bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identifikasi Nominal Uang Kertas Untuk Tuna Netra Berbasis Mikrokontroller Dengan Sistem Suara
Authors: Anto Agus Puji , Abidin Zainal , Utomo Arief Budi
Published: April 2021

Uang merupakan alat yang dipakai untuk transaksi jual dan beli yang sudah digunakan seluruh manusia di penjuru dunia. Sehingga menjadikan uang sebagai barang pokok untuk setiap orang, tidak terkecuali para penyandang disabilitas seperti halnya tunanetra, kelemahan tunanetra dalam melihat dan mengidentifikasi uang dapat menyebabkan tertukar, salah ambil, bahkan bisa tertipu saat melakukan transaksi jual beli. Tujuan  dari  penelitian ini adalah untuk membantu para penyandang tunanetra dalam mengetahui nominal uang kertas dengan menggunakan sistem suara yang di identifikasi oleh sensor warna TCS230.Dalam penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif dengan melakukan studi pustaka, pembuatan perangkat, integrasi sistem,pengujian, dan analisa sistem, serta beberapa percobaan dengan sensor warna TCS230 . Hasil Identifikasi nominal uang kertas tersebut kemudian dibaca dengan menggunakan sensor warna TCS230 yang terhubung dengan mikrokontroler atmega 328 dan  loudspeaker. Dengan alat identifikasi ini akan dapat diketahui nilai uang kertas rupiah dengan cara meletakan uang kertas rupiah diatas sensor TCS230 maka otomatis sensor membaca nilai RGB , apabila sesuai dengan range yang telah di tentukan olehATMega328 maka nominal uang kertas rupiah akan ditampilkan di layar LCD dan loudspeaker akan mengeluarkan suara yang sama berupa nilai mata uang kertas rupiah tersebut .Sehingga diharapkan alat ini dapat mempermudah tunanetra dalam mengetahui nominal uang kertas sehingga menguranggi terjadinya penipuan nominal uang terhadap tunanetra.
‘To have been always what I am – and so changed from what I was’: Beckett's Female Subject Formation and the Problem of Becoming
Authors: Kim Rina
Published: April 2021

The call for a new notion of personhood that goes beyond one's cognitive functions and a new account of human agency has gained interest with the impact of contemporary research in cognitive science over the last few decades. This paper aims to show that examining Beckett's female subject formation allows us to map out not only our changed perception of self, but also the changing patterns of reception of his works over time in relation to the issue of female agency. While Beckett's male subjects in his early novels are often preoccupied with their own journey to find a solipsistic world in their quest for their authentic self, his drama concerns his characters’ affective experience, namely how they live to go on. This paper, thus, will show that what Beckett perceives as gender difference plays a crucial role in his portrayal of personhood that is closely interconnected with other people and external artefacts, as well as his theatricality as a mode of perception that brackets moments of action and our affective experience of time.
The Clinical Significance and advantages of Stress Echocardiography in patients with moderate to severe aortic stenosis
Authors: Bartosh-Zelenaya S. Yu. , Naiden T. V. , Andreeva A. E. , Stepanova V. V.
Published: April 2021

In order to determine the clinical significance of exercise stress echocardiography in patients with severe to moderate aortic stenosis, a stress-induced increase in the mean pressure gradient across the aortic valve was recorded and myocardial contractile reserve was assessed using a number of parameters (ejection fraction, global longitudinal strain, elasticity index). It was found that, with normal values of EF at rest in patients with severe and moderate aortic stenosis, the deficit in contractile function was revealed using the GLS index, which demonstrated a decrease in both groups at the peak of exercise. A decrease in contractile reserve by both parameters (EF and GLS) was found in the group of patients with severe AS, which, combined with a significant stress-induced increase in the gradient on the aortic valve (≥18–20 mm Hg), an increase in pulmonary artery pressure (>  60 mm Hg) and decrease in systemic systolic blood pressure (>20 mm Hg) should be considered as a predictors of a poor prognosis of the natural course of aortic valve disease, and patients with similar stress test results should be possible candidates for surgical aortic valve replacement. A decrease in the in the LV elasticity index augmentation at the peak of exercise, strongly correlated with changes in other considered parameters of contractility and the metabolic power of exercise (MET), significantly complements the functional characteristics of the lesion for choosing the optimal management strategy. Consequently, exercise stress echocardiography is an indispensable diagnostic tool for determining the prognosis and timing of surgery in patients with aortic stenosis.
Electrophysiological remodeling of the heart in patients with arterial hypertension
Authors: Maksimova M. S.
Published: April 2021

Aim. Study electrocardiographic (ECG) and vectorcardiographic (VCG) indicators for various types of structural-  geometric remodeling of the left ventricle (LV) in patients with arterial hypertension (AH).

Material and research methods. The analysis was performed in 336 people, including 264 patients with AH, mean age 61.02 ± 7.61 years and 72 practically healthy individuals (57.18 ± 6.47). The ECG indicators of heart rate and duration of P, QRS, RR, PQ, QT, QT corrected according to the Bazett, Friderici and Sagie formulas (QTCB, QTCF, QTCS) were assessed. Echocardiography was used to calculate myocardial mass (LVMM) and LVMM index (LVMI), relative wall thickness (RWT). In the own plane of the VCG: the area of the QRS loop (SQRS), the magnitude of the geometric vector (maxQRS) were determined.

Results. Correlation analysis showed the presence of a positive relationship between LVM and LVMI with SQRS (r = 0.49 and r = 0.38), maxQRS (r = 0.28 and r=0.33) and with QRS duration (r = 0.50 and r = 0.43). The groups of patients with concentric (CG) and eccentric (EH) hypertrophy in comparison with controls and patients with AH without LVH gave significantly higher values of absolute QT, QTCF, QTCS. There was a positive correlation between QT and QTС with LVMM, LVMI and no relationship with RWT.

Conclusions. In LVH, the duration of QRS and SQRS in its own plane increased. The highest SQRS values were observed in patients with CG of the left ventricle in comparison with EG. Patients with CG and EG did not differ in QRS duration. In patients with AH and LVH, the duration of absolute and corrected values of the QT interval was significantly longer than in patients without LVH. The QT interval lengthened with an increase in LVMM and LVMI. QT duration did not depend on the type of LV hypertrophy — concentric or eccentric.
The bronchodilator test in patients with airway obstruction: the responsiveness of lung function parameters
Authors: Chushkin M. I. , Popova L. A. , Shergina E. A. , Karpina N. L.
Published: April 2021

Interpretation of bronchodilator (BD) test based on reaction of forced expiratory in one second (FEV 1). For assessing bronchodilator responsiveness of lung volumes, airway resistance remains largely unexplored. Therefore, we assessed the response of pulmonary function parameters to BD to reveal the most responsive parameter. 90 patients with chronic airway obstruction (61 male and 29 female; aged 55±11; post-  BD FEV 1 was 63.1+18.3 % predicted) performed spirometry and static lung volume measurements before and after inhalation of BD. We calculated effect size (ES) for each parameter from the difference between two means divided by the standard deviation of baseline score. There was a significant increase both FVC and FEV 1by 8.2 and 12.3 % from baseline (p<0.001). ES were 0.34 for FEV1 and 0.26 for FVC. The ES for lung volumes were from -0.07 (total lung capacity) to -0.31 (residual volume). The ES for sRtot (specific airway resistance) was -0.5 and ES for sGeff (specific effective airway conductance) was 0.95. The parameters of airway resistance and conductance were more responsive for the assessment of pulmonary function changes than spirometry and lung volumes parameters in patients with chronic airway obstruction.
Electroencephalography and somatosensory evoked potentials in Covid-19 patients. Experience in recording and using telemedicine technologies to analyze results
Authors: Sinkin M. V. , Seliverstova E. G. , Khamidova L. T. , Popugaev K. A. , Grin A. A. , Petrikov S. S.
Published: April 2021

A new coronavirus COVID-19 has led to the development of a global pandemic. It is characterized by a high risk of developing pneumonia and multiple organ failure along with its capability to influence the central nervous system. The main methods of instrumental assessment of the functional state of the brain are electroencephalography (EEG) and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs), which have been routinely used with patients in critical care units.

We recorded the EEGs and short-latency SEPs of 31 COVID-19 patients, all were treated at the N. V. Sklifosovsky Research Institute of Emergency Care in 2020. The combined data was used to analyse the following outcome.

We detected abnormal EEGs in 23 COVID-19 patients (74 %). Seven (30.4 %) patients showed EEGs consisting of diffuse non-specific slowing, 4 patients had lateralized hemispheric slowing (17.4 %) and one patient (4,3 %) had frontal intermittent delta activity (FIRDA). Three (13 %) patients in comas had “burst-suppression» pattern, three (13 %) had isoelectric EEGs and two (8,7 %) had areactive alpha rhythm, regarded as an electrographic manifestation of alpha coma. Two patients had evidence of epileptiform discharges (9 %), triphasic waves were presented in one patient (4.3 %).

EEG and SEPs with the median nerve stimulation in COVID-19 patients do not reveal specific changes, nevertheless they are informative instrumental methods for assessing the functional state of the brain to identify biomarkers of epileptic seizures and to prognosticate survival and recovery in comatose patients.
Catalyst: ampliación de la educación en reducción de daños y participación juvenil en el contexto de la guerra contra las drogas
Authors: Di Castri Theo
Published: April 2021

Catalyst es un programa anual de becas bilingüe (inglés/ español) dirigido a estudiantes y docentes de educación secundaria que viven en comunidades afectadas por la guerra contra las drogas que se libra en todo el continente americano. Esta labor educativa constituye una respuesta al sufrimiento social causado por la guerra contra las drogas. La labor de Catalyst tiene como finalidad tejer redes transnacionales de solidaridad y análisis entre los jóvenes que están en la primera línea de la guerra contra las drogas, con el fin de garantizar que sus voces puedan ser escuchadas en el creciente movimiento de reforma de las políticas de drogas. En esta nota de campo se sostiene que los programas existentes basados en la abstinencia y la prevención no abordan las raíces estructurales de la guerra contra las drogas y que se necesita un enfoque radical y más amplio para la educación sobre las drogas. En este sentido, la nota expone primer lugar el contexto y la lógica del programa Catalyst y luego se describen algunos de los desafíos y lecciones que surgieron durante la primera sesión del programa. Con base en las experiencias de los facilitadores y de los estudiantes en esta sesión, se considera que el programa supone un primer paso alentador hacia un enfoque alternativo para la educación sobre las drogas. Como conclusión se sugieren nuevas vías de investigación y colaboración entre el campo de la educación en situaciones de emergencia y la reforma de las políticas de drogas.
"Si no tienes educación, no eres nadie": explorando las experiencias escolares de jóvenes involucrados en la delincuencia relacionada con las drogas en Ciudad Juárez y Medellín
Authors: Chavez Villegas Cirenia , Butti Elena
Published: April 2021

La relación entre la inasistencia a la escuela y la participación en economías delictivas está ampliamente documentada en la literatura sobre la delincuencia juvenil. Sin embargo, la compleja conexión entre estos dos fenómenos aún no se ha esclarecido por completo. Este trabajo se basa en dos estudios que nosotras, las autoras, hemos llevado a cabo por separado en donde se explora el papel que juegan las experiencias educativas en la formación de las trayectorias delictivas de hombres jóvenes y adolescentes que participan en el negocio de las drogas en los centros urbanos ubicados en México y Colombia. El primer estudio consiste en entrevistas a profundidad y encuestas realizadas en Ciudad Juárez (México), mientras que el segundo se basa en un trabajo etnográfico de largo plazo en Medellín (Colombia). En este artículo proporcionamos una visión única de las experiencias educativas de esta población de difícil acceso y descubrimos que las dificultades económicas no explican del todo por qué estos jóvenes dejan la escuela y se dedican a actividades delictivas. Estos jóvenes no "abandonan" la escuela en busca de dinero, sino que son "expulsados" por un círculo vicioso de estigmatización, segregación, castigo y exclusión. Al explorar estas dinámicas en dos ciudades que han visto prolongadas guerras contra las drogas, este artículo promueve una comprensión más matizada del nexo entre la violencia relacionada con el delito y las experiencias educativas, haciendo así una importante contribución al área de la educación en emergencias (EeE).
THE DEPICTION OF WOMEN AND THEIR ROLE IN RELIGIOUS ISLAMIC TERRORISM WITHIN THE TERRITORY OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION (2000 - PRESENT)
Authors:   Ural Federal University named after the first President of Russia B. N. Yeltsin, Yekaterinburg, Russian Federation, KOCHNEV ANTON
Published: April 2021

The gender issue and gender inequality in particular is considered one of the major problems in the changing modern world especially in the discourse of security. Women and children are often the main target of many forms of violence and abuse in national and local conflicts. Military confrontation with non-state actors has clearly showed that the issue of women in terrorist organizations has come to the foreground for the Russian Federation as early as in the early 2000s. Islamic religious groups of the North Caucasus, which have been known for their idea of patriarchal society, shape a stereotypical image of women which gives an opportunity for radical Islamic terrorist organizations to take advantage of women manipulating them and forcing certain behavioral patterns on them (the phenomenon of female suicide bombers). Another critical issue is consciously motivated radicalization political views by those women in order to spread separatism not only among religious society but among secular society as well. The main aim of this article is the analysis of the depictions of women and their role in the context of the key security threat of the modern society that is international terrorism. The idea that international politics is a male-dominated discipline has been altered making the world search for new ways of addressing global security challenges. This can only be made by re-evaluating women's traditional roles in traditional societies; addressing the issue of religious laws dominating over secular laws; reducing the influence of armed conflicts on women and children being recruited to join extremist groups and terrorist organizations. The work is based on the open sources from the news, anti-extremism services, Federal Service of National Safety, which include female terrorists' personal data, interviews with their relatives and court reports. The analysis includes the data about 91 women, who were in some way engaged in terroristic acts on the territory of the Russian Federation since 2000. Such complex analysis, along with the methods of content analysis allowed for more substantial conclusions to Russian researchers who studied the age of female terrorists, the reasons for their radicalism, geography of female terrorism in the Russian Federation, as well as to observe how the depiction of female terrorist evolved.
A WOMAN IN MODERN ISRAEL: ATTEMPTING TO BUILD A SOCIAL PORTRAIT
Authors:   Ariel University, Israel, STROVSKY DMITRY , ZHILYAKOVA YEVGENIYA
Published: April 2021

This article aims to present a «collective» social portrait of a modern Israeli woman. The complexity of this task is determined by the fact that Israel is a country populated with people of a wide number of cultures, who in different years repatriated to their historical homeland. With the exception of Judaism, the views of these communities on many issues of the daily life differ significantly, and this creates an extremely difficult perception of the gender topic in this country. The female audience of Israeli society can be divided into two large groups: religious and secular, although within each of them there are also numerous strata, worthy of investigation. In this article, the authors focus on the priorities of each group, while paying primary attention to the description of a religious woman: her understanding of the canons of family life, spiritual ideas, fashion, etc. Focusing on these manifestations allows, to the very much extent, to imagine the «make-up» of the Israeli woman, so that through the prism of this perception to see the ideological and moral principles of this country. Analysing priorities of the religious part of the female population is fundamentally important for understanding the spiritual canons of Israeli life and its uniqueness when comparing the background of modern world processes of modernization and globalization, not to mention that this article is one of first enabling to have a look at the role of the Israeli woman in this society.
DIPLOMACY AS AN INSTITUTION OF INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY IN ENGLISH SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Authors:   Omsk State University, Omsk, Russian Federation, MIRONOV VICTOR
Published: April 2021

This article is devote to the analysis of one from the key institutions in the conception of international society. The aim of the article is identify historiographical aspects for the analysis diplomacy in the context of the English school’s approach to the study of international institutions. English school of International relations formed in the end 1950-1970. Some famous scientists (H. Butterfield, M. Wight, and H. Bull) took an active part in the creation of this scientific society. British Committee for the study of international politics was a main intellectual structure in the genesis of the school. Committee had worked during 25 years (1959-1985) and become a base for the development two first generations of English school of international relations. Herbert Butterfield was very famous English historian and first chief of British Committee during 1959-1967. He had conservative credo. He shared the idea of the decline of diplomacy and divided it into new and historical. During some time, his views on diplomacy in modern history came into conflict with wide interpretation international society - central concept of the school. Martin Wight saw in diplomacy as a minimal indicator of the social character of international system in any time, but he also inclined that diplomacy will not be play very much role in the future. At the same time, he did not accept the concept “international society” and preferred the idea of “system of state”. Concept “international society” become a symbol and different mark this scientific community thanks to the books by H. Bull in 1960-1970. Hedley Bull included diplomacy in his list main international institutes, but central place among them in his views played balance of power and international law. Modern adepts of the conception of international Society continue diplomatic research. The works of modern representatives of the English School are studies in the article. Main conclusion of this part of the article consist of that the functional analysis of the diplomacy become a base for the following development of British intuitionalism and an important part of the conception of international society today. The British institutionalism are highlighted general trends of the following development English school of international relations and some problems for the dialogue with American theory of International relations.
AVIATION METALLURGY IN THE URALS DURING GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR (1941-1945)
Authors:   PJSC VSMPO-AVISMA Corporation, Verkhnyaya Salda, Sverdlovsk Region, Russian Federation, EZHOV ARKADY
Published: April 2021

The author analyzes the peculiarities of the formation and development of the aviation metallurgy in the Urals during the Great Patriotic War. There are ways to solve the problem of acute shortage of primary aluminum, the creation of new and restoration of existing enterprises of the industry in a short time in the conditions of mass relocation of industry to the east of the country. The dynamics and main trends of the “second industrialization” of the USSR in relation to the Ural region are defined, turning it into the center of aviation metallurgical production. It is proposed to period the development of the industrial branch in 1941-1945.
U.S. INDO-PACIFIC STRATEGY: THE NUCLEAR DIMENSION
Authors:   Novosibirsk State University of Economics and Management, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation, TOROPCHIN GLEB
Published: April 2021

The given article is dedicated to scrutinising the role of nuclear factor in the U.S. policy in the Asia Pacific region lately. The work is written based on the analysis of the official doctrinal documents defining U.S. foreign policy. The aim of the paper is defining the significance of the nuclear dimension in Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy and trends in its evolution in late 2010s and early 2020s. The author dwells upon the features of conceptualising the term “Indo-Pacific” in the U.S. foreign policy strategy taking into account its transition from the expert discourse to the official one. Three layers of analysis are singled out: doctrinal, operational and institutional. Special attention is paid to the relations between the U.S. and its allies in the macroregion, including parties to the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (i.e. India, Japan and Australia), as well as other countries, such as South Korea. The influence of China’s growing power and its claims for regional and global leadership on the shift in Washington’s foreign policy is also unveiled. The author discovers a direct correlation between the role of the maritime constituent in the “Indo-Pacific security” and the intention of the U.S. to develop the sea and air components in its nuclear triad. Various directions of the U.S. advancing its nuclear forces in the Asia Pacific are shown, as well as the role of adjacent projects in the field of security (such as “Global ABM”). Apart from this, the article demonstrates the factors that might have an impact on the U.S. nuclear policy in the region during J. Biden’s presidency. An attempt is made to predict possible scenarios in the near future.
THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE IMAGE OF NURSULTAN NAZARBAYEV ON THE PAGES OF “THE NEW YORK TIMES” (1989-2001)
Authors:   Национальный исследовательский Томский государственный университет, Томск, Российская Федерация, ALEXANDROV Stanislav
Published: April 2021

The purpose of the research. In accordance with the problem-chronological approach, the article systematized the materials of “The New York Times” newspaper about Nursultan Nazarbayev in the period during 1989-2001. Despite the membership of the Communist Party from 1962-1991, the condemnation of the collapse of the USSR, the promotion of the idea of new economic and political integration in the post-Soviet space, the President of Kazakhstan was portrayed on the pages of “The New York Times” as a progressive independent pro-American politician. Nevertheless, by the end of the second half of the 1990-s there were dramatic changes in the current image, the Kazakh leader began to associate with an autocrat and a corrupt official. This work is aimed at finding the reasons for the transformation of the image of the Kazakh politician. Results. The study concluded that the reason for the transformation of the image of the President of Kazakhstan was the deterioration of relations with official Washington. The favorable image of Nursultan Nazarbayev in “The New York Times” was an indicator not only of the benevolent attitude of newspaper journalists, but also of US loyalty. During the period of partnership with the White House, the image of politician Nursultan Nazarbayev remained pleasant for readers of the New York newspaper. In the late 1980s and the first half of the 1990s. Washington was favorable to Nursultan Nazarbayev, since the president’s policy satisfied the United States: defending independence, switching to a market economy, renouncing nuclear weapons, and access to Kazakh oil. During this period, the negative features of the Kazakh leader were not displayed or smoothed out on the pages of the New York newspaper, while the strengths were intentionally emphasized. After the current American goals in the Central Asian republic were achieved, interest in the figure of Nursultan Nazarbayev began to fade. Over time, scandals related to Nursultan Nazarbayev began to be fully covered by journalists of “The New York Times”, changing the image of the president to an authoritarian and corrupt politician.
Review on the Vascularization of Organoids and Organoids-on-a-Chip
Authors: Zhao Xingli , Xu Zilu , Xiao Lang , Shi Tuo , Xiao Haoran , Wang Yeqin , Li Yanzhao , Xue Fangchao , Zeng Wen
Published: April 2021

The use of human cells for the construction of 3D organ models in vitro based on cell self-assembly and engineering design has recently increased in popularity in the field of biological science. Although the organoids are able to simulate the structures and functions of organs in vitro, the 3D models have difficulty in forming a complex vascular network that can recreate the interaction between tissue and vascular systems. Therefore, organoids are unable to survive, due to the lack of oxygen and nutrients, as well as the accumulation of metabolic waste. Organoids-on-a-chip provides a more controllable and favorable design platform for co-culture of different cells and tissue types in organoid systems, overcoming some of the limitations present in organoid culture. However, the majority of them has vascular networks that are not adequately elaborate to simulate signal communications between bionic microenvironment (e.g., fluid shear force) and multiple organs. Here, we will review the technological progress of the vascularization in organoids and organoids-on-a-chip and the development of intravital 3D and 4D bioprinting as a new way for vascularization, which can aid in further study on tissue or organ development, disease research and regenerative medicine.
Bovine-Derived Xenografts Immobilized With Cryopreserved Stem Cells From Human Adipose and Dental Pulp Tissues Promote Bone Regeneration: A Radiographic and Histological Study
Authors: Zhu Yu , Wei Shi-min , Yan Kai-xiao , Gu Ying-xin , Lai Hong-chang , Qiao Shi-chong
Published: April 2021

Adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) have become promising sources for bone tissue engineering. Our study aimed at evaluating bone regeneration potential of cryopreserved ADSCs and DPSCs combined with bovine-derived xenografts with 10% porcine collagen. In vitro studies revealed that although DPSCs had higher proliferative abilities, ADSCs exhibited greater mineral depositions and higher osteogenic-related gene expression, indicating better osteogenic differentiation potential of ADSCs. After applying cryopreserved ADSCs and DPSCs in a critical-sized calvarial defect model, both cryopreserved mesenchymal stem cells significantly improved bone volume density and new bone area at 2, 4, and 8 weeks. Furthermore, the combined treatment with ADSCs and xenografts was more efficient in enhancing bone repair processes compared to combined treatment with DPCSs at all-time points. We also evaluated the sequential early bone healing process both histologically and radiographically, confirming a high agreement between these two methods. Based on these results, we propose grafting of the tissue-engineered construct seeded with cryopreserved ADSCs as a useful strategy in accelerating bone healing processes.
Identification of a Novel Prognostic Signature for Gastric Cancer Based on Multiple Level Integration and Global Network Optimization
Authors: Cui Lin , Wang Ping , Ning Dandan , Shao Jing , Tan Guiyuan , Li Dajian , Zhong Xiaoling , Mi Wanqi , Zhang Chunlong , Jin Shizhu
Published: April 2021

Gastric Cancer (GC) is a common cancer worldwide with a high morbidity and mortality rate in Asia. Many prognostic signatures from genes and non-coding RNA (ncRNA) levels have been identified by high-throughput expression profiling for GC. To date, there have been no reports on integrated optimization analysis based on the GC global lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network and the prognostic mechanism has not been studied. In the present work, a Gastric Cancer specific lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network (GCsLMM) was constructed based on the ceRNA hypothesis by combining miRNA-target interactions and data on the expression of GC. To mine for novel prognostic signatures associated with GC, we performed topological analysis, a random walk with restart algorithm, in the GCsLMM from three levels, miRNA-, mRNA-, and lncRNA-levels. We further obtained candidate prognostic signatures by calculating the integrated score and analyzed the robustness of these signatures by combination strategy. The biological roles of key candidate signatures were also explored. Finally, we targeted the PHF10 gene and analyzed the expression patterns of PHF10 in independent datasets. The findings of this study will improve our understanding of the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory mechanisms and further facilitate the discovery of novel prognostic biomarkers for GC clinical guidelines.
Recent Advances in Screening Methods for the Functional Investigation of Lytic Polysaccharide Monooxygenases
Authors: Wang Damao , Li Yanping , Zheng Yuting , Hsieh Yves S. Y.
Published: April 2021

Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase (LPMO) is a newly discovered and widely studied enzyme in recent years. These enzymes play a key role in the depolymerization of sugar-based biopolymers (including cellulose, hemicellulose, chitin and starch), and have a positive significance for biomass conversion. LPMO is a copper-dependent enzyme that can oxidize and cleave glycosidic bonds in cellulose and other polysaccharides. Their mechanism of action depends on the correct coordination of copper ions in the active site. There are still difficulties in the analysis of LPMO activity, which often requires multiple methods to be used in concert. In this review, we discussed various LPMO activity analysis methods reported so far, including mature mass spectrometry, chromatography, labeling, and indirect measurements, and summarized the advantages, disadvantages and applicability of different methods.
Differences in the Genital Microbiota in Women Who Naturally Clear Chlamydia trachomatis Infection Compared to Women Who Do Not Clear; A Pilot Study
Authors: Mott Patricia Dehon , Taylor Christopher M. , Lillis Rebecca A. , Ardizzone Caleb M. , Albritton Hannah L. , Luo Meng , Calabresi Kaitlyn G. , Martin David H. , Myers Leann , Quayle Alison J.
Published: April 2021

In vitro studies indicate IFNγ is central to Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) eradication, but its function may be compromised by anaerobes typically associated with bacterial vaginosis (BV), a frequent co-morbidity in women with Ct. Here we investigated the associations between natural clearance of cervical Ct infection, the vaginal microbiome, and the requirements for IFNγ by evaluating the vaginal microbial and cytokine composition of Ct treatment visit samples from women who cleared Ct infection in the interim between their Ct screening and Ct treatment visit. The pilot cohort was young, predominantly African American, and characterized by a high rate of BV that was treated with metronidazole at the Ct screening visit. The rate of natural Ct clearance was 23.6% by the Ct treatment visit (median 9 days). 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that metronidazole-treated women who had a Lactobacillus spp.-dominant vaginal microbiota (CST 2 or 3) at the Ct treatment visit, were more prevalent in the Ct clearing population than the non-clearing population (86% v. 50%). L. iners (CST2) was the major Lactobacillus spp. present in Ct clearers, and 33% still remained anaerobe-dominant (CST1). Vaginal IFNγ levels were not significantly different in Ct clearers and non-clearers and were several logs lower than that required for killing Ct in vitro. An expanded panel of IFNγ-induced and proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines also did not reveal differences between Ct clearers and non-clearers, but, rather, suggested signatures better associated with specific CSTs. Taken together, these findings suggest that BV-associated bacteria may impede Ct clearance, but a Lactobacillus spp.-dominant microbiome is not an absolute requirement to clear. Further, IFNγ may be required at lower concentrations than in vitro modeling indicates, suggesting it may act together with other factors in vivo. Data also revealed that the vaginal bacteria-driven inflammation add complexity to the genital cytokine milieu, but changes in this microbiota may contribute to, or provide cytokine biomarkers, for a shift to Ct clearance.
Two Acinetobacter baumannii Isolates Obtained From a Fatal Necrotizing Fasciitis Infection Display Distinct Genomic and Phenotypic Characteristics in Comparison to Type Strains
Authors: Grier Jennifer T. , Arivett Brock A. , Ramírez Maria S. , Chosed Renee J. , Bigner Jessica A. , Ohneck Emily J. , Metz Maeva L. , Wood Cecily R. , Arce Sergio , Tartaro Andrea , Relich Ryan F. , Actis Luis A. , Fiester Steven E.
Published: April 2021

Acinetobacter baumannii has been recognized as a critical pathogen that causes severe infections worldwide not only because of the emergence of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) derivatives, but also because of its ability to persist in medical environments and colonize compromised patients. While there are numerous reports describing the mechanisms by which this pathogen acquires resistance genes, little is known regarding A. baumannii’s virulence functions associated with rare manifestations of infection such as necrotizing fasciitis, making the determination and implementation of alternative therapeutic targets problematic. To address this knowledge gap, this report describes the analysis of the NFAb-1 and NFAb-2 XDR isolates, which were obtained at two time points during a fatal case of necrotizing fasciitis, at the genomic and functional levels. The comparative genomic analysis of these isolates with the ATCC 19606T and ATCC 17978 strains showed that the NFAb-1 and NFAb-2 isolates are genetically different from each other as well as different from the ATCC 19606T and ATCC 17978 clinical isolates. These genomic differences could be reflected in phenotypic differences observed in these NFAb isolates. Biofilm, cell viability and flow cytometry assays indicate that all tested strains caused significant decreases in A549 human alveolar epithelial cell viability with ATCC 17978, NFAb-1 and NFAb-2 producing significantly less biofilm and significantly more hemolysis and capacity for intracellular invasion than ATCC 19606T. NFAb-1 and NFAb-2 also demonstrated negligible surface motility but significant twitching motility compared to ATCC 19606T and ATCC 17978, likely due to the presence of pili exceeding 2 µm in length, which are significantly longer and different from those previously described in the ATCC 19606T and ATCC 17978 strains. Interestingly, infection with cells of the NFAb-1 isolate, which were obtained from a premortem blood sample, lead to significantly higher mortality rates than NFAb-2 bacteria, which were obtained from postmortem tissue samples, when tested using the Galleria mellonella in vivo infection model. These observations suggest potential changes in the virulence phenotype of the A. baumannii necrotizing fasciitis isolates over the course of infection by mechanisms and cell processes that remain to be identified.
No Evidence for Human Monocyte-Derived Macrophage Infection and Antibody-Mediated Enhancement of SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: García-Nicolás Obdulio , V’kovski Philip , Zettl Ferdinand , Zimmer Gert , Thiel Volker , Summerfield Artur
Published: April 2021

Vaccines are essential to control the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and to protect the vulnerable population. However, one safety concern of vaccination is the possible development of antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The potential infection of Fc receptor bearing cells such as macrophages, would support continued virus replication and inflammatory responses, and thereby potentially worsen the clinical outcome of COVID-19. Here we demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV neither infect human monocyte-derived macrophages (hMDM) nor induce inflammatory cytokines in these cells, in sharp contrast to Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus and the common cold human coronavirus 229E. Furthermore, serum from convalescent COVID-19 patients neither induced enhancement of SARS-CoV-2 infection nor innate immune response in hMDM. Although, hMDM expressed angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, no or very low levels of transmembrane protease serine 2 were found. These results support the view that ADE may not be involved in the immunopathological processes associated with COVID-19, however, more studies are necessary to understand the potential contribution of antibodies-virus complexes with other cells expressing FcR receptors.
Teacher-Student-Relationship Quality in Inclusive Secondary Schools: Theory and Measurement of Emotional Aspects of Teaching
Authors: Pastore Giuliana , Luder Reto
Published: April 2021

Inclusive healthy schools are committed to provide a learning environment for a healthy development and optimal learning support for all students, regardless of their performance, language, learning and behavior disposition or disability. In order to achieve this goal, the relationship between teacher and students is crucial. Research in this area has shown the importance of emotional aspects as a mark of quality of teacher-student relationships, recognizing them as strong predictors for better achievement, compared to professional and subject-related aspects of teaching. Nevertheless, empirical studies in inclusive schools are seldom considering teacher-student relationships, as a theoretically sound conceptualization is missing in the context of research in inclusive schools. In the present paper, based on the attachment theory and the research on joint attention, two emotional components of teacher-student relationships are examined as key-concepts of high relevance for inclusive schools (emotional resonance and shared intentionality). It is also discussed how to empirically operationalize and measure these emotional components with the intention of analyzing the current situation of inclusive schools in future studies.
LncRNA FENDRR Inhibits ox-LDL Induced Mitochondrial Energy Metabolism Disorder in Aortic Endothelial Cells via miR-18a-5p/PGC-1α Signaling Pathway
Authors: Wang Guiming , Yang Yudong , Ma Honggang , Shi Liuming , Jia Wenbin , Hao Xing , Liu Weizong
Published: April 2021

Atherosclerosis (AS) is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. Mitochondrial dysfunction is closely related to AS. At present, several signaling pathways related to mitochondrial dysfunction have been found, one of which is around PGC-1α. PGC-1α is a transcription activator, which is related to mitochondrial biogenesis and antioxidant defense. In this study, we explored the effect of miR-18a-5p/PGC-1α signaling pathway on mitochondrial energy metabolism in HAECs with ox-LDL treatment. The results showed that the mitochondrial energy metabolism disorder in HAECs treated by ox-LDL was related to the downregulation of LncRNA FENDRR and PGC-1α. FENDRR could reverse ox-LDL induced mitochondrial energy metabolism disorder and upregulate the PGC-1α expression. FENDRR could be used as ceRNA to inhibit the miR-18a-5p expression and reduce the negative regulation of miR-18a-5p on PGC-1α. Downregulation of miR-18a-5p expression or upregulation of PGC-1α in ox-LDL treated HAECs could reverse mitochondrial energy metabolism disorder. In conclusion, these findings suggested that FENDRR/miR-18a-5p/PGC-1α signaling pathway regulated mitochondrial energy metabolism in HAECs; ox-LDL downregulated the expression of PGC-1α and cause mitochondrial energy metabolism disorder by inhibiting this signal pathway.
A Diagnostic Model for Screening Diabetic Retinopathy Using the Hand-Held Electroretinogram Device RETeval
Authors: Deng Xiaowen , Li Zijing , Zeng Peng , Wang Jing , Liang Jiaqi , Lan Yuqing
Published: April 2021

Purpose

To construct a proper model to screen for diabetic retinopathy (DR) with the RETeval.

Method

This was a cross-sectional study. Two hundred thirty-two diabetic patients and seventy controls were recruited. The DR risk assessment protocol was performed to obtain subjects’ DR risk score using the RETeval. Afterwards, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the best cutoff for diagnosing DR. Random forest and decision tree models were constructed.

Results

With increasing DR severity, the DR score gradually increased. When the DR score was used to diagnose DR, the ROC curve had an area under the curve of 0.881 (95% confidence interval: 0.836-0.927, P < 0.001), with a best cutoff value of 22.95, a sensitivity of 74.3% (95 CI: 66.0%~82.6%), and a specificity of 90.6% (95 CI: 83.7% ~94.8%). The top four risk factors selected by the random forest were used to construct the decision tree for diagnosing DR, which had a sensitivity of 93.3% (95% CI: 86.3%~97.0%) and a specificity of 80.3% (95% CI: 72.1% ~86.6%).

Conclusions

The DR risk assessment protocol combined with the decision tree model was innovatively used to evaluate the risk of DR, improving the sensitivity of diagnosis, which makes this method more suitable than the current protocol for DR screening.
Fine Needle Biopsy Versus Core Needle Biopsy Combined With/Without Thyroglobulin or BRAF 600E Mutation Assessment for Detecting Cervical Nodal Metastasis of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Xiaojun , Zhang Xu , Du Wei , Dai Liyuan , Luo Ruihua , Fang Qigen , Ge Hong
Published: April 2021

Objectives

To analyze the diagnostic benefit of fine needle aspiration biopsy cytology (FNAB-C) and core needle biopsy tissue (CNB-T) with the addition of thyroglobulin (Tg) in the washout of the needle or BRAF V600E mutation assessment in assessing cervical lymph node metastasis (LNM) in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Materials and Methods

A total of 186 lymph nodes were punctured by fine or core needle. The diagnostic performance of FNAB-C and CNB-T with Tg in the washout or BRAF V600E mutation assessment was compared.

Results

The optimal cutoff value of FNAB-Tg was 1.0 ng/ml, with an AUC of 0.976. The sensitivity and specificity of FNAB-C in predicting cervical LNM were 97.4% and 71.4%, respectively, and the addition of FNAB-Tg could contribute to a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 95%, but the introduction of BRAF V600E mutation assessment was associated with a decreased sensitivity of 96.3% and a decreased specificity of 50.0%. The FNAB-Tg level showed a comparable distribution in malignant lymph nodes with different TgAb statuses, serum TSH levels, and serum Tg levels. The sensitivity and specificity of CNB-T in predicting cervical LNM were 98.9% and 100%, respectively. The addition of CNB-Tg did not alter the diagnostic ability, but the introduction of BRAF V600E mutation assessment obtained the best performance, with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 100%.

Conclusion

The sensitivity and specificity of FNAB-C could be increased if combined with FNAB-Tg. CNB-T alone could provide satisfactory diagnostic reliability.
Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Mobilized With Pegylated Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor Ameliorates Severe Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease Through Enrichment of Monocytic Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells in the Graft: A Real World Experience
Authors: Li Lin , Yin Jin , Li Yun , Wang Chunyan , Mao Xia , Wei Jia , Cao Yang , Wang Na , Lin Li , Xu Jinhuan , Zhang Yicheng
Published: April 2021

We compared the effectiveness and safety of pegylated granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (peg-G-CSF) vs. non-peg-G-CSF for hematopoietic stem cell mobilization in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in a real-world setting. We included 136 consecutive healthy donors treated with non–peg-G-CSF (n = 53) or peg-G-CSF (n = 83), and 125 consecutive recipients (n = 42 and 83, respectively) in this study. All harvesting was completed successfully. No significant difference in leukapheresis number and adverse events frequency was observed, nor were there severe adverse events leading to discontinuation of mobilization. The leukapheresis products mobilized by peg-G-CSF had higher total nucleated cells (p < 0.001), monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (p < 0.001), granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (p = 0.004) and B cells (p = 0.019). CD34+ cells and other lymphocyte subsets (T cells, regulatory T cells, natural killer [NK] cells, etc.) were similar in both apheresis products. Patients who received grafts mobilized by peg-G-CSF exhibited a lower incidence of grade III-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (p = 0.001). The 1-year cumulative incidence of chronic graft-versus-host disease and relapse, 1-year probability of graft-versus-host disease-free relapse-free survival, and overall survival did not differ significantly between subgroups. Our results suggest that collecting allogeneic stem cells after the administration of peg-G-CSF is feasible and safe. Peg-G-CSF mobilized grafts may reduce severe acute graft-versus-host disease compared with non-peg-G-CSF mobilized grafts after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. The beneficial effects of a peg-G-CSF graft might be mediated by increased numbers of monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells.
Multiple Functions of RNA Methylation in T Cells: A Review
Authors: Chao Yinong , Li Hua-Bing , Zhou Jing
Published: April 2021

RNA modification represents one of the most ubiquitous mechanisms of epigenetic regulation and plays an essential role in modulating cell proliferation, differentiation, fate determination, and other biological activities. At present, over 170 types of RNA modification have been discovered in messenger RNA (mRNA) and noncoding RNA (ncRNA). RNA methylation, as an abundant and widely studied epigenetic modification, is crucial for regulating various physiological or pathological states, especially immune responses. Considering the biological significance of T cells as a defense against viral infection and tumor challenge, in this review, we will summarize recent findings of how RNA methylation regulates T cell homeostasis and function, discuss the open questions in this rapidly expanding field of RNA modification, and provide the theoretical basis and potential therapeutic strategies involving targeting of RNA methylation to orchestrate beneficial T cell immune responses.