bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Establishment of anti-DKK3 peptide for the cancer control in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)
Authors: Katase Naoki , Nishimatsu Shin-ichiro , Yamauchi Akira , Okano Shinji , Fujita Shuichi
Published: November 2022

Background

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the most common malignant tumor of the head and neck. We identified cancer-specific genes in HNSCC and focused on DKK3 expression. DKK3 gene codes two isoforms of proteins (secreted and non-secreted) with two distinct cysteine rich domains (CRDs). It is reported that DKK3 functions as a negative regulator of oncogenic Wnt signaling and, is therefore, considered to be a tumor suppressor gene. However, our series of studies have demonstrated that DKK3 expression is specifically high in HNSCC tissues and cells, and that DKK3 might determine the malignant potentials of HNSCC cells via the activation of Akt. Further analyses strongly suggested that both secreted DKK3 and non-secreted DKK3 could activate Akt signaling in discrete ways, and consequently exert tumor promoting effects. We hypothesized that DKK3 might be a specific druggable target, and it is necessary to establish a DKK3 inhibitor that can inhibit both secreted and non-secreted isoforms of DKK3.

Methods

Using inverse polymerase chain reaction, we generated mutant expression plasmids that express DKK3 without CRD1, CRD2, or both CRD1 and CRD2 (DKK3ΔC1, DKK3ΔC2, and DKK3ΔC1ΔC2, respectively). These plasmids were then transfected into HNSCC-derived cells to determine the domain responsible for DKK3-mediated Akt activation. We designed antisense peptides using the MIMETEC program, targeting DKK3-specific amino acid sequences within CRD1 and CRD2. The structural models for peptides and DKK3 were generated using Raptor X, and then a docking simulation was performed using CluPro2. Afterward, the best set of the peptides was applied into HNSCC-derived cells, and the effects on Akt phosphorylation, cellular proliferation, invasion, and migration were assessed. We also investigated the therapeutic effects of the peptides in the xenograft models.

Results

Transfection of mutant expression plasmids and subsequent functional analyses revealed that it is necessary to delete both CRD1 and CRD2 to inhibit Akt activation and inhibition of proliferation, migration, and invasion. The inhibitory peptides for CRD1 and CRD2 of DKK3 significantly reduced the phosphorylation of Akt, and consequently suppressed cellular proliferation, migration, invasion and in vivo tumor growth at very low doses.

Conclusions

This inhibitory peptide represents a promising new therapeutic strategy for HNSCC treatment.
Speed of cooling after cardiac arrest in relation to the intervention effect: a sub-study from the TTM2-trial
Authors: Simpson Rupert F. G. , Dankiewicz Josef , Karamasis Grigoris V. , Pelosi Paolo , Haenggi Matthias , Young Paul J. , Jakobsen Janus Christian , Bannard-Smith Jonathan , Wendel-Garcia Pedro D. , Taccone Fabio Silvio , Nordberg Per , Wise Matt P. , Grejs Anders M. , Lilja Gisela , Olsen Roy Bjørkholt , Cariou Alain , Lascarrou Jean Baptiste , Saxena Manoj , Hovdenes Jan , Thomas Matthew , Friberg Hans , Davies John R. , Nielsen Niklas , Keeble Thomas R.
Published: November 2022

Background

Targeted temperature management (TTM) is recommended following cardiac arrest; however, time to target temperature varies in clinical practice. We hypothesised the effects of a target temperature of 33 °C when compared to normothermia would differ based on average time to hypothermia and those patients achieving hypothermia fastest would have more favorable outcomes.

Methods

In this post-hoc analysis of the TTM-2 trial, patients after out of hospital cardiac arrest were randomized to targeted hypothermia (33 °C), followed by controlled re-warming, or normothermia with early treatment of fever (body temperature, ≥ 37.8 °C). The average temperature at 4 h (240 min) after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was calculated for participating sites. Primary outcome was death from any cause at 6 months. Secondary outcome was poor functional outcome at 6 months (score of 4–6 on modified Rankin scale).

Results

A total of 1592 participants were evaluated for the primary outcome. We found no evidence of heterogeneity of intervention effect based on the average time to target temperature on mortality (p = 0.17). Of patients allocated to hypothermia at the fastest sites, 71 of 145 (49%) had died compared to 68 of 148 (46%) of the normothermia group (relative risk with hypothermia, 1.07; 95% confidence interval 0.84–1.36). Poor functional outcome was reported in 74/144 (51%) patients in the hypothermia group, and 75/147 (51%) patients in the normothermia group (relative risk with hypothermia 1.01 (95% CI 0.80–1.26).

Conclusions

Using a hospital’s average time to hypothermia did not significantly alter the effect of TTM of 33 °C compared to normothermia and early treatment of fever.
Functional analysis of the dehydratase domains of the PUFA synthase from Emiliania huxleyi in Escherichia coli and Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Chen Bihan , Wang Feng , Xie Xi , Liu Huifan , Liu Dongjie , Ma Lukai , Xiao Gengsheng , Wang Qin
Published: November 2022

Background

Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) synthase is a multi-domain mega-enzyme that effectively synthesizes a series of PUFAs in marine microorganisms. The dehydratase (DH) domain of a PUFA synthase plays a crucial role in double bond positioning in fatty acids. Sequencing results of the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi (E. huxleyi, Eh) indicated that this species contains a PUFA synthase with multiple DH domains. Therefore, the current study, sought to define the functions of these DH domains (EhDHs), by cloning and overexpressing the genes encoding FabA-like EhDHs in Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Arabidopsis thaliana (A. thaliana).

Results

A complementation test showed that the two FabA-like DH domains could restore DH function in a temperature-sensitive (Ts) mutant. Meanwhile, overexpression of FabA-like EhDH1 and EhDH2 domains increased the production of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) in recombinant E. coli by 43.5–32.9%, respectively. Site-directed mutagenesis analysis confirmed the authenticity of active-site residues in these domains. Moreover, the expression of tandem EhDH1-DH2 in A. thaliana altered the fatty acids content, seed weight, and germination rate.

Conclusions

The two FabA-like DH domains in the E. huxleyi PUFA synthase function as 3-hydroxyacyl-acyl carrier protein dehydratase in E. coli. The expression of these domains in E. coli and A. thaliana can alter the fatty acid profile in E. coli and increase the seed lipid content and germination rate in A. thaliana. Hence, introduction of DH domains controlling the dehydration process of fatty acid biosynthesis in plants might offer a new strategy to increase oil production in oilseed plants.
Ewing sarcoma with very late metastasis in the skull: a case report
Authors: Hagihara Ryota , Arishima Hidetaka , Yamauchi Takahiro , Kawajiri Satoshi , Ito Tomomi , Fukushima Mana , Kikuta Kenichiro
Published: November 2022

Background

Ewing sarcoma is a malignant bone tumor; however, its prognosis has improved since the development of modern chemotherapy. Although Ewing sarcoma outcomes have improved, issues related to late complications, secondary malignant neoplasms, and late recurrence or metastasis have emerged.

Case presentation

We report a case of Ewing sarcoma that recurred in the occipital bone 21 years after primary tumor treatment. A 45-year-old Japanese woman with a history of Ewing sarcoma 21 years prior, was referred to our hospital due to a severe headache. A tumor was detected in the left occipital bone, and the biopsy revealed Ewing sarcoma. Metastasis was suspected because the patient had been treated for Ewing sarcoma of the left clavicle 21 years prior. There have been several cases of local recurrence or metastasis, occurring 15–20 years after the onset of the initial disease. To our knowledge, very late metastasis of Ewing sarcoma in the skull has not been reported.

Conclusion

We report a rare case of very late metastasis of Ewing sarcoma in the skull with a review of the literature. Delayed metastasis secondary to Ewing sarcoma can occur in the lung, which is the most common site for metastasis, as well as other regions of the body, such as the cranium.
Survival analysis of patients with COVID-19 admitted at six hospitals in Uganda in 2021: a cohort study
Authors: Muyinda Asad , Ingabire Prossie M. , Nakireka Susan , Tumuhaise Criscent , Namulema Edith , Bongomin Felix , Napyo Agnes , Sserwanja Quraish , Ainembabazi Rozen , Olum Ronald , Nantale Ritah , Akunguru Phillip , Nomujuni Derrick , Olwit William , Musaba Milton W. , Namubiru Bridget , Aol Pamela , Babigumira Peter A. , Munabi Ian , Kiguli Sarah , Mukunya David
Published: November 2022

Background

Assessing factors associated with mortality among COVID-19 patients could guide in developing context relevant interventions to mitigate the risk. The study aimed to describe mortality and associated factors among COVID-19 patients admitted at six health facilities in Uganda.

Methods

We reviewed medical records of patients admitted with COVID-19 between January 1st 2021 and December 31st 2021 in six hospitals in Uganda. Using Stata version 17.0, Kaplan Meier and Cox regression analyses were performed to describe the time to death and estimate associations between various exposures and time to death. Finally, accelerated failure time (AFT) models with a lognormal distribution were used to estimate corresponding survival time ratios.

Results

Out of the 1040 study participants, 234 (22.5%: 95%CI 12.9 to 36.2%) died. The mortality rate was 30.7 deaths per 1000 person days, 95% CI (26.9 to 35.0). The median survival time was 33 days, IQR (9–82). Factors associated with time to COVID-19 death included; age ≥ 60 years [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 2.4, 95% CI: [1.7, 3.4]], having malaria test at admission [aHR = 2.0, 95% CI:[1.0, 3.9]], a COVID-19 severity score of severe/critical [aHR = 6.7, 95% CI:[1.5, 29.1]] and admission to a public hospital [aHR = 0.4, 95% CI:[0.3, 0.6]]. The survival time of patients aged 60 years or more is estimated to be 63% shorter than that of patients aged less than 60 years [adjusted time ratio (aTR) 0.37, 95% CI 0.24, 0.56]. The survival time of patients admitted in public hospitals was 2.5 times that of patients admitted in private hospitals [aTR 2.5 to 95%CI 1.6, 3.9]. Finally, patients with a severe or critical COVID-19 severity score had 87% shorter survival time than those with a mild score [aTR 0.13, 95% CI 0.03, 0.56].

Conclusion

In-hospital mortality among COVID-19 patients was high. Factors associated with shorter survival; age ≥ 60 years, a COVID-19 severity score of severe or critical, and having malaria at admission. We therefore recommend close monitoring of COVID-19 patients that are elderly and also screening for malaria in COVID-19 admitted patients.
Association of sex steroid hormones and new bone formation rate after iliac onlay grafting: a prospective clinical pilot study
Authors: Landwehr Victoria Constanze , Fretwurst Tobias , Heinen Julia , Vach Kirstin , Nelson Katja , Nahles Susanne , Iglhaut Gerhard
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The present prospective study evaluates the association between new bone formation rate in the iliac onlay graft and sex steroid hormone serum levels.

Methods

A total of 15 partially or completely edentulous postmenopausal females and 9 males with less than 5 mm height of the remaining alveolar bone underwent iliac onlay grafting followed by dental implant placement using a two-stage approach. Sex hormone binding globulin and 17β-estradiol serum levels were investigated by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, while total testosterone level was analyzed using radioimmunoassay. At the time of implant placement, 12 weeks after grafting, bone biopsies were obtained and analyzed histomorphometrically. Statistical analysis was performed using linear mixed models.

Results

Grafting procedure was successfully performed in all patients. The mean new bone formation rate was 32.5% (116 samples). In men the mean new bone formation rate (38.1%) was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than in women (27.6%). Independent of gender 17β-estradiol and testosterone were positively associated to overall new bone formation rate, albeit a significant influence was only seen for 17β-estradiol in men (p = 0.020). Sex hormone binding globulin had no influence on new bone formation rate (p = 0.897). There was no significant association between new bone formation rate and age (p = 0.353) or new bone formation rate and body mass index (p = 0.248).

Conclusion

Positive association of 17ß-estradiol as well as testosterone with new bone formation rate after iliac onlay grafting indicates a role of sex steroid hormones in alveolar bone regeneration, although the observed influence was only significant for 17ß-estradiol in men.

Graphical Abstract
Case report of antiseizure medicine-induced long QT syndrome and a literature review
Authors: Yu Xiongying , Zha Jian , Yi Zhaoshi , Li Xiaoyan , Chen Hui , Xu Yuxin , Zhong Jianmin
Published: November 2022

Background

To realize the clinical characteristics of long QT syndrome (LQTS) caused by antiseizure medicines (ASMs), and to improve the prevention and management of ASM-acquired QT syndrome.

Case presentation

A case of ASM-acquired QT syndrome was diagnosed and relevant literature was reviewed. The case was a 7-year-old boy who presented with a sudden onset of panic followed by changes in consciousness, with or without convulsions, lasting from tens of seconds to 3 min. The patient then received antiepileptic treatment with valproic acid, levetiracetam and oxcarbazepine and was seizure free for about a year. However, on August 12, 2021, his illness flared up again. Electroencephalogram (EEG) showed the background activity was slow, and no obvious epileptic discharge was detected. But electrocardiogram (ECG) showed a surprisingly prolonged QT interval (770 ms). Torsades de Pointes was found during Holter monitoring, while electrolyte levels were normal. The ECG recordings gradually returned to normal after stopping ASMs. For literature search, only 21 related papers were obtained after reading titles and full-texts of 105 English-language papers retrieved using keywords "acquired QT interstitial syndrome/acquired Long QT Syndrome (aLQTS)" and "anti-epileptic seizure drugs/ASMs", in the databases of Wanfang, CNKI, Pubmed, and other databases, from publication year 1965 to October 26, 2021. There are 12 types of drug-acquired LQTS caused by ASMs, most of which are Na+ blockers, but LQTS caused by oxcarbazepine had not been reported previously.

Conclusions

ASMs such as oxcarbazepine can cause acquired LQTS. When Na+ or K+ channel blockers are used clinically, ECG should be reviewed regularly and abnormal ECG should be intervened in time to reduce iatrogenic accidents in patients with epilepsy.
Left subsuperior segmentectomy for a patient with early-stage lung cancer: a case report
Authors: Oeda Hodaka , Suzuki Hidemi , Kaiho Taisuke , Hata Atsushi , Takamsa Ito , Tanaka Kazuhisa , Sakairi Yuichi , Yoshino Ichiro
Published: November 2022

Background

The independent segment between the superior and basal segments is called the subsuperior segment (S*), which is rarely observed. We report a left S* segmentectomy in a patient with early-stage lung cancer.

Case presentation

A 72-year-old man presented with a history of hilar cholangiocarcinoma. A left lung ground-glass nodule was detected during follow-up examination. The tumor shadow was localized in the left S* according to the findings of the three-dimensional image analysis system (SYNAPSE VINCENT®) with computed tomography-based analysis. S* segmentectomy was successfully performed with a sufficient surgical margin. The operation time was 147 min, and there was a small amount of bleeding. The pathological diagnosis was invasive adenocarcinoma measuring 3 mm. The tumor was successfully removed with a sufficient surgical margin. The patient was discharged from the hospital 8 days after surgery without any complications.

Conclusions

S* segmentectomy is not typically performed in patients with lung cancer due to insufficient surgical margins. However, S* segmentectomy is a viable option for selected patients with pulmonary metastasis or early-stage lung cancer.
Adipose Tissue Insulin Resistance Predicts the Severity of Liver Fibrosis in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and NAFLD
Authors: Kalavalapalli Srilaxmi , Leiva Eddison Godinez , Lomonaco Romina , Chi Xiaofei , Shrestha Sulav , Dillard Rachel , Budd Jeffery , Romero Jessica Portillo , Li Christina , Bril Fernando , Samraj George , Pennington John , Townsend Petra , Orlando Frank , Shetty Shwetha , Mansour Lydia , Silva-Sombra Lorena Rodrigues , Bedossa Pierre , Malaty John , Barb Diana , Gurka Matthew J , Cusi Kenneth
Published: November 2022

Context

Although type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a risk factor for liver fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the specific contribution of insulin resistance (IR) relative to other factors is unknown.

Objective

Assess the impact on liver fibrosis in NAFLD of adipose tissue (adipose tissue insulin resistance index [adipo-IR]) and liver (Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance [HOMA-IR]) IR in people with T2D and NAFLD.

Design

Participants were screened by elastography in the outpatient clinics for hepatic steatosis and fibrosis, including routine metabolites, cytokeratin-18 (a marker of hepatocyte apoptosis/steatohepatitis), and HOMA-IR/adipo-IR.

Setting

University ambulatory care practice.

Participants

A total of 483 participants with T2D.

Intervention

Screening for steatosis and fibrosis with elastography.

Main outcome measures

Liver steatosis (controlled attenuation parameter), fibrosis (liver stiffness measurement), and measurements of IR (adipo-IR, HOMA-IR) and fibrosis (cytokeratin-18).

Results

Clinically significant liver fibrosis (stage F ≥ 2 = liver stiffness measurement ≥8.0 kPa) was found in 11%, having more features of the metabolic syndrome, lower adiponectin, and higher aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase, liver fat, and cytokeratin-18 (P < 0.05-0.01). In multivariable analysis including just clinical variables (model 1), obesity (body mass index [BMI]) had the strongest association with fibrosis (odds ratio, 2.56; CI, 1.87-3.50; P < 0.01). When metabolic measurements and cytokeratin-18 were included (model 2), only BMI, AST, and liver fat remained significant. When fibrosis stage was adjusted for BMI, AST, and steatosis (model 3), only Adipo-IR remained strongly associated with fibrosis (OR, 1.51; CI, 1.05-2.16; P = 0.03), but not BMI, hepatic IR, or steatosis.

Conclusions

These findings pinpoint to the central role of dysfunctional, insulin-resistant adipose tissue to advanced fibrosis in T2D, beyond simply BMI or steatosis. The clinical implication is that targeting adipose tissue should be the priority of treatment in NAFLD.
SYTL5 Promotes Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Progression by Enhancing Activation of the NF-κB Signaling Pathway
Authors: Huang Da , Zeng Ying , Deng Han-Yue , Fu Bi-Dong , Ke Yun , Luo Jing-Yi , Yu Ji-Chun , Yu Shi-Tong
Published: November 2022

The function and mechanism of SYTL5 in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) are still unclear. In this research, we found that SYTL5 was significantly overexpressed in PTC tissues compared with normal thyroid tissues. SYTL5 downregulation significantly weakened the proliferative, migratory, and invasive abilities of PTC cells. In addition, upregulated SYTL5 could promote cancer progression by activating the NF-κB signaling pathway. RAC1b expression is positively associated with SYTL5, and overexpressed RAC1b abrogated the antitumor effect after SYTL5 inhibition. In conclusion, our findings identify the oncogenic role of SYTL5 in PTC by activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, thus facilitating PTC development and progression.
Mechanism of Mitochondrial Homeostasis Controlling Ovarian Physiology
Authors: Tian Yuan , Liu Xinrui , Pei Xiuying , Gao Hui , Pan Pengge , Yang Yanzhou
Published: November 2022

Ovarian cells, including oocytes, granulosa/cumulus cells, theca cells, and stromal cells, contain abundant mitochondria, which play indispensable roles in the processes of ovarian follicle development. Ovarian function is closely controlled by mitochondrial proteostasis and mitostasis. While mitochondrial proteostasis and mitostasis are disturbed by several factors, leading to dysfunction of ovarian function and initiating the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) and mitophagy to maintain or recover ovarian function and mitochondrial function, clear interactions between the 2 pathways in the ovary have not been fully elucidated. Here, we comprehensively summarize the molecular networks or regulatory mechanisms behind further mitochondrial research in the ovary. This review provides novel insights into the interactions between the UPRmt and mitophagy in ovarian functions.
The Diversity Requirement; or, The Ambivalent Contingency of the Asian American Student Teacher
Authors: Ishii Douglas S.
Published: November 2022

“The Diversity Requirement” takes on anti-neoliberal criticisms of the post-2008 US university as emblematized by quit lit, the essay genre in which tenure-track hopefuls announce that they are leaving academia, as deracinated yet totalizing theories that ignore how racism structures institutional contingency and academic precarity, even when the diversity requirement is a norm. This article responds by turning to the Asian American campus novel, a generic category not readily deployed because of the recurrence of universities in literary and lived model minority narratives. Taking Asian American institutional racialization as representative of the ambivalence that subtends contingency, “The Diversity Requirement” connects the author’s experience as contingent faculty and as staff of the campus diversity requirement to readings of Karen Tei Yamashita’s I Hotel (2010) and Weike Wang’s Chemistry: A Novel (2017) through the figure of the Asian American student teacher, the apt pupils within liberal whiteness who lack expertise or experience and yet are tasked with teaching responsibilities for diversity without full access to institutional power. In doing so, this article theorizes ambivalent contingency—a mitigated agency and constrained privilege from within institutional contingency that reflects contradicting intersections of power within and beyond the individual—as a strategy for surviving the institution without reproducing its logics of exclusion.
Building Indigenous Subjectivity: Jesuit Pedagogies of Emotion in the Colonial Andes
Authors: Dueñas Alcira
Published: November 2022

Transforming the religious outlook of Indigenous populations in the colonial Andes became an imperial undertaking that required more than an external change. In the Andes, the missionary enterprise of the Jesuits created a wholesale design of mechanisms for an effective intervention in the psyche of the Native children of the Andean kurakas. Indoctrinators used the schools of caciques and other missional spaces to direct these young students’ mental and bodily dispositions toward cultural comportment changes. Colonizing Andeans’ innermost realms, the king and the Jesuits expected that out of “idolatrous heathens” would emerge Indians with European customs who embraced and expanded Christianity. To that end, the Jesuits systematically applied the “medicine of the soul,” an assortment of pedagogies employed to set in motion a variety of psychological states to produce a Christian subjectivity that occupied the inner space of Andean children’s lives.
Different levels of circadian (de)synchrony ­– where does it hurt?
Authors: Galinde Ankita AS. , Al-Mughales Faheem , Oster Henrik , Heyde Isabel
Published: November 2022

A network of cellular timers ensures the maintenance of homeostasis by temporal modulation of physiological processes across the day. These so-called circadian clocks are synchronized to geophysical time by external time cues (or zeitgebers). In modern societies, natural environmental cycles are disrupted by artificial lighting, around-the-clock availability of food or shiftwork. Such contradictory zeitgeber input promotes chronodisruption, i.e., the perturbation of internal circadian rhythms, resulting in adverse health outcomes. While this phenomenon is well described, it is still poorly understood at which level of organization perturbed rhythms impact on health and wellbeing. In this review, we discuss different levels of chronodisruption and what is known about their health effects. We summarize the results of disrupted phase coherence between external and internal time vs. misalignment of tissue clocks amongst each other, i.e., internal desynchrony. Last, phase incoherence can also occur at the tissue level itself. Here, alterations in phase coordination can emerge between cellular clocks of the same tissue or between different clock genes within the single cell. A better understanding of the mechanisms of circadian misalignment and its effects on physiology will help to find effective tools to prevent or treat disorders arising from modern-day chronodisruptive environments.
Świat ideowy amerykańskiego neokonserwatyzmu
Authors: Bartyzel Jacek
Published: November 2022

The present article presents a complex and ideological-twists-loaded history of American intellectuals environment, mainly of Jewish origin, with Jews having become over the past half century became one of the most influential groups among the power elite of United States. The starting point for most of them was the fascination with Trockist ideology, (however combined with anti-soviet attitude); with the target being point being, on the other hand – the views referred to as “neoconservatism”, which is in fact a combination of some elements of classical political liberalism, the criticism of the overgrowth of “welfare state” and new-leftist “counterculture”, anti-communism launched from demoliberal positions, and in the second generation of this group: not only anti-islamism but also “democratic imperialism”.
Sexual dimorphism in the neuro-endocrine regulation of bicycle ergometric test parameters in untrained individuals with dysfunction of the neuro-endocrine-immune complex
Authors: Ruzhylo Sofiya , Fihura Oksana , Zakalyak Nataliya , Kovalchuk Galyna , Żukow Xawery , Popovych Dariya
Published: November 2022

Background. Ergometric physical working capacity (PWC) testing has a long tradition in occupational medicine. PWC can be tested, using performance indicators like VO2max or the mechanical power. However, the calculated by bicycle ergometry PWC in reality reflects the reaction of the autonomic nervous system to muscle load, which, in turn, is strong, but still not absolutely complete, correlates with VO2max as a real indicator of cardiorespiratory fitness. The purpose of this study is to clarify the relationship between PWC, calculated based on the result of two-stage bicycle ergometry, and the parameters of neuro-endocrine regulation as well as sexual differences in such relationships. Materials and Methods. The object of observation were 30 women 29-76 (49,4±11,0) years and 30 men 24-69 (47,4±12,0) years without a clinical diagnosis, but with the deviations from the norm in a number of parameters of the neuro-endocrine-immune complex as a manifestation of maladaptation. For estimation of PWC a two-stage bicycle ergometry used. Parameters of EEG, HRV and adaptation hormones levels registered twice with an interval of 4 or 7 days. Results. In men, PWC correlates negatively with plasma levels of cortisol (r=-0,52) and triiodothyronine (r=-0,47), but positively with levels of calcitonin (r=0,25) and testosterone (r=0,22). The coefficient of multiple correlation R=0,705. In women, the correlation of the twice lower PWC with cortisol and calcitonin is weaker (r=-0,31 and 0,18, respectively), and is absent with testosterone and triiodothyronine, instead it was found in relation to aldosterone (r=-0,24); R=0,394. The PWC regression model for men includes 6 HRV and 11 EEG parameters (R=0,846), while for women only the mode HRV (r=-0,56) and two EEG parameters (R=0,608). Conclusion. PWC levels in men are generally downregulated by cortisol, triiodothyronine, sympathetic tone, and θ-rhythm generating neurons, but upregulated by testosterone, calcitonin, vagal tone, and related α-rhythm generating neurons. In women, PWC levels are borderline downregulated by cortisol and aldosterone, but significantly upregulated by circulating catecholamines and β-rhythm generating neurons.
Tapp in the treatment of irreducible and inguinoscrotal hernia
Authors: Ivantsok V. , Bondariev R. , Bondarieva O.
Published: November 2022

Laparoscopic surgery is known to be technically difficult to perform for irreducible and inguinoscrotal hernias. The aim of the work is to conduct a comparative analysis of early postoperative complications in the surgical treatment of irreducible and inguinoscrotal hernias using the modified laparoscopic and classic TAPP techniques. Comparative analysis of the local early postoperative complications in 49 male patients who were surgically treated for irreducible and/or inguinoscrotal hernias was carried out. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the technique of hernioplasty: the first group (n = 19) - surgical treatment was performed by the classical hernioplasty, described in the literature, TAPP technique; the second group (n = 20) - surgical treatment included a modified laparoscopic TAPP technique. Only 1 (5.3%) patient in group 1 (p = 0.079) who had experienced bleeding during surgery. Post-operative subcutaneous emphysema was common in 5.3% in group 1 and 5.0% in group 2 (p = 0.490), inguinal hematoma in 5.3% and 5.0% (p = 0.490), scrotal hematoma in 10.5% and 0% (p = 0.445), inguinal paresthesia 5.3% and 5.0% (p = 0.490), inguinal seroma 5.3% and 5.0% (p = 0.490), scrotal seroma 26.3% and 0% (p = 0.047), orchiepididymitis 5.3% and 0% (p = 0.079) respectively.

The modified technique of transabdominal preperitoneal repair of irreducible and inguinoscrotal hernia provides low-trauma fractures of surgery, which reduced the incidence of local intra- and postoperative complications.
Nurses' knowledge of the brain death adjudication procedure
Authors: Majchrowicz Bożena
Published: November 2022

Introduction: The issue of brain death is an extremely important puzzle for the world of medicine. Nursing care for a potential donor is considered a priority of the process, from the diagnosis of brain death to the donation and transplantation of the organ.
The aim of the research was to assess the level of knowledge of nurses about the procedure of adjudication of brain death
Material and methods: An online survey among 206 nurses associated on social networking sites. The research tool was the original questionnaire.
Results and conclusions: Nursing care for a potential donor requires specialist knowledge and experience. The level of knowledge of the respondents about brain death and the applicable transplant law is not differentiated due to socio-demographic factors. The respondents have knowledge of the legal regulations in force in the area of ​​the death adjudication procedure.
Cystic fibrosis, with a focus on new therapies for causal treatment - CFTR protein modulators
Authors: Iwaniszyn-Zapołoch Klara , Małek Anna , Marzęda Magdalena , Wysokińska Olga , Zadrożna Karolina , Fabiś Mateusz , Wójcik Bartłomiej
Published: November 2022

INTRODUCTION: Cystic fibrosis is a severe, multi-system involvement genetic disease. It is estimated that 1 in 2,500 people are affected, most commonly Europeans.  It used to lead to death in childhood, but patients now live to adulthood. STATE OF KNOWLEDGE: Thanks to screening tests carried out in many countries, the disease can be detected quickly at birth and treatment can be implemented as soon as possible. Following the discovery of the CF transmembrane conductance regulator gene (CFTR), in which the mutation responsible for cystic fibrosis occurs, a great deal of research has been done to discover the best pathway for causal treatment. A new group of drugs called modulators, which improve the function of the CFTR protein, was developed. These preparations have been approved for clinical use by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Approximately 85-90% of patients are eligible for treatment, based on the mutations they have. Importantly, from the beginning of 2022, the aforementioned causative therapies will appear on the Polish list of reimbursed drugs.
SUMMARY: Thanks to genetics and biology, it was possible to discover modulators of the CFTR protein. With a quick diagnosis and the fastest possible initiation of targeted treatment, patients have a chance for a longer and better life. Today, the median age to which people with CF live is 46.2 years. It is said that these innovative therapies can not only alleviate the course of this incurable disease, but also prevent the occurrence of severe complications. Unfortunately, we do not know the far-reaching effects of the preparations, so at the moment we can only hope for as many studies as possible showing the effects of their use.
Targeted therapy with histamine antagonists - New challenges to fight with breast cancer
Authors: Więsyk Piotr Jan , Oleksa Paulina , Chilimoniuk Zuzanna , Dobosz Maciej , Sobczyk Maciej , Słaboń Małgorzata
Published: November 2022

Breast cancer (BC) is currently the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. BC is most often derived from the epithelial tissue of the mammary gland and is a global problem due to the steady increase in morbidity and mortality in most countries. A particular problem today is the triple negative subtype (TNBC), which accounts for approximately 10-15% of breast cancer cases. BC occurs most frequently in young women and is characterised by various biological characteristics, an unfavourable clinical course and a poor prognosis. Recent studies to detect the effects of histamine receptors on breast cancer have shown that all H1R-H4R receptors are also hyperactive in the cancer microenvironment. Chronically maintaining a high level of histamine in the tumour-affected tissue contributes to increased angiogenesis at this site, induction of cancer cells proliferation and T lymphocyte dysfunction. The rising incidence of breast cancer is contributing to an increasing amount of research into targeted therapies. Studies on the effect of histamine antagonists through H1R-H4R receptors have proven their effectiveness in the treatment of breast cancer. Among those in the study, there was a reduction in tumour growth, cell proliferation and an increase in apoptosis. The use of histamine antagonists also contributed to a reduced risk of death from breast cancer and increased overall survival (OS). Therefore, targeted therapy is needed to improve the prognosis of patients with breast cancer.
Reviewing inequalities in early childhood
Authors: Hancock Dave
Published: November 2022

A comprehensive inequalities review includes an appraisal of UK policies for supporting children and their families in the early years when inequalities in cognitive and socio-emotional development shape outcomes and experiences
Turkish State Criminality against Kurds and Victimization through Impunity
Authors: Karakas Sanya
Published: November 2022

This article explores the long-lasting effects of impunity on victims’ everyday lives. Drawing on Rojas Baeza’s medico-psychiatric definition of impunity, the article discusses how impunity creates different traumatic consequences in a victim’s life and prolongs the suffering of victims and their families. The article argues that the absence of justice, the denial of truth, and non-accountability of perpetrators of state crimes, not only constitute significant components of the mechanics of impunity but also create eventual and painful effects in victims’ daily lives. The article uses primary data from my field research conducted in Turkey, and exemplifies some of the traumatic consequences of state crimes committed by the Turkish state against Kurds and their eventual effects on the victims’ lives. The article examines these long-term effects of impunity on victims to develop the concept of victimization in the context of state crimes and impunity.
Campaign Contributions as Crime: The Case of Contribution Influence on US Economic and Environmental Policy
Authors: Peoples Clayton D. , Both Samantha M.
Published: November 2022

Although the current campaign finance system in the US allows private donations to campaigns, an increasing body of evidence suggests that these contributions influence policy and could potentially lead to social injury. This leads to an important question: Do campaign contributions constitute crime? The present article takes up this question. After an overview of the famous debate between Tappan and Sutherland on the role of social injury in determining whether something is a crime—and a concise summary of different types of political crime (e.g. corruption, bribery, state crime, and state-corporate crime)—an analysis is conducted to assess the connection, if any, between campaign contributions and two types of social injury: economic harm/inequality and environmental harm. Findings from the analysis show that campaign contributions can, indeed, cause social injury. It is therefore concluded that campaign contributions sometimes constitute crime under Sutherland’s framework. Numerous campaign finance reform options are discussed—all with the intent of limiting the social injury created by campaign contributions.
Locating through dynamic scattering media based on speckle correlations
Authors: Zhang Wenjun , Zhu Shuo , Bai Kaixuan , Bai Lianfa , Guo Enlai , Han Jing
Published: November 2022

In complex imaging settings, optical scattering
often prohibits the formation of a clear target image, and instead,
only a speckle without the original spatial structure information is
obtained. Scattering seriously interferes with the locating of
targets; especially, when the scattering medium is dynamic, the
dynamic nature leads to rapid decorrelation of optical information in
time, and the challenge increases. Here, a locating method is proposed
to detect the target hidden behind a dynamic scattering medium, which
uses the a priori information of a known reference
object in the neighborhood of the target. The research further designs
an automatic calibration method to simplify the locating process, and
analyzes the factors affecting positioning accuracy. The proposed
method enables us to predict the position of a target from the
autocorrelation of the captured speckle pattern; the angle and
distance deviations of the target are all within 2.5%. This approach
can locate a target using only a single-shot speckle pattern, and it
is beneficial for target localization in dynamic scattering
conditions.
Two-stage neural network via sensitivity learning for 2D photonic crystal bandgap maximization
Authors: Chen Jinyue , Hu Xianliang
Published: November 2022

We propose a two-stage neural network method to maximize the bandgap of 2D photonic crystals. The proposed model consists of a fully connected deep feed-forward neural network (FNN) and U-Net, which are employed, respectively, to generate the shape function and learn the sensitivity. The shape is generated by the FNN during the entire optimization process, and obtaining the sensitivity can be split into two steps. In the first step of the optimization, the sensitivity is calculated by finite element analysis (FEA) and the result is used as a sample to train the U-Net. Second, the optimization procedure is adopted instead of FEA, where a trained U-Net is used to generate the corresponding sensitivity. The main advantage of such an approach is that the shape function and sensitivity can be obtained by neural networks without solving a partial differenital equation. Therefore, the computational cost can be reduced by the proposed method without using large training sets. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified in the numerical experiments in terms of the optimized shape and time consumption.
Three-wavelength-switchable narrow linewidth thulium-doped fiber laser enabled by a compound-cavity filter and a sampled fiber Bragg grating
Authors: Yang Dandan , Yan Fengping , Feng Ting , Qin Qi , Cheng Dan , Li Ting , Yu Chenhao , Wang Xiangdong , Jiang Youchao , Bai Yan , Suo Yuping , Kumamoto Kazuo
Published: November 2022

A single-longitudinal-mode (SLM), narrow linewidth thulium-doped fiber laser with a sampled fiber Bragg grating (SFBG), switchable among three wavelengths, with a cascade dual-coupler-ring-based compound cavity (DCR-CC) filter, is proposed and demonstrated. The coupling design, simulation analysis, and characterization of the DCR-CC filter provide the foundation for the experiment. A nonlinear polarization rotation system was injected into the cavity to suppress gain competition and achieve a laser switchable among three wavelengths. The fluctuations of the wavelength and power of the output laser are less than 0.60 nm and 0.91 dBm, respectively. For demonstration, the laser maintained in SLM operation measured by the delayed self-heterodyne method has a linewidth of

<

3.7

k
H
z

and relative intensity noise of

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−
114

d
B

/

H
z

.
VO2 particle-based intelligent metasurface with perfect infrared emission for the spacecraft thermal control
Authors: Xie Bowei , Dong Jian , Zhao Junming , Liu Linhua , Fu Xin , Zhai Zaiteng
Published: November 2022

Thermochromism film can automatically adjust its emittance without
additional energy consumption, which shows great prospect in the
application of spacecraft thermal control. However, it is still
challenging to achieve a large infrared emittance at a high
temperature and emittance tunability of the thermochromism film. In
this work, we propose a

V
O

2

particle-based intelligent
metasurface for spacecraft thermal control, which consists of a square
lattice array of hollow spheroidal

V
O

2

particles on Au substrate. The
metasurface with a

V
O

2

particle having a large aspect ratio (

∼

10

) displays perfect emission throughout
the entire mid-infrared spectral range. The emittance tunability can
exceed 0.63 with total normal emittance of 0.85. The underlying
mechanisms involved in the metasurface are attributed to
particle-dependent scattering, by which the infrared emittance is
dramatically enhanced for the metallic state and restricted for the
dielectric state. In addition, the infrared emittance at a high
temperature and emittance tunability of the metasurface remain large
for incident angles up to 60°. To the best of our knowledge, this work
proposes the first thermochromism film structure with perfect infrared
emission, which could accelerate the development and practical
application of the thermochromic film in the field of spacecraft.
Optical computing powers graph neural networks
Authors: Tang Kaida , Chen Jianwei , Jiang Huaqing , Chen Jun , Jin Shangzhong , Hao Ran
Published: November 2022

Graph-based neural networks have promising perspectives but are limited by electronic
bottlenecks. Our work explores the advantages of optical neural
networks in the graph domain. We propose an optical graph neural
network (OGNN) based on inverse-designed optical processing units
(OPUs) to classify graphs with optics. The OPUs, combined with two
types of optical components, can perform multiply–accumulate,
matrix–vector multiplication, and matrix–matrix
multiplication operations. The proposed OGNN can classify typical
non-Euclidean MiniGCDataset graphs and successfully predict 1000 test
graphs with 100% accuracy. The OPU-formed optical–electrical
graph attention network is also scalable to handle more complex graph
data, such as the Cora dataset, with 89.0% accuracy.
Photonic crystal based design of a 3-bit all-optical parity checker and generator for all-optical computing
Authors: Anagha E. G. , Jeyachitra R. K.
Published: November 2022

Photonic crystal based designs of 3-bit even parity checker and
generator circuits are proposed in this paper. These circuits are
realized for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, on a
photonic crystal platform with the aim of achieving power efficient,
simple, and compact devices suitable for photonic integrated circuits.
The proposed structures are realized using all-optical reconfigurable
XOR/NOT gates with compact dimensions, low power consumption, and high
contrast ratios. The operation is based on a linear interference
effect leading to reduced power consumptions feasible for operation in
the telecommunication wavelength of 1550 nm. The various
performance metrics such as contrast ratio, response time, and data
rate are analyzed based on simulations using the finite difference
time domain technique. All structures achieve small footprints and low
response times with operation speeds up to 1 Tbps. The designs are
based purely on silicon material, which enables ease of fabrication
and offers easy compatibility with existing opto-electronic systems as
well as with upcoming all-optical systems. The above circuits have
wide applications in optical computing, error correction, detection,
and optical cryptography.
Pre-established entanglement distribution algorithm in quantum networks
Authors: Wang Yazi , Yu Xiaosong , Zhao Yongli , Nag Avishek , Zhang Jie
Published: November 2022

As the basic principle of quantum networks, quantum entanglement can enable important quantum applications such as teleportation and quantum-key distribution. To realize wide-area quantum communication, entanglement establishment between two remote communication parties is vital, and it requires effective entanglement distribution strategies. Entanglement distribution network models of distributed and centralized entangled pair sources are constructed, based on which two entanglement-distribution algorithms are proposed, i.e., the real-time entanglement distribution (R-TED) algorithm and the pre-established entanglement distribution (P-EED) algorithm, to achieve end-to-end multi-hop entanglement establishment. For the former, the objective is to build long-distance entanglements via hop-by-hop entanglement tentatively and entanglement swapping to finally glue them together. For the latter, which uses pre-established entanglement, entanglements can be established in advance to patch multiple link-level entanglements via entanglement swapping. Simulation results show that as the number of time slots increases, the P-EED algorithm is more efficient and has higher entanglement establishment probability than the R-TED algorithm to establish end-to-end entanglement; while there are fewer memory cells in a quantum memory, such as 10, the R-TED algorithm provides more stable entanglement distribution compared to the P-EED algorithm.
Nijboer–Zernike’s aberration theory: computational achievements via Tchebychev’s polynomials approximation theory
Authors: Borghi Riccardo
Published: November 2022

Nijboer–Zernike’s diffraction theory of aberration is a nearly abandoned jewel of physical optics. The present paper constitutes an attempt to extend its practical feasibility. It is found that such a task can be achieved by using what is probably the most important property of  Tchebychev’s polynomials.
Degradation process on total solar irradiance radiometers due to UV radiation
Authors: Remesal Oliva Alberto , Finsterle Wolfgang , Martín Patricia
Published: November 2022

During their lifetime, total solar irradiance (TSI) radiometers are exposed to different environmental conditions and processes that may degrade the coating that is used as absorber of the incoming radiation to be measured. We were able to reproduce in the laboratory the degradation observed in space with PMO6-type radiometers in instruments like PREMOS, using high-intensity UV light and show that a novel carbon nanotube coating does not degrade under the same conditions.
Optics in Ukraine: Glorious Past, Uncertain Future
Authors: Boriskina Svetlana V.
Published: November 2022

Invasion and war have disrupted Ukrainian scienceand rebuilding it deserves the worlds attention and resources.