bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis: Achieving and Sustaining Remission while Reducing Organ Damage
Authors: Bruchfeld Annette , de Groot Kirsten , Jayne David
Published: December 2022

Due to advances in treatment, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) is no longer a universally fatal condition; however, difficulties remain in managing its chronic relapsing-remitting course. Current standard of care1 aims to control the multi-system damaging vasculitis but exposes patients to the risk of severe treatment toxicities in the short and long-term, particularly from high-dose or prolonged steroid use. Moreover, a lack of knowledge around disease recognition in real-world clinical practice often impedes patient access to the required specialist care. In this article, three experts in the field of AAV, Prof Annette Bruchfeld, Prof Kirsten de Groot, and Prof David Jayne, offer their views on the current status of disease assessment and management. In a series of interviews conducted by the European Medical Journal in June and July 2019, the experts identified present challenges and future goals, and discussed the impact of remission and relapse on patients with AAV. In particular, they voiced their concerns over the clinical risks of therapy versus sustained disease control and suggested how improvements in healthcare services and communication could transform patient care.
STEM-Based Course Design: A Way to Develop Attitudes towards STEM and Science Course
Authors:   Mersin National Education Directorate, Turkey, Uygur Mutlu
Published: December 2022

The study aimed to investigate the effects of a STEM-based course design on students’ attitudes towards STEM and a science course. STEM activities were prepared per learning outcomes relating to the ‘illumination and sound technologies’ learning domain in the grade 4 science course. The study was carried out based on an experiment and control group quasi-experimental design. The study was carried out at a state school in Mersin in 2021. The experimental group of the study consisted of 32 and the control group consisted of 32 grade 4 students. STEM-based activities were performed in the experimental group. However, non-STEM activities were performed based on usual experimental setups in the control group. At the end of the study, the experimental and control group students’ attitudes towards STEM and science course were examined to determine whether there were statistically significant differences. As part of this study, student opinions on STEM were examined. A STEM Attitude Test and open-ended opinion form were used as data collection tools. Normality tests were conducted, and the homogeneity of variances was examined. Dependent and independent t-tests were conducted in quantitative data analysis and content analysis in the qualitative data analysis. The results suggested that STEM-based course design significantly increased students’ STEM attitudes and their attitudes towards science course more than the attitudes of students not exposed to STEM-based course design. In addition, students considered STEM practices fun and informative. Accordingly preparing STEM based course design for science course has been suggested.
The Effects of Laboratory Safety Professional Development Seminars Implemented on Science Teachers: Laboratory Safety Knowledge Levels
Authors:   Department of Science Education, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey, Cavas Bulent , Koç Simge ,   Department of Science Education, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
Published: December 2022

When laboratory accidents in schools, especially in recent years, are examined, it is remarkable that many of these events resulted from the incorrect implementation of laboratory safety. The most significant role in the administration of laboratory safety belongs to science teachers. During this process, the necessity of laboratory safety training is for teachers to gain knowledge, skills, and attitude with regard to laboratory safety. This study aimed to investigate science teachers’ knowledge level regarding laboratory safety and increase science teachers’ knowledge level regarding laboratory safety through professional development seminars. Professional development seminars were carried out for teachers in eight modules which included both visual presentations and active learning-teaching activities. Training activities were planned in consideration of the subjects and experiments included in the current Turkish general science curriculum. The single-group pre-test post-test design, a semi-experimental design application, was used. To investigate the effects of laboratory safety professional development seminars, pre- and post-tests were applied to only one group. The “Laboratory Safety Knowledge Test” developed by the researchers was applied to determine teachers’ improvement regarding laboratory safety. According to findings, there was a statistically significant difference between scores of changes in teachers’ knowledge level regarding laboratory safety before and after professional seminars. Moreover, there was not a demographically significant difference between scores of changes in teachers’ knowledge level. It is considered that the findings of the research will contribute to school laboratories being safer and more effective environments in which the activities of science lessons are carried out.
Comparison of the Effects of Emergency Distance and Face-to-Face Education Applications on Students' Analytical Thinking Skills in Science Course: Example of Energy Transformations and Environmental Science Unit
Authors:   Institute of Science and Technology, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey, Kocabaş Hayal
Published: December 2022

The aim of this study was to compare the analytical thinking skills of 8th grade students who received emergency distance and face-to-face education in a science course and to get student ideas concerning emergency distance education. An unequal control group model from the quasi-experimental models was used in the study. The study group consisted of 39 students. 15 students who received energy transformations and environmental science unit as emergency distance education constituted the first group and 24 students who received face-to-face education constituted the second group. The data were collected with ATAT, TATDL, and SOF. In conclusion, it was determined that the cognitive success of the students who received face-to-face education based on analytical thinking improved more. The ability to adapt analytical thinking to daily life developed equally in both groups. While the students who received emergency distance education did not express a negative opinion about the activities carried out in the teaching process, they stated negative opinions about the realization of this process online, such as internet shortage, lack of communication tools, noise, occasional power cuts, inefficiency compared to face-to-face education, difficulty in understanding the lesson, difficulty in speaking in front of the screen, inability of the teacher to be effective in distance education, and inability to experiment together. However, there were also students who expressed a positive opinion that the course was productive, interesting, calm, more comfortable than face-to-face education and safer to protect from the disease. As a result, it is thought that emergency distance education cannot replace face-to-face education; however, it is an effective education process that can be applied to prevent students from being completely disconnected from school and education during periods when lessons cannot be continued due to extraordinary circumstances such as pandemic.
Context-Based Biology Motivatıons of Secondary School Students
Authors:   Faculty of Education, Yozgat Bozok University, Yozgat, Turkey, Karakaya Ferhat , Arık Selçuk ,   Faculty of Education, Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, Tokat, Turkey, Yılmaz Mehmet ,   Gazi Faculty of Education, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
Published: December 2022

This study aimed to examine the motivation of secondary school students toward context-based biology in terms of variables. Motivations were examined in terms of gender, grade level, school type, project experience, and biology laboratory experience. The research was planned according to the ‘Survey design.’ The sample consisted of 545 students studying at different grade levels (9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades) of secondary education institutions in Turkey. The study data were collected through the ‘Context-Based Biology Motivation Scale (CBBMS)’ developed by Gül (2019). The measurement tool consists of 34 items in a five-point Likert type, and a total of three sub-factors: association and effect, participation and competence, and enjoyment and satisfaction. Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient was determined (α = 0.943) for the entire measurement tool. For the sub-factors, it was α = 0.898 for association and effect, α = 0.914 for participation and competence, α = 0.846 and for enjoyment and satisfaction. For independent groups, the t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Tukey test were used in the data analysis. According to the research results, secondary school students’ motivations toward context-based biology differed significantly according to gender, school type, biology laboratory experience, and grade level. On the contrary, motivations did not differ significantly according to their project experiences. The data obtained from the research will contribute to the literature in determining the factors affecting the motivation of secondary school students toward context-based biology.
Modification of Root Staining Preparation Method for Detection And Visualization Colony Formation of Arbuscular Mycorhriza Fungi (AMF)
Authors: Irmayanti Susan , Inggit Winarni
Published: December 2022

The root staining method was used to detect the presence of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and to calculate the colonization of the AMF in the roots. Optimal root staining methods not only help in the study of plant-associated mycorrhizae, but also save time and money. Root staining aims to clarify and sharpen the picture of AMF associated with plants on the roots, making it easier to observe with a light microscope. This study aims to obtain an effective (fast, safe, and economical) and flexible method of preparation of root staining so that the visualization of AMF on roots becomes clear and contrasting. The method used in this research is descriptive qualitative which includes the cleanliness of the roots from cell contents, root texture, and color contrast, which consists of three treatments, namely P1 (control) using 10% KOH with 90°C heating and followed by the modified Philips & Hayman staining procedure (1970), P2 using 5% KOH by heating at 90°C followed by the modified Philips & Hayman (1970) procedure using 1% HCl, and P3 using 5% KOH heating at 90°C then stained followed the staining method of Philips & Hayman (1970) which was modified by the use of commercial vinegar as a substitute for HCl. All treatments used Trypan Blue dye. The results showed that the P2 and P3 treatments showed results that were not different from P1, the state of the roots is clean enough thereby detection and visualization of AMF could still be observed properly. The P3 treatment method with heating for 9 minutes can be an alternative method that is effective (fast, safe, economical) and flexible. It faster than common method because it takes 9 minutes for cleaning root cells, relatively safe with the use of commercial vinegar solution to replace HCl solution, and economical because it can reduce the need for KOH material up to 50%.
Diversity of Macrozoobentos as Bioindicator of Lentic Waters in The Jombor Swamp Area Klaten Central Java
Authors: Sandhie Budi Himawan  , Hewindati Yuni Tri
Published: December 2022

Organisms that live permanently on the bottom of lentic or still waters, such as macrozoobenthos, are very susceptible to changes in water quality that can have an impact on their composition and abundance. Because of their tolerance to environmental changes, these organisms are often used as an indicator in physical and chemical changes in the aquatic environment. Rawa Jombor or Jombor swamp is a lentic freshwater in Krakitan Village, Bayat District, Klaten, Central Java. In addition to tourism, the surrounding community uses Rawa Jombor in their daily activities for floating market and fish cages. The existence of these various activities can produce waste and garbage which then settles to the bottom of the waters and has an impact on reducing water quality. This study aims to examine the diversity and distribution of macrozoobenthos. Water quality was measured by taking samples at three locations, namely station I (littoral zone), station II (limnetic zone), and station III (benthic zone). Sampling at each station used a Van Veen grab sediment sampler. The Macrozoobenthos Diversity Index was determined using the Shannon & Wiener formula. The diversity index values for stations I, II, and III are 1.579; 1.566; and 1.785, respectively, with moderate levels of community diversity. 14 types of macrozoobenthos were identified, of which Tubifex tubifex was the most abundant species in station 1 and station 2. Meanwhile at station 3 is dominated by Anentome Helena. Based on the analysis of organism diversity and the results of water quality inspection in our study, it shows that the water quality in the Jombor swamp is classified as moderately polluted.
Language learning analytics : designing and testing new functional complexity measures in L2 writings
Authors: Gaillat Thomas
Published: December 2022

This paper presents the initial stage in the design of an ICALL system. The objective is to develop a system that automatically generates linguistic analytics of L2 learner writings. Student texts will be processed with NLP tools producing different types of textual measures. We present the design of a new functional complexity metric aiming to capture the paradigmatic competition between forms mapped to the same communicative function, i.e. microsystems. More precisely, we analyze the variations of the FOR and TO prepositions in terms of frequency and probability of occurrence. Relative frequency shows significant correlations with CEFR levels suggesting its possible use in an analytics report system. More work is required to extend the approach to other microsystems.
Exploring Linguistic Acceptability in Swedish Learners’ Language
Authors: Klezl Julia , Ali Mohammed Yousuf , Volodina Elena
Published: December 2022

We present our initial experiments on binary classification of sentences into linguistically correct versus incorrect ones in Swedish using the DaLAJ dataset (Volodina et al., 2021a). The nature of the task is bordering on linguistic acceptability judgments, on the one hand, and on grammatical error detection task, on the other. The experiments include models trained with different input features and on different variations of the training, validation, and test splits. We also analyze the results focusing on different error types and errors made on different proficiency levels. Apart from insights into which features and approaches work well for this task, we present first benchmark results on this dataset. The implementation is based on a bidirectional LSTM network and pretrained FastText embeddings, BERT embeddings, own word and character embeddings, as well as part-of-speech tags and dependency labels as input features. The best model used BERT embeddings and a training and validation set enriched with additional correct sentences. It reached an accuracy of 73% on one of three test sets used in the evaluation. These promising results illustrate that the data and format of DaLAJ make a valuable new resource for research in acceptability judgements in Swedish.
Squeezing the eggs to grow: The mechanobiology of mammalian folliculogenesis
Authors: Biswas Arikta , Ng Boon Heng , Prabhakaran Vinod S/O , Chan Chii Jou
Published: December 2022

The formation of functional eggs (oocyte) in ovarian follicles is arguably one of the most important events in early mammalian development since the oocytes provide the bulk genetic and cytoplasmic materials for successful reproduction. While past studies have identified many genes that are critical to normal ovarian development and function, recent studies have highlighted the role of mechanical force in shaping folliculogenesis. In this review, we discuss the underlying mechanobiological principles and the force-generating cellular structures and extracellular matrix that control the various stages of follicle development. We also highlight emerging techniques that allow for the quantification of mechanical interactions and follicular dynamics during development, and propose new directions for future studies in the field. We hope this review will provide a timely and useful framework for future understanding of mechano-signalling pathways in reproductive biology and diseases.
How to help your depressed friend? The effects of interactive health narratives on cognitive and transformative learning
Authors: Scholl Jasper , Pandrea Markus , van Enschot Renske
Published: December 2022

Using narratives is an important communication strategy in mental health campaigns to empower readers to adequately help people suffering from depression. These narratives could be enhanced by giving readers agency to make choices on behalf of the main character that noticeably affect the narrative. Yet, few studies have explored the effects of these choices. This study investigated the effects of agency in an interactive digital narrative (IDN) about depression on cognitive and transformative learning. In two experimental, between-subjects design studies, the learning outcomes of a traditional (without agency) and interactive version (with agency) of a narrative about depression were compared. The mediating roles of identification, transportation and intrinsic motivation were also considered. In experiment 1 (N= 216), no effects of agency on cognitive learning, intrinsic motivation, identification or transportation were found. After better embedding learning content and increasing the choices' meaningfulness in the narrative of experiment 2 (N= 155), agency positively affected transformative learning but not cognitive learning. The effect on transformative learning was mediated by identification with the character. These results suggest that agency in educational narratives about depression increases identification with caretakers and reflection on how to approach people with depression sensibly. Implications of these results are discussed.
Good teaching—The adaptive balance between compulsion and freedom
Authors: Kiel Ewald , Weiss Sabine
Published: December 2022

What is good teaching? This question is as old as people have reflected on this topic, and its answers in the European context date back to antiquity. This essay elaborates on and justifies one complex answer to the question: good teaching is the adaptive balance between compulsion and freedom. The key questions addressed by the essay are as follows: (1) What arguments favor teaching within a framework of compulsion and what arguments favor teaching in a framework of freedom? (2) How can these possibilities be reconciled? (3) Does a myth of good teaching derive from these possibilities? To answer these questions, we first examine the different dimensions related to good teaching in science and other domains of life. We then develop criteria for defining compulsion and freedom in the context of teaching. This is followed by depicting arguments for organizing teaching in a framework of compulsion and those for organizing teaching in a framework of freedom. The thesis (compulsion) and antithesis (freedom) are then synthesized by constructing a concept of a balance between both positions according to the ideas of philosophy, sociology, theories of education, and learning theory. Therefore, the basic approach of this essay is dialectical. We select big ideas, confront them against each other, and attempt to find a synthesis without any claim to the historical completeness or completeness of concepts. Based on history, we emphasize the idea that, from the time of enlightment to modern learning theories, similar lines of arguments support each other.
Associations of metal exposure with hyperuricemia and gout in general adults
Authors: Xu Jing , Zhu Xu , Hui Rutai , Xing Yujie , Wang Junkui , Shi Shuang , Zhang Yong , Zhu Ling
Published: December 2022

Background

Epidemiological evidence of the associations between metal exposure and gout-related outcomes (including serum uric acid [SUA], hyperuricemia and gout) is scarce. The aim of the study is to investigate the associations of metal exposure with SUA, hyperuricemia and gout in general adults.

Methods

In this study, the exposure to five blood metals (mercury, manganese, lead, cadmium and selenium) of general adults was analyzed based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2011 to 2018 (n = 14,871). Linear, logistic and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression models were applied to examine the associations of blood metals with gout-related outcomes. Possible dose-response relationships were analyzed through restricted cubic spline regression.

Results

Compared with the lowest quartile of blood metals, mercury (quartile 2 and 4), lead (quartile 2, 3, and 4) and selenium (quartile 2 and 4) were found to be positively correlated with SUA and hyperuricemia. Higher levels of mercury and lead were associated with gout, but only those in the fourth quartile had statistical significance (OR [95%CI]: 1.39 [1.10-1.75] and 1.905 [1.41-2.57]) respectively). The WQS index of the blood metals was independently correlated with SUA (β [95%CI]: 0.17 [0.13-0.20]), hyperuricemia (OR [95%CI]: 1.29 [1.16-1.42]) and gout (OR [95%CI]: 1.35 [1.15-1.58]). Among them, lead was the most heavily weighted component (weight = 0.589 for SUA, 0.482 for hyperuricemia, and 0.527 for gout). In addition, restricted cubic spline regression models showed a linear association of lead with the prevalence of hyperuricemia and gout.

Conclusion

Our results suggested that blood metal mixtures were positively associated with gout-related outcomes, with the greatest effect coming from lead.
Prevalence and clinical characteristics of T2DM patients with OTUD3 gene rs78466831 SNP at a single academic center in China
Authors: Liu Jian-Ping , Yang Ai-Ping , Lei Gang , Yu Man , Peng Yu , Le Ai-ping
Published: December 2022

Background

A novel, rare OTUD3 c.863G>A (rs78466831) in humans has been reported associated with diabetes, but the prevalence and clinical characteristics of T2DM patients with rs78466831 have not been reported before.

Objective

To investigate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of T2DM patients with rs78466831 and provide a basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Methods

OTUD3 gene rs78466831 SNP was detected by Sanger sequencing in all the collected specimens of laboratory-confirmed T2DM patients and healthy people. Clinical characteristics indexes inconsisting of fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and a body mass index (BMI), T2DM-associated chronic complications (myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular disease, retinopathy, arterial plaque, peripheral neuropathy and nephropathy) were obtained from the clinical laboratory information systems and electronic medical record system. Clinical characteristic indicators were compared between the wild-type and variant (rs78466831) patients with T2DM.

Results

The prevalence of rs78466831 in the T2DM patients group was significantly higher than the healthy control in our academic center. The general characteristic indicators were not significantly different between the wild-type and rs78466831 patients with T2DM, except the family history of diabetes. Clinical laboratory indicators including HbA1c, FBG, OGTT, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C and CP had no significant difference between the two groups. The therapeutic drug and target achievement rates were not significantly different between the two groups. The incidence of diabetic retinopathy in the variant group was significantly higher than the wild-type group.

Conclusions

The OTUD3 gene rs78466831 was associated with T2DM and may be a biological risk factor of diabetes retinopathy.
Research on the coupling coordinated development evaluation of China’s provincial technological innovation and financial support based on KGM-MOP
Authors: Yang Qing , Cao Lanjuan , Wang Xiaohua , Wu Xiangrong , Guo Xiuhui
Published: December 2022

Technology finance is an important means to support technological innovation, the development level of which is one of the key points of innovation driven strategy in the new era. Based on the correlation-variation coefficient method, we screen the indicators of various provinces in China. An empirical research on technology finance by using the coupling coordinated development evaluation with data of 30 provinces from 2011 to 2020 are carried out. The forecast intervals for next 5 years are predicted with KGM (1, n) grey model. Then we use NSGA-III method to determine the trend of coupling coordinated development of each region in the forecast intervals. The research shows that the indicators of technology finance are industry-oriented, the level of integration of technology and finance across the country is different, to be specific, the East is on the high side, the central part is steady with some opportunities, the West has room for improvement and the Northeast has obvious weaknesses, and the driving force of the coupling coordinated development of technology and finance is limited in sustainability, etc. We propose to strengthen the top-level design and supervision of technology finance, implement accurate measures according to local conditions, and adopt the regional linkage and mutual assistance development mode to help regional efficient and coordinated development.
Native forest conversion alters soil macroinvertebrate diversity and soil quality in tropical mountain landscapes of northern Ecuador
Authors: Guarderas Paulina , Trávez Kerly , Boeraeve Fanny , Cornelis Jean-Thomas , Dufrêne Marc
Published: December 2022

Land use changes cause soil degradation and loss of biodiversity, thereby affecting ecological processes and soil-associated ecosystem services. However, land use change impacts on soil health have received little attention in the highland landscapes of the tropics. In this research, using the soil health framework, we assessed the impact of native forest conversion to anthropic systems (planted forests, pastures, and monocultures) on two ecosystem services: biodiversity conservation and soil fertility in the highlands of northern Ecuador. The biological dimension of our assessment focused on the diversity, abundance, and biomass of soil macroinvertebrate communities as proxies to soil functions, whereas soil chemical parameters were used to describe the soil fertility. The soil invertebrate communities and soil chemical parameters were studied in topsoil samples using 25 × 25 × 10 cm monoliths, obtained from 10 sampling sites randomly selected in each land use category. We hypothesized that native forests would present more diverse and even soil macroinvertebrate communities, and together with their soil chemical properties would indicate better soil quality than anthropic environments. Our results showed that the structure and composition of the edaphic macroinvertebrate communities significantly differed among the studied land use categories. As predicted, native forests presented greater values for richness, evenness and diversity of soil biota than did the other categories, demonstrating a significant loss of taxonomic biodiversity at order and genus levels. We also found a significant reduction of trophic diversity in native forests converted to anthropic environments. More trophic groups with greater abundances were found in native forests, where predators and detritivores stood out as dominant groups, indicating the good quality of the soil. The results from the soil chemical parameters also confirmed the distinction in soil health between native forests and anthropic environments. Our results highlight the risk associated with current trends of native forest loss and conversion to anthropic systems in high mountain ecosystems in the tropics, illustrating how these alterations could cause biodiversity loss and degradation of the chemical attributes of soil health. The findings of this research could contribute to the conservation and sustainable management of mountain agricultural landscapes in the study region.
A survey of Fusarium species and ADON genotype on Canadian wheat grain
Authors: Bamforth Janice , Chin Tiffany , Ashfaq Tehreem , Gamage Niradha Withana , Pleskach Kerri , Tittlemier Sheryl A. , Henriquez Maria Antonia , Kurera Shimosh , Lee Sung-Jong , Patel Bhaktiben , Gräfenhan Tom , Walkowiak Sean
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Wheat is a staple food that is important to global food security, but in epidemic years, fungal pathogens can threaten production, quality, and safety of wheat grain. Globally, one of the most important fungal diseases of wheat is Fusarium head blight (FHB). This disease can be caused by several differentFusariumspecies with known differences in aggressiveness and mycotoxin-production potential, with the trichothecene toxin deoxynivalenol (DON) and its derivatives being of particular concern. In North America, the most predominant species causing FHB isF. graminearum, which has two distinct sub-populations that are commonly classified into two main chemotypes/genotypes based on their propensity to form trichothecene derivatives, namely 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON) and 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-ADON).

Materials and methods

We used a panel of 13 DNA markers to perform species and ADON genotype identification for 55, 444 wheat kernels from 7, 783 samples originating from across Canada from 2014 to 2020.

Results and discussion

Based on single-seed analyses, we demonstrate the relationships betweenFusariumspecies and trichothecene chemotype with sample year, sample location, wheat species (hexaploid and durum wheat), severity ofFusariumdamaged kernels (FDK), and accumulation of DON. Results indicate that variousFusariumspecies are present across wheat growing regions in Canada; however,F. graminearumis the most common species and 3-ADON the most common genotype. We observed an increase in the occurrence of the 3-ADON genotype, particularly in the western Prairie regions. Our data provides important information on special-temporal trends inFusariumspecies and chemotypes that can aid with the implementation of integrated disease management strategies to control the detrimental effects of this devastating disease.
Prurigo pigmentosa clinically and immunologically mimicking autoimmune bullous disease: A case report
Authors: Kita Kanako , Kurokawa Ichiro , Hayashi Daisuke , Hashimoto Takashi
Published: December 2022

A 15-year-old Japanese male noticed brown macules on his back 9 months ago. Initial examination revealed reticulated infiltrative erythema and pigmentation with blisters on the erythema of the back. Histopathology showed blisters with eosinophil infiltration in the epidermis, and direct immunofluorescence showed negative results for immunoglobulin (Ig) G, Ig A, Ig M, and C3 in the epidermal basement membrane zone. Immuno-serological tests revealed the presence of IgG antibodies against BP180, linear IgA disease antigen 1 (LAD-1), and laminin α3. The autoimmune bullous disease was suspected, and prednisolone at a concentration of 20 mg/day (0.3 mg/kg/day) was started. When the prednisolone dose was reduced to 10 mg/day, erythema and blisters recurred. The patient was diagnosed with prurigo pigmentosa based on clinical features and was treated successfully with oral doxycycline hydrochloride hydrate and topical tacrolimus ointment. This is the first case of prurigo pigmentosa with blisters in which autoantibodies to the epidermal basement membrane zone were found, which might be secondary non-pathogenic antibodies.
Comparing the application of three thrombosis risk assessment models in patients with acute poisoning: A cross-sectional survey
Authors: Wen Zixin , Li Xiuqin , Zhang Yanxia , Shi Jie , Zhang Juan , Zheng Yingying , Lin Ying , Jian Tianzi , Jian Xiangdong , Kan Baotian , Luan Xiaorong
Published: December 2022

Background

Patients with acute toxic hemoperfusion are prone to deep vein thrombosis. However, there is no risk assessment model for thrombosis in patients with acute toxic hemoperfusion. Therefore, we compared three commonly used risk assessment models for deep vein thrombosis to determine the model most suitable for assessment of deep vein thrombosis in patients with acute toxic hemoperfusion.

Methods

Caprini, Autar, and Padua thrombosis risk assessment models were used to assess the risk of deep vein thrombosis in patients with acute poisoning and hemoperfusion admitted to a grade A hospital in Shandong province from October 2017 to February 2019. The predictive values of the three models were compared using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Results

The risk assessment model scores of Caprini, Autar, and Padua were 7.55 ± 1.76, 8.63 ± 2.36, and 3.92 ± 0.55, respectively. The Caprini risk assessment model was significantly different (p < 0.05) in high-risk patients in the thrombus and non-thrombotic groups; the difference between the other two models was not significant (p > 0.05). The areas under the ROC curve of the Caprini, Autar, and Padua risk assessment models were 0.673, 0.585, and 0.535, respectively. The difference in areas under the ROC curve between the Caprini risk assessment model and the Autar risk assessment model as well as the Padua risk assessment model was significant (p < 0.05), but the areas under the ROC curve of the Autar risk assessment model and the Padua risk assessment model were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The Caprini risk assessment model had a sensitivity of 91.9%, specificity of 33.1%, and a Youden index of 0.249. The sensitivity and specificity of Autar’s risk assessment model were 37.0 and 77.2%, respectively, and the Youden index was 0.141. The Padua risk assessment model had a sensitivity of 91.3%, specificity of 15.0%, and a Youden index of 0.063.

Conclusion

The three thrombosis risk assessment models were not suitable for patients with acute poisoning and hemoperfusion.
Case report: MOG-IgG-associated encephalitis with Epstein-Barr virus infection and Alzheimer's pathologic change in cerebrospinal fluid
Authors: Li Lin , Li Chuan , Yao Dan , Hao Yun-feng , Zhao Chao , Yan Qi , Liu Jun-tong , Liu Shu-yu , Zhu Wen-ping , Du Ying , Zhang Wei
Published: December 2022

Immunoglobulin G antibodies to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG-IgG) associated disease is a rare, demyelinated disease in the central nerve system (CNS) predominately involving optic nerve, spinal cord, and brain leading to optic neuritis (ON), transverse myelitis (TM), encephalitis. The phenotype of MOG-IgG-associated encephalitis is similar to acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) presenting with seizures, abnormal behavioral and psychological symptoms, and cognitive impairment. A few brain biopsies show multiple sclerosis (MS) pattern histopathology with T cells, macrophages, and complement activation. To date, how MOG-IgG is produced is unknown. Herein, we report a case of a 32-year-old male with MOG-IgG-associated encephalitis presenting MOG-IgG in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) but seronegative, as well as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and Alzheimer's pathologic change in CSF (Aβ42 = 317 pg/ml, T-Tau = 538 pg/ml, p-Tau =10.09 pg/ml). With a combination treatment of administering intravenous immunoglobulin (0.4 mg/kg/d, 5 days) with a low dose of methylprednisolone (80 mg/d, 5 days) and rituximab (100 mg/week, 3 weeks), the patient recovered significantly after 3 months follow-up. This case provides us with new thoughts into the production of MOG-IgG and the possible pathologic mechanism of MOG-IgG-associated disease (MOG-AD) and simultaneously further confirms the interaction between EBV and changes of CSF biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Enhanced proliferation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells following retrovirus mediated Achaete-scute complex-like 1 overexpression in the postnatal cerebral cortex in vivo
Authors: Galante Chiara , Marichal Nicolás , Scarante Franciele Franco , Ghayad Litsa Maria , Shi Youran , Schuurmans Carol , Berninger Benedikt , Péron Sophie
Published: December 2022

The proneural transcription factor Achaete-scute complex-like 1 (Ascl1) is a major regulator of neural fate decisions, implicated both in neurogenesis and oligodendrogliogenesis. Focusing on its neurogenic activity, Ascl1 has been widely used to reprogram non-neuronal cells into induced neurons. In vitro, Ascl1 induces efficient reprogramming of proliferative astroglia from the early postnatal cerebral cortex into interneuron-like cells. Here, we examined whether Ascl1 can similarly induce neuronal reprogramming of glia undergoing proliferation in the postnatal mouse cerebral cortex in vivo. Toward this goal, we targeted cortical glia during the peak of proliferative expansion (i.e., postnatal day 5) by injecting a retrovirus encoding for Ascl1 into the mouse cerebral cortex. In contrast to the efficient reprogramming observed in vitro, in vivo Ascl1-transduced glial cells were converted into doublecortin-immunoreactive neurons only with very low efficiency. However, we noted a drastic shift in the relative number of retrovirus-transduced Sox10-positive oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) as compared to glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive astrocytes. Genetic fate mapping demonstrated that this increase in OPCs was not due to Ascl1-mediated astrocyte-to-OPC fate conversion. Rather, EdU incorporation experiments revealed that Ascl1 caused a selective increase in proliferative activity of OPCs, but not astrocytes. Our data indicate that rather than inducing neuronal reprogramming of glia in the early postnatal cortex, Ascl1 is a selective enhancer of OPC proliferation.
Safety and feasibility assessment of extending the flushing interval in totally implantable venous access port flushing during the non-treatment stage for patients with breast cancer
Authors: Wang Yinhuan , Tian Hao , Chen Xianchun , Zhang Jiasi , Wang Li , Fan Haiyan , Zhang Yi , Qi Xiaowei , Hu Shaoyi , Yang Ying
Published: December 2022

Aim

To investigate the safety and feasibility of extending the flushing interval for the totally implantable venous access port (TIVAP) during the non-treatment stage in patients with breast cancer (BC) by retrospectively analyzing the patients’ clinical data, including the incidence of TIVAP-related complications.

Methods

This single-center retrospective study included patients with BC who underwent TIVAP implantation at our hospital between January 2018 and March 2021 during their non-treatment phase and visited the hospital regularly for TIVAP flushing. Among the 1013 patients with BC who received TIVAP implantation, 617 patients were finally included on the basis of the inclusion and exclusion criteria and divided into three groups according to the length of the flushing interval: group 1 (≤30 days, n = 79), group 2 (31–90 days, n = 66), and group 3 (91–120 days, n = 472). The basic characteristics of patients in each group and the incidence of TIVAP-related complications (catheter obstruction, infection, and thrombosis) were analyzed.

Results

No significant intergroup differences were observed in age, body mass index (BMI), tumor stage, pathological staging, implantation approach, chemotherapy regimen, duration of treatment, and TIVAP-related blood return rate (P > 0.05). Among patients from all three groups, 11 cases of catheter pump-back without blood and eight cases of TIVAP-related complications such as infection, thrombosis, and catheter obstruction were recorded. However, no significant differences in TIVAP-related complications were observed among the three groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Extending the TIVAP flushing interval beyond three months during the non-treatment stage in BC patients is safe and feasible and did not increase the incidence of TIVAP-related complications.
Extremely high infiltration of CD8+PD-L1+ cells detected in a stage III non-small cell lung cancer patient exhibiting hyperprogression during anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy after chemoradiation: A case report
Authors: Wu Changshun , Zhou Kai , Zheng Yan , Lv Dongxiao , Zhao Miaoqing , Hu Yue , Qi Fei , Wang Xin , Feng Hong
Published: December 2022

In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), represented by PD-1/PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies, have become a research hotspot in the field of oncology treatment. Immunotherapy has shown significant survival advantages in a variety of solid tumors. However, the phenomenon of hyperprogressive disease (HPD) in some patients treated with immunotherapy is gradually getting more attention and focus. An early understanding of the characteristics of HPD is crucial to optimize the treatment strategy. We report a patient with unresectable stage III lung adenocarcinoma who developed HPD with metastasis during consolidation therapy with durvalumab after chemoradiation. To further investigate the potential mechanism of HPD after anti-PD-L1 treatment, primary lung baseline tissue, baseline plasma, post-immunotherapy plasma, and liver metastasis samples of the patient were detected via next-generation sequencing (NGS). Then, multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) was performed on primary lung baseline tissue and liver metastasis samples. KRAS and p.G12C were identified as the major driver mutation genes. With a low tumor mutation burden (TMB) value, the patient presented a very high percentage of CD8+PD-L1+ T cells that infiltrated in the baseline tissue, with 95.5% of all CD8+ cells expressing PD-L1 and a low percentage of CD8+ T cells expressing PD-1. After the emergence of HPD from immunotherapy, liver metastases were similarly infiltrated with an extremely high proportion of CD8+PD-L1+ T cells, with 85.6% of all CD8+ cells expressing PD-L1 and almost no CD8+ T cells expressing PD-1. The extreme infiltration of PD-L1+CD8+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment of baseline tissue might be associated with the aggressive tumor growth observed in anti-PD-L1 treatment for related HPD and could be a potential biomarker for HPD development.
Dynamic investigation of the Laksmanan–Porsezian–Daniel model with Kerr, parabolic, and anti-cubic laws of nonlinearities
Authors: Akram Ghazala , Sadaf Maasoomah , Ullah Khan M. Atta , Pamiri Sefatullah
Published: December 2022

The Laksmanan–Porsezian–Daniel model is one of the useful models used in nonlinear optics. The extended G′G2-expansion method is used to discuss the dynamical behavior of the proposed model. Many novel solitary wave solutions are obtained using the considered model. To deal with the nonlinearity of this model, three laws of nonlinearity are used, namely, Kerr law, parabolic law, and anti-cubic law. Three-dimensional surface, two-dimensional contour, density, and two-dimensional-line plots of some retrieved solutions are drawn using Maple software. The graphical simulations show the shape and structure of the wave profile corresponding to the obtained results.
On universal butterfly and antisymmetric magnetoresistances
Authors: Wu H. T. , Min Tai , Guo Z. X. , Wang X. R.
Published: December 2022

Butterfly magnetoresistance (BMR) and antisymmetric magnetoresistance (ASMR) are about a butterfly-cross curve and a curve with one peak and one valley when a magnetic field is swept up and down along a fixed direction. Other than the parallelogram-shaped magnetoresistance-curve (MR-curve) often observed in magnetic memory devices, BMR and ASMR are two ubiquitous types of MR-curves observed in diversified magnetic systems, including van der Waals materials, strongly correlated systems, and traditional magnets. Here, we reveal the general principles and the picture behind the BMR and the ASMR that do not depend on the detailed mechanisms of magnetoresistance: 1) The systems exhibit hysteresis loops, common for most magnetic materials with coercivities. 2) The magnetoresistance of the magnetic structures in a large positive magnetic field and in a large negative magnetic field is approximately the same. With the generalized Ohm’s law in magnetic materials, these principles explain why most BMR appears in the longitudinal resistance measurements and is very rare in the Hall resistance measurements. Simple toy models, in which the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation governs magnetization, are used to demonstrate the principles and explain the appearance and disappearance of BMR in various experiments. Our finding provides a simple picture to understand magnetoresistance-related experiments.
Endothelial deletion of the cytochrome P450 reductase leads to cardiac remodelling
Authors: Lopez Melina , Malacarne Pedro F. , Ramanujam Deepak P. , Warwick Timothy , Müller Niklas , Hu Jiong , Dewenter Matthias , Weigert Andreas , Günther Stefan , Gilsbach Ralf , Engelhardt Stefan , Brandes Ralf P. , Rezende Flávia
Published: December 2022

The cytochrome P450 reductase (POR) transfers electrons to all microsomal cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP450) thereby driving their activity. In the vascular system, the POR/CYP450 system has been linked to the production of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) but also to the generation of reactive oxygen species. In cardiac myocytes (CMs), EETs have been shown to modulate the cardiac function and have cardioprotective effects. The functional importance of the endothelial POR/CYP450 system in the heart is unclear and was studied here using endothelial cell-specific, inducible knockout mice of POR (ecPOR−/−). RNA sequencing of murine cardiac cells revealed a cell type-specific expression of different CYP450 homologues. Cardiac endothelial cells mainly expressed members of the CYP2 family which produces EETs, and of the CYP4 family that generates omega fatty acids. Tamoxifen-induced endothelial deletion of POR in mice led to cardiac remodelling under basal conditions, as shown by an increase in heart weight to body weight ratio and an increased CM area as compared to control animals. Endothelial deletion of POR was associated with a significant increase in endothelial genes linked to protein synthesis with no changes in genes of the oxidative stress response. CM of ecPOR−/− mice exhibited attenuated expression of genes linked to mitochondrial function and an increase in genes related to cardiac myocyte contractility. In a model of pressure overload (transverse aortic constriction, TAC with O-rings), ecPOR−/− mice exhibited an accelerated reduction in cardiac output (CO) and stroke volume (SV) as compared to control mice. These results suggest that loss of endothelial POR along with a reduction in EETs leads to an increase in vascular stiffness and loss in cardioprotection, resulting in cardiac remodelling.