bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A minőségi felsőoktatási tanulást célzó kutatási irányok: a tanításra/tanulásra fókuszáló tudományosság, az oktatói szakmai fejlődés és az adaptivitás témájának összefüggései
Authors: Frányó Zsófia , Dr.habil. Csehné Papp Imola
Published: July 2023

A kutatás eszköze nemzetközi irodalomáttekintés volt. A kutatás során négy fő kifejezés köré összpontosult a keresés, melyek a következők: (1) Teaching and learning in Higher Education, azaz Tanítás és tanulás a felsőoktatásban, (2) SoTL, azaz Tanításra/tanulásra fókuszáló tudományosság, (3) Academic Development, azaz Oktatói szakmai fejlődés és (4) Adaptive Teaching/Adaptive expertise, azaz Adaptív tanítás/adaptív szakértelem. A keresőszavak alapján felmerült tanulmányokból kiindulva feltérképezésre került a témában releváns kutatók munkássága, valamint a kapcsolódó fogalmak köre is. Míg a négy fő fogalom képezi a tanulmány gerincét, a kapcsolódó témákról egyértelműen, de mértékkel szól, a fókusz megtartása érdekében.
A szakképzésben tanulók képzés utáni jövőképe
Authors: Czirfusz Dóra , Lénárd Sándor
Published: July 2023

A tanulmány arra keresi a választ, hogy a szakképzésben tanulók jövőképe milyen összefüggést mutat a szociodemográfiai változók, az iskolához való hozzáállás, a munkaerőpiaci tájékozottság és a szakmai elkötelezettség mentén. Kitér továbbá a jövőjükben bizonytalan, NEET-veszélynek kitett tanulók arányára és a jelenség kapcsán azonosítható rizikófaktorokokra. Az eredmények a Nemzeti Szakképzési és Felnőttképzési Hivatal Pályakövetési felmérésnek végzős tanulóit célzó almintája alapján készültek (n=4012). A tanulmány során elvégzett elemzések alapján kiderült, hogy a szakképzésben tanulók közel kétharmada tervez átlépni a munkaerőpiacra a tanulmányok befejezését követő három éven belül. Az előzetes várakozásoknak megfelelően a magasabb szülői végzettség stabilabb jövőképhez vezet, a családi háttér szerepe tehát – különösen anyai oldalon – nagyon lényeges a későbbi munkavállalás sikerének szempontjából is. A dolgozni vagy tanulni tervezők tájékozottabbak a munkaerőpiaci lehetőségekkel kapcsolatban, és elkötelezettek a szakmájuk iránt. Az adatok alapján a jövőjükben bizonytalan, NEET veszélynek kitett tanulók aránya 10,2%. A NEET-veszély megelőzéséhez az anya iskolai végzettsége, a szakmai elkötelezettség és munkaerőpiaci tájékozottság magasabb szintje járul hozzá.
Laputa – Totoro – Ponyo: Három Miyazaki rajzfilm posztmodern gyermekképe
Authors: Endrődy Orsolya , Alföldy Zsófia
Published: July 2023

A kutatás a posztmodern gyermekkép vizsgálatát tűzi ki célul, a japán rendező, Hayao Miyazaki következő egészestés mesefilmjein keresztül: 1986-ban bemutatott Laputa – az égi palota c. film; az 1988-ban bemutatott Totoro – a varázserdő titka c. film; továbbá a 2008-ban bemutatott Ponyo, a tengerparti sziklán c. film elemzésével. A rajzfilmekben szereplő karakterek mindegyike életkor tekintetében a koragyermekkor szakaszában van. A vállalkozás nem egyszerű: nyugati gondolkodásmóddal nem lehetséges objektív elemzést alkotni a japán kultúráról, ezért kutatásunk éppúgy a kulturális, mint a vizuális elemzések talaján mozog.
A szakképzési struktúra alakulása a Kaposvári SZC Lamping József Technikum és Szakképző Iskolában 1986-tól a 2000-es évekig
Authors: Olman Vivien
Published: July 2023

Az írás a 2022. év őszén a Budapesti Műszaki és Gazdaságtudományi Egyetem (BME) Gazdaságtudományi Karának Tudományos Diákköri Konferenciájára (TDK) készített dolgozat alapján készült. A szerző a Kaposvári SZC Laping József Technikum és Szakképző Iskola szakképzési szerkezetének kritikai elemzésére vállalkozott 1986-tól napjainkig.
Sofralık Domates Üretiminde Gelir, Verim ve Maliyet Faktörlerinin Farklılık Analizleri: Çanakkale İli Örneği
Authors: DURMUŞ Eylem , SEMERCİ Arif
Published: July 2023

Bu çalışmanın amacı Çanakkale ilinin bitkisel üretim deseni içinde önemli bir yere sahip olan sofralık domates yetiştiriciliğinde işletme büyüklük grupları itibariyle gelir, verim ve maliyet faktörlerinde farklılıkların olup olmadığının incelenmesidir. Bu amaçla sofralık domates üretimi yapan 99 adet tarım işletmesi ile görüşülmüş olup, örnek hacmin belirlenmesinde Tabakalı Örnekleme Yöntemi kullanılmıştır. İşletme büyüklük grupları arasında gelir, verim, birim alana kullanılan girdi miktarları ve girdilere ilişkin harcamalar arasındaki farkların belirlenmesinde Tukey HDS Testi kullanılmıştır. Araştırma sonuçları birim alana kullanılan girdi miktarı bakımından; verim, tarımsal mücadele ilacı kullanımı ve mazot kullanımında farklılıklar olduğunu göstermektedir. Verim bakımından 1. grup ile 4. grup arasında, tarımsal mücadele ilacında 1. grup ile 3. grup arasında ve mazot kullanım miktarında ise 1. grup ile 4. grup arasında istatistiki açıdan %5 önem düzeyinde farklılık tespit edilmiştir. Gelir ve birim alana kullanılan girdilerin parasal büyüklükleri dikkate alındığında ise birim alandan elde edilen gelirde 2.grup ile 4.grup arasında %10, makine çekigücü masrafında 2.grup ile 4. grup arasında %1, 1.grup ile 4.grup ve 2.gup ile 3.grup arasında %10 düzeyinde, mazot masrafında 1.grup ile 4.grup arasında %5, işgücü masrafında 1.grup ile 4.grup ve 2.grup ile 4.grup arasında %5 önem düzeyinde istatistiki açıdan farklılık olduğu anlaşılmıştır.
Kemampuan Menulis Teks Berita Siswa Kelas VIII SMP Negeri 2 Rejang Lebong
Authors: Dwi Putri Viona , Utomo Padi , Purwadi Agus Joko
Published: July 2023

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui kemampuan menulis teks berita pada siswa kelas VIII SMP Negeri 2 Rejang Lebong. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode deskriptif dengan pendekatan kuantitatif. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah berjumlah 341 siswa dengan teknik random sampling 51 siswa. Teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah teknik tes menulis. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan kemampuan menulis teks berita dengan tema prestasi sekolah pada siswa kelas VIII SMP Negeri 2 Rejang Lebong adalah 72,09 (tinggi). Adapun kemampuan masing-masing aspeknya, yaitu rata-rata kemampuan menulis teks berita pada aspek unsur-unsur berita tergolong tinggi dengan nilai rata-rata siswa 23,64, aspek struktur berita tergolong sedang dengan nilai rata-rata siswa 14,71, aspek kebahasaan tergolong tinggi dengan nilai rata-rata siswa 14,16, aspek diksi terrgolong tinggi dengan nilai rata-rata siswa 12,08, dan aspek PUEBI tergolong tinggi dengan nilai rata-rata siswa 7,5. Rincian kemampuan menulis teks berita siswa yaitu: 7 siswa termasuk dalam kategori sangat tinggi, 20 siswa termasuk dalam kategori tinggi, 18 siswa termasuk dalam kategori sedang, 6 siswa termasuk dalam kategori rendah.  Dan tidak ada siswa dengan kategori sangat rendah.
Penerapan Metode Estafet Writing Untuk Meningkatkan Keterampilan Menulis Puisi Mata Pelajaran Bahasa Indonesia Di X Akuntansi SMK Muhammadiyah Larangan
Authors: Finanti Asyah , Santosa Budi
Published: July 2023

Tujuan penelitian ini untuk meningkatkan keterampilan peserta didik dalam pembelajaran menulis puisi dengan menggunakan metode estafet writing  pada siswa kelas X Akuntansi SMK Muhammadiyah Larangan Brebes semester ganjil tahun pelajaran 2022/2023. Jenis penelitian yang digunakan adalah penelitian kualitatif dengan pendekatan penelitian PTK (penelitian Tindakan Kelas). Penelitian tindakan kelas merupakan bagian dari kegiatan yang dilakukan oleh guru dan arahkan oleh guru mengenai suatu materi dalam proses pembelajaran di kelas. Penelitian tindakan kelas ini menggunakan model Taggart. Model Taggart terdapat 4 tahapan yaitu perencanaa, pengamatan, pengamatan dan refleksi. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan II siklus. Penelitian dilakukan pada Bulan Desember 2022. Dengan subjek penelitian 26 peserta didik. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa adanya peningkatan keterampilan dalam menulis puisi dengan menggunakan metode estafet writing. Dapat dilihat dari siklus I terdiri dari 6 kelompok dengan 9 siswa yang tuntas dan 17  siswa yang tidak tuntas.  dalam keterampilan menulis puisi, sedangkan pada siklus ke II terdapat 6 kelompok dengan jumlah 16 siswa yang tuntas dalam keterampilan menulis puisi dan 10 siswa dalam siklus ke II yang tidak tuntas dalam menulis puisi.
Research Progress Into Adipose Tissue Macrophages and Insulin Resistance
Authors: Fu M , Yang L , Wang H , Chen Y , Chen X , Hu Q , Sun H
Published: July 2023

In recent years, there has been an increasing incidence of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular events related to insulin resistance. As one of the target organs for insulin, adipose tissue is essential for maintaining in vivo immune homeostasis and metabolic regulation. Currently, the specific adipose tissue mechanisms involved in insulin resistance remain incompletely understood. There is increasing evidence that the process of insulin resistance is mostly accompanied by a dramatic increase in the number and phenotypic changes of adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs). In this review, we discuss the origins and functions of ATMs, some regulatory factors of ATM phenotypes, and the mechanisms through which ATMs mediate insulin resistance. We explore how ATM phenotypes contribute to insulin resistance in adipose tissue. We expect that modulation of ATM phenotypes will provide a novel strategy for the treatment of diseases associated with insulin resistance.
New Research in the field of Textiles
Authors:   Rylsky Institute of Art Studies, Folklore and Ethnology, Kara-Vasylieva Tetyana
Published: July 2023

Lukovska, O. (2017). Khudozhnie tkatstvo Lvova druhoi polovyny XX stolittia: Khudozhni osoblyvosti, tradytsii ta innovatsii [Artistic weaving of Lviv of the second half of the XX century. Artistic features, tradition and novation] [Monograph]. Kyiv: Maister knyh. [In Ukrainian].Lukovska, O. (2018). Arttekstyl Ukrainy u konteksti yevropeiskykh eksperymentalnykh tendentsii druhoi polovyny XX — pochatku XXI st. [Art textiles of Ukraine in the context of European experimental tendencies of the second half of the XX — beginning of the XXI century] [Monograph]. Kyiv: Maister knyh, 2018. 248 s., il. [In Ukrainian].
Brote de Enfermedad Transmitida por Alimentos en la región Callao, Perú. Reporte de casos
Authors: Cassa-Loaiza William , Pérez-Dávila Jorge , Alvarez-Huambachano Keyla , Fano-Sizgorich Diego , Gonzales Gustavo F. , Vásquez-Velásquez Cinthya
Published: July 2023

Las Enfermedades Transmitidas por Alimentos (ETAs) representan un impacto en la salud pública, debido que son causante del incremento de las tasas de mortalidad y morbilidad, generando mayores efectos negativos en los países de bajos y medianos ingresos. En el presente manuscrito se reporta un rebrote de ETAs ocurrido en la región Callao, Perú, el cual afectó a 33 personas con sintomatología persistente a nivel gastrointestinal. Estos casos citan a una vigilancia epidemiológica en los centros de salud para poder determinar el patógeno y generar un tratamiento eficiente.
Control del Dengue: una visión crítica
Authors: Llanos-Cuentas Alejandro , Altamirano-Quiroz Astrid
Published: July 2023

El dengue es una enfermedad febril ocasionada por el virus del dengue (DENV) que pertenece a la familia Flavivirus, es transmitida por el Aedes aegypti y en algunas zonas silvestres por el Aedes albopictus(1,2). Es la enfermedad transmitida por vectores con más riesgo de tornarse en una pandemia en el mundo.
Peningkatan Partisipasi Masyarakat dalam Program Pemenuhan Gizi Anak Berbasis Konsumsi Pangan sebagai Upaya Pencegahan Stunting
Authors: Angraini Dian Isti , Carolia Novita , Tjiptaningrum Agustyas , Kurniati Intanri
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this programme is to increase community participation in fulfilling balanced nutrition for children based on food consumption as an effort to prevent stunting. The method used is to increase the knowledge and educational skills of the community through interactive lectures and discussions, video screenings and educational games. This activity was carried out for 1 day and took place at the Nusantara Syariah Hotel, Bandar Lampung City. Participants totaled 40 people who were health cadres, members of the Indonesian doctor's wife association and family doctors in the city of Bandar Lampung. The results of the evaluation of the implementation of community service found that there was an increase in the understanding of the participants by 92.5% to a good understanding, 7.5% of the participants had a fairly good understanding, and no participants had a lack of understanding regarding a healthy lifestyle and fulfilling balanced nutrition for children to prevent malnutrition. The average pre-test result was 57,3 and there was an increase in the post-test result, which was equal to 83. Based on the analysis using the Wilcoxon test, it was found that there was a statistically significant difference in the mean pre-test and post-test scores of the service participants (p=0,000). Activities to increase community participation to fulfill balanced nutrition for children based on food consumption as an effort to prevent malnutrition such as stunting have proven effective.
Echocardiography protocol and cardiometabolic phenotyping in Indian birth cohorts—the IndEcho study
Authors: Vasan Senthil K. , Alex Anoop George , Roy Ambuj , Gowri Mahasampath , Sinha Sikha , Suresh Jenifer , Philip Reesa Susan , Kochumon Jolly , Jaiswal Neetu , Arulappan Geethanjali , Ramakrishnan Lakshmy , Sachdev Harshpal Singh , Tandon Nikhil , Thomas Nihal , Jebasingh Felix , Osmond Clive , Karpe Fredrik , Bhargava Santosh K. , Antonisamy Belavendra , Prabhakaran Dorairaj , Fall Caroline H.D. , Thomson Viji S.
Published: July 2023

Background

Asian Indians are at higher risk of cardiometabolic disease compared to other ethnic groups, and the age of onset is typically younger. Cardiac structure and function are poorly characterized in this ethnic group. In this study, we describe image-acquisition methods and the reproducibility of measurements and detailed echocardiography characteristics in two large Indian population-based cohorts (the New Delhi and Vellore Birth Cohorts) from India.

Methods

The IndEcho study captured transthoracic echocardiographic measurements of cardiac structure and function from 2,322 men and women aged 43–50 years. M-mode measurements in the parasternal long axis (PLAX) and 2-dimensional (2D) short axis recordings at the mitral valve, mid-papillary and apical level were recorded. Apical 2D recordings of two- three- and four-chamber (2C, 3C and 4C) views and Doppler images (colour, pulsed and continuous) were recorded in cine-loop format. Left ventricular (LV) mass, LV hypertrophy, and indices of LV systolic and diastolic function were derived.

Results

Echocardiographic measurements showed good/excellent technical reproducibility. Hetero-geneity across sites, sex and rural/urban differences in cardiac structure and function were observed. Overall, this cohort of South Asian Indians had smaller LV mass and normal systolic and diastolic function when compared with published data on other Asian Indians and the West, (LV mass indexed for body surface area: Delhi men: 68 g/m2, women 63.9; Vellore men: 65.8, women 61.6) but were within ethnic-specific reference ranges. The higher prevalence of obesity, diabetes and hypertension is reflected by the higher proportion of LV remodelling and lesser hypertrophy.

Conclusions

Our study adds to scarce population-based echocardiographic data for mid-life Asian Indians. Compared to published literature on other ethnic groups, the Asian Indian heart is characterised by smaller cardiac dimensions and normal range systolic and diastolic function on a background of a high prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and cardiac disease at a relatively young age. This data will form the basis for further analyses of lifecourse, metabolic and body composition predictors of cardiac structure and function, and echocardiographic predictors of future mortality.

ISRCTN registration number

13432279
Achieved low-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio predicts the pathophysiological evolution of lipid-rich plaques in acute coronary syndromes: an optical coherence tomography study
Authors: He Luping , Yi Boling , Zhang Dirui , Hu Sining , Zhao Chen , Sun Rui , Ma Jianlin , Hou Jingbo , Jia Haibo , Ma Lijia , Yu Bo
Published: July 2023

Background

As a novel lipoprotein ratio, baseline low-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (LHR) is closely related to the clinical outcomes of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) after percutaneous coronary intervention. However, the pathophysiological impact of achieved LHR (aLHR) on the evolution of non-culprit lipid-rich plaques has not been systematically explored.

Methods

Between September 2013 and December 2018, ACS patients with both baseline and 1-year follow-up optical coherence tomography (OCT) examinations were included in current study. They were divided into two groups according to the median value of aLHR at 1 year.

Results

Overall, 132 patients with 215 lipid-rich plaques were enrolled, with a median aLHR: 1.62. There were thinner fibrous cap thickness (FCT) (133.3 [70.0–180.0] µm vs. 160.0 [100.0–208.3] µm, p = 0.025) and higher prevalence of thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) (24 [22.4%] vs. 13 [12.0%], p = 0.044) and CLIMA-defined high-risk plaques (12 [11.2%] vs. 3[2.8%], p = 0.015) in the high aLHR group at 1 year. Compared with other serum lipid indexes, aLHR showed the best robust correlation with the evolution of plaque vulnerability in both unadjusted and adjusted analyses. Cut-off value of aLHR to predict the progression of maximal lipid arc and FCT was 1.51. In the adjusted model, aLHR ≥1.51 was an independent predictor of TCFA [odds ratio (OR): 3.008, 95% CI: 1.370 to 6.605, p = 0.006] at 1 year.

Conclusions

aLHR correlates well with the evolution of lipid-rich plaques and vulnerable phenotypes at 1-year follow-up, which might be an important and convenient serum indicator in the secondary prevention of ACS.
Extrusion tectonism of Indochina reassessed: constraints from 40Ar/39Ar geochronology from the Day Nui Con Voi metamorphic massif, Vietnam
Authors: Dinh Thi-Hue , Yeh Meng-Wan , Lee Tung-Yi , Kunk Michael J. , Wintsch Robert P. , McAleer Ryan
Published: July 2023

The extrusion tectonic model for the southeastern margin of the Himalayan orogeny links the crustal shear activity along the Red River Shear Zone (RRSZ) to the opening of the South China Sea (SCS). The Day Nui Con Voi (DNCV) metamorphic massif in northern Vietnam strikes NW-SE, is bounded by the RRSZ to the south and continues along the strike where it meets the SCS. The DNCV is thus a critical area to document thermotectonic history in order to advance our understanding of the tectonic evolution of Indochina extrusion and its relationship to the opening of the SCS. Our new 40Ar/39Ar data combined with microstructural and petrological analyses constrained the timing of the left-lateral shearing of the RRSZ and revealed the thermal evolution of the DNCV metamorphic massif. Three ductile deformation events were observed. D1 formed NNW-SSE striking upright folds under granulite to upper amphibolite facies conditions. D2 was a horizontal to sub-horizontal folding event that occurred at amphibolite facies conditions. D3 was a doming event that formed NW-SE striking up-right folds bounded by left-lateral shearing mylonite belts along the two limbs. The S/C fabrics were defined by muscovite fish, quartz + albite + K-feldspar aggregates, and muscovite folia. The D3 doming event exhumed the DNCV metamorphic massif from amphibolite facies conditions to the lower greenschist facies conditions. The 40Ar/39Ar ages obtained from amphibole (∼26 Ma), phlogopite (∼25 Ma), muscovites (∼24-23 Ma), biotite (∼25-23 Ma), and K-feldspars (∼25-22 Ma) from different structural domains of the DNCV metamorphic massif indicated a rapid exhumation ∼26–22 Ma. We interpreted this as the time period for the D3 event, with the onset of left-lateral shearing occurring around 24 Ma based on ages obtained from syn-kinematic muscovites. This age was much younger than the initiation of sea-floor spreading of the SCS (since 32 Ma) but coincided with the age for the ridge jump event in the SCS. Based on these new data, we proposed that extrusion tectonism cannot be the cause for the initial opening of the SCS. Rather, the extrusion of the Indochina block was temporally correlative with the southward ridge jump event of the already opened SCS.
Geochemical characteristics and hydrocarbon generation potential of main source rocks in the Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation, Sichuan Basin, China
Authors: Wang Zhihong , Hao Cuiguo , Jin Hui , Cui Junfeng , Wu Xueqiong , Bo Dongmei , Su Yiqing
Published: July 2023

In order to have a comprehensive understanding of the characterization and hydrocarbon generation potential of the source rock in the Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation, Sichuan Basin, the geochemical data of more than 1,500 cuttings and 106 core samples were collected and analyzed. The T3x5 member of Xujiahe formation show the highest average TOC content (3.63%) followed by the T3x1+2 and T3x3 members. The TOC contents of different members show a general decreasing trend from the bottom to the top in Xujiahe formation. From the rock pyrolysis and kerogen δ13C values, the source rock trend to be kerogen type III with minor amounts of type Ⅱ2. According to the Ro values, the Xujiahe source rock shows high maturity in the northwest and low maturity in the southeast. Most of the source rock in T3x1+2 members are in high to overmature stage, while most of the source rock in the T3x3 and T3x5 member are in the mature to high mature stage. By comparing the burial history and hydrocarbon generation evolution history of source rocks in central and western Sichuan basin, it can be found that the sedimentation rate differences during the Cretaceous period is the main cause of the thermal evolution difference of the source rock. The gas generation intensity and quantity of different members are also compared. The T3x5 member show the highest gas generation potential followed by the T3x31 and the T3x1+2 members. In general, horizontally, the source rock of Xujiahe formation in Sichuan Basin is characterized by great thickness, high maturity, and high gas generation intensity in the northwest, which are gradually decrease to the southeast. Vertically, the T3x5 member show the highest gas generation content, which account for 39.6% of the total amount.
Students’ digital addiction and learning difficulties: shortcomings of surveys in inclusion
Authors: Seema Riin , Varik-Maasik Ene
Published: July 2023

Students have been distance learning to a considerable extent during the Covid years and the primary concerns are teenagers’ learning difficulties, digital addiction and long screen time. Our aim was thus to study teenagers’ perceived learning difficulties, digital addiction and screen time. The current study was a part of a larger e-survey. The data were collected across Estonia from 8,486 teenagers who studied in the inclusive education system during spring 2022. The students were 11–20 years old. While analysing the data, we had to exclude the answers of 315 students. Those students had answered carelessly or inaccurately, had written an inaccurate age, illogical answers or similar answers throughout the test. We studied teenagers’ level of learning difficulties, digital addiction and screen time. The study shows positive correlations between learning difficulties, digital addiction and screen time. Digital addiction and screen time predict 11% of the variability of perceived learning difficulties scores based on a Linear Regression model. The model shows a poor prediction for students whose scores are very different from the mean. We describe the weaknesses of an e-survey method in inclusive education. Linear statistical models predict well for average students, but do not predict well for respondents who are very different from the mean. The so-called residuals need special attention or, paradoxically, exclusion from the statistical analysis. The outliers are often the students who need help in the inclusive system. Here, we will share our insights, what we have learned as researchers from conducting the study. We cannot collect reliable data about special needs students with any wide scale e-survey if we do not address the developmentally heterogeneous group of students and their needs while participating in the survey. This is significant for study reliability as well as gathering data from children with special needs.
Thermoneutral housing promotes hepatic steatosis in standard diet-fed C57BL/6N mice, with a less pronounced effect on NAFLD progression upon high-fat feeding
Authors: Horakova Olga , Sistilli Gabriella , Kalendova Veronika , Bardova Kristina , Mitrovic Marko , Cajka Tomas , Irodenko Ilaria , Janovska Petra , Lackner Karoline , Kopecky Jan , Rossmeisl Martin
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can progress to more severe stages, such as steatohepatitis and fibrosis. Thermoneutral housing together with high-fat diet promoted NAFLD progression in C57BL/6J mice. Due to possible differences in steatohepatitis development between different C57BL/6 substrains, we examined how thermoneutrality affects NAFLD progression in C57BL/6N mice.

Methods

Male mice were fed standard or high-fat diet for 24 weeks and housed under standard (22°C) or thermoneutral (30°C) conditions.

Results

High-fat feeding promoted weight gain and hepatic steatosis, but the effect of thermoneutral environment was not evident. Liver expression of inflammatory markers was increased, with a modest and inconsistent effect of thermoneutral housing; however, histological scores of inflammation and fibrosis were generally low (<1.0), regardless of ambient temperature. In standard diet-fed mice, thermoneutrality increased weight gain, adiposity, and hepatic steatosis, accompanied by elevated de novo lipogenesis and changes in liver metabolome characterized by complex decreases in phospholipids and metabolites involved in urea cycle and oxidative stress defense.

Conclusion

Thermoneutrality appears to promote NAFLD-associated phenotypes depending on the C57BL/6 substrain and/or the amount of dietary fat.
graph-GPA 2.0: improving multi-disease genetic analysis with integration of functional annotation data
Authors: Deng Qiaolan , Gupta Arkobrato , Jeon Hyeongseon , Nam Jin Hyun , Yilmaz Ayse Selen , Chang Won , Pietrzak Maciej , Li Lang , Kim Hang J. , Chung Dongjun
Published: July 2023

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have successfully identified a large number of genetic variants associated with traits and diseases. However, it still remains challenging to fully understand the functional mechanisms underlying many associated variants. This is especially the case when we are interested in variants shared across multiple phenotypes. To address this challenge, we propose graph-GPA 2.0 (GGPA 2.0), a statistical framework to integrate GWAS datasets for multiple phenotypes and incorporate functional annotations within a unified framework. Our simulation studies showed that incorporating functional annotation data using GGPA 2.0 not only improves the detection of disease-associated variants, but also provides a more accurate estimation of relationships among diseases. Next, we analyzed five autoimmune diseases and five psychiatric disorders with the functional annotations derived from GenoSkyline and GenoSkyline-Plus, along with the prior disease graph generated by biomedical literature mining. For autoimmune diseases, GGPA 2.0 identified enrichment for blood-related epigenetic marks, especially B cells and regulatory T cells, across multiple diseases. Psychiatric disorders were enriched for brain-related epigenetic marks, especially the prefrontal cortex and the inferior temporal lobe for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, respectively. In addition, the pleiotropy between bipolar disorder and schizophrenia was also detected. Finally, we found that GGPA 2.0 is robust to the use of irrelevant and/or incorrect functional annotations. These results demonstrate that GGPA 2.0 can be a powerful tool to identify genetic variants associated with each phenotype or those shared across multiple phenotypes, while also promoting an understanding of functional mechanisms underlying the associated variants.
Genomic comparison between two Inonotus hispidus strains isolated from growing in different tree species
Authors: Wang Qingchun , Bao Haiying , Li Zhijun
Published: July 2023

Inonotus hispidus mainly growing in broad-leaved trees, including Morus alba, Fraxinus mandshurica, and Ulmus macrocarpa etc. The fruiting body of I. hispidus growing in M. alba (hereafter as MA) is used as a traditional Chinese medicine “Sanghuang”. However, differences between the genetic material basis of I. hispidus growing in other tree species have not been reported. Therefore, in this paper, the genomic comparison between MA and I. hispidus growing in F. mandshurica (hereafter as FM) were studied. The whole genome of MA monokaryon was sequenced by Illumina combined with Pac Bio platform. Next, genome assembly, genome component prediction and genome functional annotation were performed. Comparative genomics analysis was performed between FM monokaryon and MA monokaryon, using MA as the reference. The results showed that, MA had 24 contigs with a N50 length of 2.6 Mb. Specifically, 5,342, 6,564, 1,595, 383 and 123 genes were annotated from GO, KEGG, KOG, CAZymes and CYP450, respectively. Moreover, comparative genomics showed that, the coding genes and total number of genes annotated in different databases of FM were higher than that of MA. This study provides a foundation for the medicinal application of FM as MA from the perspective of genetic composition.
Largely preserved functionality after the combined loss of NKG2D, NCR1 and CD16 demonstrates the remarkable plasticity of NK cell responsiveness
Authors: Imširović Vanna , Lenartić Maja , Wensveen Felix M. , Polić Bojan , Jelenčić Vedrana
Published: July 2023

Natural killer (NK) cells play an important role in the early defense against tumors and virally infected cells. Their function is thought to be controlled by the balance between activating and inhibitory receptors, which often compete for the same ligands. Several activating receptors expressed on virtually all NK cells lack an inhibitory partner, most notably CD16, NCR1 and NKG2D. We therefore hypothesized that a signal through at least one of these receptors is always required for full NK cell activation. We generated animals lacking all three receptors (TKO) and analyzed their NK cells. In vitro, TKO NK cells did not show reduced ability to kill tumor targets but displayed hyperresponsiveness to NK1.1 stimulation. In vivo, TKO animals had a minor reduction in their ability to control non-hematopoietic tumors and cytomegalovirus infection, which was the result of reduced NK cell activity. Together, our findings show that activating NK cell receptors without an inhibitory partner do not provide a ‘master’ signal but are integrated in the cumulative balance of activating and inhibitory signals. Their activity is controlled through regulation of the responsiveness and expression of other activating receptors. Our findings may be important for future development of NK cell-based cancer immunotherapy.
Natural killer cell-related prognostic risk model predicts prognosis and treatment outcomes in triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Liu Zundong , Ding Mingji , Qiu Pengjun , Pan Kelun , Guo Qiaonan
Published: July 2023

Background

Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial to the emergence, identification, and prognosis of cancers. The roles of NK cell-related genes in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and immunotherapy treatment are unclear. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive malignant tumor. Hence, this study was conducted to develop a reliable risk model related to NK cells and provide a novel system for predicting the prognosis of TNBC.

Methods

NK cell-related genes were collected from previous studies. Based on TCGA and GEO database, univariate and LASSO cox regression analysis were used to establish the NK cell-related gene signature. The patients with TNBC were separated to high-risk and low-risk groups. After that, survival analysis was conducted and the responses to immunotherapies were evaluated on the basis of the signature. Moreover, the drug sensitivity of some traditional chemotherapeutic drugs was assessed by using the “oncoPredict” R package. In addition, the expression levels of the genes involved in the signature were validated by using qRT-PCR in TNBC cell lines.

Results

The patients with TNBC were divided into high- and low-risk groups according to the median risk score of the 5-NK cell-related gene signature. The low-risk group was associated with a better clinical outcome. Besides, the differentially expressed genes between the different risk groups were enriched in the biological activities associated with immunity. The tumor immune cells were found to be highly infiltrated in the low-risk groups. In accordance with the TIDE score and immune checkpoint-related gene expression analysis, TNBC patients in the low-risk groups were suggested to have better responses to immunotherapies. Eventually, some classical anti-tumor drugs were shown to be less effective in high-risk groups than in low-risk groups.

Conclusion

The 5-NK cell-related gene signature exhibit outstanding predictive performance and provide fresh viewpoints for evaluating the success of immunotherapy. It will provide new insights to achieve precision and integrated treatment for TNBC in the future.
Gut lumen-leaked microbial DNA causes myocardial inflammation and impairs cardiac contractility in ageing mouse heart
Authors: Gao Hong , Wang Ke , Suarez Jorge A. , Jin Zhongmou , Rocha Karina Cunha e , Zhang Dinghong , Farrell Andrea , Truong Tyler , Tekin Yasemin , Tan Breanna , Jung Hyun Suh , Kempf Julia , Mahata Sushil K. , Dillmann Wolfgang H. , Suarez Jorge , Ying Wei
Published: July 2023

Emerging evidence indicates the critical roles of microbiota in mediating host cardiac functions in ageing, however, the mechanisms underlying the communications between microbiota and cardiac cells during the ageing process have not been fully elucidated. Bacterial DNA was enriched in the cardiomyocytes of both ageing humans and mice. Antibiotic treatment remarkably reduced bacterial DNA abundance in ageing mice. Gut microbial DNA containing extracellular vesicles (mEVs) were readily leaked into the bloodstream and infiltrated into cardiomyocytes in ageing mice, causing cardiac microbial DNA enrichment. Vsig4+ macrophages efficiently block the spread of gut mEVs whereas Vsig4+ cell population was greatly decreased in ageing mice. Gut mEV treatment resulted in cardiac inflammation and a reduction in cardiac contractility in young Vsig4-/- mice. Microbial DNA depletion attenuated the pathogenic effects of gut mEVs. cGAS/STING signaling is critical for the effects of microbial DNA. Restoring Vsig4+ macrophage population in ageing WT mice reduced cardiac microbial DNA abundance and inflammation and improved heart contractility.
Immunogenicity of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin in pigs: potential as a translational model of non-specific effects of BCG
Authors: Jensen Kristoffer Jarlov , Hansen Mette Sif , Skovgaard Kerstin , Svensson Erik , Larsen Lars Erik , Heegaard Peter M. H. , Benn Christine Stabell , Jungersen Gregers
Published: July 2023

Background

Clinical and immunological studies in humans show that the live attenuated Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine has beneficial non-specific effects, increasing resistance against diseases other than tuberculosis. The underlying mechanisms are currently being explored. The pig exhibits considerable physiological similarity to humans in anatomy and physiology, suggesting that similar responses to BCG could be expected. Studies of the non-specific effects of BCG in pigs are scarce. We investigated the feasibility of using pigs as a large animal model to investigate the non-specific immunological effects of BCG.

Methods

In a series of experiments, we randomized newborn or young piglets from conventional farms to receiving BCG or placebo and investigated the persistence of live BCG bacteria in various tissues, the immunogenicity of BCG in ex vivo blood and in vitro stimulation assays, and the acute phase protein and clinical responses to heterologous infectious challenge with influenza A virus or Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae.

Results

The BCG vaccine was generally well tolerated. In contrast to humans, no skin reaction in the form of abscesses, ulcers, or scars was observed. Live BCG was recovered from draining lymph nodes in 2/13 animals 20 weeks after vaccination. Specific in vitro responses of IFN-γ to antigen-specific re-stimulation with mycobacterial antigen were increased but not TNF-responses to TLR2 or TLR4 agonists. A few genes were differentially expressed in blood after vaccination, including the antiviral genes RIG-I and CSF1, although the effect disappeared after correction for multiple testing. Clinical symptoms after heterologous bacterial or viral respiratory infections did not differ, nor did virus copies in nasopharyngeal samples after the challenge. However, the acute phase protein response was significantly reduced in BCG-vaccinated animals after influenza challenge but not after A. pleuropneumoniae challenge.

Discussion

BCG was safe in pigs, inducing specific immunological responses, but our model did not corroborate the innate immunological responsiveness to BCG seen in humans. The dose of BCG or the bacterial and viral challenges may have been sub-optimal. Even so, the acute phase protein response to influenza infection was significantly reduced in BCG-vaccinated animals.
Genomic analysis of circulating HIV and hepatitis C virus infections and coinfections in Cameroon: 2005–2006 and 2015–2016
Authors: Tamim Sana , Nwobegahay Julius , Fepa Kwesseu Armelle Gaelle , Guiateu Tamo Ida Marlene , Djuidje Ngounoue Marceline
Published: July 2023

Introduction

In humans, RNA viruses are responsible for a wide range of acute, chronic, emerging and re-emerging infections. Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) rank as some of the most important public health challenges affecting Africa.

Methods

We performed enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assays to confirm positive specimens, and the genomic characterization on two cohorts of people living with HIV in Douala and Yaoundé for the periods 2005-2006 and 2015-2016. These groups were tested for co-infection with HCV using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Viral RNA was extracted from positive patients’ plasma samples by QIAGEN method, and specific primers were used to amplify the genes of interest on HIV and HCV genomes. The amplification products were subsequently cloned and sequenced. The nucleotide sequences were aligned, genotyped and phylogenetically analyzed.

Results

The HIV isolate identified in this study belongs to HIV-1 group M Subtype A1. The HCV subtypes characterized in this study are 1h and 4t corresponding to the dominant strains that circulate in Cameroon. Phylogenetic analysis of the HCV NS5B gene showed that the study viruses cluster with Gabonese, Canadian, and previously sequenced viruses from Cameroon.

Conclusion and perspectives

These results shed light on the genetic diversity of HIV and HCV in Cameroon. Virulent HCV infections are common in Cameroon, and therefore there is a great need for further analysis of the viral evolutionary and spatio-temporal patterns.
A comparative study of Sr-loaded nano-textured Ti and TiO2 nanotube implants on osseointegration immediately after tooth extraction in Beagle dogs
Authors: Li Yongfeng , Tang Li , Shen Mingming , Wang Zhen , Huang Xiaofeng
Published: July 2023

Dental implantation, when performed immediately after tooth extraction, simplifies the treatment procedure, resulting in satisfaction for dentists and patients. Dental implants with nanotopography surface modification have been used to promote osseointegration immediately after implantation. We compared two different nanotopography surface implants on the effects of osseointegration immediately after tooth extraction: TiO2 nanotubes (NT-TiO2) fabricated by anodization and Sr-loaded nanotopography Ti (NT-Sr) formed via magnetron sputtering technology. Sr-loaded nanotextured Ti nanotubes (NT-Sr) were fabricated via magnetron sputtering using 99.99% SrTiO3 as the sputtering target. TiO2 nanotubes (NT-TiO2) were fabricated by anodization in 0.5 wt% hydrofluoric acid (HF). After the surface topography, hydrophilicity, chemical components, and interface bonding strength were analyzed, two different nano-topographies were applied for in vivo cellular activity evaluation. Subsequently, the implants with NT-Sr and NT-TiO2 surfaces were inserted into the fresh socket immediately after tooth extraction. Radiological scanning, histological analysis, and biomechanical tests were carried out to investigate implant osseointegration. The results showed that nanotubes with diameters of 15–80 nm were distributed on the NT-TiO2 surface, while the NT-Sr group showed 20–40 nm nanoparticles deposited on the surface. Compared to NT-Sr, the NT-TiO2 surface possessed better hydrophilicity and favorable cellular adhesion and proliferation. The NT-Sr surface possessed greater interfacial bonding strength than the NT-TiO2 group, and greater bone formation, higher bone-to-implant contact (BIC%), and maximum pull-out force were observed in the NT-Sr group. The above results indicated that although the NT-TiO2 surface showed favorable in vitro bioactivity, the NT-Sr surface, with higher interface bonding strength, showed better in vitro osteogenesis, and would be more favorable for immediate implantation.
A comparative study on the application of different endoscopic diagnostic methods in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant bile duct strictures
Authors: Zhu Liang , Huang Zhi-Quan , Wang Zhen-Wen , Yang Xue-Ping , Hong Jun-Bo , Yang Zhen-Zhen , Yu Zheng-Ping , Cao Rong-Lai , He Jin-Li , Chen You-Xiang
Published: July 2023

Objective

To compare the diagnostic value of cytobrush, ERCP-guided biopsy, SpyGlass direct visual impression and SpyGlass-guided biospy (SpyBite) in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant bile duct strictures.

Methods

The data of 1,008 patients who were clinically diagnosed with indeterminate biliary strictures and underwent ERCP-guided biopsy, cytobrush, SpyGlass direct visual impression or SpyBite at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University between January 2010 and December 2019 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. The final diagnose was determined by surgical pathological specimen or follow-up (Malignant stricture can be identified if the stricture showed malignant progression during one year of follow-up). The differential diagnostic value of the above endoscopic diagnostic methods was evaluated by means of sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, etc. and safety was evaluated by the incidence rate of adverse events.

Results

In terms of sensitivity, standard biopsy group (48.6%) and SpyBite group (61.5%) were significantly higher than cytobrush group (32.0%), and visual impression group (100%) was significantly higher than any other group. As far as specificity was concerned, cytobrush group (99.0%), standard biopsy group (99.3%) and the SpyBite group (100%) were significantly higher than visual impression (55.6%), but there was no statistical difference among the three groups above. As far as accuracy was concerned, standard biopsy group (65.3%), and SpyBite group (80.0%) were significantly higher than cytobrush group (44.4%), and SpyBite group (80.0%) was significantly higher than visual impression group (54.8%). In terms of safety, visual impression group and SpyBite group were significantly higher than cytobrush group and standard biopsy group in post-ERCP cholangitis.

Conclusion

SpyBite combined with SpyGlass-guided visual impression was better for differential diagnosis of benign and malignant bile duct strictures in terms of sensitivity and accuracy compared with conventional endoscopic diagnostic methods such as cytobrush and standard biopsy. Furthmore, the incidence rates of adverse events after SpyGlass examination was similar to those after conventional endoscopic diagnostic methods except for higher cholangitis, which could be controlled by antibiotics and might be avoided by adequate biliary drainage.
Different resting membrane potentials in posterior parietal cortex and prefrontal cortex in the view of recurrent synaptic strengths and neural network dynamics
Authors: Yoo Minsu , Yang Yoon-Sil , Rah Jong-Cheol , Choi Joon Ho
Published: July 2023

In this study, we introduce the importance of elevated membrane potentials (MPs) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) compared to that in the posterior parietal cortex (PPC), based on new observations of different MP levels in these areas. Through experimental data and spiking neural network modeling, we investigated a possible mechanism of the elevated membrane potential in the PFC and how these physiological differences affect neural network dynamics and cognitive functions in the PPC and PFC. Our findings indicate that NMDA receptors may be a main contributor to the elevated MP in the PFC region and highlight the potential of using a modeling toolkit to investigate the means by which changes in synaptic properties can affect neural dynamics and potentiate desirable cognitive functions through population activities in the corresponding brain regions.
Food neophobia and its association with dietary choices and willingness to eat insects
Authors: Hopkins Indee , Farahnaky Asgar , Gill Harsharn , Danaher Jessica , Newman Lisa P.
Published: July 2023

Growing populations, changing dietary preferences and limitations on natural resources have meant that finding an alternative to traditional animal-based protein sources is a priority. Insects have been proposed as a possible solution due to their many benefits including low resource inputs and rich nutritional profile. However, insects are not consumed on a large scale by Australians. Food neophobia (reluctance to try new foods) could be contributing to this delay and as such, this study aimed to explore the role of food neophobia on protein food source habits and willingness to eat insects as food. A total of 601 participants (76.2% female, 23.8% male) completed an online survey which included a questionnaire measuring food neophobia status, participants’ self-reported usual protein dietary habits, their previous insect-eating experience, future willingness to eat insects, and potential motivations to include insects in their diet. Results indicated a strong association between food neophobia and participants’ dietary choices such as following a vegan or vegetarian diet (p = 0.024). In addition, food neophobia was correlated with a reduced likelihood of previous insect-eating experience (p < 0.001), as well as a decreased willingness to eat insects in the future (p < 0.001). This study provides a greater understanding of the role of food neophobia status and dietary choices in consumers’ willingness to eat insects and identifies possible motivating factors that may increase the likelihood of consumers’ future insect eating.