bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Analysing functional implications of differences in left ventricular morphology using statistical shape modelling
Authors: Sophocleous Froso , Standen Lucy , Doolub Gemina , Laymouna Reem , Bucciarelli-Ducci Chiara , Caputo Massimo , Manghat Nathan , Hamilton Mark , Curtis Stephanie , Biglino Giovanni 
Published: November 2022

AbstractFunctional implications of left ventricular (LV) morphological characterization in congenital heart disease are not widely explored. This study qualitatively and quantitatively assessed LV shape associations with a) LV function and b) thoracic aortic morphology in patients with aortic coarctation (CoA) with/without bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), and healthy controls. A statistical shape modelling framework was employed to analyse three-dimensional (3D) LV shapes from cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) data in isolated CoA (n = 25), CoA + BAV (n = 30), isolated BAV (n = 30), and healthy controls (n = 25). Average 3D templates and deformations were computed. Correlations between shape data and CMR-derived morphometric parameters (i.e., sphericity, conicity) or global and apical strain values were assessed to elucidate possible functional implications. The relationship between LV shape features and arch architecture was also explored. The LV template was shorter and more spherical in CoA patients. Sphericity was overall associated with global and apical radial (p = 0.001, R2 = 0.09; p < 0.0001, R2 = 0.17) and circumferential strain (p = 0.001, R2 = 0.10; p = 0.04, R2 = 0.04), irrespective of the presence of aortic stenosis and/or regurgitation and controlling for age and hypertension status. LV strain was not associated with arch architecture. Differences in LV morphology were observed between CoA and BAV patients. Increasing LV sphericity was associated with reduced strain, independent of aortic arch architecture and functional aortic valve disease.
Synthesis of CoFe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles for application in photocatalytic removal of azithromycin from wastewater
Authors: Modabberasl Ali , Pirhoushyaran Tahereh , Esmaeili-Faraj Seyyed Hamid 
Published: November 2022

AbstractAzithromycin is one of the most widely used antibiotics in medicine prescribed for various infectious diseases such as COVID-19. A significant amount of this drug is always disposed of in hospital effluents. In this study, the removal of azithromycin using Cobalt-Ferrite magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) is investigated in the presence of UV light. For this purpose, magnetic nanoparticles are synthesized and added to the test samples as a catalyst in specific proportions. To determine the structural and morphological properties of nanoparticles, characterization tests including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM), and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) are performed. 27 runs have been implemented based on the design of experiments using the Box-Behnken Design (BBD) method. Parameters are the initial concentration of azithromycin (20–60 mg/L), contact time (30–90 min), pH (6–10), and the dose of magnetic nanoparticles (20–60 mg/L). The obtained model interprets test results with high accuracy (R2 = 0.9531). Also, optimization results by the software show that the contact time of 90 min, MNP dosage of 60 mg/L, pH value of 6.67, and azithromycin initial concentration of 20 mg/L leads to the highest removal efficiency of 89.71%. These numbers are in the range of other studies in this regard.
Development of an anti-oxidative intraocular irrigating solution based on reactive persulfides
Authors: Kunikata Hiroshi , Tawarayama Hiroshi , Tsuda Satoru , Akaike Takaaki , Nakazawa Toru 
Published: November 2022

AbstractAnti-oxidative intraocular irrigating solutions (IISs) based on reactive persulfides, such as oxidized glutathione disulfide (GSSG), are commonly used worldwide. However, even with GSSG-based IISs, it has been shown that oxidative stress can occur during surgery, posing a risk to intraocular tissues. This study compared two IISs: one containing GSSG and one containing an oxidized glutathione trisulfide (GSSSG). Experimental in vivo irrigation with the IISs in rabbits showed that there was less leakage into the anterior chamber of rabbit serum albumin during perfusion with a 300-μM GSSSG IIS than with a 300-μM GSSG IIS. Experimental in vivo cataract surgery in rabbits showed that aqueous flare was suppressed 3 days after surgery with a 600-μM GSSSG IIS, but not with a 300-μM GSSSG or 300-μM GSSG IIS. Furthermore, an in vitro experiment, without any live tissue, showed that reactive oxygen species were suppressed more strongly with a 600-μM GSSSG IIS than with a 300-μM GSSG IIS. Thus, this study found that novel IISs based on GSSSG had anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects during and after intraocular surgery and may decrease the rate of complications after surgery.
Simulating anti-skyrmions on a lattice
Authors: Criado Juan C. , Schenk Sebastian , Spannowsky Michael , Hatton Peter D. , Turnbull L. A. 
Published: November 2022

AbstractMagnetic skyrmions are meta-stable spin structures that naturally emerge in magnetic materials. While a vast amount of effort has gone into the study of their properties, their counterpart of opposite topological charge, the anti-skyrmion, has not received as much attention. We aim to close this gap by deploying Monte Carlo simulations of spin-lattice systems in order to investigate which interactions support anti-skyrmions, as well as skyrmions of Bloch and Néel type. We find that the combination of ferromagnetic exchange and Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya (DM) interactions is able to stabilize each of the three types, depending on the specific structure of the DM interactions. Considering a three-dimensional spin lattice model, we provide a finite-temperature phase diagram featuring a stable anti-skyrmion lattice phase for a large range of temperatures. In addition, we also shed light on the creation and annihilation processes of these anti-skyrmion tubes and study the effects of the DM interaction strength on their typical size.
Grouting slurry diffusion range based on active heating fiber optics monitoring
Authors: Zhu Lei , Gu Wenzhe , Qiu Fengqi , Ouyang Yibo 
Published: November 2022

AbstractTo quantify the diffusion range of slurry in grouting engineering, an active heating optical fiber (AHFO) monitoring method is proposed. The AHFO is arranged on the coal seam floor. The temperature is taken as the monitoring parameter to monitor the diffusion range and state of slurry in the injected medium. Considering the time-varying characteristics of slurry rheological parameters, the theoretical calculation formula of spherical diffusion radius based on the power-law fluid is deduced. The relationship between the void ratio and grouting diffusion radius is discussed. Considering the influence of the seepage effect, the "water cement ratio change matrix" in the process of mud seepage is derived, and the influence of the space–time change of the slurry water cement ratio on the temperature gradient of the injected medium is studied. According to the factors affecting grouting diffusion, four groups of small three-dimensional simulation tests and one large three-dimensional grouting test are designed to verify the feasibility of the proposed method. The results show that the relative error of the AHFO monitoring radius is between 3.00 and 14.67%, based on the actual diffusion radius. In the large-scale three-dimensional grouting test, the data from AHFO is used to generate the two-dimensional surface of the grouting diffusion form, and the grouting diffusion range is asymmetric oval. Compared with the theoretical calculation results, the maximum relative error of grouting diffusion radius is 9.6%, and AHFO shows prediction accuracy. With the decrease in the water-cement ratio of slurry, the temperature gradient of the injection medium monitored by AHFO increases, showing an obvious space–time effect. The application of AHFO in the grouting simulation test can effectively analyze slurry diffusion in the injected medium.
Cardiorespiratory fitness decreases the odds for subclinical carotid plaques in apolipoprotein e4 homozygotes
Authors: Perez-Lasierra Jose Luis , Casajús José A. , Gonzalez-Agüero Alejandro , Arbones-Mainar José Miguel , Casasnovas José A. , Laclaustra Martin , Moreno-Franco Belén 
Published: November 2022

AbstractSome studies suggest that being an apolipoprotein e4 (APOE e4) carrier increases the risk of atherosclerosis, and others suggest that cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) could play a key role in atherosclerotic prevention. Our aim was to analyze the association ofAPOE e4with carotid atherosclerosis and the association of CRF with atherosclerosis inAPOE e4carriers. A cross-sectional analysis based on a subsample of 90 participants in the Aragon Workers’ Health Study was carried out. Ultrasonography was used to assess the presence of plaques in carotid territory; the submaximal Chester Step Test was used to assess CRF; and behavioral, demographic, anthropometric, and clinical data were obtained by trained personnel during annual medical examinations.APOE e4e4participants were categorized into Low-CRF (VO2max < 35 mL/kg/min) and High-CRF (VO2max ≥ 35 mL/kg/min) groups. After adjusting for several confounders, compared withAPOE e3e3, those participants genotyped asAPOE e3e4andAPOE e4e4showed an OR = 1.60 (95% CI 0.45, 5.71) and OR = 4.29 (95% CI 1.16, 15.91), respectively, for carotid atherosclerosis. Compared to Low-CRFAPOE e4e4carriers, the odds of carotid plaque detection were 0.09 (95% CI 0.008, 0.98) times lower among High-CRFAPOE e4e4carriers. TheAPOE e4e4genotype was associated with increased carotid atherosclerosis. However, CRF is a modifiable factor that may be targeted byAPOE e4e4to decrease the elevation of atherosclerotic risk due to this genetic condition.
Isolongifolene-loaded chitosan nanoparticles synthesis and characterization for cancer treatment
Authors: Manimaran Dharmar , Elangovan Namasivayam , Mani Panagal , Subramanian Kumaran , Ali Daoud , Alarifi Saud , Palanisamy Chella Perumal , Zhang Hongxia , Rangasamy Kowsalya , Palanisamy Vasan , Mani Renuka , Govarthanan Kavitha , Aruni Wilson , Shanmugam Rajeshkumar , Srinivasan Guru Prasad , Kalirajan Aruncahllam 
Published: November 2022

AbstractRecent breakthroughs in the field of nanoparticle-based therapeutic delivery methods have changed the standpoint of cancer therapy by effectively delaying the process of disease development. Nanoparticles have a unique capacity of good penetrating ability than other therapeutic leads used in traditional therapeutics, and also, they have the highest impact on disease management. In the current study isolongifolene-loaded Chitosan nanoparticles have been formulated, synthesized and then characterized by the use of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy. Further, the characterized chitosan nano formulation was evaluated for hemocompatibility, plasma stability, and in-vitro release. Isolongifolene-loaded chitosan nanoparticles were found to be compatible with plasma and also, they exhibited a constant release pattern. Hence, chitosan-loaded nanoparticles could be employed as an excellent adjuvant in cancer therapeutic, to combat the multi-drug resistance in solid tumors.
Generative adversarial network based data augmentation for CNN based detection of Covid-19
Authors: Gulakala Rutwik , Markert Bernd , Stoffel Marcus 
Published: November 2022

AbstractCovid-19 has been a global concern since 2019, crippling the world economy and health. Biological diagnostic tools have since been developed to identify the virus from bodily fluids and since the virus causes pneumonia, which results in lung inflammation, the presence of the virus can also be detected using medical imaging by expert radiologists. The success of each diagnostic method is measured by the hit rate for identifying Covid infections. However, the access for people to each diagnosis tool can be limited, depending on the geographic region and, since Covid treatment denotes a race against time, the diagnosis duration plays an important role. Hospitals with X-ray opportunities are widely distributed all over the world, so a method investigating lung X-ray images for possible Covid-19 infections would offer itself. Promising results have been achieved in the literature in automatically detecting the virus using medical images like CT scans and X-rays using supervised artificial neural network algorithms. One of the major drawbacks of supervised learning models is that they require enormous amounts of data to train, and generalize on new data. In this study, we develop a Swish activated, Instance and Batch normalized Residual U-Net GAN with dense blocks and skip connections to create synthetic and augmented data for training. The proposed GAN architecture, due to the presence of instance normalization and swish activation, can deal with the randomness of luminosity, that arises due to different sources of X-ray images better than the classical architecture and generate realistic-looking synthetic data. Also, the radiology equipment is not generally computationally efficient. They cannot efficiently run state-of-the-art deep neural networks such as DenseNet and ResNet effectively. Hence, we propose a novel CNN architecture that is 40% lighter and more accurate than state-of-the-art CNN networks. Multi-class classification of the three classes of chest X-rays (CXR), ie Covid-19, healthy and Pneumonia, is performed using the proposed model which had an extremely high test accuracy of 99.2% which has not been achieved in any previous studies in the literature. Based on the mentioned criteria for developing Corona infection diagnosis, in the present study, an Artificial Intelligence based method is proposed, resulting in a rapid diagnostic tool for Covid infections based on generative adversarial and convolutional neural networks. The benefit will be a high accuracy of lung infection identification with 99% accuracy. This could lead to a support tool that helps in rapid diagnosis, and an accessible Covid identification method using CXR images.
Aberrant expression of KDM1A inhibits ferroptosis of lung cancer cells through up-regulating c-Myc
Authors: Lu Can , Cai Yuan , Liu Wei , Peng Bi , Liang Qiuju , Yan Yuanliang , Liang Desheng , Xu Zhijie 
Published: November 2022

AbstractFerroptosis is a cell death process caused by metabolic dysfunction with the feature of aberrant iron accumulation. Emerging studies have identified that ferroptosis is an important biological function involving in the tumorigenesis, and targeting ferroptosis could provide promising therapeutic targets for lung cancer. However, such therapeutic strategies show limited therapeutic effect owing to drug resistance and other unknown underlying mechanisms. In this study, lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1/KDM1A) was found to be significantly upregulated in lung cancer cells and tissues. The patients with KDM1A downregulation displayed the good prognosis. Using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), we demonstrated that KDM1A-associated genes might participate in the regulation of cell ferroptosis and Myc signaling in lung cancer. Knockdown of KDM1A inhibited the level of c-Myc and increased the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) and irons in human lung cancer cells H1299 and A549. Downregulation of c-Myc could facilitate KDM1A knockdown-mediated ferroptosis. Our study has elucidated the effect of KDM1A/c-Myc regulatory axis in the ferroptosis resistance of lung cancer cells.
DNA stable isotope probing on soil treated by plant biostimulation and flooding revealed the bacterial communities involved in PCB degradation
Authors: Vergani Lorenzo , Mapelli Francesca , Folkmanova Magdalena , Papik Jakub , Jansa Jan , Uhlik Ondrej , Borin Sara 
Published: November 2022

AbstractPolychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-contaminated soils represent a major treat for ecosystems health. Plant biostimulation of autochthonous microbial PCB degraders is a way to restore polluted sites where traditional remediation techniques are not sustainable, though its success requires the understanding of site-specific plant–microbe interactions. In an historical PCB contaminated soil, we applied DNA stable isotope probing (SIP) using 13C-labeled 4-chlorobiphenyl (4-CB) and 16S rRNA MiSeq amplicon sequencing to determine how the structure of total and PCB-degrading bacterial populations were affected by different treatments: biostimulation with Phalaris arundinacea subjected (PhalRed) or not (Phal) to a redox cycle and the non-planted controls (Bulk and BulkRed). Phal soils hosted the most diverse community and plant biostimulation induced an enrichment of Actinobacteria. Mineralization of 4-CB in SIP microcosms varied between 10% in Bulk and 39% in PhalRed soil. The most abundant taxa deriving carbon from PCB were Betaproteobacteria and Actinobacteria. Comamonadaceae was the family most represented in Phal soils, Rhodocyclaceae and Nocardiaceae in non-planted soils. Planted soils subjected to redox cycle enriched PCB degraders affiliated to Pseudonocardiaceae, Micromonosporaceae and Nocardioidaceae. Overall, we demonstrated different responses of soil bacterial taxa to specific rhizoremediation treatments and we provided new insights into the populations active in PCB biodegradation.
Reduction of glutamatergic activity through cholinergic dysfunction in the hippocampus of hippocampal cholinergic neurostimulating peptide precursor protein knockout mice
Authors: Suzuki Kengo , Ohi Yoshiaki , Sato Toyohiro , Tsuda Yo , Madokoro Yuta , Mizuno Masayuki , Adachi Kenichi , Uchida Yuto , Haji Akira , Ojika Kosei , Matsukawa Noriyuki 
Published: November 2022

AbstractCholinergic activation can enhance glutamatergic activity in the hippocampus under pathologic conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the relationship between glutamatergic neural functional decline and cholinergic neural dysfunction in the hippocampus. We report the importance of hippocampal cholinergic neurostimulating peptide (HCNP) in inducing acetylcholine synthesis in the medial septal nucleus. Here, we demonstrate that HCNP-precursor protein (pp) knockout (KO) mice electrophysiologically presented with glutamatergic dysfunction in the hippocampus with age. The impairment of cholinergic function via a decrease in vesicular acetylcholine transporter in the pre-synapse with reactive upregulation of the muscarinic M1 receptor may be partly involved in glutamatergic dysfunction in the hippocampus of HCNP-pp KO mice. The results, in combination with our previous reports that show the reduction of hippocampal theta power through a decrease of a region-specific choline acetyltransferase in the stratum oriens of CA1 and the decrease of acetylcholine concentration in the hippocampus, may indicate the defined cholinergic dysfunction in HCNP-pp KO mice. This may also support that HCNP-pp KO mice are appropriate genetic models for cholinergic functional impairment in septo-hippocampal interactions. Therefore, according to the cholinergic hypothesis, the model mice might are potential partial pathological animal models for Alzheimer’s disease.
Extracellular electrons transferred from honey probiotic Bacillus circulans inhibits inflammatory acne vulgaris
Authors: Kao Hsin-Jou , Balasubramaniam Arun , Chen Chun-Chuan , Huang Chun-Ming 
Published: November 2022

AbstractBacillus circulans (B. circulans) is widely used as an electrogenic bacterium in microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology. This study evaluated whether B. circulans can ferment glucose to generate electricity and mitigate the effects of human skin pathogens. The electricity production of B. circulans was examined by measuring the voltage difference and verified using a ferrozine assay in vitro. To investigate the fermentation effects of B. circulans on inhibition of human skin pathogens, Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) was injected intradermally into mice ears to induce an inflammatory response. The results revealed that the glucose–B. circulans co-culture enhanced electricity production and significantly supressed C. acnes growth. The addition of roseoflavin to inhibit flavin production considerably reduced the electrical energy generated by B. circulans through metabolism and, in vivo test, recovered C. acnes count and macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2) levels. This suggests that B. circulans can generate electrons that affect the growth of C. acnes through flavin-mediated electron transfer and alleviate the resultant inflammatory response. Our findings demonstrate that probiotics separated from natural substances and antimicrobial methods of generating electrical energy through carbon source fermentation can help in the treatment of bacterial infections.
Body weight-supported gait training for patients with spinal cord injury: a network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Authors: Yang Fu-An , Chen Shih-Ching , Chiu Jing-Fang , Shih Ya-Chu , Liou Tsan-Hon , Escorpizo Reuben , Chen Hung-Chou 
Published: November 2022

AbstractDifferent body weight-supported gait-training strategies are available for improving ambulation in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). These include body weight-supported overground training (BWSOGT), body weight-supported treadmill training (BWSTT), and robot-assisted gait training (RAGT). We conducted a network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the effect and priority of each training protocol. We searched the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Embase databases from inception to 6 August 2022. The eligibility criteria were as follows: (1) being RCTs, (2) recruiting participants with SCI diagnosis and requiring gait training, (3) comparing different body weight-supported gait training strategies, and (4) involving ambulatory assessments. We conducted a network meta-analysis to compare different training strategies using the standard mean difference and its 95% credible interval. To rank the efficacy of training strategies, we used the P score as an indicator. Inconsistency in network meta-analysis was evaluated using loop-specific heterogeneity. We included 15 RCTs in this analysis. RAGT was had significantly more favourable performance than had the control intervention. The ranking probabilities indicated that the most effective approach was RAGT, followed by BWSOGT, BWSTT, and the control intervention. No significant inconsistency was noted between the results of the direct and indirect comparisons.
Effects of deep neuromuscular block on surgical pleth index-guided remifentanil administration in laparoscopic herniorrhaphy: a prospective randomized trial
Authors: Yi In Kyong , Kim Jin-Soo , Hur Hoon , Han Do-Gyun , Kim Ji Eun 
Published: November 2022

AbstractDeep neuromuscular block (NMB) has been increasingly utilized, but its role in reducing intraoperative opioid requirement has yet to be investigated. Surgical pleth index (SPI) quantifies nociception. We investigated the effects of deep NMB on SPI-guided remifentanil administration in laparoscopic herniorrhaphy. Total 128 patients undergoing laparoscopic inguinal herniorrhaphy were randomly allocated to two groups of NMB: deep (n = 64) and moderate (n = 64). The remifentanil dose was assessed during intubation, from skin incision until CO2insertion, and pneumoperitoneum. Mean infusion rate of remifentanil during pneumoperitoneum was higher in moderate NMB group than in deep NMB group (0.103 [0.075–0.143] µg/kg/min vs. 0.073 [0.056–0.097] µg/kg/min,p < 0.001). Consequently, median infusion rate of remifentanil during anesthesia was higher in moderate NMB group (0.076 [0.096–0.067] µg/kg/min vs. 0.067 [0.084–0.058] µg/kg/min,p = 0.016). The duration of post-anesthesia care unit stay was longer in the moderate NMB group (40 [30–40] min vs. 30 [30–40] min,p = 0.045). In conclusion, deep NMB reduced the remifentanil requirement compared with moderate NMB in SPI-guided anesthesia for laparoscopic herniorrhaphy.