bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of two social norms nudge interventions to promote healthier food choices in a Canadian grocery store
Authors: Suleman Selina , Sweeney-Magee Molly , Pinkney Susan , Charbonneau Kimberly , Banh Kelly , Hale Ilona , Amed Shazhan
Published: May 2022

The objective of this study was to determine the impact of two nudge interventions on customers’ produce purchases at a rural Canadian grocery store. A pre- and post-intervention observational study design was used. Sales data were gathered before and after the staggered implementation of two nudge-based interventions to encourage produce purchases: grocery cart dividers to encourage shoppers to fill one-third of their cart with produce and grocery cart plaques with information about how many fruits and vegetables were typically purchased in the store. The proportion of total sales accounted for by produce was compared between baseline and implementation of the first intervention (Phase 1), between implementation of the first intervention and the addition of the second intervention (Phase 2), and between baseline and post-implementation of both interventions together. There was a 5% relative increase (0.5% absolute increase) in produce spending between baseline and post-implementation of both interventions (10.3% to 10.8%, p<0.001, 95% CI 0.2%, 0.7%). Intervention phase-specific produce spending showed no significant change in the percentage of produce spending from baseline to Phase 1 of the intervention, and an 8% relative increase (0.8% absolute increase) in the percentage of produce spending from Phase 1 to Phase 2 of the intervention (10.3% to 11.1%, p<0.001, 95% CI 0.5, 1.1%). Simple, low-cost nudge interventions were effective at increasing the proportion of total grocery spend on produce. This study also demonstrated that partnerships with local businesses can promote healthier food choices in rural communities in Canada.
SC144 - a promising small-molecule gp130-inhibitor of IL-6 and Oncostatin-M signaling for treatment of pancreatic cancer
Authors: Pozios Ioannis , Hering Nina A. , Guenzler Emily , Arndt Marco , Elezkurtaj Sefer , Knösel Thomas , Bruns Christiane J. , Margonis Georgios A. , Kamphues Carsten , Kreis Martin E. , Beyer Katharina , Seeliger Hendrik
Published: May 2022

Background: Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Oncostatin-M (OSM) and the major downstream effector STAT3 are pro-tumorigenic agents in many cancers, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Glycoprotein 130 (gp130) is a compound of the IL-6 and OSM receptor complex that triggers STAT3 signalling. Recently, a novel small molecule gp130 inhibitor named SC144 was discovered with a broad-spectrum anticancer activity. In this study, we examine the in vitro effects of SC144 in PDAC cell lines and the expression of gp130 in human PDAC specimens.Methods: Growth inhibition by SC144 in human PDAC cell lines AsPC-1 and L3.6pl was assessed using BrdU and MTT assays. Western blotting was performed to identify the inhibitory effect of SC144 on IL-6- or OSM-stimulated STAT3 signaling. Tissue microarrays were constructed from 175 human tumor specimens after pancreatic resection for PDAC. The expression of gp130 in tumor epithelium and tumor stroma was determined by immunohistochemistry. The gp130 expression was then correlated with clinicopathological parameters and survival analysis was performed.Results: SC144 inhibited cell proliferation and viability in human PDAC cells. Treatment with SC144 suppressed IL-6- and OSM-stimulated STAT3Y705 phosphorylation in PDAC cells. gp130 was expressed in epithelium of 78.8% of the tumor samples and in stroma of 9.4% of the tumors. The median overall survival for patients with no epithelial gp130 expression was 15.9 months, whereas for patients with gp130 expression was 16.7 months (p = 0.830). Patients with no stromal gp130 expression showed a poorer survival than patients with stromal gp130 expression in PDAC (median 16.2 and 22.9 months, respectively), but this difference did not reach significance (p = 0.144).Conclusions: SC144 potently inhibits PDAC progression in vitro through binding and inhibition of gp130 and, thereby, causes abrogation of IL-6 or OSM/gp130/STAT3 signaling. Although gp130 is expressed in the epithel of most human PDAC, stromal expression is rare. These results suggest gp130 as a novel drug target and blocking gp130/STAT3 signaling by SC144 as a potential new therapeutical approach for pancreatic cancer.
A study of clinical characteristics and risk factors of mortality associated with tigecycline
Authors: Wu Shuxie , Wu Gao , Wang Xuebin , Jiang Hong , Wu Hanbin
Published: May 2022

Background: Tigecycline has a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity and become more widely used. However, in 2010, the FDA warned that tigecycline was associated with an increased risk of death. The risk factors of tigecycline-associated mortality are still controversial.Purpose: The objective of this study was to explore the related factors of mortality associated with tigecycline in a tertiary university hospital and to establish the risk assessment criteria for tigecycline associated mortality.Methods: In a observational retrospective study, we enrolled 240 patients who had been treated for at least 3 days with tigecycline between January 2020 and December 2020.We compared the clinical characteristics of patients who died after tigecycline therapy (79 in the non-survivor group) with those who survived within 28 days after tigecycline therapy (161 in the survivor group) during the same hospitalization. We used a logistic regression model to find risk factors of tigecycline associated mortality.Results: In total, 240 patients were included in the analysis, 79 patients eventually died after tigecycline treatment. The ages of the non-survivor group and survivor group were 78.3±13.9 and 68.0±11.2 years old (p = 0.022), treatment duration were 11±8.5 and 7±6.6 day (p = 0.017), and the APACHE II score were 14.8±4.0 and 9.5±2.7 (p = 0.025). The serum creatinine (SCr) was significant difference before and after treated with tigecycline only in the non-survivor group and no significant difference in the survivor group. The proportion of the kidney failure events and change in creatinine value were greater in the non-survivor group after treated with tigecycline than in the survivor group (p < 0.001).. In the multivariate analysis, age(p=0.019), ΔCre(p＜0.001) , SCr(p=0.038), APACHE II score (p=0.031) were independently associated with mortality. An age of ≥79 years, ΔCre(μmol/L)≥36, SCr≥112 and APACHE II score≥12.7 were selected as the cutoff points for predicting tigecycline associated mortality. The distribution of non-survivors at different ranges of creatinine change showed higher percentages of mortality in patients with high ΔCre after tigecycline treatment.Conclusions: This study identifies the risk factors for tigecycline associated mortality, and draws attention to the fact that there is an increased mortality risk in patients treated with tigecycline . The risk assessment criteria can be helpful to identify patients with high risk of tigecycline associated mortality.
Theoretical study of impedance to consider the effects of electrode area
Authors: Sung Heehun
Published: May 2022

Electrical impedance tomography is one of the most popular methods to investigate subsurface resistivity and structure; however, it does not take into account the effect of the electrode area because it is based on methods for measuring the resistance of large-scale objects like the Earth. The purpose of the present study is to propose a new theoretical electrical impedance equation to obtain reliable electrical resistance measurements in tests of human-scale objects. The finite element method is applied to investigate how the impedance of a model to which electrodes are to be attached changes depending on the area of the electrodes. Both the electrodes and the model are constructed and calculated through COMSOL. The electrical impedance is simulated according to the area of the electrode, the length of the model, the conductivity, and the frequency of the electric field. On the basis of the simulation results according to the geometric structure of electrodes and the model, a new electric impedance equation for the electrode area is formulated. Unless the shape of the model is a circular plate or a long column, the results fit well with the theoretical calculations. Also, if the model height is similar to the model length, the theoretical impedance can only be defined as an arctangent function. This equation is important for analyzing the effect of the electrode area and is effective for estimating the resistance of human-scale models.
Fully Automated Deep Learning Method for Fibroglandular Tissue Segmentation in Breast MRI
Authors: Hu Siping , Park Christine , Lew Christopher Orion , Grimm Lars J. , Baker Jay A. , Taylor-Cho Michael W. , Mazurowski Maciej A.
Published: May 2022

Studies have demonstrated that the relative amount of fibroglandular tissue (FGT) with respect to fatty tissue on breast MRI is a risk factor for breast cancer. The amount of FGT is typically assessed qualitatively by a radiologist or by semi-quantitative tools, but both methods suffer from inter-reader variability and are imprecise. The additional challenge is a lack of publicly available data for development and comparison of quantitative tools. The objective of this study was: (i) to develop fully automated segmentation methods for breast and FGT based on convolutional neural networks (CNN) and (ii) to publicly share annotation masks and radiologists scores for the utilized images. 127 fat-saturated gradient echo T1-weighted pre-contrast MRI studies were used for model development and evaluation. The models were evaluated using the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC). Additionally, we implemented and evaluated an algorithm for breast density assessment which utilized our segmentation models. In the test dataset, the DSC was 0.879 for the breast and 0.730 for the FGT. The correlation between median radiologist breast density assessment and FGT percentage assessed by our model was r=0.83 (p<0.01). Overall, the model demonstrated high accuracy compared to gold standard radiologist assessment. The data and the model were made publicly available.
Economic Ramifications of Chronic Diseases' Burden in Egypt
Authors: Ibrahim Sarah Assem , Saleh Mohamed
Published: May 2022

Aim:\\ Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are fast replacing contagious diseases accounting for the highest death rates worldwide with a considerable economic impact. The study investigates the four major non-communicable diseases burden on the economic output passing through the demographic variables in Egypt.\\Subjects and Methods:\\This study uses international and national data sources. VARX-L model and VARX-ENET model are applied to detect the granger causalities, estimating variables' response to the predictor shocks, and eventually forecasting the main endogenous variables. \\Results:\\This study results yield that the highest negative impact on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is due to cardiovascular diseases. However, the disease's burden is lessened by the health budget increase. The cardiovascular diseases and diabetes burden impact the labour supply negatively. The crude birth rate negatively affects savings. Furthermore, human capital has a noticeable positive effect on the GDP.\\ Conclusion:\\We propose policies to alleviate the economic burden of chronic diseases, suggesting a rise in the health budget, family planning policies, lowering the inflation and the exchange rate.
Adult smokers’ complete switching away from cigarettes at 6, 9, and 12 months after initially purchasing a JUUL e-cigarette
Authors: Kim Sooyong , Shiffman Saul , Goldenson Nicholas
Published: May 2022

Background: Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) have the potential to benefit public health if smokers completely switch from cigarettes to ENDS.Methods: A cohort of adult smokers (age≥21) who purchased a JUUL Starter Kit was followed for 12 months after the initial purchase. We examined factors associated with achievement and maintenance of self-reported repeated point-prevalence switching (RPPS) at three follow-ups, i.e., no past-30-day smoking at months 6, 9, and 12.Results: RPPS was reported by 21.6% of the 12,537 evaluable smokers. Smokers with lighter baseline smoking history and lower baseline cigarette dependence were more likely to report RPPS. RPPS was also associated with patterns of and responses to JUUL use: Daily use of JUUL at month 3 (OR=2.25; 95% CI=1.96–2.60) and month 6 (OR=1.81; 95% CI=1.48–2.22) was associated with higher rates of RPPS, and as were greater subjective reinforcing effects from JUUL use (assessed by the mCEQ, month-3: OR=1.70, 95% CI=1.57–1.83; month-6: OR=1.15; 95% CI=1.06–1.25). Even among smokers who did not meet the criteria of RPPS (i.e., who smoked at least once), 35.5% reported past 30-day point-prevalence switching on at least one follow-up, and their cigarette consumption was substantially reduced compared to baseline. Conclusions: Approximately one-fifth of adult smokers reported 30-day point-prevalence abstinence at 6, 9, and 12 months after purchasing JUUL. Greater use of JUUL and stronger subjective reinforcing effects were associated with non-smoking, validating the potential for ENDS to substitute for smoking, with potential for positive impacts on individual and population health.
The autism-associated gene SYNGAP1 regulates human cortical neurogenesis
Authors: Quadrato Giorgia , Birtele Marcella , Dosso Ashley Del , Xu Tiantian , Nguyen Tuan , Wilkinson Brent , Urenda Jean-Paul , Knight Gavin , Moore Roger , Sharma Ritin , Pirrotte Patrick , Ashton Randolph , Huang Eric , Coba Marcelo
Published: May 2022

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a genetically heterogeneous disorder linked with rare, inherited and de novo mutations occurring in two main functional gene categories: gene expression regulation and synaptic function1. Accumulating evidence points to dysregulation in cortical neurogenesis as a convergent mechanism in ASD pathophysiology. While asynchronous development has been identified as a shared feature among ASD-risk genes in the category of gene expression regulation, it remains unknown whether this phenotype is also associated with ASD-risk genes in the synaptic function category. Here we show for the first time the expression of the synaptic Ras GTP-ase activating protein 1 (SYNGAP1), one of the top ASD risk genes, in human cortical progenitors (hCPs). Interestingly, we found that multiple components of the postsynaptic density (PSD) of excitatory synapses, of which SYNGAP1 is one of the most abundant components, are enriched in the proteome of hCPs. Specifically, we discover that SYNGAP1 is expressed within the apical domain of human radial glia cells (hRGCs) where it lines the wall of the developing cortical ventricular zone colocalizing with the tight junction-associated protein and MAGUK family member TJP1. In a cortical organoid model of SYNGAP1 haploinsufficiency, we show dysregulated cytoskeletal dynamics that impair the scaffolding and division plane of hRGCs, resulting in disrupted lamination of the cortical plate and accelerated maturation of cortical projection neurons. Overall, the dual function of SYNGAP1 in neuronal synapses and progenitor cells reframes our understanding of the pathophysiology of SYNGAP1-related disorders and, more broadly, underscores the importance of dissecting the role of synaptic genes associated with neurodevelopmental disorders in distinct cell types across developmental stages.
Nacre-mimetic cerium-doped nano-hydroxyapatite/chitosan layered composite scaffolds regulate bone regeneration via OPG/RANKL signaling pathway
Authors: Liu Xiao-Liang , Zhang Chuan-Jian , Shi Jing-Jing , Ke Qin-Fei , Ge Yu-Wei , Zhu Zhen-An , Guo Ya-Ping
Published: May 2022

Background: There has been a major burden in diseases associated with critical bone defects. Despite many techniques for defect management has come into use, the common treatment remains controversial. Mollusk nacre is a natural structure with outstanding mechanical property due to its notable “brick-and-mortar” architecture. Combining inorganic brick with organic mortar, natural nacre displays remarkable tensile strength and fracture toughness. Rare elements have exhibited extraordinary promotive capacities in various aspects of physiological process. Cerium ions have been reported with prospective capacities in promoting bone regeneration in many studies. Herein, inspired by the nacre architecture, our team designed and fabricated a nacre-mimetic cerium-doped layered nano-hydroxyapatite/chitosan layered composite scaffold (CeHA/CS). The scaffold displayed a distinct layered HA/CS composite structure with intervals ranging from 50 to 200 μm, which provided compatible environments for the adhesion and proliferation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs), allowed the in situ growth of newly formed bone tissues. In vitro, The CeHA/CS layered composite scaffolds noticeably promoted the osteogenic process through the upregulated expressions of osteogenesis-related genes like RUNX2, and COL1 by the BMP-2/P-Smad1/5 signal pathway. And simultaneously, the layered scaffolds inhibited osteoclast differentiation evidenced by the reduced TRAP positive osteoclasts and lowered bone resorption. In vivo, calvarial defected rats revealed that the layered CeHA/CS scaffolds remarkably accelerated bone regeneration at the defect site and immunofluorescence suggested the layered CeHA/CS scaffolds lowered RANKL/OPG ratio. Our results showed that CeHA/CS scaffolds may become a promising platform for bone regeneration in critical defect management by promoting osteogenesis and inhibiting osteoclast activation.
The incidence of the XRCC1 rs25487 and PON1 rs662 polymorphisms in a population from Central Brazil: patterns in an area with a high level of agricultural activity
Authors: Alves Alessandro Arruda , Laurinho Késsia , Franco Fernanda Craveiro , Nascimento Felipe Araujo , Nunes Hugo Freire , Silva Daniela Melo e
Published: May 2022

In Brazil, high levels of agricultural activity are reflected in the consumption of enormous amounts of pesticide. The production of grain in Brazil has been estimated to reach 289.8 million tons in the 2022 harvest, an increase of 14.7% in comparison with 2021, with an even greater increase being predicted for Goiás, one of the country’s principal grain producing states. These advances are likely associated with a progressive increase in the occupational exposure of rural workers to pesticides. The PON1 gene activates the enzymes involved in phase I of liver detoxification. The rs662 variant of this gene is known to modify the activity of the PON1 enzyme, which can increase the susceptibility of an individual to pesticides, leading to more severe symptoms or the development of diseases. The present study describes the frequencies of the rs25487 (of the XRCC gene) and rs662 variants and their haplotypes in a sample population from Goiás, Brazil, and compares the frequencies with other populations from around the world to verify the variation in the distribution of these Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs). The study analyzed samples taken from 494 unrelated individuals resident in the state of Goiás. The A allele of the rs25487 variant had a frequency of 26% in the Goiás study population, and the modified rs662 G allele had a frequency of 42.8%. Four haplotypes were recorded for the rs25487 (G > A) and rs662 (A > G) markers, with a frequency of 11.9% being recorded for the A/G haplotype (both modified alleles), 30.8% for the G/G haplotype, 14.3% for the A/A haplotype, and 42.8% for the G/A haplotype (both wild-type alleles). In conclusion, we demonstrated the distribution of important SNPs associated with pesticide exposure in an area that presents a high level of agricultural activity.
Effects of the coupling of dielectric spherical particles on signatures in infrared microspectroscopy
Authors: Kong Beibei , Brandsrud Maren Anna , Solheim Johanne Heitmann , Nedrebø Ingrid , Blümel Reinhold , Kohler Achim
Published: May 2022

Infrared microspectroscopy is a powerful tool in the analysis of biological samples. However, strong electromagnetic scattering may occur since the wavelength of the incident radiation and the samples may be of comparable size. Based on the Mie theory of single spheres, correction algorithms have been developed to retrieve pure absorbance spectra. Studies of the scattering characteristics of samples of different types, obtained by microspectroscopy, have been performed. However, the detailed,microscopic effects of the coupling of the samples on signatures in spectra, obtained by infrared microspectroscopy, are still notclear. The aim of this paper is to investigate how the coupling of spherical samples influences the spectra. Applying the surfaceintegral equation (SIE) method, we simulate small dielectric spheres, arranged as double-spheres or small arrays of spheres.We find that the coupling of the spheres hardly influences the broad oscillations observed in infrared spectra (the Mie wiggles)unless the radii of the spheres are different or the angle between the incident direction of the incident radiation and the normalof the plane where the spheres are located is large. Sharp resonance features in the spectra (the Mie ripples) are affected bythe coupling of the spheres and this effect depends on the polarization of the incident wave. Experiments are performed toverify our conclusions.
DSF/Cu induces antitumor effect against diffuse large B-cell lymphoma through ROS/NF-kB pathways and BCL6 down-regulation
Authors: Zhu Yunying , Lei Chenshuang , Jiang Qian , Yu Qinhua , Qiu Liannv
Published: May 2022

Background: The B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) oncogene is required for the survival of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), which is incurable using conventional chemotherapy. Thus, it is imperative to improve the survival of DLBCL patients. Disulfiram (DSF) has been demonstrated to have antitumor effects on some tumor; however, its effect on DLBCL is unclear. We here aimed to elucidate the effects and the underlying mechanisms of DSF alone or in combination with copper (Cu) on DLBCL cell lines and primary DLBCL cells.Methods: DLBCL cell lines including OCI-LY1, OCI-LY7, OCI-LY10, and U2932 cell lines and primary DLBCL cells from new-diagnosed DLBCL patients (n=8) were pretreated with DSF alone or in combination with Cu. Cell morphology was observed under microscope after Hoechst 33258 and Wright (BaSO) staining. Flow cytometry was performed to evaluate the cell apoptosis levels, cell cycle, the mitochondrial membrane potential and the intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The protein expression were respectively measured by flow cytometry and western blotting.Results: DSF or DSF/Cu exhibited a marked inhibitory effect on the growth of DLBCL cells, accompanied by cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase. Meanwhile, DSF or DSF/Cu significantly induced DLBCL cell apoptosis. Compared with using DSF alone, the combination of DSF with Cu induced apoptosis in DLBCL cells more dramatically. Furthermore, we found that the antitumor effect of DSF/Cu against DLBCL cells occurred through ROS-dependent NF-kB signaling pathway, and that the ROS scavenger N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) could reverse the cellular ROS levels. Interestingly, DSF/Cu significantly reduced BCL6 and AIP levels. In addition, DSF significantly up-regulate p53 protein in OCI-LY7 and OCI-LY10 while down-regulate p53 protein in OCI-LY1 and U2932. We also demonstrated that DSF or DSF/Cu show strong antitumor effect on primary DLBCL cells.Conclusion: DSF/Cu may be a new BCL6 inhibitor with potential therapeutic strategies for DLBCL patients.
Specific KIR-HLA genotypes predict outcomes of refractory or recurrent primary central nervous system lymphoma
Authors: Lin Zhiguang , Xu Huiwen , Ma Jingjing , Ma Yan , Li Qing , Kang Hui , Zhang Mengxue , Chen Bobin
Published: May 2022

Purpose
An effective salvage regimen for re-induction of remission is lacking for refractory or recurrent primary central nervous system lymphoma (r/r PCNSL). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of high dose cytarabine plus temozolomide in treating r/r PCNSL and explore the prognostic factors
Methods
A single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted to access the efficacy and safety of high dose cytarabine and temozolomide (AT) in r/r PCNSL patients. KIR and HLA genotyping were performed from peripheral blood sample of each patient.
Results
Thirty PCNSL patients receiving AT regimen (cytarabine 3g/m2 for 2 days combined with temozolomide 150mg/m2 for 5 days) in our institution were analyzed. The median age was 65 years (range 25–79 years). 43.4% of patients (13/30) achieved overall response with a median follow up of 16 months (95% confidence interval [CI]:11–23 months). The median PFS and OS of the cohort were 1.75 months (95% CI:1–4 months) and 19.5 months (95%CI:11 months to not calculable), respectively. Patients harboring KIR3DL1/HLA-B genotypes predicting low affinity had a higher response rate (p = 0.042) and longer median PFS (3 months) than those with KIR3DL1/HLA-B genotypes predicting high affinity (1 month) (p = 0.0047). Cox regression analysis indicated that KIR/HLA-B genotypes were independently associated with the PFS (p = 0.042). But it had no impact on the OS of the cohort. Toxicity of AT treatment was mild and manageable.
Conclusion
AT regimen was well tolerated and patients with specific KIR-HLA genotypes may benefit from it.
Evaluation of a protocol combining applications of Ophytrium-based shampoo and mousse in dogs with sensitive, itchy and irritated skin
Authors: Gatellet Marina , Ollivier Elodie , Kesterman Roxane , Fiora Pierre , Groux Daniel , Ilgart Emmanuelle , Jamet Jean-François , Madiot Gilles , Mahé Vincent , Ordeix Laura , Poujol Mikaël , Rosenkrantz Wayne , Wiest Melissa , Yotti Cesar , Blondel Thomas , Zemirline Claudine , De Jaeger Xavier
Published: May 2022

Topical formulations are key when managing skin conditions as they bring ingredients directly to the target organ. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of a protocol combining applications of Ophytrium-based shampoo and mousse (DOUXO® S3 CALM) in atopic dogs presenting with a skin flare. Thirty-four atopic dogs were included in the analysis of this prospective, multicentric European and US field study. Dogs received a shampoo application on D0 then mousse applications every 48–72 hours for three weeks. CADESI-04 scores were assessed by a dermatologist and pruritus by the owners (Pruritus Visual Analogue Scale score (PVAS)) on a weekly basis. On D21, veterinarian and pet owner evaluations were collected through questionnaires. Mean CADESI-04 score decreased significantly from 24.2 on D0 to 11.9 on D21 (49.4% mean improvement, P < 0.001 at all timepoints), and 61.8% of dogs achieved a ≥ 50% decrease of their CADESI-04 score on D21. Mean PVAS scores also decreased significantly between D0 and D21 (30.8% mean improvement, P < 0.001 at all timepoints) and 44.1% of the dogs showed a ≥ 50% PVAS decrease on D21. Veterinarians considered the improvement as satisfactory, good or excellent in 66.7% of cases. Pet owners were satisfied with the performance of the protocol in 72.7% of cases. In conclusion, the protocol combining applications of Ophytrium-based shampoo and mousse resulted in a quick and significant improvement in both skin health and pruritus in atopic dogs presenting with a skin flare with a high level of pet owner satisfaction.
Identification of spindle-shaped von Economo-like neurons in the rodent Rattus norvegicus
Authors: Pellicer Francisco , Singh Suneeta , Sánchez-Islas Eduardo , León-Olea Martha
Published: May 2022

The absence of spindle cells, or von Economo neurons (VENs), in the cortex of rodents, particularly Rattus norvegicus, has been previously reported. In this paper, we show microanatomic and immunohistochemical evidence of the existence of VENs-like cells in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and in the frontoinsular cortex (FI) of R. norvegicus. For this purpose, NADPH-d histochemistry, immunohistochemistry for nNOS, eNOS, NeuN, GABRQ, dopamine D3R and Nissl staining were performed. The results showed fusiform neurons positive for the aforementioned markers in layers III and V of the ACC and in layers III and V of the FI cortex. Fork neurons were also observed in the same areas. The NADPH-d-positive elements also indicated a close anatomical relationship between some VENs-like cells and blood capillaries. These findings demonstrate the anatomical existence of VENs-like cells in the rat.
Bioinformatics Analysis Identifies Significant Ferroptosis Genes and LncRNA-miRNA-mRNA Network in the Pathogenesis of Acute Pancreatitis
Authors: Yan Xu , Lin Tianjiao , Zhu Qingyun , Tian Fei , Zhang Yushi , Pan Xinting
Published: May 2022

Objectives The present study aims to identify the underlying mechanisms of ferroptosis and lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network in AP by bioinformatics tools.Methods The ferroptosis genes interacted with data obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene ontology, KEGG pathway enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction network construction, hub genes association analysis, and transcription factor prediction were used to select and analyze the differentially expressed genes. lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA interaction network were constructed by integrating the lncRNA-miRNA pairs and miRNA-mRNA pairs.Results We identified 38 differentially expressed genes from the datasets. The function enrichment and pathway enrichment analysis of the DEGs were mostly implicated in stress response and the MAPK signaling pathway. The lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network contained 145 lncRNA nodes, 4 miRNA nodes, 18 mRNA nodes and 235 edges. SQSTM1, KRAS, NFE2L2, HMOX1, SLC7A11, EGFR and ATF3 were identified as hub DEGs, and hub gene-related main TF MYC was discovered to have critical positive associations with these hub genes in pancreatic tissues. Conclusion The results of this study indicated that hub genes and the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network may play an important role in the mechanisms of ferroptosis in AP and provide treatment targets for AP.
QICAR methods for assessing the ecotoxicity of soil metal(loid)s to lettuce
Authors: Luo Xiaorong , Wang Xuedong , Xia Cunyan , Peng Jing , Wang Ying , Tang Yujie , Gao Fan
Published: May 2022

New pollution elements introduced by the rapid development of modern industry and agriculture may pose a serious threat to the soil ecosystem. To explore the ecotoxicity and risk of these elements, we systematically studied the acute toxicity of 19 metal(loid)s toward lettuce using hydroponic experiments and quantitative relationships between element toxicity and ionic characteristics using ion-grouping and ligand-binding theory methods, thereby establishing a quantitative ion character-activity relationship (QICAR) model for predicting the phytotoxicity threshold of data-poor elements. The toxicity of 19 ions to lettuce differed by more than four orders of magnitude (0.05 µM-953.16 µM). Correlation and linear regression analysis showed that the ionic characteristics significantly associated with this toxicity explained only 23.8%-50.3% of the toxicity variation (R2Adj = 0.238–0.503, p < 0.05). Relationships between toxicity and ionic properties significantly improved after separating metal(loid) ions into soft and hard, with R2Adj of 0.793 and 0.784 (p < 0.05), respectively. Three ligand-binding parameters showed different predictive effects on lettuce metal(loid) toxicity. Compared with the binding constant of the biotic ligand model (log K) and the hard ligand scale (HLScale) (p > 0.05), the softness consensus scale (σCon) was significantly correlated with toxicity and provided the best prediction (R2Adj = 0.844, p < 0.001). We selected QICAR equations based on soft-hard ion classification and σCon methods to predict phytotoxicity of metal(loid)s, which can be used to derive ecotoxicity for data-poor metal(loid)s, providing preliminary assessment of their ecological risks.
Effect of Glycerin on Electrical and Thermal properties of PVA/Copper Sulphate Gel polymer electrolytes
Authors: Ali Noor , Kareem Aseel , Polu Anji
Published: May 2022

Copper-ion conducting gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) systems based on polymer poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and copper sulphate salt doped with glycerin as plasticizer have been synthesized by using solution casting method. Differential scanning calorimetry is used to examine the thermal effect of glycerin on a plasticized polymer electrolyte (DSC). With the addition of various quantities of glycerin, as a plasticizer in pure PVA and PVA+20wt.%CuSO4 gel polymer electrolyte shows a decrease in the values of melting temperature (54.34°C), glass transition temperature (37.22°C) and percentage of crystallinity (11.65%). Compared to pure PVA, thermal degradation measured from TGA curve for the plasticized gel electrolyte is shifted to lower temperatures and the weight loss of the polymer electrolyte increase with increase of glycerin concentration. From DTG, the temperature of maximum decomposition for PVA is 283.4 oC, and it is decreased with adding 20 wt.% CuSO4 and upon increased concentration of the plasticizer from 1 to 3 mL of glycerin. For pure PVA and PVA+20wt.% CuSO4, ε′ decreases with increasing glycerin concentration and peaks at 3 mL glycerin concentration. The maximum ionic conductivity obtained was 9.39×10-4 S/cm for PVA+20wt.%CuSO4+3 mL glycerin.
Rho-associated kinase1 promotes Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma tumorigenesis and progression via the FAK pathway
Authors: YANG Li-Yun , Qiao Peipei , Zhang Jianwei , Hu An
Published: May 2022

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is one of the most common head and neck cancers. Rho-associated kinase1 (ROCK1) is believed to promote progression of most cancers, however, its role of LSCC is still unknown at present. In the study, ROCK1 is highly expressed in human LSCC tissues, and high expression of ROCK1 correlates with advanced stage and poor survival prognosis for LSCC patients. Decreasing ROCK1 expression inhibits the ability of progression, migration, invasion in vitro, as well as pulmonary metastasis in vivo, on the contrary, increasing ROCK1 expression has the opposite experimental results. FAK signalling pathway plays an essential role in promoting LSCC progression and inhibits FAK activity with TAE226, a specific FAK inhibitor, observably impairs the tumor-promoting effects induced by ROCK1. Inconclusion, ROCK1 promotes LSCC tumorigenesis and progression via the FAK pathway, targeting ROCK1/FAK might provide a potential treatment strategy for LSCC.
Exploring the Relationship between Faculty Mentor Engagement and African American STEM Persistence
Authors: Harris Pheather R. , Nagle Barry
Published: May 2022

This quantitative study explored factors associated with the persistence rates of African American students that aspired to major in STEM and ultimately completed undergraduate degrees in STEM. The primary data source for this study came from the Cooperative Institutional Research Program’s 2009 The Freshman Survey (TFS) and 2013 College Senior Survey (CSS). The sample included 379 African American students that indicated, on TFS, that they intended to declare STEM as their major. The findings revealed that African American undergraduates were significantly more likely to persist in STEM majors when they have increased levels of faculty mentor engagement. Findings demonstrate a need for institutions to consider implementing curricula that encompasses factors that contribute to meaningful faculty engagement to help create more inclusive academic environments for African American students in STEM.
Evidence for cross-feeding, metabolic specialization, and niche partitioning in the octocoral holobiont
Authors: Keller-Costa Tina , Kozma Lydia , Silva Sandra G. , Toscan Rodolfo , Gonçalves Jorge , Lago-Lestón Asunción , Kyrpides Nikos C. , Rocha Ulisses Nunes , Costa Rodrigo
Published: May 2022

BackgroundThe role of bacterial symbionts that populate octocorals (Cnidaria, Octocorallia) is still poorly understood. To shed light on their metabolic capacities, we examined 66 high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) spanning 30 prokaryotic species, retrieved from microbial metagenomes of three octocoral species and seawater. ResultsSymbionts of healthy octocorals were affiliated with the taxa Endozoicomonadaceae, Candidatus Thioglobaceae, Metamycoplasmataceae, unclassified Pseudomonadales, Rhodobacteraceae, unclassified Alphaproteobacteria and Ca. Rhabdochlamydiaceae. Phylogenomics inference revealed that the Endozoicomonadaceae symbionts uncovered here represent two species of a novel genus unique to temperate octocorals, here denoted Ca. Gorgonimonas eunicellae and Ca. Gorgonimonas leptogorgiae. Their genomes revealed metabolic capacities to thrive under suboxic conditions and high gene copy numbers of serine-threonine protein kinases, type III-secretion system, type IV-pili, and ankyrin-repeat proteins, suggesting excellent capabilities to colonize, aggregate, and persist inside their host. All Endozoicomonadaceae MAGs harbored endo-chitinase and chitin-binging protein-encoding genes, enabling these symbionts to hydrolyze the most abundant polysaccharide in the oceans. Other symbionts, including Metamycoplasmataceae and Ca. Thioglobaceae, may assimilate the smaller chitin-oligosaccharides resulting from chitin breakdown and engage in chitin deacetylation, respectively, providing evidence for substrate cross-feeding and a role for the coral microbiome in overall chitin turnover. We also observed sharp differences in secondary metabolite production capacities between symbiotic lineages. Specific Proteobacteria taxa may specialize in chemical defense and guard other symbionts, including Endozoicomonadaceae, which lack such capacity. ConclusionThis is the first study to recover MAGs from dominant symbionts of octocorals, including those of so-far unculturable Endozoicomonadaceae, Ca. Thioglobaceae and Mycoplasmoidales symbionts. We identify a thus-far unanticipated, global role for Endozoicomonadaceae symbionts of corals in the processing of chitin, the most abundant natural polysaccharide in the oceans and major component of the natural zoo- and phytoplankton feed of octocorals. We conclude that niche partitioning, metabolic specialization, and adaptation to low oxygen conditions among prokaryotic symbionts likely contribute to the plasticity and adaptability of the octocoral holobiont in changing marine environments. These findings bear implications not only for our understanding of symbiotic relationships in the marine realm abut also for the functioning of benthic ecosystems at large.
Using Google Earth Engine for the complete pipeline of temporal analysis of NDVI in Chitwan National Park of Nepal
Authors: PRASAI RITIKA
Published: May 2022

Advent of cloud computing and Google Earth Engine has completely changed the way we acquire, manage and process large satellite data. Here, we analyze temporal dynamics of vegetation productivity in Chitwan National Park, Nepal (CNP) for the period of 1988 to 2020 using Google Earth Engine (GEE) Python API, without using local computer for data storage or analysis. Specifically, we computed normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) from Landsat data and analyzed the time-series NDVI using a Thiel Sen estimator and by decomposing it to the trend and season components We completed remote sensing analyses including image retrieval, image analysis, classification and report generation in GEE Python API, which is a free resource. Our results showed that NDVI in CNP increased at the rate of 0.0006/year (p < 0.05, R2 = 0.66). We observed variation in NDVI during pre-monsoon (p < 0.05, R2 = 0.79) and monsoon (p < 0.05, R2 = 0.79) seasons which were 0.0005/ year and 0.0007/year, respectively. An annual increase in NDVI value in CNP indicates an increase in primary productivity that is assumed to support higher animal species richness. Using NDVI in GEE Python API proved to be an effective and efficient tool for monitoring the primary productivity of ecologically important sites such as protected areas.
Usage of green pea aquafaba modified with ultrasound in production of whipped cream
Authors: KILIÇLI Mahmut , ÖZMEN Duygu , BAYRAM Mustafa , TOKER Omer Said
Published: May 2022

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the ultrasound on the functionality of green pea aquafaba (GPA). Ultrasound (20 kHz) (US) was applied at different levels and durations (50%, 200 W; 75%, 310 W and 100%, 430 W for 10, 20 and 30 mins). Foaming capacity (FC), foaming stability (FS), emulsifying activity index (EAI), SDS-PAGE and the rheological properties of whipped cream were determined on the ultrasound applied products. Central composite response surface design was applied and mathematical model was derived to explain the change in the samples. It was found that foaming capacity of green pea aquafaba increased from 575 to 725 % by increasing ultrasound level from control to 100% for 20 min. In addition, foaming stability increased except at 100% US level for 30 mins. A negative effect was observed in the emulsion activity index. No significant change (P>0.05) was obtained from the electrophoresis profiles from the control sample at 100% US for 10 min. It was also determined that ultrasound broke up protein structure at 100% US level for 15.46, 20 and 30 mins. According to the rheological results, the consistency coefficient (K’) and flow behavior index values (n’) of egg white, optimum and control whipped cream samples were determined as 17.8, 8.1 and 4.6 Pa.sn and 0.38, 0.46 and 0.51, respectively. In addition, the frequency results of whipped cream samples, the K’ and n’ values egg white, optimum and control whipped cream samples 617, 217 and 184 Pa.sn and 0.11, 0.23 and 0.21, respectively (R2=0.980).
Implementation components and factors that influence the provision of tele-audiology services for children and adults - a mixed-methods approach
Authors: Ramkumar Vidya , Shankar Varsha
Published: May 2022

Background
Tele-audiology has accelerated with the rapid advancement in information and communication technology. There is a significant knowledge gap concerning the use of implementation science and factors influencing tele-audiology as a routine or long-term, sustained effort. This mixed-methods study aimed to identify implementation factors that influence the provision of tele-audiology services.
Method
We carried out a mixed-methods study comprising a scoping review and semi-structured interviews (SSI). Articles describing tele-audiology were included based on a set of inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Results
Data was extracted from 32 studies that were mapped to 21 projects in tele-audiology. The broad areas of focus identified in tele-audiology included the provision of hearing screening, diagnostic evaluation, a combination of diagnostic audiological with otorhinolaryngological evaluation, hearing aid fitting and programming, cochlear implant fitting and mapping, aural re/habilitation services and comprehensive audiological services. Provision of diagnostic and therapeutic services were predominantly carried out using synchronous/ real-time telepractice methods. Asynchronous methods were used predominantly for audiometric screening, video-otoscopy and tympanometry. The most commonly used model was the ‘professional-facilitator-patient’ followed by the ‘professional-patient’ model. Barriers to long-term sustainability included insufficient initial financial investment, lack of reimbursement policies, limited internet (speed and bandwidth), and lack of organisational policies and uniform laws. Successful implementation was reported to be aided by having a stable source of funding, a devoted team of professionals and technicians with defined roles and duties, and with methodical planning.
Conclusion
The scoping review, as well as the interviewees, represented tele-audiology implementation efforts in a wide range of countries that include low-middle income and high-income nations. Successful implementation was reported to be aided by having a stable source of funding, a devoted team of professionals and technicians with defined roles and duties, and with methodical planning. Sustained implementation occurred when the need and usefulness of tele-audiology were accepted by public sector policy-makers. However, a more accurate understanding of sustainability can be obtained by the use of implementation science and frameworks to guide tele-audiology services.
A novel auxin-inducible degron system for rapid, cell cycle-specific targeted proteolysis
Authors: Palmieri Dario , Capece Marina , Tessari Anna , Mills Joseph , Vinciguerra Gian Luca Rampioni , Lin Chenyu , McElwain Bryan , Miles Wayne , Coppola Vincenzo , Croce Carlo
Published: May 2022

The OsTIR1/auxin-inducible degron (AID) system allows selective protein degradation upon exposure to the phytohormone auxin. However, this technology does not allow to study the effect of acute protein depletion selectively in one phase of the cell cycle. Here, we report a new AID system to Regulate OsTIR1 Levels based on the Cell Cycle Status (ROLECCS) for phase-specific target proteolysis. Finally, we applied the ROLECCS technology to show that the tumor suppressor TP53 plays a S/G2-specific role in suppression of micronuclei accumulation. This new tool allows the analysis of different protein functions during cell cycle progression with unprecedented temporal resolution.
Photocatalytic degradation of reactive black dye using ZnO– CeO2 Nanocomposites
Authors: Saravanan Murugesan , Vigneshwar Sasibabu , Jegadeesan Gautham B. , Ponnusami Venkatachalam
Published: May 2022

Nano-CeO2 was synthesized via the chemical precipitation of cerium precursor solution, and then mixed with nano-ZnO at various weight ratios to obtain ZnO-CeO2nanocomposites. The composites were characterized for their morphological and photocatalytic properties. X-ray diffraction patterns of the pristine metal oxides corresponded well with (1 0 1) and (1 1 1) peaks of hexagonal wurtzite like-ZnO and cubic-phase CeO2, respectively. The band gap of the ZnO-CeO2nanocomposite was 3.08 eV, while that of pristine CeO2 and ZnO powder was 3.24 eV and 3.12 eV respectively. Photocatalytic activity of ZnO-CeO2composite was evaluated at various Reactive Black (RB) dye and catalyst concentrations. A 1:1 wt ratio ZnO-CeO2 nanocompsite provided the maximum (~ 85%) RB oxidation under UV light within 90 minutes. Rate of dye degradation obtained with ZnO-CeO2nanocomposite was almost 1.5 times more than that obtained with bare ZnO. It was observed that increase in CeO2 to ZnO ratio increased oxidation rates up to 1:1 wt ratio. Increasing CeO2 ratio beyond 1:1 wt. ratio did not significantly increase RB oxidation. The results confirm that addition of CeO2 to ZnO has resulted in lowering its bandgap energy and in-turn favors oxidation of RB dye under UV light.
Literature—a high risk implementation route to literacy?
Authors: Löfgren Maria , Erixon Per-Olof
Published: May 2022

This article is about the implementation of a literary module in a large scale Swedish professional development programme for teachers called the Reading Lift, which was introduced in 2014 in response to alarming PISA results. While the government-assigned preparatory work stressed the importance of literature and literary didactic methods, this area was reduced significantly in the hands of the National Agency for Education. For upper secondary school, the Agency did not initially plan for any literary content. This article examines what happened when L1 teachers demanded a literary module. Specifically, we study how the module was implemented and how literature is viewed. The study is based on interviews with researchers who contributed with content on behalf of the Agency and qualitative content analysis of the literature module. Results show that the module represents a focus on knowledge and art, unlike the instrumental and skills focused perspectives on literature for compulsory school, explored in an earlier study. One explanation for this, is that the influence of street-level agency bureaucrats was reduced due to various circumstances. The result was to the benefit of literary education but at the same time a high-risk route for the Agency’s requirements for measurability.