bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contribution Ã lâ€™analyse des problÃ©matiques du braconnage dans des terroirs villageois situÃ©s Ã la pÃ©riphÃ©rie de la RÃ©serve Naturelle Nationale de Termit et Tin-Toumma au sud-est du Niger
Authors: Issoufou Baggnian , Noura Souleymane Mahaman Maman , Ismael Adamou Maidanda
Published: January 2021

De nos jours, la faune sauvage au Niger est confrontÃ©e Ã  plusieurs pressions dont le braconnage. Ce braconnage se fait aussi bien dans les aires protÃ©gÃ©es que dans les villages riverains. Lâ€™objectif de cette Ã©tude est dâ€™analyser la problÃ©matique du braconnage dans lâ€™une de six communes (Tanout) limitrophes de la RÃ©serve Naturelle Nationale de Termit et Tin-Toumma dans le Sud-Est Niger. La mÃ©thodologie appliquÃ©e dans le cadre de cette Ã©tude est celle des enquÃªtes individuelles et les interviews semistructurÃ©es auprÃ¨s de 256 mÃ©nages. Les rÃ©sultats montrent que 12 espÃ¨ces sont braconnÃ©es dont cinq (5) mammifÃ¨res, quatre (4) oiseaux, deux (2) reptiles et un (1) amphibien. Aussi, la Gazelle dorcas et lâ€™Outarde arabe sont les plus chassÃ©es Ã  cause de leur abondance. Ainsi, la population riveraine reste Ã  92% le principal acteur de cette pression sur la faune. Le manque dâ€™emploi (43,10%), la pauvretÃ© (24,14%) et la famine (22,41%) sont les raisons qui poussent la population dans cette activitÃ© de braconnage. Au vu des impacts nÃ©gatifs prÃ©visibles suite aux pressions humaines croissantes, il est nÃ©cessaire dâ€™instaurer une cogestion Ã  moyen et long terme des ressources naturelles au niveau des communes riveraines de la RÃ©serve Naturelle Nationale de Termit Tin Toumma (RNNTT) dans le but de crÃ©er un nouveau cadre dâ€™actions concertÃ©es pour la gestion durable des ressources naturelles.
Nowadays, wildlife in Niger faces several pressures including poaching. This poaching takes place in protected areas as well as in riverside villages. The objective of this study is to analyze the poaching problem in one of the six communes (Tanout) bordering the Termit and Tin-Toumma National Nature Reserve in southeastern Niger. The methodology applied in this study is that of individual surveys and semi-structured interviews with 256 households. The results show that 12 species are encountered by poachers, including five (5) mammals, four (4) birds, two (2) reptiles and one (1) amphibian. Also, the Dorcas Gazelle and the Arabian Bustard are the most hunted because of their abundance. Thus, 92% of the riparian population remains the main actor of this pressure on the fauna. Lack of employment (43.10%), poverty (24.14%) and famine (22.41%) are the reasons that push the population into this activity. In view of the foreseeable impacts of increasing human pressures, it is necessary to establish medium and longterm co-management of natural resources at the level of the riparian communes of the Termit Tin Toumma National Nature Reserve (RNNTT) in order to create a new framework for concerted actions for the sustainable management of natural resources.
Atender a la diversidad cultural desde la educaciÃ³n infantil: currÃ­culo musical e interculturalidad
Authors: Villodre MarÃ­a del Mar BernabÃ©
Published: January 2021

Resumen
El currÃ­culo del Grado de Maestra/o en EducaciÃ³n Infantil de la Universidad de Valencia incluye hasta tres asignaturas relacionadas con la mÃºsica, algunas de ellas estructuradas desde propuestas interdisciplinares que parten de la interrelaciÃ³n de la mÃºsica con la expresiÃ³n plÃ¡stica y corporal. De entre todas ellas, la asignatura de â€œEstimulaciÃ³n e IntervenciÃ³n Temprana: MÃºsica, Grafismo y Movimientoâ€ asienta las bases del trabajo mÃ¡s inicial con el infante, bÃ¡sico para un desarrollo equilibrado, en distintos niveles. En este artÃ­culo, se recogen lo que han venido a catalogarse como buenas prÃ¡cticas formativas, desarrolladas con el alumnado desde el curso acadÃ©mico 2011/2012 hasta el 2016/2017, alumnado que habÃ­a sido educado con planes de estudios con muy distintas consideraciones hacia la EducaciÃ³n ArtÃ­stica. Se presentan las propuestas formativas que se desarrollaron para que el futuro profesorado pudiese reflexionar sobre las actividades de estimulaciÃ³n motriz y cognitiva que podÃ­a ofrecer la mÃºsica para favorecer contextos educativos interculturales.
Abstract
The curriculum of the Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education at the University of Valencia includes up to three subjects related to music, some of them structured from interdisciplinary proposals that start from the interrelation of music with visual and corporal expression. Among all of them, the subject of "Stimulation and Early Intervention: Music, Graphics and Movement" lays the foundations of the most initial work with the infant, basic for a balanced development, at different levels. In this article, what has come to be classified as good training practices are collected, developed with students from the academic year 2011/2012 to 2016/2017, students who had been educated with study plans with very different considerations towards Education Artistic. The formative proposals that were developed are presented so that future teachers could reflect on the motor and cognitive stimulation activities that music could offer to favor intercultural educational contexts.
Ethanolic extract of Dutch eggplants (Solanum betaceum) protects spermatozoa motility exposed to lead acetate
Authors: Wirenviona Rima , I’tishom Reny , Khaerunnisa Siti
Published: January 2021

Lead is a toxic material that can have negative effects on reproductive organs. Lead exposure reduces the activity of endogenous antioxidant enzymes and increases the number of oxidants in the body. High free radicals will affect spermatogenesis and result in decreased motile spermatozoa. Antioxidants are known to protect the motility of spermatozoa, and adequate antioxidants can be found in Dutch eggplants (Solanumbetaceum). This study aimed to evaluate the effect of S. betaceum on spermatozoa motility after exposure to lead acetate. This study is a true experimental design with a randomized post-test-only control group design. Forty male Balb/C mice 12 weeks old were randomly divided into 5 groups: two control groups (C0, C1) and three treatment groups (T1, T2, T3).The C0 received distilled water, and the C1 received 75 mg/kg BW lead acetate. The T1, T2 and T3 received 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg BW of S. betaceum, respectively, an hour before exposed lead acetate. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with a significant level of p <0.05. A significantly increasein the mean total motility of spermatozoa in T1, T2, and T3 was reported.This study indicates that S. betaceum have a protective effect on spermatozoa motility when exposed to lead acetate.
Eguiara y Eguren, Vicente López y san José: devoción personal y devoción oficial al santo en el siglo XVIII novohispano
Authors:   Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Investigaciones Filológicas, México, Castaño Navarro Ana
Published: January 2021

Juan José de Eguiara y Eguren (1696-1763) seems to have been clearly devoted to St. Joseph. In order to show this, the following pages will take a look at his Tratado sobre el Santísimo José, Esposo de la Madre de Dios (which includes two interesting paratexts by his friend, the Jesuit Vicente López), published in volume 1 of Selectae Dissertationes Mexicanae…, a complete treatise on Theology written for his students at the Mexican University. Eguiara´s debts to previous European and Spanish scholarly tradition on Saint Joseph will be pointed out, as well as his personal contributions to this tradition. Finally, a bibliographical review of this New Spain bibliographer and theologian’s homiletic production on Saint Joseph will be made, as well as of the books on Saint Joseph that were printed at his own printing house (Imprenta de la Bibliotheca Mexicana) during Eguiara´s lifetime. Finally, among Eguiara´s works dedicated to Saint Joseph, a manuscript anthology of sermons on the saint written by different European authors is pointed out, and the possibility is suggested that this work may be the one of similar characteristics that has been attributed to Vicente López and which is now considered lost.
En busca de una definición genérica: los cuentos espiritistas de Octavio Mancera
Authors:   Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Investigaciones Filológicas, Mexico, Geraldo Camacho Diana Vanessa
Published: January 2021

This essay examines the genre of two short stories by the Mexican writer Octavio Mancera: “Caridad” and “Un crimen,” both published in Cuentos diáfanos (1897), his only collection of short narratives. Due to the multi-faceted character of this book, I chose to narrow my study to these texts which the author called fantastic tales. I question this genre placement arguing from their discursive narrative that, although termed fantastic, they belong more fittingly to magic realism because of their peculiar spiritist formulation. I propose the term spiritist realism as a new theoretical terminology for the study of these texts. In search of a definition, this article analyzes these two stories through an interpretative reading of the genre category to which they respond.
Enquête sérologique sur la prévalence de l'infection par l'herpès virus bovin type 4 dans les troupeaux bovins des plaines d'Accra au Ghana
Authors: Marchot P. , Thiry Etienne , Jetteur P. , Leroy Philippe
Published: January 2021

Les anticorps envers l'herpès virus bovin type 4 (BHV-4) ont été recherchés par un test d'immunofluorescence indirecte sur des sérums de bovins des plaines d'Accra au Ghana. Quatorze pour cent des 176 sérums examinés sont positifs à la dilution 1/100. Des études complémentaires sont nécessaires pour mieux comprendre les relations existant entre le BHV-4 ou d'autres agents, et les vaginites nécrotiques et les problèmes de fertilité observés sur le bétail dans la région.
Première observation de l’hépatite infectieuse nécrosante (black disease) parmi des chèvres nubiennes au Soudan
Authors: Hamid M.E. , Mohamed G.E. , Abu Samra M.T. , Hamad A.A.
Published: January 2021

Dans un troupeau de 425 chèvres nubiennes, mâles et femelles, de la Province de Khartoum, on a noté l'apparition d'une maladie causant la mort soudaine de 18 animaux en bonne santé apparente (11 femelles et 7 mâles, âgés de 3 à 6 ans). Des douves adultes (Fasciola gigantica) ont été trouvées dans le foie de tous les animaux malades et pour sept d'entre eux, des kystes de Cysticercus tenuicollis. Les foies ont révélé des changements importants histopathologiques et des foyers de nécrose. Clostridium novyi type B a pu être isolé à partir des zones de nécrose dans tous les foies et s'est révélé hautement toxique et pathogène pour les animaux de laboratoire. Le diagnostic a été celui de l'hépatite infectieuse nécrosante ou "black disease". L'examen des fèces a confirmé la présence d'oeufs de F. gigantica et des lymnées (Lymnaea natalensis) ont été trouvées en abondance dans les canaux d'adduction d'eau. Comme la province de Khartoum est considérée comme une zone d'endémie de l'hépatite infectieuse nécrosante, la vaccination systématique des chèvres et des moutons est hautement recommandée pour lutter contre cette affection.
Facteurs de variation des paramètres protéo-énergétiques, enzymatiques et minéraux dans le plasma chez le dromadaire de Djibouti
Authors: Faye Bernard , Mulato C.
Published: January 2021

L'analyse du plasma de 52 dromadaires (27 femelles adultes, 13 jeunes femelles, 7 mâles adultes et 5 jeunes mâles) en provenance de cinq régions naturelles de Djibouti a concerné 15 paramètres biochimiques. Les valeurs observées tendent à admettre des états de subcarence en oligo-éléments (cuivre : 60, 7 µg/100 ml; zinc : 46,2 µg/100 ml) mais non en calcium (9,5 mg/100 ml), ni en magnésium (2,3 mg/100 ml), bien que dans ce dernier cas les écarts soient grands (1,1-3,9). Par ailleurs, les dromadaires de Djibouti semblent en état de déficit énergétique (63,7 mg/100 ml pour le glucose, 0,025 mmol/l pour le BOH, 0,17 mmol/l pour les acides gras libres), mais le niveau azoté alimentaire serait globalement satisfaisant (urée : 35,9 mg/100 ml, albumine : 32,7 g/l). Les lipides plasmatiques (cholestérol, phospholipides, triglycérides) signent les particularités métaboliques du dromadaire (respectivement 19,5, 22,4 et 26,6 mg/100 ml). Le facteur géographique est prépondérant sur les facteurs zootechniques pour expliquer les différences entre les profils observés. Les caractéristiques des cinq régions sont discutées en relation avec le profil moyen observé sur les animaux.
Variole caprine au Tchad : étude du pouvoir pathogène du virus chez les ovins et les caprins
Authors: Bidjeh K. , Ganda K. , Diguimbaye C.
Published: January 2021

Une souche locale de virus de la variole caprine a été testée sur des caprins et des ovins. Les résultats ont montré que 65 p. 100 des chèvres et 20 p. 100 des moutons réagissent positivement. Seules des chèvres sont mortes quelques jours après l'inoculation (55 p. 100). La spécificité d'espèce stricte de la souche isolée n'a pas été observée. La différence de sensibilité entre les caprins et les ovins est statistiquement significative
Reprise de l'activité sexuelle post partum chez les bovins allaitants en Nouvelle-Calédonie
Authors: Bergès Jean-Michel , Humblot Patrice , Bianchi Manuel , Thibier M.
Published: January 2021

En Nouvelle-Calédonie, au cours d'une saison de reproduction, 108 vaches (61 Charolaises et 37 Santa-Gertrudis) ont subi trois séries mensuelles de deux prises de sang, à 10 jours d'intervalle, de mars à juin. Le dosage de la progestérone sérique a été réalisé par radioimmunologie. Le seuil de positivité retenu pour l'affirmation d'une activité cyclique est une concentration supérieure à 2 ng/ml. Ont été relevés : le poids des vaches et de leurs produits tous les 21 jours, l'observation des chaleurs, l'enregistrement des naissances et de l'intervalle vêlage-saillie fécondante. Les résultats des dosages hormonaux ont montré que 10 p. 100 des femelles étaient cyclées à 21 jours, 74 p. 100 à 42 jours, et 100 p. 100 à 63 jours. L'étude statistique a révélé que la race, la perte de poids, la production laitière ou l'âge n'avaient pas d'effet significatif sur la distribution de l'intervalle vêlage-saillie fécondante (P > 0,05). Les saillies fécondantes ont eu lieu aux premier et deuxième cycles qui suivent l'apparition des chaleurs. Le climat de la zone d'étude, tropical-océanique, ne semble pas avoir influencé directement le délai de reprise de l'activité sexuelle après le vêlage. Celle-ci semble être principalement dépendante du niveau de l'alimentation des animaux avant le vêlage.
Note sur la barymétrie comme moyen de sélection indirecte du poids vif chez le zébu Gobra au Sénégal
Authors: Sow R.S. , Denis Jean-Pierre , Trail J.C.M. , Thiongane P.I. , Mbaye Momar
Published: January 2021

A partir de données recueillies entre 1969 et 1981, les auteurs ont calculé les paramètres génétiques du poids vif et des mesures linéaires du zébu Gobra, de 0 à 3 ans. Les relations génétiques entre poids et mensurations permettent de déterminer la réponse corrélative du poids vif à la sélection indirecte. Pour un âge et un couple de variables donnés (poids-mesure), le niveau de la réponse indirecte dépend de la corrélation génétique et des héritabilités. L'utilisation du poids vif pour améliorer génétiquement la production de viande constitue la voie idéale. Néanmoins, devant certaines difficultés, la sélection indirecte par les mesures linéaires semble se justifier
Self-Assembling Peptide P11-4 Presents Potential of Inducing Odontoblast-Like Cells to Biomineralization and Cell Migration
Authors: Araújo Isaac Jordão de Souza , Guimarães Gustavo Narvaes , Machado Renato Assis , Bertassoni Luiz Eduardo , Davies Robert Philip Wynn , Puppin-Rontani Regina Maria
Published: January 2021

Self-assembling peptide P11-4 is amphiphilic and pH-triggered with demonstrated effectivity repairing early carious lesions in enamel. However, P11-4 effects on dentin biomineralization and repair remain unexplored. Thus, cytocompatibility and effectiveness of P11-4 inducing mineralization and migration of odontoblast-like cells (MDPC-23) were investigated. MDPC-23 were seeded in contact with P11-4(0.5µg/ml and 1µg/ml), Dentin Matrix Protein 1 (DMP1 0.5µg/ml and 1 µg/ml) or Calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2 100µg/ml) solutions. Cytotoxicity was verified using MTT (n=6/group). Mineralization was tested using Alizarin Red (n=4/group). Cell migration was assessed by light microscopy (n=2/group). MTT and Alizarin Red data were compared using Krus-kal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney (α=0.05). P11-4 (0.5µg/ml and 1µg/ml) and DMP1 (0.5µg/ml and 1µg/ml) presented the highest cytocompatibility; Ca(OH)2 presented the lowest. DMP1 1µg/ml exhibited the highest mineralization ability, with no difference to P11-4 1µg/ml. Ca(OH)2 presented lower values than DMP1 1µg/ml (p<0.05), but similar to P11-4 1µg/ml. P11-4 and DMP1 at 0.5 µg/ml showed induced less mineralization than P11-4 and DMP1 at 1µg/ml (p<0.05), with no difference to Ca(OH)2. All materials stimulated cell migration, however, lower concentrations of DMP1 and P11-4 provided better results. P11-4 is cytocompatible, induces mineralization and MDPC-23 migration like DMP1. P11-4 could be an alternative for dentin mineralization and tooth repair.
Increased Utilization of Total Joint Arthroplasty After Medicaid Expansion
Authors: Dy Christopher J. , Salter Amber , Barker Abigail , Brown Derek , Keller Matthew , Olsen Margaret A.
Published: January 2021

Background:

The expansion of state Medicaid programs under the U.S. Affordable Care Act has led to a dramatic increase in the number of Americans with health insurance coverage. Prior analyses of a limited number of states have suggested that greater utilization of total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) should be expected after Medicaid expansion. The purpose of our study was to examine whether increased utilization of THA and TKA occurred across a broader range of states after Medicaid expansion.

Methods:

We analyzed administrative data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project from 9 states (Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Massachusetts, Maryland, Nevada, New York, and Vermont) that expanded Medicaid in 2014 and 2 states that did not expand Medicaid (Florida and Missouri). We included patients who were 18 to 64 years of age and had a primary THA or TKA from 2012 to 2015 with Medicaid as the primary payer. Other payers (including dual-eligible Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries) were excluded. We performed multivariable regression modeling with the number of Medicaid-insured THAs or TKAs as the dependent variable and the interaction between the state Medicaid expansion status and year as the main policy independent variable, with adjustment for community characteristics.

Results:

Among all 11 states, there were 39,452 total joint arthroplasties (42% THA and 58% TKA) funded by Medicaid from 2012 to 2015. After adjusting for community characteristics, within expansion states, compared with 2013, THA and TKA increased 15% in 2014 (p < 0.0001) and 23% in 2015 (p < 0.0001) within expansion states. Within non-expansion states, compared with 2013, there were significant utilization decreases of 18% in 2014 (p < 0.0001) and 11% in 2015 (p = 0.0002).

Conclusions:

Medicaid expansion was associated with significant increases in Medicaid-funded THA and TKA utilization in 9 states. As additional states consider expanding Medicaid programs and as alternative health reforms that increase insurance eligibility are debated, surgeons, administrators, and policymakers should prepare for a surge in the utilization of THA and TKA.
Comparative Evaluation of Posterior Percutaneous Endoscopy Cervical Discectomy Using 3.7 mm Endoscope and 6.9 mm Endoscope for Cervical Disc Herniation: a retrospective comparative cohort study
Authors: Yu Tong , Wu Jiu-Ping , Zhang Jun , Yu Hai-Chi , Liu Qinyi
Published: January 2021

Background. Posterior percutaneous endoscopy cervical discectomy (p-PECD) is an effective strategy for the treatment of cervical diseases, with a working cannula ranging from 3.7 mm to 6.9 mm in diameter. However, to date, no studies have been performed to compare the clinical outcomes of the use of endoscopes with different diameters in cervical disc herniation (CDH) patients. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of patients with unilateral CDH treated with p-PECD using a 3.7 mm endoscope and a 6.9 mm endoscope.Methods. From January 2016 to June 2018, a total of 28 consecutive patients with single-level CDH who received p-PECD using either the 3.7 mm or the 6.9 mm endoscope were enrolled. The clinical results, including the surgical duration, hospitalization, visual analog scale (VAS) score and modified MacNab criteria, were evaluated. Cervical fluoroscopy, CT, and MRI were also performed during follow-up.Results. Tthere was a significant difference in regard to the average identification time of the “V” point (18.608±3.7607 min vs. 11.256±2.7161 min, p<0.001) and the mean removal time of the overlying tissue (16.650±4.1730 min vs. 12.712±3.3079 min, p<0.05) for the use of the 3.7 mm endoscope and the 6.9 mm endoscope, respectively. The postoperative VAS and MacNab scores of the two endoscopes were significantly improved compared with those the preoperative scores (p<0.05).Conclusion. The application of both the 3.7 mm endoscope and 6.9 mm endoscope represent an effective method for the treatment of CDH in selected patients, and no significant difference can be observed in the clinical outcomes of the endoscopes. The 6.9 mm endoscope shows superiority to the 3.7 mm endoscope in terms of the efficiency of “V” point identification, the removal of overlying soft tissue and the prevention of spinal cord injury. However, the 6.9 mm endoscope may be inferior to the 3.7 mm endoscope in regards to anterior foraminal decompression due to its large diameter; this result needs to be further evaluated with the support of a large number of randomized controlled trials.
Using practical wisdom to facilitate ethical decision-making: a major empirical study of phronesis in the decision narratives of doctors.
Authors: Conroy Mervyn , Malik Aisha Y , Hale Catherine , Weir Catherine , Brockie Alan , Turner Chris
Published: January 2021

Background Medical ethics has recently seen a drive away from multiple prescriptive approaches, where physicians are inundated with guidelines and principles, towards alternative, less deontological perspectives. This represents a clear call for theory building that does not produce more guidelines. Phronesis (practical wisdom) offers an alternative approach for ethical decision-making based on an application of accumulated wisdom gained through previous practice dilemmas and decisions experienced by practitioners. Phronesis, as an ‘executive virtue’, offers a way to navigate the practice virtues for any given case to reach a final decision on the way forward. However, very limited empirical data exist to support the theory of phronesis -based medical decision-making, and what does exist tends to focus on individual practitioners rather than practice-based communities of physicians. Methods The primary research question was: What does it mean to medical practitioners to make ethically wise decisions for patients and their communities? A three-year ethnographic study explored the practical wisdom of doctors (n=131) and used their narratives to develop theoretical understanding of the concepts of ethical decision-making. Data collection included narrative interviews and observations with hospital doctors and General Practitioners at all stages in career progression. The analysis draws on neo-Aristotelian, MacIntyrean concepts of practice- based virtue ethics and was supported by an arts-based film production process. Results We found that individually doctors conveyed many different practice virtues and those were consolidated into fifteen virtue continua that convey the participants’ ‘collective practical wisdom’, including the phronesis virtue. This study advances the existing theory and practice on phronesis as a decision-making approach due to the availability of these continua. Conclusion Given the arguments that doctors feel professionally and personally vulnerable in the context of ethical decision-making, the continua in the form of a video series and app based moral debating resource can support before, during and after decision-making reflection. The potential implications are that these theoretical findings can be used by educators and practitioners as a non-prescriptive alternative to improve ethical decision-making, thereby addressing the call in the literature, and benefit patients and their communities, as well.
Honeybee gut microbiota modulates host behaviors and neurological processes
Authors: Zhang Zijing , Mu Xiaohuan , Cao Qina , Shi Yao , Hu Xiaosong , Zheng Hao
Published: January 2021

Honeybee is a highly social insect with a reach behavioral repertoire and is a versatile model for neurobiological research. The honeybee gut microbiota is composed of a limited number of bacterial phylotypes that play an important role in host health. However, it remains unclear whether the microbiota can shape brain profiles and behaviors. Here, we revealed that the gut microbiota is requisite for the olfactory learning and memory ability of honeybees and alters the level of neurotransmitters in the brain. Transcriptomic and proteomic analysis showed distinctive gene expression and protein signatures for gnotobiotic bees associated with different gut bacteria. Specifically, genes related to olfactory functions and labor division are most upregulated. Moreover, differentially spliced genes in the brains of colonized bees largely overlapped with the datasets for human autism. The circulating metabolome profiles identified that different gut species regulated specific module of metabolites in the host hemolymph. Most altered metabolites are involved in the amino acid and glycerophospholipid metabolism pathways for the production of neuroactive compounds. Finally, antibiotic treatment disturbed the gut community and the nursing behavior of worker bees under field conditions. The brain transcripts and gut metabolism was also greatly interfered in treated bees. Collectively, we demonstrate that the gut microbiota regulates honeybee behaviors, brain gene transcription, and the circulating metabolism. Our findings highlight the contributions of honeybee gut microbes in the neurological processes with striking parallels to those found in other animals, thus providing a promising model to understand the host-microbe interactions via the gut-brain axis.
Maternal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics causes brain abnormalities in progeny
Authors: Jeong Bohyeon , Ryu Young-Kyoung , Baek Jeong Yeob , Koo Jahong , Park Subin , Zhang Seungjae , Chung ChiHye , Dogan Rumeysa , Choi Hyung-Seok , Um Dahun , Kim Tae-Kyung , Lee Wang Sik , Kim Kyoung-Shim , Jeong Jinyoung , Shin Won-Ho , Lee Jae-Ran , Kim Nam-Soon , Lee Da Yong
Published: January 2021

As global plastic production continues to grow, microplastics released from a massive quantity of plastic wastes have become a critical environmental concern. These microplastic particles are found in a wide range of living organisms in a diverse array of ecosystems. In this study, we investigated the biological effects of polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) on development of the central nervous system using cultured neural stem cells (NSCs) and mice exposed to PSNPs during developmental stages. Our study demonstrates that maternal administration of PSNPs during gestation and lactating periods altered the functioning of NSCs, neural cell compositions, and brain histology in progeny. Similarly, our in vitro study also shows PSNP-induced molecular and functional defects in NSCs. Finally, we show that the abnormal brain development caused by exposure to high concentrations of PSNPs results in neurophysiological and cognitive deficits in a gender-specific manner. Our data demonstrate the possibility that exposure to high amounts of PSNPs may increase the risk of neurodevelopmental defects.
In vivo imaging with a flat, lensless microscope
Authors: Adams Jesse , Yan Dong , Wu Jimin , Boominathan Vivek , Gao Sibo , Rodriguez Alexander , Carns Jennifer , Richards-Kortum Rebecca , Kemere Caleb , Veeraraghavan Ashok , Robinson Jacob
Published: January 2021

Lenless microscopes that form images using simple, compact optics, along with associated computational algorithms provide several advantages: small, inexpensive form factors, large fields of view (FOV), and the ability to refocus an image after capture. To date, however, lensless microscopy has yet to be demonstrated for in vivo biological imaging. The primary challenge with in vivo bio-imaging is these dense, low-contrast scenes cannot be accurately reconstructed with existing lensless techniques. To overcome this challenge, we designed an optical phase mask that creates a point-spread function consisting of high-contrast contours with a broad spatial frequency spectrum. Here we show that this “contour” phase mask enables in vivo imaging where previous lensless imaging technologies have failed. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate 3D imaging of a behaving invertebrate, functional calcium imaging in mouse cortex, and in vivo imaging of microvasculature in the human oral mucosa. Together these results demonstrate the ability of lensless imaging to operate in realistic biological imaging applications ranging from pre-clinical animal models to clinical biomedical imaging. Overall, this “Bio-FlatScope” is a clinically relevant imaging technique with advantages of 3D computational refocusing in a low-cost, small form factor that is useful for low-resource settings and difficult-to-reach areas of the body.
Pre-hospital Transdermal Glyceryl Trinitrate in Patients With Stroke Mimics: Data From the Right-2 Randomised-controlled Ambulance Trial
Authors: Tunnage Bronwyn , Woodhouse Lisa J , Dixon Mark , Anderson Craig S , Ankolekar Sandeep , Appleton Jason P , Cala Lesley , England Timothy J , Krishnan Kailash , Havard Diane , Mair Grant , Muir Keith , Phillips Steve J , Potter John , Price Christopher I , Randall Marc , Robinson Thompson G , Roffe Christine , Sandset Else C , Siriwardena Niro , Scutt Polly , Wardlaw Joanna M , Sprigg Nikola , Bath Philip M
Published: January 2021

Background: Prehospital stroke trials will inevitably recruit patients with non-stroke conditions, so called stroke mimics. We undertook a pre-specified analysis to determine outcomes in patients with mimics in the second Rapid Intervention with Glyceryl trinitrate in Hypertensive stroke Trial (RIGHT-2). Methods: RIGHT-2 was a prospective, multicentre, paramedic-delivered, ambulance-based, sham-controlled, participant-and outcome-blinded, randomised-controlled trial of transdermal glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) in adults with ultra-acute presumed stroke in the UK. Final diagnosis (intracerebral haemorrhage, ischaemic stroke, transient ischaemic attack, mimic) was determined by the hospital investigator. This pre-specified subgroup analysis assessed the safety and efficacy of transdermal GTN (5 mg daily for 4 days) versus sham patch among stroke mimic patients. The primary outcome was the 7-level modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 90 days. Results Among 1149 participants in RIGHT-2, 297 (26%) had a final diagnosis of mimic (GTN 134, sham 163). The mimic group were younger, mean age 67 (SD: 18) vs 75 (SD: 13) years, had a longer interval from symptom onset to randomisation, median 75 [95% CI: 47,126] vs 70 [95% CI:45,108] minutes, less atrial fibrillation and a lower systolic blood pressure and Face-Arm-Speech-Time tool score than the stroke group. The three most common mimic diagnoses were seizure (17%), migraine or primary headache disorder (17%) and functional disorders (14%). At 90 days, the GTN group had a better mRS score as compared to the sham group (adjusted common odds ratio 0.54; 95% confidence intervals 0.34, 0.85; p = 0.008), a difference that persisted at 365 days. There was no difference in the proportion of patients who died in hospital, were discharged to a residential care facility, or suffered a serious adverse event. Conclusions One-quarter of patients suspected by paramedics to have an ultra-acute stroke were subsequently diagnosed with a non-stroke condition. GTN was associated with unexplained improved functional outcome observed at 90 days and one year, a finding that may represent an undetected baseline imbalance, chance, or real efficacy. GTN was not associated with harm. Trial registration: This trial is registered with International Standard Randomised Controlled Trials Number ISRCTN 26986053. Funding: The RIGHT-2 trial was supported by the British Heart Foundation
Morbidity After Elective Surgery in Patients on Chronic Dialysis: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Palamuthusingam Dharmenaan , Nadarajah Arun , Johnson David , Pascoe Elaine , Hawley Carmel , Fahim Magid
Published: January 2021

Background: Patients on chronic dialysis are at increased risk of postoperative mortality following elective surgery compared to patients with normal kidney function, but morbidity outcomes are less often reported. This study ascertains the excess odds of postoperative cardiovascular and infection related morbidity outcomes for patients on chronic dialysis. Methods: Systematic searches were performed using MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Library to identify relevant studies published from inception to January 2020. Eligible studies reported postoperative morbidity outcomes in chronic dialysis and non-dialysis patients undergoing major non-transplant surgery. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the certainty of evidence was summarised using GRADE. Random effects meta-analyses were performed to derive summary odds estimates. Meta-regression and sensitivity analyses were performed to explore heterogeneity. Results: Forty-nine studies involving 10 513 934 patients with normal kidney function and 43 092 patients receiving chronic dialysis were included. Patients on chronic dialysis had increased unadjusted odds of postoperative cardiovascular and infectious complications within each surgical discipline. However, the excess odds of cardiovascular complications was attenuated when odds ratios were adjusted for age and comorbidities; myocardial infarction (general surgery, OR 1.83 95% 1.29 – 2.36) and stroke (general surgery, OR 0.95, 95%CI 0.84-1.06). The excess odds of infectious complications remained substantially higher for patients on chronic dialysis, particularly sepsis (general surgery, OR 2.42, 95%CI 2.12-2.72). Conclusion: Patients on chronic dialysis are at increased odds of both cardiovascular and infectious complications following elective surgery, with the excess odds of cardiovascular complications attributable to being on dialysis being highest among younger patients without comorbidities. However, further research is needed to better inform perioperative risk assessment.
Sputum Colour as a Marker for Bacteria in Acute Exacerbations of COPD: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Authors: Spies Ruan , Potter Matthew Wade , Hollamby Ruan , Walt Stefan van der , Hohlfeld Ameer , Ochodo Eleanor , Zyl-Smit Richard Nellis van
Published: January 2021

BackgroundChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of years of life lost globally. Acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) drive disease progression, reduce quality of life and are a source of mortality in COPD. Approximately 50% of AECOPD are due to bacterial infections. Diagnosing bacterial infection as the aetiology of AECOPD however remains challenging as investigations are limited by practicality, accuracy and expense. Clinicians have traditionally used sputum colour as a marker of bacterial infection in AECOPD, despite the lack of high-quality evidence for this practice. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to determine the diagnostic accuracy of sputum colour in the diagnosis of bacterial causes of AECOPD. MethodsArticles will be searched for in electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Africa-Wide, CINAHL and Health Source Nursing Academy) and we will conduct a review of citation indexes and the grey literature. Two reviewers will independently conduct study selection, against pre-defined eligibility criteria, data extraction and quality assessment of included articles using the QUADAS-2 tool. We will perform a meta‐analysis using a bivariate logistic regression model with random effects. We will explore heterogeneity through the visual examination of the forest plots of sensitivities and specificities and through the inclusion of possible sources of heterogeneity as covariates in a meta-regression model if sufficient studies are included in the analysis. We also perform a sensitivity analysis to explore the effect of study quality on our findings. The results of this review will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis statement and will be submitted for peer-review and publication.DiscussionThe findings of this review will assist clinicians in diagnosing the aetiology of AECOPD and may have important implications for decision making in resource-limited settings, as well as for antimicrobial stewardship.Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42019141498
WITHDRAWN: Analysis of Fracture Distribution in the Surgical Neck Region of the Proximal Humerus: a 3D Bone Cortical Thickness Mapping Study
Authors: Guo Jialiang , Dong Weichong , Zhou Yali , Jin Lin , Tian Siyu , Wang Zhongzheng , Hou Zhiyong , Zhang Yingze
Published: January 2021

Objection: Among the many studies on the proximal humerus, few have focused on cortical bone distribution around the surgical neck region and its relationship with the epiphysis. Materials and methods: Ninety-five surgical neck fracture patients with available plain X-rays and CT scans were enrolled. In addition, 38 normal subjects were also included to illustrate the cortical thickness of the diaphysis, cortical change region and greater tuberosity.Results: The fracture lines were mainly distributed in the cortical change region. Significant differences were found in cortical thickness between the diaphysis, surgical region and greater tuberosity in men and women. The thickest cortex was noted in the diaphysis, and the thinnest cortex was noted in the greater tuberosity. No significant differences were observed in the width of the cortical change region in man and women.Conclusion: The surgical neck region had decreased cortical thickness. It was concluded that the epiphysis connection region had an effect and acted on the proximal humeral fracture pattern in adults; therefore, the surgical neck fracture was identified as an epiphyseal relative fracture.
TNF-α suppresses drug resistance via NF-κB/PXR pathway in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Huang Weiqing , Wang Ping , Qi Shiyu , Zhang Yuanyuan , Han Wei , Kong Qingnuan
Published: January 2021

Background

Reduced sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents caused by multidrug resistance is the main obstacle in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Activated NF-κB/PXR pathway stimulated by procytokine TNF-α is implicated in the formation of multidrug resistance phenotype. However, the underlying mechanisms are obscure, and results concluded in various tumors are conflicted. Herein, we explored the effects of TNF-α on NF-κB/PXR pathway activation and multidrug resistance development in NSCLC.
Methods

Cancerous tissues were used to evaluate the expression of TNF-α on inflammatory stroma cells and tumor cells separately and analyze their correlations with the NF-κB/PXR pathway as well as clinical chemoresistance. Alterations of the NF-κB/PXR pathway and multidrug resistance gene ABCB1 transcripts in response to TNF-α application were observed on the A549 cell line.
Results

Our results demonstrated that TNF-α produced by inflammatory stromal cells was associated with clinical chemoresistance and negatively correlated to PXR expression. Moreover, TNF-α induced activated NF-κB and repressed PXR at mRNA and protein expression levels in A549 cancer cells. Furthermore, ABCB1 transcripts changes were consistent with PXR expression.
Conclusions

Our findings suggested potentially inhibitory effects of TNF-α produced by inflammatory stroma cells on multidrug resistance in solid NSCLC through mediating NF-κB/PXR pathway activation. These results further the understanding of the roles of inflammatory cells infiltrating tumors and suggest more subtle regulation mechanisms of TNF-α that should be further explored to discover distinct targeted molecules overcoming drug resistance.
Learning Sequential Patterns Using Spatio-Temporal Attention Networks for Video Classification
Authors: Deshmukh Shubhada , Patwardhan Manasi , Mahajan Anjali , Deshpande Sadanand
Published: January 2021

Extensive research effort has been focused on extracting temporal patterns from videos, to improve the accuracy of video classification using a deep neural network based approaches. In this paper, we show that long term dependency patterns may not be enough to achieve sufficient improved results. We propose the Attention-based Spatio-Temporal model (AST) for video classification, which is a self-attention model that learns to attend to spatial features using Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and temporal features using attention mechanisms. We evaluate our model on motion dependent Action recognition (UCF-101) dataset, facial expression recognition (MMI) dataset, and micro-expression recognition (CASME2) dataset and generated real-life Facial Expression Recognition (FER) dataset and improved by 10%, 4.7% and 5.6% accuracy respectively as compared to state-of-art on the three standard datasets and a synthetic dataset as well.In our research, we performed several experiments for detecting expressions and actions, the AST model plays a vital role in selecting the frames and carry the sequential context in the real-time application as well. We also experimented by extracting the features using the Active shape model (ASM) for FER and found the AST model surpasses other approaches.
SY-707, an ALK/FAK/IGF1R Inhibitor, Suppresses Growth and Metastasis of Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Liu Ping , Sun Yinghui , Liu Shuang , Niu Jing , Liu Xijie , Li Binghui , Chu Qiaoyun
Published: January 2021

Background Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a multi-functional cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase, plays a critical role in cancer migration, proliferation and metastasis via regulating multiple signaling pathways. SY-707 is an ALK/FAK/IGF1R multi-kinase inhibitor and now evaluated in Phase II clinical trial for ALK positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodsHTRF (Homogeneous Time-Resolved Fluorescence) assay was used to analyze kinase enzyme activity to determine inhibitory activities of SY-707 on other kinases. ATP content, PE-Annexin V and would healing assays were used to examine cell proliferation, cell cycle and migration when cells were treated with SY707. Then, SD rat and beagle dog models were used to evaluate the pharmacokinetics profile, and mouse xenograft model was used to evaluate the in vivo anti-cancer activities of SY707. ResultsIn this study, we assessed preclinical anti-growth and anti-metastasis potency of SY-707 in breast cancer cells. SY-707 was able to inhibit the growth of breast cancer cell lines and induced cell apoptosis by suppressing the FAK signaling pathways. Moreover, SY-707 exerted inhibition on cell migration and adhesion in a dose-dependent manner. In T47D xenograft mice, SY-707 had significant anti-tumor activities lonely or synergistically with Paclitaxel. Meanwhile, SY-707 also displayed significant suppression on spontaneous metastasis of tumor to the lung in 4T1 murine breast cancer xenograft model. ConclusionsSY-707 illustrated potent anti-proliferation and anti-migration potential in breast cancer in vitro and in vivo, implying its therapeutic application for the treatment of breast cancer in future clinical trials.
Robo2 Predicts a Better Prognosis and Inhibits Malignant Behavior in Vivo in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Ding Cheng , Li Yatong , Wang Shunda , Xing Cheng , Chen Lixin , Zhang Hanyu , Wang Yizhi , Dai MengHua
Published: January 2021

BackgroundPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal malignancy with an extremely poor prognosis and a high mortality rate. Genome-wide studies have shown that the SLIT/ROBO signaling pathway plays an important role in pancreatic tumor development and progression. However, the effect and mechanism of ROBO2 in the progression of pancreatic cancer remains largely unknown.MethodsIn this study, real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot analyses were adopted to evaluate the expression level of ROBO2 and proteins in pancreatic cell lines. Cell migration and invasion and cell proliferation were conducted in AsPC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 cell lines. RNA sequencing and western blot were undertaken to explore the mechanisms and potential targeted molecules. ROBO2 expression in tumor tissues was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 95 patients.ResultsROBO2 expression was downregulated in PDAC cell lines and tissue samples. A high level of ROBO2 was associated with good overall survival. Upregulation of ROBO2 inhibited PDAC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, whereas the opposite results were found in the ROBO2 downregulation group. In addition, xenograft animal models further confirmed the effect of ROBO2 on proliferation. Finally, the RNA sequencing results indicated that ROBO2 facilitates anti-tumorigenicity partly via inhibiting ECM1 in PDAC. ConclusionsOur work suggests that ROBO2 inhibits tumor progression in PDAC and may serve as a predictive biomarker and therapeutic target in PDAC.