bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Histone demethylase AMX-1 is necessary for proper sensitivity to interstrand crosslink DNA damage
Authors: Zhang Xiaojuan , Tian Sisi , Beese-Sims Sara E. , Chen Jingjie , Shin Nara , Colaiácovo Monica P. , Kim Hyun-Min
Published: July 2021

Histone methylation is dynamically regulated to shape the epigenome and adjust central nuclear processes including transcription, cell cycle control and DNA repair. Lysine-specific histone demethylase 2 (LSD2) has been implicated in multiple types of human cancers. However, its functions remain poorly understood. This study investigated the histone demethylase LSD2 homolog AMX-1 in C. elegans and uncovered a potential link between H3K4me2 modulation and DNA interstrand crosslink (ICL) repair. AMX-1 is a histone demethylase and mainly localizes to embryonic cells, the mitotic gut and sheath cells. Lack of AMX-1 expression resulted in embryonic lethality, a decreased brood size and disorganized premeiotic tip germline nuclei. Expression of AMX-1 and of the histone H3K4 demethylase SPR-5 is reciprocally up-regulated upon lack of each other and the mutants show increased H3K4me2 levels in the germline, indicating that AMX-1 and SPR-5 regulate H3K4me2 demethylation. Loss of AMX-1 function activates the CHK-1 kinase acting downstream of ATR and leads to the accumulation of RAD-51 foci and increased DNA damage-dependent apoptosis in the germline. AMX-1 is required for the proper expression of mismatch repair component MutL/MLH-1 and sensitivity against ICLs. Interestingly, formation of ICLs lead to ubiquitination-dependent subcellular relocalization of AMX-1. Taken together, our data suggest that AMX-1 functions in ICL repair in the germline.
Previous exposure to dengue virus is associated with increased Zika virus burden at the maternal-fetal interface in rhesus macaques
Authors: Crooks Chelsea M. , Weiler Andrea M. , Rybarczyk Sierra L. , Bliss Mason I. , Jaeger Anna S. , Murphy Megan E. , Simmons Heather A. , Mejia Andres , Fritsch Michael K. , Hayes Jennifer M. , Eickhoff Jens C. , Mitzey Ann M. , Razo Elaina , Braun Katarina M. , Brown Elizabeth A. , Yamamoto Keisuke , Shepherd Phoenix M. , Possell Amber , Weaver Kara , Antony Kathleen M. , Morgan Terry K. , Newman Christina M. , Dudley Dawn M. , Schultz-Darken Nancy , Peterson Eric , Katzelnick Leah C. , Balmaseda Angel , Harris Eva , O’Connor David H. , Mohr Emma L. , Golos Thaddeus G. , Friedrich Thomas C. , Aliota Matthew T.
Published: July 2021

Concerns have arisen that pre-existing immunity to dengue virus (DENV) could enhance Zika virus (ZIKV) disease, due to the homology between ZIKV and DENV and the observation of antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) among DENV serotypes. To date, no study has examined the impact of pre-existing DENV immunity on ZIKV pathogenesis during pregnancy in a translational non-human primate model. Here we show that macaques with a prior DENV-2 exposure had a higher burden of ZIKV vRNA in maternal-fetal interface tissues as compared to DENV-naive macaques. However, pre-existing DENV immunity had no detectable impact on ZIKV replication kinetics in maternal plasma, and all pregnancies progressed to term without adverse outcomes or gross fetal abnormalities detectable at delivery. Understanding the risks of ADE to pregnant women worldwide is critical as vaccines against DENV and ZIKV are developed and licensed and as DENV and ZIKV continue to circulate.
Multiple drivers of ecological change in Arctic lakes and ponds
Authors: Gajewski Konrad
Published: July 2021

Griffiths et al. (2017) analyzed several ponds and lakes from the Cape Herschel region of Ellesmere Island in order to “…explicitly examine the role of ice cover as the dominant driver of diatom assemblage change…”. I reanalyze their data and suggest that their classification scheme, that they propose is due to differences in ice cover seasonality (“warm”, “cool”, “cold”, and “oasis”), is confounded with other morphological and chemical variables that better explain the differences between the groups. The “cold” sites are the deepest (lakes) and differ from the small, shallow ponds that occasionally dry, which would therefore have different diatom assemblages and histories. The “oasis” sites are nutrient enriched and probably have more stable water supplies, thereby enabling an aquatic flora providing habitats for diatoms. A key part of their interpretation is that “warm” sites have responded more rapidly to recent climate change than “cold” or “cool” sites, but their chronologies do not allow for such a conclusion. There is no clear difference between “cool” and “warm” sites, and problems in dating the sequences means inferences about their histories are not supported by data. Their results, which are restricted to the past century, are contradicted by a Holocene sequence from the region.
The exploratory value of cross-sectional partial correlation networks: Predicting relationships between change trajectories in borderline personality disorder
Authors: von Klipstein Lino , Borsboom Denny , Arntz Arnoud
Published: July 2021

Objective

Within the network approach to psychopathology, cross-sectional partial correlation networks have frequently been used to estimate relationships between symptoms. The resulting relationships have been used to generate hypotheses about causal links between symptoms. In order to justify such exploratory use of partial correlation networks, one needs to assume that the between-subjects relationships in the network approximate systematic within-subjects relationships, which are in turn the results of some within-subjects causal mechanism. If this assumption holds, relationships in the network should be mirrored by relationships between symptom changes; if links in networks approximate systematic within-subject relationships, change in a symptom should relate to change in connected symptoms.

Method

To investigate this implication, we combined longitudinal data on the Borderline Personality Disorder Severity Index from four samples of borderline personality disorder patients (N = 683). We related parameters from baseline partial correlation networks of symptoms to relationships between change trajectories of these symptoms.

Results

Across multiple levels of analysis, our results showed that parameters from baseline partial correlation networks are strongly predictive of relationships between change trajectories.

Conclusions

By confirming its implication, our results support the idea that cross-sectional partial correlation networks hold a relevant amount of information about systematic within-subjects relationships and thereby have exploratory value to generate hypotheses about the causal dynamics between symptoms.
Rapid whole-brain electric field mapping in transcranial magnetic stimulation using deep learning
Authors: Xu Guoping , Rathi Yogesh , Camprodon Joan A. , Cao Hanqiang , Ning Lipeng
Published: July 2021

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive neurostimulation technique that is increasingly used in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders and neuroscience research. Due to the complex structure of the brain and the electrical conductivity variation across subjects, identification of subject-specific brain regions for TMS is important to improve the treatment efficacy and understand the mechanism of treatment response. Numerical computations have been used to estimate the stimulated electric field (E-field) by TMS in brain tissue. But the relative long computation time limits the application of this approach. In this paper, we propose a deep-neural-network based approach to expedite the estimation of whole-brain E-field by using a neural network architecture, named 3D-MSResUnet and multimodal imaging data. The 3D-MSResUnet network integrates the 3D U-net architecture, residual modules and a mechanism to combine multi-scale feature maps. It is trained using a large dataset with finite element method (FEM) based E-field and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based anisotropic volume conductivity or anatomical images. The performance of 3D-MSResUnet is evaluated using several evaluation metrics and different combinations of imaging modalities and coils. The experimental results show that the output E-field of 3D-MSResUnet provides reliable estimation of the E-field estimated by the state-of-the-art FEM method with significant reduction in prediction time to about 0.24 second. Thus, this study demonstrates that neural networks are potentially useful tools to accelerate the prediction of E-field for TMS targeting.
Single image mixed dehazing method based on numerical iterative model and DehazeNet
Authors: Jiao Wenjiang , Jia Xingwu , Liu Yuetong , Jiang Qun , Sun Ziyi
Published: July 2021

As one of the most common adverse weather phenomena, haze has caused detrimental effects on many computer vision systems. To eliminate the effect of haze, in the field of image processing, image dehazing has been studied intensively, and many advanced dehazing algorithms have been proposed. Physical model-based and deep learning-based methods are two competitive methods for single image dehazing, but it is still a challenging problem to achieve fidelity and effectively dehazing simultaneously in real hazy scenes. In this work, a mixed iterative model is proposed, which combines a physical model-based method with a learning-based method to restore high-quality clear images, and it has good performance in maintaining natural attributes and completely removing haze. Unlike previous studies, we first divide the image into different regions according to the density of haze to accurately calculate the atmospheric light for restoring haze-free images. Then, dark channel prior and DehazeNet are used to jointly estimate the transmission to promote the final clear haze-free image that is more similar to the real scene. Finally, a numerical iterative strategy is employed to further optimize the atmospheric light and transmission. Extensive experiments demonstrate that our method outperforms existing state-of-the-art methods on synthetic datasets and real-world datasets. Moreover, to indicate the universality of the proposed method, we further apply it to the remote sensing datasets, which can also produce visually satisfactory results.
Endothelial glycocalyx and cardio-renal risk factors in type 1 diabetes
Authors: Stougaard Elisabeth Buur , Winther Signe Abitz , Amadid Hanan , Frimodt-Møller Marie , Persson Frederik , Hansen Tine Willum , Rossing Peter
Published: July 2021

Background

Glycocalyx lines the inner surface of the capillary endothelium. Capillaroscopy enables visualization of the sublingual capillaries and measurement of the Perfused Boundary Region (PBR) as an estimate of the glycocalyx. Novel software enables assessment of the PBR estimated at a fixed high flow level (PBR-hf) and an overall microvascular assessment by the MicroVascular Health Score (MVHS). Damaged glycocalyx may represent microvascular damage in diabetes and assessment of its dimension might improve early cardio-renal risk stratification.

Aim

To assess the associations between PBR, PBR-hf and MVHS and cardio-renal risk factors in persons with type 1 diabetes (T1D); and to compare these dimensions in persons with T1D and controls.

Methods

Cross-sectional study including 161 persons with T1D stratified according to level of albuminuria and 50 healthy controls. The PBR, PBR-hf and MVHS were assessed by the GlycoCheck device (valid measurements were available in 136 (84.5%) with T1D and in all the controls). Higher PBR and PBR-hf indicate smaller glycocalyx width. Lower MVHS represents a worse microvascular health.

Results

There were no associations between PBR, PBR-hf or MVHS and the cardio-renal risk factors in persons with T1D, except for higher PBR-hf and lower MVHS in females (p = 0.01 for both). There was no difference in PBR, PBR-hf or MVHS in persons with normo-, micro- or macroalbuminuria. The PBR was higher (2.20±0.30 vs. 2.03±0.18μm; p<0.001) and MVHS lower (3.15±1.25 vs. 3.53±0.86μm; p = 0.02) in persons with T1D compared to controls (p≤0.02). After adjustment for cardio-renal risk factors the difference in PBR remained significant (p = 0.001).

Conclusions

The endothelial glycocalyx dimension was impaired in persons with T1D compared to controls. We found no association between the endothelial glycocalyx dimension and the level of albuminuria or cardio-renal risk factors among persons with T1D. The use of the GlycoCheck device in T1D may not contribute to cardio-renal risk stratification.
How did the characteristics of the growing season change during the past 100 years at a steep river basin in Japan?
Authors: Shin Nagai , Saitoh Taku M. , Nasahara Kenlo Nishida
Published: July 2021

The effects of climate change on plant phenological events such as flowering, leaf flush, and leaf fall may be greater in steep river basins than at the horizontal scale of countries and continents. This possibility is due to the effect of temperature on plant phenology and the difference between vertical and horizontal gradients in temperature sensitivities. We calculated the dates of the start (SGS) and end of the growing season (EGS) in a steep river basin located in a mountainous region of central Japan over a century timescale by using a degree-day phenological model based on long-term, continuous, in situ observations. We assessed the generality and representativeness of the modelled SGS and EGS dates by using phenological events, live camera images taken at multiple points in the basin, and satellite observations made at a fine spatial resolution. The sensitivity of the modelled SGS and EGS dates to elevation changed from 3.29 days (100 m)−1 (−5.48 days °C−1) and −2.89 days (100 m)−1 (4.81 days °C−1), respectively, in 1900 to 2.85 days (100 m)−1 (−4.75 days °C−1) and −2.84 day (100 m)−1 (4.73 day °C−1) in 2019. The long-term trend of the sensitivity of the modelled SGS date to elevation was −0.0037 day year−1 per 100 m, but the analogous trend in the case of the modelled EGS date was not significant. Despite the need for further studies to improve the generality and representativeness of the model, the development of degree-day phenology models in multiple, steep river basins will deepen our ecological understanding of the sensitivity of plant phenology to climate change.
pyProGA—A PyMOL plugin for protein residue network analysis
Authors: Sladek Vladimir , Yamamoto Yuta , Harada Ryuhei , Shoji Mitsuo , Shigeta Yasuteru , Sladek Vladimir
Published: July 2021

The field of protein residue network (PRN) research has brought several useful methods and techniques for structural analysis of proteins and protein complexes. Many of these are ripe and ready to be used by the proteomics community outside of the PRN specialists. In this paper we present software which collects an ensemble of (network) methods tailored towards the analysis of protein-protein interactions (PPI) and/or interactions of proteins with ligands of other type, e.g. nucleic acids, oligosaccharides etc. In parallel, we propose the use of the network differential analysis as a method to identify residues mediating key interactions between proteins. We use a model system, to show that in combination with other, already published methods, also included in pyProGA, it can be used to make such predictions. Such extended repertoire of methods allows to cross-check predictions with other methods as well, as we show here. In addition, the possibility to construct PRN models from various kinds of input is so far a unique asset of our code. One can use structural data as defined in PDB files and/or from data on residue pair interaction energies, either from force-field parameters or fragment molecular orbital (FMO) calculations. pyProGA is a free open-source software available fromhttps://gitlab.com/Vlado_S/pyproga.
Three-dimensional printing educational anatomical model of the patellar luxation in dogs
Authors: Ribeiro Gaspar Beatriz , de Assis Neto Antonio Chaves
Published: July 2021

Background

Few studies are available for assessing the current situation of 3D printing in veterinary medicine, due to the recent popularization of this technology. This study aimed to simulate a 3D model of the femorotibiopatellar joint of dogs based on the medial patellar luxation. The scanning, editing and printing of the femur, tibia, fibula and patella of a dog from the Laboratory of Anatomy of FMVZ USP were performed.

Results

Three femorotibiopatellar joint models were printed: one representing a healthy join without alterations; the second one with the medially deviated tibial tuberosity; and a last one representing the shifted tibial tuberosity and the trochlear sulcus flattened as consequence. The 3D edition consisted of medial rotation of the tibia and tibial tuberosity (22° against the healthy tibia), and the flatten of the medial femoral condyle (0.2 cm) and femoral trochlear groove. After printing, the corresponding measurements were taken with the alterations and the bone models were made with elastics to represent the anatomical components of the dog joint. Finally, the measurements corresponding to the distance from the patellar ligament to the lateral femoral condyle were taken in each specimen, in order to observe the change in position of the ligament according to the occurrence of the bone alterations.

Conclusion

We printed 3D articular anatomical components of the femurotibiopatellar joint that could be valuable educational tools for the study of medial patellar luxation in dogs.
Couple oriented counselling improves male partner involvement in sexual and reproductive health of a couple: Evidence from the ANRS PRENAHTEST randomized trial
Authors: Kengne-Nde Cyprien , Tejiokem Mathurin Cyrille , Orne-Gliemann Joanna , Melingui Bernard , Koki Ndombo Paul , Essounga Ngo A. , Bissek Anne Cécile , Cauchemez Simon , Tchendjou Patrice T.
Published: July 2021

Background

Male partner involvement (MPI) has been recognized as a priority area to be strengthened in Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. We explored the impact of Couple Oriented Counselling (COC) in MPI in sexual and reproductive health and associated factors.

Method

From February 2009 to October 2011, pregnant women were enrolled at their first antenatal care visit (ANC-1) and followed up until 6 months after delivery in the Mother and Child Center of the Chantal Biya Foundation within the randomized prenahtest multicentric trial. The MPI index was defined using sexual and reproductive health behaviour variables by using multiple correspondence analysis followed by mixed classification. Men were considered as highly involved if they had shared their HIV test results with their partner, had discussed on HIV or condom used, had contributed financially to ANC, had accompanied their wife to ANC or had practiced safe sex. Factors associated to MPI were investigated by the logistic model with GEE estimation approach.

Results

A total of 484 pregnant women were enrolled. The median age of the women was 27 years (IQR: 23–31) and 55.23% had a gestational age greater than 16 weeks at ANC-1. Among them, HIV prevalence was 11.9% (95% CI: 9.0–15.4). The median duration of the women’s relationship with their partner was 84 months (IQR: 48–120). MPI index at 6 months after delivery was significantly greater in the COC group than the classical counselling group (14.8% vs 8,82%; p = 0,043; Fig 1). The partners of the women who participated in the COC were more likely to be involved during follow up than others (aOR = 1.45; 95% CI = 1.00–2.10). Partners with no incoming activity (aOR = 2.90; 95% CI = 1.96–4.29), who did not used violence within the couple (aOR = 1.70; 95% CI = 1.07–2.68), and whose partner came early for ANC-1 (aOR = 1.37; 95% CI = 1.00–1.89) were more likely to be involved than others.

Conclusion

MPI remains low in stable couples and COC improves partner involvement. Our findings also support the need of strengthening outreach towards "stable" couples and addressing barriers. This could go a long way to improve PMTCT outcomes in Cameroon.

Trial registration

PRENAHTEST, NCT01494961. Registered 15 December 2011—Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01494961.
Prediction of hyaluronic acid target on sucrase-isomaltase (SI) with reverse docking and molecular dynamics simulations for inhibitors binding to SI
Authors: Li Xiao , Qian Keqing , Han Weiwei
Published: July 2021

Auricularia cornea (E.) polysaccharide is an important component of A. cornea Ehrenb, a white mutant strain of Auricularia with biological activities, such as enhancement of human immune function and cancer prevention. The hyaluronic acids (HAs) are important components of the A. cornea polysaccharide and have extremely high medicinal value. In this study, we used HA to search the target protein sucrase-isomaltase (SI). In addition, we also performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to explore the binding of three inhibitors (HA, acarbose and kotalanol) to SI. The MD simulations indicated that the binding of the three inhibitors may induce the partial disappearance of α helix in residues 530–580. Hence, the hydrogen bond for Gly570-Asn572, which was near the catalytic base Asp471 in SI, was broken during the binding of the three inhibitors. We reveal a new inhibitor for SI and provide reasonable theoretical clues for inhibitor binding to SI.
“Not just a hobby, but a lifestyle”: Characteristics, preferences and self-perception of individuals with different levels of involvement in birdwatching
Authors: Janeczko Emilia , Łukowski Adrian , Bielinis Ernest , Woźnicka Małgorzata , Janeczko Krzysztof , Korcz Natalia
Published: July 2021

Birdwatching is one of the most sustainable types of nature-based tourism and, at the same time, a form of recreation that is developing very dynamically. Birdwatching is attracting more and more people, not only professionals, but also amateurs from many countries. Birdwatching research is still relatively embryonic, especially when compared to nature tourism or wildlife tourism. Our main aim was to determine preferences and opinions of birdwatchers visiting the largest national park in Poland, in relation to their different levels of involvement. The data were collected in 2018 from a survey of a sample of 357 Polish and foreign birdwatchers. Results showed that birdwatcher respondents were predominantly male, middle-aged, and living in a large city. An important tool described in this article is a new scale that assesses the level of involvement of individual people engaged in birdwatching activity. This scale corresponds well with the individual characteristics of birdwatchers. Most birdwatchers defined their birdwatching activity as a permanent rather than a temporary hobby and therefore considered it to be more of a lifestyle than a hobby. Engagement in birdwatching activity increased with age and frequency of trips. The two most important reasons for birding were ‘to be close to nature’ and ‘fascination with birds’. It has been proven that the development of birdwatching in the future will require a developed infrastructure enabling interaction with the objects of observation.
Association between blood pressure categories and cardiovascular disease mortality in China
Authors: Guo Jie , Lv Jun , Guo Yu , Bian Zheng , Zheng Bang , Wu Man , Yang Ling , Chen Yiping , Su Jian , Zhang Jianqiang , Yao Jvying , Chen Junshi , Chen Zhengming , Yu Canqing , Li Liming ,   on behalf of the China Kadoorie Biobank Collaborative Group
Published: July 2021

Background

Blood pressure (BP) categories are useful to simplify preventions in public health, and diagnostic and treatment approaches in clinical practice. Updated evidence about the associations of BP categories with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and its subtypes is warranted.

Methods and findings

About 0.5 million adults aged 30 to 79 years were recruited from 10 areas in China during 2004–2008. The present study included 430 977 participants without antihypertension treatment, cancer, or CVD at baseline. BP was measured at least twice in a single visit at baseline and CVD deaths during follow-up were collected via registries and the national health insurance databases. Multivariable Cox regression was used to estimate the associations between BP categories and CVD mortality.

Overall, 16.3% had prehypertension-low, 25.1% had prehypertension-high, 14.1% had isolated systolic hypertension (ISH), 1.9% had isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH), and 9.1% had systolic-diastolic hypertension (SDH). During a median 10-year follow-up, 9660 CVD deaths were documented. Compared with normal, the hazard ratios (95% CI) of prehypertension-low, prehypertension-high, ISH, IDH, SDH for CVD were 1.10 (1.01–1.19), 1.32 (1.23–1.42), 2.04 (1.91–2.19), 2.20 (1.85–2.61), and 3.81 (3.54–4.09), respectively. All hypertension subtypes were related to the increased risk of CVD subtypes, with a stronger association for hemorrhagic stroke than for ischemic heart disease. The associations were stronger in younger than older adults.

Conclusions

Prehypertension-high should be considered in CVD primary prevention given its high prevalence and increased CVD risk. All hypertension subtypes were independently associated with CVD and its subtypes mortality, though the strength of associations varied substantially.
Factors affecting the purchase behaviour of farmers’ markets consumers
Authors: Adanacioglu Hakan
Published: July 2021

The main purpose of this study is to determine the factors that motivate consumers who shop at farmers’ markets. The data for this study were gathered from questionnaires of 363 consumers from eight farmers’ markets in seven districts of Izmir province, Turkey. To reveal the consumer profile of the farmers’ markets examined in this study, consumer segments were determined using factor and cluster analysis. Two different consumer segments—‘conventional’ and ‘conscious’—were identified in the farmers’ markets examined. ‘Conventional Consumers’ reflect typical consumer behaviours and give more importance to factors such as the location of and access to the market, quality and freshness of the products, activities at and around the market and the availability and variety of products. ‘Conscious Consumers’, in contrast, represent a group that is more sensitive about food safety. The majority of consumers (63.64%) who visited farmers’ markets were from the Conscious Consumer segment. The majority of the consumers who visit farmers’ markets are conscious consumers, requiring the strategies related to these markets to be revised. Farmers’ markets should be improved in terms of selecting vendors, food safety, physical facilities and social activities.
Structural characteristics and proximity comparison of China’s urban innovation cooperation network
Authors: Yuan Yingying , Han Zenglin
Published: July 2021

How to promote and improve the level of urban innovation cooperation is a major issue in China’s current high-quality economic development. Thus, enhancing innovation ability is essential to achieving high-quality economic growth under the "new normal". Based on the data of Chinese invention patents from 1985 to 2017, this paper analyzes the characteristics of China’s urban innovation cooperation network and the different roles of proximity by using social network analysis and exploratory spatial data analysis methods. The analysis results show that: (1) On the whole, the development of China’s urban innovation cooperation network is characterized by stages (initial development stage, rapid development stage, and gradual decline stage); The urban innovation cooperation network has strong connectivity and centripetal concentration but its imbalance needs to be further improved; The degree of urban participation has gradually increased, consolidating the stability of the network structure. (2) The centrality of urban innovation cooperation network has obvious characteristics of administrative center orientation, coastal areas orientation, and ‘strong east and weak west’; Beijing is the center and bridge of the network, and the network flattening characteristics are obvious; A hierarchical ‘core-edge’ structure is gradually formed for the urban innovation cooperation network, and the pyramid structure with Beijing standing at the top is being consolidated. (3) The geographical proximity presents a significant global spatial positive correlation, while the network proximity and pure network proximity have a more significant global spatial negative correlation; The local spatial autocorrelation of China’s urban innovation cooperation system based on network proximity is more obvious and identifiable than that based on the geographical proximity, which better reflects the new development model of "relationship economy".
Identification of serum prognostic marker miRNAs and construction of microRNA-mRNA networks of esophageal cancer
Authors: Jiang Yue , Zhang Chengda , Shen Wenbin , Li Yiming , Wang Yun , Han Jianjun , Liu Tao , Jia Li , Gao Fei , Liu Xiaojun , Chen Mi , Yi Guangming , Dai Hongchun , He Jun
Published: July 2021

Esophageal cancer is a common tumor of the digestive system with poor prognosis. This study was to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in esophageal cancer and to identify new prognostic markers. We downloaded the esophageal cancer miRNA expression profile microarray data (GSE113740, GSE112264, GSE122497, GSE113486, and GSE106817) from the GEO database, extracted the esophageal cancer miRNA sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and then used a bioinformatics approach to select common differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were selected by predicting DEM target genes using the miRWalk database and intersecting with differential genes obtained from TCGA database for esophageal cancer. The STRING database was used to obtain protein–protein interaction (PPI) relationships to construct the DEM-DEG network. Furthermore, we selected core genes and core miRNAs associated with esophageal cancer prognosis by performing survival and univariate/multivariate COX analysis on DEMs and DEGs in the network and performed GSEA analysis on core genes alone, and finally the expression of the markers was verified by qPCR in esophageal cancer cell lines Eca109, SKGT-4 and normal esophageal epithelial cells HEEC. Nine DEMs were obtained, of which three were upregulated and six were downregulated, and 326 DEGs were obtained, of which 105 were upregulated and 221 were downregulated. Survival univariate/multivariate COX analysis revealed that five genes, ZBTB16, AQP4, ADCYAP1R1, PDGFD, and VIPR2, and two microRNAs, miR-99a-5p, and miR-508-5p, were related to esophageal cancer prognosis. GSEA analysis showed that the following genes may be involved in esophageal cancer prognosis: ZBTB16 may through the MTOR signaling pathway, AQP4 through the GNRH signaling pathway, ADCYAP1R1 through the PPAR signaling pathway, VIPR2 through the P53 signaling pathway and PDGFD through the PENTOSE-PHOSPHATE signaling pathway.
A methodologically sound survey of Chinese consumers’ willingness to participate in courier, express, and parcel companies’ green logistics
Authors: Sajid Muhammad Jawad , Gonzalez Ernesto D. R. Santibanez , Zhan Jie , Song Xiaohong , Sun Yubo , Xie Jing
Published: July 2021

The environmental footprint of courier, express, and parcel (CEP) logistics is significant and growing, owing to increased e-commerce. Consumer willingness to participate in the green logistics of CEPs, however, has been understudied. This study addresses this knowledge gap by surveying 155 Chinese consumers about their willingness to participate in CEP green logistics. Additionally, this research identifies some technical issues with previous survey research. Three main factors were extracted after the data were tested for reliability and validity using exploratory factor analysis with principal axis factor extraction and confirmatory factor analysis with diagonally weighted least squares. Consumer willingness is positively correlated with economic (8 items), operational (3 items), and social (3 items) factors, with a statistical significance of p < 0.001. Of all the factors, the strongest correlation, 0.67 (95% CI = 0.57, 0.75; p < 0.001; N = 155), exists between economic factors and consumer willingness. The results of a multinomial logistic regression analysis suggest that all consumers are highly unlikely to participate in economic factors, while they are highly likely to positively commit to operational and social factors. Therefore, it is recommended that the government provides monetary incentives to CEP companies to adopt green logistics, such as tax reductions and subsidies, to reduce the costs of green logistics. Meanwhile, the CEP industry could provide some direct and indirect incentives to consumers to re-use, recycle, and share materials, and to spend time learning about express enterprises’ green logistics, to increase consumer participation in economic factors.
Trichuris muris infection drives cell-intrinsic IL4R alpha independent colonic RELMα+ macrophages
Authors: Forman Ruth , Logunova Larisa , Smith Hannah , Wemyss Kelly , Mair Iris , Boon Louis , Allen Judith E. , Muller Werner , Pennock Joanne L. , Else Kathryn J.
Published: July 2021

The intestinal nematode parasite Trichuris muris dwells in the caecum and proximal colon driving an acute resolving intestinal inflammation dominated by the presence of macrophages. Notably, these macrophages are characterised by their expression of RELMα during the resolution phase of the infection. The RELMα+ macrophage phenotype associates with the presence of alternatively activated macrophages and work in other model systems has demonstrated that the balance of classically and alternatively activated macrophages is critically important in enabling the resolution of inflammation. Moreover, in the context of type 2 immunity, RELMα+ alternatively activated macrophages are associated with the activation of macrophages via the IL4Rα. Despite a breadth of inflammatory pathologies associated with the large intestine, including those that accompany parasitic infection, it is not known how colonic macrophages are activated towards an alternatively activated phenotype. Here, we address this important knowledge gap by using Trichuris muris infection, in combination with transgenic mice (IL4Rαfl/fl.CX3CR1Cre) and IL4Rα-deficient/wild-type mixed bone marrow chimaeras. We make the unexpected finding that education of colonic macrophages towards a RELMα+, alternatively activated macrophage phenotype during T. muris infection does not require IL4Rα expression on macrophages. Further, this independence is maintained even when the mice are treated with an anti-IFNγ antibody during infection to create a strongly polarised Th2 environment. In contrast to RELMα, PD-L2 expression on macrophages post infection was dependent on IL4Rα signalling in the macrophages. These novel data sets are important, revealing a surprising cell-intrinsic IL4R alpha independence of the colonic RELMα+ alternatively activated macrophage during Trichuris muris infection.
Gendering journalistic voices for gendered political violence? Agential representations of Palestinian female suicide bombers in UK broadcast news media
Authors: Kirk Matthew D.
Published: July 2021

In the late twentieth century, the rise of the female suicide bomber phenomenon was prevalent in Chechnya, Lebanon and Sri Lanka. Arguably, in terms of academic engagement and visibility within the wider public consciousness, the first wave of Palestinian female suicide bombers during the second intifada (2000–05) encapsulates particular notoriety in relation to the perceived deviance of Palestinian female participation in political violence. Key to this construction is the role of news media as an agent of power. This article examines coverage of Palestinian female suicide bombers during the second intifada period within the scarcely examined medium of British terrestrial broadcast news media. This article determines the impact of individual journalists' gender in producing forms of discourse that delegitimize political agency. In particular, it shall establish if female journalistic voices are complicit in communicating intersectional gendered and Orientalist frameworks.
Presentación: ¿Utopías reaccionarias? Los mundos ideales del tradicionalismo contemporáneo
Authors: Escrig Rosa Josep , García Monerris Encarna
Published: July 2021

Presentación: ¿Utopías reaccionarias? Los mundos ideales del tradicionalismo contemporáneo.
La utopía contrarrevolucionaria de una América sin revolución (México, 1820-1823)
Authors: Escrig Rosa Josep
Published: July 2021

El presente trabajo aborda los proyectos contrarrevolucionarios de independencia durante la última etapa del proceso de la independencia de México, en relación a otros espacios del ámbito iberoamericano. Se atiende a la dimensión utópica de estos planes, así como a su carácter rupturista con el pasado y el presente. La representación figurativa de un continente americano ajeno al ciclo revolucionario de 1820, reiniciado en el sur de Europa, alimentó las esperanzas de algunos de los más conservadores. Su apoyo a las ideas emancipadoras pretendía erigir un orden alternativo en el que se reordenara la combinación altar-trono sobre un espacio y un tiempo distintos. El resultado de esta construcción intelectual muestra un planteamiento novedoso que da cuenta de la capacidad de los contrarrevolucionarios para evolucionar ideológicamente y transgredir los valores y las premisas de la tradición.
Una utopía ultramontana. El papa como árbitro internacional de la paz en el siglo XIX
Authors: Ramón Solans Francisco Javier
Published: July 2021

En la segunda mitad del siglo XIX se articuló un programa utópico en torno a la idea de un mundo bajo la influencia y la autoridad moral del pontífice. Tras la pérdida del poder temporal del papa, los católicos imaginaron nuevas formas de reinscribir su autoridad en el seno de la Iglesia católica, así como fuera de ella. Uno de los elementos centrales de esta utopía ultramontana fue el proyecto de hacer del papa el árbitro internacional de la paz. Para legitimar este programa utópico volvieron la vista atrás, hacia un pasado medieval idealizado, y trataron de encontrar referentes que demostraran su autoridad moral fuera de los marcos confesionales del catolicismo. Para estudiar estos proyectos utópicos, el presente trabajo se centra en los discursos y las solicitudes de arbitraje internacional realizados por los católicos en los congresos celebrados en España entre 1889 y 1899.
Europa como «comunidad mnémica»: El recuerdo del Holocausto entre memorias cosmopolitas y multidireccionales
Authors: Pérez Baquero Rafael
Published: July 2021

El objetivo del presente estudio es ofrecer una reflexión sobre las dificultades inherentes a la construcción de marcos rememorativos, a nivel europeo, que integren las memorias heterogéneas de los diferentes estados. La particularidad de esta lectura radica en el recurso a categorías contemporáneas de los «estudios de memoria» para abordar tal desafío. En primer lugar, elaboramos los rasgos de la «memoria cosmopolita», desarrollada por Daniel Levy y Natan Sznaider. Tras presentar sus bases teóricas, recurrimos a ensayos críticos contemporáneos, para reflejar algunas de las limitaciones de las que dicha categoría adolece. Frente a aquellas, desarrollamos en qué medida la «memoria multidireccional» de Michael Rothberg supera dichos déficits y ofrece una matriz teórica para pensar y representar la construcción de una memoria transnacional europea.
ALÍA MIRANDA, Francisco, La otra cara de la guerra. Solidaridad y humanitarismo en la España republicana durante la guerra civil (1936-1939). Madrid, Sílex, 2020, 300 pp.
Authors: Borrego Lucía Prieto
Published: July 2021

Reseña: ALÍA MIRANDA, Francisco, La otra cara de la guerra. Solidaridad y humanitarismo en la España republicana durante la guerra civil (1936-1939). Madrid, Sílex, 2020, ISBN: 978-84-18388-36-1, 302 pp.
ESPINOSA, Francisco, Por la sagrada causa nacional. Historias de un tiempo oscuro. Badajoz 1936-1939. Barcelona, Crítica, 2021, 399 pp.
Authors: Sánchez Recio Glicerio
Published: July 2021

Reseña: ESPINOSA, Francisco, Por la sagrada causa nacional. Historias de un tiempo oscuro. Badajoz 1936-1939. Barcelona, Crítica, 2021, ISBN 978-84-9199-232-5, 400 pp.
Reyes contra monarquías. La forma hermenéutico-antropológica de Carmelo Lisón de Dialogar con Gadamer
Authors: Anta Félez José Luis
Published: July 2021

A través de un texto de Carmelo Lisón, La imagen del Rey, establecemos cuales son las claves de su diálogo con Hans-Georg Gadamer, se genera así una metodología donde ambos autores se complementan para entender el juego, el ritual, la estética, las palabras y las formas de representación de los reyes y de la idea de verdad. Pero en este diálogo ficcionado a tres bandas, entre Gadamer, la corte de los Austrias y el propio Carmelo, se genera un campo abierto de pensamiento sobre los dispositivos que llevan a los reyes a construir una imagen para el gobierno, su desarrollo como sujetos políticos y como seres humanos con pasiones, gustos y subjetividades.
Éticas situadas: expertos, controversias y participación ciudadana
Authors: Buxó ì Rey María Jesús
Published: July 2021

Ética y Antropología es el título con el que Carmelo Lisón inaugura el encuentro sobre Antropología Aplicada en Iberoamérica. Desde la fascinación expresa el interés por las narraciones plurales que se crean ante cualquier problema cultural y social y el reto que esta pluralidad supone para la imaginación antropológica. Ante realidades cada vez más complejas, esta imaginación ha de ser capaz de abrirse a preguntas similares y metáforas análogas sobre la enfermedad, la muerte, el cuerpo y la identidad, aunque ahora situadas en la tecnologización creciente de la sociedad. Afirma así que enfocar esta realidad requiere ampliar las metodologías, así como refinar las conceptualizaciones y la creación de modelos, siendo el locus clave la antropoética.
Etnografiando en el valle de Polaciones: Carmelo Lisón Tolosana y la Escuela de Antropología Social «Julio Caro Baroja»
Authors: Rojo Flores Sandra
Published: July 2021

Desde sus orígenes, la antropología mexicana estuvo condicionada por su vinculación a las políticas estatales que le consignaron, durante mucho tiempo, el papel oficial de integradora de la diversidad cultural indígena al nacionalismo. Ello impidió que el foco de atención se desviara hacia otros mundos antropológicos posibles, permaneciendo atrapada en el paradigma del indigenismo. Asimismo, la influencia académica en México dio un salto de la teoría boasiana a principios del siglo XX a la de los «grandes pensadores» de la antropología inglesa y francesa con sus respectivos focos etnográficos. No se incorporó de manera habitual, salvo en algunos seminarios puntuales, el trabajo de campo hecho en España por antropólogos autóctonos, que tuvo un gran auge gracias a la Escuela formada por el profesor Carmelo Lisón Tolosana. Aunque la relación entre México y España ha sido un tema recurrente desde la perspectiva histórica gracias en gran parte a los descendientes de los exiliados españoles que se integraron en la Casa de España, actual Colegio de México, desafortunadamente siguen siendo escasas las investigaciones de antropólogos mexicanos que, aunque conscientes de una necesaria epistemología del Sur, no se plantean al Otro antropológico español ni se acercan concienzudamente a los corpus etnográficos ya existente. Es decir que aún no se ha suscitado una mirada inversa hacia España, no en términos de nuestro «Norte» como Estados Unidos, sino de nuestro alter ego. En el presente texto, relato mi breve experiencia de campo en el Valle de Polaciones, Cantabria, llevada a cabo hace dos décadas en la Escuela de Antropología «Julio Caro Baroja» cuyo principal promotor fue el profesor Lisón Tolosana. Con ello pretendo reflexionar sobre la posibilidad de acercarnos desde la antropología latinoamericana al amplio material etnográfico español existente gracias a las arduas y sistemáticas investigaciones del profesor zaragozano así como de su Escuela, y pensar en nuevos temas de investigación que amplíen nuestro espectro más allá del ámbito puramente indigenista.
Effect of Concurrent Chemoradiation for Advanced Head and Neck Malignancy in a Tertiary Care Centre, Kerala
Authors: Raveendran Ravisankar Thommanparambil , Khader Shehna Abdul , Raghavan Ajith Kumar Vilasini , Balan Jayaraman Madambath , Jayakumar Krishnannair Lalithamma
Published: July 2021

BACKGROUND Concurrent chemotherapy is a well-established treatment modality for locally advanced head and neck cancer. The concept of concurrent chemotherapy and radiation was introduced in an attempt to improve the local control and possibly influence the survival because of the high rate of local and distant failures observed with the combination of surgery and postoperative radiation. The relevance of this study was to assess the efficacy of our treatment and patience compliance and also study the effect in patients treated with cisplatin based concurrent chemo radiotherapy in advanced head and neck cancer. METHODS The prospective study was conducted in the Department of Radiotherapy, Government Medical college, Thrissur, Kerala comprising the newly diagnosed patients with locally advanced head & neck cancers over one year. Conventional radiotherapy with a dose of 66 Gy in 33 fractions over 6.5 weeks was given concurrently with Inj cisplatin 100 mg / 2 IV every 3 weeks and periodically followed up for one year. RESULTS This study revealed that complete response rate was higher in 61 – 70 year age group compared to lower age groups. Complete response cases were slightly higher in T1 disease compared to higher stages. Regarding nodal status, complete response and DFS were more in N0 tumours and worst in N3 tumours. It was found that complete response rates were slightly higher in stage III than stage IV. Comparing the grade of the tumour, complete response cases were slightly higher in WD and MD compared to PD. Complete response rate and disease free survival (DFS) were slightly higher in cases who had more than two chemotherapy cycles compared to one cycle. CONCLUSIONS Concurrent chemo radiation was not well tolerated in our study group. Only 23.5 % patients were able to complete the planned treatment. The positive side was that complete response was found in about 79.4 % of study patients & DFS at one year was 80 %. KEY WORDS Concurrent Chemo Radiation, Head and Neck Cancer, Cisplatin