bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental Studies of Moisture Transport in Grain Material and Individual Grain
Authors:   VIM, Zagoruiko M.G. , Kataev Yu.V. ,   VIM, Marin R.A. ,   Design Bureau Installation Commissioning Center for Heat Generators and Dryers LLC, Goltyapin V. Ya. ,   Rosinformagrotekh
Published: November 2021

The issue of moisture transfer in the total mass of the material and in a single grain is discussed taking into account the biological characteristics of the endosperm cells of the grain. Experimental studies of this process have been performed. The results of the oscillating mode with laying have been analyzed. It was found that during the time of laying, the moisture content of the grain shell increases significantly and the moisture content of the core decreases slightly, and during the implementation of the laying after the heating period, a larger amount of moisture moves from the core into the shell than after the cooling period.
Vegetable Pest Monitoring Using Insect Trap Lights
Authors:   Federal Research Center for Plant Biological Protection, Pachkin A.A. , Kremneva O. Yu. ,   Federal Research Center for Plant Biological Protection, Danilov R. Yu. ,   Federal Research Center for Plant Biological Protection, Ponomarev A.V. ,   Federal Research Center for Plant Biological Protection
Published: November 2021

The results of improving the design of autonomous LED insect trap lights developed by the Federal Research Center for Plant Biological Protection are provided. The flying dynamics of the summer Helicoverpa armigera is shown. It was found that the insect trap light attracted 2.6 times more phytophagous specimens than pheromon traps. A separating element of a insect trap light been developed, which makes it possible to reduce 50 times the number of captured representatives of useful and indifferent entomofauna. The efficiency of battery charging has been increased by 43%.
Un mural parisino como ilustración de la patrimonialización polimórfica del exilio republicano
Authors: Van Geert Fabien
Published: November 2021

Tomando como punto de partida un mural realizado en París en 2019 para conmemorar tanto la Liberación de la capital como la Retirada, este texto aborda la patrimonialización del Exilio Republicano español argumentando que engloba diferentes registros de memoria. Por su carácter polimórfico, entidades y asociaciones tanto francesas como españolas pueden sentirse representadas en este procesos de patrimonializacion, a pesar de sus objetivos políticos muy diversos, como se puede apreciar en las modalidades de financiamiento del mural parisino.
CELL DEATH UNDER CONDITIONS OF HAPTIC CONTAMINATION OF BIOLOGICAL MEDIA BY STABLE STRONTIUM
Authors: Dolgikh O. V. , Dianova D. G. , Krivtsov A. V.
Published: November 2021

Introduction: The conditions of haptic contamination with stable strontium disrupt the implementation of programmed cell death, forming early health disorders of the child population. Aim: to study the indicators, characterizing cell death, in children with excess haptic contamination of biological media with natural stable strontium. Methods: Research group: children consuming drinking water from underground drinking water sources with excess content of natural stable strontium, comparison group: children consuming drinking water of satisfactory quality in terms of strontium content.The study of indicators characterizing cell death was carried out by flow cytometry; polymorphism of candidate genes by real-time PCR. Results: It was found that in children exposed to strontium, the content of protein-oncosuppressor p53, proapoptotic reception of CD95+- lymphocytes, Annexin V-FITC+PI--lymphocytes with a simultaneous increase in an average of 1.7 times lymphocytic phenotypes of CD95+- lymphocytes and associated with necrotic death of Annexin V-FITC+PI+-lymphocytes are statistically significant (p < 0.001) decreased by an average of 2.5 times. An increased frequency of the heterozygous genotype of the matrix metalloproteinase gene MMP9 Gln279Arg is 2.5 times higher than the results obtained in unexposed children. Conclusion: The results of the studies allowed us to establish that strontium concentrations in the blood in the range from 0.040 to 0.091 mg/dm3 are associated with inhibition of apoptosis and switching to an alternative pathway of cell death-necrosis, which, against the background of polymorphism of candidate genes, creates a risk of autoimmune pathology.
Prevalence and Correlates of Insufficient Physical Activity among Diabetic Patients in Almaty, Kazakhstan
Authors: Zhuzenova Makpal Adilovna , Kasymova Gulnara Pazylbekovna , Akhtaeva Nazgul Smailkhanovna
Published: November 2021

Introduction: Physical activity (PA) is an important contributor to health. However, little is known regarding the prevalence of insufficient PA in Kazakhstan. Aim: To study the prevalence of insufficient PA and associated factors among type 2 diabetic patients in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study. In total, 480 patients selected using the national diabetes registry. Associations between insufficient PA and age, gender, education, occupation, alcohol consumption, smoking, intake of vegetables and fruits were studied using chi-squared tests and multivariable Poisson regression with robust variance estimation. In addition, the patients were asked about the reasons for not practicing PA as well as about the source of advice on PA. The results are presented as crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI). Results: The overall prevalence of insufficient PA was 60.4 (95 % CI: 56.0; 64.7) %. Education (PR = 0.80, 95 % CI: 0.68; 0.88), employment (PR = 0.74, 95 % CI: 0.64; 0.88), daily consumption of fruits (PR = 0.78, 95 % CI: 0.67; 0.92) and vegetables (PR = 0.80, 95 % CI: 0.70; 0.92) were all significantly associated with lower prevalence of insufficient PA in crude analysis. However, after adjustment for other factors, only employment (PR = 0.72, 95 % CI: 0.60; 0.86) remained significantly associated with the outcome. In total, 61.7 % of the patients received no counseling on PA. The lowest prevalence of insufficient PA (21.6 %) was observed in attenders of commercial sports centers. Conclusions: High prevalence of insufficient PA combined with poor counseling practices warrant intersectoral cooperation in the development of a strategy to improve PA among type 2 diabetes patients and general population in Kazakhstan.
Repeatability of Bruch’s Membrane Opening-minimum Rim Width in Age-related Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Macular Edema
Authors: Kim Bum Jun , Lee Woo Hyuk , Nam Ki Yup , Kim Ji Hye , Kang Tae Seen , Cho Hyun Kyung , Han Yong Seop
Published: November 2021

Purpose: To evaluate the repeatability of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and Bruch’s membrane opening-minimum rim width (BMO-MRW) measurements by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME).Methods: This was a prospective study. The RNFL thickness and BMO-MRW parameters for each sector and global average were measured twice by SD-OCT. Repeatability was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficient of variation (CV). If the optic disc membrane was confirmed, it was analyzed by dividing it into three groups based on severity.Results: A total of 99 eyes (48 with wAMD, 51 with DME) were included in the analysis. The ICCs of the global RNFL thickness and global BMO-MRW measurements were 0.996 and 0.997, respectively, in wAMD and 0.994 and 0.996, respectively, in DME eyes. The CV values of global RNFL thickness and BMO-MRW were 0.60% and 0.73%, respectively, in wAMD eyes and 1.10% and 1.21%, respectively, in DME eyes. The disc membrane on the optic nerve head significantly affected global BMO-MRW repeatability (B = 0.814, p < 0.001).Conclusions: Both RNFL thickness and BMO-MRW measurements showed good repeatability in eyes with wAMD and DME. The severity of the optic disc membrane significantly affected the repeatability of BMO-MRW measurements in eyes with wAMD and DME. Therefore, physicians should examine the BMO-MRW in eyes with severe optic disc membrane.
Path to Diagnosis and Clinical Characteristics of Advanced Glaucoma at Initial Diagnosis: a Tertiary Single Center Experience
Authors: Jang Joon Hyuck , Lee Kyung Wha , Baek Sung Uk
Published: November 2021

Purpose: As routine health examinations become more common, many patients first diagnosed with glaucoma have advanced glaucoma. We analyzed the routes to diagnosis and the characteristics of patients initially diagnosed with advanced glaucoma.Methods: We retrospectively retrieved the medical records of patients first diagnosed with advanced glaucoma in our tertiary care center. The inclusion criteria were a mean deviation (MD) less than -12 dB on the visual field test, accompanied by structural damage. All patients were classified in terms of unilateral/bilateral disease, the intraocular pressure before medication, and lens status. We divided patients into those with monocular or binocular advanced glaucoma, high- or normal-pressure glaucoma, and those who were pseudophakic or phakic.Results: We included 73 patients of mean age 69.3 years. The visual field test MD was -19.6 dB. In those with binocular advanced glaucoma, incidental ophthalmic examination was the most common means of diagnosis (52.2%). Central-island visual field defects were the most common defects (54.2%). In those with monocular advanced glaucoma, glaucoma-associated symptoms most commonly triggered diagnosis (46.9%). Both superior and inferiorvisual field defects were the most common defects (42.8%). Glaucoma-associated symptoms were present in 68.2 and 22.8% of patients with high- and normal-pressure glaucoma, respectively. Central-island visual field defects were present in 43.6 and 29.4% of those with high- and normal-pressure glaucoma, respectively.Conclusions: We analyzed the routes to diagnosis and the clinical characteristics of patients with advanced glaucoma. In those with binocular disease, glaucoma was most commonly diagnosed on incidental ophthalmic examination. Central-island visual field defects were the most common defects in patients with binocular and high-pressure glaucoma, and the pseudophakic group. A multi-center longitudinal study on risk factors for delayed glaucoma diagnosis is needed.
Effectiveness of Inferior Oblique Myectomy in Unilateral Superior Oblique Palsy Depending on Magnitude of Hyperdeviation
Authors: Lee Sukyung , Han Jinu , Han Seung-han , Shin Woo Beom
Published: November 2021

Purpose: To evaluate surgical outcome and effectiveness of inferior oblique (IO) myectomy on unilateral superior oblique palsy (SOP) as a primary treatment.Methods: This study is a retrospective review of the medical records of 99 patients who had undergone IO myectomy due to SOP as a first-line treatment. Sixty-five patients with hyperdeviation of 15 prism diopters (PD) or less were categorized into group 1, 22 patients with hyperdeviation between 16 PD to 20 PD into group 2, and 12 patients with hyperdeviation higher than 20 PD into group 3. Preoperative hyperdeviation, postoperative hyperdeviation, and improvement of head tilting were then compared between the 3 groups. Surgery was determined to be successful when the post-op residual hyperdeviation is less than 5 PD, or when the improvement of hyperdeviation and head tilting was noted, for the patients who had preoperative deviation less than 5 PD, and without hypercorrection.Results: All groups showed significant improvement of hyperdeviation, and the amount of correction was larger in group with larger preoperative hyperdeviation. 80.3%, 95.0%, and 90.9% of patients showed improvement of head tiling and success rate was 87.7%, 77.3%, and 50.0% in group 1, 2, and 3 respectively. Group 1 and 2, group 2 and 3 had no significant difference in success rate but only group 1 and 3 had significant difference.Conclusions: Considering success rate with improvement of head position, self-titrating and possibility of overcorrection, IO myectomy could be an effective option as a first-line surgical treatment for unilateral SOP with hyperdeviation of 20 PD or less. However, due to a 50% success rate in patients with hyperdeviation larger than 20 PD, a secondary operation must be considered following IO myectomy, or a two-muscle procedure must be considered as a primary treatment.
Correlation Between β2-Microglobulin, Grobulin Levels & The Number of Plasmatic Cells in Patients with Multiple Myeloma
Authors: María Torres Hernández Rosa , Alberto Martínez Ramírez Mario , González Jiménez Beatriz , Hernández Ojeda Humberto , Izamar Medel Cabada Fátima
Published: November 2021

Introduction: Multiple myeloma is multifocal neoplasia of plasmatic cells that affects the bone marrow. It is associated with the production of a urinary or serum protein. It represents approximately 1 percent of cancer cases worldwide and between 10 to 15 percent of all cases of hematological malignancy. Furthermore, it has been proposed that the β2-microglobulin levels are correlated with other factors that can predict multiple myelomas such as the number of plasmatic cells and the creatine levels. Goals: To determine the correlation between β2-microglobulin, globulin levels, and the number of plasmatic cells in patients with multiple myeloma. Methods and techniques: We conducted an observational, retrospective, transversal, and analytical study in the Hospital of the Mexican Institute of Social Security at the Veracruz port. Our population analyzed comprehended 45 patients between the ages 30 and 80 with a confirmed diagnosis of multiple myeloma. We measured the β2-microglobulin levels and globulin levels, and the number of plasmatic cells during the diagnosis of patients. Furthermore, we conducted a statistical analysis using a Pearson correlation. Results: The average age was 61 years with a margin of error of 11.48 years. The myeloma of IgG type was the one of major prevalence and represent 82.2 percent. It was followed by the IgA type and the IgM type, which represented 15.5 and 2.2 percent respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficient (Pearson's r) between the β2-microglobulin levels and globulin levels was 0.92. The Pearson's r between the number of plasmatic cells and β2-microglobulin, excluding patients with high serum creatine levels (i.e. larger than 1.2 mg/dl), was 0.371. Conclusions: The predominant type of myeloma in the analyzed population was the IgG type. Furthermore, this myeloma affected mainly men in our study. The average age was 61 years with a margin of error of 11.48 years when compared to other populations in our study.
Flora de interesse meliponícola em um fragmento de Mata Atlântica no litoral norte da Bahia, Brasil
Authors: Santos Sinara Oliveira dos , Dórea Marcos da Costa , Oliveira Reyjane Patrícia de , Lima Luciene Cristina Lima e
Published: November 2021

Objetivou-se conhecer os recursos tróficos, florescimento e visitantes florais no entorno de um meliponário, em um fragmento de Mata Atlântica, litoral norte da Bahia, Brasil. As plantas floridas foram marcadas, fotografadas, coletadas, herborizadas, identificadas e depositadas no HUNEB. Foram identificadas 80 espécies vegetais, pertencentes a 69 gêneros e 31 famílias, sendo Asteraceae/Fabaceae (11) e Rubiaceae (oito) as mais representativas em número de espécies. Dessas plantas, (37,5%) tiveram suas flores visitadas por meliponíneos, e ainda as espécies Borreria verticillata (L.) G.Mey., Conocliniopsis prasiifolia (DC.) R.M.King & H.Rob., Commelina erecta L., Mimosa pudica L., Richardia grandiflora (Cham. & Schltdl.) Steud. e Turnera subulata Sm. apresentaram flores durante todo o período estudado. A vegetação herbácea (53,33%) foi a mais representativa, e o néctar representou 56,67% do recurso disponível a essas abelhas, contribuindo para o conhecimento do pasto apícola para guilda dessas abelhas na área de estudo.
MEMBANGUN TOLERANSI BERAGAMA BERLANDASKAN KONSEP MODERASI DALAM AL-QUR’AN DAN PANCASILA
Authors: Ridho Hilmi
Published: November 2021

The issue of intolerance in the name of Islam has increasingly made people traumatized and restless by the decline in human values. Every day, the world is offered a display of Islam that is delivered by angry Muslims. The world also wonders where is the rahmah's behavior from religion which is said to carry the teachings of mercy and compassion. When there are groups that raise the flag of Islam while destroying humanity, the world is increasingly questioning the practice of Islam that rahmatan lil 'alamin, peace, and respect for humans. The decline in the value of humanity and tolerance is influenced by a weak understanding of the teachings of moderate Islam and the inclusion of Wahhabism as the ancestors of radicalism. This paper is examined as a form of concern for what has befallen Islam with the treatment that has no humanity. The Koran as a source of Islamic religious law with its verses, provides us with an understanding of the meaning of moderate Islam that is true. Whereas Pancasila as an absolute source of law in Indonesia gives the meaning of religious tolerance through all the principles of Pancasila; God, humanity, unity and justice. These two sources of law should be applied in daily life as a solution to overcome intolerance that often carries the name of Islam as a tool to fight other religions that are not in line with the teachings of Islam.
KAJIAN ISLAM TERHADAP PROBLEM POLITIK UANG DALAM PILKADA DI INDONESIA
Authors: Wahid Abdul
Published: November 2021

It's not only the citizen (constituent) who determines the image of mayor election (Pilkada) but also anybody who influences the citizen in order to gain the support from people has big influence through the image of democracy. One of political bad habits and law deviations which blot the image of mayor election (Pilkada) is money politics. It's the time for each people to not mortgage the democracy through money politics, since money politics can only make the future of country becomes even worse as a non-ethics country. In the Islamic doctrine, money politics can be categorized as bribing practice or a forbidden activity
Revisiting Reid on Religion
Authors: Buras Todd
Published: November 2021

This paper answers two interpretive questions surrounding belief in God in Thomas Reid's philosophy, the status question and the detachability question. The former has to do with the type of justification Reid assigns to belief in God – immediate or mediate. The later question is whether anything philosophically significant depends on his belief in God. I argue that, for Reid, belief in God is immediately justified and integral to some parts of his system. Reid's response to skepticism about God is more complicated and more interesting than many of the contemporary philosophers who, citing Reid as inspiration, also hold that belief in God enjoys immediate justification. In Reid's hands the approach to belief in God does not compete with inferential justification, does not rely on a special faculty, and foregrounds the developmental character of his epistemology.
The Beginnings of Psychoanalysis in Poland Before the First World War
Authors: Dembińska Edyta , Rutkowski Krzysztof
Published: November 2021

So far, the origins of Polish psychoanalysis have remained in historical obscurity. Today few people remember that at the start of the twentieth century psychoanalysis sparked a debate and divided physicians, psychologists and pedagogues into its followers and opponents in partitioned Poland. The debate about psychoanalysis played out with the most dynamism in the scientific community of Polish neurologists and psychiatrists, where most of the first Polish psychoanalysts were based: Ludwig Jekels, Stefan Borowiecki, Jan Nelken, Herman Nunberg and Karol de Beaurain. Their efforts to popularize psychoanalytic therapy resulted in the entire scientific session being devoted to psychoanalysis at the Second Congress of Neurologists, Psychiatrists and Psychologists in Krakow in 1912. This paper illustrates the profiles of individuals who were involved in the popularization of Polish psychoanalytic thought and demonstrates a variety of reactions provoked by psychoanalytic ideas in scientific circles. It also sets out to piece together the development of Polish psychoanalysis as a whole before the First World War, suggesting that this first wave of interest might in some ways amount to a historically overlooked pre-war Polish school.
Almanya'da Şansölye Merkel Dönemi ve Sonrasındaki Sürece İlişkin Bir Analiz
Authors: ERMAĞAN İsmail
Published: November 2021

Avrupa’nın merkezi gücü olarak kabul edilen Almanya’nın izlediği ve izleyeceği siyasal ve ekonomik politikalar gerek kendi coğrafyasında gerekse de dünyada kayda değer bir etki üretme potansiyeli barındırmaktadır. Soğuk Savaş sonrasının ilk yılına, doğu ve batı kısımlarının birleşmesi ile giren Almanya, geleneksel olarak lider olduğu ekonomi alanına – Soğuk Savaş’ın bitiminden yaklaşık 30 sene sonra – Avrupa Birliği (AB) nezdinde siyaset alanını da eklemiştir. Bu çalışmada savlanmaktadır ki, 1949-1969, 1982-1998 ve 2005-2021 yılları arasında CDU’lu siyasetin ana çarpan olduğu Almanya; Şansölye Merkel döneminde bazı ciddi eksikliklere ve başarısızlıklara rağmen siyasal ve ekonomik hedeflerine büyük ölçüde ulaşmış olduğu gözükmektedir. Makalenin temel araştırma sorusu şudur: Merkel dönemi küresel, bölgesel ve Türkiye ilişkilerinde genel olarak nasıl değerlendirilebilir?
Floods and Their Impact on the Environment
Authors: Aldardasawi A. F. Mohammad , Eren Beytullah
Published: November 2021

Resources like air and water are present in the Ecosystem for the benefit of biological life, but a slight disturbance in them results in catastrophic calamities; the flood is one of them. Floods are wrecking threats not only to the life of the individuals but also result in long-term destructions to the economy, environment, and the psychological state of the affected individuals. A slight disturbance in a geographical area's climatic conditions and natural cycles like heavy rainfall and extra precipitation result in floods. Other human activities like over urbanization, deforestation to make residential societies, poor drainage systems, poor number of dams and banks are also the reasons behind such drastic calamities. There are many types of floods, but urban floods are more destructive as they affect highly populated areas, and there are more chances of mortalities in such situations. Floods have broad impacts not only socially and economically but also on the environment. Floods affect the agricultural sector by causing over-saturation, infertility, and soil erosion, damaging the crop fields, especially the winter crops. Flood contaminates the groundwater and makes it impure and improper for drinking purposes. Floods contaminate groundwater with pathogenic microbes and result in water-borne diseases, which have detrimental effects on health. The freshwater's aquatic life is also affected by the disturbance of the natural hydrology of the water. According to some reports, Floods have some positive Impacts on aquatic life as it results in nutrient deposition and favorable habitat for most species. Floods also leave after-effects on the microinvertebrates like small insects, which are primary role players in the Ecosystem's food chain. So, the floods are a curse for some and a blessing for others.
Preparation and Evaluation of Starch Hydrogel/Contact Lens Composites as Epigallocatechin Gallate Delivery Systems for Inhibition of Bacterial Adhesion
Authors: Zhao Lianghui , Wang Hongwei , Feng Chengcheng , Song Fangying , Du Xianli
Published: November 2021

Microbial infections caused by wearing contact lenses has become a major health problem, so the design and development of antibacterial contact lenses has attracted widespread attention. To safely and effectively inhibit bacterial adhesion of contact lenses, we have facilely prepared epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) loaded starch hydrogel/contact lens composites by in-situ free radical polymerization of the mixture containing 2-hydroxylethyl methacrylate, methacrylic acid and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate. The adequate transmittance of the resulting contact lenses was characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, and their satisfactory stability was examined using differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. Whereafter, cytotoxicity and degradation experiments were performed to investigate the biocompatibility and degradability of the contact lenses. The results showed the nontoxicity and good degradability of the composites. Besides, the capacity of the contact lenses for in vitro release of EGCG was also evaluated, and the results showed that the EGCG in these contact lenses can be sustainably released for at least 14 days. Further bacterial adhesion assay suggested that the EGCG loaded starch hydrogel/contact lenses could significantly reduce the adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa compared to the control. The EGCG loaded starch hydrogel/contact lens composites provide a potential intervention strategy for preventing ocular microbial infections and inhibiting bacterial keratitis.
Restrictive vs. Liberal Red Blood Cell Transfusion Strategy in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction and Anemia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhang Yeshen , Xu Zhengrong , Huang Yuming , Ye Qirao , Xie Nianjin , Zeng Lihuan , Lian Xingji , Dai Yining , Chen Jiyan , He Pengcheng , Tan Ning , Liu Yuanhui
Published: November 2021

Objective: Anemia is frequent in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and the optimal red blood cell transfusion strategy for AMI patients with anemia is still controversial. We aimed to compare the efficacy of restrictive and liberal red cell transfusion strategies in AMI patients with anemia.

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Clinicaltrials.gov, from their inception until March 2021. Studies designed to compare the efficacy between restrictive and liberal red blood cell transfusion strategies in patients with AMI were included. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality, including overall mortality, in-hospital or follow-up mortality. Risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were presented and pooled by random-effects models.

Results: The search yielded a total of 6,630 participants in six studies. A total of 2,008 patients received restrictive red blood cell transfusion while 4,622 patients were given liberal red blood cell transfusion. No difference was found in overall mortality and follow-up mortality between restrictive and liberal transfusion groups (RR = 1.07, 95% CI = 0.82–1.40, P = 0.62; RR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.56–1.42, P = 0.62). However, restrictive transfusion tended to have a higher risk of in-hospital mortality compared with liberal transfusion (RR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.00–1.50, P = 0.05). No secondary outcomes, including follow-up reinfarction, stroke, and acute heart failure, differed significantly between the two groups. In addition, subgroup analysis showed no differences in overall mortality between the two groups based on sample size and design.

Conclusion: Restrictive and liberal red blood cell transfusion have a similar effect on overall mortality and follow-up mortality in AMI patients with anemia. However, restrictive transfusion tended to have a higher risk of in-hospital mortality compared with liberal transfusion. The findings suggest that transfusion strategy should be further evaluated in future studies.
Teeport: Break the Wall Between the Optimization Algorithms and Problems
Authors: Zhang Zhe , Huang Xiaobiao , Song Minghao
Published: November 2021

Optimization algorithms/techniques such as genetic algorithm, particle swarm optimization, and Gaussian process have been widely used in the accelerator field to tackle complex design/online optimization problems. However, connecting the algorithm with the optimization problem can be difficult, as the algorithms and the problems may be implemented in different languages, or they may require specific resources. We introduce an optimization platform named Teeport that is developed to address the above issues. This real-time communication-based platform is designed to minimize the effort of integrating the algorithms and problems. Once integrated, the users are granted a rich feature set, such as monitoring, controlling, and benchmarking. Some real-life applications of the platform are also discussed.
Combination of Tumor Mutational Burden and Specific Gene Mutations Stratifies Outcome to Immunotherapy Across Recurrent and Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Peng Ying-Peng , Wang Rong , Liu Qiao-Dan , Xu Xi-Wei , Wei Wei , Huang Xiao-Tao , Peng Xiao-Mou , Liu Zhi-Gang
Published: November 2021

Purpose: To investigate the prognostic significance of tumor mutational burden (TMB) combined with specific prognosis-related gene mutations in immunotherapy for recurrent and metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (r/m HNSCC).

Methods: One hundred thirty-two r/m HNSCC patients from the Morris and Allen cohorts had undergone immunotherapy. We constructed the immunotherapy-related gene prognostic index TP-PR combining TMB and PIK3CA, TP53, or ROS1 mutation. And we analyzed the differences in overall survival (OS) and immune cell infiltration between samples in different groups. The association of each signature’s single-sample gene set enrichment analysis scores with TP-PR was tested using Spearman’s correlation test.

Results: The median OS of the patients with high TMB (TMB ≥10 mut/Mb) who received immunotherapy for r/m HNSCC was 2.5 times as long as that of the patients with low TMB (25 vs. 10 months). More importantly, the high TP-PR (TP-PR >0) group had better median OS (25 vs. 8 months) than the low TP-PR (TP-PR ≤0) group. CD8+ T cells and activated memory CD4+ T cells in the tissues of the patients with high TP-PR were higher than those in the patients with low TP-PR. Results showed that TP-PR stratification had a higher area under the curve (AUC) value (0.77, 95% CI 0.86–0.68) compared with TMB stratification (0.56, 95% CI 0.68–0.44). The differential gene expression in the high and low TP-PR groups mainly influenced metabolism-related signaling pathways.

Conclusion: TP-PR was an effective predictor of immunotherapy outcome for r/m HNSCC, which might be better than TMB alone. Patients with high TP-PR had a better survival benefit than had the patients with low TP-PR.
The NF-κB Transcription Factor c-Rel Modulates Group 2 Innate Lymphoid Cell Effector Functions and Drives Allergic Airway Inflammation
Authors: Mindt Barbara C. , Krisna Sai Sakktee , Duerr Claudia U. , Mancini Mathieu , Richer Lara , Vidal Silvia M. , Gerondakis Steven , Langlais David , Fritz Jörg H.
Published: November 2021

Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) play a key role in the initiation and orchestration of early type 2 immune responses. Upon tissue damage, ILC2s are activated by alarmins such as IL-33 and rapidly secrete large amounts of type 2 signature cytokines. ILC2 activation is governed by a network of transcriptional regulators including nuclear factor (NF)-κB family transcription factors. While it is known that activating IL-33 receptor signaling results in downstream NF-κB activation, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we found that the NF-κB subunit c-Rel is required to mount effective innate pulmonary type 2 immune responses. IL-33-mediated activation of ILC2sin vitroas well asin vivowas found to induce c-Rel mRNA and protein expression. In addition, we demonstrate that IL-33-mediated activation of ILC2s leads to nuclear translocation of c-Rel in pulmonary ILC2s. Although c-Rel was found to be a critical mediator of innate pulmonary type 2 immune responses, ILC2-intrinsic deficiency of c-Rel did not have an impact on the developmental capacity of ILC2s nor affected homeostatic numbers of lung-resident ILC2s at steady state. Moreover, we demonstrate that ILC2-intrinsic deficiency of c-Rel alters the capacity of ILC2s to upregulate the expression of ICOSL and OX40L, key stimulatory receptors, and the expression of type 2 signature cytokines IL-5, IL-9, IL-13, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Collectively, our data usingRel−/−mice suggest that c-Rel promotes acute ILC2-driven allergic airway inflammation and suggest that c-Rel may contribute to the pathophysiology of ILC2-mediated allergic airway disease. It thereby represents a promising target for the treatment of allergic asthma, and evaluating the effect of established c-Rel inhibitors in this context would be of great clinical interest.
Epigenetic Modulation of Class-Switch DNA Recombination to IgA by miR-146a Through Downregulation of Smad2, Smad3 and Smad4
Authors: Casali Paolo , Li Shili , Morales Grecia , Daw Cassidy C. , Chupp Daniel P. , Fisher Amanda D. , Zan Hong
Published: November 2021

IgA is the predominant antibody isotype at intestinal mucosae, where it plays a critical role in homeostasis and provides a first line of immune protection. Dysregulation of IgA production, however, can contribute to immunopathology, particularly in kidneys in which IgA deposition can cause nephropathy. Class-switch DNA recombination (CSR) to IgA is directed by TGF-β signaling, which activates Smad2 and Smad3. Activated Smad2/Smad3 dimers are recruited together with Smad4 to theIgHα locusIαpromoter to activate germline Iα-Cα transcription, the first step in the unfolding of CSR to IgA. Epigenetic factors, such as non-coding RNAs, particularly microRNAs, have been shown to regulate T cells, dendritic cells and other immune elements, as well as modulate the antibody response, including CSR, in a B cell-intrinsic fashion. Here we showed that the most abundant miRNA in resting B cells, miR-146a targetsSmad2, Smad3andSmad4mRNA 3’UTRs and keeps CSR to IgA in check in resting B cells. Indeed, enforced miR-146a expression in B cells aborted induction of IgA CSR by decreasing Smad levels. By contrast, upon induction of CSR to IgA, as directed by TGF-β, B cells downregulated miR-146a, thereby reversing the silencing ofSmad2, Smad3andSmad4, which, once expressed, led to recruitment of Smad2, Smad3 and Smad4 to the Iα promoter for activation of germlineIα-Cαtranscription. Deletion of miR-146a inmiR-146a–/–mice significantly increased circulating levels of steady state total IgA, but not IgM, IgG or IgE, and heightened the specific IgA antibody response to OVA. InmiR-146a–/–mice, the elevated systemic IgA levels were associated with increased IgA+B cells in intestinal mucosae, increased amounts of fecal free and bacteria-bound IgA as well as kidney IgA deposition, a hallmark of IgA nephropathy. Increased germlineIα-Cαtranscription and CSR to IgA inmiR-146a–/–B cellsin vitroproved that miR-146a-induced Smad2, Smad3 and Smad4 repression is B cell intrinsic. The B cell-intrinsic role of miR-146a in the modulation of CSR to IgA was formally confirmedin vivoby construction and OVA immunization of mixed bone marrowμMT/miR-146a–/–chimeric mice. Thus, by inhibitingSmad2,Smad3andSmad4expression, miR-146a plays an important and B cell intrinsic role in modulation of CSR to IgA and the IgA antibody response.
Regulation of T-Cell Immune Responses by Pro-Resolving Lipid Mediators
Authors: Perez-Hernandez Javier , Chiurchiù Valerio , Perruche Sylvain , You Sylvaine
Published: November 2021

Both the initiation and the resolution of inflammatory responses are governed by the sequential activation, migration, and control/suppression of immune cells at the site of injury. Bioactive lipids play a major role in the fine-tuning of this dynamic process in a timely manner. During inflammation and its resolution, polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) and macrophages switch from producing pro-inflammatory prostaglandins and leukotrienes to specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs), namely, lipoxins, resolvins, protectins, and maresins, which are operative at the local level to limit further inflammation and tissue injury and restore homeostasis. Accumulating evidences expand now the role and actions of these lipid mediators from innate to adaptive immunity. In particular, SPMs have been shown to contribute to the control of chronic inflammation, and alterations in their production and/or function have been associated with the persistence of several pathological conditions, including autoimmunity, in human and experimental models. In this review, we focus on the impact of pro-resolving lipids on T cells through their ability to modulate T-cell responses. In particular, the effects of the different families of SPMs to restrain effector T-cell functions while promoting regulatory T cells will be reviewed, along with the underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, the emerging concept of SPMs as new biological markers for disease diagnostic and progression and as putative therapeutic tools to regulate the development and magnitude of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases is discussed.
Power Play of Commensal Bacteria in the Buccal Cavity of Female Nile Tilapia
Authors: Abdelhafiz Yousri , Fernandes Jorge M. O. , Stefani Erika , Albanese Davide , Donati Claudio , Kiron Viswanath
Published: November 2021

Fish are widely exposed to higher microbial loads compared to land and air animals. It is known that the microbiome plays an essential role in the health and development of the host. The oral microbiome is vital in females of different organisms, including the maternal mouthbrooding species such as Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The present study reports for the first time the microbial composition in the buccal cavity of female and male Nile tilapia reared in a recirculating aquaculture system. Mucus samples were collected from the buccal cavity of 58 adult fish (∼1 kg), and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was used to profile the microbial communities in females and males. The analysis revealed that opportunistic pathogens such as Streptococcus sp. were less abundant in the female buccal cavity. The power play of certain bacteria such as Acinetobacter, Acidobacteria (GP4 and GP6), and Saccharibacteria that have known metabolic advantages was evident in females compared to males. Association networks inferred from relative abundances showed few microbe–microbe interactions of opportunistic pathogens in female fish. The findings of opportunistic bacteria and their interactions with other microbes will be valuable for improving Nile tilapia rearing practices. The presence of bacteria with specific functions in the buccal cavity of female fish points to their ability to create a protective microbial ecosystem for the offspring.
The Effect of Insight Questions Inventory and Visual Support Strategies on Carer-Reported Quality of Life for Children With Cerebral Palsy and Perceptual Visual Dysfunction in Nigeria: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Duke Roseline E. , Chimaeze Torty , Kim Min J. , Ameh Soter , Burton Kathryn , Bowman Richard
Published: November 2021

Structured clinical history question inventories have previously been used to try and elicit symptoms of perceptual visual dysfunction (PVD) in children with cerebral palsy (CP) in different settings. Earlier studies have suggested that PVD may affect quality of life and specific habilitational strategies, linked to inventory responses, may improve quality of life. Through an RCT, based on a community based sample of children with CP in Cross River State, Nigeria, we aimed to determine if a structured history inventory such as the Insight question inventory (IQI) and associated tailored visual support strategies (IQI VSS) for the management of those children who have PVD, can improve quality of life and is superior to standard therapy. Children with CP were recruited by the key informant method and confirmed by clinical examination. The parent reported IQI was used to identify children with PVD. Primary outcome measures were both Pediatric Quality of Life 4.0 Generic (PedsQL 4.0 Generic) and Pediatric Quality of Life 3.0 Cerebral Palsy (PedsQL 3.0 CP) scale scores. Children were enrolled with a parallel arm allocation to either IQI and IQI VSS or to standard therapy for CP. Children were followed up for 6 weeks with weekly phone call session and the questionnaires repeated at the end of the 6 weeks’ period. Results show that the children in the treatment group (n= 191) showed no significantly different change between baseline and follow up in quality of life (PedsQL 4.0 Genericp= 0.943: and PedsQL-CP 3.0p= 0.287), compared to the control group. There was suggestion of a better improvement (p= 0.035) in the PedsQL 3.0 CP subscale of speech and communication for the intervention group. The use of IQI VSS for the treatment of PVD in children with CP in this population does not show any superiority over current standard CP management in terms of overall quality of life. However, there was some evidence of improvement in quality of life in the area of speech and communication. Further research and refinement of these management method is required.

Clinical Trial Registration:www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier [PACTR20161200188] 6396.
A Practical Guide to Sparse k-Means Clustering for Studying Molecular Development of the Human Brain
Authors: Balsor Justin L. , Arbabi Keon , Singh Desmond , Kwan Rachel , Zaslavsky Jonathan , Jeyanesan Ewalina , Murphy Kathryn M.
Published: November 2021

Studying the molecular development of the human brain presents unique challenges for selecting a data analysis approach. The rare and valuable nature of human postmortem brain tissue, especially for developmental studies, means the sample sizes are small (n), but the use of high throughput genomic and proteomic methods measure the expression levels for hundreds or thousands of variables [e.g., genes or proteins (p)] for each sample. This leads to a data structure that is high dimensional (p ≫ n) and introduces the curse of dimensionality, which poses a challenge for traditional statistical approaches. In contrast, high dimensional analyses, especially cluster analyses developed for sparse data, have worked well for analyzing genomic datasets where p ≫ n. Here we explore applying a lasso-based clustering method developed for high dimensional genomic data with small sample sizes. Using protein and gene data from the developing human visual cortex, we compared clustering methods. We identified an application of sparse k-means clustering [robust sparse k-means clustering (RSKC)] that partitioned samples into age-related clusters that reflect lifespan stages from birth to aging. RSKC adaptively selects a subset of the genes or proteins contributing to partitioning samples into age-related clusters that progress across the lifespan. This approach addresses a problem in current studies that could not identify multiple postnatal clusters. Moreover, clusters encompassed a range of ages like a series of overlapping waves illustrating that chronological- and brain-age have a complex relationship. In addition, a recently developed workflow to create plasticity phenotypes (Balsor et al., 2020) was applied to the clusters and revealed neurobiologically relevant features that identified how the human visual cortex changes across the lifespan. These methods can help address the growing demand for multimodal integration, from molecular machinery to brain imaging signals, to understand the human brain’s development.
The Relationship Between Solar Wind Dynamic Pressure Pulses and Solar Wind Turbulence
Authors: Ruan Mengsi , Zuo Pingbing , Zhou Zilu , Shen Zhenning , Wang Yi , Feng Xueshang , Jiang Chaowei , Xu Xiaojun , Wei Jiayun , Xiong Yanyan , Wang Ludi
Published: November 2021

Solar wind dynamic pressure pulses (DPPs) are small-scale plasma structures with abrupt and large-amplitude plasma dynamic pressure changes on timescales of seconds to several minutes. Overwhelming majority of DPP events (around 79.13%) reside in large-scale solar wind transients, i.e., coronal mass ejections, stream interaction regions, and complex ejecta. In this study, the intermittency, which is a typical feature of solar wind turbulence, is determined and compared during the time intervals in the undisturbed solar wind and in large-scale solar wind transients with clustered DPP events, respectively, as well as in the undisturbed solar wind without DPPs. The probability distribution functions (PDFs) of the fluctuations of proton density increments normalized to the standard deviation at different time lags in the three types of distinct regions are calculated. The PDFs in the undisturbed solar wind without DPPs are near-Gaussian distributions. However, the PDFs in the solar wind with clustered DPPs are obviously non-Gaussian distributions, and the intermittency is much stronger in the large-scale solar wind transients than that in the undisturbed solar wind. The major components of the DPPs are tangential discontinuities (TDs) and rotational discontinuities (RDs), which are suggested to be formed by compressive magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence. There are far more TD-type DPPs than RD-type DPPs both in the undisturbed solar wind and large-scale solar wind transients. The results imply that the formation of solar wind DPPs could be associated with solar wind turbulence, and much stronger intermittency may be responsible for the high occurrence rate of DPPs in the large-scale solar wind transients.
Processing of Airborne Green Leaf Volatiles for Their Glycosylation in the Exposed Plants
Authors: Sugimoto Koichi , Iijima Yoko , Takabayashi Junji , Matsui Kenji
Published: November 2021

Green leaf volatiles (GLVs), the common constituents of herbivore-infested plant volatiles (HIPVs), play an important role in plant defense and function as chemical cues to communicate with other individuals in nature. Reportedly, in addition to endogenous GLVs, the absorbance of airborne GLVs emitted by infested neighboring plants also play a major role in plant defense. For example, the exclusive accumulation of (Z)-3-hexenyl vicianoside in the HIPV-exposed tomato plants occurs by the glycosylation of airborne (Z)-3-hexenol (Z3HOL); however, it is unclear how plants process the other absorbed GLVs. This study demonstrates that tomato plants dominantly accumulated GLV–glycosides after exposure to green leaf alcohols [Z3HOL, (E)-2-hexenol, and n-hexanol] using non-targeted LC–MS analysis. Three types of green leaf alcohols were independently glycosylated without isomerization or saturation/desaturation. Airborne green leaf aldehydes and esters were also glycosylated, probably through converting aldehydes and esters into alcohols. Further, we validated these findings in Arabidopsis mutants- (Z)-3-hexenal (Z3HAL) reductase (chr) mutant that inhibits the conversion of Z3HAL to Z3HOL and the acetyl-CoA:(Z)-3-hexen-1-ol acetyltransferase (chat) mutant that impairs the conversion of Z3HOL to (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate. Exposure of the chr and chat mutants to Z3HAL accumulated lower and higher amounts of glycosides than their corresponding wild types (Col-0 and Ler), respectively. These findings suggest that plants process the exogenous GLVs by the reductase(s) and the esterase(s), and a part of the processed GLVs contribute to glycoside accumulation. Overall, the study provides insights into the understanding of the communication of the plants within their ecosystem, which could help develop strategies to protect the crops and maintain a balanced ecosystem.