bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ADVOKASI HAK-HAK KETENAGAKERJAAN PASCA UNDANG-UNDANG NOMOR 11 TAHUN 2020 TENTANG CIPTA KERJA
Authors: Madiha Dzakiyyah Chairunnisa  , Purwaningdyah Murti Wahyuni  , Nadia Nurani Isfarin  , Megafury Apriandhini
Published: October 2022

Pada 2 November 2020 Pemerintah Indonesia telah mengundangkan dan memberlakukan Undang-Undang Nomor 11 Tahun 2020 tentang Cipta Kerja (UU Cipta Kerja). UU ini lahir dilatarbelakangi perlunya penyesuaian berbagai aspek pengaturan yang berkaitan dengan kemudahan, perlindungan, dan pemberdayaan koperasi dan usaha mikro, kecil, dan menengah, peningkatan ekosistem investasi, dan percepatan proyek strategis nasional, termasuk peningkatan perlindungan dan kesejahteraan pekerja. Ketidaktahuan para pekerja terhadap hak-haknya pasca UU Cipta Kerja ini berlaku akan semakin memperparah pemenuhan hak kepada para pekerja. Oleh karena itu perlu adanya edukasi kepada para pekerja mengenai apa saja hak-haknya terutama setelah diundangkannya UU Cipta Kerja. Tenaga Kerja merupakan pihak yang sangat rentan mengalami pengabaian dan diskriminasi akibat kedudukannya yang terkadang tidak seimbang akibat hubungan kerja yang bersifat subordinatif. Dengan demikian, edukasi saja tidaklah cukup sehingga perlu adanya advokasi kepada para pekerja.Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat (PkM) bertujuan untuk memberikan pemahaman kepada masyarakat khususnya pada tenaga kerja terkait dengan hak-hak pekerja yang diakomodir oleh UU Cipta Kerja. Tujuan konkret sasaran program ini pada tenaga kerja dengan memberikan advokasi hak-hak ketenagakerjaan pasca UU Cipta Kerja diundangkan.Kegiatan PkM ini dilakukan dalam bentuk advokasi dan sosialiasi tentang Undang-Undang Nomor 11 Tahun 2020 Tentang Cipta Kerja. Media advokasi dan pembimbingan yang digunakan adalah melalui kegiatan webinar 3 seri yang dilaksanakan selama 3 bulan berturut-turut dengan tema yang berbeda-beda. Seri 1 bertema tentang Jenis Perselisihan Hubungan dalam Undang-Undang Cipta Kerja, Seri 2 bertema Hak dan Kewajiban Pekerja dan Pengusaha dalam PP/PKB sebagaimana Amanat PP No. 35 Tahun 2021, dan Seri 3 dengan tema Penyelesaian Perselisihan Hubungan Industrial dalam Pengadilan Hubungan Industrial. Luaran dari program ini yang bisa dirasakan oleh mitra adalah mendapatkan bantuan hukum baik dari sisi akademisi maupun praktisi dalam mengadvokasi para tenaga kerja maupun masyarakat dalam memahami implementasi dari UU Cipta Kerja sehingga dapat diterapkan di tempat mereka bekerja serta membantu para tenaga kerja dalam hal konsultasi saat mereka mengalami perselisihan dengan pihak pengusaha.
PENDAMPINGAN PEMBELAJARAN TEKNIK JARI SAKTI DALAM PERKALIAN DUA BILANGAN ASLI BAGI GURU GURU SD
Authors: Tri Dyah Prastiti  , Sri Tresnaningsih  , Aji Suwarno  , Suparti  , Dwi Sambada
Published: October 2022

Rendahnya aktivitas dan hasil belajar siswa kelas VI SD pada materi perkalian bilangan asli dikarenakan guru belum menggunakan media pembelajaran yang sudah teruji valid, praktis, dan efektif dalam kegiatan pembelajaran dan pembelajaran masih berpusat pada guru. Kegiatan pengabdian masyarakat ini bertujuan melakukan pelatihan dan pendampingan bagi guruguru SD tentang penerapan media teknik jari sakti untuk pembelajaran perkalian dua bilangan asli lebih dari 10 dengan cepat tanpa menggunakan kertas dan alat tulis. Kegiatan menyampaian konsep dan teori disampaikan secara daring pada tanggal 28 Agustus 2021, melalui link http://sl.ut.ac.id/abdimas_jarisakti, yang diikuti oleh 54 guru-guru SD. Hasil pelatihan secara daring menunjukkan rata-rata skor pretest dan posttest dari peserta sebesar 3,4 dan 8,7 (skala 0 – 10). Lebih lanjut, hasil uji-t perbandingan dua sampel data berpasangan menunjukkan bahwa terjadi peningkatan pengetahuan guru guru SD mengenai konsep dan teori terkait penggunaan media teknik jari sakti dan pengukurannya dari pretest dan posttest secara signifikan. Tim juga telah membuat modul perkalian bilangan asli dengan teknik jari sakti dalam bentuk cetak, juga dalam bentuk video tutorial teknik jari sakti dengan link https://drive.google.com/file/d/1unjV_mglnrzZdZCbgtaA7QEHUX0L3tR9/view?usp=sharing Hasil pelatihan, guru guru SD telah mampu menerapkan media teknik jari sakti, melalui kegiatan pendampingan yang dilakukan oleh tim abdimas pada tanggal 18 – 19 September 2021 di SDN 1 Kedungwangi Lamongan.
PENINGKATAN DAN PENERAPAN GOOD MANUFACTURING PRACTICE (GMP) DAN STANDAR SANITATION OPERATION PROCEDURES (SSOP) PADA KARYAWAN INDUSTRI TAHU DI KECAMATAN PAMULANG
Authors: Eko Yuliastuti E.S.  , Dini Nur Hakiki  , Athiefah Fauziyyah  , M. Rajih Radiansyah
Published: October 2022

Pengetahuan dan penerapan Good Manufacturing Product (GMP) dan Standar Sanitation Operation Procedures (SSOP) diperlukan bagi para karyawan pabrik tahu XYZ untuk menjamin produk tahu yang dipasarkan aman dikonsumsi oleh masyarakat. Tujuan dari kegiatan ini adalah untuk meningkatan pengetahuan GMP dan SSOP pada sistem produksi di pabrik tahu XYZ, Pamulang, Tangerang Selatan, Banten. Peningkatan pengetahuan dilakukan dengan penyuluhan secara tatap muka dan menggunakan leaflet. Sebelum dan sesudah penyuluhan dilakukan survei, observasi, pretest (wawancara), dan post test (wawancara) untuk mengetahui tingkat pengetahuan dan penerapan karyawan pabrik tahu. Berdasarkan hasil analisis data pretest dan post test, survei, dan observasi dari para karyawan pabrik tahu XYZ yang mengikuti penyuluhan, diketahui bahwa pengetahuan meningkat 76,9 % sedangkan penerapan standar operational produksi (SOP) sub kehigienisan meningkat 42,8%. Dampak peningkatan penyuluhan GMP dan SSOP pada mitra usaha industri tahu belum optimal karena kemampuan biaya untuk meningkatkan sarana dan prasarana usaha pabrik tahu belum mencukupi.
Predicting the locations of force-generating dyneins in beating cilia and flagella
Authors: Howard Jonathon , Chasteen Alexander , Ouyang Xiaoyi , Geyer Veikko F. , Sartori Pablo
Published: October 2022

Cilia and flagella are slender cylindrical organelles whose bending waves propel cells through fluids and drive fluids across epithelia. The bending waves are generated by dynein motor proteins, ATPases whose force-generating activity changes over time and with position along the axoneme, the motile structure within the cilium. A key question is: where, in an actively beating axoneme, are the force-generating dyneins located? Answering this question is crucial for determining which of the conformational states adopted by the dynein motors generate the forces that bend the axoneme. The question is difficult to answer because the flagellum contains a large number of dyneins in a complex three-dimensional architecture. To circumvent this complexity, we used a molecular-mechanics approach to show how the bending moments produced by single pairs of dynein motors work against elastic and hydrodynamic forces. By integrating the individual motor activities over the length of the axoneme, we predict the locations of the force-generating dyneins in a beating axoneme. The predicted location depends on the beat frequency, the wavelength, and the elastic and hydrodynamic properties of the axoneme. To test these predictions using cryogenic electron microscopy, cilia with shorter wavelengths, such as found in Chlamydomonas, are more suitable than sperm flagella with longer wavelengths because, in the former, the lag between force and curvature is less dependent on the specific mechanical properties and experimental preparation.
Case report: Conquer a complex variant: Coronary-pulmonary artery fistulas, atrial septal defect and bicuspid pulmonary valve, under beating heart surgery
Authors: Zhou Ting , Liu Chaobing , Zhang Songlin
Published: October 2022

Coronary artery to pulmonary artery fistula (CPAF) is a congenital or acquired abnormal channel between arteries, with a left-to-right cardiac shunting, which may lead to myocardial ischemia, arrhythmia, thrombotic complications, and heart failure. CPAF is usually detected by coronary angiography but few reports have used beating-heart surgery as a detection method. The patient in this case report is a 39-year-old male diagnosed with atrial septal defect (ASD), bicuspid pulmonary valve, and moderate tricuspid regurgitation (TR). He is asymptomatic. In preoperative evaluation, significant CPAF was suspected using echocardiography. The patient refused coronary angiography due to allergic history. Therefore, the cardiac team designed and performed on-pump beating-heart surgery (OPBHS) to detect and repair these disorders, and suggested OPBHS as a myocardial protection strategy for the patient at low surgical risk. A rare and complex cardiovascular case with CPAFs from two branches of the left anterior descending coronary (LAD) artery to the main pulmonary artery (MPA) with ASD, bicuspid pulmonary valve, and moderate TR has not yet been reported in the literature, and its embryological hypothesis has been further analyzed in this report.
Thermal energy development in magnetohydrodynamic flow utilizing titanium dioxide, copper oxide and aluminum oxide nanoparticles: Thermal dispersion and heat generating formularization
Authors: Bilal Hafeez Muhammad , Krawczuk Marek , Jamshed Wasim , Tag El Din El Sayed M. , El-Wahed Khalifa Hamiden Abd , Aziz ElSeabee Fayza Abdel
Published: October 2022

Background: The main aim of this article heat transfer in thermal engineering deals with the production, use, transformation, and transfer of thermal energy. Engineering and industrial fields including food packaging, the production of food additives, electronic cooling, microturbines, etc. Heavily rely on heat transmission. Due to its intriguing potential in industries like the production of polymers, paper, crystal glass, etc., scientists from all over the world have endeavored to investigate the effect of heat transmission on fluid flows past an expandable surface.

Purpose: The use of a single-phase technique to assess Newtonian nanofluid flow along stretched surfaces with heat transfer convective models is emphasized in this research. A mathematical formulation is used to do the numerical computations for copper oxide (CuO), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), and titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles using water (H2O) as the base fluid.

Formulation: The fifth-order Runge-Kutta shooting method procedure with shelling performance are used to solve non-linear ordinary differential equations with boundary conditions numerically. Researched and analyzed for changes in several parameters, plots illustrating the effects of motivated and non-motivated MHD are given to explain the physical values.

Finding: Dispersion of solid items in the working fluid is reported to significantly improve thermal performance. The Biot number determines how convective the border is. With an increase in the Biot number, the fluid’s temperature drops significantly. It has been demonstrated that Copper oxide (CuO), nanoparticles are more efficient than Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) and Aluminum Oxide for thermal enhancement (Al2O3).

Novelty: As far as the authors are aware, no studies have been done on the steady MHD flow and convective heat transfer of nanofluids over a nonuniform stretched surface under the influence of a heat source and viscous dissipation.
The role of small extracellular vesicle non-coding RNAs in kidney diseases
Authors: Luo Chuxuan , Liu Haojie , Shao Lina , Tang Jiyu , He Qiang , Jin Juan
Published: October 2022

Kidney diseases have become an increasingly common public health concern worldwide. The discovery of specific biomarkers is of substantial clinical significance in kidney disease diagnosis, therapy and prognosis. The small extracellular vesicle (sEV) can be secreted by several cell types, like renal tubular epithelial cells, podocytes, collecting duct cells and leap cells, and functions as a communication medium between cells by delivering signaling molecules, including proteins, lipids and nucleic acids. There has been growing evidence that kidney diseases are associated with aberrant expression of sEV-derived non-coding RNAs (sEV-ncRNAs). As a result, sEV-ncRNAs may provide valuable information about kidney diseases. In this paper, a systematic review is presented of what has been done in recent years regarding sEV-ncRNAs in kidney disease diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.
Delta-catenin attenuates medulloblastoma cell invasion by targeting EMT pathway
Authors: Hu Yuanjun , Zhu Sihan , Xu Rizhen , Wang Manxia , Chen Furong , Zhang Zeshun , Feng Binghong , Wang Jian , Chen Zhongping , Wang Jing
Published: October 2022

Background: Medulloblastoma is the most common pediatric malignant tumor in central nervous system. Although its prognosis has been improved enormously by the combination treatments with surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, it still could progress via invasion and distant dissemination. We aimed to investigate molecular mechanisms of medulloblastoma invasion in the current work.

Methods: The gene expression profile of medulloblastoma were analyzed based on the data deposited in Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and filtered according to brain specific proteins in the Uniprot. Delta-catenin was identified and further analyzed about its expression and roles in the prognosis of medulloblastoma patient. The function of delta-catenin on cell invasion and migration were investigated by transwell and wound healing assay. Whether delta-catenin participates in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) regulated invasion was also studied.

Results: Delta-catenin expression was highly upregulated in tumor tissues compared to normal tissues from medulloblastoma patients in five independent, nonoverlapping cohorts. Furthermore, delta-catenin expression level was upregulated in WNT subgroup, and significantly correlated with better prognosis, and associated with metastasis through GEO database analysis. Functional assays indicated that delta-catenin inhibited medulloblastoma cell invasion and migration through regulating the key factors of EMT pathway, such as E-cadherin and vimentin.

Conclusion: Delta-catenin might be a positive predictor for prognosis of medulloblastoma patients, through attenuating medulloblastoma cell invasion by inhibiting EMT pathway.
Advances in single-cell sequencing technology in the field of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Qin Rongyi , Zhao Haichao , He Qizu , Li Feng , Li Yanjun , Zhao Haoliang
Published: October 2022

Tumors are a class of diseases characterized by altered genetic information and uncontrolled growth. Sequencing technology provide researchers with a better way to explore specific tumor pathogenesis. In recent years, single-cell sequencing technology has shone in tumor research, especially in the study of liver cancer, revealing phenomena that were unexplored by previous studies. Single-cell sequencing (SCS) is a technique for sequencing the cellular genome, transcriptome, epigenome, proteomics, or metabolomics after dissociation of tissues into single cells. Compared with traditional bulk sequencing, single-cell sequencing can dissect human tumors at single-cell resolution, finely delineate different cell types, and reveal the heterogeneity of tumor cells. In view of the diverse pathological types and complex pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the study of the heterogeneity among tumor cells can help improve its clinical diagnosis, treatment and prognostic judgment. On this basis, SCS has revolutionized our understanding of tumor heterogeneity, tumor immune microenvironment, and clonal evolution of tumor cells. This review summarizes the basic process and development of single-cell sequencing technology and its increasing role in the field of hepatocellular carcinoma.
The prognostic value and therapeutic targeting of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in hematological cancers
Authors: Fan Rong , De Beule Nathan , Maes Anke , De Bruyne Elke , Menu Eline , Vanderkerken Karin , Maes Ken , Breckpot Karine , De Veirman Kim
Published: October 2022

The success of immunotherapeutic approaches in hematological cancers is partially hampered by the presence of an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are key components of this suppressive environment and are frequently associated with tumor cell survival and drug resistance. Based on their morphology and phenotype, MDSC are commonly subdivided into polymorphonuclear MDSC (PMN-MDSC or G-MDSC) and monocytic MDSC (M-MDSC), both characterized by their immunosuppressive function. The phenotype, function and prognostic value of MDSC in hematological cancers has been intensively studied; however, the therapeutic targeting of this cell population remains challenging and needs further investigation. In this review, we will summarize the prognostic value of MDSC and the different attempts to target MDSC (or subtypes of MDSC) in hematological cancers. We will discuss the benefits, challenges and opportunities of using MDSC-targeting approaches, aiming to enhance anti-tumor immune responses of currently used cellular and non-cellular immunotherapies.
Offshore wind farms changed the spatial distribution of chlorophyll-a on the sea surface
Authors: Lu Zhengyu , Li Guoqing , Liu Zhe , Wang Luyan
Published: October 2022

Offshore wind farms (OWFs) have developed rapidly in recent years. However, it is difficult to accurately evaluate their impact on marine ecosystems and the marine environment due to the complexity of marine dynamic monitoring and various marine environment evaluation indicators. The spatial distribution of chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) on the surface of seawater is one of basic spatial information of the sea area, which is the key determines the distribution and productivity of offshore biological resources at different spatial levels. Evaluating the impact of OWFs on the spatial distribution of Chl-a is of significance but the research carried out to date has been scarce. In this study, 682 Landsat images were selected from 1990 to 2021 as well as 38 OWFs from around the world as the research areas. The spatial distribution of Chl-a on the sea surface was calculated using the O’Reilly band ratio OC2 algorithm and HU color index (CI) algorithm and the influence of OWFs on the spatial distribution pattern of Chl-a was determined by using the global and local Moran Indexes. Among the 38 wind farms, it was found that: (1) the spatial autocorrelation of Chl-a concentration at 37 wind farms increased after the construction of the wind turbines; (2) the spatial distribution pattern of Chl-a at 28 wind farms showed pronounced aggregation after the construction of the wind turbines. Therefore, it was determined that the construction of OWFs will change the spatial distribution pattern of Chl-a, which may affect the original balance of local marine ecosystems.
Alciporin, a pore-forming protein as complementary defense mechanism in Millepora alcicornis
Authors: Nocchi Nathalia , González-Orive Alejandro , Hernández-Creus Alberto , Lorenzo-Morales Jacob , Rodríguez Adriana , Morchón Rodrigo , Díaz-Marrero Ana R. , Fernández José J.
Published: October 2022

Millepora alcicornis (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa), known as fire coral, is a tropical species settled in marine ecosystems of the Canary Islands in the last years. This hydrocoral biosynthesizes toxins involved in chemical defense and prey capture mechanisms. Toxicological studies have shown that the venom contained in the nematocysts of Millepora species is mainly composed of thermolabile proteins that display hemolytic activity, causing skin irritation and burn-like lesions upon contact. As a continuation of a previous study, the chromatographic fractionation of the aqueous extracts of M. alcicornis has confirmed the coexistence of proteins of different nature responsible for the hemolytic effects of red blood cells (RBCs) through two different mechanisms. Aside from the already described phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity, in this work the presence of alciporin, a pore-forming protein (PFP), has been established for the first time for M. alcicornis. The sequence analysis revealed that alciporin fit an actinoporin with high homology to stichotoxins. The hemolytic effects of alciporin were analyzed and sphingomyelin was identified as its biological target. Also, the evolution of the hemolytic damage produced at the nanoscale has been studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM).
Macular pigment optical density of hyperopic anisometropic amblyopic patients measured by fundus reflectometry
Authors: Wang Chenxiao , Yu Jinjin , Pan Mengmeng , Ye Xiuhong , Song E.
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Hyperopic anisometropia is a major cause of amblyopia and may be associated with macular pigment optical density (MPOD) reduction. To explore whether the MPOD changes in hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia, we measured the MPOD using fundus reflectometry in eyes with hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia and normal vision.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study conducted from January 2017 to June 2017. Forty subjects (25 males and 15 females) between the ages of 6 and 10 years were recruited. The subjects' eyes were divided into two groups: amblyopic eyes (best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) not more than 20/25 or BCVA of two eyes differing by two or more lines) and fellow eyes. All enrolled subjects underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic examination, including extraocular motility assessment, cover-uncover testing, and refractive error (noncycloplegic), BCVA, axial length (AL), macular foveal thickness (MFT) and MPOD (Visucam® 200, Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Germany).

Results

The MPOD of amblyopic and fellow eyes was 0.12 ± 0.03 log units and 0.13 ± 0.04 log units, respectively, with a significant difference (P = 0.026). The MFT of amblyopic and fellow eyes was 241.28 ± 13.95 and 237.13 ± 16.02 μm, respectively, revealing that the MFT was significantly higher in amblyopic eyes than in fellow eyes (P = 0.028). Conversely, there was no correlation between the MPOD and MFT in the two groups.

Conclusions

This study is the first to report that the MPOD is decreased in hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia. In this study, no correlation between the MPOD and MFT was found. In the future, factors that induce a decrease in the MPOD in eyes with hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia should be explored in a large-sample study with follow-up observation.
Spontaneous quantitative processing in Chinese singular and plural picture naming: An event-related potentials analysis
Authors: Cui Li-yan , Cheng Wen-wen , Shan Sha-rui , Lv Wen , Sun Chen-ming , Li Run , Zhou Shu , Chen Zhuo-ming , Bao Sheng-yong
Published: October 2022

Chinese nouns lack inflection and cannot reflect the quantitative relationship between singular and plural numbers. However, neural processes of picture naming are different from those of words. We assume that Chinese single and plural picture naming is different, and they may involve quantitative processing. Therefore, Experiment 1 was designed by picking picture naming as the task and Chinese as the target language and compared the accuracy, reaction time, and event-related potentials (ERPs) between single and plural picture naming, where two types of pictures were mixed. Although the T-test showed no significant differences in behavioral data, there were differences in ERPs. ERP differences involved two effects: P1 of 160–180 ms and P2 of 220–260 ms in the parietal-occipital lobe. These differences are suggested to reflect the neural differences in quantitative processing. Therefore, Chinese singular and plural picture naming consists of word production and implicit quantitative processing simultaneously. To explore the relationship between the two processings, we added a semantic factor (inanimate vs. animate items) to the quantity factor of Experiment 1 and carried out Experiment 2, with the observation indexes unchanged. There were no significant differences in behavioral data among the four conditions. After variance analysis, ERPs results indicated an interaction between semantic and quantitative factors in the central area at 180–280 ms. In summary, we suggest that Chinese singular and plural picture naming includes two simultaneous neural processing tasks: word production and quantitative processing, which interact in the central area at 180–280 ms.
Antidiabetic effects of Brugmansia aurea leaf extract by modulating the glucose levels, insulin resistance, and oxidative stress mechanism
Authors: Fatima Nisar , Anwar Fareeha , Saleem Uzma , Khan Aslam , Ahmad Bashir , Shahzadi Irum , Ahmad Hammad , Ismail Tariq
Published: October 2022

Background

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Brugmansia, a genus of the Solanaceae family, has historically been utilized in many different parts of the world as an anti-inflammatory for treating skin infections, wounds, and bodily aches and pains. The current study aimed to investigate the potential benefits of a methanolic extract ofBrugmansia aureain the management of diabetes and underlying complications in alloxanized-induced diabetic rats.

Materials and methods

Animals were divided into nine groups (n= 6). Four groups received different standard oral hypoglycemic agents; three groups received 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg ofB. aurealeaf extract for six consecutive weeks, and the remaining two were normal and disease control groups. All groups received alloxan (150 mg/kg) except for the normal control. Only those animals whose glucose levels were raised to 200 mg/dl were selected for the study. After a 6-week dosage period, various biochemical parameters, as well as HbA1c, antioxidant profile, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), insulin sensitivity, histopathology, and insulin resistance, were measured and compared with the untreated diabetic group.

Results

Brugmansia aurealeaf extract at a dose of 400 mg/kg showed potent antidiabetic activity by reducing blood glucose levels (p< 0.001) after 6 weeks of treatment. OGTT data showed thatB. aureaexhibited significant (p< 0.001) glucose tolerance by significantly reducing blood glucose levels in just 2 h post-treatment. Other tests showed that plant extract significantly increased (p< 0.001) insulin sensitivity and decreased (p< 0.001) insulin resistance. The biochemical profile showed reduced triglyceride and cholesterol, while the antioxidant profile showed restoration of antioxidant enzymes in the pancreas, kidney, and liver tissues of treated rats.

Conclusion

The present study indicated that crude extracts ofB. aureaincrease insulin sensitivity and reduce hyperlipidemia in diabetic rats, which rationalizes the traditional medicinal use of this plant as an antidiabetic agent.
Safety, feasibility, and application of intraperitoneal gas-based hyperthermia beyond 43°C in the treatment of peritoneal metastasis: An in-vivo pilot study
Authors: Diakun Agata , Khosrawipour Tanja , Mikolajczyk-Martinez Agata , Nicpoń Jakub , Thelen Simon , Kiełbowicz Zdzisław , Prządka Przemysław , Liszka Bartłomiej , Kulas Joanna , Zielinski Kacper , Li Shiri , Lau Hien , Kielan Wojciech , Khosrawipour Veria
Published: October 2022

Background

43°Celsius (C) is currently the highest temperature used in the treatment of peritoneal metastasis (PM). Despite sufficient data on water- based hyperthermic solutions in PM treatment, there is currently no information on gas-based hyperthermia extending beyond 43°C. This study is the first to provide in-vivo data on different organ systems during and after intraperitoneal gas-based hyperthermia beyond 43°C. The aim of this study is to explore in-vivo feasibility, safety, and efficacy of this novel concept from a biological perspective.

Methods

For this study, three swine were subjected to laparoscopy and subsequent gas-based intraperitoneal hyperthermia at 48°, 49° and 50°C under a high-flow air stream. Intraoperative data from multiple temperature sensors were analysed. Additionally, intraoperative anaesthesiologic and gasometrical data was analysed. Postoperatively, swine were monitored for one week and laboratory work-up was performed on postoperative days 1, 3 and 7.

Results

During gas-based intraperitoneal hyperthermia, anesthesiologic parameters did not exhibit critical values. No intra- or postoperative complications were observed. Distinct temperature measurements on the skin, cystohepatic triangle and esophagus did not display any temperature increase. Postoperative laboratory workup did not show any changes in hemoglobin, white blood cell count, platelets, or kidney function.

Discussion

Based on our data, there are no safety concerns for the application of gas-based hyperthermia between 48 - 50°C. In fact, no critical systemic temperature increase was observed. With respect to possible limitations, further in-vivo studies are required to evaluate whether gas-based intraperitoneal hyperthermia may be a therapeutic option for PM patients.
Hematogenous metastasis and tumor dormancy as concepts or dogma? The continuum of vessel co-option and angiotropic extravascular migratory metastasis as an alternative
Authors: Lugassy Claire , Kleinman Hynda K. , Cassoux Nathalie , Barnhill Raymond
Published: October 2022

It has been accepted for many years that tumor cells spread via the circulation to distant sites. The latency period between treatment and tumor recurrence has been attributed to dormant cells in distant organs that emerge and grow as metastatic tumors. These processes are accepted with an incomplete demonstration of their existence. Challenging such a well-established accepted paradigm is not easy as history as shown. An alternative or co-existing mechanism involving tumor cell migration along the outside of the vessels and co-option of the blood vessel has been studied for over 25 years and is presented. Several lines of data support this new mechanism of tumor spread and metastatic growth and is termed angiotropic extravascular migratory metastasis or EVMM. This slow migration along the outside of the vessel wall may explain the latency period between treatment and metastatic tumor growth. The reader is asked to be open to this possible new concept in how tumors spread and grow and the reason for this latency period. A full understanding of how tumors spread and grow is fundamental for the targeting of new therapeutics.
Long-term safety and efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation in 74 children: A single-center retrospective study
Authors: Zou Biao , Liu Sheng-Xuan , Li Xue-Song , He Jia-Yi , Dong Chen , Ruan Meng-Ling , Xu Lei , Bai Tao , Huang Zhi-Hua , Shu Sai-Nan
Published: October 2022

Background

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an effective treatment for intestinal and extra-intestinal disorders. Nonetheless, long-term safety and efficacy remain major challenges for FMT applications. To date, few long-term follow-up studies have been published on FMT in children.

Methods

Retrospective reviewed the medical charts of 74 patients who underwent 508 FMT courses between August 2014 and July 2019 at our medical center. All the FMT procedures followed uniform standards. Baseline characteristics pre-FMT and follow-up data were collected at 1, 3, 6, 12, 36, 60, and 84 months after FMT. All potential influencing factors for adverse events (AEs) were analyzed and assessed using regression analyses.

Results

A total of 70 (13.7%) short-term AEs occurred in twenty-six patients (35.1%). Most AEs (88.5%) occurred within 2 days post-FMT. A total of 91.4% of the AEs were self-limiting. Ulcerative colitis (UC) and within four times of FMT were associated with a higher rate of AEs (p = 0.028 and p = 0.021, respectively). The primary clinical remission rate after FMT was as high as 72.9%. Twenty-five children were followed for more than 5 years after FMT. The clinical remission rates gradually decreased over time after FMT. During follow-up, none of the patients developed autoimmune, metabolic, or rheumatologic disorders or tumor-related diseases. However, nine children developed rhinitis, five developed rhinitis, were underweight, and six developed constipation.

Conclusions

FMT is a safe and effective treatment for dysbiosis in children. The long-term efficacy of FMT for each disease decreased over time. Moreover, multiple FMTs are recommended 3 months post-FMT for recurrent diseases.
Ginkgo biloba leaf extract EGb 761® as a paragon of the product by process concept
Authors: Kulić Žarko , Lehner Martin D. , Dietz Gunnar P. H.
Published: October 2022

It is an often-neglected fact that extracts derived from the very same plant can differ significantly in their phytochemical composition, and thus also in their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties which are the basis for their clinical efficacy and safety. TheGinkgo bilobaL. [Ginkgoaceae] special extract EGb 761®is one of the best-studied plant extracts in the world. In the present review, using that extract as a paradigm, we describe insights how climate, the harvest region, processing of the plant material, the drying process, the extraction solvents, and the details of the subsequent process steps substantially impact the quality and uniformity of the final extract. We highlight the importance of regulating active constituent levels and consistent reduction of undesired substances in herbal extracts. This is accomplished by a controlled production process and corresponding analytical specifications. In conclusion, since extracts derived from the same plant can have very different phytochemical compositions, results from pharmacological, toxicological and clinical studies gained with one specific extract cannot be extrapolated to other extracts that were generated using different production processes. We propose that the heterogenous nature of extracts should be meticulously considered when evaluating the efficacy and safety of plant-derived remedies.
Entrepreneurial business start-ups and entrepreneurial failure: How to stand up after a fall?
Authors: Pan Lee-Yun , Tsai I-Chih , Popan Shu-Hui , Chang Shih-Chi
Published: October 2022

There are many reasons for entrepreneurs to start a business, but there is only a thin line between success and failure, and not everyone is willing to try to start a business again after encountering a failure. Therefore, it is worth exploring how start-up losers accumulate the energy of entrepreneurship and the reasons for starting a business again. In this study, the typical sampling method was adopted to select a suitable and representative case company entrepreneur for an in-depth interview. The results of this study revealed that in the process of the Entrepreneur starting a business three times, the Entrepreneur’s personal motivation and learning ability in the face of failure, coupled with family support, made the Entrepreneur willing to keep trying, even though he had to face the risk of repeated entrepreneurial failures, so that he could keep his positive energy on his entrepreneurial journey and eventually achieve a successful outcome.
The impact of personal motivation on perceived effort and performance of pro-environmental behaviors
Authors: Dreijerink Lieke , Handgraaf Michel , Antonides Gerrit
Published: October 2022

In order to minimize climate change it is important that people take up a sustainable lifestyle. Sustainable lifestyles call for pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs) in several domains, such as in-home energy use, mobility, and consumption of food and goods. However, studies show that people often do not consistently behave pro-environmentally in all domains. In this study we investigated how a combination of personal motivation, and the difficulty and the perceived effort of a PEB, predicts the performance of PEBs in various domains, using a survey (n = 1,536). By means of Rasch analysis we identified the difficulty of 17 PEBs and estimated respondents’ pro-environmental motivations. In addition, we investigated if performance of certain PEBs increased the probability of performing other PEBs. This way we could identify for each level of motivation which behaviors respondents were (probably) performing and which behaviors they did not yet perform, but would be least effortful new behaviors. Furthermore, using a non-recursive structural equation model we investigated the relations between perceived effort, PEB performance, motivation, underlying traits, and demographics. Results showed a feedback loop between motivation and perceived effort: when respondents were motivated they perceived behaviors as less effortful and also lower perception of effort was related to higher motivation. Our results imply that people mainly perform PEBs that fit their level of pro-environmental motivation and that they are inclined to do the things of which they can justify the effort they need to invest. This amount of effort seems quite similar for people: no one wants to invest too much effort, but people highly differ in how effortful they assess different behaviors. Our study thus indicates that rationalizations play a key role. Encouraging people to embrace more sustainable lifestyles may involve step-by-step increases in PEB performance. We propose that people should be encouraged to perform behaviors that are closest to their current motivation level in order for them to progress from performing easy to more difficult PEBs.
Prevalence of syphilis and chlamydia trachomatis infection among men who have sex with men in Jiangsu province, China: A cross-sectional survey
Authors: Hu Haiyang , Chen Yuheng , Shi Lingen , Liu Xiaoxia , Xu Zhuping , Sun Lin , Zhao Xiuping , Zhou Ying , Lu Jing , Zhang Zhi , Liu Xiaoyan , Fu Gengfeng
Published: October 2022

Background

Epidemics of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among men who have sex with men (MSM) are major global public health concerns. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of syphilis and chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection and associated factors among MSM in Jiangsu province, China, hoping to provide updated data for the formulation of relevant policies.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among MSM from April to July 2021 in four cities in the province. Socio-demographic characteristics and behavioral information were collected through a face-to-face questionnaire interview. Venous blood specimens were collected for HIV, hepatitis C (HCV), and syphilis testing using serological testing methods. First-void urine specimens were collected for CT and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) testing using nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) methods. Chi-square tests were used to compare differences in syphilis and CT infection between subgroups of variables. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with syphilis and CT infection.

Results

A total of 1,087 participants were enrolled. The prevalence of HIV, HCV, syphilis, CT and NG infection were 6.6, 0.4, 6.3, 4.2, and 0.4%, respectively. MSM recruited online [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.189, P = 0.020], diagnosed with an STI in the past 12 months (aOR = 3.304, P < 0.001), and living with HIV (aOR = 4.721, P < 0.001) were more likely to have syphilis infection. MSM who were younger than 25 years (aOR = 4.286, P = 0.020), had senior high school level education (aOR = 2.521, P = 0.038), and were recruited via VCT clinics (aOR = 3.455, P = 0.001) were more likely to have CT infection.

Conclusions

Our study showed a high prevalence of syphilis and chlamydia among MSM in Jiangsu province, China. STI screening, diagnosis, and treatment services promotion should be a top priority on the prevention agenda.
Prevalence of sepsis among adults in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Lei Siyuan , Li Xuanlin , Zhao Hulei , Xie Yang , Li Jiansheng
Published: October 2022

Background

Sepsis is a major public health problem that cannot be ignored in China and even in the world. However, the prevalence of sepsis in Chinese adults varies among different studies.

Objective

To evaluate the prevalence of hospital-wide sepsis and intensive care unit (ICU) sepsis in Chinese adults.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese biomedical literature service system, Wanfang Database, and VIP databases were systematically searched for studies on sepsis in China published before March 2, 2022. Random effects model was used to calculate pooled prevalence estimates with 95% confidence interval. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to address heterogeneity. Funnel plots and Egger's test were used to assess the publication bias.

Results

Overall, nine observational studies involving 324,020 Chinese patients (9,587 patients with sepsis) were analyzed. Four hospital-wide studies involving 301,272 patients showed pooled prevalence and mortality of 3.8% (95% CI: 2.9–4.7%, I2 = 99.9%) and 26% (95% CI: 16–36%, I2 = 98.0%), respectively. Five studies of ICU sepsis involving 22,748 patients presented pooled prevalence and mortality of 25.5% (95% CI: 13.9–37.0%, I2 = 99.8%) and 40% (95%CI: 34–47%, I2 = 95.9%), respectively. Subgroup analysis of sepsis in ICUs revealed that the pooled prevalence was higher among males [17% (95% CI 9–24%, I2 = 99.6%)], in lung infections [66% (95%CI: 54–77%, I2 = 98.7%)], and Gram-negative bacteria infections [37% (95%CI: 26–47%, I2 = 98.3%)]. The pooled prevalence of sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock was 25.5% (95%CI: 13.9–37.0%, I2 = 99.8%), 19% (95%CI: 9–28%, I2 = 99.6%), and 13% (95%CI: 7–19%, I2 = 99.2%), respectively.

Conclusions

Sepsis is prevalent in 25.5% of ICU patients in China, and sex, sepsis severity, infection site, causative microorganism, and infection type are significant influencing factors. Larger trials are needed to evaluate the prevalence of sepsis in China, which may help the development of global strategies for sepsis management.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO, identifier: CRD42022314274.
Systematic review of the scientific evidence of the pulmonary carcinogenicity of talc
Authors: Lynch Heather N. , Lauer Daniel J. , Thompson William J. , Leleck Olivia , Freid Rachel D. , Collins Justin , Chen Kathleen , Ierardi A. Michael , Urban Ania M. , Cappello Michael A. , Boffetta Paolo , Mundt Kenneth A.
Published: October 2022

We conducted a systematic review to assess the potential pulmonary carcinogenicity of inhaled talc in humans. Our systematic review methods adhere to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and incorporated aspects from the US Institute of Medicine (IOM) and several United States (US) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) frameworks for systematic reviews. A comprehensive literature search was conducted. Detailed data abstraction and study quality evaluation, adapting the US Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) framework, were central to our analysis. The literature search and selection process identified 23 primary studies that assessed exposure to talc and pulmonary cancer risks in humans (n = 19) and animals (n = 3). Integrating all streams of evidence according to the IOM framework yielded classifications of suggestive evidence of no association between inhaled talc and lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma at human-relevant exposure levels.
Urban AI in China: Social control or hyper-capitalist development in the post-smart city?
Authors: Marvin Simon , While Aidan , Chen Bei , Kovacic Mateja
Published: October 2022

Research and wider societal debates has explored the potentially transformative role of AI in extended social control and hyper-capitalist development in China. In this paper, we use those debates to reflect on experiments with Urban AI in China. The key issue is whether AI offers something distinctive or different compared with the logics and imaginaries of ideas of the smart city. Analysis of emblematic sites of urban AI management in the cities of Shanghai and Hangzhou demonstrates: the resonances and dissonances between urban AI and smart. But they also demonstrate distinctive and complex landscape of urban AI experiments that is not neatly captured in social control and free market applications perspectives on AI. Moreover, the urban experimental contexts in which AI is being rolled, reveal aspirations for creating new “digital empires,” exploring new limits on data power and potential social resistance. The paper makes a distinctive contribution by providing a new framework for comparing logics of computational urban management in the context of emerging AI applications. As such the paper provides a distinctive framework for situating future applications of urban AI management in China and identifies the future urban research priorities.
Coupling ecosystem-centered governance modes with environmental justice
Authors: Cutts Bethany B. , Greenlee Andrew J. , Chantrill Carolina V.
Published: October 2022

In North America, Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs) were established to remediate aquatic pollution in 1987 as part of a binational agreement between the United State of America and Canada. Although the action preceded formal environmental injustice acknowledgment, the AOC program's effort to remediate legacy pollutants includes language with the potential to accomplish core goals of EJ: democratizing decision-making and reducing disproportionate environmental burden. Yet, in AOCs, discussions of public engagement regarding AOC work tend to define participation institutionally (i.e., the state, market, and civil society) rather than by racial or socioeconomic inclusivity. Understanding how AOC governance processes consider representation of, and benefit to communities negotiating remediation decisions from positions of systemic disadvantage requires addressing the relationship between ecosystem-centered governance modes and environmental justice. In this study, interviews with governance actors reveal that concern for EJ issues wield different forms of authority as ecosystem-centered governance and environmental justice couple, decouple, and uncouple. Changes in coupling correspond with shifts in ecosystem-centric governance mode, but coupling does not rely on any one particular governance arrangement. Instead, coupling relies on leadership practices and conceptions of fairness that are EJ-responsive and present EJ as indistinct from ecosystem goals and targets. Our findings reinforce the assertion that ecosystem-centered governance can be reimagined to better facilitate EJ even without changes in financial and regulatory constraints. We conclude by proposing empirical measures that advance EGM-EJ qualitative scholarship and practical advice about how to cultivate EJ-responsive leadership in ecosystem-centered governance arrangements.
Refining Research to Improve the Lives of Laboratory Mice
Authors: Jirkof Paulin
Published: October 2022

Some scientific research includes experiments performed using animals. Many of the animals used in research are sentient, which means they have emotions or feelings that are probably similar to the positive and negative emotions that humans experience. Some experiments can cause animals to experience negative emotions like pain or fear. While animals can sometimes be replaced with other methods or used sparingly, in other situations there is no easy way to perform experiments without using animals. In these cases, scientists can protect animals by using refinement, which describes all efforts to improve the housing conditions, care, and scientific procedures that the animals experience. Refinement aims to avoid or lessen negative experiences or pain and to improve the animals’ wellbeing. For example, scientists work hard to develop methods to give drugs to mice without using force, or to pick mice up more gently so the animals do not feel stress.