bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ANALYSE EINES KLASSISCHEN URTEILS DES BVerfG ZUM THEMA MEINUNGSFREIHEIT UND EHRENSCHUTZ: "SOLDATENURTEIL"
Authors: ELİBOL Can Eralp
Published: January 2022

Die Meinungsfreiheit ist eines der wichtigsten Grundrechte, die in liberaldemokratischen Rechtsstaaten anerkannt sind. Mithilfe der Meinungsfreiheit haben die Menschen die Möglichkeit, ihre Gedanken auszudrücken. Es ist nicht wichtig, ob die Mehrheit oder Minderheit der Gesellschaft dieser Meinungen annimmt. Vielmehr spielt die Meinungsfreiheit eine wichtige Rolle beim Schutz der Minderheit im Fall ihrer Meinungsäußerung. Deswegen genießen die zu der Minderheit gehörenden Personen die freie Meinungsäußerung, um eine neue soziale Debatte einzuleiten oder eine Meinung in einer bestehenden sozialen Debatte zu äußern und sicherzustellen, sodass ihre persönlichen Ansichten berücksichtigt werden können. Aufgrund der Wichtigkeit der Meinungsfreiheit wird Verfassungsschutz geboten. Tatsächlich wird die Meinungsfreiheit in Art. 5 Grundgesetz (GG) als Grundrecht gewährleistet. Aber die Meinungsfreiheit darf ohne Einschränkungen nicht genossen werden. In Art. 5 Abs. 2 GG wird beschrieben, in welchen Fällen die Meinungsfreiheit beschränkt wird. Einer von diesen Fällen ist die persönliche Ehre. Wenn es um die Ehre des Einzelnen geht, wird die Meinungsfreiheit nach der gesetzlichen Regelung beschränkt. In diesem Zusammenhang sind Meinungsfreiheit und persönliche Ehre zwei gegensätzliche Interessen. Diese Interessen sollen ausgeglichen werden. In diesem Aufsatz geht es um die Entscheidung sog. ,,Soldatenurteil" des BVerfG hinsichtlich der Einstellung dieses Gleichgewichts, gegen die kritische Stimmen der Politiker und Gesellschaft hervorgerufen wurden.
Freeze-Thaw Durability Of Clogging Resistant Permeable Concrete
Authors: Kia Alalea , Wong Hong S. , Cheeseman Christopher R.
Published: January 2022

Permeable concrete pavements are one of the most promising flood mitigation strategies. However, they have a number of limitations including low strength, low resistance to clogging and freeze/thaw degradation, limiting their application particularly in cold climates. Through extensive laboratory work, a novel high-strength clogging resistant permeable pavement (CRP) has been developed to address these shortcomings. In this paper, we investigated the freeze-thaw durability performance of a range of conventional permeable concrete and novel CRP. Samples were exposed to repeated freeze-thaw cycles (-20 to +20C) and their mass, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) and compressive strength were evaluated over time. The results show that CRP is highly resistant to freeze-thaw cycles while conventional permeable concrete degrades rapidly. This study demonstrates that CRP is durable under frost action and therefore has the potential to be deployed in harsh wintry conditions.
Challenges in the Construction of Concrete Pavements: An Indian National Highway Construction Experience
Authors: Bulusu Venkata Joga Rao , Reddy Kusam Sudhakar , Reddy Muppireddy Amarnatha
Published: January 2022

The construction of cement concrete pavement is a very complex and sensitive process with many factors influencing the quality of concrete and the quality of finished pavement surface. In this paper, the authors presented the construction related issues faced during the construction of a national highway section in India. The major issues discussed are the edge collapse near horizontal curves in winter season in slip form paving method, uneven surface profile caused due to frequent starting and stopping of paver machine due to the difference in the mix delivery speed and the paver speed, the unexpected random cracking in a section of concrete pavement due to the delayed joint sawing, and the insertion marks of dowel bars in the concrete layer to name a few. The range of reasons that lead to theses challenging situations vary from the slope of super elevation to the frequency of vibration used for the dowel bar insertion. To further complicate the construction process, the variability in the quality of cement and super-plasticizer supplied to the construction site necessitate the frequent adjustments in the mix proportions to match the requirements of strength and workability. The selection of joint sawing time is equally difficult with many variables controlling the setting and hardening of concrete mix. The details of the highway section are: concrete layer thickness is 280 mm and concrete mix is of M40 grade, constructed over dry lean concrete sub-base of 150 mm thickness with a 125 microns' thick polythene separation sheet used for de-bonding.
Cardiovascularis prevenció 2021 – az Európai Kardiológiai Társaság 2021. évi irányelvei : A személyre szabott cardiovascularis prevenció
Authors: Vályi Péter , Kékes Ede
Published: January 2022

Az Európai Kardiológiai Társaság (European Society of Cardiology, ESC) 2021 augusztusában adta ki a cardiovascularis prevenció gyakorlati irányelveit. Közleményünk 1. ré­szében a cardiovascularis kockázati té­nye­zőket, a kockázatértékelést, a feltételezhetően egészséges, különböző életkorú személyek, a bizonyítottan atherosclerosisos car­diovascularis betegségben, a diabetes mel­litusban szenvedők cardiovascularis kockázatának a felmérését, a kockázatot be­folyásoló tényezőket tárgyaltuk. A 2. rész­­­ben a cardiovascularis kockázatot be­fo­lyásoló állapotokat részleteztük. Köz­le­mé­nyünk jelenlegi, 3. részében a személyre szabott cardiovascularis prevenciót, az egyes kockázati tényezők nem gyógyszeres és gyógyszeres individualizált kezelését, az újabban felvetődő kezelési lehetőségeket, a cardiovascularis rehabilitációs és prevenciós programokban történő részvételt te­kintjük át az ESC irányelvei alapján.
KIRGIZ ÖĞRENCİLERİN YABANCI DİL OLARAK TÜRKÇE ÖĞRENME KAYGILARI
Authors: KARA Kürşad , AÇAN Mehmet Nezir
Published: January 2022

Bu çalışmanın amacı, Kırgızistan/Bişkek Türkiye Türkçesi Eğitim ve Öğretim Merkezinde (TTÖMER) öğrenim gören Kırgız öğrencilerin Türkçe öğrenme kaygı düzeylerinin belirlenmesi ve söz konusu kaygı düzeyinin alt boyutları ile birlikte cinsiyet, yaş ve dil kursu seviye değişkenlerine göre farklılaşıp farklılaşmadığının tespitidir. Araştırmanın verilerinin toplanmasında Sevim (2019) tarafından geliştirilen “Yabancıların Türkçe Öğrenme Kaygıları Ölçeği” kullanılmıştır. Araştırma nicel araştırma desenlerinden nedensel-karşılaştırma yöntemine göre tasarlanmıştır. Araştırmanın çalışma grubu, TTÖMER’de öğrenim gören 179 Kırgız öğrenciden oluşmaktadır. Kırgız öğrencilerin Türkçe öğrenme konusundaki toplam kaygı düzeyleri orta düzeyde olduğu görülmüştür. En yüksek kaygı düzeyi “Anlama-Anlatma” alt boyutunda, en düşük kaygının ise “Ders Süreci” alt boyutunda yaşandığı tespit edilmiştir. Kırgız öğrencilerin Türkçe öğrenme konusundaki toplam kaygı düzeylerinin ve ders süreci, gündelik hayat, anlama-anlatma alt boyutlarının cinsiyet, yaş ve dil kursu seviye değişkenlerine göre ise şu sonuçlar elde edilmiştir: Kırgız öğrencilerin Türkçe öğrenme konusundaki toplam kaygı puanlarının erkek katılımcıların kaygı düzeyinin, kadın katılımcılarınkinden daha yüksek olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Kırgız öğrencilerin toplam kaygı puanlarının yaş gruplarına göre anlamlı fark göstermediği belirlenmiştir. Kırgız öğrencilerin Türkçe öğrenmeye ilişkin toplam kaygı puanlarının, dil kursu seviyelerine göre anlamlı fark gösterdiği, A seviyesindeki katılımcıların kaygı düzeyinin B seviyesindeki ve C seviyesindeki katılımcılardan önemli ölçüde yüksek olduğu görülmüştür. Bununla beraber B seviyesindeki katılımcıların kaygı düzeyinin de C seviyesindeki katılımcılardan istatistiksel olarak daha yüksek olduğuna ulaşılmıştır.
LİSANSÜSTÜ TEZLERİN YÖNTEM BÖLÜMLERİNDE TUTARLILIK İLİŞKİLERİ
Authors: ÇAPAN TEKİN Sibel , İŞERİ Kamil
Published: January 2022

Bilimsel metinlerin yöntem bölümleri, yazarın iletişimsel amaçları doğrultusunda çalışmanın aşamalarına ilişkin ayrıntılı açıklamaları içermesi ve bulguların geçerliliği konusunda okuyucuyu ikna etmesi açısından önem taşımaktadır. Yöntem bölümlerinde iletişimsel amaçların açık bir biçimde kodlanması, yazarın iletişimsel işlevi ve metinsel düzenleme arasındaki ilişkinin ortaya çıkarılması akademik söylemin anlaşılması konusunda önemli bir rol oynamaktadır. Metinsel düzenleme ilişkilerinin sağlanmasında önermeler arası ilişkilerinin dilsel görünümlerinin çözümlenmesinin bilimsel metin üretim sürecine katkı sağladığı görülmektedir. Çalışmanın amacı Türkçe eğitimi alanında yapılan lisansüstü tezlerin yöntem bölümlerinin tutarlılık ilişkilerini incelemektir. Bu doğrultuda metin türüne özgü özellikleri açısından sözbilimsel yapısı incelenmiş 32 doktora, 119 yüksek lisans tezi Kehler (2002) tarafından oluşturulmuş tutarlılık ölçütlerinden neden-etki bileşeni çerçevesinde değerlendirilmiştir. Lisansüstü tezlerin yöntem bölümlerinin bilimsel metin türüne uygunluğu sözbilimsel hareket ve adımlar (Swales, 1990) açısından incelenmiş; en az ve en çok gerçekleşen hareket ve adımlar arasındaki tutarlılık ilişkileri saptanmaya çalışılmıştır. Çalışmada örneklemde yer alan tezlerin yöntem bölümlerinin tutarlılık ilişkilerinden neden-etki bileşeni açısından nasıl bir görünüm sunduğu; yüksek lisans ve doktora programları arasında tutarlılık açısından farkın olup olmadığı varsa ne tür bir farklılık olduğu; sözbilimsel hareket ve adımların tutarlılık ilişkileri açısından nasıl bir görünüm sunduğu sorularına yanıt aranmıştır. Bilimsel metin türüne özgü olarak sözbilimsel hareket ve adımların tutarlılık ilişkilerinden neden-etki tutarlılığıyla doğrudan ilişkili olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.
Demand Deficiency and Inflation in the G7 Countries
Authors: BAŞÇI Erdem , BAŞÇI Sıdıka
Published: January 2022

In this paper, we analyze the relationship between nominal and real GDP growth for G7 countries for the period 1971 – 2018. A visual inspection of the data indicates the presence of a threshold, above which the structure of the relationship between nominal and real GDP growth rates changes from a positive one to a flat one. Moreover, the volatility of real growth is observed to be higher at high rates of nominal GDP growth. We first test for the presence of a two regime non-linearity by using the Sup F test of Andrews (1993). Due to the presence of heteroskedasticity we also apply the Sup MZ test of Ahmed et al. (2017). Both tests operate under an unknown change point and the latter also allows for

heteroskedasticity. The results of the tests point to the presence of a ‘demand deficiency ’regime for low nominal demand growth rates and to a ‘harmful inflation ’regime for higher nominal GDP growth rates, these results have strong implications for guiding recent policy discussions on nominal GDP targeting.
Comparación de los modelos de Atención Primaria en Salud desde un enfoque sanitario en Colombia y sus países fronterizos
Authors: Sepúlveda Correa Daniela , Montaña Vásquez José Rafael , Vargas Guette Martha Liliana
Published: January 2022

Objetivo: Comparar los modelos de Atención Primaria en Salud de Colombia y sus países fronterizos con datos del año 2018, teniendo como base, indicadores de resultado de los Objetivos del Desarrollo del Milenio relacionados con la salud. Materiales y métodos: Para la recolección de datos se utilizó una matriz de categorización; en este caso se elaboró teniendo en cuenta el cumplimiento o no de los indicadores seleccionados de los Objetivos del Desarrollo del Milenio relacionados con la salud dentro de la operatividad en el enlace con la Atención Primaria en Salud. Posteriormente se realizó un análisis exhaustivo de diferentes variables que fueron tabuladas obteniendo valores cualitativos y cuantitativos, los cuales fueron expresados en tablas y gráficas. Resultados: En contexto general de los países estudiados, la principal fortaleza de la aplicación de la estrategia de Atención Primaria en Salud, se encuentra en los ODM 5: Mejorar la Salud materna en el indicador de resultado de Tasa de mortalidad materna y en el ODM 6: Combatir el VIH/SIDA, el paludismo y otras enfermedades en su indicador de resultado: Hombres y mujeres de 15 a 49 años que viven con VIH/SIDA; en el que más se evidencian falencias o impactos negativos como mayoría en 4 países: el ODM 8: Establecer una alianza mundial para el desarrollo, en su indicador de resultado: población con acceso estable a medicamentos esenciales a precios razonables.  Conclusiones: De los países analizados en este estudio, solamente Perú aplica políticas encaminadas al cumplimiento de estos indicadores y dichas políticas tienen un impacto positivo dentro del desarrollo de los objetivos en cada uno de ellos, siendo el país con mayor índice de cumplimiento. En Venezuela fue donde se hallaron los mayores inconvenientes en cuanto a la información disponible ya que la situación política actual del país representa un hermetismo importante en la información pública relacionada con en el cumplimiento de los Objetivos del Desarrollo del Milenio relacionados con la salud en los indicadores específicos analizados, sin embargo, se logró identificar que, en cuanto a políticas, únicamente se cumplen los objetivos 5 y 6 pero teniendo un impacto negativo e irrelevante para cada uno de ellos. En relación al resto de estos, no se aplican políticas con el consecuente impacto negativo.
The Effects of Lateral Meniscus Posterior Root Tear and its Repair on Knee Stability of Internal Rotation and Forward Shift: A Biomechanical Kinematics Cadaver Study
Authors: Qi Yan-Song , Bao Hu-Ri-Cha , Tao Li-Yuan , Gu Pei-Liang , Kong Chao-Le-Men , Wang Jun-Chen , Xu Yong-Sheng
Published: January 2022

Objective: Lateral meniscal posterior root (LMPR) is an important stabilizer for knee joint, providing the stability during tibia forward shifting and internal rotating. It is still controversial that whether the LMPR tear (LMPRT) should be repaired together with ACL reconstruction. This study aims to investigate the effects of LMPR on knee stability with intact ACL.

Methods: Eight cadaver knees were used and performed the biomechanical kinematics tests in orders of: Group A: the LMPR was intact; Group B: the LMPR was cut off from its tibial end; Group C: the LMPRT has been repaired. 1) An internal rotation moment (5 Nm) was given to the tibia, then the internal rotation angle of the tibia was measured; 2) An forward shifting force (134 N) was given to the tibia, then the anterior displacement of the tibia was measured; 3) An internal rotation moment (5 Nm) and a valgus moment (10 Nm) were given to the tibia, then the internal rotation angle and the anterior displacement was measured. The stability was inferred from smaller rotation angle and displacement, and all of the angles and displacements were measured at knee flexion of 0°, 30°, 60° and 90°, respectively.

Results: Comparing to Group A, the internal rotation angle in Group B was increased significantly at knee flexion of 30° (p = 0.025), 60° (p = 0.041), 90° (p = 0.002); the anterior tibia displacement in Group B was increased significantly at knee flexion of 30° (p = 0.015), 60° (p = 0.024); at knee valgus, the internal rotation angle was also increased significantly at knee flexion of 60° (p = 0.011), 90° (p = 0.037). Comparing to Group B, the internal rotation angle in Group C was decreased significantly at knee flexion of 30° (p = 0.030), 60° (p = 0.019), 90° (p = 0.021); the anterior displacement in Group C was decreased significantly at knee flexion of 30° (p = 0.042), 60° (p = 0.037); at valgus, the internal rotation angle was also decreased significantly at knee flexion of 60° (p = 0.013), 90° (p = 0.045). Comparing to Group A, only the internal rotation angle (p = 0.047) and anterior displacement (p = 0.033) in Group C were increased at knee flexion of 30°.

Conclusion: In simulated knee with intact ACL, LMPRT can still lead to the notable internal rotational instability at knee flexion from 30° to 90°, as well as the anterior shift instability at knee flexion from 30° to 60°. LMPRT repair help to improve the internal rotation stability at 30° and restore it at 60° to 90°, and improve the anterior shift stability at 30° and restore it at 60°.
Effect of Brachytherapy vs. External Beam Radiotherapy on Sexual Function in Patients With Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Xie Xiaodu , Zhang Yuanfeng , Ge Chengguo , Liang Peihe
Published: January 2022

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of brachytherapy (BT) versus external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) on sexual function in patients with localized prostate cancer (PCa).

Methods: Data were retrieved from the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang Database until March 4, 2021. Analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.4.1. The main clinical outcomes were the Prostate Cancer Symptom Indices (PCSI) scale and the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) scale scores for sexual function. A meta-analysis was performed to calculate standardized mean differences (SMDs) and their 95% CI. This study has undergone PROSPERO registration (No. CDR42021245438).

Results: Among the 962 studies retrieved, eight prospective cohort studies met the inclusion criteria, covering a total of 2,340 patients, including 1,138 treated with BT alone and 1,202 treated with EBRT alone. The results demonstrated that BT was to some extent advantageous over EBRT in overall sexual function scores in patients with localized PCa during the immediate post-treatment period (SMD = −0.09, 95% CI: −0.18 to −0.01, p = 0.03), but this difference was not detectable at 3 months (SMD = −0.07, 95% CI: −0.18–0.05, and p = 0.25), 12 months (SMD = −0.01, 95% CI: −0.21–0.20, and p = 0.96), and 24 months (SMD = −0.09, 95% CI: −0.20–0.01, and p = 0.09) after treatment.

Conclusion: Our analysis showed that BT showed a short-term advantage over EBRT in terms of sexual function in patients with localized PCa, but this difference diminished over time, though the conclusion needs to be further verified by a longer-term follow-up study.
Diverse Roles of F-BoxProtein3 in Regulation of Various Cellular Functions
Authors: Zhang Zhiyang , Bao Zhengqi , Gao Penglian , Yao Junyi , Wang Peter , Chai Damin
Published: January 2022

Accumulated evidence shows that the F-box protein 3 (FBXO3) has multiple biological functions, including regulation of immune pathologies, neuropathic diseases and antiviral response. In this review article, we focus on the role of FBXO3 in inflammatory disorders and human malignancies. We also describe the substrates of FBXO3, which contribute to inflammatory disorders and cancers. We highlight that the high expression of FBXO3 is frequently observed in rheumatoid arthritis, leukemia, pituitary adenoma, and oral squamous cell carcinoma. Moreover, we discuss the regulation of FBXO3 by both carcinogens and cancer preventive agents. Our review provides a comprehensive understanding of the role of FBXO3 in various biological systems and elucidates how FBXO3 regulates substrate ubiquitination and degradation during various physiological and pathological processes. Therefore, FBXO3 can be a novel target in the treatment of human diseases including carcinomas.
Single-Molecule Fluorescence Imaging Reveals GABAB Receptor Aggregation State Changes
Authors: Luo Fang , Qin GeGe , Wang Lina , Fang Xiaohong
Published: January 2022

The GABAB receptor is a typical G protein–coupled receptor, and its functional impairment is related to a variety of diseases. While the premise of GABAB receptor activation is the formation of heterodimers, the receptor also forms a tetramer on the cell membrane. Thus, it is important to study the effect of the GABAB receptor aggregation state on its activation and signaling. In this study, we have applied single-molecule photobleaching step counting and single-molecule tracking methods to investigate the formation and change of GABAB dimers and tetramers. A single-molecule stoichiometry assay of the wild-type and mutant receptors revealed the key sites on the interface of ligand-binding domains of the receptor for its dimerization. Moreover, we found that the receptor showed different aggregation behaviors at different conditions. Our results offered new evidence for a better understanding of the molecular basis for GABAB receptor aggregation and activation.
Long Non-Coding RNA and mRNA Expression Analysis in Liver of Mice With Clonorchis sinensis Infection
Authors: Han Su , Zhang Xue-Li , Jiang Xu , Li Xiang , Ding Jian , Zuo Li-Jiao , Duan Shan-Shan , Chen Rui , Sun Bei-Bei , Hu Xin-Yi , Gao Yan-Nan , Zhang Xiao-Li
Published: January 2022

Clonorchiasis is recognized as an important zoonotic parasitic disease worldwide. However, the roles of host long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in the response to Clonorchis sinensis (C. sinensis) infection remain unknown. Here we compared the expression of lncRNAs and mRNAs in the liver tissue of mice infected with C. sinensis, in order to further understand the molecular mechanisms of clonorchiasis. A total of 388 lncRNAs and 1,172 mRNAs were found to be differentially expressed with absolute value of fold change (FC) ≥ 2.0 and p < 0.05 by microarray. Compared with controls, Gm6135 and 4930581F22Rik were the most over- and under-expressed lncRNAs; flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 (Fmo3) and deleted in malignant brain tumors 1 (Dmbt1) were the most over- and under-expressed mRNAs. Moreover, functional annotation showed that the significantly different mRNAs were related with “FOXO signaling pathway”, “Wnt signaling pathway”, and “AMPK signaling pathway”. Remarkably, lncRNA Gm8801 were significantly correlated with mRNA glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase mitochondrial (Gpam), insulin receptor substrate 2 (Irs2), and tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 19 (Tnfrsf19) in ceRNA networks. These results showed that the expression profiles of lncRNAs and mRNAs in the liver changed after C. sinensis infection. Our results provided valuable insights into the lncRNAs and mRNAs involved in clonorchiasis pathogenesis, which may be useful for future control strategies.
Short-Term Power Generation Forecasting of a Photovoltaic Plant Based on PSO-BP and GA-BP Neural Networks
Authors: Li Yuanqi , Zhou Lei , Gao Peiqi , Yang Bo , Han Yiming , Lian Chang
Published: January 2022

With the improvement in the integration of solar power generation, photovoltaic (PV) power forecasting plays a significant role in ensuring the operation security and stability of power grids. At present, the widely used backpropagation (BP) and improved BP neural network algorithm in short-term output prediction of PV power stations own the drawbacks of neglection of meteorological factors and weather conditions in inputs. Meanwhile, the existing traditional BP prediction model lacks a variety of numerical optimization algorithms, such that the prediction error is large. Therefore, based on the PV power plant in Lijiang, considering the related factors that influence PV output such as solar irradiance, environmental temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind velocity, wind direction, and historical generation data of the PV power station, three neural network algorithms (i.e., BP, GA-BP, and PSO-BP) are utilized respectively in this work to construct a short-term forecasting model of PV output. Simulation results show that GA-BP and PSO-BP network forecasting models both obtain high prediction accuracy, which indicates GA and PSO methods can effectively reduce the prediction errors in contrast to the original BP model. In particular, PSO owns better applicability than GA, which can further reduce the errors of the PV power prediction model.
Joint Occurrence of Heavy PM2.5 Pollution Episodes and Persistent Foggy Days in Central East China
Authors: Yu Caixia , Yang Yuanjian , Liu Dong
Published: January 2022

Although many severe pollution events in Central and East China have been analyzed in recent years, the heavy PM2.5 pollution episode happened on persistent foggy days from January 13 to 18, 2018 was unique, characterized by explosive increase and sharp decrease in PM2.5 (particles with kinetic equivalent diameter less than or equal to 2.5 microns) concentration. Based on hourly data of ground level meteorological parameters, PM2.5 data and CALIPSO-based (the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation) aerosol data, combined with ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts) reanalysis data and radiosonde temperature profile, a comprehensive analysis was conducted to reveal the meteorological reasons for the evolution of the episode at horizontal and vertical scales. The PM2.5 concentration experienced four stages: a slow-increase phase, rapid-increase phase, rapid-decrease phase, and rebound phase. Results show that because Central and East China (CEC) were located at the back of a high-pressure system, humid southerly winds and near surface inversion (NSI) were responsible for the slow accumulation of pollutants. The rapid-increase phase was attributed to pollution transport at both ground level and in the lower troposphere because of weak cold air invasion. The significant subsidence at 500 hPa and 700 hPa intensified the NSI and led to dense fog. In that case, corresponding to the supersaturated atmosphere, the particles entered the fog droplets and were scavenged partly by deposition at night and were resuspended on the next day when the atmosphere was unsaturated. Our findings provide convincing evidence that surface PM2.5 rapid-decrease phase and the rebound phase were closely associated with dense fog process.
Emerging Roles of Circular RNAs in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Dysfunction
Authors: Pu Zuo , Lu Jingbo , Yang Xiaohan
Published: January 2022

Atherosclerosis is the major pathophysiological basis of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) constitute the main structure of vasculature and play important roles in maintaining vascular tone and blood pressure. Many biological processes and cellular signaling events involved in atherosclerogenesis have been shown to converge on deregulating VSMC functions. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying dysfunctional VSMC in atherosclerosis are still poorly defined. Recent evidence revealed that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are closely related to diseases such as degenerative diseases, tumor, congenital diseases, endocrine diseases and cardiovascular diseases. Several studies demonstrated that circRNAs (e.g., circACTA2, Circ-SATB2, circDiaph3, circ_0020397, circTET3, circCCDC66) played critical roles in the regulation of VSMC proliferation, migration, invasion, and contractile-to-synthetic phenotype transformation by sponging microRNAs (e.g., miR-548f-5p, miR-939, miR-148a-5p, miR-138, miR-351-5p, miR-342-3p). This review describes recent progress in the profiling of circRNAs by transcriptome analysis in VSMCs and their molecular functions in regulating VSMC proliferation and migration.
EFNA3 Is a Prognostic Biomarker Correlated With Immune Cell Infiltration and Immune Checkpoints in Gastric Cancer
Authors: Zheng Peng , Liu XiaoLong , Li Haiyuan , Gao Lei , Yu Yang , Wang Na , Chen Hao
Published: January 2022

Background: Ephrin A3 (EFNA3), like most genes in the ephrin family, plays a central role in embryonic development and can be dysregulated in a variety of tumors. However, the relationship between EFNA3 and gastric cancer (GC) prognosis and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes remains unclear.

Methods: Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 (GEPIA2) were used to analyze the expression of EFNA3. Kaplan-Meier plots and GEPIA2 were used to evaluate the relationship between EFNA3 expression and GC prognosis. Univariable survival and multivariate Cox analyses were used to compare various clinical characteristics with survival. LinkedOmics database was used for gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). TIMER database and CIBERSORT algorithm were used to examine the relationship between EFNA3 expression and immune infiltration in GC and to explore cumulative survival in GC. The relationship between EFNA3 and immune checkpoints was examined using cBioPortal genomics analysis. Finally, EFNA3 expression in GC cells and tissues was assayed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results: EFNA3 expression differs in a variety of cancers, and EFNA3 expression was higher in GC tissue than normal gastric tissue. GC patients with high expression of EFNA3 had worse overall survival, disease-free survival, and first progression. Multivariate analysis identified EFNA3 as an independent prognostic factor for GC. GSEA identified ribosome, cell cycle, ribosome biogenesis in eukaryotes, and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis pathways as differentially enriched in patients with high EFNA3 expression. B cells, CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells were significantly negatively correlated with a variety of immune markers. EFNA3 participates in changes in GC immune checkpoint markers in a collinear manner. EFNA3 expression in HGC-27, AGS, MKN45, and NCI-N87 was cell lines higher than that in GES-1, and patients with high expression of EFNA3 had a worse prognosis.

Conclusion: EFNA3 can be used as a prognostic and immune infiltration and checkpoint marker in GC patients.
Dynamic Expression and Gene Regulation of MicroRNAs During Bighead Carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) Early Development
Authors: Fu Jianjun , Zhu Wenbin , Wang Lanmei , Luo Mingkun , Jiang Bingjie , Dong Zaijie
Published: January 2022

The early development of fish is regulated through dynamic and complex mechanisms involving the regulation of various genes. Many genes are subjected to post-transcriptional regulation by microRNAs (miRNAs). In the Chinese aquaculture industry, the native species bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) is important. However, the genetic regulation related to the early development of bighead carp is unknown. Here, we generated developmental profiles by miRNA sequencing to study the dynamic regulation of miRNAs during bighead carp early development. This study identified 1 046 miRNAs, comprising 312 known miRNAs and 734 uncharacterized miRNAs. Changes in miRNA expression were identified in the six early development stages. An obviously increased expression trend was detected during the development process, with the main burst of activity occurring after the earliest stage (early blastula, DS1). Investigations revealed that several miRNAs were dominantly expressed during the development process, especially in the later stages (e.g., miR-10b-5p, miR-21, miR-92a-3p, miR-206-3p, and miR-430a-3p), suggesting that these miRNAs exerted important functions during embryonic development. The differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) and time-serial analysis (profiles) of DEMs were analyzed. A total of 372 miRNAs were identified as DEMs (fold-change >2, and false discovery rate <0.05), and three expression profiles of the DEMs were detected to have co-expression patterns (r > 0.7, and p < 0.05). The broad negative regulation of target genes by miRNAs was speculated, and many development-related biological processes and pathways were enriched for the targets of the DEMs, which might be associated with maternal genome degradation and embryogenesis processes. In conclusion, we revealed the repertoire of miRNAs that are active during early development of bighead carp. These findings will increase our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of early development of fish.
Adverse Drug Reactions Related to Treatment of Drug-Susceptible Tuberculosis in Brazil: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Sant´Anna Flávia M. , Araújo-Pereira Mariana , Schmaltz Carolina A. S. , Arriaga María B. , de Oliveira Raquel V. C. , Andrade Bruno B. , Rolla Valeria C.
Published: January 2022

Standard anti-tuberculosis treatment is highly effective, but a great challenge is the management of adverse drug reactions (ADR). Our study aimed to characterize ADR according to type, severity and time of occurrence. A prospective tuberculosis (TB) cohort has been followed, from 2010 to 2016, at a reference center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Clinical and laboratory tests information were collected in all visits. ADR were described according to the affected organ/system, classified as clinical and/or laboratory, early (first 2 months) or late. ADR’s causality and intensity were assessed. In our study 552 patients were included, 78.8% presented at least one ADR, 34% were people living with HIV (PLHIV). Most ADR were clinical (53%), early (82.5%), mild/moderate (88.7%) events and of “metabolic annutritional disorders” category. There were no significant differences in type, severity or causality between “early” and “late” groups. However, “early” group presented a higher frequency of “metabolic and nutritional disorders” (27.8%) and “gastrointestinal system disorders” (23.5%), while “skin and appendages disorders” were more frequent in the “late” group. ADR are frequent and occur at any time during treatment, although the majority are early and grade and not severe.
The Alteration of Circulating Lymphocyte Subsets During Tacrolimus Therapy in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder and Its Correlation With Clinical Outcomes
Authors: Wang Liang , Huang Wenjuan , ZhangBao Jingzi , Chang Xuechun , Tan Hongmei , Zhou Lei , Lu Chuanzhen , Wang Min , Lu Jiahong , Zhao Chongbo , Quan Chao
Published: January 2022

Objectives

We aimed to explore the alteration of circulating lymphocyte subsets before and after tacrolimus (TAC) therapy in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and its correlation with clinical outcomes.

Methods

Anti-aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4-ab)-positive patients with NMOSD treated with TAC were followed and clinically evaluated at 0, 3, 6, and 12 months after initiation of TAC. Flow cytometry was employed to detect the proportion of various whole blood lymphocyte subsets at every time point. Correlation analysis was further performed to explore the association between annualized relapse rate (ARR), the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score, and the proportion of circulating lymphocyte subsets before and after TAC therapy.

Results

A total of 13 eligible patients with NMOSD were included. The proportion of CD19+CD24hiCD38hi/CD19+ and CD19+CD5+CD1dhi/CD19+ lymphocyte subsets increased significantly after TAC therapy (p = 0.010 and p < 0.001). The proportion of CD19+BAFFR+, CD19+IFN-γ+, and CD19+IL-10+ subsets decreased significantly after TAC therapy (p = 0.015, 0.018, and 0.042, respectively). There was a negative correlation between CD4+CD25hi subset and EDSS score (p = 0.016, r = −0.652).

Conclusion

Possibly through increasing regulatory B and suppressing BAFFR+ B and interferon (IFN)-γ+ B subsets, TAC could decrease relapse. EDSS score may be correlated with some lymphocyte subsets after TAC therapy.
The Prostaglandin E2 Pathway and Breast Cancer Stem Cells: Evidence of Increased Signaling and Potential Targeting
Authors: Walker Olivia L. , Dahn Margaret L. , Power Coombs Melanie R. , Marcato Paola
Published: January 2022

Culprits of cancer development, metastasis, and drug resistance, cancer stem cells (CSCs) are characterized by specific markers, active developmental signaling pathways, metabolic plasticity, increased motility, invasiveness, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. In breast cancer, these cells are often more prominent in aggressive disease, are amplified in drug-resistant tumors, and contribute to recurrence. For breast cancer, two distinct CSC populations exist and are typically defined by CD44+/CD24- cell surface marker expression or increased aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity. These CSC populations share many of the same properties but also exhibit signaling pathways that are more active in CD44+/CD24- or ALDH+ populations. Understanding these CSC populations and their shared or specific signaling pathways may lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies that will improve breast cancer patient outcomes. Herein, we review the current evidence and assess published patient tumor datasets of sorted breast CSC populations for evidence of heightened prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) signaling and activity in these breast CSC populations. PGE2is a biologically active lipid mediator and in cancer PGE2promotes tumor progression and poor patient prognosis. Overall, the data suggests that PGE2signaling is important in propagating breast CSCs by enhancing inherent tumor-initiating capacities. Development of anti-PGE2signaling therapeutics may be beneficial in inhibiting tumor growth and limiting breast CSC populations.
Echinocystic Acid Inhibits Inflammation and Exerts Neuroprotective Effects in MPTP-Induced Parkinson’s Disease Model Mice
Authors: He Dewei , Hu Guiqiu , Zhou Ang , Liu Yanting , Huang Bingxu , Su Yingchun , Wang Hefei , Ye Bojian , He Yuan , Gao Xiyu , Fu Shoupeng , Liu Dianfeng
Published: January 2022

Parkinson’s disease (PD), the second primary neurodegenerative disease affecting human health, is mainly characterized by dopaminergic neuron damage in the midbrain and the clinical manifestation of movement disorders. Studies have shown that neuroinflammation plays an important role in the progression of PD. Excessively activated microglia produce several pro-inflammatory mediators, leading to damage to the surrounding neurons and finally inducing neurodegeneration. Echinocystic acid (EA) exhibits an anti-inflammatory effect in peripheral tissues. However, whether it inhibited neuroinflammation remains unclear. Therefore, the current study investigates the effect of EA on neuroinflammation and whether it can improve PD symptoms through inhibiting neuroinflammation. In our experiments, we discovered that EA inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory mediators in LPS-exposed BV2 cells. Further mechanism-related studies revealed that EA inhibited inflammation by activating PI3K/Akt and inhibiting NF-κB and MAPK signal pathways in LPS-induced BV2 cells. Research revealed that EA eases microglia-mediated neuron death in SN4741 and SHSY5Y cells. In in vivo studies, the results demonstrated that EA improves weight loss and behavioral impairment in MPTP-induced mice. Further studies have revealed that EA inhibited dopaminergic neuron damage and inflammation in the mice midbrain. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that EA inhibits neuroinflammation and exerts neuroprotective effects by activating PI3K/Akt and inhibiting NF-κB and MAPK signal pathways in vivo and in vitro.
Trends in Antidiabetic Drug Discovery: FDA Approved Drugs, New Drugs in Clinical Trials and Global Sales
Authors: Dahlén Amelia D. , Dashi Giovanna , Maslov Ivan , Attwood Misty M. , Jonsson Jörgen , Trukhan Vladimir , Schiöth Helgi B.
Published: January 2022

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) continues to be a substantial medical problem due to its increasing global prevalence and because chronic hyperglycemic states are closely linked with obesity, liver disease and several cardiovascular diseases. Since the early discovery of insulin, numerous antihyperglycemic drug therapies to treat diabetes have been approved, and also discontinued, by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To provide an up-to-date account of the current trends of antidiabetic pharmaceuticals, this review offers a comprehensive analysis of the main classes of antihyperglycemic compounds and their mechanisms: insulin types, biguanides, sulfonylureas, meglitinides (glinides), alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (AGIs), thiazolidinediones (TZD), incretin-dependent therapies, sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and combinations thereof. The number of therapeutic alternatives to treat T2DM are increasing and now there are nearly 60 drugs approved by the FDA. Beyond this there are nearly 100 additional antidiabetic agents being evaluated in clinical trials. In addition to the standard treatments of insulin therapy and metformin, there are new drug combinations, e.g., containing metformin, SGLT2 inhibitors and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitors, that have gained substantial use during the last decade. Furthermore, there are several interesting alternatives, such as lobeglitazone, efpeglenatide and tirzepatide, in ongoing clinical trials. Modern drugs, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, DPP4 inhibitors and SGLT2 inhibitors have gained popularity on the pharmaceutical market, while less expensive over the counter alternatives are increasing in developing economies. The large heterogeneity of T2DM is also creating a push towards more personalized and accessible treatments. We describe several interesting alternatives in ongoing clinical trials, which may help to achieve this in the near future.
The Effects of Crocin on Bone and Cartilage Diseases
Authors: Vafaei Shayan , Wu Xuming , Tu Jiajie , Nematollahi-mahani Seyed Noureddin
Published: January 2022

Crocin, the main biologically active carotenoid of saffron, generally is derived from the dried trifid stigma of Crocus sativus L. Many studies have demonstrated that crocin has several therapeutic effects on biological systems through its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The wide range of crocin activities is believed to be because of its ability to anchor to many proteins, triggering some cellular pathways responsible for cell proliferation and differentiation. It also has therapeutic potentials in arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and articular pain probably due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Anti-apoptotic effects, as well as osteoclast inhibition effects of crocin, have suggested it as a natural substance to treat osteoporosis and degenerative disease of bone and cartilage. Different mechanisms underlying crocin effects on bone and cartilage repair have been investigated, but remain to be fully elucidated. The present review aims to undertake current knowledge on the effects of crocin on bone and cartilage degenerative diseases with an emphasis on its proliferative and differentiative properties in mesenchymal stem cells.
Model for Predicting Rice Yield from Reflectance Index and Weather Variables in Lowland Rice Fields
Authors: Onwuchekwa-Henry Chinaza B. , Ogtrop Floris Van , Roche Rose , Tan Daniel K. Y.
Published: January 2022

Smallholder rice farmers need a multi-purpose model to forecast yield and manage limited resources such as fertiliser, irrigation water supply in-season, thus optimising inputs and increasing rice yield. Active sensing tools like Canopeo and GreenSeeker-NDVI have provided the opportunity to monitor crop health and development at different growth stages. In this study, we assessed the effectiveness of in-season estimation of rice yield in lowland fields of northwest Cambodia using weather data and vegetation cover information measured with; (1) the mobile app-Canopeo, and (2) the conventional GreenSeeker hand-held device that measures the normalised difference vegetative index (NDVI). We collected data from a series of on-farm field experiments in the rice-growing regions in 2018 and 2019. Average temperature and cumulative rainfall were calculated at panicle initiation and pre-heading stages when the crop cover index was measured. A generalised additive model (GAM) was generated using log-transformed data for grain yield, with the combined predictors of canopy cover and weather data during panicle initiation and pre-heading stages. The pre-heading stage was the best stage for grain yield prediction with the Canopeo-derived vegetation index and weather data. Overall, the Canopeo index model explained 65% of the variability in rice yield and Canopeo index, average temperature and cumulative rainfall explained 5, 65 and 56% of the yield variability in rice yield, respectively, at the pre-heading stage. The model (Canopeo index and weather data) evaluation for the training set between the observed and the predicted yield indicated an R2 value of 0.53 and root mean square error (RMSE) was 0.116 kg ha−1 at the pre-heading stage. When the model was tested on a validation set, the R2 value was 0.51 (RMSE = 925.533 kg ha−1) between the observed and the predicted yield. The NDVI-weather model explained 62% of the variability in yield, NDVI, average temperature and cumulative rainfall explained 3, 62 and 54%, respectively, of the variability in yield for the training set. The NDVI-weather model evaluation for the training set showed a slightly lower fit with R2 value of 0.51 (RMSE = 0.119 kg ha−1) between the observed and the predicted yield at pre-heading stage. The accuracy performance of the model indicated an R2 value of 0.46 (RMSE = 979.283 kg ha−1) at the same growth stage for validation set. The vegetation-derived information from Canopeo index-weather data increasingly correlated with rice yield than NDVI-weather data. Therefore, the Canopeo index-weather model is a flexible and effective tool for the prediction of rice yield in smallholder fields and can potentially be used to identify and manage fertiliser and water supply to maximise productivity in rice production systems. Data availability from more field experiments are needed to test the model’s accuracy and improve its robustness.
Analysis of the Influence of Parameters of a Spraying System Designed for UAV Application on the Spraying Quality Based on Box–Behnken Response Surface Method
Authors: Wang Dashuai , Xu Sheng , Li Zhuolin , Cao Wujing
Published: January 2022

With the development of precision agriculture (PA), low-altitude and low-volume spraying based on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is playing an increasingly important role in the control of crop diseases, pests, and weeds. However, the aerial spraying quality and droplet drift are affected by many factors, some of which are controllable (e.g., flight and spraying parameters) and some of which are not (e.g., environmental parameters). In order to study the influence of spraying parameters on the UAV-based spraying performance, we propose a UAV-compatible spraying system and a customized experimental platform in this work. Through single-factor test and Box–Behnken response surface methods, four influencing factors, namely spraying height, flow rate, distance between nozzles, and pulse width modulation (PWM) duty cycle, were studied under indoor conditions. Variance analysis and multiple quadratic regression fitting were performed on the test data by using Design-Expert 8.0.5B software, and quadratic polynomial regression models of effective spraying width, droplet coverage density, coefficient of variation, and droplet coverage rate were established. Based on the Z-score standardization, a mathematical model of the comprehensive score with four factors was established to evaluate the spraying quality and predict optimal spraying parameters. Test results indicate that the effect intensity of four influencing factors from strong to weak is PWM duty cycle, flow rate, distance between nozzles, and spraying height, and their optimal values are 98.65%, 1.74 L/min, 1.0 m, and 1.60 m, respectively. Additionally, verification experimental results demonstrate that the deviation between the predicted comprehensive score and the actual value was less than 6%. This paper can provide a reference for the design and optimization of UAV spraying systems.