bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Replacement of Commercial Feed with Fresh Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae in Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)
Authors: He Yuhang , Liu Xin , Zhang Naida , Wang Sizhe , Wang Aolin , Zuo Rantao , Jiang Yusheng
Published: February 2022

This study evaluated survival, growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, intestinal histology, and antioxidant enzyme activities of the Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), which were fed with five different diets, containing 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% fresh black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), respectively, to replace commercial feed at an equal wet weight. The cultured experiment was lasted for 45 days, and the results showed that survival rate (SR), final body weight (FBW), and weight gain (WG) were negatively related with the replacement rate of fresh BSFL in the diet, where the maximum value was found in the BSFL 25% group, while the minimum value appeared in the BSFL 100% group. When BSFL replacement level was equal to or above 75%, the SR, FBW and WG were significantly decreased. However, hepatosomatic index (HSI) was increased with the increasing BSFL replacement level, which was significantly higher in BSFL 75% and BSFL 100% groups than the other groups. No significant differences on hepatopancreatic amylase and lipase activities of the shrimp were observed among all the groups. However, compared with the control group, protease activity in hepatopancreatic of the shrimp was significantly higher when up to 25% of commercial feed was replaced. The histological structure of the intestine gradually changed pathologically, such as tissue disruption, with increasing proportion of fresh BSFL in the diets. A significant reduction in intestinal fold height was found in the BSFL 100% group, and a decreased thickness of intestinal muscular was also observed in all treatment groups. The serum SOD and GSH-PX activities of shrimp in all treatment groups were significantly higher than that of the control group. In conclusion, replacing commercial feed up to 50% with fresh BSFL could be feasible for L. vannamei farming when growth performances, digestive enzyme activities, intestinal histology, and antioxidant enzymes were being considered.
Intelligent Energy Management System for a Smart Home Integrated with Renewable Energy Resources
Authors: Baliyan Arjun , Mwakitalima Isaka J. , Jamil Majid , Rizwan M.
Published: February 2022

In this paper, an intelligent energy management system for the smart home that combines the solar energy as well as the energy from the battery storage devices has been proposed to reduce the dependency on the power grid and make the system to be more economical. The proposed system manages the energy requirement of the smart home by properly rescheduling and arranging the power flow between the energy storage devices, grid power, and the photovoltaics. The power grid can absorb the excess power from the designed system whenever the load requirement is low, and on the other hand, it can supply the power to the load in case of peak demand. Therefore, in the designed system, a user has the flexibility to sell the extra power for the purpose of revenue. A thorough simulation of the system has been carried out, and the results obtained show the effectiveness of the approach in terms of energy management between the different sources.
An Improved Whale Optimization Algorithm Based on Aggregation Potential Energy for QoS-Driven Web Service Composition
Authors: Teng Xuyang , Luo Yuanhao , Zheng Tao , Zhang Xuguang
Published: February 2022

With more complex user needs, the web service composition (WSC) has become a key research area in the current circumstance. The swarm intelligence algorithms are proved to solve this problem well. However, no researchers have applied the whale optimization algorithm (WOA) to the WSC problem. In this work, we propose a logarithmic energy whale optimization algorithm (LEWOA) based on aggregation potential energy and logarithmic convergence factor to solve this problem. Firstly, the improved algorithm uses a chaotic strategy to enhance the initial swarm diversity. After that, a logarithmic convergence factor is applied to obtain the nonlinear search step. Furthermore, aggregation potential energy as the spatial evaluation is employed in the swarm intelligence algorithms for the first time. Finally, the aggregation potential energy is used to dynamically adjust the nonlinear weight, which improves the search efficiency and prevents the algorithm from falling into local optimization. The experimental results of the benchmark functions show that the LEWOA has better optimization ability and convergence speed than other swarm intelligence algorithms. In the second experiment of the WSC optimization, the effectiveness and superiority of the LEWOA are verified.
Neoadjuvant Intratumoral Immunotherapy with TLR9 Activation and Anti-OX40 Antibody Eradicates Metastatic Cancer
Authors: Hong Wan Xing , Sagiv-Barfi Idit , Czerwinski Debra K. , Sallets Adrienne , Levy Ronald
Published: February 2022

The combination of the synthetic TLR9 ligand CpG and agnostic OX40 antibody can trigger systemic antitumor immune responses upon co-injection into the tumor microenvironment, eradicating simultaneous untreated sites of metastatic disease. Here we explore the application of this in situ immunotherapy to the neoadjuvant setting. Current neoadjuvant checkpoint blockade therapy is delivered systemically, resulting in off-target adverse effects. In contrast, intratumoral immunotherapy minimizes the potential for toxicities and allows for greater development of combination therapies. In two metastatic solid tumor models, neoadjuvant intratumoral immunotherapy generated a local T-cell antitumor response that then acted systemically to attack cancer throughout the body. In addition, the importance of timing between neoadjuvant immunotherapy and surgical resection was established, as well as the increased therapeutic power of adding systemic anti-PD1 antibody. The combination of local and systemic immunotherapy generated an additional survival benefit due to synergistic inhibitory effect on tumor-associated macrophages. These results provide a strong rationale for translating this neoadjuvant intratumoral immunotherapy to the clinical setting, especially in conjunction with established checkpoint inhibitors.

Significance:

This work demonstrates the ability of neoadjuvant intratumoral immunotherapy to target local and distant metastatic disease and consequently improve survival.
Genetic Analysis in African American Children Supports Ancestry-Specific Neuroblastoma Susceptibility
Authors: Testori Alessandro , Vaksman Zalman , Diskin Sharon J. , Hakonarson Hakon , Capasso Mario , Iolascon Achille , Maris John M. , Devoto Marcella
Published: February 2022

Background:

Neuroblastoma is rarer in African American (AA) children compared with American children of European descent. AA children affected with neuroblastoma, however, more frequently develop the high-risk form of the disease.

Methods:

We have genotyped an AA cohort of 629 neuroblastoma cases (254 high-risk) and 2,990 controls to investigate genetic susceptibility to neuroblastoma in AAs.

Results:

We confirmed the known neuroblastoma susceptibility gene BARD1 at genome-wide significance in the subset of high-risk cases. We also estimated local admixture across the autosomal genome in the AA cases and controls and detected a signal at 4q31.22 where cases show an increase in European ancestry. A region at 17p13.1 showed increased African ancestry in the subgroup of high-risk cases with respect to intermediate- and low-risk cases. Using results from our published European American (EA) genome-wide association study (GWAS), we found that a polygenic score that included all independent SNPs showed a highly significant association (P value = 1.8 × 10−73) and explained 19% of disease risk variance in an independent EA cohort. In contrast, the best fit polygenic score (P value = 3.2 × 10−11) in AAs included only 22 independent SNPs with association P value < 2.75 × 10−6 in the EA GWAS, and explained 2% of neuroblastoma risk variance. The significance of the polygenic score dropped rapidly with inclusion of additional SNPs.

Conclusions:

These findings suggest that several common variants contribute to risk of neuroblastoma in an ancestry-specific fashion.

Impact:

This work supports the need for GWAS to be performed in populations of all races and ethnicities.
A Predictive Model of Noncardia Gastric Adenocarcinoma Risk Using Antibody Response toHelicobacter pyloriProteins and Pepsinogen
Authors: Murphy John D. , Olshan Andrew F. , Lin Feng-Chang , Troester Melissa A. , Nichols Hazel B. , Butt Julia , Qiao You-Lin , Abnet Christian C. , Inoue Manami , Tsugane Shoichiro , Epplein Meira
Published: February 2022

Background:

Blood-based biomarkers for gastric cancer risk stratification could facilitate targeting screening to people who will benefit from it most. The ABC Method, which stratifies individuals by their Helicobacter pylori infection and serum-diagnosed chronic atrophic gastritis status, is currently used in Japan for this purpose. Most gastric cancers are caused by chronic H. pylori infection, but few studies have explored the capability of antibody response to H. pylori proteins to predict gastric cancer risk in addition to established predictors.

Methods:

We used the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) to build a predictive model of noncardia gastric adenocarcinoma risk from serum data on pepsinogen and antibody response to 13 H. pylori antigens as well as demographic and lifestyle factors from a large international study in East Asia.

Results:

Our best model had a significantly (P < 0.001) higher AUC of 73.79% [95% confidence interval (CI), 70.86%–76.73%] than the ABC Method (68.75%; 95% CI, 65.91%–71.58%). At 75% specificity, the new model had greater sensitivity than the ABC Method (58.67% vs. 52.68%) as well as NPV (68.24% vs. 66.29%).

Conclusions:

Along with serologically defined chronic atrophic gastritis, antibody response to the H. pylori proteins HP 0305, HP 1564, and UreA can improve the prediction of gastric cancer risk.

Impact:

The new risk stratification model could help target more invasive gastric screening resources to individuals at high risk.
DOT1L Is a Novel Cancer Stem Cell Target for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Kurani Hetakshi , Razavipour Seyedeh Fatemeh , Harikumar Kuzhuvelil B. , Dunworth Matthew , Ewald Andrew J. , Nasir Apsra , Pearson Gray , Van Booven Derek , Zhou Zhiqun , Azzam Diana , Wahlestedt Claes , Slingerland Joyce
Published: February 2022

Purpose:

Although chemotherapies kill most cancer cells, stem cell–enriched survivors seed metastasis, particularly in triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC). TNBCs arise from and are enriched for tumor stem cells. Here, we tested if inhibition of DOT1L, an epigenetic regulator of normal tissue stem/progenitor populations, would target TNBC stem cells.

Experimental Design:

Effects of DOT1L inhibition by EPZ-5676 on stem cell properties were tested in three TNBC lines and four patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models and in isolated cancer stem cell (CSC)-enriched ALDH1+ and ALDH1− populations. RNA sequencing compared DOT1L regulated pathways in ALDH1+ and ALDH1− cells. To test if EPZ-5676 decreases CSC in vivo, limiting dilution assays of EPZ-5676/vehicle pretreated ALDH1+ and ALDH1− cells were performed. Tumor latency, growth, and metastasis were evaluated. Antitumor activity was also tested in TNBC PDX and PDX-derived organoids.

Results:

ALDH1+ TNBC cells exhibit higher DOT1L and H3K79me2 than ALDH1−. DOT1L maintains MYC expression and self-renewal in ALDH1+ cells. Global profiling revealed that DOT1L governs oxidative phosphorylation, cMyc targets, DNA damage response, and WNT activation in ALDH1+ but not in ALDH1− cells. EPZ-5676 reduced tumorspheres and ALDH1+ cells in vitro and decreased tumor-initiating stem cells and metastasis in xenografts generated from ALDH1+ but not ALDH1− populations in vivo. EPZ-5676 significantly reduced growth in vivo of one of two TNBC PDX tested and decreased clonogenic 3D growth of two other PDX-derived organoid cultures.

Conclusions:

DOT1L emerges as a key CSC regulator in TNBC. Present data support further clinical investigation of DOT1L inhibitors to target stem cell–enriched TNBC.
FDA Approval Summary: Belumosudil for Adult and Pediatric Patients 12 Years and Older with Chronic GvHD after Two or More Prior Lines of Systemic Therapy
Authors: Przepiorka Donna , Le Robert Q. , Ionan Alexei , Li Ruo-Jing , Wang Ying-Hong , Gudi Ramadevi , Mitra Soumya , Vallejo Jonathon , Okusanya Olanrewaju O. , Ma Lian , Yang Yuching , Patel Paresma , Mezaache Djelila , Shah Rakhi , Banerjee Anamitro , McLamore Sherita , Maung Adam N. , Goldberg Kirsten B. , Pazdur Richard , Theoret Marc R. , De Claro R. Angelo
Published: February 2022

On July 16, 2021, the FDA approved belumosudil, a kinase inhibitor, for adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older with chronic GvHD (cGvHD) after failure of at least two prior lines of systemic therapy. Approval was based on the results of Study KD025–213, which included 65 patients with cGvHD treated with belumosudil 200 mg daily in an open-label, single-arm cohort. Efficacy was determined by the overall response rate (ORR) through Cycle 7 Day 1, which included complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) according to the 2014 NIH consensus criteria, and durability of response. The ORR through Cycle 7 Day 1 was 75% [95% confidence interval (CI), 63–85]; 6% of patients achieved a CR, and 69% achieved a PR. The median duration of response was 1.9 months (95% CI, 1.2–2.9), and 62% (95% CI, 46–74) of responding patients remained alive without new systemic therapy for at least 12 months from response. The common adverse reactions were infections, asthenia, nausea, diarrhea, dyspnea, cough, edema, hemorrhage, abdominal pain, musculoskeletal pain, headache, phosphate decreased, gamma-glutamyl transferase increased, lymphocytes decreased, and hypertension. Additional study is warranted to confirm safety with long-term use.
Dual G9A/EZH2 Inhibition Stimulates Antitumor Immune Response in Ovarian High-Grade Serous Carcinoma
Authors: Spiliopoulou Pavlina , Spear Sarah , Mirza Hasan , Garner Ian , McGarry Lynn , Grundland-Freile Fabio , Cheng Zhao , Ennis Darren P. , Iyer Nayana , McNamara Sophie , Natoli Marina , Mason Susan , Blyth Karen , Adams Peter D. , Roxburgh Patricia , Fuchter Matthew J. , Brown Bob , McNeish Iain A.
Published: February 2022

Ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) prognosis correlates directly with presence of intratumoral lymphocytes. However, cancer immunotherapy has yet to achieve meaningful survival benefit in patients with HGSC. Epigenetic silencing of immunostimulatory genes is implicated in immune evasion in HGSC and re-expression of these genes could promote tumor immune clearance. We discovered that simultaneous inhibition of the histone methyltransferases G9A and EZH2 activates the CXCL10–CXCR3 axis and increases homing of intratumoral effector lymphocytes and natural killer cells while suppressing tumor-promoting FoxP3+ CD4 T cells. The dual G9A/EZH2 inhibitor HKMTI-1–005 induced chromatin changes that resulted in the transcriptional activation of immunostimulatory gene networks, including the re-expression of elements of the ERV-K endogenous retroviral family. Importantly, treatment with HKMTI-1–005 improved the survival of mice bearing Trp53−/− null ID8 ovarian tumors and resulted in tumor burden reduction. These results indicate that inhibiting G9A and EZH2 in ovarian cancer alters the immune microenvironment and reduces tumor growth and therefore positions dual inhibition of G9A/EZH2 as a strategy for clinical development.
Noninvasive Imaging of CD4+ T Cells in Humanized Mice
Authors: Nagle Veronica L. , Hertz Charli Ann J. , Henry Kelly E. , Graham Maya S. , Campos Carl , Pillarsetty Nagavarakishore , Schietinger Andrea , Mellinghoff Ingo K. , Lewis Jason S.
Published: February 2022

Antibody-based PET (immunoPET) with radiotracers that recognize specific cells of the immune system provides an opportunity to monitor immune cell trafficking at the organismal scale. We previously reported the visualization of human CD8+ T cells, including CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), in mice using a humanized CD8-targeted minibody. Given the important role of CD4+ T cells in adaptive immune responses of health and disease including infections, tumors, and autoimmunity, we explored immunoPET using an anti-human-CD4 minibody. We assessed the ability of [64Cu]Cu-NOTA-IAB41 to bind to various CD4+ T-cell subsets in vitro. We also determined the effect of the CD4-targeted minibody on CD4+ T-cell abundance, proliferation, and activation state in vitro. We subsequently evaluated the ability of the radiotracer to visualize CD4+ T cells in T-cell rich organs and orthotopic brain tumors in vivo. For the latter, we injected the [64Cu]Cu-NOTA-IAB41 radiotracer into humanized mice that harbored intracranial patient-derived glioblastoma (GBM) xenografts and performed in vivo PET, ex vivo autoradiography, and anti-CD4 IHC on serial brain sections. [64Cu]Cu-NOTA-IAB41 specifically detects human CD4+ T cells without impacting their abundance, proliferation, and activation. In humanized mice, [64Cu]Cu-NOTA-IAB41 can visualize various peripheral tissues in addition to orthotopically implanted GBM tumors. [64Cu]Cu-NOTA-IAB41 is able to visualize human CD4+ T cells in humanized mice and can provide noninvasive quantification of CD4+ T-cell distribution on the organismal scale.
Targeted Rejuvenation of Exhausted Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells Regresses Refractory Solid Tumors
Authors: Luo Qian , Napoleon John V. , Liu Xin , Zhang Boning , Zheng Suilan , Low Philip S.
Published: February 2022

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies have proven to be effective in treating hematologic malignancies but demonstrate only marginal efficacy in eradicating solid tumors. Although several mechanisms can account for these differences, a major cause is thought to derive from CAR T-cell exhaustion, where chronic exposure to tumor antigen can activate feedback pathways that suppress CAR T-cell cytotoxicity. We describe here a strategy to reverse this CAR T-cell exhaustion using a universal anti-fluorescein CAR that concurrently serves as (i) a cancer recognition receptor that enables engagement of multiple cancer cell clones upon addition of a cocktail of bispecific fluorescein-linked tumor-targeting ligands, and (ii) a drug-internalizing receptor that mediates uptake of a CAR T-cell activator comprised of fluorescein linked to an immune stimulant. By attaching a Toll-like receptor 7 agonist (TLR7–1A) to fluorescein, we enable the anti-fluorescein CAR to bind and internalize TLR7–1A, leading to both downregulation of exhaustion markers (i.e., PD-1, TIM3, LAG3) and reactivation of exhausted CAR-T cells without causing the toxicities commonly associated with systemic administration of TLR7 agonists. The resulting rejuvenated CAR-T cells are observed to regress otherwise refractory solid tumors. Moreover, because no other immune cells are altered by this treatment, the data demonstrate that the exhaustion state of the CAR-T cells constitutes a major property that determines the efficacies of CAR T-cell therapies in solid tumors.

Implications:

A novel strategy for rejuvenating exhausted CAR-T cells is described previously that promotes downregulation of exhaustion markers and renewed eradication of cancer cells in a tumor mass.
Chronic Mesenteric Ischemia: Differential Vascularsurgical Therapy and Its Outcome in a Single-Center Observational Study
Authors: Essa Mohamed , Meyer Frank , Damm Robert , Halloul Zuhir
Published: February 2022

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate short-/long-term vascularsurgical patency and the outcome in chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI) depending on the mesenteric revascularization technique and reflecting real-world data. Methods: This retrospective single-center observational study registered all patients who had undergone open vascularsurgical reconstruction because of CMI at a tertiary German university hospital comparing 1-versus (vs.) 2-vessel as well as antegrade versus retrograde reconstructions. Results: In total, 35 patients were enrolled (mean [± SD] age, 64 ± 13 [range, 45–83] years; sex ratio [m:f], 16:19 [46:54]) over 12 years. Three patients with symptoms of mesenteric ischemia because of rare causes (radiation-induced and median arcuate ligament syndrome) have been excluded. While 51% of patients underwent 1-vessel reconstruction, 49% underwent 2-vessel reconstruction. There was a trend of (i) more perioperative complications in the 2-vessel group (88.2% vs. 55.6%, p = 0.06) and (ii) higher morbidity at 1 year in the 2-vessel versus 1-vessel group (57.1% and 42.9%, respectively; p = 0.466), while the morbidity of the 2-vessel versus 1-vessel group at 5 years (100% vs. 33.3%) was significantly different (p = 0.009). The mortality was greater in the 2-vessel versus 1-vessel group as it was significantly different in the early postoperative period (31.3% vs. 0, p = 0.016) and at 1 year (50% vs. 0, p = 0.005) and 5 years (100% vs. 11%, p = 0.003). Regarding overall survival, the 1-vessel group showed a significant superiority above the 2-vessel group (p = 0.004). Actually, there was no significant difference of early postoperative morbidity comparing the retrograde and antegrade group (p = 0.285) as well as at 1 year and 5 years (p = 0.715 and p = 0.620, respectively). In addition, there was no significantly different postoperative mortality in antegrade versus retrograde group at each time. Specific and general complication rates were 62.9% and 57.1%, respectively, resulting in an overall morbidity of 77.1% (mortality, 20%). Conclusion: The vascular surgeon should be prepared to perform various procedures of mesenteric reconstruction to tailor the operative strategy to the specific needs of the individual patient.
Emergency Use of Convalescent Plasma: Perception of the Regulatory Framework from a Clinical Perspective
Authors: Möhnle Patrick , Humpe Andreas , Boeck Markus , Gruetzner Stefanie , Hackstein Holger , Offner Robert , Hildebrandt Martin
Published: February 2022

The pandemic spread of an infectious disease poses a plethora of challenges to society, clinicians, health care providers and regulating authorities. In order to mount a rapid response and to provide hope in a potentially catastrophic situation as the current COVID-19 pandemic, emergency plans, regulations and funding strategies have to be developed on regional, national and international levels. The speed needed to establish rapid response programs is challenged by the dynamics of the spread of the disease, the concurrent and competing development of different and potentially more effective treatment options, and not the least by regulatory uncertainty. Convalescent plasma, that is plasma collected from patients who have recovered from COVID-19 infections, has emerged as one of the first potential treatment options in the absence of drugs or vaccines with proven efficacy against SARS-CoV-2. The societal aspects of convalescent plasma and the public awareness gave an additional boost to the rapid employment of convalescent plasma donation platforms immediately after the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. At the same time, uncertainty remains as to the efficacy of convalescent plasma. With evidence mostly limited to empirical reports, convalescent plasma has been used for decades for the prophylaxis and treatment of various infectious diseases. Clinical trials have addressed different infectious agents, stages of disease, target groups of patients and yielded sometimes inconclusive results. The aim of this short review is to delineate the regulatory background for the emergency use of convalescent plasma in the USA, in the European Union and in Germany, and the transition to the setting of clinical trials. In addition, we describe observations made in the process of collecting COVID-19 convalescent plasma (herein referred to as CCP), and formulate proposals to further improve the framework for rapid responses in future emergency situations.
Country-Level Heavy Episodic Drinking and Individual-Level Experiences of Harm from Others’ Drinking-Related Aggression in 19 European Countries
Authors: Sundin Erica , Landberg Jonas , Galanti Maria Rosaria , Room Robin , Ramstedt Mats
Published: February 2022

Introduction: There is limited knowledge about how individual experiences of harm from others’ drinking are influenced by heavy episodic drinking (HED) at the country level. The present study aimed to assess (1) the association between the country-level prevalence of HED and the risk of experiencing harm from others’ drinking-related aggression and (2) if HED at the country level modifies the association between consumption of alcohol per capita (APC) and such harm. Methods: Outcome data from 32,576 participants from 19 European countries stem from the RARHA SEAS study. Self-reported harm from others’ drinking included having been verbally abused, harmed physically, or having serious arguments. Data on country-level drinking patterns were derived from the World Health Organization. Associations between country-level prevalence of monthly HED and experiences of aggression (at least 1 of 3 studied harms) were derived through multilevel models – adjusted for country-level age structure and by including the respondent’s own HED patterns as a mediator. Results: A 1% increase in the prevalence of monthly HED was associated with 5% higher odds (odds ratio [OR] 1.05) of experiencing others’ alcohol-related aggression among men, and 6% (OR 1.06) among women. The results suggest that the association between APC and harm was stronger in countries with high prevalences of HED, but the modifying effect could not be confirmed. Discussion/Conclusion: Harm from others’ drinking-related aggression depends not only on individual factors but is also influenced by the drinking patterns of the population. However, the country-level prevalence of HED only explains a small part of the variance of this type of harm.
Sex Differences in Cognitive Functioning with Aging in the Netherlands
Authors: Nooyens Astrid C.J. , Wijnhoven Hanneke A.H. , Schaap Laura S. , Sialino Lena D. , Kok Almar A.L. , Visser Marjolein , Verschuren W.M. Monique , Picavet H. Susan J. , van Oostrom Sandra H.
Published: February 2022

Introduction: Dementia prevalence in older women is higher than that in men. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether there is a female disadvantage in cognitive functioning at adult age and/or whether a female disadvantage develops with age. Methods: Data of 5,135 women and 4,756 men from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) and the Doetinchem Cohort Study (DCS) were used. In the LASA, memory, processing speed, fluid intelligence, and global cognitive function were measured every 3–4 years since 1992 in persons aged 55+ years for up to 23 years. In the DCS, memory, processing speed, cognitive flexibility, and global cognitive function were measured every 5 years since 1995 in persons aged 45+ years for up to 20 years. Sex differences in cognitive aging were analyzed using linear mixed models and also examined by the 10-year birth cohort or level of education. Results: Women had a better memory, processing speed, flexibility, and, in the DCS only, global cognitive function than men (p’s < 0.01). However, women showed up to 10% faster decline in these cognitive domains, except for flexibility, where women showed 9% slower decline. In the LASA, women scored poorer on fluid intelligence (p < 0.01), but their decline was 10% slower than that in men. Female advantage was larger in later born cohorts; adjustment for the educational level increased the female advantage. Conclusion: Women have better memory and processing speed than men at middle age. This female advantage becomes smaller with aging and has increased in more recent birth cohorts.
Do Concentration or Activity of Selenoproteins Change in Acute Stroke Patients? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses
Authors: Tamburrano Sabrina , Rhodes Sarah , Mosneag Ioana-Emilia , Roberts Lucy , Hurry Madeleine E.D. , Grainger John R. , Shaw Tovah N. , Smith Craig J. , Allan Stuart M.
Published: February 2022

Introduction: Stroke is characterized by deleterious oxidative stress. Selenoprotein enzymes are essential endogenous antioxidants, and detailed insight into their role after stroke could define new therapeutic treatments. This systematic review aimed to elucidate how blood selenoprotein concentration and activity change in the acute phase of stroke. Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Medline databases for studies measuring serial blood selenoprotein concentration or activity in acute stroke patients or in stroke patients compared to non-stroke controls. Meta-analyses of studies stratified by the type of stroke, blood compartment, and type of selenoprotein measurement were conducted. Results: Eighteen studies and data from 941 stroke patients and 708 non-stroke controls were included in this review. Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) was the only identified selenoprotein, and its activity was most frequently measured. Results from 12 studies and 693 patients showed that compared to non-stroke controls in acute ischaemic stroke patients, the GPx activity increased in haemolysate (standardized mean difference [SMD]: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.07–0.47) but decreased in plasma (mean difference [MD]: −1.08 U/L, 95% CI: −1.94 to −0.22) and serum (SMD: −0.54, 95% CI: −0.91 to −0.17). From 4 identified studies in 106 acute haemorrhagic stroke patients, the GPx activity decreased in haemolysate (SMD: −0.40, 95% CI: −0.68 to −0.13) and remained unchanged in plasma (MD: −0.10 U/L, 95% CI: −0.81 to 0.61) and serum (MD: −5.00 U/mL, 95% CI: −36.17 to 26.17) compared to non-stroke controls. Results from studies assessing the GPx activity in the haemolysate compartment were inconsistent and characterized by high heterogeneity. Conclusions: Our results suggest a reduction of the blood GPx activity in acute ischaemic stroke patients, a lack of evidence regarding a role for GPx in haemorrhagic stroke patients, and insufficient evidence for other selenoproteins.
Serum Uric Acid Levels and Nephrosclerosis in a Population-Based Autopsy Study: The Hisayama Study
Authors: Maki Kenji , Hata Jun , Sakata Satoko , Oishi Emi , Furuta Yoshihiko , Nakano Toshiaki , Oda Yoshinao , Kitazono Takanari , Ninomiya Toshiharu
Published: February 2022

Introduction: Information regarding the influence of serum uric acid (SUA) levels on pathological changes in the kidney is limited. In this study, we examined the association between SUA levels and pathological findings of nephrosclerosis in population-based autopsy samples. Methods: A total of 923 deceased individuals in a Japanese community underwent autopsy examinations between 1974 and 1994. Of these, 547 individuals with available kidney tissues and health examination data within a median of 3 years before death were eligible for the present study. SUA levels were categorized into quintiles (Q1, 107–237; Q2, 238–279; Q3, 280–326; Q4, 327–380; Q5, 381–755 μmol/L). Advanced degrees of glomerular sclerosis, kidney arteriolar hyalinosis, and kidney arteriosclerosis were defined as the 90th percentile or more of a glomerular sclerosis index and an arteriolar hyalinosis index, and the 10th percentile or less of a wall-lumen ratio, respectively. A logistic regression model was used to evaluate odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of SUA levels on each kidney lesion. Results: Higher SUA levels were significantly associated with higher values of the age- and sex-adjusted glomerular sclerosis index and lower values of the wall-lumen ratio (both p for trend <0.01). Individuals in the Q5 group had a significantly greater likelihood of advanced glomerular sclerosis (OR 7.19, 95% CI 2.42–21.38) and advanced kidney arteriosclerosis (OR 5.28, 95% CI 1.77–15.80) than individuals in the Q1 group after adjusting for potential covariates. There was no evidence of significant associations of SUA levels with either the arteriolar hyalinosis index or the presence of advanced arteriolar hyalinosis. Conclusions: Elevated SUA levels were significantly associated with advanced glomerular sclerosis and advanced kidney arteriosclerosis, but not with advanced arteriolar hyalinosis in community-based autopsy samples of Japanese.
COVID-19 in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies: Outcomes and Options for Treatments
Authors: Martínez José Carlos , Sica R. Alejandro , Stockerl-Goldstein Keith , Rubinstein Samuel M.
Published: February 2022

Patients with hematologic malignancies are particularly vulnerable to infections due to underlying humoral and cellular immune dysfunction, cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens, advanced age, and the presence of comorbid conditions. Infection from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, has become a leading cause of death globally and has disproportionally affected this high-risk population. Here, we review the cumulative evidence demonstrating worse outcomes for patients with hematologic malignancies when compared to patients with solid tumors and the general population. We examine risk factors shared with the general population (age, sex, comorbid conditions, and race) and those that are cancer-specific (cytotoxic chemotherapy, progressive disease, and cancer type), all of which confer an increased risk of severe COVID-19. Despite the historical exclusion of cancer patients from COVID-19 therapy trials, we review the emerging evidence that patients with hematologic malignancies benefit from specific treatments such as convalescent plasma. Although COVID-19 vaccines are significantly less effective in this patient population, encouraging results are observed in a subset of these patients after receiving a booster dose.
"Memória do Projeto Kaluga" no museu afrodigital do Rio de Janeiro: Reflexões sobre identidades negras e africanas no Brasil (1975-1980)
Authors: Castro Maurício de Barros
Published: February 2022

"Memória do Projeto Kaluga" no museu afrodigital do Rio de Janeiro: Reflexões sobre identidades negras e africanas no Brasil (1975-1980)
Museo en tiempos de conflicto: memoria y cidadanía en Colombia
Authors: Rosas Willian Alfonso López
Published: February 2022

Museo en tiempos de conflicto: memoria y cidadanía en Colombia
Técnicas populares e sua aprendizagem: o caso da etnomatemática
Authors: Moreira Darlinda
Published: February 2022

Técnicas populares e sua aprendizagem: o caso da etnomatemática
A Pedagogia Griô: educação, tradição oral e política da diversidade
Authors: Pacheco Lilian
Published: February 2022

As bases sociais da nova tendência da educação não se concentram em pesquisas de autores acadêmicos isolados, mas na espontaneidade criativa e vivencial de autores, grupos de pesquisa e estudo, grupos de ação comunitária, movimentos sociais que se reencantam e produzem de forma compartilhada, interdisciplinar, transdisciplinar e em rede; não se aplica apenas na área de educação, pelo contrário, reivindica a transversalidade cotidiana entre cultura e educação, cultura viva e vivida enquanto cidadania, cultura da diversidade da vida e dos povos, revisando o conceito de cultura da economia e de cultura da política. Com estas e outras transformações históricas, nasce o que chamo de tendência da educação comunitária e com ela a Pedagogia Griô.
A educação das relações étnico-raciais, a pedagogia das africanidades e a Pedagogia Griô
Authors: De Paula Benjamin Xavier
Published: February 2022

Neste artigo abordamos o conceito de educação para as relações étnico-raciais em diálogo com uma perspectiva da pedagogia das africanidades e com uma prática Pedagógica Griô. Esta última, entendida por nós (PAULA, 2013) como uma nova referência para a ação dos professores e profissionais da educação amparada nos princípios de respeito, valorização e promoção das diversas identidades e culturas por meio da ampliação e valorização das tradições orais e das histórias de vida dos alunos e professores, como instrumentos efetivos de significação e resignificação dos currículos escolares.
Trotes, Violências e Democracia nas Universidades
Authors: Almeida Júnior Antônio Ribeiro de
Published: February 2022

Trotes, Violências e Democracia nas Universidades
Perspectivas e desafios na expansão da proteção aos direitos humanos e animais
Authors: Padilha Marcos
Published: February 2022

O artigo aborda os fatores favoráveis e os obstáculos à continuidade dos avanços legais na proteção aos animais. Descreve brevemente os avanços na proteção legal, destacando os principais diplomas jurídicos e mostrando que, apesar da variedade de diplomas prevendo a proteção animal, ainda ocorrem todo tipo de maus tratos, abusos e exploração dos animais, entre outras razões, por conta do viés antropocêntrico e ecocêntrico das leis. Conclui situando as possibilidades de expansão da proteção legal nas maneiras como a Justiça encara as demandas por proteção como resultado de mudanças sociais e no chamado “Direito Alternativo”
Subversões perversas da escrita: espaço e corpo, testemunhos em Gonçalo M. Tavares
Authors: Moura Fabio Fadul
Published: February 2022

O presente trabalho analisa as representações do espaço, do corpo e dos testemunhos no livro Uma menina está perdida no seu século à procura do pai (2015), do autor português contemporâneo Gonçalo M. Tavares. Toma-se como recorte a presença da personagem Moebius e dos elementos que o circundam. Acredita-se que Gonçalo M. Tavares utiliza essa personagem como matriz para uma avaliação dos instrumentos da historiografia e das formas de construção do passado por essa ciência. Dessa forma, ele põe em xeque a imagem da escrita acerca do Holocausto, determinando seus limites e como o teor testemunhal (SELIGMANN-SILVA, 2003) responde a esse procedimento.
Representaciones Sociales para el estudio de la Comunicación Organizacional en micro y pequeñas empresas
Authors: Guillen Ojeda Griselda , Burgueño Romero Roberto , Pérez Alcalá Santiago
Published: February 2022

En los últimos años se han realizado estudios relacionado con producción académica en el área de la Comunicación Organizacional (CO), los resultados demuestran que además de existir problemáticas no abordadas, existe la necesidad de explorar metodologías y teorías que impulsen el desarrollo de la CO. Uno de esas problemáticas no abordadas es la CO de micro y pequeñas empresas, que se han estudiado desde las ciencias administrativas. Este trabajo tiene por objetivo analizar a las Representaciones Sociales (RS), como propuesta para la investigación de la CO de micro y pequeños empresarios, al buscar el desarrollo de nuevos enfoques desde la Ciencias Sociales.
prática de leitura dos alunos da escola de educação profissional Concórdia
Authors: Sandi Morgana , Trevisol Neto Orestes
Published: February 2022

Esta pesquisa busca responder como ocorre a prática de leitura entre os adolescentes vinculados aos cursos de Aprendizagem da Escola de Educação Profissional Concórdia? O objetivo geral desta pesquisa foi analisar as práticas de leitura do público adolescente matriculado em cursos de Aprendizagem da Escola de Educação Profissional Concórdia. Como objetivos específicos buscou-se identificar qual é o nível de interesse dos adolescentes pela leitura; identificar quais são os seus hábitos e preferências de leitura; apontar quem são os agentes incentivadores da prática de leitura; apurar qual é o interesse dos adolescentes no tocante à utilização da biblioteca escolar. A pesquisa realizada foi quantitativa e a coleta de dados foi realizada por meio da aplicação de um questionário impresso com 17 questões abertas, fechadas e de múltipla escolha, que foi aplicado para 161 alunos. Os resultados obtidos apontaram dados relevantes em relação aos hábitos de leitura dos adolescentes pesquisados, indicando que o número de leitores supera o de não leitores e que preferem a leitura de materiais impressos. Além disso, o livro é um dos materiais preferidos para leitura e os livros lidos são considerados de “literatura de massa”. Entretanto, a pesquisa revelou que, apesar de haver biblioteca na escola em que estudam, a maior parte dos adolescentes não frequenta a biblioteca escolar com assiduidade.
“El toé te cura bonito”: modos femeninos de dar salud en el pueblo awajún (amazonía peruana)
Authors: Flores Rojas Maria Ximena
Published: February 2022

Este artículo presenta las primeras reflexiones sobre el uso de fitoterapia dentro de las familias Awajún de las regiones de San Martín y Amazonas. En especial, abordo las relaciones que despliegan las mujeres awajún con sus plantas de poder como el toé (Brugmansia suaveolens); una planta que es sembrada, cuidada, llamada y preparada por algunas madres awajún con el objetivo de dar vida y salud a sus hijos e hijas enfermas. La relación que cada mujer establece con sus plantas de toé es única.  Similar a los procesos de formación de persona, las mujeres dueñas de las plantas tornan y reconocen la existencia de sus hijos vegetales por medio de cuidarlos, intercambio de substancia, dietas y resguardos. En reciprocidad, estos hijos vegetales se materializan como especialistas terapéuticos capaces de dar salud y vida a las familias awajún.
El vacío milagroso: sobre la presencia del cine en la escritura de Mario Bellatin
Authors: Cuartas Juan Pablo
Published: February 2022

Este artículo busca contribuir al conocimiento de la presencia del cine en la literatura de Bellatin. Sin entrar en los ensayos que el escritor ha realizado con el registro cinematográfico, se pretende dar cuenta de su presencia en el cine en las estrictas leyes del proceso creativo bellatiniano mediante unas declaraciones del autor así como con algunas manifestaciones del séptimo arte en su escritura. El caso privilegiado será la película Simón del Desierto(1965) de Luis Buñuel presente en uno de sus reportajes, “En tu casa habita otro inquilino” (2018), que abrirá la posibilidad de reflexionar sobre aspectos que vinculan a Bellatin con la película al mismo tiempo que el alejan de sus presupuestos: la importancia del lugar, el espacio, a lo largo del tiempo; y la existencia de una pedagogía evanescente de la que se aprende de un maestro involuntario y heterogéneo cuyo conocimiento, sin embargo, tiene sus raíces en la fuerza y ​​singularidad del proyecto de escritura bellatiniana.
Automated In‐Line Artificial Intelligence Measured Global Longitudinal Shortening and Mitral Annular Plane Systolic Excursion: Reproducibility and Prognostic Significance
Authors: Xue Hui , Artico Jessica , Davies Rhodri H. , Adam Robert , Shetye Abhishek , Augusto João B. , Bhuva Anish , Fröjdh Fredrika , Wong Timothy C. , Fukui Miho , Cavalcante João L. , Treibel Thomas A. , Manisty Charlotte , Fontana Marianna , Ugander Martin , Moon James C. , Schelbert Erik B. , Kellman Peter
Published: February 2022

Background

Global longitudinal shortening (GL‐Shortening) and the mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE) are known markers in heart failure patients, but measurement may be subjective and less frequently reported because of the lack of automated analysis. Therefore, a validated, automated artificial intelligence (AI) solution can be of strong clinical interest.

Methods and Results

The model was implemented on cardiac magnetic resonance scanners with automated in‐line processing. Reproducibility was evaluated in a scan–rescan data set (n=160 patients). The prognostic association with adverse events (death or hospitalization for heart failure) was evaluated in a large patient cohort (n=1572) and compared with feature tracking global longitudinal strain measured manually by experts. Automated processing took ≈1.1 seconds for a typical case. On the scan–rescan data set, the model exceeded the precision of human expert (coefficient of variation 7.2% versus 11.1% for GL‐Shortening,
P
=0.0024; 6.5% versus 9.1% for MAPSE,
P
=0.0124). The minimal detectable change at 90% power was 2.53 percentage points for GL‐Shortening and 1.84 mm for MAPSE. AI GL‐Shortening correlated well with manual global longitudinal strain (
R
2
=0.85). AI MAPSE had the strongest association with outcomes (χ
2
, 255; hazard ratio [HR], 2.5 [95% CI, 2.2–2.8]), compared with AI GL‐Shortening (χ
2
, 197; HR, 2.1 [95% CI,1.9–2.4]), manual global longitudinal strain (χ
2
, 192; HR, 2.1 [95% CI, 1.9–2.3]), and left ventricular ejection fraction (χ
2
, 147; HR, 1.8 [95% CI, 1.6–1.9]), with
P
<0.001 for all.

Conclusions

Automated in‐line AI‐measured MAPSE and GL‐Shortening can deliver immediate and highly reproducible results during cardiac magnetic resonance scanning. These results have strong associations with adverse outcomes that exceed those of global longitudinal strain and left ventricular ejection fraction.
India’s Merchandise Exports to Asia: A Constant Market Share Analysis
Authors: Fayaz Mohd , Kaur Sandeep
Published: February 2022

The present study attempts to examine the structural changes in Indian merchandise exports to Asia during the period 1980–2016 by using Constant Market Share (CMS) analysis. The index values of the CMS analysis suggest that India has mostly maintained and strengthened its export market share primarily in resource-based and low tech/labour-intensive products. Major technology-intensive exports include organic chemicals and dyes and colouring materials to all its export destinations in Asia. The market effect result shows a positive impact on India’s export performance which suggests that India has diversified its exports to South Asia, Southeast Asia and West and Central Asia. However, market adaptation effect result shows negative impact in East Asian market which means that India is lacking in adapting the import structure of this market.

JEL Codes: F1, F14, F43, L6, O53
Environmental affected mechanical performance of additively manufactured carbon fiber–reinforced plastic composites
Authors: Adeniran Olusanmi , Cong Weilong , Bediako Eric , Adu Sunday Peter
Published: February 2022

Due to their attractive strength-to-weight ratios, stiffness-to-weight ratios, thermal expansion, corrosion resistance, and vibration resistance properties, carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) composites have been widely used in applications ranging from aerospace to sporting goods. Considering some of the advantages of additive manufacturing (AM) over traditional subtractive methods, AM is being used to fabricate CFRP composites. For the fabrication method, several investigations have been conducted on materials and processing effects on the mechanical performance of the composites. However, no studies have investigated the effects of environmental conditions on mechanical performance. This study reports the environmental (temperature and relative humidity) affected mechanical performance of AM fabricated CFRP composites exposed to three different environmental conditions: warm–wet, warm–dry, and cold–dry, compared to samples tested immediately after fabrication under normal ambient conditions. The result was that the warm temperatures have insignificant effects on the mechanical performance of the composites, while near-zero degree cold temperatures have significant effects after the 96 h and 250 h short-term exposure periods. The result also showed the temperature to have more significant effects on mechanical properties than relative humidity. Under the warm conditions, the dry humidity resulted in a slight increase in material mechanical properties over the nominal ambient condition, while the wet humidity showed an insignificant reduction in material mechanical properties.