bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FAKTOR-FAKTOR YANG MEMPENGARUHI PERUBAHAN INDEKS HARGA SAHAM DI JAKARTA ISLAMIC INDEX SELAMA TAHUN 2011
Authors: Fera Triani Lely
Published: June 2022

The composite stock price index is a reflection of capital market activities in general. composite stock price index movement which indicates increased capital market conditions are bullish, on the contrary if the decline shown in capital market conditions are bearish. These events are influenced by macroeconomic factors, such as volume of transactions, exchange rate, and Interest Rates Indonesia. The purpose of this research is to analyze: the influence of macroeconomic factors through volume of transactions, exchange rates, and interest rates of Indonesia of the composite stock price index in Jakarta Islamic Index. The research sample of this study are volume of transactions, exchange rate, interest rate and Composite Stock Price Index in Jakarta Islamic Index, with data pooling method (daily data of year 2011), so that the amount of observations (n) = 247. There is the influence of macroeconomic factors represented by the volume of transactoins, and interest rates against composite stock price index. Variable rate did not significantly affect the composite stock price index. The calculation result obtained value F = 27.416; become evident that changes in volume of transactions, exchange rate, and the value of the interest rates jointly significant effect Composite Stock Price Index.

Indeks harga saham gabungan merupakan cerminan dari kegiatan pasar modal secara umum. Pergerakan indeks harga saham gabungan yang meningkat menunjukkan kondisi pasar modal sedang bullish, sebaliknya jika menurun menunjukkan kondisi pasar modal sedang bearish. Kejadian tersebut dipengaruhi oleh beberapa faktor makroekonomi, seperti: volume perdagangan saham, nilai tukar, dan Suku Bunga Indonesia. Tujuan dalam penelitian ini adalah untuk menganalisis: pengaruh faktor makro ekonomi melalui volume perdagngan saham, nilai tukar, dan suku bunga Indonesia terhadap Indeks harga saham gabungan di Jakarta Islamic Index. Sampel dari penelitian ini adalah: volume perdagangan saham, nilai tukar, suku bunga Indonesia, dan Indeks harga saham gabungan di Jakarta Islamic Index dengan menggunakan data harian selama tahun 2011, sehingga data pada observasi (n) = 247. Ada pengaruh faktor ekonomi makro yang diwakili oleh volume transaksi, dan tingkat suku bunga terhadap indeks harga saham gabungan. Variabelnilai tukar tidak berpengaruh secara signifikan terhadap indeks harga saham gabungan. Hasil perhitungan yang diperoleh nilai F = 27,416; menjadi jelas bahwa perubahan dalam volume transaksi, nilai tukar, dan nilai suku bunga berpengaruh signifikan secara bersama-sama Indeks Harga Saham Gabungan.
IMPLEMENTASI SISTEM REGISTRASI MAHASISWA DENGAN BILLING SYSTEM
Authors: Sudirah Sudirah
Published: June 2022

The objectives of the study were to examine the implementation of registration with the billing system, and to analyze the factors that affect the registration with the new system.

 

The study was conducted in three regional centers: Jakarta, Bogor and Serang. The research method is correlational descriptive and it includes different means of data collection, such as questionnaire, observation, and in-depth interview. Total of 206 sample students were selected through purposive sampling from the three locations. The data gathered was analyzed indescriptive statistics and inferential statistics, specifically regression test. The results of the study show that the implementation of billing system registration can minimize cases and problems of registration; and the information about registration together with the role of the study group board (pokjar board), service UPBJJ-UT, UT service center, bank services, and registration monitoring significant affected on the student registration process through the billing system.

 

Penulisan artikel ini menyajikan hasil studi tentang implementasi registrasi dengan billing system serta faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhinya. Studi dilakukan di tiga Unit Program Belajar Jarak Jauh (UPBJJ-UT), yaitu UPBJJ-UT Jakarta, Bogor, dan Serang. Studi deskriptif korelasional ini mendeskripsikan data berdasarkan perbedaan rata-rata yang diperoleh melalui kuesioner, observasi dan wawancara mendalam. Responden mahasiswa dipilih melalui purposive sampling berjumlah 206 orang. Data yang diperoleh dianalisis dengan menggunakan statistik deskriptif dan inferensial (uji regresi). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa billing system dapat meminimalkan masalah-masalah registrasi yang terjadi. Informasi tentang registrasi peran pengurus pokjar, layanan UPBJJ-UT, layanan UT Pusat, layanan bank, dan monitoring registrasi secara bersama-sama berpengaruh secara signifikan terhadap proses registrasi mahasiswa melalui billing system.
A representação da “Mulher Pacote Completo”: os discursos sobre a “mãe solteira”
Authors: Agendes Daniela Silva
Published: June 2022

O objetivo deste artigo é analisar como são construídos e (re)produzidos, no discurso jornalístico, sentidos sobre as mulheres, especificamente as mulheres solteiras com filhos, ou “mães solteiras”, com atenção para questões ideológicas e de gênero. Tomamos como base os pressupostos teóricos da Análise de Discurso francesa, segundo Michel Pêcheux, em uma concepção do texto em sua discursividade. Analisamos a reportagem “Pacote completo” (revista Gloss, Editora Abril), que trata das dificuldades que mães solteiras enfrentam, por sua condição de mães, na busca por um companheiro para um relacionamento amoroso. Os discursos reproduzem uma posição dual na representação das mulheres: sentidos inovadores, que remetem a valores condizentes com as conquistas das mulheres, convivem com outros que se referem a valores conservadores.
Influence of Broadcast Nozzle Design and Weed Density on Dicamba Plus Glyphosate Deposition, Coverage, and Efficacy in Dicamba-Resistant Soybean
Authors: Kramer Madison D. , Legleiter Travis R.
Published: June 2022

Dicamba injury to sensitive soybean and other broadleaf crops due to drift is a major issue. Dicamba label restrictions have been created to mitigate the off-target movement of dicamba. One restriction is the mandated use of low-drift nozzles to spray dicamba; these nozzles produce large droplet spectrums and minimize the production of driftable fines. Experiments were conducted to evaluate herbicide coverage, deposition, and efficacy as influenced by spray nozzle design and density of waterhemp, goosegrass, and large crabgrass in dicamba-resistant soybean. Dicamba plus glyphosate was applied to 5- to 10-cm-tall weeds with a Turbo TeeJet (TT11005) nozzle and two drift reduction nozzles approved for dicamba applications: Turbo TeeJet Induction (TTI11005) and Pentair Ultra Lo-Drift (ULD12005). Weed densities were categorized into different levels and established in a 0.25-m2 quadrat prior to postemergence application. Deposition of herbicide spray solution onto targeted weeds was not different despite coverage differences observed on Kromekote spray cards. Coverage of herbicide solution was consistently lower with the low-drift TTI11005 nozzle as compared to the TT11005 nozzle. Herbicide efficacy on waterhemp plants was the lowest at the highest waterhemp densities of 54 plants per m2 with the drift-reducing TTI11005 nozzle, although weed control was not lowered at any density when applications were made with the ULD nozzle as compared to the TT11005 nozzle. Additionally, herbicide efficacy was reduced as large crabgrass density increased. Overall, the use of a drift-reducing nozzle can be successful for waterhemp control and Poaceae control postemergence in soybean when weed densities are suppressed or reduced through methods such as the use of a residual preemergence herbicide or cereal rye cover crop.
Copper-Lithium-Doped Nanohydroxyapatite Modulates Mesenchymal Stem Cells Homing to Treat Glucocorticoids-Related Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head
Authors: Li Qianhao , Yang Zhouyuan , Wei Zhun , Li Donghai , Luo Yue , Kang Pengde
Published: June 2022

In situ tissue regeneration has been demonstrated to promote bone repair. To identify a better approach for treating osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH), we prepared scaffolds using copper-lithium-doped nanohydroxyapatite (Cu-Li-nHA), which has the potential to modulate mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) homing. The scaffold was fabricated using the gas foaming method and the migration, angiogenesis, and osteogenesis activities of MSCs were detected using Transwell assays, tube formation assays, alkaline phosphatase and alizarin red S staining, respectively. We then implanted the Cu-Li-nHA scaffold into the femoral heads of ONFH rabbits, and CFSE labeled exogenous MSCs were injected intravenously to verify cell homing. The repair effect was subsequently examined using micro-CT and histological analysis in vivo. The results showed that Cu-Li-nHA significantly promoted MSCs migration and homing by upregulating the HIF-1α/SDF-1 pathway. The Cu-Li-nHA group showed optimal osteogenesis and angiogenesis and greater improvements in new bone formation in ONFH rabbits. To summarize, Cu-Li-nHA promoted homing and induced the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs, thereby enhancing bone regeneration during ONFH repair. Thus, Cu-Li-nHA implantation may serve as a potential therapeutic strategy for ONFH in the future.
Imaging the Response to DNA Damage in Heterochromatin Domains
Authors: Chansard Audrey , Pobega Enrico , Caron Pierre , Polo Sophie E.
Published: June 2022

The eukaryotic genome is assembled in a nucleoprotein complex called chromatin, whose organization markedly influences the repair of DNA lesions. For instance, compact chromatin states, broadly categorized as heterochromatin, present a challenging environment for DNA damage repair. Through transcriptional silencing, heterochromatin also plays a vital role in the maintenance of genomic integrity and cellular homeostasis. It is thus of critical importance to decipher whether and how heterochromatin affects the DNA damage response (DDR) to understand how this chromatin state is preserved after DNA damage. Here, we present two laser micro-irradiation-based methods for imaging the DDR in heterochromatin domains in mammalian cells. These methods allow DNA damage targeting to specific subnuclear compartments, direct visualization of the DDR and image-based quantification of the repair response. We apply them to study DNA double-strand break repair pathways in facultative heterochromatin and the repair of UV photoproducts in constitutive heterochromatin. We discuss the advantages and limitations of these methods compared to other targeted approaches for DNA damage induction.
Preparation of NIR-Responsive Gold Nanocages as Efficient Carrier for Controlling Release of EGCG in Anticancer Application
Authors: Gao Weiran , Fan Xiangyi , Bi Yunlong , Zhou Zipeng , Yuan Yajiang
Published: June 2022

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a type of cancer that has a restricted therapy option. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is one of the main biologically active ingredients in tea. A large number of studies have shown that EGCG has preventive and therapeutic effects on various tumors. In addition, the development of near-infrared (NIR)-responsive nano-platforms has been attracting cancer treatment. In this work, we designed and synthesized a strategy of gold nanocages (AuNCs) as an efficient carrier for controlling release of EGCG for anti-tumor to achieve the synergistic functions of NIR-response and inhibited tumor cell proliferation. The diameter of AuNCs is about 50 nm and has a hollow porous (8 nm) structure. Thermal imaging-graphic studies proved that the AuNCs-EGCG obtained have photothermal response to laser irradiation under near-infrared light and still maintain light stability after multiple cycles of laser irradiation. The resulted AuNCs-EGCG reduced the proliferation rate of HepG2 cells to 50% at 48 h. Western blot analysis showed that NIR-responsive AuNCs-EGCG can promote the expression of HepG2 cell apoptosis-related proteins HSP70, Cytochrome C, Caspase-9, Caspase-3, and Bax, while the expression of Bcl-2 is inhibited. Cell confocal microscopy analysis proved that AuNCs-EGCG irradiated by NIR significantly upregulates Caspase-3 by nearly 2-fold and downregulates Bcl-2 by nearly 0.33-fold, which is beneficial to promote HepG2 cell apoptosis. This study provides useful information for the NIR-responsive AuNCs-EGCG as a new type of nanomedicine for HCC.
Rapid, Simple, and Highly Specific Detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae With Visualized Recombinase Polymerase Amplification
Authors: Wang Fang , Wang Yan , Liu Xia , Wang Lei , Wang Kun , Xu Chenglai , Huang Guanhong , Gao Xuzhu
Published: June 2022

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major pathogen that causes microbiological illness in humans. The introduction of polyvalent vaccines has resulted in a significant decrease in pneumococcal-related mortality. However, pneumococcal infections continue to be a leading cause of death in children under the age of 5 and adults over the age of 65 worldwide. A speedy and highly sensitive diagnostic tool is necessary for routine adoption to adequately manage patients and control the spread of infection. In this study, we investigated a new nucleic acid amplification technique, isothermal recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), which amplifies DNA at 37°C under isothermal conditions with high specificity, efficiency, and rapidity. Using the autolysin gene lytA as the molecular diagnostic target, an RPA primer-probe combination was designed and optimized for the detection of S. pneumoniae. This RPA reaction produced amplification products labeled with specific chemical markers, to be detected with gold-nanoparticle-based lateral flow strips (LFS), reducing the reliance on equipment and trained personnel. The high specificity of the RPA-LFS technique was demonstrated with the specific detection of 22 strains of S. pneumoniae but not 25 closely related pathogenic bacteria. The assay showed good sensitivity, and detected S. pneumoniae down to 3.32 colony-forming units/μL. When used on clinical samples, the assay provided accurate and consistent results compared with PCR. The compliance with the culture-biochemistry method was 98.18% and the kappa index was 0.977. These results reveal that the RPA–LFS test significantly improved S. pneumoniae identification, particularly in resource-limited areas.
Functional Richness and Resilience in Coral Reef Communities
Authors: Carturan Bruno S. , Parrott Lael , Pither Jason
Published: June 2022

Within the Anthropocene the functional diversity of coral communities is changing rapidly, putting the resilience of many coral reef ecosystems in jeopardy. A better understanding of the relationship between coral functional diversity and reef resilience could reveal practical ways to achieve increased resilience. However, manipulating coral diversity experimentally is challenging, and consequently the links between coral functional diversity, resilience, and ecosystem functioning remain obscure. We used an ecologically detailed agent-based model to conduct a virtual experiment in which functional diversity was manipulated over the entire trait space of scleractinian corals. Using an imputed trait dataset of 798 coral species and eight key functional traits, we assembled 245 functionally distinct coral communities, which we subjected to a cyclone and bleaching event. We then measured four different aspects of their resilience and quantified for each measure the respective effect of (i) the functional richness (FRic), and (ii) community-weighted means (CWM) of four types of trait: effect, resistance, recovery, and competitive. FRic represents the volume occupied by a community in the functional space, while CWM indicates the location of the communities’ centroid in the functional space. We found a significant and positive effect of FRic on three measures of resilience: communities with higher FRic recovered surface cover faster and had more rugosity and cover 10 years after the disturbances. In contrast, the resistance of the coral community—i.e., the capacity to maintain surface cover when subjected to the disturbances—was independent of FRic and was determined primarily by the CWM of resistance traits. By analyzing community dynamics and functional trade-offs, we show that FRic increases resilience via the selection and the insurance effects due to the presence of competitive species in the functional space, i.e., those highly dominant species that contribute the most to the complexity of the habitat and recover quickly from disturbances. Building from the results of our experiment and the trait correlation analysis, we discuss the potential for FRic to serve as a proxy measure of resilience and we present a strategy that can provide direction to on-going reef restoration efforts, and pave the way for sustaining coral communities in a context of rapid global change.
OX40 Expression in Eosinophils Aggravates OVA-Induced Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis
Authors: Xu Longwei , Tian Dan , Zhou Minsi , Ma Jiuyue , Sun Guangyong , Jin Hua , Li Mingyang , Zhang Dong , Wu Jing
Published: June 2022

Background & Aims

Eosinophils are the main inflammatory effector cells that damage gastrointestinal tissue in eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGIDs). Activation of the OX40 pathway aggravates allergic diseases, such as asthma, but it is not clear whether OX40 is expressed in eosinophils to regulate inflammation in EGIDs. In this study, we assessed the expression and effect of OX40 on eosinophils in WT and Ox40-/- eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) mice.

Methods

Eosinophil infiltration, ovalbumin (OVA)-specific Ig production, OX40 expression and inflammatory factor levels in the intestine and bone marrow (BM) were investigated to evaluate inflammation.

Results

We confirmed that OVA-challenged mice produced high levels of Ox40, Mbp, Ccl11, Il5, Il4, Il13, and Il6 mRNA and a low level of Ifng mRNA in the intestine. Increased eosinophils were observed in intestinal and lymph tissues, accompanied by significantly upregulated OX40 and Type 2 cytokine production in eosinophils of EGE mice. Ox40 deficiency ameliorated OVA-induced inflammation, eosinophil infiltration, and cytokine production in the intestine. Consistently, Ox40-/- eosinophils exhibited decreased proliferation and proinflammatory function. The stimulation of the agonistic anti-OX40 antibody, OX86, promoted the effect of OX40 on eosinophils. The present study also showed that Ox40 deficiency dampened the Traf2/6-related NF-κB signaling pathway in eosinophils.

Conclusions

OX40 may play a critical role in the progress of OVA-induced EGE by promoting the maturation and function of eosinophils via the Traf2/6-related NF-κB signaling pathway.
HAPLN1 Affects Cell Viability and Promotes the Pro-Inflammatory Phenotype of Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes
Authors: Chen Yong , Wang Baojiang , Chen Yanjuan , Wu Qunyan , Lai Wing-Fu , Wei Laiyou , Nandakumar Kutty Selva , Liu Dongzhou
Published: June 2022

HAPLN1 maintains aggregation and the binding activity of extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules (such as hyaluronic acid and proteoglycan) to stabilize the macromolecular structure of the ECM. An increase in HAPLN1 expression is observed in a few types of musculoskeletal diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA); however, its functions are obscure. This study examined the role of HAPLN1 in determining the viability, proliferation, mobility, and pro-inflammatory phenotype of RA- fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA-FLSs) by using small interfering RNA (siHAPLN1), over-expression vector (HAPLN1OE), and a recombinant HAPLN1 (rHAPLN1) protein. HAPLN1 was found to promote proliferation but inhibit RA-FLS migration. Metformin, an AMPK activator, was previously found by us to be able to inhibit FLS activation but promote HAPLN1 secretion. In this study, we confirmed the up-regulation of HAPLN1 in RA patients, and found the positive relationship between HAPLN1 expression and the AMPK level. Treatment with either si-HAPLN1 or HAPLN1OE down-regulated the expression of AMPK-ɑ gene, although up-regulation of the level of p-AMPK-ɑ was observed in RA-FLSs. si-HAPLN1 down-regulated the expression of proinflammatory factors like TNF-ɑ, MMPs, and IL-6, while HAPLN1OE up-regulated their levels. qPCR assay indicated that the levels of TGF-β, ACAN, fibronectin, collagen II, and Ki-67 were down-regulated upon si-HAPLN1 treatment, while HAPLN1OE treatment led to up-regulation of ACAN and Ki-67 and down-regulation of cyclin-D1. Proteomics of si-HAPLN1, rHAPLN1, and mRNA-Seq analysis of rHAPLN1 confirmed the functions of HAPLN1 in the activation of inflammation, proliferation, cell adhesion, and strengthening of ECM functions. Our results for the first time demonstrate the function of HAPLN1 in promoting the proliferation and pro-inflammatory phenotype of RA-FLSs, thereby contributing to RA pathogenesis. Future in-depth studies are required for better understanding the role of HAPLN1 in RA.
Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Adaptation Mechanism to High Salinity in Litopenaeus vannamei
Authors: Luo Zheng , Yu Yang , Zhang Qian , Bao Zhenning , Xiang Jianhai , Li Fuhua
Published: June 2022

As an euryhaline commercial species, the Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei can be cultured under a wide range of salinities. However, different families showed various tolerance to high salinity. In order to elucidate the underlying mechanisms, a comparative transcriptome approach was used to find the differences between tolerant families and susceptible families at the transcriptional level. There were 98 and 58 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between tolerant and susceptible families under normal and high-salinity conditions, respectively. The DEGs upregulated in tolerant families were mostly enriched in the biological process of response to a stimulus. Nine crustacyanin (CRCN)-encoding genes in this Gene Ontology (GO) term showed significantly higher expression levels in the tolerant families than those in susceptible families, suggesting that crustacyanins might play important roles in shrimp tolerance to high salinity. After high-salinity treatment, a total of 233 and 109 DEGs were identified from tolerant and susceptible families, respectively. Serine-type endopeptidase activity, serine-type peptidase activity, and serine hydrolase activity were the top three GO terms in the tolerant families after high-salinity treatment. Further analysis illustrated that these three GO terms were also the top three enriched GO terms for the DEGs specifically upregulated in the tolerant families after high-salinity stress. Meanwhile, four genes annotated in serine proteases families in these three GO terms were upregulated in the tolerant families but not changed in the susceptible families after high-salinity stress. These results indicated that serine proteases should play key roles in shrimp tolerance to high salinity. This study provides important information for understanding the mechanism of shrimp tolerance to high-salinity stress and would be useful for further molecular breeding of shrimp varieties with high-salinity tolerance.
Potential Phosphorus Uptake Mechanisms in the Deep Sedimentary Biosphere
Authors: Defforey Delphine , Tully Benjamin J. , Sylvan Jason B. , Cade-Menun Barbara J. , Kiel Reese Brandi , Zinke Laura , Paytan Adina
Published: June 2022

Our understanding of phosphorus (P) dynamics in the deep subseafloor environment remains limited. Here we investigate potential microbial P uptake mechanisms in oligotrophic marine sediments beneath the North Atlantic Gyre and their effects on the relative distribution of organic P compounds as a function of burial depth and changing redox conditions. We use metagenomic analyses to determine the presence of microbial functional genes pertaining to P uptake and metabolism, and solution 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P NMR) to characterize and quantify P substrates. Phosphorus compounds or compound classes identified with 31P NMR include inorganic P compounds (orthophosphate, pyrophosphate, polyphosphate), phosphonates, orthophosphate monoesters (including inositol hexakisphosphate stereoisomers) and orthophosphate diesters (including DNA and phospholipid degradation products). Some of the genes identified include genes related to phosphate transport, phosphonate and polyphosphate metabolism, as well as phosphite uptake. Our findings suggest that the deep sedimentary biosphere may have adapted to take advantage of a wide array of P substrates and could play a role in the gradual breakdown of inositol and sugar phosphates, as well as reduced P compounds and polyphosphates.
Dynamics of Carbon Storage in Saltmarshes Across China’s Eastern Coastal Wetlands From 1987 to 2020
Authors: Li Jingtai , Yan Dandan , Yao Xiuying , Liu Yao , Xie Siying , Sheng Yufeng , Luan Zhaoqing
Published: June 2022

Saltmarsh carbon storage contributes significantly to combating global climate change and achieving regional carbon neutrality. Yet saltmarsh carbon stocks have shown a trend of decline in recent years. Therefore, long-term monitoring and analyzing of saltmarshes for their carbon storage is imperative to better protect and manage this pool of carbon. This study investigated the spatiotemporal dynamics in saltmarsh carbon storage during 1987–2020, by using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform and applying the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model, and analyzed the driving factors of carbon storage in saltmarshes. The key results are as follows. Firstly, carbon density values in saltmarshes ranged more than 14-fold, from 7.24 to 104.99 Mg·hm-2, and the total carbon storage showed a decreasing trend. Secondly, reduced carbon storage was concentrated in inshore saltmarshes adjacent to reclamation sites, especially in Shandong, whereas augmented carbon storage characterized the offshore saltmarshes dominated by Spartina alterniflora, especially in Shanghai and Jiangsu. Overall, the carbon stocks of saltmarshes have fallen by 10.44 Tg; the decrease in carbon storage caused by Suaeda salsa, Phragmites australis, and mudflats exceeded the increase in carbon storage caused by Spartina alterniflora and Scirpus mariqueter. Further, we found that reclamation was the most dominant driver of carbon storage reductions, except for sea level rise and hurricane disturbances that can also negatively impact carbon storage, while greater carbon storage was closely related to the invasion of Spartina alterniflora. This study’s findings facilitate the development of a carbon storage management strategy for saltmarsh ecosystems to address global climate change and contribute to attaining carbon neutrality.
In-Plane Shear Characterization of Unidirectional Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic Tape Using the Bias Extension Method
Authors: Brands D. , Wijskamp S. , Grouve W. J. B. , Akkerman R.
Published: June 2022

Through an improved characterization methodology, this work contributes to better prediction quality in composite forming simulations for unidirectional thermoplastic composites. A better understanding of the forming behavior will aid in the adoption of these lightweight materials in aerospace applications. The bias extension method was implemented and applied to cross-ply laminates from unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic materials to characterize the in-plane shear deformation resistance of the molten material. Two commercially available materials were characterized at three rates and three temperatures. The shear deformation was measured directly on the specimen throughout the test using a video extensometer, avoiding the use of the pin-jointed net assumption to relate deformation to the clamp displacement. In addition, the distribution of shear deformation over the specimen surface was characterized after the test using image analysis. The observed deformation was similar to the typical deformation for woven materials, with some agreement to the pin-jointed net assumptions but also some identified deviations. Localization of shear deformation along the fiber direction of the outer ply was observed to occur at approximately 15° shear angle. The proposed bias extension method directly relates the measured force to the deformation on the specimen, ensuring the characterization of the correct deformation mechanism. This key benefit of the bias extension method solves a common issue found in other characterization methods for in-plane shear on the molten material.
Outcome Analysis of Transition From Peritoneal Dialysis to Hemodialysis: A Population-Based Study
Authors: Tsai Ming-Hsien , Chen Yun-Yi , Jang Tsrang-Neng , Wang Jing-Tong , Fang Yu-Wei
Published: June 2022

If a technical failure occurs during peritoneal dialysis (PD), the patients undergoing PD may be transitioned to hemodialysis (HD). However, the clinical outcomes of patients who have undergone such a transition are under studied. This study assessed whether patients undergoing HD who have transitioned from PD have the same clinical outcomes as HD-only patients. This research was a retrospective cohort study by searching a National Health Insurance research database for data on patients in Taiwan who had undergone HD between January 2006 and December 2013. The patients were divided into two groups, namely a case group in which the patients were transitioned from PD to HD and a HD-only control group, through propensity score matching at a ratio of 1:4 (n = 1,100 vs. 4,400, respectively). We used the Cox regression model to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause death, all-cause hospitalization, infection-related admission, and major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Those selected patients will be followed until death or the end of the study period (December, 2017), whichever occurs first. Over a mean follow-up of 3.2 years, 1,695 patients (30.8%) died, 3,825 (69.5%) required hospitalization, and 1,142 (20.8%) experienced MACE. Patients transitioning from PD had a higher risk of all-cause death (HR: 1.36; 95% CI: 1.21–1.53) than HD-only patients. However, no significant difference was noted in terms of MACE (HR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.73–1.12), all-cause hospitalization (HR: 1.07; 95% CI: 0.96–1.18), or infection-related admission (HR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.80–1.18) between groups. Because of the violation of the proportional hazard assumption, the piecewise-HRs showed that the risk of mortality in the case group was significant within 5 months of the transition (HR: 2.61; 95% CI: 2.04–3.35) not in other partitions of the time axis. In conclusion, patients undergoing HD who transitioned from PD had a higher risk of death than the HD-only patients, especially in the first 5 months after transition (a 161% higher risk). Therefore, more caution and monitoring may be required for patients undergoing HD who transitioned from PD.
Trends in Uveal Melanoma Presentation and Survival During Five Decades: A Nationwide Survey of 3898 Swedish Patients
Authors: Gill Viktor , Herrspiegel Christina , Sabazade Shiva , Fili Maria , Bergman Louise , Damato Bertil , Seregard Stefan , Stålhammar Gustav
Published: June 2022

Background

In contrast to most other cancers, uveal melanoma (UM) is characterized by an absence of major improvements in patient survival during the last several decades. In this study, we examine changes in incidence rates, patient age and tumor size at diagnosis, treatment practices and survival for patients diagnosed in Sweden during the period 1960–2010.

Methods

All patients diagnosed with posterior UM between January 1st, 1960, and December 31st, 2009, in Sweden, were included (n = 3898). Trends in incidence, primary treatment modality, patient age and tumor size were analyzed. Disease-specific survival was plotted in Kaplan–Meier curves and the cumulative incidence of UM-related mortality was evaluated in competing risk analysis.

Results

Crude (6.5–11.6 cases/million/year) and age-standardized incidence rates (5.6–9.6 cases/million/year) varied between individual years during the study period, but both had a stable linear trend overall (p ≥ 0.12). Gradually, plaque brachytherapy with ruthenium-106 replaced enucleation as the most common primary treatment. The mean patient age at diagnosis increased from 59.8 years in 1960 to 66.0 in 2009. Conversely, the mean tumor size became gradually smaller during the period. In linear regression, the basal diameter and tumor apical thickness decreased with a slope coefficient of −0.03 mm (p = 0.012) and −0.05 mm (p = 1.2 × 10–5) per year after 1960, respectively. Patients diagnosed after 1990 had significantly better disease-specific survival than patients diagnosed before 1990 (p = 2.0 × 10–17). Similarly, the cumulative incidence of UM-related mortality was highest for patients diagnosed 1960–1969 and 1970–1979, with slightly lower incidences for patients diagnosed 1980–1989 and even lower for those diagnosed after 1990 (p = 7.1 × 10–13). The incidence of mortality from other causes than UM did not differ between periods (p = 0.16).

Conclusion

In the period from 1960–2010, crude and age-standardized incidence rates of UM have remained stable in Sweden. Several other aspects have changed: Plaque brachytherapy with ruthenium-106 has replaced enucleation as the most common primary treatment modality; patients have become older and their tumors smaller at the time of diagnosis; and their survival has improved. This might indicate a beneficial survival effect of earlier diagnosis and treatment, but the potential influence from lead-time bias should be taken into consideration.
2′-Fucosyllactose Increases the Abundance of Blautia in the Presence of Extracellular Fucosidase-Possessing Bacteria
Authors: Horigome Ayako , Hashikura Nanami , Yoshida Keisuke , Xiao Jin-zhong , Odamaki Toshitaka
Published: June 2022

Blautia is a genus of anaerobic bacteria that is widely distributed in the mammalian gut. Recently, an increasing body of research has demonstrated a link between this genus and human health, suggesting applications as a novel probiotic strain. Moreover, we have previously shown that 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL), a major component of human milk oligosaccharides, increases the relative abundance of Blautia sp., particularly Blautia wexlerae, in the cultured fecal microbiota of healthy adults using a pH-controlled single-batch fermenter. However, the effects of 2′-FL on Blautia proliferation vary among individuals. In this study, we assessed the impact of the intrinsic gut microbiota on the prebiotic effects of 2′-FL. Metagenomic analysis of feces collected from all donors showed that the homolog of the intracellular GH95 α-l-fucosidase gene was considerably enriched in two non-responders (individuals who showed no increase in Blautia proliferation), whereas the homologous genes encoding extracellular α-l-fucosidase were more abundant in responders, suggesting that lactose and fucose released into the environment could be substrates mediating the growth of Blautia. In vitro assays confirmed the ability of B. wexlerae to utilize the two carbohydrates but not 2′-FL. We also observed that B. wexlerae utilized fucose released from 2′-FL by Bifidobacterium bifidum, which possessed extracellular GH95 α-l-fucosidase, in co-cultures of these two organisms. Finally, increasing the proportion of extracellular GH95 by the addition of a B. bifidum strain led to Blautia proliferation by 2′-FL in fecal cultures of the two non-responders. These findings provided valuable perspectives on individualized nutritional approaches to properly control the gut microbiota. Future clinical trials are needed to obtain further insights into the characteristics of responders vs. non-responders.
A Study of English Learning Vocabulary Detection Based on Image Semantic Segmentation Fusion Network
Authors: Pan Leying
Published: June 2022

College students learn words always under both teachers' and school administrators' control. Based on multi-modal discourse analysis theory, the analysis of English words under the synergy of different modalities, students improve the motivation and effectiveness of word learning, but there are still some problems, such as the lack of visual modal memory of pictures, incomplete word meanings, little interaction between users, and lack of resource expansion function. To this end, this paper proposes a stepped image semantic segmentation network structure based on multi-scale feature fusion and boundary optimization. The network aims at improving the accuracy of the network model, optimizing the spatial pooling pyramid module in Deeplab V3+ network, using a new activation function Funnel ReLU (FReLU) for vision tasks to replace the original non-linear activation function to obtain accuracy compensation, improving the overall image segmentation accuracy through accurate prediction of the boundaries of each class, reducing the intra-class error in the prediction results. The accuracy compensation is obtained by replacing the original linear activation function with FReLU. Experimental results on the Englishhnd dataset demonstrate that the improved network can achieve 96.35% accuracy for English characters with the same network parameters, training data and test data.
Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Hippocampal Atrophy, Not Cortical Thinning, Occurs in Amyloid-Negative, p-Tau-Positive, Older Adults With Non-Amyloid Pathology and Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Rane Levendovszky Swati
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a degenerative disease characterized by pathological accumulation of amyloid and phosphorylated tau. Typically, the early stage of AD, also called mild cognitive impairment (MCI), shows amyloid pathology. A small but significant number of individuals with MCI do not exhibit amyloid pathology but have elevated phosphorylated tau levels (A-T+ MCI). We used CSF amyloid and phosphorylated tau to identify the individuals with A+T+ and A-T+ MCI as well as cognitively normal (A-T-) controls. To increase the sample size, we leveraged the Global Alzheimer's Association Interactive Network and identified 137 MCI+ and 61 A-T+ MCI participants. We compared baseline and longitudinal, hippocampal, and cortical atrophy between groups.

Methods

We applied ComBat harmonization to minimize site-related variability and used FreeSurfer for all measurements.

Results

Harmonization reduced unwanted variability in cortical thickness by 3.4% and in hippocampal volume measurement by 10.3%. Cross-sectionally, widespread cortical thinning with age was seen in the A+T+ and A-T+ MCI groups (p < 0.0005). A decrease in the hippocampal volume with age was faster in both groups (p < 0.05) than in the controls. Longitudinally also, hippocampal atrophy rates were significant (p < 0.05) when compared with the controls. No longitudinal cortical thinning was observed in A-T+ MCI group.

Discussion

A-T+ MCI participants showed similar baseline cortical thickness patterns with aging and longitudinal hippocampal atrophy rates as participants with A+T+ MCI, but did not show longitudinal cortical atrophy signature.
Dynamic Interrogation of Stochastic Transcriptome Trajectories Using Disease Associated Genes Reveals Distinct Origins of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders
Authors: Bermperidis Theodoros , Schafer Simon , Gage Fred H. , Sejnowski Terrence , Torres Elizabeth B.
Published: June 2022

The advent of open access to genomic data offers new opportunities to revisit old clinical debates while approaching them from a different angle. We examine anew the question of whether psychiatric and neurological disorders are different from each other by assessing the pool of genes associated with disorders that are understood as psychiatric or as neurological. We do so in the context of transcriptome data tracked as human embryonic stem cells differentiate and become neurons. Building upon probabilistic layers of increasing complexity, we describe the dynamics and stochastic trajectories of the full transcriptome and the embedded genes associated with psychiatric and/or neurological disorders. From marginal distributions of a gene’s expression across hundreds of cells, to joint interactions taken globally to determine degree of pairwise dependency, to networks derived from probabilistic graphs along maximal spanning trees, we have discovered two fundamentally different classes of genes underlying these disorders and differentiating them. One class of genes boasts higher variability in expression and lower dependencies (High Expression Variability-HEV genes); the other has lower variability and higher dependencies (Low Expression Variability-LEV genes). They give rise to different network architectures and different transitional states. HEV genes have large hubs and a fragile topology, whereas LEV genes show more distributed code during the maturation toward neuronal state. LEV genes boost differentiation between psychiatric and neurological disorders also at the level of tissue across the brain, spinal cord, and glands. These genes, with their low variability and asynchronous ON/OFF states that have been treated as gross data and excluded from traditional analyses, are helping us settle this old argument at more than one level of inquiry.
Medical Image Registration Algorithm Based on Bounded Generalized Gaussian Mixture Model
Authors: Wang Jingkun , Xiang Kun , Chen Kuo , Liu Rui , Ni Ruifeng , Zhu Hao , Xiong Yan
Published: June 2022

In this paper, a method for medical image registration based on the bounded generalized Gaussian mixture model is proposed. The bounded generalized Gaussian mixture model is used to approach the joint intensity of source medical images. The mixture model is formulated based on a maximum likelihood framework, and is solved by an expectation-maximization algorithm. The registration performance of the proposed approach on different medical images is verified through extensive computer simulations. Empirical findings confirm that the proposed approach is significantly better than other conventional ones.
Bio-Electrical Impedance Analysis: A Valid Assessment Tool for Diagnosis of Low Appendicular Lean Mass in Older Adults?
Authors: van den Helder Jantine , Verreijen Amely M. , van Dronkelaar Carliene , Memelink Robert G. , Engberink Mariëlle F. , Engelbert Raoul H. H. , Weijs Peter J. M. , Tieland Michael
Published: June 2022

Background

The diagnosis of sarcopenia is essential for early treatment of sarcopenia in older adults, for which assessment of appendicular lean mass (ALM) is needed. Multi-frequency bio-electrical impedance analysis (MF-BIA) may be a valid assessment tool to assess ALM in older adults, but the evidences are limited. Therefore, we validated the BIA to diagnose low ALM in older adults.

Methods

ALM was assessed by a standing-posture 8 electrode MF-BIA (Tanita MC-780) in 202 community-dwelling older adults (age ≥ 55 years), and compared with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) (Hologic Inc., Marlborough, MA, United States; DXA). The validity for assessing the absolute values of ALM was evaluated by: (1) bias (mean difference), (2) percentage of accurate predictions (within 5% of DXA values), (3) the mean absolute error (MAE), and (4) limits of agreement (Bland–Altman analysis). The lowest quintile of ALM by DXA was used as proxy for low ALM (< 22.8 kg for men, < 16.1 kg for women). Sensitivity and specificity of diagnosing low ALM by BIA were assessed.

Results

The mean age of the subjects was 72.1 ± 6.4 years, with a BMI of 25.4 ± 3.6 kg/m2, and 71% were women. BIA slightly underestimated ALM compared to DXA with a mean bias of −0.6 ± 1.2 kg. The percentage of accurate predictions was 54% with a MAE of 1.1 kg, and limits of agreement were −3.0 to + 1.8 kg. The sensitivity for ALM was 80%, indicating that 80% of subjects who were diagnosed as low ALM according to DXA were also diagnosed low ALM by BIA. The specificity was 90%, indicating that 90% of subjects who were diagnosed as normal ALM by DXA were also diagnosed as normal ALM by the BIA.

Conclusion

This comparison showed a poor validity of MF-BIA to assess the absolute values of ALM, but a reasonable sensitivity and specificity to recognize the community-dwelling older adults with the lowest muscle mass.
A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis of Local and Distant Relapse of Breast Cancer Following Immediate Breast Reconstruction According to Molecular Subtypes
Authors: Han Chunyong , Zhang Xuehui , Sun Jingyan , Liu Jing , He Shanshan , Yin Jian
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Concerns have been raised about the oncologic safety of immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) following mastectomy for breast cancer. This study aimed to evaluate locoregional recurrence (LRR) and distant metastasis (DM) of breast cancer according to its molecular subtype in patients who underwent mastectomy alone or IBR after mastectomy.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, consecutive breast cancer patients treated by the single senior surgeon (XZ) between February 2010 and December 2014 were eligible. In total, 389 consecutive patients were included; 295 patients underwent mastectomy alone and 94 patients underwent mastectomy with IBR. Data were retrospectively collected and analyzed for LRR and DM stratified by molecular subtypes.

Results

With a median follow-up of 73 and 87.5 months, 1.69% of patients in the mastectomy alone group developed LRR compared to 0% in the reconstruction group (p = 0.342) and the total incidence of DMs was 11.52% in patients who received mastectomy alone and 7.44% in patients who received postmastectomy IBR (p = 0.262), respectively. The cumulative incidence of LRR was 2.1% vs. 0% for luminal A, 0% vs. 0% for luminal B, 0% vs. 0% for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-enriched, and 4.5% vs. 0% for triple-negative in the mastectomy alone group compared to the postmastectomy IBR group. The cumulative incidence of DM was 15.5% vs. 5.7% for luminal A, 10% vs. 8.7% for luminal B, 17.3% vs. 0% for HER2-enriched, and 6.8% vs. 7.1% for triple-negative in the mastectomy alone group compared to the postmastectomy IBR group. On multivariable Cox regression analysis, lymph node metastasis was associated with an increased risk of DM in the mastectomy alone group (p = 0.03) and neoadjuvant chemotherapy was associated with an increased risk of DM in the postmastectomy IBR group (p = 0.021).

Conclusion

This study suggests that IBR does not have a negative impact on the LRR and DM of breast cancer according to molecular subtypes.