bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Challenging diagnosis of amebiasis in a non-endemic region: a clinical case
Authors: Akhmedova Elvira F. , Galyavin Alexey V. , Zotov Alexander V.
Published: September 2022

In Russia, amebiasis is sporadically registered mainly in the southern regions. An endemic area is the Republic of Dagestan. We describe a clinical case, which illustrates challenges in the diagnosis of amebial colitis related to low awareness of physicians of parasitic diseases in non-endemic regions. A 38-year old female patient living in Moscow was initially misdiagnosed with Crohn's disease. Erosive and ulcerative colonic lesions found at colonoscopy were interpreted by a gastroenterologist as symptoms of an inflammatory bowel disease. No differential diagnosis with infections and parasitic diseases was performed. Long (2 years) persistence of symptoms despite treatment with 5-aminosalicylic agents for suspected Crohn's disease, absence of any significant laboratory abnormalities and no history of travelling to Asian countries were the reason for subsequent additional diagnostic work-up. After the patient was finally diagnosed with intestinal amebiasis, she was treated with metronidazole with some positive effect of decreased abdominal bloating and bowel growling. At the control colonoscopy, there was a positive trend seen in colonic mucosa, with healing of ulcers without any scarring. No protozoan cysts were any more found in her feces. According to the recommendations, the patient is regularly seen by a specialist in infectious diseases and a gastroenterologist. Expansion of amebiasis outside endemic regions points to the necessity to perform a wider diagnostic work-up in cases of mucosal lesions found at colonoscopy.
Effect of Feeding Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) Root Powder on Quantity of Milk in Crossbred Cows
Authors: Chavan Malati Kakasaheb , Bhosale Tushar Rajendra , Deokar D.K.
Published: September 2022

Background: Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) recommended as a galactagogue in case of lactational insufficiency. Shatavari can also help to boost the immune system, ward off infection of the udder and reproductive organs in cows. It may also be used to reduce the stress of dairy cows and increase their producing ability, resulting in the production of clean and nutritious milk. Methods: The present research work was carried out at the Research cum Development Project, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Dist- Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. Twenty physically fit milking crossbred cows have been selected for the study and divided into four equal groups, five having five animals each. All the cows from treatment groups were fed as per ICAR (2013) feeding standard to meet the nutritional requirement. The experimental animals from group T1, T2, T3 and T4 were fed a diet containing shatavari root powder @ 0, 40, 80 and 120 gm/cow/day respectively for a period of 60 days. Result: At the time of milking, each cow’s daily milk output (kg) was recorded. The current study found that supplementing with shatavari root powder enhanced milk production significantly (P less than 0.05) over the control group (T1).
Determinants of Obstetric Near Miss in a Tertiary Hospital in Kenya: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Mulongo Samuel , Kaura Doreen Mugendi , Mash Bob
Published: September 2022

BACKGROUND

Kenya has a high burden of facility maternal deaths but there is scarce utilization of the near miss approach to understand facility related determinants of maternal mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate determinants of near miss in a major refferal hospital in Kenya using the World Health Organization near miss approach.

METHODS

A retrospective study design was used in a referral hospital in Kenya. Prevalence, direct and indirect causes of near miss were determined. Binomial logistic regression was used to determine associations between maternal characteristics and maternal near miss.

RESULTS

Maternal near miss ratio was 8.7 per 1000 live births. The most prevalent direct factors were: Severe post-partum hemorrhage (35%), eclampsia (18.9%) severe pre-eclampsia (17.4%), blood transfusion (79%), and hepatic dysfunction (3.7%). Anemia, previous ceaserean section and prolonged/obstructed labor were the most important contributory factors. The prevalence of organ dysfunction at admission was 39%. Only 74% of eclampsia cases had received magnesium sulphate on referral. Higher gestation at delivery (AOR = 0.640, 95% C.I =0.477–0.858) and those who received antenatal care from a level two or three facility (AOR = 0.190, 95% CI = 0.042–0.856) were less likely to experience a near miss.

CONCLUSION

Obstetric hemorrhage and pregnancy induced hypertension were the most important direct determinants of near miss, while anemia was the most important indirect determinant. Organ dysfunction on admission to the tertiary referral facility was high, suggesting delays in interventions at lower level facilities. Interventions addressing obstetric hemorrhage, pregnancy induced hypertension and pre-natal anemia may reduce the burden of near miss and mortality.
Analisis Kinerja Pengering Heat Pump Kompresi Uap untuk Pengeringan Temu Putih (Curcuma Zedoaria (Berg.) Roscoe)
Authors: Setia Hayatri Sali , Nelwan Leopold Oscar , Astika I Wayan , Hasbullah Rokhani
Published: September 2022

Pengeringan temu putih (Curcuma zedoaria (Berg.) Roscoe) dalam bentuk simplisia memerlukan penanganan yang tepat karena kadar air temu putih yang cukup tinggi berkisar antara 80–90 % sehingga memiliki sifat yang mudah rusak. Suhu, kelembapan relatif dan laju aliran udara menjadi faktor yang berpengaruh dalam pengeringan tanaman obat sehingga kondisi pengeringan yang tepat perlu diketahui. Pengering dengan sistem heat pump kompresi uap (HPKU) merupakan salah satu pengeringan mekanis sebagai metode pengeringan alternatif untuk mempersingkat waktu pengeringan dan menjaga kualitas produk. Pada sistem ini, aliran udara lingkungan dilewatkan melalui evaporator dan kondensor. Konfigurasi aliran udara melalui kedua komponen ini dikaji proporsinya untuk meningkatkan efeknya pada kondisi udara pengering. Penelitian ini bertujuan menemukan konfigurasi terbaik laju aliran udara dari HPKU yang menghasilkan kondisi udara pengering yang sesuai untuk pengeringan temu putih kemudian menganalisis kinerja pengering HPKU. Penelitian dilakukan dengan mengkonfigurasi aliran udara dan menganalisis kinerja pengering sistem HPKU. Hasil pengujian didapatkan konfigurasi aliran udara yang terbaik untuk pengeringan temu putih adalah: (i) inlet udara sebelum evaporator diberi penghambat dan (ii) inlet udara sebelum kondensor ditutup. Konfigurasi ini memberikan efek pemanasan sensibel tertinggi serta penurunan kelembapan udara pengering tertinggi. Hasil pengujian kinerja HPKU pada pengeringan temu putih adalah: (i) COPhp sebesar 3,11, (ii) nilai STEC sebesar 4,066 MJ/kg, (iii) nilai SMERT sebesar 0,870 kg/kWh, dan (iv) nilai SMERTot sebesar 0,449 kg/kWh. Nilai STEC, SMERT dan SMERTot yang didapat dipengaruhi oleh waktu pengeringan.
Hydrolysis of Mixed Sugarcane Bagasse and Rice Husk Using Cellulase Enzyme for Reducing Sugar Production
Authors: Pratami Melyta Rizky , Darmayanti Rizki Fitria , Nuraini Nanda Febia , Munawaroh Faizzatul
Published: September 2022

Reducing sugar can be produced from lignocellulosic raw materials. The content of polysaccharides such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and starch will be broken down into simpler carbohydrates. This study used a mixture of sugarcane bagasse and rice husks as lignocellulosic raw materials. The lignin content in the raw material must be removed through delignification or pretreatment so that enzymes can access cellulose and hemicellulose. This study used a physics-chemical pretreatment method, in which lignocellulosic material soak in 3% NaOH then heated with microwave and boiling water. The next process is enzymatic hydrolysis with variations of cellulase enzymes activity 0.434, 0.871, 2.61, and 3.49 FPU/g mixture of bagasse and rice husks. The cellulase enzyme used in this study was also derived from the fungus Trichoderma viride. Analysis of the sugar concentration resulting from hydrolysis used the DNS method with the 3.5-dinitrosalicylic acid reagent. The concentration of sugar from hydrolysis using a variety of enzymes with microwave heating pretreatment and boiling water pretreatment obtained the highest results which were the same at the addition of enzyme activity 3.49 FPU/g substrate at 24 hours, namely 4.077 g/L and 15.18 g/L. The optimum time for enzymatic hydrolysis is 12 hours and optimum enzyme activity is the addition of enzyme activity 2.61 FPU/g. The average concentration of sugar hydrolyzed by the addition of Trichoderma viride solution in pretreatment using microwave heating was 0.7611 g/L with a yield of 21.01 mg sugar/g substrate and with pretreatment in boiling water obtained 0.8679 g/L with a yield of 23.95 mg sugar/g substrate.
Prevalence and influence of dental development anomalies in smile esthetics
Authors: Silva Junior Marcelo Lucio Sousa , Brito Millena Lopes de , Carvalho Breno Wesley Leal , Silva Elen Maria Carvalho da , Lira Ana de Lourdes Sá de
Published: September 2022

Aim: To determine the prevalence of dental development anomalies and type of influence on the smile of adolescent students. Method: This was a cross-sectional and analytical study carried out in two public (A1) and two private (A2) schools chosen by lot in the city of Parnaíba-Piauí. The sample calculation was based on the target population: number of people enrolled in public and private schools between 15 and 19 years, in the city of Parnaíba-PI, which totaled 6209 students in 2020, according to a survey carried out by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics – IBGE. A questionnaire on epidemiological data and aesthetic self-perception of the smile was applied to 160 adolescents between 15 and 19 years old, from August 2020 to July 2021. The clinical examination was carried out under natural light, to check for the presence of anomaly(s) in the dental development. Students who presented only one pathology would be called group 1 (G1), those who presented two would be called group 2 (G2) and those who presented 3 or more would be called group 3 (G3). On the other hand, adolescents in whom no anomaly was evidenced would participate in the control group (CG), both in A1 and A2. Results: It was observed that 37.5% of the sample had only a type of dental anomaly, corresponding to 60 individuals. The most prevalent were enamel hypoplasia, fusion, transposition, agenesis, ectopic eruption, microdent and dens-in-dent. It was possible to verify a higher prevalence in the maxilla, private schools (76.6%) and females (86.6%). In 45% of adolescents with dental anomalies, embarrassment was observed when smiling. Conclusion: The prevalence was relatively high, highlighting the enamel hypoplasia, influencing the smile esthetics of a reasonable number of adolescents, whether for acquaintances, strangers or even for photographs.
Impertinência e crise do sujeito lírico no último Baudelaire
Authors: Veras Eduardo
Published: September 2022

Este artigo propõe uma reflexão sobre a impertinência de Charles Baudelaire e suas implicações poéticas, focalizando, em especial, a produção tardia do poeta. Atravessando temas importantes da obra baudelairiana como a polêmica, a solidão, o desejo de distinção, procuro relacionar a impertinência à crise do sujeito lírico e à constituição de um poeta impostor, especialmente nos poemas em prosa do autor.
Anticancer and Apoptotic Activity in Cervical Adenocarcinoma HeLa using Crude Extract from Spike of Stomopneustes variolaris
Authors: Kiddane Anley Teferra , Chamika Weerathunga Arachchige Shiran , Kang Min-Jae , Patil Maheshkumar Prakash , Chun Byung-Soo , Kim Gun-Do
Published: September 2022

Cancer is one of the world's most serious health problems and the top cause of mortality today. S. variolaris is a valuable sea creature that has long been used as a folk medicine to cure and prevent ailments. A subcritical water extraction was used method to obtain crude extract from spikes of S. variolaris. The extract had shown antiproliferative effect in HeLa cells with an IC50 of 723.1 ± 9.73 µg/ml, but no toxicity in HEK293. Westernblot was used to detect protein expression; Bax, caspase-8, and IκBα were increased, whereas IKKα and p-NFκB-65(Ser 536) were downregulated. RNA/mRNA expression was revealed by RT-qPCR, and fold changes of caspase-3, cytochrome-c, Bax, Apaf-1, caspase-9, and Bak genes’ expression were raised. Using gel electrophoresis, the treatment groups showed more DNA fragmentation than the control group. GC-MS was used to identify the components in the crude extract; anticancer activity could be attributed to dodecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, and tetradecanoic acid content. In conclusion, these results showed the potential use of the crude extract of a spike from S. variolaris with anticancer activity against cervical cancer.
Opportunities and Hurdles to the Adoption and Enhanced Efficacy of Feed Additives Towards Pronounced Mitigation of Enteric Methane Emissions
Authors: Ungerfeld Emilio M.
Published: September 2022

This paper analyzes the mitigation of enteric methane (CH4) emissions from ruminants with the use of feed additives inhibiting of rumen methanogenesis to limit global temperature increase to 1.5 °C. A mathematical simulation conducted herein predicted that pronounced inhibition of rumen methanogenesis with pure chemicals or bromoform-containing algae can contribute to limit global temperature increase by 2050 to 1.5 °C only if widely adopted at a global level and considering an efficacy higher than obtained in most studies. Currently, the most important limitations to the adoption of antimethanogenic feed additives are probably increased feeding cost without a consistent return in production efficiency, and achieving sustained delivery of inhibitors to the rumens of non-supplemented, extensively ranging animals. Economic incentives, and changes in rumen microbial metabolism caused by inhibiting methanogenesis, could potentially be used to make the methanogenesis inhibition intervention cost effective. Also, the composition of the methanogenic community, and rate of disappearance of inhibitors of methanogenesis in the rumen can influence the effective dose of the inhibitors, and hence the cost of their adoption. Possible means for sustained delivery of antimethanogenic compounds to extensively grazing animals are discussed. Limitations and knowledge gaps of these approaches, and future research directions, are examined.
Mechanical, Thermal, and Chemical Properties of PLA-Mg Filaments Produced via Colloidal Route for Fused Filament Fabrication
Authors: Pastor José Ygnacio , Orellana-Barrasa Jaime , Ferrández-Montero Ana , Ferrari Begoña , Boccaccini Aldo R.
Published: September 2022

The effect of Mg particles on PLA's thermal, chemical, physical, and mechanical properties has been studied. The thermal and physical properties have been studied by differential scanning calorimetry, analysing the stability of the α and α’-crystals of the PLA. A colloidal route was used to introduce Mg particles inside the PLA matrix, ensuring a good dispersion of the particles. Materials with Mg contents from 0 to 10 wt.% have been prepared, with additions of polyethyleneimine (PEI) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy has been used to confirm the influence of Mg, PEI, and PEG on PLA properties. The mechanical properties have been measured with a universal tensile test machine on printed filaments via Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), which were naturally aged to stable conditions. Filaments with and without a notch were studied to obtain the materials' tensile strength, elastic modulus, and fracture toughness. Different analytical models to explain the results of the PLA-Mg were studied, in which the interface strength of the PLA-Mg composites was calculated.
Glacial Legacies: Microbial Communities of Antarctic refugia
Authors: Jackson Abigail C. , Jorna Jesse , Chaston John M. , Adams Byron J.
Published: September 2022

In the cold deserts of the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV) the suitability of soil for microbial life is determined by both contemporary processes and legacy effects. Climatic changes and accompanying glacial activity have caused local extinctions and geochemical changes to soil ecosystems over several million years, while high elevation refugia may have escaped these disturbances and existed under relatively stable conditions. This study describes the impact of historical glacial and lacustrine disturbance events on microbial communities across the MDV. Soil bacterial communities from 17 sites representing either putative refugia or sites disturbed during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) (22-17kya) were characterized using 16S metabarcoding. Regardless of geographic distance, several putative refugia sites at elevations above 600 meter displayed highly similar microbial communities. At a regional scale, community composition was found to be influenced by elevation and geographic proximity more so than soil geochemical properties. These results suggest that despite the extreme conditions, diverse microbial communities exist in these putative refugia that have presumably remained undisturbed at least through the last glacial maximum. We suggest that similarities in microbial communities can be interpreted as evidence for historical climate legacies on an ecosystem-wide scale.
High-Definition Map Representation Techniques for Automated Vehicles
Authors: Ebrahimi Soorchaei Babak , Razzaghpour Mahdi , Valiente Romero Rodolfo , Raftari Arash , Pourmohammadi Fallah Yaser
Published: September 2022

Many studies in the field of robot navigation have focused on environment representation and localization. The goal of map representation is to summarize spatial information in topological and geometrical abstracts. By providing strong priors, maps improve the performance and reliability of automated robots. Due to the transition to fully automated driving in recent years, there has been a constant effort to design methods and technologies to improve the precision of road participants and the environment's information. Among these efforts is the High Definition (HD) Map concept. Making HD maps requires accuracy, completeness, verifiability, and extensibility.
Because of the complexity of HD mapping, it is currently expensive and difficult to implement, particularly in an urban environment. In an urban traffic system, the road model is at least a map with sets of roads, lanes, and lane markers.
While more research is being dedicated to mapping and localization, a comprehensive review of the various types of map representation is still required. This paper presents a brief overview of map representation, followed by a detailed literature review of HD Map for automated vehicles. The current state of AV mapping is encouraging, the field has matured to a point where detailed maps of complex environments are built in real-time and have been proved useful. Many existing techniques are robust to noise and can cope with a large range of environments. Nevertheless, there are still open problems for future research. AV mapping will continue to be a highly active research area essential to the goal of achieving full autonomy.
The First Finding of Francisella Tularensis Subsp. Mediasiatica in Krasnoyarsk Territory, Siberia and an Update of the Subspecies Genetic Diversity
Authors: Timofeev Vitalii , Bakhteeva Irina , Mokrievich Alexander , Vakhrameeva Galina , Gritskova Elena , Anisimov Yuriy , Rozhdestvensky Evgeny , Bazarova Galina , Zhumakaev Rostislav , Dyatlov Ivan , Vergnaud Gilles
Published: September 2022

Tularemia is a severe infectious disease caused by the Gram-negative bacteria Francisella tularensis. F. tularensis is currently divided into three subspecies, holarctica, tularensis and mediasiatica which differ in their virulence and geographic distribution. Subspecies mediasiatica is the least studied because of its very low documented virulence for humans and limited geographic distribution. It was discovered in sparsely populated regions of Central Asia. Since 2011, a new subsp. mediasiatica lineage was identified in Altai (Russia). In 2021, we isolated one subsp. mediasiatica strain in Krasnoyarsk Territory. In spite of its geographic origin, 500 km east from Altai, this strain belongs to the Altai lineage and contributes surprisingly little genetic diversity to previous knowledge. This improved knowledge of the phylogeography of subsp. mediasiatica led us to propose a scenario in which the two zoonotic lineages, holarctica and tularensis, independently emerged from the mediasiatica lineage in Siberia or Central Asia, and make predictions which will allow to challenge this hypothesis
3D Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Bioengineered Skeletal Muscles for Tissue, Disease and Therapy Modelling
Authors: Pinton Luca , Khedr Moustafa , Lionello Valentina M. , Sarcar Shilpita , Maffioletti Sara M. , Dastidar Sumitava , Negroni Elisa , Choi SungWoo , Khokhar Noreen , Bigot Anne , Counsell John R. , Bernardo Andreia Sofia , Zammit Peter S. , Tedesco Francesco Saverio
Published: September 2022

Skeletal muscle is a complex tissue composed of multinucleated myofibres responsible for force generation, supported by multiple cell types. Many severe and lethal disorders affect skeletal muscle; therefore, engineering models to reproduce such cellular complexity and function is instrumental for investigating muscle pathophysiology and developing therapies. Here, we detail the modular 3D bioengineering of multilineage skeletal muscles from human induced pluripotent stem cells, which are first differentiated into myogenic, neural and vascular progenitor cells, and then combined within 3D hydrogels under tension to generate an aligned myofibre scaffold containing vascular networks and motor neurons. 3D bioengineered muscles recapitulate morphological and functional features of human skeletal muscle, including establishment of a pool of cells expressing muscle stem cell markers. Importantly, bioengineered muscles provide a high-fidelity platform to study muscle pathology, such as emergence of dysmorphic nuclei in muscular dystrophies caused by mutant lamins. The protocol is easy to follow for operators with cell culture experience and takes between 9 and 30 days, depending on the number of cell lineages in the construct. We also provide examples of applications of this advanced platform for testing gene and cell therapies in vitro, as well as for in vivo studies, providing proof-of-principle of its potential as a tool to develop next-generation neuromuscular or musculoskeletal therapies.
Liver microbiota in healthy rats: the hidden inhabitants of hepatocytes
Authors: Sun Xiao Wei , Zhang Hua , Zhang Xiao , Xin Peng Fei , Gao Xue , Li Hong Rui , Zhou Cai Yun , Gao Wen Min , Kou Xuan Xuan , Zhang Jian Gang
Published: September 2022

The tumor and tissue microbiomes of human beings have recently been investigated. Gut permeability is known as a possible resource for the positive detection of tissue bacteria. Herein, we report that bacteria were detected in high abundance in the hepatocytes of healthy rats, and that they were shared with the gut microbiota to an extent. We assessed male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats for the 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene. After rats were sacrificed by blood drainage from the portal vein, we extracted total deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from their ileal and colonic contents and liver tissues. The V3–V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced using an Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform. Sequences were assigned taxonomically by the SILVA database. We also detected bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) in situ using immunofluorescence (IF) and western blotting and the 16S rRNA gene using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). In the livers of six rats, we detected 54,867.50 ± 6450.03 effective tags of the 16S rRNA gene and clustered them into 1003 kinds of operational taxonomic units (OTUs; 805.67 ± 70.14, 729–893). Individuals showed conservation of bacterial richness, abundance, and evenness. LPS and 16S rRNA gene were detected in the nuclei of hepatocytes. The main function composition of the genomes of the annotated bacteria was correlated with metabolism (79.92 ± 0.24%). Gram negativity was about 1.6 times higher than gram positivity. Liver bacteria were shared with both the small and large intestines but showed significantly higher richness, evenness, and β-diversity results showed that the liver microbiota exhibited significantly higher similarity than the small and large intestines (P < 0.05). The liver microbiota were hidden intracellular inhabitants in healthy rat livers and were shared with the gut microbiota.
Sustainability for All? The challenges of predicting and managing the potential risks of end-of-life electric vehicles and their batteries in the Global South
Authors: Prates Luisa Ferolla Spyer , Karthe Daniel , Zhang Lulu , Wang Lili , O’Connor Jack , Halim Lee , Dornack Christina
Published: September 2022

The transition from fossil-fuel-based internal combustion vehicles to electric vehicles plays a key role to decarbonize road transport and mitigate climate change. Even though this transition is still in its infancy, it is important to consider not only its environmental benefits but also its potential side-effects. The current electric vehicle fleet is expected to increase from 2.4 million in 2020 to 81 million in 2050 (Slowik et al. 2020), when more than half of all new cars sold are predicted to be battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). End-of-life (EOL) BEVs and their components (particularly the batteries) are far more challenging to manage than their fossil-fueled predecessors as they contain large amounts of chemical substances that constitute potential hazards to the environment and human health and safety.
The paper discusses relevant topics for understanding future risks of transition to electric mobility in the Global South countries, which include the international used vehicle fluxes; waste management challenges for EoL BEV and its lithium-ion batteries (LIB); environmental and human health impacts of EoL LIBs disposal and policies and regulations for the e-vehicle life cycle. Recommendations to support the development of science-based policies to close regulation gaps of the used electric vehicle international trade flow, avoid pollution-shifting and guarantee a sustainable transition to e-mobility in the Global South countries are given. As a conclusion, an integrated approach from international and national stakeholders is fundamental to guarantee strong policies and regulations as well as to support the development of a sound management of EoL EV and LIBs in the Global South countries and help pave the way to a global circular economy.
Investigating recent land use/land cover changes in Upper Tekeze river sub-basin, Ethiopia
Authors: Godana Galma
Published: September 2022

Mapping trends in land use-landcover (LULC) changes of an area is necessary for a different application; including assessing hydrological regimes, processes, and changes. The study aims to quantify the recent and historical LULC changes in Upper Tekeze river basin. Image from Landsat of 1992 (TM), 2002 (TM), and 2018 (Landsat 8/OLI) was used to derive seven land use land cover class of Upper Tekeze basin, by using Remote Sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS) using supervised classification. Transition matrix was applied to identify changes experienced. The result indicates that a significant change in LULC was experienced in the Upper Tekeze River basin in the last three decades (the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s). The predominant LULC types in the area were found to be agricultural land and cropland. Though there is an increment in agricultural land, the rate at which the area increased was declined over time. The gain for agricultural land was mostly from grassland and forest land. This resulted in an environmental problem such as the degradation of the land in the area. Unremitting conversion of the natural system (forest land, grassland, shrubland, and wetland) to agricultural land might contribute to soil loss and nutrient depletion, which in turn leads to diminishment of soil productivity, and biodiversity loss. The finding from this paper can be used as an input for assessing the impact of the changes in environmental stress in the basin.
[18F]FDG PET/CT in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a head-to-head between visual point-scales and the added value of multi-modality imaging
Authors: Ferrari Cristina , Santo Giulia , Mammucci Paolo , Rubini Dino , Sciacqua Alessio , Sardaro Angela , Pisani Antonio Rosario , Rubini Giuseppe
Published: September 2022

Background
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) represents the 6th leading cancer worldwide. In most cases, patients present a locally advanced disease at diagnosis and non-surgical curative treatment is considered the standard of care. Nowadays, [18F]FDG PET/CT is a validated tool in post-treatment evaluation, with a high level of evidence. However, in order to standardize imaging response, several visual scales have been proposed with none of them approved yet. The study aim is a head-to-head comparison between the diagnostic performance of the Hopkins criteria, Deauville score and the new proposed Cuneo score, to establish their prognostic role. Secondly, we investigate the possible added value of semiquantitative analysis and morphological data.
Methods
We performed a retrospective analysis on histologically proven HNSCC patients who underwent baseline and response assessment [18F]FDG PET/CT. Post-treatment scans were reviewed according to Hopkins, Deauville, and Cuneo criteria, assigning a score to the primary tumor site and lymph nodes. A per-patient final score for each scale was chosen, corresponding to the highest score between the two sites. Diagnostic performance was then calculated for each score considering any evidence of locoregional progression in the first 3 months as the gold standard. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan Meier method. SUVmax and its delta, as well as the product of diameters of the lymph node with the highest uptake at post-treatment scan, if present, were calculated.
Results
A total of 43 patients were finally included in the study. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy were 87%, 86%, 76%, 92% and 86% for Hopkins score, whereas 93%, 79%, 70%, 96%, and 84% for Deauville score, respectively. Conversely, the Cuneo score reached the highest specificity and PPV (93% and 78%, respectively) but the lowest sensitivity (47%), NPV (76%), and accuracy (77%). Each scale significantly correlated with PFS and OS. The multivariate analysis revealed the Cuneo criteria and the product of diameters as prognostic factors for PFS.
Conclusions
Each visual score statistically correlated with prognosis thus demonstrating the reliability of point-scale criteria in HNSCC. The novel Cuneo score showed the highest specificity, but the lowest sensibility compared to Hopkins and Deauville criteria. Moreover, combining visual analyses with morphological data extracted from PET/CT could support the evaluation of doubtful cases.
Phenotypic variability for conformation traits of BON cattle in Colombia
Authors: Ríos Hernán Issaías Medina , Toro Edison Julián Ramírez , Cerón-Muñoz Mario Fernando , Paz William Burgos
Published: September 2022

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the variability of conformation traits (CT) in three BON cattle subpopulations with different herd management. For this study, using the nine-point scores of 20 CT as well as breed characterization and final score in 929 cows were analyzed. Descriptive statistics alongside hierarchical cluster analysis were performed. It was found that legs and feet traits had the slightest phenotypic variability whereas traits related to musculature and the fore attach and udder depth traits showed the higher variability. The herarchical clustering revealed relationships that allow analyzing the phenotypic trend between animals according to herd management and breeding objectives.
A “signal-off” photoelectrochemical aptasensing for ATP based on Zinc Oxide/graphene nanocomposite prepared by graphene oxide’s catalytic decomposition performance towards zinc sulfateat low-temperature
Authors: Yan Yuting , Du XiaoXue , Li Lizhi , Li Qian , Wang Qirui , Mao Hanping
Published: September 2022

Optimization synthesis of semiconductor nanostructures with controlled crystallinity, size and morphology for improving inherent property of photoactive materials is crucial for achieving excellent PEC biosensor. Here, we tried to synthesize ZnO/graphene nanocomposite (ZnO/GR) via thermal decomposition using zinc sulfate and graphene oxide (GO) as starting materials. It was found that the annealing temperature greatly affects the phase transition and nanocrystallites size of the as-prepared nanostructure. Interestingly, the existence of GO can greatly decrease the decomposition temperature of zinc sulfate from 930°C to 530°C, solving the problem of zinc sulfate rarely used as a precursor for preparing ZnO because of its high decomposition temperature at 930°C. Further, we investigated the photoelectrochemical (PEC) behavior of these different nanostructures obtained under variety of temperatures. And the results indicated that nanocomposite obtained under temperature of 700°C have significant PEC efficiency, which was attributed to more uniform and well distributed nanocrystallite size and sulfur doping into the graphene under the temperature of 700°C. Finally, a “signal-off” PEC sensor was designed for Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) detection based on a ZnO/GR-700°C nanocomposite as photoactive materials and an ATP-binding aptamer as the recognition element. The proposed “signal-off” PEC aptasensing exhibited a wide linear range from 5 to 3000 nM with a low detection limit of 1.66 nM.
Flower morphology attributes of fruit yield of tea (Camellia sinensis L.)
Authors: Lo Shih-Kai , Hu Chih-Yi , Roan Su-Fen , Chen Iou-Zen
Published: September 2022

Background: This study investigated the relationship between the flower morphology and fruit yield of tea plants. Tea plants have late self-incompatibility, and cross-pollination can improve fruit yield. However, fruit yield considerably differs among tea varieties. Other factors might affect pollination and fruit yield. This study analyzed 106 tea varieties to determine the relationship between flower morphology and fruit yield.Results: The average fruit yield per plant of the tea varieties exhibited a positively skewed distribution. The higher the yield was, the lower was the proportion of the varieties. According to the relative position between the anther and stigma, the tea varieties were divided into the stigma and anther superior groups. Multiple relationships were observed between floral morphology and fruit yield. The stigma superior group accounted for approximately 85% of the population, and fruit yield was significantly higher in the stigma superior group than in the anther superior group. The longer the pistil was than the stamen, the higher the fruit yield was. The effect of the style width on fruit yield was opposite between the groups. In the stigma superior group, the wider the style width was, the higher was the fruit yield. By contrast, in the anther superior group, the wider the style width was, the lower was the fruit yield.Conclusion: Flower morphology affects the fruit yield of tea plants. In tea breeding, the stigma being higher than the anther is conducive for harvesting fruit. Moreover, the increase in the style width is beneficial for increasing fruit yield and might help pollinating insects in contacting the stigma.
Response of fine-and shallow root traits to freeze-thaw cycle more sensitive in an alpine steppe of the Northern Tibetan Plateau
Authors: qin xiaojing , Wang Xiaodan , Hong Jiangtao , Nie Xiaojun
Published: September 2022

Aims: There is compelling evidence from experiments and observations that the soil environment in the nongrowing season influences vegetation in alpine regions. The response of root traits such as morphology and anatomical and antioxidant enzyme systems to freeze-thaw cycles plays an important role in the relationship between aboveground parts and climate change. Methods: We measured functional root traits of six species by digging and growth chambers over freezing and thawing periods. Results: The uniformity of root traits was more obvious in spring than that in late autumn. Most importantly, fine-and shallow-root presented acquisitive syndromes in spring. Root morphological and anatomical traits affect freeze-thaw cycles by influencing root water and nutrient uptake. Conclusions: We therefore argue for explicit consideration of the correlation between the manipulation of freeze-thaw cycles and root traits in further. Better representation of the dynamics and characteristics of annual production and mortality of alpine roots will improve the utility of adaptive strategies for the evaluation of the responses of seasonal frozen ground ecosystems to changing environmental conditions.
Reproductive strategy of the annual fish Leptopanchax opalescens (Rivulidae) and trade-off between egg size and maximum body length in temporary wetlands
Authors: Guedes Gustavo Henrique Soares , Gomes Iracema David , Nascimento Aparecida Alves do , de Azevedo Marcia Cristina Costa , Souto-Santos Igor Cavalcanti de Araújo , Buckup Paulo Andreas , Araújo Francisco Gerson
Published: September 2022

Leptopanchax opalescens is a critically endangered small annual fish. Reproductive traits of this species were studied to improve our understanding of the strategies that facilitate the occupation of temporary wetlands. We compiled egg diameter and maximum total length (TLmax) data from 132 neotropical freshwater fish (83 genera, 43 families) to establish comparisons with this species. We used the egg diameter / TLmax ratio to test the hypothesis that annual fish in temporary wetlands have relatively larger eggs than non-annual species from perennial habitats (lakes, rivers). Fish were collected from Guandu River drainages (Brazil). DNA barcoding was employed to confirm the species identity. The phases of gonadal development and spawn type were described using histological techniques. Egg size and fecundity were determined with microscopic analysis. Females with batch spawning and males with continuous spawning were detected. The bath fecundity ranged from 22–32 vitellogenic oocytes (mean 27 ± 7 SD). Annual species presented greater relative egg size than perennial species (p < 0.001), which is an indication of greater reproductive investment at the expense of somatic growth in temporary wetlands. Larger eggs are advantageous for annual fish as their lifespan is limited, and they can allocate a greater amount of yolk reserves for long periods buried in the substrate under embryonic diapause. Large relative oocytes, spawning in batches, synchronous modal development of oocytes, continued production of sperm in males, and a complex process of embryonic diapause are reproductive traits that favor resilience of L. opalescens and other annual fish in temporary wetlands.
Efficient thin-film micro extraction of trace herbicides from food samples using composite electrospun PVC/EVA/CS/Str nanofibers prior to CD-IMS analysis
Authors: Nejabatia Fatemeh , Aminia Shima , Ebrahimzadeh Homeira
Published: September 2022

An electrospun composite of poly vinyl chloride/ethylene vinyl acetate/chitosan/starch (PVC/EVA/CS/Str) was synthesized and used as a new sorbent for thin film-micro solid phase extraction (TF-µSPE) of atrazine (ATZ) and ametryn (AMT) prior to corona discharge-ionic mobility spectrometry (CD-IMS) analysis. From the evaluation of scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the synthesis of composite nanaofibers was approved. Based on the investigations, thanks to the existence of CS/Str, the synthesized composite nanofibers exhibited large surface area, high porosity, and acceptable reusability. Also, the sorbent provided various interactions with the intended analytes, (hydrophobic contacts, hydrogen bonding, and π-π stacking interactions) resulting in the improvement of extraction efficiency. Effective factors on adsorption and desorption steps were optimized by using both design-expert and one at time method. Under the optimized conditions, the linearity was obtained 8.0-300.0 ng. mL− 1 with determination coefficient (r2) ≥ 0.9821. Limits of detection (LOD) based on S/N = 3 were 2.5 ng.mL− 1 and 2.3 ng. mL− 1 for ATZ and AMT, respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) were in range of between 4.8 and 7.0%. Finally, the efficiency of the TF-µSPE-CD-IMS method was evaluated for the determination of ATZ and AMT in lettuce, tomato, and milk samples with good recoveries (88.6 to 98.1%).
Overexpression of long noncoding RNA 4933425B07Rik leads to renal hypoplasia by inactivating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway
Authors: Xue Shanshan , Du Xuanjin , Yu Minghui , Ju Haixin , Tan Lihong , Li Yaxin , Liu Jialu , Wang Chunyan , Wu Xiaohui , Xu Hong , Shen Qian
Published: September 2022

Background
Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) refer to a diverse group of developmental malformations, which are the leading cause of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease in children. The etiology and pathogenesis of CAKUT are complex. In recent years, the relationship between long noncoding RNAs and renal development and disease has attracted much attention. Our previous study established a long noncoding RNA 4933425B07Rik (Rik) overexpression mouse model by inserting the PB transposon and found that overexpression of Rik led to renal hypoplasia. This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanism of renal hypoplasia induced by Rik overexpression in vitro.
Results
In this study, by constructing Rik overexpression cell models and a Rik knockout cell model to accompany previously developed RikPB/PB;Hoxb7 mice and by applying RNA-seq, RT‒PCR and other experimental methods, it was found that when Rik was highly expressed, the expression of Wnt10b, Fzd8 and β-catenin decreased, while Rik was knock down, the expression of these genes increased.
Conclusions
The findings suggest that overexpression of Rik leads to renal hypoplasia by inactivating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. This research perspective may provide a basis for exploring new causes and mechanisms of CAKUT and provide new targets for the prevention and treatment of CAKUT.
Transcription factor EB sets the stage for fate decisions of antigen-primed B cells in the absence and presence of co-stimulation
Authors: Wienands Jürgen , Münchhalfen Matthias , Görg Richard , Löber Jens , Willenbrink Jakob , Schwarzt Laura , Höltermann Charlotte , Chapuy Björn , Ickes Christian , Kus Jan , Engels Niklas
Published: September 2022

Ligation of the B cell antigen receptor (BCR) initiates humoral immunity. However, mere BCR signaling without subsequent co-stimulation by T cells commits B cells to death rather than to differentiation into immune effector cells. It remains mysterious how the BCR simultaneously executes the opposing roles of B cell priming necessary for proper immune responsiveness and elimination of potentially autoreactive B cells deprived of co-stimulatory signals. Here, we uncover transcription factor EB (TFEB) as a hitherto unknown BCR effector and central rheostat that drives antigen-induced apoptosis, and in parallel, renders primed B cells responsive to co-stimulatory rescue signals through promotion of lymphocyte migration and antigen presentation. Balanced integration of BCR-induced death with survival signals occurs at the converging point of Bcl-xL-controlled apoptosis rather than autophagic circuits for which TFEB is a well-known master regulator. Collectively, B cell reprogramming for differentiation and immune memory appears to be hallmarked by non-canonical TFEB signals.
ZBTB7A suppresses glioblastoma tumorigenesis through the transcriptional repression of EPB41L5
Authors: Choi Kyung-Chul , Jeong Ji-Hoon , Park Seung-Ho , Kim Hyunhee , Nam Hae Yun , Kim Sunghak , Jeong Minseok , Kong Min-Jeong , Son Jihyun , Jeong Ji-Eun , Song Ji-Hye , Kim Seong Who
Published: September 2022

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most aggressive and malignant glioma, has poor prognosis. Although patients with GBM are treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, GBM is highly resistant to treatment, difficult to treat, and expensive. In this study, we analyzed the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis dataset, the Cancer Genome Atlas dataset, and Gene Expression Omnibus array data. ZBTB7A (also called FBI1/POKEMON/LRF) was found to be highly expressed in low-grade GBM, but significantly reduced in patients with GBM. ZBTB7A is a transcription factor that plays an important role in many developmental stages, including cell proliferation. The activation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cancer is a key process in cancer progression and metastasis. Erythrocyte membrane protein band 4.1 Like 5 (EPB41L5) is an essential protein for EMT progression and metastasis in various types of cancer. We found that ZBTB7A-depleted U87 cells exhibited GBM progression and metastasis. Based on RNA sequencing data, ZBTB7A directly binds to the promoter of the EPB41L5 gene, reducing its expression and inhibiting GBM progression. We demonstrated that ZBTB7A dramatically inhibited GBM tumor growth through transcriptional repression of EPB41L5. Thus, both ZBTB7A and EPB41L5 may be potential biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets for GBM treatment. Taken together, we discovered the role of a novel tumor suppressor, ZBTB7A, that directly inhibits GBM progression, and EPB41L5 is a therapeutic target protein for patients with GBM and an essential protein for the development of GBM therapeutics.
Covid-19 pandemic induced traumatizing medical job contents and mental health distortions of physicians working in private practices and in hospitals
Authors: Ladwig Karl-Heinz , Johar Hamimatunnisa , Miller Inna , Goette Andreas
Published: September 2022

Background:The traumatic burden of the Covid-19 pandemic during its early phases posed significant psychological threats particularly for medical frontline personal. It is unclear whether the medical workforce with the passage of time has adapted to these threats or whether emotional perturbations have generalized to wider medical settings.Participants and Methods: An online survey was conducted among 1,476 physicians. Valid data were achieved from 1,327 participants. A pandemic induced job context score was built by nine items. Depression and anxiety were screened with the PHQ-2 and the GAD-2.Results:Among a subtotal of 1,139 (86.6%) physicians with personal treatment experiences with Covid-19 patients, 553 (84.8%) worked in a private practice (PP) and 586 (88.3%) in a hospital (HP). Covid-19 provoked profound conflicts between professional and ethical values: more physicians in PPs than HPs reported external constraints on their medical care being in conflict with the code of medical ethics (39.1% vs. 34.4%, p<0.002). However, significantly more HPs failed to maintain the dignity of their patients during the pandemic (48% vs. 27%, p< 0.0001). Prevalence of depression was 23.0% and 24.16% for anxiety. Comparison with mean PHQ-2 and GAD-2 data from reference groups among physicians with comparable size and settings during the first wave of Covid-19 revealed a significant increase in mental health distortions. A total of 63.3% HPs and 53.4% PPs reported feelings of helplessness associated with female sex, minor years of medical experience, being weakened by sleeping problems (OR= 2.5) and being encountered to unsettling events (OR=3.4). The association between exposure to unsettling events and helplessness was significantly mediated by sleep disturbances (Indirect path: ß= 0.29, S E= 0.03, p<0.0001).Conclusions:Major Covid-19 induced stress job content issues have broadened to more medical disciplines beyond frontline workers. Mental health deteriorations and feelings of helplessness among physicians have become frequent. (248)