bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tacna y su relación histórica con la caña hueca
Authors: Alanoca Tarqui Rene Nelson
Published: December 2020

El presente trabajo de indagación y recopilación tuvo como objetivo mostrar el valor cultural de la caña hueca, cuyo nombre científico es Arundo donax, y su relación con Tacna. También se mostraron evidencias de la existencia de la caña en la emoción del antiguo tacneño, por parte de representantes del arte y la cultura en nuestra región, quienes al igual que con otros recursos naturales (como las buganvillas) reconocieron su influencia. Se revisó la situación de las tierras de cultivo durante la época colonial en el Perú y parte de la republicana. Asimismo, se rememoró algunos acontecimientos de la época del cautiverio, conjuntamente con toda la barbarie vivida. Se reforzaron las características inherentes de la caña hueca, como su resistencia a ser eliminada fácilmente de los suelos.Yque a pesar de ser considerada una planta invasiva en muchas partes del mundo, al igual que el tacneño durante el cautiverio, resistió los embates del tiempo, lo que se lo debe en gran parte a sus raíces llamadas rizomas. Por otro lado, se tuvieron en cuenta los usos de la caña, que en el viejo mundo se venía haciendo demanera paralela a la culminación del cautiverio; asimismo, sus usos tradicionales hasta los realizados en la época contemporánea. Además, se exploraron antecedentes de proyectos referentes a la intervención de la caña en la vida del hombre de hoy en las zonas rurales.
Manifestaciones literarias y construcción de identidades: el caso de Arequipa (Perú siglo XVIII – XIX)
Authors: Gamio Pino Mauricio Miguel
Published: December 2020

El presente artículo analiza la formación de discursos nacionales y locales en la ciudad de Arequipa, en el sur del Perú, entre los siglos XVIII y XIX. Se plantea la existencia de un discurso localista que se basó en la defensa de los fueros del cabildo colonial y que fue difundido a través de expresiones literarias y publicaciones escritas, las que constituyeron la principal herramienta de análisis. Este sentimiento local permaneció durante el siglo XIX, periodo en el que se produjeron importantes trasformaciones políticas, económicas y sociales, integrándose al discurso elementos nacionales propios del contexto político. Por lo que se sostiene que en la ciudad de Arequipa existía una identidad local desde el periodo colonial, a la misma que se integrará un discurso nacional desde el siglo XIX.
AIFA time-to-reimbursement: a comparison between the last two committees from 2015 to 2020
Authors: Raimondo Paola , Casilli Giorgio , Isernia Martina , Lidonnici Dario , Ravasio Roberto , Ronco Virginia , Lanati Elena
Published: December 2020

Objective. To compare the time-to-reimbursement of the last two committees of the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA), respectively appointed in 2015 and in 2018.

Methods. The analysis was run through a specific internal database created by MA-Provider. The database was populated with information regarding European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved new drugs, including each step of the Italian Price and Reimbursement (P&R) process reported in the monthly outcomes of Technical Scientific Committee (CTS) and Price and Reimbursement Committee (CPR) meetings from September 2015 to April 2020.

Results. The 2015 and the 2018 committees have reimbursed respectively 39 and 28 drugs by comparing their initial 19 months of activity. Significant differences have been observed in negotiated economic conditions, in particular an increase in the number of drugs with confidential discount (2018-committee: 96.4% vs 2015-committee: 64.1%; p = 0.003) and a reduction in the application of Managed Entry Agreements (MEAs) (2018-committee: 10.7% vs 2015-committee: 33.3%; p = 0.036). The average duration of the P&R procedure managed by the 2018-committee has increased by 45 days compared to the 2015-committee (287 days vs 242 days; p = 0.071) and this trend of delay is associated to the active scientific/economic assessment phase by CTS and CPR (particularly by the latter) and not to administrative phases (e.g. Official Journal publications).

Conclusions. The observed differences between committees may be explained by the higher number of oncological and/or innovative drugs assessed by the 2018-committee (regarding the time delay, probably linked to greater difficulties in finding a win-win agreement able to satisfy both AIFA and Pharmaceutical Company).
Caracterização físico-química, microbiológica e ecotoxicológica das águas pluviais do sistema de drenagem urbana de Santos (São Paulo, Brasil)
Authors: Gandra Carla Vilar , Guimarães Luciana Lopes , Santos Aldo Ramos , Cortez Fernando Sanzi , Pusceddu Fabio Hermes
Published: December 2020

O município de Santos, Estado de São Paulo, tem por característica seus canais de drenagem de águas pluviais que cortam toda a cidade (canais 1 a 7). O objetivo geral deste estudo consistiu em analisar a qualidade das águas pluviais urbanas do sistema de drenagem do município de Santos, em períodos de alto índice pluviométrico. Foram realizadas análises microbiológicas, físico-químicas, químicas e ecotoxicológicas. Os procedimentos da coleta seguiram um contexto de investigação do percurso da água pluvial captada sequencialmente em cada ponto de análise: a água da chuva, a água na sarjeta, na saída da galeria e na água depositada no canal. Os resultados foram avaliados com base nos parâmetros estabelecidos pelas resoluções CONAMA 274/00 e CONAMA 357/05. Quando comparado às localidades específicas no canal 3 (área antiga e de densidade populacional mais elevada) e no canal 7 (área de ocupação mais nova e de menor índice populacional), foi possível determinar a existência de esgoto doméstico, tendo maior número de pontos contaminados no canal 3 e no canal 7 apresentou uma contaminação pontual em sua galeria. O estudo demonstrou a presença de contaminantes de influência antrópica, desde o meio urbano até a ligação irregular de esgoto sanitário nos pontos analisados nesta pesquisa. A presença destes contaminantes no sistema de drenagem urbana de águas pluviais pode trazer consequências ambientais para a biota aquática (presentes no corpo receptor) e também para a saúde humana através do contato com estas águas.
Serviço social e saúde pública: desafios na atuação do assistente social no atendimento ao usuário da atenção primária à saúde
Authors: Lima Wilson Fernandes de , Rodrigues Stefânia Vieira , Silva Jaine Maria Da , Silva Joana de Moura e , Martins Larissa Carvalho , Luz Maria Daiane De Lima , Negreiros Ana Luiza Barbosa , Sousa Laelson Rochelle Milanês
Published: December 2020

O estudo objetivou identificar os desafios encontrados pelo Assistente Social no campo da atenção primária à saúde, através de produções científicas disponibilizadas em periódicos online, do ano de 2010 a 2019. Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa da literatura, realizada em bases de dados da Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde (BVS), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) e PubMed. Os dados foram coletados em outubro e novembro de 2020. Para tanto, foram empregados os Descritores em Ciências da Saúde (DeCS), a saber: “Assistentes Sociais”, “Atenção Primária à Saúde” e “Serviço Social”. A amostra total do estudo foi composta por 26 artigos previamente selecionados, e após análise na íntegra e critérios de exclusão, resultou em uma amostra final de 5 artigos. Das publicações selecionadas surgiram duas categorias temáticas com base no enfoque dos estudos: Serviço Social na Atenção Básica: trajetória e processos envolvidos em sua implementação; Assistentes sociais na Atenção Primária: contribuição e desafios desses profissionais na saúde. O estudo possibilitou evidenciar que a inserção do Assistente Social na atenção primária à saúde é um relevante marco de referência para a Saúde Pública. No entanto, acredita-se que esse tema mereça maior atenção por parte dos pesquisadores com a finalidade de aprimorar os conhecimentos teóricos e práticos para a consolidação e reconhecimento do profissional do Serviço Social perante a Atenção Primária e aos demais profissionais da equipe.
Perfil epidemiológico e clínico de pacientes com tentativa de suicídio atendidos em um hospital de referência psiquiátrica
Authors: Martins Soraya Galvão , Pereira Alba Lúcia Ribeiro Raithy , Costa Silvia Maria Almeida da , Reis Sylvan Martins dos , Simor Alzinei , Santana Mary Elizabeth de , Martins Ana Caroline Guedes Souza
Published: December 2020

Este estudo tem por objetivo traçar o perfil epidemiológico e clínico dos pacientes com tentativa de suicídio internados de um hospital de referência psiquiátrica no Estado do Pará. Trata-se de um estudo epidemiológico observacional retrospectivo com abordagem quantitativa-descritiva, realizado em 28 prontuários de pacientes internados em Clínica Psiquiátrica de Belém-Pará, diagnosticados com tentativa de suicídio. A análise dos dados se deu através da estatística descritiva e do teste Qui-quadrado. Os resultados apontam que a taxa de incidência calculada para tentativa de suicídio foi de 101/mil pacientes, 57% dos pacientes eram do sexo feminino e 43% do sexo masculino; 32,0% estavam na faixa etária de 19 a 24 anos e 36,0% na faixa de 25 a 34 anos; 53,6% tinham o ensino fundamental incompleto / completo; 82,1% eram solteiros e 46,4% estavam sem ocupação/desempregados. Os principais meios utilizados para o ato foram a automutilação com arma branca (22%), enforcamento (14%) e afogamento (14%); todos foram diagnosticados com algum transtorno mental, sendo os mais frequentes: Psicose não-orgânica não especificada (61%) e Esquizofrenia (18%); Os principais motivos identificados foram: a recusa ao tratamento (43%), graves perturbações familiares (14%) e falta de medicação no sistema de saúde pública (11%), onde todos os pacientes analisados ofereciam algum risco de cometer nova tentativa de suicídio. Os resultados mostram-se em consonância com dados da literatura sobre o tema e apontam que os indivíduos que atentam contra a própria vida têm características bastante heterogêneas e podem estar nas mais diferentes classes sociais.
‘Unscrambling’ the drivers of egg production in Agassiz’s desert tortoise: climate and individual attributes predict reproductive output
Authors: Mitchell CI , Friend DA , Phillips LT , Hunter EA , Lovich JE , Agha M , Puffer SR , Cummings KL , Medica PA , Esque TC , Nussear KE , Shoemaker KT
Published: December 2020

The ‘bet hedging’ life history strategy of long-lived iteroparous species reduces short-term reproductive output to minimize the risk of reproductive failure over a lifetime. For desert-dwelling ectotherms living in variable and unpredictable environments, reproductive output is further influenced by precipitation and temperature via effects on food availability and limits on activity. We assembled multiple (n = 12) data sets on egg production for the threatened Agassiz’s desert tortoiseGopherus agassiziiacross its range and used these data to build a range-wide predictive model of annual reproductive output as a function of annual weather variation and individual-level attributes (body size and prior-year reproductive status). Climate variables were more robust predictors of reproductive output than individual-level attributes, with overall reproductive output positively related to prior-year precipitation and an earlier start to the spring activity season, and negatively related to spring temperature extremes (monthly temperature range in March-April). Reproductive output was highest for individuals with larger body sizes that reproduced in the previous year. Expected annual reproductive output from 1990-2018 varied from 2-5 to 6-12 eggs female-1yr-1, with a weak decline in expected reproductive output over this time (p = 0.02). Climate-driven environmental variation in expected reproductive output was highly correlated across all 5 Recovery Units for this species (Pearson’s r > 0.9). Overall, our model suggests that climate change could strongly impact the reproductive output of Agassiz’s desert tortoise, and could have a negative population-level effect if precipitation is significantly reduced across the species’ range as predicted under some climate models.
Эволюция внешнеполитических приоритетов государств Балтии в первое десятилетие после их вступления в НАТО и ЕС (2004 – 2014 гг.)
Authors: Володькин А. А.
Published: December 2020

В статье рассматривается развитие приоритетных направлений внешней политики трех государств Балтии (Литвы, Латвии и Эстонии) в период от их вступления в ЕС и НАТО весной 2004 г. до изменения политической ситуации в Европе в связи с началом международного кризиса вокруг Украины весной 2014 г. На основании широкого круга документальных источников и литературы по теме исследования автор выделил следующие главные направления внешней политики государств Балтии в данный период: 1) углубление интеграции в ЕС и НАТО и поиск ими собственной политической ниши в этих структурах, связанный с решением ряда специфических проблем, стоявших перед этими странами; 2) активизация отношений с постсоветскими государствами Восточной Европы (включая Беларусь), в основе которой лежали преимущественно ценностные подходы (а в случае Литвы – также и геополитический); 3) поддержание тесного партнерства с США, как главным гарантом их безопасности; 4) использование новых возможностей членства в ЕС и НАТО для решения проблем в отношениях с Россией. В заключении статьи представлены авторские выводы о динамике и основных тенденциях развития этих внешнеполитических приоритетов
The interaction of various temporal devices in the use ofpastfollowed by temporal nouns
Authors: Yoo Isaiah WonHo
Published: December 2020

Followed by a temporal noun, past can be synonymous with last, but not with non-deictically anchored previous (e.g., ‘I've not been feeling very well for the past/last/*previous few days’). Most dictionaries provide examples in which past occurs with the present perfect, giving the impression that past is incompatible with other tenses. A close examination of the token past retrieved from the Brown Corpus, the Frown Corpus, and the Corpus of Contemporary American English (coca), however, has revealed that it is not uncommon for past to occur with the simple past or even with the past perfect (e.g., ‘His wife had left him the past year for a wealthy Wall Street broker’) and that past occurring with the past perfect can be explained as instances of free indirect style, discourse freezing or difference in reality (i.e., the three discourse principles allowing a shift in viewpoint with last). Research on temporal reference has thus far been ‘strongly biased towards certain devices’ such as tense, Aktionsart, and aspect ( Klein, 2009 : 41). This study shows that our understanding of how time is encoded in language can benefit from research studies dealing with the relationship between tense-aspect, temporal adverbials and discourse principles.
Measuring grammatical status in Chinese through quantitative corpus analysis
Authors: Sun Linlin , Saavedra David Correia
Published: December 2020

This paper applies a quantitative model developed for measuring grammatical status, using data from the Lancaster Corpus of Mandarin Chinese (lcmc). The model takes into account four quantitative factors (token frequency, collocate diversity, colligate diversity and deviation of proportions) and uses them as predictors in a binary logistic regression in order to compute a score of grammatical status between ‘0’ (lexical/non-grammatical) and ‘1’ (highly grammatical) for each given element. The results of the lcmc model are then compared to those of a similar study of the British National Corpus (bnc). The comparison suggests that token frequency emerges as one of the most relevant parameters for quantifying degrees of grammatical status in both language models, together with the collocate diversity measure when using a broad window span. On the other hand, the colligational measures (left- or right-based) and the other collocate diversity measures using small spans (left- or right-based) contribute very differently to the two languages due to their typologically distinctive structures.
To question of vaccine prevention of bovine leucose
Authors:   Russian Academy of Sciences, Donnik Irina M. , Kovalenko Anatoly M. ,   Belgorod State Agrarian University named after V.Ya.Gorin, Gulyukin Mikhail I. ,   All-Russian Scientific-Research Institute of Experimental Veterinary Medicine named after K.I. Skryabin and Ya.R. Kovalenko of the RAS, Busol Vladimir A. ,   Institute of Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Krivonogova Anna S. ,   Ural Federal Agrarian Scientific Research Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Isaeva Albina G. ,   Ural Federal Agrarian Scientific Research Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Petropavlovsky Maksim V. ,   Ural Federal Agrarian Scientific Research Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Published: December 2020

Approaches of scientists from Russia, Ukraine and near and far abroad to the production of anti-leukemia vaccines in chronological order, and their protective properties both in laboratory conditions and in the conditions of an epizootological experiment, possible ways of using these vaccines in animal husbandry in perspective are presented in the review. The development of an effective vaccine against cattle leukemia is one of the complex science-intensive and high-tech promising tasks of veterinary medicine.
UMA ANÁLISE QUANTITATIVA DA FORMAÇÃO DE PROFESSORES PARA O ENSINO DE ESTATÍSTICA NA EDUCAÇÃO BÁSICA
Authors: Perseguin Lucas Gabriel Silva , Dias Cristiane de Fatima Budek , Junior Guataçara dos Santos
Published: December 2020

A Estatística passou a fazer parte dos currículos educacionais internacionalmente a partir da década de 1970 e, desde então, muitos estudos se concretizaram sobre seu ensino e aprendizagem. Um dos pontos da pesquisa em Educação Estatística está no processo de formação de professores. Desta forma, este artigo tem como objetivo avaliar quantitativamente o contexto mundial das pesquisas sobre a formação de professores para o ensino de Estatística na Educação Básica. Para tanto, foi utilizada ametodologia de revisão sistemática Methodi Ordinatio, a qual permite classificar e ordenar produções científicas de acordo com sua relevância para o campo de estudo. Para a busca das produções, foram consideradas as bases Science Direct, Scopus, Scielo e Web of Science. Observou-se que o estudosobre o tema é algo recente no panorama global e em constante crescente, principalmente impulsionado pelas pesquisas realizadas no Brasil e Estados Unidos e pelas mudanças curricularesocorridas no contexto mundial.
EDUCAÇÃO MATEMÁTICA CRÍTICA: UM DIÁLOGO ENTRE SUA GÊNESE NOS ANOS 1970 E SUAS DISCUSSÕES EM 2017 NO BRASIL
Authors: Marcone Renato , Milani Raquel
Published: December 2020

O artigo apresenta um estudo teórico que teve como objetivo analisar as inspirações recentes da Educação Matemática Crítica (EMC), quando comparadas com os eventos que motivaramsua criação por Ole Skovsmose na década de 70. A entrevista dada por Skovsmose à Revista Paranaense de Educação Matemática, em 2012, sobre a criação da EMC, é tomada como base e pontode partida para o presente estudo. Essa mesma revista, em 2017, publicou uma edição especial sobre EMC com dezesseis artigos científicos. Como procedimento metodológico, realizou-se uma metaanálise desses artigos. Percebeu-se que noções da EMC são amplamente utilizadas pelos autores desses textos para compreender e refletir sobre a sala de aula de Matemática, sendo que a maioria faz referência aos cenários para investigação e o paradigma do exercício. Essas duas noções são apresentadas, na língua portuguesa, por Ole Skovsmose, em uma publicação no BOLEMA em 2000. No referido texto, o educador matemático traz uma matriz de ambientes de aprendizagem, a qual é utilizada explicitamente em cinco dos 16 artigos analisados com duas intenções: produzir novos conhecimentos teóricos para discutir e evidenciar aspectos antes não apontados diretamente na matrize analisar situações relacionadas às aulas de Matemática. Os movimentos feministas e estudantis que motivaram as teorias críticas continuam refletidos nas pesquisas atuais. Percebe-se, ainda, uma ascensão da educação inclusiva e financeira dentro da EMC.
CONHECIMENTOS MOBILIZADOS POR UMA PROFESSORA DE MATEMÁTICA NO ENSINO DE SÓLIDOS GEOMÉTRICOS PARA UMA ESTUDANTE CEGA
Authors: Silva Mayra Darly da , Carvalho Liliane Maria Teixeira Lima de , Pessoa Cristiane Azevêdo dos Santos
Published: December 2020

Este artigo apresenta um estudo que buscou analisar conhecimentos mobilizados por uma professora que ensina matemática no 2º ano do Ensino Fundamental, em situações de planejamento e realização de aula, a partir da utilização de um material manipulável para o ensino de sólidos geométricos para uma estudante cega. Com base em Ball, Thames e Phelps (2008), que discutem conhecimentos específicos de Matemática (comum; especializado; e horizonte curricular) e conhecimentos pedagógicos (conteúdo e ensino; conteúdo e estudante; e conteúdo e currículo),analisamos o planejamento e a aula da professora. No planejamento, ela propôs atividades recomendadas apenas para anos posteriores de escolarização, expressando assim fragilidades no Conhecimento do Conteúdo e do Currículo, e no Conhecimento Horizonte do Currículo. Sobre o tetraedro e o hexaedro durante a aula a professora mobilizou o Conhecimento Comum do Conteúdo,Conhecimento do Conteúdo e do Estudante, Conhecimento do Conteúdo e do Ensino e Conhecimento do Conteúdo e do Currículo. Contudo, sua abordagem sobre o octaedro, apresentou fragilidades em relação ao Conhecimento Comum do Conteúdo levando-a a disponibilizar informações incoerentes à estudante. Entendemos que a formação docente deve abarcar conhecimentos do conteúdo e pedagógicos do conteúdo, pois fragilidades nesses domínios podem comprometer processos de ensino e de aprendizagem.
Virtual Point Control for Step-Down Perturbations and Downhill Slopes in Bipedal Running
Authors: Drama Özge , Badri-Spröwitz Alexander
Published: December 2020

Bipedal running is a difficult task to realize in robots, since the trunk is underactuated and control is limited by intermittent ground contacts. Stabilizing the trunk becomes even more challenging if the terrain is uneven and causes perturbations. One bio-inspired method to achieve postural stability is the virtual point (VP) control, which is able to generate natural motion. However, so far it has only been studied for level running. In this work, we investigate whether the VP control method can accommodate single step-down perturbations and downhill terrains. We provide guidelines on the model and controller parameterizations for handling varying terrain conditions. Next, we show that the VP method is able to stabilize single step-down perturbations up to 40 cm, and downhill grades up to 20–40° corresponding to running speeds of 2–5 ms−1. Our results show that the VP approach leads to asymmetrically bounded ground reaction forces for downhill running, unlike the commonly-used symmetric friction cone constraints. Overall, VP control is a promising candidate for terrain-adaptive running control of bipedal robots.
Allochthonous and Autochthonous Halothermotolerant Bioanodes From Hypersaline Sediment and Textile Wastewater: A Promising Microbial Electrochemical Process for Energy Recovery Coupled With Real Textile Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Askri Refka , Erable Benjamin , Etcheverry Luc , Saadaoui Sirine , Neifar Mohamed , Cherif Ameur , Chouchane Habib
Published: December 2020

The textile and clothing industry is the first manufacture sector in Tunisia in terms of employment and number of enterprises. It generates large volumes of textile dyeing wastewater (TDWW) containing high concentrations of saline, alkaline, and recalcitrant pollutants that could fuel tenacious and resilient electrochemically active microorganisms in bioanodes of bioelectrochemical systems. In this study, a designed hybrid bacterial halothermotolerant bioanode incorporating indigenous and exogenous bacteria from both hypersaline sediment of Chott El Djerid (HSCE) and TDWW is proposed for simultaneous treatment of real TDWW and anodic current generation under high salinity. For the proposed halothermotolerant bioanodes, electrical current production, chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency, and bacterial community dynamics were monitored. All the experiments of halothermotolerant bioanode formation have been conducted on 6 cm2 carbon felt electrodes polarized at −0.1 V/SCE and inoculated with 80% of TDWW and 20% of HSCE for 17 days at 45°C. A reproducible current production of about 12.5 ± 0.2 A/m2 and a total of 91 ± 3% of COD removal efficiency were experimentally validated. Metagenomic analysis demonstrated significant differences in bacterial diversity mainly at species level between anodic biofilms incorporating allochthonous and autochthonous bacteria and anodic biofilm containing only autochthonous bacteria as a control. Therefore, we concluded that these results provide for the first time a new noteworthy alternative for achieving treatment and recover energy, in the form of a high electric current, from real saline TDWW.
Improving Biological Treatment of Real Bilge Wastewater With Zero Valent Iron and Activated Charcoal Addition
Authors: Mazioti Aikaterini A. , Notarides Gregoris , Symeou Giannis , Vyrides Ioannis
Published: December 2020

From the ships engine rooms a recalcitrant wastewater is produced called “bilge” which contains oil, metal working fluids, surfactants, and salinity. This study investigated the treatment of real bilge wastewater in short experiments using the following processes: (i) anaerobic digestion with granular sludge and ZVI addition for enhancement of methane production, (ii) activated charcoal addition to biological treatment (aerobic and anaerobic) for Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) significant reduction and (iii) combination of ZVI and anaerobic charcoal addition for high performance treatment. The addition of ZVI in anaerobic sludge resulted in higher performance mostly in cumulative CH4 production. The microbial profile of anaerobic granular sludge exposed to ZVI was determined and Acetobacterium and Arcobacter were the most dominant bacteria genera. Activated charcoal achieved higher COD removal, compared to biological degradation (aerobic and anaerobic). The combination of the two mechanisms, activated charcoal and biomass, had higher COD removal only for aerobic biomass. The combination of ZVI and activated charcoal to anaerobic digestion resulted in higher CH4 production and significant COD removal in short contact time.
Lipid Transfer–Dependent Endosome Maturation Mediated by Protrudin and PDZD8 in Neurons
Authors: Shirane Michiko
Published: December 2020

Endosome maturation refers to the conversion of early endosomes (EEs) to late endosomes (LEs) for subsequent fusion with lysosomes. It is an incremental process that involves a combination of endosome fusion and fission and which occurs at contact sites between endosomes and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), with knowledge of the underlying mechanisms having increased greatly in recent years. Protrudin is an ER-resident protein that was originally shown to regulate neurite formation by promoting endosome trafficking, whereas PDZD8 is a mammalian paralog of a subunit of the yeast ERMES (ER-mitochondrial encounter structure) complex that possesses lipid transfer activity. A complex of protrudin and PDZD8 was recently found to promote endosome maturation by mediating lipid transfer at ER-endosome membrane contact sites. This review focuses on the roles of the protrudin-PDZD8 complex in tethering of endosomes to the ER, in mediating lipid transfer at such contact sites, and in regulating endosome dynamics, especially in neuronal cells. It also addresses the physiological contribution of endosome maturation mediated by this complex to neuronal polarity and integrity.
A Series of Cube-Shaped Polyoxoniobates Encapsulating Octahedral Cu12XmOn Clusters With Hydrolytic Decomposition for Chemical Warfare Agents
Authors: Wu Yan-Lan , Zhang Rong-Tao , Sun Yan-Qiong , Li Xin-Xiong , Zheng Shou-Tian
Published: December 2020

This study reported a series of cube-shaped polyoxoniobates, {MCu12O8)(Cu12XmOn)(Nb7(OH)O21)8} [M = Nb(1, 2), Ln3+(3), X = I(1, m = 3, n = 3; 2, m = 5, n = 1), Br(3, m = 5, n = 1)]. As the first octahedral Cu12XmOn cluster incorporated polyoxoniobate, the cube-shaped three-shell structure of {MCu12O8)(Cu12XmOn)(Nb7(OH)O21)8} polyanion contains a {MCu12O8} body-centered cuboctahedron, a {Cu12XmOn} octahedron and a {Cu12(Nb7(OH)O21)8} cube. Compounds 1, 2, 3 show effective catalytic activities for the hydrolytic decomposition of chemical warefare agent simulants.
Is the “Common Cold” Our Greatest Ally in the Battle Against SARS-CoV-2?
Authors: Capoor Manu N. , Ahmed Fahad S. , McDowell Andrew , Slaby Ondrej
Published: December 2020

The discovery of T-cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 in non-infected individuals indicates cross-reactive immune memory from prior exposure to human coronaviruses (HCoV) that cause the common cold. This raises the possibility that “immunity” could exist within populations at rates that may be higher than serology studies estimate. Besides specialized research labs, however, there is limited ability to measure HCoV CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection, which currently impedes interpretation of any potential correlation between COVID-19 disease pathogenesis and the calibration of pandemic control measures. Given this limited testing ability, an alternative approach would be to exploit the large cohort of currently available data from which statistically significant associations may be generated. This would necessitate the merging of several public databases including patient and contact tracing, which could be created by relevant public health organizations. Including data from both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients in SARS-CoV-2 databases and surveillance systems could provide the necessary information to allow for more informed decisions.
Empirical Analysis of Global-Scale Natural Data and Analogue Seismotectonic Modelling Data to Unravel the Seismic Behaviour of the Subduction Megathrust
Authors: Funiciello Francesca , Corbi Fabio , Heuret Arnauld , Piromallo Claudia , Rosenau Matthias
Published: December 2020

Subduction megathrusts host the Earth’s greatest earthquakes as the 1960 Valdivia (Mw 9.5, Chile), the largest earthquake instrumentally recorded, and the recent 2004 Sumatra-Andaman (Mw 9.2, Indonesia), 2010 Maule (Mw 8.8, Chile), and 2011 Tohoku-Oki (Mw 9.1, Japan) earthquakes triggering devastating tsunamis and representing a major hazard to society. Unravelling the spatio-temporal pattern of these events is thus a key for seismic hazard assessment of subduction zones. This paper reviews the current state of knowledge of two research areas–empirical analysis of global-scale natural data and experimental data from an analogue seismotectonic modelling—devoted to study cause-effect relationships between subduction zone parameters and the megathrust seismogenic behavior. The combination of the two approaches overcomes the observational bias and inherent sampling limitations of geological processes (i.e., shortness of instrumental and historical data, decreasing completeness and resolution with time into the past) and allows drawing appropriately from multiple disciplines with the aim of highlighting the geodynamic conditions that may favor the occurrence of giant megathrust earthquakes.
Discovery of Genomic Characteristics and Selection Signatures in Southern Chinese Local Cattle
Authors: Liu Yuqiang , Xu Lingyang , Yang Liu , Zhao Guoyao , Li Junya , Liu Dewu , Li Yaokun
Published: December 2020

Chinese local cattle with a high level of genetic diversity mainly originate from two subspecies; the cattle in northern China are primarilyBos Taurus, and the cattle in southern China are primarilyBos indicus. Cattle from southern China are characterized by a specific phenotype and adapted to the local environment. This study explored the genetic diversity, degree of admixture, and selection signature in eight local cattle breeds in southern China. The lowest level of heterozygosity was found in Hainan and Nandan cattle from Hainan and Guangxi province, respectively, whereas the highest level of heterozygosity was detected in Zhaotong cattle from Yunnan province. A neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree analysis clearly separated Lufeng cattle from other breeds, whereas Leiqiong and Hainan cattle have some crossover. Based on linkage disequilibrium-filtered single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), the admixture analysis revealed two clusters corresponding to the taurine and indicine cattle lineages, and the local cattle breeds from southern China showed a certain degree of admixture. WhenK= 4 and 9, we found a slight separation among Leiqiong, Lufeng, and Hainan cattle. Meanwhile, we performed a selection signature analysis in Hainan, Leiqiong, and Lufeng cattle distributed in the extreme south of China, using the integrated haplotype score (iHS), Rsb statistic, and BayeScan software. Using the iHS approach, we identified 251, 270, and 256 candidate regions in Lufeng, Leiqiong, and Hainan cattle, respectively. Moreover, we identified 184, 174, and 146 candidate regions in pairwise comparisons of Leiqiong vs. Lufeng, Leiqiong vs. Hainan, and Hainan vs. Lufeng cattle using the Rsb approach. In addition, we identified 76 loci with a total of 48 genes under selection, based on the FSTapproach. Several candidate genes under selection were found to be related to meat quality, immunity, and adaptation to the local environment in southern China. Our results provide significant information about the genetic differences among the cattle breeds from southern China and the possible cause of difference in breed-specific characteristics. Selection signature analysis identified a few candidate SNPs and genes related to certain important traits of these cattle. In general, our results provide valuable insights into the genetic basis of specific traits under selection in certain local cattle breeds.
Class I HLA Allele Predicted Restricted Antigenic Coverages for Spike and Nucleocapsid Proteins Are Associated With Deaths Related to COVID-19
Authors: Pretti Marco Antônio M. , Galvani Rômulo G. , Vieira Gustavo Fioravanti , Bonomo Adriana , Bonamino Martín H. , Boroni Mariana
Published: December 2020

The world is dealing with one of the worst pandemics ever. SARS-CoV-2 is the etiological agent of COVID-19 that has already spread to more than 200 countries. However, infectivity, severity, and mortality rates do not affect all countries equally. Here we consider 140 HLA alleles and extensively investigate the landscape of 3,723 potential HLA-I A and B restricted SARS-CoV-2-derived antigens and how 37 countries in the world are predicted to respond to those peptides considering their HLA-I distribution frequencies. The clustering of HLA-A and HLA-B allele frequencies partially separates most countries with the lowest number of deaths per million inhabitants from the other countries. We further correlated the patterns of in silico predicted population coverage and epidemiological data. The number of deaths per million inhabitants correlates to the predicted antigen coverage of S and N derived peptides and its module is influenced if a given set of frequent or rare HLA alleles are analyzed in a given population. Moreover, we highlighted a potential risk group carrying HLAs associated with an elevated number of deaths per million inhabitants. In addition, we identified three potential antigens bearing at least one amino acid of the four-length insertion that differentiates SARS-CoV-2 from previous coronavirus strains. We believe these data can contribute to the search for peptides with the potential to be used in vaccine strategies considering the role of herd immunity to hamper the spread of the disease. Importantly, to the best of our knowledge, this work is the first to use a populational approach in association with COVID-19 outcome.
Global Drivers on Southern Ocean Ecosystems: Changing Physical Environments and Anthropogenic Pressures in an Earth System
Authors: Morley Simon A. , Abele Doris , Barnes David K. A. , Cárdenas César A. , Cotté Cedric , Gutt Julian , Henley Sian F. , Höfer Juan , Hughes Kevin A. , Martin Stephanie M. , Moffat Carlos , Raphael Marilyn , Stammerjohn Sharon E. , Suckling Coleen C. , Tulloch Vivitskaia J. D. , Waller Cath L. , Constable Andrew J.
Published: December 2020

The manuscript assesses the current and expected future global drivers of Southern Ocean (SO) ecosystems. Atmospheric ozone depletion over the Antarctic since the 1970s, has been a key driver, resulting in springtime cooling of the stratosphere and intensification of the polar vortex, increasing the frequency of positive phases of the Southern Annular Mode (SAM). This increases warm air-flow over the East Pacific sector (Western Antarctic Peninsula) and cold air flow over the West Pacific sector. SAM as well as El Niño Southern Oscillation events also affect the Amundsen Sea Low leading to either positive or negative sea ice anomalies in the west and east Pacific sectors, respectively. The strengthening of westerly winds is also linked to shoaling of deep warmer water onto the continental shelves, particularly in the East Pacific and Atlantic sectors. Air and ocean warming has led to changes in the cryosphere, with glacial and ice sheet melting in both sectors, opening up new ice free areas to biological productivity, but increasing seafloor disturbance by icebergs. The increased melting is correlated with a salinity decrease particularly in the surface 100 m. Such processes could increase the availability of iron, which is currently limiting primary production over much of the SO. Increasing CO2is one of the most important SO anthropogenic drivers and is likely to affect marine ecosystems in the coming decades. While levels of many pollutants are lower than elsewhere, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and plastics have been detected in the SO, with concentrations likely enhanced by migratory species. With increased marine traffic and weakening of ocean barriers the risk of the establishment of non-indigenous species is increased. The continued recovery of the ozone hole creates uncertainty over the reversal in sea ice trends, especially in the light of the abrupt transition from record high to record low Antarctic sea ice extent since spring 2016. The current rate of change in physical and anthropogenic drivers is certain to impact the Marine Ecosystem Assessment of the Southern Ocean (MEASO) region in the near future and will have a wide range of impacts across the marine ecosystem.
Molecular Screening Strategy to Identify a Non-invasive Delivery Mechanism for the Treatment of Middle Ear Disorders
Authors: Kurabi Arwa , Cooper Molly , Spriggs Meghan , Xu Yuge , Schaerer Daniel , Ryan Allen F.
Published: December 2020

Middle ear ailments include a broad range of pathological conditions. Otitis media is the leading middle ear disease of childhood, which incurs significant health care resources in developed countries and, in developing countries, causes significant mortality and morbidity. Recurrent and chronic infections of the middle ear lead to the prolonged presence of inflammatory factors and cellular infiltrates resulting in temporary hearing loss. However, long-term alteration of the middle ear space can pose the risk of permanent damage to the delicate ear structures and cause tissue remodeling. While the etiopathogenesis of middle ear diseases is multifactorial, targeting the biological mechanisms and molecular networks that drive disease development is critical. Yet, a pivotal step in realizing the potential of molecular therapies is the development of methods for local drug delivery, since systemic application risks side effects. Utilizing bacteriophage display in the rat, we discovered rare peptides that are able to transit the intact tympanic membrane from the external canal to the middle ear cavity by an active process. An in vitro assay demonstrated that transport occurs across the tympanic membranes of humans and that the peptides cross the membrane independent of phage. Transport of phage, which is ~900 nm in length, suggests that these peptides could non-invasively deliver drug packages or gene therapy vectors into the middle ear.
The 12-Item Pruritus Severity Scale – Determining the Severity Bands
Authors: Stępień Katarzyna , Reich Adam
Published: December 2020

Introduction: Assessment of pruritus still remains a challenge due to its subjective character. Various itch questionnaires are widely used to evaluate the severity of pruritus. The aim of the current study was to define the cut off values for the 12-Item Pruritus Severity Scale (12-PSS).

Methods: A total of 240 patients (86 males and 154 females) in the age between 19 and 87 years (mean 52.9 ± 20.7 years) suffering from pruritic dermatological conditions were asked to assess their maximal pruritus with the 12-PSS, the Verbal Rating Scale (VRS) and the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). All subjects also completed the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). VRS, NRS, and DLQI scorings were used as anchor measures to define cut-offs of 12-PSS.

Results: According to VRS, 43 (17.9%) patients suffered from mild, 96 (40%) from moderate, 65 (27.1%) from severe and 36 (15%) from very severe pruritus. Mean 12-PSS scoring for each VRS category was 7.6 ± 3.9, 10.4 ± 3.9, 13.0 ± 3.8, and 13.9 ± 3.8 points, respectively (p < 0.001). Each VRS category significantly differed from the others regarding the mean 12-PSS scoring, except the mean scoring of severe and very severe pruritus (p = 0.72). Thus, three pruritus severity categories of 12-PSS were defined with following score ranges: mild pruritus−3–6 points of 12-PSS, moderate pruritus−7–11 points of 12-PSS and severe pruritus−12–22 points of 12-PSS based on calculation of weighted κ coefficient against VRS, NRS, and DLQI as anchor measures.

Conclusions: The 12-PSS is able to differentiate between patients suffering from mild, moderate, and severe pruritus.
Comparing the Bacterial Community in the Gastrointestinal Tracts Between Growth-Retarded and Normal Yaks on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Ma Jian , Zhu Yixiao , Wang Zhisheng , Yu Xiong , Hu Rui , Wang Xueying , Cao Guang , Zou Huawei , Shah Ali Mujtaba , Peng Quanhui , Xue Bai , Wang Lizhi , Zhao Suonan , Kong Xiangying
Published: December 2020

In ruminants, the bacterial community in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) has an essential role in healthy growth. Examining the bacterial composition in the GIT between growth-retarded and normal yaks could improve our understanding of the role of microorganisms in yaks with growth retardation. In this study, eight male yaks with growth retardation were used as the growth-retarded yak (GRY) group, and another eight male growth normal yaks (GNYs) with the same breed and age were used as the GNY group. We compared the bacterial community in the rumen, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, and colon between GRY and GNY groups based on the 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Alpha-diversity revealed that the Shannon index in the duodenum and ileum of the GNY group was higher (P < 0.05) than that of the GRY group. However, the opposite trend was found in the jejunum and cecum. The principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) showed that the bacterial structure in all segments of GIT differed from each other between two groups. In the rumen, the relative abundances of Ruminococcaceae NK4A214 group, Ruminococcaceae UCG-014, and Treponema 2 were higher (P < 0.05) in the GNY group as compared with the GRY group. However, the Christensenellaceae R-7 group exhibited an opposite trend. In the jejunum, compared with the GNY group, the unclassified Chitinophagaceae was enriched significantly (P < 0.05) in the GRY group. However, the unclassified Peptostreptococcaceae, Christensenellaceae R-7 group, and Lachnospiraceae NK3A20 group were enriched (P < 0.05) in the GNY group. In the ileum, the relative abundances of the Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group and Prevotellaceae UCG-004 were higher (P < 0.05) in the GNY group than those in the GRY group. In the cecum, the GNY group showed a higher (P < 0.05) relative abundance of Prevotellaceae UCG-003 as compared with the GRY group. In the colon, the relative abundances of Treponema 2 and unclassified Lachnospiraceae were slightly higher (0.05 < P < 0.10) in the GNY group than those in the GRY group. Overall, these results improve our knowledge about the bacterial composition in the GIT of growth-retarded and normal yaks, and regulating the bacterial community may be an effective solution to promote the compensatory growth of GRYs.
Delivering Beneficial Microorganisms for Corals: Rotifers as Carriers of Probiotic Bacteria
Authors: Assis Juliana M. , Abreu Fernanda , Villela Helena M. D. , Barno Adam , Valle Rafael F. , Vieira Rayssa , Taveira Igor , Duarte Gustavo , Bourne David G. , Høj Lone , Peixoto Raquel S.
Published: December 2020

The use of Beneficial Microorganisms for Corals (BMCs) to increase the resistance of corals to environmental stress has proven to be effective in laboratory trials. Because direct inoculation of BMCs in larger tanks or in the field can be challenging, a delivery mechanism is needed for efficient transmission of the BMC consortium. Packaged delivery mechanisms have been successfully used to transmit probiotics to other organisms, including humans, lobsters, and fish. Here, we tested a method for utilizing rotifers of the species Brachionus plicatilis for delivery of BMCs to corals of the species Pocillopora damicornis. Epifluorescence microscopy combined with a live/dead cell staining assay was used to evaluate the viability of the BMCs and monitor their in vivo uptake by the rotifers. The rotifers efficiently ingested BMCs, which accumulated in the digestive system and on the body surface after 10 min of interaction. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the adherence of BMCs to the rotifer surfaces. BMC-enriched rotifers were actively ingested by P. damicornis corals, indicating that this is a promising technique for administering coral probiotics in situ. Studies to track the delivery of probiotics through carriers such as B. plicatilis, and the provision or establishment of beneficial traits in corals are the next proof-of-concept research priorities.
The Ion Channel and GPCR Toolkit of Brain Capillary Pericytes
Authors: Hariharan Ashwini , Weir Nick , Robertson Colin , He Liqun , Betsholtz Christer , Longden Thomas A.
Published: December 2020

Brain pericytes reside on the abluminal surface of capillaries, and their processes cover ~90% of the length of the capillary bed. These cells were first described almost 150 years ago (Eberth,1871; Rouget,1873) and have been the subject of intense experimental scrutiny in recent years, but their physiological roles remain uncertain and little is known of the complement of signaling elements that they employ to carry out their functions. In this review, we synthesize functional data with single-cell RNAseq screens to explore the ion channel and G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) toolkit of mesh and thin-strand pericytes of the brain, with the aim of providing a framework for deeper explorations of the molecular mechanisms that govern pericyte physiology. We argue that their complement of channels and receptors ideally positions capillary pericytes to play a central role in adapting blood flow to meet the challenge of satisfying neuronal energy requirements from deep within the capillary bed, by enabling dynamic regulation of their membrane potential to influence the electrical output of the cell. In particular, we outline how genetic and functional evidence suggest an important role for Gs-coupled GPCRs and ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels in this context. We put forth a predictive model for long-range hyperpolarizing electrical signaling from pericytes to upstream arterioles, and detail the TRP and Ca2+channels and Gq, Gi/o, and G12/13signaling processes that counterbalance this. We underscore critical questions that need to be addressed to further advance our understanding of the signaling topology of capillary pericytes, and how this contributes to their physiological roles and their dysfunction in disease.