bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pediatric emergency department visits during the COVID-19 pandemic: a large retrospective population-based study
Authors: Barbiellini Amidei Claudio , Buja Alessandra , Bardin Andrea , Bonaldi Filippo , Paganini Matteo , Manfredi Mariagiovanna , Favaro Andrea , Baldo Vincenzo , Saia Mario , Da Dalt Liviana
Published: November 2021

Background

COVID-19 pandemic has stretched healthcare system capacities worldwide and deterred people from seeking medical support at Emergency Departments (ED). Nevertheless, population-based studies examining the consequences on children are lacking.

Methods

All ED visits from 2019 to 2020 in Veneto, Italy (4.9 million residents) were collected. Anonymized records of pediatric (≤14 years) ED visits included patient characteristics, arrival mode, triage code, clinical presentation, and discharge mode. Year-on-year variation of the main ED visit characteristics, and descriptive trends throughout the study period have been examined.

Results

Overall, 425,875 ED presentations were collected, 279,481 in 2019, and 146,394 in 2020 (− 48%), with a peak (− 79%) in March–April (first pandemic wave), and a second peak (below − 60%) in November–December (second pandemic wave). Burn or trauma, and fever were the two most common clinical presentations. Visits for nonurgent conditions underwent the strongest reduction during both pandemic waves, while urgent conditions reduced less sharply. ED arrival by ambulance was more common in 2020 (4.5%) than 2019 (3.5%), with a higher proportion of red triage codes (0.5%, and 0.4% respectively), and hospitalizations following ED discharge (9.1%, and 5.9% respectively).

Conclusion

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, pediatric ED presentations underwent a steeper reduction than that observed for adults. Lockdown and fear of contagion in hospital-based services likely deterred parents from seeking medical support for their children. Given COVID-19 could become endemic, it is imperative that public health experts guarantee unhindered access to medical support for urgent, and less urgent health conditions, while minimizing infectious disease risks, to prevent children from suffering direct and indirect consequences of the pandemic.
Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α expression and breast cancer recurrence in a Danish population-based case control study
Authors: Collin Lindsay J. , Maliniak Maret L. , Cronin-Fenton Deirdre P. , Ahern Thomas P. , Christensen Kristina B. , Ulrichsen Sinna P. , Damkier Per , Hamilton-Dutoit Stephen , Yacoub Rami , Christiansen Peer M. , Sørensen Henrik Toft , Lash Timothy L.
Published: November 2021

Background

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is a transcription factor that facilitates the adaptation of cancer cells to hypoxic conditions and may be prognostic of breast cancer recurrence. We evaluated the association of HIF-1α expression with breast cancer recurrence, and its association with timing of breast cancer recurrence.

Methods

In this population-based case-control study, we included women diagnosed with stage I–III breast cancer between 1985 and 2001, aged 35–69 years, registered in the Danish Breast Cancer Group. We identified 541 cases of breast cancer recurrence among women with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive disease who were treated with tamoxifen for at least 1 year (ER+ TAM+). We also enrolled 300 breast cancer recurrence cases among women with ER-negative disease, not treated with tamoxifen, who survived at least 1 year (ER−/TAM−). Controls were recurrence-free breast cancer patients at the time of case diagnosis, matched to recurrence cases on ER/TAM status, date of surgery, menopausal status, cancer stage, and county of residence. Expression of HIF-1α was measured by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays. We fitted logistic regression models to compute odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) associating HIF-1α expression with recurrence, and with timing of recurrence.

Results

HIF-1α expression was observed in 23% of cases and 20% of controls in the ER+/TAM+ stratum, and in 47% of cases and 48% of controls in the ER−/TAM− stratum. We observed a near-null association between HIF-1α expression in both ER/TAM groups (ER+/TAM+ OR = 1.21, 95%CI 0.88, 1.67 and ER−/TAM− OR = 0.97, 95%CI 0.68, 1.39). HIF-1α expression was not associated with time to recurrence among women in the ER+/TAM+ stratum, but was associated with early recurrence among women in the ER−/TAM− stratum.

Conclusion

In this study, HIF-1α expression was not associated with breast cancer recurrence overall but may be associated with early recurrence among women diagnosed with ER− breast cancer.
High-quality reference genome sequences of two coconut cultivars provide insights into evolution of monocot chromosomes and differentiation of fiber content and plant height
Authors: Wang Shouchuang , Xiao Yong , Zhou Zhi-Wei , Yuan Jiaqing , Guo Hao , Yang Zhuang , Yang Jun , Sun Pengchuan , Sun Lisong , Deng Yuan , Xie Wen-Zhao , Song Jia-Ming , Qamar Muhammad Tahir ul , Xia Wei , Liu Rui , Gong Shufang , Wang Yong , Wang Fuyou , Liu Xianqing , Fernie Alisdair R. , Wang Xiyin , Fan Haikuo , Chen Ling-Ling , Luo Jie
Published: November 2021

Background

Coconut is an important tropical oil and fruit crop whose evolutionary position renders it a fantastic species for the investigation of the evolution of monocot chromosomes and the subsequent differentiation of ancient plants.

Results

Here, we report the assembly and annotation of reference-grade genomes ofCn. tallandCn. dwarf, whose genome sizes are 2.40 Gb and 2.39 Gb, respectively. The comparative analysis reveals that the two coconut subspecies diverge about 2–8 Mya while the conserved Arecaceae-specific whole-genome duplication (ω WGD) occurs approximately 47–53 Mya. It additionally allows us to reconstruct the ancestral karyotypes of the ten ancient monocot chromosomes and the evolutionary trajectories of the 16 modern coconut chromosomes. Fiber synthesis genes inCn. tall, related to lignin and cellulose synthesis, are found at a higher copy number and expression level than dwarf coconuts. Integrated multi-omics analysis reveals that the difference in coconut plant height is the result of altered gibberellin metabolism, with both the GA20ox copy number and a single-nucleotide change in the promoter together leading to the difference in plant height betweenCn. tallandCn. dwarf.

Conclusion

We provide high-quality coconut genomes and reveal the genetic basis of trait differences between two coconuts through multi-omics analysis. We also reveal that the selection of plant height has been targeted for the same gene for millions of years, not only in natural selection of ancient plant as illustrated in coconut, but also for artificial selection in cultivated crops such as rice and maize.
Inverse problem for cracked inhomogeneous Kirchhoff–Love plate with two hinged rigid inclusions
Authors: Lazarev Nyurgun
Published: November 2021

We consider a family of variational problems on the equilibrium of a composite Kirchhoff–Love plate containing two flat rectilinear rigid inclusions, which are connected in a hinged manner. It is assumed that both inclusions are delaminated from an elastic matrix, thus forming an interfacial crack between the inclusions and the surrounding elastic media. Displacement boundary conditions of an inequality type are set on the crack faces that ensure a mutual nonpenetration of opposite crack faces. The problems of the family depend on a parameter specifying the coordinate of a connection point of the inclusions. For the considered family of problems, we formulate a new inverse problem of finding unknown coordinates of a hinge joint point. The continuity of solutions of the problems on this parameter is proved. The solvability of this inverse problem has been established. Using a passage to the limit, a qualitative connection between the problems for plates with flat and bulk hinged inclusions is shown.
Natural astaxanthin enhanced antioxidant capacity and improved semen quality through the MAPK/Nrf2 pathway in aging layer breeder roosters
Authors: Gao Shan , Heng Nuo , Liu Fang , Guo Yong , Chen Yu , Wang Liang , Ni Hemin , Sheng Xihui , Wang Xiangguo , Xing Kai , Xiao Longfei , Qi Xiaolong
Published: November 2021

Background

Natural astaxanthin (ASTA) has strong antioxidant properties and has been widely used as a health product to improve human health. However, the effects of ASTA on the reproductive performance of aging roosters have been poorly studied. We aimed to investigate the effects of dietary ASTA on semen quality and antioxidant capacity in aging roosters and to explore the potential mechanism of semen quality change via anti-oxidation defense system.

Methods

In the present study, 96 53-week-old Jinghong No. 1 layer breeder roosters were fed a corn-soybean meal basal diet containing 0, 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg ASTA for 6 weeks.

Results

Semen quality in the ASTA groups remarkably improved than that in the control group, and antioxidant activities, the abilities to scavenge hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anions, increased gradually with ASTA addition (P < 0.05). In addition, the mRNA levels of antioxidant enzymes as well as the mRNA and protein levels of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) were markedly increased in the 50–100 mg/kg ASTA group (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Collectively, these results demonstrate that dietary ASTA may improve semen quality by increasing antioxidant enzyme activities and the ability to scavenge hydroxyl radicals, which may be related to upregulation of the MAPK/Nrf2 pathway.
Dietary calcium phosphate strongly impacts gut microbiome changes elicited by inulin and galacto-oligosaccharides consumption
Authors: Fuhren Jori , Schwalbe Markus , Boekhorst Jos , Rösch Christiane , Schols Henk A. , Kleerebezem Michiel
Published: November 2021

Background

Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), inulin, and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) are widely recognized prebiotics that profoundly affect the intestinal microbiota, including stimulation of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, and are reported to elicit several health benefits. The combination of dietary FOS and inulin with calcium phosphate was reported to stimulate commensalLactobacilluspopulations and protect the host against pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae, but little is known about the effects of GOS in diets with a different level of calcium phosphate.

Methods

We investigated the microbiome changes elicited by dietary supplementation with GOS or inulin using diets with high (100 mmol/kg) and low (30 mmol/kg) calcium phosphate levels in adult Wistar rats. Rats were acclimatized to the respective experimental diets for 14 days, after which fecal material was collected, DNA was extracted from fecal material, and the V3‑V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was amplified with PCR, followed by microbial composition analysis. In tandem, the organic acid profiles of the fecal material were analyzed.

Results

Feeding rats non-supplemented (no prebiotic-added) diets revealed that diets rich in calcium phosphate favored members of the Firmicutes and increased fecal lactic, succinic, acetic, propionic, and butyric acid levels. In contrast, relatively low dietary calcium phosphate levels promoted the abundance of mucin degrading genera likeAkkermansiaandBacteroides, and resulted in increased fecal propionic acid levels and modest increases in lactic and butyric acid levels. Irrespective of the calcium phosphate levels, supplementation with GOS or inulin strongly stimulatedBifidobacterium, while only high calcium phosphate diets increased the endogenousFaecalibaculumpopulations.

Conclusions

Despite the prebiotic’s substantial difference in chemical structure, sugar composition, oligomer size, and the microbial degradation pathway involved in their utilization, inulin and GOS modulated the gut microbiota very similarly, in a manner that strongly depended on the dietary calcium phosphate level. Therefore, our study implies that the collection of detailed diet information including micronutrient balance is necessary to correctly assess diet-driven microbiota analysis.
Does allogeneic stem cell transplantation in survivors of pediatric leukemia impact regular physical activity, pulmonary function, and exercise capacity?
Authors: Ruf Katharina , Badran Alaa , Siauw Céline , Haubitz Imme , Schlegel Paul-Gerhardt , Hebestreit Helge , Härtel Christoph , Wiegering Verena
Published: November 2021

Background

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) has improved survival in high-risk childhood leukemia but is associated with long-term sequelae such as impaired pulmonary function and reduced exercise capacity impacting quality of life.

Methods

A convenience sample of 17 patients after allo-HSCT (HSCT—12 male, age 15.7±6.7 years, time after HSCT 5.3±2.8 years) underwent pulmonary function testing, echocardiography, and an incremental exercise test on a bike. Physical activity and health-related quality of life were assessed by questionnaires (7-day physical activity recall, PEDS-QL). Seventeen healthy age- and gender-matched controls served as control group (CG) for results of pulmonary function and exercise testing.

Results

HSCT showed reduced pulmonary function (HSCT vs. CG: FEV1 90.5±14.0 vs. 108.0±8.7%pred; FVC 88.4±19.3 vs. 107.6±6.9%pred, DLCO 75.3±23.6 vs. 104.9±12.8%pred) and exercise capacity (VO2peak 89±30.8%pred, CG 98±17.5%pred; Wmax 84±21.7%pred, CG 115±22.8%pred), but no relevant cardiac dysfunction and a good quality of life (PEDS-QL mean overall score 83.3±10.7). Differences in peak oxygen uptake between groups were mostly explained by 5 adolescent patients who underwent total body irradiation for conditioning. They showed significantly reduced diffusion capacity and reduced peak oxygen uptake.

Patients reported a mean time of inactivity of 777±159min/day, moderate activity of 110±107 min/day, hard activity of 35±36 min/day, and very hard activity of 23±22 min/day. A higher amount of inactivity was associated with a lower peak oxygen uptake (correlation coefficient tau −0.48, p=0.023).

Conclusions

This pilot study shows that although patients after allo-HSCT reported a good quality of life, regular physical activity and exercise capacity are reduced in survivors of stem cell transplantation, especially in adolescents who are treated with total body irradiation for conditioning. Factors hindering regular physical activity need to be identified and exercise counseling should be part of follow-up visits in these patients.
The telomere complex and the origin of the cancer stem cell
Authors: Torres-Montaner A.
Published: November 2021

Exquisite regulation of telomere length is essential for the preservation of the lifetime function and self-renewal of stem cells. However, multiple oncogenic pathways converge on induction of telomere attrition or telomerase overexpression and these events can by themselves trigger malignant transformation. Activation of NFκB, the outcome of telomere complex damage, is present in leukemia stem cells but absent in normal stem cells and can activate DOT1L which has been linked to MLL-fusion leukemias. Tumors that arise from cells of early and late developmental stages appear to follow two different oncogenic routes in which the role of telomere and telomerase signaling might be differentially involved. In contrast, direct malignant transformation of stem cells appears to be extremely rare. This suggests an inherent resistance of stem cells to cancer transformation which could be linked to a stem cell’specific mechanism of telomere maintenance. However, tumor protection of normal stem cells could also be conferred by cell extrinsic mechanisms.
Hepatic and renal cellular cytotoxic effects of heparin-coated superparamagnetic Iron oxide nanoparticles
Authors: Hwang Yong Hwa , Kim Youn-Jung , Lee Dong Yun
Published: November 2021

Background

Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles have been widely used in several biomedical engineering in vivo. Although various surface modifications have been made to these non-biodegradable nanoparticles to make them more biocompatible, their toxic potential still remains a major concern.

Method

In this study, we newly developed unfractionated heparin (UFH)-coated and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH)-coated SPIO nanoparticles through surface modification engineering, which was compared with commercially available dextran-coated SPIO nanoparticles. Their toxicity such as cytotoxicity, single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) comet assay, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) content and cellular apoptosis was evaluated to hepatic HepG2 and renal HK-2 cells.

Results

When UFH-, LMWH- or dextran-coated SPIO nanoparticles were applied, they did not affect the viability of HepG2 cell. However, HK-2 cells were more sensitive to dextran-coated SPIO nanoparticles than others. In genotoxicity assay using SCGE comet, DNA tail moment values in the groups treated with dextran- and LMWH-coated SPIO nanoparticles significantly increased. However, UFH-coated SPIO nanoparticles was only significantly lowing DNA tail moment value. In addition, UFH-coated SPIO nanoparticles had lower cytotoxicity in HepG2 and HK-2 cells compared to dextran-coated SPIO nanoparticles, especially in terms of apoptosis and intracellular ROS production.

Conclusions

Collectively, it is possible that UFH- coated SPIO nanoparticles can be used as alternative negative contrast agents.
Bilateral carotid cavernous fistula after trauma: a case report and literature review
Authors: Liang Jingshan , Xie Xiaoxiao , Sun Yong , Wei Xiuli , Li Aimin
Published: November 2021

Background

Carotid cavernous fistula is a rare complication that is typically associated with head trauma and skull base fractures. The traumatic bilateral carotid cavernous fistula are significantly rarer.

Case presentations

We report a case of a 61-year-old man presenting with unilateral exophthalmos, swollen eyelids, conjunctival congestion, and edema etiologically associated with severe trauma. Thereafter, the patient demonstrated symptoms of contralateral oculomotor nerve injury caused by skull base fracture, such as ptosis of eyelid, dilated pupils, and eye movement disorder, and was diagnosed with bilateral carotid cavernous fistula.

Conclusions

The patient recovered after undergoing endovascular embolization of bilateral cavernous sinus fistulas. The patient demonstrated the classic symptoms of an extremely rare condition known as bilateral carotid cavernous fistula, in only one eye. Reporting and analyzing this case will help us elucidate the underlying mechanisms of this disease.
Gut microbiota in Parkinson’s disease patients: hospital-based study
Authors: Khedr Eman M. , Ali Anwar M. , Deaf Enas , Hassan Hebatallah M. , Alaa Ahmed , Gamea Ayman
Published: November 2021

Background

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. There is accumulating evidence that link gut microbiota to symptomatology and pathophysiology of PD. The aim of this study was to describe the pattern of gut microbiota and its association with PD and identify the effect of environmental factors on gut microbiota. This case–control study included 46 patients diagnosed as Parkinson’s disease (PD) and 31 healthy volunteers age and sex matched. Detailed history including age of onset, duration of disease, environmental risk factors, diet data, treatment, Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) domain of Non‐Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) were assessed. After extraction of bacterial DNA from the fecal samples, bacterial abundance was quantified by qPCR using 16S rRNA group-specific primers.

Results

Significant high abundance of Clostridium cluster IV, Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, and lactic acid bacteria were found in the PD group compared with the control group (P < 0.001, 0.04, 0.02 and < 0.001, respectively), while Firmicutes were significantly less abundant in the PD group (P < 0.001) compared with the control group. The naive PD patients had significant abundance of Bifidobacterium, and lactic acid compared with control group. Interestingly, Akkermansia was more abundant in treated than untreated patients. There were significant associations between pesticide exposure and Bifidobacterium (P = 0.002), while no significant correlations between different gut microbiota and demographic, environment data, different rating scores or dominant type of PD. There was a significant negative correlation between the Bifidobacterium with the duration of illness (P = 0.012).

Conclusion

The present study highlighted a significant connection between PD and levels of certain types of gut microbiota, in support of a possible link between gut microbiota and a neurodegenerative cascade of PD.
Biochemical and haematological enhancement activities of aqueous and methanol leaves, stem and roots extracts of Chasmanthera dependens (Hochst) and Dictyandra arborescens (Welw.)
Authors: Enenebeaku Uchechi E. , Okotcha Evangeline N. , Oguoma Lilian M. O. , Mgbemena Ifeyinwa C. , Enenebeaku Conrad K. , Onyeka Chiemeziem A.
Published: November 2021

Background

Africa is blessed with rich floral biodiversity which are harnessed as herbal medicines and remedies for several ailments. Since there has been evidence of organ toxicity following prolonged ingestion of medicinal plant concotions, this study investigated the biochemical and hematological enhancement activities of aqueous and methanolic leaves, stem and roots extracts of Chasmanthera dependens (Hochst) and Dictyandra arborescens (Welw) in adult male albino rats.

Results

Leaves, stem and roots extracts of D. arborescens, as well as extracts of leaves and roots of C. dependens did not record any mice mortality even at 5000 mg/kg b.wt but extracts of C. dependens stem in both medium recorded death at 2900 mg/kg b. wt and 5000 mg/kg b.wt. Ingestion of the extracts by rats over a 14-day period increased (p  <  0.05) the body weights of the experimental animals in the C. dependens and D. arborescens treated groups. The relative organ weights of rats that received the extracts did not differ (p < 0.05) significantly from those of the standard and normal control. Administration of the extracts revealed significant (p < 0.05) increase in haematological parameters (PCV, Hb, RBCs, WBCs, MCH, Neutrophils, Lymphocytes and MCHC) at 200 mg/kg−1 body weight. For biochemical parameters, levels of ALT, AST, ALP, total protein, and albumin were not significantly (p < 0.05) elevated following administration of the extracts.

Conclusion

These parameters did not differ significantly from the normal and standard control. Since these extracts did not exhibit any chronic toxicity on experimental animals, suggesting no harmful effects following their use, their continuous use in ethno-medicine is therefore justified.
Bats and fire: a global review
Authors: Loeb Susan C. , Blakey Rachel V.
Published: November 2021

Background

Bats are important components of forested ecosystems and are found in forests worldwide. Consequently, they often interact with fire. Previous reviews of the effects of fire on bats have focused on prescribed fire effects, in part due to the limited number of studies on bat responses to wildfire. However, over the past several years, studies on bat responses to wildfire and prescribed fire have increased considerably. We reviewed this rapidly expanding body of literature to determine whether bats respond differently to prescribed fire and wildfire, and the important factors driving those differences. We also examined regional similarities and differences in bat response to prescribed fire and wildfire and identified areas in need of further research.

Results

Our review included 52 studies (29 prescribed fire, 23 wildfire) from North and South America, Europe, Australia, and Africa, although studies from Europe, South America, and Africa were limited. In general, we found that bats show positive or neutral responses to prescribed fire, whereas a greater proportion of negative responses were reported for wildfire. However, some of the negative responses to wildfire are short-lived or local, suggesting that bats may be resilient to the effects of fire. Factors such as fire severity, fire frequency, time since last burn, burn extent, season of burn, and pyrodiversity were all found to be important drivers of bats’ responses to both prescribed fire and wildfire.

Conclusions

The importance of the spatial and temporal aspects of fire suggests that these factors need to be considered when designing future studies and interpreting results. Pyrodiversity may be a particularly important concept to further our understanding of bats’ responses to fire. We found several gaps in our knowledge including lack of information on direct effects of fire (e.g., mortality), regional and taxonomic biases, effects of wildfire on roosting habitat, and the effects of climate change. Although current studies suggest that fire may be an important management tool for improving bat habitat, the threat of more frequent, extensive, and severe wildfires may put additional stress on some bat populations, particularly those being impacted by disease, habitat loss and fragmentation, and climate change.
“It's Rougher on Me Than It Is on Him”: Family Caregiver–Generated and Prioritized Illness Concerns While Patients Undergo Cancer Treatments
Authors: Levoy Kristin , Wool Jesse , Ashare Rebecca L. , Rosa William E. , Barg Frances K. , Meghani Salimah H.
Published: November 2021

PURPOSE:

Research eliciting patients' illness concerns has typically focused later in the cancer continuum, rather than during cancer treatments. Family caregiver concerns are overlooked during this time. Less is known about how patients and caregivers prioritize concerns during cancer treatments, which holds potential for improving supportive oncology care (ie, primary palliative care). The purpose of this study was to elicit and compare which domains of supportive oncology are of highest importance to patients and caregivers during cancer treatments.

METHODS:

Freelisting, a cognitive anthropology method, was used to elicit concerns in order of importance. Freelist data were analyzed using Smith's salience index. Qualitative interviews were conducted with a caregiver subsample to add explanatory insights.

RESULTS:

In descending order, pain, death, fear, family, and awful were salient Freelist items for patients (n = 65), whereas sadness, time-consuming, support, anger, tired, death, and frustration were salient for caregivers (n = 24). When integrated with supportive oncology domains, patients' concerns reflected a prioritization of the physical (pain) and emotional (death, fear, and awful) domains, with less emphasis on social (family) aspects. Caregivers' prioritized the emotional (sadness, anger, death, and frustration) and social (time-consuming and support) domains, with less emphasis on the physical (tired) aspects.

CONCLUSION:

Our findings suggest that enhancing primary palliative care delivery by oncology teams requires systems thinking to support both the patient and caregiver as the primary unit of care. Primary palliative care may be improved by prioritizing interventions that address physical concerns among patients as well as key social concerns among caregivers to support the complex caregiving role while patients undergo cancer treatments.
Sex Differences in Embryonic Gonad Transcriptomes and Benzo[a]pyrene Metabolite Levels After Transplacental Exposure
Authors: Lim Jinhwan , Ramesh Aramandla , Shioda Toshi , Leon Parada Kathleen , Luderer Ulrike
Published: November 2021

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons like benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) are generated during incomplete combustion of organic materials. Prior research has demonstrated that BaP is a prenatal ovarian toxicant and carcinogen. However, the metabolic pathways active in the embryo and its developing gonads and the mechanisms by which prenatal exposure to BaP predisposes to ovarian tumors later in life remain to be fully elucidated. To address these data gaps, we orally dosed pregnant female mice with BaP from embryonic day (E) 6.5 to E11.5 (0, 0.2, or 2 mg/kg/day) for metabolite measurement or E9.5 to E11.5 (0 or 3.33 mg/kg/day) for embryonic gonad RNA sequencing. Embryos were harvested at E13.5 for both experiments. The sum of BaP metabolite concentrations increased significantly with dose in the embryos and placentas, and concentrations were significantly higher in female than male embryos and in embryos than placentas. RNA sequencing revealed that enzymes involved in metabolic activation of BaP are expressed at moderate to high levels in embryonic gonads and that greater transcriptomic changes occurred in the ovaries in response to BaP than in the testes. We identified 490 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with false discovery rate P-values < 0.05 when comparing BaP-exposed to control ovaries but no statistically significant DEGs between BaP-exposed and control testes. Genes related to monocyte/macrophage recruitment and activity, prolactin family genes, and several keratin genes were among the most upregulated genes in the BaP-exposed ovaries. Results show that developing ovaries are more sensitive than testes to prenatal BaP exposure, which may be related to higher concentrations of BaP metabolites in female embryos.
Holding a Mirror up to Nature
Authors: Greenidge Kerri K.
Published: November 2021

This article argues that during the first two decades of the twentieth century, William Monroe Trotter’s Boston Guardian challenged “post-truth” politics at the heart of America’s exploitative racial project both at home and abroad. Trotter’s reinvigorated Black radical press exposed a fundamental lie at the heart of American racialization: that lynching, segregation, and violent white domination were natural features of United States exceptionalism, and that “the colored people themselves” (both at home and abroad) were responsible for their own subjugation. Through the Guardian’s campaign against racial disinformation espoused in mainstream Black newspapers, Trotter influenced the New Negro radicalism of Cyril V. Briggs, Hubert Harrison, and the African Blood Brotherhood.
Teaching Breaking News
Authors: Pennington Rosemary
Published: November 2021

Breaking news is hard to define, though the Associated Press has framed it as “news of transcendent importance.” Generally, it is news that provides information about an issue or an event the public did not already know, and it is increasingly tied to a feeling of “liveness.” Because breaking news situations evolve quickly, the ability of journalists to cover them depends in part on the sources a journalist trusts and can access. All too often, those sources are people who have historically held power in a community. This essay argues that an ethics of empathy would help journalists move away from privileging the perspectives of the powerful in breaking news coverage, thereby making space for alternate understandings of the situation.
Dynamic and cell-specific transport networks for intracellular copper ions
Authors: Lutsenko Svetlana
Published: November 2021

Copper (Cu) homeostasis is essential for the development and function of many organisms. In humans, Cu misbalance causes serious pathologies and has been observed in a growing number of diseases. This Review focuses on mammalian Cu(I) transporters and highlights recent studies on regulation of intracellular Cu fluxes. Cu is used by essential metabolic enzymes for their activity. These enzymes are located in various intracellular compartments and outside cells. When cells differentiate, or their metabolic state is otherwise altered, the need for Cu in different cell compartments change, and Cu has to be redistributed to accommodate these changes. The Cu transporters SLC31A1 (CTR1), SLC31A2 (CTR2), ATP7A and ATP7B regulate Cu content in cellular compartments and maintain Cu homeostasis. Increasing numbers of regulatory proteins have been shown to contribute to multifaceted regulation of these Cu transporters. It is becoming abundantly clear that the Cu transport networks are dynamic and cell specific. The comparison of the Cu transport machinery in the liver and intestine illustrates the distinct composition and dissimilar regulatory response of their Cu transporters to changing Cu levels.
The Causal Effects of Place on Health and Longevity
Authors: Deryugina Tatyana , Molitor David
Published: November 2021

Life expectancy varies substantially across local regions within a country, raising conjectures that place of residence affects health. However, population sorting and other confounders make it difficult to disentangle the effects of place on health from other geographic differences in life expectancy. Recent studies have overcome such challenges to demonstrate that place of residence substantially influences health and mortality. Whether policies that encourage people to move to places that are better for their health or that improve areas that are detrimental to health are desirable depends on the mechanisms behind place effects, yet these mechanisms remain poorly understood.
Neighborhoods Matter: Assessing the Evidence for Place Effects
Authors: Chyn Eric , Katz Lawrence F.
Published: November 2021

How does one's place of residence affect individual behavior and long-run outcomes? Understanding neighborhood and place effects has been a leading question for social scientists during the past half-century. Recent empirical studies using experimental and quasi-experimental research designs have generated new insights on the importance of residential neighborhoods in childhood and adulthood. This paper summarizes the recent neighborhood effects literature and interprets the findings. Childhood neighborhoods affect long-run economic and educational outcomes in a manner consistent with exposure models of neighborhood effects. For adults, neighborhood environments matter for their health and well-being but have more ambiguous impacts on labor market outcomes. We discuss the evidence on the mechanisms behind the observed patterns and conclude by highlighting directions for future research.
Fragile Algorithms and Fallible Decision-Makers: Lessons from the Justice System
Authors: Ludwig Jens , Mullainathan Sendhil
Published: November 2021

Algorithms (in some form) are already widely used in the criminal justice system. We draw lessons from this experience for what is to come for the rest of society as machine learning diffuses. We find economists and other social scientists have a key role to play in shaping the impact of algorithms, in part through improving the tools used to build them.
Therapeutic potential of using probiotics in the treatment and prevention of breast câncer
Authors: Soares Tiago , Silva Bruna Barbosa Maia da , Araújo Danielle Silva , Feijó de Figueiredo Maria Clara , Leal Bezerra Francisco Das Chagas , Silva Eliakim Aureliano da , Pereira Sousa Ana Cibele , Arcanjo Medeiros Stella Regina , Barbosa Celma De Oliveira , Pereira-Freire Joilane Alves
Published: November 2021

Introduction: Probiotics are living microorganisms that when administered in appropriate amounts, provide several benefits such as prevention of infections, relief of allergic symptoms and lactose intolerance, control of serum cholesterol, blood pressure and gestational diabetes, reduction of gastrointestinal disorders, production of beneficial compounds such as vitamins, short chain fatty acids, and such microorganisms show evidence of actions against certain types of cancers. This study aimed to evaluate the evidence available in the literature on probiotics on breast cancer. Methods: It is an integrative review of the literature, through the PICO strategy, with the guiding question “Does probiotics consumption act on oxidative stress and reduces the risk of breast cancer”? The selection of articles was made on MEDLINE, SciELO and PubMed, including those published between 2016 and 2021, using the keywords: “breast cancer” AND “probiotics” AND “microbiota” their combinations in Portuguese and English, with with previously established inclusion criteria. Results and Discussion: The sample consisted of ten articles, and the answers found were: scientific research in vivo and in vitro, with some variations of probiotics strains, where all demonstrate actions and/or effects on cancer cells or acted on metabolic pathways mitigating the development of tumors. Conclusions: The manifested potential for a possible insertion in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer, being considered an innovation for the scientific community that still fights against various types of problems related to human health, especially some types of cancers, of negative prognoses and with difficult therapeutic interventions.
Economic policy, environment and sustainable growth
Authors: Μαργώση Μαρία
Published: November 2021

Αυτή η διδακτορική διατριβή είναι μια περιβαλλοντική συμβολή στη μετακεϋνσιανή μακροοικονομική θεωρία. Η συμβολή σχετίζεται με τη σημασία της περιβαλλοντικής/οικολογικής διάστασης, η οποία, δεν έχει κεντρικό ρόλο στη μετακεϋνσιανή βιβλιογραφία. Αρχικά, στόχος μας ήταν να διερευνήσουμε πώς το περιβάλλον επηρεάζει την οικονομική δραστηριότητα και πώς το περιβάλλον θα μπορούσε να εισαχθεί στην ανάλυση της ενεργού ζήτησης και της οικονομικής ανάπτυξης. Η εισαγωγή του περιβαλλοντικού παράγοντα υπόκειται στις αρχές οικολογικής και βιοφυσικής προστασίας που υποδεικνύουν τη βιωσιμότητα του μοντέλου. Η εισαγωγή του περιβαλλοντικού στοιχείου υλοποιήθηκε μέσω της φυσικής προσέγγισης του κεφαλαίου. Ωστόσο, ο ακρογωνιαίος λίθος του θεωρητικού μοντέλου, είναι η δημιουργία μιας μεταβλητής που αντιπροσωπεύει το μερίδιο του πράσινου κεφαλαίου στη συνολική οικονομία, και την οποία χρησιμοποιήσαμε για να εκφράσουμε το βαθμό της χρησιμοποίησης του παραγωγικού δυναμικού ως συνάρτηση του μεριδίου του πράσινου κεφαλαίου. Από αυτή την άποψη, αποδείχθηκε ότι η μετάβαση σε μια βιώσιμη οικονομία είναι ευνοϊκή για τη συσσώρευση κεφαλαίου. Η οικονομετρική ανάλυση που διενεργήθηκε για τις 28 χώρες της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης παρέχει στοιχεία που επικυρώνουν τις κύριες υποθέσεις μας και ειδικότερα ότι οι επενδύσεις και η συσσώρευση κεφαλαίων ευνοούνται από τη μετάβαση σε μια πιο πράσινη οικονομία. Προχωρήσαμε επίσης στη διερεύνηση της σημασίας της πράσινης κατανάλωσης για τη μετακεϋνσιανή μακροοικονομία. Αφού παρουσιάσαμε τα βασικά χαρακτηριστικά της κατανάλωσης και της βιώσιμης κατανάλωσης, εισήγαμε το περιβαλλοντικό στοιχείο σε ένα μετακεϋνσιανό μοντέλο κατανάλωσης. Από αυτή την άποψη, χρησιμοποιήσαμε την έννοια των πράσινων ζωικών πνευμάτων (green animal spirits), συνδυάζοντας την έννοια του Κέινς για τα animal spirits, τη μετακεϋνσιανή θεωρία της γνώσης και τη θεωρία λήψης αποφάσεων του καταναλωτή, όπως προσεγγίζεται από την επιστήμη της ψυχολογίας. Συμπληρωματικά και λόγω του αυξανόμενου ενδιαφέροντος για τη βιώσιμη κατανάλωση, καθώς και του αυξανόμενου ενδιαφέροντος και των διαθέσιμων δεδομένων για το οικολογικό αποτύπωμα, παρουσιάζεται επίσης ένα μοντέλο οικολογικού αποτυπώματος κατανάλωσης. Η οικονομετρική ανάλυση παρείχε στοιχεία που επικυρώνουν τις κύριες θεωρητικές μας υποθέσεις και ειδικότερα σχετικά με τη σημασία των πράσινων animal spirits για την περιβαλλοντικά φιλική κατανάλωση. Τόσο τα θεωρητικά όσο και τα εμπειρικά μοντέλα θεωρούνται ότι συνεισφέρουν σημαντικά σε μια πράσινη μετακεϋνσιανή θεωρία της ενεργούς ζήτησης. Τέλος, παρουσιάζεται μια ανάλυση πολιτικής οικονομίας σχετικά με τη αποτελεσματικότητα των περιβαλλοντικών πολιτικών στον καπιταλισμό.
Case Report: Neuroleptic malignant syndrome in a HIV-positive patient
Authors: Joseph Sibi , George Jerry , Tau Mongezi , Ibanez-Valdes Lourdes de Fatima , Dubula Thozama , Foyaca-Sibat Humberto
Published: November 2021

We report a 29-year-old, HIV-positive woman being treated with antipsychotic medication for psychosis (Clopixol 200mg intramuscularly monthly, Risperidone 2mg orally daily Haloperidol 2.5mg twice a day), who presented with neuroleptic malignant syndrome. She was also receiving lorazepam and sodium valproate. The patient was referred to our department as she had developed involuntary upper limb movements and simple permanent focal seizure on the lower part of the left hemiface. Clinically the patient had altered consciousness, autonomic dysfunction, and rigidity. Her blood tests showed elevated creatine kinase (1467U/L) but no leucocytosis. We did a thorough workup for other causes of such a presentation. A comprehensive history was taken from the family to exclude other medications used. Her cerebrospinal fluid results were average. Blood tests did not show evidence of infection or other abnormalities. Computed tomography brain was normal. The patient died a few days after the beginning of the attack, which we have also observed  in other HIV-female patients. As far as we know, it is the first report about this comorbidity reported in the medical literature.
Burnout, docencia e investigación en profesores universitarios de la Facultad de Ciencias Empresariales de Perú y España
Authors: Yslado Méndez Rosario Margarita , Hernán Ramírez Asís Edwin , Rosamel Espinoza Marcos
Published: November 2021

Diferentes estudios sobre el síndrome de burnout (SB) en profesores universitarios reportan relaciones entre esta psicopatología laboral y las variables sociodemográficas, personales, laborales y extralaborales; sin embargo, son escasos los estudios transculturales sobre el SB por actividades de docencia e investigación. El objetivo del estudio fue analizar las diferencias del síndrome de burnout, sus dimensiones y según funciones sustantivas de docencia e investigación, en los profesores de las Facultades de Ciencias Empresariales (Economía, Contabilidad, Administración y Turismo) de la Universidad de Sevilla (US) de España y la Universidad Nacional Santiago Antúnez de Mayolo (UNASAM) de Perú. Es una investigación de enfoque cuantitativo, de nivel básico y descriptivo, de diseño no experimental, transversal y descriptiva comparativa; se utilizó el cuestionario adaptado del Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), que mide el SB asociado a docencia e investigación. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 68 profesores de las universidades públicas investigadas. Los resultados indican que hay diferencias significativas según la universidad para el SB en sus dimensiones de cansancio emocional por docencia, despersonalización por docencia e investigación y en baja realización personal por docencia e investigación. En el caso de la diferencia según el sexo, se identificó que existe diferencia significativa en la baja realización personal por investigación en los docentes de la Universidad de Sevilla. En lo que respecta a las diferencias según la edad, no se encontró diferencias significativas. En conclusión, los profesores de la universidad peruana presentan niveles significativamente más altos de SB por docencia e investigación, en comparación con los profesores de la universidad española
The Societal Impact of Sharing Economy Platform Self-Regulations—An Empirical Investigation
Authors: Han Wencui , Wang Xunyi , Ahsen Mehmet Eren , Wattal Sunil
Published: November 2021

The rise of the sharing economy has disrupted traditional industries and has had many unforeseen societal impacts. This has sparked policy debates on whether and how the sharing economy should be regulated to promote the healthy growth of such markets. In this research, we examine the impact of platform self-regulations in the context of the home-sharing market. Using policy changes that reduce the number of Airbnb listings, we empirically test the impact of platform self-regulations on crime rates. Our results suggest that a reduction in Airbnb listings resulting from platform self-regulations leads to a reduction in crime. We further study the impact of these policy changes on different types of crime and find that these self-regulations lead to a reduction in incidents of crime such as assault, robbery, and burglary but an increase in theft incidents. In addition, we find that the impact of these policies varies based on the neighborhood’s characteristics, such as income, housing price, and population. This research contributes to our understanding of the societal impacts of the sharing economy and the impact of platform self-regulation. Our findings also provide empirical evidence to inform policy making.
Spatiotemporal processing in photoplethysmography for skin microcirculatory perfusion imaging
Authors: Cheng Dongkai , Wang Jiabin , Yokota Tomoyuki , Someya Takao
Published: November 2021

Technological advances in the real-time visualization of cutaneous microcirculation aim to realize benefits including high-resolution imaging, suppressed noise, and robust temporal coherence. Photoplethysmography (PPG), a noninvasive technique that measures single or multiple points of relative blood volume changes in blood vessels under the skin, shows potential as a signal candidate for visualizing blood vessels and tracking blood flow. However, challenges still remain, such as extracting/image reconstruction of the blood vessel/flow signal in a precise frequency window (<0.2 Hz) from a noisy image that is caused by the loss of spatial coherence of the light source in a turbid biological tissue. We attempted to overcome this challenge by adopting a combination of direct-contact-type, lens-less, conformable imagers and singular value decomposition (SVD) in this study. We focused on the numerical analysis of SVD for discriminating the tissue and vein blood flow in PPG for reconstructing blood fluidic images, followed by a complete demonstration of skin microcirculation blood tracking in the vessel visualization process when applying our lens-less, conformable, wearable imagers.
Optical property recovery with spatially-resolved diffuse reflectance at short source-detector separations using a compact fiber-optic probe
Authors: Bridger Karina G. , Roccabruna Jacob R. , Baran Timothy M.
Published: November 2021

We describe a compact fiber-optic probe (2 mm outside diameter) that utilizes spatially-resolved diffuse reflectance for tissue optical property recovery. Validation was performed in phantoms containing Intralipid 20% as scatterer, and methylene blue (MB), MnTPPS, and/or India ink as absorbers. Over a range of conditions, the reduced scattering coefficient was recovered with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.86-2.7 cm-1 (average error = 3.8%). MB concentration was recovered with RMSE = 0.26-0.52 µM (average error = 15.0%), which did not vary with inclusion of MnTPPS (p=0.65). This system will be utilized to determine optical properties in human abscesses, in order to generate treatment plans for photodynamic therapy.
Spin-splitting in a reflective beam off an antiferromagnetic surface
Authors: Fu Shu-fang , Wang Xiang-Guang , Zhang Yu-Qi , Zhou Sheng , Wang Xuan-zhang
Published: November 2021

A linearly-polarized radiation can be considered as the superposition of two circularly-polarized components with the same propagating direction and opposite spins. We investigated the splitting between the two spin-components in the reflective beam off the antiferromagnetic surface. The gyromagnetism and surface impedance mismatch cause the difference between the spatial shifts of the two spin-components, i.e., the spin-splitting. We analytically achieved the in- and out-plane shift-expressions of either spin-component for two typical linearly-polarized incident beams (i.e., the p- and s-incidences). In the case of no gyromagnetism, we obtained very simple shift-expressions, which indicate a key role played by the gyromagnetism or the surface impedance-mismatch in spin-splitting. Based on a FeF2 crystal, the spin-splitting distance was calculated. The spin-splitting distance is much longer for the p-incidence than the s-incidence, and meanwhile the in-plane splitting distance is much larger than the out-plane one. The gyromagnetism plays a key role for the in-plane spin-splitting and the surface impedance-mismatch is a crucial factor for the out-plane spin-splitting distance. The results are useful for the manipulation of infrared radiations and infrared optical detection.