bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical Manifestations Associated with the Domain-Containing Protein 2 Gene Mutation in an Iranian Family with Spastic Paraplegia 54
Authors: Yari Abolfazl , Etesam Shokoofeh , Zarifi Shannaz , Parvizpour Sepideh , Miri-Moghaddam Ebrahim
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Spastic paraplegia type 54 (SPG54) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by bi-allelic mutations in the DDHD-domain-containing protein 2 (DDHD2) gene. Worldwide, over 24 SPG54 families and 24 pathogenic variants have been reported. Our study aimed to describe the clinical and molecular findings of a pediatric patient from a consanguineous Iranian family with significant motor development delay, walking problems, paraplegia, and optic atrophy. Methods: The patient was a 7-year-old boy with severe neurodevelopmental and psychomotor problems. Neurological examinations, laboratory tests, electroencephalography, computed tomography scan, and brain magnetic resonance scan (MRI) were carried out for clinical evaluation. Whole-exome sequencing and in silico analysis were undertaken to identify the genetic cause of the disorder. Results: The neurological examination showed developmental delay, spasticity in the lower extremities, ataxia, foot contractures, and deep tendon reflexes in the extremities. The computed tomography scan was normal, but MRI revealed corpus callosum thinning with atrophic changes in the white matter. The genetic study reported a homozygous variant (c.856 C>T, p.Gln286Ter) in the DDHD2 gene. The homozygous state was confirmed by direct sequencing in the proband and his 5-year-old brother. This variant was not reported as a pathogenic variant in the literature or genetic databases and was predicted to affect the function of the DDHD2 protein. Conclusion: The clinical symptoms in our cases were similar to the previously reported phenotype of SPG54. Our results deepen the molecular and clinical spectrum of SPG54 to facilitate future diagnoses.
Wezel, Johann Karl. Robinson Krusoe: La robinsonada transformada en un estudio antropológico
Authors: Lenga Jesica
Published: March 2023

Reseña de: Wezel, Johann Karl. Robinson Krusoe. Estudio introductorio, traducción y notas de Martín Ignacio Koval. Madrid: Guillermo Escolar Editor, 2022; 245 p.
Para a história do português popular brasileiro: edições fac-similar, semidiplomática e modernizada de Cartas Marienses (Século XX)
Authors: Brito Patrícia Santos de Jesus , Lacerda Mariana Fagundes de Oliveira
Published: March 2023

Este trabalho apresenta o acervo “Cartas Marienses”, do banco de dados do projeto Corpus Eletrônico de Documentos Históricos do Sertão (CE-DOHS), do Núcleo de Estudos de Língua Portuguesa (NELP) da Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana (UEFS). O referido acervo soma-se à documentação epistolar do CE-DOHS, reunida para atender a uma das agendas de pesquisas do Projeto Nacional para a História do Português Brasileiro (PHPB). As Cartas de Coração de Maria (Bahia), datadas do século XX, representam as normas socialmente estigmatizadas do PB; trata-se de um dos três acervos do banco em questão, com base nos quais se pode contar uma história do português popular brasileiro, no interior da Bahia. No presente texto, apresentam-se as edições fac-similar, semidiplomática e modernizada das Cartas Marienses, abordando a importância da constituição de banco de dados para uma história social e linguística do PB, com destaque para as fontes do português popular brasileiro (MATTOS E SILVA, 2004).
Atenuação e intensificação em falas de políticos: um estudo pela Pragmática Histórica
Authors: Batista Ronaldo de Oliveira
Published: March 2023

Tendo em vista que os candidatos a um cargo político precisam conquistar votos, devem atentar-se às escolhas de linguagem que fazem para construírem discursivamente suas imagens diante da sociedade. Este artigo propõe, nessa direção, uma análise e comparação das manifestações linguísticas atenuadas e intensificadas aplicadas como tática de persuasão do público eleitor durante entrevistas concedidas ao programa televisivo Roda Viva antes dos pleitos de 1989 e de 2018, partindo do preceito de que houve alterações no uso da linguagem em circunscrições temporais distintas. Para efetuar a pesquisa, foram adotados, como principal fundamentação teórica, pressupostos sobre fenômenos de constituição de imagem dentro de uma perspectiva interacionista, compreendidos como atividades sociais, de acordo com Bravo (1999, 2002), Hernández Flores (2004, 2005), Albelda (2004) e Briz (1998, 2002, 2007, 2012). O trabalho construiu-se a partir de uma análise pragmática, na qual trechos de vídeos televisivos das entrevistas constituem o corpus. Devemos considerar, afinal, que se tem no gênero entrevista uma interação por vezes polêmica, especialmente dentro do discurso político, na qual se deve manter uma autoimagem, a fim de conquistar votos por meio da aproximação com seus possíveis eleitores.
SWAP70 Overexpression Protects Against Pathological Cardiac Hypertrophy in a TAK1‐Dependent Manner
Authors: Qian Qiaofeng , Hu Fengjiao , Yu Wenjun , Leng Dewen , Li Yang , Shi Hongjie , Deng Dawei , Ding Kehan , Liang Chuan , Liu Jinping
Published: March 2023

Background

Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is regarded as a critical precursor and independent risk factor of heart failure, and its inhibition prevents the progression of heart failure. Switch‐associated protein 70 (SWAP70) is confirmed important in immunoregulation, cell maturation, and cell transformation. However, its role in pathological cardiac hypertrophy remains unclear.

Methods and Results

The effects of SWAP70 on pathological cardiac hypertrophy were investigated in
Swap70
knockout mice and
Swap70
overexpression/knockdown cardiomyocytes. Bioinformatic analysis combined with multiple molecular biological methodologies were adopted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the effects of SWAP70 on pathological cardiac hypertrophy. Results showed that SWAP70 protein levels were significantly increased in failing human heart tissues, experimental transverse aortic constriction–induced mouse hypertrophic hearts, and phenylephrine‐stimulated isolated primary cardiomyocytes. Intriguingly, phenylephrine treatment decreased the lysosomal degradation of SWAP70 by disrupting the interaction of SWAP70 with granulin precursor. In vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that
Swap70
knockdown/knockout accelerated the progression of pathological cardiac hypertrophy, while
Swap70
overexpression restrained the cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. SWAP70 restrained the binding of transforming growth factor β‐activated kinase 1 (TAK1) and TAK1 binding protein 1, thus blocking the phosphorylation of TAK1 and downstream c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase/P38 signaling. TAK1 interacted with the N‐terminals (1–192) of SWAP70.
Swap70
(193–585) overexpression failed to inhibit cardiac hypertrophy when the TAK1–SWAP70 interaction was disrupted. Either inhibiting the phosphorylation or suppressing the expression of TAK1 rescued the exaggerated cardiac hypertrophy induced by
Swap70
knockdown.

Conclusions

SWAP70 suppressed the progression of cardiac hypertrophy, possibly by inhibiting the mitogen‐activated protein kinases signaling pathway in a TAK1‐dependent manner, and lysosomes are involved in the regulation of SWAP70 expression level.
Editorial: Reflecting on Thirty Years ofECJ
Authors: De Jong Kenneth , Hart Emma
Published: March 2023

We reflect on 30 years of the journal Evolutionary Computation. Taking the papers published in the first volume in 1993 as a springboard, as the founding and current Editors-in-Chief, we comment on the beginnings of the field, evaluate the extent to which the field has both grown and itself evolved, and provide our own perpectives on where the future lies.
The Neural Correlates of Updating and Gating in Procedural Working Memory
Authors: Nir-Cohen Gal , Egner Tobias , Kessler Yoav
Published: March 2023

Goal-directed behavior relies on maintaining relevant goals in working memory (WM) and updating them when required. Computational modeling, behavioral, and neuroimaging work has previously identified the processes and brain regions involved in selecting, updating, and maintaining declarative information, such as letters and pictures. However, the neural substrates that underlie the analogous processes that operate on procedural information, namely, task goals, are currently unknown. Forty-three participants were therefore scanned with fMRI while performing a procedural version of the reference-back paradigm that allowed for the decomposition of WM updating processes into gate-opening, gate-closing, task switching, and task cue conflict components. Significant behavioral costs were observed for each of these components, with interactions indicating facilitation between gate-opening and task switching, and a modulation of cue conflict by gate state. In neural terms, opening the gate to procedural WM was associated with activity in medial pFC, posterior parietal cortex (PPC), the basal ganglia (BG), thalamus, and midbrain, but only when the task set needed to be updated. Closing the gate to procedural WM was associated with frontoparietal and BG activity specifically in conditions where conflicting task cues had to be ignored. Task switching was associated with activity in the medial pFC/ACC, PPC, and BG, whereas cue conflict was associated with PPC and BG activity during gate closing but was abolished when the gate was already closed. These results are discussed in relation to declarative WM and to gating models of WM.
Can the Brain Strategically Go on Automatic Pilot? The Effect of If–Then Planning on Behavioral Flexibility
Authors: van Timmeren Tim , O'Doherty John P. , Dzinalija Nadza , de Wit Sanne
Published: March 2023

People often have good intentions but fail to adhere to them. Implementation intentions, a form of strategic planning, can help people to close this intention–behavior gap. Their effectiveness has been proposed to depend on the mental formation of a stimulus–response association between a trigger and target behavior, thereby creating an “instant habit.” If implementation intentions do indeed lead to reliance on habitual control, then this may come at the cost of reduced behavioral flexibility. Furthermore, we would expect a shift from recruitment of corticostriatal brain regions implicated in goal-directed control toward habit regions. To test these ideas, we performed a fMRI study in which participants received instrumental training supported by either implementation or goal intentions, followed by an outcome revaluation to test reliance on habitual versus goal-directed control. We found that implementation intentions led to increased efficiency early in training, as reflected by higher accuracy, faster RTs, and decreased anterior caudate engagement. However, implementation intentions did not reduce behavioral flexibility when goals changed during the test phase, nor did it affect the underlying corticostriatal pathways. In addition, this study showed that “slips of action” toward devalued outcomes are associated with reduced activity in brain regions implicated in goal-directed control (ventromedial prefrontal cortex and lateral orbitofrontal cortex) and increased activity of the fronto-parietal salience network (including the insula, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, and SMA). In conclusion, our behavioral and neuroimaging findings suggest that strategic if–then planning does not lead to a shift from goal-directed toward habitual control.
Persistent organochlorine pollutant residues in water, sediment, and fish from Efteni Lake, North-West Türkiye
Authors: Özkan Leyla
Published: March 2023

The Efteni Lake, Wildlife Development Area is under anthropogenic pressure regarding agriculture and water management. This study aimed to determine and evaluate the persistence of an organochlorine pollutant (POP) and its bio-accumulation and bio-magnification from the water to fish in the lake. Therefore, water, sediment, and fish (Tinca tinca) specimens were collected from different points in the lake. The study showed that dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) compounds were the highest among the organochlorine pesticide (OCP) groups and were found in 100% of all specimens. However, the frequency rates and the concentrations recorded for 4,4-DDT (a DDT metabolite) were higher than for DDT compounds in all three specimen types. The mean total polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations were , , and in the water, sediment, and fish specimens, respectively. In conclusion, the concentration of OCPs in the water significantly was lower than in the sediment and fish. The top three PCB congeners, as per their mean levels were PCB 138, 151, and 153. Reducing human pressure on Efteni Lake is crucial because POP residues in the lake are likely to pose a danger to aquatic organisms, other wildlife, and to human health.
Dialogue, Dasein, and Destiny: Heidegger’s Challenge to Dialogical Comparative Political Theory
Authors: Berk Timothy
Published: March 2023

This article critically assesses the influence of Heidegger on the “dialogical” school of comparative political theory, and in particular the writings of Fred Dallmayr. In response to dialogical cpt’s employment of Heidegger in service of democratic, egalitarian, and cosmopolitan ends, this article reconstructs Heidegger’s own projects of intercultural dialogue as attempts to awaken the inegalitarian political-spiritual potential of elect nations, such as the Germans, Greeks, and Japanese against the tide of liberal modernity. Contra Dallmayr, the article analyzes the political unity of Heidegger’s treatment of “authentic” intercultural dialogues in his speeches and lectures from 1933–34, his 1941–2 lecture courses on Hölderlin, and his semi-fictional dialogue between a German “Inquirer” and “Japanese” in the 1950s. It outlines the existence of an illiberal Heideggerian cpt and concludes that dialogical cpt scholars should reconceive of their dialogue with Heidegger as one with an “other” to the egalitarian pluralism that they seek to promote.
Taxonomy and phylogenetic studies revealed Parabambusicola yunnanensis sp. nov. (Parabambusicolaceae, Pleosporales) on bamboo from Yunnan, China
Authors: HAN LI-SU , DAI DONG-QIN , DU TIAN-YE , WIJAYAWARDENE NALIN N. , PROMPUTTHA ITTHAYAKORN , BHAT D. JAYARAMA , GAO YONG
Published: March 2023

A sample of bambusicolous ascomycete was collected from Dali, Yunnan Province, China. Multi-gene phylogenetic analyses based on a combined dataset of LSU, ITS, SSU, and tef1-α sequences showed that the new collection clusters within Parabambusicola s. str. but forms a separate branch (100% ML, 1.00 PP) basal to other Parabambusicola species. Additionally, morphological characteristics of the fungus resemble the members of Parabambusicola, with 8-spored asci, and fusiform to vermiform ascospores. The species was distinguished based on morphological and phylogenetic studies, thus, it is introduced here as a new species, viz., Parabambusicola yunnanensis. Morphological description, illustrations, phylogenetic tree, and a synoptic table of morphological characteristics for Parabambusicola are provided to show the taxonomic placement of the new species.
Two new Nolini (Lepidoptera: Nolidae: Nolinae) from Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, Republic of Congo
Authors: LÁSZLÓ GYULA M.
Published: March 2023

A new species of Bellanola László, 2022 (B. ndoki László, sp. n.) and a new species of Meganola Dyar, 1898 (M. faber László, sp. n.) are described and figured from the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, Republic of Congo. The former new species is the second known taxon of the recently described genus Bellanola, whilst the latter is attributed to the Meganola chionea (Hampson, 1911) species-group. The paper is illustrated with habitat photographs and eight colour and eight black and white images of diagnostic features.
miR-204-5p Inhibits the Proliferation and Differentiation of Fetal Neural Stem Cells by Targeting Wingless-Related MMTV Integration Site 2 to Regulate the Ephrin-A2/EphA7 Pathway
Authors: Fan Ling , He Mengzao , Mo Weinong , Yao Qiang , He Minzhi , Jiang Jinping
Published: March 2023

Neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is mainly resulted from perinatal asphyxia, which can be repaired by NSCs. miR-204-5p is claimed to impact the activity NSCs. Our research will probe the miR-204-5p function in oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-treated NSCs. miR-204-5p level
was enhanced and WNT2 level was reduced in HIE rats. Rat NSCs were stimulated with OGD condition under the managing of mimic or inhibitor of miR-204-5p. The declined cell viability, enhanced apoptosis, downregulated Tuj1 and GFAP levels, and shortened total neurite length were observed in
OGD-treated NSCs, which were further aggravated by the mimic and rescued by the inhibitor of miR-204-5p. Furthermore, the inactivated WNT2 and Ephrin-A2/EphA7 signaling pathway in OGD-stimulated NSCs was further repressed by the mimic and rescued by the inhibitor of miR-204-5p. In addition,
WNT2 was confirmed as the targeting of miR-204-5p. Lastly, the function of miR-204-5p mimic on the proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, WNT2 and Ephrin-A2/EphA7 signaling pathway in OGD-stimulated NSCs was abolished by HLY78, an activator of Wnt signaling. Collectively, miR-204-5p repressed
the growth and differentiation of fetal NSCs by targeting WNT2 to regulate the Ephrin-A2/EphA7 pathway.
Arch Expansion Efficiency of Clear Aligner on Patients with Mixed Dentition Using 3ship Digital Oral Scanner
Authors: Sun Peiyin , Xin Yuan
Published: March 2023

The aim of this study to evaluate the maxillary and mandibular arch expansion efficiency of clear aligner. A total of 15 patients aged between 8–11 who were admitted from January 2020 to December 2021. The 3ship digital oral scanner was used to establish a digital oral model for
the patients before and after the correction. The three-dimensional model before and after correction was established by ClinCheck software to measure and record the width of each tooth position and evaluate the efficiency of arch expansion. The dental arch width was greater after correction
of the width between the maxillary and maxillary canines, the width between the first premolars, the width between the second premolars, and the width between the first molars, showing statistically significant differences (P <0.05). The arch expansion efficiency in the maxillary
canine area > the maxillary first premolar efficiency > the maxillary second premolar efficiency > the maxillary first molar efficiency. Through the linear regression equation, the preset expansion amount of each tooth position was reasonably predicted.Taken together our data suggested
that the clear aligner efficiency can be improved by adding accessories and torque in the base bone range when necessary.
Preparation of Cross-Linked Bovine Tendon Acellular Fibers and Study of Their Biophysical and Chemical Properties
Authors: Qian Chuang , Zheng Yiming , Xu Zheng , Zhang Zhiqiang , Li Hao , Chen Xiongsheng
Published: March 2023

To explore the effect of glutaraldehyde (GA) and 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) cross-linking on the biophysical and chemical properties of acellular scaffold to better provide suitable donor materials for tendon reconstruction. GA and EDC with different concentrations
and action time gradients were used to cross-link the acellular scaffold. By detecting the collagen content in the cross-linked scaffold and the cytotoxicity, the cross-linking scheme with minimal damage to the scaffold and minimal cytotoxicity was explored for subsequent studies. The biomechanical
properties (durability, elastic modulus, stressmax) of the scaffolds in GA, EDC, acellular scaffold, and tendon groups were compared, and the scaffold rat models were constructed to further evaluate their in vivo histocompatibility. Under different concentration gradients,
the collagen content of the scaffolds in the GA and EDC groups had no obvious difference. When 0.5% GA was cross-linked for 24 h, and the mass ratio of EDC (1:2) was cross-linked for 4 h, the inhibition rate of the scaffold extract on fibroblasts was the lowest. In the mechanical property
test, the Stressmax, durability, and elastic modulus of the cross-linked acellular scaffolds were significantly improved than those before cross-linking, and the elastic modulus of the EDC acellular scaffold was similar to that of the bovine tendon. In the compatibility test, compared
with the acellular scaffold group, fibroblast activity in the GA group decreased obviously, and the scaffold implanted in rat models led to a persistent chronic inflammatory reaction. However, cells in the EDC group could maintain good activity. Moreover, the scaffold had good compatibility
with rats and did not cause an obvious inflammatory reaction. EDC cross-linking scheme will not damage the acellular scaffold, and the cytotoxicity of the obtained scaffold is controllable. Additionally, EDC cross-linked acellular scaffold has mechanical properties similar to normal tendons
and excellent histocompatibility.
Alginate-Based Hydrogels Composited with Tenocyclidine-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles, a Sophisticated Delivery System for Transplantation of Allogenic Schwan Cells Through Cellulose Acetate Neural Guidance Channels: A Preclinical Study
Authors: Li Xixi , Su Weijie , Xu Jiakun , Su Luoxi , Yang Jia , Yang Guochen , Lin Xunxun , Yang Lixuan , Rohani Saeed
Published: March 2023

In the current study, a novel filler material was developed to improve the healing activity of an electrospun cellulose acetate neural guidance channel. Tenocyclidine was loaded into chitosan nanoparticles, dispersed in a calcium alginate hydrogel, and their effect on Schwann cells’
viability was assessed using MTT assay. Study showed that chitosan nanoparticles loaded with 0.5% Tenocyclidine had the optimal effects on cells viability. In vivo study on a rat model of peripheral nerve injury showed that the neural guidance channels containing Schwann cells and Tenocyclidine-loaded
chitosan nanoparticles had the highest rate of nerve repair as evidenced by functional analysis assays and histopathological examinations.
CircRNA02318 Exerts Therapeutic Effects on Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury Rats by Regulating the Nox1/Akt Through Inhibiting Drebrin
Authors: Zhang Chenjie , Wu Dan , Wu Yutong , Zou Bing , Xiao Huiling , Zhou Ziyan , Xiang Jian , Xiao Shan , Yang Lu , Zhou Hui , Shen Wen , Wang Chenxi , Wu Tao
Published: March 2023

Our research aims to explore the therapeutic effect of circRNA02318 on MIRI rats and the functional mechanism. The MIRI model was constructed in rats. CircRNA02318 overexpressing adenovirus was injected in situ during MIRI perfusion. H9C2 cells were treated with hypoxia for 6
h and reoxygenation for 3 h. Overexpression of circRNA02318 downregulated Drebrin, Nox1, cleaved caspase-3 and Bax in H/R H9C2 cells and MIRI rat heart tissues, promoted the expression of p-Akt/Akt and Bcl-2, and inhibited the apoptosis of H9C2 cells. The volume of myocardial infarction and
the release of LDH and TnI in MIRI rats were suppressed by circRNA02318. The Nox1, cleaved caspase-3 and Bax levels were promoted, the level of p-Akt/Akt and Bcl-2 was repressed, and the apoptosis was facilitated by the Drebrin overexpression. Furthermore, the effect of Drebrin overexpression
on H9C2 cells was abolished by circRNA02318. Collectively, circRNA02318 exerted therapeutic effects on MIRI rats by inhibiting Drebrin.
A New Nanoscale Ultrasound Phase-Variant Contrast Agent for Phase Variant Low-Frequency Medical Ultrasound Imaging That Can Scavenge Reactive Oxygen Species
Authors: Yang You , Wang Xing-Heng , Wang Jun , Zhang Ju-Ying , Chen Wen , Yang Hao , He Ping , Tang Xiao-Qing , Yu Jin-Hong
Published: March 2023

Nanoscale phase-variant ultrasound contrast agents have attracted the interest of many researchers. However, it is a challenge to design nanobubbles that are activated by low-frequency medical ultrasound that do not cause damage to normal tissues. In this study, we designed a new type
of nanoparticle consisting of perfluoropentane and iron polyphthalocyanine loaded into liposomes. These nanoparticles can be activated by a low-frequency medical ultrasound imager at a frequency of 5 MHz for ultrasound imaging and clear reactive oxygen species at a rate of more than 50%. This
ability to scavenge excess reactive oxygen species can alleviate the damage these species cause and protect macrophages. Moreover, these nanoparticles can effectively enhance ultrasound contrast imaging for real-time visualization in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
The Coastal Effect on Ahead-of-Eye-Center Cooling Induced by Tropical Cyclones
Authors: Zheng Yunxia , Ma Zhanhong , Tang Jie , Zhang Zheliang
Published: March 2023

The characteristics of in-storm cooling occurring ahead of the eye center are investigated based on a combination of observations and numerical simulations, as well as its sensitivity to tropical cyclone (TC) characteristics and oceanic climatological conditions. A composite of drifter and remote sensing observations from 1979 to 2020 in the Northern Hemisphere statistically evidences that the percentage of TC-induced ahead-of-eye-center cooling is enhanced remarkably over the coastal ocean compared with that over the open sea, no matter what the TC intensity, translation speed, and prestorm SST conditions are. Results are statistically similar when the actual ahead-of-eye SST cooling is used. Idealized numerical simulation results show that as the TC center approaches the coastline, the percentage of ahead-of-eye-center cooling increases steadily with the water depth shallowing below 100 m. This phenomenon may not be caused by strong stratification of the coastal ocean, as previous studies suggested. An ocean heat balance analysis reveals a new mechanism responsible for the enhanced percentage of ahead-of-eye-center cooling near the coast: although the vertical mixing dominates in the surface cooling process over the open sea, broad and intense advection is largely responsible for the rapid increase of the percentage of ahead-of-eye-center cooling over the coastal ocean, owing to less cold-water entrainment from below. A series of sensitivity experiments are conducted by varying TC characteristics in terms of intensity, translation speed, radius of maximum wind speed, and ocean characteristics in terms of temperature profiles and slope rates of the shelf. The percentage of ahead-of-eye-center cooling is dependent on the intensity and translation speed of TCs but shows little sensitivity to other parameters.
Sources of Sport Satisfaction and Perceived Self-Efficacy Among Youth in a Competitive Environment
Authors: Reverdito Riller Silva , Fonseca Sofia , Lopes Antonio , Aires Karyna , Santos Alves Luciano , Alves de Lima Leilane , Tavares Mayara de Almeida , Gonçalves Carlos
Published: March 2023

Young people’s sources of satisfaction in sport are an important indicator of their long-term sport participation. Contextual factors and an individual’s internal dispositions act synergistically to determine a positive experience. We studied sources of sport satisfaction and perceived self-efficacy of 1,151 male and female youth athletes ( M age = 14.72, SD = 1.56 years) in Brazil who were engaged in school state level competition. The participants responded to questionnaires on their sport satisfaction and perceived self-efficacy. We considered sex, training time, and last game results as independent variables in accessing participant differences in perceived satisfaction. We observed an increasing trend toward more significant satisfaction as sport experience increased. Perceived self-efficacy was a moderator for young participants’ self-reported positive experience in sports. Thus, in our offer of evidence on sources of satisfaction in sport and perceived self-efficacy among youth in competition, we found the extent of the sport experience and self-efficacy to be important factors in the developmental pathway.
A Prediction Model of Effective Thermal Conductivity for Metal Powder Bed in Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Zhao Yizhen , Zhang Hang , Cai Jianglong , Ji Shaokun , Li Dichen
Published: March 2023

In current research, many researchers propose analytical expressions for calculating the packing structure of spherical particles such as DN Model, Compact Model and NLS criterion et al. However, there is still a question that has not been well explained yet. That is: What is the core factors affecting the thermal conductivity of particles? In this paper, based on the coupled discrete element-finite difference (DE-FD) method and spherical aluminum powder, the relationship between the parameters and the thermal conductivity of the powder (ETCp) is studied. It is found that the key factor that can described the change trend of ETCp more accurately is not the materials of the powder but the average contact area between particles (aave) which also have a close nonlinear relationship with the average particle size d50. Based on this results, the expression for calculating the ETCp of the sphere metal powder is successfully reduced to only one main parameter d50 and an efficient calculation model is proposed which can applicate both in room and high temperature and the corresponding error is less than 20.9% in room temperature. Therefore, in this study, based on the core factors analyzation, a fast calculation model of ETCp is proposed, which has a certain guiding significance in the field of thermal field simulation.
Nanoparticles advanced from preclinical studies to clinical trials for lung cancer therapy
Authors: Liu Yifan , Cheng Wenxu , Xin HongYi , Liu Ran , Wang Qinqi , Cai Wenqi , Peng Xiaochun , Yang Fuyuan , Xin HongWu
Published: March 2023

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality. As a heterogeneous disease, it has different subtypes and various treatment modalities. In addition to conventional surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy have also been applied in the clinics. However, drug resistance and systemic toxicity still cannot be avoided. Based on the unique properties of nanoparticles, it provides a new idea for lung cancer therapy, especially for targeted immunotherapy. When nanoparticles are used as carriers of drugs with special physical properties, the nanodrug delivery system ensures the accuracy of targeting and the stability of drugs while increasing the permeability and the aggregation of drugs in tumor tissues, showing good anti-tumor effects. This review introduces the properties of various nanoparticles including polymer nanoparticles, liposome nanoparticles, quantum dots, dendrimers, and gold nanoparticles and their applications in tumor tissues. In addition, the specific application of nanoparticle-based drug delivery for lung cancer therapy in preclinical studies and clinical trials is discussed.
Genomic prediction in pigs using data from a commercial crossbred population: insights from the Duroc x (Landrace x Yorkshire) three-way crossbreeding system
Authors: Liu Siyi , Yao Tianxiong , Chen Dong , Xiao Shijun , Chen Liqing , Zhang Zhiyan
Published: March 2023

Background

Genomic selection is widely applied for genetic improvement in livestock crossbreeding systems to select excellent nucleus purebred (PB) animals and to improve the performance of commercial crossbred (CB) animals. Most current predictions are based solely on PB performance. Our objective was to explore the potential application of genomic selection of PB animals using genotypes of CB animals with extreme phenotypes in a three-way crossbreeding system as the reference population. Using real genotyped PB as ancestors, we simulated the production of 100,000 pigs for a Duroc x (Landrace x Yorkshire) DLY crossbreeding system. The predictive performance of breeding values of PB animals for CB performance using genotypes and phenotypes of (1) PB animals, (2) DLY animals with extreme phenotypes, and (3) random DLY animals for traits of different heritabilities ($${h}^{2}$$

h

2

= 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5) was compared across different reference population sizes (500 to 6500) and prediction models (genomic best linear unbiased prediction (GBLUP) and Bayesian sparse linear mixed model (BSLMM)).

Results

Using a reference population consisting of CB animals with extreme phenotypes showed a definite predictive advantage for medium- and low-heritability traits and, in combination with the BSLMM model, significantly improved selection response for CB performance. For high-heritability traits, the predictive performance of a reference population of extreme CB phenotypes was comparable to that of PB phenotypes when the effect of the genetic correlation between PB and CB performance ($${r}_{pc}$$

r

pc

) on the accuracy obtained with a PB reference population was considered, and the former could exceed the latter if the reference size was large enough. For the selection of the first and terminal sires in a three-way crossbreeding system, prediction using extreme CB phenotypes outperformed the use of PB phenotypes, while the optimal design of the reference group for the first dam depended on the percentage of individuals from the corresponding breed that the PB reference data comprised and on the heritability of the target trait.

Conclusions

A commercial crossbred population is promising for the design of the reference population for genomic prediction, and selective genotyping of CB animals with extreme phenotypes has the potential for maximizing genetic improvement for CB performance in the pig industry.
Characterization of grain carotenoids in global sorghum germplasm to guide genomics-assisted breeding strategies
Authors: Cruet-Burgos Clara , Morris Geoffrey P. , Rhodes Davina H.
Published: March 2023

Background

Crop biofortification is a successful strategy to ameliorate Vitamin A deficiency. Sorghum is a good candidate for vitamin A biofortification, as it is a staple food in regions with high prevalence of vitamin A deficiency. β-carotene—the main provitamin A carotenoid—is below the target concentration in sorghum grain, therefore biofortification breeding is required. Previous studies found evidence that sorghum carotenoid variation is oligogenic, suggesting that marker-assisted selection can be an appropriate biofortification method. However, we hypothesize that sorghum carotenoids have both oligogenic and polygenic components of variation. Genomics-assisted breeding could accelerate breeding efforts, but there exists knowledge gaps in the genetics underlying carotenoid variation, as well as appropriate germplasm to serve as donors.

Results

In this study, we characterized carotenoids in 446 accessions from the sorghum association panel and carotenoid panel using high-performance liquid chromatography, finding high carotenoid accessions not previously identified. Genome-wide association studies conducted with 345 accessions, confirmed that zeaxanthin epoxidase is a major gene underlying variation for not only zeaxanthin, but also lutein and β-carotene. High carotenoid lines were found to have limited genetic diversity, and originated predominantly from only one country. Potential novel genetic diversity for carotenoid content was identified through genomic predictions in 2,495 accessions of unexplored germplasm. Oligogenic variation of carotenoids was confirmed, as well as evidence for polygenic variation, suggesting both marker-assisted selection and genomic selection can facilitate breeding efforts.

Conclusions

Sorghum vitamin A biofortification could be beneficial for millions of people who rely on it as a dietary staple. Carotenoid content in sorghum is low, but high heritability suggests that increasing concentrations through breeding is possible. Low genetic diversity among high carotenoid lines might be the main limitation for breeding efforts, therefore further germplasm characterization is needed to assess the feasibility of biofortification breeding. Based on germplasm here evaluated, most countries’ germplasm lacks high carotenoid alleles, thus pre-breeding will be needed. A SNP marker within the zeaxanthin epoxidase gene was identified as a good candidate for use in marker-assisted selection. Due to the oligogenic and polygenic variation of sorghum grain carotenoids, both marker-assisted selection and genomic selection can be employed to accelerate breeding efforts.
Subjective socioeconomic status: an alternative to objective socioeconomic status
Authors: Zhao Maryann , Huang Chuan-Chin , Mendoza Milagros , Tovar Ximena , Lecca Leonid , Murray Megan
Published: March 2023

Background

Subjective “ladder” measurements of socio-economic status (SES) are easy-to-administer tools that ask respondents to rate their own SES, allowing them to evaluate their own material resources and determine where it places them relative to their community. Here, we sought to compare the MacArthur Scale of Subjective Social status to the WAMI, an objective measure of SES that includes data on water and sanitation, asset ownership, education, and income.

Methods

Leveraging a study of 595 tuberculosis patients in Lima, Peru, we compared the MacArthur ladder score to the WAMI score using weighted Kappa scores and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. We identified outliers that fell outside the 95thpercentile and assessed the durability of the inconsistencies between scores by re-testing a subset of participants. We then used Akaike information criterion (AIC) to compare the predictability of logistic regression models evaluating the association between the two SES scoring systems and history of asthma.

Results

The correlation coefficient between the MacArthur ladder and WAMI scores was 0.37 and the weighted Kappa was 0.26. The correlation coefficients differed by less than 0.04 and the Kappa ranged from 0.26 to 0.34, indicating fair agreement. When we replaced the initial MacArthur ladder scores with retest scores, the number of individuals with disagreements between the two scores decreased from 21 to 10 and the correlation coefficient and weighted Kappa both increased by at least 0.03. Lastly, we found that when we categorized WAMI and MacArthur ladder scores into three groups, both had a linear trend association with history of asthma with effect sizes and AICs that differed by less than 15% and 2 points, respectively.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrated fair agreement between the MacArthur ladder and WAMI scores. The agreement between the two SES measurements increased when they were further categorized into 3–5 categories, the form in which SES is often used in epidemiologic studies. The MacArthur score also performed similarly to WAMI in predicting a socio-economically sensitive health outcome. Researchers should consider subjective SES tools as an alternative method for measuring SES, particularly in large health studies where data collection is a burden.
Thiols as a marker of inflammatory bowel disease activity: a systematic review
Authors: Passos Rebeca Araujo , Costa Priscila Ribas Farias , da Maia Lima Claudia Feio , Santana George Mariane Soares , David Victor , de Jesus Santos Geisa , Zaltman Cyrla , Soares-Mota Marcia , Rocha Raquel
Published: March 2023

Background

Evidence indicates that inflammation in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is associated with increased systemic levels of reactive oxygen species. Systemic oxidative stress has been associated with reduced levels of plasma thiols. Less invasive tests capable of reflecting and predicting IBD activity are increasingly sought after. We sought to systematically review the evidence inherent in serum thiol levels as a marker of Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis activity (PROSPERO: CRD42021255521).

Methods

The highest quality documents for systematic reviews standards were used as reference. Articles were searched on Medline via PubMed, VHL, LILACS, WOS, EMBASE, SCOPUS, COCHRANE, CINAHL, OVID, CTGOV, WHO/ICTRP, OPENGREY, BDTD and CAPES, between August, 03 and September, 03 on 2021. Descriptors were defined according to the Medical Subject Heading. Of the 11 articles selected for full reading, 8 were included in the review. It was not possible to perform a pooled analysis of the studies, as there were no combinable studies between subjects with active IBD and controls/inactive disease.

Results

Findings from the individual studies included in this review suggest an association between disease activity and systemic oxidation, as measured by serum thiol levels, however, there are limitations that preclude weighting the study results in a meta-analysis.

Conclusions

We recommend conducting better-designed and controlled studies, that include individuals of both phenotypes and at different stages of IBD, involving a larger number of participants, using the standardization of the technique for measuring serum thiols, to confirm whether thiols can be a good parameter for monitoring the clinical course of these intestinal diseases and the degree of clinical applicability.
Comparison of clinical and pathological features between early-stage gastric-type and intestinal-type differentiated adenocarcinoma: a retrospective study
Authors: Li Borui , Chen Tingting , Liang Dingbao , Zhang Yin , Ding Xiwei , Lv Ying
Published: March 2023

Background

The clinicopathological features and endoscopic characteristics under magnifying endoscopy with narrow band imaging (ME-NBI) between early-stage gastric-type differentiated adenocarcinoma (GDA) and intestinal-type differentiated adenocarcinoma (IDA) remain controversial.

Methods

Early gastric adenocarcinomas that underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital between August 2017 and August 2021 were included in the present study. GDA cases and IDA cases were selected based on morphology and immunohistochemistry staining of CD10, MUC2, MUC5AC, and MUC6. Clinicopathological data and endoscopic findings in ME-NBI were compared between GDAs and IDAs.

Results

The mucin phenotypes of 657 gastric cancers were gastric (n = 307), intestinal (n = 109), mixed (n = 181) and unclassified (n = 60). No significant difference was observed in terms of gender, age, tumor size, gross type, tumor location, background mucosa, lymphatic invasion, and vascular invasion between patients with GDA and IDA. GDA cases were associated with deeper invasion than IDA cases (p = 0.007). In ME-NBI, GDAs were more likely to exhibit an intralobular loop patten, whereas IDAs were more likely to exhibit a fine network pattern. In addition, the proportion of none-curative resection in GDAs was significantly higher than that in IDAs (p = 0.007).

Conclusion

The mucin phenotype of differentiated early gastric adenocarcinoma has clinical significance. GDA was associated with less endoscopically resectability than IDA.
Utility of monocyte distribution width in the differential diagnosis between simple and complicated diverticulitis: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Chang Chang-Yuan , Hsu Tai-Yi , He Guan-Yi , Shih Hong-Mo , Wu Shih-Hao , Huang Fen-Wei , Chen Pei-Chun , Tsai Wen-Chen
Published: March 2023

Background

Colonic diverticulitis is a leading cause of abdominal pain. The monocyte distribution width (MDW) is a novel inflammatory biomarker with prognostic significance for coronavirus disease and pancreatitis; however, no study has assessed its correlation with the severity of colonic diverticulitis.

Methods

This single-center retrospective cohort study included patients older than 18 years who presented to the emergency department between November 1, 2020, and May 31, 2021, and received a diagnosis of acute colonic diverticulitis after abdominal computed tomography. The characteristics and laboratory parameters of patients with simple versus complicated diverticulitis were compared. The significance of categorical data was assessed using the chi-square or Fisher’s exact test. The Mann–Whitney U test was used for continuous variables. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of complicated colonic diverticulitis. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were used to test the efficacy of inflammatory biomarkers in distinguishing simple from complicated cases.

Results

Of the 160 patients enrolled, 21 (13.125%) had complicated diverticulitis. Although right-sided was more prevalent than left-sided colonic diverticulitis (70% versus 30%), complicated diverticulitis was more common in those with left-sided colonic diverticulitis (61.905%, p = 0.001). Age, white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil count, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and MDW were significantly higher in the complicated diverticulitis group (p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis indicated that the left-sided location and the MDW were significant and independent predictors of complicated diverticulitis. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was as follows: MDW, 0.870 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.784–0.956); CRP, 0.800 (95% CI, 0.707–0.892); NLR, 0.724 (95% CI, 0.616–0.832); PLR, 0.662 (95% CI, 0.525–0.798); and WBC, 0.679 (95% CI, 0.563–0.795). When the MDW cutoff was 20.38, the sensitivity and specificity were maximized to 90.5% and 80.6%, respectively.

Conclusions

A large MDW was a significant and independent predictor of complicated diverticulitis. The optimal cutoff value for MDW is 20.38 as it exhibits maximum sensitivity and specificity for distinguishing between simple and complicated diverticulitis The MDW may aid in planning antibiotic therapy for patients with colonic diverticulitis in the emergency department.
Prognostic significance of blood pressure parameters after mechanical thrombectomy according to collateral status
Authors: Wang Huaishun , Liu Huihui , Jiang Qianmei , You Shoujiang , Guo Zhiliang , Hou Jie , Xiao Guodong
Published: March 2023

Background

Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has been proven as an effective and safe therapy for patients with acute ischemic stroke from large vessel occlusion. However, there is still a controversial topic about post-procedural management including blood pressure (BP).

Methods

A total of 294 patients who received MT in Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from April 2017 to September 2021 were included consecutively. The association of blood pressure parameters (BPV and hypotension time) with poor functional outcome was evaluated using logistic regression models. Meanwhile, the effects of BP parameters on mortality was analyzed using cox proportional hazards regression models. Furthermore, the corresponding multiplicative term was added to the above models to study the interaction between BP parameters and CS.

Results

Two hundred ninety four patients were included finally. The mean age was 65.5 years. At the 3-month follow-up, 187(61.5%) had poor functional outcome and 70(23.0%) died. Regardless of the CS, BP CV is positively associated with poor outcome. Hypotension time was negatively associated with poor outcome. We conducted a subgroup analysis according to CS. BPV was significantly associated with mortality at 3-month and displayed a trend toward poor outcome for patients with poor CS only. The interaction between SBP CV and CS with respect to mortality after adjusting for confounding factors was statistically significant (P for interaction = 0.025) and the interaction between MAP CV and CS with respect to mortality after multivariate adjustment was also statistically significant (P for interaction = 0.005).

Conclusion

In MT-treated stroke patients, higher BPV in the first 72 h is significantly associated with poor functional outcome and mortality at 3-month regardless of CS. This association was also found for hypotension time. Further analysis showed CS modified the association between BPV and clinical prognosis. BPV displayed a trend toward poor outcome for patients with poor CS.