bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FAKTOR-FAKTOR PENENTU PERILAKU GURU SMP MENGGUNAKAN TEKNOLOGI DALAM PEMBELAJARAN ONLINE: STUDI KASUS DI PROVINSI RIAU
Authors: Hamka Defrizal , Sholihat Neng
Published: September 2021

The purpose of this research is to investigate factors that influence the intent of behavior using technology in online learning. The study uses structural equation modeling using a partial least square approach to test the hypotheses. Respondents selected using purposive sampling, and the questionnaires were distributed through online surveys and received a response of 96 respondents. Results show that latent variables, performance expectations, business expectations, and facility conditions have a positive and significant relationship with the intent of individual behaviour in the use of technology in online learning. The latent variable "condition facility" is the most influential factor. This research provides an important overview and understanding for policymakers in designing frameworks to pay attention to facility conditions. Further research is suggested in the future covering samples from various provinces in Indonesia. This study adds to the literature primarily on factors affecting behavioral intent to use technology in online learning.

Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk menganalisis faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi niat perilaku guru menggunakan teknologi dalam pembelajaran online. Penelitian ini menggunakan pemodelan persamaan struktural dengan menggunakan pendekatan partial least square untuk menguji hipotesis. Berdasarkan purposive sampling, kuesioner disebarkan melalui survei online dan mendapat tanggapan dari 96 responden. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa variabel laten, ekspektasi kinerja, ekspektasi usaha, dan kondisi fasilitas memiliki hubungan positif dan signifikan dengan niat perilaku individu dalam penggunaan teknologi dalam pembelajaran online. Variabel laten “fasilitas kondisi” merupakan faktor yang paling berpengaruh. Penelitian ini memberikan gambaran dan pemahaman penting bagi pembuat kebijakan dalam merancang kerangka kerja untuk memperhatikan kondisi fasilitas. Penelitian lebih lanjut disarankan di masa depan mencakup sampel dari berbagai provinsi di Indonesia. Studi ini menambah literatur terutama pada faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi niat perilaku untuk menggunakan teknologi dalam pembelajaran online.
Uncovering and Engineering a Mini-Regulatory Network of the TetR-Family Regulator SACE_0303 for Yield Improvement of Erythromycin in Saccharopolyspora erythraea
Authors: Liu Ying , Khan Sabir , Wu Panpan , Li Bowen , Liu Lanlan , Ni Jingshu , Zhang Hongxia , Chen Ketao , Wu Hang , Zhang Buchang
Published: September 2021

Erythromycins produced by Saccharopolyspora erythraea have broad-spectrum antibacterial activities. Recently, several TetR-family transcriptional regulators (TFRs) were identified to control erythromycin production by multiplex control modes; however, their regulatory network remains poorly understood. In this study, we report a novel TFR, SACE_0303, positively correlated with erythromycin production in Sac. erythraea. It directly represses its adjacent gene SACE_0304 encoding a MarR-family regulator and indirectly stimulates the erythromycin biosynthetic gene eryAI and resistance gene ermE. SACE_0304 negatively regulates erythromycin biosynthesis by directly inhibiting SACE_0303 as well as eryAI and indirectly repressing ermE. Then, the SACE_0303 binding site within the SACE_0303-SACE_0304 intergenic region was defined. Through genome scanning combined with in vivo and in vitro experiments, three additional SACE_0303 target genes (SACE_2467 encoding cation-transporting ATPase, SACE_3156 encoding a large transcriptional regulator, SACE_5222 encoding α-ketoglutarate permease) were identified and proved to negatively affect erythromycin production. Finally, by coupling CRISPRi-based repression of those three targets with SACE_0304 deletion and SACE_0303 overexpression, we performed stepwise engineering of the SACE_0303-mediated mini-regulatory network in a high-yield strain, resulting in enhanced erythromycin production by 67%. In conclusion, the present study uncovered the regulatory network of a novel TFR for control of erythromycin production and provides a multiplex tactic to facilitate the engineering of industrial actinomycetes for yield improvement of antibiotics.
PEOT/PBT Polymeric Pastes to Fabricate Additive Manufactured Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering
Authors: Higuera Gustavo A. , Ramos Tiago , Gloria Antonio , Ambrosio Luigi , Di Luca Andrea , Pechkov Nicholas , de Wijn Joost R. , van Blitterswijk Clemens A. , Moroni Lorenzo
Published: September 2021

The advantages of additive manufactured scaffolds, as custom-shaped structures with a completely interconnected and accessible pore network from the micro- to the macroscale, are nowadays well established in tissue engineering. Pore volume and architecture can be designed in a controlled fashion, resulting in a modulation of scaffold’s mechanical properties and in an optimal nutrient perfusion determinant for cell survival. However, the success of an engineered tissue architecture is often linked to its surface properties as well. The aim of this study was to create a family of polymeric pastes comprised of poly(ethylene oxide therephthalate)/poly(butylene terephthalate) (PEOT/PBT) microspheres and of a second biocompatible polymeric phase acting as a binder. By combining microspheres with additive manufacturing technologies, we produced 3D scaffolds possessing a tailorable surface roughness, which resulted in improved cell adhesion and increased metabolic activity. Furthermore, these scaffolds may offer the potential to act as drug delivery systems to steer tissue regeneration.
Nanoparticle-Based Lateral Flow Biosensors Integrated With Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification for the Rapid and Visual Diagnosis of Hepatitis B Virus in Clinical Application
Authors: Chen Xu , Wang Shoshi , Tan Yan , Huang Junfei , Yang Xingui , Li Shijun
Published: September 2021

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains one of the major public health issues worldwide. Developing a rapid, sensitive, specific, easy-to-operate, and cost-saving approach for the diagnosis of HBV is essential for its therapy and prevention. Here, we first devised a novel approach, termed “loop-mediated isothermal amplification integrated with a nanoparticle-based lateral flow biosensor (LAMP-LFB),” for the detection of HBV in clinical application. The results indicated that a set of LAMP primers based on the S gene were valid for the establishment of HBV-LAMP-LFB. The optimal HBV-LAMP can be carried out at a constant temperature of 65°C for 40 min. The whole detection process, including HBV genomic DNA preparation (∼10 min), LAMP (40 min), and LFB reading (within 2 min), can be accomplished within 60 min. The limit of detection of the HBV-LAMP-LFB assay was 7.5 IU per test. The specificity of this assay was one hundred percent, and there was no cross-reactivity with other pathogens. Hence, these results indicated that the HBV-LAMP-LFB assay established in the current study is a sensitive, rapid, specific, visual, simple, and cost-saving method for the screening of HBV agents. More importantly, the HBV-LAMP-LFB has remarkable potential to develop a point-of-care testing in clinical application, especially in resource-scarce regions.
Remote Working in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results From a Questionnaire on the Perceived Noise Annoyance
Authors: Puglisi Giuseppina Emma , Di Blasio Sonja , Shtrepi Louena , Astolfi Arianna
Published: September 2021

Noisiness in the working environment was largely proved to have effects on the working activity and performance. To limit the spreading of the COVID-19 pandemic in the first wave between March and May 2020, Italian workers had massively started performing remote working. Insights on the subjective perception of noise annoyance under the remote working settings were thus necessary. Workers from a university and from several large and small Italian companies, resulting in 1,934 participants overall, answered to a questionnaire on the perception of noise annoyance in the remote working environment. A total of 57% of the responding workers stated to be sensitive to noise. The questionnaire was delivered online; data were recorded anonymously and then aggregated for statistical analyses. Results show that 55% of the workers perform their activity in an isolated room of the home environment, 43% in a shared room (e.g., kitchen, living room), and 2% in an outdoor space, with the majority of workers (57%) performing activity without other people in the environment. Among the noise sources investigated, 25% of workers recognize the noise generated by people (e.g., talking, moving, calling, listening to music) as the main source of disturbance. The negative consequences of noise annoyance during the remote working hours are mainly related to a loss of concentration and to a difficulty in relaxing. Furthermore, workers reported to get easily irritated by noise generated from the neighborhoods or from the housemates as it tends to distract from finishing a task.
A Dominant Heterozygous Mutation in COG4 Causes Saul–Wilson Syndrome, a Primordial Dwarfism, and Disrupts Zebrafish Development via Wnt Signaling
Authors: Xia Zhi-Jie , Zeng Xin-Xin I. , Tambe Mitali , Ng Bobby G. , Dong P. Duc S. , Freeze Hudson H.
Published: September 2021

Saul–Wilson syndrome (SWS) is a rare, skeletal dysplasia with progeroid appearance and primordial dwarfism. It is caused by a heterozygous, dominant variant (p.G516R) in COG4, a subunit of the conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex involved in intracellular vesicular transport. Our previous work has shown the intracellular disturbances caused by this mutation; however, the pathological mechanism of SWS needs further investigation. We sought to understand the molecular mechanism of specific aspects of the SWS phenotype by analyzing SWS-derived fibroblasts and zebrafish embryos expressing this dominant variant. SWS fibroblasts accumulate glypicans, a group of heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) critical for growth and bone development through multiple signaling pathways. Consistently, we find that glypicans are increased in zebrafish embryos expressing the COG4p.G516R variant. These animals show phenotypes consistent with convergent extension (CE) defects during gastrulation, shortened body length, and malformed jaw cartilage chondrocyte intercalation at larval stages. Since non-canonical Wnt signaling was shown in zebrafish to be related to the regulation of these processes by glypican 4, we assessed wnt levels and found a selective increase of wnt4 transcripts in the presence of COG4p.G516R. Moreover, overexpression of wnt4 mRNA phenocopies these developmental defects. LGK974, an inhibitor of Wnt signaling, corrects the shortened body length at low concentrations but amplifies it at slightly higher concentrations. WNT4 and the non-canonical Wnt signaling component phospho-JNK are also elevated in cultured SWS-derived fibroblasts. Similar results from SWS cell lines and zebrafish point to altered non-canonical Wnt signaling as one possible mechanism underlying SWS pathology.
Validation, Optimization, and Application of the Zebrafish Developmental Toxicity Assay for Pharmaceuticals Under the ICH S5(R3) Guideline
Authors: Song Yi-Sheng , Dai Ming-Zhu , Zhu Chen-Xia , Huang Yan-Feng , Liu Jing , Zhang Cheng-Da , Xie Feng , Peng Yi , Zhang Yong , Li Chun-Qi , Zhang Li-Jiang
Published: September 2021

The zebrafish as an alternative animal model for developmental toxicity testing has been extensively investigated, but its assay protocol was not harmonized yet. This study has validated and optimized the zebrafish developmental toxicity assay previously reported by multiple inter-laboratory studies in the United States and Europe. In this study, using this classical protocol, of 31 ICH-positive compounds, 23 compounds (74.2%) were teratogenic in zebrafish, five had false-negative results, and three were neither teratogenic nor non-teratogenic according to the protocol standard; of 14 ICH-negative compounds, 12 compounds (85.7%) were non-teratogenic in zebrafish and two had false-positive results. After we added an additional TI value in the zebrafish treated with testing compounds at 2 dpf along with the original 5 dpf, proposed a new category as the uncategorized compounds for those TI values smaller than the cutoff both at 2 dpf and 5 dpf but inducing toxic phenotypes, refined the testing concentration ranges, and optimized the TI cut-off value from ≥ 10 to ≥ 3 for compounds with refined testing concentrations, this optimized zebrafish developmental assay reached 90.3% sensitivity (28/31 positive compounds were teratogenic in zebrafish) and 88.9% (40/45) overall predictability. Our results from this study strongly support the use of zebrafish as an alternative in vivo method for screening and assessing the teratogenicity of candidate drugs for regulatory acceptance.
Immunopathology and Immunosenescence, the Immunological Key Words of Severe COVID-19. Is There a Role for Stem Cell Transplantation?
Authors: Ligotti Mattia Emanuela , Pojero Fanny , Accardi Giulia , Aiello Anna , Caruso Calogero , Duro Giovanni , Candore Giuseppina
Published: September 2021

The outcomes of Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vary depending on the age, health status and sex of an individual, ranging from asymptomatic to lethal. From an immunologic viewpoint, the final severe lung damage observed in COVID-19 should be caused by cytokine storm, driven mainly by interleukin-6 and other pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, which immunopathogenic status precedes this “cytokine storm” and why the male older population is more severely affected, are currently unanswered questions. The aging of the immune system, i.e., immunosenescence, closely associated with a low-grade inflammatory status called “inflammageing,” should play a key role. The remodeling of both innate and adaptive immune response observed with aging can partly explain the age gradient in severity and mortality of COVID-19. This review discusses how aging impacts the immune response to the virus, focusing on possible strategies to rejuvenate the immune system with stem cell-based therapies. Indeed, due to immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties, multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a worth-considering option against COVID-19 adverse outcomes.
Connective Tissue Growth Factor From Periosteal Tartrate Acid Phosphatase-Positive Monocytes Direct Skeletal Stem Cell Renewal and Fate During Bone Healing
Authors: Bai Yun , Yu Tao , Deng Jiezhong , Yang Yusheng , Tan Jiulin , Dai Qijie , Zhang Zehua , Dong Shiwu , Xu Jianzhong
Published: September 2021

The periosteum is critical for bone healing. Studies have shown that the periosteum contains periosteal stem cells (PSCs) with multidirectional differentiation potential and self-renewal ability. PSCs are activated in early fracture healing and are committed to the chondrocyte lineage, which is the basis of callus formation. However, the mechanism by which PSCs are activated and committed to chondrocytes in bone regeneration remains unclear. Here, we show that tartrate acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive monocytes secrete CTGF to activate PSCs during bone regeneration. The loss function of TRAP-positive monocytes identifies their specific role during bone healing. Then, the secreted CTGF promotes endochondral ossification and activates PSCs in mouse bone fracture models. The secreted CTGF enhances PSC renewal by upregulating the expression of multiple pluripotent genes. CTGF upregulates c-Jun expression through αVβ5 integrin. Then, c-Jun transcription activates the transcription of the pluripotent genes Sox2, Oct4, and Nanog. Simultaneously, CTGF also activates the transcription and phosphorylation of Smad3 through αVβ5 integrin, which is the central gene in chondrogenesis. Our study indicates that TRAP-positive monocyte-derived CTGF promotes bone healing by activating PSCs and directing lineage commitment and that targeting PSCs may be an effective strategy for preventing bone non-union.
SLURP-1 Controls Growth and Migration of Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells, Forming a Complex With α7-nAChR and PDGFR/EGFR Heterodimer
Authors: Bychkov Maxim L. , Shulepko Mikhail A. , Shlepova Olga V. , Kulbatskii Dmitrii S. , Chulina Irina A. , Paramonov Alexander S. , Baidakova Ludmila K. , Azev Viatcheslav N. , Koshelev Sergey G. , Kirpichnikov Mikhail P. , Shenkarev Zakhar O. , Lyukmanova Ekaterina N.
Published: September 2021

Secreted Ly6/uPAR-related protein 1 (SLURP-1) is a secreted Ly6/uPAR protein that negatively modulates the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor of α7 type (α7-nAChR), participating in control of cancer cell growth. Previously we showed, that a recombinant analogue of human SLURP-1 (rSLURP-1) diminishes the lung adenocarcinoma A549 cell proliferation and abolishes the nicotine-induced growth stimulation. Here, using multiplex immunoassay, we demonstrated a decrease in PTEN and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase phosphorylation in A549 cells upon the rSLURP-1 treatment pointing on down-regulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Decreased phosphorylation of the platelet-derived growth factor receptor type β (PDGFRβ) and arrest of the A549 cell cycle in the S and G2/M phases without apoptosis induction was also observed. Using a scratch migration assay, inhibition of A549 cell migration under the rSLURP-1 treatment was found. Affinity extraction demonstrated that rSLURP-1 in A549 cells forms a complex not only with α7-nAChR, but also with PDGFRα and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which are known to be involved in regulation of cancer cell growth and migration and are able to form a heterodimer. Knock-down of the genes encoding α7-nAChR, PDGFRα, and EGFR confirmed the involvement of these receptors in the anti-migration effect of SLURP-1. Thus, SLURP-1 can target the α7-nAChR complexes with PDGFRα and EGFR in the membrane of epithelial cells. Using chimeric proteins with grafted SLURP-1 loops we demonstrated that loop I is the principal active site responsible for the SLURP-1 interaction with α7-nAChR and its antiproliferative effect. Synthetic peptide mimicking the loop I cyclized by a disulfide bond inhibited ACh-evoked current at α7-nAChR, as well as A549 cell proliferation and migration. This synthetic peptide represents a promising prototype of new antitumor drug with the properties close to that of the native SLURP-1 protein.
Looking for Options to Sustainably Fixate Nitrogen. Are Molecular Metal Oxides Catalysts a Viable Avenue?
Authors: González-Cabaleiro Rebeca , Thompson Jake A. , Vilà-Nadal Laia
Published: September 2021

Fast and reliable industrial production of ammonia (NH3) is fundamentally sustaining modern society. Since the early 20th Century, NH3 has been synthesized via the Haber–Bosch process, running at conditions of around 350–500°C and 100–200 times atmospheric pressure (15–20 MPa). Industrial ammonia production is currently the most energy-demanding chemical process worldwide and contributes up to 3% to the global carbon dioxide emissions. Therefore, the development of more energy-efficient pathways for ammonia production is an attractive proposition. Over the past 20 years, scientists have imagined the possibility of developing a milder synthesis of ammonia by mimicking the nitrogenase enzyme, which fixes nitrogen from the air at ambient temperatures and pressures to feed leguminous plants. To do this, we propose the use of highly reconfigurable molecular metal oxides or polyoxometalates (POMs). Our proposal is an informed design of the polyoxometalate after exploring the catabolic pathways that cyanobacteria use to fix N2 in nature, which are a different route than the one followed by the Haber–Bosch process. Meanwhile, the industrial process is a “brute force” system towards breaking the triple bond N-N, needing high pressure and high temperature to increase the rate of reaction, nature first links the protons to the N2 to later easier breaking of the triple bond at environmental temperature and pressure. Computational chemistry data on the stability of different polyoxometalates will guide us to decide the best design for a catalyst. Testing different functionalized molecular metal oxides as ammonia catalysts laboratory conditions will allow for a sustainable reactor design of small-scale production.
Metagenomic Next Generation Sequencing in the Detection of Pathogens in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients After Alternative Donor Transplantation: A Feasibility Analysis
Authors: Zhang Binglei , Zhou Jian , Gui Ruirui , Li Zhen , Zu Yingling , Wang Juan , Yu Fengkuan , Zhang Yanli , Zhao Huifang , Ji Zhenyu , Song Yongping
Published: September 2021

Central nervous system (CNS) complications can occur in 9%–15% of patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). The clinical manifestations of the CNS complications are non-specific, with most of them being disturbances of consciousness, convulsions, headaches, fever, and epilepsy, making it difficult to infer the cause of the complications based on clinical manifestations. We retrospectively analyzed the sensitivity and feasibility of metagenomic next generation sequencing (mNGS) in the diagnosis of CNS infections after allo-HSCT. Lumbar punctures were performed on 20 patients with CNS symptoms after receiving alternative donor HSCT(AD-HSCT) at the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University from February 2019 to December 2020, and their cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was collected. The mNGS technique was used to detect pathogens in the CSF. Routine CSF testing, biochemical analyses, G experiments, GM experiments, ink staining, acid-fast staining, and bacterial cultures were carried out, and quantitative PCR (qPCR) tests were used to detect cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), BK polyomavirus (BKPyV), and human alphaherpesvirus (HHV). A total of 29 tests were performed with 21 of them being positive. Of the five negative patients, three were diagnosed with a posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, one as having transplantation-associated thrombotic microangiopathy, and one with transient seizure caused by hypertension. Fifteen patients tested positive, of which four had single infections and eleven had mixed infections. Five cases of fungal infections, six cases of bacterial infections, and 13 cases of viral infections were detected. Among the 13 cases of viral infections, ten cases were CMV(HHV-5); three were BKPyV; two were Torque teno virus (TTV); Two were HHV-1,two were EBV(HHV4), and one each of HpyV5 and HHV-6B. Thirteen patients tested positive for virus while the qPCR detection method of 6 identical specimens were below the minimum detection limit(<1×103 U/ml). The mNGS technique is highly sensitive, and it can be used to diagnose CNS infections after allo-HSCT.
A Comprehensive Overview on COVID-19: Future Perspectives
Authors: Rana Rashmi , Tripathi Ankit , Kumar Naveen , Ganguly Nirmal Kumar
Published: September 2021

The outbreak of COVID-19 has proven to be an unprecedented disaster for the whole world. The virus has inflicted billion of lives across the globe in all aspects—physically, psychologically, as well as socially. Compared to the previous strains of β-CoV genera- MERS and SARS, SARS-CoV-2 has significantly higher transmissibility and worst post-recovery implications. A frequent mutation in the initial SARS-CoV-2 strain has been a major cause of mortalities (approx. 3 million deaths) and uncontrolled virulence (approx. 1 billion positive cases). As far as clinical manifestations are concerned, this particular virus has exhibited deleterious impacts on systems other than the respiratory system (primary target organ), such as the brain, hematological system, liver, kidneys, endocrine system, etc. with no promising curatives to date. Lack of emergency treatments and shortage of life-saving drugs has promoted the repurposing of existing therapeutics along with the emergence of vaccines with the combined efforts of scientists and industrial experts in this short span. This review summarizes every detail on COVID-19 and emphasizes undermining the future approaches to minimize its prevalence to the remaining lives.
Clinical Significance of CYFRA21-1, AFP, CA-153, CEA, and CA-199 in the Diagnosis of Lung Cancer Ocular Metastasis in Hypertension Population
Authors: Tang Jing , Ge Qian-Min , Huang Rong , Shu Hui-Ye , Su Ting , Wu Jie-Li , Pan Yi-Cong , Liang Rong-Bin , Zhang Li-Juan , Shao Yi , Yu Yao
Published: September 2021

Purpose: To detect lung metastases, we conducted a retrospective study to improve patient prognosis.

Methods: Hypertension patients with ocular metastases (OM group; n = 58) and without metastases (NM group; n = 1,217) were selected from individuals with lung cancer admitted to our hospital from April 2005 to October 2019. The clinical characteristics were compared by Student's t-test and chi-square test. Independent risk factors were identified by binary logistic regression, and their diagnostic value evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.

Results: Age and sex did not differ significantly between OM and NM groups; There were significant differences in pathological type and treatment. Adenocarcinoma was the main pathological type in the OM group (67.24%), while squamous cell carcinoma was the largest proportion (46.43%) in the NM group, followed by adenocarcinoma (34.10%). The OM group were treated with chemotherapy (55.17%), while the NM group received both chemotherapy (39.93%) and surgical treatment (37.06%). Significant differences were detected in the concentrations of cancer antigen (CA)−125, CA-199, CA-153, alpha fetoprotein (AFP), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin fraction 21-1 (CYFRA21-1), total prostate-specific antigen, alkaline phosphatase, and hemoglobin (Student's t-test). Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that CA-199, CA-153, AFP, CEA, and CYRFA21-1 were independent risk factors for lung cancer metastasis. AFP (98.3%) and CEA (89.3%) exhibited the highest sensitivity and specificity, respectively, while CYRFA21-1 had the highest area under the ROC curve value (0.875), with sensitivity and specificity values of 77.6 and 87.0%, respectively. Hence, CYFRA21-1 had the best diagnostic value.
The Distribution of Cardiovascular-Related Comorbidities in Different Adult-Onset Cancers and Related Risk Factors: Analysis of 10 Year Retrospective Data
Authors: Li Qingsong , Liu Fei , Tang Yuqi , Lee Sharen , Lang Chao , Bai Lan , Xia Yunlong
Published: September 2021

Introduction:Understanding the epidemiology of cardiovascular disease (CVD) related comorbidity is a key strategy for improving the outcomes of patients with cancer. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the distribution of cardiovascular comorbidities and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) among five cancer sites.

Methods:This is a single-centered, cross-sectional study performed in Dalian, China. Between 2008 and 2018, all newly diagnosed cancer in the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, China were screened. Clinical data were extracted from a comprehensive electronic health record system.

Results:35861 patients with lung, colorectal, gastric, breast, and thyroid cancer were collected retrospectively. The most prevalent CVDs in descending order were hypertension (21.9%), followed by coronary heart disease (6.5%), atrial fibrillation (2.9%), and heart failure (1%). The prevalence of hypertension significantly varies between lung (21.3%), colorectal (27.3%), gastric (22.5%), breast (16.7%), and thyroid cancer (22.4%) (P< 0.001). CVRF varies with cancer sites. Age, sex, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, smoking, alcohol use, and diabetes mellitus (DM) are common risk factors associated with CVD at different cancer sites. The association between DM and presence of CVD was strong in breast (odds ratio [OR] = 4.472, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.075–6.504,P< 0.001), lung (OR = 3.943; 95% CI: 3.270–4.754,P< 0.001), colorectal (OR = 3.049; 95% CI: 2.326–3.996,P< 0.001), and gastric (OR = 2.508; 95% CI: 1.927–3.264,P< 0.001) cancer.

Conclusion:Cancer patients had a significant burden of CVD and increased CVRF. The prevalence of CVRF and CVD comorbidity differ for cancer types. DM remains significantly associated with CVD at different cancer sites except for thyroid cancer.
Exploring the Association Between Electronic Wearable Device Use and Levels of Physical Activity Among Individuals With Depression and Anxiety: A Population Level Study
Authors: Onyeaka Henry , Firth Joe , Enemuo Valentine , Muoghalu Chioma , Naslund John , Baiden Philip , Torous John
Published: September 2021

Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the cross-sectional association between self-reported use of electronic wearable devices (EWDs) and the levels of physical activity among a representative sample of adults with depression and anxiety in the United States.

Methods: For this cross-sectional study, data were pooled from the Health Information National Trends Survey 2019. A sample of 1,139 adults with self-reported depression and anxiety (60.9% women; mean age of 52.5 years) was analyzed. The levels of physical activity and prevalence of EWD utilization were self-reported. The chi-square tests were used to compare individual characteristics through the use of EWDs. Multivariable logistic regression was employed to investigate the association between EWDs and physical activity levels while adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related factors.

Results: From the 1,139 adults with self-reported depression and anxiety, 261 (weighted percentage 28.1%) endorsed using EWD in the last year. After adjusting for covariates, the use of EWDs was only significantly associated with a higher odds of reporting intention to lose weight (OR 2.12; 95% CI 1.04, 4.35; p = 0.04). We found no association between the use of EWDs and meeting the national weekly recommendation for physical activity or resistance/strength exercise training.

Conclusion: About three in 10 adults suffering from depression and anxiety in the United States reported using EWDs in the last year. The current study findings indicate that among people living with mental illness, EWD use is associated with higher odds of weight loss intent suggesting that EWDs may serve as an opening for the clinical interactions around physical health through identifying patients primed for behavior change. Further large-scale studies using randomized trial designs are needed to examine the causal relationships between EWDs and the physical activity of people with mental health conditions.
Late Jurassic Structural Deformation and Late Cenozoic Reactivation of the Southern Junggar Fold-And-Thrust Belt, NW China
Authors: Ma Delong , Yuan Jianying , Sun Yanpeng , Wang Hongbin , He Dengfa , Wang Yanjun , Pan Shuxin , Cui Jian
Published: September 2021

Because of the influence of the far field effect of the collision between Euro-Asian and India plates during the Late Cenozoic, the Tian Shan orogenic belt underwent intense reactivation, forming the Southern Junggar fold-and-thrust belt (SJ-FTB) to the north and the Kuqa fold-and-thrust belt to the south. Most previous research focuses on the deformation features and mechanisms during the Late Cenozoic. However, little research has been done on deformation features and mechanisms during the Late Jurassic. In this paper, we conducted geometric and kinematic analyses of seismic profiles and outcrop data to reveal the Late Jurassic deformation characteristics in SJ-FTB. Furthermore, we carried out sandbox modeling experiments to reproduce the regional structural evolution since the Early Jurassic. Angular unconformity between the Cretaceous and Jurassic is well preserved in the Qigu anticline belt. This unconformity also exists in the Huoerguosi–Manasi–Tugulu (HMT) anticline belt, which is the second fold belt of the SJ-FTB, indicating that the HMT anticline belt started to become active during the Late Jurassic. The Qigu anticline belt reactivated intensively during the Late Cenozoic, and the displacement was transferred to the HMT anticline belt along the Paleogene Anjihaihe Formation mudstone detachment. Therefore, the present-day SJ-FTB forms because of the two-stage compressional deformation from both the Late Jurassic and Late Cenozoic (ca. 24 Ma).
Submarine Groundwater Discharge From Sediments and Sand Boils Quantified by the Mean Residence Time of a Tracer Injection
Authors: Schlüter Michael , Maier Philipp
Published: September 2021

To quantify submarine groundwater discharge, we developed an inexpensive automated seepage meter that applies a tracer injection and the computation of the mean residence time. The SGD-MRT is designed to measure a wide range of discharge rates from about 30 to 800 cm³/min and allows minimizing backpressures caused by pipe friction or flow sensors. By modifying the inner volume of the flow-through unit, the range of measurement is adjustable to lower or higher discharge rates. For process control and data acquisition, an Arduino controller board is used. In addition, components like temperature, conductivity, and pressure sensors or pumps extend the scope of the seepage meter. During field tests in the Wadden Sea, covering tidal cycles, discharge rates of more than 700 cm³/min were released from sand boils. Based on the measured discharge rates and numerical integration of the time series data, a water volume of about 400 dm3 with a seawater content of less than 12% was released from the sand boil within 7 h.
Fast Least-Squares Reverse Time Migration of OBN Down-Going Multiples
Authors: Zhang Yanbao , Liu Yike , Yi Jia , Liu Xuejian
Published: September 2021

Nowadays the ocean bottom node (OBN) acquisition is widely used in oil and gas resource exploration and seismic monitoring. Conventional imaging algorithms of OBN data mainly focus on the processing of up-going primaries and down-going first-order multiples. Up-going multiples and higher-order down-going multiples are generally regarded as noise and should be eliminated or ignored in conventional migration methods. However, multiples carry abundant information about subsurface structures where primaries cannot achieve. To take full advantage of multiples, we propose a migration method using OBN down-going all-order multiples. And then the least-squares optimization algorithm is used to suppress crosstalks. Finally, a phase-encoding-based migration algorithm is developed to cut down the computational cost by blending several common receiver gathers together using random time delays and polarity reversals. Numerical experiments on the complex Marmousi model illustrate that the developed approach can enlarge the imaging area evidently, reduce the computational cost effectively, and enhance the image quality by suppressing crosstalks and improving the resolution.
Ensemble Projection of Extreme Precipitation Over China Based on Three Dynamical Downscaling Simulations
Authors: Dong Guangtao , Xie Ye , Wang Ya , Fan Dongli , Tian Zhan
Published: September 2021

Based on the outputs of the global climate models (GCMs) HadGEM2-ES, NorESM1-M and MPI-ESM-LR from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) and the downscaling results with the regional climate model (RCM) REMO, the ability of the climate models to reproduce the extreme precipitation in China during the current period (1986–2005) is evaluated. Then, the future extreme precipitation in the mid (2036–2065) and the late 21st century (2066–2095) is projected under the RCP8.5 scenario. The results show that the RCM simulations have great improvements compared with the GCMs, and the ensemble mean of the RCM results (ensR) outperforms each single RCM simulation. The annual precipitation of the RCM simulations is more consistent with the observation than that of the GCMs, with the overestimation of the peak precipitation reduced, and the ensR further reduces the bias. For the extreme precipitation, the RCM simulations significantly decrease the underestimation of intensity in the GCMs. The RCM simulations and the ensR can greatly improve the simulations of Rx5day and CWD compared with the GCMs, decreasing the wet bias in North China and Northwest China. In the future, the consecutive dry days (CDD) will decrease in the northern arid regions, especially in North China and Northeast China. However, the southern regions will experience longer dry period. Both the amount and the intensity of precipitation will increase in various regions of China. The number of wet days will decrease in the south and increase in the north area. The significantly greater Rx5day and R95t indicate more intensive extreme precipitation in the future, and the intensity in the late 21st century will be stronger than that in the middle. Attribution analysis indicates that the extreme precipitation indices especially the R95t have significant positive temporal and spatial correlations with the water vapor flux.
Staged Fracturing of Horizontal Wells in Continental Tight Sandstone Oil Reservoirs: A Case Study of Yanchang Formation in Western Ordos Basin, China
Authors: Zhang Dingxue , Liu Yunfei , Luo Hui , Cao Shixue , Cao Jingxin , Li Xiao
Published: September 2021

Continental tight sandstone oil reservoirs have strong heterogeneity, and staged fracturing technology of horizontal well is a crucial measure for successful development of oil and gas. In this study, the fracturing effect of horizontal wells in tight oil reservoirs of Yanchang Formation in the western Ordos Basin was systematically studied using the rock mechanics, array acoustic and microseismic testing data and the staged fracturing technology. The hydraulic fracturing method was used to calculate the horizontal principal stress difference (σH-σh). It showed that as the buried depth increases, σH-σh tends to decrease first and then increase. Small-scale fracturing should be used for areas with smaller σH-σh values. Fracturing construction parameters have an impact on oil production capacity, which is mainly manifested in that the usage of prepad fluid, sand-carrying fluid and proppant is proportional to productivity. Excessive displacement and construction scale should not be used in the fracturing process, and the fracture height of the target layer should be strictly controlled within the range of 26 m. The analysis of the “rupture points” in the fracturing curves shows that wells with relatively obvious rupture points usually have a higher oil production capacity. These wells have a good fracturing effect and an effective fracture network was formed in the tight oil reservoir. The optimization simulation results of the horizontal well pattern form show that the seven-point combined well pattern is the best well pattern, which is suitable for the development of tight oil sandstone in the Yanchang Formation.
Parents’ Perceptions of School Support During COVID-19: What Satisfies Parents?
Authors: Haller Teresa , Novita Shally
Published: September 2021

During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, face-to-face schooling could not be performed continuously, and alternative ways of learning had to be organized. Parents had to act as their children’s home schooling tutors while working from home, and schools had to deal with various alternatives to distance education. Since parents are by all means both important school users and partners, their perceptions of schools can be considered a central indicator for assessing school quality. In this respect, during school lockdown, parents’ school satisfaction may reflect schools’ ability to adjust and react to fast social changes with almost no time for preparation. To date, there is nearly no knowledge about school satisfaction or school support during this challenging situation. Using data from the COVID-19 survey of the German National Educational Panel Study, we identified central predictors of parents’ perceptions of school support during the national lockdown in Germany in spring 2020. All students (N= 1,587;Mage= 14.20;SD= 0.36; 53% girls) and their parents (Mage= 47.36;SD= 4.99; 91% women) have participated in the longitudinal survey for at least 8 years. The results of the structural equation model indicate that the perceived support and abilities of teachers have been especially relevant for parents’ school satisfaction during the time of the school lockdown. In contrast, factors relating to parents’ and children’s backgrounds seem to be less important.
Surgical Outcome and Malignant Risk Factors in Patients With Thyroid Nodule Classified as Bethesda Category III
Authors: Huang Jianhao , Shi Hongyan , Song Muye , Liang Jinan , Zhang Zhiyuan , Chen Xiaohang , Liu Yongchen , Wang Sanming , Wu Zeyu
Published: September 2021

Background

Thyroid nodules are a very common finding in the general population. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) has been recommended as the initial test for the evaluation of thyroid nodules. The trend on reporting as atypia of undetermined significance (AUS) has been significantly increased, but the malignant risk is still controversial among different studies. The aim of this study is to investigate the malignancy risk of thyroid nodules reported as Bethesda category III (AUS/FLUS) on initial FNA.

Method

We reviewed 272 papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients with suspicious thyroid nodules who underwent fine-needle aspiration and received surgical treatment during 2019 to 2020.

Results

One hundred ten (40.4%) patients were diagnosed with PTC. Multivariate analysis showed that microcalcification (p = 0.037, OR = 2.260, 95% CI: 1.051–4.860), shape (p = 0.003, OR = 4.367, 95% CI: 1.629–11.705), diameters (p = 0.002, OR = 0.278, 95% CI: 0.123–0.631), anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (TGAb) (p = 0.002, OR = 0.150, 95% CI: 0.046–0.494), anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (A-TPO) (p = 0.009, OR = 4.784, 95% CI: 1.486–15.401), and nodule goiter (p < 0.001, OR = 0.100, 95% CI: 0.046–0.217) were independent malignant risk factors in patients with thyroid nodule classified as Bethesda category III.

Conclusion

In this study, malignant risk factors in patients with thyroid nodule classified as Bethesda category III were significantly associated with preoperative serum TGAb, A-TPO, microcalcification, irregular shape, and nodule diameters. Nodules with malignant factors should be carefully elevated; surgery may be the better option for those patients.
Role of AMH in Prediction of Menopause
Authors: de Kat Annelien C. , Broekmans Frank J. M. , Lambalk Cornelis B.
Published: September 2021

Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) is produced by small antral follicles and has evolved over the past three decades as an assumed potential marker of the number of follicles in the human ovaries, also known as ovarian reserve. This quantitative measure, given the gradual decline over time and its non-replenishable feature, could be the dreamed marker for predicting the final exhaustion of ovarian storage: the post-menopause. This introductory chapter summarizes current knowledge with regard to the contribution of serum AMH measurements to predict age of normal menopause and critically discuss its potential in this regard. Furthermore, its predictive role in the context of menopause in association with several frequently occurring fertility disorders such as premature menopause, polycystic ovarian syndrome and endometriosis are discussed. Overall, while ovarian reserve markers including AMH are unmistakably related to age at menopause, they are insufficiently precise to inform on an individual’s journey of ovarian aging.
Suppression of CPSF6 Enhances Apoptosis Through Alternative Polyadenylation-Mediated Shortening of the VHL 3′UTR in Gastric Cancer Cells
Authors: Shi Xinglong , Ding Keshuo , Zhao Qiang , Li Pengxiao , Kang Yani , Tan Sheng , Sun Jielin
Published: September 2021

Alternative polyadenylation (APA) is an important RNA post-transcriptional process, which can generate diverse mRNA isoforms. Increasing evidence shows that APA is involved in cell self-renewal, development, immunity, and cancer. CPSF6 is one of the core proteins of CFIm complex and can modulate the APA process. Although it has been reported to play oncogenic roles in cancer, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to characterize CPSF6 in human gastric cancer (GC). We observed that CPSF6 was upregulated in GC. Knockdown of CPSF6 inhibited proliferation and enhanced apoptosis of GC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Global APA site profiling analysis revealed that knockdown of CPSF6 induced widespread 3′UTR shortening of genes in GC cells, including VHL. We also found CPSF6 negatively regulated the expression of VHL through APA and VHL short-3′UTR isoform enhanced apoptosis and inhibited cell growth in GC cells. Our data suggested that CPSF6-induced cell proliferation and inhibition of apoptosis were mediated by the preferential usage of poly(A) in VHL. Our data provide insights into the function of CPSF6 and may imply potential therapeutic targets against GC.
Genome-Wide Association Study to Map Genomic Regions Related to the Initiation Time of Four Growth Stage Traits in Soybean
Authors: Yan Wenliang , Karikari Benjamin , Chang Fangguo , Zhao Fangzhou , Zhang Yinghu , Li Dongmei , Zhao Tuanjie , Jiang Haiyan
Published: September 2021

The time to flowering (DF), pod beginning (DPB), seed formation (DSF), and maturity initiation (DMI) in soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr) are important characteristics of growth stage traits (GSTs) in Chinese summer-sowing soybean, and are influenced by genetic as well as environmental factors. To better understand the molecular mechanism underlying the initiation times of GSTs, we investigated four GSTs of 309 diverse soybean accessions in six different environments and Best Linear Unbiased Prediction values. Furthermore, the genome-wide association study was conducted by a Fixed and random model Circulating Probability Unification method using over 60,000 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers to identify the significant quantitative trait nucleotide (QTN) regions with phenotypic data. As a result, 212 SNPs within 102 QTN regions were associated with four GSTs. Of which, eight stable regions were repeatedly detected in least three datasets for one GST. Interestingly, half of the QTN regions overlapped with previously reported quantitative trait loci or well-known soybean growth period genes. The hotspots associated with all GSTs were concentrated on chromosome 10. E2 (Glyma10g36600), a gene with a known function in regulating flowering and maturity in soybean, is also found on this chromosome. Thus, this genomic region may account for the strong correlation among the four GSTs. All the significant SNPs in the remaining 7 QTN regions could cause the significant phenotypic variation with both the major and minor alleles. Two hundred and seventy-five genes in soybean and their homologs in Arabidopsis were screened within ± 500 kb of 7 peak SNPs in the corresponding QTN regions. Most of the genes are involved in flowering, response to auxin stimulus, or regulation of seed germination, among others. The findings reported here provide an insight for genetic improvement which will aid in breeding of soybean cultivars that can be adapted to the various summer sowing areas in China and beyond.