bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accumulation of the Auxin Precursor Indole-3-Acetamide Curtails Growth through the Repression of Cell Proliferation and Development-Related Transcriptional Networks
Authors: Sánchez-Parra Beatriz , Pérez-Alonso Marta-Marina , Ortiz-García Paloma , Moya-Cuevas José , Hentrich Mathias , Pollmann Stephan
Published: January 2021

The major auxin, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), is associated with a plethora of growth and developmental processes including embryo development, expansion growth, cambial activity, and the induction of lateral root growth. Accumulation of the auxin precursor indole-3-acetamide (IAM) induces stress related processes by stimulating abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis. How IAM signaling is controlled is, at present, unclear. Here, we characterize an ami1/rooty double mutant, that we initially generated to study the metabolic and phenotypic consequences of a genetic blockade of the indole glucosinolate and IAM pathways in Arabidopsis thaliana. Our mass spectrometric analyses of the mutant revealed that the combination of the two mutations is not sufficient to fully prevent the conversion of IAM to IAA. The detected strong accumulation of IAM was, however, recognized to substantially impair seed development. We further show by genome-wide expression studies that the double mutant is broadly affected in its translational capacity, and that a small number of cell proliferation and plant growth regulating transcriptional circuits are repressed by the high IAM content in the seed. In accordance with the previously described growth reduction in response to elevated IAM levels, our data support the hypothesis that IAM is a growth repressing counterpart to IAA.
Mid-Miocene Formation of the Yangtze River-Lake System Revealed by Ancestral Spawning Reconstruction of Endemic Cyprinids
Authors: Wang Yeke , Chen Feng , He Jun , Chen Liang , Xue Ge , Zhao Yan , Peng Yanghui , Chen Jun , Xie Ping
Published: January 2021

The Yangtze River is cross-linked with numerous lakes within its floodplain and is a worldwide biodiversity hotspot. There is no evidence indicating when this unique river-lake system developed. The endemic East Asian cyprinid clade has evolved diverse spawning adaptations to different flow conditions. Our ancestral egg-type reconstruction showed an ancestral state of adhesive eggs and later demersal eggs origination (both stream adaptations). Semi-buoyant eggs emerged ~18 Mya as a fast-flowing river adaptation, with increased hydration via three yolk protein degradation pathways, ion transport pathways and egg envelope permeability transition pores. Adhesive eggs evolved secondarily ~14 Mya with the egg envelope increasing to four layers and an adhesive layer, along with an increase in adhesiveness via microfilament/adhesive-related protein crosslinking and enhanced glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis, improving adherence to submerged lake plants, indicating that the cross-linked river-lake system formed in the mid-Miocene. This study provides a unique biological evidence for large-scale water system evolution.
Comprehensive Identification of Glycosphingolipids in Human Plasma using Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography – Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Holčapek Michal , Hořejší Karel , Jirásko Robert , Chocholoušková Michaela , Wolrab Denise , Kahoun David
Published: January 2021

Glycosphingolipids (GSL) represent a highly heterogeneous class of lipids with many cellular functions, implicated in a wide spectrum of human diseases. Their isolation, detection, and comprehensive structural analysis is a challenging task due to the structural diversity of GSL molecules. In this work, GSL subclasses are isolated from human plasma using an optimized monophasic ethanol–water solvent system capable to recover a broad range of GSL species. Obtained deproteinized plasma is subsequently purified and concentrated by C18-based solid-phase extraction (SPE). The hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) coupled to electrospray ionization linear ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-LIT-MS/MS) is used for GSL analysis in the human plasma extract. Our results provide an in-depth profiling and structural characterization of glycosphingolipid and some phospholipid subclasses identified in the human plasma based on their retention times and the interpretation of tandem mass spectra. The structural composition of particular lipid species is readily characterized based on the detailed interpretation of MS and MS/MS spectra and further confirmed by specific fragmentation behavior following predictable patterns, which yields to the unambiguous identification of 154 GSL species within 7 lipid subclasses and 77 phospholipids representing the highest number of GSL species ever reported in the human plasma. The developed HILIC-ESI-MS/MS method can be used for further clinical and biological research of GSL in the human blood or other biological samples.
Discovery of a Major QTL Controlling Trichome IV Density in Tomato using K-seq Genotyping
Authors: Mata-Nicolas Estefania , Montero-Pau Javier , Gimeno-Páez Esther , Garcia_Perez Ana , Ziarsolo Peio , Blanca Jose , van der Knaap Esther , Díez María José , Cañizares Joaquin
Published: January 2021

Trichomes are a common morphological defense against pests, in particular, type IV glandular trichomes have been associated with resistance against different invertebrates. Cultivated tomatoes usually lack or have a very low density of type IV trichomes. Thus, specific breeding programs to incorporate these natural defences, that are common within the Solanum genus, might improve a more sustainable management. We have identified a S. pimpinellifolium accession with very high density of this type of trichomes. Two F2 mapping populations using two different parents have been developed, characterized and genotyped using a new genotype methodology, K-seq. We have been able to build an ultra-dense genetic map with 147,326 markers with an average distance between markers of 0.2 cM that has allowed us to perform a detailed mapping. We have used two different families and two different approaches, QTL mapping and QTL-seq, to identify several QTLs implicated in the control of trichome type IV developed in this accession on the chromosomes 5, 6, 9 and 11. The QTL located on chromosome 9 is a major QTL that has not been previously reported in S. pimpinellifolium that increases by a factor of 9 the density of trichomes.
Leucokinins: Multifunctional Neuropeptides and Hormones in Insects and Other Invertebrates
Authors: Nässel Dick R. , Wu Shun-Fan
Published: January 2021

Leucokinins (LKs) constitute a neuropeptide family first discovered in a cockroach and later identified in numerous insects and several other invertebrates. The LK receptors are only distantly related to other known receptors. Among insects, there are many examples of species where genes encoding LKs and their receptors are absent. Furthermore, genomics has revealed that LK signaling is lacking in several of the invertebrate phyla and in vertebrates. In insects, the number and complexity of LK expressing neurons vary, from the simple pattern in the larva of Drosophila where the entire CNS has 20 neurons of three main types, to cockroaches with about 250 of many different types. Common to all studied insects is the presence or 1-3 pairs of LK-expressing neurosecretory cells in each abdominal neuromere of the ventral nerve cord, that, at least in some insects, regulate secretion in Malpighian tubules. This review summarizes the diverse functional roles of LK signaling in insects, as well as other arthropods and mollusks. These functions include regulation of ion and water homeostasis, feeding, sleep-metabolism interactions, state-dependent memory formation, as well as modulation of gustatory sensitivity and nociception. Other functions are implied by the neuronal distribution of LK, but remain to be investigated.
Substantial Effect of Water on Radical Melt Crosslinking and Rheological Properties of Poly(Ε-Caprolactone)
Authors: Avella Angelica , Mincheva Rosica , Raquez Jean-Marie , Lo Re Giada
Published: January 2021

One-step reactive melt processing (REx) via radical reaction was evaluated with the aim of improving the rheological properties of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL). In particular, a water-assisted REx was designed under the hypothesis of increasing crosslinking efficiency with water as a low viscous medium in comparison with a slower PCL macroradicals diffusion in the melt state. To assess the effect of dry vs. water-assisted REx on PCL, its structural, thermo-mechanical and rheological properties were investigated. Water-assisted REx resulted in increased PCL gel fraction compared to dry REx (from 1 to 34 %), proving the rationale under the formulated hypothesis. From dynamic mechanical analysis and tensile tests, the crosslink did not significantly affect the PCL mechanical performance. Dynamic rheological measurements showed that higher PCL viscosity was reached with increasing branching/crosslinking and the typical PCL Newtonian behavior was shifting towards a progressively more pronounced shear thinning. A complete transition from viscous- to solid-like PCL melt behavior was recorded, demonstrating that higher melt elasticity can be obtained as a function of gel content by controlled REx. Improvement in rheological properties offers the possibility of broadening PCL melt processability without hindering its recycling by melt processing.
Micro worlds: learning about probabilities in simulated contexts
Authors: Melgar Angel Salvatierra , Gamboa José Nieto , Mesías César Daniel Escuza , Orozco-Vargas Paola Gissella , Shardin-Flores Linda
Published: January 2021

In this study, the learning processes of the concepts of the probability topic are based on the use and simulation of the micro world tools by the learning actors, who demonstrated creativity, selection of the objects visible in the interface, and the introduction of basic programming principles associated with the topic in question. For the development of the study, we proceeded by the experimental design of a pre-experimental type of an intact group made up of 50 students from the 5th academic semester of the Professional School of Education of a Public University. The data were collected by an academic test before and after the experimentation, to later be processed and analyzed through the Student's t-statistic expression for related samples, reaching the following conclusion. The experimentation with micro worlds as active learning strategies based on the theory of constructionism, presents a high degree of interactivity associated with sounds, silhouettes, graphics and activities, which allowed to promote the conceptualization, resolution of exercises and problems of the topic in an experiential way in environments natural simulated by the computer.
Regulation of professional and labor relations of university teachers: international practice and national characteristics
Authors: Abdulkadyrov Umalt Umarovich , Pak Olga Anatolevna , Makushkin Sergey Anatolyevich
Published: January 2021

The present article is focused on a general analysis of labor relations in a modern university, as well as on the study of some specific characteristics of these relations. In recent decades, economic policy in higher education has changed significantly in different countries of the world. The goal of the study is to analyze modern approaches to regulating the labor status of a university teacher and its elements. The authors investigate the history of the transformations of higher education since the 1990s which resulted in higher education turning from the sphere of human capital production into an independent branch of the service sector. The article shows that, as a result of the higher education system reforms, changes in university management, the system of labor relations, and the socio-economic status of university teachers are taking place. Various university management models are explored. It is demonstrated that in the modern setting, internal control is replaced by external control, academic freedom is pushed aside by administration, and academic standards are modified and replaced by formal rules. These reforms are accompanied by major changes in labor relations and the role of management and teaching staff in universities. Various examples of the construction of labor relations with teachers adopted in different countries are studied. Close attention is paid to approaches to stimulating teaching activities. In the light of the current difficult situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the problems of labor relations aggravated with the transition to distance and blended learning are considered. The drawbacks preventing a higher quality of higher education in Russia are identified. Proposals for improving the regulation of labor relations in the field of higher education aimed at improving its quality are presented.
EVALUASI MAGANG KEPENDIDIKAN 3 PRODI PENDIDIKAN TEKNIK INFORMATIKA DAN KOMPUTER
Authors: Hidayat Muhammad Rasyid , Basori Basori , Maryono Dwi
Published: January 2021

Kegiatan magang merupakan sarana latihan kerja bagi mahasiswa Prodi Pendidikan Tehnik Informatika dan Komputer dalam meningkatkan pemahaman, penghayatan, dan keterampilan di bidang keguruan. Program magang dijadikan sebagai salah satu upaya untuk menjembatani antara teori yang diperoleh oleh mahasiswa di bangku perkuliahan dengan kondisi yang sebenarnya di lapangan. Namun terkadang apa yang sudah direncakan tidak berjalan sesuai dengan apa yang terjadi dilapangan. Untuk itu evaluasi magang kependidikan 3 merupakan rangkaian kegiatan yang dilakukan dengan sengaja dan secara cermat untuk mengetahui tingkat keterlaksanaan atau keberhasilan suatu program sebagai dasar membuat keputusan dan mengambil kebijakan untuk menyusun program yang akan dibuat selanjutnya. Peneliti menggunakan metode kualitatif , karena dengan kualitatif dapat menyelidiki, menemukan, menggambarkan, dan menjelaskan pengaruh dari sosial yang tidak dapat dijelaskan, diukur atau digambarkan dengan pendekatan kuantitatif. Evaluasi CIPP dipilih peneliti sebagai model evaluasi karena evaluasi CIPP bertujuan untuk memperbaiki bukan untuk membuktikan. Magang dilakukan selama 2 bulan merupakan kegiatan belajar dengan berniat untuk membentuk keterampilan, pengetahuan, dan sikap. Magang yang lamanya 2 bulan dirasa cukup mengembangkan kompetensi yang dibutuhkan dengan praktek mengajar terbimbing. Dalam angket sebagian responden menyatakan magang sudah sesuai dengan apa yang sudah direncakan pada SOP magang kependidikan 3, tujuan dari magang juga terpenuhi yaitu mahasiswa dapat mengembangkan kompetensi saat magang disekolah. Dari kesaksian guru pamong mahasiswa melakukan magang dengan baik dan mengajar dengan baik. Apa yang sudah didapatkan dikampus dapat tersampaikan pada praktek mengajar disekolahan, dan mahasiswa mempunya pandangan bagaimana kelak bila menjadi guru yang sesungguhnya.
MEDIA INTERNET SEBAGAI SARANA EDUKASI PADA ANAK USIA DINI TENTANG COVID-19
Authors: Prasetiyo Aji
Published: January 2021

Edukasi tentang virus covid-19 pada anak menjadi sebuah kebutuhan yang harus dipenuhi. Infeksi virus corona merupakan penyakit yang menyerang sistem pernapasan. Menurut merdeka.com menunjukkan, kasus Covid-19 di Indonesia sudah menembus angka 76.981 orang. Terjadi penambahan sebanyak 1.282 kasus baru. Jumlah pasien sembuh dari Covid-19 bertambah 1.051 orang. Penambahan ini membuat total kasus sembuh di Indonesia mencapai orang 36.689 orang. Sementara kasus kematian karena Covid-19 juga bertambah 56 orang. Total akumulatif kasus kematian akibat Covid-19 menjadi 3.656 orang.  Penderita covid-19 sejauh ini cenderung kebanyakan adalah orang dewasa. Namun, kasus pada anak-anak telah dilaporkan, termasuk pada balita. Media internet sebagai metode pengenalan covid pada anak usia dini dipandang lebih interaktif dan tidak membosankan dengan memanfaatkan platform-platform yang tersedia di jejaring internet.

Kata kunci : covid-19, internet, anak usia dini
Pengaruh Strategi Practice Rehearsal Pair Dalam Model Pembelajaran Active Learning Terhadap Kreativitas Dan Collaboration Skill Siswa Pada Mata Pelajaran Dasar Desain Grafis
Authors: Nur Baiti Febri Candra , Basori Basori , Budiyanto Cucuk Wawan
Published: January 2021

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui (1) Apakah terdapat perbedaan kemampuan kreatifitas siswa pada penerapan model pembelajaran Active Learning dengan Strategi Practice Rehearsal Pair; (2) Apakah terdapat perbedaan kemampuan collaboration skill siswa pada penerapan model pembelajaran Active Learning dengan strategi Practice Rehearsal Pair. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif dengan true experiment design. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah siswa kelas X RPL SMK Negeri 2 Surakarta. Sampel yang digunakan adalah 64 orang. Teknik pengumpulan data menggunakan soal tes dan angket. Teknik analisis yang digunakan adalah uji normalitas, uji keseimbangan, uji homogenitas dan uji hipotesis menggunakan independent sample t-test. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian dapat disimpulkan bahwa : (1) Terdapat perbedaan kemampuan kreatifitas siswa pada penerapan model pembelajaran Active Learning dengan Strategi Practice Rehearsal Pair (Sig.=0.000 <0.05); (2) terdapat perbedaan kemampuan collaboration skill siswa pada penerapan model pembelajaran Active Learning dengan strategi Practice Rehearsal Pair (Sig.=0.000 <0.05).
KEBIJAKAN MUSEUM SONOBUDOYO YOGYAKARTA DALAM MENGATASI KLAIM KEPEMILIKAN WARISAN BUDAYA
Authors: Purnama Rendi , Zulaikha Sri Rohyanti
Published: January 2021

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menjelaskan kebijakan yang diambil oleh Museum Sonobudoyo Yogyakarta dalam mengatasi kejahatan-kejahatan yang terjadi yang bisa merugikan pihak Museum dan masyarakat umum. Penelitian ini menggunakan  metode deskriptif kualitatif yang melalui pendekatan studi kasus yang terjadi di Museum Sonobudoyo Yogyakarta. Hasil penilitian ini adalah Kebijakan yang diambil oleh Museum Sonobudoyo adalah dengan tidak lagi mempublikasikan data-data manuskrip ataupun naskah-naskah lain untuk meminimalisir pencurian dan klaim kepemilikan yang terjadi. Manuskrip yang didigitalisasi hanya dipublikasikan kepada orang-orang yang ada di ruang lingkup museum saja. Sehingga tidak ada pulikasi kepada masyarakat umum untuk menghindari hal-hal yang tidak diinginkan. Jika ingin melihat manuskrip dan naskah-naskah kuno bisa langsung datang ke Museum Sonobudoyo
Kompetensi Pustakawan Perpustakaan Perguruan Tinggi Swasta Surakarta (Berbasis SKKNI) Dalam Ekosistem Digital
Authors: Utomo Agus , Sri Purwanti Hery Ipung
Published: January 2021

The high access to digital information, Fatmawati, E (2018) requires librarians to innovate, improve competence in the field of technology and work efficiently in order to facilitate the service of exchanging data, communication and uniformity of information. This research is to find out how much the readiness of Surakarta Private University (PTS) librarians in responding to the Indonesian National Work Competency Standards (SKKNI). The survey was conducted on 46 librarians at 11 Surakarta Universities. SPSS Software with Sample T-Test is used to analyze data. From the T-Test, showed that 78.3% of librarians had not taken the Exam, 19.6% had participated in the training and 2.2% had failed the competency test. The results of this study are useful as input for leaders of the Surakarta PTS Board of Trustees in fostering and developing the library as an integral part of the Digital Ecosystem in Higher Education. For this reason, it is necessary to study the reasons for the unpreparedness of Surakarta Private University librarians in responding to Competency Test in the Digital Ecosystem.
Karakteristik Psikometri pada Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM)
Authors: Annisa Suci Rahmadani
Published: January 2021

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis karakteristik psikometri pada SPM, yaitu analisis indeks kesukaran aitem, indeks diskriminasi aitem, efektivitas distraktor, reliabilitas konstrak dan validitas konstrak. Subjek dalam penelitian ini sebanyak 1.547 orang siswa SMP dan 1.528 orang siswa SMA. Hasil analisis indeks kesukaran aitem pada SPM tidak sesuai dengan urutan tingkat kesukaran aitem. Hasil analisis indeks diskriminasi aitem pada SPM menunjukkan bahwa 39 - 41 aitem dengan kategori bagus sekali. Hasil analisis efektivitas distraktor pada SPM menunjukkan bahwa terdapat 42 - 45 aitem yang memiliki distraktor efektif. Hasil analisis reliabilitas konstrak pada SPM secara keseluruhan baik dan dapat dipercaya sebagai alat tes. Hasil analisis validitas konstrak masing-masing aitem menunjukkan bahwa terdapat 47 – 48 aitem valid pada SPM. Hasil analisis secara keseluruhan menunjukkan SPM mampu menjalankan fungsi ukur dengan baik.
Biodegradation of the pyrethroid pesticide cyfluthrin by the halophilic bacterium Photobacterium ganghwense isolated from coral reef ecosystem
Authors: Jayasree V.S. , Sobhana K. S. , Poulose Priyanka , Babu Keerthi R. , Jasmine S. , Ranjith L. , Saravanan R. , Jose Kingsly H. , Sreenath K.R. , Joshi K.K. , George Rani Mary , Gopalakrishnan A.
Published: January 2021

A halophilic bacterial strain T14 isolated from the mucus of coral Acropora sp. was found to be highly effective in degrading the pyrethroid pesticide, cyfluthrin. T14 was identified as Photobacterium ganghwense (GenBank Accession No. MT360254) based on phenotypic and biochemical characteristics as well as by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The pyrethroid degrading efficiency of P. ganghwense T14 strain was examined under different culture conditions. It was observed that P. ganghwense T14 was able to utilise cyfluthrin as a sole carbon source and was found to grow on mineral medium with pesticide concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 mg l-1. Optimal temperature and pH conditions for efficient cyfluthrin degradation by P. ganghwense T14 were determined as 30° C and 8 respectively. Degradation of cyfluthrin by P. ganghwense T14 was quantitated by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). Mineral medium supplemented with 100 mg l-1 cyfluthrin and inoculated with P. ganghwense T14 (106 cells ml-1) recorded 92.13% pesticide decomposition within 120 h. Cytotoxicity assay on a fish cell line EM4SpEx derived from the grouper Epinephelus malabaricus, revealed a drastic reduction in cyfluthrin toxicity as evidenced by reduction in the intensity of cell destruction as well as morphological changes when exposed to P. ganghwense T14 treated filtrate, in comparison with that of parent cyfluthrin filtrate. Results of the study clearly indicated potential bioremediative use of P. ganghwense T14 in cyfluthrin contaminated sites.
Scientometric assessment of research publications from fisheries institutes under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) during 2009-2018
Authors: Bhoomaiah Dasari , Krishnan P. , Kantharajan G. , Rajendran K. V. , Ponniah A.G. , Srinivasa Rao C.H.
Published: January 2021

The national fisheries research in India is spearheaded by domain-specific fisheries research institutions under the aegis of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi. The current study was undertaken to assess the temporal trends in research publications during the period 2009-2018, from eight fisheries research institutes under ICAR using ‘SciVal’, a web-based scientometric tool of Elsevier for measuring research performance. The data on various research metrics, such as the number of publications, their citations, field-weighted research impacts, number of publications in top journals, subject area categories and key phrases used in research outputs were extracted from the application. The assessment revealed that a total of 3263 papers were published by the fisheries research institutes under ICAR during the study period, which received 24,253 citations in total. The number of publications from the ICAR fisheries research institutes and their quality showed a steady increase over the years. The foremost journal for publishing Indian fisheries research outputs during the assessment period was the Indian Journal of Fisheries (408 papers; 12.5%) published by ICAR, New Delhi. The research focus of these institutes was found to be more towards the widely cultivated species, i.e., Penaeus (=Litopenaeus) vannamei and Pangasionodon hypophthalmus. The present study highlights the research areas with significant momentum and scope for future funding; provides insights on the research trends and necessary leads to prioritise research among the national fisheries research institutes under ICAR.
Effect of dietary prebiotic fructooligosaccharide on histology, digestive enzyme activity, biochemical and immunological parameters of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) juveniles
Authors: Syed Raffic Ali S. , Ambasankar K. , Ezhil Praveena P. , Nandakumar S. , Balachandran S. , Ramachandran K.
Published: January 2021

A feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary prebiotic, fructooligosaccharide (FOS) on histology, digestive enzyme activity, biochemical and immunological parameters of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) juveniles with an average initial body weight of 11.6±0.05 g. Experimental diets containing 0 (control), 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1% FOS were prepared and the feeding experiment was conducted for a period of 45 days. Analysis of biochemical parameters in the serum of post-fed animals revealed that glucose, urea, cholesterol, triglyceride, albumin, albumin globulin ratio (A/G ratio), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) showed significant differences (p<0.05) among the treatment diets. Similarly, serum immunological parameters such as alternative complement pathway and nitroblue tetrazolium assay showed significantly (p<0.05) higher activities in groups fed with diets containing 0.75 and 1% FOS. Histological observation of post-fed experimental animals revealed that the absorptive surface area of the intestine and glycogen deposition in liver increased in fish fed with FOS supplemented diets. The digestive enzyme activities were significantly (p<0.05) elevated with increasing levels of dietary FOS. The results indicated that 1% FOS supplementation has a beneficial effect on the histology, digestive enzyme activities, biochemical and immunological parameters in seabass juveniles.
Otolith measurements to estimate standard length of gobiid fish (Teleostei: Gobiiformes) from the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea
Authors: Iranmanesh Mahdi , Hesni Majid Askari , Lashkari Mohammadreza
Published: January 2021

The relationship between morphometric characters (length, weight and height) of otolith and fish standard length was determined for six intertidal gobiid species from the northern Persian Gulf and Oman Sea. A total of 144 sagittal otoliths were extracted and anlysed from Periophthalmus waltoni, Boleophthalmus dussumieri, Scartelaos tenuis, Istigobius ornatus, Bathygobius meggitti and Trypauchen vagina. Regression equations were derived and found that there is no significant difference in regression coefficients between left and right otoliths of the species studied. Results of the study showed that otolith length (OL) and height (OH) could estimate standard length in all the species studied except in T. vagina, where the otolith weight gave the best estimate of standard length. Results clearly indicated that otolith dimensions of the gobiid fishes studied could provide information about the species and size.
Sea-spray aerosols and SARS-Cov-2: an analysis using AERONET data
Authors: Piazzola Jacques , Desnues Christelle , Parent Philippe , Yohia Christophe , Canepa Elisa
Published: January 2021

Even if the people density, habits and displacements probably represent the most important causes of the SARS-Cov-2 virus propagation, the role of the atmospheric aerosol in COVID-19 outbreaks is significant and it needs to be further investigated. Therefore, we aimed to study if the aerosol properties related to the different sources and meteorological conditions we can observe in continental and coastal urbanized areas can have an influence on the atmospheric transport of the SARS-Cov-2 virus. This paper focuses on the lockdown period to reduce the differences in the social behavior. As an example, we investigated the contamination cases during March 2020 in two specific French areas located in both continental and coastal areas with regard to the meteorological conditions and the corresponding aerosol properties. To this end, we used both the optical depth (AOD) and the Angstrom exponent provided by the AERONET network. The results show that the analysis of aerosol ground-based data can be of interest to assess a virus survey. In particular, our data show that moderate to strong onshore winds occurring in coastal regions, which allow large sea-spray production episodes, deal with smaller COVID-19 contamination rates. This suggests that the coagulation of SARS-Cov-2 viral particles with hygroscopic salty sea-spray aerosols would tend to inhibit its viral infectivity via possible reaction with NaCl, especially in high relative humidity environments. Capsule: Our results suggest that maritime air-masses limit the SARS-Cov-2 impact via the role of the sea-spray.
Chemical templates that assemble the metal superhydrides
Authors: Sun Yuanhui , Miao Maosheng
Published: January 2021

The recent incessant discoveries of high-pressure hydrides totally altered our road map toward finding room temperature superconductors. Especially, metal superhydrides consisting of hydrogen covalent networks that resemble metallic hydrogen are favorable candidates for improving Tc and lowering pressure. However, the chemical force that drives the dissociation of H2 and the formation of H covalent network in superhydrides is unknown. Our high-throughput calculations show that, after removing H atoms, the remaining metal lattices exhibit unusual electron occupations at the interstitial regions, which matches excellently to the H lattice like a template. Furthermore, H lattices consist of 3D aromatic building units that are greatly stabilized by chemical templates of metals close to s-d boarder. The theory can help predicting ternary superhydrides that may form at lower pressure.
Deficiency and absence of endogenous isoprene in adults, disqualified its putative origin
Authors: Sukul Pritam , Richter Anna , Schubert Jochen K , Miekisch Wolfram
Published: January 2021

Background: Isoprene (C5H8) is a clinically important breath metabolite. Although, hundreds of studies have reported differential expressions in isoprene exhalation as breath biomarker for diverse diseases, the substance couldn’t enter to clinical practice as diagnostic marker. Moreover, many experimental/basic observations upon breath isoprene remained unrelated to the corresponding pathophysiological effects on its putative metabolic origin (i.e. mevalonate pathway). Here, we investigated the fundamental reason that hindered the rational interpretation and translation of this marker from basic to clinical science. Methods: Via high-resolution mass-spectrometry based breathomics in 1026 human subjects, we discovered adults with significant deficiency (order of magnitude lower than the normal) and complete absence of breath isoprene. We prospectively applied real-time breathomics, quantitative gene expression analysis of the mevalonate pathway enzymes, lipid-profiling and hemodynamic monitoring on those isoprene deficient subjects and controls. Additionally, the subject with absence of isoprene was followed up throughout different phases of her womanhood.Results: In contrast to convention, we witnessed that adults can live healthy without exhaling isoprene or with significant deficiency. This rare phenotype represents a recessive inheritance. Despite physio-metabolic changes during menstrual cycle (that is known to profoundly affect isoprene exhalation) and profoundly increased plasma cholesterol during pregnancy and after childbirth, isoprene remained absent. All genes of mevalonate pathway enzymes were normally expressed in all participants, without any down-regulation or compensatory up-regulation. Conclusions: Absence/deficiency of isoprene despite normal lipid profiles and no mevalonate pathway malfunction disqualifies the long-believed metabolic origin of isoprene from cholesterol biosynthesis. Thus, clinical translation of breath isoprene expressions should not be generally attributed to corresponding pathophysiological effects onto mevalonate/cholesterol pathway. Our finding has refined and optimized the clinical interpretation of isoprene as biomarker in volatile metabolomics and breathomics. Future studies will address the correct metabolic origin of isoprene to imply this important marker to routine practice.
Polymorphisms of rs2483205 and rs562556 in Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 (PCSK9) Gene are Associated With Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Gai Min-Tao , Adi Dilare , Chen Xiao-Cui , Liu Fen , Xie Xiang , Yang Yi-Ning , Gao Xiao-Ming , Ma Xiang , Fu Zhen-Yan , Ma Yi-Tong , Chen Bang-dang
Published: January 2021

PCSK9 plays a pivotal role in lipid metabolism. The present study is to explore the potential novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the PCSK9 gene which is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) in the Han population who lived in Xinjiang, China. We conducted a case-control study and genotyped four tag SNPs of the PCSK9 gene in 950 CAD and 1082 health subjects in the Han population. This study showed that for rs2483205, the distributions in genotypes had significant differences between the CAD and control groups (p = 0.025), and the subjects with TT genotype had lower total cholesterol (TC) level than CT genotype (p = 0.025). For rs562556, there were significant differences between the CAD and control groups for distributions of genotypes (p = 0.020), and the individuals with a G allele had a lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level than an A allele (p = 0.048). Furthermore, the TT genotype of rs2483205 and GG genotype of rs562556 were independently associated with CAD (odds ratio [OR] = 0.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.29-0.95, p = 0.032 and OR = 0.57, 95%CI = 0.34-0.95, p = 0.032, respectively). In conclusion, the rs2483205 and rs562556 were significantly associated with CAD.
Glycemic Control and Neonatal Outcomes in Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Treated Using Glyburide, Metformin, or Insulin: A Pairwise and Network Meta-Analysis
Authors: Yu Dan-Qing , Xu Guan-Xin , Teng Xin-Yuan , Xu Jing-Wei , Tang Liang-Fang , Feng Chun , Rao Jin-Peng , Jin Min , Wang Li-Quan
Published: January 2021

Aims: We aimed to assess the comparative efficiency and safety of the use of glyburide, metformin, and insulin in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Methods: We searched for randomized controlled trials that compared glyburide, metformin, and insulin in GDM. Data regarding glycemic control and neonatal safety were collected and analyzed in pairwise and network meta-analyses.Results: A total of 4,683 individuals from 24 trials were included. Compared with glyburide, metformin reduced 2-hour postprandial blood glucose (2HPG) to a greater extent (standard mean difference (SMD) 0.18; 95% credible interval (CI) 0–0.36). There were significantly lower prevalences of neonatal hypoglycemia (risk difference (RD) −0.07; 95%CI−0.11–−0.03), neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission (RD−0.03; 95%CI−0.06–−0), and preeclampsia (RD−0.03; 95%CI−0.06–−0) in the metformin group than in the insulin group. The metformin group had significantly lower birth weight (SMD−0.25; 95%CI−0.41–−0.10) and maternal weight gain (SMD−0.61; 95%CI−0.86–−0.35) compared with the insulin group. Network meta-analysis suggested that metformin had the highest probability of successfully controlling glycemia and preventing neonatal complications.Conclusions: The present meta-analysis suggests that metformin may be as effective as insulin for glycemic control and is the most promising drug for the prevention of neonatal and maternal complications.
Dysbiosis of Gut Microbiota and Its Relationship with the Regulatory T Cells in Patients with Aplastic Anemia 
Authors: Ren Mengxiao , Ge Yongqin , Qi Jindan , Xue Shengli , Miao Miao , Wu Depei , Huang Yuhui , Wang Xiaohua
Published: January 2021

Background: The characteristics of gut microbiota (GM) and its relationship with the Regulatory T Cells (Treg) remains unclear in patients with aplastic anemia (AA). Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey which included 12 AA patients consisted of 6 with severity aplastic anemia (SAA) and 6 with non-severity aplastic anemia (NSAA) and 6 healthy participants. The GM and its relationship with the Treg cells of AA patients were analyzed. Results: The results showed that the presence of compositional differences in the GM structure between the AA and Control groups. The bacterial communities were depleted of Clostridia class (e.g., Lachnospiraceae ND3007, Lachnospiraceae XPB1014, Lachnolostridium, Ruminococcaceae UCG 013 and Butyricicoccus genus) in AA group, especially in SAA group. Inversely, the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Streptococcus genus from Bacilli class were increased significantly in patients with SAA. The relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae (r=0.663, p=0.029), Clostridiaceae 1 (r=0.619, p=0.042) and Clostridiales vadinBB60 group family (r=0.674, p=0.023) which from Clostridia class, were positively correlated with the Treg cell counts. Conclusion: We speculated that the decrease of some bacteria from Clostridia class may participate in the pathophysiological process of AA through reducing the Treg cell counts. Notwithstanding the low sample size, our data provided some clues that the treatment strategy of AA could start by adjusting the imbalance of GM, increasing Treg cell counts to improve the suppression of bone marrow hematopoiesis.
The cost of correcting for error during sensorimotor adaptation
Authors: Sedaghat-Nejad Ehsan , Shadmehr Reza
Published: January 2021

Learning from error is often a slow process. To accelerate learning, previous motor adaptation studies have focused on explicit factors such as reward or punishment, but the results have been inconsistent. Here, we considered the idea that a movement error carries an implicit cost for the organism because the act of correcting for error consumes time and energy. If this implicit cost could be modulated, it may robustly alter how the brain learns from error. To vary the cost of error, we considered a simple saccade adaptation task but combined it with motion discrimination: movement errors resulted in corrective saccades, but those corrections took time away from acquiring information in the discrimination task. We then modulated error cost using coherence of the discrimination task and found that when error cost was large, pupil diameter increased, and the brain learned more from error. However, when error cost was small, the pupil constricted, and the brain learned less from the same error. Thus, during sensorimotor adaptation, the act of correcting for error carried an implicit cost for the brain. Modulating this cost affects how the brain learns from error.
Primary Care Providers’ Perceptions and Experiences of Family-Centered Care for Older Adults: A Qualitative Study of Community-Based Diabetes Management in China
Authors: Liao Jing , Tu Jiong
Published: January 2021

Background: Family-centered care, as a contemporary model of health service delivery, involves a mutually beneficial partnership between healthcare providers, patients and their families. Although evidence on the positive effects of family-centered care on older adults and their families is accumulating, less is known about the providers’ beliefs, attitudes and practices related to family-centeredness, especially regarding community-based primary healthcare services for the rapidly-ageing Chinese population. Methods: This study investigated Chinese primary care providers’ perceptions and experiences of family-centered care for older adults, using community-based diabetes management services as an example. Ten focus-group interviews involving 48 community health professionals were conducted. Major themes were identified using thematic analysis. Results: The interviews revealed that the providers acknowledged the importance of the family in older patients’ diabetes management, while their current scope of practice with the patients’ families was limited and informal. The barriers to implementing family-centered care were attributed to structural and environmental obstacles associated with the patients’ families and the community healthcare context and culture. To engage patients’ families more effectively, the providers suggested that family-centered values endorsed by their healthcare organizations and reinforced by policies, a trained interdisciplinary team of health professionals and community social workers, and also that the utilization of technology would be beneficial. Conclusions: Our study extends the evidence of family-centered care for older adults in Chinese community-based healthcare settings, contributing to the design of a tailored healthcare delivery model embodying ageing in place.
TP53 Mutation in Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Authors: Niparuck Pimjai , Police Pornnapa , Noikongdee Phichchapha , Siriputtanapong Kanchana , Limsuwanachot Nittaya , Rerkamnuaychoke Budsaba , Chuncharunee Suporn , Siriboonpiputtana Teerapong
Published: January 2021

Objectives: TP53 mutation is found frequently in therapy related acute myeloid leukemia (AML)/ myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), AML and MDS patients with monosomy or complex karyotype. However, the prevalence and treatment outcome in TP53 mutated AML/MDS patients in Asian population are scarce. We therefore conducted this study to analyze the prevalence and the treatment outcomes of TP53 mutation in AML and MDS-EB patients. Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed AML and MDS-EB were recruited, extraction of deoxyribonucleic acid from bone marrow samples were done and then performing TP53 mutation analysis, using MassArray® System (Agena Bioscience, CA, USA). Results: A total of 132 AML/MDS patients were recruited, patients with de novo AML, secondary AML, MDS-EB1, MDS-EB2 and T-AML/MDS were seen in 66%, 13%, 9%, 9% and 3%, respectively. TP53 mutation was found in 14 patients (10.6%), and prevalence of TP53 mutation in T-AML/MDS, secondary AML, de novo AML and MDS-EB patients were 50%, 17.6%, 9.2% and 8%, respectively. Three patients had double heterozygous TP53 mutation. Mutated TP53 was significantly detected in patients with monosomy and complex chromosome. Common TP53 mutation were R290C, T220C, A249S and V31I which V31I mutation was reported only in Taiwanese patients. Most variant allele frequency (VAF) of TP53 mutation in the study were greater than 40%. Three year-overall survival (OS) in the whole population was 22%, 3y-OS in AML and MDS-EB patients were 22% and 27%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, factors affecting OS in 132 AML/MDS patients was mutant TP53 (P= 0.023, HR= 1.20- 7.02), whereas, WBC count> 100,000/μL (P= 0.004, HR= 1.32- 4.16) and complex karyotype (P= 0.038, HR= 1.07- 9.78) were associated with shorter OS in AML patients. Discussion: In this study, the prevalence of TP53 mutation in de novo AML and MDS-EB patients were low but it had impact on survival. Patients with monosomy or complex karyotype had more frequent TP53 mutation.
Is Suicide of Older Adults With Dementia Preventable? Evaluation of the Effect of Long-term Care Insurance System
Authors: Moon Sungje , Choi Mankyu , Sohn Minsung
Published: January 2021

Background: South Korea has the highest older adults’ suicide rate in the world. This study proposed a multifaceted policy to reduce the suicide risk among older adults with dementia by evaluating the effectiveness of the expanded long-term care insurance coverage.Methods: About 62,282 older adults with dementia were selected as study samples from the National Health Insurance Service’s “Older Adults Cohort DB (2002 to 2015).” This study confirmed how the demographic characteristics, health status, and the long-term care services (LTCS) of older adults with dementia affect their suicide. Data analysis was conducted with the Kaplan-Meier, Cox-regression to represent the yearly survival curve from 2002 to 2015, and the suicide rate was identified by demographic characteristics, health status, and policy. Also, difference-in-differences (DID) estimation was conducted to analyze the effect of LTCS on suicide rates by comparing statuses before and after 2014.Results: The results revealed statistically significant differences in sex, activities of daily living, cognitive ability, caregivers, and use of LTCS (Log-rank test p<0.001). The suicide risk of older adults using LTCS was about 0.256 times lower than those who did not use it (p<.001), after adjusting controls. Regarding the policy effect of LTCS, their suicide rate increased after the expansion of dementia grade (OR=2.131, 95% CI=1.061-4.280) but was still lower among LTCS users than non-users (OR=0.296, 95% CI=0.183-0.478). The interaction term indicating whether older adults with dementia use LTCS after the expansion of dementia grade was not statistically significant. Conclusions: This study not only identified differences in suicide rates depending on the sex, ADL, and type of caregiver at the individual level, but also confirmed that national policies and long-term care services could protect their lives. It highlights the importance of national level management to prevent suicide among older adults with dementia and offers effective policy suggestions.
Mantle sources of Cenozoic volcanic activities around the South China Sea revealed by geochemical and isotopic data using the principal component analysis (PCA)
Authors: Chen Shuangshuang , Wang Zewei , Gao Rui
Published: January 2021

Principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted to analyze geochemical and isotopic data and interpret the characteristics and types of mantle sources of Cenozoic volcanic activities around the South China Sea (SCS). Fifteen trace element indicators and five isotopic indicators were surveyed from 623 volcanic rock samples obtained from the SCS, Hainan Island, Fujian–Zhejiang, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Thailand to characterize the geochemical properties of the volcanic rocks, determine the types of mantle sources, and assess the influence degree of each mantle source. Two principal components (PCs) were extracted by PCA based on trace elements and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic ratios, which are an enriched oceanic island basalt-type mantle plume and a depleted mid-ocean ridge basalt-type spreading ridge. In the Southeast Asian region, the influence of Hainan mantle plume on younger volcanic activities (< 13 Ma) was greater than that on older ones (> 13 Ma) in the same location. PCA was used to verify the mantle plume–ridge interaction model of volcanic activities beneath the expansion center of the SCS and refute the hypothesis that the tension in the SCS is triggered by the Hainan plume. The results of this study demonstrate the efficiency and applicability of PCA to the discussion of mantle sources of volcanic activities and provide a new method with which to analyze geochemical data.