bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CONTEMPLATING HEALTH ECONOMICS, CODING AND REIMBURSEMENT IN ORTHOTICS, PROSTHETICS AND PEDORTHICS
Authors: Highsmith M. Jason , Fantini Christopher M. , Smith Douglas G.
Published: September 2021

Reimbursement to U.S. healthcare service providers is largely transitioning from fee for service to fee for value for those clinicians who code using current procedural terminology and through their coding, describe their professional services. The Orthotic, Prosthetic and Pedorthic profession (O&P), currently codes using a system that describes the devices they evaluate for, fabricate, fit and maintain and their professional services are incorporated into their codes. These O&P codes, in contrast to those for other healthcare disciplines, are predominantly product based rather than service based, focusing on product features and function more than clinical service. This editorial manuscript provides a brief overview of the system the US O&P profession uses currently, particularly in the context of other healthcare professions transitioning to value based coding and reimbursement and culminates in a call to action for the profession to academically consider the strengths and weaknesses of the current system relative to alternative systems.

Article PDF Link: https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/cpoj/article/view/36125/28316

How To Cite: Highsmith MJ, Fantini CM, Smith DG. Contemplating health economics, coding and reimbursement in orthotics, prosthetics and pedorthics. Canadian Prosthetics & Orthotics Journal. 2021; Volume 4, Issue 2, No.5. https://doi.org/10.33137/cpoj.v4i2.36125

Corresponding Author: M. Jason Highsmith, PhD, DPT, CP, FAAOPSchool of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida. Florida, USA.E-Mail: mhighsmi@usf.eduORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8361-7345
REVIEW OF PROSTHETICS & ORTHOTICS NEEDS FOR 21ST CENTURY – VISION FOR 2025
Authors: Zahedi Saeed
Published: September 2021

What would we do, if only we had the power to go back?! The best way to consider this is to align and join all the known dots. To think of Prosthetics and Orthotics (P&O) as a system holistically centred around care of the user, identifying all their needs continuously, in their environment and in their lifestyle. This could produce a new value proposition for all multi-disciplinary team members by generating patient-centred therapeutic benefits and clinical outcomes that align all stakeholders in P&O towards using a common narrative, which makes decisions based on data. In this case, data is the outcome, using Standards and Instruments which are validated (e.g. www.amprom.uk) to quantify questions such as: “Have we reduce risk of falls?”, “Have we reduced risk of tissue injury?”, “Have we reduced risk of low back pain?”, “Have we reduced long term risk of osteoarthritis?”, etc.   If we have, we are assured this will benefit the comfort and confidence for the user. We can have confidence in rehabilitation measured by improved stability and increased activity, and other measures which enable the accurate classification of products and services to match users. A prescription index, based on Outcomes, could, for example, be calculated by a formula which accounts for the percentage reduction in falls probability, a patient satisfaction score, a mobility score and a quality-of-life score, allowing practitioners to base their choices of treatment pathways and component selection.  This paper provides both the context for and contributing factors that make the proposing of such an objective Prescription Index an interesting thing to consider when discussing Health Economics in P&O. Article PDF Link: https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/cpoj/article/view/37113/28348 How To Cite: Zahedi S. Review of prosthetics & orthotics needs for 21st Century – Vision for 2025. Canadian Prosthetics & Orthotics Journal. 2021; Volume 4, Issue 2, No.20. https://doi.org/10.33137/cpoj.v4i2.37113 Corresponding Author: Professor Sir Saeed Zahedi,Blatchford Group, Unit D Antura, Bond Close, Basingstoke, RG24 8PZ, United Kingdom.E-Mail: saeed.zahedi@blatchford.co.ukORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6959-632X
EXOSEKETONS: A REHAB TECH CONSUMER’S UNEXPECTED MARCH TO ACTION
Authors: Angus Chloe
Published: September 2021

This paper is both a stakeholder perspectives as well as a ‘case study’ describing a journey from sudden disability to participant and investor in exoskeleton design. It tells of my experiences and opinions, as a successful fashion designer, when my life took a drastic turn on becoming paralysed from the waist down over the course of 24 hours, by a spinal tumour. Getting this diagnosis was ‘the worst day in my life’, and it was quickly followed by the ‘second worst’ when, in my determination to walk again, I received Knee Ankle Foot Orthotics (KAFOs) and was shocked to learn that this appeared to be the best technology solution available on the market ‘suitable’ for use in the community. Initial anger at the system for not being better, at the rehab team for their complacency, and at myself for allowing a feeling of helplessness to take over led to questions such as: what does this say about our society? and what are we all willing to accept, for ourselves and others? This is professional opinion and an essay about how we see ourselves and how others see us. The journey from pre-injury ‘consumer’ to post-injury ‘disabled’ person and learning that being labeled ‘disabled’ leads to the additional handicap of the narrow vision of “cost” taken by the mobility industry where innovative ideas are stripped down to the bare minimum with the excuse that patients are “lucky” to have what they have been “given”. Grappling with these labels and inequities and seeking a better outcome, I became an integral team member of an exoskeleton development team, leading to the design of The Next Generation Exoskeleton! This is MY story, the story of Chloe Angus. It is the story of inclusive, user focused design and is a call to include and respect the end users of all assistive device technology design early in the design process and it is being told from the perspective of a person having experience and success in the world of business.

Article PDF Link: https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/cpoj/article/view/37250/28296

How To Cite: Angus C. Exoseketons: a rehab tech consumer’s unexpected march to action. Canadian Prosthetics & Orthotics Journal. 2021; Volume 4, Issue 2, No.2. https://doi.org/10.33137/cpoj.v4i2.37250

Corresponding Author: Chloe AngusChloe Angus Design, Vancouver, BC, Canada.E-Mail: chloe@chloeangus.comORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5468-3121
Medical Examinations and Psychophysiological Tests of Nuclear Industry Personnel as a Tool for Prevention of Radiation Accidents
Authors:   State Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation, Bushmanov A.Yu. , Kretov A.S. ,   State Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation, Kalinina M.Yu. ,   State Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation, Vlasova I.V. ,   State Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation, Lomteva A.A. ,   State Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation, Gugina A.A. ,   State Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation, Tsarev A.N. ,   State Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation, Denisova E.A. ,   State Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation, Soloreva M.A. ,   State Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation, Samoylov A.S. ,   State Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation
Published: September 2021

It is noted that at present the connection between the level of health of the worker and his professional reliability is obvious and does not require additional proof. To prevent radiation accidents caused by the human factor, medical examinations and psychophysiological tests of the personnel of enterprises operating nuclear facilities are carried out. Legislative and normative legal acts regulating the procedure and rules for these medical examinations and inspections are reviewed. The authors present an algorithm for making decisions on the necessity of organizing various types of mandatory medical examinations and psychophysiological examinations of employees of organizations operating nuclear facilities. The experience of specialists of the Federal Medical Biophysical Center named after A.I. Burnazyan of Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia shows that up to 25% of the total number of employees who underwent psychophysiological examination have inadmissible deviations (psychophysiological contraindications). This is an indication for rehabilitation measures. After completion of the rehabilitation course repeated examinations are carried out, according to the results of which 92.3% of workers have positive dynamics and return to professional activity.
Peculiarities of Using Lymphocyte Test to Predict the Severity of Acute Radiation Injury
Authors:   State Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation, Lebedev A.O. , Samoylov A.S. ,   State Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation, Solovyev V.Yu. ,   State Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation, Baranova N.N. ,   State Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation, Gudkov E.A. ,   State Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation
Published: September 2021

One of the methods of biological dosimetry is the use of information on the concentration of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of victims in the first days after irradiation. The aim of the study was to validate the lymphocyte test method for predicting the severity of acute radiation injury, taking into account the dose rate factor. Materials and research methods. The method of investigation was a correlational analysis of clinical, dosimetric and laboratory data of the victims of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986 (n=65) and in radiation accidents with gamma-neutron irradiation (n=19). The data were taken from the database of acute radiation injuries in humans of A.I. Burnazyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia. Results of the study and their analysis. The results of correlation analysis indicated that average lymphocyte concentration in the range of 0.4-0.8×109/l on day 3-6 post-irradiation with dose rates greater than 2 Gy/h resulted in an average dose estimate which was 40.0% higher than that for dose rates of less than 2 Gy/h. Absolute error of dose estimation is (±1.0-1.5) Gy. For lymphocyte concentrations higher than 0.8×109/l the prognosis is uncertain: the range of dose assessment variability is 1-4 Gy. At a lymphocyte concentration of less than 0.4×109/l the average dose estimate is more than 4.0 Gy, corresponding to a severe or extremely severe degree of acute radiation disease. The predicted degree of severity of radiation injuries in the presence of the neutron component of radiation is lower in comparison with the predictions based on the data on the victims of the Chernobyl accident. It is concluded that the identified dependencies can be used for medical triage of the victims at advanced stages of medical evacuation. For the purpose of correct routing of medical evacuation to specialized centers, it is advisable to allocate 4 treatment-evacuation groups.
Application of Regenerative Cell Technologies in the Treatment of Severe Local Radiation Injuries in Victims of Emergency Situations: from the Experience of the Specialists of the Federal Medical Biophysical Center Named after A.I. Burnazyan of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia
Authors:   State Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation, Astrelina T.A. , Aksenenko A.V. ,   State Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation, Kobzeva I.V. ,   State Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation, Brunchukov V.A. ,   State Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation, Usupzhanova D.Yu. ,   State Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation
Published: September 2021

It has been noted that one of the most common types of radiation injuries when a person is exposed to ionizing radiation is radiation burns — severe local radiation injuries. The aim of the study is to apply stromal and vascular fraction of adipose tissue to increase the efficiency of complex therapy for local radiation lesions. Materials and methods of the study. In 2017-2019, 7 patients (all male; mean age — (54.83±9.41) years) with local radiation lesions of the skin — ulcerative-necrotic lesions of the skin and underlying tissues — were treated at the Federal Medical Biophysical Center named after A.I. Burnazyan of FMBA of Russia. For more than 6 months the patients received conventional conservative therapy of local radiation lesions and a single injection of cell suspension of autologous cells of stromal-vascular fraction of adipose tissue — the average number of cells was (60.33×106±64.04). Results of the study and their analysis. All patients had no serious adverse events and reactions associated with the introduction of autologous regenerative cells of adipose tissue. During the whole period of observation after stromal-vascular fraction of adipose tissue was injected, late radiation ulcers remained without signs of inflammation and infiltration. The patients were discharged from the hospital in satisfactory condition. According to the authors, the use of stromal-vascular fraction of adipose tissue in local radiation lesions provides favorable conditions: to increase the effectiveness of complex therapy; to reduce healing time of the wound surface; to regulate and activate immune and reparative processes in the dermis; to restore the damaged vascular network, lost skin without severe scarring changes; to heal and achieve a satisfactory result, decent quality of life of patients.
Levoglucosan Emission From Different Indigenous and Exotic Plant Species in Bangladesh
Authors: Jahan K , Jeba F , Islam MS , Salam A
Published: September 2021

Levoglucosan is a biomarker for biomass burning with high emission efficiency. Both indigenous and exotic plant species (biomass) are common in Bangladesh and used as a fuel source in rural areas for cooking purposes. Three indigenous plants, Mango (Mangifera indica), Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), Coconut (Cocos nucifera) and three exotic plants, Mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni), Koroi (Albizia lebbeck), Guava (Psidium guajava), were selected for this experiment. The study was carried out to determine and compare the levoglucosan emission for these selected indigenous and exotic plants upon burning at the typical rural cooking stove in the laboratory scale. PM10 samples were collected on top of the cooking stove using a low volume air sampler (LVAS). The concentration was determined quantitatively by UV-visible spectrophotometer using anthrone-sulfuric acid reagent. The exotic plant samples (7.47 mg/m3) emitted a higher concentration of levoglucosan than the indigenous plant samples (6.49 mg/m3). Among the six different leaf samples, S. mahagoni leaves showed the highest emission of levoglucosan (6.31 mg/m3) and C. nucifera leaves showed the lowest levoglucosan (5.74 mg/m3) due to their individual cellulose content and combustion efficiency. Among the six wood samples, S. mahagoni woods showed the maximum concentration (9.63 mg/m3) and C. nucifera coir showed the minimum concentration (6.631 mg/m3) of levoglucosan emission. The soft leaf samples (6.02 mg/m3) showed lower emission than the hardwood (7.97 mg/m3) samples because of their diverse structural pattern and combustion efficiency. Comparing the emission factors, the exotic wood and leaf samples (EF=2.89*10– 3g/kg) showed higher emission than the indigenous wood and leaf samples (EF=2.55*10–3g/kg)
J. Biodivers. Conserv. Bioresour. Manag. 2020, 6(2): 1-10
Growth and Mineral Nutrition of Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) Grown on Tannery Effluent Polluted Soil Amended With Cowdung and Lime
Authors: Afrida N , Chamon AS , Hossain MK , Shimi GA , Mondol MN
Published: September 2021

Pot experiments were carried out with rice (Oryza sativa L.) to evaluate the plant response of different amendments to ameliorate heavy metal toxicity. Cowdung and lime were applied at the rate of 10 ton/ha. Both cowdung and lime application led to an increase in growth of rice and significant reductions of Zn, Ni, Cu and Cr in plant. The length, fresh and dry weight and N, P, K, Na, Ca and Mg concentrations in rice plants were increased significantly. The concentrations of Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb and Cr in rice grown on contaminated soils were significantly higher as compared to the control. Cowdung and lime significantly reduced Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb and Cr concentrations in comparison to control. Chromium concentrations in lime treated plants were reduced by 57.89% in rice as compared to cowdung. Lime proved to be more efficient in reducing the concentration of metals in rice plants.
J. Biodivers. Conserv. Bioresour. Manag. 2020, 6(2): 47-54
BENTUK DAN DAMPAK KEMAMPUAN MEMBERI PENGUATAN DALAM PRAKTIK MENGAJAR MAHASISWA
Authors: Yulistio Didi , Kurniawan Rio
Published: September 2021

Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui Bentuk dan Dampak dari Kemampuan Memberi Penguatan (reinforcement) dalam Praktik Pengajaran Mikro Mahasiswa Program Sarjana Pendidikan bahasa Indonesia FKIP Universitas Bengkulu. Ruang lingkup penelitian ini mencakup deskripsi (1) jenis penguatan mencakup penguatan verbal dan penguatan nonverbal dan (2) dampat pemberian penguatan sesuai konteks proses pembelajaraan dalam pengembangan karakter peserta didik. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode deskriptif dan pendekatan kualitatif. Pengumpulan data menggunakan teknik pengamatan dan wawancara melalui diskusi terbimbing kepada mahasiswa praktikkan. Sampel penelitian menggunakan teknik purposive sampling, yakni mahasiswa semester 7B (kelompok D) Program Pendidikan Bahasa Indonesia FKIP Universitas Bengkulu yang mengikuti perkuliahan Pengajaran Mikro sebanyak 11 orang. Analisis data secara kualitatif meliputi kegiatan mengamati dan mencatat proses pembelajaran, mengelompokkan data menurut jenis penguatan dan dampak penguatan, mentabulasi data sesuai masalah, menginterpretasi dan evaluasi data serta menarik kesimpulan. Hasil Penelitian dapat dikemukakan bahwa (1) bentuk kemampuan dalam memberi penguatan yang dilakukan mahasiswa meliputi (a) penguatan (reinforcement) verbal berupa kata atau frasa, seperti kata ya, oke, bagus, baik, bisa, boleh, benar, betul, tepat, seratus, baik sekali, sangat bagus, betul sekali, tepat sekali, dan (b) penguatan nonverbal berupa tepuk tangan, tanda tangan mengepal, tangan memberikan jempol, dengan senyuman, mengangguk, menepuk bahu, dan mendekati, yang biasanya dilakukan mengiringi penguatan verbal berupa kata atau frasa yang diucapkan, dan (2) dampak pemberian penguatan sesuai konteks peristiwa berbahasa, mencakup partisipan, pokok pembicaraan, lokasi, dan variasi bahasa, berdampak dalam melahirkan karakter peserta didik, seperti disiplin, mandiri, bertanggung jawab, mengumpulkan tugas tepat waktu, religius, dan nasionalisme yang tinggi.
Resident hill country pasture production in response to temperature and soil moisture over 20 years in Central Hawke’s Bay
Authors: Mills Annamaria , Thomson Beverley , Muir Paul , Smith Noel , Moot Derrick
Published: September 2021

The production of resident pastures on rolling hill country was measured in three paddocks over 20 years at Poukawa in Central Hawke’s Bay. The pastures had been routinely fertilised with 250 kg/ha/yr of superphosphate but no pasture renovation, nor nitrogen fertiliser application, occurred during the measurement period. Total annual dry matter (DM) yield ranged from 4.5 to 12.8 t/ha/yr, which shows the level of variability to be expected in this summer-dry environment. The greatest proportion (60-90%) of growth occurred in winter/spring with consistent mean growth rates of 50-62 kg DM/ha/d in September and October. These rates were calculated to be 5.49±0.55 kg DM/ha/°Cd when spring moisture was non-limiting. The pastures had a mean water use efficiency of 16.9±0.34 kg DM/ha/mm of water available (R2 = 0.93). The amount of water available was calculated from a soil water budget based on a plant available water holding capacity of 124 mm (0-1.0 m depth). The results provide coefficients that can be combined with readily available climate data to predict pasture growth rates for feed budgeting purposes. Rainfall data collected on-site was highly correlated (r=0.94) with that predicted from the NIWA virtual climate station network.
Leroi-Gourhan and the Evolution of Forms
Authors: Johnson Christopher
Published: September 2021

The prehistorian André Leroi-Gourhan envisages technological behaviour along a continuum of manual activity extending to artistic production. His work on Palaeolithic cave art, which dominates the final phase of his career, builds on parameters set out in the 1950s and 1960s, and indeed early works on figuration ( Bestiaire du bronze chinois (1936) and Documents pour l'art comparé (1943)) already use the methodology which characterizes his Préhistoire de l'art occidental (1965). Nevertheless, there is a qualitative shift in Leroi-Gourhan's post-war work in response to structuralism and in dialogue with his work on human evolution. Le Geste et la Parole (1964–5) represents an important point of mediation, describing the physiological foundations of aesthetic experience and the stages of development which precede figuration. Leroi-Gourhan argues for the normality of Palaeolithic art as an artistic tradition while insisting on its absolute otherness. The mind in the cave is capable of the most abstract and esoteric variations of form and content, but also represents an alternative world to our own.
Testing Tripwire Theory Using Survey Experiments
Authors: Musgrave Paul , Ward Steven
Published: September 2021

Many scholars and policymakers assume that attacks on forward deployed U.S. troops—“tripwires”—will prompt strong domestic political support for escalation against the attacker. This conjecture informs policy and has deep theoretical roots, yet it is undertheorized and largely untested. We identify and develop two theoretical mechanisms – reputation and revenge – capable of explaining why such attacks might prompt support for escalation, even though prior research shows that casualties suffered during a conflict reduce support for intervention. We then use two survey experiments to examine whether and how attacks influence Americans’ support for intervention. We find that hypothetical attacks on contingents of troops deployed overseas increase support for escalation only modestly and in ways that better reflect demands for revenge rather than concerns about reputation. Our findings imply that confident assessments that forward deployed troops serve as strong pre-commitment devices need to be tempered, pending further theoretical and empirical analysis.
Contentious Institutions and Party Orders in American Politics
Authors: Hejny Jessica , Hilton Adam
Published: September 2021

What are political parties, and how and why do they change? These questions are foundational to party research, yet scholars of American parties disagree about the answers. In this paper we present a new theoretical framework capable of bridging these scholarly divides and coming to terms with American party politics today. We argue that political parties should be seen as fundamentally contentious institutions. Due to their mediating position between state and society, parties are subject to rival claims of authority from a range of political actors, including elected officeholders, party officials, interest groups, and social movements. To manage intraparty contention, win elections, and govern, entrepreneurs construct and maintain party orders -- institutional and ideational arrangements that foster an operational degree of cohesion and constraint through time. Together, the dynamics of intraparty contention and the rise and fall of distinct party orders over time illuminate the patterns of American party development.
Non-Invasive Electrochemical Biosensors for TNF-α Cytokines Detection in Body Fluids
Authors: Lu Yang , Zhou Qingqing , Xu Lin
Published: September 2021

The measurement of pro-inflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), which is an important indicator of the inflammatory process, has received increasing attention recently because it is easy to extract from body fluid and serves as an early sign of a serious systemic inflammatory disease. Developing fast and simple detection methods to quantify the concentration of TNF-α is essential. Saliva, tears, and urine, which can easily be sampled in a non-invasive way, are considered to be important matrices for monitoring and assessing the physiological status of humans; importantly, they also provide an ideal window for monitoring the concentration of TNF-α. As a fast, accurate, inexpensive, portable, and scalable method, electrochemical biosensors are very promising for biomarker detection in matrices obtained in a non-invasive manner. This review summarises and compares the electrochemical biosensors for the detection of TNF-α in a non-invasive manner and highlights recent advances and future prospects in developing high-performance electrochemical platforms for noninvasive measurement of TNF-α.
A Novel Mechanism of Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Mediated Regulation of Chromatin Remodeling in Hypoxic Conditions
Authors: Likhatcheva Maria , Gieling Roben G. , Brown James A. L. , Demonacos Constantinos , Williams Kaye J.
Published: September 2021

The effects of genotoxic stress can be mediated by activation of the Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM) kinase, under both DNA damage-dependent (including ionizing radiation), and independent (including hypoxic stress) conditions. ATM activation is complex, and primarily mediated by the lysine acetyltransferase Tip60. Epigenetic changes can regulate this Tip60-dependent activation of ATM, requiring the interaction of Tip60 with tri-methylated histone 3 lysine 9 (H3K9me3). Under hypoxic stress, the role of Tip60 in DNA damage-independent ATM activation is unknown. However, epigenetic changes dependent on the methyltransferase Suv39H1, which generates H3K9me3, have been implicated. Our results demonstrate severe hypoxic stress (0.1% oxygen) caused ATM auto-phosphorylation and activation (pS1981), H3K9me3, and elevated both Suv39H1 and Tip60 protein levels in FTC133 and HCT116 cell lines. Exploring the mechanism of ATM activation under these hypoxic conditions, siRNA-mediated Suv39H1 depletion prevented H3K9me3 induction, and Tip60 inhibition (by TH1834) blocked ATM auto-phosphorylation. While MDM2 (Mouse double minute 2) can target Suv39H1 for degradation, it can be blocked by sirtuin-1 (Sirt1). Under severe hypoxia MDM2 protein levels were unchanged, and Sirt1 levels depleted. SiRNA-mediated depletion of MDM2 revealed MDM2 dependent regulation of Suv39H1 protein stability under these conditions. We describe a novel molecular circuit regulating the heterochromatic state (H3K9me3 positive) under severe hypoxic conditions, showing that severe hypoxia-induced ATM activation maintains H3K9me3 levels by downregulating MDM2 and preventing MDM2-mediated degradation of Suv39H1. This novel mechanism is a potential anti-cancer therapeutic opportunity, which if exploited could target the hypoxic tumor cells known to drive both tumor progression and treatment resistance.
Can Deliberative Democracy Favor a Flourishing Relationship Between Humans and Carnivores?
Authors: Vucetich John A. , Bruskotter Jeremy T. , Macdonald David W.
Published: September 2021

There is considerable interest in improving participatory governance in decision-making processes for the conservation of biodiversity and management of conflicts between humans and wildlife. Among the various modes of participatory governance, deliberative democracy has received virtually no attention for decisions focused on conserving biodiversity. This is surprising given that deliberative democracy is an important branch of democratic theory and is associated with decision-making processes that have been successfully applied to a wide range of complicated decisions across diverse cultural settings. Moreover, deliberative democracy has several distinctive properties that would seem to make it well-suited for many conservation decisions. First, deliberative democracy is better-designed than other processes to handle cases where the object of conservation appears to be insufficiently valued by those who have the most detrimental impacts on its conservation. Second, deliberative democracy engenders a rich kind of representation and impartiality that is nearly impossible to achieve with participatory governance focused on managing conflicts among hyper-engaged stakeholders. Here, we review the principles of deliberative democracy, outline procedures for its application to carnivore conservation, and consider its likelihood to favor carnivore conservation.
Numerical Investigation of Conjugated Heat Transfer of the Plate-Type Fuel Assembly in the Research Reactor
Authors: Li Quan , Ma Qiang , Li Yuanming , Chen Ping , Ma Chao , Zhao Bo , Chen Hao
Published: September 2021

In nuclear reactors, the research of conjugated heat transfer between the fuel and coolant in the fuel assembly is fundamental for improving the safety, reliability and economy. The numerical approach based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) can be used to realize the rapid analysis of the conjugated heat transfer. Besides, the numerical simulation can provide detailed physical fields that are useful for the designing and optimizing of the fuel assembly. The plate-type fuels are generally used to enhance heat transfer in research reactors with high power density. In this study, a standard plate-type fuel assembly in the research reactor was taken into consideration. The solid-fluid conjugated heat transfer of the fuel assembly and coolant was numerically investigated. In the fluid region, the subcooled flow boiling simulation model was established by implementing the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute model into the Euler multi-phase flow method. The results show that the conjugated heat transfer of the fuel assembly and coolant can be simulated using the model established in this work. The influence of fluid velocity, power density and the width of the flow channel on the temperature distribution and the conjugated heat transfer was investigated and discussed.
Genome-Wide Identification and Evolutionary Analysis of the SRO Gene Family in Tomato
Authors: Li Ning , Xu Ruiqiang , Wang Baike , Wang Juan , Huang Shaoyong , Yu Qinghui , Gao Jie
Published: September 2021

SRO (SIMILAR TO RCD ONE) is a family of plant-specific small molecule proteins that play an important role in plant growth and development and environmental responses. However, SROs still lack systematic characterization in tomato. Based on bioinformatics methods, SRO family genes were identified and characterized from cultivated tomatoes and several wild tomatoes. qRT-PCR was used to study the expression of SRO gene in cultivated tomatoes. Phylogenetic and evolutionary analyses showed that SRO genes in angiosperms share a common ancestor and that the number of SRO family members changed as plants diverged and evolved. Cultivated tomato had six SRO members, five of which still shared some degree of identity with the ancestral SRO genes. Genetic structure and physicochemical properties showed that tomato SRO genes were highly conserved with chromosomal distribution. They could be divided into three groups based on exon-intron structure, and cultivated tomato contained only two of these subclades. A number of hormonal, light and abiotic stress-responsive cis-regulatory elements were identified from the promoter of the tomato SRO gene, and they also interacted with a variety of stress-responsive proteins and microRNAs. RNA-seq analysis showed that SRO genes were widely expressed in different tissues and developmental stages of tomato, with significant tissue-specific features. Expression analysis also showed that SRO genes respond significantly to high temperature and salt stress and mediate the tomato hormone regulatory network. These results provide a theoretical basis for further investigation of the functional expression of tomato SRO genes and provide potential genetic resources for tomato resistance breeding.
Maternal Health in Crisis: A Scoping Review of Barriers and Facilitators to Safe Abortion Care in Humanitarian Crises
Authors: Dias Amaral Bianca , Sakellariou Dikaios
Published: September 2021

During humanitarian crises, women are particularly vulnerable to unwanted pregnancy. Unsafe abortion is among the five leading causes of maternal mortality and it is the only one which is entirely preventable. This study aimed to identify the barriers and facilitators to the provision of safe abortion care by humanitarian organisations. We performed a scoping review of the literature in July 2020, covering the years 2010–2020, on the following databases: Medline, Global Health, CINAHL Plus and ReliefWeb. We critically appraised all included articles and we conducted a narrative synthesis of the findings. We retrieved 881 articles. After removing duplicates and excluding articles that did not meet the inclusion criteria, twenty-four articles published between 2015 and 2020 were included in the review. Nine of the included papers were non-research practise items. The findings revealed five main themes: legal environment; context; stigma; economic factors; and service delivery. Restrictive laws, stigma, and lack of funding were reported as the main barriers to safe abortion, while the main facilitators were the fact that abortion is permitted under some circumstances in most countries, humanitarian actors' ability to inform healthcare policies at the onset of a humanitarian crisis, and community engagement. This scoping review revealed a dearth of published research. Increased dissemination of studies on Termination of Pregnancy (ToP) could increase the visibility of unsafe abortion and the need to provide ToP in humanitarian settings. Moreover, humanitarian organisations need to have a clear protocol on safe abortion and an in-depth understanding of relevant legislation, including the International Humanitarian Law, in order to provide this service to the full extent of the law.
Mixing in the Tyrrhenian Interior Due to Thermohaline Staircases
Authors: Durante Sara , Oliveri Paolo , Nair Rajesh , Sparnocchia Stefania
Published: September 2021

Thermohaline staircases are a well-known peculiar feature of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Generated by extensive double diffusion processes fueled by lateral intrusions, they are considered to be the most stable of all the staircases that have been detected in the world ocean, seeing their persistence of more than 40 years in the literature. Double diffusion leads to efficient vertical mixing, potentially playing a significant role in guiding the diapycnal mixing. The present study investigates this process of mixing in the case of the Tyrrhenian staircases by calculating the heat and salt fluxes in their gradient zones (interfaces) and the resulting net fluxes in adjacent layers using hydrological profiles collected from 2003 to 2016 at a station in the heart of the basin interior. The staircases favor downward fluxes of heat and salt, and the results of the calculations show that these are greater where temperature and salinity gradients are also high. This condition is more frequently encountered at thin and sharp interfaces, which sometimes appear as substructures of the thicker interfaces of the staircases. These substructures are hot spots where vertical fluxes are further accentuated. Due to the increasing salt and heat content of the Levantine Intermediate Water (LIW) during the observation period, a rise in the values of the fluxes was noted in the portion of the water column below it down to about 1800 m. The data furthermore show that internal gravity waves can modulate the structure of the staircases and very likely contribute to the mixing, too, but the sampling frequency of the time series is too large to permit a proper assessment of these processes. It is shown that, at least during the period of observation, the fluxes due to salt fingers do not reach the bottom layer but remain within the staircases.
Reduced Expression of Erythropoietin After Intravitreal Ranibizumab in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Patients—Retrospective Interventional Study
Authors: Chen Li , Feng Jing , Shi Yanhong , Luan Fuxiao , Ma Fang , Wang Yingjie , Yang Weiqiang , Tao Yong
Published: September 2021

Purpose: To evaluate the expressions of erythropoietin (EPO) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the vitreous and fibrovascular membranes (FVMs) of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) after the intravitreal injection of ranibizumab (IVR) and further explore the relationship between EPO and VEGF.

Method: The concentrations of EPO and VEGF levels in the vitreous fluid were measured in 35 patients (24 PDR and 11 non-diabetic patients) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The patients were divided into three groups: PDR with IVR (IVR group) before par plana vitrectomy (n = 10), PDR without IVR (Non-IVR group) (n = 14) and a control group [macular holes (MHs) or epiretinal membranes (ERM), n = 11]. Fluorescence immunostaining was performed to examine the expressions of VEGF, EPO and CD 105 in the excised epiretinal membranes.

Result: The PDR eyes of Non-IVR group had the highest vitreous VEGF and EPO levels (836.30 ± 899.50 pg/ml, 99.29 ± 27.77 mIU/ml, respectively) compared to the control group (10.98 ± 0.98 pg/ml and 18.96 ± 13.30 mIU/ml/ml). Both the VEGF and EPO levels in the IVR group (13.22 ± 2.72 pg/ml and 68.57 ± 41.47 mIU/ml) were significantly lower than the Non-IVR group (P = 0.004 and P = 0.04, respectively). Furthermore, no significant difference was observed for VEGF levels between the control and IVR groups (10.9 ± 0.98 pg/ml and 13.22 ± 2.72 pg/ml, respectively, P = 0.9). Yet the EPO level in the IVR group was significantly higher than that in the Non-diabetic group (68.57 ± 41.47 pg/ml and 18.96 ± 13.30 pg/ml, respectively, P = 0.001). The expressions of EPO, VEGF, and CD105 were significantly reduced in fluorescence immunostaining of FVMs in the IVR group compared with the Non-IVR group. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the EPO and VEGF levels were 0.951 and 0.938 in the PDR group.

Conclusion: Both of the VEGF and EPO level were significantly increased in PDR patients, which have equal diagnostic value in the prediction of PDR. IVR could reduce the EPO level, but not enough to the normal level.
Ubiquitous Conjugative Mega-Plasmids of Acinetobacter Species and Their Role in Horizontal Transfer of Multi-Drug Resistance
Authors: Mindlin Sofia , Maslova Olga , Beletsky Alexey , Nurmukanova Varvara , Zong Zhiyong , Mardanov Andrey , Petrova Mayya
Published: September 2021

Conjugative mega-plasmids play a special role in adaptation since they carry a huge number of accessory genes, often allowing the host to develop in new niches. In addition, due to conjugation they are able to effectively spread themselves and participate in the transfer of small mobilizable plasmids. In this work, we present a detailed characterization of a recently discovered family of multiple-drug resistance mega-plasmids of Acinetobacter species, termed group III-4a. We describe the structure of the plasmid backbone region, identify the rep gene and the origin of plasmid replication, and show that plasmids from this group are able not only to move between different Acinetobacter species but also to efficiently mobilize small plasmids containing different mob genes. Furthermore, we show that the population of natural Acinetobacter strains contains a significant number of mega-plasmids and reveal a clear correlation between the living conditions of Acinetobacter strains and the structure of their mega-plasmids. In particular, comparison of the plasmids from environmental and clinical strains shows that the genes for resistance to heavy metals were eliminated in the latter, with the simultaneous accumulation of antibiotic resistance genes by incorporation of transposons and integrons carrying these genes. The results demonstrate that this group of mega-plasmids plays a key role in the dissemination of multi-drug resistance among Acinetobacter species.
Titanium and Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy: Surface Chemistry and Biological Implications
Authors: Kawassaki Rodrigo Ken , Romano Mariana , Dietrich Natasha , Araki Koiti
Published: September 2021

Currently, cancer is among the most challenging diseases due to its ability to continuously evolve into a more complex muldimentional system, in addition to its high capability to spread to other organs and tissues. In this context, the relevance of nanobiomaterials (NBMs) for the development of new more effective and less harmful treatments is increasing. NBMs provide the possibility of combining several functionalities on a single system, expectedly in a synergic way, to better perform the treatment and cure. However, the control of properties such as colloidal stability, circulation time, pharmacokinetics, and biodistribution, assuring the concentration in specific target tissues and organs, while keeping all desired properties, tends to be dependent on subtle changes in surface chemistry. Hence, the behavior of such materials in different media/environments is of uttermost relevance and concern since it can compromise their efficiency and safety on application. Given the bright perspectives, many efforts have been focused on the development of nanomaterials fulfilling the requirements for real application. These include robust and reproducible preparation methods to avoid aggregation while preserving the interaction properties. The possible impact of nanomaterials in different forms of diagnosis and therapy has been demonstrated in the past few years, given the perspectives on how revolutionary they can be in medicine and health. Considering the high biocompatibility and suitability, this review is focused on titanium dioxide– and iron oxide–based nanoagents highlighting the current trends and main advancements in the research for cancer therapies. The effects of phenomena, such as aggregation and agglomeration, the formation of the corona layer, and how they can compromise relevant properties of nanomaterials and their potential applicability, are also addressed. In short, this review summarizes the current understanding and perspectives on such smart nanobiomaterials for diagnostics, treatment, and theranostics of diseases.
Electrophysiological and Morphological Features of Rebound Depolarization Characterized Interneurons in Rat Superficial Spinal Dorsal Horn
Authors: Zhu Mengye , Yan Yi , Cao Xuezhong , Zeng Fei , Xu Gang , Shen Wei , Li Fan , Luo Lingyun , Wang Zhijian , Zhang Yong , Zhang Xuexue , Zhang Daying , Liu Tao
Published: September 2021

Substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurons, which are located in the spinal dorsal horn (lamina II), have been identified as the “central gate” for the transmission and modulation of nociceptive information. Rebound depolarization (RD), a biophysical property mediated by membrane hyperpolarization that is frequently recorded in the central nervous system, contributes to shaping neuronal intrinsic excitability and, in turn, contributes to neuronal output and network function. However, the electrophysiological and morphological properties of SG neurons exhibiting RD remain unclarified. In this study, whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were performed on SG neurons from parasagittal spinal cord slices. RD was detected in 44.44% (84 out of 189) of the SG neurons recorded. We found that RD-expressing neurons had more depolarized resting membrane potentials, more hyperpolarized action potential (AP) thresholds, higher AP amplitudes, shorter AP durations, and higher spike frequencies in response to depolarizing current injection than neurons without RD. Based on their firing patterns and morphological characteristics, we propose that most of the SG neurons with RD mainly displayed tonic firing (69.05%) and corresponded to islet cell morphology (58.82%). Meanwhile, subthreshold currents, including the hyperpolarization-activated cation current (Ih) and T-type calcium current (IT), were identified in SG neurons with RD. Blockage of Ih delayed the onset of the first spike in RD, while abolishment of IT significantly blunted the amplitude of RD. Regarding synaptic inputs, SG neurons with RD showed lower frequencies in both spontaneous and miniature excitatory synaptic currents. Furthermore, RD-expressing neurons received either Aδ- or C-afferent-mediated monosynaptic and polysynaptic inputs. However, RD-lacking neurons received afferents from monosynaptic and polysynaptic Aδ fibers and predominantly polysynaptic C-fibers. These findings demonstrate that SG neurons with RD have a specific cell-type distribution, and may differentially process somatosensory information compared to those without RD.