bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Towards a hydrogen economy – a sustainable pathway for global energy transition
Authors: Kwok Jeffrey
Published: June 2021

Hydrogen is receiving increasing attention for achieving carbon abatement in various sectors, including transport, logistics, thermal engineering and industrial feedstock, etc. Hydrogen can also support distributed power supply that raises national energy security. Both commercial and industrial sectors share a common vision that increasing the cost-effectiveness of renewable hydrogen represents their strategic achievement towards substantial sustainability. This paper explains how hydrogen can play seven roles in the energy transition which include large-scale integration of renewable energy into the power grid, medium for storing and distributing energy across sectors and/or regions, a buffer to increase the electric system resilience and clean fuel for fuel cell vehicles to decarbonise transport. Besides, hydrogen can decarbonise building energy consumption and serve as feedstock using captured carbon. Power Assets Holdings Limited (PAH), a global investor in energy and utility-related business, has identified a hydrogen economy as a strategic vision in its business plan for zero carbon readiness in 2035 and a carbon-free business model in 2050. In this paper, the features and attributes of different hydrogen projects, such as H21 and InTEGRel in the UK and Hydrogen Park in South Australia, are discussed to demonstrate the commercial deployment of hydrogen power.
ORTAOKUL ÖĞRENCİLERİNE ATATÜRK İLKELERİNİN ÖĞRETİLMESİNDE MÜZİK DESTEKLİ ETKİNLİKLERİN (KARAOKE TEKNİĞİ) ETKİSİ
Authors: DEMİREZER Hilal , DOĞAN Yasin
Published: June 2021

Geçmişten bugüne değişen ve gelişen teknoloji günümüzde hayatımızın her alanında yer alan vazgeçilmez bir unsur haline gelmiştir. Artık bilgiye ulaşmak teknolojiyle birlikte çok daha kolay bir hal almıştır. Teknolojinin eğitim ortamlarına yansımasıyla birlikte bilgiyi almanın ve vermenin yöntemlerinde de değişiklikler meydana gelmiştir. Teknolojiyle birlikte akıllı tahtanın sınıf ortamlarında yer alması bireylerin birçok duyu organına hitap edilmesini ve bu da bilginin kalıcılığını artırmayı sağlamıştır. Öyle ki gelişen tüm bu teknolojiler müziğin de öğrenmenin bir parçası olarak kullanılmasına ortam hazırlamıştır. Günümüzde müzik hayatımızın vazgeçilmez unsurlarından biri haline gelmiştir. Bazen hiçbir çaba göstermeden şarkı sözlerini söyleyebildiğimizi fark ediyoruz. Bu da melodik unsurların öğrenmeyi olumlu yönde etkilediğinin göstergesidir. Müziğin insan hayatındaki önemi ve teknolojik gelişmeler göz önünde bulundurularak bu araştırmada Atatürk İlkeleri ve inkılâplarının öğretiminde kalıcılığın sağlanabilmesi için müzikle öğrenme tekniği kullanılmıştır. Bu araştırmanın amacı, öğrencilere Atatürk İlkeleri öğretilirken uygun koşullar sağlandığında öğrencilerin tarih derslerinde aktif olduklarını, grup çalışmasını verimli bir şekilde gerçekleştirerek eğlenerek (müzikle) öğrenmeyi kendi kendilerine başarabildiklerini ve yaptıkları çalışmaları günlük yaşamlarına da taşıyabildiklerini ortaya koyabilmektir. Bu çalışma, nitel ve nicel araştırma yöntemi (karma yöntem) kullanılarak yürütülmüştür. Araştırmanın çalışma grubunu 2017–2018 eğitim öğretim yılında Gaziantep’in Şahinbey ilçesinde bulunan sosyoekonomik düzeyi düşük bir devlet okulundaki 58 (29 deney grubu 29 kontrol grubu) 8. sınıf öğrencisi oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmanın veri toplama araçları, başarı testi, TCİTA dersine yönelik tutum ölçeği, TCİTA dersi akademik benlik kavram ölçeği ve yansıtıcı günlükler kullanılmıştır. Başarı testinden elde edilen nicel verilerin analizinde İlişkili Örneklemler için t- Testi, TCİTA dersine yönelik tutum ölçeğinden elde edilen nicel verilerin analizinde İlişkisiz Örneklemler için t- Testi, TCİTA dersi akademik benlik kavram ölçeğinden elde edilen nicel verilerin analizinde İlişkisiz Örneklemler için t- Testi, yansıtıcı günlüklerden elde edilen nitel verilerin analizi için içerik analizi kullanılmıştır. Elde edilen bulgular öncülüğünde önerilerde bulunulmuştur.
Orta Ergenlik Dönemindeki Futbolcularda Yaşın, Aktif ve Pasif Sıçramaya Etkisi
Authors: Uzun Ahmet , Şahan Asuman
Published: June 2021

Çalışmanın amacı, orta ergenlik dönemindeki futbolcularda yaşın aktif ve pasif sıçramaya etkisinin belirlenmesidir. Çalışmaya Konya ilinde 14-17 yaş aralığında en az 2 yıllık sporcu geçmişine sahip çeşitli futbol altyapı kulüplerinde oynayan yaş ortalaması 15,50±1,30 olan 88 gönüllü erkek sporcu katılmıştır. Çalışma hakkında katılımcılara ve ailelerine detaylı bilgi verildikten sonra, bütün katılımcılardan velisi ve kendi imzalarıyla birlikte gönüllü katılım formu alınmıştır. Araştırmaya katılan tüm sporcuların sırasıyla boy uzunlukları, vücut ağırlıkları, kas ve kemik yoğunlukları, aktif ve pasif sıçrama değerleri antrenman öncesi ölçülmüştür. Elde edilen verilerin analizi SPSS 18 analiz programı kullanılarak yapılmıştır. Çalışma grubunun tanımlayıcı istatistikleri yapıldıktan sonra değişkenlerin dağılımının normal dağılım gösterip göstermediği ve dağılımın homojen olup olmadığını belirlemek için Kolmogrov- Smirnov ve Levene testi yapılmıştır. Ölçülen parametrelerde homojen dağılım gösteren verilerde gruplar arası farkı belirlemek için Tek Yönlü Varyans Analizi (One Way ANOVA) yapılmıştır. Homojen dağılım göstermeyen parametrelerde gruplar arası farkı belirlemek için Kruskall Wallis testi uygulanmıştır. Homojen dağılım gösteren parametrelerde farklılığın hangi gruplardan kaynaklandığını belirlemek için Post Hoc testlerinden Bonferroni testi kullanılmıştır. Çalışmanın sonucunda, 16,17 yaşında olan futbolcuların 14 yaşında olanlardan daha fazla aktif sıçrama kuvvetine sahip olduğu, 17 yaşında olanların da 15 yaşından daha fazla aktif sıçrama kuvvetine sahip olduğu belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca 16, 17 yaşında olan futbolcuların 15 yaşında olanlardan daha fazla pasif sıçrama kuvvetine sahip olduğu belirlenmiştir. Sonuç olarak sporcularda aktif ve pasif sıçramanın 14 yaşından 18 yaşına kadar yaşa bağlı olarak düzenli olarak arttığı söylenebilir.
Arkeotanatoloji ve Anadolu Arkeolojisi’nde uygulanması (Tekli birincil gömütler)
Authors: YILMAZ Yasemin
Published: June 2021

Gömüt, ölen birey için, yaşayanlar tarafından oluşturulan, mimarisi, dolgusu, ölü nesnesi, bulunduğu alan ve zamanın bileşimidir. Arkeotanatoloji, arkeolojik kazılarda açığa çıkarılan gömütlerden, iskeletlerden/insan kemiklerinden, farklı analitik yöntemler kullanılarak üretilen verilerle, geçmişte yaşamış toplumların ölü gömme uygulamalarının belirlenmesidir. Arkeolojik bağlamların etkileşimli olarak ele alınması, cesedin iskeletleşme sürecinin tafonomik analizi, iskelet sistemini oluşturan kemiklerin eklemlenmelerinin dağılma kronolojisi gibi analitik araçlarla, arkeotanatoloji, farklı nitelikteki gömütlere özgü sistematik yaklaşımlar önermektedir. Yöntemin kuruluşuna 1980’lerde Fransız bilim insanları Henri Duday ve Claude Masse öncülük etmiştir. Günümüzde Fransa’da gömüt analizlerinin temelini oluşturmakta, Avrupa ülkelerinde de kullanımı yaygınlaşmaktadır. Yöntem, Anadolu Arkeolojisi’nde ilk olarak Aşıklı Höyük’te kısmî olarak arazide ve Çayönü Kafataslı Bina’da açığa çıkarılan insan kemiği kalıntılarının laboratuvar analizlerinde kullanılmıştır. Arkeotanatoloji, makalenin yazarı tarafından son yıllarda Ilısu Baraj Projesi kapsamında kazılan Çemialo Sırtı’nda ve İstanbul’daki Yenikapı, Pendik, Sirkeci, Sulukule, Beşiktaş ve Haydarpaşa kurtarma kazılarında bulunan gömütlerin analizinde kullanılmaktadır. Makale, birincil tekli gömütlerin kazı ve analitik araçlarına odaklanmaktadır. Farklı tipteki gömütlerden seçilen örnekler aynı zamanda arkeotanatolojik yöntemin uygulanmasında referans niteliğindedir.﻿
The “Learned Helplessness” Model in Rats: Possibilities and Limitations in Assessing a Depressive-Like State and Effects of Antidepressants
Authors: Valdman E. A. , Kraineva V. A. , Kotelnikova S. O. , Sadovsky M. S.
Published: June 2021

The “learned helplessness” (LH) model in rats is widely used in a battery of tests to assess depression-like behaviour and the effects of antidepressants. The model is considered to be suffi ciently valid, though having some limitations with reproducibility. This review discusses the possibilities of using the model for assessing the symptoms of a depressive-like state and the pathogenesis of depression, as well as the effects of antidepressants. The factors affecting the reproducibility of the LH model are described, the most important of which is the different sensitivity of animals to stress. Several protocols for the induction and testing of LH, which are used by different research teams, are presented. Due to the diffi culty of comparing the results obtained using different LH protocols, LH models should be standardized for use in individual laboratories. LH models are worth using in preclinical studies of potential drugs exhibiting antidepressant activity.
In vitro Researches into the Biocompatibility of Titanium Alloys with a Modifi ed Surface
Authors: Еshkulov U. E. , Tarbokov V. A. , Ivanov S. Yu. , Nochovnaya N. A. , Dymnikov A. B. , Alymbaev R. S.
Published: June 2021

This work presents the results of a comparative in vitro study into the biocompatibility of titanium samples, the surface of which was pre-treated using various methods: milling, machining with acid etching and irradiation with a powerful ion beam (PIB) for creating a relief with the required roughness and the shape of asperities. A study of the effectiveness of attachment and growth of Balb/NIH 3T3 fi broblasts on titanium products with various types of surface treatment demonstrated that irradiation of a titanium surface with a powerful ion beam (PIB) leads to its active colonization with cells having a fl attened and stellate shape, which confi rms their active growth. An assessment of migration of metal impurities from the titanium alloy VT 1-0 was evaluated using the x-ray fl uorescence method
Discriminant Analysis of the Coordinated Work Indicators of the Heart and Blood Vessels in Health and Disease
Authors: Karkischenko N. N. , Chaivanov D. B. , Chudina Y. A. , Nikolaev A. A. , Vartanov A. A.
Published: June 2021

A discriminant method was proposed for modeling and quantifying the consistency of regulatory mechanisms in the cardiovascular system (CVS) of apparently healthy volunteers and those suffering from circulatory disorders associated with cervical spine osteochondrosis (OCS) and somatoform autonomic dysfunction (SAD). The congruence of the parameters of ECG intervalometry (DCI) and pulse wave duration (PWD) according to the volunteers’ photoplethysmograms (PPG) was established by calculating the disparity measure and deviations from the mean values using the coeffi cients of displacement, slope of the approximating straight line, as well as by comparing the reliability and correlation of the trend model with the initial data. We discovered gross violations of congruence in the work of efferent and afferent regulatory CVS mechanisms, mismatch and decrease in comparison with the norm of DCI and PWD, a signifi cant decrease in their approximation in the SAD volunteers. In volunteers with OCS, deviations in DCI and PWD from their mean values are much lower than in those with SAD, being inferior compared to healthy volunteers. Similar to SAD, these patients are inferior to healthy volunteers in terms of the disparity measure.
Mechanisms of the Cytotoxic Action of Organotin Compounds
Authors: Milaeva E. R. , Dodokhova M. A. , Shpakovsky D. B. , Antonenko T. A. , Safronenko A. V. , Kotieva I. M. , Komarova E. F. , Gantsgorn E. V. , Alkhuseyn-Kulyaginova M. S.
Published: June 2021

This review analyzed the literature data on the in vitro preclinical study of the cytotoxic properties of organotin compounds, as well as the main mechanisms of their action. The latter consist in interacting with SH groups of proteins, initiating oxidative stress, binding to DNA, interacting with receptors, as well as activate apoptosis by increasing the expression of caspases, proapoptotic proteins, and decreasing antiapoptotic proteins. Organotin compounds, depending on the donor ligand, exhibit specifi c cytotoxicity towards certain tumor cell lines. The high cytotoxic potential indicates the possibility of further development in vivo and research of organotin compounds as candidates for the creation of drugs for anticancer and antimetastatic therapy.
Regularities of individual-typological variability of the dental arches and jaws at high palatic ventilation in patients with physiological occlusion
Authors: Davydov B. N. , Kochkonyan T. S. , Domenyuk D. A. , Dmitrienko S. V.
Published: June 2021

One of the fundamental problems of morphology, which has applied significance, is a comprehensive study of variants of individual-typological variability of the structures of the facial and cerebral parts of the skull, as well as the regularities of the interrelationships of individual components in the cranial system as a whole. An in-depth characteristic of the individual characteristics of the structures of the craniofacial complex makes it possible to improve the methods of diagnosis and treatment of dentoalveolar pathology. The article discusses the morphometric features of the dentition in people with a high type of palatine arch of the dolichopalatinal type, as well as their relationship with the shape of the dental arches and the size of the inter-incisal angle in physiological occlusion of permanent teeth. As a result of the study, the following pattern was determined: the transverse dimensions of the palatine fornix of the dolichopalatinal type have a stable relationship with the transverse dimensions of the dolichognathic dental arches and the value of the inter-incisal angle. The data obtained can be used in the clinic of orthodontics, orthopedic dentistry, and maxillofacial surgery to assess the parameters of the hard palate, diagnose pathological forms of the palatine fornix and determine the effectiveness of the treatment.
Comparative analysis of the effectiveness of treatment of inflammatory post-prosthetic complications in dental implantation by the method of wedge-shaped dehydration
Authors: Makedonova Yu. A. , Mikhalchenko D. V. , Kurkina O. N. , Afanaseva O. Yu. , Vargina S. A. , Adamovich E. I.
Published: June 2021

Mucositis is one of the most common diseases during dental implantation. The genesis of the development of diseases, first of all, refers to microbiological factors. However, when conducting antimicrobial therapy, the success of the treatment is not always achieved. In this paper, a comparative analysis of the effectiveness of treatment of inflammatory post-prosthetic complications by modern methods is carried out by the method of wedge-shaped dehydration. The assessment of local crystal structures is an informative criterion in the assessment of the systemic organization of biological fluids, in particular, oral fluid. The most relevant method of visualizing the structural and spatial organization of the oral fluid is crystallographic research, the essence of which is a morphological study using light and polarization microscopy of a dried drop of oral fluid –facies. Patients in the first group received conventional treatment, the second group received ozone therapy, the third group received transcranial electrical stimulation, and the fourth group received a combination of ozone therapy and transcranial electrical stimulation. The crystallographic method was used to evaluate the qualitative and quantitative indicators of oral fluid, on the basis of which it can be concluded that the combined method is one of the objective, reliable methods for evaluating the effectiveness of treatment.
‘Nucleated red blood cells’ as hypoxia marker in clinical analysis of blood in patients with coronavirus infection
Authors: Dorn O. Yu. , Orifova F. M. , Stepanova E. G.
Published: June 2021

Assessment of the condition of a patient with coronavirus infection is an urgent problem in clinical practice. The parameter ’nucleated erythrocytes’ in a clinical blood test can be used in clinical practice as a marker of hypoxia in case of lung damage, since it objectively reflects the consequences of acute hypoxic stress in the patient’s body.
Why Do Election Results Change After Election Day? The "Blue Shift" in California Elections
Authors: Li Yimeng , Hyun Michelle , Alvarez R. Michael
Published: June 2021

The counting of votes in contemporary American elections is usually not completed on Election Night. There has been an increasing tendency for vote shares to shift toward Democratic candidates after Election Day in general elections. In this paper, we study this phenomenon using granular data from Orange County, California. Leveraging snapshots of precinct-level election returns and precinct-level demographic and political composition, we conduct the first full-fledged analysis of the potential drivers of vote share shifts. Utilizing snapshots of individual-level administrative records, we provide the first analysis of the characteristics of voters whose ballots were tallied later versus earlier. Far from being anomalous, the vote share shifts are consistent with underlying precinct voter compositions and the order of individual ballot processing. We find the same underlying drivers in North Carolina and Colorado and discuss the implications of the evolving election administration practices across states for public concerns about election integrity.
Can unconditional cash transfers encourage voters to cast ballots? Evidence from elections in Brazil
Authors: Araújo Victor
Published: June 2021

Low-income voters are typically underrepresented in elections. Even in countries adopting compulsory voting, there is a consolidated pattern of voter turnout decline among the poor. I argue that implementing an unconditional cash transfer (UCT) can decrease both direct and indirect costs of voting and thus enhance the electoral participation of low-income voters. I test these claims by leveraging Maricá’s unconditional cash transfer (MUCT), the largest UCT in Latin America implemented in Brazil in 2013. Causal estimates from a difference-in-differences design show that voter abstention decreased by 15% after the cash transfer intervention in Maricá. Furthermore, the share of undecided voters - typically those who decide to discard their votes instead of voting for one of the candidates displayed on the ballot - decreased by 33% after the MUCT implementation. These findings suggest that paying periodic unconditional benefits can mobilize low-income voters and encourage them to participate in elections.
Risk management in the healthcare safety management system
Authors: Voskanyan Yuriy , Shikina Irina , Kidalov Fedor , Davidov David , Abrosimova Tatiana
Published: June 2021

The paper discusses the main components of the modern system of risk management in medicine. Using the ISO 31000 standard of risk management and the ARIS integrated modeling environment, the authors have built a model of the risk management process in a medical organization, including the accounting subsystem, the risk analysis subsystem, and the risk processing subsystem. The concept of risk management proposed in the article is formulated on the basis of a system safety model, which assumes that adverse events related to the provision of medical care are based on systemic causes that under certain conditions turn into a hazard, and the latter is used to receive active threats and incidents. The risk management system is an executive block of the safety management system in a medical organization, which includes (in addition to risk management) an ideological block (a new safety culture) and an educational block (an organizational learning subsystem).
Toxocara canis Infection Alters lncRNA and mRNA Expression Profiles of Dog Bone Marrow
Authors: Zheng Wen-Bin , Zou Yang , Liu Qing , Hu Min-Hua , Elsheikha Hany M. , Zhu Xing-Quan
Published: June 2021

Bone marrow is the main hematopoietic organ that produces red blood cells, granulocytes, monocyte/macrophages, megakaryocytes, lymphocytes, and myeloid dendritic cells. Many of these cells play roles in the pathogenesis of Toxocara canis infection, and understanding how infection alters the dynamics of transcription regulation in bone marrow is therefore critical for deciphering the global changes in the dog transcriptional signatures during T. canis infection. In this study, long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression profiles in the bone marrow of Beagle dogs infected with T. canis were determined at 12 h post-infection (hpi), 24 hpi, 96 hpi, and 36 days post-infection (dpi). RNA-sequencing and bioinformatics analysis identified 1,098, 984, 1,120, and 1,305 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs), and 196, 253, 223, and 328 differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) at 12 h, 24 h, 96 h, and 36 days after infection, respectively. We also identified 29, 36, 38, and 68 DEmRNAs potentially cis-regulated by 44, 44, 51, and 80 DElncRNAs at 12 hpi, 24 hpi, 96 hpi, and 36 dpi, respectively. To validate the sequencing findings, qRT-PCR was performed on 10 randomly selected transcripts. Many altered genes were involved in the differentiation of bone marrow cells. GO of DElncRNAs and GO and KEGG pathway analyses of DEmRNAs revealed alterations in several signaling pathways, including pathways involved in energy metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis and metabolism, Wnt signaling pathway, Huntington's disease, HIF-1 signaling pathway, cGMP–PKG signaling pathway, dilated cardiomyopathy, and adrenergic signaling in cardiomyocytes. These findings revealed that bone marrow of T. canis-infected dogs exhibits distinct lncRNA and mRNA expression patterns compared to healthy control dogs. Our data provide novel insights into T. canis interaction with the definitive host and shed light on the significance of the non-coding portion of the dog genome in the pathogenesis of toxocariasis.
The Role of Amino Acids in the Crosstalk Between Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and Neoplastic Cells in the Hematopoietic Niche
Authors: Chiu Martina , Taurino Giuseppe , Bianchi Massimiliano G. , Bussolati Ovidio
Published: June 2021

Within the bone marrow hematopoietic cells are in close connection with mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), which influence the behavior and differentiation of normal or malignant lymphoid and myeloid cells. Altered cell metabolism is a hallmark of cancer, and changes in nutrient pools and fluxes are important components of the bidirectional communication between MSCs and hematological cancer cells. Among nutrients, amino acids play a significant role in cancer progression and chemo-resistance. Moreover, selected types of cancer cells are extremely greedy for glutamine, and significantly deplete the extracellular pool of the amino acid. As a consequence, this influences the behavior of MSCs in terms of either cytokine/chemokine secretion or differentiation potential. Additionally, a direct nutritional interaction exists between MSCs and immune cells. In particular, selected subpopulations of lymphocytes are dependent upon selected amino acids, such as arginine and tryptophan, for full differentiation and competence. This review describes and discusses the nutritional interactions existing in the neoplastic bone marrow niche between MSCs and other cell types, with a particular emphasis on cancer cells and immune cells. These relationships are discussed in the perspective of potential novel therapeutic strategies based on the interference on amino acid metabolism or intercellular fluxes.
Different Infection Profiles and Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns Between Burn ICU and Common Wards
Authors: Gong Yali , Peng Yuan , Luo Xiaoqiang , Zhang Cheng , Shi Yunlong , Zhang Yixin , Deng Jun , Peng Yizhi , Luo Gaoxing , Li Haisheng
Published: June 2021

Infection is the leading cause of complications and deaths after burns. However, the difference in infection patterns between the burn intensive care unit (BICU) and burn common wards (BCW) have not been clearly investigated. The present study aimed to compare the infection profile, antimicrobial resistance, and their changing patterns in burn patients in BICU and BCW. Clinical samples were analyzed between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2019, in the Institute of Burn Research in Southwest China. The patient information, pathogen distribution, sources, and antimicrobial resistance were retrospectively collected. A total of 3457 and 4219 strains were detected in BICU and BCW, respectively. Wound secretions accounted for 86.6% and 44.9% in BCW and BICU, respectively. Compared with samples in BCW, samples in BICU had more fungi (11.8% vs. 8.1%), more Gram-negative bacteria (60.0% vs. 50.8%), and less Gram-positive bacteria (28.2% vs. 41.1%). Acinetobacter baumannii were the most common pathogen in BICU, compared with Staphylococcus aureus in BCW. S. aureus was the most frequent pathogen in wound secretions and tissues from both BICU and BCW. However, A. baumannii were the first in blood, sputum, and catheter samples from BICU. Overall, the multidrug-resistance (MDR) rate was higher in BICU than in BCW. However, the gap between BICU and BCW gradually shortened from 2011 to 2019. The prevalence of MDR A. baumannii and Klebsiella pneumonia significantly increased, especially in BCW. Furthermore, Carbapenem resistance among K. pneumoniae significantly increased in BICU (4.5% in 2011 vs. 40% in 2019) and BCW (0 in 2011 vs. 40% in 2019). However, the percentage of MDR P. aeruginosa sharply dropped from 85.7% to 24.5% in BICU. The incidence of MRSA was significantly higher in BICU than in BCW (94.2% vs. 71.0%) and stayed at a high level in BICU (89.5% to 96.3%). C. tropicalis and C. albicans were the two most frequent fungi. No resistance to Amphotericin B was detected. Our study shows that the infection profile is different between BICU and BCW, and multidrug resistance is more serious in BICU than BCW. Therefore, different infection-control strategies should be emphasized in different burn populations.
LC-MS-Based Untargeted Metabolomics Reveals Early Biomarkers in STZ-Induced Diabetic Rats With Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Chen Ruijuan , Zeng Yi , Xiao Wenbiao , Zhang Le , Shu Yi
Published: June 2021

Diabetes in the elderly increases cognitive impairment, but the underlying mechanisms are still far from fully understood. A non-targeted metabolomics approach based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was performed to screen out the serum biomarkers of diabetic mild cognitive impairment (DMMCI) in rats. Total 48 SD rats were divided into three groups, Normal control (NC) group, high-fat diet (HFD) fed group and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) group. The T2DM rat model was induced by intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin (STZ, 35 mg/kg) after 6 weeks of high-fat diet (HFD) feeding. Then each group was further divided into 4-week and 8-week subgroups, which were calculated from the time point of T2DM rat model establishment. The novel object recognition test (NORT) and the Morris water maze (MWM) method were used to evaluate the cognitive deficits in all groups. Compared to the NC-8w and HFD-8w groups, both NOR and MWM tests indicated significant cognitive dysfunction in the T2DM-8w group, which could be used as an animal model of DMMCI. Serum was ultimately collected from the inferior vena cava after laparotomy. Metabolic profiling analysis was conducted using ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) technology. Principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were used to verify the stability of the model. According to variable importance in the project (VIP > 1) and the p-value of t-test (P < 0.05) obtained by the OPLS-DA model, the metabolites with significant differences were screened out as potential biomarkers. In total, we identified 94 differentially expressed (44 up-regulated and 50 down-regulated) endogenous metabolites. The 10 top up-regulated and 10 top down-regulated potential biomarkers were screened according to the FDR significance. These biomarkers by pathway topology analysis were primarily involved in the metabolism of sphingolipid (SP) metabolism, tryptophan (Trp) metabolism, Glycerophospholipid (GP) metabolism, etc. Besides, SP metabolism, Trp metabolism and GP metabolism mainly belonging to the lipid metabolism showed marked perturbations over DMMCI and may contribute to the development of disease. Taken collectively, our results revealed that T2DM could cause cognitive impairment by affecting a variety of metabolic pathways especially lipid metabolism. Besides, serum PE, PC, L-Trp, and S1P may be used as the most critical biomarkers for the early diagnosis of DMMCI.
Ovariectomy Impaired Hepatic Glucose and Lipid Homeostasis and Altered the Gut Microbiota in Mice With Different Diets
Authors: Lei Zili , Wu Huijuan , Yang Yanhong , Hu Qing , Lei Yuting , Liu Wanwan , Nie Ya , Yang Lanxiang , Zhang Xueying , Yang Changyuan , Lin Ting , Tong Fengxue , Zhu Jiamin , Guo Jiao
Published: June 2021

The lower incidence of metabolic diseases of women than men and the increasing morbidity of metabolic disorders of menopausal women indicated that hormones produced by ovaries may affect homeostasis of glucose and lipid metabolism, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. To explore the functions of ovaries on regulating glucose and lipid metabolism in females, 8 weeks old C57BL/6 mice were preformed ovariectomy and administrated with normal food diet (NFD) or high fat diet (HFD). Six weeks after ovariectomy, blood biochemical indexes were tested and the morphology and histology of livers were checked. The expression levels of genes related to glucose and lipid metabolism in liver were detected through transcriptome analysis, qPCR and western blot assays. 16S rDNA sequence was conducted to analyze the gut microbiota of mice with ovariectomy and different diets. The serum total cholesterol (TC) was significantly increased in ovariectomized (OVX) mice fed with NFD (OVXN), and serum low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) was significantly increased in both OVXN mice and OVX mice fed with HFD (OVXH). The excessive glycogen storage was found in livers of 37.5% mice from OVXN group, and lipid accumulation was detected in livers of the other 62.5% OVXN mice. The OVXN group was further divided into OVXN-Gly and OVXN-TG subgroups depending on histological results of the liver. Lipid drops in livers of OVXH mice were more and larger than other groups. The expression level of genes related with lipogenesis was significantly increased and the expression level of genes related with β-oxidation was significantly downregulated in the liver of OVXN mice. Ovariectomy also caused the dysbiosis of intestinal flora of OVXN and OVXH mice. These results demonstrated that hormones generated by ovaries played important roles in regulating hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism and communicating with the gut microbiota in females.
Case Report: Causative De novo Variants of KCNT2 for Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy
Authors: Gong Pan , Jiao Xianru , Yu Dan , Yang Zhixian
Published: June 2021

Objective:KCNT2 gene mutations had been described to cause developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs). In this study, we presented the detailed clinical features and genetic analysis of two unrelated patients carrying two de novo variants in KCNT2 and reviewed eight different cases available in publications.

Methods: Likely pathogenic variants were identified by whole exome sequencing; clinical data of the patients were retrospectively collected and analyzed.

Results: Our two unrelated patients were diagnosed with Ohtahara syndrome followed by infantile spasms (IS) and possibly the epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures (EIMFS), respectively. They both manifested dysmorphic features with hirsute arms, thick hair, prominent eyebrows, long and thick eyelashes, a broad nasal tip, and short and smooth philtrum. In the eight patients reported previously, two was diagnosed with IS carrying a ‘change-of-function' mutation and a gain-of-function mutation, respectively, two with EIMFS-like carrying a gain-of-function mutation and a loss-of-function mutation, respectively, one with EIMFS carrying a loss-of-function mutation, three with DEE without functional analysis. Among them, two patients with gain-of-function mutations both exhibited dysmorphic features and presented epilepsy phenotype, which was similar to our patients.

Conclusion: Overall, the most common phenotypes associated with KCNT2 mutation were IS and EIMFS. Epilepsy phenotype associated with gain- and loss-of-function mutations could overlap. Additional KCNT2 cases will help to make genotype-phenotype correlations clearer.
Childbirth Experiences and Delivery Care During Times of War: Testimonies of Syrian Women and Doctors
Authors: Bashour Hyam , Kharouf Mayada , DeJong Jocelyn
Published: June 2021

Background: Until the eruption of violence in 2011, Syria made good progress in improving maternal health indicators including reducing the maternal mortality ratio and increasing the level of skilled birth attendance. The war in Syria has been described as one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent times. Damascus Maternity Teaching Hospital is the largest maternity public hospital in the country that survived the war and continued to provide its services even during periods of pronounced instability. The main aim of this paper is to highlight the experience of childbirth and delivery care as described by women and doctors at times of severe violence affecting Damascus.

Methods: This paper is based on secondary analysis of qualitative data collected between 2012 and 2014 for a WHO-funded implementation research project introducing clinical audits for maternal near-misses. This analysis specifically looked at the effects of violence on the childbirth experience and delivery care from the perspective of both women and physicians. A total of 13 in-depth interviews with women who had recently delivered and survived a complication and 13 in-depth interviews with consultant obstetricians were reviewed and analyzed, in addition to three focus group discussions with 31 junior care providers.

Results: Three themes emerged concerning the experiences of women and doctors in these times of war. First, both women and doctors experienced difficulty reaching the hospital and accessing and providing the services, respectively; second, quality of care was challenged at that time as perceived by both women and doctors; and third, women and doctors expressed their psychological suffering in times of hardship and uncertainty and how this affected them.

Conclusions: Efforts to safeguard the safety of delivery and prevent maternal mortality in Syria continued despite very violent and stressful conditions. Both women and providers developed strategies to navigate the challenges posed by conflict to the provision of delivery care. Lessons learned from the experiences of both women and doctors should be considered in any plans to improve maternal healthcare in a country like Syria that remains committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in 2030 in the aftermath of nearly 10 years of war.
20S-Hydroxyvitamin D3, a Secosteroid Produced in Humans, Is Anti-Inflammatory and Inhibits Murine Autoimmune Arthritis
Authors: Postlethwaite Arnold E. , Tuckey Robert C. , Kim Tae-Kang , Li Wei , Bhattacharya Syamal K. , Myers Linda K. , Brand David D. , Slominski Andrzej T.
Published: June 2021

The ability to use large doses of vitamin D3 (D3) to chronically treat autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is prohibitive due to its calcemic effect which can damage vital organs. Cytochrome P450scc (CYP11A1) is able to convert D3 into the noncalcemic analog 20S-hydroxyvitamin D3 [20S(OH)D3]. We demonstrate that 20S(OH)D3 markedly suppresses clinical signs of arthritis and joint damage in a mouse model of RA. Furthermore, treatment with 20S(OH)D3 reduces lymphocyte subsets such as CD4+ T cells and CD19+ B cells leading to a significant reduction in inflammatory cytokines. The ratio of T reg cells (CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells) to CD3+CD4+ T cells is increased while there is a decrease in critical complement-fixing anti-CII antibodies. Since pro-inflammatory cytokines and antibodies against type II collagen ordinarily lead to destruction of cartilage and bone, their decline explains why arthritis is attenuated by 20(OH) D3. These results provide a basis for further consideration of 20S(OH)D3 as a potential treatment for RA and other autoimmune disorders.
Tumor-Associated Tertiary Lymphoid Structures: From Basic and Clinical Knowledge to Therapeutic Manipulation
Authors: Domblides Charlotte , Rochefort Juliette , Riffard Clémence , Panouillot Marylou , Lescaille Géraldine , Teillaud Jean-Luc , Mateo Véronique , Dieu-Nosjean Marie-Caroline
Published: June 2021

The tumor microenvironment is a complex ecosystem almost unique to each patient. Most of available therapies target tumor cells according to their molecular characteristics, angiogenesis or immune cells involved in tumor immune-surveillance. Unfortunately, only a limited number of patients benefit in the long-term of these treatments that are often associated with relapses, in spite of the remarkable progress obtained with the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICP). The presence of “hot” tumors is a determining parameter for selecting therapies targeting the patient immunity, even though some of them still do not respond to treatment. In human studies, an in-depth analysis of the organization and interactions of tumor-infiltrating immune cells has revealed the presence of an ectopic lymphoid organization termed tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) in a large number of tumors. Their marked similarity to secondary lymphoid organs has suggested that TLS are an “anti-tumor school” and an “antibody factory” to fight malignant cells. They are effectively associated with long-term survival in most solid tumors, and their presence has been recently shown to predict response to ICP inhibitors. This review discusses the relationship between TLS and the molecular characteristics of tumors and the presence of oncogenic viruses, as well as their role when targeted therapies are used. Also, we present some aspects of TLS biology in non-tumor inflammatory diseases and discuss the putative common characteristics that they share with tumor-associated TLS. A detailed overview of the different pre-clinical models available to investigate TLS function and neogenesis is also presented. Finally, new approaches aimed at a better understanding of the role and function of TLS such as the use of spheroids and organoids and of artificial intelligence algorithms, are also discussed. In conclusion, increasing our knowledge on TLS will undoubtedly improve prognostic prediction and treatment selection in cancer patients with key consequences for the next generation immunotherapy.
The Mammalian Metaorganism: A Holistic View on How Microbes of All Kingdoms and Niches Shape Local and Systemic Immunity
Authors: Runge Solveig , Rosshart Stephan Patrick
Published: June 2021

The field of microbiome research has developed rapidly over the past decades and has become a topic of major interest to basic, preclinical, and clinical research, the pharmaceutical industry as well as the general public. The microbiome is a complex and diverse ecosystem and defined as the collection of all host-associated microorganisms and their genes. It is acquired through vertical transmission and environmental exposure and includes microbes of all kingdoms: bacteria, archaea, prokaryotic and eukaryotic viruses, fungi, protozoa, and the meiofauna. These microorganisms co-evolved with their respective hosts over millions of years, thereby establishing a mutually beneficial, symbiotic relationship on all epithelial barriers. Thus, the microbiome plays a pivotal role in virtually every aspect of mammalian physiology, particularly in the development, homeostasis, and function of the immune system. Consequently, the combination of the host genome and the microbial genome, together referred to as the metagenome, largely drives the mammalian phenotype. So far, the majority of studies have unilaterally focused on the gastrointestinal bacterial microbiota. However, recent work illustrating the impact of viruses, fungi, and protozoa on host immunity urges us towards a holistic view of the mammalian microbiome and the appreciation for its non-bacterial kingdoms. In addition, the importance of microbiota on epithelial barriers other than the gut as well as their systemic effects via microbially-derived biologically active compounds is increasingly recognized. Here, we want to provide a brief but comprehensive overview of the most important findings and the current knowledge on how microbes of all kingdoms and microbial niches shape local and systemic immunity in health and disease.
Effect of Incorporation of Rice Husk Ash Instead of Cement on the Performance of Steel Fibers Reinforced Concrete
Authors: Zaid Osama , Ahmad Jawad , Siddique Muhammad Shahid , Aslam Fahid
Published: June 2021

The production of rice is significant worldwide; the husk produced is generally used as a combustible material for the preparation of paddies, delivering energy through direct combustion as well as by gasifying. Annually, 7.4 million tons of Rice Husk Ash (RHA) is produced and poses an incredible danger to the environment, harming the land and the encompassing zone where it is unloaded. In the transformation of rice husk to ash, the ignition cycle eliminates the natural products, leaving silica-rich remains. These silica-rich remains have proven to have potential to be utilized in concrete as a limited substitution of cement to enhance the concrete compressive strength. Steel fibers’ incorporation increases the concrete tensile strength, balances out concrete samples, and changes their brittle behavior to a more ductile response. In the current study, the influence of various doses of Rice Husk Ash (RHA) used in concrete in the presence and absence of steel fibers and concrete performance has been examined. A total of nine mixes have been designed: one was a control, four were without steel fibers containing only RHA, and the last four mixed RHA with steel fibers from 0.5 to 2%. Tests with 5, 10, 15, and 20% percentages of RHA replacing the concrete have been targeted. Results have been compared with the reference samples and the reasonability of adding Rice Husk Ash to concrete has been studied. From the results, it was noted that about 10% of cement might be replaced with Rice Husk Ash mixed in with steel fibers with almost equal compressive strength. Replacing more than 15% of cement with RHA will produce concrete with a low performance in terms of strength and durability.
Interrelationship Between Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome and Severe Asthma: From Endo-Phenotype to Clinical Aspects
Authors: Ragnoli Beatrice , Pochetti Patrizia , Raie Alberto , Malerba Mario
Published: June 2021

Sleep-related breathing disorders (SBDs) are characterized by abnormal respiration during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a common SBD increasingly recognized by physicians, is characterized by recurrent episodes of partial or complete closure of the upper airway resulting in disturbed breathing during sleep. OSA syndrome (OSAS) is associated with decreased patients' quality of life (QoL) and the presence of significant comorbidities, such as daytime sleepiness. Similarly to what seen for OSAS, the prevalence of asthma has been steadily rising in recent years. Interestingly, severe asthma (SA) patients are also affected by poor sleep quality—often attributed to nocturnal worsening of their asthma—and increased daytime sleepiness and snoring compared to the general population. The fact that such symptoms are also found in OSAS, and that these two conditions share common risk factors, such as obesity, rhinitis, and gastroesophageal reflux, has led many to postulate an association between these two conditions. Specifically, it has been proposed a bidirectional correlation between SA and OSAS, with a mutual negative effect in term of disease severity. According to this model, OSAS not only acts as an independent risk factor of asthma exacerbations, but its co-existence can also worsen asthma symptoms, and the same is true for asthma with respect to OSAS. In this comprehensive review, we summarize past and present studies on the interrelationship between OSAS and SA, from endo-phenotype to clinical aspects, highlighting possible implications for clinical practice and future research directions.
Is Fatty Liver Associated With Depression? A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review on the Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Outcomes of Depression and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Xiao Jieling , Lim Lincoln Kai En , Ng Cheng Han , Tan Darren Jun Hao , Lim Wen Hui , Ho Cyrus S. H. , Tan Eunice Xiang Xuan , Sanyal Arun J. , Muthiah Mark D.
Published: June 2021

Background and Aims: Both non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and depression have a high global prevalence which is projected to increase further. While studies exploring the association have been done, there are conflicting data. This study aims to assess the prevalence and association between depression and NAFLD.

Methods: Medline and Embase were searched from inception to March 3, 2020. Meta-analysis of proportions using the generalized linear mix model was conducted to analyze the pooled prevalence of depression in NAFLD patients. Risk factors for depression in NAFLD patients were evaluated in conventional pairwise meta-analysis.

Results: Ten studies involving 2,041,752 NAFLD patients were included. Pooled prevalence of depression was 18.21% (CI: 11.12–28.38%) in patients with NAFLD and 40.68% (CI: 25.11–58.37%) in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NAFLD resulted in significantly higher risk of development of depression (OR: 1.29, CI: 1.02–1.64, p = 0.03). NASH patients had a significantly higher risk of depression compared with NAFLD patients (RR: 2.83, CI: 2.41–3.32, p < 0.001). Diabetes, body mass index (BMI), female sex, smoking, and history of pulmonary disease were significant risk factors for depression in NAFLD patients.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated a high prevalence of depression in NAFLD patients and a significant association between both conditions. Furthermore, patients with NASH had a significantly higher risk of depression compared with those with NAFLD. Diabetes, BMI, history of lung disease or smoking, and female gender were significant risk factors. Further studies investigating the pathophysiological mechanism underlying depression and NAFLD are needed.