bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pentingnya Integritas Akademik
Authors: Hafizha Ruzika
Published: December 2023

Academic integrity is the most important thing in realizing educational goals Every student, educator, and school staff are required to uphold the values of academic integrity. Academic integrity is a commitment to academic values that are manifested in behaviors, namely honesty, trust, justice, respect, and responsibility in carrying out academic demands. Academic integrity is an academic culture that needs to be maintained. Low academic integrity leads to various academic violations such as plagiarism, data falsification, dishonesty and cheating during exams or tests. Each educational institution certainly has its own code of honor in solving problems of academic violations and maintaining the honor of their educational institution. The research method used is a literature study research method. This article aims to obtain an overview of the definition of academic integrity, characteristics of academic integrity, and the factors that affect academic integrity.
Trend of Academic Flow in Adolescence
Authors: Fahriza Irfan , Baitillah Nur , Qurrotu Aini Nabila , Fitrah Rayaginansih Syari
Published: December 2023

Academic flow is one of the determining factors for the success of the learning process. This study aims to determine trends in academic flow before, during, and after the end of the pandemic. This study uses a literature review as a data collection tool. The results showed differences in the condition of academic flow in adolescents and factors that influenced both internal and external. During the pandemic, junior high school Adolescence academic flow tended to be at a moderate level, while high school Adolescence academic flow was at a low level. After the pandemic, conditions in junior high school youth tended to be at a low level. Internal factors that affect academic flow conditions are self-awareness, resilience, academic competence, intelligence categorization, religiosity, achievement motivation, self-efficacy, and self-regulated learning. At the same time, external factors are social support, peer and teacher support, learning methods, and the environment. In increasing academic flow, anchor for flow can be an effective technique.
Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) Causes Anxiety in Adolescents
Authors: Lianawati Ayong , Dzihni Kharisma Laily , Prasetiyowati Tri , Intana Rahmah Rizkah , Syamsiyah Nur , Fajar Urifan Mohammad , Diasasari Anita
Published: December 2023

Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) is the fear of being left behind by new and interesting things that exist. Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) is not dangerous, but if handled properly, it can affect a person's emotional well-being or make individuals feel depressed, anxious, and dissatisfied with their lives, thus triggering stress and anxiety that can interfere with mental health. The research method used is quantitative, while the data collection method is done by distributing questionnaires to correspondents. Subjects or samples in this study amounted to 37 (thirty-seven) teenagers in Surabaya. This study uses a descriptive analysis method to determine the anxiety that occurs in adolescents due to Fear of Missing Out (FoMO). The questionnaire showed that adolescents who experienced FoMO were 8% of the total number of correspondents because they did not believe in their abilities and always saw others as better than themselves.
THE INFLUENCE OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF ELECTRONIC TRADE
Authors:   Uzhgorod National University, Moshchynska Mariia-Anhelina , Tsalan Myroslava ,   Uzhgorod National University
Published: December 2023

The article is devoted to the study of ensuring the effectiveness of sales and promotion methods, taking into account the saturation of the market, the ever-increasing level of competition and/or changes in the needs and wishes of consumers and their purchasing power. The fundamentals of next-generation technology that are changing trade flows and global production and distribution are identified. E-commerce is analyzed as a process of buying and selling goods and services on the Internet using electronic payment methods, which includes interaction between the seller and the buyer, ensuring the security of the transaction and ensuring the availability of goods, and the advantages of e-commerce as a type of business activity are characterized and classified by sub-components: sub enterprise, consumer and the state. Research has been analysed that shows that automation and the growth of artificial intelligence are changing trade flows and that the qualification of the workforce, the quality of the infrastructure and access to resources are becoming the determining factors. It was determined that Ukraine has also taken considerable steps within the framework of legislative implementation in matters of e-commerce – in 2021–2022, the Laws "On Mediation" (entered into force), "On Payment Services" (entered into force), "On Cloud Services" (entered into force) were adopted in force), "About virtual assets" (not entered into force). It can also be said that despite the current laws, the factors affecting the further development of the e-commerce sector in Ukraine have not yet been resolved. It has been determined that one of the most important components in bridging the gap between the online and offline shopping experience is payment. The ability to accept various digital payment methods adds convenience and consistency to customer interactions. The volumes of the e-commerce market in the world for 2017–2022 and for the planned years 2023–2027 were analysed in million dollars. USA, the main trends and influencing factors are defined. The technological trends of retail e-commerce that will determine business results in 2023 are presented, and what innovative technologies have an impact on the development of e-commerce are analysed.
ECONOMIC GROWTH TRENDS OF THE NEWLY INDUSTRIAL COUNTRIES OF LATIN AMERICA
Authors:   Odesa National Economic University, Vydobora Volodymyr
Published: December 2023

The analysis of the economic growth of the new industrialized countries of Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Mexico) and the analysis of the dynamics of the main indicators of the functioning of their economies is carried out in the article. He found that the economic growth of the countries of the region had a cyclical nature. During the colonial period, the development of most countries was limited to the mother countries, which focused exclusively on mining and agricultural development. Since the beginning of the 20th century there was a rather rapid growth of already independent countries, which slowed down under the influence of wars and the Great Depression. In the post-war period, the policy aimed at the development of industry and import substitution contributed to economic growth, which due to a number of problems (high growth in the import of machinery and equipment against the background of low export of products; the external public debt that grew due to the influx of foreign investments; import substitution had a weak effect on production means of production and affected mainly light industry; budget deficit and high inflation, which arose due to the growth of government expenditures to support industry; weak competitiveness of goods protected by the state on the world market), as well as unsuccessful economic strategizing and management led to the crisis of 1970–1980. It are founded, that in the following years in the new industrialized countries of Latin America the policy is replaced by a liberal foreign policy. Nevertheless, there was no increase in industrial potential, which as a result gave moderate incentives to economic growth and was occasionally accompanied by news recessions, the last of which was caused by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic in. The dynamics of the main economic indicators of the newly industrialized countries of Latin America made it possible to establish that the trends of economic growth are contradictory and have a cyclical nature of constant crises and attempts at growth, which was exacerbated under the influence of “peripheral capitalism”.
DYNAMICS AND STRUCTURE OF GLOBAL FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT FLOWS
Authors:   Uzhhorod National University, Ziatyna Karina , Kushnir Natalia ,   Uzhhorod National University
Published: December 2023

The article examines the inflow of foreign direct investment around the world, distinguishing different groups of countries. It was found that global FDI flows tend to increase in all regions of the world, despite the difficult year 2020 – the period of COVID-19, with a significant decrease in developed countries. The countries of Europe and North America contributed the most to the global decline in FDI: more than 100% and 46%, respectively. However, the decline was very uneven across regions, with Latin America and the Caribbean down 37%, Africa down 18% and developing Asia down 4%. FDI in countries with transition economies decreased by 77% compared to 2019 to $13 billion. USA. After a significant recovery in 2021, global foreign direct investment fell by 12% in 2022 to $1.3 trillion. The reason for this was the global crises that overlapped each other during a certain period of time. The decline was felt mainly in advanced economies, where FDI fell by 37% to $378 billion. We find that despite a slowdown in global FDI flows in 2022, new investment showed moderate growth. In the member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, FDI inflows fell by 26%, the main reason was the withdrawal of investments from Luxembourg (with the exception of Luxembourg, FDI flows in 27 European countries increased by 22%). However, this decline was partially offset by strong growth in Switzerland as well as the United Kingdom. Consequently, FDI flows to the United States decreased by 21% in 2022 and increased in other countries, including Australia, Italy and Sweden. If we single out some regions, we can conclude that the inflow of direct foreign investment to the G20 countries has decreased by 15%. While they increased by 7% in the G20 OECD countries, FDI fell by 38% in the non-OECD G20 countries, mainly due to declines in China and to a lesser extent in South Africa, compared to their peaks levels recorded in 2021. Foreign direct investment flows in Brazil increased by 68%. According to the UNCTAD World Investment Report 2023, most economies in the region have recovered FDI inflows and only a few have experienced a downturn. The largest recipients of foreign direct invest- ment in the first quarter of 2023 were the USA, Brazil and China. The main sources of FDI outflows around the world were the United States of America, Germany and China.
ІННОВАЦІЙНИЙ РОЗВИТОК АГРАРНОЇ СФЕРИ В УМОВАХ РЕАЛІЗАЦІЇ НАЦІОНАЛЬНОЇ СИСТЕМИ СТІЙКОСТІ
Authors: Мамчур Володимир , Студінська Галина
Published: December 2023

У статті висвітлено модель інноваційного розвитку аграрної сфери України, яка передбачає необхідність інтеграції зусиль у двох напрямах – підвищення ефективності аграрного виробництва та суттєвого покращення соціально-економічних умов проживання населення в сільській місцевості. Доведено, що інноваційна архітектура моделі розвитку аграрної сфери має бути побудованою за принципами оптимальної секторальної структури національної економіки. Підкреслено, що будівництво цієї моделі може розпочатися тільки після оновлення влади та антикорупційної реформи. Обґрунтовано необхідність застосування переліку інновацій, які значно підвищити ефективність аграрного виробництва, покращити соціально-економічні умови проживання в сільській місцевості, що вирішить демографічну проблему села та зроблять працю аграрія престижною.
Bad feminist or Bad-Hejabi? Moving outside the Hejab debate
Authors: Naghibi Nima
Published: December 2023

This article will attempt to effect an intervention in the general thinking about the veil as an unequivocal symbol of either female oppression or of female emancipation. Since it is axiomatic to my argument that the veil cannot be discussed as signifying only one state of being, I will address uses of veiling, of unveiling, and of alternative ways of wearing the hejab around two historical moments in twentieth-century Iran. In 1936, the ruling monarch Reza Shah Pahlavi legislated the Unveiling Act which prohibited women from appearing veiled in public. In 1983, revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini implemented the Veiling Act prohibiting women from appearing unveiled in public.

By working around these two historical moments, I will show how the implications of these two pieces of legislation, which claimed to initiate revolutionary nationalist positions by two very different leaders, had remarkably similar effects on the body of the Iranian woman. In both instances, legal discourse proffered the Iranian woman's body as an embodiment of the nation as either secular, modern and westernized, or alternatively, as Islamic, modern and anti-imperialist.

My argument rests on the premise that the complicity of western and dominant Iranian feminist discourse with that of imperialism has worked in tandem with patriarchal nationalist discourse to occlude the agential subject position of the Iranian woman. The intersection of these discourses elide the increasingly urgent category of the bad-hejab (inappropriately veiled) women. The figure of the bad-hejabi forces the terms of the debate to move beyond the reductive veiling/unveiling binary and situates the hejab as the site of a continuous contestation of the categories of gender and class in contemporary Iran.
Tales of aneuploidy
Authors:   , Truong My Anh
Published: December 2023

Aneuploidy, defined as a karyotype aberration that differs from a multiple of the haploid genome, is a prominent feature of cancer. Aneuploidy commonly arises as a result of chromosomal instability (CIN), when chromosomes are mis-segregated during mitosis. Both CIN and aneuploidy have been associated with tumor heterogeneity, drug resistance, and poor patient prognosis. Interestingly, tumors originating from different tissue types display distinct aneuploidy “signatures”, with each tumor type frequently gaining or losing a specific set of chromosomes. Although CIN has been long established as the cause of aneuploidy, it remains unclear whether certain mis-segregation bias exists, in such a way that some chromosomes have a higher mis-segregation propensities than others. Additionally, the karyotype landscape of tumor cells may also be shaped by factors such as the tissue of origin, oncogenic and mutational background of the tumor, and its microenvironment. How these various elements impact karyotype evolution of the tumor is not entirely understood. Finally, the contribution of recurrent aneuploidies in tumor progression and disease maintenance remains understudied, partly due to the technical challenges in modeling specific aneuploidies in human cells.

In this thesis, I tackle some of these above questions in the field. In chapter 2, I analyze the initial aneuploidy landscapes generated immediately after a round of mis-segregation in non-transformed and transformed cells. By combining single cell sequencing, individual chromosome manipulations, and live-cell microscopy, this study reveals that the nuclear positioning of chromosomes in interphase dictates their segregation behavior during mitosis. Chapter 3 (and addendum) describes the development and initial application of a kinesin-based method that allows for acute induction of specific aneuploidies in human cells at will. By leveraging minus-end-directed motor activities of Kinesin14VIb (Kin14VIb) from the land moss Physcomitrella Patens, we induce polar transport of a chromosome of interest during mitosis, resulting in its mis-segregation and aneuploidy after a single cell division. In chapter 4, I review the classic and novel approaches to model and study specific aneuploidies in mammalian systems. In chapter 5, I address the interplay of chromosomal instability and microsatellite instability in cellular adaptation to challenging conditions. I compare how transient CIN induction affects the adaptability of colorectal cancer HCT116 cells to paclitaxel or low nutrient conditions, depending on their mismatch repair status. I find that a recurrent aneuploidy pattern emerges after transient CIN induction in HCT116 and subsequent culture in low serum, illustrating how the karyotype landscape of cancer cells can be shaped by hostile environmental conditions. Finally, I summarize my findings in chapter 6, highlighting the relevance of this work in the context of existing literature, and discuss possible future directions.
Clarithromycin Inhibits Myometrial Contractions in Isolated Human Myometrium Independent of Stimulus.
Authors: Celik H , Ayar A
Published: December 2023

Erythromycin has a well-known dual effect on the contractility of the gastrointestinal system and recently has also been shown to inhibit contractions of the rat myometrium. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of clarithromycin on oxytocin, prostaglandin F2a (PGF2a) and KCl-induced contractions of human myometrium in vitro. Myometrial strips were obtained from pregnant women undergoing elective Cesarean section and the strips were suspended in a jacketed organ bath filled with Krebs solution at 37 oC (pH 7.4) and continuously aired with 95 % oxygen and 5 % carbon dioxide. Isometric contractions were measured using a force displacement transducer. Oxytocin, PGF2a, KCl and clarithromycin were applied to the tissue bath and the amplitude and frequency of contractions were evaluated at 20-min intervals. Freidmann analysis of variance, Kruskal Wallis and Wilcoxon Rank tests were used for statistical analysis of the data. Clarithromycin dose dependently inhibited the amplitude of contractions independent of the stimulus. Pre-treatment with apamin prevented clarithromycin-induced effects on amplitude and frequency of contractions. We conclude that the macrolide antibiotic clarithromycin may have a direct inhibitory effect on contractions of human myometrium.
Effects of Exercise on Muscle Metabolites and Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Function in Ovariectomized Rats Treatment.
Authors: Gigli I , Bussmann LE
Published: December 2023

The relationships between exercise and metabolites as well as between exercise and sarcoplasmic reticulum function were studied in gastrocnemius muscle of ovariectomized-trained rats. Prolonged moderate-intensity exercise, treadmill up-hill run for 90 min with a 10° incline, decreased the muscle glycogen content. Exercise until exhaustion further lowered the glycogen concentration to 13 % of the control, together with a significant decrease of ATP and glucose-6-phosphate concentrations. Also, Ag+-induced Ca2+release, measured in whole muscle homogenate, showed a 30 % reduction on exhaustion, while Ca2+ uptake was unaffected by this exercise. ATPase activities, of both homogenate and SR vesicles, and Ca2+ transport in the latter preparation were not altered on exhaustion. It could be concluded from these results that muscular fatigue in ovariectomized rats after aerobic exercise is caused by the change in energy supply and Ca2+ release from the SR, this latter possibly due to metabolites generated by the exercise.
Streptozotocin Induces Lipolysis in Rat Adipocytes in Vitro.
Authors: Szkudelski T , Szkudelska K
Published: December 2023

Streptozotocin (STZ) is used to induce experimental diabetes in animals and is also applied for the treatment of patients with insulinoma. The aim of the present work was to investigate the direct effect of STZ on lipolysis in isolated rat adipocytes. After the isolation, the cells were incubated in a Krebs-Ringer buffer of pH 7.4, at the temperature 37 °C for 90 min with different concentrations of STZ: 0.5, 1 or 2 mmol/l. STZ caused a significant rise in basal values (99 %, 199 %, and 377 %, respectively) and epinephrine-stimulated (1 µmol/l) lipolysis (15 %, 24 % and 46 %, respectively). Augmentation of basal lipolysis by STZ was neither restricted by insulin (1 nmol/l) nor by H-89 (an inhibitor of protein kinase A, 50 µmol/l). These results indicate the stimulatory influence of STZ on the action of hormone-sensitive lipase in isolated cells of white adipose tissue. The obtained outcomes suggest that in studies employing STZ, it is necessary to consider its direct effect upon lipolysis in adipocytes.
Analisis dan Perancangan Sistem Informasi Monitoring Siswa PKL pada SMK Permata Harapan
Authors: Ilmi Miftahul , Habibie Dedi Rahman , Arifin Yoyon
Published: December 2023

SMK Permata Harapan merupakan sebuah sekolah menengah kejuruan yang terdapat di Kota Batam, Sebagaimana sebuah sekolah kejuruan, pastinya memiliki kurikulum Praktek Kerja Lapangan (PKL) yang merupakan sebuah kegiatan pembelajaran siswa yang dilaksanakan pada dunia industri. Setiap kegiatan PKL harusnya dapat dikotrol dan dimmonitoring oleh pihak sekolah dan industry, agar semuanya berjalan lancer serta sesuai dengan kurikulum yang ditetukan. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk menghasilkan sebuah aplikasi yang mampu melakukan monitoring terhadap kegiatan PKL yang dilaksanakan oleh SMK Permata Harapan. Metode perancangan sistem pada penelitian ini adalah metode waterfall yang dirasa sangat cocok digunakan dalam perancangan sebuah aplikasi, sebab metodenya yang teratur dan berurut sehingga dapat mempermulah dalam pengaplikasian pembuatan program. Bahasa pemrograman yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah PHP dengan framework CodeIgniter 4 dan databasenya MYSQL. Setelah aplikasi dirancang dan diimplementasikan dilakukan BlackBox testing dan semua modul yang dirancang mulai dari cara masuk ke sistem, manajemen user, manajemen kebutuhan user dan pelaporan kinerja user berjalan sesuai dengan yang diharapkan.
Surgical resection of recurrent differentiated thyroid cancer: patterns, detection, staging, and treatment of 683 patients
Authors: Liang Nan , Zhang Han , Sui Chengqiu , Du Rui , Li Canxiao , Li Jingting , Dionigi Gianlorenzo , Zhang Daqi , Sun Hui
Published: December 2023

Background

Despite improvements in overall survival, the recurrence of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is becoming more common and remains a challenge necessitating accurate reappraisal of the patient. This study aimed to describe the characteristics, reasons, morbidity, and strategies of second operations for DTC.

Methods

This was a retrospective observational study of patients with DTC who underwent a second surgery between June 2008 and June 2021 in the Department of Thyroid Surgery at China–Japanese Union Hospital, Jilin University, P.R. China. All clinical characteristics were recorded, and the analysis was estimated using SPSS.

Results

Second surgeries were detected in 683 patients. The proportion of second operations changed with the update of international guidelines from 2015 (P < 0.001). The true recurrence rate progressively increased from 21.3% to 61.5%. The rate of an “absence of preoperative FNA” or an “absence of intraoperative pathology at first surgery” decreased from 49.8% to 12.7%, while that of a “misdiagnosis of preoperative FNA at second surgery” decreased from 10% to 1.8%. The most common tumor location during the second surgery was the lateral lymph nodes (n = 104, 36.5%), with a median time to relapse of 36 months. Completion of thyroidectomy and lymph node dissection correlated with the second operation.

Conclusion

After 2015, second surgeries were more standardized, the incidence of complications decreased, and real recurrence became the most common reason for a second DTC surgery.
Brewpitopes: a pipeline to refine B-cell epitope predictions during public health emergencies
Authors: Farriol-Duran Roc , López-Aladid Ruben , Porta-Pardo Eduard , Torres Antoni , Fernández-Barat Laia
Published: December 2023

The application of B-cell epitope identification to develop therapeutic antibodies and vaccine candidates is well established. However, the validation of epitopes is time-consuming and resource-intensive. To alleviate this, in recent years, multiple computational predictors have been developed in the immunoinformatics community. Brewpitopes is a pipeline that curates bioinformatic B-cell epitope predictions obtained by integrating different state-of-the-art tools. We used additional computational predictors to account for subcellular location, glycosylation status, and surface accessibility of the predicted epitopes. The implementation of these sets of rational filters optimizes in vivo antibody recognition properties of the candidate epitopes. To validate Brewpitopes, we performed a proteome-wide analysis of SARS-CoV-2 with a particular focus on S protein and its variants of concern. In the S protein, we obtained a fivefold enrichment in terms of predicted neutralization versus the epitopes identified by individual tools. We analyzed epitope landscape changes caused by mutations in the S protein of new viral variants that were linked to observed immune escape evidence in specific strains. In addition, we identified a set of epitopes with neutralizing potential in four SARS-CoV-2 proteins (R1AB, R1A, AP3A, and ORF9C). These epitopes and antigenic proteins are conserved targets for viral neutralization studies. In summary, Brewpitopes is a powerful pipeline that refines B-cell epitope bioinformatic predictions during public health emergencies in a high-throughput capacity to facilitate the optimization of experimental validation of therapeutic antibodies and candidate vaccines.
NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasome participates in macrophage responses to Trypanosoma cruzi by a mechanism that relies on cathepsin-dependent caspase-1 cleavage
Authors: Amaral Marcelo Pires , Cardoso Felipe Daniel , de Farias Ingrid Sancho , de Souza Rafael Queiroz , Matteucci Kely Catarine , Torrecilhas Ana Claudia , Bortoluci Karina Ramalho
Published: December 2023

Inflammasomes are large protein complexes that, once activated, initiate inflammatory responses by activating the caspase-1 protease. They play pivotal roles in host defense against pathogens. The well-established role of NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasome in bacterial infections involves NAIP proteins functioning as sensors for their ligands. However, recent reports have indicated the involvement of NLRC4 in non-bacterial infections and sterile inflammation, even though the role of NAIP proteins and the exact molecular mechanisms underlying inflammasome activation in these contexts remain to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the activation of the NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasome in response to Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan parasite responsible for causing Chagas disease. This parasite has been previously demonstrated to activate NLRP3 inflammasomes. Here we found that NAIP and NLRC4 proteins are also required for IL-1β and Nitric Oxide (NO) release in response to T. cruzi infection, with their absence rendering macrophages permissive to parasite replication. Moreover, Nlrc4-/- and Nlrp3-/- macrophages presented similar impaired responses to T. cruzi, underscoring the non-redundant roles played by these inflammasomes during infection. Notably, it was the live trypomastigotes rather than soluble antigens or extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by them, that activated inflammasomes in a cathepsins-dependent manner. The inhibition of cathepsins effectively abrogated caspase-1 cleavage, IL-1β and NO release, mirroring the phenotype observed in Nlrc4-/-/Nlrp3-/- double knockout macrophages. Collectively, our findings shed light on the pivotal role of the NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasome in macrophage responses to T. cruzi infection, providing new insights into its broader functions that extend beyond bacterial infections.
Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes can alleviate GVHD and preserve the GVL effect in allogeneic stem cell transplantation animal models
Authors: Jiang Yan , Zhao Jie , Wang Minghui , Huang Fang , Li Jiaqi , Liu Rui , Wan Jiangbo , Hao Siguo
Published: December 2023

Background

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can alleviate graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). MSCs-derived exosomes (MEXs) can mirror the biological function of their parent cells. Whether MEXs can alleviate GVHD like their parent cells or not is unclear. In this study, we investigate the effects of MEXs on GVHD and graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect in vitro and in HSCT animal models.

Method

MSCs were produced using bone marrow mononuclear cells (MNCs), and MEXs were separated from the supernatants of MSCs. Electron microscopy, western blot, and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) were used to determine the characteristics of MEXs. The immunomodulatory function of MEXs and their effects on GVHD and GVL were examined in vitro and in vivo.

Result

Like other cell-type derived exosomes, our data revealed that MEXs were also disc-shaped vesicles with a diameter of 100–200 nm under electron microscopy and were positive for the exosomal hallmark proteins. MEXs can notably inhibit the expression of costimulatory molecules and functional cytokine secretion of dendritic cells (DCs). Meanwhile, MEXs can exert suppressive effects on T lymphocyte proliferation and activation. Moreover, MEXs can also encourage the polarization of macrophages toward the M2 type. In animal HSCT models, MEXs can promote the differentiation of Treg cells in spleens, decrease the GVHD score, increase the survival rate of mice, and preserve the cytotoxic antileukemia effects of CD8+ T lymphocytes from recipient mice.

Conclusion

These findings showed that MEXs exert their effects by inhibiting the immunomodulatory function of DCs, macrophages, and T lymphocytes. In the animal model, MEXs ameliorate the clinical symptoms of GVHD, while maintaining the antitumor effects of CD8+ T lymphocytes. Therefore, it can be inferred that MEXs can separate GVHD from GVL in HSCT. Our study suggests that MEXs have broad clinical application potential in the prevention and treatment of GVHD in HSCT in the near future.
Single-cell landscape of immune cells during the progression from HBV infection to HBV cirrhosis and HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Bai Qingquan , Li Runyang , He Xiao , Hong Xiaoting , Yan Ying , Zhao Zhengyang , Lin Han , Tacke Frank , Engelmann Cornelius , Hu Tianhui
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Immune cells play crucial roles in the development of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, leading to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, their functions at different disease stages are not fully understood.

Methods

In this study, we used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to characterize the human liver immune microenvironment at different disease stages. We analyzed scRNA-seq data from 118,455 immune cells obtained from livers of six healthy individuals, four patients with HBV infection, five patients with HBV cirrhosis, and three patients with HBV-associated HCC.

Results

Our results showed an accumulation of scar-associated macrophages during disease progression, and we identified two relevant immune subsets, Macrophage-CD9/IL18 and macrophage-CD9/IFI6. Macrophage-CD9/IL18 expanded from HBV infection to cirrhosis, while macrophage-CD9/IFI6 expanded from cirrhosis to HCC. We verified the existence of Macrophage-CD9/IFI6 using multiplex immunofluorescence staining. We also found an increase in cytotoxic NK Cell-GNLY during progression from cirrhosis to HCC. Additionally, the proportion of CD4 T cell-TNFAIP3, CD8 T cell-TNF (effector CD8 T cells), and CD8 T cell-CD53 increased, while the proportion of Treg cells decreased from HBV infection to cirrhosis. The proportion of Treg and CD8 T cell-LAG3 (Exhausted CD8 T cell) enhanced, while the proportion of CD8 T cell-TNF (effector CD8 T cells) decreased from cirrhosis to HCC. Furthermore, GSEA enrichment analyses revealed that MAPK, ERBB, and P53 signaling pathways in myeloid cells were gradually inhibited from HBV infection to cirrhosis and HCC.

Discussion

Our study provides important insights into changes in the hepatic immune environment during the progression of HBV-related liver disease, which may help improve the management of HBV-infected liver diseases.
The consensus guideline of perioperative antiviral therapy for AIDS patients in China based on clinical practice
Authors: Ma Rui , Zhang Qiang , Zhao Chang song , Zhao Rugang , Zhang Yao , Zhang Yao shen , Hai Yong , Wei Guo , Pu Yu , Hu Li qiang , Song Yanzheng , Zhang Yu , Hu Bo yong , Xin Shijie
Published: December 2023

The prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) has emerged as a major public health concern in China. When patients with HIV infection undergo surgical treatment, there are two main challenges. Firstly, medical staff face a high risk of HIV infection due to occupational exposure. Secondly, the patient’s immune function is impaired, increasing the risk of opportunistic infections and postoperative complications. The surgical treatment of such patients is unique, and the risk of occupational exposure during the operation primarily depends upon the viral load of HIV/AIDS patients. Therefore, perioperative antiretroviral therapy is of paramount importance in order to standardize the perioperative antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV/AIDS patients. The Surgery Group of the Chinese Association of STD and AIDS Prevention and Control, in collaboration with the Treatment Association, and Surgery Group of the Chinese Medical Association of Tropical Diseases and Parasitology, has developed an expert consensus on perioperative antiretroviral therapy for HIV/AIDS patients. This consensus encompasses various aspects, including surgical risk assessment, selection of perioperative antiretroviral therapy regimens, prevention of opportunistic infections, and the crucial focus on rapid preoperative viral load reduction and immune function reconstruction for HIV/AIDS patients.
Deep learning enhances acute lymphoblastic leukemia diagnosis and classification using bone marrow images
Authors: Elsayed Basel , Elhadary Mohamed , Elshoeibi Raghad Mohamed , Elshoeibi Amgad Mohamed , Badr Ahmed , Metwally Omar , ElSherif Raghad Alaa , Salem Mohamed Elsayed , Khadadah Fatima , Alshurafa Awni , Mudawi Deena , Yassin Mohamed
Published: December 2023

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) poses a significant health challenge, particularly in pediatric cases, requiring precise and rapid diagnostic approaches. This comprehensive review explores the transformative capacity of deep learning (DL) in enhancing ALL diagnosis and classification, focusing on bone marrow image analysis. Examining ten studies conducted between 2013 and 2023 across various countries, including India, China, KSA, and Mexico, the synthesis underscores the adaptability and proficiency of DL methodologies in detecting leukemia. Innovative DL models, notably Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) with Cat-Boosting, XG-Boosting, and Transfer Learning techniques, demonstrate notable approaches. Some models achieve outstanding accuracy, with one CNN reaching 100% in cancer cell classification. The incorporation of novel algorithms like Cat-Swarm Optimization and specialized CNN architectures contributes to superior classification accuracy. Performance metrics highlight these achievements, with models consistently outperforming traditional diagnostic methods. For instance, a CNN with Cat-Boosting attains 100% accuracy, while others hover around 99%, showcasing DL models’ robustness in ALL diagnosis. Despite acknowledged challenges, such as the need for larger and more diverse datasets, these findings underscore DL’s transformative potential in reshaping leukemia diagnostics. The high numerical accuracies accentuate a promising trajectory toward more efficient and accurate ALL diagnosis in clinical settings, prompting ongoing research to address challenges and refine DL models for optimal clinical integration.
Metal-non-tolerant ecotypes of ectomycorrhizal fungi can protect plants from cadmium pollution
Authors: Zhang Taoxiang , Pang Wenbo , Yan Tianyi , Zhang Panpan , He Juan , Rensing Christopher , Yang Wenhao , Lian Chunlan
Published: December 2023

The application of mycorrhizal fungi as a bioaugmentation technology for phytoremediation of heavy metal (HM) contaminated soil has attracted widespread attention. In order to explore whether the adaptation of Pinus massoniana (P. massoniana) to metal polluted soil depends on the metal adaptation potential of their associated ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECMF), we evaluated the cadmium (Cd) tolerance of 10 ecotypes of Cenococcum geophilum (C. geophilum) through a membership function method, and P. massoniana seedlings were not (NM) or inoculated by Cd non-tolerant type (JaCg144), low-tolerant (JaCg32, JaCg151) and high-tolerant (JaCg205) isolates of C. geophilum were exposed to 0 and 100 mg·kg-1 for 3 months. The result showed that, each ecotype of C. geophilum significantly promoted the growth, photosynthesis and chlorophyll content, proline (Pro) content and the activity of peroxidase (POD) of P. massoniana seedlings, and decreased malonaldehyde (MDA) content and catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. The comprehensive evaluation D value of the tolerance to Cd stress showed that the order of the displaced Cd resistance of the four ecotypic mycorrhizal P. massoniana was: JaCg144 > JaCg151 > JaCg32 > JaCg205. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the Sig. value of the comprehensive evaluation (D) values of the strains and mycorrhizal seedlings was 0.077 > 0.05, indicating that the Cd tolerance of the the C. geophilum isolates did not affect its regulatory effect on the Cd tolerance of the host plant. JaCg144 and JaCg151 which are non-tolerant and low-tolerant ecotype significantly increased the Cd content in the shoots and roots by about 136.64-181.75% and 153.75-162.35%, indicating that JaCg144 and JaCg151 were able to effectively increase the enrichment of Cd from the soil to the root. Transcriptome results confirmed that C. geophilum increased the P. massoniana tolerance to Cd stress through promoting antioxidant enzyme activity, photosynthesis, and lipid and carbohydrate synthesis metabolism. The present study suggests that mental-non-tolerant ecotypes of ECMF can protect plants from Cd pollution, providing more feasible strategies for ectomycorrhizal-assisted phytoremediation.
Political news on Instagram: influencer versus traditional magazine and the role of their expertise in consumers’ credibility perceptions and news engagement
Authors: Zimmermann Daniel , Klee Asina , Kaspar Kai
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Social networking sites (SNS) are increasingly used by consumers to read and share political news. In this context, Instagram plays an important role due to its prevalence and visual characteristics. However, previous research has highlighted that consumers fail to identify the source of online news, though source characteristics were shown to be vital for news credibility perceptions. Nevertheless, research on whether and which source characteristics have an influence on Instagram consumers’ credibility perceptions and news engagement intentions are lacking. The present study addresses this empirical gap by investigating potential effects of source expertise and source type on source credibility, message credibility, news engagement intentions, and personal involvement regarding political news on Instagram.

Method

We randomly presented participants with political news posts from one of four sources, either the Instagram representation of a fictional news magazine or influencer with or without political expertise. Participants assessed the perceived credibility of the source and the news, their news engagement intentions, and personal involvement.

Results

We analyzed data from 416 participants. Results showed significant main effects of source expertise on each of the dependent variables. Those were shown to be indirect effects through personal involvement. There were hardly any effects of source type.

Discussion

These results provide new insights into the role of source expertise on credibility perceptions and news engagement intentions, and provide insights into the comparison between influencers and Instagram representations of traditional news magazines. Theoretical implications for future research and practical implications for content creators, users, and SNS platforms are discussed.
Cybersickness as the virtual reality sickness questionnaire (VRSQ) measures it!? –an environment-specific revision of the VRSQ
Authors: Josupeit Judith
Published: December 2023

Background: Virtual Reality (VR) does not only include the use of stereoscopic images, but also possibilities for an interaction with and participation in a computer-generated environment. However, laboratory studies primarily focus on the first part of the definition only. In this context, comparing results from different VR applications with diverging goals becomes difficult. This is especially true in the field of cybersickness research (visually induced motion sickness in VR), as self-report symptom questionnaires are used. The prominent Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) is criticized for the lack of specificity, the double factorial loadings, the outdatedness, and the unrepresentative sample. VR-specific revisions like the Virtual Reality Sickness Questionnaire (VRSQ) address these criticisms but lack generalizability.

Methods: The current paper uses a Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the VRSQ with data from three different VR environments and a sample size of N = 244. The environments had different setups, visual complexities, and interaction possibilities. These characteristics influenced the factorial structure of the VRSQ as a moderator. Furthermore, to control for VR-unrelated effects Baseline ratings were taken into account.

Results: The Confirmatory Factor Analysis indicated a moderate fit for the global model, but a misspecification for two of the three environments. Only the environment similar to the original VRSQ paper converged with the model.

Conclusions: In conclusion, a detailed description of the VR environment is required in scientific method reports. Focusing on VR accessibility for physically impaired in addition to healthy subjects, an added Baseline measurement can address the discriminant validity. Until generalizable VR-specific revisions of the SSQ are validated, the paper suggests using the Δ-SSQ in aggregated raw format.
Plasma metabonomics of classical swine fever virus-infected pigs
Authors: Liao Jiedan , Hu Wenshuo , Wang Weijun , Wang Xinyan , Yu Shu , Niu Xinni , Zhu Wenhui , Zhou Bolun , Song Yiwan , Zeng Weijun , Lu Zhimin , Chen Jinding
Published: December 2023

Classical swine fever (CSF) is an infectious disease caused by Classical swine fever virus (CSFV), which is characterized by depression, high fever, extensive skin bleeding, leukopenia, anorexia, alternating constipation, and diarrhea. Hemorrhagic infarction of the spleen is the main characteristic pathological change following CSFV infection. Large-scale outbreaks of CSF are rare in China and are mainly distributed regionally. The clinical symptoms of CSF are not obvious, and show variation from typical to atypical symptoms, which makes diagnosis based on clinical symptoms and pathology challenging. In recent years, the incidence of CSF-immunized pig farms in China has increased and new CSFV gene subtypes have appeared, posing new challenges to the prevention and control of CSF in China. Changes in metabolites caused by viral infection reflect the pathogenic process. Metabonomics can reveal the trace metabolites of organisms; however, plasma metabonomics of CSFV-infected pigs have rarely been investigated. Therefore, we used an established pig CSFV infection model to study changes in plasma metabolites. The results showed significant differences in forty-five plasma metabolites at different time periods after CSFV infection in pigs, with an increase in twenty-five metabolites and a decrease in twenty metabolites. These changed metabolites were mainly attributed to the tricarboxylic acid cycle, amino acid cycle, sugar metabolism, and fat metabolism. Thirteen metabolic pathways changed significantly in CSFV-infected pigs, including tricarboxylic acid cycle, inositol phosphate metabolism, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism,lysine degradation, alanine, aspartate and glutamic acid metabolism, pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis, β-alanine metabolism, lysine degradation, arginine and proline metabolism, glycerolipid metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism. Among these, changes in fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolism occurred at all time periods post-infection. These results indicate that CSFV infection in pigs could seriously alter metabolic pathways.
Are postnatal traumatic events an underestimated cause of porencephalic lesions in dogs and cats?
Authors: Davini Tommaso , Mattei Chiara , La Rosa Claudia , Remelli Carlotta , Specchi Swan , Lionello Elena , Dell’Era Elena , Bernardini Marco
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Porencephaly is defined as a fluid-filled cavity of variable size in the brain cortex. It is regarded as a congenital condition and is typically considered a developmental or an encephaloclastic defect. Our hypothesis is that postnatal traumatic events in the first few months of life may represent a cause of canine and feline porencephaly that is more common than generally suspected. The aims of this study were to retrospectively investigate porencephaly in a large population of dogs and cats, detect MRI features that might be useful to differentiate postnatal acquired traumatic forms from congenital/perinatal porencephaly, and define the prevalence of seizure activity in porencephalic patients.

Materials and methods

This is a double-center, descriptive, retrospective case series. Databases were searched for cases within a 17-year time span that involve dogs and cats with an MRI-based diagnosis of cerebral cavitary lesions. Animals were included if a complete signalment and an exhaustive MRI of the brain were available. Besides the porencephalic lesions, MRIs of the head were reviewed to detect concomitant musculoskeletal abnormalities.

Results

Thirty-two cases involving nine cats and twenty-three dogs were selected. Of all the cases, 21.9% were aged six years or older at the time of diagnosis. All patients in which the neuroanatomical localization was available showed clinical signs of a prosencephalic disorder. Epileptic seizures were observed in 71.8% of cases. A single porencephalic cavity was found in 78.1% of cases. The most affected cerebral lobe was the parietal lobe (n = 20). The defects involved both the grey and white matter in 78.1% of cases. Twenty cases showed concomitant musculoskeletal abnormalities overlying the porencephalic cavities. Fourteen of twenty cases showed evidence of fractures, of which thirteen showed depression of the calvarium and twelve masticatory muscle abnormalities. Of these, seven of fourteen had a history consistent with a head trauma in the first period of life.

Conclusion

The recognition of skull fractures and muscular abnormalities closely associated with the porencephalic cavity may support a diagnosis of a postnatal traumatic origin of porencephaly. Therefore, this study highlights the importance of evaluating musculoskeletal structures in the MRIs of the heads of porencephalic cases.