bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Current Achievements and Relevant Tasks of Space Radiobiology
Authors:   A.I. Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center, Moscow, Russia, Ushakov I.B.
Published: July 2022

Purpose: Analytical review of space radiobiology current state and promising areas, revision of space radiobiology crucial tasks were the research objectives. Material and methods: Data from a chronic experiment on 700 mature male rats (radiation doses of 10-100 sGr), clinical and physiological data of irradiated pilots-liquidators of the Chernobyl accident consequences (more than 1000 people) and numerous radiation neurophysiological experiments, including with heavy charged particles (HCP) were used methodologically as new experimental patterns. The methods are presented in 3 monographs and 19 journal articles. Results: The main barrier to further human penetration into space is cosmic radiation from various sources: galactic and solar cosmic rays. Complex radiation “cocktails” in space are dangerous, taking into account secondary neutrons and gamma-irradiation. Modeling it on Earth is extremely difficult. The structure of modern space radiobiology includes: radiation situation in near and far space; features of dosimetry in space and the possibility of using various phantoms; multilevel effects of human radiation exposure in space; small doses and the brain; the role of combined effects; elaboration of new approaches for extrapolation on human experimental data obtained on animals; rationing of radiation effects in space, taking into account the numerous non-radiation risks in flight; development of means to increase radioresistance and biomedical protection. New concept of human radiation safety in orbital flights should take into account all the likely immediate and long-term consequences of human radiation exposure in space. It is necessary to verify possible brain disorders from HCP, taking into account combined effect of other flight factors, including the hypomagnetic environment, and to assess the risk of imminent radiation threats, in particular on the Moon or Mars. Modern science is not yet able to predict solar proton events well, knowledge about the spectra of cosmic radiation and methods for calculating doses during the passage of various types of radiation through matter is limited. The new concept of protection can be called “the concept of choosing a lesser amount of evil”. The principle of ALARA is not canceled, but is put on the verge of possible compliance. In the on-board first aid kit, it is necessary to have means that will be a kind of modern “sum of radiobiology” at the time of flight, using the entire arsenal of countermeasures – radioprotectors, radiomitigators, radio-modulators, hibernation, artificial magnetic field, etc. The crew should be selected from the most radio-resistant astronauts (according to geno- and phenotypic criteria). Conclusion: Modern space radiobiology is at a critical stage of finding new ways of development and obtaining breakthrough results.
PERLINDUNGAN HUKUM TERHADAP PEMEGANG E-SERTIPIKAT TANAH DALAM PERATURAN ATR/BPN NO.1 TAHUN 2021
Authors: Surianto Daniel , Elbert Elbert , Fernando Gustianus
Published: July 2022

Indonesia  merupakan  negara  kepulauan  yang  memiliki  sejumlah  permasalahan  salah  satunya keterbatasan lahan tanah seperti sengketa tanah antar sesama penduduk dalam menguasai tanah. Untuk  menyelesaikan  permasalahan  tersebut  pemerintah  mengeluarkan  Permen  ATR/BPN  No.1 Tahun 2021 Tentang Sertipikat Elektronik. Akan tetapi timbul permasalahan yaitu perlindungan hukum  bagi  para  pemegang  E-Sertipikat  Tanah.  Sehingga  dalam  penelitian  ini  akan  meninjau langsung  dari  sisi  aspek  hukum  dan  permasalahan  sering  terjadi  serta  solusi  dari  adanya permasalahan  E-Sertipikat  Tanah.  Metode  Penelitian  yang  digunakan  Metode  Yuridis  Normatif dengan menggunakan pendekatan peraturan perundang-undangan yang berdasarkan bahan hukum primer  dan  sekunder.  Hasil  penelitian  yang  didapatkan  masih  banyaknya  peraturan  perundang- undangan  yang  tidak  sesuai  dalam  mendukung  kebijakan  sertipikat  tanah  elektronik  dan banyaknya  tantangan  yang  harus  dibenahi  pemerintah  berkaitan  dengan  penerbitan  sertipikat tanah elektronik. Dalam implementasi penerbitan sertipikat tanah elektronik dapat menimbulkan dampak yang baru seperti pembuktian di pengadilan dan ke auntentikan suatu akta jual-beli yang akan  melahirkan  penerbitan  sertipikat  tanah  elektronik.  Dalam  mendukung  program  pemerintah dalam  penerbitan  sertipikat  tanah  elektronik  ada  beberapa  hal  yang  perlu  dilakukan  pemerintah seperti mengandeng Pakar keilmuan Informasi Teknologi (IT) dan Ilmu Hukum supaya dapat bisa saling melengkapi dalam penerbitan sertipikat tanah elektronik dan pemerintah wajib melakukan sosialisasi,  bimbingan  teknis  dan  penyuluhan.  Terkait  aturan  penerbitan  sertipikat  tanah elektronik dengan demikian masyarakat akan mendapat perlindungan hukum yang lebih kuat dan aman berkaitan dengan sertipikat tanah elektronik.
PENERAPAN HUKUMAN KEBIRI KIMIA MENURUT PERATURAN PEMERINTAH NOMOR 70 TAHUN 2020
Authors: Mutiara Putri Dhita , Liany Lusy , Bunga Khoirunnisa Nadya , Meutia Rahmah Shafa
Published: July 2022

Hukuman bagi pelaku kekerasan seksual sebagaimana tercantum dalam Undang-Undang Perlindungan Anak dianggap belum efektif sehingga Pemerintah menerbitkan Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 70 Tahun 2020 yang menerapkan pelaksanaan dari kebiri kimia. Penelitian ini mengkaji peraturan pelaksana dari hukuman pidana tambahan kebiri kimia di Indonesia. Implementasi kasus penerapan kebiri kimia pertama kali di Indonesia pada Putusan Nomor  69/Pid.sus/2019/PN.Mjk tanggal 2 Mei 2019. Penerapan kebiri secara kimia menimbulkan pro kontra pada penerapan kebiri kimia terkait efektifitasnya dan pemberlakuannya yang dianggap melanggar hak asasi manusia sebagaimana termuat dalam UUD 1945 dan Undang-Undang Nomor 39 Tahun 1999 tentang HAM. Terdapat juga pihak yang setuju terhadap pemberlakuan hukuman tambahan kebiri kimia. Namun, terlepas dari adanya pro kontra tersebut,  Pemerintah menerbitkan aturan mengenai pelaksanaan kebiri kimia yang dimuat dalam Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 70 Tahun 2020. Aturan ini dapat diberlakukan secara efektif, efisien, dan tepat sasaran guna mengurangi peningkatan jumlah kekerasan seksual dan timbulnya kejahatan yang berulang.
The main population characteristics of macrozoobenthos of the Onega coast of the White Sea (spring 2021)
Authors: Makhnovich Natalia M.
Published: July 2022

In the spring of 2021, studies of macrozoobenthos were carried out in the littoral zone on the Onega coast of the White Sea from the mouth of the Veiga River to the Glubokiy Creek. The species composition and quantitative indicators of abundance have been determined. The animals belonged to eight types and 13 classes. The maximum numbers were 2274 ins/m2, biomass were 114.36 g/m2.
Biochemical activity of marine yeast bottom sediments of Sevastopol bays (Black Sea)
Authors: Doroshenko Yuliya V. , Gymenyuk Kristina A.
Published: July 2022

Fungi in marine environments, including yeasts, are far less studied than fungi in terrestrial environments, not only in Black Sea but also all over the world. The data about the biochemical activity of marine yeasts are presented. Yeast strains were able to be isolated from bottom sediments of three Sevastopol bays (Karantinnaya bay, Kruglaya Bay, and Yuzhnaya bay) during a sanitary-ecological survey of department of marine sanitary hydrobiology IBSS. We have showed hydrochemical characteristic of the studied area based on the literature review. The isolates grew well in a medium composed of sugars (glucose, lactose), in vitro ability to degrade starch and peptone. In addition, they used oil and petroleum hydrocarbons as the only source of carbon and energy actively. The indigenous microflora in heavily polluted environments faces a regular threat from pollutants and has therefore evolved the necessary enzymatic setup for their detoxification.
John Leyden’s Translation of the ‘Malay Annals’
Authors: Shiung Ng Tze
Published: July 2022

Scottish involvement in the British empire has been attributed to political anxiety at home and commercial freedom abroad. Central to this premise has been the influence of the Scottish enlightenment in illuminating the path forward for Scottish merchants and mercenaries. An exception pertained to the Scottish planners of the British East India Company’s invasion of Java in 1811. Tasked to liberate the East Indies from the Franco-Dutch power, they sought to replace a commercial empire with an independent Malay commonwealth. The means, besides arms and legislation, included an intellectual initiative by John Leyden to recover the native consciousness of the people of the Malay Archipelago and spark their belief in Malay nationhood. It involved a linguistic scheme to revive Malay speech by combining the region’s literary forms, modes and media into a single historical text in the Malay language. The enterprise was, I argue, founded on the Scottish belief that human volition was innate to the native character.
Behavioral factors in making financial and economic decisions of economic subjects under uncertainty
Authors:   SI ", STORONIANSKA Iryna ,   Institute of Regional Reseach named after M. I. Dolishniy jf the NAS of Ukraine", BENOVSKA Liliya ,   SI "Institute of Regional Reseach named after M. I. Dolishniy jf the NAS of Ukraine"
Published: July 2022

Introduction. Due to the high dynamism and unpredictability of economic processes, caused by the factors of institutional and pandemic uncertainty, the inability of the theory of rational economic behavior to fully explain their course and predict the financial and economic decisions of economic subjects is manifested. This leads to the increasing popularity of the cognitive approach in economic research. Problem Statement. Study of the influence of behavioral factors on the financial and economic decision-making of economic entities in conditions of economic uncertainty, in particular under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The financial and economic behavior of economic entities cannot be considered in isolation from their individual characteristics, behavioral factors, and the influence of the external environment. The purpose of the study is to identify behavioral factors and justify their role in making financial and economic decisions by economic subjects in conditions of economic uncertainty. Methods. A set of methods of scientific knowledge, general scientific and special principles, methods, in particular structural and logical, comparative analysis, systematic approach, historical and statistical methods, classification method, etc. Results. The financial and economic behavior of economic entities cannot be considered in isolation from their individual characteristics, behavioral factors, and the influence of the external environment. The identification of behavioral factors influencing financial and economic decision-making by economic entities in conditions of uncertainty was carried out in the following areas: consumer behavior of the population; entrepreneurial activity, credit and investment activity of economic entities. It was found that when making financial decisions, they are faced with an insufficient amount of information, limited possibilities of perceiving and processing information, the influence of stereotypes and emotions formed in society. It was revealed that during the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in the behavior of economic entities occurred due to the increase in the uncertainty factor. Conclusions. Behavioral factors of financial decision-making by subjects of the regional economy are systematized, with three components being singled out: cognitive biases, emotions, framing. It is proposed to reduce the influence of behavioral factors on financial and economic decision-making using such tools as discussion, alternative, collective discussion, nudge technology, group thinking management.
Mattei Dogan's affiliation with Romanian sociology (1990-2000)
Authors: Preda Cristian
Published: July 2022

The article reconstructs the mechanisms through which the work of the French scholar of Romanian origin, Mattei Dogan was brought to light in Romania after 1990 thanks to the efforts of the community of sociologists. Romanian sociologists used three methods to assimilate the author who is considered the founder of comparative political analysis and who left Romania immediately after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in sociology under Henri H. Stahl supervision: they translated Dogan’s articles and books, they made him a member of prestigious institutions and they included him in the post-communist effort to reclaim the legacy of the school founded by Dimitrie Gusti. To capture the institutional and editorial strategies that were used, I conducted interviews with several protagonists of the Romanian sociology renaissance movement. I also used epistolary resources, sociology and political science journals, press articles, as well as documents from the archives of the University of Bucharest and from the Mattei Dogan Foundation. The article shows the success of some methods and the failure of others. It also brings to light a text that was ignored in the studies and bibliographies that discuss the work of the scholar who was born in Roman in 1920 and who went by the name of Matei Pinsler until 1945 (Preda, 2020). This research paper is relevant for various reasons. Firstly, it complements not only the biography of Dogan, but also that of Henri H. Stahl. Furthermore, it highlights the trajectory of a discipline in a period of dissociation with the communist past while restoring the connections with the interwar period.
Is the Principal Leadership Style Related to Teacher Job Satisfaction: The Case of Arab Schools in Israel
Authors: Bsoul Tahreer
Published: July 2022

This article seeks to examine the link between each of the three principal leadership styles (transformative, transactional, and avoiding) and job satisfaction among Arab teachers in Israel. The study pursues quantitative analyses, based on data collected during 2020 from Arab-Israeli teachers via a questionnaire. The study found an expected positive link between the principal transformative style and teachers’ job satisfaction. Regarding the transactional style, when the principal rewards/penalizes a teacher, then that raises/reduces the teacher satisfaction, respectively. Finally, the avoiding leadership style has a negative impact on satisfaction, yet in some cases, teachers may value the freedom of action they enjoy under an avoiding style.
The influence of erotic capital on professional and social success
Authors: Benga Ioana Corina
Published: July 2022

The main objective of the study was to explore the theory of erotic capital created by Catherine Hakim (2011). Starting from her theory – which says that individuals with a high erotic capital have some advantages in life – I have analyzed both the construction process of the erotic capital and the advantages and disadvantages of this form of capital. In my research I was focused on the following aspects: identifying the components of erotic capital, analyzing the social construction of erotic capital, and identifying the role of erotic capital in the personal lives of respondents. I used a qualitative research method, the interview. The results I obtained are largely in consonance Hakim's theory of erotic capital, all its components were presented and commented on by the respondents. Another important aspect of the study comes from the new perspectives which emerged during the research. Apart from the components of the erotic capital proposed by Hakim, in my own research it was identified other essential elements of erotic capital such as: self-confidence, intelligence, sense of humor, love or ability to adapt to new situations. This research was an exploratory one, being the basis of future research.
The concept of habitus in migration studies. A systematic literature review
Authors: Radogna Rosa Maria
Published: July 2022

The concept of habitus has been used to investigate a wide range of social phenomena. Pierre Bourdieu himself applied it to different fields, such as the analysis of taste and lifestyle (Bourdieu, 2000), gender relations (Bourdieu, 2001), the field of literature production (Bourdieu, 1996), the educational system and the reproduction of inequalities (Bourdieu, & Passeron, 1979), to mention a few. However, the concept of habitus has only recently been applied to investigate migration phenomena. This systematic literature review aims to investigate the use of the concept of habitus in migration theory through the analysis of 38 studies selected in two scientific databases. In the first part, after the presentation of the concept of habitus and the description of methodological selection procedure, I will make a short overview of the use of the aforementioned concept applied to migration phenomena, using the following criteria: the year of publication, national contexts, categories of migrants. Then, I will proceed to the analysis following the meta-ethnography methodology.
Social Work in Rural Communities – Particularities, Perspectives, and Directions of Interventions
Authors: Rădăcină Oana-Elena
Published: July 2022

At the international level, specialists in social sciences pay more attention to rural communities. The need for social work is more prevalent in these communities because of the social inequalities and the low access to social services. This article explores rural social work, social problems, and intervention models. It is a qualitative study based on eleven interviews with the local authorities and specialists about families, schools, institutions, rural communities, and the efficiency of intervention methods. The research is focused on five Romanian rural communities from Transylvania. We consider that to improve the situations of these rural communities the first step is to identify their needs, then to provide specialised support services that correspond to those needs to prevent and solve individual, family, and community-level problems. The last part of this article presents the main intervention areas in rural localities for social inclusion of those disadvantaged – reducing risks, inequalities, and improving the quality of life of those living in the rural communities.
In Memoriam Traian Rotariu, emeritus university professor (12.02.1943-28.12.2021)
Authors: Raț Cristina
Published: July 2022

Traian Rotariu, emeritus professor of Sociology at the Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj, passed away on the 28th of December 2021. He left behind an outstanding oeuvre in sociology, quantitative social research, and demography, as well as a legacy of institution-building that materialized in the creation of the Faculty of Sociology and Social Work at the Babeș-Bolyai University in 2001 and of the Centre for Population Studies, at the same university, in 2002. He served as editor and later as advisory board member of Studia Sociologia and the Romanian Journal of Population Studies.
Social realities and public policies in Romania. Romanian Academy Publishing House, Bucharest, 2021. Cristina Otovescu
Authors: Raiu Sergiu-Lucian
Published: July 2022

This volume provides relevant and systematic information on the evolution of Romanian society from the establishment of the Romanian state as a nation to the present day from a political, economic and social perspective, highlighting through statistics the situation of the country compared to other states. The paper summarizes key aspects of the structure and dynamics of the Romanian population, provides a diagnosis of public health and the medical system in Romania compared to other European Union countries. Professor Dr. Maria Cristina Otovescu from the University of Craiova, Faculty of Law, looks at the manifestation of the pandemic in various countries around the world in terms of public policies in emergencies and crises and presents in a concise manner the response of the authorities and the mobilization of the international community during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
Assessing PNDL: Romanian leaders in quest for the state-budget funds, Springer, Cham, Switzerland, 2021. Anca Monica Marin
Authors: Pop Alina
Published: July 2022

This book contains a thorough analysis of the way state-budged funds were distributed by the Romanian government during 2017-2020 through The National Program for Local Development (PNDL), the largest state-funded development program, not devoid of controversies. At the intersection of sociology, public administration and public finance, the analysis offers a valuable tool for understanding how the complex funding environment operates at different levels of public administration in Romania.
Recognizing Post-Castration Pain in Piglets: A Survey of Swine Industry Stakeholders and the General Public
Authors: Neary Jessica M. , Porter Nathaniel D. , Viscardi Abbie V. , Jacobs Leonie
Published: July 2022

We need validated, practical methods for pain assessment in piglets. Pain assessment can help researchers, veterinarians and industry professionals identify the need for analgesia or other pain management approaches when applying painful procedures, such as surgical castration. A pain assessment tool, the Piglet Grimace Scale (PGS), was previously validated in this context, but it is not widely applied. It is important that the PGS can be applied by a range of people, not just pain assessment experts. Our objective was to study the validity and reliability of PGS ratings applied by swine industry professionals and the general public, to assess its potential utility in non-research applications. To do so, we conducted an online Qualtrics survey in which, after completing a brief online training module and a practice test, 119 respondents were asked to rate 9 piglet images showing facial expressions immediately after surgical castration or sham-handling. Respondents were provided information on the castration treatment for each image and had continuous access to the scale throughout the survey. The survey also contained demographic questions. Industry respondents were recruited through networking, and participants from the general public were recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk. Four trained experts scored each image, and these scores were averaged to produce gold standard scores. Intraclass correlations indicated strong internal consistency among experts, industry and public. ANOVA demonstrated scoring to be moderately comparable between groups. Campbell and Fiske’s Multi-Trait Multi-Method framework provided qualified support for the internal validity and reliability of the PGS scale, even applied by non-experts (industry and public). Both response groups were able to recognize pain in castrated piglets. However, public respondents attributed higher levels of pain to sham-handled piglets than industry respondents (2.83 vs. 2.35; p=0.047), and both response groups systematically overestimated pain experience compared to the experts, suggesting more training may be necessary before using the scale in a diagnostic capacity. Nevertheless, overall findings support wide applicability of PGS, even with minimal training, to improve awareness, recognition and monitoring of swine pain among veterinarians, industry professionals and even members of the public.
microTrait: A Toolset for a Trait-Based Representation of Microbial Genomes
Authors: Karaoz Ulas , Brodie Eoin L.
Published: July 2022

Remote sensing approaches have revolutionized the study of macroorganisms, allowing theories of population and community ecology to be tested across increasingly larger scales without much compromise in resolution of biological complexity. In microbial ecology, our remote window into the ecology of microorganisms is through the lens of genome sequencing. For microbial organisms, recent evidence from genomes recovered from metagenomic samples corroborate a highly complex view of their metabolic diversity and other associated traits which map into high physiological complexity. Regardless, during the first decades of this omics era, microbial ecological research has primarily focused on taxa and functional genes as ecological units, favoring breadth of coverage over resolution of biological complexity manifested as physiological diversity. Recently, the rate at which provisional draft genomes are generated has increased substantially, giving new insights into ecological processes and interactions. From a genotype perspective, the wide availability of genome-centric data requires new data synthesis approaches that place organismal genomes center stage in the study of environmental roles and functional performance. Extraction of ecologically relevant traits from microbial genomes will be essential to the future of microbial ecological research. Here, we present microTrait, a computational pipeline that infers and distills ecologically relevant traits from microbial genome sequences. microTrait maps a genome sequence into a trait space, including discrete and continuous traits, as well as simple and composite. Traits are inferred from genes and pathways representing energetic, resource acquisition, and stress tolerance mechanisms, while genome-wide signatures are used to infer composite, or life history, traits of microorganisms. This approach is extensible to any microbial habitat, although we provide initial examples of this approach with reference to soil microbiomes.
Development, In-Vitro Characterization and In-Vivo Osteoinductive Efficacy of a Novel Biomimetically-Precipitated Nanocrystalline Calcium Phosphate With Internally-Incorporated Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2
Authors: Xu Gaoli , Shen Chenxi , Lin Haiyan , Zhou Jian , Wang Ting , Wan Ben , Binshabaib Munerah , Forouzanfar Tymour , Xu Guochao , Alharbi Nawal , Wu Gang
Published: July 2022

The repair of large-volume bone defects (LVBDs) remains a great challenge in the fields of orthopedics and maxillofacial surgery. Most clinically available bone-defect-filling materials lack proper degradability and efficient osteoinductivity. In this study, we synthesized a novel biomimetically-precipitated nanocrystalline calcium phosphate (BpNcCaP) with internally incorporated bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BpNcCaP + BMP-2) with an aim to develop properly degradable and highly osteoinductive granules to repair LVBDs. We first characterized the physicochemical properties of the granules with different incorporation amounts of BMP-2 using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. We evaluated the cytotoxicity and cytocompatibility of BpNcCaP by assessing the viability and adhesion of MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts using PrestoBlue assay, Rhodamine-Phalloidin and DAPI staining, respectively. We further assessed the in-vivo osteoinductive efficacy in a subcutaneous bone induction model in rats. In-vitro characterization data showed that the BpNcCaP + BMP-2 granules were comprised of hexagonal hydroxyapatite with an average crystallite size ranging from 19.7 to 25.1 nm and a grain size at 84.13 ± 28.46 nm. The vickers hardness of BpNcCaP was 32.50 ± 3.58 HV 0.025. BpNcCaP showed no obvious cytotoxicity and was favorable for the adhesion of pre-osteoblasts. BMP-2 incorporation rate could be as high as 65.04 ± 6.01%. In-vivo histomorphometric analysis showed that the volume of new bone induced by BpNcCaP exhibited a BMP-2 amount-dependent increasing manner. The BpNcCaP+50 μg BMP-2 exhibited significantly more degradation and fewer foreign body giant cells in comparison with BpNcCaP. These data suggested a promising application potential of BpNcCaP + BMP-2 in repairing LVBDs.
Feasible Cluster Model Method for Simulating the Redox Potentials of Laccase CueO and Its Variant
Authors: Jiang Qixuan , Cui Ziheng , Wei Ren , Nie Kaili , Xu Haijun , Liu Luo
Published: July 2022

Laccases are regarded as versatile green biocatalysts, and recent scientific research has focused on improving their redox potential for broader industrial and environmental applications. The density functional theory (DFT) quantum mechanics approach, sufficiently rigorous and efficient for the calculation of electronic structures, is conducted to better comprehend the connection between the redox potential and the atomic structural feature of laccases. According to the crystal structure of wild type laccase CueO and its variant, a truncated miniature cluster model method was established in this research. On the basic of thermodynamic cycle, the overall Gibbs free energy variations before and after the one-electron reduction were calculated. It turned out that the trends of redox potentials to increase after variant predicted by the theoretical calculations correlated well with those obtained by experiments, thereby validating the feasibility of this cluster model method for simulating the redox potentials of laccases.
Finite element analysis of different fixation methods of screws on absorbable plate for rib fractures
Authors: Xue Hang , Zhang Zhenhe , Liu Mengfei , Lin Ze , Endo Yori , Liu Guodong , Mi Bobin , Zhou Wu , Liu Guohui
Published: July 2022

Multiple rib fractures caused by trauma are common injuries and the internal fixation methods of these injuries have been paid more and more attention by surgeons. Absorbable plates and screws are the effective way to treat rib fractures, but there are no reports on which type of screw fixation method is most effective. In this study, finite element analysis was used to study the effects of five different types of screw fixation methods on anterior rib, lateral rib and posterior rib. The finite element model of the ribs was reconstructed from CT images, and the internal pressure (40 kPa) and intercostal force (30 N) on the surfaces of the ribs were simulated accordingly. An intercostal force of 30 N was applied to the upper and lower surfaces of the ribs to simulate the effect of intercostal muscle force. The pressure of 40 kPa was applied to the inner surface of the ribs, and the normal direction was applied to the inner surface of the ribs. The positive direction was considered inspiratory pressure, and the negative direction was considered expiratory pressure. The results indicate the optimal type of screw fixation on the absorbable plate for rib fractures, and provide a basis and reference for clinical application.
Regulation and Function of Chemokines at the Maternal–Fetal Interface
Authors: Zhang Sainan , Ding Jinli , Zhang Yan , Liu Su , Yang Jing , Yin Tailang
Published: July 2022

Successful pregnancy requires the maternal immune system to tolerate the semi-allogeneic embryo. A good trophoblast function is also essential for successful embryo implantation and subsequent placental development. Chemokines are initially described in recruiting leukocytes. There are rich chemokines and chemokine receptor system at the maternal–fetal interface. Numerous studies have reported that they not only regulate trophoblast biological behaviors but also participate in the decidual immune response. At the same time, the chemokine system builds an important communication network between fetally derived trophoblast cells and maternally derived decidual cells. However, abnormal functions of chemokines or chemokine receptors are involved in a series of pregnancy complications. As growing evidence points to the roles of chemokines in pregnancy, there is a great need to summarize the available data on this topic. This review aimed to describe the recent research progress on the regulation and function of the main chemokines in pregnancy at the maternal–fetal interface. In addition, we also discussed the potential relationship between chemokines and pregnancy complications.
Mechanisms of Anergic Inflammatory Response in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells Despite Ubiquitous Constitutive NF-κB Activation
Authors: Zhou Xiaoying , Matskova Liudmila , Zheng Shixing , Wang Xiaoxia , Wang Yifang , Xiao Xue , Mo Yingxi , Wölke Marleen , Li Limei , Zheng Qian , Huang Guangwu , Zhang Zhe , Ernberg Ingemar
Published: July 2022

Commensal microbes cross talk with their colonized mucosa. We show that microbes and their cell wall components induce an inflammatory response in cultured human mucosal cells derived from the nonmalignant nasopharyngeal epithelium (NNE) cells in vitro. NNE cells show significant induction of NF-κB with nuclear shuttling and inflammatory gene response when exposed to Gram-positive bacteria (streptococci) or peptidoglycan (PGN), a component of the Gram-positive bacterial cell wall. This response is abrogated in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC)–derived cell lines. The inflammatory response induced by NF-κB signaling was blocked at two levels in the tumor-derived cells. We found that NF-κB was largely trapped in lipid droplets (LDs) in the cytoplasm of the NPC-derived cells, while the increased expression of lysine-specific histone demethylase 1 (LSD1, a repressive nuclear factor) reduces the response mediated by remaining NF-κB at the promoters responding to inflammatory stimuli. This refractory response in NPC cells might be a consequence of long-term exposure to microbes in vivo during carcinogenic progression. It may contribute to the decreased antitumor immune responses in NPC, among others despite heavy T-helper cell infiltration, and thus facilitate tumor progression.
The Anti-Leukemia Effect of Ascorbic Acid: From the Pro-Oxidant Potential to the Epigenetic Role in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Travaglini S. , Gurnari C. , Antonelli S. , Silvestrini G. , Noguera N. I. , Ottone T. , Voso M. T.
Published: July 2022

Data derived from high-throughput sequencing technologies have allowed a deeper understanding of the molecular landscape of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), paving the way for the development of novel therapeutic options, with a higher efficacy and a lower toxicity than conventional chemotherapy. In the antileukemia drug development scenario, ascorbic acid, a natural compound also known as Vitamin C, has emerged for its potential anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic activities on leukemic cells. However, the role of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in the treatment of AML has been debated for decades. Mechanistic insight into its role in many biological processes and, especially, in epigenetic regulation has provided the rationale for the use of this agent as a novel anti-leukemia therapy in AML. Acting as a co-factor for 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases (2-OGDDs), ascorbic acid is involved in the epigenetic regulations through the control of TET (ten-eleven translocation) enzymes, epigenetic master regulators with a critical role in aberrant hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis. In line with this discovery, great interest has been emerging for the clinical testing of this drug targeting leukemia epigenome. Besides its role in epigenetics, ascorbic acid is also a pivotal regulator of many physiological processes in human, particularly in the antioxidant cellular response, being able to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) to prevent DNA damage and other effects involved in cancer transformation. Thus, for this wide spectrum of biological activities, ascorbic acid possesses some pharmacologic properties attractive for anti-leukemia therapy. The present review outlines the evidence and mechanism of ascorbic acid in leukemogenesis and its therapeutic potential in AML. With the growing evidence derived from the literature on situations in which the use of ascorbate may be beneficial in vitro and in vivo, we will finally discuss how these insights could be included into the rational design of future clinical trials.
Human mesenchymal amniotic fluid stem cells reveal an unexpected neuronal potential differentiating into functional spinal motor neurons
Authors: Gaggi Giulia , Di Credico Andrea , Guarnieri Simone , Mariggiò Maria Addolorata , Di Baldassarre Angela , Ghinassi Barbara
Published: July 2022

Human amniotic fluids stem cells (hAFSCs) can be easily isolated from the amniotic fluid during routinely scheduled amniocentesis. Unlike hiPSCs or hESC, they are neither tumorigenic nor immunogenic and their use does not rise ethical or safety issues: for these reasons they may represent a good candidate for the regenerative medicine. hAFSCs are generally considered multipotent and committed towards the mesodermal lineages; however, they express many pluripotent markers and share some epigenetic features with hiPSCs. Hence, we hypothesized that hAFSCs may overcome their mesodermal commitment differentiating into to ectodermal lineages. Here we demonstrated that by the sequential exposure to specific factors, hAFSCs can give rise to spinal motor neurons (MNs), as evidenced by the gradual gene and protein upregulation of early and late MN markers (PAX6, ISL1, HB9, NF-L, vAChT). When co-cultured with myotubes, hAFSCs-derived MNs were able to create functional neuromuscular junctions that induced robust skeletal muscle contractions. These data demonstrated the hAFSCs are not restricted to mesodermal commitment and can generate functional MNs thus outlining an ethically acceptable strategy for the study and treatment of the neurodegenerative diseases.
Glycometabolism-related gene signature of hepatocellular carcinoma predicts prognosis and guides immunotherapy
Authors: Yu Lihua , Liu Xiaoli , Wang Xinhui , Yan Huiwen , Pu Qing , Xie Yuqing , Du Juan , Yang Zhiyun
Published: July 2022

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a severe cancer endangering human health. We constructed a novel glycometabolism-related risk score to predict prognosis and immunotherapy strategies in HCC patients. The HCC data sets were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and the glycometabolism-related gene sets were obtained from the Molecular Signature Database. The least absolute contraction and selection operator (LASSO) regression model was used to construct a risk score based on glycometabolism-related genes. A simple visual nomogram model with clinical indicators was constructed and its effectiveness in calibration, accuracy, and clinical value was evaluated. We also explored the correlation between glycometabolism-related risk scores and molecular pathways, immune cells, and functions. Patients in the low-risk group responded better to anti-CTLA-4 immune checkpoint treatment and benefited from immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. The study found that glycometabolism-related risk score can effectively distinguish the prognosis, molecular and immune-related characteristics of HCC patients, and may provide a new strategy for individualized treatment.
Two Kinesin-14A Motors Oligomerize to Drive Poleward Microtubule Convergence for Acentrosomal Spindle Morphogenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Hotta Takashi , Lee Yuh-Ru Julie , Higaki Takumi , Hashimoto Takashi , Liu Bo
Published: July 2022

Plant cells form acentrosomal spindles with microtubules (MTs) converged toward two structurally undefined poles by employing MT minus end-directed Kinesin-14 motors. To date, it is unclear whether the convergent bipolar MT array assumes unified poles in plant spindles, and if so, how such a goal is achieved. Among six classes of Kinesin-14 motors in Arabidopsis thaliana, the Kinesin-14A motors ATK1 (KatA) and ATK5 share the essential function in spindle morphogenesis. To understand how the two functionally redundant Kinesin-14A motors contributed to the spindle assembly, we had ATK1-GFP and ATK5-GFP fusion proteins expressed in their corresponding null mutants and found that they were functionally comparable to their native forms. Although ATK1 was a nuclear protein and ATK5 cytoplasmic prior to nuclear envelop breakdown, at later mitotic stages, the two motors shared similar localization patterns of uniform association with both spindle and phragmoplast MTs. We found that ATK1 and ATK5 were rapidly concentrated toward unified polar foci when cells were under hyperosmotic conditions. Concomitantly, spindle poles became perfectly focused as if there were centrosome-like MT-organizing centers where ATK1 and ATK5 were highly enriched and at which kinetochore fibers pointed. The separation of ATK1/ATK5-highlighted MTs from those of kinetochore fibers suggested that the motors translocated interpolar MTs. Our protein purification and live-cell imaging results showed that ATK1 and ATK5 are associated with each other in vivo. The stress-induced spindle pole convergence was also accompanied by poleward accumulation of the MT nucleator γ-tubulin. These results led to the conclusion that the two Kinesin-14A motors formed oligomeric motor complexes that drove MT translocation toward the spindle pole to establish acentrosomal spindles with convergent poles.
New insights into the evolutionary dynamic and lineage divergence of gasdermin E in metazoa
Authors: Yuan Zihao , Jiang Shuai , Qin Kunpeng , Sun Li
Published: July 2022

Gasdermin (GSDM) is a family of pore-forming proteins that induce pyroptosis. To date, the origin and evolution of GSDM in Metazoa remain elusive. Here, we found that GSDM emerged early in Placozoa but is absent in a large number of invertebrates. In the lower vertebrate, fish, three types of GSDME, i.e., GSDMEa, GSDMEb, and a previously unreported type (designated GSDMEc), were idenitied. Evolutionarily, the three GSDMEs are distinctly separated: GSDMEa is closely related to tetrapod GSDME; GSDMEb exists exclusively in fish; GSDMEc forms the lineage root of tetrapod GSDMA/B/C/D. GSDMEc shares conserved genomic features with and is probably the prototype of GSDMA, which we found existing in all tetrapod classes. GSDMEc displays fast evolutionary dynamics, likely as a result of genomic transposition. A cross-metazoan analysis of GSDME revealed that GSDMEa shares a conserved caspase recognition motif with the GSDME of tetrapods and cnidarians, whereas GSDMEb has a unique caspase recognition motif similar to that of mammalian GSDMD, and GSDMEc exhibits no apparent caspase recognition motif. Through functional test, four highly conserved residues in vertebrate GSDME proved to be essential to auto-inhibition. Together our results provide new insights into the origin, evolution, and function of metazoan GSDMs.
Discovery of BRAF/HDAC Dual Inhibitors Suppressing Proliferation of Human Colorectal Cancer Cells
Authors: Li Yingjun , Huang Yongjun , Cheng Huimin , Xu Fang , Qi Ruxi , Dai Botao , Yang Yujian , Tu Zhengchao , Peng Lijie , Zhang Zhang
Published: July 2022

The combination of histone deacetylase inhibitor and BRAF inhibitor (BRAFi) has been shown to enhance the antineoplastic effect and reduce the progress of BRAFi resistance. In this study, a series of (thiazol-5-yl)pyrimidin-2-yl)amino)-N-hydroxyalkanamide derivatives were designed and synthesized as novel dual inhibitors of BRAF and HDACs using a pharmacophore hybrid strategy. In particular, compound 14b possessed potent activities against BRAF, HDAC1, and HDAC6 enzymes. It potently suppressed the proliferation of HT-29 cells harboring BRAFV600E mutation as well as HCT116 cells with wild-type BRAF. The dual inhibition against BRAF and HDAC downstream proteins was validated in both cells. Collectively, the results support 14b as a promising lead molecule for further development and a useful tool for studying the effects of BRAF/HDAC dual inhibitors.
Recent Advances in Cartesian-Grid DFT in Atoms and Molecules
Authors: Majumdar Sangita , Roy Amlan K.
Published: July 2022

In the past several decades, density functional theory (DFT) has evolved as a leading player across a dazzling variety of fields, from organic chemistry to condensed matter physics. The simple conceptual framework and computational elegance are the underlying driver for this. This article reviews some of the recent developments that have taken place in our laboratory in the past 5 years. Efforts are made to validate a viable alternative for DFT calculations for small to medium systems through a Cartesian coordinate grid- (CCG-) based pseudopotential Kohn–Sham (KS) DFT framework using LCAO-MO ansatz. In order to legitimize its suitability and efficacy, at first, electric response properties, such as dipole moment (μ), static dipole polarizability (α), and first hyperpolarizability (β), are calculated. Next, we present a purely numerical approach in CCG for proficient computation of exact exchange density contribution in certain types of orbital-dependent density functionals. A Fourier convolution theorem combined with a range-separated Coulomb interaction kernel is invoked. This takes motivation from a semi-numerical algorithm, where the rate-deciding factor is the evaluation of electrostatic potential. Its success further leads to a systematic self-consistent approach from first principles, which is desirable in the development of optimally tuned range-separated hybrid and hyper functionals. Next, we discuss a simple, alternative time-independent DFT procedure, for computation of single-particle excitation energies, by means of “adiabatic connection theorem” and virial theorem. Optical gaps in organic chromophores, dyes, linear/non-linear PAHs, and charge transfer complexes are faithfully reproduced. In short, CCG-DFT is shown to be a successful route for various practical applications in electronic systems.
Design, Synthesis, and Biological Activity of Novel Chalcone Derivatives Containing an 1,2,4-Oxadiazole Moiety
Authors: Luo Ling , Liu Dan , Lan Shichao , Gan Xiuhai
Published: July 2022

To discover a lead compound for agricultural use, 34 novel chalcone derivatives containing an 1,2,4-oxadiazole moiety were designed and synthesized. Their nematocidal activities against Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, Aphelenchoides besseyi, and Ditylenchus dipsaci and their antiviral activities against tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV), and tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) were evaluated. Biological assay results indicate that compounds A13 and A14 showed good nematocidal activities against B. xylophilus, A. besseyi, and D. dipsaci, with LC50 values of 35.5, 44.7, and 30.2 μg/ml and 31.8, 47.4, and 36.5 μg/ml, respectively, which are better than tioxazafen, fosthiazate, and abamectin. Furthermore, compound A16 demonstrated excellent protective activity against TMV, PMMoV, and TSWV, with EC50 values of 210.4, 156.2, and 178.2 μg/ml, respectively, which are superior to ningnanmycin (242.6, 218.4, and 180.5 μg/ml).
Comparison on Bioactivities and Characteristics of Polysaccharides From Four Varieties of Gastrodia elata Blume
Authors: Ji Ning , Liu Peng , Zhang Ni , Yang Shengyan , Zhang Mingsheng
Published: July 2022

The composition, physicochemical properties, in vitro biological activity, and hypoglycemic activity exhibited by polysaccharides from four varieties of G. elata were investigated in this study; the four extracted GaE polysaccharides were termed as GaE-B (G. elata Bl. f. glauca S. chow polysaccharides), GaE-R (G. elata Bl. f. elata polysaccharides), GaE-Hyb (hybridization of G. elata Bl. f. glauca S. chow and G. elata Bl. f. elata polysaccharides), and GaE-G (G. elata Bl. f. viridis Makino polysaccharides). As revealed by the results, the GaE polysaccharides were found with the same monosaccharide composition, primarily including glucose, whereas the content of each variety was significantly different. In addition, different degrees of differences were found in the in vitro antioxidant and hypoglycemic activity, molecular weight, yield, and chemical composition exhibited by the abovementioned varieties. However, GaE-B and GaE-Hyb were found with similar physical properties, chemical composition, and antioxidant and hypoglycemic activity. GaE-R had the lowest yield, total sugar content, and molecular weight, whereas it involved higher xylose, binding protein, and polyphenols as well as higher antioxidant and hypoglycemic activity. In contrast, GaE-G was found with the highest yield, total sugar content, and molecular weight, whereas it contained the lowest xylose, binding protein, and polyphenols, as well as the weakest antioxidant and hypoglycemic activity. In brief, the polysaccharide of G. elata, a plant resource for homology of medicine and food, could more significantly enhance the biological activity of G. elata as it was released in the process of decocting and stewing. To be specific, the assessment of polysaccharide activity alone suggested that GaE-R was the best.