bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The spectrum of germline VHL variants in Iranian patients with Retinal Capillary Hemangioblastoma and genotype-phenotype analysis
Authors: Naseripour Masood , Azimi Fatemeh , Talebi Said , Mirshahi Reza , Kiaee Reza , Sedaghat Ahad , Kachoei Zohreh Ataei , Khakpoor Golnaz
Published: June 2022

Backgrounds: Retinal capillary hemangioblastoma (RCH) although may also be observed sporadically, is the most frequent and earliest manifestation of the Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL). This is the first report of different types of variants spectrum and genotype-phenotype correlations in the Iranian families with RCH. Methods: In this Prospective Observational Case Series study, 17 families with RCH were included. PCR was performed to amplify 3 exons of the VHL gene. Afterwards, Sanger sequencing was performed on all the PCR products. For the detection of VHL copy number variations, MLPA was used. Results: Our study identified 10 different types of predominantly pathogenic VHL variants. Missense mutations were the most common variants located on the α domain of the VHL protein (pVHL) in exon 3. Also, the pathogenic variants in RCH patients with CNS hemangioblastoma (CHB) mostly (72.7%) were located on the α domain. In a family, Proband’s sister had a different mutation with more severe clinical manifestations and a poor prognosis.Conclusion: α domain of VHL may play a potential role in the pathogenesis of RCH. Our findings suggest that the genotype-phenotype characteristics in those variants in α- domain may predispose patients to RCH with CHB.
Household salt storage and seasoning consumption are predictors of insufficient iodine status among pregnant women in Southeastern Brazil
Authors: Momentti Ana Carolina , Macedo Mariana Souza , Silva Ana Flávia Sousa , Souza Vanessa Cristina Oliveira , Júnior Fernando Barbosa , Franceschini Sylvia do Carmo Castro , Navarro Anderson Marliere
Published: June 2022

Iodine deficiency in pregnancy may lead to adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, including impaired child development. Sociodemographic factors and different dietary habits may be related to iodine status in pregnant women. The aim of this study was to evaluate the iodine status and its predictors among pregnant women in a city of Southeastern Brazil. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 266 pregnant women receiving prenatal care in 8 primary health care units. Sociodemographic, obstetric and health, habits of acquisition, storage and consumption of iodizated salt, and dietary iodine intake data were collected through a questionnaire. The iodine content was evaluated in urinary iodine concentration (UIC), household salt and seasonings, and drinking water samples. Pregnant women were categorized into three groups according to the UIC, determined by iodine coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS): insufficient (< 150 µg/L), adequate (150–249 µg/L), and more than adequate iodine nutrition (≥ 250 µg/L). The median (p25-p75) UIC was 180.2 µg/L (112.8-262.7). It was found 38% and 27.8% of insufficient and more than adequate iodine nutrition, respectively. Number of gestations, KI content of supplement, alcohol consumption, salt storage and frequency of using industrialized seasoning were associated to iodine status. Alcohol consumption (OR = 6.59; 95%CI 1.24–34.87), pack the salt in opened container (OR = 0.22; 95%CI 0.08–0.57), and use industrialized seasoning weekly (OR = 3.68; 95% CI 1.12–12.11) were predictors of iodine insufficiency. The pregnant women evaluated has adequate iodine nutrition. Household salt storage and seasoning consumption were risk factors for insufficient iodine status.
Grafting enhances drought stress tolerance by regulating stress-responsive gene expression and antioxidant enzyme activities in cucumbers
Authors: Shehata Said A. , Omar Hanaa S. , Elfaidy Ahmed G. , EL-Sayed Shereen S.F. , Abuarab Mohamed E. , Abdeldaym Emad A.
Published: June 2022

Water scarcity is a major limiting factor for crop yield production in arid and water-stressed areas worldwide. Cucumber plants have a high transpiration ratio and are vulnerable to water stress. Grafting commercial cultivars onto selected strong rootstocks has been useful in mitigating the effects of water stress. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the possibility of using a novel rootstock plant’s tolerance to water-deficit stress in inducing drought tolerance in cucumbers by activating the stress-response gene expression and the antioxidant system, which improved the cucumber quality and yield under water-deficit conditions. This field experiment was conducted for >2 years, 2020 and 2021, with five water stress cultivars (i.e., rootstock) and drought-sensitive cultivar Luerans (i.e., a scion). They were subjected to various deficit irrigation levels for 12 days, and their agro-physiological and molecular responses to water-deficit stress were assessed. Our results showed that the agronomical parameters, including the leaf area, leaf water content, number of leaves, plant height, root dry matter shoot dry matter, rates of leaf appearance and stem elongation, and total yield significantly increased with grafted cucumber plants than with nongrafted cucumber plants (control) under normal and stressful conditions. The physiological parameters revealed that higher catalase and peroxidase activities, abscisic acid levels, gibberellic acid accumulation, and lower lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde) significantly increased the plant growth rate in rootstock-grafted genotypes. Furthermore, the real-time polymerase chain reaction expression results revealed that transcript levels of the stress-response genes CsAGO1 and CsDCLs increased rapidly and continuously in five rootstock grafting. Concurrently, these findings suggest that grafting with local varieties of novel drought-tolerant rootstock genotypes could improve water stress tolerance in drought-sensitive cucumber cultivars.
Post-fire structural and compositional habitat resilience in pine plantations woodland types
Authors: EL Khayati Mounia , Chergui Brahim , Santos Xavier , Zekkaoui Elhossain , EL Karmoudi Yahya , Taheri Ahmed , Fahd Soumia
Published: June 2022

Fire plays a key role in structuring biotic communities around the world. In fire-prone regions, many plant species have acquired adaptive traits (seeders and resprouters) that help them to survive, reproduce, and persist after fire disturbances. Seeder and resprouter species have different short-term responses to fire. Obligate seeders have faster growth rates, greater allocation to reproduction, shorter life cycles, and lower shade tolerance than resprouters. A few years after fire, obligate seeders are expected to be more abundant than resprouter species within post-fire plant communities. We examined this hypothesis in burnt pine plantations located along the African rim of the Western Mediterranean Basin. In this region, pine plantation is the commonest forestry practice, and such woodlands have undergone frequent fires during the last decades. Here, we describe habitat structure and plant species composition in burnt and unburnt plots located in four independent burnt sites. Burnt and unburnt plots were structurally different, with the shrub and grass covers expanding after fire. In terms of functional plant composition, seeders were more abundant than resprouters in burnt pine plantations. The stronger short-term resilience of obligate seeders compared to resprouters was found to be related to the faster capacity of obligate seeders to respond to fire. Contrast in fire response between the two functional plant groups needs to be addressed in conservation planning to ensure the preservation of biodiversity in a future scenario of change in fire regime.
Clinical and virological features of first human Monkeypox cases in Germany
Authors: Noe Sebastian , Zange Sabine , Seilmaier Michael , Antwerpen Markus H. , Fenzl Thomas , Schneider Jochen , Spinner Christoph D. , Bugert Joachim J. , Wendtner Clemens-Martin , Wölfel Roman
Published: June 2022

In May 2022, human monkeypox infections including human-to-human transmission were reported in a multi-country outbreak in Europe and North America. With the first two German cases, we are providing clinical and virological findings, including the detection of monkeypox virus DNA in blood and semen. It is important to raise awareness among health professionals of the rapid and correct identification and diagnosis of this disease, which is probably still under-reported in Europe. We describe the first two cases of monkeypox (MPX) infections in Germany to highlight the importance of recent developments for health professionals worldwide and to share further observations related to human-to-human transmission in these cases. MPX is an orthopoxvirus infection that, with the exception of a few imported cases in the past, was previously thought to be endemic only in West and Central African countries [1, 2]. Beginning in 2018, the United Kingdom (UK) Health Security Agency has reported several imported cases associated with travellers from these countries [3]. One case reported on May 7, 2022, had a travel history to Nigeria. However, the two other cases within a family reported on May 13, 2022, neither had a travel history nor an epidemiological link to the previous case. On May 17, 2022, four additional UK cases were reported involving individuals who described themselves as belonging to the group of men who have sex with men (MSM). Subsequent testing for monkeypox virus (MPXV) in symptomatic MSM patients reporting to sexual health and sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics in the UK and elsewhere revealed an increasing number of confirmed MPX cases in Europe [1].
Predictive Probability Models of Road Traffic Human Deaths with Demographic Factors in Ghana
Authors: Hesse Christian Akrong , Boyetey Dominic Buer , Ashiagbor Albert Ayi
Published: June 2022

Road traffic carnages are global concerns and seemingly on the rise in Ghana. Several risk factors have been studied as associated with road traffic fatalities. However, inadequate road traffic fatality (RTF) data and inconsistent probability outcomes for RTF remain major challenges. The objective of this study is to illustrate and estimate probability models that can predict road traffic fatalities. We relied on 66,159 recorded casualties who were involved in road traffic accidents in Ghana from 2015 to 2019. Three generalized linear models, namely logistic regression, probit regression and linear probability model were used for the analysis. We found that gender and age groups have significant effects in predicting the probability of road traffic fatality for all three models. Through a likelihood ratio test, however, it was determined that the logit regression model produced consistent probabilities of traffic fatalities which are very close to the actual probability values across the age groups and gender, compared to the other two models. Thus, we recommend intensified campaign for the use of seat belts in vehicles, targeted at the aged and male users of road transport to reduce the possibility of death in any RTA.
Sustaining organizational performance and employee wellbeing in the 4IR: the impact of leadership 4.0, PSYCAP, and high-performance HR practices
Authors: Adekanmbi Foluso Philip , Ukpere Wilfred Isioma
Published: June 2022

This paper investigates perceived leadership 4.0, psychological capital (PsyCap), and high-performance human resource practices (HPHRPs) for sustainable organizational performance (OP) and employee psychological wellbeing (EPW) in business organizations.This investigation’s sample was obtained from twenty (20) organizations in Nigeria’s and Ghana’s financial, manufacturing, and service industries. Hence, this comparative study espoused a cross-sectional survey method. Nevertheless, from the 500 surveys floated, two hundred and forty-six (246) surveys were retrieved in Nigeria and two hundred and forty-three (243) in Ghana. A total of four hundred and eight-nine (489) were fit for analysis, done with Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS v.27).This paper confirms that Leadership 4.0, PsyCap, and HPHRPs independently and significantly increase and sustain excellent organizational performance and employee psychological wellbeing.This paper further notes that Leadership 4.0, psychological capital, and HPHRPs greatly and jointly influence the sustainability of organizational performance and employee psychological wellbeing. Hence, work organizations in Nigeria and Ghana, particularly Ghana, are advised to consider and assume the appropriate leadership styles, such as Leadership 4.0 for the varied circumstances and contests from the fourth industrial revolution. Moreover, employers in Nigeria and Ghana, particularly Nigeria, should always encourage positivity in their employees, using organizational support and positive psychology programs. Besides, the management and leaders in work organizations in Nigeria and Ghana should adopt human resource practices that make employees perceive that their organizations adopt the method of value enrichment, where they are taken as an essential resource for reasonable sustenance
Knowledge production and information dissemination: challenges faced by new and upcoming researchers
Authors: Kamogelo Manoko , Lucky Malatji Thabiso
Published: June 2022

Knowledge production means the gathering of related activities in the university that has to do with producing new knowledge. The emerging researchers find it so hard and difficult to engage in scientific and contribute to knowledge production because of lack of know how.Therefore, it is fundamentally importance, that the emerging researchers are made aware of the challenges that they will experience in the research process. It is not only the responsibility of researchers to produce knowledge, respondents in any research undertaken also make a greater contribution. That is why it is important that those in public sector understand the role that they play in research. Without their inputs this kinds of research would not be a success. This is a scientific way of contributing to the body of knowledge by academic staff and students.The academic community is continually conversing about knowledge and the many forms it takes, as well as ways of thinking about how to organise and arrange knowledge into categories, such as disciplines. This paper focuses on the challenges upcoming or first-time researchers experience when researching in order to make contribution into the body of knowledge. However, there are obstacles in the process that impede progress, making it impossible to produce knowledge and disseminate information to the communities.Therefore, this paper also discusses the process of knowledge production in the context of research, data collection, sampling challenges, arranging for interviews, fatigue by both researcher and respondents and finding the respondents to participate in the study.
PEMBUATAN E-COMMERCE PRODUK KOPI KAMPUNG STAMPLAT, DESA INDRAGIRI, KABUPATEN BANDUNG
Authors: Setiawan Deni , Loekito Jimmy Agustian , Pranata Yosafat
Published: June 2022

Kampung Stamplat memiliki potensi berupa kopi yang dihasilkan dari perkebunan kopi masyarakat. Berdasarkan informasi dari Kepala Dusun, kopi yang dipasarkan menggunakan nama Kopi Djamuju. Tumbuhan kopi tumbuh subur di daerah ini, rasa dan kualitas kopi Djamuju ini tidak kalah dengan kopi lainnya. Petani kopi di dusun ini melakukan proses penyemaian, penanaman, pemeliharaan tanaman dan penen biji kopi secara tradisional. Pemasaran biji kopi ini pun dilakukan dengan memanfaatkan para pihak lain, dengan demikian kondisi ini membuat para petani menjual biji kopi dengan keuntungan yang rendah. Tujuan kegiatan pengabdian kepada masyarakat dalam tulisan ini adalah pembuatan e-commerce untuk penjualan produk kopi hasil penduduk Kampung Stamplat, Dusun Ciparay, Desa Indragiri, Kecamatan Rancabali, Kabupaten Bandung. Ruang lingkup kegiatan terdiri dari dua tahap, dengan tahap pertama adalah pembuatan toko online pada beberapa platform startup beserta modul pengelolaan toko online dan tahap kedua adalah penyuluhan penggunaan aplikasi dan modul pengelolaan toko online secara khusus bagi pemuda karang taruna Kampung Stamplat. Hasil kegiatan pada tahap pertama adalah diskusi teknis dengan Kepala Desa Indragri dan Kepala Dusun Ciparay dan perwakilan pengurus Karang Taruna setempat pada tanggal 9 Juni 2021 diperoleh kesimpulan bahwa produk kopi Djamuju adalah produk utama Kampung Stamplat yang mana merupakan bagian dari Dusun Ciparay. Kemudian dilanjutkan diskusi teknis pada tanggal 1 Agustus 2021 diperoleh kesepakatan bahwa pelatihan dan sosialisasi penggunaan dan pengelolaan e-commerce akan dilakukan setelah Pemberlakuan Pembatasan Kegiatan Masyarakat selesai sehingga memungkinkan adanya pertemuan dalam jumlah terbatas. Target tahap kedua adalah adanya e-commerce dapat meningkatkan penjualan dibandingkan sebelumnya. Hasil kegiatan yang disampaikan dalam tulisan ilmiah ini adalah prototipe toko yang dibuat pada platform e-commerce
2006-2019 YILLARI ARASINDAKİ TÜRKÇE ÖĞRETİM PROGRAMLARININ AKICI OKUMA BECERİSİ BAKIMINDAN KARŞILAŞTIRILMASI
Authors: BİLGE Huzeyfe
Published: June 2022

Bu çalışmanın amacı 2006, 2009, 2015 ve 2019 Türkçe öğretim programlarını akıcı okuma ile ilgili kazanımları açısından karşılaştırmaktır. Nitel olarak tasarlanan araştırmada doküman incelemesi yapılmıştır. Çalışma kapsamında incelenen dört programdan elde edilen veriler betimsel analiz ile incelenip sunulmuştur. Çalışmanın bulgularına göre, incelenen bütün programlarda akıcı okumayla ilgili kazanımlar mutlaka vardır. İlk kez 2015’te akıcı okuma için ayrı bir alt başlık açıldığı görülmüştür. Programlar arasında akıcı okumayla ilgili en az kazanıma yer verenin 2019 programı olduğu, bütün programlarda en çok yer verilen boyutun prozodi; en az yer verilen boyutun akıcı okuma yöntemleri olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Bunun yanı sıra, sınıf seviyeleri arasında ve programlar arasında akıcı okuma ile ilgili kazanımların dağılımı açısından tutarsızlıkların olduğu da görülmüştür. Ayrıca akıcı okumaya yönelik açılan alt başlıklardaki kimi kazanımların aslında akıcı okumayla ilgili olmadığı anlaşılmıştır. Çalışmadan elde edilen bulgular alan yazın ışığında tartışılmış ve çeşitli paydaşlara yönelik öneriler getirilmiştir.
PARTISIPASI PEREMPUAN DALAM PROGRAM PEMBERDAYAAN MASYARAKAT PESISIR DI KELURAHAN KARANGASEM UTARA KECAMATAN BATANG KABUPATEN BATANG JAWA TENGAH
Authors: Azzahra Zidna , Mufrikhah Solkhah , Masrohatun Masrohatun
Published: June 2022

Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif dengan pendekatan studi kasus untuk mendeskripsikan dan mengetahui bagaimana partisipasi perempuan dalam program pemberdayaan masyarakat yang ada di Kelurahan Karangasem Utara Kabupaten Batang. Hasil observasi dan wawancara pada penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa bentuk program pemberdayaan masyarakat yang ada di Kelurahan Karangasem Utara adalah “Pelatihan Pemberdayaan” dan “Kelompok Usaha Bersama (KUB)”. Keterlibatan perempuan dalam pemberdayaan masyarakat diwujudkan pada proses perencanaan, pelaksanaan, dan evaluasi. Meskipun pada dasaranya semua masyarakat mempunyai hak dan kesempatan yang sama dalam proses pemberdayaan, namun perempuan dalam hal prosentase kehadiran dan keaktifannya hanya mendominasi pada tahap pelaksanaan. Sedangkan pada tahap perencanaan dan evaluasi sejauh ini masih didominasi oleh kaum laki-laki.
POLA KOMUNIKASI POLITIK: DPC PARTAI KEBANGKITAN BANGSA (PKB) KABUPATEN KUDUS
Authors: Firdaus Reinastya Kireyvin Auriel , Syamsudin Nur , Masrohatun Masrohatun
Published: June 2022

Keberadaan partai politik yang mengemban peran dan fungsinya akan membawa perubahan yang signifikan dalam proses demokrasi, apabila dilakukan dengan maksimal. Salah satunya fungsi komunikasi politik. Partai politik bersama fungsi yang dimilikinya diharapkan mampu menambah efektifitas proses komunikasi politik. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui penerapan fungsi partai politik sebagai sarana komunikasi politik di DPC Partai Kebangkitan Bangsa (PKB) bagi masyarakat Kabupaten Kudus karena eksistensinya dan pergerakannya dikenal aktif. Penelitian ini ditulis menggunakan jenis penelitian kualitatif dengan pendekatan deskriptif. Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan metode observasi dan wawancara. Komunikasi politik DPC PKB Kudus bertujuan untuk menyalurkan aspirasi dan agregasi masyarakat yang kemudian diproses menjadi kebijakan publik. Pola komunikasi politik yang dilakukan melalui jalur formal kelembagaan partai politik, Fraksi PKB di DPRD dan informal melalui personal dan pertemuan. Hambatan yang dihadapi dalam proses komunikasi politik berkaitan dengan komunikasi dengan masyarakat, konunikasi antarfraksi di DPRD dan komunikasi dengan pihak eksekutif.
PENGAWASAN OMBUDSMAN REPUBLIK INDONESIA PERWAKILAN JAWA TENGAH TERHADAP MALADMINISTRASI PUNGUTAN LIAR PROGRAM NASIONAL AGRARIA DI KABUPATEN KUDUS TAHUN 2017
Authors: Fuad Achmad Nur , Erowati Dewi
Published: June 2022

Sertifikat tanah merupakan dokumen penting yang menunjukkan tanda bukti kepemilikan dan hak seseorang atas tanah. Program pendaftaran tanah sistematis lengkap melalui Prona menawarkan kepada masyarakat untuk membuat sertifikat tanah dengan biaya yang murah. Akan tetapi, dalam pelaksanaannya banyak ditemui permasalahan dan penyimpangan, terutama pemungutan biaya ke masyarakat yang tinggi. Pada tahun 2017, Kabupaten Kudus menjadi salah satu kota yang memiliki kuota sertifikat Prona terbesar dan sering terjadi banyak permasalahan dalam penyelenggaraan Prona. Ombudsman Republik Indonesia hadir sebagai lembaga yang berfungsi untuk mengawasi dan menyelesaikan permasalahan pelayanan publik yang terjadi di masyarakat. Ombudsman Republik Indonesia Perwakilan Jawa Tengah sebagai perwakilan Ombudsman pusat melakukan pengawasan dan berupaya untuk menyelesaikan permasalahan yang terjadi dalam penyelenggaraan Prona di Kabupaten Kudus. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode penelitian kualitatif dengan pendekatan studi kasus. Tujuan dari penggunaan metode tersebut adalah untuk menggali data dan informasi dengan akurat dan spesifik, supaya data dan informasi yang dihasilkan lengkap dan mendalam. Teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah wawancara dengan delapan informan, kajian pustaka dan telaah dokumen yang berkaitan dengan pengawasan Ombudsman Republik Indonesia. Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa pengawasan yang dilakukan Ombudsman Republik Indonesia Perwakilan Jawa Tengah dalam mengawasi Prona di Kabupaten Kudus sudah sesuai dengan fungsi, tugas, dan wewenangnya. Pengawasan yang dilakukan oleh Ombudsman Republik Indonesia Perwakilan Jawa Tengah adalah melakukan investigasi inisiatif sendiri, melakukan pengawasan preventif dan melakukan kerjasama dengan aparat hukum lainnya. Ombudsman Republik Indonesia Perwakilan Jawa Tengah berupaya untuk menyelesaikan permasalahan Prona yang dilaporkan masyarakat dan Ombudsman Republik Indonesia Perwakilan Jawa Tengah juga mengirimkan saran perbaikan kepada instansi yang terlibat untuk mencegah permasalahan terulang kembali. Hal yang kurang dalam pengawasan tersebut adalah Ombudsman Republik Indonesia Perwakilan Jawa Tengah kurang melibatkan masyarakat dalam melakukan pengawasan Prona di Kabupaten Kudus.
WACANA DAN REPRESENTASI SEBAGAI KONSTRUKSI IDEOLOGI DALAM STRIP KOMIK MICE CARTOON INDONESIA BANGET 2!
Authors: Wijianti Ardia Septi
Published: June 2022

This study aims to understand the representation in discourse and how discourse constructs ideology in the comic strip Mice Cartoon Indonesia Banget! 2. To understand these two things, representation and social semiotics theories are needed. Both theories are applied to data in the form of visual and verbal language in comic strips. The data in the form of visual and verbal language are categorized based on the anatomy of discourse in social semiotics. The results of the study show that the discourse of Indonesians which is repeated in comic strips represents actors as metonymy of Indonesians which are considered negative. The categorization is based on an analysis of the anatomy of discourse in comic strips in the form of actors, actions, attitudes that are considered deviant and not in accordance with the discourse of people's lives. “Indonesian people” in comic strips are representations of discourses that live in society. The categorization has references that come from social reality in the form of various articles published as a form of discourse legitimacy in comic strips. Although the discourse of Indonesians is seen as a negative representation, this assumption becomes knowledge in comic strips that is taken for granted by readers. In the end, discourse and representation in comic strips are not questioned again. All discourses culminate in ideological construction which is reflected in the title "Indonesia Banget".
Enseñanza remota de calidad: un desafío para las universidades peruanas
Authors: Rebaza Wu María Natalia , Mercado Gonzales Martha Yudy
Published: June 2022

Frente al riesgo de un posible contagio, generado por el COVID -19, las autoridades de todo el mundo dispusieron el cierre inmediato y obligatorio de colegios y universidades y el traslado de la enseñanza presencial al modo remoto de emergencia en casi todo el mundo. Sin embargo, pese a lo incierto y retador que pudo resultar dicha medida, la virtualización de la educación permitió el trabajo colaborativo y el intercambio de ideas, conocimientos y estrategias entre instituciones educativas diversas. En este sentido, el artículo plantea propuestas reflexivas con relación a cómo debería enfocarse la enseñanza virtual. Estas medidas dan énfasis a la necesaria labor de tutoría y acompañamiento del docente, a la necesidad del empleo de estrategias interactivas, a la empatía, al desarrollo emocional, a la promoción de los valores entre otros.
Protein Proteinase Inhibitors as Modulators of Mammalian Cell Growth
Authors: Bratt Tomas , Scott G. Kenneth
Published: June 2022

Exogenous, secreted and cell-surface proteinases are variously involved in the stimulation of proliferation of mammalian cells in culture. The identification of the thrombin receptor provides a partial explanation for some of these effects, but others clearly involve different arid as yet poorly­ characterised biochemical processes. Activation of latent growth factors, and degradation of growth inhibitors are two such mechanisms. Protein proteinase inhibitors can act as growth inhibitors, by virtue of their inhibition of the relevant enzymes. Some proteinase inhibitors have an additional growth­ stimulatory property which appears to be independent of their proteinase-inhibitory function. Together, these two functions give proteinase inhibitors a biphasic effect on cell proliferation similar to that of growth factors such' as transforming growth factor • Bikunin is one such proteinase inhibitor which is synthesised as part of a precursor diprotein with a1microglobulin. Potential growth-regulatory roles for both components could help account for their co-translation.
Synthesis, Characterization and Binding Properties of Peptide-Oligonucleotide Conjugates Containing the Spkk Peptide Motif
Authors: Truffert Jean-Christophe , Asseline Ulysse , Thuong Nguyen T. , Brack Andre
Published: June 2022

Peptide-oligonucleotide hybrid molecules 6 and 7 have been synthesized by on-line solid phase synthesis using allyloxycarbonyl (Alloc) side chain protection for serine. The conjugates have been characterized by ma.trix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The interaction of conjugates
6 and 7 with a complementary sequence has been studied by absorption spectroscopy.
ORLNC1 Suppresses Cell Growth in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer via miRNA-296 Sponging
Authors: Cheng Xueyuan , Huang Zhong , Pan Anchao , Long Di
Published: June 2022

Background:

Accumulating research has demonstrated that aberrant levels
of long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) are related to cancer progression. The effects of
ORLNC1 in HER2+ breast cancer have yet to be explored.

Methods:

Real-time PCR was used to examine the expression of LncRNA ORLNC1 in
HER+ breast cancer. CCK-8, wound healing and cell invasion assays were used to
examine the effect of LncRNA ORLNC1 on HER+ breast cancer cells. Luciferase
reporter assay was utilized to determine the regulatory relationship between LncRNA
ORLNC1 and miR-296. Western blotting was used to measure the expression of PTEN.
Xenograft mouse model was used to examine the effect of LncRNA ORLNC1 on tumor
progression in vivo.

Results:

In this study, our findings revealed downregulation of ORLNC1 in HER2+
breast cancer specimens and cell lines. Low levels of ORLNC1 were related to poor
prognosis and advanced cancer stage. Using gain- and loss-of-function assays, the
ability of these tumor cells to proliferate was found to be inhibited by ORLNC1 in vitro
and in vivo. Further analyses revealed that miR-296/PTEN axis is directly targeted by
ORLNC1. Consequently, over-expression of miR-296 efficiently abrogated the upregulation
of PTEN induced by ORLNC1, suggesting that ORLNC1 positively regulates
PTEN expression by competitively binding to miR-296.

Conclusion:

Our results indicate that lncRNA ORLNC1 acts as a tumor suppressor by
regulating the miR-296/PTEN axis in HER2+ breast cancer.
Factors Associated with Heart Rate Recovery in People with Chronic
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Betancourt-Peña Jhonatan , Rodríguez-Castro Jenifer , Rosero-Carvajal Hamilton
Published: June 2022

Introduction:

Heart rate recovery (HRR) delay is a marker of cardiac autonomic dysfunction. In people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) attending pulmonary rehabilitation programs, assessing HRR could have prognostic utility, yielding valuable information for setting treatment goals and targets in therapeutic interventions. Therefore, this study aimed to establish the sociodemographic, pulmonary function, and functional aerobic capacity differences in people with COPD with normal and abnormal HRR during the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and explore factors associated with abnormal HRR.

Method:

Analytical cross-sectional study. Sociodemographic, anthropometric characteristics, pulmonary function, aerobic capacity, BODE index, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were assessed in COPD patients. An HRR cut-off point of 14 beats or more was used to define HRR delay.

Results:

Of 128 patients included, 89 (69.5%) showed abnormal HRR. Patients with abnormal HRR were classified with higher overweight/obesity, lower resting SpO2 and lower distance walked, predicted percentage, and estimated VO2 in the 6MWT, with more significant symptoms at one minute after the end of the test (dyspnea and fatigue). In the multivariate regression model adjusted for age, sex, resting heart rate, and FEV1, findings showed that distance walked in the 6MWT (OR 0.994, p-value=0.010), fatigue at 1 minute (OR 2.12, p-value=0.000), and HADS depression domain (OR 0.87, p-value=0.018) are factors associated with HRR.

Conclution:

In outpatients with COPD, HRR relates to the distance walked in the 6MWT, fatigue, and depression measured with the HADS.
Sensitive Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Detection
Using Gold Nanoparticle-Based Satellite Network With Potential For Early
Diagnosis of Diabetes-Related Infection
Authors: Bai Xinlu , Hu Liyi , Wang Dongze , Hu Yuan
Published: June 2022

Background:

As pathogenic bacteria account for the leading cause of diabetes-related
infections, sensitive detection of bacteria from clinical samples has attracted abundant attention.

Methods:

We propose an innovative DNA-AuNP-based sensing system that integrates low-speed
centrifugal bacteria isolation, detection and protein analysis. In the method, RCA (rolling circle amplification)
is utilized to produce a long-ssDNA (single-strand DNA), which can form a hairpin
structure comprising repeats of functional domains, such as PBP2a aptamer. When aptamers bind to
target bacteria, the hairpin structure in the RCA product changes its conformation, exposing the
AuNP binding sequence. As a result, the probe on the surface of AuNP hybridizes with AuNP binding
sequence in RCA product by strand displacement reaction, releasing the fluorescent-labeled
complementary probe as the detection signal. The simultaneous formation of the bacteria-DNAAuNP
satellite network enables the isolation of target bacteria by low-speed centrifugation.

Results:

Eventually, we applied the method for MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
detection and obtained a favorable detection performance with a limit of detection of 275
cfu/μL.

Conclusion:

We believe the method has potential application in the early diagnosis of diabetesrelated
infections.
In Vitro Metabolite Identification Studies for the New Psychoactive Substances Furanylfentanyl, TFMPP, and 5-MeO-DALT in Human Liver
Microsomes
Authors: Zheng Tian , Wu Liang , Wu Guoping , Chen Yifan , Zhou Shuhan
Published: June 2022

Aims:

Understand the metabolic behavior of new psychoactive substances, furanyl fentanyl,
TFMPP, and 5-MeO-DALT.

Background:

New psychoactive substances (NPS) are associated with several health and social harms on
both the individual and societal levels. Many are not regulated and have become increasingly popular
among drug users worldwide. The lack of clinical studies on the effects and toxicity of these drugs has
made the interpretation of their toxicological symptoms difficult.

Objective:

Perform an in vitro metabolism study of new psychoactive substances furanyl fentanyl,
TFMPP, and 5-MeO-DALT, revealing their possible metabolites and metabolic pathways in the human
liver microsome.

Method:

A regular human liver microsomal system was used to investigate the potential biotransformation
of furanyl fentanyl, TFMPP, and 5-MeO-DALT in vitro, and high-resolution mass spectrometry
(LC-Q/TOF-MS) was used to perform metabolite detection and identification.

Result:

The three components were substantially metabolized in 4 hours with varied metabolic pathways,
and most of the metabolites were generated through phase I metabolic reactions. Furanyl fentanyl
underwent the metabolic pathways of epoxidation and hydration, furanyl ring-opening and oxidation,
hydroxylation, hydrolysis of the amide group, and N-dealkylation; TFMPP underwent the metabolic
pathways of hydroxylation, and the successive piperazidine ring scission; while 5-MeO-DALT underwent
the metabolic pathways of O-demethylation and glucuronidation, dihydroxylation, hydroxylation, oxidation,
O-demethylation, N-dealkylation and methylation and N-dealkylation.

Conclusion:

Our data would contribute to a better understanding of furanyl fentanyl, TFMPP, and 5-
MeO-DALT in their in vitro metabolism study, which was beneficial to predicting their metabolic behavior
in vivo, and promoting their drug monitoring in both clinically used and socially/illegally abused.
Nursing and Midwifery Students’ Perspectives of Faculty Caring Behaviours: A Phenomenological Study
Authors: Chipeta Mep , Gombachika Belinda , Bvumbwe Thokozani
Published: June 2022

Aims:

The study aimed at exploring faculty caring behaviours from the perspectives of university students enrolled in Nursing and Midwifery programme at one of the public universities in Malawi.

Background:

The concept of caring has to a larger extent been defined in the context of nursing practice and rarely in the context of nursing education. Caring for students and nurturing a caring attitude in nursing education is the first place for students to learn about the most significant values of their profession.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to describe faculty caring behaviours from the perspectives of university students who were studying for a degree in Nursing and Midwifery programmes at one of the public universities in Malawi.

Methods:

A qualitative approach utilising descriptive phenomenology as a study design was used in this study. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews at a public university in Malawi from ten (10) nursing and midwifery students who were purposively selected. All ethical considerations were followed. Data were analysed using Colaizzi’s (1978) method.

Results:

Five themes emerged that defined faculty caring behaviours from the student’s perspective: (1) Being available, (2) Being respectful, (3) Seeing the person in the student, (4) Being fair and (5) Communication.

Conclusion

Findings have shown that nursing and midwifery faculty display both caring and uncaring behaviours. The study recommends the establishment of a curriculum with caring as one of its defining philosophies; the establishment of educational faculty - student interactions based on moral and human caring principles, and advocating for faculty to embrace faculty caring to improve nursing and midwifery student's professional socialisation.
The Efficacy of Unani Formulation Consisting of Phoenix dactylifera Fruit, Trigonella foenum-graecum Seeds, and Honey in Qillat-e-Mani (Oligospermia) – A Single-Arm Clinical Trial
Authors: Rahmatullah Md , Khalid Mohd , Husain Nazim , Doni Meenu , Hussain Md Majid
Published: June 2022

Background and objective:

Qillat-e-Mani (oligospermia) is a very common health problem that significantly impairs the patients' quality of life, resulting in family separation, depression, and anxiety. It has extensively been discussed in Unani medicine, with the greater emphasis on its therapeutic as well as dietary interventions. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of a Unani formulation in patients with oligospermia.

Methods:

It was a single-arm clinical trial conducted on 30 eligible participants in the age bracket of 20 to 60 years suffering from laboratory-confirmed oligospermia, after obtaining written informed consent. The trial intervention consisted of a 6g daily dose of Unani formulation in M'ajūn (semi-solid paste) form. The efficacy of the intervention was determined by assessing sperm count, motility, morphology, and volume from baseline to the conclusion of the therapy. The paired t-test was used to analyze the data.

Results:

The objective parameters showed statistically significant improvements without the occurrence of any adverse events.

Conclusion:

Although the Unani formulation is statistically effective in treating Qillat-e-Mani (oligospermia), it failed to normalize the range of sperm counts in many patients, which may be attributed to the brief duration of therapy. Thus, longer-term RCTs with more stringent criteria are required to bolster the scientific evidence.
Comportamiento de Calidris alba (Scolopacidae) en el Humedal Costero Poza de la Arenilla, la Punta, Callao, Perú
Authors: Podestá Jorge , Franke Irma , Barona Daniel , Aponte Héctor
Published: June 2022

Con el objetivo de evaluar los patrones de comportamiento del playero arenero Calidris alba (Scolopacidae), se realizaron observaciones entre el mes de agosto y septiembre de 2019 en el Humedal Costero Poza de la Arenilla (Callao, Perú). Cada sesión de observación tuvo una duración de 600 segundos (10 min.), con un tiempo total de observación de 40,200 segundos, aplicándose la técnica del “muestreo focal”. Se identificaron 58 tipos de comportamiento agrupados en ocho categorías. Las cuatro principales categorías de comportamientos con relación al tiempo total de observación fueron: descanso (37 %), locomoción (26 %), acicalamiento (13 %) y forrajeo (11 %); otras categorías representan el 13 %. Además, con relación al tiempo total de observación priman cuatro comportamientos: descanso con pico entre las alas (15 %), descanso (13 %), corretear (13 %) y caminar (9 %). El conocimiento de los patrones de comportamiento de C. alba permite obtener información relevante para continuar aportando con la etología de esta especie y reconocer las actividades que desarrollan frecuentemente en humedales costeros, sentando las bases para trabajos futuros relacionados al comportamiento de diferentes especies de aves playeras en áreas de conservación, lugares que reciben a centenares de individuos de ésta y otras especies durante cada año.
FAMILIA PLANTAGINACEAE
Authors:   Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Centro Regional del Bajío, Ocampo Acosta Gilberto
Published: June 2022

Familia compuesta por los géneros Bougueria, Littorella y Plantago, aunque estudios más recientes aceptan a los dos primeros como subgéneros de Plantago.El grupo incluye alrededor de 275 especies distribuidas alrededor del mundo, siendo Plantago el único hallado en territorio mexicano.
FAMILIA PTEROSTEMONACEAE
Authors:   Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Centro Regional del Bajío, Pérez-Calix Emmanuel
Published: June 2022

Familia que comprende un solo género que se distribuye en el centro y sur de México; habita principalmente en zonas áridas y semiáridas. Género conformado por tres especies con distribución confinada al centro y sur de México, de San Luis Potosí e Hidalgo a Guerrero y Oaxaca. Del área de la presente Flora se conoce una. La posición taxonómica de Pterostemon es incierta; algunos autores lo ubican en Saxifragaceae s. l., aunque por su hábito arbustivo, la presencia de estípulas y otras características lo separan en la subfamilia Pterostemonoideae. Otros lo sitúan en Grossulariaceae y un tercer punto de vista es que el grupo es lo suficientemente distinto como para constituir una familia monogenérica independiente. Análisis recientes, basados en caracteres moleculares (Soltis y Soltis, op. cit), sugieren que Pterostemon debe ubicarse en una familia separada y tal recomendación se sigue en esta Flora.
FAMILIA BUDDLEJACEAE
Authors:   Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Centro Regional del Bajío, Ocampo Acosta Gilberto
Published: June 2022

La familia cuenta con alrededor de ocho géneros y aproximadamente 125 especies distribuidas en zonas tropicales y subtropicales de América, África y Asia. En el presente trabajo se sigue el criterio de Cronquist (op. cit.), el cual considera a la familia Buddlejaceae como un taxon independiente de Loganiaceae. Aun cuando existen trabajos moleculares que apoyan este punto de vista (e.g. Backlund et al., op. cit.), hay evidencias que además sugieren que la familia es un taxon parafilético (así, Buddleja, Nicodemia, Emorya y Gomphostigma formarían parte de Buddlejaceae s.s., la cual a su vez muestra gran afinidad hacia Scrophulariaceae; Sanago y Peltanthera se presentan más relacionados con Gesneriaceae, Polypremum con Tetrachondraceae y Retzia con Stilbaceae, de acuerdo con Oxelman et al. (op. cit.)), por lo que se requiere de un estudio más profundo para determinar una adecuada circunscripción de la familia. Para México se conocen tres géneros, de los cuales se ha detectado la presencia de Buddleja y Polypremum en el área de estudio.
FAMILIA MARANTACEAE
Authors:   Instituto de Ecología, A.C. Centro Regional del Bajío, Calderón de Rzedowski Graciela
Published: June 2022

Familia pantropical de unos 30 a 32 géneros, con alrededor de 400 a 550 especies, mayormente del Nuevo Mundo. Algunos representantes tienen importancia económica tanto desde el punto de vista alimenticio, como medicinal u ornamental. El género Calathea, exclusivo de América, contiene más de la mitad de las especies de la familia, muchas de ellas son muy cotizadas en todo el mundo como plantas ornamentales de sombra, cuya mayor atracción son las hojas, por su tamaño, forma, indumento, colorido y diseño contrastante a manera de figuras. En algunos lugares de México y de Centroamérica las inflorescencias de varias Marantaceae se consumen a manera de verdura, las hojas se usan para envolver tamales u otro tipo de alimentos o artículos variados, así como para la manufactura de construcciones rústicas temporales (techos, paredes, cercados). El mecanismo de la polinización en esta familia es altamente especializado. Antes de la antesis, cuando la flor se halla en botón, el polen se encuentra depositado en una depresión detrás del estigma, mientras el estilo está forzadamente encorvado por el estaminodio petaloideo en forma de capuchón. En cuanto el polinizador (frecuentemente una abeja) comprime el estaminodio, queda liberado el estilo y sale elásticamente hacia adelante, quedando el estigma en contacto con el polinizador, que a su vez trae polen de otra flor y al mismo tiempo se lleva el propio anteriormente depositado en la depresión del estigma. En la zona de estudio sólo se encuentra el género Maranta.
FAMILIA JUGLANDACEAE
Authors:   Instituto de Ecología, A.C. Centro Regional del Bajío, Pérez-Calix Emmanuel
Published: June 2022

Familia con siete a ocho géneros con alrededor de 60 especies distribuidas principalmente en las regiones templadas del Hemisferio Norte, unas pocas se presentan en Sudamérica y en algunas islas del Pacífico. En el área de la presente Flora se han registrado dos géneros y cuatro especies. Por diversas razones, algunas de las especies de la familia Juglandaceae son importantes desde el punto de vista económico; la madera de los árboles es muy bien valorada, empleándose particularmente en el recubrimiento de muebles y de algunos instrumentos musicales, las nueces de varios representantes son comestibles y ampliamente utilizadas en confitería, mientras que la envoltura de los frutos de otras se utiliza como fuente de taninos y colorantes; también son bien valoradas como plantas ornamentales. Por lo anterior, varias especies se cultivan ampliamente.
Влияние фокусировки на взаимное увлечение электронов и фононов и электросопротивление кристаллов калия
Authors: Кулеев И.Г. , Кулеев И.И.
Published: June 2022

The effect influence of elastic energy anisotropy on the mutual drag of electrons and phonons and the electrical resistance of potassium crystals at low temperatures have investigated. We have analyzed the momentum exchange between the electron and three phonon flows corresponding to three branches of the vibrational spectrum in the hydrodynamic approximation. The actual mechanisms of phonon momentum relaxation have taken into account: scattering at sample boundaries, dislocations, and in the processes of phonon-phonon transfer. It have shown that in the limiting case of strong mutual drag of electrons and phonons, the electrical resistance will be much lower than that given by the Bloch–Grüneisen theory, and the phonon and electron drift velocities are close and they are determined by the total phonon relaxation rate in resistive scattering processes. In the opposite case, when resistive scattering processes dominate for phonons and the phonon system remains in equilibrium, then the electrical resistance follows the Bloch–Grüneisen theory. In this case, the drift velocities of all modes are different and much less than the electron drift velocity.
Мультифрактальные свойства поверхности тонких фольг молибдена при механическом нагружении
Authors: Обидов Б.А. , Корсуков В.Е. , Гиляров В.Л. , Анкудинов А.В. , Бутенко П.Н. , Князев С.А. , Корсукова М.М.
Published: June 2022

The effect of uniaxial tensile stress on the atomic structure and relief of the subsurface layer of molybdenum ribbons has been studied. The destruction of the Mo (100) face with the formation of crystallites was revealed near mouth of the crack. At the same time, the block structures are found to rotate both in the lateral plane and in its perpendicular plane. The surface layer structure in the lateral plane of the ribbon is fragmented into sections, which is associated with the surface relief at different scales. With a help of the concept of multifractal formalism, the spectra of singularities of the initial, loaded and ruptured surface are calculated. It is found that the width of the singularity spectrum, can serve as an indication of the forthcoming rupture.