mumtaz Saqib , Hassan Muhammad Nadeem
Published: November 2022

Rice is a staple food crop and is a major source of employment and income in the world. But attack of fungal disease poses a serious threat to the crop growth and productivity and leads toward yield loses. Therefore, current study was performed to evaluate the biocontrol potential of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Weissella confusa in basmati rice against Rhizoctonia solani. Agar disc method was performed to evaluate the antifungal activity of both bacteria against R. solani. Petri plate and pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the growth promotion and biocontrol potential of both bacteria in Basmati rice under R. solani stress. Results indicated that maximum antifungal activity (82%) was recorded by L. rhamnosus. In petri plate experiment, maximum root length was resulted by W. confusa and maximum shoot length by L. rhamnosus. In pot experiment, both bacteria enhanced the growth of Basmati rice. L. rhamnosus + R. solani showed increase in the proline and sugar contents. Plant defense enzymes i-e SOD, POD, CAT, PPO and PAL were notably increased by W. confusa + R. solani and L. rhamnosus + R. solani. The L. rhamnosus showed the best results in antifungal activity against R. solani and W. confusa showed the best results in production of defense enzymes in basmati rice against R. solani stress and can be suggested as the potent biocontrol agents for the rice crop.
Trends of insecticide resistance monitoring in mainland Tanzania, 2004–2020
Authors: Tungu Patrick K. , Kabula Bilali , Nkya Theresia , Machafuko Pendael , Sambu Edward , Batengana Bernard , Sudi Wema , Athmani Yahaya , Mwingira Victor , Masue Denis , Malima Robert , Kitojo Chonge , Serbantez Naomi , Reaves Erik J. , Mwalimu Charles , Nhiga Samwel L. , Ally Mohamed , Mkali Humphrey R. , Joseph Joseph J. , Chan Adeline , Ngondi Jeremiah , Lalji Shabbir , Nyinondi Ssanyu , Eckert Erin , Reithinger Richard , Magesa Stephen , Kisinza William N.
Published: November 2022

Background
Insecticide resistance is a serious threat to the continued effectiveness of insecticide-based malaria vector control measures, such as long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) of households with insecticide. We describe the trends and dynamics of insecticide resistance and its underlining mechanisms from annual resistance monitoring surveys on Anopheles gambiae s.l. populations conducted across mainland Tanzania from 2004 to 2020.
Methods
The World health Organization (WHO) standard protocols were used to detect susceptibility of the wild female Anopheles gambiae s.l. mosquitoes to insecticides, with mosquitoes exposed to diagnostic concentrations of permethrin, deltamethrin, lambdacyhalothrin, bendiocarb, and pirimiphos-methyl. WHO test papers at 5× and 10× the diagnostic concentrations were used to assess the intensity of resistance to pyrethroids; piperonyl butoxide (PBO) synergist tests were carried out in sites where mosquitoes were found to be resistant to pyrethroids. To estimate insecticide resistance trends from 2004 to 2020, mosquito mortalities from each site and time point were aggregated and regression analysis of mortality versus the Julian dates of bioassays was performed.
Results
Percentage of sites with pyrethroid resistance increased from 0% in 2004 to more than 80% in the 2020, suggesting resistance has been spreading geographically. Results indicate a strong negative association (p = 0.0001) between pyrethroids susceptibility status and survey year. The regression model shows that by 2020 over 40% of An. gambiae s.l. mosquitoes survived exposure to pyrethroids at their respective diagnostic doses. A decreasing trend of An. gambiae s.l. susceptibility to bendiocarb was observed over time, but this was not statistically significant (p = 0.8413). Anopheles gambiae s.l. exhibited high level of susceptibility to the pirimiphos-methyl in sampled sites.
Conclusions
An. gambiae s.l., Tanzania’s major malaria vector, is now resistant to pyrethroids across the country with resistance increasing in prevalence and intensity and has been spreading geographically between 2011 to 2020. This calls for urgent action for efficient malaria vector control tools to sustain the gains obtained in malaria control. Strengthening insecticide resistance monitoring is important for its management through evidence generation for effective malaria vector control decision making.
Investigation of Hippo pathway-related prognostic lncRNAs and molecular subtypes in liver hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Su Qiongfei , Hua Fengyang , Xiao Wanying , Liu Baoqiu , Wang Dongxia , Qin Xintian
Published: November 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate Hippopathway-related prognostic long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and their prognostic value in liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC).
Methods: Expression and clinical data regarding LIHC were acquired from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI) array databases. Hippo pathway-related lncRNAs and their prognostic value were revealed, followed by molecular subtype investigations. Differences in survival, clinical characteristics, immune cell infiltration, and checkpoint expression between the subtypes were explored. LASSO regression was used to determine the most valuable prognostic lncRNAs, followed by the establishment of a prognostic model. Survival and differential expression analyses were conducted between two groups (high- and low-risk).
Results: A total of 313 Hippo pathway-related lncRNAs were identified from LIHC, of which 88 were associated with prognosis, and two molecular subtypes were identified based on their expression patterns. These two subtypes showed significant differences in overall survival, pathological stage and grade, vascular invasion, infiltration abundance of seven immune cells, and expression of several checkpoints, such as CTLA-4 and PD-1/L1 (P<0.05). LASSO regression identified the six most valuable independent prognostic lncRNAs for establishing a prognosis risk model. Risk scores calculated by the risk model assigned patients into two risk groups with an AUC of 0.913 and 0.731, respectively, indicating that the high-risk group had poor survival. The risk score had an independent prognostic valuewith an HR of 2.198. In total, 3007 genes were dysregulated between the two risk groups, and the expression of most genes was elevated in the high-risk group, involving the cell cycle and pathways in cancers.
Conclusion: Hippo pathway-related lncRNAs could stratify patients for personalized treatment and predict the prognosis of patients with LIHC.
The dynamic functional connectivity fingerprint of high-grade gliomas
Authors: Moretto Manuela , Silvestri Erica , Facchini Silvia , Anglani Mariagiulia , Cecchin Diego , Corbetta Maurizio , Bertoldo Alessandra
Published: November 2022

Resting state fMRI has been used in many studies to investigate the impact of brain tumours on functional connectivity (FC). So far, these studies assume that FC is stationary, disregarding that the brain fluctuates over dynamic states. Here we employed resting state fMRI data of 33 patients with high-grade gliomas and 33 healthy controls to study the dynamic interplay between resting state networks and to gain insights on the impact of brain tumours on functional dynamics. Exploiting Hidden Markov Models, we showed that functional dynamics exist even in presence of a high-grade glioma and that patients featured a global decrease of connections strength as well as of network segregation. Through a multivariate analysis, we further showed that patients’ cognitive scores are highly predictive of pathological dynamics, corroborating our hypothesis that functional dynamics might be valuable biomarkers to better disentangle high-grade gliomas traits.
Effect of probiotics for regulation of inflammatory response in radiation-induced enteritis
Authors: Lee Sung Uk , Jang Bum-Sup , Na Yi Rang , Lee Sun Hwa , Han Sunwoo , Chang Ji Hyun , Kim Hak Jae
Published: November 2022

Purpose: Cancer patients who receive radiation therapy (RT) in the abdominopelvic area often experience radiation enteritis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of probiotics in radiation enteritis using in vivo mice.
Methods: A total of 40 mice were randomly assigned to four groups: control, probiotics, RT, and RT + probiotics. For the group of probiotics, 0.2 mL of solution that contained 1.0 × 108 colony-forming units (CFU) of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) was used and orally administered daily until sacrifice. For RT, a single dose of 14 Gy was administered using a 6 mega-voltage photon beam to the abdominopelvic area. Mice were sacrifice at day 4 (S1) and day 7 (S2) after RT. Their jejunum, colon, and stool were collected. A multiplex cytokine assay and 16s ribosomal RNA amplicon sequencing were then performed.
Results: Regarding cytokine concentrations in tissues, pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF, IL-6, and MCP-1 showed decreased protein levels in colon tissues of the RT + probiotics group than in the RT group. The abundance of microbes showed no significant difference between RT + probiotics and RT groups except increased alpha-diversity in the stool at S2 of the RT + probiotics group. Probiotics-related and anti-inflammation-related microbes were dominant in the jejunum, colon, and stool from early days after administration of probiotics (probiotics or RT + probiotics groups). Differentially predicted metabolic pathways associated with anti-inflammatory process were found in the RT + probiotics group compared to the RT alone group.
Conclusion: Protective effects of probiotics on radiation enteritis were potentially derived from dominant anti-inflammation-related microbes and metabolites.
Phylogenetic systematics of Butyrivibrio and Pseudobutyrivibrio pure culture and metagenomically assembled genomes suggest existence of 59 genera and 75 species, alongside possession of open pangenomes with an abundance of carbohydrate-active enzyme family isoforms
Authors: Pidcock Sara E. , Skvortsov Timofey , Courtney Stephen J. , Creevey Christopher J. , Huws Sharon A.
Published: November 2022

Background
Gut microbiomes are crucial for host nutrition due to their feed energy-harvesting capacity. In the rumen microbiome Butyrivibrio and Pseudobutyrivibrio dominate and play a key role in harvesting dietary energy. Within these genera, five rumen species have been classified (Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, B. hungatei, B. proteoclasticus, Pseudobutyrivibrio ruminis and P. xylanivorans) and more recently an additional sixth Butyrivibrio sp. group was added. Nonetheless, in recent years the explosion in available metagenomically assembled genomes (MAGs) offer a new insight into their taxonomy and function. Consequently, in this study we analysed the pangenome and function of 64 MAGs and 71 culture representatives of Butyrivibrio and Pseudobutyrivibrio.
Results
Using MASH and ANI we demonstrate that the 135 Butyrivibrio and Pseudobutyrivibrio genomes from MAGs and pure culture cluster into 59 genera and 75 species. Pangenome analysis of 8 groups containing > 4 strains showed average core genome percentages of between 38.49–76.67%. In turn, the accessory genome percentages for the 8 groups were between 23.33% and 65.39%. The most abundant GH families found in the 8 groups were GH13, GH3, GH43, GH2, GH25, GH31, GH36, and GH5 in descending order. Dendograms of the GH families show extensive variation, and expression of 20.45–47.11% of the genes is observed in metatranscriptome datasets.
Conclusions
Our findings demonstrate that Butyrivibrio and Pseudobutyrivibrio genomes cluster into 59 genera and 75 species. The 8 groups containing 4 or more genomes that were carried forward possess open genomes with extensive genomic diversity. The MAGs, alongside genomes for cultured isolates, contained an expansive repertoire of glycosyl hydrolase isoforms, which likely facilitate the symbiotic breakdown of plant matter under dietary perturbations allowing a competitive advantage and driving niche specialisation. This study has enabled a substantial enhancement in our understanding of the functional capacity and taxonomy of the dominant rumen isolates, Butyrivibrio and Pseudobutyrivibrio by utilising all recently published rumen MAGs.
The press-assisted fusion scheme greatly reduces the amount of HVJ-E required in mitochondrial replacement techniques
Authors: Ma Meng , Jiang Shutian , Jin Wei , Li Wenzhi , Chen Chen , Lin Kaibo , Liao Xiaoyu , Li Danjun , Kuang Yanping , Lyu Qifeng
Published: November 2022

Background
Mitochondrial replacement techniques (MRTs) afford pathogenic mitochondria carried women an opportunity to have related disease-free offspring with a genetic link. Among the fusion methods, HVJ-E-induced fusion has been considered the most promising method for MRTs clinical translation. Although HVJ-E has been confirmed to have no RNA activity, a decrease in blastocyst quality was observed in several MRTs studies with HVJ-E-induced fusion scheme. Nevertheless, HVJ-E has not been proven to be a single factor affecting embryonic development in MRTs. Safety has been the biggest obstacle for its clinical application.
Methods
Pronuclear transfer (PNT) was performed on mouse zygotes and human abnormal zygotes (3PN,1PN) with the traditional HVJ-E-induced fusion (original HVJ-E) and press-assisted HVJ-E-induced fusion (1%HVJ-E). Fusion rates and residual amount of HVJ-E (the relative HVJ-E fluorescence intensity) in reconstructed mouse and human zygotes were assessed. Cleavage rate, blastocyst formation rate, intracellular ROS levels and double-stranded DNA breaks (γH2A.X) of reconstructed mouse zygotes in traditional fusion and press-assisted fusion groups were assessed.
Results
No significant differences were observed in the fusion rates of the press-assisted fusion and traditional fusion group in mouse zygotes and human 3PN/1PN zygote. The relative HVJ-E fluorescence intensity of the press-assisted fusion group was greatly lower than traditional fusion group in mouse and human. The relative ROS fluorescence intensity and the γH2A.X loci of the press-assisted fusion group were lower than that in the traditional group. The blastocyst formation rates in the press-assisted fusion were higher than hat in the traditional fusion group.
Conclusions
In this study, we proved high concentration of HVJ-E used in traditional HVJ-E fusion scheme is an independent factor affecting embryonic development in MRTs, which might be caused by enhanced DNA damage due to increased ROS levels in reconstructed embryos. In order to minimize the amount of HVJ-E attached to the reconstructed zygotes without reducing the fusion efficiency in MRTs, we designed a new scheme for HVJ-E-induced fusion: the press-assisted fusion, which is beneficial to decrease the adverse factors affecting embryo development in MRTs.
A Compact Size High Frequency Reconfigurable Monopole Antenna for Multiband Applications
Authors: Kuriakose Jerry , Jacob Sunil , Joseph Saira
Published: November 2022

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Surgery for Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer in the Era of Neo-adjuvant Therapies: something new?
Authors: Rosa Fausto , Tondolo Vincenzo , Schena Carlo Alberto , Laterza Vito , Strippoli Antonia , Covino Marcello , Pacini Giovanni , Quero Giuseppe , Fiorillo Claudio , Tortora Giampaolo , Alfieri Sergio
Published: November 2022

Purpose: Locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC) represents a therapeutic challenge. The aim of this study was to analyze prognostic factors influencing survival and surgical strategies and possible influence of neoadjuvant chemotherapy over a ten-years experience in a tertiary Western center.
Methods: Between January 2010 and December 2020, the medical records of 113 patients with LAGC who underwent curative resection were retrospectively reviewed. Patient characteristics, related complications, long-term survival, and prognostic factors were analyzed at uni- and multivariate analyses.
Results: Multivariate analysis revealed that neoadjuvant therapy, completeness of resection (R0), number of lymph nodes retrieved, N status and the adoption of HIPEC were independent prognostic factors associated with longer survival.
Five-year overall survival for NAC group and upfront surgery group was 46% and 32%, respectively (p=0.04).
Five-year disease-free survival for NAC group and upfront surgery group was 38% and 25%, respectively (p=0.02).
Conclusion: Patients with LAGC undergoing surgery plus neoadjuvant therapy had a better OS and DFS respect to patients undergoing upfront surgery. No difference was observed in terms of surgical strategy.
Thermodynamic properties and critical behavior of spin-polarized atomic hydrogen (H↓) using the quantum second virial coefficient
Authors: Joudeh Bassam R.
Published: November 2022

The quantum-mechanical formulations for the second virial, and the acoustic virial, coefficients are derived for spin-polarized atomic hydrogen (H↓). The dependence of these coefficients on the temperature T as well as the nuclear polarization ζ is analyzed. This is done for the first time. The main inputs in these computations are the scattering phase shifts, which are obtained using the Lippmann-Schwinger equation, with the Silvera triplet-state potential.
Starting with these phase shifts, comprehensive calculations of the thermophysical properties for this system are performed for T ranging from 1µK to 100 K, and ζ varying from 0 to 1. These properties include, in addition to the quantum second virial coefficient and the acoustic virial coefficient: the pressure-polarization-temperature (P-ζ-T) behavior, the entropy (per atom), the speed of sound, the second virial correction (to the total internal energy per atom and unit density), and the specific heat capacity (per atom and unit density). The Boyle temperature and the Joule inversion temperature are determined. The T-dependence of these thermophysical properties, and related quantities, is explored. As expected, this dependence is most evident in the low-T limit, where quantum effects predominate. The corresponding ζ-dependence becomes noticeable at 80 K and below. It is observed that the virial coefficients tend to decrease with increasing ζ. Comparison of the present results to previous results are included whenever possible. The overall agreement is very good.
As T is lowered, the disruptive effects of thermal energy are weakened relative to the attractive interactions between the atoms. Consequently, the H↓ gas makes a transition to a state of higher order and lower entropy – Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC). This is explored carefully.
Valve disease in cardiac amyloidosis: an echocardiographic score
Authors: Aimo Alberto , Fabiani Iacopo , Maccarana Agnese , Vergaro Giuseppe , Chubuchny Vladyslav , Pasanisi Emilio , Petersen Christina , Poggianti Elisa , Giannoni Alberto , Spini Valentina , Taddei Claudia , Castiglione Vincenzo , Passino Claudio , Fontana Marianna , Venneri Lucia
Published: November 2022

Background
Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) may affect all cardiac structures, including the valves.
Methods
From 423 patients undergoing a diagnostic workup for CA we selected 2 samples of 20 patients with amyloid transthyretin (ATTR-) or light-chain (AL-) CA, and age- and sex-matched controls. We chose 31 echocardiographic items related to the mitral, aortic and tricuspid valves, giving a value of 1 to each abnormal item.
Results
Patients with ATTR-CA displayed more often a shortened/hidden and restricted posterior mitral valve leaflet (PMVL), thickened mitral chordae tendineae and aortic stenosis than those with AL-CA, and less frequent PMVL calcification than matched controls. Score values were 15.8 (13.6–17.4) in ATTR-CA, 11.0 (9.3–14.9) in AL-CA, 12.8 (11.1–14.4) in ATTR-CA controls, and 11.0 (9.1–13.0) in AL-CA controls (p = 0.004 for ATTR- vs. AL-CA, 0.009 for ATTR-CA vs. their controls, and 0.461 for AL-CA vs. controls). Area under the curve values to diagnose ATTR-CA were 0.782 in patients with ATTR-CA or matched controls, and 0.773 in patients with LV hypertrophy.
Conclusions
Patients with ATTR-CA have a prominent impairment of mitral valve structure and function, and higher score values. The valve score is quite effective in identifying patients with ATTR-CA among patients with CA or unexplained hypertrophy.