bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) for tumor immunotherapy; recent progress
Authors: Budi Hendrik Setia , Ahmad Firdaus Nuri , Achmad Harun , Ansari Mohammad Javed , Mikhailova Maria Vladimirovna , Suksatan Wanich , Chupradit Supat , Shomali Navid , Marofi Faroogh
Published: January 2022

Due to the overexpression or amplification of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) with poor prognosis in a myriad of human tumors, recent studies have focused on HER2-targeted therapies. Deregulation in HER2 signaling pathways is accompanied by sustained tumor cells growth concomitant with their migration and also tumor angiogenesis and metastasis by stimulation of proliferation of a network of blood vessels. A large number of studies have provided clear evidence that the emerging HER2-directed treatments could be the outcome of patients suffering from HER2 positive breast and also gastric/gastroesophageal cancers. Thanks to its great anti-tumor competence, immunotherapy using HER2-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) expressing immune cell has recently attracted increasing attention. Human T cells and also natural killer (NK) cells can largely be found in the tumor microenvironment, mainly contributing to the tumor immune surveillance. Such properties make them perfect candidate for genetically modification to express constructed CARs. Herein, we will describe the potential targets of the HER2 signaling in tumor cells to clarify HER2-mediated tumorigenesis and also discuss recent findings respecting the HER2-specific CAR-expressing immune cells (CAR T and CAR NK cell) for the treatment of HER2-expressing tumors.
Mesenchymal stem cells-derived therapies for subarachnoid hemorrhage in preclinical rodent models: a meta-analysis
Authors: He Jialin , Liu Jianyang , Huang Yan , Lan Ziwei , Tang Xiangqi , Hu Zhiping
Published: January 2022

Background

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and MSCs-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as potential novel therapies for subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). However, their effects remain incompletely understood. We aim to comprehensively evaluate the effect of MSCs-derived therapies in rodent models of SAH.

Methods

We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science up to September 2021 to identify studies that reported the effects of MSCs or MSCs-derived EVs in a rodent SAH model. Neurobehavioral score was extracted as the functional outcome, and brain water content was measured as the histopathological outcome. A random-effects model was used to calculate the standardized mean difference (SMD) and confidence interval (CI).

Results

Nine studies published from 2018 to 2021 met the inclusion criteria. Studies quality scores ranged from 5 to 10, with a mean value of 7.22. Our results revealed an overall positive effect of MSCs and MSCs-derived EVs on the neurobehavioral score with a SMD of − 2.21 (95% CI − 3.14, − 1.08; p < 0.0001). Meanwhile, we also found that MSCs and MSCs-derived EVs reduced brain water content by a SMD of − 2.09 (95% CI − 2.99, − 1.19; p < 0.00001). Significant heterogeneity among studies was observed, further stratified and sensitivity analyses did not identify the source of heterogeneity.

Conclusions

Our results suggested that MSCs-derived therapies prominently improved functional recovery and reduced brain edema in the rodent models of SAH. Notably, the limitations of small sample size should be considered when interpreting the results, and large animal studies and human trials are needed for further investigation.
Exercise training worsens cardiac performance in males but does not change ejection fraction and improves hypertrophy in females in a mouse model of metabolic syndrome
Authors: Tóth Melinda E. , Sárközy Márta , Szűcs Gergő , Dukay Brigitta , Hajdu Petra , Zvara Ágnes , Puskás László G. , Szebeni Gábor J. , Ruppert Zsófia , Csonka Csaba , Kovács Ferenc , Kriston András , Horváth Péter , Kővári Bence , Cserni Gábor , Csont Tamás , Sántha Miklós
Published: January 2022

Background

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) refers to a cluster of co-existing cardio-metabolic risk factors, including visceral obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia with insulin resistance, and hypertension. As there is a close link between MetS and cardiovascular diseases, we aimed to investigate the sex-based differences in MetS-associated heart failure (HF) and cardiovascular response to regular exercise training (ET).

Methods

High-fat diet-fed male and female APOB-100 transgenic (HFD/APOB-100, 3 months) mice were used as MetS models, and age- and sex-matched C57BL/6 wild-type mice on standard diet served as healthy controls (SD/WT). Both the SD/WT and HFD/APOB-100 mice were divided into sedentary and ET groups, the latter running on a treadmill (0.9 km/h) for 45 min 5 times per week for 7 months. At month 9, transthoracic echocardiography was performed to monitor cardiac function and morphology. At the termination of the experiment at month 10, blood was collected for serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL)- and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol measurements and homeostatic assessment model for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) calculation. Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and fibrosis were assessed by histology. Left ventricular expressions of selected genes associated with metabolism, inflammation, and stress response were investigated by qPCR.

Results

Both HFD/APOB-100 males and females developed obesity and hypercholesterolemia; however, only males showed insulin resistance. ET did not change these metabolic parameters. HFD/APOB-100 males showed echocardiographic signs of mild HF with dilated ventricles and thinner walls, whereas females presented the beginning of left ventricular hypertrophy. In response to ET, SD/WT males developed increased left ventricular volumes, whereas females responded with physiologic hypertrophy. Exercise-trained HFD/APOB-100 males presented worsening HF with reduced ejection fraction; however, ET did not change the ejection fraction and reversed the echocardiographic signs of left ventricular hypertrophy in HFD/APOB-100 females. The left ventricular expression of the leptin receptor was higher in females than males in the SD/WT groups. Left ventricular expression levels of stress response-related genes were higher in the exercise-trained HFD/APOB-100 males and exercise-trained SD/WT females than exercise-trained SD/WT males.

Conclusions

HFD/APOB-100 mice showed sex-specific cardiovascular responses to MetS and ET; however, left ventricular gene expressions were similar between the groups except for leptin receptor and several stress response-related genes.
Text mining-based measurement of precision of polysomnographic reports as basis for intervention
Authors: Baty Florent , Hegermann Jemima , Locatelli Tiziana , Rüegg Claudio , Gysin Christian , Rassouli Frank , Brutsche Martin
Published: January 2022

Background

Text mining can be applied to automate knowledge extraction from unstructured data included in medical reports and generate quality indicators applicable for medical documentation. The primary objective of this study was to apply text mining methodology for the analysis of polysomnographic medical reports in order to quantify sources of variation – here the diagnostic precision vs. the inter-rater variability – in the work-up of sleep-disordered breathing. The secondary objective was to assess the impact of a text block standardization on the diagnostic precision of polysomnography reports in an independent test set.

Results

Polysomnography reports of 243 laboratory-based overnight sleep investigations scored by 9 trained sleep specialists of the Sleep Center St. Gallen were analyzed using a text-mining methodology. Patterns in the usage of discriminating terms allowed for the characterization of type and severity of disease and inter-rater homogeneity. The variation introduced by the inter-rater (technician/physician) heterogeneity was found to be twice as high compared to the variation introduced by effective diagnostic information. A simple text block standardization could significantly reduce the inter-rater variability by 44%, enhance the predictive value and ultimately improve the diagnostic accuracy of polysomnography reports.

Conclusions

Text mining was successfully used to assess and optimize the quality, as well as the precision and homogeneity of medical reporting of diagnostic procedures – here exemplified with sleep studies. Text mining methodology could lay the ground for objective and systematic qualitative assessment of medical reports.
On torque computation in electric machine simulation by harmonic mortar methods
Authors: Egger Herbert , Harutyunyan Mané , Löscher Richard , Merkel Melina , Schöps Sebastian
Published: January 2022

The use of trigonometric polynomials as Lagrange multipliers in the harmonic mortar method enables an efficient and elegant treatment of relative motion in the stator-rotor coupling of electric machine simulation. Explicit formulas for the torque computation are derived by energetic considerations, and their realization by harmonic mortar finite element and isogeometric analysis discretizations is discussed. Numerical tests are presented to illustrate the theoretical results and demonstrate the potential of harmonic mortar methods for the evaluation of torque ripples.
Initial evaluation of [18F]-FACBC for PET imaging of multiple myeloma
Authors: Morath Volker , Heider Michael , Mittelhäuser Markus , Rolbieski Hannes , Stroh Jacob , Calais Jérémie , Eiber Matthias , Bassermann Florian , Weber Wolfgang A.
Published: January 2022

Rationale

Multiple myeloma (MM) cells synthesize large amounts of paraproteins, making radiolabeled amino acids promising candidates for PET imaging of MM patients.

Methods

We compare tumor uptake of the two amino acid analogs [18F]-fluoroethyltyrosine and [18F]-FACBC in a MM xenograft model and show the feasibility of PET imaging with [18F]-FACBC in a MM patient.

Results

Preclinically [18F]-FACBC showed superior performance, mainly due to the uptake via the ASC-system. In a subsequent proof-of-concept investigation [18F]-FACBC PET was performed in a MM patient. It allowed identification of both lesions with and without CT correlate (SUVmean 8.0 or 7.9) based on higher uptake compared to normal bone marrow (SUVmean 5.7). Bone signal was elevated compared to non-MM patients, and, thus [18F]-FACBC potentially allows the assessment of bone marrow infiltration.

Conclusion

The FDA/EMA approved PET agent [18F]-FACBC is promising for imaging MM and should be further evaluated in prospective clinical studies.
Humoral immune response induced with dengue virus-like particles serotypes 1 and 4 produced in silkworm
Authors: Utomo Doddy Irawan Setyo , Pambudi Sabar , Park Enoch Y.
Published: January 2022

Dengue is an arboviral disease, which threatens almost half the global population, and has emerged as the most significant of current global public health challenges. In this study, we prepared dengue virus-like particles (DENV-LPs) consisting of Capsid-premembrane-envelope (CprME) and premembrane-envelope (prME) polypeptides from serotype 1 and 4, which were expressed in the silkworms using Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) bacmid. 1CprME, 1prME, 4CprME, and 4prME expressed proteins in hemolymph, and the molecular weight of the purified proteins was 55 kDa, respectively. The purified polypeptides formed spherical Dengue virus-like particles (DENV-LPs) with ~ 30–55 nm in diameter. The immunoelectron microscopy (IEM) images revealed antigens to the surface of a lipid bilayer of DENV-LPs. The heparin-binding assay shows a positive relationship between absorbance and E protein domain III (EDIII) quantity, which is supported by the isothermal titration calorimetry assay. This indicates a moderate binding affinity between heparin and DENV-LP. The high correlation between patient sera and DENV-LP reactivities revealed that these DENV-LPs shared similar epitopes with the natural dengue virus. IgG elicitation studies in mice have demonstrated that DENV-LPs/CPrMEs elicit a stronger immune response than DENV-LP/prMEs, which lends credence to this claim.
Organ donation in the time of COVID-19: the Israeli experience one year into the pandemic—ethical and policy implications
Authors: Katvan Eyal , Cohen Jonathan , Ashkenazi Tamar
Published: January 2022

Purpose

To present the response of the Israel National Transplantation Center (NTC) to the evolving challenge of COVID-19, the impact on deceased organ donation and living organ kidney donation during 2020, and resultant policy and ethical implications.

Methods

Data collected included (i) for deceased donors, the total number of potential organ donors, if hospitalized in ICU or general ward, cause of death, number of family authorizations and refusals, number of actual donors, number of organs transplanted/donor and total number of transplants performed; (ii) for living-kidney-donors (related or altruistic), the number of procedures performed; and (iii) the number of patients registered on the national organ waiting-list.

Results

Following the first case (February 2020), deceased organ donation continued uninterrupted. The total number of potential donors was similar to 2019 (181 vs. 189). However, the number of families approached for donation decreased significantly (P = 0.02). This may be attributed to COVID-19-imposed limitations including fewer brain death determinations due to limited possibilities for face-to-face donor coordinator-donor family interactions providing emotional support and visual explanations of the medical situation. Fewer donors were admitted to ICU (P = 0.1) and the number of organs retrieved/donor decreased (3.8/donor to 3.4/donor). The overall result was a decrease of 24.2% in the number of transplant procedures (306 vs. 232). Living kidney donation, initially halted, resumed in May and the total number of procedures increased compared to 2019 due to a significant increase in altruistic donations (P < 0.0001), while the number of related-living donations decreased.

Conclusion

This study of organ donation during a crisis has informed the introduction of policy changes in the NTC including the necessity to mobilize rapidly a “war room”, the use of innovative virtual tools for contact-less communication, and the importance of cooperation with hospital authorities in allocating scarce health-care resources. Finally, the pandemic highlighted and intensified ethical considerations, such as under what circumstances living kidney donation be continued in the face of uncertainty, and what information to provide to altruistic donors regarding a prospective recipient, in particular whether all options for related living donation have been exhausted. These should be addressed now.
Performance evaluation of publish-subscribe systems in IoT using energy-efficient and context-aware secure messages
Authors: Ferraz Junior Norisvaldo , Silva Anderson A.A. , Guelfi Adilson E. , Kofuji Sergio T.
Published: January 2022

Background

The Internet of Things (IoT) enables the development of innovative applications in various domains such as healthcare, transportation, and Industry 4.0. Publish-subscribe systems enable IoT devices to communicate with the cloud platform. However, IoT applications need context-aware messages to translate the data into contextual information, allowing the applications to act cognitively. Besides, end-to-end security of publish-subscribe messages on both ends (devices and cloud) is essential. However, achieving security on constrained IoT devices with memory, payload, and energy restrictions is a challenge.

Contribution

Messages in IoT need to achieve both energy efficiency and secure delivery. Thus, the main contribution of this paper refers to a performance evaluation of a message structure that standardizes the publish-subscribe topic and payload used by the cloud platform and the IoT devices. We also propose a standardization for the topic and payload for publish-subscribe systems.

Conclusion

The messages promote energy efficiency, enabling ultra-low-power and high-capacity devices and reducing the bytes transmitted in the IoT domain. The performance evaluation demonstrates that publish-subscribe systems (namely, AMQP, DDS, and MQTT) can use our proposed energy-efficient message structure on IoT. Additionally, the message system provides end-to-end confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity between IoT devices and the cloud platform.
Perceptions and experiences toward extended-release buprenorphine among persons leaving jail with opioid use disorders before and during COVID-19: an in-depth qualitative study
Authors: Cheng Anna , Badolato Ryan , Segoshi Andrew , McDonald Ryan , Malone Mia , Vasudevan Kumar , Badiei Beita , Sugarman Allison , Macdonald Ross , Mangat Jasdeep , Giftos Jonathan , Lee Joshua D. , Tofighi Babak
Published: January 2022

Background

Extended-release buprenorphine (XRB) offers a novel approach to sustained monthly treatment for people who use opioids in criminal justice settings (CJS). This study explores the experiences of adults receiving XRB as a jail-to-community treatment.

Methods and findings

In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted among adult participants with opioid use disorder (OUD; n  = 16) who were recently released from NYC jails and maintained on XRB after switching from daily sublingual buprenorphine (SLB). Interviews elaborated on the acceptability and barriers and facilitators of XRB treatment pre- and post-release. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for content related to factors influencing XRB treatment uptake and community reentry. Important themes were grouped into systems, medication, and patient-level factors. Key systems-level factors influencing initiation of XRB in jail included an alternative to perceived stigmatization and privacy concerns associated with daily in-jail SLB administration and less concerns with buprenorphine diversion. In-jail peer networks positively influenced participant adoption of XRB. XRB satisfaction was attributed to reduced in-jail clinic and medication administration visits, perceived efficacy and blockade effects upon the use of heroin/fentanyl following release, and averting the risk of criminal activities to fund opioid use. Barriers to retention included post-injection withdrawal symptoms and cravings attributed to perceived suboptimal medication dosing, injection site pain, and lack of in-jail provider information about the medication.

Conclusion

Participants were generally favorable to XRB initiation in jail and retention post-release. Further studies are needed to address factors influencing access to XRB in criminal justice settings, including stigma, ensuring patient privacy following initiation on XRB, and patient-, provider-, and correctional staff education pertaining to XRB.

Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identified: NCT03604159.
Differences in on-ground and aloft conditions explain seasonally different migration paths in Demoiselle crane
Authors: Galtbalt Batbayar , Batbayar Nyambayar , Sukhbaatar Tuvshintugs , Vorneweg Bernd , Heine Georg , Müller Uschi , Wikelski Martin , Klaassen Marcel
Published: January 2022

Background

Although some migratory birds may take different routes during their outbound and inbound migration, the factors causing these differential migrations to and from the breeding grounds, have rarely been investigated. In Northeast Asia, Demoiselle crane (Anthropoides virgo) performs one of the most extreme “loop” migrations known to date. During outbound migration, they cross the Himalayas to non-breeding sites in northwest India. Contrastingly, during inbound migration to the breeding grounds, they fly around the western end of the Himalayas. We hypothesise that differences in prevailing environmental conditions aloft and/or on-ground during both seasonal migrations are at the core of this phenomenon.

Methods

Based on the tracking data of 16 individuals of tagged Demoiselle crane, we compared conditions during actual migration with those of simulated “reverse” migration (i.e. by adding 180 degrees to the flight direction and adding and subtracting half a year to the timestamps of outbound and inbound migration, respectively).

Results

The comparison of actual and simulated “reverse” migration indicated that cranes would have encountered poorer aloft (wind support and thermal uplift) and on-ground conditions (temperature) if they had migrated in a reverse outbound migration and poorer on-ground conditions (Normalised Difference Vegetation Indexes [NDVI]) if they had migrated in a reverse inbound direction.

Conclusions

Our analyses suggest that both on-ground and aloft conditions play a key role in explaining Demoiselle cranes’ loop migration, during the periods that they chose to use these alternative routes. Knowledge on the determinants of (differential) migration routes allow predicting migration decisions and may be critical in mitigating global change effects on animal migrations.
Identification of the spatio-temporal and fluvial-pluvial sources of flood inundation in the Lower Mekong Basin
Authors: Try Sophal , Sayama Takahiro , Oeurng Chantha , Sok Ty , Ly Steven , Uk Sovannara
Published: January 2022

Identification of the sources of the spatio-temporal information of flooding is important for flood control and understanding the water dynamic. Flood disasters are generally caused by two main sources: fluvial and pluvial flooding. However, there is a gap in information and challenge of such particular information in the Mekong River Basin (MRB) known as the largest river basin in Southeast Asia. This paper aims to analyze the spatio-temporal hydrograph separations of flooding and to determine the fluvial and pluvial sources of inundation water in the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB) by using a distributed rainfall–runoff–inundation (RRI) model and time–space accounting scheme (T–SAS) method. This study focuses on the two major flood events in 2000 and 2011, whose characteristics were different. The one in 2000 was long in terms of flood duration and it was the historically largest annual total flood water with twice the peak times in July and September. The 2011 flood had the highest flooded water during the peak time; however, its annual total flood water was less than the one in 2000. The results of spatio-temporal sources of flooding indicated that during the flow peak time in 2000 and 2011, the flow at Kratie was mainly contributed by 30-day (67%) and 100-day (98%) precipitation from the upstream. The drainage area of the MRB in China, northern Lao PDR, southern Lao PDR and eastern Thailand, and Cambodia and Vietnam contributed to peak flood at Kratie by 13%, 27%, 33%, and 27% for the 2000 flood and 12%, 33%, 38%, and 16% for the 2011 flood. The source of inundated water in the LMB was derived from upstream flow (fluvial source) of 35–36% and local rainfall (pluvial source) of 64–65%. Even though flood events in 2000 and 2011 had different characteristics, the sources of flood inundation in the LMB for both events were majorly from the local rainfall rather than the upstream flow. The large annual flood volume and long during of flooding in 2000 caused severe total economic damages up to 517 million US$ in the LMB countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Vietnam), while the high peak inundated water in 2011 with shorter flood duration caused damages of 493 million US$.
Preparing early educators as frontline leaders and change agents with a leadership development initiative
Authors: Lee Yujin , Douglass Anne , Zeng Songtian , Wiehe Lopes Amanda , Reyes Arazeliz
Published: January 2022

The present study examined the impact of a leadership development program, Leading for Change (LfC) that focused on building the capacity of early educators to lead change as frontline leaders and change agents. Bringing together a relational-entrepreneurial leadership theory lens, the LfC was designed to foster early educators’ leadership mindset, knowledge, and skills that could potentially bring a long-lasting impact on many aspects of the early care and education (ECE) field. With a sample of 31 racially and linguistically diverse early educators, the present study compared participants’ entrepreneurial mindset, leadership competencies, and capacity to act as change agents and leaders before and after the LfC program. Results showed that participants’ perceptions of themselves as leaders were increased after completing the LfC. They also demonstrated more confidence in their own ability to drive positive change where they work and more broadly in the ECE field. Findings from this study suggest that the relational-entrepreneurial leadership approach taps into early educators’ insights, passions, and knowledge and equips them to participate in leadership for quality improvement and positive change.
Head, Face and Neck Cooling as Per-cooling (Cooling During Exercise) Modalities to Improve Exercise Performance in the Heat: A Narrative Review and Practical Applications
Authors: Cao Yinhang , Lei Tze-Huan , Wang Faming , Yang Bin , Mündel Toby
Published: January 2022

It is well known that uncompensable heat stress greatly impairs endurance and team sport-related performance because an increase in the core temperature directly induces a greater magnitude of the central fatigue in the heat than in thermal neutral environments. Numerous studies have been conducted in an attempt to discover reliable cooling strategies for improving endurance performance and repeated sprint ability while exercising in the heat. Whole-body pre-cooling has been shown to improve endurance performance in both dry and humid heat. Despite this, the reduction in thermal perceptions associated with pre-cooling gradually narrows during intense exercise. Hence, effective per-cooling strategies to improve athletic performance in the heat are required. Unfortunately, due to practical issues, adopting pre-cooling approaches as a per-cooling (cooling during exercise) modality to improve athletic performance is impractical. Thus, we sought to examine the impact of head, neck and face cooling on athletic performance in heat. According to current evidence, cooling the head, neck and face reduced local skin temperature in the areas where cooling was applied, resulting in improved local perceptual sensations. In the heat, neck cooling during exercise improves athletic performance in both endurance and team sports athletes. Furthermore, from a practical standpoint, neck cooling is preferred over head, face and combined head/face and neck cooling for both endurance and team sport athletes in the heat. Nonetheless, for all athletes who have access to water, face cooling is a recommended cooling strategy. There is a lack of research on the systematic selection of per-cooling modalities to improve athletic performance based on environmental conditions and the nature of sports. In addition, powerful but portable head, neck and face cooling systems are urgently needed to assist athletes in improving their performance in hot conditions.
COVID-19 lockdown and natural resources: a global assessment on the challenges, opportunities, and the way forward
Authors: Muche Meseret , Yemata Getahun , Molla Eyayu , Muasya A. Muthama , Tsegay Berhanu Abraha
Published: January 2022

Background

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a global pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, which has an enormous effect on human lives and the global environment. This review aimed to assess the global scientific evidence on the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on natural resources using international databases and search engines. Thus, the unprecedented anthropause due to COVID-19 has positive and negative effects on natural resources.

Main body

This review showed that the unprecedented pandemic lockdown events brought a negative impact on the physical environment, including pollution associated with a drastic increase in person protective equipment, deforestation, illegal poaching and logging, overfishing, disruption of the conservation program and projects. It is noted that the spread of pandemic diseases could be aggravated by environmental pollution and a rapid increase in the global population. Despite these negative impacts of COVID-19, the anthropause appear to have also several positive effects on natural resources such as short term reduction of indoor and outdoor environmental pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, and CO2), reduction in noise pollutions from ships, boats, vehicles, and planes which have positive effects on aquatic ecosystems, water quality, birds behaviour, wildlife biodiversity, and ecosystem restoration.

Conclusion

Therefore, governments and scientific communities across the globe have called for a green recovery to COVID-19 and implement multi-actor interventions and environmentally friendly technologies to improve and safeguard sustainable environmental and biodiversity management and halt the next pandemic.
How microbiomes can help inform conservation: landscape characterisation of gut microbiota helps shed light on additional population structure in a specialist folivore
Authors: Littleford-Colquhoun B. L. , Weyrich L. S. , Hohwieler K. , Cristescu R. , Frère C. H.
Published: January 2022

Background

The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), an iconic yet endangered specialised folivore experiencing widespread decline across Australia, is the focus of many conservation programs. Whilst animal translocation and progressive conservation strategies such as faecal inoculations may be required to bring this species back from the brink of extinction, insight into the variation of host-associated gut microbiota and the factors that shape this variation are fundamental for their success. Despite this, very little is known about the landscape variability and factors affecting koala gut microbial community dynamics. We used large scale field surveys to evaluate the variation and diversity of koala gut microbiotas and compared these diversity patterns to those detected using a population genetics approach. Scat samples were collected from five locations across South East Queensland with microbiota analysed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing.

Results

Across the landscape koala gut microbial profiles showed large variability, with location having a large effect on bacterial community composition and bacterial diversity. Certain bacteria were found to be significantly differentially abundant amongst locations; koalas from Noosa showed a depletion in two bacterial orders (Gastranaerophilales and Bacteroidales) which have been shown to provide beneficial properties to their host. Koala gut microbial patterns were also not found to mirror population genetic patterns, a molecular tool often used to design conservation initiatives.

Conclusions

Our data shows that koala gut microbiotas are extremely variable across the landscape, displaying complex micro- and macro- spatial variation. By detecting locations which lack certain bacteria we identified koala populations that may be under threat from future microbial imbalance or dysbiosis. Additionally, the mismatching of gut microbiota and host population genetic patterns exposed important population structure that has previously gone undetected across South East Queensland. Overall, this baseline data highlights the importance of integrating microbiota research into conservation biology in order to guide successful conservation programs such as species translocation and the implementation of faecal inoculations.
Sums of finite products of Pell polynomials in terms of hypergeometric functions
Authors: Patra Asim , Panda Gopal Krishna
Published: January 2022

In this work, we study sums of finite products of Pell polynomials and express them in terms of some special orthogonal polynomials. Furthermore, each of the obtained expression is represented as linear combinations of classical polynomials involving hypergeometric functions by means of explicit computations.
Electrochemical degradation of methylene blue accompanied with the reduction of CO2 by using carbon nanotubes grown on carbon fiber electrodes
Authors: Luan Nhat Huy , Yang Yu-Ting , Chang Chiung-Fen
Published: January 2022

In this study, the degradation of Methylene Blue (MB) dye accompanied with the reduction of CO2 was performed in an electrochemical (EC) process by using carbon nanotubes grown on carbon fiber (CNTs/CFM) electrodes as the cathode and anode in a two-compartment electrochemical cell. The growth of CNTs on CFM via chemical vapor deposition led to the significant improvement in physicochemical properties of CNTs/CFM which were beneficial for the EC process. The effects of various operating parameters including supporting electrolytes (KHCO3 and H2SO4), initial concentration of MB (5, 10, 15 and 20 mg L− 1) and applied currents (10, 50 and 100 mA) on the degradation of MB were investigated. The results confirmed the vital influence of applied current and initial concentration of MB while the supporting electrolytes played a minor role in MB degradation. On the contrary, the influence of electrolytes in the performance of CO2 reduction was more significant on the production and selectivity of generated products. The optimal electrochemical system included 0.1 M KHCO3 as the electrolyte and an applied current of 50 mA in anodic cell and CO2 saturated solution in cathodic cell; such a system resulted in the EC degradation efficiency of 72% at the MB initial concentration of 10 mg L− 1 in the anodic cell and production of 4.7 mM cm− 2 CO, 67 mM cm− 2 H2, and 11.3 mg L− 1 oxalic acid in the cathodic cell corresponding to the Faradaic efficiencies of 28, 40 and 4%, respectively. The results of reusability test deduced that the stability of CNTs/CFM was still satisfactory after 4 runs. The results of this study demonstrated the good applicability of CNTs/CFM to be simultaneously used the electrodes for the EC oxidation of dye and the EC reduction of CO2 to obtain valuable compounds.
The haustorium as a driving force for speciation in thallus-forming Laboulbeniomycetes
Authors: Haelewaters Danny , Lubbers Maarten , De Kesel André
Published: January 2022

Laboulbeniomycetes is a class of fungi that have obligate associations with arthropod hosts, either for dispersal (order Pyxidiophorales) or as biotrophic parasites (orders Herpomycetales and Laboulbeniales). Here, we focus on Herpomycetales and Laboulbeniales, which include fungi that form thalli, 3-dimensional, multicellular units of 1000 s of cells. Based on recently published data regarding patterns of speciation, we present the One-Host-One-Parasite model (1H1P) for haustorial thallus-forming Laboulbeniomycetes. We hypothesize that taxa with haustoria, rhizoidal structures that make contact with the host’s body cavity, have very strict host specificity. For taxa without haustoria, the microhabitat—as selected by the host—governs host shifting, presence or absence of the fungus, abundance, effective host range, and geographic distribution. We make suggestions for future research including fluorescent labeling of waxy lipids and mass spectrometry. These techniques have the potential to generate the data necessary to evaluate the here proposed 1H1P hypothesis for Herpomycetales and Laboulbeniales.
Early CT and MRI signs of invasive fungal sinusitis complicating COVID-19 infection: case report
Authors: Samir Ahmed , Abdel-Gawad Mohamed Said , Elabd Amr Magdy , Abed Walid Mohamed , Mahmoud Ayman , Gaweesh Tamer Yousry , Youssef Ahmed
Published: January 2022

Background

Corticosteroids are usually prescribed for severe cases with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). Despite their importance to decrease patients’ mortality, they can cause serious side effects like fulminant fungal infection that can damage lungs or invade the sinuses then rapidly spread to the orbit and even intra-cranially. Unless early diagnosed and properly managed, patients can lose their vision or die from cavernous sinus thrombosis or other intracranial complications.

Case presentation

A 71-year-old diabetic male patient presented with dry cough, fever, and dyspnea for 6 days. PCR test for COVID-19 was ordered and declared positive. The oxygen saturation on day 7 started to decline to reach 90%. Eight ampules of intra-muscular dexamethasone were prescribed. The patient’s dyspnea improved, and the oxygen saturation reached 94% by day 13. Oral prednisone was prescribed in a withdrawal protocol. Unfortunately, on day 15, the patient complained of mild left-sided cheek swelling and noticeably dropped left angle of mouth. Neurological consultation suspected facial palsy and asked for brain MRI examination. Limited lower cuts of the MRI study that covered the left maxillary antrum revealed mild fullness of the pre-maxillary fat planes with mucosal thickening. Complimentary dedicated MRI and CT cuts over the left maxillary sinus showed localized signs of invasive fungal sinusitis without orbital or intracranial complications. The patient received antifungal therapy even before evident endoscopic findings appeared. He underwent endoscopic debridement few days after and he had an excellent outcome without any progression or significant morbidities.

Conclusion

Early CT/MRI radiological signs of invasive fungal sinusitis that complicated COVID-19 infection aid in the diagnosis and proper timely management of this fatal disease.
Copper(II) Complexes of 10,20-Diaryl-5,15-diazaporphyrin: Alternative Synthesis, Excited State Dynamics, and Substituent Effect on the 1O2-Generation Efficiency
Authors: Ochiai Hikari , Miura Tomoaki , Ikoma Tadaaki , Minoura Mao , Nakano Haruyuki , Matano Yoshihiro
Published: January 2022

The synthesis, excited state dynamics, and substituent effect on the 1O2-generation efficiency of several copper(II) complexes of 5,15-diazaporphyrin (CuDAPs) bearing peripheral substituents are reported. 10,20-Diaryl-CuDAPs were prepared via a new method consisting of metal-templated cyclization and N-dealkylation as key steps. The effect of the β-substituents on the optical and redox properties of CuDAP was stronger than that of the meso-aryl groups, which can be explained by considering the characteristics of the HOMO and LUMO of the DAP ring. The excited state dynamics and 1O2-generation efficiency of CuDAPs were studied using time-resolved spectroscopic techniques; the electronic effect of the meso-aryl groups on the triplet lifetime and 1O2-generation quantum yield was relatively weak, whereas that of the β-(1-pyrazolyl) groups was appreciable. The analysis of the temperature dependence of phosphorescence spectra of 10,20-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-CuDAP allowed the energy gap between the excited trip-quartet and trip-doublet states to be determined. The relatively long triplet lifetimes of CuDAPs show their potential for future application as photosensitizers.
International financial reporting standards and the effect on banks' profitability
Authors: Κολέτσα Ελένη
Published: January 2022

Το τραπεζικό σύστημα της κάθε χώρας αποτελεί την κινητήρια δύναμη για την ανάπτυξη της εθνικής οικονομίας. Οι αλλαγές που έχουν πραγματοποιηθεί στο διεθνή τραπεζικό κόσμο τα τελευταία χρόνια είναι ιδιαίτερα σημαντικές λόγω των αυξημένων οικονομικών προβλημάτων. Επομένως, η μελέτη της τραπεζικής αποδοτικότητας έχει γίνει πιο περίπλοκη και επιτακτική. Με την ύπαρξη αποτελεσματικών τραπεζικών συστημάτων μειώνεται το κόστος της χρηματοπιστωτικής διαμεσολάβησης, αυξάνεται η κερδοφορία και βελτιώνεται η ποιότητα των υπηρεσιών, ενώ υπάρχει μεγαλύτερη ασφάλεια των καταθέσεων. Ως εκ τούτου, οι τράπεζες αποτελούν το αντικείμενο πολλών μελετών, όπου εξετάζεται η σταθερότητά τους μέσω μεγεθών, όπως η κερδοφορία, η ρευστότητα ή η αποδοτικότητα. Αντικείμενο της παρούσας εργασίας είναι η αξιολόγηση της κερδοφορίας και αποδοτικότητας για πέντε ελληνικές τράπεζες που βρίσκονται στη Βουλγαρία, μέσω του υπολογισμού των χρηματοοικονομικών τους δεικτών για την περίοδο 2001-2008. Η περίοδος αυτή είναι ουσιώδης, καθώς περιλαμβάνει έτη πριν και μετά την υιοθέτηση των Διεθνών Προτύπων Χρηματοοικονομικής Αναφοράς, η εφαρμογή των οποίων επηρέασε τις οικονομικές εκθέσεις των τραπεζών και την τραπεζική απόδοση. Εξετάζεται η χρηματοοικονομική συμπεριφορά των τραπεζικών ιδρυμάτων για την περίοδο πριν και μετά την υιοθέτηση των Δ.Π.Χ.Α. με σκοπό να καταγραφεί η επίδρασή τους στην αποδοτικότητα των τραπεζών. Η αξιολόγηση της αποδοτικότητας επιλέχθηκε να γίνει μέσω της ανάλυσης των χρηματοοικονομικών δεικτών. Ακολουθεί μια σημαντική στατιστική ανάλυση η οποία επικεντρώνεται στα έτη μετά την υιοθέτηση των ΔΠΧΑ. Βασίζεται σε ανάλυση παλινδρόμησης και τα αποτελέσματα που προέκυψαν προσδιορίζουν τη σχέση μεταξύ των καθοριστικών παραγόντων για την τραπεζική κερδοφορία και των παραγόντων που επηρέασαν την αποδοτικότητα των τραπεζών σε ισχυρό ή αρνητικό βαθμό. Συνεπώς, η παρούσα ανάλυση και τα αποτελέσματά της είναι πολύ σημαντικά για τη βιωσιμότητα και το μέλλον των ελληνικών τραπεζών στη Βουλγαρία.
Τα τυποβαφικά εργαστήρια του Τυρνάβου
Authors: Μουσιώνη Ελένη
Published: January 2022

Η παρούσα μελέτη εξετάζει τα δύο τυποβαφικά εργαστήρια του Τυρνάβου, εργαστήριο Σαΐνη και εργαστήριο Ιωαννίδη, στα χρονικά όρια του 19ου – 20ού αιώνα, με στόχο να αποκαταστήσει την αυτοτέλεια μιας τεχνικής που θεωρήθηκε κατώτερη και συντηρήθηκε στη σκιά άλλων παραδοσιακών τεχνών. Στα δύο πρώτα κεφάλαια παρουσιάζονται οι βασικές τεχνικές εκτύπωσης υφασμάτων και διερευνάται ο χώρος του Τυρνάβου με τα κοινωνικά και οικονομικά δεδομένα που τον χαρακτηρίζουν, από τα μέσα του 17υυ αι. έως τα μέσα του 20ού αι. Το τρίτο κεφάλαιο εστιάζει στα δύο τυποβαφεία που αποτελούν το βασικό δείγμα της έρευνας. Εξετάζονται θέματα που αφορούν την οργάνωση του χώρου, τη δομή λειτουργίας, το εργατικό δυναμικό και το εμπόριο των σταμπωτών. Το τέταρτο κεφάλαιο παρουσιάζει τις τεχνικές που εφαρμόζουν τα τυποβαφεία του Τυρνάβου για τη κατασκευή των ξυλοτύπων και την παραγωγή των σταμπωτών υφασμάτων. Μέσα από τη διεξοδική διερεύνηση των τεχνικών επιχειρείται τόσο η τεχνολογική καταγραφή μιας νεκρής τεχνικής όσο και η ένταξή της στα όρια της παράδοσης και του εκσυγχρονισμού. Το πέμπτο κεφάλαιο μελετά το υλικό του τυποβαφείου Σαΐνη – Αλμπάνη με την ιστορική διαδρομή από το τελευταίο τέταρτο του 19ου αι., που αντανακλά στο συρρικνωμένο εργαλειακό εξοπλισμό του εργαστηρίου. Στο ίδιο κεφάλαιο παρουσιάζεται το τυποβαφείο Μαγρίζου, ως ατελής προσπάθεια εκσυγχρονισμού της τυποβαφικής. Το έκτο κεφάλαιο μελετά το τυποβαφείο του Θεμιστοκλή και Παναγιώτη Ιωαννίδη παρουσιάζοντας το σύνολο του εργαλειακού εξοπλισμού του. Η πληρότητα του υλικού αποτελεί μοναδική μαρτυρία μέσα από την οποία ανιχνεύονται επιρροές από ιδεολογικά ρεύματα, καλλιγραφικά πρότυπα, παραδοσιακές τεχνικές, επιρροές από το θεματολόγιο της Ανατολής και τη βιομηχανική παραγωγή. Το έβδομο κεφάλαιο μελετά τα είδη των σταμπωτών που παράγουν τα τυποβαφεία του Τυρνάβου. Διερευνάται η σχέση των σταμπωτών με άλλες τεχνικές διακόσμησης υφασμάτων, η κοινωνική αποδοχή σταμπωτών στην τοπική και ευρύτερη «πελατεία», ο ρόλος και η συμμετοχή των πελατών στη διαμόρφωση αισθητικών και αξιολογικών κριτηρίων. Ο δεύτερος τόμος περιλαμβάνει κατάλογο των ξυλοτύπων των εργαστηρίων που ανήκουν στη συλλογή του Λαογραφικού Ιστορικού Μουσείου Λάρισας, συνοδευόμενο από φωτογραφίες και σχόλια καθώς επίσης και σχέδια, σχήματα και εικόνες σταμπωτών υφασμάτων.
The use of china clay waste as a construction material using alkali-activated cement technology
Authors: Ζωγράφου Αδαμαντία-Ιωάννα
Published: January 2022

Κάθε 1t καολίνη που παράγεται στο Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο δημιουργεί 9t παραπροϊόντων. Από αυτά μόνο ένα μικρό ποσοστό του χονδρόκοκκου υλικού μπορεί να χρησιμοποιηθεί ως αδρανές υλικό σε σκυρόδεμα και άσφαλτο. Για το λεπτοκοκκο υλικό, πλούσιο σε μαρμαρυγίες (κυριως μοσχοβίτη), δεν υπάρχει χρήση πέρα από την επίχωση παλιών λατομείων. Με στόχο την εύρεση καινοτόμων χρήσεων στην κατασκευή, εμπορικά βιώσιμων και περιβαλλοντικά φιλικών, αυτή η διατριβή διερευνά την χρήση των παραπροϊόντων του καολίνη σε αλκαλικά-ενεργοποιημένες κονίες. Αρχικά, εξετάστηκε αν ο περιεχόμενος μοσχοβίτης μπορεί να ενεργοποιηθεί αλκαλικά. Αυτό έγινε με την χρήση MAS NMR and XRD αναλύσεων και δοκιμών μηχανικής αντοχής με βάση ευρωπαϊκά πρότυπα. Το υλικό αποδείχθηκε ότι έχει χαμηλή αντιδραστικότητα και άμεσες δοκιμές αλκαλικής-ενεργοποίησης του θερμικά επεξεργασμένου μαρμαρυγία έδωσαν μη-ικανοποιητικής αντοχής κονίες. Αργότερα, μελετήθηκαν τρεις σειρές αλκαλικά-ενεργοποιημένων κονιών, μία με βάση σκωρία υψικαμίνου (GGBS), μία με βάση τη ιπτάμενη τέφρα (FA) και μία με βάση μίγμα 50% GGBS - 50% FA (50/50). Από αυτές τις τρεις σειρές, επιλέχθηκαν βέλτιστες κονίες στις οποίες χρησιμοποιήθηκαν τα παραπροϊόντα καολίνη ως αδρανή υλικά για την κατασκευή κονιαμάτων και σκυροδέματος. Σε σύγκριση με δείγματα ελέγχου, τα υπό μελέτη δείγματα κονιαμάτων που κάνουν χρήση των παραπροϊόντων παρουσιάζανε πάντα χαμηλότερη αντοχή. Προτείνεται ότι η υψηλή απαίτηση σε νερό των συγκεκριμένων παραπροϊόντων είναι το κύριο πρόβλημα. Στα κονιάματα η επίδραση του νερού μειώθηκε με την πάροδο του χρόνου. Όσο αφορά τις δοκιμές σε σκυροδέματα, τα δείγματα σκυροδέματος της GGBS σειράς έδειξαν δυνατότητα αντικατάστασης των δοκιμίων ελέγχου Portland. Ο σχεδιασμός του σκυροδέματος συνοδεύτηκε από περιβαλλοντική ανάλυση για να διασφαλιστεί ότι επιτεύχθηκαν περιβαλλοντικά ωφέλιμα αποτελέσματα. Η ανάλυση κύκλου ζωής έδειξε πως αν και οι εκπομπές άνθρακα θα μειωθούν με τη χρήση των αλκαλικά-ενεργοποιημένων σκυροδεμάτων, οι περισσότερες από τις άλλες κατηγορίες περιβαλλοντικών επιπτώσεων θα επηρεαστούν αρνητικά γεγονός που πρέπει να ληφθεί υπόψη κατά τη λήψη της τελικής απόφασης για χρήση και μελλοντική περαιτέρω ανάπτυξη αυτού του νέου υλικού.
An econometrics analysis of high-frequency financial data
Authors: Λαμπρινάκου Φιόρη
Published: January 2022

Παρουσιάζουμε και συγκρίνουμε μοντέλα βασισμένα στην παρατήρηση (observation driven) και στις παραμέτρους (parameter driven) για να προβλέψουμε τις διακριτές αλλαγές των τιμών οικονομικών δεδομένων υψηλής συχνότητας. Η ανάλυση γίνεται με Μπεϋζιανή προσέγγιση με Μαρκοβιανές αλυσίδες Monte Carlo (MC) και ακολουθιακές μεθόδους MC για το observation driven μοντέλο activity-direction-size (ADS) [Rydberg and Shephard 1998a,2003]. Επεκτείνουμε το ADS μοντέλο ορίζοντας ένα γενικευµένο γραµµικό μοντέλο (GLM) των οποίων τα δεδομένα απόκρισης προέρχονται από την Bernoulli κατανομή και διέπονται από μία μη παρατηρήσιμη στοχαστική διαδικασία. Προτείνουμε ένα νέο μοντέλο αποσύνθεσης που χρησιμοποιεί διαστήματα εμπορικών συναλλαγών και εφαρμόζεται σε δεδομένα που μεταξύ δύο συναλλαγών η τιμή μπορεί να κινηθεί: ένα tick (η μικρότερη μη μηδενική αλλαγή της τιμής) επάνω (ή κάτω) ή καθόλου. Μοντελοποιούμε κάθε παράγοντα της τιμής διαδοχικά χρησιμοποιώντας ένα διωνυμικό μοντέλο GLARMA}, και ένα GLM μοντέλο με μία λανθάνουσα διαδικασία. Πραγματοποιούμε προσομοιώσεις για να διερευνήσουμε την αποτελεσματικότητα των προτεινόμενων parameter driven μοντέλων χρησιμοποιώντας διάφορους αλγόριθμους μέσα σε ένα Μπεϋζιανό πλαίσιο. Αναλύουμε τα δεδομένα ES από την πλατφόρμα Globex του Chicago Mercantile Exchange μεταξύ 16 και 24 Μαΐου 2011. Για την προβλεπτική ικανότητα του μοντέλου, συγκρίνουμε το μέσο τετραγωνικό και απόλυτο σφάλμα (MSE, MAE), καθώς και τέσσερα μέτρα εκτίμησης: accuracy, recall, precision και specificity του πίνακα σύγχυσης (confusion matrix).
Από την «πασοκοποίηση» στην «απο-πασοκοποίηση»; Η (τριπλή) ρήξη του ΠΑΣΟΚ με την πολιτική του παράδοση (2012-2020)
Authors: Eleftheriou Costas , Tassis Chrysanthos D.
Published: January 2022

Στο παρόν άρθρο θα αναλυθεί η πορεία του ΠΑΣΟΚ στην περίοδο από το 2012 έως το 2020 και η προσαρμογή του στη «μετα-ηγεμονική» του φάση. Ο ηγεμονικός ρόλος του κατοχυρωνόταν σε μια πολιτική παράδοση με τρεις διαστάσεις - οργανωτική, ιδεολογική, στρατηγική. Μετά το 2012 το κόμμα επέλεξε μια τροχιά προσαρμογής στο νέο πλαίσιο, η οποία οργανώθηκε ως μια τριπλή ρήξη του ΠΑΣΟΚ με την πολιτική του παράδοση. Αυτή η μεταβολή θα εξηγηθεί με βάση τρεις ανεξάρτητες μεταβλητές: την παράμετρο των Μνημονίων και των όρων εφαρμογής τους, τη θέση του ΠΑΣΟΚ στον κομματικό ανταγωνισμό μετά το 2012 και την κρατικοποίηση του κόμματος.
State Hospital Health Care Service: where does physiotherapy stand?
Authors: Papadopoulos Emmanuel S.
Published: January 2022

No abstract available