bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Variations in facial conformation are associated with differences in nasal microbiota in healthy dogs
Authors: Vangrinsven Emilie , Fastrès Aline , Taminiau Bernard , Frédéric Billen , Daube Georges , Clercx Cécile
Published: November 2021

Background

Extrinsic and intrinsic factors have been shown to influence nasal microbiota (NM) in humans. Very few studies investigated the association between nasal microbiota and factors such as facial/body conformation, age, and environment in dogs. The objectives are to investigate variations in NM in healthy dogs with different facial and body conformations. A total of 46 dogs of different age, living environment and from 3 different breed groups were recruited: 22 meso−/dolichocephalic medium to large breed dogs, 12 brachycephalic dogs and 12 terrier breeds. The nasal bacterial microbiota was assessed through sequencing of 16S rRNA gene (V1-V3 regions) amplicons.

Results

We showed major differences in the NM composition together with increased richness and α-diversity in brachycephalic dogs, compared to meso−/dolichocephalic medium to large dogs and dogs from terrier breeds.

Conclusion

Healthy brachycephalic breeds and their unique facial conformation is associated with a distinct NM profile. Description of the NM in healthy dogs serves as a foundation for future researches assessing the changes associated with disease and the modulation of NM communities as a potential treatment.
The dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist tirzepatide: a novel cardiometabolic therapeutic prospect
Authors: Fisman Enrique Z. , Tenenbaum Alexander
Published: November 2021

Incretin hormones are peptides released in the intestine in response to the presence of nutrients in its lumen. The main incretins are glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). GLP-1 stimulates insulin secretion, inhibits glucagon secretion at pancreatic α cells and has also extrapancreatic influences as slowing of gastric emptying which increases the feeling of satiety. GIP is the main incretin hormone in healthy people, causative of most the incretin effects, but the insulin response after GIP secretion in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is strongly reduced. Therefore, in the past GIP has been considered an unappealing therapeutic target for T2DM. This conception has been changing during recent years, since it has been reported that resistance to GIP can be reversed and its effectiveness restored by improving glycemic control. This fact paved the way for the development of a GIP receptor agonist-based therapy for T2DM, looking also for the possibility of finding a combined GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist. In this framework, the novel dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist tirzepatide seems to be not just a new antidiabetic medication. Administered as a subcutaneous weekly injection, it is a manifold single pharmacological agent that has the ability to significantly lower glucose levels, as well as improve insulin sensitivity, reduce weight and amend dyslipidemia favorably modifying the lipid profile. Tirzepatide and additional dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists that could eventually be developed in the future seem to be a promising furthest advance for the management of several cardiometabolic settings. Obviously, it is too early to be overly hopeful since it is still necessary to determine the long-term effects of these compounds and properly verify the potential cardiovascular benefits. Anyway, we are currently facing a novel and very appealing therapeutic option.
Antitumor effects of the small molecule DMAMCL in neuroblastoma via suppressing aerobic glycolysis and targeting PFKL
Authors: Zhang Simeng , Hua Zhongyan , Ba Gen , Xu Ning , Miao Jianing , Zhao Guifeng , Gong Wei , Liu Zhihui , Thiele Carol J. , Li Zhijie
Published: November 2021

Background

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a common solid malignancy in children that is associated with a poor prognosis. Although the novel small molecular compound Dimethylaminomicheliolide (DMAMCL) has been shown to induce cell death in some tumors, little is known about its role in NB.

Methods

We examined the effect of DMAMCL on four NB cell lines (NPG, AS, KCNR, BE2). Cellular confluence, survival, apoptosis, and glycolysis were detected using Incucyte ZOOM, CCK-8 assays, Annexin V-PE/7-AAD flow cytometry, and Seahorse XFe96, respectively. Synergistic effects between agents were evaluated using CompuSyn and the effect of DMAMCL in vivo was evaluated using a xenograft mouse model. Phosphofructokinase-1, liver type (PFKL) expression was up- and down-regulated using overexpression plasmids or siRNA.

Results

When administered as a single agent, DMAMCL decreased cell proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner, increased the percentage of cells in SubG1 phase, and induced apoptosis in vitro, as well as inhibiting tumor growth and prolonging survival in tumor-bearing mice (NGP, BE2) in vivo. In addition, DMAMCL exerted synergistic effects when combined with etoposide or cisplatin in vitro and displayed increased antitumor effects when combined with etoposide in vivo compared to either agent alone. Mechanistically, DMAMCL suppressed aerobic glycolysis by decreasing glucose consumption, lactate excretion, and ATP production, as well as reducing the expression of PFKL, a key glycolysis enzyme, in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, PFKL overexpression attenuated DMAMCL-induced cell death, whereas PFKL silencing promoted NB cell death.

Conclusions

The results of this study suggest that DMAMCL exerts antitumor effects on NB both in vitro and in vivo by suppressing aerobic glycolysis and that PFKL could be a potential target of DMAMCL in NB.
MXene-assisted organic electrochemical transistor biosensor with multiple spiral interdigitated electrodes for sensitive quantification of fPSA/tPSA
Authors: Zhu Yi-Cheng , Cai Biao , Jiang Quan , Zhang Yuan , Sha Jianjun , Xie Shaowei
Published: November 2021

Background

The ratio of fPSA/tPSA in the "grey zone" of tPSA with the concentration range between 4 ng/ml and 10 ng/ml is significant for diagnosis of prostate cancer, and highly efficiency quantification of the ratio of fPSA/tPSA remain elusive mainly because of their extremely low concentration in patients' peripheral blood with high biosample complexity.

Methods

We presented an interdigitated spiral-based MXene-assisted organic electrochemical transistors (isMOECTs) biosensor for highly sensitive determination of fPSA/tPSA. The combination of MXene and the interdigitated multiple spiral architecture synergistically assisted the amplification of amperometric signal of biosensor with dual functionalizations of anti-tPSA and anti-fPSA.

Results

The ultrasensitivity of the biosensor was enhanced by tunable multiple spiral architecture and MXene nanomaterials; and the sensor exhibited improved detection limit of tPSA and fPSA down to 0.01 pg/ml and acceptable performance of selectivity, repeatability and stability. Moreover, the isMOECTs displayed area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.8138, confirming the potential applications of isMOECTs in clinics.

Conclusions

The merits of isMOECTs biosensor demonstrated the reliability of MXene-assisted organic electrochemical transistor biosensor with multiple interdigitated spiral for ultrasensitive quantification of fPSA/tPSA, suggesting potential current and future point-of-care testing applications.

Graphical Abstract
Revealing RCOR2 as a regulatory component of nuclear speckles
Authors: Rivera Carlos , Verbel-Vergara Daniel , Arancibia Duxan , Lappala Anna , González Marcela , Guzmán Fabián , Merello Gianluca , Lee Jeannie T. , Andrés María Estela
Published: November 2021

Background

Nuclear processes such as transcription and RNA maturation can be impacted by subnuclear compartmentalization in condensates and nuclear bodies. Here, we characterize the nature of nuclear granules formed by REST corepressor 2 (RCOR2), a nuclear protein essential for pluripotency maintenance and central nervous system development.

Results

Using biochemical approaches and high-resolution microscopy, we reveal that RCOR2 is localized in nuclear speckles across multiple cell types, including neurons in the brain. RCOR2 forms complexes with nuclear speckle components such as SON, SRSF7, and SRRM2. When cells are exposed to chemical stress, RCOR2 behaves as a core component of the nuclear speckle and is stabilized by RNA. In turn, nuclear speckle morphology appears to depend on RCOR2. Specifically, RCOR2 knockdown results larger nuclear speckles, whereas overexpressing RCOR2 leads to smaller and rounder nuclear speckles.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that RCOR2 is a regulatory component of the nuclear speckle bodies, setting this co-repressor protein as a factor that controls nuclear speckles behavior.
The impact of nonresponse in different survey stages on the precision of prevalence estimates for multi-stage survey studies
Authors: Ma Ming , Rosenberg Sophie , Kaizer Alexander M.
Published: November 2021

Objective

While it is known that nonresponse might produce biased results and impair the precision of results in survey research studies, the pattern of the impact on the precision of estimates due to the nonresponse in different survey stages is historically overlooked. Having this type of information is essential when creating recruitment plans. This study proposes to examine and compare the effect of nonresponse in different stages on the precision of prevalence estimates in multi-stage survey studies. Based on data from a state level survey, a simulation approach was used to generate datasets with different nonresponse rates in three stages. The margin of error was then compared between the datasets with nonresponse at three different survey stages for 12 outcomes.

Results

At the same nonresponse rate, the mean margin of error was greater for the data with nonresponse at higher stages. Additionally, as the nonresponse rate increased, precision was more inflated within the data with higher stage nonresponse. This suggests that the effort used to recruit the primary sampling units is more crucial to improve the precision of estimates in multi-stage survey studies.
Measuring the bias of incorrect application of feature selection when using cross-validation in radiomics
Authors: Demircioğlu Aydin
Published: November 2021

Background

Many studies in radiomics are using feature selection methods to identify the most predictive features. At the same time, they employ cross-validation to estimate the performance of the developed models. However, if the feature selection is performed before the cross-validation, data leakage can occur, and the results can be biased. To measure the extent of this bias, we collected ten publicly available radiomics datasets and conducted two experiments. First, the models were developed by incorrectly applying the feature selection prior to cross-validation. Then, the same experiment was conducted by applying feature selection correctly within cross-validation to each fold. The resulting models were then evaluated against each other in terms of AUC-ROC, AUC-F1, and Accuracy.

Results

Applying the feature selection incorrectly prior to the cross-validation showed a bias of up to 0.15 in AUC-ROC, 0.29 in AUC-F1, and 0.17 in Accuracy.

Conclusions

Incorrect application of feature selection and cross-validation can lead to highly biased results for radiomic datasets.
Communicating imaging findings in peritoneal mesothelioma: the impact of ‘PAUSE’ on surgical decision-making
Authors: Chandramohan Anuradha , Shah Nehal , Thrower Andrew , Carr Norman John , Mittal Rohin , Mohamed Faheez , Moran Brendan
Published: November 2021

The peritoneal cavity is the second commonest site of mesothelioma after the pleural cavity. There are five histological types of peritoneal mesothelioma with variable symptomatology, clinical presentation and prognosis. Cystic mesothelioma is a borderline malignant neoplasm with a favourable prognosis, well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma is generally a low-grade malignancy, and all other varieties such as epithelioid, sarcomatoid and biphasic mesothelioma are highly malignant types of peritoneal mesothelioma with poor prognosis. Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma was considered inevitably fatal prior to the introduction of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in selected cases where long-term survival and cure could be achieved. However, the survival benefits following CRS and HIPEC mainly depend on completeness of cytoreduction, which come at the cost of high morbidity and potential mortality. Using the acronym ‘PAUSE’, we aimed at describing the key imaging findings that impact surgical decision-making in patients with peritoneal mesothelioma. PAUSE stands for peritoneal cancer index, ascites and abdominal wall disease, unfavourable sites of involvement, small bowel and mesenteric disease and extraperitoneal disease. Reporting components of ‘PAUSE’ is crucial for patient selection. Despite limitations of CT in accurately depicting the volume of disease, describing findings in terms of PAUSE plays an important role in excluding patients who might not benefit from CRS and HIPEC.
Improving compliance with physical distancing across religious cultures in Israel
Authors: Gabay Gillie , Gere Attila , Naamati-Schneider Lior , Moskowitz Howard , Tarabieh Mahdi
Published: November 2021

Background

Physical distancing contains the corona virus, but compliance with physical distancing across religious minorities in Israel has been shown to be relatively poorer than in the majority population. This study tests the power of messages as drivers of willingness to comply with physical distancing across religious minorities in Israel during the first wave of the COVID-19 from March till June 2020.

Methods

896 Israeli Muslims, Druze, Bedouins, Jewish Orthodox, Christians, and Jewish Seculars participated in this conjoint-based experimental design. The size of the total sample and of the subgroups is consistent with the suggested size in conjoint analysis studies, particularly when aiming at stability of coefficients rather than stability of means. The dependent variable was ‘willingness to comply’. Independent variables were known contributors to compliance: perceived risk, practices of physical distancing, ways to assure compliance, and the agent communicating the policy.

Results

A regression analysis indicated minor differences in the power of messages across groups despite dramatic cultural differences amongst them. We identified three distinct mindsets that transcend religious cultures from the responses of the study subjects to various messages and named them “pandemic observers,” “obedient followers,” and “sensitive interpreters.” Compliance of "Pandemic Observers" (n = 306) may be improved by messages such as, “Dangerous virus spreading wildly” and “Health experts suggest what to do but the government is reactive rather than proactive” (β = 14, p < .005). Compliance of "Obedient Followers" (n = 242) may be driven by the messages “Socialize and work only from home, using the internet, e.g. zoom/Skype” and “Everyone should stay 2 m. (6 ft.) apart” (β = 16, p < .0050). Compliance of "Sensitive Interpreters" (n = 249) may be improved by messages such as, “Only people who are 60 and over are to be allowed to buy groceries during first 2 h from opening” and by using the media to publicize the official health policy (β = 8; p < .005).

Conclusions

Mindset-assignment reflects how people think rather than their religious affiliation. A personal viewpoint identifier was developed to predict mindset-assignment and enable health authorities to enhance compliance through mindset-tailored messages for members of each mindset segment. We recommend that health authorities and policy makers consider these different personality types, which range across religious minorities and emphasize the messages that each type responds to in developing and implementing a communication plan to improve physical distancing as an important public health measure.
Prediction of the Tensile Strength of Normal and Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete Exposed to High Temperatures
Authors: Abdi Moghadam Mehrdad , Izadifard Ramezan Ali
Published: November 2021

The tensile strength of concrete has a great impact on the performance of concrete structures, especially for members exposed to high temperatures. The inclusion of steel fibers in concrete is one of the measures to retrieve the loss of tensile strength. The previous equations for the prediction of the tensile strength, are valid for conventional concrete and can predict the tensile strength after high-temperature exposure. Therefore, they are unsatisfactory for forecasting the tensile strength of plain and steel fiber reinforced concrete under high-temperature exposure. To establish a model that can effectively simulate the tensile strength of plain concrete, specimens with compressive strengths of 20–80 MPa are tested. Then by performing tensile strength tests on the specimens containing various content of steel fiber, an equation for prediction of the tensile strength at the ambient temperature is proposed. Meanwhile, the tensile strength tests are conducted at temperatures of 100–800 °C to develop a model for high-temperature exposure. The results indicate that an increase of compressive strength from 20 to 84 improves the tensile strength by 169.4%, and the incorporation of 0.25 and 0.5% of steel fibers can improve the tensile strength of normal concrete by 58.48 and 80.29% on average at the tested temperatures, respectively. Moreover, the proposed model is able to predict the tensile strength of normal and steel fiber reinforced concrete exposed to high temperatures accurately. This equation would help a wider application of the steel fibers in the construction industry with the risk of a fire accident.
Prion type 2 selection in sporadic Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease affecting peripheral ganglia
Authors: Hofmann Anna , Wrede Arne , Jürgens-Wemheuer Wiebke M. , Schulz-Schaeffer Walter J.
Published: November 2021

In sporadic Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (sCJD), the pathological changes appear to be restricted to the central nervous system. Only involvement of the trigeminal ganglion is widely accepted. The present study systematically examined the involvement of peripheral ganglia in sCJD utilizing the currently most sensitive technique for detecting prions in tissue morphologically. The trigeminal, nodose, stellate, and celiac ganglia, as well as ganglia of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar sympathetic trunk of 40 patients were analyzed with the paraffin-embedded tissue (PET)-blot method. Apart from the trigeminal ganglion, which contained protein aggregates in five of 19 prion type 1 patients, evidence of prion protein aggregation was only found in patients associated with type 2 prions. With the PET-blot, aggregates of prion protein type 2 were found in all trigeminal (17/17), in some nodose (5 of 7) and thoracic (3 of 6) ganglia, as well as in a few celiac (4 of 19) and lumbar (1 of 5) ganglia of sCJD patients. Whereas aggregates of both prion types may spread to dorsal root ganglia, more CNS-distant ganglia seem to be only involved in patients accumulating prion type 2. Whether the prion type association is due to selection by prion type-dependent replication, or due to a prion type-dependent property of axonal spread remains to be resolved in further studies.
The effects of locking inserts and overtorque on the mechanical properties of a large fragment locking compression plate
Authors: Meyers Kathleen N. , Achor Timothy S. , Prasarn Mark L. , Ahn Jaimo , Khalsa Kevin , Wellman David S. , Lorich Dean G. , Helfet David L.
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The study was to determine the effect of locking hole inserts and their insertion torque on the fatigue life of a large fragment Locking Compression Plate (LCP) under bending forces.

Methods

Fatigue strength of the LCP was examined using cyclic three-point bend testing at 80% yield strength of the construct. Locking hole inserts were used in 2, 4, and 6-hole of a 12-hole plate to simulate three different working lengths. Within each working length, plates were tested without locking inserts serving as the control group. In the experimental groups, inserts were tightened to manufacturer recommendations (4 Nm) and using overtorque (8 Nm).

Results

Significantly fewer cycles to failure were observed in control groups versus the locking hole insert groups for all working lengths (2-hole: 4 Nm p = 0.003, 8 Nm p = 0.003; 4-hole: 4 Nm p = 0.02, 8 Nm p < 0.001; 6-hole: 4 Nm p = 0.004, 8 Nm p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant increase in fatigue strength when using overtorque in the 4-hole (p = 0.04) and 6-hole (p = 0.01) defect groups. This was not shown in the 2-hole defect group (p = 0.99).

Conclusions

By placing locking inserts in the empty locking regions of Combi holes along the working length, the number of cycles to failure was increased. Tightening inserts to twice the recommended insertion torque further increased cycles to failure in longer working length models. A longer fatigue life has the potential to decease the incidence of plate failure especially in the setting of delayed union due to poor intrinsic healing capacity, fractures in the geriatric population, osteoporosis and periprosthetic fractures.
Kinetic modelling of the solid–liquid extraction process of polyphenolic compounds from apple pomace: influence of solvent composition and temperature
Authors: Hobbi Parinaz , Okoro Oseweuba Valentine , Delporte Christine , Alimoradi Houman , Podstawczyk Daria , Nie Lei , Bernaerts Katrien V. , Shavandi Amin
Published: November 2021

This study aims to assess kinetic modelling of the solid–liquid extraction process of total polyphenolic compounds (TPC) from apple pomace (AP). In this regard, we investigated the effects of temperature and solvent (i.e. water, ethanol, and acetone) on TPC extraction over various periods. The highest TPC yield of 11.1 ± 0.49 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g db (dry basis) was achieved with a mixture of 65% acetone–35% water (v/v) at 60 °C. The kinetics of the solvent-based TPC extraction processes were assessed via first-order and second-order kinetic models, with an associated investigation of the kinetic parameters and rate constants, saturation concentrations, and activation energies. The second-order kinetic model was sufficient to describe the extraction mechanism of TPC from AP. This study provides an understanding of the mass transfer mechanism involved in the polyphenolic compound extraction process, thus facilitating future large-scale design, optimization, and process control to valorize pomace waste.

Graphical Abstract
Recent trends in therapeutic strategies for repairing endometrial tissue in intrauterine adhesion
Authors: Ma Junyan , Zhan Hong , Li Wen , Zhang Liqi , Yun Feng , Wu Ruijin , Lin Jun , Li Yangyang
Published: November 2021

Intrauterine adhesion (IUA) is a common gynaecological disease that develops from infection or trauma. IUA disease may seriously affect the physical and mental health of women of childbearing age, which may lead to symptoms such as hypomenorrhea or infertility. Presently, hysteroscopic transcervical resection of adhesion (TCRA) is the principal therapy for IUAs, although its function in preventing the recurrence of adhesion and preserving fertility is limited. Pharmaceuticals such as hormones and vasoactive agents and the placement of nondegradable stents are the most common postoperative adjuvant therapy methods. However, the repair of injured endometrium is relatively restricted due to the different anatomical structures of the endometrium. Recently, the treatment outcome of IUAs has improved with the advancement of hysteroscopic techniques. In particular, the application of bioactive scaffolds combined with tissue engineering technology has proven to have high therapeutic potential or endometrial repair in IUA treatment. Herein, this review has summarized past therapeutic strategies, including postoperative adjuvant therapy, cell or therapeutic molecular delivery therapy methods and bioactive scaffold-based tissue engineering methods. Therefore, this review presented the recent therapeutic strategies for repairing endometrium treatment and pointed out the issues of clinical concern to provide alternative methods for the management of IUAs.
Rasmussen syndrome in a tropical environment: a study of six (6) observations
Authors: Guelngar Carlos Othon , Mohamed Lamine Touré , Mamadou Ciré Barry , Mamady Diakité , Mahadi Konaté , Bachir Abdoul Djibo Hamani , Foksouna Sakadi , Fatimata Djibo Hassane , Naby Camara , Dago François Kassa , Fatimatou Korka Bah , Doussou Camara , Victorine Millimono , Salematou Condé , Aminata Sakho , Mohamed Tafsir Diallo , Souleymane Djigué Barry , Mamadou Saliou Diallo , Fodé Mohamed Soumah , Aminou Sanni Yaya , Daouya Douna Granga , Said Abdallah Rafkat , Mamady Konaté , Souleymane Mbara Diallo , Fodé Abass Cissé , Amara Cissé
Published: November 2021

Background

In sub-Saharan Africa, encephalitis of various etiologies is a major public health problem and Rasmussen syndrome is rarely diagnosed due to under-medicalization. The objective of this study is to describe the clinical and neuroradiological forms, especially since this affection is little known in sub-Saharan Africa as evidenced by the scarcity of publications.

Results

A retrospective, descriptive and analytical study of six (6) cases of Rasmussen syndrome, shows that it is an unrecognized disease in Africa. Men were more represented with a frequency of 67% with a young age. The clinical picture dominated by 100% seizures, mental deterioration and hemiparesis. The etiology is still questionable, probably autoimmune in our study.

Conclusion

Rasmussen syndrome accounts for 3% in 219 patients hospitalized for epileptic conditions. This study shows a clinical profile dominated by recurrent epileptic seizures refractory to the drugs Phenobarbital, Valproic Acid and Carbamazepine, the only antiepileptics available in the country. These results are valid for therapeutic and prognostic discussion.
Network analysis of anxiety and depressive symptoms among quarantined individuals: cross-sectional study
Authors: Abdul Karim Mustafa , Ouanes Sami , Reagu Shuja M. , Alabdulla Majid
Published: November 2021

Background

The mental health burden of COVID-19 has been examined in different settings. Existing research has relied on the latent variable model in assessing COVID-19-related distress. Network theory provides an alternative framework wherein symptoms are conceptualised as causal, interconnected constituents rather than outcomes of mental disorders.

Aims

To assess networks of self-reported anxiety and depressive symptoms among quarantined individuals.

Method

Consenting individuals in different quarantine centres in Qatar completed the Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety and Depression Scale. We used partial correlation network methods to illustrate interactions of self-reported psychopathology.

Results

Participants with COVID-19 were significantly older and had a significantly higher proportion of males. The most central node was COVID-19, followed by thoughts of self-harm. COVID-19 status was strongly positively connected to thoughts of self-harm, which was positively connected to psychomotor changes, which were connected to decreased concentration. COVID-19 status was also positively connected to feeling anxious, which was strongly connected to inability to concentrate, which was connected to feeling afraid.

Conclusions

COVID-19 was the most influential factor, with the highest number and strength of connections to psychopathology in a network of anxiety and depressive symptoms in a quarantine setting. Beyond the resolution of the infection, therapeutic interventions targeting psychomotor changes might prove beneficial in reducing suicidality among quarantined individuals with COVID-19. Follow-up with mental health services after COVID-19 infection is needed to restore psychological well-being. Further research is needed to understand the short- and long-term psychological effects of COVID-19, and the outcomes of different therapeutic interventions.
Introduction
Authors: Raengo Alessandra
Published: November 2021

This introduction contextualizes the present issue within the question posed by its call for papers: “How does blackness index its own processes?” Following an immanent methodology that seeks formal principles at work within each contribution, it retrieves a variety of archival investments coupled with a shared ethos of critical vulnerability. While approaching blackness as process attempts to think about its ongoingness, it also reaffirms the aesthetic realm as a privileged processing site.
Basic Black
Authors: Sexton Jared
Published: November 2021

This brief essay addresses the quest for “the blackest black,” a totally absorptive, nonreflective surface—in science and engineering as much as in art and entertainment—as an occasion for conceiving difference differently. Here black is both a color and a color space in which other colors become themselves, in their specificity, through a disavowed dependency or derivation, processes whereby we can question the material and symbolic consequences of the meanings ascribed not only to the various colors of the spectrum but also to the very idea of a color spectrum itself.
Alterations in brain glycogen levels influence life-history traits and reduce the lifespan in female Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Sheshadri Deepashree , Onkar Akanksha , Ganesh Subramaniam
Published: November 2021

Sexual dimorphism in lifespan, wherein females outlive males, is evident across all animal taxa. The longevity difference between sexes is controlled by multiple physiological processes with complex relationships to one another. In recent years, glycogen, the storage form of glucose, has been shown to cause rapid aging upon forced synthesis in healthy neurons. Glycogen in the form of corpora amylacea in the aging brain is also widely reported. While these studies did suggest a novel role for glycogen in aging, most of them have focused on pooled samples, and have not looked at sex-specific effects, if any. Given the widespread occurrence of sex-biased expression of genes and the underlying physiology, it is important to look at the sex-specific effects of metabolic processes. In the present study, using transgenic fly lines for the human glycogen synthase, we investigated the sex-specific effects of glycogen on stress resistance, fitness, and survival. We demonstrate that Drosophila melanogaster females with altered levels of glycogen in the brain display a shortened lifespan, increased resistance to starvation, and higher oxidative stress than male flies. The present study thus provides a novel insight into the sex-specific effect of glycogen in survival and aging and how differences in metabolic processes could contribute to sex-specific traits.
A comparison of two methods for estimating critical swimming speed (Ucrit) in larval fathead minnows: the laminar flow assay and the spinning task assay
Authors: Krzykwa Julie C. , Lamanteer Gabriella S. , Sellin Jeffries Marlo K.
Published: November 2021

Critical swimming speed (Ucrit) is considered a good predictor of swimming capabilities in fish. To estimate Ucrit, a fish is exposed to an incrementally increasing laminar flow of water until it cannot maintain its position against the current. The spinning task assay has been proposed as an alternative method to traditional laminar flow methods; however, these methods have not been directly compared. Thus, the goal of this study was to determine whether the spinning task assay is a suitable alternative to traditional laminar flow assays. To that end, the performance of fathead minnows in each assay was compared at three time points (14, 19 and 24 days post-fertilization, dpf). In 14 dpf fish, Ucrit estimates were similar regardless of the assay used. However, at 19 and 24 dpf, Ucrit estimates derived from the two assay types were significantly different. This indicates that the assays are not equivalent to one another and that the spinning task assay is not a suitable alternative to the laminar flow assay for the determination of Ucrit.
Exercise Reverses Amyloid β-Peptide–Mediated Cognitive Deficits in Alzheimer’s Disease Mice Expressing Mutant Presenilin-2
Authors: Hwang Dong-Joo , Choi Dong-Hun , Kwon Ki-Chun , Kim Eon-Ho , Kim Tae-Kyung , Koo Jung-Hoon , Cho Joon-Yong
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The molecular mechanisms by which physical exercise produces beneficial effects on pathologic features and behavioral symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are not well understood. Herein, we examined whether regular moderate exercise could improve cognitive function and produce transcriptomic responses in the brain.

Methods

Four groups of mice were studied: nontransgenic control, mice expressing the human presenilin-2 wild type, mice expressing the human presenilin-2 with the N141I mutation (Tg-PS2m), and Tg-PS2m that were subjected to treadmill exercise (TE) at a speed of 10 m·min−1 for 50 min·d−1, 5 d·wk−1, for 6 wk (Tg-PS2m/Ex).

Results

Tg-PS2m/Ex mice exhibited increased preference in exploring a novel object than Tg-PS2m in the novel object recognition test, whereas differences observed in the water maze test and passive avoidance test were not significant. Western blot and histological analyses using amyloid oligomer (A11) and β-amyloid (6E10) antibody indicated that amyloid oligomer-reactive bands and plaque deposition in the hippocampus were reduced, although not significantly, after TE. Transcriptomic (RNA-sequencing) analysis and subsequent protein analysis revealed that the cell cycle regulatory gene, Cdc28 protein kinase regulatory subunit 2 (Cks2), was decreased, and the cell cycle– and apoptotic cell death–related factors, including cyclin D1, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and cleaved caspase-3, were increased in the hippocampus of Tg-PS2m, whereas TE reversed their altered expression.

Conclusions

The results support the hypothesis that the pathologic features and behavioral symptoms of AD caused by accumulation of amyloid β-peptide in hippocampus, causing aberrant cell cycle reentry and apoptosis, can be reversed by regular exercise.
Molecular Detection of Sapovirus in Children Under Five Years with Acute Gastroenteritis in Mansoura, Egypt between January 2019 and February 2020
Authors: Zaki Maysaa El Sayed , Shrief Raghdaa , Hassan Rasha H.
Published: November 2021

Background: Sapovirus has emerged as a viral cause of acute gastroenteritis. However, there is limited data on sapovirus in Egypt. . The present study aimed to evaluate the presence of sapovirus in children with acute gastroenteritis <5 years in Mansoura, Egypt from January 2019 to February 2020 by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Methods: The cross-sectional study enrolled a 100 children <5 years who presented with acute gastroenteritis at an outpatient clinic in Mansoura, Egypt between January 2019 and February 2020. Clinical data, demographic data and a stool sample was collected from each child. Stools were screened by microscopy for parasites and culture methods for bacteria and excluded from the study if positive for either. Specimens were also screened for rotavirus by enzyme immune assays (EIA) and sapovirus by reverse transcription PCR.

Results: The most frequently detected virus was rotavirus by ELISA 25% (25/100). RT-PCR detected sapovirus in 7% (7/100) of the stool samples. The children with sapovirus were all from rural regions and presented mainly during the winter season in Egypt 42.9% (3/7). The main presenting symptoms were fever 71.4% (5/7) and vomiting 57.1% (4/7). None of the children with sapovirus had dehydration. Rotavirus was significantly associated with sapovirus infections in  five samples (5/7) , 71.4%, P=0.01.

Conclusion: The present study highlights the emergence of sapovirus as a frequent pathogen associated with acute gastroenteritis in children. There is a need for a national survey program for the study of sapovirus among other pathogens associated with acute gastroenteritis for better management of such infection.
Chronic exposure to ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol in adolescence decreases social play behaviours
Authors: Keeley Robin J. , Himmler Stephanie M. , Pellis Sergio M. , McDonald Robert J.
Published: November 2021

Background: Cannabis use remains a major public health concern, and its use typically begins in adolescence. Chronic administration of ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, during adolescence can produce deficits in adult learning and memory, stress reactivity and anxiety. One possible mechanism behind the disruptions in adulthood from adolescent exposure to THC includes changes in social behaviours, such as social play, which has been shown to be critical to socio-cognitive development.

Methods: Here, using an established animal model of adolescent THC exposure in male and female Long–Evans rats, we explored the effects of THC on play behaviour during the chronic administration period. Following puberty onset, as indicated by external changes to the genitalia, THC (5mg/kg) was administered for 14 days. Play behaviour was assessed seven days following the onset of the injection period at approximately 1 hour post treatment. The frequency of nape attacks, the likelihood and tactics of defensive behaviour, and pins were scored and analyzed.

Results: THC exposure decreased playfulness in adolescent rats including the number of attacks, likelihood of defense and pins compared to control and vehicle treated rats. Conclusion: This suggests that THC suppresses both the attack and defense components of social play. This is an important finding because there is evidence that attack and defense may be mediated by different mechanisms. Furthermore, the effect of THC exposure decreasing playfulness occurred similarly in males and females.
Improved Two Hidden Layers Extreme Learning Machines for Node Localization in Range Free Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors:   National Engineering School of Monastir, University of Monastir, Tunisia, Liouane Oumaima , Femmam Smain , Bakir Toufik , Abdelali Abdessalem Ben
Published: November 2021

Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) architectures are widely used in a variety of practical applications. In most cases of application, the event information transmitted by a sensor node via the network has no significance without the knowledge of its accurate geographical localization. In this paper, a method based on Machine Learning Technique (MLT) is proposed to improve node accuracy localization in WSN. We propose a Single Hidden Layer Extreme Learning Machine (SHL-ELM) and a Two Hidden Layer Extreme Learning Machine (THL-ELM) based methods for nodes localization in WSN. The suggested methods are applied in different Multi-hop WSN deployment cases. We focused on range-free localization algorithm in isotropic case and irregular environments. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed THL-ELM algorithm greatly minimizes the average localization errors when compared to the Single Hidden Layer Extreme Learning Machine and the Distance Vector Hop (DV- Hop) algorithm.
Designing of Novel Eighth-Mode Forth-Order Substrate Integrated Waveguide Band-Pass Filter with High Selectivity
Authors:   Department of Electronic Engineering, Howard College, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban - 4041, South Africa, Mutepfe Cleophas D. K. , Srivastava Viranjay M.
Published: November 2021

A fourth-order Substrate Integrated Waveguide (SIW) filter has been presented in this research work. The four Eighth-Mode (EM) SIW cavity resonators have been electrically coupled and source to load coupling has been achieved by a slight modification of the eighth-mode resonator cavity. Here a 87.5% size reduction has been achieved using the EMSIW, which plays a significant role in achieving miniaturized structure. The operating center frequency is 13.5 GHz with a 3dB bandwidth of 0.5 GHz. The Rogers-5880 substrate has been utilized with relative permittivity of 2.2. The results show that the filter has three transmission zeros on either side of the pass-band, which gives high selectivity and a high out of band rejection.
Reinforcement Learning Based Vertical Handoff Decision Algorithm for Next Generation Wireless Network
Authors:   B.M.S.C.E, Bengaluru and 560019, India, Hemavathi Hemavathi , Akhila S.
Published: November 2021

Next-generation wireless network systems and technologies provide a new paradigm for achieving the fastest access to any network. But one of the significant design concerns is the support of handoff, irrespective of the services. The key objective of this work is to enable a node to make appropriate decisions for performing handoff through Reinforcement learning. The work concentrates on the handoff decision phase for choosing the best network with a minimum delay during the handoff process. The reduction in decision delay has been achieved by minimizing the number of handoffs. The environment is modeled as a Markov decision process with the aim of increasing the total anticipated reward per link. The network resources that are used by the link is taken by a reward function and network switching cost that is utilized to model the signaling and processing load incurred on the network during handoff. It has been shown that the total number of unnecessary handoffs can be decreased enhancing the performance of heterogeneous networks. Also, an assessment of the proposed scheme with the existing Vertical handoff decision algorithm like the Simple Additive Weighting method (SAW) has been made and the results show an improved performance over SAW.
Semiotics of mental illness. General psychopathology
Authors: Nosachev Igor' , Romanov Dmitriy
Published: November 2021

The methodology and systematics of the diagnostic process in psychiatry are given, information is given about psychopathological symptoms and dynamics of the main productive and negative syndromes, including addictive, as well as the most significant forms of norm and pathology of personality. The leading features of clinical and psychopathological research in general psychopathology are substantiated.
The section "Symptomatology" reveals the psychological and clinical features of the main mental processes. The section "Syndromology" describes the clinical features of the main positive and negative syndromes, their features in children and adolescents.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation.
It is intended for psychiatrists, psychiatrists, narcologists, psychotherapists, clinical psychologists undergoing pre- and postgraduate training, students of higher medical and psychological educational institutions, interns, clinical residents, graduate students and doctors of related disciplines.
Fundamentals of information technology
Authors: Gagarina Larisa , Slyusar' Mariya
Published: November 2021

The textbook discusses fundamental concepts in the field of information, information technologies and systems, purpose, properties, structure, components, types and classes.
As the fundamental features of the classification of technologies and systems, the spheres of application and types of processed information are used. The issues related to the use of information technologies and the development of integrated corporate information systems are described in detail.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of secondary vocational education of the latest generation.
For students of technical colleges studying in the specialty "Programming in computer systems", as well as students of economic colleges and universities.
Learning theory
Authors: Shaydenko Nadezhda , Kipurova Svetlana
Published: November 2021

The textbook is devoted to one of the sections of pedagogy - the theory of learning. The leading issues are the content of education; forms, methods, means of teaching; forms of organization of training. The main attention is paid to the educational system of Russia and modern trends in the development of education. The study of the theory of learning is important not only for the future teacher to master the system of knowledge, but also for the formation of students' didactic competencies. To do this, in addition to theoretical material, the textbook contains a significant amount of practical tasks, material for consolidating what has been studied, test questions and tasks.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation.
For undergraduate students studying in psychological and pedagogical specialties, as well as for undergraduates of pedagogical specialties who do not have a basic pedagogical education.
Technology of formation and promotion of a hotel product
Authors: Klyuchevskaya Irina
Published: November 2021

The specifics of the formation and promotion of a hotel product related to the peculiarities of the development of the hotel services market are considered, tools and strategies for promoting a hotel product are analyzed. The issues of advertising and PR activities of hotels, Internet technology of promotion, formation of the image and brand of a hotel enterprise are covered. At the end of each chapter, tasks and questions are given to consolidate the theoretical material.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation.
For students of educational institutions of higher education studying in the areas of training 43.03.03 "Hotel business" and 43.03.02 "Tourism" (bachelor's degree level), and for students of secondary vocational education institutions studying in the specialty 43.02.11 "Hotel service". It can be used to train students of organizations of additional professional education, students of both full-time and distance learning, and individual chapters can be useful for college students.
Outsourcing and outstaffing: high management technologies
Authors: Anikin Boris , Rudaya Irina
Published: November 2021

The textbook contains a theoretical generalization of the directions of outsourcing and outstaffing development as technologies of modern management. The conceptual apparatus of outsourcing and outstaffing, the essence of individual forms and types of outsourcing, the content and main stages of the implementation of an outsourcing project are considered. The spheres of application of outsourcing and outstaffing in the management of the organization are defined, the features of knowledge outsourcing are highlighted. Practical examples are given and trends in the development of the outsourcing and outstaffing services market in Russia and abroad are identified.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation.
For students studying in the direction of training 38.03.02 "Management", undergraduates and postgraduates, teachers and researchers of educational institutions of higher education, as well as students of the system of additional professional education, managers of various levels of management, specialists in management consulting.