bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Highly sensitive and stable fiber-laser pressure-sensing system based on an unequal-arm Mach-Zehnder cascaded with a Sagnac structure
Authors: Hou Mei-jiang , Tian Jing , Jiang Yang , Zuo Yiwu
Published: December 2021

We propose, analyze, and experimentally demonstrate a highly sensitive and stable fiber-laser pressure-sensing system based on an unequal-arm Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) merged with a Sagnac interferometer (SI). The unequal-arm MZI structure consists essentially of two single-mode fibers of different lengths, and the SI structure uses a section of polarization-maintaining fiber, which acts as a sensing head. Moreover, in the proposed sensing system, the MZI and SI structures both act as a cascade filter. Given the asymmetric MZI and cascade filter structure laser mode hopping is effectively suppressed, so minor variations in environmental parameters cause a stable shift of the interference spectrum. The experimental results show that the proposed system can be used to make accurate pressure measurements. The −3 dB linewidth of the reflection interference peak produced by the proposed system is less than 0.02 nm, and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) can exceed 45 dB. With a 1-m-long sensor head, the proposed system provides a pressure sensitivity of 29.275 nm/MPa, and the interference spectrum of the sensing system fluctuates less than ±0.02 nm over 1 h. The proposed sensing system thus offers the attractive characteristics of good sensing linearity and stability, high SNR, and high sensitivity.
Design method for a reflective optical system with low tilt error sensitivity
Authors: Qin Zichang , Wang Xiaodong , Ren Chengming , Qi Yunsheng , Meng Qingyu
Published: December 2021

The realization of the final performance of the optical system depends not only on the aberration correction of the optical design but more importantly on the control of the position error of the optical element during the construction process. Therefore, reducing the error sensitivity of the optical system is an important part of the optical system design process. In order to obtain an optical system with low error sensitivity, this paper proposes an evaluation function of the tilt error sensitivity of the optical system and establishes a desensitization design method for the optical system. Taking an off-axis three-mirror optical system as an example for desensitization design. By comparing the variation of wave front error (WFE) caused by the tilt error of the optical system before and after the desensitization design, the correctness of the evaluation function and the effectiveness of the desensitization design method of the optical system are proved.
Plasmon-phonon interaction effects on the magneto refractive response of spintronic-plasmonic/dielectric structures
Authors: Armelles Gaspar , Cebollada Alfonso , Alvaro Raquel
Published: December 2021

We study the electromagnetic interactions and the magnetic modulation of the optical response of resonant spintronic-plasmonic structures coupled to a dielectric. The resonant nature of the spintronic system is provided by arrays of slits whose localized plasmon resonance interacts with the phonon band of the dielectric located in the mid infrared spectral range. This interaction can be tuned by changing the length of the slits and the thickness of the dielectric. In addition, the electromagnetic interaction also endorses with magnetic modulation capabilities to the phonon band, originating from a non-ferromagnetic material.
Optimal transport analysis reveals trajectories in steady-state systems
Authors: Zhang Stephen , Afanassiev Anton , Greenstreet Laura , Matsumoto Tetsuya , Schiebinger Geoffrey
Published: December 2021

Understanding how cells change their identity and behaviour in living systems is an important question in many fields of biology. The problem of inferring cell trajectories from single-cell measurements has been a major topic in the single-cell analysis community, with different methods developed for equilibrium and non-equilibrium systems (e.g. haematopoeisis vs. embryonic development). We show that optimal transport analysis, a technique originally designed for analysing time-courses, may also be applied to infer cellular trajectories from a single snapshot of a population in equilibrium. Therefore, optimal transport provides a unified approach to inferring trajectories that is applicable to both stationary and non-stationary systems. Our method, StationaryOT, is mathematically motivated in a natural way from the hypothesis of a Waddington’s epigenetic landscape. We implement StationaryOT as a software package and demonstrate its efficacy in applications to simulated data as well as single-cell data from Arabidopsis thaliana root development.
A machine learning pipeline for classification of cetacean echolocation clicks in large underwater acoustic datasets
Authors: Frasier Kaitlin E.
Published: December 2021

Machine learning algorithms, including recent advances in deep learning, are promising for tools for detection and classification of broadband high frequency signals in passive acoustic recordings. However, these methods are generally data-hungry and progress has been limited by challenges related to the lack of labeled datasets adequate for training and testing. Large quantities of known and as yet unidentified broadband signal types mingle in marine recordings, with variability introduced by acoustic propagation, source depths and orientations, and interacting signals. Manual classification of these datasets is unmanageable without an in-depth knowledge of the acoustic context of each recording location. A signal classification pipeline is presented which combines unsupervised and supervised learning phases with opportunities for expert oversight to label signals of interest. The method is illustrated with a case study using unsupervised clustering to identify five toothed whale echolocation click types and two anthropogenic signal categories. These categories are used to train a deep network to classify detected signals in either averaged time bins or as individual detections, in two independent datasets. Bin-level classification achieved higher overall precision (>99%) than click-level classification. However, click-level classification had the advantage of providing a label for every signal, and achieved higher overall recall, with overall precision from 92 to 94%. The results suggest that unsupervised learning is a viable solution for efficiently generating the large, representative training sets needed for applications of deep learning in passive acoustics.
MLL1 is required for maintenance of intestinal stem cells
Authors: Goveas Neha , Waskow Claudia , Arndt Kathrin , Heuberger Julian , Zhang Qinyu , Alexopoulou Dimitra , Dahl Andreas , Birchmeier Walter , Anastassiadis Konstantinos , Stewart A. Francis , Kranz Andrea
Published: December 2021

Epigenetic mechanisms are gatekeepers for the gene expression patterns that establish and maintain cellular identity in mammalian development, stem cells and adult homeostasis. Amongst many epigenetic marks, methylation of histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4) is one of the most widely conserved and occupies a central position in gene expression. Mixed lineage leukemia 1 (MLL1/KMT2A) is the founding mammalian H3K4 methyltransferase. It was discovered as the causative mutation in early onset leukemia and subsequently found to be required for the establishment of definitive hematopoiesis and the maintenance of adult hematopoietic stem cells. Despite wide expression, the roles of MLL1 in non-hematopoietic tissues remain largely unexplored. To bypass hematopoietic lethality, we used bone marrow transplantation and conditional mutagenesis to discover that the most overt phenotype in adult Mll1-mutant mice is intestinal failure. MLL1 is expressed in intestinal stem cells (ISCs) and transit amplifying (TA) cells but not in the villus. Loss of MLL1 is accompanied by loss of ISCs and a differentiation bias towards the secretory lineage with increased numbers and enlargement of goblet cells. Expression profiling of sorted ISCs revealed that MLL1 is required to promote expression of several definitive intestinal transcription factors including Pitx1, Pitx2, Foxa1, Gata4, Zfp503 and Onecut2, as well as the H3K27me3 binder, Bahcc1. These results were recapitulated using conditional mutagenesis in intestinal organoids. The stem cell niche in the crypt includes ISCs in close association with Paneth cells. Loss of MLL1 from ISCs promoted transcriptional changes in Paneth cells involving metabolic and stress responses. Here we add ISCs to the MLL1 repertoire and observe that all known functions of MLL1 relate to the properties of somatic stem cells, thereby highlighting the suggestion that MLL1 is a master somatic stem cell regulator.
bfc, a novel serpent co-factor for the expression of croquemort, regulates efferocytosis in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Zheng Qian , Gao Ning , Sun Qiling , Li Xiaowen , Wang Yanzhe , Xiao Hui
Published: December 2021

Efferocytosis is the process by which phagocytes recognize, engulf, and digest (or clear) apoptotic cells during development. Impaired efferocytosis is associated with developmental defects and autoimmune diseases. InDrosophila melanogaster, recognition of apoptotic cells requires phagocyte surface receptors, including the scavenger receptor CD36-related protein, Croquemort (Crq, encoded bycrq). In fact, Crq expression is upregulated in the presence of apoptotic cells, as well as in response to excessive apoptosis. Here, we identified a novel genebfc(booster for croquemort), which plays a role in efferocytosis, specifically the regulation of thecrqexpression. We found that Bfc protein interacts with the zinc finger domain of the GATA transcription factor Serpent (Srp), to enhance its direct binding to thecrqpromoter; thus, they function together in regulatingcrqexpression and efferocytosis. Overall, we show that Bfc serves as a Srp co-factor to upregulate the transcription of thecrqencoded receptor, and consequently boosts macrophage efferocytosis in response to excessive apoptosis. Therefore, this study clarifies how phagocytes integrate apoptotic cell signals to mediate efferocytosis.
The feasibility of field collected pig oronasal secretions as specimens for the virologic surveillance of Japanese encephalitis virus
Authors: Chiou Shyan-Song , Chen Jo-Mei , Chen Yi-Ying , Chia Min-Yuan , Fan Yi-Chin
Published: December 2021

Virologic surveillance of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) relies on collecting pig blood specimens and adult mosquitoes in the past. Viral RNAs extracted from pig blood specimens suffer from low detecting positivity by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). The oronasal transmission of the virus has been demonstrated in experimentally infected pigs. This observation suggested oronasal specimens could be useful source in the virus surveillance. However, the role of this unusual route of transmission remains unproven in the operational pig farm. In this study, we explore the feasibility of using pig oronasal secretions collected by chewing ropes to improve the positivity of detection in commercial pig farms. The multiplex genotype-specific RT-PCR was used in this study to determine and compare the positivity of detecting JEV viral RNAs in pig’s oronasal secretions and blood specimens, and the primary mosquito vector. Oronasal specimens had the overall positive rate of 6.0% (95% CI 1.3%–16.6%) (3/50) to 10.0% (95% CI 2.1%–26.5%) (3/30) for JEV during transmission period despite the negative results of all blood-derived specimens (n= 2442). Interestingly, pig oronasal secretions and femaleCulex tritaeniorhynchusmosquito samples collected from the same pig farm showed similar viral RNA positive rates, 10.0% (95% CI 2.1%–26.5%) (3/30) and 8.9% (95% CI 2.5%–21.2%) (4/45), respectively (p> 0.05). Pig oronasal secretion-based surveillance revealed the seasonality of viral activity and identified closely related genotype I virus derived from the mosquito isolates. This finding indicates oronasal secretion-based RT-PCR assay can be a non-invasive, alternative method of implementing JEV surveillance in the epidemic area prior to the circulation of virus-positive mosquitoes.
Psychological distress of patients with end-stage kidney disease undergoing dialysis during the 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic: A cross-sectional study in a University Hospital
Authors: Yu Jin Young , Kim Ji Sun , Hong Chae-Min , Lee Ka Young , Cho Nam-Jun , Park Samel , Gil Hyo-Wook , Lee Eun Young
Published: December 2021

Introduction

Previous studies have revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic can cause psychological distress such as depression and anxiety. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) might be more vulnerable to psychological distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its impact could be different according to dialysis modality. The aim of this study was to investigate COVID-19-related psychological stress experienced by end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients and identify differences in concerns about COVID-19 between hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 148 dialysis patients at Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital from August 2020 to September 2020. These patients responded to a questionnaire covering mental health status and COVID-19 related concerns. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia were measured using a 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), a 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale, a 22-item Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and a 7-item Insomnia severity Index (ISI), respectively. Outcomes of HD and PD patients were compared by propensity score matching analysis.

Results

Dialysis patients reported psychological distress including symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia. HD patients showed higher scores for depression (p = 0.018), anxiety(p = 0.005), stress(p<0.001), and insomnia(p = 0.006) than the PD patients. After propensity score matching, HD was associated with depression(p = 0.0131), anxiety(p = 0.0143), and stress(p = 0.000415).

Conclusion

Dialysis patients showed psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic period, with HD patients having more severe symptoms than PD patients.
Prediction of potential prognostic biomarkers in metastatic prostate cancer based on a circular RNA-mediated competing endogenous RNA regulatory network
Authors: Luo Liang , Zhang Lei-Lei , Tao Wen , Xia Tao-Lin , Li Liao-Yuan
Published: December 2021

Recently, studies on competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks have become prevalent, and circular RNAs (circRNAs) have crucial implications for the development and progression of carcinoma. However, studies relevant to metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa) are scant. This study aims to discover potential ceRNAs that may be related to the prognosis of mPCa. RNA-Seq data were obtained from the MiOncoCirc database and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Differential expression patterns of RNAs were examined using R packages. Circular RNA Interactome, miRTarBase, miRDB and TargetScan were applied to predict the corresponding relation between circRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs. The Gene Ontology (GO) annotations were performed to present related GO terms, and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) tools were applied for pathway annotations. Moreover, survival analysis was conducted for the hub genes. We found 820 circRNAs, 81 miRNAs and 179 mRNAs that were distinguishingly expressed between primary prostate cancer (PCa) and mPCa samples. A ceRNA network including 45 circRNAs, 24 miRNAs and 56 mRNAs was constructed. In addition, the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was built, and 10 hub genes were selected by using the CytoHubba application. Among the 10 hub genes, survival analysis showed that ITGA1, LMOD1, MYH11, MYLK, SORBS1 and TGFBR3 were significantly connected with disease-free survival (DFS). The circRNA-mediated ceRNA network provides potential prognostic biomarkers for metastatic prostate cancer.
Prevalence, types and severity of medication errors associated with the use of automated medication use systems in ambulatory and institutionalized care settings: A systematic review protocol
Authors: Yusuff Kazeem Babatunde , Mustafa Mariam , Al-Qahtani Najla Hezam
Published: December 2021

The use of automated systems within the medication use process has significantly reduce the occurrence of medication errors and the associated clinical and financial burden. However, automated systems lull into a false sense of security and increase the risk of medication errors that are often associated with socio-technical interactions, automation bias, workarounds and overrides. The objective of the systematic review is to determine the prevalence, types and severity of medication errors that are associated the use of automated systems in ambulatory and institutionalized care settings. The search strategy will be guided by PRISMA framework. Selected databases and relevant gray literature were searched and screening was done independently by two researchers between 01 April and 29 June 2021. These covered all relevant articles published from the inception of the use of automation in the medication use process (2000) until 2020. De-duplication and screening of all studies were done independently by two researchers with a clear inclusion / exclusion criteria. Data extraction and synthesis are currently on going (started on 06 July 2021) and being conducted independently but the validity and completeness of the processes will be confirmed by the third researcher. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and the Hoy et al’s quality assessment checklist will be used for the assessment of methodological bias while the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system will be used for the quality of evidence assessment. Detailed qualitative synthesis of key findings will be done with thematic and descriptive analyses. If the number and types of included studies permit, fixed or random effect model meta-analysis will be conducted based on the degree of homogeneity in the sampling frame used in the included studies. Heterogeneity will be assessed with I2 statistics and I2 > 50% will be considered a high statistical heterogeneity. The systematic review may provide new perspective especially from developing settings about the prevalence, types and severity of medication errors associated with the use of automated systems at all the stages of medication use process, and in all categories of patients. This may add to global knowledge in the research area. Systematic review registration: The systematic review was registered and published by PROSPERO (CRD42020212900).
Current practices of management of maternal and congenital Cytomegalovirus infection during pregnancy after a maternal primary infection occurring in first trimester of pregnancy: Systematic review
Authors: Périllaud-Dubois Claire , Belhadi Drifa , Laouénan Cédric , Mandelbrot Laurent , Picone Olivier , Vauloup-Fellous Christelle
Published: December 2021

Introduction

Congenital CMV infection is the first worldwide cause of congenital viral infection but systematic screening of pregnant women and newborns for CMV is still debated in many countries.

Objectives

This systematic review aims to provide the state of the art on current practices concerning management of maternal and congenital CMV infection during pregnancy, after maternal primary infection (PI) in first trimester of pregnancy.

Data sources

Electronically searches on databases and hand searches in grey literature.

Study eligibility criteria and participants

Primary outcome was listing biological, imaging, and therapeutic management interventions in two distinct populations: population 1 are pregnant women with PI, before or without amniocentesis; population 2 are pregnant women with congenitally infected fetuses (after positive amniocentesis). Secondary outcome was pregnancy outcome in population 2.

Results

Out of 4,134 studies identified, a total of 31 studies were analyzed, with 3,325 pregnant women in population 1 and 1,021 pregnant women in population 2, from 7 countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Spain and USA). In population 1, ultrasound (US) examination frequency was 0.75/month, amniocentesis in 82% cases, maternal viremia in 14% and preventive treatment with hyperimmune globulins (HIG) or valaciclovir in respectively 14% and 4% women. In population 2, US examination frequency was 1.5/month, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 44% cases at 32 weeks gestation (WG), fetal blood sampling (FBS) in 24% at 28 WG, and curative treatment with HIG or valaciclovir in respectively 9% and 8% patients.

Conclusions

This systematic review illustrates management of maternal and congenital CMV during pregnancy in published and non-published literature, in absence of international consensus.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO CRD42019124342
Antiviral RNA interference in disease vector (Asian longhorned) ticks
Authors: Xu Yan , Zhong Zhengwei , Ren Yanxin , Ma Liting , Ye Zhi , Gao Chuang , Wang Jingwen , Li Yang
Published: December 2021

Disease vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks play a major role in the emergence and re-emergence of human and animal viral pathogens. Compared to mosquitoes, however, much less is known about the antiviral responses of ticks. Here we showed that Asian longhorned ticks (Haemaphysalis longicornis) produced predominantly 22-nucleotide virus-derived siRNAs (vsiRNAs) in response to severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV, an emerging tick-borne virus), Nodamura virus (NoV), or Sindbis virus (SINV) acquired by blood feeding. Notably, experimental acquisition of NoV and SINV by intrathoracic injection also initiated viral replication and triggered the production of vsiRNAs in H. longicornis. We demonstrated that a mutant NoV deficient in expressing its viral suppressor of RNAi (VSR) replicated to significantly lower levels than wildtype NoV in H. longicornis, but accumulated to higher levels after knockdown of the tick Dicer2-like protein identified by phylogeny comparison. Moreover, the expression of a panel of known animal VSRs in cis from the genome of SINV drastically enhanced the accumulation of the recombinant viruses. This study establishes a novel model for virus-vector-mouse experiments with longhorned ticks and provides the first in vivo evidence for an antiviral function of the RNAi response in ticks. Interestingly, comparing the accumulation levels of SINV recombinants expressing green fluorescent protein or SFTSV proteins identified the viral non-structural protein as a putative VSR. Elucidating the function of ticks’ antiviral RNAi pathway in vivo is critical to understand the virus-host interaction and the control of tick-borne viral pathogens.
Increase in cardioprotective SUR2A does not alter heart rate and heart rate regulation by physical activity and diurnal rhythm
Authors: Sudhir Rajni , Jaafar Nadim , Du Qingyou , Sukhodub Andriy , Jovanović Sofija , Kreouzi Magdalini , Jovanović Aleksandar
Published: December 2021

Objectives

SUR2A is an ABC protein serving as a regulatory subunit of ATP-sensitive (KATP) channels. An increase in SUR2A levels is cardioprotective and it is a potential therapeutic strategy against ischaemic heart disease, heart failure and other diseases. However, whether overexpression of this protein has any adverse effects is yet to be fully understood. Here, we examined the heart rate and the heart rate diurnal variation in mice overexpressing SUR2A (SUR2A+) and their littermate controls (WT) using ECG telemetry that was continuously recorded for 14 days (days 8–23 post-radiotransmitter implantation).

Methods

Using SigmaPlot 14.0 and Microsoft Excel, Area Under the Curve (AUC) for each parameter was calculated and plotted in a graph.

Results

Both WT and SUR2A+ mice were more physically active during nights and there were no significant differences between two phenotypes. Physical activity was associated with increased heart rate in both phenotypes, but there were no differences in heart rate between phenotypes irrespective of physical activity or time of the day. A diurnal heart rate variation was preserved in the SUR2A+ mice. As area under the curve (AUC) analysis has the potential to reveal differences that are invisible with other statistical methods, we compared AUC of heart rate in SUR2A+ and WT mice. This analysis did not yield anything different from traditional analysis.

Conclusions

We conclude that increased SUR2A levels are not associated with changes in physical activity, heart rate and/or circadian rhythm influence on the heart rate. This lack of adverse effects supports a notion that manipulation with SUR2A levels is a promising cardioprotective strategy.
Sign-Objects Among Neolithic Faunal Remains, Visible Symbols
Authors: Hachem Lamys
Published: December 2021

The purpose of this article is to present an inventory of certain faunal remains from Linearbandkeramic (LBK) settlements in the Paris Basin (Ile-de-France, Hauts-de-France and Champagne) that seem to belong to a particular category, that of “sign-objects,” in other words, tangible evidence intended to be shown and directly interpretable by an observer belonging to the society which produced them. Based on three categories of archaeological contexts, a ceremonial enclosure, settlements and graves, we will attempt to highlight the species that were important to Neolithic society. Two of them, the domestic cattle and the aurochs, are particularly involved in the deposits through the exhibition of their bones or their horn cores. Sheep and roe deer are also involved through, for example, transformed bones such as perforated tibias or sharpened roe deer antlers. The results of the analysis were integrated into an archaeological model previously developed to approach the social structure of the Neolithic society.
Legacy in the Making – A Knowledge Infrastructural Perspective on Systems for Archeological Information Sharing
Authors: Börjesson Lisa
Published: December 2021

Archeological research depends on a complex infrastructure of information systems and services built on different funding models. The information systems enable innovative approaches and progress in information making, but each system also organizes information by means of the system design, the structures, and relations established and the terminologies promoted. This article adopts a knowledge infrastructural perspective on systems used for information sharing in archeology. The purpose is first to expand the perspective on the systems for research information sharing in archeology and second to discuss the potential impact of the knowledge infrastructure on disciplinary knowledge-making, the shaping of archeological information, and legacy data. Based on an analysis of qualitative interviews (N= 31) with archeologists from Europe and the United States, the results show that the interviewees use sharing solutions developed within the archeology discipline as well as general information sharing systems. One important task for further research is to better understand how archeologists choose information sharing systems and how their choices impact what information they share. Also, information sharing for specific topics or with specific coverage appears to be developed with project funding outside of the more established sharing institutions. A key question for the infrastructural sustainability is how to support the inclusion of innovative sharing solutions in institutionalized sharing environments. The results emphasize the need for further studies of how information systems shape archeological legacy in the making, which in turn will support data literacy awareness and training.
Chalcogenative spirocyclization of N-aryl propiolamides with diselenides/disulfides promoted by Selectfluor
Authors: Yuan Jin-Wei , Huang Guang-Chao , Wang Li-Li , Wang Xin-Yuan , Yang Liang-Ru , Zhang Shou-Ren , Mao Pu , Xiao Yong-Mei , Qu Ling-Bo
Published: December 2021

A practical and efficient synthetic route to construct a variety of 3-arylselenenyl/3-arylthio spiro[4.5]trienones was developed using Selectfluor reagent as a mild oxidant. This reaction proceeds via a sequence of electrophilic cation addition, spirocyclization and dearomatization, then offers an approach to introduce Se/S-centered cation into the C–C triple bonds. The utility of this protocol were justified by the excellent compatibility of a wide range of functional groups, good yields and scalability under mild reaction conditions.
Effects of Tirofiban and Nicorandil on Effective Reperfusion and the Levels of IL-4 and sICAM-1 After PCI for Chronic Coronary Total Occlusion
Authors: Li Jia-Min , Ding Wen-Yuan , Zheng Fei , Jia Yan-ying , Wang Li-Li , Wei Xin-Yi , Zhang Ming-Ming , Li Cuihua , Li Guo-Hua
Published: December 2021

Aim: The effects of tirofiban combined with nicorandil on effective reperfusion, and the levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic coronary total occlusion (CTO) were investigated.

Method: From January 1, 2017, to June 31, 2019, a total of 40 patients with CTO receiving PCI in Shandong Qianfoshan Hospital were randomly divided into a control group (treated with single tirofiban) and a cocktail group (treated with nicorandil combined with tirofiban). Effective reperfusion was compared between groups. In addition, differences in coronary serum IL-4 and sICAM-1 levels before and 10 min after the operation were compared between groups, and the incidence rates of adverse reactions were observed. Finally, patient follow-up occurred at 1 month and 6 months, and the total incidence rates of adverse cardiac events in both groups were assessed.

Results: The levels of IL-4 and sICAM-1 in the cocktail group significantly decreased after the operation (P<0.05). In addition, after the operation, significantly greater decreases in the IL-4 and sICAM-1 levels were observed in the cocktail group than the control group (P<0.05). The Seattle Angina Scale (SAQ) score of the cocktail group, compared with the control group, showed a significant improvement after vessel opening in the patients with CTO. At the 1-month follow-up, the SAQ score of the cocktail group, compared with the control group, indicated further improvements in terms of angina attack frequency. No significant differences were observed in the incidence rates of adverse reactions between groups (P>0.05).

Conclusion: The treatment of patients with CTO undergoing PCI with nicorandil and tirofiban alleviated the inflammatory response, improved the SAQ scores, and decreased the occurrence of angina pectoris in patients. Moreover, this treatment is safe and reliable, and has important clinical significance.
Drug-Induced Hyperglycemia as a Potential Contributor to Translational Failure of Uncompetitive NMDA Receptor Antagonists
Authors: Wang Eric Yuhsiang , Lai Ted Weita
Published: December 2021

Hyperglycemia is a comorbidity in 60–80% of stroke patients; nevertheless, neuroprotective drugs like NMDA receptor (NMDAR) antagonists are typically assessed in normoglycemic animals at the preclinical stage before they are approved to enter clinical trials. Interestingly, as a possible explanation for the translational failure of NMDAR antagonists, it was recently reported that stroke occurring during nighttime causes smaller infarctions in rodents and therefore has a smaller window for neuroprotection. To investigate why stroke occurring during different circadian phases confers a difference in severity, we reanalyzed the published source data and found that some mice that were used in the daytime have higher blood glucose than mice that were used in the nighttime. We then repeated the experiments but found no difference in blood glucose concentration or infarct volume regardless of the circadian phase during which stroke occurs. On the other hand, induction of hyperglycemia by glucose injection reproducibly increased stroke severity. Moreover, although hyperglycemia increases infarction volume, which presumably would provide a larger window for neuroprotection, uncompetitive NMDAR antagonists were unexpectedly found to exacerbate stroke outcome by worsening hyperglycemia. Taken together, our new data and reanalysis of the published source data suggested that blood glucose during stroke, rather than the circadian phase during which stroke occurs, affects the size of the ischemic infarction; moreover, we have revealed drug-induced hyperglycemia as a potential reason for the translational failure of uncompetitive NMDAR antagonists. Future trials for this class of neuroprotective drugs should monitor patients’ blood glucose at enrollment and exclude hyperglycemic patients.
The Superior Parietal Lobule of Macaque Monkey: Relative Influence of Gaze and Static Arm Position during Reaching
Authors: De Vitis Marina , Tabanelli Marta , Breveglieri Rossella , Filippini Matteo , Galletti Claudio , Fattori Patrizia
Published: December 2021

The superior parietal lobule (SPL) integrates somatosensory, motor, and visual signals to dynamically control arm movements. During reaching, visual and gaze signals are used to guide the hand to the desired target location, while proprioceptive signals allow to correct arm trajectory, and keep the limb in the final position at the end of the movement. Three SPL areas are particularly involved in this process: V6A, PEc, PE. Here, we evaluated the influence of eye and arm position on single neuron activity of these areas during the holding period at the end of arm reaching movements, when the arm is motionless and gaze and hand positions are aligned. Two male macaques (Macaca fascicularis) performed a foveal reaching task while single unit activity was recorded from areas V6A, PEc, and PE. We found that at the end of reaching movements the neurons of all these areas were modulated by both eye position and static position of the arm. V6A and PEc showed a prevalent combination of gaze and proprioceptive input, while PE seemed to encode these signals more independently. Our results demonstrate that all these SPL areas combine gaze and proprioceptive input to provide an accurate monitoring of arm movements.
Perceptual Texture Dimensions Modulate Neuronal Response Dynamics in Visual Cortical Area V4
Authors: Kim Taekjun , Bair Wyeth , Pasupathy Anitha
Published: December 2021

Texture is an important visual attribute for surface pattern discrimination and therefore object segmentation, but the neural bases of texture perception are largely unknown. Previously, we demonstrated that the responses of V4 neurons to naturalistic texture patches are sensitive to four key features of human texture perception: coarseness, directionality, regularity, and contrast. To begin to understand how distinct texture perception emerges from the dynamics of neuronal responses, in 2 macaque monkeys (1 male, 1 female), we investigated the relative contribution of the four texture attributes to V4 responses in terms of the strength and timing of response modulation. We found that the different feature dimensions are associated with different temporal dynamics. Specifically, the response modulation associated with directionality and regularity was significantly delayed relative to that associated with coarseness and contrast, suggesting that the latter are fundamentally simpler feature dimensions. The population of texture-selective neurons could be grouped into multiple clusters based on the combination of feature dimensions encoded, and those subpopulations displayed distinct temporal dynamics characterized by the weighted combinations of multiple features. Finally, we applied a population decoding approach to demonstrate that texture category information can be obtained from short temporal windows across time. These results demonstrate that the representation of different perceptually relevant texture features emerge over time in the responses of V4 neurons. The observed temporal organization provides a framework to interpret how the processing of surface features unfolds in early and midlevel cortical stages, and could ultimately inform the interpretation of perceptual texture dynamics.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTTo delineate how neuronal responses underlie our ability to perceive visual textures, we related four key perceptual dimensions (coarseness, directionality, regularity, and contrast) of naturalistic textures to the strength and timing of modulation of neuronal responses in area V4, an intermediate stage in the form-processing, ventral visual pathway. Our results provide the first characterization of V4 temporal dynamics for texture encoding along perceptually defined axes.
Be Wary of Anniversaries
Authors: Dickinson Kay
Published: December 2021

The uprisings categorized as the “Arab Spring” were not spontaneous events. To make them seem so is to marginalize the lineage of activism that brought them into being. Within cinema, this decades-long struggle has been invigorated by militant manifesto writing, collective film production, and the development of viewing communities dedicated to Third World liberation, often infrastructurally supported by now vanquished nationalized post- and anticolonial institutions. Barra fi al-Shari‘/Out on the Street (Jamina Metwaly and Philip Rizk, 2015) catalyzes many of these revolutionary histories. Drawing on archival and shared footage dedicated to fighting for workers’ rights, the film’s communally conceived plot pivots around a factory takeover. The narrative is carried by contributors whom the filmmakers call “en-actors.” These en-actors both restage the violence exerted upon them by managers and the police and exemplify how cinema can become a form of training–for those on screen and in the audience–for future revolutionary action.
Frequent SLC12A3 mutations in Chinese Gitelman syndrome patients: structure and function disorder
Authors: Jiang Lanping , Peng Xiaoyan , Zhao Bingbin , Zhang Lei , Xu Lubin , Li Xuemei , Nie Min , Chen Limeng
Published: December 2021

Purposes

This study was conducted to identify the frequent mutations from reported Chinese Gitelman syndrome (GS) patients, to predict the three-dimensional structure change of human Na–Cl co-transporter (hNCC), and to test the activity of these mutations and some novel mutations in vitro and in vivo.

Methods

SLC12A3 gene mutations in Chinese GS patients previously reported in the PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang database were summarized. Predicted configurations of wild type (WT) and mutant proteins were achieved using the I-TASSER workplace. Six missense mutations (T60M, L215F, D486N, N534K, Q617R, and R928C) were generated by site-directed mutagenesis. 22Na+ uptake experiment was carried out in the Xenopus laevisoocyte expression system. In the study, 35 GS patients and 20 healthy volunteers underwent the thiazide test.

Results

T60M, T163M, D486N, R913Q, R928C, and R959frameshift were frequent SLC12A3 gene mutations (mutated frequency >3%) in 310 Chinese GS families. The protein’s three-dimensional structure was predicted to be altered in all mutations. Compared with WT hNCC, the thiazide-sensitive 22Na+ uptake was significantly diminished for all six mutations: T60M 22 ± 9.2%, R928C 29 ± 12%, L215F 38 ± 14%, N534K 41 ± 15.5%, Q617R 63 ± 22.1%, and D486N 77 ± 20.4%. In thiazide test, the net increase in chloride fractional excretion in 20 healthy controls was significantly higher than GS patients with or without T60M or D486N mutations.

Conclusions

Frequent mutations (T60M, D486N, and R928C) and novel mutations (L215F, N534K, and Q617R) lead to protein structure alternation and protein dysfunction verified by 22Na+ uptake experiment in vitro and thiazide test on the patients.
FURFURAL, HYDROXYMETHYLFURFURAL AND FUROSINE AS MAILLARD REACTION MARKERS IN FRUIT BASED FOODS INCLUDING JAMS AND BABY FOOD
Authors: Nowak Agnieszka , Janoszka Beata , Szumska Magdalena , Tyrpień-Golder Krystyna
Published: December 2021

The Maillard reaction occurs between amino acids and reducing sugars and goes through a series of reactions to form various products (MRPs – Maillard reaction products). The reaction is well-known for browning it causes in thermally treated foodstuffs. Many factors influence the type of MRPs formed: pH, sugar content, and processing conditions (temperature, pressure, duration). The compounds formed exhibit different biological properties, some are harmful to organisms and some are considered to be beneficial.
MRPs may also occur in jams and fruit-based baby foods at the level of mg/100 g. As these products are popular among consumers at every age including babies, many studies focus on the evaluation of Maillard reaction on their quality. In this review we have discussed the occurrence, factors affecting the process of formation of chosen MRPs, furosine and hydroxymethylfufural, in fruit jams as well as their influence on the organism.
CYANOGENIC GLYCOSIDES - THEIR ROLE AND POTENTIAL IN PLANT FOOD RESOURCES
Authors: Harenčár Ľubomír , Razna Katarina , Nôžková Janka
Published: December 2021

Plants have metabolites and mechanisms that provide them with the basic building blocks for germination, growth, and reproduction processes, while providing them with protection and increasing their adaptation to environmental stresses. Due to their multifunctional significance, cyanogenic glycosides (CNG) indicate the importance of their role in the plant organism. Their diversity and biochemical origin are worth noting. Paradoxically, several nutritionally important food sources of plant origin are characterized by the presence of cyanogenic glycosides in various tissues. Processing approaches of plant food resources ensure a reduction in the content of these ingredients to an acceptable safe level. Different bacteria-based biotechnological processes are applied to minimize the content of CNG in food products. For the usability and identification of the added value of plant food resources, it is important to know the functions and importance of antinutritional components of metabolism with a consequent impact on nutrition and health. In the review we provided a comprehensive view of the importance and potential of CNG in plants with a focus on food sources, where the model object was presented by linseed.
Bulbophyllum karbianglongensis (Orchidaceae, Epidendroideae), a new species from Assam, India
Authors: Gogoi Khyanjeet , Hondiqui Rituraj
Published: December 2021

A new epiphytic Bulbophyllum belonging to section Cirrhopetaloides is described from tropical mixed evergreen forests of Karbi Anglong (Assam, India) with coloured photographs and line drawings. It is allied to the Bulbophyllum bicolor, B. venulosum and B. blaoense, but differs in the size and shape of pseudobulbs, the shape of the leaf blade, and flower size. A detailed description with corresponding color photos and information on the habitat is provided.
Responsabilidade Social da Educação Superior: Implicações para Estudantes e Comunidade Externa
Authors: Vilela Nágila Giovanna Silva
Published: December 2021

Os estudos teóricos sobre responsabilidades social começaram a surgir na década de 1950 e ganharam destaque a partir da década de 1970. A definição desse termo é ampla e não há consenso sobre o que definitivamente é a responsabilidade social. No Brasil, a norma ABNT NBR ISO 26000 contém as diretrizes sobre responsabilidade social, conceituando-a como a responsabilidade de uma organização pelas consequências de sua atuação na sociedade e no meio ambiente, por meio de um comportamento íntegro. Quando se trata de instituições de ensino superior, a responsabilidade social possui suas especificidades, pois, nesses casos ela deve estar associada ao tripé ensino, pesquisa e extensão. Nesse sentido, o objetivo do presente artigo é analisar quais ações de responsabilidade social da Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR) possuem implicações para os estudantes e a comunidade externa. A fim de atingir esse objetivo, foi feita uma pesquisa no sítio eletrônico da universidade, e, em seguida, realizou-se análise de conteúdo das informações encontradas.  Foram identificadas diversas ações de responsabilidade social da UFPR, comprovando que a universidade se preocupa com o bem-estar dos estudantes e da comunidade em seu entorno.  Ao final, são ressaltadas algumas limitações do estudo e sugeridas possibilidades de investigação futura.
Educação financeira e decisões financeiras e de consumo dos acadêmicos de um curso de administração
Authors: Santos Slaira Dienifer , Gresele Wanderson Dutra , Walter Silvana Anita
Published: December 2021

O objetivo deste estudo é analisar se existe diferença entre os acadêmicos do curso de Administração da UNIOESTE, Campus Marechal Cândido Rondon – PR, quanto à educação financeira e as decisões financeiras e de consumo. A fundamentação teórica deste estudo foi elaborada descrevendo os conceitos de Educação e Decisão financeira e ainda, uma seção sobre pesquisas já realizadas em relação a este mesmo tema. O método utilizado na pesquisa seguiu uma abordagem quantitativa, com coleta de dados através de questionários, caracterizando-a como de levantamento. Referente à classificação, é uma pesquisa descritiva, por relatar, descrever, e comparar dados de uma população específica. Quantos aos resultados, foi possível identificar que, embora vários fatores possam influenciar as decisões financeiras, a presente pesquisa apreende que a família possui um relacionamento positivo fraco com o conhecimento financeiro e que quanto mais conhecimento aprendido na faculdade o indivíduo possui a respeito de finanças, menos propenso ao risco ele está.
Tomadas de decisão baseado em análises estratégicas: estudo de caso em uma microempresa de biotecnologia
Authors: Siqueira Paulo Henrique de Lima , Nunes Felipe Alexandre de Souza Félix
Published: December 2021

A estratégia é um conceito essencial em qualquer empresa, de qualquer porte. No entanto é preciso entender melhor o impacto do uso das ferramentas de análise para formulação de um planejamento para Micro e Pequenas Empresas. O objetivo desse traballho foi o de compreender os processos de administração estratégica como meios de alavancar o desempenho de micro e pequenas empresas, observando a utilização de ferramentas de análise das estratégias por uma Micro Empresa do setor de biotecnologia, que tem como base o uso de novas tecnologias para criação de vantagem competitiva. Os resultados desse estudo de caso mostraram que, após identificar as oportunidades, a empresa estudada fez um contrato de prestação de serviços técnicos com a financiadora do novo projeto, que precisou recorrer aos conhecimentos oferecidos para introduzir um novo sistema de diagnóstico no mercado. A proposta em questão oferecia a firma estudada acesso à tecnologia exclusiva, em um segmento com altas barreiras de entrada, em contrapartida a empresa utilizaria o alto grau de conhecimento técnico aliado à compreensão do funcionamento da complexa legislação brasileira para lançamento de produtos no setor de saúde pública.