bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Construcción de una curva de demanda de cloro para la planta potabilizadora Jaime Díaz Quintero en La Chorrera, Panamá
Authors: Melgar Yarelis , Duarte Bolívar , López Eduardo , Gonzalo Pulido
Published: August 2021

Este trabajo presenta la obtención experimental de la curva de demanda de cloro del agua cruda afluente a la potabilizadora IDAAN Jaime Díaz Quintero en temporada lluviosa, a fin de entender y aplicar los procedimientos experimentales involucrados, interpretar el comportamiento observado de demanda de cloro en agua cruda y asociarlo a las especies químicas presentes en el agua cruda. Se evaluó el cloro residual libre, presente en doce muestras de agua cruda con diferentes concentraciones de solución madre de hipoclorito de calcio al 65% de pureza, mediante el método DPD-colorímetro. El punto de quiebre de cada curva se obtuvo mediante regresión lineal simple de los datos obtenidos. Los resultados muestran un punto de quiebre de 3 mg/L de dosis de cloro añadido. Desde el punto de quiebre, la curva de demanda de cloro tiene un comportamiento ascendente, que se atribuye posiblemente a la presencia en bajas concentraciones de nitrógeno orgánico detectadas en el historial de los últimos seis meses de datos de nitratos y nitritos. A través de este estudio se espera encontrar la curva de demanda de cloro promedio y obtener un indicador de la carga orgánica del agua cruda, pues a mayor desplazamiento del punto de quiebre, mayor carga orgánica.
Estandarización de modelo de perfusión renal en ratones
Authors: Yángüez Karen , Díaz Maricselis , Morán Juan , Mero Aldahir , Chérigo Katherine , Aizprúa Betsy , Navarro Alireya , Francis Nayaris , Moráles Abdy , Jaén Delia , Guerrero De León Estela
Published: August 2021

La técnica de riñón ex vivo permite valorar la respuesta renal intrínseca permitiendo que las variables experimentales puedan ser controladas por el investigador. En los laboratorios del CIPFAR trabajamos para poner a punto el modelo de riñón aislado y perfundido, para lo cual empleamos ratones C57BL/6 y CD-1 machos. Realizamos laparatomía abdominal, localizamos y ligamos la sección aórtica, seguidamente, realizamos una incisión en la arteria renal izquierda e introdujimos una cánula acoplada a un microtubo de polietileno. A través de la cánula, los riñones aislados son conectados a un sistema de perfusión y expuestos a los contracturantes KCl (80mM) y fenilefrina (FE 10-5 M). También obtuvimos curvas concentración respuesta frente a acetilcolina (ACh 10-8–10-4M). Nuestros resultados revelan valores de presión basal de 36.8 ± 4.8 mmHg y 30.7 ± 14.2 mmHg para las cepas CD-1 y C57BL/6, respectivamente. La despolarización con KCl desarrolló un efecto contracturante máximo de 25.7 ± 16.0 mmHg para CD-1 y 63.8 ± 34.8 mmHg en ratones C57BL/6. El agente adrenérgico FE, produjo contracciones máximas de 53.0 ± 29.6 mmHg en CD-1 y 66.1 ± 4.7 mmHg en C57BL/6. El efecto vasodilatador máximo inducido por ACh fue de 35.7 % ± 3.5 y 46.9 % ± 18.7 en CD-1 y C57BL/6, respectivamente.A la luz de este resultado, tanto el tiempo de exposición, la manipulación excesiva, la perfusión inadvertida de burbujas y la formación de coágulos, pueden ser factores que disminuyan la viabilidad del endotelio renal. En cualquier caso, los datos de perfusión basal, así como la reactividad frente a agentes contracturantes son pruebas de la viabilidad del tejido en ambos grupos de animales.
Familia, aprendizaje y conectividad para sumar y multiplicar
Authors: González Cedeño Greisy , Hernández Sánchez Brizeida , Alveo Rodríguez Reyna
Published: August 2021

La investigación familia, aprendizaje y conectividad para sumar y multiplicar tiene como objetivo analizar las limitaciones de la familia sobre la conectividad y la trascendencia de las herramientas digitales para enfrentar el año académico en sistema educativo panameño priorizado. Se busca caracterizar los factores asociados a la conectividad y que artefactos digitales está empleando en casa; herramientas de comunicación (TIC) y herramientas para aprender y comprender (TAC). El método de la investigación diagnostica aplicada en un solo momento, la muestra fue probabilística, tipo bola de nieve está compuesta por 100 familias con discapacidad en tres Regiones Educativas. La recolección se realizó a través de un instrumento con ítems abiertos y dicotómicos. Entre los aspectos evaluados están: herramientas digitales, dificultades al recibir las clases, las barreras que enfrentan las familias y variables de control y mediadora. La aplicación se realizó desde 8 de marzo al 18 de marzo del 2021. Primer semestre académico. Entre los hallazgos más cercanos a los objetivos esperados revelan que la familia necesita fortalecimiento en sus capacidades y lograr que el hogar se convierta en un pilar que permita a la educación sumar y multiplicar; pero también que la familia evite restar y dividir. A modo de conclusiones, se puede considerar que la conectividad en tiempos de crisis mundial por salud pública son derechos inalienables, además, la conectividad permite avanzar hacia la autonomía.
Internal wave intensity and angle of propagation modulate small-scale settlement patterns of intertidal barnacles during peak recruitment
Authors: Ladah LB , Tapia FJ
Published: August 2021

The settlement of intertidal barnacles Chthamalus spp. was measured for an entire recruitment season at 3 sites separated by 100 m in Baja California, Mexico. During a 10 d pulse that accounted for nearly 30% of yearly settlement, coastal wind speed and direction, nearshore water column temperature, and current velocities were also measured. During this period, strong internal tidal forcing was observed, with short episodes (1-1.5 h) of rapid fluctuations in water column temperature, stratification, and currents. Chthamalus spp. settlement was significantly and positively correlated with cumulative high-frequency fluctuations in temperature, thermal stratification, and surface current flows, but not with onshore winds. Furthermore, the spatial pattern in the number of settlers was correlated with the angle of propagation estimated for onshore-moving internal waves, potentially modulated by nearshore bathymetry. This relationship between Chthamalus spp. settlement and high-frequency changes in water column temperature was also shown for a site in La Jolla, California, USA, but not for a similar barnacle, Balanus glandula, suggesting that interspecific differences in larval behavior and nearshore depth distribution may translate into differences in transport. Our results suggest that both the number of settlers at shore and their spatial pattern can be modulated by the intensity and direction of internal wave events, at least during peak settlement periods. Future research should consider both the intensity and geometry of internal-wave-induced variability in the nearshore, as well the small-scale features of coastal geomorphology and bathymetry.
Leptin inhibits gastric emptying in rats: role of CCK receptors and vagal afferent fibers
Authors: Çakır B , Kasımay Ö , Devseren E , Yeğen BÇ
Published: August 2021

Leptin regulates energy homeostasis and body weight by balancing energy intake and expenditure. It was recently reported that leptin, released into the gut lumen during the cephalic phase of gastric secretion, is capable of initiating intestinal nutrient absorption. Vagal afferent neurons also express receptors for both CCK and leptin, which are believed to interact in controlling food intake. The present study was undertaken to investigate the central and peripheral effects of leptin on gastric emptying rate. Under anesthesia, male Sprague-Dawley rats (250-300 g) were fitted with gastric Gregory cannulas (n=12) and some had additional cerebroventricular cannulas inserted into their right lateral ventricles. Following recovery, the rate of gastric emptying of saline (300 mOsm/kg H(2)O) was determined after instillation into the gastric fistula (3 ml, 37 degrees C, containing phenol red, 60 mg/l as a non-absorbable dilution marker). Gastric emptying rate was determined from the volume and phenol red concentrations recovered after 5 min. Leptin, injected intraperitoneally (i.p.; 10, 30, 60, 100 microg/kg) or intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.; 5, 15 microg/rat) 15 min before the emptying, delayed gastric emptying rate of saline at the dose of 30 microg/kg or 15 microg/rat (p<0.001). When CCK(1) receptor blocker L-364,718 (1 mg/kg, i.p.), CCK(2) receptor blocker L-365,260 (1 mg/kg, ip) or adrenergic ganglion blocker bretylium tosylate (15 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered 15 min before ip leptin (30 microg/kg) injections, leptin-induced delay in gastric emptying was abolished only by the CCK(1) receptor blocker (p<0.001). However, the inhibitory effect of central leptin on gastric emptying was reversed by adrenergic blockade, but not by either CCK antagonists. Our results demonstrated that leptin delays gastric emptying. The peripheral effect of leptin on gastric motility appears to be mediated by CCK(1) receptors, suggesting the release of CCK and the involvement of vagal afferent fibers. On the other hand, the central effect of leptin on gastric emptying is likely to be mediated by adrenergic neurons. These results indicate the existence of a functional interaction between leptin and CCK receptors leading to inhibition of gastric emptying and short-term suppression of food intake, providing an additional feedback control in producing satiety.
Effect of combined therapy with hyperbaric oxygen and an antioxidant on infarct volume after permanent focal cerebral ischemia
Authors: Acka G , Sen A , Canakci Z , Yildiz S , Akin A , Uzun G , Cermik H , Yildirim I , Kokpinar S
Published: August 2021

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficiency of combination of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) and an antioxidant on permanent focal cerebral ischemia. Male Wistar rats underwent permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Then, animals were randomly assigned to one of four groups: the control group (n=9) received no treatment, HBO group (n=9) was treated for 90 min at 2.5 absolute atmosphere for 3 days, the U-74389G group (n=8) received single U-74389G injection (3 mg/kg), the HBO + U-74389G group (n=8) received both HBO and U-74389G treatments. Treatments were initiated within the first 10 min after MCAO. After 3 days, the infarct volumes in rat brains were measured. The infarct ratios were 25.6+/-6.5 % for the control group, 21.9+/-6.4 % for the HBO group, 15.7+/-5.7 % for U-74389G group and 12.5+/-3.8 % for HBO + U74389G group. The infarct volumes were significantly reduced in rats treated with U-74389G (p<0.05) and combination therapy (p<0.05). HBO failed to reduce infarct volume significantly. We concluded that 1) U-74389G is more beneficial than HBO on permanent MCAO in rats, and 2) a combined therapy failed to significantly improve infarct volume more than either single treatment.
Pengembangan Model Pembelajaran Lari Melalui Media Flash Card di Sekolah Menengah Atas
Authors: Nahar Al Warisu , Taroreh Bangkit Seandi
Published: August 2021

Tujuan penelitian adalah menghasilkan menghasilkan model pembelajaran lari melalui media flash card di Sekolah Menengah Atas. Metode penelitian menggunakan metode kuantitatif dengan pendekatan modifikasi model R&D dari Borg & Gall. Subjek penelitian terdiri dari 2 Ahli Pembelajaran Penjas, 1 Guru Penjasorkes dan 30 siswa Sekolah Menengah Atas. Jenis data yang dikumpulkan berupa data kuantitatif melalui studi dokumen, obsevasi dan kuisioner. Analisis data dilakukan secara deskriptif kuantitatif. Hasil penelitian ini yaitu 1) telah menghasilkan produk model pembelajaran lari melalui media flashcard pada uji coba skala besar dinyatakan layak dengan persentase 90,6%. Harapannya menjadi salah satu alternatif dalam pembelajaran Atletik.
Legal procedure of official interpretation of legal texts
Authors: Nykolyna K. V.
Published: August 2021

The scientific article is devoted to the substantiation of the procedural nature of the official interpretation of legal texts. The author emphasizes that it is on the official interpretation that legally significant decisions are based, which establish the specific rights and obligations of the subjects. However, today there are no systematized methodological recommendations, requirements, officially established legal procedure and principles of interpretive activity, which could determine common standards of official interpretation.

The procedure of interpretation consists in the sequence of actions of the authorized subjects within separate stages.The article formulates the author’s definition of legal interpretation procedure as a system of successive legally significant actions of authorized entities, which are aimed at clarifying, constructing and explaining to other legal entities the meaning and scope of legal norms formulated in legal texts.

Taking into account the latest methodological approaches to interpretation and the requirements of the rule of law,the author reveals the content of legal interpretation, which consists of separate stages, which in turn include a number of successive procedures. In particular, the stage of clarifying the content of the legal text involves the following procedures: initial study of the legal text and the form of its consolidation in the provisions of the legal act, comprehensive analysis of the legal text, analysis of the received interpretation in terms of justice, human rights, rule of law, design normative rule. The explanation, according to the author, includes the following procedures: preparation of a draft interpretative act, namely a legal document that contains an explanation of the content and application of the legal norm, formulated by the authorized body within its competence; adoption of a legal interpretation act, making it universally binding for all those who apply the clarified rules of law; promulgation of an interpretative act, namely, bringing its content to the attention of society or law enforcement agencies; control over the use of the act of interpretation of the law by the subjects of its application; generalization of legal interpretative acts in order to systematize them.

Given the importance of official interpretation of legal texts, the feasibility of determining at least the general principles of legal interpretation at the regulatory level is considered.

Keywords: interpretation of law, official interpretation, legal procedure, legal interpretation activity.
Clarity and legibility of legal norms as an element of legal certainty
Authors: Ogneviuk G. Z.
Published: August 2021

The article analyzes links between the clarity and legibility of legal norms and the legal certainty principle. It is stated that clarity and legibility are not only the characteristics of legal norms and the requirements of legal technique. It is also a significant element for the legal certainty principle, which influences on how legal regulation will achieve its goal.

Each legal norm has a content and an external form, the form should be clear and apparent not only to the lawyers and judges but also to the people, who should understand the content clearly to behave in accordance with it. In case of uncertainty legal norms are differently applied by people. They are unclear to understand what is prohibited or approved by law. This leads to the reduction of authority of the legal regulation and stimulates a person to interpret the norm in his pwn way. The universality and stability of legal regulation reduces thereby.

So clarity and legibility are far from being only the technique characteristics of legal form, they influence significally the process of application of legal norm. There should be no special education provided for average citizen to understand the meaning of law, which he is due to obey. In order to provide a full and universe regulation the law should be clear and understandable. In this case citizens receive predictability and show respect for the law.

Apart from the clarity and legibility legal certainty principle provides accessibility of legal regulation; restriction of the discretionary powers; binding nature of the court decision; prohibition retrospective action of legal norms and others.

It is underlined that the problem of clarity and legibility of legal act significally influences the protection of human rights and freedoms and it depends on how legal norm would get the aim of its regulation and in what way the idea incorporated by the legislator would be realized.

In order to provide clarity and legibility there are two groups of instruments that should be provided – general linguistical and juridicial. Linguistical instruments includes simplicity of formulation, avoidance of iterance, tautology, accumulation of syntactic construction, excessive use of denial in formulation of legal norms. The second group – juridical instruments – provide rare use of specified legal terminology, limited use of reference norms that doesn`t give an integral understanding of legal rule. Such cases attack legal certainty principle.

Keywords: legal certainty, legal technique, clarity and legibility of norm, predictability
Authentic interpretation of legal norms: theoretical aspec
Authors: Osiadla M. V.
Published: August 2021

The article examines the problem of interpretive activity in the law enforcement process, which is due to the need to clarify the content of the legal norm. The issue of interpretation in the process of application of legal norms is considered, as the modern Ukrainian legislation is not regulated and contains internal conflicts. The article describes the types of official normative interpretation, in particular, as authentic, legal, departmental. The use of interpretation in the law enforcement process as an opportunity to understand the essence of legislative terms,ensuring equal application by all subjects of public relations, which involves compliance with the principle of legitimate expectations and the rule of law.

Keywords: interpretation, application, authentic interpretation, casual interpretation.
The role and meaning of the state in neoconservatism
Authors: Serediuk V. V.
Published: August 2021

Neoconservatism as an ideological and political-economic system of knowledge contains a number of ideas about the role, tasks, purpose and meanings of the modern state, its relationship with social institutions (family, church, NGOs), as well as its role in economic relations. American neoconservatism, in contrast to British or German, is also characterized by attention to the foreign policy function of the state.

Reconsideration of the role, tasks and significance of the state in various spheres of society and in international relations in modern conditions determines the relevance of our study of this issue.

Neoconservatism, the ideas of which were implemented in the policies of the conservative parties of the United States, Great Britain, and Germany in the 1970-1990s, continues to influence the implementation of national and international policies of various states to this day. Neoconservatism, unlike neoliberalism, offers a different understanding of the role and meaning of the modern state.

Traditional values are ideologically substantiated and promoted: family, religion, morals, community, and the state. An important place in neoconservatism is given to social institutions, the need to overcome isolation of the individual from the institution of community (religious, social, government). The integration of the individual into social institutions and the return of the importance of the state authority in the worldview of the individual are considered priorities of state influence.

American neoconservatism substantiates the US foreign policy function – to protect the democratic values in international relations.

In the economic sphere, neoconservatives insist on reducing government intervention in market relations, returning to the ideals of classical economic liberalism, and taking a number of fiscal and monetary policy measures to reduce inflation, unemployment, and stimulate economic development.

Although neoconservatism recognizes the need to build a strong state, it is not seen as authoritarian, encroaching on,restricting or abolishing human and civil rights and freedoms recognized in democracies after World War II. However, freedom is understood as a sphere of free behavior of the individual, which exists in relations with other members of society and is limited by the freedom of another person.

Keywords: neoconservatism, state, role, individual, social institutions, traditional values, intervention, economy, law.
Significant conditions of the bank deposit agreement under the civil legislation of Ukraine
Authors: D’yachenko T. G.
Published: August 2021

In the article the author investigates the essential terms of the bank deposit agreement. In the course of the research the author analyzes the requirements to the content of the bank deposit agreement established by the Central Committee of Ukraine and special legislation, including the Law of Ukraine «On Financial Services and State Regulation of Financial Services Markets» and regulations of state regulators in the banking services market. Based on the analysis, the author concluded that the terms of the contract (in particular, essential) relate to the contract as a transaction and not as a legal relationship or document, and therefore, most of the conditions specified in special legislation are not essential, and their the absence may result not in the recognition of the contract as unconcluded, but as a basis for the application to the bank of measures of influence by state regulators of the banking services market. As essential conditions of the bank deposit agreement, established directly by law, the author considers only the subject of the agreement, and for a bank deposit agreement concluded in favor of a third party, such a condition also determines the name of the individual or the name of the legal entity.

Keywords: contract, transaction, legal relationship, document, content of the contract, condition of the contract.
Problems of legal regulation of the form of the loan agreement in the civil legislation of Ukraine
Authors: Plavych I. V.
Published: August 2021

In the article the author investigates the legal regulation of the form of the loan agreement as a transaction and a document. In examining the written form of the loan agreement, the author argues that the written form of the agreement should be understood as a contract whose content is information expressed in letters, signs, numbers, hieroglyphs, or any signs and symbols that can be applied by chemical compounds or mechanically , the value of which is known to persons who use it, which does not depend on the specific type of media, is guaranteed to ensure the integrity of the content of the contract, and allow to identify its parties. In the article the author proves the imperfection of the norms of Article 1047 of the Civil Code of Ukraine. According to the author, not only the effect of Article 1047 of the Civil Code of Ukraine on the form of the loan agreement applies to the loan agreement as a transaction, but also the effect of Articles 206 and 208 of the Civil Code of Ukraine on the written form of the transaction. In order to save legislative material and eliminate inconsistencies between the provisions of Articles 208 and 1047 of the Civil Code of Ukraine, the author proposes amendments to remove from Article 1047 of the Civil Code of Ukraine special rules on the written form of this agreement, which are different from Article 208 of the Civil Code. In turn, due to the imperfection of Article 208 of the Civil Code of Ukraine, in terms of the amount of the contract, which requires a written form, the author proposes to replace the reference in this article of the Code to the tax-free minimum income for another indicator that changes more frequently, and more responsive to existing in the country inflation or by fixing in law a specific amount, which the legislator may periodically change if necessary. The author also considers the state of legal regulation in Ukraine of the procedure for concluding a contract by electronic means of communication. Given their imperfection, the author considers it appropriate to group the basic rules on the procedure for concluding such transactions in Chapter 16, Section IV of the Civil Code of Ukraine. The author also considers it inexpedient to have in part twelve of Article 11 of the Law of Ukraine «On Electronic Commerce» norms that equate an electronic agreement concluded by exchanging electronic messages to an agreement concluded in writing.

Keywords: contract, transaction, document, contract form, transaction form, document form.
“For us, Alibaba was just a story”: Despite the power of habit older people are gradually adopting the digital discourse
Authors: Manor Shlomit , Herscovici Arie
Published: August 2021

Information technology can help older persons continue living independently and keep them active for many years. The aim of the present study is to understand the expectations of older people regarding information technology, how they perceive it, how useful they find it and how significant it is in their life. For this purpose, we interviewed 40 older people aged 65-93 who were attending day centers.

The findings, which were examined in light of the continuity theory presented by Atchley (1989), reveal different levels of resistance to technology that range from rejection and tendency to preserve previous familiar patterns to acceptance of the technology.  Findings indicate cracks in the continuity strategy. The discourse about information technology among the older persons is ambivalent, incoherent, and laden with internal contradictions. Older people are immigrants to the new digital world; they do not speak its language and feel alienated from it, simultaneously accepting and rejecting it.
Functions and Molecular Mechanisms of Deltex Family Ubiquitin E3 Ligases in Development and Disease
Authors: Wang Lidong , Sun Xiaodan , He Jingni , Liu Zhen
Published: August 2021

Ubiquitination is a posttranslational modification of proteins that significantly affects protein stability and function. The specificity of substrate recognition is determined by ubiquitin E3 ligase during ubiquitination. Human Deltex (DTX) protein family, which functions as ubiquitin E3 ligases, comprises five members, namely, DTX1, DTX2, DTX3, DTX3L, and DTX4. The characteristics and functional diversity of the DTX family proteins have attracted significant attention over the last decade. DTX proteins have several physiological and pathological roles and are closely associated with cell signal transduction, growth, differentiation, and apoptosis, as well as the occurrence and development of various tumors. Although they have been extensively studied in various species, data on structural features, biological functions, and potential mechanisms of action of the DTX family proteins remain limited. In this review, recent research progress on each member of the DTX family is summarized, providing insights into future research directions and potential strategies in disease diagnosis and therapy.
The Structure and Properties of Sepiolite with Partial Lattice Ions Substituted by Aluminum Ions
Authors: Chen Huiwen , Geng Junming , Zhang Zepeng , Jiang Rui , Zhai Jingya , Zhang Jinchuan
Published: August 2021

Sepiolite was modified with Al3+ via hydrothermal reaction. The substitution amount of Al3+ for Mg2+ and Si4+ located at sepiolite lattice and the influence of substitution amount on the structure, specific surface area, and surface acidity of Al-modified sepiolite were investigated. On this basis, indigo–sepiolite composite pigments were prepared by Al-modified sepiolite and indigo via grinding method to evaluate the influence of Al-modified sepiolite on the structure, bonding strength, and weather resistance of composite pigment. The crystal structure of Al-modified sepiolite had no obvious change after modification. Al3+ mainly substituted Mg2+ located at the octahedron of the sepiolite lattice, and the substitution amount was positively related to the dosage of Al3+. The specific surface area of Al-modified sepiolite decreased and the distribution of channel size became wider after Al modification. In addition, the absolute value of zeta potential decreased as well as the solid acid sites increased with the increase of Al substitution in Al-modified sepiolite. For indigo–sepiolite composite pigments, the structure of Al-modified sepiolite had no obvious change as well. The adsorption amount of indigo in composite pigment after treating by DMSO and Al content as well as weak acid amount in Al-modified sepiolite presented linear correlation, indicating that Al modification could enhance the bonding strength between indigo and Al-modified sepiolite by increasing the amount of coordinated water with Al. For indigo, Al-modified sepiolite could brighten the color and reduce the weather resistance of the prepared composite pigment. The results of this study provide a new idea and basis for regulating the structure and properties of clay and for studying the preparation of composite pigment and clay functional materials.
Recent Development of Graphene Based Electrochemical Sensor for Detecting Hematological Malignancies-Associated Biomarkers: A Mini-Review
Authors: Wei Shougang , Chen Xiuju , Zhang Xinyu , Chen Lei
Published: August 2021

Hematologic malignancies are a group of malignant diseases of the hematologic system that seriously endanger human health, mainly involving bone marrow, blood and lymphatic tissues. However, among the available treatments for malignant hematologic diseases, low detection rates and high recurrence rates are major problems in the treatment process. The quantitative detection of hematologic malignancies-related biomarkers is the key to refine the pathological typing of the disease to implement targeted therapy and thus improve the prognosis. In recent years, bioelectrochemical methods for tumor cell and blood detection have attracted the attention of an increasing number of scientists. The development of biosensor technology, nanotechnology, probe technology, and lab-on-a-chip technology has greatly facilitated the development of bioelectrochemical studies of cells, especially for blood and cell-based assays and drug resistance differentiation. To improve the sensitivity of detection, graphene is often used in the design of electrochemical sensors. This mini-review provides an overview of the types of hematological malignancies-associated biomarkers and their detection based on graphene assisted electrochemical sensors.
Case Report: Severe Aortic Valve Regurgitation and Pseudoaneurysm in Aortic Valve-Sparing Operation: The Usefulness of Multimodality Imaging in a Complex Clinical Scenario
Authors: Varotto Leonardo , Spigolon Luca , Dotto Alberto , Siviero Valentina , Scodro Marta , Cabianca Ester , Magagna Paolo , Caprioglio Francesco
Published: August 2021

Background: Failure of the native aortic valve and degenerative anatomy of ascending aorta in patients with previous Tirone-David operation may represent a clinical challenge, because sometimes the risk of reoperation is prohibitive.

Case: We described the case of a patient suffering from severe aortic valve regurgitation and pseudoaneurysm of the aortic arch, 6 years after cardiac surgery operation. The aim of this clinical case was to assess if the complex anatomy of aortic pseudoaneurysm and aortic root geometry can be accurately reproduced from contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan into a three-dimensional (3D) printed model. Based on this procedural method, with the aid of transesophageal 3D ultrasound, we efficaciously treated the patient percutaneously with a combination of transcatheter occluder device plus microcoil embolization and transfemoral aortic valve implantation. The patient was free from complications and the need to redo cardiac surgery.

Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of two simultaneous complications and their staged treatment in a patient with previous aortic valve-sparing operation. This is a useful report in a single 3D model applying such specific technology to these two simultaneous clinical settings.
Multiple Tooth-Rowed Parareptile From the Early Permian of Oklahoma
Authors: Rowe Dylan C. T. , Scott Diane M. , Bevitt Joseph J. , Reisz Robert R.
Published: August 2021

The Dolese Limestone Quarry near Richards Spur, Oklahoma includes an elaborate system of caves which have been infilled with early Permian fossil rich sediments. In operation for more than a century, the quarry yielded vast numbers of disarticulated skeletal elements of the most diverse assemblage of fully terrestrial tetrapods from the Paleozoic. Excavations carried out in this century are distinct in producing large numbers of articulated and semiarticulated skeletons, including numerous new taxa. Dolese is therefore unique among early Permian localities in being home to a diverse assemblage of small parareptiles, including two species ofDelorhynchus. Here we describe a new species of acleistorhinid, characterized by the presence of multiple tooth rows on the dentary, that can be identified with confidence as a third new species ofDelorhynchus. The multiple tooth rowed condition is deemed not to be a pathological condition, and appears to have formed in the same manner as in the captorhinid eureptileCaptorhinus agutithrough uneven growth of the tooth-bearing element.
A Meta-Analysis of Avian Egg Traits Cueing Egg-Rejection Defenses Against Brood Parasitism
Authors: Samaš Peter , Hauber Mark E. , Honza Marcel
Published: August 2021

The capability of hosts to reject the odd egg from their nest is one of the key defenses against avian brood parasitism. Considerable research effort has been devoted to exploring which phenotypic traits of eggshells facilitate to cue the recognition of the parasitic egg. Here we have reviewed studies addressing salient egg traits involved in the rejection of foreign eggs and used a formal meta-analysis to quantify their relative importance. Hosts appear to rely to a large extent on eggshell color traits, followed by maculation patterns. Hosts respond with similar rates of egg rejection to natural vs. model eggs and when breeding in both closed and open nests. Analyses of experiments on hosts of Cuculus and Molothrus parasites, the two best studied brood parasitic lineages with different co-evolutionary histories, yield similar conclusions. We also identify several poorly studied potential egg recognition cues, such as odor or weight, and recommend exploring even the visual traits in more detail, including chromatic and achromatic contrasts or experimentally manipulated egg maculation characteristics. Recent technological and sensory ecological advances open many new research avenues to experimentally examine the role of diverse egg characteristics in antiparasite defenses.
Predicting miRNA-Disease Associations Based on Heterogeneous Graph Attention Networks
Authors: Ji Cunmei , Wang Yutian , Ni Jiancheng , Zheng Chunhou , Su Yansen
Published: August 2021

In recent years, more and more evidence has shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the regulation of post-transcriptional gene expression, and are closely related to human diseases. Many studies have also revealed that miRNAs can be served as promising biomarkers for the potential diagnosis and treatment of human diseases. The interactions between miRNA and human disease have rarely been demonstrated, and the underlying mechanism of miRNA is not clear. Therefore, computational approaches has attracted the attention of researchers, which can not only save time and money, but also improve the efficiency and accuracy of biological experiments. In this work, we proposed a Heterogeneous Graph Attention Networks (GAT) based method for miRNA-disease associations prediction, named HGATMDA. We constructed a heterogeneous graph for miRNAs and diseases, introduced weighted DeepWalk and GAT methods to extract features of miRNAs and diseases from the graph. Moreover, a fully-connected neural networks is used to predict correlation scores between miRNA-disease pairs. Experimental results under five-fold cross validation (five-fold CV) showed that HGATMDA achieved better prediction performance than other state-of-the-art methods. In addition, we performed three case studies on breast neoplasms, lung neoplasms and kidney neoplasms. The results showed that for the three diseases mentioned above, 50 out of top 50 candidates were confirmed by the validation datasets. Therefore, HGATMDA is suitable as an effective tool to identity potential diseases-related miRNAs.
Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs): A Unique Model of Cancer Metastases and Non-invasive Biomarkers of Therapeutic Response
Authors: Liu Jialing , Lian Jingru , Chen Yafei , Zhao Xin , Du ChangZheng , Xu Yang , Hu Hailiang , Rao Hai , Hong Xin
Published: August 2021

Late-stage cancer metastasis remains incurable in the clinic and is the major cause death in patients. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are thought to be metastatic precursors shed from the primary tumor or metastatic deposits and circulate in the blood. The molecular network regulating CTC survival, extravasation, and colonization in distant metastatic sites is poorly defined, largely due to challenges in isolating rare CTCs. Recent advances in CTC isolation and ex vivo culture techniques facilitates single-cell omics and the development of related animal models to study CTC-mediated metastatic progression. With these powerful tools, CTCs can potentially be used as non-invasive biomarkers predicting therapeutic response. These studies may open a new avenue for CTC-specific drug discoveries. In this short review, we aim to summarize recent progress in the characterization of CTCs and their clinical relevance in various cancers, setting the stage for realizing personalized therapies against metastases.
Gut-Liver Immune Traffic: Deciphering Immune-Pathogenesis to Underpin Translational Therapy
Authors: Bozward Amber G. , Ronca Vincenzo , Osei-Bordom Daniel , Oo Ye Htun
Published: August 2021

The tight relationship between the gut and liver on embryological, anatomical and physiological levels inspired the concept of a gut-liver axis as a central element in the pathogenesis of gut-liver axis diseases. This axis refers to the reciprocal regulation between these two organs causing an integrated system of immune homeostasis or tolerance breakdown guided by the microbiota, the diet, genetic background, and environmental factors. Continuous exposure of gut microbiome, various hormones, drugs and toxins, or metabolites from the diet through the portal vein adapt the liver to maintain its tolerogenic state. This is orchestrated by the combined effort of immune cells network: behaving as a sinusoidal and biliary firewall, along with a regulatory network of immune cells including, regulatory T cells and tolerogenic dendritic cells (DC). In addition, downregulation of costimulatory molecules on hepatic sinusoids, hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells as well as regulating the bile acids chain also play a part in hepatic immune homeostasis. Recent evidence also demonstrated the link between changes in the gut microbiome and liver resident immune cells in the progression of cirrhosis and the tight correlation among primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and also checkpoint induced liver and gut injury. In this review, we will summarize the most recent evidence of the bidirectional relationship among the gut and the liver and how it contributes to liver disease, focusing mainly on PSC and checkpoint induced hepatitis and colitis. We will also focus on completed therapeutic options and on potential targets for future treatment linking with immunology and describe the future direction of this research, taking advantage of modern technologies.
Often Overlooked: Understanding and Meeting the Current Challenges of Marine Invertebrate Conservation
Authors: Chen Emily Yi-Shyuan
Published: August 2021

Making up over 92% of life in our oceans, marine invertebrates inhabit every zone in the water column, with contributions ranging from ecosystem functioning to socioeconomic development. Compared to charismatic species, marine invertebrates are often underrepresented in IUCN reports and national conservation efforts. Because of this, as climate change intensifies in conjunction with increasing anthropogenic pressures such as habitat destruction, many marine invertebrates are at risk of silently heading toward extinction. However, public perception has shifted in recent years due to the growing awareness of the important roles these invertebrates play in marine and human life. This change may promote greater support for future research and conservation campaigns of key species. This review highlights the importance of marine invertebrates, the environmental and anthropogenic stressors they are currently facing, and the inherent challenges in their successful conservation. Potential solutions to fill the gaps in current knowledge will be also explored in the context of recent globalization and technological advancements. The loss of marine invertebrate biodiversity will have cascading ecological, economic, and sociological repercussions, so compiling key information into a holistic review will add to the conversation of the importance of global marine invertebrate conservation.
Effective Coastal Climate Services—An End-User Perspective for Resilient Infrastructure
Authors: Simm Jonathan , Gouldby Ben , Lumbroso Darren , Matthewson Tom
Published: August 2021

This paper focusses on identifying the responses to coastal climate change that are of interest for decision-making by end users and the delivery and the necessary communication process for this information. The focus is on representation of climate (response) information in a form that provides sufficient clarity in the midst of uncertainty for end-users who are seeking to develop or maintain resilient infrastructure. The paper recommends that the use of the term climate services in situations unrelated to supporting adaptation to and mitigation of climate change should be avoided. Better investment decisions could be made if Bayesian frameworks were used to assign probabilities to RCP scenarios. Associated predictions need to cover all types of climate change influences not just sea level rise and ideally provide concurrent time series to allow evaluation of dependencies. Guidance on climate information published by official bodies needs to adopt a consistent approach, with a clear narrative that describes the transition from science to guidance. The form in which climate services information is needed for the required end user decisions needs careful thought, including appropriate communication of the associated uncertainties using good practices and experiences from related sectors.
Auxiliary Liver Graft Can Be Protected From HBV Infection in HBsAg Positive Blood Circulation
Authors: Wei Lin , Zhang Hai-Ming , Wan Chi-Dan , Qu Wei , Zeng Zhi-Gui , Liu Ying , Xiong Jun , Sun Li-Ying , Zhu Zhi-Jun
Published: August 2021

Auxiliary grafts have a high risk of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in patients with chronic HBV-related diseases. Hepatitis B virus-related auxiliary partial orthotopic liver transplantation (APOLT) cases were reviewed to show the results of current methods to block native-to-graft HBV transmission. Three patients received APOLT for HBV-related liver cirrhosis and a recurrent upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage between April 2015 and January 2017 by the liver transplant team of Beijing Friendship Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University. All three patients were positive for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) and had a negative HBV DNA test result before transplantation. After auxiliary transplantations, HBsAg was found to be positive in two patients and negative in one patient. To avoid graft infection of HBV, entecavir-based therapy was employed and the remnant native livers of the recipients were removed 51–878 days after liver transplantation. Then, serum conversions of HBsAg were found in all three cases. For the first time, this case series shows the possibility of blocking the transmission of HBV from a native liver to a graft in auxiliary transplantation by entecavir-based therapy. Among the cases, a left lobe graft was successfully implanted as a replacement of the right lobe of the recipient, which is also discussed.
Oral Manifestations of COVID-19: Updated Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis
Authors: Aragoneses Javier , Suárez Ana , Algar Juan , Rodríguez Cinthia , López-Valverde Nansi , Aragoneses Juan Manuel
Published: August 2021

There is increasing evidence for oral lesions and manifestations of COVID-19. The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the types of oral manifestations of COVID-19 and their prevalence. PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases were used to search for publications on oral manifestations in patients with PCR-confirmed COVID-19. A total of 310 records were selected, and 74 were included. Oral lesions in COVID-19 were classified according to their etiologies, including iatrogenic lesions caused by intubation and opportunistic infections. Of the included studies, 35 reported oral lesions probably caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Meta-analysis of prevalence data on oral manifestations and aphthous lesions indicated high heterogeneity, while meta-analysis of xerostomia prevalence data revealed a pooled prevalence, with considerable heterogeneity. In conclusion, the meta-analysis yielded high heterogeneity between studies: oral lesions yielded a prevalence of 0.33 (95% CI 0.11–0.60), xerostomia lesions a prevalence of 0.44 (95% CI 0.36–0.52) and aphthous lesions 0.10 (95% CI 0.01–0.24). In addition, a gap in the evidence regarding the prevalence of oral lesions in COVID-19 was identified and the need for further observational studies focusing on this issue and on the causal relationships between oral lesions and COVID-19 was highlighted.
Inhibition of Antimicrobial-Resistant Escherichia coli Using a Broad Host Range Phage Cocktail Targeting Various Bacterial Phylogenetic Groups
Authors: Kim Jinshil , Park Haejoon , Ryu Sangryeol , Jeon Byeonghwa
Published: August 2021

Antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) commensal Escherichia coli is a major reservoir that disseminates antimicrobial resistance to humans through the consumption of contaminated foods, such as retail poultry products. This study aimed to control AMR E. coli on retail chicken using a broad host range phage cocktail. Five phages (JEP1, 4, 6, 7, and 8) were isolated and used to construct a phage cocktail after testing infectivity on 67 AMR E. coli strains isolated from retail chicken. Transmission electron microscopic analysis revealed that the five phages belong to the Myoviridae family. The phage genomes had various sizes ranging from 39 to 170 kb and did not possess any genes associated with antimicrobial resistance and virulence. Interestingly, each phage exhibited different levels of infection against AMR E. coli strains depending on the bacterial phylogenetic group. A phage cocktail consisting of the five phages was able to infect AMR E. coli in various phylogenetic groups and inhibited 91.0% (61/67) of AMR E. coli strains used in this study. Furthermore, the phage cocktail was effective in inhibiting E. coli on chicken at refrigeration temperatures. The treatment of artificially contaminated raw chicken skin with the phage cocktail rapidly reduced the viable counts of AMR E. coli by approximately 3 log units within 3 h, and the reduction was maintained throughout the experiment without developing resistance to phage infection. These results suggest that phages can be used as a biocontrol agent to inhibit AMR commensal E. coli on raw chicken.