bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A tale of two Europes: How conflating the European Court of Human Rights with the European Union exacerbates Euroscepticism
Authors: Jay Zoë
Published: October 2021

This article focuses on the phenomenon of conflating the European Court of Human Rights with the European Court of Justice and European Union in British political and media discourse. Scholars of the European Court of Human Rights and Euroscepticism often acknowledge conflation, but rarely specify the forms it takes or its specific effects on British perceptions of the legitimacy of European institutions. This article identifies three main forms of conflation: muddled conflation, ambiguous conflation, and deliberate conflation. It shows that conflation can be both a symptom of deeper Eurosceptic disregard for the roles and purposes of distinct European institutions, and a deliberate rhetorical tool, intended to weaken the legitimacy of separate institutions by tying criticisms of one to the other. The article demonstrates that conflating the different Europes contributes to the persistence of Strasbourgsceptic narratives in the British political sphere by exacerbating pre-existing concerns and providing additional opportunities to raise them in public.
Distant reading 940,000 online circulations of 26 iconic photographs
Authors: Smits Thomas , Ros Ruben
Published: October 2021

How do digital media impact the meaning of iconic photographs? Recent studies have suggested that online circulation, especially in a memeified form, might lead to the erosion, fracturing, or collapsing of the original contextual meaning of iconic pictures. Introducing a distant reading methodology to the study of iconic photographs, we apply the Google Cloud Vision Application Programming Interface (GCV API) to retrieve 940,000 online circulations of 26 iconic images between 1995 and 2020. We use document embeddings, a Natural Language Processing technique, to map in what contexts iconic photographs are circulated online. The article demonstrates that constantly changing configurations of contextual imagetexts, self-referential image-texts, and non-referential image/texts shape the online live of iconic photographs: ebbs and flows of slowly disappearing, suddenly resurfacing, and newly found meanings. While iconic photographs might not need captions to speak, this article argues that a large-scale analysis of texts can help us better grasp what they say.
In the groove and in the moment: epistemology and ethics in ethnography with Sudanese musician revolutionaries
Authors: Wilcock Cathy A
Published: October 2021

This study discusses the methodological component of a research project with Sudanese musicians and their associated activist groups. The methodology included song-writing and, as such, is an example of collaborative creative research practice. Proponents of collaborative creative practice argue that the combination of aesthetic methods with ethnographic and participatory research methods brings both epistemological and ethical dividends. This paper considers whether these alleged epistemological and ethical advantages bore out in this research project. While confirming some benefits, my study also shows evidence of underlying tensions between aesthetic ‘micro-methods’ and ethnographic and participatory traditions of knowledge production. In relation to the alleged epistemological dividends, I argue that autoethnographic embedding in collaborative creative practice is alone insufficient. It requires a theoretical framework which theorises the relationship between one player’s musical experience and another’s. Only with this, can the sensory experiences of the researcher be used to inform analysis of participant observations and interviews. The autoethnographic experiences of the researcher are not findings in themselves. In relation to the ethical dividends, unlike other arts-based research, I found that the aesthetic micro-methods in this study did not naturally lend themselves to participant empowerment. The pursuit of aesthetic goals has its own division of labour which can lead to the deprioritisation of self-expression and co-learning which constitute the primary aims of classical participatory research. Overall, collaborative creative practice did enhance this research project but there are important caveats. To reflect these, I aruge that creative collaboration should not be considered as a simple sub-set of either ethnographic or participatory research but as a method in its own right.
Binary blues: Exploring beyond dichotomized gender comparisons with a theory-driven approach
Authors: Pritlove Cheryl , Angus Jan E , Dale Craig , Seto Nielsen Lisa , Kramer Marnie
Published: October 2021

The call to move beyond binary conceptualizations of gender is not new, and yet, this categorical and contrastive approach to gender analysis remains common, particularly in health sciences. It has been posited that the problem of gender dualism rests partially in the minimal interplay between theory and method. Drawing on our experiences during a qualitative study of men’s and women’s involvement in cardiac rehabilitation, this article provides an account of the analytic and reflexive challenges of conducting research on gender and health and explores how the careful use of theory, specifically Bourdieu’s theory of practice, can facilitate a departure from narrow gender binaries. The analysis presented in this article adds to methodological writings on gender and health, offering a theory-driven process to help researchers address the fluidity of gender as lived and negotiated in the everyday social and material circumstances of men and women, particularly during times of illness.
A review of the factors affecting children with disabilities successful transition to early childhood care and primary education in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Soni Anita , Reyes Soto Marisol , Lynch Paul
Published: October 2021

Whilst transition to primary school is a commonly experienced phenomenon for most children, some groups of children, including those with disabilities, are less likely to engage in the process because it can be very challenging for them and their families. This article presents evidence from a review of research looking at the transition of children with disabilities within early childhood and primary education in low income countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. From the meta-aggregation, three central areas were identified within the topic of transition of children with disabilities to primary school in sub-Saharan Africa: key actors, obstacles and enablers. Although this review identified some of the main obstacles to transition related to finance, it has highlighted the fact that many children with disabilities and their parents wish to attend school, and there are a number of ways to support and enable successful transition from home to school.
Violence by Burning Against Women and Girls: An Integrative Review
Authors: Kornhaber Rachel , Pan Raquel , Cleary Michelle , Hungerford Catherine , Malic Claudia
Published: October 2021

Violence against women and girls by burning is a serious and confronting form of gender-based violence. Often, perpetrators aim to disfigure their victims or cause great pain, rather than kill them. Little is known about the characteristics of females who are subjected to violence by burning. This study aimed to review the literature concerning the prevalence, demographic profile, injury event, contributing factors and health outcomes for women and girls who have experienced burn-related violence. A search across five databases (PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus and LILACS) was conducted up to April 2021 to identify original peer-review research, with a focus on violence by burning against women and girls. The review was guided by the five-stage approach to integrative reviews developed by Whittemore and Knafl (2005) . Fifteen studies were identified. Victims were predominantly married, with low socio-economic status, limited education, and high emotional and financial dependency on their partners or families. Burn injuries were mostly caused by flame or acid, with significant morbidity or high mortality. Motives included family/marital issues or property/financial disputes. This review identified the limited evidence available in the peer-reviewed literature related to burn-related violence against women and girls worldwide. Findings suggest the need for further research to provide a clearer understanding of the complex issues involved.
Stochastic preemptive goal programming of Air Force weapon systems mix
Authors: Anderson Justin L , Astudillo Jessica M , Butcher Zachary E , Cornman Matthew D , Correale Anthony J , Crumpacker James B , Dennie Nathaniel C , Gaines Alex R , Gallagher Mark A , Goodwill John C , Graves Emily S , Hale Donald B , Holland Kimberly G , Huffman Benjamin D , McGee Michelle , Pollack Nicholas A , Ramirez Rachel C , Song Camero , Swize Emmie K , Tello Erick A , Wales Jesse G , Walker Julius C , Wilson Andrew B , Wilson William F , Wooten Kylie E , Zawadzki Marcelo
Published: October 2021

We demonstrate a new approach to conducting a military force structure study under uncertainty. We apply the stochastic preemptive goal program approach, described by Ledwith et al., to balance probabilistic goals for military force effectiveness and the force’s cost. We use the Bayesian Enterprise Analytic Model (BEAM), as described in “Probabilistic Analysis of Complex Combat Scenarios,” to evaluate effectiveness, expressed in terms of the probability of achieving campaign objectives, in three hypothetical scenarios. We develop cost estimates along with their uncertainty to evaluate the force’s research and development, production, and annual operating and support costs. Our summary depicts how the trade-off between various prioritized goals influences the recommended robust force. Our approach enables defense leaders to balance risk in both force effectiveness in various scenarios along with risk in different types of cost categories.
Operational safety of automated and human driving in mixed traffic environments: A perspective of car-following behavior
Authors: Li Tao , Han Xu , Ma Jiaqi , Ramos Marilia , Lee Changju
Published: October 2021

The advent of automated vehicles (AVs) will provide opportunities for safer, smoother, and smarter road transportation. During the transition from the current human-driven vehicle (HV) to a fully AV traffic environment, there will be a mixed traffic flow including both HVs and AVs. The impact of introducing AVs into existing traffic, however, has not yet been fully understood. In this paper, we advance this understanding by conducting mixed traffic safety evaluation from the perspective of car-following behavior using real-world AV operational data of mixed traffic. To understand how the AVs impact other vehicles on the road, we analyzed the operational behaviors of HV-following-HV, AV-following-HV, and HV-following-AV. A selected car-following model is calibrated, and results show that there are significant differences between the HV-following-HV and the other two groups, indicating safe AV behavior and changes in HV behavior (i.e. less aggressive, safer) after the introduction of AVs into the traffic. Additionally, to understand AV behavioral safety, we investigate behavior predictions (one of the most critical inputs for AVs to make car-following decisions) of AVs and their surrounding vehicles using a mature baseline model and a new Conditional Variational Autoencoder (CVAE) framework. The result shows potential risks of inaccurate predictions of the baseline model and the necessity to consider additional factors, such as vehicle interactions and driver behavior, into the prediction for risk mitigation. Arterial vehicle trajectory data from the Lyft Level 5 Dataset is applied to test the proposed methodological framework to understand the car-following safety risks of HVs and AVs in the mixed traffic stream.
Defining the black box: a narrative review of factors associated with adverse outcomes from severe Clostridioides difficile infection
Authors: Ressler Adam , Wang Joyce , Rao Krishna
Published: October 2021

In the United States, Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is the leading cause of healthcare-associated infection, affecting nearly half a million people and resulting in more than 20,000 in-hospital deaths every year. It is therefore imperative to better characterize the intricate interplay between C. difficile microbial factors, host immunologic signatures, and clinical features that are associated with adverse outcomes of severe CDI. In this narrative review, we discuss the implications of C. difficile genetics and virulence factors in the molecular epidemiology of CDI, and the utility of early biomarkers in predicting the clinical trajectory of patients at risk of developing severe CDI. Furthermore, we identify associations between host immune factors and CDI outcomes in both animal models and human studies. Next, we highlight clinical factors including renal dysfunction, aging, blood biomarkers, level of care, and chronic illnesses that can affect severe CDI diagnosis and outcome. Finally, we present our perspectives on two specific treatments pertinent to patient outcomes: metronidazole administration and surgery. Together, this review explores the various venues of CDI research and highlights the importance of integrating microbial, host, and clinical data to help clinicians make optimal treatment decisions based on accurate prediction of disease progression.
Pharmacological Significance of Hesperidin and Hesperetin, Two Citrus Flavonoids, as Promising Antiviral Compounds for Prophylaxis Against and Combating COVID-19
Authors: Agrawal Pawan K. , Agrawal Chandan , Blunden Gerald
Published: October 2021

Hesperidin and hesperetin are flavonoids that are abundantly present as constituents of citrus fruits. These compounds have attracted attention as several computational methods, mostly docking studies, have shown that hesperidin may bind to multiple regions of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (spike protein, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, and proteases). Hesperidin has a low binding energy, both with the SARS-CoV-2 “spike” protein responsible for internalization, and also with the “PLpro” and “Mpro” responsible for transforming the early proteins of the virus into the complex responsible for viral replication. This suggests that these flavonoids could act as prophylactic agents by blocking several mechanisms of viral infection and replication, and thus helping the host cell to resist viral attack.
Phase II study of dacarbazine given with modern prophylactic anti-emetics and growth factor support to patients with metastatic, resistant soft tissue, and bone sarcoma
Authors: Van Tine Brian A , Weiss Mia C , Hirbe Angela C , Oppelt Peter J , Abaricia Sarah , Trinkaus Kathryn , Luo Jingqin , Berry Shellie , Ruff Tyler , Callahan Cheryl , Toensikoetter Jacqui , Ley Jessica , Siegel Marilyn J , Dehdashti Farrokh , Siegel Barry A , Adkins Douglas R
Published: October 2021

Historically, administration of dacarbazine to sarcoma patients was limited by frequent treat-ment-related nausea/vomiting and neutropenia. These toxicities are now largely preventable with contemporary antiemetics and growth factor support. In this single-arm, phase II study, dacarbazine 850 mg/m2 was given on day 1 of each 3-week cycle until disease progression or intolerance with prophylactic serotonin-3 receptor, neurokinin-1 antagonists, corticosteroids, and pegfilgrastim. Coprimary endpoints included clinical benefit rate (CBR), and any grade of nausea/vomiting and/or grade 3–4 neutropenia. With a sample size of 80 patients, >24 patients with clinical benefit would indicate that the CBR exceeds the historical (<20%) [Power 0.80; alpha 0.05]. In addition, we hypothesized that the rates of nausea/vomiting would be 27% and grade 3–4 neutropenia would be 1% (historical: 90% and 36%, respectively) [power 0.95; alpha 0.05]. The CBR was 30% (24 patients: PR-2 and stable-22). The rate of nausea/vomiting was 37.5% (31 patients) and grades 3–4 neutropenia was 10% (8 patients). Median time-to-progression was 8.1 weeks (95% CI 8–9.7) and median overall survival was 35.8 weeks (95% CI 26.2–55.4). PET scans demonstrated no association with response. Modern prophylactic anti-emetics and pegfilgrastim given with dacarbazine reduced the rates of treatment related nausea/vomiting and serious neutropenia.
Medullary thyroid carcinoma: recent advances in identification, treatment, and prognosis
Authors: Bartz-Kurycki Marisa A. , Oluwo Omowunmi E. , Morris-Wiseman Lilah F.
Published: October 2021

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a neuroendocrine tumor that represents <5% of all thyroid malignancies and is generally more aggressive than differentiated thyroid cancer. The aim of this study is to provide an update, through review of clinical studies of patients with MTC published between January 1, 2016, and June 1, 2021, on recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of MTC. This review focuses on updates in biochemical testing, imaging, hereditary disease, surgical management, adjuvant therapies, and prognosis. Recent advances reviewed herein have sought to diagnose MTC at earlier stages of disease, predict when patients with a hereditary syndrome may develop MTC, use functional imaging to assess for distant metastases, perform optimal initial surgery with appropriate lymphadenectomy, employ targeted systemic therapies for patients with progressive metastatic disease, and better predict patient-specific outcomes.
Alteration of serum neuregulin 4 and neuregulin 1 in gestational diabetes mellitus
Authors: Zhang Lei , Lu Bi , Wang Wenhua , Miao Shifeng , Zhou Shuru , Cheng Xingbo , Zhu Jie , Liu Changmei
Published: October 2021

Context:

Neuregulin 4 (Nrg4) and neuregulin 1 (Nrg1) have been shown to play vital roles in several disorders of glucose metabolism. The pathophysiological role of Nrg4 and Nrg1 in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), however, remains poorly understood. We assessed the clinical relevance of the two cytokines in patients with GDM.

Methods:

The study recruited 36 GDM patients and 38 age-matched, gestational age (24–28 weeks of gestation)–matched, and BMI (during pregnancy)–matched controls in this study. Serum Nrg4 and Nrg1 were measured using ELISA. Inflammatory factors such as IL-6, IL-1β, leptin, TNF-α, and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) were determined via Luminex technique.

Results:

Serum Nrg4 in GDM patients was significantly lower than that in the controls, while Nrg1 was significantly higher in the GDM group ( p < 0.01). Inflammatory factors such as IL-6, leptin, and TNF-α were significantly increased in GDM patients, while MCP-1 and IL-1β were not significantly different between the two groups. In addition, serum Nrg4 was negatively correlated with fasting glucose ( r = −0.438, p = 0.008), HOMA-IR ( r = −0.364, p = 0.029), IL-6 ( r = −0.384, p = 0.021), leptin ( r = −0.393, p = 0.018), TNF-α ( r = −0.346, p = 0.039), and MCP-1 ( r = −0.342, p = 0.041), and positively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ( r = −0.357, p = 0.033) in GDM group. Serum Nrg1 was positively correlated with BMI ( r = 0.452, p = 0.006), fasting glucose ( r = 0.424, p = 0.010), HOMA-IR ( r = 0.369, p = 0.027), and triglyceride ( r = 0.439, p = 0.007). The decrease of Nrg4 and the increase of Nrg1 were significantly related to the increased prevalence of GDM. Finally, ROC curve results indicated that Nrg1 combined with IL-6 and TNF-α might be an effective means for GDM screening.

Conclusions:

Lower circulating Nrg4 and higher circulating Nrg1 serve risk factors of GDM. Nrg1 combined with IL-6 and TNF-α might be a potential tool for GDM screening.
Standardization of Aspergillus IgG diagnostic cutoff in Nigerians
Authors: Oladele Rita O. , Otu Akaninyene A. , Balogun Oluwaseyi J. , Babalola Oladayo M. , Nwosu Augustina O. , Iyabo Osaigbovo Iriagbonse , Gbajabiamila Titilayo , Irurhe Nicholas K. , Fayemiwo Samuel A. , Shettima Shuwaram A. , Uwaezuoke Nkolika Stella , Edwin Chinagozi Precious , Ayanbeku Toyese Stephen , Okaa Joy U. , Elikwu Charles John , Denning David W. , Kanki Phyllis J. , Ogunsola Folasade T.
Published: October 2021

Background and objectives:

Commercial Aspergillus IgG antibody assays have become pivotal in the current diagnosis of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA). However, diagnostic cutoffs have been found to vary from manufactures’ recommendations in different settings. This study aimed to establish the Aspergillus IgG reference range among Nigerians and determine a diagnostic cutoff for CPA.

Methods:

Sera from 519 prospectively recruited healthy blood donors and 39 previously confirmed cases of CPA were analysed for Aspergillus IgG levels using the Bordier test kit (Bordier Affinity Products SA, Crissier, Switzerland). Accuracy versus cutoff profile and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve were analysed for both CPA cases and controls using the R-Studio (2020), (Window desktop, version 4.0.2 software with R packages “nnet” and “ROCR”).

Results:

Among healthy blood donors, 141 (27.2%) were aged 16–25 years with median (interquartile range, IQR) of 22 (20–24) years; 304 (58.6%) were aged 26–40 years with median (IQR) of 32 (29–36) years; while 74 (14.2%) were aged 41–60 years with median (IQR) of 46 (44–49.75). Median IgG level in respective age groups were 0.069 (0.009–0.181), 0.044 (0.014–0.202) and 0.056 (0.01–0.265) with no significant difference found in the three age categories ( p = 0.69). The overall diagnostic cutoff for the diagnosis of CPA was 0.821 with an accuracy of 97.1% and area under the curve (AUC) = 0.986.

Conclusion:

The optimal diagnostic cutoff for diagnosing CPA in Nigerians using the Bordier kit was 0.821 which is lower than the manufacturer’s recommended cutoff of 1.0. The determination of this cutoff among Nigerians will significantly enhance accurate identification of CPA and assessment of its true burden in Nigeria.
Spinous Process-Splitting Laminectomy Approach for Tumor Excision at Conus Medullaris or Cauda Equina Level Results in Satisfactory Clinical Outcomes Without Affecting Global Spinal Sagittal Alignment
Authors: Okubo Toshiki , Nagoshi Narihito , Tsuji Osahiko , Nishimura Soraya , Suzuki Satoshi , Nori Satoshi , Yagi Mitsuru , Matsumoto Morio , Nakamura Masaya , Watanabe Kota
Published: October 2021

Study design

Retrospective comparative study.

Objectives

The present study investigated radiographical changes in global spinal sagittal alignment (GSSA) and clinical outcomes following tumor resection using spinous process-splitting laminectomy (SPSL) approach without fixation in patients with conus medullaris (CM) or cauda equina (CE) tumor.

Methods

Forty-one patients with CM or CE tumor (19 males, 22 females, mean age at surgery of 52.9 ± 13.0 years) were included in this study. The variations of outcome variables were analyzed in various GSSA profiles using radiographic outcomes. The clinical outcomes were assessed using Japan Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score and JOA back pain evaluation questionnaire (JOABPEQ).

Results

In all cases, the various GSSA parameters (sagittal vertical axis, C2–7 lordosis, T1 slope, thoracic kyphosis, T10–L2 kyphosis, lumbar lordosis [LL; upper, middle, and lower], sacral slope, pelvic incidence, and pelvic tilt) did not significantly change in the 2-years postoperative period. Moreover, age at surgery, the number of resected laminae, preoperative T12–L2 kyphosis, or LL did not affect the postoperative changes in T12–L2 kyphosis or LL, and had no statistically significant correlation among them. The scores of each postoperative JOA domain and the Visual Analogue Scale included in the JOABPEQ were significantly improved. There was no statistical significant group difference in each sagittal profile or clinical outcomes between CM and CE groups postoperatively.

Conclusions

Tumor resection using SPSL approach did not affected the various GSSA parameters examined and resulted in satisfactory clinical outcomes, indicating that SPSL approach is a suitable surgical technique for patients with CM or CE tumor.
Pattern of Development Spending and Its Impact on Human Development Index and Gross State Domestic Product in Low-income States in India
Authors: Ranjan Priya , Panda Prasant Kumar
Published: October 2021

The paper empirically examines the pattern and impact of development spending (DS) on human development index (HDI) and gross state domestic product (GSDP) in the low-income states (LIS), for the period of 1993–94 to 2014–15 for seven LIS states. Further analysing the sectoral impact of DS, panel unit root test and co-integration test were performed to analyse stationarity and panel long-run association among DS, GSDP and HDI. The paper finds that the share of DS in recent years for LIS is higher than the major states (MS), implying emphasis on social sector development. It also highlights the lagging behind a few LIS such as Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Rajasthan. The paper sheds light on the long-run co-integrating relationship among DS, HDI and GSDP. It finds that the DS has a significant and positive influence on GSDP but not on HDI in the long run. Sector-specific analysis suggests a long-run equilibrium relationship between DS and all three sectors of economy. Though the coefficient of DS did not emerge to be significant for the HDI indicator, sector-specific analysis suggests that increased health spending is associated with better health outcomes. Prioritising on education, health and skill development, and other DS will help in economic advancement. Proper implementation of schemes may bring change in HDI outcomes.
Angioarchitectural features amongst patients with unruptured brain arteriovenous malformations presenting with headache: findings from a single center retrospective review of 76 patients
Authors: Africk Benjamin N , Heiferman Daniel M , Wozniak Amy W , Behzadi Faraz , Ballard Matthew S , Chazaro Joshua M , Zsigray Brandon M , Shanker Rachyl M , Reynolds Matthew R , Anderson Douglas E , Serrone Joseph C
Published: October 2021

Background

Brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) consist of abnormal connections between arteries and veins via an interposing nidus. While hemorrhage is the most common presentation, unruptured AVMs can present with headaches, seizures, neurological deficits, or be found incidentally. It remains unclear as to what AVM characteristics contribute to pain generation amongst unruptured AVM patients with headaches.

Methods

To assess this relationship, the current study evaluates angiographic and clinical features amongst patients with unruptured brain AVMs presenting with headache. Loyola University Medical Center medical records were queried for diagnostic codes corresponding to AVMs. In patients with unruptured AVMs, we analyzed the correlation between the presenting symptom of headache and various demographic and angiographic features.

Results

Of the 144 AVMs treated at our institution between 1980 and 2017, 76 were unruptured and had sufficient clinical data available. Twenty-three presented with headaches, while 53 patients had other presenting symptoms. Patients presenting with headache were less likely to have venous stenosis compared to those with a non-headache presentation (13 % vs. 36 %, p = 0.044).

Conclusions

Our study suggests that the absence of venous stenosis may contribute to headache symptomatology. This serves as a basis for further study of correlations between AVM angioarchitecture and symptomatology to direct headache management in AVM patients.
Understanding the link between obesity and headache- with focus on migraine and idiopathic intracranial hypertension
Authors: Westgate Connar Stanley James , Israelsen Ida Marchen Egerod , Jensen Rigmor Højland , Eftekhari Sajedeh
Published: October 2021

Background

Obesity confers adverse effects to every system in the body including the central nervous system. Obesity is associated with both migraine and idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). The mechanisms underlying the association between obesity and these headache diseases remain unclear.

Methods

We conducted a narrative review of the evidence in both humans and rodents, for the putative mechanisms underlying the link between obesity, migraine and IIH.

Results

Truncal adiposity, a key feature of obesity, is associated with increased migraine morbidity and disability through increased headache severity, frequency and more severe cutaneous allodynia. Obesity may also increase intracranial pressure and could contribute to headache morbidity in migraine and be causative in IIH headache. Weight loss can improve both migraine and IIH headache. Preclinical research highlights that obesity increases the sensitivity of the trigeminovascular system to noxious stimuli including inflammatory stimuli, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unelucidated.

Conclusions

This review highlights that at the epidemiological and clinical level, obesity increases morbidity in migraine and IIH headache, where weight loss can improve headache morbidity. However, further research is required to understand the molecular underpinnings of obesity related headache in order to generate novel treatments.
Targeting microRNAs with thymoquinone: a new approach for cancer therapy
Authors: Homayoonfal Mina , Asemi Zatollah , Yousefi Bahman
Published: October 2021

Cancer is a global disease involving transformation of normal cells into tumor types via numerous mechanisms, with mortality among all generations, in spite of the breakthroughs in chemotherapy, radiotherapy and/or surgery for cancer treatment. Since one in six deaths is due to cancer, it is one of the overriding priorities of world health. Recently, bioactive natural compounds have been widely recognized due to their therapeutic effects for treatment of various chronic disorders, notably cancer. Thymoquinone (TQ), the most valuable constituent of black cumin seeds, has shown anti-cancer characteristics in a wide range of animal models. The revolutionary findings have revealed TQ’s ability to regulate microRNA (miRNA) expression, offering a promising approach for cancer therapy. MiRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that modulate gene expression by means of variation in features of mRNA. MiRNAs manage several biological processes including gene expression and cellular signaling pathways. Accordingly, miRNAs can be considered as hallmarks for cancer diagnosis, prognosis and therapy. The purpose of this study was to review the various molecular mechanisms by which TQ exerts its potential as an anti-cancer agent through modulating miRNAs.
Lifestyle behaviors associated with the initiation of renal replacement therapy in Japanese patients with chronic kidney disease: a retrospective cohort study using a claims database linked with specific health checkup results
Authors: Hara Azusa , Hirata Takumi , Okamura Tomonori , Kimura Shinya , Urushihara Hisashi
Published: October 2021

Background

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an independent risk factor for progression to an end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis or kidney transplantation. We investigated the association of lifestyle behaviors with the initiation of renal replacement therapy (RRT) among CKD patients using an employment-based health insurance claims database linked with specific health checkup (SHC) data.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included 149,620 CKD patients aged 40–74 years who underwent a SHC between April 2008 and March 2016. CKD patients were identified using ICD-10 diagnostic codes and SHC results. We investigated lifestyle behaviors recorded at SHC. Initiation of RRT was defined by medical procedure claims. Lifestyle behaviors related to the initiation of RRT were identified using a Cox proportional hazards regression model with recency-weighted cumulative exposure as a time-dependent covariate.

Results

During 384,042 patient-years of follow-up by the end of March 2016, 295 dialysis and no kidney transplantation cases were identified. Current smoking (hazard ratio: 1.87, 95% confidence interval, 1.04─3.36), skipping breakfast (4.80, 1.98─11.62), and taking sufficient rest along with sleep (2.09, 1.14─3.85) were associated with the initiation of RRT.

Conclusions

Among CKD patients, the lifestyle behaviors of smoking, skipping breakfast, and sufficient rest along with sleep were independently associated with the initiation of RRT. Our study strengthens the importance of monitoring lifestyle behaviors to delay the progression of mild CKD to RRT in the Japanese working generation. A substantial portion of subjects had missing data for eGFR and drinking frequency, warranting verification of these results in prospective studies.
Conference report from 13th European Conference on Precision Agriculture (ECPA)
Authors: Nyéki A. , Kovács A. J. , Neményi M. , Milics G.
Published: October 2021

This is a report on the 13th European Conference on Precision Agriculture (ECPA) that took place between 18 and 22, July at the location of the University of Public Service in Budapest, Hungary. The theme of the Conference was the “Adoption of innovative precision agriculture technologies and solutions”. Due to the pandemic, the conference was a hybrid event. The two societies—the International Society of Precision Agriculture and the Hungarian Society of Precision Agriculture—had contributed to the event. The international conference was mainly attended by academic researchers, university instructors, company executives and farmers. The event comprised five plenary and 22 scientific sessions.
Intraocular therapy in noninfectious uveitis
Authors: Modugno Rocco Luigi , Testi Ilaria , Pavesio Carlos
Published: October 2021

Systemic corticosteroids and immunosuppressant agents are the mainstay of therapy for non-infectious uveitis (NIU). However, the risks associated with systemic administration and the need of delivering an effective and safe anti-inflammatory treatment targeted to the site of inflammation have prompt the use of local therapy in the management of NIU. This review will analyse the different local treatment options available, including corticosteroids, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), methotrexate and the recent biologics.
Transcriptomic analysis of the seminal vesicle response to the reproductive toxicant acrylamide
Authors: Skerrett-Byrne David A. , Nixon Brett , Bromfield Elizabeth G. , Breen James , Trigg Natalie A. , Stanger Simone J. , Bernstein Ilana R. , Anderson Amanda L. , Lord Tessa , Aitken R. John , Roman Shaun D. , Robertson Sarah A. , Schjenken John E.
Published: October 2021

Background

The seminal vesicles synthesise bioactive factors that support gamete function, modulate the female reproductive tract to promote implantation, and influence developmental programming of offspring phenotype. Despite the significance of the seminal vesicles in reproduction, their biology remains poorly defined. Here, to advance understanding of seminal vesicle biology, we analyse the mouse seminal vesicle transcriptome under normal physiological conditions and in response to acute exposure to the reproductive toxicant acrylamide. Mice were administered acrylamide (25 mg/kg bw/day) or vehicle control daily for five consecutive days prior to collecting seminal vesicle tissue 72 h following the final injection.

Results

A total of 15,304 genes were identified in the seminal vesicles with those encoding secreted proteins amongst the most abundant. In addition to reproductive hormone pathways, functional annotation of the seminal vesicle transcriptome identified cell proliferation, protein synthesis, and cellular death and survival pathways as prominent biological processes. Administration of acrylamide elicited 70 differentially regulated (fold-change ≥1.5 or ≤ 0.67) genes, several of which were orthogonally validated using quantitative PCR. Pathways that initiate gene and protein synthesis to promote cellular survival were prominent amongst the dysregulated pathways. Inflammation was also a key transcriptomic response to acrylamide, with the cytokine, Colony stimulating factor 2 (Csf2) identified as a top-ranked upstream driver and inflammatory mediator associated with recovery of homeostasis. Early growth response (Egr1), C-C motif chemokine ligand 8 (Ccl8), and Collagen, type V, alpha 1 (Col5a1) were also identified amongst the dysregulated genes. Additionally, acrylamide treatment led to subtle changes in the expression of genes that encode proteins secreted by the seminal vesicle, including the complement regulator, Complement factor b (Cfb).

Conclusions

These data add to emerging evidence demonstrating that the seminal vesicles, like other male reproductive tract tissues, are sensitive to environmental insults, and respond in a manner with potential to exert impact on fetal development and later offspring health.
Genome-wide identification, genomic organization, and expression profiling of the CONSTANS-like (COL) gene family in petunia under multiple stresses
Authors: Khatun Khadiza , Debnath Sourav , Robin Arif Hasan Khan , Wai Antt Htet , Nath Ujjal Kumar , Lee Do-Jin , Kim Chang-Kil , Chung Mi-Young
Published: October 2021

Background

CONSTANS-like (CO-like, COL) are putative zinc-finger transcription factors known to play vital role in various plant biological processes such as control of flowering time, regulation of plant growth and development and responses to stresses. However, no systematic analysis of COL family gene regarding the plant development and stress response has been previously performed in any solanaceous crop. In the present study, a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of COL family genes in petunia has been conducted to figure out their roles in development of organs and stress response.

Results

A total of 33 COL genes, 15 PaCOL genes in P. axillaris and 18 PiCOL genes in P. inflata, were identified in petunia. Subsequently, a genome-wide systematic analysis was performed in 15 PaCOL genes. Considering the domain composition and sequence similarity the 15 PaCOL and 18 PiCOL genes were phylogenetically classified into three groups those are conserved among the flowering plants. Moreover, all of the 15 PaCOL proteins were localized in nucleus. Furthermore, differential expression patterns of PaCOL genes were observed at different developmental stages of petunia. Additionally, transcript expression of 15 PaCOL genes under various abiotic and phytohormone treatments showed their response against stresses. Moreover, several cis-elements related to stress, light-responsive, hormone signaling were also detected in different PaCOL genes.

Conclusion

The phylogenetic clustering, organ specific expression pattern and stress responsive expression profile of conserved petunia COL genes indicating their involvement in plant growth and development and stress response mechanism. This work provide a significant foundation for understanding the biological roles of petunia COL genes in plant growth, development and in stress response.
Genome-wide investigation and expression profiling of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) family genes uncover likely functions in organ development and stress responses in Populus trichocarpa
Authors: He Fang , Shi Yu-Jie , Zhao Qian , Zhao Kuang-Ji , Cui Xing-Lei , Chen Liang-Hua , Yang Han-Bo , Zhang Fan , Mi Jia-Xuan , Huang Jin-Liang , Wan Xue-Qin
Published: October 2021

Background

Trees such as Populus are planted extensively for reforestation and afforestation. However, their successful establishment greatly depends upon ambient environmental conditions and their relative resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses. Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) is a ubiquitous metalloproteinase in plants, which plays crucial roles in mediating plant resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses. Although the whole genome sequence of Populus trichocarpa has long been published, little is known about the PPO genes in Populus, especially those related to drought stress, mechanical damage, and insect feeding. Additionally, there is a paucity of information regarding hormonal responses at the whole genome level.

Results

A genome-wide analysis of the poplar PPO family was performed in the present study, and 18 PtrPPO genes were identified. Bioinformatics and qRT-PCR were then used to analyze the gene structure, phylogeny, chromosomal localization, gene replication, cis-elements, and expression patterns of PtrPPOs. Sequence analysis revealed that two-thirds of the PtrPPO genes lacked intronic sequences. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all PPO genes were categorized into 11 groups, and woody plants harbored many PPO genes. Eighteen PtrPPO genes were disproportionally localized on 19 chromosomes, and 3 pairs of segmented replication genes and 4 tandem repeat genomes were detected in poplars. Cis-acting element analysis identified numerous growth and developmental elements, secondary metabolism processes, and stress-related elements in the promoters of different PPO members. Furthermore, PtrPPO genes were expressed preferentially in the tissues and fruits of young plants. In addition, the expression of some PtrPPOs could be significantly induced by polyethylene glycol, abscisic acid, and methyl jasmonate, thereby revealing their potential role in regulating the stress response. Currently, we identified potential upstream TFs of PtrPPOs using bioinformatics.

Conclusions

Comprehensive analysis is helpful for selecting candidate PPO genes for follow-up studies on biological function, and progress in understanding the molecular genetic basis of stress resistance in forest trees might lead to the development of genetic resources.
A systematic review of common genetic variation and biological pathways in autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Rodriguez-Gomez Diego Alejandro , Garcia-Guaqueta Danna Paola , Charry-Sánchez Jesús David , Sarquis-Buitrago Elias , Blanco Mariana , Velez-van-Meerbeke Alberto , Talero-Gutiérrez Claudia
Published: October 2021

Background

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction. Common genetic variation appears to play a key role in the development of this condition. In this systematic review, we describe the relationship between genetic variations and autism. We created a gene dataset of the genes involved in the pathogenesis of autism and performed an over-representation analysis to evaluate the biological functions and molecular pathways that may explain the associations between these variants and the development of ASD.

Results

177 studies and a gene set composed of 139 were included in this qualitative systematic review. Enriched pathways in the over-representation analysis using the KEGG pathway database were mostly associated with neurotransmitter receptors and their subunits. Major over-represented biological processes were social behavior, vocalization behavior, learning and memory. The enriched cellular component of the proteins encoded by the genes identified in this systematic review were the postsynaptic membrane and the cell junction.

Conclusions

Among the biological processes that were examined, genes involved in synaptic integrity, neurotransmitter metabolism, and cell adhesion molecules were significantly involved in the development of autism.
GhWRKY1-like, a WRKY transcription factor, mediates drought tolerance in Arabidopsis via modulating ABA biosynthesis
Authors: Hu Qin , Ao Chuanwei , Wang Xiaorui , Wu Yanfei , Du Xuezhu
Published: October 2021

Background

Drought stress has great negative effects on the plant growth and development. The tolerance of plants to such abiotic stress is triggered by complicated and multilayered signaling pathways to restore cellular homeostasis and to promote survival. The WRKY family is one of the largest transcription factor families in higher plants, and has been well recognized for the roles in regulating plants tolerance to abiotic and biotic stress. However, little is known about how the WRKY genes regulate drought resistance in cotton.

Results

In this work, we identified the WRKY transcription factorGhWRKY1-likefrom upland cotton as a positive regulator of tolerance to drought that directly manipulates abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis. Overexpression ofGhWRKY1-likeinArabidopsisconstitutively activated ABA biosynthesis genes, signaling genes, responsive genes and drought related maker genes, and led to enhanced tolerance to drought. Further analysis has shown that GhWRKY1-like can interact with “W-box” cis-elements of the promoters ofAtNCED2,AtNCED5,AtNCED6andAtNCED9which are essential enzymes for ABA biosynthesis, and promotes the expression of those target genes.

Conclusions

In summary, our findings suggest thatGhWRKY1-likemay act as a positive regulator inArabidopsistolerance to drought via directly interacting with the promoters ofAtNCED2,AtNCED5,AtNCED6andAtNCED9to promote ABA biosynthesis.
The steroid-inducible pOp6/LhGR gene expression system is fast, sensitive and does not cause plant growth defects in rice (Oryza sativa)
Authors: Samalova Marketa , Moore Ian
Published: October 2021

Inducible systems for transgene expression activated by a chemical inducer or an inducer of non-plant origin are desirable tools for both basic plant research and biotechnology. Although, the technology has been widely exploited in dicotyledonous model plants such as Arabidopsis, it has not been optimised for use with the monocotyledonous model species, namely rice. We have adapted the dexamethasone-inducible pOp6/LhGR system for rice and the results indicated that it is fast, sensitive and tightly regulated, with high levels of induction that remain stable over several generations. Most importantly, we have shown that the system does not cause negative growth defects in vitro or in soil grown plants. Interestingly in the process of testing, we found that another steroid, triamcinolone acetonide, is a more potent inducer in rice than dexamethasone. We present serious considerations for the construct design to avoid undesirable effects caused by the system in plants, leakiness and possible silencing, as well as simple steps to maximize translation efficiency of a gene of interest. Finally, we compare the performance of the pOp6/LhGR system with other chemically inducible systems tested in rice in terms of the properties of an ideal inducible system.