bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EVALUATION OF MILK QUALITY PARAMETERS FROM COWS WITH MASTITIS
Authors: Paliy Anatoliy , Paliy Andriy , Mikhalchenko S. A.
Published: November 2022

The social significance of mastitis is manifested in the fact that the causative agents of mastitis in cows can cause disease in humans. Since the leading role in mastitis pathology belongs to streptococci and staphylococci, it is they who most often enter the milk. The purpose of the research was to establish the frequency of occurrence of subclinical mastitis in cows, its effect on the physicochemical parameters of milk with the determination of the species composition of the microflora of milk in cows with subclinical mastitis with the development of a method for its diagnosis in the early stages of the development of inflammation of the mammary gland. The work is based on the results of analytical analysis of the literature, a comprehensive clinical, instrumental and laboratory study of lactating cows with mastitis. Studies have established that the disease of the udder in cows with mastitis at the beginning of lactation has a certain seasonal nature and its main peaks occur in March-May and September-November. During these months, from 2.5 to 4.1 % of cows with mastitis from the total number of the farm were identified. It has been established that with mastitis there is a change in the physicochemical parameters of milk: an increase in the number of somatic cells up to >1500 thousand/cm3; an increase in the pH of the milk to 7.3, which is associated with the breakdown of milk proteins to ammonia, and an increase in the electrical conductivity of milk to 7.54 mS/sm, due to the entry of sodium and chlorine ions into milk from the blood. The task in developing a method for diagnosing mastitis in cows was to diagnose the disease at the early stages of the development of inflammation of the mammary gland and facilitate complex studies. This method consists in studying the composition of a biological fluid, which is applied to a glass slide in the form of a drop of milk from the examined quarter of the udder, dried to obtain a solid medium structure, and examined under a light microscope.
MODELING OF PHENOTYPIC PRODUCTIVITY OF COWS DEPENDING ON PARATYPIC FACTORS
Authors: Admin Oleksandr , Admina Natalia , Filipenko Irina
Published: November 2022

The results of the regression analysis of the influence of phenotypic factors on the milk productivity of cows and milk quality are presented. Reliable values of the regression coefficients of the second degree for the lactation month and lactation number indicate a non-linear relationship between these model indicators and milk yield. The value of the regression coefficient for day length indicates a positive effect of this indicator on daily hopes. The high daily air temperature had a negative impact on the milk production of cows. The negative value of the regression coefficient for the length of daylight hours is associated with a negative relationship between fat content and daily milk yield (0.225). This is also the reason for the opposite direction of the regression relationship between the fat content and the lactation month. A negative coefficient for the “daytime temperature” factor indicates that high critical air temperatures have a negative impact on both daily expectations and the fat content in milk. The negative value of the regression coefficient for the length of daylight hours is associated with a negative relationship between protein content and milk yield (0.305). This is also the reason for the opposite direction of the regression relationship of the protein content with the lactation month. A negative coefficient for daily air temperature indicates that high critical air temperatures negatively affect both daily milk yield and protein content in milk. The absence of a regression relationship between the age of the cow and the protein content in milk indicates a greater genetic dependence of this phenotypic indicator. The obtained regression coefficients indicate an increase in the somatic cells count in the milk of cows with age and month of lactation. Daylight hours and night air temperature have a negative relationship with the somatic cells count in the daily milk yield of cows. High daytime air temperature increases the somatic cells count in milk.
PLANNING DECISIONS OF RECONSTRUCTION WORK IN PIG REPRODUCTION USING ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION
Authors: Akimov Oleksandr , Martinuk Irina , Tsereniuk Oleksandr , Chereuta U.
Published: November 2022

Commodity production of pork in GO «GF «Gontarivka» IT NAAS» was based on the use of four premises using a flow system with uneven groups each year. Using current technology, the production cycle was 5.5 to 9.5 months (average sow farrowing ranges 1.26-2.18 per year): four months of idle and growing periods and one and a half months of suckling period. This approach to the reproduction of livestock has led to overconsumption of feed for breeding stock, problems with the reproductive system in some animals and an increase in the total production cost.
To improve the system of pig reproduction, the farm has formulated a step-by-step introduction of pig reproduction technology based on artificial insemination. Volume-planning solutions for the reconstruction of the farm have been developed, which provide for partial re-planning of the premises for reproduction of livestock, keeping boars, conditionally pregnant pigs and sows, and artificial insemination, to transfer to flow technology with uniform groups throughout the year. Reconstruction of the premises for the reproduction of livestock was carried out by organization of an arena and a laboratory for artificial insemination, the installation of individual machines for insemination of sows. The proposed reconstruction scheme provides for the maintenance of 99 single and pregnant sows in group machines, 30 sows in individual insemination machines, 14 breeding boars and up to 15 boars. The laboratory of the artificial insemination point provides the artificial insemination technician with operations on sperm quality assessment, preparation of media, dilution, assessment and storage of sperm, maintenance and storage of documentation, etc. The work of the artificial insemination point in Gontarivka IT NAAS was carried out in several stages.
Konsep Model Pembelajaran Tipe Jigsaw Berbasis Lesson Study Terhadap Kemampuan Critical Thinking Mahasiswa
Authors: Dewi Citra , Bendriyanti Rita Prima , Selviani Diah
Published: November 2022

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan model pembelajaran tipe jigsaw berbasislesson study terhadap kemampuan critical thinking Mahasiswa. Pada mata kuliah Belajar Pembelajaran. Panelitian ini adalah kualitatif dengan metode deskriptif. Subjek penelitian adalah Mahasiswa Penjas Universitas Dehasen Bengkulu. Data penelitian ini adalah pelaksanaan plan, do, dan see. Selanjutnyta, dilakukannya teknik triangulasi. Keabsahan data dilakukan melalui triangulasi. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian dapat disimpulkan bahwa konsep model pembelajaran ini menggunakan model jigsaw berbasis lesson study yang dilaksanakan sesuai tahapan-tahapan dalam lesson study yaitu plan, do,dan see. Hal ini berdampak baik bagi kemampuan critical thinking Mahaiswa. Pelaksanaan Lesson study merancangperencanaan pembelajaran lebih siap sehingga dalam pelaksanaan pembelajar.
The Comprehension of COVID-19 Mitigation in the Nonformal Education
Authors: Musa Safuri , Muhyiddin Yusuf , Siswanto Siswanto , Nurhayati Sri
Published: November 2022

The world condition is currently being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, including the behavior of human life and the teaching and learning process. Educators and educational personnel are overwhelmed in learning activities by changing appropriate learning strategies. Thus, it is necessary to understand COVID-19 mitigation literacy. This study aims to analyze the correlation between the COVID-19 mitigation literacy comprehension on educators and educational personnel’s life behavior. Also, to examine the learning strategies used during the pandemic in nonformal education units in West Java. The IBM SPSS Statistics 24.0 program analyzed this correlation study descriptively and inferentially. The results showed a high correlation between the understanding of COVID-19 pandemic mitigation literacy and the life behavior of educators and educators at nonformal education units in West Java Province. They used a blended learning strategy, with WhatsApp as the dominant application. The obstacles in implementing the learning strategy were poor connections in some areas and the lack of operational costs in purchasing internet quota packages.
ANALISIS FAKTOR-FAKTOR GEJALA RASUAH DAN CABARAN MENANGANINYA DI MALAYSIA
Authors: Ab Rahman Azman , Lokman Nur Wahida , Mohamed Zain Lutfi , Syed Omar Syed Mohd Najib , Gunardi Setiyawan
Published: November 2022

Rasuah dalam kalangan penjawat awam mahupun swasta sering menjadi topik perdebatan di negara-negara luar begitu juga Malaysia. Menurut laporan Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM), statistik jumlah tangkapan dari tahun 2014 hingga 2021 telah berlaku kenaikan mendadak sehingga 205 peratus iaitu bersamaan dengan 552 kes kepada 1125 kes. Bahkan Malaysia telah mencatatkan kehilangan hampir RM 1.8 trilion disebabkan kegiatan ini. Pelbagai langkah dan inisiatif telah diambil oleh kerajaan dalam menangani kegiatan rasuah namun laporan terhadap aktiviti ini tetap meningkat tidak menunjukkan sebarang tanda penurunan. Perkara utama yang perlu dititikberatkan sebelum menghasilkan kaedah yang terbaik adalah dengan mengenal pasti punca sesuatu perbuatan itu berlaku. Justeru, artikel ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis faktor-faktor yang menyumbang kepada aktiviti rasuah dan cabaran yang dihadapi oleh Malaysia dalam menanganinya. Kajian kualitatif ini menggunakan kaedah dokumentasi dan pemerhatian dalam proses pengumpulan data. Hasil kajian mendapati bahawa faktor dalaman yang menyebabkan seseorang melakukan rasuah adalah kerana wujudnya peluang, kelemahan peribadi dan tidak berintegriti. Manakala faktor luaran adalah disebabkan oleh gaji yang rendah, tekanan kewangan dan tekanan kerja serta dasar negara yang kurang efektif. Penggunaan teknologi oleh pelaku bagi mengelakkan kegiatan rasuah dikesan, campur tangan dan kurang kerjasama daripada ahli politik serta kurang sokongan dan keyakinan orang awam pula merupakan cabaran yang dihadapi oleh kerajaan dan agensi pencegahan rasuah dalam menangani rasuah di Malaysia. Diharapkan kajian ini dapat dijadikan rujukan dan panduan kepada pihak yang berwajib bagi membendung jenayah rasuah untuk menjamin masyarakat dan individu berjawatan bebas daripada gejala rasuah.

Kata Kunci: faktor, rasuah, cabaran, menangani
Determination of the Minimum Number of Possible Testing Situations in Autonomous Driving Using Critical Phenomena
Authors: Kiss Gabor , Bakucz Peter , Szeghegyi Agnes
Published: November 2022

The main task of the article is to define the critical minimum number of tests for the dynamics of a traffic node in autonomous driving based on critical phenomena, i.e. the percolation theory. The critical (minimum) number of tests of a node means how we can represent the traffic dynamics of a node with critical, percolating path using a "state-following state" system on the graph. The test cases along the percolation path, i.e., those involved in the formation of the new phase, represent the entire test system and are minimal. In the article we show that only less than 10 of the 640 tests to be performed have to be realized and are representative for release processes.
Þrautseigar og þora! Áhrif kvennabaráttu víða um Rómönsku-Ameríku
Authors: Garðarsdóttir Hólmfríður
Published: November 2022

Í greininni sem hér fylgir er sjónum beint að þeim aðstæðum sem beið kvenna í kjölfar hernáms Evrópumanna á Rómönsku-Ameríku. Sérstaklega er fjallað um réttindabaráttu þeirra í kjölfar sjálfstæðis landanna við upphaf 19. aldar og svo aftur á fyrstu árum 21. aldar. Samtakamáttur fjöldahreyfinga kvenna skiptir þar máli og mótar baráttu þeirra fyrir auknum borgararéttindum, umráðarétti yfir eigin líkama og ákvörðunarvaldi um eigin velferð. Sérstaklega er vikið að áhrifum kennisetninga kaþólsku kirkjunnar hvað hlutverk karla og kvenna varðar því enn þann dag í dag er álfan talin sú heimsálfa þar sem feðra- og karlveldið situr hvað fastast fyrir. En dropinn holar steininn og færð eru rök fyrir því að breytingar hafi átt sér stað og að baráttan þoki málum til betri vegar þótt í hænufetum sé.
Viðtökur femínískra bókmenntarannsókna. Einkenni og orðræða
Authors: Kress Helga
Published: November 2022

Greinin byggist á fyrirlestri sem Helga Kress flutti árið 2001 á vegum Rannsóknastofu í kvennafræðum við Háskóla Íslands. Í greininni er rætt um andstöðu karllægrar bókmenntastofnunar við femínískar bókmenntarannsóknir við upphaf þeirra hérlendis, í hvaða myndum hún birtist og helstu einkenni á orðræðu hennar.
O DIREITO AO ESQUECIMENTO NA TUTELA DA PERSONALIDADE E A TESE DE REPERCUSSÃO GERAL N. 786 DO STF
Authors: Fraga de Oliveira Faria João Gabriel
Published: November 2022

O direito ao esquecimento, na tutela da personalidade, suscita uma série de debates, tendo em vista que ao mesmo tempo que tem como pano de fundo a intimidade, privacidade, honra e integridade emocional, isto é, valores constitucionais, fundamentados na proteção da dignidade humana, para ser preservado importa na mitigação de algumas liberdades públicas: de expressão, de informação, de comunicação e jornalísticas, que consistem em importantes instrumentos democráticos; trata-se de conflito entre valores constitucionais de tamanha relevância e sensibilidade, que, em homenagem ao princípio da unidade da constituição e da soberania das normas constitucionais sobre as demais, deve ser solucionado pela ponderação, zelando para que nenhum deles seja sacrificado por completo. Ocorre que não foi o que fez o Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF), no julgamento do tema de repercussão geral n. 786, que reconheceu o direito ao esquecimento como incompatível com a Constituição Federal.
Palavras-Chave: Direito ao esquecimento. Liberdade de expressão. Supremo Tribunal Federal. Direitos fundamentais.
 
Abstract: The right to forgetfulness, in the protection of personality, raises a series of discussions, considering that at the same time it has as background the intimacy, privacy, honor and emotional integrity, that are, constitutional values, based on the protection of human dignity , to be preserved it implies the mitigation of some public liberties: of expression, information, communication and journalism, which consists of important democratic instruments; it is a conflict between constitutional values of such relevance and sensitivity, that, in prestige to unity principle of the constitution and the sovereignty of constitutional norms over the others, must be solved by weighting, taking care that none of them is sacrificed completely. However, this is not what the Federal Supreme Court (STF) did, in the judgment of general repercussion issue no. 786, which recognized the right to be forgotten as incompatible with the Federal Constitution.
Keywords: Right to forgetfulness. Liberties of expression. Federal Supreme Court. Fundamental rights.
Higher Education Social Sustainability Case Study: Outcomes That Emerged During the Pandemic from The Outlook of the Autotelic Personality Questionnaire
Authors: Heilala Janne
Published: November 2022

The study reports on technology and business fields undergraduate adolescent (n=76) Autotelic Personalities using Questionnaire (APQ). The survey refers to a zodiac star chart for positioning AP qualities. High AP promotes engagement and satisfaction in periodic liveliness; thus, its potential is the quintessential set for traversed features that facilitate perceptual flow in daily life. This study utilized mixed-methods as mobile learning to analyze students' APQ perceptions using a Likert barometer, testing measurement validity (a, B) factorization. Perceptual levels on AP Meta-Skills: Curiosity, Persistence, Low Self-centeredness, Intrinsic Motivation, and Receptive-Active Model postulates the sum of Enjoyment and transformation of Challenge, neutrally perceived Enjoyment and transformation of Boredom, and Attentional Control. Each factor R-square considers discriminant validity issues because 4/7 of AP sum correlates more highly with variables outside the parent factor than with the parent factor. The study seeks resolution for biases and results in recommendations for changing pedagogical practice.
Fixed Term Contracts: An exploration of employment conditions in Japanese universities
Authors: Miller Adam L.
Published: November 2022

This study looks at current employment practices and terms in the field of tertiary education in Japan. The importance of this study is highlighted by the growing prominence of the “academic underclass” (Itakura, 2021), or university teachers who are undervalued and underappreciated by their employer and in turn lacking in motivation and fearful of their lack of job security. This research focuses particularly on international university teachers in Japan, who are hired under the terms of FTCs (Fixed Term Contracts). The significance of this study is drawn from the importance on securing a strong and steady teaching staff, who can in turn be a foundation on which the quality of a university can be assured. The findings are based upon qualitative data collected from a semi-structured interview with a native Japanese staff member at a Japanese university, whose opinions and experiences offer a clear insight into the impact FTCs and employment practices have on employees at Japanese universities. This data is also triangulated with existing studies and contemporary Japanese journalism. These findings point to the potential dangers of FTCs and the drawbacks of universities in Japan viewing their staff as an expense instead of an asset.
A Study of Correlation of Adiponectin Levels in Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Singhal Apurv , Singh Punia Vedpal , Bharti Akash , Mittal Shaavi , Mishra Praveen Raman , Kuma Prem
Published: November 2022

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MetS), also known as insulin resistance syndrome, is described as a cluster of cardiometabolic symptoms such as high blood pressure, elevated fasting glucose, or insulin resistance. MetS is one of the most serious public health problems being faced globally. The purpose of the current investigation was to determine its prevalence, as well as the relationship between blood adiponectin levels and the development of MetS.

Materials and Methods: This observational cross-sectional hospital-based study was performed in the Department of General Medicine, School of Medical Sciences and Research, Sharda Hospital, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India, from January 2019–June 2020. Sixty patients attending the medicine out- or inpatient department, who confirmed consent, and fit into the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) inclusion criteria for MetS, were recruited for this study. The final sample size for this study was found to be 60, with a prevalence of 10%. This is the reason the study’s precision decreased to ±7.6%, implying that the precision of the end result may vary by ±7.6%.

Results: Subjects without MetS were on average younger, had a lower BMI, and had a smaller waist circumference than those who had MetS, according to the findings. They also had lower blood pressure, pulse rate, and fasting plasma glucose levels than the people with MetS, and there were statistically significant variations in lipid profiles between those with and without MetS. In people who did not have MetS, the mean serum adiponectin concentration was 15.79±2.90 mg/mL, whereas the mean serum adiponectin concentration in people who did have MetS was 11.02±2.63 mg/mL (p<0.001). The levels of adiponectin were compared with the different components of MetS as defined by the IDF. The mean adiponectin concentrations in connection to the clinical characteristics of MetS are shown in Table 1 . The authors discovered that lower adiponectin levels were statistically significantly linked with the majority of the characteristics. In a multivariate analysis, the serum adiponectin content was found to be significantly inversely associated to systolic blood pressure (r=-0.262; p<0.050), BMI (r=-0.288; p<0.050), total cholesterol (r=-0.515; p<0.001), and low-density lipoprotein (r=-0.305; p<0.050) in the study participants.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the present results suggest that circulating levels of adiponectin are reduced in the presence of MetS.
Peran e-Government dalam Penerapan Protokol Kesehatan di Puskesmas dan Rumah Sakit di Kota Surabaya
Authors: Yuanita Lira , Asmar Afidatul
Published: November 2022

Adanya varian baru virus COVID-19 jenis Delta menimbulkan meledaknya kasus positif di Indonesia. Ledakan kasus positif tersebut juga dibarengi dengan perkembangan teknologi informasi, salah satunya e-Government. Berdasarkan Inpres Nomor 3 Tahun 2003, Presiden  menghimbau kepada masing-masing kepala daerah untuk mengembangkan e-Government di lingkungan kerjanya masing-masing. Surabaya merupakan salah satu kota yang telah mengembangkan e-Government sejak tahun 2002. Secara nasional Kota Surabaya diakui memiliki sistem e-Government yang baik. Salah satu e-Government yang dikembangkan adalah e-Health. e-Health merupakan salah satu aplikasi yang dibangun Pemkot Surabaya di sektor kesehatan. Tulisan ini membahas peran aplikasi e-Health dalam penerapan protokol kesehatan di Kota Surabaya. Metodologi penulisan menggunakan literature review dengan pendekatan semi-systematic review. Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan cara mengumpulkan beberapa kajian ilmiah dan teknik observasi. Hasil kajian didapatkan bahwa pemanfaatan aplikasi e-Health dapat menciptakan jarak antar individu, menjauhi terjadinya kerumunan di gedung puskesmas dan rumah sakit, serta mengurangi mobilitas dan interaksi masyarakat untuk mengantre. Hal tersebut terjadi karena adanya pengaturan jam pelayanan pada pasien yang berkunjung. Selain itu masyarakat yang datang ke puskesmas dan rumah sakit juga diwajibkan untuk memakai masker dan mencuci tangan di tempat yang sudah disediakan. Dengan demikian dapat dikatakan bahwa aplikasi e-Health sangat mendukung penerapan protokol kesehatan di Kota Surabaya. Untuk itu diharapkan kota lain di Indonesia juga dapat mengembangkan dan menerapkan e-Government, sehingga mempermudah pelayanan publik dengan tetap menerapkan protokol kesehatan ketat.
Maximizing EFL learners’ ZPD in inferential reading through computerized-group dynamic assessment (C-GDA)
Authors: Jin Can
Published: November 2022

The dualism between instruction and assessment in standardized assessments has always been one of the most problematic issues in L2 education. Dynamic Assessment (DA) has been introduced into L2 practices and it unifies instruction with assessment in a single activity by providing learners with mediations (e.g., feedback) during the evaluation process aiming to identify and narrow their learning gaps as well as to ultimately contribute to their L2 development. Since the current study is the pilot study of a larger project, it aims to explore the application of Computerized-Group Dynamic Assessment (C-GDA), which is a synergy between two DA offshoots, in maximizing EFL learners’ developmental potential in inferential reading within a sociocultural framework. The study is also framed to serve as the first step towards establishing more evidence for future interventions and to offer practical solutions for implementing hybrid DA models in EFL classrooms with relatively larger cohorts of students.
Hope-infused writing strategy instruction: Moving towards EFL writers with "skill and will"
Authors: Zong Yuchen , Forbes Karen
Published: November 2022

The “skill plus will” nature of learning has been widely acknowledged. Yet not many studies have given learners’ willpower rightful places in addition to skill when designing and evaluating EFL pedagogical approaches. This project hence proposes to conceptualise the “will” element as “hope”, and employ the notion of “language learning strategy” that actualises “skill”. It then develops an integrated pedagogy, i.e., hope-infused writing strategy instruction, for real-life classroom settings. Through a mixed-method, quasi-experimental design, the hope-infused strategy instruction was found to significantly improve students’ writing performance (including task response, grammar, vocabulary, coherence and cohesion, and idea originality), strategy use, and hope, compared to normal teaching routines. Yet, its relative effectiveness to the traditional strategy instruction only lied in facilitating students’ beliefs in the teacher’s capabilities of helping them nurture writing and moving away from beliefs in innate abilities for EFL writing development that cannot be compensated for by the practice.
Emerging applications of nanotechnology in context to immunology: A comprehensive review
Authors: Mobeen Hifsa , Safdar Muhammad , Fatima Asma , Afzal Samia , Zaman Hassan , Mehdi Zuhair
Published: November 2022

Numerous benefits of nanotechnology are available in many scientific domains. In this sense, nanoparticles serve as the fundamental foundation of nanotechnology. Recent developments in nanotechnology have demonstrated that nanoparticles have enormous promise for use in almost every field of life sciences. Nanoscience and nanotechnology use the distinctive characteristics of tiny nanoparticles (NPs) for various purposes in electronics, fabrics, cosmetics, biopharmaceutical industries, and medicines. The exclusive physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of nanoparticles prompt different immune responses in the body. Nanoparticles are believed to have strong potential for the development of advanced adjuvants, cytokines, vaccines, drugs, immunotherapies, and theranostic applications for the treatment of targeted bacterial, fungal, viral, and allergic diseases and removal of the tumor with minimal toxicity as compared to macro and microstructures. This review highlights the medical and non-medical applications with a detailed discussion on enhanced and targeted natural and acquired immunity against pathogens provoked by nanoparticles. The immunological aspects of the nanotechnology field are beyond the scope of this Review. However, we provide updated data that will explore novel theragnostic immunological applications of nanotechnology for better and immediate treatment.
Amnion and chorion matrix maintain hMSC osteogenic response and enhance immunomodulatory and angiogenic potential in a mineralized collagen scaffold
Authors: Kolliopoulos Vasiliki , Dewey Marley J. , Polanek Maxwell , Xu Hui , Harley Brendan A. C.
Published: November 2022

Craniomaxillofacial (CMF) bone injuries present a major surgical challenge and cannot heal naturally due to their large size and complex topography. We are developing a mineralized collagen scaffold that mimics extracellular matrix (ECM) features of bone. These scaffolds induce in vitro human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) osteogenic differentiation and in vivo bone formation without the need for exogenous osteogenic supplements. Here, we seek to enhance pro-regenerative potential via inclusion of placental-derived products in the scaffold architecture. The amnion and chorion membranes are distinct components of the placenta that each have displayed anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and osteogenic properties. While potentially a powerful modification to our mineralized collagen scaffolds, the route of inclusion (matrix-immobilized or soluble) is not well understood. Here we compare the effect of introducing amnion and chorion membrane matrix versus soluble extracts derived from these membranes into the collagen scaffolds on scaffold biophysical features and resultant hMSC osteogenic activity. While inclusion of amnion and chorion matrix into the scaffold microarchitecture during fabrication does not influence their porosity, it does influence compression properties. Incorporating soluble extracts from the amnion membrane into the scaffold post-fabrication induces the highest levels of hMSC metabolic activity and equivalent mineral deposition and elution of the osteoclast inhibitor osteoprotegerin (OPG) compared to the conventional mineralized collagen scaffolds. Mineralized collagen-amnion composite scaffolds elicited enhanced early stage osteogenic gene expression (BGLAP, BMP2), increased immunomodulatory gene expression (CCL2, HGF, and MCSF) and increased angiogenic gene expression (ANGPT1, VEGFA) in hMSCs. Mineralized collagen-chorion composite scaffolds promoted immunomodulatory gene expression in hMSCs (CCL2, HGF, and IL6) while unaffecting osteogenic gene expression. Together, these findings suggest that mineralized collagen scaffolds modified using matrix derived from amnion and chorion membranes represent a promising environment conducive to craniomaxillofacial bone repair.
Deciphering and engineering the polyunsaturated fatty acid synthase pathway from eukaryotic microorganisms
Authors: Guo Pengfei , Dong Liang , Wang Fangzhong , Chen Lei , Zhang Weiwen
Published: November 2022

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are important nutrients that play important roles in human health. In eukaryotes, PUFAs can be de novo synthesized through two independent biosynthetic pathways: the desaturase/elongase pathway and the PUFA synthase pathway. Among them, PUFAs synthesized through the PUFA synthase pathway typically have few byproducts and require fewer reduction equivalents. In the past 2 decades, numerous studies have been carried out to identify, analyze and engineer PUFA synthases from eukaryotes. These studies showed both similarities and differences between the eukaryotic PUFA synthase pathways and those well studied in prokaryotes. For example, eukaryotic PUFA synthases contain the same domain types as those in prokaryotic PUFA synthases, but the number and arrangement of several domains are different; the basic functions of same-type domains are similar, but the properties and catalytic activities of these domains are somewhat different. To further utilize the PUFA synthase pathway in microbial cell factories and improve the productivity of PUFAs, many challenges still need to be addressed, such as incompletely elucidated PUFA synthesis mechanisms and the difficult genetic manipulation of eukaryotic hosts. In this review, we provide an updated introduction to the eukaryotic PUFA synthase pathway, summarize the functions of domains and propose the possible mechanisms of the PUFA synthesis process, and then provide future research directions to further elucidate and engineer the eukaryotic PUFA synthase pathway for the maximal benefits of humans.
3D cell culture based on artificial cells and hydrogel under microgravity for bottom-up microtissue constructs
Authors: Long Ruimin , Shi Linrong , He Peng , Tian Jumei , Wang Shibin , Zheng Jun
Published: November 2022

The use of hydrogel as a filling medium to recombine dispersed microencapsulated cells to form an embedded gel-cell microcapsule complex is a new idea based on bottom-up tissue construction, which is benefit for cell distribution and of great significance for tissue construction research in vitro. In this experiment, sodium alginate and chitosan were used as the main materials, rat normal liver cell BRL-3A was used as the model cell to prepare “artificial cells”. Silkworm pupa was used as raw material to extract silk fibroin solution, which was prepared by ultrasound to be the silk fibroin gel; silk fibroin hydrogel-microencapsulated hepatocyte embedded complex was then prepared by using silk fibroin gel as filling medium; the complex was cultured under three modes (static, shaking, and 3D microgravity), and the tissue forming ability of rat hepatocytes was investigated. The results showed that the microgravity culture condition can enhance the cell proliferation and promote the formation of cell colonies in the microcapsules; silk fibroin can form an embedded gel-cell microcapsule complex with microencapsulated cells, which provided mechanical support for the structure of the composite. We hope that this bottom-up construction system will have potential applications in the fields of cell culture and tissue construction.
Application of single and cooperative different delivery systems for the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration
Authors: Liu Zongtai , Fu Changfeng
Published: November 2022

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IDD) is the most universal pathogenesis of low back pain (LBP), a prevalent and costly medical problem across the world. Persistent low back pain can seriously affect a patient’s quality of life and even lead to disability. Furthermore, the corresponding medical expenses create a serious economic burden to both individuals and society. Intervertebral disc degeneration is commonly thought to be related to age, injury, obesity, genetic susceptibility, and other risk factors. Nonetheless, its specific pathological process has not been completely elucidated; the current mainstream view considers that this condition arises from the interaction of multiple mechanisms. With the development of medical concepts and technology, clinicians and scientists tend to intervene in the early or middle stages of intervertebral disc degeneration to avoid further aggravation. However, with the aid of modern delivery systems, it is now possible to intervene in the process of intervertebral disc at the cellular and molecular levels. This review aims to provide an overview of the main mechanisms associated with intervertebral disc degeneration and the delivery systems that can help us to improve the efficacy of intervertebral disc degeneration treatment.
Computational simulation of stent thrombosis induced by various degrees of stent malapposition
Authors: Qu Zhuoran , Wei Hongge , Du Tianming , Qiao Aike
Published: November 2022

Percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation is one of the most commonly used approaches to treat coronary artery stenosis. Stent malapposition (SM) can increase the incidence of stent thrombosis, but the quantitative association between SM distance and stent thrombosis is poorly clarified. The objective of this study is to determine the biomechanical reaction mechanisms underlying stent thrombosis induced by SM and to quantify the effect of different SM severity grades on thrombosis. The thrombus simulation was performed in a continuous model based on the diffusion-convection response of blood substance transport. Simulated models included well-apposed stents and malapposed stents with various severities where the detachment distances ranged from 0 to 400 μm. The abnormal shear stress induced by SM was considered a critical contributor affecting stent thrombosis, which was dependent on changing SM distances in the simulation. The results illustrate that the proportion of thrombus volume was 1.88% at a SM distance of 75 μm (mild), 3.46% at 150 μm, and 3.93% at 400 μm (severe), but that a slight drop (3.18%) appeared at the detachment distance of 225 μm (intermediate). The results indicate that when the SM distance was less than 150 μm, the thrombus rose notably as the gap distance increased, whereas the progression of thrombogenicity weakened when it exceeded 150 μm. Therefore, more attention should be paid when SM is present at a gap distance of 150 μm. Moreover, when the SM length of stents are the same, thrombus tends to accumulate downstream towards the distal end of the stent as the SM distance increases.
Future perspective of stem cell-derived exosomes: Cell-free therapeutic strategies for retinal degeneration
Authors: Liu Zibin , Zeng Fang , Zhang Yao , Liu Yongqing , Li Zhuo , Liu Xiao
Published: November 2022

With continued expansion of the aged population, the number of patients with retinal degeneration, which is a leading cause of vision loss worldwide, is growing. Stem cell therapies offer hope for regeneration and repair of damaged retinal tissue. Recent reports have highlighted stem cell-derived paracrine mediators, such as exosomes, which appear to exert a therapeutic benefit similar to their cell of origin and do not carry the risk of cell transplantation. One speculated role is that exosomes likely mediate intercellular communication and material exchange. This review depicts the molecular mechanisms underlying exosome-based therapy, especially in retina degeneration diseases. In the future, the use of stem cell-derived exosomes could be considered a novel and cell-free therapeutic strategy in regenerative medicine.
Unraveling the impact of Lactobacillus spp. and other urinary microorganisms on the efficacy of mirabegron in female patients with overactive bladder
Authors: Zhou Zhipeng , Qiu Yifeng , Li Kun , Sun Qi , Xie Ming , Huang Pengcheng , Yu Yao , Wang Benlin , Xue Jingwen , Zhu Zhangrui , Feng Zhengyuan , Zhao Jie , Wu Peng
Published: November 2022

Objective

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a disease that seriously affects patients’ quality of life and mental health. To address this issue, more and more researchers are examining the relationship between OAB treatment and urinary microecology. In this study, we sought to determine whether differences in treatment efficacy were related to microbiome diversity and composition as well as the abundance of specific genera. Machine learning algorithms were used to construct predictive models for urine microbiota-based treatment of OAB.

Methods

Urine samples were obtained from 64 adult female OAB patients for 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Patients’ overactive bladder symptom scores (OABSS) were collected before and after mirabegron treatment and patients were divided into effective and ineffective groups. The relationship between the relative abundance of certain genera and OABSS were analyzed. Three machine learning algorithms, including random forest (RF), supporting vector machine (SVM) and eXtreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) were utilized to predict the therapeutic effect of mirabegron based on the relative abundance of certain genera in OAB patients’ urine microbiome.

Results

The species composition of the two groups differed. For one, the relative abundance of Lactobacillus was significantly higher in the effective group than in the ineffective group. In addition, the relative abundance of Gardnerella and Prevotella in the effective group was significantly lower than in the ineffective group. Alpha-diversity and beta-diversity differed significantly between the two groups. LEfSe analysis revealed that Lactobacillus abundance increased while Prevotella and Gardnerella abundance decreased in the effective group. The Lactobacillus abundance ROC curve had high predictive accuracy. The OABSS after treatment was negatively correlated with the abundance of Lactobacillus, whereas the relationship between OABSS and Prevotella and Gardnerella showed the opposite trend. In addition, RF, SVM and XGBoost models demonstrated high predictive ability to assess the effect of mirabegron in OAB patients in the test cohort.

Conclusions

The results of this study indicate that urinary microbiota might influence the efficacy of mirabegron, and that Lactobacillus might be a potential marker for evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of mirabegron in OAB patients.
Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in camels recently imported to Egypt from Sudan and a global systematic review
Authors: Fereig Ragab M. , Abdelbaky Hanan H. , El-Alfy El-Sayed , El-Diasty Mohamed , Elsayed Ahmed , Mahmoud Hassan Y. A. H. , Ali Alsagher O. , Ahmed Abdulrahman , Mossaad Ehab , Alsayeqh Abdullah F. , Frey Caroline F.
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are closely related intracellular protozoan parasites of medical and veterinary concern by causing abortions and systemic illness. Limited or ambiguous data on the prevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum in camels triggered us to conduct this study.

Methods

Camels (n = 460) recently imported from Sudan and destined mainly for human consumption, were tested for specific antibodies against these protozoans using commercially available ELISAs. From the two only quarantine stations for camels from Sudan, 368 camels were sampled between November 2015 and March 2016 in Shalateen, Red Sea governorate, and 92 samples were collected between September 2018 and March 2021 from Abu Simbel, Aswan governorate.

Results & Discussion

Overall, seropositive rates in camels were 25.7%, 3.9% and 0.8% for T. gondii, N. caninum and mixed infection, respectively. However, marked differences were found between the two study sites and/or the two sampling periods: For T. gondii, a higher rate of infection was recorded in the Red Sea samples (31.5%, 116/368; odds ratio 20.7, 5.0-85.6; P<0.0001) than in those collected in Aswan (2.2%, 2/92). The opposite was found for N. caninum with a lower rate of infection in the Red Sea samples (0.82%, 3/368; odds ratio 23.7, 6.7-83.9; P<0.0001) than in the samples from Aswan (16.3%, 15/92). Additionally, our systematic review revealed that the overall published seroprevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum was 28.6% and 14.3% in camels worldwide, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first record of seroprevalence of both T. gondii and N. caninum in recently imported camels kept under quarantine conditions before delivery to other Egyptian cities and regions. In addition, our review provides inclusive data on the prevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum in camel globally. This knowledge provides basic data for the implementation of strategies and control measures against neosporosis and toxoplasmosis.
Bone morphogenetic protein 4 in perivascular adipose tissue ameliorates hypertension through regulation of angiotensinogen
Authors: Mu Wen-Juan , Song Yan-Jue , Yang Li-Jie , Qian Shu-Wen , Yang Qi-Qi , Liu Yang , Tang Qi-Qun , Tang Yan
Published: November 2022

Background

Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT), an active endocrine organ, exerts direct effect on vascular tone through paracrine. Activation of PVAT metabolism plays an inhibitory role in atherosclerosis via secreting relaxing factors. The present studies were designed to investigate the role of PVAT metabolism in regulation of hypertension.

Materials and methods

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) knockout mice with BMP4 knockout in adipose tissue or brown adipose tissue (aP2-DKO or UCP1-DKO, respectively) were used for exploring the role of impaired PVAT metabolism in hypertension. Vascular function was assessed using wire myography. The potential regulatory factor of vascular function was explored using qPCR and ELISA and further confirmed in perivascular fat cell line.

Results

Knockout of BMP4 either in adipose tissue or specifically in BAT aggravates high-fat diet (HFD, 40% fat)-induced hypertension and endothelial dysfunction in ApoE–/– mice. In the meanwhile, deficiency of BMP4 also aggravates Ang II (angiotensin II) -induced hypertension and vascular remodeling in ApoE–/– mice. Moreover, deficiency of BMP4 inhibits NO release and induces ROS production. In vitro system, aortic rings pretreated with PVAT extracts from BMP4-DKO mice showed increased vasoconstriction and reduced endothelial-dependent relaxation compared with the controls. We further demonstrated that PVAT of BMP4-DKO mice expressed higher level of angiotensinogen (AGT) and Ang II compared with the controls.

Conclusion

Impaired PVAT metabolism aggravates hypertension, and this effect is dependent on the activation of local renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). The results of this study first demonstrate the regulatory role of PVAT metabolism in hypertension.
Designing the profile of industrial consumers of renewable energy in Romania under the impact of the overlapping crisis
Authors: Grosu Veronica , Socoliuc Marian , Ciubotariu Marius Sorin , Hlaciuc Elena , Tulvinschi Mihaela , Macovei Anamaria Geanina , Melega Anatol
Published: November 2022

Prior to the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, the European energy markets had already been in a profound state of crisis with prices reaching top levels and with minimum supplies. The cost of the energy has had a significant impact on the performance and the sustainability of the majority of the economic operators, most of them considering the overgrowth of the price of the energy and the raw materials as the main risks in terms of the short - term development of the operational activity. Given the current situation, the aim of the study is to identify new solutions to reduce the negative effects of the present day crisis on the Romanian economic operators. In this context, the study focuses on the following objectives: O1—estimating the social and economic effects on the economic operators as a result of the energy crisis; O2—identifying the key factors which make the economic operators switch from the traditonal resources consumption to the renewable energy consumption and O3 - analyzing the influence factors in stimulating the investments in the renewable energy. The research methods that have been used are based on the quantitative analysis with the help of a questionnaire applied to 264 Romanian production companies. The final results of the present study refer to designing an overall profile of the industrial consumers given the escalation of the energy crisis worldwide. The findings of the study can be useful both for the final energy consumers and for the producers and distributors alike and ultimately for the European and national legislators whose decisions are closely related to the very future of these economic entities.
Assessment of solar load models for bifacial PV panels
Authors: Rasheed Bushra , Safdar Asmara , Sajid Muhammad , Ali Sara , Ayaz Yasar
Published: November 2022

Solar load is one of the key inputs in thermal analysis of all solar based applications using ray tracing. Commercial and academic Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) codes incorporate different solar load models for ray tracing, i.e., Solar Position and Intensity (SOPLOS) theoretical maximum function, American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Airconditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) fair weather and constant solar load models. However, solar load depends largely on weather conditions of the site whereas the solar load models in CFD software do not accommodate changing weather patterns and hence the CFD simulation results obtained are not representative of an extended period of time. This paper studies the effect of changing weather patterns on solar load assessment, using bifacial solar panels as a case study. In this study, on-site data of a humid sub-tropical region for monsoon season, mid-June to mid-August, has been used as an input for solar ray tracing due to large temperature variations and cloud cover for longer duration. Comparative study of SOPLOS and ASHRAE models with in situ model shows that they over predict front side solar load, with only 0.5% and 13% matching in situ data respectively, while both models under predict rear side solar load in the studied time period, with 2% and 24% solar load estimation agreeing with in situ data respectively.