bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Grass–legume intercropping in integrated crop-livestock systems: a strategy to improve soil quality and soybean yield in the Brazilian Cerrado
Authors: Moraes Juliana M. A. S. , Denardin Luiz Gustavo de O. , Pires Gabriela C. , Gonçalves Evelyn C. , Silva Laércio S. , Pacheco Leandro P. , Wruck Flávio J. , Carneiro Marco A. C. , Carvalho Paulo César de F. , Souza Edicarlos D.
Published: September 2021

Aims

The integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS) under no-tillage improves soil fertility of the Brazilian Cerrado. We aimed to evaluate the effect of different grass-legume intercropping compared to single grass cultivation in the off-season of an ICLS on (i) soil organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools, (ii) soil microbial biomass and activity, (iii) soil enzymatic activity, and (iv) soybean grain yield in succession.
Methods

The field study was conducted in an on-farm experiment in 2016/17 and 2017/18 cropping seasons. The soybean was cultivated in the summer season, with the subsequent treatments in the off-season, using two grasses (Urochloa ruziziensis and U. brizantha), single or intercropped with Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) or Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan). We evaluated soil organic C and N pools, microbial biomass and activity, enzyme activity, and soybean yield.
Results

Cowpea intercropping yielded 24% more soybeans than grasses single cropped. There was a higher microbial biomass and activity, and enzymatic activity in the soil under grass-legume intercropping. In addition to the lower basal respiration and microbial metabolic quotient (qCO2), the greater microbial quotient (qMIC) and microbial biomass C indicate a higher soil microbial C utilization efficiency under grass-legume intercropping. The soil total organic C and N stocks increased under Pigeon pea intercropping by 16% and 27%, respectively, compared to single grasses.
Conclusions

Grass-legume intercropping in the pasture phase of ICLS is an additional tool to maximize soybean yields in the short term. The intercropping effects on soybean yield were directly related to soil quality improvements through soil biological and biochemical properties.
Leaf Elemental Stoichiometry of Stellera Chamaejasme L. in Response to Environmental Factors in Degraded Grasslands Across Northern China
Authors: Guo Lizhu , Liu Li , Meng Huizhen , Zhang Li , Silva Valdson José , Wang Kun , He Wei , Huang Ding
Published: September 2021

Plant leaf stoichiometry reflect its adaptations to environments. Leaf stoichiometry variations across different environments have been extensively studied among grassland plants, but little is known about intraspecific leaf stoichiometry, especially for widely distributed species, such as Stellera chamaejasme L. In order to evaluate the biogeographical drivers for leaf elemental stoichiometry in S. chamaejasme, leaf and soil samples were collected from 29 invaded sites in the two plateaus of distinct environments [the Inner Mongolian Plateau (IM) and Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QT)] in Northern China. Leaf C, N, P, and K and their stoichiometric ratios, and soil physicochemical properties were determined. Results showed that mean leaf C, N, P, and K concentrations were 498.60, 19.95, 2.15, and 6.57 g kg-1, respectively; the C/N, C/P, and N/P ratios were 25.46, 246.22, and 9.84, respectively. Only leaf K was significantly different between the two environments studied. Soil physicochemical properties of S. chamaejasme invaded area varied wildly, suggesting this wide ranging species tend to be insensitive to variation in soil nutrient availability. C and N content of S. chamaejasme leaves were unaffected by any environmental factors. However, the stoichiometric homeostasis of P and K was observed. The correlation between leaf P and climate factors was significant only in IM, while leaf K was significantly related to climate factors only in QT. Partial least squares path modeling suggested that soil exerted a significant effect on LP and climate affected leaf P and K both directly and indirectly in QT, while LP appeared to be limited mainly by climatic factors via direct ways and LK was not affected significantly by any environmental factors in IM. This study evaluated the S. chamaejasme leaf elemental stoichiometry and their relationships with environmental variables, which can help understand the plant biogeographic patterns and adaption strategy in degraded grasslands in China.
Oxysterol-Binding Protein 2 Promotes Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Progression Through Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Process
Authors: Huang Shuai , Zhang Xudong , Luo Kai , Jiang Li , Li Renfeng , Jiang Jianhua
Published: September 2021

Oxysterol-binding protein 2 (OSBP2) is crucial for the promotion of growth and development of cancers, however, its effects in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) were still unclear. Here we report the evidence that OSBP2 works as an efficient tumor-associated protein to lead to PDAC extremely malignant characters. We discovered that raised OSBP2 expression in primary tumors was associated with shorter survival in PDAC patients. Therefore, we used immunohistochemistry to analysis the levels of OSBP2 expression in PDAC tissues and adjacent para-cancer tissues. We used wound-healing assay and transwell assay to evaluate the effects of OSBP2 on PDAC cells’ (ASPC-1 and BXPC-3) migration and invasion, respectively. Using CCK-8 and Annexin V / PI double staining, we evaluated the effects of OSBP2 on PDAC cells’ proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. We also explored the effect of OSBP2 on chemosensitivity (gemcitabine and 5-Fluorouracil). And we further validated these findings in vivo of mice. At last, we used western blot to analysis the effect of OSBP2 on PDAC cells’ phenotype. We proved that OSBP2 overexpression promoted PDAC cells’ migration, invasion, proliferation and chemotherapy resistance, decreased apoptosis. OSBP2 overexpression downregulated E-cadherin, and upregulated the levels of N-cadherin, vimentin, Snail, Slug, ZEB1 and β-Catenin. Taken collectively, our findings indicated that OSBP2 exhibited overexpression in PDAC, and upregulation of OSBP2 may promote the progression of PDAC. OSBP2 may have potential diagnostic and therapeutic values in PDAC.
Detection of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Multiple Strains in Sputum Samples from Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis in South Western Uganda using MIRU-VNTR
Authors: Micheni Lisa Nkatha , Kassaza Kennedy , Kinyi Hellen , Ntulume Ibrahim , Bazira Joel
Published: September 2021

Infections with multiple strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are now widely recognized as a common occurrence. Identification of patients infected with multiple strains, provides both insight into the disease dynamics and the epidemiology of tuberculosis. Analysis of Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive Unit-Variable-Number Tandem Repeats (MIRU-VNTR) has been shown to be highly sensitive in detecting multiple M. tuberculosis strains even in sputum. The goal of this study was to identify cases of multiple M. tuberculosis strain infections among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in south western Uganda and factors associated with multiple strain infections. Seventy-eight sputum samples were analyzed using the standard 24 loci MIRU-VNTR typing and an exact regression analysis performed using Stata version 14. Five (6.4%) of the 78 patients were infected with multiple strains of M. tuberculosis. All of the patients infected with multiple strains were the newly diagnosed cases while one third of them were co-infected with HIV. These findings point to a critical component of disease dynamics that is most likely being overlooked at the clinical level, emphasizing the need to further study the potential high risk of exposure to these categories of patients at the community level using a larger sample size.
Carbon-Nitrogen bond formation on Cu electrodes during CO2 reduction in NO3- solution
Authors: Krzywda Piotr , Rodríguez Ainoa Paradelo , Benes Nieck , Mei Bastian , Mul Guido
Published: September 2021

In performing electrochemical reduction of CO2 over Cu electrodes, the anions present in solution typically do not participate in the formation of reaction products. NO3- is an exception, and previous reports indicate the formation of urea in certain process conditions. Here we demonstrate by use of Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy and Electrochemical Mass spectrometry that simultaneous reduction of NO3- and CO2 on Cu surfaces forms carbon-nitrogen bonds in the form of cyanide. The Raman peak position of C≡N is dependent on the oxidation state of the Cu surface, and Cu-C≡N can be oxidized by anodic polarization yielding NO. More importantly, Cyanide likely forms soluble Cu-C≡N complexes, which cause catalyst surface instability. The implications of this observation for practical application of a process for electrochemical formation of urea, are discussed.
Bacterial infection drives trained immunity through epigenetic remodeling of epithelial stem cells
Authors: Hultgren Scott , Russell Seongmi , Lee Hyung Joo , Olson Benjamin , Livny Jonathan , O’Brien Valerie , Yu Lu , Roberson Elisha , Estfanous Shady , Amer Amal , Colonna Marco , Stappenbeck Thaddeus , Wang Ting , Hannan Thomas
Published: September 2021

Recurrent bacterial infections are a major health burden worldwide, yet the mechanisms dictating host susceptibility to recurrence are poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that an initial bacterial infection of the urinary bladder with uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) can induce sustained epigenetic changes in the bladder epithelial (urothelial) stem cells that reprogram the differentiated urothelium. We established urothelial stem cell (USC) lines from isogenic mice with different urinary tract infection histories (naïve, chronic or self-resolving). Differentiation of the USC lines in Transwell culture resulted in polarized urothelial cultures that recapitulated distinct remodeling morphologies seen in vivo. In addition, we discovered differences in chromatin accessibility that segregated by disease history, resulting in differences in gene expression upon differentiation of the USC lines in vitro, based on ATAC-seq analysis of the USC lines. Differential basal expression of Caspase-1 led to divergent susceptibilities to inflammatory cell death upon UPEC infection. In mice with a history of chronic infection, enhanced caspase 1-mediated inflammatory cell death was found to be a protective response that enhanced bacterial clearance upon challenge infection. Thus, UPEC infection reshapes the epigenome leading to epithelial-intrinsic remodeling that trains the mucosal immune response to subsequent infection. These findings may have broad implications for the prevention of chronic/recurrent bacterial infections.
Targeting CD33 for Acute Myeloid Leukemia Therapy
Authors: liu Jing jing , Tong Jia Yin , Yang Hai Ping
Published: September 2021

Objective
The aim of this study was to analyze the level of CD33 expression in patients with newly diagnosed AML and determine its correlation with clinical characteristics. Methods: Samples were collected for analysis from AML patients at diagnosis. We evaluated the level of CD33 expression by flow cytometry analysis of bone marrow. Chi-square or t- tests were used to assess the association of categorical variables between the high and low CD33 expression groups. Spearman’s rho was applied when appropriate. Survival curves were generated by the Kaplan–Meier method.
Results
① In this study we evaluated the level of CD33 expression in de novo patients diagnosed from November 2013 until January 2019. The mean value of 73.4% was used as the cutoff for the two groups. Statistical analysis revealed that 53 of the 86 (61.2%) AML patients were above the mean.② Although there was no statistical significance between CD33 expression level and gene mutation, FLT3 mutation (P=0.002) and NPM1 mutation (P༝0.001)were more likely to be seen in the high CD33 group. ③ The overall survival (OS) was worse in the high CD33 group (39.0 m vs. 16.7 m, x2 = 7.385, P = 0.007). Multivariate analysis showed that the high expression of CD33 was an unfavorable prognostic factor. ④ Of the 86 patients, CD33-high was closely related to the patients with normal karyotype (x2 = 4.891,P = 0.027), high white blood cell count (WBC, t = 2.804, P = 0.007), and a high ratio of primitive cells (t = 2.851, P = 0.005).
Conclusions
These findings provide a strong rationale for targeting CD33 in combination with chemotherapy, which can be considered a promising therapeutic strategy for AML.
Unique Case of Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Ampulla of Vater with microsatellite instability and response to pembrolizumab immunotherapy
Authors: Samad Muhammad Adeel , Shelton Jarod , Asplund Martin , Penna Diane C. Shih Della , Johnson Dennis E.
Published: September 2021

Background: Primary squamous cell carcinoma is a very rare entity and there are only 11 reported cases to date. We describe a case of primary SCC of the ampulla of Vater with microsatellite instability (MSI) and response to pembrolizumab immunotherapy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of SCC of ampulla of Vater with MSI. We also performed a review of literature to determine the treatment modalities for this pathology.Case presentation: A 40-year-old male presented with direct bilirubinemia (total bilirubin: 10.7, direct bilirubin: 7.1) and was noted to have a pancreatic head mass which measured 6.6 x 5.5 x 5.5 cm. The patient underwent a pylorus preserving pancreatoduodenectomy with lymph node dissection. Pathology showed 5.5 x 3.5 x 3.5 cm squamous cell carcinoma of ampulla of Vater based on positive p40 and CK5 on immunohistochemistry. It was noted to be invading pancreatic head and duodenal mucosal. Surgical margins were negative. Adjuvant chemotherapy with mFOLFIRINOX (irinotecan, 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin) was not performed because of active Hepatitis C infection. Chemoradiotherapy with capecitabine and radiation therapy was initiated however patient had progression of disease despite that. The patient was transitioned to Pembrolizumab in context of MSI high tumour with palliative intent. He had an excellent response to immunotherapy. The therapy was stopped after 18 cycles on patient request because of persistent symptoms of dizziness and lethargy. At the eight-month follow-up after the last cycle of immunotherapy (2.5 years after surgical resection), the patient had no evidence of relapse on CT scan. Conclusions: Surgical resection is mainstay of treatment for primary squamous cell carcinoma of ampulla of Vater. Genetic testing for mismatch repair (MMR) genes should be performed for all patients and immunotherapy with Pembrolizumab should be considered in tumours with high microsatellite instability. Radiotherapy is not effective for this pathology.
CDKN2AIP Induces Cellular Senescence and Apoptosis of Testicular Seminoma Tumor by Interacting with CARM1 and eIF4B
Authors: Zhang Yuanzhen , yuming Cao , zhenlie Chen , zihan Qin , kaiyu Qian , tongzu Liu
Published: September 2021

BackgroundTesticular seminoma are relatively rare tumors, which are mostly detected in male population aged between 15 to 44 years old. Although previous researches identified several molecular biomarkers associated with testicular seminoma pathogenesis, the exact mechanism for testicular seminoma progression remains largely unknown. CDKN2AIP has been previously indicated as tumor suppressor in multiple malignant diseases, in this study we aimed to further discover its role in testicular seminoma and underlying molecular mechanismsMethodsRetrospectively collected testicular seminoma clinical samples and normal tissues combined with NTERA-2 cell line models, as well as mice xenograft models were utilized for this study. CDKN2AIP expression and its interaction with CARM1 and eIF4B were detected by qRT-PCR, western blot, immunofluorescence assay combined with Co-IP and IP-MS experiments. Cellular senescence and apoptosis were subsequently evaluated via SA-beta-gal staining assay and H3K9me3 activity experiments. Mice xenograft animal model was used for in-vivo validation studyResultsCDKN2AIP was highly-expressed in normal testis samples, and was significantly suppressed in testicular seminoma clinical samples and cell line models. Up-regulation of CDKN2AIP was significantly associated with inhibited testicular seminoma tumor growth and increased cellular senescence and apoptosis. Further experiments demonstrated CDKN2AIP exhibited anti-tumor activity via interaction with CARM and eIF4ConclusionCDKN2AIP induced testicular seminoma cellular senescence by suppressing CARM1 expression and eIF4B phosphorylation. CDKN2AIP-CARM1 and CDKN2AIP-eIF4B interaction-induced tumor cell senescence and apoptosis might be potential druggable molecular pathway in testicular seminoma tumor pathogenesis and progression
Impact of Folate Biofortified Food Supplement on Rural Women Health and Willingness-to-pay: A Study Based on A Connected Randomized Controlled Trial- Becker–DeGroot–Marschak Experiment in China
Authors: Qing Ping , Li Yan , Liao Fen , Feng Jie , Wang Anxu , Li Jian , Huo Junsheng , Wang Linjie , Chen Tong , Sun Jing , Mao Hongmei
Published: September 2021

We examined whether folate-fortified maize (FFM) improves the health of rural women of childbearing age and whether the health intervention is associated with the formulation of consumer willingness-to-pay (WTP). A randomized single-blind folate-fortified maize intervention trial was conducted in rural childbearing-aged women. Participants consumed one stalk of either folate-fortified maize (FFM) (treatment group) or ordinary maize (control group) daily for 2 months (n = 55). Serum folate levels were assessed at baseline, mid stage (after 1 month), and final stage (after 2 months) to assess the effect of FFM. Results showed that the serum folate level in the treatment group (13.31 ng/mL) was 3.40 ng/mL higher than that in the control group (9.91 ng/mL) in the final stage of the study. We obtained suggestive evidence that regular dietary FFM intake significantly increased serum folate levels in rural Chinese women. We further recruited 181 local rural women with similar demographic characteristics to participate in a Becker–DeGroot–Marschak (BDM) bidding experiment to measure their WTP for FFM. Results showed that local consumers were willing to pay 2.82 CNY per FFM stalk, approximately 1.21 CNY higher than the price of ordinary maize. We provide evidence on the health improvement effect of biofortified foods and shed light on the associated consumer valuation and policy implementation.
Analysis of the effects of Lead-Time variation and Lateral Transshipment insertion in a Supply Chain Network
Authors: Sakhri Mohamed Salim Amri , Tlili Mounira , Korbaa Ouajdi
Published: September 2021

In a supply chain, inventory is the single largest source of costs for a company. This is due to the various physical and informational activities that accompany inventory management, primarily the holding and transportation of inventory. Companies are looking to streamline these activities and minimize the associated costs. One of the most coveted models to jointly solve these two problems is the Inventory Routing Problem (IRP), which will be the focus of this study. This paper addresses the case of a deterministic replenishment demand in a distribution network consisting of a supplier and a number of customers to be served by a single vehicle over a finite planning horizon. We will first study the impact of increasing supplier lead times on network costs. Then, we will study the effects of the Lateral Transshipment (LT) technique on the overall network cost. A mathematical model is developed and solved by an exact method. The results obtained will show that LT is an effective tool capable of improving the total network cost and balancing the customers’ inventory level.
The Impact of Comorbid Renal Dysfunction in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma on Long-Term Outcomes after Curative Resection
Authors: Sakamoto Yuzuru , Shimada Shingo , Kamiyama Toshiya , Sugiyama Ko , Asahi Yoh , Nagatsu Akihisa , Orimo Tatsuya , Kakisaka Tatsuhiko , Kamachi Hirofumi , Taketomi Akinobu
Published: September 2021

Background:Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. However, the number of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is also on the rise because of the increase in lifestyle-related diseases. To establish a tailored management strategy for HCC patients, we evaluated the impact of comorbid renal dysfunction (RD), as stratified by using the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and assessed the oncologic validity of hepatectomy for HCC patients with RD.Methods:We enrolled 800 HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy between 1997 and 2015 in our university hospital. We categorized patients into two (RD, eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73m2; non-RD, 60 ≤ eGFR) and three groups (severe CKD, eGFR < 30; mild CKD, 30 ≤ eGFR < 60; control, 60 ≤ eGFR) according to renal function as defined by the eGFR. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were compared among these groups with the log-rank test, and we also analyzed survival by using a propensity score matching (PSM) model for excluding the influence of patient characteristics. The mean of postoperative observation period was 64.7 ± 53.0 months.Results:RD patients were significantly older and had lower serum total bilirubin, AST, and ALT levels than those in non-RD patients (P < 0.0001, P < 0.001, < 0.05, and < 0.01, respectively). No patient was introduced to maintenance hemodialysis after surgery. Although the overall postoperative complications rates were similar between RD and non-RD patients, the proportions of postoperative bleeding and surgical site infection were significantly higher in RD patients (5.5% vs. 1.8%; P < 0.05, 3.9% vs. 1.8%; P < 0.05, respectively), and postoperative bleeding was the highest in severe CKD group (P < 0.05). Regardless of the degree of comorbid RD, OS and RFS were comparative, even when using PSM between RD and non-RD groups to exclude the influence of patient characteristics, liver function, and other causes of death.Conclusions:Comorbid RD had a negligible impact on the prognosis of HCC patients who underwent curative hepatectomy with appropriate perioperative management, and close attention to severe CKD is necessary to prevent postoperative bleeding and surgical site infection. Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine under Clinical Research Number 016-0354
Morphological Evaluation of Asparagus Azerbaijanensis Wild Accessions and Drought Tolerance Assessment of Iranian Asparagus Under Greenhouse Condition
Authors: Namaki Atefeh , Ghahremani Zahra , Ranjbar Mohamad Ebrahim
Published: September 2021

Some of the most cultivated commercial cultivars of asparagus are susceptible to abiotic stresses. Different species of asparagus plant are distributed in different regions of Iran which could be useful genetic resources for applying in asparagus breeding programs. The purposes of the current study were to evaluate morphological variation of A. azerbaijanensis accessions and drought tolerance assessment of Iranian asparagus in order to introduce superior accessions. Two different accessions of A. azerbaijanensis species were collected. A number of 30 plants were selected and 22 morphological traits were then evaluated. A factorial experiment based on completely randomized design was performed in order to drought tolerance assessment of 9 Iranian asparagus accessions. The average of spear length and diameter in Ahar and Makou plants were 48.94 cm and 4.70 mm, respectively. Based on results, plants of Ahar accession produced short and thick spears but on the other hand, Makou accession plants produced longer and thinner spears. Score 8 (80% similarity rate) was averagely chosen by panel members in terms of similarity rate of A. azerbaijanensis accessions spears taste to that of Mary Washington commercial cultivar. The highest percentage of seed germination was recorded in Baladeh and Gazanak accessions (71.66 and 70.83%, respectively). Baladeh accession showed the highest carotenoid content under drought stress conditions (0.43 mg g Fw− 1). Suitable size and delicious taste of spear in A. azerbaijanensis species has made it a suitable candidate for commercial cultivation and also improving spear characteristics by using selection method. Baladeh and Gazanak accessions could be introduced as superior accessions with high drought tolerance rate. High resistance rate of these accessions can be related to their ploidy level and distribution areas characteristics.
Age-Related Differences in The Survival Benefit of Anticoagulants in Sepsis: A Retrospective Sub-Analysis of A Prospective Multicenter study
Authors: Wada Takeshi , Yamakawa Kazuma , Kabata Daijiro , Abe Toshikazu , Ogura Hiroshi , Shiraishi Atsushi , Saitoh Daizoh , Kushimoto Shigeki , Fujishima Seitaro , Mayumi Toshihiko , Hifumi Toru , Shiino Yasukazu , Nakada Taka-aki , Tarui Takehiko , Otomo Yasuhiro , Okamoto Kohji , Umemura Yutaka , Kotani Joji , Sakamoto Yuichiro , Sasaki Junichi , Shiraishi Shin-ichiro , Takuma Kiyotsugu , Tsuruta Ryosuke , Hagiwara Akiyoshi , Masuno Tomohiko , Takeyama Naoshi , Yamashita Norio , Ikeda Hiroto , Ueyama Masashi , Fujimi Satoshi , Gando Satoshi
Published: September 2021

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is one of the major organ dysfunctions associated with sepsis. This retrospective secondary analysis comprised data from a prospective multicenter study to investigate the age-related differences in the survival benefit of anticoagulant therapy in sepsis according to the DIC diagnostic criteria. Adult patients with severe sepsis based on the Sepsis-2 criteria were enrolled and divided into the following groups: (1) anticoagulant group (patients who received anticoagulant therapy) and (2) non-anticoagulant group (patients who did not receive anticoagulant therapy). Patients in the former group were administered antithrombin, recombinant human thrombomodulin, and their combination. The multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression model showed that the risk increases were suppressed in the high-DIC-score patients aged 60–70 years receiving anticoagulant therapy. No favorable association of anti-coagulant therapy with hospital mortality was observed in patients aged 50 years and 80 years. Furthermore, anticoagulant therapy in the lower-DIC-score range increased the risk in patients aged 50–60 years. In conclusion, anticoagulant therapy was associated with decreased hospital mortality according to a higher DIC score in septic patients aged 60–70 years. Anticoagulant therapy, however, was not associated with a better outcome in relatively younger and older patients with sepsis.
Spontaneous Globe Subluxation: A Case Report And Review Of The Literature
Authors: Yadete Tesfaye , Isby Ian , Patel Ketan , Lin Alex
Published: September 2021

BackgroundSpontaneous globe subluxation (SGS) is an atraumatic anterior dislocation of the eyeball. It is exceedingly rare. Understanding SGS predisposing factors may help uncover its etiology and undertake vision-saving management.Case presentationA 48-year-old female presented to the ED with her right eye out of its socket. She reports blurry vision, photophobia, and pain in the affected eye. She was unable to close her right eyelid and was in obvious distress. On arrival, her blood pressure was elevated. Her medical history was notable for hypertension and obesity. On physical examination, extraocular eye movements were not intact, and the globe appeared whole and round. She was also unable to count fingers with the affected eye. There was no visible trauma to the face. Multiple wet gauzes with sterile saline were placed over the displaced eyeball. Direct and even pressure was applied on the globe. Within thirty seconds, the globe was reduced back in. The patient was able to close her eyelids and reports substantial pain relief with reduction. A CT scan of the orbits was then obtained, demonstrating mild bilateral proptosis. The globes were normal and symmetric. No intraconal or extraconal abscess or infection was seen. There were no intraconal or extraconal masses. There was no acute orbital traumatic injury, no avulsion of the optic nerve, ocular rupture, or retrobulbar hematoma. After reviewing the case with an ophthalmologist, a follow up appointment with the ophthalmologist was arranged. The patient was discharged on erythromycin ointment. Post-discharge investigation of the CT imaging revealed dilated optic nerve sheaths, tortuosity of the optic nerve, and empty sella. ConclusionsIn addition to causing distress and severe anxiety, SGS poses numerous immediate as well as long-term complications. Traction of the optic nerve and retinal vasculature may potentially cause retinal venous congestion and loss of visual acuity with potential vision loss. In the absence of known risk factors or disease processes, orbital imaging and serological studies for thyroid ophthalmopathy should be considered.
Mapping inland water bathymetry with Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) on board Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs)
Authors: Bandini Filippo , Kooij Lukas , Mortensen Bjørn Karl , Caspersen Marie Boeskov , Olesen Daniel , Bauer-Gottwein Peter
Published: September 2021

Bathymetry of inland waterbodies is essential for river maintenance and flood risk management. Traditionally, in shallow depths bathymetry is retrieved by operators wading through the waterbody with Real Time Kinematic (RTK) Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), whilst in deeper depths it is retrieved with sonar instruments on manned or unmanned. In the past, researchers have documented the use of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) on boats (i.e. water-coupled GPR) for monitoring the bathymetry of frozen and non-frozen waterbodies. Furthermore, GPR has been used on helicopters for monitoring ice and snow thickness. However, deployment of GPR on board Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) in non-frozen inland water bodies with electric conductivity higher than 100 µS/cm (as is common in most inland waterbodies in non-polar regions) is unexplored. In this paper, we document the possibility to use drone-borne and water-coupled GPR in several cross-sections located in three different waterbodies (1 lake and 2 rivers) in Denmark. These waterbodies had different bed sediment materials and vegetation conditions, an electric conductivity varying from 200 to 340 µS/cm and depths up to 2.5 meters. Drone-borne GPR showed accuracy similar to water-coupled GPR when compared to RTK GNSS ground-truth measurements, with a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of approx. 8 cm. The only limitations of drone-borne GPR were i) worse minimum depth measurement capability (typically 0.8–1.1 m for drone-borne GPR, while 0.3–0.4 metres for water-coupled GPR) ii) requirement to fly the GPR antenna at altitudes of approx. 0.5 meters above the water surface to avoid high spreading losses and strong surface clutter events hiding the signal. Finally, GPR measurements were benchmarked against traditional sonar measurements, showing that GPR measurements significantly outperform sonar measurements in waterbodies with medium or high density of aquatic vegetation.
Gender Differences in Psychiatric Outpatients: A Before and During COVID-19 Pandemic Study in General Hospitals From China
Authors: He Wenli , Xu Danhong , Wang Jiafeng , Shen Yuze , Lin Zheng , Ruan Liemin , Chen Qiaozhen
Published: September 2021

BackgroundLittle is known about the gender characteristics and the Corona Virus Disease 2019(COVID-19) impact on psychiatric department outpatients in general hospitals in China. MethodsWe retrospectively collected 225,947 outpatient clinic records before and during COVID-19 pandemic from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020 in the psychiatric clinic of 3 general hospitals, gender composition of patients was analyzed in different five age groups and nine diagnostic categories at three levels: total patient visits, number of patients and number of first-visit patients. ResultsThe total male-to-female ratio of psychiatric outpatient records in 3 general hospitals from 2019 to 2020 was 1:1.69. Women were more common in all age groups and the male-to-female ratio of 2020 was expanded compared to that of 2019, especially in age group below 34 years old and anxiety disorders category. Most mental disorders showed higher demands for females than that for males except Mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use with the male-to-female ratio was 1:0.05. Compared to 2019, the proportions of women were expanded especially in age group below 34 years old, and anxiety disorder and undetermined diagnosis categories were significantly increased in 2020. ConclusionsThe demand for female psychiatric outpatient services is obviously higher than that for males. It is necessary to pay more attention to explore targeted mechanism or psychosocial service strategy for female patients with mental disorders. Trial registration: ChiCTR2100044894, March 31,2021 retrospectively registered.
Safety and Efficacy of Procarbazine and Lomustine Chemotherapy as a Salvage Treatment for Recurrent Adult Glioma
Authors: Ahn Stephen , Kim Young Il , Shin Ja Young , Park Jae-Sung , Yoo Changyoung , Lee Youn Soo , Hong Yong-Kil , Jeun Sin-Soo , Yang Seung-Ho
Published: September 2021

PurposeWhile procarbazine, lomustine, and vincristine (PCV) chemotherapy is considered a salvage option for adult glioma, whether vincristine included in this regimen is beneficial is uncertain due to its potential toxicity and uncertain efficacy. In this study, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of PC chemotherapy in contrast with those of PCV chemotherapy. MethodsUsing electronic medical records, all patient with adult recurrent glioma who received PC or PCV chemotherapy between 2009 and 2020 at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital or St. Vincent’s Hospital were examined retrospectively. A total of 59 patients met our eligibility criteria. Among them, 15 patients received PC chemotherapy (PC group) and 44 patients received PCV chemotherapy (PCV group). ResultsThe PC group presented a significantly lower hematology toxicity (anemia: 6.7% vs. 45.5%; p = 0.02 and thrombocytopenia: 20.0% vs. 70.4%; p < 0.001). Also, the clinical impacts of PC chemotherapy, including delay of a cycle, dose reduction, discontinuation of drug(s), or total cessation of chemotherapy, were significantly less frequent (26.7% vs. 68.2%; p = 0.012). The overall survival of PC group was significantly longer than that of PCV group (396 vs. 232 days; p = 0.042), while there was no significant difference in progression-free survival between two groups (284.5 vs. 131 days; p = 0.077). ConclusionThis is the first comparative study to suggest that PC chemotherapy leads to less toxicity than PCV chemotherapy without loss of clinical efficacy in patients with recurrent adult glioma. Further prospective and larger studies are needed to validate our findings.
Better Than Maximum Likelihood Estimation of Model-Based And Model-Free Learning Style
Authors: Yazdani Sadjad , Vahabie Abdol-Hossein , Araabi Babak Nadjar , Ahmadabadi Majid Nili
Published: September 2021

Various decision-making systems work together to shape human behavior. Habitual and goal-directed systems are the two most important ones that are studied by reinforcement learning (RL), using model-free and model-based learning methods, respectively. Human behavior resembles the weighted combination of these two systems. Such a combination is modeled by the weighted sum of action values of the model-based and model-free systems. The weighting parameter has been mostly extracted by "maximum likelihood" or "maximum a-posteriori" estimation methods. In this study, we show these two well-known methods bring many challenges, and their respective extracted values are less reliable, especially in the case of limited sample size or at the proximity of extremes values. We propose that using k‑nearest neighbor, as a free format estimate, can improve the estimation error. k-nn uses global information extracted from the behavior such as stay probability, along with fitted values. The proposed method is examined by simulated experiments, where obtained results indicate the advantage of our method in reducing both bias and variance of the error. Investigation of the human behavior data from previous studies shows that the proposed method results in more statistically robust estimates in predicting other behavioral indices such as the number of gaze directions toward each target or symptoms of some psychiatric disorders. In brief, the proposed method increases the reliability of the estimated parameters and enhances the applicability of reinforcement learning paradigms in clinical trials.
CRISPR-Cas9 bends and twists DNA to read its sequence
Authors: Doudna Jennifer , Cofsky Joshua , Soczek Katarzyna , Knott Gavin , Nogales Eva
Published: September 2021

In bacterial defense and genome editing applications, the CRISPR-associated protein Cas9 searches millions of DNA base pairs to locate a 20-nucleotide, guide-RNA-complementary target sequence that abuts a protospacer-adjacent motif (PAM). Target capture requires Cas9 to unwind DNA at candidate sequences using an unknown ATP-independent mechanism. Here we show that Cas9 sharply bends and undertwists DNA at each PAM, thereby flipping DNA nucleotides out of the duplex and toward the guide RNA for sequence interrogation. Cryo-electron-microscopy (EM) structures of Cas9:RNA:DNA complexes trapped at different states of the interrogation pathway, together with solution conformational probing, reveal that global protein rearrangement accompanies formation of an unstacked DNA hinge. Bend-induced base flipping explains how Cas9 “reads” snippets of DNA to locate target sites within a vast excess of non-target DNA, a process crucial to both bacterial antiviral immunity and genome editing. This mechanism establishes a physical solution to the problem of complementarity-guided DNA search and shows how interrogation speed and local DNA geometry may influence genome editing efficiency.
Evaluating the relevance of sequence conservation in the prediction of pathogenic missense variants
Authors: Capriotti Emidio , Fariselli Piero
Published: September 2021

Evolutionary information is the primary tool for detecting functional conservation in nucleic acid and protein. This information has been extensively used to predict structure, interactions and functions in macromolecules. Pathogenicity prediction models rely on multiple sequence alignment information at different levels. However, most accurate genome-wide variant deleteriousness ranking algorithms consider different features to assess the impact of variants. Here, we analyze three different ways of extracting evolutionary information from sequence alignments in the context of pathogenicity predictions at DNA and protein levels. We showed that protein sequence-based information is slightly more informative in the annotation of Clinvar missense variants than those obtained at the DNA level. Furthermore, to achieve the performance of state-of-the-art methods, such as CADD, the conservation of reference and variant, encoded as frequencies of reference/alternate alleles or wild-type/mutant residues, should be included. Our results on a large set of missense variants show that a basic method based on three input features derived from the protein sequence profile performs similarly to the CADD algorithm which uses hundreds of genomic features. This observation indicates that for missense variants, evolutionary information, when properly encoded, plays the primary role in ranking pathogenicity.
Highly Enhanced Adsorption For The Removal of Hg (II) From Aqueous Solution By Co-Polymerized Al2O3 Nanocomposites Fabricated By Improved Sol-Gel Combustion Route: Synthesis, Adsorption Kinetics & Isotherm Modelling
Authors: El-Feky Hesham H. , Amin Alaa S. , Nassar Mostafa Y.
Published: September 2021

The synthesis, characterization and capacity studies of co-polymerized Al2O3 nanocomposites capable of adsorbing with Hg(II) ions are reported. Al2O3 nanoparticles was fabricated with combustion synthesis using inexpensive mixed fuels. Nanocomposite of poly (aniline-CO-O-anthranilic acid) (PANAA/ Al2O3) was synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization of anthranilic acid and aniline co-monomers at equimolar ratios (1:1) with the Al2O3 nanostructure. The product was characterized by FT-IR, XRD, SEM and TEM techniques. The adsorption behaviors of the toxic Hg(II) were studied. The equilibrium isotherm, kinetics parameters and the thermodynamics investigations of the adsorption process were calculated. Thermodynamics investigations also confirmed that the adsorption capacity of Hg(II) on each adsorbent was spontaneous and exothermic.
Optical polarizers based on graphene oxide integrated with waveguides and ring resonators
Authors: Moss David
Published: September 2021

Integrated waveguide polarizers and polarization-selective micro-ring resonators (MRRs) incorporated with graphene oxide (GO) films are experimentally demonstrated. CMOS-compatible doped silica waveguides and MRRs with both uniformly coated and patterned GO films are fabricated based on a large-area, transfer-free, layer-by-layer GO coating method that yields precise control of the film thickness. Photolithography and lift-off processes are used to achieve photolithographic patterning of GO films with precise control of the placement and coating length. Detailed measurements are performed to characterize the performance of the devices versus GO film thickness and coating length as a function of polarization, wavelength and power. A high polarization dependent loss of ~ 53.8 dB is achieved for the waveguide coated with 2-mm-long patterned GO films. It is found that intrinsic film material loss anisotropy dominates the performance for less than 20 layers whereas polarization dependent mode overlap dominates for thicker layers. For the MRRs, the GO coating length is reduced to 50 µm, yielding a ~ 8.3-dB polarization extinction ratio between TE and TM resonances. These results offer interesting physical insights and trends of the layered GO films and demonstrate the effectiveness of introducing GO films into photonic integrated devices to realize high-performance polarization selective components.
Parasitism-evoked horizontal gene transfer between plants as a novel trigger for specialized metabolism evolution
Authors: Ono Eiichiro , Shimizu Kohki , Murata Jun , Shiraishi Akira , Yokoyama Ryusuke , Toyonaga Hiromi , Kutsumi Yuka , Yamamoto Shota , Takagaki Yusuke , Takada Rika , Horikawa Manabu , Hoshino Atsushi , Aoki Koh
Published: September 2021

Recent genomic studies of parasitic plants have revealed that there are numerous footprints indicative of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) to the parasites from their host plants. However, the molecular mechanisms and biological impacts of this phenomenon have remained largely unknown. Here, we made the striking observation that two parasitic dodders, Cuscuta campestris and C. australis, have functional homologues of Si_CYP81Q1, which encodes piperitol/sesamin synthase (PSS) in the phylogenetically remote plant Sesamum indicum (sesame). The apparent lack of sequence similarity between the regions flanking PSS in Sesamum and Cuscuta spp. suggests the occurrence of HGT tightly associated with the PSS gene. Upon parasitism, C. campestris induced expression of the host Si_CYP81Q1 at the parasitic interface and mature and intron-retained Si_CYP81Q1 mRNA was transferred to C. campestris, suggesting that CYP81Q1 was translocated via RNA-mediated HGT. Thus, parasitism-evoked HGT might have had an unexpected role in the metabolic evolution of plants.
'Technology of Freedom' or 'Technology of Inequality'? Smartphones, Activism, and the Digital Divide in Senegal
Authors:   , Gupper Tamara
Published: September 2021

The internet has often been considered a 'technology of freedom' – a nearly revolutionary tool believed to flatten social hierarchies and democratize access to media by 'giving voice' to everybody equally. Contradictory to this point of view, research has shown the existence of a 'digital divide,' the phenomenon that access to and use of the internet, as well as the outcomes derived from this use, correlate with pre-existing inequalities. Based on ethnographic fieldwork among activists in Dakar, Senegal, this thesis analyzes how inequalities shape and are shaped by the relationships between activists and smartphones. Do smartphones indeed flatten social hierarchies, or are inequalities rather reproduced – or even reinforced – through them?
The derivative expansion in asymptotically safe quantum gravity: general setup and quartic order
Authors: Knorr Benjamin
Published: September 2021

We present a general framework to systematically study the derivative expansion of asymptotically safe quantum gravity. It is based on an exact decoupling and cancellation of different modes in the Landau limit, and implements a correct mode count as well as a regularisation based on geometrical considerations. It is applicable independent of the truncation order. To illustrate the power of the framework, we discuss the quartic order of the derivative expansion and its fixed point structure as well as physical implications.
VIEWS ON LITERARY CHARACTERS IN CONTEMPORARY TIBETAN CRITICAL WRITINGS
Authors:   Faculty of Arts, University of Helsinki, Virtanen Riika J.
Published: September 2021

Since characters usually have a central function in fictional prose, it is worth paying attention to Tibetan theoretical writings concerning them. Although some attention has already been paid to the emergence of modern Tibetan literary criticism and especially to critical discussion about poetry in the 1980s [Hartley, 2003], there is a need to pay more attention to the concepts and theories used by Tibetan critics to analyze prose. To provide some preliminary information on the topic, ten Tibetan language articles on characters are discussed in this article. They were published between the years 1992–2007 in journals titled Bod kyi rtsom rig sgyu rtsal (Tibetan Literature and Art), mTsho sngon slob gso (Qinghai Education) and Bod ljongs sgyu rtsal zhib ‘jug ( Tibetan Art Research). Based on examination of Tibetan writings it can be understood that there are various views on characterization in Tibetan literary critical discussion. The Tibetan critics have discussed both works of Tibetan contemporary and traditional literature and literature from other countries. The idea of the typical character, which can be found in the writings of Engels, Gorky and Belinsky, has been used and applied in some of the articles. Also influences from different directions, such as from India, Russia and China, can be observed as having influenced Tibetan ideas about characterization. However, the articles also demonstrate how Tibetan insights rise from the critics’ careful readings of Tibetan literature.