bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FRANCO-GERMAN COOPERATION AT THE EARLY STAGES OF EUROPEAN MONETARY INTEGRATION
Authors:   Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russian Federation, OVCHINNIKOVA VALERIYA
Published: January 2022

The article examines the prerequisites for european monetary integration after the World War II, as well as the stages of the formation of the EU Economic and Monetary Union. The aim of the study is to identify the internal and external factors of european monetary integration, as well as the role of Franco-German cooperation in this process. As a result of the study, the author comes to the conclusion that the european monetary integration was facilitated by both external factors: the influence of the United States in the post-war recovery of destroyed european economy and financial system, as well as the collapse of the Bretton Woods system of fixed exchange rates; and internal: the successful economic integration of countries and the further desire to remove all barriers, including financial ones, to internal trade. Franco-German cooperation played a significant role in european monetary integration. The positions of the countries on the basic principles of the functioning of the euro zone differed: France defended the flexibility of the monetary union, and Germany, fearing to lose control over the stability of the economy, advocated the harmonization of the economic policies of states. Nevertheless, the countries were able to form a common position and to end the formation of the Economic and Monetary Union on time, introducing the euro.
SCIENTIFIC DETECTIVE: OR HOW ENGLAND COUNTERFEITED RUSSIAN MONEY WITH SOMEONE ELSE'S HANDS
Authors:   Ural Federal University named after the first President of Russia B. N. Yeltsin, Moscow, Russian Federation, ALYAMKIN ANDREY , KUZNETSOV ALEXANDER
Published: January 2022

The article is devoted to the historical events of the second half of the 19th century. The purpose of this article, in addition to the consecration of important historical events and our research, is to show the importance of studying money circulation. The system of monetary circulation is a clear marker of its time. Its changes reflect historical events conditionally from the «other side». And such a reaction often goes unnoticed for ordinary historians, and even more so for bonists. Special attention is paid to this only during the period of cataclysms, revolutions and upheavals, and even then, most often «in general», as an addition or argument. This article is direct and vivid, as through the history of monetary circulation, one can reach the most important general historical events of the global level, which could have remained a secret.
Просвітницька діяльність православних братств Волинської губернії (друга половина ХІХ ст.)
Authors: Альошина Оксана
Published: January 2022

Здійснено аналіз просвітницької діяльності православних церковних братств Волинської губернії у другій половині ХІХ ст. Культурно-просвітницький напрям роботи православні братства реалізовували завдяки проведенню народних безкоштовних читань, поширенню релігійно-моральної літератури, заснуванню церковнопарафіяльних шкіл. Розкрито основні аспекти просвітницької роботи окремих братств, зокрема особливості організації та проведення народних читань. Проведення народних читань мало відбуватися відповідно до законодавчого документу «Правила для проведення народних читань у губернських містах». Члени братств ретельно підбирали тематику лекцій, яка в основному була історичного чи релігійного спрямування. Виконуючи такі завдання, братства ставили собі за мету задовольнити потреби місцевого населення, підняти освітній рівень мешканців міст і сіл Волинської губернії. Представники братств та активні її члени включилися у доволі активну роботу та використовували різні можливості для її реалізації. З’ясовано, що членам православних братств вдалося залучити до участі у народних читаннях значну кількість місцевого населення міст і сіл Волинської губернії.
«Дитячі питання» у соціальній політиці радянської влади 1920-х рр.
Authors: Кузнець Тетяна
Published: January 2022

У статті досліджується соціальна політика радянської влади у період формування тоталітарної держави щодо питань охорони дитинства, боротьби з дитячою безпритульністю та проблема організації мережі дитячих будинків, їх продовольчого та матеріального забезпечення. Вказано на причини зростання сирітства на сучасному історичному етапі, звернено увагу на причини сирітства та безпритульності дітей у міжвоєнний період, актуалізовано проблему пошуку радянською владою шляхів виходу зі складеної соціальної ситуації. Надано загальну характеристику політики формування «нової» людини, орієнтованої на колективізм і суспільну реалізацію.
Biological Approaches for Extraction of Bioactive Compounds From Agro-industrial By-products: A Review
Authors: Lemes Ailton Cesar , Egea Mariana Buranelo , Oliveira Filho Josemar Gonçalves de , Gautério Gabrielle Victoria , Ribeiro Bernardo Dias , Coelho Maria Alice Zarur
Published: January 2022

Bioactive compounds can provide health benefits beyond the nutritional value and are originally present or added to food matrices. However, because they are part of the food matrices, most bioactive compounds remain in agroindustrial by-products. Agro-industrial by-products are generated in large quantities throughout the food production chain and can—when not properly treated—affect the environment, the profit, and the proper and nutritional distribution of food to people. Thus, it is important to adopt processes that increase the use of these agroindustrial by-products, including biological approaches, which can enhance the extraction and obtention of bioactive compounds, which enables their application in food and pharmaceutical industries. Biological processes have several advantages compared to nonbiological processes, including the provision of extracts with high quality and bioactivity, as well as extracts that present low toxicity and environmental impact. Among biological approaches, extraction from enzymes and fermentation stand out as tools for obtaining bioactive compounds from various agro-industrial wastes. In this sense, this article provides an overview of the main bioactive components found in agroindustrial by-products and the biological strategies for their extraction. We also provide information to enhance the use of these bioactive compounds, especially for the food and pharmaceutical industries.
Oxo-M and 4-PPBP Delivery via Multi-Domain Peptide Hydrogel Toward Tendon Regeneration
Authors: Park Ga Young , Tarafder Solaiman , Eyen Samantha Lewis , Park Soomin , Kim Ryunhyung , Siddiqui Zain , Kumar Vivek , Lee Chang H.
Published: January 2022

We have recently identified novel small molecules, Oxo-M and 4-PPBP, which specifically stimulate endogenous tendon stem/progenitor cells (TSCs), leading to potential regenerative healing of fully transected tendons. Here, we investigated an injectable, multidomain peptide (MDP) hydrogel providing controlled delivery of the small molecules for regenerative tendon healing. We investigated the release kinetics of Oxo-M and 4-PPBP from MDP hydrogels and the effect of MDP-released small molecules on tenogenic differentiation of TSCs and in vivo tendon healing. In vitro, MDP showed a sustained release of Oxo-M and 4-PPBP and a slower degradation than fibrin. In addition, tenogenic gene expression was significantly increased in TSC with MDP-released Oxo-M and 4-PPBP as compared to the fibrin-released. Invivo, MDP releasing Oxo-M and 4-PPBP significantly improved tendon healing, likely associated with prolonged effects of Oxo-M and 4-PPBP on suppression of M1 macrophages and promotion of M2 macrophages. Comprehensive analyses including histomorphology, digital image processing, and modulus mapping with nanoindentation consistently suggested that Oxo-M and 4-PPBP delivered via MDP further improved tendon healing as compared to fibrin-based delivery. In conclusion, MDP delivered with Oxo-M and 4-PPBP may serve as an efficient regenerative therapeutic for in situ tendon regeneration and healing.
The Importance of Gene Duplication and Domain Repeat Expansion for the Function and Evolution of Fertilization Proteins
Authors: Rivera Alberto M. , Swanson Willie J.
Published: January 2022

The process of gene duplication followed by gene loss or evolution of new functions has been studied extensively, yet the role gene duplication plays in the function and evolution of fertilization proteins is underappreciated. Gene duplication is observed in many fertilization protein families including Izumo, DCST, ZP, and the TFP superfamily. Molecules mediating fertilization are part of larger gene families expressed in a variety of tissues, but gene duplication followed by structural modifications has often facilitated their cooption into a fertilization function. Repeat expansions of functional domains within a gene also provide opportunities for the evolution of novel fertilization protein. ZP proteins with domain repeat expansions are linked to species-specificity in fertilization and TFP proteins that experienced domain duplications were coopted into a novel sperm function. This review outlines the importance of gene duplications and repeat domain expansions in the evolution of fertilization proteins.
Prognostic Value and Therapeutic Potential of CBX Family Members in Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Hu Kuan , Yao Lei , Xu Zhijie , Yan Yuanliang , Li Juanni
Published: January 2022

Background:Ovarian cancer (OV) is one of the common malignant tumors and has a poor prognosis. Chromobox (CBX) family proteins are critical components of epigenetic regulation complexes that repress target genes transcriptionallyviachromatin modification. Some studies have investigated the function specifications among several CBXs members in multiple cancer types, however, little is known about the functions and prognostic roles of distinct CBXs family proteins in ovarian cancer.

Methods:In this study, several bioinformatics databases andin vitroexperiments were used to analyze the expression profiles, prognostic values, and therapeutic potential of the CBXs family (CBX1-8) in ovarian cancer.

Results:It was found that higher expression of CBX3/8 and lower expression of CBX1/6/7 were detected in OV tissues. CBX2/4/5/8 were significantly correlated with individual cancer stages of OV. The expression of CBX1/2/3 were all significantly associated with worse overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) for OV patients, whereas the expression of other five CBXs members showed either irrelevant (CBX5 and CBX8) or inconsistent (CBX4, CBX6, and CBX7) results for both OS and PFS in OV. These results showed that only CBX3 had consistent results in expression and prognosis. Further cell experiments also showed that CBX3 promoted the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells. CBX3 was highly expressed in chemoresistant OV tissues. These results indicated that CBX3 was the most likely prognostic indicator and new therapeutic target in OV. Furthermore, gene enrichment analysis suggests that the CBXs family was primarily involved in mast cell activation and mast cell mediated immunity. Individual CBXs members were associated with varying degrees of the infiltration of immune cells, especially B cells. Finally, a high genetic alteration rate of CBXs family (39%) was observed in OV. The low methylation status of CBX3/8 in OV may be associated with their high expression levels.

Conclusions:Taken together, these findings exhibited the pivotal value of CBXs family members (especially CBX3) in the prognosis and chemoresistance of ovarian cancer. Our results may provide new insight to explore new prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for ovarian cancer.
Structural Characterization and Anticoagulant Activity of a 3-O-Methylated Heteroglycan From Fruiting Bodies of Pleurotus placentodes
Authors: Yin Zhen-Hua , Liu Xiao-Peng , Wang Jin-Mei , Xi Xue-Feng , Zhang Yan , Zhao Rui-Lin , Kang Wen-Yi
Published: January 2022

Pleurotus placentodes, a fungus, belongs to the Pleurotaceae family. The aim of the present study was to characterize the structure of a novel polysaccharide from fruiting bodies of P. placentodes (PPp-W) and evaluate its anticoagulant activity in vitro. The high-performance liquid chromatography and GC–MS analysis indicated that PPp-W with a molecular weight of 27.4 kDa was mainly composed of mannose (17.56%), glucose (6.37%), galactose (44.89%), and fucose (1.22%) with a certain amount of 3-O-methyled galactose. SEM, XRD, and AFM combined with Congo red test revealed that PPp-W was an irregular curly sheet with triple-helix conformation. The FT-IR, methylation, and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis indicated that PPp-W contained→6)-α-D-Galp-(1→, →6)-3-O-Me-α-D-Galp-(1→and →2, 6)-α-D-Galp-(1→ as main chain, partially substituted at O-2 and O-6 by non-reducing ends of β-D-Manp-(1→ and β-L-Fucp-(1→ with a small amount of α-1,3-linked-Glcp in backbone. PPp-W could significantly prolong APTT (12.9 ± 0.42 s, p < 0.001) and thrombin time (39.9 ± 0.28 s, p < 0.01) compared with the control group (11.45 ± 0.071 s and 38.05 ± 0.21 s), which showed that PPp-W had anticoagulant activity. These studies suggested that PPp-W was a 3-O-methylated heteroglycan and might be suitable for functional foods and natural drugs as an anticoagulant ingredient, which provided a basis for the application of polysaccharides from P. placentodes.
Postmortem 9.4-T MRI for Fetuses With Congenital Heart Defects Diagnosed in the First Trimester
Authors: Tang Huirong , Zhang Yan , Dai Chenyan , Ru Tong , Li Jie , Chen Jieyu , Zhang Bing , Zhou Kefeng , Lv Pin , Liu Renyuan , Zhou Qing , Zheng Mingming
Published: January 2022

Objective

To evaluate the feasibility of 9. 4-T postmortem MRI (pm-MRI) for assessment of major congenital heart defects (CHD) cases terminated in the early stage of gestation.

Methods

Fetuses with CHD detected by the detailed first-trimester ultrasound scan and terminated before 18 gestational weeks were recruited between January 2018 and June 2020. All fetuses were offered 9.4-T pm-MRI examinations and those terminated over 13+6 weeks were offered conventional autopsies simultaneously. Findings of pm-MRI were compared with those of conventional autopsy and prenatal ultrasound.

Results

A total of 19 fetuses with major CHD were analyzed, including 6 cases of the atrioventricular septal defect, 5 cases of Tetralogy of Fallot, 3 cases of hypoplastic left heart syndrome, 1 case of tricuspid atresia, 1 case of transposition of the great arteries, 1 case of severe tricuspid regurgitation, and 2 cases of complex CHD. Pm-MRI had concordant findings in 73.7% (14/19) cases, discordant findings in 15.8% (3/19) cases, and additional findings in 10.5% (2/19) cases when compared with prenatal ultrasound. Pm-MRI findings were concordant with autopsy in all 8 CHD cases terminated over 13+6 weeks.

Conclusion

It is feasible to exhibit the structure of fetal heart terminated in the first trimester clearly on 9.4-T pm-MRI with an optimized scanning protocol. High-field pm-MRI could provide medical imaging information of CHD for those terminated in the early stage of gestation, especially for those limited by conventional autopsy.
Current State and Future Directions of Multimodality Imaging in Cardiac Sarcoidosis
Authors: Wand Alison L. , Chrispin Jonathan , Saad Elie , Mukherjee Monica , Hays Allison G. , Gilotra Nisha A.
Published: January 2022

Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is an increasingly recognized cause of heart failure and arrhythmia. Historically challenging to identify, particularly in the absence of extracardiac sarcoidosis, diagnosis of CS has improved with advancements in cardiac imaging. Recognition as well as management may require interpretation of multiple imaging modalities. Echocardiography may serve as an initial screening study for cardiac involvement in patients with systemic sarcoidosis. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) provides information on diagnosis as well as risk stratification, particularly for ventricular arrhythmia in the setting of late gadolinium enhancement. More recently, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose position emission tomography (FDG-PET) has assumed a valuable role in the diagnosis and longitudinal management of patients with CS, allowing for the assessment of response to treatment. Hybrid FDG-PET/CT may also be used in the evaluation of extracardiac inflammation, permitting the identification of biopsy sites for diagnostic confirmation. Herein we examine the approach to diagnosis and management of CS using multimodality imaging via a case-based review.
Development of the Human Arterial Valves: Understanding Bicuspid Aortic Valve
Authors: Henderson Deborah J. , Eley Lorraine , Turner Jasmin E. , Chaudhry Bill
Published: January 2022

Abnormalities in the arterial valves are some of the commonest congenital malformations, with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) occurring in as many as 2% of the population. Despite this, most of what we understand about the development of the arterial (semilunar; aortic and pulmonary) valves is extrapolated from investigations of the atrioventricular valves in animal models, with surprisingly little specifically known about how the arterial valves develop in mouse, and even less in human. In this review, we summarise what is known about the development of the human arterial valve leaflets, comparing this to the mouse where appropriate.
Gaming Instead of Training? Exergaming Induces High-Intensity Exercise Stimulus and Reduces Cardiovascular Reactivity to Cold Pressor Test
Authors: Ketelhut Sascha , Ketelhut Reinhard G. , Kircher Eva , Röglin Lisa , Hottenrott Kuno , Martin-Niedecken Anna Lisa , Ketelhut Kerstin
Published: January 2022

Introduction

The present study assessed if an exercise session in an innovative exergame can modulate hemodynamic reactivity to a cold pressor test (CPT) to a similar extent as a typical moderate endurance training (ET). Furthermore, cardiorespiratory, and affective responses of an exergame session and an ET were compared.

Methods

Twenty-seven healthy participants aged 25 ± 4 years (48% female; BMI 23.0 ± 2.1 kg/m2) participated in this cross-sectional study. All participants completed both an ET on a treadmill and training in the ExerCube (ECT). HR and oxygen consumption were recorded during both training sessions. Before and after both exercise sessions, the hemodynamic reactivity to a CPT was determined.

Results

During ECT, HR, oxygen consumption, energy expenditure, and the metabolic equivalent of the task were significantly higher than those obtained during ET (p < 0.001). With regard to the CPT, the participants showed significantly lower responses in peripheral systolic (p = 0.004) and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.009) as well as central systolic (p = 0.002) and diastolic BP (P = 0.01) after ECT compared to ET. The same was true for pulse wave velocity (p = 0.039).

Conclusion

The ECT induced a significantly higher exercise stimulus compared to the ET. At the same time, it attenuated hemodynamic stress reactivity. The ECT presents a relevant training stimulus that modulates cardiovascular reactivity to stress, which has been proven as a predictor for the development of hypertension.

Trial Registration

ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN43067716, 14 April 2020, Trial number: 38154.
Surgical and Conservative Treatment of Post-infarction Left Ventricular Pseudoaneurysm
Authors: Zhong Zhaoji , Song Wu , Zheng Shanshan , Liu Sheng
Published: January 2022

Background

Post-infarction left ventricular (LV) pseudoaneurysm is a rare mechanical complication of myocardial infarction that carries a substantial risk of sudden rupture. The purpose of this study was to compare the surgical results of post-infarction LV pseudoaneurysm with those of conservative treatment.

Methods

From 2016 to 2021, 22 patients were hospitalized for LV pseudoaneurysm, including 17 cases (77.3%) caused by myocardial infarction. Of the 17 patients, 10 (58.8%) underwent surgical repair, while seven (41.2%) were treated medically. The clinical course, echocardiograph data, and surgical outcomes were analyzed. Survival rates of the surgical and conservative groups were compared.

Results

There were no perioperative deaths. Intra-aortic balloon pumping support was required in two (20%) patients. No follow-up mortality was observed in the surgical group and at the last follow-up, all the patients were classified as New York Heart Association class I–II. In the conservative group, there was one (14.3%) hospital death and two (28.6%) additional deaths during follow-up. A significant difference was found in survival between the two groups (P = 0.024).

Conclusions

Surgical repair of post-infarction LV pseudoaneurysm can be performed with good results, while conservative treatment carries a significant risk of sudden death. Surgical repair is indicated for every patient diagnosed, even those with a small pseudoaneurysm without symptoms.
Stability Satisfied Design and Construction of Excavated Soil Dumps in a Soft Soil Region in China
Authors: Wang Jin-Nan , Xu Hui , Zhan Liang-Tong , Li Sheng-Zhi , Wang Lu-Nan
Published: January 2022

Dumping is the main disposal method of the excavated soil from underground engineering in China; however, due to a lack of construction experiences and technical standards, landslide disasters often occurred during rapid dumping of excavated soil in soft soil regions. In this paper, geotechnical tests were conducted on the excavated soil from a foundation engineering site in Hangzhou, where the excavated soil would be used to construct a piled mountain. On this basis, a numerical study was carried out to investigate the effects of the design parameters (heap height, slope gradient) and construction parameters (layer thickness, heap speed) on the dump stability and failure mode. The results show that the safety factor of the excavated soil dump decreases with increasing heap height, slope gradient, layer thickness, and heap speed. The potential slide surfaces are toe circle, and compared to layer thickness and heap speed, the heap height and slope gradient have more remarkable influence on the depth and area of potential slide mass. The heap height limit increases with a decrease in slope gradient, and the heap speed limit decreases with an increase in layer thickness. Under the premise of ensuring the slope stability, the optimal design and construction parameters were obtained, i.e., heap height 28 m, slope gradient 1:2.75, layer thickness 1.0 m, and heap speed 0.50 m/day. Compared to the original design scheme, the storage capacity increases by 20.01%, and the construction duration decreases by 30.25% in the optimal design.
Gender-, Age- and Region-Specific Characterization of Vertebral Bone Microstructure Through Automated Segmentation and 3D Texture Analysis of Routine Abdominal CT
Authors: Dieckmeyer Michael , Sollmann Nico , El Husseini Malek , Sekuboyina Anjany , Löffler Maximilian T. , Zimmer Claus , Kirschke Jan S. , Subburaj Karupppasamy , Baum Thomas
Published: January 2022

Purpose

To identify long-term reproducible texture features (TFs) of spinal computed tomography (CT), and characterize variations with regard to gender, age and vertebral level using our automated quantification framework.

Methods

We performed texture analysis (TA) on baseline and follow-up CT (follow-up duration: 30–90 days) of 21 subjects (8 females, 13 males, age at baseline 61.2 ± 9.2 years) to determine long-term reproducibility. TFs with a long-term reproducibility error Δrel<5% were further analyzed for an association with age and vertebral level in a cohort of 376 patients (129 females, 247 males, age 62.5 ± 9.2 years). Automated analysis comprised labeling and segmentation of vertebrae into subregions using a convolutional neural network, calculation of volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) with asynchronous calibration and TF extraction. Varianceglobal measures the spread of the gray-level distribution in an image while Entropy reflects the uniformity of gray-levels. Short-run emphasis (SRE), Long-run emphasis (LRE), Run-length non-uniformity (RLN) and Run percentage (RP) contain information on consecutive voxels of a particular grey-level, or grey-level range, in a particular direction. Long runs (LRE) represent coarse texture while short runs (SRE) represent fine texture. RLN reflects similarities in the length of runs while RP reflects distribution and homogeneity of runs with a specific direction.

Results

Six of the 24 extracted TFs had Δrel<5% (Varianceglobal, Entropy, SRE, LRE, RLN, RP), and were analyzed further in 4716 thoracolumbar vertebrae. Five TFs (Varianceglobal,SRE,LRE, RLN,RP) showed a significant difference between genders (p<0.001), potentially being caused by a finer and more directional vertebral trabecular microstructure in females compared to males. Varianceglobal and Entropy showed a significant increase from the thoracic to the lumbar spine (p<0.001), indicating a higher degree and earlier initiation of trabecular microstructure deterioration at lower spinal levels. The four higher-order TFs showed significant variations between spine regions without a clear directional gradient (p ≤ 0.001-0.012). No TF showed a clear age dependence. vBMD differed significantly between genders, age groups and spine regions (p ≤ 0.001–0.002).

Conclusion

Long-term reproducible CT-based TFs of the thoracolumbar spine were established and characterized in a predominantly older adult study population. The gender-, age- and vertebral-level-specific values may serve as foundation for osteoporosis diagnostics and facilitate future studies investigating vertebral microstructure.
Large-Scale Sheep Losses to Wolves (Canis lupus) in Germany Are Related to the Expansion of the Wolf Population but Not to Increasing Wolf Numbers
Authors: Khorozyan Igor , Heurich Marco
Published: January 2022

Recovery of predator populations triggers conflicts due to livestock depredation losses, particularly in Germany where the wolf (Canis lupus) population grows exponentially and livestock (especially sheep) losses raise public concerns and motivate the authorities to control wolf numbers. Yet, the effects of wolf numbers and alternative factors, such as abundance of prey and livestock, on livestock losses in this country are not investigated. In this study, we collected and analyzed data on the numbers of reproductive units of wolves (packs and pairs together) as a surrogate of adult wolf numbers, sheep killed by wolves, living sheep, red deer (Cervus elaphus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), and wild boar (Sus scrofa) in every German state and year from 2002 to 2019. We applied a negative binomial Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) to estimate the effects of these predictors on the numbers of sheep killed by wolves. We also examined the relationships between the percentages of killed/living sheep and the numbers of living sheep. Ranking of 63 models based on the Akaike information criterion revealed that sheep losses were determined by state, year, and number of living sheep, not by wolf numbers, at high precision and accuracy. The number of sheep killed by wolves increased consistently by 41% per year and by 30% for every additional 10,000 sheep, mainly in the north where most wolf territories are concentrated. This means that sheep are protected insufficiently and/or ineffectively. The percentages of killed/living sheep consistently increased by 0.02–0.05% per state and year, with the maximum percentage of 0.7%, on a backdrop of decreasing numbers of living sheep. In conclusion, we demonstrate that sheep losses in Germany have been driven by the expansion of the wolf population, not by wolf numbers, and by the number of sheep available. We suggest that Germany’s wolf conservation policy should focus on alternative non-lethal interventions, enforcement and standardization of intervention monitoring, and promotion of wolf tolerance rather than on lethal control of wolf population size.
Assessment of Amphibians Vulnerability to Climate Change in China
Authors: Zhao Chunlin , Jiang Jianping , Xie Feng , Li Cheng , Zhao Tian
Published: January 2022

Global climate change is considered to be one of the main threats to organisms. As poikilothermic animals, amphibians are in particular sensitive because they cannot adapt to the dramatic climate change through active physiological regulation. Using 104 representative species, the present study conducted an assessment of amphibians vulnerability to climate change in China through the combination of two approaches. Specifically, 18 vulnerability criteria belonging to five categories (i.e., thermal tolerance, individual reproductive, population diffusion and diversity, food and habitat, and climate conditions) were first selected and scored based on literatures and experts opinions. Species were then ranked into three levels of climate change vulnerability (i.e., high, moderate, and low) by calculating vulnerability scores and conducting natural breaks analyses, as well as performing a principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) andk-means cluster analyses, respectively. To integrate the two results, a matrix with the ranks from each result was developed to produce a final integrated list. Our results indicated that the 104 amphibian species were classified into three types by natural breaks, with 54 low vulnerable species, 41 moderately vulnerable species, and nine highly vulnerable species. Based on the results of PCoA andk-means cluster analyses, five species were highly vulnerable, 38 species were moderately vulnerable, and 61 species were low vulnerable. The combination of the two ranks suggested that 36 species such asHyla tsinlingensisandLiangshantriton taliangensiswere of low vulnerability, 54 species such asEchinotriton chinhaiensisandHynobius chinensiswere of moderate vulnerability, and 14 species such asIchthyophis kohtaoensisandZhangixalus prasinatuswere of high vulnerability. Overall, our results indicated that climate change could have strong potential effects on amphibians in China. And the highly vulnerable species such asIchthyophis kohtaoensis,Zhangixalus prasinatus, andTheloderma corticaleshould be the priority in future conservation activities.
Stable Isotope Ratio Analysis for the Comparison of Timber From Two Forest Concessions in Gabon
Authors: Watkinson Charles J. , Rees Gareth O. , Gwenael Moundounga Cynel , Gasson Peter , Hofem Sabine , Michely Lina , Boner Markus
Published: January 2022

Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the environmental impacts caused by deforestation and illegal logging and there is an increasing demand for supply chain transparency and traceability of wood products. Many importing and exporting nations have implemented regulations which aim to control the origin and species of traded timbers of high ecological importance and economic value. However, despite growing interest in method development for timber authentication purposes, many studies have been limited by insufficient numbers of authentic timber reference samples. Our aim was to address the differences in stable isotope ratio profile of bulk, homogenized wood samples collected from living or recently felled trees in two FSC concessions in Gabon, which are approximately 240 km apart, for the purposes of origin classification and protecting valuable forest commodities. Forty-seven timber samples comprising 10 genera of tropical trees were obtained using a Pickering Punch sampling device or chainsaw from two forest concessions in Gabon (Precious Woods Group and Compagnie des Bois du Gabon) during July 2019. Samples were subject to δ18O, δ2H, δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S stable isotope analysis using elemental analysis-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (EA-IRMS). Results show that significant differences are evident in the stable isotope ratios of Aucoumea klaineana between Precious Woods Group and Compagnie des Bois du Gabon forest concessions. Relationships are evident between climatic and geological variables and the stable isotope ratios of the samples suggesting that further degrees of origin classification may be achievable in Gabon. For other species, insufficient numbers meant the possibility to determine discriminating factors between the two concessions was limited though data from these samples may prove useful to contribute to the understanding of stable isotope variability in tropical timber. The data presented establish a basis for evaluating origin claims of forest products and timber from the Compagnie des Bois du Gabon and Precious Woods Group concessions and lay a foundation for future development of timber tracking technologies in Gabon. The technique can be used for purposes of due diligence or forensic investigation by law enforcement as part of demand-side regulations such as the EU Timber Regulation, Illegal Logging Prevention Act, or the Lacey Act.
The Impact of Cyberattacks on Efficient Operations of CAVs
Authors: McManus Ian , Heaslip Kevin
Published: January 2022

The implementation of connected and automated vehicles promises increased safety and efficiency by leveraging advances in technology. With this new technology, some vulnerabilities could lead to cyberattacks. Without a focus on cybersecurity, vehicles may be attacked, reducing the efficiency and safety advantages promised through technological advancement. This research performed an impact analysis on traffic operations of cyberattacks on Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks (VANET). A roadway traffic and communications simulation was created using the Veins modeling platform that incorporated V2X communication and could model Denial of Service (DoS) and Man in the Middle (MITM) attacks on an urban street network. The number of compromised intersections and attack success rate were varied to understand the impact of each attack scenario. Each attack’s worst-case scenario resulted in an over 20% increase in travel time delay per vehicle as the attack severity increased. Also, the attacks had a wide variation in delay upon the transportation network, decreasing the travel time reliability and the ability for road users to predict delay on their journey.
SCClone: Accurate Clustering of Tumor Single-Cell DNA Sequencing Data
Authors: Yu Zhenhua , Du Fang , Song Lijuan
Published: January 2022

Single-cell DNA sequencing (scDNA-seq) enables high-resolution profiling of genetic diversity among single cells and is especially useful for deciphering the intra-tumor heterogeneity and evolutionary history of tumor. Specific technical issues such as allele dropout, false-positive errors, and doublets make scDNA-seq data incomplete and error-prone, giving rise to a severe challenge of accurately inferring clonal architecture of tumor. To effectively address these issues, we introduce a new computational method called SCClone for reasoning subclones from single nucleotide variation (SNV) data of single cells. Specifically, SCClone leverages a probability mixture model for binary data to cluster single cells into distinct subclones. To accurately decipher underlying clonal composition, a novel model selection scheme based on inter-cluster variance is employed to find the optimal number of subclones. Extensive evaluations on various simulated datasets suggest SCClone has strong robustness against different technical noises in scDNA-seq data and achieves better performance than the state-of-the-art methods in reasoning clonal composition. Further evaluations of SCClone on three real scDNA-seq datasets show that it can effectively find the underlying subclones from severely disturbed data. The SCClone software is freely available at https://github.com/qasimyu/scclone.
Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy for Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients With Different Inflammatory Phenotypes: A Multicenter, Retrospective Study
Authors: Chen Yan , Xie Jianfeng , Wu Wenjuan , Li Shusheng , Hu Yu , Hu Ming , Li Jinxiu , Yang Yi , Huang Tingrong , Zheng Kun , Wang Yishan , Kang Hanyujie , Huang Yingzi , Jiang Li , Zhang Wei , Zhong Ming , Sang Ling , Zheng Xia , Pan Chun , Zheng Ruiqiang , Li Xuyan , Tong Zhaohui , Qiu Haibo , Weng Li , Du Bin
Published: January 2022

Background

The benefits of intravenous immunoglobulin administration are controversial for critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Methods

We analyzed retrospectively the effects of immunoglobulin administration for critically ill COVID-19 patients. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) with propensity score was used to account for baseline confounders. Cluster analysis was used to perform phenotype analysis.

Results

Between January 1 and February 29, 2020, 754 patients with complete data from 19 hospitals were enrolled. Death at 28 days occurred for 408 (54.1%) patients. There were 392 (52.0%) patients who received intravenous immunoglobulin, at 11 (interquartile range (IQR) 8, 16) days after illness onset; 30% of these patients received intravenous immunoglobulin prior to intensive care unit (ICU) admission. By unadjusted analysis, no difference was observed for 28-day mortality between the immunoglobulin and non-immunoglobulin groups. Similar results were found by propensity score matching (n = 506) and by IPTW analysis (n = 731). Also, IPTW analysis did not reveal any significant difference between hyperinflammation and hypoinflammation phenotypes.

Conclusion

No significant association was observed for use of intravenous immunoglobulin and decreased mortality of severe COVID-19 patients. Phenotype analysis did not show any survival benefit for patients who received immunoglobulin therapy.
The Role of microRNA-133 in Hemocyte Proliferation and Innate Immunity of Scylla paramamosain
Authors: Zhang Yunfei , Lai Yongyong , Zhou Xiujuan , Zhu Fei
Published: January 2022

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important signaling regulators that are involved in regulating the innate immunity of crustacean. However, few studies focus on the role of crustacean miRNAs in the cellular immunity have been reported. In this study, we showed that the expression of miR-133 was significantly up-regulated in the mud crab Scylla paramamosain after infection by white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) or Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The anti-miRNA oligonucleotide AMO-miR-133 was used to knock down miR-133 expression in S. paramamosain. The number of WSSV copies increased significantly in WSSV-infected crabs after miR-133 knockdown. Knockdown of miR-133 also enhanced the mortality rates of WSSV-infected and V. parahaemolyticus-infected mud crabs, and it significantly enhanced the expression of the astakine, which was confirmed by real-time quantitative PCR and western blot analysis. The data also indicate that miR-133 may affect hemocyte proliferation in S. paramamosain by regulating astakine expression. miR-133 Knockdown enhanced the apoptosis or phagocytosis of crab hemocytes, and increased the mortality of mud crabs after WSSV or V. parahaemolyticus infection. These results indicate that miR-133 is involved in the host immune response to WSSV and V. parahaemolyticus infection in mud crabs. Taken together, our research provides new insights for the control of viral or vibrio diseases in S. paramamosain.
Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Regulates Macrophage Migration in Monosodium Urate-Induced Peritoneal Inflammation
Authors: Chen Jun , Mei Aihua , Liu Xinxin , Braunstein Zachary , Wei Yingying , Wang Biao , Duan Lihua , Rao Xiaoquan , Rajagopalan Sanjay , Dong Lingli , Zhong Jixin
Published: January 2022

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an insulinotropic peptide that signals through the GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R). GLP-1R, therefore, plays a critical role in diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Whether GLP-1R is involved in inflammatory disease such as gout remains unclear. Macrophages are critical effector cells in the pathogenesis of gout, a common form of inflammatory arthritis caused by the deposition of uric acid in joints. The expression of GLP-1R at the protein level is controversial due to the lack of specificity of existing antibodies against GLP-1R. Using a transgenic mouse model expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under the control of GLP-1R promoter, here we confirmed the expression of GLP-1R by macrophages. M2 type macrophages and Ly6C+ macrophages expressed higher levels of GLP-1R, compared to their counterparts. GLP-1R deficient macrophages displayed a reduced the migratory ability and an enhanced expression of interleukin (IL)-6, while the expression of IL-1β was not affected. In monosodium urate (MSU) crystal-induced peritonitis, an experimental model of gout, the recruitment of macrophages, especially M2 macrophages, was significantly suppressed in GLP-1R knockout mice compared to wild-type mice. In conclusion, our data suggests that GLP-1R plays a critical role in macrophage migration in MSU-induced inflammation.
Didymin Suppresses Microglia Pyroptosis and Neuroinflammation Through the Asc/Caspase-1/GSDMD Pathway Following Experimental Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Authors: Gu Lingui , Sun Mingjiang , Li Ruihao , Zhang Xingyu , Tao Yihao , Yuan Ye , Luo Xu , Xie Zongyi
Published: January 2022

Neuroinflammation has been proven to exert an important effect on brain injury after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Previous studies reported that Didymin possessed anti-inflammatory properties after acute hepatic injury, hyperglycemia-induced endothelial dysfunction, and death. However, the role of Didymin in microglial pyroptosis and neuroinflammation after ICH is unclear. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of Didymin on neuroinflammation mediated by microglial pyroptosis in mouse models of ICH and shed some light on the underlying mechanisms. In this study, we observed that Didymin treatment remarkably improved neurobehavioral performance and decreased BBB disruption and brain water content. Microglial activation and neutrophil infiltration in the peri-hematoma tissue after ICH were strikingly mitigated by Didymin as well. At the molecular level, administration of Didymin significantly unregulated the expression of Rkip and downregulated the expression of pyroptotic molecules and inflammatory cytokines such as Nlrp3 inflammasome, GSDMD, caspase-1, and mature IL-1β, TNF-α, and MPO after ICH. Besides, Didymin treatment decreased the number of Caspase-1-positive microglia and GSDMD-positive microglia after ICH. Inversely, Locostatin, an Rkip-specific inhibitor, significantly abolished the anti-pyroptosis and anti-neuroinflammation effects of Didymin. Moreover, Rkip binding with Asc could interrupt the activation and assembly of the inflammasome. Mechanistically, inhibition of Caspase-1 by VX-765 attenuated brain injury and suppressed microglial pyroptosis and neuroinflammation by downregulation of GSDMD, mature IL-1β, TNF-α, and MPO based on Locostatin-treated ICH. Taken together, Didymin alleviated microglial pyroptosis and neuroinflammation, at least in part through the Asc/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway via upregulating Rkip expression after ICH. Therefore, Didymin may be a potential agent to attenuate neuroinflammation via its anti-pyroptosis effect after ICH.
CCR5 as a Coreceptor for Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Simian Immunodeficiency Viruses: A Prototypic Love-Hate Affair
Authors: Jasinska Anna J. , Pandrea Ivona , Apetrei Cristian
Published: January 2022

CCR5, a chemokine receptor central for orchestrating lymphocyte/cell migration to the sites of inflammation and to the immunosurveillance, is involved in the pathogenesis of a wide spectrum of health conditions, including inflammatory diseases, viral infections, cancers and autoimmune diseases. CCR5 is also the primary coreceptor for the human immunodeficiency viruses (HIVs), supporting its entry into CD4+ T lymphocytes upon transmission and in the early stages of infection in humans. A natural loss-of-function mutation CCR5-Δ32, preventing the mutated protein expression on the cell surface, renders homozygous carriers of the null allele resistant to HIV-1 infection. This phenomenon was leveraged in the development of therapies and cure strategies for AIDS. Meanwhile, over 40 African nonhuman primate species are long-term hosts of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), an ancestral family of viruses that give rise to the pandemic CCR5 (R5)-tropic HIV-1. Many natural hosts typically do not progress to immunodeficiency upon the SIV infection. They have developed various strategies to minimize the SIV-related pathogenesis and disease progression, including an array of mechanisms employing modulation of the CCR5 receptor activity: (i) deletion mutations abrogating the CCR5 surface expression and conferring resistance to infection in null homozygotes; (ii) downregulation of CCR5 expression on CD4+ T cells, particularly memory cells and cells at the mucosal sites, preventing SIV from infecting and killing cells important for the maintenance of immune homeostasis, (iii) delayed onset of CCR5 expression on the CD4+ T cells during ontogenetic development that protects the offspring from vertical transmission of the virus. These host adaptations, aimed at lowering the availability of target CCR5+ CD4+ T cells through CCR5 downregulation, were countered by SIV, which evolved to alter the entry coreceptor usage toward infecting different CD4+ T-cell subpopulations that support viral replication yet without disruption of host immune homeostasis. These natural strategies against SIV/HIV-1 infection, involving control of CCR5 function, inspired therapeutic approaches against HIV-1 disease, employing CCR5 coreceptor blocking as well as gene editing and silencing of CCR5. Given the pleiotropic role of CCR5 in health beyond immune disease, the precision as well as costs and benefits of such interventions needs to be carefully considered.
Evaluation of Shifts in the Potential Future Distributions of Carcharhinid Sharks Under Different Climate Change Scenarios
Authors: Diaz-Carballido Pedro Luis , Mendoza-González Gabriela , Yañez-Arenas Carlos Alberto , Chiappa-Carrara Xavier
Published: January 2022

Climate change is currently considered one of the main phenomena affecting marine species through expansion or contraction of their distribution. Being ectothermic organisms, sharks of the family Carcharhinidae could be highly susceptible to the effects of climate change. These sharks are of great ecological importance, which is reflected in their role in the integrity of coastal and oceanic ecosystems as top predators that act to maintain the stability of the food chain, as well as providing economic value through fishing, consumption, and ecotourism. Currently, their populations are threatened by fishing pressure and anthropogenic activities, including meeting the demand for shark fins. Despite the ecological and economical importance of carcharhinid sharks, knowledge regarding how they are impacted by climate change remains scarce. Ecological niche modeling is a tool that allows analysis of future potential distributions under different climate change scenarios and could contribute to future planning activities and improved conservation outcomes for sharks. We generated models in Maxent in order to predict the potential geographic distribution of 25 carcharhinid sharks that inhabit Mexican waters, projecting this onto future climate change scenarios (RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP6.0, and RCP8.5) to calculate the potential losses and gains in their distribution areas by the year 2050. The greatest shifts in suitable areas were observed for the sharksTriaenodon obesus(gained area) andCarcharhinus porosus(lost area). Overall, under all four RCP future scenarios, six species presented gains in suitable area and 19 species presented losses. The greatest loss of suitable area for carcharhinid sharks was found with RCP8.5; however, under this high-emissions global warming scenario, seven species actually showed an increase in distribution area. Our results therefore indicate that climate change could reduce suitable areas for most of the species by 2050. Assessment of the distribution of shark species under climate change is urgently required in order to prioritize conservation efforts toward the most vulnerable species and to ensure the natural function of marine ecosystems, thus maintaining the important ecosystem services they provide to human society.