bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A mechanical insight into the triggering mechanism of frequently occurred landslides along the contact between loess and red clay
Authors: Lian Baoqin , Wang Xingang , Liu Kai , Hu Sheng , Feng Xiao
Published: September 2021

The triggering mechanism and movement evolution of loess-red clay landslides, which occurred frequently along the contact between the loess and red clay on the Loess Plateau, are closely related to the mechanical properties of the contact surface. This work presents an experimental investigation on loess, clay and loess-red clay interlaminar (LRCI) samples obtained from a typical loess-red clay landslide in northern part of Shaanxi province of China, using a series of ring shear tests, microscopic observation and scanning electron microscopy tests, in an attempt to explore the mechanical behavior of loess, clay and LRCI samples with variation in moisture content, normal stress and shear rate. The results revealed that for all specimens, both the peak shear strength$$\tau_{p}$$τpand the residual shear strength$$\tau_{r}$$τrdecreased with increasing moisture content, among which, moisture content has the greatest influence on the$$\tau_{p}$$τpand$$\tau_{r}$$τrof red clay, followed by the LRCI specimen, and the loess specimen is least affected by moisture content. Meanwhile, exponential functions describing the correlations between shear strength and moisture content of LRCI, red clay and loess specimens were proposed. Furthermore, the macroscopic morphological characteristics and the microstructure of shear surface obtained from the LRCI specimens showed that a localized water accumulation was built up within the shear surface as the water content increases to some extent, and a high degree of liquefaction developed within shear surface when the moisture content reached to the saturate degree. The microstructural observation on LRCI specimen suggested that the shear surface became smoother and the larger percentage of small-sized pores was observed with moisture content. Accordingly, the built-up excess pore water pressure during shearing is difficult to be dissipated due to a close structure of small-sized pores. Due to the low permeability, high pore-water pressure built up within the shear zone and the increase in the fine particle content, the LRCI soils with a high saturation degree shows the potential for the localized liquefaction within shear zone, which further provides a scientific explanation for the triggering mechanism of loess-red clay landslides with high-speed and long- run out.
Ocular direct current stimulation affects retinal ganglion cells
Authors: Blum Maren-Christina , Hunold Alexander , Solf Benjamin , Klee Sascha
Published: September 2021

Ocular current stimulation (oCS) with weak current intensities (a few mA) has shown positive effects on retinal nerve cells, which indicates that neurodegenerative ocular diseases could be treated with current stimulation of the eye. During oCS, a significant polarity-independent reduction in the characteristic P50 amplitude of a pattern-reversal electroretinogram was found, while no current stimulation effect was found for a full field electroretinogram (ffERG). The ffERG data indicated a trend for a polarity-dependent influence during oCS on the photopic negative response (PhNR) wave, which represents the sum activity of the retinal ganglion cells. Therefore, an ffERG with adjusted parameters for the standardized measurement of the PhNR wave was combined with simultaneous oCS to study the potential effects of direct oCS on cumulative ganglion cell activity. Compared with that measured before oCS, the PhNR amplitude in the cathodal group increased significantly during current stimulation, while in the anodal and sham groups, no effect was visible (α = 0.05, pcathodal = 0.006*). Furthermore, repeated-measures ANOVA revealed a significant difference in PhNR amplitude between the anodal and cathodal groups as well as between the cathodal and sham groups (p* ≤ 0.0167, pcathodal − anodal = 0.002*, pcathodal − sham = 0.011*).
Biovalorization of raw agro-industrial waste through a bioprocess development platform for boosting alkaline phosphatase production by Lysinibacillus sp. strain APSO
Authors: Abdelgalil Soad A. , Soliman Nadia A. , Abo-Zaid Gaber A. , Abdel-Fattah Yasser R.
Published: September 2021

This study highlighted the exploitation of mathematical models for optimizing the growth conditions that give the highest phosphatase productivity from a newfound Lysinibacillus sp. strain APSO isolated from a slime sample. Mathematical models facilitate data interpretation and provide a strategy to solve fermentation problems. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) throughput was enhanced by 16.5-fold compared to basal medium based on a sequential optimization strategy that depended on two-level Plackett–Burman design and central composite design. The additional improvement for volumetric productivity and specific production yield was followed in a 7 L bench-top bioreactor to evaluate microbial growth kinetics under controlled and uncontrolled pH conditions. The pH-controlled batch cultivation condition neither supported cell growth nor enhanced ALP productivity. In contrast, the uncontrolled pH batch cultivation condition provided the highest ALP output (7119.4 U L−1) and specific growth rate (µ = 0.188 h−1) at 15 h from incubation time, which was augmented > 20.75-fold compared to the basal medium. To the authors’ knowledge, this study is the second report that deals with how to reduce the production cost of the ALP production process via utilization of agro-industrial waste, such as molasses and food waste (eggshell), as a nutrimental source for the improvement of the newfound Lysinibacillus sp. strain APSO ALP throughput.
The fate of methylmercury through the formation of bismethylmercury sulfide as an intermediate in mice
Authors: Abiko Yumi , Katayama Yusuke , Zhao Wenyang , Horai Sawako , Sakurai Kenji , Kumagai Yoshito
Published: September 2021

A previous study by our group indicated that methylmercury (MeHg) is biotransformed to bismethylmercury sulfide [(MeHg)2S)] by interaction with reactive sulfur species (RSS) produced in the body. In the present study, we explored the transformation of MeHg to (MeHg)2S in the gut and the subsequent fate of (MeHg)2S in vitro and in vivo. An ex vivo experiment suggested the possibility of the extracellular transformation of MeHg to (MeHg)2S in the distal colon, and accordingly, the MeHg sulfur adduct was detected in the intestinal contents and feces of mice administered MeHg, suggesting that (MeHg)2S is formed through reactions between MeHg and RSS in the gut. In a cell-free system, we found that (MeHg)2S undergoes degradation in a time-dependent manner, resulting in the formation of mercury sulfide and dimethylmercury (DMeHg), as determined by X-ray diffraction and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, respectively. We also identified DMeHg in the expiration after the intraperitoneal administration of (MeHg)2S to mice. Thus, our present study identified a new fate of MeHg through (MeHg)2S as an intermediate, which leads to conversion of volatile DMeHg in the body.
The shared genetic architecture between epidemiological and behavioral traits with lung cancer
Authors: Pettit Rowland W. , Byun Jinyoung , Han Younghun , Ostrom Quinn T. , Edelson Jacob , Walsh Kyle M. , Bondy Melissa L. , Hung Rayjean J. , McKay James D. , Amos Christopher I.
Published: September 2021

The complex polygenic nature of lung cancer is not fully characterized. Our study seeks to identify novel phenotypes associated with lung cancer using cross-trait linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSR). We measured pairwise genetic correlation (rg) and SNP heritability (h2) between 347 traits and lung cancer risk using genome-wide association study summary statistics from the UKBB and OncoArray consortium. Further, we conducted analysis after removing genomic regions previously associated with smoking behaviors to mitigate potential confounding effects. We found significant negative genetic correlations between lung cancer risk and dietary behaviors, fitness metrics, educational attainment, and other psychosocial traits. Alcohol taken with meals (rg = − 0.41, h2 = 0.10, p = 1.33 × 10–16), increased fluid intelligence scores (rg = − 0.25, h2 = 0.22, p = 4.54 × 10–8), and the age at which full time education was completed (rg = − 0.45, h2 = 0.11, p = 1.24 × 10–20) demonstrated negative genetic correlation with lung cancer susceptibility. The body mass index was positively correlated with lung cancer risk (rg = 0.20, h2 = 0.25, p = 2.61 × 10–9). This analysis reveals shared genetic architecture between several traits and lung cancer predisposition. Future work should test for causal relationships and investigate common underlying genetic mechanisms across these genetically correlated traits.
Translesion activity of PrimPol on DNA with cisplatin and DNA–protein cross-links
Authors: Boldinova Elizaveta O. , Yudkina Anna V. , Shilkin Evgeniy S. , Gagarinskaya Diana I. , Baranovskiy Andrey G. , Tahirov Tahir H. , Zharkov Dmitry O. , Makarova Alena V.
Published: September 2021

Human PrimPol belongs to the archaeo-eukaryotic primase superfamily of primases and is involved in de novo DNA synthesis downstream of blocking DNA lesions and non-B DNA structures. PrimPol possesses both DNA/RNA primase and DNA polymerase activities, and also bypasses a number of DNA lesions in vitro. In this work, we have analyzed translesion synthesis activity of PrimPol in vitro on DNA with an 1,2-intrastrand cisplatin cross-link (1,2-GG CisPt CL) or a model DNA–protein cross-link (DpCL). PrimPol was capable of the 1,2-GG CisPt CL bypass in the presence of Mn2+ ions and preferentially incorporated two complementary dCMPs opposite the lesion. Nucleotide incorporation was stimulated by PolDIP2, and yeast Pol ζ efficiently extended from the nucleotides inserted opposite the 1,2-GG CisPt CL in vitro. DpCLs significantly blocked the DNA polymerase activity and strand displacement synthesis of PrimPol. However, PrimPol was able to reach the DpCL site in single strand template DNA in the presence of both Mg2+ and Mn2+ ions despite the presence of the bulky protein obstacle.
Insecticide resistance and behavioural adaptation as a response to long-lasting insecticidal net deployment in malaria vectors in the Cascades region of Burkina Faso
Authors: Sanou Antoine , Nelli Luca , Guelbéogo W. Moussa , Cissé Fatoumata , Tapsoba Madou , Ouédraogo Pierre , Sagnon N’falé , Ranson Hilary , Matthiopoulos Jason , Ferguson Heather M.
Published: September 2021

The decline in malaria across Africa has been largely attributed to vector control using long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs). However, this intervention has prompted widespread insecticide resistance (IR) and been associated with changes in mosquito behaviour that reduce their contact with LLINs. The relative importance and rate at which IR and behavioural adaptations emerge are poorly understood. We conducted surveillance of mosquito behaviour and IR at 12 sites in Burkina Faso to assess the magnitude and temporal dynamics of insecticide, biting and resting behaviours in vectors in the 2-year period following mass LLIN distribution. Insecticide resistance was present in all vector populations and increased rapidly over the study period. In contrast, no longitudinal shifts in LLIN-avoidance behaviours (earlier or outdoor biting and resting) were detected. There was a moderate but statistically significant shift in vector species composition from Anopheles coluzzii to Anopheles gambiae which coincided with a reduction in the proportion of bites preventable by LLINs; possibly driven by between-species variation in behaviour. These findings indicate that adaptations based on insecticide resistance arise and intensify more rapidly than behavioural shifts within mosquito vectors. However, longitudinal shifts in mosquito vector species composition were evident within 2 years following a mass LLIN distribution. This ecological shift was characterized by a significant increase in the exophagic species (An. gambiae) and coincided with a predicted decline in the degree of protection expected from LLINs. Although human exposure fell through the study period due to reducing vector densities and infection rates, such ecological shifts in vector species along with insecticide resistance were likely to have eroded the efficacy of LLINs. While both adaptations impact malaria control, the rapid increase of the former indicates this strategy develops more quickly in response to selection from LLINS. However, interventions targeting both resistance strategies will be needed.
Developing machine learning algorithms for meteorological temperature and humidity forecasting at Terengganu state in Malaysia
Authors: Hanoon Marwah Sattar , Ahmed Ali Najah , Zaini Nur’atiah , Razzaq Arif , Kumar Pavitra , Sherif Mohsen , Sefelnasr Ahmed , El-Shafie Ahmed
Published: September 2021

Accurately predicting meteorological parameters such as air temperature and humidity plays a crucial role in air quality management. This study proposes different machine learning algorithms: Gradient Boosting Tree (G.B.T.), Random forest (R.F.), Linear regression (LR) and different artificial neural network (ANN) architectures (multi-layered perceptron, radial basis function) for prediction of such as air temperature (T) and relative humidity (Rh). Daily data over 24 years for Kula Terengganu station were obtained from the Malaysia Meteorological Department. Results showed that MLP-NN performs well among the others in predicting daily T and Rh with R of 0.7132 and 0.633, respectively. However, in monthly prediction T also MLP-NN model provided closer standards deviation to actual value and can be used to predict monthly T with R 0.8462. Whereas in prediction monthly Rh, the RBF-NN model's efficiency was higher than other models with R of 0.7113. To validate the performance of the trained both artificial neural network (ANN) architectures MLP-NN and RBF-NN, both were applied to an unseen data set from observation data in the region. The results indicated that on either architecture of ANN, there is good potential to predict daily and monthly T and Rh values with an acceptable range of accuracy.
Prevalence of and factors associated with stroke in hypertensive patients in Thailand from 2014 to 2018: A nationwide cross-sectional study
Authors: Chantkran Wittawat , Chaisakul Janeyuth , Rangsin Ram , Mungthin Mathirut , Sakboonyarat Boonsub
Published: September 2021

Stroke is a significant cause of death and disability. In Thailand, it imposes a major health burden, and the prevalence of stroke is increasing, particularly in patients with hypertension (HT), diabetes mellitus (DM), and dyslipidemia (DLP). We aimed to determine the trends in the prevalence of stroke and the associated factors among Thai patients with HT. Nationwide cross-sectional studies were conducted annually in 2014, 2015 and 2018 based on data obtained from the Thailand DM/HT study. Nationally, representative patients with HT in Thailand were sampled with stratified one-stage cluster sampling. A total of 104,028 participants were included in this study. The prevalence of stroke remained constant, with prevalence rates of 4.0%, 3.8%, and 3.9% in 2014, 2015 and 2018, respectively (p for trend = 0.221). Our findings suggested that the management of stroke patients who are covered by the universal coverage scheme should be evaluated. Effective interventions, including promoting smoking cessation, attenuating cholesterol levels, and controlling blood pressure should be provided to hypertensive patients to prevent ischemic stroke. Young adults with HT should be more concerned about the possibility of stroke. The use of prophylactic low-dose aspirin should be carefully monitored to prevent hemorrhagic stroke.
Grouping strategies in numerosity perception between intrinsic and extrinsic grouping cues
Authors: Pan Yun , Yang Huanyu , Li Mengmeng , Zhang Jian , Cui Lihua
Published: September 2021

The number of items in an array can be quickly and accurately estimated by dividing the array into subgroups, in a strategy termed “groupitizing.” For example, when memorizing a telephone number, it is better to do so by divide the number into several segments. Different forms of visual grouping can affect the precision of the enumeration of a large set of items. Previous studies have found that when groupitizing, enumeration precision is improved by grouping arrays using visual proximity and color similarity. Based on Gestalt theory, Palmer (Cognit Psychol 24:436, 1992) divided perceptual grouping into intrinsic (e.g., proximity, similarity) and extrinsic (e.g., connectedness, common region) principles. Studies have investigated groupitizing effects on intrinsic grouping. However, to the best of our knowledge, no study has explored groupitizing effects for extrinsic grouping cues. Therefore, this study explored whether extrinsic grouping cues differed from intrinsic grouping cues for groupitizing effects in numerosity perception. The results showed that both extrinsic and intrinsic grouping cues improved enumeration precision. However, extrinsic grouping was more accurate in terms of the sensory precision of the numerosity perception.
Explicit and implicit markers of fairness preeminence in criminal judges
Authors: Santamaría-García Hernando , Cotrina Jorge Martínez , Torres Nicolas Florez , Buitrago Carlos , Aponte-Canencio Diego Mauricio , Caicedo Juan Carlos , Billeke Pablo , Gantiva Carlos , Baez Sandra
Published: September 2021

Achieving justice could be considered a complex social decision-making scenario. Despite the relevance of social decisions for legal contexts, these processes have still not been explored for individuals who work as criminal judges dispensing justice. To bridge the gap, we used a complex social decision-making task (Ultimatum game) and tracked a heart rate variability measurement: the square root of the mean squared differences of successive NN intervals (RMSSD) at their baseline (as an implicit measurement that tracks emotion regulation behavior) for criminal judges (n = 24) and a control group (n = 27). Our results revealed that, compared to controls, judges were slower and rejected a bigger proportion of unfair offers. Moreover, the rate of rejections and the reaction times were predicted by higher RMSSD scores for the judges. This study provides evidence about the impact of legal background and expertise in complex social decision-making. Our results contribute to understanding how expertise can shape criminal judges’ social behaviors and pave the way for promising new research into the cognitive and physiological factors associated with social decision-making.
The relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and the severity of COVID-19 disease and its mortality
Authors: Vasheghani Maryam , Jannati Nasrin , Baghaei Parvaneh , Rezaei Mitra , Aliyari Roqayeh , Marjani Majid
Published: September 2021

Supplemental vitamin D can reduce the risk and mortality of viral pneumonia. The relationship between 25 hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and the severity and mortality of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was evaluated. In this cross-sectional study, the admitted patients with COVID-19 were categorized as mild, moderate, severe, and critical based on clinical and radiologic characteristics. Calcium, phosphorus, albumin, creatinine, and serum 25(OH)D were measured and their correlation with the severity of disease and mortality were analyzed. During 2 months, 508 patients (442 patients in general wards and 66 patients in the intensive care unit (ICU)) were included. The participants were 56 ± 17 years old (52% male, 37% with comorbidity). Concerning severity, 13%, 42%, 36%, and 9% had mild, moderate, severe, and critical diseases, respectively. The mortality rate was 10.8%. Admission to ICU, severity of disease and mortality decreased significantly across quartiles of 25(OH)D. According to multivariate logistic regression analysis, disease mortality had a positive correlation with age and had a negative correlation with the serum level of 25(OH)D, calcium, and albumin. In hospitalized patients with COVID-19, low 25(OH)D was associated with severe disease and increased ICU admission and mortality rate.
Virus-like particles with FLAG-tagged envelope protein as a tetravalent dengue vaccine candidate
Authors: Imagawa Toshifumi , Ito Masahiko , Matsuda Mami , Nakashima Kenji , Tokunaga Yuhei , Ohta Isao , Li Tian-Cheng , Suzuki Ryosuke , Suzuki Tetsuro
Published: September 2021

The global incidence of dengue, which is caused by dengue virus (DENV) infection, has grown dramatically in recent decades and secondary infection with heterologous serotype of the virus may cause severe symptoms. Efficacious dengue vaccines should be able to provide long-lasting immunity against all four DENV serotypes simultaneously. In this study, we constructed a novel vaccine platform based on tetravalent dengue virus-like particles (DENV-LPs) in which envelope (E) protein carried a FLAG tag sequence at the position located not only in the exterior loop on the protruding domain but outside of dimerization interface of the protein. We demonstrated an effective strategy to produce the DENV-LPs by transient transfection with expression plasmids for pre-membrane and E proteins of DENV-1 to DENV-4 in mammalian cells and to concentrate and purify them with one-step affinity chromatography. Characteristic features of VLPs such as particle size, shape and density were comparable to flavivirus-like particles reported. The neutralizing activity against all four DENV serotypes was successfully induced by immunization with the purified tetravalent VLPs in mice. Simple, one-step purification systems for VLP vaccine platforms using epitope-tagging strategy should be advantageous for vaccine development not only for dengue but for emerging pandemics in the future.
Effectiveness of the natural resistance management refuge for Bt-cotton is dominated by local abundance of soybean and maize
Authors: Arends Benjamin , Reisig Dominic D. , Gundry Shawnee , Huseth Anders S. , Reay-Jones Francis P. F. , Greene Jeremy K. , Kennedy George G.
Published: September 2021

Genetically engineered crops expressing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Cry toxins have transformed insect management in maize and cotton, reducing insecticide use and associated off-target effects. To mitigate the risk that pests evolve resistance to Bt crops, the US Environmental Protection Agency requires resistance management measures. The approved resistance management plan for Bt maize in cotton production regions requires a structured refuge of non-Bt maize equal to 20% of the maize planted; that for Bt cotton relies on the presence of an unstructured natural refuge comprising both non-Bt crop and non-crop hosts. We examined how abundance of Bt crops (cotton and maize) and an important non-Bt crop (soybean) component of the natural refuge affect resistance to Bt Cry1Ac toxin in local populations of Helicoverpa zea, an important lepidopteran pest impacted by Bt cotton and maize. We show refuge effectiveness is responsive to local abundances of maize and cotton and non-Bt soybean, and maize, in its role as a source of H. zea infesting cotton and non-Bt hosts, influences refuge effectiveness. These findings have important implications for commercial and regulatory decisions regarding deployment of Bt toxins targeting H. zea in maize, cotton, and other crops and for assumptions regarding efficacy of natural refuges.
Glutamine metabolism regulates endothelial to hematopoietic transition and hematopoietic lineage specification
Authors: Oburoglu Leal , Mansell Els , Woods Niels-Bjarne
Published: September 2021

During hematopoietic development, definitive hematopoietic cells are derived from hemogenic endothelial (HE) cells through a process known as endothelial to hematopoietic transition (EHT). During EHT, transitioning cells proliferate and undergo progressive changes in gene expression culminating in the new cell identity with corresponding changes in function, phenotype and morphology. However, the metabolic pathways fueling this transition remain unclear. We show here that glutamine is a crucial regulator of EHT and a rate limiting metabolite in the hematopoietic differentiation of HE cells. Intriguingly, different hematopoietic lineages require distinct derivatives of glutamine. While both derivatives, α-ketoglutarate and nucleotides, are required for early erythroid differentiation of HE during glutamine deprivation, lymphoid differentiation relies on α-ketoglutarate alone. Furthermore, treatment of HE cells with α-ketoglutarate in glutamine-free conditions pushes their differentiation towards lymphoid lineages both in vitro and in vivo, following transplantation into NSG mice. Thus, we report an essential role for glutamine metabolism during EHT, regulating both the emergence and the specification of hematopoietic cells through its various derivatives.
Aggravation of fibrin deposition and microthrombus formation within the graft during kidney transplantation
Authors: van den Berg Tamar A. J. , van den Heuvel Marius C. , Wiersema-Buist Janneke , Adelmeijer Jelle , Nieuwenhuijs-Moeke Gertrude J. , Lisman Ton , Bakker Stephan J. L. , van Goor Harry ,   TransplantLines Investigators, Annema-de Jong J. H. , Bakker S. J. L. , Berger S. P. , Blokzijl J. , Bodewes F. A. J. A. , de Boer M. T. , Damman K. , De Borst M. H. , Diepstra A. , Dijkstra G. , Douwes R. M. , Eisenga M. F. , Erasmus M. E. , Gan C. T. , Neto A. W. Gomes , Grootjans H. , Hak E. , Heiner-Fokkema M. R. , Hepkema B. G. , Klont F. , Knobbe T. J. , Kremer D. , Leuvenink H. G. D. , Lexmond W. S. , de Meijer V. E. , Niesters H. G. M. , van Pelt L. J. , Pol R. A. , Porte R. J. , Ranchor A. V. , Sanders J. S. F. , Schutten J. C. , Siebelink M. J. , Slart R. H. J. A. , Swarte J. C. , Timens W. , Touw D. J. , van den Heuvel M. C. , van Leer-Buter C. , van Londen M. , Verschuuren E. A. M. , Vos M. J. , Weersma R. K. , Pol Robert A.
Published: September 2021

In kidney transplantation, microthrombi and fibrin deposition may lead to local perfusion disorders and subsequently poor initial graft function. Microthrombi are often regarded as donor-derived. However, the incidence, time of development, and potential difference between living donor kidneys (LDK) and deceased donor kidneys(DDK), remains unclear. Two open-needle biopsies, taken at preimplantation and after reperfusion, were obtained from 17 LDK and 28 DDK transplanted between 2005 and 2008. Paraffin-embedded sections were immunohistochemically stained with anti-fibrinogen antibody. Fibrin deposition intensity in peritubular capillaries(PTC) and glomeruli was categorized as negative, weak, moderate or strong and the number of microthrombi/mm2 was quantified. Reperfusion biopsies showed more fibrin deposition (20% to 100% moderate/strong, p < 0.001) and more microthrombi/mm2 (0.97 ± 1.12 vs. 0.28 ± 0.53, p < 0.01) than preimplantation biopsies. In addition, more microthrombi/mm2 (0.38 ± 0.61 vs. 0.09 ± 0.22, p = 0.02) and stronger fibrin intensity in glomeruli (28% vs. 0%, p < 0.01) and PTC (14% vs. 0%, p = 0.02) were observed in preimplantation DDK than LDK biopsies. After reperfusion, microthrombi/mm2 were comparable (p = 0.23) for LDK (0.09 ± 0.22 to 0.76 ± 0.49, p = 0.03) and DDK (0.38 ± 0.61 to 0.90 ± 1.11, p = 0.07). Upon reperfusion, there is an aggravation of microthrombus formation and fibrin deposition within the graft. The prominent increase of microthrombi in LDK indicates that they are not merely donor-derived.
Incorporation of causality structures to complex network analysis of time-varying behaviour of multivariate time series
Authors: Carlos-Sandberg Leo , Clack Christopher D.
Published: September 2021

This paper presents a new methodology for characterising the evolving behaviour of the time-varying causality between multivariate time series, from the perspective of change in the structure of the causality pattern. We propose that such evolutionary behaviour should be tracked by means of a complex network whose nodes are causality patterns and edges are transitions between those patterns of causality. In our new methodology each edge has a weight that includes the frequency of the given transition and two metrics relating to the gross and net structural change in causality pattern, which we call$$\alpha$$αand$$\beta$$β. To characterise aspects of the behaviour within this network, five approaches are presented and motivated. To act as a demonstration of this methodology an application of sample data from the international oil market is presented. This example illustrates how our new methodology is able to extract information about evolving causality behaviour. For example, it reveals non-random time-varying behaviour that favours transitions resulting in predominantly similar causality patterns, and it discovers clustering of similar causality patterns and some transitional behaviour between these clusters. The example illustrates how our new methodology supports the inference that the evolution of causality in the system is related to the addition or removal of a few causality links, primarily keeping a similar causality pattern, and that the evolution is not related to some other measure such as the overall number of causality links.
Prediction of blood supply in vestibular schwannomas using radiomics machine learning classifiers
Authors: Song Dixiang , Zhai Yixuan , Tao Xiaogang , Zhao Chao , Wang Minkai , Wei Xinting
Published: September 2021

This study attempts to explore the radiomics-based features of multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and construct a machine-learning model to predict the blood supply in vestibular schwannoma preoperatively. By retrospectively collecting the preoperative MRI data of patients with vestibular schwannoma, patients were divided into poor and rich blood supply groups according to the intraoperative recording. Patients were divided into training and test cohorts (2:1), randomly. Stable features were retained by intra-group correlation coefficients (ICCs). Four feature selection methods and four classification methods were evaluated to construct favorable radiomics classifiers. The mean area under the curve (AUC) obtained in the test set for different combinations of feature selecting methods and classifiers was calculated separately to compare the performance of the models. Obtain and compare the best combination results with the performance of differentiation through visual observation in clinical diagnosis. 191 patients were included in this study. 3918 stable features were extracted from each patient. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and logistic regression model was selected as the optimal combinations after comparing the AUC calculated by models, which predicted the blood supply of vestibular schwannoma by K-Fold cross-validation method with a mean AUC = 0.88 and F1-score = 0.83. Radiomics machine-learning classifiers can accurately predict the blood supply of vestibular schwannoma by preoperative MRI data.
Neuronal mitochondrial dysfunction in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is developmentally regulated
Authors: Singh Tanisha , Jiao Yuanyuan , Ferrando Lisa M. , Yablonska Svitlana , Li Fang , Horoszko Emily C. , Lacomis David , Friedlander Robert M. , Carlisle Diane L.
Published: September 2021

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is an adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder characterized by loss of motor neurons. Mitochondria are essential for neuronal survival but the developmental timing and mechanistic importance of mitochondrial dysfunction in sporadic ALS (sALS) neurons is not fully understood. We used human induced pluripotent stem cells and generated a developmental timeline by differentiating sALS iPSCs to neural progenitors and to motor neurons and comparing mitochondrial parameters with familial ALS (fALS) and control cells at each developmental stage. We report that sALS and fALS motor neurons have elevated reactive oxygen species levels, depolarized mitochondria, impaired oxidative phosphorylation, ATP loss and defective mitochondrial protein import compared with control motor neurons. This phenotype develops with differentiation into motor neurons, the affected cell type in ALS, and does not occur in the parental undifferentiated sALS cells or sALS neural progenitors. Our work demonstrates a developmentally regulated unifying mitochondrial phenotype between patient derived sALS and fALS motor neurons. The occurrence of a unifying mitochondrial phenotype suggests that mitochondrial etiology known to SOD1-fALS may applicable to sALS. Furthermore, our findings suggest that disease-modifying treatments focused on rescue of mitochondrial function may benefit both sALS and fALS patients.
Effects of rewarming with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to restore oxygen transport and organ blood flow after hypothermic cardiac arrest in a porcine model
Authors: Nilsen Jan Harald , Schanche Torstein , Valkov Sergei , Mohyuddin Rizwan , Haaheim Brage , Kondratiev Timofei V. , Næsheim Torvind , Sieck Gary C. , Tveita Torkjel
Published: September 2021

We recently documented that cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) generates the same level of cardiac output (CO) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) during both normothermia (38 °C) and hypothermia (27 °C). Furthermore, continuous CPR at 27 °C provides O2 delivery (ḊO2) to support aerobic metabolism throughout a 3-h period. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) rewarming to restore ḊO2 and organ blood flow after prolonged hypothermic cardiac arrest. Eight male pigs were anesthetized and immersion cooled to 27 °C. After induction of hypothermic cardiac arrest, CPR was started and continued for a 3-h period. Thereafter, the animals were rewarmed with ECMO. Organ blood flow was measured using microspheres. After cooling with spontaneous circulation to 27 °C, MAP and CO were initially reduced to 66 and 44% of baseline, respectively. By 15 min after the onset of CPR, there was a further reduction in MAP and CO to 42 and 25% of baseline, respectively, which remained unchanged throughout the rest of 3-h CPR. During CPR, ḊO2 and O2 uptake (V̇O2) fell to critical low levels, but the simultaneous small increase in lactate and a modest reduction in pH, indicated the presence of maintained aerobic metabolism. Rewarming with ECMO restored MAP, CO, ḊO2, and blood flow to the heart and to parts of the brain, whereas flow to kidneys, stomach, liver and spleen remained significantly reduced. CPR for 3-h at 27 °C with sustained lower levels of CO and MAP maintained aerobic metabolism sufficient to support ḊO2. Rewarming with ECMO restores blood flow to the heart and brain, and creates a “shockable” cardiac rhythm. Thus, like continuous CPR, ECMO rewarming plays a crucial role in “the chain of survival” when resuscitating victims of hypothermic cardiac arrest.
The prevailing O serogroups among the serologically differentiated clinical Proteus spp. strains in central Poland
Authors: Drzewiecka Dominika , Palusiak Agata , Siwińska Małgorzata , Zabłotni Agnieszka
Published: September 2021

In the years 2006–2011, 617 Proteus spp. strains isolated mostly from urine and wounds or other clinical sources were collected in Łódź, Poland, to determine the offensive O serotypes frequently occurring among patients. P. mirabilis exhibited the most intensive swarming growth and was dominating species (86.9%), followed by P. genomospecies, P. vulgaris, and P. penneri. Ninety four per cent strains were recognized as S (smooth) forms. Serological studies (involving ELISA—enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting using native and adsorbed rabbit antisera) enabled classification of 80% S isolates into respective Proteus O serogroups among the 83 ones, described so far. The remaining strains seemed to be serologically unique. Despite the observed big serological variety of Proteus spp. isolates, we found the O78 serogroup recently described in Poland as dominating and identified other widespread serotypes: O3, O6, O10, O11, O27, O28, and O30 reported earlier as predominating also in other countries; O77 and O79 detected lately in Poland; O16, O18, O20, and O50. No unique structural feature of the prevalent O serotypes has been indicated. However, the prevalence of some O serogroups indicates that particular serotypes may be in some ways beneficial to the strains producing these kinds of O antigen.
Normobaric oxygen treatment for mild-to-moderate depression: a randomized, double-blind, proof-of-concept trial
Authors: Bloch Yehudit , Belmaker R. H. , Shvartzman Pesach , Romem Pnina , Bolotin Arkady , Bersudsky Yuly , Azab Abed N.
Published: September 2021

Oxygen enriched air may increase oxygen pressure in brain tissue and have biochemical effects even in subjects without lung disease. Consistently, several studies demonstrated that normobaric oxygen treatment has clinical benefits in some neurological conditions. This study examined the efficacy of normobaric oxygen treatment in subjects with depression. In a randomized, double-blind trial, 55 participants aged 18–65 years with mild to moderate depression (had a Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression [HRSD] score of ≥ 8) were recruited to the study from the Southern district in Israel. Participants underwent a psychiatric inclusion assessment at baseline and then were randomly assigned to either normobaric oxygen treatment of 35% fraction of inspired oxygen or 21% fraction of inspired oxygen (room air) through a nasal tube, for 4 weeks, during the night. Evaluations were performed at baseline, 2 and 4 weeks after commencement of study interventions, using the following tools: HRSD; Clinical Global Impression (CGI) questionnaire; World Health Organization-5 questionnaire for the estimation of Quality of Life (WHO-5-QOL); Sense of Coherence (SOC) 13-item questionnaire; and, Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). A multivariate regression analysis showed that the mean ± standard deviation [SD] changes in the HRSD scores from baseline to week four were − 4.2 ± 0.3 points in the oxygen-treated group and − 0.7 ± 0.6 in the control group, for a between-group difference of 3.5 points (95% confidence interval [CI] − 5.95 to − 1.0; P = 0.007). Similarly, at week four there was a between-group difference of 0.71 points in the CGI score (95% CI − 1.00 to − 0.29; P = 0.001). On the other hand, the analysis revealed that there were no significant differences in WHO-5-QOL, SOC-13 or SDS scores between the groups. This study showed a significant beneficial effect of oxygen treatment on some symptoms of depression.

Trial registration: NCT02149563 (29/05/2014).
Decreased head circumference at birth associated with maternal tobacco smoke exposure during pregnancy on the Japanese prospective birth cohort study
Authors: Shiohama Tadashi , Hisada Aya , Yamamoto Midori , Sakurai Kenichi , Takatani Rieko , Fujii Katsunori , Shimojo Naoki , Mori Chisato ,   the Japan Environment Children’s Study (JECS) Group, Kamijima Michihiro , Yamazaki Shin , Ohya Yukihiro , Kishi Reiko , Yaegashi Nobuo , Hashimoto Koichi , Mori Chisato , Ito Shuichi , Yamagata Zentaro , Inadera Hidekuni , Nakayama Takeo , Iso Hiroyasu , Shima Masayuki , Kurozawa Youichi , Suganuma Narufumi , Kusuhara Koichi , Katoh Takahiko
Published: September 2021

Maternal tobacco smoke exposure during pregnancy impairs fetal body size, including head circumference (HC) at birth; however, the mechanism still remains unclear. This analysis using a large prospective cohort study evaluated the impact of maternal tobacco exposure on their offspring’s HC and the relationship with placental weight ratio (PWR) and placental abnormalities. Parents-children pairs (n = 84,856) were included from the 104,065 records of the Japan Environmental and Children’s Study. Maternal perinatal clinical and social information by self-administered questionnaires, offspring’s body size, and placental information were collected. Data were analyzed with binominal logistic regression analysis and path analysis. Logistic regression showed significantly elevated adjusted odds ratio (aOR) (1.653, 95% CI 1.387–1.969) for the impact of maternal smoking during pregnancy on their offspring’s smaller HC at birth. Maternal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in the non-smoking group did not increase aOR for the smaller HC. Path analysis showed that maternal smoking during pregnancy decreased the offspring’s HC directly, but not indirectly via PWR or placental abnormalities. The quitting smoking during pregnancy group did not increase aOR for the smaller HC than the non-smoking group, suggesting that quitting smoking may reduce their offspring’s neurological impairment even after pregnancy.
Predictive model for microclimatic temperature and its use in mosquito population modeling
Authors: Erraguntla Madhav , Dave Darpit , Zapletal Josef , Myles Kevin , Adelman Zach N. , Pohlenz Tyler D. , Lawley Mark
Published: September 2021

Mosquitoes transmit several infectious diseases that pose significant threat to human health. Temperature along with other environmental factors at breeding and resting locations play a role in the organismal development and abundance of mosquitoes. Accurate analysis of mosquito population dynamics requires information on microclimatic conditions at breeding and resting locations. In this study, we develop a regression model to characterize microclimatic temperature based on ambient environmental conditions. Data were collected by placing sensor loggers at resting and breeding locations such as storm drains across Houston, TX. Corresponding weather data was obtained from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website. Features extracted from these data sources along with contextual information on location were used to develop a Generalized Linear Model for predicting microclimate temperatures. We also analyzed mosquito population dynamics forAedes albopictusunder ambient and microclimatic conditions using system dynamic (SD) modelling to demonstrate the need for accurate microclimatic temperatures in population models. The microclimate prediction model had an R2value of ~ 95% and average prediction error of ~ 1.5 °C indicating that microclimate temperatures can be reliably estimated from the ambient environmental conditions. SD model analysis indicates that some microclimates in Texas could result in larger populations of juvenile and adultAedes albopictusmosquitoes surviving the winter without requiring dormancy.
High concordance in preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy between automatic identification via Ion S5 and manual identification via Miseq
Authors: Chuang Tzu-Hsuan , Wu Zih-Huei , Kuan Chin-Sheng , Lee Meng-Ju , Hsieh Chia-Lin , Wang Huai-Lin , Lai Hsing-Hua , Chang Yu-Jen , Chen Shee-Uan
Published: September 2021

The Ion S5 (Thermo Fisher Scientific) and Miseq (Illumina) NGS systems are both widely used in the clinical laboratories conducting PGT-A. Each system employs discrepant library preparation steps, sequencing principles, and data processing algorithms. The automatic interpretation via Ion Reporter software (Thermo Fisher Scientific) and the manual interpretation via BlueFuse Multi software (Illumina) for chromosomal copy number variation (CNV) represent very different reporting approaches. Thus, it is intriguing to compare their ability of ploidy detection as PGT-A/NGS system. In the present study, four aneuploid cell lines were individually mixed with a diploid cell line at different aneuploid ratios of 0% (0:5), 10% (1:9), 20% (1:4), 40% (2:3), 50% (3:3), 60% (3:2), 80% (4:1) and 100% (5:0) to assess the sensitivity and specificity for whole chromosomal and segmental aneuploidy detection. The clinical biopsies of 107 blastocysts from 46 IVF/PGT-A cycles recruited between December 2019 and February 2020 were used to calculate the concordance. Initially, the pre-amplified products were divided into two aliquots for different library preparation procedures of each system. Applying the same calling criteria, automatic identification was achieved through the Ion Reporter, while well-trained technicians manually identified each sample through the BlueFuse Multi. The results displayed that both systems reliably distinguished chromosomal CNV of the mixtures with at least 10% aneuploidy from karyotypically normal samples ([Ion S5] whole-chromosomal duplication: 2.14 vs. 2.05, p value = 0.009, segmental deletion: 1.88 vs. 2.05, p value = 0.003; [Miseq] whole-chromosomal duplication: 2.12 vs. 2.03, p value = 0.047, segmental deletion: 1.82 vs. 2.03, p value = 0.002). The sensitivity and specificity were comparable between the Ion S5 and Miseq ([sensitivity] 93% vs. 90%, p = 0.78; [specificity] 100% vs. 100%, p value = 1.0). In the 107 clinical biopsies, three displayed chaotic patterns (2.8%), which could not be interpreted for the ploidy. The ploidy concordance was 99.04% (103/104) per embryo and 99.47% (2265/2277) per chromosome pair. Since their ability of detection were proven to be similar, the automatic identification in Ion S5 system presents comparatively faster and more standardized performance.
Wearable magnetic induction-based approach toward 3D motion tracking
Authors: Golestani Negar , Moghaddam Mahta
Published: September 2021

Activity recognition using wearable sensors has gained popularity due to its wide range of applications, including healthcare, rehabilitation, sports, and senior monitoring. Tracking the body movement in 3D space facilitates behavior recognition in different scenarios. Wearable systems have limited battery capacity, and many critical challenges have to be addressed to gain a trade-off among power consumption, computational complexity, minimizing the effects of environmental interference, and achieving higher tracking accuracy. This work presents a motion tracking system based on magnetic induction (MI) to tackle the challenges and limitations inherent in designing a wireless monitoring system. We integrated a realistic prototype of an MI sensor with machine learning techniques and investigated one-sensor and two-sensor configuration setups for motion reconstruction. This approach is successfully evaluated using measured and synthesized datasets generated by the analytical model of the MI system. The system has an average distance root-mean-squared error (RMSE) error of 3 cm compared to the ground-truth real-world measured data with Kinect.
Valence band structure and charge distribution in the layered lanthanide-doped CuCr0.99Ln0.01S2 (Ln = La, Ce) solid solutions
Authors: Korotaev E. V. , Syrokvashin M. M. , Filatova I. Yu , Kalinkin A. V. , Sotnikov A. V.
Published: September 2021

The comprehensive study of the electronic density distribution of CuCr0.99Ln0.01S2 (Ln = La, Ce) solid solutions was carried out using both X-ray photoelectron and emission spectroscopy. It was found that cationic substitution of chromium with lanthanum or cerium atoms does not significantly affect the atomic charges of the matrix elements (Cu, Cr, S) in the lanthanide-doped solid solutions. The copper atoms in the composition of CuCrS2-matrix and the lanthanide-doped solid solutions were found to be in the monovalent state. The chromium and lanthanide atoms were found to be in the trivalent state. This fact indicates the isovalent cationic substitution character. The sulfur atoms were found to be in the divalent state. The near-surface layers contain the additional oxidation forms of sulfur (S0, S4+, S6+) and copper (Cu2+) atoms. The detailed analysis of the valence band structure using DFT calculations has shown that partial DOS distribution character of the matrix elements is preserved after the cationic substitution. The experimental valence band spectra structure of CuCrS2-matrix and CuCr0.99Ln0.01S2 is determined by the occupied copper d-states contribution. The contribution of the lanthanide states in the valence band structure is lower in comparison with those for the matrix elements. The major contribution of the lanthanide states was found to be mainly localized near the conduction band bottom.