bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An update about neck rejuvenation and complications
Authors: Viterbo Fausto , Secanho Murilo Sgarbi
Published: December 2021

The submental-cervical angle is an important anatomical landmark in neck beauty. Considered attractive and a sign of youthful when between 105° and 120°, greater values are considered a “heavy” neck or double chin and are related to the aging process and/or weight gain. The submandibular gland can also contribute to the alteration of the submental-cervical angle, increasing the area’s bulging. Neck-lifting techniques have the potential to produce important changes in the lateral view of the face, making it look more youthful, and that is more noticeable in the frontal aspect. This review focuses on the treatment of the neck, including all modifications that occur during the aging process, and postoperative procedures used to decrease the risk of complications.
A CRÍTICA DE BOAVENTURA DE SOUSA SANTOS À EPISTEMOLOGIA POSITIVISTA
Authors: Cesar José Renato De Castro
Published: December 2021

Trata-se de uma análise critica da obra de Boaventura de Sousa Santos, contextualizando a sua crítica ao positivismo das ciências do ponto de vista da Teologia Católica.
The Combined Effects of Television Viewing and Physical Activity on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: The Kardiovize Study
Authors: Maranhao Neto Geraldo A. , Pavlovka Iuliia , Polcrova Anna , Mechanick Jeffrey I. , Infante-Garcia Maria M. , Medina-Inojosa Jose , Nieto-Martinez Ramfis , Gonzalez-Rivas Juan P. , Lopez-Jimenez Francisco
Published: December 2021

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between television viewing/physical activity (TVV/PA) interactions and cardiometabolic risk in an adult European population. A total of 2,155 subjects (25-64 years) (45.2% males), a random population-based sample were evaluated in Brno, Czechia. TVV was classified as low (<2hours/day), moderate (2-4), and high (≥4). PA was classified as insufficient, moderate, and high. To assess the independent association of TVV/PA categories with cardiometabolic variables, multiple linear regression was used. After adjustments, significant associations were: high TVV/insufficient PA with body mass index (BMI) (β=2.61,SE=0.63), waist circumference (WC) (β=7.52,SE=1.58), body fat percent (%BF) (β=6.24,SE=1.02), glucose (β=0.25,SE=0.12), triglycerides (β=0.18,SE=0.05), and HDL-C (β=-0.10,SE=0.04); high TVV/moderate PA with BMI (β=1.98,SE=0.45), WC (β=5.43,SE=1.12), %BF (β =5.15,SE=0.72), triglycerides (β =0.08,SE=0.04), total cholesterol (β=0.21,SE=0.10), LDL-c (β=0.19,SE=0.08), and HDL-c (β=-0.07,SE=0.03); and moderate TVV/insufficient PA with WC (β=2.68,SE=1.25), %BF (β=3.80,SE=0.81), LDL-c (β=0.18,SE=0.09), and HDL-c (β=-0.07,SE=0.03). Independent of PA levels, higher TVV was associated with higher amounts of adipose tissue. Higher blood glucose and triglycerides were present in subjects with high TVV and insufficient PA, but not in those with high PA alone. These results affirm the independent cardiometabolic risk of sedentary routines even in subjects with high-levels of PA.
THE ROLE OF A TWO-STAGE QUESTIONNAIRE IN THE URBAN DESIGN PROCESS
Authors:   Politechnika Bydgoska im. Jana i Jędrzeja Śniadeckich Wydział Budownictwa, Architektury i Inżynierii Środowiska Katedra Architektury i Urbanistyki, Rosiak Łukasz
Published: December 2021

The aim of the article is to present how urban planners use the potential of a questionnaire. The intention of the designers is to incorporate this study into two different phases of urban design. The first will be a questionnaire relating to the diagnosis of the condition. The second test will be performed at a later stage of works, during the assessment of spatial solutions. This questionnaire will be an assessment of spatial solutions. In the article, the author in this work, will try to explain the important this research technique is in the decision-making process of urban design. For this purpose, he will use the example of developing a local revitalization plan for the so-called "Old Town" of the city of Wołomin.
REVIEW AND REASSESSMENT THE RADIUS OF PEDESTRIAN ACCESSIBILITY TO CATERING ESTABLISHMENTS
Authors:   The National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture, Kyiv, Ukraine Department of Theory, History of Architecture and Synthesis of Arts, Troshkin Arsenii
Published: December 2021

This article deals with the issues regarding the accommodation of catering establishments in a residential area and to ensure pedestrian accessibility to them to save time and reduce the load on the city's transport system. It is based on a three-stage service system and the average walking speed of the economically active population. To solve the unsatisfactory location of catering establishments in a residential area, a formula for calculating the service radius for each type of catering establishment, and classify catering establishments into fast, leisure, and mixed types are proposed. To conclude, with the implementation of the attached calculations in urban planning, the location of types of catering establishments in the residential area could solve the set goals.
NEW TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS IN UPGRADING HISTORIC BUILDING TO STANDARD OF NEARLY ZERO-ENERGY BUILDING. EXAMPLE OF TENEMENT HOUSE IN POZNAŃ
Authors:   Poznań University of Technology, Poland Faculty of Architecture, Rosolski Sławomir
Published: December 2021

This article aims at discussing the issue of relation between an existing historic building and modern technology, which may lead to upgrading the historic building to parameters of a nearly zeroenergy building. It focuses on the possibility to adjust the facility to contemporary forms of using without considerable prejudice to its historic substance and identity, on contrary, with due respect for the old tissue in the context of NZEB parametrisation. The adjustment refers to innovative solutions allowing upgrade of the building by using the most effective technologies based on renewable energy, improved power efficiency of the structure, technical equipment, exterior and interior cladding and meeting requirements connected with minimum global cost in the life cycle assessment of the building.
Photoelectrochemical and Photo-Fenton Mechanism of Enhanced Visible Light-Driven Nanocatalyst Synthesis of ZnFe2O4/BiOI
Authors: li chao , Wei Zhiqiang , Lu Qiang , Ma Huan Jin , Li Ling
Published: December 2021

Based on the fact that the photo-Fenton process can directly use solar energy to degrade various pollutants, it has received widespread attention. However, it has attracted widespread attention due to the rapid recombination of photo-generated carriers and the low light response range. Therefore, the construction of a Z-scheme heterojunction in this paper can effectively enhance the electron-hole separation, increase the reduction and oxidation potential, and enhance the redox capability of the photocatalyst. This paper reports the successful preparation of visible-light-induced ZnFe2O4/BiOI composite photocatalyst. There is a Z-scheme heterojunction structure of ZnFe2O4 and BiOI. At the same time, the PL and UV absorption spectra showed that the light absorption performance of the composite nanomaterials was enhanced, the photo-generated carriers recombination rate was reduced, and the photo-Fenton performance was also significantly improved. And the photocurrent of ZnFe2O4/BiOI is more than 29 times that of pure ZnFe2O4. In addition, ZnFe2O4/BiOI can degrade the simulated pollutant RhB 100% within 20 min under simulated sunlight. It shows that ZnFe2O4/BiOI binary composite has excellent photo-Fenton properties. In addition, ZnFe2O4/BiOI still maintains a high photo-Fenton ability after three cycles. Therefore, it has potential application prospects of the industrial photodegradation of organic pollutants.
Isolation, Molecular Identification of Mycoplasma Putrefaciens Local Strains and Its Associated Pathological Lesions in Goats
Authors: Saeed Muhammad , Anwar Farhan , Khan Farhan Anwar , Rehman Faiz Ur , Khan Hayatullah , Ahmed Faisal , Ali Mehboob , Ahmed Mushtaq , Ullah Qudrat , Khan Aamir
Published: December 2021

Mycoplasma putrifaciens (Mp) is a dreadful pathogen that causes a severe, usually fatal disease in domestic goats known as MAKePS syndrome in small ruminants. The present lack of effective diagnostic and control measures leaves Pakistani farmers at perpetual great risk of financially disastrous MAKePS outbreaks. Thus far, very limited information is available on the detection and molecular characterization of the unique Mp strains prevalent in Pakistan. This study was proposed to apply modern molecular techniques to characterize endemic Mp isolates and their associated specific lesions in goats to devise an effective control strategies. For the collection of samples Northern areas of Pakistan were focused including Chitral, Gilgit and Swat. Samples were collected from Mycoplasma putrifaciens suspected animals (Chitral n=200, Gilgit n=200, Swat n=200). Clinical samples including nasal swab (NS) and synovial fluid (SF) from live animals (n=50), whereas pleural fluid (PF) and lungs samples from dead goats (n=50) were collected from each representative northern area of Pakistan. All samples were subjected to isolation of Mp local strain, while tissue samples were examined for pathological lesions. Culture positive PPLO broth was first confirmed for Mp by specific PCR. From Gilgit Baltistan 38.83% samples were found positive for Mp by PCR, whereas 25% and 19.38% samples from Chitral and Swat, respectively, were detected positive for Mp by generating an amplicon of 540 bp. The PCR positive PPLO broth samples were cultured on PPLO agar for isolation of Mp. A single colony with fried egg like appearance was picked and sub-cultured in PPLO broth for purification and later on confirmed with PCR. The Histopathological study of lungs showed that there was emphysema, rupture of alveoli, in bronchioles ciliated epithelium were sloughed and infiltration of leukocytes. We successfully isolated and purified Mp local strain prevalent in northern area of Pakistan. The Mp was detected prevalent in 27.76% goats of Northern regions by PCR. This study laid down a foundation to develop an effective diagnostic kit and vaccine against Mp infection in Goats.
Identification of Tumor Specific Neoantigens and Their Implications in Dendritic Cell Immunotherapy Using Liquid Biopsy Results: Findings from an Observational Cohort Study
Authors: Myint Khin Zay Yar , Shimabuku Masamori , Horio Ruriko , Kaneda Munehisa , Shimizu Yoko , Taguchi Junichi
Published: December 2021

Liquid biopsies can be a rapid, cost-effective and noninvasive alternative to tumor biopsies for detecting genetic mutations in somatic tumors. Genetic profiling of liquid biopsies can also be used to identify novel antigens for targeted therapy, provide updated information on disease prognosis and evaluate treatment efficacy. In this study, we aimed to examine mutations that could be identified in liquid biopsy and their potential implications for personalized dendritic cell immunotherapy using these antigens. We analyzed the genomic profiles of 99 blood samples from 85 patients with 22 different types of cancer using two commercially available liquid biopsy tests before the patients underwent standard cancer treatment and dendritic cell immunotherapy. Nonsynonymous mutations were detected in more than 90% of the samples, with an average frequency of 3.6 mutations per sample. The tumor mutations were specific to each patient, as approximately 94.7% of the mutations were so unique that there was almost no duplication among the patients. Clonal evolution was observed in two patients just before or after chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy. These findings indicate that liquid biopsy can be a potential surrogate for tumor-specific antigen-based immunotherapy and the importance of tailoring immunotherapy in accordance with the liquid biopsy result in each treatment stage.
Imidacloprid - Induced Pathophysiological Damage in the Midgut of Locusta Migratoria (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in the Field
Authors: El-Samad Lamia M. , El-Gerbed Mohamed S. , Hussein Hanaa S. , Flaven-Pouchon Justin , Wakil Abeer El , Moussian Bernard
Published: December 2021

Neonicotinoids are modern insecticides widely used in agriculture worldwide. Their impact on target (nervous system) and non-target (midgut) tissues has been well studied in beneficial insects including honeybees. However, their effects on pest insects on the field are comparably rarely described. Here, we have studied the effects of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid on the midgut of the pest insect Locusta migratoria caught in the field. We found that in the midgut of imidacloprid-exposed locusts the activity of enzymes involved in reactive oxygen metabolism was perturbed. By contrast, the activity of P450 enzymes that have been shown to be activated in a detoxification response and that were also reported to produce reactive oxygen species was elevated. Probably as a consequence, markers of oxidative stress including protein carbonylation and lipid peroxidation accumulated in midgut samples of these locusts. Histological analyses revealed that their midgut epithelium is disorganized and that the brush border of the epithelial cells is markedly reduced. Indeed, microvilli are significantly shorter, misshapen and possibly non-functional in imidacloprid-treated locusts. We hypothesize that imidacloprid induces oxidative stress in the locust midgut, thereby changing the shape of midgut epithelial cells and probably in turn compromising their physiological function. Presumably, these effects reduce the survival rate of imidacloprid-treated locusts and the damage they cause in the field.
Shen-su-yin, a Traditional Herbal Medicine, Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-induced Acute Lung Injury in Rats Through Its Anti-inflammatory and Anti-oxidative Effects
Authors: Xiao Peng , Ke Jun , Zhang Jiuyun , Zhou Haijun , Zheng Wuhong
Published: December 2021

Most components of Shen-su-yin (SSY), an herbal formula, have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. The present study was designed to investigate potential effects and mechanisms of SSY on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in rats. 48 rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control (Ctrl) group, LPS-induced ALI group, low- (SSY-LD) and high- (SSY-HD) dose SSY-treated ALI group. SSY was administered to SSY-treated rats immediately after LPS induction. After 24 hours, blood gas analysis and lactate determination were performed; and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was collected for detecting protein concentration and levels of cytokines. Lung tissues were obtained for Western blot analysis, histopathological analysis, wet-to-dry weight ratio calculation and measurement of oxidative stress levels. SSY improved oxygenation index and mean arterial pressure, decreased levels of lactate and heart rate, alleviated lung histopathology indexes including lung injury score, wet-to-dry weight ratio and exudation of protein as well as inflammatory cells in ALI rats. Furthermore, SSY reduced levels of pro-inflammatory and oxidative mediums, while increasing levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine and anti-oxidative activity in lung tissues. SSY also suppressed NF-κB signalling pathway and further activated Keap1-Nrf2-ARE signalling pathway activated by LPS. Moreover, all the effects caused by SSY in the SSY-HD group were more encouraging than those in the SSY-LD group. The results indicate that the preventive use of SSY can alleviate ALI through the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects mediated by inhibition of NF-κB signalling pathway and activation of Keap1-Nrf2-ARE signalling pathway, and the effect of high dose is better.
Intergenerational Transmission of Parental Risky Health Behaviors in Chinese Children: Are There Socioeconomic Differences?
Authors: Yu Zexuan , Li Jiajia
Published: December 2021

Background: Risky health behaviors in childhood, including smoking, drinking alcohol, and poor diet, are major sources of non-communicable diseases in adulthood. This study was intended to examine how parents affect children’s risky health behaviors, and whether intergenerational transmission differed by Socioeconomic Status (SES). Methods: Data were extracted from the 1991-2015 China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS). Smoking (n=5946), alcohol drinking (n=7821), and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) drinking (n=3537) were singled out as proxies for risky health behaviors in children. A binary choice model for panel data with random effect specification was employed to examine whether the risky health behaviors can be transmitted from parents to their children. Subsequently, we conducted a seemingly unrelated test to explore the difference in parental transmission between SES groups. Results: We found strong intergenerational persistence of smoking, alcohol drinking, and SSBs drinking behaviors, except mothers’ smoking behavior. Mothers had a greater influence on children’s alcohol drinking and SSBs drinking behaviors than fathers, both in urban and rural areas, and in different SES groups. The intergenerational transmission of SSBs drinking behaviors exhibited a downward SES gradient for both urban and rural families. In urban areas, mothers’ drinking behavior has a downward gradient with their education level, occupation, and income, but in rural areas, the influence of mothers' drinking behavior is in the same direction with the upward gradient of education level and occupation type. In rural areas, the influence of fathers’ drinking and smoking behaviors appears to show a mainly positive gradient with SES, while some become a downward gradient among urban fathers. Conclusions: Parents’ behaviors and socioeconomic status could make sense in the initiation of their offspring’s risky health behaviors. To promote healthy behaviors, policymakers can introduce health education programs for parents, especially for rural areas and low SES parents.
Transarterial Chemoembolization Combined with Lenvatinib plus PD-1 Inhibitor for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Cai Mingyue , Huang Wensou , Huang Jingjun , Shi Wenbo , Guo Yongjian , Liang Licong , Zhou Jingwen , Lin Liteng , Cao Bihui , Chen Ye , Zhou Juan , Zhu Kangshun
Published: December 2021

Purpose To investigate the efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with lenvatinib plus PD-1 inhibitor (TACE-L-P) versus TACE combined with lenvatinib (TACE-L) for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods Data of advanced HCC patients treated with TACE-L-P or TACE-L from January 2019 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The differences in overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), tumor responses (based on modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors) and adverse events (AEs) were compared between the two groups. Potential factors affecting OS and PFS were determined.Results A total of 81 patients were included in this study (41 received TACE-L-P and 40 received TACE-L). The patients in TACE-L-P group had prolonged OS (median, 16.9 vs. 12.1 months, p=0.009), longer PFS (median, 7.3 vs. 4.0 months, p=0.002) and higher objective response rate (56.1% vs. 32.5%, p=0.033) and disease control rate (85.4% vs. 62.5%, p=0.019) than those in TACE-L group. Multivariate analyses revealed that the treatment option of TACE-L, main portal vein invasion and extrahepatic metastasis were the independent risk factors for OS, while TACE-L and extrahepatic metastasis were the independent risk factors for PFS. In subgroup analyses, a superior survival benefit was achieved with TACE-L-P in patients with extrahepatic metastasis or tumor number >3 but not in those with main portal vein invasion. The incidence and severity of AEs in TACE-L-P group were comparable to those in TACE-L group (any grade, 92.7% vs. 95.0%, p=1.000; grade 3, 36.6% vs. 32.5%, p=0.699).Conclusion TACE-L-P significantly improved survival over TACE-L with an acceptable safety profile in advanced HCC patients, especially those with extrahepatic metastasis or tumor number >3 but without main portal vein invasion.
Dissecting the Microbial Community Structure of Internal Organs During the Early Postmortem Period in a Murine Corpse Model
Authors: Liu Ruina , Zhang Kai , Li Huan , Sun Qinru , Wei Xin , Li Huiyu , Zhang Siruo , Fan Shuanliang , Wang Zhenyuan
Published: December 2021

Background
Microorganisms inhabit and proliferate throughout the body both externally and internally, which are the primary mediators of putrefaction after death. However, limited information is available about the changes in the postmortem microbiota of extraintestinal body sites in the early decomposition stage of mammalian corpses.
Results
This study applied 16S rRNA barcoding to investigate microbial composition variations among different organs and the relationship between microbial communities and time since death over 1 day of decomposition. During 1 day of decomposition, Agrobacterium, Prevotella, Bacillus, and Turicibacter were regarded as time-relevant genera in internal organs at different timepoints. Pathways associated with lipid, amino acid, carbohydrate and terpenoid and polyketide metabolism were significantly enriched at 8 hours than that at 0.5 or 4 hours. The microbiome compositions and postmortem metabolic pathways differed by time since death, and more importantly, these alterations were organ specific.
Conclusion
The dominant microbes differed by organ, while they tended toward similarity as decomposition progressed. The observed thanatomicrobiome variation by body site provides new knowledge into decomposition ecology and forensic microbiology. Additionally, the microbes detected at 0.5 hours in internal organs may inform a new direction for organ transplantation.
Distribution of Cracks in an Anchored Cavern Under Blast Load Based on Cohesive Elements
Authors: Luo Yi , Pei Chenhao , Qu Dengxing , Li Xinping , Ma Ruiqiu , Gong Hangli
Published: December 2021

To explore the distribution of cracks in anchored caverns under the blast load, cohesive elements with zero thickness were employed to simulate crack propagation through numerical analysis based on a similar model test. Furthermore, the crack propagation process in anchored caverns under top explosion was analysed and the distribution and mode of propagation of cracks in anchored caverns when a fracture with different dip angles was present in the vault were discussed. With the propagation of the explosive stress waves, cracks successively occur at the boundary of the anchored zone of the vault, arch foot, and floor of the anchored caverns. Tensile cracks are preliminarily found in rocks surrounding the caverns. In the case that a pre-fabricated fracture is present in the upper part of the vault, the number of cracks at the boundary of the anchored zone of the vault decreases, then increases with increasing dip angle of the pre-fabricated fracture. The fewest cracks at the boundary of the anchored zone occur if the dip angle of the pre-fabricated fracture is 45º. The wing cracks deflected to the vault are formed at the tip of the pre-fabricated fracture, around which tensile and shear cracks are synchronously present. Under top explosion, both the peak displacement and peak particle velocity in surrounding rocks of anchored caverns reach their maximum values at the vault, successively followed by the side wall and the floor. In addition, they show asymmetry with the difference of the dip angle of the pre-fabricated fracture; the vault displacement of anchored caverns is mainly attributed to the formation of tensile cracks at the boundary of the anchored zone generated due to tensile waves reflected from the free face of the vault. When a fracture is present in the vault, the peak displacement of the vault decreases while the residual displacement increases.
Identification and Validation of N6-methyladenosine-related Biomarkers for Bladder Cancer: Implications for Immunotherapy
Authors: Deng Hongyu , Tang Faqing , Zhou Ming , Shan Dongyong , Chen Xingyu , Cao Ke
Published: December 2021

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) has emerged as one of the most important modifications of RNA. Based on the expression of 23 kinds of m6A regulatory factors, we identified three different m6A modification patterns in bladder cancer. The effects of the three kinds of m6A modification modes on clinicopathological characteristics, immune cell infiltration level, and gene expression level of immune checkpoint genes were comprehensively analyzed. In addition, the effects of different m6A modification modes on the therapeutic efficacy of anti-PD-L1 (atezolizumab) are also discussed. Our results confirm that m6A methylation plays an important role in the immune cell recruitment process in the tumor microenvironment of bladder cancer, which is influences the efficacy of anti-PD-L1 therapy for bladder cancer. We further confirmed the important role of FTO on the biological function of bladder cancer cells by in vitro experiments, FTO functions as an oncogene in bladder cancer cells, and after FTO knockdown, the level of m6A enzyme activity in bladder cancer cells was significantly increased, apoptosis was increased, and cell proliferation and cell invasion were reduced. In addition, our study also confirmed that K216H and K216E probably are important targets for regulating FTO in the future. We provide new insights into the regulatory pathways of the immune microenvironment and the methylation function of m6A in bladder cancer, which will help to design novel diagnostic methods, prognostic tools, and therapeutic targets.
Computing MicroRNA-Gene Interaction Networks in Pan-cancer Using MiRDriver
Authors: Bose Banabithi , Moravec Matthew , Bozdag Serdar
Published: December 2021

DNA copy number aberrated regions in cancer are known to harbor cancer driver genes and the short non-coding RNA molecules, i.e., microRNAs. In this study, we integrated the multi-omics datasets such as copy number aberration, DNA methylation, gene and microRNA expression to identify the signature microRNA-gene associations from frequently aberrated DNA regions across pan-cancer utilizing a LASSO-based regression approach. We studied 7,294 patient samples associated with eighteen different cancer types from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and identified several cancer-specific microRNA-gene interactions enriched in experimentally validated microRNA-target databases. We highlighted several oncogenic and tumor suppressor microRNAs and genes that were common in several cancer types. Our method substantially outperformed the five state-of-art methods in selecting significantly known microRNA-gene interactions in multiple cancer types. Several microRNAs and genes were found to be associated with tumor survival and progression. Selected target genes were found to be significantly enriched in cancer-related pathways, cancer Hallmark and Gene Ontology (GO) terms. Furthermore, subtype-specific potential gene signatures were discovered in multiple cancer types.
Isolation, Culture and Bioactive Substances Elicitation of Sanghuangporus Baumii
Authors: Wang Shixin , Liu Zengcai , Wang Xutong , Li Yawei , Liu Ruipeng , Zou Li
Published: December 2021

Sanghuangporus baumii is a forest pathogenic fungus and also a medicine mushroom. In the wild, S. baumii parasitize on living host plants and there have been no reports of cultivating fruiting bodies under artificial conditions. In this study, we identified and isolated a S. baumii strain, and successfully cultivated the fruiting bodies on sawdust medium by optimizing culture conditions. The optimum medium, culture temperature and pH for mycelial growth of S. baumii were WBA and YPA, at pH 5.5–7.5 and 28℃, respectively. The contents of total flavonoids, total polysaccharides and total triterpenoids in S. baumii were compared with those in other two medicinal sanghuang, S. vaninii and S. sanghuang. The results showed that both the fruiting bodies and mycelia of S. baumii were rich in bioactive substances. The content of total flavonoids was higher in the fruiting bodies (34.91 mg/g), while the contents of total polysaccharides and total triterpenoids were higher in the mycelia (45.41 mg/g, 14.06 mg/g, respectively). In addition, the mycelia of S. baumii could be elicited to produce more bioactive substances. The use of sealing film in culture increased the polysaccharides content in mycelia by 51.8%, while the light increased the flavonoids content by 151.0%. The cultivation of fruiting bodies and the elicitation of bioactive substances from mycelia provide biological materials for the study and utilization of S. baumii.
Magnaporthe Oryzae Chloroplast-Targeting Endo-β-1,4-Xylanase I MoXYL1A Regulates Conidiation, Appressorium Maturation and Virulence of the Rice Blast Fungus
Authors: Shabbir Ammarah , Batool Wajjiha , Dan Yu , Lin Lili , Anquoli An , Chen Xiaomin , Hengyuan Guo , Shuangshuang Yuan , Sekete Malota , Zonghua Wang , Norvienyeku Justice
Published: December 2021

Endo-β-1,4-Xylanases are a group of extracellular enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of xylan, a principal constituent of the plant primary cell wall. The contribution of Endo-β-1,4-Xylanase I to both physiology and pathogenesis of the rice blast fungus M. oryzae is unknown. Here, we characterized the biological function of two endoxylanase I (MoXYL1A and MoXYL1B) genes in the development of M. oryzae using targeted gene deletion, biochemical analysis, and fluorescence microscopy. Phenotypic analysis of ∆Moxyl1A strains showed that MoXYL1A is required for the full virulence of M. oryzae but is dispensable for the vegetative growth of the rice blast fungus. MoXYL1B, in contrast, did not have a clear role in the infectious cycle but has a critical function in asexual reproduction of the fungus. The double deletion mutant was severely impaired in pathogenicity and virulence as well as asexual development. We found that MoXYL1A deletion compromised appressorium morphogenesis and function, leading to failure to penetrate host cells. Fluorescently tagged MoXYL1A and MoXYL1B displayed cytoplasmic localization in M. oryzae, while analysis of MoXYL1A-GFP and MoXYL1B-GFP in-planta revealed translocation and accumulation of these effector proteins into host cells. Meanwhile, sequence feature analysis showed that MoXYL1A possesses a transient chloroplast targeting signal peptide, and results from an Agrobacterium infiltration assay confirmed co-localization of MoXYL1A-GFP with ChCPN10C-RFP in the chloroplasts of host cells. MoXYL1B, accumulated to the cytoplasm of the host. Taken together, we conclude that MoXYL1A is a secreted effector protein that likely promotes the virulence of M. oryzae by interfering in the proper functioning of the host chloroplast, while the related xylanase MoXYL1B does not have a major role in virulence of M. oryzae.
Dairy Intake in Association with Asthma Symptoms Among a Large Sample of Children and Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Jamalvandi Mona , Sasanfar Bahareh , Nafei Zahra , Behniafard Nasrin , Jafari Marjan , Salehi-Abargouei Amin
Published: December 2021

Dairy products may be linked to an increased risk of asthma, although there is little scientific evidence to back this up. The goal of this study was to look at the link between dairy consumption and asthma symptoms. This cross-sectional study was conducted on children and adolescents aged 6-8 and 13-14 living in central Iran. Dietary food consumption was assessed using a multiple-choice questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios for the association between milk, other dairy products, and total dairy consumption with asthma symptoms. In total, 7667 participants (3414 boys and 4253 girls) were included in the current study. Milk intake and total dairy consumption were not associated with the likelihood of wheezing, asthma confirmed by a doctor, current asthma, and asthma medication use. However, the analysis revealed that those who eat other dairy products on most days or every day might have a reduced likelihood of wheezing compared to those who do not eat or rarely eat other dairy products (OR: 0.65, 95% CI 0.44-0.94, Pterend=0.18). After adjusting for age, sex (OR: 0.58, 95% CI 0.39-0.84, Pterend=0.03), and additionally adjusting for watching TV and computer use (OR=0.58, 0.40-0.85, Pterend=0.02), and BMI (OR: 0.58, 95% CI 0.40-0.85, Pterend=0.02), individuals in the highest category of other dairy consumption had significantly lower odds of wheezing compared with those with the lowest intakes. In conclusion, the consumption of dairy products other than milk, including cheese and yogurt, might reduce the likelihood of wheezing in children and adolescents.
Monitoring Drug-Target Interactions through Target Engagement-Mediated Amplification on Arrays and in situ
Authors: Al-Amin Rasel , Johansson Lars , Abdurakhmanov Eldar , Landegren Nils , Löf Liza , Arngården Linda , Blokzijl Andries , Svensson Richard , Hammond Maria , Lönn Peter , Haybaeck Johannes , Kamali-Moghaddam Masood , Jensen Annika , Danielson U Helena , Artursson Per , Lundbäck Thomas , Landegren Ulf
Published: December 2021

Drugs are designed to bind their target proteins in physiologically relevant tissues and organs to modulate biological functions and elicit desirable clinical outcomes. Information about target engagement at cellular and subcellular resolution is therefore critical for guiding compound optimization in drug discovery, and for probing resistance mechanisms to targeted therapies in clinical samples. We describe a target engagement-mediated amplification (TEMA) technology, where oligonucleotide-conjugated drugs are used to visualize and measure target engagement in situ, amplified via rolling-circle replication of circularized oligonucleotide probes. We illustrate the TEMA technique using dasatinib and gefitinib, two kinase inhibitors with distinct selectivity profiles. In vitro binding by dasatinib probe to arrays of displayed proteins accurately reproduced known selectivity profiles, while their differential binding to a panel of fixed adherent cells agreed with expectations from expression profiles of the cells. These findings were corroborated by competition experiments using kinase inhibitors with overlapping and non-overlapping target specificities, and translated to pathology tissue sections. We also introduce a proximity ligation variant of TEMA in which these drug-DNA conjugates are combined with antibody-DNA conjugates to selectively investigate binding to specific target proteins of interest. This form of the assay serves to improve resolution of binding to on- and off-target proteins. In conclusion, TEMA has the potential to aid in drug development and clinical routine by conferring valuable insights in drug-target interactions at spatial resolution in protein arrays, cells and tissues.
Decision Making for Anti-VEGF Inhibitor Continuation: Dip Stick? or Urine Protein/Creatinine Ratio? (VERSiON UP Study)
Authors: Nakamura Michio , Funakoshi Taro , Kataoka Shigeki , Horimatsu Takahiro , Nishikawa Yoshitaka , Matsubara Takeshi , Mizukami Takuro , Goto Tomoyuki , Tsuchihashi Kenji , Baba Eishi , Tsumura Takehiko , Mihara Yoshiaki , Hamaguchi Tetsuya , Yanagita Motoko , Muto Manabu
Published: December 2021

Background: Monitoring proteinuria is important for the management of patients with cancer treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or anti-VEGF receptor (VEGFR) inhibitors (VEGF/Ri). Here we investigated the difference between the urine protein/creatinine ratio (UPCR) and a qualitative value test (QV) on the decision making of treatment continuation and the usefulness of UPCR testing in patients with gastrointestinal cancer treated with anti-VEGF/Ri.Methods: From January 2017 to December 2018, a survey was conducted based on the medical records of patients with gastrointestinal cancer with a QV of ≥ 2+ during the use of anti-VEGF/Ri at seven Japanese institutions participating in the Onco-nephrology Consortium. The primary endpoint was the ratio of the worst UPCR < 2.0 (low UPCR) in cases with a QV2+ at the point of the first proteinuria onset. The secondary endpoints were a comparison of low UPCR and worst UPCR ≥ 2.0 (high UPCR), the concordance rate between UPCR and QV in the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grading, and the differences in the decision making for anti-VEGF/Ri continuation.Results: Among the 71 patients enrolled, the proportion of low UPCR in onset QV2+ (n = 53) was 66% (n = 35). In a comparison between low (n=36) and high UPCR cases (n = 24), body weight (P = 0.036), onset QV status (P = 0.0134), and worst QV status (P < 0.0001) were significantly associated with UPCR levels. The concordance rate for CTCAE Grade 2 of both the QV and UPCR was 83%. Regarding the judgment of anti-VEGF/Ri continuation, treatment was continued in 42.4% of cases when the QV became 3+, whereas only 25% continued treatment when the UPCR value became high.Conclusion: Urine dipstick test results may overestimate proteinuria, and the UPCR result tended to be more critical than the QV when deciding the treatment policy.Trial registration: This study is a multiple institutional retrospectively registered observational trial. Clinical Trial number: University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN) Clinical Trials Registry (protocol ID UMIN000042545)
Incidence And Risk Factors For Postoperative Pneumonia Following Surgically Treated Hip Fracture In Geriatric Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Tian Yunxu , Zhu Yanbin , Zhang Kexin , Tian Miao , Qin Shuhui , Li Xiuting , Zhang Yingze
Published: December 2021

Objective: Large sample investigations for risk factors for pneumonia in elderly patients after hip fracture surgeries are lacking. The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence and risk factors for postoperative pneumonia in geriatric patients following hip fracture operations.Methods: A retrospective study of incidence and risk factors in a tertiary referral center between 2016 and 2020 was conducted. Geriatric patients who developed postoperative pneumonia after surgeries of hip fracture during hospitalization stay were defined as cases and those without as controls. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to evaluate risk factors for postoperative pneumonia.Results: This study included 3147 patients, and 182 developed postoperative pneumonia, denoting the rate of 5.7%. In the multivariate analyses, age (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02–1.06), sex (males) (OR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.64-3.13), respiratory disease (OR, 3.74; 95% CI, 2.32–6.04), heart disease (OR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.14–2.47), cerebrovascular disease (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.11–2.27), liver disease (OR, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.33–5.15), preoperative stay (OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.05–1.11) and general anesthesia (OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.15-2.27) were identified as independent risk factors for postoperative pneumonia.Conclusions: This study identified several risk factors for pneumonia in geriatric patients after hip fracture operations, providing a viable preventive strategy for optimizing clinical conditions for reductionof postoperative pneumonia.
A framework of safety analysis with temporal feature based on MBSA and case study for ACC system
Authors: Wang Lisong , Zhang Qin , Hu Jun
Published: December 2021

The safety of automotive Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system is of great significance to prevent fatigue driving, improve driving comfort, reduce accident rate and promote the development of intelligent transportation and autonomous driving technology. However, the current safety analysis of ACC lacks consideration of the temporal dynamic property, so it is necessary to establish a set of safety analysis methods to consider the temporal characteristics. This paper proposes a new safety analysis method based on MBSA framework and introduces temporal features. Altarica3.0 is a high-level modeling language for safety analysis, and its basic mathematical form is Guardian Transformation System (GTS). In this paper we outline an analysis approach that converts failure behavioral models (GTS) to temporal fault trees (TFTs), which can be analyzed using Pandora a recent technique for introducing temporal logic to fault trees. However, like classical fault tree analysis, TFT analysis requires a lot of manual effort, which makes it time consuming and expensive. In order to improve the safety of the system, the proposal extends Bayesian Networks with Pandora and results to dependability analysis with temporal relationships to provide more reliable basis for safety design. As a typical case study, the safety analysis method proposed in this paper is applied to the safety analysis of adaptive cruise system, and the results show the effectiveness of the proposed method. Furthermore, it also provides new technologies for the automation and intelligence of safety analysis for Smart Internet of Vehicle.
Kinetic, isotherm and thermodynamic aspects of Cu2+ biosorption onto Rosa damascena leaf as a low-cost biosorbent: Optimization of process variables by Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Fawzy Mustafa A. , Al-Yasi Hatim M. , Galal Tarek M. , Hamza Reham Z. , Ali Esmat F. , Abdelkader Tharwat G.
Published: December 2021

In this study, the Rosa damascena leaf powder was evaluated as a biosorbent for copper removal from aqueous solutions. Optimized conditions of 4.0 g/L biosorbent dosage, pH of 5.5 and initial copper concentration of 55 mg/L obtained by Response Surface Methodology were employed for Cu2+ biosorption by R. damascena leaves and up to 88.7 % Cu2+ was removed. The biosorption data were well ﬁtted to the pseudo-second order and Elovich kinetic models. The Langmuir and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm models were also best fit the experimental data showing monolayer isotherm with qmax value of 25.13 mg/g obtained at optimum conditions. Thermodynamic parameters showed the spontaneity, feasibility and exothermic nature of adsorption. Scanning electron microscopy, Energy-Dispersive X-Ray, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize the biosorbent before and after Cu2+ biosorption, revealing outstanding structural characteristics and high surface functional groups availability. In addition, immobilized R. damascena leaves adsorbed 90.7 % of copper from aqueous solution, which is greater than free biosorbent (85.3 %). It can be concluded that R. damascena might be employed as a low-cost biosorbent for removing heavy metals from aqueous solutions.
The Pyroptosis-Related Signature Predicts Prognosis in Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Mengjun , Hou Siyu , Wang Jialin , Yue Haodi
Published: December 2021

Background: Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma (UCEC) is difficult to evaluate the prognosis. The prognostic evaluation model based on pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) has shown good predictive power for prognosis in tumors, but there is no relevant research in UCEC. Methods: Based on the gene expression data and clinical prognosis information of UCEC patients from TCGA database, PRGs related to the prognosis were screened out. Based on PRGs, a prognostic evaluation model related was established. Comprehensive analysis of clinical characteristics and prognosis was performed. The potential molecular mechanisms of the prognostic evaluation model was explored by GSEA. The relationship between the prognostic evaluation model and the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) was delved. Results: 4 key PRGs related to the prognosis (NLRP2, GSDME, NOD2, GPX4) were identified. A prognostic evaluation model based on these 4 key PRGs was established: Riskscore= (0.4323) * GPX4 + (0.2385) * GSDME + (0.0525) * NLRP2 + (-0.3299) * NOD2. A higher risk score was an independent risk factor for the prognosis and closely related to clinical characteristics. The gene expression of the high-risk group was mainly enriched in immune response. The higher risk score was closely related to the degree of immune cell infiltration and the gene expression level of immune checkpoints. Conclusion: The prognostic evaluation model based on 4 key PRGs (NLRP2, GSDME, NOD2 and GPX4) has certain value for the prognosis evaluation and treatment selection of UCEC patients and may affect the prognosis by regulating the TIME.
What stops Korean Immigrants from Accessing Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services?
Authors: Park Chohye , Loy Jik H. , Lillis Steven , Menkes David Benjamin
Published: December 2021

Background: Access to child and adolescent mental health services by ethnic minorities has been poorly studied. Despite rapid growth of the immigrant Korean population, evidence indicates that few Korean families utilise these services in New Zealand. Those that do tend to present late and with significant morbidity. We sought to understand barriers to service access from Korean parents’ perspectives.Method: Seven focus groups were undertaken with 31 Korean parents of children aged 18 and under. The focus groups were semi-structured, held in the Korean language and utilised two case scenarios of common childhood/adolescent mental illnesses around which a set of broad, open ended questions were posed. All conversations were audiorecorded, transcribed and translated into English. Thematic analysis was conducted using NVivo software.Results: Both attitudinal and structural barriers were identified. Attitudinal barriers included attribution of mental illness to external stressors or parenting problems, social stigma, denial or normalization of children’s behaviour, fear of family disempowerment, and mistrust of public mental health services. Structural barriers included parents’ lack of information regarding available services, logistical difficulties in access, communication difficulties, concerns over the quality of translators, and cultural competence of service providersConclusion: Significant barriers prevent Korean immigrant families from accessing child and adolescent mental health services in New Zealand. Measures to improve access, for example by countering stigma, are urgently required.
Children’s Water Intake Lower During In-Person School Compared To Virtual School During COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Seal Adam , Hagobian Todd
Published: December 2021

Background: Children’s hydration is often inadequate during school potentially causing detrimental effects on cognitive performance. Previous studies investigating water intake during school lack comparison to a control group. The rise of virtual school during the COVID-19 pandemic created a unique opportunity to assess water intake during school but in a setting outside of school. Objective: Compare water intake of children attending in-person classrooms to water intake of children attending school virtually. We hypothesized water intake would be higher in children attending school virtually.Methods: A validated water intake questionnaire was sent to parents and their children (aged 10-17 years) between September 2020 and March 2021. The questionnaire asked participants how often they consumed a standardized volume of beverage types over one week. Parents indicated if children were attending school in-person or virtually. Results: 54 children indicated they were attending school in-person while 76 indicated attending school virtually (N = 130). Water intake of children attending in-person school (1688 ± 680 mL) was lower as compared to children attending school virtually (1998 ± 831 mL) (F = 5.09, p < 0.05, Figure 1). The multivariate regression examining demographics, parent water intake, and school setting as predictors of child water intake was significant (R2 = 0.33, p < 0.05). Higher child water intake was associated with older age (b = 0.29, p < 0.05), lower family income (b = -0.25, p < 0.05), higher parent water intake (b = 0.39, p < 0.05), and virtual school setting (b = 0.18, p < 0.05).Conclusion: Children’s water intake was higher during virtual school as compared to in-person school. Hydration of parents may influence children, especially when the child is attending school virtually.