bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhance embodiment of a virtual prosthesis through a training protocol using an EMG-based human-machine interface: a case series
Authors: Rodrigues Karina Aparecida , Moreira João Vitor da Silva , Pinheiro Daniel José Lins Leal , Dantas Rodrigo Lantyer Marques , Santos Thaís Cardoso , Nepomuceno João Luiz Vieira , Nogueira Maria Angélica Ratier Jajah , Cavalheiro Esper , Faber Jean
Published: July 2021

Background: The embodiment of a prosthesis can bring a series of benefits during the rehabilitation of people with amputation, such as improvement of motor control and sense of agency, in addition to optimizing the training process with the prosthetic limb. New therapeutic strategies capable of enhancing prosthesis embodiment are, therefore, a key point for better adaptation to and acceptance of prosthesis use. In this study, we developed a system and a new rehabilitation protocol using an EMG-based human-machine interface (HMI) to induce and enhance the embodiment of a virtual prosthesis.Methods: This is a case series with seven people of both sexes with unilateral transfemoral traumatic amputation without previous use of prostheses. Participants performed a training protocol with the EMG-based HMI during the preprosthetic rehabilitation phase, composed of six sessions held twice a week, each lasting thirty minutes. This system was composed of myoelectric control of the movements of a virtual prosthesis immersed in a 3D virtual environment. Additionally, vibrotactile stimuli were provided on the participant’s back corresponding to the movements performed. The objectives were to evaluate the virtual prosthesis embodiment, to investigate motor learning during training with EMG-based HMI, and to determine whether vibrotactile stimuli could facilitate the perception of virtual limb movements. The embodiment was investigated from a set of physiological and behavioral measurements and reports before and after the training. Motor learning was assessed through performance analysis. To investigate the use of vibrotactile stimulation to guide virtual prosthesis movements, the performance was assessed during the virtual prosthesis control test without adding vision.Results and conclusions: The different features evaluated throughout the protocol training consistently showed the induction and enhancement of virtual prosthesis embodiment and increased motor control. Therefore, this protocol using EMG-based HMI was shown to be a viable option to achieve the embodiment of a virtual prosthetic limb and to train motor control. Furthermore, the participants were able to guide the prosthesis based on vibrotactile stimuli, showing that this method can be used as an alternative sensorial path to be implemented in new therapeutic strategies and neuroprostheses to facilitate the movement perception of a prosthetic limb.
COVID-19 Versus Applied Infection Control Policies in a Major Transplant Center in Iran
Authors: Shafiekhani Mojtaba , Niknam Tahmooress , Tara Seied Ahmad , Mardani Parviz , Jahromi Khatereh Mirzad , Jafarian Sedigheh , Arabsheybani Sara , Negahban Halimeh , Hamzehnejadi Majid , Zare Zahra , Ghalini Khadijeh Ghaedi , Ghasemnezhad Ali , Akbari Mahmoud , Shahriarirad Reza , Malek‐Hosseini Seyed Ali
Published: July 2021

Background
With the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, evaluating the incidence of infection in major health centers and assessing the employed protocols is necessary for the management of the disease.
Aim
Since Shiraz Transplant Center is one of the major transplant centers in Iran and the Middle East, this study was conducted to evaluate outcomes of the applied policies on COVID-19 disease detection and management.
Methods
During 4 months from March to June, patient's data diagnosed with the impression of COVID-19 were extracted and evaluated based on demographic and clinical features, along with the length of hospital stay and expenses.
Findings:
Our data demonstrated that a total of 190 individuals, with a median age of 58, were diagnosed with COVID-19 during the mentioned period. Among these, 21 patients had a positive PCR test and 56 patients had clinical symptoms in favor of COVID-19. Also, 113 (59%) patients were classified as mild based on clinical evidence and were treated on an outpatient basis. Furthermore, 81 out of 450 cases (18%) of the healthcare workers at our center had either PCR of clinical features in favor of COVID-19. The mortality rate of our study was 11% and diabetes mellitus, hypertension were considered risk factors for obtaining COVID-19 infection
Conclusion
Based on the reported data, our transplant center was able to provide early detection for COVID-19 and apply necessary treatment and prevention protocols to safeguard the patients under its coverage.
Mobil eszközök az óvodában
Authors: Rausch Attila , Pásztor Attila
Published: July 2021

A digitális eszközök óvodai alkalmazása számos új lehetőséget és kihívást nyújt az óvodapedagógusoknak. Célunk támpontot nyújtani a digitális technológiát eredményesen felhasználni kívánó óvodapedagógusok és szakemberek számára. Tanulmányunkban nemzetközi és hazai kutatások eredményeire alapozva felvázoljuk a technológia óvodai alkalmazásának jelenlegi tendenciáit, az elérhető eszközök jellemzőit és felhasználási lehetőségeit. Ismertetjük az IKT-alapú pedagógiai tervezés óvodai vonatkozásait és a technológiai integráció szintjeit leíró SAMR és PICRAT keretrendszereket. Bemutatjuk a technológiával támogatott óvodai fejlesztések nemzetközi tapasztalatait, külön kitérve az iskolakezdéshez fontos alapkészségek terén szerzett kutatási eredményekre, valamint részletesen foglalkozunk az óvodai technológia alapú mérések sajátosságaival és az iskolaelőkészítést segítő diagnosztikus értékelési programokkal. A digitális eszközök és alkalmazások terén jelentős fejlesztések zajlanak, így egyre inkább képesek felvenni a versenyt a hagyományos eszközökkel. Hatékonyságuk kulcsa azonban továbbra is a pedagógus, akinek a saját pedagógiai céljaihoz igazítva kell kiválasztania a digitális eszközöket, valamint megtervezni azok integrációját és alkalmazását.
Az ének-zene tantárgy iránti attitűd összefüggése az iskolai zenetanulás iránti motivációval hetedik osztályos tanulók körében
Authors: Janurik Márta , Kis Noémi , Szabó Norbert , Józsa Krisztián
Published: July 2021

A tanulmány az ének-zene tantárgyi attitűd és az iskolai zenetanulás iránti motiváció összefüggéseit vizsgálja 244 hetedik osztályos tanuló bevonásával. Elemeztük, hogy milyen szerepet játszik az ének-zene tantárgyi attitűd alakulásában – a motiváció mellett – az iskolai tanuláshoz kapcsolódó általános attitűd, a tanulmányi átlag, az ének-zene osztályzat. Megvizsgáltuk, hogy milyen szerepe van a tanulók vélekedésének az ének-zene órák saját zenei fejlődésükben betöltött szerepéről, illetve annak, hogy hol helyezik el az ének-zene órákat az iskolai tantárgyak fontossági sorrendjében. Kutatásunk megerősítette azokat a korábbi eredményeket, amelyek szerint az ének-zene nem tartozik a kedvelt tantárgyak közé. Tizenkét tantárgy közül a tanulók az ének-zenét tartották a legkevésbé hasznosnak. Eredményeink igazolták, hogy a zenei elsajátítási motívumok és a közös zenei tevékenységek fontos szerepet töltenek be az ének-zene tantárgyi attitűd alakulásában. Az ének-zene oktatás módszertani megújulásában fontos szerepet kell kapjanak azok a módszerek, amelyek élményszerűen átélt közös zenei tevékenységeken alapulnak, segítik a zenei képességek, elsősorban az éneklés fejlődését, és az elsajátítási motívumok működése szempontjából az optimális kihívást jelentő zenetanulást támogatják.
Tapasztalt pedagógusok tanulásának és szakmai fejlődésének mentori támogatása a tanulók lemorzsolódásának csökkentése érdekében
Authors: Nagy Krisztina
Published: July 2021

A tanulók korai iskolaelhagyása, lemorzsolódása az oktatáspolitika nemzetközi szinten ismert súlyos problémája, míg az ellene folytatott küzdelem égető és nehéz feladata. A tanulók lemorzsolódása elleni küzdelemben a tanároknak kiemelkedő szerepük van: számos forrás szerint a tanári munka minősége az oktatás hatékonyságát befolyásoló legfőbb tényező (lásd például: Hattie, 2003; McKenzie et al., 2005; Barber & Mourshed, 2007; Cohran-Smith, 2010). Ezért a pedagógusok szakmai fejlődése és tanulása (annak egyéni és szervezeti aspektusai) nemzetközi és hazai térben egyre inkább kutatott téma. A pedagógusok szakmai fejlődésének és tanulásának támogatásában a pályakezdés szakaszán túl is szerepet játszhat a mentorálás, a mentori támogatás – ami hazánkban azonban még nem bevett gyakorlat. A kutatás eredményei szerint azok a tapasztalt pedagógusok, akik a lemorzsolódásban leginkább érintett hazai általános iskolákban tanítanak, a tanulók lemorzsolódásának okát elsősorban a tanulói motiváció hiányában, illetve elégtelen voltában látják, aminek javításában az új tanulásszervezési eljárások (például kooperatív módszerek, játékosítás) alkalmazásának tulajdonítanak központi szerepet. E pedagógusok közül sokan szívesen állítanák szakmai tanulásukat és fejlődésüket a tanulói lemorzsolódás megelőzésének, csökkentésének szolgálatába. Mivel úgy vélik, hogy ezeknek az eljárásoknak az elsajátítása leggyorsabban és leghatékonyabban a gyakorlat megfigyelése által lehetséges, tanulásukban bizonyos egyéni/személyes, valamint szervezeti feltételek megléte esetén sokan elfogadnák, illetve hasznosnak tartanák a mentori támogatást.
AUTOMATED VULNERABILITY SEARCH IN A WEB APPLICATION BASED ON REINFORCEMENT LEARNING
Authors:   Astrakhan State University, VYBORNOVA OLGA N. , RYZHIKOV ALEKSANDER N. ,   National Research Nuclear University MEPHI
Published: July 2021

We analyzed the urgency of the task of creating a more efficient (compared to analogues) means of automated vulnerability search based on modern technologies. We have shown the similarity of the vulnerabilities identifying process with the Markov decision-making process and justified the feasibility of using reinforcement learning technology for solving this problem. Since the analysis of the web application security is currently the highest priority and in demand, within the framework of this work, the application of the mathematical apparatus of reinforcement learning with to this subject area is considered. The mathematical model is presented, the specifics of the training and testing processes for the problem of automated vulnerability search in web applications are described. Based on an analysis of the OWASP Testing Guide, an action space and a set of environment states are identified. The characteristics of the software implementation of the proposed model are described: Q-learning is implemented in the Python programming language; a neural network was created to implement the learning policy using the tensorflow library. We demonstrated the results of the Reinforcement Learning agent on a real web application, as well as their comparison with the report of the Acunetix Vulnerability Scanner. The findings indicate that the proposed solution is promising.
THE CONCEPT OF SOCIETAL SECURITY: THEORY, DISCUSSION, AND CASPIAN PERSPECTIVES
Authors:   Astrakhan State University, ROMANOVA ANNA P.
Published: July 2021

The issue of ensuring security remains one of the most important for the social sciences at the present stage. In recent decades, the concept of societal security, which tracks its origin to Copenhagen School, has been increasingly prominent. The purpose of this article is to systematize the main provisions of the societal approach to security and to identify the possibility of its operational application to the study of the Caspian region. The main provisions of the societal approach include the following factors: the reference object of the research is the so-called "societal community"; the basis for the existence of such a community is a collective, most often cultural, sometimes confessional identity; this problem is always considered in relation to a certain social space, which is transformed under the influence of political, economic, and environmental factors. Traditionally, the societal approach has been applied to the analysis of security problems in the European space: the Baltic States, Spain, there is an experience of its application to African society in some Asian countries. Another interesting area for analysis may be the Caspian region, which after the collapse of the USSR has become a strategically important Euro-Asian geopolitical and economic hub. However, the regional specifics require researcher to implement a creative application of this approach, taking into account both theoretical criticisms and the specifics of the space itself.
Lactococcus lactis Administration Modulates IgE and IL-4 Production and Promotes Enterobacteria Growth in the Gut from Ethanol-Intake Mice
Authors: Athayde Letícia Antunes , de Aguiar Sarah Leão Fiorini , Miranda Mariana Camila Gonçalves , Brito Ronize Viviane Jorge , de Faria Ana Maria Caetano , Nobre Sergio Avelino Mota , Andrade Mariléia Chaves
Published: July 2021

Background:

It is well known that alcohol can trigger inflammatory effects in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), interfering with mucosal homeostasis.

Objective:

This study evaluated the effectiveness of Lactococcus lactis treatment in controlling the increase in molecular biomarkers related to allergic inflammation and the effect on the diversity and abundance of the Enterobacteriaceae family in the GIT after high-dose acute administration of ethanol.

Methods:

Mice received ethanol or saline solution by gavage for four consecutive days, and 24 h after the last administration, the animals were given L. lactis or M17 broth orally ad libitum for two consecutive days. The animals were subsequently sacrificed and dissected.

Results:

L. lactis treatment was able to restore basal levels of secretory immunoglobulin A in the gastric mucosa, serum total immunoglobulin E, interleukin (IL)-4 production in gastric and intestinal tissues, and IL-10 levels in gastric tissue. L. lactis treatment encouraged the diversification of the Enterobacteriaceae population, particularly the commensal species, in the GIT.

Conclusion:

This research opens a field of studies regarding the modulatory effect of L. lactis on immunological and microbial changes induced after alcohol intake.
γ-AApeptides as a New Class of Peptidomimetics: Design, Synthesis, and Applications
Authors: Su Ma , Zhu Yifan , Wang Wei , Liu Feng , Li Huanqiu
Published: July 2021

:

Peptidomimetics are studied for medicinal application because of their ability to mimic
hierarchical structures of peptides and proteins. To break the limitation and expand the peptidomimetics
family, a new class of peptidomimetics based on peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) backbone
- “γ-AApeptides” was developed. Compared with previous peptidomimetics, γ-AApeptides
possess prominent advantages such as resistance to proteolytic degradation, enhanced chemodiversity,
good selectivity and outstanding bioactivity. The synthesis of γ-AApeptides is carried out using
a ‘‘monomer building block’’ strategy which is facile and efficient.

:

γ-AApeptides are able to mimic primary and secondary structures of therapeutic peptides, which
make them promising candidates for molecular probes and potential drug leads. In the past decade,
several interesting structures and applications of γ-AApeptides have been developed by different
approaches such as structure-based design, combinatorial library screening, and peptides selfassembly
and folding. By following the mechanism of host-defense peptides (HDPs), antibiotic γ-
AApeptides showed broad-spectrum activity. At the same time, γ-AApeptides can be used for combinatorial
library screening because of their structural stability and their chemodiversity. Anticancer
agents, anti-T2DM (Type 2 diabetes mellitus) agents, anti-HIV (human immuno-deficiency
virus) agents and anti-Alzheimer’s disease agents were developed by combinatorial screening and
rational design. Furthermore, γ-AApeptides as biopolymers, nanomaterials, supramolecular structures
and self-assembly architectures were studied due to their unique backbone structures. Therefore,
γ-AApeptides may play an important role in the development of peptidomimetics.
Oxyprenylated Secondary Metabolites as Modulators of Lipid and Sugar
Metabolism
Authors: Fiorito Serena , Epifano Francesco , Marchetti Lorenzo , Palumbo Lucia , Orhan Ilkay Erdogan , Sharifi-Rad Majid , Genovese Salvatore
Published: July 2021

:

O-Prenylcoumarins (3,3-dimethylallyl, geranyl-, farnesyl- and related biosynthetic derivatives)
represent a class of rarely occurring natural compounds. Most of these secondary metabolites
have been obtained from plant species belonging to the Rutaceae, Apiaceae, and Fabaceae families,
and from fungi, and bacteria. In the last two decades, prenyloxycoumarins have been found to
possess great potential in terms of pharmacological activities. The aim of this comprehensive review
is to make a survey of the so far reported literature citations about these valuable phytochemicals
and structurally related compounds about their modulatory properties of lipid and sugar
metabolism. Literature data have been acquired from the main Internet database. Several oxyprenylated
secondary metabolites have been surveyed. Among these, prenyloxycoumarins represented
the main group displaying valuable effects as modulators of lipid and sugar metabolism. The title
phytochemicals have been found in common fruits and vegetables already known to have beneficial
effects, thus enforcing the nutraceutical role of these food plants. All compounds outlined in
the present review article have a great potential in future for the prevention and management of
acute and chronic metabolic disorders.
Prodrug Strategies in the CNS Drugs: Small Modification Makes Big Improvements
Authors: Kang Ting , Miao Zhuang , Liu Siyu , Ke Bowen
Published: July 2021

Prodrug design is an effective method proven to improve the drug-like properties of a molecule,
and it has been widely used in the drug development of various diseases. Due to the complexity
of the central nervous system (CNS), the development of CNS drugs has high requirements related to
the pharmaceutical, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic properties of the molecules. Prodrug
design has now been widely and successfully applied to improve these properties. We conducted a
mini-review to promote the use of the prodrug strategies in CNS drug development. To facilitate the
description, we chose drug indications as a clue, then presented and discussed some representative
CNS prodrugs. Finally, a brief summary and outlook about this area were presented.
The Reification of the Clinical Diagnosis of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) as an Immune and Oxidative Stress Disorder: Construction of a Data-driven Nomothethic Network and Exposure of ME/CFS Subgroups
Authors: Maes Michael , Kubera Marta , Stoyanova Kristina , Leunis Jean-Claude
Published: July 2021

The approach towards myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)
remains in a permanent state of crisis with fierce competition between the psychosocial school,
which attributes ME/CFS to the perception of effort, and the medical approach (Maes and Twisk,
BMC Med, 2010, 8, 35). The aim of this paper is to review how to construct a nomothetic model of
ME/CFS using Partial Least Squares (PLS) path analysis and ensembling causome (bacterial translocation
as assessed with IgM/IgA responses to LPS), protectome (lowered coenzyme Q10), adverse
outcome pathways (AOP) including increased lysozyme, CD38+ T cell activation, cell-mediated
immune activation (CMI), and IgM responses to oxidative specific epitopes and NO-adducts
(IgM OSENO).Using PLS, we trained, tested and validated this knowledge- and data-driven causal
ME/CFS model, which showed adequate convergence, construct and replicability validity.This bottom-
up explicit data model of ME/CFS objectivates the descriptive narratives of the ME/CFS
phenome, using causome-protectome-AOP data, whereby the abstract concept ME/CFS is translated
into pathways, thereby securing the reification of the ME/CFS phenome. We found that 31.6%
of the variance in the physiosomatic symptom dimension of ME/CFS was explained by the cumulative
effects of CMI and CD38+ activation, IgM OSENO, IgA LPS, lysozyme (all positive) and
coenzyme Q10 (inversely). Cluster analysis performed on the PLS-generated latent vector scores
of all feature sets exposed three distinct immune groups of ME/CFS, namely one with increased lysozyme,
one with increased CMI + CD38 activation + depressive symptoms, and another with increased
bacterial translocation + autoimmune responses to OSENO.
Identifying Critical States of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Based on Single- Sample Dynamic Network Biomarkers Combined with Simulated Annealing Algorithm
Authors: Zhao Hongqian , Gao Jie , Sun Yichen , Wang Yujie , Guan Tianhao , Zhou Gang
Published: July 2021

Background:

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors.
Due to the insidious onset and poor prognosis, most patients have reached the advanced stage at
the time of diagnosis.

Objective:

Studies have shown that Dynamic Network Biomarkers (DNB) can effectively identify the
critical state of complex diseases such as HCC from normal state to disease state. Therefore, it is very
important to detect DNB efficiently and reliably.

Methods:

This paper selects a dataset containing eight HCC disease states. First, an individual-specific
network is constructed for each sample and features are extracted. In the context of this network, a simulated
annealing algorithm is used to search for potential dynamic network biomarker modules, and the
evolution of HCC is determined.

Results:

In fact, in the period of Low-Grade Dysplasia (LGD) and High-Grade Dysplasia (HGD), DNB
sends an indicative warning signal, which means that liver dysplasia is a very important critical state in
the development of HCC disease. Compared with landscape dynamic network biomarkers method (LDNB),
our method can not only describe the statistical characteristics of each disease state, but also
yield better results including getting more DNBs enriched in HCC related pathways.

Conclusion:

The results of this study may be of great significance to the prevention and early diagnosis
of HCC.
Recognition of CRISPR Off-Target Cleavage Sites with SeqGAN
Authors: Li Wen , Wang Xiao-Bo , Xu Yan
Published: July 2021

Background:

The CRISPR system can quickly achieve the editing of different gene loci by
changing a small sequence on a single guide RNA. But the off-target event limits the further development
of the CRISPR system. How to improve the efficiency and specificity of this technology and minimize
the risk of off-target have always been a challenge. For genome-wide CRISPR Off-Target Cleavage
Sites (OTS) prediction, an important issue is data imbalance, that is, the number of true OTS identified
is much less than that of all possible nucleotide mismatch loci.

Method:

In this work, based on the sequence-generating adversarial network (SeqGAN), positive offtarget
sequences were generated to amplify the off-target gene locus OTS dataset of Cpf1. Then we
trained the data by a deep Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to obtain a predictor with stronger
generalization ability and better performance.

Results:

In 10-fold cross-validation, the AUC value of the CNN classifier after SeqGAN balance was
0.941, which was higher than that of the original 0.863 and over-sampling 0.929. In independence testing,
the AUC value of the CNN classifier after SeqGAN balance was 0.841, which was higher than that
of the original 0.833 and over-sampling 0.836. The PR value was 0.722 after SeqGAN, which was also
about higher 0.16 than the original data and higher about 0.03 than over-sampling.

Conclusion:

The sequence generation antagonistic network SeqGAN was firstly used to deal with data
imbalance processing on CRISPR data. All the results showed that the SeqGAN can effectively generate
positive data for CRISPR off-target sites.
Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Therapy in Improving Long-Term Survival of Patients with
Resectable Rectal Cancer: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Li Xinlong , Li Xiangyuan , Fu Rongrong , Ng Derry , Yang Tong , Zhang Yu , Zhang Mengting , Shi Yetan , Gu Yixuan , Lv Chenhui , Chen Gang
Published: July 2021

Background:

The impact of neoadjuvant therapy on long-term prognosis of patients with resectable rectal
cancer is currently unknown.

Objective:

This study aimed to explore the long-term prognosis of patients with resectable rectal cancer following
treatment with neoadjuvant therapy.

Methods:

Four major databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane library) were searched to identify relevant
articles published between January 2000 and July 2020. The main outcome indicators were the 5-year Overall
Survival (OS) and Disease-Free Survival (DFS).

Results:

The meta-analysis revealed that 5-year OS (HR: 0.88, 95% Cl: 0.83-0.93) and DFS (HR: 0.95, 95% Cl: 0.91-
0.98) were higher in patients with resectable rectal cancer after receiving neoadjuvant therapy than those treated with
upfront surgery. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that the long-term survival of patients in Asia and Europe could
benefit from neoadjuvant therapy. The neoadjuvant short-course radiotherapy (SCRT) and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy
(CRT) improved the 5-year OS and DFS of patients with stage II-III rectal cancer and mid/low rectal
cancer. Further research found that patients with stage II only had an increase in OS, while patients with stage Ⅲ have
improved 5-year OS and DFS.

Conclusion:

Neoadjuvant therapy improved the long-term survival of patients with mid/low rectal cancer in stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ
(especially stage Ⅲ). Additionally, patients in Asia and Europe seemed to be more likely to benefit from neoadjuvant
therapy. For the treatment, we recommend neoadjuvant SCRT and neoadjuvant CRT for resectable rectal cancer.
Anticancer Effects of Cinnamaldehyde Through Inhibition of ErbB2/HSF1/LDHA Pathway in 5637 Cell Line of Bladder Cancer
Authors: Aminzadeh Zeynab , Ziamajidi Nasrin , Abbasalipourkabir Roghayeh
Published: July 2021

Background:

The growing prevalence of bladder cancer worldwide has become a major concern for researchers, and the side effects of chemotherapy drugs have always been a major problem in cancer treatment. Cinnamaldehyde, the active ingredient in the Cinnamon plant, has long been considered with anti-oxidant and antiinflammatory effects.

Methods:

Bladder cancer 5637 cell lines were treated with the different concentrations of Cinnamaldehyde. MTT assay was performed to evaluate cell viability at 24, 48, and 72 hours. The concentration of 0.02, 0.04, and 0.08 mg/ml of Cinnamaldehyde was selected. Apoptosis was assessed with Annexin V-FITC/PI and Hochest33258 staining. Cell migration was performed by the scratch test. To evaluate Cinnamaldehyde effect on glycolysis, the gene expression of epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (ErbB2), Heat Shock Protein Transcription Factor-1 (HSF1) and lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), as well as the protein levels of HSF1 and LDHA, LDH activity and finally glucose consumption and lactate production, were measured.

Results:

Cinnamaldehyde significantly increased apoptosis rate in the 5637 cells (p<0.05). Furthermore, it significantly reduced the gene expression of ErbB2, HSF1, and LDHA, protein level of HSF1 and LDHA, LDH activity, as well as cell migration, glucose consumption, and lactate production (p<0.05). These changes were dose-dependent.

Conclusion:

Thus, Cinnamaldehyde induced apoptosis and decreased growth in 5637 cells by reducing ErbB2-HSF1- LDHA pathway.
An Insight into Anticancer Bioactives from Punica granatum (Pomegranate)
Authors: Sharma Kanika , Kesharwani Payal , Prajapati Shiv Kumar , Jain Ankit , Jain Dolly , Mody Nishi , Sharma Swapnil
Published: July 2021

:

Cancer is one of the major reasons for mortality across the globe. Many side-effects are associated with the formulations available in the market, affecting the quality of life of the patients. This has caused the researchers to find an alternative source of medications, such as herbal medicine, showing a promising effect in anticancer treatment; one such source is Pomegranate, which belongs to the family Punicaceae. Punica granatum contains many polyphenols that have antioxidant, antidiabetic, and therapeutic effects in the treatment and management of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, as well as a favourable effect on anticancer therapy. Polyphenols like punicalin, punicalagin, and ellagic acid are a few of the many compounds responsible for the anticancer activity of pomegranate. Many preparations of pomegranate, such as Pomegranate Juice (PJ), Pomegranate seed oil (PSO), Pomegranate peel extract (PoPx), etc. are used in various clinical studies. These polyphenols show anticancer activity by either arresting the cell cycle in the G2/M phase, inducing apoptosis or damaging the DNA of tumor cells. This review explicitly discusses the role and mechanism of bioactives obtained from the pomegranate in the treatment and management of cancer. The chemical structure, properties, and role of pomegranate in the treatment of breast, lung, thyroid, colon, and prostate cancer have been focused on in detail. This review also discusses various targeted drug delivery approaches for tumour treatment as well as patented preparation of pomegranate compounds along with the ongoing clinical trials.
The Cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, Irinotecan, and Gemcitabine Treatment in Resistant 2D
and 3D Model Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cell Line: ABCG2 Expression Data
Authors: Ata Fatma Kubra , Yalcin Serap
Published: July 2021

Background:

Chemotherapeutics have been commonly used in cancer treatment.

Objective:

In this study, the effects of Cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, Irinotecan, and Gemcitabine have been evaluated on
two-dimensional (2D) (sensitive and resistance) cell lines and three dimensional (3D) spheroid structure of MDA-MB-
231. The 2D cell culture lacks a natural tissue-like structural so, using 3D cell culture has an important role in the development
of effective drug testing models. Furthermore, we analyzed the ATP Binding Cassette Subfamily G Member
2 (ABCG2) gene and protein expression profile in this study. We aimed to establish a 3D breast cancer model that can
mimic the in vivo 3D breast cancer microenvironment.

Methods:

The 3D spheroid structures were multiplied (globally) using the three-dimensional hanging drop method.
The cultures of the parental cell line MDA-MB-231 served as the controls. After adding the drugs in different amounts,
we observed a clear and well-differentiated spheroid formation for 24 h. The viability and proliferation capacity of 2D
(sensitive and resistant) cell lines and 3D spheroid cell treatment were assessed by the XTT assay.

Results:

Cisplatin, Irinotecan, 5-Fu, and Gemcitabine-resistant MDA-MB-231 cells were observed to begin to disintegrate
in a three-dimensional clustered structure at 24 hours. Additionally, RT-PCR and protein assay showed overexpression
of ABCG2 when compared to the parental cell line. Moreover, MDA-MB-231 cells grown in 3D showed
decreased sensitivity to chemotherapeutics treatment.

Conclusion:

More resistance to chemotherapeutics and altered gene expression profile were shown in 3D cell cultures
when compared with the 2D cells. These results might play an important role to evaluate the efficacy of anticancer
drugs to explore the mechanisms of MDR in the 3D spheroid forms.
Imidazolidine Derivatives in Cancer Research: What is known?
Authors: da Silva Júnior Auvani Antunes , da Rocha Pitta Marina Galdino , de Oliveira Chagas Mardonny Bruno , de Melo Rêgo Moacyr Jesus Barreto , da Rosa Michelle Melgarejo , da Rocha Pitta Maira Galdino
Published: July 2021

:

It is well known that cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Due to this fact, new results for
the treatment of cancer are constantly being introduced and verified. Imidazolidine derivatives regulate cell cycle progression
and DNA stability. Structurally, a heterocyclic nucleus favors a direct DNA interaction and therefore, control
of the DNA replication process. This review aims not only to discuss the role of imidazolidines in cancer therapy but
also explore the functionality of such agents in the future aspects of cancer prognosis and treatment. Convincing data
from 1996 to 2021 has presented imidazolidine derivatives as a relevant therapeutic tool to modulate cancer progression
and malignancy. Here we highlight these aspects in a variety of cell lines, cancer types, involving in vitro and in
vivo techniques.
Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Anti-Breast Cancer Stem Cell Activity of Pterocladia capillacea and Corallina officinalis Polysaccharides
Authors: Hafez Hebatallah G. , Mohareb Rafat M. , Salem Sohair M. , Matloub Azza A. , Eskander Emad F. , Ahmed Hanaa H.
Published: July 2021

Objective:

This study aimed to appraise the activity of Pterocladia capillacea and Corallina officinalis
polysaccharides against Breast Cancer Stem Cells (BCSCs). P. capillacea and C. officinalis polysaccharides were
characterized to be sulfated polysaccharide-protein complexes.

Methods:

Cytotoxicity of the polysaccharides against MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell lines along with their impact on
CD44+/CD24− and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1(ALDH1) positive BCSC population were determined. Their effect on
gene expression of CSC markers, Wnt/β-catenin and Notch signaling pathways was evaluated.

Results:

P. capillacea and C. officinalis polysaccharides inhibited the growth of breast cancer cells and reduced BCSC
subpopulation. P. capillacea polysaccharides significantly down-regulated OCT4, SOX2, ALDH1A3 and vimentin in
MDA-MB-231 as well as in MCF-7 cells except for vimentin that was up-regulated in MCF-7 cells. C. officinalis
polysaccharides exhibited similar effects except for OCT4 that was up-regulated in MDA-MB-231 cells. Significant
suppression of Cyclin D1 gene expression was noted in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells treated with P. capillacea or
C. officinalis polysaccharides. β-catenin and c-Myc genes were significantly down-regulated in MDA-MB-231 cells
treated with C. officinalis and P. capillacea polysaccharides, respectively, while being up-regulated in MCF-7 cells
treated with either of them. Additionally, P. capillacea and C. officinalis polysaccharides significantly down-regulated
Hes1 gene in MCF-7 cells despite increasing Notch1 gene expression level. However, significant down-regulation of
Notch1 gene was observed in MDA-MB-231 cells treated with P. capillacea polysaccharides.

Conclusion:

Collectively, this study provides evidence for the effectiveness of P. capillacea and C. officinalis polysaccharides
in targeting BCSCs through interfering with substantial signaling pathways contributing to their functionality.
Teologia: Wyzwanie dla innych nauk w zeświecczonej Europie
Authors:   Papieski Komitet Nauk Historycznych w Watykanie, dal Covolo Enrico
Published: July 2021

The study focuses on scientific and methodological questions related to Catholic theology. It demonstrates that theology can be considered “science” only when it meets certain conditions. But it is precisely from its specific epistemological characteristics, that theology derives its own power to provoke and challenge other sciences and to organize the universitas studiorum in an increasingly secularized Europe. The indications of the most recent pontifical magisterium related to theological renewal are decisive in achieving this goal.
Wolność słowa w głoszeniu Ewangelii. Przykład Ef 6, 10-20
Authors:   Uniwersytet Papieski Jana Pawła II w Krakowie, Mazur Roman
Published: July 2021

The proclamation of the Gospel springs from the vocation of the apostle. Even imprisonment cannot be an obstacle in fulfilling this task, for the παρρησία (courage) necessary for this mission is inherent in the Gospel itself and not in the personal attitude of heroism of the Apostle. This apostolic task can and must be sustained by constant prayer of the community of believers who in this way contribute to the proclamation of the Gospel. The conclusion of the Letter to the Ephesians, on the one hand, seems to be a good occasion to recall this task, and on the other, it reminds of constant and persistent prayer for this intention as a complementary work of the Apostle and the community of believers.
Problematyka związana z tłumaczeniem hebrajskiego terminu כִּנּוֹר
Authors:   Uniwersytet Papieski Jana Pawła II w Krakowie, Górska Hanna Walentyna
Published: July 2021

The Hebrew Bible abounds in examples of musical instruments and כִּנּוֹר is one of them. Archaeological research does not provide an unambiguous answer to the question of what this instrument looked like, because we do not have any finds that would present an instrument signed as כִּנּוֹר. The problem also refers to biblical translations both in the Septuagint and Vulgate, as well as to translations of the Bible into Polish. We see in them attempts to translate כִּנּוֹר using different instrument names, with no consistency in individual Bible translations.
Genetic, Social and Behavioral Risk Factors Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors:   Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave, Bronx, NY, USA, Nagamalla Vineela , Patel Jay ,   Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, 1858 W Grandview Blvd, Erie, PA, USA, Saleem Mir ,   Dept. of Biological Sciences, 3rd Floor, Parker Building, 3301 College Avenue, Halmos College of Art and Sciences, NOVA Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
Published: July 2021

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition which consists of stages of mental, memory, and cognitive decline. As it continues to stand as the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S., 44 million people worldwide are affected. The objective of this paper is to explore the risk factors for AD in an attempt to examine potential causes for the incidence of AD. We examined genetics, lifestyle, and pre-existing conditions as risk factors for AD. We found that there are various alleles, such as APP, PSEN, ADAM, APOE, and TREM2, that play a role in the development of AD. It was also determined that behavioral modifications such as following a Mediterranean and ketogenic diet, engaging in regular intellectual activities, and participating in regular physical exercise can all reduce the risk of developing AD. The comorbidity of existing conditions such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular diseases all had an impact on developing AD. There is evidence that genetics, lifestyle, and pre-existing conditions significantly impact the incidence of AD; however, understanding how all these risk factors interrelate with each other is a recommended topic for further study.
Encouraging Hearing Loss Prevention in Music Listeners Using Personalized Technology: Questionnaire Study
Authors: Zhu Dylan Tianyu
Published: July 2021

Background

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) affects millions of people despite being almost completely preventable. For recreational music listening through personal listening equipment (such as earbuds), it seems that listeners do not yet have a way to accurately assess their risk of developing hearing loss and prevent it accordingly.

Objective

The aim of this study is to analyze the perceived utility of a hypothetical device that encourages NIHL prevention based on listeners’ exposure to noise and to determine the most effective methods of such encouragement. Here, we describe 3 different potential NIHL risk notification method types, as follows: auditory, external visual, and visual.

Methods

An open, web-based survey was created on Google Forms, and the link was posted to Amazon’s Mechanical Turk as well as music-related Reddit communities. The survey was designed to gauge each respondent’s self-assessed NIHL awareness, willingness to lower their audio if reminded, and NIHL risk notification type preference. The likelihood of a specific notification type to encourage NIHL prevention among its users was based on the average of each user’s responses to 2 survey questions. Data collection started on July 13, 2020, and ended on July 17, 2020.

Results

Of the 116 respondents, 92 (79.3%) reported having prior awareness about NIHL; however, 60 (51.7%) described doing nothing to prevent it despite 96 (82.8%) feeling a moderate, high, or extreme risk of developing NIHL. Of those who already prevented NIHL, 96% (53.5/56) described using estimates to guide their prevention instead of using data. A Kruskal-Wallis test corrected for ties showed that despite the visual NIHL risk notification type being selected by the highest number of participants (84/116, 72.4%), the auditory type had a significantly higher (H1=6.848; P=.03) average percentage likelihood of encouraging NIHL prevention (62%, SD 24%) among the 40 respondents who chose it, with a median likelihood of 56% (95% CI 50%-75%). The visual type’s average likelihood was 50% (SD 28.1%), with a median of 50% (95% CI 37.5%-56.3%). Regardless of the NIHL risk notification type, 69% (80/116) of respondents were not opposed to using NIHL risk notifications and lowering their audio volume accordingly.

Conclusions

The hypothetical device detailed here was thought to be useful because most respondents (82.8%, 96/116) felt an extreme to moderate risk of developing NIHL and such a device could provide accurate data to those who currently use estimates to prevent NIHL, and most respondents were willing to act on NIHL risk notifications. The most effective NIHL risk notification type seemed to be the auditory type, but many aspects of this study need further research to determine which implementation method should reach the public.
An Interactive Computer Game for Improving Selective Voluntary Motor Control in Children With Upper Motor Neuron Lesions: Development and Preliminary Feasibility Study
Authors: Fahr Annina , Kläy Andrina , Keller Jeffrey W , van Hedel Hubertus J A
Published: July 2021

Background

Computer game–based interventions are emerging in pediatric neurorehabilitation, as they can provide two key elements for motor learning—motivating environments that enable long-term compliance, which is particularly relevant for children, and augmented feedback for improving movement performance.

Objective

The overall aim of this study is to develop an interactive computer play for children with upper motor neuron lesions to train selective voluntary motor control and give particular attention to motivation and feedback. We also aim to determine features that make games engaging, investigate which sensory feedback modality is noticed the fastest during play, develop an interactive game, and evaluate its feasibility.

Methods

We identified engaging game features by interviewing 19 children and adolescents undergoing rehabilitation. By using a test version of the game, we determined the response times of 10 patients who had to react to visual, auditory, or combined feedback signals. On the basis of the results of these two subprojects, we developed and designed a game environment. Feasibility was studied in terms of the practicability and acceptability of the intervention among 5 children with upper motor neuron lesions.

Results

The game features deemed the most important by pediatric patients were strategic gameplay (13/29, 45% of answers) and choice (6/29, 21%). While playing the game, an acoustic alarm signal (reaction time: median 2.8 seconds) was detected significantly faster (P=.01) than conditions with other feedback modalities (avatar velocity reduction: median 7.8 seconds; color desaturation: median 5.7 seconds). Most children enjoyed playing the game, despite some technical issues.

Conclusions

The careful identification of game features that increase motivation and feedback modalities that inform children quickly led to the development of an interactive computer play for training selective voluntary motor control in children and adolescents with upper motor neuron lesions.
The Use of Twitter by Medical Journals: Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Erskine Natalie , Hendricks Sharief
Published: July 2021

Background

Medical journals use Twitter to engage and disseminate their research articles and implement a range of strategies to maximize reach and impact.

Objective

This study aims to systematically review the literature to synthesize and describe the different Twitter strategies used by medical journals and their effectiveness on journal impact and readership metrics.

Methods

A systematic search of the literature before February 2020 in four electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and ScienceDirect) was conducted. Articles were reviewed using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) guidelines.

Results

The search identified 44 original research studies that evaluated Twitter strategies implemented by medical journals and analyzed the relationship between Twitter metrics and alternative and citation-based metrics. The key findings suggest that promoting publications on Twitter improves citation-based and alternative metrics for academic medical journals. Moreover, implementing different Twitter strategies maximizes the amount of attention that publications and journals receive. The four key Twitter strategies implemented by many medical journals are tweeting the title and link of the article, infographics, podcasts, and hosting monthly internet-based journal clubs. Each strategy was successful in promoting the publications. However, different metrics were used to measure success.

Conclusions

Four key Twitter strategies are implemented by medical journals: tweeting the title and link of the article, infographics, podcasts, and hosting monthly internet-based journal clubs. In this review, each strategy was successful in promoting publications but used different metrics to measure success. Thus, it is difficult to conclude which strategy is most effective. In addition, the four strategies have different costs and effects on dissemination and readership. We recommend that journals and researchers incorporate a combination of Twitter strategies to maximize research impact and capture audiences with a variety of learning methods.