bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Symposium on “Setting Health-Care Priorities” by Torbjörn Tännsjö
Authors: Nowak Piotr Grzegorz
Published: July 2021

The present paper constitutes an introduction to a special issue of Diametros devoted to Setting Health-Care Priorities. What Ethical Theories Tell Us by Torbjörn Tännsjö. The book in question states that there are three moral theories which have valid implications in the field of the distribution of medical resources in a healthcare system: utilitarianism (possibly conjoined with prioritarianism), the maximin/leximin view, and egalitarianism. A number of authors have contributed to this special issue with papers which challenge this thesis. Robert E. Goodin argues that, besides general moral theories, some local principles of justice might be valid. Quinn Hiroshi Gibson states that Tännsjö should have considered the Rawlsian view on justice in its contractualist reading. Jay A. Zameska argues that his “revised lexical sufficientarianism” constitutes a more reliable moral view than prioritarianism. Finally, Lasse Nielsen points out that there is more to say about distributive justice than consequentialist theories can grasp. Moreover, he puts forward an argument in defense of prioritarianism. The final article in this issue constitutes Tännsjö’s replies to his critics.
USE OF SECTRA VIRTUAL DISSECTION TABLE IN THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS
Authors: Абуватфа Самі І.Х. , Болілий Василь Олександрович , Лунгол Ольга Миколаївна , Суховірська Людмила Павлівна
Published: July 2021

The article features the research of the effectiveness of using the virtual dissection table in medical higher educational institutions. The theoretical and methodological foundations of the use of the virtual dissection table in the training of future medical specialists are determined, practical aspects are described. Laboratory works have been created on the use of the virtual dissection table in teaching theoretical and clinical disciplines in medical higher education institutions. The authors considered the formation of the following components of students’ experimental competence through the use of Sectra Virtual Dissection Table during the lessons: cognitive-intellectual, diagnostic, prognostic, information, analytical and research. The cross-curricular links between the disciplines "Human Anatomy" and "Medical and Biological Physics" in view of the formation of the aforementioned experimental competences are considered. The algorithm for work with the muscular system in the Human Anatomy Atlas program on the Sectra Table F18 Virtual Dissection Table is described in detail. The authors showed the capabilities of the Sectra Virtual Dissection Table: viewing realistic human anatomy; simulation of the human body in combination with 3D touch control when viewing, panning, rotating and zooming in an image; distance measurement in 3D volume and arbitrary clipping plane; cropping a part of 3D volume etc. The authors point out that the use of a virtual anatomical table should take into account students’ and teachers’ information and digital competence to work with modern virtual equipment and the educational environment of the medical educational institution. Extended clinical cases with unique pathologies in the Sectra Table library contribute to the formation of medical students’ professional competencies. The authors conclude that the use of medical computer programs allows the teacher to organize innovative types of educational activities and to form students’ experimental competence components. The prospects for further research might involve conducting a pedagogical experiment on the effectiveness of using the created system of laboratory works and demonstrations on the basis of Sectra Table F18 Virtual Dissection Table.
The effective ethanol rate against the toxicity of ethylene glycol
Authors: GÖKALP Faik
Published: July 2021

Ethylene glycol (EG) is a toxic substance and EG metabolites cause metabolic acidosis. The major emphasis in this study is to get rid of the toxicity of EG before conversion to its metabolites. The interaction between ethylene glycol and ethanol has been studied using DFT (Density functional theory method). In ethylene glycol metabolites in the blood; Glycolic acid is more stable and gloxal less stable. The interaction of ethylene glycol with ethanol has been considered for ethylene glycol metabolism. Thermodynamic values obtained from ethylene glycol metabolites and ethanol were also analyzed. According to the analyst results of ethanol and ethylene glycol ratios; The maximum effective point is very stable in the blood and its solubility is determined at this rate. It is very important to determine the most appropriate rate in the prevention of toxicity. This study is an important study in terms of the use of ethanol in the prevention of toxicity of EG, the first of its rates and in terms of preventing the loss of time and substance.
2-Acetyl-5-chloro-thiophene thiosemicarbazone and its nickel(II) and zinc(II) complexes: Hirshfeld surface analysis and Density Functional Theory calculations for molecular geometry, vibrational spectra and HOMO-LUMO studies
Authors: ŞEN Betül
Published: July 2021

In this work, the theoretical studies on the molecular structure are presented for 2-Acetyl-5-chloro-thiophene thiosemicarbazone and its Ni(II) and Zn(II) complexes. The optimized molecular geometry and fundamental vibrational frequency values have been investigated with the help of DFT/B3LYP method using 6-31G(d,p) basis set and they are found to be in agreement with the experimental values. Additionally, frontier molecular orbital energies (HOMO, LUMO) and their energy gaps (∆E) are calculated by the same method. The HOMO and LUMO analysis are used to determine some molecular properties such as chemical potential, hardness, softness and electronegativity. Furthermore, Hirshfeld surface analyses and fingerprint plots have been used for visualizing and exploring intermolecular interactions in the crystal structure and for determining the percentage contribution of these interactions on the surface. The Hirshfeld surface analysis and the 2D fingerprint plots indicate that the crystal packing of the compounds is dominated by Cl···H/H···Cl, S···H/ H···S, N···H/ H···N and H···H contacts.
Юридична відповідальність за порушення лісового законодавства Великого князівства Литовського
Authors: КІНДЮК БОРИС , ЮРКЕВИЧ МИХАЙЛО
Published: July 2021

Розглянуто питання про наступність правових приписів з охорони лісів. Доведено наявність спільних рис і наступність правових положень “Руської Правди” та Статутів Великого князівства Литовського стосовно норм з охорони лісів. Лісоохоронні норми цих документів передбачали відповідальність за їх порушення, але основним об’єктом охорони були не лісові багатства, а право власності на ці об’єкти. Зроблено аналіз норм юридичної відповідальності, закріплених у Статутах Великого князівства Литовського, за правопорушення у лісоохоронній сфері. Наголошено, що редакції Статутів (1529, 1566, 1588 рр.) послідовно змінювали одна одну, попередня редакція служила матеріалом для наступної, але при цьому доповнювала та змінювала її, включаючи до документа нові норми. Встановлено, що зміст цих нормативно-правових актів щодо лісоохорони різнився за складами правопорушень та мірами відповідальності за них. При розгляді питань відповідальності за порушення лісоохоронних норм, передбачених Статутами Великого князівства Литовського, звернуто увагу на зменшення санкцій у Статуті1588 р., порівняно з попередніми, за деякі види правопорушень. Найбільш жорсткі санкції передбачалися Статутом 1566 р., в якому за крадіжку бортного дерева, бджіл, за підпал лісу передбачалася смертна кара. Статут 1588 р. пом’якшував такі покарання та змінював їх на штрафи чи арешт.
Метою статті є дослідження норм юридичної відповідальності за лісопорушення у Статутах Великого князівства Литовського та інших нормативно-правових актах, які були чинними на українських землях у складі Великого князівства Литовського.
Досліджено зміст інших нормативно-правових актів того історичного періоду – “Устава на волоки” 1557 р. та Лісового Уставу 1567 р., у яких відбилися норми з охорони лісів. Встановлено, що Лісовий Устав 1567 р. був спрямований на організаційне упорядкування лісової галузі Великого князівства Литовського. У той історичний період цей природний ресурс поділявся на дві групи: ліси великого князя та ліси приватних осіб. Лісові масиви, які належали великому князю, поділялися, згідно з документом, на окремі лісництва, які очолювали лісничі. Виявлено, що від судових штрафів та інших надходжень лісова охорона мала право отримувати части ну коштів, розмір яких встановлювався особисто лісничим.
Influence of organic particle addition on nitrification rates and ammonium oxidiser abundances in Baltic seawater
Authors: Kache S , Bartl I , Wäge-Recchioni J , Voss M
Published: July 2021

Nitrification is a key microbial process in the nitrogen cycle of the ocean that largely determines the pool sizes of nitrite, nitrate and ammonium but hardly affects the total pool of inorganic nitrogen (except through N2O losses to the atmosphere). This study explored the regulation of nitrification and its dependency on particle and ammonium concentrations. Incubation experiments were conducted in which particles of different origin were added to Baltic seawater, followed by 15NH4+-labelling and droplet digital PCR. Both nitrification rates according to particle size (>3 µm and 0.22-3 µm) and archaeal and betaproteobacterial ammonia monooxygenase α-subunit gene (amoA) abundances were determined in order to assess the impact of high particle concentrations found in coastal areas of the Baltic Sea. The data show that the addition of particulate organic matter enhanced the nitrification rates in bulk (~805 nmol l-1 d-1) but not in the <3 µm fraction (<100 nmol l-1 d-1), indicative of a strong influence of the added particles on nitrification rates. The regulation of nitrification rates by the substrate ammonium was suggested by the inverse correlation between these 2 variables. Measurements of amoA gene abundances showed the dominance of ammonium-oxidising bacteria over ammonium-oxidising archaea during most of the 41 d experiment. Abundances of amoA were highest in the particle-associated fraction of the bacteria (≤6.9 × 106 amoA copies l-1). These findings demonstrate the importance of particle-associated ammonium-oxidising bacteria in the nitrification processes of coastal and estuarine waters containing high particle densities.
Adaptasi Pekerja Seni Musik Dangdut di Masa Pandemi COVID-19
Authors: Fatimah Nurul , Hayati Ela Hikmah
Published: July 2021

ENGLISHOne of the government policies on management of COVID-19 pandemic is community activity restriction, includes dangdut music show. The study aims to describe the efforts of dangdut artists adapting to COVID-19 pandemic. It was qualitative research using phenomenology approach. This study was conducted in Pati Regency. Data were obtained through interviews and observation. The interviews were carried out with five instrument players and two singers. Meanwhile, the observations were made on dangdut music shows, which held offline and virtual on social media. The data were analyzed descriptively. This study found that the community activity restriction caused dangdut artists couldn’t conduct music shows and lead to income reduction. Then, those dangdut artists adapted to this situation. First, on Thursday, Juli 8 2020, some artists held a peaceful action and praying together in Pati’s city center. This action aimed the dangdut artists were allowed to perform music shows. Second, the dangdut artists transformed dangdut shows following the new normal rules. Third, conducting virtual dangdut shows through various social media, such as Youtube, Facebook, and Instagram INDONESIASalah satu kebijakan pemerintah dalam penanganan penyebaran COVID-19 adalah pembatasan kegatan masyarakat, termasuk pementasan musik dangdut. Penelitian bertujuan untuk menggambarkan upaya adaptasi yang dilakukan para pekerja seni musik dangdut di tengah pandemi COVID-19. Metode yang digunakan adalah metode kualitatif dengan pendekatan fenomenologi. Penelitian dilakukan di Kabupaten Pati. Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan wawancara dan observasi. Wawancara dilakukan dengan lima orang pemain alat musik dan dua orang penyanyi. Adapun observasi dilakukan terhadap kegiatan seni musik dangdut yang digelar secara luring maupun daring di me-dia sosial. Data dianalisis secara deskriptif. Penelitian ini menghasilkan temuan bahwa kebijakan pembatasan kegiatan masyarakat menyebabkan pekerja seni musik dangdut tidak dapat mengadakan pertunjukan. Sebagai akibatnya, pendapatan para pekerja seni musik dangdut mengalami penurunan. Para pekerja seni musik dangdut melakukan beberapa upaya agar dapat terus eksis dan bertahan hidup di tengah pandemi. Pertama, melakukan kegiatan aksi damai dan doa bersama di alun-alun Kabupaten Pati pada Kamis, 8 Juli 2020, agar diberikan izin pertunjukan. Kedua, mengadakan pertunjukan musik sesuai aturan kebiasan pola baru. Ketiga, menggelar konser musik virtual melalui berbagai media sosial seperti Youtube, Facebook, dan Instagram.
Factors influencing teachers’ job satisfaction in the Pakistan's public school
Authors: Bibi Saira , Kalim Usama
Published: July 2021

This study examined the job satisfaction level of teachers and the factors affecting job satisfaction in the public schools of Pakistan. The public-school teachers from the two districts were selected as the sample for this study. The questionnaire was used for the data collection. An online survey was conducted to collect data from the teachers at selected public schools in Pakistan. The respondent was approached individually through an online survey. A total of 119 responses were received through an online survey. Out of these 119, 58 were complete responses which were then used for analysis. The SPSS and AMOS software was used for the analysis purpose. The average score related to teacher satisfaction showed that teachers in Pakistan are generally satisfied with their jobs. The Structural Equation Modeling results showed that professional development opportunities at work and self-efficacy play a significant positive role in teacher job satisfaction. The teachers who were well skilled and had better planning related to the work and provided progress in their work tend to be more satisfied with their jobs compared to the teachers who have low self-efficacy and dispatch progress on their job. Only a few public schools in Pakistan are included in the study. As a result, a broad sample of schools is recommended for future research. This poll did not include private schools. As a result, private schools should be included in future polls to better understand the disparities in teacher conduct in various school environments. Due to the closure of schools in Pakistan, the online survey was the only choice, explaining why there were so few complete responses. To corroborate the findings of this study, it is suggested that future investigations use a large sample size.
ANALISA PENGGUNAAN TRANSISTOR 2N3055 DAN TEC (THERMOELECTRIC COOLER) SEBAGAI BAHAN ALTERNATIF PANEL SEL SURYA (SOLAR CELL)
Authors: Sahbana Muhammad Agus , Farid Akhmad
Published: July 2021

The renewable energy has a very important role in meeting energy needs. This is because the use of fuel for conventional power plants in the long term will deplete the dwindling resources of oil, gas and coal and can also cause environmental pollution. Solar panels based on 2N3055 transistors and Thermoelectric Cooler (TEC) are the basic materials for designing alternative power plants. In the manufacturing process, this solar panel utilizes electronic components that are capable of generating electrical energy (emf), so that it can be used as an appropriate technology to produce a solar panel that utilizes solar energy in the form of heat and solar radiation. The use of transistors 2N3055 and TEC proved to be more efficient in generating electrical energy, there was no significant decrease in voltage and current even though the weather was suddenly cloudy. The average voltage and current generated in this solar panel are 24.58 VDC and 2.72 Ampere DC.
Prevalence of Burnout among Physicians at King Salman Armed Forces Hospital, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Mohamed Nora , Sidiq Mohammad , Alblewi Hedaya , Contractor Mehul
Published: July 2021

Introduction: Physician burnout in armed forces involves emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and a sense of declined personal accomplishment. This can have an adverse effect on quality patient care, the healthcare team and can cost physician health in both in-training physicians and practicing physicians. The causative factors include excessive long work shifts, inefficient work systems and clerical burdens, professional home conflicts, lack of departmental support, limited work force and poor leadership culture.
Objectives: This study aims at measuring the prevalence of burnout in physicians working in King Salman armed forces hospital Saudi Arabia and studying possible related socio-demographic variables.
Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted between April and May 2015 among physicians. A self‑administered questionnaire was used that includes questions on socio demographic characteristics, sources of stress and burnout of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) in this study. Student’s T-test and chi square tests were used for analysis.
Results: Majority were males 74.8% aged more than 35 years with the prevalence rate of 14.2%. The analyzed variables associated with emotional exhaustion, the following factors significantly affected the EE with P value<0.05, exercise, alternate shift duty, work over load, quality of life, satisfaction with work and specialty. As for the significant factors associated with DP, shift duty, work overload, quality of life perception and specialty were found to have P value less than 0.05.
Conclusion: Burnout is prevalent among physicians; we identified variables significantly associated with Emotional exhaustion (EE), Depersonalization (DP) and Personal accomplishment (PA). However, further research is recommended to study other predictors not mentioned in the current study and all health policy makers must work jointly in designing and implement effective remedial measures for physician burnout.
A Newly Designed Automatically Controlled, Sterilizable Flat Panel Photobioreactor for Axenic Algae Culture
Authors: Fuchs Tobias , Arnold Nathanael D. , Garbe Daniel , Deimel Simon , Lorenzen Jan , Masri Mahmoud , Mehlmer Norbert , Weuster-Botz Dirk , Brück Thomas B.
Published: July 2021

In context of the global climate change, microalgae processes are gaining momentum as a biotechnological tool for direct fixation and valorization of greenhouse gases. Algae have the metabolic capacity to photosynthetically convert CO2 into high value products, such as food additives, under economic boundary conditions. High cost, commercial flat panel gas-lift bioreactors for microalgae cultivation at laboratory scale provide either small volumes or no sterile operation, which limits academic research. This brief report presents initial data for a new type of sterile operating flat panel gas-lift bioreactor with a unique asymmetrical U-shape. It utilizes automatable process control technologies that adhere to industrial standards to enhance data reproducibility and aid industrial scale up. The practicability was demonstrated using a Chlorella sorokiniana cultivation, which showed the typical growth behavior. Due to the sophisticated implemented control engineering technology, pivotal parameters as pH and temperature can be determined within a range of ±0.1 units, which was confirmed experimentally. The new flat panel gas-lift photobioreactor presented in this brief report fills the technology gap at laboratory scale with an autoclavable volume of 7.2 L. Moreover, it is easy to rebuild by means of the hereby provided blueprint, while exhibiting a six-fold cost reduction compared to commercially available flat panel photobioreactors.
Characterization of DNA Methylomic Signatures in Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells During Neuronal Differentiation
Authors: Imm Jennifer , Pishva Ehsan , Ali Muhammadd , Kerrigan Talitha L. , Jeffries Aaron , Burrage Joe , Glaab Enrico , Cope Emma L. , Jones Kimberley M. , Allen Nicholas D. , Lunnon Katie
Published: July 2021

In development, differentiation from a pluripotent state results in global epigenetic changes, although the extent to which this occurs in induced pluripotent stem cell-based neuronal models has not been extensively characterized. In the present study, induced pluripotent stem cell colonies (33Qn1 line) were differentiated and collected at four time-points, with DNA methylation assessed using the Illumina Infinium Human Methylation EPIC BeadChip array. Dynamic changes in DNA methylation occurring during differentiation were investigated using a data-driven trajectory inference method. We identified a large number of Bonferroni-significant loci that showed progressive alterations in DNA methylation during neuronal differentiation. A gene–gene interaction network analysis identified 60 densely connected genes that were influential in the differentiation of neurons, with STAT3 being the gene with the highest connectivity.
Toward Quantitative in vivo Label-Free Tracking of Lipid Distribution in a Zebrafish Cancer Model
Authors: Andreana Marco , Sturtzel Caterina , Spielvogel Clemens P. , Papp Laszlo , Leitgeb Rainer , Drexler Wolfgang , Distel Martin , Unterhuber Angelika
Published: July 2021

Cancer cells often adapt their lipid metabolism to accommodate the increased fatty acid demand for membrane biogenesis and energy production. Upregulation of fatty acid uptake from the environment of cancer cells has also been reported as an alternative mechanism. To investigate the role of lipids in tumor onset and progression and to identify potential diagnostic biomarkers, lipids are ideally imaged directly within the intact tumor tissue in a label-free way. In this study, we investigated lipid accumulation and distribution in living zebrafish larvae developing a tumor by means of coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy. Quantitative textural features based on radiomics revealed higher lipid accumulation in oncogene-expressing larvae compared to healthy ones. This high lipid accumulation could reflect an altered lipid metabolism in the hyperproliferating oncogene-expressing cells.
Metabolic Drivers of Invasion in Glioblastoma
Authors: Garcia Joseph H. , Jain Saket , Aghi Manish K.
Published: July 2021

Glioblastoma is a primary malignant brain tumor with a median survival under 2 years. The poor prognosis glioblastoma caries is largely due to cellular invasion, which enables escape from resection, and drives inevitable recurrence. While most studies to date have focused on pathways that enhance the invasiveness of tumor cells in the brain microenvironment as the primary driving forces behind GBM’s ability to invade adjacent tissues, more recent studies have identified a role for adaptations in cellular metabolism in GBM invasion. Metabolic reprogramming allows invasive cells to generate the energy necessary for colonizing surrounding brain tissue and adapt to new microenvironments with unique nutrient and oxygen availability. Historically, enhanced glycolysis, even in the presence of oxygen (the Warburg effect) has dominated glioblastoma research with respect to tumor metabolism. More recent global profiling experiments, however, have identified roles for lipid, amino acid, and nucleotide metabolism in tumor growth and invasion. A thorough understanding of the metabolic traits that define invasive GBM cells may provide novel therapeutic targets for this devastating disease. In this review, we focus on metabolic alterations that have been characterized in glioblastoma, the dynamic nature of tumor metabolism and how it is shaped by interaction with the brain microenvironment, and how metabolic reprogramming generates vulnerabilities that may be ripe for exploitation.
Human Beta-Defensin 2 and 3 Inhibit HIV-1 Replication in Macrophages
Authors: Bharucha Jennifer P. , Sun Lingling , Lu Wuyuan , Gartner Suzanne , Garzino-Demo Alfredo
Published: July 2021

Human beta-defensins (hBDs) are broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptides, secreted by epithelial cells of the skin and mucosae, and astrocytes, which we and others have shown to inhibit HIV-1 in primary CD4+T cells. Although loss of CD4+T cells contributes to mucosal immune dysfunction, macrophages are a major source of persistence and spread of HIV and also contribute to the development of various HIV-associated complications. We hypothesized that, besides T cells, hBDs could protect macrophages from HIV. Our data in primary human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM)in vitroshow that hBD2 and hBD3 inhibit HIV replication in a dose-dependent manner. We determined that hBD2 neither alters surface expression of HIV receptors nor induces expression of anti-HIV cytokines or beta-chemokines in MDM. Studies using a G-protein signaling antagonist in a single-cycle reporter virus system showed that hBD2 suppresses HIV at an early post-entry stageviaG-protein coupled receptor (GPCR)-mediated signaling. We find that MDM express the shared chemokine-hBD receptors CCR2 and CCR6, albeit at variable levels among donors. However, cell surface expression analyses show that neither of these receptors is necessary for hBD2-mediated HIV inhibition, suggesting that hBD2 can signalviaadditional receptor(s). Our data also illustrate that hBD2 treatment was associated with increased expression of APOBEC3A and 3G antiretroviral restriction factors in MDM. These findings suggest that hBD2 inhibits HIV in MDMviamore than one CCR thus adding to the potential of using β-defensins in preventive and therapeutic approaches.
The Roles of the Gut Microbiota and Chronic Low-Grade Inflammation in Older Adults With Frailty
Authors: Xu YuShuang , Liu XiangJie , Liu XiaoXia , Chen Di , Wang MengMeng , Jiang Xin , Xiong ZhiFan
Published: July 2021

Frailty is a major public issue that affects the physical health and quality of life of older adults, especially as the population ages. Chronic low-grade inflammation has been speculated to accelerate the aging process as well as the development of age-related diseases such as frailty. Intestinal homeostasis plays a crucial role in healthy aging. The interaction between the microbiome and the host regulates the inflammatory response. Emerging evidence indicates that in older adults with frailty, the diversity and composition structure of gut microbiota are altered. Age-associated changes in gut microbiota composition and in their metabolites contribute to increased gut permeability and imbalances in immune function. In this review, we aim to: identify gut microbiota changes in the aging and frail populations; summarize the role of chronic low-grade inflammation in the development of frailty; and outline how gut microbiota may be related to the pathogenesis of frailty, more specifically, in the regulation of gut-derived chronic inflammation. Although additional research is needed, the regulation of gut microbiota may represent a safe, easy, and inexpensive intervention to counteract the chronic inflammation leading to frailty.
Differential Response of Oral Mucosal and Gingival Cells to Corynebacterium durum, Streptococcus sanguinis, and Porphyromonas gingivalis Multispecies Biofilms
Authors: Redanz Ulrike , Redanz Sylvio , Treerat Puthalayai , Prakasam Sivaraman , Lin Li-Jung , Merritt Justin , Kreth Jens
Published: July 2021

Polymicrobial interactions with oral mucosal surfaces determine the health status of the host. While a homeostatic balance provides protection from oral disease, a dysbiotic polymicrobial community promotes tissue destruction and chronic oral diseases. How polymicrobial communities transition from a homeostatic to a dysbiotic state is an understudied process. Thus, we were interested to investigate this ecological transition by focusing on biofilm communities containing high abundance commensal species and low abundance pathobionts to characterize the host-microbiome interactions occurring during oral health. To this end, a multispecies biofilm model was examined using the commensal species Corynebacterium durum and Streptococcus sanguinis and the pathobiont Porphyromonas gingivalis. We compared how both single and multispecies biofilms interact with different oral mucosal and gingival cell types, including the well-studied oral keratinocyte cell lines OKF4/TERT-1and hTERT TIGKs as well as human primary periodontal ligament cells. While single species biofilms of C. durum, S. sanguinis, and P. gingivalis are all characterized by unique cytokine responses for each species, multispecies biofilms elicited a response resembling S. sanguinis single species biofilms. One notable exception is the influence of P. gingivalis upon TNF-α and Gro-α production in hTERT TIGKs cells, which was not affected by the presence of other species. This study is also the first to examine the host response to C. durum. Interestingly, C. durum yielded no notable inflammatory responses from any of the tested host cells, suggesting it functions as a true commensal species. Conversely, S. sanguinis was able to induce expression and secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8, demonstrating a much greater inflammatory potential, despite being health associated. Our study also demonstrates the variability of host cell responses between different cell lines, highlighting the importance of developing relevant in vitro models to study oral microbiome-host interactions.
Lake-Level Changes and Their Paleo-Climatic Implications at the MIS12 Lower Paleolithic (Middle Pleistocene) Site Marathousa 1, Greece
Authors: Bludau Ines J. E. , Papadopoulou Penelope , Iliopoulos George , Weiss Max , Schnabel Ellen , Thompson Nicholas , Tourloukis Vangelis , Zachow Charlotte , Kyrikou Styliani , Konidaris George E. , Karkanas Panagiotis , Panagopoulou Eleni , Harvati Katerina , Junginger Annett
Published: July 2021

Lithics and cut-marked mammal bones, excavated from the paleo-lake Marathousa 1 (MAR-1) sediments in the Megalopolis Basin, southern Greece, indicate traces of hominin activity occurring along a paleo-shoreline ca. 444,000 years (444 ka) ago. However, the local environment and climatic conditions promoting hominin activity in the area during the MIS12 glacial remain largely unknown. In order to reconstruct the paleo-environment including paleo-lake levels and governing paleo-climatic factors on a high temporal resolution, we analyzed a 6-meter-long sediment sequence from the archeological site MAR-1 and a Bayesian age model was computed for a better age constrain of the different sedimentary units. A multiproxy approach was applied using ostracods, sponge spicules, diatoms, grain sizes, total organic carbon, total inorganic carbon and conventional X-ray fluorescence analysis. The results from the site represent a protected region surrounded by high mountains under the constant influence of water, either as a shallow partly anoxic water body surrounded by reed belts (>463–457 ka, <434–427 ka), a riverine-lake deltaic system (∼457–448 ka), a floodplain (∼448–444 ka) or a seasonal freshwater pond (∼444–436 ka). The local changes of water levels resemble large trends and rhythms of regional records from the Mediterranean and appear to directly respond to sea surface temperature (SST) changes of the North Atlantic. In particular, when the SSTs are high, more moisture reaches the study area and vice versa. Additional water reaches MAR-1 through melting of the surrounding glaciers after brief warm phases during MIS12 in the Mediterranean realm, which leads to the formation of smaller fresh water ponds, where also the horizon of the excavated remains is placed. Such ponds, rich in ostracods and other microorganisms, provided mammals and humans valuable resources, such as potable water, a wide range of plant species and hunting opportunities. These deposits therefore bear a high archeological potential. The results from our study suggest that the Megalopolis Basin could have served as a refugium for hominins and other organisms due to its capacity to retain freshwater bodies during glacial and interglacial periods.
Gem-Grade Garnet With Metamorphic Origin in the Tiemurt Orogenic-Type Deposit, Chinese Altay Orogen: Texture, Chemistry, and Physicochemical Condition
Authors: Hu Zhaobin , Zheng Yi , Yu Pengpeng , Wu Yihan , Wang Chengming
Published: July 2021

The Chinese Altay Orogen represents an accretionary collage with episodic subduction-related accretion from the Neoproterozoic to Permian, followed by Triassic continent–continent collision. Reddish gem-grade garnet grains are widespread in Au–Cu–Pb–Zn sulfide deposits of the Chinese Altay Orogen, and how their formation links to regional geological processes such as seafloor sedimentation, magmatic hydrothermal metasomatic, or orogenic metamorphism remains unclear. In this context, we present an integrated set of geological occurrences, mineral texture, and major trace elemental geochemistry of six garnet grains from the representative Tiemurt Cu–Pb–Zn(-Au) deposit. Two categories of garnets, Grt1 and Grt2, are identified in terms of distinct mineral assemblages, textures, and geochemistry. The sub- to euhedral biotite inclusion–rich Grt1 with fine grains of less than 0.3 cm in diameter is intergrown with amphibole, chlorite, and biotite. Comparatively, the euhedral mineral inclusion–poor Grt2 with coarse grains of 0.5–5 cm in diameter is paragenetic with quartz, calcite, chlorite, and biotite. Forty-one EMPA analyses show that Grt1 and Grt2 have similar major elemental compositions of SiO2 (36.2–37.5 wt%), Al2O3 (19.9–20.7 wt%), and CaO (5.3–7.8 wt%) but host variable contents of FeO (31.7–35.9 wt% for Grt1 and 23.0–30.0 wt% for Grt2) and MnO (0.8–3.7 wt% for Grt1 and 4.3–12.7 wt% for Grt2). Both Grt1 (with a chemical formula of Alm49.3–54.6Spe19.7–24.6Gro14.6–18.4Pyr3.7–4.8And3.5–4.9) and Grt2 (Alm57.4–64.4Gro15.5–18.3Spe9.62–19.8Pyr3.8–5.7And1.1–4.4) are plotted into the field close to the end-member of almandine (Fe-Al–garnet). Compared to Grt1, Grt2 displays a Fe-enriched and Mn-depleted trend. Additionally, Mn is enriched in the core but Fe is enriched in the rim on the major elemental profile of Grt1. Regarding the trends of trace elements and REEs, Grt2 is believed to be produced during the detriment and replacement of Grt1 by an intense external metal-rich fluid. In combination with previous fluid inclusion research, the garnet-related fluids are characterized by CO2-rich, mesothermal, mildly acidic, and reduced redox, analogous to metamorphic fluids generated during orogenesis. Collectively, we conclude that the reddish gem-grade garnet crystals in the Chinese Altay Orogen are of metamorphic origin.
Using Sapelli in the Field: Methods and Data for an Inclusive Citizen Science
Authors: Moustard Fabien , Haklay Muki , Lewis Jerome , Albert Alexandra , Moreu Marcos , Chiaravalloti Rafael , Hoyte Simon , Skarlatidou Artemis , Vittoria Alice , Comandulli Carolina , Nyadzi Emmanuel , Vitos Michalis , Altenbuchner Julia , Laws Megan , Fryer-Moreira Raffaella , Artus Daniel
Published: July 2021

The Sapelli smartphone application aims to support any community to engage in citizen science activities to address local concerns and needs. However, Sapelli was designed and developed not as a piece of technology without a context, but as the technical part of a socio-technical approach to establish a participatory science process. This paper provides the methodological framework for implementing and using Sapelli in the field. Specifically, we present the role of Sapelli within the framework of an “Extreme Citizen Science” (ECS) methodology that is based on participatory design. This approach enables Sapelli’s users to decide, with the help of professional scientists, which challenges they wish to address, what data to collect, how best to collect and analyse it, and how to use it to address the problems identified. The process depends on the consent of participants and that the project is shaped by their decisions. We argue that leaving ample space for co-design, local leadership and keeping Sapelli deployment open-ended is crucial to give all people, and in particular non-literate people who we have found are often the most ecologically literate, access to the power of the scientific process to document and represent their concerns to outsiders in a way that all can understand, and to develop advocacy strategies that address the problems they identify.
Description of Chemosensory Genes in Unexplored Tissues of the Moth Spodoptera littoralis
Authors: Koutroumpa Fotini A. , Monsempes Christelle , François Marie-Christine , Severac Dany , Montagné Nicolas , Meslin Camille , Jacquin-Joly Emmanuelle
Published: July 2021

Illumina-based transcriptome sequencing of chemosensory organs has become a standard in deciphering the molecular bases of chemical senses in insects, especially in non-model species. A plethora of antennal transcriptomes is now available in the literature, describing large sets of chemosensory receptors and binding proteins in a diversity of species. However, little is still known on other organs such as mouthparts, legs and ovipositors, which are also known to carry chemosensory sensilla. This is the case of the noctuid Spodoptera littoralis, which has been established as a model insect species in molecular chemical ecology thanks to the description of many—but not all—chemosensory genes. To fulfill this gap, we present here an unprecedented transcriptomic survey of chemosensory tissues in this species. RNAseq from male and female proboscis, labial palps, legs and female ovipositors allowed us to annotate 115 putative chemosensory gene transcripts, including 30 novel genes in this species. Especially, we doubled the number of candidate gustatory receptor transcripts described in this species. We also evidenced ectopic expression of many chemosensory genes. Remarkably, one third of the odorant receptors were found to be expressed in the proboscis. With a total of 196 non-overlapping chemosensory genes annotated, the S. littoralis repertoire is one of the most complete in Lepidoptera. We further evaluated the expression of transcripts between males and females, pinpointing sex-specific transcripts. We identified five female-specific transcripts, including one odorant receptor, one gustatory receptor, one ionotropic receptor and one odorant-binding protein, and one male-specific gustatory receptor. Such sex-biased expression suggests that these transcripts participate in sex-specific behaviors, such as host choice for oviposition in females and/or mating partner recognition in both sexes.
Cytoplasmic Lipases—A Novel Class of Fungal Defense Proteins Against Nematodes
Authors: Tayyrov Annageldi , Wei Chunyue , Fetz Céline , Goryachkin Aleksandr , Schächle Philipp , Nyström Laura , Künzler Markus
Published: July 2021

Fungi are an attractive food source for predators such as fungivorous nematodes. Several fungal defense proteins and their protective mechanisms against nematodes have been described. Many of these proteins are lectins which are stored in the cytoplasm of the fungal cells and bind to specific glycan epitopes in the digestive tract of the nematode upon ingestion. Here, we studied two novel nematotoxic proteins with lipase domains from the model mushroom Coprinopsis cinerea. These cytoplasmically localized proteins were found to be induced in the vegetative mycelium of C. cinerea upon challenge with fungivorous nematode Aphelenchus avenae. The proteins showed nematotoxicity when heterologously expressed in E. coli and fed to several bacterivorous nematodes. Site-specific mutagenesis of predicted catalytic residues eliminated the in-vitro lipase activity of the proteins and significantly reduced their nematotoxicity, indicating the importance of the lipase activity for the nematotoxicity of these proteins. Our results suggest that cytoplasmic lipases constitute a novel class of fungal defense proteins against predatory nematodes. These findings improve our understanding of fungal defense mechanisms against predators and may find applications in the control of parasitic nematodes in agriculture and medicine.
Novel Mutations in the GTPBP3 Gene for Mitochondrial Disease and Characteristics of Related Phenotypic Spectrum: The First Three Cases From China
Authors: Yan Hui-ming , Liu Zhi-mei , Cao Bei , Zhang Victor Wei , He Yi-duo , Jia Zheng-jun , Xi Hui , Liu Jing , Fang Fang , Wang Hua
Published: July 2021

Combined Oxidative Phosphorylation Deficiency 23 (COXPD23) caused by mutations in GTPBP3 gene is a rare mitochondrial disease, and this disorder identified from the Chinese population has not been described thus far. Here, we report a case series of three patients with COXPD23 caused by GTPBP3 mutations, from a severe to a mild phenotype. The main clinical features of these patients include lactic acidosis, myocardial damage, and neurologic symptoms. Whole genome sequencing and targeted panels of candidate human mitochondrial genome revealed that patient 1 was a compound heterozygote with novel mutations c.413C > T (p. A138V) and c.509_510del (p. E170Gfs∗42) in GTPBP3. Patient 2 was a compound heterozygote with novel mutations c.544G > T (p. G182X) and c.785A > C (p.Q262P), while patient 3 was a compound heterozygote with a previously reported mutation c.424G > A (p.E142K) and novel mutation c.785A > C (p.Q262P). In conclusion, we first describe three Chinese individuals with COXPD23, and discuss the genotype-phenotype correlations of GTPBP3 mutations. Our findings provide novel information in the diagnosis and genetic counseling of patients with mitochondrial disease.
IgA Immune Complexes Induce Osteoclast-Mediated Bone Resorption
Authors: Breedveld Annelot C. , van Gool Melissa M. J. , van Delft Myrthe A. M. , van der Laken Conny J. , de Vries Teun J. , Jansen Ineke D. C. , van Egmond Marjolein
Published: July 2021

Objective

Autoantibodies are detected in most patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and can be of the IgM, IgG or IgA subclass. Correlations between IgA autoantibodies and more severe disease activity have been previously reported, but the functional role of IgA autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of RA is ill understood. In this study, we explored the effect of IgA immune complexes on osteoclast mediated bone resorption.

Methods

Anti-citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA) and anti-carbamylated protein (anti-CarP) antibody levels of the IgA and IgG isotype and rheumatoid factor (RF) IgA were determined in synovial fluid (SF) of RA patients. Monocytes, neutrophils, and osteoclasts were stimulated with precipitated immune complexes from SF of RA patients or IgA- and IgG-coated beads. Activation was determined by neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) release, cytokine secretion, and bone resorption.

Results

NET formation by neutrophils was enhanced by SF immune complexes compared to immune complexes from healthy or RA serum. Monocytes stimulated with isolated SF immune complexes released IL-6 and IL-8, which correlated with the levels of ACPA IgA levels in SF. Osteoclasts cultured in the presence of supernatant of IgA-activated monocytes resorbed significantly more bone compared to osteoclasts that were cultured in supernatant of IgG-activated monocytes (p=0.0233). Osteoclasts expressed the Fc receptor for IgA (FcαRI; CD89) and Fc gamma receptors. IgA-activated osteoclasts however produced significantly increased levels of IL-6 (p<0.0001) and IL-8 (p=0.0007) compared to IgG-activated osteoclasts. Both IL-6 (p=0.03) and IL-8 (p=0.0054) significantly enhanced bone resorption by osteoclasts.

Conclusion

IgA autoantibodies induce release of IL-6 and IL-8 by immune cells as well as osteoclasts, which enhances bone resorption by osteoclasts. We anticipate that this will result in more severe disease activity in RA patients. Targeting IgA-FcαRI interactions therefore represents a promising novel therapeutic strategy for RA patients with IgA autoantibodies.
A Cytokine Network Balance Influences the Fate of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis Infection in a Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Hamster Model
Authors: Paiva Milla B. , Ribeiro-Romão Raquel Peralva , Resende-Vieira Larissa , Braga-Gomes Thais , Oliveira Marcia P. , Saavedra Andrea F. , Silva-Couto Luzinei , Albuquerque Hermano G. , Moreira Otacilio C. , Pinto Eduardo Fonseca , Da-Cruz Alda Maria , Gomes-Silva Adriano
Published: July 2021

The golden hamster is a suitable model for studying cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) due toLeishmania (Viannia) braziliensis.Immunopathological mechanisms are well established in theL. (L.) major-mouse model, in which IL-4 instructs a Th2 response towards progressive infection. In the present study, we evaluated the natural history ofL. braziliensisinfection from its first stages up to lesion establishment, with the aim of identifying immunological parameters associated with the disease outcome and parasitism fate. To this end, hamsters infected with 104, 105, or 106promastigotes were monitored during the first hours (4h, 24h), early (15 days, 30 days) and late (50 days) post-infection (pi) phases. Cytokines, iNOS and arginase gene expression were quantified in the established lesions by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Compared to the 105or 106groups, 104animals presented lower lesions sizes, less tissue damage, and lower IgG levels. Basal gene expression in normal skin was high for TGF-β, and intermediary for TNF, IL-6, and IL-4. At 4hpi, no cytokine induction was observed in the 104group, while an upregulation of IL-6, IL-10, and IL-4 was observed in the 106group. At 15dpi, lesion appearance was accompanied by an increased expression of all assessed cytokines, markedly in the 105and 106groups. Upregulation of all investigated cytokines was observed in the late phase, although less expressive in the 104group. IFN-γ was the depending variable influencing tissue damage, while IL-6 was associated to parasite load. The network correlating gene expression and clinical and laboratorial parameters indicated inoculum-independent associations at 15 and 30dpi. A strong positive network correlation was observed in the 104group, but not in the 105or 106groups. In conclusion, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and TGF-β are linked oL. braziliensisprogression. However, a balanced cytokine network is the key for an immune response able to reduce the ongoing infection and reduce pathological damage.