bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reklamda Kadın Temsiliyeti ve Cinsiyetçi Örüntüler: Perfectha Filler ve Nokia Reklam Metni Örnekleri Üzerinden Göstergebilimsel Bir Analiz | Representation of Women in Advertising and Gendered Patterns: A Semiotic Analysis on Perfectha Filler and Nokia Ad Text Samples
Authors: TUNCER Esra Saniye
Published: November 2020

Bu çalışmada, kadın temsillerine yer veren reklam metinlerinin göstergebilimsel analizi üzerinden toplumsal cinsiyetin reklam metinlerindeki görünümlerine ve reklamlardaki cinsiyetçi örüntülere ilişkin birtakım verilere ulaşılmaya çalışıldı. Reklamlarda “toplumsal cinsiyet ideolojisi” bağlamında kadın bedeninin farklı konumlandırmalarına şahit olunmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, kadın temsilleri içeren estetik ve mobil telefon ürünlerine ait iki ayrı reklam metninin göstergebilim yöntemiyle analizi üzerinden toplumsal cinsiyetin reklam metinlerindeki görünümlerine ve cinsiyetçi örüntülere ilişkin birtakım tespitlere varılmıştır. Bu tespitlerin, reklam araştırmaları, kadın çalışmaları ve göstergebilimsel reklam çözümlemeleri (reklam göstergebilimi) alanında yapılan çalışmalara ışık tutacağı ve alana farklı bir bakış açısı kazandıracağı amaçlanmaktadır. Günümüz patriarkal toplumsal ve kültürel yapıdan doğan mitler ile toplumsal yapılanmaya yansıyan reklam mitleri arasındaki ilişki, toplumsal cinsiyet ideolojisi üzerinden şekillenmektedir. Bu bakış açısının “reklam göstergebilimi” alanında süregelecek çalışmalara ivme kazandıracağı kanaati, çalışmanın önemini gözler önüne sermektedir. Çalışmada, reklam metinlerinde toplumsal cinsiyet bağlamında geleneksel mitlere uygun kadın imgelerine yer verildiği ve bu imgelerin reklam metinlerinde cinsiyetçi örüntüleri inşa ettiği ve yeniden inşa ettiği saptanmıştır. Reklamda kurgulanan bu gerçeklik, tüketiciyi manipüle etmektedir. Diğer bir deyişle reklamın kurgusal gerçeği içinde işleyen ideoloji, insanların (kadınların) birbirleri ve dünya ile olan ilişkilerini manipülasyona uğratarak yeniden üretmektedir. Sonuç olarak denilebilir ki içinde cinsiyetçi örüntülerin işlendiği “toplumsal cinsiyet reklamları”, içinde üretildikleri toplumsal ve kültürel yapının değerlerini yansıtırken aynı zamanda onları yeniden üretmekte, inşa etmektedir.
Türkiye’de Kuma Evliliklerinin Nedenleri Üzerine Sosyolojik Bir Analiz: Hatay-Samandağ Örneği | Sociological Analyses on Reasons of Co-wife Marriages in Turkey: Hatay-Samandağ Examples
Authors: ŞEN Hasan , GÜMÜŞ Kezban
Published: November 2020

Evli erkeklerin mevcut eşinin üzerine başka bir kadınla gayriresmî olarak evlenmesi olarak tanımlanan kumalık dünyada ve Türkiye’de eskiye oranla sayısal olarak azalma gösterse de bazı bölgelerde hâlâ görülebilmektedir. Söz konusu evliliklerin başta ekonomi, göç, eğitim eksikliği, toplumsal cinsiyet ve geleneksel değerler olmak üzere birçok nedeni bulunmaktadır. Bu çalışmada bir toplumsal olgu/sorun olan kuma evliliklerinin nedenleri Hatay ili Samandağ ilçesi örneği üzerinden analiz edilmiştir. Çalışmada nitel araştırma yöntemi ve derinlemesine görüşme tekniği kullanılmıştır. 16 ilk eş ve 16 kuma olmak üzere toplamda 32 kadınla görüşülmüştür.
From Social Reproduction Theory Perspective Georgian Migrant Domestic Workers in Unye/ORDU | Toplumsal Yeniden Üretim Teorisi Perspektifinden Unye/Ordu’da Gürcü Göçmen Ev-işçileri
Authors: TEZCEK Fatma Özlem
Published: November 2020

Historically, capitalist social production and reproduction relations have close interaction with patriarchal gender hierarchies. This interaction has been transformed dramatically. Especially, the interaction between patriarchal gender roles and capitalist reproduction relations has been examined and debated by the distinct branches of feminist movement. In this paper, I will investigate this interaction via activities of migrant women domestic workers in Turkey which, I believe, represent essential features of the recent global dynamics of capitalism such as informalization, feminization of un/under-paid work force, feminization of immigration, globalization of domestic works. I will introduce the results of my field research about life and working conditions among migrant domestic workers in Ünye, Ordu Province of Turkey, in the Black Sea region. I have conducted semi-structured, face to face interviews with a certain number of Georgian migrant women. This method is consistent with many of the qualitative approaches pioneered and adopted by feminist researchers.
LGBT Bireylerin Yalnızlık, Yaşam Memnuniyeti ve Sosyal Uyum Düzeylerinin İncelenmesi | Examination of Loneliness, Life Satisfaction and Social Adjustment Levels of LGBT Individuals
Authors: SEZER Özlem , OKTAN Vesile
Published: November 2020

Günümüz dünyasında ayrımcılık ve ötekileştirmeye karşı çıkan ve eşitliğe vurgu yapan bir anlayış artmaktadır. Ancak buna rağmen cinsel kimlik ve yönelimi nedeniyle ayrımcılık yaşayan insanlar azımsanmayacak sayıdadır. Bu araştırmanın amacı, LGBT bireylerin yalnızlık, yaşam memnuniyeti ve sosyal uyum düzeylerini incelemektir. Araştırma grubunu, LGBT bireylerin üye olduğu sosyal platformlarda (Facebook, Türkiye’deki bazı LGBT dernek ve topluluklarına ait web siteleri) yer alan 245 LGBT birey oluşturmuştur. Araştırmada veri toplama aracı olarak, U.C.L.A. Yalnızlık Ölçeği, Yaşam Memnuniyeti Ölçeği, Sosyal Uyum Kendini Değerlendirme Ölçeği ve Kişisel Bilgi Formu kullanılmıştır. Araştırma verilerinin internet üzerinden toplanmasının daha uygun olacağı düşünülmüş ve çalışmada kullanılacak olan ölçme araçları internette cevaplanacak şekilde form haline getirilmiştir. Bu formun linki LGBT bireylerin üye olduğu sosyal platformlarda (Facebook, web sitesi vb.) ve Türkiye’deki bazı LGBT derneklerinin ve topluluklarının sayfasında paylaşılarak katılımcılara ulaşılmıştır. Verilerin analizi SPSS 22.0 programı ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bulgular, LGBT bireylerin yalnızlık, yaşam memnuniyeti ve sosyal uyum düzeylerinin yaşa göre anlamlı bir farklılık göstermediğini, yalnızlık ve yaşam memnuniyetinin eğitim düzeyine göre farklılaşmadığını ancak sosyal uyumlarının eğitim düzeyine göre anlamlı bir şekilde farklılık gösterdiğini ortaya koymuştur. Diğer yandan LGBT bireylerin yalnızlık, yaşam memnuniyeti ve sosyal uyum düzeyleri arasında anlamlı ilişkiler olduğu ve yalnızlık ve sosyal uyumun yaşam memnuniyetinin anlamlı yordayıcıları olduğu görülmüştür.
Felsefe ve Sinema
Authors: MÜMİNOĞLU Kasım
Published: November 2020

Lumiere kardeşlerin 1895 yılında hareketli fotoğrafı keşfettiklerinden sonra sinema sanatı o yıllardan başlayarak en çok yayılan ve en çok meyvelerin veren sanat dallarından biri olarak gelmektedir. Sinema sanatı ile felsefe arasında oldukça önemli bağın sinema sanatının ortaya çıkışından bu yana var olduğu bir gerçek. Düşünce dünyasının güçlü bir şekilde geliştiği dönemde sinema sanatı da gelişmiştir, düşünce dünyasının zayıfladığı dönemde ise sinema sanatı da zayıflamıştır. Bir başka ifadeyle felsefe kuramlar, sinema sanatı ise tasvirler vasıtası ile düşünce yaratır. Bu ise felsefe ile sinema sanatı arasındaki ilişkiyi tasdik ve tahkik eden amilleri öğrenmek için bizlere zemin hazırlar. Bu amillerin merkezinde insan vardır. Sinema tarihini felsefi bakışla ele alarak baktığımızda çoğu felsefi düşünce akımının sinema sanatına girdiğini, ülke ve sanatçılara, insanlara her yönden tesir ettiğini görmemiz mümkün. Bu makalede felsefe ve sinema ortasındaki ilişkinin hem felsefi hem de sinema sanatı bakımından önemini ele almakla birlikte sinema sanatına giren bu akımların insan yaşamındaki yerine açıklık getirme amaçlanmakta.
Крещение Грузии: народная традиция и исторические свидетельства (BAPTISM OF GEORGIA: FOLK TRADITION AND HISTORICAL EVIDENCE)
Authors: Соловьева (Solovyova) Любовь Тимофеевна (Lyubov T.)
Published: November 2020

Автор рассматривает свод сохранившихся свидетельств о крещении Грузии и распространении там христианства. Важно соотнести пласт народных преданий с историческими фактами, сохранившимися в документах, в письменных и других источниках. Никаких противоречий здесь не наблюдается. Можно констатировать, что христианизация страны была благом для ее народа, поскольку повлияла на этногенез и в конечном счете на появление грузинского этноса, сформировала основу грузинской культуры.

The author considers the set of surviving evidence of the baptism of Georgia and the spread of Christianity there. It is important to correlate the layer of folk traditions with historical facts preserved in documents, in written and other sources. No contradictions are observed here. It can be stated that the Christianization of the country was a blessing for its people, since it influenced ethnogenesis and, ultimately, the emergence of the Georgian ethnic group, formed the basis of Georgian culture.
A Decision Support System to Facilitate Identification of Musculoskeletal Impairments and Propose Recommendations Using Gait Analysis in Children With Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Chia Kohleth , Fischer Igor , Thomason Pam , Graham H. Kerr , Sangeux Morgan
Published: November 2020

The identification of musculoskeletal impairments from gait analysis in children with cerebral palsy is a complex task, as is formulating (surgical) recommendations. In this paper, we present how we built a decision support system based on gait kinematics, anthropometrics, and physical examination data. The decision support system was trained to learn the association between these data and the list of impairments and recommendations formulated historically by experienced clinicians. Our aim was 2-fold, train a computational model that would be representative of data-based clinical reasoning in our center, and support new or junior clinicians by providing pre-processed impairments and recommendations with the associated supportive evidence. We present some of the challenges we faced, such as the issues of dimensionality reduction for kinematic data, missing data imputations, class imbalance and choosing an appropriate model evaluation metric. Most models, i.e., one model for each impairments and recommendations, achieved a weighted Brier score lower than 0.20, and sensitivity and specificity greater than 0.70 and 0.80, respectively. The results of the models are accessible through a web-based application which displays the probability predictions as well as the (up to) 5 best predictors.
Modification of Metal-Organic Framework-Derived Nanocarbons for Enhanced Capacitive Deionization Performance: A Mini-Review
Authors: Lin Peng , Liao Maoxin , Yang Tao , Sheng Xinran , Wu Yue , Xu Xingtao
Published: November 2020

Capacitive deionization (CDI) is a promising electrochemical water treatment technology. Development of new electrode materials with higher performance is key to improve the desalination efficiency of CDI. Carbon nanomaterials derived from metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted wide attention for their porous nanostructures and large specific surface areas. The desalination capacity and cycling stability of MOF-derived carbons (MOFCs) have been greatly improved by means of morphology control, heteroatom doping, Faradaic material modification, etc. Despite progress has been made to improve their CDI performance, quite a lot of MOFCs are too costly to be applied in a large scale. It remains crucial to develop MOFCs with both high desalination efficiency and low cost. In this review, we summarized three modification methods of MOFCs, namely morphology control, heteroatom doping, and Faradaic material doping, and put forward some constructive advice on how to enhance the desalination performance of MOFCs effectively at a low cost. We hope that more efforts could be devoted to the industrialization of MOFCs for CDI.
COVID-19 in Pediatric Patients: A Focus on CHD Patients
Authors: Zareef Rana O. , Younis Nour K. , Bitar Fadi , Eid Ali H. , Arabi Mariam
Published: November 2020

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus. As of the 30th of September 2020, around 34,000,000 cases have been reported globally. Pediatrics with underlying congenital heart disease represent a small yet a critical proportion of these patients. In general, the majority of infected children experience mild to moderate disease with significant interindividual variability in laboratory and radiographic findings. Nevertheless, in healthy children with COVID-19, cardiac involvement has been documented and is attributed to various causes. Myocarditis, arrhythmias, cardiogenic shock, and serious multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children are all encountered. Since COVID-19 is a recent novel disease and based on previous experience with respiratory infections, children with underlying congenital heart disease should be given special attention. To date, little data is available about COVID-19 presentation, complications, and appropriate treatment in this population. However, variable and inconsistent disease presentation and severity have been observed. This paper discusses COVID-19 course of illness in pediatric population with a special emphasis on the cardiac manifestations of the disease in healthy population and also on the disease course in congenital heart disease patients in particular.
Investigating Controls on the Formation and Distribution of Wintertime Storage of Water in Supraglacial Lakes
Authors: Lampkin Derrick Julius , Koenig Lora , Joseph Casey , Box Jason Eric
Published: November 2020

Supraglacial lakes over the Greenland Ice Sheet can demonstrate multi-model drainage states. Lakes can demonstrate incomplete drainage, where residual melt can become buried under ice and snow and survive throughout the winter. We evaluate atmospheric factors that influence the propensity for the formation of buried lakes over the ice sheet. We examine the spatial and temporal occurrence and behavior of buried lakes over the Jakobshavn Isbrae and Zachariae Isstrøm outlet basins and assess the magnitude of insolation necessary to preserve melt water using a numerical lake model from 2009 to 2012. Buried lakes tend to occur at higher elevations within the ablation zone and those present at elevations > 1000 m tend to reoccur over several seasons. Lakes without buried water are relatively small (∼1 km2), whereas lakes with buried water are larger (∼6–10 km2). Lake area is correlated with the number of seasons sub-surface water persists. Buried lakes are relatively deep and associated with complex supraglacial channel networks. Winter stored water could be a precursor to the formation of supraglacial channels. Simulations of the insulation potential of accumulated snow and ice on the surface of lakes indicate substantial regional differences and inter-annual variability. With the possibility of inland migration of supraglacial lakes, buried lakes could be important in the evolution of ablation/percolation zone hydrology.
Epidemiology, Natural History, Risk Factors, and Prevention of Graves’ Orbitopathy
Authors: Bartalena Luigi , Piantanida Eliana , Gallo Daniela , Lai Adriana , Tanda Maria Laura
Published: November 2020

GO is the most frequent extrathyroidal manifestation of Graves’ disease, although it may rarely occur in euthyroid/hypothyroid patients with chronic autoimmune thyroiditis. It is a relatively infrequent disorder, and men tend to have more severe ocular involvement at an older age. The prevalence of GO is lower than in the past among patients with recent onset Graves’ hyperthyroidism, and moderate-to-severe forms requiring aggressive treatments are no more than 5–6% of all cases of GO. After an initial inflammatory (active) phase and a phase of stabilization (plateau phase), GO tends to improve and eventually inactivates (inactive or burnt-out phase). Minimal-to-mild GO often remits spontaneously, but complete restitutio ad integrum almost never occurs when GO is more than mild. Several risk factors contribute to its development on a yet undefined genetic background. Cigarette smoking is the most important of them. Early diagnosis, control and removal of modifiable risk factors, early treatment of mild forms of GO may effectively limit the risk of progression to more severe forms, which have a profound and dramatic impact on the quality of life of affected individuals, and remain a therapeutic challenge, often requiring long-lasting and multiple medical and surgical therapies.
Optimization of Financial Penalties for Environmental Pollution by Chinese Traditional Energy Enterprises
Authors: Chang Le , Song Yadong , Yu Tao
Published: November 2020

The formulation of proper financial penalties plays an important role in regulating Chinese traditional energy enterprises’ illegal pollution. Through the construction of a mixed-strategy game model and an evolutionary game model for regulatory agencies and traditional energy enterprises, the article studies how financial penalties impact players’ strategies and evolutionary processes to optimize financial penalties. It found that excessive financial penalties could reduce enforcement, but insufficient financial penalties would cause more pollution discharge violations. The article concludes that Chinese environmental laws should focus more on setting reasonable penalties based on the profit from activities that generate illegal pollution rather than on the environmental damage to improve regulatory effectiveness.
Climate Warming Facilitates Seed Germination in Native but Not Invasive Solidago canadensis Populations
Authors: Zhou Xiao-Hui , He Wei-Ming
Published: November 2020

Plant performance is commonly temperature-dependent so that this performance could vary with climate warming. Seeds are among the most important propagules of plants, and seed traits strongly influence plant invasion success. Therefore, understanding seed traits under climate warming is useful for predicting invasion risks. To this end, we conducted a warming experiment with an infrared radiator and examined the effects of 5 years warming (approximately 2°C above ambient) on the seed quality and subsequent germination of Solidago canadensis from North America, where it is native (24 native populations), and from China, where it is invasive (29 invasive populations). Temperature regimes (i.e., ambient vs. warming) interacted with population sources (i.e., native vs. invasive) to significantly influence seed germination, but not thousand-seed mass. Warming significantly advanced the seed germination timing of native S. canadensis populations and increased their seed germination rate; warming did not influence the germination timing but decreased the germination rate of invasive S. canadensis populations. Across two temperature regimes combined, 24 native S. canadensis populations had smaller seeds, later germination timing, and lower germination rate than 29 invasive S. canadensis populations. These findings suggest that climate warming could facilitate the seed germination of native but not invasive populations. Our data also highlight that invasive populations might be more successful than native populations due to better seed quality and faster and higher seed germination.
Disease-Causing Mutations and Rearrangements in Long Non-coding RNA Gene Loci
Authors: Aznaourova Marina , Schmerer Nils , Schmeck Bernd , Schulte Leon N.
Published: November 2020

The classic understanding of molecular disease-mechanisms is largely based on protein-centric models. During the past decade however, genetic studies have identified numerous disease-loci in the human genome that do not encode proteins. Such non-coding DNA variants increasingly gain attention in diagnostics and personalized medicine. Of particular interest are long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) genes, which generate transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides that are not translated into proteins. While most of the estimated ~20,000 lncRNAs currently remain of unknown function, a growing number of genetic studies link lncRNA gene aberrations with the development of human diseases, including diabetes, AIDS, inflammatory bowel disease, or cancer. This suggests that the protein-centric view of human diseases does not capture the full complexity of molecular patho-mechanisms, with important consequences for molecular diagnostics and therapy. This review illustrates well-documented lncRNA gene aberrations causatively linked to human diseases and discusses potential lessons for molecular disease models, diagnostics, and therapy.
Basophils and Eosinophils in Nematode Infections
Authors: Obata-Ninomiya Kazushige , Domeier Phillip P. , Ziegler Steven F.
Published: November 2020

Helminths remain one of the most prolific pathogens in the world. Following infection helminths interact with various epithelial cell surfaces, including skin, lung, and gut. Recent works have shown that epithelial cells produce a series of cytokines such as TSLP, IL-33, and IL-25 that lead to the induction of innate and acquired type 2 immune responses, which we named Type 2 epithelial cytokines. Although basophils and eosinophils are relatively rare granulocytes under normal conditions (0.5% and 5% in peripheral blood, respectively), both are found with increased frequency in type 2 immunity, including allergy and helminth infections. Recent reports showed that basophils and eosinophils not only express effector functions in type 2 immune reactions, but also manipulate the response toward helminths. Furthermore, basophils and eosinophils play non-redundant roles in distinct responses against various nematodes, providing the potential to intervene at different stages of nematode infection. These findings would be helpful to establish vaccination or therapeutic drugs against nematode infections.
The Adipocyte and Adaptive Immunity
Authors: Song Jianfeng , Deng Tuo
Published: November 2020

Not only do Adipocytes have energy storage and endocrine functions, but they also play an immunological role. Adipocytes are involved in adaptive immunity to mediate the pathological processes of a variety of chronic inflammatory diseases and autoimmune syndromes. The adaptive immune response consists of T cell-mediated cellular immunity and B cell-mediated humoral immunity. Obese adipocytes overexpress MHC class II molecules and costimulators to act as antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and promote the activation of CD4+ T cells. In addition, various adipokines secreted by adipocytes regulate the proliferation and differentiation of T cells. Adipokines are also involved in B cell generation, development, activation, and antibody production. Therefore, adipocytes play an important role in B cell-mediated adaptive immunity. This review describes how adipocytes participate in adaptive immunity from the perspective of T cells and B cells, and discusses their role in the pathogenesis of various diseases.
Unraveling the Molecular Evolution of Blood Coagulation Genes in Fishes and Cetaceans
Authors: Mariz João Pedro V. , Nery Mariana F.
Published: November 2020

Among the many physiological changes that occurred during the transition from an aquatic to a terrestrial lifestyle by early vertebrates, blood coagulation has an interesting history. Blood coagulation genes, originally composed of a single pathway in fishes, have expanded to include a second pathway in the evolution of terrestrial vertebrates. However, genes of this second pathway have been secondarily lost in many lineages, as is the case for cetaceans, which returned to the aquatic environment during their evolution. Herein, we investigated the selective pressures on blood coagulation genes in a phylogenetic framework, focusing on fishes and cetaceans. Taking advantage of the availability of the genetic sequences of many vertebrate lineages and using a combination of bioinformatic tools, our results showed a diverse history of gene losses and gains, with different selective pressures acting on different genes of the blood coagulation functional pathway. In addition, there was no evidence of a clear convergent molecular evolution between cetaceans and fishes, highlighting that there are many possible evolutionary mechanisms with regard to a functional pathway that involves many genes.
Evaluating the Toxicity of Ionic Liquids on Shewanella sp. for Designing Sustainable Bioprocesses
Authors: Kebaili Hakima , Pérez de los Ríos Antonia , Salar-García María José , Ortiz-Martínez Víctor Manuel , Kameche Mostefa , Hernández-Fernández Jesús , Hernández-Fernández Francisco J.
Published: November 2020

Ionic liquids (ILs) are widely used as reaction and separation media in many technologies due to their unique and advantageous physicochemical properties. Thus, further studies approaching the study of the toxicity of these materials are required. Moreover, they are utilized in devices in which microorganisms such as Shewanella sp. act as biocatalysts. Thus, in this work, the toxicity of 69 ILs on the marine bacterium Shewanella sp. was tested. Specifically, the ILs analyzed were based on the cations imidazolium, pyridinium, pyrrolidinium, piperidinium, morpholinium, oxazolinium, phosphonium, ammonium, and sulfonium, in combination with different anions. The toxicities of this wide group of ILs on Shewanella sp. were determined using two methods: 1) the agar disk-diffusion test and 2) the growth inhibition test in liquid media. The relationship between toxicity and IL chemical structure was elucidated. A decrease in the hydrophobicity of the alkyl chain length was found to be a key factor to reduce IL toxicity. On the other hand, phosphonium-based ILs containing long alkyl chains were shown to be largely incompatible with Shewanella sp.
DNA Repair-Based Gene Expression Signature and Distinct Molecular Subtypes for Prediction of Clinical Outcomes in Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Hu Bin , Liu Di , Liu Yinqiang , Li Zhixi
Published: November 2020

Objective: To conduct a robust prognostic gene expression signature and characterize molecular subtypes with distinct clinical characteristics for lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).

Methods: Based on DNA repair genes from the GSEA database, a prognostic signature was conducted in the TCGA-LUAD training set via univariate and multivariate cox regression analysis. Its prediction power was validated by overall survival analysis, relative operating characteristic (ROC) curves and stratification analysis in the GSE72094 verification set. Involved pathways in the high- and low-risk groups were analyzed by GSEA. A nomogram was built based on the signature and clinical features and its performance was assessed by calibration plots. LUAD samples were clustered via the ConsensusClusterPlus package. The differences in clinical outcomes, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs between molecular subtypes were analyzed.

Results: A 13-DNA repair gene-signature was constructed for LUAD prognosis. Following validation, it can robustly and independently predict patients' clinical outcomes. The GSEA results exhibited the differences in pathways between high- and low- risk groups. A nomogram combining the signature and stage could accurately predict 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival probability. Two distinct molecular subtypes were characterized based on DNA repair genes. Patients in the Cluster 2 exhibited a worse prognosis and were more sensitive to common chemotherapy than those in the Cluster 1.

Conclusion:This study proposed a 13-DNA repair gene-signature as a prognostic factor for LUAD patients, which can independently predict clinical outcomes by complement of the stage. Moreover, we characterized two LUAD subtypes with distinct clinical outcomes, somatic gene mutations, and drug sensitivity in cancer based on DNA repair genes.
Inhibitory Effect of Piceatannol on Streptococcus suis Infection Both in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Wang Guizhen , Gao Yawen , Wu Xiuhua , Gao Xiue , Zhang Min , Liu Hongmei , Fang Tianqi
Published: November 2020

Suilysin (SLY) plays a critical role inStreptococcus suisinfections making it an ideal target to the combat infection caused by this pathogen. In the present study, we found that piceatannol (PN), a natural compound, inhibits pore-formation by blocking the oligomerization of SLY without affecting the growth ofS. suisand the expression of SLY. Furthermore, PN alleviated the J774 cell damage and the expression of the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1α (IL-1β) induced byS. suis in vitro. The computational biology and biochemistry results indicated that PN binds to the joint region of D2 and D4 in SLY, and Asn57, Pro58, Pro59, Glu76, Ile379, Glu380, and Glu418 were critical residues involved in the binding. The binding effect between PN and SLY hindered the SLY monomers from forming the oligomers, thereby weakening the hemolytic activity of SLY. This mechanism was also verified by hemolysis analysis and analysis ofKAformation after site-specific mutagenesis. Furthermore, PN protected mice fromS. suisinfections by reducing bacterial colony formation and the inflammatory response in target organsin vivo. These results indicate that PN is a feasible drug candidate to combatS. suisinfections.
Wrangling Shape-Shifting Morpheeins to Tackle Disease and Approach Drug Discovery
Authors: Jaffe Eileen K.
Published: November 2020

Homo-multimeric proteins that can come apart, change shape, and reassemble differently with functional consequences have been called morpheeins and/or transformers; these provide a largely unexplored context for understanding disease and developing allosteric therapeutics. This article describes such proteins within the context of protein structure dynamics, provides one detailed example related to an inborn error of metabolism and potential herbicide development, and describes the context for applying these ideas for understanding disease and designing bioactive molecules, such as therapeutics.
Acupuncture for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease: An Overview of Systematic Reviews
Authors: Huang Jinke , Shen Min , Qin Xiaohui , Wu Manli , Liang Simin , Huang Yong
Published: November 2020

Background: Acupuncture may be an effective complementary treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of this study was to summarize the evidence provided by systematic reviews (SRs)/meta-analyses (MAs) on the effect of acupuncture on AD.

Methods: Eight electronic databases were searched from their inception until October 19, 2020. The methodological quality, reporting quality, and risk of bias of the included SRs were assessed by the Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2), the Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews (ROBIS) tool, and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Moreover, the evidence quality of the outcome measures was assessed by the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE).

Results: Eleven SRs/MAs met all inclusion criteria. According to the results of the AMSTAR-2, all included reviews were rated critically as being of low quality. With PRISMA, the reporting checklist was relatively complete, but some reporting weaknesses remained in the topics of the protocol and registration, search strategy, risk of bias, additional analyses, and funding. Based on the ROBIS tool, only two SRs/MAs had a low risk of bias. With the GRADE system, no high-quality evidence was found, and only seven outcomes provided moderate-quality evidence. Among the downgraded factors, the risk of bias within the original trials was ranked first, followed by inconsistency, imprecision, and publication bias.

Conclusions: Acupuncture is a promising complementary treatment for AD. However, due to the low quality of the SRs/MAs supporting these results, high-quality studies with rigorous study designs and larger samples are needed before widespread recommendations can be made.
Voxel-Based Meta-Analysis of Gray Matter Abnormalities in Multiple System Atrophy
Authors: Lin Junyu , Xu Xinran , Hou Yanbing , Yang Jing , Shang Huifang
Published: November 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to identify consistent gray matter volume (GMV) changes in the two subtypes of multiple system atrophy (MSA), including parkinsonism subtype (MSA-P), and cerebellar subtype (MSA-C), by conducting a voxel-wise meta-analysis of whole brain voxel-based morphometry (VBM) studies.

Method: VBM studies comparing MSA-P or MSA-C and healthy controls (HCs) were systematically searched in the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science published from 1974 to 20 October 2020. A quantitative meta-analysis of VBM studies on MSA-P or MSA-C was performed using the effect size-based signed differential mapping (ES-SDM) method separately. A complementary analysis was conducted using the Seed-based d Mapping with Permutation of Subject Images (SDM-PSI) method, which allows a familywise error rate (FWE) correction for multiple comparisons of the results, for further validation of the results.

Results: Ten studies were included in the meta-analysis of MSA-P subtype, comprising 136 MSA-P patients and 211 HCs. Five studies were included in the meta-analysis of MSA-C subtype, comprising 89 MSA-C patients and 134 HCs. Cerebellum atrophy was detected in both MSA-P and MSA-C, whereas basal ganglia atrophy was only detected in MSA-P. Cerebral cortex atrophy was detected in both subtypes, with predominant impairment of the superior temporal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, temporal pole, insula, and amygdala in MSA-P and predominant impairment of the superior temporal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, fusiform gyrus, and lingual gyrus in MSA-C. Most of these results survived the FWE correction in the complementary analysis, except for the bilateral amygdala and the left caudate nucleus in MSA-P, and the right superior temporal gyrus and the right middle temporal gyrus in MSA-C. These findings remained robust in the jackknife sensitivity analysis, and no significant heterogeneity was detected.

Conclusion: A different pattern of brain atrophy between MSA-P and MSA-C detected in the current study was in line with clinical manifestations and provided the evidence of the pathophysiology of the two subtypes of MSA.
Etoposide-Bound Magnetic Nanoparticles Designed for Remote Targeting of Cancer Cells Disseminated Within Cerebrospinal Fluid Pathways
Authors: Engelhard Herbert H. , Willis Alexander J. , Hussain Syed I. , Papavasiliou Georgia , Banner David J. , Kwasnicki Amanda , Lakka Sajani S. , Hwang Sangyeul , Shokuhfar Tolou , Morris Sean C. , Liu Bing
Published: November 2020

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have potential for enhancing drug delivery in selected cancer patients, including those which have cells that have disseminated within cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pathways. Here, we present data related to the creation and in vitro use of new two-part MNPs consisting of magnetic gold-iron alloy cores which have streptavidin binding sites, and are coated with biotinylated etoposide. Etoposide was chosen due to its previous use in the CSF and ease of biotinylation. Etoposide magnetic nanoparticles (“Etop-MNPs”) were characterized by several different methods, and moved at a distance by surface-walking of MNP clusters, which occurs in response to a rotating permanent magnet. Human cell lines including D283 (medulloblastoma), U138 (glioblastoma), and H2122 (lung adenocarcinoma) were treated with direct application of Etop-MNPs (and control particles), and after remote particle movement. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay and trypan blue exclusion. Results indicated that the biotinylated etoposide was successfully bound to the base MNPs, with the hybrid particle attaining a maximum velocity of 0.13 ± 0.018 cm/sec. Etop-MNPs killed cancer cells in a dose-dependent fashion, with 50 ± 6.8% cell killing of D283 cells (for example) with 24 h of treatment after remote targeting. U138 and H2122 cells were found to be even more susceptible to the killing effect of Etop-MNPs than D283 cells. These findings indicate that the novel Etop-MNPs have a cytotoxic effect, and can be moved relatively rapidly at physiologic distances, using a rotating magnet. While further testing is needed, intrathecal administration of Etop-MNPs holds promise for magnetically-enhanced eradication of cancer cells distributed within CSF pathways, particularly if given early in the course of the disease.
Maternal Methyl-Donor Micronutrient Supplementation During Pregnancy Promotes Skeletal Muscle Differentiation and Maturity in Newborn and Weaning Pigs
Authors: He Qin , Zou Tiande , Chen Jun , Jian Li , He Jia , Xia Yingying , Xie Fei , Wang Zirui , You Jinming
Published: November 2020

Adequate maternal methyl-donor micronutrient (MET) intake is an important determinant of the organ development and metabolic renovation of offspring. The mechanism involved in skeletal myogenesis and the effect of MET supplementation during pregnancy on the maternal body remain unclear. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the potential effect of methyl donor micronutrients (MET) on skeletal muscle development and metabolism in offspring using pig models. Forty-three Duroc × Erhualian gilts were assigned to two dietary groups during gestation: control diet (CON) and CON diet supplemented with MET (folic acid, methionine, choline, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12). The results showed that maternal MET exposure during pregnancy significantly increased the concentrations of protein, triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) in colostrum and methyl metabolites, including S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (SAH), 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF), and betaine, in the maternal and offspring umbilical vein serum. A similar pattern was demonstrated in the body weight gain and myofiber diameters in offspring. In addition, maternal MET supplementation significantly increased the concentration of offspring serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), T3, and T4; upregulated the mRNA expression of IGF-1 and IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1r) and the phosphorylation level of protein kinases in offspring longissimus dorsi muscle; and upregulated the expression of myogenic genes and fast myosin heavy chain (fast MyHC) in offspring skeletal muscle. Supplementing sows with higher levels of MET during gestation may promote skeletal muscle differentiation and maturity and improve the skeletal muscle mass of the piglets.
BTG1 Overexpression Might Promote Invasion and Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer via Decreasing Adhesion and Inducing Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition
Authors: Zhao Shuang , Xue Hang , Hao Chang-lai , Jiang Hua-mao , Zheng Hua-chuan
Published: November 2020

BTG (B-cell translocation gene) could inhibit cell proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis and regulate cell cycle progression and differentiation in a variety of cancer cell types. To clarify the role of BTG1 in invasion and metastasis, its expression was compared with the clinicopathological parameters of colorectal cancer by bioinformatics and immunohistochemical analyses. We also overexpressed BTG1 in HCT-15 cells and examined its effects on adhesion, migration, and metastasis with their related molecules screened. BTG1 mRNA expression was negatively correlated with its promoter methylation in colorectal cancer (P < 0.05). Among them, cg08832851 and cg05819371 hypermethylation and mRNA expression of BTG1 were positively related with poor prognosis of the colorectal cancer patients (P < 0.05). BTG1 expression was found to positively correlate with depth of invasion, venous invasion, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and TNM staging of colorectal cancer (P < 0.05) but negatively with serum levels of CEA and CA19-9 (P < 0.05). According to the TCGA database, BTG1 mRNA expression was lower in well-, moderately, and poorly differentiated than mucinous adenocarcinomas and positively correlated with ras or BRAF mutation (P < 0.05). Kaplan–Meier analysis showed the negative correlation between BTG1 mRNA expression and overall survival rate of all cancer patients (P < 0.05). BTG1 overexpression weakened adhesion and strengthened migration and invasion of HCT-15 cells (P < 0.05). There was E-cadherin hypoexpression, N-cadherin and MMP-9 hyperexpression, Zeb1 and Vimentin mRNA overexpression, a high expression of CEA mRNA and protein, and a strong secretion of CEA in BTG1 transfectants, compared with the control or mock. It was suggested that BTG1 expression might promote invasion and metastasis by decreasing adhesion, and inducing epithelial–mesenchymal transition.
Phytohormones Regulate Both “Fish Scale” Galls and Cones on Picea koraiensis
Authors: Jia Mingyue , Li Qilong , Hua Juan , Liu Jiayi , Zhou Wei , Qu Bo , Luo Shihong
Published: November 2020

The larch adelgid Adelges laricis laricis Vallot is a specialist insect parasite of Picea koraiensis (Korean spruce) and forms fish scale-like galls that damage the growth of the host plants. Our investigation reveals that both these galls and the fruits (cones) of P. koraiensis display lower concentrations of phytosynthetic pigments and accumulate anthocyanin cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and soluble sugars in the mature stages. Interestingly, high concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) both in the cauline gall tissues and in the larch adelgids themselves (4064.61 ± 167.83 and 3655.42 ± 210.29 ng/g FW, respectively), suggested that this vital phytohormone may be synthesized by the insects to control the development of gall tissues. These results indicate that the galls and cones are sink organs, and the development of gall tissues is possibly regulated by phytohormones in a way similar to that of the growth of cones. The concentrations of phytohormones related to growth [indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), cytokinins (CTK), and gibberellins (GAs)] and defense [salicylic acid (SA)], as well as SA-related phenolics [benzoic acid (BA) and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (pHBA)] in gall tissues were positively correlated with those in cones during the development stage. The levels of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) in the developmental stage of the cones correlates negatively with their concentrations in the gall tissues (R = −0.92, p < 0.001), suggesting that downregulation of ACC might be the reason why galls are not abscised after a year. Our results provide a new perspective on the potential mechanism of the development of cauline galls on P. koraiensis, which are regulated by phytohormones.
The Relationships of Team Role- and Character Strengths-Balance With Individual and Team-Level Satisfaction and Performance
Authors: Gander Fabian , Gaitzsch Ines , Ruch Willibald
Published: November 2020

Teamwork has been argued to play an increasingly important role in numerous jobs, and several studies focused on the effects of team composition for work-related outcomes. Recent research has also identified individuals’ character strengths and positive team roles (e.g., idea creator and relationship manager) as conducive to work-related outcomes. However, there is a scarcity of research on the role of character strengths or positive team roles on the level of teams. In the present study, we extend theoretical assumptions of team role theories to the study of character strengths and positive team roles: We examined the associations between character strengths and team roles with work-related outcomes on the individual (i.e., job satisfaction, self- and supervisor-rated performance) and the team level (i.e., teamwork quality, self- and supervisor-rated team performance). Further, we examined how the team composition relates to the outcomes, that is, whether balanced teams (i.e., all team roles or character strengths are represented in the current team) go along with desired outcomes and whether an overrepresentation of team roles or character strengths in a team (i.e., a team role or character strengths is represented by multiple team members) goes along with undesired outcomes. We studied a sample of 42 teams (N= 284 individuals) who completed measures of team roles, character strengths, teamwork quality, job satisfaction, and self-rated individual and team performance. Further, supervisor ratings of individual and team performance were collected. Results corroborated the relationships of team roles and character strengths with individual outcomes such as that specific roles and character strengths go along with individual performance and work satisfaction. Further, the results suggested that teams in which more team roles are represented report higher performance and teamwork quality. Also, teams with higher average levels of the character strengths of teamwork and fairness, and teams with more members scoring high in fairness and prudence report higher teamwork quality. Further, there is no evidence that having too many members with a particular character strength has detrimental effects on teamwork quality, work satisfaction, or performance. We conclude that extending the study of character to the level of teams offers an important advancement.
Diminished Health Returns of Educational Attainment Among Immigrant Adults in the United States
Authors: Assari Shervin , Cobb Sharon , Cuevas Adolfo G. , Bazargan Mohsen
Published: November 2020

Objectives:Marginalization-related diminished returns (MDRs) refer to weaker health effects of educational attainment for socially marginalized groups compared to the socially privileged groups. Most of the existing literature on MDRs, however, has focused on marginalization due to race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Thus, very limited information exists on MDRs of educational attainment among immigrant populations in the United States.

Aims:Building on the MDRs framework and using a nationally representative sample of US adults, we compared immigrant and native-born adults for the effects of educational attainment on psychological distress, self-rated health (SRH), and chronic diseases (CDs).

Methods:The 2015 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) has enrolled 33,672 individuals who were either immigrant (n= 6,225; 18.5%) or native born (n= 27,429; 81.5%). The independent variable (IV) was educational attainment, which was treated as a categorical variable. The dependent variables included psychological distress, SRH, and CDs, all of which were dichotomous variables. Age, gender, race, ethnicity, and region were confounders. Immigration (nativity status) was the moderator.

Results:Higher educational attainment was associated with lower odds of psychological distress, poor SRH, and CDs. However, immigration showed a significant statistical interaction with college graduation on all outcomes, which were suggestive of smaller protective effects of college graduation on psychological distress, poor SRH, and CDs for immigrant than native-born adults.

Conclusions:In the US, the associations between educational attainment and psychological distress, SRH, and CDs are all weaker for immigrant than native-born adults. To prevent health disparities, it is essential to decompose health inequalities that are due to low educational attainment from those that are due to diminished returns of educational attainment (i.e., MDRs). There is a need to help highly educated immigrant adults secure positive health outcomes, similar to their native-born counterparts. Such changes may require bold and innovative economic, public, and social policies that help immigrant adults to more effectively mobilize their educational attainment to secure tangible outcomes. Elimination of health disparities in the US requires efforts that go beyond equalizing access to education.