bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TBE in Kazakhstan
Authors: Dmitrovskiy Andrey
Published: May 2021

The first isolation of the TBEV in Kazakhstan was achieved in the Almaty region by M.P. Chumakov in 1941 (only one strain from one patient) during the expedition organized by the Central Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology (Moscow). This is proof that the clinically well-described “spring-summer encephalitis” in the Almaty region was in fact TBE. Later, in 1943, 1944 and 1945 the TBEV was also isolated from additional patients by local scientists from the Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Laboratory of Virology in Alma-Ata by Prof. E. I. Demikhovsky. Isolation had been accomplished from CSF samples up to 8 days of illness and also from brain tissue on day 12.1
TBE in Belarus
Authors: Kniazeva Volha , Erber Wilhelm , Vuković-Janković Tamara
Published: May 2021

Belarus is a landlocked country of eastern Europe with a population of 9.4 million, of which 78.4% reside in urban areas bordered by Lithuania and Latvia to the north west, by Russia to the north and east, by Ukraine to the south, and by Poland to the west. The country of Belarus is divided into six administrative districts (Brest, Gomel, Grodno, Minsk, Mogilev, Vitebsk regions) each centered around a major city (Minsk). Much of the country consists of ﬂat lowlands separated by low-level topped hills and uplands; the highest point is Dzyarzhynskaya Hill, being only 1135 feet (346 meters) above sea level. Over half of the surface area of Belarus lies below 660 feet (200 meters), and about 40% of the country is forested. The most common tick species in Belarus are Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus.
TBE in Norway
Authors: Paulsen Katrine M. , Vikse Rose , Soleng Arnulf , Edgar Kristin , Elisabeth Heggen Lindstedt Heidi , Dorenberg Dagny H. , Sofie Wiklund Berit , Andreassen Åshild
Published: May 2021

In Norway, tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) has been a mandatory notifiable disease since 1975 (Norwegian Surveillance system for communicable diseases, MSIS).1 According to ECDCs classification, coastal areas in southern Norway (counties of Agder, and Vestfold and Telemark) are endemic for TBE. Further, Viken County (former Østfold, Akershus and Buskerud), and western and northern Norway to Brønnøy municipality is imperiled.2-9
TBE in Romania
Authors: Chitimia-Dobler Lidia , Hristea Adriana , Erber Wilhelm , Vuković-Janković Tamara
Published: May 2021

Based on an epidemiological survey,1 human TBEV neuroinfections may have an endemic emergent course, and natural foci are in full territorial expansion. Identified risk areas are Tulcea district, Transylvania, at the base of the Carpathian Mountains and the Transylvanian Alps.2,3 TBE has been a notifiable disease since 1996. Surveillance of TBE is not done at the country level, only regionally in some counties (northern/central/western part, close to Hungary). The passive surveillance system was implemented in 2008. However, there is no regular screening and the relative risk of contracting this disease is unknown. In 1999, an outbreak of TBE in humans was recorded with a total of at least 38 human cases.4 The probable cause of the outbreak was goat milk and raw goat milk products. Subsequent studies to detect TBEV in ticks in the affected regions resulted in a non -specified number of TBEV isolates, which were described as belonging to the European subtype of TBEV. A publication of the neighboring Republic of Moldova described the existence of the Far-eastern subtype of TBEV just at the border to Romania.5
TBE in Russia
Authors: Igorevich Zlobin Vladimir , Esyunina Maria , Syrochkina Maria
Published: May 2021

TBE was first revealed in the Far-East Taiga Forest in the Soviet Union in springs and summers between 1933-19351 and it was further investigated as of 1937 at a large multidisciplinary expedition led by Professor Lev Zilber, the Head of the Moscow Medical Virology laboratory.2,3 The expedition demonstrated that the disease develops in humans after a tick bite,4 and the “Taiga Tick” Ixodes persulcatus was established as the virus carrier. The viral etiology of the disease was confirmed and the first strain of TBE virus (TBEV) was isolated. The clinical disease spectrum in humans and the respective pathology were described and the effectiveness of immunoglobulin-therapy was shown.5 Based on morphological studies since 1937 TBE was assigned to the group of neuro-infections as an independent nosological entity.6,7
TBE in Belgium
Authors: Suin Vanessa , Lernout Tinne , Van Esbroeck Marjan , Van Gucht Steven
Published: May 2021

In 2018, the two first human tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) cases with possible/probable autochthonous infection were diagnosed at the National Reference Centre (NRC) of Arbovirus (The Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium). Every year, some imported cases of TBE are also detected, infected in other European countries such as Germany,1 Scandinavia, Austria, Kyrgyzstan or Slovenia2 and Russia.
TBE in Sweden
Authors: Lundkvist Åke
Published: May 2021

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) was isolated for the first time in Sweden in 1958 (from ticks and from 1 tick-borne encephalitis [TBE] patient).1 In 2003, Haglund and colleagues reported the isolation and antigenic and genetic characterization of 14 TBEV strains from Swedish patients (samples collected 1991–1994).2 The first serum sample, from which TBEV was isolated, was obtained 2–10 days after onset of disease and found to be negative for anti-TBEV immunoglobulin M (IgM) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), whereas TBEV-specific IgM (and TBEV-specific immunoglobulin G/cerebrospinal fluid [IgG/CSF] activity) was demonstrated in later serum samples taken during the second phase of the disease.
TBE in China
Authors: Junfeng Yang , Schmitt Heinz-J
Published: May 2021

The first TBE patients in China were reported in 1943, and the TBEV was isolated from the brain tissues of 2 patients in 1944 by Japanese military scientists,1 and from patients and ticks (Ixodes persulcatus and Haemaphysalis concinna) in 1952 by Chinese researchers.2 The Far Eastern viral subtype (TBEV-FE) is the endemic subtype that has been isolated from all 3 known natural foci (northeastern China, western China, and southwestern China).14 Recently a new “Himalayan subtype” of the TBEV (TBEV-HIM) was isolated from wild rodent Marmoata himalayana in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau15. The main vector of the TBEV in China is I. persulcatus.3 One recent report suggests that the TBEV-SIB is prevalent in the Uygur region (North West China)13 but epidemiological modelling indicates that the TBEV may occur even widely all over China (Figure 3).4 Likely, the disease is often missed by clinicians due to a lack of the availability of specific diagnostic assays
Influence of soil characteristics on working dynamics mining tral authority
Authors: Tkachyck Pavlo , Yemelianov Alexandr
Published: May 2021

The safest way to clear mines and barriers, in terms of saving human life and health, is to clear them at the site. Minesweepers are being used for this purpose, and in recent years they have gained extensive research, which is aimed at the use of large-scale explosion technology. Existing minesweepers in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as a rule, are old-fashioned, and have certain shortcomings that affect the efficiency of their direct use. These include, first of all, insufficient survivability and different efficiency of their use during demining of minefields with different types of soils: from sandy, loamy and gravel. The range of physical and mechanical properties of the latter is very wide, and therefore - for the operation of an explosive device (mine) requires different amounts of action on the soil surface. The modernized mine trawl neutralizing device in the form of a system of U-shaped rockers with disks at the end is proposed in the work. They, acting directly on the mine, or through a small layer of soil, cause it to explode, provided that the force on the latter is not less than the minimum value required for its disposal. The advantage of this type of mine trawl is that even if one of the working disks fails during the explosion, it is structurally relatively easy to replace it with another. The magnitude of the deepening of the neutralizing disks into the soil (at a constant weight of the mounted part of the trawl), as well as their dynamic action through the soil on the mine depends on the physical and mechanical properties of the soil. Therefore, for the case of, for example, clay or sandy soils during the movement of the trawl, it will be sufficient for the operation of the explosive device, at the same time for the coating of gravel - insufficient. In addition, the amount of deepening of the working disks in the soil depends on its humidity.
The study of the influence of the main physical and mechanical characteristics of soils on the dynamics of the modernized mine trawl neutralizing device during movement along the minefield (before and after the mine explosion) is the subject of research, hence their relevance.
Nanomodified rapid hardening concretes reinforced with dispersed basaltic fibers
Authors: Korolko Serhiy , Seredyuk Bohdan
Published: May 2021

The article considers modern perspectives and directions of using fast – hardening high – strength concretes for protection against striking factors of action of different types of weapons. It is shown that the use of concrete materials in weapons and military equipment is one of the important components of defense structures and protective fortifications during hostilities as platoons and bases, and structures for the protection of civilians. The possibility of obtaining such concretes for the creation of special purpose fortifications is shown. Developed concrete structures have increased strength and impact resistance to high-speed impact. Due to the reinforcement of the concrete structure with mineral and chemical additives and ultrafine fibers, high rates of early strength, viscosity, crack resistance and impact resistance are achieved. The paper presents the main indicators of water consumption, strength and impact resistance of high-strength concrete. The results of the experimental study of samples of the destroyed concrete elements are presented and the corresponding conclusions concerning the use of various types of fibers for reinforcement of such concretes and increase of their crack resistance by basalt fibers are made. It is shown that a high-strength concrete with high construction and technical performance can be successfully used to create protective fortifications and fortifications for special purposes.
Improvements and Shortcomings in Emergency Oxygen Prescribing: A Quality Improvement Initiative at an Acute Tertiary Care Hospital
Authors: Ranjbar Hoda , Dorai Shruti
Published: May 2021

Oxygen is one of the most commonly used yet poorly prescribed drugs. The 2015 British Thoracic Society (BTS) emergency oxygen audit highlighted the national shortcomings in oxygen prescribing and administration. A 2017 local audit at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, UK, continued to demonstrate poor compliance with the BTS Oxygen Prescribing Guidelines in all areas audited. This study carried out yearly reaudits in November 2018 and 2019 to objectively measure the impact of implementing trust-wide and local interventions (July 2018 and August 2019).Intervention 1 included introduction of the National Early Warning Score (NEWS2) scale and redesigning drug charts with tick-boxes for target oxygen saturations. Intervention 2 included mandatory junior doctor teaching on safe oxygen prescribing, ‘oxygen safety’ posters on audited wards, and reminders at handover for staff to measure and document oxygen saturations.Following Intervention 1, all patients with valid oxygen prescriptions had a specified target saturations range. Intervention 2 ensured all patients had actual saturations within their prescribed target range, and 99% had oxygen saturations documented with sufficient frequency for their NEWS2 score. These were huge improvements from previous audits, during which a significant proportion of patients were at risk of hypercapnia, and those over- or underoxygenated were left unrecognised for hours. Despite improvements, 14% of patients continued to use oxygen without valid prescriptions in 2019, and drug charts were inconsistently signed for during drug rounds.Although the implemented changes enabled drastic improvements for patient safety and quality in oxygen use, future work should ensure oxygen is always treated as a drug with suitable prescription and documentation.
Placemaking
Authors: Page Tara
Published: May 2021

‘Where are you from?’ This question often refers to someone’s birthplace, childhood home or a place that holds significance. The location that is offered in response to this question is more than a means of orientation; it is a lived place that has complex meanings that identify and are learned. The significance of place and belonging to our lives is often overlooked, yet it is key to understanding who we are, both individually and collectively. Through embodied and material practice research, underpinned with theories of new materialism, Tara Page enables us to learn and understand how our ways of knowing, making and learning place are entangled with embodied and materials pedagogies. This creative and multi-dimensional assemblage brings together the global with the local, practice with theory and demonstrates the complex pedagogy between bodies, places and everyday social relations of power revealing that placemaking is the very experiential fact of our existence but is also a necessary one.
‘Ruth Davidson’s Conservatives’, 2011–19
Authors: Torrance David
Published: May 2021

This chapter provides a narrative account of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party between 2011-19, during which it was led by Ruth Davidson. Drawing on academic articles, contemporary media coverage and new interviews, it draws out the key themes of the period. The chapter looks at the party’s electoral fortunes during that period, its strategies, rhetoric and branding, particularly during the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. It argues that far from immediately transforming the party’s fortunes – the impression given by some alternative accounts – it actually took Davidson several years to have a positive impact on her party and its polling. It also argues that this ‘Davidson bounce’ was rather short-lived and began to diminish long before her resignation as leader in the autumn of 2019.
Environmental and economic franchising tools in the sustainable management system: application technologies
Authors: Bendasiuk O. , Mykytenko V.
Published: May 2021

The article formulates and reveals the main mechanisms and technologies for managing the introduction of environmental and economic franchising tools in management, which allows to ensure the implementation of the target functions of the modern environmental management system and environmental protection, taking into account current problems and risks of different nature.The essence and content of basic and specific functions of nature management and environmental protection of the state are revealed. This allowed to determine the list of necessary for the implementation of economic, types of environmental and economic franchising in the context of ensuring the transition of the state and its regions to sustainable development in resource constraints as a result of increasing and rationalizing the use of natural resources.The importance and significance of ecological and economic franchising for the development of the national system of sustainable management are described. The following are formulated and detailed: a economic and legal conditions and grounds for the effectiveness of the tools of environmental and economic franchising in Ukraine; financial and environmental policies of the state. This became the basis for substantiation: a set of tasks to achieve sustainable management of socio-economic systems and territorial natural economic formations, a format for implementing effective environmental innovation projects to address environmental issues, and an innovative composition of search tools and methods. new opportunities and reserves to attract investment to increase the level of economic, environmental, social, industrial and natural resource security of the state as a whole. It is shown that the introduction of franchising requires not only changes in production and economic and organizational and managerial structures, but also the restructuring of thinking and ways of doing business at all levels, which take care of spatial management of sustainable development of the state and its regions.
Development potential of the tourism and recrea­tional complex of rural areas
Authors: Sakharnatska L.
Published: May 2021

The Recreation and tourism industry today is one of the priority and conducive to the formation of a high-quality national economy. Rural tourism as one of the components of tourism plays an important role in shaping effective and regional development and, as a result, national development and diversifica­ tion of the national economy through appropriate, structural, and systematic planning, identifying the benefits and limitations of rural recreation and tourism.
The peculiarities of rural tourism are revealed and the factors hindering its development in Ukraine are determined. Analyzed potential problems and prospects of development of rural tourism and recreation complex in terms of its impact on sustainable rural development. The problems of domestic agro-tou­rism are outlined, the solution of which will improve the level of the economic and social life of the rural population, which will contribute to the growth of the potential for the development of the tourist and recreational complex of rural areas in Ukraine.
Economic assessment of prospects for the produc­tion of granular organic fertilizers from broiler chicken manure
Authors: Shevtsova О.
Published: May 2021

The article analyzes the current state of poultry farming in Ukraine and substantiates the important role of broiler production in the development of this industry. The problem of handling by-products of animal origin has been studied, as their volumes show a growing trend. The necessity of processing of by-products of animal origin of broiler production is proved. The introduction of technology for the production of organic fertilizer based on manure of broiler chickens is proposed. The cost structure, level of profitability and economic efficiency of production are estimated.
Features of dynamics of the Ingul river aquatic environment parameters during the summer low-water period
Authors: Bezsonov Ye. , Krysinska D. , Rossol R.
Published: May 2021

Global climate change causes changes in the humidification regime and, as a result, makes adjustments to economic activities and features of water use. In the context of Ukraine, against the background of climate change, the runoff of most ukrainian rivers is declining, which especially in the low-water period exacerbates the issue of balanced use of ecosystem services of aquatic ecosystems and prioritization of needs during resource allocation, control of rivers and establishment of their functioning. Therefore, recognizing the strategic importance of freshwater ecosystems in ensuring sustainable regional and national development, the Ingul River study focused on assessing its ecological status in order to identify sources of negative anthropogenic impacts and general ecosystem distortions that may affect the functional integrity of the aquatic ecosystem. Thus, on the basis of field research, the assessment of the ecological condition of the Ingul River in the lower course was carried out in the work. Regularities of pH dynamics and mineralization of the water environment are established. The limits of the spatial influence of the sea waters of the Bug estuary on the Ingul River have been clarified, the continental advance of which (upstream) can be largely attributed to the regulation of runoff. The same processes, as a consequence, affect not only biodiversity, but also the features of industrial and domestic water use. Using the stenobiont approach, the level of ecological safety of the Ingul ecosystem in the lower reaches was assessed. Based on the obtained results of stenobioindication, the zoning of the lower reaches of the Ingul River is proposed, which compares quite well with the results of pH and mineralization measurements. Natural factors that may affect the intensity and quality of self-healing properties of the aquatic ecosystem upstream have also been identified.
Protection of water resources of the Carpathian region from pollution and negative consequences and their impact on human health
Authors: Gutsulyak G. , Gutsulyak Yu.
Published: May 2021

Theoretical and practical issues of water resources of the Carpathian region are considered. An analysis of available water resources, use, sources and scale of pollution, their protection against pollution and adverse effects and the impact of these factors on human health. The development of production and improper conduct of economic activity by the relevant people, during which it began to use more and more natural resources, led to imbalances in the natural environment, which, in turn, led to a violation of the economic situation. This exacerbates the attention to economic problems and, above all, to the reduction of non-renewable raw materials and energy resources, to environmental pollution and loss of clean water, catastrophic reduction of fresh water, fertile land, many species of plants and animals, to preserve the necessary quality of the environment. the main thing, in the end, to the impact of all negative environmental factors on human health.
Forest typological and phytosozological assessment of forest vegetation of Slobozhansky National Park
Authors: Bezrodnova O. , Tymochko I. , Solomakha І. , Chornobrov О. , Bondarenko H.
Published: May 2021

Forest typological and phytososological biodiversity of forest vegetation of Slobozhansky National Park is shown. The park covers 5244 hectares and includes the main parts of the run off valleys of the left-bank Merla River tributary, which belongs to the Vorskla River basin in the Kharkiv region. The main forest-forming species of the Slobozhansky National Nature Park are Pinus sylvestris L. (2779.3 hectares, 59.84%), Quercus robur L. (1451.8 hectares, 31.26%). Minor areas are occupied by Betula pendula Roth (138.3 hectares, 2.98%), Alnus glutinosa (L.) P. Gaertn. (122.5 hectares, 2.64%), Populus tremula L. (45.0 hectares, 0.97%) and other species. Areas covered with forest vegetation are represented by 16 edatopes: all trophotope and almost all hygrotopes, except very dry. Among the trophotopes subors (2015.2 hectares, 43.39%), oak wood (1504.4 hectares, 32.39%) and sugruds (1042.2 hectares, 22.44%) predominate, and the part of pine forest is insignificant (82.5 hectares, 1.78%). Among hygrotopes, the majority are with fresh conditions (4060.6 hectares, 87.43%), much smaller areas are dry (268.4 hectares, 5.78%), damp (184.3 hectares, 3.97%), moist (124.4 hectares, 2.68%) and wet (6.6 hectares, 0.14%) conditions. There are 17 types of forests in the Slobozhansky National Park areas covered with forest vegetation. Fresh oak-pine forest (1780.6 hectares, 38.35%), fresh maple-linden forest (1453.6 hectares, 31.30%), fresh linden-oak-pine sugrud (756.8 hectares, 16.30%) are dominated. Pinus sylvestris plantations grow in 10 forest types. The most common types of pine forests are fresh oak-pine and fresh linden-oak-pine sugrud. Quercus robur growth in 7 forest types, the most common of which is fresh maple-linden oak wood. The distribution of forest typological differences on the territory of the park of vascular plants rare species populations, which have different sozological status is analyzed. Annex I to Resolution 6 of the Berne Convention includes the following species: Dracocephalum ruyschiana L., Jurinea cyanoides (L.) Rchb., Iris pineticola Klokov. A number of species have the appropriate conservation status in Ukraine (Diphasiastrum complanatum (L.) Holub, Lycopodium annotinum L., Dracocephalum ruyschiana, Pulsatilla pratensis (L.) Mill. Sl, Allium ursinum L., Iris furcata M. Bieb., Iris pineticola, Fritillaria meleagris L., F. ruthenica Wikstr., Tulipa quercetorum Klokov & Zoz, Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz, Listera ovata (L.) R. Br., Neottia nidus-avis (L.) Rich., Platanthera bifolia (L.) Rich., Stipa borysthenica Klokov ex Prokudin) and 22 species at the regional range.
Economic component in the field of livestock as a factor of formation of sustainable development in the context of rural areas
Authors: Moskalenko V. , Kolosha V.P.
Published: May 2021

The article deals with the problems of the influence of the livestock sector on the formation of sustainable development of rural areas. It is emphasized that currently global problems have formed in the world, namely: differentiation in living standards between developed countries and ‘third world’ countries, significant differentiation of income levels among most countries, environmental pollution, limited and reduced easily accessible natural resources, degradation of agricultural lands. Today, the principles of sustainable development are recognized as strategic directions for the development of the sector by the world’s leading countries. In the process of research, dialectical methods of cognition of processes and phenomena, monographic method (analysis of views on the concept of sustainable development), abstract-logical (theoretical generalizations and formulation of conclusions) were used. The article addresses the problems of the influence of the livestock sector on the formation of sustainable development of rural areas. A brief overview of approaches and principles for the interpretation of the concept of ‘sustainable development’ was conducted. It is noted that the current situation in rural areas is critical in terms of, first of all, social and environmental problems. The livestock sector should become one of the elements of their solution. It is noted that its development allows not only to diversify production, but also to improve the social situation and solve certain environmental problems. The authors give their own definition of rural development as a development that provides an increase in the level and quality of life of rural residents with the provision of their social needs and the ability to pass on the natural biodiversity of the respective areas to future generations. It is emphasized that this definition combines economic, social and environmental development.The key principles of the state policy in development of rural territories on the principles of susta­inable development with allocation of its constituent elements are formulated. Measures for sustainable development of rural areas through the support of the livestock sector as one of the components of agricultural production are proposed. It is noted that intensive production is possible today, provided that the optimal ratio of the structure of land use and the presence of the livestock sector in the structure of production is maintained.
Substantiation of the conceptual approach to of promotion strategy of biotechnological products
Authors: Demianiuk O. , Gaidar A.
Published: May 2021

The main approaches to the formation of a strategy for the promotion of biotechnological products are highlighted. The conceptual approach to the promotion strategy is an algorithm for the sequence of consumer assessment, namely the business entity of the environmentally oriented direction, its direction of activity, hierarchy in management, positive and negative facts, the general level of Internet activity. It also focuses on the fact that the future strategy is most effective on digital platforms and is based on the principles of Internet marketing with the use of special marketing tools and mandatory evaluation of the effectiveness of the implemented strategy at the final stage. The key features of modern Internet behavior of regular and non-permanent Internet users are revealed. The position of the reference group on the rational way of purchasing biotechnological products is highlighted, as well as the key Internet marketing tools of interaction of biologic manufacturers with their consumers. It is substantiated that at the present stage of development of biotechnological business the most rational tool of ecological marketing in online systems is the official site. The model of behavior of the management of consumer enterprises in the implementation of innovative approaches to marketing interaction in the B2B segment is described. The conceptual approach of the strategy of promotion of biotechnological products in online systems is formed and substantiated.
The Integral Role of RNA in Stress Granule Formation and Function
Authors: Campos-Melo Danae , Hawley Zachary C. E. , Droppelmann Cristian A. , Strong Michael J.
Published: May 2021

Stress granules (SGs) are phase-separated, membraneless, cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein (RNP) assemblies whose primary function is to promote cell survival by condensing translationally stalled mRNAs, ribosomal components, translation initiation factors, and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). While the protein composition and the function of proteins in the compartmentalization and the dynamics of assembly and disassembly of SGs has been a matter of study for several years, the role of RNA in these structures had remained largely unknown. RNA species are, however, not passive members of RNA granules in that RNA by itself can form homo and heterotypic interactions with other RNA molecules leading to phase separation and nucleation of RNA granules. RNA can also function as molecular scaffolds recruiting multivalent RBPs and their interactors to form higher-order structures. With the development of SG purification techniques coupled to RNA-seq, the transcriptomic landscape of SGs is becoming increasingly understood, revealing the enormous potential of RNA to guide the assembly and disassembly of these transient organelles. SGs are not only formed under acute stress conditions but also in response to different diseases such as viral infections, cancer, and neurodegeneration. Importantly, these granules are increasingly being recognized as potential precursors of pathological aggregates in neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we examine the current evidence in support of RNA playing a significant role in the formation of SGs and explore the concept of SGs as therapeutic targets.
PRMT5 Is Involved in Spermatogonial Stem Cells Maintenance by Regulating Plzf Expression via Modulation of Lysine Histone Modifications
Authors: Dong Fangfang , Chen Min , Chen Min , Jiang Lin , Shen Zhiming , Ma Longfei , Han Chunsheng , Guo Xudong , Gao Fei
Published: May 2021

Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) catalyzes the formation of mono- or symmetric dimethylarginine residues on histones and non-histone substrates and has been demonstrated to play important roles in many biological processes. In the present study, we observed that PRMT5 is abundantly expressed in spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) and that Prmt5 deletion results in a progressive loss of SSCs and male infertility. The proliferation of Prmt5-deficient SSCs cultured in vitro exhibited abnormal proliferation, cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase and a significant increase in apoptosis. Furthermore, PLZF expression was dramatically reduced in Prmt5-deficient SSCs, and the levels of H3K9me2 and H3K27me2 were increased in the proximal promoter region of the Plzf gene in Prmt5-deficient SSCs. Further study revealed that the expression of lysine demethylases (JMJD1A, JMJD1B, JMJD1C, and KDM6B) was significantly reduced in Prmt5-deficient SSCs and that the level of permissive arginine methylation H3R2me2s was significantly decreased at the upstream promoter region of these genes in Prmt5-deficient SSCs. Our results demonstrate that PRMT5 regulates spermatogonial stem cell development by modulating histone H3 lysine modifications.
Loss of Pde6a Induces Rod Outer Segment Shrinkage and Visual Alterations in pde6aQ70X Mutant Zebrafish, a Relevant Model of Retinal Dystrophy
Authors: Crouzier Lucie , Diez Camille , Richard Elodie M. , Cubedo Nicolas , Barbereau Clément , Rossel Mireille , Delaunay Thomas , Maurice Tangui , Delprat Benjamin
Published: May 2021

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is one of the most common forms of inherited retinal degeneration with 1/4,000 people being affected. The vision alteration primarily begins with rod photoreceptor degeneration, then the degenerative process continues with cone photoreceptor death. Variants in 71 genes have been linked to RP. One of these genes, PDE6a is responsible for RP43. To date no treatment is available and patients suffer from pronounced visual impairment in early childhood. We used the novel zebrafish pde6aQ70X mutant, generated by N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea at the European Zebrafish Resource Centre, to better understand how PDE6a loss of function leads to photoreceptor alteration. Interestingly, zebrafish pde6aQ70X mutants exhibited impaired visual function at 5 dpf as evidenced by the decrease in their visual motor response (VMR) compared to pde6aWT larvae. This impaired visual function progressed with time and was more severe at 21 dpf. These modifications were associated with an alteration of rod outer segment length at 5 and 21 dpf. In summary, these findings suggest that rod outer segment shrinkage due to Pde6a deficiency begins very early in zebrafish, progresses with time. The zebrafish pde6aQ70X mutant represents an ideal model of RP to screen relevant active small molecules that will block the progression of the disease.
Dynamic Observation of the Effect of Maternal Caries on the Oral Microbiota of Infants Aged 12–24 Months
Authors: Li Fei , Fu Ding , Tao Danying , Feng Xiping , Wong May Chun Mei , Xu Wei , Lu Haixia
Published: May 2021

Aim

To provide a dynamic description of the oral microbial composition in mothers with and without dental caries and their children aging 12-24 months.

Methodology

A total of 20 pairs of mothers and their children aged 12 months were included and followed up at 18 and 24 months of age. Ten mothers with dental caries(MEG) and their children(CEG) were in the exposure group, and ten caries-free mothers(MCG) and their children(CCG)in control group. Supragingival plaque biofilm samples were collected and DNA was extracted for bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Results

A total of 18 pairs completed follow-ups. At a 3% divergence level, the number of common operational taxonomic units found between the mothers and children increased as the children aged. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Fusobacteria, and Actinobacteria accounted for more than 80% phyla of each group. A microbial community structure analysis showed that the differences between mothers and children were significant in all groups except for the MEG24 and CEG24 groups.

Conclusions

Oral microbiota of children was more like their mothers’ with increasing age, regardless of whether the mothers had dental caries. Mothers with dental caries may have a greater influence on the oral microbiota of children’s than those without dental caries as children age.
Are HFpEF and HFmrEF So Different? The Need to Understand Distinct Phenotypes
Authors: Palazzuoli Alberto , Beltrami Matteo
Published: May 2021

Traditionally, patients with heart failure (HF) are divided according to ejection fraction (EF) threshold more or <50%. In 2016, the ESC guidelines introduced a new subgroup of HF patients including those subjects with EF ranging between 40 and 49% called heart failure with midrange EF (HFmrEF). This group is poorly represented in clinical trials, and it includes both patients with previous HFrEF having a good response to therapy and subjects with initial preserved EF appearance in which systolic function has been impaired. The categorization according to EF has recently been questioned because this variable is not really a representative of the myocardial contractile function and it could vary in relation to different hemodynamic conditions. Therefore, EF could significantly change over a short-term period and its measurement depends on the scan time course. Finally, although EF is widely recognized and measured worldwide, it has significant interobserver variability even in the most accredited echo laboratories. These assumptions imply that the same patient evaluated in different periods or by different physicians could be classified as HFmrEF or HFpEF. Thus, the two HF subtypes probably subtend different responses to the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Similarly, the adaptation to hemodynamic stimuli and to metabolic alterations could be different for different HF stages and periods. In this review, we analyze similarities and dissimilarities and we hypothesize that clinical and morphological characteristics of the two syndromes are not so discordant.
Functional Structure in Production Networks
Authors: Mattsson Carolina E. S. , Takes Frank W. , Heemskerk Eelke M. , Diks Cees , Buiten Gert , Faber Albert , Sloot Peter M. A.
Published: May 2021

Production networks are integral to economic dynamics, yet dis-aggregated network data on inter-firm trade is rarely collected and often proprietary. Here we situate company-level production networks within a wider space of networks that are different in nature, but similar in local connectivity structure. Through this lens, we study a regional and a national network of inferred trade relationships reconstructed from Dutch national economic statistics and re-interpret prior empirical findings. We find that company-level production networks have so-called functional structure, as previously identified in protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks. Functional networks are distinctive in their over-representation of closed squares, which we quantify using an existing measure called spectral bipartivity. Shared local connectivity structure lets us ferry insights between domains. PPI networks are shaped by complementarity, rather than homophily, and we use multi-layer directed configuration models to show that this principle explains the emergence of functional structure in production networks. Companies are especially similar to their close competitors, not to their trading partners. Our findings have practical implications for the analysis of production networks and give us precise terms for the local structural features that may be key to understanding their routine function, failure, and growth.
Analysis of Online Peripartum Depression Communities: Application of Multilabel Text Classification Techniques to Inform Digitally-Mediated Prevention and Management
Authors: Zingg Alexandra , Singh Tavleen , Myneni Sahiti
Published: May 2021

Peripartum depression (PPD) is a significant public health problem, yet many women who experience PPD do not receive adequate treatment. In many cases, this is due to social stigmas surrounding PPD that prevent women from disclosing their symptoms to their providers. Examples of these are fear of being labeled a “bad mother,” or having misinformed expectations regarding motherhood. Online forums dedicated to PPD can provide a practical setting where women can better manage their mental health in the peripartum period. Data from such forums can be systematically analyzed to understand the technology and information needs of women experiencing PPD. However, deeper insights are needed on how best to translate information derived from online forum data into digital health features. In this study, we aim to adapt a digital health development framework,Digilego, toward translation of our results from social media analysis to inform digital features of a mobile intervention that promotes PPD prevention and self-management. The first step in our adaption was to conduct a user need analysis through semi-automated analysis of peer interactions in two highly popular PPD online forums: What to Expect and BabyCenter. This included the development of a machine learning pipeline that allowed us to automatically classify user post content according to major communication themes that manifested in the forums. This was followed by mapping the results of our user needs analysis to existing behavior change and engagement optimization models. Our analysis has revealed major themes being discussed by users of these online forums- family and friends, medications, symptom disclosure, breastfeeding, and social support in the peripartum period. Our results indicate that Random Forest was the best performing model in automatic text classification of user posts, when compared to Support Vector Machine, and Logistic Regression models. Computerized text analysis revealed that posts had an average length of 94 words, and had a balance between positive and negative emotions. Our Digilego-powered theory mapping also indicated that digital platforms dedicated to PPD prevention and management should contain features ranging from educational content on practical aspects of the peripartum period to inclusion of collaborative care processes that support shared decision making, as well as forum moderation strategies to address issues with cyberbullying.
Geochronology and Geochemistry of Late Paleozoic Volcanic Rocks and Their Relationship With Iron and Molybdenum Deposits in Xilekuduk Area, Northern Margin of Junggar
Authors: Wei Xiaofeng , Wei Hao , Liao Zhen , Wang Zhiwei , Li Dong , Mao Qigui , Li Xiao
Published: May 2021

A large number of intermediate basic volcanic rocks and porphyry Cu-Mo deposits as well as volcanic-hosted magnetite deposit have been recently discovered in the Xilekuduk area. However, no reports concerning petrogenesis and age or their relationship with mineralization have been published to date. The purpose of this study was to make up for the absence of previous studies on Devonian volcanic activities in the area and to confirm the relationship between two stages of volcanic activities and mineralization so as to provide important theoretical basis for mineral exploration. Based on research results of zircon U-Pb geochronology and element geochemistry of volcanic rocks in the area, the ages of dacite, andesite, and stomatal andesite are considered as 375.2 ± 2.9 Ma, 386.5 ± 3.0 Ma, and 317.9 ± 2.9 Ma, respectively, corresponding to the Middle Devonian and Late Carboniferous Period. The Devonian volcanic rocks belong to the high-K calc-alkaline series and island arc volcanic rocks, which are enriched in LREE, strongly enriched in large ion lithophile elements Th, Rb, Ba, and K and relatively depleted in high-field strength elements (HFSEs) Nb, Ta, and Ti. The Carboniferous volcanic rocks are enriched in LREE, as well as the large ion lithophile elements Th, Rb, Ba, and K are strongly enriched, while depleted in the HFSEs Nb, Ta, and Ti; moreover, the contents of TiO2and V are 0.94–0.97% and 178–183×10–6, which are higher than those of island arc basalts. According to mineralogical typomorphic characteristics and geochemical analysis, magnetite mineralization is divided into two phases. The early stratiform magnetite ore MT1 has magmatic characteristics, forming a volcanic rock type magnetite deposit related to Devonian volcanic eruption and sedimentation (375–386 Ma). The magnetite MT2 in the magnetite-quartz vein is considered as hydrothermal genesis, which is a metal mineral in the early metallogenic stage of Carboniferous (317.1 ± 2.9 Ma) volcanic eruption and subvolcanism, and may be related to porphyry molybdenum mineralization. Therefore, the volcanism and Fe-Cu-Mo mineralization in this area is characterized by multistage superimposed mineralization.
3D Printing the World: Developing Geophysical Teaching Materials and Outreach Packages
Authors: Koelemeijer Paula , Winterbourne Jeff
Published: May 2021

Measurements and models of global geophysical parameters such as potential fields, seismic velocity models and dynamic topography are well-represented as traditional contoured and/or coloured maps. However, as teaching aids and for public engagement, they offer little impact. Modern 3D printing techniques help to visualise these and other concepts that are difficult to grasp, such as the intangible structures in the deep Earth. We have developed a simple method for portraying scalar fields by 3D printing modified globes of surface topography, representing the parameter of interest as additional, exaggerated topography. This is particularly effective for long-wavelength (>500 km) fields. The workflow uses only open source and free-to-use software, and the resulting models print easily and effectively on a cheap (<$300) desktop 3D printer. In this contribution, we detail our workflow and provide examples of different models that we have developed with suggestions for topics that can be discussed in teaching and public engagement settings. Some of our most effective models are simply exaggerated planetary topography in 3D, including Earth, Mars, and the Moon. The resulting globes provide a powerful way to explain the importance of plate tectonics in shaping a planet and linking surface features to deeper dynamic processes. In addition, we have applied our workflow to models of crustal thickness, dynamic topography, the geoid and seismic tomography. By analogy to Russian nesting dolls, our “seismic matryoshkas” have multiple layers that can be removed by the audience to explore the structures present deep within our planet and to learn about ongoing dynamic processes. Handling our globes provokes new questions and draws attention to different features compared with 2D maps. Our globes are complementary to traditional methods of representing geophysical data, aiding learning through touch and intuition and making education and outreach more inclusive for the visually impaired and students with learning disabilities.
Apolipoprotein M—A Marker or an Active Player in Type II Diabetes?
Authors: Christoffersen Christina
Published: May 2021

Apolipoprotein M (apoM) is a member of the lipocalin superfamily and an important carrier of the small bioactive lipid sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). The apoM/S1P complex is attached to all lipoproteins, but exhibits a significant preference for high-density lipoproteins. Although apoM, S1P, and the apoM/S1P complex have been discovered more than a decade earlier, the overall function of the apoM/S1P complex remains controversial. Evidence suggests that the complex plays a role in inflammation and cholesterol metabolism and is important for maintaining a healthy endothelial barrier, regulating the turnover of triglycerides from lipoproteins, and reducing cholesterol accumulation in vessel walls. Recent studies have also addressed the role of apoM and S1P in the development of diabetes and obesity. However, limited evidence is available, and the data published so far deviates. This review discusses the specific elements indicative of the protective or harmful effects of apoM, S1P, and the apoM/S1P complex on type 2 diabetes development. Since drugs targeting the S1P system and its receptors are available and could be potentially used for treating diabetes, this research topic is a pertinent one.