bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PENERAPAN MODEL PEMBELAJARAN MENCARI PASANGAN DAN BERTUKAR PASANGAN DALAM KELOMPOK DISKUSI TERHADAP HASIL BELAJAR SISWA PADA MATERI SISTEM KOLOID KELAS XI IPA MAN 1 KOTA BENGKULU
Authors: Aprianika Sella , Bahar Amrul , Rohiat Salastri
Published: July 2021

This study aims to determine differences in student learning outcomes using a model of learning make a match with a model partner switch the subject matter colloidal system class XI IPA MAN 1 Bengkulu City in the academic year 2017/2018. The research population of all classes XI IPA amounted to 4 classes with a total population of 151 students. The sampling of the research was done by normality test and homogeneity test before the study population. Obtained a sample of research that consists of 2 classes of class XI IPA 1 as an experimental class I that apply the model make a match and class XI IPA 2 as an experimental class II using a model parten switch. Student learning outcomes are seen from the postest score. Students' learning outcomes in the make a match class had an average of 82.714 while in the partner switch the average pair was 77.5. This shows that the model of make a match is more effectively used in the process of learning in class than the model of partner switch. From the t test-t test on both experiment classes is obtained tcount and ttable = 1.707> 1.666 (? = 0,05). The results show that H0 is rejected and Ha is accepted which means that there is a significant difference between the learning result of the students using make a match model and the learning model partner switch on the material of the colloidal system.
PENERAPAN MODEL PEMBELAJARAN AUDITORY, INTELLECTUALY DAN REPETITION (AIR) DENGAN MENGGUNAKAN MEDIA PEMBELAJARAN KARTU ARISAN UNTUK MENINGKATKAN AKTIVITAS DAN HASIL BELAJAR SISWA KELAS X MIA 1 SMAN 8 KOTA BENGKULU
Authors: Sumiati Diana , Bahar Amrul , Handayani Dewi
Published: July 2021

This study aimed to improve learning activities and learning outcomes of students in class X MIA 1 of Senior High School (SMAN) 8 Bengkulu on the subject of chemical bonds through the application of Auditory, Intellectualy, and Repetition (AIR) learning models by using learning media with lottery card. This study is a classroom action research consisting of three cycles, each cycle consisting of four stages, planning, action, observation and reflection. In collection of data was done by non-test and test methods, teacher observation sheets, student observation sheets and post-test. The data was processed by using simple quantitative data analysis techniques, the total value of each student, the average value, the percentage of absorptive power, learning completeness and the average observation score.The results of the study in the 2018/2019 school year showed that the application of the Auditory Intellectualy Repitition learning model using learning media with lottery  cards in class X MIA 1 of SMA Negeri 8 Kota Bengkulu could improve teacher activities, student activities and student chemistry learning outcomes. This can be seen from the average score of teacher activities in the first cycle to the third cycle in a row : 23, 27.5 and 31.5. Student activity also showed improvement in each cycle. The average score of student activity in cycle I to cycle III was sequentially 20, 25 29.5. Learning outcomes also increase in each cycle. This can be seen from the average value of the test results in each cycle, in the first cycle of 61.82, in the second cycle of 67.88, in the third cycle of 79.09. Classical absorption in cycle I, cycle II, cycle III are 61.82%, 67.88%, 79.09%, with the percentage of completeness learning in each cycle of 42%, 73%, and 87.8 %.
UJI SITOTOKSIK DAN AKTIVITAS ANTIBAKTERI EKSTRAK DAUN PANDAN LAUT (Pandanus Odorifer) TERHADAP BAKTERI Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Puspasari Shinta , Nurhamidah Nurhamidah , Amir Hermansyah
Published: July 2021

This study aims to determine the activity of marine pandanus extract(Pandanus odorifer) as cytotoxic and antibacterial to Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. This research begins with phytochemical test conducted to find out the secondary metabolite compounds contained in the leaves of P. odorifer. Cytotoxic testing was performed using BSLT method. An antibacterial test was performed against the activity in inhibiting the growth of S. aureus bacteria using a modified disc diffusion method. The results of phytochemical tests showed that ethanol extract of pandanus leaves contain saponin, flavonoids, tannin and terpenoid compounds. The results of cytotoxic test of sea pandan have a very strong toxic level with LC50 value of 4.3557 ppm.The result of measurement of the highest inhibiting zone diameter was obtained at the concentration of 5x104 ppm is 6 mm with the power of inhibitory that is medium. Based on the results of this study can be concluded that the leaves of sea pandan are cytotoxic and have activity as antibacterial
PERBANDINGAN MODEL PEMBELAJARAN PROBLEM SOLVING DAN PROBLEM BASED LEARNING TERHADAP KEMAMPUAN BERPIKIR KRITIS SISWA KELAS XI MIA MAN 2 KOTA BENGKULU
Authors: Sani Ida Nurjelita , Bahar Amrul , Elvinawati Elvinawati
Published: July 2021

The aim of this study to determine the comparison of Problem Solving (PS) and Problem Based Learning (PBL) models to critical thinking skills of student on buffer solution material. This type of research is quasi experimental research with posttest only control group design research design. The population of this study is all class XI IPA of MAN 2 Bengkulu City academic year 2018/2019 as many 133 students. The analysis of the data was used the normality test,  homogeneity test, and hypothesis test.  The research sample was taken by purposive sampling technique. Data on the results of students' critical thinking skills are obtained from the value of the posttest or final test. Posttest is done by using test instruments in the form of descriptive tests as many as 6 items, each of which has a different critical thinking indicator. Previous test instruments were tested and analyzed to see the level of validity, reliability, differentiation and the level of difficulty of the questions. The results of the study showed that the average value of students' critical thinking ability achievement in the experimental class 1 was higher than that of the experimental class 2 students which were 74.09 and 70.22. Based on these results, the experimental class 1 which applied the problem solving learning model was better at improving students' thinking skills than the experimental class 2 which applied a problem-based learning model. Hypothesis testing with the T-test at the 0.05 significance level yields a sig value. (2-tailed)> level of signicant which is 0.147> 0.05 so that Ho is accepted. Thus, it can be concluded that there is no significant difference between the critical thinking skills of the experimental class 1 students who apply PS models and experimental class 2 students who apply the PBL model.
PERBANDINGAN MODEL PEMBELAJARAN KOOPERATIF TIPE TEAM ASSISTED INDIVIDUALIZATION (TAI) DAN THINK PAIR SHARE (TPS) TERHADAP MINAT DAN HASIL BELAJAR KIMIA SISWA
Authors: Napitupuluh Elfrida , Elvia Rina , Rohiat Salastri
Published: July 2021

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menentukan perbedaan minat dan hasil belajar kimia siswa dengan menggunakan model pembelajaran Team Assisted Individualization dan model pembelajaran Think Pair Share pada materi persamaan reaksi kimia di SMAN 8 Kota Bengkulu Tahun Ajaran 2018/2019. Penelitian ini dilakukan pada bulan Februari - April 2019. Jenis penelitian ini adalah kuasi eksperimen. Populasi penelitian ini adalah siswa kelas X MIA dengan jumlah populasi 136 siswa. Pengambilan sampel dilakukan setelah uji homogenitas dan normalitas maka terpilih kelas X MIA 2 yang menerapkan model Team Assisted Individualization dan X MIA 3 yang menerapkan model Think Pair Share sebagai sampel penelitian dengan teknik purposive sampling dengan jumlah sampel 68 siswa. Analisis data yang digunakan adalah rata-rata (mean), uji normalitas, uji homogenitas,uji N-Gain Score dan uji hipotesis (uji t). Hasil penelitian secara umum menunjukkan bahwa penerapan model Team Assisted Individualization mampu memberikan hasil belajar yang lebih tinggi dari model Think Pair Share. Data hasil belajar kimia siswa diperoleh dari nilai pretest dan postest dengan selisih hasil belajar untuk kelas eksperimen I adalah 59,411 dan kelas eksperimen II adalah 57,647, berdasarkan nilai pretest dan postest didapatkan perolehan nilai N-Gain Score pada kelas eksperimen 1 besar 0,765 dan kelas eksperimen 2 sebesar 0,707. Sedangkan minat belajar kimia siswa pada kedua kelas memperoleh persentase sebesar 81,272% untuk model pembelajaran Team Assisted Individualization dan 76,647% untuk model pembelajaran Think Pair Share. Hasil uji t pada aspek kognitif didapatkan nilai sig.(2-tailed) sebesar 0,013 dan pada aspek afektif minat belajr sebesar 0,000. Hal tersebut menyatakan bahwa terdapat perbedaan yang signifikan pada minat dan hasil belajar kimia yang menerapkan model pembelajaran Team Assisted Individualization dan Think Pair Share
PENGARUH PEMANFAATAN MEDIA PRESENTASI ONLINE PREZI PADA MATERI KONSEP MOL TERHADAP HASIL BELAJAR SISWA (Studi Eksperimen di Kelas X MIPA SMAN 9 Bengkulu Utara)
Authors: Ikram Ahmad Fadli Zil , Elvia Rina , Handayani Dewi
Published: July 2021

Penelitian ini bertujuan mengetahui pengaruh pemanfaatan media presentasi online Prezi pada materi konsep mol terhadap hasil belajar siswa Kelas X MIPA SMA N 9 Bengkulu Utara Tahun Ajaran 2018/2019. Jenis penelitian ini adalah kuasi eksperimen. Data berupa N-Gain Score, lembar observasi guru, angket respon siswa. Analisis data menggunakan rata-rata, uji normalitas, uji homogenitas, dan uji hipotesis (uji t). Data hasil belajar siswa diperoleh dari nilai pretest dan posttest dengan rata-rata 34,636 dan 71,545 untuk kelas eksperimen sedangkan pada kelas kontrol 27,407 dan 61,407. Pemanfaatan media online Prezi mendapat nilai N-Gain Score sebesar 0,587 diperoleh dari rata-rata pretest dan posttest. Hasil observasi guru kimia pembelajaran berlangsung dengan baik dengan skor total 20. Respon siswa dari angket berisi 10 pernyataan sangat positif dengan persentase 81,93%. Berdasarkan hasil uji hipotesis (Uji t) dengan taraf signifikansi < 0,05 didapat nilai 0,000423. Hal ini menunjukkan bahwa pembelajaran kimia yang menggunakan media presentasi online Prezi dengan pendekatan saintifik lebih baik daripada pembelajaran konvensional.
Upaya Meningkatkan Pemahaman Bahaya Bullying Melalui Bimbingan Klasikal bagi Siswa SMPN 22 Mataram
Authors: Seriasih Ni Ketut
Published: July 2021

This study aims to describe the increased understanding of the dangers of bullying through classical guidance to class VIII.A students of SMPN 22 Mataram in the 2020/2021 academic year. This research is a classroom action research. The subjects in this study were 32 students. The instrument used in this research is a questionnaire. While the data analysis technique to test the difference in the mean of the pretest and posttest after the action was carried out was using the t-test. The results showed that after being given classical guidance services, the understanding of the dangers of bullying was in the very high category with a total frequency of 23 which was 71, 875%. In the very high category it has reached more than half the number of students. In the high category with a total frequency of 6 of 18, 75 %, in the medium category the number of frequency 3 of 9, 375%, in the low category the number of 0 is 0%, the category is very low with a total frequency of 0 of 0%. Thus, it can be concluded that classical guidance is an effective and innovative strategy to increase the understanding of class VIIIA students of SMPN 22 Mataram regarding the understanding of the dangers of bullying.
Peningkatan Aktivitas dan Hasil Belajar Siswa pada Tema 8 Peristiwa Alam melalui Model Kooperatif Tipe STAD di Masa Pandemi Covid-19
Authors: Taqiya Tsausand Banafsas , Sugiyono Tri , Nugroho Aryo Andri
Published: July 2021

This study aims to improve student activities and learning outcomes on the theme of 8 natural events through the STAD type cooperative model in grade 1 SDN Pandean Lamper 02 Semarang in the 2020/2021 school year. This study used a classroom action research method which is carried out in three cycles which include the planning, action implementation, observation, and reflection stages. This research instrument used observation, tests, and interview. The data analysis technique used descriptive analysis. The results of this study indicate that the application of the STAD type cooperative learning model can improve learning activities and learning outcomes for grade 1 students at SDN Pandean Lamper 02 Semarang. This is evidenced by the data on the results of student learning activities in the first cycle is 65.85%, in the second cycle it increases by 5.58% then in the third cycle it increases by 11.16% which initially the second cycle is 71.43% then it becomes 82 ,59%. Learning outcomes using the STAD type cooperative learning model in the first cycle were 54%, the second cycle increased by 71%, and in the third cycle increased up to 89%.
Implementasi Pendekatan Saintifik Berbasis Media PPT untuk Meningkatkan Motivasi Belajar Peserta Didik pada Tema 7 Perkembangan Teknologi di SD Negeri 1 Klepu Kabupaten Temanggung
Authors: Mushthofaiyyah Farida , Subekti Ervina Eka , Kuswandari Kuswandari
Published: July 2021

This study aims to increase students' learning motivation using PPT media through a scientific approach on theme 7 technological developments at SD Negeri 1 Klepu, Temanggung Regency. This research method uses classroom action research with the research subjects being grade 3 students for the 2020/2021 academic year. This research instrument uses observation, questionnaires, and documentation. While the data analysis technique used descriptive analysis. The results of this study indicate that there is an increase in learning motivation for Theme 7 using PPT media through a scientific approach to 3rd grade students of SDN 1 Klepu. This can be seen from the increase in the average percentage of student learning outcomes from cycle I, namely 61% and 69%. Cycle 2 has increased with the acquisition of the average percentage of students' learning motivation scores from both observation sheets and questionnaires, which is 76%. Cycle 3 experienced a significant increase as seen from the results of the average percentage of students' learning motivation scores from both observation sheets and questionnaires reaching 86% and 87%, respectively. So that the expected category is the very good category with the criteria of 86% - 100% has been achieved.
Penerapan Model Pembelajaran Discovery Learning Untuk Meningkatkan Keaktifan Belajar Siswa pada Pembelajaran Tematik Kelas V Tema 8 di SD Negeri 1 Selo Kabupaten Grobogan Jawa Tengah
Authors: Luthfi Muhamad Rizqi Amridzal , Huda Choirul , Susanto Joko
Published: July 2021

This study aims to apply the Discovery Learning learning model to increase student learning activity in the thematic learning of class V SD Negeri 1 Selo. This research method used classroom action research which is carried out in 3 cycles. The subjects of this study were fifth grade students of SD Negeri 1 Selo, totaling 14 students. The instrument used observation and tests. While the data analysis technique used descriptive quantitative analysis. The results of this study indicate that student learning activity has increased. Learning activity in cycle 1, meeting 1, was 59.77%, followed by meeting 2, which was 60%. Based on the results of cycle 1, it has shown an increase. The increase that occurred in cycle 1 also occurred in cycle 2. In cycle 2, meeting 1, the percentage of active learning was 68.09%. Furthermore, at the second meeting, it was 69.53%. Based on the results of cycle 2, it has also shown an increase. Then it increased in cycle 3 of meeting 1 to 75.48%, and meeting 2 of 79.53%.
The Therapeutic Effects of a 0.03% Tacrolimus Ointment on Childhood Phlyctenular Keratitis
Authors: Jo Yeon Ji , Kim Jae Hyun , Lee Jong Soo
Published: July 2021

Purpose: We explored the therapeutic effects of a 0.03% tacrolimus ointment (Protopic) on steroid-resistant phlyctenular keratitis in children. Methods: We enrolled seven eyes of five children with recurrent phlyctenular keratitis despite 3 months of steroid treatment. The topical steroids were tapered and the patients treated with a combination of 0.03% tacrolimus and 0.3% ofloxacin ointment. The logarithm of minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity, corneal neovascularization status, and changes in corneal opacity between the baseline and final visit were checked on anterior photographs using Image J software. Results: The average patient age was 6.8 ± 3.0 years (range, 3-9 years) and the treatment duration 8.0 ± 2.0 days (range, 5-10 days). The baseline logMAR visual acuity was 0.42 ± 0.32 and the final value 0.19 ± 0.22. Visual acuity thus improved significantly after treatment (p = 0.026). Corneal neovascularization and phylctenulosis improved in all seven eyes; the fibrotic corneal opacity decreased in two eyes. Conclusions: Topical 0.03% tacrolimus ointment may usefully treat steroid-resistant phlyctenular keratitis of childhood.
Comparison of Intravitreal Bevacizumab and Aflibercept Injections for Central Serous Chorioretinopathy
Authors: Park Min Soo , Lee Seung Joon
Published: July 2021

Purpose: We examined differences in the treatment effects of intravitreal bevacizumab injections and intravitreal aflibercept injections in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy. Methods: This retrospective analysis included 51 eyes of 49 patients who received intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agent injections after initial diagnosis with central serous chorioretinopathy. The patients were divided into two groups: one received an intravitreal bevacizumab injection, and another one received an intravitreal aflibercept injection. Patients with no reaction to treatment or a worsened condition, received repeat treatment with the same therapy. After treatment, patients were monitored for >3 months. Data were collected regarding best- corrected visual acuity (BCVA), subfoveal choroidal thickness, injection number, and treatment duration. Results: Both intravitreal bevacizumab injections and intravitreal aflibercept injections led to significant differences in BCVA (p < 0.0001, p = 0.001) and subfoveal choroidal thickness (p < 0.0001, p = 0.011), compared between before and after treatment. However, no differences between groups were observed in mean change of BCVA or subfoveal choroidal thickness. In addition, there were no differences between groups in injection number and treatment duration. Conclusions: In patients with central serous chorioretinopathy, both intravitreal bevacizumab injections and intravitreal aflibercept injections are effective treatment methods. There were no differences between the two medicines in terms of functional and anatomical recovery, or the injection number and treatment duration.
Chondroid Syringoma Involving the Sub-brow Area
Authors: Park Jungyul , Choi Hee-Young
Published: July 2021

Purpose: Chondroid syringoma of the skin is a rare subcutaneous tumor and localization in the eyelid and orbital region that has rarely been described. We report a case of chondroid syringoma that involved the sub-brow region and was accompanied by hair loss. Case summary: A 57-year-old women presented with a mass on the lateral side of the left sub-brow region which was observed 25 years earlier. The mass, which recurred 2 months after surgery at another hospital through a skin incision was accompanied by an itching sensation. The mass was not tender or ulcerated but was reddish with superficial blood vessels and had a smooth surface with hair loss at the site of the mass. The mass showed high signal intensity on a T2-weighted magnetic resonance image and a round echogenic nodule with an irregular hypoechoic portion was observed on ultrasonography. A full-thickness excision including the adjacent normal tissue of the sub-brow mass and direct closure were subsequently performed. The pathological diagnosis was chondroid syringoma which was revealed as numerous tubular structures with various lumens in a collagenous stroma. Mucinous and fibrous findings were also observed. No recurrence was detected during the first 2 years after surgery. Conclusions: Chondroid syringoma in the eyelid and sub-brow region is uncommon. Complete resection is required to differentiate it from a malignancy and reduce the possibility of recurrence. Incomplete resection or capsular rupture during removal of the tumor could induce recurrence or a malignant change in the tumor.
Synthetic Fiber Granuloma Misdiagnosed as Chalazion in an 8-year-old Child
Authors: An Jae Hong , Jung Hye Ra , Jun Jong Hwa
Published: July 2021

Purpose: We report a case of conjunctival synthetic fiber granuloma, which was misdiagnosed as chalazion. Case summary: An 8-year-old female patient, without any previous medical illness or ocular trauma history, visited our hospital with a prolonged mass-like lesion in the left lower palpebral conjunctiva. In her detailed medical history, she said that she often played with her doll's hair. The conjunctival mass first occurred 1 week before her visit to the private clinic. At that time, eye drop treatment was initiated under the diagnosis of chalazion. The child showed no improvement; thus, incision and curettage were performed. The mass in the conjunctiva continued to persist, so she was transferred to the hospital for a biopsy. Slit-lamp examination revealed a patterned agglomeration of fiber strands inside the mass. Complete excisional biopsy was performed under general anesthesia. Histopathological examination revealed a fibrous foreign body in the birefringence, with granulomatous inflammation surrounding it. The patient was diagnosed with synthetic fiber granuloma. Conclusions: Conjunctival synthetic fiber granulomas are easily mistaken as chalazion. If specific fibrous strands are entangled inside the mass on slit-lamp examination, diagnosis and treatment through therapeutic excisional biopsy are required under clinical suspicion.
COVID-19 and Repurposed Drugs How Much is A Human Life?.
Authors: Hector E Carvallo , Francesco Matozza , Roberto R Hirsch
Published: July 2021

The current pandemic due to COVID 19 (SARS COV2) has revealed a disturbing reality most of the world's health systems, and the organizations that govern health policies at a global level, have not been able to meet the expectations that were set on them. On the one hand, W.H.O has shown hesitations, orders, counter-orders, delays and errors that have made it lose credibility. The terrible images of corpses piled up in the corridors of healthcare centers (from underdeveloped countries to the most powerful ones in the planet); will remain forever in our memory. The enormous financial effort made was not always well targeted, and rarely benefited the patients. The cost / benefit ratio was inverted, contributing fortunes in the final monitoring of severe cases, when logic indicates that emphasis should be placed on not reaching severe stages, and must be solved earlier. In this article, we establish a comparison between what is done and what - in our opinion - should be done.
Women Who Have Sex with Women’s Attitudes and Willingness to Participate in Future Female Same Sex Public Health Research: Opportunity for Disease Prevention and Control in Tanzania
Authors: Kamazima Switbert R , Saronga Happiness P , Bakar Saidah S , Mbishi Jackline V
Published: July 2021

Recruitment of acceptable number of participants in a (public) health research with ‘hard to reach’/‘hidden’ populations is an old global problem, mostly challenging public health researchers in resource limited countries like Tanzania. Violence, stigma, criminalization of behaviors practiced by these groups, and potential participants’ suspicion toward the research and the researchers, further limit willingness to voluntarily participate. We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive and retrospective qualitative formative study with women who have sex with women in Dar-es-Salaam City region, Tanzania. The aim, among other objectives, was to understand women who have sex with women’s attitudes and willingness to participate in future female same sex public health research targeting this group. Findings indicate that all women we studied expressed willingness to participate in future health research targeting issues around female same sex relationships in the Tanzania context; an opportunity for (public) health professionals to prevent and control diseases in the country. To attain this goal, we recommend tailoring research protocols’ content, communication messages, and recruitment tactics to recognize, appreciate, and embrace the specific characteristics, backgrounds, and concerns of women who have sex with women in Tanzania.
Forms of professional training activation among cadets in the departmental higher educational institution of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Authors: Mukhtabaev Kuandyk , Karshalov Marat
Published: July 2021

The article is devoted to the issues of relevance of the educational process organization for the definition, use and application of various forms of education, their constant improvement and updating. The considered forms of training are aimed primarily at the formation of cadets in departmental universities of positive motivation and interest in the final result of mastering knowledge.
Identification of Disease-Related 2-Oxoglutarate/Fe (II)-Dependent Oxygenase Based on Reduced Amino Acid Cluster Strategy
Authors: Zhou Jian , Bo Suling , Wang Hao , Zheng Lei , Liang Pengfei , Zuo Yongchun
Published: July 2021

The 2-oxoglutarate/Fe (II)-dependent (2OG) oxygenase superfamily is mainly responsible for protein modification, nucleic acid repair and/or modification, and fatty acid metabolism and plays important roles in cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other diseases. They are likely to become new targets for the treatment of cancer and other diseases, so the accurate identification of 2OG oxygenases is of great significance. Many computational methods have been proposed to predict functional proteins to compensate for the time-consuming and expensive experimental identification. However, machine learning has not been applied to the study of 2OG oxygenases. In this study, we developed OGFE_RAAC, a prediction model to identify whether a protein is a 2OG oxygenase. To improve the performance of OGFE_RAAC, 673 amino acid reduction alphabets were used to determine the optimal feature representation scheme by recoding the protein sequence. The 10-fold cross-validation test showed that the accuracy of the model in identifying 2OG oxygenases is 91.04%. Besides, the independent dataset results also proved that the model has excellent generalization and robustness. It is expected to become an effective tool for the identification of 2OG oxygenases. With further research, we have also found that the function of 2OG oxygenases may be related to their polarity and hydrophobicity, which will help the follow-up study on the catalytic mechanism of 2OG oxygenases and the way they interact with the substrate. Based on the model we built, a user-friendly web server was established and can be friendly accessed at http://bioinfor.imu.edu.cn/ogferaac.
The Emerging Threat of Extractives Sector to Intact Forest Landscapes
Authors: Grantham Hedley S. , Tibaldeschi Paolo , Izquierdo Pablo , Mo Karen , Patterson David J. , Rainey Hugo , Watson J. E. M. , Jones Kendall R.
Published: July 2021

As demand for commodities increases globally, resource-rich countries are focal areas for industrial expansion. The extractives sector is driving unprecedented growth of infrastructure (e.g., roads, railways and pipelines) into sparsely populated regions, which contain some of the world’s remaining intact forests. Yet, the extent of the threat posed by an increased footprint of extractive industries is not well understood. Here we provide a novel global assessment of the potential threat posed to tropical Intact Forest Landscapes (IFLs), continuous patches of forest that have no remotely sensed signs of human activity or forest fragmentation, from the extractives sector including mining, oil and gas projects, using one of the most extensive global spatial datasets on extractives concessions to date. We found ∼20% of the global tropical IFL estate is designated as extractive’s concessions, presenting an enormous threat to these forests. Oil and gas concessions overlap with 408,000 km2 of tropical IFLs (7.85% of total IFL area), with the biggest overlap in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Papua New Guinea. Mining concessions overlap with 589,000 km2 (11.33%) of tropical IFL area, mainly in Brazil and Democratic Republic of Congo. As the majority of concessions overlapping IFLs are currently at the exploration stages for all types of extractives, now is the time to plan for reducing the potential threat through strategies such as identifying “no go” areas and applying the mitigation hierarchy. Nations and investors should undertake regional strategic environmental assessments to reduce impacts, including potential indirect and cumulative impacts of multiple projects and other threats in the landscape. We also call for banks that funders of extractives projects to apply global best practice industry environmental safeguards that recognize the value of intact forests and the risk of cumulative impacts to these unique sites.
Thrombosis in Psoriasis: Cutaneous Cytokine Production as a Potential Driving Force of Haemostatic Dysregulation and Subsequent Cardiovascular Risk
Authors: Visser Maria J. E. , Tarr Gareth , Pretorius Etheresia
Published: July 2021

Psoriasis (PsO) is a common T cell-mediated inflammatory disorder of the skin with an estimated prevalence of 2%. The condition manifests most commonly as erythematous plaques covered with scales. The aetiology of PsO is multifactorial and disease initiation involves interactions between environmental factors, susceptibility genes, and innate and adaptive immune responses. The underlying pathology is mainly driven by interleukin-17. In addition, various inflammatory mediators from specific T helper (TH) cell subsets, namely TH1, TH17, and TH22, are overexpressed in cutaneous lesions and may also be detected in the peripheral blood of psoriatic patients. Moreover, these individuals are also at greater risk, compared to the general population, of developing multiple comorbid conditions. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been recognised as a prominent comorbidity of PsO. A potential mechanism contributing to this association may be the presence of a hypercoagulable state in these individuals. Inflammation and coagulation are closely related. The presence of chronic, low-grade systemic inflammation may promote thrombosis – one of the major determinants of CVD. A pro-inflammatory milieu may induce the expression of tissue factor, augment platelet activity, and perturb the vascular endothelium. Altogether, these changes will result in a prothrombotic state. In this review, we describe the aetiology of PsO, as well as the pathophysiology of the condition. We also consider its relationship to CVD. Given the systemic inflammatory nature of PsO, we evaluate the potential contribution of prominent inflammatory mediators (implicated in PsO pathogenesis) to establishing a prothrombotic state in psoriatic patients.
Acutely Rising Temperature Reduces Photosynthetic Capacity of Phytoplankton Assemblages in Tropical Oceans: A Large-Scale Investigation
Authors: Mai Guangming , Liu Jihua , Xia Xiaomin , Pang Xinyue , Li Binkai , Yu Linghui , Tan Yehui , Song Xingyu , Li Gang
Published: July 2021

Climate changes interacting with human activities are raising the temperature in global oceans. To explore physiological responses of in situ phytoplankton assemblages to increasing temperatures, we conducted a shipboard experiment in tropical regions of the eastern Indian Ocean, Java Sea, and southern South China Sea. Throughout the surveyed areas, phytoplankton biomass (Chla) ranged from 0.09 to 0.86 μg L−1 (median, 0.22 μg L−1) in the surface and from 0.30 to 0.99 μg L−1 (median, 0.50 μg L−1) in maximal chlorophyll layer (DCM), respectively. Picophytoplankton that occupied 27–89% (79%) and 83–92% (88%) of total Chla in the surface and DCM layers, ranged from 0.32 × 104 to 23.10 × 104 cells mL−1 (3.69 × 104 cells mL−1) and from 7.44 × 104 to 25.70 × 104 cells mL−1 (12.60 × 104 cells mL−1), respectively. Synechococcus took up 30–97% (78%) of pico-cells compositions in the surface layer, while, in the DCM layer, Prochlorococcus took up 42–98% (91%). Moreover, the maximal photochemical quantum yield (FV/FM) of photosystem II (PS II) and the rapid light curve (RLC)-derived light utilization efficiency (α) were lower in the surface layer than that in the DCM layer, but the saturation irradiance (EK) was higher. In particular, we found that acutely rising temperature decreased the FV/FM and α in both the surface and the DCM layers but increased the absorption cross-section (σPSII) of PSII photochemistry. Our results clearly indicate that the presently rising temperature adversely affects the photophysiology of natural phytoplankton assemblages in tropical oceans.
Artificial Intelligence-Aided Recognition of Pathological Characteristics and Subtype Classification of Superficial Perivascular Dermatitis
Authors: Bao Yingqiu , Zhang Jing , Zhang Qiuli , Chang Jianmin , Lu Di , Fu Yu
Published: July 2021

Background: Superficial perivascular dermatitis, an important type of inflammatory dermatosis, comprises various skin diseases, which are difficult to distinguish by clinical manifestations and need pathological imaging observation. Coupled with its complex pathological characteristics, the subtype classification depends to a great extent on dermatopathologists. There is an urgent need to develop an efficient approach to recognize the pathological characteristics and classify the subtypes of superficial perivascular dermatitis.

Methods: 3,954 pathological images (4 × and 10 ×) of three subtypes—psoriasiform, spongiotic and interface—of superficial perivascular dermatitis were captured from 327 cases diagnosed both clinically and pathologically. The control group comprised 1,337 pathological images of 85 normal skin tissue slides taken from the edge of benign epidermal cysts. First, senior dermatologists and dermatopathologists followed the structure–pattern analysis method to label the pathological characteristics that significantly contribute to classifying different subtypes on 4 × and 10 × images. A cascaded deep learning algorithm framework was then proposed to establish pixel-level pathological characteristics' masks and classify the subtypes by supervised learning.

Results: 13 different pathological characteristics were recognized, and the accuracy of subtype classification was 85.24%. In contrast, the accuracy of the subtype classification model without recognition was 71.35%.

Conclusion: Our cascaded deep learning model used small samples to deliver efficient recognition of pathological characteristics and subtype classification simultaneously. Moreover, the proposed method could be applied to both microscopic images and digital scanned images.
Emergence of IncHI2 Plasmids With Mobilized Colistin Resistance (mcr)-9 Gene in ESBL-Producing, Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella Typhimurium and Its Monophasic Variant ST34 From Food-Producing Animals in Italy
Authors: Diaconu Elena Lavinia , Alba Patricia , Feltrin Fabiola , Di Matteo Paola , Iurescia Manuela , Chelli Eleonora , Donati Valentina , Marani Ilaria , Giacomi Angelo , Franco Alessia , Carfora Virginia
Published: July 2021

A collection of 177 genomes of Salmonella Typhimurium and its monophasic variant isolated in 2014–2019 from Italian poultry/livestock (n = 165) and foodstuff (n = 12), previously screened for antimicrobial susceptibility and assigned to ST34 and single-locus variants, were studied in-depth to check the presence of the novel mcr-9 gene and to investigate their genetic relatedness by whole genome sequencing (WGS). The study of accessory resistance genes revealed the presence of mcr-9.1 in 11 ST34 isolates, displaying elevated colistin minimum inhibitory concentration values up to 2 mg/L and also a multidrug-resistant (MDR) profile toward up to seven antimicrobial classes. Five of them were also extended-spectrum beta-lactamases producers (blaSHV–12 type), mediated by the corresponding antimicrobial resistance (AMR) accessory genes. All mcr-9-positive isolates harbored IncHI2-ST1 plasmids. From the results of the Mash analysis performed on all 177 genomes, the 11 mcr-9-positive isolates fell together in the same subcluster and were all closely related. This subcluster included also two mcr-9-negative isolates, and other eight mcr-9-negative ST34 isolates were present within the same parental branch. All the 21 isolates within this branch presented an IncHI2/2A plasmid and a similar MDR gene pattern. In three representative mcr-9-positive isolates, mcr-9 was demonstrated to be located on different IncHI2/IncHI2A large-size (∼277–297 kb) plasmids, using a combined Illumina–Oxford Nanopore WGS approach. These plasmids were also compared by BLAST analysis with publicly available IncHI2 plasmid sequences harboring mcr-9. In our plasmids, mcr-9 was located in a ∼30-kb region lacking different genetic elements of the typical core structure of mcr-9 cassettes. In this region were also identified different genes involved in heavy metal metabolism. Our results underline how genomics and WGS-based surveillance are increasingly indispensable to achieve better insights into the genetic environment and features of plasmid-mediated AMR, as in the case of such IncHI2 plasmids harboring other MDR genes beside mcr-9, that can be transferred horizontally also to other major Salmonella serovars spreading along the food chain.
Functional Diversity of Mitochondrial Peptidyl-tRNA Hydrolase ICT1 in Human Cells
Authors: Chicherin I.V. , Dukhalin S.V. , Khannanov R.A. , Baleva M.V. , Levitskii S.A. , Patrushev M.V. , Sergiev P.V. , Kamenski P.
Published: July 2021

Mitochondria are energy producing organelles of the eukaryotic cell, involved in the synthesis of key metabolites, calcium homeostasis and apoptosis. Protein biosynthesis in these organelles is a relic of its endosymbiotic origin. While mitochondrial translational factors have homologues among prokaryotes, they possess a number of unique traits. Remarkably as many as four mammalian mitochondrial proteins possess a clear similarity with translation termination factors. The review focuses on the ICT1, which combines several functions. It is a non-canonical termination factor for protein biosynthesis, a rescue factor for stalled mitochondrial ribosomes, a structural protein and a regulator of proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis. Such a diversity of roles demonstrates the high functionality of mitochondrial translation associated proteins and their relationship with numerous processes occurring in a living cell.
A Large-Scale Open Motion Dataset (KFall) and Benchmark Algorithms for Detecting Pre-impact Fall of the Elderly Using Wearable Inertial Sensors
Authors: Yu Xiaoqun , Jang Jaehyuk , Xiong Shuping
Published: July 2021

Research on pre-impact fall detection with wearable inertial sensors (detecting fall accidents prior to body-ground impacts) has grown rapidly in the past decade due to its great potential for developing an on-demand fall-related injury prevention system. However, most researchers use their own datasets to develop fall detection algorithms and rarely make these datasets publicly available, which poses a challenge to fairly evaluate the performance of different algorithms on a common basis. Even though some open datasets have been established recently, most of them are impractical for pre-impact fall detection due to the lack of temporal labels for fall time and limited types of motions. In order to overcome these limitations, in this study, we proposed and publicly provided a large-scale motion dataset called “KFall,” which was developed from 32 Korean participants while wearing an inertial sensor on the low back and performing 21 types of activities of daily living and 15 types of simulated falls. In addition, ready-to-use temporal labels of the fall time based on synchronized motion videos were published along with the dataset. Those enhancements make KFall the first public dataset suitable for pre-impact fall detection, not just for post-fall detection. Importantly, we have also developed three different types of latest algorithms (threshold based, support-vector machine, and deep learning), using the KFall dataset for pre-impact fall detection so that researchers and practitioners can flexibly choose the corresponding algorithm. Deep learning algorithm achieved both high overall accuracy and balanced sensitivity (99.32%) and specificity (99.01%) for pre-impact fall detection. Support vector machine also demonstrated a good performance with a sensitivity of 99.77% and specificity of 94.87%. However, the threshold-based algorithm showed relatively poor results, especially the specificity (83.43%) was much lower than the sensitivity (95.50%). The performance of these algorithms could be regarded as a benchmark for further development of better algorithms with this new dataset. This large-scale motion dataset and benchmark algorithms could provide researchers and practitioners with valuable data and references to develop new technologies and strategies for pre-impact fall detection and proactive injury prevention for the elderly.
Analytic and Integrative Framework for Understanding Human Sympathetic Arterial Baroreflex Function: Equilibrium Diagram of Arterial Pressure and Plasma Norepinephrine Level
Authors: Yamasaki Fumiyasu , Sato Takayuki , Sato Kyoko , Diedrich André
Published: July 2021

Background

The sympathetic arterial baroreflex is a closed-loop feedback system for stabilizing arterial pressure (AP). Identification of unique functions of the closed system in humans is a challenge. Here we propose an analytic and integrative framework for identifying a static operating point and open-loop gain to characterize sympathetic arterial baroreflex in humans.

Methods and Results

An equilibrium diagram with two crossing functions of mechanoneural (MN) and neuromechanical (NM) arcs was analyzed during graded tilt maneuvers in seven healthy subjects. AP and plasma norepinephrine level (PNE), as a surrogate for sympathetic nerve activity, and were recorded after vagal modulation of heart function was blocked by atropine. The MN-arc curve was described as a locus of operating points during –7, 0, 15, and 60° head-up tilting (HUT) on a PNE-AP plane. The NM-arc curve was drawn as a line between operating points before and after ganglionic blockade (trimethaphan, 0.1 mg⋅ml–1⋅kg–1) during 0° or 15° HUT. Gain values were estimated from the slopes of these functional curves. Finally, an open-loop gain, which is a most important index for performance of arterial baroreflex, was given by a product of the gain values of MN (GMN) and NM arcs (GNM). Gain values of MN was 8.92 ± 3.07 pg⋅ml−1⋅mmHg−1; and GNM at 0° and 15° HUT were 0.61 ± 0.08 and 0.36 ± 0.05 mmHg⋅ml⋅pg–1, respectively. A postural change from supine to 15° HUT significantly reduced the open-loop gain from 5.62 ± 0.98 to 3.75 ± 0.62. The effects of HUT on the NM arc and open-loop gain seemed to be similar to those of blood loss observed in our previous animal studies.

Conclusion

An equilibrium-diagram analysis contributes to a quantitative and integrative understanding of function of human sympathetic arterial baroreflex.
A Novel Five-Gene Signature for Prognosis Prediction in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Su Lisa , Zhang Genhao , Kong Xiangdong
Published: July 2021

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been a global health issue and attracted wide attention due to its high incidence and poor outcomes. In this study, our purpose was to explore an effective prognostic marker for HCC. Five cohort profile datasets from GEO (GSE25097, GSE36376, GSE62232, GSE76427 and GSE101685) were integrated with TCGA-LIHC and GTEx dataset to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between normal and cancer tissues in HCC patients, then 5 upregulated differentially expressed genes and 32 downregulated DEGs were identified as common DEGs in total. Next, we systematically explored the relationship between the expression of 37 common DEGs in tumor tissues and overall survival (OS) rate of HCC patients in TCGA and constructed a novel prognostic model composed of five genes (AURKA, PZP, RACGAP1, ACOT12 and LCAT). Furthermore, the predicted performance of the five-gene signature was verified in ICGC and another independent clinical samples cohort, and the results demonstrated that the signature performed well in predicting the OS rate of patients with HCC. What is more, the signature was an independent hazard factor for HCC patients when considering other clinical factors in the three cohorts. Finally, we found the signature was significantly associated with HCC immune microenvironment. In conclusion, the prognostic five-gene signature identified in our present study could efficiently classify patients with HCC into subgroups with low and high risk of longer overall survival time and help clinicians make decisions for individualized treatment.
Pinocembrin Inhibits the Proliferation and Metastasis of Breast Cancer via Suppression of the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway
Authors: Zhu Xinbing , Li Rongnian , Wang Chen , Zhou Shuo , Fan Yujia , Ma Shuang , Gao Didi , Gai Nian , Yang Jing
Published: July 2021

The survival rate of breast cancer (BC) patients remains poor, thus the identification of safe and effective new drugs is crucial to improve therapeutic outcomes and overall survival. Pinocembrin (PCB), a pharmacologically active ingredient of Pinus heartwood, Eucalyptus, Euphorbia, Populus, and Sparattosperma leucanthum, has been widely applied for the treatment of various diseases and possesses anticancer activities. In vitro assays were performed to investigate the antiproliferation and antimetastasis activities of PCB in BC cells. A tumorigenesis assay with the use of murine BC models was performed to assess the antiproliferation activities of PCB in vivo. Moreover, the molecular mechanisms underlying the anticancer activities of PCB in BC cells were explored. The results showed that the anti-inhibitory and antiproliferation activities of PCB in BC might involve cell cycle (G2/M phase) arrest and apoptosis. PCB downregulated the expression levels of proteins involved in cell cycle progression and apoptosis, including cyclinB1, Cdc2, PARP1, Bcl-2, and survivin, and upregulated protein levels of cleaved PARP1, cleaved caspase3, cleaved caspase9, and BAX. In a murine subcutaneous tumor model, PCB suppressed the growth of MCF-7 cells in vivo. Low concentrations of PCB also significantly inhibited the migration and invasion abilities of BC cells. Mechanistically, PCB administration was correlated to suppression of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Inhibition of the proliferation of BC cells by PCB involved cell cycle (G2/M phase) arrest and apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Low concentrations of PCB also significantly inhibited the migration and invasion abilities of BC cells. These findings suggest that PCB might be an effective agent for treatment of BC patients.