bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Allelopatic effects of Waltheria indica L.: Biocontrol potential in ecological restoration
Authors: Francisco Bruno Santos , Dutra Felipe Bueno , Viveiros Emerson , Passaretti Raquel , Martins Rafael Paranhos , Teração Bruna Santos , Almeida Lausanne Soraya de , Rocha Larissa , Silva José Mauro Santana da , Piña-Rodrigues Fatima Conceição Márquez
Published: October 2021

In Brazil, most degraded areas are occupied by exotic and invasive species, which require alternatives for their management. We evaluated the allelopathic effects of Waltheria indica in the laboratory from aqueous extracts of leaves and roots on the germination of the species Lactuca sativa L. (lettuce), Urochloa brizantha (Hochst. ex A.Rich.) RDWebster (brachiaria) and Handroanthus chrysotrichus (Mart. ex DC.) Mattos (yellow Ipe). We collected adult one-year-old Waltheria indica shrubs in ecological restoration areas by direct seeding. We used two treatments with aqueous extracts of leaves and roots and a control without extract, with ten repetitions of 10 seeds per treatment, totaling 600 seeds per test species. Germination and use of tetrazolium assays to evaluate the potential respiratory activity of the roots were used. The aqueous extract of W.indica leaves affected the number of germinated seeds of all test species, while the aqueous extract of roots affected only L. sativa and H. chrysotrichus. There were no significant differences between treatments (leaf and root extracts) in species germination. The aqueous extracts of Waltheria indica leaves and roots affected germination and cellular respiration of the studied species, mainly in Lactuca sativa. The identification of W. indica allelopathic compounds may be an initial step so that in the future new bioherbicides are produced from extracts of this species, or even that its seeds can be sown together with non-sensitive native species, aiming for control of exotic species in ecological restoration projects.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and early prediction of gestational diabetes mellitus using machine learning methods
Authors: Lee Seung Mi , Hwangbo Suhyun , Norwitz Errol R. , Koo Ja Nam , Oh Ig Hwan , Choi Eun Saem , Jung Young Mi , Kim Sun Min , Kim Byoung Jae , Kim Sang Youn , Kim Gyoung Min , Kim Won , Joo Sae Kyung , Shin Sue , Park Chan-Wook , Park Taesung , Park Joong Shin
Published: October 2021

Background/Aims: To develop an early prediction model for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) using machine learning and to evaluate whether the inclusion of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-associated variables increases the performance of model.Methods: This prospective cohort study evaluated pregnant women for NAFLD using ultrasound at 10–14 weeks and screened them for GDM at 24–28 weeks of gestation. The clinical variables before 14 weeks were used to develop prediction models for GDM (setting 1, conventional risk factors; setting 2, addition of new risk factors in recent guidelines; setting 3, addition of routine clinical variables; setting 4, addition of NALFD-associated variables, including the presence of NAFLD and laboratory results; and setting 5, top 11 variables identified from a stepwise variable selection method). The predictive models were constructed using machine learning methods, including logistic regression, random forest, support vector machine, and deep neural networks.Results: Among 1,443 women, 86 (6.0%) were diagnosed with GDM. The highest performing prediction model among settings 1–4 was setting 4, which included both clinical and NAFLD-associated variables (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] 0.563–0.697 in settings 1–3 vs. 0.740–0.781 in setting 4). Setting 5, with top 11 variables (which included NAFLD and hepatic steatosis index), showed similar predictive power to setting 4 (AUC 0.719–0.819 in setting 5, P=not significant between settings 4 and 5).Conclusions: We developed an early prediction model for GDM using machine learning. The inclusion of NAFLDassociated variables significantly improved the performance of GDM prediction. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02276144)
Analyzing Technical Competency, Relational Capabilities and Cognitive Abilities on Customer Satisfaction at Distributor Companies in Indonesia
Authors: Mohamad Firdaus  , Krisnawati Nila , Basbeth Firdaus
Published: October 2021

In the current era of globalization, business competition is getting tougher and as a market leader, companies must always maintain their performance and improve their performance, so that customer satisfaction is always maintained. Especially the performance of mechanical services to customers whose performance must be maintained. Main problem faced by PT United Tractors heavy equipment service division is a decrease in customer satisfaction. The decrease in satisfaction is thought to be caused by a decrease in mechanics technical competence, the lack of mechanical ability to maintain good relationships (relational capability) with customers and the ability to identify problems (cognitive abilities) faced by customers. The purpose of this research is to analyze the impact of technical competency, relational capability and cognitive ability toward customer satisfaction and to analyse the impact of customer satisfaction toward customer loyalty. As a quantitative research, the study distributed questionnaires to 200 respondents who are customers who used mechanics services, so that it can be seen what variables have a significant impact on customer satisfaction. The findings of this study are that cognitive ability and technical competency have a significant impact on customer satisfaction, while relational capability has no significant impact on customer satisfaction. The influence of customer satisfaction on customer loyalty has a significant impact.
Development of an Experimental Stand for Studying the Dynamics of the Thermal Front in the Dried Products
Authors: Abulova N. , Abdyrakhman uulu K. , Kenzhaev I.
Published: October 2021

The loudspeakers of thermal front are studied in the dried-out products in the Termika sunny drying setting of. An experimental stand is worked out for the study of dynamics of development of thermal front in the objects of drying, an experimental base is created for the conduct of experimental researches on the exposure of speed of distribution of temperature in the volume of object of drying. On the base of the created experimental stand experimental studies are undertaken in Termika, Individual SDS, and outdoors. Comparative data are got, characterizing the loud speakers of development of thermal front in the objects of drying. It is experimentally well-proven that presence of additional source of infrared in the chamber of drying as a metallic rib of perpendicular relatively overhead metallic sheet — heat-exchanger allows to promote speeds of drying.
Calculating Procedure for the Correlation Coefficient of Fechner and Pearson and Their Application Areas
Authors: Saadalov T. , Myrzaibraimov R. , Abdullaeva Zh.
Published: October 2021

Research relevance in this article is shown in tabular form the calculation of correlation between fixed assets and the volume of commercial products. Using the properties of average values, Pearson’s formula was changed, which made it possible to simplify the calculation methodology. The aim of the research is to study and analyze the correlation coefficient of the mathematical and statistical indicator, the relationship between factorial and effective indicators that are found in the socio-economic life of society. Research purpose is to study and analyze the correlation coefficient of the mathematical and statistical indicator, the relationship between factorial and effective indicators that are found in the socio-economic life of society. Research methods: the article uses the correlation dependence and the statistical relationship of two or more random variables, while changes in the values of one or more of these quantities are accompanied by a systematic change in the values of another or other quantities. Research results can be used in the practice of teaching the course of statistical analysis in medical, biological, biophysical and economic specialties in universities. Conclusions: correlation coefficients are relatively easy to calculate, their application does not require special mathematical training. Combined with the simplicity of interpretation, the simplicity of the coefficient application has led to its widespread use in the field of statistical data analysis.
Russia’s Kurdish Policy from the Tsardom to the Soviet Union
Authors: GAFARLİ Orhan , GÜÇ Kürşad
Published: October 2021

In the process of the end of the Syrian civil war, Russia's contact with some groups of Syrian Kurds necessitated the historical background of Russian-Kurdish relations. Kurds have been on the political agenda of the Russians not only in the present but also in the past. Both Tsarist Russia and the Soviets considered the ethnic groups living in the regions, where they expanded in military and political terms, as partners in order to increase their domination in those regions. Some of the Kurds have also become actors with whom Russia has partnered in certain periods in the Middle East. In this context, this study will attempt to make a historical analysis of Russia's Kurdish policy. In this way, firstly, the academic and scientific dimension of Kurdish studies, which started in Russia in the middle of the 19th century, will be discussed. Then, the Kurdish policies of Russia during these eras will be discussed through historical facts.
Analisis Semiotika Iklan Gojek #Gakpakelama dan Iklan Grab #Antingaret pada Layanan Transportasi Online di Indonesia
Authors: Almanfaluthi Betha , Juniar Juniar
Published: October 2021

AbstrakGojek dan Grab adalah salah satu perusahaan jasa online terbesar di Indonesia. Baik Gojek maupun Grab memiliki banyak jenis jasa yang ditawarkan, akan tetapi transportasi menjadi jasa utama keduanya. Kondisi jalanan di kota-kota besar di Indonesia khususnya Jakarta yang sering mengalami kemacetan, menjadikan kendaraan roda dua menjadi alternatif berkendara yang populer. Sebagai dua perusahaan transportasi online yang memiliki layanan dan sasaran konsumen yang sama sehingga dalam membuat iklan Gojek dan Grab ada kecenderungan memiliki pesan yang sama dan tema yang mirip namun juga terlihat berbeda. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisa makna iklan kampanye #gakpakelama oleh Gojek dan #antingaret oleh Grab dengan mengurai tanda-tanda visual untuk melihatkan perbedaan antar kedua layanan transportasi online tersebut. Penelitian dilakukan dengan metode analisis isi yang dikombinasikan dengan pendekatan semiotika Roland Barthes yang menganalisis perluasan makna tanda. Dari hasil analisis didapatkan bahwa pengguna transportasi online digambarkan sebagai pekerja kantoran usia muda yang butuh solusi berupa layanan transportasi online yang siap kapan pun sebagai sebuah solusi yang dapat membantu orang-orang berjuang menghadapi kehidupan pekerjaan di kota besar terkait waktu. Kata Kunci: analisis isi, gojek, grab, iklan, semiotika AbstractGojek and Grab are some of the largest online service companies in Indonesia. Both Gojek and Grab have various types of services, but transportation is the primary service. Road conditions in big cities in Indonesia, especially Jakarta, often experience traffic jams so that two-wheeled vehicles are a popular alternative to driving. As two online transportation companies have the same services and target consumers, Gojek and Grab advertisements tend to have the same message and similar themes but also look different. This study purpose to analyze the meaning of the #gakpakelama by Gojek and #antingaret by Grab campaign advertisements by parsing visual signs to show the distinctions between the two online transportation services. The research was conducted using the content analysis method combined with the semiotic approach of Roland Barthes that analyzed the expansion of the meaning of the sign. From the analysis of the results, it was found that online transportation users are described as young office workers who need solutions in the form of online transportation services that are ready at any time as a solution that can help people struggle with working life in big cities related to time. Keywords: campaign, content analysis, gojek, grab, semiotic
Kajian Semiotika Tokoh Tawang Alun pada Komik Wayang Beber Pacitan Adegan Ketiga Belas
Authors: Margana Margana
Published: October 2021

AbstrakWayang beber Pacitan merupakan jenis seni tradisi asli Nusantara yang unik dan langka, tetapi keberadaannya saat ini hampir punah karena tergeser oleh budaya modern. Jenis wayang tersebut mengangkat cerita Panji dengan beberapa tokoh yang memiliki sifat dan karakter beragam. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis karakter tokoh Tawang Alun pada adegan ketiga belas wayang beber Pacitan. Penelitian ini termasuk jenis penelitian deskriptif kualitatif. Data penelitian dikumpulkan melalui observasi, wawancara, dan analisis dokumen. Pengambilan sampel penelitian dengan cara purposive sampling. Data penelitian dianalisis dengan metode analisis interaktif dan menggunakan teori semiotika. Untuk mengetahui validitas data digunakan triangulasi. Kesimpulan penelitian adalah Tawang Alun sebagai tokoh utama pada adegan ketiga belas wayang beber Pacitan memiliki karakter kuat yaitu setia pada atasan, rela berkorban dan penuh dedikasi dalam menjalankan tugasnya. Kata kunci: adegan, karakter, komik, semiotika, wayang beber AbstractWayang Beber Pacitan is a unique and rare piece of traditional art from Indonesia, but its existence is presently almost extinct because it was shifted by modern culture. This type of wayang raises the of Panji with several characters who have various traits and characters. This study aims to analyze the characters of Tawang Alun in the 13th scene of Pacitan’s wayang Beber. This research is qualitative descriptive, research data was collected through observation, interviews, and document analysis. The research sample was taken by purposive sampling. The research data were analyzed by interactive analysis method and using semiotic theory. To determine the validity of the data used triangulation. The study concludes that Tawang Alun is the main character in the thirteenth scene of Pacitan’s wayang Beber and it has a strong character that is loyal to his superiors, willing to sacrifice, and full of dedication in carrying out his duties. Keywords: character, comic, semiotic, scene, wayang beber
Boundary Crossing by a Community of Practice: Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries Engage Science Education
Authors: Worthman Carol M. , Kruger Ann Cale , Achat-Mendes Cindy , Lhamo Tashi , Wangyal Rinchen , Gyatso Gelek , Gray Kelsey M.
Published: October 2021

As a globalized world struggles with division and disinformation, engaging across difference has emerged as a major challenge to communication and collaborative action needed to address growing global challenges. As such, the initiative by Tibetan Buddhist leaders to incorporate western science in curricula for monastic education may serve as an important case study that illuminates the conditions and processes at work in genuine cultural outreach and exchange. That project, spearheaded in the Emory-Tibet Science Initiative (ETSI), involves reaching out across two quite different communities of practice, Tibetan Buddhism and science, and the willingness and ability of individuals to cross the boundaries between them. In the study reported here, we apply existing understandings of communities of practice and of learning mechanisms that mediate boundary crossing to probe for presence of conditions and processes that promote effective outreach among Tibetan Buddhist monastic students. We deploy analysis of qualitative survey, interview, and self-report data from monastic students shortly after ETSI began (2009) and after science education had been rolled out in the monasteries (2019) to, first, identify initial cultural conditions related to outreach and engagement with science, and, second, probe for post-rollout presence of boundary crossing learning mechanisms among monastic students which facilitate communication from one community of practice to another. We found a range of robust initial cultural conditions (e.g., perceived overlap in subjects and methods of inquiry), along with strong presence of mechanisms that facilitate boundary crossing (e.g., reflection, transformation) and operate through time. We observed cascading effects of these conditions and mechanisms on student engagement with science. Furthermore, interactions of these conditions and mechanisms allow monastic students to engage with science on their own Buddhist terms and to regard learning science as potentially beneficial rather than threatening to their personal or collective Buddhist goals.
DCTclock: Clinically-Interpretable and Automated Artificial Intelligence Analysis of Drawing Behavior for Capturing Cognition
Authors: Souillard-Mandar William , Penney Dana , Schaible Braydon , Pascual-Leone Alvaro , Au Rhoda , Davis Randall
Published: October 2021

Developing tools for efficiently measuring cognitive change specifically and brain health generally—whether for clinical use or as endpoints in clinical trials—is a major challenge, particularly for conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. Technology such as connected devices and advances in artificial intelligence offer the possibility of creating and deploying clinical-grade tools with high sensitivity, rapidly, cheaply, and non-intrusively. Starting from a widely-used paper and pencil cognitive status test—The Clock Drawing Test—we combined a digital input device to capture time-stamped drawing coordinates with a machine learning analysis of drawing behavior to create DCTclock™, an automated analysis of nuances in cognitive performance beyond successful task completion. Development and validation was conducted on a dataset of 1,833 presumed cognitively unimpaired and clinically diagnosed cognitively impaired individuals with varied neurological conditions. We benchmarked DCTclock against existing clock scoring systems and the Mini-Mental Status Examination, a widely-used but lengthier cognitive test, and showed that DCTclock offered a significant improvement in the detection of early cognitive impairment and the ability to characterize individuals along the Alzheimer's disease trajectory. This offers an example of a robust framework for creating digital biomarkers that can be used clinically and in research for assessing neurological function.
The Advance Care Compass– A New Mechanics for Digitally Transforming Advance Directives
Authors: Biller-Andorno Nikola , Biller Armin
Published: October 2021

Advance directives allow people to declare their treatment preferences for a potential future state of incompetency. Covid-19, with its high numbers of quickly deteriorating patients requiring intensive care, has acutely demonstrated how helpful it would be for clinicians to have reliable, readily available, up-to-date information at hand to be able to act in accordance with what the individual patient would have wanted. Yet for the past few decades advance directives have fallen short of their potential, for various reasons. At worst, advance directives are perceived as unwieldy legal documents that put excessive demands on patients without providing useful guidance for better care. Recent efforts such as advance care planning have tried to remedy some of these shortcomings but have so far met with limited success. We suggest a new concept—the Advance Care Compass—that harnesses the potential of digitalization in healthcare to overcome many of difficulties encountered so far.
Strategy and Strategic Leadership in Education: A Scoping Review
Authors: Carvalho Marisa , Cabral Ilídia , Verdasca José Lopes , Alves José Matias
Published: October 2021

Strategy and strategic leadership are critical issues for school leaders. However, strategy as a field of research has largely been overlooked within the educational leadership literature. Most of the theoretical and empirical work on strategy and strategic leadership over the past decades has been related to non-educational settings, and scholarship devoted to these issues in education is still minimal. The purpose of this scoping review was to provide a comprehensive overview of relevant research regarding strategy and strategic leadership, identifying any gaps in the literature that could inform future research agendas and evidence for practice. The scoping review is underpinned by the five-stage framework of Arksey and O’Malley. The results indicate that there is scarce literature about strategy and that timid steps have been made toward a more integrated and comprehensive model of strategic leadership. It is necessary to expand research into more complex, longitudinal, and explanatory ways due to a better understanding of these constructs.
Clinical Value of the Lactate/Albumin Ratio and Lactate/Albumin Ratio × Age Score in the Assessment of Prognosis in Patients With Sepsis
Authors: Chen Xiaonan , Zhou Xinjian , Zhao Hui , Wang Yanxue , Pan Hong , Ma Ke , Xia Zhijie
Published: October 2021

Objective: To examine the clinical significance of the blood lactate (Lac)/serum albumin (Alb) ratio and the Lac/Alb × age score for assessing the severity and prognosis of patients with sepsis.

Methods: A total of 8,029 patients with sepsis, aged >18 years were enrolled between June 2001 to October 2012 from the latest version of the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III (MIMIC-III v.1.4). The general data of the patients were obtained from hospital records and included gender, age, body mass index (BMI), laboratory indices, the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, and simplified acute physiology score II (SAPS II). The patients were graded and scored according to their age and then divided into a survival or death group based on their prognosis. The Lac/Alb ratio after ICU admission was calculated and compared between the two groups. The risk factors for death in patients with sepsis were determined using multivariate logistic regression analysis, while mortality was examined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and survival curve plots. Finally, the values of the Lac/Alb ratio and Lac/Alb × age score for assessing prognosis of patients with sepsis were analyzed and compared.

Results: After items with default values were excluded, a total of 4,555 patients with sepsis were enrolled (2,526 males and 2,029 females). 2,843 cases were classified as the death group and 1,712 cases in the survival group. (1) The mean age, BMI, SOFA and SAPS II scores were higher in the death group than those in the survival group. Significant differences in baseline data between the two groups were also observed. (2) The patients in the death group were divided further into four subgroups according to the quartile of the Lac/Alb ratio from low to high. Comparison of the four subgroups showed that the death rate rose with an increase in the Lac/Alb ratio, while analysis of the survival curve revealed that patients with a higher Lac/Alb ratio had a worse prognosis. (3) Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age ≥ 60 years, overweight (BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2), Lac/Alb ratio ≥ 0.16, SOFA score ≥ 2 points, and SAPS II ≥ 40 points were independent risk factors for death in patients with septic. (4) ROC curve analysis indicated that the SAPS II, Lac/Alb x age score, SOFA, and Lac/Alb ratio were the best predictors of death in patients with sepsis. The Lac/Alb × age score was characterized by its simple acquisition and ability to quickly analyze the prognosis of patients.

Conclusion: (1)A high Lac/Alb ratio is an independent risk factor for death in patients with sepsis. (2) Although the prognosis of sepsis can be accurately and comprehensively assessed by multi-dimensional analysis of multiple indices, the Lac/Alb×age score is more accurate and convenient for providing a general assessment of prognosis, so is worthy of further clinical recognition.
Intermediate- vs. Standard-Dose Prophylactic Anticoagulation in Patients With COVID-19 Admitted in Medical Ward: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study
Authors: Smadja David M. , Bonnet Guillaume , Gendron Nicolas , Weizman Orianne , Khider Lina , Trimaille Antonin , Mirault Tristan , Fauvel Charles , Diehl Jean-Luc , Mika Delphine , Philippe Aurelien , Pezel Théo , Goudot Guillaume , Sutter Willy , Planquette Benjamin , Waldmann Victor , Sanchez Olivier , Cohen Ariel , Chocron Richard
Published: October 2021

Background:Microthrombosis and large-vessel thrombosis are the main triggers of COVID-19 worsening. The optimal anticoagulant regimen in COVID-19 patients hospitalized in medical wards remains unknown.

Objectives:To evaluate the effects of intermediate-dose vs. standard-dose prophylactic anticoagulation (AC) among patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in medical wards.

Methods and results:We used a large French multicentric retrospective study enrolling 2,878 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in medical wards. After exclusion of patients who had an AC treatment before hospitalization, we generated a propensity-score-matched cohort of patients who were treated with intermediate-dose or standard-dose prophylactic AC between February 26 and April 20, 2020 (intermediate-dose,n= 261; standard-dose prophylactic anticoagulation,n= 763). The primary outcome of the study was in-hospital mortality; this occurred in 23 of 261 (8.8%) patients in the intermediate-dose group and 74 of 783 (9.4%) patients in the standard-dose prophylactic AC group (p= 0.85); while time to death was also the same in both the treatment groups (11.5 and 11.6 days, respectively,p= 0.17). We did not observe any difference regarding venous and arterial thrombotic events between the intermediate dose and standard dose, respectively (venous thrombotic events: 2.3 vs. 2.4%, p=0.99; arterial thrombotic events: 2.7 vs. 1.2%,p= 0.25). The 30-day Kaplan–Meier curves for in-hospital mortality demonstrate no statistically significant difference in in-hospital mortality (HR: 0.99 (0.63–1.60);p= 0.99). Moreover, we found that no particular subgroup was associated with a significant reduction in in-hospital mortality.

Conclusion:Among COVID-19 patients hospitalized in medical wards, intermediate-dose prophylactic AC compared with standard-dose prophylactic AC did not result in a significant difference in in-hospital mortality.
Identification of Epileptogenic and Non-epileptogenic High-Frequency Oscillations Using a Multi-Feature Convolutional Neural Network Model
Authors: Ren Guoping , Sun Yueqian , Wang Dan , Ren Jiechuan , Dai Jindong , Mei Shanshan , Li Yunlin , Wang Xiaofei , Yang Xiaofeng , Yan Jiaqing , Wang Qun
Published: October 2021

Accurately identifying epileptogenic zone (EZ) using high-frequency oscillations (HFOs) is a challenge that must be mastered to transfer HFOs into clinical use. We analyzed the ability of a convolutional neural network (CNN) model to distinguish EZ and non-EZ HFOs. Nineteen medically intractable epilepsy patients with good surgical outcomes 2 years after surgery were studied. Five-minute interictal intracranial electroencephalogram epochs of slow-wave sleep were selected randomly. Then 5 s segments of ripples (80–200 Hz) and fast ripples (FRs, 200–500 Hz) were detected automatically. The EZs and non-EZs were identified using the surgery resection range. We innovatively converted all epochs into four types of images using two scales: original waveforms, filtered waveforms, wavelet spectrum images, and smoothed pseudo Wigner–Ville distribution (SPWVD) spectrum images. Two scales were fixed and fitted scales. We then used a CNN model to classify the HFOs into EZ and non-EZ categories. As a result, 7,000 epochs of ripples and 2,000 epochs of FRs were randomly selected from the EZ and non-EZ data for analysis. Our CNN model can distinguish EZ and non-EZ HFOs successfully. Except for original ripple waveforms, the results from CNN models that are trained using fixed-scale images are significantly better than those from models trained using fitted-scale images (p < 0.05). Of the four fixed-scale transformations, the CNN based on the adjusted SPWVD (ASPWVD) produced the best accuracies (80.89 ± 1.43% and 77.85 ± 1.61% for ripples and FRs, respectively, p < 0.05). The CNN using ASPWVD transformation images is an effective deep learning method that can be used to classify EZ and non-EZ HFOs.
More Than Just Static: Dynamic Functional Connectivity Changes of the Thalamic Nuclei to Cortex in Parkinson's Disease With Freezing of Gait
Authors: Wang Shangpei , Cai Huanhuan , Cao Zong , Li Chuan , Wu Tong , Xu Fangcheng , Qian Yinfeng , Chen Xianwen , Yu Yongqiang
Published: October 2021

Background: The thalamus is not only a key relay node of the thalamocortical circuit but also a hub in the regulation of gait. Previous studies of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have shown static functional connectivity (FC) between the thalamus and the cortex are disrupted in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with freezing of gait (FOG). However, temporal dynamic FC between the thalamus and the cortex has not yet been characterized in these patients.

Methods: Fifty PD patients, including 25 PD patients with FOG (PD-FOG) and 25 PD patients without FOG (PD-NFOG), and 25 healthy controls (HC) underwent resting-state fMRI. Seed-voxel-wise static and dynamic FC were calculated between each thalamic nuclei and other voxels across the brain using the 14 thalamic nuclei in both hemispheres as regions of interest. Associations between altered thalamic FC based on significant inter-group differences and severity of FOG symptoms were also examined in PD-FOG.

Results: Both PD-FOG and PD-NFOG showed lower static FC between the right lateral posterior thalamic nuclei and right inferior parietal lobule (IPL) compared with HC. Altered FC dynamics between the thalamic nuclei and several cortical areas were identified in PD-FOG, as shown by temporal dynamic FC analyses. Specifically, relative to PD-NFOG or HC, PD-FOG showed greater fluctuations in FC between the left intralaminar (IL) nuclei and right IPL and between the left medial geniculate and left postcentral gyrus. Furthermore, the dynamics of FC between the left pulvinar anterior nuclei and left inferior frontal gyrus were upregulated in both PD-FOG and PD-NFOG. The dynamics of FC between the right ventral lateral nuclei and left paracentral lobule were elevated in PD-NFOG but were maintained in PD-FOG and HC. The quantitative variability of FC between the left IL nuclei and right IPL was positively correlated with the clinical scales scores in PD-FOG.

Conclusions: Dynamic FC between the thalamic nuclei and relevant associative cortical areas involved in sensorimotor integration or cognitive function was disrupted in PD-FOG, which was reflected by greater temporal fluctuations. Abnormal dynamic FC between the left IL nuclei of the thalamus and right IPL was related to the severity of FOG.
Dietary Conjugated Linoleic Acid Modulates the Hepatic Circadian Clock Program via PPARα/REV-ERBα-Mediated Chromatin Modification in Mice
Authors: Liu Hao-Yu , Gu Haotian , Li Yanwei , Hu Ping , Yang Yatian , Li Kaiqi , Li Hao , Zhang Kexin , Zhou Bo , Wu Huaxing , Bao Wenbin , Cai Demin
Published: October 2021

Scope: Disruptions of circadian rhythm cause metabolic disorders and are closely related to dietary factors. In this study, we investigated the interplays between the dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)-induced hepatic steatosis and the circadian clock regulation, in association with lipid homeostasis.

Methods and Results: Exposure of mice to 1.5% dietary CLA for 28 days caused insulin resistance, enlarged livers, caused hepatic steatosis, and increased triglyceride levels. Transcriptional profiling showed that hepatic circadian clock genes were significantly downregulated with increased expression of the negative transcription factor, REV-ERBα. We uncovered that the nuclear receptor (NR) PPARα, as a major target of dietary CLA, drives REV-ERBα expression via its binding to key genes of the circadian clock, including Cry1 and Clock, and the recruitment of histone marks and cofactors. The PPARα or REV-ERBα inhibition blocked the physical connection of this NR pair, reduced the cobinding of PPARα and REV-ERBα to the genomic DNA response element, and abolished histone modifications in the CLA-hepatocytes. In addition, we demonstrated that CLA promotes PPARα driving REV-ERBα transcriptional activity by directly binding to the PPAR response element (PPRE) at the Nr1d1 gene.

Conclusions: Our results add a layer to the understanding of the peripheral clock feedback loop, which involves the PPARα-REV-ERBα, and provide guidance for nutrients optimization in circadian physiology.
Case Report: Response to Regional Melphalan via Limb Infusion and Systemic PD1 Blockade in Recurrent Myxofibrosarcoma: A Report of 2 Cases
Authors: Bartlett Edmund K. , D’Angelo Sandra P. , Kelly Ciara M. , Siegelbaum Robert H. , Fisher Charles , Antonescu Cristina R. , Ariyan Charlotte E.
Published: October 2021

Treatment options for patients with advanced sarcoma remain limited. Promising responses to checkpoint inhibition have been observed, but responses to single-agent PD-1 inhibition are rare. We report on two patients with multiply recurrent myxofibrosarcoma treated with the combination of regionally administered melphalan (via isolated limb infusion) and pembrolizumab. Both patients had recurrent disease after multiple surgical resections and radiation. Analysis of primary tumors demonstrated microsatellite stable tumors with few mutations. After combination treatment, one patient had a significant partial response of 6 months duration, the second patient had a complete response of 2 years duration. Post treatment biopsies demonstrated immune infiltration into the tumor. These promising responses in patients with multiply recurrent myxofibrosarcoma have prompted the development of an investigator-initiated clinical trial to formally study the combination of regional melphalan and pembrolizumab in a systematic fashion (NCT04332874).
Complete Response of Hereditary Leiomyomatosis and Renal Cell Cancer (HLRCC)-Associated Renal Cell Carcinoma to Pembrolizumab Immunotherapy: A Case Report
Authors: Wang Tao , Huang Yan , Huang Xing , Lv Zheng , Tian Shuo , Ma Xin , Zhang Xu
Published: October 2021

Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder that results from a germline mutation in the fumarate hydratase (FH) gene; it manifests as cutaneous leiomyomas, uterine fibroids, and renal cell cancer (RCC). Patients with HLRCC-associated RCC (HLRCC-RCC) have aggressive clinical courses, but there is no standardized therapy for advanced HLRCC-RCC. Here, we describe aggressive HLRCC in a 26-year-old man who presented with RCC that exhibited a novel heterozygous germline insertion mutation in exon 2 of the FH gene (c.191dupA: p.N64fs). Systemic lymph node metastasis had already occurred. The patient underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic resection of the right kidney, but new metastases appeared within 5 months postoperatively. Histological staining of the resected tumor showed high expression levels of programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and programmed cell death-1 (PD-1). The patient was treated with anti-PD-1 antibody as first-line therapy. After 2 years of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment, all lesions had disappeared; this response was maintained at 51 months. To our knowledge, this is the first successful treatment of HLRCC-RCC with single-agent immunotherapy. Our approach might be effective for patients with advanced HLRCC-RCC.
Case Report: Identification of a Novel GNAS Mutation and 1p/22q Co-Deletion in a Patient With Multiple Recurrent Meningiomas Sensitive to Sunitinib
Authors: Hong Weiping , Shan Changguo , Ye Minting , Yang Yanying , Wang Hui , Du Furong , Zhang Xing , Song Chao , Cai Linbo
Published: October 2021

Background

Although surgical resection can cure the majority of meningiomas, there are still approximately 20% of patients suffering from an aggressive course with recurrence or progression. In this study, we reported a novel GNAS mutation and 1p/22q co-deletion responding to sunitinib in a patient with multiple recurrent meningiomas.

Case Presentation

A 53-year-old woman with meningioma was hospitalized due to postoperative tumor progression for 3 weeks. WHO grade I meningioma was pathologically diagnosed after the first three surgeries, but the second recurrence occurred approximately 3 years following the third surgery. Next-generation sequencing was performed on the first two recurrent samples. GNAS mutations and 1p/22q co-deletion were both identified, and amplification at 17q and chromosome 19 was also found in the second recurrent sample, based on which WHO grade II/III meningioma was diagnosed. The lesion in the left cerebellopontine angle area enlarged after use of radiotherapy combined with temozolomide chemotherapy for 2 months. When sunitinib was added, the residual lesions began to lessen and continuously reduced.

Conclusion

This typical case suggested that timely molecular diagnosis for refractory meningiomas contributed to guiding the molecular classification and clinicians to make more reasonable individualized therapeutic regimens, consequently benefiting the patients. This case report also highlighted the potential role of sunitinib in the treatment of refractory meningiomas.
Effect of Sirolimus on the Level of Peripheral Blood Lymphocyte Autophagy in Children With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Wang Xinliang , Su Qingxiao , Dou Zhiyan , Zhao Xue , Zhang Naiqi , Yu Bo , Wang Yuxue , Rong Zanhua
Published: October 2021

Background: To observe the changes of autophagy-related protein levels in peripheral blood lymphocytes before and after sirolimus treatment in children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: Children with SLE were randomly divided into two groups, 28 in the traditional treatment group and 28 in the sirolimus group. Fifteen healthy children who were in the same period were collected as the normal control group. Clinical laboratory indexes, the percentage of routine lymphocytes, complement C3, complement C4, serum Anti-dsDNA and SLEDAI were detected.

Results: At 3 and 6 months after treatment, compared with the traditional treatment group, the percentage of routine lymphocytes in the sirolimus group increased (P = 0.03), SLEDAI score and positive rate of Anti-dsDNA decreased (P = 0.01). Compared with normal children, the expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) protein in peripheral blood lymphocytes was significantly higher (P = 0.006); peripheral blood expression of P62/SQSTM1 (sequestosome 1) protein in lymphocytes decreased (P = 0.02).

Conclusion: Sirolimus can play a role in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus by regulating the level of autophagy.
Bacillus cereus Improves Performance of Brazilian Green Dwarf Coconut Palms Seedlings With Reduced Chemical Fertilization
Authors: Cardoso Aline Figueiredo , Alves Ediane Conceição , da Costa Sidney D. Araújo , de Moraes Alessandra Jackeline Guedes , da Silva Júnior Dalton Dias , Lins Paulo Manoel Pontes , da Silva Gisele Barata
Published: October 2021

Coconut production in the Amazon requires the knowledge and development of sustainable technologies to alleviate the detrimental effects of inorganic chemical fertilizers and intensive farming practices. In this study, we investigated the effects of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) isolated from coconut seedlings on nutrient use efficiency (NUE) and physiological mechanisms related to biomass accumulation of seedlings grown with reduced inorganic fertilizer levels. Of the 96 PGPR isolates tested on rice plants, the isolate Bacillus cereus (UFRABC40) was selected, as it resulted in the most significant gain in growth variables. In a commercial coconut tree nursery, we subjected seedlings to two treatments, both with seven replications: control 100% NPK chemical fertilizer (CF) and B. cereus + 50% NPK CF. The results indicated that the inoculation increased phytohormone levels [190% indole acetic acid (IAA), 31% gibberellic acid GA3, and 17% gibberellic acid GA4] and leaf gas exchange [48% by assimilation of CO2 (A), 35% stomatal conductance to water vapor (gs), 33% transpiration, and 57% instantaneous carboxylation efficiency] in leaves. Furthermore, growth parameters (shoot, root, and total dry weight, height, and diameter) and macro- and micronutrient levels (95% N, 44% P, 92% K, 103 Ca, 46% Fe, 84% B) were improved. Our results show the potential ability of strain Bacillus cereus UFRABC40 to promote the growth performance of coconut seedlings under decreased application of inorganic fertilizers. The application of microbial-based products in coconut seedling production systems improves plants’ physiological performance and the efficiency of nutrient use.
Efficacy of Two School-Based Interventions on Notational Ability of Bilingual Preschoolers: A Group-Randomized Trial Study
Authors: Incognito Oriana , Bigozzi Lucia , Vettori Giulia , Pinto Giuliana
Published: October 2021

This randomized trial study aimed to analyze the efficacy of two different school-based interventions—normal preschool literacy teaching, and the PASSI intervention carried out for different durations (12 versus 30 weeks)—on notational knowledge of bilingual language-minority (BLM) preschoolers and their monolingual peers, after controlling their linguistic background and socio- economic status. A total of 251 children aged 4–5 years (M age = 4 years and 8 months; SD age = 6 months; 49% males, 51% females) were recruited from 19 classes in five preschools and randomly assigned to three groups that corresponded to different notational-focused interventions: (1) normal preschool literacy teaching (Condition 1; n = 47); (2) the PASSI intervention carried out for 12 weeks (Condition 2; n = 119); and (3) the PASSI intervention carried out for 30 weeks (Condition 3; n = 85). We collected two waves of data before and after the interventions regarding notational knowledge and phonological skills. Using the mixed ANOVA, we found that the PASSI intervention (both durations of 12 and 30 weeks) led to a significantly higher level of notational knowledge in BLM children and their monolingual peers. In addition, we observed that with the PASSI intervention carried out for 30 weeks, the baseline difference between BLMs and their monolingual peers was nullified. This study demonstrates that well-designed, school-based programs can benefit language-minority children by supporting their emergent notational knowledge. This paper also discusses implications for bilingual education policymaking.
Instructional Set Moderates the Effect of GRE on Faculty Appraisals of Applicant Competence: A Vignette Study With Implications for Holistic Review
Authors: Hernández-Colón Isabelle Rios , Caño Annmarie , Wurm Lee H. , Sanders Gavin , Nava Jennifer
Published: October 2021

While there is movement to create more equitable and holistic admission review processes, faculty continue to place strong emphasis on a single piece of information when making admissions decisions: standardized test scores. This study used an experimental design to test whether instructions provided to faculty prior to assessing doctoral applicants could support holistic review by reducing the weight of the general record examination (GRE) in faculty appraisals of competence and merit for graduate study. Tenured and/or tenure-track faculty (N=271) were randomly assigned to one of three instructional conditions: Control (no instruction), “Diamond in the Rough,” and “Weed Out.” In addition, faculty participants were randomly assigned to read one of two vignettes of a prospective first-generation student who either received high or average GRE scores. Faculty then rated the applicant’s competence using a three-item survey. As expected, faculty who read the vignette describing the candidate with the high GRE rated him as more competent than faculty who read the average GRE vignette. In addition, being instructed to seek out diamonds in the rough buffered the effect of the GRE score on competence. Faculty were also asked to indicate whether they would need additional information to make an admissions decision. They were more likely to ask about grades and research skills than about psychosocial factors that might contextualize the candidate’s performance and perceived competence. The results of this study have implications for creating more equitable doctoral admissions processes that center equity, diversity, and inclusion in decision making.
Changes in Incidence of Notifiable Infectious Diseases in China Under the Prevention and Control Measures of COVID-19
Authors: Chen Bizhen , Wang Meiling , Huang Xun , Xie Maokun , Pan Liting , Liu Huiwen , Liu Zhenguo , Zhou Pengcheng
Published: October 2021

Aim: The aim of this study was to analyze the changes in incidence of notifiable infectious diseases in China under the prevention and control measures of COVID-19.

Methods: Using descriptive epidemiological methods, data were collected from the official website of the Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, and the prevalence characteristics of notifiable infectious diseases in the country in 2020 were analyzed and compared with the historical data in 2019. Monthly reporting data on influenza and tuberculosis from 2015 to 2019 were also collected.

Results: Except for COVID-19, the total number of notifiable infectious diseases cases in 2020 was 6,366,176, a decrease of 41.38% year-on-year compared with 2019. Category B and C notifiable infectious diseases decreased by 14.84 and 54.98% year-on-year, respectively (P < 0.01). The top three incidence rates were influenza (87.63 cases/100,000), hepatitis B (81.36 cases/100,000) and other infectious diarrhea (76.33 cases/100,000). Three types of diseases with the largest decline were influenza (−2,280,502 cases), hand-foot-mouth disease (−1,174,588 cases), and other infectious diarrhea diseases (−275,746 cases). Compared with 2019, respiratory infectious diseases were reported to be in the largest decline in 2020, followed by intestinal infectious diseases, blood-borne and sexually transmitted diseases, natural foci, and insect-borne infectious diseases. The monthly reported incidences of influenza and tuberculosis in 2020 were lower than the average of the previous 5 years.

Conclusion: In 2020, the incidence of most notifiable infectious diseases in China showed a downward trend, non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs)such as the wearing of masks, frequent hand-washing, more ventilation, less gathering, etc, played an positive role in the prevention and control of respiratory and intestinal infectious diseases. The various public health intervention strategies and measures adopted by China to contain COVID-19 can provide a reference for the prevention and control of infectious diseases in other countries.
Abdominal Cocoon With Intestinal Perforation: A Case Report
Authors: Hu Qiang , Shi Jianfeng , Sun Yuanshui
Published: October 2021

Introduction: Abdominal cocoon is a very rare abdominal disease. Abdominal cocoon mainly leads to intestinal obstruction, and abdominal cocoon with gastrointestinal perforation is rare.

Case Presentation: We report a 63-year-old man who was admitted to our hospital with “persistent lower abdominal pain for one day”. Abdominal CT examination revealed a small amount of free gas in the abdominal cavity, ascites, and gastrointestinal perforation. An emergency operation was performed. During the operation, the end of the right lower abdominal ileum was found to be conglutinated and twisted into a mass, a local intestinal dilatation, and obstruction, local intestinal wall was black and gangrene, and fecal effusion flowed out. The adhesions were carefully separated, and the necrotic small intestine was removed. The operation process went smoothly, and the patient recovered well after the operation.

Conclusion: The cases of intestinal perforation caused by the abdominal cocoon are very rare. In clinical work, when we encounter patients with gastrointestinal perforation, we need to carefully ask the history. When the patients had no digestive system diseases in the past, we need to consider the possibility of the abdominal cocoon with perforation.