bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Learning models that can improve elementary school students' creative thinking ability
Authors: Sasmita Febriarsita Eka , Kusuma Rendra Sakbana
Published: July 2023

There are several abilities that can accommodate students in facing the 21st century, one of which is the ability to think creatively, but based on educational report cards, students' ability to think creatively is low. This study aims to describe a learning model that can stimulate the emergence of creative thinking abilities of elementary school students through the literature study method. Based on the results of the research and discussion, the researchers concluded that increasing the ability to think creatively can be pursued through three types of learning models, including (1) problem-based learning models, (2) discovery-based learning models, and (3) project-based learning models. These learning models include problem-solving, problem-posing, problem-based learning, guided inquiry learning, discovery learning, and project-based learning. This learning model was chosen because it has been proven by many researchers and has syntactic relations and indicators of creative thinking ability
Exploration of 21st century skills in students SMA Negeri 1 Sungai Tebelian
Authors: Sri Nurfitrianti , Astuti Indri , Afandi Afandi
Published: July 2023

Educational planning is adjusted by considering the suitability of the education system in schools so that students are ready to enter the world of work with the skills needed so that they can be useful in the future. The aim of this research is to find out students' 21st-century skills. The method that the researchers used in this study were a quantitative descriptive research method, with indirect communication techniques, with a data collection tool in the form of a questionnaire. The questionnaires distributed amounted to 41 items and were analyzed using a Likert scale. The questions and sample of this research were 71 respondents who were class XII students of SMA Negeri 1 Sungai Tebelian. The results of this study showed a score of 80.34 so which could illustrate that the students of SMA Negeri 1 Sungai Tebelian had 21st-century skills in a good category
Development of comic page creator media based on Tumbuhkan, Alami, Namai, Demonstrasikan, Ulangi, Rayakan (TANDUR) learning for elementary school students
Authors: Hermiyati Nurul , Usman Herlina , Rizkiyani Nurafiah , Fitriani Lilik
Published: July 2023

The demands of a teacher in this modern era in educating the nation's generation must be able to master IT to support effective learning activities. Data collection techniques used in this study were interviews, preliminary studies, observation, questionnaire collection, and documentation. This development research has gone through the validation stage with the acquisition of an average score of 96.36% from media experts with the criteria of "Very Eligible", material experts of 95% "very feasible", and linguists of 94.54% "very feasible" . In the limited trial the results were obtained, namely, for students at SDN Cikahuripan 01 the percentage of the questionnaire was 88% "very good" and SD Bojong Nangka 02 the percentage of the questionnaire was 90% with the "very good category". So that the comic page creator media based on TANDUR learning can be declared feasible to be tested on students.
Implementation of RME-based student worksheets on plane figure area material for students of phase b elementary school
Authors: Lestari Sulistiana Puji , Rahmawati Ika
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this research is to find out the activities of students in determining the area of ​​​​flat shapes through drawing and constructing knowledge on student worksheets and to find out the effectiveness of the RME based student worksheets used. Qualitative descriptive method with design research was chosen in this study. This method is carried out by collecting data to obtain factual information that will be used to explain the process and information obtained in depth. The results showed that the RME approach based on local wisdom could be used to understand students material about the area of ​​plane figure and the RME-based student worksheets was considered effective for use in learning. So that educators can apply the RME approach with student worksheets to teach students about the area of ​​plane figures.
Petroleum++: ATCE, Financial Results, and GEODE
Authors: Kamal Medhat M.
Published: July 2023

The Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (ATCE), SPE’s flagship event, will be held in San Antonio, Texas, from 16–18 October. I encourage all members to seriously consider attending ATCE this year to benefit from the knowledge sharing presented by fellow members across all disciplines of petroleum engineering.

Some SPE conferences are topically focused, such as the reservoir simulation, hydraulic fracturing, and HSE conferences. ATCE, on the other hand, is the conference where all petroleum engineering and related disciplines are discussed and serves as a barometer to help professionals gauge which specific competencies are needed now and in the future. It is also important that we are aware of the developments and the changes in other technical areas and of the directions our industry is taking based on the changes in economic, political, and technical arenas. ATCE is an excellent venue for all of us to obtain a broad range of information and trends.

I am sure that most of our members are also aware of the additional benefits that may be obtained through attending ATCE. We know of the extensive exhibits where service, technology, and manufacturing companies provide members with the latest developments and enhanced products. Some national and international organizations show their work and major projects. All discuss developments that are affecting our profession and provide guidance about what we need to know to continue having successful and enjoyable careers.

Another advantage of attending ATCE is the ability to network with our colleagues and friends throughout the industry. We usually get a chance to meet with friends that we have not seen for a while and to create new friendships with members that we meet during the conference.

One of my favorite activities during ATCE is the alumni receptions. I always look forward to catching up with my classmates from my universities and learning from their experiences. This year, ATCE promises to provide all the benefits I just described as we welcome people back to our in-person events after the COVID-19 pandemic. It is encouraging that more and more of our members are coming back and attending events after we lost this opportunity for several years.

As a member of the SPE Legion of Honor, I had the opportunity to attend numerous ATCEs starting with my first conference in 1973 held in Las Vegas. I’ve attended and enjoyed every ATCE since then, minus one I was unable to attend in Calgary.

I would like share with you some of the history of ATCE since its inception in 1924. The conference in San Antonio will be the 100th edition of ATCE. As most of our members know, SPE was originally the petroleum branch of the American Institute of Petroleum and Metallurgical Engineering (AIME). It became its own society in 1957, and in 1958, ATCE was held in Houston. The event rotated between several US cities since and was held for the first time outside the US in Florence, Italy, in 2010.
Journey to an “A” Grade Gas Certification
Authors: Kyrylovych Mike
Published: July 2023

The August 2022 issue of JPT featured an article on the most common voluntary certifications that have at least some kind of methane emissions-related requirements. Since then, MiQ appears to have become a certification framework of choice for many industry players. According to Georges Tijbosch, CEO of MiQ, as of January 2023, about 20% of US natural gas production has gone through the MiQ process. Tijbosch noted that most of the currently certified production received grades A, B, or C.

While this is no high school, we naturally tend to assume that getting an “A” is the ultimate goal of getting certified. It might be true for some; however, as we all realize after graduating schools and universities and upon entering the workforce, life is quite often more about continuous improvement over time vs. achieving the top grade as such.

This article is aimed at exploring the MiQ grading framework in more detail and explaining practical pathways for industry participants to achieve any desired MiQ grade. For simplicity, we will focus on the MiQ Standard—Onshore Production, but the fundamental concepts are applicable to other industry segments.

The MiQ Standard scores a facility based on three broad categories.

- Methane-intensity quantitative metric

- Monitoring technology deployment

- Company practices related to the methane emissions management

Each of these categories is scored by an auditor accredited to conduct MiQ audits and who is an independent subject matter expert in the fields of methane mitigation, monitoring, and accounting. The combined score across the three categories results in a letter grade on the MiQ certificate issued for that facility’s production. Natural gas buyers (typically utility companies or industrial users) then request certain volumes of certified gas and, depending on the targeted end use and other factors, may specify a desired grade.

Roy Hartstein is an emissions subject matter expert, as well as founder and president of Responsible Energy Solutions, an organization that performs certification assessments and helps companies prepare for certification. Hartstein and his team have conducted over a dozen MiQ audits. He talks about three aspects of value that motivate natural gas producers to improve from a non-A to an A grade: 1) possibility of earning a higher premium on the sold certified gas; 2) internal risk management across several avenues such as safety, identification of malfunctioning equipment, or early detection of operational inefficiencies; and 3) alleviating environmental concerns of the investment community. He believes this advances a long-term strategy to secure oil and gas’s potential as part of the future energy mix.

Regardless of the underlying motivation, most of us like to think we are straight-A students and don’t want to bring home a report card with a lower grade. But at the time a company initiates the certification process, they may find they qualify for a lower (i.e., non-A) grade. What are the potential implications of this?
The Nexus of ESG and Environmental Sustainability: Does Gender Diversity Make a Difference in Asian Companies?
Authors: Saleh Mohammed W.A.
Published: July 2023

This study examines the association between Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Environmental Sustainability Performance (ESP), focusing on the moderating role of gender diversity on the board (BGD) in Asian companies listed from 2005–2019. Model 1 is estimated using the GMM system to investigate the association between ESP and ESG, while Model 2 examines the moderating effect of BGD on this association. The results reveal a significant association between ESP and the ESG score, with BGD strengthening this relationship. This research contributes to the literature on ESG and sustainability by offering evidence of the role of BGD in enhancing sustainability performance. Furthermore, this study has significant implications for policymakers, highlighting the importance of monitoring and evaluating listed companies to ensure they receive higher ESG ratings. Encouraging firms to disclose their energy use and minimize pollution can improve their ESG score, benefitting society.
Detection of urban flood inundation from traffic images using deep learning methods
Authors: zhong pengcheng , Liu Yueyi , Zheng Hang , Zhao Jianshi
Published: July 2023

Urban hydrological monitoring is the basis for urban hydrological analysis and storm flood control. However, current monitoring of urban hydrological data is insufficient, including flood inundation depth. This limits calibration and flood early warning ability of the hydrological model. In response to this limitation, a method for evaluating the depth of urban floods based on image recognition using deep learning was established in this study. This method can identify the submerged positions of pedestrians or vehicles in the image, such as pedestrian legs and car exhaust pipes, using the object recognition model YOLOv4. The mean average precision of water depth recognition in a dataset of 1177 flood images reached 89.29%. The established method extracted on-site, real-time, and continuous water depth data from images or video data provided by existing traffic cameras. This system does not require installation of additional water gauges and thus has a low cost and immediate usability.
Quantitative Analysis of the Impact of Infectious Disease Physicians on Patients in the Emergency Department Fast-Track Parenteral Antibiotics Program
Authors: McSweeney Connor , Steiner Theodore , Grant Jennifer
Published: July 2023

Introduction:
The outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT) program of Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) was supervised solely by emergency physicians (EPs) until 2017 when infectious disease (ID) physicians began assisting in management. We designed a retrospective study to determine whether ID involvement led to improved outcomes.
Methods
This study analyses the impact of this increased ID involvement by comparing the mean days patients spend on OPAT with ID involvement versus EPs alone through a retrospective chart review. Our secondary research objectives were to compare patient care decisions, e.g., antibiotic choice, tests ordered, and final diagnosis.
Results
When directly compared, there was no difference between the mean number of days on OPAT between physician types. Compared to historic patterns, patients seen in OPAT after increased ID consultation spent an average of 0.5 fewer days in the program. However, when grouped by the first day of ID assessment, the average total days in OPAT was closely aligned with the day of first ID assessment, implying that ID frequently discharged patients close to initial assessment. Patients seen by ID were less likely to return within one month of discharge compared to those not seen by ID. Secondary findings include ID physicians prescribing a greater range of antibiotics, providing more varied final diagnoses, prescribing antibiotics less frequently, and ordering more cultures, diagnostic imaging and specialist consults.
Discussion
The findings of this study support the hypothesis that ID involvement in OPAT programs leads to changes in care that may have beneficial outcomes for patients and the healthcare system.
New colours for old in the blue-cheese fungus Penicillium roqueforti
Authors: Dyer Paul , Cleere Matthew , Novodvorska Michaela , Geib Elena , Whittaker Jack , Darbyshir Heather , Salih Nadhira , Hewitt Sarah , Kokolski Matthew , Brock Matthias
Published: July 2023

Penicillium roqueforti is used worldwide in the production of blue-veined cheese. The blue-green colour derives from pigmented spores formed by fungal growth. Using a combination of bioinformatics, targeted gene deletions, and heterologous gene expression we discovered that pigment formation was due to a DHN-melanin biosynthesis pathway. Systematic deletion of pathway genes altered the arising spore colour, yielding white to yellow-green to red-pink-brown phenotypes, demonstrating the potential to generate novel coloured strains. There was no consistent impact on mycophenolic acid production as a result of pathway interruption although levels of roquefortine C were altered in some deletants. Importantly, levels of methyl-ketones associated with blue-cheese flavour were not impacted. UV-induced colour mutants, allowed in food production, were then generated. A range of colours were obtained and certain phenotypes were successfully mapped to pathway gene mutations. Selected colour mutants were subsequently used in cheese production and generated expected novel colourations with no elevated mycotoxins, offering the exciting prospect of use in future cheese manufacture.
Difference in S. Mutans Serotype C Genomic Variability Comparing Pulsed Field Electrophoresis and Whole Genome Sequencing.
Authors: Rincón-Rodríguez Ramiro Javier , Bedoya-Correa Claudia María , Herrera-Patiño Juan Carlos , Arboleda-Toro David
Published: July 2023

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare in silico, the genetic variability of the restriction patterns obtained by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), with the global and specific patterns obtained from whole genome sequencing (WGS) of S. mutansserotype c and their relationship with their pathophysiology.
Materials and Methods: Reactivated S. mutans UA159 (reference strain), isolates P20MB6, P21S6, P18C3 and P28MB7, molecularly identified as S. mutans, serotype c. Following DNA extraction, a PFGE was performed to determine genetic variability and analyze the clusters according to the pathophysiology of the strains. WGS bioinformatic analysis of the genome sequences and implementation of the MAUVE system, to identify the global and specific variability of the strains and its relationship with their pathophysiology.
Results: In Streptococcus mutans, serotype c, PFGE showed variability between strains, but neither separate clusters according to their pathophysiology, nor indicate where the variability was. WGS evidenced the variability present in the sequences, contents and genomic order, associating these changes to the physiopathological behavior of the strains.
Conclusion: PFGE is useful for screening bacterial safety and virulence. However, it cannot separate the bacterial clusters according to their pathophysiological behavior and thus partially identifies genetic variability. PFGE. Conversely, WGS unveils genetic variability and associate it to the pathophysiological behavior of the studied bacteria.
Exhaustive identification of genome-wide binding events of transcriptional regulators with ICEBERG
Authors: Cantù Claudio , Nordin Anna , Pagella Pierfrancesco , Zambanini Gianluca
Published: July 2023

Genome-wide protein interaction assays aspire to map the complete binding pattern of gene regulators. However, common practice relies on replication and high stringency statistics which favor false negatives over false positives, thereby excluding portions of signal which may represent biologically relevant events. Here, we present ICEBERG (Increased Capture of Enrichment By Exhaustive Replicate aGgregation), an experimental and analytical pipeline that harnesses large numbers of CUT&RUN replicates to discover the full set of binding events and chart the line between false positives and false negatives. We employed ICEBERG to map the full set of H3K4me3-marked regulatory regions and β-catenin targets in human colorectal cancer cells. The ICEBERG datasets allow benchmarking of individual replicates, comparison of the performance of peak calling and replication approaches and expose the arbitrary nature of other strategies to identify reproducible peaks. Instead of a static view of genomic targets, ICEBERG established a spectrum of detection probabilities across the genome for a given factor, underlying the intrinsic dynamicity of its mechanism of action, and permitting to distinguish frequent from rare regulation events. Finally, ICEBERG discovered instances, undetectable with other approaches, that might underlie novel mechanisms of colorectal cancer progression.
Development of the Public Law-Abiding Beliefs and Practices Scale (PLABPS) and the relationship between health-related and non-health-related behaviors
Authors: Shiraly Ramin , Jeihooni Ali Khani , Mir Fazal Irshad , Griffiths Mark D.
Published: July 2023

Background: Interactions between social and personal behavioral choices might explain why individuals behave differently with respect to public laws and regulations, some of which are known to influence individuals’ health. Evaluation of such interactions needs valid assessment tools.
Objectives: The primary objective of the present study was to develop and validate the Public Law-Abiding Beliefs and Practices Scale (PLABPS). The second objective was to examine whether there was a significant association between health-related and non-health-related behaviors (including COVID-19 preventive behaviors).
Methods: To develop the scale, several steps were taken including item suggestion, discussion by an expert panel, performing a pilot study on the initial scale, sequential item reduction to maximize internal consistency using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, and finalizing the scale items through expert review. Data were collected from 1108 community-dwelling individuals aged 18 years and older. Internal consistency and construct validity of the PLABPS were examined.
Results: A 10-item scale comprising two factors was extracted showing good psychometric properties. Confirmatory factor analysis results demonstrated good model fit indices (CMIN/DF: 2.340, SRMR = 0.053, RMSEA= 0.067, CFI= 0.960). The Cronbach alpha was 0.86 suggesting very good internal consistency. There was a significantly moderate association between PLABPS scores and COVID-19 preventive behaviors, indicating that individuals with greater law-abiding tendency were more likely to follow preventive COVID-19 behaviors.
Conclusion: The PLABPS is a reliable and valid brief instrument for assessing individuals’ adherence to general public laws. The scale may predict COVID-19 protective behaviors and other health-related behaviors. Given its potential use with regard to psychosocial issues, the PLABPS may contribute to worldwide research in social and behavioral science fields.
Network representations of attractors for change point detection
Authors: Tan Eugene , Algar Shannon , Correa Debora , Stemler Thomas , Small Michael
Published: July 2023

A common approach of monitoring the status of physical and biological systems is through the regular measurement of various system parameters. Changes in a system's underlying dynamics manifest as changes in the behaviour of the observed time series. For example, the transition from healthy cardiac activity to ventricular fibrillation results in erratic dynamics in measured electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. Identifying these transitions -- change point detection -- can be valuable in preparing responses to mitigate the effects of undesirable system changes. Here, we present a data-driven method of detecting change points using a phase space approach. Delay embedded trajectories are used to construct an `attractor network', a discrete Markov-chain representation of the system's attractor. Once constructed, the attractor network is used to assess the level of surprise of future observations where unusual movements in phase space are assigned high surprise scores. Persistent high surprise scores indicate deviations from the attractor and are used to infer change points. Using our approach, we find that the attractor network is effective in automatically detecting the onset of ventricular fibrillation (VF) from observed ECG data. We also test the flexibility of our method on artificial data sets and demonstrate its ability to distinguish between normal and surrogate time series.
Zinc-l-selenomethionine in diets of broiler chickens subjected to cyclic heat stress
Authors: Tesser Guilherme Luis Silva , Junior Nilton Rohloff , Campos Felipe Potenza , Costa Ana Paula Guimarães Cruz , Sartor Heloísa , Kaufmann Cristine , Junior José Geraldo de Vargas , Eyng Cinthia , Nunes Ricardo Vianna
Published: July 2023

Limited information exists on the effects of zinc-l-selenomethionine (Zn-L-SeMet) in broiler diets under cyclic heat stress. Hence, this study aimed to investigate its impact on broiler diets from 1 to 42 days of age reared under cyclic heat stress. A total of 1,000 male Cobb 500® broiler chicks were assigned to five treatments: 0, 0.15, 0.23, 0.47 and 1.30 mg/kg of Zn-L-SeMet. Each treatment consisted of 10 replicates with 20 birds each. Animals fed diets with 1.30 mg had reduced feed intake (FI) compared to the other treatments (p < 0.05) and lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to animals that were fed 0.15, 0.47 mg, and control diets (p < 0.05). Both FI and FCR reduced linearly. Mortality was lower in broilers that were fed diets with 0.15 mg compared to the control (p < 0.05) diet. The inclusion of 0.71 mg was estimated to reduce bird mortality. Broilers fed diets with 0.47 mg had higher triglyceride (TRG) levels (p < 0.05) than those fed with 0.15, 0.23, and 1.30 mg diets. The inclusion of 0.97 mg was predicted to increase TRG levels. Broilers fed diets with 0.47 mg had reduced gamaglutamiltransferase (GGT) levels than those fed with the control diet. In addition, the inclusion of 1.19 mg was predicted to reduce GGT levels. There was no effect of the diets on insulin-like growth factor 1 and growth hormone receptor hormones gene expression. In conclusion, the inclusion of 1.30 mg/kg of Zn-L-SeMet in heat-stressed broiler diets is recommended to achieve the best growth performance from 1 to 42 days of age.
Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Analyses of Nafamostat in ECMO Patients: A Comparative Study of Central Vein and ECMO Machine Samples
Authors: Lee Dong-Hwan , Lee Jae Ha , Jang Ji Hoon , Kim Yong Kyun , Kang Gaeun , Jung So Young , Kim Dae-Wook , Jang Hang-Jea
Published: July 2023

Background
This study addresses the knowledge gap concerning the optimal dosage adjustment of nafamostat mesylate in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) by investigating its pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics properties. Specifically, we examine the exposure-response relationship between nafamostat concentration and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) in ECMO patients.
Methods
Prospectively, 24 patients were enrolled in this study. Nafamostat infusion was administered continuously through a dedicated stopcock in the drainage pathway before the ECMO pump, starting at 15 mg/h. The maintenance dose of nafamostat was adjusted to maintain the target aPTT range of 40 to 80 seconds. Blood samples were collected from both the patient's central venous catheter and the ECMO circuit. Pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics analyses were performed using a nonlinear mixed effects model.
Results
The time-varying nafamostat concentrations measured from patient catheter and ECMO circuit were best described by a two-compartment model. In the patient model, the clearance was 189 L/h, and the steady-state volume of distribution was 62.01 L. In the ECMO model, the clearance was 85.2 L/h, and the steady-state volume of distribution was 40.63 L. The mechanism by which the anticoagulant effect of nafamostat increased aPTT in both models was well explained by a turnover model in which increasing concentration of nafamostat inhibited the decrease in aPTT. In the patient model, nafamostat was found to decrease the rate constant for aPTT reduction by up to 35.5%, with an IC50 of 350 µg/L. In the ECMO model, nafamostat was observed to decrease the rate constant for aPTT reduction by up to 43.6%, with an IC50 of 581 µg/L.
Conclusions
When developing the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics model of nafamostat using patient and ECMO samples, we employed two-compartment and turnover models for pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, respectively. Notably, there were substantial differences in the estimated parameter values. Considering the substantial interindividual variability observed in the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of nafamostat, the development of a highly predictive model that incorporates relevant covariates and considers the sampling site holds great promise in achieving desired anticoagulant effects, particularly in ECMO-treated patients who are at a heightened risk of bleeding.
The sex differences of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and activities in China: A cross-sectional study of 3374 patients
Authors: Zhong Linda LD , Wang Rongsheng , Zhu Qi , Cao Pei Hua , Lam Wai Ching , Jiang Ting , Zhang Yuan Yuan , Shen Jie , Su Xiao , Xue Luan , Mao Jianchun , Fang Yong Fei , Gao Ming Li , Hu Chun Rong , Peng Jiang Yun , Gu Ying , Wei Qianghua , Huang Runyue , Lyu Aiping , Liu Hongxia , He Dongyi
Published: July 2023

Background There are limited data studied the association between sex and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms and activities in China. Methods This is a cross-sectional study with recruitment of RA patients from 10 hospitals in China from 2014 to 2018. Patients were evaluated with the 28-joint Disease Activity Score based on erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR), Simple Disease Activity Index (SDAI) for Rheumatoid Arthritis, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, Revised American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Functional Classification of Global Functional Status, and vital signs. Mann-Whitney U and Chi-square tests were used to compare the sex differences. Ordinal logistic regression and linear regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and adjusted for confounding factors of age and body mass index (BMI). Subgroup analyses were conducted to study the associations in RA patients with hypertension and diabetes. Results A total of 3374 RA patients were recruited. Ratio of female versus male was 4:1. After adjusting for age and BMI, significant sex differences were found in ACR functions, DAS28-ESR, SDAI, VAS, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Patients with hypertension and diabetes accounted for 10% and 3% among all the RA patients, respectively. For RA patients with hypertension, significant association was found only between sex and CRP. Sex was not significantly associated with most clinical manifestations in diabetic RA patients except for level 2 of ACR functions of joints. Conclusion Our study provided epidemiological data of RA and its comorbidities in China. The results did not reach consensus to support substantial sex differences of RA symptoms and activities in Chinese populations.
Breast cancer occurring during pregnancy of Luminal A type overexpressed CXCL13
Authors: Nozaki Fumi , Nakanishi Yoko , Tanino Tomoyuki , Ochi Tomohiro , In Reika , Kajiura Yuka , Kida Kumiko , Takei Junko , Yoshida Atsushi , Kanomata Naoki , Kitano Atsuko , Yamauchi Hideko , Masuda Shinobu
Published: July 2023

Background
Breast cancer during pregnancy and lactation occurs in 2.6% of female patients aged < 45 years, and its incidence has been increasing. The pathogenesis and genomic profiles of pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) remain unclear. We analyzed patients with breast cancer that occurred during pregnancy (PrBC) and compared the findings with those of patients with breast cancer that did not occur during pregnancy (non-PrBC).
Methods
We performed gene expression analyses (using microarray and qRT-PCR) of PrBC (8 and 22 samples, respectively) and non-PrBC (8 and 24 samples, respectively) groups, which were matched for age, hormone receptor expression, and HER2 expression.
Results
Microarray analysis showed that 355 genes were upregulated and 151 genes were downregulated in the luminal type PrBC group compared to those in the non-PrBC group. Chemokine, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 13 (CXCL13) gene was the most upregulated in the PrBC group compared to that in the non-PrBC group (log2 fold-change = 101.2), especially in the luminal A-type cells (p = 0.016). This result was corroborated by the qRT-PCR analysis of microdissected cancer cells, which was conducted using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples (p < 0.001). A negative correlation was observed between CXCL13 and estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) mRNA expression levels in luminal A-type breast carcinoma (τ = -0.109; p < 0.001).
Conclusion
CXCL13, a chemokine that regulates the function of immune cells, was significantly overexpressed in PrBC cells. The expression levels of CXCL13 and estrogen receptor (ER) were inversely correlated.
Clinical observation of short-term efficacy of fenestration discectomy combined suturing the annulus for lumbar disc herniation
Authors: Bi Jingwei , Meng Bin , Chen Wenhao , Yang Wanliang , Pan Xin
Published: July 2023

Objectives:
To explore feasibility and short-term efficacy of suturing the annulus after discectomy for lumbar disc herniation.
Methods:229 cases operated with mono-segment discectomy were analyzed from June 2021 to December 2021,among them,133 cases operated with fenestration discectomy combined suturing the annulus and 96 cases operated with fenestration discectomy.The length of surgical incision,the operating time,blood loss,the average temperature for three days after surgery,duration of hospitalization after operation,preoperative and postoperative JOA score,visual analogue scale, MRI and DTI images were compared.
Results:
No significant difference was found between the two groups in the length of surgical incision,the operating time,blood loss,the average temperature for three days after surgery,duration ofhospitalization after operation.But significant differences could be observed in postoperative JOA score,VAS score,the same with preoperative and postoperative score in the same group,get a good rate of improvement surgery.Postoperative DTI images of sutured group is better than the control group.
Conclusion:
The symptoms of the lumbardisc herniation can be reliefed effectively by both methods,no significant difference could be found between them in the operating time,blood loss,etc.But after suturing,the ruptured annulus can instantly get the mechanical integrity,so that the nucleus is not easy to prolapse through the damaged annulus,and can reduce the rate of recurrent lumbar disc herniation. Furthermore,the function and stability of the spine in sutured patients can be reserved,owing to the more healthy nucleus pulposus has been kept.But the long-term efficacy of suturing the annulus still needs further follow-up.
Non-canonical functions of UHRF1 maintain DNA methylation homeostasis in cancer cells
Authors: Defossez Pierre Antoine , Yamaguchi Kosuke , Chen Xiaoying , Rodgers Brianna , Miura Fumihito , Bashtrykov Pavel , Ferry Laure , Kirsh Olivier , Laisné Marthe , Bonhomme Frédéric , Scelfo Andrea , Salinas-Luypaert Catalina , Ugur Enes , Arimondo Paola , Leonhardt Heinrich , Kanemaki Masato , Fachinetti Daniele , Jeltsch Albert , Ito Takashi
Published: July 2023

DNA methylation is an essential epigenetic chromatin modification, and its maintenance in mammals requires the protein UHRF1. It is yet unclear if UHRF1 functions solely by stimulating DNA methylation maintenance by DNMT1, or if it has important additional functions. Using degron alleles, we show that UHRF1 depletion causes a much greater loss of DNA methylation than DNMT1 depletion. This is not caused by passive demethylation as UHRF1-depleted cells proliferate more slowly than DNMT1-depleted cells. Instead, bioinformatics, proteomics and genetics experiments establish that UHRF1, besides activating DNMT1, interacts with DNMT3A and DNMT3B and promotes their activity. In addition, we show that UHRF1 antagonizes active DNA demethylation by TET2. Therefore, UHRF1 has non-canonical roles that contribute importantly to DNA methylation homeostasis; these findings have practical implications for epigenetics in health and disease.
The Use Of A Novel Polythiophene Derivative Conductive Polymer As Platinum Catalyst Support Material For Methanol Electrooxidation.
Authors: adhami sadaf , Hür Deniz , Kılıç Gökhan , Hür Evrim
Published: July 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Pyrazoline-based fluorescent probe: Synthesis, Characterization, Theoretical Simulation, and Detection of picric acid
Authors: Sharma Promila , Yusuf Mohamad , Malik Ashok Kumar
Published: July 2023

2-Pyrazoline containing benzothiazole ring 2-[1-(1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-3-yl]phenol (BP) have been synthesized for the effective identification of picric acid over other competing nitro compounds using fluorescence technique. The as-prepared pyrazoline BP showed quenching efficiency as high as 82% comparative to other nitro aromatics and the limit of detection was found to be 1.1 μM. The possible mechanism with the quenched AP detection efficiency was based on fluorescence energy transfer and photoinduced electron transfer. Moreover, the observed results were supported by the optimized structures of the compounds using the DFT/B3LYP/6-311G/LanL2DZ method. Eventually, the pyrazoline derivative BP was further utilized for real water samples, showing recoveries in the 87-101.06% and RSD was less than 3%.
Determining the Localization of Intraparotid Lymph Nodes Using High-Resolution Ultrasound in Patients Without Systemic Disorders
Authors: BALKAN Elif POLAT , İNCEBEYAZ Burak , DENİZ Hatice Ahsen , DELANTONİ Antigoni , ORHAN Kaan
Published: July 2023

Purpose
The parotid gland is the largest of the head and neck's three major salivary glands. The location of existing pathologic lymph nodes in the gland and lymph node staging are crucial for the development of treatment options and the determination of treatment efficacy. The purpose of this study was to determine the location and number of intraparotid lymph nodes and to add to the existing body of knowledge. The second objective of our research is to compare the location of intraparotid lymph odes in the Turkish and Greek populations.
Methods
In this study, ultrasound images from US equipment at the Ankara University Faculty of Dentistry and the Thessaloniki University Faculty of Dentistry were retrospectively scanned. The study utilized images in which the probe is held longitudinally and the parotid is viewed.
Results
The locations with the most lymph nodes were 1A (21.5%) and 2A (21.5%), whereas 2A-B (4.2%) had the fewest lymph nodes. Men had a statistically significant higher incidence of lymph nodes than women. In addition, this study revealed a statistically significant correlation between age and lymph node location. This study employed two distinct populations, and the locations of the majority of lymph nodes demonstrated statistically significant differences.
Conclusion
Determining the location and number of lymph nodes in the parotid gland is essential for surgical intervention and early detection of a variety of pathologies.
Phenol as Proton Shuttle and Buffer for Lithium-mediated Ammonia Electrosynthesis
Authors: Chorkendorff Ib , Fu Xianbiao , Xu Aoni , Pedersen Jakob B. , Li Shaofeng , Sažinas Rokas , Zhou Yuanyuan , Andersen Suzanne (Zamany) , Saccoccio Saccoccio , Deissler Niklas H. , Mygind Jon , Kibsgaard Jakob , Vesborg Peter , Nørskov Jens
Published: July 2023

Ammonia is a crucial component in the production of fertilizers and various nitrogen-based compounds. Now, the lithium-mediated nitrogen reduction reaction (Li-NRR) has emerged as a promising approach for ammonia synthesis at ambient conditions. The proton shuttle plays a critical role in the proton transfer process during Li-NRR. However, the structure-activity relationship and design principles for effective proton shuttles have not yet been established in practical Li-NRR systems. Here, we propose a general procedure for verifying a true proton shuttle and established design principles for effective proton shuttles. We systematically evaluate several classes of proton shuttles in a continuous-flow reactor with hydrogen oxidation at the anode. Among the tested proton shuttles, phenol exhibits the highest Faradaic efficiency of 72 ± 3% towards ammonia, surpassing that of ethanol, which has been commonly used so far. Experimental investigations including operando isotope-labelled mass spectrometry proved the proton-shuttling capability of phenol. Further mass transport modeling sheds light on the mechanism.
Contradictions between a Quantum-Mechanical Model of the photon and the Detection Principle of FMCW Measurements
Authors: Malz André
Published: July 2023

This article presents a study that provides robust evidence supporting the continuity of the electromagnetic field, while highlighting contradictions between a quantum-mechanical model of the photon and the detection principle of Frequency-Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) measurements. The primary objective was to investigate the detection method of FMCW for extremely weak signals, reaching energy levels akin to photons. Through thorough examination, significant contradictions emerged, favoring classical field theory and challenging the notion of electromagnetic field quantization. To strengthen this claim, a carefully designed experiment was conducted to measure sub-photon energy levels. The comprehensive analysis of both theoretical insights and experimental data presents compelling evidence, demonstrating the untenability of a quantized model for the electromagnetic field. These findings have profound implications for understanding the continuity of the electromagnetic field, prompting further exploration in this field of research.
One cell-cycle early regulation of cell division axis by cortically localized factors mediates oriented cell division critical for embryo morphology
Authors: Terui Hiromu , Takatori Naohito
Published: July 2023

Cortically localized factors play major roles in regulating cell division orientation during oriented cell division. Posterior End Mark (PEM), a protein localized to the posterior vegetal structure called the centrosome-attracting body (CAB) and responsible for the anterior-posterior asymmetry of the 8-cell stage ascidian embryo, was thought to regulate the orientation of the cell division by attracting the centrosome toward the CAB at the 4-cell stage. However, this was not supported by analyses of the four-dimensional dynamics of the centrosome and the CAB. Here, we observed the positions of the centrosomes and the CAB by confocal microscopy and found that PEM attracts the centrosome to the CAB at the 2-cell stage, but not at the 4-cell stage. In the results, PEM regulated cell division orientations in anterior cells, which lack the CAB/PEM at the 4-cell stage, and the position of the CAB in the posterior cells. We propose a new model on how the 8-cell stage asymmetry is formed where the cell division orientation at the 4-cell stage results from the PEM-dependent shift of the division plane relative to the body axis at the 2-cell stage.
Passaging of gingival fibroblasts from periodontally healthy and diseased sites upregulates osteogenesis-related genes
Authors: Karlis Gerasimos D. , Schoenmaker Ton , Tsoromokos Nektarios , Veth Olaf E. , Loos Bruno G. , de Vries Teun J.
Published: July 2023

In order to investigate biological processes of the periodontium, in vitro primary cell models have been established. To study the biology of the gingiva, primary gingival fibroblast cell models are widely used. For such experiments, cells need to be expanded and passaged. A key assumption is that primary cells maintain most of their original characteristics they have in situ. The aim of this research is to explore the impact of early passaging on selected gene expression of human gingival fibroblast cells. For this purpose, gene expression from outgrowth of the resected tissues until the fourth passage was followed for 9 tissue samples, from both healthy and diseased sites. Micrographs were taken from the cultures, RNA was extracted from the samples of each passage and quantitative PCR was performed for selected genes representing various biological processes. Epithelial cells were present during the first outgrowth, but were no longer present in the second passage. Our results indicate that the morphology of the gingival fibroblast cells does not change with passaging and that passages 2 to 4 contain only gingival fibroblasts. Gene expression of IL-1β, M-CSF, TNF-α, TLR4, POSTN, and FAPα was unchanged by passaging, expression of IL-6 and TLR2 decreased due to passaging and expression of in particular the selected osteogenesis genes (ALP, RUNX2, Osteonectin, COL1A), OPG and MKI67 increased with passaging. Our results emphasize the importance of using the same passage in experiments that use primary gingival fibroblasts from various donors.
Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 is Essential for Low-Normobaric Oxygen Treatment Afforded Blood-Brain Barrier Protection Following Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Ma Xiao Xiao , xie haiyi , Hou PinPin , Wang Xiaojing , Zhou Wei , Wang Zhenhong
Published: July 2023

Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion(I/R) injury increases blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, leading to hemorrhagic transformation and brain edema. Normobaric hyperoxia (NBO) is a routine clinical treatment strategy for this condition. However, its neuroprotective effects remain controversial. This study investigates the effect of different NBO concentrations on I/R injury and explores the involvement of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway in the underlying mechanism. A mouse middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model, and an oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) model of mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells (bEnd.3), were used to investigate the effect of NBO on I/R injury. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) inducer and Nrf2 siRNA were used to explore the mechanisms of Nrf2 pathway in the effect of NBO on cerebrovascular endothelial cells. In the early stage of MCAO, 40% O2 NBO exposure significantly improved blood perfusion in the ischemic area and effectively relieved BBB permeability, cerebral edema, cerebral injury, and neurological function after MCAO. In the OGD model of endothelial cells, 40% O2 NBO exposure significantly reduced cell apoptosis, inhibited ROS burst, reduced ER stress, upregulated the expression of tight junction proteins, and stabilized the permeability of endothelial cells. Blocking the Nrf2 pathway nullified the protective effect of 40% O2 NBO on endothelial cells after OGDNrf2. Finally, our study confirmed the low concentrations of NBO have a neuroprotective effect on I/R by activating the Nrf2 pathway in endothelial cells.
New insights into the role of Cutibacterium acnes-derived extracellular vesicles in inflammatory skin disorders
Authors: Cross Maria Pol , Mir-Pedrol Júlia , Toloza Lorena , Knödlseder Nastassia , Güell Marc , Maroutti Julien , Zouboulis Christos C. , Fábrega María-José
Published: July 2023

Background: Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) is one of the most prevalent bacteria that forms the human skin microbiota. Specific phylotypes of C. acnes have been linked to acne vulgaris development, while others have been found in individuals with healthy skin. In this scenario, bacterial extracellular vesicles (EVs) play an interkingdom communication role with the host. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of EVs generated by various phylotypes of C. acnes on inflammation and sebum production using different in vitro skin models.
Results: The main findings of this study reveal that the proteomic profile of the cargo embodied in the EVs reflects distinct characteristics of the different C. acnes phylotypes in terms of lifestyle, survival, and virulence. The in vitro skin models showed an extended pro-inflammatory modulation of A1 EVs consistently triggering the activation of the inflammation-related factors IL-8, IL-6, TNFαand GM-CSF, in comparison to H1 and H2. Additionally, an acne-prone skin model utilizing PCi-SEB and arachidonic acid (AA) as a sebum inductor, was employed to investigate the impact of C. acnes EVs on sebum regulation. The results indicated that all three types of EVs significantly inhibited sebum production after a 24-hour treatment period, with H1 EVs exhibiting the most pronounced inhibitory effect when compared to the positive control.
Conclusions: The results of this study highlight the protective nature of C. acnes H1 EVs and their potential as a natural treatment option for alleviating symptoms associated with inflammation and oily skin.