bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Considering cross-cultural differences in sleep duration between Japanese and Canadian university students
Authors: Cheung Benjamin Y. , Takemura Kosuke , Ou Christine , Gale Anne , Heine Steven J.
Published: April 2021

Sleep is a fundamental biological process that all humans exhibit, and there is much evidence that people suffer adverse health outcomes from insufficient sleep. Despite this evidence, much research demonstrates significant heterogeneity in the amounts that people sleep across cultures. This suggests that despite serving fundamental biological functions, sleep is also subject to cultural influence. Using self-report and actigraphy data we examined sleep among European Canadian, Asian Canadian, and Japanese university students. Significant cultural differences emerged in terms of various parameters of sleep (e.g. sleep time), and beliefs about sleep (e.g. perceived relation between sleep and health). Despite sleeping significantly less than European Canadians, Japanese participants slept less efficiently, yet reported being less tired and having better health. Moreover, relative to European Canadians, Japanese participants perceived a weaker relation between sleep and physical health, and had a significantly shorter ideal amount of sleep. Asian Canadians’ sleep behaviors and attitudes were largely similar to European Canadians suggesting that people acculturate to local cultural sleep norms.
Utility of hospitalization for elderly individuals affected by COVID-19
Authors: Costantino Giorgio , Solbiati Monica , Elli Silvia , Paganuzzi Marco , Massabò Didi , Montano Nicola , Mancarella Marta , Cortellaro Francesca , Cataudella Emanuela , Bellone Andrea , Capsoni Nicolò , Bertolini Guido , Nattino Giovanni , Casazza Giovanni
Published: April 2021

Background

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of individuals needing hospital admission has sometimes exceeded the availability of hospital beds. Since hospitalization can have detrimental effects on older individuals, preference has been given to younger patients. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of hospitalization for elderly affected by COVID-19. We hypothesized that their mortality decreases when there is greater access to hospitals.

Methods

This study examined 1902 COVID-19 patients consecutively admitted to three large hospitals in Milan, Italy. Overall mortality data for Milan from the same period was retrieved. Based on emergency department (ED) data, both peak and off-peak phases were identified. The percentage of elderly patients admitted to EDs during these two phases were compared by calculating the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of the individuals younger than, versus older than, 80 years.

Results

The median age of the patients hospitalized during the peak phase was lower than the median age during the off-peak phase (64 vs. 75 years, respectively; p <0.001). However, while the SMR for the younger patients was lower during the off-peak phase (1.98, 95% CI: 1.72–2.29 versus 1.40, 95% CI: 1.25–1.58, respectively), the SMR was similar between both phases for the elderly patients (2.28, 95% CI: 2.07–2.52 versus 2.48, 95% CI: 2.32–2.65, respectively).

Conclusions

Greater access to hospitals during an off-peak phase did not affect the mortality rate of COVID-19-positive elderly patients in Milan. This finding, if confirmed in other settings, should influence future decisions regarding resource management of health care organizations.
Benefit versus risk of chromosomal microarray analysis performed in pregnancies with normal and positive prenatal screening results: A retrospective study
Authors: Moshonov Rami , Hod Keren , Azaria Bella , Abadi-Korek Ifat , Berger Rachel , Shohat Mordechai
Published: April 2021

Background

Most studies on chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) and amniocentesis risks have not evaluated pregnancies with low risk for genetic diseases; therefore, the efficacy and safety of CMA and amniocentesis in this population are unclear. This study aimed to examine the benefits and risks of prenatal genetic diagnostic tests in pregnancies having low risk for chromosomal diseases.

Methods and findings

In this retrospective study, we used clinical data from a large database of 30,830 singleton pregnancies at gestational age 16–23 weeks who underwent amniocentesis for karyotyping with or without CMA. We collected socio-demographic, medical and obstetric information, along with prenatal screening, CMA and karyotyping results. Fetal loss events were also analysed. CMA was performed in 5,837 pregnancies with normal karyotype (CMA cohort). In this cohort, 4,174 women had normal prenatal screening results and the risk for identifying genetic abnormalities with >10% risk for intellectual disability by CMA was 1:102, with no significant difference between maternal age groups. The overall post-amniocentesis fetal loss rate was 1:1,401 for the entire cohort (n = 30,830) and 1:1,945 for the CMA cohort (n = 5,837). The main limitation of this study is the relatively short follow-up of 3 weeks, which may not have been sufficient for detecting all fetal loss events.

Conclusion

The low risk for post-amniocentesis fetal loss, compared to the rate of severe genetic abnormalities detected by CMA, suggests that even pregnant women with normal prenatal screening results should consider amniocentesis with CMA.
T cell immune discriminants of HIV reservoir size in a pediatric cohort of perinatally infected individuals
Authors: Rinaldi Stefano , de Armas Lesley , Dominguez-Rodríguez Sara , Pallikkuth Suresh , Dinh Vinh , Pan Li , Gӓrtner Kathleen , Pahwa Rajendra , Cotugno Nicola , Rojo Pablo , Nastouli Eleni , Klein Nigel , Foster Caroline , De Rossi Anita , Giaquinto Carlo , Rossi Paolo , Palma Paolo , Pahwa Savita ,   on behalf of EPIICAL consortium
Published: April 2021

The size of the latent HIV reservoir is associated with the timing of therapeutic interventions and overall health of the immune system. Here, we demonstrate that T cell phenotypic signatures associate with viral reservoir size in a cohort of HIV vertically infected children and young adults under durable viral control, and who initiated anti-retroviral therapy (ART) <2 years old. Flow cytometry was used to measure expression of immune activation (IA), immune checkpoint (ICP) markers, and intracellular cytokine production after stimulation with GAG peptides in CD4 and CD8 T cells from cross-sectional peripheral blood samples. We also evaluated the expression of 96 genes in sort-purified total CD4 and CD8 T cells along with HIV-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells using a multiplexed RT-PCR approach. As a measure of HIV reservoir, total HIV-DNA quantification by real-time PCR was performed. Poisson regression modeling for predicting reservoir size using phenotypic markers revealed a signature that featured frequencies of PD-1+CD4 T cells, TIGIT+CD4 T cells and HIV-specific (CD40L+) CD4 T cells as important predictors and it also shows that time of ART initiation strongly affects their association with HIV-DNA. Further, gene expression analysis showed that the frequencies of PD-1+CD4 T cells associated with a CD4 T cell molecular profile skewed toward an exhausted Th1 profile. Our data provide a link between immune checkpoint molecules and HIV persistence in a pediatric cohort as has been demonstrated in adults. Frequencies of PD-1+ and TIGIT+CD4 T cells along with the frequency of HIV-specific CD4 T cells could be associated with the mechanism of viral persistence and may provide insight into potential targets for therapeutic intervention.
Felicidad y educación: déficits científicos y sesgos ideológicos de la “educación positiva”
Authors: Cabanas Díaz Edgar , González-Lamas Jara
Published: April 2021

El interés generado por la “educación positiva” ha crecido de forma exponencial en las últimas dos décadas. Presentado como un nuevo movimiento científico llamado a sustituir enfoques tradicionales o remediales en materia de intervención educativa, el argumento principal del movimiento es que la felicidad y la enseñanza de habilidades positivas son factores fundamentales para prevenir problemas de salud mental, mejorar el aprendizaje o promover el rendimiento escolar. En paralelo a este crecimiento, las críticas dirigidas a la educación positiva han sido también crecientes y numerosas, destacando no sólo aquellas procedentes de terceros, sino las procedentes desde el propio movimiento.  Todas estas críticas ponen en duda la solidez y la utilidad de la educación positiva. El objetivo de este trabajo es ofrecer una mirada panorámica e integradora de estas críticas con el fin de facilitar una mayor comprensión de los principales problemas y limitaciones del movimiento. Estos problemas se organizan en torno a dos bloques temáticos principales: científicos e ideológicos. Dentro de los déficits científicos, el trabajo destaca la ausencia de un marco teórico general y la falta de evidencia acumulada, las notables limitaciones conceptuales y metodológicas en torno a constructos principales y la moderada eficacia, así como la baja generalizabilidad de sus intervenciones clave.  Dentro del bloque ideológico, se abordan los principales sesgos y asunciones que subyacen el movimiento, tales como el marcado carácter individualista, descontextualizado y universalista del mismo. Para terminar, el artículo concluye con una breve reflexión en torno a la educación positiva y sus implicaciones en el ámbito de la educación.
Determination of natural antibodies, beta-hydroxybutyric acid, and non-esterified fatty acid levels in the serum of peripartum Tuj and Hemşin sheep
Authors: Kaçar Cihan , Kaya Semra , Kuru Mushap , Erkiliç Ekin Emre , Öğün Metin , Oral Hasan , Demir Murat Can
Published: April 2021

Background and Aim: Many metabolic and immunological changes occur during the transition period. Innate immunity plays an important role against to infections and natural antibodies (NAb) are important in immunity. This study aims to determine a connection between serum NAb titers, beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA), and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations in Tuj and Hemsin sheep during the peripartum period.

Materials and Methods: Serum NAb, BHBA, and NEFA levels were determined from the blood samples collected from Tuj and Hemsin sheep on days 30 and 15 before birth, on the day of birth (day 0), and on days 15 and 30 after birth.

Results: NAb titers were found to be higher in Tuj than in Hemsin sheep (p<0.001). No statistically significant difference was found in serum BHBA concentrations of both breeds on all sampling days (p>0.05). The serum NEFA level was lower in Tuj sheep in the last 15 days of pregnancy compared to Hemsin sheep (p<0.05), while no difference was found in samples collected at the other time points.

Conclusion: This study indicated that serum NAb titers significantly changed in Tuj and Hemsin sheep during the transition period. Serum BHBA and NEFA concentrations increased during the last stages of pregnancy and decreased after birth. Based on these findings, it is suggested that the immunological status could vary by the breed of sheep or various factors that affect the sheep's metabolic state.
Characterizing the Functional and Cosmetic Outcomes of Pedicled Neck Flaps in Patients Who Underwent Partial Tongue Resection: A Systematic Review
Authors: Atmodiwirjo Parintosa , Ralena Nadhira Anindita , Ramadan Mohamad Rachadian , Triatmoko Sara Ester
Published: April 2021

Introduction: Pedicled flaps from infrahyoid, pectoralis major, and trapezius were commonly used for partial tongue reconstruction. Not until a free radial forearm flap was introduced. The flap is recommended for patients with tongue defects ? 50% because of its thinness, pliability, and long pedicle. This systematic review explores the functional and cosmetic outcomes of pedicled flaps from the neck region for patients who underwent partial tongue resection or hemiglossectomy.
Method: A systematic literature searching was performed on PubMed, Medline, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane. Keywords included were pedicled flap, neck flap, partial tongue resection, hemiglossectomy, and partial neck surgery. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to the search results. Relevant studies were assessed for their methodological quality using appropriate instruments.
Results: Four hundred and twenty-four articles were obtained from the initial literature search. The authors finally gathered 11 full-text articles comparing the pedicled neck flaps with free flaps for partial tongue resection reconstructions. Pedicled neck flaps, such as submental, infrahyoid, sternocleidomastoid, and supraclavicular artery island flap, are clinically relevant for hemiglossectomy reconstruction with comparable functional and aesthetic outcomes.
Conclusion: Regional flaps would be a preferred technique in more difficult patients such as those with advanced age, poor nutrition, or multiple medical issues as they are not always acceptable surgical candidates for potentially prolonged microsurgery.
Effect of Diameter and Number of Hepatocellular Carcinomas on Survival After Resection, Transarterial Chemoembolization, and Ablation
Authors: Kawaguchi Yoshikuni , Hasegawa Kiyoshi , Hagiwara Yasuhiro , De Bellis Mario , Famularo Simone , Panettieri Elena , Matsuyama Yutaka , Tateishi Ryosuke , Ichikawa Tomoaki , Kokudo Takashi , Izumi Namiki , Kubo Shoji , Sakamoto Michiie , Shiina Shuichiro , Takayama Tadatoshi , Nakashima Osamu , Murakami Takamichi , Vauthey Jean-Nicolas , Giuliante Felice , De Carlis Luciano , Romano Fabrizio , Ruzzenente Andrea , Guglielmi Alfredo , Kudo Masatoshi , Kokudo Norihiro
Published: April 2021

INTRODUCTION:

Most studies predicting survival after resection, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), and ablation analyzed diameter and number of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) as dichotomous variables, resulting in an underestimation of risk variation. We aimed to develop and validate a new prognostic model for patients with HCC using largest diameter and number of HCCs as continuous variables.

METHODS:

The prognostic model was developed using data from patients undergoing resection, TACE, and ablation in 645 Japanese institutions. The model results were shown after balanced using the inverse probability of treatment-weighted analysis and were externally validated in an international multi-institution cohort.

RESULTS:

Of 77,268 patients, 43,904 patients, including 15,313 (34.9%) undergoing liver resection, 13,375 (30.5%) undergoing TACE, and 15,216 (34.7%) undergoing ablation, met the inclusion criteria. Our model (http://www.u-tokyo-hbp-transplant-surgery.jp/about/calculation.html) showed that the 5-year overall survival (OS) in patients with HCC undergoing these procedures decreased with progressive incremental increases in diameter and number of HCCs. For patients undergoing resection, the inverse probability of treatment-weighted-adjusted 5-year OS probabilities were 10%–20% higher compared with patients undergoing TACE for 1–6 HCC lesions <10 cm and were also 10%–20% higher compared with patients undergoing ablation when the HCC diameter was 2–3 cm. For patients undergoing resection and TACE, the model performed well in the external cohort.

DISCUSSION:

Our novel prognostic model performed well in predicting OS after resection and TACE for HCC and demonstrated that resection may have a survival benefit over TACE and ablation based on the diameter and number of HCCs.
Assessing the short-term effects of radiotherapy on the shear modulus of the common carotid artery as a new biomarker of radiation-induced atherosclerosis
Authors: Mohammadkarim Alireza , Mokhtari-Dizaji Manijhe , Kazemian Ali , Saberi Hazhir , Yazdi Niloofar Ayoobi , Esfehani Mahbod
Published: April 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of short-term atherosclerosis in the common carotid arteries following radiotherapy.Methods: The mean radiation dose to the arteries was 49.30±15.83 Gy. A computational ultrasound method was introduced to investigate the elastic modulus. Ultrasonography was performed 2-3 cm inferior to the bifurcation region before and after radiotherapy, and sequential images were extracted from a video of each artery. Instantaneous movement of the arterial wall in the radial and longitudinal directions was extracted by implementing the maximum gradient and block matching algorithms, respectively.Results: There was a significant change in systolic blood pressure after radiotherapy (P=0.008). Irradiated arteries had significantly smaller systolic and end-diastolic diameters than non-irradiated arteries (P<0.001). The shear modulus was significantly different between irradiated and non-irradiated arteries (3.10±2.03 kPa vs. 1.38±0.98 kPa, P<0.001). The shear and Young moduli of radiation-induced arteries were 2.25±1.50 and 1.57±0.59 times higher than those of the pre-irradiation arteries.Conclusion: The arterial shear modulus can be considered as a new biomarker of radiationinduced atherosclerosis in the common carotid artery.
Prevalence and characteristics of vagus nerve variations on neck ultrasonography
Authors: Ahn Dongbin , Lee Gil Joon , Sohn Jin Ho , Kim Jeong Kyu
Published: April 2021

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the true prevalence and characteristics of vagus nerve (VN) variations using the carotid artery (CA) and the internal jugular vein (C-I axis).Methods: We examined patients who underwent neck ultrasonography (US) conducted by a single operator. A VN variation was defined as a VN located anterior or medial to the C-I axis. The subtypes of VN variation were classified as anterolateral, anteromiddle, anteromedial, and medial based on the relative location of the VN to the CA. The primary outcome parameters were the prevalence of VN variations and differences according to side, age, and sex.Results: Out of 536 patients, right and left VN variations were identified in 20 (3.7%) and 186 (34.7%), respectively (P<0.001). The anteromiddle type was the commonest type observed on both sides. Eight right (1.5%) and 50 left VNs (9.3%) were located <2 mm from the lateral border of the ipsilateral thyroid gland (P<0.001). The prevalence of VN variations in male and female patients was 42.1% and 32.7%, respectively (P=0.029), and that in patients aged <20, 20-39, 40-59, and ≥60 years was 23.8%, 22.5%, 34.4%, and 47.4%, respectively (P<0.001).Conclusion: Variations in the VN position were relatively common on US. The variations primarily involved the left VN in the lower cervical region, and an increasing prevalence with age was observed.
El aprendizaje gráfico de la recta tangente a través de la modelación de las secciones cónicas utilizando GeoGebra
Authors: Granados-Ortiz Carlos Andrés , Padilla-Escorcia Iván Andrés
Published: April 2021

Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo fortalecer la modelación geométrica de la recta tangente en estudiantes de décimo grado mediante la utilización del software GeoGebra en una escuela pública de Barranquilla – Colombia para esto mediante una metodología cualitativa se aplicó una propuesta de tipo didáctico teniendo en cuenta las debilidades encontradas en los estudiantes partir de los resultados obtenidos en la etapa diagnóstica (pretest), concluyéndose que mediante la interacción de los estudiantes con este software los estudiantes potenciaron sus habilidades en el pensamiento geométrico, específicamente al modelar secciones cónicas en el software GeoGebra.
ANALISIS KOMPENSASI TEGANGAN SAG DENGAN KONTROL HYSTERESIS DAN ANN PADA GI SENGKALING PENYULANG PUJON
Authors: Eko Suryo Arief Trisno , Wijono Wijono , Siswojo Bambang
Published: April 2021

Makalah ini mendiskusikan tentang analisis kompensasi tegangan sag. Tegangan sag disebabkan oleh gangguan hubung singkat 3 fasa ke tanah. Gangguan tersebut memiliki dampak besar terhadap kerusakan pada saluran beban Penyulang Pujon. Tegangan sag dapat diatasi dengan kompensasi menggunakan Dynamic Voltage Restorer (DVR), yang mana DVR merupakan salah satu dari custom power device yang paling efektif. Hysteresis dan ANN diusulkan untuk mengatur kompensasi tegangan sag dari DVR. Hasil simulasi menunjukkan bahwa kontrol Hysteresis mampu mengkompensasi tegangan beban rata-rata sebesar 95.9 %, dan ANN 104.3%. Kontrol Hysteresis lebih baik dibandingkan dengan kontrol ANN dalam mengkompensasi tegangan beban, yang mana tidak melebihi tegangan beban normal pada saat kompensasi tegangan sag.
Digital Watermarking using Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Sharma Satender , Chauhan Usha , Khanam Ruqaiya , Singh Krishna Kant
Published: April 2021

The advancement in computer science technology has led to some serious concerns about the piracy and copyright of digital content. Digital watermarking technique is widely used for copyright protection and other similar applications. In this paper, a technique for digital watermarking based on Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT), Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT), and Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm (GOA) is proposed. The method computes the DWT of the cover image to obtain the sub-components of the image. The subcomponent is converted to frequency domain using DCT. The challenge is to find the optimal scaling factor to be used for watermarking. The authors have designed a GOA based technique that finds the optimized scaling factor and the coefficient for embedding the watermark. GOA makes the watermark undetectable and is invisible in the cover image. The watermark image is embedded in the cover image using these coefficients. The extraction of watermark from the cover image is done by using inverse DCT and DWT. The proposed method is compared with the other state of the art methods. The effectiveness of the proposed method is computed using Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR), Normalized Cross Correlation (NCC) and Image Fidelity (IF). The proposed method outperforms the other methods and can be effectively used for practical digital watermarking.
Investigation of the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in obese patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome in childhood and examination of left ventricular function by echocardiography
Authors: Özden Güzin , Kibar Gül Ayşe Esin , Mengen Eda , Ucaktürk Ahmet , Gürsu Hazım Alper , Çetin İbrahim İlker , Kızılgün Murat
Published: April 2021

Objectives

The objective of this study is to investigate the cardiovascular risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS), which is increasingly becoming prevalent in childhood obesity.

Methods

A total of 113 patients, 76 of whom were between the ages of 10 and 17 (mean age: 14.5 ± 1.8 years) and diagnosed with obesity (30 non-MetS and 46 MetS using IDF) and 37 of whom constituted the control group, participated in the study. Echocardiographic examination and atherogenicity parameters (Atherogenic index of plasma [AIP: logTG/HDL], total cholesterol/HDL, and TG/HDL ratio and non-HDL) were evaluated.

Results

The most common component accompanying obese MetS was found to be hypertension and low HDL. While obesity duration, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, fasting insulin, insulin resistance, atherogenicity parameters were determined to be significantly higher in the obese-MetS group. Echocardiography showed that while the thickness, volume, and diameter of LV end-diastolic wall, left ventricular mass (LVM), LVM index (LVMI g/m2) and relative wall thickness (RWT) were significantly high in the MetS group, however, mitral E/A ratio was significantly lower (p<0.05). Change in LV geometry consistent with concentric remodeling (increased RWT, normal LVMI) was visible in obese groups. LVM were positively significantly related to BMI, waist circumference, insulin resistance, blood pressure, LDL level, and negative to mitral E/A ratio. In the obese-MetS group, LVMI was positively correlated to office systolic BP, left atrium end-diastolic volume/index.

Conclusions

LVMI and atherogenicity parameters that were found to be significantly higher in obese MetS exhibit increased cardiovascular risk in childhood.
Left-Right Side-Specific Neuropeptide Mechanism Mediates Contralateral Responses to a Unilateral Brain Injury
Authors: Watanabe Hiroyuki , Nosova Olga , Sarkisyan Daniil , Storm Andersen Marlene , Carvalho Liliana , Galatenko Vladimir , Bazov Igor , Lukoyanov Nikolay , Maia Gisela H. , Hallberg Mathias , Zhang Mengliang , Schouenborg Jens , Bakalkin Georgy
Published: April 2021

Neuropeptides are implicated in control of lateralized processes in the brain. A unilateral brain injury (UBI) causes the contralesional sensorimotor deficits. To examine whether opioid neuropeptides mediate UBI induced asymmetric processes we compared effects of opioid antagonists on the contralesional and ipsilesional hindlimb responses to the left-sided and right-sided injury in rats. UBI induced hindlimb postural asymmetry (HL-PA) with the contralesional hindlimb flexion, and activated contralesional withdrawal reflex of extensor digitorum longus (EDL) evoked by electrical stimulation and recorded with EMG technique. No effects on the interossei (Int) and peroneaus longus (PL) were evident. The general opioid antagonist naloxone blocked postural effects, did not change EDL asymmetry while uncovered cryptic asymmetry in the PL and Int reflexes induced by UBI. Thus, the spinal opioid system may either mediate or counteract the injury effects. Strikingly, effects of selective opioid antagonists were the injury side-specific. The μ-antagonist β-funaltrexamine (FNA) and κ-antagonist nor-binaltorphimine (BNI) reduced postural asymmetry after the right but not left UBI. In contrast, the δ-antagonist naltrindole (NTI) inhibited HL-PA after the left but not right-side brain injury. The opioid gene expression and opioid peptides were lateralized in the lumbar spinal cord, and coordination between expression of the opioid and neuroplasticity-related genes was impaired by UBI that together may underlie the side-specific effects of the antagonists. We suggest that mirror-symmetric neural circuits that mediate effects of left and right brain injury on the contralesional hindlimbs are differentially controlled by the lateralized opioid system.
Local and CNS-Wide Astrocyte Intracellular Calcium Signaling AttenuationIn Vivowith CalExfloxMice
Authors: Yu Xinzhu , Moye Stefanie L. , Khakh Baljit S.
Published: April 2021

Astrocytes exist throughout the CNS and affect neural circuits and behavior through intracellular Ca2+signaling. Studying the function(s) of astrocyte Ca2+signaling has proven difficult because of the paucity of tools to achieve selective attenuation. Based on recent studies, we generated and used male and female knock-in mice for Cre-dependent expression of mCherry-tagged hPMCA2w/b to attenuate astrocyte Ca2+signaling in genetically defined cellsin vivo(CalExfloxmice forCalciumExtrusion). We characterized CalExfloxmice following local AAV-Cre microinjections into the striatum and found reduced astrocyte Ca2+signaling (∼90%) accompanied with repetitive self-grooming behavior. We also crossed CalExfloxmice to astrocyte-specificAldh1l1-Cre/ERT2 mice to achieve inducible global CNS-wide Ca2+signaling attenuation. Within 6 d of induction in the bigenic mice, we observed significantly altered ambulation in the open field, disrupted motor coordination and gait, and premature lethality. Furthermore, with histologic, imaging, and transcriptomic analyses, we identified cellular and molecular alterations in the cerebellum following mCherry-tagged hPMCA2w/b expression. Our data show that expression of mCherry-tagged hPMCA2w/b with CalExfloxmice throughout the CNS resulted in substantial attenuation of astrocyte Ca2+signaling and significant behavioral alterations in adult mice. We interpreted these findings candidly in relation to the ability of CalEx to attenuate astrocyte Ca2+signaling, with regards to additional mechanistic interpretations of the data, and their relation to past studies that reduced astrocyte Ca2+signaling throughout the CNS. The data and resources provide complementary ways to interrogate the function(s) of astrocytes in multiple experimental scenarios.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTAstrocytes represent a significant fraction of all brain cells and tile the entire central nervous system. Unlike neurons, astrocytes lack propagated electrical signals. Instead, astrocytes are proposed to use diverse and dynamic intracellular Ca2+signals to communicate with other cells. An open question concerns if and how astrocyte Ca2+signaling regulates behavior in adult mice. We approached this problem by generating a new transgenic mouse line to achieve inducible astrocyte Ca2+signaling attenuationin vivo. We report our data with this mouse line and we interpret the findings candidly in relation to past studies and within the framework of different mechanistic interpretations.
Brain Coding of Social Network Structure
Authors: Peer Michael , Hayman Mordechai , Tamir Bar , Arzy Shahar
Published: April 2021

Humans have large social networks, with hundreds of interacting individuals. How does the brain represent the complex connectivity structure of these networks? Here we used social media (Facebook) data to objectively map participants' real-life social networks. We then used representational similarity analysis (RSA) of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) activity patterns to investigate the neural coding of these social networks as participants reflected on each individual. We found coding of social network distances in the default-mode network (medial prefrontal, medial parietal, and lateral parietal cortices). When using partial correlation RSA to control for other factors that can be correlated to social distance (personal affiliation, personality traits. and visual appearance, as subjectively rated by the participants), we found that social network distance information was uniquely coded in the retrosplenial complex, a region involved in spatial processing. In contrast, information on individuals' personal affiliation to the participants and personality traits was found in the medial parietal and prefrontal cortices, respectively. These findings demonstrate a cortical division between representations of non-self-referenced (allocentric) social network structure, self-referenced (egocentric) social distance, and trait-based social knowledge.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTEach of us has a social network composed of hundreds of individuals, with different characteristics and different relations among them. How does our brain represent this complexity? To find out, we mapped participants' social connections using Facebook data and then asked them to think about individuals from their network while undergoing functional MRI scanning. We found that the position of individuals within the social network, as well as their affiliation to the participant, are mapped in the retrosplenial complex, a region involved in spatial processing. Individuals' personality traits were coded in another region, the medial prefrontal cortex. Our findings demonstrate a neural dissociation among different aspects of social knowledge and suggest a link between spatial and social cognitive mapping.
SÜTÜN MİKROBİYOTASI VE BOZULMASINA YOL AÇAN ÖNEMLİ BAKTERİLER
Authors: BAŞAR Cem Sezai , HEPERKAN Zeynep Dilek
Published: April 2021

Süt sağımdan başlayarak işleninceye kadar çeşitli ortamlardan, ekipmanlardan ve personelden bulaşan mikroorganizmalar nedeniyle bozulur. Süt mikrobiyotasında laktik asit bakterileri, psikrotrofik Gram negatif bakteriler, Gram pozitif sporlu bakteriler ve patojen bakteriler bulunur. Bu bakteri ve enzimlerin faaliyeti sütün duyusal ve yapısal özelliklerini değiştirerek bozulmasına neden olur. Çiğ süt mikrobiyotası hem sütün hem de süt ürünlerinin kalite ve güvenliğini etkileyen en önemli parametrelerden birisi olup, bir taraftan çiftlik ortamını yansıtırken, diğer taraftan sağım ve işletme koşulları hakkında da fikir verir. Çiğ sütte sıklıkla bulunan ve sütün bozulmasına yol açan en önemli bakteriler Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Brevundimonas, Flavobacterium ve bazı koliform üyeleridir. Sütün bozulmasında pastörizasyon öncesi bulaşmaların yanında pastörizasyon sonrası bulaşmalara bağlı mikroorganizma faaliyeti de önemli rol oynar. Özellikle psikrotrofik termofilik karakterdeki Bacillus türleri pastörizasyondan sonra meydana gelen bozulmalardan sorumludur. Bu makalede, sütün mikroorganizmalarla bulaşma yolları, sütte bulunan mikroorganizmaların özellikleri ve sütün bozulmasındaki rolleri konusunda bilgiler sunulmuştur.
Global emissions of VOCs from compressed aerosol products
Authors: Yeoman Amber M. , Lewis Alastair C.
Published: April 2021

Disposable compressed gas aerosols have been a ubiquitous part of life since the mid-1950s. The signing of the Montreal Protocol in 1987 led to aerosol propellants changing from halocarbons to less damaging replacements; around 93% of current aerosol emissions by mass are volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with small contributions from compressed air (6.6%) and fluorocarbons (0.4%). The global consumption of aerosol units has increased significantly since the signing of the Montreal Protocol, increasing by an order of magnitude in some countries. In high-income countries, annual consumption increased through the 1990s and 2000s, typically reaching a plateau of approximately 10 ± 3 units person–1 year–1 dependant on product preferences. The largest contributors of both units and mass emissions are personal care products (PCPs). Consumption of aerosols in lower- and upper-middle income countries are growing rapidly, for example, Brazil, Mexico, China, Thailand, all tripling reported consumption since 2006. Based on evidence drawn from national production estimates, product specifications and formulations, and interpolation of usage between countries of similar economic status, we estimate global emissions of VOC from aerosol propellants were approximately 1.3 ± 0.23 Tg year–1 in 2018. The fraction of anthropogenic VOC emissions accounted for by aerosols has in some countries increased significantly as emissions from vehicles and fuels have declined. For example, in the UK, 6.1% of anthropogenic VOC emissions were from aerosols in 2017, more than were released from gasoline passenger cars. Should low- and middle-income economies grow consumption per capita in line with recent trends, then we project global aerosol consumption may reach approximately 4.4 ± 0.96 × 1010 units year–1 in 2050. Should existing national and international policies on aerosol product formulation remain unchanged, and VOCs remain the dominant propellant, compressed aerosols could account for a global emission of approximately 2.2 ± 0.48 Tg year–1 in 2050.
Model-based Optimization of Biopolymer Production from Glycerol
Authors: Sharmaa Kavita , Srivastava Ashok Kumar , Sreekrishnan T. R.
Published: April 2021

The present study focuses on sustainable production of biodegradable polymers by

Cupriavidus necator DSMZ 545 using glycerol as substrate. The batch growth and biopolymer production kinetics were established in a 7-L bioreactor, which resulted in a

total biomass of 8.88 g L–1 and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) accumulation of 6.76 g L–1. The batch kinetic and independently acquired substrate inhibition data were then used to develop a mathematical model for PHB production process. This was eventually used to design different nutrient feeding strategies under constant feed rate, decreasing feed rate, and pseudo steady state of substrate (glycerol) to optimize the PHB production during fed-batch cultivation. Among all the fed-batch cultivation strategies, the highest PHB accumulation and productivity of 13.12 g L–1 and 0.27 g L–1 h–1, respectively, was

achieved in fed-batch bioreactor cultivation where a pseudo steady state with respect to

glycerol was maintained.
Liberación del ion flúor de un cemento de ionómero vítreo modificado con extracto etanólico de propóleo
Authors: Lezcano Melisa Raquel , Zamudio María Eugenia
Published: April 2021

Objetivo. El objetivo de este estudio fue cuantificar la liberación de flavonoides y flúor en probetas de ionómero vítreo convencional tipo II modificado con extracto de propóleo. Métodos. Fueron utilizadas 60 unidades de análisis. El extracto etanólico de propóleo al 2% fue incorporado a un ionómero vítreo tipo II. Para la determinación de la liberación de flavonoides el laboratorio analizó la concentración de quercetina por ml de solución, sea agua destilada o solución fisiológica durante un periodo de 5 días. Resultados. Hubo liberación inicial de 0,40 mg/ml de flúor en solución fisiológica y de 0,35 mg/ml de flúor en agua destilada, y una liberación final de 0 mg/ml de flavonoides y de flúor en solución fisiológica y de 0,18 mg/ml de flúor en solución de agua destilada. Conclusiones. La liberación de flúor y flavonoides se produce en mayor concentración en las primeras horas, decreciendo a medida que pasan las horas.
Metodologías complementarias para la evaluación de dientes tratados endodónticamente restaurados con pernos prefabricados: revisión narrativa de la literatura
Authors: Dos Santos Neto Otavio Marino , Cavalcante Souto Ingrid Carneiro , Rodrigues Ferracioli Renata Cristina Silveira , Pereira Almeida Rossana
Published: April 2021

La restauración de dientes tratados endodónticamente (RDTE) es una temática en constante estudio, con la finalidad de que se obtengan protocolos clínicos seguros, que puedan mejorar la longevidad de los tratamientos. En los últimos años es creciente la búsqueda por metodologías complementarias a la resistencia de unión, para la evaluación de las RDTE. No obstante, es importante conocer las ventajas y desventajas de cada uno de los métodos complementarios más empleados para evaluar las RDTEs, permitiendo ampliar los conocimientos obtenidos en una investigación. El objetivo de este estudio fue presentar los diferentes métodos utilizados como complementarios a las pruebas de resistencia de la unión y resistencia a la fractura tras una revisión narrativa de la literatura. Se realizó una búsqueda en las bases de datos electrónicas PUBMED, BBO (Biblioteca Dental Brasileña), LILACS (Literatura de Salud de América Latina y el Caribe), SciELO y Medline, utilizando las palabras clave “dientes tratados endodónticamente” y “perno prefabricado”, de 1990 hasta el 2020. De los 360 artículos se excluyeron 295 que no presentaban información relevante para nuestra investigación, donde las metodologías comprendieron pruebas microbiológicas, moleculares, biológicas, metodologías de imagen y métodos de análisis de superficies. Al final de la selección de artículos, se enumeraron las técnicas utilizadas en cada estudio y, a partir de ahí, se realizó una nueva búsqueda bibliográfica, con el objetivo de revisar las técnicas y sus potenciales usos, ventajas y desventajas. Se concluye que las técnicas presentadas son valiosas para incrementar los resultados obtenidos con las pruebas mecánicas en la evaluación de la RDTE con pernos prefabricados.
Efecto del ibuprofeno en el establecimiento de la gestación de embriones bovinos producidos in vitro
Authors: Narváez Bedoya Héctor Javier
Published: April 2021

El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el efecto de la administración de ibuprofeno en el establecimiento de la gestación de embriones bovinos producidos in vitro. Se utilizaron 85 novillas Bos taurus x B. indicus como receptoras de embriones, las cuales fueron sometidas a un protocolo de sincronización del estro y de la ovulación con la inserción de un implante intravaginal de progesterona (Sincrogest®) por ocho días, más la aplicación de 2 mg de benzoato de estradiol (Sincrodiol®). A la remoción del implante se aplicaron 500 μg cloprostenol sódico (Sincrocio®), 300 UI de gonadotrofina coriónica equina (Sincro eCG®), más la administración de 1 mg de cipionato de estradiol (SincroCP®,). Una hora antes a la transferencia de los embriones se aplicó 5 mg/kg de ibuprofeno IM. No se observó diferencia significativa en la tasa de gestación del grupo control (47.5%) y del grupo ibuprofeno (35.5%). Se concluye que la administración de ibuprofeno en novillas B. taurus x B. indicus una hora antes de la transferencia de los embriones in vitro no presentó efecto sobre el establecimiento de la gestación.
Morfometría de la gónada masculina y espermatozoides de cobayos (Cavia porcellus) nativo y mejorado del sur de Ecuador
Authors: Rosales Jaramillo Cornelio Alejandro , Guevara V. Guillermo , Perea G. Fernando , Ayala G. Luis , Nieto Escandón Pedro
Published: April 2021

El objetivo de esta investigación fue describir la morfometría de los testículos y espermatozoides de cuyes (Cavia porcellus) de dos grupos genéticos, nativos y mejorados, del sur de Ecuador. Se utilizaron 22 cuyes nativos y 20 mejorados de la línea Perú, los cuales fueron criados en jaulas elevadas y alimentados con forraje y concentrado, hasta alcanzar la edad de sacrificio de 97 a 112 días. Luego de faenados, se retiraron los testículos y epidídimos, y mediante disección se separó el epidídimo del testículo para tomar sus dimensiones, y recolectar los espermatozoides del epidídimo por la técnica de lavado por flujo retrógrado. Se prepararon frotis de semen para las mediciones de espermatozoides. Los datos se procesaron por análisis de varianza GLM y se utilizó el procedimiento LSMeans para comparar las medias (SAS V.9.0). Los parámetros morfométricos de los testículos fueron diferentes (p<0.05) entre subpoblaciones; testículos opuestos del mismo grupo genético fueron similares, mientras que los ipsilaterales entre subpoblaciones mostraron diferencias estadísticas (p<0.05). El tamaño testicular tuvo relación directa con el peso corporal, y el índice gonadosomático de los cuyes nativos fue mayor que el de los mejorados (p<0.05). Los espermatozoides fueron diferentes (p<0.05) entre grupos genéticos en la longitud del acrosoma y cabeza y en la relación longitud/ancho de cabeza. En conclusión, se encontraron diferencias morfológicas en los testículos y en los espermatozoides entre los dos grupos de cuyes.
Características físicas y perfil de diámetro de fibra de alpacas Huacaya del Centro Experimental La Raya (Puno, Perú), según edad y sexo
Authors: Quispe Coaquira Jesús E. , Apaza Zúñiga Edgar , Olarte Daza C. Uberto
Published: April 2021

Se determinaron las características tecnológicas y el perfil del diámetro de fibra según edad (1, 3, 5 y 7 años) y sexo (macho y hembra) de alpacas Huacaya del Centro Experimental La Raya (Puno, Perú). Se tomaron muestras de vellón del costillar medio al momento de la esquila y se analizaron con el equipo OFDA 2000. Los datos fueron ajustados a regresión múltiple cuadrática para el análisis de las tasas de cambio. El diámetro promedio, factor de confort, índice de curvatura y longitud de fibra fueron estadísticamente similares entre sexos, mientras que para la edad, el diámetro incrementó (de 19.48 ± 0.25 a 24.82 ± 0.80 µm), y disminuyó el factor de confort (de 98.15 a 86.95%) y la longitud de fibra (de 102.18 ± 12.92 a 75.00 ± 11.34 mm), mientras que el índice de curvatura no mostró tendencia definida. Los parámetros que caracterizan el perfil del diámetro de fibra mostraron un solo valor máximo del diámetro medio de fibra, que mostró una curva cóncava con dos segmentos ascendente y descendente. Las tasas de cambio fueron positivas y negativas, aunque sus magnitudes fueron pequeñas. Se concluye que las alpacas del estudio presentan características tecnológicas propias y el perfil del diámetro configura un patrón característico estacional coincidente con la estacionalidad pluvial del Altiplano.
Frecuencia y carga parasitaria en branquias de alevinos de gamitana (Colossoma macropomum) mediante exámenes directos en tres establecimientos piscícolas de Ucayali, Perú
Authors: Rondón E. Juan , Villanueva C. César , Del Águila L. Roberto , Sandoval C. Nieves
Published: April 2021

El objetivo del estudio fue determinar la frecuencia y carga de ectoparásitos en branquias de alevinos de gamitana procedentes de tres establecimientos piscícolas de crianza semi-intensiva en la provincia de Coronel Portillo, Ucayali, Perú. Se seleccionaron 60 alevinos (35-45 días de edad) por cada uno de los tres establecimientos proveedores de alevinos (E1, E2 y E3), criados a condiciones similares en densidad y alimentación. Se evaluaron tres secciones de capas branquiales de ambos lados en fresco, mediante observación visual con una lupa a 2x para detectar crustáceos y mediante microscopía directa a 10x para trematodos y a 40x para protozoarios. Se consideraron cuatro grados de infestación; nulo (0 parásitos), leves (1-3), moderado (4-7) y severo (>8). Se logró identificar principalmente formas compatibles con monogeneos de la familia Dactylogyridae, compatibles con Dactylogyrus spp (41.1%) y protozoarios, mayormente de la familia Oodiniaceae, compatibles con Piscinodinium spp (10.6%). No se encontraron crustáceos. Las frecuencias de infestaciones fueron de 28.3, 86.7 y 18.3% en E1, E2 y E3, respectivamente. Las cargas parasitarias fueron mayormente leves (87.5, 53.8 y 83.3% para monogeneos y 80, 70 y 100% para protozoarios, en E1, E2, y E3, respectivamente). Los resultados sugieren una menor condición sanitaria en los alevinos del E2. Se concluye que hubo mayor frecuencia de infestaciones por monogeneos y cargas parasitarias leves en branquias de alevinos de gamitanas de las tres piscigranjas evaluadas mediante exámenes directos.
Patógenos fúngicos en lesiones dermatológicas de grandes y pequeñas especies animales en clínicas veterinarias y refugios animales en Bogotá D.C.
Authors: Peña-Castillo Zully Mariana , Pulido-Villamarín Adriana , Castañeda-Salazar Rubiela , Barbosa-Buitrago Angélica , Ortíz Beatríz , Oliver-Espinosa Olimpo , Vacca-Sánchez Myriam Luz
Published: April 2021

El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar la presencia de patógenos fúngicos a partir de lesiones dermatológicas en grandes y pequeñas especies animales en clínicas veterinarias y refugios animales de Bogotá, Colombia. De un total de 30 caninos, 15 felinos y 2 equinos se obtuvieron muestras de raspado de piel (31) e hisopados óticos (26) y de piel (44), que fueron analizadas mediante examen directo, cultivo e identificación a nivel de especie. Se determinó la presencia de Microsporum canis y Malassezia spp. Según la especie animal predominaron M. canis (21.4%) en felinos y Malassezia pachydermatis (32.1%) en caninos. Según el tipo de muestra se detectó mayor frecuencia de M. canis en raspado de piel (21.4%) y Malassezia spp en hisopado ótico (21.4%).
Microplásticos en peces marinos de importancia económica en Lima, Perú
Authors: Iannacone José , Principe Fabiola , Minaya David , Panduro Grober , Carhuapoma Mario , Alvariño Lorena
Published: April 2021

Se evaluó los microplasticos (MP) presentes en cinco peces de importancia económica en el Perú: Sciaena deliciosa (Tschudi, 1846) (Sciaenidae) “lorna”, Isacia conceptionis (Cuvier, 1830) (Haemulidae) “cabinza”, Scartichthys gigas (Steindachner, 1876) (Blenniidae) “borrachito”, Mugil cephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mugilidae) “lisa” y Scomber japonicus (Houttuyn, 1782) (Scombridae) “caballa”. El contenido estomacal y branquial de cada pez fue sometido a digestión con KOH al 10%, seguido por un proceso de filtración para la búsqueda de MP. Los MP fueron clasificados por color y por forma. La contaminación por MP encontrados en el tracto digestivo de S. gigas presentaron valores mayores que los encontrados en las otras cuatro especies. No se observaron diferencias en la cantidad de MP registrados en las branquias entre especies. Solo se observó una correlacion positiva entre la longitud corporal de I. conceptionis y MP del tracto digestivo/pez, y entre el peso de M. cephalus y MP del tracto digestivo/pez. El azul, negro y blanco fueron los colores dominantes del los MP a nivel del tracto digestivo, y el azul, negro y fucsia en branquias. A nivel del tracto digestivo, los tipos de MP fueron fibra, fragmento y film y en branquias solo se hallaron fibras.