bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quorum Sensing in Oral Biofilms: Influence on Host Cells
Authors: Nagi Malee , Chapple Iain L.C. , Sharma Praveen , Kuehne Sarah A. , Hirschfeld Josefine
Published: June 2023

Oral diseases remain a major health problem worldwide, with the World Health Organisation reporting that oral health neglect affects almost half of the world’s population. Quorum sensing molecules (QSMs) influence oral biofilms in various ways with knowledge of direct oral QSM-host interaction being limited, and such studies could provide more insight into the cross-kingdom communication occurring during oral disease development. This review aims to explore the literature on oral QSM-host interaction and to highlight areas of advancement in this field. QSM CSP-1 produced by Gram-positive oral bacteria was found to interact with T2R receptors, activating NF-kB signalling and leading to remodeling of the cytoskeleton. AI-2 in the oral cavity was found in various studies to elicit an inflammatory response in specific oral cells. Overall AHL detection methods remain an area for development, through which greater understanding of oral QSMs’ influence on host cells can be achieved. In conclusion, from the current literature it can be inferred that that QSMs are utilised by host cells to detect bacterial presence and in the majority of cases elicit an immune response towards the environmental QSMs. This may provide a base to target QSMs as novel treatment of oral diseases.
Sorption and Removal of Petroleum Hydrocarbons from Brackish Water by Hydrophobic Sorbents Immobilized with Fungi
Authors: Paulauskiene Tatjana , Uebe Jochen , Kryzevicius Zilvinas , Katarzyte Marija , Overlingė Donata , Shevchenko Liubov
Published: June 2023

The study investigates the effects of immobilizing the fungi on the straw's performance as an oil sorbent. The buoyancy of the straw with fungi was found to be unaffected by the immobilization process. Even when sorbed with oil, the straw floated on the water’s surface throughout the 14-day test period. The sorption kinetics of the oil appeared similar in straw with and without immobilized fungi, regardless of beaker shaking. However, the fraction of non-extractable oil was higher in the straw with fungi and shaking compared to the straw without shaking. This observation suggests the potential initiation of oil mining. Based on these results, it is suggested that instead of leaving the straw with fungi and oil in the water, removing it may be beneficial and allow for oil degradation and straw decomposition on land.
VEGF Detection via Impedance Spectroscopy on Surface Functionalized Interdigitated Biosensor
Authors: Lin Yue-Der , Zida Serge Ismael , Yang Chu-Chun , Khung Yit Lung
Published: June 2023

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a important biomarker with significant clinical importance. It plays a key role in angiogenesis, would healing, tumor growth, lung development, and in retinal diseases. Hence, detecting and quantifying VEGF is crucial in clinical diagnosis and prognosis of various diseases. In this work, a simple but highly cost-effective platform is developed for VEGF protein detection by using commercially available interdigitated sensors that are modified through surface chemistry tagged with DNA aptamer grafting. The dielectric characteristics between the fingers of sensor is modulated by the negatively charged aptamer-VEGF capture and the impedance is estimated using impedance analyzer. Impedance spectra tests was compared between pristine unmodified, functionalized monolayer surfaces and aptamer-grafted surfaces in order to evaluate the efficacy of VEGF detection. In our results, the sensitivity experiments as conducted had shown the ability of the interdigitated sensor to detect VEGF at a low concentration of 5 pM. The specificity of the functionalized sensor in detecting VEGF is further studied by comparing the impedance to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and the results confirm the specificity of the sensor. Finally, an alternative illustration of impedance spectra is also proposed to improve the data visualization, and such presentation may be potential for intelligent VEGF detection.
Smart Wireless Sensor Technology for Healthcare Monitoring System using Cognitive Radio Networks
Authors: Jabeen Tallat , Jabeen Ishrat , Ashraf Humaira , Ullah Ata , Jhanjhi N.Z , Ghoniem Rania M. , Ray Sayan Kumar
Published: June 2023

Programmable Object Interfaces are increasingly intriguing researchers because of their broader applications, especially in the medical field. In Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN), for example, the patients’ health can be monitored using clinical nano sensors. Exchanging such sensitive data requires a high level of security and protection against attacks. To that end, the literature is rich with security schemes that include the advanced encryption standard, secure hashing algorithm, and digital signatures that aim to secure the data exchange. However, such schemes elevate the time complexity rendering the data transmission slower. Cognitive Radio technology with a medical body area network system involves communication links between WBAN gateways, server and nano sensors rendering the entire system vulnerable to security attacks. In this paper, a novel DNA-based encryption technique is proposed to secure medical data sharing between sensing devices and central repositories. It has less computational time throughout authentication, encryption, and decryption. Our analysis of experimental attack scenarios shows that our technique is better than its counterparts.
The Development of Peanut Defect Detection Technique Using Hyperspectral Images
Authors: Chen Shih-Yu , Kuo Yung-Ming , Zhang Rui-Hong , Cheng Tsai-Yi , Chu Po-Yu , Kang Li-Wei , Lin Chinsu
Published: June 2023

In Taiwan, peanuts are classified by hand. The kernel quality is judged based on the appearance of peanuts. The identification takes considerable time and labor. Fatigue can induce misrecogni-tion or grade cognition instability due. Peanut defects are generally divided into health, underde-velopment, insect bite, and rupture. This study employed two imaging methods push-boom FX10 and Snapshot. Deep learning was used to detect peanut defects. A push-broom instrument was used for testing. There were 1,560 peanuts, including 240 good and 240 bad ones. There were a total of 1,080 good peanuts and bad peanuts in the test set data, the band selection was used, and a CNN model was built. Based on the results from three methods, 3DCNN could classify with 97%accuracy. The Snapshot was used to achieve the real-time design of a lightweight CNN model. Finally, five bands were selected using PCA, and the screening could be accurate and efficient. The maximum overall accuracy was about 98.5%. Kappa was 97.3% with real-time recognition. This will be a major advantage in the future practical application and commercialization processes. This technique can reduce labor costs, achieve intelligent detection and intelligent grading, and bring breakthroughs to smart agriculture for other crops as well.
Clinical Significance of PD-L1 Status in Circulating Tumor Cells for Cancer Management during Immunotherapy
Authors: Strati Areti , Economopoulou Panagiota , Lianidou Evi , Psyrri Amanda
Published: June 2023

The approval of monoclonal antibodies against programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and programmed cell death protein (PD1), has changed the landscape of cancer treatment. To date, many Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs) have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of metastatic cancer as well as locally recurrent advanced cancer. However, immune-related adverse events (irAEs) of ICIs highlight the need for biomarker analysis with strong predictive value. Liquid biopsy is an important tool for clinical oncologists to monitor cancer patients and administer or change appropriate therapy. CTCs frequently express PD-L1 and this constitutes a clinically useful and non-invasive method to assess PD-L1 status in real time. This review summarizes all the latest findings about the clinical significance of CTC for the management of cancer patients during administration of immunotherapy and mainly focuses on the assessment of PD-L1 expression in CTCs.
Degradation of chemical warfare agent nitrogen mustard using ferrate(VI)
Authors: Labaška Miroslav , Gál Miroslav , Mackuľak Tomáš
Published: June 2023

Chemical warfare agents (CWAs) are one of the most toxic compounds. Degradation of CWAs using decontamination agents is one of the few ways to protect human health against the harmful effects of CWAs. A ferrate Fe(VI) based potential chemical warfare agent decontaminant was studied for degradation of persistent nitrogen mustard (tris(2-chloroethyl)amine, HN3). By optimizing the reaction conditions, the complete degradation of HN3 was achieved in 4 minutes. The degradation products contained mostly reduced Fe species which confirmed the environmental friendliness of the proposed decontamination solution.
Synthesis of Ti-Ni and Zr-Ni Core-Shell Particles Using Galvanic Replacement
Authors: Dresvyannikov Alexander F. , Kalugin Leonid E. , Petrova Ekaterina V.
Published: June 2023

The article focuses on the galvanic replacement synthesis of Ti-Ni and Zr-Ni metal systems with the "core-shell" structure which are potential precursors for intermetallics. The authors defined the effective synthesis parameters and the formation features of polymetallic systems character-ized by granulometric, phase and elemental composition. The X-ray fluorescence and X-ray phase analysis methods showed that the deposition of nickel on dispersed titanium and zirconium leads to the production of test samples with phase composition representing a mechanical mixture of Ni and Ti, Ni and Zr. The method of X-ray fluorescence analysis showed that the presence of hy-drofluoric acid with a 0.5-1.5 M concentration results in the formation of fixed quantitative ratios of elements in the precipitate, which allows the quantitative composition of dispersed systems "titanium - nickel", "zirconium - nickel" to be regulated within a relatively wide range. Scanning electron microscopy proved that all synthesized systems are characterized by a highly porous structure that follows the titanium and zirconium particle surface contour and the presence of spherical nanoscale subunits on the formed particle surface.
CURRENT STATE OF GENDER EQUALITY ASSURANCE IN UKRAINE: THE REGULATION-AND-LEGAL ASPECT
Authors: Hren Larysa
Published: June 2023

The article is devoted to analyzing the state of gender equality assurance in Ukraine. On the basis of studying the positive European and world experience, the expediency in assuring practical formation of state policies on gender equality principles is proved. Also, efficiency of collective management style concerning support of social institutions’ stability is substantiated. The theoretical and methodological foundations of the research disclose the legal regulation of state gender policies in Ukraine, which is made through regulating-and-legal acts of two levels: the supranational, and the national. The goal of the article is to analyze the current state of gender equality in Ukraine and to offer ways to improve and develop the national level of the legal base of the state to regulate its gender policies. In the research, the legislation of Ukraine is viewed in terms of gender equality, as well as regulating and legal documents that fixate the state government’s position concerning the assurance of gender rights. The outcomes of studying the Gender Gap Index with the related ranking of the countries of the world by the equality of men and women index both in Ukraine and abroad are provided. Proposals are offered as to recognition of the need and urgency of forming a legislation which would foster the fixation and promotion of the gender equality principle by way of improvement and development of the national level of the legal base of a state.
FEATURES OF CONDUCTING PRESENTATIONS IN INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION CONDITIONS
Authors: Karacheva Daria , Tsarova Svitlana
Published: June 2023

The article is devoted to the analysis of the peculiarities of the development of communicative competence and intercultural abilities and skills of students of higher educational institutions of Ukraine in the conditions of international academic mobility and cross-cultural communication. Emphasis is placed on the need to introduce intercultural communication courses in the curriculum at the tertiary level in Ukraine, in particular, on the peculiarities of conducting presentations using modern multimedia tools. The urgency of this issue is due to the need for Ukrainian students to be aware of the values, traditions and norms of verbal and nonverbal cross-cultural communication in order to be successful in their academic and professional environment. The aim of the article was to highlight the specifics of intercultural aspects in the classroom using modern multimedia technologies. In our research we used interdisciplinary approaches, as well as theoretical and empirical methods: observation and generalization, and methods of deduction and systematization. Modern students represent a generation characterized by openness to the outside world and academic mobility. This means that awareness of differences in cultural norms, values, attitudes to the environment is absolutely necessary for effective interpersonal and cultural communication. Graduates of Ukrainian technical universities who have such skills will be especially valuable, as they will be able to use effective communication tools to present products created by Ukrainian companies and make them useful in foreign countries and vice versa. It is necessary to teach future professionals to use information technology in planning, organizing, editing materials for presentations of new products and especially when conducting them for different cultures.
FROM MASS CULTURE TO CULTURAL INDUSTRY (ABOUT THE COMBINATION OF CULTURE AND ECONOMY IN THE LATE XX AND BEGINNING OF XXI CENTURIES)
Authors: Mishchenko Maryna
Published: June 2023

This article is devoted to the concept of the creative economy and the role of creativity and innovation in the modern world. The creative economy is divided into a number of separate industries –creative industries, one of which is the cultural industry, the object of this study. The origins of the cultural industry go back to the 19th century and are associated with the possibility of replicating art and the spread of mass culture. The numerous disadvantages of combining industry and culture have been comprehended by many philosophers of the twentieth century, but today it is possible to note the positive aspects associated with this. The article analyzes the concept of "creative city", which continues the study of large cities after urbanism. According to C. Landry, this is a kind of philosophy of a modern city, in which creativity and creativity are the main driving force. Cultural maps of the country's regions are associated with a part of innovation and creativity in the economy and the formation of new cultural standards. The article discusses hubs, coworking spaces, clusters as modern spaces for the production of new ideas. The ways of their functioning are given on the example of the city of Kharkov. Public space is the backbone of a creative city. The need to generate creative resources for the economic growth of cities with the attraction of investments for this is emphasized. The city's “creativity” level is based on indicators such as cultural life, creative economy and favorable conditions for the development of culture and creativity. The positive consequences of the development of creative industries are the use of applied creative practices, innovations that change the social space from the outside and from the inside, profit generation, job creation and respect for intellectual property. The topic of the creative economy and cultural industries is relevant for research in the future, given the increase in the cultural sector in the economy. You can also state "creativity" as the main concept of the modern economy, regardless of the industry.
DIFFERENTIATION OF TYPES OF INDIRECT DIRECTIVE SPEECH ACT IN GERMAN DIALOGICAL DISCOURSE
Authors: Tayyem Mariam Jawad
Published: June 2023

The article is dedicated to the study of indirect directive speech acts and the differentiation of their types in the German dialogical discourse. Authoritarian or significant indirect speech acts are such acts aimed at prompting action, but this action is partially caused by the desire of the respondent; instead, non-authoritarian or polite indirect speech acts are intended to induce action in a polite, unobtrusive form.
Распространение вариантов вируса SARS-COV-2, вызывающих интерес (VOI) и субвариантов Omicron, находящихся под наблюдением (VUM), на основе количества их геномов, депонированных в базу данных GISAID за неделю с 27.05.2023 г. по 02.06.2023 г.
Authors: Дмитриева Людмила , Краснов Ярослав , Иванова Александра , Карнаухов Игорь , Щербакова Светлана , Кутырев Владимир , Караваева Татьяна , Осина Наталия , Поспелов Михаил
Published: June 2023

В обзоре представлена информация по циркулирующим в настоящее время ва-риантам вируса SARS-COV-2 вызывающих интерес (VOI) и субвариантов Omicron, находящихся под наблюдением (VUM), геномные последовательности которых раз-мещены в международной базе данных GISAID за неделю с 27 мая по 2 июня 2023 г.
Neurologic Outcomes After Radiation Therapy for Severe Spinal Cord Compression in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Zijlstra H. , Striano B.M. , Crawford A.M. , Groot O.Q. , Raje N. , Tobert D.G. , Patel C.G. , Wolterbeek N. , Delawi D. , Kempen D.H.R. , Verlaan J.J. , Schwab J.H.
Published: June 2023

Background:

Bone destruction is the most frequent disease-defining clinical feature of multiple myeloma (MM), resulting in skeletal-related events such as back pain, pathological fractures, or neurologic compromise including epidural spinal cord compression (ESCC). Up to 24% of patients with MM will be affected by ESCC. Radiation therapy has been proven to be highly effective in pain relief in patients with MM. However, a critical knowledge gap remains with regard to neurologic outcomes in patients with high-grade ESCC treated with radiation.

Methods:

We retrospectively included 162 patients with MM and high-grade ESCC (grade 2 or 3) who underwent radiation therapy of the spine between January 2010 and July 2021. The primary outcome was the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) score after 12 to 24 months, or the last known ASIA score if the patient had had a repeat treatment or died. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with poor neurologic outcomes after radiation, defined as neurologic deterioration or lack of improvement.

Results:

After radiation therapy, 34 patients (21%) had no improvement in their impaired neurologic function and 27 (17%) deteriorated neurologically. Thirty-six patients (22%) underwent either surgery or repeat irradiation after the initial radiation therapy. There were 100 patients who were neurologically intact at baseline (ASIA score of E), of whom 16 (16%) had neurologic deterioration. Four variables were independently associated with poor neurologic outcomes: baseline ASIA (odds ratio [OR] = 6.50; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.70 to 17.38; p < 0.001), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (OR = 6.19; 95% CI = 1.49 to 29.49; p = 0.015), number of levels affected by ESCC (OR = 4.02; 95% CI = 1.19 to 14.18; p = 0.026), and receiving steroids prior to radiation (OR = 4.42; 95% CI = 1.41 to 16.10; p = 0.015).

Conclusions:

Our study showed that 38% of patients deteriorated or did not improve neurologically after radiation therapy for high-grade ESCC. The results highlight the need for multidisciplinary input and efforts in the treatment of high-grade ESCC in patients with MM. Future studies will help to improve patient selection for specific and standardized treatments and to clearly delineate which patients are likely to benefit from radiation therapy.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Secondary Peripheral Dedifferentiated Chondrosarcoma
Authors: Yoshimoto Masato , Setsu Nokitaka , Yokoyama Nobuhiko , Taguchi Kenichi , Kohashi Kenichi , Oda Yoshinao
Published: June 2023

Case:

In a 54-year-old man, imaging findings suggested a malignant bone tumor having 2 distinct components of the left ilium. Histopathologically, the resected tumor was diagnosed as dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma (CS) arising in secondary peripheral CS.

Conclusion:

Dedifferentiated CS consists of a high-grade noncartilaginous sarcoma adjacent to a preexisting low-grade CS, among which the peripheral type is extremely rare. Because the bimorphic imaging findings reflected the dedifferentiated area and the CS area, they were considered useful for diagnosis. In addition, the dedifferentiated area was localized to the tumor’s edge, suggesting that the dedifferentiation originated from the cartilage cap.
Ranking the reactivity of carbon sources in cattle slurry in modulating N-gas emissions
Authors: MA YAN , Chadwick Dave R. , Chen Qing , López-Aizpún María , Scholefield David , Hawkins Jane , Dlamini Jerry C. , Segura Carmen , Cardenas Laura M.
Published: June 2023

Animal manures are important sources of nutrients for crop production, yet the effects of slurry carbon (C) components on soil nitrogen gaseous emissions are poorly understood. Six experiments were conducted in a He/O2 atmosphere aiming to determine the effects of cattle slurry and some of its C components on soil nitrous oxide (N2O) and dinitrogen (N2) emissions. The treatments were: 1) NO3−; 2) NO3− + glucose (experiments 1 to 4) or NO3− + NH4+ (experiments 5 and 6); and 3) NO3− + C source (this was either vanillin, cellulose, glucosamine, butyric acid, fresh cattle slurry or aged cattle slurry, experiments 1 to 6). Results showed that the reactivity order of individual C sources on total N2O-N + N2-N emissions was: glucose > glucosamine > butyric acid > vanillin > aged slurry > cellulose > fresh slurry. Aged cattle slurry generated relatively higher soil total N2O-N + N2-N emissions, but also further reduction to N2 than fresh cattle slurry after incorporation into the soil. In addition, the N2O/N2 ratio was relatively higher in the NO3− + NH4+ treatments (experiments 5 and 6), as well as in the NO3− + glucosamine treatment, due to the additional N application. We concluded that the availability/degradability of C in slurry is an important control of subsequent denitrification rates and the production and emission of N2O when applied to land suggesting that slurry management, i.e. storage period, can be optimised to influence C availability in cattle slurry, leading to a reduced risk of N2O production.
Industrial eco-efficiency of resource-based cities in China: Spatial-temporal dynamics and associated factors
Authors: Chen Yueying , Chen Yanbin , Yin Guanwen , Liu Yujie
Published: June 2023

Promoting the greening of industry is the key to achieving high-quality and sustainable development of the urban economy. It is particularly important for resource-based cities (RBCs) that exploit natural resources as the leading industries. In this paper, the Windows-Bootstrap-DEA model was used to calculate the industrial eco-efficiency (IEE) of 114 RBCs in China from 2003 to 2016, and the regional differences and dynamic evolution characteristics of the IEE were analyzed. The panel Tobit model was used to explore the factors associated with IEE in RBCs. The results showed that the IEE of RBCs in China was at a low level during the study period, and the resource utilization process had not reached an optimal state. There were large regional differences in IEE, and there was a significant degree of spatial agglomeration. The results of conditional probability density estimation showed that the distribution of IEE had strong internal stability on the whole, and the distributions of IEE of RBCs in different regions, different resource types, and different development stages showed significant differences. The results of the panel Tobit model showed that per capita GDP, ownership structure, science and technology input, and industrial agglomeration had significant positive effects on IEE, while industrial structure and employment structure showed significant negative effects. The conclusions of this paper can provide a scientific decision-making basis for industrial transformation planning of RBCs.
Chiroptical detection and mutation analysis of cancer-associated extracellular vesicles in microfluidic devices with oriented chiral nanoparticles
Authors: Kotov Nicholas , Nagrath Sunitha , Kang Yoon-Tae , Kim Ji-Young , Emre Sumeyra , Jung Hee Jeong , Cha Minjeong , Kumari Abha , Palacios-Rolston Colin , Subramanian Chitra , Purcell Emma , Owen Sarah Nicole , Lim Chung-Man , Reddy Rishindra M , Ramnath Nithya
Published: June 2023

Cancer-cell secreted small-extracellular vesicles, also known as exosomes, represent a rapidly emerging family of nanoscale biomarkers for cancer and other diseases. While being high in information content, the current protocols for exosome profiling require complex procedures and equipment involving exosome purification, which prevents their broad utilization and timely diagnosis. Here we show that chiral gold nanoparticles with twisted disk geometry can isolate and profile cancer-associated exosome directly from blood plasma due to the marker-specific chiroptical response. The sub-100 nm pockets matching exosome dimensions, strong chiroplasmonic resonances in these pockets and horizontal orientation of the disk-shaped particles facilitate vesicle capture and analysis. Exosomes from lung cancer patients can be distinguished from those from healthy donors by strongly enhanced polarization rotation signatures of nanoscale biomarkers. Mutation/deletion analysis of epidermal growth factor receptor suggest the possibility of rapid mutation profiling due to high specificity of their chiral interactions with nanoparticles. Compared to traditional techniques, even a single channel microfluidic device with nanoparticle films improves the sensitivity and detection speed by 14 times and 10 times, respectively, enabling the low-cost microfluidics for rapid and versatile profiling of disease markers.
The impact of super-selective episiotomy on maternal short-term morbidity
Authors: Naimi Ammar Al , Radner Gazal , Jennewein Lukas , Brüggmann Dörthe , Louwen Frank
Published: June 2023

Purpose: Our aim is to investigate the risk of short-term maternal morbidity caused by super-selective clinical use of episiotomies (rate of below 0.02). A secondary aim is to compare our risk of severe perineal tears to the state-wide risk.
Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study investigating the effect of super-selective episiotomy on the risk of severe perineal tears and blood loss.
Results: The study included 10992 women who delivered between 2008-2018. Episiotomies were performed in 171 cases (1.56%), 3 of which (1.75%) experienced severe perineal tears compared to 156 (1.44%) in the control cohort. The adjusted odds ratio of severe perineal tears was 0.99 (0.95 CI 0.30, 3.26 p-value 0.98). Multivariate linear regression showed that episiotomies increased blood loss by 77.47 ml (0.95 CI 34.34, 120.59 p-value <0.0001). Episiotomies were performed in 23% (0.95 CI 0.228, 0.23) of vaginal deliveries in the state of Hessen with a risk of severe perineal tears of 0.0143 (0.95 CI 0.0139, 0.0147) compared to 0.0145 (0.95 CI 0.0123, 0.0168) in our entire cohort.
Conclusion: Institutionally implemented super-selective use of episiotomy does not increase the risk of higher-grade perineal tears but leads to increased blood loss. Therefore, episiotomies potentially increase maternal morbidity.
Unveiling the Dot-perspective Task: Integrating Implicit-mentalistic with Sub-mentalistic Processes
Authors: Fan Cong , Susilo Tirta , Low Jason
Published: June 2023

Adults’ performances on the dot-perspective task showed a consistency effect: participants were slower to judge their own visual perspective when their own perspective and others’ perspective were different compared to when both perspectives were the same. This effect has been explained by two competing accounts. The implicit mentalising account suggests the effect arises from relatively automatic tracking of others’ visual perspectives. The submentalising account suggests the effect arises from domain-general attentional orienting. We conducted three experiments to adjudicate between accounts. Experiment 1 manipulated eye-head directional cues (gaze-averted-face versus head-averted-face) and measured its effect on implicit mentalising (in the dot-perspective task) and attentional orienting (in the Posner task). Eye-head directional cues modulated attentional orienting but not implicit mentalising, supporting the importance of visual access and the existence of implicit mentalising in the dot-perspective task. Experiment 2 compared effect of gaze-averted versus finger-pointing agents. Finger-pointing direction might induce attentional orienting effects on both tasks. Experiment 3 combined finger-pointing with manipulation of agent’s visual access (eyes-sighted versus eyes-covered) on the dot-perspective task. Visual access did not modulate the consistency effect when finger-pointing was simultaneously displayed. The findings of Experiments 2 and 3 indicated the contribution of the sub-mentalistic process to dot-perspective task. Overall, the findings suggest that implicit mentalising and submentalising may co-exist in human social perceptual processes. Visual access appears to play a dominant role in modulating implicit mentalising on the dot-perspective task, but the process may be interfered by finger-pointing cues (more salient than gaze cues) via a sub-mentalistic attentional-orienting mechanism.
Expression Profile of Glutathione-S-Transferase Gene Family in Response to Cu(OH)2 Nanopesticide in Maize
Authors: AKSAKAL Özkan
Published: June 2023

Glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs) are a large family of genes that play a major role in detoxifying pesticides and tolerance to abiotic stress in plants. Copper hydroxide nanopesticides [Cu(OH)2 NP] are nanostructures with two to three dimensions between 1-200 nm widely used in modern agriculture recently. There are very few studies on the eco-toxicological effects, behavior, and fate of these nanopesticides. In this study, one-week-old maize seedlings grown in a hydroponic medium were exposed to 10 mg/L Cu(OH)2 NP for 7 d, and root-shoot length, ASA and GSH content, GST enzyme activity, and expression of all GST genes were examined. Besides, maize seedlings were exposed to 100 µM CuSO4 for 7 d to evaluate the effect of copper ions. Results showed that both Cu(OH)2 NP and CuSO4 reduced root and shoot length. GST activity increased significantly after Cu(OH)2 NP exposure. Foliar application of Cu(OH)2 NP or CuSO4 led to an accumu1ation of Cu in roots and shoots, and increased contents of GSH, GSSG, and DHA, but they reduced ASA level. Exposure to Cu(OH)2 NP induced remarkable changes in the expression levels of GST genes in shoots and roots of maize seedlings; while 14 GST genes were up-regulated in shoots and 13 in roots, 7 GST genes were down-regulated in shoots and 8 in roots. The expression level of 17 genes in shoots and roots did not change. A similar trend for GST genes was also observed in CuSO4-treated seedlings. This indicated that most of the changes in GST gene expression were due to the released copper ions.
Clinical efficacy of arthroscopic-assisted anchor fixation VS hook plate for the treatment of acute acromioclavicular joint dislocation
Authors: Zhang Qing , Xiang Zhou , Xiang Ming , Chen Guo , Yang Jinsong , Dai Fei
Published: June 2023

Objective
To compare the clinical efficacy and imaging outcomes of hook plate fixation versus arthroscopically assisted coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction with two anchors for acute acromioclavicular joint dislocation (Rockwood III-V).
Methods
Ninety-eight patients with acute acromioclavicular joint dislocation (Rockwood III-V) who were admitted between January 2016 and June 2022 were included in the study. Patients were treated with either arthroscopically assisted coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction using two anchors or open reduction and hook plate fixation. Radiological findings were recorded at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years postoperatively, and shoulder function was evaluated using the ASES and Constant scores. Pain was evaluated using the VAS score, and shoulder range of motion was recorded.
Results
The study included 79 male and 19 female patients, with 37 left-side and 61 right-side dislocations. The patients' ages ranged from 21 to 60 years, with a mean age of 37.6 years. Fifty-five patients underwent arthroscopically assisted coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction using two metal anchors, and 43 patients underwent open reduction and hook plate fixation. The mean follow-up period was 25.4 months. At 3 and 6 months postoperatively, the pain scores in the anchor group were significantly lower than those in the hook plate group. There was no significant difference in pain scores between the two groups at 1 and 2 years postoperatively. At 3 and 6 months postoperatively, the ASES and Constant scores in the anchor group were significantly higher than those in the hook plate group. There was no significant difference in ASES and Constant scores between the two groups at 1 and 2 years postoperatively. At 3 and 6 months postoperatively, the anchor group showed significantly better forward flexion and external rotation than the hook plate group. There was no significant difference in flexion and external rotation between the two groups at 1 and 2 years postoperatively. At 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years after surgery, there was no statistical difference in internal rotation between the two groups.Two patients in the anchor group had complete loss of reduction at 1-month follow-up. One patient in the hook plate group had internal fixation loosening.
Conclusion
Arthroscopically assisted coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction using two metal anchors is an effective method for the treatment of acute acromioclavicular joint dislocation. This technique provides earlier restoration of shoulder function with less pain compared to hook plate fixation, and it can reduce surgical trauma and improve surgical efficiency.
Strategies for monitoring and evaluation of climate change adaptation: localizing global approaches into Andean realities
Authors: Garces Alexandra , Llambi Luis Daniel , Bustamante Macarena , Dupuits Emilie
Published: June 2023

While there is increasing progress made at the global scale on understanding climate change impacts and implementing adaptation solutions, there is still a major gap in documenting and assessing the effectiveness of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems for climate change (CC) adaptation. This is particularly challenging if we consider the diversity of local perceptions and interpretations of what CC adaptation concretely means and how to measure it. This is even more complex in developing countries, where CC adaptation and socioeconomic development go hand in hand. This paper offers a brief literature review of the approaches on M&E to CC adaptation that have been designed at the global scale. Based on this contextual analysis, we evaluate to what extent these global approaches are being localized in monitoring the effectiveness of public policies and territorial strategies for CC adaptation in the Andes. The analysis draws on four national and local case studies in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. The analysis is based on a review of the status of national programs for M&E of CC adaptation and the implementation in those countries of the project “Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts in Water Resources in the Andes” (AICCA). The M&E systems in the four case studies differed widely in the way in which global M&E approaches are localized, reflecting the diversity of conceptions, goals, strategies and contexts in which adaptation is being implemented. Despite the diversity of implementation contexts and the complexity of monitoring the responses of socio-ecological systems, the M&E proposals analyzed share a focus on biophysical indicators over sociopolitical and institutional indicators. In addition, this study emphasizes the need to further implement participatory M&E systems from the community, to improve the territorial articulation of M&E proposals in the Andean region.
An online survey of UK medical students’ experiences of undergraduate medical education activities during the crisis of COVID-19; lessons to inform future inclusivity
Authors: Harrison Michael , Clarke Nicola , Ramanathan Agalya , Premadasan Yathavan , Hunt Julia Hamer , Park Sophie
Published: June 2023

Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruption to clinical and non-clinical medical education. This study aims to elicit the views of UK medical students about teaching and learning activities during this time, including barriers and facilitators to participation and their status as essential workers.
Method
Following stakeholder consultation, a cross-sectional questionnaire was designed based upon five categories of participation - on-site and off-site clinical, synchronous and asynchronous remote learning and other e.g., voluntary or paid work. The survey was made accessible online to all UK medical students. Quantitative data of student participation was analysed to provide context for thematic analysis of qualitative responses in order to understand students’ perceptions and experiences.
Results
207 UK medical students from eight UK medical schools, with a range of degree durations and across different geographical areas. Students participated in a range of face-to-face and virtual teaching activities, favouring on-site clinical learning. Students valued interaction with patients, peers and tutors and timely feedback across all teaching methods. Attendance at clinical placement was facilitated by access to private transport. Remote learning was facilitated by access to broadband and devices. Access to confidential spaces improved engagement with remote clinical learning.
Most students disagreed with their status as an essential worker, with many questioning their clinical ‘value’ in comparison to other essential workers or with other paid/voluntary activities. However, some acknowledged the value of access to clinical placements, personal protective equipment (PPE) and vaccines that the status allowed.
Conclusions
Medical schools can optimise learning by increasing interactivity with patients, peers and tutors, regardless of teaching format. Engagement with all learning activity types was impacted by access to certain resources, including transport, devices and confidential space. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds are arguably less likely to have access to these resources. Medical schools need to maximise inclusive strategies to support all students.
Students’ perceived own professional value and identity as ‘essential workers’ is debatable. To ensure legitimate identity formation during their medical degrees their sense of belonging and role within clinical teams must be supported.
Effects of exercise on autonomic cardiovascular control in individuals with chronic, motor-complete spinal cord injury: an exploratory randomised clinical trial
Authors: Dorey Tristan , Nightingale Tom , Alrashidi Abdullah , Thomas Stefan , Currie Katharine , Hubli Michele , Balthazaar Shane , Krassioukov Andrei
Published: June 2023

Study Design:
Secondary analysis of a clinical trial.
Objective:
To assess the impact of 6 months of arm-cycle ergometer training (ACET), or body weight supported treadmill training (BWSTT), on autonomic cardiovascular responses to a laboratory sit-up test (SUT) in individuals with chronic (≥1-year post-injury) spinal cord injury (SCI).
Setting: Canada.
Methods:
Sixteen individuals with motor-complete (American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale A-B) SCI between the fourth cervical and sixth thoracic spinal cord segments, aged 39±11 years, were assessed. Participants were randomized to receive 72 sessions of moderate-to-vigorous intensity ACET (n=8) or passive BWSTT (n=8). Changes in mean arterial pressure (MAP; finger plethysmography), hemodynamics (Modelflow® method), and heart rate/heart rate variability (HR/HRV; electrocardiography) were measured in response to SUT before and after 6 months of exercise training. Spontaneous cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity (cvBRS) was assessed using the sequence method.
Results:
Neither ACET nor BWSTT impacted hemodynamic responses to SUT or the incidence of orthostatic hypotension (all P>0.36). ACET led to increased HR and high frequency (HF) power HRV responses (interaction effects, both P<0.01) to SUT following 6 months of training compared to BWSTT. Consistent with this, cvBRS improved (P<0.05) following ACET but not BWSTT. At the group level, improvements in cvBRS were highly correlated with both the HR (r=0.726, P<0.0001) and HF power (R=-0.484, P<0.01) responses to SUT.
Conclusion:
Six months of exercise training had no effect on BP responses to SUT in individuals with SCI. However, ACET, but not BWSTT, improved cardiovagal baroreflex control of HR in individuals with chronic, motor-complete SCI, suggesting benefits of volitional upper-body exercise.
Clinical Trial Registration: NCT01718977
L-shaped association between ankle-brachial index and coronary heart disease in Chinese adults with hypertension
Authors: Zhou Wei , Yu Chao , Wang Tao , Zhu Lingjuan , Bao Huihui , Cheng Xiaoshu
Published: June 2023

Purpose
Previous studies have shown that ankle-brachial index (ABI) ≤ 0.9 is independently and positively correlated with cardiovascular events, including coronary heart disease (CHD), However, ABI, as a classified variable, has limited effect in exploring the relationship between CHD. We aimed to investigate the association of ABI level with CHD in hypertensive population.
Methods
This cross-sectional analysis based on the registration study of H-type hypertension in China included 10,900 hypertensive patients. Multivariable linear regression and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the associations between WWI and MMSE and dementia, respectively.
Results
The study participants had a mean (SD) age of 68.3 (9.25) years and 5129 (47.06%) were men. The outcome was CHD. There were 552 (5.06%) participants who had CHD in10900 hypertensive participants. Overall, there was an L-shaped association of ABI with CHD. The full adjusted OR of CHD for participant's ABI level were 0.75 (95%CI: 0.33–1.71). Association of ABI with CHD was evaluated binary logistic regression model, which figured out the turning point was 1.07. On the left of the turning point, ABI is negatively correlated with CHD (OR: 0.27; 95%CI:0.08–0.84), while the prevalence of CHD does not decrease with the increase of ABI level on the right of turning point (OR: 3.08; 95%CI:0.60–15.80).
Conclusion
The results of stratified analysis showed that ABI and CHD were L-shaped related. In this large-scale cross-sectional study, ABI has a nonlinear L-shaped association with CHD in Chinese adult with high blood pressure and its inflection point was 1.07.
Association between arterial carbon dioxide, brain biomarkers and central nervous system injury during veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: A Prospective Cohort Study.
Authors: Thiara Sonny , Stukas Sophie , Hoiland Ryan , Wellington Cheryl , Tymko Mike , Isac George , Finlayson Gordon , Kanji Hussein , Romano Kali , Hirsch-Reinshagen Veronica , Sekhon Mypinder , Griesdale Donald
Published: June 2023

Background Central nervous system (CNS) injury following initiation of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) is common. An acute decrease in PaCO2 following VV-ECMO initiation has been suggested as an etiological factor, but the challenges of diagnosing CNS injuries has made discerning a relationship between PaCO2 and CNS injury difficult.Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study of adult patients undergoing VV-ECMO for acute respiratory failure. We collected blood biospecimens to measure brain biomarkers (neurofilament light [NF-L]; glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP]; and phosphorylated-tau 181 [p-tau 181]) in the first seven days following initiation of VV-ECMO. We assessed the relationship between both PaCO2 over the first 24-hours and brain biomarkers with CNS injury using mixed methods linear regression.Results In our cohort twelve of 59 (20%) patients had overt CNS injury identified on head CT. The PaCO2 decrease with VV-ECMO initiation was steeper in patients who developed a CNS injury (-0.32%, 95%CI: -0.25 to -0.39) compared to those without (-0.18%, 95%CI: -0.14 to -0.21, P-interaction < 0.001). The mean concentration of NF-L increased over time and was higher in those with a CNS injury (464 [739]) compared to those without (127 [257])(P = 0.001). GFAP was higher in those with a CNS injury (4278 [11653] pg/ml) compared to those without (116 [108] pg/ml) (P < 0.001).Conclusions Although rapid decreases in PaCO2 following initiation of VV-ECMO were slightly greater in patients that had CNS injuries vs. those without, data overlap and absence of relationships between PaCO2 and brain biomarkers suggests other pathophysiologic variables are likely at play.
The role of adenocarcinoma subtypes and immunohistochemistry in predicting lymph node metastasis in early invasive lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Xue Mengchao , Liu Junjie , Li Zhenyi , Lu Ming , Zhang Huiying , Liu Wen , Tian Hui
Published: June 2023

Background:
Identifying lymph node metastasis areas during surgery for early invasive lung adenocarcinoma remains challenging. The aim of this study was to develop a nomogram mathematical model before the end of surgery for predicting lymph node metastasis in patients with early invasive lung adenocarcinoma.
Methods:
A total of 522 patients with invasive lung adenocarcinoma between January 2020 and January 2022 were reviewed at our center and randomized into a training cohort and a validation cohort in a 7:3 ratio. Their histopathological features were extracted from paraffin sections, while frozen sections were reviewed to confirm the concordance between frozen and paraffin sections. A prediction model and a nomogram were developed using one-way and multi-way logistic regression analysis. The nomograms were self-lifted for internal validation and external validation. Recipient operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the discrimination ability of the model. Calibration capability was assessed using the Hosmer-Lemeshow test and calibration curves. The clinical utility of the nomogram was assessed using decision curve analysis (DCA). The consistency index (C-index) was applied to assess the accuracy and discriminative power of the predictions.
Results:
The overall incidence of lymph node metastasis was 13.23% (61/461). Six indicators were finally determined to be independently associated with lymph node metastasis. These six indicators were: age (P<0.001),SA (P=0.008); CA125 (P=0. 042); mucus composition (P=0.003); Napsin A (P=0.007); and CK5/6 (P=0.042). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.843 (95% CI: 0.779-0.908) in the training cohort and 0.838 (95% CI: 0.748-0.927) in the validation cohort. the P-value of the Hosmer-Lemeshow test was 0.0613 in the training cohort and 0.8628 in the validation cohort. the bias of the training cohort corrected C-index was 0.8444 and the bias-corrected C-index for the validation cohort was 0.8375. demonstrating that the prediction model has good discriminative power and good calibration.
Conclusions:
The column line graphs created showed excellent discrimination and calibration to predict lymph node status in patients with ≤2 cm invasive lung adenocarcinoma. In addition, the predictive model has predictive potential before the end of surgery and can inform clinical decision making.