bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Athlete Brand Development in Social Media: Analysis of Students’ Attitudes
Authors: Deliautaitė Karolina , Baubonytė Silvija , Staškevičiūtė-Butienė Inga , Valantinė Irena
Published: August 2021

Background. Athlete brand image management is one of the most popular topics of discussion in sport management right now. As professional sport has become a commercialised industry segment with more athletes involved, athletes are becoming promotional faces. Most professional athletes are involved in the use of social networks. There athletes actively demonstrate their personal lives, professional accents and advertise products. It is important to understand and analyse the impact of social networks on an athlete’s brand and ways to properly position themselves in social media. Using social networks, athletes are closer to fans and consumers than ever before. Based on and applying the Athlete Brand model developed by Arai (2010), this study aimed to investigate students’ attitudes towards athletes’ self-positioning on social networks.

Methods. The study involved 367 students (151 men and 216 women) from three Lithuanian universities. The Arai (2010) questionnaire was used for the study. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using SPSS 26.0.

Results. It has been found that athletes’ sports performance is statistically significant in the development of a professional athlete’s brand, it is the fundamental aspect that creates the initial status of athlete’s brand. Results showed that the strongest direct causal link was found between an athlete’s athletic performance and lifestyle. It was also found that very strong links, in the opinion of the respondents, were between the athletes’ communication and behaviours.

Conclusions. When building an athlete’s brand, it is important to pay attention to three key components: athletic performance, attractive appearance, and marketable lifestyle. These three uses of an athlete’s brand can be explained by specific aspects of sports competitions or components of personal life. However, one of the most important factors in shaping a positive image of an athlete is athletic achievements.

Practical implications. This study can provide a consistent consumer approach to key aspects, focusing on consumer attention in athlete positioning. This can help the athlete and marketers develop an appropriate personal branding and positioning strategy in social media, which will then broaden the circle of fans and strengthen the opinion of loyal fans. Athlete’s brand is a set of closely interrelated and fan-centred physical, functional, aesthetic, and emotional elements that sets athlete’s brand apart from competitors and creates financial benefits for the athlete. The brand creates benefits not only for the athlete, but also for the market participants around him/her (consumer/fan, commercial brand), which can be called the functions of the brand.

Keywords: Athlete’s image, social network, brand relationship.
Sporto renginių kokybės vertinimas žiūrovų požiūriu: Lietuvos krepšinio rinktinių rungtynių pavyzdžiu
Authors: Kanovalovas Arijus , Jasinskas Edmundas
Published: August 2021

Straipsnyje analizuojama sporto renginių kokybė Lietuvos krepšinio rinktinių rungtynėse. Buvo atlikta kokybės vertinimo modelių lyginamoji analizė ir pasirinktas tinkamiausias sporto renginių kokybės modelis šiam tyrimui – SPORTSERV. Atlikus tyrimą nustatyta, jog Lietuvos krepšinio rinktinių (Lietuvos nacionalinės krepšinio vyrų ir moterų rinktinės, Lietuvos jaunučių, jaunių ir jaunimo) rungtynių renginio kokybę vertina gerai ir labai gerai. Kaip svarbiausią, tyrime naudoto SPORTSERV modelio sporto renginių kokybės kategoriją, respondentai išskyrė saugumą (renginio vietos ir aplinkos saugumo užtikrinimas). Analizuojant skirtumus tarp vyrų ir moterų, paaiškėjo, jog vyrai geriau vertina Lietuvos krepšinio rinktinių rungtynių renginio kokybę negu moterys. Tiek vyrai, tiek moterys kaip mažiausiai įtakos turintį veiksnį įvardijo, jog arenoje galima nusipirkti kokybiško maisto ir gėrimų.

Raktiniai žodžiai: sportas, renginiai, kokybė, lemiantys veiksniai.
Leflunomide: modern look at safety problem (literature review)
Authors: Gridneva G. I. , Aronova E. S. , Kudryavtseva A. V. , Lukina G. V.
Published: August 2021

In accordance with the recommendations of EULAR and ARR methotrexate (MTX) is the first-line drug in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In cases where the use of MTX is impossible due to its ineffectiveness or adverse drug reactions (ADRs), leflomide (LEF) or sulfasalazine is most commonly used in routine clinical practice. This article presents generalized data on the safety of LEF in the treatment of patients with RA. It was shown that ADRs associated with the LEF were most often met in the first year of treatment. The most frequent ADRs were arterial hypertension, hair loss, diarrhea, dermatitis of different localization, increasing the level of transaminases, pancytopenia and others.
Clinical diagnosis of vertebral fractures in osteoporosis (literature review)
Authors: Evstigneeva L. P.
Published: August 2021

Background. Osteoporosis is a common pathology among older age groups. Vertebral fractures are one of the most severe complications of osteoporosis, as they lead to a decrease in the quality of life, disability and increased mortality. The risk of vertebral fractures increases with age, especially in those who have already has a fracture of this localization. To improve the prognosis in this category of patients, early detection, treatment of patients with fractures, as well as prevention of new fractures, are important. At the same time, the diagnosis of osteoporotic vertebral fractures presents certain difficulties due to the variability of their clinical manifestations, which often leads to insufficient detection, wrong diagnosis and, as a consequence, to the lack of adequate treatment.

Purpose of the review. To conduct a literature search to evaluate the clinical diagnosis of osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

Conclusion. There was no single highly specific and at the same time sensitive clinical symptom of osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Back pain remains a relatively nonspecific symptom in vertebral fractures. The most specific symptoms: kyphosis and height loss have a high predictive value only when they are significantly changed. Thus, vertebral fractures should be suspected if height decreased more than 2.0 cm per year or more than 4.0 cm per life, if the patient does not reach the wall with his head or if the «rib to pelvis» distance is two fingers or less. The combination of clinical symptoms with the assessment of risk factors and bone mineral density has the greatest clinical significance. If a vertebral fracture is clinically suspected, it is advisable to perform an X-ray of the thoracic and lumbar spine, since the localization of pain indicated by the patient may not correspond to the localization of the fracture.
Osteoporosis risk factors analysis in rheumatoid arthritis patients: data from real practice
Authors: Ansarova A. A. , Kalinina E. V. , Zvonorenko M. S. , Solodenkova K. S. , Babaeva A. R.
Published: August 2021

Background. Osteoporosis (OP) and its consequences is a pivotal medical and social problem. Rheumatic diseases especially rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is considered a key factor in the development of secondary OP. At the same time, patients with RA also have traditional risk factors (RF) for OP, as well as the adverse effects of drugs on bone metabolism. Consideration of the full spectrum in each patient with RA plays an important role in the individualized assessment of the risk of OP and the rational management.

The aim. To analyze the most significant RF of OP in a cohort of patients with verified RA observed by primary care specialists.

Materials and methods. Medical cards of 100 patients with determined RA (ACR / EULAR criteria) who were observed at out-patient clinics were studied. Along with the analysis of the clinical manifestations of RA, the registration of OP RF, both traditional and disease-related, was carried out with an analysis of the prevalence of RF in the investigated cohort.

Results. The RA cohort under study was dominated by patients with erosive arthritis, disease duration of more than 5 years, RF and/or ACCP positivity, moderate activity, functional class 2–3. Based on the available instrumental data, systemic OP was diagnosed in 33% of patients, while DXA-densitometry was performed only in 5% of patients with osteoporotic fractures. Among the traditional RF, the most significant were female sex, age higher than 50 years, BMI less than 20 kg/m2 . The frequency of registration of these RF was significantly higher in the subgroup of patients with confirmed OP. Of the disease-associated RF, the most common were the following: duration of RA more than 5 years, activity of 2–3 degrees, high titer of RF and ACCP, X-ray stage II and higher, long term systemic GC use.

Conclusions. In real practice, the diagnosis of OP in primary care in patients with RA is based on the available instrumental methods, preferably on standard radiography of bones and joints, which leads to underestimation and/or late diagnosis of OP. Patients with RA have a wide range of traditional and specific OP RFs, the assessment of which is important for determining the risk of fractures and timely prevention of OP complications.
Effectiveness of tumor necrosis factor α inhibitors and their concentration and immunogenicity: features in various immune-mediated diseases
Authors: Nuriakhmetova T. Yu. , Valeeva I. Kh. , Shevnina Ya. O. , Cheremina N. A. , Sukhorukova E. V. , Sibgatullin T. B. , Vasiliev A. G. , Abdulganieva D. I.
Published: August 2021

Aim. To compare the concentration and immunogenicity of TNF-α inhibitors (TNFi) and their relationship with efficacy in patients with rheumatic diseases (RD) and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).

Materials and methods. The study included 104 patients with RD (48.1%) and IBD (51.9%) who received infliximab (INF, 30.8%), adalimumab (ADA, 38.5%) and certolizumab pegol (CZP, 30.8%). We assessed the efficacy of the drug, trough concentration of TNFi and the level of antibodies. In 30 patients, the concentration of TNFi and the level of antibodies were assessed twice with an interval of 15 [13; 17] months.

Results. TNF-α inhibitors were effective in 77 (74%) patients. In the group of IBD and RD, the incidence of inefficiency was 33.3% and 18.0%, the ineffectiveness of CZP was found only in IBD group (p = 0.024). A low concentration of TNFi was detected at the first visit in 29 (53.7%) patients with IBD and 24 (48.0%) with RD, at the second visit in 4 (36.4%) patients with IBD and 9 (47.4%) with RD. In all patients with RD who did not respond to IFN and CZP, the subtherapeutic concentration was determined (p = 0.047), in the IBD group – only in 64.3% cases (p > 0.050). At the first visit, antibodies to TNFi were found in 24 (23.1%) patients, at the second visit in 7 (23.3%) exclusively in the RD group (p = 0.019), in 5 of them repeatedly. The formation of Ab was associated with 27.8% of cases of escape of the effect of TNF-α in IBD and 22.2% of cases of ineffectiveness in RD (p > 0.050).

Conclusions. The incidence of TNF-α efficacy did not differ between RD and IBD, CZP ineffectiveness was observed exclusively in patients with IBD. In patients with RD, a significant relationship was found between ineffectiveness and low concentration of TNFi. The frequency of Ab formation did not differ between the groups of diseases.
Bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with osteoarthritis of knee joint
Authors: Usova E. V. , Averkieva Yu. V. , Raskina T. A. , Letaeva M. V. , Malyshenko O. S. , Koroleva M. V.
Published: August 2021

Objective. Study the state of mineral bone density (BMD) in postmenopausal women with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee joint depending on the X-ray stage.

Materials and methods. The study included 56 women between 44 and 75 years of age. The diagnosis of OA is established according to the diagnostic criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR, 1991). For comparative analysis, patients were divided into two groups, taking into account the radiological stage: the 1st with 38 women with I–II radiology stage, the 2nd with 18 patients with III–IV radiology stage. The X-ray of the knee joint in the anterior projection is performed in a fixed bending position using a special frame (SynaFlexer TM Plexiglass positioning frame, Synarc Inc., USA). The BMD is estimated by a two-energy X-ray absorption technique in the femoral neck and lumbar spine.

Results. Osteopenic syndrome is diagnosed in 52 (92.8%) of the total number of patients, 27 (48.2%) have osteopenia and 25 (44.6%) have osteoporosis. Four women (7.1%) have a normal BMD. There is no statistically significant difference in the frequency of detection of the osteopenic syndrome between the groups studied (p > 0.050). Statistically significant increases in BMD and T-criteria have been found as the OA progresses in both the femoral neck and the lumbar spine. The correlation analysis results show a significant positive correlation between the BMD femoral neck and the OA X-ray stage (r = 501; p < 0.001).

Conclusions. The data show the presence of the osteopenic syndrome in the vast majority in postmenopausal women with OA of the knee joint. The high BMD values of the femur neck and lumbar spine are associated with the late X-ray stages of the OA of the knee joint.
Correcting Artifacts in Ratiometric Biosensor Imaging; an Improved Approach for Dividing Noisy Signals
Authors: Marston Daniel J. , Slattery Scott D. , Hahn Klaus M. , Tsygankov Denis
Published: August 2021

The accuracy of biosensor ratio imaging is limited by signal/noise. Signals can be weak when biosensor concentrations must be limited to avoid cell perturbation. This can be especially problematic in imaging of low volume regions, e.g., along the cell edge. The cell edge is an important imaging target in studies of cell motility. We show how the division of fluorescence intensities with low signal-to-noise at the cell edge creates specific artifacts due to background subtraction and division by small numbers, and that simply improving the accuracy of background subtraction cannot address these issues. We propose a new approach where, rather than simply subtracting background from the numerator and denominator, we subtract a noise correction factor (NCF) from the numerator only. This NCF can be derived from the analysis of noise distribution in the background near the cell edge or from ratio measurements in the cell regions where signal-to-noise is high. We test the performance of the method first by examining two noninteracting fluorophores distributed evenly in cells. This generated a uniform ratio that could provide a ground truth. We then analyzed actual protein activities reported by a single chain biosensor for the guanine exchange factor (GEF) Asef, and a dual chain biosensor for the GTPase Cdc42. The reduction of edge artifacts revealed persistent Asef activity in a narrow band (∼640 nm wide) immediately adjacent to the cell edge. For Cdc42, the NCF method revealed an artifact that would have been obscured by traditional background subtraction approaches.
Discovery of Novel Genetic Risk Loci for Acute Central Serous Chorioretinopathy and Genetic Pleiotropic Effect With Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Feng Lei , Chen Si , Dai Huatuo , Dorajoo Rajkumar , Liu Jianjun , Kong Jinfeng , Yin Xianyong , Ren Yunqing
Published: August 2021

Background

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is a severe and heterogeneous chorioretinal disorder. Shared clinical manifestations between CSC and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and the confirmation of CFH as genetic risk locus for both CSC and AMD suggest possible common pathophysiologic mechanisms between two diseases.

Methods

To advance the understanding of genetic susceptibility of CSC and further investigate genetic pleiotropy between CSC and AMD, we performed genetic association analysis of 38 AMD-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a Chinese CSC cohort, consisting of 464 patients and 548 matched healthy controls.

Results

Twelve SNPs were found to be associated with CSC at nominal significance (p< 0.05), and four SNPs on chromosomes 1, 4, and 15 showed strong associations whose evidences surpassed Bonferroni (BF)-corrected significance [rs1410996, odds ratios (OR) = 1.47,p= 2.37 × 10–5; rs1329428,OR= 1.40,p= 3.32 × 10–4; rs4698775,OR= 1.45,p= 2.20 × 10–4; and rs2043085,OR= 1.44,p= 1.91 × 10–4]. While the genetic risk effects of rs1410996 and rs1329428 (within the well-established locus CFH) are correlated (due to high LD), rs4698775 on chromosome 4 and rs2043085 on chromosome 15 are novel risk loci for CSC. Polygenetic risk score (PRS) constructed by using three independent SNPs (rs1410996, rs4698775, and rs2043085) showed highly significant association with CSC (p= 2.10 × 10–7), with the top 10% of subjects with high PRS showing 6.39 times higher risk than the bottom 10% of subjects with lowest PRS. Three SNPs were also found to be associated with clinic manifestations of CSC patients. In addition, by comparing the genetic effects (ORs) of these 38 SNPs between CSC and AMD, our study revealed significant, but complex genetic pleiotropic effect between the two diseases.

Conclusion

By discovering two novel genetic risk loci and revealing significant genetic pleiotropic effect between CSC and AMD, the current study has provided novel insights into the role of genetic composition in the pathogenesis of CSC.
N6 -Methyladenosine Modification in Chronic Stress Response Due to Social Hierarchy Positioning of Mice
Authors: dos Santos Guilherme Malena , Tsoutsouli Theodora , Todorov Hristo , Teifel Sina , Nguyen Vu Thu Thuy , Gerber Susanne , Endres Kristina
Published: August 2021

Appropriately responding to stressful events is essential for maintaining health and well-being of any organism. Concerning social stress, the response is not always as straightforward as reacting to physical stressors, e.g., extreme heat, and thus has to be balanced subtly. Particularly, regulatory mechanisms contributing to gaining resilience in the face of mild social stress are not fully deciphered yet. We employed an intrinsic social hierarchy stress paradigm in mice of both sexes to identify critical factors for potential coping strategies. While global transcriptomic changes could not be observed in male mice, several genes previously reported to be involved in synaptic plasticity, learning, and anxiety-like behavior were differentially regulated in female mice. Moreover, changes in N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-modification of mRNA occurred associated with corticosterone level in both sexes with, e.g., increased global amount in submissive female mice. In accordance with this, METTL14 and WTAP, subunits of the methyltransferase complex, showed elevated levels in submissive female mice. N6-adenosyl-methylation is the most prominent type of mRNA methylation and plays a crucial role in processes such as metabolism, but also response to physical stress. Our findings underpin its essential role by also providing a link to social stress evoked by hierarchy building within same-sex groups. As recently, search for small molecule modifiers for the respective class of RNA modifying enzymes has started, this might even lead to new therapeutic approaches against stress disorders.
The Ferroptosis-NLRP1 Inflammasome: The Vicious Cycle of an Adverse Pregnancy
Authors: Meihe Li , Shan Gao , Minchao Kang , Xiaoling Wu , Peng An , Xili Wu , Jin Zheng , Huimin Dang
Published: August 2021

One of the hallmarks of placental dysfunction is the increase of oxidative stress. This process, along with the overexpression of the inflammasome, creates a downward spiral that can lead to a series of severe pregnancy complications. Ferroptosis is a form of iron-mediated cell death involving the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxides. In this study, the rats’ model of oxidative stress abortion was established, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was used to establish a cellular model of placental oxidative stress. RNAi, western blot, and immunofluorescence were used to evaluate the expression of specific markers of ferroptosis and the expression of the inflammasome in placental trophoblast cells. We observed excessive levels of ferroptosis and inflammasome activation in both rats’ model and placental trophoblast cell model of oxidative stress. When the NLRP1 inflammasome was silenced, the expression levels of GSH and Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) were increased, while the expression levels of transferrin receptor 1 (TFR1), acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), and Malondialdehyde (MDA) were decreased. However, when an NLRP1 activator was applied, we observed the opposite phenomenon. We further explored the mechanisms underlying the actions of ferroptosis to inflammasomes. The expression levels of NLRP1, NLRP3, IL-1β, and caspase-1 were positively correlated with the ferroptosis following the application of ferroptosis inhibitor (ferrostatin-1) and ferroptosis activator (erastin). The existence of ferroptosis was demonstrated in the oxidative stress model of placental trophoblast cells; the results also indicate ferroptosis is linked with the expression of NLRP1 inflammasome. These findings may provide a valuable therapeutic target for the pathogenesis of pregnancy-related diseases.
Identification of the Immune-Related Genes in Tumor Microenvironment That Associated With the Recurrence of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Chengcheng Liu , Wenwen Qi , Ningyue Gong , Fangyuan Zhu , Runtong Xu , Zhenxiao Teng , Fenglei Xu , Yiming Qin , Miaoqing Zhao , Xiaoming Li , Ming Xia
Published: August 2021

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are still one of the most common malignant tumors in China, with a high metastasis rate and poor prognosis. The tumor immune microenvironment can affect the occurrence, development and prognosis of tumors, but the underlying mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we tried to describe the correlation between the recurrence of HNSCC and the tumor microenvironment (TME). The expression data [estimate the level of tumor stromal and immune infiltration, expression data (ESTIMATE)] algorithm was used to identify and estimate highly correlated stromal cells, immune cells, and prognostic scores in 116 samples of head and neck cancer patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset. The functional enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks of differential expressed genes (DEGs) were constructed. Subsequently, the abundance of various infiltrating immune cells was estimated with the tumor immune estimation resource (TIMER) and the infiltration pattern of immune cells were explored in HNSCC. A total of 407 immune-related genes were identified to involve in the TME. We found that CCR5, CD3E, CD4, and HLA -DRB1 were the most obvious DEGs and the dendritic cells (DCs) showed the highest abundance in the TME of HNSCC. In addition, the unsupervised cluster analysis determined 10 clusters of immune infiltration patterns, and indicated that immune infiltrated CD4 + T and B cells may be related to the prognosis of HNSCC. In conclusion, our research determined the list of immune genes and immune infiltrating cells related to the prognosis of HNSCC, and provided a perspective for HNSCC evolution, anti-tumor drugs selection, and drug resistance research.
Targeting the Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Receptor (uPAR) in Human Diseases With a View to Non-invasive Imaging and Therapeutic Intervention
Authors: Leth Julie Maja , Ploug Michael
Published: August 2021

The interaction between the serine protease urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its glycolipid-anchored receptor (uPAR) focalizes plasminogen activation to cell surfaces, thereby regulating extravascular fibrinolysis, cell adhesion, and migration. uPAR belongs to the Ly6/uPAR (LU) gene superfamily and the high-affinity binding site for uPA is assembled by a dynamic association of its three consecutive LU domains. In most human solid cancers, uPAR is expressed at the invasive areas of the tumor-stromal microenvironment. High levels of uPAR in resected tumors or shed to the plasma of cancer patients are robustly associated with poor prognosis and increased risk of relapse and metastasis. Over the years, a plethora of different strategies to inhibit uPA and uPAR function have been designed and investigated in vitro and in vivo in mouse models, but so far none have been implemented in the clinics. In recent years, uPAR-targeting with the intent of cytotoxic eradication of uPAR-expressing cells have nonetheless gained increasing momentum. Another avenue that is currently being explored is non-invasive imaging with specific uPAR-targeted reporter-molecules containing positron emitting radionuclides or near-infrared (NIR) florescence probes with the overarching aim of being able to: (i) localize disease dissemination using positron emission tomography (PET) and (ii) assist fluorescence guided surgery using optical imaging. In this review, we will discuss these advancements with special emphasis on applications using a small 9-mer peptide antagonist that targets uPAR with high affinity.
Nucleolipid Acid-Based Nanocarriers Restore Neuronal Lysosomal Acidification Defects
Authors: Brouillard Mathias , Barthélémy Philippe , Dehay Benjamin , Crauste-Manciet Sylvie , Desvergnes Valérie
Published: August 2021

Increasing evidence suggests that lysosomal dysfunction has a pathogenic role in neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, an increase in lysosomal pH has been reported in different cellular models of Parkinson’s disease. Thus, targeting lysosomes has emerged as a promising approach. More specifically, regulating its pH could play a central role against the neurodegeneration process. To date, only a few agents specifically targeting lysosomal pH are reported in the literature, partly due to the challenge of crossing the Blood-Brain-Barrier (BBB), preventing drug penetration into the central nervous system (CNS). To develop chronic treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, crossing the BBB is crucial. We report herein the conception and synthesis of an innovative DNA derivative-based nanocarrier. Nucleolipids, carrying a biocompatible organic acid as an active ingredient, were designed and synthesized as prodrugs. They were successfully incorporated into an oil-in-water nanoemulsion vehicle to cross biological membranes and then release effectively biocompatible acidic components to restore the functional lysosomal pH of neuronal cells. Biological assays on a genetic cell model of Parkinson’s disease highlighted the non-toxicity of such nucleolipids after cellular uptake and their ability (at c = 40 µM) to fully restore lysosomal acidity.
Molecular Characterization of Microbiota in Cerebrospinal Fluid From Patients With CSF Shunt Infections Using Whole Genome Amplification Followed by Shotgun Sequencing
Authors: Hodor Paul , Pope Christopher E. , Whitlock Kathryn B. , Hoffman Lucas R. , Limbrick David L. , McDonald Patrick J. , Hauptman Jason S. , Ojemann Jeffrey G. , Simon Tamara D.
Published: August 2021

Understanding the etiology of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt infections and reinfections requires detailed characterization of associated microorganisms. Traditionally, identification of bacteria present in the CSF has relied on culture methods, but recent studies have used high throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. Here we evaluated the method of shotgun DNA sequencing for its potential to provide additional genomic information. CSF samples were collected from 3 patients near the beginning and end of each of 2 infection episodes. Extracted total DNA was sequenced by: (1) whole genome amplification followed by shotgun sequencing (WGA) and (2) high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA V4 region (16S). Taxonomic assignments of sequences from WGA and 16S were compared with one another and with conventional microbiological cultures. While classification of bacteria was consistent among the 3 approaches, WGA provided additional insights into sample microbiological composition, such as showing relative abundances of microbial versus human DNA, identifying samples of questionable quality, and detecting significant viral load in some samples. One sample yielded sufficient non-human reads to allow assembly of a high-quality Staphylococcus epidermidis genome, denoted CLIMB1, which we characterized in terms of its MLST profile, gene complement (including putative antimicrobial resistance genes), and similarity to other annotated S. epidermidis genomes. Our results demonstrate that WGA directly applied to CSF is a valuable tool for the identification and genomic characterization of dominant microorganisms in CSF shunt infections, which can facilitate molecular approaches for the development of better diagnostic and treatment methods.
Social Effectiveness and Human-Wildlife Conflict: Linking the Ecological Effectiveness and Social Acceptability of Livestock Protection Tools
Authors: Volski Lara , McInturff Alex , Gaynor Kaitlyn M. , Yovovich Veronica , Brashares Justin S.
Published: August 2021

Human-wildlife interactions are embedded within socio-ecological systems (SES), in which animal behavior and human decision-making reciprocally interact. While a growing body of research addresses specific social and ecological elements of human-wildlife interactions, including conflicts, integrating these approaches is essential for identifying practical and effective solutions. Carnivore predation on livestock can threaten human livelihoods, weaken relationships among stakeholders, and precipitate carnivore declines. As carnivores have received greater protection in recent decades, researchers and managers have sought non-lethal tools to reduce predation and promote coexistence between livestock producers and carnivores. For these tools to be successful, they must effectively deter carnivores, and they must also be adopted by producers. Relatively few studies examine the practical and context-specific effectiveness of non-lethal tools, and even fewer simultaneously consider their social acceptability among producers. To address this gap, we suggest that a tool's ecological effectiveness and social acceptability be analyzed concurrently to determine itssocial effectiveness. We thus paired an experimental study of a carnivore predation deterrent called Foxlights® with qualitative interviews of livestock producers in Northern California. We placed camera traps in sheep pastures to measure the response of coyotes (Canis latrans) to experimentally deployed Foxlights and interviewed livestock producers before and after the experiment. Our experiment revealed weak evidence for reducing coyote activity with Foxlights, but interviews revealed that the potential adoption of tools had as much to do with their social acceptability and implementation feasibility as with evidence-based measurements of tool effectiveness. Interviewees viewed Foxlights as potentially effective components of husbandry systems, despite the data suggesting otherwise, demonstrating that scientific reductionism may lag behind producer practices of systems-thinking and that isolated demonstrations of a tool's ecological effectiveness do not drive tool adoption. Future empirical tests of non-lethal tools should better consider producers' perspectives and acknowledge that data-based tests of ecological effectiveness alone have a limited place in producer decision-making. Iteratively working with producers can build trust in scientific outputs through the research process itself.
Ideal Cardiovascular Health in the Oldest-Old and Centenarians and Its Association With Disability and Health-Related Quality of Life
Authors: Liu Miao , Kou Fuyin , Yang Shanshan , Wang Shengshu , He Yao , Zhang Wuping
Published: August 2021

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the distribution of ideal cardiovascular health (ICH) indicators among the oldest-old and centenarians and explore their relationships with disability and health-related quality of life of this population.

Methods: One thousand two centenarians from China Hainan Centenarian Cohort Study and 798 oldest-old from the China Hainan Oldest-old Cohort study were the target subjects in this analysis. ICH status, disability, and health-related quality of life of study subjects were assessed.

Findings: The median value of ICH indicators among centenarians and the oldest-old is 4 (4–5) and 3 (3–5), respectively. The ICH indicators with the highest percentage of ideal level/status are fasting plasm glucose (FPG) (90.2% of study subjects are at the ideal level), BMI (89.8% of study subjects are at the ideal level), and smoking (89.4% of study subjects are at the ideal status). The disability rates of basic activities of daily living (BADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) decrease with the increasing number of ICH indicators. The EQ VAS and EQ-5D score show an increasing trend along with the increasing number of ICH indicators (p < 0.05). After adjusting related covariates, the risk of disability and lower health-related quality of life decreased gradually as the number of ICH metrics increased (p < 0.05).

Interpretation: The ICH metrics of centenarians and oldest-old were at a relatively good level, and there was a strong and independent relationship between the number of ICH indicators and disability as well as the lower health-related quality of life.
Mechanical Synchrony and Myocardial Work in Heart Failure Patients With Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing and Comparison With Biventricular Pacing
Authors: Liu Wen , Hu Chunqiang , Wang Yanan , Cheng Yufei , Zhao Yingjie , Liu Yang , Zheng Shaoxin , Chen Haiyan , Shu Xianhong
Published: August 2021

Background: Little is known about the efficacy of permanent left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) in delivering cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). This study aimed to evaluate the effect of LBBAP on mechanical synchronization and myocardial work (MW) in heart failure (HF) patients and to compare LBBAP with biventricular pacing (BVP).

Methods: This is a multicenter, prospective cohort study. From February 2018 to January 2021, 62 consecutive HF patients with reduced ejection fraction (LVEF ≤ 35%) and complete left bundle branch block (CLBBB) who underwent LBBAP or BVP were enrolled in this study. Echocardiograms and electrocardiograms and were conducted before and 3–6 months after implantation. Intra- and interventricular synchronization were assessed using two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI). The left ventricular pressure-strain loop was obtained by combining left ventricular strain with non-invasive blood pressure to evaluate mechanical efficiency.

Results: The echocardiographic response rates were 68.6 and 88.9% in the BVP and LBBAP groups, respectively. Left bundle branch area pacing resulted in significant QRS narrowing (from 177.1 ± 16.7 to 113.0 ± 18.4 ms, P < 0.001) and improvement in LVEF (from 29.9 ± 4.8 to 47.1 ± 8.3%, P < 0.001). The global wasted work (GWW) (410.3 ± 166.6 vs. 283.0 ± 129.6 mmHg%, P = 0.001) and global work efficiency (GWE) (64.6 ± 7.8 vs. 80.5 ± 5.7%, P < 0.001) were significantly improved along with shorter peak strain dispersion (PSD) (143.4 ± 45.2 vs. 92.6 ± 35.1 ms, P < 0.001) and interventricular mechanical delay (IVMD) (56.4 ± 28.5 vs. 28.9 ± 19.0 ms, P < 0.001), indicating its efficiency in improving mechanical synchronization. In comparison with BVP, LBBAP delivered greater improvement of QRS narrowing (−64.1 ± 18.9 vs. −32.5 ± 22.3 ms, P < 0.001) and better mechanical synchronization and efficiency.

Conclusions: Left bundle branch area pacing was effective in improving cardiac function, mechanical synchronization, and mechanical efficiency and may be a promising alternative cardiac resynchronization therapy.
Disease Modelling of Cognitive Outcomes and Biomarkers in the European Prevention of Alzheimer’s Dementia Longitudinal Cohort
Authors: Howlett James , Hill Steven M. , Ritchie Craig W. , Tom Brian D. M.
Published: August 2021

A key challenge for the secondary prevention of Alzheimer’s dementia is the need to identify individuals early on in the disease process through sensitive cognitive tests and biomarkers. The European Prevention of Alzheimer’s Dementia (EPAD) consortium recruited participants into a longitudinal cohort study with the aim of building a readiness cohort for a proof-of-concept clinical trial and also to generate a rich longitudinal data-set for disease modelling. Data have been collected on a wide range of measurements including cognitive outcomes, neuroimaging, cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers, genetics and other clinical and environmental risk factors, and are available for 1,828 eligible participants at baseline, 1,567 at 6 months, 1,188 at one-year follow-up, 383 at 2 years, and 89 participants at three-year follow-up visit. We novelly apply state-of-the-art longitudinal modelling and risk stratification approaches to these data in order to characterise disease progression and biological heterogeneity within the cohort. Specifically, we use longitudinal class-specific mixed effects models to characterise the different clinical disease trajectories and a semi-supervised Bayesian clustering approach to explore whether participants can be stratified into homogeneous subgroups that have different patterns of cognitive functioning evolution, while also having subgroup-specific profiles in terms of baseline biomarkers and longitudinal rate of change in biomarkers.
Particulate and Dissolved Black Carbon in Bohai and Laizhou Bays, China: Distributions, Sources, and Contrasts Under Two Distinct Fluvial Hydrological Regimes
Authors: Fang Yin , Huang Guopei , Chen Yingjun , Hu Limin , Lin Jun , Lin Tian
Published: August 2021

Coastal seas, including coastal bays, are the geographically critical transitional zone that links terrestrial and open oceanic ecosystems. Organic carbon cycling in this area is a dynamic and disproportionally key component in the global carbon cycle and budget. As the thermally-transformed organic carbon produced exclusively from the incomplete combustion of biomass and fossil fuels, the recalcitrance and resultant longer environmental residence times result in important implications of black carbon (BC) in the global carbon budget. However, the environmental dynamics of BC in coastal seas have not well been constrained. In this study, we conducted one seawater sampling campaign in the high-intensity BC emission influenced Bohai Bay (BHB) and Laizhou Bay (LZB) in 2013, and quantified both particulate and dissolved BC (PBC and DBC). We elaborated the distributions, sources, and associated influencing factors of PBC and DBC in BHB and LZB in 2013, and simultaneously contrasted the PBC and DBC quantity and quality under two distinct fluvial hydrological regimes of 2013 and 2014 [discussed in Fang et al. (Environ. Sci. Technol., 2021, 55, 788–796)]. Except for the overwhelmingly high PBC in northern BHB caused by anthropogenic point-source emission, horizontally, both PBC and DBC showed a seaward decreasing trend, suggesting that riverine discharge was the major source for PBC and DBC. Vertically, in contrast to the uniform concentrations of DBC between surface and bottom waters, the PBC levels in bottom waters was significantly higher than that in surface waters, which was primarily resulted from the intense sediment re-suspension process during this sampling period. The nearly simultaneous investigations in 2013 and 2014 revealed consistent spatial patterns of PBC and DBC quantity and quality. But significantly lower PBC and DBC quantity and quality were found in 2014 than in 2013, which were largely due to the significantly different climatic conditions (including the watershed hydrology and sunlit radiation) between these 2 years.
Analysis of Failure Models and Deformation Evolution Process of Geological Hazards in Ganzhou City, China
Authors: Zhan Qinghua , Wang Shimei , Wang Li , Guo Fei , Zhao Daipeng , Yan Jinzhou
Published: August 2021

In Ganzhou City, China, a complex bedrock lithology and structure, diverse topography, frequent engineering works, and abundant rainfall generate frequent, sudden, small-scale landslides that are difficult to prevent and control. This study integrates evidence data from a field investigation of landslides with geological-engineering analogues to document the distribution and development of these geohazards in Ganzhou City. Based on the distribution of landslides across different types of bedrock and soil, we identify five lithological groups prone to slope failure: granite, metamorphics (slate and phyllite), red sedimentary layers, clastic sedimentary rocks with weak interlayers, and loose Quaternary deposits. Granite and metamorphic bedrock are the two lithologies most prone to landslides. Our analysis of the genesis and mode of slope failure suggests that most landslides in Ganzhou City originated from four modes of slope failure: scouring erosion collapse, steep slope collapse, rock sliding along a rock stratum, and wedge-shaped block sliding and caving. An in-situ model test and numerical simulations were used to explore the evolution of slope deformation and failure on the most landslide-prone lithological groups, and the accumulation of debris post-failure. This work provides a reference for the assessment of the risk from, and the management of, landslide geohazards in Ganzhou City and geologically similar regions.
High Pressure Behaviors and a Novel High-Pressure Phase of Cuprous Oxide Cu2O
Authors: Qin Fei , Zhang Dongzhou , Qin Shan
Published: August 2021

In the present study, we extensively explored the phase stabilities and elastic behaviors of Cu2O with elevated pressures up to 29.3 GPa based on single-crystal X-ray diffraction measurements. The structural sequence of Cu2O is different than previously determined. Specifically, we have established that Cu2O under pressure, displays a cubic-tetragonal-monoclinic phase transition sequence, and a novel monoclinic high-pressure phase assigned to the P1a1 or P12/a1 space group was firstly observed. The monoclinic phase Cu2O exhibits anisotropic compression with axial compressibility βb > βc > βa in a ratio of 1.00:1.64:1.45. The obtained isothermal bulk modulus of cubic and monoclinic phase Cu2O are 125(2) and 41(6) GPa, respectively, and the KT0’ is fixed at 4. Our results provide new insights into the phase stability and elastic properties of copper oxides and chalcogenides at extreme conditions.
The Desire for Social Robots to Support English Language Learners: Exploring Robot Perceptions of Teachers, Parents, and Students
Authors: Louie Belinda , Björling Elin A. , Kuo Annie Camey
Published: August 2021

Currently there are 4.9 million English Language Learners (ELLs) in the United States, however, only 2% of educators are trained to support these vulnerable students. Educational robots show promise for language acquisition and may provide valuable support for ELLs, yet, little is known about social robots for this population. Inviting participants as cultural informants can ensure that the robot is appropriately designed, situated and adopted into that educational community. Therefore, we conducted an exploratory study using interactive group interviews with 95 ELLs (kindergarten through fifth grade) from 18 different home language backgrounds. We also interviewed 39 ELL parents and eight elementary school educators to understand their views of educational robots. Responses to robot images suggested a preference for a popular educational robot. Parents expressed a strong desire for educational robots to support their children at school. While children embraced the idea of a robot at school, some expressed concerns about the potential for robots to be disruptive. School educators saw the potential for educational robots to support teachers in meeting instructional needs but also raised salient concerns. Exploring social robots with ELLs as cultural informants was a valuable exploration to determine important factors in social robot design and implementation for a diverse educational setting.
Secreted Frizzled Related Proteins in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases
Authors: Guan Hua , Zhang Jin , Luan Jing , Xu Hao , Huang Zhenghao , Yu Qi , Gou Xingchun , Xu Lixian
Published: August 2021

Abnormal gene expression and secreted protein levels are accompanied by extensive pathological changes. Secreted frizzled related protein (SFRP) family members are antagonistic inhibitors of the Wnt signaling pathway, and they were recently found to be involved in the pathogenesis of a variety of metabolic diseases, which has led to extensive interest in SFRPs. Previous reports highlighted the importance of SFRPs in lipid metabolism, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. In this review, we provide a detailed introduction of SFRPs, including their structural characteristics, receptors, inhibitors, signaling pathways and metabolic disease impacts. In addition to summarizing the pathologies and potential molecular mechanisms associated with SFRPs, this review further suggests the potential future use of SFRPs as disease biomarkers therapeutic targets.
Combined Exposure to Multiple Endocrine Disruptors and Uterine Leiomyomata and Endometriosis in US Women
Authors: Zhang Yuqing , Lu Yingying , Ma Huiyuan , Xu Qing , Wu Xiaoli
Published: August 2021

Background

Uterine leiomyomata (UL) and endometriosis (EM) are common gynecological diseases damaging the reproductive health of fertile women. Among all the potential factors, environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals are insufficiently addressed considering the multiple pollutants and mixture exposure.

Methods

Women aged 20 to 54 years old in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2006, having a complete measurement of ten commonly exposed endocrine-disrupting chemicals (including urinary phthalate metabolites, equol, and whole blood heavy metals) and answered questions about UL and EM were included (N=1204). Multivariable logistic regression model, weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were implemented to analyze the combined effect of chemicals on the overall association with UL and EM.

Results

In single chemical analysis, equol (OR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.11, 3.27) and mercury (Hg) (OR: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.14, 3.25) were found positively associated with UL in tertile 3 vs. tertile 1. In WQS regression and BKMR models, the significant positive association between WQS index and UL (OR: 2.54, 95% CI: 1.52, 4.29) was identified and the positive relationship between equol and Hg exposure and UL were further verified. Besides, the mixture evaluation models (WQS and BKMR) also found MEHP negatively associated with UL. Although none of the single chemicals in tertile 3 were significantly associated with EM, the WQS index had a marginally positive association with EM (OR: 2.01, 95% CI: 0.98, 4.15), and a significant positive association was identified in subanalysis with participants restricted to premenopausal women (OR: 2.18, 95% CI: 1.03, 4.70). MIBP and MBzP weighted high in model of EM and MEHP weighted the lowest.

Conclusion

Comparing results from these three statistical models, the associations between equol, Hg, and MEHP exposure with UL as well as the associations of MIBP, MBzP, and MEHP exposure with EM warrant further research.