bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MANUFACTURING OF MILITARY PRODUCTS ACCORDING TO NAVAL ORDERS BY MINING PLANTS OF THE URALS AT THE END OF THE 18TH - FIRST QUARTER OF THE 19TH CENTURIES
Authors:   Ural Federal University named after the First President of Russia B. N. Yeltsin, Yekaterinburg, Russian Federation, BAKSHAEV A.A.
Published: June 2024

The purpose of the research. The article discusses the organization of the implementation of orders of the maritime department by state-owned mining plants in the Urals. Based on materials from federal and regional archives, as well as regulations, the formation of a system for the supply of metals and other products for the fleet at the end of the 18th century is shown. According to the Manifesto of May 21, 1779, only state-owned mining plants were to carry out orders for the army and navy. At the beginning of the 19th century with the approval of instructions for the acceptance of guns, shells and metals from mining plants, a regulatory supply base for army and navy orders is formed. The author is noted that Ural enterprises supplied iron for the needs of shipbuilding and port construction, anchors and cast iron for ballast. In the first quarter of the 19th century the specialization of the region's mining plants in the production of products for the Baltic ports and the Arkhangelsk port took shape. Some of the metals and anchors were sent to the Black Sea ports. With the increase in military threat on the eve and during the Napoleonic wars and the growth of shipbuilding, the volume of orders of the naval department increased. As a result, already in the second decade of the 19th century mining factories could not fully carry out military orders.
FORMATION OF THE ST. PETERSBURG STATE MOBILE MILITIA AND ITS PARTICIPATION IN MILITARY OPERATIONS IN 1855-1856
Authors:   Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation, MOROZAN V.V.
Published: June 2024

The article presented to your attention is devoted to a little-researched topic - the participation of the State Mobile Militia in the Crimean War of 1853-1856. The author examines in this work the history of the formation of only the capital’s squads in 1855. Moreover, not a single work has been published on the mobile militia of the St. Petersburg province to date. In total, by the end of the Crimean, or as it was also called the Eastern War, 196 squads were formed in 18 provinces of Russia. Of this number, only 5 squads were formed in the St. Petersburg province, which never ended up in the main theaters of military operations. According to the decision of the authorities, they were to participate in repelling enemy landing operations on the coast of the Gulf of Finland. However, the Anglo-French forces, after several such weak and unsuccessful attempts to seize a springboard in the Vyborg region for an invasion of the northwestern borders of the country, decisively abandoned such plans, fearing complete defeat. Thanks to the indecisiveness of the enemy, the capital's squad managed to attend only one military clash. However, in this skirmish the St. Petersburg militia most likely witnessed the clash, since they failed to use their weapons.
THE SPECTRUM OF THREATS TO WOMEN'S PERSONAL SAFETY IN THE 1920-1935 (BASED ON MATERIALS FROM THE URALS)
Authors:   The branch of South Ural State University, Zlatoust, Russian Federation, ZHURAVLEVA V.A. , MIROSHNICHENKO M.I. ,   South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation, PALETSKIKH N.P. ,   South Ural State Agrarian University, Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation
Published: June 2024

The article considers the threats to the personal safety of women in the Urals in the period of the 1920-1935. The source base of the research of the topic was archival documents identified in the Ural archives, periodical press materials, memories of eyewitnesses of the events. The main factors that influenced the state of women's personal security are named: the general low level of well-being of the population, the weak development of social guarantees for the life support of citizens of the country, the complex of the old customs and mores of society. The old (traditional) and new, genuine and imaginary threats to women's health and life in the extreme conditions of the first decades of the Soviet era are characterized and illustrated.
SUMMARISING OF MODERNIZATION OF THE TANK INDUSTRY OF THE USSR IN 1929-1932
Authors:   Institute of History and Archeology of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Yekaterinburg, Russian Federation, ZAPARY V.V.
Published: June 2024

The article illuminates the transition period at the development of Soviet tank industry, which chronologically correlates with the era of the First Five-Year Plan. The work analyzes the main trends in the development of the Russian tank industry in the late 1920s - early 1930s, and shows the main reasons for the copying of foreign military equipment samples as the main way to modernize the armored forces of the Red Army. According to the practical technical and economic limitations that influenced the progress of the implementation of the program for creating modern armored weapons of the Red Army during the First Five-Year Plan are shown. The publication covers the organizational and technical formation of the Special Machine Building Trust (Spetsmashtrest) and its subordinate factories as the foundation for the modernization of the USSR tank industry in the Second Five-Year Plan.
IMPROVEMENT OF LABOR PROTECTION AND SAFETY AT THE ENTERPRISES OF THE WEST SIBERIAN OIL AND GAS COMPLEX IN 1964-1991
Authors:   Ural Federal University named after the First President of Russia B. N. Yeltsin, Yekaterinburg, Russian Federation, KAMYNIN V.D. , SHOROHOVA I.I. ,   «Tyumen State Medical University» of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Tyumen, Russian Federation
Published: June 2024

The article discusses the development of the labor protection system in the health care of the Tyumen region in the context of creating the oil and gas industry. The stages of improving occupational health and safety, as components of the preventive direction of Soviet health care, are analyzed. The reasons for the high level of injuries at the enterprises of the oil and gas industry in the region are identified and justified, the types of occupational injuries are considered. Based on the study, the author concludes that in the Tyumen region, in the conditions of lack of funds and people, despite the targeted and systematic implementation of labor protection measures, the reduction of injuries and the incidence of illness among workers was extremely slow. These indicators were significantly higher than those for the Russian Federation and existing planned standards. The study of occupational safety and health at the enterprises of the WSOGC of the period under review multiplies the number of scientific problems studied, deepens knowledge on the history of health care in the Tyumen region. The materials of the article can be useful for conducting research on the history of Siberia, for developing independent special courses, as additional material for reading courses on History of the industry or region.
DEVELOPMENT OF A SPECIALIZED THERAPEUTIC SERVICE IN THE TYUMEN REGION 1964-1991
Authors:   «Tyumen State Medical University» of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Tyumen, Russian Federation, SHOROHOVA I.I.
Published: June 2024

The article is devoted to the analysis of the creation of specialized therapeutic services in the Tyumen region in the period 1964-1991. as a kind of phenomenon against the backdrop of special socio-economic and historical transformations. During this period, the region experienced rapid industrial development of the oil and gas-bearing northern territories, state social programs were implemented, and large investments were made in healthcare. As a result of the analysis of data from archival documents and statistical materials, the terms of creation and main indicators of the activities of treatment and preventive institutions for rheumatological, endocrinological, hematological, nephrological, occupational pathology, pulmonological and gastroenterological services from 1964 to 1991 were established. The work notes the activities of outstanding doctors and health care organizers related to the creation of Tyumen specialized services. Based on the study, it was concluded that, basically, these services were created and functioned, significantly improving the quality of medical care to the population. An important role was played by the state policy of enhanced financing of healthcare and medical construction in the Tyumen region.
The nexus of political documentary and alternative journalism: Addressing the social world
Authors: Zafra Norman
Published: June 2024

This article is a critical commentary of how political documentary embodies the traits and functions of alternative journalism. I explore this notion through Obrero (‘worker’) my independent documentary project about the labour migration of Filipino workers to Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zea?land, after the earthquake in 2011. This article maps out the points at where the theories and practices of alternative media and documentary intersect. Analysing political documentary as a format of alternative journalism has links to the long tradition of film and video production as a tool for social critique. As a form of practice-based research, Obrero falls under the rubric of alternative journalism—able to represent the politically marginal sectors of the polity and report on issues underreported in the mainstream press. This article concludes that a distribution plan that is responsive to fragmenting audiences works best when alternative journalism no longer targets a niche but transborder audiences.
Context-specific “silver-spoon” effects of wetlands, climate, and temperature on lifetime fitness in a short-lived temperate-breeding migratory songbird
Authors: Berzins Lisha L. , Dawson Russell D. , Clark Robert G.
Published: June 2024

Drivers of global change are creating strongly contrasting early life conditions for developing offspring, which may have carry-over effects on lifetime fitness. We tested for “silver-spoon” effects of natal conditions (environmental conditions and maternal quality) and individual quality (pre-fledging) on the lifetime reproductive success (LRS) of aerial insectivorous adult tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) hatched in distinct populations with contrasting environments in Saskatchewan and British Columbia, Canada. In both populations, LRS of adults was influenced by environmental conditions they experienced as developing nestlings, but silver-spoon effects were context-dependent, indicating population-specific responses to the local environment. Higher natal temperature in Saskatchewan had positive silver-spoon effects on the LRS of adult swallows, but the opposite was observed in British Columbia, likely because the highest temperatures local recruits experienced as nestlings occurred during heat extremes. In Saskatchewan, where wetter conditions reflect higher wetland abundance and food supply, we detected a negative effect of good natal wetland conditions on adult LRS, contrary to our hypothesis. However, since current breeding wetland conditions are a strong driver of adult fitness, and adults experiencing high natal wetland abundance generally bred when wetland abundance was lower, we suspect any potential benefits of natal wetland abundance on LRS were overridden by wetland conditions during breeding. As hypothesized, wetter natal conditions in British Columbia, which reflect an unfavorable environment for developing nestlings, had negative silver-spoon effects on the LRS of adults. No maternal or pre-fledging quality effects were detected at either site. Therefore, LRS of individuals within distinct populations is influenced, at least in part, by carry-over effects of the natal environment that vary locally. Consequently, natal environmental conditions that affect fitness, with putative population-level consequences, may underly spatially-varying population trends of regionally distinct populations within a species’ range.
Broad synergistic antiviral efficacy between a novel elite controller-derived dipeptide and antiretrovirals against drug-resistant HIV-1
Authors: Giammarino Federica , Sönnerborg Anders , Ceña-Diez Rafael
Published: June 2024

Introduction

The naturally occurring dipeptide Tryptophylglycine (WG) is enhanced in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infected Elite Controllers (EC). We have shown that this dipeptide has an anti-HIV-1 effect and evaluated now its synergistic antiretroviral activity, in combination with current antiretrovirals against multi-drug resistant HIV-1 isolates.

Methods

Drug selectivity assay with WG-am and ARVs agains HIV-1 resistant isolates were carried out. Subsequently, two methods, Chou-Talalay’s Combination Index (CI) and ZIP synergy score (SS), were used to quantify the synergism.

Results

WG-am had a moderate/strong synergism with the four tested antiretrovirals: raltegravir, tenofovir, efavirenz, darunavir. WG-am:TDF had strong synergism at ED50, ED75, ED90 (CI: <0.2) in isolates resistant to protease inhibitors or integrase strand inhibitors (INSTI), and a slightly less synergism in isolates resistant to non-nucleoside or nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors. WG-am combined with each of the four drugs inhibited all drug-resistant isolates with over 95% reduction at maximum concentration tested. The highest selectivity indexes (CC50/ED50) were in INSTI-resistant isolates.

Conclusion

Our data suggest that WG, identified as occurring and enhanced in Elite Controllers has a potential to become a future treatment option in patients with HIV-1 strains resistant to any of the four major categories of anti-HIV-1 compounds.
The muscle and neural architecture of Taenia crassiceps cysticerci revisited; implications on head-tail polarization of the larvae
Authors: Calderón-Gallegos Arturo , Tapia-Rodríguez Miguel , Estrada Karel , Rios-Valencia Diana G. , de la Torre Patricia , Castellanos-de Oteyza Nicolás , Morales Miguel A. , Bobes Raúl J. , Laclette Juan P.
Published: June 2024

Taenia crassiceps has been used for decades as an experimental model for the study of human and porcine cysticercosis. Even though, its life cycle, tissue organization, ultrastructure and immune response elicited in the host, have been extensively described, there are many other biological questions remaining to be addressed. In the present study we revisited the muscle and neural architecture of cysticerci in two of the most frequently used strains (WFU and ORF), using conventional staining and confocal microscopy imaging, aiming to assemble an updated anatomy. Differences between both strains, including polarization processes during development of the young budding larvae, are emphasized. We also performed a search for genes that have been related to peptidergic neural processes in other related flatworms. These findings can help to understand the anatomical and molecular consequences of the scolex presence or absence in both strains.
Case Report: unexpected cause of cyanosis in an infant after acute exposure to high altitude—severe tricuspid regurgitation secondary to tricuspid valve prolapse
Authors: Cui Yaru , Yang Lixia , Wu Ping , Shao Shuran , Luo Shuhua , Zhou Kaiyu , Liu Xiaoliang , Wang Chuan , Duan Hongyu
Published: June 2024

Background

Severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) causing cyanosis with patent foramen ovale (PFO) and right-to-left atrial shunting requires a precise diagnosis for optimal therapy. Tricuspid valve prolapse (TVP) can lead to TR and is sometimes overlooked, especially in complex cases with factors like pulmonary hypertension (PH). We present an infant with cyanosis and profound TR after high-altitude exposure, initially misattributed to PH but found to be primarily due to spontaneous chordae tendineae rupture and TVP. This case underscores the challenges in diagnosing TR-induced cyanosis.

Case presentation

The 3-month-old infant rapidly developed cyanosis, hypoxemia, right atrial enlargement, severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR), and patent foramen ovale (PFO) shunting after high-altitude exposure. Although echocardiography revealed tricuspid valve prolapse (TVP), initial consideration linked TR and right-to-left shunting to pulmonary hypertension (PH) due to the temporal correlation with rapid altitude exposure. Despite hemodynamic stability and the absence of respiratory distress after respiratory support and combined PH medication therapy, the persistent hypoxemia did not reverse as expected. This treatment outcome and repeated echocardiograms reminded us that TR was primarily caused by TVP rather than PH alone. Intraoperative exploration confirmed that TVP was caused by a rupture of TV chordae tendineae and anterior papillary muscle head, and the chordae tendineae/papillary muscle connection was reconstructed. After surgery, this patient was noncyanotic with an excellent long-term prognosis, a trivial TR with normal TV function being observed echocardiographically.

Conclusions

TR-induced cyanosis can be not only a consequence of PH and right-sided heart dilation but also a primary condition. Repetitive reassessment should be undertaken with caution, particularly when patients are not improving on therapy in the setting of conditions known to predisposition to secondary TR. Since TVP caused by rupture of the chordae or papillary muscles is rare but fatal in children, early diagnosis is clinically substantial to proper management and satisfactory long-term outcomes.
Changes of cardiac function: cardiac adaptation in patients with hypothyroidism assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance-a meta-analysis
Authors: Yang Yucheng , Xue Chen , Zhao Junyu , Zhang Laozhui , Wang Yanwei , Ouyang Meixiang , Li Ju , Wang Haipeng , Wang Cuiyan
Published: June 2024

Objective

The meta-analysis aimed to explore the cardiac adaptation in hypothyroidism patients by cardiac magnetic resonance.

Research methods and procedures

Databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI, and Sinomed for clinical studies of hypothyroidism on cardiac function changes. Databases were searched from the earliest data to 15 June 2023. Two authors retrieved studies and evaluated their quality. Review Manager 5.4.1 and Stata18 were used to analyze the data. This study is registered with the International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols (INPLASY), 202440114.

Results

Six studies were selected for further analysis. Five of them reported differences in cardiac function measures between patients with hypothyroidism and healthy controls, and three studies reported cardiac function parameters after treatment in patients with hypothyroidism. The fixed-effect model combined WMD values for left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) had a pooled effect size of -1.98 (95% CI -3.50 to -0.44], P=0.01), implying that LVEF was lower in patients with hypothyroidism than in healthy people. Analysis of heterogeneity found moderate heterogeneity (P = 0.08, I² = 50%). WMD values for stroke volume (SV), cardiac index (CI), left ventricular end-diastolic volume index(LVEDVI), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LESVI), and left ventricular mass index(LVMI) were also analyzed, and pooled effect sizes showed the CI and LVEDVI of patients with hypothyroidism ware significantly decrease (WMD=-0.47, 95% CI [-0.93 to -0.00], P=0.05, WMD=-7.99, 95%CI [-14.01 to -1.96], P=0.009, respectively). Patients with hypothyroidism tended to recover cardiac function after treatment [LVEF (WMD = 6.37, 95%CI [2.05, 10.69], P=0.004), SV (WMD = 7.67, 95%CI [1.61, 13.74], P=0.01), CI (WMD = 0.40, 95%CI [0.01, 0.79], P=0.05)], and there was no difference from the healthy controls.

Conclusion

Hypothyroidism could affect cardiac function, although this does not cause significant heart failure. It may be an adaptation of the heart to the hypothyroid state. There was a risk that this adaptation may turn into myocardial damage. Cardiac function could be restored after treatment in patients with hypothyroidism. Aggressive levothyroxine replacement therapy should be used to reverse cardiac function.

Systematic review registration

https://inplasy.com, identifier (INPLASY202440114).
Levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine in plasma and aqueous humor: a key risk factor for the severity of fibrovascular proliferation in proliferative diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Guo Xinyang , Jin Wei , Xing Yiqiao
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is a common diabetes complication, significantly impacting vision and quality of life. Previous studies have suggested a potential link between arginine pathway metabolites and diabetic retinopathy (DR). Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) plays a role in the occurrence and development of fibrovascular proliferation (FVP) in PDR patients. However, the relationship between arginine pathway metabolites and FVP in PDR remains undefined. This study aimed to explore the correlation between four arginine pathway metabolites (arginine, asymmetric dimethylarginine[ADMA], ornithine, and citrulline) and the severity of FVP in PDR patients.

Methods

In this study, plasma and aqueous humor samples were respectively collected from 30 patients with age-related cataracts without diabetes mellitus (DM) and from 85 PDR patients. The PDR patients were categorized as mild-to-moderate or severe based on the severity of fundal FVP. The study used Kruskal-Wallis test to compare arginine, ADMA, ornithine, and citrulline levels across three groups. Binary logistic regression identified risk factors for severe PDR. Spearman correlation analysis assessed associations between plasma and aqueous humor metabolite levels, and between ADMA and CTGF levels in aqueous humor among PDR patients.

Results

ADMA levels in the aqueous humor were significantly greater in patients with severe PDR than in those with mild-to-moderate PDR(P=0.0004). However, the plasma and aqueous humor levels of arginine, ornithine, and citrulline did not significantly differ between mild-to-moderate PDR patients and severe PDR patients (P>0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that the plasma (P=0.01) and aqueous humor (P=0.006) ADMA levels in PDR patients were risk factors for severe PDR. Furthermore, significant correlations were found between plasma and aqueous humor ADMA levels (r=0.263, P=0.015) and between aqueous humor ADMA and CTGF levels (r=0.837, P<0.001).

Conclusion

Elevated ADMA levels in plasma and aqueous humor positively correlate with the severity of FVP in PDR, indicating ADMA as a risk factor for severe PDR.
Early marriage, education and mental health: experiences of adolescent girls in Mozambique
Authors: Nhampoca Joaquim M. , Maritz Jeanette E.
Published: June 2024

Introduction and background

Early marriage and maternity represent a violation of human rights and a barrier to achieving gender equality in education. Studies conducted across various regions and countries, including Mozambique, have highlighted the negative consequences of early marriage and maternity, particularly on adolescent girls' physical, educational and mental health. Adolescent girls who marry before the age of 18 are more prone to a broad spectrum of mood, anxiety, and other psychiatric disorders. In the districts of Maganja da Costa and Morrumbala in Zambézia Province, Mozambique, high rates of early marriage persist despite government policies and interventions.

Purpose statement

This study aims to understand early marriage's socio-cultural, economic, and psychological drivers and impacts on adolescent girls' lives, focusing on education, mental health, and well-being.

Design and methods

This paper used a qualitative research design. We employed a life-story approach and used purposeful sampling to identify participants. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 participants and the data were analysed using Tesch's thematic analysis approach.

Results

Elements contributing to early marriage and pregnancy are intricately linked with socio-cultural elements. These include the induction into specific societal roles, the affirmation of childbearing, the perceived importance of dowry, the impact of rite-of-passage ceremonies, and the cultural significance associated with a girl's initial menstruation. School dropout often originates from geographical and transportation challenges, nudging adolescent girls towards early marriage. In some instances, termination of pregnancy was viewed as a solution, while engaging in sexual activities was seen as a means to inject purpose into their lives or as a response to poverty. Positive changes and emotions were evident, yet regrettably, the ramifications of early pregnancy and marriage were primarily detrimental. These influenced the adolescent girls' interpersonal connections, educational and career opportunities, emotional well-being, and access to support networks.

Conclusions

The modern perspective, which advocates for equal educational rights for boys and girls and posits that marriage should occur after the age of 18, contradicts the socio-cultural perspective of adulthood.

Contribution

This study adds to the ongoing efforts to prevent and combat early marriage and maternity in Africa.
The susceptibility of shi drum juveniles to betanodavirus increases with rearing densities in a process mediated by neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction
Authors: García-Beltrán José María , Johnstone Carolina , Arizcun Marta , Cuesta Alberto , Pérez Montse , Chaves-Pozo Elena
Published: June 2024

Nervous necrosis virus (NNV) is one of the greatest threats to Mediterranean aquaculture, infecting more than 170 fish species and causing mortalities up to 100% in larvae and juveniles of susceptible species. Intensive aquaculture implies stressed conditions that affect the welfare of fish and their ability to fight against infections. In fact, a higher susceptibility to NNV has been related to poor welfare conditions. In order to analyze the physiological link between stressed conditions and increased susceptibility to NNV, as well as its possible role in the pathogenesis of this disease, we reared shi drum (Umbrina cirrosa) juveniles (30.7 ± 3.10 g body weight), which are expected to be asymptomatic upon NNV infection, at three stocking densities (2, 15, and 30 kg/m3) for 27 days and subsequently challenged them with NNV. We firstly characterized the stressed conditions of the specimens before and after infection and recorded the mortalities, demonstrating that stressed specimens reared at 30 kg/m3 suffered mortalities. However, the viral loads in different tissues were similar in all experimental groups, allowing horizontal and vertical transmission of the virus from asymptomatic specimens. All of these data suggest that shi drum tolerates wide ranges of culture densities, although high densities might be a setback for controlling NNV outbreaks in this species. In an attempt to understand the molecular pathways orchestrating this susceptibility change in stressed conditions, we performed a transcriptomic analysis of four tissues under mock- and NNV-infected conditions. In addition to the modification of the exceptive pathways such as cell adhesion, leukocyte migration, cytokine interaction, cell proliferation and survival, and autophagy, we also observed a heavy alteration of the neuroactive ligand–receptor pathway in three of the four tissues analyzed. Our data also point to some of the receptors of this pathway as potential candidates for future pharmacological treatment to avoid the exacerbated immune response that could trigger fish mortalities upon NNV infection.
Elucidating sleep disorders: a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of functional gene sets and hub genes
Authors: Lin Junhan , Liu Changyuan , Hu Ende
Published: June 2024

Background

Sleep disorders (SD) are known to have a profound impact on human health and quality of life although their exact pathogenic mechanisms remain poorly understood.

Methods

The study first accessed SD datasets from the GEO and identified DEGs. These DEGs were then subjected to gene set enrichment analysis. Several advanced techniques, including the RF, SVM-RFE, PPI networks, and LASSO methodologies, were utilized to identify hub genes closely associated with SD. Additionally, the ssGSEA approach was employed to analyze immune cell infiltration and functional gene set scores in SD. DEGs were also scrutinized in relation to miRNA, and the DGIdb database was used to explore potential pharmacological treatments for SD. Furthermore, in an SD murine model, the expression levels of these hub genes were confirmed through RT-qPCR and Western Blot analyses.

Results

The findings of the study indicate that DEGs are significantly enriched in functions and pathways related to immune cell activity, stress response, and neural system regulation. The analysis of immunoinfiltration demonstrated a marked elevation in the levels of Activated CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells in the SD cohort, accompanied by a notable rise in Central memory CD4 T cells, Central memory CD8 T cells, and Natural killer T cells. Using machine learning algorithms, the study also identified hub genes closely associated with SD, including IPO9, RAP2A, DDX17, MBNL2, PIK3AP1, and ZNF385A. Based on these genes, an SD diagnostic model was constructed and its efficacy validated across multiple datasets. In the SD murine model, the mRNA and protein expressions of these 6 hub genes were found to be consistent with the results of the bioinformatics analysis.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study identified 6 genes closely linked to SD, which may play pivotal roles in neural system development, the immune microenvironment, and inflammatory responses. Additionally, the key gene-based SD diagnostic model constructed in this study, validated on multiple datasets showed a high degree of reliability and accuracy, predicting its wide potential for clinical applications. However, limited by the range of data sources and sample size, this may affect the generalizability of the results.
Elevated extracellular particle concentration in plasma predicts in-hospital mortality after severe trauma
Authors: Becker Nils , Franz Niklas , Eguchi Akiko , Wagner Alessa , Sturm Ramona , Rinderknecht Helen , Kobayashi Yoshinao , Iwasa Motoh , Weber Birte , Marzi Ingo , Relja Borna
Published: June 2024

Background

Extracellular particles (EPs), particularly extracellular vesicles, play a crucial role in regulating various pathological mechanisms, including immune dysregulations post-trauma. Their distinctive expression of cell-specific markers and regulatory cargo such as cytokines or micro-ribonucleic acid suggests their potential as early biomarkers for organ-specific damage and for identifying patients at risk for complications and mortality. Given the critical need for reliable and easily assessable makers to identify at-risk patients and guide therapeutic decisions, we evaluated the early diagnostic value of circulating EPs regarding outcomes in severely injured multiple-trauma patients.

Methods

Plasma samples were collected from 133 severely injured trauma patients (Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥16) immediately upon arrival at the emergency department (ED). Patients were categorized into survivors and non-survivors. Injury characteristics and outcomes related to sepsis, pneumonia, or early (<1 day after admission) and late mortality were assessed. Circulating EPs, cytokine profiles, and blood counts of platelets and leukocytes were determined. Receiver operating characteristic analyses were conducted.

Results

Despite no significant differences in injury pattern or severity, non-survivors exhibited significantly elevated counts of circulating EPs compared to survivors. The optimal cut-off for EPs <200 nm indicating non-survivors was 17380/µl plasma, with a sensitivity of 77% and a specificity of 61% in predicting in-hospital mortality. Later non-survivors received significantly higher numbers of units of packed red blood cells [8.54 ± 5.45 vs. 1.29 ± 0.36 units], had higher serum lactate [38.00 ± 7.51 vs. 26.98 ± 1.58 mg/dL], significantly lower platelet counts [181.30 ± 18.06 vs. 213.60 ± 5.85 *10³/µL] and lower heart rates [74.50 ± 4.93 vs. 90.18 ± 2.06 beats/minute] upon arrival at the ED compared to survivors.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate the high diagnostic potential of elevated concentrations of circulating EPs <200 nm for identifying patients at risk of mortality after severe trauma. This parameter shows comparable sensitivity to established clinical predictors. Early evaluation of EPs concentration could complement assessment markers in guiding early therapeutic decisions.
Air pollution accelerates the development of obesity and Alzheimer’s disease: the role of leptin and inflammation - a mini-review
Authors: Campolim Clara Machado , Schimenes Bianca Camilo , Veras Mariana Matera , Kim Young-Bum , Prada Patricia Oliveira
Published: June 2024

Air pollution is an urgent concern linked to numerous health problems in low- and middle-income countries, where 92% of air pollution-related deaths occur. Particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) is the most harmful component of air pollutants, increasing inflammation and changing gut microbiota, favoring obesity, type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). PM2.5 contains lipopolysaccharides (LPS), which can activate the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway. This pathway can lead to the release of pro-inflammatory markers, including interleukins, and suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS3), which inhibits leptin action, a hormone that keeps the energy homeostasis. Leptin plays a role in preventing amyloid plaque deposition and hyperphosphorylation of tau-protein (p-tau), mechanisms involved in the neurodegeneration in AD. Approximately 50 million people worldwide are affected by dementia, with a significant proportion living in low—and middle-income countries. This number is expected to triple by 2050. This mini-review focuses on the potential impact of PM2.5 exposure on the TLR4 signaling pathway, its contribution to leptin resistance, and dysbiosis that exacerbates the link between obesity and AD.
Motivating a fine-grained syntax of Arabic prepositional phrases
Authors: Fassi Fehri Abdelkader , Alrawi Maather
Published: June 2024

The paper provides a novel motivation in favor of a complex and fine-grained syntax of spatial PPs in Arabic. It neatly fills a gap between the complex semantics of spatial expressions and their morphosyntax, which remains unexplained using wide spread cognitive approaches. We propose a fine-grained architecture of root nodes, categories, and features in the basic representations of Path/Place expressions, inspired by cartographic analyses of PPs, but based on a pP dual-projection model, separating the root/lexical part from the functional/categorial part, as in Distributed Morphology (=DM). In so doing, the paper challenges traditional analyses of PPs as projecting a uniform Path over Place structure (with no bifurcating domain separation). It also provides essential ingredients allowing the decomposition of Place and Path words or expressions, including COINCIDENCE, CONTAIN, CONTACT, etc., or syntactic projections such AxPs, DeixPs, DegPs, ScaleP, GoalPs, etc., which play important syntactico-semantic roles in the grammar. Our analysis successfully accounts for complexity of prepositions or spatial expressions, their morphosyntactic alternations, variation, and polysemy.
Characterizing spatio-temporal variations of dimethyl sulfide in the Yellow and East China Sea based on BP neural network
Authors: Guo Wen-Ning , Sun Qun , Wang Shuai-Qi , Zhang Zhi-Hao
Published: June 2024

Dimethyl sulfide (DMS), an organic volatile sulfide produced from Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), exerts a significant impact on the global climate change. Utilizing published literature data spanning from 2005 to 2020, a BP neural network (BPNN) model of the surface seawater DMS in the Yellow and East China Sea (YECS) was developed to elucidate the influence of various marine factors on the DMS cycle. Results indicated that the six parameters inputted BPNN model, that include the time (month), latitude and longitude, sea-surface chlorophyll a (Chl-a), sea-surface temperature (SST), and sea-surface salinity (SSS), yielded the optimized simulation results (R2 = 0.71). The optimized estimation of surface seawater DMS in the YECS were proved to be closely aligned with the observed data across all seasons, which demonstrated the model’s robust applicability. DMS concentration in surface seawater were found to be affected by multiple factors such as Chl-a and SST. Comparative analysis of the three environmental parameters revealed that Chl-a exhibited the most significant correlation with surface seawater DMS concentration in the YECS (R2 = 0.20). This underscores the pivotal role of chlorophyll in phytoplankton photosynthesis and DMS production, emphasizing its importance as a non-negligible factor in the study of DMS and its sulfur derivatives. Furthermore, surface seawater DMS concentration in the YECS exhibited positive correlations with Chl-a and SST, while displaying a negative correlation with SSS. The DMS concentration in the YECS show substantial seasonal variations, with the maximum value (5.69 nmol/L) in summer followed in decreasing order by spring (3.96 nmol/L), autumn (3.18 nmol/L), and winter (1.60 nmol/L). In the YECS, there was a gradual decrease of DMS concentration from the nearshore to the offshore, especially with the highest DMS concentration concentrated in the Yangtze River Estuary Basin and the south-central coastal part off the Zhejiang Province. Apart from being largely composed by the release of large amounts of nutrients from anthropogenic activities and changes in ocean temperature, the spatial and temporal variability of DMS may be driven by additional physicochemical parameters.
Dynamic accumulation of a high-grade gas hydrate system: insights from the trial production gas hydrate reservoir in the Shenhu area, northern South China Sea
Authors: Zhang Wei , Liang Jinqiang , Su Pibo , Meng Miaomiao , Huang Wei , Liu Pengqi , Yuan Sheng , Ji Chunsheng
Published: June 2024

The ultimate enrichment level and quantity of gas hydrate resources are influenced by the dynamic process of accumulation and preservation. High-resolution 3-D seismic data, logging while drilling (LWD), pressured coring, and in situ testing were used to characterize the dynamic accumulation and preservation of the trial production high-grade gas hydrate reservoir (HGGHR) in the Shenhu area. Through seismic variance analysis and ant-tracking, we found that newly identified mud diapir-associated faults with three development stages controlled the migration and accumulation of gas hydrate and shifted the base of the gas hydrate stability zone (BGHSZ), resulting in dynamic accumulation and dissociation of gas hydrates. The recognized double bottom simulating reflectors (BSRs) were concluded to have been formed due to the shift of the BGHSZ caused by the variational equilibrium conditions. The interval between the double BSRs was inferred to be a disequilibrium zone where gas recycling occurred, contributing to the coexistence of gas hydrates and free gas and the dynamic formation of the HGGHR. Multiple gliding faults formed within the GHSZ in the late period have altered the HGGHR and control the present thickness and distribution of the gas hydrates and free gas in the hanging wall and footwall. Under the influence of geothermal fluids and the fault system associated with the mud diapir, the HGGHR experienced dynamic accumulation with three stages, including early accumulation, medium-term adjustment, and late alteration and preservation. We conclude that four factors affected the formation, distribution, and occurrence of the HGGHR: the geothermal fluids accompanying the deep mud diapir below the reservoir, the dual supply of thermogenic gas and biogenic gas, the recycling of hydrate gas beneath the BGHSZ, and the post-gas hydrate faults developed within the GHSZ. A geological model illustrating the dynamic formation of the trial production HGGHR was proposed, providing a reference for future exploration of HGGHRs with a great production potential in deepwater settings.
Tezepelumab improved chronic eosinophilic pneumonia in severe asthma patients with liver cirrhosis
Authors: Inaba Mizuki , Shimizu Yasuo , Nakamura Yusuke , Okutomi Hiroaki , Takemasa Akihiro , Niho Seiji
Published: June 2024

Systemic administration of corticosteroids is used in the treatment of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP). However, in patients with CEP as well as other comorbidities, the adverse effects of corticosteroids should be minimized as much as possible. A 71-year-old woman was presented with aggravating asthma with CEP and sinusitis, and she had uncompensated liver cirrhosis (LC) with a Child-Pugh score of 7. Initial treatment with a low dose of oral corticosteroids (OCSs) in combination with tezepelumab, an anti-thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) antibody, resulted in rapid improvement of asthma and CEP without deteriorating LC. Sinusitis also improved after ceasing OCS. This case suggested that tezepelumab may be useful as a treatment option for patients with CEP, especially those with liver dysfunction.
Causal relationship between gut microbiota and puerperal sepsis: a 2-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Liang Liu-dan , Li Sheng , Huang Mei-jin , Peng Hui-xin , Lu Zi-jun , Zhang Zhuo-hua , Su Li-ye , Sooranna Suren R. , Liu Yan , Huang Zhao-he
Published: June 2024

Background

Some recent observational studies have shown that gut microbiota composition is associated with puerperal sepsis (PS) and no causal effect have been attributed to this. The aim of this study was to determine a causal association between gut microbiota and PS by using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Methods

This study performed MR analysis on the publicly accessible genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary level data in order to explore the causal effects between gut microbiota and PS. Gut microbiota GWAS (n = 18,340) were obtained from the MiBioGen study and GWAS-summary-level data for PS were obtained from the UK Biobank (PS, 3,940 cases; controls, 202,267 cases). Identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with each feature were identified based on a significance threshold of p < 1.0 × 10–5. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) parameter was used as the primary method for MR and it was supplemented by other methods. Additionally, a set of sensitivity analytical methods, including the MR-Egger intercept, Mendelian randomized polymorphism residual and outlier, Cochran’s Q and the leave-one-out tests were carried out to assess the robustness of our findings.

Results

Our study found 3 species of gut microbiota, Lachnospiraceae FCS020, Lachnospiraceae NK4A136, and Ruminococcaceae NK4A214, to be associated with PS. The IVW method indicated an approximately 19% decreased risk of PS per standard deviation increase with Lachnospiraceae FCS020 (OR = 0.81; 95% CI 0.66–1.00, p = 0.047). A similar trend was also found with Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 (OR = 0.80; 95% CI 0.66–0.97, p = 0.024). However, Ruminococcaceae NK4A214 was positively associated with the risk of PS (OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.07–1.67, p = 0.011).

Conclusion

This two-sample MR study firstly found suggestive evidence of beneficial and detrimental causal associations of gut microbiota on the risk of PS. This may provide valuable insights into the pathogenesis of microbiota-mediated PS and potential strategies for its prevention and treatment.
Inhibition of phosphorus removal performance in activated sludge by Fe(III) exposure: transitions in dominant metabolic pathways
Authors: Hong Yiyihui , Cheng Hong , Huangfu Xiaoliu , Li Lin , He Qiang
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Simultaneous chemical phosphorus removal process using iron salts (Fe(III)) has been widely utilized in wastewater treatment to meet increasingly stringent discharge standards. However, the inhibitory effect of Fe(III) on the biological phosphorus removal system remains a topic of debate, with its precise mechanism yet to be fully understood.

Methods

Batch and long-term exposure experiments were conducted in six sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) operating for 155 days. Synthetic wastewater containing various Fe/P ratios (i.e., Fe/P = 1, 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, and 2) was slowly poured into the SBRs during the experimental period to assess the effects of acute and chronic Fe(III) exposure on polyphosphate-accumulating organism (PAO) growth and phosphorus metabolism.

Results

Experimental results revealed that prolonged Fe(III) exposure induced a transition in the dominant phosphorus removal mechanism within activated sludge, resulting in a diminished availability of phosphorus for bio-metabolism. In Fe(III)-treated groups, intracellular phosphorus storage ranged from 3.11 to 7.67 mg/g VSS, representing only 26.01 to 64.13% of the control. Although the abundance of widely reported PAOs (Candidatus Accumulibacter) was 30.15% in the experimental group, phosphorus release and uptake were strongly inhibited by high dosage of Fe(III). Furthermore, the abundance of functional genes associated with key enzymes in the glycogen metabolism pathway increased while those related to the polyphosphate metabolism pathway decreased under chronic Fe(III) stress.

Discussion

These findings collectively suggest that the energy generated from polyhydroxyalkanoates oxidation in PAOs primarily facilitated glycogen metabolism rather than promoting phosphorus uptake. Consequently, the dominant metabolic pathway of communities shifted from polyphosphate-accumulating metabolism to glycogen-accumulating metabolism as the major contributor to the decreased biological phosphorus removal performance.
Cannabigerol–A useful agent restoring the muscular phospholipids milieu in obese and insulin-resistant Wistar rats?
Authors: Bielawiec Patrycja , Dziemitko Sylwia , Konstantynowicz-Nowicka Karolina , Sztolsztener Klaudia , Chabowski Adrian , Harasim-Symbor Ewa
Published: June 2024

Numerous strategies have been proposed to minimize obesity-associated health effects, among which phytocannabinoids appear to be effective and safe compounds. In particular, cannabigerol (CBG) emerges as a potent modulator of the composition of membrane phospholipids (PLs), which plays a critical role in the development of insulin resistance. Therefore, here we consider the role of CBG treatment on the composition of PLs fraction with particular emphasis on phospholipid subclasses (e.g., phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylserine (PS), and phosphatidylinositol (PI)) in the red gastrocnemius muscle of Wistar rats fed the standard or high-fat, high-sucrose (HFHS) diet. The intramuscular PLs content was determined by gas-liquid chromatography and based on the composition of individual FAs, we assessed the stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) index as well as the activity of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) pathways. Expression of various proteins engaged in the inflammatory pathway, FAs elongation, and desaturation processes was measured using Western blotting. Our research has demonstrated the important association of obesity with alterations in the composition of muscular PLs, which was significantly improved by CBG supplementation, enriching the lipid pools in n-3 PUFAs and decreasing the content of arachidonic acid (AA), which in turn influenced the activity of PUFAs pathways in various PLs subclasses. CBG also inhibited the local inflammation development and profoundly reduced the SCD1 activity. Collectively, restoring the PLs homeostasis of the myocyte membrane by CBG indicates its new potential medical application in the treatment of obesity-related metabolic disorders.