bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Eudaimonía y las esferas política y ética en Aristóteles: ¿Es posible pensar el bien humano con independencia de un ámbito político?
Authors: Rivera-Novoa Ángel
Published: January 2023

En este artículo se intenta mostrar cuál es la posible relación entre la esfera política y la esfera ética en el pensamiento de Aristóteles. ¿Son la política y la ética investigaciones absolutamente distinguibles o, por el contrario, son un solo proyecto investigativo? Para responder a esta pregunta, se sugiere que primero debe responderse la cuestión acerca de la naturaleza misma del bien último. ¿Es el fin de las acciones un fin dominante o inclusivo? Se analiza una de las propiedades de la eudaimonía, a saber, la autarquía, y se mostrará cómo, dependiendo de la respuesta que se dé a la segunda pregunta, es posible contestar la primera.
Forma mentis: apariencia y realidad en la Germania de Tácito
Authors: Caputo Ricardo Gabriel
Published: January 2023

El objetivo de este trabajo es interpretar la Germania de Tácito en tanto texto etnográfico y autoetnográfico, i.e. como crítico de la sociedad romana. Se rechazan los presupuestos filosóficos de “No Place like Rome: Identity and Difference in The Germania of Tacitus” de Ellen O’Gorman (§1), se analiza la escritura etnográfica de Tácito a través de la guerra y el comercio, enfatizando las ideas de forma, belleza, materia, mores y mente (§2). Por último, se destaca el uso utópico y de crítica interna que adquiere el texto de Tácito (§3).
Conocimiento, justificación y aporía. El problema del Teeteto y su presencia en la epistemología contemporánea
Authors: Espinosa-Sarmiento Ruth Marcela
Published: January 2023

En este artículo se reconstruye el vínculo sistemático entre el tratamiento aporético del conocimiento en el diálogo platónico tardío Teetetos y la definición conceptual del conocimiento en parte de la epistemología analítica contemporánea. A través de dicha vinculación se muestra, por una parte, la presencia de los problemas presentados por Platón en la epistemología actual, así como la persistencia de la aporía del dialogo en cuestión. Con ello, se pretende también iluminar desde una clave histórica aspectos esenciales del debate epistemológico en general.
Investigation of nasal Staphylococcus aureus carriage by real-time PCR in patients receiving hemodialysis treatment
Authors: ÇETİK YILDIZ Songül , DEMİR Cemil
Published: January 2023

Objectives: Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), which are significant nosocomial pathogens, have become a growing global problem because their carriage and diseases have become resistant to many antibiotics. This study aimed to investigate and determine the rate of MRSA carriage among patients receiving hemodialysis treatment using molecular methods.
Methods: In the 254 hemodialysis patients, the nasal carriage rates, susceptibility and resistance to S. aureus, CoNS and MRSA were examined using culture and real-time PCR methods. Nasal samples from hemodialysis patients were examined using real-time PCR. Microscopic examination was performed using the Gram staining method, and S. aureus was identified using catalase and coagulase. The strains were then tested for antibiotic susceptibility. Staphylococci was isolated from 231 of the 254 patients.
Results: S. aureus carriage was detected in 50 patients, MRSA in 16, methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) in 33, CoNS in 66, methicillin-resistant CoNS (MR-CoNS) in 38, and methicillin-susceptible CoNS (MS-CoNS) in 28. S. aureus and MRSA strains exhibited 100% susceptibility to nitrofurantoin, and vancomycin. MSSA strains showed the highest susceptibility to chloramphenicol, clindamycin (84.8%), and co-trimoxazole (36.4%). CoNS showed 100% susceptibility to vancomycin, and 16.7% susceptibility to ampicillin. Vancomycin was found to be the most effective antibiotic against S. aureus, CoNS, and MRSA pathogens identified in patients undergoing hemodialysis, whereas penicillin resistance was found.
Conclusions: It can be concluded that one of the most effective ways to prevent the formation of antibiotic resistant strains is the hygiene of the hospital and hospital staff. Real-time PCR is very important for analyzing with high sensitivity.
Rydwan Triptolemosa
Authors: Czapińska Marta
Published: January 2023

The story of Triptolemos is connected with the myth of Demeter. This goddess, in gratitude for the hospitality received from the parents of Triptolemos during the difficult quest for her missing daughter, Persephone, gave the young man an unusual chariot in order to help him reveal the mystery of agriculture to people and popularise this skill among them. That special moment was commemorated on vases produced in the red-figure technique in the fifth century BC and later artists repeatedly undertook this theme. However, an interesting difference in the way Triptolemos’s chariot is depicted appears on the subsequent art works. On ancient vases, Triptolemos is seated on a chariot with winged wheels, whereas two snakes are slithering beside. The following works of art depict a chariot dragged by winged dragons. The analysis of selected texts of ancient authors shows that the growing tendency to portray the chariot of Triptolemos with dragons is not justified by literary sources and is dictated by the imagination of the artist.
Osservazioni sulla etimologia e funzione di due teonimi umbri
Authors: Roszak Tamara
Published: January 2023

The article deals with the names of two Umbrian deities written in the Iguvine Tablets, PUEMUNE (dat. sg. m.) and VESUNE (dat. sg. f.). The author relates the Umbrian forms to the Indo-European roots *pō(i)- and *ṷes-, both of them meaning ‘to pasture’, which produce respectively: Lith. piemÂnÅ (f.) ‘shepherdess’, piemẽo (m.) ‘shepherd’, Gk. poim»n (m.) ‘id.’ and Hitt. ṷēštara- (c.) ‘shepherd’, Av. vāstar- (m.) ‘id.’. The Umbrian theonym PUEMUN- can be connected with the Lusitanian name of the pastoral goddess Poemanae (dat. sg. f.). The root ves- of the other Umbrian theonym can be compared with the root of the Lusitanian name Vestero (dat. sg. m.) ‘pastoral god’. The Umbrian noun has the suffix IE. *-H noH -, present in the Italic theonyms 1 2 (e.g. Lat. Pōmōna). Pieces of the same sheep were sacrificed to both deities, which additionally proves their pastoral function.
Scolacium w Kalabrii – wybrane źródła literackie do poznania historii miasta
Authors: Grzelak-Krzymianowska Adriana
Published: January 2023

Calabria is a region where we may find many traces of very old settlements and the development of human civilization, because it was already inhabited during the Paleolithic Era. Its later, over two thousand years history is characterized by the influence of such ethno-cultural groups as the Greeks, the Brutti, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Saracens and the Normans. Hence, Calabria has become an infinite source of fascination for all who seek the remains of ancient times in Italy. The purpose of my article is to present the history of Scolacium – one of the ancient towns in the Italian province of Calabria basing, above all, on selected literary evidence on the issue. My studies concentrate mainly on pointing out the numerous references and allusions to its name and on the analysis of longer or shorter depictions of the town found in various Greek and Roman literary works and their application in a chronological reconstruction of the town’s past events as an example of historical processes observed on the territory of Magna Graecia.
Recenzja edycji: Jan Kochanowski, Carmina latina, cz. 3: Komentarz, oprac. Z. Głombiowska, Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego, Gdańsk 2013, ss. 983
Authors: Płachcińska Krystyna
Published: January 2023

The third part of the critical edition of Jan Kochanowski’s corpus in Latin, published by Zofia Głombiowska in 2013, contains an editorial commentary. This volume is the last part of a large and impressive work which was necessary for the academic knowledge of Polish Renaissance literature.
Immunological Responses to Helminths and HIV-1 Co-Infections
Authors: Chavura Elton , Singini Wales , Chidya Russel , Mbakaya Balwani Chingatichifwe
Published: January 2023

Helminth infections result from either ingestion or contact with contaminated fecal matter. To date, there is insufficient evidence as to whether helminths have influence on HIV-1 specific immune responses as literature results are indeterminate. We evaluated the effect of helminth infections on HIV disease progression through the monitoring of 2 outcomes: (1) plasma HIV-1 RNA Viral load (V/L) and (2) Cluster of Differentiation (CD4+) T-lymphocyte count amongst helminth-HIV-1 co-infected persons. We hypothesized that (1) concurrent helminth infections may damage immune control, resulting in escalating VL and reduced CD4+ T-lymphocyte count (2) and that, subject to successful treatment, a decrease in plasma VL could slow down disease progression. We reviewed 2032 citations, evaluated 432 abstracts, and read 10 articles (See PRISMA diagram). The methodologies were appraised using a Mixed Method Appraisal Tool (MMAT). At enrolment, plasma VL were significantly higher in individuals with helminths (5.01 log10 vs. 3.41 log10, p < 0.001). The magnitude of effect ranged from 5.28 log10 copies/mL at baseline and 4.67 log10 copies/mL, (p < 0.05) after treatment and a trend for 0.61 log10 lower VL. All but one RCT reported decline in plasma VL and significant interactions were seen in the successfully treated groups (p < 0.001). CD4+ T-lymphocyte count values were not significantly different in the co-infection groups relative to those with HIV-infection alone. This evidence supports that WaSH and HIV/AIDS co-programming could promote health of PLWHA. We suggest large scale trials for future studies. This systematic review registration number is CRD42022364296.
Décadence de l’Élevage Extensif dans le Delta du Fleuve Sénégal, l’Autre Revers de l’Agriculture Irriguée dans la Commune de Diama
Authors: Diallo Chérif Assane
Published: January 2023

Les politiques agricoles du Sénégal s’orientent plus vers l’intensification des systèmes de production. L’agriculture irriguée promue à partir des indépendances connaît un essor important ces dernières années à cause d’un contexte marqué par une péjoration climatique et des objectifs d’autosuffisance alimentaire parfois supranationale. Ce développement ne passe pas sans induire des effets sur les activités antérieures du territoire. A l’échelle du delta du fleuve Sénégal, le développement de l’agriculture irriguée sur cet espace jadis pastoral hypothèque le maintien et le développement de l’élevage et plus particulièrement celui extensif. Ainsi, l’objectif de cet article est d’analyser les effets altérants de l’agriculture irriguée sur cette activité et ses communautés. En plus d’une revue documentaire et des entretiens avec certains services, il s’appuie sur des enquêtes auprès des ménages d’éleveurs et d’un travail cartographique portant sur l’occupation de l’espace. D’une part, il ressort de ses résultats une réduction de l’espace pastoral doublée d’une obstruction des parcours pastoraux au profit de l’agriculture irriguée qui altère la situation sanitaire du cheptel. D’autre part, les résultats montrent une récupération de la main d’œuvre pastorale par cette dernière.
Floodplain soils on the soil map of the Russian Federation, scale 1 : 2.5 M, 1988, in the Russian soil classification, 2004
Authors: Ananko T. V. , Gerasimova M. I. , Savitskaya N. V.
Published: January 2023

The largest area of taiga gley-differentiated soils on the Soil map of Russian Federation, scale 1:2.5 M, is located in the north of West Siberia. Small areas are dispersed over the northwestern European Russia, Eastern Siberia and the North-East. Interpretation of taiga gley-differentiated soils in terms of Russian soil classification system (2004) is rather ambiguous owing to high diversity of ecological conditions where these soils occur, аs well as variability of soil morphological, chemical, and physicochemical properties in diverse mapping units. Comparing properties of taiga gley-differentiated soils described in the Program of the map (1972) and in regional publications with the diagnostic criteria for soil types in some orders of the Russian classification system made it possible to find adequate names and taxonomic position for these soils. Thus, taiga gley-differentiated soils in the middle and northern taiga of Western Siberia proved to be allocated to several orders: weakly differentiated and gleyed soils with a brown profile were referred to the order of organo-accumulative soils as shallow-peat gleyic soils; their more hydromorphic variants – taiga gley-differentiated shallow-peat soils were  defined in the order of gleyzems, as peat gleyzems, soil with morphologically differentiated profile having a particular cryogenic structure were qualified for svetlozems and iron-illuvial gleyic svetlozems in the order of cryometamorpic soils, and for eluvial-metamorphic soils of the same order in case of cryogenic structure was absent. Taiga gley-differentiated soils in their northwestern area are confined to varved clays and correspond to (soddy-)eluvial-metamorphic gleyic soils.
Influencer Stickiness and Determining the Relationships Among its Antecedents
Authors: Ozturk Onur
Published: January 2023

İnternet ve sosyal medya kullanımının insanların gündelik yaşamlarında neredeyse vazgeçilmez bir hale gelmesi Twitter, Instagram ve YouTube gibi çeşitli sosyal medya platformlarını kullanarak takipçileriyle etkileşime geçen ve sosyal medya fenomenleri olarak nitelendirilen bireylerin ön plana çıkmasına olanak sağlamıştır. Şarkıcı, film yıldızı, sporcu gibi geleneksel ünlülerin aksine takipçileriyle benzer sosyal statüye sahip bireyler olan sosyal medya fenomenlerinin takipçi ve hayran sayılarını arttırmaları, mevcut takipçi ve hayranlarını da ödeme yapan birer müşteri haline getirmeleri büyük oranda takipçilerinin yapışkanlığına bağlıdır. Bu çalışma; sosyal medya fenomenlerine olan yapışkanlığın öncülleri arasındaki ilişkileri belirlemek ve bu öncüllerin fenomen yapışkanlığı üzerindeki etkilerini ölçmeyi amaçlamıştır. Bu ilişkileri incelemek için 2158 kişiden anket yoluyla toplanan veriler PLS-SEM yapısal eşitlik modelleme tekniği ile analiz edilmiştir. Araştırma sonuçlarına göre kimlik benzerliği, kimlik ayırt ediciliği ve kimlik prestijinin parasosyal ilişkiler ve istekli özdeşleşme üzerinde olumlu etkiye sahip olduğu, parasosyal ilişkiler ve istekli özdeşleşmenin de yapışkanlık değişkenini olumlu yönde etkilediği saptanmıştır.
Relations between Kyiv and Budapest in the Context of the Russian-Ukrainian Conflict
Authors: Smirnov A.
Published: January 2023

The new geopolitical reality that arose after the start of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine demanded all European states to express their attitude to what was happening as clearly as possible. Among the countries that have supported Kyiv Hungary traditionally having its own special position on key problems within the European Union stands out. The Budapest reaction to Ukrainian events can be considered in two adjacent planes. Firstly, from the point of view of the Hungarian leadership’s search for an acceptable line of conduct in the face a powerful campaign of support for Kyiv. Secondly, in the context of relations of this leadership with the Kyiv regime itself. The article is devoted to the main complexes of contradictions that set the tone of relations between the Hungarian and Ukrainian sides in the context of powerful military-political upheavals.
Analisis ekowisata garam di Kabupaten Sumenep: pendekatan Triple Helix
Authors: Setiyarini Triana , Chrismardani Yustina
Published: January 2023

Salah satu solusi yang ditawarkan untuk mengatasi permasalahan ekonomi yang dihadapi petani garam di Sumenep Madura adalah melalui ekowisata garam. Tujuan penelitian adalah untuk mengetahui formulasi strategi yang tepat dalam menggali potensi ekowisata garam di Kabupaten Sumenep melalui analisis SWOT (analisis kekuatan dan kelemahan serta peluang dan tantangan yang akan dihadapi). Data primer diambil dari wawancara dan kuesioner yang melibatkan peran akademisi, bisnis dan pemerintah yang dikenal dengan triple helix. Metode penelitian menggunakan metode deskriptif kualitatif. Hasil kajian menunjukkan Desa Kertasada memiliki sumber daya internal yang kuat dan memiliki peluang dari faktor eksternal yang kuat untuk mewujudkan ekowisata garam
Tingkat financial technology terhadap peningkatan kinerja UMKM dengan variabel intervening inklusi keuangan pada pelaku UMKM Kota Bengkulu
Authors: Safrianti Sintia , Puspita Veny , Shinta Seftya Dwi , Afriyeni Afriyeni
Published: January 2023

Penelitian menguji pengaruh financial technology terhadap peningkatan kinerja Usaha Mikro Kecil Menengah (UMKM) dengan variabel intervening inklusi keuangan. Menggunakan panel data dan analisis PLS-SEM. Sampel penelitian 90 UMKM di Kota Bengkulu menggunakan metode purposive sampling, data dikumpulan menggunakan kuesioner Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian deskriptif kuantitatif, menganalisis pengaruh financial technology terhadap kinerja UMKM yang diintervening inklusif keuangan pada UMKM di Kota Bengkulu. Hasil penelitian pada direct effect analysis menemukan bahwa financial technology berpengaruh terhasdap kinerja UMKM, financial technology berpengaruh terhadap inklusi keuangaan, dan financial technology tidak berpengaruh terhadap inklusi keuangan. Pada analisis indirect effect, hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa inklusi keuangan tidak mengintervening pengaruh financial technology terhadap kinerja UMKM.
Comparison of Anaerobic Performance with Laboratory and Field Tests in Trained Children
Authors: Löklüoğlu Berkay
Published: January 2023

Anaerobic performance is considered an indicator of performance for short-term muscle activities of high intensity. It is important to determine whether different anaerobic field tests performed to measure anaerobic performance can be used as an alternative to WAnT performed in the laboratory. The study aimed to compare the anaerobic performance with laboratory and field tests in trained children. One-hundred four athletes between the ages of 10 and 16, minimum age of training of one year in different sports voluntarily participated in the study. Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) was performed as the reference test. Besides, Running-based Anaerobic Sprint Test (RAST) and Pediatric RAST (PRAST) were performed to determine anaerobic performance. Peak power (PP), average power (AP), minimum power (MP), fatigue index (FI) and total exercise time (TED) were determined for each test. All variables of WAnT, RAST, and PRAST were significantly different (p<0.01). According to test-retest results of all tests, ICC [95% CI] values have a high-reliability coefficient for all variables. It was found there is a high correlation significantly between WAnT and RAST for all variables (p<0.01). Besides, there were also high correlations significantly between WAnT-PRAST and RAST-PRAST excluding fatigue index (p<0.01). As a result of this study, it was determined all tests have high reliability. Considering that WAnT requires complex, expensive device and tools, trained staff and is performed in the form of cycling in the laboratory, RAST and PRAST performed with body weight in field conditions can be used to determine anaerobic performance in trained children. High correlations between tests support this determination.
Gaze behaviour differentiates elite from non-elite female soccer players: a 2D video projections exploratory study
Authors: Meira Cassio
Published: January 2023

The present study explored visual strategies employed by female soccer players of high, medium, and low levels of expertise. We used eye-tracking technology to examine how skill-based differences related to gaze behavior in 30 participants (10 in each group) who were required to respond physically to film images projected on a screen using soccer skills (penalty kick, dribbling, pass reception, and defensive cover). Data were collected from search rate (visual fixations duration and number, and number of fixated areas), percentage of viewing time, and variability of pupil diameter. Analyses revealed that female elite players engaged in more visual fixations, directed gaze toward more relevant areas of the scene, and showed less variability of pupil diameter, compared to their non-elite counterparts. Our findings seem to corroborate prior research which compared participants with different levels of expertise while performing soccer skills.
Effects of a non-randomized educational intervention on knowledge, postural habits and trunk muscle endurance related to back health: A 6-month follow-up study
Authors: Miñana Vicente
Published: January 2023

Low back pain (LBP) prevalence in children and adolescents is high during their lives. School-based interventions have reported effectiveness on back health. The study aimed to determine the effect of an educational back-health intervention on knowledge, postural habits and trunk muscle endurance regarding low back pain prevention for a group of 12 to 13-year-old students using a 6-month follow-up. A non-randomized experimental design. Three groups of 1st-grade secondary school students were selected. A control group (CG), and two experimental groups (EG1 and EG2) who participated in a back-health educational program (BHEP); only one of the experimental groups was given a follow-up learning contract (EG2). Assessments were performed at three different time points: before the intervention (baseline), after (post-test) and 6 months after (follow-up). The level of general knowledge of the experimental groups improved after the intervention. The level of postural habits improved in EG1 and EG2 compared to the CG after the follow-up period (p < .001 in both). An improvement in the level of endurance of the trunk musculature after the intervention was observed only for boys between EG2 and the CG (p < .05). A lower percentage of problems in the lumbar area in EG2 was observed after the 6-month follow-up. Teaching students to take care of their spines seems to have positive effects concerning knowledge, postural habits, and back health
Impact of microbial genome completeness on metagenomic functional inference
Authors: Alberdi Antton , Eisenhofer Raphael , Odriozola Iñaki
Published: January 2023

Inferring the functional capabilities of bacteria from metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) is becoming a central process in microbiology. Here we show that the completeness of genomes has a significant impact on the recovered functional signal, spanning all domains of metabolic functions. We identify factors that affect this relationship between genome completeness and function fullness, and provide baseline knowledge to guide efforts to correct for this overlooked bias in metagenomic functional inference.
Insulin resistance measured by High Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) as a Predictor for new onset Diabetes mellitus and diabetic Complications in Non-Diabetic Adults: A KoGES prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Lee Jibeom , Kim Moon-hyun , Jang Ji-Yong , Oh Chang-Myung
Published: January 2023

Aims: Homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) is a biomarker for Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM). However, the role of HOMA-IR in the non-diabetic is unclear.
Methods: From a prospective community-based cohort of 10,030 individuals, 4,314 individuals younger than 65 years and without diabetes were enrolled and divided into three groups by baseline HOMA-IR tertiles: high (n=1244), moderate (n=1248), and low (n=1822). The primary outcome was new onset T2DM. Secondary outcomes were chronic kidney disease (CKD) and a composite of coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke as macrovascular events.
Results:The mean age was 51 years. The prevalence of hypertension and cholesterol and HbA1c were higher in the high HOMA-IR group. New onset T2DM (6.3%) and CKD (12.2%) incidence in the high HOMA-IR group was higher than in the others. The prevalence of macrovascular events did not differ among groups. High-HOMA-IR was an independent risk factor for new onset T2DM (odds ratio 2.07 [1.32-3.25]; p =0.001) and CKD (1.42 [1.08-1.87]; p =0.01).
Conclusions:High HOMA-IR was an early predictor of new onset T2DM and CKD regardless of the HbA1c in non-diabetic individuals. Further research on the specific cut off value will be needed.
Uniaxial attitude control of uncrewed aerial vehicle with thrust vectoring under model variations by deep reinforcement learning and domain randomization
Authors: Osedo Atsushi , Wada Daichi , Hisada Shinsaku
Published: January 2023

The application of neural networks for nonlinear control has been actively studied in the field of aeronautics. Successful techniques have been demonstrated to achieve improved control performance in simulation using deep-reinforcement learning. To transfer the controller learnt in the simulation of real systems, domain randomization is an approach that encourages the adaptiveness of neural networks to changing environments through training with randomized parameters in environments. This approach applies to an extended context, with changing working environments, including model configurations. In previous studies, the adaptive performance of the domain-randomization-based controllers was studied in a comparative fashion over the model variations. To understand the practical applicability of this feature, further studies are necessary to quantitatively evaluate the learnt adaptiveness with respect to the training conditions. This study evaluates deep-reinforcement-learning and the domain-randomization-based controller, with a focus on its adaptive performance over the model variations. The model variations were designed to allow quantitative comparisons. The control performances were examined, with a specific highlight of whether the model variation ranges fell within or exceeded the randomization range in training.
Hypofractionated radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy and Toripalimab for locally recurrent rectal cancer: a single-arm, phase II trial (TORCH-R)
Authors: Wu Ruiyan , Shen Lijun , Zhang Hui , Wang Yan , Wang Yaqi , Zhou Shujuan , Chen Yajie , Xuan Yan , Xu Ye , Cai Sanjun , Xia Fan , Zhang Zhen , Wan Juefeng
Published: January 2023

Background
For patients with locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC), R0 resection of pelvic recurrent tumour is most important prognostic factor influencing survival. However, only approximately 40% of patients with recurrent rectal cancer can undergo R0 resection. Recent studies have shown promising synergistic effects of the combination of immunotherapy (PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies) and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Thus, for LRRC patients, addition of immunotherapy to preoperative CRT is likely to further improve the rate R0 resection and prognosis.
Methods
TORCH-R is a prospective, single-center, single-arm phase II trial of preoperative hypofractionated radiotherapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy in LRRC. A total of 75 locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC) patients will be recruited and receive 25-40Gy/5Fx irradiation or 15-25Gy/5Fx reirradiation, 6 cycles of CAPOX and toripalimab, followed by multidisciplinary team (MDT) for decision: radical surgery, sustained treatment until resectable or exit. The primary endpoint is the R0 resection rate of pelvic recurrent tumour. The secondary endpoints include the overall response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), safety and tolerability.
Discussion
TORCH-R will investigate whether hypofractionated radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy and Toripalimab can achieve better R0 resection rates, good tolerance and prognosis in LRRC patients. This is the first clinical trial to induce immunotherapy and consolidative chemoradiotherapy in LRRC patients.
Trial registration:
Trial Registration Number and Date of Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05628038, November 17, 2022.
A Partial Order OWA Operator for Solving the OWA Weighing Dilemma
Authors: Li Mingyu , Yue Lizhu , Chen Qinghua
Published: January 2023

Prior weights are necessary for the application of ordered weighted averaging (OWA) operators, but obtaining them is expensive and contentious, which restricts the application of operators. To address the weighting issue, the weight space is used to "replace" the conventional weight vector, and the operator comparison is then extended to a partial order comparison on the weight space. The results show that the partial order OWA operator can be used as long as the weight order is clear, that is, there is no need to take accurate values. The evaluation result is represented by a Hasse diagram. The partial order OWA operator retains the properties of the conventional operator, and the running cost is low. It can be seen from the example that the partial order OWA operator solves the time weight problem. It can compare, sort, and optimize data using the Hasse graph, and it can also implement hierarchical clustering. The comparison results have strong robustness.
What is the effect of different concentration (%) (100%, 80%, 60%, 40%, 20%) of non-heated and heated (at less than 100oC for 10 minutes) garlic (Allium sativum) extract on the zone of inhibition (mm) measured by callipers of Streptococcus mutan modelled by Staphylococcus epidermidis after overnight incubation?
Authors: Lu Jiale
Published: January 2023

I have always wondered how we can use common, easily accessible foods to improve our oral health and protect us against one of the most prevalent diseases, cavities.[1] A combination of bacteria, acid, food debris and saliva in the mouth, forms plaque around the teeth. The acid in plaque, produced by bacteria, demineralises the tooth’s natural enamel (thin layer which covers each tooth, used to protect the inner, fragile areas of the teeth), creating holes on the surface called cavities (dental decay).[2] When fermentable carbohydrates are consumed frequently, the low pH in the plaque selects for aciduric organisms to secrete acid long after the ingestion of food.

[1] “Oral Health Conditions,” 2022, accessed March 5, 2022, https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/conditions/index.html#:~:text=Some%20of%20the%20most%20common,one%20cavity%20by%20age%2034..
[2] "Cavities," WebMD, n.d., accessed April 2, 2022, https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/dental-health-cavities.
Alterations in retrobulbar hemodynamics in thyroid eye disease
Authors: Goel Ruchi , SHAH SHALIN , Gupta Swati , Khullar Tamanna , Singh Sonam , Chhabra Mohit , Khanam Samreen , Kumar Sumit , Sharma Pankaj
Published: January 2023

Purpose: To study the orbital perfusion parameters of ophthalmic artery (OA) and central retinal artery (CRA) in inactive TED and the changes following surgical decompression.
Methods: Non-randomised clinical trial. 24 inactive moderate-to-severe TED orbits of 24 euthyroid cases underwent surgical decompression and examined again at 3 months. The peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), and resistivity index (RI) of OA and CRA were evaluated using color doppler imaging and normative database was established using 18 healthy controls.
Results: The mean age was 39.38 +12.56 years and male: female ratio was 1: 1.18. Intraocular pressure was higher, and CRA – PSV, CRA – RI, OA – PSV, and OA – EDV were lower in TED in comparison to heathy orbits. The CRA – PSV, CRA – EDV, OA – PSV, and OA – EDV negatively correlated with proptosis and duration of thyroid disease. The area under curve of OA – PSV (95% CI:0.964-1.000, p<0.001) and OA – EDV (95% CI:0.699-0.905, p<0.001) helped in differentiating TED orbits from healthy controls, and in predicting the severity of disease. Post decompression, CRA – PSV, CRA – EDV, OA – PSV, and OA – EDV improved, with decrease in CRA – RI and OA – RI in both lipogenic and myogenic orbitopathy.
Conclusions: The orbital perfusion is reduced in inactive TED. The changes in OA flow velocities can help in differentiating inactive TED from healthy orbits and progression of TED. Sequential orbital CDI of OA and CRA can serve as an objective tool for case selection and monitoring response to surgical decompression.
Nuclear Complement C3b Promotes Paclitaxel Resistance by assembling the SIN3A/HDAC1/2 complex in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Wang Xiaochao , Hao Yan , Chen Jianfeng , Ding Peipei , Lv Xinyue , Zhou Danlei , Li Ling , Li Luying , Xu Yanqing , Zhu Yumeng , Zhang Wei , Chen Lu , Liao Tian , He Xianghuo , JI Qing-HaI , Hu Weiguo
Published: January 2023

In addition to the classical role as a serum effector system of innate immunity, accumulating evidence suggests that intracellular complement components have indispensable functions in immune defense, T cell homeostasis, and tumor cell proliferation and metastasis. Here, we revealed that complement component 3 (C3) is remarkably upregulated in paclitaxel (PTX)-resistant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and that knockdown of C3 promoted PTX-induced cell apoptosis, sensitizing resistant cells to PTX therapy. Ectopic C3 decreased PTX-induced apoptosis and induced resistance to PTX treatment in original NSCLC cells. Interestingly, C3b, the activated fragment of C3, was found to translocate into the nucleus and physically associate with the HDAC1/2-containing SIN3A complex to repress the expression of GADD45A, which plays an important role in cell growth inhibition and apoptosis induction. Importantly, C3 downregulated GADD45A by enhancing the binding of the SIN3A complex with the promoter of GADD45A, thus decreasing the H3Ac level to compress chromatin around the GADD45A locus. Subsequently, ectopic GADD45A promoted PTX-induced cell apoptosis, sensitizing resistant cells to PTX therapy, and insufficiency of GADD45A in original cancer cells induced resistance to PTX treatment. These findings identify a previously unknown nucleus location and oncogenic property for C3 in chemotherapy and provide a potential therapeutic opportunity to overcome PTX resistance.
Microfluidic devices to analyze the response of sphere-forming stem-like populations to chemotherapeutic drugs
Authors: Agüero Eduardo Imanol , Belgorosky Denise , García-Silva Julio Israel , Booth Ross , Lerner Betiana , Pérez Maximiliano Sebastián , Eiján Ana María
Published: January 2023

Microfluidic platforms for clinical use are a promising translational strategy for cancer research specially for drug screening. Identifyng Cancer Stem Cells (CSC) using sphere culture techniques in microfluidic devices (MDs) showed to be better reproducing physiological responses than other in vitro models and allow the optimization of samples and reagents. We evaluated individual spheres proliferation and stemness towards chemotherapeutic treatment (CT) with doxorubicin and cisplatin in bladder cancer cell lines (MB49-I and J82) cultured in MDs used as CSC treatment response platform. Our results confirm the usefulness of this device to evaluate the CT effect in sphere-forming efficiency, size and growth rate from individual spheres within MDs and robust information comparable to conventional culture plates was obtained. The expression of pluripotency genetic markers (Oct4, Sox2, Nanog and CD44) could be analyzed by qPCR and immunofluorescence in spheres growing directly in MDs. MDs are a suitable platform for sphere isolation from tumor samples and can provide information about CT response. Microfluidic-based CSC studies could provide information about treatment response of cancer patients from small samples and can be a promising tool for CSC-targeted specific treatment with potential in precision medicine.
Endocytosis-mediated entry of a caterpillar effector into plants is countered by Jasmonate
Authors: Chen Fang-Yan , Yan Zi-Wei , Zhang Xian , Cai Wen-Juan , Chen Chun-Yu , Liu Jie , Wu Man-Ni , Liu Ning-Jing , Ma Bin , Wang Muyang , Chao Dai-Yin , Gao Caiji , Mao Ying-Bo
Published: January 2023

Both insects and pathogens release effectors that are transferred into plant cells and weaken the host defense or immune response. While the imports of some bacterial and fungal effectors into plants have been reported, how caterpillar effectors enter plant cells remains a mystery. Here, using live cell imaging and real-time protein tracking, we show that HARP1, an effector from oral secretions of cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) which is previously reported to interfere with defense hormone jasmonate (JA) signaling output in host plants, enters plant cells via protein-mediated endocytosis. The interactions of HARP1 with vesicle trafficking components including CTL1, PATL2 and TET8 are essential for its entry. Notably, JA restricts HARP1 import by inhibiting endocytosis and HARP1 loading on endosomes. Taken together, the effector and JA set up a defense and counter-defense loop in the arm race between plants and insects. Our study unveils a new paradigm for the plant-insect interaction.
Large left varicocele in a patient with portal hypertension treated via transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt placement and both variceal and varicocele embolization
Authors: Megahed Ayah , Schlachter Todd , Cornman-Homonoff Joshua
Published: January 2023

Background:
Scrotal swelling from varicocele is a common complaint in adult men. Varicocele due to portosystemic collaterals is a rare presentation of portal hypertension. Imaging workup and intervention for varicocele in this case is more complex than varicocele due to absent or incompetent valves in the testicular veins and pampiniform plexus.
Case Presentation:
We present the case of a 53-year-old man with alcohol-related cirrhosis presented with persistent left scrotal heaviness, pain, and swelling found to have a large left varicocele. Given his history of cirrhosis, a contrast-enhanced CT of the abdomen and pelvis was obtained showing that the varices were supplied by a vessel arising from the splenic vein and draining into the left renal vein as well as gastric varices. Varicocele embolization alone is not sufficient in this case, and we treated with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, variceal and varicocele embolization.
Conclusion:
In patients presenting with a varicocele with a history of cirrhosis/portal hypertension, cross sectional imaging of the abdomen and pelvis should be obtained prior to treatment to evaluate for the presence of varices which may be pressured by varicocele embolization. If present, consideration should be given to referral to an interventional radiologist for possible concurrent variceal embolization and TIPS placement.
Postoperative chemotherapy with Eribulin following potentially curative surgery in patients with localized liposarcoma – a retrospective single center experience
Authors: Steinbrecher Oskar , Brodowicz Thomas , Scharrer Anke , Fabsits Johannes , Raderer Markus , Lamm Wolfgang
Published: January 2023

Introduction:
Soft tissue sarcomas are rare and heterogenous malignancies with high recurrence rates following resection and a poor prognosis in advanced stages. Eribulin is used in metastatic soft tissue sarcoma patients, who have failed first line chemotherapy and has been approved in patients with pretreated advanced liposarcoma (LPS) in the United States and Europe due to data from a phase III trial. In addition, no data are available for eribulin as postoperative treatment after potentially curative surgery. We have thus retrospectively evaluated efficacy and tolerability of adjuvant eribulin in LPS patients not suitable for intensive chemotherapy in the routine clinical setting.
Methods
In this retrospective single center analysis, efficacy and safety of eribulin were retrospectively evaluated in 5 high risk LPS patients.
Results
Eribulin as postoperative treatment following surgical resection was administered to 5 patients with LPS. Median progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 12.3 months (95% CI 5.6–18.9 months) and 44.3 months (3.8–84.8 95% CI), respectively. Toxicity was generally manageable, and grade 3 + 4 events were rare.
Conclusions
Postoperative eribulin may be feasible in selected high risk LPS patients, who are not candidates for intensive chemotherapy regimens. Further prospective trials, however, are needed.
Gamma-Flicker Light Reinforces MHC-II Mediated Antigen Processing and Presentation of Microglia in the Mouse Retina under Aging
Authors: Sheng Wang , Wang Qichang , Huang Yinghua , Gu Jianing , Ding Chengcheng , Cui Zekai , Tang Shibo , Chen Jiansu
Published: January 2023

Aging, a common risk factor for multiple retinal degeneration diseases, is susceptible to the tissue immune state. Our previous study suggested that a gamma-flicker light (γFL) improves retinal aging features. However, it remains unclear whether γFL could affect the retinal immune function under aging. In this study, we first explored the effects of γFL on astrocyte and microglia morphologies in different inner-retinal layers for mice of 8 w, 9 m, and 18 m. Unfortunately, these morphologies appeared to change only with age independent of 6-d γFL treatment. The immune transcriptomic analysis was then carried out for the whole retina tissue of 20-m mice, and we found that the major histocompatibility complex II (MHC-II) mediated antigen processing and presentation was most affected by γFL. The MHC-II related markers in the retina were then assessed, and the staining of all-age retina flat-mount showed that MHC-II+ cells were ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (IBA-1) positive, the cells distributed along the retinal veins. The para-venous MHC-II+ microglia cells were increased with aging and further increased with γFL treatment in 18-m mice. Meanwhile, we found that γFL significantly activated subretinal microglia, whose MHC-II+ subpopulation was significantly increased. Echoing these results, γFL significantly elevated neural-retinal CD74 expression level in the western blotting. Furthermore, amyloid β (Aβ) oligomer solution was injected into the vitreous of 8-w and 9-m mice to mimic retina aging. Expression levels of CD68 and CD74 were increased in these mice after Aβ injection and further increased following 3-d γFL treatment. Similarly, we found that the Aβ-γFL treatment resulted in a linear distribution of MHC-II+ microglia along the retinal veins and brought about a co-staining of Aβ with other activated microglia distant from the veins. Overall, γFL treatment inspires the function of retinal microglia in MHC-II-mediated antigen phagocytosis and presentation under aging, thus being a potential immunomodulatory tool for the treatment of retinal aging or aging-related diseases.
Quality of life after totally laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy with double-tract reconstruction versus totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy: Retrospective cohort study
Authors: Wang Ze-Qin , Liu Yan-Hong , Zhang Yu-Liang , Hong Jun , Wang Jian , Hua Lu-Chun , Wang Ya-Ping , Hao Han-Kun
Published: January 2023

Background
Gastrectomy remains a major surgery that may result in significant deterioration of the patient's health-related quality of life (QOL). This study assessed differences in short- and long-term QOL among patients following Totally Laparoscopic Proximal Gastrectomy with Double-Tract reconstruction (TLPG-DT) in comparison to those of Totally Laparoscopic Total Gastrectomy (TLTG).
Methods
Patients with gastric cancer who underwent totally laparoscopic proximal and total gastrectomy in the Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, from January 2015 to January 2020 were collected and retrospectively analyzed. Participants completed the EORTC cancer (QLQ-C30) and gastric (QLQ-STO22) questionnaires less than six months after surgery and more than one year after surgery.
Results
There were 25 patients who underwent TLPG-DT and 30 patients who underwent TLTG. For short-term outcomes, TLPG-DT patients had worse social function (p-value = 0.014), appetite (p-value = 0.038), and anxiety (p-value = 0.004) than TLTG patients. As for long-term outcomes, patients in both groups had similar quality-of-life scores. Patients in the TLPG-DT group had higher albumin and hemoglobin levels, as well as more time and cost for the procedure (paid ¥8,713 and ¥1,271 more than patients in the TLTG group in terms of total cost and consumables cost, respectively). There was no difference in complications and OS between the two groups.
Conclusions
The short-term QOL of TLPG-DT patients was inferior to that of TLTG patients, while there was no significant difference in the long-term QOL between them. TLPG-DT had a satisfactory QOL, which, combined with the better nutritional status of this group of patients after surgery, warrants replication in established surgical centers.
Development of a recombinase-aided amplification assay for rapid detection of the human pathogen Nocardia farcinca
Authors: Li Fang , Xu Shuai , Wang Ruihuan , Han Lichao , Yuan Min , Qiu Xiaotong , Kang Yutong , Shen Jirao , Liu Xueping , Chen Shenglin , Yao Jiang , Li Zhenjun
Published: January 2023

Nocardia farcinica, one of the most common etiological pathogens of nocardiosis in pulmonary infection, usually causes severe disseminated diseases in immunocompromised individuals. To date, there is a lack of rapid and reliable diagnostic tools for the detection of N. farcinica in clinical laboratories. In the present study, we reported the development of rapidity, simplicity, and high specificity real-time fluorescence recombinase-aided amplification (RT-RAA) assay for the detection of N. farcinica. RT-RAA technique was developed to amplify the specific gene of pbr1 and detected double labeled amplicons within 20 min by designing a specific labeled primer set and the corresponding probe. We identified 86 strains of N. farcinica and 46 closely related strains, analyzed the specificity of the developed assay, and estimated the clinical diagnostic efficacy of the method with simulated sputum samples. The results showed no cross-reaction was observed and specificity was 100%. The limit of detection of RT-RAA was 10 copies per reaction of Nocardia genomic DNA, which was up to 10 times higher sensitivity than conventional real-time quantitative PCR. In conclusion, the recombinase-mediated isothermal amplification technique is a fast, simple, and sensitive method for the detection of N. farcinica, which may have potential application for the detection of N. farcinica in clinical laboratories, especially in resource-poor areas.
A positive feedback between cholesterol synthesis and the pentose phosphate pathway rather than glycolysis promotes hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Song Guisheng , hu junjie , Liu Ningning , Song David , Steer Clifford , Zheng Guohua
Published: January 2023

Hepatic cholesterol accumulation and hypercholesterolemia are implicated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the therapeutic effects of cholesterol lowering drugs on HCC are controversial, indicating that the relationship between cholesterol metabolism and HCC is more complex than anticipated. A positive feedback between cholesterol synthesis and the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) rather than glycolysis was formed in tumors of c-Myc mice. Blocking the PPP prevented inhibited cholesterol synthesis and thereby HCC in c-Myc mice, while ablating glycolysis did not affect cholesterol synthesis and failed to prevent c-Myc-induced HCC. Unexpectedly, HMGCR (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase) and G6PD (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase), the rate-limiting enzymes of cholesterol synthesis and the PPP, were identified as direct targets of microRNA-206. By targeting Hmgcr and G6pd, microRNA-206 disrupted the positive feedback and fully prevented HCC in c-Myc mice, while 100% of control mice dies of HCC. Disrupting the interaction of microRNA-206 with Hmgcr and G6pd restored cholesterol synthesis, the PPP and HCC growth that was inhibited by miR-206.
Conclusions: This study identified a previously undescribed positive feedback loop between cholesterol synthesis and the PPP, which drives HCC, while microRNA-206 prevents HCC by disrupting this loop. Cholesterol synthesis as a process rather than cholesterol itself is the major contributor of HCC.