bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Residency, demographics, and movement patterns of North Atlantic right whales Eubalaena glacialis in an offshore wind energy development area in southern New England, USA
Authors: Quintana-Rizzo E , Leiter S , Cole TVN , Hagbloom MN , Knowlton AR , Nagelkirk P , O’Brien O , Khan CB , Henry AG , Duley PA , Crowe LM , Mayo CA , Kraus SD
Published: May 2021

Offshore wind energy development is growing quickly around the world. In southern New England, USA, one of the largest commercial offshore wind energy farms in the USA will be established in the waters off Massachusetts and Rhode Island, an area used by the Critically Endangered North Atlantic right whaleEubalaena glacialis. Prior to 2011, little was known about the use of this area by right whales. We examined aerial survey data collected between 2011-2015 and 2017-2019 to quantify right whale distribution, residency, demography, and movements in the region. Right whale occurrence increased during the study period. Since 2017, whales have been sighted in the area nearly every month, with peak sighting rates between late winter and spring. Model outputs suggest that 23% of the species’ population is present from December through May, and the mean residence time has tripled to an average of 13 d during these months. Age and sex ratios of the individuals present in the area are similar to those of the species as a whole, with adult males the most common demographic group. Movement models showed that southern New England is an important destination for right whales, including conceptive and reproductive females, and qualitative observations included animals feeding and socializing. Implementing mitigation procedures in coordination with these findings will be crucial in lessening the potential impacts on right whales from construction noise, increased vessel traffic, and habitat disruption in this region.
The Effect of Training Education, Motivation and Knowledge Sharing on Employee Performance
Authors: Widayati C. Catur , Arijanto Agus , Helen Widjaja Purnamawati , Magito Magito , Anggraini Wahyu
Published: May 2021

This study aims to determine the effect of education and training, motivation, and knowledge sharing on employee performance at PT Telkom Akses BSD. This study was conducted on 127 respondents using a quantitative descriptive approach with the non-probability sampling method of the Slovin formula. The data analysis used is the Component or Variance Based Structural Equation Model and processed with the Partial Least Square (Smart-PLS) version 3.0 PLS program. The results of this study indicate that Education and Training, Motivation and Knowledge Sharing have a simultaneous and partial effect on employee performance at PT Telkom Akses BSD because it has a T-Statistic value>1.96 and a P-value <0.05. Knowledge Sharing has the greatest influence with the amount of influence of 0.372
Strategi Pengembangan Objek Wisata Alam Berbasis Community Based Tourism (CBT) di Kabupaten Ciamis Jawa Barat
Authors: Nursetiawan Irfan , Apriliani Intan
Published: May 2021

Penelitian ini dilatar belakangi oleh pengelolaan beberapa objek wisata alam di Kabupaten Ciamis berbasis Community Based Tourism telah berjalan, salah satunya di objek wisata Jamiaki Desa Medanglayang Kecamatan Panumbangan Kabupaten Ciamis. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian dan observasi di lapangan pengembangan objek wisata alam berbasis Community Based Tourism di Objek Wisata Jamiaki Desa Medanglayang Kecamatan Panumbangan Kabupaten Ciamis pada umumnya cukup baik. Namun masih terdapat indikator yang pelaksanaannya kurang sesuai dalam implementasinya di lapangan. Adapun hambatan-hambatan yang dihadapi dalam strategi pengembangan pariwisata di Kabupaten Ciamis, yaitu masih adanya sampah yang dibawa oleh pengunjung ke lokasi objek wisata, pendidikan masyarakat desa yang masih belum sampai pada jenjang yang tinggi, Kurangnya waktu dan Sumber Daya Manusia (SDM) yang konsisten dalam menjaga kekompakan dan tetap bergotong royong, masih ada beberapa pengunjung yang mengabaikan peraturan yang ada, ada beberapa egosentris yang muncul ketika pemilihan ketua pengelola objek wisata yang tidak mematuhi peraturan untuk bijak dalam memanfaatkan alam. Upaya-upaya untuk mengatasi hambatan-hambatan yang dihadapi, yaitu mengedukasi masyarakat agar tetap menjaga kelestarian Sumber Daya Alam (SDA) di lokasi objek wisata Jamiaki, membangun pemahaman tentang budaya dan cara hidup yang beragam yakni dengan menjunjung toleransi dalam berkehidupan bermasyarakat.
Peningkatan Kinerja Pegawai Dalam Proses Pelayanan Administrasi Terpadu Kecamatan (Paten) Di Kantor Kecamatan Kelapa Dua Kabupaten Tangerang Provinsi Banten
Authors: Nurrahman Agung , Santoso Eko Budi , Sani Muhammad Fadli
Published: May 2021

Penelitian ini memfokuskan pada peningkatan kinerja pegawai dalam proses Pelayanan Administrasi Terpadu Kecamatan (Paten) di Kantor Kecamatan Kelapa Dua Kabupaten Tangerang Provinsi Banten” Tujuan penelitian untuk mengetahui kinerja para pegawai dalam penyelenggaraan Pelayanan Administrasi Terpadu Kecamatan (PATEN). Penelitian dilakukan menggunakan metode kualitatif deskriptif. Teknik pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan cara observasi, wawancara, dan dokumentasi. Sementara teknik analisis data yang digunakan diawali dengan reduksi data, penyajian data, dan penarikan kesimpulan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa Peningkatan Kinerja Pegawai Dalam Proses Pelayanan Administrasi Terpadu Kecamatan (Paten) Di Kantor Kecamatan Kelapa Dua Kabupaten Tangerang Provinsi Banten Tahun 2020 relatif baik. Hal ini dapat didasarkan dan bisa dibuktikan dengan melihat beberapa indikator pelayanan yang telah terpenuhi serta masyarakat yang sudah merasa terpuaskan bahwa dengan suatu pelayanan yang ada sekarang ini. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian, penulis menyarankan peningkatan kinerja pegawai kantor Kecamatan Kelapa Dua dengan cara: pertama, dapat meningkatkan sosialisasi dan informasi tentang Pelayanan Administrasi Terpadu Kecamatan kepada masyarakat desa dan kelurahan di Kecamatan Kelapa Dua. Kedua, mementingkan upaya dalam peningkatan kedisiplinan, keramahan serta kesopanan pegawai. Ketiga, adanya bimbingan serta arahan yang telah dilakukan oleh camat kepada pegawai Kantor Kecamatan Kelapa Dua terkait hal pelayanan serta upaya yang telah didapatkan.
RANS predictions of trailing-edge slot flows using heat-flux closures developed with CFD-driven machine learning
Authors: Lav Chitrarth , Haghiri Ali , Sandberg Richard
Published: May 2021

Accurate prediction of the wall temperature downstream of the trailing-edge slot is crucial to designing turbine
blades that can withstand the harsh aerothermal environment in a modern gas turbine. Because of their computational
efficiency, industry relies on low-fidelity tools like RANS for momentum and thermal field calculations, despite their
known underprediction of wall temperature. In this paper, a novel framework using a branch of machine learning, geneexpression
programming (GEP) [Zhao et al. 2020, J. Comp. Physics, 411:109413] is used to develop closures for the
turbulent heat-flux to improve upon this underprediction. In the original use of GEP (“frozen” approach), the turbulent
heat-flux from a high-fidelity database was used to evaluate the fitness of the candidate closures during the symbolic
regression, however, the resulting closure had no information of the temperature field during the optimisation process.
In this work, the regression process of the GEP instead incorporates RANS calculations to evaluate the fitness of the
candidate closures. This allows the inclusion of the temperature field from RANS to advance the iterative regression,
leading to a more integrated heat-flux closure development, and consequently more accurate and robust models. The
GEP-based CFD-driven framework is demonstrated on a trailing edge slot configuration with three blowing ratios. Full
a posteriori predictions from the new closures are compared to high-fidelity reference data and both conventional RANS
closures and closures obtained from the “frozen” approach.
Towards the Large-Eddy Simulation of a full engine: Integration of a 360 azimuthal degrees fan, compressor and combustion chamber. Part II: Comparison against stand-alone simulations
Authors: Pérez Arroyo Carlos , Dombard Jérôme , Duchaine Florent , Gicquel Laurent , Martin Benjamin , Odier Nicolas , Staffelbach Gabriel
Published: May 2021

Unsteady simulations of various components of a gas-turbine engine are often carried out independently and only share averaged quantities at the component interfaces. In order to study the impact and interactions between components, this work compares results from sectoral stand-alone simulations of a fan, compressor and annular combustion chamber of the DGEN-380 demonstrator engine at take-off conditions against an integrated 360 azimuthal degrees large-eddy simulation with over 2.1 billion cells of all previously listed components. Note that, at take-off conditions the compressor works at transonic conditions and generates an upstream-propagating shock that interacts with the fan modifying the shape of its wake with respect to the stand-alone simulation. Furthermore, the shock is seen as a tone in the pressure spectra at half the impeller blade passing frequency in the forward region of the engine. In the aft region, time-averaged fields are overall similar between stand-alone and integrated simulations but show a deviation in the azimuthal position of the hot-spot at the exit of the combustion chamber due to the addition of the diffuser. Pressure fluctuations generated in the compressor are captured in the combustion chamber as tones in the temperature and pressure spectra at the impeller blade-passing frequency and harmonics as well as an increase in the root-mean-square pressure.
The Pengaruh Kombinasi Terapi Akupresur dan Senam Nifas Terhadap Involusi Uteri Pada Ibu Nifas Di Praktik Mandiri Bidan
Authors: Lailiyana Lailiyana , Sartika Yan
Published: May 2021

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh kombinasi terapi akupresur dan senam nifas terhadap involusi uteri pada ibu nifas di Praktik Mandiri Bidan Kota Pekanbaru. Jenis penelitian ini adalah penelitian analitik dengan desain kuasi eksperimen. Sampel berjumlah berjumlah 45 orang ibu nifas  yang diambil dengan teknik incidental sampling dan dibagi menjadi 3 kelompok perlakuan. Hasil penelitian didapat bahwa rata-rata tinggi fundus uteri 1 minggu postpartum pada kelompok yang dilakukan kombinasi senam nifas dan akupresur lebih rendah yaitu 2,70 cm (SD=1,236) dibanding kelompok yang dilakukan intervensi akupresur tanpa senam nifas yaitu 3,58 cm (SD=1,269) dan yang dilakukan senam nifas tanpa akupresur yaitu 4,95 cm (SD=1,575). Hasil uji anova pada derajat kepercayaan 95% didapatkan ada perbedaan rata-rata tinggi fundus uteri antara kelompok ibu nifas yang dilakukan intervensi kombinasi akupresur dan senam nifas dengan kelompok yang dilakukan senam nifas tanpa akupresur (p=0,000), ada perbedaan rata-rata tinggi fundus antara kelompok ibu nifas yang dilakukan akupresur dengan kelompok yang dilakukan senam nifas (p=0.023), tidak ada perbedaan rata-rata tinggi fundus antara kelompok ibu nifas yang dilakukan kombinasi akupresur dan senam nifas dengan kelompok yang dilakukan akupresur tanpa senam nifas (p=0,195). Kombinasi Terapi akupresur dan senam nifas lebih efektif mempercepat proses involusi
Analisis Faktor Penghambat Kepala Keluarga dalam Kepemilikan Jamban Keluarga
Authors: Fadel Fadel Achmad Haikal , Vera Yulyani  , Dhiny Easter Yanti
Published: May 2021

Tujuan penelitian untuk menganalisis faktor penghambat kepala keluarga dalam kepemilikan jamban keluarga. Jenis penelitian yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode kuantitatif dengan desain study cross sectional. Teknik pengambilan yaiu  probabilitas sampling. Data primer peneitian meliputi karakteristik responden seperti jenis kelamin, Suku, Pendidikan terakhir dan Pekerjaan. Adapun variabel penelitian meliputi kepemilikan jamban, motivasi, sosial ekonomi dan tingkat pengetahuan. Analisis data menggunakan SPSS 22.0 dengan uji chi square kemaknaan 95%.  Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa adanya hubungan motivasi dengan kepemilikan jamban (p- value 0,002), ada hubungan antara sosial ekonomi dengan kepemilikan jamban (p- value 0,010, OR= 6,100), dan ada hubungan antara pengetahuan dengan kepemilikan jamban (p-value 0,029, OR= 3,739). Kesimpulan yaitu faktor penghambat kepala keluarga dalam kepemilikan jamban keluarga adalah rendahnya motivasi, rendahnya sosial ekonomi dan pengetahuan yang kurang baik di Desa Kedaung Kecematan Pardasuka
Determinan Kesediaan Masyarakat menerima Vaksinasi Covid-19 di Sulawesi Tengah
Authors: Ichsan Dewi Susetiyany , Hafid Fahmi , Ramadhan Kadar , Taqwin Taqwin
Published: May 2021

Tujuan penelitian untuk mengetahui determinan kesediaan masyarakat menerima vaksinasi Covid-19 di Sulawesi Tengah. Penelitian deskriptif analitik desain cross sectional pada Januari tahun 2021. Survei online masyarakat di Sulawesi Tengah dengan 266 orang responden berusia 18 tahun ke atas. Pengumpulan data secara accidental sampling melalui https://ee.kobotoolbox.org/x/aSWgcPdw dan dianalisis menggunakan SPSS 22,0 uji chi square dan regresi logistik kemaknaan p-value 0,05%. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan responden berjenis kelamin perempuan 68,0%, berumur 20-40 tahun 31,2%, berpendidikan tinggi 39,5%. Status pelajar/mahasiswa 33,5% dan aparatur sipil negara sebanyak 23,3%. Status menikah 51,9%, beragama Islam 80,8%, suku bugis 24,4% dan berada di daerah perkotaan 52,6%. Responden yang memiliki kartu badan penyelenggara jaminan sosial 80,5%. Perilaku pencegahan Covid-19 meliputi; penggunaan masker 99,6% menjaga jarak 95,9% menghindari kerumunan 95,5% dan mencuci tangan menggunakan sabun pada air mengalir 96,2%. Responden yang bersedia menerima vaksinasi Covid-19 sebesar 35,3%. Faktor yang mempengaruhi kesediaan masyarakat Sulawesi Tengah menerima vaksinasi adalah faktor umur, tingkat pendidikan, pekerjaan, status pernikahan, agama dan suku. Determinan kesediaan masyarakat menerima Vaksinasi Covid-19 adalah umur dan agama. Kesimpulan; Responden yang bersedia menerima vaksinasi Covid-19 sebesar 35,3% dengan determinan umur dan agama. Disarankan agar sosialisasi untuk divaksinasi Covid-19 fokus pada orang dengan kelompok umur ≤40 tahun dan beragama Islam. Sosialisasi vaksinasi Covid-19 melalui televisi dan media sosial facebook dan Instagram oleh satgas Covid-19, Badan Pengawas Obat dan Makanan dan Kementerian Kesehatan.
Purinergic Receptors in the Airways: Potential Therapeutic Targets for Asthma?
Authors: Thompson Rebecca J. , Sayers Ian , Kuokkanen Katja , Hall Ian P.
Published: May 2021

Extracellular ATP functions as a signaling messenger through its actions on purinergic receptors, and is known to be involved in numerous physiological and pathophysiological processes throughout the body, including in the lungs and airways. Consequently, purinergic receptors are considered to be promising therapeutic targets for many respiratory diseases, including asthma. This review explores how online bioinformatics resources combined with recently generated datasets can be utilized to investigate purinergic receptor gene expression in tissues and cell types of interest in respiratory disease to identify potential therapeutic targets, which can then be investigated further. These approaches show that different purinergic receptors are expressed at different levels in lung tissue, and that purinergic receptors tend to be expressed at higher levels in immune cells and at more moderate levels in airway structural cells. Notably, P2RX1, P2RX4, P2RX7, P2RY1, P2RY11, and P2RY14 were revealed as the most highly expressed purinergic receptors in lung tissue, therefore suggesting that these receptors have good potential as therapeutic targets for asthma and other respiratory diseases.
m7G Methyltransferase METTL1 Promotes Post-ischemic Angiogenesis via Promoting VEGFA mRNA Translation
Authors: Zhao Yongchao , Kong Lingqiu , Pei Zhiqiang , Li Fuhai , Li Chaofu , Sun Xiaolei , Shi Bei , Ge Junbo
Published: May 2021

Post-transcriptional modifications play pivotal roles in various pathological processes and ischemic disorders. However, the role of N7-methylguanosine (m7G), particularly m7G in mRNA, on post-ischemic angiogenesis remains largely unknown. Here, we identified that methyltransferase like 1 (METTL1) was a critical candidate responsible for a global decrease of m7G within mRNA from the ischemic tissues. The in vivo gene transfer of METTL1 improved blood flow recovery and increased angiogenesis with enhanced mRNA m7G upon post-ischemic injury. Increased METTL1 expression using plasmid transfection in vitro promoted HUVECs proliferation, migration, and tube formation with a global increase of m7G in mRNA. Mechanistically, METTL1 promoted VEGFA mRNA translation in an m7G methylation-dependent manner. Our findings emphasize a critical link between mRNA m7G and ischemia and provide a novel insight of targeting METTL1 in the therapeutic angiogenesis for ischemic disorders, including peripheral arterial disease.
Exosomal miR-92b-3p Promotes Chemoresistance of Small Cell Lung Cancer Through the PTEN/AKT Pathway
Authors: Li Ming , Shan Wulin , Hua Yan , Chao Fengmei , Cui Yayun , Lv Lei , Dou Xiaoyan , Bian Xing , Zou Jinglu , Li Hong , Lin Wenchu
Published: May 2021

Resistance to first-line chemotherapy drugs has become an obstacle to improving the clinical prognosis of patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Exosomal microRNAs have been shown to play pro- and anti-chemoresistant roles in various cancers, but their role in SCLC chemoresistance has never been explored. In this study, we observed that the expression of exosomal miR-92b-3p was significantly increased in patients who developed chemoresistance. Luciferase reporter analysis confirmed that PTEN was a target gene of miR-92b-3p. The PTEN/AKT regulatory network was related to miR-92b-3p-mediated cell migration and chemoresistance in vitro and in vivo in SCLC. Importantly, exosomes isolated from the conditioned medium of SBC-3 cells overexpressing miR-92b-3p could promote SCLC chemoresistance and cell migration. Furthermore, we found that plasma miR-92b-3p levels were significantly higher in patients with chemoresistant SCLC than in those with chemosensitive SCLC, but the levels were down-regulated in patients who achieved remission. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that SCLC patients with high miR-92b-3p expression were associated with shorter progression-free survival. Overall, our results suggested that exosomal miR-92b-3p is a potential dynamic biomarker to monitor chemoresistance in SCLC and represents a promising therapeutic target for chemoresistant SCLC.
Integrative Analysis of DNA Methylation and Transcriptome Identifies a Predictive Epigenetic Signature Associated With Immune Infiltration in Gliomas
Authors: Zhang Jianlei , Yin Jiang , Luo Liyun , Huang Danqing , Zhai Dongfeng , Wang Ge , Xu Ning , Yang Mingqiang , Song Ying , Zheng Guopei , Zhang Qiong
Published: May 2021

Glioma is the most common primary brain tumor with poor prognosis and high mortality. The purpose of this study was to use the epigenetic signature to predict prognosis and evaluate the degree of immune infiltration in gliomas. We integrated gene expression profiles and DNA methylation data of lower-grade glioma and glioblastoma to explore epigenetic differences and associated differences in biological function. Cox regression and lasso analysis were used to develop an epigenetic signature based on eight DNA methylation sites to predict prognosis of glioma patients. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that the overall survival time of high- and low-risk groups was significantly separated, and ROC analysis verified that the model had great predictive ability. In addition, we constructed a nomogram based on age, sex, 1p/19q status, glioma type, and risk score. The epigenetic signature was obviously associated with tumor purity, immune checkpoints, and tumor-immune infiltrating cells (CD8+ T cells, gamma delta T cells, M0 macrophages, M1 macrophages, M2 macrophages, activated NK cells, monocytes, and activated mast cells) and thus, it may find application as a guide for the evaluation of immune infiltration or in treatment decisions in immunotherapy.
Identification of Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition-Related Prognostic lncRNAs Biomarkers Associated With Melanoma Microenvironment
Authors: Xiao Bo , Liu Liyan , Chen Zhuoyuan , Li Aoyu , Wang Pingxiao , Xiang Cheng , Zeng Yi , Li Hui , Xiao Tao
Published: May 2021

Melanoma is the most common cancer of the skin, associated with a worse prognosis and distant metastasis. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a reversible cellular biological process that plays significant roles in diverse tumor functions, and it is modulated by specific genes and transcription factors. The relevance of EMT-related lncRNAs in melanoma has not been determined. Therefore, RNA expression data and clinical features were collected from the TCGA database (N = 447). Melanoma samples were randomly assigned into the training (315) and testing sets (132). An EMT-related lncRNA signature was constructed via comprehensive analyses of lncRNA expression level and corresponding clinical data. The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed significant differences in overall survival in patients with melanoma in the low and high-risk groups in two sets. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to measure the performance of the model. Cox regression analysis indicated that the risk score was an independent prognostic factor in two sets. Besides, a nomogram was constructed based on the independent variables. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was applied to evaluate the potential biological functions in the two risk groups. Furthermore, the melanoma microenvironment was evaluated using ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT algorithms in the risk groups. This study indicates that EMT-related lncRNAs can function as potential independent prognostic biomarkers for melanoma survival.
Identification of the Bok Interactome Using Proximity Labeling
Authors: Szczesniak Laura M. , Bonzerato Caden G. , Wojcikiewicz Richard J. H.
Published: May 2021

The function of the Bcl-2 family member Bok is currently enigmatic, with various disparate roles reported, including mediation of apoptosis, regulation of mitochondrial morphology, binding to inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors, and regulation of uridine metabolism. To better define the roles of Bok, we examined its interactome using TurboID-mediated proximity labeling in HeLa cells, in which Bok knock-out leads to mitochondrial fragmentation and Bok overexpression leads to apoptosis. Labeling with TurboID-Bok revealed that Bok was proximal to a wide array of proteins, particularly those involved in mitochondrial fission (e.g., Drp1), endoplasmic reticulum-plasma membrane junctions (e.g., Stim1), and surprisingly among the Bcl-2 family members, just Mcl-1. Comparison with TurboID-Mcl-1 and TurboID-Bak revealed that the three Bcl-2 family member interactomes were largely independent, but with some overlap that likely identifies key interactors. Interestingly, when overexpressed, Mcl-1 and Bok interact physically and functionally, in a manner that depends upon the transmembrane domain of Bok. Overall, this work shows that the Bok interactome is different from those of Mcl-1 and Bak, identifies novel proximities and potential interaction points for Bcl-2 family members, and suggests that Bok may regulate mitochondrial fission via Mcl-1 and Drp1.
An In Situ Temperature-Dependent Study of La2O3 Reactivation Process
Authors: Zhou Xiaohong , Vovk Evgeny I. , Liu Yang , Guan Cairu , Yang Yong
Published: May 2021

Lanthanum-containing materials are widely used in oxidative catalytic and electrocatalytic reactions such as oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). However, many of these materials are highly susceptible to air contamination which means ex situ characterization results generally cannot be associated with their reactivity. In this study, the activation processes of an in situ–prepared bulk La2O2CO3 sample and an ex situ as-prepared La(OH)3 sample are in situ investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and online mass spectroscopy (MS). Results indicate that the La2O2CO3 sample, during linear heating to 800°C, always contains some carbonates near the surface region, which supports a two-step model of bulk carbonate decomposition through surface sites. The La(OH)3 sample structure evolution is more complex due to contaminations from air exposure. Together with TGA results, online mass analysis of water and CO2 signal loss showed that three major catalyst structure phase change steps and a preheating up to 800°C are required for the as-prepared material to be transferred to La2O3. This process is carefully investigated combining the three in situ methodologies. XPS and XRD data further reveal transformations of variety of in situ surface structures and forms including hybrid phases with hydroxyl, carbonates, and oxide as the sample heated to different temperatures within the range from 200 to 800°C. The results provide useful insights on the activation and deactivation of La-contained materials.
Guide RNA Repertoires in the Main Lineages of Trypanosoma cruzi: High Diversity and Variable Redundancy Among Strains
Authors: Rusman Fanny , Floridia-Yapur Noelia , Tomasini Nicolás , Diosque Patricio
Published: May 2021

Trypanosoma cruzi, as other kinetoplastids, has a complex mechanism of editing of mitochondrial mRNAs that requires guide RNAs (gRNAs) coded in DNA minicircles in the kinetoplast. There are many variations on this mechanism among species. mRNA editing and gRNA repertoires are almost unknown in T. cruzi. Here, gRNAs were inferred based on deep-sequenced minicircle hypervariable regions (mHVRs) and editing cascades were rebuilt in strains belonging to the six main T. cruzi lineages. Inferred gRNAs were clustered according to their sequence similarity to constitute gRNA classes. Extreme diversity of gRNA classes was observed, which implied highly divergent gRNA repertoires among different lineages, even within some lineages. In addition, a variable gRNA class redundancy (i.e., different gRNA classes editing the same mRNA region) was detected among strains. Some strains had upon four times more gRNA classes than others. Such variations in redundancy affected gRNA classes of all mRNAs in a concerted way, i.e., there are correlated variations in the number of gRNAs classes editing each mRNA. Interestingly, cascades were incomplete for components of the respiratory complex I in several strains. Finally, gRNA classes of different strains may potentially edit mitochondrial mRNAs from other lineages in the same way as they edit their own mitochondrial mRNAs, which is a prerequisite for biparental inheritance of minicircle in hybrids. We propose that genetic exchange and biparental inheritance of minicircles combined with minicircle drift due to (partial) random segregation of minicircles during kDNA replication is a suitable hypothesis to explain the divergences among strains and the high levels of gRNA redundancy in some strains. In addition, our results support that the complex I may not be required in some stages in the life cycle as previously shown and that linkage (in the same minicircle) of gRNAs that edit different mRNAs may prevent gRNA class lost in such stage.
Methods of Promoting Learning and Data Quality in Citizen and Community Science
Authors: Herodotou Christothea , Scanlon Eileen , Sharples Mike
Published: May 2021

Citizen science or community science (CS) programmes are engaging volunteers in specific stages of the scientific research, mostly data collection and processing. They are less likely to have an explicit objective to support and promote volunteers' learning. In response to that, “citizen inquiry” emphases citizens' learning and community education, by viewing CS as an opportunity to educate the general public in thinking and acting scientifically. In citizen inquiry, citizens can take part in all the stages of the scientific research, from setting up an inquiry of personal interest, to deciding on the methods of data collection, analysis, and reporting. To ensure data quality when non-professionals design their own or take part in existing investigations, we have designed a bespoke online technological solution, the nQuire platform (nquire.org.uk), with support from the Open University/BBC partnership. nQuire scaffolds the design of high quality scientific inquiries through an authoring functionality and a process of data quality review by experts. In this paper, we detail how nQuire can support data quality assurance and control. We present case studies of how data quality was managed in two projects: “Heatwaves: Are you coping?” and “Pollinator Watch.”
The Suicidal Self in Cyberspace: Discursive Constructions of Identity in a Pro-Recovery Suicide Forum
Authors: Alvarez Mike
Published: May 2021

The proliferation of suicide-related content online has led to widespread fears that suicidal persons are at elevated risk in our networked society. Though much research has been done on the benefits and harms of digital technologies, few studies have attended to the deep discursive meanings co-created by suicidal users. The present study attends to meanings about identity interactionally created by members of SuicideForum.com (SF), a pro-recovery website. Methodologically, I collected a purposive sample of 2,119 posts across 131 threads, which I then examined using cultural discourse analysis, tracking discursive hubs like “suicide” and “suicidal” to arrive at corresponding radiants of meaning. Findings reveal two sets of discursive themes: one set speaks to problematic identities, the other to a self emancipated from suicidality. The suicidal self is expressed in discourse as the product of a fractured identity, marked by schism between an authentic “inner self” and a socially aligned but inauthentic “outer self.” However, resolution of fractured identities depends not on harmonious fusion but on reconciliation. Moreover, staying alive—continuing to be—is contingent upon recognizing that every life, including one’s own, has value, finding purpose and meaning, and tending to others’ well-being. The analysis uncovers discrepancies between SF users’ folk understanding of the suicidal self and that espoused by dominant (i.e., biopsychiatric) models. Their implications for clinical and therapeutic practice are discussed.
Inhibition of KCa3.1 Channels Suppresses Atrial Fibrillation via the Attenuation of Macrophage Pro-inflammatory Polarization in a Canine Model With Prolonged Rapid Atrial Pacing
Authors: He Shanqing , Wang Youcheng , Yao Yajun , Cao Zhen , Yin Junkui , Zi Liuliu , Chen Huiyu , Fu Yuntao , Wang Xi , Zhao Qingyan
Published: May 2021

Aims: To investigate the role of KCa3. 1 inhibition in macrophage pro-inflammatory polarization and vulnerability to atrial fibrillation (AF) in a canine model with prolonged rapid atrial pacing.

Materials and Methods: Twenty beagle dogs (weighing 8–10 kg) were randomly assigned to a sham group (n = 6), pacing group (n = 7) and pacing+TRAM-34 group (n = 7). An experimental model of AF was established by rapid pacing. TRAM-34 was administered to the Pacing+TRAM-34 group by slow intravenous injection (10 mg/kg), 3 times each day. After 7 days of pacing, the electrophysiology was measured in vivo. The levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), CD68, c-Fos, p38, and NF-κB p65 in both atriums were measured by Western blotting, and the levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and arginase1 (Arg-1) were measured by real-time PCR. Macrophage and KCa3.1 in macrophage in the atrium were quantized following double labeled immunofluorescent.

Results: Greater inducibility of AF, an extended duration of AF and lower atrial effective refractory period (AERP) were observed in the pacing group compared with those in the sham group. Both CD68-labeled macrophage and the expression of KCa3.1 in macrophage were elevated in the pacing group and inhibited by TRAM-34, led to higher iNOS expression, lower Arg-1 expression, elevated levels of IL-1β, MCP-1, and TNF-α in the atria, which could be reversed by TRAM-34 treatment (all P < 0.01). KCa3.1 channels were possibly activated via the p38/AP-1/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Conclusions: Inhibition of KCa3.1 suppresses vulnerability to AF by attenuating macrophage pro-inflammatory polarization and inflammatory cytokine secretion in a canine model with prolonged rapid atrial pacing.
Impact of Concomitant Impairments of the Left and Right Ventricular Myocardial Strain on the Prognoses of Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Lai Wei , Jie He , Jian-Xun Dong , Ling-Cong Kong , Jun-Tong Zeng , Bo-Zhong Shi , Dong-Ao-Lei An , Bing-Hua Chen , Song Ding , Zheng Li , Fan Yang , Yi-Ning Yang , Fu-Hua Yan , Jian-Cheng Xiu , Hu-Wen Wang , Jian-Rong Xu , Heng Ge , Jun Pu
Published: May 2021

Background: The impact of concomitant impairments of left and right ventricular (LV and RV) strain on the long-term prognosis of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is not clear.

Methods: We analyzed CMR images and followed up 420 first STEMI patients from the EARLY Assessment of MYOcardial Tissue Characteristics by CMR in STEMI (EARLY-MYO-CMR) registry (NCT03768453). These patients received timely primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) within 12 h and CMR examination within 1 week (median, 5 days; range, 2–7 days) after infarction. Global longitudinal strain (GLS), global radial strain (GRS), and global circumferential strain (GCS) of both ventricles were measured based on CMR cine images. Conventional CMR indexes were also assessed. Primary clinical outcome was composite major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) including cardiovascular death, re-infarction, re-hospitalization for heart failure and stroke. In addition, CMR data from 40 people without apparent heart disease were used as control group.

Results: Compared to controls, both LV and RV strains were remarkably reduced in STEMI patients. During follow-up (median: 52 months, interquartile range: 29–68 months), 80 patients experienced major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) including cardiovascular death, re-infarction, heart failure, and stroke. LV-GCS > −11.20% was an independent predictor of MACCEs (P < 0.001). RV-GRS was the only RV strain index that could effectively predict the risk of MACCEs (AUC = 0.604, 95% CI [0.533, 0.674], P = 0.004). Patient with RV-GRS ≤ 38.79% experienced more MACCEs than those with preserved RV-GRS (log rank P < 0.001). Moreover, patients with the concomitant decrease of LV-GCS and RV-GRS were more likely to experience MACCEs than patients with decreased LV-GCS alone (log rank P = 0.010). RV-GRS was incremental to LV-GCS for the predictive power of MACCEs (continuous NRI: 0.327; 95% CI: 0.095–0.558; P = 0.006). Finally, tobacco use (P = 0.003), right coronary artery involvement (P = 0.002), and LV-GCS > −11.20% (P = 0.012) was correlated with lower RV-GRS.

Conclusions: The concomitant decrease of LV and RV strain is associated with a worse long-term prognosis than impaired LV strain alone. Combination assessment of both LV and RV strain indexes could improve risk stratification of patients with STEMI.

Trial Registration:ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03768453. Registered 7 December 2018 - Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03768453.
Galectin-3 as a Biomarker for Stratifying Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Size in a Taiwanese Population
Authors: Lu Hsin-Ying , Shih Chun-Ming , Sung Shih-Hsien , Wu Alexander T. H. , Cheng Tsai-Mu , Lin Yen-Chung , Shih Chun-Che
Published: May 2021

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) ruptures are unpredictable and lethal. A biomarker predicting AAA rupture risk could help identify patients with small, screen-detected AAAs. Galectin-3 (Gal-3), a β-galactosidase–binding lectin, is involved in inflammatory processes and may be associated with AAA incidence. We investigated whether Gal-3 can be used as a biomarker of AAA size. Plasma Gal-3 protein concentrations were examined in patients with AAA (n = 151) and control patients (n = 195) using Human ProcartaPlex multiplex and simplex kits. Circulating Gal-3 levels were significantly higher in patients with AAA than in control patients. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for Gal-3 was 0.91. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between Gal-3 level and the presence of AAA. Circulating Gal-3 levels were significantly correlated with aortic diameter in a concentration-dependent manner. In conclusion, higher plasma Gal-3 concentrations may be a useful biomarker of AAA progression.
Extracellular Superoxide Dismutase (EC-SOD) Regulates Gene Methylation and Cardiac Fibrosis During Chronic Hypoxic Stress
Authors: Rajgarhia Ayan , Ayasolla Kameshwar R. , Zaghloul Nahla , Lopez Da Re Jorge M. , Miller Edmund J. , Ahmed Mohamed
Published: May 2021

Chronic hypoxic stress induces epigenetic modifications mainly DNA methylation in cardiac fibroblasts, inactivating tumor suppressor genes (RASSF1A) and activating kinases (ERK1/2) leading to fibroblast proliferation and cardiac fibrosis. The Ras/ERK signaling pathway is an intracellular signal transduction critically involved in fibroblast proliferation. RASSF1A functions through its effect on downstream ERK1/2. The antioxidant enzyme, extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD), decreases oxidative stress from chronic hypoxia, but its effects on these epigenetic changes have not been fully explored. To test our hypothesis, we used anin-vitromodel: wild-type C57B6 male mice (WT) and transgenic males with an extra copy of human hEC-SOD (TG). The studied animals were housed in hypoxia (10% O2) for 21 days. The right ventricular tissue was studied for cardiac fibrosis markers using RT-PCR and Western blot analyses. Primary C57BL6 mouse cardiac fibroblast tissue culture was used to study thein-vitromodel, the downstream effects of RASSF-1 expression and methylation, and its relation to ERK1/2. Our findings showed a significant increase in cardiac fibrosis markers: Collagen 1, alpha smooth muscle actin (ASMA), and SNAIL, in the WT hypoxic animals as compared to the TG hypoxic group (p< 0.05). The expression of DNA methylation enzymes (DNMT 1&3b) was significantly increased in the WT hypoxic mice as compared to the hypoxic TG mice (p< 0.001). RASSF1A expression was significantly lower and ERK1/2 was significantly higher in hypoxia WT compared to the hypoxic TG group (p< 0.05). Use of SiRNA to block RASSF1A gene expression in murine cardiac fibroblast tissue culture led to increased fibroblast proliferation (p< 0.05). Methylation of the RASSF1A promoter region was significantly reduced in the TG hypoxic group compared to the WT hypoxic group (0.59 vs. 0.75, respectively). Based on our findings, we can speculate that EC-SOD significantly attenuates RASSF1A gene methylation and can alleviate cardiac fibrosis induced by hypoxia.
Housing Prices and the Skills Composition of Neighborhoods
Authors: Althobaiti Shahad , Alghumayjan Saud , Frank Morgan R. , Moro Esteban , Alabdulkareem Ahmad , Pentland Alex
Published: May 2021

In the United States (US), low-income workers are being pushed away from city centers where the cost of living is high. The effects of such changes on labor mobility and housing price have been explored in the literature. However, few studies have focused on the occupations and specific skills that identify the most susceptible workers. For example, it has become increasingly challenging to fill the service sector jobs in the San Francisco (SF) Bay Area because appropriately skilled workers cannot afford the growing cost of living within commuting distance. With this example in mind, how does a neighborhood's skill composition change as a result of higher housing prices? Are there certain skill sets that are being pushed to the geographical periphery of a city despite their essentialness to the city's economy? Our study focuses on the impact of housing prices with a granular view of skills compositions to answer the following question: Has the density of cognitive skill workers been increasing in a gentrified area? We hypothesize that, over time, low-skilled workers are pushed away from downtown or areas where high-skill establishments thrive. Our preliminary results show that high-level cognitive skills are getting closer to the city center indicating adaptation to the increase of median housing prices as opposed to low-level physical skills that got further away. We examined tracts that the literature indicates as gentrified areas and found a pattern in which there is a temporal increase in median housing prices and the number of business establishments coupled with an increase in the percentage of skilled cognitive workers.
Deep Magma Transport Control on the Size and Evolution of Explosive Volcanic Eruptions
Authors: Colucci Simone , Papale Paolo
Published: May 2021

Explosive eruptions are the surface manifestation of dynamics that involve transfer of magma from the underground regions of magma accumulation. Evidence of the involvement of compositionally different magmas from different reservoirs is continuously increasing to countless cases. Yet, models of eruption dynamics consider only the uppermost portion of the plumbing system, neglecting connections to deeper regions of magma storage. Here we show that the extent and efficiency of the interconnections between different magma storage regions largely control the size of the eruptions, their evolution, the causes of their termination, and ultimately their impact on the surrounding environment. Our numerical simulations first reproduce the magnitude-intensity relationship observed for explosive eruptions on Earth and explain the observed variable evolutions of eruption mass flow rates. Because deep magmatic interconnections are largely inaccessible to present-day imaging capabilities, our results motivate the need to better image and characterize extant magma bodies.
Incidence and Risk Factors of Hypogonadism in Male Patients With Latent Autoimmune Diabetes and Classic Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Cai Meili , Cui Ran , Yang Peng , Gao Jingyang , Cheng Xiaoyun , Sheng Chunjun , Li Hong , Sheng Hui , Qu Shen , Zhang Manna
Published: May 2021

Objectives

This study aimed to compare the prevalence of hypogonadism between male patients with latent autoimmune diabetes (LADA) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and investigate the risk factors for hypogonadism in these patients.

Methods

This cross-sectional study evaluated 367 male patients with LADA (n=73) and T2DM (n=294) who visited the endocrinology department of Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital between January 2016 and October 2019 for diabetes management. Sex hormones, lipid profiles, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), glycosylated hemoglobin A1c, beta-cell function, uric acid, and osteocalcin were determined in serum samples. Hypogonadism was defined as calculated free testosterone (cFT) less than 220 pmol/L along with the presence of symptoms (positive ADAM score).

Results

The rate of hypogonadism in the LADA and T2DM group were 8.2, and 21.7%, respectively (p=0.017). After adjusting possible confounders, the rate of hypogonadism in the LADA group was comparable to those of the T2DM group. Univariate logistic regressions demonstrated that age, BMI, fasting C-peptide, triglycerides, total cholesterol and uric acid were associated with hypogonadism in men with diabetes, BMI, triglycerides and estradiol were independent risk for hypogonadism in men with diabetes.

Conclusion

This is the first evidence to explore the rate of hypogonadism in male patients with latent autoimmune diabetes (LADA). In the population requiring admission to a large urban hospital in China, the rate of hypogonadism was comparable to those of the T2DM group after adjusting for possible confounders. BMI, triglycerides and estradiol were independently associated with the presence of HH in male diabetic patients.
Low Free Triiodothyronine as a Predictor of Poor Prognosis in Patients With Myocardial Infarction With Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries
Authors: Abdu Fuad A. , Mohammed Abdul-Quddus , Liu Lu , Zhang Wen , Yin Guoqing , Xu Bin , Xu Siling , Xu Yawei , Che Wenliang
Published: May 2021

Background

Low free triiodothyronine (fT3) level is strongly associated with poor prognosis in various patient populations. However, the role of fT3 in the risk of clinical outcomes in myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) has not been studied. Our study aimed to evaluate the association between low fT3 levels and the clinical outcomes of MINOCA patients.

Methods

A total of 218 MINOCA patients without a history of thyroid disease were enrolled in the study. Demographic, baseline clinical data, thyroid hormones, and other biochemical parameters were assessed in all patients. According to the fT3 levels, the present study was classified into two groups: the low fT3 group (fT3<3.5 pmol/L) and the normal fT3 group (fT3 3.5-6.5 pmol/L). The endpoint of the study was major adverse cardiac events (MACE).

Results

Fifty-nine patients were in the low fT3 group and 159 patients were in the normal fT3 group. Over the two years of follow-up, 36 MACE have occurred. The occurrence of MACE was higher in the low fT3 group compared with normal fT3 group (25.4% vs 13.2%; P=0.031). Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed a significantly increased risk of MACE in patients with low fT3 (log-rank P=0.027). Multivariable logistic regression analysis stated that high fT3 was independently associated with lower risk of MACE after two years of follow up (OR, 0.623; 95% CI, 0.399- 0.972; P=0.037).

Conclusion

Low fT3 levels were significantly associated with increased risk of MACE in patients with MINOCA. This finding suggests that the fT3 levels may serve as a potential biomarker in risk stratification of MINOCA patients.
Robustness of Indoor Aquatic Mesocosm Experimentations and Data Reusability to Assess the Environmental Risks of Nanomaterials
Authors: Nassar Mohammad , Auffan Mélanie , Santaella Catherine , Masion Armand , Rose Jérôme
Published: May 2021

Indoor aquatic mesocosms are increasingly used in nanosafety to assess the behavior, fate, and impacts of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) in aquatic environments using relevant exposure scenarios. The robustness of 60 L freshwater mesocosm experimentation was tested on the basis of the reusability of the data collected in a database named MESOCOSM regarding mesocosm experiments examining the environmental risks of CeO2 ENMs. We observed high reliability of the measured variables across replicates. The sensitivity of this mesocosm methodology was evidenced by the contrasted ecosystem responses revealed by a multivariate analysis. We also observed that adding variables to the data set up to 15% did not affect the outcome of the analysis of the results. This ability to buffer this variability demonstrates that the indoor aquatic mesocosms are robust tools contributing to the environmental risk assessment of ENMs, and stresses the benefit of reusing the data stored in databases such as MESOCOSM adhering to the findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable (FAIR) data principles.