bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developing Students' Intercultural Communication Competence by Supplementing Local Culture Contents into English Lessons
Authors: Nguyen Thi Hong Minh , Nguyen Thi Thuy Linh
Published: August 2022

The ultimate goal of language learning is to communicate effectively and sensibly in that language, yet during the history of language teaching and learning, a focus on linguistic competence has remained dominant, which has undoubtedly resulted in language learners’ lack of sociolinguistic competence or ―intercultural competence allowing them to be a successful speaker of the language. This study aims to increase students' intercultural awareness and strengthen their understanding of their home culture by integrating local culture contents into English lessons for 9th graders. The intervention lasted 10 weeks in the second semester of the academic year 2021-2022, and 40 students in 9th grade at a junior high school in Thai Nguyen city, Vietnam, were engaged in the study as participants. The study utilized tests and questionnaires as the fundamental research instruments to gather data on augmenting local culture contents into English teaching in order to increase students' intercultural awareness of their surroundings. SPSS version 26.0 was used to process and analyze the results of the pre and post-tests as well as the pre and post-questionnaires. The results showed that the supplementation of local culture contents into English lessons has a positive effect on the participants’ intercultural communication competence. It is therefore proposed that local culture contents should be more regularly integrated into English lessons to develop students’ knowledge of local culture.
Improving Reading Comprehension of EFL Learners through Metacognitive Strategies
Authors: Bonganciso Ruel
Published: August 2022

Reading comprehension is one of the core learning abilities that plenty of learners struggle with. Being an active process of reading and extracting meaning from text, this cognitive skill requires effective use of strategic processes. To help the learners perform better in reading comprehension, action research, which aims to identify the effects of metacognitive strategies on the reading comprehension level of the thirty-three  Grade-7 L2 learners, was conducted. A validated researcher-made reading comprehension test, observation checklist, and interview guide were used to gather the data. Results show that the reading comprehension level of the learners is average in the pretest and above average in the posttest. As observed, the learners were active while reading the text by making annotations on the text they were reading. Most of them said that they were able to monitor their comprehension by asking questions and making predictions while reading the text. Thus, there is an increase in the reading comprehension performance of the learners after the intervention. Accordingly, metacognitive strategies are useful in developing the reading comprehension performance of the learners.
ESTADO FUNCIONAL DE IDOSOS NA ATENÇÃO BÁSICA A SAÚDE: REVISÃO INTEGRATIVA DE LITERATURA
Authors: Holanda Falcão Onofre Kaeliny
Published: August 2022

Introdução: o envelhecimento populacional no Brasil vem acontecendo de forma acelerada, sendo considerado um dos maiores desafios para a saúde pública. Objetivo: analisar o estado funcional de idosos na atenção básica a saúde. Metodologia: trata-se estudo de tipo revisão integrativa, obedecendo as seguintes etapas: elaboração da pergunta norteadora; busca na literatura; coleta de dados; análise crítica dos estudos incluídos; discussão dos resultados e apresentação da revisão integrativa, no período de setembro e outubro de 2021. Resultado: foram selecionados 10 artigos, publicados entre 2016 e 2021, que pesquisaram o estado funcional dos idosos atendidos na atenção básica. Considerações finais: Essa pesquisa buscou analisar o estado funcional de idosos na atenção básica, e com base nos estudos selecionados, foi possível observar que há comprometimento no estado funcional nessa população, os instrumentos de avaliação são diversos e não existe padronização e nem rotina de acompanhamento das disfunções relacionadas a pessoa idosa.
The eroticisation of gaze in the psychoanalytic treatment of a paedophile
Authors: Hilty Raffaella
Published: August 2022

In this article I discuss the clinical case of a patient whose main symptoms included paedophiliac perversions and an obsessive sexual interest in filming and watching himself whilst performing masturbatory sex in front of a webcam, something that I have come to refer to as “self-voyeurism”. Whereas voyeurism has been widely explored in psychoanalytic literature, to the best of my knowledge the psychological meaning of “self-voyeurism” has not. Based on the relational history of my patient, I will discuss that the “self-voyeurism” was an eroticisation of attachment trauma, specifically the experience of an absent mother’s gaze which constellated a threatening infanticidal presence, along with a way to cope with his subsequent traumata, including sexual and physical abuse at the hands of a violent father. I believe that this perverse symptomatology was both a defence structure against attachment and a powerful way of communicating his wish for closeness and intimacy.
Defence mechanisms in crime narratives of psychopathic violent offenders
Authors: Willemsen Jochem
Published: August 2022

The literature on crime narratives has demonstrated the relevance of studying offenders’ personal perspectives on crime as a means to gain insight in criminal behaviour. In this exploratory study, we examine the presence of defence mechanisms in crime narratives produced by violent offenders with psychopathic traits. The Defence Mechanism Rating Scale (DMRS) is used to assess defence mechanisms in crime narratives produced by 36 male inmates. The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) is used to assess psychopathic traits. Statistical analyses demonstrate the increased presence of obsessional defences (intellectualisation). The affective and lifestyle traits of psychopathy are positively associated with rationalisation. Our results indicate that psychopathic offenders tend to describe their violent crime in general and abstract terms and represent themselves as rational actors whose behaviour is normal and well-founded given the abnormal or irrational environment. We conclude that the narrative strategies deployed by offenders with psychopathic traits are characterised by defence mechanisms to deal with threats to the self.
Population-scale habitat use by school sharks Galeorhinus galeus (Triakidae) in the Southwest Atlantic: insights from temporally explicit niche modelling and habitat associations
Authors: De Wysiecki AM , Irigoyen AJ , Cortés F , Bovcon ND , Milessi AC , Hozbor NM , Coller M , Jaureguizar AJ
Published: August 2022

Population-scale information on the spatial ecology of threatened mobile sharks is required to design more effective management measures. Using an exhaustive collection of presence-only records and relevant predictors, we applied temporally explicit environmental niche modelling to study habitat use by a school shark Galeorhinus galeus population in the Southwest Atlantic. As a complementary tool, we developed randomized habitat association curves to assess both the representation of data with biological information and possible intra-population variation in habitat use. Seasonal niche models supported a core area of distribution between southern Brazil and southern Argentina. Marginal seasonal variation in suitability at the northern and southern extremes of its distribution supported the hypothesis that the G. galeus population behaves to some degree as a niche shifter on an annual cycle. Habitat associations revealed regional bias in the collection of records with biological information, and suggested a complex intra-population segregation pattern between sexes and between maturity stages during the cold half of the year. Overall, results supported large-scale partial migrations (i.e. some individuals migrate while others remain resident) of the G. galeus population. This study demonstrates the significance of future regional efforts that focus on producing more and better databases to derive relevant information at a low cost for the management of threatened sharks and their relatives.
Serum relaxin in preeclamptic and normotensive pregnant women at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital
Authors: Ugwu Aloy Okechukwu , Okunade Kehinde S , Oluwole Ayodeji Ayotunde , Olabode Sarah Ajibola John , Ani-Ugwu Nneoma Kwemtochukwu , Makwe Christian Chigozie , Ugwu Emmanuel V Onyebuchi , Garba Sunusi-Rimi
Published: August 2022

Background: Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific multi-systemic progressive disorder that is unique to human pregnancy occurring in the second half of pregnancy. Reliable biochemical markers for prediction, diagnosis and management of preeclampsia would have a great impact on maternal health and several of these markers have been suggested. Relaxin is a peptide that has shown promising effect in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and it is believed to increase vascular endothelial growth factor and placenta growth factor both of which promote angiogenesis and placentation in pregnancy. Thus, relaxin may play an important regulatory role in maternal vascular adaptations during pregnancy. Aim: This study therefore aimed to find out the difference, if any, in serum relaxin levels in preeclamptic and normotensive pregnant women at Lagos University Teaching Hospital. Methods: This was an analytical comparative cross-sectional study involving pregnant women with preeclampsia (study group- 48 had mild preeclampsia while 42 had severe preeclampsia) and age-, parity- and gestational age-matched women without preeclampsia (comparative group). Venous samples were collected from eligible participants after counselling and obtaining informed consent. Serum relaxin was determined using the Quantikine Human Relaxin-2 Immunoassay according to manufacturer’s instructions. A structured questionnaire was also administered to collect relevant sociodemographic and clinical information. Data were entered and analyzed using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Statistics) Version 23. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp. Categorical variables were summarized and presented as frequency and percentages. The test of normality of continuous variables was performed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The continuous variables such as age that were normally distributed were presented as mean (± standard deviation). All tests were two- tailed and statistical significances was set at p < 0.05. Results: The mean level of serum relaxin in women with preeclampsia was significantly lower than that of the normotensive women (0.24+0.03ng/ml vs. 0.42±0.05ng/ml; p < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the mean serum relaxin levels in participants with mild preeclampsia when compared to those with severe preeclampsia (0.24 + 0.02ng/ml vs. 0.23ng/ml + 0.01; p = 0.271). Conclusion: Women with pre-eclampsia have significantly lower levels of serum relaxin than normotensive pregnant women. However, there is no significant difference in mean serum relaxin levels in women with mild when compared to those with severe preeclampsia. Therefore, development of pre-eclampsia is associated with lower serum levels of relaxin, though the relaxin levels may not indicate the severity of disease.
Better the Devil you Know: The Myth of Harm and the Satanic Panic
Authors: Cleary Sarah
Published: August 2022

The 1980s were a time of big hair, big cars, big phones, and big panics. Yet no panic has ever come close to the hysteria generated by the ‘Satanic Panic’. It was an episode which encompassed an entire decade, spilling into the 1990s as well as into further child-centric narratives of harm such as the 1980s video nasty controversy in the UK. Beginning with the McMartin preschool trial in California in 1983, the satanic panic was a fear that America, or at the very least its white suburban middle class, was under a subversive form of attack from satanic forces. In a perfect storm of disparate cultural elements, satanic panic gained momentum in the wake of the McMartin ritual abuse allegations. Not unsurprisingly, all claims were unfounded and eventually quashed, but not before the ritual abuse cases and their alleged victims were paraded in the news media. This was indeed a real-life horror story and throughout this article, by reading the panic as a Gothic tale of excess, I wish to introduce a liminal narrative composed of hysteria, lies and media sensationalism henceforth known as ‘the myth of harm’. A complex composite of various social narratives, the myth of harm functions as both a vehicle for the articulation of our fears, while simultaneously capable of mobilising and often weaponising them, especially when those fears are directed towards children.
‘Everyone Has Monsters Within’: Neoliberal Release of Monstrous Desire in Stuart Gordon’s Re-Animator (1985) and From Beyond (1986)
Authors: Morgart James
Published: August 2022

This article argues that filmmaker Stuart Gordon uses the Gothic to critique neoliberal desires that proliferated during the 1980s and continue to exist today. Gothic tropes, particularly monstrosity, coincide with the political in a number of Gothic works by filmmakers such as Tobe Hooper, Larry Cohen, John Carpenter and David Cronenberg. Examining a number of these works reveals that monstrosity is designated to characters who privilege individual desires over the community; however, by closely reading Gordon’s Re-Animator (1985) and From Beyond (1986) alongside these films, I argue that Gordon’s films offer the more chilling recognition for audiences that neoliberalism’s real power is in its ability to adapt itself to appeal to and ultimately exploit our desires no matter how benevolent we believe them to be.
PENGARUH PENUNDAAN PEMOTONGAN TALI PUSAT TERHADAP KADAR HEMOGLOBIN PADA BAYI BARU LAHIR LITERATUR REVIEW
Authors: Sahmini Sahmini , Kabuhung Elvine Ivana , Iswandari Novita Dewi
Published: August 2022

Latar Belakang :Tali Pusat adalah penghubung antara ibu dan Bayi, yang mana melalui tali pusat semua oksigen,nutrisi,dan darah disalurkan melalui tali pusat kepada bayi, Bayi akan terpisah dari placenta melalui penjepitan dan pemotongan tali pusat yang dilakukan.Tujuan :MengidentifikasiÂ  perbedaan kadar Hemoglobin pada bayi dengan pemotongan tali pusat tertunda, dan mengidentifikasi waktu optimum untuk pemotongan tali pusat.Metodelogi :Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan studi Literatur Review dengan menggunakan beberapa sumber yang ada sebanyak 15 Artikel atau jurnal yang terpilih. Hasil : adanya peningkatan kadar hemoglobin pada penundaan < 1 menit sebesar 11,69-19,02 gr%, 2 menit sebesar 14,5-19,74 gr%, Â± 3 menit sebesar 15,2-24,00 gr%. Pemotongangan tali pusat segera bisa mengambil darah bayi 54-60 cc, sedangkan pada penundaan pemotongan tali pusat 1 menit bisa menghasilkan tambahan darah 80 ml, yang akan naik menjadi 100 ml pada 3 menit setelah bayi lahir. Dan waktu optimal untuk penundaan pemotongan tali pusat selama Â± 3 menit.Kesimpulan: Penundaan penjepitan tali pusat berpengaruh terhadap peningkatan kadar hemoglobin pada bayi baru lahir, dan bisa dijadikan sebagai alterative untuk mencegah terjadinya anemia pada bayi.Â Kata Kunci : Penundaan Pemotongan tali pusatÂ Background: The umbilical cord is the link between mother and infant, through which all oxygen, nutrients, and blood are passed through the umbilical cord to the infant. The infant will be separated from the placenta through clamping and cutting of the umbilical cord.Objective: To identify hemoglobin levels in infants by clamping the umbilical cord, and identifying the optimal time for cutting the umbilical cord.Methodology: This study used a Literature Review approach study using several existing sources as many as 15 articles or selected journals. Result: an increase in hemoglobin levels at a delay of <1 minute was 11.69-19.02 gr%, 2 minutes by 14, 5-19.74 gr%, Â± 3 minutes for 15.2-24.00 gr%. Clamping the umbilical cord immediately draws 54-60 cc of the baby's blood, whereas a 1-minute deferral of clamping the umbilical cord can result in an additional 80 ml of blood, which will rise to 100 ml at 3 minutes after the infant is born. And the optimal time for the suspension of cord chopping is Â± 3 minutes.Conclusion: Delayed cord clamping affects increasing hemoglobin levels in newborns, and can be used as an alternative to prevent anemia in infants.Â Keywords: Delay in clamping the umbilical cordÂ Â
EFEKTIVITAS PEMBERIAN KOMPRES ALOE VERA TERHADAP NYERI PEMBENGKAKAN PAYUDARA PADA IBU MENYUSUI: LITERATUR REVIEW
Authors: Esteriani Yulanda , Maolinda Winda , Hidayah Nurul
Published: August 2022

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  ABSTRAKLatar Belakang: Pada saat menyusui ibu-ibu yang baru saja melahirkan sering mengalami masalahÂ  saat menyusui yaitu masalah pada puting seperti puting terbenam, puting lecet, atau puting masuk kedalam. Masalah lainnya adalah pembengkakan payudara, infeksi payudara, ASI yang sedikit, dan teknik menyusui yang salah. Upaya untuk mengurangi nyeri pembengkakan pada payudara adalah dengan menggunakan tanaman yang memiliki khasiat obat herbal yaitu lidah buaya..Tujuan: Mengetahui efektifitas pemberian kompres Aloe Vera terhadap nyeri pembengkakan payudara pada ibu menyusui:Literatur Review.Metode: Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan studi literatur dengan menggunakan beberapa sumber yang dipilih berdasarkan kriteria yang telah diterapkan peneliti..Hasil: Dari 10 jenis literatur terdapat literaturÂ  menyatakan bahwa ada pengaruh pemberian kompres aloe vera dalam menurunkan pembengkakan payudara dan 1 literatur manyatakan kompres aloe vera dapat menurunkan intensitas nyeri payudara serta penigkatan jumlah ASI.Simpulan: Kompres gel aloe vera dapat digunakan sebagai alternatif dalam menurunkan pembengkakan payudara karena gel aloe vera dapat mendilatasiÂ  pembuluhÂ  darahÂ  sehinggaÂ  pembengkakanÂ  menurun.Â Kata Kunci: Menyusui, Kompres Aloe VeraÂ  dan Nyeri Pembengkakan PayudaraBackground: When breastfeeding, mothers who have just given birth often experience problems during breastfeeding, namely problems with the nipples such as immersed nipples, blistered nipples, or ingrown nipples. Other problems are breast engorgement, breast infection, low breast milk, and incorrect breastfeeding techniques. Efforts to reduce the pain of swelling in the breasts are to use plants that have herbal medicinal properties, namely Aloe Vera.Objective: : Knowing the effectiveness of giving Aloe Vera compresses on breast engorgement pain in nursing mothers : Literature Review.Method: This study uses a literature study approach using several sources selected based on predetermined criteria, the researcher.Results: From 10 types of literature, there is literature stating that there is an effect of giving aloe vera compresses in reducing breast swelling and 1 literature states that aloe vera compresses can reduce the intensity of breast pain and increase the amount of breast milk.Conclusion: Aloe vera gel compresses can be used as an alternative in reducing breast engorgement because aloe vera gel can dilate blood vessels so that the swelling decreases.Â Keywords: Breastfeeding, Aloe Vera Compress and Breast Engorgement Pain
Location-specific integrated farming system models for resource recycling and livelihood security for smallholders
Authors: Kumar Sanjeev , Shivani  , Dey Amitav , Kumar Ujjwal , Kumar Rakesh , Mondal Surajit , Kumar Ajay , Manibhushan
Published: August 2022

The present investigation was carried out in a holistic mode to study the interactions among the integrated farming system (IFS) components and to develop and design a sustainable IFS model which is technologically sound, economically viable, environmentally benign, and socially acceptable for the middle Indo-Gangetic Plains. For efficient utilization of farm resources and to enhance the income per unit area of land, 10 IFS models have been developed at the farmers’ fields of Patna, Nalanda, and Vaishali districts of Bihar, India, during 2016–2021, involving components like crops, poultry, cattle, goat, mushroom farming, fishery, and duckery in different combinations. Out of 10 different integrations, three primary cropping systems prevailing in the state were undertaken and seven other components were integrated in a synergistic mode. Each system was allocated an area of 0.8 ha (2,000 m²), viz., (i) rice–wheat, (ii) rice–maize, (iii) rice–maize–moong (crop), (iv) crop + vegetable + goat, (v) crop + fish + goat, (vi) crop + fish + cattle, (vii) crop + fish + duck + goat, (viii) crop + fish + duck, (ix) crop + fish + mushroom, and (x) crop + fish + poultry. To sustain the productivity of soil health, inorganic fertilizers combined with organic wastes, obtained from various components of IFS, viz., recycled pond silts, poultry manure, duck manure, goat manure and cow dung as farmyard manures (FYMs), composted residues, and vermicompost were applied to crops grown under different IFS models. The nutrient content of manure increased manifolds after recycling as compost and vermicompost. Residue recycling revealed that integration of crops with fish and duck resulted in higher fish productivity and higher net returns (increased by USD13) in comparison to poultry dropping fed fishes. Due to the recycling of droppings, viz., poultry, duck, goat, cattle, and plant wastes, an additional quantity of 56.5 kg N, 39.6 kg P2O5, and 42.7 kg K2O was added to the soil during the study. Crop integrated with fish + duck + goat had the maximum rice grain equivalent yield (RGEY), net returns, and employment opportunity (467 man-days/year) from 0.8 ha of land, followed by crop + fish + poultry integration. The sustainability index (0.77) and net energy gain (95,770 MJ) were also found highest with crop + fish + duck+ goat integration indicating the optimum efficiency of all the farming system integrations for the region.
Large-scale transcriptomic analysis of coding and non-coding pathological biomarkers, associated with the tumor immune microenvironment of thyroid cancer and potential target therapy exploration
Authors: Shih Ming-Lang , Lawal Bashir , Cheng Sheng-Yao , Olugbodi Janet O. , Babalghith Ahmad O , Ho Ching-Liang , Cavalu Simona , Batiha Gaber El-Saber , Albogami Sarah , Alotaibi Saqer S. , Lee Jih-Chin , Wu Alexander T. H.
Published: August 2022

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most prevalent endocrine malignancy with a steadily increasing global incidence in recent decades. The pathogenesis of PTC is poorly understood, and the present diagnostic protocols are deficient. Thus, identifying novel prognostic biomarkers to improve our understanding of the mechanisms of pathogenesis, diagnosis, and designing therapeutic strategies for PTC is crucial. In this study, we integrated 27 PTC transcriptomic datasets and identified overlapping differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially expressed microRNAs, collectively known as thyroid tumor-enriched proteins (TTEPs), and TTEmiRs, respectively. Our integrated bioinformatics analysis revealed that TTEPs were associated with tumor stages, poor surgical outcomes, distant metastasis, and worse prognoses in PTC cohorts. In addition, TTEPs were found to be associated with tumor immune infiltrating cells and immunosuppressive phenotypes of PTC. Enrichment analysis suggested the association of TTEPs with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), cell-matrix remodeling, and transcriptional dysregulation, while the TTEmiRs (miR-146b-5p and miR-21-5p) were associated with the modulation of the immune response, EMT, migration, cellular proliferation, and stemness. Molecular docking simulations were performed to evaluate binding affinities between TTEPs and antrocinnamomin, antcin, and antrocin, the bioactive compounds from one of the most reputable Taiwan indigenous medicinal plants (Antrodia camphorata). Our results revealed that antcin exhibited higher binding efficacies toward FN1, ETV5, and NRCAM, whereas antrocin demonstrated the least. Among the targets, fibronectin (FN1) demonstrated high ligandability potential for the compounds whereas NRCAM demonstrated the least. Collectively, our results hinted at the potential of antcin for targeting TTEPs. In conclusion, this comprehensive bioinformatics analysis strongly suggested that TTEPs and TTEmiRs could be used as potential diagnostic biomarker signatures and be exploited as potential targets for therapeutics development.
Comparison of gut microbiota in male MAFLD patients with varying liver stiffness
Authors: Zhang Yuheng , Yan Su , Sheng Shifeng , Qin Qian , Chen Jingfeng , Li Weikang , Li Tiantian , Gao Xinxin , Wang Lin , Ang Li , Ding Suying
Published: August 2022

Purpose

In this study, we examined the changes to the composition and function of the gut microbiota from patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD).We compared patients in a case group (liver stiffness (LSM) ≥ 7.4 kPa) with a matched control group (LSM < 7.4 kPa) and investigated the correlation between characteristics of the microbiota and other biochemical indicators.

Methods

The study looked at a total of 85 men with MAFLD, 17 of whom were in the case group and 68 of whom were in the control group. We measured waist circumference, blood pressure, and body mass index, as well as clinical parameters including liver stiffness, enzyme levels, cholesterol levels, and fat attenuation. Whole-genome shotgun sequencing technology and the MetaCyc database were then used to detect the composition and major pathways of the gut microbiota for each patient. Statistical analyses were performed, including the chi-square test, the student’s t-test, the Wilcoxon rank-sum test, and the Mann–Whitney test.

Results

Whole-genome sequencing showed that the composition of the gut microbiota in patients with an LSM of above 7.4 kPa was significantly different to that of the control group. There were seven bacterial species that were different between the two groups. Prevotella copri, Phascolarctobacterium succinatutens, Eubacterium biforme, and Collinsella aerofaciens were enriched in the case group (P < 0.05). Conversely, Bacteroides coprocola, Bacteroides stercoris and Clostridiales bacterium 1_7_47FAA were decreased in the case group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, after removing low abundance pathways, a total of 32 microbial pathways were found to be significantly different between the two groups. Most pathways enriched in the case group over the control were related to biosynthesis of metabolites including amino acids, vitamins, nucleosides, and nucleotides. Conclusion. The composition and function of the gut microbiota in patients with increased liver stiffness are significantly altered. This observation may provide new avenues to better understand the mechanism of liver fibrosis.
Specific quantitative detection of Streptococcus suis and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae in co-infection and mixed biofilms
Authors: Yi Li , Jin Manyu , Gao Mengxia , Wang Haikun , Fan Qingying , Grenier Daniel , Sun Liyun , Wang Shaohui , Wang Yang
Published: August 2022

Respiratory infections seriously affect the swine industry worldwide. Co-infections of two vital pathogenic bacteria Streptococcus suis (S. suis) and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (A. pleuropneumoniae), colonizing the respiratory tract often occurs in veterinary clinical practice. Moreover, our previous research found that S. suis and A. pleuropneumoniae can form biofilm in vitro. The formation of a mixed biofilm not only causes persistent infections, but also increases the multiple drug resistance of bacteria, which brings difficulties to disease prevention and control. However, the methods for detecting S. suis and A. pleuropneumoniae in co-infection and biofilm are immature. Therefore, in this study, primers and probes were designed based on the conservative sequence of S. suis gdh gene and A. pleuropneumoniae apxIVA gene. Then, a TaqMan duplex real-time PCR method for simultaneous detection of S. suis and A. pleuropneumoniae was successfully established via optimizing the reaction system and conditions. The specificity analysis results showed that this TaqMan real-time PCR method had strong specificity and high reliability. The sensitivity test results showed that the minimum detection concentration of S. suis and A. pleuropneumoniae recombinant plasmid was 10 copies/μL, which is 100 times more sensitive than conventional PCR methods. The amplification efficiencies of S. suis and A. pleuropneumoniae were 95.9% and 104.4% with R2 value greater than 0.995, respectively. The slopes of the calibration curves of absolute cell abundance of S. suis and A. pleuropneumoniae were 1.02 and 1.09, respectively. The assays were applied to cultivated mixed biofilms and approximately 108 CFUs per biofilm were quantified when 108 CFUs planktonic bacteria of either S. suis or A. pleuropneumoniae were added to biofilms. In summary, this study developed a TaqMan real-time PCR assay for specific, accurate quantification of S. suis or A. pleuropneumoniae in mixed biofilms, which may help for the detection, prevention and control of diseases caused by a bacterial mixed infection involving S. suis and A. pleuropneumoniae.
Isolation, characterization, and functional study of extracellular vesicles derived from Leishmania tarentolae
Authors: Shokouhy Mehrdad , Sarvnaz Hamzeh , Taslimi Yasaman , Lajevardi Mahya Sadat , Habibzadeh Sima , Mizbani Amir , Shekari Faezeh , Behbahani Mandana , Torrecilhas Ana Claudia , Rafati Sima
Published: August 2022

Leishmania (L.) species are protozoan parasites with a complex life cycle consisting of a number of developmental forms that alternate between the sand fly vector and their host. The non-pathogenic species L. tarentolae is not able to induce an active infection in a human host. It has been observed that, in pathogenic species, extracellular vesicles (EVs) could exacerbate the infection. However, so far, there is no report on the identification, isolation, and characterization of L. tarentolae EVs. In this study, we have isolated and characterized EVs from L. tarentolaeGFP+ (tEVs) along with L. majorGFP+ as a reference and positive control. The EVs secreted by these two species demonstrated similar particle size distribution (approximately 200 nm) in scanning electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis. Moreover, the said EVs showed similar protein content, and GFP and GP63 proteins were detected in both using dot blot analysis. Furthermore, we could detect Leishmania-derived GP63 protein in THP-1 cells treated with tEVs. Interestingly, we observed a significant increase in the production of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-1β, while there were no significant differences in IL-6 levels in THP-1 cells treated with tEVs following an infection with L. major compared with another group of macrophages that were treated with L. major EVs prior to the infection. Another exciting observation of this study was a significant decrease in parasite load in tEV-treated Leishmania-infected macrophages. In addition, in comparison with another group of Leishmania-infected macrophages which was not exposed to any EVs, tEV managed to increase IFN-γ and decrease IL-6 and the parasite burden. In conclusion, we report for the first time that L. tarentolae can release EVs and provide evidence that tEVs are able to control the infection in human macrophages, making them a great potential platform for drug delivery, at least for parasitic infections.
Exploring direct and indirect targets of current antileishmanial drugs using a novel thermal proteomics profiling approach
Authors: Ibarra-Meneses Ana Victoria , Corbeil Audrey , Wagner Victoria , Beaudry Francis , do Monte-Neto Rubens L. , Fernandez-Prada Christopher
Published: August 2022

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), caused by Leishmania infantum, is an oft-fatal neglected tropical disease. In the absence of an effective vaccine, the control of leishmaniasis relies exclusively on chemotherapy. Due to the lack of established molecular/genetic markers denoting parasite resistance, clinical treatment failure is often used as an indicator. Antimony-based drugs have been the standard antileishmanial treatment for more than seven decades, leading to major drug resistance in certain regions. Likewise, drug resistance to miltefosine and amphotericin B continues to spread at alarming rates. In consequence, innovative approaches are needed to accelerate the identification of antimicrobial drug targets and resistance mechanisms. To this end, we have implemented a novel approach based on thermal proteome profiling (TPP) to further characterize the mode of action of antileishmanials antimony, miltefosine and amphotericin B, as well as to better understand the mechanisms of drug resistance deployed by Leishmania. Proteins become more resistant to heat-induced denaturation when complexed with a ligand. In this way, we used multiplexed quantitative mass spectrometry-based proteomics to monitor the melting profile of thousands of expressed soluble proteins in WT, antimony-resistant, miltefosine-resistant, and amphotericin B-resistant L. infantum parasites, in the presence (or absence) of the above-mentioned drugs. Bioinformatics analyses were performed, including data normalization, melting profile fitting, and identification of proteins that underwent changes (fold change > 4) caused by complexation with a drug. With this unique approach, we were able to narrow down the regions of the L. infantum proteome that interact with antimony, miltefosine, and amphotericin B; validating previously-identified and unveiling novel drug targets. Moreover, analyses revealed candidate proteins potentially involved in drug resistance. Interestingly, we detected thermal proximity coaggregation for several proteins belonging to the same metabolic pathway (i.e., tryparedoxin peroxidase and aspartate aminotransferase in proteins exposed to antimony), highlighting the importance of these pathways. Collectively, our results could serve as a jumping-off point for the future development of innovative diagnostic tools for the detection and evaluation of antimicrobial-resistant Leishmania populations, as well as open the door for new on-target therapies.
Incidence, risk factors, and outcomes in electroencephalographic seizures after mechanical circulatory support: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Li Qian , Shen Jingjia , Lv Hong , Liu Yue , Chen Yuye , Zhou Chenghui , Shi Jia
Published: August 2022

Purpose

To estimate the overall incidence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of electroencephalographic (EEG) seizures for adults and children after mechanical circulatory support (MCS).

Method and measurements

This systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis) guidance document. MEDLINE EMBASE and CENTRAL were investigated for relevant studies. The related information was retrieved by two independent reviewers and all analyses were conducted by STATA (version 16.0; Stata Corporation, College Station, TX, United States).

Result

Sixty studies including 36,191 adult and 55,475 pediatric patients with MCS were enrolled for evaluation. The study showed that the overall incidence of EEG seizures in adults was 2% (95%CI: 1–3%), in which 1% (95%CI: 1–2%) after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), and 3% (95%CI: 1–6%) after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). For pediatrics patients, the incidence of EEG seizures was 12% (95%CI: 11–14%), among which 12% (9–15%) after CPB and 13% (11–15%) after ECMO. The major risk factors of EEG seizures after MCS in adults were redo surgery (coefficient = 0.0436, p = 0.044), and COPD (coefficient = 0.0749, p = 0.069). In addition, the gestational week of CPB (coefficient = 0.0544, p = 0.080) and respiratory failure of ECMO (coefficient = –0.262, p = 0.019) were also indicated to be associated with EEG seizures in pediatrics.

Conclusion

EEG seizures after MCS were more common in pediatrics than in adults. In addition, the incidence of EEG seizure after ECMO was higher than CPB both in adults and children. It is expected that appropriate measures should be taken to control modifiable risk factors, thus improving the prognosis and increasing the long-term survival rate of MCS patients.

Systematic Review Registration

[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero], identifier [CRD42021287288].
Developing a Hybrid Risk Assessment Tool for Familial Hypercholesterolemia: A Machine Learning Study of Chinese Arteriosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Patients
Authors: Wang Lei , Guo Jian , Tian Zhuang , Seery Samuel , Jin Ye , Zhang Shuyang
Published: August 2022

Background

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal-dominant genetic disorder with a high risk of premature arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). There are many alternative risk assessment tools, for example, DLCN, although their sensitivity and specificity vary among specific populations. We aimed to assess the risk discovery performance of a hybrid model consisting of existing FH risk assessment tools and machine learning (ML) methods, based on the Chinese patients with ASCVD.

Materials and Methods

In total, 5,597 primary patients with ASCVD were assessed for FH risk using 11 tools. The three best performing tools were hybridized through a voting strategy. ML models were set according to hybrid results to create a hybrid FH risk assessment tool (HFHRAT). PDP and ICE were adopted to interpret black box features.

Results

After hybridizing the mDLCN, Taiwan criteria, and DLCN, the HFHRAT was taken as a stacking ensemble method (AUC_class[94.85 ± 0.47], AUC_prob[98.66 ± 0.27]). The interpretation of HFHRAT suggests that patients aged <75 years with LDL-c >4 mmol/L were more likely to be at risk of developing FH.

Conclusion

The HFHRAT has provided a median of the three tools, which could reduce the false-negative rate associated with existing tools and prevent the development of atherosclerosis. The hybrid tool could satisfy the need for a risk assessment tool for specific populations.
Prognostic Implications of Biventricular Global Longitudinal Strain in Patients With Severe Isolated Tricuspid Regurgitation
Authors: Kim Dae-Young , Seo Jiwon , Cho Iksung , Lee Seung Hyun , Lee Sak , Hong Geu-Ru , Ha Jong-Won , Shim Chi Young
Published: August 2022

Background

Isolated TV surgery can be performed in patients with symptoms caused by severe isolated tricuspid regurgitation (TR), preferably before the onset of significant right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. In patients with severe TR, intrinsic RV dysfunction tends to be masked and promotes left ventricular (LV) mechanical dysfunction. This study investigated the prognostic implications of biventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) in patients receiving isolated tricuspid valve (TV) surgery.

Methods

Among 1,670 patients who underwent TV surgery between January 2000 and December 2020, 111 patients with severe isolated TR who underwent echocardiography before and after TV surgery were analyzed. We assessed LV, RV, and biventricular GLS using speckle tracking echocardiography. Biventricular GLS was defined as the sum of LV-GLS and RV free-wall strain. The primary outcomes were cardiovascular death, heart failure hospitalization, re-done TV surgery, and heart transplantation.

Results

During 3.9 ± 3.8 years of follow-up after the postoperative echocardiography, 24 (21.6%) patients experienced a primary outcome. Those patients had more comorbidities and more impaired preoperative RV-GLS and biventricular GLS than those who did not experience a primary outcome, although the two groups did not differ in preoperative LV-GLS. Patients with a primary outcome also showed significantly impaired postoperative RV-GLS, biventricular GLS, and LV-GLS compared those without a primary outcome. In multivariate analyses, both pre- and postoperatively assessed RV-GLS [preoperative; hazard ratio (HR) 0.86, confidence interval (CI) 0.79–0.93, p < 0.001, postoperative; HR 0.89, CI 0.82–0.96, p = 0.004] and biventricular GLS [preoperative; HR 0.96, CI 0.91–1.00, p = 0.048, postoperative; HR 0.94, CI 0.89–0.99, p = 0.023] were independently associated with the primary outcomes.

Conclusion

In patients with severe isolated TR undergoing TV surgery, the absolute value of RV-GLS under 17.2% is closely associated with a poor prognosis, and that of biventricular GLS under 34.0%, mainly depending on the RV-GLS, is related to the poor prognosis. Further prospective multicenter studies are warranted to establish the risk stratification of isolated TV surgery.
Precision therapy for three Chinese families with maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY12)
Authors: Li Juyi , Wang Xiufang , Mao Huihui , Wen Li , Deng Aiping , Li Yarong , Zhang Hongmei , Liu Chao
Published: August 2022

Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is rare monogenic diabetes. However, MODY is often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. In this study, we aimed to investigate the pathogenic gene for diabetes and provide precise treatment for diabetes patients in three families. Three families with suspected MODY were enrolled and screened for germline mutations using Whole exome sequencing (WES). Candidate pathogenic variants were validated in other family members and non-related healthy controls. Three heterozygous missense mutations in the ABCC8 gene (NM_001287174), c.1555 C>T (p.R519C), c.3706 A>G (p.I1236V), and c.2885 C>T (p.S962L) were found in families A, B, and C, respectively. All mutation sites cosegregated with diabetes, were predicted to be harmful by bioinformatics and were not found in non-related healthy controls. Two probands (onset ages, 8 and 12 years) were sensitive to glimepiride. However, an insufficient dose (2 mg/day) led to ketoacidosis. When the dosage of glimepiride was increased to 4 mg/day, blood sugar remained under control. A dose of 4 mg glimepiride daily also effectively controlled blood sugar in an adult patient 25-year-old. In addition, all patients were sensitive to liraglutide, which could control blood sugar better. These data suggest that ABCC8 was the pathogenic gene in three families with diabetes. Glimepiride (2 mg/day) was not effective in controlling blood sugar in children with ABCC8 mutations, however, 4 mg/daily glimepiride was effective in both adults and children. Moreover, liraglutide was effective in controlling blood sugar in both adults and children with ABCC8 mutations.
Regulation of the kiss2 promoter in yellowtail clownfish (Amphiprion clarkii) by cortisol via GRE-dependent GR pathway
Authors: Bu Shao-Yang , Zhang Yan-Yu , Zhang Xian , Li Tian-Xiu , Zheng De-Cai , Huang Ze-Xiang , Wang Qian
Published: August 2022

Kisspeptin plays a vital role in mediating the stress-induced reproductive regulation. Cortisol, known as a stress-related hormone, is involved in gonadal development and sexual differentiation by binding with glucocorticoid receptor (GR) to regulate the expression of kiss gene. In the present study, cortisol treatment in yellowtail clownfish (Amphiprion clarkii) showed that the expression of kiss (kiss1 and kiss2) and gr (gr1 and gr2) genes were increased significantly. We demonstrated that the yellowtail clownfish Kiss neurons co-express the glucocorticoid receptors in the telencephalon, mesencephalon, cerebellum, and hypothalamus. We further cloned the promoter of kiss2 gene in yellowtail clownfish and identified the presence of putative binding sites for glucocorticoid receptors, estrogen receptors, androgen receptors, progesterone receptors, AP1, and C/EBP. Applying transient transfection in HEK293T cells of the yellowtail clownfish kiss2 promoter, cortisol (dexamethasone) treatment was shown to enhance the promoter activities of the yellowtail clownfish kiss2 gene in the presence of GRs. Deletion analysis of kiss2 promoter indicated that cortisol-induced promoter activities were located between position −660 and −433 with GR1, and −912 and −775 with GR2, respectively. Finally, point mutation studies on the kiss2 promoter showed that cortisol-stimulated promoter activity was mediated by one GRE site located at position −573 in the presence of GR1 and by each GRE site located at position −883, −860, −851, and −843 in the presence of GR2. Results of the present study provide novel evidence that cortisol could regulate the transcription of kiss2 gene in the yellowtail clownfish via GRE-dependent GR pathway.
Dysregulated sphingolipid metabolism and autophagy in granulosa cells of women with endometriosis
Authors: Turathum Bongkoch , Gao Er-Meng , Grataitong Khwanthana , Liu Yu-Bing , Wang Ling , Dai Xue , Chian Ri-Cheng
Published: August 2022

We evaluated metabolic profiles between cumulus cells (CCs) and mural granulosa cells (MGCs) derived from women with endometriosis to identify their correlations with oocyte quality. CCs and MGCs were collected from women with and without endometriosis undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment. The metabolomics of CCs and MGCs were measured by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) followed by a quantitative polymerase chain reaction to further confirm the genes involved in the metabolic results. LC-MS/MS analysis revealed differences in 24 metabolites of CCs and 71 metabolites of MGCs between groups. Among them, five metabolites were upregulated and 19 metabolites were downregulated in CCs with endometriosis, whereas three metabolites were upregulated and 68 metabolites were downregulated in MGCs with endometriosis. Metabolites related to sphingolipid metabolism, which included palmitic acid (PA) and docosahexaenoic acid, increased significantly only in CCs with endometriosis, whereas sphingosine and PA were significantly downregulated in MGCs with endometriosis compared with CCs and MGCs without endometriosis. Gene expression involved in ceramide synthesis (CERS1, SPTL1, and SMPD1) and autophagy (BECN1, LAMP, and PC3) were significantly higher in CCs with endometriosis according to FASN, BECN1, and LAMP protein expressions. However, gene expression involved in ceramide synthesis (SPHK1, ASAH1, and SGPP1) and autophagy (BECN1, LAMP, and PC3) were significantly lower in MGCs with endometriosis, whereas CERS1 and UGCG expression increased. There are differences in sphingolipid metabolites in CCs and MGCs with endometriosis compared with women without endometriosis. These differences seem to be involved in the regulation of autophagic cell death in preovulatory follicles.