bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Internet Communications Policy
Authors:   Dnipropetrovsk State University of Internal Affairs, Kubetska O. M. , Ostapenko T. M. ,   Oles Honchar Dnipro National University, Paleshko Y. S. ,   Dnipropetrovsk State University of Internal Affairs
Published: June 2021

The article considers the role of the Internet as one of the channels for promoting products. The article is aimed at developing practical recommendations as to the organization of communication policy on the Internet through the creation of an online store, sales via marketplaces, also with the use of cashback. Modern trends of e-business are generalized, characterizations of online trading, its advantages for buyers and sellers are provided. It is proposed to organize interaction with customers in two sectors: marketplace and online store. The main features of the marketplace and the online store (from the point of view of sellers / suppliers) are systematized: the main goal, participants, interaction with buyers, the need to create a website, functionality, creating a profile, control, product range, price regulation, advertising costs, working conditions, earnings, the ability to develop systems of repeated sales, the number of sellers. The main disadvantages in operating a marketplace and an online store (either from the point of view of sellers or from the point of view of buyers) are considered. The article generalizes the procedure for organizing a communicative policy on the Internet (through the store’s website), which envisages: creating an online store, interacting with customers through the online store sales. The procedure for organizing a communicative policy on the Internet (through the marketplace) is described, including: entering the marketplace, selling products to buyers, paying a commission for the products sold and paying a standard monthly fee for using the platform. It is recommended to form a communication policy using the cashback service and the following technology: registration in the cashback service, carrying out the purchase of products through the cashback service catalog (by links), transferring data about the purchase of an online store or marketplace, payment of cashback service commission, payment of cashback to the buyer. The main shortcomings of cashback (from the point of view of sellers and from the point of view of cashback services) are considered, which include the taxation of cashback in the amount of 19.5% for individuals and VAT, provided that both participants of the bonus program are legal entities. The main disadvantages of cashback from the position of buyers are considered.
The Role of Science and Education in the Formation of the «Knowledge Economy»
Authors:   University of Intellectual Technologies and Communications, Kuznetsova M. A.
Published: June 2021

The article is aimed at analyzing the peculiarities of the formation of the «knowledge economy» and identifying the role of science and education in this process. The publication considers the processes of transformation of the system of commodity relations and the emergence of prerequisites for the formation of the «knowledge economy». The formation of a new type of social ties is associated with a change in the content of the essence of labor as an economic category. The growth of the share of intellectual, creative component in labor leads to the impossibility of reduction of the latter to the abstract labor, which forms a cost. The process of formation of a new type of relationship is formed on the basis of information and knowledge as the main conditions of modern production. This creates new requirements for the educational sphere in which changes should take place, adequate to the economic transformation of commodity relations, to the processes of becoming a «knowledge economy». These processes in the educational sphere were manifested in the occurrence of corporate universities and such a phenomenon as «academic capitalism». As result of the study, the main positive results are defined, along with possible negative consequences associated with the introduction of the principles of «academic capitalism» in the educational sphere. It is concluded that the process of forming a new type of relationship, which by its nature contradicts commodity relations, changes the nature of the functioning of all elements of society, including in the educational sphere, but this should not alter the essence of science and education by providing them with market characteristics. Prospects for further research in this direction, according to the author, may be the issues of finding a balance between the market context of the functioning of the educational sphere and its social mission, which corresponds to the peculiarities of the «knowledge economy».
Transformation of Regional Management in the Context of Globalization to Ensure Sustainable Development of Ukrainian Regions
Authors:   Bohdan Khmelnytsky Cherkasy National University, Bоhuslаvskа S. І.
Published: June 2021

Modern directions of formation of the global economic, informational and financial space define fundamentally new tasks for the formation and development of forms and methods of management of regional systems. The article is aimed at substantiating the need to transform regional management to ensure sustainable development of Ukrainian regions in the context of globalization. The article develops theoretical approaches to the interpretation of the concept of «region» and presents an author’s own definition of this concept as an open holistic system, the unity of which is secured by a number of factors (of geographical, political, social and economic nature), the elemental composition of which is characterized by a wide range of elements (including regional institutions), which as a result of constant interaction and mutual influence acquire new qualities and characteristics and cause qualitative changes in the system. The main features of the regional system include: the ability to self-reproduction; purposeful nature and dependence of its functioning and development on the composition and completeness of resource provision. The content of the concept of «globalization» is closer defined. It is proved that globalization puts forward new requirements for regional management, restrictions on modern economic development are outlined as well. Regions of Ukraine are actively involved in the processes of international and interregional integration, and the foreign economic activity of the regions has significant prospects. At that, the degree, depth of involvement of the region in the international integration process, the success of its foreign economic activity directly depend on the focus on innovative conduct of financial-economic activities, complementarity in financing, the use of the mechanism of public-private partnership. The main challenges of sustainable development of the regions of Ukraine (except for the pandemic) include: involvement of economic agents; development of engineering infrastructure; construction and renovation of housing stock; ordering land use; high-level support of employment; urgent ecological problems. Ensuring the sustainability of both regions and the State in modern conditions is possible by strengthening the horizontal links of interregional interaction. The latter expands the capabilities of regional governing bodies in terms of increasing the internal potential of the regions, creates conditions for more effective problem solving in the economic, social and political spheres. Prospects for further research in this direction are the development of theoretical principles of regional management and the development of practical recommendations for its improvement, taking into account the challenges of globalization.
Seasonal Population Abundance of Bactrocera Dorsalis Hendel (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Selected Districts of Northern KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
Authors: Mnguni Simphiwe
Published: June 2021

The fruitfly Bactrocera dorsalis is an economically important pest that requires management for the sustainability of agriculture in South Africa. This pest has spread from the country's Northern parts within a decade, where it has completely established and spread to other neighbouring provinces. The pest spreads at various rates due to different factors given biotic and abiotic factors. Understanding factors that influence pest prevalence will assist with practical management strategies. Temperature is one of the factors that assist the invasive potential of B. dorsalis. KwaZulu Natal province is among the hotspot provinces in the country besides Limpopo and Mpumalanga. Trap catches in Northern KwaZulu Natal, uMkhanyakude and King Cetshwayo districts show that the seasonal populations of B. dorsalis are continuously present all year round, even with the application of management options to reduce pest populations. Host availability plays a significant role in the invasion and total outcompeting of other native fruitflies e.g. Ceratitis punctata.
Cultural and Natural Roots of Puerto Rican Mestizaje in Rosario Ferré’s The House on the Lagoon
Authors: Rubóczki Babett
Published: June 2021

The paper explores the conversational orchestration of family anecdotes as a dominant experimental narrative strategy underlying Puerto Rican author Rosario Ferré’s historical novel, The House on the Lagoon. The study reads Ferré’s narrative through Mikhail Bakhtin’s philosophy of the dialogic nature of language to highlight the interplay between environmental and cultural images of hybridity. The close reading of this representative piece of US Caribbean literature elucidates how Ferré utilizes the dialogic form to contest the Puerto Rican cultural and national politics that tend to suppress and silence the nonwhite (black and indigenous) components of Puerto Rican identity.
The Hysteric Belongs to Me: Helen Oyeyemi’s The Opposite House
Authors: Albert Noémi
Published: June 2021

The term hysteria has undergone several substantial changes throughout its history. A charged concept, deemed for a long time as pejorative and offensive to womanhood, it has lately been re-appropriated for literature under the concept of the “hysterical narrative.” This new trend purports to redeem hysteria and, together with it, redeem the feminine and show all its complexity. Helen Oyeyemi’s 2007 novel, The Opposite House, conflates the private and the public in two female characters, one human, the other divine. Through this double perspective the work self-reflexively re-evaluates hysteria both in the self and in the community.
Languages and the U.S. Federal Congress: Attitudes, Policies and Practices between 1789 and 1815
Authors: Czeglédi Sándor
Published: June 2021

The present paper examines the link between language and cultural identity by exploring the language-related attitudes, policies and ideologies as reflected in the written records of the U.S. Federal Congress from 1789 until roughly the end of the “Second War of Independence” in 1815. The results are compared and contrasted with the findings of a previous study which examined the founding documents of the United States from a similar perspective. The most salient language policy development of the post-1789 period is the overall shift from the symbolic, general language-related remarks towards the formulation of more substantive and general policies.
DTC Switching Strategy for Open-end Winding of Induction Machines Fed by a Dual-output Indirect Matrix Converter
Authors: Beladel Abdelkader , Kouzou Abdellah , Elbar Mohamed , Hafaifa Ahmed
Published: June 2021

This paper deals with the Direct Torque Control (DTC) of Dual Indirect Matrix Converter (DIMC) feeding an open-end winding three-phase Induction Motor (IM). Indeed, the open-end winding topology allows overcoming the main problem of Common-Mode Voltage (CMV) which is responsible of presence of stresses in the motor winding in classical topologies, controlling separately the winding of the three-phases, reducing the voltage stress of the power electronics switches and to decreasing the voltage and current harmonics in each phase. The proposed Dual-output Indirect Matrix Converter generates 18 active voltage space vectors. Whereas, in the proposed algorithm presented in this paper to ensure the control of the proposed topology it is implemented only with two null vectors and six active voltage vectors for each output. It is based on same idea of the space vector pulse width modulation that is applied separately for both converters to ensure the control of their output voltages. Indeed, to ensure the required voltage at each winding the output voltage of the first matrix converter are generated normally and output voltage of the second matrix converter are generated with 180° phase shift. The obtained simulation results prove clearly the overall performance of the control of the studied drive system based on the proposed topology and its control algorithm which may be extended to other drive system application, especially in industrial application where more improved performances are required.
Passenger Car Equivalent Value for Commercial Vehicles: A New Approach
Authors: Bouhouras Efstathios , Basbas Socrates
Published: June 2021

Within the framework of the present paper an attempt has been made to develop a methodology for the calculation of a Passenger Car Equivalent (PCE) factor in order to express the number of commercial vehicles in the equivalent number of passenger cars. The methodology is based on the Highway Capacity Manual, the examination of the international literature and an extended field survey. The research area is the Municipality of Thessaloniki, Greece and specifically 27 at-grade, signalized intersections which were examined. The field survey was performed during two time-periods in order a comparison to be possible.
Efeito da ingestão de aminoácidos de cadeia ramificada com diferentes concentrações de leucina sobre o número total de repetições realizadas durante o exercício resistido
Authors: Haddad Raphael das Neves , Lima Waldecir Paula , Gianolla Fábio , Machado Giovanna Athanásio Chaves , Killian Luiz Francisco , Machado Otávio Augusto Soares
Published: June 2021

Introdução: A suplementação de aminoácidos de cadeia ramificada (BCAA) tem sido amplamente utilizada e estudada durante as atividades de longa duração, no entanto, apresenta um número restrito de estudos elucidando o efeito desta suplementação durante o treinamento resistido (TR). Objetivo: Avaliar a influência da ingestão de BCAA, contendo diferentes concentrações de leucina, sobre o número total de repetições realizadas durante essa prática. Métodos: Oito participantes (4 homens e 4 mulheres; idade: 20 a 35 anos), com experiência no TR entre 3 e 18 meses, realizaram 10 séries com carga referente a 80% de 1RM, após a ingestão de 0,4 g/kg de peso corporal de BCAA diluídos em 250 ml água, com duas diferentes concentrações de leucina: 4:1:1 (3 g leucina, 750 mg isoleucina e 750 mg valina) e 6:1:1 (4,5 g leucina, 750 mg isoleucina e 750 mg valina), além do tratamento controle (CON), caracterizado pela ingestão de 250 ml água contendo um composto dietético não calórico. Resultados: Observou-se que o número total de repetições realizadas nas 10 séries foi significativamente maior para o tratamento 6:1:1 (70,0 ± 9,5) quando comparado ao tratamento CON (59,8 ± 9,9), diferente do tratamento 4:1:1 (66,8 ± 7,3) que apresentou resultado estatisticamente semelhante. Conclusão: A concentração do aminoácido leucina, relacionada à dose de BCAA suplementada, é significativa para obtenção dos efeitos ergogênicos promovidos por este suplemento durante a prática do exercício resistido.
Editorial: Alongamento muscular - uma prática sustentada pelo hábito?
Authors: Cedraz Thaís de Figueiredo , Jesus Daniela Santos de
Published: June 2021

Técnicas de alongamento são aplicadas de forma constante em cenários como academias, competições esportivas e centros de reabilitação. Essas técnicas são definidas como exercícios de estiramento muscular, que proporcionam o aumento dos limites dos sarcômeros, principalmente quando submetidos a um tempo superior a 40 segundos. A utilização do alongamento como recurso para ganho ou manutenção amplitude de movimento já é estabelecida [1], no entanto, diversas outras justificativas são levantadas em oposição à literatura científica...
Genetic Variability, Correlation and Path Analysis of Floral, Yield and its Component Traits of Maintainer Lines of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: Hossain MS , Ivy NA , Raihan MS , Kayesh E , Maniruzzaman S
Published: June 2021

Direct selection based on crop yields is paradox in breeding programmes because of its complex polygenically inherited character, which is influenced by its component traits. A field experiment was conducted to establish the extent of association between yield and yield components and other characters in maintainer lines of rice. Analysis of variance revealed that significant amount of genetic variability was present in the entire characters studied except grain length, grain width and flag leaf breadth. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of mean was observed for number of tillers per hill, number of panicles per plant, number of grains per panicle, 1000-grain weight (TGW), filled grains per panicle, flag leaf length, stigma breadth, filament length suggesting preponderance of additive gene action in the expression of these characters. The correlation coefficient between grain yield per plant and other quantitative characters attributing to yield showed that grain yield was significantly and positively associated with number of grains per panicle, TGW, spikelet fertility, filament length and pollen fertility at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. Path coefficient at genotypic level revealed that panicle length, number of effective tillers/plant, number of grains per panicle, TGW, filled grains per panicle, spikelet fertility, stigma length, stigma breadth, filament length and pollen fertility had direct positive effect on grain yield indicating importance of these parameters as the main contributors to yield. Thus, a genotype with higher extent of these traits could be selected as parents from existing genotypes for genetic improvement of yield in hybrid rice.

Bangladesh Rice J. 24 (1): 1-9, 2020
Assessing the Effectiveness of Rice Procurement Programme and Farmers’ Profitability in some Selected Areas of Bangladesh
Authors: Rahaman MS , Sarkar MAR , Kabir MJ , Deb L , Rahman MC , Islam MA , Siddique MAB
Published: June 2021

Using cross-sectional data obtained through carrying out a sample survey conducted during 2018, we examined the perception of farmers and millers about the paddy and rice procurement system and its feasibility. A probit model was employed to ascertain the factors influencing the likelihood of participating in the procurement system by farmers from two districts of Bangladesh. The results showed that the government procurement system has significant impacts on both the participant farmers and millers. The farmers and millers' net profit was TK 4,205 and TK 3,930 by selling a ton of paddy and cleaned rice, respectively, to the procurement center rather than in the local market. The probit regression analysis revealed nine different factors that significantly influenced farmers' participation in the paddy procurement programme. Results further implied that educated farmers had procurement cards with sufficient system knowledge, residing near the hub with improved road access, and association with political parties get preference in participating in the programme. The findings also indicate that lucrative prices, programme scheduling and good conduct of procurement employees inspire farmers to participate in the programme. The government procurement programme has several drawbacks such as anomalies in selecting farmers, taking extra paddy by the employees, corruption, unsuitable payment system, and procurement capacity. Therefore, the government would be vigilant to ensure that the procurement system will provide farmers with price support. A well-functioning procurement system is crucial for guaranteeing the country's food security by ensuring a fair price for the producers. Finally, the study proposed some policy guidelines based on the findings to establish a sound paddy and/or rice procurement system in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Rice J. 24 (1): 31-46, 2020
Biological Control of Rice Sheath Blight Disease (Rhizoctonia solani) Using Bio-pesticides and Bio-control Agents
Authors: Rashid MM , Bhuiyan MR , Dilzahan HA , Hamid MA , Hasan N , Khan MAI , Latif MA
Published: June 2021

A series of experiments were conducted in Plant Pathology Laboratory at Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Gazipur to know the efficacy of four bio-pesticides Recharge, Microtech1, Agroplus and Chitin and two bio-control agents (Trichoderma harzianum and Bacillus subtilis) on the major rice disease sheath blight (ShB) caused by Rhizoctonia solani in in-vitro and field condition. One fungicide Nativo (Tebuconazole 50% + Trifloxystrobin 25%) and one disease control (without any treatments) were also included as treatment for comparison. Radial mycelia growth of R. solani was mostly inhibited by a Bangladesh Trichoderma harzianum (BT1), Recharge and chemical fungicide Nativo 75 G at 48 hours of dual contact of R. solani and tested bio-pesticides or bio-control agents in in-vitro. The other bio-pesticides along with B. subtilis didn’t show any inhibition effect on the mycelia growth of R. solani which was similar to control (only water) treatment. Fungal inhibition 87.5% and 86.3% of Rhizoctonia solani was obtained by Recharge and Trichoderma harzianum (BT1), respectively which was nearly similar to the chemical treatment Nativo (96.3%) in in-vitro dual culture method compared to control treatment. In net house condition, 74% sheath blight disease was inhibited by soil application of Recharge (0.3 g/m2 with 50 ml water) for two times at the time of transplanting and 30 days after transplanting (DAT), whereas similar soil application of B. subtilis (OD600=0.3) was not found effective to control the ShB disease (< 30% disease reduction). The highest ShB disease was reduced by the chemical control Nativo 75 G (94.2%) followed by BT1 (89%), bio-pesticide Recharge (70.8%), Microtech1 (37.4%) and Chitin (61.3%) compared with the disease control when the tested materials were sprayed for two times (3 days before and 4 days after inoculation).

Bangladesh Rice J. 24 (1): 47-58, 2020
Monitoring the safety of nilotinib in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia
Authors: Pendovska Marija , Naumovska Zorica , Panovska Irina , Pavkovic Marica , Kalcev Goce , Zisovska Elizabeta , Mihajloska Evgenija , Filkova Sanja , Suturkova Ljubica
Published: June 2021

The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety profile of nilotinib administered to chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) at patients. The study was conducted from March 2018 to May 2019 and it included 20 patients with CML in chronic phase. Of these 20 patients, 17 had previously been treated with imatinib and 3 with hydroxyurea. The mean duration of treatment with Nilotinib was 6.75 months. In nine patients treated with nilotinib (400 mg), 55% complained of fatigue, 33% of headache and 22.2% of pruritus. In five patients treated with Nilotinib (600 mg), 20% complained of headache, 40% of fatigue and 20% of pruritus. In addition, in six patients treated with nilotinib (800 mg), 50% complained of headache and fatigue, 17% with pruritus and visual disorder was observed in 20% of cases. In the study, the adverse reactions were observed between the age of 20 and 40 and it was 7.1%, in contrast to the group of patients between the age of 40 and 60 where the incidence of adverse reactions was 21.42%. The incidence of adverse reactions in patients in the age group over 60 years it was 57.1%. In terms of gender, the incidence of adverse reactions was equal to 50% for both men and women. In conclusion, this study showed that treatment with nilotinib was well tolerated, with adverse reactions of an easy degree. Future evaluation is necessary in order to understanding the adverse reaction of nilotinib in comparison with other tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Keywords: nilotinib, pharmacovigilance, safety, chronic myeloid leukemia
A survey of AFM1 contamination in row cow milk produced in region of Kumanovo
Authors: Furunovikj-Dimitrijevski Iva , Angelova Suzana , Shutevska Kristina , Kadifkova Panovska Tatjana
Published: June 2021

Aflatoxins (AFs) are type of mycotoxins produced by certain Aspergillus species. In the livers of cows, the aflatoxin В1 (AFB1) ingested with contaminated food is metabolized in carcinogenic aflatoxin М1 (AFM1) which is then excreted in the milk and poses a serious risk to the health of the consumers. In January of 2019, twenty five (25) samples of milk were collected from local farms in the surrounding area of Kumanovo, Republic of North Macedonia. The samples were analysed in the Centre for Public Health, Kumanovo. A method MKC EN ISO 14501:2007 for analysis of AFM1 by HPLC with fluorescence detection was applied. This method is selective, precise and applicative. The final analytical result has shown AFM1 below the LOD in any of the analyzed samples. Due to the well-known fact that AFM1 is toxic, i.e. carcinogenic and the fact that milk is widely used as staple food, continuous development as well as introduction of new, more sensitive methods for detection of AFM1 are required.

Keywords: Aflatoxin M1, HPLC-FLD, milk
Estimating the Risk of Severe Peanut Allergy Using Clinical Background and IgE Sensitization Profiles
Authors: Datema Mareen R. , Lyons Sarah A. , Fernández-Rivas Montserrat , Ballmer-Weber Barbara , Knulst André C. , Asero Riccardo , Barreales Laura , Belohlavkova Simona , de Blay Frédéric , Clausen Michael , Dubakiene Ruta , Fernández-Perez Cristina , Fritsche Philipp , Gislason David , Hoffmann-Sommergruber Karin , Jedrzejczak-Czechowicz Monika , Jongejan Laurian , Kowalski Marek L. , Kralimarkova Tanya Z. , Lidholm Jonas , Papadopoulos Nikolaos G. , Popov Todor A. , Prado Nayade del , Purohit Ashok , Reig Isabel , Seneviratne Suranjith L. , Sinaniotis Athanassios , Vassilopoulou Emilia , Versteeg Serge A. , Vieths Stefan , Welsing Paco M. J. , Mills E. N. Clare , Le Thuy-My , Zwinderman Aeilko H. , van Ree Ronald
Published: June 2021

Background:It is not well-understood why symptom severity varies between patients with peanut allergy (PA).

Objective:To gain insight into the clinical profile of subjects with mild-to-moderate and severe PA, and investigate individual and collective predictive accuracy of clinical background and IgE to peanut extract and components for PA severity.

Methods:Data on demographics, patient history and sensitization at extract and component level of 393 patients with probable PA (symptoms ≤ 2 h + IgE sensitization) from 12 EuroPrevall centers were analyzed. Univariable and penalized multivariable regression analyses were used to evaluate risk factors and biomarkers for severity.

Results:Female sex, age at onset of PA, symptoms elicited by skin contact with peanut, family atopy, atopic dermatitis, house dust mite and latex allergy were independently associated with severe PA; birch pollen allergy with mild-to-moderate PA. The cross-validated AUC of all clinical background determinants combined (0.74) was significantly larger than the AUC of tests for sensitization to extract (0.63) or peanut components (0.54–0.64). Although larger skin prick test wheal size, and higher IgE to peanut extract, Ara h 1 and Ara h 2/6, were associated with severe PA, and higher IgE to Ara h 8 with mild-to-moderate PA, addition of these measurements of sensitization to the clinical background model did not significantly improve the AUC.

Conclusions:Models combining clinical characteristics and IgE sensitization patterns can help establish the risk of severe reactions for peanut allergic patients, but clinical background determinants are most valuable for predicting severity of probable PA in an individual patient.
Histone Methyltransferase SETD1A Induces Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition to Promote Invasion and Metastasis Through Epigenetic Reprogramming of Snail in Gastric Cancer
Authors: Wu Jugang , Chai Hongjuan , Shan Haiyan , Pan Chunpeng , Xu Xin , Dong Wenpei , Yu Jiwei , Gu Yan
Published: June 2021

Aberrant epigenetic modification induces oncogene expression and promotes cancer development. The histone lysine methyltransferase SETD1A, which specifically methylates histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4), is involved in tumor growth and metastasis, and its ectopic expression has been detected in aggressive malignancies. Our previous study reported that SETD1A promotes gastric cancer (GC) proliferation and tumorigenesis. However, the function and molecular mechanisms of SETD1A in GC metastasis remain to be elucidated. In this study, we found that overexpression of SETD1A promoted GC migration and invasion, whereas knockdown of SETD1A suppressed GC migration and invasion in vitro. Moreover, knockdown of SETD1A suppressed GC epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by increasing the expression of epithelial marker E-cadherin and decreasing the expression of mesenchymal markers, including N-cadherin, Fibronectin, Vimentin, and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Mechanistically, knockdown of SETD1A reduced the EMT key transcriptional factor snail expression. SETD1A was recruited to the promoter of snail, where SETD1A could methylate H3K4. However, knockdown of SETD1A decreased the methylation of H3K4 on the snail promoter. Furthermore, SETD1A could be a coactivator of snail to induce EMT gene expression. Rescue of snail restored SETD1A knockdown-induced GC migration and invasion inhibition. In addition, knockdown of SETD1A suppressed GC metastasis in vivo. In summary, our data revealed that SETD1A mediated the EMT process and induced metastasis through epigenetic reprogramming of snail.
Pharmacological Disruption of Phosphorylated Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2α/Activating Transcription Factor 4/Indian Hedgehog Protects Intervertebral Disc Degeneration via Reducing the Reactive Oxygen Species and Apoptosis of Nucleus Pulposus Cells
Authors: Bao Junping , Qian Zhanyang , Liu Lei , Hong Xin , Che Hui , Wu Xiaotao
Published: June 2021

Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis in nucleus pulposus (NP) cells accelerate the process of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Here, we integrated pathological samples and in vitro and in vivo framework to investigate the impact of phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor-2α (eIF2α)/activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4)/Indian hedgehog (Ihh) signaling in the IDD. From the specimen analysis of the IDD patients, we found phosphorylated eIF2α (p-eIF2α), ATF4 and Ihh protein levels were positively related while the NP tissue went degenerative. In vitro, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α caused the NP cell degeneration and induced a cascade of upregulation of p-eIF2α, ATF4, and Ihh. Interestingly, ATF4 could enhance Ihh expression through binding its promoter region, and silencing of ATF4 decreased Ihh and protected the NP cells from degeneration. Moreover, ISRIB inhibited the p-eIF2α, which resulted in a suppression of ATF4/Ihh, and alleviated the TNF-α-induced ROS production and apoptosis of NP cells. On the contrary, further activating p-eIF2α aggravated the NP cell degeneration, with amplification of ATF4/Ihh and a higher level of ROS and apoptosis. Additionally, applying cyclopamine (CPE) to suppress Ihh was efficient to prevent NP cell apoptosis but did not decrease the ROS level. In an instability-induced IDD model in mice, ISRIB suppressed p-eIF2α/ATF4/Ihh and prevented IDD via protecting the anti-oxidative enzymes and decreased the NP cell apoptosis. CPE prevented NP cell apoptosis but did not affect anti-oxidative enzyme expression. Taken together, p-eIF2α/ATF4/Ihh signaling involves the ROS level and apoptosis in NP cells, the pharmacological disruption of which may provide promising methods in preventing IDD.
Neddylation Regulates Macrophages and Implications for Cancer Therapy
Authors: Jiang Yanyu , Li Lihui , Li Yan , Liu Guangwei , Hoffman Robert M. , Jia Lijun
Published: June 2021

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) promote cancer progression via stimulating angiogenesis, invasion/metastasis, and suppressing anti-cancer immunity. Targeting TAMs is a potential promising cancer therapeutic strategy. Neddylation adds the ubiquitin-like protein NEDD8 to substrates, and thereby regulates diverse biological processes in multiple cell types, including macrophages. By controlling cellular responses, the neddylation pathway regulates the function, migration, survival, and polarization of macrophages. In the present review we summarized how the neddylation pathway modulates Macrophages and its implications for cancer therapy.
Oxidative Stress Parameters Can Predict the Response to Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents in Myelodysplastic Syndrome Patients
Authors: Gonçalves Ana Cristina , Alves Raquel , Baldeiras Inês , Jorge Joana , Marques Bárbara , Paiva Artur , Oliveiros Bárbara , Cortesão Emília , Nascimento Costa José Manuel , Sarmento-Ribeiro Ana Bela
Published: June 2021

Oxidative stress has been implicated in the development of several types of cancer, including myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), as well as in the resistance to treatment. In this work, we assessed the potential of oxidative stress parameters to predict the response to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) in lower-risk MDS patients. To this end, we analyzed the systemic levels of reactive species (peroxides and NO), antioxidant defenses (uric acid, vitamin E, vitamin A, GSH, GSSG, TAS, as well as GPX and GR activities], and oxidative damage (8-OH-dG and MDA) in 66 MDS patients, from those 44 have been treated with ESA. We also calculated the peroxides/TAS and NO/TAS ratios and analyzed the gene expression of levels of the redox regulators, NFE2L2 and KEAP1. We found that patients that respond to ESA treatment showed lower levels of plasma peroxides (p < 0.001), cellular GSH (p < 0.001), and cellular GR activity (p = 0.001) when compared to patients who did not respond to ESA treatment. ESA responders also showed lower levels of peroxides/TAS ratio (p < 0.001) and higher levels of the expression of the NFE2L2 gene (p = 0.001) than those that did not respond to ESA treatment. The levels of plasmatic peroxides shown to be the most accurate biomarker of ESA response, with good sensitivity (80%) and specificity (100%) and is an independent biomarker associated with therapy response. Overall, the present study demonstrated a correlation between oxidative stress levels and the response to ESA treatment in lower-risk MDS patients, with the plasmatic peroxides levels a good predictive biomarker of drug (ESA) response.
Who Is Paying for Carbon Dioxide Removal? Designing Policy Instruments for Mobilizing Negative Emissions Technologies
Authors: Honegger Matthias , Poralla Matthias , Michaelowa Axel , Ahonen Hanna-Mari
Published: June 2021

Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) poses a significant and complex public policy challenge in the long-term. Presently treated as a marginal aspect of climate policy, addressing CDR as a public good is quickly becoming essential for limiting warming to well below 2 or 1.5°C by achieving net-zero emissions in time – including by mobilization of public and private finance. In this policy and practice review, we develop six functions jointly needed for policy mixes mobilizing CDR in a manner compatible with the Paris Agreement's objectives. We discuss the emerging CDR financing efforts in light of these functions, and we chart a path to a meaningful long-term structuring of policies and financing instruments. CDR characteristics point to the need for up-front capital, continuous funding for scaling, and long-term operating funding streams, as well as differentiation based on permanence of storage and should influence the design of policy instruments. Transparency and early public deliberation are essential for charting a politically stable course of action on CDR, while specific policy designs are being developed in a way that ensures effectiveness, prevents rent-seeking at public expense, and allows for iterative course corrections. We propose a stepwise approach whereby various CDR approaches initially need differentiated treatment based on their differing maturity and cost through R&D pilot activity subsidies. In the longer term, CDR increasingly ought to be funded through mitigation results-oriented financing and included in broader policy instruments. We conclude that CDR needs to become a regularly-provided public service like public waste management has become over the last century.
A Comparison of Ultrasound Guided Curettage With and Without Uterine Artery Embolization on Controlling Intraoperative Blood Loss for a Cesarean Scar Pregnancy Treatment: Study Protocol for a Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Tang Yunhui , Zhang Yi , Tang Hanqing , Che Jiahui , Feng Hua , Yao Xiaoying , Chen Qi
Published: June 2021

Introduction

Cesarean scar pregnancy affects 6% of all ectopic pregnancies in women with prior cesarean section, and there is currently no consensus on the optimal treatment. Options of surgical treatment have a risk of intraoperative blood loss; therefore, uterine artery embolization (UAE) has been considered as an option of reducing intraoperative blood loss. However, UAE may be overused in clinical practice, especially in China. We present this protocol for a randomized clinical trial investigating the necessity of performing UAE for cesarean scar pregnancy, in combination with surgical suction curettage, taking into account the different subtypes of cesarean scar pregnancy. We recently developed a risk-scoring system (QRS) to estimate intraoperative blood loss, with 93.8% sensitivity and 6.3% false negative. Through this randomized clinical trial, we will retrospectively validate the QRS score on predicting intraoperative blood loss.

Methods and Analysis

We propose undertaking a randomized clinical trial sequentially recruiting 200 patients. All the patients will randomly receive ultrasound guided curettage with or without UAE. Data on the subtypes of cesarean scar pregnancy (Types 1 and II and III) detected by ultrasound will be collected before operation. The score on estimating intraoperative blood loss assessed by our recently developed quantitative risk-scoring system (QRS) will be collected before the operation. We will primarily compare the duration of the operation, intraoperative blood loss, and complications between the two groups. We will also retrospectively analyze the association of subtypes of cesarean scar pregnancy and the options of treatment and validate the QRS score. Outcomes of subsequent pregnancy within the 2-year follow-up will be secondary outcomes.

Trial Registration Number

[website], identifier ChiCTR2100041654.
Tropical Rainforest Successional Processes can Facilitate Successfully Recovery of Extremely Degraded Tropical Forest Ecosystems Following Intensive Mining Operations
Authors: Zhao Yang , Zou Yike , Wang Lu , Su Rui , He Qifang , Jiang Kai , Chen Bin , Xing Yuting , Liu Tiedong , Zhang Hui , Cui Jie , Wang Chen
Published: June 2021

Reforestation is an effective way to alleviate deforestation and its negative impacts on ecosystem services. In tropical rainforest ecosystem, however, frequent typhoons and heavy rainfall can result in landslides and uprooting of many seedlings, making reforestation efforts very difficult, especially within extremely degraded sites where soil conditions cannot support any plant life. Here, we described a reforestation protocol which is based on tropical rainforest successional processes to not only prevent landslides and tree uprooting due to frequent typhoon and heavy rain, but also accelerate tropical forest succession. This protocol first used the slope and soil layer of the undisturbed old-growth tropical rainforest as a reference to reconstruct slope and soil layers. Then multiple tropical tree species with high growth and survival rate were separately monocultured in the reconstructed soil layers. In the year of 2015 and 2016, we tested the effectiveness of this protocol to recover a 0.2 km2 extremely degraded tropical rainforest which consists of bare rock and thus does not support any plant life, in Sanya city, China. Our results showed that, both typhoons and heavy rains did not result in landslide or any tree damages in the area this reforestation protocol was used. Moreover, our separately monocultured eight fast-growing tree species have much higher fast-growing related functional traits than those for tree species in the adjacent undisturbed tropical seasonal forest, which in turn resulted in large soil water and nutrient loss within 3 years. This seemed to simulate a quick transition from primary succession (consist of bare rock and cannot support any plant life) to mid-stage of secondary tropical rainforest succession (many fast-growing pioneer tree species induced high soil water and nutrient loss). Thus, mixing the late-successional tropical tree species with each of the separately monocultured eight fast-growing tree species can accelerate recovery to the undisturbed tropical rainforest as soon as possible. Overall, based on tropical rainforest successional processes, our research provides an effective protocol for quickly and effectively restoring an extremely degraded tropical rainforest ecosystem. We expect that this work will be important for the future recovery of other extremely degraded tropical rainforest ecosystems.
Urban Noise Restricts Song Frequency Bandwidth and Syllable Diversity in Bananaquits: Increasing Audibility at the Expense of Signal Quality
Authors: Winandy Gabrielle S. M. , Félix Rafael P. , Sacramento Rafaela A. , Mascarenhas Rilquer , Batalha-Filho Henrique , Japyassú Hilton F. , Izar Patrícia , Slabbekoorn Hans
Published: June 2021

Anthropogenic noise can interfere with animal behavior through masking of acoustic communication. In response to masking, animals may change their acoustic signals as an apparent adjustment strategy, but this may have a drawback on signal quality. Songs and calls may show noise-dependent changes in frequency and duration, which may yield some masking avoidance, but may also constrain other acoustic parameters that might carry information about the sender. In the present study, we investigated whether noise-dependent reduction in frequency bandwidth or song duration restricted syllable diversity or song elaboration in a Neotropical songbird, the bananaquit (Coereba flaveola). We show that bananaquits sing higher frequency songs, of narrower bandwidth, in noisier territories, independent of variation in territory density, without significant variation in song duration. We also show that songs with higher minimum frequencies, narrower bandwidths, and shorter durations have on average a lower number of syllable types and higher syllable rates. This finding is in line with an acoustic restriction and may reflect a functional trade-off between audibility and signal value: higher frequencies may be more audible but less elaborate songs may weaken the message of sender quality. Consequently, noise pollution may not only alter avian communities, but also shape acoustic diversity and processes of sexual selection in urban environments.
Effects of Male Age and Female Presence on Male Associations in a Large, Polygynous Mammal in Southern India: The Asian Elephant
Authors: Keerthipriya P. , Nandini S. , Vidya T. N. C.
Published: June 2021

We present a detailed study of male associations in the Asian elephant, using 6 years of data on identified, non-musth males. Adult males spent greater proportions of their time solitarily than in mixed-sex or in all-male groups. Old (over 30 years) males were sighted more frequently with their age-peers and less frequently with young (15–30 years) males than expected at random in all-male groups. Young males were not sighted more frequently with old males than with young males, and did not disproportionately initiate associations with old males. These results suggest that male associations, in the absence of females, may allow for old non-musth males to test strengths against age-peers. Social learning from older individuals did not seem to be important in male associations, unlike that observed in the African savannah elephant. We also found a constraint on the sizes of all-male groups, similar to that seen in female groups in our study population, and all-male groups were rarer and smaller than those in African savannah elephant. Although male associations were weak, most males had a significant top associate, with whom their association was the strongest, in female absence. In mixed-sex groups, male associations occurred at random, suggesting that males were tracking female groups independently. Differences in male social organization from that of the related African savannah elephant that occupies a similar niche possibly arise from differences in ecology.
The Biodiversity–Biomass Relationship of Aquatic Macrophytes Is Regulated by Water Depth: A Case Study of a Shallow Mesotrophic Lake in China
Authors: Ma Fei , Yang Lei , Lv Tian , Zuo Zhenjun , Zhao Haocun , Fan Shufeng , Liu Chunhua , Yu Dan
Published: June 2021

The relationship between biodiversity and productivity (or biomass production) (BPR) has been a popular topic in macroecology and debated for decades. However, this relationship is poorly understood in macrophyte communities, and the mechanism of the BPR pattern of the aquatic macrophyte community is not clear. We investigated 78 aquatic macrophyte communities in a shallow mesotrophic freshwater lake in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China. We analyzed the relationship between biodiversity (species richness, diversity, and evenness indices) and community biomass, and the effects of water environments and interspecific interactions on biodiversity–biomass patterns. Unimodal patterns between community biomass and diversity indices instead of evenness indices are shown, and these indicate the importance of both the number and abundance of species when studying biodiversity–biomass patterns under mesotrophic conditions. These patterns were moderated by species identity biologically and water depth environmentally. However, water depth determined the distribution and growth of species with different life-forms as well as species identities through environmental filtering. These results demonstrate that water depth regulates the biodiversity–biomass pattern of the aquatic macrophyte community as a result of its effect on species identity and species distribution. Our study may provide useful information for conservation and restoration of macrophyte vegetation in shallow lakes through matching water depth and species or life-form combinations properly to reach high ecosystem functions and services.