bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationship between daily swallowing frequency and pneumonia in patients with severe cerebral palsy: a retrospective study
Authors: Tanaka Nobukazu , Nohara Kanji , Uota Chisato , Fujii Nami , Obana Aya , Tanaka Katsuji , Sakai Takayoshi
Published: April 2022

Background: Patients with cerebral palsy are known to have reduced swallowing function because of various causes. Aspiration pneumonia resulting from decreased swallowing function is a major complication in patients with severe cerebral palsy and is directly associated with their survival prognosis. This necessitates an appropriate assessment and response to the aforementioned risk. Previous reports on cerebral palsy patients have mentioned large differences in the prevalence of aspiration, when assessed with standard swallowing function tests. Moreover, there is a weak association between aspiration detected by swallowing function tests, such as video endoscopy and video fluoroscopy, and the incidence of pneumonia. Considering the difficulty in evaluating the risk of pneumonia, we focused on swallowing frequency as an index of daily swallowing function. Swallowing motion protects the airway by safely directing the food, saliva, and secretions accumulated in the pharynx into the esophagus to prevent aspiration and entry into the trachea. Thus, swallowing frequency during daily life can be considered an index for evaluating the risk of regular aspiration and pneumonia. In this retrospective study, we investigated the relationship between swallowing frequency and pneumonia in patients with severe cerebral palsy. Methods: Fifty seven cerebral palsy patients were included in this study. The swallowing frequency was measured three times for each patient on separate days, and the reproducibility was examined by calculating the intraclass correlation coefficient. Further, the relationship between swallowing frequency and history of pneumonia was investigated by multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results: While the swallowing frequency differed between participants, it was constant within individuals (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.941). Furthermore, the swallowing frequencies per hour were 12.2 ± 12.2 and 27.0 ± 20.4 in the patient groups with and without a history of pneumonia, respectively (P<0.001). Swallowing frequency (odds ratio: 10.489, 95% confidence interval: 2.706–40.663, P=0.001) was significantly associated with the incidence of pneumonia in the previous year.Conclusions: Swallowing frequency could be used as an index for assessing the risk of dysphagia and pneumonia in patients with severe cerebral palsy.
A case report of a dramatic response to Afatinib in a patient with advanced adenosquamous carcinoma lung cancer (ASC) harboring EGFR L861R
Authors: Zhao Tingting , Gui Xianhua , Shi Shenyun , Lu Zhongyu , Lu Guanghua , Deng Wanglong , Ding Ran , Bu Fanfeng , Ding Jingjing
Published: April 2022

Lung cancer is a malignant tumor with high incidence and mortality in China. Furthermore, non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) accounts for more than 85%. About 30-40% of Asian populations carry epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations. EGFR mutations mainly occur in exon 18-21, and the common mutations are exon 19 deletions (19del), L858R, which are all sensitive to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors(EGFR-TKIs). Nevertheless, the efficiency of the EGFR-TKIs on EGFR L861R remains unknown. In this article, we report a patient with adenosquamous carcinoma lung cancer(ASC) harboring EGFR L861R who was treated with afatinib and obtained progression-free survival(PFS) for more than 24 weeks.
Systematic illustration of anti-tumor mechanism of action of tanshinones from Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma using network pharmacology
Authors: Zheng Qi , Hou Wei , Li Daorui , Qi Xin , Zhang Yun , Wang Hanzhou
Published: April 2022

Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma is a traditional Chinese herb, which is wildly used in cancer and inflammatory disorders. Tanshinones are a kind of phenanthrenequinone derivant, which were extracted from Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, and have been studied for medical purposes in clinical practices. This study systematic illustrated the mechanism of tanshinones via network pharmacology. Tanshinone I, tanshinone IIA, dihydrotanshinone and cryptotanshinone were selected and exhibited distinct inhibitory effects on tumor cells. With the aim of creating a new research perspective, we analyzed the mechanisms of the pathogenesis and predict multiple target proteins and pathways for further. The absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of tanshinones were assessed using TCMSP and putative target genes of tanshinones were identified using the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database and Genecards. The common and high scored putative target genes were analyzed follow. Additionally, GO and KEGG databases were searched to predict and annotate the differentially expressed genes using WebGestalt. Furthermore, Cytoscape software was used to construct the drug-target-pathway networks to provide a visual illustration. The results showed the oral bioavailability and drug likeness of tanshinones, and 50 common and high scored putative target genes were analyzed. GO, KEGG, and network analyses revealed that these targets were associated with immunologic processes. Cryptotanshinone and has a good binding affinity to EGFR based on molecular docking verification. This study provides a scientific basis for using network pharmacology in elucidating the mechanism of action of tanshinones in the treatment of cancer and predicted multiple target proteins and pathways.
Analysis of evolutionary features of Production–Living–Ecological Space in the Yellow River Basin and its ecological and environmental effects
Authors: Yu Qiang , Yang Linzhe Z. , Niu Teng , Wu Heng
Published: April 2022

Yellow River Basin is an important ecological security barrier and an important economic belt in China. With the rapid development of China’s economy, the competition for production, living and ecological spaces(PLES) in the Yellow River Basin, is becoming more and more intensive, the ecological environment problems caused by land use change have also attracted extensive attention. In this paper, land use transition matrix, Standard deviation ellipse, spatial autocorrelation analysis, ecological contribution rate of land use transfer, etc. methods were used, to quantitatively analyze the land use conversion and spatial-temporal pattern characteristics of PLES, and the effects of those on ecological environment in the Yellow River Basin. Research indicates: Yellow River Basin is mainly dominated by production space and ecological space. In the Yellow River Basin, during the period from 1980 to 2020, the agricultural production space decreased, the woodland ecological space and living space increased, and large area of sandy land and saline-alkali land are converted into grassland ecological space; The intensity of coal exploitation has increased, and the mining center has shifted from the east to the west. In the past 40 years, the overall ecological environment quality of the Yellow River Basin has been on the rise. According to the spatial autocorrelation analysis of different land use types, the regional differences of the spatial pattern changes in the Yellow River Basin are significant, and the interactive increase-decrease relationship of different land space types has significant differences and obvious spatial heterogeneity. This paper conducts a quantitative study on the characteristics of PLES pattern changes and its ecological and environmental effects in the Yellow River Basin, providing a decision-making reference for promoting the coordinated development of PLES, which is conducive to promoting ecological security protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin.
Regulation of insulin secretion in mouse islets: Metabolic amplification by alpha- ketoisocaproate coincides with rapid and sustained increase in acetyl-CoA content Running title: Role of acetyl-CoA in amplified insulin secretion
Authors: Rustenbeck Ingo , Panten Uwe , Brüning Dennis
Published: April 2022

Purpose: Glucose and alpha-ketoisocaproate, the keto acid analogue of leucine, stimulate insulin secretion in the absence of other metabolic fuels. Their mitochondrial metabolism in the beta-cell raises the cytosolic ATP/ADP ratio, thereby providing the triggering signal for the exocytosis of the insulin granules. However, additional amplifying signals are required for the full extent of insulin secretion stimulated by these fuels. While it is generally recognized that they are also derived from the mitochondrial metabolism, their exact nature is still unclear. The current study tests the hypothesis that cytosolic acetyl-CoA is a signal in the amplifying pathway. Methods: The contents of acetyl-CoA and acetyl-CoA plus CoA-SH were measured in isolated mouse islets. Insulin secretion was recorded in isolated perifused islets. Results: In islets which were preincubated without metabolic fuel while the ATP-sensitive K+ channels were pharmacologically closed, 10 mmol/L alpha-ketoisocaproate strongly enhanced the acetyl-CoA content after 5 and 20 min incubations and decreased the acetyl-CoA plus CoA-SH content within 5 min, but not after 20 min. Compared with the preincubation of islets without metabolic fuel, the preincubation with 3 mmol/L glucose, a non-triggering concentration, elevated the acetyl-CoA content. This content was further increased after 5 min and 20 min incubations with 30 mmol/L glucose, concurrent with a strong increase in insulin secretion. Conclusion: Alpha-ketoisocaproate and glucose increase the supply of acetyl-CoA in the beta-cell cytosol during both phases of insulin secretion. Most likely this increase provides a signal for the metabolic amplification.
Conceptual and analytical diversity of environmental governance in Latin America: A systematic review
Authors: Mora Gabriela De la Mora-De la
Published: April 2022

The analysis of environmental governance and the analytical frameworks used to study this concept in Latin America show that the term is diffuse and polysemic. The term governance refers to democratic societies that theoretically encourage the plural participation of actors in decision-making to solve public or collective socioenvironmental problems. However, in Latin America, there is a broad social perception of a democratic deficit that affects the socioenvironmental sphere. The objective of this work is to determine the main trends in studies on environmental governance in Latin America, the most commonly used analytical frameworks and the predominant approaches in order to characterize the scientific and political uses of the concept. A systematic literature review is carried out on databases in English and Spanish, and 140 articles that consider environmental governance using various analytical frameworks are analyzed. The main finding is the predominance of a critical perspective on the effectiveness of environmental governance, as well as the associated institutional components and social organizations, because the democratic practices that should support it are questionable.
Association between dyslipidaemia and the risk of hyperuricaemia: A six-year longitudinal cohort study of elderly individuals in China
Authors: Xu Ying , Dong Haoyu , Zhang Boya , Zhang Jiayu , Ma Qinghua , Sun Hongpeng
Published: April 2022

Background
Despite abundant evidence indicating that dyslipidaemia are associated with increased risks of hyperuricaemia, the relationship between each component of dyslipidaemia and hyperuricaemia remains controversial. Thus,we aimed to explore the correlation of dyslipidaemia and its components with hyperuricaemia in Chinese elderly individuals aged 60 years or older.
Methods
In the cohort study, 4081 participants aged 60 years or older without hyperuricaemia were investigated from 2014 to 2020. Cox proportional hazards models were used to investigate the associations between dyslipidaemia and its components (hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia, high low-density lipoprotein cholesterolaemia, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterolaemia) and hyperuricaemia.
Results
A total of 1155 participants suffered from hyperuricaemia (28.75%) at the time of the 6-year follow-up survey. In multivariable adjusted analyses, compared to participants with normal lipid levels, those with dyslipidaemia had 1.28 times the risk (95% confidence interval 1.12 to 1.47) of experiencing hyperuricaemia. The hazard ratios comparing hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia, high low-density lipoprotein cholesterolaemia, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterolaemia of dyslipidaemia with the normal group were 0.99 (0.72 to 1.37), 1.30 (1.07 to 1.57), 1.02 (0.70 to 1.50), and 1.20 (1.00 to 1.44), respectively.
Conclusions
In this prospective cohort, dyslipidaemia and its two different types, hypertriglyceridaemia and low HDL-C, increased the risk of hyperuricaemia.
New AMH cutoff values for warning of decreased ovarian response based on MCL characteristics in young women: a retrospective study using a propensity score-matching analysis
Authors: Lv Jia-Bei , Han Ying , Wang Xin-Yan , Yuan Li-Na , Diao Jun-Rong , Fan Ya-Zhen , Luo Hai-Ning
Published: April 2022

Background: Menstrual cycle length (MCL) and ovarian response varies widely among women of childbearing age, we tried to provide AMH cutoffs for "normal" and "weakened" ovarian responses to them, which give an early warning of the onset of decreased ovarian response.Methods This was a retrospective study in women aged 21 to 35 years with MCLs of 21-35 days receiving in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment at our hospital from October 2018 to October 2021. Intergroup variables were balanced using propensity score matching, and each case patient was matched with three control patients. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to calculate the AMH cutoff values.Results We included 135 patients with MCLs of 21-25 days and 405 matched control patients with MCLs of 26-35 days who received IVF treatment. The case group had significantly fewer retrieved oocytes, lower AMH values and higher initial and total Gn levels during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation than the control group. The ovarian response began to decrease when AMH was < 3.5 ng/ml in the case group and < 2.7 ng/ml in the control group.Conclusion In young women with MCLs of 21-35 days, short MCL was negatively correlated with AMH values and the number of oocytes retrieved. In patients with MCLs of 21-25 days and 26-35 days, the AMH cutoff values corresponding to the onset of decreased ovarian response were 3.5 ng/ml and 2.7 ng/ml, respectively.
The importance of preserving the superior hypophyseal artery infundibular branch in craniopharyngioma surgery
Authors: Sasaki Hiroo , Takeuchi Kazuhito , Tanahashi Kuniaki , Nagata Yuichi , Mizuno Akihiro , Harada Hideyuki , Kishida Yugo , Watanabe Tadashi , Nagatani Tetsuya , Saito Ryuta
Published: April 2022

Purpose
Postoperative pituitary dysfunction, a critical problem in the treatment of craniopharyngiomas, can occur even when the pituitary stalk is preserved. We hypothesized that vascular compromise of the primary superior hypophyseal artery (pSHA) may be related to this occurrence.
Methods
We performed a retrospective review of 131 patients with craniopharyngioma who underwent endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery from April 2009 to September 2021. Initial surgery, preoperative normal pituitary function or pituitary dysfunction in one axis, and morphological preservation of the pituitary stalk were included. Data on the age, sex, maximum tumor diameter, Kassam type and tumor resection rate of the included patients were obtained from their medical records. The branches of the pSHA are divided mainly into chiasmatic branches (Cb), infundibular branches (Ib), and descending branches (Db). We analyzed the association between postoperative pituitary function and preservation of these branches.
Results
Twenty of the 131 patients met the criteria. The preoperative anterior pituitary functions were normal in 18 patients, and there was isolated growth hormone deficiency in two patients. No patient had preoperative diabetes insipidus (DI). The postoperative anterior pituitary function was unchanged in eight patients. Permanent DI did not occur in 15 patients. Bilateral preservation of the pSHA Ib was the only associated factor for maintaining anterior pituitary function. In contrast, the preservation of any pSHA branch yielded no significant difference in postoperative permanent DI.
Conclusions
In craniopharyngioma surgery, bilateral preservation of the pSHA Ib provides favorable postoperative anterior pituitary function; however, such preservation may have little effect on postoperative DI occurrence.
Physiological Effects of Freeze-Thaw, Cadmium and Ambrosin Combined Stress on Secale cereale L. Seedlings
Authors: Zhang Longtian , Bao Guozhang , Yu Zihang , Guan Tao , Li Jingwen , Su Yidan , Yang Yinan , Xi Jinghui , Zhang Xin , Guomei Li , Zhao Hongwei
Published: April 2022

Rye is a kind of wintering forage grass, distributed in China in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, northeast China and other alpine or arid areas. Additionally, ragweed, an invasive plant originated from the North America, is widely distributed in the northeast region of China, releasing ambrosin-based allelopathic substances to the environment and inflicting a wide impact on crops. In this experiment, the physiological response of Winter 70 rye under the compound stress of freeze-thaw, Cd and ragweed is studied, and the soluble sugar, soluble protein, CAT, MDA, SOD content and photosynthesis changes of rye seedlings under stress were analyzed. The results showed that under the stress of Cd and ambrosin, the content of MDA, soluble protein and soluble sugar, and CAT content increased, and the SOD content decreased under Cd stress, and the SOD content increased under ambrosin stress. Under freeze-thaw stress, MDA content, soluble protein and soluble sugar content, CAT content increased first and then decreased, and SOD content decreased. In the freeze-thaw cycle, low temperatures adversely affect ryegrass seedlings. The reaction of SOD and MDA during cooling process is evident. The net photosynthetic rate of freeze-thawed and ryegrass seedlings is significantly affected by stress, which is manifested by the reduction of net photosynthetic rate forced by a single stress, and the reduction of compound stress is greater than that of a single stress.
This study provides a new understanding of the physiological response of rye to Cd and Ambrosin stress under freeze-thawing conditions, and provided clues for the management and evaluation of combined stress.
Numerical full-wave EMC investigation of a radio-frequency generator
Authors: Rover Yannik , Thueringer Rainer , Volkmar Chris
Published: April 2022

An essential component of “NewSpace” missions are electric thrusters, thus each component of the assembly must be safe and reliable. Without electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements, reliable operation cannot be guaranteed. The following work deals with the electromagnetic characteristics of a radio-frequency (RF) generator (RFG), which is operated with a radio-frequency ion thruster (RIT). A 3D full-wave electromagnetic simulation is created to identify the EMC properties of the RFG and to perform EMC optimizations during developments. Measurements validate the simulation. Through the combination of measurement and simulation further EMC quantities, like cabling radiation, are calculated, which show the importance of optimization measures to ensure EMC compatibility.
HMI Ring Diagram Analysis: Effects of tracking, noise and resolution
Authors: Basu Sarbani , Bogart Richard
Published: April 2022

Ring diagram analysis is a standard local helioseismic technique. Data from the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) on the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) are routinely used for Ring-diagram analysis, and fits to the power spectra as well as inversion results are standard data products. In this paper we examine the effects of different tracking rates, noise, and resolution on ring-diagram results. Most of the analysis is for 15 • tiles, but we also examine the effects of different tile sizes. The largest effect we find is that of resolution. Doppler noise has very little effect on the results, except perhaps at the deepest regions for which the tiles can give reliable results; variations in the tracking rate have a similar effect.
Effect of medium with moderate body temperature on patient's body temperature during peld operation
Authors: Yuan Feng , Sun Maji , Chu Fuchao , Zhang Lidong , Zhao Rui , Liu Xiaona , Yu Huilin , Pan Bin , Wu Jibin
Published: April 2022

Purpose To explore the influence of irrigating fluid at different temperatures on patients' body temperature and local inflammatory mediators during spinal endoscopy. Methods 110 cases of intervertebral foramen surgery in our hospital from January 2019 to October 2021 were randomly divided into control group and observation group. Operations of both groups were performed by the same experienced chief physician. The observation group was irrigated with 37℃ constant temperature saline, while the control group was irrigated at room temperature. The effect was evaluated by monitoring the intraoperative temperature, postoperative VAS score and the levels of inflammatory factors such as TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6 and IL-10 in drainage fluid. Results After 30 minutes of operation, overall temperature of the control group dropped significantly, and 50 cases (90.9%) had hypothermia, P < 0.05. There was no significant difference in preoperative VAS score between the two groups P > 0.05. The VAS score of observation group was significantly lower than that of control group at 6 hours and 1 month after operation, P < 0.05. At 0, 3 and 6 hours after operation, the values of TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6 and IL-10 in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Isothermal flushing solution can reduce the incidence of hypothermia and effectively alleviate local inflammatory reaction.
Strong peak immunogenicity but rapid antibody waning following third vaccine dose in elderly residents of care homes
Authors: Tut Gokhan , Lancaster Tara , Krutikov Maria , Sylla Panagiota , Bone David , Spalkova Eliska , Bentley Christopher , Amin Umayr , Jadir Azar , Hulme Samuel , Kaur Nayandeep , Tut Elif , Bruton Rachel , Wu Mary , Harvey Ruth , Carr Edward , Beale Rupert , Stirrup Oliver , Shrotri Madhumita , Azmi Borscha , Fuller Chris , Baynton Verity , Irwin-Singer Aidan , Hayward Andrew , Copas Andrew , Shallcross Laura , Moss Paul
Published: April 2022

Third dose COVID-19 vaccines are being deployed widely but their efficacy has not been assessed adequately in vulnerable elderly people who exhibit suboptimal responses after primary series vaccination. We studied spike-specific immune responses in 341 staff and residents in long-term care facilities (LTCF) who received an mRNA vaccine following dual primary series vaccination with BNT162b2 or ChAdOx1. Third dose vaccination strongly increased antibody responses with preferential enhancement in older people and was required to elicit neutralisation of Omicron. Cellular immune responses were also enhanced with strong cross-reactive recognition of Omicron. However, antibody titres fell 21-78% within 100 days post vaccine and 27% of participants developed a breakthrough Omicron infection. These findings reveal strong immunogenicity of a 3rd vaccine in one of the most vulnerable population groups and endorse an approach for widespread delivery across this population. Ongoing assessment will be required to determine the stability of immune protection.
Hematogenous epiphyseal osteomyelitis in children: three case reports
Authors: Zhang Jiangchao , Wang Ningqing , Lv Haixiang , Liu Zhenjiang
Published: April 2022

BackgroundThe epiphysis is a rather uncommon location of hematogenous osteomyelitis involvement. Because the transphyseal arteries vanish about 15-18 months of age, epiphyseal osteomyelitis was previously assumed to occur mainly in newborns under one year of age.Methods and Results In this case report, we present three cases of epiphyseal osteomyelitis who are older than 18 months. Most doctors believe that epiphyseal osteomyelitis caused by bacteria often has a good prognosis and cures without long-term complications. In our study, one patient underwent timely aggressive surgical treatment combined with antibiotic therapy in the early course of the disease. Seven months after surgery, his laboratory examinations were normal with no evidence of recurrence. But he had limited flexion and extension of the knee, and the range of motion was 20°- 100°. This complication was not reported in any of the previous studies. ConclusionsThe diagnosis of epiphyseal osteomyelitis is often delayed because of silent symptoms, mild radiological changes, and atypical location. Physicians should be aware of the clinical and radiographic features of this disease so that it can be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible to prevent further development and complications.
Luteolin ameliorated CHC-induced autophagy dysfunction in macrophages through the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway
Authors: Zou Tao , Li Shiqin , Li Junxin , Yang Liqiong , Gao Shan , Yao Lan , Xu Mengyao , Wu Zhigui , Huang Yilan , Wang Shurong
Published: April 2022

Background
Macrophages play a crucial role in the progression of atherosclerosis (AS), and cholesterol crystals (CHC) abundantly present in AS can affect the function of macrophages. Studies have found that the flavonoid luteolin (Lut) in nature has multiple functions such as anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory.
Objective
This experiment intends to explore whether Lut can reverse the autophagy dysfunction of macrophages induced by CHC and whether it can reduce the apoptosis of macrophages caused by CHC, and study its mechanism.
Methods
The RAW264.7 macrophages were modeled with CHC, and the optimal concentration of Lut was used to act on the inflammatory modeled macrophages. The changes in autophagy protein, apoptosis protein, and apoptosis were observed to confirm whether Lut is effective in the inflammation model. Effects of Lut combined with 3-MA autophagy inhibitor on autophagy and apoptosis of macrophages. Finally, the effect of Lut on the autophagy pathway AMPK and mTOR in inflammation modeling with CHC was studied.
Results
The expression of LC3-II/LC3-I decreased, p62 increased, and the apoptosis rate increased and the expression of Bax protein, cleaved caspase-3/procaspase-3 increased, tumor necrosis factor TNF- α expression increased. After Lut intervenes in macrophages after CHC action, the above effects are opposite. After CHC acted on macrophages, the phosphorylation of AMPK was significantly inhibited, while the phosphorylation of mTOR was significantly enhanced. After Lut intervention, the above results were the opposite.
Conclusion
CHC can inhibit the autophagy function of RAW264.7 macrophages and cause macrophage apoptosis. Lut can improve the autophagy dysfunction of macrophages caused by CHC and reduce the apoptosis caused by the inhibition of macrophage autophagy. Lut can regulate the apoptosis of macrophages caused by CHC through the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway.
Genome-wide inference reveals that feedback regulations constrain promoter-dependent transcriptional burst kinetics
Authors: zhou tianshou
Published: April 2022

Background: A major challenge in transcriptional regulation is to understand how static promoter architecture and dynamic feedback regulation dictate transcriptional burst kinetics on a genome-wide scale. Although single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) provides an opportunity to address this issue, analytical methods need to be developed to uncover molecular mechanisms governing burst kinetics.Results: We develop an interpretable and scalable statistical framework, which combines experimental data with a mechanistic model to infer transcriptional burst kinetics (sizes and frequencies) and feedback regulations. Applying this framework to the scRNA-seq data of embryonic mouse fibroblast cells, we find that genome-wide burst kinetics exhibit different characteristics in cases without and with feedback regulations, implying Simpson’s paradoxes. We show that feedbacks modulate burst frequencies and sizes differently and conceal the effects of transcription start site distributions on burst kinetics. Notably, only in the presence of positive feedback, TATA genes are expressed with high burst frequencies, and enhancer-promoter interactions mainly modulate burst frequencies.Conclusions: The inference method developed here provides a flexible, robust, and efficient way to infer molecular mechanisms dictating burst kinetics. Our study reveals genome-wide burst patterns coordinated by promoter architecture and feedback regulations.
Footwear, foot orthoses and strengthening exercises for the non-surgical management of hallux valgus: protocol for a randomised pilot and feasibility trial
Authors: Menz Hylton , Lim Polly Q , Hurn Sheree E , Mickle Karen J , Buldt Andrew K , Cotchett Matthew P , Roddy Edward , Wluka Anita E , Erbas Bircan , Munteanu Shannon E
Published: April 2022

Background
Hallux valgus is a common and disabling condition. This randomised pilot and feasibility trial aims to determine the feasibility of conducting a fully-powered parallel group randomised trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a multifaceted non-surgical intervention for reducing pain associated with hallux valgus.
Methods
Twenty-eight community-dwelling women with painful hallux valgus will be randomised to receive either a multifaceted, non-surgical intervention (footwear, foot orthoses, foot exercises, advice, and self-management) or usual care (advice and self-management alone). Outcome measures will be obtained at baseline, 4, 8 and 12 weeks. The primary outcome is feasibility, which will be evaluated according to demand, acceptability, adherence, adverse events, and retention rate. Limited efficacy testing will be conducted on secondary outcome measures including foot pain (the Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire), foot muscle strength (hand-held dynamometry), general health-related quality of life (the Short Form-12), use of cointerventions, and participants’ perception of overall treatment effect. Biomechanical testing will be conducted at baseline to evaluate the immediate effects of the footwear/orthotic intervention on pressure beneath the foot and on the medial aspect of the first metatarsophalangeal joint and hallux.
Discussion
This study will determine the feasibility of conducting a fully-powered randomised trial of footwear, foot orthoses, foot exercises, advice and self-management for relieving pain associated with hallux valgus and provide insights into potential mechanisms of effectiveness.
Socio-Economic Characterization of Community in Watershed Management: Case of Abaya- Chamo Sub-Basin Project Districts of Southern Ethiopia.
Authors: Mamo Abebe Asele
Published: April 2022

Background
Watershed management is being recognized as a suitable alternative intervention in managing natural resources. Characterizations of watershed management project in terms of socio-economic baseline study helps to evaluate whether a change making a difference. It is used during the project to indicate progress toward the objectives, and after the project to measure the amount of the change. This study aimed at baseline characterization with special reference to socio-economic aspects to suggest appropriate policy directions for enhancing watersheds programs towards achieving integrated Water Resource Management. The study area was in the Abaya-Chamo sub-basin of Rift Valley Lakes Basin of southern Ethiopia. To record benchmarks of socio-economic characteristics, the study was carried out in Amaro, Chencha, Humbo, Lokabaya, Mirababaya, Arbaminch city administration, and Abaya districts covering 7 Kebeles and 7 villages that were accessible for data collection.
Results
The major objective of the study was a socio-economic characterization of community in watershed management programs in seven watershed management districts of the Abaya-Chamo sub-basin of southern Ethiopia. The study was carried out using secondary raw data collected by Rift Valley Lakes Basin Authority (RVLBA). StataMP 13 and MS Excel were used for the analysis of the data. The major income sources of the farmers in the study area were crop production, animal husbandry, and tree land. Lack of educational institutions, poor economic conditions, and lack of access to the far located institutions was observed to be the conspicuous reason for the low literacy rate in the study area. Typhoid, typhus, Mosquitoes, Diarrhea, tuberculosis, and other water-borne disease were the major disease found in the study area.
Conclusions
Demographic characteristics, Income status, and social status were the major components of the socio-economy focused in this study. Agriculture in the area is the major source of income basically of a subsistence nature - characterized by low input – low output. Therefore, socio-economic improvement depends upon resource mapping very crucial for planning appropriate intervention. Access to education should be improved and children's attendance at school should be encouraged and facilitated.
ANÁLISE DA ASSISTÊNCIA À SAÚDE DA MULHER NOS MUNICÍPIOS DE PEQUENO PORTE DA REGIONAL DE SAÚDE DE BELO HORIZONTE
Authors: Costa Luciana , Bezerra Ana Paula , Oliveira Fernanda , Campos Kátia
Published: April 2022

RESUMO

Objetivo: Esse trabalho faz parte de um recorte do projeto de pesquisa “A gestão do Sistema Único de Saúde: um estudo nos municípios de pequeno porte da Regional de Saúde de Belo Horizonte” que tem o objetivo de analisar os indicadores propostos pelo pacto interfederativo 2017-2021 que mensuram fatores associados à saúde da mulher, incluindo gestante e puérpera. Fundamentação teórica: A adesão à programas que visam ações para adequar e ampliar o cuidado da atenção à saúde da mulher é essencial. Método: análise descritiva a partir de dados secundários de sistemas de informações em saúde tendo como foco oito municípios de pequeno porte da Regional de Saúde de Belo Horizonte. Resultados: Os resultados mostraram que houve alguns avanços, mas ainda há fatores que devem ser estruturados para promover uma assistência de qualidade à saúde da mulher. Conclusão: Há necessidade de investir na melhoria de acesso e a melhor organização da Atenção Primária para assistência ao pré-natal e parto.
Imperceptible Bodies
Authors: Schnor Jonas
Published: April 2022

In this article I investigate the choreographic practice and work of Marcelo Evelin as a specifically haptic mode of what Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari call becoming-imperceptible. In times where power dynamics become ever more supple and non-localisable, the notion of becoming-imperceptible is an apt conceptual figure in naming both the conditions of power as well their modes of resistance. On this basis, I analyse Evelin’s practice of massa in its choreographic hapticality as a collective process of desubjectification, in which bodies become prismatic as they refract one another in a pluralistic field of agency. I then turn to Evelin’s group piece, A Invenção da Maldade (2019), which, in my view (and among other things) expands this haptic and prismatic field to include the audience. By doing so, the piece can be said to engender what I call haptic space. Through an in-depth analysis of the work I argue that haptic space is an asignifying and appositional mode of co-existence that has the capacity to problematize contemporary forms of power by intensifying affect-ability and virtual tactility. Finally, I contemplate the psychosocial effects of the loss of haptic spaces during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Staging Neoliberalism
Authors: Calderón Bentin Sebastián
Published: April 2022

While the by now popular term "posttruth" remains, as Jayson Harsin and others argue, a contested and problematic concept, as a periodizing term it is useful in that it encapsulates collective anxieties and cognitive effects brought on by the increased commodification of knowledge, the marketization of political discourse, and the emergence of new economies and technologies of attention that fragment and destabilize relations of trust and authority across fields of inquiry (e.g. science and medicine), knowledge institutions (e.g. news and universities), and media technologies (e.g. video and photography) traditionally seen as arbiters of truth and facticity within the hegemony of Anglo-American liberalism. This paper considers the role of neoliberalism in the emergence of posttruth performance by reflecting on the work of public relations companies deployed in 2017 to promote the construction of a new power plant in New Orleans, as well as the work of the pro-Brexit campaign group Leave.EU in the run up to the 2016 referendum. Through these case studies the article demonstrates ways in which theater and performance studies can offer important critical tools with which to understand and dissect the structural conditions of posttruth in the twenty-first century.
Being and Showtime: ReView
Authors: Fresh Beverly
Published: April 2022

In the ReView I will re-experience notions of time explored in “The About Time Show” (Chapter 6 of Being And Showtime) which repeats and extends Edmund Husserl’s Phenomenology and Time-Consciousness. I first became interested in using common language to disorient the audience in a 2015 iteration of my traveling one-man show called “MR. MDWST.” From 2017-2019 I further explored how language can dislocate time through guttural chanting, repetition, and call and response in “Wild American Dogs Big Time Traveling Tent Revival,” another performance project. Reading Steeves’ chapter on time revived and deepened my interest in the potential of vocal performance to confuse time and space and inspired me to compose “Ode to H. Peter Steeves” and to resurrect my own examination of time through a newly created series of multi-modal, multi-dimensional performances re-presenting Steeves’ investigation in new forms of action. This ReView will lead Performance Philosophy audiences to re-experience notions of time by intentionally disorientating through an expanded ReView format and the performance of language thus disrupting our shared experiences of time.
River Connections and Response to Rivers Map
Authors: Mantel Sukh
Published: April 2022

Digital Storytelling is a means of
making research personal and accessible to communities. This video was created in a course offered by the Rhodes University Community
Engagement Division in March 2021. This is an updated video which shows the links to SDGs and it builds on the South African Rivers map that went viral a couple of years ago and the feedback received on the map is described in The Conversation, May 20, 2021 https://theconversation.com/maps-can-bridge-gaps-between-citizens-scientists-and-policymakers-160374
“Umzi ka mama Rhodes University PhD research project,” February 23, 2021, produced by Phemelo Hellemann and Thingo Mthombeni, methodology video, 16:51.
Authors: Hellemann Phemelo
Published: April 2022

This African feminist study enlists narratives of a sample of seven African female heads of households residing in Fingo Village who are also property owners. Fingo Village is an atypical environment where African people had a rare legal advantage of owning title deeds dating back to 1855.

The first phase of the research involved engaging with the literature about the title deeds history of Fingo Village and conducting oral history interviews that served as data. In the second phase, the interviews were analysed and packaged in a documentary format. The third phase was a playback theatre inspired session in a 10-minute performance based on themes from the participants’ filmed interviews. 

Additionally, the performance was a catalyst for forum theatre activities that allowed the participants to interact with the performer and suggest solutions to the dilemma posed by the performer regarding family property use. The participants were decision-makers and family property relations experts within this imagined context. In the fourth phase, the image theatre adaptation and memory work activities were essential tools. The tools aided the visuals and information from an existing Fingo Village exhibition as additional resources that prompted dialogue and discussions. The exhibition encouraged participants to share their personal experiences and memories of the Group Areas Act (GAA) era.

The findings showed that the GAA era saw many families revert to communal tenure practices as a strategy to evade forced sales; as such, this gave rise to undocumented family property transfers. Additionally, the findings revealed that though customary practices are often patriarchal, there are circumstances favouring women as the preferred family property custodian. These are embedded in the social status of women who are traditional healers, firstborn daughters, and those from families with just daughters.

This study contributes to the growing literature that advocates for positive representation of African women’s stories by using active research methodologies that strengthen partnerships and shared authority between the researcher and the public. This methodology could inspire other researchers to explore theatre techniques to create more profound and meaningful engagements with their participants.
In Silico Optimization of Frizzled-8 Receptor Inhibition Activity of Carbamazepine: Designing New Anti-Cancer Agent
Authors: Sepehri Bakhtyar , Ghavami Raouf , Ahmadi Roya , Irani Mehdi
Published: April 2022

Background:

Frizzled-8 (FZD8) receptor is a therapeutic target for cancer treatment and recent research has shown that carbamazepine (CBZ) can inhibit this receptor.

Objective:

In this work, it has been tried to optimize CBZ to enhance its binding capacity to the N6W binding site of FZD8 by using structure-based drug design methods.

Methods:

CBZ and its 83 derivatives were docked to the N6W binding site of FZD8.

Results:

Docking results show that two compounds 79 and 82 have the smallest binding energies and are fitted to the N6W binding site. Compounds C79 and C82 have been synthesized by replacing a hydrogen atom of the seven-membered ring in CBZ with benzoate and nicotinate groups, respectively. In addition, docking results show that a trifluoromethyl on one of the phenyl rings is favorable for improving the FZD8 inhibition activity of the molecule.

Conclusion:

Both molecules C79 and C82 were subjected to molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. MD results show that FZD8-C82 complex is stable and this compound binds to the N6W binding site more strongly than compounds C79 and CBZ.
New Insights of Early Brain Injury after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A
Focus on the Caspase Family
Authors: Wang Xiaoyu , Xu Penglei , Liu Yibo , Wang Zefeng , Lenahan Cameron , Fang Yuanjian , Lu Jianan , Zheng Jingwei , Wang Kaikai , Wang Wei , Zhou Jingyi , Chen Sheng , Zhang Jianming
Published: April 2022

Spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), primarily caused by ruptured intracranial
aneurysms, remains a prominent clinical challenge with a high rate of mortality and morbidity
worldwide. Accumulating clinical trials aiming at the prevention of cerebral vasospasm (CVS) have
failed to improve the clinical outcome of patients with SAH. Therefore, a growing number of studies
have shifted focus to the pathophysiological changes that occur during the periods of early brain
injury (EBI). New pharmacological agents aiming to alleviate EBI have become a promising direction
to improve outcomes after SAH. Caspases belong to a family of cysteine proteases with diverse
functions involved in maintaining metabolism, autophagy, tissue differentiation, regeneration, and
neural development. Increasing evidence shows that caspases play a critical role in brain pathology
after SAH. Therefore, caspase regulation could be a potential target for SAH treatment. Herein, we
provide an overview pertaining to the current knowledge on the role of caspases in EBI after SAH,
and we discuss the promising therapeutic value of caspase-related agents after SAH.
Insights into the Cellular Interactions and Molecular Mechanisms of Ketogenic Diet for Comprehensive Management of Epilepsy
Authors: Singh Damanpreet , Kumar Amit , Kumari Savita
Published: April 2022

A high-fat diet with appropriate protein and low carbohydrate content, widely known as the ketogenic diet (KD), is considered as an effective non-pharmacotherapeutic treatment option for certain types of epilepsies. Several preclinical and clinical studies have been carried out to elucidate its mechanism of antiepileptic action. Ketone bodies produced after KD's breakdown interact with cellular excito-inhibitory processes and inhibit abnormal neuronal firing. The generated ketone bodies decrease glutamate release by inhibiting the vesicular glutamate transporter 1 and alter the transmembrane potential by hyperpolarization. Apart from their effect on the well-known pathogenic mechanisms of epilepsy, some recent studies have shown the interaction of KD metabolites with novel neuronal targets, particularly adenosine receptors, adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channel, mammalian target of rapamycin, histone deacetylase, hydroxycarboxylic acid receptors, and the NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 inflammasomes to suppress seizures. The role of KD in augmenting gut microbiota as a potential mechanism for epileptic seizure suppression has been established. Furthermore, some recent findings also support the beneficial effect of KD against epilepsy- associated comorbidities. Despite several advantages of the KD in epilepsy management, its use is also associated with a wide range of side effects. Hypoglycemia, excessive ketosis, acidosis, renal stones, cardiomyopathies, and other metabolic disturbances are the primary adverse effects observed with the use of KD. However, in some recent studies, modified KD has been tested with lesser side effects and better tolerability. The present review discusses the molecular mechanism of KD and its role in managing epilepsy and its associated comorbidities.