bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Freedom Dreaming of Abolition in Aotearoa New Zealand: A Pacific Perspective on Tiriti-based Abolition Constitutionalism
Authors: Asafo Dylan
Published: July 2022

The global resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement in May 2020 led to an unprecedented reckoning with the racism within Aotearoa New Zealand’s police and prison systems. For Pacific peoples, this led to reflections on the racism of the police during the dawn raids of the 1970s and the racist police violence that Pacific peoples and Māori continue to face today. Notably, when the state apologised for the dawn raids in August 2021, it failed to acknowledge, let alone make amends for, this ongoing racist violence. Therefore, as a Pacific abolitionist legal scholar, in this article I argue that Pacific peoples and wider society in Aotearoa New Zealand must hold the state to account for the inherent racism of not only the police, but prisons as well. Specifically, I argue that we must ‘freedom dream’ ( Kelley 2002 , np) of police and prison abolition by supporting calls by Māori and other criminal justice advocates to achieve abolition through constitutional transformation premised on honouring te Tiriti o Waitangi. In making this argument, I draw on Black American abolitionist legal scholar Dorothy Roberts’ concept of ‘abolition constitutionalism’, which challenges abolitionists to grapple with whether abolition can be achieved within existing constitutional frameworks ( Roberts 2019 , 122). Accordingly, I offer a Pacific perspective on Tiriti-based abolition constitutionalism which further develops the case for why abolition cannot be achieved within current constitutional arrangements within which te Tiriti o Waitangi has long been, and will continue to be, undermined by Parliament.
Pengaruh Tingkat Pendidikan Terhadap Kinerja Karyawan Di Lembaga Keuangan Syariah (Studi Kasus Di BPR Syariah Kota Mojokerto)
Authors: Afwandi Ahmad Hawwin , Haryanti Peni , Sudarwanto Tri
Published: July 2022

Adapun tujuan dan kegunaan penelitian ini dilakukan yaitu untuk mengetahui tingkat pendidikan terhadap kinerja karyawan di PT BPR Syariah Kota Mojokerto. Jenis penelitian ini adalah deskriptif kuantitatif. Sedangkan teknik pengumpulan data menggunakan kuesioner. Jumlah responden populasinya 30 orang dan sampel 30 orang karyawan. Yang dipilih secara keseluruhan sehingga memakai metode total sampling. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan adanya pengaruh yang signifikan antara tingkat pendidikan terhadap kinerja karyawan di PT BPR Syariah Kota Mojokerto yang dilihat berdasarkan hasil olahan SPSS. Pada hasil pengisian angket penulis melihat bahwa tingkat pendidikan bermanfaat bagi pegawai di PT BPR Syariah Kota Mojokerto karena sudah menjalankan tugas dan fungsinya sebagai seorang pelayan public sehingga kinerja karyawan tersebut terfokus pada tugas dan fungsinya sebagai seorang karyawan.Kata kunci: Tingkat Pendidikan, Kinerja Karyawan
Tax incentives under martial law: compliance-risk management
Authors:   SESE “The Academy of Financial Management”, IEFYMENKO Tetiana , IVANOV Yurij ,   Research and Development Centre for Industrial Problems of Development of NAS of Ukraine, KARPOVA Vlada ,   SESE “The Academy of Financial Management”
Published: July 2022

Introduction. In the conditions of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the need arose to amend the current legislation aimed at overcoming the negative phenomena in the economic, social and defense spheres. Problem Statement. During the two months of martial law, six laws were passed that amended the current tax rules and provided benefi ts to certain categories of taxpayers. At the same time, most legislative acts were adopted without proper fi nancial, economic and scientifi c justifi cation for their adoption. Th is has led to fi scal risks, which are discussed in the article. Purpose. Th e aim is to study the probable risks of the introduction of certain legal norms in the conditions of martial law and to develop recommendations for their minimization. Methods. Qualitative research methods were used to describe the existing diffi culties in tax administration, quantitative methods – to analyze the benefi ts of corporate income tax and VAT. Results. It has been found that the analyzed norm-forming practice will lead to budget losses and disproportionate taxation of other taxpayers. Th is is not in line with the concept of compliance risk management, as these preferences can be used by other payers. As a result, the risk of aggressive tax planning by those taxpayers who are not cove red by the benefi ts will increase. Conclusions. Fully unjustifi ed unconditional provision of tax benefi ts to certain categories of taxpayers requires careful analysis in order to achieve the declared purposes. Proposals for amendments to legislation to minimize fi scal risks within the compliance risk management procedure have been formulated.
Infrastructure financing in the course of overcoming wartime consequences
Authors:   SESE “The Academy of Financial Management”, KUDRJASHOV Vasyl
Published: July 2022

Introduction. As a result of Russia's military invasion of Ukraine much of its critical infrastructure has been damaged and destroyed. This has led to a deterioration in macroeconomic dynamics, exacerbation of social problems and deepening financial risks. Under such conditions, the issues of financial support of critical infrastructure need in-depth research. Problem Statement. There is a complication of the mobilization of financial resources in the event of a significant increase in expenses. There are problems with attracting additional resources to finance measures to support critical infrastructure in Ukraine. Purpose. The aim is to form a system of financial support for critical infrastructure during martial law and to overcome the consequences of war. Methods. General scientific and special research methods are used: description, analysis, synthesis, grouping, comparison, theoretical generalization, etc. Results. The dynamics of indicators of both domestic and external public debt is determined. The issue of attracting resources provided by foreign partners to finance programs to overcome the consequences of military aggression, as well as support for Ukraine by international financial organizations, is highlighted.. Projects to raise funds for Russian assets frozen in foreign countries to financially support measures to overcome the devastating effects of the war in Ukraine, as well as the introduction of land lease mechanisms and analogue of the Marshall Plan for Ukraine are examined. Conclusions. Due to the armed aggression of the Russian Federation, the pressure on the state and local budgets has increased, which required the application of emergency measures to mobilize revenues and structure expenditures. To balance the state budget, its deficit has been significantly increased, and state internal and external borrowings have been expanded to cover it. Funds from international financial organizations and assistance from foreign countries were also used to finance the state budget. Public and state-guaranteed debts have increased, but they cannot be considered critical. Public debt increased at a faster rate than its guaranteed share, mainly due to the growth of external debt. The internal part of the state-guaranteed debt to support the national economy has increased.
Effectiveness Of The Bicinchoninic Acid Method In Patient Unit Cleaning In Intensive Care
Authors: GÜLSOY Zuhal , KARAGÖZOĞLU Şerife
Published: July 2022

Objective: This study was conducted to identify the effectiveness of the Bicinchoninic Acid/(BCA) method applied for evaluate the cleaning the beds of the patients with infections or colonization requiring strict contact isolation after discharge.
Methods: This is an experimental study and it was used the ORION checklist. In this study, 480 BCA and 480 microbiological samples were taken from 40 patient units before and after cleaning and the results were compared. The cleaning procedure was evaluated by examining whether there was post-cleaning gel residue in the areas stained with fluorescent gel before the cleaning.
Results: When post-cleaning BCA and post-cleaning microbiological sampling data were compared, no statistical difference was found. When the data of the areas stained with fluorescent gel before and after the cleaning were compared, it was observed that there was a statistical difference. It was revealed that the bedside and the bed controller were mostly contaminated in both methods.
Conclusions: It was concluded that BCA was an effective method that could be used to evaluate the cleaning applied to the infected patient unit. It is thought that cleaning only areas that are considered to be contaminated after evaluating the cleaning with an effective method will prevent contamination due to cleaning and will provide more positive results in terms of time, labor, and cost. The control of cleanliness using objective methods can help maintain a safe environment.
This study is registered to ClinicalTrials.gov with the number ID:NCT04212130.
The Theory-Practice Gap in Nursing Education During the Pandemic Period from the Perspective of Stakeholders: A Qualitative Study
Authors: UTLİ Hediye , YURT Seher
Published: July 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study was to understand the experience of theoretical and practical nursing education carried out by distance education during the COVID-19 pandemic and the theory-practice gap in nursing education in Turkey.
Methods: This qualitative study used a descriptive qualitative study. This research was conducted with nursing lecturers and students from two universities in two different geographical regions. Lecturers and undergraduate students participated in the research. The data for the research were collected using the online Zoom program during four focus-group discussions.
Results: Three main themes emerged for the categories of theoretical and practical education emerged during the study: strong structural conditions (technological integration and accessibility) both strong and weak structural conditions (asynchronous participation and changing comfort levels/routines) and weak structural conditions (cold contact and inequality of opportunity).
Conclusion: This study revealed the strengths and weaknesses in the experience of distance nursing education and will guide future planning of nursing education programs and clinical fields.
Biochemistry of Aminoacyl tRNA Synthetase and tRNAs and Their Engineering for Cell-Free and Synthetic Cell Applications
Authors: Ganesh Ragunathan Bava , Maerkl Sebastian J.
Published: July 2022

Cell-free biology is increasingly utilized for engineering biological systems, incorporating novel functionality, and circumventing many of the complications associated with cells. The central dogma describes the information flow in biology consisting of transcription and translation steps to decode genetic information. Aminoacyl tRNA synthetases (AARSs) and tRNAs are key components involved in translation and thus protein synthesis. This review provides information on AARSs and tRNA biochemistry, their role in the translation process, summarizes progress in cell-free engineering of tRNAs and AARSs, and discusses prospects and challenges lying ahead in cell-free engineering.
Effects of Different Lengths of a Nucleic Acid Binding Region and Bound Nucleic Acids on the Phase Behavior and Purification Process of HBcAg Virus-Like Particles
Authors: Valentic Angela , Müller Jakob , Hubbuch Jürgen
Published: July 2022

Virus-like particles (VLPs) are macromolecular structures with great potential as vehicles for the targeted administration of functional molecules. Loaded with nucleic acids, VLPs are a promising approach for nanocarriers needed for gene therapy. There is broad knowledge of the manufacturing of the truncated wild-type lacking a nucleic acid binding region, which is mainly being investigated for vaccine applications. Whereas for their potential application as a nanocarrier for gene therapy, hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) VLPs with a nucleic acid binding region for efficient cargo-loading are being investigated. VLP structure, loading, and phase behavior are of central importance to their therapeutic efficacy and thereby considerably affecting the production process. Therefore, HBcAg VLPs with different lengths of the nucleic acid binding region were produced in E. coli. VLP attributes such as size, zeta potential, and loading with host cell-derived nucleic acids were evaluated. Capsid’s size and zeta potential of the VLP constructs did not differ remarkably, whereas the analysis of the loading with host cell-derived nucleic acids revealed strong differences in the binding of host cell-derived nucleic acids dependent on the length of the binding region of the constructs, with a non-linear correlation but a two-zone behavior. Moreover, the phase behavior and purification process of the HBcAg VLPs as a function of the liquid phase conditions and the presence of host cell-derived nucleic acids were investigated. Selective VLP precipitation using ammonium sulfate was scarcely affected by the encapsulated nucleic acids. However, the disassembly reaction, which is crucial for structure homogeneity, separation of encapsulated impurities, and effective loading of the VLPs with therapeutic nucleic acids, was affected both by the studied liquid phase conditions, varying pH and concentration of reducing agents, and the different VLP constructs and amount of bound nucleic acids, respectively. Thereby, capsid-stabilizing effects of the bound nucleic acids and capsid-destabilizing effects of the nucleic acid binding region were observed, following the two-zone behavior of the construct’s loading, and a resulting correlation between the capsid stability and disassembly yields could be derived.
Ablation of PI3K-p110alpha Impairs Maternal Metabolic Adaptations to Pregnancy
Authors: Lopez-Tello Jorge , Salazar-Petres Esteban , Webb Liam , Fowden Abigail L. , Sferruzzi-Perri Amanda N.
Published: July 2022

Pregnancy requires adaptations in maternal metabolism to support fetal growth. The phosphoinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) signalling pathway controls multiple biological processes and defects in this pathway are linked to metabolic disorders including insulin resistance and glucose intolerance in non-pregnant animals. However, relatively little is known about the contribution of PI3K signalling to the maternal metabolic adaptations during pregnancy. Using mice with partial inactivation of the PI3K isoform, p110α (due to a heterozygous dominant negative mutation; Pik3ca-D933A), the effects of impaired PI3K-p110α signalling on glucose and insulin handling were examined in the pregnant and non-pregnant states and related to the morphological, molecular, and mitochondrial changes in key metabolic organs. The results show that non-pregnant mice lacking PI3K-p110α are glucose intolerant but exhibit compensatory increases in pancreatic glucose-stimulated insulin release and adipose tissue mitochondrial respiratory capacity and fatty acid oxidation. However, in pregnancy, mutant mice failed to show the normal increment in glucose intolerance and pancreatic β-cell mass observed in wild-type pregnant dams and exhibited further enhanced adipose tissue mitochondrial respiratory capacity. These maladaptations in pregnant mutant mice were associated with fetal growth restriction. Hence, PI3K-p110α is a key regulator of metabolic adaptations that support fetal growth during normal pregnancy.
Genetic and Epigenetic Regulation of Brain Organoids
Authors: Wang You-Wei , Hu Nan , Li Xiao-Hong
Published: July 2022

Revealing the mechanisms of neural development and the pathogenesis of neural diseases are one of the most challenging missions in life science. Pluripotent stem cells derived brain organoids mimic the development, maturation, signal generation, and function of human brains, providing unique advantage for neurology. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) and multielectrode array independently revealed the similarity between brain organoids and immature human brain at early developmental stages, in the context of gene transcription and dynamic network of neuronal signals. Brain organoids provided the unique opportunity to investigate the underlying mechanism of neural differentiation, senescence, and pathogenesis. In this review, we summarized the latest knowledge and technology in the brain organoid field, the current and potential applications in disease models and pre-clinic studies, with emphasizing the importance of transcriptional and epigenetic analysis.
Application of Graphene and its Derivatives in Detecting Hazardous Substances in Food: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Pei Jinjin , Ren Ting , Huang Yigang , Chen Rui , Jin Wengang , Shang Shufeng , Wang Jinze , Liu Zhe , Liang Yinku , Abd El-Aty A. M.
Published: July 2022

Graphene and its derivatives have been a burning issue in the last 10 years. Although many reviews described its application in electrochemical detection, few were focused on food detection. Herein, we reviewed the recent progress in applying graphene and composite materials in food detection during the past 10 years. We pay attention to food coloring materials, pesticides, antibiotics, heavy metal ion residues, and other common hazards. The advantages of graphene composites in electrochemical detection are described in detail. The differences between electrochemical detection involving graphene and traditional inherent food detection are analyzed and compared in depth. The results proved that electrochemical food detection based on graphene composites is more beneficial. The current defects and deficiencies in graphene composite modified electrode development are discussed, and the application prospects and direction of graphene in future food detection are forecasted.
Changes in Climate Extremes and Their Effect on Maize (Zea mays L.) Suitability Over Southern Africa
Authors: Chemura Abel , Nangombe Shingirai S. , Gleixner Stephanie , Chinyoka Sinclair , Gornott Christoph
Published: July 2022

Southern Africa has been identified as one of the hotspot areas of climate extremes increasing, at the same time many communities in the region are dependent on rain-fed agriculture, which is vulnerable to these rainfall and temperature extremes. The aim of this study is to understand changes in extreme indices during the agricultural season under climate change and how that affect the modeling of maize suitability in Southern Africa. We analyze the changes in rainfall and its extreme indices (consecutive dry days, heavy rain events and prolonged rainfall events), and temperature and its extreme indices (hot night temperatures, hot day temperatures and frequency of very hot days) from the past (1986–2014) to the future (2036–2064) and integrate these into a maize suitability model. Temperature extremes are projected to increase in both duration and intensity, particularly in the eastern parts of the region. Also, consecutive dry days are projected to increase over larger areas during the agricultural season, while rainfall will be less in sums, heavier in intensity and less prolonged in duration. Including extreme climate indices in maize suitability modeling improves the efficiency of the maize suitability model and shows more severe changes in maize suitability over Southern Africa than using season-long climatic variables. We conclude that changes in climate extremes will increase and complicate the livelihood-climate nexus in Southern Africa in the future, and therefore, a set of comprehensive adaptation options for the agricultural sector are needed. These include the use of heat, drought and high-intensity rainfall tolerant maize varieties, irrigation and/or soil water conservation techniques, and in some cases switching from maize to other crops.
Deep Semantic Segmentation for Rapid Extraction and Spatial-Temporal Expansion Variation Analysis of China’s Urban Built-Up Areas
Authors: Bai Maoyang , Zhang Shiqi , Wang Xiao , Feng Yu , Wang Juan , Peng Peihao
Published: July 2022

Changes in the spatial expansion of urban built-up areas are of great significance for the analysis of China’s urbanization process and economic development. Nighttime light data can be used to extract urban built-up areas in a large-scale and long-time series. In this article, we introduced the UNet model, a semantic segmentation network, as a base architecture, added spatial attention and channel attention modules to the encoder part to improve the boundary integrity and semantic consistency of the change feature map, and constructed an urban built-up area extraction model—CBAM_UNet. Also, we used this model to extract urban built-up areas from 2012 to 2021 and analyzed the spatial and temporal expansion of China’s urban built-up areas in terms of expansion speed, expansion intensity, expansion direction, and gravity center migration. In the last decade, the distribution pattern of urban built-up areas in China has gradually changed from “center” to “periphery-networked” distribution pattern. It reveals a trend from agglomeration to the dispersion of urban built-up areas in China. It provides a reference for China’s urban process and its economic development.
Analysis of the Diagenetic Fluid of Deep Dolomitic “Leopard-Spot” Limestones in the Middle Permian Qixia Formation in Shuangyushi Region in Northwest Sichuan Basin, China
Authors: Xie Shengyang , Wang Xingzhi , Li Bo , Jiang Hang , Du Yao , Zhang Rui , Li Yong , Wei Mingyang , Huang Dong , Kang Jiahao , Zhang Benjian , Huo Fei
Published: July 2022

A thorough investigation of the characteristics and formation mechanism of dolomite is greatly significant in assessing the validity of dolomitization theory and dolomite reservoirs. Extensive development of dolomites has been found in the organic bank of the Middle Permian Qixia Formation in the northwest of the Sichuan Basin. For that reason, field profile and drilling core samples were collected from the common dolomitic “leopard-spot” limestones in the Middle Permian Qixia Formation in the study area and observed in this work. The diagenetic fluid and formation factors of dolomites were analyzed through major elements, microelements, carbon, oxygen and strontium (Sr) isotope, and fluid inclusion, as well as order degree of dolomite. From the extracted outcomes, valuable insights can be derived. More specifically, in the study area, dolomitic “leopard-spot” limestones were mainly developed in the upper part of Section II in the Qixia Formation. Interestingly, the vertical distribution plays a dominant role since it was transited gradually and gently to the thick-layered lumpy crystalline dolomites downward. The dolomitic “leopard-spots” are mainly composed of dolosiltite-fine crystalline dolomites with residual fabrics, and the base limestones were mainly formed by biomicrites (debris). In addition, the average δ13C of dolomitic “leopard-spot” and base limestones was 3.06‰ and 3.31‰, respectively, whereas their average δ18O was −4.29‰ and −3.16‰ and the 87Sr/86Sr (0.70734 in average) was higher than those of the contemporaneous seawater and mantle provenance range. Moreover, the contents of the major elements in dolomitic “leopard-spot” and base limestones were basically consistent. The uniform temperature of inclusion ranges between 70°C and 115°C. According to the geochemical data and the previously reported studies on the regional paleogeotemperature environment, the diagenetic fluid of the dolomitic “leopard-spot” limestones in the Qixia Formation in the northwest Sichuan Basin was mainly attributed to contemporaneous sea flows. However, influenced by the local high-temperature environment, the terrestrial atmosphere, and the fresh water, it is speculated that the dolomitic “leopard-spot” limestones in the study area might belong to dolomitization involving fresh water from the penecontemporaneous stage to the early shallow burial stage.
Dynamical Seasonal Prediction of the Asian Summer Monsoon in the China Meteorological Administration Climate Prediction System Version 3
Authors: Liang Xiaoyun , Li Qiaoping , Wu Tongwen
Published: July 2022

Based on the 20 years of ensemble hindcast data, we evaluated the performance of the new version climate prediction system developed by the China Meteorological Administration (CMA CPSv3) on the Asian summer monsoon (ASM) seasonal prediction in this study. Many major features of the ASM are well predicted by CPSv3, including the intensity and location of the heavy precipitation centers, large-scale monsoon circulations, monsoon onset, and the interannual variation of dynamical monsoon indices. The model captures realistically interannual variability of the summer western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH) and is highly skillful for the WNPSH index. Compared with its predecessor, the prediction skill of summer precipitation over Asia in CPSv3 is obviously improved, especially over eastern China. The improvement mainly benefits from skillful predictions of the tropical Pacific Ocean and tropical Indian Ocean sea surface temperatures and ocean–atmosphere coupling associated with them.
Digital Picture Books for Young Dual Language Learners: Effects of Reading in the Second Language
Authors: Tunkiel Katarzyna A. , Bus Adriana G.
Published: July 2022

Reading picture books in the first language (L1) before rereading them in the second language (L2) is assumed to be beneficial for young dual language learners (DLLs). This pilot study examined how sharing digital picture books in L1 or L2 at home before reading them in L2 in kindergarten affected L2 book-specific vocabulary learning and story comprehension. Participants were 14 three- and four-year-old children who spoke Polish at home and learned Norwegian as their second language. Even when DLLs were less advanced in L2, reading first in L1 was not advantageous for L2 vocabulary learning. Characteristics of caregiver–child interactions during the reading of digital picture books in L2 may explain why home reading in L2 was more beneficial than reading in L1 for less proficient young L2 learners.
Detection of Atrial Fibrillation in Compressively Sensed Electrocardiogram for Remote Monitoring
Authors: Abdelazez Mohamed , Rajan Sreeraman , Chan Adrian D. C.
Published: July 2022

The objective of this paper is to develop an optimized system to detect Atrial Fibrillation (AF) in compressively sensed electrocardiogram (ECG) for long-term remote patient monitoring. A three-stage system was developed to 1) reject ECG of poor signal quality, 2) detect AF in compressively sensed ECG, and 3) detect AF in selectively reconstructed ECG. The Long-Term AF Database (LTAFDB), sampled at 128 Hz using a 12-bit ADC with a range of 20 mV, was used to validate the system. The LTAFDB had 83,315 normal and 82,435 AF rhythm 30 s ECG segments. Clean ECG from the LTAFDB was artificially contaminated with motion artifact to achieve −12 to 12 dB Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) in steps of 3 dB. The contaminated ECG was compressively sensed at 50% and 75% compression ratio (CR). The system was evaluated using average precision (AP), the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operator characteristic curve, and the F1 score. The system was optimized to maximize the AP and minimize ECG rejection and reconstruction ratios. The optimized system for 50% CR had 0.72 AP, 0.63 AUC, and 0.58 F1 score, 0.38 rejection ratio, and 0.38 reconstruction ratio. The optimized system for 75% CR had 0.72 AP, 0.63 AUC, and 0.59 F1 score, 0.40 rejection ratio, and 0.35 reconstruction ratio. Challenges for long-term AF monitoring are the short battery life of monitors and the high false alarm rate due to artifacts. The proposed system improves the short battery life through compressive sensing while reducing false alarms (high AP) and ECG reconstruction (low reconstruction ratio).
Cardiac Autonomic Dysfunction Is Associated With Risk of Diabetic Kidney Disease Progression in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Zeng Haixia , Liu Jianmo , Chen Zheng , Yu Peng , Liu Jianping
Published: July 2022

Background

Evidence on the relationship between heart rate variability (HRV) and albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) combined with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is rare. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between heart rate variability and the risk of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) progression in diabetes patients.

Method

Overall, 747 T2DM patients who were admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University underwent 24-hour dynamic electrocardiograms for HRV analysis. Time-domain HRV measures included mean heart rate, standard deviation of the R-R interval (SDNN), SDNN index, root mean squared difference of successive RR intervals (RMSSD), and percent of adjacent RR intervals with a difference greater than 50 ms (PNN50). Frequency-domain measures included low frequency (LF), very low frequency (VLF), high frequency (HF) components and LF-to-HF ratio. The risk of DKD progression was determined by combining ACR and eGFR and stratified as low risk (Group A), moderately increased risk (Group B), high risk (Group C), and very high risk (Group D) based on the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes guidelines.

Result

There were significant differences in HRV parameters among the four risk groups (SDNN: 113 ms vs 109 ms vs 101 ms vs 81 ms, P<0.01; LF: 240.2 ms2 vs 241.1 ms2 vs 155.2 ms2 vs 141.9 ms2, P<0.01; LF-to-HF ratio: 1.70 vs 1.24 vs 1.12 vs 0.93, P<0.01; VLF: 723.7 ms2 vs 601.1 ms2 vs 446.4 ms2 vs 356.3 ms2, P<0.01). A very high risk of DKD progression was significantly associated with a lower SDNN (β=-19.5, 95% CI: -30.0 to -10.0, P<0.01), and moderately increased, high, and very high risks were associated with lower LF-to-HF ratio and VLF (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that group D had a higher risk of reduced SDNN, LF-to-HF ratio, and VLF compared with group A after adjusting for systolic blood pressure, glycated haemoglobin, haemoglobin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and age (odds ratio (95% CI): 0.989 (0. 983–0.996), 0.674 (0.498–0.913), and 0.999 (0.999–1.000), respectively).

Conclusion

Cardiac autonomic dysfunction is associated with a risk of DKD progression in adults with T2DM, and reduced heart rate variability increased such risk. Thus, HRV screening may be necessary in patients with T2DM, especially those with high proteinuria.
Iodine Requirements in Pediatrics: From Fetal Life to Adolescence
Authors: Iannuzzo Gabriella , Campanozzi Angelo , Trevisani Viola , Rutigliano Irene , Abate Veronica , Rendina Domenico , De Filippo Gianpaolo
Published: July 2022

The aim of this mini-review is to present the current knowledge on iodine requirements in developmental age, from conception to adolescence. It is based on the analysis of updated national and international guidelines on iodine intake and the prevention of iodine deficiency. Health policy initiatives carried out in industrialized countries in previous decades have led to a dramatic improvement in nutritional iodine status in the general population. However, the prevention of iodine deficit continues to be a concern, especially for vulnerable categories, like adolescents and pregnant women.
Load Reduction of Semi-Submersible Floating Wind Turbines by Integrating Heaving-Type Wave Energy Converters with Bang-Bang Control
Authors: Chen Zheng , Yu Jiarui , Sun Jili , Tan Ming , Yang Shujie , Ying You , Qian Peng , Zhang Dahai , Si Yulin
Published: July 2022

Floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) are subject to intensive structural loads due to the extra degrees of freedom (DOF) of the floating platform, which may shorten the fatigue lifetime of critical wind turbine structures. Integrating wave energy converters (WECs) into FOWTs could potentially help improve both overall energy capture and platform dynamic responses and, thus, is expected to reduce the levelized cost of energy (LCOE). In this work, a novel hybrid wind-wave energy platform consisting of a semi-submersible FOWT and three heaving-type WECs is proposed, and the feasibility of reducing FOWT dynamic responses and fatigue loads by integrating heaving-type WECs with different PTO control schemes is investigated. More specifically, the aero-hydro-servo-elastic-mooring coupled numerical model is established, and a preliminary study is performed to evaluate the dynamic responses and power production of the hybrid platform under various environmental conditions. Particularly, the two kinds of PTO control strategies have been comparatively studied, which have shown that the active bang-bang control could effectively suppress the platform heave and pitch motion by up to 34.6 % and 17.1%, respectively. Moreover, the tower-base fatigue damage equivalent load (DEL) has been reduced by up to 11.21%, and the system power production could be increased by almost 6%. Therefore, it is shown that integrating heaving-type wave energy converters with bang-bang control is able to effectively reduce the dynamic responses and fatigue loads of semi-submersible FOWT while absorbing additional wave energy at the same time.
Policy Optimization for Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park Based on Quantitative Comparison of Regional Policies of Free Trade Port Areas
Authors: Wang Hong , Zeng Yaxue
Published: July 2022

Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, as one of the first national parks established in China, should make full use of the gold brand of “Hainan Free Trade Port” and “National Park,” rely on the advantages and potential of system integration and innovation, draw on the experience of national parks in mature free trade ports (FTPs), and build a perfect national park policy system. This study introduces the PMC index model, constructs a national park policy evaluation index system, and conducts a systematic comparative analysis of 14 representative national park policies in Hainan rainforest, Hong Kong, and Singapore. The study finds that the policy of Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park is not effective enough, the policy in social and cultural fields is relatively lacking, the policy content needs to be further strengthened, and the policy functions need to be improved, etc., and puts forward corresponding suggestions for optimization.
Phthalate Acid Esters in Soil, Plastic Shed Film, and Ginseng Tissues of Different Ages From Farmland: Concentration, Distribution, and Risk Assessment
Authors: Lu Yu-Shun , Xu Yan-Yang , Zhang Yan-Ting , Liu Zheng-Bo , Li Wei , Sun Yin-Shi
Published: July 2022

Plastic shed film used in ginseng cultivation could increase phthalate acid esters (PAEs) residues in ginseng and its planting soil. This study recorded the situation of 19 PAEs in ginseng, soil, and plastic shed film samples from eight ginseng cultivation bases in Jilin Province, China. The results showed that 6 PAEs are omnipresent contaminants in ginseng cultivation bases. The Σ19 PAEs residue ranged from 0.69 to 3.30 mg kg−1 in the soil and from 32.40 to 96.20 mg kg−1 in the plastic shed film. Plastic shed film is possibly one source of PAEs in ginseng bases. In addition, PAEs concentrations in different ginseng tissues (roots, stems, and leaves) showed significant differences (p < 0.05). The residues of Σ19 PAEs in ginseng roots and stems were 0.71–2.10 mg kg−1 [dry weight (dw)] and 1.56–4.69 mg kg−1 (dw), respectively, lower than 2.37–6.82 mg kg−1 (dw) in leaves (p < 0.05). PAEs more readily accumulated in ginseng leaves than in roots and stems. Cultivation age also influenced PAEs accumulation in ginseng. PAEs residues in 3-year-old ginseng plants were higher than those in annual and biennial ginseng (p < 0.05). The noncancer and carcinogenic risk assessments of the target PAEs in ginseng indicated acceptable levels for adult intake. This study provides data for understanding the concentration, distribution, and potential risk of PAEs in ginseng and its cultivated soil.
Polymorphisms and AR: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses
Authors: Xiang Feng , Zeng Zhen , Wang Lu , Yang Ye Peng , Zhang Qin Xiu
Published: July 2022

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an especially common disorder associated with both environmental and genetic factors, and a lot of researchers have attempted to find polymorphisms which predisposed to the disease. We conducted a meta-analysis of the most frequently researched polymorphisms to find those genes which may be susceptible to AR and then may be of value in diagnosis.

Methods: Pubmed and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases were searched to screen out eligible studies focusing on the correlation between polymorphisms and AR susceptibility, and then polymorphisms cited in at least 3 studies were selected.

Results: The 142 papers originally selected cited 78 genes. Twelve genes (coinciding with 23 polymorphisms) were reported in more than three papers. Twenty-three polymorphisms were involved in the meta-analysis. Among the 23 polymorphisms, only 4 were found to be related to the risk of AR: IL-13 rs20541, CTLA-4 rs11571302, IL-4R RS1801275 and ACE (I/D). The remaining 19 of the 23 polymorphisms were not associated with AR.

Conclusion: We found polymorphisms that could be used for AR diagnosing and those that were unrelated to AR. This may be the first step in detecting polymorphic combinations susceptible to AR (IL-13 RS20541, CTLA-4 RS11571302, IL-4R RS1801275 and ACE (I/D). In addition, our results may improve AR diagnosis and contribute to the intensive study of AR.
A Risk Model Developed Based on Homologous Recombination Deficiency Predicts Overall Survival in Patients With Lower Grade Glioma
Authors: Peng Hao , Wang Yibiao , Wang Pengcheng , Huang Chuixue , Liu Zhaohui , Wu Changwu
Published: July 2022

The role of homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) in lower grade glioma (LGG) has not been elucidated, and accurate prognostic prediction is also important for the treatment and management of LGG. The aim of this study was to construct an HRD-based risk model and to explore the immunological and molecular characteristics of this risk model. The HRD score threshold = 10 was determined from 506 LGG samples in The Cancer Genome Atlas cohort using the best cut-off value, and patients with high HRD scores had worse overall survival. A total of 251 HRD-related genes were identified by analyzing differentially expressed genes, 182 of which were associated with survival. A risk score model based on HRD-related genes was constructed using univariate Cox regression, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression, and stepwise regression, and patients were divided into high- and low-risk groups using the median risk score. High-risk patients had significantly worse overall survival than low-risk patients. The risk model had excellent predictive performance for overall survival in LGG and was found to be an independent risk factor. The prognostic value of the risk model was validated using an independent cohort. In addition, the risk score was associated with tumor mutation burden and immune cell infiltration in LGG. High-risk patients had higher HRD scores and “hot” tumor immune microenvironment, which could benefit from poly-ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Overall, this big data study determined the threshold of HRD score in LGG, identified HRD-related genes, developed a risk model based on HRD-related genes, and determined the molecular and immunological characteristics of the risk model. This provides potential new targets for future targeted therapies and facilitates the development of individualized immunotherapy to improve prognosis.
Prognosis Prediction Through an Integrated Analysis of Single-Cell and Bulk RNA-Sequencing Data in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Wang Xiangru , Chen Hanghang
Published: July 2022

Background: Genomic and antigenic heterogeneity pose challenges in the precise assessment of outcomes of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients. Thus, this study was designed to investigate the cardinal genes related to cell differentiation and tumor malignant grade to advance the prognosis prediction in TNBC patients through an integrated analysis of single-cell and bulk RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data.

Methods: We collected RNA-seq and microarray data of TNBC from two public datasets. Using single-cell pseudotime analysis, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) among trajectories from 1534 cells of 6 TNBC patients were identified as the potential genes crucial for cell differentiation. Furthermore, the grade- and tumor mutational burden (TMB)-related DEGs were explored via a weighted correlation network analysis using the Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium dataset. Subsequently, we utilized the DEGs to construct a prognostic signature, which was validated using another independent dataset. Moreover, as gene set variation analysis indicated the differences in immune-related pathways between different risk groups, we explored the immune differences between the two groups.

Results: A signature including 10 genes related to grade and TMB was developed to assess the outcomes of TNBC patients, and its prognostic efficacy was prominent in two cohorts. The low-risk group generally harbored lower immune infiltration compared to the high-risk group.

Conclusion: Cell differentiation and grade- and TMB-related DEGs were identified using single-cell and bulk RNA-seq data. A 10-gene signature for prognosis prediction in TNBC patients was constructed, and its performance was excellent. Interestingly, the signature was found to be closely related to tumor immune infiltration, which might provide evidence for the crucial roles of immune cells in malignant initiation and progression in TNBC.
High Prolyl 4-Hydroxylase Subunit Alpha 3 Expression as an Independent Prognostic Biomarker and Correlated With Immune Infiltration in Gastric Cancer
Authors: Niu Xiaoji , Ren Liman , Wang Shoumei , Gao Dong , Ma Mingyue , Hu Aiyan , Qi Hongjun , Zhang Shuhui
Published: July 2022

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) has a high mortality rate and is particularly prevalent in China. The extracellular matrix protein, prolyl 4-hydroxylase subunit alpha 3 (P4HA3), has been implicated in various cancers. We aimed to assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of P4HA3 in GC and investigate its correlation with immune cell infiltration.

Methods: The present study used microarray data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to analyze the association of P4HA3 expression with clinicopathological features. Data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) were used for validation. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and Kaplan–Meier curves were constructed to determine the diagnostic and prognostic value of P4HA3 in GC. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to assess the impact of P4HA3 on overall survival (OS) rates. A protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was generated and functional enrichment evaluated. Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) was conducted to correlate P4HA3 expression with immune cell infiltration. The correlation between P4HA3 and immune check point genes was studied.

Results: P4HA3 was over-expressed in GC, along with 15 other types of cancer, including breast invasive carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma. P4HA3 showed high diagnostic and prognostic value in GC and was an independent prognostic factor. P4HA3, TNM (tumor, node, metastases) stage, pathological stage and age all correlated with OS rates. Genes related to P4HA3 were enriched in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum and included procollagen-proline 3-dioxygenase activity. P4HA3 expression correlated with numbers of macrophages, natural killer (NK) cells, immature dendritic cells (iDC), mast cells, eosinophils, effective memory T cells (Tem), T-helper 1 (Th1) cells and dendritic cells (DC). P4HA3 was positively correlated with hepatitis A virus cellular receptor 2 (HAVCR2) and programmed cell death 1 ligand 2 (PDCD1LG2).

Conclusion: P4HA3 is a potential independent biomarker for prognosis of GC and may be an immunotherapy target in the treatment of GC.
SCG2: A Prognostic Marker That Pinpoints Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Weng Siyuan , Liu Zaoqu , Ren Xiaofeng , Xu Hui , Ge Xiaoyong , Ren Yuqing , Zhang Yuyuan , Dang Qin , Liu Long , Guo Chunguang , Beatson Richard , Deng Jinhai , Han Xinwei
Published: July 2022

Background

Fluorouracil (FU)-based chemotherapy regimens are indispensable in the comprehensive treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the heterogeneity of treated individuals and the severe adverse effects of chemotherapy results in limited overall benefit.

Methods

Firstly, Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) identified modules tightly associated with chemotherapy response. Then, the in-house cohort and prognostic cohorts from TCGA and GEO were subjected to Cox proportional hazards model and survival analysis to ascertain the predictable function of SCG2 on the prognosis of CRC patients. Finally, we performed In vitro experiments, functional analysis, somatic mutation, and copy number variation research to explore the biological characteristics of SCG2.

Results

We identified red and green as the modules most associated with chemotherapy response, in which SCG2 was considered a risky factor with higher expression predicting poorer prognosis. SCG2 expression in the APC non-mutation group was remarkably higher than in the mutation group. The mutation frequencies of amplified genes differed significantly between different SCG2 expression subgroups. Besides, CRC cell lines with SCG2 knockdown have reduced invasive, proliferative, and proliferative capacity. We discovered that the SCG2 high expression subgroup was the immune hot type and considered more suitable for immunotherapy.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the clinical significance and biological characteristics of SCG2, which could serve as a promising biomarker to identify patients who may benefit from chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
The Role of Neutrophils as a Driver in Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury and Cancer Growth
Authors: Kaltenmeier Christof , Yazdani Hamza O. , Handu Sanah , Popp Brandon , Geller David , Tohme Samer
Published: July 2022

The innate immune system plays an essential role in the response to sterile inflammation and its association with liver ischemia and reperfusion injury (IRI). Liver IRI often manifests during times of surgical stress such as cancer surgery or liver transplantation. Following the initiation of liver IRI, stressed hepatocytes release damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) which promote the infiltration of innate immune cells which then initiate an inflammatory cascade and cytokine storm. Upon reperfusion, neutrophils are among the first cells that infiltrate the liver. Within the liver, neutrophils play an important role in fueling tissue damage and tumor progression by promoting the metastatic cascade through the formation of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs). NETs are composed of web-like DNA structures containing proteins that are released in response to inflammatory stimuli in the environment. Additionally, NETs can aid in mediating liver IRI, promoting tumor progression, and most recently, in mediating early graft rejection in liver transplantation. In this review we aim to summarize the current knowledge of innate immune cells, with a focus on neutrophils, and their role in mediating IRI in mouse and human diseases, including cancer and transplantation. Moreover, we will investigate the interaction of Neutrophils with varying subtypes of other cells. Furthermore, we will discuss the role and different treatment modalities in targeting Neutrophils and NETs to prevent IRI.