bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Production and Partial Characterization of α‐Amylase Enzyme from Marine Actinomycetes
Authors: Al-Agamy Mohamed H. , Alhuzani Mohammad R. , Kelany Mahmoud S. , Hamed Moaz M.
Published: December 2021

Amylase producing actinobacteria were isolated and characterized from terrestrial environment. There are a limited number of reports investigating the marine environment; hence, in the present study, four marine enzymes were tested for their amylase production ability. On starch agar plates, the Streptomyces rochei strain showed a higher hydrolytic zone (24 mm) than the other isolates. Growth under optimized culture conditions using Plackett‐Burman’s experimental design led to a 1.7, 9.8, 7.7, and 3.12‐fold increase for the isolates S. griseorubens, S. rochei, S. parvus, and Streptomyces sp., respectively, in the specific activity measurement. When applying the Box‐Behnken design on S. rochei using the most significant parameters (starch, K2HPO4, pH, and temperature), there was a 12.22‐fold increase in the specific activity measurement 7.37 U/mg. The α‐amylase was partially purified, and its molecular weight was determined using sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. α‐Amylase was particularly active at pH 6 and 65°C. The purified enzyme was most active at 65°C and pH 6, thermal stability of 70°C for 40 min, and salt concentration of 1 M with Km and Vmax of 6.58 mg/ml and 21.93 μmol/ml/min, respectively. The α‐amylase was improved by adding Cu+2, Zn+2, and Fe+2 (152.21%, 207.24%, and 111.89%). Increased production of α‐amylase enzyme by S. rochei KR108310 leads to production of significant industrial products.
Logistics Distribution Location Algorithm Based on Improved Imperial Competition Algorithm
Authors: Su Kaituo
Published: December 2021

To solve the problems of warehouse explosion and delay of logistics distribution network under the sudden explosion of demand on “double 11” and “618,” this paper proposes a logistics distribution network location algorithm that can consider reliability, green environmental protection, and path optimization. Firstly, the transportation model of logistics distribution network location-route optimization is established. Under the condition that the transportation model satisfies the vehicle path reliability constraint, it can minimize the total cost, including logistics distribution cost, transportation oil consumption, and CO2 emission cost. This paper designs an improved imperial competition algorithm to solve it according to the characteristics of the transportation model. Firstly, the competition mechanism of “United Lian Heng” was introduced in the initial national stage, enhancing the information exchange and retaining the superior population. Secondly, in the process of empire assimilation, we can learn from the colonial rule strategy, which is gradually infiltrated and assimilated by all levels of the country to enhance the development ability of the algorithm. Finally, the algorithm designs a mechanism to judge and jump out of local optimum, so as to avoid “premature” affecting the optimization performance. The rationality of the model and the effectiveness of the improved imperial competition algorithm are verified by simulation experiments of different scales, while the influence of reliability level is analyzed. Experimental results show that the proposed method can effectively solve problems of different scales and maintain stable performance under different reliability levels. Moreover, its algorithm performance is better than that of the standard imperial competition algorithm.
Text Mining and Hub Gene Network Analysis of Endometriosis
Authors: Wang Yinuo , Zhu Songbiao , Liu Chengcheng , Deng Haiteng , Zhang Zhenyu
Published: December 2021

This study is aimed at systematically characterizing the endometriosis‐associated genes based on text mining and at annotating the functions, pathways, and networks of endometriosis‐associated hub genes. We extracted endometriosis‐associated abstracts published between 1970 and 2020 from the PubMed database. A neural‐named entity recognition and multitype normalization tool for biomedical text mining was used to recognize and normalize the genes and proteins embedded in the abstracts. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses were conducted to annotate the functions and pathways of recognized genes. Protein‐protein interaction analysis was conducted on the genes significantly cooccurring with endometriosis to identify the endometriosis‐associated hub genes. A total of 433 genes were recognized as endometriosis‐associated genes (P < 0.05), and 154 pathways were significantly enriched (P < 0.05). A network of endometriosis‐associated genes with 278 gene nodes and 987 interaction links was established. The 15 proteins that interacted with 20 or more other proteins were identified as the hub proteins of the endometriosis‐associated protein network. This study provides novel insights into the hub genes that play key roles in the development of endometriosis and have implications for developing targeted interventions for endometriosis.
Influence of Diversity Nursing on Patients’ Rehabilitation in Cardiology Treatment
Authors: Li Changling , He Aijie
Published: December 2021

With the improvement of living standards, people have more and more physical health problems. Among them, high-risk cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and coronary heart disease are the most prominent. The number of cardiology patients is increasing year by year. Effectively improving the treatment of cardiology patients and speeding up the recovery of cardiology patients have become a social problem. This article aims to explore the impact of diverse nursing care on patients in cardiology treatment. This article first gives a detailed introduction to the treatment of diverse nursing and cardiology diseases, then takes 300 cardiology patients in our hospital as experimental subjects, and conducts a controlled experiment of nursing intervention, which is categorized into an experimental group of 150 cases (including 35 cases of hypertension, 46 cases of diabetes, 28 cases of coronary heart disease, 24 cases of angina pectoris, and 17 cases of multiple complications) and a control group of 150 cases (including 30 cases of hypertension, 47 cases of diabetes, 39 cases of coronary heart disease, 21 cases of angina pectoris, and 13 cases of multiple complications). The experimental results showed the following: the general information of the two groups of patients was not statistically different (

P
>
0.05

); after the nursing intervention, the blood glucose levels of the two groups of patients decreased, but the experimental group decreased more significantly and the blood glucose control effect was more obvious; after the intervention, in the experimental group that implemented diversified nursing interventions, the patient’s condition management effect was better and their scores were between 8 and 10; the mental state self-evaluation of the two groups of patients was significantly different from the domestic reference value (

P
<
0.05

), and there is a very significant statistical difference between the two groups after nursing intervention (

P
<
0.01

); after nursing intervention, compared with the control group, the quality of life of the experimental group improved more significantly and the highest score reached about 70; the overall satisfaction of the experimental group with nursing work reached 92%, while the satisfaction of the control group with nursing work was only 44.67%. Studies have shown that diversified care has a positive impact on the rehabilitation of patients in cardiology treatment.
LB‐DDQN for Handover Decision in Satellite‐Terrestrial Integrated Networks
Authors: Wu Dong-Fang , Huang Chuanhe , Yin Yabo , Huang Shidong , Ashraf M. Wasim Abbas , Guo Qianqian , Zhang Lin
Published: December 2021

The frequent handover and handover failure problems obviously degrade the QoS of mobile users in the terrestrial segment (e.g., cellular networks) of satellite‐terrestrial integrated networks (STINs). And the traditional handover decision methods rely on the historical data and produce the training cost. To solve these problems, the deep reinforcement learning‐ (DRL‐) based handover decision methods are used in the handover management. In the existing DQN‐based handover decision method, the overestimates of DQN method continue. Moreover, the current handover decision methods adopt the greedy strategy which lead to the load imbalance problem in base stations. Considering the handover decision and load imbalance problems, we proposed a load balancing‐based double deep Q‐network (LB‐DDQN) method for handover decision. In the proposed load balancing strategy, we define a load coefficient to express the conditions of loading in each base station. The supplementary load balancing evaluation function evaluates the performance of this load balancing strategy. As the selected basic method, the DDQN method adopts the target Q‐network and main Q‐network to deal with the overestimate problem of the DQN method. Different from joint optimization, we input the load reward into the designed reward function. And the load coefficient becomes one handover decision factor. In our research, the handover decision and load imbalance problems are solved effectively and jointly. The experimental results show that the proposed LB‐DDQN handover decision method obtains good performance in the handover decision. Moreover, the access of mobile users becomes more balancing and the throughput of network is also increased.
Construction of Quality Virtual Backbones with Link Fault Tolerance in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Liang Xinyu , Liang Jiarong , Zhang Weiguang
Published: December 2021

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are extensively utilized in various circumstances. For applications, the construction of the virtual backbones (VBs) of WSNs has attracted considerable attention in this field. Generally, a homogeneous WSN is formulated as a unit disk graph (UDG), and the VB of the corresponding WSN is modeled as a connected dominating set (CDS) in the UDG. In certain applications, communication between sensors in a network may fail for various reasons, such as sensor movement, signal interference, and the appearance of obstacles. Consequently, a CDS in a UDG should possess fault tolerance on the edges. In this paper, we introduce a new concept called the 2 edge‐connected 2 edge‐dominating set ((2, 2)‐ECDS); then, we design an approximation algorithm for computing (2, 2)‐ECDSs in UDGs, the performance ratio of which is 30.51. By means of simulations, we compare our algorithm and existing algorithms in terms of the CDS size, running time, success rate, and network lifetime. The simulation results indicate that our algorithm exhibits better performance and is more suitable for constructing a VB with edge fault tolerance in a WSN.
Digital Image Automatic Recognition and Tracking Based on Electronic Derotation Algorithm
Authors: Gao Meirong
Published: December 2021

With the continuous development of my country’s social economy, the ways to acquire images have become more and more abundant. How to effectively process, manage, and mine images has become a major and difficult problem in research. In view of the difficult problem of image recognition, the electronic derotation algorithm is introduced in this study, by combing and monitoring the edge features, establishing a corresponding sample database, analyzing the edge features of the image, and performing effective and stable tracking, so as to realize the automatic recognition and tracking of the digital image. The simulation experiment results show that the electronic derotation algorithm is effective and can support the automatic recognition and tracking of digital images.
Metabolomic Profiling Identified Serum Metabolite Biomarkers and Related Metabolic Pathways of Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Zhang Chengjian , Zhou Shengnan , Chang Huijing , Zhuang Feng , Shi Yang , Chang Le , Ai Wanchao , Du Juan , Liu Wei , Liu Humin , Zhou Xukun , Wang Zhong , Hong Tao
Published: December 2021

Background. The screening and early detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) still remain a challenge due to the lack of reliable and effective serum biomarkers. Thus, this study is aimed at identifying serum biomarkers of CRC that could be used to distinguish CRC from healthy controls. Methods. A prospective 1 : 2 individual matching case-control study was performed which included 50 healthy control subjects and 98 CRC patients. Untargeted metabolomic profiling was conducted with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to identify CRC-related metabolites and metabolic pathways. Results. In total, 178 metabolites were detected, and an orthogonal partial least-squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) model was useful to distinguish CRC patients from healthy controls. Nine metabolites showed significantly differential serum levels in CRC patients under the conditions of variable importance in projectionVIP>1,p<0.05using Student’st-test, and fold changeFC≥1.2or ≤0.5. The above nine metabolites were 3-hydroxybutyric acid, hexadecanedioic acid, succinic acid semialdehyde, 4-dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, prostaglandin B2, 2-pyrocatechuic acid, xanthoxylin, 12-hydroxydodecanoic acid, and formylanthranilic acid. Four potential biomarkers were identified to diagnose CRC through ROC curves: hexadecanedioic acid, 4-dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, 2-pyrocatechuic acid, and formylanthranilic acid. All AUC values of these four serum biomarkers were above 0.70. In addition, the exploratory analysis of metabolic pathways revealed the activated states for the vitamin B metabolic pathway and the alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolic pathways associated with CRC. Conclusion. The 4 identified potential metabolic biomarkers could discriminate CRC patients from healthy controls, and the 2 metabolic pathways may be activated in the CRC tissues.
Theaflavin 3, 3 ′‐Digallate Delays Ovarian Aging by Improving Oocyte Quality and Regulating Granulosa Cell Function
Authors: He Jiahuan , Yao Guidong , He Qina , Zhang Tongwei , Fan Huiying , Bai Yucheng , Zhang Junya , Yang Guang , Xu Ziwen , Hu Jingyi , Sun Yingpu
Published: December 2021

Ovarian aging refers to the gradual decline of ovarian function with increasing physiological age, manifested as decreased ovarian reserve, elevated aging‐related markers, and reduced oocyte quality. With a declining female fertility and a growing aging population, it is urgent to delay ovarian aging to maintain fertility and improve the life quality of women. Theaflavin 3, 3 ′‐digallate (TF3) is a naturally bioactive polyphenol compound extracted from black tea, and its antioxidant properties play an important role in maintaining human health and delaying aging; however, the effects of TF3 on female reproduction and ovarian function are not yet clear. Here, we show that TF3 can preserve primordial follicle pool, partially restore the estrous cycle, and increase the offspring number of aged mice. Meanwhile, TF3 gavage increased the number of oocytes retrieved, decreased the level of reactive oxygen species, increased the level of glutathione, and decreased the abnormal rate of oocyte spindle after ovulation induction. Moreover, TF3 inhibited human granulosa cell apoptosis and improved their antioxidative stress ability. High‐throughput sequencing and small‐molecule‐targeted pharmacological prediction show that TF3 affects multiple pathways and gene expression levels, mainly involved in reproductive and developmental processes. It may also affect cellular function by targeting mTOR to regulate the autophagic pathway, thereby delaying the process of ovarian aging. This study shows that TF3 can be used as a potential dietary supplement to protect ovary function from aging and thereby improving the life quality of advanced‐age women.
[Retracted] A Game Model for Incentive Mechanism of Distributed Nodes in Supply Chains
Authors: Jiang Jingjing , Lyu Aobo
Published: December 2021

This study aims to solve the credit problems in the supply chain commodity and currency circulation links from the perspective of the ledger, while the game model method has been adopted. The research firstly reviews the relationship between distributed ledger technology and the essential functions of currency. Then, by constructing two‐agent single‐period and multi‐period game models in the entire supply chain, the researchers analysed the incentive mechanism and equilibrium solution of distributed nodes of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). The results of this study include the incentive mechanism and optimization of distributed nodes based on licensed distributed ledger technology, which is an important issue that CBDC faces when performing currency functions. The implications of this study mainly cover the limitations of the underlying technology of the public chain and its reward mechanism in the supply chain management and provide support for the rationality of the CBDC issuance mechanism based on state‐owned commercial banks, which provides a reference for the CBDC practice. The main value of the research not only serves the decision‐making department of the CBDC issuance but also provides ideas on the operation mode of digital currency for the field of digital currency research.
Antiviral Potential of Selected Medicinal Herbs and Their Isolated Natural Products
Authors: Perera W. P. R. T. , Liyanage Janitha A. , Dissanayake K. G. C. , Gunathilaka Hiruni , Weerakoon W. M. T. D. N. , Wanigasekara D. N. , Fernando W. S. K. , Rajapaksha R. M. H. , Liyanage R. P. , Perera Bingun T.
Published: December 2021

Viruses are responsible for a variety of human pathogenesis. Owing to the enhancement of the world population, global travel, and rapid urbanization, and infectious outbreaks, a critical threat has been generated to public health, as preventive vaccines and antiviral therapy are not available. Herbal medicines and refined natural products have resources for the development of novel antiviral drugs. These natural agents have shed light on preventive vaccine development and antiviral therapies. This review intends to discuss the antiviral activities of plant extracts and some isolated plant natural products based on mainly preclinical (in vitro and in vivo) studies. Twenty medicinal herbs were selected for the discussion, and those are commonly recognized antiviral medicinal plants in Ayurveda (Zingiber officinale, Caesalpinia bonducella, Allium sativum, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Ferula assafoetida, Gymnema sylvestre, Gossypium herbaceum, Phyllanthus niruri, Trachyspermum ammi, Withania somnifera, Andrographis paniculata, Centella asiatica, Curcuma longa, Woodfordia fruticose, Phyllanthus emblica, Terminalia chebula, Tamarindus indica, Terminalia arjuna, Azadirachta indica, and Ficus religiosa). However, many viruses remain without successful immunization and only a few antiviral drugs have been approved for clinical use. Hence, the development of novel antiviral drugs is much significant and natural products are excellent sources for such drug developments. In this review, we summarize the antiviral actions of selected plant extracts and some isolated natural products of the medicinal herbs.
Homotopic Solution for 3D Darcy–Forchheimer Flow of Prandtl Fluid through Bidirectional Extending Surface with Cattaneo–Christov Heat and Mass Flux Model
Authors: Batool Shamaila , Alotaibi A. M. , Khan Waris , Msmali Ahmed Hussein , Ikramullah  , Mashwani Wali Khan
Published: December 2021

The 3D Prandtl fluid flow through a bidirectional extending surface is analytically investigated. Cattaneo–Christov fluid model is employed to govern the heat and mass flux during fluid motion. The Prandtl fluid motion is mathematically modeled using the law of conservations of mass, momentum, and energy. The set of coupled nonlinear PDEs is converted to ODEs by employing appropriate similarity relations. The system of coupled ODEs is analytically solved using the well‐established mathematical technique of HAM. The impacts of various physical parameters over the fluid state variables are investigated by displaying their corresponding plots. The augmenting Prandtl parameter enhances the fluid velocity and reduces the temperature and concentration of the fluid. The momentum boundary layer boosts while the thermal boundary layer mitigates with the rising elastic parameter (α2) strength. Furthermore, the enhancing thermal relaxation parameter (γe)) reduces the temperature distribution, whereas the augmenting concentration parameter (γc) drops the strength of the concentration profile. The increasing Prandtl parameter declines the fluid temperature while the augmenting Schmidt number drops the fluid concentration. The comparison of the HAM technique with the numerical solution shows an excellent agreement and hence ascertains the accuracy of the applied analytical technique. This work finds applications in numerous fields involving the flow of non‐Newtonian fluids.
Mechanical Characteristics and Energy Evolution of Sandstone Three‐Point Bending Test
Authors: Qin Tao , Ren Kai , Liu Zhi , Duan Yan-Wei , Wang Lei
Published: December 2021

With the increase of underground mining depth in coal mines, the distribution of stress fields in deep mining becomes more complex, and the stress localization characteristics are obvious. In order to obtain the local mechanical properties and energy evolution of sandstone, this article is based on the three‐point bending experiment and combined with the localized failure theory to explore the evolution law of stress field, deformation field, and energy field of sandstone specimen under tensile stress during the three‐point bending experiment. The results show that during the three‐point bending test of sandstone, with the increase of the span of the three‐point bending test, the peak stress at the characteristic point shows an increasing trend, and the peak stress has obvious regional characteristics. In the vertical direction, the peak stress at the characteristic points in the upper part of the neutral layer is larger, and the peak stress at the characteristic points in the lower part of the neutral layer is smaller. In the horizontal direction, the peak stress at the characteristic points in the near field is higher, and the peak stress at the characteristic points in the middle field and the far field is smaller. The stress field and the deformation field have a good corresponding relationship. The upper far‐field peak strain tends to decrease with the increase of the span, and the upper near‐field peak strain first decreases and then increases with the increase of the span. The lower near‐field peak strain tends to decrease and then increase with increasing span, and the lower far‐field peak strain fluctuates with increasing span. The energy field is dependent on the stress field and the deformation field, showing obvious regional characteristics. The energy storage and release capacity of the upper area are higher than those of the lower area. The overall performance of the loading energy storage, rebound energy release, and crack propagation energy release in different areas can be described as far field < mid‐field << near field. The near‐field energy at different spans presents the characteristics of two stages. When the span is between 140 mm and 150 mm, the near‐field energy shows a rapid decreasing trend, and when the span is between 150 mm and 180 mm, the near‐field energy presents an obvious increasing trend.
Caveolin-1 Is Essential for the Improvement of Insulin Sensitivity through AKT Activation during Glargine Treatment on Diabetic Mice
Authors: Peng Hangya , Mu Panwei , Li Haicheng , Lin Shuo , Lin Chuwen , Lin Keyi , Liu Kunying , Zeng Wen , Zeng Longyi
Published: December 2021

Insulin treatment was confirmed to reduce insulin resistance, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) is a functional protein of the membrane lipid rafts, known as caveolae, and is widely expressed in mammalian adipose tissue. There is increasing evidence that show the involvement of Cav-1 in the AKT activation, which is responsible for insulin sensitivity. Our aim was to investigate the effect of Cav-1 depletion on insulin sensitivity and AKT activation in glargine-treated type 2 diabetic mice. Mice were exposed to a high-fat diet and subject to intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin to induce diabetes. Next, glargine was administered to treat T2DM mice for 3 weeks (insulin group). The expression of Cav-1 was then silenced by injecting lentiviral-vectored short hairpin RNA (shRNA) through the tail vein of glargine-treated T2DM mice (CAV1-shRNA group), while scramble virus injection was used as a negative control (Ctrl-shRNA group). The results showed that glargine was able to upregulate the expression of PI3K and activate serine phosphorylation of AKT through the upregulation of Cav-1 expression in paraepididymal adipose tissue of the insulin group. However, glargine treatment could not activate AKT pathway in Cav-1 silenced diabetic mice. These results suggest that Cav-1 is essential for the activation of AKT and improving insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic mice during glargine treatment.
Potential Mechanisms of Triptolide against Diabetic Cardiomyopathy Based on Network Pharmacology Analysis and Molecular Docking
Authors: Zhu Ning , Huang Bingwu , Zhu Liuyan , Wang Yi
Published: December 2021

The incidence of heart failure was significantly increased in patients with diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). The therapeutic effect of triptolide on DCM has been reported, but the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. This study is aimed at investigating the potential targets of triptolide as a therapeutic strategy for DCM using a network pharmacology approach. Triptolide and its targets were identified by the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database. DCM-associated protein targets were identified using the comparative toxicogenomics database and the GeneCards database. The networks of triptolide-target genes and DCM-associated target genes were created by Cytoscape. The common targets and enriched pathways were identified by the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. The gene-gene interaction network was analyzed by the GeneMANIA database. The drug-target-pathway network was constructed by Cytoscape. Six candidate protein targets were identified in both triptolide target network and DCM-associated network: STAT3, VEGFA, FOS, TNF, TP53, and TGFB1. The gene-gene interaction based on the targets of triptolide in DCM revealed the interaction of these targets. Additionally, five key targets that were linked to more than three genes were determined as crucial genes. The GO analysis identified 10 biological processes, 2 cellular components, and 10 molecular functions. The KEGG analysis identified 10 signaling pathways. The docking analysis showed that triptolide fits in the binding pockets of all six candidate targets. In conclusion, the present study explored the potential targets and signaling pathways of triptolide as a treatment for DCM. These results illustrate the mechanism of action of triptolide as an anti-DCM agent and contribute to a better understanding of triptolide as a transcriptional regulator of cytokine mRNA expression.
The SP/NK1R System-Mediated ROS Generation in GBM Cells through Inhibiting Glutaredoxin Protein
Authors: Mehrabani Negeen , Vaezi Kakhki Mohammad Reza , Javid Hossein , Ebrahimi Safieh , Hashemy Seyed Isaac
Published: December 2021

Altered redox balance is among the main contributing factors developing glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a highly aggressive grade IV brain tumor. Neuropeptide substance P (SP) plays a key role in modifying the cellular redox environment by activating the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R). In this study, we aimed to investigate the redox-modulating properties of both SP and a commercially available NK1R antagonist, aprepitant in GBM cells. To detect the effect of aprepitant on the viability of U87 glioblastoma cells, resazurin assay was applied. The level of intracellular ROS was assessed using 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H2DCFDA) assay. The expression of glutaredoxin, a well-known redox-active protein, was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Concurrently, the activity of glutaredoxin was also analyzed by a commercial kit (ZellBio GmbH). We found that SP increased the intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in U87 GBM cells, and aprepitant remarkably decreased this effect. We also explored the effects of SP/NK1R signaling on the glutaredoxin system as a major cellular redox buffer in GBM cells. SP reduced both expression and enzymatic activity of glutaredoxin, and these effects were significantly decreased by aprepitant. In conclusion, our results suggest a possible involvement of SP/NK1R signaling in GBM pathogenesis through oxidative stress and offering new insight for the application of aprepitant as a redox-modulating strategy in GBM patients.
Up-to-Date Clinical and Biochemical Workup of the Child and the Adolescent with a Suspected Disorder of Sex Development
Authors: Grinspon Romina P. , Castro Sebastián , Rey Rodolfo A.
Published: December 2021

Background: The suspicion of a disorder of sex development (DSD) often arises at birth, when the newborn presents with ambiguous genitalia, or even during prenatal ultrasound assessments. Less frequently, the aspect of the external genitalia is typically female or male, and the diagnosis of DSD may be delayed until a karyotype is performed for another health issue, or until pubertal age when a girl presents with absence of thelarche and/or menarche or a boy consults for gynaecomastia and/or small testes. Summary: In this review, we provide a practical, updated approach to clinical and hormonal laboratory workup of the newborn, the child, and the adolescent with a suspected DSD. We focus on how to specifically address the diagnostic approach according to the age and presentation. Key Message: We particularly highlight the importance of a detailed anatomic description of the external and internal genitalia, adequate imaging studies or surgical exploration, the assessment of reproductive hormone levels – especially testosterone, anti-Müllerian hormone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, and gonadotropins – and karyotyping.
Reproductive Failure and Thrombophilia: Not Enough Evidence for a Tight Bond
Authors: Stamou Maria , Intzes Stergios , Symeonidou Marianthi , Bazntiara Ioanna , Bezirgiannidou Zoe , Pentidou Aikaterini , Misidou Christina , Liapis Konstantinos , Margaritis Dimitrios , Kotsianidis Ioannis , Spanoudakis Emmanouil
Published: December 2021

Objectives: The role of hereditary thrombophilia in reproductive failure (RF) is strongly debatable. In this retrospective single-center study, we analyzed pregnancy outcome in 175 women screened for thrombophilia after at least one event of RF. Results: The prevalence of thrombophilia in our cohort was 33.4%. Pregnancy survival curves were not different according to severity (log-rank, p = 0.302) or type of thrombophilia (log-rank, p = 0.532). In total, 81.7% of 175 subsequent pregnancies were proceeded with LMWH. Concomitant use of ASA was prescribed in 75 pregnancies according to physician choice. The primary endpoint was live birth rate (LBR) that succeeded in 152/175 next pregnancies (86.8%) and late obstetric complications (LOBC) which occurred in 17/175 next pregnancies (9.8%). In logistic regression analysis, neither the severity nor the type of thrombophilia was important for any pregnancy outcome (LBR or LOBC). Considering therapeutic interventions, the use of LMWH ± ASA was not related to LBR or LOBC. The only factor inversely related to LBR was age above the cutoff value of 35.5 years (p = 0.049). Conclusions: Incidence of thrombophilia is increased among women with RF, but the severity or type of thrombophilia is not related to pregnancy outcome.
Using Circ-ANAPC7 as a Novel Type of Biomarker in the Monitoring of Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Shen Ying , Jia Yachun , Zhang Ru , Chen Hongli , Feng Yuandong , Li Fangmei , Wang Ting , Bai Ju , He Aili , Yang Yun
Published: December 2021

Introduction: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel class of RNAs which occupy gene expression at the transcriptional or post-transcriptional level, involve in many physiological processes, and participate in many diseases, especially in cancer. Our previous study showed 1 altered circRNA named circ-anaphase promoting complex subunit 7 (ANAPC7) that was upregulated in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). To further clear the expression and clinical significance of circ-ANAPC7, we enlarged the sample size and illuminated the diagnostic and monitoring value of circ-ANAPC7 in AML. Methods: Real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was supposed to confirm the expression of circ-ANAPC7 of AML patients. We assessed the correlation of circ-ANAPC7 and clinical variables using the Spearman correlation test. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was carried out to evaluate the diagnostic value. Results: Circ-ANAPC7 was first found to be upregulated in AML, and its expression was correlated to white blood cell counts in peripheral blood and blast percentage in bone marrow. ROC curve analysis revealed that circ-ANAPC7 has a significant value of auxiliary AML diagnosis (area under the curve = 0.915, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the expression level of circ-ANAPC7 was changed accompanied with disease condition transformation. Conclusion: Circ-ANAPC7 was upregulated in newly diagnosed and relapsed AML. It may serve as potential biomarkers for AML patient’s diagnosis and monitoring.
Two Sides of a Coin: Case Report of Unilateral Synangiosis and Contralateral Stroke Highlighting Consequences of Disease Progression and Efficacy of Revascularization in Sickle Cell Disease-Associated Moyamoya Syndrome
Authors: Slingerland Anna L. , Karsten Madeline B. , Smith Edward R. , Sobota Amy E. , See Alfred P.
Published: December 2021

Moyamoya syndrome increases the risk of stroke in sickle cell disease, but revascularization surgery can modify this risk. Collaborative management between hematology and neurosurgery offers effective strategies to reduce stroke risk in these patients. We describe a challenging case where a patient with sickle cell disease undergoing standard of care management as prescribed by the Stroke Prevention Trial in Sickle Cell Anemia and revascularization with pial synangiosis subsequently developed rapidly progressive disease in other cerebral vessels and suffered ischemic hemispheric stroke. This case not only demonstrates the success of management in accordance with the American Heart Association (AHA) and American Stroke Association (ASA) guidelines but also demonstrates critical areas where we lack understanding of disease progression.
Abstract 124: Patient-Identified Factors Related to Heart Failure Readmissions
Authors: Retrum Jessica H , Boggs Jennifer , Hersh Andrew , Wright Leslie , Main Deborah S , Magid David J , Allen Larry A
Published: December 2021

Background

: Readmission following hospitalization for heart failure (HF) has received increasing attention yet relatively little is known about its root causes. The purpose of our study was to systematically investigate the experiences of patients to gain a better understanding of factors related to readmission. Although prior studies have relied on administrative databases, retrospective chart review, and single-question surveys, ours involves systematic, in-depth primary data collection.

Methods

: Qualitative semi-structured interviews, paired with chart reviews, were conducted on 28 patients readmitted within 6 months of index hospitalization for HF. Interview questions focused on reasons for readmission and other readmission-related topics and suggestions for improving care. Combinations of both inductive and deductive qualitative approaches were used to code and interpret data.

Results

: Patient median age was 61, 29% were African American, Latino, or Native American, 50% were married, 32% had preserved ejection fraction, with multimorbidity common. Adherence to self-care behaviors (diet, fluid, medications) was high for most patients. Depression and anxiety, comorbidities, access to care, and economic hardship were identified as significant difficulties for many patients in managing HF. Patient perspectives on the causes of readmission coalesced into 4 common themes: 1) symptom focused (rather than diagnoses based), 2) readmission was unavoidable, often due to the inexorable progression of HF, 3) self-blaming for behaviors related to self care, and 4) health care system failures, including premature discharge from index hospitalization. Interestingly, patient perspectives about reasons for readmission were multi-dimensional in nature, with any single reason rarely given. Patient interviews and provider documentation in charts, while not conflicting, generally did not offer similar causes of readmission in the majority of cases.

Conclusions

: Our study provides the first systematic qualitative assessment of patient perspectives on HF readmission. Contrary to previous research, we found that patient experiences highlighted a variety of contributing factors for readmission which made it difficult to categorize a readmission as preventable. These findings highlight the importance of considering the patient perspective in designing policies and interventions aimed at reducing unnecessary HF readmissions.
Redescription of Ektaphelenchoides compsi Baujard, 1984 (Tylenchina: Aphelenchoididae) isolated from Pinus massoniana in Fujian Province, China
Authors: Li Hongmei , Gu Jianfeng , Fang Yiwu , Ma Xinxin , Munawar Maria
Published: December 2021

Ektaphelenchoides compsi is redescribed morphologically with new molecular characterisation. It was isolated from a dead Pinus massoniana tree in Ningde City, Fujian Province, China. Detailed morphology of the spicule, female gonad, hemizonid position, arrangement of male caudal papillae and female tail terminus shape are documented. It is characterised by a lateral field with three lines (forming two bands), tripartite stylet 17.8 (17.0-19.4) μm long without basal thickenings, metacorpus rectangular with anterior 40% granular and posterior part weakly muscular, metacorpal valve slightly posterior to middle of metacorpus, excretory pore at level of nerve ring, vagina with thickened walls and strongly developed muscular bundles, vulval lips slightly protuberant, vulval flap absent, distal region of post-vulval uterine sac appearing as a weakly developed oogonia, anus and rectum indistinct, female posterior part (‘tail’) dorsally convex, conical, terminal region contracted into a bluntly pointed tip. The spicules are arcuate, 15.6 (14.3-16.3) μm along the chord, lamina smoothly curved to distal end, capitulum slightly concave, condylus well-developed with broadly rounded tip and slightly depressed at dorsal end, rostrum triangular with finely rounded tip, cucullus absent, and with seven caudal papillae present. The near full length 18S and 28S D2-D3 regions of rRNA genes sequences were characterised. The phylogenetic analyses revealed that the Fujian population of E. compsi grouped with the Zhejiang population of E. compsi, both being morphologically identical.
Self-Defence and a Phronetic Use of Violence: A Christian Response to Muslim-mob Attacks in Northern Nigeria
Authors: Atsen Isuwa Y.
Published: December 2021

The sermon on the mount has often been used to support a nonviolent response to any form of injustice and violent attacks against Christians. This article argues that the sermon, understood in its original Old and New Testament contexts, does not necessarily support a wholesale prohibition of the use of violence. It also argues that the implicit ethical theory of the sermon – and the New Testament in general – is a combination of a virtue ethics and a divine command theory. On this premise, one is able to show that a measured use of violence for self-defence is a theologically tenable Christian response to unauthorized attacks. This measured use of violence for self-defence is qualified by a Christian phronesis or practical wisdom, which takes into full account both the teaching of Jesus on love of the enemy and the contextual or existential realities of Christians facing violent attacks in northern Nigeria.
What is Early Modern History?: An Origin Story
Authors: Wiesner-Hanks Merry
Published: December 2021

What Is Early Modern History?, a volume in the Polity Press “What Is History?” series, is an origin story of the ways historians and those in other fields have seen – and contested – the roots of the modern world and have seen – and contested – whether the period between 1450 and 1800 forms some sort of coherent whole. This essay explains the book’s conceptualization and organization into various subfields, including economic, social, intellectual, cultural, gender, Atlantic world, and environmental history, and responds to the other essays in this forum. The essay and the book discuss the marks of an emerging modernity that have been advanced in different subfields, and ways these have been questioned, nuanced, and rethought. No matter what aspect of life historians investigate, they are likely to see the roots of modernity there, or of multiple modernities, varied and contingent on culture and historical circumstances.
The Global Early Modern
Authors: Mukherjee Rila
Published: December 2021

This essay, investigating India’s history within the “global early modern” from 1500 to 1800, distinguishes between the “early modern” and the “global early modern.” While the latter label is more inclusive, I conclude that changes visible in earlier periods were more radical, enabling India to participate meaningfully in the “global Middle Ages.” India showed ambivalence in negotiating the “global early modern.”
Contextualizing four-stage legal transitions in convergent evolution
Authors: Su Pengfei , Shen Wei
Published: December 2021

This article posits that both Roman and early Chinese states underwent four stages in their multiple-step transformations from local states to major empires during the classical period. For both states, at stage 2, one dominant state formed alliance with a group of smaller autonomous polities, and at stage 3 that dominant state deepened its regulation of the smaller polities whose autonomy was curtailed. There existed striking similarities between Rome and China (early Han Empire) at stages 2 and 3 regarding the constitutional rules enforced by the two central governments to control the newly-acquired subordinate territories, which were the Macedonian/Greek states for Rome and the vassal kingdoms in eastern territories for Han Empire. In particular, this article discusses: (i) why Macedonian/Greek states have been chosen for comparative studies; (ii) similar constitutional rules at stage 2 governing the two empires’ relationships with their subordinate polities; (iii) similar legal rules at stage 3 aiming at dividing up the territories of the subordinate polities and restraining their self-rule; (iv) similar stage-3 constitutional rules that preserved some autonomy for the subordinate polities; and (v) similar stage-3 legal rules that regulated certain economic activities of the subordinate polities. After analyzing Roman governance of Macedonia/Greece within the broader context of Roman institutions for territorial integration, the article explores the underlying trends and deeper mechanism that led to such convergent evolution of legal rules.
‘In the hope to have judged a good sentence as merchants’
Authors: Fieremans Niels
Published: December 2021

Arbitration is a form of conflict resolution that was popular in commercial disputes in medieval times. Its informal nature and ability to mediate the shortcomings of the formal courts have made it the supreme example of merchants solving their own disputes. However, there has been relatively little inquiry into its actual practice. This article investigates the functions and practice of arbitration in medieval Bruges, where arbitration was frequently used as a form of conflict resolution. This was not because merchants preferred extra-judicial proceedings, but because arbitration was a necessary procedure to deal with the shortcomings of the judicial framework of the aldermen of Bruges. Arbitration was exercised as a specific consequence of the context in which Bruges found itself in the second half of the fifteenth century. This context, however, also undermined the procedure. The ambivalent attitude of the Bruges aldermen towards arbitration and its impossibility to appeal allowed some undertaking merchants to use the procedure to their own benefit, and not necessarily to the benefit of commerce.
Begonia fenshuilingensis, a new species in Begonia sect. Platycentrum (Begoniaceae) from southeastern Yunnan, China
Authors: FENG XIN-XIN , LIU ZHI-XIAN , WEI DAN , LI REN-KUN , HUANG YU-NI , GUO LE-DONG , GUO WEI , CHEN SU-FANG
Published: December 2021

Begonia fenshuilingensis X.X.Feng, R.K.Li & Z.X.Liu, a new species in Begonia sect. Platycentrum (Klotzsch) A.DC. (Begoniaceae) from southeastern Yunnan, China, is here described and illustrated. It morphologically resembles B. dryadis and B. daweishanensis, but differs by its fleshy trigonous-ellipsoid capsules without wings. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of ITS sequence data supports the new species as monophyletic, and distinct from the two similar species. Due to its limited distribution, we consider the new taxon as “Vulnerable D2” (VU D2) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.
Julmarichardiidae, a new apseudoidean family (Crustacea: Tanaidacea: Apseudomorpha) with the description of a new species of Julmarichardia Guţu, 1995 from the Northwest Australian Shelf
Authors: MORALÉS-NÚÑEZ ANDRES G. , HEARD RICHARD W.
Published: December 2021

A new tanaidacean family Julmarichardiidae is designated to receive the Indo-Pacific genus Julmarichardia Guţu. The new family is characterized by having a prominent rostrum, a strongly developed coxal process of pereopod-1 with plumose setae and sometimes spines, and the presence of mucus glands and packets throughout its body. The latter appear to be involved in the construction of a mucus domicile. Based on distinctive antennal and pereopodal characters, the South China Sea species, J. bajau Bamber & Sheader, is placed in a new monotypic genus. A second Australian species is described from specimens collected on the northwestern continental shelf from depths of 37 to 83 m. The new species can be distinguished from its sympatric congener J. gutui Ritger & Heard by a variety of characters, including the lack of setulose setae on the rostral margin and the posterior margin of pereopod-1 having three or fewer setulate setae. It differs from J. alinati Guţu, by the shape and/or spination of the rostrum, antennule, and antenna. Julmarichardia dollfusi (Guţu) is removed from Julmarichardia and designated as Metapseudidae incertae sedis. A key to the six species comprising the genus Julmarichardia is presented.