bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Substratos e qualidade de luz na produção de microverdes
Authors: Bonato Alexia , Lemos Guilherme Ruver , Callegaro Geovana Moraes , Nagel Jordana Caroline , Sommer Laura Reisdörfer
Published: October 2022

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o uso de diferentes substratos (fibra de coco e Carolina Soil®) e filtros de luz (preto, azul escuro, azul claro, roxo, rosa, verde, amarelo claro, amarelo escuro, laranja e vermelho) na produção de microverdes. O delineamento experimental no primeiro experimento foi inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 2x3, resultando em seis tratamentos com dois níveis para o fator substrato (fibra de coco e substrato comercial Carolina Soil®) e três níveis para o fator cultivar (Rúcula Surya, Cenoura Radesh e Beterraba Shankar). O delineamento experimental do segundo experimento também foi inteiramente casualizado, em esquema unifatorial com 10 níveis para o fator espectro de luz (preto, azul escuro, azul claro, roxo, rosa, verde, amarelo claro, amarelo escuro, laranja e vermelha). No primeiro experimento foram avaliados comprimento da parte aérea (cm) e massa de matéria seca e fresca da parte aérea e raiz (g). No segundo experimento foram avaliados comprimento da parte aérea e da maior raiz (cm) como também massa de matéria seca e fresca da parte aérea e raiz (g). No primeiro estudo, a análise de variância do substrato comercial Carolina Soil® se sobressaiu, com plântulas apresentando comprimento de parte aérea de 4,94 cm. No segundo experimento, o filtro com espectro de luz roxo apresentou os melhores resultados para o cultivo de microverde Rúcula Surya com comprimento de parte aérea de 3,29 cm. Conclui-se que o substrato comercial Carolina Soil® e o espectro de luz roxa apresentaram-se mais indicados para o cultivo de microverdes.
HIV Co-Receptor Usage, Broadly Neutralising Antibodies, and Treatment
Authors: Lin Nina , Registre Ludy , Sagar Manish
Published: October 2022

The discovery of a new generation of highly potent broadly neutralising antibodies (bnAb) has provided a new weapon in the fight against HIV-1. It is envisioned that multiple bnAb or a single bnAb in conjunction with antiretrovirals (ARV) can be used to treat HIV infection, especially individuals harbouring extensively drug-resistant virus or those that require regimen simplification. Furthermore, it is believed that bnAb may eliminate latently infected cells through antibody-mediated cellular cytotoxicity, and this functionality may induce virus remission. BnAb epitopes and HIV envelope determinants for CCR5 and CXCR4 usage often overlap, and this provides the basis for believing that there is a relationship between receptor utilisation and bnAb sensitivity. This review highlights the important intersection between HIV co-receptor usage and bnAb therapy. Compared to CCR5-using strains, CXCR4 strains are generally more resistant to bnAb that target the V1-V2 apex and V3 N332 glycan, but not the other envelope domains. This association between bnAb sensitivity and co-receptor usage can be leveraged both to develop pre-treatment assays to identify resistant strains, as well as to anticipate potential adverse outcomes with future HIV antibody-based therapeutics.
Expanding Options in House Dust Mite Allergy Immunotherapy: Optimising Individual Patient Outcomes
Authors: Calderón Moisés , Casale Thomas , Zieglmayer Petra , Gevaert Philippe , Demoly Pascal
Published: October 2022

Prof Calderón opened the symposium by noting its overall aim: to improve outcomes in patients with allergic diseases. Currently, patients can wait an average of 8.5 years to see an allergy specialist and this places a significant burden on individuals. Traditional therapeutic management of patients with allergies is suboptimal, and while appropriate use of allergen immunotherapy (AIT) maximises its impact, treatment guidelines are complex.

Prof Zieglmayer explained that house dust mite (HDM) allergy is a global problem. Allergic rhinitis (AR) drives asthma, with the highest risk in children. Symptoms associated with AR and allergic rhino-conjunctivitis can be different in children compared with adults and adolescents. A holistic approach is needed that treats not only the classic symptoms of AR, but also the accompanying physical and mental impairment. It is critical that clinicians gain a greater understanding of the unique burden of AR in order to better treat their patients.

Prof Gevaert emphasised that precision medicine is key to optimising patient outcomes and that advances have been made in this area, particularly with artificial intelligence. For children, the ultimate aim is to achieve an early diagnosis and use precision medicine for early prevention and treatment with AIT. For adults, better help is required with uncontrolled allergic disease. Precision medicine will make use of all available data to help select patients who are most likely to benefit from AIT.

Prof Demoly summarised data from a Phase III randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial that demonstrated the efficacy and safety of a 300IR HDM sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) tablet in adults and adolescents with HDM-associated AR. Concluding, Prof Casale reiterated that AIT is a crucial tool in the therapeutic armamentarium against HDM allergy and should be used for early prevention and early treatment, without delay.
Development of an automated system for temperature monitoring of permofrost at the base of buildings in Salekhard
Authors: Shein A. N. , Filimonov M. Yu. , Vaganova N. A. , Kamnev Ya. K.
Published: October 2022

A system of automatic temperature monitoring of permafrost at the base of capital facilities in Salekhard, which has been developed since 2018 are described in the paper. Together with Kurakov S.A. (Tomsk), thermometric equipment has been developed that allows remote control of registration and transmits soil temperature from wells to the server. A data collection and visualization portal has been created. To process temperature data, a program has been developed for computer modeling of three-dimensional non-stationary thermal fields in the ground in the entire area of the pile foundation, considering the geological structure. The developed software makes it possible to estimate changes in soil temperature under various climate change scenarios. Such estimates allow us to prevent possible emergencies.
Large and Honest COVID-19 Relief: A Subnational Qualitative Comparative Approach with Evidence from Colombia
Authors: Prieto Sanabria Juan
Published: October 2022

Subnational governments played a major role addressing the socioeconomic toll of COVID-19. Still, we know little about why some (but not all) adopted generous social assistance measures, and why some of their interventions were more programmatic than others. Based on in-depth case studies of 23 Colombian cities, this article characterizes governments’ aid measures and employs fsQCA to explain differences. I find that no single factor is necessary or sufficient to produce broad or programmatic relief. Various combinations of structural factors and incentives for mayors’ political action are conducive to both outcomes. Electoral competitiveness and mobilization pushed mayors in wealthier, institutionally stronger cities to provide more aid, while opposition mayors delivered significant relief with more limited resources. Structural factors appear especially important for aid to be programmatic (with one exception). The findings call for a less static understanding of state capacity in the study of social policy and distributive politics.
Справник у системі управління Волинською губернією (кінець ХVІІІ – 1860-ті рр.)
Authors: Shevchuk Andrii , Markevych Oksana
Published: October 2022

Мета статті – висвітлити функціонування інституту справників у Волинській губернії з кінця ХVІІІ ст. і до реформи місцевої поліції 1862 р; охарактеризувати їх повноваження, визначити особливості кадрової політики призначень на цю посаду, охарактеризувати практичну діяльність чиновників.

Наукова новизна – охарактеризовано специфічні завдання справників Волинської губернії, які забезпечували стабільність на новоприєднаних територіях, зроблено аналіз їх кадрового складу та підраховано тривалість перебування на посаді. Зроблено висновки про гнучку кадрову політика верховної влади у регіоні: за потреби здобуття лояльності місцевих еліт надавалася можливість шляхті самостійно формувати корпус справників, у випадку опанування ситуації – центр повертався до бюрократичного принципу.

Висновки: у статті проаналізовано функціонування інституту справників у Волинській губернії ХVІІІ – 60-х рр. ХІХ ст. Розглянуто виконання ними адміністративно-господарських, фіскальних, поліцейських повноважень у повіті й участь у нижньому земському суді. Зазначається, що на відміну від внутрішніх губерній Російської імперії, справники забезпечували ще й політичну стабільність. Верховна влада покладалася на думку справників при визначенні благонадійності шляхти, вони видавали дозволи на виїзд за межі повіту тим полякам, які перебували під слідством, складали звіти про дотримання у польських маєтках інвентарних правил тощо. Справники отримали виняткові повноваження самостійно викликати війська для придушення виступів.

Враховуючи значимість повноважень справників, верховна влада лише у критичних випадках дозволяла виборність посадовців, що ставило їх у залежність від місцевої знаті (1802-1805, 1816-1823). У решти періоди корпус справників формувався за бюрократичним принципом. Вершиною для чиновників був чин титулярного радника, за службу вони нагороджувалися орденами. Традиційними були їх ротації між повітами. Після польського Листопадового повстання шляхта втратила можливість обіймати цю посаду, а остаточне рішення про призначення перейшло до Міністерства внутрішніх справ. На цю посаду стали призначатись військові у відставці, які, на думку влади, могли найліпше впоратись із завданнями нагляду за поляками. Натомість швидко проявилась їх невміння виконувати адміністративно-господарські повноваження, вести діловодство тощо. Колишні військові розглядали службу як можливість швидко та незаконно збагатитися, що зводило нанівець намагання верховної влади пришвидшити інтеграцію краю.
Польські історико-географічні студії у рецепції авторів часопису «Kwartalnik historyczny» (кінець XIX – початок XX ст.)
Authors: Lazurko Lidiia , Hubytskyy Liubomyr
Published: October 2022

Мета статті – з’ясувати особливості відображення процесу дисциплінарного становлення історичної географії на сторінках часопису «Kwartalnik Historyczny» протягом кінця ХІХ – початку ХХ ст.

Наукова новизна дослідження полягає у тому, що вперше на основі історіографічних матеріалів (досліджень, рецензій, дискусій) здійснено аналіз представлення на сторінках часопису «Kwartalnik Historyczny» історико-географічних проблем, обговорюваних у польській науці наприкінці XIX – початку XX ст.

Висновки. На сторінках часопису «Kwartalnik Historyczny» наприкінці XIX – початку XX ст. активно обговорювались питання історичної географії, головно, у контексті проблем становлення цієї історичної дисципліни. Найперше, на чому акцентували автори часопису, було обговорення завдань історико-географічних досліджень, методів їх провадження та з’ясування місця історичної географії у системі історичної науки. Ми бачимо представлення дуже широкого спектру зацікавлень авторів видання – від обговорення теоретичних підстав нової історичної дисципліни до оцінки науково-популярних видань, що містили інформацію з історичної географії. Прикметною рисою критичних оглядів, публікованих на сторінках часопису «Kwartalnik Historyczny», була зорієнтованість на високі наукові стандарти історіописання та ознайомлення читачів з актуальними європейськими науковими дослідженнями, що також не заважало обговорювати питання історичної географії у контексті актуальних політичних проблем розділеної Польщі.
PENGUATAN INTERPRETASI SASTRA BACA PUISI DAN PROSA BERBASIS DIGITAL
Authors: M. Arifin Zaidin  , Welly Santiung  , Ahmad Sigit  , Aminuddin Langke
Published: October 2022

Di Kecamatan Bontoa terdapat tiga sekolah menengah atas, yakni MA Swasta Al- Wasi Bontoa, MA Swasta DDI Camba dan SMA Negeri 6 Maros. Sekolah Menengah Atas Negeri 6 yang terletak di jalan Pendidikan No. 20 Kecamatan Bontoa Kabupaten Maros menjadi sasaran kegiatan Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat (PkM) dengan jumlah siswa kurang 350 dan guru 30 orang. Pada proses belajar mengajar di Sekolah Menengah Atas Negeri 6 Kabupaten Maros menerapkan kurikulum 13 (K13) yang terintegrasi semua mata ajar yang menjadi perioritas pelajaksanaan pembelajaran di sekolah. Pembelajaran sastra di sekolah menjadi sangat penting karena peserta didik harus terus menerus ditingkatkan kualitasnya untuk menyelami isi sastra yang terkandung didalamnya dan mengeksplorasi pengalaman sastra melalui kreativitas baca puisi dan prosa (cerpen). Puisi adalah bentuk karya sastra yang mengungkapkan pikiran dan perasaan penyair secara imajinatif dan disusun dengan mengkonsentrasikan semua kekuatan bahasa dengan pengkonsentrasian struktur fisik dan struktur batinnya. Cerpen adalah sebuat cerita yang selesai dibaca dalam sekali duduk. Kira-kira berkisar antara setengah jam atau dua jam, suatu hal yang tak mungkin dilakukan untuk sebuah novel.Interpretasi sastra lebih konsentrasi pada gay baca puisi dan prosa berbasis digitalisasi. Metode yang digunakan dalam PkM Skema Dosen adalah metode visual, auditory dan taktil) (lihat-dengar-komentar). Hasil PkM Skema Dosen, yakni para peserta dapat menginterpretasi gaya baca puisi W.S. Rendra, Gus Mus, dan Samawi Imron, dan gaya baca cerpen Dian Sostrowardodjo, Abimana, dan Delvy Tiana Rosa. Interpretasi gaya baca puisi dan cerpen pun dilibatkan guru Bahasa dan sastra Indonesia.
PENGEMBANGAN POTENSI DAN KESEJAHTERAAN WARGA DESA TEGAL MELALUI PENINGKATAN KUALITAS KESEHATAN DAN LINGKUNGAN
Authors: Dra. Lintang Patria, M.Kom
Published: October 2022

Salah satu Tri Darma Perguruan Tinggi adalah melakukan kegiatan pengabdian kepada masyarakat. Dengan kegiatan pengabdian kepada masyarakat, perguruan tinggi secara langsung berpartisipasi dalam meningkatkan kualitas masyarakat. Fakultas Sains dan Teknologi Universitas Terbuka berperan aktif dalam meningkatkan kualitas masyarakat dengan melakukan kegiatan penyuluhan dalam bidang kesehatan dan lingkungan di desa Tegal, Kecamatan Kemang, Kabupaten Bogor. Desa ini dipilih karena lokasinya tidak jauh dari Universitas Terbuka, dan desa ini memerlukan bantuan untuk meningkatkan kualitas kesejahteraannya. Pada tahun 2021, FST UT melaksanakan berbagai kegiatan peningkatan kualitas kesehatan di SD Tegal III dan di sebuah kegiatan kemasyarakatan. Kegiatan tersebut adalah penyuluhan Covid19, penyuluhan kesehatan gigi dan mulut, revitalisasi kantin dan penyuluhan majalah dinding. Kegiatan telah berjalan dengan baik dan mitra merasa terbantu dengan kegiatan ini.
Allelopathic potential and competitive traits of sweetpotato cultivars
Authors: Werle Isabel S. , Noguera Matheus M. , Karaikal Srikanth K. , Carvalho-Moore Pamela , Kouame Koffi Badou-Jeremie , Tseng Te-Ming , Roma-Burgos Nilda
Published: October 2022

Allelopathy and competition are components of plant-plant interactions, delimiting the level of interference. Understanding this interaction has practical applications in agriculture. Crop cultivars possessing high allelopathic ability and competitive traits are themselves tools for sustainable weed management, enabling reduced use of herbicides. Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to assess the weed suppressive ability of selected sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.) cultivars. The effect of nine cultivars on Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson), junglerice (Echinochloa colona L.), and hemp sesbania (Sesbania hederacea P. Mill.) was first evaluated in the greenhouse. The experiment was set up in a completely randomized design with four replications and conducted twice. Sweetpotatoes were cultured in sand. The target weeds were seeded in pots filled with a 2:1 mix of field soil:potting mix and watered with 100-ml aliquot of sweetpotato root leachates once every 2 d. Weed height and shoot biomass were measured. ‘Heartogold’, ‘Centennial’, and ‘Stokes Purple’ were the most allelopathic cultivars. Junglerice was most inhibited by sweetpotato leachates. Nine cultivars were evaluated in the field. Experiments were conducted at Fayetteville and Kibler, Arkansas, USA, in a split-plot design, with weed infestation (broadleaf spp., grass spp., or weed-free) as whole plot and the cultivars as split-plot. Across locations, ‘Beauregard-14’ had the longest vines, whereas ‘Hatteras’ and ‘Heartogold’ had the tallest canopy. ‘Heartogold’ had the largest leaf area. This cultivar reduced weed biomass 2- to 4-fold in both locations. Yield was reduced on average 55 and 68% with grass and broadleaf weeds across locations, respectively. ‘Beauregard-14’ and ‘Bayou Belle-6’were the high-yielding cultivars in Kibler and Fayetteville. The highest yielding cultivars were not the most weed suppressive but did not incur the highest yield loss from weed competition, indicating the ability to withstand weed interference. Cultivar competitiveness, weed-suppressive ability, and weed tolerance are important factors that should be considered before making a cultivar selection.
Cinnamaldehyde-modified chitosan hybrid nanoparticles for DOX delivering to produce synergistic anti-tumor effects
Authors: Zhou Zuoqin , Wang Caiyun , Bai Jingqi , Zeng Zihan , Yang Xiaoyu , Wei Bing , Yang Zheng
Published: October 2022

Cancer cells are under oxidative stress associated with the increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Therefore, increasing the oxidative stress of tumor cells by delivering ROS generators is an effective strategy to induce apoptosis of cancer cells. Herein, we reported a hybrid nanoparticle based on lactobionic acid (LA) modified chitosan and cinnamaldehyde (CA) modified chitosan, which possesses both active tumor-targeting ability and ROS regulation ability, in order to have a synergistic effect with the anti-tumor drug doxorubicin (DOX). LA can improve the tumor-targeting ability and cellular accumulation of these nanoparticles, and CA can induce apoptotic cell death through ROS generation, mitochondrial permeability transition and caspase activation. The particle size and distribution as well as drug release profiles of these nanoparticles were observed. In vitro and in vivo antitumor studies demonstrated that the hybrid nanoparticles show a significant synergistic antitumor effect. Thus, we anticipate that the hybrid nanoparticles have promising potential as an anticancer drug carrier.
Causal associations between disorders of lipoprotein metabolism and ten cardiovascular diseases
Authors: Gao Qiannan , Tan Jiang-Shan , Fan Luyun , Wang Xiaoqi , Hua Lu , Cai Jun
Published: October 2022

Disorders of lipoprotein metabolism have been linked with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) but the causal association is unclear. In this study, we investigated the causal association between disorders of lipoprotein metabolism and CVDs using two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR). The exposure was obtained from Finn genome-wide association studies (14,010 cases, 197,259 controls), and the corresponding CVDs were extracted from the largest published genome-wide association studies. A random-effects inverse-variance weighted method was used for the main analyses with a complementary analysis using the weighted median and MR-Egger approaches. Multiple sensitivity analyses were performed to assess horizontal pleiotropy. The MR analysis indicated positive associations of disorders of lipoprotein metabolism with coronary artery disease (odds ratio [OR] 1.670, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.373–2.031; p < 0.001), aortic aneurysm (OR 1.394, 95% CI 1.199–1.619; p < 0.001), heart failure (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.115–1.294; p < 0.001), hypertension (OR 1.011, 95% CI 1.006–1.091; p < 0.001), old myocardial infarction (OR 1.004, 95% CI 1.002–1.007; p = 0.001), and stroke (OR 1.002, 95% CI 1.001–1.003; p = 0.002). There is a suggestive causal relationship between disorders of lipoprotein metabolism and atrial fibrillation (OR 1.047, 95% CI 1.006–1.091; p = 0.026) and acute myocardial infarction (OR 1.003, 95% CI 1.001–1.005; p = 0.012). There was limited evidence of a causal association between disorders of lipoprotein metabolism and peripheral vascular disease and venous thromboembolism. Our findings indicate a significant causal association between disorders of lipoprotein metabolism and many CVDs, including coronary artery disease, aortic aneurysm, heart failure, hypertension, old myocardial infarction, and stroke. These associations may be useful for development of treatment strategies that regulate lipoprotein metabolism in patients with CVD.
Vitronectin-based hydrogels recapitulate neuroblastoma growth conditions
Authors: Monferrer Ezequiel , Dobre Oana , Trujillo Sara , González Oliva Mariana Azevedo , Trubert-Paneli Alexandre , Acevedo-León Delia , Noguera Rosa , Salmeron-Sanchez Manuel
Published: October 2022

The tumor microenvironment plays an important role in cancer development and the use of 3D in vitro systems that decouple different elements of this microenvironment is critical for the study of cancer progression. In neuroblastoma (NB), vitronectin (VN), an extracellular matrix protein, has been linked to poor prognosis and appears as a promising therapeutic target. Here, we developed hydrogels that incorporate VN into 3D polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogel networks to recapitulate the native NB microenvironment. The stiffness of the VN/PEG hydrogels was modulated to be comparable to the in vivo values reported for NB tissue samples. We used SK-N-BE (2) NB cells to demonstrate that PEGylated VN promotes cell adhesion as the native protein does. Furthermore, the PEGylation of VN allows its crosslinking into the hydrogel network, providing VN retention within the hydrogels that support viable cells in 3D. Confocal imaging and ELISA assays indicate that cells secrete VN also in the hydrogels and continue to reorganize their 3D environment. Overall, the 3D VN-based PEG hydrogels recapitulate the complexity of the native tumor extracellular matrix, showing that VN-cell interaction plays a key role in NB aggressiveness, and that VN could potentially be targeted in preclinical drug studies performed on the presented hydrogels.
Extrapolating the susceptibility of Eld’s deer (Rucervus eldii thamin) to chronic wasting disease from prion protein gene (PRNP) polymorphisms
Authors: Perrin-Stowe Tolulope I.N. , Ishida Yasuko , Reed Dolores M. , Terrill Emily E. , Ryder Oliver A. , Novakofski Jan E. , Mateus-Pinilla Nohra E. , Pukazhenthi Budhan S. , Roca Alfred L.
Published: October 2022

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a prion disease of North American cervids. The transmission of CWD to endangered cervid species is of concern for captive breeding programs. Trans-species transmission could occur via direct contact with infected wild deer, or via prion contaminated fomites. Variation in the prion protein gene, PRNP, is associated with differences in CWD susceptibility among cervids. We therefore sequenced PRNP in 36 endangered Eld’s deer (Rucervus eldii thamin), detecting five synonymous and two non-synonymous SNPs. Three haplotypes were inferred, suggesting that genetic management in captive breeding programs has been effective at maintaining PRNP diversity. The haplotypes encoded two PrP protein variants. The more common Eld’s deer PrP variant encodes methionine at codon 208 and glutamine at codon 226. Because this protein variant is identical to a common PrP variant in white-tailed deer and mule deer and is especially common in white-tailed deer positive for CWD, we recommend reducing the frequency of this variant in the breeding stock, while implementing strict management practices to avoid exposure to wild North American cervids. The frequency of the other PrP variant, which differs from variants present in these North American cervids, was low. It has the potential to reduce susceptibility to CWD and thus could be increased in frequency. While PRNP haplotype frequencies should be shifted, genetic diversity should be maintained. Ultimately protein diversity may be protective should CWD infect the species, and trans-species polymorphisms are suggestive of past balancing selection and a potential fitness advantage for PRNP diversity.
Infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in children with congenital heart disease: A case series study during Shanghai epidemic
Authors: Yang Yinyu , Wu Yibei , Zhang Wen , Cao Qing , Zhang Haibo , Zhang Hao , Dong Wei
Published: October 2022

Objective

To analyze the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant infections in children with congenital heart disease (CHD).

Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed on SARS-CoV-2 Omicron-infected children with CHD who were admitted to Shanghai Children's Medical Center from April 1, 2022 to May 31, 2022. The clinical, laboratory and imaging data, and the nucleic acid conversion time of the children in this group were collected and analyzed.

Results

Thirteen patients were included in this study and had an average age of 1.1 (0.16–14) years. Among the patients, 3 patients were preoperatively treated, and 10 were postoperatively treated. According to the severity of the disease, 1 patient was diagnosed with the moderate type, and the remaining 12 patients were diagnosed with the mild type. The clinical symptoms were mostly associated with upper respiratory tract infections, including 13 with fever (100%), 8 with cough (61.8%), 5 with sputum production (38.5%), 1 of shortness of breath (7.7%), etc. All patients were successfully discharged from the hospital, with 16.4 ± 2.9 days needed to obtain cycle threshold (CT) values ≥35 in nucleic acid testing and 17.5 ± 3.6 days of hospitalization.

Conclusions

For vulnerable patients such as children with CHD, SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infections mostly present with mild upper respiratory tract symptoms with negative or mildly changed chest imaging. Through appropriate treatment of the underlying disease in the quarantine ward, patients might obtain good outcomes, even after long periods of hospitalization.
Serum peptidomic screening identified circulating peptide biomarkers predictive for preeclampsia
Authors: Zhao Shenglong , Yin Chenghong , Zhai Yanhong , Jia Zhaoxia , Su Shaofei , Lu Yifan , Meng Lanlan , Li Chunbo , Liu Xiang , Cong Yuting , Li Youran , Liu Ying , Chen Lu , Wang Jing , Xu Zhengwen , Zheng Yuanyuan , Sun Zhi , Luo Ruben Y. , Yu Xiaobo , Yang He S. , Liu Xiaowei , Zhao Zhen , Cao Zheng
Published: October 2022

Background

Reliable biomarkers are needed to improve preeclampsia (PE) prediction accuracy. With the investigational tool of peptidomics, we aimed to identify and validate potential serum peptide biomarkers in cohorts suspected for PE development in middle or late pregnancy.

Methods

Totally 195 serum samples were prospectively collected from pregnant women with PE-related syndromes who were followed up for PE development until delivery. Serum peptidomic analysis was performed in the discovery cohort of 115 samples using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight coupled with Linear Trap Quadropole Orbitrap mass spectrometry. The candidate biomarkers were further validated using an in-house developed liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method in an independent validation cohort of 80 serum samples.

Results

We identified 8 peptides that were differentially expressed and originated from fibrinogen alpha chain (FGA), inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H4 (ITIH4) and complement component 3. In the subsequent LC-MS/MS quantitation analysis, the levels of the three peptides (FGA-1033.4, ITIH4-2026.9, ITIH4-2051.1) exhibited a significant difference between the PE-positive and PE-negative groups. Further, the three-peptide panel yielded an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.985 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.965–1.000] and 0.923 (95% CI 0.845–1.000) in the discovery and validation cohorts respectively, with negative predictive values of 98.1–98.8% and positive predictive values of 73.1–85.3% that were much improved when compared with that of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1/placental growth factor (sFlt-1/PlGF) ratio.

Conclusions

We have discovered and validated a novel three-peptide biomarker panel predictive for the occurrence PE in pregnant women.
Effect of exercise training on cardiac mitochondrial respiration, biogenesis, dynamics, and mitophagy in ischemic heart disease
Authors: Viloria Mary Audrey D. , Li Qing , Lu Wang , Nhu Nguyen Thanh , Liu Yijie , Cui Zhen-Yang , Cheng Yu-Jung , Lee Shin-Da
Published: October 2022

Objective

Cardiac mitochondrial dysfunction was found in ischemic heart disease (IHD). Hence, this study determined the effects of exercise training (ET) on cardiac mitochondrial respiration and cardiac mitochondrial quality control in IHD.

Methods

A narrative synthesis was conducted after searching animal studies written in English in three databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE) until December 2020. Studies that used aerobic exercise as an intervention for at least 3 weeks and had at least normal, negative (sedentary IHD), and positive (exercise-trained IHD) groups were included. The CAMARADES checklist was used to check the quality of the included studies.

Results

The 10 included studies (CAMARADES score: 6–7/10) used swimming or treadmill exercise for 3–8 weeks. Seven studies showed that ET ameliorated cardiac mitochondrial respiratory function as manifested by decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and increased complexes I-V activity, superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), respiratory control ratio (RCR), NADH dehydrogenase subunits 1 and 6 (ND1/6), Cytochrome B (CytB), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. Ten studies showed that ET improved cardiac mitochondrial quality control in IHD as manifested by enhanced and/or controlled mitochondrial biogenesis, dynamics, and mitophagy. Four other studies showed that ET resulted in better cardiac mitochondrial physiological characteristics.

Conclusion

Exercise training could improve cardiac mitochondrial functions, including respiration, biogenesis, dynamics, and mitophagy in IHD.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=226817, identifier: CRD42021226817.
Emerging computational paradigms to address the complex role of gut microbial metabolism in cardiovascular diseases
Authors: Aminian-Dehkordi Javad , Valiei Amin , Mofrad Mohammad R. K.
Published: October 2022

The human gut microbiota and its associated perturbations are implicated in a variety of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). There is evidence that the structure and metabolic composition of the gut microbiome and some of its metabolites have mechanistic associations with several CVDs. Nevertheless, there is a need to unravel metabolic behavior and underlying mechanisms of microbiome-host interactions. This need is even more highlighted when considering that microbiome-secreted metabolites contributing to CVDs are the subject of intensive research to develop new prevention and therapeutic techniques. In addition to the application of high-throughput data used in microbiome-related studies, advanced computational tools enable us to integrate omics into different mathematical models, including constraint-based models, dynamic models, agent-based models, and machine learning tools, to build a holistic picture of metabolic pathological mechanisms. In this article, we aim to review and introduce state-of-the-art mathematical models and computational approaches addressing the link between the microbiome and CVDs.
Clinical manifestations and associated factors in acquired hypoaldosteronism in endocrinological practice
Authors: Ruiz-Sánchez Jorge Gabriel , Calle-Pascual Alfonso Luis , Rubio-Herrera Miguel Ángel , De Miguel Novoa María Paz , Gómez-Hoyos Emilia , Runkle Isabelle
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Hypoaldosteronism can be congenital or acquired, isolated or part of primary adrenal insufficiency, and caused by an aldosterone deficit, resistance, or a combination of both. Reduced mineralocorticoid action can induce a decrease in urine K+ and H+ excretion and an increase in urine Na+ excretion, leading to hyperkalemia, and/or hyponatremia, often combined with metabolic acidosis. We aimed to characterize the clinical manifestations of hypoaldosteronism, and their associated factors.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of 112 episodes of hypoaldosteronism diagnosed in 86 adult patients from 2012-2019 by the Endocrinology and Nutrition Department of a tertiary hospital. The frequency of hyperkalemia, hypovolemic hyponatremia (HH) and metabolic acidosis (MA), and their associated factors were evaluated.

Results

Patients had a median age of 77 [65 – 84], 55.4% were male. 94.6% cases showed hyperkalemia, 54.5% HH, and 60.3% MA. The mean serum K+ of all cases was 5.4 ± 0.5 mmol/L, Na+: 132.1 ± 6.3 mmol/L, HCO3: 22.6 ± 3.3 mmol/L. Hypoaldosteronism was isolated in the majority of cases: only 6/112 (5%) had primary adrenal insufficiency. Hypovolemia was associated with hyponatremia and a more florid clinical presentation. HH was associated with a combined presence of aldosterone-lowering and mineralocorticoid resistance factors. MA was associated with the presence of mineralocorticoid resistance factors.

Conclusions

Hypoaldosteronism in adult endocrinological clinical practice is primarily isolated, and acquired. It predisposes not only to the development of hyperkalemia and MA, but also to that of HH. Hypoaldosteronism must be considered in the differential diagnosis of HH with urinary sodium wasting.
IOT based classification of transformer faults using emerging techniques of E-nose and ANFIS
Authors: Equbal Md. Danish , Nezami Md. Manzar , Hashem Hythem , Bajaj Mohit , Khurshaid Tahir , Ghoneim Sherif S. M. , Kamel Salah
Published: October 2022

E-Nose finds its use in a wide range of applications such as quality assessment in food processing to toxic gas identification in chemical industry either in the offline or online mode. Their usage can be extended to transformer condition monitoring in the online mode. Considering the importance of transformers in power system and the impact it could create if faults in them are unidentified or left unattended, their functioning should be monitored on a real time basis. This work, describes the realization of a prospective E-Nose for online transformer incipient fault identification. The resistive gas sensor array has been simulated in real time using variable resistances forming one arm of a Wheatstone bridges. Separate variable resistances have been calibrated using characteristics of different fault gas sensors. The sensor array of the E-Nose helps to identify the transformer fault gases resulting from an incipient fault condition at the nascent stage itself and prompts for the necessary corrective action well before a catastrophic situation arises. Furthermore, ANFIS model of the Duval’s Triangle (DT) method have been developed to facilitate the online classification of incipient faults. The ANFIS models of other popularly used incipient fault interpretation methods, reported in earlier works, have also been used for a comparative analysis on their diagnostic capabilities. The developed model has been tested using the fault cases of IEC-TC10 fault database and the results thus obtained have been found to be very promising.
Does central environmental inspection promote the industrial structure upgrading in China? An attention-based view
Authors: Wang Biying , Ma Chunhao , Wu Jianzu
Published: October 2022

While central environmental inspection (CEI), a sort of campaign-style enforcement, has been adopted in China to tackle environmental issues, it is unclear if the CEI has promoted industrial structure upgrading. Based on a sample of 279 cities from 2011 to 2018 in China, this study investigates the impact of CEI on industrial structure upgrading and its intrinsic mechanism using the difference-in-differences approach (DID). The results reveal that 1) CEI significantly promoted industrial structure upgrading. 2) Local government environmental attention played a mediating role between CEI and industrial structure upgrading. 3) Heterogeneity analysis revealed that the effect of CEI on industrial structure upgrading differed significantly with regional discrepancies and the officials’ promotion motivation. Specifically, the CEI had greater effects on the eastern region and those cities whose officials have a strong promotion motivation. This study indicates that the central government should continue to promote routine inspection, special inspection, and look-back mechanism construction, thus enhancing the sustainability of the industrial structure upgrading effect. Overall, this study contributes to industrial structure upgrading theoretical research and offers useful insights into the environmental governance of emerging countries.
Biodiversity outcomes of nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation: Characterising the evidence base
Authors: Key Isabel B. , Smith Alison C. , Turner Beth , Chausson Alexandre , Girardin Cécile A. J. , Macgillivray Megan , Seddon Nathalie
Published: October 2022

Nature-based solutions (NbS) are increasingly recognised for their potential to address both the climate and biodiversity crises. Both these outcomes rely on the capacity of NbS to support and enhance the health of an ecosystem: its biodiversity, the condition of its abiotic and biotic elements, and its capacity to continue to function despite environmental change. However, while understanding of ecosystem health outcomes of NbS for climate change mitigation has developed in recent years, the outcomes of those implemented for adaptation remain poorly understood. To address this, we systematically reviewed the outcomes of 109 nature-based interventions for climate change adaptation using 33 indicators of ecosystem health across eight broad categories (e.g., diversity, biomass, ecosystem composition). We showed that 88% of interventions with reported positive outcomes for climate change adaptation also reported benefits for ecosystem health. We also showed that interventions were associated with a 67% average increase in species richness. All eight studies that reported benefits for both climate change mitigation and adaptation also supported ecosystem health, leading to a “triple win.” However, there were also trade-offs, mainly for forest management and creation of novel ecosystems such as monoculture plantations of non-native species. Our review highlights two key limitations in our understanding of the outcomes of NbS for ecosystem health. First, a limited selection of metrics are used and these rarely include key aspects such as functional diversity and habitat connectivity. Second, taxonomic coverage is limited: 50% of interventions only had evidence for effects on plants, and 57% of outcomes did not distinguish between native and non-native species. We make suggestions of how to improve assessments of the ecosystem health outcomes of NbS, as well as policy recommendations to enable the upscaling of NbS that support flourishing and resilient ecosystems, and are effective in addressing both climate and biodiversity goals.
Disaster assessment using computer vision and satellite imagery: Applications in detecting water-related building damages
Authors: Kim Danu , Won Jeongkyung , Lee Eunji , Park Kyung Ryul , Kim Jihee , Park Sangyoon , Yang Hyunjoo , Cha Meeyoung
Published: October 2022

The increasing frequency and severity of water-related disasters such as floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and tsunamis in low- and middle-income countries exemplify the uneven effects of global climate change. The vulnerability of high-risk societies to natural disasters has continued to increase. To develop an effective and efficient adaptation strategy, local damage assessments must be timely, exhaustive, and accurate. We propose a novel deep-learning-based solution that uses pairs of pre- and post-disaster satellite images to identify water-related disaster-affected regions. The model extracts features of pre- and post-disaster images and uses the feature difference with them to predict damage in the pair. We demonstrate that the model can successfully identify local destruction using less granular and less complex ground-truth data than those used by previous segmentation models. When tested with various water-related disasters, our detection model reported an accuracy of 85.9% in spotting areas with damaged buildings. It also achieved a reliable performance of 80.3% in out-of-domain settings. Our deep learning-based damage assessment model can help direct resources to areas most vulnerable to climate disasters, reducing their impacts while promoting adaptive capacities for climate-resilient development in the most vulnerable regions.
Life-history traits drive spatial genetic structuring in Dinaric cave spiders
Authors: Pavlek Martina , Gauthier Jérémy , Tonzo Vanina , Bilat Julia , Arnedo Miquel A. , Alvarez Nadir
Published: October 2022

The subterranean ecosystem exerts strong selection pressures on the organisms that thrive in it. In response, obligate cave-dwellers have developed a series of morphological, physiological, and behavioral adaptations, such as eye reduction, appendage elongation, low metabolic rates or intermittent activity patterns, collectively referred to as troglomorphism. Traditionally, studies on cave organisms have been hampered by the difficulty of sampling (i.e., small population sizes, temporal heterogeneity in specimen occurrence, challenges imposed by the difficult-to-access nature of caves). Here, we circumvent this limitation by implementing a museomics approach. Specifically, we aim at comparing the genetic population structures of five cave spider species demonstrating contrasting life histories and levels of troglomorphism across different caves in the northern Dinarides (Balkans, Europe). We applied a genome-wide hybridization-capture approach (i.e., HyRAD) to capture DNA from 117 historical samples. By comparing the population genetic structures among five species and by studying isolation by distance, we identified deeper population structuring and more pronounced patterns of isolation by distance in the highly troglomorphic Parastalita stygia and Stalita pretneri ground dwellers, while the three web-building Troglohyphantes species, two of which can occasionally be found in surface habitats, showed less structured populations compatible with higher dispersal ability. The spatial distribution of genetic groups revealed common phylogeographic breaks among lineages across the studied species, which hint at the importance of environmental features in driving dispersal potential and shaping underground diversity.
Global population genetics and diversity in the TAS2R bitter taste receptor family
Authors: Wooding Stephen P. , Ramirez Vicente A.
Published: October 2022

Bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs) are noted for their role in perception, and mounting evidence suggests that they mediate responses to compounds entering airways, gut, and other tissues. The importance of these roles suggests that TAS2Rs have been under pressure from natural selection. To determine the extent of variation in TAS2Rs on a global scale and its implications for human evolution and behavior, we analyzed patterns of diversity in the complete 25 gene repertoire of human TAS2Rs in ∼2,500 subjects representing worldwide populations. Across the TAS2R family as a whole, we observed 721 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) including 494 nonsynonymous SNPs along with 40 indels and gained and lost start and stop codons. In addition, computational predictions identified 169 variants particularly likely to affect receptor function, making them candidate sources of phenotypic variation. Diversity levels ranged widely among loci, with the number of segregating sites ranging from 17 to 41 with a mean of 32 among genes and per nucleotide heterozygosity (π) ranging from 0.02% to 0.36% with a mean of 0.12%. FST ranged from 0.01 to 0.26 with a mean of 0.13, pointing to modest differentiation among populations. Comparisons of observed π and FST values with their genome wide distributions revealed that most fell between the 5th and 95th percentiles and were thus consistent with expectations. Further, tests for natural selection using Tajima’s D statistic revealed only two loci departing from expectations given D’s genome wide distribution. These patterns are consistent with an overall relaxation of selective pressure on TAS2Rs in the course of recent human evolution.
Lactobacillus johnsonii YH1136 plays a protective role against endogenous pathogenic bacteria induced intestinal dysfunction by reconstructing gut microbiota in mice exposed at high altitude
Authors: Wan Zhiqiang , Zhang Xufei , Jia Xianhao , Qin Yuhua , Sun Ning , Xin Jinge , Zeng Yan , Jing Bo , Fang Jing , Pan Kangcheng , Zeng Dong , Bai Yang , Wang Hesong , Ma Hailin , Ni Xueqin
Published: October 2022

Background

Intestinal microbiota plays an important role in maintaining the microecological balance of the gastrointestinal tract in various animals. Disturbances in the intestinal microbiota may lead to the proliferation of potentially pathogenic bacteria that become the dominant species, leading to intestinal immune disorders, intestinal inflammation, and other intestinal diseases. Numerous studies have been confirmed that high-altitude exposure affects the normal function of the intestine and the composition of the intestinal microbiota. However, it is still necessary to reveal the changes in intestinal microbiota in high-altitude exposure environments, and clarify the relationship between the proliferation of potentially pathogenic bacteria and intestinal injury in this environment. In addition, explored probiotics that may have preventive effects against intestinal diseases.

Methods and results

C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups, a high-altitude group (HA), control group (C), and high-altitude probiotic group (HAP). The HA and HAP groups were subjected to hypoxia modeling for 14 days in a low-pressure oxygen chamber with daily gavage of 0.2 mL of normal saline (HA) and Lactobacillus johnsonii YH1136 bacterial fluid (HAP), while the control group was fed normally. L. johnsonii YH1136 was isolated from feces of a healthy Tibetan girl in Baingoin county, the Nagqu region of the Tibet Autonomous Region, at an altitude of 5000 meters. Our observations revealed that gavage of YH1136 was effective in improving the damage to the intestinal barrier caused by high-altitude exposure to hypoxic environments and helped to reduce the likelihood of pathogenic bacteria infection through the intestinal barrier. It also positively regulates the intestinal microbiota to the extent of Lactobacillus being the dominant microbiome and reducing the number of pathogenic bacteria. By analyzing the expression profile of ileal microRNAs and correlation analysis with intestinal microbiota, we found that Staphylococcus and Corynebacterium1 cooperated with miR-196a-1-3p and miR-3060-3p, respectively, to play a regulatory role in the process of high-altitude hypoxia-induced intestinal injury.

Conclusion

These findings revealed the beneficial effect of L. johnsonii YH1136 in preventing potential endogenous pathogenic bacteria-induced intestinal dysfunction in high-altitude environments. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of intestinal injury from the perspective of the gut microbiota as well as miRNAs.