bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Energy and Exergy Based Thermal Analysis of a Solar Assisted Yogurt Processing Unit
Authors: Husnain Syed Nabeel , Amjad Waseem , Munir Anjum , Hensel Oliver 
Published: June 2022

Energy and exergy based thermal analysis was conducted for a solar assisted yogurt processing unit capable of performing required heating and cooling processes in a single container. The system consisted of a round-shaped fermentation chamber connected with a hot water storage tank coupled with an evacuated tube collector and a pillow plate at the bottom of the chamber for cooling through a PV-operated refrigeration unit. Experiments were conducted using three different volumes of cow’s raw milk (30, 40, and 50 L). Energy analysis showed that 40% of the total energy was consumed during the heating process of raw milk in all cases, with an overall heat transfer efficiency of more than 80%. The specific product energy was calculated to be lower (485 kJ/kg) for the higher volume of milk (50 L). The exergy losses in the compressor of the refrigeration unit were calculated almost constant (1.0037 kW), while the exergy recovered during the refrigeration process was found in the range of 0.48–4.54 kJ/kg, 1.35–3.96 kJ/kg, and 0.84–6.18 kJ/kg for 50, 40, and 30 L of batches, respectively. Out of the total available power (2218 W) at the evacuated tube collector, 69.70% of energy was available for milk heating. The study is useful for designing optimization based on the distribution of energy and losses at various system components.
Evaluation of ABCA1 and FNDC3B Gene Polymorphisms Associated With Pseudoexfoliation Glaucoma and Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma in a Saudi Cohort
Authors: Kondkar Altaf A. , Sultan Tahira , Azad Taif A. , Osman Essam A. , Almobarak Faisal A. , Lobo Glenn P. , Al-Obeidan Saleh A. 
Published: June 2022

Objective: It is plausible that common disease mechanisms exist in glaucoma pathophysiology. Accordingly, we investigated the genetic association of two previously reported primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG)-related gene polymorphisms, rs2472493 (A &gt; G) in ABCA1 and rs7636836 (C &gt; T) in FNDC3B, in primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PXG).Methods: TaqMan genotyping was performed in a total of 442 subjects consisting of 246 healthy controls, 102 PACG patients, and 94 PXG patients. Statistical evaluations were performed to detect allelic and genotype association of the variants with the disease and clinical variables such as intraocular pressure (IOP) and cup/disc ratio.Results: Overall, there was no allelic or genotype association of these variants in PACG and PXG. However, rs7636836[T] allele significantly increased the risk of PXG among men (p = 0.029, odds ratio [OR] = 2.69, 95% confidence interval = 1.11–6.51). Similarly, rs2472493 and rs7636836 genotypes also showed significant association with PXG among men in over-dominant model (p = 0.031, OR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.06–3.71) and co-dominant model (p = 0.029, OR = 2.69, 95% CI = 1.11–6.51), respectively. However, none survived Bonferroni’s correction. Besides, the synergic presence of rs2472493[G] and rs7636836[T] alleles (G-T) was found to significantly increase the risk of PACG (p = 0.026, OR = 2.85, 95% CI = 1.09–7.46). No significant genotype influence was observed on IOP and cup/disc ratio.Conclusion: Our results suggest that the polymorphisms rs2472493 in ABCA1 and rs7636836 in FNDC3B genes may be associated with PXG among men, and a G-T allelic combination may confer an increased risk of PACG in the middle-eastern Saudi cohort. Further research in a larger population-based sample is needed to validate these findings.
Potential Markers of Neurocognitive Disorders After Cardiac Surgery: A Bibliometric and Visual Analysis
Authors: Ji Linna , Li Fang 
Published: June 2022

BackgroundIdentifying useful markers is essential for diagnosis and prevention of perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PNDs). Here, we attempt to understand the research basis and status, potential hotspots and trends of predictive markers associated with PNDs after cardiac surgery via bibliometric analysis.MethodsA total of 4,609 original research articles and reviews that cited 290 articles between 2001 and 2021 were obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) as the data source. We used the software CiteSpace to generate and analyze visual networks of bibliographic information, including published years and journals, collaborating institutions, co-cited references, and co-occurring keywords.ResultsThe number of annual and cumulative publications from 2001 to 2021 has been increasing on the whole. The Harvard Medical School was a very prolific and important institution in this field. The journal of Ann Thorac Surg (IF 4.33) had the most publications, while New Engl J Med was the most cited journal. Neuron-specific enolase (NSE), S100b and kynurenic acid (KYNA) were frequently discussed as possible markers of PNDs in many references. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was a keyword with high frequency (430) and sigma (6.26), and inflammation was the most recent burst keyword.ConclusionPotential markers of PNDs has received growing attention across various disciplines for many years. The research basis mainly focuses on three classic biomarkers of S100b, NSE, and KYNA. The most active frontiers are the inflammation-related biomarkers (e.g., inflammatory cells, cytokines, or mediators) and surgery-related monitoring parameters (e.g., perfusion, oxygen saturation, and the depth of anesthesia).
Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Diagnosis of Cerebral Paragonimiasis in Children
Authors: Du Jinhui , Liu Likun , Fan Haiqing , Yu Yue , Luo Yilin , Yu Hui , Liao Xin 
Published: June 2022

ObjectiveTo investigate the computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance image (MRI) manifestations of cerebral paragonimiasis (CP) in children and to improve the understanding of the disease.MethodsThe cranial CT and MRI data of 12 children with positive intradermal tests for Paragonimus-specific antigens were retrospectively analyzed. Additionally, the lesion locations, morphology, and imaging characteristics were analyzed.ResultsThe lesions were located in the cerebral parenchyma in 12 cases, with 10 in the supratentorial area and two in the subtentorial area, among which three cases included involvement of the meninges. The morphology of the lesions was mainly nodular and striated, with clear or indistinct borders and varying degrees of surrounding edema. The lesions showed isodense or slightly hyperdense opacities on the CT scans, heterogeneous equal or slightly decreased signal intensities on the T1-weighted images (T1WI), heterogeneous equal or slightly increased signal intensities on the T2-weighted images (T2WI), and equal or slightly increased signal intensities on the diffusion-weighted images (DWI) in MRIs. In four cases, the cyst wall showed equal T1 and short T2 signals, and in six cases, the characteristic “tunnel sign” and “worm-eaten sign” were visible. The contrast-enhanced MRI showed strip-shaped enhancement in five cases, nodular or ring-shaped enhancement in three cases, linear enhancement in two cases, and uneven enhancement in two cases. The meninges adjacent to the lesions were thickened with significant enhancement in four cases.ConclusionCP was mostly located in the cerebral parenchyma with involvement of the adjacent meninges. CT and MRI scans had certain imaging characteristics, and the MRI may particularly be of great value for the diagnosis of CP.
The Gain-of-Function R222S Variant in Scn11a Contributes to Visceral Hyperalgesia and Intestinal Dysmotility in Scn11aR222S/R222S Mice
Authors: Zhao Chenyu , Jin Jishuo , Hu Haoye , Zhou Xi , Shi Xiaoliu 
Published: June 2022

BackgroundThe SCN11A gene encodes the α-subunit of the Nav1. 9 channel, which is a regulator of primary sensory neuron excitability. Nav1.9 channels play a key role in somatalgia. Humans with the gain-of-function mutation R222S in SCN11A exhibit familial episodic pain. As already known, R222S knock-in mice carrying a mutation orthologous to the human R222S variant demonstrate somatic hyperalgesia. This study investigated whether Scn11aR222S/R222S mice developed visceral hyperalgesia and intestinal dysmotility.MethodsWe generated Scn11aR222S/R222S mice using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. The somatic pain threshold in Scn11aR222S/R222S mice was assessed by Hargreaves' test and formalin test. The excitability of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons was assessed by whole-cell patch-clamp recording. Visceralgia was tested using the abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR), acetic acid-induced writhing, and formalin-induced visceral nociception tests. Intestinal motility was detected by a mechanical recording of the intestinal segment and a carbon powder propelling test. The excitability of the enteric nervous system (ENS) could influence gut neurotransmitters. Gut neurotransmitters participate in regulating intestinal motility and secretory function. Therefore, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and substance P (SP) were measured in intestinal tissues.ResultsThe R222S mutation induced hyperexcitability of dorsal root ganglion neurons in Scn11aR222S/R222S mice. Scn11aR222S/R222S mice exhibited somatic hyperalgesia. In addition, Scn11aR222S/R222S mice showed lower visceralgia thresholds and slowed intestinal movements when compared with wild-type controls. Moreover, Scn11aR222S/R222S mice had lower SP and VIP concentrations in intestinal tissues.ConclusionsThese results indicated that Scn11aR222S/R222S mice showed visceral hyperalgesia and intestinal dysmotility.
CONN-NLM: A Novel CONNectome-Based Non-local Means Filter for PET-MRI Denoising
Authors: Sun Zhuopin , Meikle Steven , Calamante Fernando 
Published: June 2022

BackgroundAdvancements in hybrid positron emission tomography-magnetic resonance (PET-MR) systems allow for combining the advantages of each modality. Integrating information from MRI and PET can be valuable for diagnosing and treating neurological disorders. However, combining diffusion MRI (dMRI) and PET data, which provide highly complementary information, has rarely been exploited in image post-processing. dMRI has the ability to investigate the white matter pathways of the brain through fibre tractography, which enables comprehensive mapping of the brain connection networks (the “connectome”). Novel methods are required to combine information present in the connectome and PET to increase the full potential of PET-MRI.MethodsWe developed a CONNectome-based Non-Local Means (CONN-NLM) filter to exploit synergies between dMRI-derived structural connectivity and PET intensity information to denoise PET images. PET-MR data are parcelled into a number of regions based on a brain atlas, and the inter-regional structural connectivity is calculated based on dMRI fibre-tracking. The CONN-NLM filter is then implemented as a post-reconstruction filter by combining the nonlocal means filter and a connectivity-based cortical smoothing. The effect of this approach is to weight voxels with similar PET intensity and highly connected voxels higher when computing the weighted-average to perform more informative denoising. The proposed method was first evaluated using a novel computer phantom framework to simulate realistic hybrid PET-MR images with different lesion scenarios. CONN-NLM was further assessed with clinical dMRI and tau PET examples.ResultsThe results showed that CONN-NLM has the capacity to improve the overall PET image quality by reducing noise while preserving lesion contrasts, and it outperformed a range of filters that did not use dMRI information. The simulations demonstrate that CONN-NLM can handle various lesion contrasts consistently, as well as lesions with different levels of inter-connectivity.ConclusionCONN-NLM has unique advantages of providing more informative and accurate PET smoothing by adding complementary structural connectivity information from dMRI, representing a new avenue to exploit synergies between MRI and PET.
Upper Limbs Muscle Co-contraction Changes Correlated With the Impairment of the Corticospinal Tract in Stroke Survivors: Preliminary Evidence From Electromyography and Motor-Evoked Potential
Authors: Sheng Wenfei , Li Shijue , Zhao Jiangli , Wang Yujia , Luo Zichong , Lo Wai Leung Ambrose , Ding Minghui , Wang Chuhuai , Li Le 
Published: June 2022

ObjectiveIncreased muscle co-contraction of the agonist and antagonist muscles during voluntary movement is commonly observed in the upper limbs of stroke survivors. Much remain to be understood about the underlying mechanism. The aim of the study is to investigate the correlation between increased muscle co-contraction and the function of the corticospinal tract (CST).MethodsNine stroke survivors and nine age-matched healthy individuals were recruited. All the participants were instructed to perform isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and horizontal task which consist of sponge grasp, horizontal transportation, and sponge release. We recorded electromyography (EMG) activities from four muscle groups during the MVC test and horizontal task in the upper limbs of stroke survivors. The muscle groups consist of extensor digitorum (ED), flexor digitorum (FD), triceps brachii (TRI), and biceps brachii (BIC). The root mean square (RMS) of EMG was applied to assess the muscle activation during horizontal task. We adopted a co-contraction index (CI) to evaluate the degree of muscle co-contraction. CST function was evaluated by the motor-evoked potential (MEP) parameters, including resting motor threshold, amplitude, latency, and central motor conduction time. We employed correlation analysis to probe the association between CI and MEP parameters.ResultsThe RMS, CI, and MEP parameters on the affected side showed significant difference compared with the unaffected side of stroke survivors and the healthy group. The result of correlation analysis showed that CI was significantly correlated with MEP parameters in stroke survivors.ConclusionThere existed increased muscle co-contraction and impairment in CST functionality on the affected side of stroke survivors. The increased muscle co-contraction was correlated with the impairment of the CST. Intervention that could improve the excitability of the CST may contribute to the recovery of muscle discoordination in the upper limbs of stroke survivors.
Appraising Neonatal Morbidity and Mortality in a Developing Country Categorized by Gestational Age Grouping and Implications for Targeted Interventions
Authors: Mokuolu Olugbenga Ayodeji , Adesiyun Omotayo Oluwakemi , Ibrahim Olayinka Rasheed , Suberu Habibat Dirisu , Ibrahim Selimat , Bello Surajudeen Oyeleke , Mokikan Moboni , Obasa Temitope Olorunshola , Abdulkadir Mohammed Baba 
Published: June 2022

IntroductionDespite the relatively higher neonatal morbidity and mortality in developing countries, there are limited data on the detailed analysis of the burden in Nigeria. With a database of over 14,000 admissions, this study presents a compelling picture of the current trends disaggregated by their gestational age groups. It provides unique opportunities for better-targeted interventions for further reducing newborn mortality in line with SDG 3, Target 3.2.MethodsThis prospective observational study involved newborn babies admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Kwara State, Nigeria, between January 2007 and December 2018. The outcome was the neonatal mortality rates. The exposure variables included birth weight, gestational age (preterm versus term), and clinical diagnosis. Frequencies were generated on tables and charts, and the trends or associations were determined.ResultsOf the 14,760 neonates admitted, 9,030 (61.2%) were term babies, 4,847 (32.8%) were preterm babies, and in 792 (5%) of the admissions, the gestational ages could not be determined. Males constituted a higher proportion with 55.9%, and the total number of deaths in the study period was 14.7%. The mortality ratio was highest among babies with a birth weight of less than 1,000 g (38.0%) and gestational age of less than 28 weeks (65.5%). The trend analysis showed that the mortality rate decreased from 17.8 to 13% over the 12 years, p-value &lt; 0.0001. For term babies, mortality decreased by 45%, from 15.7% in 2007 to 8.7% in 2018, while the decline in mortality for preterm babies was 28.4%, from 25.7% in 2007 to 18.4% in 2018. For both categories, p-values were &lt; 0.001. Regarding morbidity in term babies, asphyxia occurred in (1:3), jaundice (1:5), sepsis (1:6), and respiratory disorders (1:6) of admissions. For mortality, asphyxia occurred in (1:2), sepsis (1:5), jaundice (1:8), and respiratory disorders (1:10) of deaths. The leading causes of morbidity among preterm babies were asphyxia (1:4), sepsis (1:5), respiratory disorders (1:9), and jaundice (1.10). For mortality, their contributions were asphyxia (≈1:2); sepsis (1:5); respiratory disorders (1:9), and jaundice (1:10).ConclusionThere was a marked improvement in neonatal mortality trends. However, severe perinatal asphyxia, sepsis, hyperbilirubinemia, and respiratory disorders were the leading conditions contributing to 75% of the morbidities and mortalities. Measures to further accelerate the reduction in neonatal morbidity and mortality are discussed.
Cocktail of Astragalus Membranaceus and Radix Trichosanthis Suppresses Melanoma Tumor Growth and Cell Migration Through Regulation of Akt-Related Signaling Pathway
Authors: Zhang Qiuyan , Gao Lei , Huang Songli , Liang Yuxi , Hu Jingyan , Zhang Yuan , Wei Shengli , Hu Xiuhua 
Published: June 2022

Background: Malignant melanoma has high morbidity and mortality and limited treatment options. Traditional Chinese medicine has great potential in the clinical therapy of cancer, and the theory of compatibility is one core content of Chinese medical theory. Astragalus Membranaceus and Radix Trichosanthis are clinically effective for the treatment of various cancers.Methods: We verified the effects of AMD, RTD, and their “cocktail” on melanoma model in vitro and in vivo and the mechanism of its effect on the Akt-related signaling pathway by network pharmacology, MTT, flow cytometry, LDH, SOD, MDA assay, and Western blot.Results: The network pharmacology analysis indicated that the PI3K-Akt pathway plays a crucial role in the treatment of malignant melanoma with these two herbs. In addition, AMD, RTD, and their “cocktail” could inhibit the proliferation of A375 cells by reducing the survival rate in a concentration-dependent manner and by regulating the cell cycle, and the compatibility of two herbs also could inhibit melanoma growth. They could, respectively, induce apoptosis and inhibit migration by affecting the expression of Bcl-2, Bax, p53, snail, E-cadherin, and N-cadherin. Furthermore, LDH activity was decreased, while SOD increased and MDA reduced. The factors of the Akt-related signaling pathway, Akt and p-Akt, were decreased.Conclusion: This study showed that AMD, RTD, and their “cocktail” could regulate cell proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis in A375 cells through the suppression of the Akt-related signaling pathway, and the “cocktail” groups had detoxification and additive effects. The best compatibility of the two herbs also can inhibit tumor growth and metastasis in vivo.
Prediction of Immune-Related Adverse Events Induced by Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors With a Panel of Autoantibodies: Protocol of a Multicenter, Prospective, Observational Cohort Study
Authors: Les Iñigo , Pérez-Francisco Inés , Cabero María , Sánchez Cristina , Hidalgo María , Teijeira Lucía , Arrazubi Virginia , Domínguez Severina , Anaut Pilar , Eguiluz Saioa , Elejalde Iñaki , Herrera Alberto , Martínez Mireia 
Published: June 2022

Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy is markedly improving the prognosis of patients with several types of cancer. On the other hand, the growth in the use of these drugs in oncology is associated with an increase in multiple immune-related adverse events (irAEs), whose optimal prevention and management remain unclear. In this context, there is a need for reliable and validated biomarkers to predict the occurrence of irAEs in patients treated with ICIs. Thus, the main objective of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic performance of a sensitive routinely available panel of autoantibodies consisting of antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor, and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies to identify patients at risk of developing irAEs.Methods and Analysis: A multicenter, prospective, observational, cohort study has been designed to be conducted in patients diagnosed with cancer amenable to ICI therapy. Considering the percentage of ICI-induced irAEs to be 25% and a loss to follow-up of 5%, it has been estimated that a sample size of 294 patients is required to detect an expected sensitivity of the autoantibody panel under study of 0.90 with a confidence interval (95%) of no less than 0.75. For 48 weeks, patients will be monitored through the oncology outpatient clinics of five hospitals in Spain. Immune-related adverse events will be defined and categorized according to CTCAE v. 5.0. All the patients will undergo ordinary blood tests at specific moments predefined per protocol and extraordinary blood tests at the time of any irAE being detected. Ordinary and extraordinary samples will be frozen and stored in the biobank until analysis in the same autoimmunity laboratory when the whole cohort reaches week 48. A predictive model of irAEs will be constructed with potential risk factors of immune-related toxicity including the autoantibody panel under study.Ethics and Dissemination: This protocol was reviewed and approved by the Ethical Committee of the Basque Country and the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices. Informed consent will be obtained from all participants before their enrollment. The authors declare that the results will be submitted to an international peer-reviewed journal for their prompt dissemination.
Time Series Transcriptomic Analysis by RNA Sequencing Reveals a Key Role of PI3K in Sepsis-Induced Myocardial Injury in Mice
Authors: Yan Xiao , Zhang Yun-Long , Han Xiao , Li Pang-Bo , Guo Shu-Bin , Li Hui-Hua 
Published: June 2022

Septic cardiomyopathy is the main complication and cause of death of severe sepsis with limited therapeutic strategy. However, the molecular mechanism of sepsis-induced cardiac injury remains unclear. The present study was designed to investigate differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in the pathogenesis of septic cardiomyopathy induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in mice. Male C57BL/6J mice (8–10 weeks old) were subjected to CLP with 21-gauge needles for 24, 48, and 72 h. Myocardial function was assessed by echocardiography. The pathological changes of the heart were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin as well as immunohistochemical staining. Time series RNA sequencing was utilized to investigate the gene expression profiles. CLP surgery resulted in a significant decrease of animal survival rate and left ventricle contractile function, and an increase in cardiac dilation and infiltration of proinflammatory cells including Mac-2+ macrophages in a time-dependent manner. RNA sequencing identified 5,607 DEGs in septic myocardium at 24, 48, and 72 h after CLP operation. Moreover, gene ontology analysis revealed that these DEGs were mainly associated with the biological processes, including cell adhesion, immune system process, inflammatory response, and positive regulation of cell migration. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis indicated that Staphylococcus aureus infection, osteoclast differentiation, leishmaniasis, and ECM-receptor interaction were significantly altered in septic hearts. Notably, Pik3r1 and Pik3r5 were localized in the center of the gene co-expression network, and were markedly upregulated in CLP-induced septic myocardium. Further, blocking PI3Kγ by the specific inhibitor CZC24832 significantly protected against sepsis-induced cardiac impairment. The present study uncovers the gene expression signatures of CLP-induced myocardial injury and sheds light on the role of Pik3r5 in septic cardiomyopathy.