bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long Noncoding RNA NORAD/MiR-26a-5p/NAMPT (Visfatin) Axis Regulates Proliferation and Apoptosis of Human Osteosarcoma Cells
Authors: Cheng Gong , Huang Botao , Cao Zhilin , Zhang Tongqing , Zhao Yuchi , Wu Hao
Published: August 2020

Background: Visfatin is a novel adipokine, also known as a nicotinamide phosphorybosyltransferase (NAMPT) that is reported to promote the progression of osteosarcoma. The research sought to determine the regulatory network underlying NAMPT on osteosarcoma (OS).Method: The OS tissues and paired normal controls were collected from 45 OS patients. The binding relationship between microRNA-26a-5p (miR-26a-5p) and two genes (NAMPT and NORAD) were predicted by TargetScan V7.2 and confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. To reveal the function of long noncoding RNA NORAD/miR-26a-5p/NAMPT axis on cell viability, cell cycle and apoptosis of U2OS cells, CCK-8 and flow cytometry assays, examination of apoptosis-associated molecules (Bcl-2, Bax, cleaved (C)-caspase-3) were performed. The mRNA and protein levels were separately examined by RT-qPCR and Western blot. Results: NAMPT and NORAD expressions were increased in OS tissue samples, while miR-26a-5p expression was decreased. Functionally, NORAD functions as a ceRNA of miR-136-5p to competitively target NAMPT. Furthermore, miR-26a-5p overexpression inhibited viability, cell cycle and apoptosis resistance of U2OS cells by down-regulating NAMPT along with change the expressions of apoptosis-related molecules. NORAD overexpression promoted viability, cell cycle and apoptosis resistance of U2OS cells by down-regulating MiR-26a-5p along with changes of the expressions of apoptosis-related molecules.Conclusion: LncRNA NORAD, serving as a ceRNA of miR-26a-5p, promoted proliferation and apoptosis resistance of U2OS cells by upregulation of NAMPT.
High Expression of Growth Factor Receptor-bound Protein 14 Predicts Clinical Progression and Poor Prognosis in Patients with Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Chen Qixian , Liu Zhaohui , Zhong Lintao , Liang Zhike , Song Haoyu , Li Jun , Yang Jian , Chen Lijun , Weng Yuqing
Published: August 2020

Background: Growth factor receptor-bound protein 14 (Grb14) is an adaptor molecule of the Grb7/10/14 family with a characteristic “between PH and SH2” (BPS) domain that serves to tightly bind tyrosine kinases. Previous studies have demonstrated that Grb14 upregulation may be used as a marker of proliferation, invasion and malignant cell growth in tumors. The overexpression of Grb14 has also been reported to be associated with a poor prognosis in cancer patients. However, the clinical significance of Grb14 in lung adenocarcinoma has not yet been fully elucidated.Methods: Grb14 protein expression in human lung adenocarcinoma and noncancerous lung tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry analyses. Then, the associations of Grb14 expression with clinicopathological features and clinical outcomes of lung cancer patients were validated by analyzing a microarray-based TCGA dataset at the mRNA level and statistically evaluating the results.Results: Immunohistochemistry and dataset analyses revealed that Grb14 expression was significantly increased in lung adenocarcinoma tissues compared with noncancerous lung tissues [immunoreactivity score (IRS): lung adenocarcinoma, 6.07±1.01 vs benign, 4.80±1.22, P<0.001]. Additionally, as revealed by analysis of the dataset, the upregulation of Grb14 mRNA expression in the lung adenocarcinoma tissues was significantly correlated with poor overall survival (P<0.001). Furthermore, univariate analysis revealed that higher pathological stage [hazard ratio (HR), 1.925, 95% CI, 0.912-6.301; P<0.05], higher tumor stage (HR, 2.436, 95% CI, 1.659-5.551; P<0.001), higher surgical margin resection status (HR, 3.035, 95% CI, 1.305-37.51; P<0.01) and prior diagnosis status (HR, 0.4893, 95% CI, 0.1818-0.8197; P<0.01) were independent predictors for a shorter survival. Multivariate analysis also revealed that higher pathological stage (HR, 3.730, 95% CI, 1.784-7.796; P<0.01), higher surgical margin resection status (HR, 6.914, 95% CI, 2.063-23.171; P<0.01) and prior diagnosis status were related to a shorter survival. Conclusion: Our data suggest that elevated Grb14 expression plays an important role in the progression of lung adenocarcinoma. More importantly, the increased expression of Grb14 may efficiently predict poor survival in lung adenocarcinoma patients.
Comparative analysis of whole chloroplast genomes of Ligusticum sinense and L. jeholense, Umbelliferae
Authors: Wang Shijie , Zhang Tingting , Xu Liang , Zhan Zhilai , Bao Guihua , Zhang Tong , Ding Zixuan , Sun Nan , Sun Shaobin , Xie Ming , Kang Tingguo
Published: August 2020

Background

Gaoben has a long history of application as medicine. There are few records of Liaogaoben in ancient books. The varieties of Ligusticum in practical application are confused. Therefore, it is very important to identify Ligusticum accurately. The phylogenetic position of Ligusticum in Umbelliferae needs to be determined. It is also of great significance to analyze the phylogeny of Ligusticum in Umbelliferae the difference of somatic genome.
Methods

Chloroplast (cp) genomic DNA was extracted from two species of Ligusticum and sequenced on Hiseq4000 light source. The sequence was assembled into contrags by soapenovo 2.04, aligned with reference genome by blast, and then corrected manually. Genereanation is performed by online dogma tools. The general characteristics of cp genomes of two species were analyzed, and compared with the relative species. The DNA of chloroplasts of higher plants is double stranded covalently closed loop molecule, and its length varies with species. According to the assembly genome sequence of the sequenced samples, combined with the prediction results of the coding genes, the genome of the samples was displayed in circles. After alignment, the evolutionary tree was constructed based on the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of cp genome in 31 species by ML method.
Results

The whole chloroplast genome of Gaoben and Liaogaoben is 148,515 bp and 148,493 bp, both of which contain IR (IRa and IRb) LSC and SSC. 127 genes have been annotated, including 83 protein coding genes, 8 tRNA and 36 rRNA of all species, and 28 coding genes in IR region. There are six genes in the ATPase subunit of photosynthesis gene group, and there are obvious differences in the types of introns in NADH dehydrogenase subunit between them. In the comparative analysis of Pi value, two significant gene variation points are petG gene and psaL-ycf4 gene. The phylogenetic tree of the whole cp genome of SNP Umbelliferae was constructed, including 28 Umbelliferae and 3 Ligusticum.
Conclusions

In this study, the cp genomic characteristics of Ligusticum sinense and L. jeholense were identified, which provided a theoretical basis and documentation for the identification and phylogenetic analysis of Ligusticum.
Helicobacter pylori-induced Rev-erbα fosters gastric bacterial colonization by impairing host innate and adaptive defense
Authors: Zhuang Yuan , Mao Fangyuan , Lv Yipin , Hao Chuanjie , Teng Yongsheng , Liu Yugang , Cheng Ping , Yang Shiming , Chen Weisan , Liu Tao , Zou Quanming
Published: August 2020

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a human pathogen that infects nearly half of the world’s population, however, the persistent colonization of H. pylori in gastric mucosa remains poorly understood. Nowadays it is believed that impairment of host defense of gastric epithelium induced by H. pylori plays key roles in H. pylori-associated pathology. The nuclear receptor Rev-erbα represents a powerful transcriptional repressor involved in host immunity. However, the regulation, function, and clinical relevance of Rev-erbα in H. pylori infection are presently unknown. Here we demonstrated a pro-colonization role of Rev-erbα in H. pylori infection.Results: Rev-erbα was increased in gastric mucosa of H. pylori-infected patients and mice. H. pylori induced gastric epithelial cells (GECs) to express Rev-erbα via the phosphorylated cagA that activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway to mediate transcription factor nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) directly binding to Rev-erbα promoter. Human gastric Rev-erbα expression correlated with H. pylori colonization, and mouse Rev-erbα from non-bone marrow-derived cells promoted gastric H. pylori burden. Importantly, H. pylori colonization was attenuated in Rev-erbα-/- mice and the mice with in vivo pharmacological inhibition of Rev-erbα. Mechanistically, Rev-erbα in GECs not only directly suppressed Reg3b and β-defensin-1 expression via binding to Reg3b and β-defensin-1 promoter respectively, which resulted in impaired bactericidal effects against H. pylori of these antibacterial proteins in vitro and in vivo; but also directly inhibited chemokine CCL21 expression via binding to CCL21 promoter, which led to decreased gastric influx of CD45+CD11c-Ly6G-CD11b+CD68- myeloid cells by CCL21-CCR7-dependent migration and, as a direct consequence, reduced bacterial clearing capacity of H. pylori-specific T helper type 1 (Th1) cell response. Conclusions: Overall, this study identifies a model involving Rev-erbα, which collectively ensures gastric bacterial persistence by suppressing host gene expression required for local innate and adaptive defense against H. pylori, and also highlight a pathological role and an immunosuppressive mechanism of Rev-erbα in persistent H. pylori infection.
Placebo effect of caffeine on maximal strength and strength-endurance in healthy recreationally trained women habituated to caffeine
Authors: Filip Aleksandra , Krzysztofik Michal , Haltz Mateusz , Zajac Adam , Coso Juan Del , Wilk Michal
Published: August 2020

Background

By using deceptive experimental designs, several investigations have observed that athletes may increase their performance when told they were given caffeine, when in fact they received a placebo (i.e., the placebo effect of caffeine). However, most of these investigations used participants not familiarized to caffeine intake, while habituation to caffeine may affect the placebo effect of caffeine. Thus, the aim of the present study was to analyze the placebo effect of caffeine on maximal strength and strength-endurance performance during the bench press exercise (BP) in healthy recreationally trained women who consume caffeine on a daily basis.
Methods

Thirteen resistance-trained women (BP 1RM = 40.0 ± 9.7 kg) habituated to caffeine (4.1 ± 1.7 mg/kg/day) completed a deceptive randomized experimental design with two experimental trials. On one occasion, participants were told that they would receive 6 mg/kg of caffeine but received a placebo (PLAC) and in other occasion they did not receive any substance and participants were told that this was a control situation (CONT). In each experimental trial, participants underwent a 1RM BP test and a strength-endurance test consisting of performing the maximal number of repetitions at 50% of their 1RM.
Results

In comparison to CONT, PLAC did not enhance 1RM (40.0 ± 10.5 vs 41.0 ± 9.5, respectively; p = 0.10), nor the number of repetitions (32.2 ± 5.1 vs 31.8 ± 4.5; p = 0.66) or mean power (130 ± 34 vs 121 ± 26; p = 0.08) in the strength-endurance test.
Conclusion

The expectancy induced by telling participants they were given caffeine did not modify any performance variable measured in this investigation. Thus, the use of the placebo effect of caffeine seemed an ineffective strategy to enhance muscle strength and strength-endurance during the BP exercise in women habituated to caffeine.
Intimate Partner Violence During Pregnancy and Neonatal Mortality in Eastern Ethiopia: A Population Based Matched Case-Control Study
Authors: Ashenafi Wondimye , Mengistie Bezatu , Egata Gudina , Berhane Yemane
Published: August 2020

Background: Intimate partner physical, sexual and psychological abuses and controlling behaviors against pregnant women are common in low-income settings. In Ethiopia, different forms of intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy is highly prevalent and neonatal mortality has been one of the health indicators that did not show significant improvement in the country despite a significant reduction in under-five mortality. We aimed to examine whether exposure to different forms of IPV during pregnancy is associated with neonatal mortality.Methods: A population based matched case–control study was conducted from January to October 2018 in Eastern Ethiopia. A sample of 103 cases (biological mothers of deceased neonates) and 412 controls (biological mothers of survived neonates) were included in the study. The cases and controls were matched for date of birth, sex of the newborn and place of residences. Conditional logistic regression analysis was performed to assess association between IPV during pregnancy and neonatal mortality, controlling for selected potential confounders.Results: After controlling for potential confounding factors (pregnancy and obstetric as well socio-demographic characteristics) sexual violence during pregnancy [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) =3.20: 95% CI: 1.09-9.33] and husband/partner controlling behavior (AOR=2.42: 95% CI: 1.06-5.51) were found to be significantly associated with neonatal mortality. Psychological and physical violence during pregnancy did not show significant associations with the neonatal mortality.Conclusion: Neonatal mortality is strongly associated with intimate partner sexual violence and controlling behaviors during pregnancy. Involving men in maternal health programs is imperative to address issues of violence in pregnancy and promote maternal well being and child health.
Microbiome profiling reveals distinct microbial compositions of nasal polyps in chronic rhinosinusitis
Authors: Cho Sung-Woo , Kim Dong-Young , Choi Sungmi , Kang Hye-Ryun , Yi Hana
Published: August 2020

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is characterized according to the presence or absence of nasal polyps (NPs) and displays nasal microbiota dysbiosis. However, optimal sampling methods of the nasal microbiome in CRS have not been identified. We therefore aimed to assess the microbial composition in patients with CRS, comparing different sampling methods (swab and tissue biopsy), tissue types (uncinate tissue and NP), and disease subtypes.Methods: Samples were obtained by swabbing the middle meatus and taking a biopsy of uncinate tissue (UT) in 8 patients with CRS with NP (CRSwNP), 6 patients with CRS without NP (CRSsNP), and 8 controls. NPs were also harvested in CRSwNP. Extracted DNA samples were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing.Results: The microbiome diversity did not significantly differ between disease subtypes in nasal swabs or UT samples. However, a principal coordinates analysis based on weighted UniFrac distances revealed a greater interpersonal variance for nasal swabs than for UT. UT samples presented with a distinct pattern and composition in CRSwNP compared to CRSsNP or control. Compared to UT, NP revealed a unique microbiome profile with significantly less bacterial diversity. Prevotella was the most abundant genus in the UT regardless of the disease subtype and its prevalence was significantly reduced in NP. Prevotella abundance was negatively correlated with disease severity as measured by Lund-Mackay scoring.Conclusion: Tissue samples are better specimens than nasal swabs for assessing the microbiomes of CRS patients. Microbiomes of NP tissues revealed an association with clinical severity of CRSwNP.
Severe Pneumonia Associated With (H1N1) in a Pregnant Young Woman
Authors: ALDUIHI FATIMA ALHAMED
Published: August 2020

H1N1 is an acute infection that can affect any person any age as all viral infections, but it may be more aggressive in pregnant women. It may require admission to the ICU, and it carries many complications, pre-partum delivery, a severe state and even death if not treated immediately. H1N1 can correlate with a co-infection with bacterial pneumonia, and carries poor prognosis to morbidity and mortality. It needs a correlation of antibiotics and anti-swan treatment, and it needs a high intensity of clinician because, the diagnosis of H1N1 may be misleading in such cases. This case of a 14-year-old nonsmoker, a young pregnant woman, presented to the emergency department with gynecological hemorrhage 2 days prior. She was admitted to the obstetrics department and developed severe breathlessness, chest pain and nonproductive cough through hospitalization. After taking a throat swap, she was diagnosed with H1N1. She was treated with oseltamivir and antibiotics, and suspected coauthor bacterial pneumonia.
Protective Reactive Thymus Hyperplasia in the COVID-19 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Authors: Cuvelier Pelagia , Roux Hélène , Couëdel-Courteille Anne , Naudin Cécile , De Muylder Bénédicte Charmeteau , Cheynier Rémi , Squara Pierre , Marullo Stefano
Published: August 2020

Background. COVID-19 (COVID) patients can develop acute respiratory distress syndrome associated or not with sepsis, coagulopathy and visceral injuries. While thoracic CT-scans are routinely performed in the initial evaluation of patients with severe pulmonary forms, thymus involvement and reactivation have not been investigated so far.Methods. In this observational study, we systematically scored the thymus enlargement and the lung involvement, using CT-scans, in all adult patients admitted in ICU for COVID or any other cause (control group) in one center between March and April 2020. Initial biological investigations included nasal detection of SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid detection by positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In a subgroup of 24 patients with different degrees of pulmonary involvement and thymus hypertrophy, plasma cytokines concentrations were measured and mature T-cell export from the thymus was estimated simultaneously by PCR quantification of T-cell receptor excision circles (TRECs).Results. Eighty-seven patients were studied: 50 COVID patients and 37 controls. Non-atrophic or enlarged thymus was more frequent in COVID patients than in controls (66% vs. 24%, p<0.0001). Thymus enlargement in COVID patients was associated with more extensive pulmonary involvement score on CT-scans 4 [3-5] vs. 2 [1.5-4], p=0.01, but lower mortality (8.6% versus 41.2%, p<0.001). Other factors associated with mortality were age, lymphopenia, high CRP and co-morbidities. COVID patients had higher concentrations of IL-7: 6.00 [3.72-9.25] vs. 2.17 [1.76-4.4] pg/mL; p=0.04, and higher thymic production of new lymphocytes: TRECS ratio = 2.88 [1.98-4.51] vs. 0.23 [0.15-0.60]; p=0.004. This thymic production was also correlated to the CT-scan thymic score (r = 0.38, p=0.03) and inversely correlated to the lymphocyte count (r=0.56, p=0.007).Conclusions. In COVID patients, thymus enlargement was frequent and associated with increased T-lymphocytes production that appears a beneficial adaptation to virus-induced lymphopenia. The loss of thymic reactivation might contribute to worse prognosis.Trial registration: NA
Development and characterization of thirteen novel microsatellite markers for use in Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus), with cross-amplification in Pacific sleeper sharks (Somniosus pacificus)
Authors: Swintek Meaghan A , Walter Ryan P
Published: August 2020

Objective

The objectives of this research are to isolate, develop and characterize polymorphic microsatellite markers for use in Greenland sharks ( Somniosus microcephalus ). Despite utility in population analyses, microsatellite markers have not been previously developed for this species. Development of these markers, and successful amplification in closely related Pacific sleeper sharks ( S. pacificus ), will facilitate research in the genetic variation of contemporary and future populations of sleeper shark species.

Results

Thirteen microsatellite loci were successfully amplified and yielded multi-locus genotypes for 32 S. microcephalus individuals from Grise Fjord (n = 16) and Svalbard (n = 20). Each locus yielded between 2 to 9 alleles and observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.11 to 0.70 when estimated across both sites. One locus and three loci deviated from HWE following Bonferroni correction, for individuals sampled from Grise Fjord and Svalbard, respectively. Cross-amplification was successful at every locus for five of the ten S. pacificus individuals.
Assessing the evidence on the differential impact of menthol versus non-menthol cigarette use on initiation and progression to regular smoking: A systematic review
Authors: Kim Mimi , Curtin Geoffrey M
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND: This evidence synthesis followed PRISMA guidelines to examine the Key Question: Does menthol cigarette use have a differential impact on initiation and progression to regular smoking compared to non-menthol cigarette use?METHODS: The protocol was registered on March 22, 2016 (updated January 10, 2019; PROSPERO: CRD42019119301). Six databases were queried from inception to December 14, 2018.RESULTS: Thirty-eight studies (19 rated as “good” and 19 rated as “fair” individual study quality) compared menthol and non-menthol cigarette smokers, and were qualitatively synthesized across four outcomes: (total adjusted studies; strength of evidence grade): age at smoking initiation (6; low); smoking initiation with menthol cigarettes (4; insufficient); switching between menthol and non-menthol cigarettes (2; insufficient); and progression to regular smoking/increased smoking over time (7; low [4 studies comparing daily versus non-daily smoking]). Generally, limited strength of evidence grades were due to issues of temporality, using current menthol status as a proxy for use at initiation. Results from two meta-analyses suggested that non-menthol smokers are more likely to report daily versus non-daily smoking; and, non-menthol smokers report younger ages at smoking initiation.CONCLUSIONS: Based on the lack of longitudinal evidence coupled with the limited strength of evidence provided by the available studies, there is no clear, differential association between menthol (versus non-menthol) cigarette use and progression to regular smoking.
The Influence Factor of Health Seeking Behavior of the Caregivers for under-Five Sick Children in Southern Xinjiang, China
Authors: Ren Lihua , Du Yefan , Yan Yongyang , Zhu Xiu , Wang Zhihao , Zou Kaiyue , Zhang Linruo , Zhang Tong , Li Fengjuan , Huang Jing , Lu Hong
Published: August 2020

Background: Child mortality can be reduced by 20% with the caregivers’ appropriate health seeking behaviors. Therefore, in order to reduce child mortality in remote areas, we examined the Health Seeking Behavior (HSB) of caregivers of sick children under five years old in Moyu County, Southern Xinjiang, which is the remotest and poorest areas in China, and the factors influencing HSB of caregivers.Methods: We analyzed the factors influencing the health seeking behavior of 846 caregivers of sick children with a questionnaire survey in Chinese and Uighur by a cross-sectional study. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to predict the influencing factors on HSB of caregivers. Results: After the children’s illness was detected, 89.94% caregivers took their children to go to the doctor. 44.91% caregivers took their children to the doctor in the public medical institutions, while 40.07% caregivers chosen the private medical institutions. Compared with the private medical institutions, public medical institutions were likely to be chosen when caregivers consider the treatment cost or the children with cough, runny nose and stuffy nose, but considering children’s age (0.5times), reputation of doctor (0.6times), adequate drug resources (0.5times), the traditional habits on HSB (0.5times), and time to get to hospital (0.2times), the public medical institutions weren’t be chosen.Conclusions: The HSB of the caregivers for sick children in Southern Xinjiang isn’t optimistic. The doctors’ competencies, the quantity of medicines, the distance, the traditional habits influencing caregivers to choose hospitals, which is also the most significant thing to promote the health of rural children in Xinjiang and northwest China.
Host-Adaptation of Rare Enterocytozoon bieneusi Genotype CHN4 in Coypu (Myocastor Coypus) in China
Authors: Yu Fuchang , Cao Yangwenna , Wang Haiyan , Liu Qiang , Zhao Aiyun , Qi Meng , Zhang Longxian
Published: August 2020

Background: Enterocytozoon bieneusi is a zoonotic gastrointestinal pathogen and can infect both humans and animals. Coypus (Myocastor coypus) is a semi-aquatic rodent, in which few E. bieneusi infections have been reported. Methods: A total of 308 fresh fecal samples were collected from seven coypu farms in China to determine the infection status and the zoonotic potential of E. bieneusi from coypus using nested-PCR amplification of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region.Results: E. bieneusi was detected with an infection rate of 41.2% (n = 127). Four genotypes were identified, including CHN4 (n = 111), EbpC (n = 8) and EbpA (n = 7) and a novel genotype named CNCP1 (n = 1). Conclusions: The rare genotype CHN4 was the most dominant genotype in this study, and the transmission dynamics of E. bieneusi in coypus were different from other rodents. This is the first report of E. bieneusi infections in coypus in China. Our study reveals that E. bieneusi in coypus may be potentially transmissible from coypus to humans.
Differential Effects of Larval and Adult Nutrition on Survival, Fecundity, and Size of the Yellow Fever Mosquito Aedes Aegypti
Authors: Yan Jiayue , Kibech Roumaissa , Stone Chris M.
Published: August 2020

Background: The yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, is the principal vector of multiple infectious pathogens that can cause severe illness such as dengue fever, yellow fever and Zika. Their transmission potential for these arboviruses is largely shaped by their life history traits, such as their survival and fecundity. These life history traits depend on environmental conditions, such as larval and adult nutrition (e.g., nectar availability). Both these types of nutrition are known to affect the energetic reserves and life history traits of adults, but whether and how nutrition obtained during different stages have an interactive influence on mosquito life history traits remains largely unknown. Methods: Here, we experimentally manipulated both larval and adult diets to create four nutritional levels, that is, a high amount of larval food plus poor (weak concentration of sucrose) adult food: HL+PA, high larval plus good (normal sucrose concentration) adult food: HL+GA, low larval plus poor adult food: LL+PA and low larval plus good adult food: LL+GA. We then compared the size, survival and fecundity of mosquitoes reared from these nutritional regimes. Results: We found that larval and adult nutrition affected mosquito size and survival, respectively, without interactions, while both larval and adult nutrition synergistically influenced mosquito fecundity. There was a positive relationship between mosquito size and fecundity. In addition, this positive relationship was not affected by nutrition. Conclusions: These findings highlight how larval and adult nutrition differentially influence mosquito life history traits, suggesting that studies evaluating nutritional effects on vectorial capacity traits should account for environmental variation across life stages.
Religion Influences Community Adherence to COVID-19 Guidelines in Uganda
Authors: Echoru Isaac , Kasozi keneth Iceland , Usman Ibe Michael , Ssempijja Fred , Ayikobua Emmanuel Tiyo , Mujinya Regan , Ajambo Patricia Decanar , Matama Kevin , Lemuel Ann Monima , Tabakwot John Ayuba , Aruwa Joshua Ojodale , Kegoye Eric Simidi , Segun Okeniran Olatayo , Adeoye Azeez , Archibong Victor Bassey , Nankya Viola , Henry Suzann Edoho , Onongha Comfort , Welburn Susan Christina
Published: August 2020

BackgroundSuccess of public health government programs depends on effective partnerships between religious institutions, policy makers and medical professionals. Directives from the World Health Organization (WHO) against social gatherings to control COVID-19 transmission have negatively impacted religious-political partnerships. Compliance of rural communities to national lockdowns requires support from community faith leaders. Across the African sub-continent faith plays an important role within communities that display diverse religious practice. Specific guidelines to prevent community transmission and spread of novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) are however, scarce, complicating adherence to best practice as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO). During the Ebola epidemic in Africa, faith groups played a crucial role in spreading information from the WHO to control community disease transmissions. MethodsHere we examined knowledge, attitudes and practices for COVID-19 among market vendors, of faith, in South-Western Uganda. A cross sectional study was undertaken among rural market vendors (n=248) in southwestern Uganda was undertaken using an online questionnaire.ResultsMost moslems (72%) and protestants (70%) were aware that COVID-19 could present symptomatically and the challenges for control of COVID-19 in Uganda. Definitive knowledge of COVID-19 transmission dynamics was most prevalent among individuals of Protestant faith (70%). Most moslems (66%) interviewed found it difficult to comply with public health measures (lockdowns and self-isolation) while most pentecostals (64%) considered wearing as face mask to be impractical. Such discrepancies within a tight knit community and religious groupings in relation to practice shows a need to strengthen and revise policy for the national implementation of COVID-19 guidelines. ConclusionEngagement from religious leaders to encourage their followers to abide to COVID-19 guidelines would facilitate Africa’s COVID-19 response to become more effective addressing key areas of non-compliance that undermine control e.g. a majority of Pentecostal Christians are hesitant to be associated with alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
Is Monitoring for Phosphate a Necessary Measure in Critical Ill Patients ?
Authors: Chen Yang , Luo Mengdi , Huang He , Zhao Weiwei , Xu Huange , He Qing
Published: August 2020

Background: In recent years, some studies have shown that hyperphosphatemia and hypophosphatemia are associated with high mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Based on this, we speculated that the abnormalities of serum phosphate when patients enter the ICU had an adverse effect on the mortality of ICU patients and conducted our study.Methods: For our retrospective cohort study, we collected the data from a publicly accessible critical care database. We selected adult patients admitted to ICU with some inclusion criteria. And we extracted a large number of clinical variables. Using multivariate Cox regression and other statistical methods, we assessed the association between serum phosphate and primary endpoints.Results: Of 27131 eligible patients, the patients with hyperphosphatemia or hypophosphatemia had poorer clinical outcomes. After adjustment for potential confounders, there was no significant association between abnormalities phosphate and 28 or 90-day ICU mortality. Nevertheless, at the medical intensive care unit, hyperphosphatemia was associated with a 37% higher risk of 28-day mortality or a 25% higher risk of 90-day mortality.Conclusion: After adjustment for potential confounders, hypophosphatemia and hyperphosphatemia at ICU admission were not the independent risk factors of 28 or 90-day mortality for general ICU patients. However, hyperphosphatemia at admission increased the risk of 28 or 90-day mortality among patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit.
Laminated Si3N4-Mo Composites Produced by Hot Pressing
Authors: Chen Wei , Zhao Ziqiang , Wang Zhaoxun , Hao Wenhui
Published: August 2020

In this paper, the physical, mechanical and friction behavior of Si3N4-Mo laminated composites were investigated. It can be found that the multilayer structure could improve the fracture toughness of laminated composite compared with pure Si3N4. Through the thermodynamic and kinetic calculations of chemical reactions, we conclude that the main product of the interface is Mo5Si3 which caused poor physical and mechanical properties of Si3N4-Mo layered ceramics. The higher content of Mo was beneficial to hinder the diffusion of cracks and improved the fracture toughness of the material, but with the lower content of Mo, Si3N4-Mo laminated ceramic composite had better tribology properity . In addition, with the increase of the load, the tribology properity of Si3N4-Mo laminated ceramic composite decreased, and the friction mechanism of Si3N4-Mo/TC4 is a mixed wear of adhesive wear and abrasive wear.
Fargesin ameliorates osteoarthritis via macrophage reprogramming by downregulating MAPK and NF-κB pathways
Authors: Lu Jiansen , Zhang Hongbo , Pan Jianying , Hu Zhiqiang , Liu Liangliang , Liu Yanli , Yu Xiao , Bai Xiaochun , Cai Daozhang , Zhang Haiyan
Published: August 2020

Synovial macrophage polarization and interactions between chondrocytes and macrophages are essential for osteoarthritis (OA) development. The present study determined the role and regulatory mechanisms of fargesin, one of the main components of Magnolia fargesii, in macrophage reprogramming and crosstalk across cartilage and synovium. 10-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to sham-operated, collagenase-induced OA (CIOA)-operated, or CIOA-operated with intraarticular fargesin treatment groups. Fargesin attenuated articular cartilage degeneration and synovitis, resulting in substantially lower Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) and synovitis scores. In particular, significantly increased M2 polarization and decreased M1 polarization in synovial macrophages were found in fargesin-treated CIOA mice compared to controls. This was accompanied by down-regulation of IL-6 and IL-1β and upregulation of IL-10 in serum. Although conditioned medium (CM) from the M1 macrophage treated with fargesin reduced the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-13, RUNX2, and type X collagen X in OA cartilage, it had no direct effect on chondrocyte metabolism in an in vitro study. Moreover, fargesin exerted protective effects by suppressing p38/ERK MAPK and p65/NF-κB signaling. This study showed that fargesin switched the polarized phenotypes of macrophages from M1 to M2 subtypes and prevented cartilage degeneration partially by down-regulating p38/ERK MAPK and p65/NF-κB signaling. Targeting macrophage reprogramming or blocking the crosstalk between macrophages and chondrocytes in early OA may be an effective preventive strategy.
Maternal SARS-CoV-2 IgG provides limited protection for their infants
Authors: Wang Xia , Yang Pu , Zheng Junwen , Liu Pin , Wei Cong , Guo Juanjuan , Zhang Yuanzhen , Zhao Dongchi
Published: August 2020

At present, there are still many ambiguous reports about the perinatal infection of infants born to mothers infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)1-3. The dynamic characteristics of infantile serum antibodies born to mother with SARS-CoV-2 has not been well described4-6. In this study, we analyzed the seroconversion of 27 newborns born to 26 pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2. The SARS-CoV-2 IgG positive rate of parturients was 80.8%, and half of their infants obtained maternal IgG. IgG transfer rates were 18.8% and 81.8% in those infants whose mother infected less and more than 2 weeks before delivery respectively. In the first two months of life, the IgG level of infants dropped sharply to one tenth of that at birth. The IgM was confirmed positive in 53.8% of mothers and negative in all infants. These results suggest that maternal IgG has limited protection for infants, which may help us to improve vaccination strategies in future.
Ionic conductivity and optical properties of self-activated phosphor CsYP2O7
Authors: karray mayssa , OUESLETI A. , KHIROUNI K. , GARGOURI M.
Published: August 2020

Pyrophosphates are interesting compounds as optical materials, ionic conductors, solid electrolytes, battery electrodes, solid-state lasers and active layer for sensors. In this context, the compound CsYP 2 O 7 has been synthesized by the solid-state reaction method. The X-ray powder diffraction at room temperature confirmed the phase formation of the synthesized compound in the monoclinic phase. The composition and morphology were performed by energy dispersive spectroscopy coupled with scanning electron microscope . The optical properties of the compound were studied by UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy. By direct investigation of the UV absorption measurements and using the Tauc model, we have found that the direct optical band gap is equal to 3.7eV. Two of the relaxation mechanisms were clearly identified from Nyquist plots and modulus analysis, which can be discerned to both grain and grain boundary contributions effect. The obtained results were analyzed by fitting the experimental data to an equivalent circuit model.Bulk resistance and grain boundary resistance decreased with the increase of temperature, which confirmed negative temperature coefficient of resistance behavior. The same values of activation energies obtained from the impedance (0.43 eV ) and hopping frequency (0.42 eV),prove that the transport happens through an ion hopping mechanism dominated by the motion of the Cs + cations in the structure of the CsYP 2 O 7 material. The results confirm tha the synthesized compound is suitable for catalysis and optoelectronic applications.
Book Review: Jens Lehne, Crisis at the WTO: Is the Blocking of Appointments to the WTO Appellate Body by the United States Legally Justified?
Authors: Sieber-Gasser Charlotte
Published: August 2020

The US policy of blocking new appointments to the WTO Appellate Body relied on a number of legal arguments against the body’s work and ultimately succeeded in rendering the appellate mechanism of the WTO dispute settlement system inoperable in December 2019. In his book, Jens Lehne carefully analyses the various legal arguments officially brought forward by the US until summer 2019. His analysis is proof of the vulnerability of the WTO: despite equality of WTO members enshrined in the WTO treaties, the fate of the WTO remains largely dependent on the willingness of large economies to comply with a legally binding dispute settlement system.
Beyond Lee-Huang-Yang description of self-bound Bose mixtures
Authors: Ota Miki , Astrakharchik Gregory
Published: August 2020

We investigate the properties of self-bound ultradilute Bose-Bose mixtures, beyond the Lee-Huang-Yang description. Our approach is based on the determination of the beyond mean-field corrections to the phonon modes of the mixture in a self-consistent way and calculation of the associated equation of state. The newly obtained ground state energies show excellent agreement with recent quantum Monte Carlo calculations, providing a simple and accurate description of the self-bound mixtures with contact type interaction. We further show numerical results for the equilibrium properties of the finite size droplet, by adjusting the Gross-Pitaevskii equation. Our analysis is extended to the one-dimensional mixtures where an excellent agreement with quantum Monte Carlo predictions is found for the equilibrium densities. Finally, we discuss the effects of temperature on the stability of the liquid phase.
Evaluación de la concentración de PM10 y sus posibles implicaciones a nivel salud en dos puntos de Bogotá D.C.
Authors: Cuitiva Vallejo Ana Isabel , Castro Chaves Catalina , Orbegozo Mahecha Ashley Paola , Fajardo Montaña Oscar Arnulfo , Altamar Consuegra Astrid Del Socorro , Mejia Hoy Sandra Milena , Torres Torres Juan David
Published: August 2020

En este trabajo se determinaron in situ las concentraciones de material particulado (PM10) en dos puntos de la ciudad de Bogotá, uno en la zona centro y el otro en la zona occidental de la misma durante un periodo de muestreo realizado en el segundo semestre del 2018 (30 días válidos de muestreo). Igualmente se evaluó la correlación de las variables meteorológicas  y la variable concentración de PM10, de ambos puntos en cuestión mediante el software libre MiniTab.  Contrario a la preconcepción que se tenía debido a la presencia del alto desarrollo urbanístico en el punto de la zona centro y a una amplia zona verde en el punto de la zona occidental las concentraciones del contaminante fueron constantemente superiores al occidente de la ciudad. La dirección del viento predominante en la zona centro que genera un arrastre del contaminante hacia la zona occidental de la ciudad y la peatonalización de corredores viales fueron argumentados como las causas plausibles de las diferencias. Un total de 112 y 14 muertes prematuras anuales por cada 100.000 habitantes por causa de la exposición a la concentración del contaminante determinada que fueron estimadas para la zona centro y occidental correspondientemente.
Effect of Nanocarriers of Different Nature on the Immunological Characteristics of Immobilized Monoclonal Autoantibodies to Thyroglobulin
Authors: Zubkov A.V. , Stanishevskiy Ya.M.
Published: August 2020

The immunological properties of monoclonal autoantibodies to thyroid thyroglobulin in the construction of carrier-bioligand conjugates have been studied. Silver and gold nanoparticles 40-50 nm in size of and polymer microspheres (706 nm) were obtained. Autoantibodies were immobilized on the surface of the synthesized nanoparticles and the effect of nanocarriers on the immunological properties of immobilized monoclonal autoantibodies to thyroglobulin was studied by ELISA. It was found that the use of silver and gold nanoparticles allows you to adjust the sensitivity and specificity of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in order to increase or decrease the detection limit of antigens or antibodies for early laboratory diagnostics of diseases and the creation of new-generation diagnostic test systems. nanoparticles, human thyroid gland thyroglobulin, nanocarriers, silver, gold, polystyrene, immunodiagnostics
The strain Gordonia alkanivorans 135 Is a Promising Destructor of Dibenzothiophene
Authors: Frantsuzova Е.Е. , Vetrova A.A.
Published: August 2020

Genes involved in the dibenzothiophene degradation have been identified in the genome of Gordonia alkanivorans 135. The efficiency of the degradation was evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography after the strain cultivation in mineral sulfur-free medium with glucose (hexadecane) as a carbon source at a temperature of 28 °C. The results obtained in this work allow us to consider the Gordonia alkanivorans 135 strain as promising for development of bio technological method for microbial oil desulfurization.

Gordonia, dibenzothiophene, biodegradation.

This work was financially supported by the Russian Science Foundation (Grant no. 19-74-00097).
Biological Processing of Pea Grain and Secondary Starch Raw Materials to Produce Food and Feed Protein Concentrates
Authors: Kolpakova V.V. , Ulanova R.V. , Chumikina L.V. , Bessonov V.V.
Published: August 2020

The goal of the study was to develop a biotechnological process for the production of protein concentrates via bioconversion of pea flour and whey, a secondary product of starch manufacture. Standard and special methods were used to analyze the chemical and biochemical composition of protein concentrates (amino acid, carbohydrate, and fractional) of flour, whey and protein concentrates. It was established that pea flour contains 52.28-57.05% water-soluble nitrogenous substances, 23.04-25.50% salt-soluble, 2.94-4.69% alcohol-soluble compounds, 0-0.61% of soluble glutenine, 6.67-10.40% alkali-soluble glutenine and 5.96-10.86% insoluble sclerotic substances. A mathematical model and optimal parameters of the enzymatic extraction of pea protein with a yield of 65-70% were developed. Ultrasonic exposure increased the yield of nitrogenous substances by 23.16 ± 0.69%, compared with the control without ultrasound. The protein concentrate had a mass fraction of nitrogenous substances of 72.48 ± 0.41% (Nx6.25) and a complete amino acid composition. The microbial conversion by the Saccharomyces cerevisiae 121 and Geotrichum candidum 977 cultures of starch whey which remained after protein precipitation allowed us to obtain feed concentrates from biomass and culture liquid with a protein mass fraction of 61.68-70.48% (Nx6.25). Protein concentrates positively affected the vital signs of rats and their excretory products. A technological scheme was developed to test the complex pea grain and starch whey processing under pilot conditions.

pea, protein concentrate, extracts, whey, bioconversion, Geotrichum candidum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, chemical composition, amino acid composition
Evaluation of CFTR Channel Functions and Responses to Modulators in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis who Have a Pathogenic F508del Variant in Their Genomes
Authors: Efremova A.S. , Bukharova Т.В. , Petrova N.V. , Kashirskaya N.Yu. , Melyanovskaya Yu.L. , Zinchenko R.A. , Kondratyeva E.I. , Goldstein D.V.
Published: August 2020

Intestinal organoids derived from rectal biopsies of cystic fibrosis patients are a highly sensitive personalized method for evaluating the functional activity of the CFTR channel and the efficacy of target drugs. We examined four patients whose genotype contains the pathogenic F508del variant (three patients and one healthy heterozygous person). It was shown that F508del/F508del genotype (two patients) could be effectively corrected by CFTR modulators (VX-770 and VX-809). The modulators had no significant effect on the restoration of the chlorine CFTR channel function in a patient with the W361X/F508del genotype. The CFTR functional activity in the heterozygous F508del carrier was as high as in the healthy control.

cystic fibrosis, intestinal organoids, genetic F508del variant, genotype, forskolin-induced swelling (FIS) assay, CFTR modulators

This study was supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education as part of a State Assignment for RCMG.
Multiple Alignment of Promoter Sequences from the Human Genome
Authors: Kamionskaya A.M. , Korotkova M.A.
Published: August 2020

A new algorithm for multiple alignment of nucleotide sequences of MAHDS has been developed. A statistically significant multiple alignment of promoter sequences from the human genome was first created using this algorithm. Based on the constructed alignments, 25 classes of promoter sequences were created with the volume of each class exceeding 100 sequences. The classes of promoters can be used to search for promoter sequences in eukaryotic genomes. promoter, class, dynamic programming, human genome. The work was partially supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Grant no. 20-016-00057).