bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rapid Classification and Treatment Algorithm of Cardiogenic Shock Complicating Acute Coronary Syndromes: The SAVE ACS Classification
Authors: Panoulas Vasileios , Ilsley Charles
Published: January 2022

Introduction. We aimed to identify the independent “frontline” predictors of 30-day mortality in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and propose a rapid cardiogenic shock (CS) classification and management pathway. Materials and Methods. From 2011 to 2019, a total of 11439 incident ACS patients were treated in our institution. Forward conditional logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the “frontline” predictors of 30 day mortality. The C-statistic assessed the discriminatory power of the model. As a validation cohort, we used 431 incident ACS patients admitted from January 1, 2020, to July 20, 2020. Results. Independent predictors of 30-day mortality included age (OR 1.05; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.07,p<0.001), intubation (OR 7.4; 95% CI 4.3 to 12.74,p<0.001), LV systolic impairment (OR severe_vs_normal 1.98; 95% CI 1.14 to 3.42,p=0.015, OR moderate_vs_normal 1.84; 95% CI 1.09 to 3.1,p=0.022), serum lactate (OR 1.25; 95% CI 1.12 to 1.41,p<0.001), base excess (OR 1.1; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.07,p<0.001), and systolic blood pressure (OR 0.99; 95% CI 0.982 to 0.999,p=0.024). The model discrimination was excellent with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.879 (0.851 to 0.908) (p<0.001). Based on these predictors, we created the SAVE (SBP, Arterial blood gas, and left Ventricular Ejection fraction) ACS classification, which showed good discrimination for 30-day AUC 0.814 (0.782 to 0.845) and long-term mortalityplog−rank<0.001. A similar AUC was demonstrated in the validation cohort (AUC 0.815). Conclusions. In the current study, we introduce a rapid way of classifying CS using frontline parameters. The SAVE ACS classification could allow for future randomized studies to explore the benefit of mechanical circulatory support in different CS stages in ACS patients.
Validation of Anticorrelated TGFβ Signaling and Alternative End-Joining DNA Repair Signatures that Predict Response to Genotoxic Cancer Therapy
Authors: Guix Ines , Liu Qi , Pujana Miquel Angel , Ha Patrick , Piulats Josep , Linares Isabel , Guedea Ferran , Mao Jian-Hua , Lazar Ann , Chapman Jocelyn , Yom Sue S. , Ashworth Alan , Barcellos-Hoff Mary Helen
Published: January 2022

Purpose:

Loss of TGFβ signaling increases error-prone alternative end-joining (alt-EJ) DNA repair. We previously translated this mechanistic relationship as TGFβ and alt-EJ gene expression signatures, which we showed are anticorrelated across cancer types. A score representing anticorrelation, βAlt, predicts patient outcome in response to genotoxic therapy. Here we sought to verify this biology in live specimens and additional datasets.

Experimental Design:

Human head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSC) explants were treated in vitro to test whether the signatures report TGFβ signaling, indicated by SMAD2 phosphorylation, and unrepaired DNA damage, indicated by persistent 53BP1 foci after irradiation or olaparib. A custom NanoString assay was implemented to analyze the signatures’ expression in explants. Each signature gene was then weighted by its association with functional responses to define a modified score, βAltw, that was retested for association with response to genotoxic therapies in independent datasets.

Results:

Most genes in each signature were positively correlated with the expected biological response in tumor explants. Anticorrelation of TGFβ and alt-EJ signatures measured by NanoString was confirmed in explants. βAltw was significantly (P < 0.001) better than βAlt in predicting overall survival in response to genotoxic therapy in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) pancancer patients and in independent HNSC and ovarian cancer patient datasets.

Conclusions:

Association of the TGFβ and alt-EJ signatures with their biological response validates TGFβ competency as a key mediator of DNA repair that can be readily assayed by gene expression. The predictive value of βAltw supports its development to assist in clinical decision making.
BAMM (BRAF Autophagy and MEK Inhibition in Melanoma): A Phase I/II Trial of Dabrafenib, Trametinib, and Hydroxychloroquine in Advanced BRAFV600-mutant Melanoma
Authors: Mehnert Janice M. , Mitchell Tara C. , Huang Alexander C. , Aleman Tomas S. , Kim Benjamin J. , Schuchter Lynn M. , Linette Gerald P. , Karakousis Giorgos C. , Mitnick Sheryl , Giles Lydia , Carberry Mary , Frey Noelle , Kossenkov Andrew , Groisberg Roman , Hernandez-Aya Leonel F. , Ansstas George , Silk Ann W. , Chandra Sunandana , Sosman Jeffrey A. , Gimotty Phyllis A. , Mick Rosemarie , Amaravadi Ravi K.
Published: January 2022

Purpose:

Autophagy is a resistance mechanism to BRAF/MEK inhibition in BRAFV600-mutant melanoma. Here we used hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) to inhibit autophagy in combination with dabrafenib 150 mg twice daily and trametinib 2 mg every day (D+T).

Patients and Methods:

We conducted a phase I/II clinical trial in four centers of HCQ + D+T in patients with advanced BRAFV600-mutant melanoma. The primary objectives were the recommended phase II dose (RP2D) and the one-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate of >53%.

Results:

Thirty-four patients were evaluable for one-year PFS rate. Patient demographics were as follows: elevated lactate dehydrogenase: 47%; stage IV M1c/M1d: 52%; prior immunotherapy: 50%. In phase I, there was no dose-limiting toxicity. HCQ 600 mg orally twice daily with D+T was the RP2D. The one-year PFS rate was 48.2% [95% confidence interval (CI), 31.0%–65.5%], median PFS was 11.2 months (95% CI, 5.4–16.9 months), and response rate (RR) was 85% (95% CI, 64%–95%). The complete RR was 41% and median overall survival (OS) was 26.5 months. In a patient with elevated LDH (n = 16), the RR was 88% and median PFS and OS were 7.3 and 22 months, respectively.

Conclusions:

HCQ + D+T was well tolerated and produced a high RR but did not meet criteria for success for the one-year PFS rate. There was a high proportion of patients with pretreated and elevated LDH, an increasingly common demographic in patients receiving targeted therapy. In this difficult-to-treat population, the RR and PFS were encouraging. A randomized trial of D+T + HCQ or placebo in patients with BRAFV600-mutant melanoma with elevated LDH and previous immunotherapy is being conducted.
Hallmarks of Cancer: New Dimensions
Authors: Hanahan Douglas
Published: January 2022

The hallmarks of cancer conceptualization is a heuristic tool for distilling the vast complexity of cancer phenotypes and genotypes into a provisional set of underlying principles. As knowledge of cancer mechanisms has progressed, other facets of the disease have emerged as potential refinements. Herein, the prospect is raised that phenotypic plasticity and disrupted differentiation is a discrete hallmark capability, and that nonmutational epigenetic reprogramming and polymorphic microbiomes both constitute distinctive enabling characteristics that facilitate the acquisition of hallmark capabilities. Additionally, senescent cells, of varying origins, may be added to the roster of functionally important cell types in the tumor microenvironment.

Significance:

Cancer is daunting in the breadth and scope of its diversity, spanning genetics, cell and tissue biology, pathology, and response to therapy. Ever more powerful experimental and computational tools and technologies are providing an avalanche of “big data” about the myriad manifestations of the diseases that cancer encompasses. The integrative concept embodied in the hallmarks of cancer is helping to distill this complexity into an increasingly logical science, and the provisional new dimensions presented in this perspective may add value to that endeavor, to more fully understand mechanisms of cancer development and malignant progression, and apply that knowledge to cancer medicine.
Blended Phenotype of Pelger-Huet Anomaly with Osteochondroma and Autosomal Recessive Deafness with Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct
Authors: Cinleti Tayfun , Yılmaz Uzman Ceren , Akyol Şefika , Tüfekçi Özlem , Erçal Murat Derya , Giray Bozkaya Özlem
Published: January 2022

Pelger-Huet anomaly (PHA) is a benign hematological anomaly that is characterized by impaired lobulation of neutrophils with a coarse nuclear chromatin. Skeletal abnormalities may accompany this anomaly. Autosomal recessive deafness-4 (DFNB4) with enlarged vestibular aqueduct (EVA) comprises a phenotypic spectrum of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). We report a case with SNHL, multiple skeletal anomalies including osteochondroma, developmental delay, and PHA. Molecular studies revealed a heterozygous pathogenic variant in the LBR gene and a homozygous likely pathogenic variant in the SLC26A4 gene. Due to these 2 variants, he was diagnosed with PHA and DFNB4 with EVA. If goiter develops, DFNB4 with EVA is named Pendred syndrome (PDS), so the patient will be followed up for this condition, and in the current literature, there is no case with PDS and PHA co-existence either. PHA may be accompanied by multiple skeletal abnormalities. In our case, there is also concomitance with osteochondroma. Although these are independent and distinct diagnoses, we present this case due to the concomitance of these situations.
Infantile Neurodegeneration and Hair Changes: A Rare Case of Menkes Disease
Authors: Pawar Nikhil Vikas , Mir Fatima Farid
Published: January 2022

A 4-month-old, previously healthy boy presented with acute onset of prolonged, recurrent seizure activity followed by neurodevelopmental deterioration and concurrent hair shaft hypopigmentation with fragility. Initial evaluation revealed significant low serum copper and ceruloplasmin, electrical status epilepticus on electroencephalography, and generalized subcortical white matter changes with diffuse tortuosity of intracranial vessels on MRI brain. In addition, a genetic study with whole-genome sequencing demonstrated a hemizygous pathogenic variant at c.2179G>A p(Gly727Arg) on ATP7A, thereby confirming the diagnosis of Menkes disease. Symptomatic treatment with antiepileptic medications was provided along with an urgent referral to an advanced center for multidisciplinary care and copper histidine replacement therapy.
Subamniotic Hemorrhage, a Possible New Presentation of Fetal and Neonatal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia
Authors: Giesbers Steven , Bos Manon , Bulten Johan , van der Meeren Lotte , van Drongelen Joris
Published: January 2022

Background: Fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) is a rare fetal disease in which maternal antibodies directed toward fetal human platelet antigens (HPA) are formed during pregnancy and cause fetal thrombocytopenia. The diagnosis FNAIT is suspected when a fetus or neonate presents with signs of bleeding. Case: We describe a pregnancy complicated by a placental hematoma in the 20th week of gestation as the first manifestation of FNAIT. Further evaluation showed signs of germinal matrix hemorrhage and HPA-5b allo-antibodies. After the diagnosis, intravenous immunoglobulin was administered weekly and a healthy daughter was born at 37 weeks. Histopathological analysis revealed that the hematoma was caused by a subamniotic hemorrhage of fetal origin. Conclusion: A subamniotic hematoma appears to be the first manifestation of FNAIT.
Picture Description in the Assessment of Connected Speech Intelligibility in Parkinson’s Disease: A Pilot Study
Authors: Johansson Inga-Lena , Samuelsson Christina , Müller Nicole
Published: January 2022

Introduction: Assessment of intelligibility in dysarthria tends to rely on oral reading of sentences or words. However, self-generated utterances are closer to a client's natural speech. This study investigated how transcription of utterances elicited by picture description can be used in the assessment of intelligibility in speakers with Parkinson’s disease. Methods: Speech samples from eleven speakers with Parkinson’s disease and six neurologically healthy persons were audio-recorded. Forty-two naive listeners completed transcriptions of self-generated sentences from a picture description task and orally read sentences from the Swedish Test of Intelligibility, as well as scaled ratings of narrative speech samples. Results: Intelligibility was higher in orally read than self-generated sentences and higher for content words than for the whole sentence in self-generated sentences for most of the speakers, although these within-group differences were not statistically significant at the group level. Adding contextual leads for the listeners increased intelligibility in self-generated utterances significantly but with individual variation. Although correlations between the intelligibility measures were at least moderate or strong, there was a considerable inter- and intra-speaker variability in intelligibility scores between tasks for the speakers with Parkinson’s disease, indicating individual variation of factors that impact intelligibility. Intelligibility scores from neurologically healthy speakers were generally high across tasks with no significant differences between the conditions. Conclusion: Within-speaker variability supports literature recommendations to use multiple methods and tasks when assessing intelligibility. The inclusion of transcription of self-generated utterances elicited by picture description to the intelligibility assessment has the potential to provide additional information to assessment methods based on oral reading of pre-scripted sentences and to inform the planning of interventions.
Existence of Sobokartti Building as A Physical Culture in Semarang City in Law Anthropology Approach
Authors: Handayani Emy , Wicaksono Satrio Adi
Published: January 2022

Physical culture can be understood as objects created by human beings which are an embodiment of the growth and development of cultural values ​​in a particular society, in the form of buildings that have been designated as cultural heritage buildings in the city of Semarang. The building is the Semarang Sobokartti building on Jalan Dr. Cipto Semarang, which is a reflection of the development of humans to always preserve culture both Javanese culture and western or European culture

The approach used in this research is an empirical approach and a comparative approach to law anthropology. In an empirical approach, the sobokartti building is a physical culture which is a historic building that accommodates traditional arts which are closely related to Javanese culture, namely karawitan training, puppetry routine, puppetry courses, host courses, dancing courses and batik training. It should be appreciated because the community can maintain its preservation until now by showing the existence of Javanese culture with a love for culture that deserves to be preserved and for the nation's successor generation. Likewise with a comparative approach, it is said that the existence of physical culture in the sobokartti building is expected by the government to have regulations on cultural heritage objects, namely historic buildings or ancient buildings of the Sobokartti Semarang building as outlined in the Cultural Heritage Law No. 11 of 2010 to protect cultural heritage buildings with the aim of preserving, utilizing, and maintaining the beauty of a cultural heritage building Sobokartti Semarang.

Suggestions that will be used in this research that is the role of the Government and Society to maintain physical cultural wealth should be developed by the nation's next generation, with the utilization of the Sobokartti building can provide sustainable use. So that, the Government and the community have the desire to protect and preserve the function of the Sobokartti Semarang building.
Performance and Effectiveness of Catholic Schools in Tagum
Authors: Anduyan Dennis B.
Published: January 2022

Schools and education authorities became increasingly aware of the need to be effective due to the pressures for accountability brought by national and local government levels and school stakeholders in relation to the demands of the new educational system. This study determined the performance of the schools and effectiveness of the administrators with the human resource development in the selected Catholic schools in Tagum, Davao del Norte. Findings of the study served as inputs for the improved administrative manual and school improvement plan. The study utilized mixed methods among the 250 participants. The instrument focused on the indicators based on the Fund for Assistance to Private Education. Vision and mission, curriculum and instruction, faculty development, student development, physical plant and facilities, financial and business administration, and school and community involvement were considered advanced and were sustained for a longer period of time. The administrators’ level of implementation in the human resource management and development functions was considered adequate. The implementation in terms of benefits, remuneration and evaluation were also evident. Employment policy, work regulations, discipline, leave of absence, and grievance and complaints were substantially observed. There is a significant relationship between the performance of schools and administrators’ effective implementation of human resource management and development functions. There was shared understanding on roles, responsibilities, and expectations by the stakeholders.
Effectiveness Of Celebrity Endorsement on Advertisement in Achieving Consumer Brand Preference
Authors: Adedeji Amos Ojo
Published: January 2022

The instrument of celebrity endorsement has become a pervasive element in advertising. This paper qualitatively examining the effectiveness of celebrity endorsement on advertisement in achieving consumer brand preference. The study revealed some impacts of acquiring celebrity for endorsement such as building awareness, quick connect, means of brand differentiation and better brand image among others. The study identified some challenges associated with celebrity endorsement which are not limited to celebrity overshadows the brand, conflicting image and influence of celebrity moral violation on brands. The paper concludes by recommending careful choosing of celebrity that his/her value will have close link with the brand been endorsed and improvement on the quality of the product by the producer as possible measures to avert the challenges of using celebrity in advertising. Using celebrities that have moral and are well placed in the society for advertisement is also key.
Measurement Of Social Fund Assistance Program And Economic Indicators Of Bangka Belitung Islands In The Effort To Reduce Poverty Rate
Authors: Julia Julia , Khairiyansyah
Published: January 2022

This study aims to analyze the relationship and influence of social assistance on the number of poor people in the Province of the Bangka Belitung Islands. There are control variables as comparison, namely; unemployment, central government debt, economic growth and poverty. The research method uses a quantitative approach with non-parametric statistics, annual data (2015-2020) and elasticity are used to measure the magnitude of change in the number of poor people due to additional social assistance. Spearman Rank test to examine the relationship of each variable (the number of unemployed, central government debt and economic growth) to the amount of poverty in Indonesia. The results of the study show that there is a very strong relationship between social assistance for Contribution Assistance Recipients and the Family Hope Program on the number of poor people. A negative sign indicates that social assistance can significantly reduce poverty, with the strongest impact being the  program. There is a strong relationship between debt and the number of poor people. The slowdown in economic growth has been proven to be unrelated to the number of poor people. This means that, in the midst of an economic slowdown, the number of poverty in Indonesia can be reduced through social assistance programs, job creation as laborers and government debt is allocated for productive activities and economic activities that have a direct impact on the poor and the poor. vulnerable to poverty.
Land conflict resolution: Case study in Sarirejo Village
Authors: Aritonang Juniaty D. , Hidayat  , Zuska Fikarwin
Published: January 2022

This study aims to describe the factors that cause land conflicts between the community and the Air Force in the Indonesian Air Force in Suwondo and the strategies that the community uses in demanding their land rights. The author chose a qualitative approach with the ethnographic method to understand more deeply what is behind an event that took the process, causes and conflict resolution. The results showed that the factor causing the conflict was the claim of each party to the land. Conflict resolution efforts are carried out by the community to obtain land rights through non-litigation advocacy processes and litigation advocacy. The results of these two strategies were able to encourage the government to restore community rights to their land even though it had to go through a long struggle. In July 2020 the government issued a policy to move the Sowondo Base to Langkat Regency.
Contribution of Zakat and Community Economic Welfare
Authors: Husain Kamil
Published: January 2022

This research aimed to discuss zakat in the context of contribution and community economic welfare in the perspective of zakat institutionalization and regulation, sources of foreign exchange, and distribution of capital and human development. The method used was the qualitative approach through academic literature to obtain the concepts that were relevant to the study of zakat and the community economic welfare. The data analysis process was based on the theory and concept of zakat and then followed by the data interpretation process later on. The research results showed that the dimensions of zakat institutionalization and regulation, sources of foreign exchange, and distribution of capital and human development had a very strong pattern and relationship with the dimension of community economic welfare and this was because these three dimensions were the important determinants of the contribution of zakat for the community economic welfare. On the other hand, the instrument of community economic welfare through the zakat mechanism needs to be continuously encouraged with the awareness of the entire community to pay zakat, increase the effectiveness of zakat management, and strengthen the zakat regulations.
Protección jurídica del ludópata y liberación de los juegos de azar
Authors: Costa Lucas Fernandes da , Rodríguez Víctor Gabriel , Saab Marchiori Eduardo
Published: January 2022

El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar la tutela del ludópata a partir del tratamiento que se da en los ordenamientos jurídicos brasileño, colombiano y español. Mediante el método de derecho comparado, se analiza el contraste entre las políticas sanitarias y penales dirigidas a personas diagnosticadas con el llamado juego patológico. En este escenario, inicialmente, retomaremos el tema de la liberación de los juegos de azar y del uso del juego patológico como argumento, si no a favor de la prohibición de la práctica, en pro de la imposición de límites a su explotación económica. A continuación, analizaremos el tratamiento al juego y a los ludópatas observado en los países seleccionados, destacando el contraste entre las políticas de incentivo y prohibición del juego, y sus consecuencias para la política sanitaria dirigida al tratamiento del juego patológico. Finalmente, analizaremos, desde lo anterior, el argumento del juego patológico eventualmente para la promoción de políticas criminales, o como un tema de salud pública. En conclusión, buscaremos presentar la desconexión de la política de salud de la criminalización de la actividad económica.
A ciência das conexões singulares, de Vittorio Morfino
Authors: Itokazu Ericka Marie
Published: January 2022

Resenha do livro "A ciência das conexões singulares", de Vittorio Morfino
Algumas observações acerca da formação dos verbos árabe e hebraico
Authors: Lima Suely Ferreira
Published: January 2022

Um dos traços característicos das línguas semítica é a estrutura morfológica cujo léxico é formado, majoritariamente, a partir de três consoantes chamadas radicais, responsáveis por encerrarem o significado básico da palavra. Por fazerem parte dessa mesma família de línguas, o árabe e o hebraico partilham, além do que expusemos acima, de muitas características comuns. De uma maneira geral, este estudo procura observar as formas que o verbo simples, hebraico e árabe, pode tomar ao lhe serem aplicados certos padrões para expressar as diversas formas/grau/vozes. Observamos, nos exemplos das duas línguas estudadas, que a formação dos verbos, a partir da raiz trilítera simples, se dá por meio de processos morfológicos extremamente previsíveis e regulares, no entanto, não se pode dizer o mesmo dos valores semânticos advindos dessas construções, que em várias ocasiões se apresentam como um desafio para uma classificação eficaz. Apesar de vários autores ocidentais observarem em seus trabalhos o quanto estes padrões auxiliam na obtenção de vocabulário, os estudos modernos do hebraico e do árabe têm mostrado o quanto eles podem ser complexos.
Does Adding Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Improve the Framingham Cardiovascular Risk Score in Women? Data from the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study
Authors: Saei Ghare Naz Marzieh , Sheidaei Ali , Aflatounian Ali , Azizi Fereidoun , Ramezani Tehrani Fahimeh
Published: January 2022

Background

Limited and conflicting evidence is available regarding the predictive value of adding adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) to established cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Hence, the objective of this study was to determine whether adding APOs to the Framingham risk score improves the prediction of CVD events in women.

Methods and Results

Out of 5413 women who participated in the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study, 4013 women met the eligibility criteria included for the present study. The exposure and the outcome variables were collected based on the standard protocol. Cox proportional hazard model was used to evaluate the association of APOs and CVDs. The variant of C‐statistic for survivals and reclassification of subjects into Framingham risk score categories after adding APOs was reported. Out of the 4013 eligible subjects, a total of 1484 (36.98%) women reported 1 APO, while 395 (9.84%) of the cases reported multiple APOs. Univariate proportional hazard Cox models showed the significant relations between CVD events and APOs. The enhanced model had a higher C‐statistic indicating more acceptable discrimination as well as a slight improvement in discrimination (C‐statistic differences: 0.0053). Moreover, we observed a greater risk of experiencing a CVD event in women with a history of multiple APOs compared with cases with only 1 APO (1 APO: hazard ratio [HR] = 1.22; 2 APOs: HR; 1.94; ≥3 APOs: HR = 2.48).

Conclusions

Beyond the established risk factors, re‐estimated CVDs risk by adding APOs to the Framingham risk score may improve the accurate risk estimation of CVD. Further observational studies are needed to confirm our findings.
It’s about time: Linking dynamical systems with human neuroimaging to understand the brain
Authors: John Yohan J. , Sawyer Kayle S. , Srinivasan Karthik , Müller Eli J. , Munn Brandon R. , Shine James M.
Published: January 2022

Most human neuroscience research to date has focused on statistical approaches that describe stationary patterns of localized neural activity or blood flow. While these patterns are often interpreted in light of dynamic, information-processing concepts, the static, local, and inferential nature of the statistical approach makes it challenging to directly link neuroimaging results to plausible underlying neural mechanisms. Here, we argue that dynamical systems theory provides the crucial mechanistic framework for characterizing both the brain’s time-varying quality and its partial stability in the face of perturbations, and hence, that this perspective can have a profound impact on the interpretation of human neuroimaging results and their relationship with behavior. After briefly reviewing some key terminology, we identify three key ways in which neuroimaging analyses can embrace a dynamical systems perspective: by shifting from a local to a more global perspective, by focusing on dynamics instead of static snapshots of neural activity, and by embracing modeling approaches that map neural dynamics using “forward” models. Through this approach, we envisage ample opportunities for neuroimaging researchers to enrich their understanding of the dynamic neural mechanisms that support a wide array of brain functions, both in health and in the setting of psychopathology.
Trend Analysis of Pet Plants Before and After COVID-19 Outbreak Using Topic Modeling: Focusing on Big Data of News Articles from 2018 to 2021
Authors: Park Yumin , Shin Yong-Wook
Published: January 2022

Background and objective The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic restricted daily life, forcing people to spend time indoors. With the growing interest in mental health issues and residential environments, ‘pet plants’ have been receiving attention during the unprecedented social distancing measures. This study aims to analyze the change in trends of pet plants before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and provide basic data for studies related to pet plants and directions of future development. Methods A total of 2,016 news articles using the keyword ‘pet plants’ were collected on Naver News from January 1, 2018 to August 15, 2019 (609 articles) and January 1, 2020 to August 15, 2021 (1,407 articles). The texts were tokenized into words using KoNLPy package, ultimately coming up with 63,597 words. The analyses included frequency of keywords and topic modeling based on Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) to identify the inherent meanings of related words and each topic. Results Topic modeling generated three topics in each period (before and during the COVID-19), and the results showed that pet plants in daily life have become the object of ‘emotional support’ and ‘healing’ during social distancing. In particular, pet plants, which had been distributed as a solution to prevent solitary deaths and depression among seniors living alone, are now expanded to help resolve the social isolation of the general public suffering from COVID-19. The new term ‘plant butler’ became a new trend, and there was a change in the trend in which people shared their hobbies and information about pet plants and communicated with others in online. Conclusion Based on these findings, the trend data of pet plants before and after the outbreak of COVID-19 can provide the basis for activating research on pet plants and setting the direction for development of related industries considering the continuous popularity and trend of indoor gardening and green hobby.
Comparison of Machine Learning Analysis on Predictive Factors of Children’s Planning-Organizing Executive Function by Income Level: Through Home Environment Quality and Wealth Factors
Authors: Lim Hye-Kyung , Kim Hyun-Ok , Park Hae-Seon
Published: January 2022

Background and objective This study identifies whether children’s planning-organizing executive function can be significantly classified and predicted by home environment quality and wealth factors. Methods For empirical analysis, we used the data collected from the 10th Panel Study on Korean Children in 2017. Using machine learning tools such as support vector machine (SVM) and random forest (RF), we evaluated the accuracy of the model in which home environment factors classify and predict children’s planning-organizing executive functions, and extract the relative importance of variables that determine these executive functions by income group. Results First, SVM analysis shows that home environment quality and wealth factors show high accuracy in classification and prediction in all three groups. Second, RF analysis shows that estate had the highest predictive power in the high-income group, followed by income, asset, learning, reinforcement, and emotional environment. In the middle-income group, emotional environment showed the highest score, followed by estate, asset, reinforcement, and income. In the low-income group, estate showed the highest score, followed by income, asset, learning, reinforcement, and emotional environment. Conclusion This study confirmed that home environment quality and wealth factors are significant factors in predicting children’s planning-organizing executive functions.
Understanding the Creation of Abstract Concepts beyond the Intangible and Tangible Materials of Land Art
Authors: Nam Jinvo
Published: January 2022

Background and objective Understanding abstract art as an art form requires depth of thought. Moreover, understanding land art as abstract art is challenging, given its focus on the minimalism and abstract concepts. Much focus, research, and work were actively conducted in the 1970s, as it represented an abstract expression of minimalism. The characteristics of minimalism connote abstract meanings in the use of materials. Nevertheless, the original research of works or artists has often been mentioned, but few studies have analyzed the abstract language of land art materials. The aim of this study is to thus determine the abstract meanings of materials in land art from the 1970s to the 2010s. Methods Art-based research was employed to address the aim. This study classified the land art materials into intangible and tangible materials, where intangible materials focused on lines, circles, and labyrinths, and tangible materials focused on the earth, stones, wood, and snow. Results Intangible and tangible materials of land art conveyed various abstract meanings. Intangible materials were reflective of connection and symbiosis with nature, delivering abstract languages of ‘take-nothing,’ ‘reflection’ and ‘opportunity.’ Tangible materials reflected the abstract concepts of ‘intervention,’ ‘resistance,’ ‘unliving,’ and ‘change,’ and conveyed caveats. In other words, taken together, intangible and tangible materials were presented in symbiosis–and with caveats–and delivered messages for the present and the future. Interestingly, intangible materials inherently reflect symbiosis and communicate caveats in works based on a non-contextualized present and future. Conclusion Interpretation of the abstract languages derived from intangible and tangible materials could imply a symbiosis between humans and nature, while conveying the message that caveats, to humans, are still ongoing. This relationship plays a significant role in an artist’s selection of a medium, which is reflective of abstract beliefs reflected in contemporary, nature-based works created on Earth.
Shapira’s Deuteronomy, Its Decalogue, and Dead Sea Scrolls Authentic and Forged
Authors: Klawans Jonathan
Published: January 2022

This essay engages Idan Dershowitz’s recent attempt to rehabilitate the Deuteronomy fragments Moses Wilhelm Shapira offered for sale in 1883. After summarizing the contents of Dershowitz’s volume, this paper evaluates Shapira’s fragments in relation to the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Moabitica and other forgeries connected to Shapira. It considers the implications of Shapira’s transcription of the text, which Dershowitz uses to demonstrate Shapira’s innocence. To counter Dershowitz’s hypothesis regarding the “proto-biblical” origin of the fragments, it is proposed that the composition is better understood as a post-biblical pastiche. Dershowitz has endeavored to sever the text from the possibilities allowed by 19th century European scholarship; the present article contextualizes the find within the religious world of 19th century Jerusalem. While the allure of significance can encourage scholars to overcome doubts and accept the authenticity of suspicious objects, Shapira’s fragments remain very dubious indeed.
Factors Underlying Return Migration Decisions among Nigerian Victims of 2019 Xenophobic Violence in South Africa
Authors: Tade Oludayo
Published: January 2022

Studies on xenophobic violence have mainly focused on their causes and effects, but have yet to probe how victimisation experiences of xenophobia trigger migration intentions and actual practices. In a balance of tales, I examine how families contributed to staying put/return decisions by Nigerian migrants in South Africa following the September 2019 xenophobic violence. The study asks: to what extent do family facilitate and/or contribute to the decision to return? And how do return strategies unveil the centrality of family in taking migration decisions? Data emerged through online interviews with Nigerian immigrants in South Africa who stayed put, and six family members in Nigeria were reached through snowball sampling. This was supplemented with secondary interviews conducted with Nigerian returnees in three National newspapers (The Punch, Vanguard, Nigerian Tribune and The Nation newspapers). Findings show the centrality of family in both migration intentions, staying-put, and the actual practices of Nigerian victims of xenophobia in South Africa.
Human Resilience in the Face of Mid-Holocene Climate Change on the Central West Coast of South Africa
Authors: Jerardino Antonieta
Published: January 2022

After the Last Glacial Maximum, important yet milder climatic trends continued to characterise the Holocene. None of them was more challenging to forager groups in the central west coast of South Africa than the mid-Holocene Altithermal (8200–4200 cal BP). Hot and dry weather and 1–3 m higher sea levels were thought once to have barred local foragers from this region because of a lack of sites dating to this period. Instead, this initial scenario reflected largely a sampling problem. Steenbokfontein Cave is one of a few sites with some of the largest mid-Holocene deposits, allowing insights into forager adaptations during this period. Results show high mobility over large distances and a terrestrial diet mostly dependant on small bovids, complemented with fewer coastal resources. Stone tool kits and lithic raw materials among various sites suggest that much evidence for mid-Holocene occupation is actually found near the local riparian systems.
Review of Dactylosternum Wollaston, 1854 from China and Japan (Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae, Sphaeridiinae)
Authors: MAI ZUQI , HU JIAN , MINOSHIMA YÛSUKE N. , JIA FENGLONG , FIKÁČEK MARTIN
Published: January 2022

The species of the genus Dactylosternum Wollaston, 1854 occurring in China and Japan are reviewed. Ten species are recognized to occur in China, two of which were also recorded from Japan. Four new species are described from China: Dactylosternum nanlingensis Mai et Jia, sp. nov. (Guangdong, Jiangxi) from fungal hyphae on fallen wood, D. songxiaobini Mai et Jia, sp. nov. (Guangxi) from fallen wood with termites, D. pseudolatum Mai et Jia, sp. nov. (Guangdong, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Fujian, Hainan, Yunnan) and D. frater Mai et Jia, sp. nov. (Yunnan) from banana trees. Dactylosternum latum (Sharp, 1873) and D. salvazai Orchymont, 1925 are reported for the first time from China, and species recorded previously (D. abdominale (Fabricius, 1792), D. corbetti Balfour-Browne, 1942, D. hydrophiloides (MacLeay, 1825) and D. pui Jia, 2002) are redescribed or diagnosed. Dactylosternum abdominale (Fabricius, 1792) is confirmed to occur in Japan. Dactylosternum latum is only known from Japan based on type specimens believed to be collected in Nagasaki by G. Lewis in late 19th century; since the species was never re-collected in Japan later, its distribution in Japan seems doubtful. Dactylosternum vitalisi Orchymont, 1925 is synonymized with D. latum (Sharp, 1873), the variability of the latter species is discussed. We moreover found that the type series of D. vitalisi contains two species, with some paratypes actually belonging to D. pseudolatum Mai et Jia, sp. nov. All species of Dactylosternum living in China and Japan are diagnosed and illustrated and a key allowing their identification is provided. We infer that the compact antennal club and paralleled body form are characters related to the life inside of plant tissues, while loose antennal club and rounded body form is present in free living Dactylosternum species. The combination of characters for distinguishing Dactylosternum from other genera of Coelostomatini is also provided.
Facile Preparation of Paclitaxel Nano-Suspensions to Treat Lung Cancer
Authors: Zhang Wei , Chen Yi , Wang Bin , Feng Xueren , Zhang Lijuan , Liu Shunlin
Published: January 2022

Lung cancer is a worldwide issue which account for the death of thousands every year. Paclitaxel (PTX) as the first line chemotherapy drug to treat lung cancer, its clinical applications is largely limited by its poor solubility. The facile preparation of pharmaceutical formulations
to increase the solubility as well as targetability of PTX is of vital importance in lung cancer treatment. Herein, we introduced a facile method to prepare PTX nano-suspensions (NSs), which have high drug loading as well as well-dispersed particle size. The in vitro cell experiments
revealed its capability to enhance the drug accumulation in A549 cells than free PTX. Moreover, in vivo animal assay suggested its better tumor accumulation and antitumor efficacy than PTX injection (Taxol).
Identification of Circulating Tumor Cell Phenotype in Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Wang Huiling , Lv Mian , Huang Yonghong , Pan Xiaoming , Wei Changyuan
Published: January 2022

Objective: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have been considered as the origin of tumor metastasis and recurrence, which always indicate a poor prognosis. There are three phenotypes of CTCs according on different epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, including epithelial,
mesenchymal, and epithelial/mesenchymal (mixed phenotypic) CTCs. We intended to explore the relationship among CTC phenotypes and the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Methods: Peripheral blood samples from 58 patients with
DTC were collected, and CTCs were isolated by cell sizes. To identify phenotypes of CTCs, branched DNA signal amplification technology was adopted to capture and amplify target sequences, and then multiplex RNA-in situ hybridization (RNA-ISH) assay was used to identify CTC phenotypes
depended on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers. Results: The positive rate of CTCs was 77.59% in 58 DTC patients. Totally, 488 CTCs with detective phenotype were found. Among them, there were 121 (24.80%) epithelial CTCs, 67 (13.72%) mesenchymal CTCs, and 300 (61.48%) mixed
phenotypic CTCs. An obvious increased epithelial CTCs was observed in male patients compared with female. Notably, CTCs were more prevailing in younger male patients with ETI and bilateral focus. Conclusions: The CTCs are common in DTC patients, and mixed phenotypic is the major phenotype,
indicating that EMT is prevalent in DTC even though its prognosis was better than other epithelial tumors. Detection of CTC and its phenotypes might independently predict the prognosis of DTC.
miR-486-3p Controls the Apoptosis of Endometrial Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Wang Donghua , Liu Xiaoli , Cao Lirong , Gong Shixiong , He Yi , Jiang Xiangbin , Wang Zhongxian
Published: January 2022

Our study aimed to discuss the mechanism of miR-486-3p in controlling the apoptosis of endometrial carcinoma (EC) cells. EC cells were divided into NC group, miR-486-3p mimic and miR-486-3p inhibitor group followed by analysis of miR-486-3p level by Real-time PCR, cell proliferation
by spectrophotometric method, apoptosis by FCM, cell migration and invasion by Transwell analysis. EC cells showed reduced miR-486-3p level. The EC malignant biological behaviors could be prompted through retraining miR-486-3p level with increased EC cell invasive capacity. DDR1 was a target
of miR-486-3p. The variation of tumor activity could be regulated through controlling DDR1 expression. In conclusion, the apoptotic and invasive characteristic of EC cells are restrained after overexpression of miR-486-3p in EC cells through targeting DDR1, indicating that miR-486-3p could
be considered to be one kind of brand-new target for the treatment of EC.
Exosome Secreted from Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) of Osteoporosis Inhibits the Osteogenic Differentiation
Authors: Wu Liangbang , Wang Xinqiang , Zhang Yuehong , Hou Zhenhai , Zheng Longbao , Gu Zenghui
Published: January 2022

This study analyze the effect of exosome secreted from MSCs on osteogenic differentiation in OP rats. The exosome was obtained from cultivated MSCs isolated from OP rats with ultracentrifugation. OP rats were treated with exosome secreted from MSCs of normal rats, exosome secreted from
MSCs of OP rats and exosome secreted from MSCs of OP rats with overexpression of ALP followed by analysis of the osteogenic differentiation, the expression of ALP, Bglap and Runx2 and the targeted correlation between miR-351 and ALP. The MSCs in normal rats and OP rats were able to adhere
to wall. There was elongated. The level of miR-351 in OP rats was significantly higher than normal rats. The Runx2 expression and ALP activity in rats treated with exosome secreted from MSCs of OP rats was declined significantly compared to that from MSCs of normal rats. ALP was a target gene
of miR-351. In conclusion, the exosome secreted from MSCs of OP rats inhibits the osteogenic differentiation possibly through restraining miR-351-ALP.
Effect of Metformin Intervention on Pancreatic β-Cell Apoptosis
Authors: Xie Dongqian , Gao Zhicheng , Liu Mei , Wang Defeng
Published: January 2022

Metformin is shown to have hypoglycemic effects. However, the relationship between metformin’s intervention in FFA-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated insulin resistance (IR) and insulin β-cell apoptosis under high-glucose condition remains unclear. Our study
intends to assess their relationship. Human pancreatic β-cells were treated with metformin and cell proliferation and IR were detected by MTT assay along with detection of Wnt/β-catenin signaling by RT-PCR, cell cycle and apoptosis by flow cytometry. Metformin inhibited
β cell proliferation which was mediated by FFA-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress in a time-dependent and dose-dependent manner as well as induced cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase. In addition, metformin inhibited β-catenin signaling activation and decreased the expression
of c-myc, Dvl-2, survivin, Dvl-3, GSK-3β (p-ser9) and promoted GSK-3 (p-tyr216) and Axin-2 expression. In conclusion, metformin inhibits Wnt/β-catenin signaling and promotes FFA to induce endoplasmic reticulum stress, thereby mediating pancreatic β-cells
behaviors.
Biocompatible carbon nanodots from red onion peels for anti-oxidative and bioimaging applications
Authors: Bhattacharya Debashruti , Kumar Vinay , Packirisamy Gopinath
Published: January 2022

The present study reports the green synthesis of carbon dots (C-dots) by one-step, facile hydrothermal process, using red onion peels as the base material. The optical properties of the C-dots have been studied in detail using UV-Visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and
quantum yield measurements. The structural and compositional analysis of fluorescent C-dots was done via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Surface chemistry of the C-dots was studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The stability measurement
of C-dots was done via Zeta potential. The biocompatibility of the C-dots was evaluated using a breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). C-dots were used as potential bioimaging agents for fluorescence imaging of mammalian cell lines. Concentration-dependent cellular uptake of the C-dots by the MCF-7
cells was shown qualitatively using fluorescence microscopy. The study also assessed the antioxidant activity of the C-dots. Thus, this work validates the red onion peel-derived C-dots as excellent bioimaging and antioxidant agents for mammalian cell lines.