bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Home Factors leading to the Development of Allergic Rhinitis in Children in Guangzhou, Southern China
Authors: Jie Zhong , Li Liu , Renzhong Luo , Zhenyun Huang , Changzhi Sun
Published: February 2022

Objective: To analyse home factors leading to the development of Allergic Rhinitis (hereafter referred to as "AR") in children in Guangzhou, Southern China. Methods: We selected children with a history of AR who attended the Otolaryngology Clinic of Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center from January 2020 to August 2020 to complete the "Home Environment Questionnaire for Children with Allergic Rhinitis" using an internet survey as well as telephone enquiries. We selected children who developed AR episodes during these 8 months as the case group and children who did not develop AR episodes as the control group to analyse independent influencing factors of home living environment leading to the development of AR in Children in Guangzhou. Results: We completed a total of 667 questionnaires from parents of children with AR, and 644 questionnaires were validly returned, with a valid return rate of 96.55%. There were 317 cases in the case group and 327 cases in the control group. Keeping pets, parents' smoking habits, bedroom orientation, living floor, frequency of plush toy cleaning, frequency of air conditioner cleaning, and frequency of bedding cleaning are all independent influencing factors of home environment leading to the development of AR in Children in Guangzhou (OR=3.618, 3.815, 7.576, 1.035, 4.030, 7.838, 5.971, P<0.05). Conclusions: A number of factors, inclusive of keeping pets, are all factors of home living environment leading to the development of AR in Children in Guangzhou, some of which require effective intervention, with particular attention to mites removal.
Effects of frequency-dependent spatial variation in soundscape settlement cues for reef fish larvae
Authors: Salas AK , Ballard MS , Mooney TA , Wilson PS
Published: February 2022

The mechanisms that link reef soundscapes to larval fish settlement behaviors are poorly understood, yet the management of threatened reef communities requires we maintain the recruitment processes that recover and sustain populations. Using a field-calibrated sound propagation model, we predicted the transmission loss in the relevant frequency band as a function of range, depth, and azimuth to estimate the spatial heterogeneity in the acoustic cuescape. The model highlighted the frequency- and depth-dependence of the sound fields fishes may encounter, and we predict these complex spatial patterns influence how sounds function as settlement cues. Both modeling and field measurements supported a non-monotonic decline in amplitude with distance from the reef. We modeled acoustic fields created by sounds at frequencies from 2 common soniferous reef-based animals (snapping shrimps and toadfish) and estimated detection spaces of these sounds for larvae of 2 reef fish species. Results demonstrated that larval depth will influence cue availability and amplitude, and these spatial patterns of detection depend on cue frequency and the larval receiver’s auditory sensitivity. Estimated spatial scales of detection coupled with field measurements suggest cue amplitudes might allow some larvae to detect reef-based sounds at a range exposing them to the predicted spatial variation in the acoustic cuescape. In an individual-based model, cues available to even the shortest modeled distances improved settlement success. Our results emphasize the need to consider the frequency- and depth-dependence of the acoustic cues larval fishes encounter to increase understanding of the role of soundscapes in larval settlement.
DESAIN DAN VALIDASI BUKU CERITA BERGAMBAR MEMBACA DINI BERBASIS KEARIFAN LOKAL SUMATERA SELATAN
Authors: Samaya Doni
Published: February 2022

Abstract :The purpose of this study was to describe the need for books, book design, and picture book validation of early reading based on local wisdom of South Sumatra according to parents and teachers at the research location. The method in this research is research and development (Research and Development) based on the Puskurbuk Kemendikbud (2018) and the modified Borg and Gall development steps by Sugiyono (2016). This research was conducted at Mama Shafirdha Kindergarten, which is located at Jalan Karya Jaya Housing Griya Sako Asri Blok C Number 1 Lebung Gajah Village, Sematang Borang District, Palembang. The research subjects in this study were 35 parents / guardians of students and 5 teachers. Based on the results of research and discussion, it is known that teachers and guardians / parents of students need teaching materials in the form of picture story books based on local wisdom of South Sumatra. In addition, this book developed is suitable for use on toddlers and kindergarten students with a validity score of 3.8 which is categorized as very valid.

 

Keywords:design, validation, early reading picture

 

Abstrak :Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mendeskripsikan kebutuhan buku, desain buku, dan validasi buku bergambar membaca dini berbasis kearifan lokal Sumatera Selatan menurut orang tua siswa dan guru di lokasi penelitian. Metode dalam penelitian ini adalah penelitian dan pengembangan (Research and Developmnet) dengan berpatokan pada Puskurbuk Kemendikbud (2018) dan langkah-langkah pengembangan Borg and Gall yang dimodifikasi Sugiyono (2016). Penelitian ini dilakukan di TK Mama Shafirdha Kelurahan Lebung Gajah Kecamatan Sematang Borang, Palembang.Subjek penelitian pada penelitian ini adalah 35 orang tua/ wali siswa dan 5 guru.Berdasarkan hasil penelitian dan pembahasan, diketahui bahwa guru dan wali/ orang tua siswa membutuhkan bahan ajar berupa buku cerita bergambar berbasis kearifan lokal Sumatera Selatan. Selain itu, buku hasil pengembangan ini layak digunakan pada balita dan siswa TK dengan skor validitas 3,8 yang berkategori sangat valid.

 

Kata kunci: desain, validasi, buku cerita bergambar
PENGEMBANGAN BUKU FABEL UNTUK MENANAMKAN NILAI KESANTUNAN SISWA SD DI DINDIK KORWIL PURWOKERTO UTARA
Authors: Mustikasari Dian , Purwani Rina
Published: February 2022

Penelitian ini menggunakan pengembangan yaitu research and development (R&D) dan dilakukan di SD Dindik Korwil Purwokerto Utara Kabupaten Banyumas yaitu SD 1 Purwanegara, SD 4 Bancarkembar, dan SD 2 Purwanegara. Tujuan penelitian adalah dapat menghasilkan model buku cerita fabel yang memuat unsur kesantunan siswa SD dan mengetahui karakteristik buku cerita fabel untuk menanamkan nilai kesantunan bagi siswa SD. Produk telah di uji cobakan kepada siswa di kelas dan uji coba terbatas tersebut diberikan kepada 70 siswa dari tiga SD. Hasilnya buku cerita fabel ini berfungsi sebagai sumber belajar yang efektif bagi siswa. Dibuktikan dengan pencapaian skor nilai rata-rata siswa pada tes awal adalah 59,93 dan nilai rata-rata siswa pada tes akhir adalah 82,29. Berdasarkan analisis uji t sebesar 15,911 dengan tingkat signifikansi 0,000 dan derajat kebebasan 69 dengan taraf kepercayaan 95. Jadi terdapat perbedaan signifikan antara rata-rata nilai siswa sebelum dan sesudah menggunakan buku cerita fabel yang memuat nilai kesantunan.
Pancasila and Rukun Negara: A Relation of Identity, State, and Nationalism in Indonesia and Malaysia
Authors: Dwijayanto Arik , Multazam Dawam
Published: February 2022

This article will elaborate on Indonesia’s Pancasila and Malaysia’s Rukun Negara, the state base for both neighbouring Southeast Asian countries. Concerning the relation between identity, State, and nationalism through a literature study approach, this article found that the socio-historical setting of the birth of Pancasila and Rukun Negara influences the process of identity formation and the spirit of nationalism in both countries. Besides, the success of the two ideologies of the State in shaping the identity and spirit of nationalism is supported by the representation of structural and cultural elites. Furthermore, the manifestation of Pancasila and Rukun Negara is done in various fields to become the way of life of Indonesian and Malaysian society, which finally become the amplifier of awareness in shaping nationalism identity and spirit of nationalism in both countries. Finally, taking into account a wide range of issues to be faced by both countries, this article suggests that Pancasila and Rukun Negara can eventually become a national identity and a spirit in shaping the nationalism of citizens in Indonesia and Malaysia.
Examining the Link Between Information Technology Utilization, Work-Family Conflict, Commitment and Employee Performance
Authors: Maulidina Akmal , Hidayah Zainur , Maharani Anita
Published: February 2022

This study analyzes the link between information technology utilization, work-family conflict, commitment, and employee performance. As this research targeting explorations, the total sample receive is 104 data, out of 210 samples targeted. The target of respondents is employees work in institution implementing work from home. The collected research data is still acceptable because the rate-of-returned questionnaire is> 80%. The research hypothesis testing carries out using the Structural Equation Model (SEM) approach based on Partial Least Square (PLS). From the results, employee’s utilization of information technology does not have a significant effect on commitment. However, this research contributes to the fact that employee performance influences the quality of work-family conflict and commitment.
Business Model Formulation of Social-Commerce Based Influencer on Instagram Platform
Authors: Bisma M. Ardhya , Pramudita Aditia Sovia
Published: February 2022

The growth of ICT in Indonesia has led to various new business models, one of which is the Influencer business model. Influencer is a business that focuses on generating opinions on a product or service. Influencers have become a trend in Indonesia, especially on the Instagram platform. Given that influencers are a new business model, there is still no standard business model in this industry. This study aims to map the social-commerce based influencer business model on the Instagram platform in Indonesia. This research is qualitative in nature. Data were collected by interviewing companies that have a focus on influencer and social-commerce business. Business model mapping is done using value chain analysis and business model canvas. Based on the research results, it is found that social-commerce based influencers must be able to divide their value propositions, channels, customer relationships, and consumer segments into two types, namely audiences and advertisers. This division of consumer types is very important in the social-commerce based influencer business considering influencers get revenue through advertisers and the power to influence audience to buy the endorsed product.
Characterization and Secretory Expression of a Thermostable Tannase from Aureobasidium melanogenum T9: Potential Candidate for Food and Agricultural Industries
Authors: Liu Lu , Guo Jing , Zhou Xue-Feng , Li Ze , Zhou Hai-Xiang , Song Wei-Qing
Published: February 2022

Being a key industrial enzyme, tannase is extensively applied in various fields. Despite the characterizations of a large number of tannases, there are hardly a few tannases with exceptional thermostability. In this detailed study, a tannase-encoding gene named tanA was identified from Aureobasidium melanogenum T9 and heterologously expressed in Yarrowia lipolytica host of food grade. The purified tannase TanA with a molecular weight of above 63.0 kDa displayed a specific activity of 941.4 U/mg. Moreover, TanA showed optimum activity at 60°C and pH 6.0. Interestingly, TanA exhibited up to 61.3% activity after incubation for 12 h at 55°C, signifying its thermophilic property and distinguished thermostability. Additionally, TanA was a multifunctional tannase with high specific activities to catalyze the degradation of various gallic acid esters. Therefore, this study presents a novel tannase, TanA, with remarkable properties, posing as a potential candidate for food and agricultural processing.
Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Coupled With Nanoparticle-Based Lateral Biosensor for Rapid, Sensitive, and Specific Detection of Bordetella pertussis
Authors: Sun Chunrong , Xiao Fei , Fu Jin , Huang Xiaolan , Jia Nan , Xu Zheng , Wang Yi , Cui Xiaodai
Published: February 2022

Bordetella pertussis is the most frequent causative agent for pertussis, which is a highly contagious disease. Here, we developed a method based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and nanoparticle-based lateral flow biosensor (LFB) for the timely diagnosis of B. pertussis infections. A set of six primers was designed for LAMP reactions, and the LAMP results were rapidly and visually indicated using LFB. The recommended condition for the B. pertussis LAMP reactions is 40 min at 66°C. Our results confirmed that the LAMP-LFB assay could specifically detect B. pertussis and did not cross-react with non-B. pertussis isolates. The sensitivity of the B. pertussis LAMP-LFB assay was 50 fg per reaction. In particular, 108 nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) samples were collected to evaluate the B. pertussis LAMP-LFB assay, and the results were compared with those of the quantitative PCR (qPCR) method. The positive rates of B. pertussis LAMP-LFB and qPCR were 40.7% and 38.8%, respectively, and the agreement between the LAMP-LFB and qPCR results was 98%, with a kappa value of 0.96. The whole process of LAMP-LFB can be completed within 1 h, which is much shorter than that of qPCR, including about 15 min of rapid DNA extraction, 40 min of LAMP reaction, and within 2 min of the LFB test. Collectively, the B. pertussis LAMP-LFB assay developed in this report offers a new option for the rapid, reliable, and simple diagnosis of B. pertussis infections.
Vasculogenic Potency of Bone Marrow- and Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells Results in Differing Vascular Network Phenotypes in a Microfluidic Chip
Authors: Mykuliak Anastasiia , Yrjänäinen Alma , Mäki Antti-Juhana , Gebraad Arjen , Lampela Ella , Kääriäinen Minna , Pakarinen Toni-Karri , Kallio Pasi , Miettinen Susanna , Vuorenpää Hanna
Published: February 2022

The vasculature is an essential, physiological element in virtually all human tissues. Formation of perfusable vasculature is therefore crucial for reliable tissue modeling. Three-dimensional vascular networks can be formed through the co-culture of endothelial cells (ECs) with stromal cells embedded in hydrogel. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) derived from bone marrow (BMSCs) and adipose tissue (ASCs) are an attractive choice as stromal cells due to their natural perivascular localization and ability to support formation of mature and stable microvessels in vitro. So far, BMSCs and ASCs have been compared as vasculature-supporting cells in static cultures. In this study, BMSCs and ASCs were co-cultured with endothelial cells in a fibrin hydrogel in a perfusable microfluidic chip. We demonstrated that using MSCs of different origin resulted in vascular networks with distinct phenotypes. Both types of MSCs supported formation of mature and interconnected microvascular networks-on-a-chip. However, BMSCs induced formation of fully perfusable microvasculature with larger vessel area and length whereas ASCs resulted in partially perfusable microvascular networks. Immunostainings revealed that BMSCs outperformed ASCs in pericytic characteristics. Moreover, co-culture with BMSCs resulted in significantly higher expression levels of endothelial and pericyte-specific genes, as well as genes involved in vasculature maturation. Overall, our study provides valuable knowledge on the properties of MSCs as vasculature-supporting cells and highlights the importance of choosing the application-specific stromal cell source for vascularized organotypic models.
Preparation and Characterization of Vancomycin Hydrochloride-Loaded Mesoporous Silica Composite Hydrogels
Authors: Sun Ming , Cheng Lidi , Xu Zexian , Chen Liqiang , Liu Yanshan , Xu Yaoxiang , Zhou Dongyang , Zhang Xiuxiu , Zhou Qihui , Sun Jian
Published: February 2022

This study aims to explore the feasibility of the novel temperature-sensitive hydrogel-based dual sustained-release system (Van/SBA-15/CS-GP-SA) in the repair and treatment of infectious jaw defects. Van/SBA-15 was prepared using the mesoporous silica (SBA-15) as a carrier for vancomycin hydrochloride (Van), and Van/SBA-15 was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), and Barrett–Joyner–Halenda (BJH). The characterization results confirm that Van is loaded in SBA-15 successfully. Van/SBA-15/CS-GP-SA is constructed by encapsulating Van/SBA-15 in chitosan–sodium glycerophosphate–sodium alginate hydrogel (CS-GP-SA). The microstructures, sustained-release ability, biocompatibility, and antibacterial properties of Van/SBA-15/CS-GP-SA were systematically studied. Van/SBA-15/CS-GP-SA is found to have promising sustained-release ability, outstanding biocompatibility, and excellent antibacterial properties. This study provides new ideas for the management of infectious jaw defects.
Anatomical Transcriptome Atlas of the Male Mouse Reproductive System During Aging
Authors: Huang Yanping , Li Xiangping , Sun Xiangzhou , Yao Jiahui , Gao Fengxin , Wang Zhenqing , Hu Jiaying , Wang Zhu , Ouyang Bin , Tu Xiangan , Zou Xuenong , Liu Wei , Lu Mujun , Deng Chunhua , Yang Qiyun , Xie Yun
Published: February 2022

The elderly males undergo degenerative fertility and testicular endocrine function that jeopardize the reproductive health and well-being. However, the mechanisms underlying reproductive aging are unclear. Here, we tried to address this by investigating the phenotypes and transcriptomes of seven regions of the male mouse reproductive tract: the testis, efferent ductules, initial segment, caput, corpus and cauda epididymidis, and vas deferens, in adult (3 months) and aged (21 months) mice. Quantitative PCR, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescent staining, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were performed for the analysis of gene expression in mice, human tissues, and semen samples. Aged male mice showed both systematic and reproductive changes, and remarkable histological changes were detected in the testis and proximal epididymis. Transcriptomes of the male reproductive tract were mapped, and a series of region-specific genes were identified and validated in mouse and/or human tissues, including Protamine 1 (Prm2), ADAM metallopeptidase domain 28 (Adam28), Ribonuclease A family member 13 (Rnase13), WAP four-disulfide core domain 13 (Wfdc13), andWfdc9. Meanwhile, age-related transcriptome changes of different regions of the male reproductive tract were characterized. Notably, increased immune response was functionally related to the male reproductive aging, especially the T cell activation. An immune response-associated factor, phospholipase A2 group IID (Pla2g2d), was identified as a potential biomarker for reproductive aging in mice. And the PLA2G2D level in human seminal plasma surged at approximately 35 years of age. Furthermore, we highlighted Protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type C (Ptprc), Lymphocyte protein tyrosine kinase (Lck), Microtubule associated protein tau (Mapt), and Interferon induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 3 (Ifit3) as critical molecules in the aging of initial segment, caput, caput, and cauda epididymidis, respectively. This study provides an RNA-seq resource for the male reproductive system during aging in mice, and is expected to improve our understanding of male reproductive aging and infertility.
Uncovering Hidden Mechanisms of Different Prescriptions Treatment for Osteoporosis via Novel Bioinformatics Model and Experiment Validation
Authors: Liu Yujie , Liu Qinwen , Yin Chuanhui , Li Yi , Wu Jie , Chen Quanlin , Yu Hailang , Lu Aiping , Guan Daogang
Published: February 2022

Osteoporosis (OP) is a systemic disease susceptible to fracture due to the decline of bone mineral density and bone mass, the destruction of bone tissue microstructure, and increased bone fragility. At present, the treatments of OP mainly include bisphosphonates, hormone therapy, and RANKL antibody therapy. However, these treatments have observable side effects and cannot fundamentally improve bone metabolism. Currently, the prescription of herbal medicine and their derived proprietary Chinese medicines are playing increasingly important roles in the treatment of OP due to their significant curative effects and few side effects. Among these prescriptions, Gushukang Granules (GSK), Xianling Gubao Capsules (XLGB), and Er-xian Decoction (EXD) are widely employed at the clinic on therapy of OP, which also is in line with the compatibility principle of “different treatments for the same disease” in herbal medicine. However, at present, the functional interpretation of “different treatments for the same disease” in herbal medicine still lacks systematic quantitative research, especially on the detection of key component groups and mechanisms. To solve this problem, we designed a new bioinformatics model based on random walk, optimized programming, and information gain to analyze the components and targets to figure out the Functional Response Motifs (FRMs) of different prescriptions for the therapy of OP. The distribution of high relevance score, the number of reported evidence, and coverage of enriched pathways were performed to verify the precision and reliability of FRMs. At the same time, the information gain and target influence of each component was calculated, and the key component groups in all FRMs of each prescription were screened to speculate the potential action mode of different prescriptions on the same disease. Results show that the relevance score and the number of reported evidence of high reliable genes in FRMs were higher than those of the pathogenic genes of OP. Furthermore, the gene enrichment pathways in FRMs could cover 79.6, 81, and 79.5% of the gene enrichment pathways in the component-target (C-T) network. Functional pathway enrichment analysis showed that GSK, XLGB, and EXD all treat OP through osteoclast differentiation (hsa04380), calcium signaling pathway (hsa04020), MAPK signaling pathway (hsa04010), and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway (hsa04151). Combined with experiments, the key component groups and the mechanism of “different treatments for the same disease” in the three prescriptions and proprietary Chinese medicines were verified. This study provides methodological references for the optimization and mechanism speculation of Chinese medicine prescriptions and proprietary Chinese medicines.
Anti-Diabetic Indole-Terpenoids From Penicillium sp. HFF16 Isolated From the Rhizosphere Soil of Cynanchum bungei Decne
Authors: Xiao Na , Xu Yiru , Zhang Xinru , Li Haonan , Zhang Shengnan , Xiao Ang , Yu Jinyi , Yang Mingtian , Lv Fujin , Zhang Mingyu , Hao Gangping , Chen Guotong , Zhou Liman , Kong Fandong , Pan Guojun
Published: February 2022

Finding novel anti-diabetic compounds with effective suppression activities against hepatic glucagon response is urgently required for the development of new drugs against diabetes. Fungi are well known for their ability to produce new bioactive secondary metabolites. As part of our ongoing research, five new indole-terpenoids (1–5), named encindolenes D-H, were isolated from the fungus Penicillium sp. HFF16 from the rhizosphere soil of Cynanchum bungei Decne. The structures of the compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic data and ECD analysis. In the anti-diabetic activity assay, compounds 1–5 could inhibit the hepatic glucose production with EC50 values of 17.6, 30.1, 21.3, 9.6, and 9.9 μM, respectively, and decrease the cAMP contents in glucagon-induced HepG2 cells.
Understanding the Greenhouse Gas Impact of Deforestation Fires in Indonesia and Brazil in 2019 and 2020
Authors: Datta Aparajita , Krishnamoorti Ramanan
Published: February 2022

Deforestation fires are hindering climate change mitigation efforts and compounding global environmental challenges. Indonesia and Brazil have experienced high rates of deforestation fires in recent years, with many of the fires burning in peatland-rich ecosystems. We quantify the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the 2019 and 2020 deforestation fires in both countries and determine the share of emissions originating from peatlands. Specifically, we use publicly available data for deforested area estimates and quantify the above-ground biomass (AGB), dry matter, and peat soil emissions associated with these fires. We find that the cumulative emissions impact from deforestation fires in Indonesia and Brazil was 3.7 (±0.4) and 1.9 (±0.2) Gt CO2eq in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Nearly half of this GHG impact can be attributed to emissions from peatlands. However, real-time monitoring tools can underestimate these emissions as fires in peatlands smolder underground and can go undetected by satellites. We compare our results with publicly available land-use and fire emissions data and find that the magnitude of underestimation is of the order of 200–300% for severe fire years and highest in the peatland-rich Brazilian Pantanal. We identify the gaps in current policies that are exacerbating the GHG and climate impacts of deforestation fires in Indonesia and Brazil and emphasize the need for regular pre- and post-fire ground measurement, transparent data sharing, and robust policy enforcement for effective forest and peatland protection.
Game Design, Gender and Personalities in Programming Education
Authors: Theodoropoulos Anastasios , Lepouras George
Published: February 2022

In a changing world programming learning is becoming more and more essential in education. And, there are many programming environments and teaching approaches that address the learning needs of students in CS education. A single programming tool or a method do not fit all students. Research has focused on gender differences and there is high interest in increasing female participation. Games and especially game-design tend to impact perceived usefulness of programming environments. Moreover, personality traits like cognitive style and emotional intelligence (EQ) seem to correlate with technology and achievement in programming. In this study, the effects of three different programming environments were investigated, in high school settings, by creating games and taking into account gender and personality characteristics. Three groups were formed, group A created games with Scratch, group B used App Inventor and made games for mobile devices, while group C created interactive stories-games with Alice 3D. This study was seeking to find possible biases based on gender, learning perception, usage and students' personalities between the three experimental conditions. One hundred and sixty three students aged 14–15 years old participated in the study, and data were collected through pre activity and post activity questionnaires. Results show different gender preferences for the three programming tools and, in some cases, different personalities (cognitive styles and EQ) have different learning preferences. Moreover, all programming environments had different emotional effects on the students. The study concludes with guidelines for programming learning environments that respect individual learning preferences and aim to maximize learning effectiveness.
Electrocardiogram-Based Heart Age Estimation by a Deep Learning Model Provides More Information on the Incidence of Cardiovascular Disorders
Authors: Chang Chiao-Hsiang , Lin Chin-Sheng , Luo Yu-Sheng , Lee Yung-Tsai , Lin Chin
Published: February 2022

Objective

The biological age progression of the heart varies from person to person. We developed a deep learning model (DLM) to predict the biological age via ECG to explore its contribution to future cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

Methods

There were 71,741 cases ranging from 20 to 80 years old recruited from the health examination center. The development set used 32,707 cases to train the DLM for estimating the ECG-age, and 8,295 cases were used as the tuning set. The validation set included 30,469 ECGs to follow the outcomes, including all-cause mortality, cardiovascular-cause mortality, heart failure (HF), diabetes mellitus (DM), chronic kidney disease (CKD), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), stroke (STK), coronary artery disease (CAD), atrial fibrillation (AF), and hypertension (HTN). Two independent external validation sets (SaMi-Trop and CODE15) were also used to validate our DLM.

Results

The mean absolute errors of chronologic age and ECG-age was 6.899 years (r = 0.822). The higher difference between ECG-age and chronological age was related to more comorbidities and abnormal ECG rhythm. The cases with the difference of more than 7 years had higher risk on the all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR): 1.61, 95% CI: 1.23–2.12], CV-cause mortality (HR: 3.49, 95% CI: 1.74–7.01), HF (HR: 2.79, 95% CI: 2.25–3.45), DM (HR: 1.70, 95% CI: 1.53–1.89), CKD (HR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.41–1.97), AMI (HR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.20–2.57), STK (HR: 1.65, 95% CI: 1.42–1.92), CAD (HR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.12–1.37), AF (HR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.86–3.04), and HTN (HR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.51–1.85). The external validation sets also validated that an ECG-age >7 years compare to chronologic age had 3.16-fold risk (95% CI: 1.72–5.78) and 1.59-fold risk (95% CI: 1.45–1.74) on all-cause mortality in SaMi-Trop and CODE15 cohorts. The ECG-age significantly contributed additional information on heart failure, stroke, coronary artery disease, and atrial fibrillation predictions after considering all the known risk factors.

Conclusions

The ECG-age estimated via DLM provides additional information for CVD incidence. Older ECG-age is correlated with not only on mortality but also on other CVDs compared with chronological age.
Total Arch Replacement With Frozen Elephant Trunk Using a NEW “Brain-Heart-First” Strategy for Acute DeBakey Type I Aortic Dissection Can Be Performed Under Mild Hypothermia (≥30°C) With Satisfactory Outcomes
Authors: Shen Kangjun , Tan Ling , Tang Hao , Zhou Xinmin , Xiao Jun , Xie Dongshu , Li Jingyu , Chen Yichuan
Published: February 2022

Background

Total arch replacement (TAR) with Frozen elephant trunk (FET) treatment of acute DeBakey type I aortic dissection (ADIAD) is complicated, carries a high complication/mortality risk and remains controversial on the optimal hypothermic level, cerebral perfusion and visceral organ protection strategy. We developed a new strategy named “Brain-Heart-first” in which the surgical procedures and the management of cardiac perfusion/cerebral protection during Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were redesigned, and TAR with FET technique can be performed under mild hypothermia with satisfactory outcomes.

Objective

Our aims were to describe a new surgical strategy under mild hypothermia (≥30°C) for the treatment of ADIAD and to report the operative outcomes of 215 patients.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 215 consecutive cases of ADIAD treated with our new strategy.

Results

The durations of CPB, aortic cross-clamping, antegrade cerebral perfusion, operation, mechanical ventilation support, and Intensive Care Unit stay were 139.7 ± 52.3 min, 55.6 ± 27.4 min, 14.1 ± 3.1 min, 6.0 ± 1.7 h, 40.0 h and 4.0 d, respectively. The 30-day mortality was 9.8%, with cerebral stroke occurring in nine patients (4.2%), paraplegia in one patient (0.5%) and postoperative renal injury requiring dialysis in 21 patients (9.8%). The blood transfusion of red blood cells and fresh frozen plasma during surgery and the first 24 h after surgery was 4.0 u and 200.0 ml, respectively.

Conclusions

The Brain-Heart-first strategy can be widely used with low technical and resource requirements and provides a safe alternative for conventional TAR with FET technique in ADIAD patients with satisfactory operative results.
Prognostic Role of Neutrophil to High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Ratio for All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality in the General Population
Authors: Jiang Ming , Sun Jinyu , Zou Huayiyang , Li Menghuan , Su Zhenyang , Sun Wei , Kong Xiangqing
Published: February 2022

Background

Neutrophil counts to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHR), a composite marker of inflammation and lipid metabolism, has been considered as a predictor of clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke and acute myocardial infarction. However, the predictive value of NHR for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the general population remains unclear.

Methods

Our study population comprised 34,335 adults in the United States obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (1999–2014) and were grouped in accordance with tertiles of NHR. Kaplan–Meier curves and log-rank test were used to investigate the differences of survival among groups. Multivariate Cox regression, restricted cubic spline analysis, and subgroup analysis were applied to explore the relationship of NHR with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.

Results

The mean age of the study cohort was 49.6 ± 18.2 years and 48.4% were men. During a median follow-up of 82 months, 4,310 (12.6%) all-cause deaths and 754 (2.2%) cardiovascular deaths occurred. In a fully-adjusted Cox regression model, participants in the highest tertile had 29% higher hazard of all-cause mortality than those in the lowest tertile [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.19–1.41]. For cardiovascular mortality, the continuously increased HR with 95% CIs among participants in the middle and highest tertile were 1.30 (1.06–1.59) and 1.44 (1.17–1.78), respectively. The restricted cubic spline curve indicated that NHR had a non-linear association with all-cause mortality (p for non-linearity < 0.001) and a linear association with cardiovascular mortality (p for non-linearity = 0.553).

Conclusion

Increased NHR was a strong and independent predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the general population.
The Applications of Single-Cell RNA Sequencing in Atherosclerotic Disease
Authors: Slenders Lotte , Tessels Daniëlle E. , van der Laan Sander W. , Pasterkamp Gerard , Mokry Michal
Published: February 2022

Atherosclerosis still is the primary cause of death worldwide. Our characterization of the atherosclerotic lesion is mainly rooted in definitions based on pathological descriptions. We often speak in absolutes regarding plaque phenotypes: vulnerable vs. stable plaques or plaque rupture vs. plaque erosion. By focusing on these concepts, we may have oversimplified the atherosclerotic disease and its mechanisms. The widely used definitions of pathology-based plaque phenotypes can be fine-tuned with observations made with various -omics techniques. Recent advancements in single-cell transcriptomics provide the opportunity to characterize the cellular composition of the atherosclerotic plaque. This additional layer of information facilitates the in-depth characterization of the atherosclerotic plaque. In this review, we discuss the impact that single-cell transcriptomics may exert on our current understanding of atherosclerosis.
Upper Oligocene–Lower Miocene Gangdese Conglomerate Along the Yarlung-Zangbo Suture Zone and its Implications for Palaeo-Yarlung-Zangbo Initiation
Authors: Ai Keke , Zhang Kexin , Song Bowen , Shen Tianyi , Ji Junliang
Published: February 2022

The upper Oligocene–lower Miocene Gangdese conglomerate is deposited along the Yarlung-Zangbo suture zone, which extends 1,500 km from west to east and is located in the core area of the India–Eurasia plate collision zone. The Gangdese conglomerate records richly uplift and denudation histories of the Lhasa terrane and Tethyan Himalaya on both sides of the suture zone, thus revealing the growth process of the southern Tibetan Plateau during the Late Oligocene–Early Miocene. In this study, we documented the detailed sedimentology and chronology of the Gangdese conglomerate. The Gangdese conglomerate is dominated by conglomerate and sandstone, with minor volumes of siltstone and tuff deposited in an alluvial fan and fluvial system. Based on sedimentology and structural relationships, we suggest that the Gangdese conglomerate was deposited in an extensional tectonic environment in the early period and an extrusion tectonic environment in the late period, which was controlled by Indian slab shearing and breakoff during the Late Oligocene–Miocene. According to the new magnetostratigraphy and detrital zircon U-Pb dating, the main depositional age of the Gangdese conglomerate was likely the Late Oligocene–Early Miocene (26–18 Ma), and it trended younger from west to east. Moreover, paleocurrent data from the Gangdese conglomerate showed westward axial sediment transport; thus, we inferred that a westward axial palaeo-Yarlung-Zangbo River occurred along the whole Yarlung-Zangbo suture zone during the Late Oligocene–Early Miocene, and its flow was opposite to that of the current Yarlung-Zangbo River.
Application of Flow-Ecology Analysis to Inform Prioritization for Stream Restoration and Management Actions
Authors: Irving Katie , Taniguchi-Quan Kristine T. , Aprahamian Amanda , Rivers Cindy , Sharp Grant , Mazor Raphael D. , Theroux Susanna , Holt Anne , Peek Ryan , Stein Eric D.
Published: February 2022

A key challenge in managing flow alteration is determining the severity and pattern of alteration associated with the degradation of biological communities. Understanding these patterns helps managers prioritize locations for restoration and flow management actions. However, the choices made about how to use these flow-ecology relationships can have profound implications on management decisions (e.g., which biological endpoints, which thresholds, which seasonal flow components to use). We describe a process for using flow-ecology relationships to prioritize management actions that 1) Represents the most relevant components of the annual hydrograph, 2) Demonstrates an appropriate level of sensitivity in order to discriminate locations to inform decision making, 3) Aims to protect multiple biological assemblages, 4) Reduces misclassification of priority areas (i.e., error of omission). Our approach is based on the functional flows approach which uses multiple flow metrics that describe the frequency, timing, magnitude, duration, and rate of change of seasonal process-based components of the annual hydrograph. Using this approach, we performed a flow-ecology analysis of regional bioassessment data, through which we determined where flow alteration impacts biology and prioritized reaches for changes in flow management to protect aquatic resources in a highly urbanized region of southern California, where managing scarce water resources leads to difficult decisions about tradeoffs that require technical information. We identified three important functional flow metrics for each of two bioassessment indices, one based on benthic macroinvertebrates, and another based on benthic algae. Based on thresholds that describe levels of alteration as well as thresholds describing the probability of achieving a healthy biological condition, we compared nine biological threshold combinations for each index. We found instances of flow alteration that impact biological condition highly variable (0–100% of subbasins) between combinations and we present a method for finding the most appropriate combination for prioritizing locations for flow management. We apply the final thresholds to the study region and propose 16 subbasins of high priority for implementing flow management and restoration. Importantly, we show that focusing on a single biological group would result in biologically altered locations being effectively ignored.
An Asymmetric Investigation of the Nexus Between Economic Policy Uncertainty, Knowledge Spillover, Climate Change, and Green Economy: Evidence From BRIC Nations
Authors: Liang Zizheng , Qamruzzaman Md.
Published: February 2022

The motivation of the study is to gauge the impact of economic policy uncertainty (EPU), knowledge spillover (KS), and climate change (CC) on green economy (GE) transition in BRIC nations for the period from 1991 to 2018. The study applied several unit root tests, including DF-GLS and Zivot–Andrew, for ascertaining the stationarity properties of variables. The long-run association between variables was detected by employing ARDL bound test, tBDM test, and Bayer and Hanck combined cointegration test. Furthermore, the asymmetric effects of EPU, KS, and CC on GE were examined by implementing nonlinear ARDL (NARDL), and finally, directional causal effects were evaluated with the Toda–Yamamoto causality test. In addition, the long-run coefficient’s robustness was assessed by applying fully modified OLS, dynamic OLS, and canonical cointegrating regression (CCR). ARDL bound testing confirms the long-run association in the empirical model for all countries with negative statistically significant effects from EPU and CC to the green economy and positive statistically significant impacts from KS to GE. On the other hand, asymmetric assessment established both long- and short-run asymmetry between EPU, KS, CC, and GE. Finally, directional causality establishes feedback hypothesis holds for EPU and GE in Brazil, India, China, KS, and GE in Brazil, Russia, and China. Thus, study findings established that EPU and KS might influence the transition to the green economy in BRIC nations. Thus, for policy formulation targeting green economic development, it is imperative to put extra effort into understanding the role of EPU and knowledge spillover in the economy.
Genome-Wide Identification of mRNAs, lncRNAs, and Proteins, and Their Relationship With Sheep Fecundity
Authors: Wang Chunxin , Zhao Yunhui , Yuan ZhiYu , Wu Yujin , Zhao Zhuo , Wu Cuiling , Hou Jian , Zhang Mingxin
Published: February 2022

The exploration of multiple birth-related genes has always been a significant focus in sheep breeding. This study aimed to find more genes and proteins related to the litter size in sheep. Ovarian specimens of Small Tail Han sheep (multiple births) and Xinji Fine Wool sheep (singleton) were collected during the natural estrus cycle. Transcriptome and proteome of ovarian specimens were analyzed. The transcriptome results showed that “steroid hormone biosynthesis” and “ovarian steroidogenesis” were significantly enriched, in which HSD17B1 played an important role. The proteome data also confirmed that the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were enriched in the ovarian steroidogenesis pathway, and the CYP17A1 was the candidate DEP. Furthermore, lncRNA MSTRG.28645 was highly expressed in Small Tailed Han sheep but lowly expressed in Xinji fine wool sheep. In addition, MSTRG.28645, a hub gene in the co-expression network between mRNAs and lncRNAs, was selected as one of the candidate genes for subsequent verification. Expectedly, the overexpression and interference of HSD17B1 and MSTRG.28645 showed a significant effect on hormone secretion in granulosa cells. Therefore, this study confirmed that HSD17B1 and MSTRG.28645 might be potential genes related to the fecundity of sheep. It was concluded that both HSD17B1 and MSTRG.28645 were critical regulators in the secretion of hormones that affect the fecundity of the sheep.
A Final Frontier in Environment-Genome Interactions? Integrated, Multi-Omic Approaches to Predictions of Non-Communicable Disease Risk
Authors: Noble Alexandra J. , Purcell Rachel V. , Adams Alex T. , Lam Ying K. , Ring Paulina M. , Anderson Jessica R. , Osborne Amy J.
Published: February 2022

Epidemiological and associative research from humans and animals identifies correlations between the environment and health impacts. The environment—health inter-relationship is effected through an individual’s underlying genetic variation and mediated by mechanisms that include the changes to gene regulation that are associated with the diversity of phenotypes we exhibit. However, the causal relationships have yet to be established, in part because the associations are reduced to individual interactions and the combinatorial effects are rarely studied. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that our genomes are highly dynamic; they integrate information across multiple levels (from linear sequence, to structural organisation, to temporal variation) each of which is open to and responds to environmental influence. To unravel the complexities of the genomic basis of human disease, and in particular non-communicable diseases that are also influenced by the environment (e.g., obesity, type II diabetes, cancer, multiple sclerosis, some neurodegenerative diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis) it is imperative that we fully integrate multiple layers of genomic data. Here we review current progress in integrated genomic data analysis, and discuss cases where data integration would lead to significant advances in our ability to predict how the environment may impact on our health. We also outline limitations which should form the basis of future research questions. In so doing, this review will lay the foundations for future research into the impact of the environment on our health.
Postpartum State, but Not Maternal Caregiving or Level of Anxiety, Increases Medial Prefrontal Cortex GAD65 and vGAT in Female Rats
Authors: Ragan Christina M. , Ahmed Eman I. , Vitale Erika M. , Linning-Duffy Katrina , Miller-Smith Stephanie M. , Maguire Jamie , Lonstein Joseph S.
Published: February 2022

Upregulation of the inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA, is involved in many of the behavioral differences between postpartum and nulliparous female rodents. This is evidenced by studies showing that pharmacological blockade of GABAergic activity impairs maternal caregiving and postpartum affective behaviors. However, the influence of motherhood on the capacity for GABA synthesis or release in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC; brain region involved in many social and affective behaviors) is not well-understood. Western blotting was used to compare postpartum and nulliparous rats in protein levels of the 65-kD isoform of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65; synthesizes most GABA released from terminals) and vesicular GABA transporter (vGAT; accumulates GABA into synaptic vesicles for release) in the mPFC. We found that postpartum mothers had higher GAD65 and vGAT compared to virgins, but such differences were not found between maternally sensitized and non-sensitized virgins, indicating that reproduction rather than just the display of maternal caregiving is required. To test whether GAD65 and vGAT levels in the mPFC were more specifically related to anxiety-related behavior within postpartum mothers, we selected 8 low-anxiety and 8 high-anxiety dams based on their time spent in the open arms of an elevated plus maze on postpartum day 7. There were no significant differences between the anxiety groups in either GAD65 or vGAT levels. These data further indicate that frontal cortical GABA is affected by female reproduction and more likely contributes to differences in the display of socioemotional behaviors across, but not within, female reproductive state.