bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MTHFD2 Expression Association with Bladder Cancer and Screening of its Potential Inhibitor
Authors: Asif Maleeha , Ilyas Muhammad , Zafar Muhammad , Elahi Muhammad Affan , Bostan Nazish , Tariq Aamira
Published: November 2021

BackgroundBladder cancer is the most common urological malignancy. Genes of folate mediated 1 carbon metabolism are found to be highly up regulated in tumor cells and promotes tumor cell proliferation. Rationale and aim of the studyThe aim of the current study was to determine the expression of MTHFD2 gene and the impact of intronic SNP rs1667627 on MTHFD2 expression Furthermore, determination of potential ligand based inhibitors against MTHFD2. Methods & ResultsSemi-quantitative expression analysis and sanger sequencing were used for this purpose. Moreover, structure based virtual ligand library screening in order to find plausible inhibitors.MTHFD2 expression was significantly increased with tumor stage progression both in low and high-grade bladder cancer. However, the relative fold change difference in low grade bladder cancer in correlation with the tumor stage progression was more dramatic. Contrary to the TCGA dataset analysis, increased MTHFD2 expression was observed in papillary bladder cancer tumor. G to A transition in the intronic variant rs1667627 SNP was determined in tumor tissues as compared to control. Virtual ligand based library screening against the three dimensional MTHFD2 protein lead to identification of a plausible inhibitor MCULE-8027924848 that displayed lower binding free energy as compared to already documented LY345899. ConclusionMTHFD2 might be used as low-grade bladder cancer biomarker since its expression level changes drastically with tumor progression. Further, experimental studies are required to establish the potential mode of inhibition of MCULE-8027924848 ligand.
Radon Transport from Soil to Air and Monte-Carlo Simulation
Authors: Muhammad Ahmad , Külahcı Fatih
Published: November 2021

The exhalation of geochemical entities from soil to air is significant to understand Lithosphere-Atmospheric relationships. Some of these geochemical entities are capable of modifying the lower atmosphere, and they are employed in various studies. Radon is one of the geochemical gasses widely recognized as a dominant ionization source in near ground regions of the troposphere. The steady state Rn transport equation is considered in many cases for estimating Rn migration from soil to air on the condition that the time evolution is ignored. A method is proposed for estimating radon space-time transport from soil to air. This is achieved by solving the radon transport equation in soil with special boundary conditions. Similar results are obtained with some experimented models, as well as reported radon values in literature for some set of parameter combinations. Strengths and limitations of the method are discussed. The model is useable to study Lithosphere-Atmosphere relationships. It can also be significant in other studies like the Global Electric Circuit or Seismo-Ionospheric studies.
Monocyte to High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Ratio (MHR) and Serum Uric Acid in Chinese Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Li Yuexi , Liu Xiaoqin , Luo Yuhan
Published: November 2021

Background: Previous studies have shown the monocyte to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio (MHR) is a predictor of various diseases such as coronary heart disease, diabetic microangiopathy, and metabolic syndrome. However, there are few scientific reports on the correlation between MHR and serum uric acid. The objective of this report is to explore the interrelation between MHR and serum uric acid in Chinese.Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study. A total of 646 participants in the southwest of China received a health examination at the Health Management Center of Deyang People's Hospital. The examination included blood pressure, blood routine examination, lipids, fasting glucose, serum transaminases, serum uric acid, and various standardized questionnaires. Generalized additive model (GAM) and smoothed curve fitting were used to explore the relationship between MHR and serum uric acid. Then, subgroup analyses were performed to investigate the robustness of this relationship.Results: After adjusted confounders (age, sex, BMI, SBP, DBP, AST, ALT, fasting glucose, TC, LDL, smoking, drinking, and exercise status), MHR was positively correlated with serum uric acid(p<0.001). As shown in the smoothing curve, there was an approximately linear correlation between MHR and serum uric acid, and the linear correlation coefficient was 146.74 (95% CI: 96.16 ~ 197.33, P <0.0001). Subgroup analyses showed the effect of MHR on serum uric acid was smaller in occasional smokers and smokers compared to nonsmokers (P = 0.0194).Conclusion: MHR was significantly and positively correlated with serum uric acid. Additionally, the effect of MHR on serum uric acid was rather less in people who smoked more.
Expression of Phenylalanine Ammonia Lyases in Synechocystis Sp. PCC 6803 and Subsequent Improvements of Sustainable Production of Phenylpropanoids
Authors: Kukil Kateryna , Lindberg Pia
Published: November 2021

Background
Phenylpropanoids represent a diverse class of industrially important secondary metabolites, synthesized in plants from phenylalanine and tyrosine. Cyanobacteria have a great potential for sustainable production of phenylpropanoids directly from CO2, due to their photosynthetic lifestyle with a fast growth compared to plants, and the ease of generating genetically engineered strains. This study focuses on photosynthetic production of the first compounds in the phenylpropanoid pathway, trans-cinnamic acid and p-coumaric acid, in the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (Synechocystis). This was achieved firstly via heterologous overexpression of a selected set of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) enzymes from different organisms in Synechocystis. The resulting strains were evaluated for productivity to find the best performing candidate. Secondly, in order to further improve the titer of target compounds, we evaluated the use of stronger expression cassettes for increasing PAL protein levels, as well as knock-out of the laccase gene slr1573, as this was previously reported to prevent degradation of the target compounds in the cell. Finally, to investigate the effect of growth conditions on the production of trans-cinnamic acid and p-coumaric acid from Synechocystis, cultivation conditions promoting rapid, high density growth were tested.
Results
Results of comparative expression of PALs showed that the highest specific titer was achieved for the strain AtC, expressing a PAL from Arabidopsis thaliana, while a subsequent increase of protein level did not improve the productivity. In contrast to previous reports, the production of target compounds in strains where the slr1573 laccase had been knocked out was found to be lower compared to strains with wild type background. Additionally, the Δslr1573 strains exhibited a strong phenotype of slower growth rate and lower pigment content. The application of a high-density cultivation system for the growth of production strains allowed reaching the highest total titers of trans-cinnamic acid and p-coumaric acid reported so far, at around 0.8 and 0.4 g/L, respectively, after 4 days.
Conclusions
The production of trans-cinnamic acid, unlike that of p-coumaric acid, is not limited by the protein level of heterologously expressed PAL in Synechocystis. High density cultivation led to higher titres of both products, while knocking out slr1573 did not have a positive effect on production. This work contributes to capability of exploiting the primary metabolism of cyanobacteria for sustainable production of plant phenylpropanoids.
Nanotwin-assisted nitridation in FeNi nanopowders for synthesis of rare-earth-free magnets
Authors: Wang Jian , Hirayama Yusuke , Liu Zheng , Suzuki Kazuyuki , Yamaguchi Wataru , Park Kwangjae , Takagi Kenta , Kura Hiroaki , Watanabe Eiji , Ozaki Kimihiro
Published: November 2021

L10-ordered FeNi alloy (tetrataenite), a promising candidate for rare-earth-free and low-cost permanent magnet applications, is attracting increasing attention from academic and industrial communities. Highly ordered single-phase L10-FeNi is difficult to synthesis efficiently because of its low chemical order-disorder transition temperature (200–320 ℃). A non-equilibrium synthetic route utilizing a nitrogen topotactic reaction has been considered a valid approach, although the phase transformation mechanism is currently unknown. Herein, we investigated the basis of this reaction, namely the formation mechanism of the tetragonal FeNiN precursor phase during the nitridation of FeNi nanopowders. Detailed microstructure analysis revealed that the FeNiN precursor phase could preferentially nucleated at the nanotwinned region during nitridation and subsequently grew following a massive transformation, with high-index irrational orientation relationships and ledgewise growth motion detected at the migrating phase interface. This is the first report of a massive phase transformation detected in an Fe-Ni-N system and provides new insights into the phase transformation during the nitriding process. This work is expected to promote the synthetic optimization of fully ordered FeNi alloys for various magnetic applications.
Distributed Arithmetic Coding Over Binary Erasure Channel
Authors: Wang Xianyu , Li Cong , Tan Jinlin , Zhang Rui , Liang Zhifeng , Wang Hai
Published: November 2021

In this paper, the Binary Erasure Channel (BEC) is researched by Distributed Arithmetic Coding (DAC) based on Slepian-Wolf coding framework. The source and side information are modelled as a virtual BEC. The DAC decoder uses maximum a posteriori (MAP) as the criterion to recover the source. A deep residual network is used to boost the DAC decoding process. The experimental results show that our algorithm nearly achieves the same performance with LT codes under different erasure probabilities.
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in South Korea Based on Data From the National Health Insurance Database: Corticosteroid Use and Bone Health Management
Authors: Yoon Jin A , Park Ho Eun , Kim Jinmi , Shin Yong Beom , Son Jungmin
Published: November 2021

Background
This study aimed to determine the current corticosteroid use and bone health management status of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in South Korea.
Methods
Data from the Korean National Health Insurance Database regarding bone status, spine radiography findings, bone mineral density, and laboratory test results were obtained, as well as the proportion of patients with spine and lower limb prostheses, occurrence of scoliosis, and age at scoliosis surgery.
Results
Deflazacort dose in the ambulant group (aged <15 years old) increased by age and year. The maintenance dose of prednisolone and deflazacort for the 15–19 group decreased by year. Among the patients, 12.47% underwent spine radiography, 23.11% underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and 22.7% underwent vitamin D tests. Moreover, 40.9% of the patients were prescribed vitamin D at a mean age of 14.6 ± 6.1 years, while 10.22% were prescribed bisphosphonate at 17.92 ± 3.4 years. Further, 16.1% patients underwent posterior spinal instrumentation and fusion at 14.4 ± 2.3 years and 5.3% underwent anterior spinal instrumentation and fusion at 14.4 ± 2.3 years. Ankle-foot orthosis and spine orthosis prescriptions were noted in 4.91% and 1.84% of patients, respectively.
Conclusions
The current status of clinical practice for patients with DMD in South Korea have been presented. It is expected that the findings of this study will contribute to raising awareness on the necessity of establishing a domestic registry in the country for patients with DMD.
Electronic Polarizability and Optical Basicity of BaO-B2O3-TeO2 Glass System
Authors: Amat A. , Halimah M. K. , Ishak M. , Nazrin S. N. , Syamimi N. N. , Hasnimulyati L.
Published: November 2021

[(TeO2)0.7(B2O3)0.3]1-x (BaO)x, x = 0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30 and 0.35 mol fraction glass series were successfully synthesized by conventional melt quenching method. Amorphous phase of all samples was confirmed through X-ray diffraction while optical properties were determined using UV-VIS spectrophotometer. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis showed that the glass structure consisted of TeO3, TeO4, TeO6, BO3 and BO4 structural units. The optical band gap energy, Eopt which was calculated from Tauc’ plots decreased as the amount of BaO increases, whereas, the Urbach energy value increased. The increase in Urbach energy value was attributed to the increase of defects in glass structure. The refractive indices of glass were found to increase along with the increased amount of BaO, due to the high polarization and high density of host material and glass modifier. The molar polarizability, αm, oxide ion polarizability, αo2- and optical basicity, Λ of the glasses are calculated by Lorentz-Lorenz equation. The glasses were found to possess αm values between 8.106 – 8.489 Å3, and αo2- values between 3.303 to 4.772. Meanwhile, optical basicity increases from 0.115 to 0.893.
Incidence and risk factors of preoperative venous thromboembolism in patients with malignant musculoskeletal tumors: an analysis based on D-dimer screening and imaging
Authors: Hayashida Kenta , Kawabata Yusuke , Saito Keiju , Fujita Shintaro , Choe Hyonmin , Kato Ikuma , Takeyama Masanobu , Inaba Yutaka
Published: November 2021

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major complication in patients with malignant tumors and orthopedic disorders. ﻿Although it is known that patients undergoing surgery for orthopedic oncology are at an increased risk of thromboembolic events, only few studies have investigated this risk in detail. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the incidence and risk factors for preoperative VTE in orthopedic oncology patients.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 270 patients who underwent surgical procedures, including biopsy for orthopedic oncology, have undergone measurements of preoperative D-dimer levels, and were subsequently screened for VTE by lower extremity venous ultrasonography and/or contrast-enhanced computed tomography scans. Statistical analyses were performed to examine the incidence and risk factors for VTE. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to verify the D-dimer cutoff value for the diagnosis of VTE.Results: Overall, 199 patients (103 with primary soft tissue sarcomas, 38 with primary bone sarcomas, 46 with metastatic tumors, and 12 with hematologic malignancies) were included. D-dimer levels were high in 79 patients; VTE was detected in 19 patients (9.5%). Multivariate analysis indicated that age ≥60 years (P = 0.021) and tumor location in the lower limbs (P = 0.048) were independent risk factors for VTE. ROC analysis showed that the D-dimer cutoff value for the diagnosis of VTE was 1.53 µg/mL; the sensitivity and specificity were 89.5% and 79.4%, respectively.Conclusions: Our study indicated that age and tumor location in the lower limbs were independent risk factors for preoperative VTE in orthopedic oncology patients. D-dimer levels were not associated with VTE in the multivariate analysis, likely because they are affected by a wide variety of conditions, such as malignancy and aging. Patients with high D-dimer levels and the identified risk factors are at an increased risk of preoperative VTE, and additional ultrasonography should be considered.Trial registration: Our study was approved by the institutional review board. The registration number is B200600056. The registration date was July 13, 2020.
Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Functionalized 5-(4-arylpiperazin-1-yl)-N-Quinolinyl-p﻿entanamides as Selective Dopamine D3 Receptor Ligands
Authors: Blass Benjamin E , Chen Peng-Jen , Taylor Michelle , Griffin Suzy A , Gordon John C , Luedtke Robert R
Published: November 2021

Dopamine (1) plays a key role in normal physiological pathways in both the central nervous system and the periphery. The physiological impact of this neurotransmitter is mediated through its interaction with family of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). These receptors are designated as D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5 and divided into two sub-families, the D1-like sub-family (D1 and D5) and D2-like sub-family (D2, D3 and D4) based on pharmacological properties, amino acid homology, and genetic organization. Aberrant D3 activity has been linked to multiple diseases and conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, substance use disorder, inflammatory diseases, and Parkinson’s disease (PD). As part of our on-going program focused on the identification of novel D3 ligands, we have identified a novel series of 5-(4-arylpiperazin-1-yl)-N-quinolinyl-pentanamides that are high affinity ligands for this receptor.
Identification of ncRNA-mediated prognostic Value and Immune Infiltration of MTHFD2 in Bladder Cancer
Authors: Zhang Hao , Li Rui , Deng Wanjun , Xiong Huihua
Published: November 2021

Background: Methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase 2 (MTHFD2), one of mitochondrial enzymes, is involved in folate and nucleic acid metabolism and maintains the cellular redox balance. However, the function of MTHFD2 in bladder cancer is still poorly characterized. This study was designed to elucidate the effect and regulatory mechanism of MTHFD2 on bladder cancer cells and explore the relationships between MTHFD2 and immune cell infiltration in tumor microenvironment (TME). Methods: The data from Oncomine, TIMER, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and The Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database were extracted to evaluate the expression of MTHFD2 and its prognostic role in pan-cancer, especially in bladder cancer. Enrichment analyses, were utilized to explore the underlying cellular mechanisms. The ncRNA regulatory axis was established by Starbase database, and the PPI network was constructed by Cytoscape software. Ultimately, the relations between the expression of MTHFD2 and immune cell infiltration in bladder cancer was indicated by TCGA and TIMER databases.Results: Our results demonstrated that MTHFD2 expression was generally up-regulated in pan-cancers and its high expression was correlated with poor prognosis of patients with bladder cancer. Specifically, our study revealed that MTHFD2 was a powerful risk factor and involved in the tumor development of bladder cancer. Furthermore, hsa_circ_0046140 and hsa_circ_0006769/miR-383-5p/MTHFD2 axis could also play a significant role in tumorigenesis. Ultimately, a strong correlation was observed between MTHFD2 expression and various immune cell infiltration, which implied that MTHFD2 might serve as an agent in tumor immunotherapy. Conclusion: MTHFD2 is widely overexpressed in pan-cancers, and its expression is related with the prognosis of patients and the multiple immune cell infiltrates in TME. Besides, hsa_circ_0046140 and hsa_circ_0006769/miR-383-5p/MTHFD2 axis are implicated with the proliferation and invasion of tumors.
Turning of Inconel 718 Using Liquid Nitrogen: Multi-objective Optimization of Cutting Parameters Using RSM
Authors: Eskandari Behzad , Bhowmick Sukanta , Alpas Ahmet
Published: November 2021

The objective of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of application of liquid nitrogen (LN2) in turning of Inconel 718 compared to flooded cutting and select suitable LN2 cutting parameters using response surface methodology (RSM). The results of turning experiments conducted by spraying LN2 to the cutting area of Inconel 718 bar showed that using either low or high cutting parameters, cutting performance of Inconel 718 under the cryogenic condition was generally worse than the flooded cutting. However, using the medium cutting parameters the cutting performance was as good as flooded cutting showing the values of 90 N of cutting force, 60 µm of flank wear and 0.5-0.6 µm of surface roughness (Ra). These parameters were further optimized using desirability function of RSM to determine the set of parameters that provide the lowest cutting force, flank wear and Ra and the highest material removal rate (MRR) under cryogenic cutting. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) performed on the developed regression models showed that cutting speed was the significant factor on cutting force. Feed rate was the most influential parameter on flank wear. Feed rate and depth of cut was significant factors affecting Ra. Multi-objective optimization showed that a cutting speed of 87 m/min, a feed rate of 0.06 mm/rev and a depth of cut of 0.37 mm constituted the optimum cutting parameters for achieving the, cutting force of 78 N, flank wear of 58 µm, Ra of 0.49 µm and the MRR of 1.97 cm3/min under cryogenic cutting condition.
Five-Lipoxygenase-Activating Protein Mediated CYLD Attenuation is a Candidate Driver in Hepatic Malignant Lesion
Authors: Su Kun-kai , Zheng Xue-hua , Bréchot Christian , Zheng Xiao-ping , Zhu Dan-hua , Huang Rong , Zhang Yan-hong , Tao Jing-jing , Lou Yi-jia , Li Lan-juan
Published: November 2021

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an inflammation-associated cancer. However, the lipid pro-inflammatory mediators have only been seldom investigated in HCC pathogenesis. Activation of NF-κB and expression of c-Myc are negatively regulated by cylindromatosis (CYLD) in hepatocarcinogenesis. But it remains largely unknown whether lipid pro-inflammatory mediators are involved in CYLD suppression. Here, we aimed to evaluate the significance of hepatic lipid pro-inflammatory metabolites of arachidonate affected CYLD expression via 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO)-pathway.Methods: Resection liver tissues from HCC patients or donors were evaluated for the correlation of 5-LO/cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs)-signaling to expression of CYLD. The impact of functional components in 5-LO/CysLTs cascade on survival of HCC patients was subsequently assessed. Both livers from canines, a routine animal for drug safety evaluation, and genetic-modified human HCC cells treated with hepatocarcinogen aristolochic acid I (AAI) were further used to reveal the possible relevance between 5-LO pathway activation and CYLD depression. Results: 5-LO-activating protein (FLAP), an essential partner of 5-LO, significantly overexpressed and was parallel to CYLD depression, CD34 neovascular localization, and high Ki-67 expression in the resection tissues from HCC patients. Importantly, high hepatic FLAP transcription markedly shortened the median survival time of HCC patients after surgical resection. In the livers of AAI-treated canines, FLAP overexpression was parallel to enhanced CysLTs contents, simultaneous attenuated CYLD expression. Moreover, knock-in FLAP significantly diminished the expression of CYLD in AAI-treated human HCC cells.Conclusions: Hepatic FLAP/CysLTs axis is a crucial suppressor of CYLD in HCC pathogenesis, which highlights a novel mechanism in hepatocarcinogenesis and development. FLAP therefore can be explored for the early HCC detection and a target of anti-HCC therapy.
Source Apportionment and Source-specific Health Risk of Heavy Metals in Urban Road Dust of Jinan City, East China
Authors: Zhang Shengwei , Ma Ge , Dong Shuzhen , Meng Xiangzhou , Wang Lijun
Published: November 2021

For a better regional and source-risk-based control of heavy metals in urban environments, this study provides a source-specific health risk assessment by combining the models of United States Environmental Protection Agency health risk assessment and positive matrix factorization (PMF). The calculated data were optimized by the geochemical speciation of target 10 potentially toxic heavy metals. The results demonstrated that the mean concentrations of most heavy metals in urban dust of Jinan City exceeded their corresponding background values, especially that of cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) exhibiting a mean of 12.9 and 7.84 times those of their backgrounds. Cd, Zn, copper, lead and manganese in road dust existed mainly in extractable forms, exhibiting higher bio-availability. The PMF receptor model determined four sources of heavy metals in urban road dust, namely industrial discharges (41.1%), natural and coal combustion sources (27.8%), traffic emissions (22.8%), and building material and manufacturing sources (8.3%). All the studied heavy metals presented low or negligible non-carcinogenic risk (non-CR) for adults and children, while the lifetime carcinogenic risk (CR) of Cd was in an acceptable level. Regarding source-specific health risks, the highest non-CR was derived from industrial discharges, while CR from traffic emissions, which were mainly associated with the higher content and bio-availability of Pb and Cd in the dust. Moreover, the risk contributions of industrial discharges and traffic emissions were 35.9% and 60.6% for non-CR and CR, respectively, presenting a significant difference with the apportioned source characteristics, thus deep-revealing the potentially source-based risks of heavy metal in urban environment.
Prevalence, Risk Factors and Prevention of Depression in the Adult Population in Mbarara District, Uganda
Authors: Allen‫٭‬ Kiconco , Laban Waswa Bright , Edward Ssemakula , Moses Baikirize , Muhwezi Talbert
Published: November 2021

Background. This study concerns the prevalence, risk factors and prevention of depression in the adult population in three sub-counties in Mbarara district. Depression is a common mental disorder which presents with a wide array of symptoms including loss of energy, poor sleep, poor eating habits, fatigue, irritability and social withdrawal. The main objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with depression and to identify measures that can be implemented to reduce risk factors of the disease among adults in Nyamitanga, Rugando and Rwanyamahembe sub-counties in Mbarara district. Methods. A cross-sectional design was used to capture data from a study sample size of 383 participants who were involved in completion of screening tests for depression. Scores from a 7-item version of Hopkins Symptom Checklist for Depression were averaged and the probable depression determined for each participant using a cut-off of 1.75. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations between depression outcomes and socio-demographic, behavioural and medical history variables. Results. The analyses revealed that the prevalence of depression among adults in the area stands at 27.7%. Depression was significantly associated with discrimination (AOR = 2.33, 95% CI = 1.22–4.45, P = 0.010), household size (AOR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.32–0.93, P = 0.026), level of education (primary education: AOR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.15–0.88, P = 0.024; secondary education: AOR = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.12–0.76, P = 0.011; tertiary education: AOR = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.15–0.92, P = 0.032) and drug-abuse related problems (AOR = 4.44, 95% CI = 1.34–14.74, P = 0.015). Measures for reducing the development of depression (which were identified by study participants) include guidance and counselling, awareness campaigns and self-help projects, improved access to quality medical services as well as stress management and spiritual care services. Conclusions. These findings show that depression prevalence in the study area, estimated at 27.7%, is high and worrying. Previous studies carried out in Mbarara district and other parts of Uganda have also reported similarly high estimates. They also show that discrimination, household size, level of education and drug-abuse are important risk factors associated with the prevalence of depressive disorders. Strategies targeted at early interventions and ultimately depression prevention need urgent attention in order to reduce risk factors of the disease.
Simulation of an Isolated System Behavior at High RES Penetration Coupled With Storage
Authors: Katsanevakis Athanasios , Konstantinidis Dimitris , Karagiannis Georgios , Ganias Athanasios , Karagiorgis George , Partasides George , Petrides Demetris , Ioannidou Maria
Published: November 2021

Τhe aim of the present work is to assess the overall benefits of applying electrical energy storage, especially to isolated grids, to harvest the underlying Renwable Energy Sourses potential sustainably. One such case is Cyprus, where due to various technical constraints related to the isolated nature of the island’s electricity system, RES in the electricity sector can reach a maximum level assuming limited curtailments, as early as 2023-2024. To this end, simulations have been set up and run using the DISPA-SET tool to investigate the potential of new electricity storage facilities at effective accommodation of high Renewable Energy Technologies (RET) penetration, especially photovoltaics in the coming years. Results show that particularly in isolated grids, RET penetration has to be coupled with storage to avoid power curtailment and provide security to the whole system, reduce the energy not served and provide a long-term perspective for the decarbonaization in the electricity sector towards 2050 zero-emission targets.
CCCH Zinc Finger Genes in Barley: Genome-Wide Identification, Evolution, Expression and Haplotype Analysis
Authors: Ai Qi , Pan Wenqiu , Zeng Yan , Li Yihan , Cui Licao
Published: November 2021

Background: CCCH transcription factors are important zinc finger transcription factors involved in the response to biotic and abiotic stress and physiological and developmental processes. Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is an agriculturally important cereal crop with multiple uses, such as brewing production, animal feed, and human food. The identification and assessment of new functional genes are important for the molecular breeding of barley. Results: In this study, a total of 35 protein-encoding CCCH genes unevenly dispersed on seven different chromosomes were identified in barley. Phylogenetic analysis categorized the barley CCCH genes (HvC3Hs) into seven subfamilies according to their distinct features, and this classification was supported by intron–exon structure and conserved motif analysis. Despite the large genome size of barley, the lower number of CCCH genes in barley might be attributed to the low frequency of segmental and tandem duplication events. Furthermore, the HvC3H genes displayed distinct expression profiles for different developmental processes and in response to various types of stresses. The expression of HvC3H9 was significantly induced by multiple types of abiotic stress and/or phytohormone treatment, which might make it an excellent target for the molecular breeding of barley. Genetic variation of HvC3Hs was characterized using publicly available exome-capture sequencing datasets. Clear genetic divergence was observed between wild and landrace barley populations in HvC3H genes. For most HvC3Hs, nucleotide diversity and the number of haplotype polymorphisms decreased during barley domestication. Conclusion: Overall, our study provides a comprehensive characterization of barley CCCH transcription factors, their diversity, and their biological functions.
Stratification of Prognoses based on Criteria from Clinical Trials of Metastatic Hormone-sensitive Prostate Cancer
Authors: Ahn Hyun Kyu , Yoo Jeong Woo , Koo Kyo Chul , Chung Byung Ha , Lee Kwang Suk
Published: November 2021

Background: Oncologic outcomes in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) are extremely heterogeneous. We aimed to (1) stratify the prognosis in mHSPC patients according to criteria for high-volume disease, as defined in clinical trials, and (2) identify the combinations of unfavorable risk factors.Methods: This retrospective study reviewed 623 patients who were diagnosed with mHSPC between 1996 and 2014. The prognoses of mHSPC patients were stratified by criteria from the GETUG15, CHAARTED, STAMPEDE, and LATITUDE trials. The exclusion criteria were incomplete clinical data, docetaxel chemotherapy with upfront options, and metastatic disease without proper management after initial diagnosis.Results: All 485 patients (median follow-up=36.1 months) were categorized according to stage: M1a (70, 14.4%), M1b (367, 75.7%), and M1c (48, 9.9%). Significant differences in overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were found among the groups with low-volume disease, as classified by four clinical trials (log-rank p=0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). Bone metastasis volume and liver metastasis were independent predictors of prognosis. According to disease classification under NCCN guidelines, the prognosis of CSS between low-volume disease patients and M1c patients (no bone metastasis and low-volume bone metastasis) was not significantly different. Additionally, the prognosis of CSS did not significantly differ between M1c (high-volume bone metastasis and visceral metastasis, except liver) and M1b (high-volume bone metastasis) patients.Conclusions: The prognoses of patients with low-volume disease, based on several classification systems, were heterogeneous. Except for lung or liver metastasis, the combination of visceral metastasis with no/low-volume bone disease should be considered as a proxy of less aggressive disease in patients presenting with mHSPC.
Drug Associated Giant Cell Arteritis with Scalp Necrosis after Treatment with Pembrolizumab: A Case Report
Authors: Dargham Bassel Bou , Kang Julianna , Gavin Joshua , Abhishek Nandan
Published: November 2021

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) can be a rheumatologic complication of checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy for the treatment of cancer. A rare and serious manifestation of GCA is scalp necrosis. We report a case of a patient who developed GCA and subsequent scalp necrosis after the initiation of immunotherapy with the checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab for the treatment of metastatic melanoma. Such advanced cases of GCA may be increasingly recognized in the immunotherapy era of oncology.
Engaging with EPIO, a digital pain self-management program: A qualitative study
Authors: Bostrøm Katrine , Varsi Cecilie , Eide Hilde , Børøsund Elin , Kristjansdottir Olof B , Schreurs Karlein MG , Waxenberg Lori B , Weiss Karen E , Morrison Eleshia J , Nordang Elise Flakk , Stubhaug Audun , Nes Lise Solberg
Published: November 2021

Background:Chronic pain conditions entail significant personal and societal burdens and improved outreach of evidence-based pain self-management programs are needed. Digital cognitive-behavioral self-management interventions have shown promise. However, evidence is still scarce and several challenges with such interventions for chronic pain exist. Exploring patients' experiences and engagement with digital interventions may be an essential step towards developing meaningful digital self-management interventions for those living with chronic pain. Objectives:This study aimed to gain insight into the experiences of people with chronic pain when engaging with EPIO, an application (app)-based cognitive-behavioral pain self-management intervention program.Methods: Participants (N=50) living with chronic pain received access to the EPIO intervention for 3 months. During this time, all participants received a follow-up phone call at 2-3 weeks, and a subsample (n=15) also participated in individual semi-structured interviews after 3 months. A qualitative design was used and thematic analysis was employed aiming to capture participants’ experiences when engaging with the EPIO intervention program. Results:Findings identifying program-related experiences and engagement were organized into three main topics, each with three sub-themes: (1) Engaging with EPIO; motivation to learn, fostering joy and enthusiasm, and helpful reminders and personalization, (2) Coping with pain in everyday life; awareness, practice and using EPIO, and (3) The value of engaging with the EPIO program; EPIO – a friend, making peace with the presence of pain, and fostering communication and social support. Conclusions: The current study explored participants’ experiences and engagement with EPIO, a digital self-management intervention program for people living with chronic pain. Findings highlighted identifying valued aspects related to motivation for engagement, incorporating content in support of daily coping, and encouraging a sense of acceptance and relatedness as vital components for facilitating program engagement.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03705104; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03705104
Digitalisierung als Capability und Fairness. Ausblicke auf eine Postcorona-Lehre.
Authors: Rath Matthias O. , Maisenhölder Patrick
Published: November 2021

In der studentischen Beurteilung der coronabedingten Digitalisierung der Hochschullehre scheint es zwei Lager zu geben, zum einen Studierende, die der „digitalen Lehre“ nichts abgewinnen können und hoffen, dass bald alles wieder „normal“ ist, zum anderen diejenigen, die sich zwar grundsätzlich Vorcoronanormalität zurückwünschen, aber in bestimmter Hinsicht die Vorteile der „digitalen Lehre“ sehen und diese auch weiterhin gerne in Anspruch nehmen würden. Dazu gehört vor allem die zeitliche Flexibilität, die für Studierende wichtig ist, die über ihr Studium hinaus Verpflichtungen haben (z. B. Kinderbetreuung, Pflege von Angehörigen und eigenständiges Verdienen des Unterhalts). Geradeasynchrone digitale Lernangebote sind für diese Bedarfe besonders geeignet. Solche Präferenzäußerungen der Studierenden hinsichtlich asynchroner digitaler Lehre lassen sich auch unter Gerechtigkeitsgesichtspunktenbegründen. Unter Rückgriff auf John Rawls’ Theory of Justice und Martha Nussbaums Capabilities Approach will der Beitrag zeigen, dass eine vorcoronäre „herkömmliche“ Lehre (ausschließlich offline, analog und synchron) als sozialethisch defizitär angesehen werden muss. Es soll geklärt werden, inwiefern „digitale Lehre“ auch nach der COVID-19-Pandemie unter dem Gesichtspunkt der Fairness berücksichtigt und umgesetzt werden sollte.
Seamless Learning in einem bildungswissenschaftlichen Master-Seminar: Konzept und Umsetzung.
Authors: Heiser Jan Christoph , Lessky Franziska , Weiß Sabine
Published: November 2021

Dieser Beitrag stellt ein innovatives Lehrveranstaltungsdesign vor, welches auf dem Konzept des Seamless Learning beruht und während den Corona-Semestern zum Einsatz kam. Seamless Learning hat zum Ziel, eine Lernumgebung zu schaffen, in welcher getrennte Kontexte (offline/online; formell/informell; individuell/sozial integriert) überbrückt und vernetzt werden, um einen kontinuierlichen Lernvollzug sicherzustellen. Vor allem im Kontext der Pandemie ist es für die hochschulische Lehre unerlässlich geworden in ihrer didaktischen Ausgestaltung auf Digitalisierungsprozesse zu reagieren; Seamless Learning erscheint als eine adäquate Möglichkeit, diese Prozesse vielseitig zu gestalten.Es wird ein Design vorgestellt, welches im Rahmen einer Lehrveranstaltung (LV) zu bildungswissenschaftlichenGrundlagen konzipiert wurde. In dieser LV beschäftigen sich Masterstudierende der Wirtschaftspädagogik an der Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien mit zentralen geistes- und kultur-geschichtlichen Grundlagen der Bildungswissenschaft. In dem vorgestellten LV-Design wird ein methodisch-didaktischen Mix aus Online-Phasen, synchronen und asynchronen Einzel- und Gruppen-Assignments, reflektierend-experimentierenden Aufgaben und vielfältigen Kommunikationsformen angewendet. Dadurch soll der Lernvollzug gesichert werden und im Sinne der kritischen Bildungsarbeit aktuelle Themen problematisiert und Spannungsfelder erkannt werden.Der Beitrag veranschaulicht das LV-Design und diskutiert die Umsetzung im Kontext der Bedingungen, Restriktionen und Möglichkeiten von Hybrid- bzw. Distanzlehre. Des Weiteren wird die Dimension des sozial bzw. kooperativen Lernens problematisiert. Der Beitrag dient als pädagogisch-didaktische Blickwendung im Kontext pandemischen remote teachings und kann als Anregung, Ideenpool sowie Handlungsanleitung für Lehrpersonen im hochschulischen Kontext verstanden werden.
Das Virtual BarCamp #lehreonline als Modell für digital-vernetzte Hochschuldidaktik.
Authors: Peböck Karl
Published: November 2021

Die pandemiebedingte Umstellung auf Online-Lehre stellt für die Hochschuldidaktik eine Herausforderung dar. Inzwischen haben Lehrende neue Techniken erprobt und viel über digitale Bildungsformate gelernt. Manche dieser neuen Formate werden auch nach Corona bleiben.
Das Zentrum für Medien der PH Vorarlberg hat Lehrende an Hochschulen und Universitäten zum gemeinsamen virtuellen BarCamp #lehreonline eingeladen, um einen Austausch über Online-Lehre anzuregen. Das Format nutzt die Kultur der Digitalität und ist selbst ein Prototyp für virtuelles, vernetztes Lernen in einer Community of Practice. Fortsetzungsveranstaltungen sollen das Format etablieren und die Community of Practice stärken.
Der Englischunterricht im digitalen Wandel. Der Einsatz von Erklärvideos.
Authors: Ade-Thurow Benjamin
Published: November 2021

Die Digitalisierung des Unterrichts hat im letzten Jahr deutlich an Bedeutung gewonnen. Gleichzeitig werden neue Unterrichtsformen relevant, die auch in post-Corona-Unterrichtszenarien umgesetzt werden können: die Verwendung von Erklärvideos. Diese sind in den gängigen Internetportalen zu allen erdenklichen Themen und auch für den fremdsprachlichen Unterricht Englisch zu finden. Doch nicht jedes Video ist gleich geeignet und der Einsatz unterliegt Qualitätsanforderungen auf fachdidaktischen, medienpädagogischen und technologischen Ebenen. Der Artikel beleuchtet daher verschiedene Aspekte aus diesen Disziplinen und zudem, wie kognitive Belastungen, die durch den Einsatz von Videos entstehen, reduziert werden können. Damit werden Grenzen und Möglichkeiten eines Einsatzes von Erklärvideos im fremdsprachlichen (Fern-)Unterricht aufgezeigt. Gerade in Zusammenhang mit dem Konzept des ‚ inverted/flipped classroom‘ und Unterricht unter den Bedingungen des Fernunterrichts, und auch für den Präsenzunterricht, ist die Auswahl oder sogar das eigenhändige Erstellen von geeignetem Material von großer Bedeutung. Verschiedene Kriterien eines guten Erklärvideos können identifiziert werden und werden im Beitrag näher dargestellt.
Notfall-Fernunterricht in Österreich.
Authors: Trültzsch-Wijnen Christine , Trültzsch-Wijnen Sascha
Published: November 2021

In Österreich wurden drei Erhebungen zum Fernunterricht während der Covid-19 Pandemie durchgeführt: eine Repräsentativbefragung von zehn- bis 18-jährigen Schüler* innen (N=510) und der Eltern (N=510), eine qualitative Befragung von zehn Familien mit Kindern zwischen sechs und 12 Jahren und eine quantitative Lehrendenbefragung (N=212). Eine vergleichende Auswertung dieser Daten erlaubt eine differenzierte Betrachtung der Herausforderungen und positiven Erfahrungen des Distanzlernens. Anhand der empirischen Ergebnisse werden Empfehlungen formuliert, wie Schüler*innen, Lehrer*innen und Eltern zukünftig besser auf ähnliche Situationen vorbereitet werden können und wie das Lehren und Lernen mit digitalen Medien gefördert werden kann.
Inclusion meets Digitalization.
Authors: Mertens Claudia , Friesen Kathrin
Published: November 2021

Im Kontext „Schule“ wurden zwar (u. a. coronabedingt) zunehmend technisch-infrastrukturelleVoraussetzungen für den Einsatz digitaler Medien geschaffen, aber das Potential des digitalen Wandelsim Kontext „Inklusion/Umgang mit Heterogenität“ für chancengerechtes, individualisiertes Lernen im inklusiven Schulkontext wird kaum ausgeschöpft. Diese Herausforderung adressiert das Konzept der Digital Scouts. Schüler*innen mit Förderbedarf benötigen idealerweise Betreuung in inklusiven Kleingruppen beim Erwerb digitaler Kompetenz. Dies ist im schulischen Alltag schwer leistbar, aber kann durch Lehramtsstudierende unterstützt werden. Für Schüler*innen mit Förderbedarf sollen Partizipationsmöglichkeiten beim Gemeinsamen Lernen geschaffen werden. Im Artikel wird diequalitative Inhaltsanalyse von 10 Interviews mit 18 Schüler*innen vorgestellt und diskutiert. Es wird hinterfragt, inwiefern die Digital Scouts zur inklusiven Medienbildung beigetragen haben.
Penguatan Lembaga Saniri dalam Pembangunan Masyarakat Adat di Ambon
Authors: Dr. Yustina Trihoni Nalesti Dewi, S.H., M.Hum.
Published: November 2021

Ambon memiliki keunikan sebagai satu-satunya kota di Indonesia yang mengelola 3 sub-sistem pemerintahan secara sekaligus yaitu terdiri dari 20 kelurahan, 8 desa, dan 22 desa adat (Negeri). Ini membuktikan ciri khas Ambon, bahwasanya kemajemukan bukan saja pada masyarakatnya tetapi juga pada sistem pemerintahannya. Peraturan Daerah (Perda) Kota Ambon Nomor 8 Tahun 2017 tentang Negeri sebagai implementasi Undang-Undang Nomor 6 tahun 2014 tentang Desa, diharapkan dapat mewujudkan otonomi desa adat yang asimetris berbasis masyarakat adat dengan kekhususannya dalam hal eksistensi, kelembagaan dan fungsinya yang berbeda dengan desa atau kelurahan.
Pemanfaatan Software ERP pada UMKM: Pendampingan Konfigurasi Awal
Authors: Stephana Dyah Ayu R.  , Robertus Setiawan Aji Nugroho  , Alexandra Adriani Widjaja  , Agnes Advensia Christmastuti  , Vena Purnamasari
Published: November 2021

Usaha Mikro, Kecil dan Menengah (UMKM) memegang peranan penting dalam pengembangan perekonomian Indonesia. Menghadapi persaingan yang makin ketat, ditambah pandemi COVID-19 yang melanda seluruh dunia, sangat penting bagi UMKM Indonesia untuk memiliki informasi keuangan yang dapat diandalkan. Keterbatasan sumber daya manusia yang dimiliki UMKM adalah kendala yang menghambat pemanfaatan software Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) di dalam bisnis mereka. Kegiatan pengabdian ini bertujuan untuk memberdayakan UMKM Indonesia dalam penyusunan laporan keuangan sederhana. Kegiatan ini dilakukan dalam bentuk pelatihan dan pendampingan penyusunan neraca awal, penyusunan basis data serta posting transaksi dengan menggunakan software Fin@count. Metode pendampingan dalam kegiatan ini lebih efektif dalam membantu para pelaku UMKM untuk memahami dan dapat menggunakan bantuan software Fin@count di dalam bisnisnya. Kegiatan ini telah diikuti oleh 10 UMKM dan melalui kegiatan ini, masing-masing UMKM telah memiliki basis data dan laporan keuangan yang memadai. Kegiatan pendampingan terbukti efektif untuk membantu UMKM dalam tahap awal implementasi software ERP. Dengan demikian para pelaku UMKM akan lebih mudah untuk melanjutkan penggunaan software tersebut. Kegiatan pendampingan ini juga melibatkan sejumlah mahasiswa S1 Program Studi Akuntansi Fakultas Ekonomi Dan Bisnis Unika Soegijapranata. Melalui kesempatan ini, para mahasiswa dapat mendapatkan kesempatan praktik penyusunan anggaran dan laporan keuangan sederhana dalam kondisi aktual.