bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expression correlation attenuates within and between key signaling pathways in chronic kidney disease
Authors: Yu Hui , Chen Danqian , Oyebamiji Olufunmilola , Zhao Ying-Yong , Guo Yan
Published: September 2020

Background

Compared to the conventional differential expression approach, differential coexpression analysis represents a different yet complementary perspective into diseased transcriptomes. In particular, global loss of transcriptome correlation was previously observed in aging mice, and a most recent study found genetic and environmental perturbations on human subjects tended to cause universal attenuation of transcriptome coherence. While methodological progresses surrounding differential coexpression have helped with research on several human diseases, there has not been an investigation of coexpression disruptions in chronic kidney disease (CKD) yet.

Methods

RNA-seq was performed on total RNAs of kidney tissue samples from 140 CKD patients. A combination of differential coexpression methods were employed to analyze the transcriptome transition in CKD from the early, mild phase to the late, severe kidney damage phase.

Results

We discovered a global expression correlation attenuation in CKD progression, with pathwayRegulation of nuclear SMAD2/3 signalingdemonstrating the most remarkable intra-pathway correlation rewiring. Moreover, the pathwaySignaling events mediated by focal adhesion kinasedisplayed significantly weakened crosstalk with seven pathways, includingRegulation of nuclear SMAD2/3 signaling. Well-known relevant genes, such asACTN4, were characterized with widespread correlation disassociation with partners from a wide array of signaling pathways.

Conclusions

Altogether, our analysis reported a global expression correlation attenuation within and between key signaling pathways in chronic kidney disease, and presented a list of vanishing hub genes and disrupted correlations within and between key signaling pathways, illuminating on the pathophysiological mechanisms of CKD progression.
Selection of a quality of life instrument for polio survivors in Northwest Nigeria
Authors: Sulaiman Surajo Kamilu , Aldersey Heather Michelle , DePaul Vincent G. , Kaka Bashir
Published: September 2020

Background

To generate high-quality evidence, contextually relevant outcome measurement instruments are required. Quality of life evaluation among polio survivors typically involves the use of generic instruments, which are developed and validated among a different groups of people. There is no clear evidence whether these instruments are appropriate for the measurement of quality of life among polio survivors in northwest Nigeria. The purpose of this review is to identify and select a pre-existing instrument that is best suited for the measurement of quality of life among polio survivors in northwest Nigeria.

Methods

Using the findings of a previous scoping review of the literature and qualitative descriptive study, we screened 11 quality of life instruments that are used in polio literature. We identified and selected the most appropriate instrument, which reflected the perspectives of polio survivors in northwest Nigeria and at the same time exhibited good measurement properties.

Results

The Quality of Life Index, World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief, and Comprehensive Quality of Life Scale are consistent with the perspectives of polio survivors in northwest Nigeria and have satisfactory measurement properties. Among these instruments, the Quality of Life Index satisfied most of the screening criteria we employed and is suitable for cross-cultural adaptation in northwest Nigeria.

Conclusion

Most instruments that are employed to evaluate the quality of life of polio survivors were not primarily designed as a measure of quality of life. To select the appropriate instrument, there is a need to consider and reflect the perspectives of the individuals, to improve the validity of the measurement.
Transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to animals: an updated review
Authors: Salajegheh Tazerji Sina , Magalhães Duarte Phelipe , Rahimi Parastoo , Shahabinejad Fatemeh , Dhakal Santosh , Singh Malik Yashpal , Shehata Awad A. , Lama Juan , Klein Jörn , Safdar Muhammad , Rahman Md. Tanvir , Filipiak Krzysztof J. , Rodríguez-Morales Alfonso J. , Sobur Md. Abdus , Kabir Farrokhreza , Vazir Bita , Mboera Leonard , Caporale Marco , Islam Md. Saiful , Amuasi John H. , Gharieb Rasha , Roncada Paola , Musaad Sahar , Tilocca Bruno , Koohi Mohammad Kazem , Taghipour Ali , Sait Ahmet , Subbaram Kannan , Jahandideh Alireza , Mortazavi Pejman , Abedini Mohammad Amin , Hokey David A. , Hogan Unarose , Shaheen Mohamed N. F. , Elaswad Ahmed , Elhaig Mahmoud M. , Fawzy Mohamed
Published: September 2020

COVID-19 caused by a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) originated in Wuhan (Hubei province, China) during late 2019. It has spread across the globe affecting nearly 21 million people with a toll of 0.75 million deaths and restricting the movement of most of the world population during the past 6 months. COVID-19 became the leading health, economic, and humanitarian challenge of the twenty-first century. In addition to the considerable COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in humans, several cases of SARS-CoV-2 infections in animal hosts (dog, cat, tiger, lion, and mink) have been reported. Thus, the concern of pet owners is increasing. Moreover, the dynamics of the disease requires further explanation, mainly concerning the transmission of the virus from humans to animals and vice versa. Therefore, this study aimed to gather information about the reported cases of COVID-19 transmission in animals through a literary review of works published in scientific journals and perform genomic and phylogenetic analyses of SARS-CoV-2 isolated from animal hosts. Although many instances of transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 have been reported, caution and further studies are necessary to avoid the occurrence of maltreatment in animals, and to achieve a better understanding of the dynamics of the disease in the environment, humans, and animals. Future research in the animal–human interface can help formulate and implement preventive measures to combat the further transmission of COVID-19.
De-identifying free text of Japanese electronic health records
Authors: Kajiyama Kohei , Horiguchi Hiromasa , Okumura Takashi , Morita Mizuki , Kano Yoshinobu
Published: September 2020

Background

Recently, more electronic data sources are becoming available in the healthcare domain. Electronic health records (EHRs), with their vast amounts of potentially available data, can greatly improve healthcare. Although EHR de-identification is necessary to protect personal information, automatic de-identification of Japanese language EHRs has not been studied sufficiently. This study was conducted to raise de-identification performance for Japanese EHRs through classic machine learning, deep learning, and rule-based methods, depending on the dataset.

Results

Using three datasets, we implemented de-identification systems for Japanese EHRs and compared the de-identification performances found for rule-based, Conditional Random Fields (CRF), and Long-Short Term Memory (LSTM)-based methods. Gold standard tags for de-identification are annotated manually for age, hospital, person, sex, and time. We used different combinations of our datasets to train and evaluate our three methods. Our best F1-scores were 84.23, 68.19, and 81.67 points, respectively, for evaluations of the MedNLP dataset, a dummy EHR dataset that was virtually written by a medical doctor, and a Pathology Report dataset. Our LSTM-based method was the best performing, except for the MedNLP dataset. The rule-based method was best for the MedNLP dataset. The LSTM-based method achieved a good score of 83.07 points for this MedNLP dataset, which differs by 1.16 points from the best score obtained using the rule-based method. Results suggest that LSTM adapted well to different characteristics of our datasets. Our LSTM-based method performed better than our CRF-based method, yielding a 7.41 point F1-score, when applied to our Pathology Report dataset. This report is the first of study applying this LSTM-based method to any de-identification task of a Japanese EHR.

Conclusions

Our LSTM-based machine learning method was able to extract named entities to be de-identified with better performance, in general, than that of our rule-based methods. However, machine learning methods are inadequate for processing expressions with low occurrence. Our future work will specifically examine the combination of LSTM and rule-based methods to achieve better performance.

Our currently achieved level of performance is sufficiently higher than that of publicly available Japanese de-identification tools. Therefore, our system will be applied to actual de-identification tasks in hospitals.
Convolutional neural networks for improving image quality with noisy PET data
Authors: Schaefferkoetter Josh , Yan Jianhua , Ortega Claudia , Sertic Andrew , Lechtman Eli , Eshet Yael , Metser Ur , Veit-Haibach Patrick
Published: September 2020

Goal

PET is a relatively noisy process compared to other imaging modalities, and sparsity of acquisition data leads to noise in the images. Recent work has focused on machine learning techniques to improve PET images, and this study investigates a deep learning approach to improve the quality of reconstructed image volumes through denoising by a 3D convolution neural network. Potential improvements were evaluated within a clinical context by physician performance in a reading task.

Methods

A wide range of controlled noise levels was emulated from a set of chest PET data in patients with lung cancer, and a convolutional neural network was trained to denoise the reconstructed images using the full-count reconstructions as the ground truth. The benefits, over conventional Gaussian smoothing, were quantified across all noise levels by observer performance in an image ranking and lesion detection task.

Results

The CNN-denoised images were generally ranked by the physicians equal to or better than the Gaussian-smoothed images for all count levels, with the largest effects observed in the lowest-count image sets. For the CNN-denoised images, overall lesion contrast recovery was 60% and 90% at the 1 and 20 million count levels, respectively. Notwithstanding the reduced lesion contrast recovery in noisy data, the CNN-denoised images also yielded better lesion detectability in low count levels. For example, at 1 million true counts, the average true positive detection rate was around 40% for the CNN-denoised images and 30% for the smoothed images.

Conclusion

Significant improvements were found for CNN-denoising for very noisy images, and to some degree for all noise levels. The technique presented here offered however limited benefit for detection performance for images at the count levels routinely encountered in the clinic.
A multi-channel load awareness-based MAC protocol for flying ad hoc networks
Authors: Zheng Bo , Li Yong , Cheng Wei , Wu Huaxin , Liu Weilun
Published: September 2020

Flying ad hoc network (FANET) is a promising and special mobile Ad hoc network, connecting large number of flying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on battlefield through wireless link. Designing a multi-priority traffic differentiated medium access control (MAC) protocol with low delay, large capacity, high flexibility, and strong scalability is a great challenge in the researches and applications of FANETs. In order to overcome the disadvantages in IEEE 802.11 distributed coordination function (DCF) and time division multiple access (TDMA) protocols, a novel multi-channel load awareness-based MAC protocol for FANETs is presented in this paper. The multi-priority queueing and service mechanism, and the multi-channel load-based backoff mechanism involved in the protocol are intensively described. We further model the multi-priority queueing and service mechanism by the multi-class queueing theory, and model the backoff mechanism using the Markov chain model. Simulation results show that the protocol can differentiate services for different priorities in FANETs according to real-time channel state, providing effective QoS guarantee for transmissions of various information, and the network bandwidth resource is efficiently utilized.
Some identities of Lah–Bell polynomials
Authors: Ma Yuankui , Kim Dae San , Kim Taekyun , Kim Hanyoung , Lee Hyunseok
Published: September 2020

Recently, the nth Lah–Bell number was defined as the number of ways a set of n elements can be partitioned into nonempty linearly ordered subsets for any nonnegative integer n. Further, as natural extensions of the Lah–Bell numbers, Lah–Bell polynomials are defined. We study Lah–Bell polynomials with and without the help of umbral calculus. Notably, we use three different formulas in order to express various known families of polynomials such as higher-order Bernoulli polynomials and poly-Bernoulli polynomials in terms of the Lah–Bell polynomials. In addition, we obtain several properties of Lah–Bell polynomials.
Technological advancements and opportunities in Neuromarketing: a systematic review
Authors: Rawnaque Ferdousi Sabera , Rahman Khandoker Mahmudur , Anwar Syed Ferhat , Vaidyanathan Ravi , Chau Tom , Sarker Farhana , Mamun Khondaker Abdullah Al
Published: September 2020

Neuromarketing has become an academic and commercial area of interest, as the advancements in neural recording techniques and interpreting algorithms have made it an effective tool for recognizing the unspoken response of consumers to the marketing stimuli. This article presents the very first systematic review of the technological advancements in Neuromarketing field over the last 5 years. For this purpose, authors have selected and reviewed a total of 57 relevant literatures from valid databases which directly contribute to the Neuromarketing field with basic or empirical research findings. This review finds consumer goods as the prevalent marketing stimuli used in both product and promotion forms in these selected literatures. A trend of analyzing frontal and prefrontal alpha band signals is observed among the consumer emotion recognition-based experiments, which corresponds to frontal alpha asymmetry theory. The use of electroencephalogram (EEG) is found favorable by many researchers over functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in video advertisement-based Neuromarketing experiments, apparently due to its low cost and high time resolution advantages. Physiological response measuring techniques such as eye tracking, skin conductance recording, heart rate monitoring, and facial mapping have also been found in these empirical studies exclusively or in parallel with brain recordings. Alongside traditional filtering methods, independent component analysis (ICA) was found most commonly in artifact removal from neural signal. In consumer response prediction and classification, Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) have performed with the highest average accuracy among other machine learning algorithms used in these literatures. The authors hope, this review will assist the future researchers with vital information in the field of Neuromarketing for making novel contributions.
The development of a scheme of Public & Patient Involvement (PPI) in the Wales Cancer Research Centre (WCRC) and reflections on the process
Authors: Fitzgibbon Jim , Cleary Kate , Nelson Annmarie
Published: September 2020

The Wales Cancer Research Centre (WCRC) was established in 2015. It made an early and strong commitment to Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) in all its work. That commitment was made manifest through the immediate appointment of Lay and Researcher Leads and an administrator to develop and implement a scheme of PPI.

At the core of the scheme was the allocation to each of the centre’s four themes two Research Partners (RPs), who were to offer routine and strategic support to researchers but also to have a wider ambassadorial role, acting as champions for PPI.

The RPs were appointed through a full recruitment process and supported financially, with a ‘budget’ of 10 half days per annum, with training where needed and supported by a mentor. Their core tasks were defined through an audit of then current practice in PPI within the themes. Monitoring of progress was undertaken at regular group PPI meetings, reports to the centre’s funders against key performance indicators and against a rerun of the initial audit.

A library of documents was produced to support this work, including a centre policy statement, procedures for the recruitment, training and support of RPs, a partnership agreement between RPs and researchers and a mentorship agreement. Most recently procedures have been drafted to assess the impact on research of PPI.

The scheme has been regarded as largely successful by researchers, RPs and the Centre’s External Advisory Board.

However there remains much to do to ensure consistently high quality involvement of RPs in the centre’s research. A significant stumbling block to making progress has been the lack of time given to researchers by funders to become involved in PPI. A reflection on progress against the UK Standards for PPI has identified a number of key actions for the future. They include the roll out of a scheme to assess the impact of PPI and to increase diversity in the centre’s pool of RPs.
Altered FGF expression profile in human scalp-derived fibroblasts upon WNT activation: implication of their role to provide folliculogenetic microenvironment
Authors: Kinoshita-Ise Misaki , Tsukashima Aki , Kinoshita Tomonari , Yamazaki Yoshimi , Ohyama Manabu
Published: September 2020

Background

Hair follicle (HF) formation and growth are sustained by epithelial-mesenchymal interaction via growth factors and cytokines. Pivotal roles of FGFs on HF regeneration and neogenesis have been reported mainly in rodent models. FGF expression is regulated by upstream pathways, represented by canonical WNT signaling; however, how FGFs influence on human folliculogenesis remains elusive. The aim of this study is to assess if human scalp-derived fibroblasts (sFBs) are able to modulate their FGF expression profile in response to WNT activation and to evaluate the influence of WNT-activated or suppressed FGFs on folliculogenesis.

Methods

Dermal papilla cells (DPCs), dermal sheath cells (DSCs), and sFBs were isolated from the human scalp and cultured independently. The gene expression profile of FGFs in DPCs, DSCs, and sFBs and the influence of WNT activator, CHIR99021, on FGF expression pattern in sFBs were evaluated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, which were confirmed at protein level by western blotting analysis. The changes in the expression of DPC or keratinocyte (KC) biomarkers under the presence of FGF7 or 9 were examined in both single and co-culture assay of DPCs and/or KCs. The influence of FGF 7 and FGF 9 on hair morphogenesis and growth was analyzed in vivo using mouse chamber assay.

Results

In single culture, sFBs were distinguished from DPCs and DSCs by relatively high expression of FGF5 and FGF18, potential inducers of hair cycle retardation or catagen phase. In WNT-activated state, sFBs downregulated FGF7 while upregulating FGF9, a positive regulator of HF morphogenesis, FGF16 and FGF20 belonging to the same FGF subfamily. In addition, CHIR99021, a WNT activator, dose-dependently modulated FGF7 and 9 expression to be folliculogenic. Altered expressions of FGF7 and FGF9 by CHIR99021 were confirmed at protein level. Supplementation of FGF9 to cultured DPCs resulted in upregulation of representative DP biomarkers and this tendency was sustained, when DPCs were co-cultured with KCs. In mouse chamber assay, FGF9 increased both the number and the diameter of newly formed HFs, while FGF7 decreased HF diameter.

Conclusion

The results implied that sFBs support HF formation by modulating regional FGF expression profile responding to WNT activation.
Preservation and management of a World Heritage site Tajima Yahei Sericulture Farm and its buffer zone
Authors: Cheng Sweet Yee , Ono Satoshi
Published: September 2020

Tajima Yahei Sericulture Farm, one of the four components of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Tomioka Silk Mill and Related Sites inscribed in 2014, was the starting point for advancements in sericulture farmhouses, emphasizing the importance of ventilation. Through Yahei’s experimentation surrounding the ideal space to breed silkworms, a new sericulture theory was invented, and a sericulture farmhouse architecture was formed. For the purpose of preserving this cultural heritage for future generations, it is important to understand the idea that led to the cultural and industrial advancement of the village of Shimamura and to revise the preservation plans prepared by stakeholders. This paper will discuss the development of the sericulture theory, seiryō-iku theory, and the formation of a sericulture farmhouse architecture; describe the adaptation of former sericulture farmhouses and the surrounding landscapes in terms of the industry and environment; outline the plans and efforts for the preservation and revitalization of Tajima Yahei Sericulture Farm, its surrounding area and its underlying issues; and propose a direction for future preservation plans.
Treatment of Thyroid Dysfunction and Serum Lipids: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Kotwal Anupam , Cortes Tiffany , Genere Natalia , Hamidi Oksana , Jasim Sina , Newman Connie B , Prokop Larry J , Murad M Hassan , Alahdab Fares
Published: September 2020

Context

Hyperthyroidism is associated with low levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, and hypothyroidism is associated with hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia.

Objective

The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the impact of therapy for overt and subclinical hyper- and hypothyroidism on serum lipids.

Data Sources

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Scopus from 1970 through April 5, 2018.

Study Selection

Pairs of independent reviewers selected randomized and observational studies evaluating lipid parameters in patients undergoing treatment for hyper- or hypothyroidism.

Data Extraction

Pairs of independent reviewers extracted data and appraised studies.

Data Synthesis

Treatment of overt hyperthyroidism showed a significant increase in total cholesterol (TC) by 44.50 mg/dL (95% confidence interval [CI]: 37.99, 51.02), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by 31.13 mg/dL (95% CI: 24.33, 37.93), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) by 5.52 mg/dL (95% CI: 1.48, 9.56), apolipoprotein A (Apo A) by 15.6 mg/dL (95% CI: 10.38, 20.81), apolipoprotein B (apo B) by 26.12 mg/dL (95% CI: 22.67, 29.57), and lipoprotein (Lp[a]) by 4.18 mg/dL (95% CI: 1.65, 6.71). There was no significant change in triglyceride (TG) levels. Treatment of subclinical hyperthyroidism did not change any lipid parameters significantly. Levothyroxine therapy in overt hypothyroidism showed a statistically significant decrease in TC by -58.4 mg/dL (95% CI: -64.70, -52.09), LDL-C by -41.11 mg/dL (95% CI: -46.53, -35.69), HDL-C by -4.14 mg/dL (95% CI: -5.67, -2.61), TGs by -7.25 mg/dL (95% CI: -36.63, 17.87), apo A by -12.59 mg/dL (95% CI: -17.98, -7.19), apo B by -33.96 mg/dL (95% CI: 41.14, -26.77), and Lp(a) by -5.6 mg/dL (95% CI: -9.06, -2.14). Levothyroxine therapy in subclinical hypothyroidism showed similar changes but with a smaller magnitude. The studies contained varied population characteristics, severity of thyroid dysfunction, and follow-up duration.

Conclusions

Treatment of overt but not subclinical hyperthyroidism is associated with worsening of the lipid profile. Levothyroxine therapy in both overt and subclinical hypothyroidism leads to improvement in the lipid profile, with a smaller magnitude of improvement in subclinical hypothyroidism.
Using systems medicine to identify a therapeutic agent with potential for repurposing in inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Lloyd Katie , Papoutsopoulou Stamatia , Smith Emily , Stegmaier Philip , Bergey Francois , Morris Lorna , Kittner Madeleine , England Hazel , Spiller Dave , White Mike H. R. , Duckworth Carrie A. , Campbell Barry J. , Poroikov Vladimir , Martins dos Santos Vitor A. P. , Kel Alexander , Muller Werner , Pritchard D. Mark , Probert Chris , Burkitt Michael D. ,   The SysmedIBD Consortium
Published: September 2020

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) cause significant morbidity and mortality. Aberrant NF-κB signalling is strongly associated with these conditions, and several established drugs influence the NF-κB signalling network to exert their effect. This study aimed to identify drugs that alter NF-κB signalling and could be repositioned for use in IBD. The SysmedIBD Consortium established a novel drug-repurposing pipeline based on a combination of in silico drug discovery and biological assays targeted at demonstrating an impact on NF-κB signalling, and a murine model of IBD. The drug discovery algorithm identified several drugs already established in IBD, including corticosteroids. The highest-ranked drug was the macrolide antibiotic clarithromycin, which has previously been reported to have anti-inflammatory effects in aseptic conditions. The effects of clarithromycin effects were validated in several experiments: it influenced NF-κB-mediated transcription in murine peritoneal macrophages and intestinal enteroids; it suppressed NF-κB protein shuttling in murine reporter enteroids; it suppressed NF-κB (p65) DNA binding in the small intestine of mice exposed to lipopolysaccharide; and it reduced the severity of dextran sulphate sodium-induced colitis in C57BL/6 mice. Clarithromycin also suppressed NF-κB (p65) nuclear translocation in human intestinal enteroids. These findings demonstrate that in silico drug repositioning algorithms can viably be allied to laboratory validation assays in the context of IBD, and that further clinical assessment of clarithromycin in the management of IBD is required.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the joint first authors of the paper.
Travel grants and how to use them (when there's no travel)
Authors: Nicholson Annabel , Hmeljak Julija
Published: September 2020

Summary: This Editorial discusses how DMM and its publisher, The Company of Biologists, have adapted the financial support they provide to the biological community in these unprecedented times.
Single-pass transcription by T7 RNA polymerase
Authors: Passalacqua Luiz F.M. , Dingilian Armine I. , Lupták Andrej
Published: September 2020

RNA molecules can be conveniently synthesized in vitro by the T7 RNA polymerase (T7 RNAP). In some experiments, such as cotranscriptional biochemical analyses, continuous synthesis of RNA is not desired. Here, we propose a method for a single-pass transcription that yields a single transcript per template DNA molecule using the T7 RNAP system. We hypothesized that stalling the polymerase downstream from the promoter region and subsequent cleavage of the promoter by a restriction enzyme (to prevent promoter binding by another polymerase) would allow synchronized production of a single transcript per template. The single-pass transcription was verified in two different scenarios: a short self-cleaving ribozyme and a long mRNA. The results show that a controlled single-pass transcription using T7 RNAP allows precise measurement of cotranscriptional ribozyme activity, and this approach will facilitate the study of other kinetic events.
The Theft: An Analysis of Moral Agency
Authors: Elfstrom Gerard
Published: September 2020

Adam and Eve’s theft marks the beginning of the human career as moral agents.   This article will examine the assumptions underlying the notion of moral agency from the perspective of three unremarkable human beings who found themselves in situations of moral difficulty.  The article will conclude that these three people could not have acted differently than they did.  It will conclude that it is unreasonable to assume that ordinary human beings will inevitably possess the resources to address difficult moral decisions.
Molecular docking analysis of selected phytochemicals on two SARS-CoV-2 targets
Authors: Ubani Amaka , Agwom Francis , Morenikeji Oluwatoyin Ruth , Shehu Nathan Yakubu , Umera Emmanuel Arinze , Umar Uzal , Omale Simeon , Aguiyi John Chinyere , Nnadi Nnaemeka Emmanuel , Luka Pam Dachung
Published: September 2020

Background: The coronavirus spike (S) glycoprotein and M protease are two key targets that have been identified for vaccines and drug development against COVID-19.

Methods: Virtual screening of some compounds of plant origin that have shown antiviral activities were carried out on the two targets, the M protease (PDB ID 6LU7) and S glycoprotein (PDB ID 6VSB), by docking with PyRx software. The binding affinities were compared with other compounds and drugs already identified as potential ligands for the M protease and S glycoprotein, as well as chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine. The docked compounds with best binding affinities were also filtered for drug likeness using the SwissADME and PROTOX platforms on the basis of physicochemical properties and toxicity, respectively.

Results: The docking results revealed that scopadulcic acid and dammarenolic acid had the best binding affinity for the S glycoprotein and Mpro protein targets, respectively. Silybinin, through molecular docking, also demonstrated good binding affinity for both protein targets making it a potential candidate for further evaluation as repurposed candidate for SARS-CoV-2, with likelihood of having multitarget activity as it showed activities for both targets.

Conclusions: The study proposes that scopadulcic acid and dammarenolic acid be further evaluated in vivo for drug formulation against SARS-COV-2 and possible repurposing of Silybinin for the management of COVIV-19.
The prevalence of secondhand smoke exposure and related factors among schoolchildren in Northeast Thailand
Authors: Intarut Nirun , Pukdeesamai Piyalak
Published: September 2020

Background: The prevalence of tobacco consumption in Thailand has gradually declined; however, the prevalence of exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) is still high. The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of SHS exposure and examine the association between exposure to SHS and depressive symptoms among schoolchildren, and test for moderation by the number of smokers in household.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 1105 schoolchildren. Socioeconomics factors, depressive symptoms and exposure to SHS variables were collected. We used the chi-square test for testing the factors associated to SHS exposure. In addition, we used the Mantel Haenszel test for testing interaction effect of depression to SHS exposure by the number of smokers in home. Multiple logistic regression was used to test the factors related to SHS exposure adjusted for confounders.

Results: The prevalence of exposure to SHS was 58.2% (95%CI: 55.2, 61.1). The schoolchildren with abnormal depression status were 1.8 times more likely to have been exposed to SHS (95%CI: 1.3, 2.5). In addition, the number of smokers in the home did not modify the association between exposure to SHS and depressive symptoms (P: 0.964).

Conclusions: An association between exposure to SHS and depressive in schoolchildren was observed, but this relationship was not affected by the number of smokers in children’s homes.
COVID-19 and Guillain-Barre Syndrome: a systematic review of case reports
Authors: Carrillo-Larco Rodrigo M. , Altez-Fernandez Carlos , Ravaglia Sabrina , Vizcarra Joaquín A.
Published: September 2020

Background: Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is a neurological autoimmune disease that can lead to respiratory failure and death. Whether COVID-19 patients are at high risk of GBS is unknown. Through a systematic review of case reports, we aimed to summarize the main features of patients with GBS and COVID-19.

Methods: Without any restrictions, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health, Scopus, Web of Science and MedXriv (April 23 rd, 2020). Two reviewers screened and studied titles, abstracts and reports. We extracted information to characterize sociodemographic variables, clinical presentation, laboratory results, treatments and outcomes.

Results: Eight reports (n=12 patients) of GBS and COVID-19 were identified; one was a Miller Fisher case. The age ranged between 23 and 77 years, and there were more men (9/102). GBS symptoms started between 5 and 24 days after those of COVID-19. The protein levels in cerebrospinal fluid samples ranged between 40 and 193 mg/dl. None of the cerebrospinal fluid samples tested positive for COVID-19. Six patients debuted with ascendant weakness and three with facial weakness. Five patients had favourable evolution, four remained with relevant symptoms or required critical care and one died; the Miller Fisher case had successful resolution.

Conclusions: GBS is emerging as a disease that may appear in COVID-19 patients. Although limited, preliminary evidence appears to suggest that GBS occurs after COVID-19 onset. Practitioners and investigators should have GBS in mind as they look after COVID-19 patients and conduct research on novel aspects of COVID-19. Comparison with GBS patients in the context of another viral outbreak (Zika), revealed similarities and differences that deserves further scrutiny and epidemiological studies.
A global analysis of low-complexity regions in the Trypanosoma brucei proteome reveals enrichment in the C-terminus of nucleic acid binding proteins providing potential targets of phosphorylation
Authors: Cayla Mathieu , Matthews Keith R. , Ivens Alasdair C.
Published: September 2020

Background: Low-complexity regions (LCRs) on proteins have attracted increasing attention recently due to their role in the assembly of membraneless organelles or granules by liquid-liquid phase separation. Several examples of such granules have been shown to sequester RNA and proteins in an inactive state, providing an important mechanism for dynamic post-transcriptional gene regulation. In trypanosome parasites, post-transcriptional control overwhelmingly dominates gene regulation due to the organisation of their genome into polycistronic transcription units. The purpose of the current study was to generate a substantially more comprehensive genome-wide survey of LCRs on trypanosome proteins than currently available.

Methods: Using the Shannon’s entropy method, provided in the R package ‘entropy’, we identified LCRs in the proteome of Trypanosoma brucei. Our analysis predicts LCRs and their positional enrichment in distinct protein cohorts and superimposes on this a range of post-translational modifications derived from available experimental datasets.

Results: Our results highlight the enrichment of LCRs in the C-terminal region of predicted nucleic acid binding proteins, these acting as favoured sites for potential phosphorylation.

Conclusions: The post-translational modifications of LCRs, and in particular the phosphorylation events, could contribute to post-transcriptional gene expression control and the dynamics of protein targeting to membraneless organelles in kinetoplastid parasites.
Design, construction and operation of buildings in seismic areas
Authors: Alekseenko Vasiliy , Zhilenko Oksana
Published: September 2020

The main purpose of the textbook is to acquaint students and engineers with the principles of design and construction of buildings and structures in seismic areas.
The tutorial sets out the basic principles of design and construction of frame, large-panel buildings, buildings with load-bearing walls made of small-piece stones and large blocks, buildings made of local materials, frameless buildings made of monolithic reinforced concrete. The design requirements for buildings in earthquake-prone areas are described, and the main requirements for the production of works and implementation of anti-seismic measures during construction are outlined. Architectural, construction, design and technological aspects of construction in seismic areas are revealed.
Meets the requirements of Federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation.
It is intended for students studying in the areas of training 08.03.01 and 08.04.01 "Construction" in the following disciplines: "Design, construction and operation of buildings in seismic areas", "Theory and design of buildings and structures in seismic areas".
Management of the company's foreign economic activity
Authors: Ivanov Igor' , Temnyshova Elena , Temnyshov Igor' , Mozgovoy Aleksandr , Dubin Aleksey , Merkulov Dmitriy , Lobachev Vitaliy , Golyshkova Irina , Kovaleva Irina , Krylov Aleksandr , Kuzina Galina
Published: September 2020

The textbook deals with a set of issues related to the organization of foreign economic activity of a modern Russian enterprise. The article covers the basics of foreign economic activity, organization of international commercial operations, customs and international transportation, reveals the essence and features of international marketing, and shows the role of the state in managing foreign economic activity. The features of entering the world market, choosing a foreign partner, pricing, preparation and execution of foreign trade transactions are shown. Various aspects of insurance of foreign economic activity are revealed.
Meets the requirements of Federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation.
For bachelors and masters of higher education institutions studying in economic areas, as well as for students of the system of professional development and retraining, specialists in Economics, managers of various levels.
Transaction management: gamification of managing companies and people
Authors: Tihomirova Ol'ga
Published: September 2020

The science and practice of management are presented from a completely new, original author's point of view — as a social action of managers who implement given social roles. In existing theories over the past 100 years, management has been considered as a set of functions, as a process, as a talent, but not as a social action that is carried out by a specific person representing a specific social stratum — managers. Sometimes the theory is too boring and difficult to understand and implement them in practice in the management of specific companies. In this book, the author presents the theory of management as an exciting game that is played not only by managers, but also by staff, consumers, and competitors… In each section, the reader is offered training tasks aimed at developing practical management skills.
It will be of interest to entrepreneurs, managers, managers, undergraduate and graduate students studying in the field of "Management", "Economics", "innovation", as well as a wide range of readers interested in management and personal development.
Geoengineering: Spread Areas, Technosphere Safety Aspects and Management Characteristics
Authors: Vorobiov A. , Dyachenko Vladimir , Vorobyev Kirill Aleksandrovich , Vishneveckaya V.
Published: September 2020

In this paper have been considered the basic approaches and main principles of geoengineering. The “geoengineering” term transformation, as well as the term’s specifications of use in the Russian-language scientific literature, and the application area have been demonstrated. In connection with the growing biosphere problems, it has been proposed to classify mining and global pollution (i.e. pollution of atmosphere, hydrosphere and soil) as geoengineering. Special attention has been paid to the possible risks of geoengineering (including at large reservoirs of hydroelectric power plants), and the necessity for detailed study before launching of large-scale projects. The UN approach to geoengineering management has been characterized, and the main principles of geoengineering regulations have been presented. An extended classification of geoengineering technologies has been proposed.
MATHEMATICAL AND ALGORITHMIC DESCRIPTION OF THE OPTIMAL PLACEMENT OF PRODUCTS ON THE VEHICLE
Authors: Saprykin E. , Lisickaya M. , Antsiferova V.
Published: September 2020

The principles of the optimal calculation of the distribution of the volume of products on the vehicle platform, the mathematical and algorithmic description of the optimal placement of products on the TS platform, as well as mathematical models for the description of the optimal placement of products in the truck body, the description of calculation algorithms and the structure of the program development are considered.
Fundamentals of abnormal psychology
Authors: Bizyuk Aleksandr
Published: September 2020

The textbook is a Supplement to the course of lectures given at the faculties of psychology, where one of the sections of this discipline is clinical psychology. This publication has been updated to reflect the 11th International classification of diseases, changes in which also affect the classification aspects of mental disorders.
In order to implement the principle of consistency in mastering knowledge of pathopsychology, the material is given in the context of General and clinical psychology, which facilitates the holistic assimilation of the specifics of this science and understanding its place among other related Sciences.
In accordance with the requirements of didactics, the structuring of the material is based on the principle "from simple to complex"; at the end of each paragraph, test questions are offered, finding answers to which in the text of the book forms the core knowledge of the reader.
The Chapter devoted to disorders of specific mental functions, in addition to General theoretical data, provides brief descriptions of psychodiagnostic techniques designed to assess the qualitative and quantitative parameters of recorded changes. When writing the book, we used a rich domestic and foreign material published in numerous sources.
Meets the requirements of Federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation.
It is intended for students of psychological, pedagogical and medical universities, primarily clinical psychologists, as well as for a wide range of specialists working in the information field of problems of the ratio of normal and altered psyche.
A Experiência Drag Queen como Transição na Vida Adulta
Authors: Ferreira Ligia Ribeiro , Aléssio Renata Lira dos Santos
Published: September 2020

A partir de reflexões teóricas impulsionadas pela Rede de Significações (RedSig) e Teorias de Gênero, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo investigar sentidos e significados tecidos sobre a experiência como drag queen na vida adulta. A metodologia utilizada teve base em entrevistas biográficas, realizadas com cinco participantes, entre 20 e 39 anos, que têm ou já tiveram experiência como drag queens. Para a análise, foi realizada uma abordagem microgenética, correlacionando elementos da RedSig com as narrativas. Os resultados indicaram que a vida adulta não aparece como percurso linear, sendo permeada por rupturas, conflitos e negociações de sentidos e posições. A vida adulta se torna o palco no qual é possível ocupar determinados espaços de poder para colocar em prática desejos e curiosidades que, por vezes, remontam à infância. A drag queen emerge como um elemento relacionado a esse processo, atrelada a diversos sentidos e significados positivos (arte, realização, liberdade) e negativos (vergonha, preconceito, degradante).
Psicologia Comunitária e Participação: Apontamentos Históricos e Considerações sobre o Modelo do Desenvolvimento Comunitário
Authors: Baima Larissa Soares , Guzzo Raquel Souza Lobo
Published: September 2020

Este artigo tem como proposta discutir o tema da participação em projetos de Psicologia Comunitária no Brasil, mais propriamente no que diz respeito à concepção de participação veiculada em um desses projetos. Para isso, apresenta um breve resgate histórico da construção dos trabalhos de desenvolvimento de comunidades no Brasil, demarcando o processo de estabelecimento da centralidade da ideia de participação em suas propostas, bem como uma análise crítica de seus pressupostos. A essa análise acrescenta algumas contribuições do pensamento político de Antônio Gramsci, que auxiliam no exame dos pressupostos das concepções de participação presentes em outros tipos de trabalho comunitário, que não os do tipo desenvolvido nos modelos ortodoxos de desenvolvimento de comunidades. Como contribuição, oferece-se a problematização da noção de participação presente em um modelo de grande referência em projetos comunitários na Psicologia, extraído de uma pesquisa histórica sobre a Psicologia Comunitária no Brasil. Tal modelo, apresentado como desenvolvimento comunitário, foi submetido a uma reflexão à luz das contribuições teóricas apresentadas, que possibilitou a verificação da preservação, neste modelo alternativo, dos pressupostos fundamentais do tipo de participação presente nos modelos ortodoxos de trabalho comunitário.
Design and analysis of full-scale scanning system for curved glass based on motion and 3D features
Authors: Wang Peng , Fan Yulin , Chen Guodong , Chi Wenzheng , Wang Zhenhua , Sun Lining
Published: September 2020

In recent years, mobile phones with glass curved screens have become more and more widely used. The irregular shape of the curved screen and the light transmittance characteristic of the glass have brought great challenges to its automatic defect detection. Aiming at the defect detection of the glass cover of the curved screen, this paper designs a full-scale scanning system by combining motion and three-dimensional (3D) features. First, a scanning system is constructed, and a geometric error modeling method is proposed to improve the accuracy of the scanning system; second, based on the point cloud of the 3D glass cover obtained by the scanning system, a point cloud registration method is presented by integrating the motion and 3D features; finally, the laser tracker is further used to calibrate the scanning system to analyze the mechanical error. Experimental results show that the introduction of straightness error and perpendicularity error can effectively solve the mismatch and fault problems of point cloud registration, and improve the accuracy of the scanning system. In addition, the registration method proposed in this paper can effectively reconstruct the complete point cloud of 3D glass cover for detection. The reconstruction accuracy of the plane part can reach 0.031 mm, and that of the curved part can reach 0.091 mm.
Ultracompact silicon polarization splitter-rotator using a dual-etched
and tapered coupler
Authors: Xie Changjian , Zou Xihua , Li Peixuan , Yan Lianshan , Pan Wei
Published: September 2020

The polarization splitter-rotator (PSR) plays a significant role in
telecom, Datacom, and quantum circuits to meet significant
requirements for polarization processing and multiplexing. We design
an ultracompact PSR based on a silicon asymmetrical directional
coupler (ADC). One waveguide of the ADC is gradually etched in two
levels along the coupling region and the S-bend. A trapezoidal taper
on the top of the dual-etched waveguide is first formed to satisfy the
phase-matching condition for the TM-TE mode conversion, such that the
TM mode is cross-coupled from the input waveguide without etching.
Then, the etching width gradually increases in the S-bend and the
following to achieve a single-mode waveguide for further removal of
the residual TM mode. In this way, a high extinction ratio can be
achieved for the polarization mode splitting in an ultracompact
silicon ADC. For the designed PSR with a total length of about 24 µm,
the simulation results reveal that the minimum extinction ratio is
greater than 30, 20, or 15 dB within the bandwidth of 33, 100, or
150 nm, respectively, while the maximum polarization conversion loss
is less than 0.4, 0.9, or 1 dB.