bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deacylated tRNA Accumulation Is a Trigger for Bacterial Antibiotic Persistence Independent of the Stringent Response
Authors: Wood Whitney N. , Mohler Kyle , Rinehart Jesse , Ibba Michael
Published: June 2021

Bacterial antibiotic persistence is a transient physiological state wherein cells become dormant and thereby evade being killed by antibiotics. Once the antibiotic is removed, bacterial persisters are able to resuscitate and repopulate.
Long-Term Social Isolation Reduces Expression of the BDNF Precursor and Prolyl Endopeptidase in the Rat Brain
Authors: Shirenova Sofie D. , Khlebnikova Nadezhda N. , Krupina Nataliya A.
Published: June 2021

Early-life stress is a risk factor for the development of behavioral and cognitive disorders in humans and animals. Such stressful situations include social isolation in early postnatal ontogenesis. Behavioral and cognitive impairments associated with neuroplastic changes in brain structures. We have found that after ten weeks of social isolation, male Wistar rats show behavioral abnormalities and cognitive deficit, accompanied by an increase in the relative expression of gene encoding serine protease prolyl endopeptidase (PREP, EC 3.4.21.26) in the brain frontal cortex. The present study aimed to assess synaptophysin (SYP), brain-derived neurotrophic factor precursor (proBDNF), and PREP expression using Western blot in the brain structures – the hippocampus, frontal cortex, and striatum of the rats subjected to prolonged social isolation compared with group-housed animals. Twenty Wistar rats were used for this study (10 males and 10 females). Experimental animals (5 males and 5 females) were kept one per cage for nine months, starting from the age of one month. Ten-month-old socially isolated rats showed memory deficit in passive avoidance paradigm and Morris Water Maze and reactivity to novelty reduction. We used monoclonal antibodies for the Western blot analysis of the expression of SYP, proBDNF, and PREP in the rat brain structures. Social isolation caused a proBDNF expression reduction in the frontal cortex in females and a reduction in PREP expression in the striatum in males. These data suppose that neurotrophic factors and PREP are involved in the mechanisms of behavioral and cognitive impairments observed in the rats subjected to prolonged social isolation with an early life onset.
Patterns of extreme temperature-related catastrophic events in Europe including the Russian Federation: a cross-sectional analysis of the Emergency Events Database
Authors: Brennenstuhl Heiko , Will Manuel , Ries Elias , Mechler Konstantin , Garbade Sven , Ries Markus
Published: June 2021

Objective

To investigate reported extreme temperature-related catastrophic events and associated mortality on the European continent including the Russian Federation.

Design

Cross-sectional respecting Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) criteria.

Settings

Data source: Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT).

Participants

Search criteria: location—European continent including Russian Federation, time—years 1988 until 2019 (close of database 12 July 2019), catastrophic events—extreme temperatures.

Primary outcome measures

Numbers of heat waves, cold waves, severe winter conditions and associated number of deaths, overall, and per country and year, respecting STROBE criteria.

Results

The most frequent type of the 243 events recorded in EM-DAT were cold waves (54.7%). However, cold waves and severe winter conditions only accounted for 6460 deaths (4.5%), while heat waves were associated with 137 533 deaths (95.5%). The five most severe heat waves in 2003, 2006, 2010, 2013 and 2015 were associated with a total of 135 089 deaths. The most severe heat waves were geographically distributed over the Russian Federation (2010), as well as France, Italy, Spain and Germany, each in 2003.

Conclusion

Although cold waves are more frequently reported in EM-DAT, heat waves are the major cause for temperature-related deaths. In order to better protect the public, it is important to address resiliency and vulnerability of populations at risk and age groups.
Coronary revascularisation outcomes in patients with cancer
Authors: Leedy Douglas , Tiwana Jasleen K , Mamas Mamas , Hira Ravi , Cheng Richard
Published: June 2021

Cancer and coronary artery disease (CAD) overlap in traditional risk factors as well as molecular mechanisms underpinning the development of these two disease states. Patients with cancer are at increased risk of developing CAD, representing a high-risk population that are increasingly undergoing coronary revascularisation. Over 1 in 10 patients with CAD that require revascularisation with either percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting have either a history of cancer or active cancer. These patients are typically older, have more comorbidities and have more extensive CAD compared with patients without cancer. Haematological abnormalities with competing risks of thrombosis and bleeding pose further unique challenges during and after revascularisation. Management of patients with concurrent cancer and CAD requiring revascularisation is challenging as these patients carry a higher risk of morbidity and mortality compared with those without cancer, often driven by the underlying cancer and associated comorbidities. However, due to variability by different types and stages of cancer, revascularisation outcomes are specific to cancer characteristics such as the timing of onset, cancer subtype and site, stage, presence of metastases, and cancer-related therapies received. Recent studies have provided insights into defining revascularisation outcomes, procedural considerations and best practices in managing patients with cancer. Nevertheless, many gaps remain that require further studies to inform clinical best practices in this population.
Comparing long-term projected outcomes of adaptive silvicultural approaches aimed at climate change in red pine forests of northern Minnesota, USA
Authors: Muller Jacob J. , Nagel Linda M. , Palik Brian J.
Published: June 2021

The Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change (ASCC) project was developed to test ecosystem-specific adaptation approaches. The first ASCC trial was installed on the Cutfoot Experimental Forest (CEF) in northern Minnesota, USA, in 2014. Three adaptation treatments (resistance, resilience, and transition), along with a no action control, were tested and compared using Forest Vegetation Simulator to determine their relative success. We compared mean annual increment (MAI) and mortality and determined how well each treatment achieved its species composition and stand structure targets. MAI was highest in the no action (3.77 ± 0.43 m3·ha–1·year–1) and lowest in the transition (1.72 ± 0.16 m3·ha–1·year–1). However, MAI for the transition treatment continually increased over time, which extended culmination age. The no action control had the highest mortality with 38.76 (±1.32) trees·ha–1 per 10-year timestep, while the resistance and transition treatments had the lowest levels at 9.36 (±0.49) and 4.19 (±0.35) trees·ha–1, respectively. Our findings highlight the relative success of the transition, which had lower mortality, greater structural diversity, and a future-climate-adapted species composition. The results from this study provide important context for adaptive silviculture aimed at climate change and offers an example of potential outcomes of these forest adaptation options.
Evaluation of the imaging performance of the TECNOMUSE muon tomograph and its feasibility in a real scenario
Authors: Cianchi Alessandro , Andreani Carla , Camarri Paolo , Fazi Laura , Fornaro Claudio , Preziosi Enrico , Prioriello Anna , Santonico Rinaldo , Scacco Valerio , Scatigno Claudia , Senesi Roberto , Picozza Piergiorgio
Published: June 2021

Muon tomography is a very promising imaging technique for the control of cargo containers. It takes advantage of cosmic muons and their interaction mechanisms to reconstruct images of the volume traversed by these particles. In the present work, the imaging performance of a novel muon tomography scanner based on resistive plate chambers detectors is investigated. By means of several Monte Carlo simulations, some imaging parameters are evaluated. The results in terms of spatial resolution, field-of-view and volume and material recognition make the presented scanner and its geometry suitable for muon tomography.
One-Shot Neural Architecture Search by Dynamically Pruning Supernet in Hierarchical Order
Authors: Zhang Jianwei , Li Dong , Wang Lituan , Zhang Lei
Published: June 2021

Neural Architecture Search (NAS), which aims at automatically designing neural architectures, recently draw a growing research interest. Different from conventional NAS methods, in which a large number of neural architectures need to be trained for evaluation, the one-shot NAS methods only have to train one supernet which synthesizes all the possible candidate architectures. As a result, the search efficiency could be significantly improved by sharing the supernet’s weights during the candidate architectures’ evaluation. This strategy could greatly speed up the search process but suffer a challenge that the evaluation based on sharing weights is not predictive enough. Recently, pruning the supernet during the search has been proven to be an efficient way to alleviate this problem. However, the pruning direction in complex-structured search space remains unexplored. In this paper, we revisited the role of path dropout strategy, which drops the neural operations instead of the neurons, in supernet training, and several interesting characters of the supernet trained with dropout are found. Based on the observations, a Hierarchically-Ordered Pruning Neural Architecture Search (HOPNAS) algorithm is proposed by dynamically pruning the supernet with a proper pruning direction. Experimental results indicate that our method is competitive with state-of-the-art approaches on CIFAR10 and ImageNet.
Charging effect on traversable wormholes in f(R) = R + αRm + βR−n gravity
Authors: Godani Nisha
Published: June 2021

In this paper, traversable wormholes have been studied in [Formula: see text] gravity, where [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are constant. A simplest form of shape function and a logarithmic form of redshift function is considered to construct wormhole solutions. The range of parameters providing the wormhole solutions free from the matter violating the energy conditions is explored. Further, the effect of charge is analyzed on wormhole solutions.
Phenolate-bridged A2B-type subporphyrin dimer
Authors: Hirokawa Shoma , Mori Shigeki , Kobayashi Nagao , Shimizu Soji
Published: June 2021

An ether cleavage reaction of A2B-type subporphyrin bearing an ortho-anisyl substituent afforded a phenolate-bridged dimer. A head-to-tail structure of the dimer was unambiguously elucidated by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. UV-vis absorption and magnetic circular dichroism spectra indicated a minor interaction between the subporphyrin chromophores. Density functional theory calculations provided a detailed insight into the electronic structures of the subporphyrin dimer.
Synthesis and molecular docking studies of Zn(II)phthalocyanines containing anthraquinone moieties as selective ligands for G-quadruplex structures
Authors: Koç Mustafa , Kabay Nilgün
Published: June 2021

New zinc(II) phthalocyanines (p-ZnPc and np-ZnPc) containing peripheral and non-peripheral positioned four anthraquinone moieties were synthesized by cyclotetramerization of 4-((2-(2-((8-Chloro-9,10-dioxo-9,10-dihydroanthracen-1-yl) amino) ethoxy) ethyl) thio) phthalonitrile and 3-((2-(2-((8-Chloro-9,10-dioxo-9,10-dihydroanthracen-1-yl) amino) ethoxy) ethyl) thio) phthalonitrile. All compounds were characterized by using a combination of analytical and spectroscopic techniques such as 1H, [Formula: see text]C NMR, FT-IR, UV-vis and MS spectral data. Also, molecular docking studies were performed using different G-quadruplex and double stranded nucleic acid fragments as possible interaction sites to predict the binding ability of the newly synthesized compounds.
A method for determining parameters of hyperelastic materials and its application in simulation of pneumatic soft actuator
Authors: Dang Hoang Minh , Vo Chi Thanh , Nguyen Viet Duc , Nguyen Hai Nam , Tran Anh Vang , Phung Van Binh
Published: June 2021

This paper presents a method for determining material constants of hyperelastic material used for building the soft robotic actuators. Sixty testpieces were made of silicone rubber with a shore A hardness from 20 A to 45 A. Each of them was then subjected to the uniaxial tensile test to obtain the stress–strain relationship, which is a key factor to evaluate the compatibility of the common six forms of strain energy density function for hyperelastic material. The sum of square error was used to determine the most relevant constitutive models, which are Ogden third order, Polynomial second order, and Yeoh, as well as parameter values of the corresponding materials. To analyze the appropriateness of these models for computation, six pneumatic soft actuators were built from materials with different hardness and tested for various pressures. From the simulation and experimental results, the model Yeoh has yielded the highest accuracy. This outcome forms a firm basis for the determination of suitable material in the computation and simulation of the pneumatic soft actuator. Besides, the obtained experimental results in this paper could be included in the database of hyperelastic material with different hardness for further simulation in the related field.
Aspergillus fumigatus Influences Gasdermin-D-Dependent Pyroptosis of the Lung via Regulating Toll-Like Receptor 2-Mediated Regulatory T Cell Differentiation
Authors: Yan Wei , Zhao Yi-si , Xie Ke , Xing Yu , Xu Fang
Published: June 2021

Purpose. Aspergillus fumigatus, as an opportunistic fungus, has developed a series of escape mechanisms under the host’s immune response to obtain nutrients and promote fungal growth in the hostile environment. The immune escape of pathogens may be through suppressing the inflammatory response mediated by regulatory T cells (Tregs). The aim of this study was to explore whether A. fumigatus influences Gasdermin-D-dependent pyroptosis of the lung by regulating Toll-like receptor 2-mediated regulatory T cell differentiation. Methods. Collect peripheral blood from patients with A. fumigatus. ELISA kits we used to detect the expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-2R, and IL-10 in the serum and flow cytometry to detect the percentage of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs in the patients’ peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The mouse model of A. fumigatus infection was constructed by tracheal instillation. The pathological changes in the lungs of the mice were observed under a microscope. The fungal load in the lung tissue was determined by the plate colony count. ELISA kit was used to detect the lung tissue homogenate proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, CCL2, and VEGF. Q-PCR was used for the detection of the expression of Foxp3 and TLR2 genes in the lung. Western blot was used for the detection of the expression of TLR2, Gasdermin-D (GSDMD), IL-1α, and IL-1β in the lung. Flow cytometry was used to detect splenic CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ Tregs. Using magnetic beads to extract CD4+ T cells from mice spleen, the effects of A. fumigatus conidia or TLR2 inhibitor (C29) to differentiate CD4+ T cells in vitro were tested. Results. The expression of Foxp3 and TLR2 in the lung tissue of mice infected with A. fumigatus increased, and we observed that the proportion of Tregs in both A. fumigatus infection patients and mice was upregulated. After using the CD25 neutralizing antibody, the number of Tregs in the mice spleen was significantly reduced. However, lung damage was reduced and the ability to clear lung fungi was enhanced. We found that the Tregs in

TLR

2

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mice were significantly reduced and the nonlethal dose of A. fumigatus conidia did not cause severe lung damage in

TLR

2

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mice. Compared with that of wild-type mice, the fungal burden in the lung of TLR2-deficient mice was reduced and the knockout of TLR2 changed the expression of GSDMD, IL-1α, and IL-1β in A. fumigatus. In in vitro experiments, we found that the inhibition of TLR2 can reduce Treg differentiation. Conclusions. A. fumigatus triggers CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ Treg proliferation and differentiation by activating the TLR2 pathway, which may be a potential mechanism for evading host defenses in A. fumigatus. This effect can modulate GSDMD-dependent pyroptosis and may partly involve TRL2 signaling.
Fuzzy Rule-Based Trust Management Model for the Security of Cloud Computing
Authors: Soleymani Mona , Abapour Navid , Taghizadeh Elham , Siadat Safieh , Karkehabadi Rasoul
Published: June 2021

In the last few years, due to the benefit of solving large-scale computational problems, researchers have been developed multicloud infrastructures. The trust-related issue in multiclouds includes more complicated content and new problems. A new trust management framework for multicloud environments is proposed in this article. The proposed framework used a combination of objective and subjective trust values to calculate the cloud service provider’s trust values. This new framework can identify and rectify fake feedbacks from other feedbacks. Another advantage of this framework is applying fuzzy rules to calculate trust values. Two main components of the proposed framework are simulated in this paper. The simulation results confirm the important role of applied components. Also, this paper proposed a framework compared with other frameworks (feedback-based model, SLA-based model, and multicloud model). Simulation results show the proposed framework increased trust values rather than other models. Also, compared with other models, our framework gives better mean trust values.
Investigating Methylene Blue Removal from Aqueous Solution by Cysteine-Functionalized Mesoporous Silica
Authors: Beagan Abeer M.
Published: June 2021

In this study, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) were synthesised using the Stober method and functionalised with cysteine (MSN-Cys) for removal of Methylene Blue (MB) from aqueous solution using the batch method. The adsorbent nanoparticles were characterised by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), FTIR, BET, and TGA. Several influential factors on the adsorption of MB onto the surface of MSN-Cys particles were investigated, including pH, initial concentration, and contact time. The adsorption capacity of MB from aqueous solution increased from circa 70 mg/g MSN-Cys in acidic media to circa 140 mg/g MSN-Cys in basic media. Adsorption isotherms and kinetic models of adsorption were used to clarify the adsorption process. The measured adsorption isotherm was fitted with a Freundlich model for all solutions, and the kinetic model was determined to be pseudo-second-order.
Extended Inflammation Parameters (EIP) as Markers of Immune System Cell Activation in Psoriasis
Authors: Kowalska-Kępczyńska Anna , Mleczko Mateusz , Domerecka Weronika , Mazurek Marcin , Krasowska Dorota , Małecka-Massalska Teresa , Donica Helena
Published: June 2021

Psoriasis is an inflammatory, autoimmune disease that affects approximately 2% of the population. The inflammation in psoriasis can be systemic, so despite a predominantly cutaneous manifestation, it also affects the internal organs. The diagnosis and monitoring of the disease are based on the clinical picture. To assess the disorders of other organs, additional tests need to be performed. Recently, the examination of blood morphology has been enriched with modern haematological parameters, i.e., Extended Inflammation Parameters (EIP), which include RE-LYMPH (activated lymphocytes), AS-LYMPH (antibody-producing B lymphocytes), and NEUT-RI and NEUT-GI (activated neutrophils). In the study, higher values of new haematological parameters were observed in individuals with psoriasis than in healthy controls. A higher EIP value was noted in the group of individuals with plaque psoriasis than in the group of individuals with psoriatic arthritis. Implementation of these parameters into routine laboratory analysis will likely make it possible to estimate the severity of the inflammation and improve its assessment.
Antibiofilm Activity of Extract and a Compound Isolated from Triumfetta welwitschii against Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Mombeshora Molly , Chi Godloves Fru , Mukanganyama Stanley
Published: June 2021

Triumfetta welwitschii has been used as a traditional medicine in Africa. It is documented as a rich source of phytochemicals with antibacterial activities. To further explore the antibacterial potential of these phytochemical components, the phytochemical profile of the dichloromethane: methanol leaf extract from T. welwitschii was investigated using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Compounds were isolated from the extract using column chromatography and thin-layer chromatography. Compound B1 was isolated from the fraction eluted by 90 hexane:10 ethyl acetate using column chromatography. The antibacterial activity of B1 against Pseudomonas aeruginosa was evaluated in vitro using the broth microdilution method and the iodonitrotetrazolium (INT) colorimetric assay. The antibiofilm activities of the extract and B1 against P. aeruginosa were determined by quantifying the biofilms using crystal violet. The effect of the extract and B1 on capsular polysaccharide and extracellular DNA content of biofilm formed by P. aeruginosa was determined using phenol-sulphuric acid and propidium iodide, respectively. A total of 28 peaks were detected and identified using UPLC-MS/MS. The three most abundant phytochemicals identified were catechin, umbelliferone, and a luteolin derivative. B1 showed antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) value of 25 μg/ml. Only 38% and 6% of the biofilms were formed in the presence of the extract and B1, respectively. The extract and B1 reduced the capsular polysaccharide content in biofilms formed in P. aeruginosa by 40% and 65%, respectively. The extract and B1 significantly reduced the extracellular DNA content of biofilms by 29% and 72%, respectively. The results of this study provide evidence of the antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of B1 and leaf extracts from T. welwitschii. Future work should identify the chemical structure of B1 using nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry.
Human Neutrophil Elastase Mediates MUC5AC Hypersecretion via the Tumour Necrosis Factor-α Converting Enzyme-Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Signalling Pathway in vivo
Authors: Zhao Junmei , Yang Tian , Qiao Wei , Ye Yu , Zhang Jian , Luo Qing
Published: June 2021

Objectives: The objective of this study is to examine the role of the tumour necrosis factor-α converting enzyme-epidermal growth factor receptor (TACE-EGFR) pathway in human neutrophil elastase (HNE)-induced MUC5AC mucin expression in mice. Method: Four groups of mice, treated with HNE alone (HNE group), HNE plus TACE inhibitor (HNE + TAPI-2 group), HNE plus EGFR inhibitor (HNE + AG1478 group), and untreated (control group), were used in the experiment. Histopathological changes were monitored by haematoxylin-eosin (HE) and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining. TACE, EGFR, and MUC5AC expression in the nasal mucosa were determined using immunohistochemistry. The expression of p-EGFR, EGFR, and TACE protein was analysed on Western blots, and MUC5AC protein levels were assessed via ELISA. TACE, EGFR, and MUC5AC expression in the nasal mucosa were determined using real-time quantitative PCR. Results: Compared to the control group, HE-stained tissues from the HNE group showed an irregular epithelium as well as goblet cell and submucosal glandular hyperplasia. In the nasal mucosa, strongly positive fuchsia granules were seen in PAS staining and significant increases in TACE, EGFR, MUC5AC mRNA, and protein expression were detected (p < 0.01). The HNE + TAPI-2 and HNE + AG1478 groups had significantly less goblet cell and submucosal gland hyperplasia as well as weaker PAS staining. Compared to mice treated with HNE alone, in HNE + TAPI-2-treated mice, the levels of TACE, EGFR, and MUC5AC mRNA and protein as well as p-EGFR protein were significantly reduced (p < 0.01). In HNE + AG1478-treated mice, EGFR and MUC5AC mRNA and protein levels and p-EGFR protein expression were reduced significantly (p < 0.01), but the difference in TACE mRNA and protein expression between the HNE + AG1478 and HNE groups was not significant (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Using a newly developed, stable experimental model of nasal hypersecretion in mice, we showed that TAPI-2 or AG1478 inhibited HNE-induced MUC5AC production. This suggests that MUC5AC mucin expression in vivo is mediated by a cascade involving the HNE-TACE-EGFR signalling pathway.
Sexual Development and the Environment: Conclusions from 40 Years of Theory
Authors: Schwanz Lisa E. , Georges Arthur
Published: June 2021

In this review, we consider the insight that has been gained through theoretical examination of environmental sex determination (ESD) and thermolability – how theory has progressed our understanding of the ecological and evolutionary dynamics associated with ESD, the transitional pathways between different modes of sex determination, and the underlying mechanisms. Following decades of theory on the adaptive benefits of ESD, several hypotheses seem promising. These hypotheses focus on the importance of differential fitness (sex-specific effects of temperature on fitness) in generating selection for ESD, but highlight alternative ways differential fitness arises: seasonal impacts on growth, sex-specific ages of maturation, and sex-biased dispersal. ESD has the potential to generate biased sex ratios quite easily, leading to complex feedbacks between the ecology and evolution of ESD. Frequency-dependent selection on sex acts on ESD-related traits, driving local adaptation or plasticity to restore equilibrium sex ratio. However, migration and overlapping generations (“mixing”) diminish local adaptation and leave each cohort/population with the potential for biased sex ratios. Incorporating mechanism into ecology and evolution models reveals similarities between different sex-determining systems. Dosage and gene regulatory network models of sexual development are beginning to shed light on how temperature sensitivity and thresholds may arise. The unavoidable temperature sensitivity in sex-determining systems inherent to these models suggests that evolutionary transitions between genotypic sex determination (GSD) and temperature-dependent sex determination, and between different forms of GSD, are simple and elegant. Theoretical models are often best-served by considering a single piece of a puzzle; however, there is much to gain from reflecting on all of the pieces together in one integrative picture.
Teratomatous Elements in Orchiectomy Specimens Are Associated with a Reduced Relapse-Free Survival in Metastasized Testicular Germ Cell Tumors
Authors: Paffenholz Pia , Nestler Tim , Maatoug Yasmine , von Brandenstein Melanie , Köditz Barbara , Loosen Sven H. , Fischer Nicolas , Pfister David , Heidenreich Axel
Published: June 2021

Introduction: The impact of teratomatous elements in orchiectomy specimens of metastasized testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) regarding oncological outcome is still unclear. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis including 146 patients with metastasized TGCT analysing patient characteristics. Results: Twenty-six (18%) of all patients showed teratomatous elements in the orchiectomy specimens. TGCT with teratomatous elements showed a significantly higher frequency of clinical-stage 2C-3 disease (73 vs. 49%, p = 0.031), visceral metastases (58 vs. 32%, p = 0.015), and poor prognosis (p = 0.011) than TGCT without teratomatous elements. Teratoma-containing TGCT revealed a significantly higher rate of post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (PC-RPLND, 54 vs. 32%, p = 0.041), with teratomatous elements being more often present in the PC-RPLND specimens (43 vs. 11%, p = 0.020) than nonteratoma-containing primaries. In the Kaplan-Meier estimates, the presence of teratomatous elements in orchiectomy specimens was associated with a significantly reduced relapse-free survival (RFS) (p = 0.049) during a median follow-up of 36 months (10–115.5). Conclusions: The presence of teratomatous elements in orchiectomy specimens is associated with an advanced tumor stage, worse treatment response as well as a reduced RFS in metastasized TGCT. Consequently, the presence of teratomatous elements might act as a reliable stratification tool for treatment decision in TGCT patients.
Hereditary Nephritis and Thin Glomerular Basement Membrane Lesion
Authors: Lusco Mark A. , Fogo Agnes B.
Published: June 2021

Hereditary nephritis (HN) and thin glomerular basement membrane (GBM) lesion share a common clinical presentation of persistent hematuria, thin GBM by kidney biopsy electron microscopic examination, and a mutation in type IV collagen. However, the clinical course and treatment for these entities are different with varying patterns of heredity. Ultrastructural examination of a renal biopsy specimen is essential for the morphologic diagnosis of HN and thin GBM lesion, whereas light microscopy may only give limited diagnostic clues. Additional workup including immunostaining for subtypes of type IV collagen may provide further information on underlying genetic mutations. The diagnosis of HN may lead to treatment with renin-angiotensin system blockade in patients at risk of early-onset renal failure to delay progression to end-stage renal disease. Additionally, patients with isolated microscopic hematuria and thin GBM lesion are at increased risk for chronic kidney disease when associated with other comorbidities; those patients should receive regular clinical assessment to prevent renal function decline.
Galectin-3 Modulates Microglia Inflammation in vitro but Not Neonatal Brain Injury in vivo under Inflammatory Conditions
Authors: Sävman Karin , Wang Wei , Rafati Ali Hoseinpoor , Svedin Pernilla , Nair Syam , Golubinskaya Veronika , Ardalan Maryam , Brown Kelly L. , Karlsson-Bengtsson Anna , Mallard Carina
Published: June 2021

Microglia may contribute to injury but may also have neuroprotective properties. Galectin-3 has immunomodulatory properties that may affect the microglia phenotype and subsequent development of injury. Galectin-3 contributes to experimental hypoxic-ischemic (HI) injury in the neonatal brain, but it is unclear if galectin-3 has similar effects on infectious and sterile inflammation. Thus, we investigated the effect of galectin-3 on microglia in vitro under normal as well as infectious and sterile inflammatory conditions, and the effect of galectin-3 on neonatal brain injury following an infectious challenge in vivo. Conditions mimicking infectious or sterile inflammation were evaluated in primary microglia cell cultures from newborn mice, using LPS (10 ng/mL) and TNF-α (100 ng/mL). The response to galectin-3 was tested alone or together with LPS or TNF-α. Supernatants were collected 24 h after treatment and analyzed for 23 inflammatory mediators including pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines using multiplex protein analysis, as well as ELISA for MCP-1 and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1. Phosphorylation of proteins (AKT, ERK1/2, IκB-α, JNK, and p38) was determined in microglia cells. Neonatal brain injury was induced by a combination of LPS and HI (LPS + HI) in postnatal day 9 transgenic mice lacking functional galectin-3 and wild-type controls. LPS and TNF-α induced pro-inflammatory (9/11 vs. 9/10) and anti-inflammatory (6/6 vs. 2/6) cytokines, as well as chemokines (6/6 vs. 4/6) in a similar manner, except generally lower amplitude of the TNF-α-induced response. Galectin-3 alone had no effect on any of the proteins analyzed. Galectin-3 reduced the LPS- and TNF-α-induced microglia response for cytokines, chemokines, and phosphorylation of IκB-α. LPS decreased baseline IGF-1 levels, and the levels were restored by galectin-3. Brain injury or microglia response after LPS + HI was not affected by galectin-3 deficiency. Galectin-3 has no independent effect on microglia but modulates inflammatory activation in vitro. The effect was similar under infectious and sterile inflammatory conditions, suggesting that galectin-3 regulates inflammation not just by binding to LPS or toll-like receptor-4. Galectin-3 restores IGF-1 levels reduced by LPS-induced inflammation, suggesting a potential protective effect on infectious injury. However, galectin-3 deficiency did not affect microglia activation and was not beneficial in an injury model encompassing an infectious challenge.
Alterações retinianas em pacientes com doença falciforme: uma série de casos
Authors: Jucá João Vitor de Omena , Alves Anna Luyza Correia dos Santos , Cunha Carlos Eduardo Ximenes da , Ferreira Caio Victor Oliveira , Ramos Isaac Carvalho de Oliveira , Ribeiro Marina Viegas Moura Rezende
Published: June 2021

O presente estudo tem por objetivo avaliar os principais achados fundoscópicos em pacientes portadores de hemoglobinopatia falciforme, observando quais as alterações retinianas mais comuns nesse grupo. Realizou-se um estudo retrospectivo e descritivo através de fundoscopias e retinografias de 34 pacientes acompanhados por serviço de oftalmologia especializado e pelo Hemocentro do Estado de Alagoas. O tipo de hemoglobinopatia mais encontrado foi o SS, seguido pelas hemoglobinopatias SC e S-thal. Do total de pacientes avaliados, 58,8% eram do sexo masculino. 29,41% dos pacientes apresentaram alterações retinianas. Quanto ao genótipo, 42,86% dos pacientes com genótipo SC tinham alterações retinianas. Foi observado um reduzido número de alterações retinianas na amostra estudada, e todos os pacientes com sinais de retinopatia falciforme apresentavam hemoglobinopatia do tipo SS ou SC. O genótipo SS foi o mais prevalente dentre os pacientes, mas o genótipo SC foi o de maior risco para o desenvolvimento de alterações na retina.
Como a qualidade do sono e a ansiedade podem afetar estudantes que desejam cursar medicina - uma avaliação objetiva
Authors: Bodanese Beatriz Carolina Schuta , Roderjan Amanda Kuster , Gil Isabella , Purin Katia Sheylla Malta
Published: June 2021

Introdução: O vestibular para ingresso em uma faculdade de medicina exige grande desempenho e dedicação do aluno. Além de competitividade, esse período gera muito estresse e privação de autocuidado. Os distúrbios do sono e níveis elevados de ansiedade podem impactar no desempenho físico, emocional e mental, reduzindo a qualidade de vida e influenciando fortemente na tomada de decisões. Objetivo: Analisar qualidade de sono e nível de ansiedade de jovens durante fase preparatória para ingresso no curso de medicina. Métodos: Pesquisa descritiva transversal com candidatos à vaga para graduação em medicina, em Curitiba-PR. Foram utilizados questionário sócio-demográfico, Índice de Qualidade do Sono de Pittsburgh (IQSP) e Inventário de Ansiedade Beck (BAI). Aplicada estatística descritiva, teste t de Student, teste qui-quadrado, teste de Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis e análise de variância. Resultados: Amostra com 470 pré-universitários, mulheres (81,9%), entre 18 a 20 anos (82,2%). Distúrbios de sono (IQSP>10) foram detectados em 48,1% dos estudantes e indícios de ansiedade grave em 49,1% (BAI). Não houve diferença significativa dos níveis de ansiedade entre os turnos manhã, tarde e noite (p>5%), porém 60,8% dos estudantes que apresentaram distúrbio do sono estudavam no turno vespertino. O sexo masculino apresentou significativamente mais distúrbio do sono (64,7%) quando comparado ao sexo feminino (44,4%). Contudo, as mulheres mostraram os maiores níveis de ansiedade, com ansiedade grave presente em 55% delas. Cerca de 19,4% desses jovens usavam medicamentos para dormir 3 ou mais vezes na semana; 22,2% apresentavam histórico de uso de drogas ilícitas e 7,4% faziam uso. Apenas 5,3% da amostra não apresentaram nenhuma dificuldade ao se manter entusiasmado nas últimas semanas. Conclusão: Indicadores de distúrbio do sono tiveram predomínio nos turnos da tarde e nos homens, enquanto indícios de ansiedade grave foi mais evidente em mulheres, sem interferência do turno de estudo.
Multiparametric Early Detection and Prediction of Cardiotoxicity Using Myocardial Strain, T1 and T2 Mapping, and Biochemical Markers: A Longitudinal Cardiac Resonance Imaging Study During 2 Years of Follow-Up
Authors: Giusca Sorin , Korosoglou Grigorios , Montenbruck Moritz , Geršak Blaž , Schwarz Arne Kristian , Esch Sebastian , Kelle Sebastian , Wülfing Pia , Dent Susan , Lenihan Daniel , Steen Henning
Published: June 2021

Background:

Our goal was to evaluate the ability of cardiovascular magnetic resonance for detecting and predicting cardiac dysfunction in patients receiving cancer therapy. Left ventricular ejection fraction, global and regional strain utilizing fast-strain-encoded, T1 and T2 mapping, and cardiac biomarkers (troponin and BNP [brain natriuretic peptide]) were analyzed.

Methods:

Sixty-one patients (47 with breast cancer, 11 with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and 3 with Hodgkin lymphoma) underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance scans at baseline and at regular intervals during 2 years of follow-up. The percentage of all left ventricular myocardial segments with strain ≤−17% (normal myocardium [%]) was analyzed. Clinical cardiotoxicity (CTX) and sub-CTX were defined according to standard measures.

Results:

Nine (15%) patients developed CTX, 26 (43%) had sub-CTX. Of the 35 patients with CTX or sub-CTX, 24 (69%) were treated with cardioprotective medications and showed recovery of cardiac function. The amount of normal myocardium (%) exhibited markedly higher accuracy for the detection of CTX and sub-CTX compared with left ventricular ejection fraction, T1, and T2 mapping as well as troponin I (Δareas under the curve=0.20, 0.24, and 0.46 for normal myocardium (%) versus left ventricular ejection fraction, troponin I, and T1 mapping,
P
<0.001 for all). In addition, normal myocardium (%) at baseline accurately identified patients with subsequent CTX (
P
<0.001), which was not achieved by any other markers.

Conclusions:

Normal myocardium (%) derived by fast-strain-encoded cardiovascular magnetic resonance, is an accurate and sensitive tool that can establish cardiac safety in patients with cancer undergoing cardiotoxic chemotherapy not only for the early detection but also for the prediction of those at risk of developing CTX.

Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT03543228.
Toward standards in practices and techniques on ootaxonomy in the Pieridae (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea)
Authors: NIEVES-URIBE SANDRA , LLORENTE-BOUSQUETS JORGE , FLORES-GALLARDO ADRIÁN
Published: June 2021

We present a proposal on the standards used on ootaxonomy practices and techniques in the butterfly family Pieridae Duponchel (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) in five stages: 1) getting the specimens, 2) integration into a collection, 3) dissections to recover the exochorion, 4) elaboration of images of it, and 5) the preparation of its description with the necessary diagrams and tabulations. Also, we present the detailed techniques applied in observation and graphic representation, based on the methylene blue staining techniques and those required for the use with the scanning electron microscope (SEM). We compare the result of the standardized techniques with those from macro photography, drawings, and photographs with SEM—all of them found in books with descriptions and images of eggs of the Pieridae. We present a glossary and general aspects of the exochorion in the Pieridae as an Appendix to this article. Standardized techniques show more accurate and extensive character retrieval for systematics. For the scale in which they work, these techniques recovered more information than those present from oviposited eggs, where the exochorionic base is not seen. Also, the descriptions contain detailed data on more structures—which are comparable to each other—than are absent in the references mentioned. We present the recovered characters with the techniques found in the literature as three synthetically supplementary materials.
A new species of Ephoron Williamson, 1802 (Ephemeroptera: Polymitarcyidae) from Thailand
Authors: TECHAKIJVEJ CHOTIWUT , SAREEIN NATTAWUT , HWANG JEONG MI , BAE YEON JAE , PHALARAKSH CHITCHOL
Published: June 2021

The genus Ephoron Williamson, 1802 is widely distributed around the world. In Thailand, only Ephoron indicus Pictet, 1843 was reported in 1961. In this study, a new Ephoron mayfly is described as Ephoron ookaewae sp. nov. In this new species description, the morphological characteristics of larvae and eggs in addition to adults are also shown in detail. Number of tubercles on mandibular tusks, and a median frontal process in larvae, distinguish Ephoron ookaewae sp. nov. from other Ephoron species. Their polar cap shape and a concave indentation in their eggs are also unusual. In addition, the mitochondrial DNA COI sequence data of the newly described Ephoron ookaewae sp. nov. is registered in GenBank. Registration of sequence data for the DNA barcode region of Ephoron mayflies inhabiting the Oriental region remains limited, however it will be useful for future research.
A new species of the genus Luzulaspis (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) from Hokkaido Island, Japan
Authors: TANAKA HIROTAKA , SASAKI DAISUKE , KAMITANI SATOSHI
Published: June 2021

A new species of soft scale insect (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae), Luzulaspis kinakikir Tanaka sp. nov., collected from Carex miyabei (Cyperaceae), on Hokkaido Island, Japan, is described and illustrated based on adult female morphology. The new species, which belongs to the Scotica group of Luzulaspis, is similar to L. filizae Kaydan, 2015, but can be distinguished from it by possessing multilocular pores with fewer loculi; numerous dorsal tubular ducts, obviously wider than the ventral tubular ducts, and by lacking dorsal tubular ducts on the head apex. An updated diagnosis of Luzulaspis and two identification keys, one to the Japanese species of Luzulaspis and the other to the species of the Scotica group of Luzulaspis, are provided.
Shark-Related Injuries in the United States: A National Trauma Data Bank Analysis
Authors: Ganske William , Sharma Rohit , Kaminski Stephen , Johnson Arianne
Published: June 2021

Background

Shark-related injuries (SRIs) are a dreaded, but rare, source of injury that have not been well described. The present study aims to examine the incidence, injuries, and outcomes of SRIs presenting to US trauma centers.

Study Design

The National Trauma Data Bank was queried from 2015 to 2018 to identify SRIs using ICD-10 e-codes W56.41XA, W56.42XA, and W56.49XA. Descriptive analyses were conducted on patient demographics, injuries, hospital course, procedures, and outcomes.

Results

Fifty-three patients were identified with a mechanism of injury that was shark-related. The median age was 29 years (range: 3-67) and median injury severity score was 5 (IQR: 3-10). The majority of patients (96%) were admitted to the hospital (median length of stay (LOS): 4.0 days, IQR: 3.0-8.0), 55% went directly to the operating room, and 53% required intensive care unit (ICU) admission (median ICU LOS: 4.5 days, IQR: 1.3-7.0). Extremity injuries were common: 47% suffered lower extremity injuries, 40% had upper extremity injuries, and 13% had both. The majority of patients underwent surgical procedures: 83% had soft tissue injuries requiring debridement, flap coverage, or skin grafting; 28% suffered neurovascular injuries (17% requiring nerve repair and 2% requiring arterial bypass); and 59% required orthopedic intervention. Six patients (11%) required amputation(s). All patients survived to discharge.

Conclusion

Although an exceedingly rare source of trauma, SRIs are frequently associated with devastating injuries. Given the severity of injuries and associated procedures required, these patients warrant referral to a trauma center capable of providing comprehensive care.
Partnering with Startups Globally: Distinct Strategies for Different Locations
Authors: Prashantham Shameen
Published: June 2021

Partnering with startups is an important way by which large multinational corporations (MNCs) pursue open innovation. This article sheds light on distinctive startup partnering strategies across multiple locations. These vary in terms of institutional strength (advanced vs. emerging markets) and local reputation in a given sector (cluster vs. non-cluster). Different partnering strategies are appropriate for each location type: a template-based or purpose-built approach (in clusters vs. non-clusters, respectively), and a facilitative or directive approach (in advanced vs. emerging markets, respectively).
Race, Gender, and Perceived Employment Discrimination
Authors: Yang Philip Q.
Published: June 2021

This study investigates the effects of race and gender on perceived employment discrimination using the 2016 General Social Survey that provides new data on perceived employment discrimination that aligns more closely with the legal definition of employment discrimination. It is found that 19% of the American adults self-reported the experience of employment discrimination in job application, pay increase, or promotion in the past 5 years. The results of logistic regression analysis show that either controlling or not controlling for other factors, Blacks were much more likely to perceive being discriminated in employment than Whites, but other races were not significantly different from Whites in perceived employment discrimination after holding other variables constant. While gender did not have a significant independent effect on perceived job discrimination, it did interact with race to influence perceived job discrimination. Regardless of race, women were somewhat less likely than men to perceive job discrimination, but Black women were significantly even less likely than White women to self-report job discrimination, and Black men were much more likely to self-report employment discrimination than White men. These findings have implications for combating employment discrimination and addressing social inequalities.
RAGE!, Retaliation, and Retribution: Recurring Themes in August Wilson’s Work
Authors: Williams-Witherspoon Kimmika
Published: June 2021

Following the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and so many others, recent protest in Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington, DC, LA, Portland and a host of other locations, both, stateside and abroad are being framed in the public discourse as everything from radical resistance to public madness and everything in between. From the Black Lives Matter movement activist to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion advocates, one of the key components in, both, radical resistance strategies or public expressions of cultural madness, is a ground swelling of rage!

But what is rage? How can we recognize it? Historically, what has been the consequences of Black rage? And in this unique, historical moment, what if anything can be done to leverage it?

Mining August Wilson’s work for definitions, instances, and consequences of Black rage, this paper interrogates August Wilson’s narratives on rage as a way to talk about the historiography and commodifying of Black rage as a way of victimizing and disposing of Black bodies in America. In this way, we hope to offer suggestions in this historical moment on how to leverage Black rage, rather than to be snared by it.