bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Altered functional connectivity between hypothalamus and limbic system in fibromyalgia
Authors: Kong Jian , Huang Yiting , Liu Jiao , Yu Siyi , Ming Cheng , Chen Helen , Wilson Georgia , Harvey William F. , Li Wen , Wang Chenchen
Published: January 2021

The hypothalamus links the nervous system to the endocrine system and plays a crucial role in maintaining the human body's homeostasis. This study aims to investigate the resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) changes of the hypothalamus in fibromyalgia patients. 24 Fibromyalgia patients and 24 matched healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. Resting state fMRI data were collected from the fibromyalgia patients and HC’s. Fibromyalgia patients went through a second scan after 12 weeks of Tai Chi mind–body intervention. Data analysis showed that fibromyalgia patients displayed less medial hypothalamus (MH) rsFC with the thalamus and amygdala when compared to the functional connectivity in the HCs. After the Tai Chi mind–body intervention, fibromyalgia patients showed increased MH rsFC with the thalamus and amygdala accompanied by clinical improvement. Effective connectivity analysis showed disrupted MH and thalamus interaction in the fibromyalgia patients, which was altered by mind–body exercise. Our findings suggest that fibromyalgia is associated with altered functional connectivity within the diencephalon and limbic system. Elucidating the roles of the diencephalon and limbic system in the pathophysiology and development of fibromyalgia may facilitate the development of a new biomarker and effective treatment methods for this prevalent disorder.

Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02407665. Registered: 3 April 2015, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02407665?term=NCT02407665&draw=2&rank=1
Rickettsia spp. in rodent-attached ticks in Estonia and first evidence of spotted fever group Rickettsia species Candidatus Rickettsia uralica in Europe
Authors: Vikentjeva Maria , Geller Julia , Remm Jaanus , Golovljova Irina
Published: January 2021

Background

Rickettsia spp. are human pathogens that cause a number of diseases and are transmitted by arthropods, such as ixodid ticks. Estonia is one of few regions where the distribution area of two medically important tick species, Ixodes persulcatus and I. ricinus, overlaps. The nidicolous rodent-associated Ixodestrianguliceps has also recently been shown to be present in Estonia. Although no data are available on human disease(s) caused by tick-borne Rickettsia spp. in Estonia, the presence of three Rickettsia species in non-nidicolous ticks has been previously reported. The aim of this study was to detect, identify and partially characterize Rickettsia species in nidicolous and non-nidicolous ticks attached to rodents in Estonia.

Results

Larvae and nymphs of I.ricinus (n = 1004), I. persulcatus (n = 75) and I.trianguliceps (n = 117), all removed from rodents and shrews caught in different parts of Estonia, were studied for the presence of Rickettsia spp. by nested PCR. Ticks were collected from 314 small animals of five species [Myodes glareolus (bank voles), Apodemus flavicollis (yellow necked mice), A.agrarius (striped field mice), Microtus subterranius (pine voles) and Sorex araneus (common shrews)]. Rickettsial DNA was detected in 8.7% (103/1186) of the studied ticks. In addition to identifying R.helvetica, which had been previously found in questing ticks, we report here the first time that the recently described I.trianguliceps-associated Candidatus Rickettsia uralica has been identified west of the Ural Mountains.

Graphical Abstract
Molecular characterization of the waterborne pathogens Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Cyclospora cayetanensis and Eimeria spp. in wastewater and sewage in Guangzhou, China
Authors: Fan Yingying , Wang Xinrui , Yang Ruohong , Zhao Wentao , Li Na , Guo Yaqiong , Xiao Lihua , Feng Yaoyu
Published: January 2021

Background

The waterborne pathogens Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Cyclospora cayetanensis can cause intestinal diseases in humans. An understanding of their occurrence and transport in the environment is essential for accurate quantitative microbial risk assessment.

Methods

A total of 238 influent samples were collected from four wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and 88 samples from eight sewer locations in Guangzhou, China. PCR-based tools were used to detect and genetically characterize Cryptosporidium spp., G. duodenalis and E. bieneusi. Eimeria spp. and Cyclospora spp. were also analyzed to assess the sources of Cryptosporidium spp., G. duodenalis and E. bieneusi in wastewater.

Results

The overall occurrence rates in the WWTP and sewer samples were 14.3% (34/238) and 13.6% (12/88) for Cryptosporidium spp., 55.5% (132/238) and 33.0% (29/88) for G. duodenalis, 56.3% (134/238) and 26.1% (23/88) for E. bieneusi and 45.4% (108/238) and 47.7% (42/88) for Eimeria spp., respectively. Altogether, 11 Cryptosporidium species and genotypes, six G. duodenalis genotypes, 11 E. bieneusi genotypes and four C. cayetanensis were found, together with the presence of nine Eimeria species. The common occurrence of Cryptosporidium rat genotype IV, C. muris and Eimeria papillata and E. nieschulzi suggested that rodents were significant sources of the enteric pathogens detected in the wastewater samples.

Conclusions

While the dominant Cryptosporidium spp. detected in the raw wastewater sampled in this study are not pathogenic to humans, the widely detected G. duodenalis assemblage A and E. bieneusi genotypes D and Type IV are well-known zoonotic pathogens. Further studies are needed to monitor the occurrence of these waterborne pathogens in WWTPs to better understand their transmission and environmental transport in China.

Graphical Abstract
DDX1 from Cherry valley duck mediates signaling pathways and anti-NDRV activity
Authors: Zhang Huihui , Song Xingdong , Li Tianxu , Wang Jinchao , Xing Bin , Zhai Xinyu , Luo Jinjian , Hu Xiaofang , Hou Xiaolan , Wei Liangmeng
Published: January 2021

Novel duck reovirus (NDRV) causes severe economic losses to the duck industry, which is characterized by hemorrhagic spots and necrotic foci of the livers and spleens. DEAD-box helicase 1 (DDX1) plays a critical role in the innate immune system against viral infection. However, the role of duck DDX1 (duDDX1) in anti-RNA virus infection, especially in the anti-NDRV infection, has yet to be elucidated. In the present study, the full-length cDNA of duDDX1 (2223 bp encode 740 amino acids) was firstly cloned from the spleen of healthy Cherry valley ducks, and the phylogenetic tree indicated that the duDDX1 has the closest relationship with Anas platyrhynchos in the bird branch. The duDDX1 mRNA was widely distributed in all tested tissues, especially in the duodenum, liver, and spleen. Overexpression of duDDX1 in primary duck embryo fibroblast (DEF) cells triggered the activation of transcription factors IRF-7 and NF-κB, as well as IFN-β expression, and the expression of the Toll-like receptors (TLR2, TLR3, and TLR4) was significantly increased. Importantly, after overexpressing or knocking down duDDX1 and infecting NDRV in DEF cells, duDDX1 inhibits the replication of NDRV virus and also regulates the expression of pattern recognition receptors and cytokines. This indicates that duDDX1 may play an important role in the innate immune response of ducks to NDRV. Collectively, we first cloned DDX1 from ducks and analyzed its biological functions. Secondly, we proved that duck DDX1 participates in anti-NDRV infection, and innovated new ideas for the prevention and control of duck virus infection.
Spatiotemporal variability and trends of rainfall and its association with Pacific Ocean Sea surface temperature in West Harerge Zone, Eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Bayable Getachew , Amare Gedamu , Alemu Getnet , Gashaw Temesgen
Published: January 2021

Background

Rainfall variability exceedingly affects agriculture in Ethiopia, particularly in the eastern region where rainfall is relatively scarce. Hence, understanding the spatiotemporal variability of rainfall is indispensable for planning mitigation measures during high and low rainfall seasons. This study examined the spatiotemporal variability and trends of rainfall in the West Harerge Zone, eastern Ethiopia.

Method

The coefficient of variation (CV) and standardized anomaly index (SAI) were used to analyze rainfall variability while Mann-Kendall (MK) trend test and Sen’s slop estimator were employed to examine the trend and magnitude of the rainfall changes, respectively. The association between rainfall and Pacific Ocean Sea Surface Temperature (SST) was also evaluated by Pearson correlation coefficient (r).

Results

The annual rainfall CV during 1983–2019 periods is between 12 and 19.36% while the seasonal rainfall CV extends from 15–28.49%, 24–35.58%, and 38–75.9% for average Kiremt (June–September), Belg (February–May), and Bega (October–January) seasons, respectively (1983–2019). On the monthly basis, the trends of rainfall decreased in all months except in July, October, and November. However, the trends were not statistically significant (α = 0.05), unlike in November. On a seasonal basis, the trends of mean Kiremt and Belg seasons rainfall decreased while it increased in Bega season although it is not statistically significant. Moreover, the annual rainfall showed a non-significant decreasing trend. The findings also revealed that the correlation between rainfall and Pacific Ocean SST was negative for Kiremt while positive for Belg and Bega seasons. Besides, annual rainfall and Pacific Ocean SST was negatively correlated.

Conclusions

High spatial and temporal rainfall variability was observed at the monthly, seasonal, and annual time scales. Seasonal rainfall has high inter-annual variability in the dry season (Bega) than other seasons. The trends in rainfall were decreased in most of the months. Besides, the trend of rainfall decreased in the annual, Belg and Kiremt season while increased in the Bega season. The study also indicated that the occurrence of droughts in the study area was associated with ENSO events like most other parts of Ethiopia and East Africa.
The effect of incorporating an arterial pH target during apnea test for brain death determination
Authors: Migdady Ibrahim , Amin Moein , Shoskes Aaron , Hassett Catherine , Cho Sung-Min , George Pravin , Rae-Grant Alexander
Published: January 2021

Background

Persistent apnea despite an adequate rise in arterial pressure of CO2is an essential component of the criteria for brain death (BD) determination. Current guidelines vary regarding the utility of arterial pH changes during the apnea test (AT). We aimed to study the effect of incorporating an arterial pH target < 7.30 during the AT (in addition to the existing PaCO2threshold) on brain death declarations.

Methods

We performed retrospective analysis of consecutive adult patients who were diagnosed with BD and underwent AT at the Cleveland Clinic over the last 10 years. Data regarding baseline and post-AT blood gas analyses were collected and analyzed.

Results

Ninety-eight patients underwent AT in the study period, which was positive in 89 (91%) and inconclusive in 9 (9%) patients. The mean age was 50 years old (standard deviation [SD] 16) and 54 (55%) were female. The most common etiology BD was hypoxic ischemic brain injury (HIBI) due to cardiac arrest (42%). Compared to those with positive AT, patients with inconclusive AT had a higher post-AT pH (7.24 vs 7.17,p= 0.01), lower PaO2(47 vs 145,p< 0.01), and a lower PaCO2(55 vs 73,p= 0.01). Among patients with a positive AT using PaCO2threshold alone, the frequency of patients with post-AT pH < 7.30 was 95% (83/87).

Conclusion

Implementing a BD criteria requiring both arterial pH and PaCO2thresholds reduced the total number of positive ATs; these inconclusive cases would have required longer duration of AT to reach both targets, repeated ATs, or ancillary studies to confirm BD. The impact of this on the overall number BD declarations requires further research.
Luteolin and abyssinone II as potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2: an in silico molecular modeling approach in battling the COVID-19 outbreak
Authors: Shawan Mohammad Mahfuz Ali Khan , Halder Sajal Kumar , Hasan Md. Ashraful
Published: January 2021

Background

At present, the entire world is in a war against COVID-19 pandemic which has gradually led us toward a more compromised “new normal” life. SARS-CoV-2, the pathogenic microorganism liable for the recent COVID-19 outbreak, is extremely contagious in nature resulting in an unusual number of infections and death globally. The lack of clinically proven therapeutic intervention for COVID-19 has dragged the world’s healthcare system into the biggest challenge. Therefore, development of an efficient treatment scheme is now in great demand. Screening of different biologically active plant-based natural compounds could be a useful strategy for combating this pandemic. In the present research, a collection of 43 flavonoids of 7 different classes with previously recorded antiviral activity was evaluated via computational and bioinformatics tools for their impeding capacity against SARS-CoV-2. In silico drug likeness, pharmacophore and Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Toxicity (ADMET) profile analysis of the finest ligands were carried out using DataWarrior, DruLiTo and admetSAR programs, respectively. Molecular docking was executed by AutoDock Vina, while molecular dynamics simulation of the target protein–ligand bound complexes was done using nanoscalable molecular dynamics and visual molecular dynamics software package. Finally, the molecular target analysis of the selected ligands within Homo sapiens was conducted with SwissTargetPredcition web server.

Results

Out of the forty-three flavonoids, luteolin and abyssinone II were found to develop successful docked complex within the binding sites of target proteins in terms of lowest binding free energy and inhibition constant. The root mean square deviation and root mean square fluctuation values of the docked complex displayed stable interaction and efficient binding between the ligands and target proteins. Both of the flavonoids were found to be safe for human use and possessed good drug likeness properties and target accuracy.

Conclusions

Conclusively, the current study proposes that luteolin and abyssinone II might act as potential therapeutic candidates for SARS-CoV-2 infection. In vivo and in vitro experiments, however, should be taken under consideration to determine the efficiency and to demonstrate the mechanism of action.
Immunological perspectives on the pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of COVID-19
Authors: Ni Yanghong , Alu Aqu , Lei Hong , Wang Yang , Wu Min , Wei Xiawei
Published: January 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute respiratory disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2). COVID-19 can spread to the entire body and cause multiple organ failure. It is a daunting challenge to control the fast growing worldwide pandemic because effective prevention and treatment strategies are unavailable currently. Generally, the immune response of the human body triggered by viral infection is essential for the elimination of the virus. However, severe COVID-19 patients may manifest dysregulated immune responses, such as lymphopenia, lymphocyte exhaustion, exacerbated antibody response, cytokine release syndrome (CRS), etc. Understanding of these immunological characteristics may help identify better approaches for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of COVID-19 patients. As specific anti-viral agents are notoriously difficult to develop, strategies for modulating the immune responses by either developing novel vaccines or using immunotherapy hold great promise to improve the management of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Near-surface diffractor detection at archaeological sites based on an interferometric workflow
Authors: Liu Jianhuan , Draganov Deyan , Ghose Ranajit , Bourgeois Quentin
Published: January 2021

Detecting small-size objects is a primary challenge at archaeological sites due to the high degree of heterogeneity present in the near surface. Although high-resolution reflection seismic imaging often delivers the target resolution of the subsurface in different near-surface settings, the standard processing for obtaining an image of the subsurface is not suitable to map local diffractors. This happens because shallow seismic-reflection data are often dominated by strong surface waves that might cover weaker diffractions and because traditional common-midpoint moveout corrections are only optimal for reflection events. We propose an approach for imaging subsurface objects using masked diffractions. These masked diffractions are first revealed by a combination of seismic interferometry and nonstationary adaptive subtraction, and then further enhanced through crosscoherence-based supervirtual interferometry. A diffraction image is then computed by a spatial summation of the revealed diffractions. We use the phase-weighted stack to enhance the coherent summation of weak diffraction signals. Using synthetic data, we show that our scheme is robust in locating diffractors from data dominated by strong Love waves. We test our method on field data acquired at an archaeological site. The resulting distribution of shallow diffractors agrees with the location of anomalous objects identified in the [Formula: see text] model obtained by elastic SH/Love full-waveform inversion using the same field data. The anomalous objects correspond to the position of a suspected burial, also detected in an independent magnetic survey and corings.
Reduced memory implementation of a local elastic finite-difference solver
Authors: Jaimes-Osorio Ligia Elena , Malcolm Alison , Zheglova Polina , Koene Erik F. M. , Thomsen Henrik R.
Published: January 2021

The recovery of elastic properties from seismic data often requires the iterative use of seismic modeling. Finite-difference (FD) simulation is a common component in seismic modeling, and it is usually the most computationally expensive step in methodologies such as inversion or reverse time migration. Local solvers attempt to reduce the cost of FD simulations by reducing the computational domain to small areas, updating the model within these areas without recomputing throughout the full domain. We have implemented a local elastic solver that allows us to propagate the elastic wavefield within a subvolume after local alterations of the model. We determine how the scattered wavefield due to the alterations can be extrapolated from the local domain to surface receivers. We extend existing works by using the method of multiple point sources to recompute the wavefield within the local domain. This method is memory efficient because it only requires the global wavefield to be recorded along the local domain boundary. By injecting these recordings as point sources, the global wavefield is emulated within the local domain. Thus, the method requires no modifications of standard FD solvers, merely the ability to record and inject data. We evaluate the capability of the local elastic solver to reconstruct the wavefield in a subvolume of the elastic SEAM model.
Sperm-borne miR-202 targets SEPT7 and regulates first cleavage of bovine embryos via cytoskeletal remodeling
Authors: Wang Mengyun , Du Yue , Gao Song , Wang Zheng , Qu Pengxiang , Gao Yang , Wang Jingyi , Liu Zhengqi , Zhang Jingcheng , Zhang Yong , Qing Suzhu , Wang Yongsheng
Published: January 2021

In mammals, sperm-borne regulators can be transferred to oocytes during fertilization and have different effects on the formation of pronuclei, the first cleavage of zygotes, the development of preimplantation embryos and even the metabolism of individuals after birth. The regulatory role of sperm microRNAs (miRNAs) in the development of bovine preimplantation embryos has not been reported in detail. By constructing and screening miRNA expression libraries, we found that miR-202 was highly enriched in bovine sperm. As a target gene of miR-202, co-injection of SEPT7 siRNA can partially reverse the accelerated first cleavage of bovine embryos caused by miR-202 inhibitor. In addition, both a miR-202 mimic and SEPT7 siRNA delayed the first cleavage of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos, suggesting that miR-202-SEPT7 mediates the delay of first cleavage of bovine embryos. By further exploring the relationship between miR-202/SEPT7, HDAC6 and acetylated α-tubulin during embryonic development, we investigated how sperm-borne miR-202 regulates the first cleavage process of bovine embryos by SEPT7 and demonstrate the potential of sperm-borne miRNAs to improve the efficiency of SCNT.
Is Oxygen Diffusion Faster in Bulk CeO2 or on a (111)-CeO2 Surface? A Theoretical Study
Authors: Sakti Aditya Wibawa , Chou Chien-Pin , Nishimura Yoshifumi , Nakai Hiromi
Published: January 2021

Ceria (CeO2) is a promising metal-oxide support that is used in three-way catalysis (TWC). The activity of ceria-supported TWC depends on the location and concentration of oxygen vacancies. Oxygen diffusion can occur once the oxygen vacancy is created, and it leads to enhanced catalytic activity. In this study, the density-functional tight-binding method was used to estimate the free-energy barriers of oxygen diffusion in bulk CeO2 and on a (111)-CeO2 surface. The reconstructed free-energy surfaces from metadynamics sampling show that the diffusion in the bulk CeO2 is faster than that on the (111)-CeO2 surface, with activation barriers of 7.4 and 31.6 kcal/mol, respectively.
A REGULAÇÃO DO AGIR DECISÓRIO DISRUPTIVO NO JUDICIÁRIO BRASILEIRO E A OBSERVÂNCIA DO PRINCÍPIO DA PRECAUÇÃO: JUIZ NATURAL OU "JUIZ ARTIFICIAL"?
Authors: Fernandes Rafael Gonçalves , Oliveira Liziane Paixão Silva
Published: January 2021

Objetivo: O presente artigo científico tem como objetivo abordar a inteligência artificial (IA) no seu aspecto regulatório multifacetado, delineando como hipótese central que, apesar de inexistir no Brasil uma legislação específica, a LGPD parece ter regulado alguns aspectos dessa nova tecnologia, o que torna possível utilizá-la como diretriz normativa, conjuntamente com a construção teórica do princípio da precaução, na promoção da utilização segura da IA no Poder Judiciário brasileiro.Metodologia: A opção metodológica adotada neste ensaio situa-se nos limites da linha jurídico-dogmática e emprega o raciocínio dedutivo. Em decorrência da baixa produção de pesquisas científicas sobre a temática no cenário nacional, o caráter exploratório foi empregado para expandir as buscas por materiais produzidos pela literatura estrangeira especializada. Trata-se, além disso, de uma pesquisa documental e de levantamento.Resultados: Identificou-se a importância da LGPD como marco regulatório da IA nos tribunais brasileiros, uma vez que tal Lei poderá funcionar como estratégia implementadora de uma nova visão baseada no desenvolvimento tecnológico seguro. Apesar de inexistir uma conclusão definitiva para o tema, também foi possível comprovar a importância da carga teórica e histórica do princípio da precaução como ferramental jurídico apto a minimizar e/ou contornar os possíveis efeitos negativos da IA no Judiciário.Contribuições: A contribuição central desta pesquisa está em identificar os potenciais riscos na utilização da IA no Judiciário e indicar leituras alternativas que possam auxiliar na prevenção desses efeitos indesejados aos jurisdicionados, tendo como base construções teóricas que iluminem os caminhos do desenvolvimento tecnológico seguro e prudente.
Violating Food System Workers' Rights in the Time of COVID-19: The Quest for State Accountability
Authors: Elver Hilal , Shapiro Melissa
Published: January 2021

Food system workers, accounting for nearly one-third of the global workforce, are vital to the universal realization of the right to food, yet face formidable barriers to the realization of their own rights. Despite state obligations to protect, respect, and fulfil the rights of workers under international human rights law, gaps in legal frameworks and lack of political will have left food system workers exposed to discrimination and abuse at the hands of private actors. Migrant workers, as well as racial and ethnic minorities, in particular, face targeted exploitation without redress. Case studies demonstrate the extent of this harm, even as governments designate workers as “essential” during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors of this article argue that deliberate inaction by states to extend meaningful protections to workers or indict exploitative actors demonstrates the need for a new state crime—one that holds accountable governments that are complicit in the grave violations of workers' fundamental rights.
Vivir en la calle: estrategias entre las necesidades y las distancias
Authors: Romano Mariana
Published: January 2021

Tomando diferentes conceptualizaciones trabajadas por diversos autores, se produce un marco teórico que plantea pensar las acciones llevadas a cabo por las personas sin hogar como estrategias de supervivencia para la satisfacción de sus necesidades básicas. La investigación tiene como objetivos describir el impacto de estas estrategias en su vida cotidiana, así como los trayectos que deben realizar y los vínculos que se establecen entre las personas en situación de calle y diversos agentes sociales en la ciudad de Barcelona. La misma es cualitativa y procura colocar a la persona como protagonista de su relato a través de entrevistas en profundidad. Sin embargo, por motivo de la situación generada por el COVID-19, no se pudo llevar a cabo el trabajo de campo y, por ende, la obtención de resultados. En el artículo se presenta el marco teórico desarrollado y posibles propuestas que permiten repensar las intervenciones con personas sin techo.
El paradigma construccionista y su aplicación en el Trabajo Social Comunitario
Authors: Domínguez Sanz Jesús
Published: January 2021

El presente artículo pretende mostrar la importancia que la perspectiva construccionista puede tener para el Trabajo Social Comunitario, al ofrecer no solo un marco para la comprensión de los procesos de construcción de la realidad y de las identidades de los diferentes grupos y comunidades, sino también instrumentos y metodologías concretas para el trabajador social, como los Diálogos Apreciativos o los Proyectos de Conversaciones Públicas. Además, profundiza en el rol que el trabajador social tiene desde esta perspectiva convirtiéndose más en un mediador que facilita la creación de discursos comunes, que en un animador, o un organizador comunitario.
Acercamiento a la intervención de las profesionales del Trabajo Social en materia de violencia de género en dos ciudades de México
Authors: Cerros Rodriguez Elisa , Chávez Torres Guillermina
Published: January 2021

En el presente artículo, documentamos la intervención que realizan las profesionales del Trabajo Social ante la violencia de género a partir de los resultados preliminares obtenidos en la investigación cualitativa que realizamos en dos ciudades de México: Guadalajara y Colima, donde se llevaron a cabo entrevistas en profundidad a trabajadoras sociales que se desempeñan profesionalmente en instituciones y asociaciones dedicadas a atender la violencia de género. El objetivo de la investigación es explorar el papel que desempeñan las y los profesionales del Trabajo Social en materia de prevención y atención de la violencia de género, así como identificar la relevancia de su formación académica en su ejercicio profesional. Ilustramos la intervención profesional que realizan a partir de los relatos vertidos por las trabajadoras sociales durante la entrevista que realizamos. Utilizamos el software MaxQDA 20 para analizar cada una de las entrevistas a partir de las siguientes categorías: formación académica, experiencia profesional, sujetos de intervención, identidad profesional, metodologías de intervención. Entre los hallazgos identificamos que los conocimientos adquiridos durante su formación académica en materia de género juegan un papel importante en su desempeño profesional, ya que les proporciona los conocimientos y competencias necesarias para desempeñarse profesionalmente en este ámbito de intervención. Finalmente concluimos que los planes de estudio de esta carrera deben contar con cursos y contenidos en materia de género y violencia de género, que fortalezcan la intervención de las personas profesionales del Trabajo Social en los diferentes ámbitos de intervención, así como la pertinencia de ofrecer diplomados y especialidades en materia de género.
Empirical assessment of laser safety for photoacoustic-guided liver surgeries
Authors: Huang Jiaqi , Wiacek Alycen , Kempski Kelley M. , Palmer Theron , Izzi Jessica , Beck Sarah , Lediju Bell Muyinatu A.
Published: January 2021

Photoacoustic imaging is a promising technique to provide guidance
during multiple surgeries and procedures. One challenge with this
technique is that major blood vessels in the liver are difficult to
differentiate from surrounding tissue within current safety limits,
which only exist for human skin and eyes. In this paper, we
investigate the safety of raising this limit for liver tissue excited
with a 750 nm laser wavelength and approximately 30 mJ laser energy
(corresponding to approximately 150 mJ/cm2 fluence).
Laparotomies were performed on six swine to empirically investigate
potential laser-related liver damage. Laser energy was applied for
temporal durations of 1 minute, 10 minutes, and 20 minutes. Lasered
liver lobes were excised either immediately after laser application (3
swine) or six weeks after surgery (3 swine). Cell damage was assessed
using liver damage blood biomarkers and histopathology analyses of 41
tissue samples total. The biomarkers were generally normal over a 6
week post-surgical in vivo study period.
Histopathology revealed no cell death, although additional pathology
was present (i.e., hemorrhage, inflammation, fibrosis) due to
handling, sample resection, and fibrous adhesions as a result of the
laparotomy. These results support a new protocol for studying
laser-related liver damage, indicating the potential to raise the
safety limit for liver photoacoustic imaging to approximately 150
mJ/cm2 with a laser wavelength of 750 nm and for imaging
durations up to 10 minutes without causing cell death. This
investigation and protocol may be applied to other tissues and
extended to additional wavelengths and energies, which is overall
promising for introducing new tissue-specific laser safety limits for
photoacoustic-guided surgery.
Optical loss study of the cryogenic molecular layer using a folded cavity for future gravitational-wave detectors
Authors: Tanioka Satoshi , Aso Yoichi
Published: January 2021

In order to increase the number of detectable gravitational-wave sources, future gravitational-wave detectors will operate with cryogenically cooled mirrors. However, recent studies showed that cryogenic mirrors can suffer from the molecular layer formation, which introduces an additional optical loss, and the detector’s performance degrades. In order to evaluate the impact of the molecular layer on future cryogenic gravitational-wave detectors, we built a cryogenic folded-cavity setup and developed an ellipsometric measurement method. The optical loss induced by the cryogenic molecular layer shows a large value even at a few nanometer thickness and can deteriorate the performance of the future cryogenic gravitational-wave detectors.
Femtosecond laser direct writing of depressed cladding waveguides in Nd:YAG with “ear-like” structures: fabrication and laser generation
Authors: Sun Xiaoli , Sun Shuo , Romero Carolina , Vázquez de Aldana Javier R. , Liu Fengqin , Jia Yuechen , Chen Feng
Published: January 2021

Low-loss depressed cladding waveguide architecture is highly attractive for improving the laser performance of waveguide lasers. We report on the design and fabrication of the “ear-like” waveguide structures formed by a set of parallel tracks in neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) crystal via femtosecond laser writing. The obtained “ear-like” waveguides are with more symmetric mode profiles and lower losses by systematically comparing the guiding properties of two kinds of normal cladding waveguide. Efficient waveguide lasers are realized based on the designed structure in both continuous wave and pulsed regimes. Combined the high-gain from cladding waveguide and special “ear-like” structure, a passively fundamentally Q-switched laser with the narrow pulse width and the high repetition rate has been obtained by using tin diselenide (SnSe2) as saturable absorber.
Aggregative cycles evolve as a solution to conflicts in social investment
Authors: Miele Leonardo , De Monte Silvia
Published: January 2021

Multicellular organization is particularly vulnerable to conflicts between different cell types when the body forms from initially isolated cells, as in aggregative multicellular microbes. Like other functions of the multicellular phase, coordinated collective movement can be undermined by conflicts between cells that spend energy in fuelling motion and ‘cheaters’ that get carried along. The evolutionary stability of collective behaviours against such conflicts is typically addressed in populations that undergo extrinsically imposed phases of aggregation and dispersal. Here, via a shift in perspective, we propose that aggregative multicellular cycles may have emerged as a way to temporally compartmentalize social conflicts. Through an eco-evolutionary mathematical model that accounts for individual and collective strategies of resource acquisition, we address regimes where different motility types coexist. Particularly interesting is the oscillatory regime that, similarly to life cycles of aggregative multicellular organisms, alternates on the timescale of several cell generations phases of prevalent solitary living and starvation-triggered aggregation. Crucially, such self-organized oscillations emerge as a result of evolution of cell traits associated to conflict escalation within multicellular aggregates.
Statistical inferences for type-II hybrid censoring data from the alpha power exponential distribution
Authors: Salah Mukhtar M. , Ahmed Essam A. , Alhussain Ziyad A. , Ahmed Hanan Haj , El-Morshedy M. , Eliwa M. S.
Published: January 2021

This paper describes a method for computing estimates for the location parameterμ> 0 and scale parameter λ > 0 with fixed shape parameterαof the alpha power exponential distribution (APED) under type-II hybrid censored (T-IIHC) samples. We compute the maximum likelihood estimations (MLEs) of (μ, λ) by applying the Newton-Raphson method (NRM) and expectation maximization algorithm (EMA). In addition, the estimate hazard functions and reliability are evaluated by applying the invariance property of MLEs. We calculate the Fisher information matrix (FIM) by applying the missing information rule, which is important in finding the asymptotic confidence interval. Finally, the different proposed estimation methods are compared in simulation studies. A simulation example and real data example are analyzed to illustrate our estimation methods.
Changes in social connection during COVID-19 social distancing: It’s not (household) size that matters, it’s who you’re with
Authors: Okabe-Miyamoto Karynna , Folk Dunigan , Lyubomirsky Sonja , Dunn Elizabeth W.
Published: January 2021

To slow the transmission of COVID-19, countries around the world have implemented social distancing and stay-at-home policies—potentially leading people to rely more on household members for their sense of closeness and belonging. To understand the conditions under which people felt the most connected, we examined whether changes in overall feelings of social connection varied by household size and composition. In two pre-registered studies, undergraduates in Canada (NStudy 1 = 548) and adults primarily from the U.S. and U.K. (NStudy 2 = 336) reported their perceived social connection once before and once during the pandemic. In both studies, living with a partner robustly and uniquely buffered shifts in social connection during the first phases of the pandemic (βStudy 1 = .22, βStudy 2 = .16). In contrast, neither household size nor other aspects of household composition predicted changes in connection. We discuss implications for future social distancing policies that aim to balance physical health with psychological health.
Multimorbidity patterns and their relationship to mortality in the US older adult population
Authors: Zheng D. Diane , Loewenstein David A. , Christ Sharon L. , Feaster Daniel J. , Lam Byron L. , McCollister Kathryn E. , Curiel-Cid Rosie E. , Lee David J.
Published: January 2021

Background

Understanding patterns of multimorbidity in the US older adult population and their relationship with mortality is important for reducing healthcare utilization and improving health. Previous investigations measured multimorbidity as counts of conditions rather than specific combination of conditions.

Methods

This cross-sectional study with longitudinal mortality follow-up employed latent class analysis (LCA) to develop clinically meaningful subgroups of participants aged 50 and older with different combinations of 13 chronic conditions from the National Health Interview Survey 2002–2014. Mortality linkage with National Death Index was performed through December 2015 for 166,126 participants. Survival analyses were conducted to assess the relationships between LCA classes and all-cause mortality and cause specific mortalities.

Results

LCA identified five multimorbidity groups with primary characteristics: “healthy” (51.5%), “age-associated chronic conditions” (33.6%), “respiratory conditions” (7.3%), “cognitively impaired” (4.3%) and “complex cardiometabolic” (3.2%). Covariate-adjusted survival analysis indicated “complex cardiometabolic” class had the highest mortality with a Hazard Ratio (HR) of 5.30, 99.5% CI [4.52, 6.22]; followed by “cognitively impaired” class (3.34 [2.93, 3.81]); “respiratory condition” class (2.14 [1.87, 2.46]); and “age-associated chronic conditions” class (1.81 [1.66, 1.98]). Patterns of multimorbidity classes were strongly associated with the primary underlying cause of death. The “cognitively impaired” class reported similar number of conditions compared to the “respiratory condition” class but had significantly higher mortality (3.8 vs 3.7 conditions, HR = 1.56 [1.32, 1.85]).

Conclusion

We demonstrated that LCA method is effective in classifying clinically meaningful multimorbidity subgroup. Specific combinations of conditions including cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms have a substantial detrimental impact on the mortality of older adults. The numbers of chronic conditions experienced by older adults is not always proportional to mortality risk. Our findings provide valuable information for identifying high risk older adults with multimorbidity to facilitate early intervention to treat chronic conditions and reduce mortality.
IL-10 and class 1 histone deacetylases act synergistically and independently on the secretion of proinflammatory mediators in alveolar macrophages
Authors: Stanfield Brent A. , Purves Todd , Palmer Scott , Sullenger Bruce , Welty-Wolf Karen , Haines Krista , Agarwal Suresh , Kasotakis George
Published: January 2021

Introduction

Anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 suppresses pro-inflammatory IL-12b expression after Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation in colonic macrophages, as part of the innate immunity Toll-Like Receptor (TLR)-NF-κB activation system. This homeostatic mechanism limits excess inflammation in the intestinal mucosa, as it constantly interacts with the gut flora. This effect is reversed with Histone Deacetylase 3 (HDAC3), a class I HDAC, siRNA, suggesting it is mediated through HDAC3. Given alveolar macrophages’ prominent role in Acute Lung Injury (ALI), we aim to determine whether a similar regulatory mechanism exists in the typically sterile pulmonary microenvironment.

Methods

Levels of mRNA and protein for IL-10, and IL-12b were determined by qPCR and ELISA/Western Blot respectively in naïve and LPS-stimulated alveolar macrophages. Expression of the NF-κB intermediaries was also similarly assessed. Experiments were repeated with AS101 (an IL-10 protein synthesis inhibitor), MS-275 (a selective class 1 HDAC inhibitor), or both.

Results

LPS stimulation upregulated all proinflammatory mediators assayed in this study. In the presence of LPS, inhibition of IL-10 and/or class 1 HDACs resulted in both synergistic and independent effects on these signaling molecules. Quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR on key components of the TLR4 signaling cascade demonstrated significant diversity in IL-10 and related gene expression in the presence of LPS. Inhibition of IL-10 secretion and/or class 1 HDACs in the presence of LPS independently affected the transcription of MyD88, IRAK1, Rela and the NF-κB p50 subunit. Interestingly, by quantitative ELISA inhibition of IL-10 secretion and/or class 1 HDACs in the presence of LPS independently affected the secretion of not only IL-10, IL-12b, and TNFα, but also proinflammatory mediators CXCL2, IL-6, and MIF. These results suggest that IL-10 and class 1 HDAC activity regulate both independent and synergistic mechanisms of proinflammatory cytokine/chemokine signaling.

Conclusions

Alveolar macrophages after inflammatory stimulation upregulate both IL-10 and IL-12b production, in a highly class 1 HDAC-dependent manner. Class 1 HDACs appear to help maintain the balance between the pro- and anti-inflammatory IL-12b and IL-10 respectively. Class 1 HDACs may be considered as targets for the macrophage-initiated pulmonary inflammation in ALI in a preclinical setting.
Colon cancer cell differentiation by sodium butyrate modulates metabolic plasticity of Caco-2 cells via alteration of phosphotransfer network
Authors: Klepinina Ljudmila , Klepinin Aleksandr , Truu Laura , Chekulayev Vladimir , Vija Heiki , Kuus Kaisa , Teino Indrek , Pook Martin , Maimets Toivo , Kaambre Tuuli
Published: January 2021

The ability of butyrate to promote differentiation of cancer cells has important implication for colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention and therapy. In this study, we examined the effect of sodium butyrate (NaBT) on the energy metabolism of colon adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cells coupled with their differentiation. NaBT increased the activity of alkaline phosphatase indicating differentiation of Caco-2 cells. Changes in the expression of pluripotency-associated markers OCT4, NANOG and SOX2 were characterized during the induced differentiation at mRNA level along with the measures that allowed distinguishing the expression of different transcript variants. The functional activity of mitochondria was studied by high-resolution respirometry. Glycolytic pathway and phosphotransfer network were analyzed using enzymatical assays. The treatment of Caco-2 cells with NaBT increased production of ATP by oxidative phosphorylation, enhanced mitochondrial spare respiratory capacity and caused rearrangement of the cellular phosphotransfer networks. The flexibility of phosphotransfer networks depended on the availability of glutamine, but not glucose in the cell growth medium. These changes were accompanied by suppressed cell proliferation and altered gene expression of the main pluripotency-associated transcription factors. This study supports the view that modulating cell metabolism through NaBT can be an effective strategy for treating CRC. Our data indicate a close relationship between the phosphotransfer performance and metabolic plasticity of CRC, which is associated with the cell differentiation state.
Clinical characteristics of treatment-resistant depression in adults in Hungary: Real-world evidence from a 7-year-long retrospective data analysis
Authors: Döme Péter , Kunovszki Péter , Takács Péter , Fehér László , Balázs Tamás , Dede Károly , Mulhern-Haughey Siobhán , Barbreau Sébastien , Rihmer Zoltán
Published: January 2021

Purpose

Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is associated with a poor quality of life and high economic burden. This observational retrospective epidemiological study aimed to estimate the proportion of patients with TRD within a cohort of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) in Hungary and examine the mortality and comorbidities of patients with and without TRD.

Patients and methods

This study included patients with MDD who experienced onset of a new depressive episode between 01 January 2009 and 31 August 2015, using data from a nationwide, longitudinal database.

Results

Overall, 99,531 patients were included in the MDD cohort, of which 8,268 (8.3%) also met the criteria for TRD. The overall survival of non-TRD patients was longer than in TRD patients; the risk of mortality for TRD patients was significantly higher than of non-TRD patients (HR [CI] 1.381 [1.212–1.571]; p<0.001). Patients with TRD had a significantly higher probability of having “Neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disordersˮ, autoimmune conditions, cardio- or cerebrovascular diseases, thyroid gland diseases and self-harming behaviour not resulting in death than non-TRD patients (for all comparisons, p values were less than 0.005).

Discussion

To our best knowledge, this is the first study to assess the frequency of TRD in Hungary. In a cohort of Hungarian MDD patients, we have found that the proportion of TRD (~8.3%) is comparable to those reported in previous studies with similar methodology from other countries. The majority of our other main findings (e.g. more frequent self-harming behaviour, increased risk of “Neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disordersˮ and higher overall mortality in TRD subjects) are also in line with previous results from other countries. Taking the substantial proportion of patients with TRD into consideration, a more comprehensive and targeted treatment strategy would be required for these individuals.
How did outdoor biking and walking change during COVID-19?: A case study of three U.S. cities
Authors: Doubleday Annie , Choe Youngjun , Busch Isaksen Tania , Miles Scott , Errett Nicole A.
Published: January 2021

A growing body of literature suggests that restrictive public health measures implemented to control COVID-19 have had negative impacts on physical activity. We examined how Stay Home orders in Houston, New York City, and Seattle impacted outdoor physical activity patterns, measured by daily bicycle and pedestrian count data. We assessed changes in activity levels between the period before and during Stay Home orders. Across all three cities, we found significant changes in bicycle and pedestrian counts from the period before to the period during Stay Home orders. The direction of change varied by location, likely due to differing local contexts and outbreak progression. These results can inform policy around the use of outdoor public infrastructure as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
In silico comparative genomics of SARS-CoV-2 to determine the source and diversity of the pathogen in Bangladesh
Authors: Shishir Tushar Ahmed , Naser Iftekhar Bin , Faruque Shah M.
Published: January 2021

The COVID19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus has severely affected most countries of the world including Bangladesh. We conducted comparative analysis of publicly available whole-genome sequences of 64 SARS-CoV-2 isolates in Bangladesh and 371 isolates from another 27 countries to predict possible transmission routes of COVID19 to Bangladesh and genomic variations among the viruses. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the pathogen was imported in Bangladesh from multiple countries. The viruses found in the southern district of Chattogram were closely related to strains from Saudi Arabia whereas those in Dhaka were similar to that of United Kingdom and France. The 64 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Bangladesh belonged to three clusters. Compared to the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 sequence reported from China, the isolates in Bangladesh had a total of 180 mutations in the coding region of the genome, and 110 of these were missense. Among these, 99 missense mutations (90%) were predicted to destabilize protein structures. Remarkably, a mutation that leads to an I300F change in the nsp2 protein and a mutation leading to D614G change in the spike protein were prevalent in SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences, and might have influenced the epidemiological properties of the virus in Bangladesh.