bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Unsteady boundary layer flow of Williamson nanofluids over a heated permeable stretching sheet embedded in porous medium in the presence of viscous dissipation
Authors: Hunegnaw H. D. 
Published: June 2022

The main objective of this paper is to focus on a numerical study of unsteady boundary layer flow of Williamson Nanofluids over a heated permeable stretching sheet embedded in porous medium in the presence of viscous dissipation. A mathematical modeled which resembles the physical flow problem has been developed. By using an appropriate transformation, we converted the system of dimensional nonlinear partial differential equations into system of coupled dimensionless ordinary differential equations. Numerical solutions of these equations are obtained by Runge-Kutta fourth order with shooting method. The velocity, temperature and concentration distributions are discussed numerically and presented through graphs. The numerical values of reduced skin-friction coefficient, Nusselt number and Sherwood number at the plate are derived and discussed numerically for various values of physical parameters which are presented through tables. The present results have been compared with existing one for some limiting case and found excellent validation. It is analyzed that the reduced skin friction coefficient enhances with increasing values of an unsteady parameter, magnetic parameter and porosity parameter. In addition, we observe that decrement in velocity profile of the fluid flow is observed for increasing values of the non-Newtonian Williamson parameter and a rise in Eckert number leads to the enhancement of the temperature of the fluid in the thermal boundary layer.
Nanocatalytic Efficacy of Silver Nanoparticles Fabricated using <i>Chaetomorpha antennina</i> Algal Extract, Their Characterization, and Its Applications
Authors: Kingslin A. , Kalimuthu K. , Viswanathan P. 
Published: June 2022

Silver nanoparticles (SNPs) were synthesized by using an aqueous extract of the green seaweed Chaetomorpha antennina. Synthesized SNPs were characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, FESEM, EDAX, and DLS with Zeta potential techniques. The formation of SNPs is confirmed by the appearance signatory brown color of the solution and a characteristic peak at 452 nm in the UV-Vis spectrum. FTIR spectrum indicated 11 intense peaks with different functional groups in capping the nanoparticles. The SNP lattice is unaffected by other molecules in the algal extract, as revealed in the XRD pattern, and the average size was 21 nm according to the full width at half minimum. FESEM images revealed that the synthesized SNPs are spherical in morphology, with sizes ranging from 69.99 to 99.19 nm. The EDX result indicates that Ag-NPs display an absorption peak at 3 keV shows the presence of the silver element. The obtained zeta potential value of SNPs through the DLS method was –27.4 mV. The seedling growth was positively affected by a specific concentration of SNPs. In the antioxidant activity, the IC50 value was 384.13 μg/mL. The SNPs react with earthworm Lampito mauritii in the mortality rate of 25% and 100% for 3 min.
Outcomes of Early Development of Hyponatremia in Acute ST-Elevated Myocardial Infarction Patients: A Study in a Tertiary Hospital
Authors: Sowdagar Mohammad Nizamul Hossain , Ahmad Mushtaq , Khan AKM Musa , Jabbar Zahida , Rahman Md Mukhlesur , Sultan Md Ashraf Uddin 
Published: June 2022

Background: Coronary heart disease is a global health problem and a major cause of death in both developed and developing countries. Clinical importance of hyponatremia in ST-elevated acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) is an important topic of study among present researchers.
Objective: To assess the outcomes and prognostic implications of early development of hyponatremia inhospitalized acute ST-elevated myocardial infarction patients.
Methods: This is a prospective observational study performed in the department of Cardiology, Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka from July 2018 to June 2019. A purposive sampling technique was used on 82 patients with ST-elevated acute myocardial infarction admitted in CCU and treated with thrombolysis. They were evaluated for serum sodium level at admission and at 48 hours after admission. Here sodium concentration <135 mmol/L is defined as Hyponartemia. Fourty one patients with hyponatremia were included in Group-I and 41 patients with normal sodium level were included in Group-II. Then the in-hospital outcome variables were analyzed.
Results: Among the study population 86.58% were male and 13.42% were female. Age range was 25 years to 74 years. Considering risk factors highest percentage of study population in group- I had hypertension (60.97%) followed by dyslipidemia (51.21%), diabetes mellitus (51.21%), history of smoking (53.60%), and family history of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) (31.14%). There were five outcome variables such as heart failure, cardiogenic shock, arrhythmia, duration of hospital stay and death. 10 patients died in Group-I and 2 patients died in Group-II. Among the outcome variables death, heart failure and hospital stay was more in Group-I and was statistically significant. hospital outcome of study population according to serum sodium level. Considering in hospital outcome heart failure occurred in 14 patients (p= .001), arrhythmia developed in 17 patients (p=0.108), cardiogenic shock occurred in 9 patients (p=0.354) and death occurred in 10 patients (p=0.002). P-Value of heart failure and death was statistically significant.
Conclusion: Early developed hyponatremia in patients with ST-elevated acute myocardial infarction was an independent predictor of prognosis. It has been found that heart failure, duration of hospital stay and death was more in hyponatremic patients and prognosis worsen with increasing severity of hyponatremia. Plasma sodium level may serve as a simple marker to identify patients at high risk.
University Heart Journal Vol. 17, No. 1, Jan 2021; 16-21
Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Modulate Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cell Viability and the Expression of Cell Cycle Regulators in an Age-dependent Manner
Authors: Fichtel Pascal , von Bonin Malte , Kuhnert Robert , Möbus Kristin , Bornhäuser Martin , Wobus Manja 
Published: June 2022

Aging of the hematopoietic system is characterized by an expansion of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) with reduced capacity for engraftment, self-renewal, and lymphoid differentiation, resulting in myeloid-biased hematopoiesis. This process is mediated by both HSPC intrinsic and extrinsic factors, e.g., the stromal environment. A relevant cellular component of the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment are mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) which regulate fate and differentiation of HSPCs. The bi-directional communication with HSPCs is mediated either by direct cell-cell contacts or by extracellular vesicles (EVs) which carry bioactive substances such as small RNA, DNA, lipids and proteins. So far, the impact of MSC-derived EVs on human hematopoietic aging is poorly investigated. BM MSCs were isolated from young (n = 3, median age: 22 years) and aged (n = 3, median age: 70 years) donors and the EVs were isolated after culturing the confluent cell layer in serum-free medium for 48 h. CD34+ HSPCs were purified from peripheral blood of healthy donors (n = 3, median age: 65 years) by magnetic sorting. Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and western blot detection of EV markers CD63, CD81 and Flotillin-1 revealed no significant differences between young and aged MSC-EVs. Interestingly, young MSCs secreted a significantly higher miRNA concentration than aged cells. However, the amount of distinct miRNAs such as miR-29a and miR-34a was significantly higher in aged MSC-EVs. HSPCs incubated with young EVs showed a significant increase in cell number and a higher viability. The expression of the tumor suppressors PTEN, a known target of mir-29a, and CDKN2A was increased in HSPCs incubated with young EVs. The clonogenic assay demonstrated a decreased colony number of CFU-GM after treatment with young EVs and an increased number of BFU-E/CFU-E after incubation with aged MSC-EVs. Xenogenic transplantation experiments showed no significant differences concerning the engraftment of lymphoid or myeloid cell compartments, but the overall human chimerism 8–16 weeks after transplantation was higher after EV treatment. In conclusion, our data suggest that HSPC characteristics such as cell cycle activity and clonogenicity can be modulated by MSC-derived EVs. Further studies have to elucidate the potential therapeutic relevance of our findings.
Gold Nanoparticle-Functionalized Diatom Biosilica as Label-Free Biosensor for Biomolecule Detection
Authors: Chen Tongtong , Wu Feifei , Li Yang , Rozan Hussein E. , Chen Xiguang , Feng Chao 
Published: June 2022

Diatom biosilica (DBs) is the cell wall of natural diatom called frustule, which is made of porous hydrogenated amorphous silica possessing periodic micro- to nanoscale features. In this study, a simple, sensitive, and label-free photoluminescence (PL) immune-detection platform based on functionalized diatom frustules was developed. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) deposited on poly-dopamine-coated diatom frustules via in situ deposition which considerably decreased the intrinsic blue PL intensity of diatom biosilica. Then, goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulin G (IgG) was added to functionalize diatom biosilica-poly-dopamine-AuNPs (DBs-PDA-AuNPs). PL studies revealed that the specific binding with antigen rabbit IgG increased the peak intensity of PL in comparison with the non-complimentary antigen (human IgG). The enhancement in PL intensity of DBs-PDA had a linear correlation with antigen (rabbit IgG) concentration, whose limit of detection (LOD) reached 8 × 10-6 mg/ml. Furthermore, PL detection based on DBs-PDA-AuNPs showed a high detection sensitivity with the LOD as low as 8 × 10-9 mg/ml and spread over almost eight orders of magnitude, making it suitable for the sensitive quantitative analysis of immune complex compared with traditional fluorescence immunoassay. Hence, the study proves that the AuNP-functionalized diatom frustules can serve as an effective biosensor platform for label-free PL-based immunoassay.
Identification of the Key Enzymes in WL Gum Biosynthesis and Critical Composition in Viscosity Control
Authors: Li Hui , Zhang Zaimei , Liu Jianlin , Guo Zhongrui , Chen Mengqi , Li Benchao , Xue Han , Ji Sixue , Li Hang , Qin Lijian , Zhu Ling , Wang Jiqian , Zhu Hu 
Published: June 2022

As an important microbial exopolysaccharide, the sphingan WL gum could be widely used in petroleum, food, and many other fields. However, its lower production is still limiting its wider application. Therefore, to gain insights into the bottlenecks of WL gum production by identifying the key enzymes in the WL gum biosynthesis pathway, more than 20 genes were over-expressed in Sphingomonas sp. WG and their effects on WL gum production and structure were investigated. Compared to the control strain, the WL gum production of welB over-expression strain was increased by 19.0 and 21.0% at 36 and 84 h, respectively. The WL gum production of both atrB and atrD over-expression strains reached 47 g/L, which was approximately 34.5% higher than that of the control strain at 36 h. Therefore, WelB, AtrB, and AtrD may be the key enzymes in WL production. Interestingly, the broth viscosity of most over-expression strains decreased, especially the welJ over-expression strain whose viscosity decreased by 99.3% at 84 h. Polysaccharides’ structural features were investigated to find the critical components in viscosity control. The uronic acid content and total sugar content was affected by only a few genes, therefore, uronic acid and total sugar content may be not the key composition. In comparison, the acetyl degrees were enhanced by over-expression of most genes, which meant that acetyl content may be the critical factor and negatively correlated with the apparent viscosity of WL gum. This work provides useful information on the understanding of the bottlenecks of WL gum biosynthesis and will be helpful for the construction of high WL gum-yielding strains and rheological property controlling in different industries.
Obese Individuals With and Without Phlegm-Dampness Constitution Show Different Gut Microbial Composition Associated With Risk of Metabolic Disorders
Authors: Shin Juho , Li Tianxing , Zhu Linghui , Wang Qi , Liang Xue , Li Yanan , Wang Xin , Zhao Shipeng , Li Lingru , Li Yingshuai 
Published: June 2022

BackgroundObesity is conventionally considered a risk factor for multiple metabolic diseases, such as dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, not every obese patient will progress to metabolic disease. Phlegm-dampness constitution (PDC), one of the nine TCM constitutions, is considered a high-risk factor for obesity and its complications. Alterations in the gut microbiota have been shown to drive the development and progression of obesity and metabolic disease, however, key microbial changes in obese patients with PDC have a higher risk for metabolic disorders remain elusive.MethodsWe carried out fecal 16S rRNA gene sequencing in the present study, including 30 obese subjects with PDC (PDC), 30 individuals without PDC (non-PDC), and 30 healthy controls with balanced constitution (BC). Metagenomic functional prediction of bacterial taxa was achieved using PICRUSt.ResultsObese individuals with PDC had higher BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, and altered composition of their gut microbiota compared to non-PDC obese individuals. At the phylum level, the gut microbiota was characterized by increased abundance of Bacteroidetes and decreased levels of Firmicutes and Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. At the genus level, Faecalibacterium, producing short-chain fatty acid, achieving anti-inflammatory effects and strengthening intestinal barrier functions, was depleted in the PDC group, instead, Prevotella was enriched. Most PDC-associated bacteria had a stronger correlation with clinical indicators of metabolic disorders rather than more severe obesity. The PICRUSt analysis demonstrated 70 significantly different microbiome community functions between the two groups, which were mainly involved in carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism, such as promoting Arachidonic acid metabolism, mineral absorption, and Lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis, reducing Arginine and proline metabolism, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis, Glycolysis/Gluconeogenesis, and primary bile acid biosynthesis. Furthermore, a disease classifier based on microbiota was constructed to accurately discriminate PDC individuals from all obese people.ConclusionOur study shows that obese individuals with PDC can be distinguished from non-PDC obese individuals based on gut microbial characteristics. The composition of the gut microbiome altered in obese with PDC may be responsible for their high risk of metabolic diseases.
Clue Cells and Pseudo Clue Cells in Different Morphotypes of Bacterial Vaginosis
Authors: Swidsinski Alexander , Loening-Baucke Vera , Swidsinski Sonja , Sobel Jack D. , Dörffel Yvonne , Guschin Alexander 
Published: June 2022

IntroductionClue cells (epithelial cells heavily covered with adherent bacteria) are an accepted clue to the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis. However, the exact morphologic criteria of clue cells and bacterial adherence were never elaborated.Materials and MethodsWe investigated adhesive and cohesive patterns of main microbiota groups in vaginal discharge using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Samples from 500 women diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis and positive for clue cells with classic microscopy were collected from 42 gynecologic practices in Berlin and reexamined in our FISH laboratory for the spatial distribution of Bifidobacteriaceae, Gardnerella, Fannyhessea vaginae (Atopobium); low G+C (guanine+cytosine) bacteria, lactobacilli, Lactobacillus iners; Lactobacillus crispatus, Gamma-Proteobacteria; and Enterobacteriaceae, Prevotella–Bacteroides, Veillonella, and Coriobacterium groups.ResultsBacterial taxa present in vaginal smears were not accidentally assembled according to their relative abundance but were built in group-specific distribution patterns, which can be well described by two features: cohesiveness to each other and adherence to epithelial cells. Accordingly, four patterns can be distinguished: dispersed (non-adherent bacteria), dispersed adherent bacteria, cohesive (non-adherent) bacteria, and cohesive adherent bacteria. Direct cohesive adherence to the epithelial cells representing true clue cells was unique for Gardnerella species and observed only in 56% of the investigated samples. In the remaining vaginal samples, the epithelial cells were mechanically entrapped in bacterial masses, and the composition was unrelated to the epithelial cell surface, building non-adherent pseudo clue cells. The proportion of women with true clue cells in their samples from different gynecologic practices varied from 19% to 80%.DiscussionTaxon indifferent imaging is inadequate for the exact analysis of the microbial layer adjacent to the vaginal epithelial cells. Morphologically seen bacterial vaginosis is a mix of at least two different conditions: biofilm vaginosis and bacterial excess vaginosis.
Unveiling the Role of DNA Methylation in Vascular CACNA1C Tissue–Specific Expression
Authors: Zhao Meng , Xu Ting , Lei Jiahui , Ji Bingyu , Gao Qinqin 
Published: June 2022

ObjectiveCalcium voltage-gated channel subunit alpha1 C (CACNA1C) plays a critical role in many vascular physiological and pathological processes. Determining its tissue-specific expression pattern and clarifying the underlying molecular mechanisms are necessary and meaningful.MethodsWe selected several representative vessels from normal male Sprague-Dawley rats. Vessel tissue or primary vascular smooth muscle cells were isolated for vascular function, electrophysiology, gene expression and promoter methylation studies.ResultsWe found CACNA1C had tissue-specific expressions in vessels. The specific manifestations were as follows: CACNA1C expression was highest in thoracic aorta, second lowest in middle cerebral and pulmonary artery, and lowest in mesenteric artery. Excitingly, an opposing trend was observed between CACNA1C expression and its promoter methylation.ConclusionsThis study was the first report to indicate that DNA methylation could be involved in regulating CACNA1C tissue-specific expressions and vasoconstriction function in vascular system. This study not only provided more information for further understanding the physiological characteristics of vascular CACNA1C expressions, also strengthened the idea that DNA methylation plays important roles in regulating vascular smooth muscle cells function and the consequent occurrence of vascular diseases.
Brief Research Report: Quantitative Analysis of Potential Coronary Microvascular Disease in Suspected Long-COVID Syndrome
Authors: Doeblin Patrick , Steinbeis Fridolin , Scannell Cian M. , Goetze Collin , Al-Tabatabaee Sarah , Erley Jennifer , Faragli Alessandro , Pröpper Felix , Witzenrath Martin , Zoller Thomas , Stehning Christian , Gerhardt Holger , Sánchez-González Javier , Alskaf Ebraham , Kühne Titus , Pieske Burkert , Tschöpe Carsten , Chiribiri Amedeo , Kelle Sebastian 
Published: June 2022

BackgroundCase series have reported persistent cardiopulmonary symptoms, often termed long-COVID or post-COVID syndrome, in more than half of patients recovering from Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19). Recently, alterations in microvascular perfusion have been proposed as a possible pathomechanism in long-COVID syndrome. We examined whether microvascular perfusion, measured by quantitative stress perfusion cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), is impaired in patients with persistent cardiac symptoms post-COVID-19.MethodsOur population consisted of 33 patients post-COVID-19 examined in Berlin and London, 11 (33%) of which complained of persistent chest pain and 13 (39%) of dyspnea. The scan protocol included standard cardiac imaging and dual-sequence quantitative stress perfusion. Standard parameters were compared to 17 healthy controls from our institution. Quantitative perfusion was compared to published values of healthy controls.ResultsThe stress myocardial blood flow (MBF) was significantly lower [31.8 ± 5.1 vs. 37.8 ± 6.0 (μl/g/beat), P &lt; 0.001] and the T2 relaxation time was significantly higher (46.2 ± 3.6 vs. 42.7 ± 2.8 ms, P = 0.002) post-COVID-19 compared to healthy controls. Stress MBF and T1 and T2 relaxation times were not correlated to the COVID-19 severity (Spearman r = −0.302, −0.070, and −0.297, respectively) or the presence of symptoms. The stress MBF showed a U-shaped relation to time from PCR to CMR, no correlation to T1 relaxation time, and a negative correlation to T2 relaxation time (Pearson r = −0.446, P = 0.029).ConclusionWhile we found a significantly reduced microvascular perfusion post-COVID-19 compared to healthy controls, this reduction was not related to symptoms or COVID-19 severity.
Association Between Lipids and Arterial Stiffness for Primary Cardiovascular Prevention in a General Middle-Aged European Population
Authors: Vallée Alexandre 
Published: June 2022

BackgroundDyslipidemia contributes to the progression of arterial stiffness (AS). The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of the different lipid parameters with arterial stiffness index (ASI) in a middle-aged population free of cardiovascular (CV) disease.MethodsAmong 71,326 volunteers from the UK Biobank population, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)], apolipoproteins A and B (Apo A and Apo B), and ASI were measured. Values for non-HDL, TC/HDL, TG/HDL, and LDL/HDL were calculated. AS was defined as an ASI &gt; 10 m/s. Associations between lipid parameters and ASI were performed using multiple linear logistic regressions. The results reported from univariate models were the squared partial correlation coefficient, r2, and from multivariate models, the adjusted coefficient of determination, R2, to describe the contribution of ASI variability for each lipid parameter.ResultsWe found that TG/HDL was mainly associated with ASI [β = 0.53 (0.01), r2 = 3.66%, p &lt; 0.001 and adjusted β = 0.21 (0.01), R2 = 13.58%, p &lt; 0.001] and AS [odds ratio (OR) = 1.86 (1.80–1.92), r2 = 1.65%, p &lt; 0.001 and adjusted OR = 1.15 (1.13–1.17), R2 = 8.54%, p &lt; 0.001] rather than the others. TG/HDL remained the only lipid parameter that showed added value in linear multivariate models. TG/HDL remained less associated with AS than age (r2 = 5.55%, p &lt; 0.001), mean blood pressure (BP; r2 = 5.31%, p &lt; 0.001), and gender (r2 = 4.44%, p &lt; 0.001), but more highly associated than body mass index (BMI; r2 = 1.95%, p &lt; 0.001), heart rate (HR; r2 = 0.81%, p &lt; 0.001), fasting glucose (r2 = 0.18%, p &lt; 0.001), tobacco (r2 = 0.05%, p &lt; 0.001), and glomerular filtration rate (GFR; r2 = 0.01%, p &lt; 0.001).ConclusionsIn primary CV prevention, lipids, especially through the TG/HDL ratio, could be more instructive in preventing the increase in AS than other modifiable factors.