bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Allegory and the Matter of Poetics: Dante as a Case Study in Giovanni Boccaccio’s and Leonardo Bruni’s Perspectives
Authors: Bertolio Johnny L.
Published: May 2022

The question of whether or not to read poetry through an allegorizing lens had significant implications in the Middle Ages. The identification of allegories in a poetical text was highlighted by early supporters of poetry as the primary means of legitimizing the craft; regardless of whether a poet quoted a pagan god or a mythological figure, the true challenge was to find the real meaning beneath the surface. This approach—one embraced by Giovanni Boccaccio—offered a wealth of samples to the earliest readers of Dante’s Divine Comedy. At the end of the fourteenth century, some humanists started to call into question the theological stance on which the allegorical interpretations were based. In order to promote the autonomous status of poetry, literati of the calibre of Leonardo Bruni maintained that allegory was a double-edged sword. Inspired by Plato’s refusal of allegory, Bruni encouraged the reading of literary texts free from the restrictions of a theoretical superstructure. For proponents of these opposing tendencies, Dante represented a true case study, for he was both a theorist and a poet in his own right and could therefore nourish the reflections formulated by both camps.
Incidencia de la recaudación tributaria sobre el valor agregado bruto de la provincia de El Oro, periodo 2009 – 2019
Authors: Nuñez-Sarango Elizabeth , Sotomayor-Pereira Jorge
Published: May 2022

Los egresos por inversion y gasto público se planifican cada año en el presupuesto general del Estado ecuatoriano el cual es financiado en gran parte por los impuestos. Estudios anteriores manifiestan la relación teórica y empírica entre las recaudaciones tributarias y el crecimiento economico. Es por ello que la presente investigación, tiene por finalidad determinar la incidencia de la recaudación tributaria sobre el Valor agregado bruto de la provincia de El Oro durante el periodo 2009-2019. Para esto se aplicó el modelo econometrico Mínimos Cuadrados Ordinarios Completamente Modificados (FMOLS) con datos estadísticos publicados por las instituciones públicas del Ecuador: el Servicio de Rentas Internas y el Banco Central del Ecuador. Los resultados exponen que el impuesto con mayor influencia en el crecimiento económico de la provincia de El Oro es el Régimen impositivo simplicado (RISE), esta variable guarda una relación directa, dicho de otro modo, un aumento en un punto porcentual representa un incremento de (0,39%) en el VAB. El gobierno debe de impulsar la dinamización económica de las diferentes ramas de actividades para garantizar el consumo de bienes y servicios nacionales para todos ciudadanos, mientras exista mayor gasto de parte de ellos se tendrá consolidada una base imponible donde gravar impuestos e igual debe fortalecer el sistema tributario para atenuar la evasión y elusión de impuestos.
Efectos de las herramientas de marketing ecológico en la decisión de compra en la industria del agua embotellada
Authors: Bonilla-Cruz Heidy , Bravo-Araujo Kevin , Sánchez-González Irene
Published: May 2022

La presente investigación tiene como objetivo principal analizar la influencia de las herramientas del marketing ecológico sobre la decisión de compra del consumidor. Se analiza las relaciones de los constructos: etiqueta ecológica, imagen de marca, publicidad verde, se aplica la metodología cuantitativa con una muestra de 385 consumidores de agua embotellada en la provincia del El Oro, contrastado a través un análisis factorial exploratorio y confirmatorio, con el software PLS, los resultados señalan que las herramientas de marketing ecológico tienen un efecto positivo en la decisión de compra del consumidor. Finalmente, mediante esta investigación se obtiene una mejor visión de cómo una empresa aplicando publicidad verde logra tener un impacto efectivo ante las necesidades de los consumidores, especialmente en relación con la rama del marketing ecológico. Por este motivo, existe un interés científico por la investigación, haciendo énfasis en la concientización, promoción y cuidado del medio ambiente en torno a la industria de agua embotellada, plasmando una guía para futuras investigaciones.
USING TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTED STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE PRE-SERVICE TEACHER PREPARATION IN SOCIAL STUDIES
Authors: Bafumo Mary Ellen , Noel Andrea M.
Published: May 2022

The National Assessment of Educational Progress shows that many US students are deficient in core knowledge in geography, civics and current events. In this paper, a professor of social studies methods describes an action research project developed to assess and improve teacher candidates’ knowledge in these areas. The article explains how data were collected, analyzed and interpreted to yield three concrete, easy to implement teaching strategies that substantially improved students’ knowledge in geography, civics and current events. These strategies can be used in other subject areas as well. The research method and the resulting three strategies are described in detail.
REFLECTING ON EVIDENCE: LEADERS USE ACTION RESEARCH TO IMPROVE THEIR TEACHER PERFORMANCE REVIEWS
Authors: Piggot-Irvine Eileen
Published: May 2022

The paper reports on an action research (AR) project with six public high school leaders (reviewers) who volunteered to engage in an 18 month project to overcome their own defensiveness in addressing concerns with teachers (reviewees) whose performance they were evaluating. In the paper I outline how I acted as a coach in a long-term development approach where participant ownership of focus, data collection, analysis and interpretation was given highest priority. An exploration of the AR approach adopted, and the theory and strategies for addressing concerns is provided. The strategies may likely be a new, unique, contribution for many reviewers. A transcript of one reviewer-reviewee discussion sets the scene for an outline of reviewer tracking of their implementation strategies for improvement and subsequent evaluation. The final part of the paper covers a meta-level discussion of outcomes associated with the overall evaluation findings. Positive outcomes were shown for four of the six leaders for enhanced employment of strategies.
ACTION: EQUAL & OPPOSITE
Authors: Clausen Kurt W.
Published: May 2022

In rare company, I jokingly refer to myself as a “Recovering Elitist Academic Researcher” (or R.E.A.R. for short). What I mean by this is that I was trained to stand apart as a scholar from my subject and examine it like I was getting ready to estimate and split up a diamond. And this is what I had done for the first few years of my career. An educational historian by trade, it was quite easy for me to combine people into groups, or movements, or schools of thought, countries, or even cultures. I, of course, felt that my job was to record as objectively as possible the world around me. I was in the world, but not of the world. It was in this way that I could remain aloof and write the truth…
Benati, A. G. (2015). Key methods in second language acquisition research. Bristol, CT: Equinox.
Authors: Eliot Wendy
Published: May 2022

Benati’s short book of 166 pages divides eight chapters into three organizational sections: key stages in second language research, key methodological frameworks, and mixed frameworks, and psychological methods. Four chapters are particularly interesting for the readership of this journal.
Theological knowledge internalization in man and sin doctrine learning
Authors: Mary Eirene , Udau Samuel , Darmawan I Putu Ayub
Published: May 2022

The learning pattern of the Dogmatics course tends to be directed at mastering and memorizing Christian doctrines, and participants find it difficult to connect Christian doctrines learned to real-life realities. The course materials become things to memorize, not things to believe. In the Dogmatics learning process, a learning pattern that can improve understanding of course materials and be applied in everyday life is needed. This research aims to describe the application of the combined teaching method to improve participants' understanding of course materials and to be able to relate them to daily life. It is descriptive &qualitative research. The research was conducted at Simpson Theological Seminary Ungaran on the odd semester of 2020/2021 Academic Year. The objects of this research were 15 participants and lecturers of Christian Religious Education major participating in the Dogmatics I course. The results show that applying a combination of lecture and Q&A methods could improve participants' understanding of course material and connect lecture material to daily life. Evaluation of learning outcomes showed a good level of understanding of the course material, in which participants could connect the concepts in learning to everyday life
An analysis of students’ Grammar mastery in writing recount text
Authors: Agustam Ainun Nur Oktaviani , Salija Kisman , Talib Ahmad
Published: May 2022

The present study aims to find out the students’ ability to write recount text and find out the students’ grammar mastery in writing recount text, and how the grammar errors that the students make relate to their recount text production. This research used mixed methods. A writing test was implemented as the instrument in this research. The population of this research was the tenth-grade students of one of the public senior high schools in Gowa regency, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Thirty students were chosen randomly using a convenience sampling approach. The researchers found that the students could construct recount text well in analyzing the data. This research also showed that all the samples achieved the minimum completeness criteria that the school determines. The sample applied grammar in recount text, including simple past tense, past continuous tense, past perfect tense, past future tense, verb conjugation, and auxiliary verb. The students' recount text had grammatical problems. Intralingual errors caused most of the errors that showed in students' recount text. It occurs because students may lack experience and knowledge of English grammar, which differs from the grammar of their native tongue. As a result, students should enhance their writing skills and practice more, especially while producing recount texts
Kazakhstani archeology: in the shadows of soviet legacy and polity of nation-building
Authors: Bigozhin Ulan
Published: May 2022

The archeology of Kazakhstan is one of the most dynamic, if not the most publicly visible and dynamic anthropological sub-disciplines in this post-Soviet Central Asian country today. The Kazakhstani state and elite pay a lot of attention to archeology through different programs and grants. However, I argue that: after becoming independent more than thirty years ago, Kazakhstani archeology still demonstrates a strong attachment to Russian archeology as with the former academic metropole, in some sense operates in many ways in the shadows of the Soviet legacy; archeology is still heavily dependent on state ideology or used by it as a nation-building tool.

Археология Казахстана сегодня является одной из, если не самой публичной и динамичной антропо-логической субдисциплиной в этой постсоветской среднеазиатской стране. Казахстанское государство и элита уделяют большое внимание археологии через различные программы и гранты. Однако я утвер-ждаю, что: став независимой более тридцати лет назад, казахстанская археология по-прежнему демон-стрирует сильную привязанность к российской археологии, как к бывшей академической метрополии, в некотором смысле действует во многом в тени советского наследия; археология по-прежнему сильно зависит от государственной идеологии или используется ею как инструмент национального строитель-ства.
Доверие и власть в Центральной Евразии
Authors: Лью Морган И.
Published: May 2022

Негосударственные акторы играют все более важную роль в обществах и экономиках Центральной Евразии, иногда предлагая услуги местным сообществам, которые должны оказывать государства. Эти акторы часто являются покровителями, способными предоставлять значительные ресурсы че-рез отношения взаимных обязательств и доверия. Однако они не в полной мере осмыслены учеными как выражение тенденции, которая имеет важные следствия в отношении форм, которые сегодня принимает власть в регионе. В эссе описываются несколько примеров этих локальных формаций доверия и власти. Они рассматриваются как постколониальные антропологические проблемы, тре-бующие исследования.

Non-state actors are playing increasingly important roles in the societies and economies of Central Eurasia, sometimes offering services to local communities that states are expected to provide. These actors are often patrons able to organize considerable resources through relations of mutual obligation and trust, yet they may not be fully recognized by scholars as a consequential trend concerning the forms that power takes in the region today. The essay reviews several examples of these local formations of trust and power, and considers them as postcolonial, anthropological problems to investigate.
Мое мнение и оценка существующих связей между этнографией/антропологией Центральной (Евр)азии и (пост)колониализмом
Authors: Пешкова СветЛана
Published: May 2022

Между этнографией/антропологией Центральной (Евр)Азии и колониализмом существуют сложные и на первый взгляд парадоксальные связи. Имперские амбиции России и завоевание региона помогли наделили этнографию законным статусом как научную дисциплину. В то же время, описывая различия между людьми и бытом (образом жизни), чувствами и ценностями этих периферийных населений, этнография Центральной (Евр)Азии всегда противоречила, даже если и не намеренно, предположению об универсальности, когда речь шла о европейских, российских или советских ценностях и соответствующих цивилизаторских миссиях.

The connections between Central (Eur)Asian ethnography/anthropology and colonialism are complex and seemingly paradoxical. Russia’s Imperial ambitions and military conquest of the region helped to professionalize and institutionalize ethnography as a discipline. At the same time, by describing the variation among humans and these periphery populations’ byt (lifeways), sensibilities, and values, Central (Eur)Asian ethnography always provided a challenge, even if not intentional, to an assumption of universality when it came to the European, Russian, or Soviet values, and their respectful civilizing missions.
Significant Association of DNASE1 Variable Number Tandem Repeats and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms With Gastric Cancer
Authors: Kafil Ali , Mohamadynejad Parisa , Moghanibashi Mehdi
Published: May 2022

Introduction: Defects in the apoptotic process are among the most important events involved in carcinogenesis, and defects in DNASE1, as one of the apoptotic machinery components, plays a role in various types of cancer. Previous studies have indicated significant differences in the DNASE1 polymorphisms in different populations. We hypothesized an association of two polymorphic sites in the exon 8 and the intron 4 of the DNASE1 gene with the risk of gastric cancer.

Materials and Methods: The study was carried out on 120 gastric cancer patients and 120 age and sex adjusted controls using PCR and RFLP-PCR.

Results: The genotype GG (rs1053874) in exon 8 of DNASE1 (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]) 4.65 [2.10–10.29], p < 0.001) and genotype 2/3 of variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) in the intron 4 (3.75 [1.56–9.01], p = 0.003) are both linked to gastric cancer.

Conclusion: We propose that both polymorphic sites have a part to play in gastric cancer, and so may be useful diagnosis markers.
Reducing Pesticide Risk Associated With Dollar Spot Management on Golf Course Turfgrass
Authors: Bekken Michael A. H. , Hockemeyer Kurt R. , Soldat Douglas J. , Koch Paul L.
Published: May 2022

Pesticides are critical tools for golf course managers to maintain healthy and economically profitable golf course playing surfaces. However, the intensity and types of pesticides used on golf courses can be harmful to human and environmental health. Two separate studies were conducted at two locations in Wisconsin, USA between 2014 and 2020 to test the ability of reduced risk fungicide programs to control dollar spot (Clarireedia spp.) on golf course fairways and putting greens. Risk of the pesticide application programs was quantified in both studies using the active ingredient application rate, the Environmental Impact Quotient (EIQ), hazard quotient (HQ), and the Pesticide Risk Tool (PRT). The first study found that using the Smith-Kerns Dollar Spot Prediction Model to schedule fungicide applications did not reduce pesticide risk on its own, but that a pesticide program utilizing reduced risk products was just as effective in controlling dollar spot as a conventional program while reducing pesticide risk by ~50–80% depending on the pesticide risk indicator used. The second study established an average pesticide risk using HQ based on the pesticide records of 23 randomly selected Wisconsin golf courses. This statewide average was then used to test pesticide programs at 100, 75, 50, and 25% of the average risk for their efficacy in controlling dollar spot over a 4-year period. In the 4 years of the study, dollar spot severity of the 25% risk treatment was statistically indistinguishable from the other three programs. Taken together, these results indicate that pesticide risk can be significantly reduced on golf courses in the US Midwest without sacrificing dollar spot control.
Translational Detection of Indole by Complementary Cell-free Protein Synthesis Assay
Authors: Lee You Jin , Lee Soojin , Kim Dong-Myung
Published: May 2022

The information encoded in a single copy of DNA is processed into a plethora of protein molecules via the cascade of transcription and translation. Thus, the molecular process of gene expression can be considered an efficient biological amplifier from the viewpoint of synthetic biology. Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) enables the implementation of this amplification module for in vitro analysis of important biomolecules and avoids many of the problems associated with whole cell-based approaches. Here, we developed a method to analyze indole by using a combination of enzymatic conversion of indole and amino acid-dependent CFPS. In this method, indole molecules in the assay sample are used to generate tryptophan, which is incorporated into signal-generating proteins in the subsequent cell-free synthesis reaction. The activity of cell-free synthesized proteins was successfully used to estimate the indole concentration in the assay sample. In principle, the developed method could be extended to analyses of other important bioactive compounds.
Advances in Regenerative Sports Medicine Research
Authors: Wang Liren , Jiang Jia , Lin Hai , Zhu Tonghe , Cai Jiangyu , Su Wei , Chen Jiebo , Xu Junjie , Li Yamin , Wang Jing , Zhang Kai , Zhao Jinzhong
Published: May 2022

Regenerative sports medicine aims to address sports and aging-related conditions in the locomotor system using techniques that induce tissue regeneration. It also involves the treatment of meniscus and ligament injuries in the knee, Achilles’ tendon ruptures, rotator cuff tears, and cartilage and bone defects in various joints, as well as the regeneration of tendon–bone and cartilage–bone interfaces. There has been considerable progress in this field in recent years, resulting in promising steps toward the development of improved treatments as well as the identification of conundrums that require further targeted research. In this review the regeneration techniques currently considered optimal for each area of regenerative sports medicine have been reviewed and the time required for feasible clinical translation has been assessed. This review also provides insights into the direction of future efforts to minimize the gap between basic research and clinical applications.
Identification of Transcriptional Heterogeneity and Construction of a Prognostic Model for Melanoma Based on Single-Cell and Bulk Transcriptome Analysis
Authors: Kang Zijian , Wang Jing , Huang Wending , Liu Jianmin , Yan Wangjun
Published: May 2022

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive and heterogeneous life-threatening cancers. However, the heterogeneity of melanoma and its impact on clinical outcomes are largely unknown. In the present study, intra-tumoral heterogeneity of melanoma cell subpopulations was explored using public single-cell RNA sequencing data. Marker genes, transcription factor regulatory networks, and gene set enrichment analysis were further analyzed. Marker genes of each malignant cluster were screened to create a prognostic risk score, and a nomogram tool was further generated to predict the prognosis of melanoma patients. It was found that malignant cells were divided into six clusters by different marker genes and biological characteristics in which the cell cycling subset was significantly correlated with unfavorable clinical outcomes, and the Wnt signaling pathway-enriched subset may be correlated with the resistance to immunotherapy. Based on the malignant marker genes, melanoma patients in TCGA datasets were divided into three groups which had different survival rates and immune infiltration states. Five malignant cell markers (PSME2, ARID5A, SERPINE2, GPC3, and S100A11) were selected to generate a prognostic risk score. The risk score was associated with overall survival independent of routine clinicopathologic characteristics. The nomogram tool showed good performance with an area under the curve value of 0.802.
Electronic Metal-Support Interactions Between CuxO and ZnO for CuxO/ZnO Catalysts With Enhanced CO Oxidation Activity
Authors: Lyu Shuai , Zhang Yuhua , Li Zhe , Liu Xinyue , Tian Zhenfang , Liu Chengchao , Li Jinlin , Wang Li
Published: May 2022

Metal-support interaction has been one of the main topics of research on supported catalysts all the time. However, many other factors including the particle size, shape and chemical composition can have significant influences on the catalytic performance when considering the role of metal-support interaction. Herein, we have designed a series of CuxO/ZnO catalysts as examples to quantitatively investigate how the metal-support interaction influences the catalytic performance. The electronic metal-support interactions between CuxO and ZnO were regulated successfully without altering the structure of CuxO/ZnO catalyst. Due to the lower work function of ZnO, electrons would transfer from ZnO to CuO, which is favorable for the formation of higher active Cu species. Combined experimental and theoretical calculations revealed that electron-rich interface result from interaction was favorable for the adsorption of oxygen and CO oxidation reaction. Such strategy represents a new direction to boost the catalytic activity of supported catalysts in various applications.
Optimising PCI by Intracoronary Image-guidance
Authors: Alasnag Mirvat , Ahmed Waqar , Al-Bawardy Rasha , Shammeri Owayed Al , Biswas Sinjini , Johnson Thomas W.
Published: May 2022

Evidence to support the use of intracoronary imaging (ICI) in guiding percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is growing, with observational and randomized controlled trials demonstrating a benefit in acute procedural and clinical outcomes. ICI provides an opportunity to guide PCI, detailing the nature of the coronary disease, potentially influencing lesion preparation and stent selection. Following stent deployment, ICI offers a detailed assessment of lesion coverage, associated vessel trauma and stent expansion. Consensus statements have emphasized the role of ICI and detailed the parameters of stent optimization. However, intracoronary imaging is not adopted widely yet. Significant global differences in the uptake of ICI have been reported, with the vast majority of PCI being angiographically-guided. The three major barriers to the implementation of ICI include, in order of impact, prohibitive cost, prolongation of procedure time and local regulatory issues for use. However, it is our belief that a lack of education and the associated challenges of ICI interpretation provide the greatest barrier to adoption. We hope that this review of the role of ICI in PCI optimization will provide a platform for PCI operators to gain confidence in the utilization of ICI to enhance outcomes for their patients.
Case Report: Two Cases of Watershed Phenomenon in Mechanical Circulatory Support Devices: Computed Tomography Angiography Imaging and Literature Review
Authors: Du Guiying , Zhang Jiwang , Liu Junbo , Fan Lijuan
Published: May 2022

Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) has become a processing technique used in end-stage heart failure (ESHF) because it can significantly improve survival and quality of life in patients with ESHF as either a transitional support therapy or a permanent replacement therapy before heart transplant. However, various potential complications associated with MCS need to be considered, especially aortic root thrombus formation. It’s critical to have an appropriate diagnosis of aortic root thrombus and “watershed” because the prognosis and treatment are different. Both “watershed” and aortic root thrombus formation can be characterized by computed tomography angiography. The CT manifestations of two patients who had MCS device implantation in our hospital (one with intra-aortic balloon pumps + extracorporeal membrane oxygenators, the other with left ventricular assist devices) were reported, and a literature review that recognized of “watershed” phenomenon in the aortic root was conducted.
Surface Environmental Evolution Monitoring in Coal Mining Subsidence Area Based on Multi-Source Remote Sensing Data
Authors: Shang Hui , Zhan Hui-Zhu , Ni Wan-Kui , Liu Yang , Gan Zhi-Hui , Liu Si-Hang
Published: May 2022

The exploitation of mineral resources is crucial for cost-effective construction but has also led to severe damage to the ecological environment in mining areas. Therefore, it is particularly important to effectively monitor surface environmental problems in the mining subsidence area caused by the exploitation of mineral resources. Herein, the Huinong coal mining subsidence area, Shizuishan city, Ningxia, China, was taken as the study area. The remote sensing image features of various environmental elements were investigated through field investigations, the measured spectra, and image spectrum contrast analysis. On this basis, an object-oriented random forest classification method was used to classify images from different time phases and sources in coal mining subsidence areas. Next, the man–machine interactive interpretation was confirmed by referring to the pre-classification results. By overlaying the interpretation result map and analyzing the land-use class changes, the spatial–temporal evolution monitoring of the surface environment in the coal mining subsidence area from 1979 to 2018 was carried out. The results show that the surface environment in the coal mining subsidence area has undergone significant changes over the past 40 years, among which—from 1979 to 2003—the environment of the coal mining area was severely damaged by the intensive mining activities. The area of cultivated land and vegetation coverage decreased sharply, while the area of other land-use classes, such as coal heaps, water bodies, and coal gangue, exhibited a trend of rapid growth. From 2003 to 2018, after more than 10 years of mine geological environment renovation and management, the surface environment of the coal mining subsidence area greatly improved, among which the vegetation coverage has shown the fastest growth rate, while the area of coal gangue, badlands, and other land-use classes have significantly reduced. The hidden dangers of geological disasters have been drastically mitigated. In addition, the residential area continued to decrease in the early stages and then rebounded to a certain extent, indicating that urbanization was carried out at the same time as the ecological environment began to improve. The surface environment before and after the renovation is consistent with the results from remote sensing monitoring.
Three-Dimensional Stability of Unsaturated Excavation Slopes Under Different Seepage Conditions: A Case Study
Authors: Wang Long , Deng Hu , Xu Meijuan , Li Zhihua , Nie Yuanhang , Huang Qiuxia , Tang Wei
Published: May 2022

Three-dimensional stability analysis of soil slopes remains a hot topic in the field of geotechnical engineering. Considering the fluid–solid coupling effect, this study performs a number of numerical analyses on the stability of a 3D excavation slope located in the Wuxi Taihu Tunnel, China. Three typical cases of the issued slope are investigated, i.e., the slope at the initial state, with the water-stop curtain, and with both the water-stop curtain and concrete-sprayed layer. The shear strength reduction method was adopted to determine the factor of safety (FOS) of the slope. The distributions of pore pressures and wetting lines, the horizontal and vertical displacements, and the critical slip surface are presented. The results indicate that the water-stop curtain can prevent the groundwater seepage effectively. The water-stop curtain and concrete-sprayed layer are effective in restraining the slope deformation, altering the critical slip surface, and improving the slope safety.
Solar Energy Forecasting in Short Term Based on the ASO-BPNN Model
Authors: Cao Huazhen , Wang Tianlin , Chen Peidong , Cheng Weitian , Cao Yi , Liu Zhiwen
Published: May 2022

Accurate forecasting of short-term photovoltaic power output is vital for enhancing the operation efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) power stations and ensuring the safety and stable operation of grid-connected PV plants. Therefore, a short-term power forecasting model based on a backpropagation neural network with atom search optimization optimizes the weights and thresholds. Meanwhile, the Pearson correlation coefficient formula is introduced to screen the key meteorological factors and eliminate redundant factors, i.e., total irradiance, temperature, humidity, and direct irradiance are taken as the input of the prediction model. Moreover, the Euclidean distance formula is used to establish a customized training set for each test data which improves the dependability of the training set. Lastly, with the simulations of actual data from a solar farm in Yunnan, China, it is verified that the proposed ASO-BPNN model is competent to forecast the PV power generation.
Evolution Characteristics of Sand-Dust Weather Processes in China During 1961–2020
Authors: Duan Haixia , Hou Wei , Wu Hao , Feng Taichen , Yan Pengcheng
Published: May 2022

The spring sand-dust weather can be disastrous in China. It seriously endangers agricultural production, transportation, air quality, people’s lives and property, and is a subject of sustained and extensive concern. Currently, few studies have been conducted to analyze sand-dust events in North China from the perspective of sand-dust processes. Although there are a few studies on the spatio-temporal variation characteristics of sand-dust processes, they are mainly based on outdated data or case studies of major sand-dust events. In this study, the evolution characteristics of sand-dust processes in China over the last 60 years are studied based on the identification method and several characteristic quantities (including duration and impact range) of sand-dust weather processes defined in the Operational Regulations of Monitoring and Evaluation for Regional Weather and Climate Processes newly issued by the China Meteorological Administration in 2019. First, through statistics, we obtain the annual occurrence frequency, annual days, and the annual number of affected stations of sand-dust processes (including sand-dust storms, blowing sand, and suspended dust) from January 1961 to May 2021. Based on the Mann–Kendall test (MK) and Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (EEMD), we analyzed evolution trends and probability distribution characteristics of annual occurrence frequency, annual days, and the annual number of affected stations of sand-dust processes. In addition, we investigate the start time of the first and the last dust processes in each of the past 60 years, as well as the seasonal distribution characteristics of sand-dust processes. The results show that under the background of global warming, the sand-dust weather in China tends to decrease significantly. Specifically, the annual occurrence frequency and annual days showed an upward trend before the 1980s and a significant downward trend after that, as well as the significant turnarounds in the annual number of dust processes that occurred in the 1990s and around 2010. Moreover, the sand-dust processes tend to start later and end earlier. The sand-dust processes are mainly concentrated between March and May, with the highest occurrence probability in April.
Utilizing Public Health Frameworks and Partnerships to Ensure Equity in DNA-Based Population Screening
Authors: Azriel Elyse , Henley Candace , Ehrhardt Joan , Hampel Heather , Newlin Anna , Ramos Erica , Wicklund Catherine , Duquette Debra
Published: May 2022

DNA-Based population screening in the United States has the promise to improve the health of all people in all communities. We highlight recent DNA-based population screening examples at the state, local, and individual level. Key public health principles and concepts with a focus on equity appear to be lacking in current efforts. We request ‘A Call to Action’ that involves all partners in DNA-based population screening. Potential actions to consider include: a) identification and elimination of systemic barriers that result in health inequities in DNA-based population screening and follow-up; b) creation of a national multidisciplinary advisory committee with representation from underserved communities; c) revisiting well-described public health screening principles and frameworks to guide new screening decisions and initiatives; d) inclusion of the updated Ten Essential Public Health Services with equity at the core in efforts at the local, state and national level.
Primary Trophoblast Cultures: Characterization of HLA Profiles and Immune Cell Interactions
Authors: Eikmans Michael , van der Keur Carin , Anholts Jacqueline D. H. , Drabbels Jos J. M. , van Beelen Els , de Sousa Lopes Susana M. Chuva , van der Hoorn Marie-Louise
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Trophoblasts are essential in fetal-maternal interaction during pregnancy. The goal was to study HLA profiles of primary trophoblasts derived from placentas, and to investigate their usefulness in studying interaction with immune cells.

Methods

After enzymatic digestion of first-trimester placental tissue from seven donors (6-9 weeks gestation) and trophoblast enrichment we cultured cytotrophoblasts (CTB) in stem cell medium. CTB were differentiated into EVT in a Matrigel-containing medium. A subset of CTB/EVT was profiled for microRNA levels. Expression of classical HLA molecules and of HLA-G was studied by flow cytometry, qPCR, and ELISA. Secondary trophoblast cell lines JAR and JEG-3 were studied as controls. Lymphocytes were investigated during co-culturing with EVT.

Results

The trophoblasts could be easily maintained for several passages, upregulated classical trophoblast markers (GATA3, TFAP2C, chromosome-19 microRNAs), and upon differentiation to EVT they were selective in expressing HLA-C. EVT showed increasing expression of total HLA-G, an increasing proportion of HLA-G1 over G2- and G3 isoforms, and elevated excretion of soluble HLA-G. These features were distinct from those of the secondary trophoblast cell lines. TNF-α and IL-8 represented the most abundantly secreted cytokines by CTB, but their levels were minimal in EVT cultures. As proof of principle, we showed that EVT affect lymphocytes in three-day co-cultures (n=4) by decreasing activation marker HLA-DR.

Conclusion

We verified the possibility culturing trophoblasts from first-term placentas, and their capability of differentiating to HLA-G expressing EVT. This culture model better represents the in-vivo situation than previously studied secondary trophoblast cell lines and enables mechanistic studies of fetal-maternal interactions.
Low Dose Gamma Irradiation of Trypanosoma evansi Parasites Identifies Molecular Changes That Occur to Repair Radiation Damage and Gene Transcripts That May Be Involved in Establishing Disease in Mice Post-Irradiation
Authors: Kangethe Richard T. , Winger Eva M. , Settypalli Tirumala Bharani K. , Datta Sneha , Wijewardana Viskam , Lamien Charles E. , Unger Hermann , Coetzer Theresa H.T. , Cattoli Giovanni , Diallo Adama
Published: May 2022

The protozoan parasite Trypanosoma evansi is responsible for causing surra in a variety of mammalian hosts and is spread by many vectors over a wide geographical area making it an ideal target for irradiation as a tool to study the initial events that occur during infection. Parasites irradiated at the representative doses 100Gy, 140Gy, and 200Gy were used to inoculate BALB/c mice revealing that parasites irradiated at 200Gy were unable to establish disease in all mice. Cytokine analysis of mice inoculated with 200Gy of irradiated parasites showed significantly lower levels of interleukins when compared to mice inoculated with non-irradiated and 100Gy irradiated parasites. Irradiation also differentially affected the abundance of gene transcripts in a dose-dependent trend measured at 6- and 20-hours post-irradiation with 234, 325, and 484 gene transcripts affected 6 hours post-irradiation for 100Gy-, 140Gy- and 200Gy-irradiated parasites, respectively. At 20 hours post-irradiation, 422, 381, and 457 gene transcripts were affected by irradiation at 100Gy, 140Gy, and 200Gy, respectively. A gene ontology (GO) term analysis was carried out for the three representative doses at 6 hours and 20 hours post-irradiation revealing different processes occurring at 20 hours when compared to 6 hours for 100Gy irradiation. The top ten most significant processes had a negative Z score. These processes fall in significance at 140Gy and even further at 200Gy, revealing that they were least likely to occur at 200Gy, and thus may have been responsible for infection in mice by 100Gy and 140Gy irradiated parasites. When looking at 100Gy irradiated parasites 20 hours post-irradiation processes with a positive Z score, we identified genes that were involved in multiple processes and compared their fold change values at 6 hours and 20 hours. We present these genes as possibly necessary for repair from irradiation damage at 6 hours and suggestive of being involved in the establishment of disease in mice at 20 hours post-irradiation. A potential strategy using this information to develop a whole parasite vaccine is also postulated.
Eryptosis as a New Insight in Malaria Pathogenesis
Authors: Scovino Aline Miranda , Totino Paulo Renato Rivas , Morrot Alexandre
Published: May 2022

Eryptosis is a programmed cell death-like process that occurs in red blood cells. Although the red blood cells are anucleated, there are similarities between eryptosis and apoptosis, such as increased calcium efflux, calpain activation, phosphatidylserine exposure, cell blebbing and cell shrinkage. Eryptosis occurs physiologically in red blood cells, as a consequence of the natural senescence process of these cells, but it can also be stimulated in pathological situations such as metabolic syndromes, uremic syndromes, polycythemia vera, anemias such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia, and infectious processes including Plasmodium infection. Infection-induced eryptosis is believed to contribute to damage caused by Plasmodium, but it’s still a topic of debate in the literature. In this review, we provided an overview of eryptosis mechanisms and its possible pathogenic role in malaria.
Facile Construction of Self-Healing Polydopamine-Based Composite Coating Protection of Copper From NaCl Solution
Authors: Chen Wei , Fan Juanjuan , Jiang Yueyue , Li Shouting , Ying Ye , Yang Haifeng
Published: May 2022

Developing a sufficient composite organic inhibitor coating on the surface of metals is a promising strategy to improve the protection capability of metal materials from corrosive media. In this study, dopamine is polymerized into a polydopamine coating on a copper surface by embedding 8-hydroxyquinoline (denoted as PDA@8-HQ). The formation mechanism of PDA@8-HQ on the surface of copper is confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared reflectance, and Raman methods. Electrochemical and field emission scanning electron microscopic results show that the PDA@8-HQ coating made with the addition of 8-HQ was 0.02 M and had the greatest inhibition efficiency (99.1%). When the optimal composite coating is damaged by external forces, self-healing capability could be obviously found due to generating insoluble complex species between corrosive products of copper ions and 8-HQ and the salt solution in the damaged region. This study provides feasibility for the construction of functional corrosion inhibitors on the metal surface.
Preoperative Anemia Is a Predictor of Worse Postoperative Outcomes Following Open Pancreatoduodenectomy: A Propensity Score-Based Analysis
Authors: Xu Jing-Yong , Tian Xiao-Dong , Yang Yin-Mo , Song Jing-Hai , Wei Jun-Min
Published: May 2022

Background

Preoperative anemia is a common clinical situation proved to be associated with severe outcomes in major surgeries, but not in pancreatic surgery. We aim to study the impact of preoperative anemia on morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing open pancreatoduodenectomy and use propensity score matching (PSM) to balance the basal data and reduce bias.

Methods

We analyzed the data of consecutive patients undergoing open pancreatoduodenectomy with a complete record of preoperative hemoglobin, at two pancreatic centers in China between 2015 and 2019. Anemia is defined as hemoglobin less than 12 g/dl for male and 11 g/dl for female, following Chinese criteria. We compared clinical and economic outcomes before and after PSM and used logistic regression analysis to assess the correlation between variables and anemia.

Results

The unmatched initial cohort consisted of 517 patients. A total of 148 cases (28.6%) were diagnosed with anemia at admission, and no case received a preoperative blood transfusion or anti-anemia therapy. After PSM, there were 126 cases in each group. The rate of severe postoperative complications was significantly higher in the anemia group than in the normal group (43.7% vs. 27.0%, p = 0.006), among which the differences in prevalence of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) (31.0% vs. 15.9%, p = 0.005) and cardiac and cerebrovascular events (4.0% vs. 0.0%, p = 0.024) were the most significant. The costs involved were more in the anemia group (26958.2 ± 21671.9 vs. 20987.7 ± 10237.9 USD, p = 0.013). Among anemic patients, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis shows the cut-off value of hemoglobin, below which, patients are prone to suffer from major complications (104.5 g/l in male and 90.5 g/l in female). Among all patients, multivariate analysis showed that preoperative obstructive jaundice [odds ratio (OR) = 1.813, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.206–2.725), p = 0.004] and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma [OR = 1.861, 95% CI (1.178–2.939), p = 0.008] were predictors of anemia. Among paired patients, preoperative anemia [OR = 2.593, 95% CI (1.481–5.541), p = 0.001] and malignant pathology [OR = 4.266, 95% CI (1.597–11.395), p = 0.004] were predictors of postoperative severe complications.

Conclusion

Preoperative anemia is a predictor of worse postoperative outcomes following open pancreatoduodenectomy and needs to be identified and treated.
Interstitial Lung Disease in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Practical Review
Authors: Laria Antonella , Lurati Alfredo Maria , Zizzo Gaetano , Zaccara Eleonora , Mazzocchi Daniela , Re Katia Angela , Marrazza Mariagrazia , Faggioli Paola , Mazzone Antonino
Published: May 2022

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory disease, which primarily causes symmetric polyarthritis. An extrarticolar involvement is common, and the commonly involved organ is lungs. Although cardiac disease is responsible for most RA-related deaths, pulmonary disease is also a major contributor, accounting for ~10–20% of all mortality. Pulmonary disease is a common (60–80% of patients with RA) extra-articular complication of RA. Optimal screening, diagnostic, and treatment strategies of pulmonary disease remain uncertain, which have been the focus of an ongoing investigation. Clinicians should regularly assess patients with RA for the signs and symptoms of pulmonary disease and, reciprocally, consider RA and other connective tissue diseases when evaluating a patient with pulmonary disease of an unknown etiology. RA directly affects all anatomic compartments of the thorax, including the lung parenchyma, large and small airways, pleura, and less commonly vessels. In addition, pulmonary infection and drug-induced lung disease associated with immunosuppressive agents used for the treatment of RA may occur.
MicroRNA Expression Profiling in Age-Dependent Renal Impairment
Authors: Yanai Katsunori , Kaneko Shohei , Ishii Hiroki , Aomatsu Akinori , Hirai Keiji , Ookawara Susumu , Morishita Yoshiyuki
Published: May 2022

Background

Age-dependent renal impairment contributes to renal dysfunction in both the general population and young and middle-aged patients with renal diseases. Pathological changes in age-dependent renal impairment include glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. The molecules involved in age-dependent renal impairment are not fully elucidated. MicroRNA (miRNA) species were reported to modulate various renal diseases, but the miRNA species involved in age-dependent renal impairment are unclear. Here, we investigated miRNAs in age-dependent renal impairment, and we evaluated their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Methods

We conducted an initial microarray profiling analysis to screen miRNAs whose expression levels changed in kidneys of senescence-accelerated resistant (SAMR1)-10-week-old (wk) mice and SAMR1-50wk mice and senescence-accelerated prone (SAMP1)-10wk mice and SAMP1-50wk mice. We then evaluated the expressions of differentially expressed miRNAs in serum from 13 older patients (>65 years old) with age-dependent renal impairment (estimated glomerular filtration ratio <60 mL/min/1.73 m2) by a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and compared the expressions with those of age-matched subjects with normal renal function. We also administered miRNA mimics or inhibitors (5 nmol) with a non-viral vector (polyethylenimine nanoparticles: PEI-NPs) to SAMP1-20wk mice to investigate the therapeutic effects.

Results

The qRT-PCR revealed a specific miRNA (miRNA-503-5p) whose level was significantly changed in SAMP1-50wk mouse kidneys in comparison to the controls. The expression level of miRNA-503-5p was upregulated in the serum of the 13 patients with age-dependent renal impairment compared to the age-matched subjects with normal renal function. The administration of a miRNA-503-5p-inhibitor with PEI-NPs decreased the miRNA-503-5p expression levels, resulting in the inhibition of renal fibrosis in mice via an inhibition of a pro-fibrotic signaling pathway and a suppression of glomerulosclerosis in mice by inhibiting intrinsic signaling pathways.

Conclusion

The serum levels of miRNA-503-5p were decreased in patients with age-dependent renal impairment. However, inhibition of miRNA-503-5p had no effect on age-dependent renal impairment, although inhibition of miRNA-503-5p had therapeutic effects on renal fibrosis and glomerulosclerosis in anin vivoanimal model. These results indicate that miRNA-503-5p might be related to age-dependent renal impairment.