bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antimicrobial Activities of Secondary Metabolites from Model Mosses
Authors: Valeeva Lia R. , Dague Ashley L. , Hall Mitchell H. , Tikhonova Anastasia E. , Sharipova Margarita R. , Valentovic Monica A. , Bogomolnaya Lydia M. , Shakirov Eugene V.
Published: July 2022

Plants synthetize a large spectrum of secondary metabolites with substantial structural and functional diversity, making them a rich reservoir of new biologically active compounds. Among different plant lineages, the evolutionarily ancient branch of non-vascular plants (Bryophytes) is of particular interest as these organisms produce many unique biologically active compounds with highly promising antibacterial properties. Here, we characterized antibacterial activity of metabolites produced by different ecotypes (strains) of the model mosses Physcomitrium patens and Sphagnum fallax. Ethanol and hexane moss extracts harbor moderate but unstable antibacterial activity, representing polar and non-polar intracellular moss metabolites, respectively. In contrast, high antibacterial activity that was relatively stable was detected in soluble exudate fractions of P. patens moss. Antibacterial activity levels in P. patens exudates significantly increased over four weeks of moss cultivation in liquid culture. Interestingly, secreted moss metabolites are only active against a number of Gram-positive, but not Gram-negative, bacteria. Size fractionation, thermostability and sensitivity to proteinase K assays indicated that the secreted bioactive compounds are relatively small (less than <10 kDa). Further analysis and molecular identification of antibacterial exudate components, combined with bioinformatic analysis of model moss genomes, will be instrumental in the identification of specific genes involved in the bioactive metabolite biosynthesis.
Current and Potential Therapeutic Options for Infections Caused by Difficult-to-Treat and Pandrug Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria in Critically Ill Patients
Authors: Giamarellou Helen , Karaiskos Ilias
Published: July 2022

Carbapenem resistance in Gram-negative bacteria has come into sight as a serious global threat. Carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative pathogens and their main representatives Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are ranked in the highest priority category for new treatments. The worrisome phenomenon of the recent years is the presence of difficult-to-treat resistance (DTR) and pandrug-resistant (PDR) Gram-negative bacteria, characterized as non-susceptible to all conventional antimicrobial agents. DTR and PDR Gram-negative infections are linked with high mortality and associated with nosocomial infections, mainly in critically ill and ICU patients. Therapeutic options for infections caused by DTR and PDR Gram-negative organisms are extremely limited and are based on case reports and series. Herein, the current available knowledge regarding treatment of DTR and PDR infections is discussed. A focal point of the review focuses on salvage treatment, synergistic combinations (double and triple combinations), as well as increased exposure regimen adapted to the MIC of the pathogen. The most available data regarding novel antimicrobials, including novel β-lactam-β-lactamase inhibitor combinations, cefiderocol, and eravacycline as potential agents against DTR and PDR Gram-negative strains in critically ill patients are thoroughly presented.
Ferulic Acid as a Protective Antioxidant of Human Intestinal Epithelial Cells
Authors: Hwang Hye-Jeong , Lee So Rok , Yoon Ju-Gyeong , Moon Hye-Ri , Zhang Jingnan , Park Eunmi , Yoon Su-In , Cho Jin Ah
Published: July 2022

The intestinal epithelial barrier is the primary and most significant defense barrier against ingested toxins and pathogenic bacteria. When the intestinal epithelium barrier is breached, inflammatory response is triggered. GWAS data showed that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers are elevated in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) patients, which suggests ER stress regulation might alleviate IBD symptoms. Ferulic acid (FA) is a polyphenol that is abundant in plants and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, although it is unclear whether FA has these effects on the intestine. Therefore, we investigated the effect of FA in vitro and in vivo. It was found that FA suppressed ER stress, nitric oxide (NO) generation, and inflammation in polarized Caco-2 and T84 cells, indicating that the ER stress pathway was implicated in its anti-inflammatory activities. The permeability of polarized Caco-2 cells in the presence and absence of proinflammatory cytokines were decreased by FA, and MUC2 mRNA was overexpressed in the intestines of mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) supplemented with FA. These results suggest that FA has a protective effect on intestinal tight junctions. In addition, mouse intestine organoids proliferated significantly more in the presence of FA. Our findings shed light on the molecular mechanism responsible for the antioxidant effects of FA and its protective benefits on the health of the digestive system.
Systematic Methods to Increase the Lifetime of Mechanical Products Such as Refrigerators by Employing Parametric Accelerated Life Testing
Authors: Woo Seongwoo , O’Neal Dennis L. , Hassen Yimer Mohammed
Published: July 2022

This investigation practically explains the implementation of parametric accelerated life testing (ALT) as an algorithm to recognize design imperfection and rectify it in creating a reliable quantitative (RQ) statement by sample size equation. It covers: (1) a module BX life that X% of a collection of system items is unsuccessful with an ALT plan, (2) design for fatigue, (3) ALTs with alterations, and (4) discernment as to if the final design(s) obtains the targeted BX lifetime. A (generalized) life–stress formulation by the linear transport process is recommended for the mathematical work of the parametric model. As a case study, an ice-maker including gear system in a refrigerator was utilized. The gear teeth made of cast iron (carbon, 3 wt% and silicon, 2 wt%) was fracturing in a refrigerator ice-maker. To reproduce the field failure and rectify the problematic designs in the marketplace, a parametric ALT was carried out. At the first ALT, the gear teeth made of cast iron partly cracked and fractured under severe cold conditions (below −20 °C) in the freezer. It was modified by changing the material from cast iron to a sinter-hardened powder metallurgy nickel steel because high fatigue strength in the low temperature was required. At the second ALT, we discovered the fractured helix made of polycarbonates (PC). As a modification, strengthened rib on the front and side of the helix the thickness of gear teeth was attached. At the third ALT, there was no concern, and the life of the auger motor including gear system was manifested to have a B1 life 10 years.
Equivalent Dynamic Analysis of a Cable-Driven Snake Arm Maintainer
Authors: Qin Guodong , Wu Huapeng , Ji Aihong
Published: July 2022

In this paper, we investigate a design method for a cable-driven snake arm maintainer (SAM) and its dynamics modelling. A SAM can provide redundant degrees of freedom and high structural stiffness, as well as high load capacity and a simplified structure ideal for various narrow and extreme working environments, such as nuclear power plants. However, their serial-parallel configuration and cable drive system make the dynamics of a SAM strongly coupled, which is not conducive to accurate control. In this paper, we propose an equivalent dynamics modelling method for the strongly coupled dynamic characteristics of each joint cable. The cable traction dynamics are forcibly decoupled using force analysis and joint torque equivalent transformation. Then, the forcibly equivalent dynamic model is obtained based on traditional series robot dynamic modelling methods (Lagrangian method, etc.). To verify the correctness of the equivalent dynamics, a simple model-based controller is established. In addition, a SAM prototype is produced to collect joint angles and cable forces at different trajectories. Finally, the results of the equivalent dynamics control simulation and the prototype tests demonstrate the validity of the SAM structural design and the equivalent dynamics model.
Persistent Spatial Patterns of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica Concentrations in Surface Waters: Empirical Orthogonal Function Analysis of Data from Maryland
Authors: Kim Seongyun , Paul Manashi , Negahban-Azar Masoud , Micallef Shirley A. , Rosenberg Goldstein Rachel E. , Hashem Fawzy , Parveen Salina , Sapkota Amir , Kniel Kalmia , Sapkota Amy R. , Pachepsky Yakov , Sharma Manan
Published: July 2022

High spatiotemporal variability of pathogen concentrations in surface waters complicates the design and interpretation of microbial water quality monitoring. Empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis can provide spatial patterns (EOFs) of variability in deviations of concentrations in specific locations from the average concentration across the study area. These patterns can be interpreted to assess the effect of environmental factors on pathogen levels in the water. The first and the second EOFs for Listeria monocytogenes explained 84.4% and 9.7% of the total variance of deviations from average, respectively. That percentage was 50.8% and 45.0% for Salmonella enterica. The precipitation also had a strong explanatory capability (79%) of the first EOF. The first EOFs of Listeria and precipitation were similar at pond sites but were opposite to the precipitation at the stream sites. The first EOF of S. enterica and precipitation demonstrated opposite trends, whereas the second S. enterica EOF pattern had similar signs with the precipitation EOF at pond sites, indicating a relationship between rainfall and Salmonella at these sites. Overall, the rainfall data could inform on persistent spatial patterns in concentrations of the two pathogens at the pond sites in farm settings but not at stream sites located in forested areas.
A Preliminary Study of Robust Speech Feature Extraction Based on Maximizing the Probability of States in Deep Acoustic Models
Authors: Chang Li-Chia , Hung Jeih-Weih
Published: July 2022

This study proposes a novel robust speech feature extraction technique to improve speech recognition performance in noisy environments. This novel method exploits the information provided by the original acoustic model in the automatic speech recognition (ASR) system to learn a deep neural network that converts the original speech features. This deep neural network is trained to maximize the posterior accuracy of the state sequences of acoustic models with respect to the speech feature sequences. Compared with the robustness methods that retrain or adapt acoustic models, the new method has the advantages of less computation load and faster training. In the experiments conducted on the medium-vocabulary TIMIT database and task, the presented method provides lower word error rates than the unprocessed baseline and speech-enhancement-based techniques. These results indicate that the presented method is promising and worth further developing.
Gini Method Application: Indoor Radon Survey in Kpong, Ghana
Authors: Loffredo Filomena , Opoku-Ntim Irene , Kitson-Mills Doris , Quarto Maria
Published: July 2022

In this study, the indoor radon concentrations map, starting from a sparse measurements survey, was realized with the Gini index method. This method was applied on a real dataset coming from indoor radon measurements carried out in Kpong, Ghana. The Gini coefficient variogram is shown to be a good estimator of the inhomogeneity degree of radon concentration because it allows for better constraining of the critical distance below which the radon geological source can be considered as uniform. The indoor radon measurements were performed in 96 dwellings in Kpong, Ghana. The data showed that 84% of the residences monitored had radon levels below 100 Bqm−3, versus 16% having levels above the World Health Organization’s (WHO) suggested reference range (100 Bqm−3). The survey indicated that the average indoor radon concentration (IRC) was 55 ± 36 Bqm−3. The concentrations range from 4–176 Bqm−3. The mean value 55 Bqm−3 is 38% higher than the world’s average IRC of 40 Bqm−3 (UNSCEAR, 1993).
Weather-Related Human Outdoor Behavior with Respect to Solar Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure in a Changing Climate
Authors: Laschewski Gudrun , Matzarakis Andreas
Published: July 2022

Climate-related changes in human sun exposure behavior can be an important influence on future ultraviolet radiation (UVR) related disease risks. In particular, active leisure mobility and leisure activities are more dependent on weather conditions than routine activities. However, the direction and extent of the effects vary. For temperate and cold climates, the available studies provide indications that a possible increase in UVR exposure would primarily result from a reduction in clothing and only secondarily from changes in the time spent outdoors. Existing studies suggest a nonlinear, bell-shaped relationship with threshold value effects for the relationship between outdoor time and thermal conditions. If the local climate is already very warm and there are only minor seasonal differences, there is no statistically significant evidence of changes in behavior. If there is significant warm discomfort, there is a tendency to avoid being outdoors or in the sun. It is not justified to simply transfer and generalize results and conclusions to different climates and seasons and between different leisure activities and forms of active mobility. The geographical context must be considered also in terms of cultures and habits, adaptations, traffic and land use (urban, rural). In addition, changes in behavior can develop differently depending on individual characteristics of people such as heat affinity, leisure type, age and gender. Differentiated analyses are required that take into account and balance opposing effects.
Incipient Sympatric Speciation and Evolution of Soil Bacteria Revealed by Metagenomic and Structured Non-Coding RNAs Analysis
Authors: Mukherjee Sumit , Kuang Zhuoran , Ghosh Samrat , Detroja Rajesh , Carmi Gon , Tripathy Sucheta , Barash Danny , Frenkel-Morgenstern Milana , Nevo Eviatar , Li Kexin
Published: July 2022

Soil bacteria respond rapidly to changes in new environmental conditions. For adaptation to the new environment, they could mutate their genome, which impacts the alternation of the functional and regulatory landscape. Sometimes, these genetic and ecological changes may drive the bacterial evolution and sympatric speciation. Although sympatric speciation has been controversial since Darwin suggested it in 1859, there are several strong theoretical or empirical evidences to support it. Sympatric speciation associated with soil bacteria remains largely unexplored. Here, we provide potential evidence of sympatric speciation of soil bacteria by comparison of metagenomics from two sharply contrasting abutting divergence rock and soil types (Senonian chalk and its rendzina soil, and abutting Pleistocene basalt rock and basalt soil). We identified several bacterial species with significant genetic differences in the same species between the two soil types and ecologies. We show that the bacterial community composition has significantly diverged between the two soils; correspondingly, their functions were differentiated in order to adapt to the local ecological stresses. The ecologies, such as water availability and pH value, shaped the adaptation and speciation of soil bacteria revealed by the clear-cut genetic divergence. Furthermore, by a novel analysis scheme of riboswitches, we highlight significant differences in structured non-coding RNAs between the soil bacteria from two divergence soil types, which could be an important driver for functional adaptation. Our study provides new insight into the evolutionary divergence and incipient sympatric speciation of soil bacteria under microclimatic ecological differences.
GeneToList: A Web Application to Assist with Gene Identifiers for the Non-Bioinformatics-Savvy Scientist
Authors: Breidenbach Joshua D. , Begue III E. Francis , Kennedy David J. , Haller Steven T.
Published: July 2022

The increasing incorporation of omics technologies into biomedical research and translational medicine presents challenges to end users of the large and complex datasets that are generated by these methods. A particular challenge in genomics is that the nomenclature for genes is not uniform between large genomic databases or between commonly used genetic analysis tools. Furthermore, outdated genomic nomenclature can still be found amongst scientific communications, including peer-reviewed manuscripts. Therefore, a web application (GeneToList) was developed to assist in gene ID conversion and alias matching, with a specific focus on achieving a user-friendly interface for the non-bioinformatics-savvy scientist. It currently includes gene information for over 38,000 different taxa retrieved from the National Center for Biotechnology and Information (NCBI) Gene resource. Supported databases of gene IDs include NCBI Gene Symbols, NCBI Gene IDs (Entrez IDs), OMIM IDs, HGNC IDs, Ensembl IDs, and 28 other taxa-specific identifiers. GeneToList is available at genetolist.com. The tool is a web application that is compatible with many standard browsers. The gene ID conversion feature of this application was found to outcompete the common gene ID conversion tools. Specifically, it was able to successfully convert all tested IDs, whereas the others were not able to recognize the gene aliases. Therefore, the gene ID disambiguation provided by this application should be beneficial for many scientists dealing with gene data when the uniformity of gene nomenclature is important for downstream analysis.
The Tropomyosin Family as Novel Biomarkers in Relation to Poor Prognosis in Glioma
Authors: Huang Ke , Wang Huihui , Xu Jia , Xu Ruiming , Liu Zelin , Li Yi , Xu Zhaoqing
Published: July 2022

(1) Background: The functions of the tropomyosin (TPM) family in tumors and cancers have been explored; however, striking differences have been observed. This study aims to further our understanding of the effects of TPMs in glioma, and find novel biomarkers for glioma. (2) Methods: RNA-seq data were downloaded from TCGA and GTEx. Survival analyses, Cox regression, nomogram, calibration curves, ROC curves, gene function enrichment analyses, and immune cell infiltration analyses were carried out using R. CCK8 assay, while Brdu assay, colony formation assay, and Transwell assay were used to verify the functions of TPM3 in glioma. (3) Results: TPM1/3/4 were significantly more highly expressed in glioma than that in normal tissues, while higher expression of TPM2/3/4 was correlated with a worse overall survival than lower expression of TPM2/3/4. Furthermore, bioinformatic analyses indicated that TPM3/4 could be promoting factors for poorer survival in glioma, but only TPM3 could serve as an independent prognostic factor. Gene function analyses showed that TPMs may be involved in immune responses. Moreover, further experimental investigations verified that TPM3 overexpression enhanced the proliferation and tumorigenicity of glioma. (4) Conclusions: High expression of TPM3/4 was positively correlated with poorer prognosis in glioma, and TPM3 could serve as a novel independent prognostic factor of glioma.
Database of Potential Promoter Sequences in the Capsicum annuum Genome
Authors: Rudenko Valentina , Korotkov Eugene
Published: July 2022

In this study, we used a mathematical method for the multiple alignment of highly divergent sequences (MAHDS) to create a database of potential promoter sequences (PPSs) in the Capsicum annuum genome. To search for PPSs, 20 statistically significant classes of sequences located in the range from −499 to +100 nucleotides near the annotated genes were calculated. For each class, a position–weight matrix (PWM) was computed and then used to identify PPSs in the C. annuum genome. In total, 825,136 PPSs were detected, with a false positive rate of 0.13%. The PPSs obtained with the MAHDS method were tested using TSSFinder, which detects transcription start sites. The databank of the found PPSs provides their coordinates in chromosomes, the alignment of each PPS with the PWM, and the level of statistical significance as a normal distribution argument, and can be used in genetic engineering and biotechnology.
EGF-Dependent Activation of ELK1 Contributes to the Induction of CLDND1 Expression Involved in Tight Junction Formation
Authors: Matsuoka Hiroshi , Yamaoka Alice , Hamashima Takahiro , Shima Akiho , Kosako Marin , Tahara Yuma , Kamishikiryo Jun , Michihara Akihiro
Published: July 2022

Claudin proteins are intercellular adhesion molecules. Increased claudin domain-containing 1 (CLDND1) expression is associated with the malignant transformation of estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer cells with low sensitivity to hormone therapy. Abnormal CLDND1 expression is also implicated in vascular diseases. Previously, we investigated the regulatory mechanism underlying CLDND1 expression and identified a strong enhancer region near the promoter. In silico analysis of the sequence showed high homology to the ETS domain-containing protein-1 (ELK1)-binding sequence which is involved in cell growth, differentiation, angiogenesis, and cancer. Transcriptional ELK1 activation is associated with the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade originating from the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Here, we evaluated the effect of gefitinib, an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, on the suppression of CLDND1 expression using ELK1 overexpression in luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. ELK1 was found to be an activator of the enhancer region, and its transient expression increased that of CLDND1 at the mRNA and protein levels. CLDND1 expression was increased following EGF-induced ELK1 phosphorylation. Furthermore, this increase in CLDND1 was significantly suppressed by gefitinib. Therefore, EGF-dependent activation of ELK1 contributes to the induction of CLDND1 expression. These findings open avenues for the development of new anticancer agents targeting CLDND1.
Evaluating the pH of Various Commercially Available Beverages in Pakistan: Impact of Highly Acidic Beverages on the Surface Hardness and Weight Loss of Human Teeth
Authors: Kumar Naresh , Amin Faiza , Hashem Danya , Khan Sara , Zaidi Huma , Rahman Sehrish , Farhan Tooba , Mahmood Syed Junaid , Asghar Muhammad Asif , Zafar Muhammad Sohail
Published: July 2022

The objectives of this study were to investigate the pH of common beverages and to evaluate the effects of common acidic beverages on the surface hardness and weight loss of human tooth specimens. A total of 106 beverages were conveniently purchased from supermarkets in Karachi, Pakistan. Prior to evaluation, beverages were refrigerated or stored at room temperature in accordance with the manufacturers’ recommendations. Beverages were categorized into six groups: ‘Sports and Energy drinks’, ‘Water’, ‘Fruit Juices and Drinks’, ‘Sodas’, ‘Milk and Flavored Milk’ and ‘Teas and Coffee’. Using a pH meter, the pH of each beverage was measured in triplicate at room temperature. In addition, the influence of five highly acidic beverages on the weight loss and surface hardness of human tooth specimens was evaluated using gravimetric analysis and the Vickers hardness tester, respectively. ‘Sports and Energy drinks’, ‘Fruits Juices and Drinks’ and ‘Sodas’ were the most acidic beverage categories, with a pH range of 3.00–5.00. A total of 33% of beverages tested in this study were highly acidic (pH less than 4.00), 29% of beverages were moderately acidic (pH 4.00–4.99) and 31% were mildly acidic (pH 5.00–6.99). Significant weight loss was observed in all immersed specimens compared to control counterparts (p < 0.05). Similarly, for surface hardness, five highly acidic beverages (Red Bull, Pepsi, Apple Cidra, Tang Mosambi and Tang Orange) significantly decreased the surface hardness of specimens (p < 0.05). The pH levels of commonly available beverages in Pakistan are highly acidic, which may encourage loss of minerals from teeth; hence, affecting their surface hardness.
3D and 4D Printing in the Fight against Breast Cancer
Authors: Moroni Sofia , Casettari Luca , Lamprou Dimitrios A.
Published: July 2022

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide, characterized by a high incidence and mortality rate. Despite the advances achieved in cancer management, improvements in the quality of life of breast cancer survivors are urgent. Moreover, considering the heterogeneity that characterizes tumors and patients, focusing on individuality is fundamental. In this context, 3D printing (3DP) and 4D printing (4DP) techniques allow for a patient-centered approach. At present, 3DP applications against breast cancer are focused on three main aspects: treatment, tissue regeneration, and recovery of the physical appearance. Scaffolds, drug-loaded implants, and prosthetics have been successfully manufactured; however, some challenges must be overcome to shift to clinical practice. The introduction of the fourth dimension has led to an increase in the degree of complexity and customization possibilities. However, 4DP is still in the early stages; thus, research is needed to prove its feasibility in healthcare applications. This review article provides an overview of current approaches for breast cancer management, including standard treatments and breast reconstruction strategies. The benefits and limitations of 3DP and 4DP technologies are discussed, as well as their application in the fight against breast cancer. Future perspectives and challenges are outlined to encourage and promote AM technologies in real-world practice.
Rethinking the Intrinsic Sensitivity of Fungi to Glyphosate
Authors: Tall Tuomas , Puigbò Pere
Published: July 2022

The 5-enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) is the central enzyme of the shikimate pathway to synthesize the three aromatic amino acids in fungi, plants, and prokaryotes. This enzyme is the target of the herbicide glyphosate. In most plants and prokaryotes, the EPSPS protein is constituted by a single domain family, the EPSP synthase (PF00275) domain, whereas in fungi, the protein is formed by a multi-domain structure from combinations of 22 EPSPS-associated domains. The most common multi-domain EPSPS structure in fungi involves five EPSPS-associated domains of the shikimate pathway. In this article, we analyze 390 EPSPS proteins of fungi to determine the extent of the EPSPS-associated domains. Based on the current classification of the EPSPS protein, most fungal species are intrinsically sensitive to glyphosate. However, complex domain architectures may have multiple responses to the herbicide. Further empirical studies are needed to determine the effect of glyphosate on fungi, taking into account the diversity of multi-domain architectures of the EPSPS. This research opens the door to novel biotechnological applications for microbial degradation of glyphosate.
After 55 Years of Neurorehabilitation, What Is the Plan?
Authors: Viruega Hélène , Gaviria Manuel
Published: July 2022

Neurological disorders often cause severe long-term disabilities with substantial activity limitations and participation restrictions such as community integration, family functioning, employment, social interaction and participation. Increasing understanding of brain functioning has opened new perspectives for more integrative interventions, boosting the intrinsic central nervous system neuroplastic capabilities in order to achieve efficient behavioral restitution. Neurorehabilitation must take into account the many aspects of the individual through a comprehensive analysis of actual and potential cognitive, behavioral, emotional and physical skills, while increasing awareness and understanding of the new self of the person being dealt with. The exclusive adoption by the rehabilitator of objective functional measures often overlooks the values and goals of the disabled person. Indeed, each individual has their own rhythm, unique life history and personality construct. In this challenging context, it is essential to deepen the assessment through subjective measures, which more adequately reflect the patient’s perspective in order to shape genuinely tailored instead of standardized neurorehabilitation approaches. In this overly complex panorama, where confounding and prognostic factors also strongly influence potential functional recovery, the healthcare community needs to rethink neurorehabilitation formats.
Personality Disorders and Development
Authors: Möhler Eva
Published: July 2022

Personality disorders constitute a major challenge for society, as well as psychiatry and psychotherapy [...]
Risk of Developing Non-Cancerous Central Nervous System Diseases Due to Ionizing Radiation Exposure during Adulthood: Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses
Authors: Lopes Julie , Leuraud Klervi , Klokov Dmitry , Durand Christelle , Bernier Marie-Odile , Baudin Clémence
Published: July 2022

Background: High-dose ionizing radiation (IR) (>0.5 Gy) is an established risk factor for cognitive impairments, but this cannot be concluded for low-to-moderate IR exposure (<0.5 Gy) in adulthood as study results are inconsistent. The objectives are to summarize relevant epidemiological studies of low-to-moderate IR exposure in adulthood and to assess the risk of non-cancerous CNS diseases. Methods: A systematic literature search of four electronic databases was performed to retrieve relevant epidemiological studies published from 2000 to 2022. Pooled standardized mortality ratios, relative risks, and excess relative risks (ERR) were estimated with a random effect model. Results: Forty-five publications were included in the systematic review, including thirty-three in the quantitative meta-analysis. The following sources of IR-exposure were considered: atomic bomb, occupational, environmental, and medical exposure. Increased dose-risk relationships were found for cerebrovascular diseases incidence and mortality (ERRpooled per 100 mGy = 0.04; 95% CI: 0.03–0.05; ERRpooled at 100 mGy = 0.01; 95% CI: −0.00–0.02, respectively) and for Parkinson’s disease (ERRpooled at 100 mGy = 0.11; 95% CI: 0.06–0.16); Conclusions: Our findings suggest that adult low-to-moderate IR exposure may have effects on non-cancerous CNS diseases. Further research addressing inherent variation issues is encouraged.
A Novel CaMKII Inhibitory Peptide Blocks Relapse to Morphine Seeking by Influencing Synaptic Plasticity in the Nucleus Accumbens Shell
Authors: Liu Zhuo , Zhang Jianjun , Miao Linqing , Kong Qingyao , Liu Xiaodong , Yu Longchuan
Published: July 2022

Drugs of abuse cause enduring functional disorders in the brain reward circuits, leading to cravings and compulsive behavior. Although people may rehabilitate by detoxification, there is a high risk of relapse. Therefore, it is crucial to illuminate the mechanisms of relapse and explore the therapeutic strategies for prevention. In this research, by using an animal model of morphine self-administration in rats and a whole-cell patch–clamp in brain slices, we found changes in synaptic plasticity in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell were involved in the relapse to morphine-seeking behavior. Compared to the controls, the amplitude of long-term depression (LTD) induced in the medium spiny neurons increased after morphine self-administration was established, recovered after the behavior was extinguished, and increased again during the relapse induced by morphine priming. Intravenous injection of MA, a new peptide obtained by modifying Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) inhibitor “myr-AIP”, decreased CaMKII activity in the NAc shell and blocked the reinstatement of morphine-seeking behavior without influence on the locomotor activity. Moreover, LTD was absent in the NAc shell of the MA-pretreated rats, whereas it was robust in the saline controls in which morphine-seeking behavior was reinstated. These results indicate that CaMKII regulates morphine-seeking behavior through its involvement in the change of synaptic plasticity in the NAc shell during the relapse, and MA may be of great value in the clinical treatment of relapse to opioid seeking.
CR-GCN: Channel-Relationships-Based Graph Convolutional Network for EEG Emotion Recognition
Authors: Jia Jingjing , Zhang Bofeng , Lv Hehe , Xu Zhikang , Hu Shengxiang , Li Haiyan
Published: July 2022

Electroencephalography (EEG) is recorded by electrodes from different areas of the brain and is commonly used to measure neuronal activity. EEG-based methods have been widely used for emotion recognition recently. However, most current methods for EEG-based emotion recognition do not fully exploit the relationship of EEG channels, which affects the precision of emotion recognition. To address the issue, in this paper, we propose a novel method for EEG-based emotion recognition called CR-GCN: Channel-Relationships-based Graph Convolutional Network. Specifically, topological structure of EEG channels is distance-based and tends to capture local relationships, and brain functional connectivity tends to capture global relationships among EEG channels. Therefore, in this paper, we construct EEG channel relationships using an adjacency matrix in graph convolutional network where the adjacency matrix captures both local and global relationships among different EEG channels. Extensive experiments demonstrate that CR-GCN method significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art methods. In subject-dependent experiments, the average classification accuracies of 94.69% and 93.95% are achieved for valence and arousal. In subject-independent experiments, the average classification accuracies of 94.78% and 93.46% are obtained for valence and arousal.
A Novel Necroptosis-Related Prognostic Signature of Glioblastoma Based on Transcriptomics Analysis and Single Cell Sequencing Analysis
Authors: Wu Yiwen , Huang Yi , Zhou Chenhui , Wang Haifeng , Wang Zhepei , Wu Jiawei , Nie Sheng , Deng Xinpeng , Sun Jie , Gao Xiang
Published: July 2022

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and deadly brain tumor. The clinical significance of necroptosis (NCPS) genes in GBM is unclear. The goal of this study is to reveal the potential prognostic NCPS genes associated with GBM, elucidate their functions, and establish an effective prognostic model for GBM patients. Methods: Firstly, the NCPS genes in GBM were identified by single-cell analysis of the GSE182109 dataset in the GEO database and weighted co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data. Three machine learning algorithms (Lasso, SVM-RFE, Boruta) combined with COX regression were used to build prognostic models. The subsequent analysis included survival, immune microenvironments, and mutations. Finally, the clinical significance of NCPS in GBM was explored by constructing nomograms. Results: We constructed a GBM prognostic model composed of NCPS-related genes, including CTSD, AP1S1, YWHAG, and IER3, which were validated to have good performance. According to the above prognostic model, GBM patients in the TCGA and CGGA groups could be divided into two groups according to NCPS, with significant differences in survival analysis between the two groups and a markedly worse prognostic status in the high NCPS group (p < 0.001). In addition, the high NCPS group had higher levels of immune checkpoint-related gene expression, suggesting that they may be more likely to benefit from immunotherapy. Conclusions: Four genes (CTSD, AP1S1, YWHAG, and IER3) were screened through three machine learning algorithms to construct a prognostic model for GBM. These key and novel diagnostic markers may become new targets for diagnosing and treating patients with GBM.
A Cross-Sectional Survey on the Clinical Management of Emergence Delirium in Adults: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice in Mainland China
Authors: Yuan Yi , Lei Bao , Li Zhengqian , Wang Xiaoxiao , Zhao Huiling , Gao Meng , Xue Yingying , Zhang Wenchao , Xiao Rui , Meng Xue , Zheng Hongcai , Zhang Jing , Wang Geng , Guo Xiangyang
Published: July 2022

Background: Emergence delirium (ED) occurs immediately after emergence from general anesthesia, which may have adverse consequences. This cross-sectional survey assessed Chinese physicians’ and nurses’ knowledge of, attitudes towards, and practice regarding ED in adults. Methods: Electronic questionnaires were sent to 93 major academic hospitals across mainland China and both attending anesthesiologists and anesthesia nurses were recommended to complete them. Results: A total of 243 anesthesiologists and 213 anesthesia nurses participated in the survey. Most of the participants considered it a very important issue; however, less than one-third of them routinely assessed ED. In terms of screening tools, anesthesiologists preferred the Confusion Assessment Method, while anesthesia nurses reported using multiple screening tools. Divergence also appeared with regard to the necessity of monitoring the depth of anesthesia. Anesthesiologists considered it only necessary in high-risk patients, while the nurses considered that it should be carried out routinely. No unified treatment strategy nor medication was reported for ED treatment during the recovery period. Conclusions: This study illustrated that there are high awareness levels among both Chinese anesthesiologists and anesthesia nurses regarding the importance of ED. However, a specific practice in terms of routine delirium assessment, anesthesia depth monitoring, and a standardized treatment algorithm needs to be implemented to improve ED management.
Comparative Evaluation of Different Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning Mechanisms in Condenser Water System Control
Authors: Qiu Shunian , Li Zhenhai , Li Zhengwei , Wu Qian
Published: July 2022

Model-free reinforcement learning (RL) techniques are currently drawing attention in the control of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems due to their minor pre-conditions and fast online optimization. The simultaneous optimal control of multiple HVAC appliances is a high-dimensional optimization problem, which single-agent RL schemes can barely handle. Hence, it is necessary to investigate how to address high-dimensional control problems with multiple agents. To realize this, different multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) mechanisms are available. This study intends to compare and evaluate three MARL mechanisms: Division, Multiplication, and Interaction. For comparison, quantitative simulations are conducted based on a virtual environment established using measured data of a real condenser water system. The system operation simulation results indicate that (1) Multiplication is not effective for high-dimensional RL-based control problems in HVAC systems due to its low learning speed and high training cost; (2) the performance of Division is close to that of the Interaction mechanism during the initial stage, while Division’s neglect of agent mutual inference limits its performance upper bound; (3) compared to the other two, Interaction is more suitable for multi-equipment HVAC control problems given its performance in both short-term (10% annual energy conservation compared to baseline) and long-term scenarios (over 11% energy conservation).
Shear Behavior of FRP Connectors in Precast Sandwich Insulation Wall Panels
Authors: Chen Dong , Li Kuaikuai , Yuan Zhiyang , Cheng Baoquan , Kang Xing
Published: July 2022

Glass fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite connectors used in precast sandwich insulation wall panels directly affect the safety of the wall. In practical applications, a precast concrete sandwich insulation wall panel is transported to the construction site for hoisting 3–5 days after steam curing, and its concrete strength typically reaches approximately 70% of the design strength (i.e., the concrete strength after natural curing for 14 days). This study investigated the natural curing of concrete for 14 days and analyzed the mechanical properties of FRP connectors with two different sections in terms of their failure mode, failure process, and load–displacement curves. Numerical analysis and finite element parametric analysis of the connectors were conducted based on experimental data. The average ultimate shear capacity of a single rectangular-section connector was 8.37 kN and that of the cross-section connector was 8.37 kN. The connectors exhibited a good shear resistance, and the rectangular-section connectors had better ductility than the cross-section connectors. The wall panel exhibited three types of failure modes: splicing failure of the fiber layer of the connector, fiber fracture in the anchorage of the connector, failure of the concrete of the anchorage, and mainly material damage of the connector itself. The error between the load simulation value and test value of a single connector was less than 10% of the numerical simulation error requirement, and the finite element simulation results were reliable. The results of the parametric simulation of the shear capacity showed that the distance between connectors, anchorage depth, and insulation layer thickness had a significant influence on the shear performance of concrete connectors.
A Scientometric Analysis and Visualization of Global LEED Research
Authors: Lei Mingzhu , Cui Tong
Published: July 2022

With the promotion of the concept of sustainable development and green buildings, green building rating systems are beginning to emerge and gradually attract more attention. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a widely used and influential rating system worldwide, and research on it has shown an increasing trend year by year. To establish a comprehensive understanding of the LEED research field, this article visualizes and analyzes the LEED research literature by CiteSpace to obtain journal, author, institution, and country collaboration networks, reference co-citations and clusters, keyword co-occurrence networks and citation bursts. The study found the relationships among journals, authors, institutions, countries, research frontiers, research hotspots, and research processes in the field of LEED research. A framework of the knowledge system of LEED research was constructed based on these findings to present the current status and future trends and provide a reference for future research.
A Discussion on the Conceptual Design of Multifunctional Exoskeletons for Sustainable Regeneration of Buildings in Urban Areas
Authors: De Vita Mariangela , Panunzi Stefano , Fabbrocino Giovanni , Mannella Antonio
Published: July 2022

The design and erection of new buildings and structures are today driven by strict requirements in terms of sustainability and circular economy, but they represent only a minor part of the built heritage. Hence, it is clear that the maintenance and upgrading of existing buildings play a key role in the achievement of the objectives identified in many developed countries, so that the regeneration of buildings represents the core of many real-world projects. Regenerating existing buildings requires the achievement of modern reuse requirements, the modulation of structural and energy performance, but primarily the fulfilment of many objectives associated with extrinsic (urban planning) and intrinsic (architectural, structural and technological) features. In the present paper, a discussion on the role and potentialities of exoskeletons is reported with the objective of supporting decision makers in resolving the issues associated with the need to improve the overall performance of existing buildings in urban areas. In particular, relevant aspects associated with the conceptual design of multifunctional exoskeletons are reviewed in order to chart a rational course to perform multiscale and interdisciplinary design methodologies.
Design of Innovative Parametric/Dynamic Façade Integrated in the Library Extension Building on UAEU Campus
Authors: Bande Lindita , Hamad Heba , Alqahtani Deema , Alnahdi Noof , Ghunaim Atina , Fikry Fayez , Alkhatib Omar
Published: July 2022

The building industry is in constant change and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a leader in innovative solutions for green buildings. The standards used in achieving sustainable buildings, such as LEED, Estidama, have contributed to building structures that reduce energy consumption. More than 40% of the total energy is consumed by residential and commercial buildings as electricity. The strategies applied in a building in order to have low energy consumption vary depending on the region and climate. In the UAE, a country with a hot arid climate, these strategies have relevant importance. The aim of this study is to design an innovative parametric/dynamic façade in a new building, to be built on the United Arab Emirates University Campus, AL Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE. The new structure is an additional library building (with additional functions to the current building). The design shall be based on the region’s architectural heritage. The modelling and simulation tools used are Rhino and plug-ins like Grasshopper. Furthermore, an optimization process of the parametric/dynamic façade is conducted. Based on the energy simulation results, the application of the innovative parametric/dynamic façade brings a reduction of 25% in the energy consumption of the building. In addition, the daylight improvement by the application of this façade is 44%. This research brings innovation in terms of the advanced tools used in calculating several parameters for the advanced façade and the process from concept to modeling and simulation. These findings are promising for regional industry due to the advanced tools and methods used. Moreover, it shall help the local authorities such as Abu Dhabi Municipality achieve the sustainability goals 2030.
Analysis of Seismic Isolation Performance of X-Shaped Rubber Bearings (XRBs)
Authors: Wu Di , Lin Jingtian , Xiong Yan
Published: July 2022

A detailed analysis of the seismic safety performance of building structures using X-shaped rubber bearings (XRBs) under seismic action at different seismic levels of intensity were carried out in this study. The horizontal mechanical properties of XRB were studied by analytical methods. To reveal the failure prevention and control capability of XRBs under strong ground motions, a detailed comparative analysis was conducted of the seismic performances of three-story buildings using XRBs, typical rubber bearings (TRBs), and TRBs with retaining wall protection (RWP). A nonlinear dynamic finite element method was used to analyze the displacement, velocity, and acceleration responses of the seismically isolated structures at different ground motion intensity levels. The results show that the failure of the seismic isolation layer occurs in the building using TRBs under seismic intensity with a 1‱ probability of exceedance (PE) in one year. When the RWP is set around the seismic isolation layer, the superstructure will collide with the wall, which leads to a dramatic increase in superstructure acceleration, while the overall seismic isolation performance of the structure is affected. Nevertheless, XRBs can effectively prevent deformation failure of the seismic isolation layer of a building, reduce the seismic response of a superstructure, and can improve the seismic safety level of a building.