bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bombax Ceiba Flower Extract Induced Surface Groups on Se Nanoparticles to Enhance Antibacterial Activity and Urea Detection
Authors: Waqas Muhammad , Aslam Sidra , Akram Misbah , Khaliq Adnan , Ahsan Samreen , Liaqat Atif , Mirza Misbah , Safdar Muhammad , Qureshi Waseem Akhtar
Published: September 2022

Biosynthesis of metallic-nanomaterials has emerged as a non-toxic and economical approach to their applications in diverse fields especially in biomedical sciences. Herein, this study first time reporting the use of Bombax ceiba flower extract for synthesis of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs). Initially, SeNPs were confirmed by turning the color of reaction mixtures from light yellow to red-brick. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed spherical shaped nanoparticles with smooth surface, size ranges between 30–150 nm. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) showed 100–150 nm for the distribution of particle size. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed SeNPs crystallinity and confirmed by matching with selenium JCPD card No. 06-362. Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectra showed presence of pure Se peaks that corroborate the conversion of selenium ions into its elemental form by bio-reduction. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra demonstrated that involvement of -OH, C-H, C = C, and C = O functional groups for SeNPs formation. Raman Spectra peaks at 250 cm− 1 represent asymmetric trigonal selenium (t-Se). Ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer (UV-Vis) peaks at 296 and 306 nm which is an indication of surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Moreover, maximum antibacterial activity of SeNPs were observed against Staphylococcus aureus- a gram positive bacteria that possess zone of inhibition (ZOI) 20 mm and Klebsiella pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa-gram negative bacterias with ZOI 28 mm, respectively, at concentration 100 µg/ ml. In addition, the surface functionalities induced through extract components adhere over Se binds with urea and give its detection up to 1mM in milk sample. Conclusively, synthesized SeNPs may act as a potent potential antibacterial pharmaceutical candidate.
Bioaccessibility and Caco-2 uptake of complex carotenoids profiles from Pitanga (Eugenia uniflora) and Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa) fruits
Authors: Berni Paulo , Negri Talita C. , Campoli Stephanie S. , Pereira Ericsem , Failla Mark L. , Canniatti-Brazaca Solange G.
Published: September 2022

Carotenoids are compounds from secondary metabolism of plants which have many essential health benefits for humans. Tropical fruits contain considerable amounts of carotenoids that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, provitamin A and anticancer actions, such as β-carotene and lycopene. The fate of complex carotenoid profiles from several fruit matrix still unknow. Pitanga and Buriti are very tasty, colorful and productive fruits from Brazilian biodiversity with potential to increment the nutrition of several populations. These fruits were analyzed for their carotenoid profiles, stability, bioaccessibility and uptake by in vitro digestion coupled to Caco-2 cells culture model. Complete profile of carotenoids were obtained by HPLC-DAD allowing to access detailed behavior of 14 carotenoids during the in vitro studies. Pitanga showed more complex profile of carotenes and xanthophylls than buriti which had higher concentration of total carotenes. Pitanga carotenoids are statistically less stable than buriti, while xanthophylls were less stable than carotenes. Violaxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin from pitanga were significantly more bioaccessible than other carotenes excepting cis-γ-carotene. Similarly, in buriti, xanthophylls and γ-carotene forms were significantly more bioaccessible than the other carotenoids. The Caco-2 cells experiment showed that an important fraction of xanthophylls are absorbed in their esterified forms, despite β-carotene had the highest uptake. Pitanga presented higher cellular absorption of carotenoids than buriti. This work evidence the essential need to better understand the bioaccessibility of carotenoids in diverse plant food matrix.
A novel lncRNA BF368575 promotes cell proliferation in hepatocellular carcinoma via PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway
Authors: zeng xiaohui , Liu Chang , He Qingjun , Zou Zhaowei , Liao Quanxing , Wu Cheng , Li Guanger , Zhang Zezhong , Tian Yun , Zhu Siyu , Yang Xianzi , Cui Shuzhong , Zeng Lisi
Published: September 2022

Purpose
LncRNA-BF368575 is a novel long non-coding RNA, its biological function in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown.
Methods
The expression levels of lncRNA-BF368575 in HCC tissues and cell lines were evaluated by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). In situ hybridization (ISH) was performed to determine the expression of lncRNA-BF368575 in a tissue chip containing 89 paired HCC and para-cancerous tissues. Fractionation of nuclear and cytoplasmic RNA was performed to determine the subcellular localization of lncRNA-BF368575. Cell viability and colony-forming ability were determined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and colony formation assay. Tumor growth in vivo was detected using the xenograft model. The molecular mechanisms of lncRNA-BF368575 were investigated using Western blotting and RNA-Binding Protein Immunoprecipitation (RIP).
Results
The results showed that lncRNA-BF368575 was increased in most HCC tissues and cell lines. Moreover, the lower lncRNA-BF368575 expression level is a favorable prognostic factor in disease-free survival (DFS). LncRNA-BF368575 is mostly localized in the cytoplasm. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that downregulation of lncRNA-BF368575 suppressed cell proliferation and colony-forming activity, yet overexpression of lncRNA-BF368575 leads to an opposite result. Furthermore, lncRNA-BF368575 activates the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway by increasing the expression of p-PI3K(Tyr607), p-AKT(Thr308), p-mTOR(Ser2448), p-4E-BP1(Thr37/46), p-S6(Ser235/236). LY294002 could reverse the biological functions of lncRNA-BF368575. RIP shows that LncRNA-BF368575 could bind to p-mTOR(Ser2448), p-AKT(Thr308), and p-4E-BP1(Thr37/46).
Conclusion
Our study demonstrates that lncRNA-BF368575 enhances HCC proliferation and growth both in vitro and vivo via activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, which implicates that our findings may provide a potential target for HCC treatments.
Impact of nutritional counseling for Head and Neck Cancer patients undergoing radiochemotherapy: a pilot prospective study
Authors: Becherini Carlotta , Desideri Isacco , Cherici Sofia , Pancani Serena , Alpigiano Giovanna , Salvestrini Viola , Valzano Marianna , Scoccimarro Erika , Orsatti Carolina , Peruzzi Anna , Livi Lorenzo , Bonomo Pierluigi
Published: September 2022

PurposeExpected weight loss and discontinuation of the planned therapeutic program plays a key role in oncological care and treatment effectiveness in Head-Neck Cancer (HNC) patients.We aimed to determine the impact of dietary counselling in a prospective cohort of patients with HNC undergoing radio-chemotherapy. MethodsThis single-centre prospective study was conducted, between November 2020 and March 2021, on 17 consecutive patients treated with radio-chemotherapy or radiotherapy for HNC. At baseline, nutrition risk assessment was performed using the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST). Nutritional outcome and morbidity, during and 1 month after the end of treatment, were evaluated. ResultsThe most commonly observed issues at baseline were inadequate oral intake and involuntary weight loss, with inadequate energy intake as the most frequent cause (38%). At mid-treatment (T1), mean body weight showed a reduction from baseline, with a slight increase at the end of therapy. Overall, we observed body weight stability during the treatment period and a recovery from the observed minimum weight (mean 74.3 vs 74.4 kg, min 59 vs 57.3 kg). ConclusionOur data suggest that nutritional counseling should be adopted to increase dietary intake and to prevent therapy-associated weight loss and treatment adherence reduction.
RNA Demethylase ALKBH5 Promotes Progression and Angiogenesis of Lung Cancer via Regulating the Stability of LncRNA PVT1
Authors: Shen Wenyi , Pu Juan , Zuo Zhi , Gu Shanye , Sun Jing , Tan Bing , Wang Lili , Cheng Jianmeng , Zuo Yangsong
Published: September 2022

Background
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most common posttranscriptional modification of RNA and plays critical roles in human cancer progression. However, biological function of the m6A methylation needs to be further studied in cancer, especially on tumor angiogenesis.
Methods
The public database were used to analyze the expression and overall survival of ALKBH5 and PVT1 in lung cancer patients. CCK-8 and colony formation assays were performed to detect the cell proliferation, transwell assay was used to assess the cell migration, and tube formation assay was performed to assess the angiogenic potential in vitro. The zebrafish lung cancer xenograft model was used to verify the function of ALKBH5 and PVT1 in vivo. Western-blot assay was used to measure the expression of relative protein in lung cancer cells. SRAMP predictor analysis and RNA stability experiments were used to examine the potential m6A modification.
Results
Bioinformatics analysis showed the expression levels of m6A-related genes were changed significantly in lung cancer tissues comparing with normal lung tissues. We then identified that ALKBH5 was upregulated in lung cancer tissues and associated with poor prognosis of lung cancer patients by analyzing the public database. Knockdown of ALKBH5 inhibited the proliferation and migration of cultured lung cancer cell lines. Zebrafish lung cancer xenografts also showed ALKBH5 silence suppressed the growth and metastasis of lung cancer cells. Moreover, knockdown of ALKBH5 inhibited the angiogenesis of lung cancer in vitro and in vivo. Mechanism studies showed that knockdown of ALKBH5 decreased the expression and stability of PVT1 in lung cancer cells. We next verified that PVT1 promoted the progression of lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, and it also regulated the expression of VEGFA and angiogenesis of lung cancer. Finally, rescue experiments revealed that ALKBH5 regulated the proliferation, migration and angiogenesis of lung cancer cells partially through PVT1.
Conclusion
Our results demonstrate ALKBH5 promotes the progression and angiogenesis of lung cancer via regulating the expression and stability of PVT1, which provides the potential prognostic and therapeutic target for lung cancer patients.
Nutrient deficient forage for critically endangered Cervus hanglu hanglu: A serious concern for conservationists
Authors: Buch Khuban , Mugloo J. A. , Ahmad Khursheed , Sheikh G.G. , Raj Anup , Khan P.A. , Mir Ashfaq A. , Pala Nazir A. , Saleem Ishrat , Arjumand Tahera , Mehraj Basira
Published: September 2022

The present study reports the distribution of preferred forage and its nutritional composition with respect to four different habitats (Riverine, Grassland/Scrub, Mixed-Woodland, Pine-Parrotiopsis) of critically endangeredCervus hanglu hanglu(Hangul) in Dachigam National Park, Jammu and Kashmir of Indian Himalaya for autumn season. This preferred forage is documented and analyzed to establish a data base on the nutritional status of hangul for better understanding of management measures, ensuring effective conservation. The study area was sampled with stratified random sampling design by laying down three (03) transects each in Four (04) selected habitats. The results reveal that 25 preferred plant species are available across four different habitats dominated by riverine (16), grassland/scrub (10), mixed-woodland (9) and eight (8) in pine-parrotiopsis. Hangul rely on variety of forage species for important nutrients that support their physiological functions and nutritional requirements. The assessment of nutrient quality of habitats indicates that with regard to protein content which is influential for growth of deer, especially for fawns and yearlings, maximum of it is found inHedera nepalensis(17.30%) from pine-parrotiopsis habitat. The study concludes that the different habitats in Dachigam National park can sustain more of the adult deer individuals which require 6 to 8 percent for their maintenance but young and growing deer may face deficit of it which is of great concern for the fawn survival in Hangul population. Our study indicates that enhancing these habitats by vegetatively propagating highly nutritious species that would satisfy the nutritional requirements of deer throughout the year may have an important role in managing a healthy deer population.
Selecting a Voting Method: The Case for the Borda Count
Authors: Saari Donald G.
Published: September 2022

Of importance when selecting a voting method is whether, on a regular basis, its outcomes accurately capture the intent of voters. A surprise is that very few procedures do this. Another desired feature is for a decision approach to assist groups in reaching a consensus (Sect. 5). As described, these goals are satisfied only with the Borda Count (BC).
Addressing these objectives requires understanding what can go wrong, what causes voting difficulties, and how bad they can be. To avoid technicalities, all of this is illustrated with examples accompanied by references for readers wishing a complete analysis. As shown (Sects. 1–3), most problems reflect a loss of vital information. Understanding this feature assists in showing that the typical description of Arrow’s Theorem, “with three or more alternatives, no voting method is fair,” is not accurate (Sect. 2).
JEL Classification D71 D72
Cross-talks Between Gut Microbiota and Tobacco Smoking: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Zhou Dan , Fan Jiayao , Zhou Yuan , Meng Ran , Tang Jinsong , Zhu Jiahao , Aldrich Melinda , Cox Nancy , Zhu Yimin , Li Yingjun
Published: September 2022

Considerable evidence has been reported that tobacco use could cause alterations in gut microbiota composition. The microbiota-gut-brain axis also in turn hinted at a possible contribution of gut microbiota to smoking. However, population-level studies with a higher evidence level for causality are lacking. This study deployed two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) design to reveal the causal association between gut microbiota and tobacco smoking. The summary-level data of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for 211 gut microbial taxa and five smoking phenotypes were acquired from meta-analyzed datasets with totally 1.7 million European ancestry-dominated samples. Our MR results confirmed the effects of smoking on three taxa (Intestinimonas,Catenibacterium, andRuminococcaceae, observed from previous studies) with boosted evidence level and identified another thirteen taxa which may be causally affected by tobacco smoking. As for the other direction, we revealed that smoking behaviors could be potential consequence of taxa abundance. Combining with existing observational evidence, we provided novel insights regarding a positive feedback loop of smoking addiction throughActinobacteriaand indicated a potential mechanism for the link between parental smoking and early smoking initiation of their children driven byBifidobacterium. In summary, the current study suggested a substantial role of the intestinal microbes on the risk for cigarette smoking, and in turn smoking on intestinal microbes. Our findings highlighted the hazards of tobacco use for gut flora dysbiosis and shed light on the potential role of gut microbiota for tobacco control.
Impact of building energy mitigation measures on future climate
Authors: Pokhrel Rabindra , Comarazamy Daniel , Ramamurthy Prathap , Gonzalez Jorge E.
Published: September 2022

As Cities are increasing technological efficacy on greenhouse gas (GH) emissions reduction efforts, the surrounding urban ecosystems and natural resources maybe affected by these measures. In this research, climate indicators such as heat index, extreme hot events, intensified urban heat island (UHI) and sea-breeze are projected for mid and end of 21st century to understand the climate change signal on these variables with and without building energy mitigation measures. Cities amplify extreme heat and UHI impacts by concentrating large populations and critical infrastructure in relatively small areas. Here, we evaluate the combined climate and building energy mitigation impacts on localized climate metrics throughout the 21st century across extreme emissions scenarios (RCP8.5) for the tropical coastal city of San Juan. Analysis of statistically downscaled global circulation models outputs shows underestimation for uncorrected summer daily maximum temperatures, leading to lower extreme heat intensity and duration projections from present time which are corrected using bias corrected techniques. High resolution dynamical downscaling simulations reveal strong dependency of changes in extreme heat events at urban settings, however the intensities shift to lower level grassland and cropland with energy mitigation measures (combination of white roof, tilted photovoltaic and efficient heating ventilation and air conditioning system). The building energy mitigation measures have the potential of reducing the UHI intensities to 10C and 0.50C for 2050 and 2100 climate period, respectively.
Characteristics and outcomes of cancer patients with pre-existing microscopic colitis after exposure to immune checkpoint inhibitors
Authors: Thomas Austin R , Liu Cynthia , Tong Yi T , Tan Dongfeng , Altan Mehmet , Siddiqui Bilal A , Khan Anam , Thomas Anusha S , Wang Yinghong
Published: September 2022

Purpose
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are frequently associated with adverse events, often affecting the gastrointestinal tract. We conducted this study to determine the characteristics and outcomes of cancer patients with pre-existing microscopic colitis (MC) who underwent ICI treatment.
Methods
In this retrospective study, we identified 10 patients with pre-existing MC who received ICIs at our center 01/2010-06/2020. Clinical characteristics and disease outcomes were recorded.
Results
Of 124 screened patients with MC before ICI exposure, 10 had sufficient data to be included in the study. Melanoma (40%) and lung cancer (30%) were the most prevalent cancer types, with 70% of stage IV cancer. Most patients (90%) received anti–programmed death ligand 1 monotherapy. Six patients (60%) had collagenous colitis, and 4 (40%) had lymphocytic colitis. The median time from MC diagnosis to ICI initiation was 4 years, with 1 patient on budesonide within 2 months of ICI initiation. Eight patients (80%) developed colitis exacerbations after ICI requiring selective immunosuppression. One patient received a compassionate-use fecal transplantation. The median time from ICI to colitis exacerbation was 14 days, with 40% and 50% of patients experiencing grade 3 diarrhea and grade 2 colitis, respectively leading to hospitalization in 3 patients. Six patients received steroids and vedolizumab with no colitis recurrence. Of 8 patients who had colitis exacerbation, 6 resumed ICI therapy afterwards; with 5 receiving concomitant vedolizumab for secondary prophylaxis.
Conclusion
Our findings suggest that ICI exposure increases the risk of exacerbation of underlying colitis necessitating and responding to potent immunosuppression therapy.
Discrepancies of cardio-muscular biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognostication of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-associated myocarditis
Authors: Lehmann Lorenz H. , Heckmann Markus B. , Bailly Guillaume , Finke Daniel , Stein Frederic , Power John R , Bretagne Marie , Ederhy Stephane , Fenioux Charlotte , Procureur Adrien , Hamwy Omar , Pinna Bruno , Romano Emanuela , Allenbach Yves , Palaskas Nicolas L. , Katus Hugo A. , Similowski Thomas , Giannitsis Evangelos , Frey Norbert , Kaya Ziya , Moslehi Javid , Salem Joe-Elie
Published: September 2022

Background: Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are approved for multiple cancers but can result in ICI-associated myocarditis, an infrequent but life-threatening condition. Elevations in cardiac biomarkers, troponin-I (cTnI), troponin-T (cTnT) and creatine-kinase (CK) are used for diagnosis. However, the temporal elevation of these biomarker elevations with course of disease and their association with outcomes have not been established.
Methods: We analyzed the diagnostic accuracy and prognostic performances of cTnI, cTnT and CK in ICI-myocarditis (n=61) in two cardio-oncology units (APHP.Sorbonne, France & Heidelberg, Germany). Major adverse cardio-myotoxic events (MACE) were defined as heart failure, ventricular arrhythmia, atrioventricular/sinus block requiring pacemaker, respiratory muscle failure requiring mechanical ventilation, and related death. Diagnostic performances of troponins were also assessed in an international ICI-myocarditis registry (n=244 independent cases, 13 countries).
Results: On presentation, cTnT, cTnI or CK were increased compared to upper reference limit (URL) in 51/52 (98%), 28/34 (82%, p=0.009 vs. cTnT), 33/48 (69%, p<0.0001 vs. cTnT), respectively. This higher rate of positivity for cTnT vs. cTnI was independently confirmed in an international registry. In patients surviving to 30 days, cTnI and CK had normalized in 20/34(59%) and 30/35(86%), respectively, while cTnT had reached normal values in only 5/42(12%), (p<0.0001). The highest value of cTnT/URL within the first 72h of admission performed best in predicting MACE (AUC:0.82) vs. CK/URL (AUC:0.74) and cTnI/URL (AUC:0.67), even after adjustment for age and sex. Maximal value of cTnT/URL≥32 within ≤72h of diagnosis was the best predictor cut-off for MACE (Hazard-ratio=9.4(95% CI 3.1, 28.3), p<0.0001) over a median follow-up of 4 months. cTnT was increased in all patients just before MACE (22/22, 100%) while cTnI and CK values were normal in 3/21(14%) and 6/24(25%) of patients (p<0.0001).
Conclusions. Significant discrepancies between cTnT (compared to cTnI, and CK) circulating levels exist in ICI-myocarditis. cTnT is the best predictor of MACE and most suitable for diagnosis and surveillance. A ratio of cTnT/URL<32 within ≤72h of diagnosis identifies a subgroup at low-risk of MACE.
Damage identification of bridge structures based on extended Kalman filter algorithm without prior knowledge of road roughness and moving vehicle
Authors: Ding Hong-li , Zhang Chun , Gao Yu-wei , Huang Jin-peng
Published: September 2022

Identifying contact moving load and bridge damage based on the bridge vibration signals is a classic inverse problem. Meanwhile, the ill-poseness of the inverse problem is serious and the results may not converge due to the unknown vehicle parameters and road roughness. In this study, the transformation strategy of VBI model is used to eliminate the effects of unknown vehicle parameters and excitation, and then a new method is proposed to identify bridge structural damages and moving vehicle-bridge contact force step by step. In the each recursive step, the extended Kalman filter (EKF) method with \(l1\)-norm regularization are used to obtain the minimum variance estimation of moving contact force or bridge damages from a limited numbers of response measurements. Numerical analyses of a simply-supported bridge under the moving vehicle are conducted to investigate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method. Effects of the vehicle speed, the damage cases, the measurement noise, and the roughness levels on the accuracy of the identification results are investigated. The results demonstrate the robustness and efficiency of the proposed algorithm which can be developed into an effective tool for structural health monitoring of bridges.
Nucleation Front Proliferation in Bi-modal PCBM Crystals, the spherulite – axial transition
Authors: Hynes Elizabeth
Published: September 2022

This paper outlines experimental results on a model system of PCBM and PS for control parameter exploration of PCBM crystallisation. PS layer attributes, and annealing temperature amongst others are the variables explored.
Three-decade research development of ibogaine use for the treatment of substance-related disorders: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Fernandes-Nascimento Maria Helha , Negrão André Brooking , Ferreira-Viana karine , Chaves Bruno Rasmussen , Yuan-Pang Wang
Published: September 2022

Objective

To evaluate the publications on ibogaine use for substance-related disorders treatment over the last three decades.

Method

Bibliometric analysis of publications on ibogaine for the treatment of substance-related disorders from 1991 to 2020 using VOSviewer software. We performed a Scopus database search using the terms: ibogaine, 12-methoxybogamine, endabuse, tabernanthe iboga, NIH-10567, and noribogaine. Publications related to ibogaine was compared between the three decades using the Tukey test at 95% confidence level, and the behavior period evaluated considered linear and polynomial regression models.

Results

Regression models indicated that publications dedicated to ibogaine for treating substance use disorders grew by 5.1 publications per year between 1991–2000 (R2 = 0.993). The period from 2001 to 2020 showed a different expansion compared to the previous period, with fluctuations within a constant flow of publications and an increase in the volume of publications was observed until the middle of this decade (R2 = 0.889). The same tendency was seen in the last decade, 2011–2020 (R2 = 0.949). The US is the most prominent country.

Conclusion

The present study indicates that, despite differences and fluctuations among the decades analyzed, publications continue year by year and propose future directions for new interventions in the public health.
Adding a spur valve to laparoscopic portoenterostomy for patients with biliary atresia can achieve a high jaundice clearance rate and lower the number of episodes of cholangitis
Authors: Yasui Akihiro , Hinoki Akinari , Amano Hizuru , Shirota Chiyoe , Tainaka Takahisa , Sumida Wataru , Yokota Kazuki , Makita Satoshi , Okamoto Masamune , Takimoto Aitaro , Nakagawa Yoichi , Uchida Hiroo
Published: September 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of adding a spur valve to laparoscopic portoenterostomy for patients with biliary atresia.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of all patients diagnosed with biliary atresia (BA) who underwent laparoscopic portoenterostomy (Lap-PE) between 2013 and 2021. The patients were divided into two groups: Lap-PE with a spur valve (spur group) and without it (control group). Perioperative management was the same in both groups. We compared patient backgrounds and clinical outcomes, including jaundice clearance and the number of postoperative cholangitis episodes.
Results: Of 63 patients reviewed, 16 received a spur valve. There were no statistically significant differences in the patient backgrounds between the groups. All patients in the spur group achieved jaundice clearance. The number of postoperative cholangitis episodes one year after surgery was significantly lower in the spur group than in the control group (1 [0–3] vs. 3 [0–9], p = 0.04). The jaundice-free survival rate with the native liver at one year after surgery was significantly higher in the spur group (100% vs. 53%, p= 0.01).
Conclusions: Adding a spur valve during Lap-PE significantly lowered the number of cholangitis episodes one year after surgery.
Effects of changes in skeletal muscle mass on the prognosis of pediatric malignant solid tumors
Authors: Omori Atsuko , Kawakubo Naonori , Takemoto Junkichi , Souzaki Ryota , Obata Satoshi , Nagata Kouji , Matsuura Toshiharu , Tajiri Tatsuro , Taguchi Tomoaki
Published: September 2022

Purpose This study aims to clarify the relationship between changes in skeletal muscle mass during treatment and prognosis of pediatric malignant solid tumors. Methods Patients with pediatric malignant solid tumors who were treated at Kyushu University Hospital from 2007 to 2017 were divided into two groups: the progression-free survival (PFS) group and the relapse/death (R/D) group; the psoas major muscle volume (PMV) was then compared. We also measured the PMV and psoas muscle area (PMA) of pediatric patients with no complications who underwent surgery for acute appendicitis (control) and compared the values with those of patients with malignant tumors. Results No significant differences were observed in the PMV and PMA between patients with appendicitis and those with malignant tumors. Significant differences were found in the rate of change in PMV between the PFS (1.424) and R/D groups (1.071) ( P = 0.0024). When the cutoff value of the rate of change in the PMV was 1.20, patients whose rate of change in PMV was ≥ 1.20 had longer PFS ( P = 0.0231) and overall survival ( P = 0.0229) than those whose rate of change was < 1.20. Conclusion Pediatric patients with malignant solid tumors and increased skeletal muscle mass during treatment have a good prognosis.
Assessment of fish diversity in the coastal waters off Nodaedo Island, Tongyeong, Korea using underwater visual census and environmental DNA metabarcoding
Authors: Lee Yong-Deuk , Lee Gang-Min , Gwak Woo-Seok
Published: September 2022

Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is a promising method to monitor marine biodiversity. Examining the capacity of eDNA to provide accurate biodiversity measures in species-rich ecosystems such as coastal waters is a prerequisite for their application in long-term monitoring. Therefore, both underwater visual census (UVC) and eDNA metabarcoding were conducted monthly from June 2018 to May 2019 to investigate fish diversity on the coast of Nodaedo Island in Tongyeong, South Korea. A total of 16,036 individuals were observed by UVC and classified into 69 species, with perciform fish being the most dominant (31 species). eDNA metabarcoding detected 68 operational taxonomy units (OTUs) and 738,217 reads, accounting for a total of 18 orders, 42 families, and 68 species. The Gobiidae family was the most dominant taxon, encompassing five species. The UVC method could detect species that were otherwise not identified through eDNA due to the small number of individuals or analytical limitations. eDNA metabarcoding was suitable for detecting smaller species, pelagic species, and those that inhabit microhabitats. Our findings demonstrated that these two methods can complement each other to gain insights into the structure of the communities of fish that inhabit various coastal environments. eDNA metabarcoding can be applied as a fast and efficient method to conduct surveys on fish species diversity in coastal waters. However, this approach must be further compared with traditional survey methods to validate its applicability as an effective complement to traditional measures.
Effect of ocean acidification on the growth, response and hydrocarbon degradation of coccolithophore-bacterial communities exposed to crude oil
Authors: Fahmi Afiq Mohd , Summers Stephen , Jones Martin , Bowler Bernard , Hennige Sebastian , Gutierrez Tony
Published: September 2022

Hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria, which can be found living with eukaryotic phytoplankton, play a pivotal role in the fate of oil spillage to the marine environment. Considering the susceptibility of calcium carbonate-bearing phytoplankton under future ocean acidification conditions, and their oil-degrading communities to oil exposure under such conditions, here we investigated the response of non-axenic E. huxleyi to crude oil under ambient versus elevated CO2 concentrations. Under elevated CO2 conditions, exposure to crude oil resulted in the immediate decline of E. huxleyi, with concomitant shifts in the relative abundance of Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria. Survival of E. huxleyi under ambient conditions following oil enrichment was likely facilitated by enrichment of oil-degraders Methylobacterium and Sphingomonas, while the increase in relative abundance of Marinobacter and unclassified Gammaproteobacteria may have increased competitive pressure with E. huxleyi for micronutrient acquisition. Biodegradation of the oil was not affected by elevated CO2 despite a shift in relative abundance of key hydrocarbon degraders. While ocean acidification does not appear to affect microbial degradation of crude oil, elevated mortality responses of E. huxleyi and shifts in the bacterial community illustrates the complexity of microalgal-bacterial interactions and highlights the need to factor these into future ecosystem recovery projections.
The use of surnames to impute missing ethnicity data in the South African National Cancer Registry database
Authors: Chen Wenlong Carl , Kellett Patricia , Greyling Mike , Singh Elvira , Sengayi-Muchengeti Mazvita
Published: September 2022

The National Cancer Registry (NCR) of South Africa (SA) calculates cancer incidence rates based on full pathology reports from South African private and public health care laboratories and presents the cancer incidence data by ethnic groups. The sensitivity of collecting ethnicity data in post-apartheid South Africa by reporting sources has resulted in large proportions of cancer cases being reported without population group/ethnicity information. The absence of ethnicity data is a significant challenge to cancer incidence reporting. An imputation method was developed to impute the missing ethnicities by using surnames with known patient-reported ethnicities. A hold-out test done by masking the ethnicities of 50% (n = 332232) of the NCR dataset with known ethnicities, from 1986 to 2014, was used to evaluate this imputation method. The masked ethnicities were imputed and then compared to the patient-reported ethnicities. 94.31% of ethnicities were correctly classified using this imputation method. Sensitivities and specificities were calculated per ethnicity group (Asian, Black, Coloured, White). The imputation method performed well for the Asian, Black and White ethnic groups, but performed poorly for the Coloured ethnic group. The strong relationship between surnames and ethnic groups, as evidenced by the results, mitigates the significant concern of whether surname itself is predictive of ethnicity. Despite the increasing proportion of missing data over the years, the percentage of correctly classified individuals remains high across the test dataset. The strength of this imputation methodology is demonstrated in this study, however, with the large disparities across the private and public healthcare sectors in SA, all cancer cases should be reported with complete information, from all sources, for accurate cancer incidence reporting without the need for having to impute for missing data. There are still challenges around collecting sensitive data such as ethnicities in a SA that warrant further discussions.
Implementation analysis of municipal solid waste management in Dinanagar city of Punjab, India
Authors: KAUR MANBIR , Yadav Rakesh
Published: September 2022

Unscientific waste management is increasingly becoming a major reason for environmental issues in Indian cities. Unlike previous municipal solid waste management in cities of Punjab(India ), this study analyzes the implementation of solid waste management. Also, examine the factors responsible for the dysfunction of the municipal corporation of Dinanagar(MCD) city of Punjab(India). To fulfill the research objectives, primary and secondary data are collected from various sources for qualitative and quantitative analysis. However, some drawbacks and flaws were found in the existing practices of municipal solid waste management. Internal consistency and validity are measured using Cronbach’s alpha. The importance-performance analysis and strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis are performed to conclude the present scenario of MCD. This study eventually concluded with some suggestions to waste management authorities and researchers for contributions to the improvement of the current system.
ZNNT1/osteopontin/S100A9 feedback loop promote hepatocellular carcinoma progression via mediating crosstalk between hepatocellular carcinoma cells and macrophages
Authors: Wei Huamei , Li Wenchuan , Yang Meng , Fang Quan , Nian Jiahui , Huang Youguan , Wei Qing , Huang Zihua , Liu Guoman , Xu Zuoming , Hu Anbin , Pu Jian
Published: September 2022

Background
Macrophages are the major components of tumour microenvironment, which play critical roles in tumour development. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) also contribute to tumour progression. However, the potential roles of lncRNAs in modulating the interaction between cancer cells and macrophages in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are poorly understood.
Methods
The expression of lncRNA ZNNT1 in tissues and cells was measured using qRT-PCR. The roles of ZNNT1 in HCC cells and macrophages were investigated using in vitro and in vivo assays. The molecular mechanisms of ZNNT1 were explored using qRT-PCR, RNA immunoprecipitation, RNA pull-down, chromatin immunoprecipitation, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, and dual-luciferase reporter assays.
Results
ZNNT1 was identified as an HCC-related lncRNA, which was upregulated and associated with poor prognosis of HCC. ZNNT1 promoted HCC cellular growth, migration, and invasion, and suppressed apoptosis in vitro. ZNNT1 promoted HCC xenograft growth in vivo. Furthermore, ZNNT1 recruited and induced M2 polarization of macrophages. Mechanistically, ZNNT1 upregulated SPP1 expression and osteopontin (OPN) secretion via sponging miR-181a/b/c/d-5p and miR-33a/b-5p. Functional rescue assays identified OPN as the mediator of the oncogenic roles of ZNNT1 in HCC cells and also the effects of ZNNT1 on macrophages. M2 Macrophages-recruited by ZNNT1 enhanced malignant phenotypes of HCC cells, which was mediated by S100A9 secreted by M2 macrophages. Intriguing, S100A9 secreted by M2 macrophages also upregulated ZNNT1 expression in HCC cells via AGER/NF-κB signaling.
Conclusions
ZNNT1, OPN, and S100A9 formed a positive feedback loop, which promoted macrophages recruitment and M2 polarization, and enhanced malignant features of HCC cells. The ZNNT1/OPN/S100A9 feedback loop represents potential therapeutic target for HCC.
WITHDRAWN: Novel hydro-alcoholic sanitizer model with minimum alcohol content and fortified with eugenol and cinnamaldehyde as natural antimicrobial boosters
Authors: Shaaban Hamdy A. , Abdelhamid Samy M. , Edris Amr
Published: September 2022

Objectives
70% alcohol-based sanitizers are frequently used for decontamination and controlling infections caused by pathogenic microorganisms. In the current investigation the authors aimed at developing and evaluating novel diluted hydro-alcoholic sanitizer containing 70% water and less than 30% alcohol. That is due to the fact that excessive use of alcoholic sanitizers containing 70% alcohol leads to immergence of alcohol resistant strains of pathogenic bacteria. In addition, some other toxic and environmental issues arise from using such high amounts of alcohol in the common sanitizing formula. The developed formula in the current work was fortified with some natural anti-microbial boosters from aromatic plants like eugenol, cinnamaldehyde and their mixture to compensate for the low alcohol content.
Methods
The solubility of eugenol and cinnamaldehyde in 70% water-containing hydro-alcoholic solution was investigated using the Gibbs’ triangle phase diagram. The broth dilution assay was used to evaluate the growth inhibition of the developed formula against four pathogenic bacteria including L. monocytogenes, S. typhimurium, E. coli and P. aeruginosa.
Results
The phase diagram study indicated that 3% of each of the antimicrobial boosters (eugenol, cinnamaldehyde) can be incorporated homogenously into a diluted hydro-alcoholic sanitizer containing 70% water and only 27% alcohol. Antimicrobial evaluation of that formula at only half concentration of the antimicrobial boosters (1.5%) showed complete inhibition of the growth of the four tested pathogens, where the count after treatment was zero cfu/ml. This antimicrobial activity was similar to that of a standard alcoholic sanitizer that contains 70% alcohol.
Conclusions
The study represents an insight towards a new generation of sanitizers which are characterized by significantly minimum content of alcohol without compromising efficiency. That also represents a step toward lowering alcohol toxicity and reducing its vapors emission to the environment.
Taurine improves the growth performance, health status and liver histopathology of meagre (Argyrosomus regius) fed a reduced fish meal diet
Authors: Güroy Derya , Karadal Onur , Güroy Betül , Emre Yılmaz , Emre Nesrin , Eraslan Durali , Yalım Fatma Banu , Mantoğlu Serhan , Demir Abdullah
Published: September 2022

Research has focused on alternative plant materials or additives that can be used instead of fish meal due to limited stocks and increased feed prices, although it is important for carnivorous fish species. Taurine is a functional amino acid supplemented to low fish meal diets to improve the growth performance of fish. In this study, eight experimental diets with 0%, 0.5%, 1% and 2% ratios of taurine supplemented (T0, T0.5, T1 and T2) high (HFM) and low fish meal (LFM) diets were prepared (defined as HFMT0, HFMT0.5, HFMT1, HFMT2, LFMT0, LFMT0.5, LFMT1 and LFMT2). The experiment was carried out in twenty-four 400 L rectangular fiberglass tanks conducted in a marine water system, and fish (initial mean weight of 23.5 g) were stocked in each tank. The nutrition trial was carried out for 90 days with three replicates. Meagre fed with the HFMT1 diet had a higher final mean weight (FMW) and specific growth rate (SGR) than fish fed with HFMT0 and all LFM diets. Including taurine in all LFM diets also enhanced growth performance. The FMW and SGR of fish fed the LFMT0.5 diet were similar when compared to HFMT0 (P > 0.05) and increased than that of other LFM diets with taurine (P < 0.05). Meagre fed the LFM0.5 diet had a lower feed conversion rate (FCR) than those provided for all HFM diets, although there was no significant difference between treatments. Dietary taurine has decreased the hepatosomatic index (HSI), viscerosomatic index (VSI) and total ammonia-nitrogen excretion (TAN), irrespective of taurine and fish meal levels. Including dietary taurine at both fish meal levels enhance the number of red blood cells (RBC) and whole-body amino acids of meagre. The most remarkable conclusion of this study is the inclusion of taurine in low fish meal diets improved growth performance and profitability in meagre, and the level of 0.5% has been recommended.
Desplazamientos de la filosofía de la música: una reflexión sobre la literatura del siglo XXI
Authors: Arango Lopera Carlos Andrés
Published: September 2022

Tradicionalmente, la tarea de pensar la música correspondía a la filosofía de la música, campo que recoge una tradición de siglos reflexión de segundo nivel sobre lo musical. Desde allí se prefiguraron ideas, valores y categorías que resultaron decisivos para el avance, no solo del corpus teórico (del cual derivaron campos especializados como la musicología y la estética musical), sino del arte musical mismo. Sin embargo, desde mediados del siglo pasado han emergido nuevos marcos comprensivos, germinados por la necesidad de acoger otras tesituras musicales que en la tradición se habían descartado, como es el caso de la música popular masiva. Así, la entrada al presente siglo deja una gran cantidad de trabajos que desde la estética, la antropología y la sociología procuran entender otras músicas y otros fenómenos que en la tradición de la filosofía de la música no habían sido atendidos. Es texto presenta una revisión de literatura sobre esos desplazamiento, en la cual se consideraron 107 textos. El trabajo pretende acercarse a algunas de esas ideas que, figurando en tradiciones emergentes, son —en todo caso— reflexiones sobre la condición de la música, es decir, reflexiones filosóficas sobre la música.
Técnica, consumo y cotidianidad: reflexiones a partir de la obra de Jacques Tati
Authors: Arango Tobón Mauricio Alexander
Published: September 2022

El presente escrito tiene como finalidad analizar el desarrollo tecnológico y el consumo visto a través de la obra cinematográfica del director francés Jacques Tati, especialmente de su personaje Mr. Hulot, quién, entre los años 1949 y 1974, mostró en sus películas los impactos de la tecnología (gadgets, dispositivos, aparatos) en las formas de vida tradicional de la sociedad francesa. Concretamente tomamos de la obra de Tati dos elementos para materializar dicho análisis, los objetos y los espacios. A partir de aquí mostramos de qué manera Tati evidenció con gran profundidad, humor e ironía que las transformaciones sociales y culturales que se estaban viviendo en Francia, y en otros lugares de Europa, en el periodo de posguerra, eran debido, en parte, al exuberante lugar que ocupaba en la vida cotidiana la tecnología y el consumo. Finalmente, concluimos, en primer lugar, que las sociedades de consumo encuentran en el discurso publicitario un componente de legitimación social y cultural ubicuo en las sociedades capitalistas y, en segundo lugar, que la tecnologías y sus usos cotidianos son configuradoras de nuevas subjetividades que tienen como condición de posibilidad una interacción permanente con los objetos, de allí el lugar central que deberá ocupar la técnica en cualquier reflexión ontológica sobre lo que somos en el presente.
Camus y Kafka. Fundamentos de la filosofía del absurdo
Authors: Manrique Juan Francisco
Published: September 2022

La obra de Franz Kafka ha probado hablar a nuestro tiempo de un modo inusitado. Algunos escritores del siglo XX como Albert Camus notaron la potencia de la obra de Kafka para dar cuenta de los nuevos tiempos y le tuvieron como uno de los inspiradores del existencialismo. No obstante, dado que la filosofía existencial fue un tanto opacada por el estructuralismo y otros movimientos afines a mayo del 68, también se abandonó la lectura existencialista de Kafka, que fue usada por Camus principalmente para la construcción de una filosofía del absurdo. El propósito del presente artículo es recobrar la lectura existencialista que Camus hace de Kafka, pero yendo un paso más adelante que el dado por el nobel franco-argelino: la idea no solo es mostrar que la obra kafkiana presenta los rasgos del absurdo, sino que, a través de la propia vida del escritor austrohúngaro, también se vislumbran los rasgos del hombre absurdo, rasgos sin los cuales su obra no habría sido posible.
Tourism Potentiality Zone Mapping by Using the AHP Technique: A Study on Bankura District, West Bengal, India
Authors: Raha Shrinwantu , Gayen Shasanka Kumar
Published: September 2022

Tourism is a multidimensional sector having significant contributions to sustainable development, economic upliftment, and social benefits. Although the Bankura is full of tourism potential, but its’ tourism potentiality has not been properly used. This study is designed to identify the tourism potential zones of the Bankura district using a 5-steps integrated methodology, which includes the preparation of the thematic layers (Eight parameters and thirty-four indicators) (Step-1); creation of matrices for pair-wise comparisons (Step-2); classification of the raster maps (Step-3); use of the weighted sum method to get the composite variables (Step-4) and classification of tourism potential map using the natural breaks (Step-5). This study has selected eight parameters, which are the Tourist Intensity Measure (TIM), Climate (C), Physical (P), Social (S), Economy (E), Environmental Quality (EQ), Amenities (AN), and Diversity in Local Art and Crafts (LAC′). Approximately, 23.33% area is identified with a high tourism potentiality, 58.74% area is observed under the moderate tourism potentiality, and 17.92% area is recognized as a low tourism potentiality. Efficiency testing of the tourism potentiality map indicates high precision utilizing the considerably high R-square value (0.94). The study uses an exceptional methodological framework applicable in any region.