bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Porphyria in Sweden
Authors: Thunell S , Floderus Y , Henrichson A , Harper P
Published: May 2022

In a brief survey the work of Swedish porphyrinologists through time is presented, from the organic chemist Jakob Berzelius 1840 to the molecular biologists of today. The building up in Stockholm of a Swedish national competence centre for porphyria is touched upon and the emergence of a computerized national register on the porphyria gene carriers in the country described. Figures for the prevalences of the seven different forms of porphyria diagnosed in Sweden are given. The geographical distribution of gene mutation spectra is shown for the most frequent form, acute intermittent porphyria. The organisation at Porphyria Centre Sweden of its diagnostic and consultative services is described, as is the decentralized model for porphyria care applied in the form of a clinical network covering the long and sparsely populated country. The ideas and activities of the Swedish Porphyria Patients' Association are presented. Its focus on protection-by-information of the porphyria gene carrier against maltreatment in health service contacts, and against other exposures to environmental threats to his or her health, is discussed. The combined efforts of the national porphyria centre and the patients' association have resulted in early and accurate diagnosis of most of the porphyria gene carriers in the country. The information to the carriers and to the health service regarding the mechanisms of the diseases and the importance of avoiding exposure to disease triggering environmental factors have greatly reduced porphyric morbidity. In the case of the acute porphyrias, by this programme and after the introduction of heme arginate in the therapy, mortality in the acute phase has become extremely rare in Sweden. In contrast, probably due to greater awareness of the high risk for liver cancer in acute porphyrias the number of hepatoma cases diagnosed has increased. The current research activities at the Porphyria Centre which aim at finding ways to substitute the mutated gene in acute intermittent porphyria for an undamaged one, or to substitute the enzyme deficiency by administration of exogenously produced enzyme, are mentioned, as is the work to establish a reliable drug porphyrinogenicity prediction model for evidence based drug counselling.
May 2006 update in porphobilinogen deaminase gene polymorphisms and mutations causing acute intermittent porphyria. Comparison with the situation in Slavic population
Authors: Hrdinka M , Puy H , Martásek P
Published: May 2022

Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is an autosomal dominant disorder of heme biosynthesis caused by molecular defects in the porphobilinogen deaminase (PBGD) gene. This paper reviews published mutations, their types, and polymorphisms within the PBGD gene. To date, 301 different mutations and 21 polymorphisms have been identified in the PBGD gene in AIP patients and individuals from various countries and ethnic groups. During the search for mutations identified among Slavic AIP patients we found 65 such mutations and concluded that there is not a distinct predominance of certain mutations in Slavs.
The Effects of Game Community Members’ Addiction Behaviors on Job Stress during the Outbreaks of COVID-19
Authors: Yeh Yu-Chen , Huang Shan-Yan
Published: May 2022

The use of digital technologies represents many aims such as information, communication, and entertainment. Also, online games become one of the leisure time. Games are a prevalent form of entertainment in which the purpose of the design is to engage players. Besides, the addiction behaviors in this study refer to game addiction and community addiction. This study aims to explore the effects of addictive behaviors and job stress during the COVID-19. This study utilizes a structural equation model (SEM) for measurement evaluation and hypothesis testing. This study adapts members of the game community as the research participants to explore the impact of game addiction on community addiction and job stress. The results reveal that: (1) game addiction positively affects community addiction; (2) community addiction does affect job stress; (3) game addiction has no positive effects on job stress; however, it has an indirect effect.
CREATING OF DISTINCTIONS “OUR-FOREIGN” IN THE ISSUE OF “ORTHODOXIFICATION” OF THE WESTERN OUTSKIRTS OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE IN THE XIX CENTURY
Authors:   Vladimir State University named after Alexander and Nikolay Stoletovs (VLSU), Vladimir, Russian Federation, MARKOVA NATALIA
Published: May 2022

The article is devoted to the issue of the attitude of Russian theological and philosophical thought to the problem of Russification of the western outskirts of the Russian Empire in the 19th century. After the annexation of Poland, the western region became an arena of confrontation between the Catholic and Orthodox faiths. Ethnic, national and religious differentiation in the western outskirts was formed in such a way that Poles were understood as Catholics, and Russians were understood as Orthodox, regardless of the real ethnic, national and confessional affiliation. Representing a strong competitor in relation to the official Orthodox Church, referred to as “primary and dominant” in the Russian Empire, the “tolerant” Catholic Church was considered by the state authorities, the Orthodox Church, as well as philosophical and theological thought, often as “foreign”, “alien” and hostile strength. Setting the task of preserving and spreading the influence of the Orthodox faith in the western outskirts of the Russian state, Russian religious thinkers saw the solution to the problem in the Russification of the Western Territory. By Russification, they primarily understood the “orthodoxification” of the Catholic population, in particular Belarusians and Lithuanians, while the “slavification” of the Polish population of the western outskirts of Russia.
MECHANISMS OF ELECTRONIC DEMOCRACY IN MODERN RUSSIA: CONDITIONS OF FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT TRENDS
Authors:   Institute of Public Administration and Civil Service of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (IPACS RANEPA), Moscow, Russian Federation, ILYICHEVA LYUDMILA , PIROZHKOV NIKITA
Published: May 2022

In the article, the author examines the features of the digitalization of the political process in modern Russia. Attention is focused on the development of the concept of “electronic democracy”, the transformation of this phenomenon in the context of the development of modern information and communication technologies on the example of modern Russian practice. Speaking about the positive trends in the development of Internet communication between the state and society, the unresolved problem of trusting the information coming from state institutions is noted. The main methods of scientific research in this work are the ontological method, which allows to investigate the nature of the digitalization of political processes, as well as the institutional method, which allows to analyze the interaction of institutions of state power and civil society in the framework of the development of “digital interaction”.
APPLICATION OF ARTIFICIAL METHODS OF REPRODUCTION IN RUSSIA AND KAZAKHSTAN: COMPARATIVE AND LEGAL ANALYSIS OF LEGISLATIVE REGULATION
Authors:   Moscow State University of Humanities and Economics, Moscow, Russian Federation, DOVNAR ALEKSEY
Published: May 2022

In order to match the rapid development of reproductive medicine, the legislative regulation of assisted reproductive technologies implemented in the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan is progressively evolving. In this study, the author analyzes the foundations of the regulatory development of assisted reproduction in Russia and Kazakhstan. The researcher pays special attention to the legislative acts and by-laws of the states, on the basis of which he identifies a number of problematic aspects in comparing the legal regulation in the two countries: 1) the lack of a specific and exhaustive list of assisted reproductive technologies (Russia); 2) a significant gap in the age limit for subjects of reproductive legal relations (Kazakhstan); 3) the absence of requirements for a surrogate motherhood agreement, including the obligation to notarize it (Russia); 4) permission (through the absence of a direct prohibition) of a surrogate mother to be an egg donor (Kazakhstan); 5) there is no ban on off-purpose use of gametes and embryos, including export abroad (Russia). As a solution to the identified problems, the author proposes through a dialogue between the legislators of the two countries with the involvement of the academic community (physicians and lawyers) to develop a position on each aspect of the study, as a result of which problems will be eliminated and positive experience will be adopted.
Optimasi Biaya Transportasi Rantai Roda Tipe-428 dengan Metode Stepping Stone dan Modified Distribution
Authors: Ilahy Rosihan Rifda , rizky Muhammad ferdiansyah dwi , Paduloh Paduloh , Saputra Yayan , Kumalasari Ratih , Spalanzani Widya , Sitorus Helena
Published: May 2022

Ketidapastikan alokasi pendistribusian produk rantai roda tipe-428 mengakibatkan tinggi nya biaya transportasi sehingga perlu dilakukan pengoptimalan biaya tranpsortasi untuk mengurangi pemborosan. Pendistribusian produk rantai roda tipe-428 ke beberapa customer. Pendistribusian produk rantai roda tipe-428 ke beberapa customer dengan permintaan masing-masing customer yang berbeda dan jumlah yang besar dengan rata-rata permintaan  terbesar customer adalah 234.609. Penelitian ini dilakukan guna menemukan solusi optimal untuk menemukan biaya transportasi yang optimal. Metode yang digunakan pada penelitian ini metode North West Corner (NWC), Least Cost, dan Vogel Approximation (VAM), dengan metode yang terpilih adalah Least Cost dan VAM karena biaya yang dihasilkan oleh kedua metode tersebut yang paling optimum dan menghasilkan total biaya yang sama. Kemudian, mencari solusi optimum dengan membandingkan biaya yang optimum menggunakan metode Stepping Stone dan metode MODI (Modified Distribution). Hasil dari pencarian solusi optimum dengan kedua metode ini didapatkan hasil yang sama sehingga dipilih metode stepping stone untuk mencari solusi optimum. Kemudian dilakukan pengecekan dengan menggunakan software LINGO untuk mengetahui hasil yang didapatkan dari perhitungan manual sudah sesuai. Dari hasil perhitungan yang dilakukan didapatkan penurunan biaya sebesar 33,17%.
ANALISIS RISIKO ERGONOMI PADA PEKERJA OFFICE BOY DI PT. XYZ (STUDI KASUS PENDISTRIBUSIAN AIR GALON)
Authors: Sari Tri Novita , Muti Asri Amalia , Ahmad Nofan Hadi
Published: May 2022

Office Boy (OB) memiliki peran yang besar dalam membantu karyawan di suatu perusahaan. PT XYZ adalah salah satu gedung perkantoran modern yang terletak di kawasan bisnis utama Jakarta di sepanjang Jalan Thamrin, Jakarta. PT XYZ memiliki office boy, pekerjaan office boy meliputi membersihkan dan merapikan ruangan dan peralatan kantor, melayani permintaan karyawan dan tamu perusahaan. Pekerjaan mendistribusikan galon air yang dilakukan oleh office boy dari pantry ke 13 divisi tersebut merupakan pekerjaan yang berat. Penting untuk mengetahui risiko dan kekuatan yang terjadi pada tulang belakang serta analisis risiko ergonomis. Gaya yang diterima tulang belakang (L5/S1) adalah 2253,34 N, dimana gaya tersebut masih dalam batas normal, namun berdasarkan metode REBA aktivitas mengangkat galon air menimbulkan resiko ergonomis yang sangat tinggi. Risiko ini dapat menyebabkan cedera, terutama jika dilakukan dalam jangka waktu yang lama. Perlu perbaikan postur kerja seperti postur mengangkat tubuh bagian bawah/jongkok atau dengan alat lain.
Evaluasi Kualitas Produk Tas Ransel Berbasis Pendekatan Ishikawa Diagram dan Failure Mode and Effect Analysis
Authors: Yulsandi Frido , Mahbubah Nina
Published: May 2022

UHHH merupakan Home Industry yang memproduksi berbagai macam tas. Mempertahankan kualitas yang berkelanjutan merupakan tantangan bagi manajemen perusahaan karena tas dianggap sebagai produk dengan pasar yang kompetitif. Identifikasi masalah sebagai hasil kerja lapangan menemukan bahwa cacat produk telah dianggap sebagai masalah yang signifikan dalam mengelola kualitas. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengevaluasi faktor-faktor penyebab kecacatan dan memberikan saran perbaikan. Penelitian ini diawali dengan walk-through survey dan wawancara mendalam. Kemudian menggunakan alat-alat ini dalam mengidentifikasi masalah menggunakan 5M. Selain itu, alat yang digunakan dalam mengidentifikasi sebab dan akibat menggunakan diagram Ishikawa. Tahap selanjutnya adalah merancang kuesioner dan kemudian diisi oleh pemilik dan kepala bagian kendali mutu. Hasil kuesioner ini digunakan untuk mengidentifikasi keparahan, kejadian, dan deteksi. Studi ini menemukan tiga jenis cacat: Cacat Jahitan dengan nilai RPN 343, Cacat Aksesoris pada RPN 336, dan Cacat Robek dengan RPN 253. Selain itu, mendesain ulang dan memperluas bengkel merupakan rekomendasi utama yang diperlukan untuk perbaikan. Skenario rekomendasi berikut adalah pemilik perusahaan mengawasi pekerja, bahan baku, dan perawatan mesin untuk menjaga kualitas produk.
FORECASTING OF THE NEELAM PERFUM PRODUCTION USING THE SARIMA METHOD TO MEET THE EXPORT DEMAND (CASE STUDY: ARC USK)
Authors: Lufika Raihan Dara , Syahriza Syahriza , Asmadi Didi , Fradinata Edy , Erwan Friesca , Arifin Riski , Nabila Longga
Published: May 2022

The rapid development of industry in Indonesia has resulted in many companies and business actors starting to contribute to international market competition. Planning for finished product requirements is one of the important points for companies in making strategies in the business world so that companies are able to compete in the market. ARC USK is one of the leading research centers in Aceh that has produced commercial patchouli products, one of which is the Neelam Parfum product. The problem faced by ARC USK at this time is that the need for the amount of export production of Neelam Parfum itself cannot be determined with certainty, this is because ARC USK has never exported Neelam Parfum products and so far only distributes it domestically so that the amount of commercial production is only made for meet the needs of the domestic market. This study aims to create an export production schedule for Neelam Parfum using the SARIMA method and determine an implementation strategy to maximize production activities for Neelam Parfum ARC USK. Data processing is carried out using data on the number of Neelam Parfum export production targets for 2020-2021 with the help of the Eviews10 software. The validation process for forecasting is carried out using MAPE calculations. The results showed that the MAPE value was 21.334%, based on these results the forecasting of 12 periods in 2022 using the selected SARIMA model can be used and there are 9 implementation strategies that have been approved by ARC USK for export production activities of Neelam Parfum.
ANALISIS TINGKAT KEPUASAN PELANGGAN JASA PENGISIAN ANGIN DAN POMPA BAN MENGGUNAKAN GAS NITROGEN DI CV AMS
Authors: Arista Anggia
Published: May 2022

Recently, the filling of vehicle tires, be it cars or motorbikes, has begun to use nitrogen gas as an ingredient for tire pumps. Compared to filling using conventional air media, there are many advantages when consumers or vehicle users fill tire pressure with nitrogen. This is where the distribution of pump outlets and tire fillings using nitrogen began, which are mostly opened at refueling sites or gas stations. This research was conducted at one of the CV business entities in the city of Batam which is engaged in filling and patching tires using nitrogen gas which is located in the Sekupang gas station area which is an industrial area and is close to community services making Sekupang gas stations a strategic area in this line of business. In the service related to filling and patching tires with nitrogen gas, there must be some opinions, both positive and negative, about the service at the outlet. From here, researchers will examine the level of customer satisfaction for filling and filling tires using nitrogen gas. The results of the study are that for the tangible dimension all statements have a satisfied category because the quality value is positive, for the reliability dimension there is 1 attribute that has a negative value, namely statement no 6 with a value of -1.1. For the responsiveness dimension, there is 1 attribute that is dissatisfied with a value of -0.39, namely in statement no. 9. For the assurance dimension there is 1 attribute that has a negative value, namely statement no. 13 with a value of -1.06, while for the empathy dimension there is 1 attribute that is dissatisfied. namely statement no. 15 with a value of -0.56.
A Facile Approach for the Ligand Free Synthesis of Biocompatible Upconversion Nanophosphors
Authors: Shiby Elizabeth , Reddy Kumbam Lingeshwar , Kumar Jatish
Published: May 2022

Upconversion nanophosphors, particles that can absorb low energy radiation and emit high energy light through multi-photon absorption processes, have gained augmented attention in recent years. Due to their admirable optical and chemical properties, these nanoparticles are finding wide range of applications in the field of bioimaging, light emitting devices and security printing. However, for any practical application, it is extremely important that a facile synthetic route is developed that can lead to the generation of nanophosphors exhibiting efficient upconversion luminescence under diverse experimental conditions. Herein, we report a new ligand-free approach for the synthesis of lanthanide-based upconversion nanoparticles by adopting a simple solid-state synthetic route. The reaction conditions such as temperature and time were optimized to obtain nanophosphors exhibiting enhanced upconversion luminescence. The synthesized nanoparticles, due to its ligand-free nature, could be well dispersed in both aqueous and organic media. The nanophosphors retained the upconversion luminescence under varying time, pH and temperature, indicating that the absence of ligand had least effect on their stability. The nanophosphors were found to exhibit good cell viability even under high concentrations, unveiling their potential as bioimaging agents in the biomedical research.
Peripheral Blood Transcripts Predict Preoperative Obstructive Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection
Authors: Wan Zunmin , Li Xiaohong , Sun Jinghua , Li Xiaohua , Liu Zhongzhen , Dong Haojian , Zhou Qing , Qiu Hailong , Xu Jinjin , Yang Tingyu , Wang Wen-Jing , Ou Yanqiu
Published: May 2022

The lack of accessible noninvasive tools to examine the molecular alterations limits our understanding of the causes of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC), as well as the identification of effective operational strategies. Here, we consecutively enrolled peripheral leukocyte transcripts of 26 preoperative obstructive and 22 non-obstructive patients with TAPVC. Two-hundred and fifty six differentially expressed mRNA and 27 differentially expressed long noncoding RNA transcripts were dysregulated. The up-regulated mRNA was enriched in the hydrogen peroxide catabolic process, response to mechanical stimulus, neutrophil degranulation, hemostasis, response to bacterium, and the NABA CORE MATRISOME pathway, all of which are associated with the development of fibrosis. Furthermore, we constructed predictive models using multiple machine-learning algorithms and tested the performance in the validation set. The mRNA NR3C2 and lncRNA MEG3 were screened based on multiple iterations. The random forest prediction model can predict preoperative obstruction patients in the validation set with high accuracy (area under curve = 1; sensitivity = 1). These data highlight the potential of peripheral leukocyte transcripts to evaluate obstructive-related pathophysiological alterations, leading to precision healthcare solutions that could improve patient survival after surgery. It also provides a novel direction for the study of preoperative obstructive TAPVC.
The Volcanic Impacts on the Formation of Organic-Rich Shales From the Freshwater to Saline Lakes: Cases Study in the Ordos and the Junggar Basins
Authors: Wang Xiaojun , Gao Jiahong , Zhong Liang , He Wenjun , Jin Zhijun , Zhu Rukai , Liang Xinping , Liu Kouqi , Zhang Wang
Published: May 2022

High organic matter abundance is necessary for large-scale hydrocarbon accumulation and enrichment in shale oil. Comparing conventional marine basins with lacustrine ones, the formation of organic matter in the latter usually changes rapidly with strong heterogeneity, which brings great challenges to identify sweet spot prediction and resource evaluation. In addition, water columns with different redox conditions also affect the burial and preservation of organic matter during the deposition of lacustrine shales, especially under the impact of ephemeral critical geological events such as volcanic activities. Therefore, determining the properties and the influencing factors on the water columns is one of the key scientific issues in revealing the differential enrichment of organic matter in such basins. By comparing the petrological and geochemical characteristics of organic-rich shales between a typical freshwater and a saline lacustrine basin, this study analyzes the depositional environment and water column properties during the burial and preservation of organic matter in the Ordos and Junggar basins. The results demonstrate that volcanic activity intensifies the degree of hypoxia during the formation of organic-rich matter, which in turn affects organic matter preservation. The sulfate reduction index (SRI) indicates that the organic-rich shale of the Chang seven Member (Ch7) of Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin and the Lucaogou Formation (P2l) in the Jimsar Sag of Junggar Basin in freshwater-saline environments have a certain intensity of sulfate reduction (BSR) (SRI <1.375). The organic matter consumed by BSR is lower than the preserved organic matter, resulting a higher TOC content. However, excessive volcanic activity or the input of hydrothermal fluids caused strong BSR (SRI >1.375) of the Fengcheng Formation (P2f) in saline lake of the Mahu Sag in Junggar Basin. This indicates that a large amount of organic matter was degraded and consumed, causing more iron oxides (and other iron-containing minerals) dissolve gradually to form pyrite, reducing the TOC content. This study enabled us to understand the shale oil enrichment, sweet spot prediction and evaluation, and propose a better theoretical and practical model for hydrocarbon accumulation in shale formations, to guide future exploration efforts.
Cognitive Activation in a Close-Up View: Triggers of High Cognitive Activity in Students During Group Work Phases
Authors: Groß-Mlynek Lena , Graf Tanja , Harring Marius , Gabriel-Busse Katrin , Feldhoff Tobias
Published: May 2022

Cognitive student activation describes the mental stimulation of learners to engage in a deeper mental investigation of the subject matter within the learning context. Based on the “Angebots-Nutzungs-Modell” (Supply-Use Model), a lesson that is cognitively activating can be understood as a learning opportunity provided by the teacher, which learners can make use of based on their individual ability. This paper focuses on the side of the users, i.e., the cognitive activity of students during phases of collaborative work. Based on a videotaped English lesson of a 10th-grade class (N = 18), low- and medium-inference, indicator-based coding and rating systems were used to investigate the micro level of student-teacher and student-student interactions. The focus of the analysis was to examine triggers of student’s individual high cognitive activity during group work phases. After a basic coding to achieve a precise description of students activities, the level of cognitive activity in selected sequences was coded by a medium-inference rating system. Subsequently the sequences in which a student’s cognitive activity had previously been rated as high were assessed in a content analysis (Mayring, 2015) to determine what triggered a particular phase of high cognitive activity. Analyses show that the students are cognitively engaged at varying degrees and at different times. It is interesting to note that high cognitive activity is not necessarily interrelated with the frequency of verbal participation. Even students with little verbal participation several times exhibit high cognitive engagement. This can be attributed to different aspects and triggers: On the one hand, students are cognitively activated by working with the material and by stimuli provided by the teacher. On the other hand, they engage in cognitive activity among themselves by asking one another questions or by benefiting from the discussion between other group members.
The Imbalance of Cytokines and Lower Levels of Tregs in Elderly Male Primary Osteoporosis
Authors: Zhang Wei , Zhao Wei , Li Wei , Geng Qi , Zhao Rui , Yang Yungui , Lv Luyan , Chen Weiwen
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Osteoporosis (OP) is a debilitating disease that brings a heavy burden to individuals and society with reduced quality of life and lifespan. However, it’s frequently overlooked and poorly studied in elderly male patients. Worse still, few anti-osteoporosis drugs are effective at the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in men. It has been reported that the cells of bone and the immune system share common progenitors, cytokines and growth factors, and that reciprocal interactions occur during health and disease. Nevertheless, the role of immune system in OP is not fully understood, especially in male patients. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate molecular alterations in immune cells in men with OP and to identify immunomodulatory strategies with potential therapeutic value.

Materials and Methods

A population of 121 men aged between 51 and 80 years old was recruited. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured at the lumbar spine L1-4 and femoral neck using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Twenty people were healthy, 66 people had osteopenia and 35 people had OP. Bone metabolic markers, Th1, Th2, Tregs and immune molecules were evaluated at the time of enrollment.

Results

Smoking was a risk factor for OP. C-terminal crosslinking of type I collagen (β-CTX) and the ratio of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) to osteoprotegerin (OPG) were higher in OP group, which had lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels. OP had the higher levels of IL-6 and TNF-α and lower levels of IFN-γ and IL-10. CD4+CD25+CD127-/low Tregs were significantly lower in the OP group. The imbalance of Th1/Th2 cells may play an important role in the development of OP. 25(OH)D may play essential roles in maintaining bone health. The low level of Tregs is also one of the underlying immune mechanism that leads to male primary OP.

Conclusion

The active function of osteoclasts and the decline in osteoblasts were characteristics of OP, and the imbalance in cytokines and lower levels of Tregs were observed in elderly male patients with primary OP.
The Impact of Activin A on Fetal Gonocytes: Chronic Versus Acute Exposure Outcomes
Authors: Moody Sarah C. , Whiley Penny A. F. , Western Patrick S. , Loveland Kate L.
Published: May 2022

Activin A, a TGFβ superfamily member, is important for normal testis development through its actions on Sertoli cell development. Our analyses of altered activin A mouse models indicated gonocyte abnormalities, implicating activin A as a key determinant of early germline formation. Whether it acts directly or indirectly on germ cells is not understood. In humans, the fetal testis may be exposed to abnormally elevated activin A levels during preeclampsia, maternal infections, or following ingestion of certain medications. We hypothesized that this may impact fetal testis development and ultimately affect adult fertility. Germ cells from two mouse models of altered activin bioactivity were analysed. RNA-Seq of gonocytes purified from E13.5 and E15.5 Inhba KO mice (activin A subunit knockout) identified 46 and 44 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) respectively, and 45 in the E13.5 Inha KO (inhibin alpha subunit knockout; increased activin A) gonocytes. To discern direct effects of altered activin bioactivity on germline transcripts, isolated E13.5 gonocytes were cultured for 24h with activin A or with the activin/Nodal/TGFβ inhibitor, SB431542. Gonocytes responded directly to altered signalling, with activin A promoting a more differentiated transcript profile (increased differentiation markers Dnmt3l, Nanos2 and Piwil4; decreased early germ cell markers Kit and Tdgf1), while SB431542 had a reciprocal effect (decreased Nanos2 and Piwil4; increased Kit). To delineate direct and indirect effects of activin A exposure on gonocytes, whole testes were cultured 48h with activin A or SB431542 and collected for histological and transcript analyses, or EdU added at the end of culture to measure germ and Sertoli cell proliferation using flow cytometry. Activin increased, and SB431542 decreased, Sertoli cell proliferation. SB431542-exposure resulted in germ cells escaping mitotic arrest. Analysis of FACS-isolated gonocytes following whole testis culture showed SB431542 increased the early germ cell marker Kit, however there was a general reduction in the impact of altered activin A bioavailability in the normal somatic cell environment. This multifaceted approach identifies a capacity for activin A to directly influence fetal germ cell development, highlighting the potential for altered activin A levels in utero to increase the risk of testicular pathologies that arise from impaired germline maturation.
Community Renewable Energy in the Czech Republic: Value Proposition Perspective
Authors: Pechancová Viera , Pavelková Drahomíra , Saha Petr
Published: May 2022

The community renewable energy offers much potential for sustainable projects differing in terms of regional governance, technology, social, and economic settings. However, the energy sector often lacks a systematic approach to community energy project data, and community projects are based on diversified value proposition designs. This study introduces a new concept of value proposition canvas. Four regional case studies provide essential inputs for the novel community renewable energy value proposition canvas based on the triple bottom line concept. The argument of this study is that energy communities bring together multiple positive local impacts. Moreover, we offer a novel, structured way of looking at its value propositions in the form of triple bottom line value proposition canvas. The study results might serve for the new entrants to the low carbon energy communities and decision-making authorities in energy policy.
Dynamic Calculation of Water Sweep Efficiency and Relative Permeability Curve on Water Drive Reservoir
Authors: Liu Chen , Zhou Wensheng , Jiang Junzhe
Published: May 2022

The water sweep efficiency is an important parameter in oilfield development. The present method needs to fit the core relative permeability curve, which has the problem of low accuracy and poor practicability. Based on three kinds of calculation formulas of water saturation, the calculation method of limit water sweep efficiency is put forward, and the dynamic method of two parameters in the index relationship between oil-water relative permeability ratio and water saturation is established. On this basis, the dynamic calculation method of sweep efficiency, oil displacement efficiency and oil-water relative permeability curve is formed, which overcomes the dependence on core permeability curve. The XJ oilfield calculation shows that for the south china sea marine sandstone oil field with abundant side water, the oil production is mainly from the water flooding region expansion in the initial oilfield developed period and then change to enhance oil displacement efficiency as the water sweep efficiency is to be stable, so the development policy of this oilfield should be to perfect production patterns nets in the initial oilfield developed period, then be to installe larger pumps and increase liquid production in the middle-later developed period. The proposed method is featured with accessible date, convenient calculation, showing a broad application prospect in dynamic analysis and development effect evaluation of oilfield.
A Parallel Reporting System for Water Resources: From the Logic of Introduction of Natural Resource Balance Sheeting in China
Authors: Liu Jiaqi , Wang Zhan , Yin Linsen , Liu Ying
Published: May 2022

Water shortage has become a widespread problem worldwide. Preparation of water resource balance sheet forms the basis of regional environmental governance in China and is of great importance for achieving the sustainable development. This study is an attempt of developing a water resource accounting system on an accrual basis by preparing balance sheet and other essential supporting statements for Wuhan within the framework of a parallel reporting system, which is oriented to different objectives. The results show that during 2014–2020 the physical volume of Wuhan’s water resources fluctuated with net precipitation to a large extent. Since 2017, the value of Wuhan’s water has kept increasing even though the water volume of 2017–2019 still declined due to the earlier drought. This demonstrates a relatively better water management performance during the current terms of office, which indicates a positive role of the leadership accountability system based on natural resource balance sheeting that is being implemented in China. This study contributes to the literature on regional water resources accounting and environmental management. The water resource statements prepared for Wuhan, Hubei, China have a good level of generality. They provide a reliable basis for the local government’s performance assessment of water resources management and facilitate the implementation of water resource related policies.
Evolution of an Amazonian Fish Is Driven by Allopatric Divergence Rather Than Ecological Divergence
Authors: Leroux Nicolas , Sylvain François-Étienne , Normandeau Eric , Holland Aleicia , Val Adalberto Luis , Derome Nicolas
Published: May 2022

Lowland central Amazonia is characterized by heterogeneous riverscapes dominated by two chemically divergent water types: black (ion-poor, rich in dissolved organic carbonate and acidic) and white (rich in nutrient and turbid) waters. Recent phylogeographic and genomic studies have associated the ecotone formed by these environments to an ecologically driven genetic divergence between fish present in both water types. With the objective of better understanding the evolutionary forces behind the central Amazonian teleostean diversification, we sampled 240 Mesonauta festivus from 12 sites on a wide area of the Amazonian basin. These sites included three confluences of black and white water environments to seek for repeated evidences of ecological divergence at the junction of these ecotones. Results obtained through our genetic assessment based on 41,268 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) contrast with previous findings and support a low influence of diverging water physicochemical characteristics on the genetic structuration of M. festivus populations. Conversely, we detected patterns of isolation by downstream water current and evidence of past events of vicariance potentially linked to the Amazon River formation. Using a combination of population genetics, phylogeographic analysis and environmental association models, we decomposed the spatial and environmental genetic variances to assess which evolutionary forces shaped inter-population differences in M. festivus’ genome. Our sampling design, comprising three confluences of black and white water rivers, supports the main role of evolution by allopatry. While an ecologically driven evolution admittedly played a role in Amazonian fish diversification, we argue that neutral evolutionary processes explain most of the divergence between M. festivus populations.
DNA Methylation Analysis of Turner Syndrome BAV
Authors: Gutierrez Jacob , Davis Brett A. , Nevonen Kimberly A. , Ward Samantha , Carbone Lucia , Maslen Cheryl L.
Published: May 2022

Turner Syndrome (TS) is a rare cytogenetic disorder caused by the complete loss or structural variation of the second sex chromosome. The most common cause of early mortality in TS results from a high incidence of left-sided congenital heart defects, including bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), which occurs in about 30% of individuals with TS. BAV is also the most common congenital heart defect in the general population with a prevalence of 0.5–2%, with males being three-times more likely to have a BAV than females. TS is associated with genome-wide hypomethylation when compared to karyotypically normal males and females. Alterations in DNA methylation in primary aortic tissue are associated with BAV in euploid individuals. Here we show significant differences in DNA methylation patterns associated with BAV in TS found in peripheral blood by comparing TS BAV (n = 12), TS TAV (n = 13), and non-syndromic BAV (n = 6). When comparing TS with BAV to TS with no heart defects we identified a differentially methylated region encompassing the BAV-associated gene MYRF, and enrichment for binding sites of two known transcription factor contributors to BAV. When comparing TS with BAV to euploid women with BAV, we found significant overlapping enrichment for ChIP-seq transcription factor targets including genes in the NOTCH1 pathway, known for involvement in the etiology of non-syndromic BAV, and other genes that are essential regulators of heart valve development. Overall, these findings suggest that altered DNA methylation affecting key aortic valve development genes contributes to the greatly increased risk for BAV in TS.
Differential Functional Responses of Neutrophil Subsets in Severe COVID-19 Patients
Authors: McLeish Kenneth R. , Shrestha Rejeena , Vashishta Aruna , Rane Madhavi J. , Barati Michelle T. , Brier Michael E. , Lau Mario Gutierrez , Hu Xiaoling , Chen Oscar , Wessel Caitlin R. , Spalding Travis , Bush Sarah E. , Ijemere Kenechi , Hopkins C. Danielle , Cooke Elizabeth A. , Tandon Shweta , Manning Terri , Uriarte Silvia M. , Huang Jiapeng , Yan Jun
Published: May 2022

Neutrophils play a significant role in determining disease severity following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Gene and protein expression defines several neutrophil clusters in COVID-19, including the emergence of low density neutrophils (LDN) that are associated with severe disease. The functional capabilities of these neutrophil clusters and correlation with gene and protein expression are unknown. To define host defense and immunosuppressive functions of normal density neutrophils (NDN) and LDN from COVID-19 patients, we recruited 64 patients with severe COVID-19 and 26 healthy donors (HD). Phagocytosis, respiratory burst activity, degranulation, neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation, and T-cell suppression in those neutrophil subsets were measured. NDN from severe/critical COVID-19 patients showed evidence of priming with enhanced phagocytosis, respiratory burst activity, and degranulation of secretory vesicles and gelatinase and specific granules, while NET formation was similar to HD NDN. COVID LDN response was impaired except for enhanced NET formation. A subset of COVID LDN with intermediate CD16 expression (CD16IntLDN) promoted T cell proliferation to a level similar to HD NDN, while COVID NDN and the CD16HiLDN failed to stimulate T-cell activation. All 3 COVID-19 neutrophil populations suppressed stimulation of IFN-γ production, compared to HD NDN. We conclude that NDN and LDN from COVID-19 patients possess complementary functional capabilities that may act cooperatively to determine disease severity. We predict that global neutrophil responses that induce COVID-19 ARDS will vary depending on the proportion of neutrophil subsets.
An Overview of Tissue-Resident Memory T Cells in the Intestine: From Physiological Functions to Pathological Mechanisms
Authors: Lyu Yangbao , Zhou Yuming , Shen Jun
Published: May 2022

The human intestine contains a complex network of innate and adaptive immune cells that provide protective immunity. The dysfunction of this network may cause various chronic diseases. A large number of T cells in the human intestine have been identified as tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM). TRM are present in the peripheral tissues, and they do not recirculate through the blood. It is known that TRM provide rapid immune responses at the frontline of pathogen invasion. Recent evidence also suggests that these cells play a role in tumor surveillance and the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. In this review, we discuss the general features of intestinal TRM together with their role in intestinal infection, colorectal cancer (CRC), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Community Competition Is the Microorganism Feedback to Sedimentary Carbon Degradation Process in Aquaculture Tidal Flats
Authors: Zhou Min , Fang Fu-Tao , Zeng Cong , Zhang Li-Hong , Zhou Cheng-Xu , Zhu Zhuo-Yi
Published: May 2022

How the microbial community response to carbon degradation is unclear, while it plays an essential role in predicting microbial community shift and determining carbon cycling. Surface sediments in two contrasting aquacultural tidal flat sites in Fujian Province, China, were collected in October, 2020. In addition to 16s rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing for determining bacteria and archaea biodiversity, an amino acids-based molecular degradation index DI was used to quantify the carbon degradation status. The results revealed that the microorganism response to DI at the family level was community competition. Specifically, the winning microbes that grew under carbon degradation (i.e., operational taxa unit numbers negatively related with the degradation index) accounted for only 18% of the total family number, but accounted for 54% of the total operational taxa unit numbers. Network analysis confirmed the oppressive relation between winners and the rest (losers + centrists), and further suggested the losers survival strategy as uniting the centrists. These findings shed new light on microorganism feedback to carbon degradation, and provide a scientific basis for the explanation of microbial community shift under progressive carbon degradation.
Coexistence of blaNDM-1 and blaIMP-4 in One Novel Hybrid Plasmid Confers Transferable Carbapenem Resistance in an ST20-K28 Klebsiella pneumoniae
Authors: Jia Xinmiao , Jia Peiyao , Zhu Ying , Yu Wei , Li Xue , Xi Jingyuan , Liu Xiaoyu , Liao Kang , Xu Yingchun , Cheng Bin , Yang Qiwen
Published: May 2022

Objectives

We identified a novel hybrid plasmid simultaneously carrying blaNDM-1 and blaIMP-4 in an ST20-K28 carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) strain AZS099 and reported its detailed genetic and phenotypic characterization.

Methods

Antimicrobial susceptibility was characterized using broth microdilution method. Complete genome characteristics and plasmid detailed analysis were carried out by PacBio Sequel and Illumina sequencing and further bioinformatics analysis. Conjugation assay, S1-PFGE, Southern blot, plasmid stability, and fitness cost were conducted to the phenotypic characterization of this novel hybrid plasmid.

Results

AZS099 was isolated from a blood specimen obtained from a 3-month baby who presented with biliary tract infection. Susceptibility testing showed that AZS099 was resistant to almost all β-lactams examined, including cephalosporins, combinations of β-lactams and β-lactamase inhibitors, carbapenems, and aztreonam. PacBio and Illumina sequencing together with S1-PFGE and Southern blot showed that blaNDM-1 and blaIMP-4 were simultaneously located on a 296 kb IncFIB(K)/IncHI1B/IncX3 plasmid (pAZS099-NDM-IMP), which consists of four main parts that came from four different types of plasmids. The region harboring blaIMP-4 is located in a class 1 integron designated as In0, which is located in an IS6100-IS26 transposon-like structure with a total length of ~5 kb. The region harboring blaNDM-1 is located in the Tn125 transposon remnant. Conjugation and transformation assay confirmed that the plasmid pAZS099-NDM-IMP has the potential for horizontal transfer and displayed high stability (retention rate > 95%). Furthermore, growth curve assessment confirmed that the presence of pAZS099-NDM-IMP exhibits no growth pressure on bacteria.

Conclusion

Our research reported a hybrid plasmid coharboring blaNDM-1 and blaIMP-4 in an ST20-K28 CRKP strain. The emergence of novel hybrid plasmid could threaten the control of antimicrobial resistance and should be closely supervised.
Rahnella sp., a Dominant Symbiont of the Core Gut Bacteriome of Dendroctonus Species, Has Metabolic Capacity to Degrade Xylan by Bifunctional Xylanase-Ferulic Acid Esterase
Authors: Pineda-Mendoza Rosa María , Zúñiga Gerardo , López María Fernanda , Hidalgo-Lara María Eugenia , Santiago-Hernández Alejandro , López-López Azucena , Orduña Flor N. Rivera , Cano-Ramírez Claudia
Published: May 2022

Rahnella sp. ChDrAdgB13 is a dominant member of the gut bacterial core of species of the genus Dendroctonus, which is one of the most destructive pine forest bark beetles. The objectives of this study were identified in Rahnella sp. ChDrAdgB13 genome the glycosyl hydrolase families involved in carbohydrate metabolism and specifically, the genes that participate in xylan hydrolysis, to determine the functionality of a putative endo-1,4-β-D-xylanase, which results to be bifunctional xylanase–ferulic acid esterase called R13 Fae and characterize it biochemically. The carbohydrate-active enzyme prediction revealed 25 glycoside hydrolases, 20 glycosyl transferases, carbohydrate esterases, two auxiliary activities, one polysaccharide lyase, and one carbohydrate-binding module (CBM). The R13 Fae predicted showed high identity to the putative esterases and glycosyl hydrolases from Rahnella species and some members of the Yersiniaceae family. The r13 fae gene encodes 393 amino acids (43.5 kDa), containing a signal peptide, esterase catalytic domain, and CBM48. The R13 Fae modeling showed a higher binding affinity to ferulic acid, α-naphthyl acetate, and arabinoxylan, and a low affinity to starch. The R13 Fae recombinant protein showed activity on α-naphthyl acetate and xylan, but not on starch. This enzyme showed mesophilic characteristics, displaying its optimal activity at pH 6.0 and 25°C. The enzyme was stable at pH from 4.5 to 9.0, retaining nearly 66–71% of its original activity. The half-life of the enzyme was 23 days at 25°C. The enzyme was stable in the presence of metallic ions, except for Hg2+. The products of R13 Fae mediated hydrolysis of beechwood xylan were xylobiose and xylose, manifesting an exo-activity. The results suggest that Rahnella sp. ChDrAdgB13 hydrolyze xylan and its products could be assimilated by its host and other gut microbes as a nutritional source, demonstrating their functional role in the bacterial-insect interaction contributing to their fitness, development, and survival.
Improved Conventional and New Approaches in the Diagnosis of Tuberculosis
Authors: Dong Baoyu , He Zhiqun , Li Yuqing , Xu Xinyue , Wang Chuan , Zeng Jumei
Published: May 2022

Tuberculosis (TB) is a life-threatening infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). Timely diagnosis and effective treatment are essential in the control of TB. Conventional smear microscopy still has low sensitivity and is unable to reveal the drug resistance of this bacterium. The traditional culture-based diagnosis is time-consuming, since usually the results are available after 3–4 weeks. Molecular biology methods fail to differentiate live from dead M. tuberculosis, while diagnostic immunology methods fail to distinguish active from latent TB. In view of these limitations of the existing detection techniques, in addition to the continuous emergence of multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant TB, in recent years there has been an increase in the demand for simple, rapid, accurate and economical point-of-care approaches. This review describes the development, evaluation, and implementation of conventional diagnostic methods for TB and the rapid new approaches for the detection of M. tuberculosis.