bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pelatihan Penggunaan Aplikasi Penjualan Online untuk Kelompok Wanita Tani (KWT)
Authors: Junaidi Agus , Wahyudin Wahyudin , Hidayat Rachmat , Yani Ahmad
Published: April 2023

Salah satu aspek penting dalam membangun ketahanan pangan adalah ketersediaan pangan dalam jumlah dan jenis yang cukup serta adanya sistem kelembagaan di masyarakat dalam pengelolaan pangan. Banyaknya hasil pertanian yang belum bisa dijual ke pihak luar, sementara hanya dimanfaatkan warga sekitar dan kurangnya sarana dan prasarana, membuat hasil pertanian kurang maksimal terjual. Solusi yang diharapkan dari permasalahan ini adalah mempromosikan dan menjual produk pertanian pada Kelompok Wanita Tani Periuk kota Tangerang melalui wadah marketplace sehingga dapat membantu menjual hasil pertanian tanpa dibatasi oleh wilayah dan waktu. Dengan semakin banyaknya produk yang terjual maka pendapatan Kelompok Wanita Tani tersebut secara otomatis akan meningkat. Metode yang digunakan dalam Pengabdian Masyarakat ini adalah dengan menggunakan pelatihan secara langsung cara mendaftarkan, membuat akun dan mempromosikan produk pertanian pada aplikasi Tokopedia.
Membangun Pola Hidup Menabung pada Anak-Anak Usia Dini
Authors: Fitri Hadiati , Elmanizar Elmanizar , Genisa Maya
Published: April 2023

Kegiatan pelatihan menabung bagi anak TK bertujuan untuk memberikan keterampilan dalam pengenalan nilai uang bagi anak usia dini dengan melatih mereka untuk membiasakan pola hidup budaya menabung, mencegah sikap konsumtif dan mendidik mereka kelak untuk dapat mengelola keuangan secara mandiri untuk meningkatkan kesejahteraan mereka di masa depan. Sasaran dari pelatihan ini adalah anak-anak TK Aisiyiyah. Program ini dilakukan dengan memberikan metode story telling melalui dongeng virtual. Kegiatan dilakukan melalui pelatihan langsung kegiatan menabung selama satu bulan dengan memberikan setiap siswa sebuah celengan. Kegiatan ini dipantau melalui kerja sama guru-guru TK dan orang tua murid. Pada akhir bulan, kotak uang dikumpulkan dan dana yang terkumpul disumbangkan kepada Yayasan Visi Mahakarya dalam membantu para penyandang disabilitas.
Outcomes of Salvage Lymph Node Dissection for Prostate Cancer with Clinical Nodal Relapse: Results of a Multicentric, Retrospective Study
Authors: Oderda Marco , Joniau Steven , Melloni Guglielmo , Falcone Marco , Munegato Stefania , Tosco Lorenzo , Zattoni Fabio , Karnes Robert Jeffrey , Gontero Paolo
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Salvage lymph node dissection (sLND) is a treatment option for prostate cancer (PCa) patients with nodal recurrence after radical therapy to delay tumour progression and hormonal treatment. We evaluated the outcomes in terms of biochemical recurrence (BCR), clinical regression, and cancer specific survival (CSS) in a large, multicentric series of patients treated with sLND for nodal recurrence of PCa.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 106 consecutive patients with BCR of PCa after radical treatment who underwent sLND between 2007 and 2013 at three tertiary centres. BCR was defined as prostate-specific antigen (PSA) >0.2 ng/mL. Clinical recurrence (CR) was defined as a positive imaging study or biopsy for metastasis after sLND. Kaplan–Meier curves calculated BCR-free survival (BFS), CR-free survival (CRS), and CSS. Cox regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of CR.
Results: Median number of nodes removed at sLND was 21.7, with a median of three positive nodes. Immediate biochemical response after surgery was achieved in 50.9% of patients. At a median follow-up of 22.5 months, biochemical failure and CR were experienced by 67.9% and 40.5% of patients, respectively. At 2 years, BFS, CRS, and CSS were 25%, 52%, and 92%, respectively. Castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) status, PSA level at sLND, and presence of biochemical failure after sLND were significantly associated with CR after surgery.
Conclusions: sLND represents a valid treatment option for selected patients with nodal recurrences, achieving a CR-free status in more than half of patients at 2 years. Patients with CRPC status or high PSA values might not be the best candidates for a sLND.
Psoriatic Arthritis: A Review
Authors: Mahmood Farrouq , Helliwell Philip
Published: April 2023

Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory arthritis which affects the skin and musculoskeletal system. If not diagnosed early and treated effectively it can result in joint deformity and disability. Treatments such as oral disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and biologic therapy are effective but have side effects which could limit their use in certain individuals. Further research aimed at identifying cases earlier in order to improve outcomes is currently being conducted.
American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals (ACR/ARHP) 2015 Meeting Highlights: New Data on Canakinumab
Authors: Charles Caroline
Published: April 2023

Interleukin (IL)-1 is a messenger for the regulation of inflammatory responses, but it can be harmful when in excess, such as in the inflammation observed in patients with autoinflammatory disease. Cryopyrinassociated periodic syndromes (CAPS) are a group of rare autoinflammatory diseases with an estimated population frequency ranging from 1–3 people per million.>1 These hereditary cytokine dysregulation syndromes encompass a spectrum of three cryopyrinopathies, including familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome (FCAS), Muckle–Wells syndrome (MWS), and neonatal-onset multisystemic inflammatory disease. In such genotypes, the NLRP3 gene that encodes cryopyrin, an inflammation mediator involved in IL-1β processing, is mutated.

Canakinumab (CAN) is a humanised monoclonal antibody, which is administered subcutaneously and acts as an IL-β inhibitor drug, with a long plasma half-life (21–28 days) and an activity in the picomolar range. In the USA, CAN is indicated for the treatment of CAPS, including FCAS and MWS in adults and children. CAN was subsequently approved in 2013 for the treatment of active systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA) in patients aged ≥2.2-4 The European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved CAN for the management of CAPS, gouty arthritis (GA), and SJIA in October 2009.5

New data on CAN use in CAPS is still emerging and CAN is also currently being evaluated in the treatment of other autoinflammatory diseases, including SJIA, as well as hereditary periodic fever syndromes and a range of other conditions, such as GA.6-8 This article reviews the new preclinical and clinical evidence on CAN presented at the American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals (ACR/ARHP) meeting held in San Francisco, California, USA from 6th–11th November 2015.
PSMA-Specific Ligands in Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy
Authors: Jin Wei , Barve Ashutosh , Cheng Kun
Published: April 2023

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is the most extensively studied biomarker and antigen of prostate cancer. It is overexpressed in almost all prostate cancers, and the expression level increases with prostate cancer progression. PSMA is also highly expressed in the neovasculature of solid tumours including prostate cancer. As a result, numerous PSMA-specific ligands have been discovered for prostate cancer diagnosis and therapy, and one of them has been approved for clinical use. Moreover, a number of other PSMA-specific ligands are currently evaluated in clinical studies. In this review we discuss four major types of PSMA-specific ligands, including antibody, aptamer, peptide, and small molecule inhibitor. Their emerging applications in prostate cancer diagnosis, targeted drug delivery, and therapy are also discussed.
Pathogenesis and Laboratory Diagnosis of Childhood Urinary Tract Infection
Authors: Mandal Jharna
Published: April 2023

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common infections of childhood. The clinical presentations are mostly non-specific or mild. As any episode of UTI can potentially damage the kidneys, timely diagnosis and treatment are necessary to prevent renal damage. Incidence of UTI varies depending on the age, gender, and race of the child. UTIs in children are commonly caused by bacteria, though viruses, fungi, and parasites are also occasionally involved. The pathogenesis of UTI is complex where several host and pathogen factors influence the course of the disease and its outcome. Urine culture is still considered the gold standard method for the diagnosis of UTI. The means of obtaining urine samples from children for culture involves urethral catheterisation and suprapubic aspiration. The conventional methods of antibiotic susceptibility testing are labour intensive and time exhaustive. With the advent of technology, many automated platforms are available which are rapid, involve less volume of the culture or the sample, and have high accuracy.
The skill of mental health: Towards a new theory of mental health and disorder
Authors: Leder Garson , Zawidzki Tadeusz
Published: April 2023

This paper presents a naturalist skill-based alternative to traditional function-based naturalist theories of mental health and disorder. According to the novel skill view outlined here, mental health is a skilled action of individuals, rather than a question of the functioning of mental mechanisms. Mental disorder is the failure or breakdown of this skill. This skill view of mental health is motivated by focusing on the process of mental healing. This paper argues that, when we start with a focus on how and why individuals heal from mental disorders, we gain a better understanding of what mental health is: the exercise of self-regulatory metacognitive skill.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES AND TRADE COMPETITIVENESS: THE MALAYSIAN PALM OIL DOWNSTREAM INDUSTRY
Authors: Norashida Othman  , Zulkornain Yusop  , Mohd Mansor Ismail
Published: April 2023

This paper explore how export competitiveness in the Malaysian palm oil downstream industry is affected by European Union (EU) environmental regulation. Porter (1990) suggests that environmental policies may foster international competitiveness. To investigate the impact of EU environmental policies on trade competitiveness in the Malaysian palm oil downstream industry, the dynamic generalized method of moments (DGMM) is employed. The final results reveal that EU environmental regulations have a positive impact on palm oil industry competitiveness. This result is consistent with the Porter Hypothesis, which argues that a more stringent environmental regulation can trigger innovation to non-compliance cost. Palm oil downstream innovation is crucial to improve the overall competitiveness of the industry, including the smallholders’ sector. This implies that the Malaysian government may want to introduce certain measures, such as energy taxes to promote the use of renewable energy. This may lead to more sustainable palm oil production which may improve the overall competitiveness of the palm oil downstream industry.
HOW PERCEIVED WORKPLACE OSTRACISM HINDERS CREATIVITY: COWORKER ENVY AS A TRIGGER
Authors: Joko Suyono, Risgiyanti  , Lilik Wahyudi  , Adnan Effendi
Published: April 2023

Workplace ostracism is a construct that requires further studies since it potentially affects ostracized individuals’ attitudes and behaviors, yet it is still understudied. The present study aimed to analyze the mechanism of the emergence of workplace ostracism through coworker envy and its effect on employee creativity. Creative process engagement was also used as a mediating variable for the effect of workplace ostracism on creativity. The data were gathered using a self-report questionnaire distributed to employees in the service sector. Out of 592 questionnaires filled out online, 201 met the criteria for further analysis. The result showed that coworker envy significantly and positively affects workplace ostracism. The finding also suggested that workplace ostracism has a negative and significant effect on creative process engagement but has no significant effect on employee creativity. However, this study revealed that creative process engagement fully mediated the negative effect of workplace ostracism on creativity.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP, LOCUS OF CONTROL AND EMPLOYEES' READINESS TO CHANGE: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF PSYCAP
Authors: Reni Rosari  , Miftachul Mujib
Published: April 2023

This study investigates the influence of transformational leadership and internal locus of control on readiness to change. We examine the role of psychological capital as the mediating construct. Data were collected by the survey from 149 employees working at several start-up companies in Indonesia. The findings reveal that transformational leadership directly influences readiness to change, while internal locus of control influences both directly and indirectly. The mediating role of psychological capital does not significantly affect the relationship between transformational leadership and readiness to change. We also found that psychological capital fully mediates the influence of internal locus of control on readiness to change. This study contributes to understanding the psychological mechanism of psychological capital as an essential tool to link the effect of internal locus of control in building employees’ readiness to change. Theoretical and practical implications and suggestions for further research are further discussed.
SCOPE OF AUDIT AND EFFECTIVENESS OF PUBLIC SECTOR AUDIT IN MALAYSIA
Authors: Nor Raihana Asmar Mohd Noor  , T. Ramayah  , Syed Azlan Al Jaffree Syed Khadzil  , Nor Halida Haziaton Mohd Noor  , Wan Yusrol Rizal Bin W. Yusof
Published: April 2023

The public sector audit is a cornerstone for an effective corporate governance. However, its effectiveness largely depends on the scope of audit conducted in public sector agencies. Therefore, this paper examines scope of audit and its effects on the effectiveness of public sector audit in Malaysia. The respondents include the public sector auditors. By employing non-probability purposive sampling using 203 respondents and analysed using Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), it was discovered that the scope of audit have a significant positive effect on the effectiveness of public sector audit. The finding reveals that performance and compliance auditing is crucial in public sector. A sound regulatory mechanism in terms of rewards and punishment should be fair and clear. This is important to ensure that the internal auditors strictly address the non-performance behaviours of the government. The research topic is relatively new in Malaysian public sector. This study is therefore likely to significantly contribute to the knowledge about how scope of audit operates in a public sector agencies context that differs significantly from the contexts of private sector agencies.
THE ROLE OF TAX FAIRNESS AND TAXPAYER TRUST IN BUILDING VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE IN MSME TAXPAYERS
Authors: Nadia Fajriana  , Gugus Irianto  , Wuryan Andayani
Published: April 2023

The aim of this study is to explain the role of tax fairness (procedural and distributive) and taxpayer trust (cognitive) in building voluntary compliance of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) taxpayers in Malang Raya, Indonesia. To achieve this, the study uses a positivist paradigm approach with a judgment sampling method. Data were collected from questionnaires, which were created using the Google Forms platform and distributed online. Furthermore, the response was obtained from 204 respondents. The study results show that the two observed factors, i.e tax fairness (procedural and distributive) and taxpayer trust (cognitive), significantly influences voluntary compliance among MSME taxpayers in Malang Raya, Indonesia.
Teaching effectiveness in the utilization of Montessori approach in early childhood basic science learning in Ika South Local Government Area (LGA) in Delta State
Authors: Nwabuwe Henrietta Ifeanyichukwu , Osagiede Mercy Afe
Published: April 2023

Most learners find science challenging, which may be because of the methodology used in the early years that presents it as difficult and abstract. On the other hand, the Montessori Method uses a hands-on approach to teaching science from the early years. This study, therefore, looks at the effect of the teachers' utilization of the Montessori approach to early childhood education in Ika South Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta State, Nigeria. Two research questions and hypotheses were raised. The research design adopted for the study was a descriptive, pre-test, post-test, quasi-experimental method used to test the differences between the pupils' learning experiences in the two groups. The Taro Yamane formula was used to get the sample size, and a stratified random sampling technique was used to select 77 teachers and 40 nursery pupils, comprising ten each in experimental and control groups, in two schools in Ika South LGA of Delta State. The instruments to be used for this study will be self-designed multiple-choice achievement test questions in early years' science and four-point Likert-type self-structured questionnaires. The result indicates that teachers' knowledge and utilization of the Montessori approach to teaching pre-primary science is more effective than the conventional teaching method. Some suggestions were made for the way forward
Ecology of food waste chain-elongating microbiome
Authors: Crognale Simona , Massimi Alessio , Sbicego Michela , Braguglia Camilla Maria , Gallipoli Agata , Gazzola Giulio , Gianico Andrea , Tonanzi Barbara , Di Pippo Francesca , Rossetti Simona
Published: April 2023

Microbial chain elongation has emerged as a valuable bioprocess for obtaining marketable products, such as medium chain fatty acids usable in several industrial applications, from organic waste. The understanding of the microbiology and microbial ecology in these systems is crucial to apply these microbiomes in reliable production processes controlling microbial pathways to promote favourable metabolic processes, which will in turn increase product specificity and yields. In this research, the dynamics, cooperation/competition and potentialities of bacterial communities involved in the long-term lactate-based chain elongation process from food waste extract were evaluated under different operating conditions by DNA/RNA amplicon sequencing and functional profile prediction. The feeding strategies and the applied organic loading rates strongly affected the microbial community composition. The use of food waste extract promoted the selection of primary fermenters (i.e., Olsenella, Lactobacillus) responsible for the in situ production of electron donors (i.e., lactate). The discontinuous feeding and the organic loading rate 15 gCOD L-1 d-1 selected the best performing microbiome in which microbes coexist and cooperate to complete the chain elongation process. Both at DNA and RNA level, this microbiome was composed by the lactate producer Olsenella, the short chain fatty acids producers Anaerostipes, Clostridium sensu stricto 7, C. sensu stricto 12, Corynebacterium, Erysipelotrichaceae UCG-004, F0332, Leuconostoc, and the chain elongator Caproiciproducens. This microbiome also showed the highest predicted abundance of short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, the functional enzyme responsible for the chain elongation process. The combined approach herein used allowed to study the microbial ecology of chain elongation process from food waste by identifying the main functional groups, establishing the presence of potential biotic interactions within the microbiomes, and predicting metabolic potentialities. This study provided pivotal indications for the selection of high-performance microbiome involved in caproate production from food waste that can serve as a basis for further improving system performance and engineering the process scale-up.
Agarose/crystalline nanocellulose (CNC) composites promote bone marrow-derived mast cell integrity, degranulation and receptor expression but inhibit production of de novo synthesized mediators
Authors: Kulka Marianna , Wagner Ashley , Cho Jae-Young , Alam Syed Benazir , Santos Joy Ramielle , Jovel Juan , Karamchand Leshern , Marcet-Palacios Marcelo
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Mast cells are highly granulated tissue-resident leukocytes that require a three-dimensional matrix to differentiate and mediate immune responses. However, almost all cultured mast cells rely on two-dimensional suspension or adherent cell culture systems, which do not adequately reflect the complex structure that these cells require for optimal function.

Methods: Crystalline nanocellulose (CNC), consisting of rod-like crystals 4–15 nm in diameter and 0.2–1 µm in length, were dispersed in an agarose matrix (12.5% w/v), and bone marrow derived mouse mast cells (BMMC) were cultured on the agarose/CNC composite. BMMC were activated with the calcium ionophore A23187 or immunoglobulin E (IgE) and antigen (Ag) to crosslink high affinity IgE receptors (FcεRI).

Results: BMMC cultured on a CNC/agarose matrix remained viable and metabolically active as measured by reduction of sodium 3′-[1-[(phenylamino)-carbony]-3,4-tetrazolium]-bis(4-methoxy-6-nitro) benzene-sulfonic acid hydrate (XTT), and the cells maintained their membrane integrity as analyzed by measuring the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and propidium iodide exclusion by flow cytometry. Culture on CNC/agarose matrix had no effect on BMMC degranulation in response to IgE/Ag or A23187. However, culture of BMMC on a CNC/agarose matrix inhibited A23187-and IgE/Ag-activated production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and other mediators such as IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-13, MCP-1/CCL2, MMP-9 and RANTES by as much as 95%. RNAseq analysis indicated that BMMC expressed a unique and balanced transcriptome when cultured on CNC/agarose.

Discussion: These data demonstrate that culture of BMMCs on a CNC/agarose matrix promotes cell integrity, maintains expression of surface biomarkers such as FcεRI and KIT and preserves the ability of BMMC to release pre-stored mediators in response to IgE/Ag and A23187. However, culture of BMMC on CNC/agarose matrix inhibits BMMC production of de novo synthesized mediators, suggesting that CNC may be altering specific phenotypic characteristics of these cells that are associated with late phase inflammatory responses.
Three-dimensional core-shell alginate microsphere for cancer hypoxia simulation in vitro
Authors: Ruan Yejiao , He Lingyun , Chen Jiamin , Wang Jinfeng , Zhao Shujing , Guo Xiaoling , Xie Yao , Cai Zhenzhai , Shen Xian , Li Chao
Published: April 2023

Hypoxia is one of the major causes of cancer resistance and metastasis. Currently, it is still lack of convenient ways to simulate the in vivo hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME) under normoxia in vitro. In this study, based on multi-polymerized alginate, we established a three-dimensional culture system with a core-shell structure (3d-ACS), which prevents oxygen diffusion to a certain extent, thereby simulating the hypoxic TME in vivo. The cell activity, hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) expression, drug resistance, and the related gene and protein changes of the gastric cancer (GC) cells were investigated in vitro and in vivo. The results demonstrated that the GC cells formed organoid-like structures in the 3d-ACS and manifested more aggressive growth and decreased drug responses. Our study provides an accessible hypoxia platform in the laboratory with moderate configuration and it may be applied in studies of the hypoxia-induced drug resistances and other preclinical fields.
Clinical application value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in the diagnosis of central nervous system infections
Authors: Liu Ying , Zhu Weiwei , Jiao Mengfan , Guo Wenhu , Luo Yonggang
Published: April 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical application value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in central nervous system (CNS) infections.

Methods: Both mNGS and routine examination of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients with CNS infections retrospectively analyzed the efficacy of mNGS in this cohort and were ultimately compared with a clinical diagnosis.

Results: A total of 94 cases consistent with CNS infections were included in the analysis. The positive rate for mNGS is 60.6% (57/94), which is significantly higher than 20.2% (19/94; p < 0.01) detected using conventional methods. mNGS detected 21 pathogenic strains that could not be detected by routine testing. Routine tests were positive for two pathogens but negative for mNGS. The sensitivity and specificity of mNGS in the diagnosis of central nervous system infections were 89.5% and 44%, respectively, when compared with traditional tests. At discharge, 20 (21.3%) patients were cured, 55 (58.5%) patients showed improvements, five (5.3%) patients did not recover, and two (2.1%) patients died.

Conclusion: mNGS has unique advantages in the diagnosis of central nervous system infections. mNGS tests can be performed when patients are clinically suspected of having a central nervous system infection but no pathogenic evidence.
Altered serum metabolome associated with vascular calcification developed from CKD and the critical pathways
Authors: Tan Ruyu , Ou Santao , Kang Ting , Wu Weihua , Xiong Lin , Zhu Tingting , Zhang Liling
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Vascular calcification (VC) is more likely to be detected in the chronic kidney disease (CKD) population. The mechanism of VC development from CKD is different from that for simple VC and has always been a major research area. The aim of this study was to detect alterations in the metabolome during development of VC in CKD and to identify the critical metabolic pathways and metabolites involved in its pathogenesis.

Methods

Rats in the model group were given an adenine gavage combined with a high-phosphorus diet to imitate VC in CKD. The aorta calcium content was measured and used to divide the model group into a VC group and non-vascular calcification group (non-VC group). The control group was fed a normal rat diet and given a saline gavage. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) was used to determine the altered serum metabolome in the control, VC, and non-VC groups. The identified metabolites were mapped into the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database (https://www.genome.jp/kegg/) for pathway and network analyses.

Result

There were 14 metabolites that changed significantly in the VC group, with three metabolic pathways playing critical roles in the pathogenesis of VC in CKD: steroid hormone biosynthesis; valine, leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis; and pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis.

Conclusion

Our results indicated changes in the expression of steroid sulfatase and estrogen sulfotransferase, and down-regulation of the in situ synthesis of estrogens in the VC group. In conclusion, the serum metabolome alters significantly during the pathogenesis of VC in CKD. The key pathways, metabolites, and enzymes we identified are worth further study and may become a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of VC in CKD.
The value of myocardial work in the estimation of left ventricular systolic function in patients with coronary microvascular disease: A study based on adenosine stress echocardiography
Authors: Liu Quande , Li Qimou , Wan Xiaoyu , Xu Mingjun , Pan Jichen , Zhang Yu , Li Mengmeng , Zhang Mei
Published: April 2023

Background

Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is associated with increased cardiovascular events in patients with angina with non-obstructive coronary (ANOCA), especially heart failure. Conventional echocardiography is difficult to identify early alterations in cardiac function due to CMD.

Methods

We recruited 78 ANOCA patients. All patients underwent conventional echocardiography examination, adenosine stress echocardiography and examination of coronary flow reserve (CFR) by transthoracic echocardiography. Based on the CFR results, patients were divided into the CMD group (CFR < 2.5) and the non-CMD group (CFVR ≥ 2.5). Demographic data, conventional echocardiographic parameters, two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) parameters and myocardial work (MW) were compared between the two groups at rest and at stress. Logistic regression was used to analyze the factors associated with CMD.

Results

There was no significant difference in conventional echocardiography parameters, 2D-STE related indices or MW at rest between the two groups. Global work index (GWI), global contractive work (GCW), and global work efficiency (GWE) were lower in the CMD group than in the non-CMD group at stress (p = 0.040, 0.044, <0.001, respectively), but global waste work (GWW) and peak strain dispersion (PSD) were higher (both p < 0.001). GWI and GCW were associated with systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, product of heart rate and blood pressure, GLS and coronary flow velocity. While GWW was mainly correlated with PSD, GWE was correlated with PSD and GLS. In the non-CMD group, the responses to adenosine was mainly manifested as an increase in GWI, GCW and GWE (p = 0.001, 0.001, 0.009, respectively) and a decrease in PSD and GWW (p = 0.001, 0.015, respectively). In the CMD group, the response to adenosine was mainly manifested as an increase in GWW and a decrease in GWE (p = 0.002, and 0.006, respectively). In the multivariate regression analysis, we found that ΔGWW (difference in GWW before vs. after adenosine stress) and ΔPSD (difference in PSD before vs. after adenosine stress) were independent factors associated with CMD. The ROC curves showed that the composite prediction model consisting of ΔGWW and ΔPSD had excellent diagnostic value for CMD (area under the curve = 0.913).

Conclusion

In the present study, we found that CMD caused deterioration of myocardial work in ANOCA patients under adenosine stress, and that increased cardiac contraction asynchrony and wasted work may be the main changes caused by CMD.
Consistent long-term practice leads to consistent improvement: Benefits of self-managed therapy for language and cognitive deficits using a digital therapeutic
Authors: Liu Hantian , Cordella Claire , Ishwar Prakash , Betke Margrit , Kiran Swathi
Published: April 2023

Background

Although speech-language therapy (SLT) is proven to be beneficial to recovery of post-stroke aphasia, delivering sufficiently high amounts of dosage remains a problem in real-world clinical practice. Self-managed SLT was introduced to solve the problem. Previous research showed in a 10-week period, increased dosage frequency could lead to better performance, however, it is uncertain if dosage still affects performance over a longer period of practice time and whether gains can be seen following practice over several months.

Objective

This study aims to evaluate data from a health app (Constant Therapy) to investigate the relationship between dosage amount and improvements following a 30-week treatment period. Two cohorts of users were analyzed. One was comprised of patients with a consistent average weekly dosage amount and the other cohort was comprised of users whose practice had higher variability.

Methods

We conducted two analyses with two cohorts of post-stroke patients who used Constant Therapy. The first cohort contains 537 “consistent” users, while the second cohort contains 2,159. The 30-week practice period was split into three consecutive 10-week practice windows to calculate average dosage amount. In each 10-week practice period, patients were grouped by their average dosage into low (0–15 min/week), medium (15–40 min/week) and moderate dosage (greater than 40 min/week) groups. Linear mixed-effects models were employed to evaluate if dosage amount was a significant factor affecting performance. Pairwise comparison was also applied to evaluate the slope difference between groups.

Results

For the consistent cohort, medium (β = .002, t17,700 = 7.64, P < .001) and moderate (β = .003, t9,297 = 7.94, P < .001) dosage groups showed significant improvement compared to the low dosage group. The moderate group also showed greater improvement compared to the medium group. For the variable cohort in analysis 2, the same trend was shown in the first two 10-week windows, however, in weeks 21–30, the difference was insignificant between low and medium groups (β = .001, t = 1.76, P = .078).

Conclusions

This study showed a higher dosage amount is related to greater therapy outcomes in over 6 months of digital self-managed therapy. It also showed that regardless of the exact pattern of practice, self-managed SLT leads to significant and sustained performance gains.
Development characteristics and controlling factors of dolomite reservoirs of permian Qixi a Formation in central Sichuan Basin
Authors: Tan Kaijun , Wu Qingpeng , Chen Juan , Yao Jun , Qin Yang , Zhang Yongfeng
Published: April 2023

In recent years, with the fine exploration of carbonate reservoirs in the Qixia Formation, central Sichuan Basin, researchers have made important oil and gas discoveries in the dolomite reservoirs. However, the characteristics, genesis and controlling factors of dolomite reservoirs in the Qixia Formation in this area are still unclear. In this paper, the petrology, pore structures, physical properties and geochemical characteristics of the dolomite reservoirs in the Permian Qixia Formation in the central Sichuan Basin have been systematically studied based on a large number of cores, thin sections, physical property and geochemical tests. Furthermore, the genesis and main controlling factors of dolomite reservoirs are clarified. The study shows that the dolomites have the characteristics of small single-layer thickness and multi-layer development, and they are usually interbeded with the limestones. The reservoir types are mainly fine crystal and fine medium crystal dolomite, and the reservoir spaces include intercrystalline pores and dissolution pores (or caves). Moreover, the reservoir physical properties are characterized by medium porosity and medium to high permeability. Quasi-syngenetic dolomitization is the main origin of dolomite in the target layer, and the dolomite was slightly modified by hydrothermal solution at the end of the Maokou Formation period. The development of dolomite reservoirs in the Qixia Formation in the study area is affected by palaeogeomorphology, sedimentation and diagenesis. The granular shoal facies developed in the high parts of the paleogeomorphology provides the material basis for the formation of dolomite reservoirs. The high frequency sequence interface controls the development of dolomite reservoirs in the highstand systems tract. In addition, the quasi-syngenetic dissolution promots the development of the early secondary pores and provids an effective channel for the migration of the diagenetic fluids in the later stage. In the direction of orthogonal horizontal deposition, the dolomites have the characteristics of thin monolayer thickness, multiple sequences and are interbedded with limestone. The dolomite shoals in the study area are distributed as clumps in the plane, which has great potential for hydrocarbon exploration.
The effect of teacher’s attitudes in supporting inclusive education by catering to diverse learners
Authors: Kazmi Anjum Bano , Kamran Mahwish , Siddiqui Sohni
Published: April 2023

Several countries around the world, including Pakistan, are determined to achieve successful inclusion but are facing some major and minor challenges. For example, the dearth of physical and human resources and a lack of understanding, expertise, and attitudes. The present research was carried out to find out the role that teachers’ attitudes play in educating children suffering from behavioral disorders. Using the quantitative research design data were gathered from 230 randomly selected sample cases of teachers working in 10 traditional (non-inclusive) and 10 inclusive schools in Karachi, Pakistan. The teachers were asked to respond to items on the semantic differential scale and five-point Likert scale, respectively, to gauge their attitudes toward inclusive education. The analyses were carried out through Smart Partial Least Squares (Smart PLS) 3.0. The results from the Structural Equation Modeling analysis revealed that teachers have positive attitudes toward the education of children with behavioral disorders. Directly significant positive correlations indicated that teachers are prepared to cater students with mild behavioral disorders in their classrooms. The current study suggested the development of a support mechanism by the school administration and also the provision of guiding principles for increasing teachers’ self-efficacy to increase the chances of inclusion of students with behavioral disorders.
Zooarchaeological assemblages contextualize the historical ecology and harvest of fur-bearing mammals in Vermont
Authors: Mychajliw Alexis M. , Hsi Audrey Y. , An-Pham Drew , Olson Olivia L. , Carder Nanny , Crock John G. , Robinson Francis “Jess” W.
Published: April 2023

Shifting baselines can skew species harvest guidelines and lead to potentially inaccurate assessments of population status and range. The North American Fur Trade (~1600–1900 CE) profoundly impacted the continent’s socio-ecological systems, but its legacies are often not incorporated in management discussions. We apply a conservation paleobiology lens to address shifting baselines of nine species of fur-bearing mammals in Vermont, including seven mesocarnivores and two semi-aquatic rodents. Using a database maintained by the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation, we identified 25 existing radiocarbon dates of fur-bearer associated features from 16 archaeological localities spanning the Early-Late Holocene. We also generated 7 new radiocarbon dates on beaver and muskrat bones from the Ewing (VT-CH-005), Bohannon (VT-GI-026), and Chimney Point (VT-AD-329) localities. Our new radiocarbon dates cluster within the Late Holocene, immediately prior to and throughout the European contact period, and overlap with The Beaver Wars. We recover a ~8,000 year record of beaver harvest, affirming the millennial scale importance of beavers, a species that is often the focus of human-wildlife conflict research. Comparison of zooarchaeological occurrences with digitized natural history specimens and community science observations reveals geographic range continuity for most species except for the American marten, which was historically extirpated, and confirms the native status of the red fox. While taphonomic constraints make our dataset a conservative assessment, our case studies demonstrate how wildlife managers can employ zooarchaeological data to better understand long-term properties of coupled socio-ecological systems and highlight the cultural importance of these species to Indigenous trade networks prior to the Fur Trade in Vermont.
Osteological correlates of evolutionary transitions in cetacean feeding and related oropharyngeal functions
Authors: Werth Alexander J. , Beatty Brian L.
Published: April 2023

Teeth are often the first structures that anatomists and paleontologists examine to understand the ecology and morphology of feeding, both because teeth are highly specialized structures that provide precise information, and because they are among the best and most commonly preserved fossils. Unfortunately, many fragmentary fossil and recent specimens lack teeth, and some come from edentulous individuals and taxa, as in mysticete (baleen) whales. In our broad comparative review, we survey non-dental osteological features that, due to size, shape, arrangement, and surface features reflecting muscle attachments, provide useful clues to general or specific aspects of prey capture, intraoral transport, processing, or swallowing. We focus on hyoid, palatal, and pterygoid bones, mandibular symphyses and processes such as the coronoid, and the temporal fossa and zygomatic arch, as well as adjacent cranial bones relating to oral and pharyngeal anatomy. These bones relate to muscles of five general locations especially indicative of feeding: mandibular, hyoid, tongue, pharyngeal, and facial regions. Together these bones and muscles affect feeding and related activities including suckling and breathing. We discuss osteological correlates that provide special relevance to key transitions in cetacean evolutionary history, such as the shift from predominantly terrestrial to aquatic feeding, the shift from typical mammalian mastication to swallowing prey entirely or nearly whole, and the separation of respiratory and digestive passages. We also point to examples of modern specialists in these anatomical optima for different modes of prey capture, intraoral transport, processing, and swallowing. Although we focus on cetaceans, our approach is broadly relevant to all vertebrates, notably other marine tetrapods.
Association of the gut microbiota with coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction: A Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Wang Dan , Chen Xiaoyan , Li Zhen , Luo Ying
Published: April 2023

Background: Previous studies have indicated that the gut microbiota (GM) is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD), but the causality of these associations remains unestablished due to confounding factors and reverse causality. We conducted Mendelian randomization study (MR) to determine the causal effect of the specific bacterial taxa on CAD/myocardial infarction (MI) and identify the mediating factors involved.

Methods: Two-sample MR, multivariable MR (MVMR) and mediation analysis were performed. Inverse-variance weighting (IVW) was the main method used to analyze causality, and sensitivity analysis was used to verify the reliability of the study. Causal estimates from CARDIoGRAMplusC4D and FinnGen databases were combined using the meta-analysis method, and repeated validation was conducted based on the UK Biobank (UKB) database. Confounders that may affect the causal estimates were corrected by MVMP and the potential mediation effects were investigated by using mediation analysis.

Results: The study suggested that increased abundance of the RuminococcusUCG010 genus leads to a lower risk of CAD (OR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.78, 1.00; p = 2.88 × 10−2) and MI (OR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.79, 0.97; p = 1.08 × 10−2), with consistent results in both meta-analysis (CAD: OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.78, 0.96; p = 4.71 × 10−3; MI: OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.73, 0.92; p = 8.25 × 10−4) and repeated analysis of the UKB dataset (CAD: OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.99, 1.00, p = 2.53 × 10−4; MI: OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.99, 1.00, p = 1.85 × 10–11). Based on multiple databases, T2DM was proved as a mediating factor in the causal effect of RuminococcusUCG010 and CAD/MI, with an average mediation effect proportion of 20% on CAD and 17% on MI, respectively.

Conclusion: This MR study provided suggestive genetic evidence that the higher the RuminococcusUCG010 abundance is, the lower the risk of CAD and MI, with T2DM playing a mediating effect. This genus may become a novel target in strategies for treating and preventing CAD and MI.
The clinical efficacy of type 2 monoclonal antibodies in eosinophil-associated chronic airway diseases: a meta-analysis
Authors: Wu Yuan , Huang Mengfen , Zhong Jinyao , Lu Yue , Gan Kao , Yang Rongyuan , Liu Yuntao , Li Jiqiang , Chen Jiankun
Published: April 2023

Background

Anti-type 2 inflammation therapy has been proposed as a treatment strategy for eosinophil-associated chronic airway disorders that could reduce exacerbations and improve lung function. We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to assess the effectiveness of type 2 monoclonal antibodies (anti-T2s) for eosinophil-associated chronic airway disorders.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched from their inception to 21 August 2022. Randomized clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness of anti-T2s versus placebo in the treatment of chronic airway diseases were selected. The outcomes were exacerbation rate and change in pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) from baseline. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool 1.0 was used to evaluate the risk of bias, and the random-effects or fixed-effect model were used to pool the data.

Results

Thirty-eight articles concerning forty-one randomized clinical trials with 17,115 patients were included. Compared with placebo, anti-T2s therapy yielded a significant reduction in exacerbation rate in COPD and asthma (Rate Ratio (RR)=0.89, 95%CI, 0.83-0.95, I2 = 29.4%; RR= 0.59, 95%CI, 0.52-0.68, I2 = 83.9%, respectively) and improvement in FEV1 in asthma (Standard Mean Difference (SMD)=0.09, 95%CI, 0.08-0.11, I2 = 42.6%). Anti-T2s therapy had no effect on FEV1 improvement in COPD (SMD=0.05, 95%CI, -0.01-0.10, I2 = 69.8%).

Conclusion

Despite inconsistent findings across trials, anti-T2s had a positive overall impact on patients’ exacerbation rate in asthma and COPD and FEV1 in asthma. Anti-T2s may be effective in treating chronic airway illnesses related to eosinophils.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42022362280.
Plasmodium-encoded murine IL-6 impairs liver stage infection and elicits long-lasting sterilizing immunity
Authors: Belhimeur Selma , Briquet Sylvie , Peronet Roger , Pham Jennifer , Commere Pierre-Henri , Formaglio Pauline , Amino Rogerio , Scherf Artur , Silvie Olivier , Mecheri Salaheddine
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Plasmodium sporozoites (SPZ) inoculated by Anopheles mosquitoes into the skin of the mammalian host migrate to the liver before infecting hepatocytes. Previous work demonstrated that early production of IL-6 in the liver is detrimental for the parasite growth, contributing to the acquisition of a long-lasting immune protection after immunization with live attenuated parasites.

Methods

Considering that IL-6 as a critical pro-inflammatory signal, we explored a novel approach whereby the parasite itself encodes for the murine IL-6 gene. We generated transgenic P. berghei parasites that express murine IL-6 during liver stage development.

Results and Discussion

Though IL-6 transgenic SPZ developed into exo-erythrocytic forms in hepatocytes in vitro and in vivo, these parasites were not capable of inducing a blood stage infection in mice. Furthermore, immunization of mice with transgenic IL-6-expressing P. berghei SPZ elicited a long-lasting CD8+ T cell-mediated protective immunity against a subsequent infectious SPZ challenge. Collectively, this study demonstrates that parasite-encoded IL-6 attenuates parasite virulence with abortive liver stage of Plasmodium infection, forming the basis of a novel suicide vaccine strategy to elicit protective antimalarial immunity.
The role of extracellular vesicles in periodontitis: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapy
Authors: Cai Rong , Wang Lu , Zhang Wei , Liu Bing , Wu Yiqi , Pang Jianliang , Ma Chufan
Published: April 2023

Periodontitis is a prevalent disease and one of the leading causes of tooth loss. Biofilms are initiating factor of periodontitis, which can destroy periodontal tissue by producing virulence factors. The overactivated host immune response is the primary cause of periodontitis. The clinical examination of periodontal tissues and the patient’s medical history are the mainstays of periodontitis diagnosis. However, there is a lack of molecular biomarkers that can be used to identify and predict periodontitis activity precisely. Non-surgical and surgical treatments are currently available for periodontitis, although both have drawbacks. In clinical practice, achieving the ideal therapeutic effect remains a challenge. Studies have revealed that bacteria produce extracellular vesicles (EVs) to export virulence proteins to host cells. Meanwhile, periodontal tissue cells and immune cells produce EVs that have pro- or anti-inflammatory effects. Accordingly, EVs play a critical role in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. Recent studies have also presented that the content and composition of EVs in saliva and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) can serve as possible periodontitis diagnostic indicators. In addition, studies have indicated that stem cell EVs may encourage periodontal regeneration. In this article, we mainly review the role of EVs in the pathogenesis of periodontitis and discuss their diagnostic and therapeutic potential.