bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Post Operative Pain Management and Patient Satisfection : Experience at a Tertiary Care Hospital
Authors: Ferdoush Jannatul , Chowdhury Rajib Pal , Johora Fatema , Arifina Rafzana , Jeenia Fatiha Tasmin , Ata Maliha , Parveen Kohinoor , Hossain Sharif Mohammad Towfiq , Sharmeen Shagorika , Rahman MD Sayedur
Published: November 2021

Background: Pain is an inevitable part of the postoperative experience. Current study was designed to assess the pattern of analgesic use, the adequacy of post operative pain control by documenting pain scores and patient satisfaction by documenting the pain perception score of the postoperative patients 48 hours after surgery.

Materials and methods: This was a formative research and includes a mix of descriptive cross-sectional study carried out in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, General Surgery and Orthopedics Surgery of Chattagram Maa-O-Shishu Hospital Medical College (CMOSHMC) during the month of January, 2018 to July, 2019.

Results: A total of 180 patients underwent surgery were included in this study. Baseline data were collected both retrospectively and prospectively. Only analgesic used immediately after operation in three departments were Pethidine (100%). Diclofenac sodium suppository were used in appendectomy and cesarean section (50/60, 83%) and (26/60, 43%) respectively. Mostly, Diclofenac Sodium IV (55/60, 91%) was used in lower limb surgery. The maximum pain score were 5.3 (SD=2.3), 5.6 (SD =1.9), and 6.1 (SD =1.3) during coughing in the first 8 hour and minimum pain score 2.4 (SD =1.0), 2.2 (SD = 0.8) and 1.7 (SD=1.3) at rest 48 hours after cesarean section, appendectomy and lower limb surgery respectively. But pain score eventually increased during coughing 48 hours after surgery. After 48 hours of surgery maximum pain perception score 3.9 (SD = 0.9) in lower limb surgery and minimum perception score were 3.5 (SD =1.8) in cesarean section. Majority of the appendectomy patient (76%) satisfied with pain management where as only 43% satisfied in case of cesarean section.

Conclusion: This study enabled the researchers to get a precise picture of the current state of POPM in different hospitals, as well as identify particular needs for improving such practices in health care facilities and implementing an educational intervention in order to improve the post operative pain management.

Chatt Maa Shi Hosp Med Coll J; Vol.20 (2); July 2021; Page 69-73
Incorporation of probiotic bacteria on larval culture of Macrobrachium amazonicum (Heller, 1862)
Authors: Aviz Manoel Alessandro Borges de , Maciel Carlos Murilo Tenório , Cordeiro Carlos Alberto Martins , Fugimoto Rodrigo Yudi , Maciel Cristiana Ramalho
Published: November 2021

In this study, we evaluated the utilization of two probiotics incorporated into the water and in the diet in a larval culture system of Amazon River prawn. Autochthonous probiotic bacteria from the gut of wild juveniles of M. amazonicum juveniles and a commercial probiotic were tested and the following parameters were analyzed: survival, productivity, fresh weight, length, larval condition index (LCI) and larval stage index (LSI). The colonization of the larval gastrointestinal tract by probiotics took place when they were incorporated into diet, while probiotics in the water proved to be unsuccessful. The use of lactic acid bacteria had no significant effects (p>0.05) on survival, productivity, length, fresh weight, LSI and LCI, showing similar results in relation to the control group. However, we recommend the inclusion of probiotics into diet in larval culture of Amazon prawn since this method allowed bacterial gut colonization, which is important to evaluate the resistance to disease in further studies.
O autocuidado de mulheres transexuais à Luz da Teoria do Déficit de Autocuidado de Orem
Authors: Silva Líscia Divana Carvalho , Padilha Aléxia Marielle Damasceno
Published: November 2021

Objetivo: Conhecer o autocuidado de mulheres transexuais à Luz da Teoria do Déficit do Autocuidado de Orem. Método: Estudo com 12 mulheres transexuais do Ambulatório de Sexualidade de um Hospital Universitário do Maranhão, Brasil. Foi utilizada a Escala Appraisal of Self-care Agency (ASA-A) para avaliar a capacidade de autocuidado das participantes. Resultados: Mais da metade das entrevistadas fazem ajustes para manutenção da saúde mediante às mudanças situacionais (58,3%), certificam se as ações habituais praticadas para manter-se saudável são boas (66,7%), relatam estímulo para realizarem seu autocuidado (66,7%) e procuram alternativas mais atuais para se cuidarem (83,3%). A maioria das mulheres apresenta boa capacidade de autocuidado (66,7%). Conclusão: Conhecer os significados que mulheres transexuais atribuem ao autocuidado constitui-se relevante pela singularidade na saúde e educação que emergem ao contato com a diversidade e identidade.
Estudo de caso sobre os sintomas e a relação dos efeitos colaterais na desistência de pacientes durante o tratamento da hanseníase realizado em Palmas-TO
Authors: Sobrinho Juciane da Conceição , Melo Ana Claudia Carvalho de , Pinto Rafaela Rocha
Published: November 2021

A hanseníase é uma doença infecciosa crônica de notificação obrigatória, transmitida através das vias aéreas por meio do agente etiológico mycobacterium leprae. Este estudo utilizou um questionário abordando perguntas sobre sintomas, tratamento, sequelas e atendimento no Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) de pessoas com a doença, e correlacionou os resultados obtidos frente a relação terapêutica utilizada juntamente com a desistência dos pacientes durante o tratamento. O questionário foi aplicado em um grupo familiar da cidade de Palmas -TO. Dentre os 10 participantes do grupo familiar, apenas oito responderam de fato o questionário de forma efetiva. Os dados obtidos demonstram que apesar das diversas campanhas disponibilizadas pelo governo, o diagnóstico da doença ainda se mostra tardio, pois boa parte dos portadores da doença procuram uma unidade médica de saúde após o agravamento da doença. Tais dados são reforçados pelas respostas obtidas pelo questionário aplicado nesta pesquisa. Todos os participantes tiveram agravamento dos sintomas durante o tratamento, dentre eles, um participante apresentou problemas neurológicos levando ao uso de antidepressivo como tratamento complementar. Por fim, um participante deixou o tratamento por incômodos sociais e terapêuticos, um participante ainda segue em tratamento e cinco ainda sentem dores ou apresentam sequelas psicológicas após o tratamento. Os demais participantes relataram que não ficaram com sequelas logo após o término do tratamento.
Fontes de potássio para produção e qualidade de tomate cultivado em sistema orgânico em ambiente protegido
Authors: Guedes Edmar , Santos Rodrigo Fernandes , Guedes Cristiane Rocha , Souza Emanuele Possas de , Cardoso Antonio Ismael Inácio
Published: November 2021

O tomateiro é uma das plantas mais exigentes no elemento potássio (K), sendo o correto fornecimento do nutriente decisivo para o sucesso da atividade. Na produção orgânica do fruto, as adubações potássicas são especialmente complexas. No Brasil, o cenário não ajuda o produtor de tomate orgânico, a maioria dos insumos certificados apresentam baixo teor ou solubilidade de K, e, em muitos casos, baixa resposta à adubação. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a produtividade e qualidade de frutos de tomate italiano submetidos a adubação potássica com três fontes de uso liberado na agricultura orgânica. Os tratamentos foram constituídos por dois sulfatos de potássio certificados (Polivida e Allganic) e um resíduo orgânico da indústria de pó de café (película de café), nas doses de 500 e 700 kg ha-1 de K2O, totalmente no plantio ou dividido em plantio mais três coberturas. Foram avaliadas a taxa de sobrevivência das mudas, a produção (número e massa) e a qualidade (taxa de frutos ocos e cheios e sólidos solúveis totais) de frutos. Os resultados mostram ausência de diferença estatística entre os tratamentos tanto para produção como qualidade (taxa de frutos ocos, cheios e sólidos solúveis totais) dos frutos. No entanto, os tratamentos com película de café necessitaram de replantio de mudas nos primeiros 14 dias após o transplantio, elevando os custos de cultivo.
Magnetoelectric, magnetodielectric and magneto-impedance couplings in Bi1−xNdxFe0.99Co0.01O3 compounds
Authors: Mincache Anuar José , Oliveira Odair Gonçalves de , Tupan Lilian Felipe da Silva , Silva Daniel Matos , Santos Ivair Aparecido dos , Cotica Luiz Fernando
Published: November 2021

In this work Bi1−xNdxFe0.99Co0.01O3 ceramics compositions were synthesized for x = 0.05, 0.20 and, y = 0.01. Structural refinement results show that most of the samples crystallized in a rhombohedral symmetry with R3c. Measurements magnetoelectric coefficient, show that the magnetoelectric coefficients are of second order. The electrical impedance characterization of in function external magnetic fields, has a relative variation of the real dielectric response, the loss tangent and the electrical impedance. The systems, as the DC magnetic field strength increased a gain in both the values of the dielectric constant variation, as well as the variation of the electrical impedance. In other words, the greater the intensity of the magnetic field, the greater your response. There were also significant variations with of the magnetic field AC.
Panorama nacional de perspectivas docentes para melhoria do ensino de Ciências na Educação Básica
Authors: Graffunder Karine Gehrke , Camillo Cíntia Moralles
Published: November 2021

Diante de um cenário frágil, em que ‘todo mundo’ tem um palpite certeiro para resolver os problemas do ensino, divulgar a opinião dos educadores se faz essencial. Este estudo tem por objetivo investigar e analisar 64 perspectivas docentes (45 mulheres e 19 homens), com faixa etária entre 23 e 58 anos, para melhoria do ensino de Ciências na Educação Básica do Brasil. De natureza investigativa e de caráter qualitativo, esse estudo ocorreu a partir da elaboração, aplicação e análise de um questionário semiestruturado para professores que estão atuando na regência da disciplina de Ciências Naturais do 9º ano de escolas da Educação Básica do Brasil. Foram estabelecidas as categorias de análise: (1) Formação inicial e continuada de professores; (2) Estrutura e recursos escolares; e (3) Currículo. Participaram da pesquisa professores de 14 estados do Brasil, totalizando representantes das cinco regiões do país, os quais possuem uma ou mais de uma graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Matemática, Química e Pedagogia. Os docentes sugeriram reformular a formação inicial do professor, implementando disciplinas ligadas às tecnologias; e abordaram a necessidade de formação continuada relacionada às atividades experimentais, tanto para sensibilização, elaboração e realização destas em laboratórios. Outrossim, descrevem inquietudes sobre a responsabilidade do aluno perante o seu aprendizado e a falta do acompanhamento familiar; além da acomodação de alguns profissionais na prática docente. Por fim, concluímos que o professor é parte do processo de construção de uma sociedade mais humana e justa. E por isso, deve ser mais valorizado.
Thermally insensitive physiological performance allows neonatal sharks to use coastal habitats as nursery areas
Authors: Bouyoucos IA , Simpfendorfer CA , Planes S , Schwieterman GD , Weideli OC , Rummer JL
Published: November 2021

Coastal sharks can use shallow, nearshore habitats as nursery areas, which is a behaviour that may increase fitness. The ecological benefits of shark nursery areas are well studied; yet the physiological mechanisms that enable sharks to exploit coastal habitats, especially those that experience extreme and dynamic temperatures, remain understudied. We hypothesised that neonatal sharks are able to use thermally dynamic coastal habitats as nursery areas because temperature does not strongly affect their physiology. To test this hypothesis, we defined patterns of nursery area use and temperature-dependent physiological performance in 2 reef shark species. First, we determined whether 10 sites around the island of Moorea, French Polynesia, satisfied nursery area criteria for neonate populations of blacktip reef sharks Carcharhinus melanopterus and sicklefin lemon sharks Negaprion acutidens using 5 consecutive years of abundance surveys. We then quantified effects of thermal exposure in situ on growth in recaptured individuals and quantified the temperature dependence of metabolic rate ex situ using respirometry. We found several potential C. melanopterus nursery areas, but during different sampling years, and identified 1 N. acutidens nursery area that remained consistent during the entire 5 yr study. In support of our hypothesis, growth and metabolic performance were not strongly affected by temperature in either species. Thus, thermally insensitive physiological performance may be a trait that elasmobranchs exhibit in thermally variable coastal habitats, including shark nursery areas. Together, this approach demonstrates how physiological and ecological concepts complement each other to improve our understanding of nursery area use in coastal shark populations.
A Supervised Machine Learning Approach for Post-OCR Error Detection for Historical Text
Authors: Dannélls Dana , Virk Shafqat
Published: November 2021

Training machine learning models with high accuracy requires careful feature engineering, which involves finding the best feature combinations and extracting their values from the data. The task becomes extremely laborious for specific problems such as post Optical Character Recognition (OCR) error detection because of the diversity of errors in the data. In this paper we present a machine learning approach which exploits character n-gram statistics as the only feature for the OCR error detection task. Our method achieves a significant improvement over the baseline reaching state-of-the-art results of 91% and 89% F1 score on English and Swedish datasets respectively. We report various experiments to select the appropriate machine learning algorithm and to compare our approach to previously reported traditional approaches.
Automated Writing Support for Swedish Learners
Authors: Getman Yaroslav
Published: November 2021

This paper describes a tool developed for lexical and grammatical analysis of Swedish text and providing automated feedback for language learners. The system looks for words and word sequences that are likely to contain errors and suggests how to correct them using different non-neural models. The feedback consists of alternative word and word sequence suggestions and morphological features which need to be corrected. Although the system is able to provide reasonable feedback which is believed to be useful for language learners, it still needs further improvements to address the drawbacks such as low precision.
Granska API – an Online API for Grammar Checking and Other NLP Services
Authors: Sjöbergh Jonas , Kann Viggo
Published: November 2021

We present an online API to access a number of Natural Language Processing services developed at KTH. The services work on Swedish text. They include tokenization, part-of-speech tagging, shallow parsing, compound word analysis, word inflection, lemmatization, spelling error detection and correction, grammar checking, and more. The services can be accessed in several ways, including a RESTful interface, direct socket communication, and premade Web forms. The services are open to anyone. The source code is also freely available making it possible to set up another server or run the tools locally. We have also evaluated the performance of several of the services and compared them to other available systems. Both the precision and the recall for the Granska grammar checker are higher than for both Microsoft Word and Google Docs. The evaluation also shows that the recall is greatly improved when combining all the grammar checking services in the API, compared to any one method, and combining services is made easy by the API.
Rationale for Defining Recognition of “Higher Animal Welfare” Farm Assurance Schemes in a Global Food System: The GAWA Alliance
Authors: Rowe Elizabeth , Rix Jeremy , Mullan Siobhan
Published: November 2021

Many schemes exist which provide assurance on farm animal welfare. However, different standards and protocols mean the level of welfare assured by schemes can be very diverse, potentially hindering food businesses operating globally from sourcing equivalent higher welfare products. This research investigated the rationale for establishing a recognised network of higher welfare schemes from which authentic higher welfare products can be purchased. Nine assurance schemes and seven food businesses were interviewed. Results confirmed the challenge food businesses face in international trade of products from animals reared to a definable welfare status, due to the lack of recognised equivalence of different assurance schemes. Results provided evidence for international interest in an alliance of higher welfare schemes to provide standardisation of higher welfare, as a solution to this challenge. As a result, a working model of such an alliance was refined and the alliance was launched as “Global Animal Welfare Assurance” (GAWA).
Cellulose-Based Nanofibril Composite Materials as a New Approach to Fight Bacterial Infections
Authors: Rashki Somaye , Shakour Neda , Yousefi Zahra , Rezaei Marzieh , Homayoonfal Mina , Khabazian Ehsan , Atyabi Fatemeh , Aslanbeigi Fatemeh , Safaei Lapavandani Rouzita , Mazaheri Samaneh , Hamblin Michael R , Mirzaei Hamed
Published: November 2021

Antibiotic resistant microorganisms have become an enormous global challenge, and are predicted to cause hundreds of millions of deaths. Therefore, the search for novel/alternative antimicrobial agents is a grand global challenge. Cellulose is an abundant biopolymer with the advantages of low cost, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. With the recent growth of nanotechnology and nanomedicine, numerous researchers have investigated nanofibril cellulose to try to develop an anti-bacterial biomaterial. However, nanofibril cellulose has no inherent antibacterial activity, and therefore cannot be used on its own. To empower cellulose with anti-bacterial properties, new efficient nanomaterials have been designed based on cellulose-based nanofibrils as potential wound dressings, food packaging, and for other antibacterial applications. In this review we summarize reports concerning the therapeutic potential of cellulose-based nanofibrils against various bacterial infections
Osteocyte Apoptosis Contributes to Cold Exposure-induced Bone Loss
Authors: Du Jingke , He Zihao , Cui Junqi , Li Hanjun , Xu Mingming , Zhang Shuhong , Zhang Shuangyan , Yan Mengning , Qu Xinhua , Yu Zhifeng
Published: November 2021

Emerging evidence indicates that bone mass is regulated by systemic energy balance. Temperature variations have profound effects on energy metabolism in animals, which will affect bone remodeling. But the mechanism remains unclear. 2-month-old C57BL/6J male mice were exposed to cold (4°C) and normal (23°C) temperatures for 28 days and the effects of cold exposure on bone mass was investigated. Micro-computed tomography results showed that bone volume fraction was significantly reduced after 14 days of exposure to cold temperature, and it was recovered after 28 days. Ploton silver staining and immunohistochemical results further revealed that exposure to cold decreased canalicular length, number of E11-and MMP13-positive osteocytes after 14 days, but they returned to the baseline levels after 28 days, different from the normal temperature control group. In addition, change of Caspase-3 indicated that exposure to cold temperature augmented apoptosis of osteocytes. In vitro results confirmed the positive effect of brown adipocytes on osteocyte‘s dendrites and E11 expression. In conclusion, our findings indicate that cold exposure can influence bone mass in a time-dependent manner, with bone mass decreasing and recovering at 2 and 4 weeks respectively. The change of bone mass may be caused by the apoptosis osteocytes. Brown adipocyte tissue could influence bone remodeling through affecting osteocyte.
CRISPR/Cas Technologies and Their Applications in Escherichia coli
Authors: Dong Huina , Cui Yali , Zhang Dawei
Published: November 2021

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) systems have revolutionized genome editing and greatly promoted the development of biotechnology. However, these systems unfortunately have not been developed and applied in bacteria as extensively as in eukaryotic organism. Here, the research progress on the most widely used CRISPR/Cas tools and their applications in Escherichia coli is summarized. Genome editing based on homologous recombination, non-homologous DNA end-joining, transposons, and base editors are discussed. Finally, the state of the art of transcriptional regulation using CRISPRi is briefly reviewed. This review provides a useful reference for the application of CRISPR/Cas systems in other bacterial species.
Improving the Stability of Protein–Protein Interaction Assay FlimPIA Using a Thermostabilized Firefly Luciferase
Authors: Ohmuro-Matsuyama Yuki , Gomi Keiko , Shimoda Takuya , Yamaji Hideki , Ueda Hiroshi
Published: November 2021

The protein–protein interaction assay is a key technology in various fields, being applicable in drug screening as well as in diagnosis and inspection, wherein the stability of assays is important. In a previous study, we developed a unique protein–protein interaction assay “FlimPIA” based on the functional complementation of mutant firefly luciferases (Fluc). The catalytic step of Fluc was divided into two half steps: D-luciferin was adenylated in the first step, while adenylated luciferin was oxidized in the second step. We constructed two mutants of Fluc from Photinus pyralis (Ppy); one mutant named Donor is defective in the second half reaction, while the other mutant named Acceptor exhibited low activity in the first half reaction. To date, Ppy has been used in the system; however, its thermostability is low. In this study, to improve the stability of the system, we applied Fluc from thermostabilized Luciola lateralis to FlimPIA. We screened suitable mutants as probes for FlimPIA and obtained Acceptor and Donor candidates. We detected the interaction of FKBP12-FRB with FlimPIA using these candidates. Furthermore, after the incubation of the probes at 37°C for 1 h, the luminescence signal of the new system was 2.4-fold higher than that of the previous system, showing significant improvement in the stability of the assay.
Extracellular Vesicles as Innovative Treatment Strategy for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Authors: Wang Ke , Li Yu , Ren Chao , Wang Yongjing , He Wenshan , Jiang Yuan
Published: November 2021

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and fatal motor neuron degenerative disease, and it is hard to diagnose in the early stage, and treatment means are limited, and the treatment effect is unsatisfactory. Therefore, exploring a new effective treatment strategy is urgently needed for ALS patients. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a heterogeneous group of natural membrane vesicles containing many bioactive substances, and they play important roles in the paracrine pathway and exhibit neuroprotection effects. A growing body of evidence shows that EVs have great application potential in diagnosis, treatment, and drug delivery in ALS, and they represent an innovative treatment strategy for ALS. In this review, we will briefly introduce the biogenesis of EVs and focus on discussing the role of EVs in ALS treatment to further enrich and boost the development of EVs as an innovative treatment strategy for ALS.
Attractin Participates in Schizophrenia by Affecting Testosterone Levels
Authors: Li Nan , Gao Shuzhan , Wang Shuang , He Sijie , Wang Jiayin , He Luqingqing , Jiang Dongya , Shi Yun Stone , Zhang Jianguo , Gu Yuan , Chen Tian , Kong Mingjun , Xu Xijia , Zhao Qingshun
Published: November 2021

Attractin (ATRN) is a widely expressed glycoprotein that is involved in energy homeostasis, neurodevelopment, and immune response. It is encoded by a gene spanning 180 kb on chromosome 20p13, a region previously implicated in schizophrenia by linkage studies. To address a possible role of ATRN in disorders of the central nervous system, we created an atrn knockout zebrafish line and performed behavioral tests. Adult atrn–/– zebrafish exhibited more pronounced attack behavior relative to wild-type control zebrafish in a tracking analysis. Biochemical analysis revealed elevated testosterone levels in atrn–/– zebrafish. At the gene expression level, we noted an upregulation of cyp51 and hsd17b7, key proteins in testosterone synthesis in the brains of both adult and larvae of atrn–/– zebrafish. In order to further elucidate the relationship between testosterone and behavioral syndromes, we then compared testosterone levels of 9,008 psychiatric patients and 247 healthy controls from the same catchment area. Of all subjects examined, male subjects with schizophrenia exhibited lower testosterone levels compared with controls. In contrast, female subjects with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder featured higher testosterone levels than did same sex controls. Purposeful sampling of extreme groups showed reduced ATRN expression in a subset of these subjects. Finally, we identified 14 subjects with ATRN mutations. All of whom displayed abnormal testosterone levels. In summary, the interplay of ATRN and testosterone may help to explain sexual dimorphisms in selected behavioral phenotypes.
A Highly Sensitive GFP Activation Assay for Detection of DNA Cleavage in Cells
Authors: Hu Ziying , Zhang Chengdong , Wang Daqi , Gao Siqi , Ong Sang-Ging , Wang Yongming , Zheng Wei V.
Published: November 2021

CRISPR/Cas9 nucleases hold great potential for gene therapy, but they frequently induce unwanted off-target cleavage. We previously developed a GFP activation assay for detection of DNA cleavage in cells. Here, we demonstrate two novel applications of this assay. First, we use this assay to confirm off-target cleavage that cannot be detected by targeted deep sequencing in cells before. Second, we use this approach to detect multiple alternative PAMs recognized by SpCas9. These noncanonical PAMs are associated with low cleavage activity, but targets associated with these PAMs must be considered as potential off-target sites. Taken together, the GFP activation assay is a powerful platform for DNA cleavage detection in cells.
M6A-Mediated Upregulation of LINC00106 Promotes Stemness and Metastasis Properties of Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Sponging Let7f
Authors: Liang Wenjin , Wang Yan , Zhang Qinyu , Gao Min , Zhou Haizhou , Wang Zhenran
Published: November 2021

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells exhibit the stemness property, which makes the patient with HCC prone to tumor recurrence and metastasis. Despite the prominent regulatory role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in tumor stemness, the roles and molecular mechanisms of LINC00106 in HCC are poorly understood.

Methods: LINC00106, let7f and periostin expression levels in tissue specimens and cell lines were assessed through qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Various in vivo and in vitro assays, namely sphere/colony formation, proportion of side population cells (SP%), invasion, migration, western blot, and murine xenograft model were employed for assessing the stemness and metastatic properties of HCC cells. Luciferase reporter assays, RNA-seq, RNA pull-down, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) were conducted to clarificate the target gene and analyze the underlying mechanisms.

Results: LINC00106 was prominently upregulated in tissues and cell lines of HCC. Patients having a high LINC00106 level exhibited a poor outcome. Under in vivo and in vitro conditions, the stemness and metastatic properties of HCC cells were augmented by LINC00106. Additionally, LINC00106 was found to sponge let7f to upregulate periostin, which lead to the activation of periostin-associated PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. Moreover, m6A methylation was found to cause LINC00106 upregulation while maintaining LINC00106 RNA transcript stability.

Conclusion: m6A methylation triggers the upregulation of LINC00106, which promotes the stemness and metastasis properties in HCC cells by sponging let7f, thereby resulting in periostin activation. The findings indicate the potential of LINC00106 as a diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for HCC.
Idiosyncratic Biogenesis of Intracellular Pathogens-Containing Vacuoles
Authors: Vaughn Bethany , Abu Kwaik Yousef
Published: November 2021

While most bacterial species taken up by macrophages are degraded through processing of the bacteria-containing vacuole through the endosomal-lysosomal degradation pathway, intravacuolar pathogens have evolved to evade degradation through the endosomal-lysosomal pathway. All intra-vacuolar pathogens possess specialized secretion systems (T3SS-T7SS) that inject effector proteins into the host cell cytosol to modulate myriad of host cell processes and remodel their vacuoles into proliferative niches. Although intravacuolar pathogens utilize similar secretion systems to interfere with their vacuole biogenesis, each pathogen has evolved a unique toolbox of protein effectors injected into the host cell to interact with, and modulate, distinct host cell targets. Thus, intravacuolar pathogens have evolved clear idiosyncrasies in their interference with their vacuole biogenesis to generate a unique intravacuolar niche suitable for their own proliferation. While there has been a quantum leap in our knowledge of modulation of phagosome biogenesis by intravacuolar pathogens, the detailed biochemical and cellular processes affected remain to be deciphered. Here we discuss how the intravacuolar bacterial pathogens Salmonella, Chlamydia, Mycobacteria, Legionella, Brucella, Coxiella, and Anaplasma utilize their unique set of effectors injected into the host cell to interfere with endocytic, exocytic, and ER-to-Golgi vesicle traffic. However, Coxiella is the main exception for a bacterial pathogen that proliferates within the hydrolytic lysosomal compartment, but its T4SS is essential for adaptation and proliferation within the lysosomal-like vacuole.
Potential Mechanism of Dingji Fumai Decoction Against Atrial Fibrillation Based on Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking, and Experimental Verification Integration Strategy
Authors: Liang Yi , Liang Bo , Chen Wen , Wu Xin-Rui , Liu-Huo Wu-Sha , Zhao Li-Zhi
Published: November 2021

Background: Dingji Fumai Decoction (DFD), a traditional herbal mixture, has been widely used to treat arrhythmia in clinical practice in China. However, the exploration of the active components and underlying mechanism of DFD in treating atrial fibrillation (AF) is still scarce.

Methods: Compounds of DFD were collected from TCMSP, ETCM, and literature. The targets of active compounds were explored using SwissTargetPrediction. Meanwhile, targets of AF were collected from DrugBank, TTD, MalaCards, TCMSP, DisGeNET, and OMIM. Then, the H-C-T-D and PPI networks were constructed using STRING and analyzed using CytoNCA. Meanwhile, VarElect was utilized to detect the correlation between targets and diseases. Next, Metascape was employed for systematic analysis of the mechanism of potential targets and protein complexes in treating AF. AutoDock Vina, Pymol, and Discovery Studio were applied for molecular docking. Finally, the main findings were validated through molecular biology experiments.

Results: A total of 168 active compounds and 1,093 targets of DFD were collected, and there were 89 shared targets between DFD and AF. H-C-T-D network showed the relationships among DFD, active compounds, targets, and AF. Three functional protein complexes of DFD were extracted from the PPI network. Further systematic analysis revealed that the regulation of cardiac oxidative stress, cardiac inflammation, and cardiac ion channels were the potential mechanism of DFD in treating AF. Addtionally, molecular docking verified the interactions between active compounds and targets. Finally, we found that DFD significantly increased the level of SIRT1 and reduced the levels of ACE, VCAM-1, and IL-6.

Conclusions: DFD could be utilized in treating AF through a complicated mechanism, including interactions between related active compounds and targets, promoting the explanation and understanding of the molecular biological mechanism of DFD in the treatment of AF.
Fragmented QRS Is Independently Predictive of Long-Term Adverse Clinical Outcomes in Asian Patients Hospitalized for Heart Failure: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Chan Jeffrey Shi Kai , Zhou Jiandong , Lee Sharen , Li Andrew , Tan Martin , Leung Keith Sai Kit , Jeevaratnam Kamalan , Liu Tong , Roever Leonardo , Liu Ying , Tse Gary , Zhang Qingpeng
Published: November 2021

Background: Fragmented QRS (fQRS) results from myocardial scarring and predicts cardiovascular mortality and ventricular arrhythmia (VA). We evaluated the prevalence and prognostic value of fQRS in Asian patients hospitalized for heart failure.

Methods and Results: This was a retrospective cohort study of adult patients hospitalized for heart failure between 1st January 2010 and 31st December 2016 at a tertiary center in Hong Kong. The baseline ECG was analyzed. QRS complexes (<120 ms) with fragmented morphology in ≥2 contiguous leads were defined as fQRS. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular mortality, VA, and sudden cardiac death (SCD). The secondary outcomes were the components of the primary outcome, myocardial infarction, and new-onset atrial fibrillation. In total, 2,182 patients were included, of whom 179 (8.20%) had fQRS. The follow-up duration was 5.63 ± 4.09 years. fQRS in any leads was associated with a higher risk of the primary outcome (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.428 [1.097, 1.859], p = 0.001), but not myocardial infarction or new-onset atrial fibrillation. fQRS in >2 contiguous leads was an independent predictor of SCD (HR 2.679 [1.252, 5.729], p = 0.011). In patients without ischaemic heart disease (N = 1,396), fQRS in any leads remained predictive of VA and SCD (adjusted HR 3.526 [1.399, 8.887], p = 0.008, and 1.873 [1.103, 3.181], p = 0.020, respectively), but not cardiovascular mortality (adjusted HR 1.064 [0.671, 1.686], p = 0.792).

Conclusion: fQRS is an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality, VA, and SCD. Higher fQRS burden increased SCD risk. The implications of fQRS in heart failure patients without ischaemic heart disease require further studies.
Machine Learning Algorithms to Distinguish Myocardial Perfusion SPECT Polar Maps
Authors: de Souza Filho Erito Marques , Fernandes Fernando de Amorim , Wiefels Christiane , de Carvalho Lucas Nunes Dalbonio , dos Santos Tadeu Francisco , dos Santos Alair Augusto Sarmet M. D. , Mesquita Evandro Tinoco , Seixas Flávio Luiz , Chow Benjamin J. W. , Mesquita Claudio Tinoco , Gismondi Ronaldo Altenburg
Published: November 2021

Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) plays an important role in patients with suspected and documented coronary artery disease (CAD). Machine Learning (ML) algorithms have been developed for many medical applications with excellent performance. This study used ML algorithms to discern normal and abnormal gated Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) images. We analyzed one thousand and seven polar maps from a database of patients referred to a university hospital for clinically indicated MPI between January 2016 and December 2018. These studies were reported and evaluated by two different expert readers. The image features were extracted from a specific type of polar map segmentation based on horizontal and vertical slices. A senior expert reading was the comparator (gold standard). We used cross-validation to divide the dataset into training and testing subsets, using data augmentation in the training set, and evaluated 04 ML models. All models had accuracy >90% and area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) >0.80 except for Adaptive Boosting (AUC = 0.77), while all precision and sensitivity obtained were >96 and 92%, respectively. Random Forest had the best performance (AUC: 0.853; accuracy: 0,938; precision: 0.968; sensitivity: 0.963). ML algorithms performed very well in image classification. These models were capable of distinguishing polar maps remarkably into normal and abnormal.
Motor Ability and Mental Health of Young Children: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Hirata Shogo , Kita Yosuke , Suzuki Kota , Kitamura Yuzuki , Okuzumi Hideyuki , Kokubun Mitsuru
Published: November 2021

This study used a longitudinal method to investigate relations between motor abilities and mental health in young children. We analyzed longitudinal data of 38 Japanese children who were 3–6 years old. We administered the Movement Assessment Battery for Children–Second edition (MABC2) and Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) at 3–4 years and 5–6 years of age: MABC2 was used to evaluate each child’s motor ability; SDQ was used to assess the degree of their mental health difficulties and prosocial behavior. Logistic regression results indicated that the MABC2 score at 3–4 years can predict the risk of motor skill impairments at 5–6 years (adjusted odds ratio was 0.354). Motor ability assessed at 3–4 years, however, did not predict the risk of mental health problems at 5–6 years. Analyses of longitudinal quantitative changes in motor ability and mental health confirmed these results. Mental health problems that occurred at 5–6 years were related only to individual SDQ score differences at 3–4 years. The MABC2 total score at 3–4 years was not related to later prosocial behavior. Boys tended to obtain a lower MABC2 score at 5–6 years. Girls tended to obtain a higher SDQ prosocial score at 5–6 years. Results of this study suggest that motor skill impairment and SDQ-measured mental health are independent characteristics in young Japanese children aged 3–6 years.
Uncovering the Sex-Specific Endocrine Responses to Reproduction and Parental Care
Authors: Austin Suzanne H. , Krause Jesse S. , Viernes Rechelle , Farrar Victoria S. , Booth April M. , Harris Rayna M. , Angelier Frédéric , Lee Candice , Bond Annie , Wingfield John C. , MacManes Matthew M. , Calisi Rebecca M.
Published: November 2021

Hormones mediate physiological and behavioral changes in adults as they transition into reproduction. In this study, we characterize the circulating levels of five key hormones involved in reproduction in rock doves (Columba livia): corticosterone, progesterone, estradiol, testosterone, and prolactin using univariate and multivariate approaches. We show similar patterns as previous studies in the overall patterns in circulating levels of these hormones, i.e., testosterone (males) and estradiol (females) high during nest-building or egg-laying, prolactin increasing at mid-incubation and peaking at hatching (both sexes), and elevated corticosterone levels in later incubation and early nestling development. In our investigation of hormone co-variation, we find a strong correlation between prolactin and corticosterone across sampling stages and similarities in earlier (early to mid-incubation) compared to later (late incubation to nestling d9) sampling stages in males and females. Finally, we utilized experimental manipulations to simulate nest loss or altered caregiving lengths to test whether external cues, internal timing, or a combination of these factors contributed most to hormone variation. Following nest loss, we found that both males and females responded to the external cue. Males generally responded quickly following nest loss by increasing circulating testosterone, but this response was muted when nest loss occurred early in reproduction. Similar treatment type, e.g., removal of eggs, clustered similarly in hormone space. These results suggest internal drivers limited male response early in reproduction to nest loss. In contrast, circulating levels of these hormones in females either did not change or decreased following nest manipulation suggesting responsiveness to external drivers, but unlike males, this result suggests that reproductive processes were decreasing.
A Prospective Comparative Study on Cardiac Alterations After Surgery and Drug Treatment of Primary Aldosteronism
Authors: Chen Yi-Lin , Xu Ting-Yan , Xu Jian-Zhong , Zhu Li-Min , Li Yan , Wang Ji-Guang
Published: November 2021

Background

Current guideline recommends both surgery and drug treatment for primary aldosteronism. Treatment effects on the cardiac structure and function remain under investigation.

Objective

We performed a prospective study in patients with primary aldosteronism to compare effects of surgery and drug treatment on the cardiac structure and function as assessed by the left ventricular (LV) pressure-strain loop, a novel echocardiographic technique that incorporates myocardial deformation and LV pressure.

Methods

Our study included 39 and 28 patients treated with surgery and a mineralocorticoid antagonist, respectively. We performed conventional and speckle tracking echocardiography at baseline and 3 and 6 months of follow-up.

Results

During follow-up, both surgery and drug treatment normalized serum potassium concentration and significantly reduced blood pressure. Both treatments significantly and similarly decreased LV mass index and left atrial volume index. However, only in the surgery group did global wasted work significantly decrease (200.8 ± 86.7 at baseline vs. 142.1 ± 58.1 mmHg% at 6 months) and global work efficiency (91.5 ± 3.1 vs. 93.6 ± 2.3%) and global longitudinal strain (−18.3 ± 2.7 vs. −19.2 ± 1.9%) significantly (p < 0.01) increase at 6 months of follow-up. The corresponding differences from the changes in the drug treatment group were 39.5 mmHg% (95% CI, 17.1, 62.0 mmHg%), −1.64% (95% CI, −2.56, −0.71%), and −0.85% (95% CI, −1.51, −0.20%), respectively. In addition, the changes in global wasted work at 6 months of follow-up was significantly correlated with that in 24-h urinary aldosterone excretion in the drug treatment group (r = 0.54) and two groups combined (r = 0.55), but not the surgery group.

Conclusion

In spite of similar serum potassium normalization and blood pressure control, surgical removal of an adrenal gland, but not mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism, showed early improvement in cardiac function.
Sarcopenia Is Associated With a Risk of Mortality in People With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Takahashi Fuyuko , Hashimoto Yoshitaka , Kaji Ayumi , Sakai Ryosuke , Okamura Takuro , Kitagawa Noriyuki , Okada Hiroshi , Nakanishi Naoko , Majima Saori , Senmaru Takafumi , Ushigome Emi , Hamaguchi Masahide , Asano Mai , Yamazaki Masahiro , Fukui Michiaki
Published: November 2021

Background

Sarcopenia has reportedly been associated with increased risk of mortality in general populations. However, few studies have investigated the association between sarcopenia and mortality in older people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). This study aimed to investigate the effect of sarcopenia on incident all-cause mortality in older people with T2D.

Methods

Low muscle strength were set at handgrip strength <28 kg for men and <18 kg for women, and low skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), evaluated using the impedance body composition analyzer, were set at SMI <7.0 kg/m2 for men and <5.7 kg/m2 for women. People who had both low muscle strength and low SMI were diagnosed with sarcopenia. Due to a low incidence of all-cause mortality, the propensity score was used. The propensity score was evaluated using multivariable logistic regression models with the following parameters: age, sex, duration of diabetes, history of heart disease, history of cancer, smoking, exercise, alcohol, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, insulin, corticosteroid, hypertension, body mass index, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c, triglycerides, and creatinine, and the C-statistic was 0.89.

Results

In this prospective cohort study, 396 people with an average age and duration of diabetes of 71.3 (6.3) years and 16.3 (11.3) years, respectively, were included. Of those included, 14.6% had sarcopenia. During the average 40.5 (16.5) months of follow-up, 13 people (6 out of the 338 without sarcopenia and 7 out of the 58 with sarcopenia) died. Incident rate were 5.1/1000 person years of follow-up in people without sarcopenia and 41.3/1000 person years of follow-up in people with sarcopenia. According to Cox regression analysis, sarcopenia was associated with all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio: 6.12, 95% confidence interval: 1.52–24.7, p = 0.011).

Conclusion

Sarcopenia is associated with incident all-cause mortality in older outpatients with T2D.
Will Digital Inclusive Finance Make Economic Development Greener? Evidence From China
Authors: Li Guangqin , Fang Xubing , Liu Maotao
Published: November 2021

This paper aimed to accurately assess the driving effect of digital inclusive finance (DIF) on green economic growth, better implement DIF-related policies, and promote the development of green economy. Based on the urban panel data from 2011 to 2018 and the DIF index, this paper investigates the impact of DIF on economic green development and its internal mechanism. The results show that there is a significant positive U-shaped nonlinear relationship between DIF and green development. Through the robustness test of the threshold model, instrumental variable model (IV), and system generalized method of moments (SYS-GMM) model, the results are still valid. The mechanism research shows that the DIF can indirectly promote China’s green development by the coagglomeration degree of producer services and optimize and upgrade industrial structure. This study provides policy implications for developing countries around the world to achieve green development by promoting the DIF level.
Crowdsourcing Global Perspectives in Ecology Using Social Media
Authors: Graham Emily B. , Smith A. Peyton
Published: November 2021

Transparent, open, and reproducible research is still far from routine, and the full potential of open science has not yet been realized. Crowdsourcing–defined as the usage of a flexible open call to a heterogeneous group of individuals to recruit volunteers for a task –is an emerging scientific model that encourages larger and more outwardly transparent collaborations. While crowdsourcing, particularly through citizen- or community-based science, has been increasing over the last decade in ecological research, it remains infrequently used as a means of generating scientific knowledge in comparison to more traditional approaches. We explored a new implementation of crowdsourcing by using an open call on social media to assess its utility to address fundamental ecological questions. We specifically focused on pervasive challenges in predicting, mitigating, and understanding the consequences of disturbances. In this paper, we briefly review open science concepts and their benefits, and then focus on the new methods we used to generate a scientific publication. We share our approach, lessons learned, and potential pathways forward for expanding open science. Our model is based on the beliefs that social media can be a powerful tool for idea generation and that open collaborative writing processes can enhance scientific outcomes. We structured the project in five phases: (1) draft idea generation, (2) leadership team recruitment and project development, (3) open collaborator recruitment via social media, (4) iterative paper development, and (5) final editing, authorship assignment, and submission by the leadership team. We observed benefits including: facilitating connections between unusual networks of scientists, providing opportunities for early career and underrepresented groups of scientists, and rapid knowledge exchange that generated multidisciplinary ideas. We also identified areas for improvement, highlighting biases in the individuals that self-selected participation and acknowledging remaining barriers to contributing new or incompletely formed ideas into a public document. While shifting scientific paradigms to completely open science is a long-term process, our hope in publishing this work is to encourage others to build upon and improve our efforts in new and creative ways.