bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular Typing and Phenotypic and Genotypic Evaluation of Antibiotic Resistance and Virulence Factors of the Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteria Isolated From Vegetable and Salad Samples
Authors: Tavakoli-Far Bahareh , Mousavi Bita , Mashak Zohreh , Rezaei Mohammad Adel , Doregiraee Fatemeh , Kachoie Mehrdad Ataie , Shahraki Manouchehr Momeni , Dehkordi Farhad Safarpoor , Ranjbar Reza , Rahimi Ebrahim , Jafari-Eskari Sedighe
Published: December 2020

BackgroundMethicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is an important cause of foodborne diseases. The present research evaluated the antibiotic resistance properties, distribution of virulence factors, and molecular typing of MRSA bacteria isolated from vegetable and salad samples. MethodsThree-hundred and fifty vegetable and salad samples were examined for the presence of S. aureus using the culture. MRSA bacteria were identified using cefoxitin and oxacillin disk diffusion. The phenotypic pattern of antibiotic resistance was assessed by disk diffusion. ResultsThe PCR evaluated the distribution of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes. Forty-five out of 350 (12.85%) vegetable and salad samples were positive for S. aureus. Twenty-six isolates out of 45 (57.77%) S. aureus bacteria were determined as MRSA. MRSA bacteria harbored the uppermost prevalence of resistance against cefoxitin (100%), ceftaroline (100%), penicillin (100%), tetracycline (88.46%), gentamicin (80.76%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (69.23%), and erythromycin (69.23%). The prevalence of MRSA bacteria resistance recovered from vegetable and salad samples against more than seven antibiotic agents was 12.50% and 27.77%, respectively. BlaCTX-M (100%), blaZ (100%), aacA-D (61.53%), tetK (57.69%), dfrA1 (46.15%), and vanA (42.30%) were the most commonly detected antibiotic resistance genes. PVL (57.69%), coa (53.84%), and hla (38.46%) were the most commonly detected virulence factors amongst the MRSA bacteria. ConclusionMRSA isolates had a similarity lower than 80%, categorized in the same group. The presence of one or more virulence factors and antibiotic resistance genes amongst the resistant-MRSA bacteria signifies an important threat rendering the consumption of contaminated vegetables and salads.
Are Global Experiences During Medical School Associated with Future Medical Practice? A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Survey and Medical School Application Data
Authors: Slifko Shay E , Vielot Nadja A. , Becker-Dreps Sylvia , Pathman Donald E. , Myers Justin G. , Carlough Martha C.
Published: December 2020

Background: Global health interest has grown among medical students over the past twenty years. Most medical schools offer global health opportunities. Studies suggest completing global health electives during medical school may increase likelihood of choosing a primary care discipline or working with underserved populations, yet they have generally not considered students’ interests and experiences prior to medical school. This study aimed to assess the associations of pre-medical school factors and global electives in medical school on subsequently working in global health and with underserved populations in the United States (U.S.) and whether respondents reported perceived benefits from global electives. Methods: We surveyed medical school graduates (classes of 2011-2015) from a large public medical school in the U.S. to describe current practice settings and previous global health experience. We evaluated work, volunteer, and educational experiences preceding medical school, socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity using American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) data. We assessed the association between students’ backgrounds, completing global health electives in medical school and current work in global health or with underserved populations in the U.S.Results: Of 161 respondents, five to eight years post-graduation, 78% reported work, research, or teaching with a focus on global or underserved U.S. populations. Completing a global health elective during medical school (p=0.0002) or during residency (p=0.01) were positively associated with currently working with underserved populations, and pre-medical school experiences were not associated (p=0.1). Adjusting for race and ethnicity, completing a global health elective during medical school was associated with a 38% greater prevalence of working with an underserved population. Perceived benefits from global electives included improved cultural awareness, language skills, public health and research skills, and ability to practice in technology-limited settings. Conclusion: Medical school graduates who participated in global electives as students were more likely than their peers to pursue careers with underserved populations in the U.S. They reported the experience improved their cultural competency and public health skills. These data can be used to design medical school curricula that encourage global health electives, and support skills that will benefit future work with underserved populations, either in the U.S. or abroad.
Changes in Macrophageand Inflammatory Cytokine Expressions During Fracture Healing in an Ovariectomized Mice Model
Authors: Chen Lin , Cheng Shao , Sun Kanghui , Wang Jing , Liu Xinhua , Zhao Yongjian , Yang Junjie , Zhao Dongfeng , Xue Chunchun , Tao Yuren , Zhao Shitian , Zhang Hao , Lu Sheng , Shi Qi , Wang Yongjun , Shu Bing
Published: December 2020

Background: Macrophages and inflammatory cytokines plays important roles in bone fracture healing. However, the expression patterns of macrophages and inflammatory cytokines during fracture healing under the condition of postmenopausal osteoporosis has not been fully revealed.Methods:Tibia transversefracture was established 12 weeks after ovariectomyor shamoperation in 3-month old female mice. Tibias were harvested before fracture or 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, 28 days after fracture for radiological and histological examinations. M1/M2 inflammatorymacrophages, ostealmacrophages and gene expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin-6, interleukin-1βand macrophage conversion related molecules in the fracturehaematoma or callus were also detected.Results:The process of fracture healing,especially the phases of endochondral ossification and callus remodeling, was delayed in ovariectomized mice.The expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α andinterleukin-6, but not interleukin-1β, in the fracturehaematoma or callus were disturbed. We also foundthe decreases in M1 and M2 macrophages inthe initialinflammatory stage, M2 macrophagesin the middle stage and ostealmacrophagesin the middle and late stages of fracture healing in ovariectomized mice.Conclusions: The expressions of macrophages and inflammatory cytokines were impaired in ovariectomized mice, which might contribute partially to poor fracture healing.
Associations of Individual and Joint Expressions of ERCC6 and ERCC8 with Clinicopathological Parameters and Prognosis of Gastric Cancer
Authors: Chen Jing , Li Liang , Sun Li-Ping , Yuan Yuan , Jing Jing-jing
Published: December 2020

BackgroundExcision repair cross-complementing group 6 and 8 (ERCC6 and ERCC8) have been implicated in ailments such as genetic disease and cancer. However, the relationship between individual and joint expressions of ERCC6/ERCC8 and clinicopathological parameters as well as prognosis of gastric cancer (GC) still remains unclear.MethodsIn this study, protein expressions of ERCC6, ERCC8 and ERCC6-ERCC8 were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) with 109 paired GC and para-cancerous normal tissue samples. IHC results and RNA-seq data extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were used to explore the clinical value of ERCC6 and ERCC8 expression in GC. We further conducted protein-protein interaction analysis, Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, gene set enrichment analysis, and gene-gene interaction analysis for the exploration of the function and regulation network of ERCC6 and ERCC8 in GC.ResultsIndividual and joint ERCC6/ERCC8 expression were significantly higher in adjacent normal mucosa compared with GC tissues. Protein expressed levels of ERCC6, ERCC8, double negative ERCC6-ERCC8 and double positive ERCC6-ERCC8 and overexpressed ERCC6 mRNA were related to better clinicopathologic parameters, while overexpressed ERCC8 mRNA suggested worse parameters. Univariate survival analysis indicated an increased OS with higher ERCC6 protein expression and ERCC8 mRNA expression, and a decreased OS with double negative ERCC6-ERCC8 expression. Bioinformatic analyses showed ERCC6 and ERCC8 were associated with nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway, and six and ten gene sets were figured out to be related with ERCC6 and ERCC8, respectively. Direct physical interactions were found between ERCC6 and ERCC8.ConclusionsIndividual and joint expressions of ERCC6/ERCC8 were associated with clinical features of GC. Expressed levels of ERCC6 and double negative ERCC6-ERCC8 protein, and ERCC8 mRNA were related to prognosis of GC. ERCC6 and ERCC8 primarily function in the NER pathway, and could regulate GC progression through the regulation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.
Network Pharmacology-based Systematic Analysis of Molecular Mechanisms of Dingji Fumai Decoction for Ventricular Arrhythmia
Authors: Liang Yi , Liang Bo , Wu Rui Xin , Chen Wen , ZHAO Li-zhi
Published: December 2020

Background: Dingji Fumai decoction (DFD), a traditional herbal mixture, has been widely used to ventricular arrhythmia (VA) in clinical practice in China. However, research on the bioactive components and underlying mechanisms of DFD in VA is still scarce. Methods: Components of DFD were collected from TCMSP, ETCM, and literature. Then, the chemical structures of each component were obtained from PubChem. Next, SwissADME and SwissTargetPrediction were applied for compounds screening and targets prediction of DFD, meanwhile, targets of VA were collected from DrugBank and OMIM. Then, the H-C-T-D network as well as the PPI network were constructed based on the data obtained above. CytoNCA was utilized to filter hub genes and VarElect was used to analyze the relationship between genes and diseases. At last, Metascape was employed for systematic analysis on the potential targets of herbals against VA, and AutoDock was applied for molecular docking to verify the results.Results: A total of 434 components were collected, 168 of which were qualified, and there were 28 shared targets between DFD and VA. Three function modules of DFD were found from the PPI network. Further systematic analysis of shared genes and function modules explained the potential mechanism of DFD in the treatment of VA, molecular docking has verified the interactions. Conclusions: DFD could be employed for VA through mechanisms, including complex interactions between related components and targets, as predicted by network pharmacology and molecular docking. This work confirmed DFD could apply for the treatment of VA and promoted the explaining of DFD for VA in the molecular mechanisms.
CXCR4 Blockade Enhances The Sensitivity Of Osteosarcoma To Doxorubicin By Inducing Autophagic Cell Death Via PI3K-Akt-Mtor Pathway Inhibition
Authors: Liao Yu-Xin , Yu Hai-Yang , Lv Ji-Yang , Zhou Zi-Fei , Xu Tian-Yang , Yang Dong , Gao Qiu-Ming , Fan Lin , Liu Kaiyuan , Li Guo-Dong
Published: December 2020

Background: Doxorubicin is one of the most frequent used chemotherapy drugs in the treatment of osteosarcoma (OS), but the emergence of chemoresistance often leads to its treatment failure. CXCR4 has been proved to regulate osteosarcoma progression and metastasis, however whether CXCR4 is also implicated in OS chemoresistance and its molecular mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated CXCR4-mediated autophagy for OS chemotherapy. Methods: Cell viability, western blot and apoptosis were performed to evaluate doxorubicin resistance after CXCR4 regulation (downregulation or upregulation) and treatment with autophagy modulators (bafilomycin A1 or rapamycin) in two OS cell lines (LM8 and Dunn). Autophagy-related proteins (Beclin1 and LC3B) detected by western blot, autophagosomes and autolysosomes observed by transmission electron microscopy, and autophagic flux monitored by confocal microscopy were utilized to comprehensively assess autophagy level changes. A C3H mouse osteosarcoma orthotopic model was established to determine anti-tumor effect of CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 and doxorubicin in vivo.Results: CXCR4 inhibition enhanced doxorubicin-induced apoptosis by reducing p-glycoprotein, while CXCR4 overexpression promoted OS doxorubicin resistance. Moreover, CXCR4 inhibition combined with or without doxorubicin increased Beclin1 and LC3B expression, numbers of autophagosome and autolysosome, and induced autophagic flux activation by suppressing PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway. In addition, pretreatment with autophagy inhibitor bafilomycin A1 attenuated CXCR4 abrogation-induced cell death. Finally, CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 synergistically reinforced anti-tumor effect of doxorubicin in orthotopic OS mouse model. Conclusions: This study revealed CXCR4 inhibition sensitizes OS to doxorubicin by inducing autophagic cell death. Targeting CXCR4/autophagy axis may be a promising therapeutic strategy to overcome OS chemotherapy resistance.
The Mechanism of Sesame Resistance Against Macrophomina Phaseolina Was Revealed via Comparison of Transcriptomes of Resistant and Susceptible Sesame Genotypes
Authors: Yan Wenqing , Ni Yunxia , Liu Xintao , Zhao Hui , Chen Yanhua , Jia Min , Liu Mingming , Liu Hongyan , Tian Baoming
Published: December 2020

Background: Sesame (sesamum indicum) charcoal rot, a destructive fungal disease caused by Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid (MP), is a great threat to the yield and quality of sesame. However, there is a lack of information revealing gene-for-gene relationship between sesame and MP, and the molecular mechanism in the interaction is not yet clear. The aim of this study is to interpret the molecular mechanism of sesame resistance against MP in disease-resistant (DR) and disease-susceptible (DS) genotypes based on transcriptomes, which is the first report on the interaction between sesame and MP from the transcriptomes.Results: A set of core genes that function in sesame disease resistance were revealed in our investigation by comparative transcriptomics, which preferentially associate with GO terms such as ribosome-related processes, fruit ripening, regulation of jasmonic acid mediated signaling pathway and cell-cell signaling. In addition, 52 potential resistance-related genes differentially and persistently expressed all through were obtained in sesame. Furthermore, we preliminarily studied the immune response mechanism of sesame against MP and found that auxin signal pathway shows negative regulation in the process. Also, the most highlighted pathway JA/ET signal transduction plays a negative regulatory role in sesame resistance against MP. Finally, a JAZ gene (LOC105168467) and an ERF transcription factor (LOC105171710) that may be related to disease resistance were screened. Conclusions: In our investigation, the mechanism of resistance against MP from the transcriptomes were illustrated, which is a complex bioprocess involved in many phytohormones and disease resistance-related genes. The findings not only shed more light on mechanism of interaction between sesame and MP, but also help us identify key genes and transcription factors (TFs) associated with charcoal rot resistance in sesame.
A case report of a boy suffering from Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and Familial Mediterranean Fever
Authors: gicchino maria francesca , Iafusco Dario , Zanfardino Angela , Giudice Emanuele Miraglia del , Olivieri Alma Nunzia
Published: December 2020

Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus could be associated with other autoimmune diseases, such as autoimmune thyroid disease, celiac disease, but the association with Familial Mediterranean Fever is rare, we describe a case of a boy with type 1 Diabetes Mellitus associated with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF)Case presentation: A 13 year old boy already suffering from Diabetes Mellitus type 1 since the age of 4 years, came to our attention because of periodic fever associated with abdominal pain, chest pain and arthralgia. The fever appeared every 15-30 days with peaks that reached 40°C and lasted 24-48 hours. Laboratory investigation, were normal between febrile episodes, but during the attacks revealed an increase in inflammatory markers. Suspecting Familial Mediterranean Fever molecular analysis of MEFV gene, was performed. The genetic analysis showed homozygous E148Q mutation. So Familial Mediterranean Fever was diagnosed and colchicine treatment was started with good response.Conclusion. Familial Mediterranean Fever could be associated with other autoimmune diseases such as Ankylosing Spondylitis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Polyarteritis Nodosa, Behcet disease, Systemic Lupus, Henoch-Schönlein Purpura, and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. Association of type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and Familial Mediterranean Fever has been newly reported in the medical literature, this is the third association of these two diseases described in the medical literature so far.
Use of Machine Learning Techniques to Identify HIV Predictors for Screening
Authors: McSharry Patrick E , Mutai Charles , Ngaruye Innocent , Musabanganji Edouard
Published: December 2020

Aim: HIV prevention measures at sub-Saharan Africa are still short of attaining the UNAIDS 90-90-90 fast track targets set in 2014. Identifying predictors for HIV status may facilitate targeted screening interventions that improve health care. We aimed at identifying HIV predictors as well as predicting persons at high risk of the infection.Method: We applied six machine learning approaches for building models using population-based HIV Impact Assessment (PHIA) data for 41,939 male and 45,105 female respondents with 24 and 29 variables respectively from four countries in sub-Saharan countries. We trained and validated the six algorithms on 80% of data and tested on the remaining 20% where we rotated around the left-out country. An algorithm with the best mean f1 score was retained and trained on the most predictive variables. We used the model to identify people living with HIV and individuals with a higher likelihood of contracting the disease.Results: Application of XGBoost algorithm appeared to significantly improve identification of HIV positivity over the other six algorithms by f1 scoring mean of 78.9% and 92.8% for males and females respectively. Amongst the eight most predictor features in both sexes were: age, relationship with family head, the highest level of education, highest grade at that school level, work for payment, avoiding pregnancy, age at the first experience of sex, and wealth quintile. Model performance using these variables increased significantly compared to having all the variables included. We identified five males and seven females individuals that would require testing to find one HIV positive individual. We also predicted that 4·14% of males and 10.81% of females are at high risk of the infection.Conclusion: Our findings provide a potential use of XGBoost algorithm with socio-behavioural-driven data at substantially identifying HIV predictors and predicting individuals at high risk of infection for targeted screening.
WITHDRAWN: Impaired odor identification ability and olfactory hedonic capacity in children with elevated autistic traits
Authors: Huang Gao-jie , Qiu Yi-qi , Tan Shao-zhen , Ma Qian-wen , Zou Laiquan
Published: December 2020

Background: Atypical olfactory function in autism spectrum disorder has been documented in numerous studies, but little is known about its occurrence in individuals with autistic traits. The aim of the current study was to investigate odor identification ability and olfactory hedonic capacity in children with autistic traits. Methods: The study included 91 children in a high autistic trait group, and 128 children in a low autistic trait group, as determined based on Short Autism Spectrum Quotient scores. The Universal Sniff (U-Sniff) test was used to measure odor identification ability and olfactory hedonic capacity. Olfactory hedonic capacity was also measured using the child’s version of the Chemosensory Pleasure Scale (CPS-C). Results: Children in the high autistic trait group exhibited significantly impaired odor identification and olfactory hedonic capacity measured by CPS-C than those in the low autistic trait group, but there was no significant difference in olfactory hedonic capacity measured by U-Sniff between the two groups. Impaired odor identification was significantly correlated with olfactory hedonic capacity measured by CPS-C. Limitations: Only a self-reporting questionnaire was used to screen children for autistic trait. The combination of a self-reporting scale and diagnosis by a clinical expert would result in more accurate screening of individuals for autistic trait.Conclusions: Children with high autistic trait exhibited poorer odor identification ability and olfactory trait hedonic capacity than children without high autistic trait. These results pertaining to odor identification and olfactory hedonic capacity may be the endophenotypic markers for autism spectrum disorder.
Did the animal move? A cross-wavelet approach to geolocation data reveals year-round whereabouts of a resident seabird.
Authors: Roy Amédée , Delord Karine , Nunes Guilherme Tavares , Barbraud Christophe , Bugoni Leandro , Bertrand Sophie
Published: December 2020

Background Considerable progress in our understanding of long-distance migration has been achieved thanks to the use of small lightweight geolocator devices. Such global location sensors (GLS) are particularly suitable for studying non-breeding movement and behaviour due to their small size and low energy consumption allowing multiyear deployment. Errors of geolocation are however important, difficult to estimate, have a complex structure leading to poor precision and accuracy. Therefore, understanding movement ecology of short-distance migrants or resident birds during extensive time periods remains challenging. We aimed at elucidating the sex-specific marine space uses of a resident tropical seabird, the masked booby over the full annual life cycle, including the breeding and non-breeding periods. Methods A total of 34 GLS were deployed on male and female masked boobies at the Fernando de Noronha archipelago (Brazil), and 31 of them were recovered and provided year-round data. Error range of geographical positions and habitat use of masked boobies were estimated from light-derived positions and temperature data. Synchronicity between movement and saltwater immersion data was investigated through a wavelet analysis. Results Masked boobies showed a resident behaviour over their entire annual cycle. We inferred from the wavelet analysis that birds traveled way and back from the colony on consecutive trips of short length (approx 2-4 days) and short range (approx 100-300 km) at the east of the colony. Trip duration and range depended on the sex of the individual and on the time of the year. Females had farther ranges than males during the pre-breeding period. Trip duration increased gradually from the end of the breeding period to the post-breeding period, probably due to the release of the central-place breeding constraints. Conclusions Despite inherent limits of light-based geolocation, synchronicity analysis of geolocation data revealed year round whereabouts of a resident tropical seabird and sex-specific movement behaviour. Such an approach based on the estimation of synchronicity between light-based coordinates data and any other external data (behavioural or environmental) could be used more broadly to investigate resident or short-migrants animal movement based on GLS data.
Chitosan Hydrogel-loaded MSC-derived Extracellular Vesicles Promote Skin Rejuvenation by Ameliorating the Senescence of Dermal Fibroblasts
Authors: Zhao Xiangnan , Liu Yue , Jia Pingping , Cheng Hui , Wang Chen , Chen Shang , Huang Haoyan , Han Zhibo , Han Zhong-Chao , Chen Xiaoniao , Li Zongjin
Published: December 2020

Background: The senescence of dermal fibroblasts (DFLs) leads to an imbalance in the synthesis and degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, presenting so-called senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which ultimately leads to skin aging. Recently increasing evidence has supported the idea that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) opened a new avenue for treating skin aging.Methods: In this study, we utilized chitosan (CS) hydrogel for effective loading and sustained release of EVs. In vitro, we explored the rejuvenation effects of CS hydrogel-incorporated EVs (CS-EVs) on replicative senescence DFLs through a series of experiments such as senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining, RT-PCR, and western blots. Besides, we employed local multi-site subcutaneous injection to treat the back skin of naturally aging mice with CS-EVs and used DiI fluorescent dye to label EVs to achieve in vivo real-time tracking.Results: CS-EVs can significantly improve the biological functions of senescent fibroblasts, including promoting their proliferation, enhancing the synthesis of ECM proteins, and inhibiting the overexpression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Moreover, CS hydrogel could prolong the release of EVs and significantly increase the retention rate of EVs in vivo. After CS-EVs subcutaneous injection treatment, the aging skin tissues showed a state of rejuvenation, which was specifically manifested as enhanced expression of collagen, decreased expression of SASP-related factors, and restoration of tissue structures.Conclusions: CS hydrogel-encapsulated EVs could delay the skin aging process by ameliorating the function of aging DFLs. Our results also highlight the potential of CS hydrogel-encapsulated EVs as a novel therapeutic strategy for ameliorating aging skin to rejuvenation.
Isolation and characterization of diesel-degrading bacteria from hydrocarbon-contaminated sites, flower farms and soda lakes
Authors: Bekele Gessesse Kebede , Bogale Eshetu Mekonne , Fida Tekle Tafesse , Woldesemayat Adugna Abdi , Gemeda Mesfin Tafesse , Tuji Fassil Assefa
Published: December 2020

Background: Hydrocarbon-derived pollutants are becoming one of the most concerning ecological issues. Thus, there is a need to investigate and develop innovative, low-cost, eco-friendly, and fast techniques to reduce and/or eliminate pollutants using biological agents. The current study is conducted to isolate, characterize, and identify potential diesel-degrading bacteria.Results: Samples were collected from flower farms, lakeshores, old aged garages, asphalt, and bitumen soils and spread on selective medium (Bushnell Hass Mineral Salts Agar) containing diesel as the growth substrate. The isolates were characterized based on their growth patterns using OD measurement, biochemical testing and gravimetric analysis and identified using the Biolog database, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing techniques. Subsequently, six diesel degraders were identified and belong to Pseudomonas , Providencia , Roseomonas , Stenotrophomonas , Achromobacter , and Bacillus . Among these, based on gravimetric analysis, the three potent isolates AAUW23, AAUG11 and AAUG36 achieved 84%, 83.4%, and 83% diesel degradation efficiency, respectively, in 15 days. Consequently, the partial 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the two most potent bacterial strains (AAUW23 and AAUG11) were Pseudomonas aeruginosa , while AAUG36 was Bacillus subtilis . Conclusion: This study demonstrated that bacterial species isolated from hydrocarbon-contaminated and/or uncontaminated environments could be optimized to be used as potential bioremediation agents for diesel removal.
Forskolin enhances the antitumor effect of oncolytic measles virus by promoting Rab27a dependent vesicular transport system in the lung cancer A549 cells in vitro
Authors: Xia Mao , Xia Yongquan , Xu Xuejing , Meng Gang , Yan Hong , Shen Han
Published: December 2020

Background: Measles vaccine strain viruses (MV-Edm) are an ideal platform for developing safe and effective oncolytic vectors. However, despite the promising pre-clinical data, understanding of determinants of efficacy and, thus, the interplay of the oncolytic virus with particular agents remains limited.Methods: We investigated the potency of forskolin enhancing the antitumor effect of oncolytic measles virus by promoting Rab27a dependent vesicular transport system. Cells were infected with MV-Edm and the vesicles were observed by TEM. The oncolytic effects of MV-Edm/Forskolin were investigated in vitro. Results: Here we demonstrate that the MV-Edm infection and spread in tumor, which are indispensable processes for the viral oncolysis, depend on the vesicular transport system of tumor cells. On the contrary, the tumor cells display a responsive mechanism to restrain the MV-Edm spread by down-regulating the expression of Rab27a, which is a key member of the vesicle transport system. Over-expression of Rab27a promotes the oncolytic efficacy of MV-Edm towards A549 tumor cells. Finally, we find a Rab27a agonist Forskolin, is capable of promoting the oncolytic effect of MV-Edm in vitro. Conclusions: Our study reveals the important role of vesicle transporter Rab27a in the whole program of MV-Edm mediated oncolysis. We also provide a combined strategy of Forskolin and MV-Edm, which may exert a synergistic anti-tumor effect, for clinical treatment for patients with tumor.
How long-term changes in general and abdominal obesity indices in prediabetic subjects predict the incidence of diabetes in future: results from a 16-year prospective cohort study among first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetic patients
Authors: Safari Shahla , Abdoli Maryam , Amini Masoud , Aminorroaya Ashraf , Feizi Awat
Published: December 2020

Background Obesity indices abnormality pervasively is associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study aimed to identify the patterns of changes in obesity indices over time in prediabetic subjects and to classify these subjects as either having a low, moderate, and high risk for developing diabetes in future. Methods This prospective 16-year cohort study was conducted among 1228 prediabetic subjects. The patterns of changes in general and abdominal obesity indices based on three measurements including first, mean values during the follow-up period and last visit from these indices were evaluated by using the latent Markov model (LMM). Results The mean (standard deviation) age of subjects was 44.0 (6.8) years and 73.6% of them were female. The LMM identified three latent states of subjects in terms of change in all anthropometric indices: a low, moderate, and high tendency to progress diabetes with the state sizes (29%, 45%, and 26%), respectively. LMM showed that the probability of transitioning from a low to a moderate tendency to progress diabetes was higher than the other transition probabilities.Conclusions Based on a long-term evaluation of patterns of changes in general and abdominal obesity indices, we classified prediabetic subjects into three groups (low, moderate, and high risk to progress diabetes in future). Also, the method used enabled us to estimate the transition probabilities from low- to moderate and to high-risk states and vice versa. Our results reemphasized the values of all five obesity indices in clinical settings for identifying prediabetic subjects as a high-risk people for progressing diabetes and the need for more effective obesity prevention strategies.
IoT DoS and DDoS Attack Detection using ResNet
Authors: Hussain Faisal , Abbas Syed Ghazanfar , Husnain Muhammad , Fayyaz Ubaid U. , Shahzad Farrukh , Shah Ghalib A.
Published: December 2020

The network attacks are increasing both in frequency and intensity with the rapid growth of internet of things (IoT) devices. Recently, denial of service (DoS) and distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks are reported as the most frequent attacks in IoT networks. The traditional security solutions like firewalls, intrusion detection systems, etc., are unable to detect the complex DoS and DDoS attacks since most of them filter the normal and attack traffic based upon the static predefined rules. However, these solutions can become reliable and effective when integrated with artificial intelligence (AI) based techniques. During the last few years, deep learning models especially convolutional neural networks achieved high significance due to their outstanding performance in the image processing field. The potential of these convolutional neural network (CNN) models can be used to efficiently detect the complex DoS and DDoS by converting the network traffic dataset into images. Therefore, in this work, we proposed a methodology to convert the network traffic data into image form and trained a state-of-the-art CNN model, i.e., ResNet over the converted data. The proposed methodology accomplished 99.99\% accuracy for detecting the DoS and DDoS in case of binary classification. Furthermore, the proposed methodology achieved 87\% average precision for recognizing eleven types of DoS and DDoS attack patterns which is 9\% higher as compared to the state-of-the-art.
The semi-dwarfing gene Rht-dp from dwarf Polish wheat (Triticum polonicum L.) is the “Green Revolution” gene Rht-B1b
Authors: Chai Songyue , Yao Qin , Zhang Xu , Xiao Xue , Fan Xing , Zeng Jian , Sha Lina , Kang Houyang , Zhang Haiqin , Li Jun , Zhou Yonghong , Wang Yi
Published: December 2020

Background: The wheat dwarfing gene increases lodging resistance, the grain number per spike and harvest index. Dwarf Polish wheat (Triticum polonicum L., 2n = 4x = 28, AABB, DPW), initially collected from Tulufan, Xinjiang, China, carries a semi-dwarfing gene Rht-dp on chromosome 4BS. However, Rht-dp and its dwarfing mechanism are unknown.Results: Homologous cloning and fine mapping revealed that Rht-dp is the ‘Green Revolution’ gene Rht-B1b. A haplotype analysis in 59 tetraploid wheat accessions showed that Rht-B1b was only present in T. polonicum. Transcriptomic analysis of two pairs of near-isogenic lines (NILs) of DPW×Tall Polish wheat (Triticum polonicum L., 2n = 4x = 28, AABB, TPW) revealed 41 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) as potential dwarfism-related genes. Among them, 28 functionally annotated DEGs were classed into five sub-groups: hormone-related signalling transduction genes, transcription factor genes, cell wall structure-related genes, reactive oxygen-related genes, and nitrogen regulation-related genes. Conclusions: These results indicated that Rht-dp is Rht-B1b, which regulates pathways related to hormones, reactive oxygen species, and nitrogen assimilation to modify the cell wall structure, and then limits cell wall loosening and inhibits cell elongation, thereby causing dwarfism in DPW.
Once is rarely enough: Can social prescribing facilitate adherence to non-clinical community and voluntary sector health services? Empirical evidence from Germany
Authors: Golubinski Veronika , Wild Eva-Maria , Winter Vera , Schreyögg Jonas
Published: December 2020

Background: Non-clinical health interventions provided by the voluntary and community sector can improve patients’ health and well-being and reduce pressure on primary and secondary care, but only if patients adhere to them. This study provides novel insights into the impact of doctor referrals to such services, known as social prescribing, on patients’ adherence to them. Methods: Using a negative binomial model, we analysed electronic visitor records from a community health advice and navigation service in Germany between January 2018 and December 2019 to determine whether social prescribing was associated with greater adherence to the service (measured in terms of return visits) compared to patients who self-referred. We also explored whether this effect differed according to patient characteristics. Results: Based on 1,734 observations, we found that social prescribing was significantly associated with a greater number of return visits compared to patient self-referrals (p<0.05). For patients who visited the service because of psychological concerns, the effect of social prescribing was lower. For all other patient characteristics, the effect remained unchanged, suggesting relevance to all other patient groups. Conclusions: The results of our study indicate that social prescribing may be an effective way to facilitate adherence to non-clinical community and voluntary sector health services. This knowledge is important for policy makers who are deciding whether to implement or expand upon social prescribing schemes.
Bio-sorption for Effective Removal of Chromium (VI) from Wastewater Using Moringa Stenopetala Seed Powder (MSSP) and Banana Peel Powder (BPP)
Authors: Badessa Tolera Seda , Wakuma Esayas , Yimer Ali Mohammed
Published: December 2020

Chromium is an extremely toxic metal in the form of Cr (VI) that causes severe environmental and health problems. Therefore, the aim of this study was to remove chromium ions from wastewater by using cost effective and environmentally friendly bio-sorbents; Moringa stenopetala Seed Powder (MSSP), and Banana Peel Powder (BPP) and to evaluate its adsorption capacities as bio-sorbents. FT-IR characterization of the adsorbents showed that there was a change in the functional groups of the structure of both adsorbents before and after the adsorption that might be due to the adsorption processes taken place on the surface of adsorbent. Adsorption experiments were carried out as batch studies with different contact times, pH, adsorbent dose, initial metal ion concentration, and temperature. Results showed maximum removal efficiency for Cr (VI) at 120 minutes contact time, adsorbent dose of 20 g/L and pH 2 by MSSP and pH 4 by BPP. The percentage removal of Cr(VI) increased with increasing adsorbent dose( from 5g/L to 20 g/L) and contact time (from 60 min to 120 min). Freundlich isotherm model showed a better fit to the equilibrium data than the Langmuir model. The kinetics of adsorption for chromium was well represented by pseudo-second order kinetic model and the calculated equilibrium sorption capacity of the model showed good agreement with the sorption capacity obtained from Experimental results.
Changing Rainfall Patterns in an Era of Climate Change: A Multiparameter Spatiotemporal Analysis of Trends & Impacts for India
Authors: Patel Praharsh , Khan Adeel
Published: December 2020

The hydrological cycle that starts with rainfall has been under major threat from the global temperature rise and climatic changes. In India, rainfall changes not only jeopardize water security but also have a major set-back for socio-economic stability. There have been attempts to decode the changing rainfall patterns in India but most of them conducted at wider spatial resolution (such as national, state, or sub-divisional level) fail to capture the essence of spatial variation in rainfall characteristics. To get a clearer understanding of change in key rainfall parameters, this paper analyses more than 197 million 0.25˚ x 0.25˚ gridded rainfall data points. The fine resolution 117 years (1901-2017) of daily rainfall data is utilized to test significant spatiotemporal trends in the quantum of rainfall and other key rainfall parameters such as rainy days, monsoon onset and withdrawal dates, occurrences of extreme rainfall events, and frequency of drought and high rainfall years. With an emphasis on changing climatic patterns since perceived climate change onset in the 1970s, the study identifies the regions with significant changes in rainfall patterns by comparing key parameters pre- & post- 1970s. The paper also highlights the major repercussions and challenges for the identified regions with significant changing rainfall patterns.
INVESTIGATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF UHF ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD ON THE OUTPUT OF ROLLED GROATS OF WHEAT SPELT
Authors: Osokina Nina , Liubych Vitalii , Novikov Volodymyr , Leshchenko Ivan , Petrenko Vasyl , Khomenko Svitlana , Zorunko Viktor , Balabak Oleksandr , Moskalets Valentyn , Moskalets Tatiana
Published: December 2020

Wheat spelt is a promising crop. A high food value and high-quality biochemical composition of grains make wheat spelt favorably remarkable for groats production. Preservation of the food value is an important task of food production, but regimes of grain processing must provide good culinary quality and consumption safety. The aim of our work is to study regimes of irradiation and humidification of wheat spelt grains, influencing the output and culinary quality of the ready product; development of recommendations as to production of rolled groats. There is studied an influence of different regimes of water-thermal processing on the total output of groats and rolled groats of the highest sort. The reliable connection between the output of rolled groats of the higher sort and duration of irradiation by the electromagnetic field of the ultrahigh frequency and grain humidification has been established. No essential connection as been established between humidification and the total output of groats. The duration increase of UHF-irradiation (>120–140 s) conditions the essential growth of dust middlings and decrease of rolled groats of the highest sort. The long-term irradiation (180 s) conditions the decrease of groats boiling duration by 17 % comparing with the short-term processing (20 s). The established influences of the factors are preconditions for transferring obtained technological solutions and their use under conditions of existing groats factories of different productivity
High-temperature and high-pressure Raman spectra of Fo89Fa11 and Fo58Fa42 olivines: Iron effect on thermodynamic properties
Authors: Liu Dan , Guo Xinzhuan , Smyth Joseph R. , Wang Xiang , Zhu Xi , Miao Yunfan , Bai Jiayuan , Ye Yu
Published: December 2020

The intrinsic anharmonicity plays an important role in the thermodynamic properties of minerals at the high-temperature conditions of the mantle. To investigate the effect of iron on the thermodynamic properties of olivine, the most abundant mineral in the upper mantle, we collected in situ high-temperature and high-pressure Raman spectra of natural Fo89Fa11 and synthetic Fo58Fa42 samples. Fo58Fa42 dissociates to enstatite + quartz + Fe2O3(+Fe) at 893 K. All the Raman-active modes systematically shift to lower frequencies at elevated temperatures, whereas to higher frequencies with increasing pressure. The Ag mode at ~960 cm–1 is more sensitive to the variations of temperature and pressure than other internal modes. The crystal-field splitting of the vibrational energy states becomes slightly weakened at high temperatures but strengthened at elevated pressures. We calculated the isobaric (γiP) and isothermal (γiT) mode Grüneisen parameters for these olivine samples. The intrinsic anharmonic parameters (ai) are negative for both the lattice and internal vibrations, and our calculations indicate that the intrinsic anharmonicity makes positive contributions to the thermodynamic properties of olivine at high temperatures, such as the internal energy (U), heat capacities (CV and CP), and entropy (S). Iron incorporation further increases the magnitudes of these anharmonic contributions. In addition, the Fe effect on the intrinsic anharmonicity may also apply to other thermodynamic properties in olivine, such as equations of state and equilibrium isotopic fractionations, which are important in constraining physical and chemical properties of the upper mantle.
Piyasada Osmancık Çeşit Adıyla Satılan Pirinçlerin Kalite Özelliklerinin Orijinal Osmancık Çeşidi ile Karşılaştırılması
Authors: YAZMAN Mehmet Metin , KÖTEN Mehmet , ATLI Ayhan
Published: December 2020

Bu araştırmada, piyasada satışa sunulan Osmancık çeşidi pirinçlerin kalite özellikleri, orijinal tohumluk Osmancık çeşidi ile karşılaştırılmıştır. Bu amaçla farklı satış noktalarından 17 adet Osmancık adı ile satılan pirinç örneği alınarak kalite özellikleri yönünden analiz edilmiştir. Elde edilen veriler Trakya Tarımsal Araştırma Enstitüsü’nden temin edilen orijinal tohumluk Osmancık çeşidinin sonuçları ile karşılaştırılmıştır. Çalışmalar Enstitü’den temin edilen örnekle beraber toplam 18 örnek üzerinde yürütülmüştür. Gerçekleştirilen analizler sonucunda örneklerde uzunluk 5.47-6.73 mm, uzunluk genişlik oranı 2.11-2.55, genişlik 2.59-2.85 mm, hektolitre ağırlığı 82.93-87.00 kg hl-1, bin tane ağırlığı 18.24-22.41 g arasında bulunmuştur. Pirinç örneklerinde kül miktarı % 0.37-0.48, protein miktarı % 7.10-8.12, amiloz miktarı % 27.12-30.09, toplam organik madde miktarı % 2.01-2.33 arasında değişmiştir. Örneklerin jel uzunlukları (konsistensi) 52.00-69.00 mm ve alkalide yayılma değerleri (jelatinleşme sıcaklığı) 4.00-7.00 arasında belirlenmiştir. Pişme testi sonuçlarına göre; pişme süresi 16.81-18.87 dakika, pişme kaybı % 3.90-5.16, su alım oranı 1.79-1.99 ve hacim artış oranı 1.40-1.66 arasında tespit edilmiştir. Sonuçlar genel olarak değerlendirildiğinde; satın alınan pirinçlerde alkalide yayılma değeri 4 örnekte orijinal çeşitten farklı bulunmuştur. Diğer özellikler bakımından ise pirinç örnekleri orijinal tohumluk Osmancık çeşidine yakın sonuçlar vermiştir.
İki Ayaklı Yürüme Hareketinin Merkezi Örüntü Üreteci (CPG) İle Gerçekleştirilmesi
Authors: BAL Cafer , YILDIRIM Gökçe
Published: December 2020

Bu çalışmanın amacı, insansı iki ayaklı yürüme hareketinin ve adaptif yürüme eğrisinin tasarımı için bir robot modelinin geliştirilmesidir. Bu doğrultuda, ortalama boyutlardaki bir insanın ölçüleri esas alınarak SolidWorks paket programı kullanılarak tasarlanan model simülasyon analizleri için MATLAB/SimMechanics ortamına aktarılmıştır. Kinematik analizler ve yörünge planlaması MATLAB/SimMechanics tasarımı aracılığı ile yapılmıştır. Sistemin ileri kinematik hesaplamalarında Denavit-Hartenberg yöntemi tercih edilmiştir. Ters kinematik analiz ile robot eklemlerine uygulanacak açılar hesaplanmıştır. Yürüme eğrisinin oluşturulmasında, yörünge noktaları verilerine uydurulan polinom fonksiyonları aracılığı ile Örüntünün Merkezi Üretimi (CPG) eğitilmiştir. Eğitilmiş CPG tarafından üretilen kalça ve diz eklem açıları tasarlanan robota uygulanarak yürüme eylemi gerçekleştirilmiştir.
Tarım İşletmelerinde Sektörel İsteksizlik-Gelir İlişkisi: Yozgat İli Tarım İşletmeleri Örneği
Authors: ERBAŞ Nizamettin
Published: December 2020

Bu çalışmanın amacı, Yozgat ili tarım işletmelerinde sektörel isteksizliğin gelir ile ilişkisinin araştırılmasıdır. Araştırmanın ana materyalini, tabakalı örnekleme yöntemi ile belirlenen 181 tarım iş-letmesine uygulanan anket çalışması oluşturmuştur. Çalışmada, araştırma yöresindeki üretim kaynakla-rındaki değişimi görmek amacıyla ikincil verilerden de yararlanılmıştır. Araştırma sonuçlarına göre, üre-tici isteksizliğinin tarımsal gelir miktarı ile doğrudan ilişkili olduğu belirlenmiştir. Yörede toprak ve iş gücü kaynaklarının yeterince kullanılmamasında üretici isteksizliğinin etkisinin olduğu görülmüştür. Çalışmada, tarımsal gelir karşılaştırmalı olarak analiz edilmiş ve sadece üçüncü grup işletmelerin (150.01-500 dekar) geliri ekonomik anlamda yeterli bulunmuştur. Birinci ve ikinci grup işletmelerin (1-50 dekar ve 50.01-150 dekar) gelirleri ise ekonomik anlamda yeterli bulunmamıştır. İşletme gelirini arttırıcı ve tarım sektörünü cazip hale getirici politika ve uygulamaların, mevcut sorunların çözümünde etkili olması beklenmektedir.